The academy - game thread

[NoOoDLe]

Alexiah's eyes widened and slowly filled with tears as she saw the scenery of carnage left of her friend. Speechless by the harsh seemingly emotionless view on the matter expressed by her fellow Caledorian she instead sought comfort with Shiadrych, gently throwing herself in the arms of her remaining friend.

[Paraicj]

Ashar studied the situation, noting the smell of magic in the air, harsh on his nostrils.

"Killed despite her wards, it would seem. Somebody powerful did this, Zorianay was a strong mage, breaching her work would take a lot of effort, or a bauble of some might, I suppose. A loss to the magical community, doubtless. Druchii, you think, Corvych? If so, we are all in danger. An assassin in our midst could spell the end of much of the magical might of Ulthuan. We must act.

Nashalon, why are you limping. Stubbed toe? Llandowyn, your eye, explain, I think. This place is safe, so both your injuries are therefore suspicious. I do not doubt that you have reasonable explanations.

And Coran, my friend, what is wrong. Are you alright?"

[Shandiar]

Shiadrych comforted Alexiah in silence as Ashar spoke out. "I too wish to hear why you have such bruisings." She added. "To shed some light on the past nights events."

[Ruerl Khan]

Coran Morningroar shook his head as a manner of explanation, it is... nothing... Llandowyn was meredly drunk last night and game with some, inappropriate, suggestions concerning a female aquintance of ours, we ended up discussing and I ended up punching him out. That is why he has a blue eye, I knocked him out and I am confident that he slept it out... and that he has a headache now. shaking his head Coran continues to avoid looking at his former friend.

[Uther Di Asturien]

Hjiorych frowned.
"Well I wouldn't say misplaced, Ashar, she was at least a better sorceress than half of those present. This might indicate that the best amongst us are the targets, or at least the cockiest."
He turned from the scene, unable to stare any longer but continued talking to Ashar.
"While the Chracian over there" Hjorych said motioning with his head towards Coran. "might think it a small matter that one of his friends lost some of his sense last night, it reveals a frightening fact. It appears to be quite easy to move about at night. This will undoutebly make it harder to figure out who are the real menaces in our group and distinguish them from those of us who just want to have a little fun, like the fool who played with the food who maybe hoped that myself, being rather fond of it, would meet an untimely end to my aspirations."
He turned as if to make his way back to the salon.
"Oh, and also of note Ashar, I do not know how powerful one would need to be to breach her magic defenses, which makes it all the more suspicious since this room is still intact. We should not rule out a close contact attack by one of the more physically apt amongst us..." He said, his eyes subtly passing by Corvych and Alexiah.
After a moment of silence as he was leaving, his voice was heard down the hall.
"Now come all, we haven't finished breakfast yet and if they are druchii indeed we'll need all the strenght we can get!"

[Paraicj]

Ashar blinked, and answered Hjiorych.

"I said nothing about anything being misplaced, that was Corvych. I had respect for Zorianay's control. If she had set proper wards on her room, for whatever reason, it would be difficult to break through. Based on what has happened, wards may be a good idea for everybody, as you point out, it seems simple to move around our apartments.

Coran, it is unlike you to lose your control, even with someone who can be as irritating as Llandowyn. He must have been in particularly lewd form for it to get to you."

[Prince_Asuryan]

Corvych shrugged. 'It may have been powerful magic, but it was still a misplaced sentiment - maybe something our assassin wished to prove?'

He looked at Hjiorych.'I thank you for thinking I am more physically apt than others here, but I am no Dragon Prince. I would have thought for physical strength you would look at one such as Coran here. Though you must be a fool to think magical wards would not defend against physcial attack as well. We should not rule out magic yet. Or both...'

Corvych shrugged again 'why are you so keen to return to breakfast already? There is a rumour around that someone attempted to poison you last night. I think I would not be as keen to return to the meal. Is it really nothing more than a rumour?'

He looked at Coran 'Who was this female aquaintance? Is she present? For many of us seem to know each other. And for something as simple as a friend you should still be able to look him in the eye...'

[Andruillius]

Vendyh was wearing a elaborate white silk dress, with her blonde hair delicately braided. Bright blue eyes followed the other elves in the room, and her expression was that of a watching, crouched cat.

She had kept herself away from the attention of the others, preferring to sit on a red velvet chair in a corner, seemingly reading a book about magical amplifiers. She grimaced slightly when Shiadrych moved to help Alexiah, and again when Alexiah threw herself into Schiadrych's arms.

