[INF] Aeregos – Archeos > Aeregos

[Jacogos]

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Assault Force (2)
Archeos

Tybalt Roseheart (Knight)
A fellow escapee from Aeregos, courtesy of Ilea, Tybalt met up with Shani in the sewers of Aeregos and stuck by her side since, unable to leave a woman alone in foreign territory. Like her, he managed to find a suit of Aeregosian armor and a spear, swearing to protect her and aid in her quest.

Players: (1)
Shani Alhema (P.K.) (http://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32533&p=1016016&viewfull=1#post1016016)



Defending Force (?)
Aeregos

No Info Currently Available

GM:
Jacogos


Posting Order
P.K.
|
Jacogos (GM)



Introduction:
After having escaped from the clutches of Aeregos and Rai-Gonsuro in their prison, Shani Alhema and a fellow Archeon prisoner by the name of Tybalt Roseheart decide to make the most of their position within the heart of Aeregos and strike a blow at them in revenge. Their best hope: the chalice of Orion that was stolen from them by the Aeregosians. With no more knowledge than it would have to be within the capital itself, the two set off in hopes of reclaiming the relic and taking back what is rightfully theirs.

Battle Start

Deep within the heart of Aeregos’s capital, within the very castle that the royal family had lived in for decades, a sewer-grate lifted up from below before being gently placed to the side. Two figures quickly and quietly lifted themselves up and into the dark room before replacing the grate onto the hole. One of the figures waved a hand in front of its face, breathing out in disgust from the smell of the waterways they had just exited.

“I knew this would get us in…” one said in a hushed and slightly disgusted tone, obviously male by his voice. “Now, judging by the smell and, if memory serves, this should be the storage room.” Moving forward, the man stumbled around blindly for a bit before finding a lantern nearby.

After lighting it, Tybalt and Shani came into sight of each other, almost perfectly disguised in Aeregosian armor. Of course, Shani’s red hair was strikingly obvious, but hopefully her likeness hadn’t been passed around this far into the capital. Tybalt looked a little too heavily-built to be an Aeregosian swordsman, but again, that wasn’t likely to arouse too much suspicion.

“Alright… what’s the plan?” Tybalt asked. He looked towards the door on the far side of the room, which had a bit of light shining through under it.

[P.K.]

Shani looked into the small fire light. "Beyond getting here I have none." she admitted. She was not one to come up with cunning plans for anything she was a simple solider with no rank. With discomfort she tugged at her armor, is was stiff and uncomfortable, It fit her small body well but it was not made for her way of movement, Making it that more important they didn't get in a fight. At first she had not planned on having a companion on this quest, She would have struck it alone but as much as she wanted to plead with Tybalt to not accompany her on this mission she was sure she would not return from, she could not. He was a knight.

She sighed. "Avoid a fight if at all possible, if we can manage to not let it be known what we are after until we already have it and are safely out of reach..." she took a slightly shaky breath as she slowly picked her way to the door. "If it is here...." she said under her breath. "May Alu’Terasa protect us on our holy errand." she said a little louder before she reached the door and glanced back at her companion. "The plan... we get the chalice of Oron... and we bring it back." she said with determination, covering her fear before she turned to the door and gingerly opened it carefully to keep it silent and still as she looked out at what lay beyond.

[Jacogos]

Outside was a hallway, leading off towards their right with a wall to their left (the room they were in was the last one on the hall). If they stuck their heads out a little, they would see the hallway lead on for about 100 yards before ending it what was likely a turn or another hallway. Along the hallway, there were only three other doors, all on the same side of the hall as the room they currently occupied. From nearby, the smell of cooking food permeated the air.

The hallway was deserted. Though the sound of metal scraping and other similar cooking noises could be heard from a nearby room, there was nothing else to indicate human presence in this area.

[P.K.]

"We're near to a kitchen." she murmured, though it was so obvious by the smells of cooking food and the sounds of kitchen utensils begin used. Shani know, as anyone who cooked knew. Kitchen wear could be used as a weapon just as well as any sword or spear. It didn't seem that there was anyways they could avoid passing the kitchen, Even as dressed as they where she didn't want to take any chances. What would be none suspicious behavior for... them to be here? guards? warriors what would they be seen as in this get up? Placing a hand carefully on the door she eased it open more to step out slowly keeping her eyes on the hall and the door where the sounds of work came from.

She carefully moved down the hall, careful to look relaxed and as if she should be here, she didn't know if it worked. She glanced behind her to see if Tybalt followed before continuing down twords the door where the kitchen was. she stopped before coming into any vew of the door and studied each of the other doors. Was it possible that the chalice was here? in one of these rooms? Somehow she doubted that it would make more since to have it somewhere more open, more noticeable, easily guarded. But there were other options. They would just have to wing it.

Leaning foreword she lend slightly to peek through the door with out being noticed to see how many people they might have to sneak past. she knew better then to just walk in, this time. The last time had nearly been just as bad an idea as staying to distract her guard before. she held her breath and hoped that Tybalt would be just as silent.

[Jacogos]

As Shani peered in, she would notice a rather large room filled with tables, stoves, food, and, above all, more than thirty cooks and other staff milling about their duties. None were soldiers, but all went about their job with near the same dutifulness. No one noticed her peering in, so engrossed in their work as they were, so Shani got to look around for a few seconds. There were no other doors out of the room except for one towards the room next to it, likely also accessible by the hallway.

The kitchen was large enough that one could assume the door Shani was peering and the next door along the hallway both entered into the kitchen, which left a single door for another room. Nothing else seemed apparent to them insofar.

"Anything?" Tybalt whispered.

[P.K.]

Shani hesitated before drawing back. "There's about thirty cooks, Maybe more." she said softly. "A door that probably leads to that room." she said motioning to the room on the other side. "A pantry... more then likely." she said thinking for a moment. "Leaving only one other door In this hall..." she still doubted that it was here. She pointed to the last door. "The cooks should be to busy to notice us if we move quickly, and not linger." she said quietly, it was not possible for the cooks to hear them over their clamor but she didn't want to take a chance. She looked to Tybalt suddenly wondering why she was taking the lead. she knew there wasn't time or place now to think about it but she could not help old habits.

She moved trying to shake it off, across the doorway, smoothly reaching the other side. She paused and looked back to her companion waiting for him to cross before she carefully picked her way to the third door. She peered down the hall and back to the kitchen door before she slowly eased the door open as silently as she could to peer in.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt was beside her in moments as she began to open the next door. The smell of dung and freshly cut meat filled Shani's nostrils as she cracked the door to the dimly lit room. A miniature slaughterhouse, it seemed. The cut meat could then be cooked then and there in the next room. The low grunt of a cow greeted them, and loud snort sounded from a few feet behind the door.

"Eh? Whos'air?" a voice asked, the following silence that filled the slaughteroom negated by the noise coming from the kitchens. Tybalt froze, barely breathing.

[P.K.]

Shani had no problem with the smell, She lived on farm land, cows where nothing new to her. Not that she had ever expected it to be... inside. Nor had she Expected some one to be inside. She held her breath for a moment. If they backed away quickly maybe whoever it was would think the door and just cracked open, But palaces didn't work the same as smaller places.

She hissed quietly her mind whirling. "No one, Sorry just checking... the meat..." She closed the door then and almost chocked on her own breath as she backed away from the door. It wasn't.... a complete a lie. She tried to tell herself then waved for Tybalt to follow her, face slightly pale she turned down the hall, nothing here and she hopped her answer would be enough to not rouse suspicion or she may have just complicated things for the both of them. there best option then was to move and hopefully if not one came out those doors she could take her time looking around the end of the hall.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt stared at her for a moment, standing rigidly. Luckily for them, however, the man on the other side of the door simply mumbled something under his breath and seemingly went about his business. Sighing lightly, Tybalt followed behind Shani.

"You're crazy..." he hissed after they had moved down the hall further.

At the end of the hall, they came to a splitting of paths. To their left, stairs led up about twenty feet before ending in a door. To their right, the stairs continued down for another thirty feet before ending in another door.

