T’lainya packed away her belongings in a small chest. She was grateful to her father for giving her the enchanted container. She heard a knock on the door and Yshania entered.
“T’lainya…There is something here.”
The priestess took one look at her friends pale face and dropped the small, stoppered vial she was holding. She took Yshanias arm and guided her to a chair. She rummaged in the chest for a moment and took a bottle out of the bottom. She found a glass and poured a small amount of the amber liquid into it. A delightful smell arose from the glass.
“Drink this, it’s good for shock.”
Yshania drank the fiery almond flavored liqueur and took a deep breath. The priestess’ room was warm and the hateful presence seemed more distant. She started to speak but T’lainya held up a hand. The red-haired priestess spoke a word and the malicious presence was gone, driven from the room. T’lainya sat by Yshania and started to speak. She told her what her wandering spirit had seen.
“I need to speak with the others, but I think they should rest if they can. There may be little chance in the immediate future.”
The Order of the Dark Flame: Book 5. (story, no spam)
-
Yshania
- Posts: 8572
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
- Contact:
Yshania sagged into the chair, her head tipped back as she stared silently at the ceiling. She was thankful for the potion her friend had offered…the edges of this nightmare became a little frayed and distant, she felt her muscles relaxing…her tendons loosening, her heartbeat slowing…she listened to what the priestess had to say. She was wise and collected, if a little shaken?...but Yshania trusted her. This thing was not going to go…but would it wait until they were ready to confront it? She turned to T'lainya, catching her eye before she looked away...
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.
T’lainya watched Yshania relax, her sight still clearer than usual. Yshania showed no evil taint, just the traces of fear. T’lainya stood in front of her and said softly, “I need to finish my preparations. You’re welcome to stay and observe.” T’lainya was chanting quietly over some object. Yshania peered closer and saw it was the flail the priestess wielded. T’lainya looked up and smiled. I’m adding to the enchantments already present. This will be a test of our strength, our loyalty and our friendships.” The priestess fell silent, gazing at the fire again.
[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"
-
Bloodstalker
- Posts: 15512
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Hell if I know
- Contact:
Bloodstalker donned the cloak given to him by Farscape. The knight had left in a hurry, but as there seemed to be no sounds of battle nearby, he assumed he had merely remembered something of great importance.
Settling back, Bloodstalker appreciated the silence that surrounded him now. It seemed the keep had quieted considerably, and he was glad for the time to reflect on the days events. It was, however, not to be a lengthy reflection, as the combination of the peaceful surroundings of the stable, the quiet, and his own weariness led him to drift into sleep much faster than he had thought possible.
Settling back, Bloodstalker appreciated the silence that surrounded him now. It seemed the keep had quieted considerably, and he was glad for the time to reflect on the days events. It was, however, not to be a lengthy reflection, as the combination of the peaceful surroundings of the stable, the quiet, and his own weariness led him to drift into sleep much faster than he had thought possible.
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!
Having given up on trying to find where his gear had been left, and realizing he would need Mysteria's help in retracing his steps, he decided to find the nearest people he could. He made his way up the stairs, thankful for finally walking on a carpeted floor. He walked the corridors, completly lost in his surroundings, until he heard two soft voices talking. One he did not recognize, but he knew the other belonged to that of T'lainya. He made his way towards the voices, stopping outside the door. He took a breath, and knocked, hoping one of them would be willing to open the door, and perhaps have some clothing to lend him.
-
Maharlika
- Posts: 5991
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Wanderlusting with my lampshade, like any decent k
- Contact:
These people are the key back home.
Maharlika eventually wakes up and realizes that he needs Farscape to tell the others about his predicament.
Hopefully, getting rid of this Shadow Master will help me get some link back to my realm. It's really eerie but how'd you explain the sudden presence of strangers (me included) to this keep? Some forces are at work here.
For good or for evil, I must see this through.
Maharlika eventually wakes up and realizes that he needs Farscape to tell the others about his predicament.
Hopefully, getting rid of this Shadow Master will help me get some link back to my realm. It's really eerie but how'd you explain the sudden presence of strangers (me included) to this keep? Some forces are at work here.
For good or for evil, I must see this through.
"There is no weakness in honest sorrow... only in succumbing to depression over what cannot be changed." --- Alaundo, BG2
Brother Scribe, Keeper of the Holy Scripts of COMM
[url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/speak-your-mind-16/"]Moderator, Speak Your Mind Forum[/url]
[url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/speak-your-mind-16/sym-specific-rules-please-read-before-posting-14427.html"]SYM Specific Forum Rules[/url]
Nippy's breathing returned to it's slower pace. His rib cage extended with every deep breath of life giving air and he felt good. The icy cold night air calmed him and he felt completely natural in this situation.
Slowly he returned to his state of meditation. The crashing sound of a door slamming had thrown him out of his relaxed state and it almost hurt when he was thrown out of it when he was that deep. His meditation was like speech. A woken dream state was the easiest way to describe it...
