Kidnapped! (Playground), RP Playground Options

[Uleni Athram]

Evil never dies. It simply evolves into another form of monstrosity. It's like a never ending tapeworm with one million faces that could transform into another million shapes, a repugnant and persistent predator that never stopped finding cracks to manifest itself. He always questioned himself how it could be done. How evil could finally be vanquished. The sheen of the wine glass, its shape made beautiful by the whispers of candlelight, gave him no answers for that, only a burning and shadowed reflection. He dug his eyes there, drinking deeply for visions as much as he did for relief an hour ago.

He let his eyes droop, and his calloused fingers massaged his wrinkling temple.

Times like these make him question whether he had the energy to lead. He was weary to the bone, and his world had no color anymore, only a distressing sepia of what ifs, could'ves and should'ves. When you run a marathon, and you see yourself run, run, run, there comes a time when you make a certain amount of distance.... when you make it further than you realized, you ask yourself if you could get a little bit of a breather. A little bit of a break.

He deserved it, didn't he? He survived the Crisis, didn't he? He fought against the baying hordes of Dagon and came out the triumphant one, didn't he?

The last thought broke all of his inhibitions and he roared a primal roar that bespoke of unending grief, inescapable confusion and unquenchable rage. With pitiable desperation he reached for the whole bottle instead of the glass, and gulped it all down, savoring the burning trail it made on his throat and chest.

He just turned 20 this morning and he already knew why men twice his age drank.

Damn the Crisis, damn the Daedra, damn the Dawn! Damn them all to a black, ancient void bereft of anything resembling hope! Damn them all!

With a surge of inner hatred and borrowed determination from the bottle, Aenius Gratian rose from his chair and stormed out of his tent-office hybrid, a gleam in his young but hardened eyes.
**

The Rebuilding of Kvatch, as was usual with anything associated with Imperial bureaucracy (particularly after a massive Crisis that left the Empire a bloody mess), was slow as a testudo formation on thin ice. The veterans, foremost among them the indomitable Savlian Matius, was busy in the Imperial City petitioning the Elder Council for real assistance, not promises that gets crucified the moment it leaves lips. The ones that were left for Kvatch's protection was mish-mash of hardened guardsmen and green horn recruits.

And they simply weren't enough to go around.

Thirty eight guardsmen tasked in the protection of several hundreds. It was head-bursting as much as it was laughable. It was fortunate that all of them were linked in this tragedy's aftermath and went beyond themselves to help each other; if it weren't, the guardsmen would simply be crushed under the pressure of protecting people several times their number. To help the beleaguered Watch, the civilians established an enclave of sorts, basing their headquarters in the collection of tents on the foot of Kvatch's hill. From his vantage point on the surrounding hills, the sun behind him, Acilius could see that there were several proper buildings erected there now, too. Probably halls of some kind where everyone would meet and gather around in.

Acilius memorized every detail and made notes.

He then joined the mass of humanity gathered there, on the lookout for the young Captain that was hiring mercenaries.

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OOC: Its been a while since I RP'ed, or wrote for that matter, and it shows. UGH! But anyway, let's do this!

[Darkness Eternal]

= Cardius =

A mystic archer, this one was. She did have a reputation before her. Winning a tournament is no small feat, and though she came second place, her use with the bow is something to respect and be weary of. He was content she was on his side instead of being against him. There was no room for animosity here.

She answered his reply with an unwavering yes. She was indeed going to Brittlerock cave and the reason was just as simple as the others: to refill the coin purse. Many folks were short on coin these days. Some were eager to look to make quick septims by working as freelance agents for personal gain. Cardius knew some who did it to get back at the Daedra. There were some who did it for both. To personally restore a lost home by taking the fight to the Dawn. In any case, the Mythic Dawn had trouble coming their way.

Cardius nodded at Buffy's question. "I'm here for Brittlerock," he said. "I am aware of the meeting. The Empire has already come to me for this task." He told her because he trusted her enough only because he remembered reports of certain people who helped fight the Daedric horde of Dagon. She was one of them. "I'm here for supplies."

He turned his head slightly to the side and stared at her with his pale eyes. "You can saw what draws a man like myself here are the Daedra. I've been fascinated by their kind, you see. I've studied them for many years now, and most of the cults who worship them." To balance his interest with concern for the people, he added, "I am here to protect Imperial interests and our future. The lad who was kidnapped can be a number of things; sacrifice, a lure to bring us to them or worse. It befalls people like me to do something about it. There is a chance that he is yet alive, and that he is privy to the Mythic Dawn's plans."

He locked his fingers together. "Dark days are these, Buffy. The Empire is crumbling. Perhaps when this is over you would like to work for the Vigilantes of Stendarr? If not to join you can aid them for funds should they be low again. We are in need of able-bodied men and women who can help against Daedra and the vampire menace."