| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| Lady_Astrianna11-23-03, 03:40 PM | In the clearing of a forest, many trees stand. A certain peace resonates around the clearing, and this place seems to be full of life and happiness. High in the boughs of the oldest, biggest tree you have ever seen, a form rests in the crooks of two branches. A reverence-type aura seems to emanate from this tree, and a voice seems to echo around the Clearing... "Why have you come to this place?" |
| kulideb11-23-03, 04:02 PM | The elf walked through the forest a backpack over one shoulder and a short bow strapped to her back. A short silver sword hangs at her hip. The forest gave off an aura that was calming and peaceful. She followed the directions that Lady Astrianna had given her back at the inn. She stops in front of the largest tree she had ever seen, a voice seemed to echo around the clearing. "I have come to offer my help to Lady Astrianna." she answered. |
| LOZ11-23-03, 04:33 PM | The halfling creeps from tree to tree following kulideb from the inn, and thinking to herself that this could be her first adventure! Twinkle toes swings her backpack and yarting over her back and hums quietly to herself. she wonders who kulideb was talking to and takes a step further, so that she has a better view of kulideb. she steps out from the shadows and speaks out clearly "i have come to offer my help too!" She smiles at kulideb hoping she won't be angry that she folloowed her. :) |
| Aaron Sindweller11-23-03, 08:14 PM | Mister Dark and Shadowy himself appeared, lightly spinning his blackstaff. "I'm here to offer help t'th'woods, naturally." |
| Lady_Astrianna11-23-03, 09:03 PM | High above, in the boughs of the giant tree, the form of some bird predator takes off through the woods. A shimmering can be seen as some humanoid figure seems to detach herself from the tree itself. Boudnign from limb to limb, coming towards the figure, the figure leaps and lands without a sound, nodding to the trio of adventurers. "You have come. She passes a glance at all three of them. This is going to be no walk in the woods. There is a high possiblity that you will not return, or that if you do, you will not return the same as when you left. If this does not sound appealing, I shall not be angered if any of you back out now." "All of these people ...I am responsible for. I hope that I do not have anyone's blood on my hands before the end of this journey.... |
| Aaron Sindweller11-23-03, 10:17 PM | "Wasn't expecting a simple walk." The staff's dark pulses have become even, now. "We gonna do this, or what?" |
| kulideb11-24-03, 04:11 AM | Kulideb sighs at the sight of the hafling, well at least I will be able to keep an eye on her she thought. Then she noticed a man with a staff, she remembered seeing him back at the Inn. She nodded an hello over to him. "My lady you have given us plenty of warrning about the dangers of this trip, if you care to lead we will follow." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai11-25-03, 12:20 AM | Though no one could notice, two eyes blinked under a perfectly natural pile of fallen leaves and dirt. ~ Right. Druids recruit help from the outside... didn't even do that when we drove them away from the swamp... or when Dransol's four circles fell... or when the Tarrasque wandered across the Aslands... fmm, did join the siege, though... and those Gith brigands with theyr adamantine fortress weren't even half the threat - bah! I'm falling into memories like an old gnome! Mustn't loose my attentions when these fellows are so close... slept enough, would be stupid of me to lose theyr track by having my attention wander to the past, abandoning the present. Though the eyes blink and a deep brath is drawn into lungs positioned beneath ground level, the concealment is perfect, and no one is able to notice the stalker. ~ Genious - they aren't moving. If i was a beast of pray, i'd assume they feel my presence, think me for a threat, and attempt to feign death, really... can't the Length Messangers figure ut some potion to make these scouting strides easier? Wager i'll forget to ask by the time i reach one, ofcourse. |
| Lady_Astrianna11-25-03, 12:03 PM | She nods. "My thanks to you, my friends. Very well, yes, let us depart. It is 3- day travel to what is left of my forest - do you have some kind of mount, either of you? |
| kulideb11-25-03, 02:22 PM | "I can call Cara, I left her by the out skirts of the wood." With that Kulideb gave a whistle. A few minutes later a bay horse with a cream mane and tail came into view. She let a snort and trotted over to the elf. "Hello girl." |
| Khaira11-25-03, 02:26 PM | oops |
| Lady_Astrianna11-25-03, 02:35 PM | How did it all come to this? Back to my home I go. The one place I nurtured and made a haven, I ran from in the end. And now I go back to it. What awaits me? Destruction? Death? Some worse fate? "Very well. Everybody have everything? Last call." |
| LOZ11-25-03, 03:05 PM | Twinkle toes pulls her yarting from off her back and plays a high note. She listens hard and could hear the sound of hooves and out from behind the trees came a small fat black pony. Twinkle toes smoothed it's mane and jumped up on it's back. "i'm ready" said twinkle toes smiling. |
| Aaron Sindweller11-25-03, 03:58 PM | Aaron simply remained quiet, his staff's glowing now ceasing. However...he appeared ready. |
| Lady_Astrianna11-25-03, 11:50 PM | She crouches to the ground, word-less, and she closes her eyes. She has a look of contentment about her, perhaps even ectasy. Soundlessly, a black steed comes trotting out of the forest, a white star on its forehead. She stands up, smilign, looking at her steed. One can almost sense the brotherhood between the two beings. "Well, then, shall we be off?" |
| ThePreacher11-26-03, 12:33 AM | As the figures are about to leave, they cannot possibly notice the man in green who is carefully watching from the top branches of a closeby tree. He listens carefully to their conversation, and he's becoming even more interested in the whole affair after hearing the numerous warnings of the druid lady. <I shall follow them> ((ooc: <> express my thoughts)). |
| Khaira11-26-03, 12:38 AM | ((OOC - How many times will I post with the wrong character, do you suppose?)) |
| Lady_Astrianna11-26-03, 01:00 AM | Reaching into one of her pouches, she comes out with three necklaces and she hands them out to eveyrone. "If you find yourself in a tight spot or befall some unspeakable spot, you have merely to touch these neckalces, and it will bring you back to this Clearing, in full health and restoration. However, then it will disintegrate and there will be no way to be of use again. I give these to you to use at your discretion. I'm sure I don't have to say it, but I shall anyway. Severe discretion is required as we venture to this dark forest. I know not what awaits us now, save insanity, death, and other dark fates best left to one's imagination. That will be my last warning...we have wasted enough time here." With that, she wordlessly mounts her steed and waits for the other to mount theirs. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai11-26-03, 05:39 AM | ~ Greater Word of Recall, interresting... last time i encountered an object that could do that, it involved the hellike sufferings of a unicorn, and that was its creation's leastmost dispicable part. Oh well, druids never claimed to serve goodness. Hazardevora, you there? Come here, be ready. From the branch of a distant tree, a creature uncommon in these regions - a black dire cheetah - opened its eyes, waking up from a catnap, and jumped down, passing near the group and its horses, and idly curls down on the ground, a few feet away from there, near the aforementioned pile of leaves. It seems to fall asleep once again. ~ Sleep not, 'tis not our swamp here. Remember we've come to this forest for a purpose... |
| ThePreacher11-26-03, 07:18 AM | <Sheesh... cheap magic tricks! ... hehe, but then again, if that's what keeps you alive, it's all the same as good as any other trick. But I shall have to do without it.> |
| kulideb11-26-03, 01:02 PM | Kulideb climed upon Caras back, after saying thank you for the necklace. "Ready." |
| LOZ11-26-03, 04:28 PM | Twinkle toes takes the necklace and stares at it. Then she looked up at Lady Astrianna. "Thankyou" she says and smiles she puts the necklace round her neck. Twinkle toes thinks that this could be her first and last adventure. she takes a deep breath and hums quietly to herself. She pats her horse and is ready to set off. |
| Lady_Astrianna11-27-03, 04:44 PM | Perhaps after this trip you shall not be thanking me anymore. Hindsight can be a vicious monstrocity. She smiles to them, as she whispers a few words to her steed, urging it forward...one can hear her muttering something about Fate and vain hopes. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-05-03, 12:36 PM | After he's certain the party has left, Noulminurr Issareil, also known as Priest-&-messanger-in-Depth Mistoken, smoothly climbs out of his hiding place, remaining close to the ground. "Allright, that's the plan: we'll track them down, and you'll keep some one-hundred meters mehind them, while i'll get closer, so i can hear them. I'll call you if need be, though." The purple-eyed halfelf mounts his feline friend, but leans forward, practicly lying his torso on the dire cheetah's back, holding unto her sides with his knees. "Ready, Hazardevora?" The mount growls in agreement, and touches its rider's leg with its tail, as the soil collapses back into the hole from which he climbed a few seconds ago. "Same here, let's go then." As a piece of liquid shadow, the dire cheetah darts in the direction where the party headed, both mount and rider paying attention to the adventuirers' tracks. Little does the rangerpriest know that he was not the only one to stalk the group during theyr recruiting druid's speech... |
| Lady_Astrianna12-11-03, 10:04 AM | ((is it just me, or does it seem like I and Quath or the ONLY ONES POSTING. It just seems like that's what's happening. Why don't you all prove me wrong, then, and start posting! I fi have to I will move on, though if that's the case, I may as well close the thread, since there's no point in me going ALONE to rescue my ofrest. That just doesn't make for a good story.)) |
| kulideb12-11-03, 03:07 PM | ((me and Loz are posting! we are on our horses and following you :) )) The sun flickered through the leaves as Kulideb and Cara trotted along. Birds sang and every now and then the elf caught sight of small fey folk flittering around, just how a forest should be the elf thought to herself. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-11-03, 05:07 PM | After about a day's ride, the land begins to change. The birds cease to sing, trees cease to bear leaves, and the lack of flowers and all vegetation makes the land look barren and revolting. Every now and then, some guttural, ungodly scream can be heard echiong through the night. "Anybody want to rest?" |
| kulideb12-12-03, 04:25 AM | "I guess we should allow our mounts to rest." the elf said. "May be you could tell us some more about your forest?" |
| LOZ12-12-03, 01:46 PM | Twinkle toes likes the sound of rest. She is also curious about the forest. Twinkle toes looks around she finds the land disturbing and the screaming. |
| ThePreacher12-12-03, 02:38 PM | Leaping from tree to tree, the man clad in green follows the party. When the woods start shifting into a dead-forest, the man stops at the high brancehs of a still preserved green tree and whispers a few words on elven. His shape then merges with the textures of the tree... If one would have looked up at the bare trunks of trees, he could have seen the air calibrating in a "wave" manner. Invisible to uncunny eyes, the man leaps onto a tree above where the party has stopped to rest. He sits down on a high, broad branch and listens to any words that might come up from below. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-13-03, 08:41 AM | ~ Lay, Hazardevora, they stopped. They have the endurance of a kitten, much like i used to have as a child... following them will be incomparably easier than waiting for them to move on. The answer through his empathic link to the mount was hinting on a heard whisper. ~ So did i, my perfect, ...and then a squieek, and a cracking sound, and a groan, and then a couple shouts... though the sounds of this place are quite unlike those back at the swamp, and very unlike those at a normal forest, they are nothing to be concerned with untill we know more of what happened here; Pay no attention to such sounds for now. The dire black cheetah's next responce was a statement of hunger and an offer to hunt something for him as well. ~ Ah yes, i thank thee. I will join once the druid and her adventurers are asleep. Perhaps theyr sleep shall come soon enough for me to even parttake in the hunt. The only responce afterwards was the sound of some herbivore anymal's spine snapping under Hazardevora's paw or teeth. With the only sounds produced being weaved harmoniously into the background sound of the forest, Noulminurr prepares himself another neich, and slips into it, watching the party witha certain amount of boredom. The halfling constantly remnded him of Ihrey, which was unsettling, and he couldn't make out the features of anyone exept her, the elf she is with, and the druid herself, though his hearing told him there was atleast one more person with them. |
| LOZ12-14-03, 05:28 PM | Twinkle lay down and curled up inside her cloak she looked around although the the land was not that nice to see. After a while Twinkle toes dozed off into a deep sleep. Her mind went over all things she had seen and done so far, she had not done alot nor seen much, but her mind went over the screaming what was it? she thought. She became hungry but she did not wake and eventually she went into a dreamless sleep. Her mind was at rest and she looked as though she was in peace. |
| Khaira12-14-03, 08:57 PM | baad |
| Lady_Astrianna12-14-03, 08:59 PM | ((Apparently, my post got devoured....)) "Well, what would you like to know?? The black-robed entities? The insanity-causing horned beasts? The raging fires that water cannot put out? Or the horrid screams that echo through the forest night after night after night? Or the further deformities of the animals?" She dismounts and crouches to the ground, idly holding her quarterstaff. "This forest, once so thriving with life, was my salvation. I have a dreadign suspicion that it will also be my end. What do you want to know?" |
| kulideb12-15-03, 04:40 AM | The elf looked at the halfling sleeping so peacefully. She moved over to Lady Astrianna. "I guess that answers what to expect at the forest." She opened her bag and took out a some bread, she offered some to Lady Astrianna. "Could you tell us what your people tried? it might help us from just doing the same things." |
| ThePreacher12-15-03, 06:40 AM | o O (Deformities of animals? ... This is not a pleasent sound to my ears... This "adventure" starts intriguing me more and more. The man still sat on the high branch, hidden from sight. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-15-03, 12:27 PM | ~ Her salvation? Ahh, there's nothing like the classic story of a little girl, once lucky enough to be saved by the wilderness from rotting, desiding years later that she owes nature, and choosing to repay it by... becoming a bloody druid. Bah! The silliest, most thankless way to attempt thanking mother earth. He was so close to curse out loud at the thought, that startled by his own unwaryness he made a reflexive movement of his hand towards his lips. Ofcourse the movement was much sharper than any he would allow himself to make while concealing his own presence, and he voicelessly curses himself for the double slip. With some luck, the noise he made will easily be taken for speed-burst of some lizard, or other small anymal dwelling close enough to the ground to be hidden by fallen leaves. Not that he ever enjoied the state of being exceptionally lucky, or anything - on the contrary... ~ Stupid prince! ...and speaking of royal bloodlines, i should start analizing this like Mother would: punct one - "black-robed entities", punct two - "insanity-causing horned beasts", punct three - "fires water cannot put out", fourth punct - "screams that echo through the forest nightly", and final punct - "further deformities of animals". Allright, that's too much puncts. The "further" part does stand out though, i should keep my ears ready for any onformation of what kind of deformities were percieved by the druid as so mundane, that she does not mention them along with the "further" ones... |
| Lady_Astrianna12-15-03, 07:13 PM | Mellonamin*, what do you mean "my people"? I was the only one fighting this disgrace to my forest. I was an individual. I was one and there were none others. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. None rose to my call. Perhaps when we get closer, you shall see why. I, myself, find it pointless to talk about such great a living nightmare when it is such a close thing. 'Tis a bad omen. Are there any specifics of anythign you wish to know? *((Mellonamin=my friend)) |
| kulideb12-16-03, 06:58 AM | "No came to aid you." said the elf shocked. "Well, at least now you will have a few more on your side my lady. We can let the halfling rest for another couple of hours then set off again." |
| Lady_Astrianna12-16-03, 09:32 AM | Arwenamin*, if you wish to take some time to rest, I would be more than happy to keep watch over you and the halfling. She pauses for a moment. "Nay, none answered my call...it would have been a vain attempt, perhaps...none cared to offer their assistance for what they presumed to be a little, un named forest. I can only hope that, with this effort, it shall not be in vain..." *((Arwenamin=my lady)) |
| kulideb12-17-03, 04:38 AM | "No I need more rest and I think it is time we where moving again Arwenamin." She moved over to the sleeping halfling and smiled as she gazed down. "Lle merna aut farien?" She said to Lady Astrianna, as she began to gentaly wake Twinkle Toes up. (Shall we go hunting?) |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-17-03, 08:31 AM | ~ The other omens do hint on a big one... an assault from Hell perhaps, just like in the "good" old daies when devils had some obscure reason for settling castles built by perfectly mortal - if annoying - humans. Bah, i need a length- or width-messanger, or atleast a way to report without taking my eyes off these adventurers; my lousy attempts to conclude on something i'm nigh-completely uncompitent in will He broke his thougts at the moment he heard the elf mentioning hunting, and reached in his mind for his companion's attention: ~ They prepare to hunt, my smooth. Try to avoid them, thou ars far too memberable, for in this forest a cheetah of thy size and color is rare... shoud they run into thee, act as a panther or something. |
| ThePreacher12-17-03, 11:54 AM | o O (Hunting eh? What an excited young elf... Hmm... Reminds me of her.... Ahhhh... Oh well, hunting it is then.). The man remains silent and hidden. |
| LOZ12-17-03, 04:52 PM | Twinkle toes stirred she yawned and opened her eyes. She looked up at Kulideb "whats going on?" she mumbled She sat up and rubbed her eyes and yawned again. She eventually stood up and got all of her stuff together. "I'm hungry!" she said looking around. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-19-03, 08:42 PM | She nods to Kulideb, picking up her quarter staff again. "Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir..."*1 She looks to Twinkle, letting out an exasperated sigh. "DId you not pack trail rations or fruit or anything of the sort? Even if we had some kind of quarry to cook, we dare not light a fire so close. I can give you trail rations, but after this, ye'd best learn how to bypass the feeling of hunger." She looks to Kulideb again. "Well, Arwenamin? Desiel?" *2 (*1 Death to the Foes of the Elves *2 Ready) |
| kulideb12-21-03, 07:01 AM | Kulideb opened her pack and tossed some elven bread over to Twinkle toes. "Now we are ready!" she said with a smile. |
| LOZ12-21-03, 03:13 PM | Twinkle toes took the bread and ate it quickly. "I'm ready too."she said licking her lips. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-21-03, 10:34 PM | She nods wordlessly, mounting her horse again. With a light nudge and some whispered words, her mount moves forward. As they continue to come into the coundary of the forest, Lady Astrianna's compassion, caring, and kindness tend to recede into some dark, dusty corner as a grim, determined, dark mask unlike Astrianna slips over her face. One hand holds the reins while the other hand grows white as she clutches the staff. It seems that, were she to clutch it any harder, it would break into two. "Kill them all..." she mutters under her breath... |
