Forums / Roleplaying / Exucution of Xyphos Celastin

Background Information:
You would have seen the following poster and have made the trek from where-ever you are to see the exection:

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Greetings Adventurer!
This is an announcement for all the world to hear, that the "Scourge of Man", the "Bane of Life", the "Killer of Innocents", and all around evil fiend, Xyphos Celestin, has been caught after many years of murdering and destruction, and is to be executed by beheading in the City of Brighten’s Meadow.

This event will be supervised by the Fer’ein Strylin, Head Marshall of the Guardian Elite Magehunter Squad (GEMS), who was the one primarily responsible for the capture of Xyphos Celestin.

This is an event worthy of mighty Heroes to see, like those that Xyphos Celestin himself hunted down and killed. Come see the demise of this dark soul, and see the retribution that befalls those who act in villiany!

Peterin Harnelsbel
Mayor of Brighten’s Meadow
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The city is fairly large, and is easily accessible. You can estimate that it has approximately 40,000 people living in the city and immediate area, including peasants, homeless, wealthy, nobles, and guards, soldiers and other military personal including Guardians.

The city is run by a mayor, who is the highest authority in the city, although he has a board of advisors.

The execution will be taking place in an outside courtyard – on a stone platform that has been fitting with the execution stage, and the close area of observation is reserved for the wealthy and the well known people of the world - including adventurers, artisans, and other people of stature.

It is therefore fine for the majority of the characters to be among the top of their class structure, or to be unique individuals, although criminals and other well known "bad guys" would not be in attendance unless disguised. However, lower class citizens and lesser known adventurers are welcome - or you might be part of the proceedings of the event - a soldier or magehunter, but in that case you will be taking orders from the mayor, Fer'ein (the Head Mage Hunter  played by myself) and any Guard Captains in the scenario (usually played by myself).

Please limit yourself to a single character, although you may have a beast or pet as well if it makes sense for your character to have such.


Story:
There is a point to this RP more so than a simple execution, though that will be revealed during the actual RP itself.

Additionally, if the direction of the RP is not what you expect, nor what you think your character would do, your character can leave just like a normal person would leave a situation. You may do this at any time, unless you happen to be playing a person in one of the military divisions, in which your character doesn't have much choice of being there without deserting.

RP Details:
Post here and let us know the basic outline of the character you plan to RP with. We don't need a detailed bio, but a quick synapsis and important information will be useful. A good description so people can easily refer to what each character looks like, and the general impression that they give is preferred.
You can add notes of things that other characters would notice about you and specify that these are noticeable. As well, you can details about your character that are not noticeable – ie “Character X is a third tier pyromancer for the Guild of the Raging Infero”, etc that is just for myself/Xyphos to know and helps us determine what would be interesting information to work with. Remember, there are some very intelligent mages and scholars who may be around the main characters (NPCs) and certain NPCs might end up knowing details of your character depending on how important you are. Your character may be anything from a normal human to a half dragon to an undead, be innovative with who you are like a templar. But it may not have any godmoding powers. Guardians and Adventurers are just that adventurers and Guardians(they're stolen from AQ)

The first few RP posts will be posted prior to other people aside from myself . I will pm you  when people can start posting.


Your First Post:
Your first post in the RP should include a description of how you look, where you are in relevance to the stage that will be descriped in the RP, and a little info about the characters that readers will want to know.
We ask that you do not be too active, since essentially you are part of a crowd that is gathered to witness the event - the execution.

The Continued Story:
After everyone who is joining has posted their first post, myself a will continue the next couple of posts and their critical plot-advancing information. The current state of the RP will be often update - ie Post, Don't Post, excetera, . Please check you messages before posting each time - though I will try to provide some clues in the RP if we really don't want people to post for little section.


Thanks you everyone, enjoy the RP.

Execution of Xyphos Celastin

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Greetings Adventurer!
This is an announcement for all the world to hear, that the "Scourge of Man", the "Bane of Life", the "Killer of Innocents", and all around evil fiend, Xyphos Celestin, has been caught after many years of murdering and destruction, and is to be executed by beheading in the City of Brighten’s Meadow.

This event will be supervised by the Fer’ein Strylin, Head Marshall of the Guardian Elite Magehunter Squad (GEMS), who was the one primarily responsible for the capture of Xyphos Celestin.

This is an event worthy of mighty Heroes to see, like those that Xyphos Celestin himself hunted down and killed. Come see the demise of this dark soul, and see the retribution that befalls those who act in villiany!

Peterin Harnelsbel
Mayor of Brighten’s Meadow
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Walking into the city of Brighten’s Meadow, Beleqwaya lowered the piece of paper that he had already read over a hundred times. Shrouded in his black cloak, with his hood up, he walked casually through the streets. Disbelief still ran in his mind. Xyphos had been captured? Unlikely. Nothing short of death would let someone capture the maniac, and he remembered how that hadn’t even worked once before.

Regardless, nothing would convince him that they actually held Xyphos without him seeing and talking to him. If they had him, he would likely be guarded by a large number of guards, but unless they were made of stronger stuff than most guards, it would take him about 15 seconds to get through them.

The city was large, and had an old stone platform in the middle of the City Square. From the looks of the workers milling around it, it looked as if some modifications were being made to it.

Beleqwaya lowered his hood. Sometimes intimidation was amazingly useful, but not in this situation. If this was true, he would need to establish some credibility of honest intent to see Xyphos.

