For imperial_saga

[not_that_shady]

1)

[The Desert of Biggs lies on the border of Dwaelath and Ybeathiel. The sea winds, blocked by the Wall and other structures, bypass a streak of land scarred by ancient glaciers from east to west, that runs from the Rift to the middle of the borderlands, withholding their life-giving rain. The terrain is harsh and rocky, the winds malicious and blowing with sand, and the proximity to the Rift means that those brave or stupid enough to venture into the desert hardly ever return.

[That being said... why the HELL is this strange cloaked woman asking you to take her there?

[She leans on the tavern table, speaking softly.]

I'll make it worth your while. All you would have to do is keep us safe from the monsters; I can take care of the rest. I NEED to get to the ruins in that desert. Can you do it?

2)

[Obligatory siege post! The enemy has taken the stronghold and you--for whatever reason--were sequestered in one of the towers with Midna. As the sounds of shouting, ringing steel and bellows of pain echo up the stairs, she gets to her feet like a coiling viper, gazing at the door, the air around her chilling by a few degrees. Her hand crackles with purplish lightning.]

I really hope you know how to use that weapon of yours... We're going to need it.

3)

[The party! Are you a fellow partygoer? The host or hostess? In any case Midna, still in black robes and hood, stands out starkly in the crowd against the other women in patisserie pastels and poofy dresses. She clutches a goblet of something dark and red and chilled in one hand, and figuratively floats at the edge of the crowd, watching everyone with quiet amusement. If you approach her, however, she'll over a sidelong smile.]

"A very good party indeed, isn't it?"

Comments

[not_that_shady]

She recoils at the canon-blast and glares at Shen with a look that is rightfully reserved for feather-brained rulers. Then she takes to the air and flits backwards towards the door.

"I'll take the stairs, then."

She snaps... and disappears in a scattering of black confetti. Exactly three seconds later a new commotion comes from down the staircase, a terrified soldier's scream and the rushings of panic.

[nomen_est_numen]

Explosions always make Shen feel warm and giddy inside, but he hops down off of the cannon and takes a look down the staircase.

He is not impressed very often by anyone else's anything, but he has to admit, this creature certainly can fight.

[not_that_shady]

Midna is actually no where to be found, but a handful of marauders are cowering at the base of the stairs. They spy Shen and point. "Look! Up there!" "Get him!" "You sure? With what happened to Gelwyk--" "We've got our orders, now CHARGE!"

As the first few clumsily make their way up the torch-ilt staircase, something shimmers in the dark corners of the ceiling and a whiplike tendril of absolute black sprouts from it and wraps around the nearest soldier like a snake.

"IT'S GOT ME! IN THE NAME OF GOD HELLLLP--"

The sound is abruptly cut off as the tentacle yanks him back and the shadows swallow him whole.

[nomen_est_numen]

He's not a superstitious bird, really. Honest. Ancient China notwithstanding. Really. So he totally doesn't flee back into the room and plaster himself against the far wall. You saw nothing.

Regaining his composure (which the SO did not lose in the first place, pfff, come on) he looks about. "Was that you?"

Because, yeah, the air can answer him.

[not_that_shady]

"A lady has to know how to defend herself." The air answers; or more specifically, the shadows do. "But I can't hold them off forever! That canon may be pretty and shiny but I could REALLY use your help over here."