Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:21 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

"Salem–just 'Salem' is fine." It was a name common enough, and with no surname it worked well as an alias. Remembering what happened the night before, Shiloh determined that it would be safer if she climbed down the ladder first then let Hans descend. "Right…I'll go down first then." Besides, if there were any enemies hidden about she would be able to fend them off better than Hans would if caught halfway. She cautiously scaled the damaged ladder, pausing to extend her foot further downward when she encountered the broken rung. Once she had both feet safely on solid ground, her eyes scanned the immediate area while Equilibrium's Edge was still in hand. Craning her neck she called up to the armored man. "Alright, looks like the coast is clear. It's a clear path back out once we leave this area." Except for Mithras, who she was dearly hoping had forgotten about her or had gotten distracted by something more interesting. 

After waiting for Hans to come down, she beckoned him to follow after her, while not so subtly trying to keep out of someone's direct view. The road to the rift was deathly silent, several stretches of stairs carved from the mountain canyon leading down to the abandoned valley. There was a solar eclipse in the sky, and the sky itself was tinged red. It was a very, very long walk–with the unnerving silence making it seem even longer. There were no ambient sounds aside from their own footsteps: no sounds of birds, insects, or even wind. Soon a large crack in the fabric of reality loomed before them, showing different scenery on the other side. The sky was gray and overcast, but at least it seemed less suffocating than this place. A slight breeze could be felt come through the rift, carrying a hint of salt and dust. Stopping before the portal she motioned for Hans to go through. "Here we are. That's Tyr on the other side. It's a dead place, but in a different way than in here. Either way it's much more 'alive' than being forever frozen in time. Keep going towards the coast and you'll see ships. They should take you to the mainland." 

Despite her clear eagerness to leave this bizarre place, Shiloh hung back and didn't intend on following him out. She still had some unfinished business to handle. 

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:26 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

Huh that was interesting a place cut off from the rest of the reality, lots of magical energy. That would explain the suffocating feeling he felt when he first woke up and why it might have subsided with prayer. His lord was with him yet…or at least he hoped so. The unnatural amount of magical power would also explain the preplexing distoration of the day-night cycle, as the woman with whom he was speaking with mentioned. Also the fact that reflective surfaces were able to transport you here and that it was an worldwide event meant that whatever caused all of this was realy powerful which made Hans considerably uncomfortable. There were at least some good news as he learned that there was indeed a way out of here and that she could lead him out of here. Sounded like a reasonable course of action, he couldn't deny that. Hans looked around once more, dusted himself some more and looked back at Shiloh.

- Well that sounds like a plan, lady…? Uhm…huh I didn't catch your name. I know it's not exactly time for pleasentries but I find myself at the loss of words how to refer to you…- he trailed off at the end and kind of looked like he lost some of his composure - Oh, sorry I might have gotten too ahead of myself. Let's just go. I uhhh who of us should get down the ladder first? I fear that I might break something If I go down now and I might strand you up on here but I will refer to you on this decision.

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Sun Jan 2, 2022 4:00 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

So either he was trying to hide his origins, or he wasn't too different from herself–a person who came in through the tears in the fabric of reality. This man wasn't a native of this place, to her relief. He seemed to have his sanity and humanity intact. "This place is a realm that used to be part of the rest of this world, until something cut it off–encapsulated it into an isolated bubble of space-time. There's an abnormally high amount of magical energy radiating from this place, but I don't know what this location's name is. Whatever phenomenon started this is probably responsible for the distorted day-night cycles. It wasn't until recently that people from out there–" Shiloh motioned with her hand to imply the normal world, "–Could end up in here." 

"Reports of disappearances have spread worldwide, mostly through reflective surfaces like mirrors. They act as one-way entries through which the victims were dragged through into this realm. There's another way to enter without the use of a mirror, and that's where I came in. It's a space-time rift created in the shadow of the eclipse." By now she had started to ramble on and go on a side tangent, only to realize she might confuse the armored man. "If you want to leave, I can escort you out. It's much safer out there than in here. No blood moon frenzy at least." Her body stiffened as she heard someone call from behind. Mithras was still here, but if she pretended to not know him she might be able to use this void-transported stranger as an excuse to leave before her cover was blown. Maybe the voice she was hearing was just another of those 'mirror doubles' trying to lure her in. Yes, absolutely. Most definitely not because she was trying to avoid him. Nope. Not at all…

Shiloh hoped Hans would see reason and choose to leave. It would be a benefit to both of them, but mostly her.

