Order of the Dark Flame: The Adventures Continue (no spam-story)

[Darkpoet]

It wasn't enough, that Darkpoet was trying to understand Teshana and her sudden change. With T'lainya showing up, shocked Darkpoet. Last time, he saw her that angry, was after Menadir and him, had played a prank on her. Darkpoet stepped back, taking his sword with him. Teshana's glare, changed into a sad smile. Smoothing out her cloak, Teshana bowed to T'lainya. "I am Teshana Zz'Hhar, captain of the Shadow Sun scouts." Teshana looked at T'lainya; "what is your name, priest?" She retorted icily. Darkpoet caught the look, he remembered so well. "Darkpoet, you must be getting desperate, hanging out with half breed Elves, and a priestess too? They are nothing, weak, all priests are weak, even the Drow priests.” Teshana walked closer to T’lainya, poking her in the shoulder. Staring Teshana in the eyes, T’lainya did not back down. Teshana smiled, “he is my property, I have come to reclaim him. So, you have anything to say about it, priest?”

[ 09-20-2001: Message edited by: Darkpoet ]

[T'lainya]

“I am T’lainya Ruaghniim, a Feywarden of Corellon Larethian. If you think, Dhaorlitha, that Darkpoet belongs to anyone you are sadly mistaken. “

T’lainya used the elvish word for the drow. The word meant traitor and was a remnant of the days when the drow lived above the earth, before the banishment. T’lainya pointedly looked at Teshana’s raised finger and the smaller drow let her hand fall.

“I am proud of my heritage. In fact, as proud as Darkpoet is of his.”

She paused to let that sink in. T’lainya stared intently at Darkpoet, her expression unreadable. He stood there, hand on his sword, conflicting emotions tearing through him. T’lainya turned from him to face Teshana again.

“As for reclaiming Darkpoet, that depends on what he wants doesn’t it? Of course I’ve never had to enslave a man to keep him either.”

The color rose in Teshana’s face at the insult. She angrily raised her hand to strike T’lainya. The priestess blocked the blow and grasped the drows arm forcing it down with a strength that shocked the drow.

“Weakness shows itself in many forms, doesn’t it?”
T’lainya turned on her heel and looked at Darkpoet.

“I take it there is no threat here?”

T’lainya started back up the path seething silently inside. She had seen the way Darkpoets eyes had been focused on the drows wet clothing. The drow was undeniably beautiful, but T’lainya couldn’t understand what Darkpoet was thinking. The woman had enslaved him, killed his friends and family, and gotten him possessed by a demon. She shook her head in exasperation, willing the jealousy she felt to go away.

[Darkpoet]

“Look, she leaves. The priestess is weak.” Teshana tells Darkpoet. “How can you love weakness?” “It’s easy,” Darkpoet replies. He now understood T’lainya, which he could not explain. How she showed restraint, calmness, but not backing down. “Weakness Teshana? That wasn’t weakness; she showed you more strength just now, than I have ever seen on the battlefield. But… if you think, that is weakness, you have more to learn.” Teshana spun towards Darkpoet and retorted. “She did not fight me, she walked away from me. Such a cowardly act, walking away from a fight.” Darkpoet shook his head sadly.
“You haven’t changed, Teshana. Now, I realize what you want, someone that won’t cower from you. You want me as a sparing partner, nothing more, and nothing less. You are a beautiful woman, Teshana. But, your heart is black as coal. I want you to leave and go back to your people they will need you. Because, it will be a long war.” Darkpoet sheathed his sword and stepped forward to Teshana. Taking her face in his hands, caressing her cheek. Looking at the stunned expression on Teshana’s face, and the tears welling in her eyes. Darkpoet sighed and spoke to her softly. “Teshana, if I see you again. I won’t stop myself from killing you. How can I love you, when you killed those I loved? I can’t, so go, leave before I change my mind.” Darkpoet gently wiped the tears away and tenderly kissing her. Darkpoet turned and walked down the hill towards the Keep. As he got closer to the Keep, he saw T’lainya watching, from the window.

