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Quest for the Sun Star
Evening had fallen in the Valley of Raye. Its steep, grassy walls were bathed in a soft, silvery light as the Moon provided the only light. The Golden River, named thus for the golden leaves that covered its surface in Fall, meandered slowly through the vale, passing through the center of the Lauran City, the City of Light.
The City, as it was called by most, was the epicenter of commerce of all kinds, as well as an academic metropolis. Engirded by thick, stone walls, it provided a meeting place for scholars of the arcane and the otherworldly throughout the land; the Sun Cathedral. This was an enormous cathedral situated in the center of the City, whose dome was thatched with gold, the very epicenter of worship to the Sun God, Helios, who actively manifested his presence during the Sabbaths, when the High Priest raised the Star for the followers to commence praying.
The City was quiet and still. Outside the walls, however, two shapes flitted up to the large fortifications, gesturing at one another. One pointed up at the sky. Clouds were moving in from all directions, much faster than they would have if the phenomenon was natural. Inch by inch, the moon was covered completely, blocking out its light. Under the cover of darkness, the other nodded and unhooked something from his belt. He took a few steps back, then started whirling a rope with a weight attached over his shoulder, finally releasing it. A dull thunk signaled the grappling hook was in place. In only minutes, the pair had shimmied up the wall, and, using the same method, had entered the City.
Using the shadows cast by buildings, they made their way to the Cathedral, preferring small streets instead of the Royal Rue that led straight from both the West and East gates to the Cathedral, so as to be less noticed. Naturally, it slowed them down, but thus secrecy was preserved. They made the cathedral in under half an hour’s quick, yet soft running, their shoes specially padded for this operation. The Cathedral could only be broken into at night, when its guardian slept. Of course, mortal patrols defended it from intruders, but mortals could be tricked. Mortals could be killed. In the face of the Sun God’s wrath at his domain being defiled none could survive. Their only hope was to be as far away from his focal point when the sun rose properly.
Even as they crouched down behind the Fount on the Royal Rue, the two intruders watched one of the patrols passing around the perimeter. Further in, another patrol could be seen circling the cathedral, this one going in the opposite direction of the first. Again, further in another patrol was heading in the direction of the first, and so on. It was good protection, and perfect timing was needed to run down through the middle of it all. The guard rotas were so that at all times, all parts of the ground were covered. However, the guards were only in charge of their lap and the one above them, which was their big weakness.
As the patrols immediately in front of them crossed paths, they exchanged some words, which was obvious from the fact that they paused a step, then carried on. Now! The two intruders darted forwards, occupying the space the two patrols had just met in and lay low, moving to the uppermost laywer and followed the first patrol. When the next two patrols crossed paths, they darted forwards onto the third ring, until they reached the walls.
Breaking in now was easier, They followed the closest patrol round towards the altar room and, when they were under one of the high windows, used the grappling hook once more to climb the wall onto the wide windowsill. There they waited for the patrols to pass again, before turning to the window.
“Open!” one said, pressing his palm against the stained glass, making the window silently swing inwards. Using the grappling hook once more, they slid down into the sacred room.
This room was, in fact, only accessible to the highest ranking members in the priesthood of Helios, which meant no guards were posted here. Another big mistake. But, they hadn’t much time before the patrols passed once more and they wouldn’t take the chance of the grappling hook being noticed. One of the two took out a leather pouch and the other a glove of the same material and approached the small cupboard in the middle of the room’s west walls. When morning cam, the sun, rising in the east, would fill this room and spill its light onto the panel hiding the Star on the wall separating this small room from the remainder of the cathedral’s main room. Now, however, the secret panel was hidden, and one would have to know where to look.
The intruders approached the panel as silently as possible so as not to alert any guards on the other side of the wall, by the altar, that they were there. The arcane master once more touched the central panel and whispered a command, but nothing happened. Having expected this, the other took out a knife and started maneuvering the crack left by the door. He worked fast and with skill, until he managed to pry the cabinet open.
