Scayde turned to make her way back up the corridor to find the others. She was stepping quickly, yet cautiously when something caught her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, along the left wall of the passage, she saw movement beneath a rock ledge. Turning her head to obtain a better view, she saw the glinting eyes of a magnificent white wolf. His expression was intelligent, his manner sure. He protectively paced in front of a woman sitting in quiet repose. It was the golden hared woman Scayde had noticed earlier in the larger chamber, She was the woman who had commented on Hunter. She felt drawn to this woman. The beautiful sadness about her had struck Scayde the moment she had seen her. She also liked the fact the she was a good judge of horseflesh. Perhaps they could become friends of a fashion.
Scayde moved closer to them, but came to an abrupt halt at the low growl emanating from the wolf. Scayde then saw the most marvelous creature she had ever encountered. Color and light danced across the opalescent scales of a miniature dragon? She squinted, and rubbed her eyes. It was a dragon! Scayde’s eyes were wide with amazement. She gasped and took a step back, then slowly attempted another approach.
“Stop. Do not approach while my mistress is in her repose.” Said the tiny centurion. Scayde caught her breath. Her hand flying to her breast. “You can speak!” She gasped. A myriad of color flashed in waves over the creature’s body, settling into a pattern of flickering reds and gold. “Yes, you preposterous creature, I can speak.” Replied the dragon. “And, I might add, much better than you!” His eyes sparkled silver, gold, red, and green.
Scayde stood absolutely still. Inclining her head, she answered, “Forgive me sir. I am a stranger here, and unfamiliar with your kind. I did not mean to be rude. I only wish to make the acquaintance of your mistress.”
“Then you will have to wait,” he replied sharply, “over there” motioning with his chin to the opposite wall. Then fluttering his scales, now flickering blue and orange, he abruptly turned his back to Scayde and nestled down next to the woman, leaving the wolf to resume his patrol.
“Yes, of course,” replied Scayde. And with that, she settled herself against the opposite wall, to await Dragon Wenches attention.
@DW:.. if I got anything wrong please PM me.. I will be all too happy to edit it...*S*
The Order of the Dark Flame: Book 5. (story, no spam)
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Bloodstalker
- Posts: 15512
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Hell if I know
- Contact:
Bloodstalker took a moment to realize that he was being spoken to. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to see Nippy, but took a moment for his mind to clear enough that the mans words registered.
Still slightly confused by what had transpired a fewmomenets earlier, he spoke.
"What? Nippy, you speak in riddles man! We are safe here, no one..."
"Hah! No one can find us? The True does not stand around waiting for his enemies to come to him, he follows them, he tracks them and then he releases his divine fury upon their souls!"
Watching the change come into the young paladins eyes as he spoke of feeling the evil struck a chord, but he really wasn't sure what it was Nippy needed from him. He wanted as badly as his friend did to finish this, but he feared that Nippy was bent on a course that would prove very dangerous.
He was about to express his concern when Mysteria interupted his thoughts as he was formng them..
"I wouldn't tell him that you'll go with him if there's any chance that that'll keep him from pulling through with that mad plan."
Looking at her standing there, again he felt a faint tug of something, some familiarity in her stance and the way she spoke that unerved him for a moment.
Looking back at Nippy, as much to break the feeling as annything else, he saw the eyes of his friend and sighed inwardly. It was not smart, not by a long shot he figured, to divide in the face of such a power as they were hunting. But he also knew as he faced the man, if Nippy was determined, and there was no way to persuade him otherwise, well, BS would be damned if he would let his young friend face such risk alone.
" Nippy, I understand , believe me, I want this thing as bad as anyone, I need to see this creature destroyed personally," he spoke, his vice lowering and taking on an edge that conveyed just how personal this fight was to him. "Your not the only one that has lost something to this Abomination....but are you sure this is the right way? To split ranks in the face of an enemy?"
He was trying to appeal to the warriors discipline, but could only wonder if he was succeeding. Seeing the confusion in Nippy's eyes, he sighed once more.
"Talk to the others...see what they say, we only weaken ourselves if we don't all go forward together, but, if you will have it no other way, know that I will go with you"
Turning to meet Mysteria's accusing stare, he could only answer, "I'll not let any of my friends face this thing alone,regardless of the risk. I won't watch anyone else die"
He held her gaze for a moment in something akin to shock, not really sure where that last part had come from, but knowing, somehow, that it was true, He had lost something or someone, a friend perhaps?. He couldn't remember, but he wasn't going to do it again. That he was sure of.
Still slightly confused by what had transpired a fewmomenets earlier, he spoke.
"What? Nippy, you speak in riddles man! We are safe here, no one..."
"Hah! No one can find us? The True does not stand around waiting for his enemies to come to him, he follows them, he tracks them and then he releases his divine fury upon their souls!"
Watching the change come into the young paladins eyes as he spoke of feeling the evil struck a chord, but he really wasn't sure what it was Nippy needed from him. He wanted as badly as his friend did to finish this, but he feared that Nippy was bent on a course that would prove very dangerous.
He was about to express his concern when Mysteria interupted his thoughts as he was formng them..
"I wouldn't tell him that you'll go with him if there's any chance that that'll keep him from pulling through with that mad plan."
Looking at her standing there, again he felt a faint tug of something, some familiarity in her stance and the way she spoke that unerved him for a moment.
Looking back at Nippy, as much to break the feeling as annything else, he saw the eyes of his friend and sighed inwardly. It was not smart, not by a long shot he figured, to divide in the face of such a power as they were hunting. But he also knew as he faced the man, if Nippy was determined, and there was no way to persuade him otherwise, well, BS would be damned if he would let his young friend face such risk alone.
" Nippy, I understand , believe me, I want this thing as bad as anyone, I need to see this creature destroyed personally," he spoke, his vice lowering and taking on an edge that conveyed just how personal this fight was to him. "Your not the only one that has lost something to this Abomination....but are you sure this is the right way? To split ranks in the face of an enemy?"
He was trying to appeal to the warriors discipline, but could only wonder if he was succeeding. Seeing the confusion in Nippy's eyes, he sighed once more.
"Talk to the others...see what they say, we only weaken ourselves if we don't all go forward together, but, if you will have it no other way, know that I will go with you"
Turning to meet Mysteria's accusing stare, he could only answer, "I'll not let any of my friends face this thing alone,regardless of the risk. I won't watch anyone else die"
He held her gaze for a moment in something akin to shock, not really sure where that last part had come from, but knowing, somehow, that it was true, He had lost something or someone, a friend perhaps?. He couldn't remember, but he wasn't going to do it again. That he was sure of.
Lord of Lurkers
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Vivien ran to find her pack, hoping to find a few helpful herbs for the strange new woman. Maybe she could find that bag she’d kept from her days of trying to be a druid. A faint red tinge came to her cheeks as she remembered how she’d almost convinced herself she’d transformed into her totem animal (a giant squirrel) until her classmate had shook her awake.
Her bag was in a slightly out of the way corner where she had apparently tossed it carelessly. She began rummaging for the herbs noticing that her rabbit friend had soon wiggled free, and was lost from sight in the depths of her bag on a hunt for the elusive ‘bag carrots’.
Suddenly, a voice spoke beside her ear, it’s familiar tones shaking her more than the surprise could have.
“You would not believe what I had to do to get in here! It’s as if this area is sealed. Luckily due to my superior wit and knowledge, I was able to pierce the formidable defenses to find you, my apprentice.”
“Master? What are you doing here?” She asked while half rising, bits of lacy garments still gripped in her hands.
“Yes, ‘Master’ is correct. At least you have not forgotten all of your self, though I am surprised at that. Now, pick up your meager belongings and come with me.”
“But, I can’t…I’m helping the DarkFlames against the abomination and there’s this demon guy and a new girl who’s a little crazy and I still haven’t gotten to pet AquaC-“
“Cease this prattling or I shall again use ‘dominate’ against your squiggly, flighty excuse for a mind. The last errand I had sent you on was a simple task to get some dwarven ale and pixie wings. That was over a year ago. Now I know you daydream incessantly, but this is really inexcusable.”
Viv had turned a burning red while her faults were laid before her.
“Yes, but Master, as I hate hurting pixies I went to the tavern first, and at the tavern I met a noble and handsome knight, Anomen, and he-“
“I assure you that I don’t want to hear any lovesick stories, we had enough with your infatuation with that peasant halfling, Tomy-something or other, such stupid names those dirt grubbers have. Now, why aren’t you picking up your possessions at my command?”
“Yes, but then I met the Darkflames, Dragonwench, Georgi, Loner, Gwalchmai and-“”
“They sound like Harlots, especially that last one. I’m sure they have not been a good influence on you, maybe I shall do an aura cleanse on you once back in my tower..”
“No! Well, sure, we had a little fun in the hottub and w-“
“I assure you the fun is over. Will you come now? Holding a portal open this long is not as easy as it looks, I assure you, though perhaps the skill I possess hides this fact from less astute eyes such as yourself.”
“ I have obligation to help here.”
“Obligation? What obligation can you have to Simian nothings?? Your talents are to be developed under me, as per our contract, or have you forgotten our contract?”
“Well, no, but as the time period has now expired while I’ve been away I thought that I would not be required to return.”
“Not exactly, my apprentice.” The man standing barely illuminated in the archway pulled a glistening item from the sleeve of his dark robe.
“You see, I’ve been given your ‘geas’, and as we both know your little secret regarding your non-humanity, this should be particularly binding for someone of your race. The Council saw my case completely, and the time remaining on your apprenticeship has been changed, slightly. Instead of three months as my apprentice, you are now to be my servant, for the mere time of 45 years, 165 days, 10 hours and 19 minutes. After that, you’re quite free to pick up with your little group of mindless adventures so you can help them chase the rats from Farmer Gnod’s field, or whatever it is they do.”
Her eyes followed the geas as it returned to his sleeve, and she felt a pulling in her body. She must go with him, she must perform her duty. She shook slightly while picking up her bag, wondering why this certainty was within her heart, why she felt this way.
If this is what it felt to have a duty, why was it so heavy?
She had always secretly been amused at Nippy and his like…so honor bound and sworn to do their duty…but now she understood. Sometimes you have no choice.
As she stepped through the portal, before her Master, she remembered the first time she had shared a glass (well, really a cask) of fine wine with Yshania, how she had trusted her so soon after meeting her, not too long after she had ripped up the poor woman’s clothing. Her first sense of kinship with Jennabard, her sister. How afraid she had been of Georgi, and now, how she missed her, how she loved her for the very wit and fire that had first terrified her. Loner, for sharing so many frank discussions on life. Gwalchmai, for always being there for her, for always being so unapologetically himself, for his strength and humor. She would feel comfortable walking into the depths of the nine hells with Gwally by her side. T’lainya as a steadfast friend, fiery…and yet a stable source while she dazzled those around her. Thantor with his wisdom and eyes that looked deep…too deep perhaps, sometimes. Nippy, though young, she was always surprised at his stalwart nature, his certainty.