Teshana slowly opened her eyes, she watched Darkpoet walk away. Taking a deep breath, her blood began to boil, as she thought of T’lainya. Teshana pulled the hood back over her head. Walking back into the woods, she devised a plan to get rid of T’lainya and anyone else that got into her way.

[Darkpoet]

Dp stares at a spot on the wall, just over T's shoulder. "She is the one who killed Odessa. I was her slave, I never let her brake me. So, in time, she had me do other duties, for her. I still, tried to finds ways to escape, and I was recaptured. After so many attempts, that failed. I stopped, I did what I was told and that was it. I had no feelings for her, why should I? She killed Odessa, right in front of me. Teshana, always held that over my head, just to get a reaction. Then one day I stopped, I didn't care any more. For some strange reason, she started to open herself up to me. Talking about her past, not loving anyone, then she said she was falling in love with me. I refused, which angered her. That is when my friend the demon, which you destroyed, thank you. Was put in my head, he helped me escape. It wanted to conquere the land and surrounding lands. The rest you know. I told her to leave, and if I saw her again. I would kill her." Darkpoet stared at the floor, the last two sentences, were at a whisper.

[Harry2052]

Desperately Harry dragged himself awake, aware of the searing pain. He did not have much time. Looking around he could see the drow chasing him and the elves he had met had managed to kill themselves to the last man he dragged himself to his feet - searched quickly for his swords before moving away from the battle site.

The copse was his only cover.... Humbled and belittled by the uselessnes of being alone he painfully dragged himself into the trees.

Stumbling and falling into cover, he rolled until safe. Safe from what? Where were the Drow? He grabbed his swollen leg, grunted and dragged his sight upwards. A keep!

Desperately he started to drag himself along the ground. Oblivious to danger now...his purpose to reach the great doors. What lay beyond was a mystery, what lay behind a slow and painful death...

(OOC oooo ... look another door mat )

[ 09-20-2001: Message edited by: Harry2052 ]

[T'lainya]

T’lainya stood at the bedroom window watching the scene below her. All she could see was Darkpoet walking to that drow. She saw him touch the womans cheek and she turned from the window. She moved to the desk and stared at the book, not seeing it or anything else. All her mind would do was replay the image of Darkpoet and the drow over and over. She couldn't even stand to think of the drows name. T’lainya wrenched her mind away and tried to concentrate on what the drows presence meant.

[ 09-20-2001: Message edited by: T'lainya ]

[Yshania]

Yshania woke again sometime later, stiff from laying in one position for too long. The room was empty. She stood, placed her hands behind the small of her back and leant backwards, stretching. She sat down on the side of the great bed, trying to remember – and make sense of - the events of previous nights. She shook her head and gave up the contemplation for now…

Slowly she cast her eye around the room, admiring it’s modest, comfortable décor. She stood and walked to the window, trailing a loose hand across the ornate woodwork of the bedstead. Placing her forearm and the side of her forehead against the cool stone wall she gazed wistfully across the forests…how vast they seemed – and how far away from home…

Turning, she caught sight of a meal in the corner of the room. Suddenly hungry she crossed to the table and began to eat. Never had such a simple meal of grilled fish and bread tasted so good…

The Gods she felt better now – physically anyway.

She wondered where her benevolent friend had gone, she needed a bath and a change of clothes. Trying the door she discovered it unlocked. Composing herself she slipped through the doorway and wandered down the corridor…all her senses awakened...

[Darkpoet]

Darkpoet knew that T’lainya was watching. He didn’t know why he kissed Teshana. He felt sorry for her, all that anger and hate she had inside her. Darkpoet realized he would have to kill Teshana sooner or later. The first thing he needed to do was, talk to T’lainya. When she stood up to Teshana and walked away. He just wanted to hold T’lainya in his arms. Darkpoet enjoyed the expression on Teshana’s face, when T’lainya walked away. He made his way through the courtyard, and into the Keep. Going into the kitchen, he got a bottle of Elvin brandy and two glasses, this was going to be a long talk. Darkpoet didn’t want to loose T’lainya, she meant too much to him. Walking up the stairs to the bedroom, as he walked into the room. T’lainya stood at the desk, staring at the book, but she wasn’t reading it. Her back and shoulders, were stiff and ridged. Darkpoet removed his swords and hung them on a peg on the wall.