The door on their left was completely made of wood with a single 'door' at eye-height that could be pulled aside to look through it. A peep-hole, if you will. The hole was closed, so nothing could be seen on the other side. A steel handle was welded into the door to open it. The door to their right was also made of wood, though it looked heavier, complemented by a single hole cut out of the door that was filled with three small steel bars, a barred window of sorts. There was no light coming from inside that room. The handle was a single steel ring attached to a steel holder that was welded to the door; it resembled a door-knocker of 'modern' days, just placed where a handle would be.

[P.K.]

"If I wasn't I wouldn't be here!" she hissed back quietly. But she seemed nerves glancing over her shoulder once and a while to see if any one had followed them. she stopped when they reached the end of the hall. Witch way to go, witch way would be the most likely it would be? She decided the door on the right might be good to try if they could get that peek hole open. She looked back at Tybalt for a moment before she slowly moved around the corner and up the stairs to the door, Picking her way carefully.

She looked at the door more closely, Studying it for a moment before she reached for the Eye hole to see if she could open it from this side, If she didn't have to open every door to find out where it went the less time they had to sped doing it. She trembled slightly, this was far longer then she wanted to be here and she prayed silently that they would find what the sought soon and escape unnoticed.

[Jacogos]

The peephole door slid open easily, revealing a huge yet well-lit room. It seemed to be a dining area, complete with a long table at its center, surrounded by chairs of fine make and topped by a pure white cloth and candlesticks, unlit. The light came from the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling and the wall-lanterns lining the wall. The room appeared deserted for the moment, though with neither of them knowing the time, it was impossible for them to know when it might NOT be deserted.

From Shani's viewpoint, she could see a door opposite the one she stood behind, as well as an open passageway near that door but on the right wall. From what she could see, that had stairs leading up as well. The peephole was too narrow to see the left side of the room and check for doors there.

[P.K.]

Shani studied the room before she shut the peephole and turned to Tybalt in thought. "It looks like a dinning hall." she informed him. "Currently it seems deserted but for how long?" She asked quietly and shook her head. "The question is." and she looked towards the other door as she said this. "Would they find it more guarded farther up? or lower down?" she didn't know. One one hand if they took their chance now and made they way into the dinning hall and to the other side of the room, they would be cut off from there entry point if any activity should take place in the dinning hall and they would have to wait it out or find another way out. on the other if they checked the other door they might not get another chance to. Her mind whirled again as she thought over the options and again wondered why she was taking the lead.

She was not sure she fancied checking the other dark door but she was having a mighty hard time deciding which one seemed more likely to hide their prize. Each one could hold equally fatal choices. Another thought accrued to her, The cooks seemed intent on food meaning that there had to be some sort of meal coming up soon, but which one? and how long did they have? She closed her eyes for a moment Praying hard that she would make the right decision before she looked at her companion for any input.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt sighed and shrugged, his mind equally strewn with possibilities and stress.

"My thoughts are that the chalice would be held near the Empress. It's an important artifact, so wouldn't they keep it close by?" he said quietly, still shooting worried glances towards the kitchens. Someone could come out at any time. Breathing to try and relieve the stress, Tybalt looked up towards the dining room door.

"Of course, we have no idea where even the Empress would be. We need to get some information out of someone," he grumbled, gripping his stolen spear tight. At that moment, flickering light could be seen on the other side of the heavy door, slowly getting brighter for a moment. A few seconds passed and the light began to fade away again.

[P.K.]

"that makes since." shani answered softly making up her mind in that fact. she noted his nervousness glances and could not help doing the same. How long? She looked back to her companion as he said something about getting information from some one, about the same time she noticed the light and froze for a seconded until it passed. "That may have just been answered..." she hissed softly. She moved back down the stairs quietly peering down the other hall as she passed it and down the stairs to the heavy door before listening quietly for footsteps. If she was correct and there was indeed some one passing through on the other side then Tybalt would indeed get his wish, how though she was not sure. She was eager but so frightened at the same time. Trying to have faith while you feared was a very hard thing to do. She longed to be home with her father on their land quietly working away at her chores in the small country home.

She took a deep breath and searched through the hole in the door carefully testing the door to see witch way it opened and if she could do so from this side. How she hated sneaking around, it was awfully deceptive but there was no other way to enter enemy lands with out being struck down. She searched for the light, if it could bee seen anymore from her vantage.

[Jacogos]

Through the small barred window, Shani could see a torch lightning up a dark, unlit hallway. The walls and flooring were all of stone, rather unkempt and seemingly long abandoned by the main building. The torch was being carried by someone walking rather slowly but with purpose. The figure was far enough away by now that nothing more could be told from it. After a few seconds, the figure came to a turn in the hall and went with it, turning left and continuing his or her patrol.

The door, based on its round-ring handle, likely opened towards her, just enough room between it and the stairs end to open all the way. However, when she tried moving it, the door proved to be too heavy to inch open. She'd need to put more force into it by pulling on the handle.

Tybalt moved behind her, still speaking quietly. "What's there? A guard?"

[P.K.]

"Looks like..." she replied softly. She explained as she pointed the way the figure had gone. "They walked with purpose wherever they are going. A patrol perhaps." she said. "They turned a corner, I couldn't make out much more." she said putting a bit more force into opening the door . "But I only saw one if you really want some information that might be our best bet with out alarming anyone to our presence to much..." Her thought was if this place was abandon as it looked like it had been for the most part not many people would notice a struggle, They could stow the body down there and it shouldn't be missed two much while they went about finding their prize. However if that was the case that it was a patrol surely there would be a regular guard walking it as well? they would have to make it quick.

Pulling on the handle with all her strength but trying to be careful in making it as salient as possible.

[Jacogos]

The door, after a moment of resistance, slowly opened up, a quiet groan coming from its ancient hinges. It wasn't loud enough to be heard, but to them it might've been a scream of agony. After it was open all the way, they could vaguely see the passage before them. The only problem was that it was literally pitch black inside. The man with the torch was likely still around the bend... There wasn't even a faint glimmer of light to be seen.

"You gonna go in blind?" Tybalt asked, squinting into the darkness.

[P.K.]

Shani didn't answer at first instead she turned from the door and glanced around the walls before she moved to the closest lamp hanging there on. She strained for a moment until she was able to get it down. "No." she finely said before she pushed her way into the darkness. She didn't want to waist anymore time wondering, she wanted to know, needed to know the only probably she had.... how would they make the man talk once they caught up with him? She was trying not to hard not to think to deeply as to get lost in it as she started down the passage, nervously glancing back at Tybalt once and a while as she forged her way down the passage and to the corner, Slowing down she pulled the lantern behind her as she slowly edged against the wall to the turn. Once she was close enough to do so she lend foreword to peer around to see if the figure was with in sight, or even the veg glow of the light he had been carrying.

If she saw no signs of such she would bring the lantern back around in front to peer at the hall before them.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt closed the door behind them as they proceeded into the dark hallway, the darkness fading away from the presence of the lantern that Shani held. As they made their way down, they soon came upon the turn in the hallway, both sideling up to the corner.

Before Shani could peer around, however, they heard a voice.

"Huh...?" the voice breathed in a concerned tone. "Who's there? Show yourself!" With the lantern, light showed around the corner onto the opposite wall, showing Shani's shadow vaguely in a dim halo. Tybalt caught his breath, slowly and silently retreating back out of the light.

[P.K.]

Shani winced at the voice and cursed in her head but was not at all reassured when Tybalt slipped back into the shadows but she figured she could use it. She took a deep breath and moved around the corner, hopping that she could come up with something to save her skin distract the man long enough to jump him... unless he had friends.

"S-sorry didn't mean to scar you..." She said sheepishly trying to act like she completely belonged here. "I-i was told to go down the hall and I'd find some one, I might have gone down the wrong hall." she tried. inside she cringed at herself in disgust at how easy it was to try and form a lie, she hopped it was convincing enough. she looked around the room for a moment studying it to figure with she could move in here easily enough to use her talent with ease.

[Jacogos]

The guard had a torch in his hand, staring hard at the 'intruder' before him. Reassuringly, he wore the same green armor that Shani and Tybalt had donned in disguise. At his side was a longsword, sheathed in a plain scabbard. He had his free hand on the blade's pommel, but seemed to only be near it out of anxiety instead of fear.

