The Bloodmage Mountains

[Ayden]

~Guard of Ages~

((open to anyone and everyone interested in throwing there character in. enjoy.))

It was a two week travel by foot from Coastal Grande City. Before adventuring to the Bloodmage Mountains, Lord Dravish stocked up on a plethora of supplies. Food pills, coin, water, and various other items that didn't include his weapon and armor.

While home in Coastal Grande, Dravish had collected more information about the Bloodmage Mountains from the various libraries around the city. He was not foolish enough to travel into unknown land without first learning of it. Besides the knowledge and stock of supplies, Lord Dravish left behind a Paladin's Crest. Once he obtains the item that he learned to be here, then he would simply return home without spending another two weeks or so traveling.

Standing roughly five foot six inches, covered in armor weighing around 180lbs, Dravish would start his trek into the mountains in search of the highest peak. These mountains almost reminded him of the mountains in the east, but without the magestorms. He was too little to even remember that anyway.

White hair breezed behind his stern face as he pushed onward. Blue hues circulated within the sockets of his face to scan the area before him. Nothing but harsh trails that circled the mountain rested before him. One wrong turn and he could be stuck in an infinite loop, the only way out being a quick jump to the death. The various trails he assumed, were to keep any unwanted people from invading or visiting.

"In the Bloodmage Mountains you will seek, the legendary item at the peak. Survive this conquest and do your best, or you'll end up dead just like the rest."

"Inside a cave at the highest peak, face the darkness."

He could clearly remember the print being ingrained upon his eyes. If this was the home of such an item, then it would only be a matter of time before coming face to face with it. It was now or never as he started his journey onward, moving with caution and ease.

Fortunately for Dravish, the sun was high up. Not a cloud in the sky. It was warm and perfect weather for a day like this. A slight breeze would keep him cool on his journey. And onward he would go into the Bloodmage Mountains.

[Ayden]

The single path carried his body for roughly fifteen minutes, chasing the width of the mountains. It didn't take him long to clear the forestry near the base and end up on the rocky road. The road appeared as if it hadn't been traveled in years, in or out. The libraries back home told him of the natives here, so it would only be a matter of time before he stumbled upon them, or they found him.

Another five minutes passed.

It was silent, even with the wind dancing around him without the music. The only audible sound that he heard would come from his feet kicking the small rocks in his way, and the items in his brown bag clunking together. The brown bag was actually his cloak that was tied in such a fashion around his waist, that it doubled for a carrying bag.

The brown bag would clash against the color of his outfitted armor. Just plain silver, mixed with a plate chest piece, and black undergarment that covered any exposed areas. Even his hands held onto gauntlets made of tough material. His Paladin's Crest remained embroidered on his chest piece located in the upper left corner. The design of the crest embodied three circles within a larger circle, connecting a broken side together. At the center, a diamond with an eye inside of it. The crest radiated off the sunlight like a badge as he pushed forward.

A sword within a black hilt rested upon his left hip, opposite that of the brown bag. The sword looked like nothing special upon first glance, it was rare for Lord Dravish to unsheathe it. Upon the red laced hilt, a small golden chain attached itself, connecting itself with two feathers. These feathers were said to come from Angels... not birds. One of them being black, and the other a pure white. The full power of this Angelic Sword was truly unknown to even Dravish himself.

After a few minutes of walking, his eyes fell upon two figures in the distance. It appeared as if they were standing guard, and as he got closer he could see they stood blocking his path that would branch into three roads behind them. They saw Dravish approach and they eyed each other.

As he got closer, his eyes would fixate upon their wardrobes. Both of them dressed in blood red robes. The robes looked light enough to keep in a nice breeze, but keep out the hot sun. They were probably use to such a climate by now. Lord Dravish tried to not think of the sun, he could feel his body temperature rising. Perhaps it wasn't smart of him to travel in all this armor.

The robed individuals looked almost like any other human, however there was something slightly off about them at the same time. These were no humans, they were the bloodmages in which he had read and learned about. These bloodmages use there blood as magic, an interesting choice of power with a possible fatal outcome.

The two bloodmages eyed him up at a distance while the both crossed their arms. They both carried duel daggers on their hips, they looked like twins. "We are the Brothers Fawx. We are the guards of this path. You are a stranger here mister. What do ya want? I suggest you turn around now while you still have a chance." The man talked with a slight accent that was native to this place. The guard giggled at his threat that was serious, regardless of the joking tone. The close similarity Dravish noticed was apparently spot on.

"I come with gifts to your leaders. If you could show me the path, I will happily be on my way." Dravish spoke with ease, he had no intention of causing any unwanted concerns to these people.

"Gifts ya say? Do we look like a charity to you mister?" The opposite guard spoke, giving him a wild look. "My apologies, these gifts are meant as a trade for information that I believe your people have." Dravish spoke trying to convince them, for they still looked at each other with doubt.

