Dylan of the Hunt

The village that you're headed toward is quite far out. In the middle of nowhere and far from any other villages that might have offered refuge, aid, or socialization to those that called the remote village home. You make your way through the forest toward it and eventually you stumble upon... An airship. A massive airship just parked out in the middle of the forest. It's so big that your mind swims with the size of it wondering how it ever flew - if it ever flew. It's resting quite comfortably now though it looks like its been tended to so that it /could/ take off again someday.

You make your way toward the airship, and up into its bough because it seems that somehow /this/ is the village that you were sent to find. There's children everywhere. You count a dozen at least, and likely twice that many. The deck of the ship has a garden on it growing various herbs and plants some of which you don't immediately recognize. The children run the length and breadth of the deck as though never considering that an adult might tell them to stop playing. You also become increasingly aware that these kids are not just playing with one another. They're playing with magic. Some teleport from one place to another. Some send colorful sprays at one another. One douses his sibling with a summoned swell of water and then goes running right past you.

It's about this time that you notice the adults. Or some of them. Two extraordinarily handsome men are watching the children play whilst lounging around on the deck chatting with one another. The first is a short man with slicked-back black hair and bright blue eyes. His companion is a touch taller, sporting hair that is long on top and cut short around the sides. He's wearing clothes stamped with an unfamiliar insignia proudly. The two have long since noticed your arrival, but they don't stop talking to one another until you've drawn close enough to hear them talking over the sound of the children playing. Then they stop and wait for you to approach them.

GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Religion: (10)+6: 16
GAME: Hun'rar rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (8)+11: 19
GAME: Acedia rolls perform/string: (20)+8: 28

Malik walks beside Seldan, keeping pace as he approaches the airship, glancing over his shoulder at the two unexpected arrivals. "I thought that we were going to keep this -small-? So as to not look like an invading war party?" he mentions to the paladin, though most of his attention is upon the enormous airship, the children playing with magic causing a bit of a smile, and a more-than-curious glance at the two human men overseeing the mirth.

GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Erendriel rolls knowledge/religion: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Iuitl rolls Knowledge/Religion: (3)+5: 8

Acedia bumps into several people of the party, as her attention is elsewhere. "Sorry!", she says several times, and yelps but once as she gets underfoot and trod on accidentally. As they get up to the top of the airship, and see children running about, and two gentlemen having tea or something, the wee woman pulls her violin from its case. While others approach the two men, the Gobbo eyes the children, and begins to play something bouncy. A jig one might hear in pubs and bars, as old as the hills themselves, it seems. So Acedia shall amuse herself out of the way, for a short while.

Mikilos isn't sure what he was expecting, but this isn't it. The Grey clad wizard watches the children playing with powerful magics with high interest, but turns his focus to the adults, nodding politely when he gets close.

Hun'rar unfortunately is something of a war party all by himself but tries to make up for it by smiling wide. He did discover that there was a son so wouldn't miss this trip if he could help it. His helmet is in the crook of his arm as he takes in the magic all around, even waving to the children.

Iuitl attends the group on this little journey but keeps to herself for the length of it. Her familiar, a simple raven, sits on her shoulder. Once they reach the airship, she makes a face of animated confusion, lips peeled back and head craning to look up at it as they approach. And then they step aboard, and find children whipping spells at each other. She coughs a couple times into her sleeve, then makes a little sniffing noise. Then she chooses to ignore the chaos. Softskin cultures look bizarre to her sometimes but it's best not to make a fuss.

Iuitl squints at the insignia quite obviously when she sees it, trying to identify it, but is unlikely to remember anything. Her raspy voice grinds out, "Peace on your nest," in greeting to the two men. She looks to the others, seeming a bit taken aback by people being hesitant about why they're here. "Just ask them," she grouses. "We're here looking for someone, yes?" Grunt.

As the group gets closer, the playing children draw a warm and easy smile from the paladin, one that fades as Malik speaks. "I had had that in mind," he answers, suggesting that such a large group had not been his plan. That is said quietly, though, and when the adults are clearly making themselves available to approach, he will step up as well. "Peace to you and yours," he adds to the traditional sith-makar greeting, looking around at the children. "But it looks as if you have found it. Tell me, masters - is the name Dylan Hunt known to you?"

Erendriel gets good use of her broom, flying above and beside the others as they make their way toward the airship. "Well that's bigger than this," she giggles as they approach. She looks at the people, the adults looking at them, and gives them a cheery wave. But she remains quiet as the others express their concerns and have additional knowledge.

