PROLOGUE ♔ if it keeps on raining, levees gonna break

[behindcloseddoors]

♬ When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin

WHO || David Levin, ??
WHAT || David arrives through the Veil
WHERE || The shores of Lake Michigan, USA
WHEN || Monday evening, March 11th
HOW || Actionspam

[ One moment, it's the heat of battle, the clang of metal against metal, and sometimes the crack of it as it severs bone and sinew. And then there's a thin line of fog, whirling around his ankles, barely noticeable amid so much distraction. But it creeps up, higher and higher, until he can't see his sword when he extends it in front of him, let alone the faces that surround him. The battlefield winks out of existence into a white wall, and suddenly the ground beneath his feet seems to as well, as it turns into liquid, and then there's a hard smack as he feels himself splash ass-backward into a pool of water that doesn't seem to have a bottom. It fills his lungs, eats away at the air that wasn't already knocked out of him.

Roll a Fortitude check to make sure he doesn't pass out (D20 + his fort save) If he makes a 13 or higher, he can maintain consciousness.

Probably a good idea to roll a Swim check too... (D20 + swim skill total) ]

Comments

[behindcloseddoors]

[ as he approaches the upper landing, the chanting grows louder: it's not in english, or any language he's heard before. there's a quality to it that's a great deal like water, and the man in rich blue robes with a shaved head covered in tattoos waves his hands in majestic sweeps as he recites the words, playing the distant whirlpool like a conductor.

in front of him, at the edge of the lighthouse, bound and gagged, with tears streaking her eyes, is a terrified looking woman, staring wide-eyed out at the sea and struggling against her bonds.

the man crit failed his listen check, so he doesn't hear david's approach. getting closer to him slowly would take a move silently check... if you want to know how to do other types of actions, just ping me! ]

[generaldavideus]

[Hero mode: Activate!

He surveys the situation for a moment, before dropping to a crouch and starting to make his way closer (move silently check: 7.5). If he can get the girl out from in front of him without the magic user noticing, maybe he can then take care of him without anyone else getting hurt.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ somehow, utterly remarkably, david sneaks RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FUCKING WIZARD who crit failed his spot as well, so caught up in doing his evil magics at the ceiling as he is. the girl notices him, however, with a nat 20, and her mascara streaked eyes widen, though she thankfully doesn't make any gasps of surprise. ]

[generaldavideus]

[David thinks he's quite the badass at the moment. Let me tell you.

He quietly makes his way closer, before reaching for one of the ropes with the girl and slowly dragging her out from in front of the wizard (strength check: 9). He's moving slowly, partially because his swimming and stair climbing adventures are catching up with him, and partially because he doesn't want to draw too much attention.

Once the girl is in front of him, instead of untying her right off, he scoops her up and makes a break for the stairs, wanting to put some distance between them first.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ she's a little hard to carry this way with his strength check, the energy sapped from his limbs from fighting the waves below, but she doesn't resist, and he makes it down the steps to the bottom of the light house, before she finally starts making whimpering noises and shaking her wrists slightly, indicating she wants him to take off the bonds and gag. ]

[generaldavideus]

[That's not a problem. He makes short work of the ropes (dexterity check: 16) before helping her get the gag off.]

Are you alright?

[behindcloseddoors]

[

the girl rubs at her wrists, even as she looks around wildly, obviously nervous that they're not out of the woods yet. ]

W-who are you? [ it's demanding and suspicious, but scared, rather than ungrateful.

a listen check of 14+ might catch the sound of approaching voices/footsteps outside the door ... ]

[generaldavideus]

I'm here to help.

[Identifying himself will have to come later becuase he definitely hears those people coming (listen check: 21). He holds a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet while he tries to find somewhere they can hide in.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ his motion makes her even more paranoid, and she looks about like a frightened rabbit but nods along, gesturing to some barrels in the corner. she can squeeze inside of one, but the others are full... while she is well concealed (hide 19), he's going to have to make a hide check as well to see what he can do.

in the meantime, however, he catches snatches of conversation from outside: three voices, to be accurate. one british woman, with a confident yet calm demeanor, one older male voice, domineering and no-nonsense, and a sardonic, dry british male.

"It's resonating from here," says the older man. "I can sense his power. We haven't much time."

"Let me take care of him," the other man says quickly and firmly. "Ellison, you concentrate on the victim. If she's still alive." He doesn't sound particularly hopeful - or even particularly bothered by said cynicism.