"And what kind of information would you happen to be looking for stranger? Someone like you coming all the way out here, what can we help ya with? Hmm?" The tone in the guards voice became sarcastic. This wasn't going well.

"I'm in search for an item. It is called The Guard of Ages." Dravish spoke, both eyes focused on him. It seems he had their attention now. "loth're egnish." They spoke in a native tongue, something in which Dravish did not understand.

"You will go and see our elder The Harvester. My younger brother Fawx will lead you there. But pay your respects and try not to talk too much. Unlike us, the rest of them will kill you if ya even look at 'em wrong. If he tells you nothing, you will leave or die. Ya understand stranger?" Dravish gave a nod in understanding. The brother also returned a nod to his younger brother.

The bloodmage turned around and started walking. Dravish had no choice but to follow, for this was his best chance of obtaining the legendary item in which he was after. With the bloodmage at the lead, the older brother stayed behind to stand guard. It was only moments later that the guard was out of sight and Dravish would be walking side by side with this stranger.

[Ayden]

Though things started off slightly shaky, this encounter could have gone a lot worse. Putting that behind Dravish, his eyes watched the Brother Fawx who took lead upon the trails of this mountain. It seemed that every path he reached would eventually split into three more, and three more after that, and three more pass the last. They never stayed on a single trail for too long, it was amazing that these Bloodmages could navigate through here with such ease. A wondering traveler would surely be lost here forever. No wonder they didn't just give him directions...

"I'm not sure why my Brother has decided to grant you access. If it were me, I would have turned your human ass around and sent you on your way." Fawx spoke with a slight tone of humor in his voice. Dravish wondered if all Bloodmages were this 'tough' and chatty. It didn't bother him too much, he simply listened in an attempt to avoid any conflict.

"But, since he's older he makes the rules. That's how it works around here for the most part. We're heading to the camp so you can speak to The Harverster. He has been the eldest in our village ever since I could remember. The damn old bloke just wont die I tell ya. Being the eldest, he's tend to know something about the item you seek, but I doubt you'll be able to get it so easily." Fawx spoke with confidence as he told the Paladin about The Harvester. He was the collector of information, he harvested it, and hence his name.

The sun in the sky was reaching it's highest point. Dravish could feel the water leaving his body, to pour itself down the side of his face. He contemplated taking some of his armor off, but decided against it until he asked Fawx "How much longer?". The Bloodmage tilted his head with a smile and gave out a slight, yet annoying chuckle. "Oh stranger. If you weren't so slow, we could be there in a few more hours. But at this rate, even our leader will know that you are coming. And boy oh boy! If he knew we had a smelly weasel of a human coming into OUR encampments, my brother is going to be pulling extra duties for a month! So you better have something good to trade!"

Dravish gave out a slight sigh. This Bloodmage was accusing him of being slow? How was that possible when he was following the Bloodmage who knew the paths? If he wanted to go faster, maybe the damn goon in red should pick his pace up a little. Dravish knew that he wasn't the cause of them being so slow, but he couldn't find himself to argue a valid point. As the brother spoke about the trade, Dravish nodded to him, reassuring that what he had would be found of value to whoever he traded it with.

"If there's one person in our villiage ya don't wanna be on the bad side, it would be our leader. He won't just kick you out if ya piss him off, he'll kill ya. I mean, he'll take your head off, drink all the blood that your cup of a body holds, and place your head on a pike at the base of the mountain. Hahaha. That'd be something! So don't be stupid ya stupid human."

Dravish almost had enough. This travel would be a lot easier if this Brother would just shut the hell up. He was sure that there would be no chance of that. Apparently, luck wasn't feeling so lucky, and it didn't wanna share it's blessing with Dravish on a hot day like this. The blue sky high above gave off a slight breeze that cooled his body down only slight, apparently that was all he was going to get.

Dravish spoke, in a slight attempt to keep a decent conversation going on rather than the Bloodmage just poking at him like he wasn't even there. "I'm not looking for any trouble. I'm just here for the item, and I will be on my way." His voice was becoming dry. Within the brown bag at his hip, Dravish would withdrawal a leather pouch filled with water. Bringing the canteen to his lips, he would drink the water.

The Brother Fawx watched as Dravish would drink him. A familiar smile washed over his face, just laughing to himself as the human showed such weakness without realizing. "If you be searching for that shield, I assure you it was be no easy task stranger. This isn't going to be any stroll in the park. Haha. I doubt the elder will even tell you where it is." Fawx quickly shut his mouth as he almost blurbed too much information, hoping that the stranger wouldn't notice.

