NM Part 22

The group rests at the Wark and Kupo as the lost souls stalk the streets of the city. Of the five chapters of their story two remain, Justice Unfound, and a Duel Unresolved. Two of the keys they'd found their first day in the town remain unused, the Town Hall and the Armory. Also there remains Bob's enigmatic words in the theater, what other mysterys still remain to be discovered in this place?

Marduke has had little sleep this time around, eyes scanning over many times what has been written in the book. Along with time staring at the pieces to the metal plates they have gotten still trying to figure out who it is depicting. Yet as the sun starts to rise he moves having gotten some sleep and just shakes his head, "So... Town Hall, or Armory. I think those are two locations we still have yet to really visit right?"

By the dawning of the next day, Alba has finally emerged from the pantry, though in a very visibly sour mood. After taking a moment to scrounge up a breakfast of whatever can be found, she leans against the doorway, ears moving from speaker to speaker, waiting for a decision to be made.

Ka'len's eyes are on the door though it can't be said he's really looking at it. His mind's eye are on the geists which claw at the building. As Marduke breaks the 'silence' the young man's shoulders twitch and then he looks over and turns thoughtful while flicking a brief glance in Alba's direction. "The armory. Things there might be more physical than likely to try and play with our minds more. After that play, cannot say I wouldn't mind taking out a bit of the lingering.. annoyance. Not that it matters great deal. I just want to heal this place and get out of here and if I can punch a clown in the face while doing it then.. all the better."

Remi is perhaps getting used to the presence of wailing spirits outside... Or maybe he was just really tired, having pretty much slept through the night. Finally stirring though as everyone else wakes up around him, he cracks open his eyes and peeks around a moment, before rubbing them and sitting up... His ears splaying a bit as he groggily listens to the discussion at hand, and then shrugs, "Armory sounds good... Like Ka'Len says, sounds like it'd involve a bit more of a straight fight."

Daylight comes once more to Draver's Valley, though the sky has become even more overcast with the death of the 5th spectre. The fog that drifts in the streets having taken on an ominious shade of crimson, condensation on the windows almost giving the feeling that the town itself is bleeding. Bob drifts lazily around the room while the group decides where to go next.

Marduke just nodes once at that, "Armory it is then, Bob you know the way I assume?" Glancing to the skull thoughtfully and shakes his head slowly as if considering something else. "Lets go, this place is wearing on me and making me edgy and stupid." Sighing he heads for the door, "Alba care to lead or take up the rear?" before stepping outside.

"It matters not," Alba says shortly, pushing off the door frame. "I will be where I an wanted." Pausing as she looks out the door, the sight of the crimson mists causes her to push a slow sigh through her nose, but invites no further comment.

Ka'len's eyes flick between Marduke and Alba then to Remi. The nobleman says naught, but he does issue a faint shrug. Stepping out then as the morning 'brightens' the town the young man blows out a breath and then begins to move off towards the Armory, "we passed it before, c'mon.. back towards the sheriff's office."

Remi nods and then pushes himself to his feet. The Bard straightening his clothes and gathering up his gear, before he briefly slips into the pantry to steal some dried meat for breakfast. And with that done, he soon heads out after the others... Arching his brow at the red tinted mist, and peering about suspiciously... Deciding it's a good reason to stay close to everybody.

The trip through town is quiet for the most part, though the shuffling of feet and the occassional pounding on the door of a sealed home echos through the streets. You can feel eyes upon you from every alley and window, reaching the intersection the great town clock looms in the fog, still sending it's lighthouse-like beam out into the gloom. The hands resting on 11:50.

Marduke counts off a few fingers and just shakes his head, "At this rate we will have to start jogging to get from one place to another to even have daylight." Sighing as he moves towards the armory. Eyes looking up to the clocktower and shaking his head,

"Lets hurry." Picking up his pace a bit now. "I hate places that watch you." Now and again, during their rapid travel, Alba scoops up a pebble from the road. More than once, she seems about to hurl the stone into an alley, just to stop the crawling sensation of being watch, but each time reconsiders; clearly, the VIera seems more wary of what might take offense to her action.

Ka'len grunts in responce to Marduke's words, but only nods his agreement. Though he glances at the clock he presses on towards the armory while a hand rests on the hilt of one of his swords, the fingers twitching occasionally while the back of his neck prickles.

Remi's own fingers twitch as he moves as well, the Bard utmost prepared to hurl a fireball or two if something decides to jump out and attack them, his eyes shifting around as he keeps a close watch on his surroundings while making sure to stay near the others. And at Marduke's comment, he just nods a bit, frowning deeply, not looking happy at all.