| LOZ12-22-03, 12:33 PM | Twinkle toes gets on her horse and sings a quiet tune and the horse starts to move. She follows Lady Astrianna. Twinkle sings to herself in a very low soft tune. |
| kulideb12-22-03, 03:10 PM | Kulideb packed away her belongings and climed up on to Cara. She gave her horse a pat and a nudge to start walking. Kulideb smiled at Twinkles tune and looked over to Lady Astrianna, she was surprised at the look on the ladys face and noticed how white her hand was as she held tight to her staff. The elf saw the ladys lips move but did not hear the words. She rode on determined to face what ever evil had caused such upset to Lady Astrianna. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-23-03, 10:09 AM | Lady Astrianna rides on, moving her head to glare into the dying forest as they enter the forest. "Keep your eyes and your wits about you...you cannot begin to imagine what kind of horrors this forest holds. In its last days, it may unleash something truly of nightmares." To any who are paying close attention, they can hear the rustling of crunching leaves behind and to the side of them...a white glistening can be seen out of the corner of one's eye. Coming to a stop, Astrianna pauses and looks around her before dismounting. A look of fierce anger consumes her expression it seems. It is clear that she has a painful death intended for whomever is making the rustling, crunching sound...She assumes a defensive stance as she hefts her quarterstaff up to a ready position. |
| LOZ12-23-03, 10:33 AM | Twinkle carried on singing it was the only thing that gave her confidence. As Lady Astrianna stoped and dismounted, twinkle stoped singing. She looked around and felt slightly scared. She put her hand on the handle of her Rapier and with the other she held the riens of her horse tighter. She sat rather uncomfortable due to her soroundings. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-23-03, 02:52 PM | Out of the thicket of the forest a boned, clawed hand thruts out...quickly followed by the hand is an elbow, an upper arm, a neck, a head, and then the rest of the body. Decaying, dead, rotting flesh drips from the bones and you now behold an undead skeleton. Soon, 3 more skeletons follow the 1st one. Astrianna glares at the skeleton in utter fury, not even able to move, half from shock. After a few moments, she seems to regain her senses. "How dare ye taint my blessed forest, ye descrated masses of unlife! I shall send you back from whence ye came! Ndengina sen*!" (Kill them!!) |
| kulideb12-23-03, 03:59 PM | Care snorted in fright as the creature came towards them, Kulideb pulled out her sword and spoke softly to calm the horse. Then she nudged Cara forward and swiped at one of the skeletons. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-24-03, 05:08 PM | ~ I allmost disbelief this incompitence... Something in the middle betuin a feline roar and a mischievously enthusiastic, almost bloodthirsty humaonid call: "Smile!!" Then a glimpse of metal, apparently far from clean, can be seen, as something long thrusts from below and behind into the ribcage of a sceleton, lifting him a couple meters above groun, and then quickly crushing him against a tree, leaving almost none of the bones attached to eachother. Next the blade slides betuin the two bones of another skeleton's forearm, and hits the same tree, handicapping the skeleton like a prisoner handcuffed with one hand to the bars; the surprise-attacker's hands now free, {he released the guisarm's shaft} he sends one to the pinned skeleton's keybone and the other to the top of its spine, breaking it, and separating the scull from the skeleton. By that time details can be vaguely distinguished: It is a halfelf, whose skin is much more tanned than any amount of elven blood would usually allow. The hue of his skin seems greyish, actually. His posture is that of someone always ready to turn in any direction and face multiple simulanteous threats, even if the directions those threats come from were opposit. It seems he is forever prepared to leap, roll, or even have the ground swallow him. His ears are particularily sharp {phisically, i mean}, and so are his facial features, aspecially the eyes, which are purple. His hair is slightly longer than shoulder-length, is colored in deep, mildly dark tourquise, and weaved to form innumerous and very tight braids, which, as a result, lie in strange patterns which may appear unnatural at first glance {perfectly natural, really, considering how thin and tight they are}. His facial expression may be best described as "trigger-happy". He wears hard leather pants, and simple boots that seem softer than such a landscape would require. There is no resemblance of a shirt, but instead he wears a west of hide-armor, that makes the question "whose hide is it?" almost unanswerable: red hide with long but sparce contarstingly yellow hairs. Over that is a thick cape of a color similar to his intricate hair: it shows the insignia of a tourquise feline paw holding a humanoid hand on a field of all possible hues of green and blue. Quicker than the last remaining skeleton could turn towards the new danger, the halfelf pulled out a small shield, bearing the sculptured shape of a black feline maw and paw, the paw's claws forming the shield's spikes. The skeleton strikes, "missing" the halfelf's shield and sundering his nose. The halfelf brings out an object that looks somewhat like a nunchako from his belt, and lashes with it at the skeleton, breaking a few ribs. The skeleton's other hand strikes but hits the shield, and is lost to the nunchako-like weapon's strike that breakes it from the shoulder. The halfelf croses his hands, moving his shield to meet the skeleton's next attack, and although the attack goes around it and claws at the halfelf's neck, his next movement makes up to it: he throws his right hand to the right, hitting the skull with either the weapon or the back of his palm, and shattering it. Now that his weapon stopped spinning, anyone familiar with gnolls can recognize it: a flindbar. The halfelf's gaze moves over each of the skeleton's remains, his eyes gleaming in desire of farther action, and his hands' fingers stretching, as if the battle was only an apitizer for him and he still hopes that one of the skeletons would rise and pose a greater chalange. In a few moments, however, he relaxes, and pulls the guisarm {with which he destroied the first skeleton and pinned the second one to the tree} out of the sap-spilling tree's bark. He thrusts it into the ground, and kneels next to the tree, his excitement and battlejoy quickly replaced by grimness and compassion. He leans with his forehead agains the tree, murmuring quietly, with an unfamiliar accent*: "Hiraetha... amin naa hiraetha-sai."** He huggs the tree with his arms, and adds, with the same accent and with sencere, though not overly expressed sorrow: "Awr n'oio-ner, mallornamin."*** The sap seems to become thicker and thicker, and in less than a minute the tree is whole again, new bark covering the place where it was "wounded" by the halfelf's guisarm. He takes some of the sap that did spill out, and smears it on his bloody, smashed nose; the sap seems to be absorbed into his flesh, and his face once again appear uninjured. ______________ {{OOC: *: Immagine it like an estonian accent mixed with elven one. **: "Sorry... i am very sorry." ***: "Hurt no more, my tree of gold."}} |
| Lady_Astrianna12-24-03, 10:13 PM | She doesn't even blink as this person - this half-elf - single-handedly destroys the skeletons. SHe leans on her staff. Clearly she has seen odder things in her life time. But, clearly, she is curious as to the identity of this half-elf. "If ye don't mind me asking, sirrah, who art thou? Where did you come from? And why do ye help us out so?" |
| LOZ12-25-03, 10:01 AM | Twinkle toes watches as the Half-elf destroys the skeletons. Rather shocked at what had just happened she sat there and stared at the half-elf. well this is starting to be come a good adventure. she thought. |
| kulideb12-25-03, 04:12 PM | Kulideb nudged Cara over to Twinkle Toes. She looked over to the new commer. "That was quite an entrance." she said bowing her head towards him. |
| ThePreacher12-25-03, 04:20 PM | From above, on the high branches of a naked tree, a man observes, hidden in shadows. o O (What a freakin' show off, hah... Disguisting... Bah..) |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-25-03, 05:49 PM | ~ Come here, but keep quiet. Don't show yourself yet. Sorry i didn't leave you any of the targetpracitce dummies... it had to be done quickly. After both the tree and the show-off's face are mended, he stands up, walks towards the two adventurers and bows towards them. His trigger-happy expression is back uppon his face, and his ever-allert demeanor returns as well. "I thank thee." Only then does he look at the druid and answers her, mocking dryness in his voice: "Not only that i mind not, i shall even go as far as answering thee! I am Noulminurr to house Issareil, prince of the Faeryelves; I have come from this warm and coasy little burrow, and i help you because your lives are valuable to me, while the existance of soulless and mindless walking corpses is not." While mentioning the "warm and causy burrow" he indicated the hole i the ground, behind a tree's large pertrueding root, where fallen leaves and dirt fall back into the space he ocupied before leaping out. After he speaks, two green feline eyes open in the lightless underbush, ten feet or so from him. |
| LOZ12-27-03, 08:28 AM | "My name is Twinkle Toes"she said bowing her head. Twinkle toes smiled at Noulminurr. She then looked at the eyes they looked pretty she thought but whose were they? she gazed at them. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-27-03, 04:04 PM | "Glad to make thy aquintance." Noulminurr smiled and bowed to kiss twinkle's hand, shuddering slightly as he did. ~ What is the problem with me? She doesn't look that much like Igrey, only something about her figure... ahh, curses, i've been away from home for too long, it seems! Streightening back up he turned away and began stepping towards the more tangled growth's direction, treading with the skill of a true ranger, leaving minimal footprints and making minimal noise. He was walking vry slowly, however, as if simply on a hike, enjoying an morning's walk in the woods. "Farewell... adventurers!" The sound of movement within the underbush, and the green eyes dissappeared. It seems as though the halfelf is really in no hurry, however, and quite some time would pass before he too would dissappear from sight. |
| LOZ12-28-03, 03:08 PM | Twinkle watched as the eyes dissapeared as they did she blinked out of her gaze. She then looked at the others to see what they were going to do next. |
| kulideb12-28-03, 03:54 PM | "Wait!, please won't you stay?" Kulideb asked the halfelf. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-28-03, 06:30 PM | Though he wished to conceal it, and probably believed to succeed, it was easy for the others to notice, that the halfelf wanted to hear these words. He answers readily: "Oh, if such is your common will, i by all means shall. I would hear the thoughts of your bringer, before we set off." Only then does he turn around, and the eyes reappear ina nearby bush. "Worry not, shan't make any diference - mere curiosity." He glances at the druid with a rather arrogant, vitorious look, as if there was some presumed rivalty betuin them, eventhough they never met before. His stealthy mount implied teleampathycally the scent of another humanoid, awakening a much greater curiosity. ~ What else does it smel like? Can you move to see it? |
| Lady_Astrianna12-28-03, 09:36 PM | She looks at the half-elf, a blank state read on her face. It seems she doesn't care either way, though she seems intrigued by the passing look of rivalry and...mockingness...? "Why do ye look at me so? If you seek my permission, my consent, my agreement for ye to come along, I shall not give it - for it 'tis not mine to give. your will is your own, unless by some deed not remembered by my own mind, yours is now mine. Stay if ye will, go if ye like - it is of no concern to me." She remembers to bow then, a low, comely bow, seeming to hint at camraderie(sp??). "I am Lady AStrianna, Protectress of this Forest, and humble Druid." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-29-03, 02:21 AM | His grin remains unchanged while she speaks, and when she mensions her "ocupation", it grows, and becomes mocking again: "Oh, yes, i daffinately realize that." In a more quiet tone, apparently to himself, he adds: "Uma, ar'north kai eile..."* His hand reaches into the bushes, and extracts an ordinary-looking backpack, with a very long metal handle pertruding diagonally from it. He pulls his guisarme from the soil, hits it against his leg a couple times to shale off the dirt from it, and sticks it into the backpack, so its long wooden handle pertruds simetrically to the other side; he then puts the backpack on, and fixes his cape to cover it, instead of being covered by it. His following words are cheereful, his tone indicating no more negative feelings, though slight loughter can be heard in his voice: "Ale'lle, tauramandilamin nu'quell!"** The green eyes in the bushes vanish again, and a short movement can be heard. ________________ *: "Aye, and of nothing else..." **: After thou, my less-than-good druid! |
| kulideb12-29-03, 03:09 PM | "I'm Kulideb." the elf said to Noulminurr as she watched him put his cape on. |
| LOZ12-29-03, 05:16 PM | Twinkle toes watched as Noulminurr puts a back-pack on his back and covers it with a cape. She then looked around and waited to for someone to move. |
| Lady_Astrianna12-29-03, 09:24 PM | She lowers a poisonous glare at the half-elf. "Watch what you say, newbie. Dina(*1)! Mother Nature doesn't appreciate chiding remarks against her protectress'. My father once said, Uuma ma' ten' rashwe, ta tuluva a' lle.(*2) Perhaps that is something ye should beware of as well, my little half-breed." A combination of emotion reflects in the lady's eyes ... revelry, exitement, anticipation, anger, resentment, even some degree of happiness. "Desiel?Khila amin."*3 Without looking back to see the reaction of her comrades, she mounts her horse once again, and whispers to it as horse and rider begin to trot deeper, ever so deeper, into the dark, evil forest. *1=Be silent *2=Do not look for trouble, it will come to you *3=Ready? Follow me. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai12-29-03, 11:57 PM | The ranger smiled and bowed to kiss Kulideb's hand. The leader's words seem to make him glad for some obscuere rason, and when she mentions her father's saying, he responds immidiately, as if he had been waiting for that particular sentance from the moment he came out of the hiding. Strangely, though, no more mocking or hostile tones were present in his voice anymore. "Ah! Ele-lle'aa*, that is the difference betuin our confessions; I take it thy father was of the tauramandilar** as well?" While he spoke he tried to make himself usefull by helping the others pack thery equipment back to theyr mounts, apparently eager to be on theyr way. Hazardevora didn't reply, and from the few years he knew the beast, he learnd that this, mroe foten than not, means she's concentrating, and completely consumed by whatever she is stalking or tracking. __________ *: "ele-lle'aa," = "may you see," **: tauramandilar=druids |
| ThePreacher12-30-03, 01:53 AM | For a couple of minutes the man hiding in the top branches of the tree did not stir. He realized someone, or something was on his scent... And was now trying to get on his trail... Though that, he thought, would be rather... Hard. As the party moved on, he leaped on to another tree. Spotting the bushes beneath tremble, he saw the contours of a Panther... Or was it a Cheetah? "In this parts? I bet this lil arrogant fella ain't from around here.. Heh... Like most of us 'Common' Adventurers..." He whispered to himself. The cheetah was moving beneath the trees, searching... o O (What a nosy lil' bastard... I bet he never tought his lil' pet, the ol' saying 'bout the cat being killed by it's own curiousity...) He leaped to another tree. |
| LOZ12-30-03, 08:24 AM | Twinkle sang extreamly quiet to herself and her horse as they follwed Lady Astrianna into the dark forest. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-02-04, 01:34 AM | Originally posted by Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai "Ah! Ele-lle'aa*, that is the difference betuin our confessions; I take it thy father was of the tauramandilar** as well?" She halts her horse and turns around, looking at the half-elf. "To make assumptions without first knowing one's history nor family is a sorry path to take, my lord. I have never known my father and, from what I have been told, I am glad that I did not. Nay, my lord, I am the first in my family to be one with the forest. In fact, I am the first in my line, from what the rumours carry on the wind, to choose a profession concerning life. And now, I prithee thee, my lord, dina. We draw close to the main threat." And that is all she says, and having said this, she turns back to face the front, making her way through the forest. |
| ThePreacher01-02-04, 03:42 AM | The cheetah was intensly sniffing the tree's roots, it obviously caught his scent. "Damn! This pest ain't gonna go away just like that, is it?" The ranger muttered out in a low whisper. o O (Ok... I hope she can do this...) The ranger, still hidden in shadows on top of the naked tree, clapped his hands silently and sent out his thoughs : o O(Come, my friend, come to me for I have need in you. Come to me Shurika!) The ranger stayed concentrated for a few more moments, and then, a motion could be seen in the bushes far away. o O(Get this lil' fella's attention and make him go away, I would me much obliged. Thanks you.) The ranger smiles, though now one could possibly see that, as he was not to be seen. From down below, came the roar of a large feline. beside the forest's thin trail walked a massive black panther. It approached the roots of the tree on top of which the ranger was currently standing. Making eye contact with the Cheetah, it came closer and sniffed the dire feline's rear. |
| kulideb01-02-04, 06:05 AM | Kulideb thanked Noulninurr for his help in packing up the rest of the camp. She was a little unsure as to why he and Lady Astrianna seemed hostile towards each other when they both wanted to protect the forest, with a shrug she jumped up on to Caras back. And gave her a nudge to walk on. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-03-04, 07:31 AM | Noulminurr opens his mouth, but hears the druid's final words and sais nothing. He purrs a few words that are nether common nor elven, in a very hushed tone, and for a moment his form flickers. He continues walking beside the leading druid's horse, with his ever-allert posture, ready for - and wellcoming - anything that could possiblr ocure. Now, under his deity's gift of sanctuary, keeping her warning to be silent in mind, he whispers to the druid, in voise so quiet, it would probably take all the sharpness of her hearing to make out: "Making a firm turn away from the evil that runs through one's ancestry is a truely admirable step. For that step i respect thee, inspite of thy chosen... profession. And yet, it is but a first step. I ask pardon for my early judgement, entulme'aer*" While pronouncing the last word, he closes his eyes for a moment and bows solemnly. He somehow manages to bow without stopping his pace, and still his bow looks sencere, as do his last words sound. understanding the group would rather have him remain silent, he speaks no more, and instead tries to check wether his mount, which he choses not to summon untill exceptional speed will be needed, has discovered anything. He calls her through theyr teleempathic connection, but gets no responce. Hazardevora is obviously ocupied, and he naturally asumes that her preocupation is with the mission at hand - searching for the source of the scent she earlier felt; little does he know that his trusted companion is now busy maneuvring around a black panther, with mixed feelings of curiosity and confusion. ~ I hope she won't be still ignoring my calls when we face whatever drove this druid to seek outsider help... Oh, i wish she would tell more... or perhaps i shouldn't be so patient? mur`Ixkraze won't deny me insight into her mind, if i'll ask him for it. Then again, should i prove too week to contain a sufficient amount of his power, and the mettle of this druid's mind be too greate for me to overcome... nay, i won't chalange her mental strength. In case need grows dire, i may always ask the very trees and stones to spill theyr tormented memories in Vyzex's name. _____________ *: Redeemed One. |
