Underground Mission Group 1

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The air in the First District was tense. Guardsmen running about and going into the sewer entrances only to be seen pulled out with wounds and signs of poisoning made the more well-to-doers anxious. Mages were stationed around the area, containing the leaking poison from the access points throughout the district, the guards on the streets doing their best to calm the tensions throughout the area. Nonetheless, it was hard to completely put it out of one's mind when something was going on beneath the ground, even with guards escorting onlookers away from where the operations were taking place.

The First District Lieutenant, one of the supervisors who worked in shifts on the daily beat, kept it as tight and organized as he could. When word approached that Captain Garza was approaching, he found the most capable medic available to go down with. The insistence of a noble to go along with Garza prompted the Lieutenant to hire a mercenary who had something of a reputation for getting the job done to assist: not that he didn't trust the Captain, but it seemed prompt to put a skilled blade with his guard: enough were wounded as it was that it seemed the most prudent option.

At the bottom of the sewer access, the underground of the first district seemed closer to a real sewer with some brickwork done and metal ladders leading down. The further away from the first district it would get, the less 'built' it would be: the sewer project took a backburner at some point to more pressing manners. After all, how useful was an orderly sewer anyway, so long as the...remnants of the rich were flowing down through the underground out of the city and the scent was mostly kept out of the town.

The medic assigned would be at the bottom, his face covered in a cloth mask to handle the unpleasant scents. A few archers were stationed behind crates hastily stacked in case anything approached. The medic would wear a scale mail, holding a light crystal staff in his hand along with a backpack filled with supplies. The length of the sewer would progress for fifty feet from the archers, before splitting off into two directions. One to the left and one to the right with a hanging sign with the number two over it

@bladedwind @jose Sai Vladimir Steel

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When Garza arrived at the scene, he found it in full order. He silently nodded to the First District Lieutenant, impressed at the man's quick reaction to the situation, as well as the order that he was maintaining throughout the chaos of the scene. After making sure everything was secure, he made his way down into the sewer along with the medic. The first thing that hit him was the smell, the rank odor causing him to crinkle his nose in disgust. He quickly grabbed his own cloth mask and put it on, regretting not having done so earlier. It did not kill the smell, but he could at least breathe a little better. He noticed the archers behind crates, nervously looking on into the darkness. Something was out there....and he intended to fin out exactly what. He turned to the medic with him, motioning him to follow as they made their way behind the crates.

"While we wait for the others, I want a full report so far. You've treated the wounds, and I've heard reports of poison. Any idea what we're dealing with soldier?"

As he spoke, he made sure that the chain vest under his uniform was secure, and that his gauntlets were on tight. His eyes never once left the passageway, keeping close watch as he also kept his ears open for any noise. The last thing he wanted to do was be caught by surprise and die in the sewers to end his career.

[Vladimir Steel]

That night Vladimir hadn't been able to sleep, so instead of tossing and turning all night, the young Count decide that he would blow off some steam. He rose out of bed and changed into his gear that he normally wore while practicing his swordsmanship. Unlike most of his garments it wasn't anything overly fascinating, a white long sleeved shirt, tucked into thick black leather trousers, with a matching vest and heavy boots. Once dressed he headed outside, past the gardens to a small area he used for his daily practices.

A few hours passed by, and the night was quiet and still aside from the clanging of his sword, but then her heard a the faint but very distinct sounds of an explosion and a rumble underneath his feet. Slightly perplexed he lowered his blade and listened for any other sounds of commotion. Then he heard the sounds of footsteps, marching footsteps, outside on the streets and an acrid acidic smell filled his nostrils. Curiosity getting the better of him, he sheathed his sword and he ventured out of his home into the chaos of the first district.

He quickly found a guard and questioned him about the situation. When he was informed he insisted that he help in any way he could, he may be a Nobel, but he wasn't helpless either, he could handle his own. He was soon directed towards one of the sewer entrances, before he even proceeded down he could smell the potency of the stench below. Grimacing, he realized he did not have a mask to protect his senses from the odor, hopefully there would be someone within his group that could lend him one.

Until then he made his way down into the sewers, the smell worsening ten fold as he reached the bottom. Covering his mouth and nose with his hand he approached the medic and the other man, who was obviously some sort of guard. "Good evening," He spoke, the sound muffled by his hand, "I was directed here by one of the guard organizers to help. My name is Vladimir Steel, how can I be of assistance?"