Dravish noticed all right. This fool of a Bloodmage knew about the shield, so why must he go see an elder for the information? He didn't ask. Dravish wouldn't blow things out of proportion. If this was how it was suppose to be done, then he would do as they pleased if it meant he had a chance. With both blue eyes still high in the sky, reflecting the same color from high above, he continued behind the Bloodmage.

[Pain Invictus]

About fifty in front of the two bloodmages and the lone human was an old skeleton. Completely devoid of flesh, one could only assume from it's appearance that it was of an unlucky traveler who tried to make their way through the Bloodmage Mountains only to get lost and die. It was resting on a rock and had a few worms crawling over it's surface, a sight that would put fear in any individual who didn't know what they were doing. The head of the skeleton was pointing at the small group and no bones appeared to be missing. The bloodmage up in front noticed the skeleton and squinted his eyes at it when he noticed a strange darkness in the bones of the skeleton. "Could be shadows." He thought but when he looked down he noticed that the usual smog was covering the ground. "Must be the smog." He concluded before returning his gaze to the path in front.

The second bloodmage behind noticed the same skeleton but took a closer look at it. He noticed some sort of aura emanating from the skeleton which he found strange. He figured it must've been the victim of a ritual or an attack which left a trace of magic behind. He ignored it and continued on just like the first bloodmage. As the group past the skeleton, it's head followed their movement like a security camera. The second bloodmage then turned his head to take another look at the skeleton only to catch a glimpse at it rapidly turning it's head back to ithe position they first noticed it in. "Brother!" The bloodmage nearly yelled to the one in front. "That skeleton back there, it moved!" He said this time in an excited but hushed tone. The first bloodmage, intrigued by this, looked at the skeleton once more expecting some movement but it was as lifeless as the rock it laid upon. "Probably just another one of the abominations that roam these lands nowadays now let's get a move on." The bloodmage said returning his attention to the path and making sure they didn't get lost. The second bloodmage took one last look at the skeleton before following suit.

About ten minutes later, skeleton moved it head so it was looking at the path behind the bloodmages. He could still see the group but only barely so he had to get a move on. The shadows in the skeleton grew denser in darkness and the fingers of the skeleton started flexing. A few moments later, he was checking his arms out for proper function then his toes. He then stood up and walked in the direction of the group. He stopped at a mound right next to the path and dug it up to reveal his armor. He put on his leg armor first, followed by his upper body armor which emptied out the mound. He continued along where fifty feet away from the first mound, another mound showed up but on the other side of the path. He went and dug that one up revealing boots and gauntlets. He quickly put them on and continued his pursuit of the group. He was far enough away that his aura wouldn't be detected by the mages but he was not sure about the guest. He lifted up the hood on his upper body armor and released the miniature force-field that was on the surface of his wings.

By doing so, he revealed two large pairs of black wings which made him far more noticeable but that didn't matter to him. He was still missing a crucial piece but that was further up the path. As for why he was following them, those reasons remained hidden for now; what mattered to him now was that he didn't lose them. A silent enchantment created another force-field only this time it covered him from head to toe and from wing tip to wing tip. A few seconds later the light around him bent and cloaked him in a form of invisibility. His eyes focused completely on the bloodmages who brought him great rage just for being what they were. As for the unknown, he didn't appear to be a threat but he kept an eye on him anyways.

[Ayden]

A shadow carried itself swift across the ground. The shadow moved faster than any man running or most anything else that lived on land. High above in the sky, an eagle soared across the vast ocean of sky. Even with it being so high up, the fine detail of such a creation was clearly visible. The massive wings would thrust against the air as it would climb higher and higher, pushing itself faster and faster. It was an amazing sight, such freedom was unknown to those strapped to the earth.

The fleeting thought of freedom passed as quickly as the brown bird left his sight, racing far beyond the mountains. If only he could travel that fast, he would have been at his destination by now. Dravish could dream all he wanted, but he knew it wouldn't help speed up time in anyway regardless of how bad he wanted it to.

Shifting the blue hues from the sky to the ground, he found himself walking down yet another trial that Fawx would lead him through. The mountain side was calm and never changing. It wasn't like most other mountain systems, there was no snow at the peaks. It reminded him of the desert, though he only heard stories of such places. He imagined it would be similar to this place here, just more flat. Nothing but orange and brown stone colored the path before and around him.

Everyone once in awhile, Dravish would take notice of several posts with a red ribbon attached to it. He figured it was to reassure the natives here that they were on the right path, for they probably had issues with such an advanced transportation system. It seemed it worked both ways, though it protected them, it would come at a price to those without the knowledge of the way out. Perhaps this was a way to keep the people who lived here, to stay there.

Dravish wouldn't ask about it, it mattered not to him. His thought process was interrupted as he realized it had been some time since Fawx had even spoken. Were they getting close? They were traveling for quite a while, Dravish lost track of time and the distance in which they traveled. The only thing that broke the silence was the kicking of rocks in between each foot step. Each step Dravish took left an imprint within the ground underneath his own weight.

