RPG The White Lasin [PG-13]

[Dmitri_Dragoon]

After I post this I will be sending a PM to everyone in the RPG.

[SIZE=1][COLOR=green]Gavin walked through his forest. It wasn't really his forest, it belonged to everyone, but he liked to believe it was all his. He protected it after all.

He stood next to a bubbling brooke, and looked deeper into the forest. He knew what was beyond the trees he now looked at, he had memorized it many years ago, it had changed very little. Except the majority of the trees had gotten bigger.

He looked down at the brooke that he stood beside and sighed a happy sigh. Life was good for him; he hadn't had an intruder into his forest for two decades, and he doubted he ever would.

He looked back up, and started back on his way. As always, everything was peaceful, and showed no signs of changing.

Soon enough, it was dark, and he found it time to sleep. Then, started the dream.

"Greetings Gavin," Said a soft melodic voice. Gavin looked around, and saw a beautiful elf maiden standing before him. "I am Elanor, Goddess of Nature, and a fellow follower of Gaia."

"What are you doing here?" Gavin asked dumbstruck.

"I have come to tell you that you have been chosen," she answered, still smiling.

"Chosen for what?"

"For something that I was chosen for, long, long, ago. You have been chosen to become part of the White Lasin. To do battle against a new enemy that is soon to plague the lands if it is not stopped.

Gavin didn't know what to say, he just stood there looking idiotic. Elanor's smile, never left her lips. "What am I to do?" Gavin asked.

"Meet up with the other people in the White Lasin. You will know who they are, for they shall meet up with you as well, outside of the Gaia Lands, near Sun's holy city Talisov. There will be followers of Sun, and of Moon in the White Lasin." Elanor answered.

"What are we going to fight against?"

"You shall find that out, when you have all met up."

Gavin then awoke. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, but it the dream still lingered. Was it real? Or was it just simply a dream? He would not know, but he did know that he would start towards Talisov first thing in the morning.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Raiha]

[color=royalblue][i]Senrai Megelani adjusted the hood of her travelling cloak and smiled to herself. The sabre in its sheath clinked musically against the talismans hanging from her belt. She turned back to look at the path stretching behind her, then forwards toward the forest looming large. Without missing a beat, she kept on walking, her stride long and smooth.

The nightengale sang her plantive song in the trees above the path. Senrai looked up and replied with an undulating call from her own throat, the tones and notes shifting along the scale musically. She turned and continued on her way, the darkness inside her lying dormant, at rest, like a pool unstirred by the wind.[/i]

"Tonight.... ...........is a good night."

[i]She smiled softly and looked up at the stars, twinkling brightly. One of them flashed, and she looked down at the earth again. The darkness in her swirled, then turned into a violent maelstrom.

"MY CHILD."

She looked up again, eyes wide with terror, pupils clouding over into black. It was that voice again. The voice she had almost forgotten. She hadn't heard it in ages. At least 100. Senrai Megelani shivered and sank to her knees.

"Yes...... I am here."

"Rise and do as I command. ....you are my slave, you shall do as I say."

She bowed her head.

"What would you have me do master?"

"Meet my son, go from there. Find the followers of the White Lasin and remove them. This is my wish and my will."

".....hai."[/i][/color]

[Squall]

Ronan sighed deeply, sitting on the branch of a black leafless tree, carving new arrows with stoneheads and broken sticks he found. They were nothing compared to his imperial oak and steel tipped arrows that made up most of his arsenal, but they were made in Talisov, far from he, who had been sent to investigate the moon area. "Ronan!" Yelled up a booming hoarse voice. "Letter from reality! Wants you to come back to it!" Ronan snapped out of his daze, slightly angry at the soldier that had interrupted his vision of home.

"Tell 'em to take a message!" Ronan replied in his slightly english accented voice. "I'm busy!"

"Get your bum down here! Commander wants you to meet with officials at town hall!"

"Are you sure there even is a town hall!?" There was a silence. "No!" Ronan swore, and swung down beside the fellow soldier. "I would've gone, but the commander said the ranger needed practice." Ronan walked past him. "And how long did it take you to 'convince' the old gub that you weren't in need of some yourself?" The soldier laughed hoarsely again, as Ronan truged out of the encampment.