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Sat Jan 1, 2022 8:38 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

- Where am I from? That is a tricky question to answer right about now…or well tricky question to answer in a concise manner. - Hans begun - So I will get to other question who are no less tricky but I can answer them in a quick manner at least. I didn't arrive here with anyone, at least to my knowledge and to pre-empt any further questions I am not sure how I got here…or where here even is. Which is something I was meaning to ask. What is this place? That the night and day are unpredictable and night brings with itself ill omen of a blood moon which seems to want to strangle life out of my lungs? And…who are you stranger? I know it is somewhat improper to ask someone who just saved you such questions in such a tone but those are rather important questions, I think so at least.

As he finished his sentence Hans begun to look around, now that the vile moon was out of the sky and his life returned to him once more, he felt his senses returning to being as keen and sharp as they were before he got here. Distorted dimension the lady said, was he still within the perilious depths of the warp? That would explain somethings like the fact that he felt the oppresive atmosphere literaly pressing down on him with something that felt like a truly physical force. But if that was true, then he should be able to sense his god more clearly, to see his visions not through a deep fog but without any obstructions, just the way one sees things on a clear spring morning. There were things here which were not adding up and Hans was growing fearful of this peculiar situation.

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2021 12:18 AM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

Instead of taking the opportunity to attack while she was occupied, the stranger instead had spent time recovering. Despite her ingrained habits telling her otherwise, Shiloh concluded that he was very likely not a Void mimic. Letting an excellent chance to take on one's prey while they were weak slip by was not the mindset of a beast. And as intelligent as the Void mimics were, they were still beasts–just slightly smarter than the average carnivore. The man was thankful, his body language and tone of voice indicating he was a quiet, yet sincere individual. He seemed less shaken than she expected, which made her wonder if it was due to the result of training or personal experience. Feeling the burning in her limbs subside, she gave him a nod. "Stay alive and keep your wits about you–that's the best way you can repay me. Living is your number one priority now."

Pushing herself up, she began to probe for more information. "So where are you from?" Somebody armored from head to toe like him should've come with company, but when they met he had been on his own. Shiloh was hoping he was someone from the various adventuring parties that had gone missing in this distorted dimension. Many people came here without fully understanding the danger they were putting themselves in, and they were paying for it now. The more survivors she could bring back, the better. Maybe it was the fatigue, or the fact she knew Mithras was nearby–but Shiloh lowered her voice so it wouldn't carry far outside of the bell tower. "If you came with somebody, do you know where they were headed? It'll be much safer and easier to find them while there's daylight. Apparently day-night cycles are unpredictable in here too."

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:48 AM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

As Hans prayed on, something began to happen that might have gone unnoticed by Shiloh during the combat with the Ghouls. First of all his coughing, slowly but steadily began to subside, as the parchment bindings on his right arm began to faintly glow. And as they did something materialised in Hans’ hands. A humble rosary like necklace or amulet, made from a string of rope and decorated with wooden beads, crowned with a small wood-carved raven skull.

Hans would make subtle movements with his hand, passing from one bead to another as he recited prayers to his god from memory. And as he did he felt…better. More clear headed, the burning in his lungs that was the cause of his incessant coughs lessened and then disappeared completely. Soon the air, which just a few moments ago was heavy and thick with something, grew lighter and more refreshing. He felt the soreness of his muscles leaving him, thus allowing him to once again control his body.

And as the blood moon faded from the sky and the monsters left them alone, Hans no longer felt ill. He felt significantly better. Hans “awoke” from his trance like state of mind, to sounds of near total silence and the stench of burning corpses. He looked around from his position on the floor of the tower towards a brown haired woman who warned him of the advancing monsters and was clearly the one that saved him from them, now with the strength of her combat abilities.

Hans slowly rose unto his feet, Morrite Rosary in the left hand and turned towards Shiloh.
- Thank you. - He said, his voice now normal albeit still quiet - Thank you for saving me from those monsters. I have no idea how I can repay you for that.
The tone of his voice was genuine and sincere but he also sounded tad young too. Or at least younger than his metallic exterior would suggest.

