[SRP] Demons of Watchwood Forest

[Alissa of Someday]

The man smiles, and seems to relax slightly in his chair, giving a nod.

"Then I am assured we'll have no fools taking bribes in our midst."

[Blaze]

A small grin crossed Jame's face.

Hmm... being let into the treasury? i could steal from it and become the greatest thief in history!

[Brnin8r]

While Trey was intrigued by the treasure and its location, he remained stoic in the face of everyone's banter. He didn't come to be bought by anything, nor did he come to listen to the bidding war going on. He needed to know what they were to do about this threat.

[Knight Errant]

"Now... if your all quite done I will begin."

Arleigh pauses, gathering his thoughts, then continues. "The spirits have always dwelled within Watchwood. It is a place where the lines between this world and the world beyond are weak. Spirits of the earth, air, water, fire... as well as the souls of the dead slip through to our world. These are mostly benign. But also the weakness allows darker things to pass through... shades born of the baser emotions of mankind. Lust, anger, greed... these spirits as well slip through."

"Neither kind of spirit has a body of its own. But while the elementals would whisper, or form bodies for themselves from their element, the dark spirits crave bodies made from flesh. They will seek them out... and warp them to suit their needs. It is said that a strong will can resist them... so more often than not they seek out animals to possess. Though a possessed human is much more dangerous."

"The dark spirits were always a threat, but they have one great weakness. Light banishes them back to the void. Though it is said the longer they possess a form, the more anchored they become to this world. The bear demon Ozoth was said to roam about in broad daylight, slaughtering entire towns at his whim." He pauses, sighing. "They keep to the deep forests during the day, where the sun dose not reach. But now... an attack in broad daylight, an unprecedented surge in dark spirits... something must be behind it all. But... we are at a loss."

He looks up. "You must find out what is causing this, and how to stop it. Before my kingdom is torn apart by these dark beings."

[Brnin8r]

Trey nodded. He didn't like the idea of the corrupt nature spirits wandering about in watchwood...but he was told even by the higher priests that to eliminate them all would sap resources they didn't have. Perhaps he'd cover both bases in this crusade, a strike at both demon and spirit alike. "Have wizards or clerics deduced anything more from investigations or are we to be the first to go up against these new demons?"

[Blaze]

James nodded.

The risk is great, but the reward is greater.

[Knight Errant]

The king looks to Trey and smiles sadly. "Wizards and clerics are lost when it comes to Watchwood. We have few native born wizards, and even less clerics. What we know comes mostly from what I have discovered with my own inquiries."

"This is no natural occurrence. There are times when the lines between the worlds thin even more so, but this is not one of those cases. There is something or someone helping these dark spirits across the gap between our worlds. But beyond that I cannot say more... the answer eludes me."

"But I know of ones who might know more. If anyone could deduce where these things are coming from... the Soul Killer Knights could."

At this, the princess Christina who had been quiet all this time speaks up. "Father... you know they would never help after what the clergy has done. But if you want to give them a place to look... why not Wraith Glen?"

Arleigh looks sharply to his daughter. "We want them to be more prepared, armed with knowledge... they must needs seek out the Soul Killers or they will never be ready."

Christina shrinks back slightly, but presses on. "Why send them where they will just be turned away? They came here as heroes... surely we can trust in their ability, not send them off for more training..."

[Harri-chan]

Ginny turned her attention to the Princess, "Your daughter is right, your Highness. These Demons are out there right now, we don't have time to waste, not by being turned away, not even with further training. I don't know about the rest of this lot, but I'm ready, and I'm going after them". She rose from the table, finishing her wine and set down the goblet before turning and bowing her head to the King and Princess, and even winked at the girl, "I'm going to leave one of my priestesses here with you. You'll be able to contact me through her, no matter where I am".

[Haylie]

Peter's eyebrows rise yet again as the King mentions the Soul Killer Knights. He speaks more to himself than anything. "Soul Killer... Knights? Why did it have to be Soul Killer Knights? Why not, I dunno, the Gentle Butterfly Ladies of... Rosemary or something? Never simple, is it...?"

Sighing and sitting back in resignation, he asks, "Where are they, then? I'd like to get this over with, Highness."

[ZeroForever]

Victor listened on to the king revelations, though he pretty much suspected most everything that was said, after all nothing really escaped the churches notice as the faith was everywhere. The Soul killer knights sounded like a merry bunch, after doom legion and other dumb knighthood names that he had heard of nothing really phased him anymore, though they had conflicted with the one local bishops most of the time knights wouldn't be so petty as to interfere with his job. Physically Victor simply chugged away at the food in the mean time.