"I must have not read the fine print in the job description." He mumbled to himself, walking through the Moon town. "I should have guessed it though. Getting yourself lost in hostile areas looking for things that you have no idea about." He turned the corner and tapped somebody on the back. "Excuse me." He said in the politess voice he could muster. "Can you direct me to the town hall?" [i]If there is one.[/i]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1][b] OOC:[/b] I know its small but they?ll get bigger as the storyline picks up?
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The grass was dry, it?s morning dew long since lost to the harsh glow of the sun, Draak sat watching the stranger from the top of a low hill, the pallid white coloring of his flesh was died red as the sun continued closing on yet another long day, the man seemed to be asking for directions as he motioned towards the town. Draak had grown accustom to a light step and was weary of what few he revealed himself to, the attitudes of men he had expected to receive help from had been less than inviting in the past and the lonely reptile knew better than to arouse the steel weapons of man.

Draak turned from the scene below him and moved back to his own camp, little more than a small, well covered fire nestled between the trees of the nearby woods, there he sat the small stone he had been entrusted with in his palm, tossing it slowly from one face to another. The flat piece of rock was dark and smooth, standing less than half an inch high as it lay in the massive beast?s hand, he found it quiet bemusing that such a small trinket could be so important to someone, that someone actually offered his services to the fearsome lizard man.

With a sigh that came as little more than a soft hiss to the ears of men Draak pulled himself from the soft dirt and collected his spears, while he had sat musing over the paths laid before him and the future each of them bring with it the sun had finished it?s fall into the starry sky overhead, the night was still young and many a creature was beginning to stir in the nearby trees, Draak Mor had to secure food for the next leg of his long journey. The large bulk of the beast slid seemingly unnoticed into the shadows, leaving the small fire he called his camp safely centered among a low ring of stone?[/size][/COLOR]

[Doukeshi]

Jerith crept lightly through the darkened forest, his footfalls shifting silently through the falen leaves and loam that littered the forest floor. Passing from tree to tree he silently made his way around the perimiter of the town that was situated at the forest's center. It was an interesting place, Troglinar, full of many interesting folk with many a heavey purse, chest or bag they needed relieving of. Of course he was just being a helpful citizen, aiding people with their baggage, wouldn't want any back injury or anything now would we?

Smirking to himself to grasped an overhanging branch with a gloved hand and swung himself gracefulling into the tree's awaiting arms. Scrambling swiftly up the tree he leant forward in order to scan his position more carefully. Rule number one, know your target. His grey eyes flitted from person to person as they made their daily business, unaware or uncaring of the young man who swung carelessly from branch to branch. Careening around the sturdy trunk of an anciet oak he landed effortlessly upon the soft earth crouching in it's shadows as he murmered notes to himself.

"Too big...
...too poor...
...too dangerous...
...too many..."

Growling softly under his breath he sat back on his haunches. Where was all the wealthy business today? Resting his back against the large tree he watched the mass of people out of the corner of his eye. Suddenly a golden flash caught his notice. Turning his head he quickly caught sight of a tall man striding towards the town hall. jerith determined with ease that he wasn't from around here, his posture suggest one of noble heratige, a warrior by his weapons. Squinting to get a better look he noticed the ornament that had grabbed his attention, the golden buckle upon his belt, 'IA' Imperial Army. So this fella was from the Sun City, what business had he here? Shrugging slightly he dismissed it, best stick to the job at hand.

"There's mah boy."

Chuckling under his breath he shot forward, coming to a halt behind a building near the town hall. Adjusting his attire he smoothed his hair back, time for the direct approach. Starting forward he strolled towards the man with an air of innocence, just another forrest dweller going about his business. Rushing forward he rammed into the man 'accidentally' stumbling slightly as he caught his balance.

"Oof, sorry there mate, ah did'nay see yeh." Dusting himself off he turned away, shoving his hand quickly into his pocket. Now normally he didn't resort to common pick pocketing but sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

[Squall]

Ronan felt a slight tug at his belt as the man bumped into him, but it very slight, probably just his quiver pushing against it. Almost simutaneously, he felt the shove of someone bumping into him. "Oof, sorry there mate, ah did'nay see yeh."

"no problem." He paused. "Hey! Wait you!" Jerith froze. "Do you know any good places for coffee?"

"Nay around 'ere. Coffee's green as swamps." He continued walking at a slightly quicker pace. Ronan sighed and walked towards the town hall. He got there and found the man in charge. "I'm here from the Imperial Army, my commander should be here." The man looked him over, inspecting him. "Where's your badge?"

