525 replies to this topic

[green_mantis]

Mantis shifts in his seat so his tail doesn't pop into the open. There is a slight waver in his cloak from his tail finding a new place.
"Charon. I am slightly curious as to why you carry yourself as a noble would, though you do seem to hide it well." Mantis says slightly awkwardly, and very quietly so others won't overhear. "Where is you come from?"
To Katianna. "I would like to know your name, in case I have to address you; as I have a feeling I may have to deal with you a while."
To Opie. "Are you sure your Dwarven friend isnt getting into trouble in there with all that food?" Mantis says with a glance to the hallway.

[Squee]

"...Amen."

With a lazy yawn and stretch, Steven walked out of his room. He seemed to be quite cheerful despite the large hole in his gullet. He hopped up on to the stair-railing and slid down with a happy grunt.

Landing soundly, Steven waved to everyone, hands on his hips, rotating his neck.
"Morning, all," he said with a warm and friendly smile.

[Opie]

Opie's permanent grin fades quickly as he hears a crash in the kitchen and runs to find out what it is. when he gets in there he sees Blaster, now running up and down the table, eating any food he see's, including other peoples "Why me?" Opie asks as he pulls out a rope from the folds of his cloak and runs to the table.


Blaster jumps up and down with joy when he see's something on someone's plate "Cumphcactkes!" he muffles as he dives for them.

Just as he hits the table Opie jumps up and grabs Blasters arms and restrains him with the rope, moving Blaster off of the table. "I'm sorry everyone, sorry Alex and Lorenzo, Truelly!" He drops a bag of gold in the center of the table and drags Blaster to a corner to yell at him

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM YOU BIG MORON! THAT IS OTHER PEOPLE'S FOOD! YOU CAN'T BE THAT HUNGRY!"


Blaster looks at the floor, ashamed. As Opie takes off the rope from his wrists he tries to explain himself "I...I don't get what happened, I mean, I'm hungry, and I'm nervous, but it's like, ever scince you cast that mumbo jumbo magic on me, i've been starved."

Opie's eyes widen as he looks at Blaster, who Opie just realized, is still extremely large. "Oooooooh no. The enhance spell I cast on you hasn't worn off yet!! How can i be so good with all my other spells, yet so bad with enhance?"

Opie hits his head against the wall.
"There's only one person i can think of that could help."

Opie leaves Blaster tied up facing away from the food and goes back to Mantis "Hey, my big buddy was the latest victims of one of my enhance spells. You think you could go help him out if you get a chance? or maybe just keep an eye on him, I need to go find Narin" Opie leaves, but not before bowing slightly for the two women talking to Mantis, "Sorry for the disturbance ladies."

Opie leaves the dining area, confident Mantis can handle Blaster, but not so confident that He himself could handle Silverwizard (If i can't even control and enhance spell, how am i going to be able to handle a demon?)

Edited by Opie, 13 April 2004 - 08:58 PM.

[Silverwizard]

Silverwizard, hearing the comotion ((sp?)) goes into the kitchen, looks at Blaster, chuckles and says, "I see that the spells to stop me have not worn off, that will be easily taken care of," he walks over to the tied up Blaster and casts a spell to dispell the magic cast upon Blaster, ending the spell. "If you wish to stop me Narin, please hire better help," he says over his shoulder as he walks back into the common room, and this time orders a light elven tea before sitting back down.

[Katianna]

“Oh, were you not here last night when I visited?
Sorry; my name is Katianna. I’m here to… see to some business with the King, perhaps with some assistance from our friend Mr. Avelin.” She says to Mantis just as he (Steven) slides down the stair rail.

“Well, well, Mr. Avelin; sleep well did we?” she says somewhat resentfully.
“I was just inquiring of Mantis something that I’m curious about of you as well – doesn’t it concern you that the entire city guard will be watching for, if not actively seeing, you since last night?” She says stepping towards him with keen interest in his response.

Edited by Katianna, 14 April 2004 - 04:14 AM.

[Opie]

Opie senses a speell being cast and rushes back in, only to see that Blaster is now normal again. "Oh for crying out loud." He rushes over to Blaster and unties him.

