In Darkness I Cannot Find My Way: Samheen 23rd (closed)

[Shaeliana]

OOC: It has been a long while, but what do you think about seeing if we can finish this?


IC:
As Amica knelt before the large cat, sharing visions of her home, the purple eyes held hers intently. Alive with intelligence, they studied the young woman of the sands blinking only once. The shaman's ruminations had only just stopped when thoughts not her own flooded her mind.

Scenes of a verdant jungle, wet and green filled her thoughts and a peaceful people who thrived on the shady floor of the jungle in connection to the tall regal felines. Among the people, some young females were matched to the intelligent cats and became inseparable pairs.

High above, a different people inhabited the canopy of the forest, building houses in the trees out of the reach of the race of cats. Violent, the males raided the floor of the forest taking not only food but artifacts from the cat people, often kidnapping young females and taking them as slaves.

The pictures portraying these events flashed quickly through Amica's mind and as they came to an end, Tahnne moaned. The dark feline merely blinked in response to the shaman's question about the young woman wrapped in the fur, then lowered its head and nuzzled the waking woman whose arms reached out to embrace the cats neck with a soft sob. "Bretthais", the girl almost purred softly, the sigh of relief obvious to any near enough to hear though she seemed oblivious to anyone else around her, still swaddled in the fur.

Meanwhile, some distance away and unaware of the interchange between Amica, the cat and the girl, Andolin stood lost in his own musings and daydreams. Blue flashes in the darkness above their heads increased as his thoughts came to life about him, the dark room suddenly filling with adoring subjects clamoring for his attention as he sat upon the hard, over-sized throne. Alas, only moments later, the visions dancing through Rosalie's thoughts sprang to life and the form of Balthasar, King of the West, materialized before Andolin with a frown.

"What's this brazeness? Who are you and why are you on my throne?" he bellowed. "Guards!" he commanded as he stepped forward towards Andolin.

Behind Brother Coyote and his new adversary, as Rosalie left Gavin's ministrations and moved towards the thrones, three round marbel pedestals glided up out of a circle dais cut from the floor. About waist high to the average human male, the pedestal in the back was about a handsbreath higher than the two in front and each had three arched metal arms afixed atop them as if they were designed to hold something. The taller pedestal was a soft lavendar in coloring, while the two in the front were a soft golden yellow on the right and a soft green on the left.

The orb in Rosalie's hands began to throb slightly as she approached the small dais of pedestals. Behind her, Gavin, Amica and Tahnne were swallowed up in the crowds of followers, some loyal to Andolin, others to Balthasar. Gasps of surprise from the crowd soon segued into angry shouts and demands.

[Rosalie Marcada]

Oops Rosalie thought but did not dismiss the king from her mind, amused to see how Black Knight would deal with this situation. He might be afraid but somehow she doubted it. Arrogant to a fault. Rose made sure the king could not see her face, hiding beneath a floppy Condotierre hat. Even in her dreams she did not want to be caught in inappropriate clothing by one of such an exalted rank.

The crystal throbbed in her hands and she felt obsessed by it, her amber eyes focused on what lay ahead. Looking from the yellow of the orb in her hand to the color of the pedestal, Rose arched an eyebrow. "Now that is hardly coincidence," she murmurred. Not in the mood to wait, and feeling in haste because no doubt the Hunter would return soon, Rosalie moved forward and put the yellow crystal on the pedestal of the same coloring. "Two more orbs we need," she called back while her eyes remained fixed on the orb as she stepped back "A green one, and a lavender one. The lavender one is likely big. This is some kind of magick."

She turned towards King Baltashar, dropping in a flamboyant bow with just enough leg for flair such as she'd seen both Kaspar and Ramius do, taking off her hat with the large white plumfeather. Ignoring the chaos that was ensuing she asked in her low hoarse voice that perhaps could be mistaken for a man "Por favore, Your Highness, it is vital we find the crystals. You wouldn't perchance in your infinite wisdom know aught of them?" The hat quickly returned to her head, hoping to hide her female identity, a tabard of the Condotierre dress uniform quick to cover her white shirt that might show nice curves. Balthasar was a figment of the Hunter of course, but perhaps he could be tricked in revealing some details.