There would be few places that a “criminal” of Xyphos’ calibur would be kept. Most likely they’d put him in the deepest dungeon in the Guardian Garrison, and so that was the direction that Beleqwaya had headed.

Coming up to the garrison, Bele gave a quick survey to the building. Heavy stone blocks gave the building a tough shell, and there was a steel door to the building, guarded by the traditional two Guardians.

Approaching the door, the guards barred the way, demanding to know his business. Looking hard at the guards, he replied curtly, “I wish to see a prisoner.”
The guards looked at Beleqwaya for a moment, glanced at each other, and after a nod from the senior of the two, opened the door for Beleqwaya.
“Down the hall, and second door on the right is the admitting room. See the man there.” The guard told him, and then shut the door behind him.

Beleqwaya did not give the man a response, but simply walked to the proper door, and repeated his request to the man standing behind the counter inside.
The man was younger, and had obviously little talented in the field obviously or wouldn’t be stuck behind the reception desk. “I’m sorry, we have a number of prisoners here, who exactly are you looking to see?”

“Xyphos Celestin.”
The young man paused for a moment before responding, “Just a moment sir.” He then turned and rang a small bell a number of times.

******

"What's this about a beheading?" Peterin demanded, waving around a piece of parchment as he stared at the woman seated across from him. He wasn't pleased when he heard the news and wasted no time calling into her office in to discuss what the reason was. He dropped the piece of parchment on the desk in front of her and waited as she picked it up to read.

"It's... an interesting piece, 'Killer of Innocents', scourge of man'? It's the type of writing you would expect from a third rate poet." She murmured critically, dropping it back onto the desk and looking up at the current mayor of the city. "It seems fairly straight-forward to me. What part did you not understand?" She said bluntly.

"A beheading?! He deserves more than that, he deserves to suffer for what he's done! A beheading is a quick painless death for a murderer of his calibre!" Peterin yelled, his face angry and his arms moving about wildly to emphasize his annoyance. "The people want to see him suffer, they'd accept nothing less." He added, folding his arms and glaring at her.

"The decision is mine to make. You should count yourself fortunate that you even have the opportunity to make this a public spectacle." She said, meeting his gaze with a steely expression.

"Then why are you giving him a quick death? Why?" He asked, lowering his voice as he struggled to regain his composure. All of this time spent in trying to capture Xyphos, a wanted man for an almost countless list of transgressions that frequently ended in death for more than a few people. Including a few of his own family members. He couldn't understand why the person who captured him would give him that much.

"Let us look at this logically then." She said, standing up. "If we were to torture him. To give him a death that lasts days or even weeks. There would be the possibility that he will resist and retaliate. I doubt you would want to be a part of that potential massacre if that were to happen. The faster we dispose of him, the faster we remove the problem. The people will just have to make do with what entertainment that they can get from a beheading." She said, taking on the air of a lecturer and speaking slowly so that Peterin would comprehend and ultimately understand what she was saying.

The sound of a faint ringing interrupted his response as he turned to the direction of the noise.

'Saved by the bell.' She thought to herself. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. An execution to organize and oversee is no small task." She stood up and walked past the mayor, giving him a sidelong glance as she swept through the doorway and made her way down a flight of stairs. She disliked it here, the rescrictions to her movement and the dreary air of the city didn't appeal to her. Now she had to deal with the demands of the public who had no idea what efforts would be involved in capturing and killing a mage with no small abilities at his disposal. She held herself with resolve however, able to handle herself in any type of situation that required her to. Her armor gleamed in the torchlight as she made her way to the lower levels. Stepping into the room and looking at the one who had called for her.

"Yes? What is it?" She asked, her voice soft.
"Uh, ma'am, this person wants to see the criminal."

She turned her attention to Beleqwaya, studying him for barely a moment before speaking. "You wish to see Celestin? I'm afraid that's impossible. We don't allow visitors to those that are about to be executed." She said, staring at Beleweaya with an unblinking gaze.

******

Beleqwaya looked up and down the woman. She had an air of authority that most men could only dream of holding. Her armour was well kept, but his critical eye could tell that it had seen its share of use. The markings of rank on her armour indicated someone of high importance, and the thought that he recognized the symbols. Yes...that was it. She was part of the Mage Hunter Division, which made her one of the Elites. Most likely, this was Fer’ein Strylin.

Beleqwaya returned the stare unblinking, impressed with the resolve the woman portrayed. “Regardless of what the typical regulations are miss, I need to see Xyphos. I am no typical visitor. My name is Beleqwaya Melamin, and that should send up enough red flags for a woman of your standing to know that I do not come to see prisoners idly. “

He paused a moment to smile at the women, and to watch her eyes for surprise. Rarely did he so boldly present who he was, as it often caused more trouble than not, since people often wanted to kill him. In this case however, it would show he was serious in his intent.
“Now are you going to tell me where he is, or shall I simply start looking for myself, Marshal Strylin?”

******

"Perhaps, but these are not typical circumstances considering the nature of the prisoner." She replied without hesitation, stepping away to stand in front of the steel door leading into the inner cells. "I will allow you to see him provided you agree to a few... ground rules." She added as an afterthought, folding her arms across her chest with the air of one not intending to move unless he agree to every term that she was about to list.