"Where's my badge? Are you blind?" He looked down at his buckleless belt. "Where is my badge?!" The man smiled a sinister grin. "Sorry, but no civillian personell allowed. That includes shapeshifters."

"Civillian? Shapeshifter?" He knew how bad it looked. But, the commander would verify that he was genuine. "I am neither, and I demand to see the commander at once!"

"I advise you not to raise your voice, sir. I may have to summon the guards."

"Prove me guilty then! I am an Imperial soldier!"

"Guards! Throw this man in jail for impersonnating an officer!" Moon Soldiers came marching. Ronan growled. "Could a shapeshifter do this?" He ran out the door and vaulted onto the ledge above the door, out of sight.

[Manic Webb]

[size=1]Salus gazed into the sky, as a cool breeze blanketed him. His staff, which he had been using as a walking stick, had been rattling on its own for some time now. The farther Salus ventured away from Talisov, the more the rattling settled. Eventually, the rattling stopped. That is how he found himself on this very spot. However, he had no idea what this was all about. He asked himself questions he knew he couldn't possibly answer himself, as he just stood there. Waiting.

[i]What is my staff trying to tell me? Why did it lead me here? Am I being summoned by a greater force? Is something coming? What [b]is[/b] coming? What am I-- What am I-- What am I-- What am I waiting for?[/i]

After a few moments in an intoxicating daze of questions, Salus sat himself on the grassy knoll he was standing on, and placed his staff upon his lap. In his experience, the answers to unknown questions revealed themselves in time. He began to meditate, knowing all would come together soon. A soft voice whispered in his ear; the voice of a child.

"You know what's to come," the voice said softly.

"No," Salus replied. "I don't."

"Yes you do. The Dark Lasin is coming."

"Dark Lasin? It sounds familiar."

"That's because you've done this all before. Or rather, I've done this before."

"You are... a part of myself."

"I am the part of yourself that once was." The child-like voice began to take physical form. Salus opened his eyes to see a much younger version of himself standing directly in front of him. "I am of the White Lasin. Many, many years ago-- long before the oldest of today's elves were born-- myself and the others defeated a great evil, and saved this world from ruin."

"The others? Wh-- why are you just a child? Why are you me?" Salus took his staff off of his lap and placed it at his side. He then got on his knees and began to lean forward.

"I have chosen to come to you in a form you'd recognize. As odd a form this may be, I found yourself as a child appropriate. And as for the others? They were the followers of the Sun, the Moon, and Gaia. Together, we select few saved this world, just as you shall do."

"Surely, not alone."

"Of course not," the child giggled. "You are a follower of the Sun. You know this, for the stars are the source of your power. You will meet the others soon enough."

"How will I know them?"

"You'll know them." The child faded away, and Salus awakened from his trance-like state. The cool breeze that had covered him earlier was dieing. Slowly, Salus stood up-- using his staff to aid him. He knew what had to be done. He had to search for the other. Whoever they were.[/size]

[Doukeshi]

Jerith chuckled as he flipped the golden buckle up in the air and caught it again with a flick of his wrist.

"Easiest pickins I e're recieved" Stuffing his hands in his pockets he strolled around the town center, whistling nonchalantly, if not slightly out of tune. hearing sounds of a scuffle he turned sharply just in time to see several guards come rushing to try and subdue the tall man he had plifered from earlier. It appears he was having some trouble gaining enterance, what a shame. Jerith guffawed loudly when he saw the man run and vault away, just seems there was no stopping some people.

Ah well, in a place like this the poor get poorer and the thieves get richer as he always said.

[Kitty]

[color=blue][size=1]OOC: Sorry it took so long for me to post.

-----
IC:

Nienna ran through the forrest, trying to get away from guards. "S**t. If mother finds out what I was doing, I'm dead!!" she said to herself as she began panting hard. After about half a mile of running, the guards seemed to have lost her.

To make sure they wouldn't find her, she climbed up a tree and began jumping from tree to tree. "Heh. They won't find me now," she chuckled as she pulled a small stone out of her pocket. "I wonder what the big deal is about a simple little stone with a regular symbol carved in it?" she asked herself as she examined it.

She heard the footsteps of the two guards coming, and she decided to jump in a different direction. Currently, she was going east, so she turned and went north. The guards continued to run along the path.

As soon as they were out of sight, she hopped to the ground and began running north. She stopped and rested below a tree when she started getting cramps in her stomach. "Stu-stupid guards," she panted.