And her mind ran over newer members, whom she knew not as well… Mysteria and Fang and the secrets in her eyes, Bloodstalker (and Neddy)
with his way of adding a bit of humor to any situation, AquaChan and Scayde…for all their differences, they reminded her of sisters, warmth and humor emanating from them. Chanak and Aegis, both not familiar to her, but there was trust within the unknown.
And, Dragonwench, she who had started it all, she who had first welcomed Viv to the Darkflames, she who had shared her first true friendship with…
Well…maybe it wouldn’t bet that long, it was only 45 years…and the realms were a changing type of place, she’d be back before she knew it.
As the portal closed behind them, the last sound to break through the new silence was this:
“I really think tonight would be a good time for you to look into m y grub garden, you wouldn’t believe how they’ve grown in your absence!”
Her bag was in a slightly out of the way corner where she had apparently tossed it carelessly. She began rummaging for the herbs noticing that her rabbit friend had soon wiggled free, and was lost from sight in the depths of her bag on a hunt for the elusive ‘bag carrots’.
Suddenly, a voice spoke beside her ear, it’s familiar tones shaking her more than the surprise could have.
“You would not believe what I had to do to get in here! It’s as if this area is sealed. Luckily due to my superior wit and knowledge, I was able to pierce the formidable defenses to find you, my apprentice.”
“Master? What are you doing here?” She asked while half rising, bits of lacy garments still gripped in her hands.
“Yes, ‘Master’ is correct. At least you have not forgotten all of your self, though I am surprised at that. Now, pick up your meager belongings and come with me.”
“But, I can’t…I’m helping the DarkFlames against the abomination and there’s this demon guy and a new girl who’s a little crazy and I still haven’t gotten to pet AquaC-“
“Cease this prattling or I shall again use ‘dominate’ against your squiggly, flighty excuse for a mind. The last errand I had sent you on was a simple task to get some dwarven ale and pixie wings. That was over a year ago. Now I know you daydream incessantly, but this is really inexcusable.”
Viv had turned a burning red while her faults were laid before her.
“Yes, but Master, as I hate hurting pixies I went to the tavern first, and at the tavern I met a noble and handsome knight, Anomen, and he-“
“I assure you that I don’t want to hear any lovesick stories, we had enough with your infatuation with that peasant halfling, Tomy-something or other, such stupid names those dirt grubbers have. Now, why aren’t you picking up your possessions at my command?”
“Yes, but then I met the Darkflames, Dragonwench, Georgi, Loner, Gwalchmai and-“”
“They sound like Harlots, especially that last one. I’m sure they have not been a good influence on you, maybe I shall do an aura cleanse on you once back in my tower..”
“No! Well, sure, we had a little fun in the hottub and w-“
“I assure you the fun is over. Will you come now? Holding a portal open this long is not as easy as it looks, I assure you, though perhaps the skill I possess hides this fact from less astute eyes such as yourself.”
“ I have obligation to help here.”
“Obligation? What obligation can you have to Simian nothings?? Your talents are to be developed under me, as per our contract, or have you forgotten our contract?”
“Well, no, but as the time period has now expired while I’ve been away I thought that I would not be required to return.”
“Not exactly, my apprentice.” The man standing barely illuminated in the archway pulled a glistening item from the sleeve of his dark robe.
“You see, I’ve been given your ‘geas’, and as we both know your little secret regarding your non-humanity, this should be particularly binding for someone of your race. The Council saw my case completely, and the time remaining on your apprenticeship has been changed, slightly. Instead of three months as my apprentice, you are now to be my servant, for the mere time of 45 years, 165 days, 10 hours and 19 minutes. After that, you’re quite free to pick up with your little group of mindless adventures so you can help them chase the rats from Farmer Gnod’s field, or whatever it is they do.”
Her eyes followed the geas as it returned to his sleeve, and she felt a pulling in her body. She must go with him, she must perform her duty. She shook slightly while picking up her bag, wondering why this certainty was within her heart, why she felt this way.
If this is what it felt to have a duty, why was it so heavy?
She had always secretly been amused at Nippy and his like…so honor bound and sworn to do their duty…but now she understood. Sometimes you have no choice.
As she stepped through the portal, before her Master, she remembered the first time she had shared a glass (well, really a cask) of fine wine with Yshania, how she had trusted her so soon after meeting her, not too long after she had ripped up the poor woman’s clothing. Her first sense of kinship with Jennabard, her sister. How afraid she had been of Georgi, and now, how she missed her, how she loved her for the very wit and fire that had first terrified her. Loner, for sharing so many frank discussions on life. Gwalchmai, for always being there for her, for always being so unapologetically himself, for his strength and humor. She would feel comfortable walking into the depths of the nine hells with Gwally by her side. T’lainya as a steadfast friend, fiery…and yet a stable source while she dazzled those around her. Thantor with his wisdom and eyes that looked deep…too deep perhaps, sometimes. Nippy, though young, she was always surprised at his stalwart nature, his certainty.
And her mind ran over newer members, whom she knew not as well… Mysteria and Fang and the secrets in her eyes, Bloodstalker (and Neddy)
with his way of adding a bit of humor to any situation, AquaChan and Scayde…for all their differences, they reminded her of sisters, warmth and humor emanating from them. Chanak and Aegis, both not familiar to her, but there was trust within the unknown.And, Dragonwench, she who had started it all, she who had first welcomed Viv to the Darkflames, she who had shared her first true friendship with…
Well…maybe it wouldn’t bet that long, it was only 45 years…and the realms were a changing type of place, she’d be back before she knew it.
As the portal closed behind them, the last sound to break through the new silence was this:
“I really think tonight would be a good time for you to look into m y grub garden, you wouldn’t believe how they’ve grown in your absence!”
-
dragon wench
- Posts: 19609
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: The maelstrom where chaos merges with lucidity
- Contact:
Moments passed, moments upon endless moments..... Sunlight flowed over her shoulders.... The warm, spicy-sweet scent of pine infused golden earth and delicately filagreed leaf.
Her head inclined towards the spot where she had planted this seed of hope and yet to blossom dreams, Dragon Wench allowed her spirit to meld with the precious tranquility embracing the possible, the impossible and the infinite.
Thoughts flowing inwards and then outwards...like the mingling of surf and tide, she allowed multi-hued images to form and unform. A swirling rush in the scape of her mind brought forth familiar dark eyes....then luminous colour....memories of past, present....and future.
Absorbed as she was, Dragon Wench found herself longing to remain within this gently encompassing serenity...wherein somehow meaningless definitions of evil and good imparted no significance....where discord and the constant strife of battle held no weight.
"You know you ought not remain here," came the soft whisper from afar...... Dragon Wench bowed her head further, wishing fervently that it lay within her power to abandon the darkness that still awaited. The whisper came again, closer this time, "You do have that power...."
Yet...even as her desire to resist returning coalesced...the forces of love and need reached to the very heart of her being.
A sudden shock coursed through her consciousness...and with a jolt...Dragon Wench found herself gazing at arresting green eyes and vividly flaming hair. Trying to get a bearing on the reality of her suroundings she lightly reached an arm towards the wolf, and made an effort to shield herself from the cacophonic energies that violently richocheed against rock and darkness.
Attempting to calm herself, Dragon Wench smiled at the woman....remembering her as the stranger who had arrived with the horse. "I'm sorry for my absence she murmured almost haltingly...there was something I needed to do...." Then she extended her hand, drawn to the newcomers's grace and finely intelligent expression...... Again smiling, she introduced herself, and motioned to the diminutive dragon who, still scowling, hovered nearby. "That is Axis.....I hope he has not been rude to you...sometimes he suffers from delusions of grandeur..." Dragon Wench's eyes softened as she looked at the small creature....and she continued...."But I would not be without him......"
Her head inclined towards the spot where she had planted this seed of hope and yet to blossom dreams, Dragon Wench allowed her spirit to meld with the precious tranquility embracing the possible, the impossible and the infinite.
Thoughts flowing inwards and then outwards...like the mingling of surf and tide, she allowed multi-hued images to form and unform. A swirling rush in the scape of her mind brought forth familiar dark eyes....then luminous colour....memories of past, present....and future.
Absorbed as she was, Dragon Wench found herself longing to remain within this gently encompassing serenity...wherein somehow meaningless definitions of evil and good imparted no significance....where discord and the constant strife of battle held no weight.
"You know you ought not remain here," came the soft whisper from afar...... Dragon Wench bowed her head further, wishing fervently that it lay within her power to abandon the darkness that still awaited. The whisper came again, closer this time, "You do have that power...."
Yet...even as her desire to resist returning coalesced...the forces of love and need reached to the very heart of her being.
A sudden shock coursed through her consciousness...and with a jolt...Dragon Wench found herself gazing at arresting green eyes and vividly flaming hair. Trying to get a bearing on the reality of her suroundings she lightly reached an arm towards the wolf, and made an effort to shield herself from the cacophonic energies that violently richocheed against rock and darkness.
Attempting to calm herself, Dragon Wench smiled at the woman....remembering her as the stranger who had arrived with the horse. "I'm sorry for my absence she murmured almost haltingly...there was something I needed to do...." Then she extended her hand, drawn to the newcomers's grace and finely intelligent expression...... Again smiling, she introduced herself, and motioned to the diminutive dragon who, still scowling, hovered nearby. "That is Axis.....I hope he has not been rude to you...sometimes he suffers from delusions of grandeur..." Dragon Wench's eyes softened as she looked at the small creature....and she continued...."But I would not be without him......"
Spoiler
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Spoiler
testingtest12
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Yshania
- Posts: 8572
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
- Contact:
The druid decided to rest the stones for a while, maybe until all this recent activity had calmed a little. Carefully she wrapped them and placed them in her pack. As she stood and slung her pack over her shoulder, she caught sound of a familiar voice speaking in urgent, hushed whispers. Curious, she headed in the direction of her friend's voice, to find Vivien holding a seemingly one sided conversation. Yshania held back in the shadows, squinting to try and locate the mage's companion. But she could see no-one else. Smiling, she stepped forward "Hey, Viv!" she called out softly, but her friend did not respond. Her back to the druid, Vivien continued to speak of duty and obligation and kept referring to "Master"
Yshania grew increasingly concerned...something was wrong...had the Shadow Master taken her friend's mind, to plot against the Dark Flames? To put someone they loved and trusted in their midst? No! Vivien was too strong to succumb to such a horrid plot, however determined the Shadow Master might be, he would not win over this Dark Flame and place her against her friends and companions. She was stronger than she, herself, was aware.
