RuneScape Forum Archive | Fall From Grace

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2020

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Calvin was surprised, seeing the genius come forward. "...Egghead?" muttered the assassin in confusion. "Wat ya doin' out 'ere? Ain't ya s'posed ta be 'elpin' out our ol' tycoon?"

"Explaining serves little point," returned Telvern, standing before his allies. "we should continue forward."

The social assassin seemed to be in agreement, nodding his head. He returned to that very same rope which lead the others stuck to the earth upwards, attempting to solve the puzzle of a rather complex knot he had created. His fingers whipped around and accurately ripped apart this knot in a tactical manner, almost like he'd done it about fifty times over.

It was over in a matter of seconds, managing to deconstruct the knot without breaking a sweat. He found his hand once more wrapped around a straight, fine rope, recoiling it back to his side. Completely in his control, he coiled the rope up rather neatly, making it into a bird's nest. The assassin stepped over the edge, gazing down into the courtyard.

At the flick of his wrist, the rope plunged downwards into the vast, grandiose space. Yet again did the assassin secure the rope around one of the many decoration upon this obscenely ornate castle, tightly locking the rope in an intense, intricate knot. Upon his knees, Calvin looked back upon his comrades and gave them a thumbs-up, signalling the security of his knot in place.

Just as the last time, but only this time in reverse, the group swooped on down the rope in a calm, orderly fashion. And much like the time before, some were faster than others. Some struggled down the rope, finding an intense sting in their forearms as if they were lit ablaze. But one-by-one did their descent proceed, finding their feet plant firmly upon solid ground once again.
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10-Sep-2015 18:59:32

Jul

2020

Serene End

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They all made it to safety, devoured by this egregiously adorned courtyard. Fountains, statues, and all sorts of different plants found everywhere the eye looked. Shinon, Shakir, and his remaining Lamians stood on top of the castle walls, willing to take out any enemy should they arise. Standing on the ground, the group slyly dashed for the eastern door.

Being at the front of the pack, Libitina put her ear up against the mahogany door to listen out for anyone nearby. She could make out muffled voices inside, but nothing that warranted attention. Her hand crept up slowly upon the beautiful, polished doorknob, clasping it to open it.

But it seemed the door was locked, forcing the assassin to look to Calvin. Calvin briefly searched his pockets at his sides, but something was amiss. He pulled his eyes down into his pouches and pockets, giving out a bit of a pout at his search's end. "Well, dis's embarrassin'..." the social assassin grumbled. "Seems I lef' my lockpick 'n my othe' pants!"

"And this is what you've chosen as your second-in-command..." Telvern criticized in frustration, clenching his face.

"'Ey! Never said lockpickin's my stron' suit!" Calvin responded to the genius' stinging ridicule, then an idea struck the social assassin's brain. "Oh! Bet Kereske's got one!"

"How do you expect to make contact with him?" the genius continued his harsh outlook upon Calvin. "Need I remind you that he's not exactly a hop and a skip away?"

"Um..." nervously rose a voice in the midst of this bitter disagreement, the dark-robed young man Daevarro attracting attention. "May I?"

"Of course, Dimri, " Libitina kindly responded to the young man's request, permitting him entry. Daevarro stepped towards the doorknob, finding a large keyhole at its center. He fell down to a knee, reaching into a small gray-cloth pouch tied upon the sash around his waist. His pale-skinned hand emerged from that pouch, carrying out a small tension wrench and lockpick.
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10-Sep-2015 19:03:53

Jul

2020

Serene End

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The young man went to work, sliding his wrench in first. He twisted and turned the wrench, attempting to find which way the key would go if he were using it. Upon finding that answer, he kept the wrench solidly in place, sliding in his pick. The young man now attempted to push all of the pins in the lock up, thus allowing them access.

Calvin seemed genuinely impressed, crossing his arms and watching on with interest piqued. In fact, most here were rather surprised by Daevarro's attempt to pick the lock, not having expected a character like Daevarro to possess such a unlawful skill. Perhaps they were too quick to jump to conclusions about him, to judge before they knew.

