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Post by Lylyss on Aug 8, 2015 9:38:30 GMT
"Wonderful, wonderful." August muttered, skimming the Governor's letter. This might be a short job after all. "Now that we've got the Governor's backing, I want eyes on the docks, the market, the underground--everywhere. Nothing happens in this city without my knowledge." _________
((Ready to continue with Ollin and Chazan?))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 10, 2015 7:05:42 GMT
((In what way do you perceive Tathingdwen and the Linwhistle Hotel as different locations? Sorry, I'm just a bit confused. I meant the Linwhistle Hotel to be in Tathingdwen.)) ((Yep, I'm ready! I won't be on much tonight, since I'll be leaving in a few minutes, but here's the beginning!)) The next morning found in the corner of the Market Square a stooped old man, bald aside from a few scraggy white hairs, his skin sagging under the weight of many years and age spots speckling his head. Only his eyes testified to the youthful spirit that lived inside him. Deep brown, they burned with a fire that no actor could emulate. The ancient Chazan tapped his walking stick on the ground, wobbling a little at the action. His words came out in a shriek, a voice rasped and pierced by many troubles. "Where is that young lady?"
Zalwen stared over the Market Square, tapping tin to increase his eyesight. No Inquisitors in sight. No visible Allomancers or riots. No obligators besides the men behind the kiosks who administrated the barges which arrived on the Imperial Canal. Good. Very good. Maybe he'd be able to leave Tathingdwen without trouble. However, there were still fifteen minutes before his barge was set to depart. A lot could happen in fifteen minutes. It didn't take fifteen minutes to die.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 11, 2015 8:38:37 GMT
((In what way do you perceive Tathingdwen and the Linwhistle Hotel as different locations? :P Sorry, I'm just a bit confused. I meant the Linwhistle Hotel to be in Tathingdwen.)) ((Yep, I'm ready! I won't be on much tonight, since I'll be leaving in a few minutes, but here's the beginning!)) The next morning found in the corner of the Market Square a stooped old man, bald aside from a few scraggy white hairs, his skin sagging under the weight of many years and age spots speckling his head. Only his eyes testified to the youthful spirit that lived inside him. Deep brown, they burned with a fire that no actor could emulate. The ancient Chazan tapped his walking stick on the ground, wobbling a little at the action. His words came out in a shriek, a voice rasped and pierced by many troubles. "Where is that young lady?"
Zalwen stared over the Market Square, tapping tin to increase his eyesight. No Inquisitors in sight. No visible Allomancers or riots. No obligators besides the men behind the kiosks who administrated the barges which arrived on the Imperial Canal. Good. Very good. Maybe he'd be able to leave Tathingdwen without trouble. However, there were still fifteen minutes before his barge was set to depart. A lot could happen in fifteen minutes. It didn't take fifteen minutes to die. ((Lol. Should be a short trip then. Just kidding of course. ;) I've editing August's post accordingly.)) "Over here, old timer." Ollin sat behind a produce stall, wearing a sunny new scarf and a wry smile. "I think I might have some apples mushy enough for your teeth." _______ Jiska and Mandible, the kiosk obligators, scanned the crowd suspiciously. August had promised them a busy day. So far, however, the only trouble that they had encountered had come from fussy travelers who were being forced to funnel through the kiosk. Apparently not everyone took kindly to questioning. "I don't understand!" A petty nobleman snapped. "I've traveled this way for years and never once had any trouble." Jiska sighed. "We're trying to keep it that way, sir. Now please. Three forms of identification." _______ Tiberius crouched on a cornice in the marketplace, eyeing the crowd, scratching in his journal.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 11, 2015 9:11:57 GMT
"Bah!" Chazan waved his stick at her. "Watch your tongue, girl. Lemme have a look at those apples." He hobbled over, peered at the apples, and spoke under his breath in a whisper only tin-enhanced senses could pick up. "I've seen Zalwen and his servant on their way to the barge. Unfortunately, the obligator kiosks are tightening up security for some reason. We may have a bit of trouble getting Zalwen out of Tathingdwen without trouble."
Zalwen's eyes narrowed as he studied the obligator kiosk. He had identification, but still…increased security on the morning he left definitely meant something, and that something wasn't a good something. "Be prepared," he said to his servant. "We have no guarantee of safe passage." With that, Zalwen strode to the funnel of people leaving Tathingdwen via the Imperial Canal and lined up at the back, his servant behind him.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 11, 2015 9:32:44 GMT
"Tightening security? That's… not good." She narrowed her eyes. "Fortunately, the kiosk is so crowded that it would be easy to create a distraction. Just pick a fight, or scream thief. We can always rescue Zalwen that way. And then there's my son, of course." ________
"Next!" Jiska beckoned the next passenger, a Terrisman, up to the kiosk. "Name, age, and reason for travel?"