[Sai]

Sai had just tucked her little spies into bed when the explosion at the castle had happened. Quickly running into her room she took her weapons out of the chest and place them all on the bed as she slipped into more fitting clothes from head to toe dressed in black with her pants tucked into her boots, she grabbed a matching black mask as well. Staring at her weapons she grabbed her throwing knives placing them on her belt, placed her short sword on her left hip, placing a small knife into her boots and finally she strapped the dagger that she had gotten from the quest to her back then pulled her shirt down to cover the weapon and placed her mask around her neck. Feeling satisfied with weapons she walked back into the kid's room letting them know that she would be gone for the better part of the evening and the morning and to just practice.



Once done she made her way towards the castle slipping into the shadow when she can to avoid running into people.



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As soon as she was close enough to the castle a guard came running up to her asking for her help. Raising a single eyebrow thinking that he might have mistaken her for someone else but followed him anyway. Seeing them leading her below ground made her raise her eyebrow once again that was until she was got stopped by another guard and he more or less explained that he knows about her skills and wanted her to help protect a nobleman who thinks he could handle a mission like this if she wanted to take on the job. She just nodded her head and let them lead her towards the meetup location.



Giving a nod of her head to the guard she entered the sewer the scent didn't bother her too much that she needed to use her mask. Slowing making her way looking at the guards and mages that were set up which meant it was something bigger than she expected not just a simple mission. Seeing three people close together guessing that one is the captain that she had to report to, along with the medic and finally a man who gave off the aura of him being a nobility based on how he was dressed and that he was covering his mouth with his arm.



Taking breath she walked up to them taking her mask off from around her neck placing it on the man who was covering his face. Giving a nod of her head at the other two men. "I'm guessing that you are Captain Garza. I'm the woman one of your men hired for the mission."

[Deleted]

Deidric had been settling into a nearby inn when he heard the commotion from out on the street. The large Ku-Deyu ran a hand back through his blonde hair before tying it back and grabbing his gear. Well now, I have only been here for a few moments before something interesting happens." He chuckles as he straps on his sword belt and his leather armor and heads out to see what was going on. As he got closer to the sewer he tied a damp cloth around his face to keep out and smells our breathable toxin, he did not think he was affected by local poisons, but he certainly did not know that.

Upon seeing the gathering of individuals and the guards racing about he approaching the group that seemed to be gathering to address the scene. "Looks like I have not missed the boat yet," He begins and then looks around at the others in the group.

Clearly not just the guard I suppose. He decides while taking stock. "If you are accepting volunteers, I would like to offer my services." He offers.

[Deleted]

The medic saluted as Garza approached and asked for a status report. In the time before others arrived, he gave the Captain a quickly spoken rundown since others were expected and the words were meant for the Officer alone.

"There is a...rat man...for lack of a better word that has ran into the sewers. He ambushed the newly built Royal Bathhouse whilst two Baronesses were using it. The creature used a detonation of a magic bomb to delay the palace guards approach at which point he somehow shrunk the two baronesses down to fit in a jar and then shrunk himself to run into the underground sewer network. We've sent a few parties in but they set off traps the rat man had set up which fills the immediate area with a vicious poison that causes sores, pustules, and coughing of blood. Some of those who are hit I am not completely certain that they will live.

We can only assume he is trying to escape with the noblewomen. Hopefully the Third District lieutenant is taking it seriously enough to try to keep a guard unit at the tunnels that may lead out of Novian city territory. Our best guess is that the rat man may be in the second district underground by now where the mapping is less than perfect." he says then hearing others coming not speaking any more operational details whether he spoke it all or just is trying to keep it need to know per other orders.

A nobleman, an assassin appeared apparently having been sent. Shortly after, a larger man whom looked like another merc came down asking to join. The medic rose a brow.

"That is up to the Captain's discretion." he replies to Deidric, mindful of rank.

A howl could be faintly heard down one of the tunnels, though the direction was unclear. Some green glows could be visible down the left.

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The timing was far too late this time, was Jose thought as he rubbed a tanned hand along the bottom of his nose and came up with blood. A darkness unlike sleep had just swirled over his mind, filling it with a sickly blackness of magic and horrors. A half hour or so before the explosions began to rock through the castle and its grounds, a vision of their coming blared vivid and sharp against his skull.

The background was just shadows but each picture that become of the darkness burned white-hot in his mind. Grimy walls of what Jose knew to be the sewers began to appear and against such stones human faces and their flesh were hardly recognizable as sores flowing with pus and yellow ooze marred every part of their being, scarlet hung upon corners of mouths as blood was coughed from lungs, and the howls of the anguished sounded within the dark. Little women in fine gowns were in a glass jar, yelling in their tiny voices, a cloud of angry orange and red fire burst apart the scene and bloodied limps flung about the space.