A battle waged between him and this diabolic lock, attempting to disarm the nation so stubbornly holding its stance. After a minute or two of extreme care and finesse, Daevarro could feel the final pin nestle into place. He could feel a light grin grab his face, joyous of his success. "Got it," he mumbled to himself, managing to pick the lock.

His wrists twisted the lock counter-clockwise, generating an emission of acclaim, vocal or not. Libitina was seen in the back, unable to help but to bear a little smile of pride upon her face. Calvin stepped over to Daevarro, patting him on the back. "Damn, shady!" the social assassin Calvin complimented in his fashion, rather dazzled. "Never thought ya 'ad it 'n ya! Nice one!"

"Indeed," concurred Telvern, crossing his arms. "well done."

"Good job, Daevarro," Raphael gave praise, impressed with Daevarro's talent.

Daevarro then adamantly shook his head. "It's nothing," he dismissed, rejecting the praise of his actions.

But this moment of acclamation and pride was but a fleeting moment, passing away now back into the infinity of solemnity and gravity. With exceptional caution, they very slowly pushed open the door. They set one foot in the door, shuffling their eyes to make sure they were in the clear.
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10-Sep-2015 19:05:16

Jul

2020

Serene End

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Hunched over like a hunter on the prowl, the small group very quietly poured into the castle's stomach. Every action was done with utmost care, even breathing was something done with absolute delicacy. Skulking in the shadow beyond the lanterns, they garnered a depressing mixture of idle chat and complaining.

The beginning of the sneaking mission was a large room, adorned with many different sorts of trinkets and polish. Their feet tread upon blue, ornate carpets fit for a king, made from the finest material imaginable. The walls of the room were covered with paintings and portraits of former holders of power, including King Divus and Queen Leena.

But the most spectacular honor belonged to the one and only, a statue in the center of the room celebrating the life and power of the king of kings. King Dias Pallas Barn, the one hailed as the true god of gods, stood there, his all-powerful display enough to strike someone down graciously. But this group's desire was not for the environment, but for their goal.

""—Oh, these lead pipes are vastly superior to any currently available!"" the voice of one of the soldier could be heard saying, speaking in a hissing, loathsome tone. The group made it to the back of the room, finding the door into the next room opened. Libitina used senses outside of her vision to pinpoint exactly what was in that room.

They came into view from the doorway, that much she found. She could hear at least two enemies, their full attention seemed forced elsewhere. Their glowing blue eyes peered above their heads, staring upon a very sorrowful pipe. From its grayish-skin, it wept with tears as if insulted by the terrible words spewed in its direction. ""I expect only the grandest quality!"" the enemy continued to quote in a comedic voice. "What rubbish... They've hardly had any time in use and they've already sprung a leak."
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10-Sep-2015 19:06:46

Jul

2020

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The mocking foe then turned his left, finding another with a face bunched up and cringed in agony every time the sound of the water dripped from the pipe. Its noise like a blaring horn in his ears, like the very symphony of madness itself. "By the way, have you noticed something... odd?" then asked the very talkative fellow, though it seemed the other person didn't care to hear it. "It seems some of the other guardsmen have fallen prey to a rather bizarre affliction, I've even heard it proved a fatal encounter for one of them. The Earl thinks it some sort of blight spreading around the city, a kind of stomach illness I'd imagine."

"I've had quite enough of your jabbering..." professed the other fellow with ire, getting annoyed by the sound. "Ugh, this accursed sound is insufferable! I cannot think without it invading my mind..."

"Well, there's not a thing we can do about it until the morning," the gossiping enemy casually returned, then an amused chuckle ruptured from his lips. "Enjoy that, won't you?"

With that last comment, the entertained foe made off. He forsook the other fellow and his misery, this poor Solasúian whose unfortunate fate bequeathed him hearing sharper than his average brethren. Now that the jeering soldier disappeared, the pained soldier had to be on his guard.

He had to attempt to work around this horror, this terror like a blade stabbing him repeatedly in his ear. Behind the wall, Libitina allowed time to pass, making sure that the previous soldier had enough distance to not hear anything. The group continued to listen on to the fellow's anguish, his furious growling and grumbling to himself.