[Gavin Tylvan]

As Amica spoke Gavin first beheld the cat. Edging closer for a better look, he stared in amazement at the graceful creature before him. It's eyes held his attention and he could not help and approached the trio slowly. Crouching a couple of paces away, he watched the exchange, listening to the words of the desert woman. She appeared in conversation with the cat and they were discussing Tahnne. They are trying to help. To wake her up. To make her better.

It worked and the woman recovered, moving of her own volition once more. Holding the cat to her, Gavin was pleased to hear her voice and see her recover. No matter the fact that he did not trust her still fully, he was glad for her recovery. Opening his mouth to say something, he suddenly found himself surrounded by a crowd of people. Damn. Here we go again. Once more our mind wander and we are forced to endure. Pushing his way through the crowd to Amica the tall man placed a hand to her shoulder.

"Get up. We need to move." Balthasar's voice rose over the crowd and the tall man stood on tip toes and beheld Coyote upon the throne. Ducking low, he tried to go over their options. Their powers were vast here and while he could use his imagination to kill an main, he had no wish to do so. There was no way he could kill them all in an instant and even though it would be impossible to trace the assault to him, he did not want to risk it. A brief thought of transporting himself to the other side of the hall and near the exit, was appealing, but he dismissed her quickly. He was not about to leave these people, and he seriously doubted that Tahnne knew of the powers she had in this place.

Pulling the sword out with one fluid motion, the tall man stood with back turned to the shamaness and the jungle girl. "Let's go. Get Tahnne up. Coyote is in trouble and I don't see Rosalie. We make for that passage. If the trouble starts I'll imagine myself next to the masked one and try to help. But, we need to move. Now." There was no denying the sense of urgency in his voice. He meant what he said. His face set in determination, the Dortman waved his blade at those that stood between him and the wall and growled a single word. "Move." His eyes betrayed what would happen if they did not comply and the sword he held provided a means to do so. To stand in his way meant death. Casting one last look at Amica he took a step forward fully expecting for the people to part, but prepared to carve a bloody path if he needed. "Come on. No time to waste."

[Amica]

There would be a tail made of bound leather straps, and leg chaps from tanned goat pelts held up with cords to a broad belt. A simple hide of fur draped over her shoulders, and above this was a mask featuring two high, pointed ears that fixed forward with a hunter's attention. The face of the mask featured a short, shapely muzzle, and from this several long, thin whiskers poked out to either side. Arm wraps made of tan skins reached down to the back of the hand, and rose up to be tied close around the upper arm. It was the kachina of Cat, though Cat was so well-known by so very many tribes that He had many, many names...including among them Cougar, Lion of the Mountain, Panther, Catamount, Painter, Ghost Cat, Mountain Screamer, Lynx, and King Cat...and without conscious thought, Amica imagined this very costume upon her even now.

Regardless of how He might be called, there were precious few hunters of the desert that claimed a higher place among hunters than Cat. While the Cat Spirit known as Bretthais looked very different from the Cats of her homeland, there also seemed to be a great difference in the role of such Cats here in his jungle...as if Cat walked alongside Man for the benefit of both. Such a thing would not be unreasonable, for the People of her own homeland had Horse, Ox, Goat, and the like (though Camel also served the tribes, He was brought by the guarrdi to serve the wetlander before He would serve the People).

Pulled out of her thoughtful reverie by Gavin's warning, Amica glanced back at the chamber in astonishment...the crowds of people present clearly shocked and concerned her far more than the appearance of the ghostly cat...before she nodded once to the warrior and reached down to the woman wrapped in the fur of a very special cat. "Tahnne, we must move else we will be trapped," proclaimed Ami, though she had not seen the double doors leading out of the chamber earlier and so she knew not where they might go save back from which they came. She could not see Rosalie Lo Russo or Coyote, and she did not hear or attend to Rosalie's discovery. Amica was too busy commanding the jungle woman to her feet. "Tahnne, you must reach up to me and rise that we might flee!"

Amica would reach down toward Tahnne to lift her up once more, though she would keep a watchful eye upon the ghostly cat named Bretthais as she did. If she would rise, Amica would escort the girl after Gavin as quickly as she might, her own spear casually held in her free hand. It was likely that Ghost Cat knew something of this place...and so she must attend to Him in case He would try to show her some of what He knew.

