05-29-2018, 11:47 PM
(I am telling this as a narrative, you may react to any part of this but it works better if I can tell the whole tale at once.)
Two figures stumble into the town center from the forest, one helping carry the other. One figure is in breached armour with the torn tabard of the Blood Red Rose, the other is dressed in simple farm clothes.
“Please help, he is injured. We were attacked at the Mackenzie farm. Everyone is dead. Oh Gods, everyone is dead!”
After a moment he calms down and begins telling you what happened.
His name is Nicholas Carmen. He had been staying at the Mackenzie farm. He hadn’t given up finding his missing fiancee, Stravoula Zinos and the Mackenzies had graciously allowed him to stay there and search for her in the evenings. He worked on a fishing boat as their doctor, but Voula teased him and called him a simple fisherman.
Earlier tonight, on the Mackenzie farm, family and farm-hands are settling down as were their newest guests. Two members of the Blood Red Rose are were there, Sir Humphries and Squire Talbot, whom had been out searching with Nicholas for Stravoula.
“We are sorry Nicholas. But with the landslide and all the demon attacks we may have to admit, she is gone.”
“I won’t believe it. I… can’t.”
There was a loud crash from the barn and noise in the house stopped.
Talbot and Humphries stood up. Humphries went immediately to the window and Talbot checked the door. That’s when the screams begin.
“Watch the family I’ll check out the barn.”
Sir Humphries dashed out to the barn, broadsword and shield in hand.
Squire Talbot cast a Hold Portal on the door and told everyone to remain calm. Junior Mackenzie, eldest son of the Mackenzie family, grabbed a spear and joined the squire. “I’ve been training for the Crusade,” he said. “I can help.” The screams continued as those in the house watched Sir Humphries approach the barn door. He slowed down and cautiously entered, shield at the ready, a golden dragon mark on his right cheek... and then he was inside.
The screams stopped and the silence was almost unbearable. Some of the men and women at the farm began to nervously talk, voices too loud, barely controlling their fear.
“Peace good people, we need to listen there could be more…”
There was a creaking upstairs in the attic.
“The children,” said Nicholas.
There was a blood curdling howl from the barn and a scream of pain. Then bright flashes of light came from within.
Nicholas dashed upstairs as Junior and the Squire Talbot debated going to aid Sir Humphries. Nicholas quickly climbed the ladder leading to the children's room in the attic. A window was open, a breeze twitching the curtains. The room was in its usual state of disarray, clothes and toys scattered everywhere. The full moon shone in through the window, illuminating a small boy lying lifeless on the ground.
“I couldn’t save him, those beasts, those wretched creatures, they killed them all.”
(As Nicholas collapses sobbing Sir Humphries continues the story, having recovered a bit. His voice is heavy with sorrow.)
The door to the barn was splintered - something very strong seemed to have gotten in. Saying a quick prayer to Tezoth, Sir Humphries readied to enter. Blood and body parts were strewn about. All the livestock was dead or dying. As Humphries got inside, he realized he was too late. There was a snarl behind him. He spun and leveled his sword at his assailant. Swift claws raked him from behind, hamstringing him. He was surrounded. Yellow eyes and misshapen forms confronted him, half man half wolf before and behind him. He counted at least two others gorging themselves on horse flesh. Calling on the element of lightning he struck down the first Therian, but the others soon followed. By the time he finished them there was screaming again, this time from the farmhouse.
(Nicholas recovers enough to tell of the heroic last acts of Squire Talbot and Junior Mackenzie.)
Nicholas checked the dying boy and realized he still had time. Quickly using his physician skills, he was able to stop the child from dying, but only a Life spell would save him. Looking up from giving chest compressions he yelled downstairs for a Life caster, hoping that Squire Talbot could help. That was when he saw the squire. Talbot had seen Nicholas run upstairs and came to the same conclusion - the children were in danger. But he was just standing there, just past the threshold of the door, hands at his neck, not saying a word.
Talbot grasped at the thick pink tail wrapped around his neck, struggling for air. The beady red eyes of his attacker just above his shoulder. As the Wererat choked the life out of the squire, Junior entered the room. To his credit, Junior didn’t hesitate. He launched into a series of attacks against the Therian, but his simple weapon could not penetrate the monster’s thick hide.
Nicholas had only one weapon, a dagger given to him by Stravoula as an engagement gift. It was made of silver, a trade she had gotten for a high level scroll.
“There is more of this when we marry, we will live well my love.”
Nicholas could try and save Talbot and Junior, but if he stopped for even a moment, the child was dead. Squire Talbot was seconds away from dying and Junior was recklessly attacking the Wererat but his attacks were getting slower. He was tiring. Nicholas had to choose.
Talbot collapsed to the ground as the Wererat dropped the dead squire, then it lunged at Nicholas, not Junior, knocking him from the child. Its fetid breath smelled of carrion and fresh blood. Wrestling with the creature, Nicholas knew the child was dead. He had failed. Rage and frustration from weeks of fruitless searching boiled up inside and Nicholas drew his dagger and stabbed the child-murdering Therian over and over. The thing shrieked and curled into a ball. Screams from below indicated more of them had entered the building. Bleeding from numerous bites and scratches, Nicholas and Junior rushed to the others’ aid. Squire Talbot was beyond their care.
Hamstrung, Sir Humphries couldn’t get back to the farm fast enough. By the time he got there he saw Nicholas, kneeling over Junior trying to keep two werewolves at bay with a silver dagger. Calling on Tezoth to strengthen him, Sir Humphries leaped on his opponents and slew them.
