The Order of the Dark Flame: Book 5. (story, no spam)

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 6:21 pm

T’lainya stared for a moment in shock and fear for her friend. With a shake of her head she began to follow Yshania’s soulless body down the hall. Thantor and Yshania struggled to control Thantor’s body. With only a slight stumble, Thantor/Yshania followed T’lainya and Ysh’s body down the hall. T’lainya stayed close on one side to keep her friend from falling. She glanced back to see Thantor looking worried.

“Ysh, do you have any idea where you…er your body might be going?” T’lainya asked in a puzzled tone. She stretched out an arm just in time to steady the walker.

Thantor’s voice came out hesitantly. “I …we have no idea either. Would a hold spell work?”

T’lainya thought briefly. “Maybe, maybe not. If some intelligence is guiding you, then it might do damage. I deem it better to follow along, as long as we are in the keep.”

“And if I..ummm my body decides to leave…” The voice was Thantor’s, but the fear made it evident that Yshania was speaking.

“We will follow.” Thantor regained control, the internal struggle to keep the two entities conscious was apparent.

T’lainya was amazed that he had succeeded so well. “If that occurs we will do something, the hold spell or something similar.” T’lainya tried to keep her voice calm and steady. She frowned as she saw where they were headed. Why the kitchen she wondered.

Der-draigen · Post by **Der-draigen** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 8:08 pm

Der-draigen smiled adorably at the druid Gwalchmai's attention. He must have a thing for halflings. Sicko, (

) she thought to herself as she began to answer his question about that absurd paladin wanna-be, Fentan...then the clanging of a gong filled the air. Great, Der-draigen thought. Yet another distraction. She was a patient…person, when she wanted something; however now that patience was wearing thin. Would she ever find any answers?…

But to her relief they all ended up in the great hall, opening the blackwine casks.

Der-draigen gladly partook of the classic vintage. It was even better than she had suspected. As usual, “the halfling” was being ignored; so she used the opportunity to muse on the situation…to try to “tune in” to the source of the keep’s crisis. She felt a…thick…presence somewhere about. “Thick” was really the only word she could think of to describe it…it was as if she could reach out her hand and press against the very air, and it would offer resistance…She wondered if the others felt it and just hadn’t said anything; or if their senses had been dulled by the apparently rare and sudden influx of guests…

At that moment, a wolf howled in the distance. Something was definitely going on with the wolves…Gai t’a’ha, Sar-ghi’tou, gai t’a’ha, Der-draigen told the creature. But oddly enough, she got no response…She was pondering this when the candles and fire sputtered.

She smiled inwardly. At last, she thought…An answer?…

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jan 18, 2002 8:20 pm

Bloodstalker halted mere yards from the entrance to the keep. Again the doubt returned to him. Such was the importance of his mission that it had comsumed the last five years of his life, and he now wondered at the wisdom of counting so heavily upon the help of those who he didn't even know. Regardless of the stories he had heard, the Dark Flame was an unknown entity. their motives, their desires, their purpose he had not in the least ascertained. True, they were respected through much of the land, but that did little to comfort him presently. His life had not conditioned him such that trust came easily. There were angles that he had not fully thought out, and that left him with an uneasy feeling. He was a fool, he decided. A fool to have been about to open himself so fully to total strangers, some of whom were practitioners of magic. The last thought sent a chill thrugh his tired body, shaking him to the very core of his being.Was it fear? he thought for a moment and then conceeded that maybe that was indeed the case. Still, the years he had lived in isolation, save for the few occassions when his need for the company of his fellow humans had led him to brave the settlements, had taught him that a little fear was a good thing. Yes, let the foolhardy extole upon the virtues of the fearless, but in his experience, those truly without fear had lived amazingly short lives. fear made a man careful, made him judge his surroundings before he acted, as it was making him do now.yes, he thought to himself, as long as it did not rule a person, fear was a very valuable trait to have in one's makeup.
So it was that he decided. He would introduce himself as a man seeking shelter. Someone who merely needed a few nights rest before returning to his journey. In the meantime, he would observe. He would learn what he could about the occupants of this keep, and then would make his decision. Yes, he concluded, that was the most prudent course of action available to him. That would also give the added benefit of not placing himself in a disruptive position to the people here. His mission was the only thing he thought about, his whole reason for being, but those inside would not feel as he did. Surely they had their own concerns. So he would stay in the background, be of help when he could, and perhaps win their support in that way.
Taking a deep breath, he hailed the keep

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 3:01 am

"Not again!" Roared Nippy.