[Andolin]

It was a pleased smile that found its way onto Coyote's face as the adoring throng appeared and paid honor to him. As if to spoil everything, that blasted Balthasar made an appearance. Who is he to interfere here?

In his confidence and arrogance, the Black knight was not about to back down. His flaming sword burned brightly in his hand. "You are no king here. You are a guest. I am lord here, and if you do not act civilized, I shall see you arrested." He glanced to nearby guards to see that they would enforce his will.

He paid no heed to the rest of his party, as the enemy king was too close for comfort. With his natural confident demeanor, the Coyote sought to demonstrate a coolness in dealing with the Western upstart. When one projected power, one needed to seem quite comfortable with it. Yet, just in case, his flaming sword was at the ready. This was a dark place after all.

It was only then that he heard Rosalie ask something about orbs. What in the world was she seeking? Could she not see that there was a confrontation here?

[Shaeliana]

Drawing himself up to stand perfectly erect, the handsome curly haired King of the Western lands laughed at Andolin as his guards stood nose to nose with those conjured by Brother Coyote. The tension in the air was palatable as if at the slightest provocation, forces from either side might launch into battle. Behind the quarreling men, the crowds continued hurling their verbal protests.

"Your throne, is it?" Balthasar sneered. "Tell us, who is it that hides behind that mask of black darkness? Come now, show yourself so we can see who lays claim to the throne with my seal upon it," though any examination of the throne would show no seal at all.

Within the crowd of anxious people, each yelling in support of their own monarch while the two men argued between themselves, Amica helped Tahnne to her feet even as she clothed herself in the kachina of the Cat. For all she had been through, Tahnne seemed healthy and strong enough, though her nakedness in the cold was a hindrance, especially bare feet against the biting iciness of the stone floor.

"I stand and walk well enough," the lithe woman winced as her feet contacted the floor and she drew the fur around her body to cover it. Next to her, the sleek black cat purred loudly and stepped through the shivering girl so that Tahnne's feet stood atop the cat's front paws and the shivering stopped as a smile spread across the woman's face.

Across the crowd, isolated from the others and unheard because of the din of voice screaming, Rosalie moved to the dais and set the glowing yellow orb atop the three pronged holder. As it touched the setting, the prongs opened up and the yellow sphere floated down into the setting as the prongs, now gold in color, closed over it to hold it in place. As if meant to be seated there, the orb began to glow more brightly.

"You did not leave me to my death," Tahnne said softly, leaning into Amica as they began to follow Gavin through the crowd towards Rosalie and the dais. The masses parted readily as Gavin pushed through, sword first. "You are not of the forest, Braitthas tells me," Tahnne continued as they walked. "Grateful am I that the gods brought you here. My life is...," she broke off as a scream caught everyone's attention, bringing the roar of voices to an almost standstill just as the trio reached the bottom of the steps leading up to the thrones.

"WITCH! She's a witch! I saw it... saw her!" a female voice screeched in terror pointing at Rosalie. With a gasp of horror, the crowds drew back away from the glowing orb and the mouthie woman standing beside it.

"She made the metal move like it was cording," the mousey brown haired woman bellowed. I saw it! Look at it shining there... like the sun!"

"WITCH! WITCH! WITCH!" the crowd took up the call.

"HANG HER!"

"NO! BURN HER!"

"KILL THE WITCH!" and the crowds began to close in on Rosalie, now totally mindless of the battle of the two kings over the throne.

[Rosalie Marcada]

"Vaffanculo!" Rosalie cursed loudly as the crowd started advancing on her, staggering back "STOP, stupid caffones, can't you see? It is the Hunter setting us up. EMPTY YOUR MINDS. Have you all forgotten everything?"

Glaring at where Black Knight was being useless while she was attacked, glorifying in his own power Rose couldn't help but taunt "You said you wanted to be out of here. Lets move. Two more orbs, signore Mysterious, and we can dismiss all these figments of our imagnition.. unless you'd rather stay here?"

[Gavin Tylvan]

Slowly, Gavin moved towards the wall. The fact that they parted before him was a relief. Oh, he would have no problem killing any number of those within, since they were phantasms anyhow, but still it would fell like he was killing people. They looked like people, they talked like people, they even acted like people. And through these people he was making his way back towards the hallway they came through. He planned to reach the wall and then to lead them around the chamber to that other passageway. He would feel safer if he had a wall on one side as they made their way.