"Viv!" she tried again, then the mage gasped audibly before falling silent. Yshania felt the grip of fear as suddenly, a shimmering portal appeared before them. Trancelike, Vivien stepped into the light...the intensity of the light blinded the druid as it enveloped her friend in a glowing aura..."No!" Yshania cried, as a shadow appeared to pass before her and follow the mage into the portal. She ran forward, too late. The portal spat out a couple of bursts of energy before dying and plunging the druid back into the darkness. "no!" Yshania said, more quietly this time, as a silent tear traced it's way down her sooty cheeks.
For a long moment she just stood there, in the final presence of her dear friend...the one who had welcomed her into the bossom of the Dark Flames, the one who had lifted her heart and shared her pain. The one who had saved her soul from the clutches of the Shadow Master's games in the glade. Now she was gone, and Yshania felt as if a piece of her had gone with her. "Take care, my friend" she whispered sadly, "Once I get out of this place, you will know where to find me" she tried to smile "I will leave a glass for you on every bar I visit in Faerun, you will know it is from me.
Oh...and when you see the sun...please think of us" She held up her hand in sad farewell...wondering whether amidst this chaos and loss, she would ever, again, see the sun for herself.
Yshania grew increasingly concerned...something was wrong...had the Shadow Master taken her friend's mind, to plot against the Dark Flames? To put someone they loved and trusted in their midst? No! Vivien was too strong to succumb to such a horrid plot, however determined the Shadow Master might be, he would not win over this Dark Flame and place her against her friends and companions. She was stronger than she, herself, was aware.
"Viv!" she tried again, then the mage gasped audibly before falling silent. Yshania felt the grip of fear as suddenly, a shimmering portal appeared before them. Trancelike, Vivien stepped into the light...the intensity of the light blinded the druid as it enveloped her friend in a glowing aura..."No!" Yshania cried, as a shadow appeared to pass before her and follow the mage into the portal. She ran forward, too late. The portal spat out a couple of bursts of energy before dying and plunging the druid back into the darkness. "no!" Yshania said, more quietly this time, as a silent tear traced it's way down her sooty cheeks.
For a long moment she just stood there, in the final presence of her dear friend...the one who had welcomed her into the bossom of the Dark Flames, the one who had lifted her heart and shared her pain. The one who had saved her soul from the clutches of the Shadow Master's games in the glade. Now she was gone, and Yshania felt as if a piece of her had gone with her. "Take care, my friend" she whispered sadly, "Once I get out of this place, you will know where to find me" she tried to smile "I will leave a glass for you on every bar I visit in Faerun, you will know it is from me.
Oh...and when you see the sun...please think of us" She held up her hand in sad farewell...wondering whether amidst this chaos and loss, she would ever, again, see the sun for herself.
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Stepping forward Scayde grasped the extended hand of the woman. She repeated the name in her mind, committing it to memory. ’Dragon Wench’. Then eyeing the diminutive dragon at her side, Axis, she had called him, she thought to herself, ‘How fitting’. Smiling, Scayde introduced herself.
“I am Scayde Moody and”, motioning to the dun at her side, “This is Hunter”. “I remember you from the cavern. You complimented my horse.” At this Scayde could not contain the full intensity of her smile.
”I noticed you in your meditations with your spirit guide. Are you a Shaman?”
Dragon Wench motioned with a surreally graceful gesture for Scayde to sit down beside her, “Please explain this term ‘Shaman’”. Her voice was serene, almost melodic. Axis gave a short snort. Glaring up at Scayde with eyes sparkling like crystal and emeralds, he ruffled his scales, flickering a brilliantly iridescent green.
“Hrumph…Spirit guide indeed. Do I look like a specter to you young lady?” Scayde blushed in embarrassment, her cheeks glowing through her pail skin.
Scayde crossed her legs and eased herself to the ground opposite Dragon Wench. “Where I come from, the native people of my home land, are a very spiritual people. Their priests and priestesses are called Shamans. They communicate with the spirit world, and can cross into the place where the people believe dreams come from. They are healers, and speakers for the gods. They communicate with the great forces of the universe through sacred meditation and trance. Often aided by the animals along the way. When I saw you in your state of repose, and protected by your friends here. It reminded me of the spirit people of my home.”
Dragon Wench smiled as she listened. Marveling at the similarities of her world and that of this stranger before her. Casting an appreciative eye up at Hunter, she said, “Perhaps we are not so different after all.” With that she rose to her feet, and extending a hand to Scayde invited her. “Come, let us join the others”
“I am Scayde Moody and”, motioning to the dun at her side, “This is Hunter”. “I remember you from the cavern. You complimented my horse.” At this Scayde could not contain the full intensity of her smile.
”I noticed you in your meditations with your spirit guide. Are you a Shaman?”
Dragon Wench motioned with a surreally graceful gesture for Scayde to sit down beside her, “Please explain this term ‘Shaman’”. Her voice was serene, almost melodic. Axis gave a short snort. Glaring up at Scayde with eyes sparkling like crystal and emeralds, he ruffled his scales, flickering a brilliantly iridescent green.
“Hrumph…Spirit guide indeed. Do I look like a specter to you young lady?” Scayde blushed in embarrassment, her cheeks glowing through her pail skin.
Scayde crossed her legs and eased herself to the ground opposite Dragon Wench. “Where I come from, the native people of my home land, are a very spiritual people. Their priests and priestesses are called Shamans. They communicate with the spirit world, and can cross into the place where the people believe dreams come from. They are healers, and speakers for the gods. They communicate with the great forces of the universe through sacred meditation and trance. Often aided by the animals along the way. When I saw you in your state of repose, and protected by your friends here. It reminded me of the spirit people of my home.”
Dragon Wench smiled as she listened. Marveling at the similarities of her world and that of this stranger before her. Casting an appreciative eye up at Hunter, she said, “Perhaps we are not so different after all.” With that she rose to her feet, and extending a hand to Scayde invited her. “Come, let us join the others”
Scayde Moody
(Pronounced Shayde)
The virtue of self sacrifice is the lie perpetuated by the weak to enslave the strong
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dragon wench
- Posts: 19609
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: The maelstrom where chaos merges with lucidity
- Contact:
As they moved to leave the shadowed niche, Dragon Wench, remembering something important, suddenly stopped. Once more she knelt and looked into the noble eyes of the wolf that had answered her call. "Go now, you don't need to be here for what is to come...find your pack and the wild skies that are your right." The animal gazed at her for a brief moment...and then in a swirl of blinding light...vanished.
Scayde.... seemingly bewildered stood rooted to the spot...and leaned against her horse seeking comfort in her companion's familiar warmth in a still alien world. Remembering well the sensation of suddenly finding herself in an unknown environment, Dragon Wench glanced at the woman beside her and uncertainly she bit her lip...wondering how many shocks she might be able to absorb in so short a time. Although she knew nothing of the newcomer's home,Dragon Wench intuitively sensed that many of the things she so unhesitatingly accepted as normal might be dauntingly foreign to Scayde. Finally, reaching a decision, she eyed Thalimon across the chamber and with a cautious gesture she motioned to him that perhaps he might join them.
As Thalimon approached, Dragon Wench saw Scayde visibly blanche...Understanding, she gently placed an arm on the woman's shoulder..."It's okay, he is a friend," she murmured softly....fervently hoping that her gesture of reassurance might help..... In response, Scayde steadied herself against Hunter's flank, and again Dragon Wench found herself lost in admiration for the beautiful animal that somewhat skittishly pawed the ground beneath his hooves. Realising that Thalimon had reached them, Dragon Wench cautiously introduced the two strangers who had independently of one another appeared so dramatically in their midst. As she did so, she could not help but wonder what had drawn each to the Dark Flames at so critical a juncture...and not for the first time she considered the fragile weave that seemed to bind them all in a complex web of trust, uncertainty and danger...
Understanding that time had become of the essence, Dragon Wench led Scayde and Thalimon towards the cluster of Dark Flames that had gathered within the main cavern...making introductions where necessary.
A sudden fear gripped her while she was thus engaged...somebody was missing..... Dragon Wench spied some of Vivien's belongings heaped upon the floor...but her friend was nowhere to be seen. Fighting a rising sense of forboding she turned to the others and in a voice that barely concealed her mounting panic....she asked, "Where is Vivien?"
It was Yshania who finally spoke and explained the reason for their friend's dissappearance..... Against the knot that had arisen in her throat Dragon Wench let out a strangled..."No....!" She turned and touched her head to the endless surrounding rock...trying desperately to understand yet one more loss in a seemingly endless series. "I will miss you my friend," she whispered..her voice cracked and halting against infinite darkness and jaggedly uncomprehending stone.
Scayde.... seemingly bewildered stood rooted to the spot...and leaned against her horse seeking comfort in her companion's familiar warmth in a still alien world. Remembering well the sensation of suddenly finding herself in an unknown environment, Dragon Wench glanced at the woman beside her and uncertainly she bit her lip...wondering how many shocks she might be able to absorb in so short a time. Although she knew nothing of the newcomer's home,Dragon Wench intuitively sensed that many of the things she so unhesitatingly accepted as normal might be dauntingly foreign to Scayde. Finally, reaching a decision, she eyed Thalimon across the chamber and with a cautious gesture she motioned to him that perhaps he might join them.
As Thalimon approached, Dragon Wench saw Scayde visibly blanche...Understanding, she gently placed an arm on the woman's shoulder..."It's okay, he is a friend," she murmured softly....fervently hoping that her gesture of reassurance might help..... In response, Scayde steadied herself against Hunter's flank, and again Dragon Wench found herself lost in admiration for the beautiful animal that somewhat skittishly pawed the ground beneath his hooves. Realising that Thalimon had reached them, Dragon Wench cautiously introduced the two strangers who had independently of one another appeared so dramatically in their midst. As she did so, she could not help but wonder what had drawn each to the Dark Flames at so critical a juncture...and not for the first time she considered the fragile weave that seemed to bind them all in a complex web of trust, uncertainty and danger...
Understanding that time had become of the essence, Dragon Wench led Scayde and Thalimon towards the cluster of Dark Flames that had gathered within the main cavern...making introductions where necessary.
A sudden fear gripped her while she was thus engaged...somebody was missing..... Dragon Wench spied some of Vivien's belongings heaped upon the floor...but her friend was nowhere to be seen. Fighting a rising sense of forboding she turned to the others and in a voice that barely concealed her mounting panic....she asked, "Where is Vivien?"
It was Yshania who finally spoke and explained the reason for their friend's dissappearance..... Against the knot that had arisen in her throat Dragon Wench let out a strangled..."No....!" She turned and touched her head to the endless surrounding rock...trying desperately to understand yet one more loss in a seemingly endless series. "I will miss you my friend," she whispered..her voice cracked and halting against infinite darkness and jaggedly uncomprehending stone.