"Who took the spell off of you?"

" I don't know, i didn't see him."

[Charon]

“Sorry if I was short with you.”

Charon seemed almost surprised by the womans apology. She looked around slightly, then smiled back at her

"Trust me, it's no problem" Charon replied in much the same tone "I'm sure you have many things that you should be concerned about... explaining yourself to me certainly shouldn't be one of them"

"And I'm sorry, but explaining myself to you... shall not be a problem of mine" she nodded lightly to Mantis, shifting so that she could talk to him more silently "You say... that I hide this well. Perhaps not well enough if you are able to notice but some things..." her smiled thinned as she noticed the shifting cloak, glanced back up at his eyes...

"I... I" she cleared her throat "What I was trying to say is that I'm sure there are... secrets here. Secrets that each of us have. You were observant enough to catch me out, to notice one of mine. I respect that. I also respect... that you are prepared to keep this quiet, although I suspect not quiet enough" she cast a quick smile at Katianna

"I am sorry... but I regret to tell you that I shall not be enlightening you with any details...your curiosity shall have to remain for now. I hope... that you can appreciate my secrecy on the matter, tis certain that I mean noone any offence by it" she smiled awkwardly

"Where I am from is truly of no consequence. Indeed, the place I would call home... tis barely even there any longer" sadness tainted her gaze and she was forced to look away "What remains of my 'home' ... is no longer my home. Times have changed and shall continue changing. The time for me tell you or anyone of the past I left behind... even to tell some part of the present I live in now... now is not the time for me to speak of such things. I'm... I am sorry, Mantis. I am sorry"

She saw Steven slide down the banister and took instant advantage of the distraction, the sadness and thought that had plagued her face gone near instantly and replaced with a cheerful smile

"Good morning" she rose, stepping swiftly out of the space between Katianna and Mantis where she had been sitting, rising from that confinement in one swift movement. Almost as soon as she herself had moved, Katianna was closing in on Steven... Charon almost felt sorry for him. It was still too early for such questioning

"A... Allow me to get that for you" she nodded to Silverwizard "I'm sure Alex won't mind" she retrived the menu from his table and cut between Steven and Katianna on her somewhat longwinded journey to the corridoor <Anything to try and break that up> she thought softly

<I guess I'm lucky I am subjected to none of this... that I played no part in whatever occured yesterday eve> she thought to herself as she left the sounds of the main room behind, instead confronted with the commotion between Opie and Blaster in the kitchen. Hesitantly she glanced back at the main room, thinking of the look on Silverwizards face as he had sat down...

<Just what is going on here? This... is chaos. The trust... it all seems so... flimsy> she thought somewhat helplessly as she slipped into the kitchen and bowed lightly to the chef, Lorenzo

"Sorry to intrude" she smiled softly, as was her way "I just require the use of your appliances. Light Elven tea... always best when made by an elf" she teased, approaching the surface and pulling a cup from the sideboard. She was swift at her work, though finding the 'ingredients' she needed took a little longer. She was unfamiliar with the layout chosen by the chef

<He must be elitist> she thought with a glance at the man as he continued to cook for the hungry crowd in the main room <A specialist of some sort...> she went to pick up the cup, and in her distraction she stumbled. Twisting, she regained her balance, if somewhat awkwardly, tilting the cup to prevent any spillage <I truly must... pay less attention to my curiosities> she thought as she emerged from the kitchen with the tea, bowed her head yet again to Lorenzo, before heading back through the kitchen's dining area, noticably slower than the speed at which she had glided through the room upon her entry

No matter what was going on in the main room... no matter how much she wished to hear what was happening there... some part of her didn't want to know what had happened that previous evening. And if walking slower might protect her from some part of that knowledge, or at the least allow her to miss the inquisition... she hesitated at the door, waiting a moment before she returned to the room and placed the wizards beverage down in front of him
"Sorry for the... delay"

Edited by Charon, 14 April 2004 - 07:09 PM.

[Squee]

"...N-Now that you mention it..." Steven started, nervously running hand through his hair.