He just turned to tell his plan to Amica and Tahnne when the scream ripped the air. Taking a step back, he literally tried to push the shamaness and the jungle girl towards the passageway. It was simple. He would get there. And Amica and Tahnne too. If he had to, he would cut a bloody swath through the people and to Nether what they looked like. Nothing would stop him. Rosalie was in danger, but he could not help all three. She would have to manage until he got the other two women to safety. And that he would do no matter what. Pushing through, he cast an occasional glance to where Mouthie was, cursing under his breath. Come on now. Just a few more steps.

[Andolin]

As usual, Rosalie was ruining his fun. He had no idea what she meant by orbs, but he supposed that their primary mission was escaping from this dark fortress and slaying the creature that ruled it.

As such, he willed away the people in the throne room that he had summoned with his own grandoise dreams. He supposed that it was better than arguing about witches in this dark place. It was Andolin's hope that all would disappear so that he could turn his attention to Rosalie and what she was yelling about.

[Shaeliana]

As Yin pushed the curtain aside and the pair stepped out onto the platform, the clamor of the crowds assailed their ears, drowning out any normal conversation between the two. Voices shouting "WITCH" in unison, could be made out among the general roar of anger.

Yin and Alexandra were standing only about ten steps from the thrones, and thus the face of Balthasar, ruler of the Western Kingdom, was clearly visible to them. The golden haired king was aggressively addressing someone or something which, seated upon the throne, was hidden from the duo as was whatever seemed to be causing the commotion at the bottom of the platform's steps.

The chorus of "WITCH" was growing in volume and strength as more and more took up the cry. By now there was a growing sense of mass hysteria as those further back in the crowd took up the cry without knowing what they were protesting.

Overpowered by the deafening roar around her, Rosalie's words reached no ears but her own and even then she could barely hear herself. Behind her, hands grabbed her arms and shoulders as the crowd began to roughly pull and tear at her, some pulling one way while others pulled the opposite direction.

Completely enthralled by the hysteria, the crowds ignored Gavin, Amica, Tahnne and the ghost cat though the bodies were so close together, the trio had to press through, making progress slow. Suddenly, about halfway to the door, the crowd dissipated by nearly half as Coyote dismissed his imagined worshippers.

On the platform, the Black Knight's guards disappeared in a blink as the ruler of the Western Kingdom stepped forward and drew his sword. The soft swish of the metal against leather was drowned in the roar of the crowd, but nothing hid the flash of the cold metal as it whipped around, the tip now pointing at Coyote's neck.

"You shall die for your insolence, dog!" Balthsar shouted, his voice somehow louder than that of the screaming crowd.


The din of voices was reduced, but not their vehemence. Those left began to drag Rosalie back into the throng of people that were left.


OOC: Yin and Alexandra's thread has once again merged with this one.

[Gavin Tylvan]

Gavin shouldered his way forward, making sure the people stayed away. Fists and elbows were used extensively, as well as an occasional knee to in the right spot. Still the progress was slow and the big man pondered using the sword on someone to instill proper respect. Such, dark thoughts were quickly dispelled, as the crowd dissipated suddenly. Pausing for a flicker, he let the girls pass and only then managed to see how nasty the situation was. "Go, into the passage. I'll right behind you." Urging Amica onward, he tilted his head to one side and took a deep breath. Here we go again.

The sword rose into the air, as Gavin stood poised to strike. There was no way he could make it to Black Knight in time, so with a growl he used the powers of that place. Shutting his eyes for but a flicker, the tall warrior imagined himself behind the man holding the sword to Coyote's throat and prepared to swing if it was successful. Should he manage to shift his position like he intended, the sword would be brought to the point where Balthasar's neck met his shoulder. Putting as much force as he could behind the bow, it was Gavin's intent to cripple his sword arm and kill him in one go.

[Yin Lorin]

Yin was shocked at what he saw. His king was there before the throne, and pointing his sword at whoever was sitting there. “My King?” He said quickly and knelt to one knee. He bowed his head but only briefly before looking up and taking in what else was going on. His sword was already out and he stepped deeper into the room, keeping hold of Alex’s hand.