He had heard a hail from outside. He walked up to the front door and swung it open, hearing it crash against the wall.

"Hail! How can I help you? Come into the light and keep your hands away from weapons. I apologise, but it's just a precaution..."

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 10:49 am

Bloodstalker took a few steps nearer the entrance, careful to keep his hands at his sides, well away from the sword sheathed across his back.

"You will have no trouble here", he called, "I was just passing through, and was wondering if you could spare a room, and maybe something to eat."

He stood waiting as the figure in the entrance considered.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 8:14 pm

After several moments standing akwardly in front of the others, Farscape sighed heavily.
Without apparent effort, the lightly shining blue blade was in his hand.
"I trust that at least some of you are healers of skill? Good, well, I apologize for the mess..."
Raising the sword high above his head, he drove it into a chest through a gap in his armour.
Dropping to his knees, face contorted in pain, he shouted.
"Intervene and die. Do not approach until the blade ceases glowing!"
With the sword buried hilt deep in his chest, its long blade protruded from his back, its glow dimming slowly. Falling to ground, breathing irregularly, his features of mix of pain and peace. Slowly the glow of blade diminished.

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 10:57 pm

There is a strange aura from this enigmatic knight. He senses evil from within this man. The kind of evil that he vowed to fight and destroy...

...yet why doesn't he feel the bloodlust to strike the man?

The knight reached out for his sword in an apparent gesture of curiosity and interest in Deathstryke.

A knight of the Holy Order never allows just anyone to touch his blade.

But why is it that he allowed this noble warrior to get a hold of his blade? No, it was not him who allowed it. It was Deathstryke itself willing to be held.

As the man thrusts the blade into his body, Deathstryke glimming in bright DARK BLUE (this never happened before!!!), Maharlika stretched out his arms sideways, signalling the others not to get closer nor to intervene what is happening.

Behold a kindred spirit of noble origins, Maharlika, you may communicate with this man.

Maharlika sensed that there is more than this. His Blade has not explained everything, he wonders.

He stares at the man and sees what happens next.

He hears the sound of the gong, but apparently he is much concerned on what is taking place in the room...

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sat Jan 19, 2002 11:23 pm

The knight has fallen, the blade has stopped glowing.

He reached for the man and the blade and unthrusts Deathstryke. He noticed a profound change in the man. The lines on his face were much different than he briefly remembered.

Checking the sword wound, he gasped!!!!

There is no wound but a mark that he knows of...

...what has this person carrying all along?

He lifts the man with a little difficulty, despite his height, and looks at the others. Maharlika looks at them with eyes showing confusion.

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Maharlika ]

Mysteria · Post by **Mysteria** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 1:08 am

Looking around, Mysteria sees how a knight, Farscape, if she understood right, suddenly gets hold of the still nameless other stranger's sword and jams it into his own chest before she can move. Hearing his words, she looks on, amazed.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she shakes her head, she has to see clear in this. Feeling a short trickle of magic, she quickly opens her eyes again, only to shut them again just as quickly. For just a moment there, she's seen them all, Farscape, the stranger, Dragon Wench, Alreth, a dark shadow, Gwalchmai, .... all stark NAKED! They had all been NAKED! Gasping, she opens her eyes again, and takes a deep breath when she sees that everything looks normal again.

Shaking, she leans back again. Somehow, something was bothering her. What had it been...? Something she saw... There had been a shadow behind? around? no behind, it must have been behind, Alreth. Where did it come from? Of course, how stupid of her, it must have been Nippy's presence behind the wall. Now, why did he look so dark? Probably the wall getting into the way, Nippy certainly wasn't evil.