"Find someone? Whatever for? Guard change shouldn't be for another hour or two... Right?" he asked, his free hand now going to scratch the back of his head under the helmet.

In the darkness behind Shani, Tybalt was waiting on the balls of his feet, waiting for either a sign that she was about to be attacked or for her to attack herself. They hadn't gone over any tells or hand signs for them to communicate silently to each other, so he had no idea what to look for if she tried.

[P.K.]

"Ya..." Shani said slowly in thought for a moment. "T-they said something about showing the new recruits the ropes." she said nervously. "I figured they would have told you, Maybe they did point me down the wrong hall, It be just like some to get the new one in trouble." She sounded genuinely worried, but she really was worried. "Oh man I'm so screwed over if I don't find my way to place I'm supposed to be soon." She looked to the man. "Um... I don't suppose you could tell me where they are holding... um They actuly didn't tell me what it was they just said I need to be at the door to see that I got instruction on some object taken from the the white knights we've recently pushed back." She hoped against hope that was some of the right stuff to say. and she hoped Tybalt was close.

[Jacogos]

The guard looked at her curiously for a moment, as if contemplating what she was saying. It was hard to say what exactly he might be thinking about this 'lost guardswoman', but at least he hadn't called her out as a spy.

"Lucky..." He muttered. "New recruit and they already have you guarding that? Are you sure they said that?" He studied her for a moment. "Who's the guy that told you your duty today?"

In the shadows, Tybalt mentally swore, almost charging forward, but held himself back for another moment. Maybe she could find a way out of this. If she could, blood wouldn't have to be spilled... Hopefully.

[P.K.]

Shani was finding it far to easy to forge a lie and she hated it but it seemed to be her only chance right now. She made as if to answer but paused as she couldn't come up with a name that didn't sound to.. bazaar. "I don't think he ever said..." She said trying hard not to pale in worry. "Oh dear..." she muttered. "I'm really not liked here." she winced that the pure truth of it. "I'd say why but fear the same treatment would come from you." she admitted. "So I'm not sure if I'm as lucky as you to be guarding a far down place here away from the others." she said quietly.

She almost wished she had her staff with her, at least then she would feel a little more confidant... maybe. for now she was winging it while her mind buzzed and her heart pounded. She was going to be found out she was sure of it and she prayed that her father would be comforted while she was not around.

[Jacogos]

The guard almost had a look of sympathy for the girl, but suddenly he seemed to realize where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. Steeling his

"Listen, girl, I understand that you're lost, but do you think you can manage to find your way back to the barracks? If you find Captain Rossan, he'll tell you for sure what your shift is and you can get along with it. Now if you'll pardon me, I need to get back to my rounds," he said, gently attempting to turn Shani around by her shoulder and direct her back the way she came.

As this happened, Tybalt swore mentally again. Sorry Shani... You're not getting this, he thought. Raising out of his crouch, he charged forward, gaining a surprised gasp from the guardsman. He tried to get his sword out, but Tybalt brought his spear-butt up to the man's arm, knocking the torch from his hand.

The guard cried out and took a step back, but Tybalt was still coming, wood meeting skin as the staff connected with the guard's temple. He collapsed.

[P.K.]

It happened a bit fast but Shani found herself staring down at the unconscious man. She sighed. "Sorry." that was both for him and Tybalt. she shook her head she felt horrible and she cursed herself for it. She frowned That hadn't given her anything but if there was a guard down here there had to be something worth guarding, maybe if they followed the tunnel further it would take them where they needed to be or close enough to it. She shook her head quietly, she didn't know. Being a leader wasn't her strong point, neither was this. her strong point was probably taking commands and begin a distraction so others could get in a better shot. almost just set down to think for a long moment but she made herself keep standing. "Something's telling me this is almost fruitless." she muttered. "But there has to be a reason we are here." she was almost talking to herself. And she was but didn't seem to care right then. she sighed. "We have an hour maybe two or less then to look around farther before he's discovered." she said "Maybe the light well shine on us for a moment and give us luck." she didn't sound so convinced right then though. She picked passed the man's limp body and started down the hall. 'You could take his sword... I guess. I'd like the spear if you do..."

[Jacogos]

Tybalt prodded the man with the butt of his spear, looking over at Shani with a face of regret.

"Hardly fruitless. We'll get the chalice and save Orion, and Archeos will hail us as heroes!" the knight said, bending down to take the man's sword like she suggested. It was much lighter than the ones Archeon knights wielded, but it would fit. He handed the spear to Shani and proceeded to grab the man by the arms.

"Are we really just gonna leave him unconscious? As soon as he wakes, he'll set off an alarm. Kill him and we extend our time. Not to mention we could interrogate him when he wakes.... Which could be premature if we try." Tybalt looked down at the guard, who groaned quietly as he did, causing the knight to jump a little.

[P.K.]

Shani shook her head. "Hero's" she muttered in thought. "Thats not what I'm after but I'm sure that's what well come should we succeed." she looked back with a painful look. "I..." she faulted. "If your going to kill him..." she shook her head. "I'd rather interrogate him." she admitted. 'At least then we might be able to keep him alive. She sounded uncertain she quietly came over again and looked down at the guard and sighed ever so softly. "Then we bring him with us down the hall?" she asked. "Maybe there is a better place to hole up down there, we could try and take him back to the storage room." she muttered trying to think of what else they could do. "If we hurry."

She took a deep breath and nodded trying to get back into the flow of their mission. "Lets keep going down the hall.." she said finely. "Lets bring him with, but this isn't going to be fun."

[Jacogos]

"Right, we might as well try," Tybalt said, taking the man by the arm and pulling him up onto his shoulder. "Welp... After you, my lady." The knight waited for Shani to lead the way, pointing out the torch that was still on the ground if she failed to remember it.

As they moved down the hallway towards the unexplored end, the found that the hallway ended about as far from the turn as the original door had been. Instead of a door, though, it was just a threshold, leading into a small 'room' that housed a spiral staircase leading upwards. It was large enough to fit two people side-by-side.

"Huh... That's different," Tybalt said.

[P.K.]

Tybalt was right she pulled the lantern above her head and peered up with awe. She could only nod in agreement. She started up the stairs slowly. "If he wakes in the middle of the stair way... wont it echo?" she asked quietly. "When he speaks? or calls for help?" she shook her head. she held the lamp in front of her now glancing behind them once and a while. how long did they have? would they get back out? Would they get what they where after? or would they fail? she didn't know the answer to any of these question and as much as she wanted to... she didn't voice her doubts.

"I wounder where it goes..." she said quietly. and what could be at the top, she was almost, almost afraid to know.

[Jacogos]

"Good point..." Tybalt said, setting the man down. After a moment, he managed to rip a decent sized piece of cloth and gagged the man. "There we go..." he took the man back onto his shoulder, grunting with effort.

The staircase led upwards for longer than they could see, the stairs spiraling tight enough to overlap so there wasn't any way to see all the way up to the top. There was no noise to be heard. They were completely alone in the darkness.

"I wish I knew..." Tybalt commented, peering upwards as well. "Maybe this guy could tell us?"

[P.K.]

"When he waked." Shani agreed. She was fascinated but wry. "I didn't know such a thing could be built." she admitted, "I did not think they could..." she murmured. "but in some ways there seems to be... similarity." she spoke mostly to herself. but she admired the work as they moved along quietly. it would be some time she thought until they reached the top but till then she didn't want to remain in silence. she tuched the wall gently as they passed before looking up the stairs again. "Its a long way up... Perhaps they would end up at the top of a tower of sorts."

[Jacogos]

"I think the Sacred One's castle has stairs like these... My teacher told me of his time there as a younger man. Apparently it's only a little less grand than standing with Alu'terasa Himself." Tybalt grunted a bit as he repositioned the unconscious guard on his shoulder and continued after Shani.

The walked up MAYBE three 'floors' worth of stairs before they came to their first doorway. It was built into the stairwell and had nothing obvious about its design whatsoever. The only way to tell what was on the other side was to open it. However, the stairway also continued upwards.

[P.K.]