Darkpoet slowly walked over to T’lainya, pouring a glass of brandy. He set it down next to her hand. Darkpoet saw that she was trying to control it from shaking. He wanted to take her hand and hold it, but decided against it. Pouring himself a glass, he took a sip and sat down, leaning the chair against the wall. Darkpoet felt the coolness of the Keeps wall on the back of his head, as he tried to fathom “at what just happened”.

[T'lainya]

T’lainya heard Darkpoet come into the room and settle himself. She was still fighting for self control, thinking of the implications. She was reeling emotionally, not just her feelings for Darkpoet, but the sheer dislike she felt for all drow. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned to face Darkpoet.

“Who is that woman Darkpoet? What is a drow doing here?” T’lainya fought to keep her voice level. “If that …female is connected to the drow army, I would like to know.” She bit her lip to keep from asking why he had kissed Teshana. Her hands were icy and shaking but her voice was steady.

[T'lainya]

T’lainyas heart almost stopped at the anguish in Darkpoets voice. He sounded so torn. She still didn’t understand the feelings he seemed to show for the drow, but she couldn’t bear to hear the pain in his voice. She rose unsteadily to her feet and swallowed the brandy. The warmth of the liquor thawed some of the numbness she was feeling. She raised her head, focusing on the Darkpoets face. She was familiar with every feature, every contour, from the line of his jaw to the small, almost invisible scar by his right eye. She walked to where he sat, staring at the smooth stonework of the floor. She placed a gentle hand on Darkpoets shoulder, leaning against him, her hair falling like a fiery waterfall around them.

“I am so sorry. Now I’m regretting my decision to let her live. If she is a scout for the drow, I should have at least stopped her. “

T’lainya leaned against Darkpoet, staring at a tapestry on the wall.

“I wasn’t sure if my judgement was clouded by jealousy. If I’d known what she did to you, I would have struck her down where she stood.”

She looked away from Darkpoet, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

[Darkpoet]

Taking her hand, Darkpoet put it against his cheek. “Your judgment was not clouded, T’lainya. Teshana did what, she wanted to do, take control. You didn’t let her, I saw another side of you, that I have never seen before. Your father would be proud of you today, you proved yourself even more as a Priestess.” Darkpoet set T’lainya on his lap, gently turning her head so he could into her eyes. Moving her hair behind her ear, he wiped a tear from her cheek. “This could have been your test, or maybe part of it? You showed strength, courage and control. Has anything happened, do you feel different?”

[T'lainya]

T’lainya straightened her shoulders and looked seriously at Darkpoet.
“I am sworn to protect the Tel ‘Quessar. If Teshana threatens the safety of the elves or if she threatens you again or your family I will kill her. I’m surprised there was no sign from the Black Archer. I still owe the demigod for supplying the demons name.” T’lainya looked out the window and saw a black winged hawk dive at something out of sight. She gave a small sigh as she thought of the wounded elves. She had spent a great deal of time brewing healing potions and salves. She turned to Darkpoet again.
“I’m sure Teshana will return. I am clear in my duty now. As a Feywarden, I will not kill in jealousy, nor in fear, only when the lives of the people are at stake, or any innocent life. The protector loves most living things, even our enemies are not to be slain if there is another way. Unfortunately, there usually isn’t.”
She smiled at him, and touched her hand to his heart.
“I was terrified at the thought I might have lost you. I will never understand drow. How could Teshana think she could own someone and love them at the same time?”