"One: No weapons beyond this point, as you should be aware of. Two: Refrain of socialising with the other inmates and try not to stray too closely to the walls. Third and last major rule: You wear this." She said, reaching into into a small pouch and producing a simple nondescript ring. There were no elaborate decorations on the golden band other than the tiny diamond. No markings nor identifying signatures to suggest that it was anything but an ordinary ring. "No visitors or guards are permitted to enter that door unless they wear these." She explained. Holding out her palm for Beleqwaya to take the offered item. She sppeared to be wearing a similar ring.

"I'll give you an hour with him. That should be more than enough time for you to become re-acquainted with each other." She said softly, the faint traces of a smile touching her lips. People would agree that she was beautiful, but they would rarely utter it out loud for fear of her being overheard. Her hard eyes giving the impression that she could see their innermost thoughts, eyes that were all the warning that anyone would need to stay on her good side.

She was fairly interested at the fact that an execution was ordered, a practice that was abolished almost worldwide. Reintroduced to dispose of one man, made public to satiate the desires and bloodlust of a crowd who had heard nothing more than stories and secondhand accounts of slaughters in distant lands. Now she had to organize the entire day around this public execution.

******

The fact that she did not contradict her identity proved it to be true. At least he knew for certain who he was dealing with.
Beleqwaya looked at the ring for a moment, pondering. Test or ask? Both perhaps.
“Well the first and second requirements I can meet easily enough. I have no desire to speak to any other prisoners, and no one is able to grasp my weapon unless I specifically desire them too.”

Beleqwaya held his right hand up, and a wicked looking black dagger sprang from within the arm of his robe to his hand. Grasping it for a moment, he thought of where to put it, and then grinning, turned it upside down and threw it point first at the ground. A loud crack echoed and a blue spark flashed as it struck the stone floor, and on looking at it, it appeared to be protruding about two inches into the stone.

“It should be completely safe there,” Beleqwaya chuckled “and that deals with the first two requirements. However, what is that ring that is so important to wear?”

******

"An affectation to identify you. Should you attempt to wander the halls without one you will be labelled as an inmate and treated as such. The results are semi unpleasant for anyone with rudimentary magical talents." She responded, her hand still holding the ring. Waiting for Beleqwaya to take it. She turned to the guard standing nearby. "Inform the mayor that I will be busy for the remander of the day. And have the home guard reinforce the western square tomorrow. That area seems to be lacking some much needed attention and we want to be ready for the crowd that will be there." She said, watching as he saluted smartly and marched up the stairs to carry the word.

"Busy, busy, busy." She murmured, turning her attention back to Beleqwaya, still waiting.

******

Beleqwaya thought about the ring once, wavering on his decision. He COULD just attempt to blast his way in, but would that really be effective in a situation like this? Probably not, since he did not feel like fighting every soldier, Guardian, and Adventurer in the town. But that left him with wearing the ring or not. A large identifying spell might be just as dangerous as a rampage, because it might attract both distant and local attention to anyone who might be monitoring the spell. he would have to risk it.

Beleqwaya smiled.
"Alright, I agree to your conditions Fer'ein.”

Beleqwaya held out his left hand, fingers out, towards Fer'ein. Simultaneously, he wrapped the ring in a tight cocoon of air and lifted it out of her hand, bring it closer to himself. However, the moment it was clear of contact with her, he also wove a very small scry spell into the air, looking for any other enchantments on the ring as he brought it to himself.
He figured, being a Mage Hunter, she would be able to detect the presence of a spell, even if she wasn't able to determine what type of spell was being cast. The wind magic would help to hide the presence of the scry.
The process took only seconds, and he held the ring in his fingers for a moment to be sure of what he detected, before slipping it snugly onto his pointer finger.

It was true, the ring seemed to convey some type of a signal or presence, and as he continued to scry the ring for another moment, he felt the presence surround himself as well. He then dropped the scry spell, and the wind element magic.

Beleqwaya continued to hold out his hand for a moment, letting her see the ring on his finger. "There, will that be satisfactory?"

******

Ferein said nothing as she turned her back to Beleqwaya and unlocked the door, pushing it
open easily and stepping through. "This way." she said quietly, waiting for him to step up
besides her so that she could close the door again.
"Is there any particular reason you want to see him? Any particular question you want to ask?" She asked, looking down the corridoor leading into the innermost area.

There were no torches or any windows, yet it was brightly lit as if there were. Few guards ever went beyond this point, there was little need to do so. A faint humming could be heard deep within the walls and large pulsating jewels were situated in each corner. There were six suits of armor standing close by the wall, silent sentinals spread evenly along the corridoor.

Occassionally a seal pulsated briefly on the stone blocks. Occasionally a shriek could be heard from the lower regions. But other than the faint humming, there was little noise to be heard.
She turned back to Beleqwaya, breaking off her unspoken thoughts.

"This way." She repeated to herself.

******

Beleqwaya stepped up beside Fer’ein as she lead the way. He admired the decorating as they walked along, and listened to her questions.
“Questions in particular? Not exactly. Maybe I’ll gloat a bit at him getting caught. Which makes me wonder, how did you manage to catch him and how many died in the attempt?”

"There were no casualties. No wounded." She replied. "As to the how – I suppose the best response is 'trade secret' or more commonly referred to as ‘We don't know’" She said with a straight face, walking onward through the next doorway.

No casualties? That thought staggered Bele more than the expected answer of a number equivalent to a small town. Xyphos had been one of the hardest to stop destructive forces he had ever known of, and no one was injured? Something seemed wrong.