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:29 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

Shiloh was regretting many things at this moment. First, she was regretting coming into this god-forsaken valley. Second, she regretted not leaving immediately after entering. And third, she was regretting letting this stranger up on the tower. At this point whether or not he was a human-shaped mimic was beyond the scope of the situation, as his hacking up of the lungs was getting the attention of the horrid emaciated things with four limbs. Since attempting to kill the human torch wasn't possible, they would turn their attention to something else. The bell tower, for example. The ladder was damaged but it was now a double-edged sword as these gangly horrid things could climb just fine!

"OHGOODLORDALMIGHTY–" She hissed as she threw boomerangs down at the creatures. The razor-sharp edges slashed through flesh and bone before coming back on the rebound. The tower's base was now completely surrounded, and Shiloh was frantically trying to do crowd control. 

"Hey bud, when you're done coughing mind hitting the creatures before they get in??" On one hand she didn't want to be rude, but this was kind of a life or death situation at the moment. If only she had spent more time setting up traps and less time asking in a roundabout fashion if the man next to her was a human mimic. She really couldn't use fire, as this whole tower was dry tinder. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the human torch–the instigator of this mess–come towards them. This was all his fault, Shiloh decided. Yes, it was Mithras' fault. Why'd he have to be such a good monster magnet, huh?! 

When the boomerangs were too slow, she took her Equilibrium's Edge and started stabbing anything that tried to climb too high. As the blade of the sword pierced the ghouls, there were blood-curdling cries as they fell back down. Her mind was in a blur, with no time to think she just stabbed and stabbed and stabbed… She could only hope that this would stop soon. 

She had lost track of time, only keeping track of how many stabs she made on each side when at last the blood-red moonlight faded. With the coming of the eclipsed sun, the valley fell into a hush as the swarming monsters fled to who-knows-where. There was a pile of dead creatures around the base of the tower, which looked even more worse for wear. The day-night cycles of this realm were too abnormal. With arms feeling like lead, Shiloh flopped onto the ground with a wheeze. She survived! She didn't know how, but somehow she–and this man in a weird skull helmet–survived! Straining to look at Hans, she raised an eyebrow wondering if he was still alive under that metal. "Note to self…nighttime is worse."

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 4:15 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

As the horde of terrible ghoulish monsters drew ever nearer, Hans was still pinned to the ground due to his coughing fit which seemed to only get worse. He could barely catch air between his coughs, and at certain points it sounded like he was about to throw up on the floor of the Watchtower. He tried his hardest to remain as quiet as he could manage, seeing how scared his new…companion was. But he didn’t do a good job at it.

The Knight of the Raven felt weak, and not just that, it was the most weak he had felt in a long, long while. They were clearly in danger, something was coming and here he was, barely holding himself up on all fours, about to cough up his own bloody lungs on the ground. It must look pathetic to all those that can see him right now…so the brown haired woman he just met. Not the greatest first impression.

Still he had to do something, even in this miserable state. So he did the only thing he thought he could do at this juncture and began praying to his god. He prayed to Morr, so that he would deliver him and the woman from danger, to postpone their inevitable ends. To grant him strength to be able to still serve him in the mortal realm, so he could help those that were still lost. To hunt down those that would defile the holy rest of the dead.

He didn’t pray out loud, didn’t speak a single word. Merely he mouthed his prayer in between the fits of the terrible cough. Hoping that his words would reach his lord, for he was all that he had right now. As his mortal coil bagan to fail him, what else can a man turn to if not his faith?

Author: Solstice, Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 10:18 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

When the blood moon emerged, he was met by a swarm of gaunt-faced creatures in human shape. Emaciated to where they seemed less alive than dead, they charged at him with frenetic fervor. Like vultures drawn to a carcass, he was soon surrounded–yet this was exactly what the lion-headed lord had hoped for. His smile widening, his elongated canines were exposed as light coalesced into his hands as two large razor-sharp chakrams. It was about time, and he was itching for a fight! In a battle numbers, though the enemies were weak individually they posed a unique challenge in contrast to a lone combatant. Your attention was forcibly split and vigilance must be expended to detect attacks from all sides. With wide sweeping attacks, the hurled chakrams and blasts of radiant light cleared large swaths of the gaunt-faced ghouls by the dozens. However after the fifth round, Mithras was growing bored.