These flashes of pain and entrapment flooded its way into Jose head and a shudder rattled his body as he heard every shriek and saw every dead-eyed stare, their images gruesome and confusing in one sweep. The vertigo of the vision subsided and he stood up from his bed in the barracks and walked to a wash basin. Splashing cool water on his face, cleaning it, he prepared for battle. Jose changed into black leather pants with metal braces tied to the length of his leg to the knee, another attached above the knee. He slipped on the leather armor his father had gifted him; dyed grey the torso had silver swirls beginning long at the bottom and ran up the chest outlining the muscles. A cape was attached to the back and cut with layered pieces of leather in such fashion from behind it looked like wings. Small pockets were hidden in the folds of the leather on other side of his ribs and he slipped a set of throwing knives rolled up in a cloth inside one and his metal flask in the other-after taking a burning swig of course. He slung on his short blades and took some fabric and dipped them into some lavender oils and wrung them out, placing them with his knives to tie to his face once he entered the sewers.

Jose strapped on his boots and made way for the first distract where the sounds of bombs were beginning to go off, and he wearily shock his head. He was passed the point of wondering why he had such a gift of seeing the future only for it to come far too late and this time too vague to be of real help. It was like he was just seeing these things to torture him but despite his dismal thoughts his pace quickened as he made way for the commotion.

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When he arrived to the entrance of the sewers and saw the gatherings of people he spotted his captain and b-lined for him. Jose tied one of those pieces of lavender fabric around his head to cover his mouth and nose to cut down on the stench and hopefully keep out any sort of airborne poison if such a thing was to be worried about. The sores on those people he saw could attest to as much.
He noted his comrades and gave a nod in each of their directions but spoke to Garza directly

“ Royal Guardsmen Herrera, sir. I have come to aid with this grave disturbance ” A witty introduction danced on his lips and although he used humor to evade the constant sorrows he was a witness to, this moment did not seemed appropriate and thus he saluted his captain and awaited instruction like a good solider. He held no reaction to the scream of pain and merely noted the lights aglow in the distance.

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Garza stood and listened to the report with a mixture of concern and bewilderment. He had never heard o anything like a "rat man" before...and based on the tone of the medical officer, he had not heard of such a creature either. His mind started to put the pieces together as the man spoke. It was clear to Garza that this creature was devious and intelligent if it had managed to capture two Baronesses right from under the noses of the guards, a train of thought further supported by the evidence of traps in the sewers. He wrinkled his brow in thought, a process that was interrupted by the voice of a well spoken gentleman. The guard turned to face him, surprised to see a well dressed noble in what appeared to be fencing gear and a blade.

"Anthony Garza, Captain of the Blood Hound unit. I appreciate your offer of aid. I will gladly accept....just bear in mind that I cannot guarantee your safety. While I cannot go into detail, know that this is going to be dangerous...and we have no idea what to expect, save that it will not be natural."

Garza's head raised as he spotted the other two coming down the tunnel toward them. One he vaguely recognized, having seen her in passing. Some "mercenary" that worked for them...though he had heard rumors that she did more underground work then what made him comfortable. The other person he did not recognize at all, but seemed fairly well armed. He stood silently, gazing over them intently, sizing them up.

"We can use all the help we can get. Now, on t-"

The guard captain was cut off by the loud howl that reverberated through the tunnels, the sound sending chills down his spine. He could not tell where it came from, which did not ease his nerves. He spotted the green lights out of teh corner of his eye, and spun around to face it, assuming a boxer's stance with his hands in front of him, his metal gauntelts reflecting the torchlight. He did not move, however, standing his ground. "Archers hold your positions! Do NOT fire unless you have a clear shot!"

[Deleted]

Deidric looked around as the group that seemed like they were going to make the difference gathered. One of them was dressed finer than the others and appeared to be a bit less hardened, but something about him told Deidric not to accept that at face value. He could smell the scent of blood on the girl, the scent that could never be washed away, and the two guards seemed competent enough.

Though it was the report that brought a smile to his face. Well now, perhaps my stay in this backwater will not be as boring as I thought. He decides. His first instinct was to pickup a couple of fist sized rocks and begin banking them into the tunnel to see if anything moved, but there was the chance he might his a guard and dealing with an assault charge was now how he wanted to spend his first week in this new country.