The children pay you all little mind at first, waving and skipping by without paying much attention. One might think that strangers of your calliber walk through here every day. That changes when Acedia begins to play her song. Then the kids are all over her, gaggling around the musician like she's the best thing since someone sliced bread. They tug at her clothes and call out to her, trying everything to entice her to play a little longer. The moment it /seems/ that she might stop playing they all roar for an encoure.

Ahead of you the two men seem amused by the affair, nodding politely to the group of you, but saying nothing that might disturb the music. When the song finally comes to an end they both clap with enthusiasm, and the children start to... well attack is an unkind word but it /is/ what they do. They basically pounce Acedia.

"ULFRUN!" The shorter man calls out loudly, rolling his eyes and calling out for... Oh my. He's huge. He's covered in snake tattoos that cover his arms to across his back and down the other side again. They're so lifelike that... did one just move? Ulfrun appears from the galley of the ship and moves toward the children, picking them up willy-nilly to free the poor goblin from them.

"Excuse me," He grumbles, passing by with more grace than you'd give credit a guy who looks like he /has/ to be giantborn. Only he doesn't have the features for it. He carts off the bulk of the children and they seem more than happy now to leave you all in peace.

"I am Dylan Hunt." Offers the shorter of the two men remaining, his voice a smooth tone that you could easily fall asleep to. His companion seems to become a little more cautious at the question his own blue eyes seeming to take you in more seriously.

"And I'm Drake."

Mikilos nods politely. "Mikilos Mithralla, of Alexandria, originally of Silvermoon. A pleasure to meet you Dylan Hunt, Drake." Nodding again to each, the elf steps back a little, letting Seldan speak. This is really his adventure, Miki is just along for the ride.

The irritable archer knows better than to try and do the talking. He's far from the diplomat of the party, instead just hanging back and letting others do the speaking. Though the ages of the men get them an even more curious glance as they make their introductions, a little smile finally forming there.

Erendriel is much in the same position as Mikilos, she will give a polite bow. "Erendriel of Sendor," she will say to introduce herself, but again, staying back, letting those talk who feel it appropriate to do so.

Iuitl grunts in greeting. She doesn't give her name to the pair, as more of a tagalong to the group. She coughs into her sleeve again and finds a place to sit down, a bit exhausted from the walking about. She keeps her eyes out, with her familiar also keeping his own eyes peeled.

Hun'rar puts a hand to his chest and does a half bow. "Hun'rar De Villefort. Warden of Gilead and Dragon Knight of Alexandria." he says by way of introduction. "This is an amazing place you have here, powerful ambient magic." he says taking it all in with a smile.

Acedia squeaks in surprise as she is suddenly mobbed. Totally not expected behaviour, by the children, that much is obvious in the Gobbo's expression and demeanor. To her credit, she avoids smashing children with her violin, or worse, pulling out a dagger or two.

She looks rather discombobulated by the time the children are hauled off. Looking to Dylan and Drake, she offers a bow. "My apologies... I did not expect.. that outcome. I had only thought to provide some distraction for the children while you talk."

Seldan looks over at the gobber as she gets mobbed, surprised, but laughs lightly at the children's antics, and sobers only as they get hauled away. Not upset, just - perhaps a bit crestfallen. He turns his attention back to the adults, then. "Seldan Padaryn, of Eluna's Silver Guard, lately of Alexandria." The heavy lilt in his words suggests somewhere in the Kingdom of the Lion as his origin, though. "Alexandria finds itself with a dilemma, and - it is my hope that you might be able to help. It may be that none other can."

He lowers his eyes a little, briefly. "A plague assaults the city of Alexandria, a parasitic ooze whose origin we have traced to a white tower created by the wizard Zeheir. Is this name known to you?" He watches both men carefully for their responses.

"The kids are a little bit of a handful. They take after their adoptive grandmother." Dylan laughs, and Drake echoes the sound as though it's a private joke between them. Dylan glances around, clearly looking for something briefly. "Looks like she's playing with them, that's good. We're less likely to get sidetracked if she's not around. So."

Dylan's eyes meet each of yours briefly. The weight of their intensity is palpitable. This is the sort of man who knows the measure of other men. "You want to know about Zeheir." He shakes his head and settles back a little bit. "I don't know why, he hasn't been around for... hundreds of years. What's he mean to you?"

"There's a plague Dylan." Drake's ears seemed to have perked at that, his expression one of concern. "Whatever we can do to help you help yourselves we will."

Mikilos considers a moment. "To me, he's a genius who's creations are being abused to harm others." The elf frowns mildly. "A bit dismissive in person, but we were uninvited. Of course that was near a thousand years ago, I expect he changed somewhat as time passed from his perspective."