While trying to combat this menace, something... caught his attention. That which he cursed assisted him, make him hear what he normally would not. He could hear breathing, very swallow breathing from behind him, forcing his eyes backwards to take a look.
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10-Sep-2015 19:08:31

Jul

2020

Serene End

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His nostrils began sucking in oxygen, sniffing out the air discreetly like a bloodhound. His Solasúian sense -- a sense which most of his kind rely far too much on in his opinion -- told him of his surroundings in very little detail. However, his enhanced senses were spinning quite a different tale.

Libitina picked up upon this change, knowing now action was necessary to take. The stolid assassin could make out his weapon being drawn, hearing the very quiet murmur of the steel grinding around its leather interior casing.

Libitina braced herself, focusing and preparing her body for action. She took one breath, one quiet, calculating breath. She then zipped around the corner in the blink of an eye, using the power of her Solasúian speed to its full advantage. Such swift movement was immune to even the reaction time of the Solasúian, too caught in the web of paranoia and suspicion to do a thing.

It was a well practiced move, one she had done many times over alongside the now former head of the Desert Assassins. Appearing now before them, Libitina was ready for the kill. The armour of this one was far more sophisticated than the soldiers outside of the castle walls, so she had to take an alternative approach and muster up her Solasúian muscle.

Her blade had to swerve around, find a weakness in his blindingly ornate, steel plate armour. Taking an observation, she took notice that they were wearing close helmets. But because he was taking a look at the pipe, his visor was left open. From a second of examination to the second of action, Libitina aimed to claim his life.

She lunged her blade multiple times underneath the arm of the knight, targeting the axillary artery hiding beneath. The stolid assassin's dagger then leapt forward, dashing to the center of the knight's face. Her dagger chewed a hole straight through his visage, getting him right between the eyes. On its way out, the knight's skull crackled sickeningly as her blade was forcibly jerked out.
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10-Sep-2015 19:11:05

Jul

2020

Serene End

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And just like the former head of the Desert Assassins, this action was finished in a matter of a moment. That extremely irritating dripping from the pipe above couldn't even hit the ground by the time she was completely through with him, displaying remarkable speed.

The knight dropped to his knees, stunned by the attack and struck by the grueling pain. Blood rolled down as if the very skin of his face had begun to crack, a long, fissure-like downpour of crimson raining down. He had not even the strength to speak, his mind like a screen filled with static, unable to understand. He was completely broken apart by this injury, being laid gently onto the ground by the stolid assassin.

It wasn't long after that that the injury became just too much to bear, his body unable to cope with the injury to his brain. He began to convulse violently, his body quivering in a terrible spasm, his glowing eyes rolling into the back of his skull. This prompted the stolid assassin to quickly subdue him, to quell his tremendous affliction.

Regardless, her attack was quite the impressive display of ability and command over the situation, turning it into a more favorable condition rather than the opposite. Such a thought yanked at Raphael's mind like a massive sign trying to grab his eyes, ushering in the memories of someone else into his head.

That night came flooding back, the night when a young, naive child first stood in Death's presence. His very first days as a leader of men, opening up his eyes to a night which nearly saw his life taken from him. It made Raphael think, made him wonder still why such a masterful murderer couldn't possibly add his name to their list of victims.

After putting an end to their suffering, the stolid assassin Libitina lifted up the body of the deceased. She then turned to her allies at her back, compelling them to advance onward without the say of a word. They continued on in their hunched over, roguish march, keeping below the lanterns.
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10-Sep-2015 19:14:59

Jul

2020

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Passing by boxes with more boxes stacked upon them, Libitina placed the body behind a large stack of these crates in order to conceal it. Afterwards, the group exited the room via the door south and entered a oddly-shaped hallway. They snaked around this chamber, then finding themselves at a part of the infiltration that was perhaps the most frightful. They found themselves in one of the barracks, meaning the southern side of the castle was devoted to this cause.

Before them were dozens upon dozens of soldiers under the same spell, all of them were privileged enough to attend the party and indulge in their new freedom, the fabled Utopia before them. All of them slept without any intermittent tune, perhaps a sign that Solasúian kind were unable to fall victim to the loud, growling monster that was snoring. But still, to the group, this just made the situation that much more intense.

