Xa-raku sighed. Mentally was definitely the answer. He spoke again, "You're saying they're smart enough to talk, but not smart enough to....to get a chair to stand on so that they can open the trapdoor?"

Xa-raku looked back, the house was still empty, but he wasn't sure how long they would be distracted. "I haven't gotten rid of them permanently. I suspect they will be back. So now would be a good time to either let me in, or come out here so we can all escape. I'm not infected, my face has no bumps, see?" He took his hood off.

Fanier breathed a heavy sigh of relief. They were almost to the city gates. But a second later, he realized the gates were closed.

"Oh, [censored]," he said lowly and looked at the rest of the peope in the wagon. "We've got to get the gate open. There's a winch on the right side."

He looked over at the driver. "Waylas!" He called. "Pull up to the gate!"

The driver brought the wagon as close to the gate as he could. Fanier looked at Amiel and Dynter. "Hold the beasts off with your bows. I'll get the winch." With that, Fanier jumped out the side of the wagon and ran toward the winch.

He fiddled with the winch, trying with all his might to release the winch. When it finally budged, it moved ever so slowly, he could barely even see the gate opening. Fanier looked behind him. The corprus beasts were catching up.

Frantically looking around, Fanier found a nice, sharp rock. He picked it up, and began pounding on the chain that held the gate closed. After about eight good hit, the chain snapped, the wiplash narrowly missing Fanier's head as it flew up in the air and the gate opened.

Looked behind him. The corprus beasts were only about fifteen feet away from him. He let out a small yelp and began running for the wagon. "Go!, Go!" He yelled to Waylas, who wipped the horses and the wagon began to move.

But it was moving a bit too fast. Fanier was running to try and get in, but it slowly inched away from him...

As they neared the gate, Amiel was dissapointed to see that the gates were closed. Fortunately, Fanier took the initiative and went to open them. With corpus beasts approaching, Amiel picked up a bow, and with all the clumsyness of a amateur fired off a few arrows. He wounded a couple of the creatures, but none of the shots were fatal. Suddenly, a whipping sound coupled with metal clanging against stone could be heard. The gates were opening. The wagon took off, with Fanier close behind.

"WAYLAS, slow down!" Waylas reluctantly complied, bringing the wagons speed down by a quarter. Fortunately, this was enough, and Amiel was able to reach out an grab Fanier, pulling him into the wagon.

"That was a close one..." Amiel turned towards Waylas "... Get to the red ring road, NOW!" Waylas quickly sped the wagon up, and they were now moving with incredible swiftness towards lake rumare.

Dynter sat there watching as the city dissapeared in the distantce. "That was a close one" Said Dynter. "For a second i thought we wouldn't make it."Dynter lay down in back of the wagon in his sleeping bag as Waylas drove, he had barely gotten any sleep....But as soon as he realised that there was indeed a pillow...he just pretended to sleep...Hehe...soon Amiel...Then he would be the head of this survivors group, if any one dissagred his hammer would do the talking...

"How do we know he's not just one that can talk?" A scared Trisha asked quietly, "How do we know he won't kill us?" Radek gritted his teeth and shook his head slightly, ''I don't know'' He whispered back, ''He doesn't sound very 'Corprussy' to me...'' If this was another survivor, he would need a place to hide from the Corprus as well. Radek sighed heavily, and set his hand on the Trapdoor handle. "You're saying they're smart enough to talk, but not smart enough to....to get a chair to stand on so that they can open the trapdoor?" Came the voice from below again. Radek felt unsure about this, Trisha could have been right. This could be an intelligent Corprus, trying to coax them out.

"I haven't gotten rid of them permanently. I suspect they will be back. So now would be a good time to either let me in, or come out here so we can all escape. I'm not infected, my face has no bumps, see?" The voice continued. Radek shook his head as if the figure below could see, ''T-there are dozens, too many...'' At that, Radek opened to trapdoor.

The figure below, was An Argonian as well, wearing a black robe, with black/green splotches on his face. But as he had said, he did not have any bumps or hideous growth on him. Radek lowered half his front end out of the trapdoor, inspecting the other Argonian for a few seconds. He then looked behind him, where the deployable attic stairs used to be. The Corprus managed to rip it out of the ceiling, seeing that, Radek groaned in disgust with a half-frown. He looked back at the other Argonian, and hoisted himself back up into the attic.

He layed down on his stomach and stuck his arm down to the other figure. Hope he don't mind elongated claws..., ''Its safer up here....'' Radek said quietly, then looked over at Trisha, she probably wasn't going to like this...