Erendriel takes a deep breath, meeting Dylan's inspection with a grin, and a tilt of her head. The talk of Zehier has her nodding to the men, head nodding toward Seldan and Mikilos, as to let them continue to explain.

Hun'rar nods "We are not here to pass judgement, only see to the health and wellbeing of the people of Alexandria. We would deeply appreciate any help we can get and of course or more than willing to help however we can." he says politely.

Something relaxes in Seldan as the one, at least, seems to be willing to help, and he lets out a breath he did not realize he was holding. "Zeheir would seem to be the one who created this plague, perhaps in an effort to stop another one. I had hoped that perhaps you might have inherited something of his notes or research, that might give us insight into how to cure it, how to stop this thing. Failing that, I would hear whatever you can tell us of him and his research."

Malik doesn't mind being inspected, it seems. He doesn't even move, keeping their gaze as they look him over. Unlike the others, he's still not saying much, letting the others do the majority of the talking. Instead, he's watching the other two men as closely as they're watching the party.

The Gobbo smiles at the thought of just how... rambunctious the grandmother must have been, and she will simply settle down cross-legged at the feet of Drake and Dylan. She nods solemnly to Dylan. "Yes. The plague." She pulls back the lids of one of her eyes, showing off the black sclera. "This used to be white. Then the plague came... they managed to cure me, but I was left with this. Others have far worse than a little colour change."

Acedia gestures with her hands. "All of us have been affected in some manner or another." She peers at the others as they speak, before she continues. "Zeheir might not have created the plague, but he may have gone... too far to try and cure it. The story I had said that his wife contracted the plague and that he went to... the longest lengths to try and save her. And now, it appears the plague has returned, someone ELSE is using his tower, and vampires and others are helping to spread the plague. And it goes deeper still, it seems."

"You best tell them everything you can Dylan." Drake crosses his arms over his chest, but it seems that his words are unnecessary because Dylan himself is already nodding.

"There's not as much about him that I can offer you. I wasn't exactly raised by him after all. I don't know anything about the man he was before he became a lich. I know that he was a great man before that but after... He was consumed by a need to gain as much power as he could. He thought he could defeat death and force my mother to come back from her grave." Dylan shakes his head ruefully and spreads his hands. "I'm the one that stopped him, me and my companions. We were adventurers like yourselves back then; each of us for our own reasons. But we stopped him in his tracks and made sure that he wouldn't hurt anyone else."

Dylan crosses his arms once more and seems to delve into thought. "I know that the plague that killed my mother was likely caused by the very magics that my father was using in order to do his magical research; but I don't know anything about the research. If someone else has it... there's no knowing the harm they can do with it."

He looks away, watching Ulfrun play with the children. "I do know that the source of the product of that research lies in pure magic. I know he managed to distil it, and use it to actually Create things."

Mikilos frowns mildly, never having a love for the undead, and less so recently, but nods. "When was this? With the Shard Tower, the timing of events is... complex... but the better we can grasp the timeline of events, the better we can trace what caused what, and hopefully then find cures."

GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (16)+17: 33

"My condolences on your loss.", the Gobbo says softly. "It must have been hard to know that he was self-destructing like that." She peers up at Mikilos, and nods, looking back to Dylan. "Do you have any means to access his tower? A back door? A room that we could teleport to? That might allow us to get to his research. Or the people behind the current spread of the plague." Acedia blinks slowly a few times.

“You both look awfully young for uhm... your apparent ages."

Hun'rar nods in agreement to Mikilos' question. "The better our understanding the more chance we have to deal with this. I understand some of the complexities of the plague through my studies but that only goes so far." he adds with a shrug, impressive in the large pauldrons.

Seldan had been nodding agreement with Acedia's words, as she puts things into words that he had only hinted at. Relief floods visibly through him as Dylan says the word lich. He doesn't have to dance around or explain carefully. They already know. It is Dylan's final words, though, that send his eyes wide as saucers. "Zeheir tapped the Source itself?!" he bursts out, startled out of his usual polite reserve. His eyes narrow, then, but not at Dylan or Drake. "And in so doing created...that."

He nods at Acedia again. "She speaks truly. Did you perhaps enter his tower at all?"

"It might have been harder if I had actually known him." Offers Dylan to Acedia with a wry smile. "And thank you! It's thanks to time travel and a /very/ unfortunate trip through the fae lands. Time moves far differently there, not even mentioning..." He shudders suddenly and Drake echoes him, though the second man glances toward the children as if something over there has his attention at least a little.