"I haven't really given it much thought...but, don't worry about it. Galeb h-" he said, just before Charon walked past him, distracting him for a moment.

"Err...m-morning, Charon."

"A-Anyways, Galeb won't attack anytime soon. He knows he wouldn't stand a chance against me in a fight," Steven chuckled (nervously) as he took a seat on a bar-stool, spinning himself in semi-circles.

"If I know anything about Galeb, and I do, he's not going to attack in broad-daylight. That'd just be suicide. He's probably still in bed. Although...I would expect some kind of...a-attack tonight. Maybe sunset. I-I'm not entirely sure."

"But, anyways, enough of that. Did you get anything to eat? I'm sure you must be starving!"

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Lorenzo was a little surprised as this little woman simply barged into his kitchen. He scratched his balding head a little then wiped the sweat off his greasy brow.

"Err...Lidder, missy. Whaddcha up do?" he said with a heavy accent.
Given his response, Lorezno smiled and grabbed an over-sized butcher knife, letting it gleam in the light almost pridefully.

"Yer know...dey say I gots some elven blurd in me... So...if you ever wanda...how dey say...make dem babies? I'll be glad do 'elp," he said, with a terribly suggestive tone. With that, Lorenzo threw his butcher knife into a cutting board, letting it stick out at an angle. He looked at Charon then at his knife, eyes running up and down the long, glistening blade. He smiled his decayed grin and gave Charon a quick wink before she left.

((...Don't ask about that accent. I'm not entirely sure what that was...just something I decided to put down. ^^; ))

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Meanwhile, Alex was running up and down, left and right and up and down again, just for good measure. It was obvious that the Dancing Wolf was beginning to really come to life. Patrons were waking and more and more people were filing into the dining room.

"Oh, Mis- ...errr...Charon, just Charon. I trust you slept well?" Alex said, giving a slight bow, smiling widely and jokingly.

[Silverwizard]

Silverwizard looks at Charon and smiles, "Thank you, but it was truly unnessecary, someone could have done it easily, why go out of the way to call attention to us," he looks her straight in the eyes, "What is wrong?."

[green_mantis]

Mantis approaches Steven. "Steven. I was curious as to what your relationship with Galeb is, you two seem to know each other. Does he seem different now than he was when you last met him?" Mantis glances at Charon. (We all have our little secrets don't we?) He wonders to himself. (Who else here is hiding something?) He wonders as he looks about the room. (If this kingdom has fallen to evil, Steven may not know Galeb as well as he used to...)

Edited by green_mantis, 14 April 2004 - 06:47 PM.

[Squee]

Steven. I was curious as to what your relationship with Galeb is, you two seem to know each other. Does he seem different now than he was when you last met him?

"Hmm? Different...?" Steven murmured as he slowed his spinning to a halt.
"...No...not really..." he eventually spit out.

"Galeb has always lived for the army. He'd follow King Elwin III through hell's gate itself if he had...of course, King Elwin has never really done anything as...as far-fetched as this...

G-Galeb is not a bad guy. I-I've known him since...well...pretty much since I joined..."

[green_mantis]

"Well Steven, if you are sure he hasn't changed, then we have nothing to fear." Mantis says with a forced smile. Mantis was already having doubts about the intelligence of some of his companions. (Opie better not have gotten dumber over the years. Though his spellcasting ability has improved in control and power greatly.) "Well, Steven, since you have assured me that we should have nothing to worry about until nightfall, I was wondering if you could point me to the best blacksmith in town. I may need a replacement sword, as you broke my last one." (I hope I can convince him to use something other than a candle holder next time.)

[Charon]

"Oh, Mis- ...errr...Charon, just Charon. I trust you slept well?" Alex said, giving a slight bow, smiling widely and jokingly

"Quite well thankyou" Charon smiled widely with a slight bow of her own "The room was..." she paused awkwardly "Beautiful" she said softly, tacking the word onto the end of the sentence, hoping that he was too busy to notice her pause

She heard the wizard speaking besides her and turned to face him, ready to legitimise her quick departure to make his drink... just in time to get caught by his gaze.

"What is wrong?"