Spoiler
testingtest12
Spoiler
testingtest12
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Gwalchmai
- Posts: 6252
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 11:00 am
- Location: This Quintessence of Dust
- Contact:
Gwalchmai watched Nippy’s spluttering madness with a raised eyebrow. He, too, felt the need for action but he wondered what their next logical step should be. T’lainya had said there was a great cavern beyond containing the Abomination. But Thantor had said it was only a part of the Abomination and was meant to act as a lure for a trap. But this seemed to be their only route to the Abomination, and springing the trap seemed inevitable. More information about the nature of the trap was clearly needed. “What we need,” he spoke aloud, “is for a really sneaky individual to conduct a little reconnaissance of the cavern beyond, then report their findings safely back to the rest.”
That there; exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.
Tau'rathkaa.
The Way burned in his mind as the rune of the Drow House Pendant, blazing from the bloated bulk of a monstrous spider, eyes glaring with a cold, calculating malice. Poison glistened on her fangs in the crimson light of the House Insignia, dripping on the silken strands of her vast web...the DemonWeb of the Queen.
Stunned by the lucidity of the vision, Thalimon turned from the priestess as a voice began to whisper to his soul...
Tau'rathkaa, seek the way
Thalimon knew this voice…from the past it echoed in the depths of his troubled heart, a voice that beckoned to him, reaching out from the deeps of time to touch him here, and now. It was the voice that called to him in his dreams in the barren wastes, stirring in him a passion he did not know he possessed. It burned like a fire, white hot and as sharp as steel…
He looked for fire-eyes as he walked away from T’lainya, pondering the next step in the dance. He glanced up to find her standing alone near the gloom of an adjoining tunnel, lost in thought. I should leave her for now, thought Thalimon, for she must be of single purpose and mind. He smiled as he recalled the fire in her eyes as she stood with her scimitars at the ready…though she was of those who walked with trees, she also had the makings of a fighter, a master of weapons and battle. It was the eyes, and the flame, which told him so. The Thukariin, the enigmatic hermit of the Anauroch, had seen the same in him, and had taken him in. He had taken his shortswords away from him during their first encounter, much as the druid had abandoned her scimitars in the tunnels.
Thalimon turned toward his friend Dragon Wench, and began to walk her way.
Looking up from her conversation with the mysterious woman, and her equally mysterious horse…odd, that one…it does not smell like a horse, yet my eyes reveal that it is indeed a horse… Dragon Wench placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. Speaking words of comfort, she looked to the tiefling, and smiled.
“Thalimon, I would like you to meet Scayde Moody, who has recently come from the land of…” pausing somewhat uncertainly, she looked to Scayde, the raising of her slender brows forming a question mark above her blue eyes. “Erm…Tex-us? Is that right, Scayde?” Scayde, chewing her bottom lip and shifting nervously against Hunter, nodded her assent quickly, avoiding lifting her eyes from the stone floor beneath her booted feet. “Tex-us,” affirmed Dragon Wench cheerfully, looking back towards Thalimon, who stood before them now.
Her voice assumed a more gentle tone as her eyes misted over with concern. “Scayde does not know how she came to be here, Thalimon.” She looked back to Scayde once more, and added softly, “Tex-us is not like this place, is it, Scayde?”
Scayde shifted her feet, her eyes still avoiding the tielfling. “No…no, it’s not.”
Thalimon looked upon Scayde, a vision unlike any he had ever seen in his travels. The waves of the long and curly hair that spilled gracefully out of her wide-brimmed hat, framing her delicate shoulders like spun gold, captured the soft light of the chamber. This, combined with the waves of other-worldliness he felt coming from her, left him virtually speechless. The air of expectancy made his flesh tingle, something he had also never experienced before, nor understood…
“Scayde…” said Thalimon softly. “Scayde Moody of Tex-us…”
Scayde lifted her eyes at the mention of her name, and met the gaze of Thalimon as he smiled wanly. “I am not…Shay…Say-tun. Satan. I am not he.” A brief moment of silence passed as he looked into the emerald pools of her eyes, still haunted by a trace of lingering fear.
Slowly, he extended his hand. “I am Thalimon…Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm the True.
“I am your friend.”
The Way burned in his mind as the rune of the Drow House Pendant, blazing from the bloated bulk of a monstrous spider, eyes glaring with a cold, calculating malice. Poison glistened on her fangs in the crimson light of the House Insignia, dripping on the silken strands of her vast web...the DemonWeb of the Queen.
Stunned by the lucidity of the vision, Thalimon turned from the priestess as a voice began to whisper to his soul...
Tau'rathkaa, seek the way
Thalimon knew this voice…from the past it echoed in the depths of his troubled heart, a voice that beckoned to him, reaching out from the deeps of time to touch him here, and now. It was the voice that called to him in his dreams in the barren wastes, stirring in him a passion he did not know he possessed. It burned like a fire, white hot and as sharp as steel…
He looked for fire-eyes as he walked away from T’lainya, pondering the next step in the dance. He glanced up to find her standing alone near the gloom of an adjoining tunnel, lost in thought. I should leave her for now, thought Thalimon, for she must be of single purpose and mind. He smiled as he recalled the fire in her eyes as she stood with her scimitars at the ready…though she was of those who walked with trees, she also had the makings of a fighter, a master of weapons and battle. It was the eyes, and the flame, which told him so. The Thukariin, the enigmatic hermit of the Anauroch, had seen the same in him, and had taken him in. He had taken his shortswords away from him during their first encounter, much as the druid had abandoned her scimitars in the tunnels.
Thalimon turned toward his friend Dragon Wench, and began to walk her way.
Looking up from her conversation with the mysterious woman, and her equally mysterious horse…odd, that one…it does not smell like a horse, yet my eyes reveal that it is indeed a horse… Dragon Wench placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. Speaking words of comfort, she looked to the tiefling, and smiled.
“Thalimon, I would like you to meet Scayde Moody, who has recently come from the land of…” pausing somewhat uncertainly, she looked to Scayde, the raising of her slender brows forming a question mark above her blue eyes. “Erm…Tex-us? Is that right, Scayde?” Scayde, chewing her bottom lip and shifting nervously against Hunter, nodded her assent quickly, avoiding lifting her eyes from the stone floor beneath her booted feet. “Tex-us,” affirmed Dragon Wench cheerfully, looking back towards Thalimon, who stood before them now.
Her voice assumed a more gentle tone as her eyes misted over with concern. “Scayde does not know how she came to be here, Thalimon.” She looked back to Scayde once more, and added softly, “Tex-us is not like this place, is it, Scayde?”
Scayde shifted her feet, her eyes still avoiding the tielfling. “No…no, it’s not.”
Thalimon looked upon Scayde, a vision unlike any he had ever seen in his travels. The waves of the long and curly hair that spilled gracefully out of her wide-brimmed hat, framing her delicate shoulders like spun gold, captured the soft light of the chamber. This, combined with the waves of other-worldliness he felt coming from her, left him virtually speechless. The air of expectancy made his flesh tingle, something he had also never experienced before, nor understood…
“Scayde…” said Thalimon softly. “Scayde Moody of Tex-us…”
Scayde lifted her eyes at the mention of her name, and met the gaze of Thalimon as he smiled wanly. “I am not…Shay…Say-tun. Satan. I am not he.” A brief moment of silence passed as he looked into the emerald pools of her eyes, still haunted by a trace of lingering fear.
Slowly, he extended his hand. “I am Thalimon…Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm the True.
“I am your friend.”
CYNIC, n.:
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
Aqua-chan had joined the other conversation in the room. Consisting of Gwally, Nippy and a warrior she had not met before, Bloodstalker, she couldn't help but notice the tense feel in thier voices. One who wanted to take immediate action, one who wanted to plan, and one who really didn't know what to do.
"With stealth, we would be able to scout T'lainya's spottings to get an idea of what we're up against. We have some people with such abilities..."
"I'd go," Aqua-chan volountered, cutting in abeit too anxiously. It was quiet for a few moments, then Gwally sighed.
"It's not necesssarily a bad idea... it maybe the best way to proceed. But we need to dicuss this before putting such a plan into action."
"Well, if this is the path we're going to take, then you'll know where I'll be," Aqua-chan said, then turned to leave the men to thier planning at Gwally's quick nod of acknowledgement. AC was never good at planning things... She alway smessed things up or got confused, and really didn't need to ruin these plans, especially.
As she walked, however, she noticed that somebody behind her was keeping step with her pace. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the face of Bloodstalker, just a few feet behind. He must of saw her looking at him strangely.
"Never was good at the plotting and planning stuff," he explained, a small grin creeping on his face.
"Me niether," AC agreed, returning the smile. However, she noticed he wasn't really too great at upholding the mood. "Something on your mind, stranger? You look kinda dazed out..."
He looked back up, but his face wasn't putting up the same wry grin anymore. "A lot's been happening lately, you know," he replied simply. Obviously, Nippy's sudden switch of moods had left a lasting effect on him.
"Oh... I just figured it was that bottle of ale that was in your packs pocket."
Automatically, BS reached around and noticed that something was missing from his pack. He raised an eyebrow and put his hand out. "Give it back, kitty litter."
She handed back the bottle and stifled a laugh. Alora had taught her well.... "So, you're Bloodstalker, right? I'm still getting names put together, here... Though, I may not need them for too long," her voice faded slowly, sadly. She swallowed, reminded of what was going to happen when she reached the surface once again...
"Why's that?"
"Faldorn will surely feel the energy shock that the Abomination will emit when... if it dies. She'll know it was destroyed, and guess who's tail she's going to come after first."
"I'm guessing yours, since you're the only person I really know with a tail..."
"Bite me."
"Only if you bite me back," he quickly replied with a sound of anxiousness in his voice.
AC blinked, standing in a stunned silence...
"With stealth, we would be able to scout T'lainya's spottings to get an idea of what we're up against. We have some people with such abilities..."
"I'd go," Aqua-chan volountered, cutting in abeit too anxiously. It was quiet for a few moments, then Gwally sighed.
"It's not necesssarily a bad idea... it maybe the best way to proceed. But we need to dicuss this before putting such a plan into action."
"Well, if this is the path we're going to take, then you'll know where I'll be," Aqua-chan said, then turned to leave the men to thier planning at Gwally's quick nod of acknowledgement. AC was never good at planning things... She alway smessed things up or got confused, and really didn't need to ruin these plans, especially.
As she walked, however, she noticed that somebody behind her was keeping step with her pace. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the face of Bloodstalker, just a few feet behind. He must of saw her looking at him strangely.
"Never was good at the plotting and planning stuff," he explained, a small grin creeping on his face.
