Episode One: The Order of the Twelve Willows

[celest]

Kiley gives a puzzled look. "That doesn't make much sense. Why would they give us dreams of loneliness? Aren't there those that joined the Order to find a family of sorts, so they won't be lonely any more? I would think that if the Grandmaster wished to test us in dreams they would test us all differently, with mosters orf other things. Things we might actually face while serving the Order." She thinks for a moment. "I still don't understand. I don't know where they are coming from. I've never had them like this before. I only had the one dream, a long time ago. But it wasn't anything like these new ones." She holds her ears again, still unable to ignore the screaming wail.

[eunhathes]

(Awakened!)

Kraln Massaed watched as the Supplicants tried to figure out what had happened. He looked perplexed as the mysterious wail began again. He clamped his hands over his ears as the noise crescendoed and then faded into the ether. He looked to the others. "I think we may have a problem, everyone. I'm going to go investigate. I won't make anyone come with me or stay behind." He waited to see who would go with him and would would remain.

Tia cringed while the sound got louder. When it was done, Kraln's infectious curiosity got the better of her. She shouldered her weapon, dusted her clothes off, and stood up, "I'm going, Master Kraln." She looked confident and curious.

[celest]

Kiley looks up a Pol again, wincing from the pain of the noise and holding her ears tightly. "Pol, I think we should go with them. This noise... there's... there's something about it... its not right. They might need you." She tries to stand to follow Kraln and Tia still holding her ears tightly.

[Lylie]

"the dream was something about bing left behind yeah, but that is not what woke me. the screaming is what startled me. loud noises do it everytime. although the fall from the tree didnt help at all." mi'ia looked at kraln and nodded. "I think that I should go kraln. It may have something to do with what happened last night while i was playing like a cub." she looked back a dues and said, "so what do you think of going on a ghost hunt?"

[sagetim]

Pol burst out laughing as Mi'ia said 'ghost hunt'. he replied immediatly, " a ghost hunt you say? sounds like just my thing. " Pol then drew a sutra from his pouch and helped Kiley up, " looks like we're all going eh? if so, then lets be off...."

[celest]

Kiley follows Pol closely. She holds on to his shoulder so as not to trip over anything she can't see in the low light. Her hands tremble slightly, still shaken from the dream and the howling wail.

[Lylie]

mi'ia looks around and starts off with the rest of the troop. She starts to look for anything paranormal. good thing that i am nocturnal by nature
"hey just so you know there is something up ahead. im not sure what it is but there is something."
((ooc: ok i rolled a 4 out of nine.))

[artemi]

(In the camp)

Shaking his head, Deus watched as the others got themselves together. He was still a little shaken at what was going on; monsters, he was fine with. He could attack those, and grip them with his claws. Dreams and screams in the night, on the other hand... There was nothing he could do with that.

Seeing the others start off, he paused a moment to smother the flames on the fire, leaving a bed of warm embers. Making sure there was nothing nearby to catch flame, he turned and set off after the others, his pace quick enough to catch up with them quickly. He murmured to himself, taking one last look around the campsite. "I suppose we will be coming back here later tonight... Nothing for it, then."

He dashed into the trees, adjusting his shield. He had a feeling that would be much more useful then any of his spears tonight...

[eunhathes]

(On the Move)

Kraln led the way. He was certain that there was something awful nearby. The wailing continued to grow louder, more intense, with every step he took.

Tia followed at the end of the party, making sure no one was surprised. She was uncertain as to the nature of the noise, but was certain that whatever was making it couldn't be pleasant.

Finally, the woods fell away from beside the party and the canyon took a steep incline. Off in the distance, where the sound seems to be issuing from, there is a ruined tower. Just as the group emerged from the wooded area of the canyon, the dawn broke over the horizon. Suddenly, mid wail, the sound ceased, leaving an eerily quiet morning, crisp with dew.

[celest]

Kiley stops as the sound ends and looks up at the tower, sheilding her eyes from the rising sun. "That tower," she whispers quietly. "It stoped... do... do you think the day light stoped it?"