For some reason as Charon looked back at the wizard she flinched... the direct gaze made her feel horrendously uneasy

<I don't even know...> she thought suddenly <Who's eyes I'm truly staring into... who else... is really looking back at me>

"Nothing" she smiled faintly "Nothing is wrong. And...I wasn't trying to draw attention to you" she settled. She glanced back at the group... then somewhat hesitantly she sat down besides him "I... was trying to distract myself from me. An awkward question led me into an area I did not wish to dwell upon" she smiled and looked at him curiously "besides... as I understand it its quite unusual for a Gnome to like Elven tea"

<Tea, tea> she cursed silently to herself <As if I truly care for a moment about the tea> she was getting too worked up. She was rushing through things too quickly. She stopped where she was a took a deep breath, going back in her mind through the actions she had just taken and-

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, with a somewhat shocked glance in the direction of the kitchen. She'd been so worked up she hadn't even realised what the man had been saying... so distracted by the kitchens layout and the mans skill with the knife that she hadn't...
"What a... to make such a..." her voice was tinged with distaste as her words caught in her throat and her face flushed "such a... blunt suggestion.. and for me not even to notice..."

((ooc: eh-heh... guess I rushed things a little in my last post hm? Sorry sorry, my mistake, won't do it again ^^;; ))

Edited by Charon, 14 April 2004 - 07:36 PM.

[Silverwizard]

"You drew little attention to me, Charon, you are drawing attention to yourself, something enemy agents could easily notice. If someone notices you, they will watch you, and see you with Steven, boom, we are gone. Remember, we must act normal, and we must quickly get out of here," he says looking at Charon.

Moving over to Steven and the others gathered in the corner he speaks, "I propose we hold a council of war, we must learn what we will do, and we must learn each person's personal motives. We cannot wait much longer." As he speaks of personal motives he glances to the door to the dining room which Narin is walking out, then to Opie.

[Squee]

"Blacksmith?!" Steven said as he hopped off his stool, eyes blazing with delight.
"Oh, geez, I almost forgot!" he cried out as he grabbed Mantis by the wrist and dragged him outside, completely ignoring Silverwizard (unintentionally, of course).

"Terrance is the Blacksmith in these parts! Me and him are like brothers! It's just this way!"

Steven Avelin and Terrance Wellington were always the best of friends. Their families were closely tied; the Avelin's needed horse-shoes, plows and other farming tools and the Wellington's needed fresh milk, eggs and other produce.

As long as Steven can remember, Terrance and him were always getting into trouble. One of his clearer memories are of him and Terrance, accidently kicking over a lantern in his barn, setting the entire thing ablaze. Of course, the fire was put out by the end of the night but not after much labour.

It had been ages since Steven had seen Terrance and it would be nice to see an old friend.

"Terrance! You home?" he called out as he turned a corner and headed into a simple shack. The walls were covered in swords, maces, flails and other weapons; some better crafted than others. There were 1 or 2 armour stands but one could easily see they were just for show. At the back of the room was the furnance. The fire was still quite alive and embers could be seen flying out every so often. To the side, of course, were an anvil, hammer and bucket of water.

"Steven? ...Is that you?" called out a male voice from the back.

"Yeah, Terrance! It's me! I've come back!"

Almost immediatley, a boy of similar build to Steven came rushing out. His head was almost completely shaved and his eyes were a piercing blue. On his body, he wore a leather apron, blackened by soot and other things one might expect a Blacksmith would come in contact with.

However, as this boy approached Steven, he didn't open his arms for a warm and friendly hug. Instead, he clentched a fist and planted it soundly into Steven's jaw.

In complete shock, Steven hit the ground, his lip bleeding just a tad bit.

"...You lovable companion. Get the hell out of my home..."

Edited by Squee, 14 April 2004 - 10:00 PM.

[Charon]

Charon looked at the wizard for a moment... it seemed he was being serious and yet...

"Am I misunderstanding you?" she asked softly as she rose to follow him, speaking to him and only to him "You worry that I shall draw attention to myself, to us... after your indiscrete morphing in front of one of these 'enemy agents', the floorshow... or rather acrobatics act your more roguish aspect gave everyone last night... the fireworks you were prepared to let off when you doubted Bremen's intent?"