| ThePreacher01-03-04, 10:20 AM | o O (Keep at it, my dear friend.) The panther sniffs around the Cheetah and growls in a low voice, though it is not of an aggressive manner. It then drives closer to the Cheetah and slowly lifts it's right front paw, an action which is followed by a slight tap on the cheetah's head. The panther is obviously teasing the cheetah. To make things a little clearer, the panther lands it's left paw on the other side of the cheetah's head - obviously, a notion which irritates the animal. o O (Yes, good girl! Ask her if she want to play.) Seeing that the cheetah's attention was distracted from her immediate occupation, the ranger smiled and rose to stand on the tree's high branch. He then silently took out an arrow, one which had a string on it's back end. He fired a shot, targeting a far away tree, the string tilted right after the arrow, stretching to quite a long distance. He then tied the other end of the string to the tree's heavy trunc (The one tree on which he was currently located). "Alrighty then, cya later" He fetched some sort of a small iron instrument, resembling a wry pipe, from his belt and installed it on the string with lightning speed. He lifted his legs off the branch. About twenty seconds later he was standing on top of a thick branch on the tree which was hit by his arrow. "Damn... getting rusty..." He took out the arrow out of the tree's trunc, and put it back in his quiver, rolling the string on a wooden spiral. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-04-04, 11:32 PM | As she rides, she listens to the half-elf's words, her eyes keeping on the trail. Her expression is blank and yet, ready, but her eyes betray her as her mind travels back to the beginning on her journeys. Much pain and death and desolatin lie, once dormant, but now awakened with memory. For but a moment, her eyes betray her, before the memories are pushed aside. "We, all of us, fight our own battles with our own dragons. 'Tis a difficult path, to look within oneself and choose the path less travelled. It is a hard path." This is all she says, and though she wishes (and attempts to) disguise her painful memories, Noulminurr can see (if he is paying any attention to the druid), that the path - her path, especially - has been filled with endless pain and desolation. It is obviously a difficult subject to speak of. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-09-04, 07:22 PM | ((Hello?)) |
| kulideb01-10-04, 06:29 AM | ((still here,)) Kulideb looked over to Lady Astrianna and thought about her words, she had helped talked Astianna into coming back here and yet she was afraid to go back to her own home, may be one day she thought to her self. The atmosphere felt heavy. "Hey! Twinkle, may be you could sing some thing to lift our spirits?" she said to the halfling, who was softly humming to her self. |
| LOZ01-10-04, 08:42 AM | Twinkle looked up at Kulideb. she didn't really feel like something cheery. "ok" Twinkle took a deep breath and began to sing in a rather cheery note. Her own spirits became lighter. As she sang her eyes sparkled. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-10-04, 11:55 AM | ~ By the Magestic Island and every mur`mix on it - Even her voice is like Ihrey's! Arrrrrgh, i've been away from home for way too long... nostalgy never got the better of me so easily before; perhaps whatever the druid fears affects me subtly? Nah, i'm thinking like a beholder! In an attemt to keep his mind off his bride and on the matter at hand, the deapth-messanger whispers to the Astriana, his voice now completely settled, and almost entirely clear of hostility: "Could thou tell more of the unholyness we shall cleance this day?" For a minute he considers telling her that he "overheard" what she told Kulideb earlier, before revealing himself, to avoid the waste of time it would take her to repeat it... but then he relizes that this may, as likely as not, make the group mistrust him, and moreover, time can easily be spared; they don't seem to be in a hurry, and if an attack should come sooner than theyr leader expected - ...well, that would be just fine with him. The rangerpriest rubs his palms against eachother in anticipation. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-11-04, 10:51 PM | "By all things natural and beautiful, every creature within a miles radius is going to be alerted if she continues to sing!" She turns and glares at Loz, whispering harshly to Loz, "Stop that!!" The Lady Astrianna dismounts and sets her quarter staff on the ground, pulling out her bow, nockign an arrow, and pulling the string taut as she awaits. Almost instantly, the dead branches can be hard being busted off, flying eveyr which where as...something charges towards the group. She stands next to Noulminurr. "(*1)Sii'!(*2)Ndengina ta!" A minotaur charges out of the dead forest, holding a great-axe,e yeing the group with severe distrust and hate. Quicker than the blink of an eye, the druid lets fly three arrows into the minotaur's body before putting it away and picking up her bow. The minotaur, in a rage at being struck, charges the druid...[/I] *1= Now! *2=Kill it! |
| kulideb01-12-04, 05:40 AM | Kulideb was a little taken aback by the ladies out burst, she was about to protest when Astrianna began shooting arrows. Just then she too spotted the Minotaur, she drew out her sword and went forward. |
| LOZ01-13-04, 03:00 PM | Twinkle stopped singing and turned to notice the Minotaur. Fear came across her the sparkle in her eyes vanished. Twinkles horse senced the fear and when it saw the Minotaur it reared up, and twinkle fell from the saddle. As twinkle landed she hit her head on the ground, a small cut appeared at the side of it. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-24-04, 02:37 AM | Noulminurr hears the Druid's call and pulls out his guisarme, facng the direction she looked at. When he hears the branches breake, a thought of respect passes in his mind: the druid sence the approach before he did, and the deapth-messanger could daffinately apreciate such skill. The halfelf steps fourth and raises his guisarme, then suddenly changes his mind, ducks, lowering it, and stairs at the minotaur's knees. "Vyzex, move thy pawn!" Without moving a foot, remaining in the crouched position he assumed, with the shaft of his guisarme held out infront of him, Noulminurr's body suddenly rails forward with the sped of a crossbow bolt. The unnatural low charge knocks the minotaur from his feet, and then the halfelf streightens up, sticking his guisarme into the gound beside him, showing the tripped minotaur his bare hands. "Stay down, and i shan't strike. Why dost thou attack us?" His voice is quick and desidive, and he keeps looking in the attacker's eyes. He doesn't really count on the chance that the wounded humanoid would listen now, but the intention must be shown. After the minotaur is tired down - the deapth-mesanger thinks - he'll try again. if the otehrs won't kill theyr attacker by then, that is. Oh well, working alongside with those belonging to other confessions always had its offsets, but this never made it less neccessery... in a certain perspective, druids are far from being the worse kind he could end up working with. The tourquoise-haired prince waits for the Minotaur's responce, ready to grab his guisarm again, and prepared to tire the opponent down. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-24-04, 02:16 PM | The minotaur looks back into the half-elf's eyes, his eyes glowering in intense anger. The minotaur quickly rolls toward the half-elf, whom he perceives the biggest threat to the group. He roars in his face, the putrid breath pours out into the half-elf's face, nearly blinding him with the stench. "Stupid hooman, Master only I answer to! Your blood will soak the ground of Master's place!" With that, the minotaur charges the half-elf, attempting to gore him with his horns. "This is my forest, my home, my charge! Silence, beast! Your presence taints what once was a lovely place!" Astrianna looks at the minotaur, her bow nocked and ready and, as the minotaur begins to charge, she fires quickly, landing an arrow in the minotaur's side and non-weapon arm. Oddly enough, it seems to have no effect...She looks over to Kulideb, her elven ears perking up as she nocks and readies another arrow. "Ta naa neuma!" (It is a trap!) Snarling can be heard from the other side of the forest as some kind of snarling pack of goblinoid-type cratures surges through the forest. Out comes a pack of 14 bugbears, most of which bear bugbear-sized morning stars...Astrianna quickly dashes over to Loz, where she still lies. "Twinkle...are you all right? Can you stand? Worry not - I shall protect you." She looks over to the bugbears, intense disgust read upon her face....and she begins to speak in some foreign language, caressing the ground... "Spirit...mighty Mother Nature...Corellon hear my call, and send your aid...protect this forest of life and beauty, turned into such evil...come unto me..." Almost instantly, the trees, vines, and any other vegetation begin to grow up among the bugbears and entangle them...the VIens are unable to capture 4, however, who now begin to charge full-boar... |
| LOZ01-24-04, 02:40 PM | Twinkle feels the cut on her head "i'm fine"she said getting to her feet, she swayed a bit but finally managed to stand straight. Everything seemed to be a bit blury she closed her eyes and rubbed her head. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-25-04, 01:39 AM | {{OOC: I'm assuming the Minotaur rose to his feet after rolling towards Noul, right?}} Noulminurr tries to pass the "test of stench", but only succeeds partially: Though he successfully pretended to endure the breath, it did make his throat sour, thus disabling him from doing what he would normally do under such circumstances - roaring back. Instead, he leaps backwards, catching his guisarm and avoiding the minotaur's next attack. {Suggestion} "Silly slave! Thy master is afar, and thou cannot hope to defeat us! Betray him, and be thy own master!" All that is, ofcourse, said betuin leaps, mock-lunges, and parrying motions. Noulminur sees the druid's prayer answered, and tries to use it to his advantage, to further intimidate the minotaur, increacing the chance he'll fall to his charms; after all, swordedge diplomacy was always the first step in converting enemies into the Sewrneoughmix faith... "Behold! My comrade commands, and ten of your powerless worms are helplessly at our mercy! And our mercy, i assure thee, is true!" The halfelf ducks and spins just intime to avoid another blow, and his guisarm's blade slits the leg of a charging bugbear, who in turn stumbles, and turns to attack the diehard priest. Noulminurr opens his mouth to shout something else to the minotaur, while aiming he butt of his guisarm's pole at the bugbear's forehead, but misses, and the greate morningstar lands on his shoulders, making him drop to his knees. ~ Bah, I can't save EVERYONE's souls! Oh well - he's one, theyr're many... then again, i already started working on him... eh, nevermind, we'll always have the entangled ones. Those four can be waisted as an example. Noulminurr intentionally falls on his back, positioning the guisarm in a way that the bugbear, leaning to land a finishing blow on him, meets the blade with his chin. The bugbears head is impaled on the guisarme, and Noulminurr rolls away and rises to his feet, failing to supress a cry of pain, as the large morningstar-caused wound on his upper back touches the dirt several times during his roll, soiling the wound. He stands up, looking at the minotaur and three remaining bugbears. He reamins determined to keep the minotaur - as well as the ones Astriana entangled - alive and atempt to work on tehyr souls, but the threat of the three free bugbears must be removed... if that threat won't remove HIM, that is. He prepares to slash at the stomach of a bugbear, when he notices Twinkle on the ground. He loses his momentum, but "dances" away from two morningstars before they cripple him. "Hazardevora! Early dinner!" Leaving her puzzling playmate, Hazardevora, the dire black cheetah, to whom the eyes mentioned earlier belonged, hears the call, and desides to leave the confusing matters of dealing witha distant relative while losing the scent of some demihuman; hunting is simpler, and much more to her current mood. While the deapth-messanger jumps and tries to hack his guisarme into the chest of a bugbear, but is thrown away by the said bugbear, the black feline leaps from the bushes, adding the factor of surprise to the victim being off-balance after fending away Noulminurr. Both her clawed front paws are soon at the bugbear's throat, backpaws raking his torso, and mouth seeking, though without success, to catch his weapon arm. Noulminurr, who was thrown off the bugbear's chest, is instantly greeted by a morningstar that almost pins him to the ground; he hops away almost intime, but his ankle is crushed by the blow that would otherwise probably kill him. His guisarm left on the ground, he manages to streighten himself, leaning against a tree, quickly pull out his holy symbol, which doubles as a shield; the black maw and paw now face the attackers: noulminurr is too wounded to keep attacking, but defence can sometimes be just as lethal. His other hand reaches for the flindbar on his belt, and begins to spin it wildly, trying to disarm the nearest of two remaining bugbears. "Twinkle, art thou all right?" He fails to conceal the pain in his voice. The crushed ankle doesn't keep a very low profile, and hurts like hell. |
| kulideb01-25-04, 06:35 AM | Kulideb waited to see if Noulminurr could talk the beast round. A voice called out trap, all of a sudden bugbears appeared from the undergrowth. Lady Astrianna called upon her god, vines began to take a hold of some of the bugbears but it still left some free. The small elf took a hold of her sword and lunged forward at one of the creatures. It dodged to the side and swiped at the small elf. She ducked down and rolled coming up behind it. This time her blade did not miss, it caught the creature in its side. It let out a bellow of rage and swung round, catching the elf and sending her staggering. She put her hand to her side and pulled it away wet, the creature zoned in on her again. "Thaurerea!" she cursed, wiping her hand down her leggins and gripping tighter on her sword. The bugbear rushed forward at her, crashing straight in to her, knocking her over on to her back. She rolled to the side as it crashed down on top of her, her sword driven into its chest. The elf stood up panting and looked around to see how the rest of the group had fared. |
| LOZ01-25-04, 07:11 AM | Twinkle could hear someone speaking to her she opened her eyes they were still slightly blured. "i'm fine" she said to Noulminurr. she felt rather stupid and weak standing there while everyone else was fighting. She couldn't think of what to do. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-25-04, 04:08 PM | Hearing the halfling is relatively safe, the rangerpriest turned to look at Kulideb. He was just intime to see her hacking intoa chest... a bugbear's chest. The one remaining bugbear was going past him, apparently realizing that Noulminurr's mobility is limited by his wounds. The uninjured druid, mildly bleeding elf, and slightly contussed bard were obviously more thatn a fair match for a single bugbear, but the deapth-messanger just couldn't stand by while others are engaged in a battle. "You're outnumbered, surrender and live on unharmed!" Though his call was in plural, he mainly directed it at the bugbear this time. When the critter made half a turn in his direction, down went the halfelf's flindbar, its chain wrapping around the morningstar's shaft. He underestimated the bugbear's battle experience it seems: The bugbear pulled away instantly, breaking the weapon out of Noulminurr's hand, while keeping his own. The prince's own trick was used against him. He reaches up, catching a strong branch with both hands, and swings himself up, trying to climb out of reach before the bugbear's morningstar returns him to the ground. Once in a convenient position on the tree, Noulminurr pulls out the other long shaft from his backpack, which turns out to be a trident. He is ready to leap on the bugbear with it, but the latter had already gained distance from the tree, approaching the other three. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-25-04, 09:04 PM | ((yes, sorry, the minotaur, of course, did get up after it rolled. Heh.)) The minotaur The suggestion makes the minotaur pauses, and the magical suggestion seems to almost take effect. Almost. Fear seems to drive away the spell, however, as the minotaur comes to his senses. "Master destroy you all with no effort. Master dangerous. Victory come by following Master!" With those words, the minotaur rushes the half-elf, his great axe heaved and ready, as it comes down straight for Noulminurr... Bugbears The three bugbears who are entangled continue to attempt to break out of the ensnaring vines and begins moving, albeit slowly, out of the vegetation. Astrianna She looks to Twinkle, still worried. "Twinkle, sing us a song to carry us into victory!" Lookign to Kulideb, she motions to the bugbear moving out of the vegetation. "Arwenamin, Kulideb! Ndengina ta! Stop him!" She then turns to the bugbear, fierce anger reflected in her eyes and she nocks an arrow to her bow, taking careful aim.... "Amin feuya ten' lle*1. Ye shall not live to harm another." With that, Astrianna lets the arrow fly, watching in grim pleasure as the arrow embeds itself into the bugbears leg. Another arrow flies into the bugbears weapon arm, causing it to drop the morningstar. The third arrow pierces the temple of the bugbear, ending its life. She turns, then, to where Noulminurr is wounded and having trouble. She drops her bow and picks up her quarter staff and charges where the minotaur is, going into a roll. "You did well, friend! Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa.*2" She comes up in front of Noulminurr as the minotaur begins it's strike down, her quarterstaff coming up in front of the axe. Somehow, someway, her staff deflects the great axe, cuasing the minotaur to recoil from the shock of it all. In the same moment, Astrianna jabs her quarterstaff in the minotaur's gut, the other end coming to strike the minotaur's chin. Though he doesn't fall, he does move back a foot. "If ye can move, friend, let us bring this foul cretaure down to the earth. We should keep him for questioning..." *1= You disgust me! *2= Your hear is that of a lion |
| ThePreacher01-26-04, 02:21 AM | From the top of the trees, one was still watching. Enclaved in conflict with himself, wether to help the awkward party being attacked by a raging minotaur and bugbears, or watch and let them resolve the situation by themselves. However seeing how relentlessly and obviously rashly the strange tourquise haired warrior approached the fight, the man from above chose to observe and see what comes out of this all. o O (What a jolly fella... Jumpin' around and spraying foolish threats to a being of pure raw honour running in his veins... Obviously showing him his superiority to the mentioned "master" by being so easily hit by a bugbear... twice... Oh boy.. I hope this show doesn't end bad.. might I interfere with matters not my own.. How I both love and despise it) The man smiles... still watching from the cover of the trees. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-26-04, 05:03 AM | {{OOC: I'm confused: I thought 10 were entangled, and 4 were free. If it's so, then currently the only one alive AND free is the minotaur {Noul, Kuli, Astriana, and Hazardevora each took one}; but if 4 were entangled and 10 were left free... deamn, that means 6 free and uninjured bugbears:eek:}} "Amin lle-diol, arwen tauramandil."* The tone sounded hinest, but his voice was week deu to blood loss. A normal priest would have healed himself by now, but Noulminurr's inherent overcomfidence, combined with his constant desire to shine - as a representative of the cult, ofcourse - in the eyes of others, made him deside a true Sewrneoughmix shouldn't turn to aid himself while others risk theyr hides. With his rushed ankle, he wouldn't succeed in leaping well enough from the tree, to strike the minotaur with his trident; such a leap would require both strength and acuracy, and his ankle would make both parameters be somewhat against him. Besides, he was rather determined to prove the minotaur victoy can be taken without bloodshed... or perhaps he just hoped that would prove them superior in the minotaur's eyes. He pushed his trident back to its place, and instead took out his net. "Tuk-ho nevain en'sinome, amin neumauva-ho..."** Noulminurr smirks with avanturistically at each of the three comrades - a rather unexpected gesture from someone who was practicly forced by his wounds to take the bench. Hazardevora in finally manages to cripple "her" bugbear's right arm, and consequently finishes him by tearing his throat open. ________________ *: "I thank thee, Lady druid." **: "Drive him closer hence, i shall trap him..." |