“Well, that is quite a surprise. You must have had quite a large and organized team to pull that off. Xyphos isn’t one to be taken easily I’ve heard.”
Beleqwaya glanced at one of the statues for a closer inspection as they walked past. The detail of the armour was amazing done, and he thought how he should learn to craft complex armour from a metal smith, rather than simple pieces like bracers and greaves that he could currently make.

"The best, an abundant amount of luck helps. But under the circumstances our success wasn't surprising. You'll see for yourself." She said, negligently waving a hand in front of a door. Watching it open on it's own. This corridoor was different, doors lined the left and right, each adorned with a small slit, voices could be heard from within, quiet mutterings and whispers.

She led the way.

“So,” Beleqwaya continued as he followed, ignoring the other noises, “two questions. One, what exactly would happen if I didn’t have this ring on? And two, I’m sure that you are aware of who I am, and I’m pretty sure I’m on your “To-Catch” list, most likely near the top, but you have yet to make any move or action to attempt to add me to your collection of criminals. Aren’t you interesting in executing TWO of the most wanted men on this continentent?”
"The first question isn't easily answered. The effects are different to each person. If you want an answer you would have to ask around." She said, gesturing to the doors on the left and right. The faint sounds still echoing from within each individual door. She was silent as she pondered the next question.
"I don't have a 'To-catch' list. Nor am I truly interested in executing one criminal, let alone two. To me, you are currently inconsequential until circumstances change that. Which I have no doubt will happen before long." She said, stopping in front of a steel door.

Beleqwaya stepped up close behind her, looking at the steel door. “I see. Well you seem to be quite capable. I’m sure you’ll make a good attempt at not catching me. Now, is this Celestin’s room?”

"Circumstances may change my stance on you, that doesn't mean I'll go out of my way to apprehend you if that happens. For all we know we will end up assisting each other. I don't pretend to know the future in either case." She said, pushing her palm against the door.
It opened easily, and she stepped through an empty corridoor that led to a lone steel door. She walked forward to stand by it, turning around towards Beleqwaya.
"This is his 'cell'" She explained, placing her hand on the door.
It shuddered briefly and opened slightly to reveal a lock, which she reached forward to press her ring against. She pushed against the door and it slid open easily revealing a dark stone room. It was unadorned except for the shackles hanging off the wall and the chains that littered the floor. Each corner of the room carried a small violet gem of pulsating light.
Fresh bloodstains could be seen glistening off some of the walls.

Beleqwaya grinned and gave Fer’ein a side glance, “Heh – I like your decorator. Though I wasn’t aware that fresh blood was on allowed decorations of Guardian garrisons.” As he looked around the room, he added, “Is there anything else you wish to tell me or may I have some privacy with your guest?”

"Privacy is a luxury that isn't commonly allowed to those about to be executed." She said, turning slightly and briefly glancing around the room before setting her piercing eyes on Beleqwaya. "Unless you can convince me otherwise." She suggested. "Unlikely though it may be."

Beleqwaya walked into the room and turned around; returning her gaze with his own iron will stare. “Well I doubt that you really want to sit around and listen to me, and I bet you could be using that time for more useful business. Seeing as we walked past enough barriers to even give me a hard time getting out, and since I have no intention of attempting to level this building, especially for Xyphos’ sake, you need not worry about me right now. And finally, I’ll be throwing up an anti-sound barrier anyway, so you won’t be hearing what I say regardless. However, you are free to watch if really want to.”

"If you think that would be enough." She said, sounding amused. Unfazed by his words or his gaze "Though I would be marginally impressed to see your attempt at leveling this building. As to more useful business I could be doing. Xyphos IS my business. There is nothing that will change that."

Beleqwaya shrugged, and turned around so that his back was to Fer’ein. He looked down at Xyphos. He had to admit, he had never seen Xyphos in such a state before. He was sitting on the floor, looking down. His hair had been badly cut, and it look near-mangled. In essence, it was hard to determine any features that truly made him stand out. Beleqwaya just knew though from his presence that it was Xyphos, although it did feel....different, somehow.

Beleqwaya closed his eyes and focused his inner sight on the room around him. This deep in the complex he guessed the spells and barriers were much more complex than most protections. He brought forth a protective shield around himself, and then began to swirl complex mana patterns of his own design through-out the room, testing the reactions the room had to magic being present in a powerful form. However, as soon as the protective shield had begun to be erected around him, he felt it being sapped and pulled away, before it was dispelled completely. He quickly felt the strings of mana slipping away as soon as he had cast it, being interfered with and dispelled as soon as they began to form solid patterns. Casting a powerful scry, he felt heavy, continual resistance to it, but through it he felt an overwhelming presence constantly moving with attempts to dispel and punch through any spells being cast.

However, the presence seemed to be concentrated on the construction of spells, rather than on the chaotic force of loose mana. This gave Beleqwaya an idea how to complete the silence spell he desired. He moved closer to Xyphos to reduce the need for a larger spell, and began to weave the spell into place, needing no words or actions. As he wove the spell, he also wove a distortional field around both sides of the silence field. The distortional field he composed solely of shifting mana patterns, rather than solid patterns. This would cause spells to hit it, but rather than deflect would simply allow it to continue out at another location nearby.