"Many thanks." Xa-raku said as he leapt up, grabbed the edge of the open door and smoothly climbed up. The attic was a little stuffy for him, but at least it was warm.

Xa-raku began, "I am called...." He stood up, but then almost fell back onto his knees when he realized how tired he was. He leaned against the wall for a second, and then continued, "....I am called Xa-raku, and I have not slept in almost two nights. More thorough introductions may have to wait until morning."

He lay down on the hard wood floor, despite the bed that was nearby. He was, unfortunately, in that accursed in-between state of being simply too tired to be able to fall asleep just yet. So he lay there with his eyes open for a bit. He wanted to have a meaningful conversation with them, say something to these strangers he was staying the night with. But his mind was on fire with questions and fatigue, and he could barely form a coherent sentence anymore.

Durus Broad remained sitting in his silent little room as he prepared his meal for the day ahead, the night itself almost over. Reading the book had made him angry. Angry at everything that had happened to this man and his family, and now, he knew what he was going to do in the morning. The book itself remained sat on the table, still open with a lot left to read.

He looked back to it momentarily, before looking back determinedly to his food, thoughts of vengeance coming to his mind. He had always had this... problem. He sought revenge in battles that were not his, and went after people who had wronged others. This time, it wasn't people, not really, they weren't human. They were things. And they deserved to die, for good, the people in that book deserved a proper burial, and he would give them that when the sun came up.

ooc: Major filler and ridiculously short, but not really much to do until sunrise, just basically posting to say I'm still here!

Xa-raku seemed not to have noticed Trisha as he entered her room, but in all fairness, it was hard to notice someone who you didn't know was there and who was actively trying to hide from you. Trish was sitting, her back to the end of her bed, knees up as usual, arms wrapped around herself under her legs and snout rested on her knees.

He's gonna kill Radek, then he's gonna kill me. I didn't want to die like this.. I've got so much I still want to do, so much I still need to do. I never got to see Morrowind's Dwemer ruins, never got to get into the Arcane University, I never got to go talk with the Khajiiti tribes in Elsweyr or my native people in Black Marsh.. I haven't even finished my latest project.. Trisha tried not to sob for fear that it might give her away and dash the small chance she had at the obviously cunning corprus leaving her alone. It can't end like this. I have so much to do.. I.. I..

As she began to feel lightheaded, she realized suddenly that she was hyperventilating and tried to calm down, but just as she thought she was getting a grip on herself, she heard and saw an Argonian lay down on the floor a mere couple feet from her. For a moment, her heart jumped into her throat and she felt sick, thinking that it was her companion's corpse, despite the manner of dress being entirely wrong. When it spoke, she let out a little girlish scream and scuttled into the corner, then another gasp as her back hit the wall. Pulling her legs to her chest again, she tucked her head in between her legs and shook, tail curling around her ankles and eyes squeezed shut.

"Please, don't eat me.. I don't taste good. I don't wanna die.." Trisha cried, heart hammering in her ears, "Don't kill me.."

IC: THey were now out of the city. Amiel, relieved, decided to nestle himself into the corner of the wagon. He could use a few extra moments of sleep. As he began to sleep, he quickly started dreaming.

OOC:dream in bold
IC: The sky ws pitch black. Night had fallen only recently, but the cloud cover seemed to turn the usually vibrant sky into a sea of darkness stretching to the farthest reaches of oblivion. A solitary estate was illuminated by the light from its windows and the two torches that lit up the porch.

Two figures could be seen approaching, the sound of their footsteps not unlike what one would expect from a cobblestone pathway. As they entered into the light, one could see a well groomed imperial and what appeared to be his attendant. THe Imperial was wearing a burgundy outfit, while the attendant, a altmer, was dressed in much simpler brown robes. The Imperial knocked on the door, and was quickly greeted by a khajiit.

"Ah! Octavius Metellus! This one is glad to see a friendly face. Come in, Come in."

The Imperial and his attendant entered the estate, and as the warm light of the interior touched their faces one could make out their features. The Imperial was in his late teens to early twenties, with brown eyes and somewhat long black hair. THe Altmer appeared to be in his forties, and sported a bald head and a moustache.

Dynter picked up his pillow and crawled slowly over to Amiel, he lifted the pillow close to Amiel's face...just as he was about to kill him, Amiel twitched violently upwars and started mumbleing as if in a dream, Dynter let out a silient shriek from fright and jumped back, tripped over his bedroll and his his head off the wagon....Everything dazed...