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 11, 2015 9:38:38 GMT
"Your son. Yes." Chazan picked up an apple and examined it. "I haven't seen him, but I hope he's ready for whatever happens." He fumbled with a coin in his pouch and finally managed to give the two-boxing coin to Ollin. In lower tones he muttered, "Storing youth isn't always a practical endeavour, no matter how much disguise it offers."
"Zalwen, sixty years old, returning home after a spell in Tathingdwen." Zalwen made direct eye contact with Jiska. "This is my servant Nathin, fourteen years old, and he is accompanying me."
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 11, 2015 10:10:21 GMT
"Oh yes. Jove's a good boy. He's lying low, per my request." Ollin watched with interest as Chazan un-aged. If only it was that easy. She shook her head. Stay on task. "I think they're questioning Zalwen… should we move closer? Just in case?" _________
"Alright, that's enough. Let the boy do his own talking." Jiska turned his tattooed gaze on Nathin. "Is this man telling the truth? What was the nature of your stay in Tathingdwen?"
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 13, 2015 4:06:25 GMT
"Excellent." Chazan's age spots melted away, and his wrinkles smoothed over, although he kept a few lines around his eyes and on his forehead. "And yes. That would be a good idea." He meandered in the general direction of the kiosk Zalwen stood at, favouring a leg.
"Research, sir," Nathin said, his voice high and clear like a bird's. "The nature of our stay was that Master Zalwen studied and I collected resources and researched. As Master Zalwen said, we're now going home with our job here done."
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 13, 2015 4:44:36 GMT
Jiska grinned. "Alright, everything looks good! Please stow your carry-ons in the overhead compartments, and thank you for flying Air New Zealand!"
((*cough cough* JK ;) ))
Jiska narrowed his eyes. He didn't trust Terrismen. These two in particular appeared to be immune to his intimidation techniques. While hardly incriminating, it didn't win Nathin any points with the Steel Ministry. "Move along," he muttered. "Next?" _________
He's through. Tiberius dropped from the rooftop, cloak billowing, and landed with a grunt. I should have said something earlier. If the steward won't pay, then the obligators might. Until now he had avoided Steel Ministry. But times were hard. Harder than ever. Won't be long before I'm out of coins to shoot. Tiberius went straight for the kiosk. _________
Ollin moseyed toward the obligators, peddling her wares.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 13, 2015 4:55:38 GMT
Zalwen rested a hand on his servant's shoulder as they cleared the kiosk, but said nothing. They'd made it too far to ruin it by suspicious behaviour now. He checked his pocket watch and sped up as if he were late. He wasn't. But he wanted to get out of this square. Somewhere in his Feruchemically enhanced senses, a sense of danger tugged at him, a growing unease that chewed away at his insides and left his heart beating fast, fast, faster. He tapped tin. Hard. Right now, he didn't care about the time he'd need to spend with poor hearing. If he didn't survive this, he wouldn't have a chance to use the tin again.
Behind Jiska, a loitering Khlenni suddenly drew a wooden duelling cane and lunged for the acolyte. Her hood fell back, revealing light brown hair, as she swung the cane at Jiska's shoulder.
Chazan gave a decisive nod when Zalwen appeared at the other end of the kiosk. He's through. He changed course, hobbling along at a tangent that roughly paralleled Zalwen's presumed route to the barges on the Imperial Canal but which would get him closer to the Keeper. A disturbance at the kiosk threw his heart into his throat. Uh-oh.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 14, 2015 4:59:42 GMT
Zalwen rested a hand on his servant's shoulder as they cleared the kiosk, but said nothing. They'd made it too far to ruin it by suspicious behaviour now. He checked his pocket watch and sped up as if he were late. He wasn't. But he wanted to get out of this square. Somewhere in his Feruchemically enhanced senses, a sense of danger tugged at him, a growing unease that chewed away at his insides and left his heart beating fast, fast, faster. He tapped tin. Hard. Right now, he didn't care about the time he'd need to spend with poor hearing. If he didn't survive this, he wouldn't have a chance to use the tin again.
Behind Jiska, a loitering Khlenni suddenly drew a wooden duelling cane and lunged for the acolyte. Her hood fell back, revealing light brown hair, as she swung the cane at Jiska's shoulder.