Beleqwaya opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at Fer’ein, and smirked slightly. The field was not large or exceptionally strong, and was designed only to prevent sound from going out, not coming in, and those sounds only of moderate magnitude. A shout may still be heard mildly by someone nearby. He had kept it weaker since more wasn’t need, and since he had to continually shift the pattern of the mana in the distortion field.
Turning back to Xyphos he finally question the sitting figure.

“Well Xy, what have you managed to get yourself into this time?”

1. Tiber Septim IV, Tiber usually wears a dark red shirt under a brown vest, he wears brown pants with black shoes and a long brown coat over them. He is never seen without his oak walking stick with a large ruby at the tip, his family sword, Firengard, is always buckled to his belt. A long scar reaches down from his left forhead down across his eye to his chin.

2. Jonny Bacardi, Jonny is usually seen waering a the colors of the frozen flame, Black and Blue. Black armor, blue insignia. He wears only the breastplate, though has a set of full armor somewhere. He is taller then a man, and is usally rather easy to pick out, he is strong, but not so strong the the muscles bulge out of his shirt when he moves his arms. His sword is carried around his back, and he carries a belt of eight throwing and close range daggers. Closely cropped blong hair, and a scar that goes from just left of his left eye down to his chin.

1. Tiber Septim IV, Tiber usually wears a dark red shirt under a brown vest, he wears brown pants with black shoes and a long brown coat over them. He is never seen without his oak walking stick with a large ruby at the tip, his family sword, Firengard, is always buckled to his belt. A long scar reaches down from his left forhead down across his eye to his chin.

2. Jonny Bacardi, Jonny is usually seen waering a the colors of the frozen flame, Black and Blue. Black armor, blue insignia. He wears only the breastplate, though has a set of full armor somewhere. He is taller then a man, and is usally rather easy to pick out, he is strong, but not so strong the the muscles bulge out of his shirt when he moves his arms. His sword is carried around his back, and he carries a belt of eight throwing and close range daggers. Closely cropped blong hair, and a scar that goes from just left of his left eye down to his chin.

(Duke Tiber Septim IV is a washer woman, and should be in the kitchen right now.)

What intersts me is the fact that so far you've all chosen the same race. I expected some afflicted or perhaps a class like a Necromancer.

I only need a few more people.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whats an Trendarat?

Ok. 

why are there two fives, can you not count dakarius

This is good enough but I would still like one more before I start.

Lets Begin.

"Shhhhh." He whispered, head lowered to the ground as he methodically slapped his palm lightly against the floor. "I can hear you." He muttered, shaking as if trying supress his laughter. A few seconds passed as he listened to some unspoken voice.
"Liar." He said finally, looking upward at Beleqwaya.
"Hello. Do you love me?" He asked, an unnerving smile slowly passing over his face. He appeared dishevelled, but not from rough treatment or from torture, but of the indifference and apathy of someone who didn't notice nor care what he looked like. His eyes looked distant, as if he wasn't actually seeing everything there was to be seen.

Or perhaps he was seeing more than there was.

Fer'ein just stood there in front of the doorway, not moving or showing any outward signs of intending to.

Beleqwaya looked down at Xyphos for a long moment, wondering what was going on in his head. For a brief moment he pondered reading his thoughts, but the mind of

Xyphos was not something that Beleqwaya wished to try and navigate.

Instead, he crouched down next to Xyphos.
"What happened Xyphos?"

"I don't know, she might." He said happily, looking over at Fer'ein before turning his direction back to the ground, smearing around a small droplet of blood. He started humming to himself, swaying slightly in time to the tune.

Beleqwaya raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean you don't know?

"I don't know what you're saying, I don't know what you're seeing, and I don't know what you're hearing." He sang, looking back at Beleqwaya, moving his face closer to him as if trying to see properly. "I don't know what you're asking either." He said, muffling his laughter.

Beleqwaya put his hand on Xyphos' shoulder , and snapped his fingers in front of Xyphaos and gave him a small shake
"Hey Xy. It's Beleqwaya. Do you remember who that is?"

"Nope. Did you kill me?" He asked, staring at the fingers that Beleqwaya had just snapped. Opening his mouth and baring his teeth as if he were about to bite them.

Beleqwaya moved his hands away.
"Yes, I killed you once. Though you didn't seem to die. But I've also saved you before. What is the last thing you remember before coming to this room?"

After a moment without a response, Beleqwaya tried again.
"Xyphos, what do you see? What do you hear? What do you know?"

He didn't answer, turning his attention back to the smear of blood on the ground. Resuming his humming. After a moment he answered. "I see him, I see you, I see her." He said, looking from Beleqwaya to Fer'ein. "I hear them, you, her." He whispered, grinning. "And I know everything." He laughed.

Beleqwaya thought for a moment. "Him? Who do you refer to when you say 'him'? Do you mean the man before me?"

"I mean me." He replied, clapping his hands together.

Beleqwaya let out an exasperated sound. "Why are you here? Did you give up and let them capture you?"

"Let who do what?" He asked, looking confused. Idly running his fingers along the cold stone ground.

Beleqwaya looked down hard at Xyphos. "Do you want to die?"

"Yes. No. Please. Thank you. But I would very much like to go home, if it please you." He said quickly, lying down upon the ground and closing his eyes.

Beleqwaya looked down at Xyphos for another moment, and then stood up, letting the distortion field evaporate, and feeling the silence barrier stripped away as soon as the barrier was no longer present.