[ACTION] As the group nears the Armory building the creak and groan of timber ends with the shattering of wood and glass as one of the small houses collapses and falls forward into the street. Hissing and shrieking ghouls smolder in the sunlight and flail about wildly as a large shape looms in the wreckage. [ACTION]

Remi peers at the armory as he approaches it, closely studying its facade, as if trying to judge what dangers might lie within... But then he jumps a bit as that danger suddenly comes from a slightly different source. The Bard looking startled as he wheels around towards the collapsed building, eyes wide, and mouth opening as if ready to let out a yell... But instead, both those hands come up instead, fingers spread and palms outward. An orange glow rapidly spreading across each as he concentrates his magical energies, ready to hurl out twin fireballs right into the lumbering ghouls.

Ka'len steps slow as the sound of timber giving way due to time and the assaults of it's prisoners within... or perhaps without. He freezes then as the sound grows and then is followed by the shrieking ghouls. Turning around then he draws the recently aquired sword and then stops dead in his tracks, eyes locked onto the large shape. "Oh... hell."

Marduke jumps back his staff coming up defensivly as he curses under his breath, "By the..." Then quickly starts to chant words under his breath preparing a attack spell for whatever danger it is that is appearing before them, at least he clearly things there is a threat forming.

The moment the timbers begin to creak, Alba is in a fighting crouch, daggers drawn and flickering with dim white fire. When the building collapses, she launches herself toward the looming shape, waving the party toward the Armory. "Go! *GO!* I will not be long, and time is more precious than water!"

From the gloom a large Tree shambles through the wreckage of the house. It's bark twisted into a snarling face as skeletal corpses hang from the roopes in it's bare branchs. Those that care to think about it would recognize this as the tree that used to be behind the Sherriff's office... As Alba rushes forward the Tree swings it's branchs sending 3 of the hanging corpses in her direction, the hanging forms shrieking and swinging rusting swords at her wildly.

Marduke is not really in the tree reconizing mood, but does take notice of one thing. "Tree with corpses?" Yet does not lose focus on his concentration of his spell as he steps back and holds up his hand with a current of electricity down it, "Right on it, stay alive." He offers to Alba letting off the thunder spell, and then turning to start towards the armory again.

Alba's lunge carries her forward into the radius of the corpses' swords. Twice, the rusted blades find purchase in her flesh, opening long, ragged cuts that must hurt like mad, but the Viera's eyes are locked onto the twisted wooden mask of the tree itself. With a snarl, she gathers herself and leaps forward, seeking to drive her weapons deep into the tree's bark, and provide a point on which to swing further up into its branches.

Ka'len blanches for a moment as Alba leaps forward and then he shouts to Remi, "go after Marduke!" As the viera is bloodied he races in after her, unwilling to let her risk life and limb alone. His own blade is out and it swings towards one of the dangling skeletons while he growls out, "got your back."

Remi stares up at the tree, still wide-eyed, and almost freezing up a moment as the monster charges for them, swinging corpes around... But then, just as he's about to act, wanting to hurl a fireball at that tree- it's made of wood, afterall- he's forced to hold off as Alba charges into it... Not wanting to risk setting her on fire too. And his eyes flick to Ka'Len right after as the young swordsman shouts that 'order', nodding sharply in response, before he turns to run right after Marduke.

The thunder spell strike the trunk and the monster gives a roar of rage. Alba's blades digging into the bark of the trunk but it's clear that damaging this beast will be difficult. Ka'len's blade strikes home with a flash of light as it sheers one of the swinging corpses in half with a single stroke. The remaining two swing back around to lash out at Alba once more, the tree itself begining to thrash and try to dislodge the viera. Several ropes lashing out and curling around of the still thrashing ghouls.. turning and hurling it at the running Marduke and Remi. The shrieking missle hitting the ground a few yards ahead of them and almost litterally exploding into flames as the esposure to sunlight takes it's toll on the wretched creature.

Marduke grunts as he reaches the armory and fumbles to pull out the key. Taking a few deep breaths as he does so to calm himself from the sudden rush of battle. He glances back to Remi, "We need to take care of those first." Motioning up with a hand he chants up a fireball himself and lobes it at one, "By Fire be burned foul beast!" Glancing towards the tree a moment and frowning and still holding onto the keys.

"Wretched thing!" Alba spits, yanking one dagger out to fend off the hanged men's swords,locking her legs around the branch to better keep her in place as the tree begins to sway from side to side. "We must bring this creature to the sun, swordsman! Little else will matter to it!"

Ka'len flicks a speedy glance towards Alba then he peers up at the sky for a moment before looking back to her, "when the dust settles it'll be in the light, but until then we can try and lure it away from the rubble." He ducks quickly and then makes another slash with his sword at one of the skeletons still being strung around and then his eyes widen as another corpse is launched towards the other two men, "watch your heads!!"