A foreboding, alarming feeling hung around them like that creepy guy at a public space, constantly breathing down their necks. The slightest sound might awaken one of the soldiers, so absolutely no noise must be made. They very silently walked across the room, taking it at the pace of baby steps.

An old, wooden footlocker stood at the foot of every bed, telling the story of every Solasúian willing to defend their homes from destruction. Some described selfish, inconsiderate souls, but others had love in their lives: family, friends, a spouse; children even. The latter had letters on top their footlockers, even drawings made clearly by the hand of a child.

It was enough to make a person sad, knowing that all these families were going to be without a loved one. Like the epitaph upon their tombstones, confessing the very brief summary of their lives. Who knew what life they led? Who's to say that theirs was one spent rejecting and enslaving humankind? Who's to say that they deserved to die?
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10-Sep-2015 19:17:06 - Last edited on 10-Sep-2015 19:17:45 by Serene End

Jul

2020

Serene End

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Part of Daevarro could find agreement in this, not desiring to take the lives of these individuals. After all, these souls were very barely different from them, fighting to defend that which they cherish and love the most in this existence. Although he knew that this was necessary, his heart couldn't help but to feel a little lamentful of its requirement

Yet... something else was there, a part of him very angry and resentful billowing out from the darkness. It viciously condemned them to death, denying sympathy even of those who seemed almost a reflection of them. After all, regardless if they had no hand in it, all of them benefited from the suffering of the humans. Their cities, homes, food, drink, all of the comforts and luxuries of their lives; all of it was made through the pain and labor of tortured, enslaved humans.

They sluggishly crawled their way through this shaking bridge, the slightest misstep by anyone would send them all plummeting downwards. But such an event was avoided, but just barely, making across this minefield of all sorts of traps. They could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but not quite yet.

They exited the room, finding themselves in a kitchen of sorts. An ancient stove sitting over by the group's right, followed by a soldier standing over a table. But this one wasn't armed and was without armour, a restless soldier who was the victim of the sword of insomnia. A female Solasúian standing over that table, preparing herself a cup of tea.

She was pale-skinned with long, brown hair, and was fairly tall. All of her comrades were fast asleep, fast on their way to their destination in a plane of existence beyond this one. But alas, her spirit was unable to free itself, bound to this corporeal form. She was stuck in this world, yearning for a trip to the realm of dreams.
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10-Sep-2015 19:18:38

Jul

2020

Serene End

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There was conflict upon her, a rough, harsh battle raged on, a battle between her and her weariness. She was under the constant bombardment of yawns, the curtains of her eyes constantly coming over her vision. Like keeping her head just above the water, it was an intense battle in which she barely was winning over. She sat down beside the table, taking a sip of her tea.

But then her glowing teal blue eyes fell into her cup of tea, finding the reflection of a person with a heavy mask. She sighed briefly to herself, grieving over a thought in her mind. She took yet another sip, thoughts filling her head like the liquid filling her mouth. It wasn't particularly great, but doable, a taste she simply had to accept.

Upon finishing her cup, she stood up from her chair. She was ready to be taken into the arms of the cotton embrace, ready to find something close to her kind's much sought-after Utopia. Her sleep-deprived body taking one step forward, making her way to the corner where her unexpected demise awaited her.

The moment she turned the corner, she was forced into the wall. A hand was pressed tightly over her mouth, and she began to feel her life escape her. An bloodied dagger entering and exiting at its leisure, destroying vital functions inside of her. Its final attack was to the front of her throat, breaking into and severing her trachea.

Although she tried desperately to struggle, it was a losing battle. She felt every ounce of her strength seeping out with each droplet of blood oozing out of her injuries, unable to fight it any longer. The last thing she would look upon would be the eyes of her killer, finding them to be a sister of the Solasúian race.

The glow of her eyes turned to nothingness, am indication marking her death. Libitina then gently laid her body down, finding a place to hide it. Once that business was taken care of, the group had to move along. They passed through the kitchen, coming into yet another narrow, oddly-shaped hallway.
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10-Sep-2015 19:22:20

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