Shenai nodded. "I've never really been inside." she admitted. "I've been on some of the balcony's in some of the churches in the country offering the best place to look, But most the time I look to our borders..." she didn't offer any further information about where she was looking. She stopped in front of the door and looked at her companion. "This doesn't really make since..." but perhaps. She waved him back slightly, If whatever was on the other side seemed safe then they could rest there for a moment. She set down the lamp quietly and held her spear tightly as she carefully approached the door and tested it. Which ever way is swung she eased it open a crack to peer through quietly.

[Jacogos]

The door creaked loudly, swinging away from Shani. Tybalt winced at the loud noise, but said nothing. If the noise stopped her, no further noise could be heard. If she continued to open the door, the creaking would rise to a squeal that, even though it was deafening compared to the previous silence, attracted no living attention. Another hallway lay before them, well-lit by lanterns, showing quite a few doorways, all with wooden doors closed. It looked deserted.

[P.K.]

"Its another hall" she after the silence. She had stopped the door when it was large enough for her to fit through. "Its well lit but I don't see anyone." she said and then glanced back down the way they had come unable to see to far because of the bend in the stairs. She looked back at Tybalt for a moment. "should we continue up? or explore this hall?" she asked. "There appear to be a lot of doors..." She was not so sure she wanted to explore all of them and find that there was nothing worth looking at. But she left that question to her companion, it would be like she said earlyer find a good place to hole up till they could figure out more.

[Jacogos]

"Lots of doors..." he said with a sigh. "I guess we could check it out? Bah, I don't know. I feel like going up leads to more important places, but who's to say they'd keep the chalice there? We need something more definitive." Shaking his head, he waited for Shani to decide. On his shoulder, the guard groaned again.

[P.K.]

'He may wake up soon." shani murmured. 'And we may need a room to hole up in to question him, a place that wont echo or carry our voices far..." she peered back into the hall and sighed. "I'll check the first few rooms out." she said glancing back at him and then slipping though the door quietly before making her way to the first door. She paused for a moment as if listening before she pressed a hand against the door testing it and then slowly cracked it open again, hoping strongly that it was not so grating against her eardrums as the last one.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt waited behind, checking the gag in the man's mouth as Shani went ahead. In the hallway, there was a distinct fragrance in the air. If one knew what it was, they would peg the smell to be a light perfume, such worn by the wealthy. As Shani opened the first door, she found it opened smoothly into an empty but well furnished bedroom. Everything was spotless and well-made, if a little plain. Should she check the other doors, she'd find more of the same, though each room had a slightly different layout than the one before.

[P.K.]

Shani checked the other rooms before she carefully moved back down the hall and peeked out. "They all seem to be bed rooms." she related when she saw before trying to ease the door open again enough to Tybolt to get through. she didn't have any oil but she didn't know if greasing the hinges would do any good for the sound at all. "I think maybe some important people stay here, but It dose not seem to be disturbed as of late." she murmured after the door was open just enough before she paused to listen for any sound of any kind over then their own breathing.

She didn't know how long they had been here or how long they had, or even if they would prevail, forgive her faithlessness but her doubted she was here for any kind of a purpose now, they could leave, knowing full well how to get into the palace now and where some of the halls led, that would give them a vantage should they get the chance again... with a much larger group. Should she voice this to Tybalt?

[Jacogos]

"Perhaps nobles?" he put in, peering down the hall. "Most don't live in the castles, so perhaps this is a place where they stay when they visit?" This could all be wrong, but he could at least hope he was right. "Well do you want to use one of them to interrogate this poor fellow? Or shall we continue up?"

Shani would also have noticed the other door at the end of the hall, opposite the one they had entered through. Likely that would lead to other parts of the castle.

[P.K.]

"I'm not sure, but if he wakes soon and makes a fuss while we are traveling up the stairs, could cause us more problems then we care to count." she said wryly. Poor fellow was right they still had to figure out what to do with him when they where done with him. "Take one of the rooms in the middle of the hall, it take the most time to get to for anyone looking for us and maybe give s enough time to prepare for a rush." she said.

She moved over to one of the middle doors and opened it to the room before standing aside to let him in first glancing at both doors at the end of the hall. "I sure hope its only when they visit." she muttered. The sooner they could find what they where after the better. and the more they knew about the inside of the palace the better once they got their lands back.

[Jacogos]

<<Friendly warning. As of this post, I will be rolling a d20. A roll of 1 or 2 ensure things begin to get a little more... interesting, pertaining to where they are currently. Every post, I'll add to that number (i.e. 1, 2 or 3 next turn, 1, 2, 3 or 4 after, etc.) until the Doom Number is rolled. I think it's high time we see some action no? >: D Have fun!>>

Tybalt nodded affirmatively and followed her to the door she mentioned, still holding the guard over his shoulder. Another muffled moan escaped their captive before all was silent again, Tybalt moving into the room. After Shani closed the door, Tybalt gently pulled a chair out into the middle of the room, then sat the man down in it.

"I think we're pushing our luck to not be found out soon, so let's put a little oomph into it and use some of those bedsheets to tie him to the chair, eh?" the knight said, drawing his stolen sword.

[P.K.]

(oh crap, O-o but yes your right -prays for some luck on her side-)

Shani sighed, the workmen ship was fine yes but she was not so much worried about that. Tybalt was right so she set the spear next to the door and pulled off the bed sheet of the bed working quickly to help strip the sheets. honestly though she was not sure how this put any oomph in it at all. "I hope things don't get exciting anytime soon." she muttered, meaning she hopped nothing got exciting till they where out of here. some people might like the idea of fighting through a horde of enemy's in their own turf and escaping with their prize but shani did not. she simply wanted to find the chalice and leave with it quietly. hopefully thats how it would somewhat turn out but she doubted they would keep up with the amount of luck they where having. When she had helped enough with the bed sheets she started with the tieing. knots where easy enough when using knots she had learned from her father back home.

"So once, and if we get the information we need out of him then what? are just going to leave him here tied and gagged or are we going to...?" she didn't want to finish that thought let along the sentence. "and the possibility of getting back to our original escape through the same way is not as likely." she finished with her knots before taking up her spear again and holding it behind her while she took up a position near the door.

[Jacogos]

"If someone comes into this room, they'll find him whether or not he's dead..." Tybalt said. "They might hear him through the gag, though, not to mention he could manage to work his way through the knots given enough time. I'd kill him." The knight paused and seemed to pick up on something as he turned to Shani. "Is... that alright with you?"

Either way, their captive was tied and bound as well as he could be to the chair. They could start interrogating him at any time. Tybalt held the sword tightly and slowly pressed it close to the man's neck. He wouldn't wake the guard until Shani gave the word, though.

[P.K.]

Shani shook her head softly, it was not alright with her but there was nothing for it. "If it must be done then it must." she said softly with out really answering the question. She would prefer to just leave him tied as tight as they could manage and gagged, maybe knocked out again. She figured most people would find her a cowered for not wanting to kill their enemy's directly but wither they did or not she didn't think showing that kind of doubt and hesitation would help their situation. She hesitated for a moment watching her companion position his sword closer to the mans neck before she finely nodded. This was going to anything but enjoyable and her face showed it as she steeled herself for what was about to happen.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt nodded in acknowledgement and, sighing lightly, smacked the man on the face lightly a few times to rouse him from his stupor. After a moment, the guard murmured through the gag and opened his eyes slowly. After a split second of consciousness settling on his person, his eyes snapped wide and it seemed he began to realize everything that he body was feeling at the moment. Before he could get too panicked, however, Tybalt pressed the blade slightly tighter against the man's neck.

"Settle down, Aeregosian," Tybalt hissed, his eyes cold. "We need some answers from you, and if all goes well, we'll leave you alive. Make a noise we don't want, however, and I'll slit your throat before anyone hears you. Got it?" there was a moment of quick, panicked breathing before the guard nodded.

"I'm going to cut the gag. No noise," Tybalt warned both the man and Shani, then proceeded to cut the gag. The guard held to his unspoken word and kept his mouth shut, nostrils flaring as he tried to slow his breathing.

"Would you like to proceed, or me?" Tybalt asked Shani, careful not to refer to her by name.