These ghoulish creatures gave little challenge once their numbers were thinned out. Their attacks had little variation, and they lacked the intelligence to subvert his expectations. A single slash from the razor-sharp edge of the bladed ring would leave them in pieces, too broken to pose any threat. And once a few started falling he noted that some of the others would turn on their own. This was the law of the land–the weak were devoured by the strong. Those who could not hunt became food for those who could. Despite their human-like forms, that was where the similarities ended. Having lost interest in these revenants, he turned on his heel to proceed towards the ruined stronghold. Unleashing an aura of light and flame, Mithras ascended the stairway unimpeded. The single-minded horde of revenants continued their siege–incinerating themselves when they came too close only to stumble and fall down into the valley ravine below. Many of their numbers dropped this way, so by the time the primal lord had reached the broken gate of the temple there were only a few dozen left.

That was a few dozen too many for the two hiding out in the bell tower. Shiloh's eyes glanced rapidly between Hans and the rumbling tide approaching as both grew closer with each passing second. Her ears caught the sound of brittle wood breaking, and assumed that part of the ladder had broke. The heavily armored man threw himself onto the floor of the raised wooden platform, just in time for Mithras' arrival. There was a bright flame moving into the desolate courtyard of the monastery's walled complex, followed by several gaunt, ghoulish beings. Inhuman grunts and screeches came from them in a cacophonic chorus as they lunged at it, only to recoil back in pain. The smell of burning flesh and something else filled the air, making Shiloh gag. With her acute senses, this was many times worse than what an average person would experience. Muffling her mouth, she laid low and hoped they wouldn't be spotted. As long as they kept quiet, those things wouldn't know they were here. She strained her eyes trying to determine what the epicenter of the swarm was. It was hard to make out, but it seemed to be moving in a human way?

Oh right, how could she forget? That was him, wasn't it?! And even worse, he was walking this way! The ugly, gaunt-limbed creatures were only a few meters away, close enough for her to see them in their hideous, grotesque glory beneath the red moonlight. 

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 7:47 AM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

As Hans prepared himself to ask what she meant by password, and also other questions that were on his mind at the moment, he too heard a large boom in the distance and the quaking of the earth that followed in its wake. He already got a bad feeling about this, but a single look at the person with whom he was speaking just confirmed his assumptions.

Her eyes were wide, horror could be seen as clearly as the sun in good weather. And then the panicked “Oh no” reached his ears and soon after that the "They're coming! Get on the ladder–they're coming!!", hissed out in pure terror. Although some part of Hans wished to inquire as to what was going on, his training and experience of his time in the desolate Chaos Wastes of Norsca, taught him well in situations like this it’s better to follow orders rather than question them.

And so, with newfound vigor, he dashed for the ladder and began climbing it. The process of doing so was quite unpleasant as the ladder was an old, rickety thing. In his haste to get up to the lady who ordered him to get up to her, he stepped on one of the rungs with little too much of a force, and broke it beneath his feet. At that point he lost his balance and almost fell, but his grip was strong and he managed to stabilise himself to a point where he could continue his climb towards relative safety.

As soon as he reached the top and dragged himself next to the panicking lady, Hans collapsed on the floor. Not because he was tired, but because his muscles felt like they wanted to kill him. They felt stiff, and numb, as if they have not been used for the longest time. He loudly gasped for air, which in itself felt like it was burning up his lungs. Once more he began coughing, with the same, if not maybe worse, hacking cough as before. Just what is this place, he thought, as he tried to sat himself down against…something.

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 1:00 AM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

'Stay calm, just repeat the question and watch him again.' She mentally told herself. Shiloh was still extremely wary about this strange armored figure, and his struggle to speak was starting to make him seem more and more like one of those Void mimics. The image of a horrid toothy maw emerging from his armored midsection gave her chills. Doing her best to remain calm, she repeated the question again. "What's the password?" Desperately she hoped this was a person. If it wasn't she wasn't going to be very happy with herself fighting a humanoid monstrosity in these cramped quarters. In the distance another loud explosion boomed, this time much closer than before. She threw a worried glance in its direction, only to hear the sound of something quaking very loudly. There was something unsettling about it that made her stomach knot itself. Racking her brain she scrambled to put the feeling into words until she found it at last.

