☬ 25th of Glade, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Caliburn & Dimitri | Thoughts: We found it | Mood: Calm, Attentive
Company: Caliburn & Dimitri | Thoughts: We found it | Mood: Calm, Attentive
☬ All three mages continued to follow the path laid out for them on the map finding the little landmarks that allowed them to know they were on the right path. Soon the trail ended, evident by the trio of horses coming to a halt as they came o rest above a ridge that overlooked the abandoned temple the cultists were occupying. Commending the animal for a job well done, he dismounted the horse with help from Caliburn in the process of securing the beast to a nearby tree.
Dimitri & Caliburn crouched alongside Dante as they approached the ledge, which gave way to a large opening beyond a set of low-hanging trees hanging over the dilapidated building. All three men stared in amazement at the structure before them, the picture on the map matching what was in front of them, even at this distance.
"In all my years I never thought come this close to avenging my fallen friend." Caliburn murmured with anxiety in a hushed whisper, patting the vampyre and his protege on the back.
"Now that we found it, what do you wish to do sir?" Dimitri inquired, looking at his master, questioning eyes peering up at him at that moment. He could see the inquiry in his eyes, and the look he gave back to Dimitri allowed him to know the answer before the vampyre even said it.
Cervantez's expression was more of satisfaction, one a predator would have when finding the den of his long-awaited prey. This was long overdue, and he refused to miss this chance to crush them once and for all. "We observe, they must have some sort of patrol or lookouts around here." he noted, his eyes glowing bright red as his vitale was flooded with aether. Veracity kicked in, his vision coming to life as he peered down at the temple.
"One...two....three...four, four-man patrols on the ground near the entrance. Three sentries and archer teams on the roof and balcony. Two-man teams on patrol along the warped treeline" he said aloud. For the next hour, he would sit, watching them, learning their patterns. He ascertained that the guards change every hour, as he saw the faint changes in personnel before the faces started to repeat themselves.
Another hour into the steak out he learned how long it took for a guard patrol to walk the grounds, every thirty minutes, which allowed for two full revolutions around the base before the next guard patrol came in. Through his eyes of veracity, it appeared as if the only entrance was the front door. It would have meant any other means of getting in would be nothing short of a frontal assault. After witnessing what exactly they were up against, Dante began to formulate a plan.
Unfortunately, however, his Voracitied sense picked up on movement coming several feet from behind them. "Getting in won't be easy, the only way through is from the front. I do however have a plan for getting us inside though, as we have company coming up from behind us." he whispered, motioning for them to follow him. Once It was confirmed that a few cultists were coming, Dante gave a sign to hide.
The three of them waited till the cultist's backs were visible, and then sprung into action. One by one Dante, Dimitri, & Caliburn incapacitated a robed figure. Dante warned them not to kill them as they would need the robes intact in order to pull off his plan to infiltrate the hideout. "Now comes the fun part." he sneered, putting on the robe and accessories that came with the outfit of the cultists.
Once everyone was dressed, they took a moment to ensure their disguises were perfect, well as perfect as one could get them, and then made their way towards the temple complex. They had to leave their weapon behind as to not give themselves away. There was an ominous presence about it as they approached, a distinct feeling of dread and fear that emanated from the structure, no doubt from the many who were dragged here against their will and killed.
The thought made the vampyre's skin crawl, and eager to crush them even more. As they approached the entrance, they made an effort to keep their faces hidden, looking down and away from anyone who may have been at their front doors. Well, it was more than clear the cultists weren't all too concerned with their presence if they had even noticed three new figures entering their domain. Through the hood of the crimson robe, the vampyre watched their surroundings, looking at the ones around him.
He wasnt spectating them but studying their movements, following behind another group. The architecture on the inside of the temple was pristine, which contradicted the dilapidated outer appearance and would allow them to operate unnoticed. It was as if they were in some sort of palace, as he noticed the details of the materials used, but couldnt tell what kind of craftsmanship it was, and he could tell the technique was unknown to him. They would find themselves walking into the prayer room marveling at the carved wood with golden inlays.
Tall, vaulted ceilings, smooth columns, and rows of seating that seemed to spiral outward from the ornate throne and alter in the center. There were at least thirty or so members gathered including themselves, which coincided with what the assassin had detailed to them. His eyes watched as they came to stand side by side with other cultists, heads bowed as a woman spoke.
She tilted the goblet over as the blood that filled it spilled onto the gnarled carcass. It wasn't clear what she was pouring it on exactly but Dante used Voracity to see it, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the blade that was encapsulated within the decrepit corpse. Nothing seemed to happen as the entire room of cultists began to chant incoherent words as she did this. Caliburn was gripping his fist, fighting the urge to attack, almost giving in until Dante stopped him with a subtle grab of his hand.
It wasn't time to act just yet, as the Vampyre was almost certain this so called Messiah of theirs was in fact a vampyre as well. It intrigued him to think there were those even here in Kalzasi. Dante's refrainment from attacking, however. Turning to the crowd of her fellow cult members, she raised a hand.
"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
Dimitri & Caliburn crouched alongside Dante as they approached the ledge, which gave way to a large opening beyond a set of low-hanging trees hanging over the dilapidated building. All three men stared in amazement at the structure before them, the picture on the map matching what was in front of them, even at this distance.
"In all my years I never thought come this close to avenging my fallen friend." Caliburn murmured with anxiety in a hushed whisper, patting the vampyre and his protege on the back.
