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

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 3:45 pm

"Aye, I believe it is time. You may not know this but I have Hitomi resting here in the keep. He is sleeping in a spare room but he has a hideous enchantment placed over him. I believe Lomoro has the same. Another piece of bad news is that a Tarrasque...

"WHATTTT!?!?!"

... is on the loose. I believe that it will attack Lomoro and speed is of the essence. I think we have two options, one you and I go together, Kramor could come too, we will need his combat strength. However, to kill a Tarrasque we need someone able to cast Wish to permenately end it's existence. The other is to grab Lomoro and bring him back here. I believe that the only way to end the enchantment is to kill the Tarrasque so we will need to kill it soon. I believe that to actually kill it we will need all of the Flames together, however, they are also on a quest are they not?

What do you wish to do?"

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 4:21 pm

T’lainya was softly singing to herself as she and Darkpoet went downstairs in search of her cousin. Darkpoet caught her eye and grinned. T’lainya could feel her face redden a bit at his expression. T absentmindedly pocketed the earrings and necklace they had found.
“What did you have in mind to tease Menadir with?” she asked cheerfully.
“Well…” Darkpoet bent his head to whisper in her ear.
“That sounds utterly devious and completely wonderful.” T’lainya could barely contain her amusement. She tugged on Dps arm. She whispered something back to him and they both burst into laughter. Composing themselves, they walked into the courtyard.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 4:48 pm

T'lainya went ahead of Darkpoet, running to her cousin. Menadir smiled when he saw his cousin, but the smile faded, as he saw the look on her face.
"What's wrong? Did you get here in time, to remove the demon out of Darkpoet?"
T'lainya rolled her eyes.
"Is that all you want to know? Not, nice to see you T'lainya or how are you T'lainya? You could of told me, who Darkpoet was, you jerk!"

"Well if I would of told you, would you of helped him out?"

"Menadir, you know the answer to that!" T'lainya told him icely. She turn to see Darkpoet, walking towards them.

"Well, here comes Mr. I didn't see you in the tub, because it was too steamy." T'lainya retorted.

[ 08-09-2001: Message edited by: Darkpoet ]

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 5:14 pm

Menadir stood there staring at Darkpoet and T’lainya with his mouth slightly open and a dazed expression.

“What…” He turned to look at Darkpoet. “Are you saying that…”

Before he could get the words out Darkpoet turned to T’lainya. “And who didn’t lock the door? Besides you’re the one who couldn’t wait to just jump through a magic portal to Gods know where.”

T’lainya eyed the two of them frostily. ”No wonder you were always friends. You’re both complete idiots!” She turned to glare at Darkpoet. “If you can’t figure out that a closed door means someone is taking a bath, then you are hopeless.” Looking at Menadir, she shook her head and threw up her hands in exasperation. “Go drown yourselves in ale!”

Menadir reached back to push his hair out of his eyes. He looked at Darkpoet helplessly, then turned to T’lainya. “But…”

Darkpoet interrupted him again. ”Not to mention that person hadn’t bathed in a dragons age.” He groused at T.

“That’s hardly my problem.” She snapped back. “Maybe you should have spied on him taking a bath.”

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 5:34 pm

Darkpoet laughed, "Why? So you can complain, that I wasn't paying attention to you? Pleeaassee, I told you I was sorry. Menadir, can you believe, she is still mad at me for the skunk cabbage joke? Thank you, for sending her here, I'm surprised, she didn't cut my head off, at the first sight of me. But, I think she is, head over heels in love with me."

T'lainya jumped at Darkpoet, slapping him in the side of the head. She spun and threw a kick at Darkpoet. He blocked it with his forearm, but didn't see the shot to the ribs. Darkpoet grunted and wrapped his arms around T'lainya, he picked her up and started to carry her to a mud hole.

"Guys, come on we are friends here. Look, the three of grew up together."
Menadir, blocked Darkpoet's way, but he kept walking forward. Causing Menadir to walk backwards.
Then Darkpoet let go of T'lainya, the both of them pushed Menadir in the mud hole.

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Thu Aug 09, 2001 5:58 pm

Darkpoet and T’lainya stood there laughing until their sides hurt at the comical sight. Menadir sat in the mud, covered from head to toe. He reached up and tried to wipe the mud from his face but only succeeded in smearing more on himself. He looked at Dp and T with a sheepish grin.

“Well I see you two have caught up on old times. Maybe you could help clean me up? Get me some water or something?”

“Oh, by all means.” T’lainya’s voice was sweet.

Menadirs eyes widened as he realized what she had in mind. “Don’t you…”

T’lainya cast the create water spell over his head, drenching him and widening the muddy area by a few feet.

Darkpoet was still laughing. “You know better than to tempt her.”

Menadir shook his head ruefully. “I know I do. Let me rephrase that, would you please help me out of this?”

[ 08-09-2001: Message edited by: T'lainya ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 4:22 am

Never mind. Nippy, you can take control of my character in this storyline.