"Don't worry stranger. We're almost there. Like I told you already, ya don't have to worry until you enter our encampment." Fawx spoke, his voice had no sarcasm in it this time. He spoke calmly and in clear warning. Perhaps the travel back was getting to him too. The heat was coming down harder, there was no sign of clouds. "Are you thirsty? I have water." Dravish asked reaching back into his bag, handing it to the Bloodmage.

The Bloodmage didn't even look back at Dravish. He was caught off guard. It appeared rude, for Fawx had nothing to offer back to him. "That's the least ya could do for me dragging you all the way out here." He jested, grabbing for the water and drinking it. The Bloodmange didn't give it a second thought as he gulped down the rest of the precious liquid. Fawx tossed the empty canteen back to Dravish in order to catch it.

"About ten more minutes on the next path and we'll be there. No problem, then you can go and see The Harvester. And... thanks for the water." Fawx spoke softly near the end. Dravish simply nodded and understood. If they weren't so close to being at the camp, he might have worried slightly without having any water left. Hopefully it wouldn't take much longer as Fawx said.

((I didn't see your post until after posting this. I wasn't ignoring it. I will read and act accordingly. I sent you a PM btw. Enjoy.))

[Ayden]

Dravish had stopped. His abrupt silence caught the attention of Fawx who turned around slightly puzzled. "What is it?" The Bloodmage asked him, he was curious as to why the mere human would stop when so close. Perhaps a change of heart, or a change of mind. Fawx was unsure. They were on the last path into the encampment, they were nearly within eye sight of the strangers destination.

A brief moment had passed and Dravish had picked up the sense of others in the area. Some of it matched the presence that Fawx would release, while the other remained unknown. Whoever it was, had vanished there presence. If it wasn't for the sudden appearance and disappearance of energy within the area, Dravish would have probably disregarded it as another traveler in the group. The behavior was odd, even at such a distance. "I thought I felt something coming."

Dravish spoke to Fawx with slight caution. It was obvious that this Bloodmage didn't have the ability to sense other beings. "Ohh no worry stranger. My brethren run around these mountains all the time. There's a small handful of us that patrol the mountain to insure there is no intruders. Hah! even if there was one, the damn fool would prolly get lost!" Fawx spoke with some haste as he laughed near the end.

Perhaps Dravish was wrong and this Bloodmage was right. The patrols in the area would know this mountain best. Conflict would be minimum, or should be, so Dravish thought. Allowing a moment or so to pass by, Dravish simply nodded. It seemed that the presence he sensed earlier had not come back. Blue eyes floated freely within the sockets of his face as he realized they really hadn't climbed high into the mountain at all. It appears that they've been traveling slightly higher than the base the entire time.

[King]

Their journey was more so in to the treacherous mountain than up it. It wasn't something that Fawx felt the need to mention, more so because it was a useless pilgrimage without the guidance of a bloodmage; Dravish could search every inch of the mountain, an endeavor that could easily span several full life times, and not find the magi's encampment. Many had tried, and the dried, brittle bones that littered sandy path the pair trekked were testament to this - in some cases, the bones actually made walkway that they were on.

"I apologize for my brother," he spoke, looking over his shoulder at adventurer. The sincerity in tone was somewhat lost however, on the buffeting winds that howled like a ravenous wolf and the ruffling of what few trees made this forsaken landscape their home. "He's a good guy, but a little up-tight sometimes. Especially when it comes to the head master."

Of course, all of the magi that served under the legendary Bloodmage would willing give their lives for his protection, but there were few that took such a task as serious as his brother. Still, Fawx felt that there was a very explicit line between being dedicated and just flat out rude. This. . . adventurer didn't seem all that bad; he'd given him water as a sign of good faith, to say the least.

"Also, I'm sorry that you've gotta follow me all the way up here, but rules are rules," Indeed, many - if not all - of the magi that dwelt on that mountain knew of the shield that Dravish searched for. However, divulging information to just anyone was strictly forbidden; it was only because of their silence that their existence was, in most cases, nothing more than a myth on the tongues of wayward travelers. Very few had ever seen the bloodmagi, and even fewer lived to tell the tale.

Suddenly, the mage's attention shifted to slim aperture in the dust and sand. There, etched into the stony earth, was a sigil. What text there was to compliment the intricate signs and symbols was written in an ancient tongue that was more than likely foreign to Davish, another fail-safe should he ever actually manage to find his way back to this place.

"We're here," he spoke, reaching into the depths of his robes and removing a small vial. "Remember, just keep quiet and follow me. And if the Head Master says you're out, you're out. Understand?"

Once the understanding was made, Fawx would continue.