[P.K.]

shani shook her head almost mutely after watching the guard in his panic and then get cut loss and remained silent. would he be as stubborn as she had? " I'm sorry about my lies earlier, its not a pleasant thing on my tongue but If its at all avoidable then we don't want to have to hurt you." she said quietly. "I know what its like to be in your position but please don't be stubborn and we wont have to be hard on you." she took took in another breath to think for a moment. "What do you know about the chalice?" she asked finely staring at him intently. her hands gripped tightly around her spear shaft hoping that in no way would she have to use it was it was, and wishing she had her staff with her.

[Jacogos]

The man looked bewildered for a moment, blinking it what seemed to be confusion. "Chalice...?" he murmured. "I don't..." Fearfully, he looked at Tybalt for a split second before returning his gaze to Shani. It was only after a moment of fear that his eyes lit up.

"Wait!" he yelped, earning a stern look from Tybalt, followed by a press on the sword. The man swallowed lightly and lowered his voice. "You mean the artifact that Lieutenant Kaizan stole from Archeos?" As soon as he said the words, he realized who the two were, at least of what nationality they were.

"B-b-b-but I don't know where it is!" he was quick to add, sweat beading on his skin. "I swear! I only got drafted a week ago! They don't let anyone of my rank know things as important as that!"

[P.K.]

she studied him not sure if he was telling the truth. If they didn't then why had he not been so suspicious when she asked about it earlier posing as a new one herself? she looked to Tybalt for a moment. "stole from is right, which he had no right to." she said quietly. "Perhaps if he had not we would not be at the war we are now." she shook her head. "Do you have any idea where they would hold our objective?" she asked seriously trying not to let her doubt and distaste show as weakness.

[Jacogos]

"I doubt that, you bastards killed General Kaburi before you even knew about the Lieutenant!" the man retorted, his sudden yelp cut off by his own teeth clamping down on his tongue. Tybalt had pressed the sword even closer to the man's skin, drawing a thin line of blood from his neck.

"No mouth..." he warned, looking to Shani worriedly. He then turned back to the guard, who swallowed.

"All I know is that most important things like that are kept near the Empress," he said shakily, hoping that was satisfactory. "I swear, they didn't tell me where it is! If they did, I might've been able to help you when you tricked me earlier!" That earned a grunt from Tybalt.

At that moment, however, there was the sound of hinges squeaking. It was not the groan of the door they had come through, however. They could hear the faint titter of feminine voices chatting, sounding like at least three.

[P.K.]

Shani frowned at him before she could make any comment back Tybalt stopped them both. she perked up and looked back at their closed door as she heard sound of voices, soft and sweet like almost every other girl she knew. she silently spun the spear up in front of her readying it, she didn't think much on the girls being a threat unless they found her and Tybalt and screamed. She listened hard trying to make see how many there where. two... three maybe? but there would always be a quite one in the group so she counted on at least four or five.

Silently she backed away from the door by all hopes they would pass and leave but she doubted that was going to happen if it came to it it might be time for a little more action. she turned and gave the guard a hard look if it was his voice that brought any one in here it would not turn out well. so where was the Empress and how where they to get there? She kept the blunt end of her stolen spear towards the door no intent on killing some one but the moment that door opened some one was going to get hit in the head with a blunt object.

[Jacogos]

The tittering drew closer, and Shani would be able to distinguish speech.

"So how do we want to do this?" one voice said.

"Either we all work on one room at a time or split up and try and get each room done as fast as possible," another said.

"The second one. We won't be all over each other that way," a third said. They agreed, then paused for a moment.

"You two take the ones on that end, I'll take one on this end and we'll work towards the middle," she dictated, and the sound of footsteps moved to either side of the hallway.

Tybalt watched the guard carefully, ready to slit his throat at the sign of trouble.

[P.K.]

"We don't have much time..." Shani breathed unsteadily. she turned quickly taking position in front of the guards chair and dropped down in a crouch so she was looking up at him intently but with a warning to be quite. Even with the since that there where people here the guard could still be killed, but if they left him alive he could very well warn the women what was going on. "Whats the best way to that area then?" she asked in a hiss only for his and Tybalt. "You might yet live if you tell us quickly how to get there and whats at the top of these stairs." If there was a way out through the stairs, though she doubted it, there was a potability that they could use it if they couldn't get back down to the sewers. However if there was a guard that meant that there was there was also something impotent up them, and if he didn't know that might just lead them to their prize.

Inside she trembled, they where so close to being caught, so close. She didn't want to be locked up in a cell again, dark and alone fed small amounts off 'okay' food and treated like a dog who had bitten their masters best friend. she suppressed a shudder and intently gazed up at the man, if they got what they wanted she resolved to just knock him out, he hopefully would not wake soon after even if the women found him and thus could not warn them nearly as quickly, giving them some times. How much she was not at all sure but they needed to take what ever opening they got.

[Jacogos]

The guard's eyes widened. "You went up those stairs?!" he said in a harsh whisper. "I... They lead to the most important parts of the castle!" He looked at them both, fear in his eyes as he sweated more. Tybalt eyed him harshly, but was unprepared for the man's next action.

"ARCHEONS IN THE CASTLE, SOUND THE ALARM, SOUND THE-" he roared, cut off by Tybalt's blade flashing across his next and silencing the guard forevermore. Yet Tybalt swore as they both had heard yelps of surprise from the women, then the rushing of moving feet. They were coming towards the door.

[P.K.]

Shani winced as he shouted and was cut short. "there goes that" she muttered almost panicking as she struggled to calm herself but the sound of rushing feet didn't help. she hefted the spear and sprung to her feet her panic turning into adrenalin. there was no way out of this and she suddenly felt like she was very much back in her cell, wearing her disguise when she got out and waiting for that rock of a man to come through the ceiling. "I'm not going back..." she muttered. She hesitated a moment waiting for the footsteps t be right in front of the door before she leaped at it and slammed it open right into the on coming women. She brandished the spear spinning it around to slam the put of it into a women's forehead.

There was no way out of it they would have to kill to drop the women, killing them might grant more time but... Shani could not bring herself to draw so much blood.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt swore quietly as he saw what Shani was about to do, but didn't stop her ask the door flew open. Two of the ladies, dressed in what might pass for maid's outfits, fell back as the door smacked them aside. The third, face stuck in a horrified look, crumpled when Shani's spear butt struck her temple and sent her into unconsciousness.

The other two women screamed as they saw their companion crumple, thinking she was dead. One turned to flee while the other simply curled up and sobbed where she was, hoping they wouldn't kill her too.

[P.K.]

Shani paused as the women dropped, she hopped she hadn't hit her hard enough to kill her but she didn't have much time to think about it as one of the women bolted. She followed after leaving the one on the ground to Tybalt as she easily enough out distanced the women grabbing her arm and stopping her short dropping her spear she covered her mouth to muffle any shout or scream she would give off. Her breathing was slightly heavy with her own panic and adrenalin as she tried to subdued the women and keep her quite while trying to make sure that no one else came through the door they had.

She looked back to see how Tybalt was faring. "Did I kill the other one?" she asked in a hushed tone after a moment of hesitantly glancing over her. She almost looked pale, dammit if the guard had not shouted then it wouldn't be like this! She was right their luck might be wearing thin. They needed to hurry, and if up the stairs was the most important place then up they would go.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt had sprung after her and tackled the other woman, holding her down while keeping a hand to her own as well. After a second, he reared back and struck her upside the head, knocking her out cold cleanly. He looked up to see the other woman being repressed by Shani, then moved to the other woman.

"Knocked out... Nice hit. Take care of that one and we need to get out of here. Now!" he hissed, getting up and cleaning his blade on one of the woman's shirts. He then made a dash for the door they had came in.

Meanwhile, however, the woman in Shani's arms was trying to break free, flailing about wildly in fear.

[P.K.]

Shani agreed holding to the women tightly as she flailed in her grip she kneed the back of the women's legs to drop her down to the ground before she released her clubbed her over the head with with locked hands. "Sorry." she muttered before she snatched up her staff and followed after Tybalt. when she flung herself back onto the stairs she glanced boths ways. "We don't have any time left." she gasped. Should they go back? could they get back? they had some lay out of the palace now and could use that when and if they got a better group of infiltrators, and a possible place where they could find their prize.