With eyes wide in horror, she finally found what it sounded like–a stampede! While Shiloh spoke with the coughing metal man, Mithras had found the swarming hordes to be quite boring. His disturbance in the realm attracted many smaller fry, revenants that were more or less like ghouls having lost their sense of reason. But fighting these weaklings in a group grew dull, so once their numbers were thinned, the wild man was now heading further up towards the temple complex in search of better prospects. While the decreased numbers didn't bother him, it did bother Shiloh, who could see an advancing tide of human-like things coming this way. 

"Oh no–ohnononono!" Panic gripped her as what she feared was now happening. Even if the armored man below wasn't some horrid shape-shifting monstrosity, the two of them wouldn't be enough to hold an entire stampede down. As for a certain blond barbarian…he'd probably end up causing more collateral damage. Obviously he'd be fine… "They're coming! Get on the ladder–they're coming!!" She hissed loudly. Shiloh braced herself for the incoming storm that was approaching, reluctance and dread written all over her face. This rickety excuse of a bell tower probably wouldn't stay standing long once the wave of revenants hit.

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 1:25 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

As Hans stared transfixed into the Blood Red Moon, his mind was flooded with all sorts of thoughts. Where was he? What was this place? Why the air felt so…wrong, thick with something he couldn’t describe but it almost felt like inhaling fire, it burned his nostrils and made him dizzy. However he didn’t not have to marinate in those less than pleasant sensations for long, for suddenly someone called out to him…from above?

Startled by the sudden sound, Hans turned around and looked above to see…a…a lady with deep brown hair and brown eyes, staring with such intensity into him, that one could swear she tried to drill a hole through him with just her stare alone. However he was quite groggy and didn’t catch what she just said to him so he stared at her for a while until he gathered enough strength and will to speak.

- I’m…- he begun only to notice that he whispered instead of speaking up properly, so he composed himself and tried again - I’m….sorry… - his voice was hoarse and pained, clearly showing that the action of talking was less than pleasant to him at the current moment - but I didn- and then mid way through what he was about to say, he was interrupted by an hacking cough, that sounded like the man never drank anything in his entire life. This coughing fit would continue for a moment until he composed himself, puting one of his hands up to signal for the woman to wait a moment.


After a while his coughing fit ended and the armored man straightened himself out and looked back at the mysterious woman.
- Sorry…for that…didn’t hear what…you said earlier…could…you…repeat it?

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 1:05 AM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

A blast with a flash of light echoed in the near distance as Mithras was doing…whatever he was good at. Shiloh didn't really know nor did she want to know at this point. A new sound caught her attention, something familiar and metallic. While she wasn't one to wear full plate on a regular basis, she did know how it looked and sounded. Cautiously she peered over the side of the watch tower, eyes spying a figure that had a skull-like visage. If her head wasn't swimming from the constant pressure this realm's energies were putting on her, she would have been able to tell that this was a living, breathing person. Unfortunately she couldn't right now, so she was hedging her bets on the possibility it was one of the less corrupted revenants. Shiloh weighed her options. She might as well take a chance; she had the high ground after all. If the thing in armor turned out to be a humanoid abomination she'd pelt the thing until it crossed over to the other side of the Soul-Stream. 

Throwing her voice, she called out to the walking armor suit below. "Pssst–hey! You, in the metal plate! What's the password?" This was a rhetorical question. There was no password, it was just a test to see if she got a human reaction. After seeing the extent malicious Void creatures could go through to stalk and capture prey, she could at least rule out a shoddy imitation. Hidden from the stranger's view, Shiloh had her Equilibrium's Edge ready along with a hand wielding three skyshard boomerangs–ready for throwing. The pale red light that shone down illuminated the night landscape with a brightness that made the distinction between light and shadow all the clearer. The evening sky was without a single cloud, its darkness emphasizing the blood moon. It was a terrible night to be lost and confused.

