Alpida doesn't seem to hear him. Lluc sighs, "Nothing to do but keep moving, I guess."
Karthon sighs, sweeps his hair back and does nothing but follow Alpida and her group, deeper into his intriguing situation...
They begin to see light creeping out from a corner farther down. As they get closer, the stairs suddenly transition into a flat floor, causing some stumbling. The light is coming from a huge cavern lined with hundreds of statues. Large columns stretch from the ceiling to the floor, each surrounded by statues of their own. Alpida is wandering the room with the same vacant expression. Sevan stands by the entryway. "Do any of you have any idea what this place is?"
Karthon sighs, sweeps his hair back and does nothing but follow Alpida and her group, deeper into his intriguing situation...
They begin to see light creeping out from a corner farther down. As they get closer, the stairs suddenly transition into a flat floor, causing some stumbling. The light is coming from a huge cavern lined with hundreds of statues. Large columns stretch from the ceiling to the floor, each surrounded by statues of their own. Alpida is wandering the room with the same vacant expression. Sevan stands by the entryway. "Do any of you have any idea what this place is?"
Karthon crouches and observes all he could see. He was on edge ever since the group entered the tunnel, yet now feeling relaxed for some inexplicable reason, inhaled.
"I'm sure Alpida could answer that."
He said, and strode around the room to learn more of his new surroundings, yet cautiously.
They begin to see light creeping out from a corner farther down. As they get closer, the stairs suddenly transition into a flat floor, causing some stumbling. The light is coming from a huge cavern lined with hundreds of statues. Large columns stretch from the ceiling to the floor, each surrounded by statues of their own. Alpida is wandering the room with the same vacant expression. Sevan stands by the entryway. "Do any of you have any idea what this place is?"
Karthon crouches and observes all he could see. He was on edge ever since the group entered the tunnel, yet now feeling relaxed for some inexplicable reason, inhaled.
"I'm sure Alpida could answer that."
He said, and strode around the room to learn more of his new surroundings, yet cautiously.
The room is unadorned, except for simple torches mounted in the wall, which seem to be enchanted to never go out. Notably, each of the statues is equipped with what look to be real weapons and are clothed in much the same way as Alpida. He finds the grayling standing alongside a large, tarnished gong.
Karthon crouches and observes all he could see. He was on edge ever since the group entered the tunnel, yet now feeling relaxed for some inexplicable reason, inhaled.
"I'm sure Alpida could answer that."
He said, and strode around the room to learn more of his new surroundings, yet cautiously.
The room is unadorned, except for simple torches mounted in the wall, which seem to be enchanted to never go out. Notably, each of the statues is equipped with what look to be real weapons and are clothed in much the same way as Alpida. He finds the grayling standing alongside a large, tarnished gong.
After gathering what he could of the place, the rogue comes within some paces of Alpida, and figured what may come next...
The room is unadorned, except for simple torches mounted in the wall, which seem to be enchanted to never go out. Notably, each of the statues is equipped with what look to be real weapons and are clothed in much the same way as Alpida. He finds the grayling standing alongside a large, tarnished gong.
After gathering what he could of the place, the rogue comes within some paces of Alpida, and figured what may come next...
Alpida lifts a mallet that is resting against the gong. She hits it against the gong and the sound reverberates through the room, echoing off the walls. The statues begin to move.
After gathering what he could of the place, the rogue comes within some paces of Alpida, and figured what may come next...
Alpida lifts a mallet that is resting against the gong. She hits it against the gong and the sound reverberates through the room, echoing off the walls. The statues begin to move.
Karthon looks around, smiling that he had foreseen correctly, all the while keeping sharp in case things went awry.
Valithor and Casúr continue to fight even as they tire. Both of them begin to realize that defeat is a certainty at this point.
Valithor contemplates using a little bit of magic to thin the ranks of the Xain but decides against it, pushing the thought from his mind.
