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A Delivery Disrupted

Started by TreeFolk, April 12, 2015, 11:12:51 PM

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TreeFolk

Sweat beaded on Keita's forehead as she concentrated on the magic surrounding the lock, using her own natural magic to work its way through. It was a longer process than might take a mage familiar with this particular magic, but her own method still worked. Her hands were still pressed against the door when they swung open violently, toppling her into the adjoining room onto her hands and knees.

The ringing in the room was phenomenal, loud enough for even Trest to hear. In the center of the room stood a podium, and upon it was a large book. Unable to bear it anymore, Kieta clapped her hands over her ears as laughter echoed throughout the room. A darkness bore down upon them and the room chilled, and soon the laughter was joined by horrifying screaming.

The book called to her, seductive and dark. It promised protection and power, a shield against the horrible sounds and vibrations echoing through the room. At first she attempted to resist it, but as she turned her head she saw Trest beginning to approach the book in a dreamlike trance. "Trest..." she called out, half-heartedly, voice meek and unconvincing as she, too, rose to her feet and allowed herself to be pulled towards the book.

Trest and Kieta stood side-by-side in front of the book, and both would reach out to grasp the book of their own accord, like reaching out to a trusted companion.
Hundreds of tiny clawed hands leapt from the binding of the book, digging down into the skin of their forearms. A choked scream of pain tore from Kieta's throat, her green eyes opening wide as flashes of maddened masses of people clawed through her mind. Destruction and terror reigned supreme for an infinite amount of time, taking hold of their minds viciously.

They would not recall the pain or the images they had seen. As quickly as it had taken hold, the book released both Trest and Kieta, appearing innocuous where they held it together. Neither would recall how they had come to take hold of the book, nor the terrible things they had seen, nor how their arms had come to be bleeding and pierced a hundred times over. All they would experience would be a vague feeling of forgetfulness and a heaviness of spirit.

Kieta blinked her eyes, confusion sinking in. Why was she panting so laboriously? Why was her heart hammering in her chest as if in fear? With shaking fingers, Kieta pried open the book to read the first page. 

Tome of Madness

The second page appeared to have the authors of the book written down, a list of names scratched out until her eyes landed on the last two.

Kieta Fiodh
Trest Arristaire

She read the next page:

We are the Tome of Madness. Those who touch us, own us, as we own them until the end.

Panic seemed to set in as she flipped through the pages of the tome, holding it so that Trest could see the pages, too. Each chapter titled with the names of the other authors, and each chapter ended with the symbol of a skull and cross. Finally, she reached the chapter she had dreaded.

Chapter 25: Kieta Fiodh & Trest Arristaire

She watched in horror as an invisible hand scrawled in dark orange ink across the page.

Kieta and Trest meet us for the first time. It was not a pleasant meeting. They open the pages of our book, and they begin to question the meaning of things... They will take us to another and jumble the chapters, but we will be reunited to finish what they have begun unwittingly. They should know that each time they open us will lead them closer and closer to their ending or our ending. In fact, as we are writing...

Kieta closed the book quickly and released it, backing up and drawing a hand down her face, a dark sense of dread falling over her. "We... We should..." She stared down on the tome, "We'll give it to the Boar. Let the book take others while we figure out how to destroy it. Perhaps it will not return to us until late in our lives? Perhaps somebody before us will destroy it?" She looked to Trest, worry clear across her face.

visualspice

It was like a dream, and as it faded and he returned in a fog, he stared down at his arm, as if waiting for it to crumble away, but he didn't know why. It was like there was an echo of a pain long passed. However, he never recalled hurting his hand badly enough to warrant it. He shook it off, unwittingly shaking his hand by the wrist.

But his 'ghost pain' was soon the least of his concerns, for when the book began to speak to them, his face scrunched up as he made a decisive, "Ew." He looked towards Kieta, shaking his head.

"Can't say I'd imagine my name would find its way into a book this way." He gave an empty laugh. "ALthough I'm certain my name would only have remained in books of thieves and heirs with no claims."

He felt silly for his attempted jest, but he couldn't help himself. He was so anxious it made him dance in his place.

"Eh... our names are in this thing... and I got a bad feeling about all of this... but do we really want to just... hand this over to the Boar?" he asked, looking over at her with genuine uncertainty. Wouldn't it be safer with us?" Though he had almost forgotten the collars... and the 'other' curse. He sighed.

"We don't have a choice."
Maybe if they passed the book on.... whatever knew curse they seemed to acquire would fade like their memories of it. But he had a feeling neither would truly go away. He shivered.