He was walking in the dead of night, the moon pale in the sky and the stars hiding from him. He was tired and he stumbled over rocks and tripped over his own feet. He hit the ground with a hard thump and hit his chin on something that felt like rock. He rubbed it gingerly, feeling it begin to swell. He thought that he had chipped a tooth with the impact.
He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and finally looked inside the sack that held his provisions. A skin of water, some bread and dried fruit was all he had. He sipped the water pouring some into his hand to wash the cut on his chin. He chewed on the dried fruit, trying to think about what to do.
He realised that he had nothing to do. He had no idea where the stalker had come from, no idea who to look for and lastly no way of stopping something that lived in the shadows! He couldn't even beat it when he had the advantage of surprise.
He stood up rested a little and flexed his legs and arms. He hadn't realised how long he had sat down for, the sun was just beginning to rise and the moon set. He began his stretching exercises, loosening his joints and flexing his taut, tired muscles. He adopted many various martial positions, simulating any eventuality that may befall him. While Nippy was not very good at the actual martial side of the Monk arts, he could wrestle very well and was an extremely strong grappler and he could fight with his fists as well as any in the local village, in fact he often helped clear the brawls in the local tavern. He had been given the name "Rock Head" because of his tendancy to use his head to stop other peoples fists
D), he was never injured but he was often told to stop going into the taverns at night...
With his stretches done he picked up his sack and withdrew the weapon held inside. He strapped it around his waist and set off in the direction of the sun.
Later on in the day he came upon a farm house with a large barn. An old man was stood with a pitch fork trying to threaten a gang of local thugs and was to be on the sure end of a beating if he was not helped.
Nippy ran down to the farmhouse and inquired into the matter.
"What goes on here sir?"
"Nothing to do with you idiot! Now sod off before we decide to hurt you as well!"
"I do not wish to fight you, we have no need. Just leave the man alone and there will be no need for violence."
The 'leader' laughed and his lackies took up the harsh tone.
"You think you could beat us? There are 8 of us and two of you! We would overwhelm you! Go away fool!"
"I truly wish you wouldn't do this..."
Nippy was interuppted when the largest of the gang rushed him, he was a few inches taller than Nippy and wider but was slow as an ox.
Nippy's training took over, he dropped down to his haunches and slammed his shoulders into the giants shins, using his height as a lever. The giant toppled and Nippy rolled along the spine of his opponent ending up alongside his head. He applied a choke hold to the man and found the sound of the man gurgle. He had knocked him out.
The gang looked on in disbelief. The whole action took lesson than 10 seconds and they saw the ox on the floor out cold.
"We'll come back for you fool! You are marked now, you'll pay for this..."
Three of the group helped the recovering ox up and helped him on his way.
An echoing sound reverberated back to Nippy.
"You'll pay..."
The old man turned around and looked at Nippy.
"Well, you can handle yourself can't ya?" He had a rustic, genuine accent and he sounded trustworthy.
"Do ye want a wee spot of drink for your troubles? I got me some Dwarven ale, stuff from the market, bloody expensive too! I could've bought a coupla cows for the same price!" Nippy nodded and smiled.
"Come on then, don't be standing around!" He gestured frantically at Nippy to follow him into the barn.
"Lil bastards, so they are, always coming here tryin' ta threaten me. Good job you came along, I would've been done for this time!" The man cackled and poured some ale out into two large mugs.
"Get that down ya, it'll sort ya just right!" The man laughed again.
"Me names Darlan. As ya can see I'm not from around here, I'm a gnome and proud of it! Whats your name?"
Nippy took a slug of the ale, it was like fire burning down his throat. He coughed and managed to introduce himself.
"Nippy is it? Well can't say I've heard of ye before, but then, who could give a damn?"
The man grinned again and got onto his feet, he picked up Nippy's sack and looked inside, he picked up a batch of dried fruit and laughed again.
"Is this all you got? You won't last too long out here! The nearest town is a good long walk too! But maybe we can be of some assistance to each other... Yes, I think we can..."
Darlan outlined his travel plans, the fact that he would need a guard on the route to protect his food cargo.
"So can I interest ye? I can pay you some gold, say 5% of the profit of the trip. That should be enough I daresay. Whats that you got there? On your belt? A weapon? By Garl's name how did you get that boy? Who gave that to you?"
Nippy became cautious, why? What is it? Whats so important about it?
"I can't explain it, I'd need to show you." Darlan proceeded to get one of his old scarecrows out. He hung it up and swang it.
"Draw that weapon boy, let me see you use it!"
Nippy removed the scabbard and was faced with a rusty, pitted blade, he hacked at the scarecrow and the only damage was to Nippy's wrist, he had no idea how to use the weapon.
"Damn it!" Nippy threw down the blade and it hit the floor with a clang.
Darlan drew out a small package wrapped in cloth, he slowly opened it up and he told Nippy to pick up the weapon. He walked over to Nippy and turned the hiltof the blade over, so that it went point down. He unwrapped the last piece of the package and a sparkling jewel was revealed.