She stalled suddenly. It wasn't like her to argue like this, nor to act in a way that could so easily be considered hostile... and she didn't know what had happened at the church, so what had led her to accuse him of shifting before the enemy? And yet she knew even as the words left her mouth that they were true.

She was momentarily taken aback by the rapid departure of Steven and Mantis and stared after them, wondering where it was they could be going in such a hurry. Dispite this... she recovered quickly

"Unlike some of the others here... I sincerely doubt that anyone is looking for me. I... my elven nature aside... stand out no more or no less than the rest of the merry people within this fair establishment"

"I may not belong among them... but" she smiled that soft, sad smile... wistful, thoughtful, as she planned how to continue "You speak of war... You speak clearly of personal motives only because you are more than willing to share your own. I too want us to trust each other... but we all have secrets. Secrets... that we cannot share... that I cannot share" she stressed the words in slight despair, forced such emotion into them... as her eyes flickered around those who remained in the group

Slowly she became aware of something... realising who she had not yet seen "Bremen" she murmered softly "Is he still asleap? Or did I miss him as I passed through the dining area? I... don't think I have seen him yet this morn"

Edited by Charon, 14 April 2004 - 11:56 PM.

[Silverwizard]

"My personal motives are not mine. Yes, I am not the most average person, there are times when I cannot help the morphing even," with this he shoves his arm out of his sleeve, instead of the small yet stalky gnomish arm it is the arm of a half-orc, "I cannot help it. Also, I was quite willing to blast apart this entire city if it was to stop Bremen from using the artifact, remember, he is powerful and with the artifact he would gain access to the power of Sh'Gunloh, the prince of all demons, that is not going to happen. Trekkie, well, he is not me, I am more cautious, Trekkie wants attention and to the four winds with consequences. You are not in my unique situation young one, my advice is not for myself, I cannot avoid attention at times, you were our only unknown member, Galeb did not even see you, you have just destroyed any chances of surprise by you, we will have to use the others. Huh, what others? Yes, what do you mean? There is only us... isn't there? STOP all of you, STOP, now." Silverwizard starts massaging his temples as if in great mental pain.

((OOC: Each time I changed colours I changed character voices, red = Trekkie, Purple = Anturox, Yellow = My Elf, no name given, raised without one.))

[Opie]

Opie stares back at Silverwizard. "Alright, i know that guy everybody here is obsessed with is gone, Steven I think, and Mantis as well, but I think we had better get a few things clear around here"

[Bean]

((Deval threatened to stab me!!))

Aladar looked around him, not yet positive all the soldiers had been dispatched. Then he saw what he was looking for, A lone soldier dashing out into the woods surrounding the town.

A shame... Now our location is known... We must move quickly.

Aladar strode over to where Bract stood, Cleaning his weapons. Looking down at the hulk of a man Bract had dispatched with such ease, Aladar came to respect his abilities as a swordsman a great deal more.

"Where is Ulantees?" Aladar mumbled, not really having concern for the mans wherabouts, He could handle himself "We need to leave now... A soldier has escaped us, within hours this place could be overrun with soldiers. We must finish our journey to Karfendale tonight"

As he was speaking, Aladar cast his glance over the battlefield. He could not see his cloak anywhere.

Ah well... I hate having to summon those things

Aladar wove his hands in, and out in front of his chest, the air he traced his fingers through crackled with hidden energy. As he wove his hands faster, the air seemed to heat, and then burn. Out of the burning air, seperate strands of a coarse material began to appear. As they appeared, they intertwined with eachother, twisting inwards and outwards. As he finished the spell a robe, similar to the one he had previously worn, now hung in the air in front of Aladar. Placing his new robe upon his shoulders while striding away from the scene, he called over his shoulder.

"I need to pick up a few things at the local poison merchant, you two can go on without me. I will catch up." With that he dissappeared down a side street.

Poison merchant? Why... What sliver of knowledge has Ti'Anna given me now... Aladar brooded over this thought as he made his way towards the center of the town.