A group of men in Dark robes pulled up the corpse, it was a skeloton now. They had left it along the coast to have the fleash get eaten. It was hardly a practice befitting what this corpse would become....but it was the most efficient way to ready the corpse. The men seemed to be lead by a balding Breton with brown hair. The men carried the corpse into a cave where the floors were strewn with the corpses of Corprus and appraoched a barricade. The corpse was handed in and suddenly, a portal open, into realms unknown appeared and more men in black robes left to get the corpes then returned through the portal. "Hey!" one of the men shouted as the portal began to shrink "You were supposed to take us too!" The men in black robes ran at the portal, one reached it and jumped in, but he was cut in half as the portal closed. The groans of more corprus resonated through the cave "Those bastards," The Breton said with a tear rolling down his eye "Our own comrades left us to die"

Dynter woke sweating.

OOC: Why are you trying to kill Amiel? I know Dynter's ambitious but this is just silly!

IC: The Imperial and the altmer were directed by the Khajiit to a spacious living room. sitting in a grandiose armchair was a seventy year old Imperial, his face a literal sea of wrinkles. His hair was a fine example of the combover, with most of his hair on the side of his head. On a nearby couch a woman in a blue dress was laying down, uninterested in the meeting that was about to occur. She was in her twenties, with long brown hair. She was the old man's mistress, a woman who was more interested in the social gatherings that accompanied nobility than politics or having anything to do with the man she laid with at night; or at least, that's what she let the man believe.

At the walls of the room three guards stood at attention, ready to engage any threat.

Octavius took his seat across from the man, and greeted him.

"Good evening Titus. Have the days been treating you well?"

" They have. Now what exactly did you want to discuss?" Titus seemed to croak as his sentences ended, which proved most annoying for his company.

"Are you aware of the fact that your cousin Trebonius has recently deployed his plantation's guard to attack a cave filled with goblins?" Octavius had a slight smile on his face, but none but his attendant knew the real reason.

"I am. I'm also aware of the fact that his guards were wiped out except for the dozen or so he keeps on hand at all times inside his manor. What of it?"

"Too put it quite simply, if you were to provide the financial backing, I could have the plantation in your control within a matter of days. And all you would need to do is provide the funds, and give me control over the man's summer home."

Titus' interest was peaked. The land was fertile, and it would be a good investment. "Perhaps, if you could provide me some assurance that you won't take it for yourself. You are after all, the child of the man who stole my second plantation."

Octavius gave a small signal, and his altmer attendant took out a bag. Bringing the bag over to Titus, he opened it to reveal a small gold amulet with a ruby stone. Titus quickly took the amulet and examined it. It was real, the actual amulet of Priemerius. It was the ultimate bargaining chip in family disputes, the one thing that every Metellus desired to get their hands on!

Suddenly, Octavius waved his hand in the air. THe brunnette on the couch quickly drew a knife from her dress and threw it at Titus, killing him. Suddenly the Altmer drew three knives from his sleeve and slew each one of the guards. Octavius stood up, and took back the Amulet.

OOC: It's called comic relief, dynter will keep trying to kill you and fail missrably everytime.

( OOC: .... Slow down. Now i've got to RP leaving the city etc. )

Primo

As Fanier opened the gate, Hirrus notched an arrow.
These others may be novices with the bow, but Hirrus was much better.
As the Corprus approach the group, Hirrus hit a beast straight in the forehead.
They were too near, the gate would never open in time. The gaurds stepped forward, ready to hold them off.
Just as it opened, the beasts made the final charge, clashing with the gaurds.
They didn't stand a chance. Only killing a few, the Corprus overwhelmed them quickly, just as the wagon was about to go through the gate.
The count, his bodygaurd, and one other gaurd managed to jump onto the wagon before it pulled away.

( OOC: [censored] post, but that's your fault.

Hey, don't throw blame at the rest of us, your posting is your own responibility, not ours.

OOC: Yeah, guys, way to steal my dream sequence moment.

IC: Fanier sat in the corner of the wagon, his head staring at the pendant hanging from it. He caressed the amulet, played with it, let the chain slither around his fingers...

And he let the memories flow in.


"What was that?," the Bouyant Armiger said.

"What was what?" Fanier replied questioningly.

"Hold on," The Bouyant Armiger said to Faner as he walked over a low hill. "Stay here."

Fanier did as he was told. He stayed put with Lathora as their escort ventured beyond the small hill. "Don't worry," Fanier told his wife. "It's probably just a scrib. He'll be back in no time."

A few minutes past, and the Bouyant Armiger didn't return. Instead, three figures rose up from the other side of the hill. Fanier could here quiet moaning sounds.

"Fanier!" his frightened wife whispered. "What are those?"

It took a while for Fanier to realize what the figures were. As more started to appear from behind the hill, Fanier started stepping backwards. "We've got to go."