She again examined the stone, but this time the symbol was different. [i]It.. changed?! What the hell!! Maybe that's why it's important![/i] Nienna thought. She got up and began walking down the path towards the town.

As she neared, she heard talk of a man trying to impersonate a member of the Imperial Army. "Imperial Army," Nienna whispered, "What business would they have here?" Suddenly, a large grin came across her face. A human was a perfect target for a prank. They were too unsuspecting and forgiving.

"Hehe. Easy pickin's," she cooed.[/color][/size]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] Draak walked nervously down the street, feeling the nervous stares of dozens of humans as he did so. The massive lizard man rounded the corner and passed into the town centre, knocking a, what seemed to him, small and scrawny man sprawling. Jerith looked up surprised as the aqua green lizard bent down and apologized, offering a thick, clawed hand as he did so, several people looked on surprised as he did so.

?Salt, I need to buy salt. Do you know where?? Draak asked the small man using what little of the common tongue he new. Jerith stared for a second longer as he regained his composure and replied?[/size][/COLOR]

[Dmitri_Dragoon]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=green]Gavin traveled what seemed to be days, even though it was only hours. Ever since the dream he had he felt compelled to just walk, and nothing more.

With his pace, he expected to be outside of Talisov within two days. It was wishful thinking, but he was determined to get there.

With him still being in his homelands, there was little threat to him, so his guard was not up as much as it should have been. But luck was with him, for nothing attacked. The most he ever saw actually was only a few people passing by. He would give the courteous greeting and go on. He had to be at Talisov.

* * *

After a day Gavin was outside of the Gaia Lands, and well on his way to Talisov. He stopped several miles out from it and decided to rest till morning. He had walked non stop for a full day, and it finally caught up with him. He built a fire, but kept it small enough that it would be hard to notice. He cooked his dinner and looked up at the stars, always wondering about anything.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]The presence in her mind stirred to life, swirling darkly, spreading over her limbs, giving her a feeling of ecstasy. She turned her head up to look into the endless sky and laughed aloud. Her power was growing, the night was long, she was strong, and she was a servant of Dark Lasin. Before her feet, the grass withered, and all around her, life fled.

Senrai Megelani continued walking, sighting her destination in her minds eye. A man, a figure of sorts, she couldn't make out his face, was her destination. He was her primary target, she was to find him and obey her orders. Not to kill any other, although they deserved it for opposing Dark Lasin...but to find him and greet her master once more.

"I hear and obey."

"And you shall be rewarded."

She didn't know if he was telling the truth, but it wasn't like her to question the orders. It was not as if she had anything better to do with her life. Eat sleep, obey, walk, continue walking, look up into the sky, continue living. And that was all.[/i][/COLOR]

[Doukeshi]

"Er, aye..aye..I know where t' buy salt." Stumbling to his feet Jerith regained his composure, eyeing the large reptilian being warily. Skirting around him he took in the lizardman's broad shoulders and intimidating claws. No theiving to be done here, he wasn't stupid no sir. Jerith thought that the best course of action would be to aid the lizard, lest he want to find his head rolling around in the dust. "Just follow me."

Keeping a small distance between him and his follower Jerith glanced nervously over his shoulder as he watched the lizardman lumber after him. Jerith was curious as to what he would need the salt for anyway but dared not ask him. Crossing the street he neared the small store that sold everyday things to the local population. Slowing he indicated the store with a quick motion. "There's yer store."

The lizard nodded his thanks and slowly entered the store. Jerith watched several people leave the store hurridely and looked about for a member of the guard. Normally he didn't asociate with those folk but it had to be done.

[Squall]

Ronan waited atop the door way ledge as the confused guards searched below for him. Then there was a chill crawling up his back. It impaled him, and he looked to his stomach to see a gastly figure's head coming out of it! "Here's the little crook!" Ronan took off, the figure pushing his head out. Ronan ran along the ledge, but to his dismay, it stopped just up ahead. So he kicked, and started running on the wall!

This lasted about nine steps, before gravity started coming into affect, and he pushed off the wall to avoid falling from it. He landed in the branch of a tree, and started climbing to the top. Anything was better than going with those cursed moon guards! Once at the top he readied his bow, and hesitated. If he killed a guard here, it may be known as an act of war.

His heasitation proved fatal, as the guards lassoed the top of the tree and started pulling. The tree was bending! It would only be a matter of time until he was low enough for the guards to grab him, or for the tree to break and send him plummeting. The tree was a sturdy one, and he found himself only ten yards away from the tallest one! He grabbed out his knife and cut the lasso, not realizing what the concequences would be.