[Ayden]

The fleeting moment of his concentration was broken as Fawx spoke to him. The nice cold wind upon his warmed face felt pleasant as he would take in a deep breath. His ears would register the words as Fawx spoke to him. Dravish wasn't sorry that he had to follow this Bloodmage, it was better than him getting lost in this forsaken mountain for the rest of his life.

Both hues fixated upon Fawx as the attention of the Bloodmage shifted onto the ground. Dravish's eye too fell upon the sigil that was etched into the earth. The archaic writing looked only familiar in the example text books he read in the library. His knowledge told him that this was authentic, even then, he still didn't know how to read it. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the random lettering that they used.

Dravish nodded to Fawx letting him know that he was ready. It made sense to him now why everyone would know of the shield. The shield is said to nullify magics, something in which could prove devastating in the wrong hands. Perhaps they kept the shield safe guarded, to make sure it could never be used against them. If it was locked up as suspected, his trip here might be crushed from the very start. Perhaps a deal? No...

Waiting on Fawx, he would see the Bloodmage take out a vial. Dravish would have to wait and see what The Harvester would tell him and at what price if there were to be one. If fortune felt its luck return, Dravish knew he would have to ask for some. The chances of taking claim of the shield had suddenly become a tricky task, no more was it a simple game of fetch. Patiently, his eyes watched Fawx as he was ready to go.

[King]

Fawx took the boy's silence as a confirmation.

"Well then," he almost sang while his fingers delicately pried the lid from the vial's top. The liquid inside was dark, almost black, yet retained a very strong shade of vermilion near the lining of its glass container - blood.

Pouring but a single drop at the center of the sigil would suffice, and suddenly the outermost text of the sigil illuminated in response. Like wildfire, that lone drop hastily multiplied into a stream that soaked the pathways of the seal, coursing through the makeshift canals until at last it had been thoroughly filled. The light which had burned away at the earth grew in potency, its warmth almost akin to that of a second, far more gentle, sun.

Then, the earth trembled. The slope of the mountain immediately before them began to part, separated by a red beam originating from the sigil itself. Dust and sand fell into the newly formed split, forming a coffin of smog that enveloped the pair entirely. When, at last, it settled, a case of stairs descending deeper into the mountain's bowels could be seen. "Welcome to our humble abode."

The narrow path head was lined with torches that burned brightly, yet some steps were harder to see than others. "Careful now," the bloodmage warned. "Wouldn't want you slipping and breaking your neck. Not before you met the Master, that is."

[Ayden]

It had seemed that the legends and stories of the Bloodmage's were beyond true. The dark vial would match that of his own that he held secure in his brown bag upon his hip. Dravish realized how valuable it would become and hopefully would increase his odds of obtaining that in which he would seek. He was unsure however, if the Bloodmage's would even want to trade for his blood. Dravish knew it was infused with the magic that was infused within his DNA, but he thought it be nothing special compared to that of a powerful Bloodmage. Perhaps, Dravish didn't realize his full capabilities.

A sudden display of magic and might unfolded before him, yet in front of Fawx who took charge. The bright spectacle was very impressive as it burned away at the earth with great heat. As if on call, the very ground that he stood on would shake violently as if a giant were to have a chill up its spine. While the earth would split, revealing the passageway, Dravish would keep his balance to insure that he would not look a fool.

The storm of dust had nearly exploded into the air forcing Dravish to raise his left arm to block any particles from seeping into his eyes. This even seemed similar to an old tome being opened for the first time in ages, almost eerie if it wasn't daylight. As the smog of dust would settle around them, Dravish would take note of the passageway as it finally became visible to him. With Fawx introducing this passageway as the entrance of his home, Dravish could feel a slight excitement swelling inside him.

Dravish would follow Fawx into the stair well that would descend itself deeper into the mountains. Even with the lamps that dimly lit the stairwell, he would make sure to have a solid foot on each step before proceeding. Each stone slab of a stair would give off a *clap* as Dravish took each step. His heavy boots the culprit. The walls were lined with red lettering, more archaic script that was unreadable. Though the lettering appeared to be messages of some sort, it appeared to be art like. Designs would flow down the passageway and out of sight.

The silence in which Dravish relinquished was a sign of his concentration. He tried to play out every scenario that could unfold while in contact with Fawx's master, The Harvester. He tried to erase any doubt of failure, he couldn't fail in his quest for this shield. Knowing the stakes, Dravish continued to follow Fawx without hesitance. It would only be seconds before the passageway would reveal his destination. He hoped Fawx would take him straight to The Harvester, and hoped there would be no interruptions in the process.