Vendyh struggled to sit still, and after a while she gave up on trying to read. Gently placing the book on a table next to her, fixing her dress and throwing a congenial smile, she walked up to Nashalon. Stopping right in front of him, she dug her blue eyes into his, and bit her lip for a second before speaking.

"You look hurt. Do you want me to help you with that?" Vendyh bent down to look at Nashalon's foot, while speaking with a low voice. "How terrible, a Druchii assassin among us that kills honorable female mages! Only together can we hope to root out the evil in this tower." She gave a sideways smile to Morningroar. "Or what do you think, Coran?"

[Uther Di Asturien]

Hjiorych looked back at Corvych. "Why I did not say anything, but it is worth to note that being an academy we have several potential students in good shape. You being among the young ones. No personal reason there, just an example."
He stamped his foot in a show of impatience while displaying a grin.
"And well, possible poisoning or not, i'd rather die with a full stomach than with an empty one. It was not the first time i've been the victim of an attempted poisoning, Asuryan alone knows why its always poisoning, but I reckon the assassin will not be fooled into trying it twice, seeing as if I can't be fooled twice into being poisoned so easily then better targets will present themselves I am sure."
With a subtle snap of his fingers, a small lizard's head suddenly popped out of one of the pockets in Hjiorych's robe revealing that the Apple Drake had yet to meet an untimely end at the hands of his master.

[DarkTyrany22]

Micaere was the last to see what became of Zorianay. She knew what was coming even as she entered the room, hearing Alexiah's sobs. The sight of her friend's desecrated body stole the breath from Micaere's breast, leaving her gasping for an explanation. Senses heightened by the lack of oxygen, she took in every detail of the grisly scene. Her eyes darted from vacant, charred eye sockets to bloody chest cavity and back. Finally forcing herself out of the room, Micaere leaned up against the wall next to Zorianay's door. Slowly she sunk to the ground, head in hands, sobbing softly.

[Allerion]

Llandowyn, still with a half-dazed look on his face, with his head in his hand, covering his eye, let out a loud groan, and half mumbles what he says next.

It is a great loss to Ulthuan with the passing of Zorianay. She could have been a great loremaster. Now, we find ourselves with her body, and no clue as to (insert muffled groan) who did it. While it could be a Durchii assassin, methinks few of them are clever enough to get past the minds of the loremasters here. And i doubt many of them are stupid enough to willingly travel to the house of the Swordmasters by themselves. No, i think this was the work of an Asur.

But before i go any further, I must apologize to Coran for my behavior last night. It was extreamely immature of me, and it will not happed again. So i beg of you, please forgive me and lets put this behind us.

Llandowyn let out a loud groan, apparently unable to continue

[cidracin]

After Llandowyn finishes speaking Coran's demeanor softens noticeably, although he still does not seem entirely at ease.

Llandowyn I forgive you for your behavior last night, I would not ruin our friendship over one mistake. For drink can cloud the wisest man's judgement and you have never been anything but a good friend to me. I am sorry that I knocked you out but it has proved well for I know that there is at least one person I can be sure did not kill Zorianay. However I can't say the same for anyone else standing in this room now.

Llandowyn I do not hold your belief that this is not the work of one of the Druchii. Thier evil knows no bounds and there are some among the Druchii bold enough to attempt to this. Zorianay was one of the folk of Nagarythe, the Asur most hated by our dark cousins, would it not make sense that if a Druichii was among us that the assassin's first victim would be one of the followers of Anar.

[Amun-Lothain]

Nashalon was cursing quietly to himself as he came upon the group of students. Zorianay was dead. Murdered. He almost jumped back from Vendyh. "No! No, I'm fine. Just stepped on some broken glass. He limped away and took a seat."

"It has to be druchii, we might be competitive, but don't you think murder is a little excessive? And I don't think one would need to be in top physical condition to murder someone in their sleep."