"I can't say I rightly know the timeline anymore. We moved /so/ much through time that I'm not even sure how old I actually /am/. To tell you the truth..." He looks at Drake and Drake slowly draws his attention away from the children. It's Drake that finishes the thought.

"We're not actually from this plane of existence at all. Neither is Zehier."

Erendriel finds the story incredibly sad, giving what she's seen, and what she's inferring about what happened in between. She bites her lip hard, squirming a bit, looking at the pair like she wants to give them a giant hug.

Mikilos blinks slowly, not utterly surprised, but didn't know that. "...what Plane then?"

Acedia looks pleased to finally be hearing some answers. She cants her head, her face scrunching up a little. "So... Zehier was already going to live a long time? Was becoming a lich entirely unnecessary? Have you heard of... the Mistress? Or Kol the vampire?"

Malik watches something out of the corner of his eye, though when the pair explain that they aren't from this Plane, he finally speaks. "That explains a lot." In an accent of a people that suggests he knows entirely too well the strange flows of time. Glancing over to the children, he asks the men, "Are they all yours, then?"

Hun'rar ponders the answers given deeply. "Makes sense... males sense..." he says to himself "Is that also the source of the ambient magic here?" he says gesturing around.

Erendriel will chime in to aid Acedia, gesturing to her. "She refers to Yukia and Kol Demontry, an outsider and a vampire who seem to be taking over the tower, and using it as a base to attack the people of Alexandros, including the city. If you happen to know anything about them, or recognize their names, it could help. It's unlikely, but if we didn't ask we'd regret it."

Dylan shrugs at Seldan's question. "I don't know the details, I'm not a sorceror so I couldn't tell you what he /did/. Just that he could Create new things. Give them life. We did enter the tower, but it was briefly at the beginning of our campaign. All I got for it was to meet him for an hour as a young man. It was... nice to know him before he was a lich, but I didn't learn anything that you probably haven't already worked out for yourselves."

Drake holds up a hand toward Mikilos. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let him answer that one. You guys don't really need to know, and the knowledge is... private." He starts to say more when a beautiful woman exits the galley, bringing him a baby whom he instantly softens toward. They kiss briefly, and he nods a half-farewell to you before following her toward the others playing.

"I apologize but he's right about that last bit. And you're right about Zehier. He shouldn't have fallen to the wayside but I think... I think that our own meddling did it. We warned him in the past that something terrible was going to happen in the future and I think he wanted to do anything he could to evade that fate. Instead he slipped right into it. I haven't heard of any mistress or that particular vampire either. Sorry. I wish I could be of more help to you. Maybe if we hadn't hidden out here; if we'd been part of the world we would have known something useful to you."

Seldan glances over at Malik as he speaks. Although the news of none of them being from the material plane does indeed explain a few things, the idea that Zeheir was creating things ...." His entire mien has opened a good deal, his focus renewed. "Create new things. Give them life." A convulsive shudder ripples through him at that very idea. "You have told us much already, and for that you have my thanks. In your travels, did you perhaps encounter the name Eclavdran?"

Hun'rar pinches the bridge of his nose "Time travel, I dearly hope that it's not required to fix this thing. Sounds like a horrible mess before we get involved. If they are created through magic we should be able to unmake them as well, or transform them into something else." he ponders half to himself.

Mikilos frowns mildly at the lack of answer, but nods. It's likely not actually relevant to the problem at hand. "....to your knowledge, did Zehier work with anyone? An apprentice or partner or someone else who might have notes or information that might be helpful?"

Acedia stretches lightly and nods to the two Ds. "We still need your help. Some way to get to the tower. Some way to meet him again before his change. Some way to battle the plague." She goes silent for a time. "His golems were alive?" She blinks. "Did... did he create the wargolems?"

Malik looks at Drake as he cuts Dylan off, something in the man's bearing tensing a bit. "I don't remember your name being mentioned in any records," he tells Drake. "Dylan's plenty. But not a Drake. Were you there as well?"

"The children?" Dylan glances toward the horde and laughs. "No! They're mostly Ulfrun's. He has two wives and a friend who likes to get him drunk a lot. The rest are adopted mostly, by Drake or by Eldarwen and Turin." He looks sad there briefly, and only grows more somber. "I left my one great love a lifetime and a dimention ago behind me."

He coughs suddenly and changes the subject. "The ambient magic is mostly the kids I think. Them and their grandma." He smiles softly, watching them play. They're clearly all a family even if none of the children are /his/. "Hey DRAKE! Do you know the name Yukia, Kol, or Eclavdran? He's the resident expert on stuff like that." Dylan explains this hastily as Drake turns from his talk with the woman and her child, finally turning to rejoin you.