"Me niether," AC agreed, returning the smile. However, she noticed he wasn't really too great at upholding the mood. "Something on your mind, stranger? You look kinda dazed out..."
He looked back up, but his face wasn't putting up the same wry grin anymore. "A lot's been happening lately, you know," he replied simply. Obviously, Nippy's sudden switch of moods had left a lasting effect on him.
"Oh... I just figured it was that bottle of ale that was in your packs pocket."
Automatically, BS reached around and noticed that something was missing from his pack. He raised an eyebrow and put his hand out. "Give it back, kitty litter."
She handed back the bottle and stifled a laugh. Alora had taught her well.... "So, you're Bloodstalker, right? I'm still getting names put together, here... Though, I may not need them for too long," her voice faded slowly, sadly. She swallowed, reminded of what was going to happen when she reached the surface once again...
"Why's that?"
"Faldorn will surely feel the energy shock that the Abomination will emit when... if it dies. She'll know it was destroyed, and guess who's tail she's going to come after first."
"I'm guessing yours, since you're the only person I really know with a tail..."
"Bite me."
"Only if you bite me back," he quickly replied with a sound of anxiousness in his voice.
AC blinked, standing in a stunned silence...
"There are worse things in the world than serving the whims of a deadly sex goddess." - Zevran
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Bloodstalker
- Posts: 15512
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Hell if I know
- Contact:
BS stood there looking at AC, surprised at the stunned look on her face as well as the edge he had noticed in his comment. He hadn't meant to sound snappy, but he guessed the whole situation was getting to him.
"I'm sorry", he started, "I was just.."
"You were just what?" She came back with a little bit of a flare.
"Well, I didn't mean to be sharp, it's just, " he paused, searchng fr what exactly he was trying to say. He wasnt very good at this. He had little contact with others, and suddenly a horrible thought crossed his mind, what if he had inadvertantly committed an offense in her culture?
" So I take it you really didn't want me to bite you then" she replied with a hint of sarcasm.
BS sputtered, not really sure how to answer that one. The bad thing was, the thought wasn't that unpleasent, but now he felt himself sliding deeper into a mess.
"Ah, no, I was just teasing, you know, just being playful and..."
" You want to play with me?" she asked, a look of confusion on her face. BS almost choked to death on her words, his face red for some odd reason. " What kind of a warrior are you? this is no time to play, this is serious. If you want to play, wait til after the fighting is over at least"
BS felt his face get redder as he stammered" I was just , ah, I meant no offense I mean, it's just that, well,..."
AC grinned suddenly, like cat playing with a mouse oddly enough and roled her eyes." Oh, if you were just flirting, why didn't you say so?" BS had the feeling of a man who had just had his chain thoroghly yanked.
She smiled for a moment, evidently enjoying BS's discomfort, before she paused and took n a look of consideration. " But I'm not human." she stated, her face taking on a determined look as if daring him to comment on something.
This time, it was her turn to feel out of sorts, as her comment only drew a look of utter confusion from BS.
" you mean to tell me you haven't noticed?" she asked sarcastically, twirling her tail in her hand as if to prove her point.
"Well, yes, but I just don't see what that has to do with..."
"You don't get it, do you?" she asked, a look of puzzlement crossing her features.
"afraid not" BS answered sheepishly.
She smiled widely at that remark. " Thanks, Most people, well, that's kind of all they notice."
her mood changed suddenly. "That's one reason for my little problem with Faldorn. I guess I thought..." she let her voice trail off, her eyes focused on something distant with a touch of sadness.
BS smiled, and tried to break the tension that had resurfaced. "Well, maybe your worrying about nothing"
She turned a curious look on him.
"Well, look at it this way, for all we know, none of us is gonna get past the Abomination alive" He said with a wide grin.
"I'm sorry", he started, "I was just.."
"You were just what?" She came back with a little bit of a flare.
"Well, I didn't mean to be sharp, it's just, " he paused, searchng fr what exactly he was trying to say. He wasnt very good at this. He had little contact with others, and suddenly a horrible thought crossed his mind, what if he had inadvertantly committed an offense in her culture?
" So I take it you really didn't want me to bite you then" she replied with a hint of sarcasm.
BS sputtered, not really sure how to answer that one. The bad thing was, the thought wasn't that unpleasent, but now he felt himself sliding deeper into a mess.
"Ah, no, I was just teasing, you know, just being playful and..."
" You want to play with me?" she asked, a look of confusion on her face. BS almost choked to death on her words, his face red for some odd reason. " What kind of a warrior are you? this is no time to play, this is serious. If you want to play, wait til after the fighting is over at least"
BS felt his face get redder as he stammered" I was just , ah, I meant no offense I mean, it's just that, well,..."
AC grinned suddenly, like cat playing with a mouse oddly enough and roled her eyes." Oh, if you were just flirting, why didn't you say so?" BS had the feeling of a man who had just had his chain thoroghly yanked.
She smiled for a moment, evidently enjoying BS's discomfort, before she paused and took n a look of consideration. " But I'm not human." she stated, her face taking on a determined look as if daring him to comment on something.
This time, it was her turn to feel out of sorts, as her comment only drew a look of utter confusion from BS.
" you mean to tell me you haven't noticed?" she asked sarcastically, twirling her tail in her hand as if to prove her point.
"Well, yes, but I just don't see what that has to do with..."
"You don't get it, do you?" she asked, a look of puzzlement crossing her features.
"afraid not" BS answered sheepishly.
She smiled widely at that remark. " Thanks, Most people, well, that's kind of all they notice."
her mood changed suddenly. "That's one reason for my little problem with Faldorn. I guess I thought..." she let her voice trail off, her eyes focused on something distant with a touch of sadness.
BS smiled, and tried to break the tension that had resurfaced. "Well, maybe your worrying about nothing"
She turned a curious look on him.
"Well, look at it this way, for all we know, none of us is gonna get past the Abomination alive" He said with a wide grin.
Lord of Lurkers
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Guess what? I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Odd that Vivien’s master should suddenly find her now, Thantor thought, once the shock of Vivien’s exit had passed. He gave Simbul a piercingly appraising glance. She returned his stare, then nodded ever so slightly, a sadness passing over her face. Thantor nodded and cast his eyes on the hard rock floor as the waves of emotion washed over him. He remembered when Loner left… the death of Dark Poet… Georgi….
Somehow he never considered that Vivien would leave, no more that he would have thought that the sun wouldn’t rise on tomorrow’s dawn. His eyes filled as a tapestry of Vivien-inspired memories unfolded in his mind… her innocence, her whimsy, her courage… her bunnies. He had lost many comrades in battle or in foul, unspeakable pits but this leaving… this unexpected goodbye… was like the rending of delicate flesh… something that had so slowly grown so precious that he had little awareness of it until it was torn from him. Thantor knew that he would have unhesitatingly given his life to protect Vivien’s… but how did one conduct one’s self in the face of fate? In the face of the inevitable parting that looms at the apogee of all relationships? He looked over at his friends and as he felt the bonds that they had forged and shaped together, an answer took shape.
He stood up and strode over to where Scadye and Dragon Wench’s newest companion (funny how mages seem to acquire these entourages ) stood. The paladin was speaking as he joined the group: “I am not…Shay…Say-tun. Satan. I am not he. I am Thalimon…Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm the True. I am your friend.” Uncertainly, Scadye returned the gesture, her hand dwarfed in the tiefling’s large, powerful hand. Mmmm, Thantor mused, Gwally is not going to like this at all. A potential competitor for giving world-class massages.
“As I recall,” said Thantor, addressing Scayde, “Satan is less than a hand’s breadth tall, carries a trident, and sits on your left shoulder. I don’t think Sir Shestare matches that description at all, do you?” he finished with a wink. She gave him a little smile, grateful for his attempt at easing the situation a bit. Thantor turned to Thalimon and extended his hand. “Thantor, cleric of Mielikki, friend of the Dark Flames, baker of excellent quiche.” They both gripped each others forearms in traditional paladin fashion. “Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm,” he repeated. They appraised each other briefly, a feeling of respect obvious in their appraisal. “I was about to offer a toast to our friend and comrade who was called away. Will you join us?” he offered, speaking to both Thalimon and Scayde.
“Sure,” said Scayde, curious as to what witches brew these people liked to toast with.
“Of course,” said Thalimon approvingly. As the party gathered around (except for those deep in the discussion of reconnaissance ), Thantor took a moment to speak with DW, Yshania, and Jennabard, all of whom were very upset at Vivien's sudden disappearance. Jenna was tearfully determined to go after "my sister", until Thantor reassured her that perhaps this was best, that at least Vivien was out of harm's way. He then broke out a bottle of Tia Maria, goblets were offered and filled, and all present offered a heart-felt toast to their very dear and valued companion, Vivien. And to her bunny, and to her dragon, and to her other bunny….
Somehow he never considered that Vivien would leave, no more that he would have thought that the sun wouldn’t rise on tomorrow’s dawn. His eyes filled as a tapestry of Vivien-inspired memories unfolded in his mind… her innocence, her whimsy, her courage… her bunnies. He had lost many comrades in battle or in foul, unspeakable pits but this leaving… this unexpected goodbye… was like the rending of delicate flesh… something that had so slowly grown so precious that he had little awareness of it until it was torn from him. Thantor knew that he would have unhesitatingly given his life to protect Vivien’s… but how did one conduct one’s self in the face of fate? In the face of the inevitable parting that looms at the apogee of all relationships? He looked over at his friends and as he felt the bonds that they had forged and shaped together, an answer took shape.
He stood up and strode over to where Scadye and Dragon Wench’s newest companion (funny how mages seem to acquire these entourages
) stood. The paladin was speaking as he joined the group: “I am not…Shay…Say-tun. Satan. I am not he. I am Thalimon…Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm the True. I am your friend.” Uncertainly, Scadye returned the gesture, her hand dwarfed in the tiefling’s large, powerful hand. Mmmm, Thantor mused, Gwally is not going to like this at all. A potential competitor for giving world-class massages. “As I recall,” said Thantor, addressing Scayde, “Satan is less than a hand’s breadth tall, carries a trident, and sits on your left shoulder. I don’t think Sir Shestare matches that description at all, do you?” he finished with a wink. She gave him a little smile, grateful for his attempt at easing the situation a bit. Thantor turned to Thalimon and extended his hand. “Thantor, cleric of Mielikki, friend of the Dark Flames, baker of excellent quiche.” They both gripped each others forearms in traditional paladin fashion. “Thalimon Shestare, servant of Torm,” he repeated. They appraised each other briefly, a feeling of respect obvious in their appraisal. “I was about to offer a toast to our friend and comrade who was called away. Will you join us?” he offered, speaking to both Thalimon and Scayde.