((*stabs deval* Mwahahahah))

[Bract]

“Hmmrrrgh – What the hell good is magic if you aren’t going to use it?” he snaps at Aladar as he sheaths his blades. “They’ll definitely destroy this village, and slaughter everyone here if the king hears about this.” He growls as the jogs over to Dusk. Turning back to Aladar he adds, “You might consider grabbing a couple of those uniforms, they may come in handy later.”

Springing up into the saddle, he turns Dusk to the town gates and spurs her into a full run shouting “Hide those bodies and any horses of the soldiers, or pack up and leave here forever.” to the townspeople. Within seconds they are out of sight, down the road to Karfendale.

Edited by Bract, 15 April 2004 - 07:23 AM.

[Katianna]

"...N-Now that you mention it..." Steven started, nervously running hand through his hair.

"I haven't really given it much thought...but, don't worry about it. Galeb h-" he said, just before Charon walked past him, distracting him for a moment.
...
"A-Anyways, Galeb won't attack anytime soon. He knows he wouldn't stand a chance against me in a fight," Steven chuckled (nervously) as he took a seat on a bar-stool, spinning himself in semi-circles.

And when Galeb does show up, you intend to fend him off with … what, your confidence? She opens her mouth to inquire, in a similar fashion, but loses the opportunity as Mantis approaches and begins speaking to Steven.

Still, some of the anxiety fades from her expression, and she resigns to step back into the shadows and observe. I hope he’s right; from what was explained to me of the previous evening…I don’t know.

"Oh, geez, I almost forgot!" he cried out as he grabbed Mantis by the wrist and dragged him outside.

Wha… Katianna sighs, watching Steven disappear into the street. And there he goes again… Katianna thinks as she chuckles silently from the recesses of the shadows along the wall.

Well, maybe he’ll at least come back somewhat equipped for battle – one can always hope…

With increasing interest she listens to the conversation – argument between Charon and Silverwizard; quite curiously. Bremen..? I figured he had gone his own way. Did the wizard do something to him? How peculiar. Perhaps some of us aren’t here so much to stop the tyranny of the king as to acquire his artifact.

As Opie joins the argument, her hand finds the grip of her hand crossbow, Are they going to duel it out here..?

Edited by Katianna, 15 April 2004 - 05:34 PM.

[green_mantis]

"Hold there!" Mantis yells at Terance. "Whatever has happened do not seek to resolve it here." Mantis says as his tail gives into angry twitches beneath his cloak. "You would not seek to anger a paladin with your unjust violence." His face slightly darkening and his furled wings bulge a little on his back.

((Since Steven was knocked down he should be able to see these small movements as well as the tail protruding from the bottom of Mantis' cloak.))

[Squee]

"I said it once...and I'm going to say it one more time..." Terrance said, his eyes narrowing and his tone harshening.
"...Get the **** out of my house! You or any other ****ing friends of Steven are not ****ing welcome here! Do you get me?!" he yelled out at the top of his lungs, pulling loose a broad sword from his wall.

"Now get the **** out of here before I ****ing skin you alive!"

Terrance said all these harsh things with a slight sadness in his tone. More than once, his voice even began to crack.

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Steven simply laid on the ground, not knowing what to do. Was this really Terrance? What happened to the old Terrance that enjoyed swimming in the lake on long summer days or fishing on the docks (not caring if he caught anything). What happened to the old Terrance who was there to slap some sense into Steven when he decided to run away from home?

The flicking of Mantis' tail caught Steven's attention for a mere second but he quickly dismissed it. There was nothing strange about having a tail and Steven wasn't the kind to judge. His tail did not make him any less of a person than Steven or Terrance or anybody else.

Slowly, Steven rose to his feet, tapping Mantis on the shoulder lightly.

"...W-We should go... S-Sorry for bothering you, Terrance..."

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The sun was nay an hour from high-noon. Galeb stood outside the castle gates, clad in armour, backed by his troops - a good dozen hearty men, all armed to their necks with glimmering plate mail and pikes. He looked on to the village of Karfendale and smirked. Steven was now going to really feel the wrath of King Elwin. Elwin had given him a chance, he could have easily run away to some other town and started a new life. No, he wished to stay and keep his "rebelious" ideals. Now he would pay.