"Here.. why don't I take it."
But he really wanted to say was 'Let's dump this off a cliff'.

Once the book was secure enough, he took the lead in getting them the hell out of there and was relieved when no one was in the room once they exited.

"I'm not sure if we ought to leave this door open or unlocked... but I'm pretty sure we're in trouble enough as is so.... Let's get the hell out of here!" An dhe put on his best polished smile and headed out the door, back into the moonlit gardens and was heading straight for the gates. They couldn't go out the front door. No way in hell they wouldn't be caught. THeir best bet was up and over the fence. And once there, he gestured, "Ladies first?"
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

TreeFolk

While the piercing magical vibrations had stabilized, it did not leave Kieta feeling any better about having the book with them. It made her skin crawl, as if was watching them as they made their way towards the back fence. Her eyes continued to flicker back to the book where he held it, her fingers itching to open the book again against her own will. Something deep within her wanted to use the book, to uncover its secrets, to see if it continued to write their story as they passed through the gardens. Was it recording their every movement? But if she opened it again, wouldn't she be placing Trest and herself closer to the ending of their chapter and perhaps demise? That's what the book had hinted at, at least. Still, the book seemed to call to her, asking her to uncover its magic and its power. What did the book do, other than challenge those who opened it with a death wish?

Her feet slowed as they reached the fence, feeling a burning sensation on her inner wrist where the pain had been before. Rolling over her arm, she looked down at her arm. Thin and difficult as it was to see in the moonlight, she could make out the faint symbol of a quill. And she could see the faint outline of an inkwell on Trest's wrist... What could it mean? She brought herself out of her reverie when Trest urged her to jump the fence.

Kieta used her magic to sprout strong, sturdy vines up the fence to make it easier for them to clear it. Climbing swiftly to the top, she balanced low along the top and reached down to help Trest with the book. She wasn't worried about him clearing the wall unaided- he was a thief. Once she made sure he was clear of the top, she gave the book back to him... Perhaps he didn't feel the pull of the magic like she did, or he was more likely to resist it. Once they were both clear on the other side, she took his hand so that they could run off, assuming that he knew best where to go. This was where he was from, after all, and not her.

She asked after him as they escaped, her voice quiet, "We have to give it to the Boar, don't we? Or we die with collars around our necks... And then we will at least have until the book finishes with her or her boss, right? And who says they don't destroy it before it comes back to us?" A frown creased her features, "But what does this book do, other than curse people?"

visualspice

Trest gave an irritated scratch at his collar.
"Hey, you... you're thinking too much," he told her with a pat to her shoulder. "If anything, we're still not in the clear yet, alright? So let's figure out a quick way to escape." And his eyes searched the darkness. "There.. I think the stables were this way." He gave her a flashy grin, illuminating the whites of his teeth by light of hte moon. "Stealing a horse would be our best bet."
He gave a poke to her nose then gestured forward. "Come on. Before someone realizes we're not lovers in the night going for a stroll but con artists with curses on our heads."

But even as he tried to play it off as if it were nothing, he couldn't shake off the feeling. His fingers itched immensely to open the book, to leaf through the pages, and see just what was to happen next-
and if the text that they'd read, would still be or become, true.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

TreeFolk

Kieta made as if to argue with him, but swallowed her words. He was right... She was overthinking it already before they were even out of their current danger. Hopping from one dangerous situation to another was becoming so habituous that it almost made her forget what was at stake... Their lives. The book nor the Boar would be about to kill them if they let the guards catch them.

"I guess you're right..." She was beginning to trust in his judgment and to trust in him overall. His fate was her fate now, after all, and they were becoming more and more entangled. First the collars and their odd enslavement by the Boar, and now the curse of this mysterious book.

She slipped her hands into his as she picked up the pace, hoping they would just look as if they were rushing off to a hiding spot to do what most couples did this late at night. His hand felt calloused and warm around hers, which felt cold in the crisp night air. The gown did not offer much in the way of warmth, and his warmth felt comforting and took the edge off her chill.

When they reached the stables she really began to fully realize what it meant to be in the dress... It meant that she had none of her weapons and none of her clothing, just the dress on her back. Turning to look at Trest, she whispered quickly, still holding his hand "You didn't happen to have a bag with our normal clothes and our things stashed anywhere nearby, would you?"

visualspice

He paused to regard her, brows raised.
"I might be good..." he went on, smirk lop sided. "But I'm not that good. All we've got are the clothes on our back. Now come on." He gestured with his head towards the horses as they crept hastily through the stables.