Author: Hans Grish, Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:50 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

Hans…floated, or at least he felt like he was floating, but on what? He couldn’t tell it felt as if there was nothing there. Nothing beneath him, nothing around him and nothing in front of him. And yet he had to float on something didn’t he? He tried to move his body, but it refused his commands, remaining as rigid as a corpse stricken with rigor mortis. This should have made him feel anxious, panicked even but he remained calm. Though he couldn’t move or for that matter, feel his limbs, it didn’t feel unnatural, quite the opposite. He began to recognise this lack of feeling, this sensation of floating…he was dreaming and with his dreams came visions. And as this thought crossed his mind he already began to see images forming in front of him, however there was something no right with them, they appeared to be obscured, fuzzy as if covered up by a thick fog. Hans wished to get closer to them but again, he neither controlled nor felt his own limbs so he could only watch. And what he saw was confusing. Sharp edges, oval shapes, something going up? Squares…no…rectangles…? No… no…they were three dimensional, bricks perhaps? He tried putting it all together into a coherent picture but whatever obstructed his vision, his connection with his god, it made it impossible.

Then he felt a rumble, and then a tremble. And with it he began to feel his limbs again, he felt his hands, his feet, chest and head placed upon his neck. He began to move his limbs, small movements, barely even twitches. Slowly but steadily he felt he was regaining his consciousness. Just a little bit more and he would be there, the thought. However his plans for a calm exit from the land of dreams were suddenly dashed by another rumble and another tremble, now stronger than before, he actually felt shaken by them. As he tried to pick up the pace and wake up faster, he felt another tremble, this time so strong that he felt that if he stood he would lose his balance, but it wasn’t the end of that. Soon after this tremble occured, Hans felt like he was hit with a great force by something straight into his chest, he felt like all air, that he just began to feel enter his body, was knocked out of him. And as he flew backwards due to the force of the impact he suffered, Hans began to see his visions clear, and the myriad of shapes and sizes taking on a coherent form…

Hans opened his eyes and immediately gasped for air with the desperation of a man who was forced to hold his breath underwater for a prolonged length of time. He felt his body, in pain and sore all over, but he felt it and it meant he could control it even if it begged him to stay put by assaulting him with sudden spikes of pain when he began getting up unto his feet. His armor clanked and made all the sounds one would expect from plate armor, whose owner was getting up from the ground. Hans looked around, it seemed to be night where he was right now…whatever this place is. Next to him he saw a rickety looking old ladder that led somewhere higher than he was…and he was in some sort of ruins from what he could gather, a watchtower perhaps? He tried to move away from the shade of the tower so he would get a better look of the area, or that was what he wanted to do until he looked up into the sky and saw a blood red moon.

- What the…? - He asked, his voice, a quiet, low whisper that came out of his lips hoarse from what he felt was lack of use. He blinked several times trying to get his bearings in order to see if his senses were not playing tricks on him. In his fixation on the moon he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings, to ruins all around him and to the person that stood in the tower above him.

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2021 11:59 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

Time passed differently in this place, as Shiloh soon learned when the valley was plunged into chaos. When the moon came up, all hell broke loose. She felt a chill run down her spine as her senses were telling her thing were going to get ugly fast. Immediately she ran to get to higher ground. At least if she was higher up she could have the advantage of seeing what was coming. With ruined buildings all around, she wasn't left with a lot of choices. Scaling up the rickety ladder of a watch tower that was still standing, Shiloh quickly took out a few skyshard boomerangs and Equilibrium's Edge. If the passage of time wasn't the same as the outside world, then any timepieces she had would be useless. Now she would have to survive the night until morning. 

Straining her eyes, she cautiously looked around in hopes of seeing where the sounds of fighting were coming from. She hadn't met any people so far despite coming in with the goal of rescuing stragglers. There were bright flashes of light in the distance as horrible noises were punctuated by the slashing of weapons. Then, she heard an echoing laugh that made her hair stand on end. Unfortunately, she recognized that voice. She had heard that laugh only once, but she never forgot. And here she had been hoping she wouldn't run into anyone she didn't want to be meeting…

Despite his persistent 'tenacity', Shiloh thanked him for being a great distraction. If it was anyone else, they would've been torn apart by the swarms of grotesque things running towards the sounds of explosions and fire. Someone like him was durable enough to take several hits and stay standing. But she couldn't stay here, not when she was at risk of being discovered. Those thoughts were stopped short when she saw something with abnormally long legs skitter past her elevated position. Forget thanking him–the man was monster magnet. Now he was just making all of the realm's horrors crawl out of the woodwork. 