“Sure,” said Scayde, curious as to what witches brew these people liked to toast with.
“Of course,” said Thalimon approvingly. As the party gathered around (except for those deep in the discussion of reconnaissance
), Thantor took a moment to speak with DW, Yshania, and Jennabard, all of whom were very upset at Vivien's sudden disappearance. Jenna was tearfully determined to go after "my sister", until Thantor reassured her that perhaps this was best, that at least Vivien was out of harm's way. He then broke out a bottle of Tia Maria, goblets were offered and filled, and all present offered a heart-felt toast to their very dear and valued companion, Vivien. And to her bunny, and to her dragon, and to her other bunny…. Those who will play with kitties must expect to be scratched.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
Many are cold; few are frozen.
Absence is to love what wind is to fire... it extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.
T’lainya watched Thalimon with troubled eyes the color of a stormy sea. She had seen some unknown expression cross the paladins face as they spoke. She turned back to the others, wincing as she felt the pendant at her throat flare with heat. The silver crescent moon seemed to wink at her, while the azure star it framed spun on its axis. She stared at the spinning gem and a chill ran up her spine as gentle and cold as the tendrils of fate.
The priestess looked up from her holy symbol and saw Yshania standing and staring into the gloom.
“Yshania?” The priestess asked softly, dread stirring her heart as she saw the tension in her friends posture.
Yshania explained Viv’s disappearance, her voice shaky with sorrow and fear. T’lainya looked at the roof of the cavern, as though she could see through the rock and into that sky beyond. She steadied herself, making a mental plea to the Seldarine to keep her friend safe. Sorrow filled the priestess, Viv had been a true friend, caring and loyal. She had a talent for uplifting the spirits of those around her. The timing of this “master” was exquisitely malicious, and T’lainya wondered how deep the threads of this tangled web ran. T’lainya turned to Yshania, and embraced her friend in silent grief.
The priestess looked up from her holy symbol and saw Yshania standing and staring into the gloom.
“Yshania?” The priestess asked softly, dread stirring her heart as she saw the tension in her friends posture.
Yshania explained Viv’s disappearance, her voice shaky with sorrow and fear. T’lainya looked at the roof of the cavern, as though she could see through the rock and into that sky beyond. She steadied herself, making a mental plea to the Seldarine to keep her friend safe. Sorrow filled the priestess, Viv had been a true friend, caring and loyal. She had a talent for uplifting the spirits of those around her. The timing of this “master” was exquisitely malicious, and T’lainya wondered how deep the threads of this tangled web ran. T’lainya turned to Yshania, and embraced her friend in silent grief.
[url="http://www.gamebanshee.com"]GameBanshee[/url] Make your gaming scream!
"I have seen them/I have watched them all fall/I have been them/I have watched myself crawl"
"I will only complicate you/Trust in me and fall as well"
"Quiet time...no more whine"
"I have seen them/I have watched them all fall/I have been them/I have watched myself crawl"
"I will only complicate you/Trust in me and fall as well"
"Quiet time...no more whine"
-
Yshania
- Posts: 8572
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
- Contact:
The druid returned her friend's embrace, grateful for her presence in these uncertain times. She wondered sadly how many more of their friends might be lost to the dark influence of the Shadow Master, for it was his manipulation and machinations that had been responsible for so many losses. She thought back to the day she had stumbled across the keep, and counted only six Dark Flames remaining from the bustling fort back then, and her heart sank for the greater number of dear friends they had lost, and the fleeting acquaintances that had passed through. She appreciated the company of all that were present here now, of the intricate weave in destiny that had brought them together. Some appeared driven here by pain of their own, others by a purpose as yet unknown to her. If they could work together, if they could become as one, then she was sure they would be formidable...but divided they would fall. She hoped dearly for a time of peace where they might be able to better acquaint themselves, but until then it would seem they had to face the forces that worked to divide, and in this hell these forces were all the more apparent.
Starkly she recalled the waking dream in which Mael had appeared to her as they had entered this place, "one of your number will be lost to you" yes, she was sure this was what he had said. Was Vivien this "one"? She could not be sure. His words had caused such a dark sense of forboding...she had sensed that the one lost would be in battle, and thankfully her dear friend Vivien would not have to face this particular one...could she herself be the "one"? She dismissed the thought of any more losses and sighed heavily "I wish I could find strength in faith, my friend" she said to T'lainya. The priestess smiled sadly and something unspoken passed between them. They turned to Thantor's call for a toast to comrades passed.
Starkly she recalled the waking dream in which Mael had appeared to her as they had entered this place, "one of your number will be lost to you" yes, she was sure this was what he had said. Was Vivien this "one"? She could not be sure. His words had caused such a dark sense of forboding...she had sensed that the one lost would be in battle, and thankfully her dear friend Vivien would not have to face this particular one...could she herself be the "one"? She dismissed the thought of any more losses and sighed heavily "I wish I could find strength in faith, my friend" she said to T'lainya. The priestess smiled sadly and something unspoken passed between them. They turned to Thantor's call for a toast to comrades passed.
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Aegis had taken some steps back from the rest of the Dark Flames, and Thalimon, prefering to see how the others would react and accept the tiefling before going to meet him. It seemed that the genial nature of the group got the better of them, and the welcomed the half-demon with open arms, accepting him quickly. Aegis watched as Scayde mentioned something about a "satan", whatever that may be, and as Thalimon stammered over the word, explaining that he wasn't who she thought. The sudden appearance of the two made the cautious ranger uneasy, though not particularly untrusting. The manner in which the woman appeared, and the tiefling followed managed to set off minor alarms within his mind, as if something was tugging at him to watch them closely, before making any swift judgement.
He remained standing somewhat back from the group, his arms folded across his chest, watching as the group became acquinted. After several minutes, Mysteria looked around a moment. When she finally looked off to the side, spotting the solitary ranger off ot the side of the group, she gave a small smile, and motioned for the elf to join the rest of them in welcoming Thalimon and Scayde to the group. Aegis made no move, but made no impression of ill will. Mysteria shrugged, becoming confused at the tangers response. The man who was so willing to help others had suddenly become recluse and distant. She nudged Bloodstalker in the side, and motioned over to Aegis. BS corked his head around, and looked directly at the ranger. Then, with a smirk, made his way over.
"For someone who is so willing to chase after a wild mage, and accepting enough to not have your wounds healed, you're awfully reluctant to meet people." Bs said, a grin plastered over the mans face.
Aegis snapped his face towards BS, his eyes widened a bit. "Chasing a Wild Mage? What do you me-"
BS cut him off quickly. "Please... We all see it..." BS grinned even wider, nudging the ranger in the rib cage. He then leaned in closer to the elf. "Word of advice... If you want to 'score', I suggest getting your eye fixed..." BS whispered to Aegis, between stifled chuckles.
Aegis' eyes flared at the comment, not only at the forgeign term of 'scoring', but at the insinuation. Almost within in a flash, the rangers hand was up, and smacked BS across the back of the head, sending it forward, leaving BS groaning.
"Heh..." BS chuckled some more, rubbing the back of his head. "Thought so...." He smiled even wider, and straightened up, then wrapped his arm around the small ranger, and giving him half a hug, chuckling. After a moment of that, he let go of Aegis, and moved back to the join the group, chuckling to himself the entire way...
Aegis shook hi head, and sighed, then crossed his arms again, and continued to watch the new comers....
He remained standing somewhat back from the group, his arms folded across his chest, watching as the group became acquinted. After several minutes, Mysteria looked around a moment. When she finally looked off to the side, spotting the solitary ranger off ot the side of the group, she gave a small smile, and motioned for the elf to join the rest of them in welcoming Thalimon and Scayde to the group. Aegis made no move, but made no impression of ill will. Mysteria shrugged, becoming confused at the tangers response. The man who was so willing to help others had suddenly become recluse and distant. She nudged Bloodstalker in the side, and motioned over to Aegis. BS corked his head around, and looked directly at the ranger. Then, with a smirk, made his way over.
"For someone who is so willing to chase after a wild mage, and accepting enough to not have your wounds healed, you're awfully reluctant to meet people." Bs said, a grin plastered over the mans face.
Aegis snapped his face towards BS, his eyes widened a bit. "Chasing a Wild Mage? What do you me-"
BS cut him off quickly. "Please... We all see it..." BS grinned even wider, nudging the ranger in the rib cage. He then leaned in closer to the elf. "Word of advice... If you want to 'score', I suggest getting your eye fixed..." BS whispered to Aegis, between stifled chuckles.
Aegis' eyes flared at the comment, not only at the forgeign term of 'scoring', but at the insinuation. Almost within in a flash, the rangers hand was up, and smacked BS across the back of the head, sending it forward, leaving BS groaning.
"Heh..." BS chuckled some more, rubbing the back of his head. "Thought so...." He smiled even wider, and straightened up, then wrapped his arm around the small ranger, and giving him half a hug, chuckling. After a moment of that, he let go of Aegis, and moved back to the join the group, chuckling to himself the entire way...
Aegis shook hi head, and sighed, then crossed his arms again, and continued to watch the new comers....
The fear...in her eyes.
Torrent upon torrent of images washed over Thalimon as he struggled to listen to the voices around him. Clasping the cleric's hand had seemed to precipitate this flood, and he steeled himself as he desperately waged an inner battle to maintain a hold on the boundaries of his self, lest he be lost in the swirling sea of darkness before him.
He was dimly aware of Thantor's invitation, to which he absent-mindedly voiced his approval. "Of course, my friend." Yet he found he could not move to join the friends in their toast to Vivien.
The maelstrom called out to him. As if in response, Fiendslayer began to hum ever so gently at his side, and the tiefling began to feel his will faltering...
With a sigh, Thalimon sank to his knees, and surrendered to the swirling storm of the vision.
He had stalked the Drow patrols for weeks in the winding expanse of the subterranean tunnels. He struck without warning, often dropping into their midst from a perch high in the mushroom caverns, much like the Raptu of the desert. He moved as the Sand Devil, the Uthnahk Azazel, whirling across the dunes in the heart of the storm, his blades one with those of his master...
Often he would remain in the shadows near the Duergar trading post, listening to the gray dwarves speak in their incomprehensible, guttural tongue. Though the words were alien to him, he could glean things from their dim minds, and also the minds of the Drow fighters who frequented their outpost…
Something was…attacking…the Drow patrols in the tunnels. The Duergar laughed heartily at this, incredulous…the Drow spat at the dwarven merchant, hissing in his own speech, and the ringing of swords was met by the panicked motions of the Duergar…gifts were offered…
Slaves…too many slaves… fed… to the…guardian? The Duergar muttered something incomprehensible, and Thalimon could not grasp at the intent of his words. The tanar’ri must be appeased…at the mention of the word, the tiefling narrowed his eyes, and strained to catch every errant thought and emotion from the speakers below him.
