[Game Thread] A Song of Silence

[Uruz]

Gwydion draws near to the homes on the outskirts as smoothly as water over rocks, barely disturbing the grass as he moves towards the centre of town where the gathering of people stand around the tentacled delivery service. He manages to flit effortlessly from wall to wall, keeping in constant shadow and out of direct view so well that even those of his companions on the hill top have trouble making him out at times. The brash swordsage manages to draw near to the action and can see that the people are gathered about with tears in their eyes and streaming down their faces as the children are led into the gaol by the haty-a, Matthias.



As Gwydion strains to make out anything of importance, a high keening wail echoes in the vaults of your minds as the egg-shaped flyers turn on mass to face the swordsage's hiding spot and their tentacles start to lash violently. The people look up in horror towards the warrior and a despairing look comes over thier faces and the face of Matthias flashes in anger with the sounded alarum.

[Evoles]

Scarlett continues to run away.

We're all gonna die. Well they are. Hopefully I'll survive at least.

Scarlett pulls up her hood to shield her bright red hair from the eyes of potential flying pursuers.

[HenryLockwood]

... crap.

Gwydion's thought processes revert, suddenly and completely, to an earlier stage of his life. That said, part of his training still stays with him - and his form becomes nebulous, even as he darts, fleeing, back up the slope.

OOC Moving as fast as possible (4x speed); using Child of Shadow stance to gain concealment against all attacks.

[Kailtrin]

Magnus eyes the growing din and ponders his next move; he sticks close to Aere to see which direction he chooses to go. He'd rather not be food for those accursed things again...

[Uruz]

The haty-a's eyes flicker in anger as he barks a command to the innkeeper who turns towards Gwydion with despair in his eyes as his flesh begins to writhe under his clothes in a manner you've come to recognize all too well already as that which also claimed Hesperath. At the same time, three of the flying spheres begin to follow in pursuit as the fourth embeds one of its tendrils in the rocky earth and begins to keen to its fellows. They seem to react to the weaving motions of the swordsage with uncanny accuracy, following his flight carefully but the fleet man moves rapidly away from danger.

OOC Pursuit is (so far) behind you and you can (potentially) get away.

[HenryLockwood]

Gwydion keeps running, doing his best to get to safety, and keeping his footing on the uneven ground. Though it looks like the strange things are controlling the villagers - are they? - now is not the time to stay and investigate.

[Kailtrin]

Magnus turns to Aere, tugs his jerkin, and softly but authoritatively whispers in his direction:

He's got them chasing him; the center of the village is unguarded. Shall we use his distraction to storm the center and take down whatever may be at the heart of this?

[Evoles]

Scarlett continues to run away.

ooc Unless otherwise impeded or stopped, Scarlett runs for another 12 rounds at which time she'll assess her situation and may or may not continue to run.

[Uruz]

As the fleet swordsage continues to out pace the flying spheres, the orbs seem to form a row of themselves every few dozen feet with the newest one at the end of the chain plunging a tendril into the earth and hovering there while the last ones move forward to catch up - a sort of constant leap-frogging. In the meanwhile, the innkeeper also continues to pursue Gwydion, all the while his form rippling and surging with surpressed power. His form expands and the flesh strains as he runs and, after a minute or so, the man screams as his body explodes from the pent-up pressures contained within his fragile form. Once this happens, the orbs turn back and return to the village.

While the drama of the chase is on, Aere and Magnus remain to overlook the square from the hilltop; unmoving and unseen. Between them lies the glowing ovoid over which they are the current custodians. The Elf hears the Dwarf's words but als can still make out the figures of the villagers and the haty-a there. And that's before the orbs turn around and come back to the town.

Scarlett has made good her escape and is out of sight of everyone.

[HenryLockwood]

Gwydion stops running once the orbs turn back, though he is startled by the innkeeper's sudden demise. Seeing no allies around, the swordsage drops low and begins - cautiously, slowly - returning to the town.

At least I know I can outpace those things... or I think I can!

[Uruz]

Gwydion returns safely to the hilltop where he finds Aere and Magnus overlooking the town. The orbs still hover in the air, although now they "face" outward and scan the surrounds with their glowing central eye. Below, the people seem to mill about in the streets and the sounds of sobbing can be heard from below faintly; at this distance, the sorrow must indeed be a thing of unimagined despair for their keening to echo however faintly from the valley walls.

[HenryLockwood]

"What now? We have completed our mission, I think, but I am loath to leave the town in this state."

[Evoles]

Scarlett continues to run, believing that any potential conflict within the town will result in her death and others, and hopes that her fellow teammates are not far behind.

Hopefully we can reach the riftwalkers, return with their aid, and that it won't be too late to save those people. I hope someone still has that orb.

Scarlett hesitates for but a moment.

Nah, someone will bring it she assures herself and continues to retreat from the town.

[Kailtrin]

Magnus tugs on Aere's jerkin and scans the vale for signs of the rest of the party.

I enjoy proving myself in poor odds as much as the next dwarf, but maybe it's time to head for safety and regroup. It would take an army of these Rift-whatever people to have a chance at saving this place...

With that, Magnus eyes a path that will lead him towards Scarlett and safety and takes off. He pauses to look back over his shoulder and motion to the others to come; he's clearly not comfortable being in front after what happened in the mines.

[Ark]

Aere shakes himself...apparently concentrating on being as still and quiet as possible, he had fallen into a sort of daze. That won't do at all...good fortune indeed that Gwydion didn't pull them up here...I'd have been no use at all.

Gwydion, I understand your sympathy for those in that town, but I don't think that we alone are enough. Let's report back to the Riftwalkers and show them that orb. At least we can return with more information, perhaps, if not more allies.