"Now that we found it, what do you wish to do sir?" Dimitri inquired, looking at his master, questioning eyes peering up at him at that moment. He could see the inquiry in his eyes, and the look he gave back to Dimitri allowed him to know the answer before the vampyre even said it.
Cervantez's expression was more of satisfaction, one a predator would have when finding the den of his long-awaited prey. This was long overdue, and he refused to miss this chance to crush them once and for all. "We observe, they must have some sort of patrol or lookouts around here." he noted, his eyes glowing bright red as his vitale was flooded with aether. Veracity kicked in, his vision coming to life as he peered down at the temple.
"One...two....three...four, four-man patrols on the ground near the entrance. Three sentries and archer teams on the roof and balcony. Two-man teams on patrol along the warped treeline" he said aloud. For the next hour, he would sit, watching them, learning their patterns. He ascertained that the guards change every hour, as he saw the faint changes in personnel before the faces started to repeat themselves.
Another hour into the steak out he learned how long it took for a guard patrol to walk the grounds, every thirty minutes, which allowed for two full revolutions around the base before the next guard patrol came in. Through his eyes of veracity, it appeared as if the only entrance was the front door. It would have meant any other means of getting in would be nothing short of a frontal assault. After witnessing what exactly they were up against, Dante began to formulate a plan.
Unfortunately, however, his Voracitied sense picked up on movement coming several feet from behind them. "Getting in won't be easy, the only way through is from the front. I do however have a plan for getting us inside though, as we have company coming up from behind us." he whispered, motioning for them to follow him. Once It was confirmed that a few cultists were coming, Dante gave a sign to hide.
The three of them waited till the cultist's backs were visible, and then sprung into action. One by one Dante, Dimitri, & Caliburn incapacitated a robed figure. Dante warned them not to kill them as they would need the robes intact in order to pull off his plan to infiltrate the hideout. "Now comes the fun part." he sneered, putting on the robe and accessories that came with the outfit of the cultists.
Once everyone was dressed, they took a moment to ensure their disguises were perfect, well as perfect as one could get them, and then made their way towards the temple complex. They had to leave their weapon behind as to not give themselves away. There was an ominous presence about it as they approached, a distinct feeling of dread and fear that emanated from the structure, no doubt from the many who were dragged here against their will and killed.
The thought made the vampyre's skin crawl, and eager to crush them even more. As they approached the entrance, they made an effort to keep their faces hidden, looking down and away from anyone who may have been at their front doors. Well, it was more than clear the cultists weren't all too concerned with their presence if they had even noticed three new figures entering their domain. Through the hood of the crimson robe, the vampyre watched their surroundings, looking at the ones around him.
He wasnt spectating them but studying their movements, following behind another group. The architecture on the inside of the temple was pristine, which contradicted the dilapidated outer appearance and would allow them to operate unnoticed. It was as if they were in some sort of palace, as he noticed the details of the materials used, but couldnt tell what kind of craftsmanship it was, and he could tell the technique was unknown to him. They would find themselves walking into the prayer room marveling at the carved wood with golden inlays.
Tall, vaulted ceilings, smooth columns, and rows of seating that seemed to spiral outward from the ornate throne and alter in the center. There were at least thirty or so members gathered including themselves, which coincided with what the assassin had detailed to them. His eyes watched as they came to stand side by side with other cultists, heads bowed as a woman spoke.
Her words echoed into their ears, the three of them watching as a group of elves was brought to the altar, the first of the sacrifices being laid on an ornate table of black stone. The raised a hand and an axe-wielding cultist approached, raising the weapon around the elven woman. He pleaded to be spared but her pleas fell silent as her head was taken from her mid cry. The heavy thud of her head hit the floor as the deranged woman held a goblet to catch the blood draining from the elven body. Walking over to the throne she held the chalice high above for all to see."Good evening and thank you to everyone who has come out to attend. I, as some of you may know, am Gabriela Traz, the current head of our little family. It has been left to me to continue the work of our great and illustrious leader, Master Saranthis. He believed that there is power in one's own blood, and through ancient magic, could bend the world and those around it to his will. He was to usher in a new age of prosperity for the deserving, for the chosen, for us his children and devoted followers.
His ambitions however were cut short by the Cult of Mending, fearing he would outmatch them in power as they struck our messiah down with his own sword no less. And so we gather here tonight as faithful in fellowship and such reverent devotion to the teachings of our founder. Tonight we feed our late master the elixir of life in hopes to feed the power that once made him great in hopes to fulfill his dying wish and walk among us again."
"With this first sacrifice we slate the thirst of our fallen messiah, in hopes that he will rise from the cold embrace of death and return to guide us once again!"
She tilted the goblet over as the blood that filled it spilled onto the gnarled carcass. It wasn't clear what she was pouring it on exactly but Dante used Voracity to see it, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the blade that was encapsulated within the decrepit corpse. Nothing seemed to happen as the entire room of cultists began to chant incoherent words as she did this. Caliburn was gripping his fist, fighting the urge to attack, almost giving in until Dante stopped him with a subtle grab of his hand.
It wasn't time to act just yet, as the Vampyre was almost certain this so called Messiah of theirs was in fact a vampyre as well. It intrigued him to think there were those even here in Kalzasi. Dante's refrainment from attacking, however. Turning to the crowd of her fellow cult members, she raised a hand.
A child, no older than maybe ten years of age came to the forefront, and that was the last straw the vampyre could take. Placing the young boy on the table, the executioner raised his axe high. ☬"Bring forth the next sacrifice!"
"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