He turned around and walked back to Fer'ein.
"What did you do to him? I have seen Xyphos many times, but I have never seen him this
far...removed - from reality."

"I imagine that your conversation was most enlightening." She said with the same trace of a smile that she had worn before the conversation began. Taking a brief glance at the one pretending to be asleep.

"To answer your question, I did nothing to him." She said, turning her gaze back to Beleqwaya.

Beleqwaya snorted. "Nothing? I find that unlikely. I have seen that man go through torterous amounts of pain and suffering, and come out still wearing a smile. I've seen him visibly die - TWICE!" Beleqwaya held up two fingers to emphasize his point. "So quit the good-guardian schtick and tell me what you are doing to your prisoners - specifically what you did to this one."

"Good-guardian schtick?" She asked, her eyes going hard momentarily. "Let me ask you this then. How do you suppose that we were able to apprehend him in the first place. Able to do so with no casualties whatsoever. I do not need to do anything to the prisoners, their reliance on magic, their dependance on it is all that it takes. Now they are completely and utterly cut off from that, with no more power than what could be found in the common housefly."

She said looking back to the corridoor, lined with doors on either side. "I imagine that they don't enjoy the sensation and the isolation. The mind can only take so much of that without breaking down."

"And how is it that you seperate them from their ability to use magic?"Beleqwaya pressed. "I was able to call forth arcane powers, even though I felt them being pulled away as soon as I did so. Yet I still accomplished constructing a spell in the midst of the cell."

Her resulting smile was savage. "Because you were allowed to. Pure and simple." She turned her back to Beleqwaya. "Are you finished with him?" She asked.

"What more could I do with him in this condition?" Beleqwaya replied with cold stare back, and stepped out of the room.

Fer'ein shrugged, unperturbed by his stare she closed the door securely and lead the way back through the corridoor. "I hope you're satisfied. Because visitations will be impossible after this point."

"Well, he is scheduled to be executed tomorrow afternoon, is he not?" Beleqwaya replied.

"Yes, all the more reason not to allow any more visitors."

Beleqwaya looked over at Fer'ein. "Are you confident in your security for the event? Xyphos is known to have many people who would aid him."

She was silent for a second before responding. "I have all confidence in every man and woman under my command, and the various failsafes that will be present for the... event."

Beleqwaya chuckled. "Even with all your men and women, you are still unsure. You know Xyphos's record - the unexpected is expected for him. Tell me - have you ever seen the magic that Xyphos possesses?"

"Can't say that I have." She replied smoothly with barely a glance at Beleqwaya. "I'm guessing that that question is leading somewhere significant."

Beleqwaya smirked, and stopped Fer'ein with a hand on her shoulder, as he turned to face her.
"The man, if you can still call him that, is an enigma. He is both powerful and not. I have seen him kill a hundred trained paladin with a blade without a scratch, but I have seen him a single swordsman run him through. I've seen him create an magic illusion of him killing someone I loved - and it was so realistic that I nearly died trying to save her.

Yet he apparently couldn't save himself from your attack. Xyphos is...unpredictable. And the best way to handle that is to have someone with direct experience dealing with him involved."

"Someone like you?" She asked. Glancing at his hand before turning her eyes to his.

"Unless you think you can find better. I have fought both with and against Xyphos. We have prevented swords and arrows from being stuck in each other, but he has stabbed me and I him.
We have tried to kill each other more than we have worked together. I will callously kill, as many are aware, but I still do not hold with innocents who have no quarrel with people being slaughtered. Xyphos does not have the same regard for an innocent life as I do, and may be even playing along with nothing better to do. Or maybe he is as helpless as he appears now but will try something desperate in the end. I don't know." Beleqwaya turned and started down the hall again, alongside Fer'ein. "But I am more likely to be able to stop him or prevent a calamity than you or anyone else in your group is."

"You make a convincing argument. Perhaps we can find a role for you, afterall, it would be a folly to deny your expertise in this matter." She said, matching his stride. "And what do you intend to do should something happen? How do you intend to help?

Beleqwaya thought for a moment before answering. "I assuse you will have the works for security - swords and pike, archer contingent, magical shielding, scry spots, and offensive magic at hand, correct?"

"Yes, the magical shielding is reinforced by four Clandyst gems set at each cardinal point. Preventing magicks from being invoked. You have your standard battlemages on hand, approximately hundred spread out with a further hundred on hand. The nonmagical are as much to control the crowd as they are to control any... attacks."

Beleqwaya nodded. "Good good - and regarding the scrying - do you have natural mental focus, object scry, or fixed location?"

Fer'ein thought about it "All of the above, after all, we don't want to take too many chances. Do we?"

"Holding Xyphos at all is taking too many chances in my opinion. But regardless. What I think I should do is put a linking spell on Xyphos between myself and him when he is being transferred out of his cell to the shielded area. With a strong magical shielding in place, it will limit the power of anything I attempt, though I should still be able to perform magic on him if I am linked. However, what I will do all depends on if he does anything, and what he does. If we are linked, he'll know what I am thinking and I'll know what he is thinking, so I will just have to react to whatever he may try to do."

"Do you need to be close to him for it to work?" She asked simply.

Beleqwaya shook his head. "No, which is good. Though I will need to make physical contact to initiate the spell. After that I can move away. The shielding will limit my distance, but it would be better for me to be out of sight anyways, since I'm sure some of the Adventurers that will show up would recognize me as well. It might even be easier for me to be out of the shielded area completely. I can run my spell to Xyphos through the link, and it will allow me to build up a large mana pool without it interfering with the shielding."

