[Mission] Fragment of a Lost Age (Rycust)

[Gillar]

The Season of Spring in the Year 510 AV: Day 5 The Winter had ended although for those living beneath the protective embrace of their dark god, citizens of Ravok barely noticed the change in seasons. The temperature noticeably raised a bit however the city of Ravok was immune to the extremes of climate thanks to Rhysol's presence in the city. It was but a few days into the new season that found a member of the mysterious and darkly devoted called on by his Commander to meet with the rest of his unit at the Vitrax for an important mission. Ebonstryfe units, while normally occupied with training, patrol duties and the occasional spy or escort mission, were also called upon for more important tasks and from what Rycust had been told, this was one of them. The apprentice was summoned to one of the meeting chambers on the ground level of the Vitrax. Informed via messenger that he was to cease whatever he was doing and report to his commander, Rycust was left with no choice but comply. After doing what it took to prepare himself and heading to the Vitrax, Rycust entered the Vitrax courtyard where routine operations were underway. Soldiers and apprentices engaged in various forms of training and practice while commanders inspected their units and prepared for their own missions. The great statue of Gru'tral, Ebonlord of the Ebonstryfe, dominated the center of the courtyard and gazed down upon all beneath it. Making his way up the stairs and through the main entrance of the Vitrax itself, Rycust was greeted once again by another massive statue of the Ebonlord. Down the hall from the statue was the meeting room he was to report to. Already others from his unit were filing into the chamber and taking a seat where Commander Wersef waited. There were eleven in all including Wersef, Rycust, five soldiers and four other apprentices. There was Soldier Cordelain, a man in his late 20's with short blond hair and hazel eyes. He was average in build and fond of using a longsword. Soldier Nyv was a woman with long black hair held in a thick braid and blue eyes. She may have been attractive if not for the deep scare that ran from the top of her forehead down over one eye to her chin. Wounded in mission when she was an apprentice, she carried the scar with pride as a sign of her strength and devotion to Rhysol. She favored a pair of sickles for weapons. Soldier Crontev was a mountain of a man standing over six-feet tall with a brutish build. Bald with a single braid of hair hanging from his chin, Crontev favored a massive warhammer. Soldier Mison, a man in his early 20's, had short brown hair and dark brown eyes with a medium build. He was partial to the use of longsword and favored a shield as well. Soldier Laven was a short man of barely over five feet in height with short red hair and brown eyes. Small in stature, Laven was nonetheless highly skilled with a bow and served as the unit's main scout. Along with the soldiers, the five apprentices included Rycust, Tamera, Mulg, Stalos, Kile and Donner. Tamera was the newest aside from Rycust and was barely nineteen years old. She was a raven-haired beauty with dark eyes and ivory skin. It was her skill with the manipulation of Djed that helped her excel toward being assigned to a unit. She favored loose-fitting robes and light leather armor carrying only a dagger. Mulg, barely twenty years of age, was known to be a bit cocky. Long brown hair with light blue eyes and a medium build, Mulg was the son of a wealthy Ravokian merchant. He was fond of using a shortsword and buckler in battle. Stalos and Kile were twins both nineteen years old with matching styles of short black hair and brown eyes. They were of heavy build; their strength training obvious and favored close-quarter combat with bladed gauntlets. Donner was the other scout in the unit; a competent tracker and one of the quieter members, he had short brown hair and deep green eyes. He was good with a crossbow but otherwise relied on a simple spear for a weapon. Wersef was the oldest of the group at just over thirty years old. He was of medium build with short black hair and a trimmed goatee. Never found without his jeweled longsword and bloodbane mount, Treachery, Wersef was a strict but fair commander always focused on completing whatever task he and his unit were assigned. When the entire unit was finally present, Wersef tapped his armored hand on the table once for silence before speaking, "Alright, forget the pleasantries, we have a mission and not just another patrol or escort duties either. We have been assigned to a hunt."

[Rycust Erryt]

With the coming of Spring, Rycust had felt an overwhelming sense of a rebirth of himself. A dormant part of him finally awakening. The dawn of a new age, so to speak. Though the feeling in temperature was all but indecipherable, Spring was definitely here. He was on the way to the Vitrax, looking to get in some much needed training, when the messenger intercepted him. Though he was really overdue for some more armed sparring, it would have to wait. Rhysol's will demanded it. Rycust's initial disappointment at the unexpected change in plans lasted for just a few moments, as he stayed on his course to the Vitrax, now for a very different purpose. Then it hit him. Maybe this was what he had been feeling all along. This just might be his dawn. The journey seemed a little faster with the newfound spring in his step. Nodding his head as he passed the statue of Gru'tral in the courtyard and then in the complex itself. Making his way through the familiar halls, Rycust was in the meeting room in no time. His whole unit was already there conversing, awaiting his arrival. By now, his excitement had already worn off. This was probably just another routine patrol: nothing to scoff at, for it was still a service to Rhysol, but it certainly wasn't some dawn of a new age. Disappointed by his high expectations, Rycust fell in line with his unit, fitting in well with the battle ready warriors. He was clad in dark studded leather armor, armed with a short sword in a sheath on his back and a dagger holstered on his side. Across his back, laid out in a thin pack, were thieves tools. His outfit was topped with a black cloak, partially covering his weapon. Wersef silenced the crowd, not that Rycust had arrived, and addressed them. "Alright, forget the pleasantries, we have a mission and not just another patrol or escort duties either. We have been assigned to a hunt." Rycust smiled.