Shaking her head once more, she looks back at Farscape. The stranger had removed his sword from Farscape's body, no longer glowing blue. He held him up, looking around, unsure about what to do. Once again, Mysteria wished she were a healer, but then Farscape didn't really look wounded. Moving over, she helps the stranger drop Farscape into a nearby armchair.

Taking a closer look, she notices the strange symbol on his chest but can't make any sense out of it. Moving out of the way, she gives room to healer who might get Farscape out of his unconsciousness.

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Mysteria ]

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 5:22 am

Yshania’s material form wandered into the kitchen. Slowly, as if in a dream, she proceeded to open each cupboard door and pull the contents out onto the floor, getting more and more annoyed as she did not find what she appeared to be looking for…T’lainya and Thantor could only look on, concerned and unsure what to do, the other occupants of the room watched, bewildered. Yshania was not driven by conscious thought, and there was no rhyme or reason to her activities…she stood and turned to face the others, but her glazed expression gave up no secrets…there was not even a fleeting acknowledgement of their presence…

Thantor and T’lainya stepped to one side to allow Yshania to limp past…Thantor felt Yshania’s spirit sigh from within…

“where is she headed now?” asked Thantor

“To the cellar” replied T’lainya, they followed her, their descent down the steps causing Thantor’s spiritual guest some dizziness as she briefly became displaced before managing to catch up

'Don't tread so heavily Thantor' she pleaded...

Yshania stood for a while, surveying the room. Dropping to her hands and knees, she started to move the dust around, scratching at the stone floor, her actions becoming increasingly frantic as it did not yield the secrets she was looking for…her fingers began to bleed from her efforts…

‘We should stop her!’ Thantor said

'No!' whispered Yshania inside Thantor’s mind…unintentionally he spoke aloud her words…T’lainya regarded him puzzled, holding back the urge to cast hold person. 'I…erm…she…is working on an instinctive level' Yshania proceeded 'something is very wrong, I sense it from her, but she does not know what….she cannot process consciously what she is sensing'

Yshania’s form continued to scrabble around the floor for clues, now becoming distressed. Suddenly she stopped and tipped her head to one side, as if she was listening to something.

'No!' said Yshania to Thantor 'what?' he asked...'she is being called, I can feel it, she is being summoned'

They watched in horror as Yshania climbed the stairs and headed for the garden doors…’she is going to the clearing!’ yelled Thantor…he felt Yshania spirit sag at his words…Yshania was grateful for the quick mental hug he offered as he and T’lainya raced outside…’déjà vu’ Thantor muttered to himself…

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Yshania ]

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 7:01 am

It did not take long for Nippy to decide that the man in the courtyard was telling the truth. He waved him over and called him into the kicthen, looking closely at him. He could sense no evil and was sure that the man could be trusted.

"Come in, have a cup of coffee. It seems we have a lot of new guests arriving lately, you aren't the first... What is your name by the way?"

Nippy gave a weak, wan smile and poured a coffee for him.

He turned around and saw one of the new guests, Farscape he thought his name was, layed out on a couch unconcious.

"What in the name of Torm is going on here? I mean, come on! The keep going haywire around us, all these guests, it's bloody insane! It's bad karma , I'm telling you!"

The smoke from the coffee filtered up to his face. It obscured his face a little and he looked onto the rest of the guests. He shook his head and ran his hands through his closely cropped hair.

"Well, I know we are missing Dragon Wench, Yshania and Thantor" Gwalchmai smirked at this.

"Don't you mean Yshantor?" All of the resident Flames burst out in laughter.

"Well apart from Gwal here, the old man and janitor of the keep, I liked to introduce you to each other. This is Gwalchmai, Vivien, Mysteria, Farscape on the couch, Aegis and Alreth."

He pointed each person out.

"We are missing Yshania, Dragon Wench and Thantor as you can tell, they have a little problem..."

The room smirked again.

"Why don't you all mix and mingle and find out about each other, it's the perfect oppourtunity!"

He took Gwalchmai away from flirting with Mysteria and spoke quietly to him.

"I have a little problem Gwal, and I think you might be able to help me. Thantor's a little busy."