| Lady_Astrianna01-28-04, 03:15 PM | Originally posted by Lady_Astrianna [I]Snarling can be heard from the other side of the forest as some kind of snarling pack of goblinoid-type cratures surges through the forest. Out comes a pack of 14 bugbears, most of which bear bugbear-sized morning stars. the trees, vines, and any other vegetation begin to grow up among the bugbears and entangle them...the VIens are unable to capture 4, however, who now begin to charge full-boar... ((Okay, so I got confused. It happens, heh. Yes, you are right - the TEN got entangled and the *4* were free, whom are now, I assume dead. Thus, the minotaur is the only one left. Blagh. Don't I feel like the Fool now!)):D Astrianna nods to Noul, as dashes towards the minotaur and feinting to the left as the mighty axe bores into the ground where she was a mere moment back. She jumps back as the minotaur takes a wide swing, nearly missing her guy. She pokes the minotaur in the ribs, and bashes him over the skull. Oddly, enough this seems to harm him more than any of her other attacks... She continues to step back, feint and roll, parrying and jabbing with her own quarterstaff as gradually, slowly, she makes her way back to Noulimurr... |
| LOZ01-28-04, 03:55 PM | Twinkle begins to mumble a few words trying to make it into a song. As she continues her voice becomes stronger, she began to feel stronger as she sang. her eyes twinkled and she began to smile although there was still a battle going on. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-29-04, 09:58 PM | At a certain moment, the druid brought the minotaur to a perfectly convenient position. Noulminurr's gaze immidiately shifted from the halfling back to the minotaur, and he made a movement to leap, but a stray branch was driven by this movememnt into the open wound in his shoulders area. For almost a full second he was close to letting himself drop to the ground, but he steadied himself, tghough losing a greate opportunity to net the minotaur. A thought to ask for Vyzex to ease his flesh's pain crossed his mind, but keeping his newly-gained allies waiting was out of the question. Twinkle's voice grew in firmness, and its words removed the fog and incertainity from his mind, restoring his focus. The minotaur was now nearing the tree again, and the halfelf slipped carefull, just when the enemy was under him, landing on top of the bullhead, and skillfully avoiding its horns. Now seeing that the net fell perfectly around the head, he lets go of the minotaur's shoulders, and lands on the ground, though in a quite unelegant way, and instantly rolls away, leaving the minotaur entwined in the net, though still standing. He makes a sharp pull, but the monotaur remains on his feet, and Noulmminurr changes tactic, starting to move around him, thus wrapping him with the net's rope like a spider; ocasionally he makes new attempts to pull him down, but the minotaur's manages to keep his balance quite well, eventhough this mission is an extemely difficult one, what with Astriana's staff constantly jeopardizing the wholeness of his bones and all. Noulminurr, betuin his laming around the enemy and glances towards the toehrs, ponder's the fruid's fighting style: if the druids at the post-tarrasque siege were as skillfull in combat, all the madman's run Elekton Orim and himself innitiated to bring the Beast of Shallir to theyr side wouldn't be required... |
| Lady_Astrianna01-29-04, 10:21 PM | Astrianna seems to suddenly grow angered at the minotaur's resiliency, and she continues to beat on it. Suddenly, out of the woods, a wolf howls and moments later, aa grey wolf comes flying out of the woods, biting at the minotaur. In the minotaur's shock and the sudden appearance of the wolf, it attempts to step back only to catch on foot on the edge of the net, tumbling. He continues to move, attempting to get out of the snaring net. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-30-04, 12:23 AM | The deapth-messanger grins widely when the wolf appears. In his circling, he just came to face the direction from which the wolf came, and so he had a good view at theyr assistant. Cheere up, he turns to the minotaur: "Deamn, stop struggling, really. It's not like thou'rt really able to free thyself when we're all looking, anyway, and if i'll have to tie thee tighter to secure thee, it'll be very uncomfortable. Thou'rt not doubting we can tie thou little cow-puppy tighter aftrer ten of thy allies are held helpless and the rest are dead, dost thou? Well, just tell me when thou choseth to calm down, and i'll stop." With that Noulminurr approaches, picking up his quisarme on the way, and putting back in place behind his back, and then starts to methodically tie the minotaur's appendages in a way that will disable him from moving. He works very slowly, in purpose, even underlining the slowness, giving the enemy opportunities to either try something and faiil, or agree to behave as a prisoner and keep his comfort. At some point he points at his ankle: "See that, puppy? I could ask my master, and far as he may be, he would heal me. Pay attention, i waste time on thee when i could speak to a god, apreciate it! If thou'lt have the brains to betray thy powerless <master>, my liege would accept thee with open arms, as soon as thou assumth his faith. Or thou could simply forfeit thy master, without even thinking of mine, and yet have his protection... without even believing in him; He loves it when slaves become theyr own masters." While saying all that, Noulminurr finishes tying him up, and lames off a few steps away, to lean against the same tree he leapt from. "Tell me once thou changeth thy mind, and i'll release thee. Then thou maieth talk those mindless subdues of thyne into the same wised desidion." The prince sits down and closes his eyes tiredly. He often apreciates the hardness of a battle by the amount of weapons he had to draw. He carried a total of five different weapons - an irreasonable excess, considering he was marely an agent of his religeon; still, he found each of them very usefull in a different situation, and the option of dropping one weapon and pulling out another often gave him the age. Today he drew four, though he only used three {he didn't use his trident, and the daggers remained hidden}: fourth difficulty level by his own little ranking system. Yes, he thought, this will daffinately be a venture worthy of the cult's attention. He took off his backpack, and couldn't help but moan slightly at the pain it caused his wounded shoulders, then moved to hsi knees, and closed his eyes. He moved one leg foreward, to stand on one knee, and held out his conjoined palms to the horizon. "Ma rabu carai... Rabim kamim alai; Rabim omrim le nafshi - Ein ieshu'ata lo be Elohim sela. Va atem, morai, meginim ba'adi kvodi, U merimim roshi! Koli el Vyzex ekra ve ia'aneni Me 'i kodsho - Acilut! Ani shakhavti va-ishana, Hakizoti ki Ixkraz iismekheni. Lo eira mi-vavot am, Asher saviv shatu alai: Kumu-na morai, hoshi'eni elohai, Ki heketa et kol oivai lekhi, Shinei resha'im shavarta. Le elohai ha ieshu'a, Al ami birkhatkha!" The last several turn into a roar, which had been building up gradually almost form the bgining, and as he finishes chanting the nigh-rhymeless prayer, his palms begin to glitter. The inner light slowly progressws down to his shoulders, leaving the skin and muscle tissue completely mended, as if no huge morningstar ever stroke him there. The light progresses along his entire bodey, and finally ends in his feet, streightening the ankle and curing it as well, with no deformity. Tired after the long time of trying to ignore his pain, now that the pain is fone, he slides into a very unofficial lying position on the ground, and almost purrs, after whispering honest thanks in an unfamiliar languege to his deity. In a voice filled with bliss, he turns his face up. "Anyone wounded? That includes thee, hornlord, and all of... sina rimbe en'poldarim quen-ai'lambe? ie'ilya?* I'll heal any of you who needs it as well." Noulminur lazyly turns around, looking at Astriana, Twinkle, and Kulideb, and then at the minotaur and the entangled bugbears. "We should take care of theyr immobility, i doubt the forest will hold them for us forever..." ___________________ * "sina rimbe en'poldarim quen-ai'lambe? ie'ilya?" = "Can this bunch of brutes speak any languege? At all?" |
| LOZ01-30-04, 04:08 AM | Twinkle stopped singing. took a deep breath and sat down she felt tired although she had not done any fighting. |
| kulideb01-30-04, 03:30 PM | The elf stayed out of the way as the other two sorted out the minotur. She smiled over at the halfling as she sang a song for them. "Just a few cuts and bruises, nothing to bad." she said to Noulminurr, after he had finished with the minotur. She set about cleaning her sword, then wiping the dirt from the cut to her side, the bleeding had stopped but the elf knew that infection would set in if she didnt clean it. |
| Lady_Astrianna01-30-04, 08:46 PM | She looks to the bugbears, and then down to the minotaur, who is still snarling and trying at every moment to get out of the net. "The forest is yet my friend. She will hold our quarry until I give the word. There is no hurry. THe only hurry we have is to calm the hulking, stagnant mass of flesh that ye have captured." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai01-30-04, 11:21 PM | Noulminurr smiles and nods to Astriana. "That we have captured." The black beast rises its head from the bloody mess it made of one of the same bugbear she slew, and the halfelf turns to her, then walks towards her, grinning proudly. "A good work, my perfect!" When he reaches her, the dire cheetah leans on her hind paws, and puts her front paws on Noulminurr's shoulders, growling in a non-hostile way. Well, atleast the situation suggests it's non-hostile. He huggs the beast, and pets her back. Unhappy with the prisoner's lack of words, he approaches the minotaur, having parted from Hazardevora who then wandered off again. The druid's staff couldn't have left him completely clear of permanent harm, not to mention the wolf, plus in the heat of battle, Noulminurr wasn't sure he didn't strike him a couple times himself. Wounds could be concealed by the critter's fur, so just to be sure, the deapth-messanger approached the minotaur onca again, and presses his hands against the subdued beast's chest. The remains of the inner light, ignited within him by the mur`mixy his faith lies in, now passed from his hands into the minotaur, mending whatever fleshwounds he could have. "Now, have thou intention to speak coherently? Note that i don't ask thee to reveal us any secrets..." |
| Lady_Astrianna01-31-04, 10:40 PM | The minotaur glares ferociously at Noul, fully expecting certain death. When the half-elf lays his hand upon the minotuar, and healing energy flows from those hands, it regards Noul with curiosity mixed with distrust. "What do you want from me? Why do you take away my pain...I have done nothing for you. What do you want?!" |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-01-04, 05:54 PM | The deapth-messanger rolls his eyes; this "procedure" is almost a rutine to him. "Persicely: you've done nothing to me, or for me. I took your pain because mur`Vyzex in his generousity grants me the skill to take the pain of others, and to be deaf to my own pain. {You could have that power too, actually} If i harmed you it was to protect myself - i've no reason to hate you. Yes, you attacked me, but you've done it because you had no choice; i would be an idiot to hate you for something you done not by your own desidion and will. If you were acting for yourself, and not out of fear from your despotic master, i'd now consider you a war-captive, and question you; but since you are not, you are free to either tell me whatever you wish, or not - that is daffinately your own choice; no master can force you to chose either. I do want one thing for you: i want your shackles, your boundries; give them away, and we - i and those who share my faith and are thus given similar or greater power - will ensure you will not be followed by the week minions of whatever fool dared to anounce himself your master. You can join us and strike him, if you wish, or just walk away - once again, it's your choice and won't affect my actions. You'll be made safe in both cases, and in both cases i'll free you." Noulminurr sits down next to the minotaur and pulls out of his backpack several piece of some fire-fried birds. Game in this forest is so easy, after being used to the cunning prey in his home swamp... eventhough it was somewhat hard to find a cesary that also looked like a cesary, rather than like the result of a grell mating with a crow. He unwraps the fried meat, and breakes it with his hands, offering the minotaur a half, holding it close enough to the net for him to be able to take it. "Anyone hungry? I've quite a lot, and we better finish it befiore it spoils, lest the hunt in which i gained these birds becomes... a needless killing." The last words were emphasized, as if accidentally. The sewrneoughmix priest looked at the three others, inviting them to join the meal. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-01-04, 10:05 PM | The minotaur is silent, for once at least. He seems to be thinking, in his own primitive way. Finally, craning his look to look at the half-elf, he speaks. "Release my bonds and I will speak with you. YOu have put me in a very uncomfortable situation. I swear I shall not attack once I am freed; I give you my word." ((If the minotaur is freed...)) He straightens up, and sets his great axe down upon the ground; a symbol of peace, perhaps. "I will tell you all you want to know about my traitorous master; ask your questions quickly - my extended time that I have gone missing is sure to draw attention from my master, the sorcerous pig." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-02-04, 12:39 PM | When the minotaur says so, Noulminurr indeed starts unwrapping him as quickly as possible. "Sorry for the discomfort. To tell truth, i hoped thou'lt join us to enjoy revenge - thou could have his head when we reach him... but if thou choseth to tell us of him and be on thy way, i understand. I would rather have my friend here ask thee, however; she might have a quarrel with this sourceror, even greater than ours." With that he ofcourse nodded towards the druid, but snce the others stood close to her {right?}, the minotaur could well assume he meant eiher of them. When the priest said "ours", refering to the minotaur and himself as "us", he threw in a notion of comradry, which he hoped the enemy-maid-ally would catch. After throwing a glance around the entangled bugbears, the halfelf nonchalantly asks the minotaur: "Will these wariors follow thee if we release them?" |
| Lady_Astrianna02-02-04, 12:57 PM | THe minotaur looks at the half-elf, then to the druid, as well as the rest of the company. "He holds some kind of power, my master does; but beware - you are not the first who will try to kill him. Many have killed him before - he holds some magical power than enables him to come back again and again and again, despite the number of times he has been killed. His flesh and robes are rotting remnants of what they once were - simply by being close to him, even I am struck with a fear that invades body, mind, and spirit. He is of such power that none of us dare oppose him. I have been captive under his ever-bearing gaze for many years now. It has been a long time, indeed, since I have truly roamed the free land..." He then looks to the bugbears, with obvious distaste. He lifts his great-axe up - the lust for blood can be seen in his eyes. "They are horrid, sick, demented, and evil abominations. For almost as long as I have served the master, I have had to serve under the likes of them. THere is no swaying them - ambush, your skin as food, and your treasure are the only things that enter their puny, savage-minded heads." Astrianna looks to the minotaur...picking up her bow once again and placing it at her back again. She mildly leans on her staff as she poses a question. "And what do you say, mighty one? Do ye want the chance to strike back at the man you call master? We are giving you the chance now - either fight with us and see the downfall of this horrid one ye call master ... or flee, and take the chance that depending on whether or not we destroy him, he comes after you once again. Whatever choice you take, we shall attempt to protect you. Ye have given us much information already; but more ... more would be helpful. This person you speak of - your master ...or previous master, should I say - does he pose any weaknesses? What kind of guards does he retain around him? And are there any other kinds of creatures he has serving as his minions?" |
| LOZ02-02-04, 01:11 PM | Twinkle felt slightly scared at the minotaurs words although still interested. She wondered whether the minotaur was going to join them and what the answers to the questions were going to be and he give them any more information? she carried on thinking for a while. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-02-04, 03:13 PM | At the minotaurs word, Noulminurr's face curved in a sour grimass. Not one of fear - he is a stubbornly arrogant fanatic who would rather lose a limb than let his fear or weakness show to anyone - but simply of displeasure. Not wanting to appear less confident to the minotaur, he only passed his thoughts to Kulideb, who stood second-closest to him, by murmuring them to her ear, with a morbid, ironic tone: "Congradulations, we have a lich... Zeids devour my fleshy heart if i know what it might want from this forest." Turning to the minotaur and raising his brows a little, despite of not wanting to overload him, the halfelf asks: "But did they not obey him indeliberately, much like thyself? It is hard to to expect from theyr minds a resistance that even thyne lacked..." Noulminurr shrugs slightly, then takes off a ring from his finger. The jewlery didn't catch the eye untill he took it off {though to a close observation he seems to have a couple rings on each hand, and a fancy pair of bracers and armsheaths}, due to its being covered by dirt - either as a result of stalking the group and then fighting aliongside it, or in purpose, to be harder to spot in the woods - and after rubbing the dirt off it, hands it to the minotaur. This ring seems to be made of pure, almost unworked malachit, with no use of metal, and it expands to a size that would fit the minotaur's finger, when the halfelf extends it to him. "It will take quite some sweat to harm thee, wether by sorcery or otherwise, long as thou weareth it." The deapth-messanger smiles amiably, though in his mind he feels somewhat guilty to plant false hopes in the minotaur: the ring's protective potential is notable {he even gave the better one of the two he posessed}, but not to an extent that would allow its bearer to idly lough at its attackers. {AC+2,saves+2} |
| kulideb02-02-04, 04:48 PM | Kulideb stood next to Noulminurr and watched as he talked to the great minotaur. She felt herself go pale as she heard Noulminurr's words in her head. But it also ment that she had done the right thing in coming to this once great forest to stop such evil from spreading. She gripped the hilt of her sword as if drawing some sort of strenght from it. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-08-04, 10:50 PM | The minotaur looks again to the bugbears as they struggle to get out. It is almost out of fear that they struggle - and yet, they do not seem scared of the group. The minotaur looks back, then, to Noul. "They follow whoever intimidates them the most, gives them the most chance of victory, and whomever pays them the most. Right now, that person is...him. One dares not utter his name out loud. You must understand ... failure in his eyes deserves a fate worse than death. Screams of torture come day and night, from his temporary camp. Wherever he is, the screams accompany him. He is ruthless, and failure is not an option. I will fight with you - it is my only choice if I want freedom ever again. And it is your only chance for survival. There is a trap set for those tracking him...and not even you, with your skill, would be able to detect those traps. Serving in his ranks he has many things. Kobolds, ogres, goblins, them" he says this jerking a hand at the bugbears "and a multitude of other gangly, stinking beasts, all at his command. To be quite frank - he has an army." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-09-04, 02:31 AM | "Though i doubt any of us can rival this corrupter's wealth, so the factor of payment remains in his hands, yet the other two factors can be ours. Thank thee for joining us, friend; by redeeming thyself, thou brought the factor of victory-chances to our side." Noulminurr layes an encouraging hand on the minotaur's shoulder, though reaching it is somewhat a challange. "No one is irredeamable: goblins and ogres, though not as frequent as we would have it, are found among the ranks of my Lord's priesthood; Stfu Catcdill, a width-messanger, is a greate friend of mine, and is a kobold; My superior, high priestess Xartagaltheudre, by whose wisdom i am here, had driven armies away with a flap of her wings and a breath off her grate maw half a dosen times in her life, and considrs it an embarassingly low achievemtn for herself... now let us put the factor of intimidation on our side; To tell truth, it is my favourit." Grinning widely and enthusiastically, the halfelf passed betuin the bugbears, disarming them of any weapons, and laying them in a pile infront of them, then stands, one leg on that heap, and looks at them, as if they were his band of soldiers, his class of students, or something else of that sort. Pronouncing the name "mur`Ixkraz" he waves an arm shortly, in a hemicircle, and closes his fist, as if he gathered several threads and grabbed them in that hand. {Enthrall. PM if spell details needed} He does not speak to the captives yet, expecting either Kulideb, Atriana, Twinkle, or the minotaur to say something. He began feeling as though his presence atropates these adventurers' innitiative, and could not let that happen: he knew that, should direst suspitions come true {and deep in his sould, the avanturism in him made him hope they will}, he will have to leave the group at a later stage of theyr journey, to petition Vyzex and the mixy for a bolder manifestation of theyr greateness... |
