Beyond the veil
Now I was here for part of this, I left after being clobbered with a barrel, Prince Eric of Amber paid a call with an Army I might right about that a little later. Now beside the flyine barrel I didn't see anything ghostly. The folks who stay behind assure me there was indeed a ghost, an infamous one at that.
Celeste stands outside the medical tent, talking to winter.
Winter stands near the make shift hospital talking quietly with Celeste. She looks like she's in a very pleasant mood.
The rattle of armor heralds the arrival of Harold "How bad were our losses from the battle this morning?" he asks Celeste.
Celeste murmurs calmly, "You'd have to check with Marrow, I was gone the entire day securing support. Marrow attended the wounded but is resting at present."
Izett comes strolling out of her cottage that she's taken over for her own plant studies. Dark circles seem all the more apparent against those bright green eyes. Her features seeming gaunt, as though sleep is not ment to be for the young woman. Her movements lacking their normal spark of energy, instead there is almost a foreboding sort of somberness about her.
Enzo emerges into view with a light step, whistling a chipper tune as he adjusts his jack over his shoulders. He offers salutary nods to all as he nears. Is that the scent of apricot?
Despite that she doesn't seem to be getting much sleep either, Quina still seems to look fresh and clean. She nods to those she passes or nears, and heads for something to drink.
Harold is still picking bits of gore from himself "Thank you, I'll be sure to take it up with him when he awakes. I believe we struck a blow today." he smiles.
The day begins to fade toward evening, the moon starting to climb up into the sky while the last rays of the sun still peek over the horizon. Night in this land of the walking dead anything but pleasant for most, with strange sounds and odd shadows. A cold wind kicks up moving through the village, the sort that raises the hairs on the back of one's neck with those unnatural sounds of the night starting early as though echoing through a tunnel. As Quina heads toward the water stores for a drink, the wind kicks up the small barrel it is kept in launching it toward her.
Celeste says, "It is likely, which is why I've been busy working it for you, you'll have support from the black sheep, I am afraid I cannot pledge Mandrake troops at this time but there should be adequate support from other avenues-Quina!"
Celeste cries out in warning and alarm when the barrel is sent flying towards her cousin.
Harold rushes to shield Quina, placing himself between her and the flying barrel.
Izett tilts her head curiously with that wind, the sounds. Her complexion not really having returned to its normal color as yet from her experience with the roots. Feeling the cold wind she reaches into the cottage she just departed from, pulling out a wool shawl to drape about her shoulders. She comes out just as Celeste yells, peering about curiously for the cause of the alarm.
Enzo is put on edge by the chill wind, and like everyone else, calls a warning to Quina as he picks up to dash towards her at an abrupt sprint. "Quina! Barrel!"
Winter snaps her head in the direction Celeste is looking in time to see the barrel careen towards Quina, "Whoa!"
Quina frowns as the wind and sound kicks up, and pauses to try to listen. And then there's a barrel coming towards him and her expression is less any sort of panic and more 'Wow. That's a barrel coming at me'. She's in movement immediately after that, choosing simply to not be there in its way. Though, given how strange it was for the barrel to come at her she keeps an eye just in case it changes course.
Heavy armor is alot of things, loud, hard to put on, difficult to keep clean, it's also protective Harold braces for the impact.
The half barrel containing water, thunks against Harold's armor. The water however is launched toward Quina as though with a determination of its own to drench the poor woman. As the wind continues to kick up dust and swirl around with that sort of cold that isn't fridged but sends that unnatural sort of chill through one's bones. An eerie fog is rolling in, starting to lay low over the land like that of a thick blanket. Whistling through the houses, those moaning and creaking sounds of the night draw closer, seeming to come from every direction.
Celeste strides forward towards the fog and incredibly draws her sword for some reason, cussing under her breath in Jadean as she strides towards a tendril of Fog beginning to creep in, seeking to slash at it for some crazy reason.
Enzo is still racing, legs pistoning to close the distance. Oddly enough, now he's trying to save a knight, instead of a lady, but he seems to take the switch more or less in stride. He gets there too late, narrowly avoiding crashing into Harold after the impact. "You alright, sir Harold?" But his eyes are distracted by the environment, and an uneasy glance abruptly around it.
A shout goes up "Cavalry approaching!" Harold is knocked forward. He looks around then rushes for his horse "squire!" he shouts.