After many hours of battle, the two heroes are forced to pull back and rest for a little while. Both have suffered several wounds, and both have seen great horrors. After witnessing the brutality of the Xain firsthand they are determined to preserve the safety of the people of Oruthal for as long as humanly possible.
Valithor is once again on the field of battle, swinging his sword as if it was an extension of his arm. Xain soldiers fall in droves, but their overwhelming numbers and power continue to push him back towards more enemies. Casúr is not with him at the moment. The Minotaur is on the fortress walls, firing his longbow with deadly accuracy at the Xain elites and commanders. Each shot signals the defeat of an enemy.
"Back! Back you villains! I will not hesitate next time to put this sword through your blackened heart!" As Valithor continues to shower threats he has every intention of fulfilling on the enemy, several Xain soldiers with spears come up behind him. At the same time, a Xain champion, a giant of a man, steps out of the enemy's ranks.
"You have shown yourself to be a mighty warrior, old man. Surrender now, or I will cut you in twain and feed you to the sharks."
"I will not surrender this island to the likes of you, heartless one. One of us will not leave this fight, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that it is not me."
The warrior chuckles and charges at Valithor, swinging his shield as if it were a club. Valithor brings his sword up to block the shield, but the impact knocks him back - right into the spears of the waiting Xain. Valithor is pierced through by one and wounded by another. He falls to the ground, weak. The champion stands over him.
"If you survive, you will certainly remember that challenging your betters always ends in pain. The Xain have already won this battle, old one. All that is left is for you and the Minotaur to fall, and the island will be ou-" He chokes on his words, and falls to the ground with an arrow in his neck. More Xain fall around him as Casúr rains his fury upon them. The spearmen raise their shields to protect themselves and carry Valithor's unconscious body away.
After many hours of battle, the two heroes are forced to pull back and rest for a little while. Both have suffered several wounds, and both have seen great horrors. After witnessing the brutality of the Xain firsthand they are determined to preserve the safety of the people of Oruthal for as long as humanly possible.
Valithor is once again on the field of battle, swinging his sword as if it was an extension of his arm. Xain soldiers fall in droves, but their overwhelming numbers and power continue to push him back towards more enemies. Casúr is not with him at the moment. The Minotaur is on the fortress walls, firing his longbow with deadly accuracy at the Xain elites and commanders. Each shot signals the defeat of an enemy.
"Back! Back you villains! I will not hesitate next time to put this sword through your blackened heart!" As Valithor continues to shower threats he has every intention of fulfilling on the enemy, several Xain soldiers with spears come up behind him. At the same time, a Xain champion, a giant of a man, steps out of the enemy's ranks.
"You have shown yourself to be a mighty warrior, old man. Surrender now, or I will cut you in twain and feed you to the sharks."
"I will not surrender this island to the likes of you, heartless one. One of us will not leave this fight, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that it is not me."
The warrior chuckles and charges at Valithor, swinging his shield as if it were a club. Valithor brings his sword up to block the shield, but the impact knocks him back - right into the spears of the waiting Xain. Valithor is pierced through by one and wounded by another. He falls to the ground, weak. The champion stands over him.
"If you survive, you will certainly remember that challenging your betters always ends in pain. The Xain have already won this battle, old one. All that is left is for you and the Minotaur to fall, and the island will be ou-" He chokes on his words, and falls to the ground with an arrow in his neck. More Xain fall around him as Casúr rains his fury upon them. The spearmen raise their shields to protect themselves and carry Valithor's unconscious body away.
OOC: Worry not! Reinforcements will arrive in a few days.
Alpida lifts a mallet that is resting against the gong. She hits it against the gong and the sound reverberates through the room, echoing off the walls. The statues begin to move.
Karthon looks around, smiling that he had foreseen correctly, all the while keeping sharp in case things went awry.
As they step down from their places, all the statues turn to Alpida. A short man, one of the nearest to the gong, says, "Alpida Makrinorasi. When you did not return we feared something had happened to you. Why have you called on us now?"