Chazan gave a decisive nod when Zalwen appeared at the other end of the kiosk. He's through.He changed course, hobbling along at a tangent that roughly paralleled Zalwen's presumed route to the barges on the Imperial Canal but which would get him closer to the Keeper. A disturbance at the kiosk threw his heart into his throat. Uh-oh.Jiska fell with a shriek. Something--no, some one--had bashed him from behind. Nothing serious, thank goodness. Just a blow to the shoulder. He would have a pretty bruise in the morning, but that was negligible compared to what could have happened. The acolyte mastered his pain. From the ground he could see the assassin's feet, and lashed out with a kick, hoping to floor her. Then, rolling beneath the table, Jiska emerged outside and drew his dueling cane. "Rebels! Rebels in the marketplace!" He didn't need to sound the alarm. Passengers were already running, screaming, shouting. We'll have a riot down here if we're not careful. Someone had to restore order. And quickly--before the whole system collapsed. Collapsed.Now that was an interesting idea. Jiska shoved the kiosk. It was built for shade, not stability, and clattered to the ground--hopefully on top of the assassin. ________ Ollin froze. The obligator was screaming for help. Was this part of the plan? Or were other insurgents at work in the marketplace? She decided to follow Chazan. After all, it wasn't her job to investigate--Zalwen's safety came first. ________ Tiberius stumbled back from the kiosk. What was that? He shied away from the conflict, fingering his coins and keeping to the fringe of the crowd.
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 14, 2015 10:05:09 GMT
Jervois wanted no part in this. The obligator shoved his way through the chaos, roughly pushing any in his path down. He didn't have to stay to know how this ended, whenever there was trouble at the docks, it came. It was one of them, one of those monstrosities… and yet, it was different from the rest of them. Jervois was an old man, amongst the obligators he was one of the eldest, yet he could not remember a time when the creature had not stalked the city of Tathingdwen. He had seen it once when he was a child. He did not need to see it again.
Abokai, they called him, the Steel Inquisitor of Tathingdwen.
There was a shrill, whistling sound as three grey blurs flashed over Jervois' head, he froze along with most of the crowd. A man was coming through the crowd, a tall man, looming above the rest. He wore a black robe and hood. He strode, quietly, towards the kiosk in which the obligator and the women were fighting. The crowd cowered aside, forming a path.
He raised his hand and the three iron balls flew into them.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 2:18:56 GMT
Jiska fell with a shriek. Something--no, some one--had bashed him from behind. Nothing serious, thank goodness. Just a blow to the shoulder. He would have a pretty bruise in the morning, but that was negligible compared to what could have happened. The acolyte mastered his pain. From the ground he could see the assassin's feet, and lashed out with a kick, hoping to floor her. Then, rolling beneath the table, Jiska emerged outside and drew his dueling cane. "Rebels! Rebels in the marketplace!" He didn't need to sound the alarm. Passengers were already running, screaming, shouting. We'll have a riot down here if we're not careful. Someone had to restore order. And quickly--before the whole system collapsed. Collapsed.Now that was an interesting idea. Jiska shoved the kiosk. It was built for shade, not stability, and clattered to the ground--hopefully on top of the assassin. Gali didn't wait to hit the acolyte again—it wasn't for him that she'd come—but instead lunged over the kiosk towards the elderly Terrisman she recognised from her target description. He spun on her, his eyes narrowing. She burned pewter and swung. He dodged. As in, dodged too fast for a man his age. Cursed Feruchemy. Wood and fabric collapsed on her from behind. She stumbled, flared pewter, and threw off the remnants of the collapsed kiosk. People ran, but she didn't mind. It cleared a space for her. Then she realised they weren't clearing for her. Iron balls smashed into the kiosk. A hooded man in black approached the fight. Gali recoiled from the glint of metal where his eyes should be. Steel Inquisitor.At least she could do something to keep him off her track. She pointed at Zalwen. "He's a Feruchemist!" Then lunged into the crowd, hoping to hide among the crush of bodies.
Ollin froze. The obligator was screaming for help. Was this part of the plan? Or were other insurgents at work in the marketplace? She decided to follow Chazan. After all, it wasn't her job to investigate--Zalwen's safety came first. Now.Now, while the crowd's attention was fixed on Abokai. While no one watched. Chazan tapped steel, then drew upon the youth he had stored through that morning. Every wrinkle disappeared from his face, leaving him with the form and figure of a man in his early twenties. He slid the sheath off his walking stick to reveal the long, straight blade of a wooden duelling cane. When a Steel Inquisitor was around, his mission would include a battle. He tapped iron, steel, pewter, and raced through the crowd like a lightning bolt—and directly into Abokai from the side.