The lasso snapped, and the tree flung back to it's straight posture, flinging Ronan off like a slingshot!

[Manic Webb]

[size=1]It was much darker in the forest than the plains of Salus' farm. The large, fertile trees blocked out the light of the sun, making it difficult to navigate through. He wasn't quite sure what compelled him to enter the forest, but he has learned to follow his intuitions when it comes to magic.

There was a rustle in the distance. He could hear it, and he knew that whoever or whatever it was, it knew he was there as well.

"Whatever you are, I am just a simple human farmer wandering the forests." It was partially true. Salus was a farmer, although he was obviously much more. He held his ankh-shaped staff higher, just in case he needed to defend himself. A man emerged from the bushes. He had a suspicious look on his face.[/size]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] Draak walked slowly along the narrow path, tall conifers stood at its sides, like sentinels forced into an eternal watch. The massive lizard?s arms help several large sacks of salt; he could finally prepare the meat he had caught and continue on with the next leg of his journey.

As he came back to the small fire of his camp Draak?s rolled an uneasy feeling through his mind, he had been through the very centre of the town and not had a single run in with the folk there, this was strange, the first time he had not been forced to fight his way back out of a human town. The sacks thudded to the ground, crushing the soft grass beneath. Draak lowered his bulk to the ground next to them and started picking sticks from the massive turtle shell that is his shield; it had been so long since he had had the time to tend to such things.

The small clearing on the edge of the forest was tranquil, the massive lizard sat in beside the fire it had created in the centre, picking something from its crude shield. Taneth raised a hand and motioned to the guards hidden in the thin layer of trees across the way, the beast seemed to be none the wiser to the human?s presence.

Draak slowly pulled himself from the ground and reached into his bag, making for a small black pot lying beside his halberd, the scent of men sat heavily on the air; he hadn?t made it through the town unnoticed after all.

With the snap of a twig it all began, three of the six men hidden around the clearing rushed forward, sword drawn, the others levelled their crossbows and took aim, Draak sighed and pulled his weapon from the ground, the spines on his tail flaring out in preparation for battle.

The crossbows loosed their quarrels; the Taneth led his men into the lizards bulk. As the deadly projectiles crossed the clearing Draak swung his weapon, throwing a man?s head clear from its shoulders as the massive blade at the shaft?s end made contact. The others dodged behind, assuming the way safe as it was with most humanoids, only to met by the fearsome barbs of Draak?s tail, dripping with thick, syrupy venom.

Taneth was next to fall, dropping to the ground as a sickly foam oozed from his seizing mouth, the quarrels reached their target, only to disappear into a soft haze as the powers of the stone Draak?s master had given him revealed themselves. Draak whirled around, catching the last man in the chest with his broad shield, the man landed heavily against the aged trunk of a nearby tree, his back shattered.

Levelling their crossbows the last three men loosed their second volley, unsure as to what happened with the first. Again a black mist sprang into being and the quarrels vanished into the air itself. Draak continued forward, crossing the small space between him and his rivals in a mere three bounds. The men threw themselves from their perch deciding their final resting place as the fearsome creature cleared the log.
Draak returned to his camp, carefully smothering the fire, shaking his head at the naivety of men.

As the sun fell behind the gently rolls of the distant horizon Draak trudged slowly across the plain, his destination was little more than a day?s travel north of here, his master would be waiting for him there, eager to seize the stone which Draak had carried for so long. The lizard paused as a memory crossed through his mind, his master had said that there would be a powerful group trying to prevent him from returning the stone to his master, a special group of devoted followers who were destined for greatness. Draak sighed and wondered why he has seen no sign of such people, why they could possibly want to stop him from freeing his master from the crypt he had been sealed in.

Slowly the lizard continued across the plains, heading north to the foreboding stretch of mountains that bordered the sweeping terrain, eager to serve his master and claim his reward, see them pay for all that they had done?[/size][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[color=royalblue][i]Senrai saw him move through her vision, and she raced after him, hair and cloak flying behind her like wings. Her feet barely touched the earth as she raced over the ground, her body eating away the miles with ease. Draak heard somebody coming, but didn't see them.