Author: Solstice, Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2021 11:33 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

When the moons turned blood-red and the sun was blackened by an eclipse, Mithras sensed something ancient and powerful was at work. Where phenomena manifest, people would flock like moths drawn in by promises of gold or secrets. The world worked in mysterious ways, and it would be untrue if he himself had no curiosity for it. Such powerful phenomena had occurred only a few times, but each instance was inexplicably tied to something of great importance.

Arriving at a dead city was his first stop. Striding into the heart of the mirage, the lion-headed lord was briefly overwhelmed by the aura of ancient power before counteracting with his own. If one would describe it, it was like thick smoke—trapped and condensed inside this realm that had been sealed away from the world long ago. Having been removed from the rest of the world for so long, the power here had stagnated and turned foul. It was nearly on par with the primal energy residing within Onnen—almost.

Ascending the ramshackle stone steps, Mithras could feel the weak, throbbing pulse of the earth desperately trying to sustain itself. In his eyes, this ‘cursed’ land was quite pitiful. Like a sickly beast, it was barely clinging to life on its dying breath. And yet, it still continued to live. Whatever creatures that had managed to remain since the day of its sundering would be beyond saving. His thoughts were then confirmed upon the setting of the eclipsed sun, as a blood red moon ushered in the terrible night.

While the day had been as still as death, the night was like a ravenous ghoul resurrected. Under the pale crimson light, the silent valley became a hotbed of chaos. Creatures, hideous and deformed from ages of imprisonment in isolation, began to swarm from the dark. Humanoid figures with gaunt bodies let out inhuman shrieks as they charged at him. It had been ages since they sensed new life and blood, and anything would do. Mithras met their bloodlust with his own, baring his teeth in a grin as two bronze chakrams appeared in his hands. His trespass onto this desolate valley had not been in vain after all–now he could fight without restraint!

Author: Shiloh Kyrie, Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 3:48 PM, Post Subject: Unholy Ground [O][Event]

"All aboard!" The ferryman calls in a hoarse voice over the creaking of wood. The boat is deep, and the passengers are few. A few weeks ago these seats were full, until those who were eager to go stopped coming back. Through the still silence and heavy fog, he rows, pushing back water with the paddles. A lantern hangs from a post affixed to the bow, metal rings clinking as it sways with each motion. Although it is daytime, the mist is tinged red like the last few hours before nightfall. We arrived at the ruined city of the dead. Instead of the phosphorescent green one normally expects, the entire area has taken on a hue of crimson. Leaving behind the boatman, she trudged forward into the abandoned open square, devoid of any living or undead.

An oppressive aura hung in the air, but there was no sign of the missing people in sight. A growing headache was drumming in her temples; shading her eyes, Shiloh looked up at the eclipse overhead. As she stared into it, it felt as if the ringed black circle was growing closer and closer…

A stifling mist began to swirl around her as she was enveloped by a flaming circular portal, revealing an unfamiliar valley in its last moments.

After a few moments, she regained consciousness. Stale air greeted her nose as dry dirt crunched beneath her boots as she forced herself to stand. The sky was now awash in red, with a black sun ringed by a corona hanging in the sky. Before her stretched a valley that was once lush and vibrant, now silent and deathly still. There was no wind, and not a single blade of grass moved. There were no birds, no sounds of insects or animals. For a second Shiloh could've sworn that she was in one of the circles of Inferos–however there was one difference. While Inferos was a place of death, instead this valley was in a state of perpetual stasis. No life, no death, no changes. Eternally trapped in this moment, it was as if this place was frozen in time.

In a way it was worse than death itself. 

And as for life signatures, she couldn't sense a single one. Upon entering here it was like her head was in a haze, like there was pressure inside. Behind her was a gaping circular portal, showing the scenery of Tyr. Whatever was interfering with her senses was radiating from this realm. She had no idea what to expect or who she should be looking for, but she could tell she didn't belong here. Dressed in plain clothes over leather armor, she pulled up the hood of her cloak and put on a blank clay mask. Hopefully she would be able to leave soon. The energies of this place felt wrong. Even an unskilled mage could see that.

Looking down, there was a winding path stretching across a narrow canyon that then sharply climbed upward towards a fortress. Endless steps were carved out of the rock lined by broken stone lanterns and humanoid statues. The rest of the valley was empty and desolate. Unfortunately, there was nothing else to see aside from the obvious building complex ahead. Quickening her pace, she hoped to find a safe place to set up camp before night fell.