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 15, 2015 4:02:43 GMT
Abokai glanced to the side at the charging terrisman, unconcerned. The Inquisitor pushed off of a grate, soaring over Chazan's head and landing nimbly behind him. The three iron balls shot out from his hand, cutting through the crowd and toward the terrisman.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 7:05:28 GMT
Chazan vanished from his former location in a blur of motion, racing in the same direction as the iron balls. He snatched one from the air and tapped iron, increasing his weight. The sudden increase in Chazan's weight made Abokai lighter than the combined weight of Chazan and the ball. The resulting Allomantic force would launch Abokai backwards, directly away from Chazan.
Gali breathed a sigh of relief when she realised the Steel Inquisitor was not after her. Still, her play to draw attention to her own target hadn't worked. She booted an obligator away from another kiosk with a pewter-enhanced kick and scrambled onto the flimsy wooden stand, trying to catch a glimpse of Zalwen over the crowd. There he was—making for the docks. And— Lord Ruler. A Feruchemist had challenged the Inquisitor. And for the time being, it seemed as if the two matched each other well. She shook her head in disbelief as the kiosk collapsed under her. With her pewter burning, though, the fall didn't harm her. Gali landed on her feet, topped up her pewter stores with another vial of the fast-burning metal, and raced after Zalwen.
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 15, 2015 7:28:24 GMT
Abokai was thrown backwards. Still in the air, he released the hold on the iron balls, and instead pulled upon them. Suddenly flying towards Chazan, he drew his obsidian axes. An atium shadow shot out from Chazan.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 7:33:52 GMT
Seconds before Abokai would hit him, Chazan released the iron ball, its Allomantic force propelling it at Abokai and leaving the Steel Inquisitor without an inert base to pull on. Tapping steel to increase his speed, he raced to the side, out of Abokai's direct range. Inquisitors carried the Metal of Youth, which meant he'd have to be faster than their pewter-enhanced reflexes to match this one in combat. And his steel was already running lower than he preferred to keep it. He skidded to a stop, spun, and fell into a defensive posture with his duelling cane at the ready.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 15, 2015 7:54:59 GMT
Gali didn't wait to hit the acolyte again—it wasn't for him that she'd come—but instead lunged over the kiosk towards the elderly Terrisman she recognised from her target description. He spun on her, his eyes narrowing. She burned pewter and swung. He dodged. As in, dodged too fast for a man his age. Cursed Feruchemy. Wood and fabric collapsed on her from behind. She stumbled, flared pewter, and threw off the remnants of the collapsed kiosk. People ran, but she didn't mind. It cleared a space for her. Then she realised they weren't clearing for her. Iron balls smashed into the kiosk. A hooded man in black approached the fight. Gali recoiled from the glint of metal where his eyes should be. Steel Inquisitor.At least she could do something to keep him off her track. She pointed at Zalwen. "He's a Feruchemist!" Then lunged into the crowd, hoping to hide among the crush of bodies. Jiska cursed. I'll never live it down if she escapes. He drew his dueling cane and dashed after the rebel. ________ Is that… an Inquisitor?
Ollin stared. Everyone stared. The entire marketplace was fixated on the duel--that was what tipped her off. Could this be a distraction? She flared pewter, half-running, half-stumbling toward the barges. Sure enough, she wasn't the only one chasing Zalwen. There was another girl. A Thug. Best leave her to Jove. Ollin continued after the Keeper and his servant, prepared to act as a last defense in case the Inquisitor got past Chazan. _________
"OI! You there!" A beefy, bronze-haired man stepped out of the crowd, pointing a finger at Gali. "Come face me. It is only right that we should square off."
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 8:03:03 GMT
"Get out of my way, skaa!" Gali gritted her teeth and flared her pewter, charging at Jove far faster than a normal human would be able to run. She gripped her duelling cane in both hands, pointing the blunt tip at Jove's stomach as she lowered her shoulder at a height that would collide with his chest.
((Dad says we're going to be doing family church in a few minutes, if not in the next few seconds—it'll be a while before I get back. Also, what do you think about working on one battle thread tonight and doing a different one next time we're on?))
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 15, 2015 8:12:05 GMT
The Inquisitor released the ball from his Pull, and caught it as it soared towards him. He landed, skidding to a halt, and turning towards Chazan, Pulling the other two iron balls into his hand. Abokai pointed to the onlookers-- the message was clear, surrender or they die.
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 15, 2015 8:20:03 GMT
"Ha HA! A challenge! Pewter against pewter!" Jove flared metal as well, sidestepping Gali as she charged. "Prepare yourself, fiend--my masterful muscles have felled many a man!" He drew an obsidian knife, slicing wildly at her exposed back.