[Darkpoet]

“That’s just it, Teshana doesn’t think, its all reaction. She wants someone to serve her without fear.” Darkpoet replied. “Loose me to a Drow? Your cousin would kill me, or maybe he would have to stand in line, right behind you.” T’lainya’s eyebrow went up at Darkpoets comment. Darkpoet laughed at her expression. He took a sip of the brandy and held T’lainya’s hand. Darkpoet stood up and gave her a big hug. Looking into her eyes, whispered. “The only way you would loose me is when I’m buried on that hill, I promise.” Darkpoet thought for a moment; “did you find anything of interest, in the old tome? Kramor brought it up earlier; I was able to read some of it. Do you think it could work?” Darkpoet walked over to the desk and picked up the book. Thumbing through the pages, he suddenly stopped and he looked at T’lainya. “What do you mean by, no sign from the Black Archer? What am I, chopped gibberling? Darkpoet walked towards the door, muttering something about jealousy wasn’t the only thing that clouded her judgment.

[Vivien]

Vivien sat resting against the keep's inner gate, feeling drained and at the same time exhilarated, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to use the healing power of the ring again for a few days, so exhausted did she feel. The muscles in her shoulders ached dully whenever she tried to move them, perhaps from trying to help people move to more comfortable mats. Those around her continued to rush about, but it seemed less urgent, for which she was grateful. She hoped they were out of the worst, so that she could start getting her spells ready for lessons in niceness for a few Drow.

An odd creaking sound coming from behind broke through her rambling thoughts, and the gate she was leaning against shifted slightly. She wondered if Nippy had remembered to shut the gate after rescuing that woman as the gate swung alarming out from behind her. It stopped a foot later with a soft ‘thud’ sound.

Peeking around the gate, her eyes swept the forest around them for signs of Drow. Though no Drow appeared in the horizon, there was a crumpled figure at the foot of the gate, a man in dark garb, looking to be severely injured.
Viv managed to get a semi hold under his shoulders and tried dragging him inside the keep while shouting for help. A few exhausted looking elves came to her aid, but it took a good amount of Viv's persuasive anger to get them to 'waste' their healing on so hurt an elf.

He was moved to a pallet amongst the less wounded, and Viv hovered nearby, feeling that same protective welling in her heart as she did for the others. After several hours he started moaning something, and Viv leaned over him shaking his shoulder.
"Are you alright? How did you get here?"

His eyes moved weakly, and he looked up, but from the hopeless expression on his face, Viv wondered if he could even see her at all...

[KramoR]

Loner, tired and aching, sat in a meditative posture before Lomoro. For a long while neither spoke. It reminded Loner of her first day training with a katana. She had sat across from her master, watching him. He was absolutely motionless, his eyes cast down to a spot about a yard in front of him on the ground. Loner had waited. And waited. What is this all about? She had wondered, with furrowed brow. She was waiting for him to begin the lesson. She remembered the feeling of the katana at her side: heavy, solid, filling her with power and fear and anxiousness. Her fingers rubbed slowly against one another and sometimes brushed the grass by her knees. She often took deep breaths. She was still trying to learn breath control at that point, and had made some progress; but now in her impatience to unsheathe the blade at her side she lost the easy rhythm of breath in meditation. At length Lomoro had risen and dismissed her, saying the lessons would continue tomorrow. She had restrained her anger, thinking her master meant to teach her patience or endurance or some such virtue. But the next day the same thing happened. And the next day. And the next. And then, on that third day, when Loner was, as she had become accustomed, not paying attention, Lomoro drew his sword fast as lightning and brought it down nearly on Loner’s head. Stunned, she had fallen back and executed a nice backward roll in what had become instinct-through-training. Staring wide-eyed in shock, her hand finally traveled to the hilt of her own blade. But by that time Lomoro’s sword was sheathed. “If this was combat, you would be dead,” he told her – one of the very rare times he ever stated the obvious, in an attempt to hammer in the seriousness of a situation. He had then walked away, leaving Loner to ponder her own foolishness for the next 24 hours.

Needless to say, her awareness was considerably heightened after that incident.

And now, years later – a lifetime, it seemed – she sat once more before her teacher, in total silence.

Only this time, Lomoro spoke.