Alpida gives a half-bow. "Stretigo Kosmas, I have been in stasis like the rest of you, waiting. Now the time has come for us to make our return. An empire from across the sea is invading Oruthal and the continent as we speak. I have come to request your help in stopping them."
Another of the nearest statues, a tall, imposing woman, laughs darkly. "Do you not see the irony? Calling the Kriatoma to stop an empire that has arrived by ship?
"I do indeed, Stretigo Eudoxa," nods Alpida, "But this is too serious a matter to jest. Without our aid, thousands will perish."
A tall, scarred man speaks, "Why is this any of our concern?"
"Have you changed so much, Stretigo Lymach? There was a time when just the idea of war would have been enough to you. But there are other reasons. These Xains as they call themselves will not be content with whatever they take. Eventually, they will find their way here and destroy us. We must fight for our people and the innocents of the world. You have been stuck on your little island for too long. I have seen the world, and I know it to be worth saving. Is it not time for our people to return to the world? When would you have us do so if not now?"
There are a few cheers, but most of the nearest seem unmoved. Eudoxa speaks, "A vote, then?" The others agree. "All in favor?" Kosmas, Eudoxa, and Lymach raise their hands, along with two others. "It is unanimous. The Kriatoma sail to war." The room is filled with cheers.
Valithor is once again on the field of battle, swinging his sword as if it was an extension of his arm. Xain soldiers fall in droves, but their overwhelming numbers and power continue to push him back towards more enemies. Casúr is not with him at the moment. The Minotaur is on the fortress walls, firing his longbow with deadly accuracy at the Xain elites and commanders. Each shot signals the defeat of an enemy.
"Back! Back you villains! I will not hesitate next time to put this sword through your blackened heart!" As Valithor continues to shower threats he has every intention of fulfilling on the enemy, several Xain soldiers with spears come up behind him. At the same time, a Xain champion, a giant of a man, steps out of the enemy's ranks.
"You have shown yourself to be a mighty warrior, old man. Surrender now, or I will cut you in twain and feed you to the sharks."
"I will not surrender this island to the likes of you, heartless one. One of us will not leave this fight, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that it is not me."
The warrior chuckles and charges at Valithor, swinging his shield as if it were a club. Valithor brings his sword up to block the shield, but the impact knocks him back - right into the spears of the waiting Xain. Valithor is pierced through by one and wounded by another. He falls to the ground, weak. The champion stands over him.
"If you survive, you will certainly remember that challenging your betters always ends in pain. The Xain have already won this battle, old one. All that is left is for you and the Minotaur to fall, and the island will be ou-" He chokes on his words, and falls to the ground with an arrow in his neck. More Xain fall around him as Casúr rains his fury upon them. The spearmen raise their shields to protect themselves and carry Valithor's unconscious body away.
OOC: Worry not! Reinforcements will arrive in a few days.
OOC: I expected as such, but I wanted to do something interesting with my characters during this event. They've kind of been "off screen" this time. Come to think of it, the last time Valithor did anything important was during the Tower of Time.
Karthon looks around, smiling that he had foreseen correctly, all the while keeping sharp in case things went awry.
As they step down from their places, all the statues turn to Alpida. A short man, one of the nearest to the gong, says, "Alpida Makrinorasi. When you did not return we feared something had happened to you. Why have you called on us now?"
Alpida gives a half-bow. "Stretigo Kosmas, I have been in stasis like the rest of you, waiting. Now the time has come for us to make our return. An empire from across the sea is invading Oruthal and the continent as we speak. I have come to request your help in stopping them."
Another of the nearest statues, a tall, imposing woman, laughs darkly. "Do you not see the irony? Calling the Kriatoma to stop an empire that has arrived by ship?
"I do indeed, Stretigo Eudoxa," nods Alpida, "But this is too serious a matter to jest. Without our aid, thousands will perish."