She smiled. "Then this works to our advantage. I will be sustaining the gem on the eastern side. I would like you to sustain the gem to the west, they are situated to at high vantage points so you should not be noticed by anyone curious. You would also be outside if not exempt from the influence of the shield. It's a simple matter regardless."

Beleqwaya nodded. "That is possible, and actually might be useful. If I have to do something I can cease powering the gem to weaken the shielding directly in front of me. That will allow me both easier completion of my spell and a stronger effect with it."

"Good, then that is sorted." She said, stepping out of the corridoor. Nodding to the guard who saluted smartly. "Do you need anything else?" She asked, stopping in front of the door.

Beleqwaya shook his head one last time. "No, that is all. I will come here tomorrow at noon to initiate the link spell and to obtain the location of the gem from you." Beleqwaya slid the ring off his finger and tossed it to Fer'ein. "In the meantime, good day."
With that, Beleqwaya turned on his heel and walked out the door.

"Good." She whispered, hiding the ring away and walking towards her 'office'. The mayor had left and she was left alone much to her relief. Things were turning out for the best and she was pleased for the first time in days. Time to see what tomorrow brings.

Read this:In this first RP post you shall be coming to the town of Brighten Meadow, you will also state the reason you are coming here.  Perhaps you wish to learn from Xyphos but the only way that could happen is if you break him out of jail. Or perhaps you think he deserves to be tortured so your going to try and break in and torture him. Or perhaps you want to make sure no one tries to get to Xyphos which would make you a soldier or an adventurer or even a GEM. There's a lot of different reasons you could want to go to this execution try to be creative about it.

I can take control of your character in conversations with either  Beleqwaya or Fer'ein but I'll do this rarely. Also should you try to attack a guard most of the time I shall take over and see if your succesful or not.You may begin.

 Your freee to interpret  what he's done.

Verll entered through the north gate of Brighten Meadow on his thoroughbred Aldriansk horse, simply named Fast because of her speed. He had come here because he had heard this was where the famous Xyphos Celestin was being held for execution. He was still not sure what he thought of the execution, but could not offer it any thought at the moment. First he would have to find a nice inn.

He stopped and dismounted Fast in front of a boy early in his teenage. “Hi,  boy. Do you know of a nice inn to stable my horse and that also have a nice room for me?” He asked the boy.
“It is a nice inn right down there called “Silver Inn”, it might be a bit costly, but I don’t think an gentleman as yourself to have any problem with the cost.” The boy answered.

“Thanks.”Verll said and took out a gold coin from his purse. “Here, my thanks” Verll said and gave the boy the coin, and mounted Fast.

He arrived at the inn moments later. First he tied up Fast on the outside and went in. He saw an old sweaty man at the disk inside the inn. He went over to the man. “Hi, I have travelled far today and wondered if you had a room available for me, and a room enough in your stable for my horse?” Verll asked the man.”Hm….I thinks I might have just the room, not to small but not to big either though…and that horse is not a problem.” He answered. “How much for the room, and the stable spot?” Verll asked.”10 gold coins should be enough for three days, and that includes the stable spot.” The man said. Verll reached down in his pouch and came back up with 20 gold coins. “I think I will pay for one week and the horse stands outside, the completely black one. I trust your stable hands can take good care of it.” Verll said and gave the man his money. The man blinked at all the money, gave Verll the key to the room, and answered “Of course, our stable hands are the best in whole Brighten’s Meadow.” “Ok, then I thinks I will go to bed now. Make sure none bothers me.” Verll said and gathered his belongings and went upstairs to find his room.

*Takes a look at Sigheart's posts, then looks at Verll.*

No, not too long...

but I'm not an RP nerd :p

As Jonny walked up to the town, he was fully confident that his plan would, one way or another, go perfectly.

His friends inside the city had already found him a place to stay. They had an armory hidden that would be able to equip a small army. It would be a truely beautiful day tomorrow. A day that would bleed red. The sun itself would shed tears.

Jonny walked into the city happily, seeming to be noticed by all the young woman, who fluttered their eye lids flirtaciously at him. He ignored them, bent at the task at hand.

He walked into a local bar. It was empty. there was a hidden door behind the bar itself, which Jonny opened. he walked into a barely lit room, and sat down at a table.

"Good, we're all here. Now we can get down to business."

It had been Jonny and his friends, all members of Xyphos Celestins closest circle, who had betrayed him. they now held all the sercrets. there was just one problem. In order for them to be of us, they needed to kill, not only Xyphos, but only the one who captured him. That was when they came up with the idea of the riad.

They would raid the execution, kill xyphos, and that pesky mage hunter would just be another one of the casualties. It was a daring plan, but, they had some of the GEMS working for them, as well as a small army that would be more the capable to holding their own agianst anyone.

As the meeting ended, Jonny walked to the square, to see the spot where the execution would take place for himself. he looked down, the spot seemed happy, almost pleasant. Jonny allowed himself a smile.

Not tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, this place will run red with blood. And some of it will be yours Xyphos, where ever you are.

[OOC:There, something slightly different for a change, not just another adventurer]

{OOC} Sorry, Sigheart, but I am Erunion Telcontar, (the same one) in every RP I do...

{OOC} I am an Elf. I'm only here to get some food... Then I saw the sign.

