Aurora: Rising Sun

[DarkEastwood]

Spoiler:

What can I do? I said something to Ysmay like a page or 2 ago, and she hasn't responded.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Aboveground was an abandoned alleyway littered with rubble and the bodies of citizens and Novar alike. The bodies were mostly burned. The location of the insurgence was just behind where they were, hopefully.

[Baloth-Kul]

Rashmi whispered a prayer for the dead, and headed onwards.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The street ahead was surprisingly clear of damage. There was a house down the street that seemed to be projecting a magic shield around it: the distortion of the air and blue glow gave it away.

[Kerr]

"Novar stronghold?" asked Herbert. "And if it isn't, they'll notice it."

[JVElEven]

"Fancy lights alright," Kari muttered.

[Baloth-Kul]

"I think this is what we're looking for." Rashmi approached the house, cautiously. "Hello?" She called out.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Rashmi found she couldn't go within the forcefield. A man, human, maybe in his mid thirties, poked his head out of a window. "Who are you?" He asked cautiously. "We can't take any more refugees. We're already full here." The magicians of the group knew that only a very experienced magic-user could keep this shield up for longer than a few hours.

[Baloth-Kul]

"We're not refugees!" Rashmi replied. "We're looking for two missing councillors. The Novar are searching the city for them, too."

[Dirty Spaceman]

"We're an elite team of highly trained special agents sent on a top secret mission to rescue them," Randall chipped in with a snicker.

[Kerr]

"Do you know where they are?" asked Herbert.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The man looked back into the house at the mention of the missing councilors and muttered some whispered words to another. "I don't know what you're talking about," He said quickly. "We haven't gotten any news from the outside. Now, leave, quickly! You'll draw attention."

"They sound like Shades to me," An old man's voice came from within. The voice was strong, but it wavered with clear exhaustion. "Taliesin's men, Bennic. Don't sound like anyone I know, though... likely the old Shades are dead now." The voice paused. "Come in, quickly," The shield faded in a door-like opening for the Shades to go inside.

[Kerr]

Herbert walked through the opening quickly.

[Baloth-Kul]

Rashmi quickly walked through the opening.

Hidden:

see wat I did thar?

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The Shades walked into a middle class living room and saw a very old man raising his hands to the sky, blue waves of energy flowing from his hands and raising to form the forcefield. He wore a tattered noble's robe, was nearly bald and had a scraggly white beard. His very white skin and purple eyes showed that he was a Tiberian. "Greetings," He said through a strained breath. "I am Councilor Manhaus - I believe you've been looking for me."

[JVElEven]

"Great," Kari said, only semi-sarcastically. "Another group we're gonna get killed."

[Baloth-Kul]

"Councilor Manhaus...Is Councilor Vaughan here with you?" Rashmi asked. "And why are you still here in the city? Surely, you could have fled already...In any case, we can take you to safety."

[Br3admax]

Logan rolled his eyes at Kari's comments. He was completely sure that the group would let him kill her now. But somehow, he controlled his rage in front of the Councilman. Later.

[Arch-Mage Matt]

The Councilor shook his head. "I have not risked leaving. I am not strong enough to fight off the Novar if I am discovered. As for Constance... I do not know where she is. We fled here together, but she attempted to escape on her own. If she didn't make it out, she's either dead or hiding in a different building."

[Baloth-Kul]

"We can escort you to safety." Rashmi said confidently. "Do you know where Councilor Vaughan could be hiding? Where you last saw her?"

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"She went down the street," The Councilor answered. "If she's still alive, I doubt she got very far."

[Baloth-Kul]

"...Which direction?" Rashmi asked. "We can look for her, or at least for signs of her. If there's anything promising, we'll keep looking. If we find her, good, we'll bring her back here. If we don't find any sign, or if we find her body, we'll come back here. Then, we can escort you to safety. Will you come with us, once we have looked for her?"

[Kerr]

"We'll try to find her but we should keep you safe anyway. Still, what about all these other people?" said Herbert. "That shield won't stay up forever and we can't just leave them here, can we? Most Novar seem to have no problem murdering civilians."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

"If you want to help, then take over for me." Caidan Manhuas grunted. "I can sense the magic in you and I'm growing tired."

[Kerr]

"That isn't a solution, the barrier will still fail eventually, just later." said Herbert. "We need to get these people out of here."