Remi skids to a halt, almost sliding onto his butt, as there's suddenly a flaming, flailing ghoul right infront of him... The Bard looking startled, but still having the presence of mind to fight, rather than opt for the flight option. The bunnyboy swinging his hand towards it, his palm briefly lighting up, and hurling a fireball straight at its chest, to join Marduke's, noting that it seems to be sensitive to fire. Yelling back at Ka'Len meanwhile, "Got it!"

The ghoul is struck with the fireball and collapases into a smoking heap. Ka'len's strike shears through another of the swinging skeletons sending it falling to pieces. By now the tree has lurched itself out into the street, the dangling ropes extending and smashing through the windows of nearby homes to drag more ghouls screaming into the daylight, now swinging these new smoldering bludgeons at Ka'len while more ropes seek out the Viera clinging to it's branches. The ropes seeking to wrap around her limbs and neck.

Marduke just shakes his head slowly, "Remi, we are going to have to take care of that tree before we do anything else. The faster we remove that the faster we get done with the armory. Burn it and aim for the base is my suggestion." Starting towards the tree with his voice going low and chanting, holding up his hand as lightning cackles around his arm. It is his better spell as he is far more skilled in it then fireball, and aims it at the feet of the tree, "Thunder!"

The first rope that curls around her wrist, Alba tugs and strains against... to no avail. Narrowing her eyes, she winds the rope further about her arm, getting a secure grip... THen with her other hand she yanks out the second dagger, pushing off with her feet as hard as she can to avoid the other grasping coils, and use her body weight to -- hopefully -- jerk the tree a bit further towards the daylight.

Ka'len's eyes widen as more homes are smashed and more ghouls drug out. He gets hit a couple times and ends up spinning around completely, his sword held in close.. and luckily the next which would have struck him is impaled on the blade. Ka'len looks down then up before quickly lifting a foot to kick the ghoul away before it ignites him or explodes. The young man makes another strike at a passing rope and it's undead weaponry before getting hit in the shoulder from behind and stumbling forward and away from the incoming magical strikes.

Remi glances at Marduke, and then just nods, turning away from the crumbling ghoul to face the tree again... Watching for a brief moment to see his other comrades struggle with it, and frowning deeply at the sight, before he runs forward a bit and aims both his hands up... Those palms glowing again before he hurls out twin, swirling orbs of fire, aiming right at the tree's top branches- above Alba- to try and set its crown on fire.

The tree now stands in the middle of the street, sunlight not seeming to bother it much as the thunderbolt strikes again blowing off chunks of bark and exposing the black-veined rotting wood beneath it. Remi's fireball ignites the upper branchs severing several of the ropes including those seeking to entable Alba. As the last of the skeletal corpses is swumg towards Alba there's a blue flash and the sound of a gunshot and the rope is severed dropping the skeleton limply to the ground. Two more flashes striking the side of the treet blowing more chunks of bark and wood from it's trunk. Ka'len manages to stumble out of range of the swinging ghouls only to see the blue shade of the Sheriff walk past him. Rifle in hand.

Marduke smiles for a brief moment, "Aim for the rotted wood under the bark there!" He calls out as he holds up his arms to start another spell, then pausing a moment at the sight of the sheriff and blinks. A quick shake of his head as he starts to chant a fireball spell, "Good call Remi." Then aims his fireball for the exposed underwood.

Alba's dagger shears through the rope around her wrist, putting her in a controlled tumble toward the ground. The moment she lands, her feet scrape against the dust of the road as she charges in again; this time, both daggers sink into the wood to one side of the deep crack, and she throws every last ounce of strength into hauling it outward, hoping to widen the crack to a proper target. "STRIKE, REMI, SHAMAN! STRIKE NOW!"

Ka'len staggers free of the swarm and his eyes turn to the oncoming lawman. They widen for a moment and he starts to raise his blade before pausing as he takes note of exactly what the sherrif is doing. Turning back towards the tree then he nods in agreement with Marduke's statement before running back in to shove the blade into the exposed rotted heart of the wood and then roll out of the way of the oncoming magical attacks and reactions.

Remi gives an amazed glance at the approaching spirit sheriff... But he has no time to gawk, really, still having a tree to kill. And with that, he focuses all his magical energies, the air actually shimmering around his hands for a moment, before he hurls another set of bright, orange balls of firey doom. Aiming them straight at that exposed, rotting trunk, just like Marduke is doing.

As the cracks widen and split the attacks take thier toll. Ka'len's blessed blade thrust deep into the heart of the tree causes it to shriek and thrash, the lightning and fireballs impacting and stripping away even more bark and blasting chunks from the heartwood. Without a word the sheriff takes Aim and fires another glimmering blue shot from the rifle into the rotting heart splitting the hellish beast down the middle, the halves begining to smolder in the street. He tips his hat to the group and just turns and walks away, fading from sight after a few steps.

Return to The Nightmare Manuscript