Set in a blue hue it's facets glistened like the sun. Darlan placed the pommel stone into the slot and gave it a quick tap with his palm. The pommel stone fit and Nippy righted the blade, a blue light burned from the pommel stone along the handle to the tip of the blade. The rust burned with a blue flame, a clean flame and the blade became sharper with every second that the flame was there.
Darlan smiled. "It seems that you are the chosen one Nippy, and it seems I have found you. I'm sorry for doing this to you I truly am, but I have no choice..."
Nippy felt another blow land on the back of his head and he fell turning in the air to land face up. With his last vestiges of sight he saw the 'ox' that he had fought earlier stand over him wielding a club. A crushing blow landed on his forehead and he was out cold...
Slowly he returned to his state of meditation. The crashing sound of a door slamming had thrown him out of his relaxed state and it almost hurt when he was thrown out of it when he was that deep. His meditation was like speech. A woken dream state was the easiest way to describe it...
He was walking in the dead of night, the moon pale in the sky and the stars hiding from him. He was tired and he stumbled over rocks and tripped over his own feet. He hit the ground with a hard thump and hit his chin on something that felt like rock. He rubbed it gingerly, feeling it begin to swell. He thought that he had chipped a tooth with the impact.
He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and finally looked inside the sack that held his provisions. A skin of water, some bread and dried fruit was all he had. He sipped the water pouring some into his hand to wash the cut on his chin. He chewed on the dried fruit, trying to think about what to do.
He realised that he had nothing to do. He had no idea where the stalker had come from, no idea who to look for and lastly no way of stopping something that lived in the shadows! He couldn't even beat it when he had the advantage of surprise.
He stood up rested a little and flexed his legs and arms. He hadn't realised how long he had sat down for, the sun was just beginning to rise and the moon set. He began his stretching exercises, loosening his joints and flexing his taut, tired muscles. He adopted many various martial positions, simulating any eventuality that may befall him. While Nippy was not very good at the actual martial side of the Monk arts, he could wrestle very well and was an extremely strong grappler and he could fight with his fists as well as any in the local village, in fact he often helped clear the brawls in the local tavern. He had been given the name "Rock Head" because of his tendancy to use his head to stop other peoples fists
D), he was never injured but he was often told to stop going into the taverns at night...With his stretches done he picked up his sack and withdrew the weapon held inside. He strapped it around his waist and set off in the direction of the sun.
Later on in the day he came upon a farm house with a large barn. An old man was stood with a pitch fork trying to threaten a gang of local thugs and was to be on the sure end of a beating if he was not helped.
Nippy ran down to the farmhouse and inquired into the matter.
"What goes on here sir?"
"Nothing to do with you idiot! Now sod off before we decide to hurt you as well!"
"I do not wish to fight you, we have no need. Just leave the man alone and there will be no need for violence."
The 'leader' laughed and his lackies took up the harsh tone.
"You think you could beat us? There are 8 of us and two of you! We would overwhelm you! Go away fool!"
"I truly wish you wouldn't do this..."
Nippy was interuppted when the largest of the gang rushed him, he was a few inches taller than Nippy and wider but was slow as an ox.
Nippy's training took over, he dropped down to his haunches and slammed his shoulders into the giants shins, using his height as a lever. The giant toppled and Nippy rolled along the spine of his opponent ending up alongside his head. He applied a choke hold to the man and found the sound of the man gurgle. He had knocked him out.
The gang looked on in disbelief. The whole action took lesson than 10 seconds and they saw the ox on the floor out cold.
"We'll come back for you fool! You are marked now, you'll pay for this..."
Three of the group helped the recovering ox up and helped him on his way.
An echoing sound reverberated back to Nippy.
"You'll pay..."
The old man turned around and looked at Nippy.
"Well, you can handle yourself can't ya?" He had a rustic, genuine accent and he sounded trustworthy.
"Do ye want a wee spot of drink for your troubles? I got me some Dwarven ale, stuff from the market, bloody expensive too! I could've bought a coupla cows for the same price!" Nippy nodded and smiled.
"Come on then, don't be standing around!" He gestured frantically at Nippy to follow him into the barn.
"Lil bastards, so they are, always coming here tryin' ta threaten me. Good job you came along, I would've been done for this time!" The man cackled and poured some ale out into two large mugs.
"Get that down ya, it'll sort ya just right!" The man laughed again.
"Me names Darlan. As ya can see I'm not from around here, I'm a gnome and proud of it! Whats your name?"
Nippy took a slug of the ale, it was like fire burning down his throat. He coughed and managed to introduce himself.
"Nippy is it? Well can't say I've heard of ye before, but then, who could give a damn?"
The man grinned again and got onto his feet, he picked up Nippy's sack and looked inside, he picked up a batch of dried fruit and laughed again.
"Is this all you got? You won't last too long out here! The nearest town is a good long walk too! But maybe we can be of some assistance to each other... Yes, I think we can..."
Darlan outlined his travel plans, the fact that he would need a guard on the route to protect his food cargo.
"So can I interest ye? I can pay you some gold, say 5% of the profit of the trip. That should be enough I daresay. Whats that you got there? On your belt? A weapon? By Garl's name how did you get that boy? Who gave that to you?"