He tried to move around to see who or what was on the throne. He looked at Roselie, “Let the woman be, she is not going anyplace, if she is a witch then the King will deal with her.” It was not the place of the masses to judge, not that sort of judgment. He tried to speak with some command, hopefully the crowd was easily cowed by a man with a sword, or at least boy.

[Alexandrya L`handriel]

Large eyes were bright with horror, while she watched the drama unfolding before her. She heard a golden haired man yelling towards someone that sat on the throne and the shouting of someone called out as a 'Witch'. "Yin..No...I do not want to..." Her words were swallowed up by the crowd as Yin pulled her along.

Protect the orb, was the only thought that ran through her mind as she held onto the lavender orb. Unfortunately, Yin dragged her along to assist what he believed was his king. "Let go!" She cried out as she twisted her hand to extricate her own hand from Yin.

Alexandrya looked upon the King, and then noticed Rosalie being torn apart by the smaller crowd of people that were calling her a witch. What did she do? Her eyes had a glimpse of Gavin in the crowd, with their other companions and...They found her!

She did not like this place at all. "The people", are they real or the same as what they had witnessed at the banquet. "Protect us." She murmured softly to the orb. "Please protect us from the darkness that wishes to harm us."

[Andolin]

It seemed that Andolin did not control all the persons in the throne room. When he wished them away, many remained behind … including Balthasar. It seemed as if they were the figments of the mind of another dreamwalker. Rosalie! Not waiting to chide Rosalie for her recklessness, Andolin sought to strike first. He needed to slay Balthasar quickly, with his flaming sword, before the other King could react.

First he sought to surprise the boy king by uttering "mercy" as if in supplication. The man was supposed to be religious after all. It was intended to lull the illusionary man to his doom.

As he made to bow, he imagined himself closer to Balthasar but to the side of his sword. Instead of drawing his flaming sword, Andolin imagined it already in his hand and he drove it upwards so that he could impale this illusion on the point of his burning sword. Only then could he envision himself across the room away from harm. In the last instant before his strike, it seemed as if Gavin appeared behind the King. It did nothing to dissuade Andolin from his deadly strike, his shield lifting to defend himself in that same moment. With luck, Rosalie would rescue herself and dispel the mob at the same time.

[Amica]

Under more ideal circumstances, Amica might have been more aware and perhaps helpful to Coyote and Rosalie Lo Russo...but given the situation at hand, she could see very little. The crowd bothered Amica in a way few things did, their cries of witchcraft and persecution not uncommon to her ears (for it was not unusual that a wetlander should label a shaman as a witch) and certainly not welcome. Crouched down beside ghost cat and holding Tahnne upright, Amica followed behind Gavin, her eyes darting around at the people nearby with a mixture of apprehension and suspicion. Any one of them might be Black Beast in disguise. Could they not be Black Beast in disguise? Which are real and which are illusion? And who summoned this illusion? I do not have this memory...

Gavin's path was not one she expected, leading her first back towards where they entered, then along one wall towards the next exit...and the next chamber, no doubt. She didn't offer any words...she hadn't the breath for it...but she was quite pleased to keep the wall close to hand as well and quite anxious to be away from so many angry guarrdi. They are not real. But that does not mean they cannot kill. I must remember the first tapestry, wherein the prey were herded to the predator.

When Gavin turned at the sound of Black Knight, Amica turned to inspect what was amiss within the room but she did not stop, pulling Tahnne along to remove her from the chamber entirely. There would be no time to inspect the exit carefully, but she would spare a glance to see how her comrades did and...if she could...perhaps she might help.

[Rosalie Marcada]

Oh-oh, thought Rosalie as she saw Balthasar put his sword to the throath of Black Knight, This is getting a bit to real. She knew full well that she had summoned the king. It was a childhood fantasy about being swept up in the arms of a prince charming. Abruptly Rosalie, while being turn assunder by the angry mob, tried to empty her mind of all princes and knights and any black hunters hiding within, closing her eyes a moment. I hope he takes this crowd with him. Nice ass though. Poor Rosalie was still a bit driven by this forbidden passion that almost made her give in earlier.

The lady in Condotierre dress uniform turned her head to see where Gavin and Amica were. She did not find them but instead saw Yin kneeling with Alexandrya right behind him. Her amber eyes widened when she saw the lavender orb "Over here," she called "Sir Yin, milady.. the orb!"