[Brnin8r]

Trey knew it was time for his message as King Arleigh mentioned the ancient order. He stood up, banging the table a single time to quiet the room and divert attention to him. From his side pocket he removed the small ghostly flame badge and placed it on the table, "King Arleigh. I had the...odd fortune...of encountering one of the Soul Killer Knights. I gave him my word to relay his message to you." he cleared his throat, a niggling doubt at the back of his mind yelled to stop, but he had given his word. "The true protectors of this kingdom," he paused the sting of the words decrying his own skills of defending this kingdom, "Await your word, though they will not return until..." he paused once more, the next words weighing heavily on his tongue, "The High Bishop Clarieon is banished...as they were those years before." he sighed in relief as if three suits of armor had been removed from him and he sat down; only now wondering if he had spoken out of turn.

[Knight Errant]

Ginny turned her attention to the Princess, "Your daughter is right, your Highness. These Demons are out there right now, we don't have time to waste, not by being turned away, not even with further training. I don't know about the rest of this lot, but I'm ready, and I'm going after them". She rose from the table, finishing her wine and set down the goblet before turning and bowing her head to the King and Princess, and even winked at the girl, "I'm going to leave one of my priestesses here with you. You'll be able to contact me through her, no matter where I am".

The King watches her get up, a look of sadness and irritation on his face. "Very well... where do you plan to go?"

Peter's eyebrows rise yet again as the King mentions the Soul Killer Knights. He speaks more to himself than anything. "Soul Killer... Knights? Why did it have to be Soul Killer Knights? Why not, I dunno, the Gentle Butterfly Ladies of... Rosemary or something? Never simple, is it...?"

Sighing and sitting back in resignation, he asks, "Where are they, then? I'd like to get this over with, Highness."

Looking to Peter. "The Soul Killer Knights are rumored to have taken residence in the old outpost of Withered Hill. The town of Witherton is at the base of said hill. If you need directions you can ask one of my servants."

Trey knew it was time for his message as King Arleigh mentioned the ancient order. He stood up, banging the table a single time to quiet the room and divert attention to him. From his side pocket he removed the small ghostly flame badge and placed it on the table, "King Arleigh. I had the...odd fortune...of encountering one of the Soul Killer Knights. I gave him my word to relay his message to you." he cleared his throat, a niggling doubt at the back of his mind yelled to stop, but he had given his word. "The true protectors of this kingdom," he paused the sting of the words decrying his own skills of defending this kingdom, "Await your word, though they will not return until..." he paused once more, the next words weighing heavily on his tongue, "The High Bishop Clarieon is banished...as they were those years before." he sighed in relief as if three suits of armor had been removed from him and he sat down; only now wondering if he had spoken out of turn.

Arleigh looks over the badge... sighing. "This is... unfortunate. While the Soul Killers would no doubt be able to aid the kingdom greatly... if I did this it would mean war against the church." He looks up at Trey. "Wouldnt it. What other outcome would me banishing the high Bishop to appease a group of 'devil worshipers' produce?"

[Harri-chan]

"I don't know yet, but the Goddess will guide me... ", she said, blue eyes glancing towards Trey as she mentioned her blasphemous Goddess. "They're out there right now, we can't sit and talk. The smaller villages outside the city don't have the protection you have here, they will be helpless against the demons". Stepping away from the table, she started to walk to the doors, before pausing and looking back at them. "Your Highness... do you think my daughter could stay here while I'm gone? It would be one less worry to distract me from my task if I knew she was safe... ".

[Brnin8r]

Trey glared at the pious, conceited, irritating woman bantering about HER priestesses and the goddess who seems so mystical, having her daughter board with the king like she ran the place. He reminded himself that she was doomed to fail and die as long as her banner flew under this goddess' call. "She's right about the villages and their protection...but have you received any word of attacks on them? I'd only heard that dark forces were mustering and striking randomly at night."

[Knight Errant]

"I don't know yet, but the Goddess will guide me... ", she said, blue eyes glancing towards Trey as she mentioned her blasphemous Goddess. "They're out there right now, we can't sit and talk. The smaller villages outside the city don't have the protection you have here, they will be helpless against the demons". Stepping away from the table, she started to walk to the doors, before pausing and looking back at them. "Your Highness... do you think my daughter could stay here while I'm gone? It would be one less worry to distract me from my task if I knew she was safe... ".

The king nods. "We have plenty of room in castle Overwatch. I will see she is safe as can be in these dark times... its the least I can do."

Trey glared at the pious, conceited, irritating woman bantering about HER priestesses and the goddess who seems so mystical, having her daughter board with the king like she ran the place. He reminded himself that she was doomed to fail and die as long as her banner flew under this goddess' call. "She's right about the villages and their protection...but have you received any word of attacks on them? I'd only heard that dark forces were mustering and striking randomly at night."

Looking to Trey. "The towns furthest from Overwatch have all reported attacks. My people are tough... and get tougher as you travel further from the city. Remember, we are all descended from warriors, and we keep that tradition strong."

"But... well there are reports the town of Underbough has gone silent. And those who go to it dont return. And there is Everglade... said to be under nightly attack, but holding. And from Blackstone there are reports of vanishings of those who travel from the town wall, but the town itself is unattacked for now."