Nippy became cautious, why? What is it? Whats so important about it?
"I can't explain it, I'd need to show you." Darlan proceeded to get one of his old scarecrows out. He hung it up and swang it.
"Draw that weapon boy, let me see you use it!"
Nippy removed the scabbard and was faced with a rusty, pitted blade, he hacked at the scarecrow and the only damage was to Nippy's wrist, he had no idea how to use the weapon.
"Damn it!" Nippy threw down the blade and it hit the floor with a clang.
Darlan drew out a small package wrapped in cloth, he slowly opened it up and he told Nippy to pick up the weapon. He walked over to Nippy and turned the hiltof the blade over, so that it went point down. He unwrapped the last piece of the package and a sparkling jewel was revealed.
Set in a blue hue it's facets glistened like the sun. Darlan placed the pommel stone into the slot and gave it a quick tap with his palm. The pommel stone fit and Nippy righted the blade, a blue light burned from the pommel stone along the handle to the tip of the blade. The rust burned with a blue flame, a clean flame and the blade became sharper with every second that the flame was there.
Darlan smiled. "It seems that you are the chosen one Nippy, and it seems I have found you. I'm sorry for doing this to you I truly am, but I have no choice..."
Nippy felt another blow land on the back of his head and he fell turning in the air to land face up. With his last vestiges of sight he saw the 'ox' that he had fought earlier stand over him wielding a club. A crushing blow landed on his forehead and he was out cold...
Perverteer Paladin
-
Yshania
- Posts: 8572
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 10:00 pm
- Location: Some Girls Wander By Mistake
- Contact:
Yshania watched T'lainya for a while, the dancing firelight warmed and emphasised the semi-hypnotic state the potion had bestowed. Sighing, she realised that she, too, should prepare. As she rose to make her leave, there was a quiet tap on the door…the two women looked across the room, T’lainya rather irritated at the interruption. ‘I’ll get it’ Yshania offered ‘I was about to leave anyway’ On opening the door she found a naked and bewildered Aegis. Yshania closed her eyes, again silently thanking T’lainya for the anti-shock potion.
‘I was wondering…’ started Aegis....Saying nothing, Yshania reached behind the door and picked up a fresh robe off the pile Gwally had overlooked.
‘I think you may be needing this’ she smiled, before pushing passed him and heading for her room. 'Yes!' she thought, 'a shower, and a check of my supplies.' She rolled her eyes, realising that she would have to brutally discard some of her bags weightier contents…
‘I was wondering…’ started Aegis....Saying nothing, Yshania reached behind the door and picked up a fresh robe off the pile Gwally had overlooked.
‘I think you may be needing this’ she smiled, before pushing passed him and heading for her room. 'Yes!' she thought, 'a shower, and a check of my supplies.' She rolled her eyes, realising that she would have to brutally discard some of her bags weightier contents…
Parachute for sale, like new! Never opened!
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Guinness, black goes with everything.
Vivien walked through the mists of her favorite garden, feeling the dew brush her skin and cling to her gown. She had woken warm and comforted in Gwalchmai's arms, and it had taken a second to remember how she had gotten there. Her wine-muddled mind had apparently decided that warmth and Gwally and bed were good last night.
With a frown she repeated to herself 'Must not crawl into any man's bed just because you're tipsy' and kicked at the ground.
Her mind quickly traveled from self-berating to her companions, some Darkflames, some new, and she thought of the strength that always inspired her. They could move so fast sometimes, blades striking true, and she felt envy wash over her at her weak and empty hands.
With determination, and ignoring the fact that mages don’t fight well, she tried copying the ‘swooshy’ movements Nippy made with her own arms, but it didn’t seem as forceful as his. Adding a ‘Hiya!’ and kicking at the same time seemed to make it better and gave her a feeling of almost power. She practiced her own ‘martial arts’ for quite some time as night began to give way to day, even creating one she called ‘Ninja Cat’ which involved swinging her arms wildly in front of her after jumping. Unfortunately an ill timed ‘Ninja Cat’ involved her running into a tree. This hurt her hand quite a bit, but didn’t have the same affect on the tree.
With a disgruntled frown she massaged her hand and thought about sending a fireball towards the annoying arbol, but with regret thought of the birds and squirrels that might get hurt.
Starting back towards the kitchen, she wondered if they had any icepacks ready.
With a frown she repeated to herself 'Must not crawl into any man's bed just because you're tipsy' and kicked at the ground.
Her mind quickly traveled from self-berating to her companions, some Darkflames, some new, and she thought of the strength that always inspired her. They could move so fast sometimes, blades striking true, and she felt envy wash over her at her weak and empty hands.
With determination, and ignoring the fact that mages don’t fight well, she tried copying the ‘swooshy’ movements Nippy made with her own arms, but it didn’t seem as forceful as his. Adding a ‘Hiya!’ and kicking at the same time seemed to make it better and gave her a feeling of almost power. She practiced her own ‘martial arts’ for quite some time as night began to give way to day, even creating one she called ‘Ninja Cat’ which involved swinging her arms wildly in front of her after jumping. Unfortunately an ill timed ‘Ninja Cat’ involved her running into a tree. This hurt her hand quite a bit, but didn’t have the same affect on the tree.