[Gillar]

As soon as Wersef called for silence and informed the unit that they would be going on a hunt, Rycust could feel their excitement in the air. It was the first time that the unit had been chosen to go on a hunt and considering they were still relatively new; new as in being together as a unit, it was an honor. Wersef waited a moment and continued, "Now, I know none of you have ever been on a hunt before and some of you newbies may not even know what a hunt is exactly so allow me to explain. One of our primary duties as a unit of the Ebonstryfe is to track down certain vessels of fractured divine essence and return them to the Temple. We call these vessels, fragments. These fragments are all that remain of long dead entities of divine heritage. Yes, we are hunting pieces of dead gods." Wersef allowed his words to sink in. Several members of the unit began muttering to themselves and each other, some in disbelief, others still with excitement. Raising his hand for silence, Wersef elaborated more on their mission, "We are the backup requested by another unit. The message arrived just a few hours ago and we are to leave immediately. According to the messenger, his unit was taking losses and decided to hold up in a ruined tower three days southwest of here. Now as for the fragment, it is anything but dead. It's unknown what god it was once a part of but we do know that it calls itself, Gumat the Deformed. According to the messenger, it epitomizes its name in mind and body and has even managed to acquire a small group of followers. Unfortunately, the messenger did not survive long after his arrival so we have little more to go on. I can try to answer any questions but make it quick; we leave in an hour."

[Rycust Erryt]

Rycust heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he heard the news that he was to hunt a remnant of a dead god. An innumerable amount of emotions flashed through him in a matter of seconds: Excitement, joy, anxiety, fear. He didn't know what to feel. All he knew was that this was surely his dawn. Only a true warrior would be able to accomplish this task. This was his task for himself. Previously oblivious to the others, Rycust came back into reality to hear the rest of the information. His nerves rose when he heard that another unit had taken losses and was hiding away from Gumat and his minions. But, he forced the nerves down. Petch them, He told himself. His unit was the real deal. They wouldn't let some deformed mutant get anything from them. Rycust felt a righteous anger well up inside him. This beast had murdered the servants of Rhysol. He would pay for such crimes. The full wrath of the Defiler would be brought upon them. Rycust silenced his tongue. He had no questions. This beast had murdered his brothers. The pay would now pay for it's crimes. He needed no other explanation than that.

[Gillar]

While Rycust may not have had any questions, others in the unit did. Their questions however revolved mostly around what sort of intel there was on the region, the ruined tower and what other hazards they may encounter. To these, Wersef informed the unit that intel was slight. The region was marginally known as patrols only recently began moving through the area. The ruined tower was believed to be a part of a pre-Valterrian outpost although full information was not available. As for other hazards, there were barbarian tribes known to frequent the region for the purpose of hunting. Their mission would be a mix of scouting and intelligence gathering as well as hunting for the fragment. If they could rescue their comrades, that too was a priority however Wersef gave no illusions to there being any survivors. The soldiers wasted no more time with words as there was little time available to start. Wersef immediately dismissed the unit to prepare to leave. As speed was of the essence, supplies were kept to a minimum thus there would be no supply carts. Each soldier gathered their own personal gear as did the apprentices. When all were ready, everyone met in the courtyard where Wersef was waiting atop his bloodbane steed. Some of the soldiers road horses of their own while others prepared to depart on foot. "Alright. We have our destination and our orders. The ruined tower is three days from here but there may be a few shortcuts we can take to get there in two. One of these shortcuts however will take us through a rather dangerous area where barbarians often reside this time of year as they follow various animal herds. Be ready and Rhysol be with us." Wersef led the unit from the courtyard and to the ship that would take them to the mainland where they would head off into the wilds. Once on the ship, Rycust was approached by Tamera, one of the other apprentices. Her long black hair was tied back in a single braid and her ivory skin was a stark contrast to black travel robes. "So, Rycust, you ready for this? I mean, this isn't just another patrol; we are actually going to face off against a piece of a dead god..." She didn't exactly seem nervous as much as thoughtful about the whole mission. There was no question to the danger they would be putting themselves. The journey aboard the ship took longer than most of the unit seemed to want as Lake Ravok was far from being a small pond. Every so often Rhysol swore he could see a shadow just beneath the surface of the water; a shape far larger than anything he had ever seen before.