“Why do you think the tarrasque is after me?”

Loner paused a moment, partly in thought and partly in respect, as a student always paused reflectively after an instruction. “Master,” she replied, “I surely don’t know.”

“Have you given it any thought?”

Loner smiled inwardly. “No Master, which is surely why I don’t have any ideas.”

Lomoro also smiled in his heart. His best student.

Again he was silent. That was Loner’s cue to do some hard and fast thinking. The monster…lately with the encroaching war and tending the wounded there had been little time to think. She remembered what Nippy had told her about the creature, and shivered. She had a protection from acid scroll, or two, and a Wish scroll. But even so, the beast would have to be fought and damaged severely before using the Wish scroll at all, to keep it dead. No telling how many casualties it would inflict before that happened…

Loner actually began to sweat. Lomoro raised his eyes, and lowered them again just as quickly. His student’s ki was screaming. Such love and compassion, he thought. It was a rare thing, in his experience, to see those qualities combined with so fierce a warrior spirit. He knew she was thinking of an answer that would spare everyone.

Loner closed her eyes and breathed deep. She strove for stillness in her spirit. Why…why is the monster after him? It was after Hitomi as well. Why Hitomi? It couldn’t get him and now it’s after Lomoro…or…perhaps it still wants them both. Brothers…a family curses?

Perhaps a search for a curse upon the brothers, and a removal of it?

Brothers…a family curse…twin brothers…

Twins.

Suddenly Loner’s eyes shot open and her breath came in a long harsh gasp. She looked up at her master, who eagerly awaited her answer. Her heart was pounding. “Master,” she said: “I think I have the answer we seek. The tarrasque is nearly impossible to kill. Certainly impossible to even damage without loss of life. It is clearly after you and perhaps still your brother as well.” She paused, fighting the desire to rise to her feet and pace. “If a substitute could be given it…a replica, like you to the last detail, even down to your own blood…it might be fooled.”

There was silence. Loner had the feeling this was too good to be true. Surely she could not think up such a solution on her own, a solution that would actually work, when everyone else, including her own master, had failed…

But then, Lomoro smiled. “I have taught you everything I can,” he said. “Now, you are the master.” And he made a formal seated bow to his former student……… Loner realized she was walking back to the keep. “I have to quit, doing that. One of these days, I’ll walk into a tree.” She said to herself, avoiding a large tree.

Well I certainly hope this monster takes its sweet time, Loner thought, referring to the tarrasque, as she trudged back up toward the Keep. There was enough to do with tending the casualties of the Drow’s cruelty. If the thing should show up now…Kramor had told her to stay in their room; that she wasn’t fully healed yet. But later he had seen her going about, doing whatever she could to assist. She had done some ki manipulation, useful for easing the shock and panic of the wounded. It was really all she could do…now she was tired, and heading back to the Keep for one last round of supply trekking before taking a break. “A very long break!!” Kramor shouted after her, even though he knew better; and she shook her head and smiled. Always taking care of me, she thought…

Kramor watch her walk back to the Keep. Shaking his head, he wondered how to get her to rest. If she didn’t get her strength up, they were going nowhere. He stopped in his tracks, “the hell we’re not.” Kramor said to himself. He quickly headed over to the stables, saddled three horses and a packhorse. Taking the reigns, Kramor lead the horses over to the Keep. Tying the reigns to the post, Kramor stops Loner, and hand the supplies to someone not doing anything. Taking her arm, leading her to their room. “Get your gear, I’ll get some food and look for Nippy. Since, you can’t sit still, we will go looking for that Tarrasque. Bring any spells you have, because we might need them.” Loner nodded, she had a big smile on her face.

[Nippy]

Nippy walked back to his room with his head down. He was extremelt tired. He saw a slight shuffle in the shadows but shook it off, nothing could get in to hurt anyone.

In the corridor to his room he bumped into someone.

"Oops! Sorry!"

Nippy looked up and found the Elven maiden.

She was even more beautiful than he had thought.

"Um, can you tell me where I am?"