| ThePreacher02-09-04, 02:42 AM | Something almost falls out of the trees above, though the only thing that can be heard is the sound of a few leaves, chuckling in the wind. o O (Damn... That fella sure is something... Never heard such a show of optimistic-bull-sh** in my entire life. What the hell does he think he is? The lost prophet? Bahhh.. Though.. I should be more careful.. Almost got me'self discovered there, hehe.. Stupid) A man sits (Still) on the branches above, hidden by both spell and skill, He observes the ones beneath. |
| kulideb02-09-04, 05:15 PM | The elf looked up and watched some leaves fall from a near by tree. She knew she should do more, but was affraid of making matters worse. As the last leaf floated down to the ground, the elf moved walking over the bugbears. Noulminurr had already taken their weapons away and seemed to be trying to enspell them. She waited to see if his plan worked. |
| LOZ02-10-04, 11:43 AM | Twinkle had also noticed the leaves fall she watched them until they fell and hit the ground she stared at them for a few minutes and then looked back up. not long after she looked back around her, and then noticed Noulminurr cast a spell on the bugbears, she watched and waited. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-13-04, 10:04 AM | Astrianna ventures to the front of the bugbears, holding her quarterstaff at ready. "You are all caught. Your companions are dead. You are disarmed. Soon your master, too, will be dead. This forest will return to its original state of beauty, and the various creatures will pick at your decaying bodies. Of course, it does not have to be this way. You can help us - or you can die for your master, in vain...." |
| Pipers Youth02-15-04, 07:24 PM | As the group talks over the bugbears the ground and tree's start to shake a bit and a large dragon comes into the clearing, his head towering over the tree's. The old dragon looks down trying to focuse his emerald green eyes on the group. He takes a deep breath and speaks in a deep tone"Exuse me,I was just sleeping over in that grove and I heard loud noises,so I came over to investigate." The old dragon opens his eyes wider as he looks at one of the travelers"Astrianna is that you?" A smile forms on the dragons face, and then he bowes"Lady Astrianna you have returned." Kazul still bowes for the Guardian of the Forest |
| Lady_Astrianna02-15-04, 09:38 PM | SHe looks up as the rumbling approaches, her body tensing up...Finally, she sees a familar, scaly face approach. "Kazul, is it? A pleasure to see ye, as always. I am surprised that ye have chosen to stay here despite all of the atrocities going on. Aye, I am back - I am not leaving until everything is restored..." The bugbears, seeing a great, monstrous creature that could probably swallow them all in one, single gulp, seem to start to squirm and move, all in vain attempts to break free of the vines. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-15-04, 10:54 PM | Not yet knowing wether his prayer was answered or not, and thus not yet starting his upcomming voley of propoganda, the deapth-messanger turns to the dragon, and bows to it in greeting. He doesn't say anything, however, since that would likely violate the prayer. ~ Wow - this wyrm may well be of the High Priestess' age, and if less, then not by much! If such a master would side us... Hazardevora, however, isn't struck with awe or fascination, unlike her rider. Instead, she's just downright freaked out, and darts away to hide in some undergrowth; even hr large, green eyes can't be seen now. |
| Pipers Youth02-15-04, 11:18 PM | The old dragon watched as the large cat darted into the bushes and he gave a small chuckle, then he turned his eyes back to Lady Astrianna"Yes it a great dismay that all of this has happened to such a beutiful forest.' Kazul wraps his tail around one of the nearby trees to make himself comfortable. Then he takes one of his fingers and points South"After a few months a traveled back to my home at the dragon nations to ask my fellow elders if they could do anything about this,but they said it is the forest's affairs, and the dragon nations could not intervene." The old dragon takes another deep breath"But it is very good to see you my old friend." |
| LOZ02-16-04, 03:45 AM | Twinkle stares at the dragon for a few minutes in a state of shock, she then rubbed her eyes and looked again to make sure it was really there. She then smiled and bowed to him. |
| ThePreacher02-16-04, 07:47 AM | o O (Now what the freakin' fuc* is that?! Godda#%! This whole thing is getting more and more absurd..) The panther roars into the man's mind, obviously reporting it's obvious disapproval of the presence of this new obviously dangerous creature. o O (Relax Shur... It's not like you've never smelled dragon crap before...) |
| Lady_Astrianna02-16-04, 07:21 PM | ((Sorry - forgot to state that fact. yes, the bugbears are all enthralled - they were when Astrianna spoke, and they still are...) She looks to Kazul, nodding at his story. "Aye, it is no less than I expected. The Elven Kingdoms and the Dragon Nations are very much alike; the majority of them keep to themselves, and do not venture out of their precious safe havens unless something damages them directly. This small group of people ye see here; they are the only ones whom would travel with me to reclaim this forest. And so I shall; the risks are great, the odds could be unbearable, and yet, if my life must be forfeit to bring this forest back, so it shall be. I am but a mere thread in the life of all this is good and natural and true. And ye, Kazul, ye'll surely fight with us e'en if yer brethren won't, aye?" |
| Pipers Youth02-16-04, 08:48 PM | Kazul scratches his chin thinking"Yes indeed the odds our against us,but their is always hope." The old dragon takes a hand out to Lady Astrianna"Yes I will join you." As the dragon speaks he see's the hafling girl bow and he returns it. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-17-04, 12:21 AM | After watching the bugbears' behaviour during the druid's speach, the halfelf concludes that his prayer was answered, and steps hard on the pile of morningstars, taken form them. Before begining his speach helets out a roar, which would be much more expected if it came from Hazardevora, yet there's no doubt that he was its source. His following words aren't in common; the deapth-messanger never learnt the languege of bugbears, having no major dealings with them before, but has a basic idea of theyr culture and tradition of war-diplomacy. He also learnt that the goblinoid linguistic group is realtively monotonous, and as long as he keeps his vocabulary simple, anything from a goblin through an ogre and up to a - well - bugbear should understand him well enough. He speaks to them in orcan: "Fools you are - to be slaves to a mage!" He roars one more, and continues: "Week you are - to chose the side whose days are few!" He picks one fo the extra-large morningstars from the pile, and shouts another orcan phrase: "Serve a new master you will - or die by my claw!" As part of the traditional tribal negotiation, he breakes the morningstar with his hands, pretending it took no effort from him {though like hell it did}, before continuing: "Follow, watch, listen, learn - or fall, die, be devored, burn!" He lifts the broken morningstar's halves over his head, and throws them, to land at the minotaur's feet, thus declaring him {the minotaur} as the bugbears' new commander. "Stay loyal to him, and yours are the spoils of war - stay loyal to the lich, and yours is his empty grave! What say you?" Noulminurr's gaze moves therough the ten bugbears' ranks, pausing for short in the eyes of each one. The speach affected him almost as much as he hoped to affect them, and he almost hoped that one of them will refuse to obey... then he will represent a more phisical argument. His more conceous hopes are that the bardess, and the dragon would each join the effort of influencing these future recruits. The druid's words were a good start, and he himself had experience in turning unthinking enemies into thinking allies {and later converting them to his faith}, plus some relevant knowleg of the savages' culture, but bards, in his perception, were the true masters of emotional influence. As to the dragon, his very presence was a greate argument in itself, and a word from him, the halfelf thought, would bear no less effect than a few from the bard. Besides, Noulminurr was downright tired of roaring like his patrons and screaming in orcan; his throat started to ache, and he almost began regretting for not using his granted power of suggestion again, and arrogantly trusting his knowlege of the goblinoid's traditional war-speeches. He copuldn't help but rerun in his mind the actions he will take, should one or more of the bugbears will refuse; he wanted to save theyr souls, but he knew too well that he isn't good enough to convert a large crowd... then again, he hadn't even began the actual converting yet. |
| kulideb02-17-04, 07:14 AM | Kulideb hid in the shadows as the old dragon came, her hand going to her sword. The dragon and the lady seemed to know each other, as soon as she saw the dragon was a friend she stepped back into the light. She followed the halflings example and offered a slight bow to the dragon. It was the actions of the halelf that held her attenttion, she watched the way he spoke to the bug bears, using their own ways to try to turn them. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-17-04, 10:10 AM | She clasps a hand with the claw of the dragon, smiling. "It is good to have you by our side, Kazul..." For the most part, the bugbears seem to make a guttural sound about the half-elf that seems to denote their approval of him. There are two bugbears, however, that fail to be swayed by the half-elf. One is the obvious leader, and the other is, what appears to be some kind of strong arm for the leader. The leader begins to growls and speak to the half elf. "Fool...wizard kill you...wizard scatter guts all over forest...bugbear much laugh...bugbear and wizard have much fun with half-breed ....much torture fun before dead!" Before the bugbear even begins to speak the druid Astrianna has her bow out with an arrow nocked to it, and aimed for the leader's throat. "Watch your words. Though you may think you have the upper hand, you are the one imprisoned now. It would be wise to heed our counsel!" The bugbear leader's only response is to spit on the ground closest to the druid. |
| kulideb02-17-04, 02:54 PM | "We should move on." the elf said. "If they wont join us then they are a threat and must be silenced." She looked round at the others, the thought of killing some thing that was traped revolted her but she couldnt see what else they could do. |
| Pipers Youth02-17-04, 07:47 PM | Kazul walked over to the leader of the bugbears and picked the creature up by the scruff of it's neck,"How dare you spat at the words of of these peoples,you are nothing to them but they still pay you pity!" Kazul gave a grin and crushed the creature in his hand, and then threw it against a willow tree. Then the dragon turned his head to another tree and focused his eyes near the top"Looks like we have someone watching us." |
| ThePreacher02-18-04, 01:22 AM | As the dragon said those last words, a loud angry roar was sounded from the nearby bushes. o O (How did that big ass bia** notice me?!? what, can he see through my spells and shadows?!) The roar became louder. o O (Ok Shuri.. Don't even think about doing nothin rash... Just.. just get his attention and make him sweat a bit. Keep a large distance at all times!) Something jumped out of the bushes with great speed. A very large black panther speeding like a bullet. It made it's way towards the dragon, roared at him and ran away a couple of feet, roared again, and stood there, waiting for a reaction. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-18-04, 02:00 AM | The deapth-messanger slowly approached the leader and his main muscle-cache, his arms folded on his chest, and a malvolent gleam in his eyes. "Spread our guts all over the forest? Like that?" With these words, Noulminurr's arm came out, holding a parrying dagger he pulled from a sheath built into his hide-armor. He brought the dagger to the leader's stromach, about to make a display of cruelty he did not in reality have, that would increace his authority in the bugbears' eyes, but just when he was about to open the brute's torso, a huge, scaly hand closed over it, lifted, squeezed, and threw away. Noulminurr followed the dragon's arm with his eyes, and then looked back at the 9 remaining bugbears. "Hear the wisdom of a dragon! Behold the might of a dragon! Have you any doubts still?" With that he returns the dagger to its place, and his right hand reaches for the "strong arm"'s face. The halfelf's tone becomes more calm, not as loud, and more... sinister, even: "Loyal slave - take his shakles away, and he would fight to shakle himself again; shakle and beat him, and he bows before you and feeds on your feet's dirt... your week mind will die, and yor men, the strong, will have theyr freedom!" With that, he pushes two fingers into the bugbear's eyes, the buttom of his palm into his mouth, and squeezes, untill the brute's curved teeth begin to breake, then turns the cracking fdace to the other bugbears. "Any doubts still?!" He sharply pulls, turns, and squeezes harder, all at the same time, although his hand is bleeding from the enemy's bites, taxing up his greare strength, and as the front of the bugbear's scull brakes, he demonstrarted what's left to those who used to see him as theyr superior. "Any doubts still?!" After this last roar, he throws the bloody chunk to the ground, trying to ignore the pain, the fact that half of the blood is his own, and his overwhelming feeling of filthyness. He made his facial expression look savage and - hopefully - inspiring to the entangled ones, but he himself felt no reall bloodlust. He wanted a bath; and then a quiet, peacefull prayer; and then another bath, and another prayer. The cruelty was justified: he crushed one, to save teh souls of eight, and perhaps the lives of many more, whom these eight would ambush and kill... but the awareness of doing the right thing never made it feel any less dirty. Neither did he want it to feel otherwise, for once he would feel comfortable with such means, it would be a step towards darkness, a step towards cruelty that will no longer be justified. He exelled in such displaies, and still each time he felt the same, nauciating way about them; and always he knew it was the right thing to do; and always he knew it was the right way to feel about it. Hazardevora, however, had no such task ocupaying her mind, and so she watched from the bushes, as her new aquintance, fom earlier this day, was playing cat-games with the dragon. She knew nothing of the connection betuin what the dragon detected, what she herself did not, and this okwardly acting panther. She were simply scared like hell of the dragon, and bewildred of her "new friend"'s actions about him. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-18-04, 10:00 AM | Originally posted by Pipers Youth Kazul walked over to the leader of the bugbears and picked the creature up by the scruff of it's neck,"How dare you spat at the words of of these peoples,you are nothing to them but they still pay you pity!" ((Actually, the bugbears are encased and held in a tight knit Entangle spell...)) |
| LOZ02-19-04, 10:17 AM | Twinkle watched as Kazul threw the Bugbear at a tree, then watched Noulminurr attack another one in a rather vicious way. Twinkle had to look away she hated fighting but she hated attacking like that even more. She then noticed the black panther and wondered where it had come from. |
| Pipers Youth02-19-04, 05:41 PM | OOC(Sorry about that ........cough.......... I didnt know their was a binding spell on the bugbears.) Kazul watched with wonder as the large black cat jumped out of the bushes, The old dragon took a large breath"I'll give you a choice,either you show yourself right now,or I'll make quick haste killing your loyal pet... As Kazul spoke he tryed to keep an eye on the large cat and the tree |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-20-04, 12:51 AM | Noulminurr threw a quick glance at astriana; it contained waryness and a question - will he do it? He didn't ask it out loud, however, but he had all intention to protect the beast, should the dragon proceed to ralize his threat, and expected Astriana to follow the same policy. The halflef hoped the intimidation will be successfull, and so such problems will not appear. He also kept most of his attention on the bugbears, to see if his brutal gesture earned tehyr support. He still needed a lot of bathing, a lot of preying, and he kept forgetting to ask the minotaur of his name. |
| ThePreacher02-20-04, 02:28 AM | o O (Oh how I hate dealing with these selfish ego maniacs.. I often wonder how is it mother nature creates beings such as men and dragons.. Surely she is testing her own defence systems...) The Panther became angry... Very angry.. It seemed it somehow understood the dragon's words, and was very unpleased with their meaning. The panther stood anxiously, about 20 meters away from the dragon, ready to do whatever was necessary. o O (Ok.. I think.. Just hold his attention for a couple moe moments and then I must ask you to run.. Don't be a baby! You can't take on a freakin' dragon!! ... No!! NO !! NO! And once again NO!! Please, just do as I ask.. ok.. fine... A big chunk of meat.. yes.. and some Cormyrian sauseges.. no problem.. once we get out of here, I'll even take you into a tavern with me... ok.. now be a good girl) The panther's anxiousty grew less, and it returned to it's usual "Who knows what's it thinkin" look. o O (Ok now.. Let us get to a more... Pleasent point of view) In the shadows, the observer was busy doing something for a couple of seconds, and then his presence was no longer... On the tree above the the scene where stood the memebers of the party. ((ooc: Unless any of you can see through invisibility and through hide in shadows... What he was "busy doing" is a mystery to you.. Same as his location.)) |
| Lady_Astrianna02-20-04, 08:33 PM | She looks to Kazul, frowing in obvious displeasure. "Kazul, friend, do not harm the animal. Even if the creature is in cohorts with one whom has been following us since the beginning, there is still no right to harm it. I cannot let you harm it; it is still a blessing from the blessed Earth. For all we know whomever is up there, where-ever he is now," She looks up to where she thought she saw a shadow once...there was nothing there...was the mystery person gone? "he is a friend whom is unsure of what side we, ourselves, take. Let it be. They have not harmed us yet." ((Quath, of course your right...a dragon would probably be able to shatter the effects of an Entangle spell...Duh on me.)) The bugbears fall into complete silence as their strongest companion and leader are both killed in the blink of an eye. Their full gaze is now on Astrianna whom had trapped them, and the Noulminurr, who seems to be even more of a ruthless barbarian than they were! Astrianna turns for a moment to the bugbears then, crouching down as she gently touches the ground. She needed to thank the earth for it's gifts soon... "Dismiss, take back your arms, gracious mother, thank you for your help..." She would need to spend much more time and detail praying later. The vines and branches holding the bugbears then recede softly back into the ground, leaving no trace that they ever were there. "Keep in mind, if any thought of resistance remains in your minds, my bow yearns to sing once again." The minotaur stands ready with his great-axe to send any misbehaving bugbears to a one-way trip to the Abyss... |