Deidric opened his mouth and let out an inhuman roar and began to walk towards the tunnel, a broad smile on his face. It was time for something exciting. A faint blue light glowed around his left gauntlet as he moved towards the green.

[Vladimir Steel]

Vladimir had not heard the guardsman's report as he approached him and Captain Garza. When he was cautioned about the dangers of their mission he simply nodded. "Thank you for the warning, but I am aware of the dangers that lie ahead. I would still like to help as much as I can though."

With that being said he turned to see others arriving to the scene. The first he saw was a woman with silver hair approaching. She didn't say anything as she placed her mask around his neck. He cleared his throat, slightly offset by her silence. "Thank you Miss, but won't you need this? The air may not only be foul, but toxic as well. I would not feel comfortable borrowing this if it is your only one." He asked not yet putting on the mask.

He then watched as two other man made their way over. One a rather tall fellow and the other a rather dark mysterious fellow. It then dawned on the young Count that he was the black sheep of this mission, on the account that he was a Noble. He merely sighed hoping that his social standings would not have him underestimated.

Any other introductions were cut off by a deafening howl that echoed off of the tunnel walls. Vladimir's face set into serious lines as he took a comfortable stance and unsheathed his long-sword, looking into the darkness before noticing the strange green lights. He held his stance, not wanting to press forward until told to or forced to do so.

At that moment a rather loud roar sounded, turning his head he noticed that it was the blonde fellow. He watched, perplexed, as the man pressed forward towards the green light with his glowing blue gauntlet, thinking that it might not be the wisest strategy for the situation at hand.

[Sai]

Sai just watched everything and everyone in silent it wasn't her thing to talk much that was until the man who she had given her mask to asked if she wasn't going to be needing it. Turning to look at him she only smirked a little before speaking. "Trust me Sir. You need the mask more than myself. I will be fine as long as we are not down here for more than twenty-four hours before the toxic start to affect me. If needed I can make a new mask out of my clothes." Turning to look back at the tunnels wondering what they will encounter.



Hearing a howl in the distance she raised a single eyebrow and unsheathed her dagger since she was a distance fighter than charging forward into danger. From the sounds, she took it to be a wolf but it couldn't be right why would a wolf be in the sewers, looking around she saw some green glows in the distance she walked over to some of the archers, resheathed her dagger and picked up a spear bow and a quiver of arrows. She knew that she wasn't as good as a shot with a bow as she was with her knives but she was decent. Loading an arrow into the bow she took aim into the left tunnel towards the green glow keeping her hand steady not firing until she saw what they were going to facing.

[Deleted]

It appeared the loud howl had affected his comrades more so than Jose, he was used to hearing the cries of detriment it would seem. Even still Jose leap into ready action as he wished he had brought his bow and arrow-it was his best weapon aside from hand to hand combat but he had thought the sewers to be too cramped a space to have much use. Nevertheless he took the lead that the silver haired lady had and followed her to the line of archers, picking and stringing up a bow an arrow beside her. He took aim at the emerald lights and held his stance, awaiting the go ahead. If the lady or any other were to miss the mark he would be sure to hit the target once his arrow was let free. He kept his tongue in check and only nodded in respect towards the woman.

A boyish grin unfolded along his face as he heard a much closer and somehow friendly roar and he spotted a blonde man of large persuasions make way for the tunnel entrance. His enthusiasm for battle was near contagious but he wouldn't let the excitement throw off his poise, to strike true attention must be focused and emotions reigned in. Passion did wonders for most things in life-even fighting if in the right situation-but this seemed far too delicate and tricksy for such a tactic to prove useful. They would have to play this smart, move in with caution, and Jose hoped this man's brashness wouldn't get him killed.

He awaited on command and would loose arrow into the glowing lights if directed to, most likely hitting whatever awaited in the shadows.

[Deleted]

Around the corner of the tunnel, a hapless guardsman was being strung up, painfully if the expressions of pain were to be heeded, by a number of unstable magical bombs and barbed wire. A grotesque rat man wearing brown rags down his body with devices haphazardly strung along within reach could be seen. His snout was long and putrid with yellow and green spiked teeth visible, with beady black eyes staring out. The hands of the creature were clawed and ratty, whilst a long, spiny tail came from beneath his back.

"Kuku...you will be a fine distraction..." he says. But when the heavier people approached, Deidric with his boldness mostly, he heard the steps and then scurried behind a pile of rubbish leaving the hapless soul strung up, bleeding and in pain. The magic on the devices was highly unstable, while the guardsman exhaled barely intelligible grunts of pain and pleas for help.