[ 08-10-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 12:31 pm

OOC: @Nippy: PM me. I have some great ideas about what you can do with Loner's character... *evil grin*

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 12:41 pm

OOC: Oooohhh Thantor..you could get in sooooo much trouble

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 3:12 pm

T’lainya laughed delightedly and looked at Darkpoet. He laughed and squeezed her hand, then looked at Menadir. Together they went over to him and extended their hands. They pulled him free from the mud. They led T’lainya’s cousin up the stairs and to one of the baths where he cleaned himself up. Shaking the water out of his black hair he thought about the last conversation. I wonder if they were serious? I suppose I’ll find out later he thought.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Aug 10, 2001 3:49 pm

[OOC: Loner

]

IC:
Early in the afternoon, Gwalchmai noticed that Anomen was visibly slumping in the saddle, and travel had been slow all day. He suggested that they make camp early since the woods they were in seemed innocuous enough. “There are still many hours of travel time left this day.” Anomen said, “But if you are fatigued, we can stop.” Anomen painfully dismounted and said, “Take care of my horse. It needs food and water. Then set up camp and see if you can scrounge up something to eat.”

Gwalchmai raised an eyebrow at Anomen, “I am not a slave.”

“You’re not?” Anomen muttered as he slowly sat with his back against a tree, “Oh, that’s right. You were one, though, weren’t you? Ah, but that was a long time ago. Those were the days.”

“I was never a slave in the sense that I was forced into servitude. I served willingly, and now I count those I served as my friends”

“I am sorry, Guacamole, er... Gwalmoose,... What was your name again?”

“Gwalchmai.” Gwalchmai growled, then found that he was, in fact, tasked with tending to the horses and setting up camp, since Anomen made no move to help. He noticed Anomen gingerly touching the side of his face, which had become puffy and red. Anomen winced repeatedly. Gwalchmai said, “Why don’t you heal yourself, Anomen? Your pain and disfigurement would soon be gone if you did.”

“I have not been willing to access my clerical powers for some time now.” Anomen looked away.

“Why not? What have you been doing?”

“I have been relying on my meager skills as a fighter. Perhaps that is why I wasn’t as much help to Anika and her troop as I could have been. But, I cannot face petitioning Helm for daily spells since I so spectacularly failed in my duties a guardian.” He closed his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek, then he spoke quietly, “I remember everything I did while the evil spirit inhabited me.” Anomen fell silent.

After some thought, Gwalchmai said, “But surely ‘Helm Sees All’ and would have understood your predicament. You are complete once again, and can return to the service of Helm, Righteousness, and Justice.” But Anomen did not respond except with a soft snore. Gwalchmai shook his head, then cast a few healing spells on him. Anomen seemed to settle in to a more comfortable sleep.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 10:19 am

Thantor heard a knock on his door. "Come in," he said heavily. He was rubbing calendula salve into his chest when Georgi walked in. Startled, he stopped in midstroke and stared at her as she strode into the room. "Lady Georgi..." he began, but did not get up to greet her. "Master Thantor," she answered with a nod. Seeing the extent of his wounds broke her heart, but she was determined to address this thing head on and would not allow her focus to be swayed.

"So... Anomen just came to see me..."

"Oh?" replied Thantor, resuming applying the salve. He tried to maintain a certain polite disinterest, but his spirits sunk even lower.
...
"Why would you encourage him to do this?"

"I'm afraid I miss your meaning, lady."

"Why would you presume to tell Anomen to beseech me to be his, that we should be happy together?" Fire shot out of Georgi's eyes.

"I told him the truth as I perceived it," replied Thantor heatedly. "As I remember, you seemed very distraught after reading Anomen's letter. What was I to think? And then, after the battle, I saw you blushing from his attentions toward you."

"Did you really think I was in love with Anomen?", she said bluntly. Or was that just an excuse, she thought, remembering his concern for the elven paladin who had escaped with him from the Shadow Master's lair.

"I would not presume to know your heart, my lady," Thantor answered stiffly, stung but intrigued by her words. They implied that perhaps...

"Perhaps that is because you do not care to look, sir," she shot back, turning toward the door. "I bid you goodnight."

"Georgi, wait," said Thantor, rising from the bed. Georgi stopped, but did not turn to face him. "If you knew what was in my heart, you could never say that to me. I have never stopped thinking about you, longing to be near you. I truly believed that you had feelings for Anomen. And the thought of it is exceedingly more painful than any torture the Shadow Master devised." He paused, the emotion catching in his throat.

His words echoed longingly through her, her heart aching for him. "I do care for Anomen, Thantor," she said, turning to him, the spark rekindled in her eyes. "But I love you."