| kulideb02-21-04, 11:04 AM | The elf cursed she should have spotted the big cat! She wondered if any thing else was out there watching them. She stepped away from the group into the shadows. She cleared her mind of all exept the darkness then stepped forward. She found herself in the shadow plane, a world that was almost the same as the one she had left. The colours were black, blue and purple here. She could make out her group of friends as dark smudges. She began to look around to see if she could see any one or thing else. She thought she saw some thing but then it was gone, she moved back into the normal plane. And began to look round the tree in which she though she had seen some thing. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-21-04, 05:24 PM | While Astriana kneeled to release the new recruits, Noulminurr walked in a hemicircle, passing near the minotaur, Twinkle, the druid, Kulideb, and Kazul, in that order, saying something to each of them, as he passes near, in a relatively quiet tone, but not a whisper: "I forgot to ask thy name, friend." "Truely sorry thou had to see this, m'lady; i myself'll need a long bath after that..." "Will our nightstop be soon? I'd like to fortify theyr loyalty to us soon." "...:uh-huh:" ~ If she can do that often... wow! "Perhaps a yet more streightforward approach is called for?" For a moment his gaze shifts to where the shadowancer looked, but then he turned to the bugbears, raised his hands, and roared, this time rather amiably, with an encouragng grin. "The long-dead wizard's horde will be yours!" |
| Lady_Astrianna02-21-04, 06:18 PM | She nods to Noulminurr, bowing to him. "I am Astrianna Rhindaun, Druid of this Forest, Keeper of all Sacred Life. Come to think of it, friend, I did not catch your name either. Aye, we shall be stopping soon; such is my hope. I need to do some things myself; first of all, to thank the Gracious Mother more in depth for her blessings unto me. I hope you do not mind a stony dwelling? I have a place in mind - it is only a little bit out of the way. I only hope that other creatures have not inhabited it..." The minotaur looks to the half-elf as he passes by, and he goes down on one knee. "I am Einkill Lughtger...though I have not been called by my name for a very long time...I shall long to slice the wizard's head from his very shoulders!" The bugbears, meanwhile, look on the group with obvious respect. They seem to make noises that seem to denote happiness. One of them attempts to speak; but as he opens his mouth, no sound comes out. His tongue has been cut off;perhaps retribution for some great crime...The next strongest bugbear looks to the half-elf, and speaks, in faltering common. "Strong half-breed not kill us...Claw Clan give much thanks...we join you, kill mighty wizard...bear much difficulty...much torture, pain, loss in ranks...all from mighty wizard! We help...we kill him! But weapons...need weapons..." In a form of respect, duty, and possible friendship, the bugbears all go down on one knee, at the same time, trained obviously to do so, as only creatuers of high military training could do. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-22-04, 07:16 AM | "I am Noulminurr Issraeil, priest and messnager-in-deapth of the Sewrenoughmix. I am here as a spy for my faith, and had been observing some of the events for quite some time before showing myself. Albeit thy confession, thou hast earned my full respect, arwenamin Astriana, and so i conceal my allegiance no more." He bows to the druid, and then to the minotaur, grasping his hand, and amiably pulling him up. "I am glad to be on one side with thee, lord Lughtger; For this, thou shalt see, is the side of my faith." After a meaningfull smile, he turns to the bugbears, and is going to say some more arrogant and ceremonial stuff, but the notices the attempts of one of them to speak. He blinks. ~ Good, if his tongue had been cut out, perhaps the lich feared his words... nice, either a leader among them, or just one of exceptionally free thought. A greae alley, and a greate convert he will be, i wager. Noulminurr approaches the muted bugbear, and lays two fingers on the greenish mouth. "Vyzex will not have a man's voice silenced. That alone is enough to promiss your vengeance..." The halfelf's words were somewhat hushed, his intonation softer, and his voice directed more to Vyzex and the mixy, than to the <crowd> before him. They contained a prayer to return the new convert his tongue, and he knew that for this miracle of regeneration, he too owes his lord a more complete ceremony, later, when they'll stop for the night. Letting the tongue grow back, he turned to Astriana - a druid who so far seemed to lack all the things that made his cult dislike druids in general. He indeed felt she is much more, than he ever thought of druids he met before. "Why turn to a dwelling, if we could camp in the open? Or is it the possibility of a night-assault against us that disturbs thee? If thou believeth we are at the aim of this lich's crossbow already, then turning to this stony home would eb wise, but otherwise, we could as well keep our rout streight..." Realizing he probably sounded naive, the deapth-messanger abscented form continuing his thought, and instead took of his backpack, and pulled out a quill, a vial of ink, and two small leather pouches, like the kind most people use for coins. He turned his head to the bugbears, whilst settling down on the ground. "Your weapons you will have." He opened both pouches, and spilled theyr contents into the vial of ink, purring a prayer with closed eyes, and stirring the mixture with the quill. One pouch contained a sparkling green powder {crushed emerald}, and the other, a similar blue dust {crushd sapphire}. The following procedure, he knew, would tap most of his deity's investment in him for the day, but the effect he expected was well worth that. He took each of the morningstars from the pile exept one {he broke one earlier, and two lost theyr owners}, and passed his hand on it. Most scratches and flaws begin dissappearing from the weapons, making them good as new; at the same time, a ray of light form above hits the veil, where his sanctified brew was made. He then takes out the quill, and with the now-tourquise ink, starts drawing a symbol on each morningstar. It is the same symbol as he bears on his cape, but simpler, and without much detail: a large feline paw, holding a smaller, humanoid hand. The tourquise ink glows as it dries down, and when all eight morningstars are thus marked, he still had a little left at the bottom of the vial, which he then uses on Einkill's axe. While handing out the now-shiny weapons back to theyr owners, he speaks: "Our battles will bring your freedom, and so will please the mixy, to whom the freedom from evil is an absolute goal. Praise Vyzex for the belief he has in you all." ~ I should have tried to allignate the others' weapons as well... the druid would object against marking hers, but the bardess, and the shadow-elf... perhaps another time; shan't waste Vyzex's gift on experiments for now. {{OOC: ____________________________ What he did was Mend at each morningstar, then Mark of Allegiance at each, which gives +1 morale bonus to the attack, and +1 holy damage, and has the additional quality of being SPARKY!:angel: Oh, and for the muted bugbear, it was ofcourse Regeneration, which leaves Noulminurr with almost nothing. PS: Sorry again for constantly stealing the show:embarrass... |
| lozyk02-22-04, 09:08 AM | Twinkle was glad that they would be stopping soon she wanted to sleep. She felt sorry for the one who had his tongue cut out but Noul seemed to be doing something about it. |
| Lady_Astrianna02-22-04, 09:49 PM | She nods to Noulminurr, a smile crossing her lips. "Let secrecy between friends be a thing of the past, Heruamin (my lord)." The minotaur rises and looks Noulminurr in the eyes. "Perhaps one day, Master Noulminurr Issraeil of the Sewrenoughmix Faith, I shall join your ranks. A new beginning I need much. Much blood has been spilled on my hands alone. Let us, now, focus on the destruction of this abomination first." Astrianna looks to Noulminurr as she leans upon her quarterstaff. "From what I saw before, this lich sends patrols out every few hours. If we were caught by some patrol, it 'twould be the end of this. And death is not what I mean, heruamin. Our tongues being cut out would be a much more favorable fate than what would most likely happen to us. This cave used to be my very own dwelling. One could hold off a hold army from the entrance and there are spots where one can fire missile weapons. If my memory serves correctly, there is even a mobile boulder behind the entrance. Aye, the cave would be much better. There are multiple exits as well." The bugbears seem very happy. And though regeneration seems slow on the bugbear, with the severed tongue, it will heal. Sleep will most likely aid it the most in healing. THis bugbear bows to Noul, and salute him respectfully. Astrianna then looks around at the group; they had all seen better days, she was sure. "Come, Voronwerea. Let us go rest. I have decided on the cave - it will be the safest, and is not that far out of the way. Gather up your supplies - quickly now." As soon as everybody is sure, they walk maybe a 1/4 of a mile. With obvious natural knowledge, skill, or perhaps magic, Astrianna seems to walk without any difficulty through the thickest brush. She then however remembers something and turns back to touch many areas of brush, allowing it to part widely for her group. After some time, they come to a cave. There seems to be no entrance but Astrianna merely walks up to a section of the wall and, finding a niche in the wall, seems to cause a giant slab of rock to move aside. Inside is a narrow hall way, leading up, and one more, leading down. Contrary to most caves, this one is dry, still brightly lit, and as cozy as a halfling's burrow would be.As soon as the last person walks through the entrance, AStrianna causes the boulder to roll back again. "Come my friends; this area is spacious enough for all of us. If you need to get out in a hurry, there is a niche under this boulder; it will cause it to move aside for you. There are three other like-minded exits. The hallway leading to the bottom, the ceiling - there is a way to get up there - and one in the cavern where we shall stay." Once again, she leads them to another area -a cavern. Beds of moss line the floor, and furs of various animals whom have sacrificed themselves for Astrianna lie upon the moss. "If you have a need for blankets, use the furs of my friends, killed by hunters, in turn whom were also brought to retribution...is anybody hungry?" |
| Pipers Youth02-24-04, 08:30 PM | Once inside the cave Kazul looked at the furs and moss and gave a slight frown"Oh this won't do at all." Then the dragon takes the tip of his fingernail and touches the ground. As soon as his claw touched the ground vines and earthy shrubs grow and spread out in the place Kazul narrowed his eyes at. Once done it formed a giant green canvas. Kazul then satisfied gave a deep yawn and retreated to his shelter. OOC(YES I HAVE AN EGO PROBLEM:devil: ) |
| lozyk02-25-04, 03:03 PM | Twinkle was quite happy to rest in the cave it felt rather cosy she thought. She went over to a space and laid down her backpack, she then curled up and hid inside her cloak. A slight mumbling sound came from her but the words were not clear enough to understand. She was saying a prayer to her god Yondalla. |
| kulideb02-26-04, 03:31 AM | The elf walked with the others to the cave, she kept looking back she was sure someone else was out there watching them. She called to Shady the umbra spider from the shadow plane. An inky black spider appeared, the elf stared at the cat sized creature sending images of what she wanted done outside the cave. The spider disappeared and reappeared outside the cave. It began to spin thin gossamar webs, that were far stonger than they looked. The webs were strung up between the trees, as well as a few just laid upon the ground outside the cave. If any creature passed by Shady would know and in turn so would the elf. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai02-26-04, 10:13 AM | After entering the cave, Noulminurr opened his mouth to say something, but then, fortunately for everyone else, the dragon provoked a growng-boom that made the place very hospitable. Noulminurr's mouth didn't close, but opened wider, with fascination. "Beautyfull!.." After s minute or two of admiring Kazul's doing, the halfelf led his new bugbears deeper into the cave, where he planned a little propoganda, illustrated by minor displays of his belief's power, then some praying, to which he hoped some of the bugbears might join, and finally a whole lot of sleep, to which he knew they will join. Before finally going to actualize these plans, he asks Einkill to tell the others he'd like to take the last shift. Fortunately for the deapth-messanger, he didn't know that Olm and Yondalla are the same being... otherwise, his sanity would surely take an additional blow of nostalgy and homesickness, after overhearing some of Twinkle's prayer. |
| Khaira02-29-04, 09:50 PM | Half of the bugbears attempt to pray with Noulminurr, albeit in a rather primtive fashion, along with Einkill the Minotaur. EInkill then reminds the bugbears that Noulminurr wishes to have the last watch. Finally, everybody goes to sleep. Astrianna watches the group as they all go through their various rituals before sleeping. She seems restless, not wanting nor needing sleep, apparently. She slips outside the cave, carefulyl and skillfully (as only a druid can :D), though unfortunately not without alerting the spider and Kulideb of her presence. She passes quietly through the forest and she crosses her legs, on hand on the earth, feeling, even caressing, the other on a tree, feelign its strength. She seems to be in a trance ... and that is why she does not seem to notice the boa constrictor that slithers down the tree to peer at her with hunger in its eyes. Oddly enough, Astrianna seems to begin to speak with it. Lady druid isss alone? Yes, alone. I must feel the pain of my home; must gain its respect again. Companionssss asssleep? Yes, very much asleep. They had a long day...I cannot sleep until the Grand Mother deems it so... Ssssleep...ssslep long and well....I will protect you... I cannot sleep...must not...I must be one with the forest... Yesss...yesss, pray. Do not worry...I shall watch over you... And with that, the boa constrictor begins to wrap itself around Astrianna's arm. It's head bends at an odd angle to peer at her face, to ensure she was not alive. And then it continues to wrap around her body, hissing with pleasure at the coming meal. Astrianna, so into her prayers and communing with nature, does not seem to notice.... |
| ThePreacher03-01-04, 08:18 AM | In the dark of night, the stalker was still about. He followed the party all the way to the secret hideout.. Something was telling him he cannot just leave this place and let things resolve by themselves. And though this forest was out of his juristiction, he felt commited to this place as he was to his own home... He almost didn't notice the shadow weaved strings. He stopped only a few inches away from it, when he noticed a fox avoiding the perimeter in a strange way. He tried to determine how did they enter the mountain, but he failed to see an entrance or a cave of any kind. Then something got his attention. It was a voice... No, two voices, he thought. He quickly swept through the shadows, his darkvision scouting for the source of the voices. Then he saw the druid... She was leaning on a tree.. somthing was wraping itself around her body... He felt a strange vibe throughout his body.. He felt bad energy. He leaped to the nearest tree, agily climbing to the top, from there he looked at the scene again. He tried to understand what exactly was going on. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai03-01-04, 03:14 PM | Noulminurr, deep in the back of the cave, had been - most surprisingly - sleeping, and only an ocasional murmur like "Twinkle, Twinkle - little starrrr..." escaped his unconceous lips. Though he saw the others getting theyr necklaces, he only shown himself much later, and consequently joined the group around the time when Sindweiler seemed to had left it; that is to say he never got one of these jewels... Einkull and Kazul joined even later. |
| Lady_Astrianna03-01-04, 08:36 PM | The faithful druid continues to become even more deeply involved in her prayers. She is oblivious to the giant snake that has now wrapped around her body. Only her head is visible now; the rest of her body is covered by a thick, scaly mass of boa constrictor. Her mind screams out to her. "Awake! Free yourself! Fight the horrid snake before it devours you!" And yet, she could not! She had to finish her prayers, her thanks, her ritual! She could not just take from the forest without thanking it. She was a druid; she was one with it. It helped her and she helped it. It was a two-way street; there was no exception. She was sister to it, She was the protectress. Only a few more minutes. The man, high above in the trees, can just barely hear her murmur something to her murderer...The murmur is hoarse and the oxygen behind the voice thinner by the moment... Yes...alone. Prayers essential - all alone. Forest helps, not hurts... Yesss, my little morsel, pray pray forever. Do not come to...I will protect you forever.... The lady's eyes begin to bulge as the constrictor continues to tighten. After all of the bones were crushed in this puny mortal, he would devour this lady. Then he would sleep. There was no guilt felt; why should he? Every human must die sooner or later; and druids must sacrifice everything for the animals...why not sacrifice her body to prolong his life? Back in the cave, everyone's necklace (remember, the one she gave y'all to start out with?) begin to emanate with a very strong, powerful warning light of sorts, piercing their minds. |
| kulideb03-02-04, 07:24 AM | Kulideb stired in her revive, her hand went to her neck. She opened her eyes, taking a few seconds to remember where she was. "My lady!" She snapped, grabbing hold of her sword. She rushed forward, stepping on some ones toes as she made her way to the resting druid. She was glad that shady had sent an image of where he had laid down his web traps as it gave her a chance to aviod them. She called to the spider asking him to do some thing about the webs. Shady looked at the small rabbit he had just caught, the spider didnt want to let his dinner go, but the elf had asked some thing of him. The spider cast a simple spell of faery fire on all his web traps. The woods where lit up with strands of purple light. She swiped at the snake, trying to slice it. While at the same time shouting out to the others . ((sorry, Sorted it!)) |
| Lady_Astrianna03-02-04, 09:58 AM | Originally posted by kulideb Kulideb stired in her revive, her hand went to her neck. She opened her eyes, taking a few seconds to remember where she was. "Khaira!" She snapped, grabbing hold of her sword. ((OOC - I think you mean Astrianna? And Astrianna is out, past the webs, sitting/leaning against a tree - wasn't sure if you realized that or not. ;) )); The Lady Druid seems still oblivious to the yells and slashing of Kulideb, so deep is her revery. A smile forms on her lips, and her eyes remain closed, deeply so. She continues to concentrate on the earth. So spoiled and changed to the forces of evil, it was...she couldn't wait to destroy the source of it all. She was determined; that was sure. The boa constrictor, however, is all but oblivious. It turns to Kulideb, with the sharp sword. Its skin was still thick and she could not hope to harm it yet. But that pricking...oh, that pricking was so very annoying! He would have to dispose of this nuisance before he coud enjoy his first tasty morsel. Just think - two meals in one night! This was geting better and better...the constrictor's maw opens wide as its tongue hisses threateningly.... |
| ThePreacher03-02-04, 01:03 PM | Something pierced the air of the night. Whistling and shimmering, there came flying and cutting through the darkness two arrows. o O (The aim was perfect... ) o O (Rrrrgghaa? Rrrr... ) o O (Well I guess snakes ain't too friendly this time of year Shuri...) Both arrows were headed straight for the giant snake's head. |