The air around Winter grows colder then the ambient air temperature and the tell tale signs of condensed air wafts and lingers around her hand where a sword of ice appears. She looks confused as she looks at the landscape. She spins around, looking frantically "I can't pinpoint it! she calls out to Celeste. "It's.... " Still that confused look as she stops in midsentence.
That is really, really determined water, and Quina looks puzzled. Not that she stops moving, though she'll get wet if the water works at it. It's water. It can spread. "The wind and fog are unnatural." She doesn't bother to mention the barrel and water, because... duh. Her silver knife is drawn. "It smells like death.
Izett pulls her shawl more fully about her shoulders as she notices the wind and the fog. Green eyes taking on that odd glint to them as she studies the landscape. Her head tilting as she seems to be listening more than truly looking. Though her head snaps in one direction as she calls out, "Proxy..look out!"
Enzo sniffs himself just for a quick reassurance before nodding to Quina's words, helpfully drawing a woefully insufficient handkerchief to pass to the lady to dry herself. "Aye, it's..." Then another shouted warning has him whirling to look for Celeste and Izett, right hand billowing smoke and sparks that are already forming into the shape of a broad double headed axe.
The water splashes in Quina's direction, her movements, she may very well get splashed with as it splashes toward the ground. That wind picking up, and as Izett yells there is pole arm flying chaotically through the air at Celeste. Enzo's far from safe either as full barrels overturn toppling toward the ground and rolling with a bit of speed like bowling. The sounds growing louder with the howling of the wind, old shutters creaking and flapping, starting to break loose of their hinges.
Enzo doesn't go for all this dodging junk. He's got an axe and he stands there awaiting the approaching barrels with a look of grim intent towards them.
Celeste looks over her shoulder and snarls in frustration, "There's got to be a mage somewhere, Can..." she growls, "I sense it too but there's not much I can do about it." As Harold marches off she stares then snarls and snaps abruptly into commander moan. Calling to her men, "Form a goddamn parameter and hold lines no matter what-do NOT break lines to engage! Enzo! Can you command wind?" At the cries of alarm she spins and narrowly evades being skewered, knowing the pole arm aside, "Da Chung Wu Dahn!" she snarls menacing at the gathering fog, seeming to challenge it.
Izett nods her head slowly as she looks around seeing Celeste go unharmed. Glancing around she finds herself a nook against the buildings to avoid falling and flying debris with the wind. Her shawl tucked closely about her shoulders chasing away the chill.
The wind starts to die down as though someone having grown bored with it, or it served its purpose so little point in continuing it. That fog however growing thicker, up to one's knees in places, hips in other places. The landscape as the units form the parameter around the scene begins to slowly change, as though aging. The smell of death and decay growing thick in the air. The atmosphere growing moist as though thick with fog, tangibly damp and cold like walking on the moors at night. Trees about the village taking on that craggy old haunted look of barren and dying.
Quina does get splashed some, though her movements are such that it's far less than it might have been, and frowns over it. She nods as Enzo offers her the handkerchief, saying loud enough to be heard over the growing chaos, "Thanks." Her frown deepens, and she puts her mind to looking for the source of this if possible, despite all the distractions. Her Mandrake Life Sense looks for anything, along with her other heightened senses.
Enzo waits for the barrels to approach, and with whooshing double handed swings his flaming weapon flashes, smacking one and then nother away, hari whipped by the unnatural wind as those and a stray shutter are left as harmlessly scattered, and somewhat charred, smoldering debris. "Uh. Naw, I never cut much ice with the wind. Only fire, I'm afraid," he murmurs apologetically.
Winter sees the pole arm as it nearly skewers Celeste "Damn!" She continues to scan the landscape, looking for any sign of what could be causing the disturbance. The cold wind doesn't seem to affect Winter, save giving her that eerie feeling.
Celeste pauses suddenly and hrrrphs softly, "Figures." she grumbles, "Quina, something about this strike you as...off?" like the air isn't rank with Death, "Just to be safe, close in, backs to one another." she suggests, now calmer.
Winter spins and turns "It's coming!" She screams as she tries to figure out what /it/ is. It's the first time Winter looks nervous "And I don't think it's Zombies! It's bigger!"