[sagetim]

Pol nods, " thats probably what happened, and if it is it would mean that the being is either consolidating its forces for a defense, or it is weakened during the day. In either case we should attack now, while it is....indisposed." After saying this, Pol begins working his way to the tower, his sutra held at the ready.

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OOC: doh, forgot about the steep incline to get to the tower....fixing that with this edit.

[celest]

Kiley climbs the steep side of the cayon with Pol. She stays close behind him as he enters the ruined building. I'm not so sure how good an idea this is, but maybe I can learn something. Oh Willow, help me be brave. Help us fight what ever this thing is.

[Lylie]

"Hey guys, the ghost disapeared. With the dawn and the wailing. Its gone." Mi'ia looked at the others to see if they were still listening as they continued up the track.

[artemi]

(The rocky canyon)

Stepping up the path to the rock wall, Deus looked up it. Hmm... this should be a nice climb. Haven't needed to do one of these in a while...

Making sure his equipment was securly fastened to his pack, he rubbed some dust on his stong hands, readying his claws. Hearing Mi'ia's comment behind him, he looked back at her, a small smile on his face. "Whats wrong? Scared?" Seeing the look on her face, he continued. "I think we should still check the place out. What if whatever caused the scream was not a ghost and needs our help?"

[Lylie]

mi'ia raised an eyebrow. "scared of a ghost? no not scared but only a foolish cub would rush into something that has to do with nihistians. they can be..." mi'ia paused for a moment like she was searching for the right word to use. "... violent." she continued climbing while she spoke.

[celest]

Kiley looks over her shoulder at Mi'ia. "Be that as it may, something is suffering. And it's suffering is causing us to suffer, or atleast was." She pauses for a moment. "Anyway, I can't let Pol do this alone." She turns and goes into the ruined building.

[Lylie]

"hey i never said that i was not coming in this. there is a reason why i am following you up there. i am not a fool, but something does need help. do not jump to conclusions when you do not know all of the facts lil'lin. that could get you in trouble in some places." mi'ia continus to follow the group as she climbs, "pol does not have to do this with people or alone. it was his choice to do so and i along with others, lil'lin, has chosen to come along to. most likely for personal reasons. so next time make sure that you do not jump to conclusions for your own safety."

[eunhathes]

Finally reaching the top of the canyon incline, the Supplicants stood before a decrepit, sixty foot high tower. Once obviously part of a wall, this tower had fallen long ago into disrepair. Even the stonework looks foreign.

Kraln steps first, speaking to his Supplicants. "Careful. It looks like it could go at any moment. We will keep in line, just in case. I will take point, followed by Deus, Pol, Kiley, Lylith, and Tia. We don't know what will go on here, so keep your ether about you." The Knight then disappeared, swallowed almost as if by time as he stepped into the gaping doorway of the tower.

Tia gulped audibly. It wasn't everyday she went jumping head first into danger. She touched her hand to her forehead and kissed her palm, "May Pantheon guide our steps and the Willow smile with favor upon us." She then assumed her position at the rear of the group.

[eunhathes]

(Inside the Tower)

The inside of the structure is grand. The architecture is fantastic and lends itself to awe-inspiring gasps. Though ancient, this structure could have been designed by the most brilliant minds in Citadel today.An arching corridor wraps around the structure, extending either direction until the curve of the tower can no longer be seen.

Kraln gathers everyone together around him. "It looks like we've got some exploring to do here. I guess we can go either right or left, or we can split up. Preferences?" The Knight spoke to his Supplicants. He would rather keep them together to keep them safer, but if they were up to splitting up, he would not stop them.

[sagetim]

Stopping for a moment, Pol took in his surroundings, " such an intricate framework....more than likely our offendor is either new to this place, or a soul from a battle long past....if none have an objection, I would suggest we take the left path, and mark our path in some manner or another...."

mental note, buy string and chalk next time we're in town....some rope might be a good idea too...