OOC Info: This is a Storyweb based off the actions of the Seraph Expedition League. This should be taken as an inclusion to the Storyweb progressions, and a set up for roleplay to be had in-game for the League's members and outsiders who are interested. The signup for Storyweb Groups can be found here. Upon receiving a summons from Rodrigo, Gabriel du Lachance mobilized what forces he could amongst his own group as well as the magically-inclined from the Institute. According to Redblock’s own accounts, several local hunting parties had already set up camp nearby the Seraphian ruin site, as well as reports of a Kathar group sent to investigate. They were all sequestered in the heavy overgrowth of the forest, in order to obscure their movements from opposing groups. With very little time to lose, the elderly linguist rallied those who were immediately available, gathering what resources they could in a few days’ time, and set out to the fertile canopies of Fendarfelle. The group arrived after two weeks at sea, the time spent together having done a few favors for overall cohesiveness and morale. They bantered and jested like long-time friends, bound together by the excitement of their conquest. Some hoped to learn of what possibly could be Seraphic secrets, some felt they might discover some arcane treasure there, others merely were in search of their next adventure. Regardless of the reasoning, the air was filled with enthusiasm and anticipation as they disembarked. Redblock pointed them in the proper direction but remained to ensure extraction was available and that the ship would remain firmly in Regalian hands while the expedition made way. Gabriel takes charge immediately, leaving the pathfinding to Lau’rella, whose familiarity in jungles qualified him to lead the group. The elderly sanguine’s judgment proves apt, and the diminutive Silven navigates them to the ruin in two days, despite seasoned adventurers like Redblock having taken a full six days to reach the destination. To the less experienced, the jungles of Fendarfelle were a dark labyrinth, a place where there were only trees and greenery. Sunlight could not easily pierce the canopy overhead, resulting in a rather eerie atmosphere as they treaded through the muck. This was a non-issue for the Wildering, who marked their path and ensured the group stayed together. It was a quieter procession, many of the travelers simply marveling in the chorus of wildlife that resounded around them. The group was able to locate the ruin and set up camp as the sun came down. As the moon settled in the sky, Gabriel dispatched Khalid to ascertain enemy strength and position. Thalion and Eve Riordan volunteered to assist him, insisting they help in some way. The Qadiriq man crept through the underbrush, the act strangely familiar to him. It had taken him little time to discover the other hunting parties – their laughter resounded for a distance around, echoing off of the many jungle trees that kept them company. However, it had been a strange stroke of luck that he’d located a Kathar patrol. He tailed them presently, a large man and a lithe woman with horns, in hopes of finding where their base was. Eve and Thalion followed a distance away at Khalid’s insistence, he would be stealthier with them further away. There was only a moment before the sound of a crossbow firing broke the silence of the night, skewering the Qadir through the leg. More Kathar began to emerge from the surrounding woodwork, trying to enclose the group. A scuffle ensues, the bone-armored elves succeeding in pummeling Eve into unconsciousness, giving her a rather deep gash to the stomach. Thalion and the rogue sustain lacerating injuries, but are able to limp away with their unconscious ally. The trio manage to flee fast enough that their injuries are treated by Lau’rella and Lorelai, who is able to create a makeshift tourniquet for a few minutes. They are treated quickly, resulting only in light scarring. Henric, Gabriel, and Agnieszka confer, before deciding that the time to act was now, before the Kathar could track the injured back to their basecamp. Eve and Thalion are left at the basecamp with Lau’rella to nurse their wounds, while Djanira and Mort remained to assist in case the Kathar returned. The rest crept through the night to where the supposed warrior remained, taking up positions in a semi-circle. While the rest held their conversations, Khalid and Djanira sought to creep into the ruin. The vampire blends in virtually undetected, slipping past the watchful gaze of the guardian. The woman follows diligently, managing not to draw any attention. In the meantime, negotiations begin. The three diplomats approach, making a show of placing their weapons on the ground. Their adversary made no motion, the gold of his