| lozyk03-02-04, 03:32 PM | Twinkle started to play her yarting when she felt a light flash in her mind and kulideb began to shout. She swung her yarting over her back and ran out into the forest. When she came to Lady Astrianna she stopped and tried to think of what to do. it then came to her, she took a deep breath and began to sing alow soft tune while moving her hands slightly. (cast lesser confusion). |
| Lady_Astrianna03-11-04, 08:08 PM | THe arrows hit the constrictor, but it merely hisses. Loz's spell seems to affect it, but only momentarily as he stretches out it's logn neck to make a quick, cobra-like bite at her. The arrows, now sticking out of it's eyes, prevent it from seeing them, but it still knows approximately where the members of the group were. Especiallly that tasty morsel with the sharp, stinging sword! It tosses The druid up against the tree with a thud, and its tail then wraps around something, which it hopes is Kulideb. It then begins to squeeze. Hard. OOC! ((All of this is, of course, Freedom of Destiny permitting. Loz- I rolled and got 01-10 on the percentile (that's attack the caster). Preacher, your arrows hit the snake square in the eyes, but this is also a giant constrictor. You'll have to do more than fire two arrows in its eyes to kill it! Ha! :P It still has scent to determine where the companions are. Kulideb, whether the constrictor gets you with its grapple attack is up to you. It smelled you out and attempted to get you, but it was an attack made by scent only...thus if she moved quickly or changed positions, it would strike, say, a tree or something....)) |
| kulideb03-14-04, 07:21 AM | The elf darted to the side, she almost made it but the snake had caught her by her calf. She let out a cry of frustration as she tried to slice into its thick body with her sword. |
| ThePreacher03-14-04, 09:10 AM | o O (Damn it! What a stubborn little fellow we have here... Mother nature sure brings them in all shapes n' colors) Something moved in the trees, a manner of a shadow it seemed. Then it jumped out right where the beast was holding the druid captive. Two strings of light blissed in the dark, if the wielder would move any slower, one could see those were two curved blades, somewhat reminding scimitars, or sabres... or more likely a hybrid between the two. The man which just appeared made a series of sudden swift moves, hovering about the neck of the giant snake... Hopefully, those moves would take off the beast's head. |
| Khaira03-14-04, 10:07 PM | The snake hisses and Kulideb can see its great gaping mouth as it leers close. At the same time the body of the constrictor begins to tighten. She can feel the circulation cutting off and she feels something cutting into her ...a poison spike... SUddenly Kuli feels very sleepy, and she udnersstands why Astrianna won't awake. But before the poison can take effect, a mystery man cuts in and after what feels like eternity to him, the snake's head falls to the floor, the maw of its mouth still gaping open. It's coils immediately loosen and Kulideb is able to move. The sleepy poison seems to suddenly dissapear. Astrianna howerver, seems to not be so lucky. She slowly awakens, and the crumpled heap of elf attempts to get up, though it is clear that many bones in her body are broken.... |
| ThePreacher03-15-04, 10:15 AM | Breathing heavily, the man slides his two blades into sheaths behind his back. Now, one could see this man is quite unremarkable. Wearing a common forest green cape, under which seems to be a dark brown leather shirt. His pants are the same color as his shirt, and his boots are the color of the cape, splitted to two in the edges, where the toes are. His saten wavey hair slides down onto his shoulders, in surprisingly clean locks. He looks around, trying to determine if any other danger is about. He then looks down and see the lady druid, struggling to her feet. "Are you alright mistress elf? I sure am sorry I haven't come to your help sooner... I was.. errr.. Unsure.." He leans down and takes the elf's arm, trying to help her get up. He then turns to the other elven lady, suddenly realizing he forgot about her. "And how about you m'lady? Are you hurt?" |
| Lady_Astrianna03-16-04, 09:33 PM | Standing up, barely holding herself up, she nods to the man. She does not know him, but she knows that this is the man that had saved her.She looks to the man, steadying herself on her staff. Seeing the beheaded constrictor at her feet, she shakes her head. "M'Lord, you art the one following us for so long? I felt you, as I can feel everything within this forest, my domain. I am fine...Time shall heal my injuries." She murmurs something, rubbing her left shoulder, wincing as she does so. That would leave a mark, she was sure. The Circle of Life; it was vicious at times.She looks around her, crouching down as her fingers feel the Earth. "Such pain ... such hate...May we conquer this, and make this land what it was before..." She turns, looking to the man,and she stands, bowing as best as she could. "My name is Lady Astrianna Rhindaun, Druid and Protectress of these lands, now turned corrupt and destroyed by the masses of evil. Would you give your name, sirrah? And shall you fight with us or no?" |
| ThePreacher03-17-04, 01:10 AM | "No need for such formalities m'lady.." However the man bows low to the elf, lowering his head. "My name is Sulay... And yes, I was following you and your companions... Err.. I just wasn't sure who is who in this strange land.. If you know what I mean. Anyhow, we've passed that now." He smiles to the druid, and seeing that she still is in pain, he fetches a small bottle from his belt, with bluish liquid inside. "Drink, it should ease the pain... I am sorry, but this is all I can do for now.. However if we find a safe place and you lied down, I could tend to your injuries, if you let me that is." |
| kulideb03-17-04, 03:42 AM | Kulideb brushed herself down and allowed Lady Astrianna to make the introductions, plus it gave her chance to study Sulay. "Well met, Sulay. I'm kulideb." |
| ThePreacher03-17-04, 04:44 AM | "Why hello there Kulideb...What a... Lovely name... Well met indeed.. though the circuimstances could be better." He bowed to the othe lass as well, uncertain of what customs these people are acusstomed to. o O (Talk about wierd names.. Eh Shuri? hehe) o O (Rarrrghh!) |
| lozyk03-17-04, 04:02 PM | Twinkle had never seen such skilled sword work like that she watched her eyes bright and when it was all over she stopped staring at the strange man and introduced herself. "I am Twinkle Toes" she then bowed her head to him. |
| Lady_Astrianna03-18-04, 07:33 PM | She felt the ground, so burned, destroyed, ravaged. The wind whispered of horrors unspeakable by the druid. They all hurt, her charges...how could they do this? To her forest? Her face is completely blank as she stares out at the vast, rotting trunks of trees standing around her. So ravaged, so destroyed. Such darkness coming from her forest ... her home... what could they do, against such atrocity? She realized then, that she was doing it again. She came to as the stranger began to speak. His name ... Sulay? Where did he hail from? Clearly, he was friend...SHe spoke to him then. The poor land...she knew what she would have to do....it was all part of the Druid's Job...she was the Protectress ... the Guardian... Her voice was a soft summer breeze ... the cool earth, supplementing all life ... a refreshing, bubbling brook. What had changed with Astrianna, their companion, the Druid, the One with Nature? "I shall be fine, m'lord Sulay. It is all in the life of the druid ... a circle of life, it must continue ... even at the sacrifice of the druid's life ... the land must be preserved! Even if the druid's life is forfeit to do so. Birth, life, death, and rebirth. Come, my fellows. The night draws late ... it is not wise counsel to be out here in the middle of the night. Ye know not what prowls around..." She begins to half-limp towards the cave that served as their camp for this night - or what remained of it. What she learned from her reptilian murderer would not let her sleep, she was sure. So much to do, so little time... |
| ThePreacher03-19-04, 02:32 AM | Sulay rushed to the druid's side, aiding her to walk. "Err.. I can't help it but ask - How does standing motionless while a giant snake wraps himself around you, trying to make you his next dinner, preserving the land?" |
| Lady_Astrianna03-19-04, 10:06 AM | She smiles, in spite of all her pain, and this man's understanding. He may be one who survived he woods, but he most certainly would not understand what being a druid was all about....She looks to him, smiling, then. One of those smiles, the smiles that seemed to echo the gods' pleasure within that smile.... "It is the circle of life, my friend. Life-death-rebirth. You can see it in the turn of the seasons. Spring starts, bringing new life. Summer, the peak of life. So grand, so great...Fall cames, the beginning of death. And then there is winter, the peak of death. And then spring comes again, for renewed life. Such is the life of a druid ... a druid must be willign to give her life in order to preserve the life of the forest and the animals within the forest. If that means that the druid is dinner, to preserve another life, then so be it..." She looks to him, smiling again. She was so alone, really. They would try to stop her at the end ... they would try to stop her from doing what she knew she had to do. They would not understand, she knew that. They would mourn, they would shed tears. But her life, her soul .... her very essence was connected to this forest, as it was connected to her.... |
| ThePreacher03-19-04, 12:56 PM | The man stared at the woman, as they walked side by side through the woods. He could not make any sense out of her words. "Ahhmmm.. You must forgive me, but before... I couldn't help but overhear there is some greater evil which made it's nest in this forest. Wouldn't your death here and now... Bring to your inability to overthrow that evil as you were planning? Or am I missing something?" |
| Lady_Astrianna03-19-04, 08:00 PM | She smiles again. They were nearing the cave now. How could she explain this...? She could not, it was a Forbidden Secret, of the Druids. "YOu may be right, friend Sulay, but only in a sense. Even through death, the Druids have a way of preserving their land...you shall see, soon enough." |
| kulideb03-20-04, 05:03 PM | The elf walked just behind Lady Astrianna and Sulay, she felt her self shiver at the druids words. She rubbed her hands along her arms, to bring back some warmth. |
| Lady_Astrianna03-30-04, 12:18 AM | ((Burned out already? Come out and play! :D)) Lady Astrianna quietly, with soft steps, leads the small group back to the cave. She would require sleep soon...and yet she could not deny what she felt. They had to complete this ... task in as short of a time as possible. There was still so much to do in her life, but in her mind, she realized, truly, where her life lie. Here. In the forest.... The Law of the Druid... "It is late, my friends...time to retire - for the second time tonight..." |
| kulideb04-03-04, 03:14 AM | Kulideb sat down in the cave. She opened her pack and took out some food offering it round to the others. "I would like to hear more about you sulay." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai04-03-04, 05:23 AM | The large amount of bugbears allowed for short shifts, ensuring maximum alertness during each shift. As soon as the group entered the cave, the bugbear who was guarding at that time kick-woke the following one, and went towards the entrance, where he met with Astriana, Kulideb, Lozyk, Twinkle, and a stranger. Alertness is one thing, but operative thinking at 3:30 in the night is another. The bugbear scratched the back of his head, and blinked at the four of them. |
| lozyk04-03-04, 09:25 AM | Twinkle followed the others back to the cave. When inside she curled up and went to sleep. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-06-04, 10:05 AM | As the now-worn out druid approached their makeshift hold, she nodded at the bugbear, and bows.She speaks in the savage tongue of the bugbears "Worry not, my faithful companion, all is well." While the majority of the other members sit and exchange fellowship in the center of the room, Astrianna leans against a wall by the door, thinking of the outside world. She seems secluded, perhaps even detached from the group and even from the world itself. The odds were very much against them. The forces that they faced were incredible. The casualties that they would suffer would be horrendous. And yet, the Balance must be preserved; e'en at the expense of the Druid's life. It saddened her; she wanted to be able to live and run with the creatures of the forest and yet ... time was running out... |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai04-06-04, 11:27 AM | The bugbear scratched, then bowed low, and went back, to hand his shoft to the next one. The expression of his face could be interpreted {at another time and another place} as "Severe lack of caffeine", but not the sleepy kind. |
| ThePreacher04-06-04, 02:14 PM | "well, what would you like to know?" the man smiled, leaning against the cavern's wall, he lay his bow down at his feet and tried to come to a comfortable pose. |
| kulideb04-07-04, 09:22 AM | The elf didnt need any more rest, but looking at the sleeping halfling she guessed that others might. "Where are you from?" she said with a smile. |
| ThePreacher04-07-04, 02:25 PM | "Oh, a land quite far away..." He looked aside, studying the inside of the cave. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-09-04, 08:50 PM | As Astrianna leans against the wall of the doorway, she mrumurs some prayer to her deity before her eyes close and she begins to slip into a revered, trance-like state. She still leans on the wall, as a sentry against all evil forces outside who would event remotely think about intruding her cave. |
| kulideb04-10-04, 11:57 AM | The elf settled down and rested her head on her arms. |
| ThePreacher04-11-04, 03:24 AM | Seeing all the others have gone to sleep, Sulay lay down on one of the hay "beds" and rolled on his back. Staring at the cave's cilinque he passed the hours, thinking. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-14-04, 10:10 AM | Morning comes, soft, light, pure. The light shines on the sleeping (and thinking) adeventurers...Astrianna awakens and looks around. She would have to find something to eat.... (Now is your choice to bow out, if you'd like. :) )) |
| kulideb04-15-04, 03:08 AM | The sound of movment bought the elf out of her reverie. She looked up. "Good morrning my lady." She stood up and stretched to waken her still slugish body. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-15-04, 10:05 AM | Astrianna looks to Kulideb, nodding as she gathers up her quarter-staff. "Good morning to thee, arwenamin. I trust the Dream World treated ye fairly? How would ye feel about going hunting to gather some fresh food?" |
| lozyk04-18-04, 09:26 AM | Twinkle woke with a yawn. She looked around and saw Lady Astrianna and kulideb "Morning" She smiled. |
| kulideb04-18-04, 03:17 PM | The elf stood up. "good idea, my lady." With that the elf left the cave, stepping out into the cool air. She set off down an animal track, stopping every now and then to pick at the berries and nuts. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-22-04, 10:00 AM | Astrianna walks with Kulideb as they gather berries and other fruits. She looks down where some drieid blood has fallen; a dying animal has passed her. She begins to track in, and looks to Kulideb. "Arwenamin, I am sure that you question my choices, and wonder at my talk of sacrifice to save the forest. You probably do not understand; not many do. I will try to explain to you. All druids are endowed with affinity to the forest. Life connected to the forest. All that happens to the druid also affects the forest, and vice versa. Eternally, the druid's life is connected to the forest. Thus, if it comes down to it, the druid's life must be sacrificed to give life back to the forest Just as the forest and its animals sacrifice themselves for the aid and life of the druid, so if it comes down to it, must the druid sacrifice him or herself for the aid and life of the forest." |
| kulideb04-22-04, 03:49 PM | The elf knew that Lady Astrianna was right. "The ultimate honour, serving the land in life and in death." She said looking at Astrianna . "Even knowing such doesnt make it easier on those left behind my Lady." |
| Lady_Astrianna04-26-04, 09:45 AM | She looks to Kulideb, nodding and shrugging at the same time, She glances down the trail; this particular animal was in trouble, hurting. She would have to end its life, end its suffering. Turning to Kulideb again, she speaks calmly, in a voice that is but a whisper. "Well, they don't say that knowledge is painless. Nothing in life worthwhile ever is easy, my dear. Yet, we must continue on down whatever path that we choose, for to linger is to fear, and to fear is to not live. That is not the path that I choose." |
| kulideb04-27-04, 07:36 AM | The elf wasnt sure wether to speak, but she need to say some thing, She could learn so much from Astrianna. But she had a feeling that the lady druid had made a desision, she just wasnt sure if it included her or the others. "Do you want me to come with you?" Kulideb asked, as she watched Astrianna checking the path. |
| Lady_Astrianna04-27-04, 02:51 PM | She looks again at the elf, apparently emotionless as she speaks. "Yes. I want every last one of you to come with me. I will have need of you all before the end." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai04-30-04, 03:27 PM | Back in the cave, rude voices resonate, not without beauty, in a prayer to the one who holds all species equally worthy of carrying out his agenda. A halfelf, a minotaur, and group of bugbears, having made what little arrangements a traveler may have in th morning, step after theyr {or should i say "his", as in Noulminur's} prayer to the cave's wider front hall. Noulminurr smiles warmly to the halfling, his eyes lingring on her notably longer than one would expect, but doesn;t speak, hoping she will take the innitiative of telling him and his potntial converts wher teh others have gone. He takes a look around, as of to make sure he didn't just miss the body of a sleeping dragon - the priest can't seem to remember whether theyr mightiest ally slept within or without the cave. |
| lozyk05-01-04, 06:45 AM | Twinkle smiled back to Noulminur. "The others have gone to get something to eat." Twinkle then stood up and stretched. she looked around the cave and walked over to the exit/entrance. she stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air. |
| Lady_Astrianna05-02-04, 03:22 PM | She looked down the forest path once again; it would not be long now. The animal was just down here, and it would offer them meat. She turned to Kulideb and nodded down the path. "If you can move quietly and quickly, my lady, come with me. We shall return to the cave soon." With that the Lady AStrianna continued to move down the path, glancing back every now and then to make sure that Kulideb didn't stray too far off the path. Nightmares awaited those who strayed too far...At long last, they finally see, a few yards ahead of them, a dying female deer. Astrianna turns around to Kulideb, holding up a hand for her to stop and stay where she is. "I will be but a moment, Arwenamin," she whispers. She moves quickly, quietly, to the dying deer. It breathes its painful breath, but unfortunately life lingers and sticks. The sweet kiss of death will not come so soon. The druid places her hand upon the head of the deer, and it inclines it head towards her, fear lingering in its eyes, death attempting to grasp her, but failign ever so sleightly. The Druid then begins to whisper in some unknown language to the deer, in a soothign tone. Her last words, though, are in Common. "Your suffering reaches an end here, my friend. Go unto the Father and the Mother with love and peace." She draws an arrow then and, using it like a dagger, she pierces the deer's heart, just enough for it quickly die. She takes the corpse, then, and takes only enough meat for which they needed to survive. Then she pulls out flint and tinder and creating a barren circle of earth, she sets fire to the corpse, looking up to the sky and mumbling in that unknown language again - perhaps a prayer. She then returns to Kulideb. "Shall we return? Too long have we been gone." |
| kulideb05-02-04, 04:15 PM | The Kulideb followed her sister elf as quietly as she could, putting her rogue skills to use. She stopped and watched in silence as Astrianna ended the deers suffering. There was something sad and yet deeply moving as the deer passed from this life into its next. She looked at the lady druid with respect. "Yes, the others should be awake by now." |