Horses are starting to panic, rearing up, whinnying. The men, are very definitely spooked. Zombies, they've grown almost immune to. This however is not something they are used to. As though the landscape has suddenly taken on the image of an overlay, those with gifts and abilities can easily through the fog like blanket that creates the haunted land of death and decay, however the men can not. Chill that creeps into the bones, haunting unnerving sounds that have no specific direction simply all around. Whispers of touches that have the men swinging at absolutely nothing behind them, nearly hitting those to their sides that form the parameter.
Enzo looks to Celeste, nodding and backing up towards the group, weapon at the ready. "Now that you mention, Celeste, it does seem a bit on the brisk side for the time of... holy crap." His mouth falls open at the image. "Oh...ah... we need to do something' about, that."
Izett looks completely calm through it all, as if the landscape hasn't altered for her at all. Green eyes simply watching, head tilted listening from her safe little nook hidden against the building. Perhaps a bit more touched in the head than one might have thought from her encounter with the root.
Quina frowns, then nods to Celeste. "Dimmit." she says as she closes her eyes and clears her mind before opening them again and trying to get her senses to tell her what's really going on.
Celeste roars, "You'll hold those lines or I /promise/ you you'll fine something scarier when this is through. Hold your lines!" it is in command that one might find some slim virtue in celeste's coarse nature and mouthiness, "I don't know that this is real. Enzo, take command, I'm going to go have a look." she snorts and mutters, "A look-Ha!"
Winter moves backwards towards the others as suggested by Celeste. "It's out there... somewhere....I can feel it!" She continues to scan the fog, her back to the others as she tries to calm herself into more constructive thinking instead of reacting.
Enzo looks dubiously to Celeste, but nods, nonetheless. "Awright." He yells to the defenders; "Shoulder to shoulder, then, and set spears! Careful you don't swing to her sides, mind yer discipline and hold positions!" He gazes dubiously at Celeste and Winter. "Uh... y'know, you two going off alone makes me edgy..."
The fog begins to swirl, and ripple, as though stirred. The men in the parameter forming the circle, several of them bolt, they simply aren't cut out for this and their friends taking on the guise of death, walking zombies simply is far more than they themselves mentally can handle. The horses looking like zombie animals, ripe with death, flesh starting to decay from their bones.
The fog swirls more and an image, hazy at best begins to form of an old man. Long tattered robes, a beard that is long and grey as though the man himself were made from the mists themselves in its coloring. As if stepping out of the pages of antiquity he appears the visage of a very potent old wizard, "Ahh..now this is soo much better.." his eyes look absolutely filled with madness.
Izett looks toward the fog as it swirls. Those green eyes with that odd glint to them seeming to follow it as though seeing the figure before he appears to the rest. It is clear she considers there to be danger, for she reaches down to her hip and finally pulls a weapon. That sleek lady-like dagger of hers falling easily into her hand stepping from her alcove now toward the visage.
Quina still grips her silver knife as she tries to get a handle on what's really going on. The horses are really distracting though, and she needs to turn some of her mind to trying to calm them at least a little so they don't hurt themselves or anyone else.
Winter has managed to calm herself. She watches the fog as it swirls and twists into the form of the old mage. Her ice blade at the ready. She's ready to fight now as she gets a grip but she remains with the others of the group as Celeste stalks off towards the mage.
Enzo huffs and rolls his eyes, mimicking Celeste's tone under his breath, "When you can mananana... I can parry spells as good as... aww, hell with it!" He hauls back and heaves. *FWOOSH!* The axe hurtles through the air. A beautiful cast as the mist envelops it harmlessly, passing through the images forehead to flash unhindered through the other side. Satisfied, he conjures another axe. "Oh, yeah. That's an illusion, awright." Then he calls, to Celeste, "I concur!"
Insane laughter echoes through the village, "Oh..I love it..so artistic..such flair.." that insane gaze falling upon Enzo, "'That' might have really hurt..well done..executed beautifully.." those eyes drifting over toward Izett, "Ah..Feldane..a young one..I remember you..enjoying the gifts? One day..you might be a concern..but far too young right now..least to me" his attention playing over the group, "If..we are all done playing..not that I don't find it exceeeeedinngly entertaining..shall we get to the point of my visit? Or do more wish to play?"
The horses seem to calm with Quina's effects upon them, if only a little. Their eyes wide, hooves stomping upon the ground. Frothing slightly at the mouth some seeming on the verge of having a heart attack with their freight.