eyes piercing into their beings. Agnieszka attempted first – translating as best she could in any language she could muster, even the Seraph Language, but the warrior didn’t seem to react. He merely grabbed the sword at his side, causing the woman to fall back. Henric attempted in a similar fashion, notating simple messages in the Seraph Language. The warrior was unresponsive to these attempts as well, right up until the very end. Scrawled across the paper, Henric had written: “Seraph?”, to which the warrior nodded. Gabriel was the last to attempt, asking only short questions in the simplest terms he could manage. He was met with the most success. Warrior? This received a nod. Guarding? Another nod. Silven? No response. Treasure? No response. Enemy? An imperceptible shake of his head. Ally? Another shake of his head. Can we pass? Gabriel wrote finally, preparing to put his pencil away. There was a long moment of silence, before the warrior slid his sword from its sheath. It was clear to any spectating that the time for conversation was over. Tullion Kearney leaps into action, hurling the bronze buckler at the Seraphic warrior’s head, managing to knock him onto his back and give the diplomats time to retreat. Valerie was next, sending her crow-eagle from on high to claw at the warrior’s eyes. The bird manages to pull one from his socket, depositing it into the noble-mage’s hand. Mae Draylas had been consuming torches during this time, attempting to launch an overcharged firewave at their adversary, who leapt over it in a fierce display of athleticism. He carried himself forward, slashing across the Silven’s chest, the sheer force of the blow flinging her body backwards. Those gathered could tell something had set him off – his tendencies had grown more aggressive after witnessing Mae and Tulio. The man becomes a flurry of steel and fury, chasing after the Voidlings with reckless abandon. Aiden throws himself into the fray to their defense, mounting a commendable defense, but the more experienced warrior is able to disarm him and toss him aside. Tullion is able to stave off the attacks as Gabriel sounds the retreat – Khalid and Djanira had returned with something of importance. They would be unable to defeat the warrior this go-around, but no other competition would be able to accomplish even this much. They’d have to return again. The group manages to fall back far enough that the warrior ceased chase, though the weight of his stare was felt even as they moved away. Mort, in the meantime, had been patrolling around the camp. He had noticed movement in the jungle around their base, which prompted him to do his own investigation. It wouldn’t do for their wounded to be ambushed in the midst of their recovery, and smelling a pay-raise around the corner, he’d taken the initiative to seek out the enemy first. Tracking had never been his forte particularly, but the rotten-metallic scent of blood had a way of carrying through the air. The mercenary stalked forward, coming upon the group. They numbered fifteen in total, the man and woman who had attacked his companions earlier, and thirteen other grunts armed in bone weaponry and armor. He waited for them to proceed on their patrol before bursting from the green to ambush a soldier in the back, his teeth ripping into the man’s neck ferally. His pupils widened, his circulation quickened, every sense and nerve in his body became sharper. The brood took off in a sprint, shield and axe in hand. There was little time to react or scream before the half-vampire was upon them, rending flesh and bone armor alike. He did not stop until he was covered in blood, the carcasses of his enemies around him. The mercenary patted himself on the back at a job well done, before making his way back to camp. The group wasted no time, everything was packed up and Lau’rella lead the group back to the ship under the cover of night. They arrived after another two days of travel, but the debriefing only occurred once all were safely upon the ship. It took another five days to decipher the runes Khalid and Djanira had collected, but their very existence was promising. The group was left with the following. Tomb. Collection. Sight. Gate. Lock. Warrior. Key. Archive. Inside. This collection of words was cryptic and offered very little separately, but the two had retrieved one more detail: Inside, buried under rubble, was what appeared to be an impossibly complex gate. There was no slot for a key, only a spherical indentation in the dead center. Rolls Spoiler aesling 70, lorelei 30, masuyo 23, aiden 51, mort 100, valerie 62 lau'rella pathfinding 91, khalid scouting 28, thalion assist 23, eve assist 13, khalid sneaking in 97, djanira sneaking in 85 gabriel communication 92, henric communication 64, agniezka communication 40