| Lady_Astrianna05-05-04, 10:27 PM | AStrianna carried the parts of the deer that would provide the meal for them that night and, with Kulideb, began walking back to the cave. The sun was throwing hues of purple, red, and pink on the morning sky as it began its ascent. The beauty of the sky betrayed the presence of this evil forest. She wondered how long they would continue fighting here...before long, however, they got to the cave, and luckily without incident. "Good morning, my friends. I bring breakfast. We will have to make it quick. The demons, too, will be on the move soon." |
| kulideb05-06-04, 03:41 AM | Kulideb set about helping with the food. "You think this day will bring trouble?" she asked. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-09-04, 04:47 AM | Starting to walk hastelessly out of the cave, the halfelf almost collides with the cancered forest's guardian and Kulideb, and does practicly collide with her words. "Demons?! Is there new information on our dead-and-soon-to-be-deader-still tormentor of nature and his forces, that i am yet to be told of?" After a few blinks, he looks at the goods bought by the two elves, and asks with much less confidence in his voice: "Errr, i'm no authority, but is it really a good idea to eat game hunted in these woods, in theyr current... Talona-pleasing condition? I could, instead, ask mur`Ixkraze for much safer provision." With a backthought, Noulminurr reflected that he should start refering to all mixy as simply "Vyzex", for the sake of minimizing confusion among the newly-converted bugbears. |
| Khaira05-10-04, 05:24 PM | As Astrianna begins to light a fire to cook the deer that had sacrificed its food to them, she notes that Noulminurr was wary of eating it. "Trust me, my dear friend. I know friend from foe and pure from vile, particularly of my own creatures. I am sure this creature is safe to devour; no poisons course through its body, no illusionary magic disguises its true form. However, if you feel safer obtaining food from your divine master, let it be so. As to the talk of demons; there have always been demons in this forest, since the first day it was corrupted. I had only thought a few were in here; upon Kulideb's and my venture through the forest, however, it is apparent; there are many many evil things in this forest. Their power rises high above my own. I could feel their very presence, tainting the forest, spreading the darkness through it. When I was being crushed by the very large snake, I was not merely being devoured; I was also seeing through its eyes, seeing all that it had to see. Dark is our hour now, vast are the numbers of their army. They have employed the assistance of many demons. They burn, they pillage, they destroy. Their time is coming to a swift end." With a soft sigh, she turns towards the entrance that they had come in. Though she could no longer see what was out there, she could feel it all the same. The thoughts of what she had seen, what she had felt coursed through her body. The odds were high. In a voice she murmurs,"...And, too, so is mine." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-11-04, 10:54 AM | Silently, Noulminurr joins the druid's meal; her words were enough to shake even his fanatic "right-grants-might" arrogance. After a minute or two of silence, wiping dearfat from his chin with the back of his hand, he asks unexpectedly {to himself}: "What happened to the neighboring druids? How did thou end up facing this menace alone? While thinking the lich was this plague's director, i belived we're gpoing for an easy victory - the forest's habitants will see rason and unite with us, and we would give them the honor of slaying the undead one, and taking back all he called his, i thought... but demonic interevension? We'll need help outside the forest as well, if so." For maybe the first time since they met him, the priest's intonation contained something other than undoubting certainity and devotion to his ideals. He sounded much more reasonable and calculating now, but it came on acount of the savage inspiration he radiated so far. |
| kulideb05-11-04, 03:39 PM | Kulideb just about managed not to collide into Noulminurr. She smiled at him and carried on getting food sorted although she left the deer to Astrianna. She sat down crosslegged and tucked into berries and elven bread. "Who can we ask?" |
| Khaira05-11-04, 09:31 PM | Astrianna looks among her small group, and seh smiles. She even chuckles a little bit, at the irony of it all. But it is not a happy chuckle; it is sadistic, perhaps laughing at the hopelessness of it all. "Where are the other druids, you say? Captured, mutilated, killed, and brought back to "life" again, if that is what you dare call it. The walking dead, I call them. That is what happened to the druids. This land is of gruesome proportions. As for outside help - do you forget so easily? My pleas fell upon deaf ears, as unfortunate as it is. No, we are alone in this battle. Besides, we are all that we shall need. We do not have to kill every last abomination of this forest. Just enough to get close." She pauses for a moment, thinking, pondering. What she was to say now would result in her expulsion, and perhaps exile, from the Druid Clans. But what Druid Clans were left? There were none. "I have told you before, and I shall tell you again - a Druid's life is indebted to the forest. It is the Circle of Life. The time is coming soon, when the Circle of Life will be reborn. The circle shall start again anew, and all malicious things will be purged from this land...it is the life of a Druid. It is the life that I lead and the path that I walk." |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-12-04, 04:50 AM | aparently missing the significance of what he just heard, the priest replies: "Enough to get close where? As i said, b the lich our only trouble, its destruction would suffice, but fiends won't just capitulate uppon the demise of theyr arrival's innitiator! They will remain here, and will alone be an even greater plague than they manfest under the lich's demand; while he was once mortal, and thus must have some sort of self-interest to guide him, they are different: their only vice is to bring evil, to cause harm and strife! As to who we may ask... i must state the obvious: Them who swore to aid our world. What saddens me in this, is that to do so, i would have to leave you for a time, to commune with the Dwellers of Aziluth, to meditate and feel one with mur`Vyzex Raghje, asking the Mixy to intervent more drasticly, through myself as a vessel. It would doubtlessly be the correct move now, and i don't deny the pride this rite will fill me with should i commit it, but still... for some reason, it's far from easy for me to leave you all, eventhough the reasons to do so are supporting the cause i joined with you for." He shakes his head, and finishes his portion of the meet, then reaches with a hand into his backpack, pulling out two fat bottles of some opaque material, though it doesn't look like pottery. "Port Shorternight Wine, anyone? ...i cannae betray my divine duty, but neither can i betray my intuition, as i know they are one. I have a suggestion, to solve this dilema, but you might consider it recless. . . " The new converts gradually gather around the adventurers, and Noulminurr hands one of the two bottles to the minotaur, while opening the other himself and putting it in the middle, between himself and the two elves. His gaze moves over all of them - the dragon, halfling the minotaur, the elves, the bugbears, and eventually Sulay, on whim his eyes stop, as if he saw him for the first time. "As a sidenote, it is never too late to introduce what seems like yet another able ally", he says casually. |
| kulideb05-12-04, 08:58 AM | The elf wiped the berry juice from her mouth. She looked at the odd bottles that Noulminurr pulled out. "I have never heard of Port Shorternight Wine, what is it made from?" she asked. |
| Lady_Astrianna05-12-04, 10:03 AM | The druid shakes her head. Either he had not heard her or he just didn't seem to understand. She decided it was the former. "The demons are nothing to us. The lich will be nothing to us. I must get to the source of the problem. It is not something that I can explain, but know this; I have the power to end this foolish, reckless destruction of my forest. Once I am to the source, it will be all over. Trust me in this. Though getting to the souce may prove to be a little tricky. yes, my friend Noulminurr, tell us of your plan." She looks to Sulay, then, and realized she had not introduced him to the others. "This is Sulay, a new ally that we have acquired. Sulay, Noulminurr. Noulminurr, Sulay." She looks to Noulminurr again, at his offer of the wine. She takes one bottle, taking as sip of it. It had an interesting taste... "Though I am no wine expert, myself, this has a very interesting taste. It provokes the mind, while easing it at the same time. Where did you obtain such an interesting blend?" |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-12-04, 12:25 PM | "Can you describe or define this <source>, then, my friend?" The anger slides into a half-lying position, and answers both elses: "The crews of ships sailing south from Feerlesmen's Port, in the middle of the Aslands, always feel theyr first night onboard to last forever. They always sail with sunrise, since the boreder lands betuin theyr dull empire and Disconfidence are even more dangerous than Disconfidence itself, and they need the day to pass this border area. As a result, they spend theyr first night of travel fully inside hostile territory, hence the fear, and the feeling of endlessness. They never really sleep this night, though the permanent order is to sleep, exept for those on guard duty. Naturally they stay awake the next day too, and after nothing truely fatal happens during that period, the next night seems shorter to them, due to firm sleep and the waning of theyr paranoya... hence the tiny village they pass during this second night is called Shorternight Port by the humans, since they cannot pronounce or even understand the natives' tongue. The village belongs to griplies, and the grapes they make theyr wine from are growing underwater." He takes a sip from the wine, and passes the bottle on. "Indeed, outside of the huge states, the Aslands are still a good mainland. As to my plan, i thought of hunting down the most poweful demon we can find here. His remains will serve as an offering to Vyzex, and this sacrificial rite will shorten the time needed for my communion with Them. That means a quicker assistance, assuming my soul wil successfully contain the charge they would chose to plant into it... still, i would rather hear you first, <source>wise, i mean." |
| Lady_Astrianna05-12-04, 11:30 PM | "It is quite simple. This deathly abomination, if he is truly the leader of this gargantuan army, must have some sort of base. Though I hear tell from the whispering wind and through the sacred earth of the evil that takes place, I know not what lies there. Within his base, he must have some sort of altar. This altar or "unholy ground" would be where he would summon or create these demons and other abominations. Know this, however - when a man or a woman agree to the Code of the Land, then he or she is imbued with great power. This power is given not by the gods, but by nature itself. By becoming one with nature, and accepting the gifts that it sacrifices for the druid, the druid becomes stronger and yet, at the same time, is still one with it. I am sure you had guessed this. Eventually, however, the Circle of Life must come round, and at that time, the druid will return to the Earth from which she is a part of. In this way, everything is given back, and everything is restored, healed, and the Circle starts over again. I cannot tell you exactly what will happen for, in truth, I do not know. I've never heard of anybody doing something like this before, but I know it will work. This land will be purged. You msut trust me; I know what I must do, and that it must be done." |
| kulideb05-13-04, 03:38 PM | Kulideb took a small sip of the wine, finding the taste to her liking she took a bigger sip, before passing the bottle round. She listerned as Astrianna and Noulminurr talked, some thing about the way the druid talked made the elf shudder. She remembered the lady saying such things before some how it made her feel sad or may be she really shouldnt have any more wine. |
| Lady_Astrianna05-21-04, 09:57 AM | Astrianna looked around, and noted that soon it would be time to be on the road again. They had made some good time this past day, and she hoped that they would continue to make fairly good time. She look to Noulminurr, her mind apparently decided. "Well, my friend of the depths, perhaps additional assistance would be helpful. If you think such a task in enlisting the assistance of your church is possible, you are more than welcome to do that. Everyone...we will leave in one hour. Let us we can make good time again today..." With that, the druid rose and went to stand by the door. So much rode on this small group, and she hoped, not for the first time, that they would succeed... |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-21-04, 12:41 PM | Noulminurr nods and rises, bowing to the elves and halfling. He could still not believe that the demons would leave with theyr summoner's demise, and failed - inspite of his eagerness - to understand the logic behind the druid's certainity that they will. But Astriana had undoubting, zealous faith, and it was a virtue Noulminurr understood and respected, as he was a proud owner of the same quality {although his faith was in somewhat different things}. "I thank thee for thy tust in me. Tiz'ak na ieshuti, shalov nafshi benefesh ha makom..." While speaking, the halfelf walks to a pertruding root, and break its edge with one hand, while with the other tearing out a single hair from his head. "After we find and slay the one who'll serve us as a sacrifice to Vyzex, i'll leave to a secluded place, to raise an altar frot eh mixy and conduct the holy rites in question. Einkill will lead the bugbears to fight by your side from there on. U dam libi al tofarkha, akh lo damei re'ai o dam olam..." The rangerpriest stops for a moment, to draw out one of his daggers, and makes a stabbing movement with it towards the area of his own heart, while moving the hide-amor away from there with his other hand {the one that holds the root and the hair}. The wound was only symbolic, and punctures the skin, drawing a small sprint of blood. "Half of you wear amulets, meant to take you away from strife and back to Thulseeragnyafsha's clearing. I hope you'll never use them, no matter what danger you belive to be in. Kivesharti lekha, al na eshkakh et tohar ha emet, leval ehie kahamonei enosh - soged klipot, motir laneshia tokhnan..." Without stopping his speach, Noulminur presses the root to the wound, visibly soaking it with his blood, then starts wrapping the hair he took out of his scalp around the bloody root. "If you face deah, do not leap away - keep struggling; If you face something worse, do not leap away either - i shall leap to your side instead. Break this wand, and i'll appear; remember it will be likely to cost us Vyzex's intervension, but some things are more crucial! Malki mur`Vyzex - navi el elion, shofti mur`Ixkraze, ha meitiv lidrosh. " He closes the hide-west again, without bothering to cover the tiny wound with anything else, while handing teh root to Kulideb. Only now, when his eyes return to theyr former gleaming quality, and his voice regains its young livelyness, does it become noticable that during the entire ritual of preparing the so-called wand he was somehow distant, not truely "present" where he stood. His concentration, however, did not stop him from speaking to his comrads, apparently; and now that the prayer is complete, this is once again the same Noulminurr Issareil they knew. In a refreshed voice he asks: "So, shall we go hunt ourselves a fiend?" |
| kulideb05-21-04, 03:40 PM | Kulideb watched Noulminurr fascinated, as he made a cut by his heart and soaked a twigg in the blood then wrapped a hair round it, even his voice sounded diffrent she thought. "Thank you." she said as her offered the twigg out to her. She looked at it, a little unsure of what to do with it. "Emm..what is it?" she asked, but Noulminurr was ready to go hunting. The elf picked up her pack, slung her bow on to her shoulder. "Ready!" she said still holding the bloody wand. |
| Quathmoir Dlaeh Issarhai05-22-04, 03:45 PM | "A means of summoning me instantly, from wherever i may be. As i said: break it, and i shall appear, but only do so in the most despirate of emergencies, since my ritual, meant to bring us divine aid, shall be broken with it... seeing as i cannae be in two places at the same time, and will be removed from the altar once the wand is broken. Do put it away into a pocket for now, though; thou shan't need it while i'm still here." Normally he would give the twig to Astriana, who was the task's leader, but he feared her greater emotional envolveness would affect her judgement as to when to use it. Einkill was newly innitiated into theyr group, and could not be trusted with such a last resort, Kazul was being absent {Noulminurr suspected he might be ill, or even nearing his end}, and he couldn't be completley sure that Twinkle is both brave enough to not use it without necessity and desidive enough to not hesitate should necessity truely appear. All these considerations left Kulideb, who showed none of the possible weaknesses he noted in the others, nor any of her own. He took a glance around the cave, put his backpack on, and streightened his cape over it, then stood, waiting for the bard and the druid. |
| lozyk05-23-04, 11:54 AM | Twinkle wrapped her cloak around her shoulders then put her backpack on her back followed by her yarting. She then went over to kulideb and Noulminur and smiled at them both "ready" |
| Lady_Astrianna05-24-04, 09:53 AM | Astrianna had been in a revery, considering all of the possibilities of what would happen in the near future. Maybe it had been a mistake coming here...she could have chosen another forest, gotten another area to protect. But would that have remained? Would the land that she had taken suffer the same fate as this forest had? No, it was best to risk possible death, and worse, to try and save this forest. She realized, suddenly, that everybody was ready. She walked over to the rest of the group. "Everybody ready? Have everything? We seem to have lost Kazul; no mind, let us go." With that, the druid walked to the cave entrance and opened the "door" and walked outside and into the forest, where the darkness waited to claim her and, possibly, all of them... |
| Khaira06-12-04, 02:24 AM | I know you're all busy but I see the last post was almost a month ago...do we need to take a break or just kill it? |
| Lady_Astrianna06-28-04, 11:34 PM | The druid led her small party out of the cave, pausing momentarily to shut and lock the door. It now looked as if nobody had ever been there. They then continued down the very fine trail, passing a rotting deer carcass, and eventually venturing to the main path. "Come now, friends; I have a feeling that soon, very soon, we shall come to a small encampment. Do try to make as little noise as possible; secrecy here is the best policy. Be quick, but deadly." She continued leading the group down the path, looking back to make sure they had lost nobody, and to either side of the thick forest every now and then, looking for would-be ambushers. As they continued down the path, however, a noise stopped the druid in her tracks. As she looked around the sound - which seemed to be some sort of growling - stopped, and she continued further down the path. However, further down, the growling ensued again. Lots of growling, in fact, ensued from all sides of the group...whatever was out there knew they were there, and they were very hungry. Whatever "they" were. "Clearly we have been discovered, my friends. Ready yourselves to meet whatever comes our way!" With that, she drew her bow and nocked an arrow to it, all in the blink of an eye, as she turned to face the left side of the forest, ready to shoot at any time... |
| Lady_Astrianna09-28-04, 10:59 PM | Since the only person left to even be able to even remotely post is Kulideb and I, this thread is hereby closed down. At least, for now. |
| kulideb09-29-04, 08:20 AM | Sorry Khaira, |
| Pipers Youth09-29-04, 07:13 PM | ooc(Sorry for all the trouble my friends. Indeed Kazul is missing, but where? Could it have to do with all the growling in the forest? {Noulminurr suspected he might be ill, or even nearing his end} If this is indeed true, what is to be the fate of a fellow child of the forest, Kazul? Lady_Astrianna/ Khaira when the thread get's running again p.m me so I can post and announce what has happened to the lost comrade.)ooc |