The speed and shock of it, the intensity of the words, the release and the joy of it, was like a glacier coming apart inside of him. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest and the hot tears streaming down his face. "Georgi..." and she was in his arms and there was only the sensation of her arms around him and their life force bleeding into each other. He was in awe of the impact four words could have on his world. He swept her off her feet, carried her over to his bed, and laid her gently on the side closest to him, very close to the edge. Then he knelt before her, simply looking into her eyes, almost in disbelief.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 12:01 pm

OOC: @T'lainya: No, I was just teasing Loner. I have the highest respect for her character, and for her. I promise to behave myself.

[ 08-11-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Sat Aug 11, 2001 2:30 pm

There was little left for Nippy to do. He had to wait on Loner's decision, he knew how it felt to lose a connection to someone you've known for nearly a decade. He would jump at the chance to help her.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sun Aug 12, 2001 9:23 am

Dragon Wench, poised upon the Keep's uppermost rampart, gazed after the retreating figures of Anomen and Gwalchmai, and mused at how different they were. Anomen's tragic arrogence contrasted sharply against Gwally's seemingly self-effacing reticence. She smiled as her thoughts drifted to the happy hours she had spent with Vivien and the druid. Her features lighted,and she laughed out loud.
"If the others only knew,"she whispered to herself, her smile broadening.
Then she paused, as she remembered Thantor's expression upon greeting her and Vivien the night before. Upon leaving Gwally's room, the hint of a knowing grin had lurked upon his elvish countenence. She wondered if Georgi, with whom her and Vivien had giggled and shared many confidences, had mentioned anything to him. Or maybe, she thought, Thantor's intuition had proven even stronger than she'd suspected.

*******************

By this time the sun had entirely risen, and her musings reminded her that she was hungry. Dragon wench made her way into the kitchen and looked around. She found eggs, flour, milk and fruit. Since Dark Poet had resigned his duties as chef, and Gwally was off babysitting Anomen, she proceded to prepare crepes, coffee, and herbal tea for those who eschewed caffeine

.

*******************

Since most of the keep's inhabitants seemed to have had little or no sleep the previous night, it proved to be a lazy day. The afternoon, despite the morning's chill, had become warm and sultry, and perhaps due to fatigue, nobody noticed the hooded figure crouching within the rubble surounding the ruins.

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: dragon wench ]

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:08 am

Vivien had fallen asleep in the meadow, the sheep had wondered off, and the time passed slowly. Each minute languid and sweet.

When she awoke, she saw that it was sometime in the afternoon, and stretching she headed back into the keep.

Seeing Dragon Wench busy and cooking she sat and smelled the delicious scents coming from the stove.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 10:33 am

As he changed his clothes, Menadir smelled food. He hadn't eaten in a while, he headed down to the kitchen. As he walked into the doorway, he stopped in amazment. Menadir, watched and wondered who, this beautiful woman was. He could tell she was no mere servant, but a warrior. Looking at the way she moved, her muscle tone, everything was perfect. Menadir, wondered what pick up line he should use. As he was ready to walk in, he was shoved into the kitchen.

"Menadir, Dragonwench doesn't bite. Well hehe, maybe you need to ask Gwally. Though, I haven't seen any bite marks, just hickeys. And this pretty lady sitting her is Vivien, she is another special friend."
Darkpoet smiled at Menadir. "Gotcha, that's for setting me up with that dwarven woman Falla." He whispered to Menadir. "DW, Vivien, this pointed eared fellow is T'lainya's cousin, Menadir. Warrior, practical joker and part octopus."

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: Darkpoet ]

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:00 am

Vivien looked slightly confused after Darkpoet's statement.
"Menadir is part octupus?" She asked while looking the strange new man up and down. He wasn't dripping water as one would expect, nor did he seem to have any extra appendages. She decided it was an inside joke, and smiled sweetly at the newcomers, patting the seat next to her for Darkpoet.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:10 am

Darkpoet, sat next to Vivien, put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
"How are you today, Viv? What do you think of a nice hot steam bath? How about you DW? A steam bath where you don't have to keep adding water?"

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: Darkpoet ]

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Mon Aug 13, 2001 11:40 am

T’lainya walked into the kitchen in time to hear Darkpoet introduce her cousin. She covered her mouth with one hand to hide her smile at Viviens slightly confused look. Menadir was looking slightly embarrassed at Darkpoets introduction. He recovered gracefully as was usual for him. He bowed deeply to Viv and DW, he kissed T’lainya on the cheek and nodded to Dp, kicking him hard in the ankle. T’lainya smiled at Viv and Dw and shook her head at her cousins antics.

“Dinner smells lovely Dw.” T’lainya seated herself next to her cousin with a quick warning glance. She turned to her cousin and looked at him seriously. “What brings you here cousin? It’s something more than concern over Darkpoet, isn’t it?”

Menadir took a deep breath and his expression turned serious. “I wanted to warn you both. There seems to have been some increased drow activity. There have been rumors of an outsider, a surfacer working with the drow. We haven’t been able to find out who or why.” His shoulders drooped as he looked around the table.