[Shaeliana]

It is amazing how slowly time seems to creep in the midst of a crisis to those involved in the emergency, how time and actions seem to slow down drastically. Such was the case now as so many things came together in the space of a burn.

A burn that felt more like a mark to Rosalie as the crowd yanked her off her feet and hoisted her to their shoulders as a gallows and bonfire appeared to the right of the throne platform. Screams of "Hang the witch!" were interspersed with shouts, "Burn her! Burn her!" while the Mouthie worked to empty her mind, a task she found difficult given the hands roughly transporting her towards the gallows. Some of the screaming crowd did blink out of existence, sending Rosalie crashing to the floor on her bottom as two under her disappeared. However, it wasn't enough and those that were left still gripped her arms, dragging the Mouthie emissary towards her death.

Rosalie's admiration of her King didn't help matters, however she was no longer the only "believer" in this vision. Yin moved forward, leaving the resistant Alexandra behind, and knelt before Balthasar, his King and sovereign. The paladin's knee had only just touched the ground when Gavin appeared behind the young king, sword poised ready to behead the monarch while the Black Knight begged mercy as he drew his own sword which burned red and orange with flames. It was enough to draw the blonde curly headed ruler's attention long enough for Gavin's sword to find it's mark, cleanly slicing through Balthasar's neck with a sick wet thunk.

The head dropped to the floor as Yin stood to address the crowd that had control of Rosalie. Sadly, the number of screaming citizens was sufficient to mask the young paladin's words to all but the closest who simply ignored him. Only the severed head paid Yin attention, shouting, "Help me Paladin! By Dominicus, you are sworn to my protection!"

However, the now headless body did not fall but stood with sword still poised at the Black Knight's neck even as the man drew the flaming sword, ready to use it in defense of his life.

On the platform, Alexandra watched the surreal events play out before her, saw Rosalie mouthing and motioning towards her, but could not hear her words over the crowd. On the throne sat Coyote, before him the Western King and behind him Gavin who swung rapidly. At the bottom of the steps leading up to the throne sat the dais with three pedestals, one yellow, one green and one lavender. A glowing golden orb sat on the yellow pedestal and the crowd now avoided the glow, taking care to stay outside the light's perimeter.

Meanwhile, unnoticed and unhampered, Amica managed to move Tahnne and the ghost cat out into the empty hallway, the echoes of shouts much dimmer here. Above them, the blue lights flickered rapidly in the dark ceiling. "Will we flee for our lives and leave the others to perish?" the lithe blonde asked Amica.

[Yin Lorin]

Yin looked back at Alex, then to the head of his king. She pulled away, she had not done so the whole time they were together alone in this place. His mother always said women have a sense about people. He had to keep a clear mind, and perhaps she saw something he did not, she was holding the orb after all. Perhaps this was not his king. This place was given to lies, and Balthazar would not die so easily. The man was almost a god, almost, but of course he could never be one.

He was never sworn to protect the king. He had never even met the king, the closest he got was when he was protecting Miri, and even then, he was sworn to protect the church. His calling had always been to enforce the will of the church. “The Kingstone Knights are your protectors, my king. I am not in this order, but in the Order of the One.” He said to the severed head. “If it is Dominicus’ will you should die, I cannot stop it.” He looked at the flaming sword, and at the one that killed him from behind. “I can see that the honor of those who did the killing boarder on murder, and give no chance to defend himself. Perhaps honor and justice are not a thing pagans are burdened with.”

He did not have time to bother with them, a woman was in trouble, and no one seemed to be lifting a finger to stop it. “Alex, get the orb to the stand, it is clear that is where it goes, and stay in the light.” He dashed for the crowd of people, his sword out and ready to hack into their dark flesh. “Let go of the woman.” He shouted at them as he started to cut into the crowd. His blade was seeking to maim and wound the people, put them down, but not to kill outright. He wanted to make a path to Rosalie, she may be spoiled and have made some wrong choices, but she should not have to die, let alone in a place like this, they had no right to judge her. If she was a witch, she would be judged in a church, or someplace light and understanding could be used to make the judgment.

[Gavin Tylvan]

Sadly for Yin, Gavin did not wait much. While he had a way with words, he was more a man of action and this was a his natural state. Balthasar was threatening an ally and Gavin could not risk injury to the Black Knight. As such his attack, while dishonorable and perhaps cowardly was justified. He was from Islay and there were no rules you had to follow in a fight. Win or lose, those were the only two things that mattered. Balthasar was beheaded and thus he lost. Still, it was not over yet.

