Roleplay Kingdoms

A lone raven, carrying a message around its neck has been sent from the frozen west toward Archaia flew with a sense of importance ,it's wingbeat never slowing or faltering in its pace.

The bird flew over the territory of Vothyl Syl as it sped toward it's destination, nearly getting killed by a snowy owl who must have been desperate for food, but made it out minus a few feathers.

The black bird stopped to rest a moment before flying over the sea to complete it's journey to the island nation ,perching on a large rock on the beech to preen itself. After an hour of preening and squawking at crabs it took to the air once more to deliver it's message .

After another few hours of flying the bird finally arrived at its destination, flying through an open window and through the hallways, just catching a servant opening the King's door to clean his clothing . The bird perched itself on the end of his bed, the message held in place by a red string tied in a bow.

The servant, startled, took the message, politely thanked the raven, and ran for the king, who was in a strategy session regarding the invasion.

"Your majesty, a raven brought a message from a foreign land. I think it is best that you read it immediately, the bird looks like it went through a lot."

"Very well," replied Gahlerek, frowning and taking the message. "Meeting dismissed." He opened it. ((What did it say?))

The message was a simple one, written in the common tongue. If the casing which the message was contained in was opened a notification was sent to the one whom had sent it, and the raven took off.

Inside the casing was a scroll, which was kept shut with a wax seal, on the seal was an insignia of a grinning skull, and the eyes of the skull had a slight green glow to them.

The message read as such.

"Greetings, King Gahlrek.

We understand that you are currently in the midst of planning out some form of an assault on the jungle nation of Ahuachtli. We wish to aid you. We have plans to grant your soldiers the many attributes of the dead, without actually killing them. They shall be tireless, ferocious, without mercy! If you wish for your war to be succesful, recall all your troops to your isle, and we shall be sending a boat to you shortly. The vessel shall contain the neccesary items for your soldiers to grow in power. If you wish for our aid, quickly run to the battlements of your castle and wave. Our raven shall be watching."

Gahlerek jumped up and ran for the battlements, waving as he ran. The power of the undead, matched with the Arkhmezre, would obliterate any before it.

After waving, he sent for the resident Master of Kah-Lahren, asking her to contact the mage on board the attack fleet and send the ships back home.

The raven was indeed waiting for the king, having perched itself upon one of the merlons along the battlements walls. The raven took flight, then very slowly perched itself upon the kings shoulder, letting out a loud "Caw" then just remaining where it was, seeming content on its new perch.

One of the King's guardian mages immediately sent a strong blast of air, harmlessly but forcefully pushing the bird off Gahlerek'a shoulder.

"Can't let anyone touch the King. Nothing against undead birds, just the guards' rules."

Another mage searched Gahlerek for traces of the blight, which they had had time to study in-depth following Sael's tree-beast's death at the hands of the undead nation.

The bird let out an annoyed squawk, and flew toward the guard, lending atop his helm and harmlessly pecking against it, almost as if it was being playful.

In the depths of Ahn'Kahet, Plag'razul was smiling, seemingly amused by the birds antics.

No traces of blight would be found, for the bird was not infact dead. If they wanted to plague the king there were innumerable other ways to do it without being detected.

The mage nodded, and Gahlerek smiled. "Oh, he's fine. I'm sure he's just having fun. Would you like food? The little patch of woods south of the city is infested with mice and insects."

The raven immediately stopped it's pecking of the guards helmet, and turned to face the king with its head cocked to the side. With a flap of its wings and a caw, it took off toward the specified woodland.

((This is in real time, matching what's happening in the invasion thread.))

The army stood, awaiting the undead boost, watching the ten mages nervously. When would the undead get there?

A lone trading vessel soon appeared on the horizon, if there were any who could see the deck of the single ship they would notice that there was only one person above deck.

The vessel soon reached the beach, then all went silent for a few moments before a deep, echoey voice emanated from the ship.

"Soldiers of Archaia! Are you ready to possess the strength of a flesh giant?! The tirelessness of a ghoul? If so climb aboard and unload this vessel, and those and many more attributes shall be at your disposal."

Twenty soldiers immediately jumped aboard and started unloading the boat. The work was done very quickly, as the soldiers worked in perfect unity, communicating without speaking. They were trained to work together like this, and it was a talent not easy to master.

Once the ships cargo had been completely unloaded the lone figure from earlier would slowly emerge .

The figure was clad in long ,fraying black robes upon which multiple strands were embroidered with runes and words of arcane power.

His voice seemed far more menacing and laced with forbidden power up close than it did from within the boat. "Within these crates and barrels are sacks of enchanted grains and flour. While it seems very basic, I can assure you it works... Now, bake bread with these grains and flour, and see for yourself the results. For best effects, the entire army should eat at once, and any magical protection should be removed, lest the magic... Function poorly. "

The twenty soldiers nodded and carried the flour to the kitchens to order the cooks to drop everything and start baking. A man approached the dark figure. He was the general who had killed Sael.

"And how are we to know that your bread won't simply kill us all? I wish to trust but surely you understand that caution is necessary when working with magic?"

The dark figure simply watched without emotion as the soldiers carried off the goods to the bakeries, turning his attenion to the man whom approached him.

"And what reason would I have for doing that? If I wished for your destruction there are far more subtle ways to do it than this. However, this is a one-time offer, and I do not take kindly to being turned down at the last moment."

The soldier nodded.

"Very well. I am sorry if we have slighted you."

Soon, the bread was all finished. It was passed around, and each soldier ate.

"Now," said a Mage, "let loose the boats."

The navy set sail for Ahuachtli. The invasion would soon begin.

The moment that the bread had all been eaten the figure just started to laugh, not even going back to his own ship. He merely stood on the beach and watched them all leave, completely content with what he had done.

((Hehe...That captain should of stuck with his gut feeling.))

The mages started screaming incantations as soon as the man left. The army, with their training, stayed put.

When mages work together they are capable of amazing things.

The magic they were working now would purify the men of all the bread (and therefore all of its enchantments).

Instantly, every cell in every soldier's body was destroyed and replaced. With none of the old body left to be tainted by the bread, whatever poison was worked by Ahn'Kahet would have absolutely no power.

After their work, the mages fell over, exhausted by their efforts. This would delay the trip substantially, but it would not end the impending invasion.

After a short time, the mages stood ready. It was almost time, and the soldiers were anxious to get started.

(Erm, the lich never left. He would still be standing there. And I hate to call someone a meta-gamer, but you kinda did just that. )