"What is it Nippy? How can I help?"

"Well you know those spells that I was able to cast, well I think I don't want them anymore, it is not the way of the Paladin or the Monk and I think it is wrong for me to take advantage of them. Poor Jerren is stuck without them, they were his in the first place! I've researched this and found out ways to give people something. I need your help in doing this. All I need is for you to sanctify a natural area, like a Grove. It needs to be spiritually clean and all I need to do is cast a small prepared spell. I want to do this quietly though. It's important to me..."

Nippy looked at Gwalchmai and saw doubt in the Druids eyes. His eyes softened and he clapped him on the shoulder.

"You truly are an honourable warrior Nippy, I will do this for you in the morning. However, now is the time to eat, drink and be merry! Setup the Dwarven ale drinking competition!" Shouted Gwalchmai.

Nippy grinned.

"You know you'll lose old man!"

"Try me whippersnapper!"

Maharlika · Post by **Maharlika** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 7:46 am

Feeling awkward that he doesn't understand their language but understands the context that everybody is being introduced --- name is being said and the person concerned acknowldges it --- the stranger said his name too.

"Ma-HAR-li-ka."

On that note, his stomach growled again for everyone to hear. At that moment there was a sudden pause and silence then everybody had one form or the other expressed their amusement of such seemingly comical timing.

Maharlika's face went red in embarassment.

"Okay, okay, MaHARlika, you too, this way *snicker*." offered Gwally. Sheepishly he followed his host, the smell of food making his mouth water and his stomach rumble like crazy.

But before proceeding he made a quick glance at the unconscious man on the couch, concern and confusion evident on Maharlika's face.

"Where am I?"

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 8:29 am

Bloodstalkers eyes surveyed his surroundings. He checked off each face as they were introduced, marking them so as not to suffer the embarrassement of forgetting one of their names.

The one called Nippy had seemed somewhat perturbed at all the new faces, not angered, it seemed, but definatley at a loss to explain how everyone seemed to be showing up at the same time. Bloodstalker didn't blame him. He himself didn't trust in coincedence, and fund himself wondering at the situation. For the first time, he began to wonder at the chance meeting with the caravan that had started him on his journey.

Two figures held his immediate attention. The flame haired female, he sensed something about her. His years had made him extremly sensitive to the touch of magic, and he sensed a power in this one. A power that was suppressed, but still boiling there. It unerved him a little, as such magic always did. He became aware that he had been staring, and with a slight blush turned his head to take in the elf, Aegis he recalled the name. He wondered idlely of the tales he had heard of elven skill with bows, and was curious as to the truth they held. looking at the calm look upon the elfs face, the confidence etched there, he suddenly had no doubt as to the legends. He made up his mind immediatly. While his own skill with the blade had been unmatched as yet in his experience, he had never been able to master the use of the bow. Actually, he admited to himself, he doubted he could hit this keep from a distance of 30 yards or more. Skill with weapons, any kind of weaponry, fascinated him. Perhaps he could sway Aegis to give him some instruction.

Hazarding yet another glance toward the flame haired Mysteria, he walked over to Aegis, and introduced himself.

Der-draigen · Post by **Der-draigen** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:13 am

Heh heh, Der-draigen thought, Halfling really was the perfect disguise! She was still going completely unnoticed. But mixed in with glee over her success was a vast impatience that would not be quelled. So she strode up to Nippy the Paladin, who was observing some strange ritual or something with a blue sword, and said, "Eh-hem, beg pardon Sir, but would you mind if I took this opportunity to explore your lovely home a bit and get to know my surroundings? A halfling so often feels so, well, overwhelmed in the big folks' houses. Thank you." Her entire speech having gone completely unheard in the surrounding chaos, she went off to gather information on her own.

The thing with the candles and the fire had really gotten to her. She had seen that once before. And what on earth was going on with the wolves?...She could only get hold of one or two of them at any one time; and always the messages were garbled. Something about collars. Collars?? she thought, bewildered. Was someone enthralling the wolves??...She told the ones she could still communicate with to get north to Der-g'ha'toth at once.

