Forlorn Death: The Dawning

[Dead Sun]

The wind howled a harsh tune through the creaking trees, bent over in pain; the rain hammered relentlessly, passing quickly and almost silently through the dark, bitter air, but this did not bother them. The dark clothes hid them against the night, the red scarf across their mouths a symbol of their origins. They stood still for only a moment, facing each other in silent reverence.
The sleepy town they stood before was called Hythe. It had seen some terrors in its years, which was why it was so sleepy. It had been the target of Guythier's attacks once, when he resided in the New Forest, and the Beast had stalked its prey their once for a number of years.

Adrian Theoric

Klaus Deschlandler

They stared at each otehr again as they walked silently into Hythe, this is where they would begin and where they would end it all...


Some weeks went by and, responding to a letter, Gareth arrived at Saltwood...

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao received a strange letter and arrived at Saltwood with his uncle, Brother Ubaldo Piangi.

[Dead Sun]

Gareth had seen this man before, but at Pontefract and only from a distance

Good day, my name is Gareth Reece-Llewllyn, and this man is my friend Ryn ap Collwyn. What be thy name, good sir?

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao recognizes this Gareth as the King Owain's physician. Good day. I am Sir Lanciao Annarelli, the Royal Herald, and this is my uncle, Brother Ubaldo Piangi of the Augustinian Friars.

[Dead Sun]

Its good to meet you, Sir Lanciao, and you too Brother.

Turning to look down on the town of Hythe, Gareth said

So what are we doing here?

[Samurai_Friar]

I know not. The letter was rather vague on details. Perhaps we should make lodgeing at the inn?

[Dead Sun]

Previous experience lodging at an inn is a wise idea for a man who wants to be watched all night secretly. But, i suppose, there's no better choice.

Unknowing to the two of them, a dark figure sat in a tree with a knife in his hand, carving away at a block of wood...

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao pays for the four of them at the inn and retires for the night. (OOC: I'm off right now.)

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao awakens feeling uneasy. He puts on his sword and leather armor and wanders into the lobby. He hears the sound of wood being carved, but doesn't know where its coming from.

[Dead Sun]

Gareth awoke to the sound of someone closing his door. Be side his bed was a blade... punched into the pillow, and message attached to it

"We got this close... The Dawning cannot be stopped"



In Lanciao's room, the shadowy man was still in the tree, carving away but also staring straight at Lanciao... but he was invisible behind the leafs and branches...

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao yawning, checks on Gareth. Gareth, are you in there?

[Amaz]

Reginald finally arrives at Hythe, not knowing that Lanciao and Gareth had come before him

[Dead Sun]

Yes, Lanciao, I'm still here.

Gareth left his room in a hurry, Ryn close behind. Gareth looked worried, but he hid it well.


-----------------------


Reginald stood alone at the tower in Saltwood... or so he thought...

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao looked at Gareth strangely, woke up Brother Ubaldo, and followed Gareth out.

[Dead Sun]

OOC: right, lets get this started properly

As Gareth left the inn a small and old man approached him. He stumbled forwar to Gareth, and, as he reached him, began to desperately cling to Gareths clothes. His eyes showed terror, his figure and gait showed disease, but his face was only horror. The man fell on Gareth, revealing a badly bloodstained dagger in the back of his lung. As he lay on the ground, he rasped one last word

"Dawning..."

And he fell silent. Gareth was shocked, and Lanciao behind him was surprised to see that Gareth hadnt done anything. Obviously he couldnt save the man, bu Gareth hadn't jumped, batted the man away from him; he'd barely moved. Gareth sighed and repeated the dark word

"Dawning. What in the world is that?"

As soon as he had spoken, a door creaked out of sight to their left. Gareth held Ryn back as he moved forward. He looked at lanciao and moved his head as to infer "Lets go." He walked non-chalantly up to the door, that was part of a barn, and quickly opened. Peeking in, he quickly shut the door, moved to the corner of the barn and wretched dryly. Lanciao dared to open the door... to find a little girls body.

She was nailed to the top of one of the beams that was connected to the roof. Her eyes had been removed, leaving blood still running down her cheeks. Her cheeks had been cut apart, and her hair shaved off her head. The bottom of her jaw had been removed and etched into her chest was a crude and bloody picture of a dawning sun...

[Samurai_Friar]

Lanciao shuddered at the sight and closed the door as soon as he opened it. He motioned for his uncle to follow him as he took off after Gareth.

[Dead Sun]

Gareth spat as he finished dry wretching, holding his hand u to stop Lanciao coming too close

You saw that mark... I have to go back in there... I have to know what happened!

[Double A]

Marcus, his shield bearer* and a bodyguard of 4 men - 2 others had been lost to bandits - were riding down the road.

Something doesn't seem right about this forrest... be cautious men.

ooc: Should I mention that 2 are wearing a red shirts?

* the kickass kind, like that one in the Bible story where one of those Jewish kings and his shield bearer took down 22 men? Yeah even an agnostic knows how cool David and Solomon were.

[Amaz]

Reginald hears the men pass but cannot see them in the cover of night

[M D]

Bishop John de Bolbec, very far away from his parish and in a simple cloak with a hood sees Marcus...

"Duke Marcus, Help Me!"

He spurs the horse to reach Marcus' side...