The gate, the Drow was saying…the slaves…the Drow warriors…the tanar’ri guardian was…devouring?…all of them, it’s hunger was endless. The Duergar again muttered something incomprehensible.
The meeting was over, so it seemed, and as the Drow turned to leave with his host, a single word escaped the hushed conversations of the House patrol as they slid into the tunnel beyond: Glabrezu.
Glabrezu, the dog-faced nightmare from the Abyss, a towering fiend of thick armor plates and unbelievable physical might. The lesser tanar’ri fled in horror at the approach of the voracious Glabrezu, for their hunger was only matched by their sadistic cruelty. The ghastly demon possessed four massive arms wickedly equipped with rending pincers and slashing scythe-like horns, and was greatly feared by the baatezu forces on the battlefields of the Blood War. Only the greater baatezu could stand before the rampaging Glabrezu…
As quickly as the memory came, it was swept away by the storm of the vision…and Thalimon suddenly found himself staring at a shimmering portal. A sense of vertigo soon accompanied the swirling morass of darkness and shadows, and it began to intensify as the vision drew back, allowing more of the portal to be seen…
Skulls lie strewn on the floor of the portal chamber, some crushed, others gnawed upon, still others awash in great pools of blood…
The shimmering portal rippled as Thalimon began to feel his skin crawl…he could feel it’s presence in this chamber, and he wondered if it could sense him…
And there, crouched in a corner of the chamber, the gigantic tanar’ri feasted upon it’s latest offering.
Suddenly the Glabrezu looked up from it’s grisly repast, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air, it’s red eyes narrowing with suspicion as it slowly began to turn it’s horrific visage in his direction…
Thau’rathkaa.
The portal rippled like the water of a pond, disturbed by fish striking at the surface as they claimed their meals before returning below…a sense of dread descended upon Thalimon as he began to realize what lie on the other side of this portal, so important that a fiend from the darkest nightmare would guard it.
Thau’rathkaa.
Vertigo swept him like helpless driftwood awash in a midnight sea, swirling as a whirlpool drew him inexorably into it’s gaping maw…the gaze of the tanar’ri was almost upon him, and he wondered if he would meet it’s baleful gaze before he was sucked to the depths of his vision.
Seek the way, the voice whispered.
The tanar’ri rose to it’s full height in the gloom of the chamber, red eyes boring into the intruder. The paladin could feel waves of terror emanating from the demon, but they washed over him in passing, for long ago he had surrendered his life to Torm…Thalimon knew no fear, for he was beyond it’s grasp.
The Glabrezu tossed the corpse aside with rage, and unleashed a bellowing roar that reverberated throughout the tunnel complex, sending the Duergar merchants in a mushroom cavern scampering for safety. In a tunnel far to the east, Drow warriors signaled to one another in the silent speech, wondering what had disturbed the peace of the Guardian. Without answering, each knew that the fiend would once again demand to be satisfied…and that it would have to be done with Drow blood, for no other would suffice.
As the cavern faded from view, Thalimon knew with a sickening certainty what the Drow had done. The portal was a dimensional gate, a passageway that led to a universe of evil incarnate. The Drow had opened a gate to the Abyss.
Seek the way, Thalimon.
He was in the chamber of the Dark Flames once again, sitting on his knees. Though he knew it not, he had been holding the sword Fiendslayer aloft, and it was bathing him in a golden radiance as it blazed brightly in the chamber. Tendrils of white fire licked at the edges of the long mirrored blade, and Thalimon knew that somehow, the sword had transformed.
The sword spoke in his mind.
Seek the way, Dark Guard.
It was you, Thalimon answered. It was you who called to me in my dreams, and brought me at last before your resting place…
It was I, yet not I, for I have no being of my own, yet I am. I was forged in the deeps of time, long before the sheets of ice covered the steamy jungles of the North, and the world was forever changed. I was once the Fiendslayer of Cothindar, and before that, I was…
The voice of the sword flared, and filled his mind with a white-hot intensity.
You are chosen, Thalimon Shestare, paladin of Torm. You are chosen to wield the Fiendslayer of Cothindar no longer, for I am no longer, yet I remain still. You shall wield the Avenger, the wrath of Torm the True, for that is what I once was, and was not, and now have come to be.
“So shall it be,” Thalimon spoke as he rose, sheathing the Holy Avenger at his side. Sliding his hands under the sling of black twine, Thalimon gently lifted Yshania’s swords free from his back, and laid them down softly on the chamber floor. Reaching under his armor, he brought forth Shalimare’s pendant, the Drow House insignia he had found so many years ago, the night his life was taken away from him. This he placed next to the scimitars, and apart so that she would know it was meant for her, the one who had come to him in his hour of need.
The fear was still in her eyes…
The tunnel before him beckoned, where the bodies of his foes still lie, silent in the darkness. He knew the darkness well, for it was there that the dance had played out one last time. There would be no dance now. There would only be a naked flame, burning and consuming…
Thalimon began to run.
Torrent upon torrent of images washed over Thalimon as he struggled to listen to the voices around him. Clasping the cleric's hand had seemed to precipitate this flood, and he steeled himself as he desperately waged an inner battle to maintain a hold on the boundaries of his self, lest he be lost in the swirling sea of darkness before him.
He was dimly aware of Thantor's invitation, to which he absent-mindedly voiced his approval. "Of course, my friend." Yet he found he could not move to join the friends in their toast to Vivien.
The maelstrom called out to him. As if in response, Fiendslayer began to hum ever so gently at his side, and the tiefling began to feel his will faltering...
With a sigh, Thalimon sank to his knees, and surrendered to the swirling storm of the vision.
He had stalked the Drow patrols for weeks in the winding expanse of the subterranean tunnels. He struck without warning, often dropping into their midst from a perch high in the mushroom caverns, much like the Raptu of the desert. He moved as the Sand Devil, the Uthnahk Azazel, whirling across the dunes in the heart of the storm, his blades one with those of his master...
Often he would remain in the shadows near the Duergar trading post, listening to the gray dwarves speak in their incomprehensible, guttural tongue. Though the words were alien to him, he could glean things from their dim minds, and also the minds of the Drow fighters who frequented their outpost…
Something was…attacking…the Drow patrols in the tunnels. The Duergar laughed heartily at this, incredulous…the Drow spat at the dwarven merchant, hissing in his own speech, and the ringing of swords was met by the panicked motions of the Duergar…gifts were offered…
Slaves…too many slaves… fed… to the…guardian? The Duergar muttered something incomprehensible, and Thalimon could not grasp at the intent of his words. The tanar’ri must be appeased…at the mention of the word, the tiefling narrowed his eyes, and strained to catch every errant thought and emotion from the speakers below him.
The gate, the Drow was saying…the slaves…the Drow warriors…the tanar’ri guardian was…devouring?…all of them, it’s hunger was endless. The Duergar again muttered something incomprehensible.
The meeting was over, so it seemed, and as the Drow turned to leave with his host, a single word escaped the hushed conversations of the House patrol as they slid into the tunnel beyond: Glabrezu.
Glabrezu, the dog-faced nightmare from the Abyss, a towering fiend of thick armor plates and unbelievable physical might. The lesser tanar’ri fled in horror at the approach of the voracious Glabrezu, for their hunger was only matched by their sadistic cruelty. The ghastly demon possessed four massive arms wickedly equipped with rending pincers and slashing scythe-like horns, and was greatly feared by the baatezu forces on the battlefields of the Blood War. Only the greater baatezu could stand before the rampaging Glabrezu…
As quickly as the memory came, it was swept away by the storm of the vision…and Thalimon suddenly found himself staring at a shimmering portal. A sense of vertigo soon accompanied the swirling morass of darkness and shadows, and it began to intensify as the vision drew back, allowing more of the portal to be seen…
Skulls lie strewn on the floor of the portal chamber, some crushed, others gnawed upon, still others awash in great pools of blood…
The shimmering portal rippled as Thalimon began to feel his skin crawl…he could feel it’s presence in this chamber, and he wondered if it could sense him…
And there, crouched in a corner of the chamber, the gigantic tanar’ri feasted upon it’s latest offering.
Suddenly the Glabrezu looked up from it’s grisly repast, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air, it’s red eyes narrowing with suspicion as it slowly began to turn it’s horrific visage in his direction…
Thau’rathkaa.
The portal rippled like the water of a pond, disturbed by fish striking at the surface as they claimed their meals before returning below…a sense of dread descended upon Thalimon as he began to realize what lie on the other side of this portal, so important that a fiend from the darkest nightmare would guard it.
Thau’rathkaa.
Vertigo swept him like helpless driftwood awash in a midnight sea, swirling as a whirlpool drew him inexorably into it’s gaping maw…the gaze of the tanar’ri was almost upon him, and he wondered if he would meet it’s baleful gaze before he was sucked to the depths of his vision.
Seek the way, the voice whispered.
The tanar’ri rose to it’s full height in the gloom of the chamber, red eyes boring into the intruder. The paladin could feel waves of terror emanating from the demon, but they washed over him in passing, for long ago he had surrendered his life to Torm…Thalimon knew no fear, for he was beyond it’s grasp.
The Glabrezu tossed the corpse aside with rage, and unleashed a bellowing roar that reverberated throughout the tunnel complex, sending the Duergar merchants in a mushroom cavern scampering for safety. In a tunnel far to the east, Drow warriors signaled to one another in the silent speech, wondering what had disturbed the peace of the Guardian. Without answering, each knew that the fiend would once again demand to be satisfied…and that it would have to be done with Drow blood, for no other would suffice.
As the cavern faded from view, Thalimon knew with a sickening certainty what the Drow had done. The portal was a dimensional gate, a passageway that led to a universe of evil incarnate. The Drow had opened a gate to the Abyss.
Seek the way, Thalimon.
He was in the chamber of the Dark Flames once again, sitting on his knees. Though he knew it not, he had been holding the sword Fiendslayer aloft, and it was bathing him in a golden radiance as it blazed brightly in the chamber. Tendrils of white fire licked at the edges of the long mirrored blade, and Thalimon knew that somehow, the sword had transformed.
The sword spoke in his mind.
Seek the way, Dark Guard.
It was you, Thalimon answered. It was you who called to me in my dreams, and brought me at last before your resting place…
It was I, yet not I, for I have no being of my own, yet I am. I was forged in the deeps of time, long before the sheets of ice covered the steamy jungles of the North, and the world was forever changed. I was once the Fiendslayer of Cothindar, and before that, I was…
The voice of the sword flared, and filled his mind with a white-hot intensity.