Wandering pretty much aimlessly, she found herself in a long, dimly-lit corridor that looked as if it might lead to an ancient dungeon. The "thickness" she had felt seemed stronger here...almost as if she had to slog through the air. It was like a bad dream: she felt as if her own movements were slowed, but that there were other things in the dark corners that could move as fast as lightning through the air-murk...

A large piece of stone came crashing down then, just missing Der-draigen's head. "Ga'th'in! she cursed under her breath. The talisman burned painfully red-hot for an instant and she instinctively jumped back, but the heat subsided. She moved closer, to examine the place in the wall whence the stone had fallen. It was far up -- beyond the reach of any inhabitant she had met...She gathered herself and made an impossible leap, catching the base of the hole the stone had left. There was nothing behind -- no passage, no access-hole through which the stone might have been pushed. She let go and landed softly on the floor. That was when she heard the unearthly laughter inside her head. It was faint, but insistent, and personal.

She continued on down the corridor, feeling as if the very stones were watching, awaiting an opportunity to strike...

But what struck instead was a heavily armored knight that came bursting out of the shadows straight toward her, with intent to kill.

Der-draigen drew her sword. She was still trying to get used to it, in case she had to use it as part of her disguise...She did not want to draw on the power of the stone, lest it leave some trace that could be detected by one of the Dark Flames...Fortunately she did not have to use it. The knight collapsed at her feet, and lay motionless.

She cautiously approached, ready to fight if this was a ruse. Swiftly she lifted the knight's visor with the tip of her sword...

There was nothing there. No face. Nothing.

Der-draigen threw the sword down and went to her knees, ripping the armor apart. It was very old and some of it crumbled at her frantic touch. There was nothing inside. The armor was utterly empty.

She retrieved her sword and stood in the darkness, trembling. Trembling. Actually afraid. She still didn't know what force was here; but somehow she now knew that it would not share power, nor would it aid one who sought power.

Forcing down her fear, she continued on.

GandalfgalTTV · Post by **GandalfgalTTV** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:33 am

Sitting there listening, the tale of the battle completed, it continued with a new story, but this one was being written as it was told. The howling of the wolves and the screaming of the woman could be heard, while the Earth told me of it. She was close to the keep, the Flames would help the halfling lass, and I laughed at the thought, a lass, evil ***** was closer too the truth and even that wasn’t close enough, but for now, she was needed and her secret would be safe. Sitting down too hear this tale end, a sudden plot twist could be heard behind me, a great howl from deep within the forest, and moments latter I saw another one running towards me. Those damn Dread Wolves where headed towards me. Of all the wolves these where among the most beautiful and the most cunning and I really didn’t want to fight them. Standing there indecisive, the Earth gave some of it’s wisdom, it could not lie and in all the time I had heard it’s voice it had never been wrong. And this is what it’s rumbling voice told me “The tale will need some of them, but all will complicate the writing. Do not kill them all.” And so I heard, so I listened.

I lowered my head and crossed my arms across the chest. My armour darkened beyond it’s usual black, almost sucking in the light. Suddenly my body erupted in black flames, small at first but growing. When the flames reached their full height they disappeared as quickly as they came, but in my hands a two-handed axe appeared, not black, but without any colour at all. It radiated an evil so strong it could be felt when looking at it. It was not crafted as such, I had made it to battle the forces of evil, but destroying evil is still destruction. And as my wish for death grew, his lust for delivering it grew as well. With every life it took the bloodlust grew, until it had finally consumed the once wise weapon.

They where close now, so close I could see there eyes and so close I could see something was wrong, their own evil was not strong, they are ferocious hunters who enjoy the kill, but somehow their evil had grown and their will was weakened, she had changed them somehow, rekindled their old hatred of the common races. I had suspected as much but her hold on them was stronger than I had at first believed, it would take quite some power to break her hold on them. As I was thinking on this matter Axe had grown impatient and had started the fight without me, already two of them where slain, regaining control of the weapon, without my control none would survive, After slaying another two they started to realise that they wouldn’t win, their attacks barely scratched my armour, and Axe would kill them with a single blow. They started to retreat, with the realisation that they would surely die, only the will too go to the origin of the great howl deep within the forest remained. While they where leaving I realised too many would survive. And so the flames of night returned, where Axe would take to long, magic would provide the answer. Nine bodies instantly fell too the ground, their spirits joining the void. Only two where left now, scared and scarred they would pose no threat.