A tall, scarred man speaks, "Why is this any of our concern?"
"Have you changed so much, Stretigo Lymach? There was a time when just the idea of war would have been enough to you. But there are other reasons. These Xains as they call themselves will not be content with whatever they take. Eventually, they will find their way here and destroy us. We must fight for our people and the innocents of the world. You have been stuck on your little island for too long. I have seen the world, and I know it to be worth saving. Is it not time for our people to return to the world? When would you have us do so if not now?"
There are a few cheers, but most of the nearest seem unmoved. Eudoxa speaks, "A vote, then?" The others agree. "All in favor?" Kosmas, Eudoxa, and Lymach raise their hands, along with two others. "It is unanimous. The Kriatoma sail to war." The room is filled with cheers.
As the "statues" come to life, Karthon finds an inconspicuous place to stand by and watch the spectacle. And when it passed, he felt a surge of excitement in the knowledge that there now were these special creatures to aid against the Xain Invasion.
"What next?" He blurted before he thought better of the question.
OOC: Worry not! Reinforcements will arrive in a few days.
OOC: I expected as such, but I wanted to do something interesting with my characters during this event. They've kind of been "off screen" this time. Come to think of it, the last time Valithor did anything important was during the Tower of Time.
OOC: They helped Alpida get her weapon back.... I have an idea for them in this coming battle.
As they step down from their places, all the statues turn to Alpida. A short man, one of the nearest to the gong, says, "Alpida Makrinorasi. When you did not return we feared something had happened to you. Why have you called on us now?"
Alpida gives a half-bow. "Stretigo Kosmas, I have been in stasis like the rest of you, waiting. Now the time has come for us to make our return. An empire from across the sea is invading Oruthal and the continent as we speak. I have come to request your help in stopping them."
Another of the nearest statues, a tall, imposing woman, laughs darkly. "Do you not see the irony? Calling the Kriatoma to stop an empire that has arrived by ship?
"I do indeed, Stretigo Eudoxa," nods Alpida, "But this is too serious a matter to jest. Without our aid, thousands will perish."
A tall, scarred man speaks, "Why is this any of our concern?"
"Have you changed so much, Stretigo Lymach? There was a time when just the idea of war would have been enough to you. But there are other reasons. These Xains as they call themselves will not be content with whatever they take. Eventually, they will find their way here and destroy us. We must fight for our people and the innocents of the world. You have been stuck on your little island for too long. I have seen the world, and I know it to be worth saving. Is it not time for our people to return to the world? When would you have us do so if not now?"
There are a few cheers, but most of the nearest seem unmoved. Eudoxa speaks, "A vote, then?" The others agree. "All in favor?" Kosmas, Eudoxa, and Lymach raise their hands, along with two others. "It is unanimous. The Kriatoma sail to war." The room is filled with cheers.
As the "statues" come to life, Karthon finds an inconspicuous place to stand by and watch the spectacle. And when it passed, he felt a surge of excitement in the knowledge that there now were these special creatures to aid against the Xain Invasion.
"What next?" He blurted before he thought better of the question.
"Next, we sail." As the rest of the Kriatoma begin moving towards the far end of the cavern, where Karthon sees another tunnel, Alpida makes her way back to the others, snagging a random Kriatoma on the way. When she reaches the entrance, she tells the Kriatoma man, "Take Marina, Sevan, and Lluc back to our ship and then guide them to the docks." She turns to Karthon. "You, Saul, Gerr, and Dubhan come with me." She leads them to where most of the Kriatoma are leaving.
OOC: I expected as such, but I wanted to do something interesting with my characters during this event. They've kind of been "off screen" this time. Come to think of it, the last time Valithor did anything important was during the Tower of Time.
OOC: They helped Alpida get her weapon back.... I have an idea for them in this coming battle.
OOC: That's true. They weren't necessary though. And General Boris' morning star is at the Shadow Warrior's castle.
I have an idea for them in this coming battle.