"Let's hope we steal a fast one, eh?" And then he paused to consider something as he turned to Kieta. "One horse.. or two?"
One horse seemed viable, so the two couldn't easily get separated...
But he also knew it wasn't always wise to travel that way. But part of him itched at the notion of not having her that close. After all, his hand was still holding her's.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

TreeFolk

Kieta slowed her pace as they passed the stalls, her eyes expertly scrutinizing the horses. While she couldn't exactly converse with animals, she could get a pretty good feel of them. "One horse. Fast, strong, nimble... With good endurance." She spoke more to herself than to him as she focused, finding it harder to decipher the qualities of the horses than she normally would have. Normally she could use her ears, listen to the strength of their heartbeats and the depth of their lungs, but at the moment her ears were still feeling damaged from the damned book.

A small frown creased her mouth as she closed her eyes, tilting her head to the side as she paused in front of a stall with a tall roan. "Not good endurance..." She moved forward a few more stalls before stopping in front of another stall, this one with a dark bay gelding. He was of average height and build, though the muscles of his shoulders and the density of his bones told her he would tolerate long distances on uneven grounds. She closed her eyes and tilted her head again, breathed deeply as she listened to his heartbeat and lungs with her muffled ears. "This one should work."

She opened the stall and stepped in, extending her free hand out to let the gelding sniff it. Finally letting go of Trest's hand, she looked around and found a nail on the ground. Picking it up, she tore the long skirt of the dress until she could tie it off between her legs. She plucked up the bridle hanging on the hook outside of the horse's stall, though she would have preferred to ride without one, it would look odd if anyone were to spot them riding a horse without halter or bridle. Gently urging the gelding to take the bit, she pulled the bridle over his ears and buckled it up before leaping up and onto his back.

Extending her arm out to Trest to help him up, she gave him a wary smile. "Ready?"

visualspice

Trest's eyes were uneasy as the woman took her time in selecting a ride. To him, a horse was a horse, but he couldn't help but find himself impressed as she moved about and made her selection. However, when she was ripping her skirts, he gave a whistle, and then gave her a lop sided grin when she hoisted herself onto the saddle.

He planted one hand against the saddle and looked up at her.
"You know... in Connlaoth, men tend to lead the horses." Meaning.. he was waiting for her to sit back a bit further on the saddle so he could take the lead. After all, he knew this land well enough- even if this weren't exactly his property, or territory.
CHECK OUT MY LATEST SITE EVENT!
The Never King- a king erased from history because of his dabblings in dark magic (among other things...) suddenly because a present day problem when an unlikely group of adventurers 'awakens' him from the grave. You can read more about the event on the plotting page here and information page here!

I ran the Connlaothian civil war. For more info, check out it's page here. The war has now turned into a 'Cold War' with it's plotting page found here. It's no longer a huge site wide event but the scars are there.

My currently active characters:
Grand Duke Calent Allarrick // Aella Coleridge // Blaith Harmond // Kella Harmond  // Hope Allarrick // Krah Mordeth // Mehtwald Allaen // Zannrick Austengarde // Katahnia Harmond // Jinai Rinstgate  // Leif Arrant // Dekka Blade  // Kentamin Dhelsbar  // Dahnny Quills  // Victoria Armani  // Ohna Waitsmith  // Jarrett L'isson  // Trest Arristaire  // Clayton "Jack-in-the-Box" Wilson // Cullen  //  Vels // Shay // Killian  // Fluke  // Mellesta // Danning // Petrin // Gavriella // Dornsley // Miersck // Aelith // Iyla // Angel // Ellarrah // Persea Ah'nikh // Phone // Jace // Ne'friss // Opus Dey // Lord Amalin // Ehvren // Narophne // Edward // Dehzrehn // Chase Vander // Valeska // Jayo //Layana // Rezvek // Red Sun // Harmanaija // Mirajah // Liana // Oska //Hay-gee // Beatrice // Ninn // Dao'bachpa //Pao'orha // Mae'leena // Davishire // Davina// Gemla // Hyathia //Thethysis // Urd // Missendria // Ina-herit // Feni'tat // Phen // Evelyn // Kell // Striker // Ithica // Connor // Vlint // The Gambler // Lord Aegis // Thomas // Quince // Althea // Vaeyna // Ihlsepar Asawa'eht // Krazxick // Djchastese // Katoma // Na'o // Moonlight // Bluesong //Caollette // Artemis // Arrick // Evetta //Jackal // Winston //Lenny // Anphis // Hebara //Ibra // Dre'hn // Veride // Arthund // Kao

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