I sat down thinking about the next move, when would the others arrive, they where coming, drown to the Flames like moths, but their where those that took their sweet time too get here, I had expected them sooner. The Earth welcomed it’s blanket, snow and darkness came together, white and black joining, blending, colouring grey as the darkness deepened. It was a truly beautiful sight, and it where thinks as small as this that made my life have some happiness, such a shame that it took so much pain and sorrow too appreciate such things. Seeing this took my mind on a trip too the past, remembering the time that my wife Mirvota and I, had roamed the lands together, fighting all who would diminish the happiness of those who had fought so hard too earn it. She was beautiful in all her forms, but the one she used to travel through the cities was the one I had loved the most, but her chosen race, the silver dragon whose skin I wear, had been her most impressive. I had met her as such and she was slain as such. And so the sorrow returned. Lifting up my head too survey the present too which I had now returned, my eyes met those of the Symbul. I had known she would be the first too realise that I was around. Although I would rather have had the honour of choosing the time and place of our reunion myself, faith had decided otherwise.

It had been quite sometime since our mind and magic had joined but the link had survived the test of time, as become apparent when without words our magic combined into our evening meal. And so we both sat down discussing the events unfolding, the growing darkness, the new arrivals, and much more, but the full contents of this conversation will not be revealed by either of us. Although I might mention the fact that my hope that she had learned some social skills was quickly destroyed, as she taught me words that I hadn’t even imagined existed. Our conversation had taken several hours, and night was approaching. So she left, giving me some time to catch up on the things that happened at the keep. It told me that three more had arrived. A smile appeared on my face, perhaps they had heard my thoughts, oh well it did not matter. Soon the last one would arrive, and then the group would be complete, not ready but at least complete. But something about the one called Maharlika worried me, apparently more wolves had been around, but these where not part of the group of Dreads that had chased the halfling. Someone else was using wolves as well, or perhaps my worries where unfounded and they where part of the evil that had been growing around the keep. The Earth could not tell me more about them, so I would have to wait and see, something I was not used to.

Spending another hour thinking, planning and trying too rest a bit, the Earth suddenly made me realise that most of the hour had been spend resting, as it’s voice rudely awakened me. “And so the last one arrives. The chapter draws to an end. The tale will continue soon.” Although some speed was necessary, how much could happen in a single night. And although I had done very little this day, it had been a draining one. Climbing into one of the nearby trees, hoping to get some sleep, another howling wolf startled me, my tired body lost it’s grip and my body made the descend to the ground a lot faster than I would have liked it too. I was unable too determine to which group the wolf belonged, and the Earth remained silent. And honestly I didn’t care, what could a single wolf do. Checking my equipment, I saw a creamy brown substance dripping out of my pack. Several curses flew through my mind, as I realised one of my bottles of Baileys had not survived the fall. Standing there cursing and almost crying. A strange feeling came over me, something weird was happening at the keep, and the energy reached out far enough to reach the forest. The time had come…

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: Gandalfgal The Talking Variant ]

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:41 am

Awareness came slowly to the Knight Errant. The darkness that had shrouded him slowly receeded back from where it came.
Slowly, his eyes opened. Looking around, he saw several members of the keep looking at him with concern.
"I am fine, thank you"
And he started laughing.
"It worked, it actually worked." Still in utter amazement, he felt his chest, all that remained was light scar, more akin a scrape in a knife then impaling oneself on a warriors blade.
The warrior, his name was Maharlika. His sword, Farscape's salvation, was Deathstryke. He understood, the sword had told him much,
"Where is the other knight? Maharlika."
Suddenly though, he felt the tug of the stone...