"This is the Keep of the Dark Flames, welcome to it. My name is Nippy and you are?"


"Yshania, my name is Yshania."

"Welcome Yshania, do you want a cup of tea or something else to eat? Did you find the food I left you?"

Nippy waited for her response.

OOC: Over to you Ysh.

[Yshania]

Yshania heard the sound of footsteps. Standing with her back to the wall she held her breath and watched as a tall (possibly druidic?) figure stopped outside the room she had just left. She observed as he leant forward and put his ear to the slightly open door. Quietly he pushed the door and looked inside. This man was not the man she had seen earlier. She listened to him move around the room. As he reappeared she stiffened, trying to control her breathing. He glanced in her direction but appeared not to notice her. He turned and walked away from her down the hall.

She released her breath and relaxed her shoulders. Why was she so nervous? The man she had met had seemed kind enough…she scolded herself for being too suspicious – but sadly admitted that it was necessary for survival.

She had felt immediate distrust for the small band of Drow that had entered the tavern eleven moons ago now. Yshania could not put her finger on exactly why she had feared them, was it their huddled secretiveness? Was it their communications without words as they regarded the patrons in the tavern? Was it that they had left their drinks untouched as they stood and left the bar, casting one last lingering glance before slipping out of the door? Where were they staying? Over the next couple of nights their numbers had grown. Arguments were starting to break out between once friendly folk, drinks being slammed on tables and curses and fists thrown. Through all of this Yshania sat, studying the Drow, their only response to the rising unrest was an occasional smile or nod of the head to each other.

Yshania shook her head to clear her thoughts then stepped back out into the hall. She was startled by the appearance of the tall dark man she had seen in the room. Yshania fleetingly cursed her carelessness. Why didn’t she hear him? She willed her heart beat to slow....

"Oops! Sorry!" he said
.
"Um, can you tell me where I am?" Yshania was unsure as to what else to say…

"This is the Keep of the Dark Flames, welcome to it. My name is Nippy and you are?"

"Yshania, my name is Yshania." She stuttered

"Welcome Yshania, do you want a cup of tea or something else to eat? Did you find the food I left you?"

“er…yes…thank you – again” She smiled at him, starting to relax a little. He smiled back.

“Well?” he said, raising an eyebrow “can I get you anything?”

Yshania laughed and dropped her head. Looking back up “Tea. Tea would be most welcome”

He turned and walked back the way he had come. Yshania paused momentarily before following….

[T'lainya]

T’lainya shook her head at Darkpoet trying to hold back a grin.

“Come back here. I looked a little at the book. The book has possibilities. I’ll have to study it in more detail though. Ria’ya is a special case. She has a definite presence and a strong link to this place; it wouldn’t be a normal resurrection.”

Darkpoet stopped in his tracks.

“You do think it’s possible though?”

“I do, with some studying. Where were you going in such a hurry?”

[Darkpoet]

Darkpoet leaned against the doorjamb, looking at T’lainya with a crooked grin.
“Um, I was going out to find you a Black Archer.” He tossed the book to T’lainya, as she caught it, Darkpoet asked her a question. “What all do you need? Any special herbs, maybe a Drow skull? Please, don’t say that you need me to shave Gwally.” Darkpoet shuddered at the thought, “you can get Dw to do it, she probably do it for you.”
T’lainya crossed her arms, looking at Darkpoet with a raised eyebrow. He just looked at her and rolled his eyes, which made both of them start to laugh.
“Seriously, what do we need to do this process? I would like to start on it now. While you are figuring out, how to do the process.”

[T'lainya]

T’lainya was laughing so hard she to lean against the wall.

“You…you’re …incorrigible.”

She finally got the words out. She thought for a moment and asked where Ria’ya’s bones were.

“Dp, has anyone asked Ria’ya what she thinks of the idea? She should be consulted before we get too involved in this.”

T’lainya started writing a list of herbs that she would need, not only for Ria’ya, but for the other wounded. She also needed to speak with some of the elven clerics. She smiled at Dp and added a few more notes.