You are chosen, Thalimon Shestare, paladin of Torm. You are chosen to wield the Fiendslayer of Cothindar no longer, for I am no longer, yet I remain still. You shall wield the Avenger, the wrath of Torm the True, for that is what I once was, and was not, and now have come to be.
“So shall it be,” Thalimon spoke as he rose, sheathing the Holy Avenger at his side. Sliding his hands under the sling of black twine, Thalimon gently lifted Yshania’s swords free from his back, and laid them down softly on the chamber floor. Reaching under his armor, he brought forth Shalimare’s pendant, the Drow House insignia he had found so many years ago, the night his life was taken away from him. This he placed next to the scimitars, and apart so that she would know it was meant for her, the one who had come to him in his hour of need.
The fear was still in her eyes…
The tunnel before him beckoned, where the bodies of his foes still lie, silent in the darkness. He knew the darkness well, for it was there that the dance had played out one last time. There would be no dance now. There would only be a naked flame, burning and consuming…
Thalimon began to run.
CYNIC, n.:
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
-
Yshania
- Posts: 8572
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
- Contact:
Yshania could only watch on helpless as her new found friend disappeared into the darkness, scorched by the light he ran. Another one lost to her? She felt she might fail here and now, she felt so weak. He had reached out and touched her, then fled...and she did not have the strength to counter. He was running from the darkness into the abyss, as she herself was so readily tempted. It was the invasive nature of this darkness that amplified the scarred shadows in all of them...
Dragon Wench, a myriad of shadowed emotion bathing her features, stepped forward and knelt. As she stood, her shoulders sagged and Yshania felt intuitively the cascading misery and hopelessness that descended over her good friend. Yshania approached Dragon Wench, and put her hand around the mage's outstretched, closed fist. Slowly, Dragon Wench opened her hand, and there lay a pendant, burning feverishly. The two women turned to each other sadly, words lost to them....
Instinctively they moved forward, tempting the dark to prove itself worthy of this grief. Holding onto the strength of their friends behind them, and of each other, they followed the footsteps of the dark paladin. Words passed unspoken between them as they reached out to the unknown...
A short distance away they found him, his soul seemingly raging between wanting to submit to this grief and wanting to be accepting of a strength he struggled to comprehend. After a long moment of feeling his pain, the druid asked "What of the fire, my friend? What of the dance?" As Yshania spoke, the talisman burned a bright beacon...silently, Dragon Wench opened her palm and let the light bathe their prison...
Dragon Wench, a myriad of shadowed emotion bathing her features, stepped forward and knelt. As she stood, her shoulders sagged and Yshania felt intuitively the cascading misery and hopelessness that descended over her good friend. Yshania approached Dragon Wench, and put her hand around the mage's outstretched, closed fist. Slowly, Dragon Wench opened her hand, and there lay a pendant, burning feverishly. The two women turned to each other sadly, words lost to them....
Instinctively they moved forward, tempting the dark to prove itself worthy of this grief. Holding onto the strength of their friends behind them, and of each other, they followed the footsteps of the dark paladin. Words passed unspoken between them as they reached out to the unknown...
A short distance away they found him, his soul seemingly raging between wanting to submit to this grief and wanting to be accepting of a strength he struggled to comprehend. After a long moment of feeling his pain, the druid asked "What of the fire, my friend? What of the dance?" As Yshania spoke, the talisman burned a bright beacon...silently, Dragon Wench opened her palm and let the light bathe their prison...
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Thalimon sped down the tunnel, the adamant ore glittering like so many stars in the night sky. The vision the sword had opened to his mind left an indelible imprint on his consciousness…the portal, and the burning eyes of the tanar’ri horror looming in the cavern, drove him on. The Holy Avenger burned at his side…though its brilliance was shrouded by the sheath, it nevertheless blazed like a small star in his mind.
An endless array of thoughts cascaded over him as he ran towards the site of his last battle…and also the place where, for the first time since that night, so long ago, he had looked into the eyes of Shalimare again. Shalimare…
She was not Shalimare, yet she was. Had she come back to him?
He was not worthy…though Thalimon was beyond the grasp of fear, he was not beyond the icy fingers of doubt. These began to encircle him as the shining star of the sword blazed in his mind, a beacon of the hand of his Lord, Torm. He was his instrument, and had surrendered his life to the True in that cavern so long ago, in the barren wastes of the Thukariin, and the people of the sands. The path, the Way, had been a lone one for the tiefling, and though he had no regrets, he still wondered why he had been chosen for this…for he knew that the blade at his side could not be wielded by any other than one who was chosen to wield it.
Fire-eyes…the thought of the druid summoned the image of the fire that burned in his own soul. The moment he looked upon her in the cavern, her scimitars flashing in reflection of the blaze he saw in her eyes, he felt an instant connection with Yshania. He could not bear the thought of her abandoning the way of that fire, for like him, he knew she must always seek her path…her Way.
Thalimon stopped as he came upon the bodies of the Drow in the tunnel. He would search the corpses for the healing draughts the warriors often carried, for he would have need of them to augment his own powers in the times ahead. He would consider every measure necessary to ensure that he reached the gate to the Abyss and the Glabrezu guardian alive…for justice cried out, and Thalimon would answer it’s call.
His thoughts were shattered as a voice filled the silence of the tunnel.
"What of the fire, my friend? What of the dance?"
As he turned to face Yshania, he saw Dragon Wench by her side. She was holding Shalimare’s amulet in her open hand…and it was filling the tunnel with light. Not the red blaze of the Drow rune, but a different radiance…
Shalimare was with him.
An endless array of thoughts cascaded over him as he ran towards the site of his last battle…and also the place where, for the first time since that night, so long ago, he had looked into the eyes of Shalimare again. Shalimare…
She was not Shalimare, yet she was. Had she come back to him?
He was not worthy…though Thalimon was beyond the grasp of fear, he was not beyond the icy fingers of doubt. These began to encircle him as the shining star of the sword blazed in his mind, a beacon of the hand of his Lord, Torm. He was his instrument, and had surrendered his life to the True in that cavern so long ago, in the barren wastes of the Thukariin, and the people of the sands. The path, the Way, had been a lone one for the tiefling, and though he had no regrets, he still wondered why he had been chosen for this…for he knew that the blade at his side could not be wielded by any other than one who was chosen to wield it.
Fire-eyes…the thought of the druid summoned the image of the fire that burned in his own soul. The moment he looked upon her in the cavern, her scimitars flashing in reflection of the blaze he saw in her eyes, he felt an instant connection with Yshania. He could not bear the thought of her abandoning the way of that fire, for like him, he knew she must always seek her path…her Way.
Thalimon stopped as he came upon the bodies of the Drow in the tunnel. He would search the corpses for the healing draughts the warriors often carried, for he would have need of them to augment his own powers in the times ahead. He would consider every measure necessary to ensure that he reached the gate to the Abyss and the Glabrezu guardian alive…for justice cried out, and Thalimon would answer it’s call.
His thoughts were shattered as a voice filled the silence of the tunnel.
"What of the fire, my friend? What of the dance?"
As he turned to face Yshania, he saw Dragon Wench by her side. She was holding Shalimare’s amulet in her open hand…and it was filling the tunnel with light. Not the red blaze of the Drow rune, but a different radiance…
Shalimare was with him.
CYNIC, n.:
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
-[url="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/a.html"]The Devil's Dictionary[/url]
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dragon wench
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- Location: The maelstrom where chaos merges with lucidity
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As she opened her eyes to the amulet in her palm Dragon Wench felt herself falter. Suddenly dizzy, she cautiously lowered herself to the ground...mesmerised by the shimmering glow emanating from her hand.
A woman cried out....long honeyed locks swirling around eyes of profound smoky blue..... Dark shapes...Drow encroached, crab-like almost, swords drawn.... still dripping crimson from tearing the life force of earlier victims. The woman hurled spell after spell....yet still they advanced, eyes slitted as they closed in.... Dragon Wench screamed....reaching...trying to prevent the woman's death.... a death too soon.... too violent.... a vital force snatched into the jaws of eternal darkness......
"No!" she sobbed desperately, begging unknown deities to answer her pleas. But no devine reassurance intervened....the only reply a deafening silence upon a parched and unforgiving plain.
A small girl wailed desolately...arms outstretched...in agonised supplication.... "No.....mother....please don't go...don't leave me....."
Body convulsed .... Dragon Wench sought to control the images reverberating wildly against her skull. Chest heaving she gasped and succeeded in speaking. "I need to find Thalimon," she whispered, her voice trembling. Yshania nodded, deep worry creasing her expression.
Driven by urgency, the two women proceded into the darkness...... "There!" pointed Yshania.
Dragon Wench ran towards the paladin.....
A woman cried out....long honeyed locks swirling around eyes of profound smoky blue..... Dark shapes...Drow encroached, crab-like almost, swords drawn.... still dripping crimson from tearing the life force of earlier victims. The woman hurled spell after spell....yet still they advanced, eyes slitted as they closed in.... Dragon Wench screamed....reaching...trying to prevent the woman's death.... a death too soon.... too violent.... a vital force snatched into the jaws of eternal darkness......
"No!" she sobbed desperately, begging unknown deities to answer her pleas. But no devine reassurance intervened....the only reply a deafening silence upon a parched and unforgiving plain.
A small girl wailed desolately...arms outstretched...in agonised supplication.... "No.....mother....please don't go...don't leave me....."
Body convulsed .... Dragon Wench sought to control the images reverberating wildly against her skull. Chest heaving she gasped and succeeded in speaking. "I need to find Thalimon," she whispered, her voice trembling. Yshania nodded, deep worry creasing her expression.
Driven by urgency, the two women proceded into the darkness...... "There!" pointed Yshania.
Dragon Wench ran towards the paladin.....
Spoiler
testingtest12
Spoiler
testingtest12
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Yshania
- Posts: 8572
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- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
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He raised himself from searching the dead drow body and momentarily Yshania was scalded by the angry fire in his eyes. As her words dropped hopelessly into the dank cavern, dark shadows flitted across his features like old ghosts, denied and wanting...and Yshania realised that the black rod he had spoken to her of was not a controlling influence but a guiding influence. It held little importance right now to the dark paladin who appeared to be struggling with, not a need for discipline, but a need to be understood. He was to seek the Way, as she was to seek the beauty, and she knew to travel these paths is to accept the challenges that work to cripple your will. He closed his eyes as she spoke of the dance, then she felt Dragon Wench lean into her before dropping to the floor, the light from her palm filling the cavern. Thalimon stood, his features swimming with pain and longing for the energy that suddenly leapt from the amulet and enveloped him...then as he threw out his arms, the light leapt back and surrounded Dragon Wench who sat gasping on the floor. "He is here" Yshania said to her friends plea. The druid watched in silent awe as the light drew her two friends together, a tenuous flickering link at first, growing stronger and brighter...
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.