She paused for a moment her breathing becoming a little more controlled. "Tybalt, You don't need to accompany me further, If you can make it out get back to our home tell them what we know about the palace, If you can get a better infiltration group we can storm it from the inside!" she glanced up the stairs, "If its up there I'll find it..." she murmured and started up the stairs.

[Jacogos]

The woman dropped like a sack of potatoes and Shani was after Tybalt. The two stopped at the stairway and closed the door behind them. As Shani spoke, Tybalt shook his head.

"I'm with you until this business is over, Sister (obviously meant religiously)," he said seriously, following her up the stairs. After a few flights, they finally had to stop at another door almost exactly the same as the last one.

[P.K.]

Shani could not help a small relived smile at hearing that she would not be alone, but she worried that she was bringing him to a needless death if he tarried with her, they might never leave from here... alive. "I am glad brother." she said quietly before she slowed her pace at the door. she looked to Tybalt once more before she reached for the door and carefully opened it, with almost as much chair as she had opened every other door but far more tens then every other door. She held her staff ready to whirl anything that they might face.

Shani almost had a sudden fear of facing that rock of a man, no doubt he'd be looking for her and Ilea's heads soon enough.

[Jacogos]

This door was well greased and opened silently inward, revealing....

Wood. Wooden panels that revealed no light from beyond whatsoever. Tybalt brought the torch from before forward and peered at the interesting phenomenon before them.

".... Welp, I've got nothin' here," Tybalt said.

[P.K.]

Shani blinked. "this is all wrong somehow..." she murmured taking a step through the door and then stopped. "Most important?" she murmured looking around the room. she shook her head for a moment and put her head in her hands "We've either been fooled very badly or he meant the rooms we where in previously where very important." She sighed. "What a wild goose chase..." she pulled her eyes up again and studied the wall before she reached out and touched it gently. "Perhaps its... a trap? or a secret door things... the possibility aren't all that limited... then again..." She looked back at Tybalt. "How easily do you think this wood would burn... and how fast?"

[Jacogos]

The wood was cool and smooth, as if shaped. Tybalt peered at the wood as she did and shook his head. "I have no idea... I wouldn't suggest it. If someone's around, they'd smell smoke, right?" He shook his head more, trying to think.

As they did, they noticed that their torch was starting to flicker more, as if it was running out of burnable material.

[P.K.]

Shani sighed. "thats true... but some one has bound to have heard those screams and find the body's of the women soon." she said glancing at the torch. "but why not leave are mark?" she asked feeling over the rest of the wood as she spoke. but she was not so sure there just had to be something other wise their expedition was all for naught. "Good craftsmanship though? formed wood?" Why would they have just a wood wall here though?

[Jacogos]

As she continued to look across the wood, her fingers slipped across a catch in the wood and suddenly a square panel came loose from the wall before them. She could push the square loose and there would be enough room for them to squeeze into the room it led into. It was dark in said room.

"Well..." Tybalt murmured. "Shit."

[P.K.]

Shani was surprised when the panel opened, almost stumbling back but she quickly caught herself and set her spear aside to work the door open for them both to pear in.

"Here..." Shani tore a bit of cloth from her cloths and wrapped it around her spear head as tightly as she could before she held it to what remained of the fire. "that might give us a little more time..." she murmured. She hopped they wouldn't need to find a new torch, they probably would not have time let alone space to do so. with the panel open she stuck the spear in first before carefully slipping in after it. "I knew there had to be something..." she whispered, she just hopped she was not speaking to soon.

[Jacogos]

The room they entered was lit by a single candle, but held no other people in it. As Shani slowly stood up in the room, the light of her burning spearhead would show that the layout of the room might have been akin to a study, if one knew of such things. A few books were stored in a small bookcase next to her and a large desk was sat in the middle of the room. Papers and such were strewn across it and there was little to no dust in the room, which led one to believe that it had at least been used recently.

On the opposite side of the room, a few glass cases held objects of notable age and possible worth. The cases looked to be locked tight.

[P.K.]

Shani ran a hand over some of the spines of the books reading them but careful to keep the fire well away from them before she turned to look at the rest of the room. "Its a study of sorts." she murmured running her hand over a surface. "Its been used recently..." she carefully picked her way over to the glass cases. "Do you think they kept chalice up here?" she asked peering into the cases intently searching for said item. "What are these?" she breathed quietly more to herself them her companion.

[Jacogos]

As they searched the room, Tybalt's torch ran out of light, leaving Shani's the only light source. However, the knight held out a candle to her torch and soon had a few. They were already likely to be found out, why not take a few more risks?

As they looked over the artifacts, it might be noticed that one position was notably empty, just enough room for a head-sized object to rest in the case. With all of the other spots in the cases filled and occupied completely, it made this one empty spot stand out more than it normally would. Tybalt looked at it there, his face drooping slightly.

"Do you think... that's where it should be?" he asked aloud.

[P.K.]

Shani only shook her head, if it had been earlier she would have paled but she couldn't bring herself to. "I do... have a feeling yes." she studied the place for a moment before she turned back to the desk and lighting up the papers she began to move them slightly, studying the words on the page."If it was... don't you think they would have a note or two confirming its existence here?" she murmured. "Maybe just maybe they are trying to find some secret about it but they cannot do so here, wouldn't they need to go back to the tomb?" she asked suddenly looking up. "I mean, I know nothing about it but If thats where the originally stole it from wouldn't that be where the most information was?" If that true and they had to take it back then it was that much closer to their lands and its original place of rest! she faltered in her thoughts though and started to search through the papers again furiously seeking out something.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt shook his head sadly, not sure what to make of it all. He moved over to the woman's side as she began to search the notes on the desk. After a moment, he joined in her search. It didn't take long for them to find mention of the chalice.


... and yet I cannot seem to extract its secrets. We are charting an expedition to the tomb where Lieutenant Kurotsubasa found the chalice in order to probe the writings there for secrets. With any luck, I'll be able to figure out more and we'll be one step closer to defeating Archeos! Of course, that involves much risk, as General Narezayn believes there may be enemies out for us. We'll have to tread carefully, especially if we bring the chalice along with us. I'm not about to give up any form of advantage we have to the zealots...

"So he did take it with him..." he murmured, looking at Shani. "Surprising insight, sister." He made to move back, but something else caught his eye. "Hey, what's that?" he said, grabbing at a single scrap paper. Slowly, his lips parted into a grin.

"This mentions an old tomb in Nin Yhao... That's their sacred land, is it not?" he asked Shani, holding the paper before her. It mentioned that no one had investigated it yet, but pointed out its location within the territory.

[P.K.]

shani blushed at Tybalt comment, She really hadn't thought she would be so spot on. She studied the paper. Was that really how they saw them? zealots? was there anything wrong to being so committed t your leader that you would give your life for them? She looked over as Tybalt as he grinned and pointed out the paper. She looked at it Feeling a flutter of excitement. "Yes!" she said. she paused and looked back at the notes. "But if they are successful in finding whatever secret lies chalice what then? what becomes of Oron?" she frowned in thought. What could they possibly hold in their tomb and was it worth tramping there now? she looked through the papers again for anything more if there was nothing then it seemed their work here was all but waited, except for their newest find.

"We should leave." she said now. "The longer we tarry the more the risk we run of being cut off far worse then we probably already are."

[Jacogos]

Nothing more than idle speculation and historical research lay in the rest of the notes, which was all but useless to the two warriors. In any case, Tybalt thought on Shani's words and shook his head.

"We must trust that Alu'Terasa will provide and protect us. And trust that the Sacred One anticipated this man's actions..." He paused for a second, perusing the notes they had. "Wasn't General Narezayn the one that captured you in Paladin Grove?" he asked idly.

At that moment, a faint clamor of commotion could be heard outside the door that officially led into the room (not the false entrance they came in). It seemed to be coming from down a hall, but might be coming closer.

"You're right... Let's get out of here," Tybalt said. He snuffed out the candles and made his way towards the false panel.

[P.K.]