[Hissori Tenkuu]

Another day, another mission; or rather, another month, another mission. A Mage for The Guild; an organization that was formed to keep tabs on mages signed under their roster sending them on missions that can scale from either Retrieval missions to destroying the Harbingers that spot the lands. For Hissori however, it was a combination of both extremes. His target location required him to trek up and over the Bloodmage Mountains; which just happened to be the location of the item he was sent to retrieve: A Shield with unknown capabilities to The Guild, to reach the land beyond the land that lie behind its astronomical heights. All in all Hissori had about a good month's worth of travel by foot ahead of him. With what gold he was given he figured it would be best to stock up on five small containers of water figuring that the mountainous trails were going to be as treacherous as the rumors held them as. Two loaves of bread were also purchased and stored in a cloth wrap for carrying. The coin he was given by The Guild was just enough to get him by, keeping him on a straining budget.

Hissori began his trek up the mountain having been led by one of the villages to the starting trail. The small bottles of water he had with him were kept underneath his over coat in case of emergency such as mana depletion. The second he took a his first step on the mountain's trail to ascend its heights he felt a vibration. The flow of mana here was overwhelming. Casting his eyes to peer up at the jagged edges and the peaks that prodded into the sky like javelins Reveal.

-- Reveal: Caster can see the flow of mana. Can be used as a detection skill when in search of another caster by focusing on mana concentrations.

The mountain was bright, flourishing in mana but even brighter so at the core the further down the peaks he allowed his eyes to travel. It was blinding almost that he had to release the spell and turn his eyes away, closed, for a few moments. "Well.. that spell will be useless to me once I'm further up." Rubbing his right eye with his hand. Heaving a breath he proceeded to climbs the heights by following the trails not knowing all of what to truly expect once passing the threshold of no return. The only positive side he saw to this was the potency of mana in the region which provided him with the sanction to not have to rely on generating his own mana which was a limited time passive when placed in an area absent of mana.

An hour had gone by. The land below was becoming smaller per individual object but vaster to how far he could perceive. Still on one of the outer path of the mountain he admired the view of the lands that stretched further than he could look upon. Here, he figured he would be able to stop briefly and rest to cool off with some water or so he thought. The only downside to drawing upon the mana of the environment and in particular; those who wield water, is that the water's temperature will only match the temperature of the environment around. The warmer the water the better the saturation however, the only benefit. Holding out before him his hand he casually began to conjure a sphere of water of the mana composition around. A vortex of visible mana first came to view much like a spiral galaxy. At its core, a transparent sphere began to generate.

In moments the sphere came to be visible as a ball of water ever in motion as mana is never still and in constant motion itself. The hydrosphere levitated over the palm of his hand. It moved where his hand went and he brought it close to his lips to allow him to drink. Sure, the water was a little more than water but it did the job with keeping him hydrated. Four swallows should be enough to keep him going. Allowing the hydrosphere to drop and splash on the ground he continued moving further up the path.

The mana around had begin to shift and move in a disoriented way. It felt like a breeze yet there was no wind. Turning his attention further up the mountain in the direction he felt this sudden disturbance he narrowed his eyes. There was a source of light a ways inward, Hissori could just barely see the outer rim of these omissions. Following this was a sudden rumble of the earth beneath his feet. He kept his footing through the tremors. "Whatever is over there I think it may have something to do with why I had to trek this damn mountain!" The cloth wrap with the two loaves were held tightly in hand as he ran. The leather of his shoes allowed him for agile movement as he was not being weighed down by a sort of metal. His steps were light and ever fleeting.

There was a tug at the side of his cranium, another mana breeze so to speak told him to look just above the ridge he was running along side. Reveal. He was being tracked. There were bodies of mana moving along the ridge just behind the edge so he could not see them through physical sight. The spell eroded from his eyes as he looked forward again. "Scouts?" Could there be a society living here? Only time will tell. He had passed a ribbon wrapped around what it seemed to be a landmark. This was the first he found, something different at least. "Did someone die here?" Moving closer to the ribbon he picked it up and held it between his thumb and index. "Hm.." Unsure of what to make of this he looked down the path he was traveling. "There's definitely more to this mountain.." Sure, he had figured this much out but to what avail will that benefit him? The mysterious bodies of mana he saw moving along the ridge, this ribbon, the sudden phenomena of the tremors and the light. What had The Guild sent him to retrieve?

Looking down at the cloth wrapped bread he took one and broke off a quarter of it to consume, wrapping the rest back in the cloth.

[Pain Invictus]

(( Sorry for the misinterpretation in my first post, I'll be sure to edit it soon o3o ))

Mativ stopped about twenty feet behind the mage and the traveler to see what they were doing. He had noticed the sigil as well and was not surprised to see the bloodmage pour a drop of a dark liquid on it. He began to look around but quickly returned his attention to the sigil as it began to glow and the very earth started to tremble. He stumbled around a bit but maintained his balance as he saw a passageway into the mountain. "Genius." He thought to himself, referring to the way the passageway was hidden, as he waited for them to enter the passageway before he turned around and reached out with his right hand. "Inev." He said quietly while his hand let out a mild glow for a few seconds. It would reveal his location for a few seconds to whomever could sense magic but he figured that his cloak of invisibility would keep anyone from detecting him. About ten seconds later, a claymore whizzed through the unclean air of the mountain and stopped right in front of Mativ's hand.