With a disgruntled frown she massaged her hand and thought about sending a fireball towards the annoying arbol, but with regret thought of the birds and squirrels that might get hurt.
Starting back towards the kitchen, she wondered if they had any icepacks ready.
T’lainya was busy sorting spell components and various potions for the upcoming battle when the knock came on the door. Yshania offered to answer it as she headed off for her own room. She looked up to see a slightly surprised expression on Yshania’s face. T’lainya was even more surprised when Yshania grabbed a robe and held it out to the visitor. The priestess recognized the voice of Aegis. She looked at him and then with a startled expression at the floor, where a few small pinfeathers had fallen. T’lainya thought they looked like chicken feathers. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do I really want to know?”
[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"
Stretching mightily, Farscape rolled out of bed and landed on the floor with a pleasent thump. Yawning, he opened his door, waved to hello to those he strolled past. Entirely happy, he rapped solidily on Maharlika's door.
"Hey, get your lazy ass out of bed, its been dawn for nearly a minute!"
Laughing good naturedly, he nearly ran down the stairs, taking 4 at a time. Jumping the last section flipped over himself and landed perfectly.
"Still got it, take that evil!" Laughing loudly again, he made his way to the kitchen and fired up the ovens. "Gonna make me some breakfast!"
(Note, ooc. First off, can one of you mods knock off that grevious double post of mine, thanks! Secondly, Nippy, you get knocked unconscious A LOT!!)
"Hey, get your lazy ass out of bed, its been dawn for nearly a minute!"
Laughing good naturedly, he nearly ran down the stairs, taking 4 at a time. Jumping the last section flipped over himself and landed perfectly.
"Still got it, take that evil!" Laughing loudly again, he made his way to the kitchen and fired up the ovens. "Gonna make me some breakfast!"
(Note, ooc. First off, can one of you mods knock off that grevious double post of mine, thanks! Secondly, Nippy, you get knocked unconscious A LOT!!)
The waves came crashing in like blindness.
So I just stood and listened.
So I just stood and listened.
-
Gwalchmai
- Posts: 6252
- Joined: Wed May 09, 2001 11:00 am
- Location: This Quintessence of Dust
- Contact:
Wait for it.....
Before the first light of morning, the world appeared gray and gloomy. The dawn after the first snow was always bright and glorious; a very special and joyous occasion. However, though there would be no clouds to obscure the sun, the coming day would offer no brightness.
Rai’ya prepared for the morning ritual, dressing warmly in a flowing orange cloak. Her handmaiden carried the tome, as well as the sacred symbols of Amaunator – the Sun’s Ray, Dawn’s Light, and the Lightstone. Together they climbed the steps of the new temple to the rooftop altar, just as other souls in her kingdom were stirring. They too, the faithful, would observe the ritual in their private ways. On the roof, the handmaiden prepared the altar, then was dismissed. Rai’ya liked to take a moment to contemplate the impending demise of darkness by herself. The stars still twinkled above, though dulled by the faint gray light just appearing on the eastern horizon.
But this morning, her nose wrinkled as a putrid scent floated in the cold air behind her. “Your god is dead, foolish ghost,” said a rasping voice beside her. She turned, and her dignity wouldn’t allow the gasp in her throat to escape. The image of a rotted skull hung in the air, glowing a sick green, maggots crawling through the eye sockets.
“As is yours, deceitful cleric, and I am hardly a ghost.” She responded coldly.
“Yes, the Power sustains you, builds your new temple, resurrects your followers,” the skull spoke in a parody of life, its jawbone clacking and grinning, tattered flesh flapping.
“Indeed.”
“But your god is still dead.”
“I still remember the rituals, my god is not forgotten.”
“The Power forgets.”
Rai’ya grew wary of the game, “What do you want?”
“You should never have left the keep.” The skull appeared to gaze at the dark edifice just barely visible on the horizon.
“It is in good hands.”
The skull turned to Rai’ya and floated uncomfortably close, “You are a ghost, your god is dead, the Power has forgotten.” The image began to fade slowly, chuckling deeply, “The Power knows me now. It is mine.”
Rai’ya’s eyes widened, and she gasped in spite of herself. Near panic, she gathered the symbols and the tome, and raced down the stairs, desperately running toward the keep.
Before the first light of morning, the world appeared gray and gloomy. The dawn after the first snow was always bright and glorious; a very special and joyous occasion. However, though there would be no clouds to obscure the sun, the coming day would offer no brightness.
Rai’ya prepared for the morning ritual, dressing warmly in a flowing orange cloak. Her handmaiden carried the tome, as well as the sacred symbols of Amaunator – the Sun’s Ray, Dawn’s Light, and the Lightstone. Together they climbed the steps of the new temple to the rooftop altar, just as other souls in her kingdom were stirring. They too, the faithful, would observe the ritual in their private ways. On the roof, the handmaiden prepared the altar, then was dismissed. Rai’ya liked to take a moment to contemplate the impending demise of darkness by herself. The stars still twinkled above, though dulled by the faint gray light just appearing on the eastern horizon.