[Allerion]

Dont worry Coran, the clout was well deserved. And thanks to you, there can be little doubt that i had no part whatsoever in the killing of poor Zorianay. While you do bring a good argument about a dark elf wanting to kill one that they felt betrayed by (the deepest wounds are made by family, you know) I still doubt that an assassin, even after fooling the swordmasters and loremasters, possibly Bel-Shannar himself, would make US his prime target. He could do a lot more damage to Ulthuan by eliminating one of the loremasters. In regards to Nashalon's statement, yes, we are competitive. Yes, murder is excessive, at least to me. But of course, some of us are much more competitive than others here. And i will not lie, Zorianay was better than most of us. Her chances of becoming Bel-Shannar's apprentice were as good, if not better, than the rest of us. Somebody wanted her out of the way. So that makes me wonder who saw her as an imminent threat to "their" apprenticeship. Obviously, one of the more-skilled elves among us.

But anyway, what the person who killed Zorianay is is irrelevant. What matters is that she is dead, and unless we do something, I fear more of us will wind up dead. We must act NOW if we want to preserve life.

[Shandiar]

"Perhaps it is to eliminate the opposition to gain the right to meet with one of our fabled and great loremasters. It is possible. However I find it peculiar with the foodpoisoning, is this a tale or something to redirect focus from the real danger? I can hardly believe Hjiorych was poisoned at all, otherwise he has the guts of a White Lion."

[Prince_Asuryan]

Corvych nodded at Shiadrych's words. 'It does strike me as odd to attempt food poisoning. It not only redirects us, but to poison Hjiorych's food strikes me as a little... obvious. For one so used to food and, as he says, being poisoned before, I think it would be a mistake to attempt such a move.'

[Ruerl Khan]

The servants start to look nerveously at each other, fearing that they might too be the victims of an assassin amidst the indecisive and insecure students, none of whom appears to be willing to do anything to detail another of their number

((half the time is up, I won't force anyone to vote-kill anyone, its far more fun to watch you die one by one without taking a descision. Especially since several of you want to kill the others without actually being druchii. I can offcourse force you to vote, but i'd rather have you do it on your own. -Feel free to comment in the OOC thread.)).

[Paraicj]

"Broken glass Nashalon? How...unfortunate. I would have thought somebody of your heritage would be a little too nimble to be felled by something so mundane."

Ashar's eyes swept the room, sensing the nervousness of the other elves.

"So, how do we deal with our problem? One of our peers brutally murdered, apparently by an assassin of our vile kin. These apartments are fairly secluded, the servants are not here after hours. So, it is entirely possible, even likely, that the killer is among us, be they Druchii or otherwise. We cannot suffer such an individual to continue to blight this academy.

We are the future of Ulthuan's might, the most gifted of the white toweraspirants. Our survival is perhaps necessary for the survival of Ulthuan. I do not say this to boast, I am aware of the power of all of you, boastful or reticent. If this killer succeeds in murdering us, our nation is irrevocably weakened."

Ashar stood still and composed, his voice cold, his eyes taking in those of each of the others in turn.

"We cannot in good conscience do nothing."

[Uther Di Asturien]

"What do you suggest, Ashar? That we start conducting summary executions of those most suspicious amongst us? I am certain the fact that we're all competing for a spot next to Bel-Shannar won't affect that at all..." Hjiorych said sarcastically.

[Andruillius]

When Nashalon had backed away from Vendyh as she reached for his foot, she had furrowed her brows, looking as if she took the refusal to aid as a personal insult. The frown soon turned to a more amicable expression.

"Very well, Nashalon. You come by my chamber if you should change your mind...the same goes for you Coran, if Llandowyn should happen to return your favour", Vendyh said and gave the muscular elf a wink.


She looked at Ashar. "And of course we have to do something! Lest you want more ladies to die, of course - it could very well be your best hope to become Bel-Shannar's apprentice," she said with an obvious ironic tone and smile.

[cidracin]

Coran ignores Vendyh's remark and addresses the group.
"Unless Hjiorych has a better idea, I agree with Ashar. We cannot ignore Zorianay's murder and not act. Ashar is right the servants could not have done this so that means an aspirant must have done this. This murderer or assassin must be eliminated for the safety of all the rest of the students. The problem is that we have no concrete proof of who is the killer is and likely never will. Bel-Shannar expects us to deal with this ourselves so that is what we must do. It is my belief that the group should vote every day to choose the one elf we believe most likely to be Zorianay's killer. Whoever the group choooses should be executed until the killer has been dealt with. Innocents may be harmed but that is a price I am willing to pay. Not only our lives are at risk but the loremaster's lives as well. I have even heard rumors that Teclis himself will arrive here some time at the end of this week and we cannot endanger the High Loremaster's life by not acting. What say the rest of you?"