He opened a hole in his force-field before he reached out and took the claymore, known to him as Stratera, and brought it into his force-field. The hole closed returning him to invisibility as he put Stratera onto his left hip. He turned back towards the passageway and made his way in. It was a bit darker then expected but that was no problem to Mativ however the real problem here was how he would remain undetected. His armored footsteps would be hear easily in the silence of these walls if he didn't tread lightly enough. He thought about it for a few seconds before deciding to move on. He walked with steps as light of a feather making minimal, if any, noise. Mativ knew detection would be inevitable so he put his right hand on his claymore just in case.

"I hope my hunch is right or I'm going to get myself in a lot of trouble..." He thought to himself as the mage and the traveler were in his line of sight once again. "The traveler seems trustworthy enough." Mativ thought as his gaze rested on him. Should he make contact and perhaps gain an ally in his mysterious endeavors? Or will the traveler rat him out and endanger both himself and Mativ? Only one way to find out. "Hey you." He said to the man telepathically. This communication would keep the mage from noticing his presence as it was him sending his thoughts directly to the traveler, maintaining silence on Mativ's part. "Don't be alarmed if you hear a voice in your head, you're not going crazy. However if you don't want to endanger yourself, don't let the mage know about me." Mativ said in the traveler's mind.

[King]

The problem with hiding on a mountain that was literally scoured from peak to base, both physically and beyond, was just that: hiding. While Fawx may not have been blatantly aware of the mysterious individual lurking in their shadows, or the other traveler that happened to find himself somewhere along its humbling height, there were definitely those that were. Of course, certain precautions had been taken to ensure that these new "intruders" - their intentions may not have been ill, but until that could be verified, they were seen as threats - would get their just reward should they press too deep into the desolate mountain's secrets.

One such precaution was taken the very moment Fawx and his weary follower entered the passageway; the door, as quickly as it had opened, slid shut. The darkness set in like an eclipse, leaving only the torches to light what little there was left of the stair case. But it was more than just a physical barrier. The magic that coursed through every grain and sediment of rock was a potent self-propagating barrier, serving as an ongoing shield against any sort've metaphysical intrusions, magical or otherwise.

Unfortunately for the lurker, just as his telepathic conversation had gotten underway, it would've ended. However, fear not - Davish's true journey was just beginning. For at the very bottom of the appropriately long stair case was a door: a large, lavish mahogany twin set, decorated from side to side with intricate seals and scriptures of ancient magic. Glistening gold marked the plate on either side, closest to the center, and with a light push they opened wide.

The room they now entered was far brighter than the previous, yet it still required a handful of torches lining the walls for adequate lighting. It was large and oval in shape, branching off into a myriad of hallways - etched into the stone of the mountain - that spiraled deeper into the mountain's heart. Loosely draped over the entrance of every hallway was a silken red cloth, its dip so low it almost covered more than half of the ten foot drop to the floor.

But where was the blood?

All around them, of course. It filled the deep canals - just how deep was unknown - on either side of the walkways that ran the full length of the halls, and amassed in thick, black pools in some of the wider, larger sections; there were also fountain-heads that protruded from the walls, profusely spilling the deep vermilion substance from their maws. Strangely, the overwhelming stench that usually accompanied the liquid was completely absent. In fact, the blood-soaked halls smelled of-- fresh lavender. Clearly a result of their dabbling in some of the lesser arts of magic, Fawx saw no reason to bring it up if his companion didn't initiate it.

"This way," he spoke, slowly beckoning Dravish to follow him with a hand. Hopefully, his stomach wouldn't get the best him. For the deeper they traveled into the Blood Sanctum, the more abundant and readily available it became. Fawx just hoped he wouldn't get too curious about where so much blood came from; those that did, more than often, never liked the answer.

It wasn't long before they stood in front of yet another set of doors, this pair even more grand and exquisite than the first. "Speak only if spoken to. Otherwise, let me do all of the talking."

[Ayden]

Hissori was a stranger of these mountains for sure. His skills were unique in which were not native to the homeland of the Bloodmages. The sudden feeling of being chased after would be correct as a small group of give Bloodmages were on the search. No one would go unnoticed in these mountains, especially those who were on the right path even if they didn't know it.