But this morning, her nose wrinkled as a putrid scent floated in the cold air behind her. “Your god is dead, foolish ghost,” said a rasping voice beside her. She turned, and her dignity wouldn’t allow the gasp in her throat to escape. The image of a rotted skull hung in the air, glowing a sick green, maggots crawling through the eye sockets.
“As is yours, deceitful cleric, and I am hardly a ghost.” She responded coldly.
“Yes, the Power sustains you, builds your new temple, resurrects your followers,” the skull spoke in a parody of life, its jawbone clacking and grinning, tattered flesh flapping.
“Indeed.”
“But your god is still dead.”
“I still remember the rituals, my god is not forgotten.”
“The Power forgets.”
Rai’ya grew wary of the game, “What do you want?”
“You should never have left the keep.” The skull appeared to gaze at the dark edifice just barely visible on the horizon.
“It is in good hands.”
The skull turned to Rai’ya and floated uncomfortably close, “You are a ghost, your god is dead, the Power has forgotten.” The image began to fade slowly, chuckling deeply, “The Power knows me now. It is mine.”
Rai’ya’s eyes widened, and she gasped in spite of herself. Near panic, she gathered the symbols and the tome, and raced down the stairs, desperately running toward the keep.
That there; exactly the kinda diversion we coulda used.
Laying down, Mysteria went to sleep almost immediately. It had been a long day and so much had happened. meeting new people, the cat-creature, the Shadow Master, coming across Thantor, that unfortunate chicken-incident ...
Looking around, she found herself on a hard, grey and flat plain stretching in every direction for miles witout end. A cold wind was howling and she shivered, pulling her arms around her. Disturbed by not finding the reassuring touch of her leather armor, she looked down and found that she was wearing a flimsy, semi-translucent dress.
"Yeah, great, just the right thing to be wearing round here, I should better wake up". , she thought.
But knowing her dream for a dream did nothing to help her wake up, try as hard she might. Well, she might as well take a look around, though there seemed to be nothing of interest to note ... Suddenly, the ground lurched, throwing her flat on her face and a voice rose with the wind, whispering, sharp and yet unintelligible...
Then, the world began spinning and all went dark for a moment, then images burst into view....
first Thantor's face as she had known it in her youth, laughing, laughing at her, but there was pain in his eyes...
then a pink cow charging at her, trying to stamp her into the ground ...
then the statue of a mage, forever frozen to stone...
then a view down into a dark, seemingly bottomless pit, danger lurking at it's bottom....
then her parent's house, bursting into flames....
then sceletons rising out of the ground, threatening her, threatening Fang....
then her father turning to her, his face contorted in a mask of anger...
then a quiet glade with a clear pool of water, her reflection in it, the reflection of a woman long dead ...
then trees rustling in the wind, the wind swelling to a hurricane, uprooting them...
then a chicken, growing biggger and bigger, menacing, trying to pick her eyes out...
then only darkness....
For moments that seemed like an eternity, she hang suspended in the darkness, motionless, as if time itself had stopped existing. She wanted to scream, but no sound came, her feelings a jumble of pain, fear and a feeling of utter loneliness and helplessness....
Suddenly, she was hurled forward and onto a grassy plain, finally wearing her usual garb again, but still weaponless. As soon as she thought this, a feeling of even worse dread came upon her, and she started moving, not knowing where to, as long as she only kept moving. But the feeling of dread, of danger grew.. She heard steps behind her, steps as if made by soft paws. She didn't need to look behind herself to know what was stalking her, didn't need to look to know the cat-creature was holding two vicious black daggers...
But she did not run, something kept her from it, like invisible shackles, and so she walked slowly, the creature coming nearer, ever nearer...
She felt the swish of air when it attempted to strike her, she bolted to the side, suddenly no longer held back by invisible bonds...
The world was spining again, spinning faster, ever faster..., then it came to a halt once more. She was falling now, falling towards a web of dark and light threads, hitting it bouncing back, becoming entangled in it...
Flailing her arms helplessly, she became ever more entwined in the strands, tearing at the web, making it lurch and move erratically... The threads began to choke her, winding around her arms, her legs, her chest, her throat...
Then she was on the empty plain again, alone, so horribly alone and miserable. The wind was still whispering, a voice rose on it, icy, cruel,...
"chaos .... Chaos.... CHAOS! ... you are but CHAOS!...."
"power, uncontrolled..... potential, unexplored..... "
"a threat to the Dark... a threat to the Light... whom will you serve best?..."
She started to run, away from that voice, away from that horrible place, but the plain stretched on and on, ever the same in whichever direction she turned. Falling onto her knees, she began to weep, trembling, her face covered in her hands, but she couldn't escape the wind, she couldn't...
Looking around, she found herself on a hard, grey and flat plain stretching in every direction for miles witout end. A cold wind was howling and she shivered, pulling her arms around her. Disturbed by not finding the reassuring touch of her leather armor, she looked down and found that she was wearing a flimsy, semi-translucent dress.