"...March," Galeb said sternly yet quietly.

[Charon]

"Please" she murmered softly, taking a few steps back from the group. Her body language was guarded, but withdrawn... introverted even, and yet her eyes showed a pained determination. No matter how against her nature it felt, she was going to argue her point

"You're right" Charon said softly, to the wizard "I am not in your situation, nor would I ever wish to be... but you are losing your control. All of you... begin to blur together. Trekkie is you, just as much as your other aspects are, perhaps even as your demon is. You share one body... and the longer you do, the more you shall continue to blur together" she watched with... pity? as his voices warped while he spoke and he massaged his head

"Silverwizard, your cleric friend only wishes to help you, would it be so bad to see if he can? If you so not want to lose Sh'Hodmet, perhaps Narin could at least help you regain some control over what you do and when"

you were our only unknown member, Galeb did not even see you, you have just destroyed any chances of surprise by you, we will have to use the others

"I destroyed nothing" she murmered softly. Slowly she looked around the room.

<Anyone... is there anyone...?> she found herself asking as she looked around. There were many people gathering here now but she took the time to look over each of them in turn, though looking at none long enough to draw their attention.

Satisfied that she was correct in what she was about to say she turned back to the wizard and smiled softly, speaking in an almost innocent tone. Calm... everythubg she said was said with near complete control of her voice... an overarching air of calm

"I was merely being polite to a wizard of more than obvious power. A wizard... who stands out. Our group... is hardly a discrete one" now that smile was strained... almost painful "We have paladins, when Mantis tells me the paladins of this area were struck down long ago. We have wizards of arcane magicks and great powers. We have gung ho dwarves who attempt to eat poor Alex out of house and... out of Inn and home" she tried to make a joke but the attempt was forced

She was breathing softly, slowly as she looked back at him speaking quietly, of the right volume for those in the group to hear, but for the sound to travel little further "Trust me on this much... noone of consequence saw us. Do not ask me how I know this... but noone was here to watch me, to watch us; No soldiers of the king, No spies- or at least not spies of the king"

I think we had better get a few things clear around here

"Yes" she nodded to Opie, slight turmoil showing in her eyes "There are some things we need to get clear. I pity your plight, mr Silverwizard, I do... But you speak of 'using' me, of 'using' us for the aspect of surprise. Sir... I shall not be used by anyone" her eyes flickered warily to Katianna as the womans hands set themselves upon the crossbow at her waist

<I don't wish to go through that again>

Edited by Charon, 15 April 2004 - 09:57 PM.

[Deval]

Ears ringing from his throbbing head, Ulantees manages to make out loud thud, followed by wet, interrupted breathing, then the rapid footfalls of a man obviously fleeing in the opposite direction of the conflicts.
"****", Ulantees mutters as he catches a glimpse of Bract galloping in the direction the footfalls headed. Calling to the figure of Aladar, he squints with pain as the shout of his own voice echoes around his head. Reaching into his hip bag he hurredly withdraws the pouch Aladar had given him some days before, genourusly applying it to his now raw, but healing wound. Sighing with relief as his vision clears of blurring and the last of the dirt escapes his eyes, he grunts irritably that Aladar clearly didn't hear his call.

Casually turning on the spot, he walked a few paces back to Moonblood, held vertically to attention from the now bloody cranium of his opponent. Placing one foot on the dead mans chest, with a grunt and the sound of bone scraping against metal, he reefs the sword out of the corpse with satisfaction at the sound. No bodies of the civillians littered the immediate vicinity, so he assumed that they had achieved their goal with satisfactory efficiency.

Holding Moonblood a little into the air, the blood, which on any other blade would run crimson, dribbled down the sword a beautiful dark shade of purple. Touching his fingertips to the liberated fluid, he rubs it between his fingers in appreciation of the majestic color as he kneels down beside the corpse and begins to clean his blade upon it's tunic.