But howls from distant farms told them this night was far from over. They were the only two survivors. They needed to get to the safety of Ralinwood and warn them of the full moon.
Two figures stumble into the town center from the forest, one helping carry the other. One figure is in breached armour with the torn tabard of the Blood Red Rose, the other is dressed in simple farm clothes.
“Please help, he is injured. We were attacked at the Mackenzie farm. Everyone is dead. Oh Gods, everyone is dead!”
After a moment he calms down and begins telling you what happened.
His name is Nicholas Carmen. He had been staying at the Mackenzie farm. He hadn’t given up finding his missing fiancee, Stravoula Zinos and the Mackenzies had graciously allowed him to stay there and search for her in the evenings. He worked on a fishing boat as their doctor, but Voula teased him and called him a simple fisherman.
Earlier tonight, on the Mackenzie farm, family and farm-hands are settling down as were their newest guests. Two members of the Blood Red Rose are were there, Sir Humphries and Squire Talbot, whom had been out searching with Nicholas for Stravoula.
“We are sorry Nicholas. But with the landslide and all the demon attacks we may have to admit, she is gone.”
“I won’t believe it. I… can’t.”
There was a loud crash from the barn and noise in the house stopped.
Talbot and Humphries stood up. Humphries went immediately to the window and Talbot checked the door. That’s when the screams begin.
“Watch the family I’ll check out the barn.”
Sir Humphries dashed out to the barn, broadsword and shield in hand.
Squire Talbot cast a Hold Portal on the door and told everyone to remain calm. Junior Mackenzie, eldest son of the Mackenzie family, grabbed a spear and joined the squire. “I’ve been training for the Crusade,” he said. “I can help.” The screams continued as those in the house watched Sir Humphries approach the barn door. He slowed down and cautiously entered, shield at the ready, a golden dragon mark on his right cheek... and then he was inside.
The screams stopped and the silence was almost unbearable. Some of the men and women at the farm began to nervously talk, voices too loud, barely controlling their fear.
“Peace good people, we need to listen there could be more…”
There was a creaking upstairs in the attic.
“The children,” said Nicholas.
There was a blood curdling howl from the barn and a scream of pain. Then bright flashes of light came from within.
Nicholas dashed upstairs as Junior and the Squire Talbot debated going to aid Sir Humphries. Nicholas quickly climbed the ladder leading to the children's room in the attic. A window was open, a breeze twitching the curtains. The room was in its usual state of disarray, clothes and toys scattered everywhere. The full moon shone in through the window, illuminating a small boy lying lifeless on the ground.
“I couldn’t save him, those beasts, those wretched creatures, they killed them all.”
(As Nicholas collapses sobbing Sir Humphries continues the story, having recovered a bit. His voice is heavy with sorrow.)
The door to the barn was splintered - something very strong seemed to have gotten in. Saying a quick prayer to Tezoth, Sir Humphries readied to enter. Blood and body parts were strewn about. All the livestock was dead or dying. As Humphries got inside, he realized he was too late. There was a snarl behind him. He spun and leveled his sword at his assailant. Swift claws raked him from behind, hamstringing him. He was surrounded. Yellow eyes and misshapen forms confronted him, half man half wolf before and behind him. He counted at least two others gorging themselves on horse flesh. Calling on the element of lightning he struck down the first Therian, but the others soon followed. By the time he finished them there was screaming again, this time from the farmhouse.
(Nicholas recovers enough to tell of the heroic last acts of Squire Talbot and Junior Mackenzie.)
Nicholas checked the dying boy and realized he still had time. Quickly using his physician skills, he was able to stop the child from dying, but only a Life spell would save him. Looking up from giving chest compressions he yelled downstairs for a Life caster, hoping that Squire Talbot could help. That was when he saw the squire. Talbot had seen Nicholas run upstairs and came to the same conclusion - the children were in danger. But he was just standing there, just past the threshold of the door, hands at his neck, not saying a word.
Talbot grasped at the thick pink tail wrapped around his neck, struggling for air. The beady red eyes of his attacker just above his shoulder. As the Wererat choked the life out of the squire, Junior entered the room. To his credit, Junior didn’t hesitate. He launched into a series of attacks against the Therian, but his simple weapon could not penetrate the monster’s thick hide.
Nicholas had only one weapon, a dagger given to him by Stravoula as an engagement gift. It was made of silver, a trade she had gotten for a high level scroll.
“There is more of this when we marry, we will live well my love.”
Nicholas could try and save Talbot and Junior, but if he stopped for even a moment, the child was dead. Squire Talbot was seconds away from dying and Junior was recklessly attacking the Wererat but his attacks were getting slower. He was tiring. Nicholas had to choose.
Talbot collapsed to the ground as the Wererat dropped the dead squire, then it lunged at Nicholas, not Junior, knocking him from the child. Its fetid breath smelled of carrion and fresh blood. Wrestling with the creature, Nicholas knew the child was dead. He had failed. Rage and frustration from weeks of fruitless searching boiled up inside and Nicholas drew his dagger and stabbed the child-murdering Therian over and over. The thing shrieked and curled into a ball. Screams from below indicated more of them had entered the building. Bleeding from numerous bites and scratches, Nicholas and Junior rushed to the others’ aid. Squire Talbot was beyond their care.
Hamstrung, Sir Humphries couldn’t get back to the farm fast enough. By the time he got there he saw Nicholas, kneeling over Junior trying to keep two werewolves at bay with a silver dagger. Calling on Tezoth to strengthen him, Sir Humphries leaped on his opponents and slew them.
But howls from distant farms told them this night was far from over. They were the only two survivors. They needed to get to the safety of Ralinwood and warn them of the full moon.