((So one battle per night? Alternating between CaC2 and Cosmere? Sounds good to me. :) Might make things less stressful. While you're gone, I'll start on Jove's profile. :P))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 8:39:20 GMT
Chazan shook his head, pitching his voice low and hoarse but loud enough to carry to Abokai's ears. "That is utterly stupid, Inquisitor. Your Lord Ruler has already oppressed us enough. If you kill them"—he extended his arms in a wide circle—"you're going to have a rebellion on your hands. Even an Inquisitor can't resist a whole crowd. And your metals are going to run low soon anyway." Another Pewterarm. So Zalwen had brought bodyguards. Gali spun as Jove's knife traced a slash down the fabric of her shirt, swinging her duelling cane in a wide circle at chest height. "I doubt you noticed, but I'm not a man!"
(( Lylyss! Your number of posts is the CaC2 page Jorus died on! And yes. That's right. I won't be on every night, but yeah, that's the idea. By the way, I really like Jove so far.))
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 15, 2015 8:48:28 GMT
((Lol. Better change that! xD Now my number of posts is the page upon which everyone freaked out. Sounds good. :) And thanks! I'm having fun with him. ;) ))
"Ah! Forgive me, fair damsel. I meant no offense." Jove leapt above the cane, kicking out at Gali's face. "I meant 'man,' in the inclusive sense. That is, as a synonym for humanity in general."
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 15, 2015 8:51:50 GMT
(( )) Gali ducked and rolled under Jove's kick, lashing around in a wide circle for the place his feet would land. "You act like you don't care a bit that I'm a girl and you're fighting me."
((I'm being sent to bed. I've been sick for the past few days with another flu, and I didn't have the greatest sleep last night, so I have to get off now. Still, being unwell served as a pretext for watching Captain America: The First Avenger for the first time. Anyway, see you guys on Monday.))
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 15, 2015 8:52:46 GMT
Abokai spoke, his voice a low, rustic whisper, "and yet, by your call, they will be dead..." (( Looks like we got ourselves a stand off, here, Dmitri Pendragon! XD (( Cya, hope you get to feeling better! ))
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Post by Lylyss on Aug 15, 2015 9:16:57 GMT
Jove fell, but recovered quickly, rolling to his feet and jumping up in an en garde position. "I don't. Why should I?" He thrust at her ribs. "You're quite a capable opponent." (( Dmitri Pendragon: Aww. Bye. :( Get well soon! Oooh, I love Captain America. xD What'd you think?))
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 17, 2015 7:34:10 GMT
Chazan immediately stored the imprint of Abokai's voice in his copperminds. The Steel Inquisitor of Tathingdwen rarely spoke. This was an unlooked-for opportunity to memorise that coarse whisper. "Are you afraid?" He spread his arms. "Are you afraid of a single Feruchemist? I am Terris. I am the bird who rises from the ashes of its funeral pyre. I am Phoenix, and neither you nor your Lord Ruler will ever crush what I stand for."
((Really, though, Gamey, I think Abokai does have the advantage with atium. Although Chazan is attempting to be confident in order to deceive Abokai, the best thing he can use to counter is zinc for mental speed and steel for physical speed, and he'd have to guess Abokai's movements a few moments in advance of the Inquisitor's movements. Which means he's going to miss a strike at some point.))
Gali blew a lock of hair out of her mouth and swung at Jove's wrist, using her duelling cane's longer reach to keep Jove's dagger away. "You have absolutely no idea of protocol. But I guess that's to be expected, since you're a skaa."
((I enjoyed it. The most intriguing thing was seeing an alternate history and watching how superheroes could have affected World War II and on from there.))
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 17, 2015 8:24:01 GMT
Without a word, Abokai shot the three iron balls out of his palm and into the crowd. Blood flashed through the air, screams erupted from the crowd as they fled. The Inquisitor strode forward, towards Chazan, the iron balls flying back into his hand.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Aug 17, 2015 8:30:22 GMT
Chazan fixed his gaze on the Inquisitor's eyespikes. "You have unleashed the bird of the ashes, Abokai Bronn. All Terris will rise against you, and the Lord Ruler will disown you forever."
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Post by gamemastergrimwarden on Aug 17, 2015 8:35:51 GMT
The iron shot out from the Inquisitors hands once again, ripping through the fleeing bystanders. He said nothing, not even bothering to glance at the destruction he had caused, the blood staining his robes. There was no hint, no small trace of emotion on his face. He came closer, absently twirling his two obsidian axes.
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