"Yeah, great, just the right thing to be wearing round here, I should better wake up". , she thought.
But knowing her dream for a dream did nothing to help her wake up, try as hard she might. Well, she might as well take a look around, though there seemed to be nothing of interest to note ... Suddenly, the ground lurched, throwing her flat on her face and a voice rose with the wind, whispering, sharp and yet unintelligible...
Then, the world began spinning and all went dark for a moment, then images burst into view....
first Thantor's face as she had known it in her youth, laughing, laughing at her, but there was pain in his eyes...
then a pink cow charging at her, trying to stamp her into the ground ...
then the statue of a mage, forever frozen to stone...
then a view down into a dark, seemingly bottomless pit, danger lurking at it's bottom....
then her parent's house, bursting into flames....
then sceletons rising out of the ground, threatening her, threatening Fang....
then her father turning to her, his face contorted in a mask of anger...
then a quiet glade with a clear pool of water, her reflection in it, the reflection of a woman long dead ...
then trees rustling in the wind, the wind swelling to a hurricane, uprooting them...
then a chicken, growing biggger and bigger, menacing, trying to pick her eyes out...
then only darkness....
For moments that seemed like an eternity, she hang suspended in the darkness, motionless, as if time itself had stopped existing. She wanted to scream, but no sound came, her feelings a jumble of pain, fear and a feeling of utter loneliness and helplessness....
Suddenly, she was hurled forward and onto a grassy plain, finally wearing her usual garb again, but still weaponless. As soon as she thought this, a feeling of even worse dread came upon her, and she started moving, not knowing where to, as long as she only kept moving. But the feeling of dread, of danger grew.. She heard steps behind her, steps as if made by soft paws. She didn't need to look behind herself to know what was stalking her, didn't need to look to know the cat-creature was holding two vicious black daggers...
But she did not run, something kept her from it, like invisible shackles, and so she walked slowly, the creature coming nearer, ever nearer...
She felt the swish of air when it attempted to strike her, she bolted to the side, suddenly no longer held back by invisible bonds...
The world was spining again, spinning faster, ever faster..., then it came to a halt once more. She was falling now, falling towards a web of dark and light threads, hitting it bouncing back, becoming entangled in it...
Flailing her arms helplessly, she became ever more entwined in the strands, tearing at the web, making it lurch and move erratically... The threads began to choke her, winding around her arms, her legs, her chest, her throat...
Then she was on the empty plain again, alone, so horribly alone and miserable. The wind was still whispering, a voice rose on it, icy, cruel,...
"chaos .... Chaos.... CHAOS! ... you are but CHAOS!...."
"power, uncontrolled..... potential, unexplored..... "
"a threat to the Dark... a threat to the Light... whom will you serve best?..."
She started to run, away from that voice, away from that horrible place, but the plain stretched on and on, ever the same in whichever direction she turned. Falling onto her knees, she began to weep, trembling, her face covered in her hands, but she couldn't escape the wind, she couldn't...
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."
Aegis smiled, and nodded ot both women, thanking them for not making a big deal of it. He drapped the robe over his shoulders, ignoring the frilly stuff on the edges. He then went back in serach of his gear, coming across them a full twenty mintues later. Stripping out of the robe, he quickly changed into his gear. Feeling more comfortable, he returned the robe to the room, and headed outside, to enjoy the air, and hopefully avoid being turned into another chicken. It was dawn (Close to?) and he had promised to meet one of the Dark Flames at the archery range. He foound his way easily.
Once there, he realized he might have a bit fo wait. He unslung the bow from across his shoulders, and removed some arrows from his quiver, sticking them in the ground. He began to practice, though it seemed as if it was unessecary, as every shaft flew straight, impacting in the bullseye everytime. He lost all track time, waiting for Nippy to join him.
Once there, he realized he might have a bit fo wait. He unslung the bow from across his shoulders, and removed some arrows from his quiver, sticking them in the ground. He began to practice, though it seemed as if it was unessecary, as every shaft flew straight, impacting in the bullseye everytime. He lost all track time, waiting for Nippy to join him.
Nippy slowly roused from his state of meditation. There were answers waiting for him to find but he had promised to meet Aegis at the archery range. He put on his light armour and took out the bow that he was given. A full quiver of arrows was his last piece of equipment. He lightly jumped down the stairs moving quickly to see the door ajar.
He opened it slowly and saw Aegis drawing arrows and loosing with ease. The weapon was dangerous in his hands. He used stealth and slowly sneaked up on Aegis, coming up a short distance from him. When Aegis nocked an arrow and drew Nippy scattered some nearby birds. A swish and the arrow landed true in one of the pheasants fat hides. A plump meal for tonight then...
"A good shot! You have obviously trained for a long time." Nippy bent down and retrieved the bird. "We'll cook this tonight..." He grinned and set down his quiver, sticking 10 arrows in the ground.
He set down the bow and prayed to Torm in the early morning light and proceeded to take part in his usual stretches loosening his shoulder muscles.