Quina frowns as she tries to collect as much information as her fooled senses can give her, though she also does have to keep an 'eye' on the poor animals. She lets the others handle whatever this thing responsible is.
Celeste continues towards the mage, sword in hand and coming to a stop a few yards from him, "Odd way to Parlay. How about the point proceeded by why I shouldn't take you prisoner, hrrm? State your business, mage."
Enzo looks to Quina and Celeste. "This is all illusion. There's no threat to repell. I'm going to order the men to stand down before they start skewering each other and get them in tents out of the way!"
Izett studies the image in front of her for several long moments, watching as Enzo's blade moves right through it. Her dagger slowly slipping back into her sheath. She frowns at the mention of the gifts and the address toward her. Green eyes still holding that odd glint to them, softly she whispers words to soft for the ears and yet them seem heard. Her hand returning to tug that shawl back about her more fully waiting and listening.
Winter looks at the others, she /knows/ it magic at play but her eyes still perceive things as rotting and aging. She just stares at the figure in the fog as Celeste converses with him.
Quina still sees the illusion though it has cracks in it, but she forces herself not to react to it. She just does what she needs to as they listen.
The visage of the mage laughs almost a cackling in his insanity, "Ahh..capture.now that would be most entertaining...really. I look forward to such games.." his insane gaze settling up on Celeste, "Can we play with your dragon form..I've seen it..absolutely amaaaaazing." that whispering drawing his attention as the wind kicks up, "Ahh..but she's not!" settling, "So..on to my message..look about..take a good look..for the Dark One has come to Albion..indeed..the Dark one is here. Look about you..for he intends to keep it for himself...this..this is how it will all look when he is through..he will spread his touch throughout the land..grow comfortable with this visage.."
Enzo starts ordering the men off into hopefully harmless positions, deferring to the others to talk to the illusion for now.
Celeste says, "If the arrogant sonofabitch thinks he can take it, I expect him to try. Look around you cupcake, do any of us look afraid? Of course not! We LIVE with a sorcerer scarier in his sleep than you and your delusional master rolled together and set on fire. As for your master-I'd be rather keen to not speak to scrawny little lackeys and have a word with your master himself. Consider that my reply: I want to meet with this sonofabitch."
Izett tilts her head and nods as he has a point she isn't here at the moment. Still she listens to his words considering them, mulling them over. Her gaze casting over the landscape and then back to hear Celeste's words on the matter, listening for the reply.
Winter listens and watches. She might even smile an unperceivable touch as Celeste gives her response to the message. Perhaps it's reinforces that it truly is all just an illusion and that despite what she /sees/ all is being handled as it should be.
Sometimes, an expression really does speak volumes. At the moment, Quina's face is saying 'You are out of your mind Celeste, and we might need to put you down for your own good.'
The hazy image of the mage, indistinct and yet not. That laughter once more filling the air as the troops are ushered away to safety, many of them almost running toward the tents to escape the images before them. "So arogant..so positively wonderful. Ahh yes this will be most entertaining. If you wish to fight this evil..I suggest you seek out a weapon of great power..a weapon of such great power that will send him back into the shadows..but..one of such abilities as yours..perhaps you've no need for such warnings or clues..alas I think differently..I think it will be much more entertaining letting you know of it." his laughter once more filling the land so very loud it is almost deafening as though echoing within the heads of those around, that screams of some of the men pushed to nearly their breaking point. The images begin to fade, the fog swirling as the visage of the old wizard slowly falls and blends back into the fog. Night has fallen and claimed the land, but at least the warmth is slowly returning and those with magical sense and nature senses feel things returning little by little back to normal.
Celeste rolls her eyes and mutters, "Damned mages, so damned predictable. Enzo! Why are you just sitting there?" exasperated, "All hands-stand /down/. If I see a hand holding a weapon it's going to be my new bookend! Arms down, gentlemen!" she glances around and catches Quina's look, "Oh good, you have a better idea to identify who or what we're facing than a face to face. I'm all ears."
Enzo looks about as things begin to return to normal, brows lifting. "Well, that was peculiar, but not so bad." He looks to Quina and Celeste. "Well. Not touchin' this with a ten foot pole. Who else needs a drink, aye? Why were we after this Unicorn forsaken bit of real estate, again?"