"But what about the Bouyant Armig..."

"Now!" Fanier grabbed Lathora by the hand and began running in the direction of the Ghostgate. "Lathora, hurry!" Fanier looked behind him, and saw that the figures had started to run after them. There were half a dozen of them now. When one of them nearly caught up, Fanier stopped and drew his sword.

"Lathora, keep moving!" he called to his wife, as he turned to face the beasts.

"Fanier!" she cried.

"GO!" Fanier turned and thrust his sword into the belly of one of the beasts. The beast fell, but to Fanier's surprise, it got up, as if nothing had happened. Fanier proceeded to drive his sword through its neck, hearing the quiet 'snap' of its spine cracking. This time, when the beast fell, it did not get up.

He looked behind him again, and saw that Lathora had not budged.

"LATHORA!" he called to her. "GO!"

"NO!" she cried back. "I'M NOT LEAVING YOU!" At that moment, a beast had lept onto Lathora, pinning her to the ground, and she screamed.

Lathora's screams acted like a steroid to Fanier. He ran to her aid, and kicked the beast away from her. He jumped on top of the beast, and started stabbing its throat, over and over and over again. When he was finished, the other beasts had gone, and Lathora was lying on the ground, a large gash in her right arm.

Fanier came to her. "Come on," he said to her quietly as he picked her up. "Let's get you back to the Ghostgate. They have doctors there." He carried her in the direction of the Ghostgate.

"Fanier," she said faintly, pointing behind them. Fanier looked to see what she was pointing at.

In the distance behind them, atop the hill, was a lone corprus beast, one of the beasts that had attacked them. He simply stood there, looking at them from a distance. But the the corprus beast did somethig very unusual.


He smiled.


The beasts face burned into Fanier's mind, like a branding iron burns its mark into cattle.


Fanier came back to his senses, the face still in his mind. Something was familiar about it.

It was the face of the beast he had seen earlier that night.

Radek watched the Argonian Man intently, he didn't trust him yet. He sounded harmless, but for all he knew, this man could have been a wanted psychopath. Immediately when he climbed into the attic, Radek wanted to question him, to determine if he was safe. The man only introduced himself as 'Xa-Raku', before collapsing on the ground out of exhaustion. At that moment, Radek heard a gasp behind him, and he turned to see Trisha. He face had gone completely pale, and frankly, she looked scared [censored]less. She tucked her head in between her legs and shook, tail curling around her ankles, "Please, don't eat me.. I don't taste good. I don't wanna die..... Don't kill me.." She cried, and began sobbing a little.

Radek moved to the bed, and sat down next to her, ''Its alright...'' He whispered, ''He's no Corprus...just another survivor'' For some strange reason, he heard fear in his words, he then looked back at the Argonian laying on the ground, a look of both suspicion, and worry crept into Radek's face. Something strange about this fellow.... He turned his attention back to Trisha, ''You should try and get some rest....'' then patted her shoulder, If that's even possible..., ''I'll keep an eye on our new friend...''

Fimmion

Tired and weary, Fimmion searched for a suitable tree to sleep in.
He would sleep until first light and then keep traveling.

Picking a nice high tree, he pulled out his bedroll and used magic to manipulate a few branches closer for a better surface to sleep on.
Fimmion tossed some food down to the wolves below and sent them off to wherever they may wish to go.
He lay there thinking of tomorrow, planning, drifting off to sleep while entwined in his thoughts.

Fanier looked around the wagon, the face of the beast still in his mind. Dynter was awake, and, by the looks of it, sweaty.

"Get some sleep, Dynter," he told the big nord. "You'll need it." Fanier nodded at Dynter and then moved to the front of the wagon to talk to Waylas.

"That's enough, Waylas," he told the driver. "I'll drive from here on. You get some rest." Waylas handed Fanier the reins and climbed to the back of the wagon. Fanier looked ahead, guiding the cart along the road.

RP dead?

OOC: Nevar. D:<

No one has done any serious posting in about 2 days.

I'd hate to see you in a slow paced roleplay.

God forbid that such a day should ever come

It is by no means dead. I'll post later about sunrise and reaching the IC.

OOC: I know its late, but sunrise has come!

IC: Fanier couldn't see a thing in the darkness. It took all his effort just to keep the wagon on the road. He could hear the rustling of waves all around him.

We're on a bridge, he thought. I can hear the water.

In the distance, he saw the first glints of light, the sun rising behind the silhouette of white gold tower. Fanier looked around him, and now he could faintly see the bridge below the wagon, and the great gate in the distance.

He looked behind him at the others. "We're here," he said as they went across the bridge. "We're at the Imperial City."