He nocked a few arrows and loosed them, getting nearer the bull but still not deadly enough.
Aegis began speaking to Nippy giving him some tips to improve his aims....
OOC: Take it away Aegis...
He opened it slowly and saw Aegis drawing arrows and loosing with ease. The weapon was dangerous in his hands. He used stealth and slowly sneaked up on Aegis, coming up a short distance from him. When Aegis nocked an arrow and drew Nippy scattered some nearby birds. A swish and the arrow landed true in one of the pheasants fat hides. A plump meal for tonight then...
"A good shot! You have obviously trained for a long time." Nippy bent down and retrieved the bird. "We'll cook this tonight..." He grinned and set down his quiver, sticking 10 arrows in the ground.
He set down the bow and prayed to Torm in the early morning light and proceeded to take part in his usual stretches loosening his shoulder muscles.
He nocked a few arrows and loosed them, getting nearer the bull but still not deadly enough.
Aegis began speaking to Nippy giving him some tips to improve his aims....
OOC: Take it away Aegis...
Perverteer Paladin
Aegis turned to the skilled, but still young, man. He was progressinly moving closer to the centre, but in the heat of battle, it wouldn't matter how close, unless it was dead on.
"You must remain calm when loosing the arrow. Do not aim for the target, rather, aim for the area above the target." Aegis drew his own bow, and in a lighting quick movement, loosed another arrow, sending it into the cnetre of the target. He turned back to Nippy. "When your take the time to aim, you will always miss. Let your sense guide you arrow."
He watched as Nippy drew another arrow back, and loosed it. Nippy's face brightend into a smile when he the fletching notched into the targets centre. aegis smiled, and nodded for him to do it again. Nippy loosed another, coming close to the centre, but not quite. "Good. Now, the real question is this. Can you do this when distracted?" Aegis smiled, and awaited a response.
"You must remain calm when loosing the arrow. Do not aim for the target, rather, aim for the area above the target." Aegis drew his own bow, and in a lighting quick movement, loosed another arrow, sending it into the cnetre of the target. He turned back to Nippy. "When your take the time to aim, you will always miss. Let your sense guide you arrow."
He watched as Nippy drew another arrow back, and loosed it. Nippy's face brightend into a smile when he the fletching notched into the targets centre. aegis smiled, and nodded for him to do it again. Nippy loosed another, coming close to the centre, but not quite. "Good. Now, the real question is this. Can you do this when distracted?" Aegis smiled, and awaited a response.
Thrashing around, Mysteria clawed her way back awake, the images fading away. She lay still for a moment, tears flowing down her cheeks. This nightmare had been so horrible, and it had felt so true, she buried her head in the pillows of the couch. The voice was right, all she brought was chaos, she was a danger, a danger to herself, a danger to all others. Nobody could ever accept her, she was condemned to be alone forever and ever. Better to go away, to disappear so she could not hurt her friends.
Something cold and wet touched her hand, turning her head, she saw Fang licking her fingers. Her tears slowly dried away, she was not all alone.... Sitting up, she took his head into her hands. "I may be a threat to the Light", she told him, "but I am also a threat to the Dark. My magic may bring chaos to all, but my sword is wielded against evil!"
Anger began to well up in her, whoever had sent her that nightmare had sent it do demoralize her, to make her give up. "I will not give up! do you hear me? I WILL NOT GIVE UP!", she shouted and let go off her pent-up magic, directing it at an iron oven nearby.
The oven turned red hot, then glowed white and began to melt. Her anger did not abate until it was molten to the ground. Looking at the sizzling pool, she ground her teeth, her face determined. "They always called me stubborn, it will serve me well now. I will find a way to control my magic, and I will not back up.", she told the air.
Picking up her quiver and bow, she looked around, "Now, where did that chicken/elf go to? I hope he's not gotten himself into trouble. Well, he's wrong if he thinks that I'm going to look for him, shouldn't have wandered off by himself."
She leaves the room and starts going down the corridor...
Something cold and wet touched her hand, turning her head, she saw Fang licking her fingers. Her tears slowly dried away, she was not all alone.... Sitting up, she took his head into her hands. "I may be a threat to the Light", she told him, "but I am also a threat to the Dark. My magic may bring chaos to all, but my sword is wielded against evil!"
Anger began to well up in her, whoever had sent her that nightmare had sent it do demoralize her, to make her give up. "I will not give up! do you hear me? I WILL NOT GIVE UP!", she shouted and let go off her pent-up magic, directing it at an iron oven nearby.
The oven turned red hot, then glowed white and began to melt. Her anger did not abate until it was molten to the ground. Looking at the sizzling pool, she ground her teeth, her face determined. "They always called me stubborn, it will serve me well now. I will find a way to control my magic, and I will not back up.", she told the air.
Picking up her quiver and bow, she looked around, "Now, where did that chicken/elf go to? I hope he's not gotten himself into trouble. Well, he's wrong if he thinks that I'm going to look for him, shouldn't have wandered off by himself."
She leaves the room and starts going down the corridor...
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."