"Yukia is an ice-demon. A powerful one, but not as powerful as Eclavdran. He's a duke of hell; a name I'm familiar with."

"I know my father didn't work with anyone. He didn't trust anyone toward the end. Nothing like an apprentice in any case. There was a demon but we killed it on it's natural plane of existence so it's not coming back." He seems slightly smug, and Drake straightens as if he approves.

"I was there! I'm not surprised that I'm not in the history books. Not with /this/ charmer around." Drake smacks Dylan's shoulder and the two laugh. "He makes googly eyes at one writer and we've got her writing sixteen books about him and forgetting the rest of us like we were never there!"

More seriously Dylan turns to Acedia and shrugs helplessly. "Some of them almost undoubtedly. All of them? Unlikely."

Mikilos nods. "To the best of our understanding, Yukia is in control of the Tower. I'm not certain Eclavdran's connection, though he used an artifact to learn many of its secrets. I suspect we'll need to destroy both before this is all over."

Erendriel goes wide-eyed. "Duke of hell? Yukia was chasing me. The magic didn't seem THAT powerful... maybe Yukia is just toying with us," she blurts out. "Or being used by someone else..."

Hun'rar narrows his eyes "Well it confirms a lot of theories I suppose and a proper factual account of the mission would be an excellent addition to the library in Alexandria. Very concerning." he adds.

Drake meets Erendriel's gaze seriously. "I can assure you of one thing, where there is a demon, there is /someone/ in charge. Someone pulling their strings. This Yukia isn't your 'mistress' she's serving them." He sounds certain of this.

Mikilos blinks, and perks slightly. "Snowflake scars, carved into the flesh of victims. I assume Yukia is the source, but do you know anything additional about them?"

"Even so?" Seldan murmurs to himself as he listens to all of the information being put out there. Erendriel gets a glance from him. "Eclavdran is. Sindri works for him. We have heard from neither of them of late, a thing I mislike. I would know why Eclavdran takes an interest in Zeheir's tower. I but know that he does, and I cannot say why. I think Yukia another matter." He nods to Drake as the man speaks. "Of that, I have little doubt."

The Gobbo nods to the acknowledgement that Zehier may have created a bunch of the wargolems. She looks to Mikilos and nods, "Yes, figuring out those tattoos may be another means to knowing more." She nods to Seldan then as well. "Are there other questions we have? We best ask them now, before this chance slips away."

"It seems that you all have your work cut out for you." Dylan smiles at you grimly. "Now, much as I like you all, as the goblin suggests... it's time for us to move along I think. We never intended to get involved here and it seems we'll have to leave to keep our peace. So if you'll disembark?" His tone is polite but utterly convincing.

Erendriel nods to Seldan. "I'll have to ask about Eclavdran later." And at that, she bows very politely to them, adding "Thank you for your help." Honoring their instruction, she'll get on her broom and get ready to fly. "You may have saved lives today."

Hun'rar nods "Thank you for your time. If you ever need assistance feel free to come visit Alexandria where there are many good people who will lend a hand." he says politely before making his way to the exit

Mikilos sighs. He'd love to stay and learn more... but he nods, and rises. "Thank you for your time and assistance."

Acedia bounces up then, and offers a deep bow. "Thank you for your assistance. It should give us insight on how to finally put paid to the plague and its fomenters." The violin comes up again, and she begins to play a cheerful, upbeat marching song.

Seldan's shoulders slump a bit, but he nods. "Very well. I yet have many questions, but ... I think that we will learn little more here. I am grateful for your time, and your information," he adds, turning his attention to the pair. "Protect the children, but know that should you find it within you to aid us, you need only speak. There are people suffering, among them my own mother." He fixes both of them with a serious, level gaze. "Peace be to you and yours." With that, he turns to disembark, looking over at Malik.

Dylan nods to you all, a farewell gesture and watches over you as you descend the airship. Once you are away, it lifts off suddenly and without warning. It rises into the air as it was made to do, and then... flies away. The gust of air nearly flattens you to the ground, but then it's gone only a deep depression in the place where it had been as proof that anything had been here at all. Gone the heros of ages past to some unknown destination.

Malik watches as the ship flies away. "Excellent," he mutters. "All we have to do is tap power forbidden to us by divine edict, while the best chance of us actually finding a cure flies away to lead idyllic lives of breeding and magical play. As if that will save them if the plague comes for them as well." He turns on a heel, shaking his head as he trots off.

Mikilos ponders for several moments, and shrugs. " I couldn't do much with coming out, but would everyone care to teleport back rather than walking?"

-End