Quickly around the next bend, the band of five approached Hissori. They would keep weapons sheathed, some with duel swords, others with staffs, as they kept there distance of roughly ten feet. "Identify yourself stranger. What business do you have here?" A Bloodmage holding an orb within his left hand took a step out as he talked to Hissori. Red robes draped over his body, as well as the others who stood behind him. Obviously he was the senior ranking individual in the group. They were nothing more than a scout party, but there skill in combat is what helped keep these mountains safe.

The illuminating orb flickered with a red mist inside, a source of magic indeed. Keen green eyes of the Bloodmage focused on this intruder, stranger, but didn't leave the idea of possible friend rather than foe open. "I am Fawx." He spoke. He was yet another Brother Fawx. Mostly all scouts that took pride in their duties took claim to the name of Fawx, being a brother among a group of peers who held equally important tasks.

Dravish followed his own Bloodmage, stopping with a moment as a snap in his own mind occurred. The presence appeared again, this time it was awfully close him. Slightly disturbed, Dravish was almost hasty to act. Getting ready to turn around, a sudden voice played through his mind. The sudden voice was so abrupt that it nearly caused him to jump. He refrained from such a stupid action. His eyes looked upon Fawx who was still ahead of him, apparently only he could hear it. A silly thought occurred, since a link was made, perhaps talking to himself in thought would relay a response back to Mativ, the unknown. As quickly as that occurred, a defense mechanism of sorts kicked in.

The intrusion of unauthorized visitors would prove to be extremely difficult as the path was then cut off. He could feel the link being snapped as well. As quickly as the voice entered his head, it would exit. The sudden alarm of an invader had caught the attention of another scouting party, the magic acting as a silent alarm allowing other scouts to find locations. Much similar to the first five that approached Hissori would be on its way to the entrance to find the other would be adventurer, Mativ. These scouting parties littered the outside of the mountains, as a series of more Fawx's would come scrambling about with roughly the same arsenal. Mativ would have to deal with this group, any unwanted attention could bring an onslaught of more Bloodmages if not careful.

Dravish continued behind Fawx. Apparently he was use to such a thing being native here. Entering into the encampment, his blue eyes would widen like a full moon. The sight in which was more than historical in any means. The paintings and drawings in the books back home weren't even doing this scene justice as he continued on. A soothing scent of lavender masked the would be blood smell. A calm and gentle smell to combat a weak stomach. Being warned previously by such a thing, he kept the contents in his stomach light to avoid any upset feelings. He dared not ask about the blood... it was far more than what he could ever imagine. An odd but impressive sight.

"Speak only if spoken to. Otherwise, let me do all of the talking."

As Fawx spoke, Dravish simply nodded, it seemed that it was clearly working for him. He couldn't risk screwing this up now. The nod to Fawx who stood in front of the last door was to show a simple understanding of the request. Dravish would have to wait and see how his cards played out. Hopefully he could come out of this as he imagined. It would only be a matter of time before fate revealed its own hand to him.

[King]

The Harvester sat upon a throne made from the bones of many, humans and beasts like, artistically situated to embellish the sickly, decrepit mage's appearance. Garbed in robes darker than the blackest pitch, only his eyes, two smoldering ruby jewels plucked from the depths of some hellish inferno, were visible among the shadows that the fabric cast over his face. Two slender, willowy hands protruded from the ends of silken sleeves; they were slender, withered husks, nearly as skeletal and pale as the throne they idly rested upon.

The eerie silence that filled the dimly lit chamber was offset by a sudden sniff, permeating from the throne at the far end of the room. It was subtle at first, yet its intensity increased the longer that Dravish stood down wind.

"Company, I see," a weak, dry and raspy voice called out. "I take it you have good reason to bring this outsider into our domain, Fawx."

"I do, master," the bloodmage replied. "This adventurer. . . he seeks the Gaurd of Ages."

The two embers marking where the Harvester's eyes would be flashed, like an explosion, before dulling into the timid jewels they once were. "I know why this boy has come, Fawx. But why do you bring him here? Many have tried for the Guard, and many have failed. What makes you think this one is so different?"

Fawx's figure went tense, as rigid as the stone surrounding them. His eyes paced frantically, searching the catacombs for the slightest sliver of a suitable answer - he found nothing. A long, drawn out silence followed, until finally he spoke: "It's difficult to explain, my master. I just-- have this feeling in my stomach."

"I see," A deep, earth-trembling growl festered in the Harvester's throat. His fingers raked at the arms of his throne, his nostrils flaring as he took in an almost obnoxious quantity of air. "His blood does smell. . . different, but different isn't always better. I'll require a taste, just to make sure. And should your 'feeling' prove to be wrong, Fawx, know that the punishment shall be dire."

The bloodmage nodded slowly, his expression grave and fearful.

"Come, child," the Harvester spoke, his fiery gaze now fixed on Dravish. "I take it that you didn't come unprepared for such an occasion?"