To counter that, Gavin moved swiftly, not truly registering Yin words. Taking a single step to the side, he brought his sword about, letting the momentum of the beheading strike carry it over his head. And brought it down towards the headless monarch's sword arm, fully intent to chop it off and effectively disarm him. He waited only till the moment the sword connected with the flesh or missed outright. Rosalie needed his help and he could not linger for long. Surely, the Coyote could handle a headless man without an arm.

Letting the sword sweep past his left leg, the tall man let it swing him about, before he rushed to the aid of a dark haired girl. His swings were savage and he did not even try to pretend he wanted to spare any lives. All of those were simply constructs of the Dark Beast's doing. A growl rumbled in Dortman's throat, slowly growing into a wordless cry of anger, his blade used to cut a bloody swath through the people, his only aim to free Rosalie. If he put any finesse to his sword blows it was to avoid hurt to her and Yin the others were simply cut down.

[Amica]

"We do not," replied Amica in her customary, almost monotonous tone. It hadn't occurred to her to abandon the Dream Warriors, but the question was not inappropriate. If she were in the waking world, she would not hesitate to find a safe place and stay away from the coming riot, for this was a guarrdi concern...and it might be better left in the hands of the guarrdi.

Despite this, Amica had no intentions of leaving. It was little more than another fabrication of Black Beast...unreal and indistinct, but still very lethal if they were foolish. And it seemed a fine place for Black Beast to meet them at last, for was there no better place for him to hide among them than in the great mob of people all around? "You must wait here, where you might regain your strength in safety. Cat will watch you," declared Amica, glancing over at the ghostly vision of Cat as she spoke. She spread the tunic of her Cat Katsina upon the floor below before she settled Tahnne upon it, a design meant to protect her from the worst of the floor's freeze.

Turning, Amica inspected the chamber more carefully now. There was violence now, with Gavin, Black Knight and Yin under arms to help Rosalie. The quiet woman carried another orb...a lavender one...much like the yellow one Rosalie had brought. Curiously, none of the countless rioters in the room could stand to be near Yellow Orb's light, as if it were a great discomfort to them. The orbs give Black Beast's minions to fail? We must find them all, she thought, glancing over at Alex's orb once more. What was needed was a third orb...one to place in the green holder, that they might all be in place.

"I must help to find the Green Stone. It will be as like the one Rosalie Lo Russo carried...and it will glow green like the jungle. Do you know of such a stone, Bretthias? Tahnne?" she asked, glancing behind her at her charges once more as she readied her spear Annuire.

[Alexandrya L`handriel]

As the events unfolded before her, Alexandrya blinked with how chaotic it was. Amidst the yelling, chanting and screaming of the crowd, she heard Yin's voice calling to her about the orb. Her eyes noticed the pedestals of yellow, green and lavender.

The people clawing at the Mouthy woman reminded her of the vines that had attacked both her and Yin. She looked upon the pedestal and then Rosalie but wondered if it would help the woman in trouble more if it was brought to them, the lavender light given to touch the evil creatures that existed in this world.

She sighed softly and instead headed to the pedestal to place the lavender orb upon its rightful place. As Alexandrya waited for the effects of the new orb, soft thoughts were formed. The green one still needs to be found.

[Andolin]

Quite the unnatural scene before him, Andolin smirked as Balthasar lost his head to Gavin's sword. The fact that it did little to remove the sword at his throat caused Andolin to imagine himself behind the throne, rather than seated upon it. That would leave only the throne vulnerable to Balthasar's swordpoint.

It was Rosalie that next required aid, assuming that the big man would finish off the blond, headless King. There was a crowd around Rosalie. He supposed he could wade into their midst, slaughtering as he went. Instead, he summoned, in his mind, a squad of his loyal guardsmen back. "Free and protect the woman Rosalie, disperse the crowd," he ordered them, pointing at Rosalie. "And leave the giant man alone. He is loyal." He pointed to Gavin to be sure they understood. Why use two hands when ten would do better?

[Shaeliana]

Away from the chaos, the hall where Amica took the blonde woman of the jungle was peaceful and quiet. Tahnne nodded at the desert woman's words.