[Shandiar]

"I agree with Ashar as well." Shiadrych was thoughtful and softspoken, while her hair played with her lithe body. "I do not know where to start except I find the food poisoning hard to believe though I don't dare to taste myself."

[Paraicj]

Ashar nodded to his friend, tearing his eyes from Vendyh.

"Thank you Coran.

But a vote? A little crude. I was thinking perhaps our combined skill with the Aethyr might create some form of binding truth spell. But we are all mages, we all know how to circumvent simple tricks if the mind. Well, most of us do in any case. So perhaps not, after all.

Hjiorych, you can scoff if you like, but Coran's plan is not without merit. Bel Shanaar has not come to aid us, though I doubt not that he knows what has transpired. How could he fail to? And yet, we are left to our own devices. You seem to wish for food and japery, but some of us wish for more. Safety, for one. Justice, for another, or vengeance, if you would rather call it that. Our companion lies brutally murdered by one of you.

From pontificating to the whole room, he turned back to Vendyh, seaking in a less cold, almost pleading voice.

Vendyh, I wish for none to die, male or female. Our death here serve no purpose. I wish for the assassin to step forward and admit their guilt. But if another is to die, at least let us hope it might be the killer of Zorianay, rather than one of us in our sleep tonight.

I think we must put our petty squabbling aside and concentrate on our safety."

[Uther Di Asturien]

"Voting will lead to nothing but a swift death to innocents and an easier job for whoever is amongst us."
Hjiorych said.
"Thinking of the logical side, the likelihood that someone will see this murderer or maybe resist him long enough for aid to arrive increases as the days go by. However with skillfull maneuvering the same cannot be said of the odds of us catching the culprit by vote."
He frowned.
"It is true however that sitting still is an ill conceived idea, and when I suggested we finish breakfast I really did only imply that we should calm down before acting in a rash manner. I thus suggest that we use our magical abilities. We could set up magical wards that act not on any active magic but rather on mundane things like opening doors or simply movement in the hallways."
He grinned.
"Of course, I daresay almost none of us will agree to this proposal, as we have seen from last night's attempted poisoning and other, strange occurrences... we do not have only one person with murdering intent, and I doubt any of the others would like something like this barring their night enterprises."

[Andruillius]

Vendyh gave Hjiorych a sarcastic look.

"The Druchii entered this fortress without detection. You really think some trivial trap would stop him? Or worse, if he is among us," here Vendyh looked around her as if looking for the assassin, "he is surely more than happy that you openly reveal your plans to everyone!"

She looked to Ashar. "But of course, as this wise elf has told, our safety is of most importance - my safety," Vendyh smiled. "You say male and female are both to fear, but I cannot help but think Zorianay was killed because she was a lady..."

[Uther Di Asturien]

"MY plans? They were simply a suggestion to steer us away from the ridiculous idea of killing the least popular amongst us. However if you object to one suggestion and do not openly support the other, do you have a suggestion, Vendyh?"

[Allerion]

aye, a vote would be the best. Since the killer was able to easily bypass the wards, a simple binding truth spell, as Ashar suggested, will in all likelyhood fail. If in fact they are a durchii, they probably have very good knowledge of magic, and are one of the better assassins, to make it this far. so a vote would probably work the best, in my opinion.

I doubt the poisioning was actually intended to kill, that is, if the food was actually poisioned, since to my knowledge nobody actually tasted the food, since Hjiorych is probably suspecting everything to be poisioned by now. Probably it was meant to spook him.

[Ruerl Khan]

outside the birds slowly still their song as the sun slowly begins its descent into the sky

OOC:
12 hours left now. I'm leaving all options open on how you want to deal with it, including not voting for anyone and instead killing each other off in a wild orgy of blood during the night.

[Allerion]

so then are we all content on letting the killer have their pick of the next one of us to die? If thats the case, i will retire to my room now to begin crafting my defenses.

Llandowyn leaves the room in a huff, or at least as much of a huff as he could muster. He quickly leaves in the direction of his room

OOC: wont be able to post again during the day, considering the day ends at 5:20 am central standard time. and i like sleep.

[Prince_Asuryan]

Corvych looked around the room. 'voting is a good course of action. The assassin is clearly able to bypass our wards - several of you have pointed out how powerful a mage Zorianay was. I doubt many of us a powerful enough to stop this assassin...'

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. 'Surely though, voting now would be a mistake as we have so little information...'