    A bemused and strange man walks into town, upon hearing the rumors of Xyphos. Ever the sucker for a good story Dakarius wishes to meet the famed killer. The fact that he has some suposed hidden arts also entice Dakarius For Dakarius is a colector of sorts, a colector of knowledge, power, and of course money.
    A city Dakarius muses would also be a fine place to stir trouble.Dakarius seeks to cause trouble and mayhem when ever he gets bored, usualy once every two or three centuries, though he has refrained from out right destruction for several millenia due to the nearness of his demise.
    The city should have an interesting time ahead of them Dakarius thinks to himself, and this time I will refrain from completly reavealing myself till the climax of this little drama.
    Dakarius takes room at an inn overlooking the square. The inn keeper is astonished, for he recieves a saphire as payment.
*I will get that part of my hoarde back later*

(OOC) This is getting really good now, if any of you know some RP pals that would be interested in playing please do tell them. This story is especially good with a lot of RPers because I can interconnect them.

[[OOC: I think RHR posted as a joke, I think he's Swifty after all, and he never RPs without posting disgusting images, words, and/or actions.]]

Fer'ein felt the pulse before seeing it, opening her eyes and looking down at the ring on her finger. She sighed inwardly and decided to wait, if it was important she would undoubtedly recieve word soon enough. The polite knock at her door about three seconds later confirmed that all too quickly. "Yes?" she asked, allowing the man to enter, noticing that he was one of her mages who seemed to want to speak to her with news that seemed urgent.

“Certain important people of a high notoriety have been coming into the city” . He informed her, stopping directly in front of her desk.

“You interrupted me to tell me this?” she replied , feeling  slightly annoyed.

“Mam these people have been judged to be high level threats by our mages.” he replies defensively, he then continues by taking out a parchment with names on them.

“ A couple of  well known heroes and adventurers, the  usual generic bunch though some of these people are rather well known. But what’s this a person that payed in a sapphire? There are very few people who would pay anything in the form of a sapphire, but a dragon on the other hand….”

Fer'ein quickly stood up and yelled to the messengers outside “Deliver the following message “ A dragon has landed in the Golden Lion(that’s your inn Dak).”

“But why?” the messenger asks obviously confused.


“Just do it!” yells Fer’ein. The messenger quickly runs out

“Now then the final person on this list is someone I recongnize very well, a traitor, we have spies set up at each of the locations where the people are staying, correct? She asked.

“Yes” The man in front of the group answered.

“Have all of them follow the people on this list I won’t take any chances” she said

“Yes Mam” said each of the soldiers in unision and saluting her.

“Before you go, which one of you brought me this message?” she asks ominously The man in the front answers “ I did bu-” before he could finish Fer’ein interrupts him and yells “No buts,! What is your rank?”

“Corporal!” he shouts  “Well then Sergeant you’ve just been promoted you may now leave” replied Fer’ein

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

Beleqwaya had been studying the defense of the place where Xyphos was to be murdered and he was almost slightly impressed by the foundations of the guillotine. The shackles were mythril and same with the blade, that way you wouldn‘t be able to break it and performing magic on it would be nigh-impossible. Not only that but there were 4 crystals hid at each of the points on the stand. Another layer that you could barely see. If anyone tried to tampering with the device they would trip any of the 10s of hundreds of almost invisible trip wires in place.

As he was staring at it for any weak points he noted the fact that a man was running towards him hurriedly.

“Sir, Fer’ein told me to tell you this” “ A dragon has landed in the Golden Lion”. He said out of breath.

“Go away” Beleqwaya replied curtly. Belqwaya’s thoughts were racing, he didn’t have time to deal with this meddling fool. He could definitely defeat this dragon in open combat but he would be able to use magic then  and as it was with the magic shields heavily disabling him he would be at a severe disadvantage. Still dragons themselves were known to rely heavily on magic and he had no doubt he was the more proficient at using spells of the two.

Besides he could simply watch this dragon from a safe distance and decide what to do with it.

He began to stride toward the Golden Lion.

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

As all this was happening in the middle of the town square groups of spies were being briefed on who each of there targets were. They were to report back all findings on the people they should see.


OOC: Now would be a good time to describe what your character looks like if you already haven’t. Also no Leat skills for sensing where my spies are, like you can’t be I think we should take this upstairs because someone is watching us.

*Jonny continued down the street. There where people everywhere, and he knew that by now, word had gotten around to those in charge that he was around. There was no point in trying to hide from them, because he knew they where there. Walking down the street, Jonny bought an apple, and continued his stroll happily. He was content, and needed to have some fresh air, because tomorrows, 'festivities', would surely wipe him out.

As he continued to walk, he saw an old man, standin in front of a shop, that read "Walkin Canes". I could use a new walking stick, I wonder if they have some here.

He walked up to the old man, ad asked him very politely for a walking stick.

"Sure lad, I can even make one, special for ya, because of our length. I don't think I've ever had to make one for some one quit your height before."

As they walked inside, Jonny, out of the corner of his eye, noticed some one standing on the other side of the street, pretending to be a drunk. He couldn't hbe though, because, no one got drunk at this time of day.

A smile crosses Jonny's lips as he crosses the threshold into the shop. They have found me, at last.

[OOC]:Can we discover the spies and make them say who sent them? We should....I mean we are heroes after all, what hero don't discover that some spy are spying on him?