Looking up from his kneeling position, he sees the figure of the beautiful girl they had saved staring at him. Fear and repulsion in her eyes she bolts from the area like a rabbit from a violent predator. Standing, he sighs, mumbles with sattire, 'No problems, anytime you need your life saved", as he slides Moonblood into it's seath, the sound almost mournful at it's returned to it's confinement.

Looking around as a strong winds begins to blow, causing his sweat laden hair to whip against his face, he casts a glance over the wimpering near dead figure of Kahn. With no sight of Bract or Aladar he irritably and ironically says into the growing wind foretelling the coming storm, 'So... what now?'.

[Opie]

"Alright, i suppose if i want any answers around here, i'm going to have to share my story. My name is Opie, and The reason I am here is not to cause trouble, not to give Blaster food or to excorsise demons. I'm here because I followed Mantis here. He was of the same guild of paladins as me, but I know as much about him as you people do. I was in love iwth his sister, thats about as deep as it gets when it comes to me. I've been following Mantis because i thought he caused the destrutcion of my guild, but i realise now that he didn't. So I decided to help out around here, what little help a Paladin of my experience can."

Blaster clears his throat, and speaks,"And I have a few things to confess, First of all, I appoligize for my... binge, earlier. In my defense, it was Opie's fault. Secondly, I have to admit that i used to support Elwin. That was until Opie here, knocked me off my path, litterally."

[Silverwizard]

Silverwizard looks at Charon, "I never said I was going to use you, WE were, we all are going to use each other. This group is all personal gain, I want to get rid of a demon. Steven - he does not want us. Mantis - wants to strike back for his order without looking like he is giving in to personal revenge. Bremen - to improve on the powers of the gods. Narin - to weaken our group's power. The rest I do not know, those are who worry me," as he says this, he shoots Charon a meaningful look.

"Trekkie is a part of me yes, but almost as much as Narin is part of me. Trekkie is an avatar of Eldren, as am I, all the avatars on this world are condensed into me, I may very well be a manifestation of Eldren. Trekkie has his own personality and own thoughts, he is thinking right now, within my mind." As he says this, his face becomes that of Trekkie's and then as Silver's again, but it seems to cause him great pain.

He stands up and goes off to his room, as he does this, he starts to change equipment, hieght and build.

[Charon]

The rest I do not know, those are who worry me," as he says this, he shoots Charon a meaningful look.

"Very subtle" Charon couldn't help but smile wryly at his comment. She received that meaning all too clearly... she worried him. She had not given her motives... he had not been able to list them in his rationalisation

<Perhaps some... want more than personal gain> she thought to herself <Perhaps some... seek no obvious gain at all>

Silently she watched him go... changing now even as he walked

"Never even finished the tea" she murmered softly, looking down at the counter. Slowly she slid the cup nearer herself and began sipping the tea as she waited to hear what the others would say. Lovely though her room had been... at this moment she truly had no desire to return to it.

She did wonder if perhaps she should enquire as to Bremen... she had given him his key and logic dictated he would have been in the second room, but then she realised her fault

"Thankyou... for telling us your stories" she nodded distantly to Opie and Blaster, realising that she had never addressed them after their speach. She knew their intent had been to exchange information, but she offered no counterstory of her own. Instead she looked at Blaster "All of us make mistakes. I personally care not who you used to follow or support. All that matters is that now, you follow your own path" she said softly, sipping the tea again before glancing at the stairs with that same wry smile silverwizard's speech had gained "... be that one of personal gain or not"

[Opie]

"Of course we do Blaster, Me more often than most." He smiles "I just thought that no one would tell me anything if they new nothing of me."

[Bract]

Riding out of town a few hundred yards, Bract reigns Dusk in to a stop and they stand there in the darkness, listening. Closing his eyes Bract listens intently for the sound of another horse’s hooves striking the ground; if he’s on horseback, I should still be able to hear him.

A few silent moments pass, Nothing. I probably won’t find him cowering in the darkness – best ‘head him off at the pass’. He thinks as he, again, spurs Dusk into a full run. They travel the road at full speed through most of the night, until reaching the outskirts of Karfendale, where the soldier has to emerge from the cover of the woods to enter the city. Here they take cover and wait, watching for their quarry.