"I saw such a thing. Green and cool it shone like sunlight in the wells of Batahn. Beyond the room of torture where you found me, down the tunnels behind the door."

"Careful youngling," large soft violet eyes looked up at Amica. "Something behind that door stops me. I cannot see or go beyond it. I fear great danger waits on the other side."

Inside the huge chamber, insanity reigned. Glaring up at Yin, the disembodied head raged, "I AM DOMINCUS! To serve the church is to serve ME! Kill them all!" At the same flicker, Gavin's sword cleanly severed the offending arm of the western ruler from his body just as the Black Knight disappeared, taking up his position behind the now blood sprayed thrones. The head of Balthazar continued to bellow, changing to obscenities as Yin raced into the crowd of people, followed closely by Gavin.

It was not so easy however. The crowds were agitated and the maiming slices of Yin only served to make them more angry. Almost in unison, they turned on the young paladin. Furthermore, like the king who was now in several pieces before the thrones, the wounds seemed to have little effect as a dozen or more surrounded Yin, pummeling him with hammers and slicing at him with daggers. One lucky dagger took him on the cheek, cutting a long shallow gash that bleed freely.

Meanwhile, Gavin's savage attacks disabled the crowd, but still did not kill them. As he hacked his way through, fallen bodies grabbed hold of his legs, slowing him down as more and more latched on. Headed towards the big man's aid, the Black Knight's imagined guards lept off the platform and began to work their way through the masses, meeting with much the same problems, slowing their progress considerably.

By now, the hysterical crowd had carried Rosalie to the area of execution, some pulling her towards the fire while others yanked her towards the gallows.

"Witches should BURN!" screamed the one side while the other countered with "WE want to see her HANGED!" each side yanking on the Mouthie dignitary's arms so hard they threatened to come out of their sockets.

In the midst of the chaos, Alexandra stood with the lavender orb glowing softly in her hands. It wasn't clear where he had come from. Alexandra had not seem him arrive. He was simply there. No one else could see him, the tall dark haired, strikingly handsome man, his tanned skin accented by the stark white of the silk shirt he wore. Dark pants hugged well formed thighs and shiny black boots completed the dashing picture.

"M'lady," he beamed an almost enchanting smile at the achadhiel. "Allow me to help you with that," he offered, his deep voice silky smooth and seductive as he held out his hand towards her.

[Alexandrya L`handriel]

A gasp escaped Alexandrya's lips as she heard someone address her. Where did he come from? She looked surprised as she took in the appearance of the very handsome man with the dark hair. He was dressed as if he was going to a ball. He drew closer to her and she hesitated. "H-help me with what?" She murmured softly as she blinked in surprise.

She did not recognise him as any of the people that she had started this adventure with. She did not advance forward, nor did she let up on her grip upon the lavender orb. It was left for her to guard. Even though the handsome man did cause the silver-haired achadhiel to stare at him and blush at his attentions, her duty was not forgotten. "No, sir, I..." He held out his hand for her to offer, but still she hesitated. Another trick of my mind? Like the creature that had asked her to dance... "I am quite capable of doing things on my own." She said a bit more firmly and had moved the orb's light to fall across the tempting man's path.

[Gavin Tylvan]

No matter how much he hated using dream powers, it seemed as if there was no other way to solve this. The feel of limbs being hacked off and apparitions falling all around the tall man was not something he appreciated. Even though he knew those were not real people, it still did not feel right. Even though they refused to die and kept grabbing him as he tried to reach the Mouthie girl, it was still unsettling. With one final horizontal slash the Dortman sought to clean the immediate surroundings of people, before his eyes focused on the poor girl being dragged away. Fearing that the panic gripped her now, and knowing that not even his voice would carry to her over the din of the crowd, he needed to set her free fast.

Closing his eyes for just a flicker, he attempted to will himself to appear as close to the girl as he could, hoping to leave the grasping limbs of the fallen behind him. Two savage slashes to hack off the hands that pulled Rosalie either way, were his intention. He would try to keep her unhurt, but right now he was much more interested in setting her free for at least a flicker. Should he succeed, it was his intention to pull her close and whisper. "Use your mind and run." Then he would turn back and try to keep the crowd away until either he was overwhelmed or she managed to will herself out of harm's way.