"She will be," she says firmly. "Hasmed, can you reverse the spell from here?" ]

[generaldavideus]

[He follows behind her, making sure she's concealed before looking for somewhere to hide on his own. He tries to duck down behind the barrels (hide check: 15) but listens intently to the conversation happening ahead of them.

Heroes here to save the day?



... Not going to risk anything until he knows for sure.]

[everyredcent]

[ the man who opens the door looks anything like a hero.

his skin is a dark grey and in the low light his silver eyes flash. he wears a black hooded cloak and there's a few knives visible on the belt below it. with a shock of white hair pulled back in a ponytail, it's easy to see his pointed elven ears as well.

the woman who follows, on the other hand, looks entirely normal, human and dressed in a white shirt and black leather jacket and jeans, a gun strapped to her hip.

they're both on high alert as they walk in, and their eyes crane upwards. ]

Someone else has been here. [ the dark elf nods to the wet footprints on the floor from david's earlier entrance ]

[generaldavideus]

[This isn't David's first time dealing with elves -- they existed in Everworld after all -- but they don't quite look like what he remembered. He moves one hand back, gripping the hilt of his sword and waiting just in case.]

[everyredcent]

[ the woman starts up the staircase and the drow takes a few steps behind her, before stopping abruptly.

with a sudden flash of silver, he whirls, and one of the knives at his belt comes flying out in a swirl of cloak, slamming into the wall directly above david's hiding place (24 ranged atk) and sticking there, vibrating slightly.

the dark elf speaks in a brisk, annoyed tone. ]

Well? Show yourself.

[generaldavideus]

[Well shit.

He pauses for a moment, before slowly rising to his feet. He steps out from behind the barrels, trying to move his attention away from the girl he rescued.

He looks over at the elf with a shrug.]

If you're expecting more of a show, I think you're going to be disappointed.

[his hand doesn't come off the hilt of that sword.]

[telekinect]

[ the woman has stopped as well and has one hand on her gun... but takes it off abruptly and raises both hands slowly, saying very deliberately: ] We're not here to hurt anyone. [ the dark elf mutters: "Speak for yourself" and she shoots him a dark Look ] He's alright, Christos. I can tell he's not the one we're after.

[ A wisdom check (d20 + wisdom modifier) of 15+ can feel something very strange going on. It feels quite distinctly like a tugging in his mind, an invasive presence ghosting through, that is very definitely Not Supposed to Be There. There's nothing forceful about it, and if he notices it and concentrates, he can block it out of his head, with a Will Save (d20 + will save total) of 15+. ]

[generaldavideus]

[David's too tired and too hyper focused on the two people in front of him to realize that someone is poking around in his head (wisdom check: 6). Which is probably a good thing, because if he did know that, he wouldn't have been all that happy.

Instead he'll just raise an eyebrow at her like she's a little off.]

I didn't realize I made that good a first impression.

[everyredcent]

Then if I were you, I wouldn't squander it.

Who are you, and why are you here?

[generaldavideus]

My name is David Levin.

[he doesn't care enough to make crap up.]

And to hell if I know. One minute I was somewhere else and the next I was in the lake.

1/2

[everyredcent]

[ pure annoyance flashes across the drow's features, as he looks away in frustration ] Wonderful. Just what we needed to deal with.

[telekinection]

Christos. [ her lips set in a thin warning line as she steps in front of him towards David. ] I'm afraid this is some pretty bad timing, but I promise you, we're here to help, and we can explain where you and what's happened to you. After we deal with something upstairs.

[generaldavideus]

The weird wizard guy?

[just hazarding a guess. Then he makes a face.]

The guy is pretty oblivious.

[telekinect]

[ she affixes him with an interested look of thinly veiled surprise ] You saw him?

[generaldavideus]

[the look on David's face says "duh."]

It looks like Charybdis rising out there. I was looking for people.

[following his logic?]

[telekinect]

Well, if you did get away that easily, I'd say we'd better strike while the iron's hot.

You might want to stay in the light house until it's over. I don't think it's going to get any prettier outside until then.

[generaldavideus]

[there's a brief moment where David considers offering to come with, but a) he doesn't know these people and b) he's not going to abandon the hostage -- or "victim" as they said -- that he rescued. So he just nods.]

Got it. I'll stay put.

[they can handle magic guy on their own. Not his problem.]