Shani nodded in agreement but she still seemed uncertain. she was about to answer his question wit an 'I'm not sure who he was.' but never got the chance as they heard their pursuers finally. its about time she thought before turning after Tybalt quickly following him out and pushing the panel shut once more. "That might keep them at Bay for a little." she murmured before heading back into the stairwell. "I have no Idea how long it well take us to descend and how many guards well have to pass when we finely do." she sighed. "Got the map?" she asked as she started down glancing back at her companion.

[Jacogos]

"Got it," he affirmed, tucking it into his Aeregosian armor. As they slowly began to descend the stairs, darkness about them since Shani's spear-torch had gone out. Tybalt had kept a single candle and holder, but it hardly pierced the darkness like the torches had. However, this wouldn't matter as they began to see more light before them, coming from further down the stairs, likely where the door to the bedroom hallway had been. Halting himself and Shani, Tybalt indicating the light they could see, which was slowly becoming brighter.

The knight looked to Shani in a silent question of what they should do: proceed or retreat?

[P.K.]

Shani was silent in thought watching the light grow ever brighter. If they retreated they would be trapped at the top no doubt, if they continued they would likely be spotted, how much noise would they cause down here in the stairwell? a lot no doubt but they had already caused some earlier. If they moved fast enough maybe they could get passed the door before who ever was coming did, they seemed to be taking their time. She took Tybalt's hand and started down the stairs again as quietly as she could manage but as quickly as they could go doing so. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs they would have the hall that they came from until they got back to the door and then passed the kitchen and right back to the storage room, if they could just make it without being noticed as much or recognized as the Enemy if they where.

Light help them...

[Jacogos]

They continued and suddenly were confronted by two Aeregosian guards, both equipped with torches and swords. The two men looked surprised for a moment, then suspicious.

"You two! Names! Now!" one barked, staring holes into them. Tybalt's eyes widened momentarily, but he looked to Shani to see what she would do. He wasn't about to attack unless he had her to back him up.

[P.K.]

Shani stopped for a moment and gulped names what where good Aeregosian names? "Ayano, Minoru." She pointed to herself and then to Tybalt. She doubted those names would pass though so her grip tightened on her spear which she put behind her. "We heard a scream." She said and gestured to the door they had just come out of "But when we checked further up no one seem's to have come through but us so whoever killed the guard went a different way..." She tried so very hard not to fidget under the man's gaze or give away how nerviness she was. She prayed so hard in her mind that it hurt but if her prays where answered the men would leave them be... or turn their back long enough for Tyebalt and herself to knock them down.

[Jacogos]

The man's eyes narrowed, but he honestly didn't know if those names passed or not. They might be new recruits he didn't know, considering how many there were. If they were, he didn't want to make the mistake of killing them instead of the intruders.

"Juro. Go check up there. You two, come with me. We will check further down. These intruders will soon know the price of trespassing in our castle," the man who had been speaking said. The other one quickly shuffled past the two disguised Archeons, giving them a suspicious look as he did.

Gesturing with a jerk of his head, the man indicated they must go in front of him down the stairs.


(Good luck on that dice roll I just gave you xD Otherwise they would've called bullshit xD)

[P.K.]

Shani almost collapsed with relief as they seemed to fall for the names. But they where not out of the woods yet, the guard passing them gave them a look that told her they where far from it, she knew this already as the other made them move in front of him. She breathed out and made herself move down the stairs as steadily as she could. If he was behind them he would have a slight upper hand on them but if they got far enough down even then they could take him with two against one. Better yet if they could get to ground level before the other guard joined them... maybe they could get all the way to the door with out a fight... she glanced at Tybalt trying to figure out a way to convoy her thoughts with out letting the man behind them know.

[Jacogos]

They continued down the stairs until they got to the dark hallway they had been in before, where they had attacked the guard. Unlike before, though, the hallway was now completely lit, fireballs hanging in the air lighting the entire hallway. A robed individual walked towards the two Archeons and the Aeregosian slowly, studying them all.

"Lieutenant Leilana, sir!" the Aeregosian saluted the green robed individual. As it came closer, the figure could be told to be female from her soft face, her eyes an unnatural red that peered into the three others. Her hair was light blonde and drawn into a ponytail of a length couldn't be told yet.

[P.K.]

There went that Idea. She followed the other man in saluting with a little more hesitance, nervousness. Luck was so ever slowly slipping away from them she could painfully feel it as the women drew closer. was there a possibility that they would take these two? a Lieutenant? so high above her... Should she wait to see what happened? would doing so show an opportunity to escape this situation? or should she move now catch them off guard. She made herself breath regularly instead of hyperventilating with their situation like she wanted to. She decided it best wait if it came to it she needed to have faith they could fight their way out quickly.... but she tried not to hold her breath.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt was only seconds behind Shani in saluting, his face betraying nothing. He was trained well, it seemed to her. As the Lieutenant approached them a vague nod of her head released the Aeregosian guard from his salute. Tybalt almost jerked out of his, obviously unknowing of such a signal.

"Corporal. Who are these two?" she asked.

"Two I found searching the escape stairs," the man barked before Shani or Tybalt could speak. "They claim they heard a scream and set to searching the stairs." The Lieutenant's eyes narrowed.

"What are your names, soldiers?" she asked, the air about them heating slightly.

[P.K.]

"Ayano and Minoru." Shani said with out hesitation. She had stored away the names she had picked on the spot and made sure to keep a tight hold of them encase they where needed again. but would the same thing work here as it had on the guard? ... was the air getting warmer. She shifted ever so slightly as the heat intensified around them. Her grip on her spear tightening on her spear once again at the disease she felt with this situation praying fervently that it would pass them by.

[Jacogos]

Without hesitation, the Lieutenant rounded on Shani, hand holding the woman by her jaw to force the infiltrator to stare into her red eyes.

"Does your companion not speak for himself?" she asked in a hiss, taking in a few strands of red hair that had escaped from her helmet. Her lips parted into a grin.

"I know you... And I've found our rat."

Without hesitation, Tybalt rammed into the Lieutenant, knocking her clear off of her feet before ripping his sword from its sheath. In reaction, the Corporal hopped backwards and brought out his axe, getting ready to swing it at Shani's shoulder from behind, almost to behead her.

[P.K.]

Shani Gasped when she was released but knowing she was not out of danger fell back into a roll just in enough time to dodge a hefty blow that would have now doubt cleaved her twain. They had been found out so simply. She rolled back to her feet just to bring her spear around for the Corporal's legs to trip him up or make him stumble back long enough for her to jump up and rapidly spin the spear at him the blunt side to the head. She quickly made up her mind, she might be able to out run these men but Tybalt had the information. If it became overwhelming she would plead with Her companion to go on and let her hold off the guards till he could safely get away.

[Jacogos]

The Corporal grunted as he missed and, subsequently, had his legs knocked out from under him from Shani's spear. Landing hard on his back, the man quickly tried to regain his footing, holding his axe above himself in a defensive manner to try and put off any attack on him.

As this happened, Leilana got up with a growl, fire sparking to life in front of her. A ball about the size of her head shot towards Tybalt, who yelped and rolled down the hall, the blast splashing on the wall.

[P.K.]

Shani's spear was successfully blocked by the battle axe, and to battle against that, her of all people even with her speed her spear would not last... not against fire either. But...

"Brother switch!" With his sword he should be more capable of taking on this man face to face. Shani was not so sure about herself against the women but she had her speed and the women had spells it seemed, or something close to which still took even the slightest bit of time to prepare that she could take advantage of.

Leaving her, more capable companion she was sure, or had great faith in him, To deal with the Corporal she turned and leaping into a role to come up under the women with a hard kick to the gut to bring her down or back her up long enough for shani to kick her feet out from under her.

[Jacogos]

Tyabalt heard his ally and responded quickly, the two trading places even as the second fireball soared at the knight, mirroring the last one's achievements with scorching the wall. Hopping back lightly, the Lieutenant managed to keep Shani out of melee range, another fireball coming up in her hands. As Shani came forward to try and knock Leilana's legs out, the mage tossed the spell down at Shani's chest, hoping to catch her alight. If it worked, the mage could swoop in to finish her.

