Blood and a Rose

[Praetor 1550]

Solace, peaceful city of the south. As the moon rises above this calm city, the dying fire of the main plaza lights up a grizzly scene. The body of a man, or the remains of one lie next to it, his stomach is deeply slashes, dark red blood staining a once pristine white shirt and pooling around him in a large puddle.

His innards seem to have been ripped out of his torso and spread around him like garish party decorations. His intestines are strung along the fences of the gazebo in a bloody mess. His face, now only recognizable as one by it's position on the body is terribly scared, slash marks covering it in a gruesome pattern of blood and torn flesh.

His limbs no longer belong to his body, sawn off roughly by what would seem to be a dagger blade, they lies a little off, bite marks in them, and strips of tough flesh torn from them by hungry teeth. All around the gazebo, blood is spattered like the work of a apprentice painter.

If one were to look closer at the ripped up mess of flesh and blood that was once a man, they might notice a rose deposited on his chest. A red rose with a bloodstain and tiny icicles hanging from it's petals. Under this, carved into the mans chest lie two bloodied letters...

"FT"

[Old-Rattlesnake 1534]

Knight Constable Julien begins yet another midnight patrol around the city when his boot is suddenly caught on some foreign obtrusion on the gazebo floor, he turns his gaze downward and flinches upon seeing the abhorrent mass of mangled flesh. Within minutes several members of the guard arrive with torches to aid in sight as he kneels down to examine the body more closely, "FT? Tiz' obviouz z'iz iz no common murdhrer. Ei'zer zi'z iz a mezzage, or zomeone wahnted to show off 'iz 'andiwork"

He says before sending one of his men away to fetch a wagon.

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

Areon arrives to Solace's outskirts upon a rented horse. He dismounts his steed, placing it in the stables, and pays the stable boy for water and oats, as well as the space. With plans to head to the church, he stops short just after passing the gate. Seeing the commotion before him, he heads towards the body on the wagon, looking down towards the body. "FT" Areon can only come to one conclusion, the same initials of the group he now searches for. Heading over towards the knight, he stops short, seeing the rose that has fallen from the body on its trip to the wagon. He picks it up, twisting it around. Seeing the frost still upon the flower, he crushes it in his gauntlet, not wishing to share this bit of evidence. He makes his way to the knight overseeing the operation.

"What has happened here, Ser Knight?"

[Old-Rattlesnake 1534]

Knight Constable Julien hears the voice from behind him and gestures into the distance at one of his men, letting him salute and run off before turning around to face the visitor, "Z'ere waz a muhrder duhring ze night, as you 'ave zeen." He folds his arms and eyes him from head to foot, "You 'ave ahrrived at a ztrange 'our, zer. Pray tell, do you know aught of w'at 'az 'appened? Or pehr'apz you meht zomeone zuzpiziouz on ze roahd?"

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

Areon nods slowly. His face gnarled from the burn scars, long since faded. His hair whitens from anxiety and age, the majority of it a sun kissed blonde. His face is masked in the veil of travel's filth. Under his riding cape, the glint of armor shines within the gap, the mark of the clerics plain to see on his tanned cape, as well as his chest plate. Within his hand he holds a silver rod, accompanied by a silver mace upon his belt. Both are faded, with nicks and small dents in the metal, his tools have seen much use...

My arrival was no accident, I made a point to travel Oren's roads at night, as to see if anything strange occurs within the witches' hour. I come to Solace to pray and meditate within the church, and rest this night and next day in the tavern, on my way to Alras. As far as information goes, I know just as much as ye. I've been searching for a group known as the Frozen Thorns... Or 'FT' as you've been introduced. The only things I have are names, and a knowledge that they are no ordinary street thugs...

[Arkelos 1027]

Kyral makes her way down from the Palace, seeing commotion fill her streets as she sighs. Letting her dress drape as she took to her sceptre. Upon reaching the group, she looks at Areon, half asleep. Then to Julien Alexandre.

"I heard something about a dead body?..."

Kyral sighs, looking at Areon. "Alras might need to be on hold, you can say in Salvus for now. As will I until my builders come back." she says, giving a half grumble as her right eye twitches.

"Gonna go back to sleep... We'll start training whenever... Areon..." Kyral says, voice seemingly excited in her half asleep state

[Old-Rattlesnake 1534]

Julien turn to Kyral and folds one arm over his stomach in a graceful bow before returning to an upright position to speak, "Z'ere waz a zmall mahtter in ze night, your 'ighnezz. Do not trouhble yourzelf, ay azsure you we will deal wi'z it quihckly." He says before directing his eyes toward Areon again, "Ahny infohrmahtion you can give us will be vitahl in our zearch effortz, zer." He tilts his head and raises a blond eyebrow, "Who ahre z'eze 'Frohzen Z'ohrnz'?"

[CosmicWhaleShark 2488]

Areon nods towards Kyral, looking down to the mess of blood, he sighs."There will be other matters that require my attention, Kyral, besides training ye. I hope ye understand... Though we may begin lessons during times of liesure."

Areon slowly turns to the Constable, squinting at him in thought for a few moments before speaking. "The efforts ye should be concerned with is keeping your people safe, I do not need anyone interfereing with the trails that I'm already having a difficult time finding... Simply know that this group has magic on their side, mages and naturally the clerics are looking into it as well. I would suggest ye enact a curfew, and station guards in pairs, rather than having lone posts anymore... If they are residing in Solace, then we have quite an issue... It can be anyone."

[Old-Rattlesnake 1534]

Julien strokes his bare chin in thought as he listens to Areon, his eyes seeming to drift off in deep thought as he imagines the best course of action, "Ay will azzume you ahre ze expehrt on ziz zubject, and oblige to youhr reccomehndationz. If you rehquire any azziztanze of me ohr my men you need ohnly zay ze wohrd." Julien turns to the side and shouts at his men, "Bahck to youhr poztz! ...Ahnd zomeone mop up zi'z blood!" before strolling off to attend to things.

[Drelik 865]

Drelik "Noble" Letholdus enters the city, behind him are two men wearing there bandanas.

Putting his hand up, gesturing for his men to stop, he goes up closer, taking careful steps to examine.

"Someone's fawkin' sendin' us a message. Challengin' us."

"Tha' same wench who dropped tha' letter next to me on the dock appearantly." He looks to Mili "Skull"

"We'll fight dem, we'll exterminate 'em, see that wench again, skin 'er, send the message back."

[SkyyoBee 249]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.