The room was then bathed in a soft, golden light as the Star, dormant during the nighttime, gave off a soft light. During the day, it shone rilliantly on top of the altar. Its glow was quickly snuffed out, however, when the man slipped his fist around it, protected by the glove, and deposited it inside the leather pouch. The cabinet was closed, the window the same behind them, and the two began the long trek back out of the temple. This time, it was easier, however, as the guards didn’t look to the level below them. Once out of the holy grounds, they hit the Royal Rue and dashed back to the walls, escaping with the City’s most holy relic.
~
Miranda Kath tried to straighten her hair as she rushed to the High Priest’s inner chambers, her nightgown hidden beneath a cloak. Just moments ago, a servant had roused her from sleep in the middle of the night, and declared the High priest needed to speak to her urgently. Sleep or no sleep, she had to comply to her superior’s wishes.
She was about to knock when the door swung inwards on its own. She didn’t hesitate, however. This was the High Priest, after all. If he wanted the door to open, it would do so easily.
“You wanted to see me, Father?” she asked him, kneeling in front of the grizzled old man seated in an armchair. He sighed and nodded, stroking his short beard.
“The Star was stolen by Night rogues.” He told her and she gasped, her eyes widening.
The Night rogues was the name they used tfor the lower servants of Celine, the Goddess of the moon, and Helios’ ancient enemy. If the Star was in their hands, there was no telling what could happen.
“What? When?” she asked him hurriedly. “What could they want it for?”
The old man sighed again and stood up, going to the window and looking out over the grounds, leaving her knelt in front of the chair he had occupied. “In three moons begins the ceremony of Lykofos. I trust you know what that entails..?”
She nodded. The ceremony he had referred to was the most important one of the Night religion, held on the first full-moon of the reaping year to celebrate the rebirth of their Goddess.
“Good. A legend exists that, if the Star is coupled together with the Opal, their own sacred artifact, on that night, the Goddess will rise and defeat Helios while he sleeps, and Night will rule forever. We cannot let that happen.” He heaved another sigh and turned towards her, motioning for her to rise. “You have risen well throughout the ranks, Miranda, and you have served me well. It is to you I entrust this quest, to return the Sun Star to our rightful possession! Take those you see fit with you, and journey to the Realm of Twilight to retrieve it!”
Miranda nodded, her head bowed in respect.
~
Where are they? Miranda wondered, pacing the ground at the mouth of the Valley of Raye. She had just arrived at the spot she and her companions had agreed upon to meet to begin the trek, the late morning sky high over her head. They better get here soon.. We haven’t much time. They only had roughly three months to get there, and the dangers that could befall them were innumerable. Doubtless, the Goddess would send her Shadow fiends to slay them during the night, or her warriors, not to mention the lands they had to pass through were perilous to travel through. Bandits roamed free outside the Valley, and in the Oakpine Forest just ahead, their horses would feel ill at ease. Get here soon, or else I’m setting your lazy butts on fire. she growled to herself, her staff clutched in her hands. Her horse was a few feet away, waiting patiently to set off.
~
Alright then. In this RPG, the goal is to reach the Realm of Twilight, infiltrate the Temple of Night and stop the ceremony from taking place, ultimately retrieving the Sun Star. You have medieval weapons at your disposal, as well as magic for those who wish to wield it. The perils on the journey will be quite real, and all warriors or clerics are welcome, as well as trackers.
For those of you who do join, fit your character under one of these categories:
Magi/ Clerics (2) Kari, Emily
Magi Warriors (3) : bookwormgirl, Elazar, Risstalle
Warriors (3) : Adurna Shrrg, powerofhell, Israfel
Scouts (2) SMJ, IsidarMithrim,
Spies / Assassins (3) : Lady G, Loki84, Stormfire
This post has been edited by Kari&Gatomon: 19 October 2009 - 12:20 PM
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