The knight engaged the Corporal just as the older man managed to get up to his feet, axe catching sword as the two battled for supremacy.

[P.K.]

Shani was relived that her companion had switched with her, somewhat. both of her kicks seemed to miss and a fireball right for her chest. She tried to roll out of the way but no matter how quick she might have tried being it caught her arm and the last. She cried out at it burned away at her sin and rolled till she hit the far wall. Her roll across the floor only managed to put some of it out but she refused to drop her weapon as she scrambled up trying to put some more of it out as she quickly moved away from the wall and back at the women doing her best to push the pain aside so she could continue to fight. This time instead of tripping the women up she tried to spin the spear up with as much force as she could to catch the women, the burns on her arm would lessen the force from it normally would have been but it didn't lessen her stubbornness to keep standing even as what was left of her sleeve smoldered.

[Jacogos]

Unused to such confined spaces, the Lieutenant hit the wall as she tried to back up, throwing her arms up to defend herself from Shani's attack. The spear haft struck her arm sharply, causing a sharp crack as the bone nearly broke, sharp pain shooting along the limb and into the mage's brain. She cried out and maneuvered to the side, fire tossing up between them in a sort of wall.

Tybalt had managed to get the upper hand on the Corporal, however, kicking him back and bringing his sword down to cut the man open. The Aeregosian managed to get far enough back to avoid lethal wounds, but the strike still cut into his chest enough to cause a lot of bleeding. He held his free hand to the wound as he breathed heavily, his axe still held tightly enough to continue fighting.

[P.K.]

Shani breathed heavily as she quickly stopped herself from passing through the fire wall. Her arm burned badly at her side as she took a few steps back, not magically inclined at all she had no way of getting passed it, unless she went around it... She turned slightly. "Tybalt!." noting how wounded his opponent was she figured him chasing them down was unlikely, the mage seemed stunned, even for a little bit might give them time to round that corner. "Lets go!" She would wait for her companion to pass her first before she followed after him. All they needed to do was making it back to the storage room and they might just make it!

Her arm throbbed as she gripped onto the spear, she hopped that they could do something about the burns when they where safely away, but for now she contented herself with making sure that it wasn't aflame anymore.

[Jacogos]

The Archeons bolted. Tybalt wasted no time nodding and turning tail, the Corporal falling to a knee as his body weakened from blood loss. However, the Lieutenant wasn't about to go down so easily. As the two moved down the hall, the ex-Fieran snuffed out all of the flames that hung in the air, drenching the underground passage in darkness again.

They would have to find the turn before they could continue on down the hallway, otherwise they would run right into the wall. Once there, it was a straight shot to the heavy wooden door. Behind them, however, Leilana lurked in the darkness.

[P.K.]

Shani stumbled to the far all taking a moment as she breathed to figure out which wall before continuing on. "Tybalt!" she hissed hopping he was close enough to hear her and respond so she should reach out to him while her other hand remained on the wall, guiding her and watching out for the turn. "Tybalt find my hand, we need to keep moving..." she hopped he hadn't stopped behind her, or she had passed him. Regardless she paused waiting for him to respond before she would follow his voice reaching her arm out to pull him back to the wall where she was. The turn couldn't be all that much farther... could it?

Fighting in the dark would be difficult... she hopped that it would be just as difficult for their enemy's as it was for them. But she could only hope you never knew what surprises people had.

[Jacogos]

From where they had just been, a voice pierced the quiet as someone holding a torch came down the stairs.

"What the- Corporal!" a male voice cried, likely the man that had passed the duo on the stairs. The voice of the Lieutenant hissed in the darkness, not revealed by the light of the torch.

"Private! Go get trackers! A pair of Archeon escapees are about to try and flee from the castle! Go! Now!" the mage said. The man hesitated for a moment before quickly returning up the stairs, once again plunging the room into darkness. Tybalt, meanwhile, had latched onto Shani's arm, the two of them managing to find their way to the wall. Now they just had to turn right and the hallway towards the heavy door would be a straight shot.

Behind them, however, a fireball lept into being, blazing down the hall as it came towards them. It was obviously a wild thrown, but it was on target for right between them. Tybalt shoved Shani forward as he split off behind her.

[P.K.]

Shani grunted softly but bit her lip to keep from crying out as she stumbled and landed on her burnt arm. She rapidly blinked a few tears away in time to see the fireball pass lighting up the hall enough for her to take in where they where and how far they had to go to the corner. so close! "I should have knocked out out..." she mumbled aimed at the mage but not loud enough for her to be heard. She started to get up as soon as the room was darkened somewhat again, the fireball no doubt exploding against the wall near the coroner before she hissed in pain as she did sousing her spear to help her up before she lend against the wall. "Tybalt!" she was almost starting to panic again in the dark, he couldn't be far but they needed to keep moving and she couldn't leave him behind. She would only start moving again once her companion rejoined her but after seeing where they where she was pretty sure they could make their way around the corner in a moment.

[Jacogos]

Tybalt had to pat a few flames off of himself, but he was beside Shani moments later and helping her down the hall. At the end, they could see light filtering through the barred window of the door, slowly making their way down the hallway. Before they were halfway down this part of the hall, though, another fireball went soaring down the center of the hall, lighting up the air as it passed by them and exploded against the door. The heavy wood was scorched, but otherwise unaffected.

"You won't get away from me!" the mage hissed, now throwing another ball a little bit ahead of where she had seen the two last.

[P.K.]

Shani cursed quietly something that went along the lines. "darkness be blighted!" She took Her companion's hand tightly and pulled him to the side and down. The fire ball passing them uncomfortably close making her arm burn with heat again. She bit her lip before pulling her and her companion back up and rushing for the door again using what little light, and what she remembered of the hall to get them there. She didn't even pause when she let go of Tybalt and charged at the door bracing herself she turned so her back hit the door to push it open making her stumble back through with her companion hopefully close behind.

[Jacogos]

The door swung open loudly, smacking the other wall as it came the full reach of its hinges. The two Archeons now stood bathed in light, the ten or so steps leading to the hallway to their left giving them a sense of familiarity. Beyond the door in front of them (and up the stairs) however, they could hear a commotion. Not only that, but another fireball was flying towards them from the darkness of the passage. Slamming the door shut to block the fireball, Tybalt jumped back as a few flames licked through the barred 'window'.

"Let's go!" he barked, his sword still out as he began to sprint down the hallway they had first come down.

[P.K.]

Shani didn't hesitate she turned and followed after him her breathing coming heavily as her heart pounded, arm throbbed and praise almost bursting from her lips and she looked down the hall and to the door that would be their escape. They just needed to pass the kitchen burst through the door and slip down the vent into the sewers and make a mad dash for it down the way. Again she quietly passed Her companion as they dashed for the door and reached out to fling it open letting her partner slip in before herself. Hopefully they had out run the mage enough to loss her even slightly. "open the vent!" she said with excitement. both of fear and the thought of freedom again. So close just a few more minutes as she closed the door letting Tybalt open the other for their escape.

[Jacogos]

The two Archeons entered the room and uncovered the entrance to the sewers. Tybalt made Shani go first as he quickly pushed a shelf of produce in front of the door. The two dropped down into the underground passage and continued to run, their escape all but certain now as they began to make their way towards home. They hadn't gotten what they came for, but certainly they had gotten SOMETHING to make it worth it all.

Back at the castle, the Lieutenant burned her way through the shelf, casting about for a clue as to where the two went. When she saw the sewer grate, she swore, seething in anger.

"Seal up that hole! No one is ever getting into our castle that way again!" She demanded, shoving the soldier aside as she returned to try and figure out what the infiltrators had done while sneaking about Aeregos.

[P.K.]

Shani almost burst into a laugh as they followed the tunnel farther and farther away from the entrance they had slipped through. Closer and closer to freedom. "Alu’Terasa be praised!" she gasped when she felt safe enough to speak. "We made it!" freedom, for the second sweet moment! now all they had to do was get back to their lands. "We are going home..." she smiled genuinely with joy and nothing else. Maybe they hadn't gotten what they come for but Alu'Terasa would lead their way to where they needed to be. They would find a way with his guidance.


(So how do you feel undermining you own Faction J XD )