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 10:41 am

Awareness came slowly to the Knight Errant. The darkness that had shrouded him slowly receeded back from where it came.
Slowly, his eyes opened. Looking around, he saw several members of the keep looking at him with concern.
"I am fine, thank you"
And he started laughing.
"It worked, it actually worked." Still in utter amazement, he felt his chest, all that remained was light scar, more akin a scrape in a knife then impaling oneself on a warriors blade.
The warrior, his name was Maharlika. His sword, Farscape's salvation, was Deathstryke. He understood, the sword had told him much,
"Where is the other knight? Maharlika."
Suddenly though, he felt the tug of the stone...

Der-draigen · Post by **Der-draigen** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 1:57 pm

The wolves were suddenly screaming in Der-draigen's mind. Their sudden communication was so violent she reeled into the wall. One of the packs had been massacred on its way north. At this point only five remained, and appreantly the battle was still going on. "I told you to stay out of sight!" she chastised them. Then they told her that some of the pack had been taken before the battle, and they mentioned collars again.

"S'ih' d'ban, az'ag gha d'ban eryyo'h'tou-li'yeh? (Was the one who collared them the same who killed them?)"

"D'eh, ekk' ha-r'ah. (No, it was different.)"

Der-draigen gritted her teeth. What was going on?...

"Get out of there immediately and go to Der-g'ha'toth!! she ordered them...

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Der-draigen ]

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 2:02 pm

The room quickly became crowded, and quite uncomfortable for the nature loving elf. Aegis quietly snuck out of the common room, and away from the hearth with ease, no one, at least he believed, noticing him. He wandered the halls of the keep, slowly winding his way up the levels, until finally reaching one of the ramparts on the weastern wall. From there, his eyes were greeted by the sight of the setting sun, but also by the chill wind begining to blow in from the North. He smiled regardless. He crawled up onto one of the battlements, and leaned against the cold stone, drawing his cloak in tight around him. He figured he would stay out here for a bit, then return to the common room once it would've calmed down a bit. He smiled pleasantly into nothing, and sat quietly, thinking.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Sun Jan 20, 2002 6:15 pm

The occupants of the keep all seemed occupied for the moment, but that was fine to Bloodstalker. All those years of living mostly alone had not really trained him to be comfortable with such large groups as he found himself in now. Conversation, the social graces, these were all but unknown to him. So he sat and used the time to do something he did know how to do; think.
He hadn't expected to find this many new arrivals besides himself, and the thought of it continued to make him uneasy. It was almost as if some force were pulling these stangers together, joinng them to each other at this exact time and place. Almost, it seemed, without their knowledge or consent. And Bloodstalker did not like the feeling it sent through him. He didn't like the feeling that some outside force was controlling his destiny, it made him feel like he had no say. Like a prisoner of sorts, and he had had enough of that. His entire life had been at the whim of others until he had escaped the Chamber five years before.
Again his thoughts went back in the clouds of time. His childhood, spent till his thirteenth year, unaware of the purpose he had been concieved for. The darkest magics required a price, something to feed from, and life was the only thing it could consume and transform to the power the necromancers desired. So, he was bred and raised, taken from his home at 13, spending the next 3 years as a target for the lash. Three years which the children either survived, or died. those who survived soon wished they hadn't.
After the three years, his body had been pronounce strong enough to enter the Chamber, The place where the dark powers fed. five years he had endured, only to escape by chance. His only thought since that escape had been to return, to destroy the place or die trying. either way would bring relief.
He had thought the ring he wore would help in some way, and that was why his journey here had been undertaken. Now, he was not so sure. This many people gathering in one place....almost like an army gathering before the battle. He wondered about the reasons the others had for coming here, and wondered if theywere experiencing the same doubts he was.
Again he looked over the room, and again his eyes fell on Mysteria. He realized that he was a bit fearful of her. There was power in that one, he could feel it as surly as the beating of his own heart, but it seemed not the controlled power of the other mages he had known, if indeed she was a mage. And the thought of what controlled forces had done to him made him wonder what would happen if he had to fell an uncontrolled burst. No matter, he decided. He would know all answers in time, and right now he just needed to rest. He smiled tiredly at the flame haired woman and settled back to let his body sink into his seat. It had been a long journey, but he had the nagging feeling that this was only the beginning.