It was at this point that she did a full ballet leap over his head and landed on the path in front of him. She straightened, her ponytail brushing the ground lightly before whipping itself around her body once more. She turned slowly to look up into his eyes. They were equally dark, and held the same endless ocean contained in hers. She smiled thinly and held out her hand to him, her voice echoing seductively in his mind.

"......hello Draak. ......Dark Lasin sent me here."

"......."

He didn't respond immediately. Instead down at her hand. It was feminine in appearance, but in appearance only. He sensed a magical aura quite unlike that of humans in her body, swirling, eddying, struggling to break free. Then he took her hand and their auras mingled slowly. Like water mixing with blood.[/i][/color]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] ?Master sent you?? Draak hissed his confusion down at the bizarre creature, her hand dropping whimsically to her side as the pair continued along the soft, grassy plains. ?Have I done wrong, was I too slow??

?No, he sent me to you. We are to destroy the White Lasin before they grow to powerful.? Senrai?s soothing voice reached Draak?s ears, the lizard looked down at her weak form and sighed.

?I must go to master.? He paused and fixed the small figure next to him with a cold but weary gaze. ?I must free him from cage, I carry only thing that will break his bonds.? Draak saw his words bore new information to Senrai, maybe she wasn?t supposed to know what he had said, no she has his scent, it can do no harm. ?You come with Draak to the mountains. You can meet master he reward you, reward both of us.?

Draak turned from Senrai and continued along the field, the mountains were visible on the horizon and with them grew the pair?s anxiety, he was finally in their grasp, the long hardships they had suffered in his service was about to end, they would both get what they desired most?[/size][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]She walked in time with him, her slender body betraying its only weakness; the shortness of her stride. Draak turned and looked at her before they started up the steep mountain grade. She pushed her hair from her eyes and looked up the path. Before she could take another breath, Draak had picked her up and set her over his shoulders.[/i]

"You'll be too slow."

"...... ....alright..."

[i]She didn't protest, any oppertunity to save energy was good enough. To him, she supposed, she was a featherweight. And she was. He carried her as if she wasn't there. Senrai relaxed her body, curling around his arms, body melting against his. He was warm and soft compared to the usual stone she slept on and with.

"You're very strong...."

"I've worked hard to become this strong....Draak likes that. But I don't know what he sees in you."

Senrai reflected quietly, then smiled once more and looked into his eyes. He glanced over, then instantly looked away.

Hypnotism, and a pretty powerful knack for it at that. He hadn't seen any weapons on her, but her aura was more than enough to convince him of her hidden strength. The sidhe smiled and snuggled against the lizard.[/i][/COLOR]

[Doukeshi]

Jerith looked on warily as he watched the guards rush off after the lizardman, trying to slink meekly into the shadows. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he whistled nonchalantly and stepped off in the direction of his home.

"Hey!"

Jerith stopped mid stride and mid whistle. Turning to look slowly over his shoulder his eyes widened as he watched several moon guards running in his direction. He shook his head and closed his eyes briefly.

"Och, fer Pete's sake."

Turning on his heel he raised his hands in an innocent gesture. "Now now fella's let's no be too hasty here eh?" Jerith stopped as the guards stared to speed towards him. "Ah guess no." Putting on a burst of spped Jerith turned and sprinted away from the encoming soldiers, a cloud of dust spitting up from the floor. Twisting throuh crowds of civilians Jerith made his way towards a narrow side alley, knocking over bins and baskets behind him in an attempt to stall his persuers. Looking over his shoulder briefly Jerith let loose a short laugh as he saw the soldiers hampered by his obstacles. His attention turned away from the situation before him jerith failed to notice the three guards barring his exit until he was, literally, right on top of them.

Barreling into the guards Jerith was sent sprawling into the dirt only to be hauled to his feet roughly by two of the soldiers who held him tight between them. Breathig heavily jerith watched the third guard, the captian, approach him.

"We've had word that there's a fellon running loose around here. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" The captian's voice was low, his face inches from Jerith's as he spoke.

"Ah've no idea what ye're talkin' about lad." Jerith let loose a pained grunt as his words were answered with a hard fist to his gut. Followed swiftly by a second Jerith stumbled forward only to be held upright by the two guards behind him. The captain tutted softly and wagged a finger before Jerith's face before grasping his chin roughly and raising Jerith's gaze to his own.

"Now, now you wouldn't be lying would you? Because I don't like liers." Jerith attempted to shake his head but was stopped by a savage fist to his jaw, crying out in pain. Spitting blood to the dusty floor he gazed up at the smirking captain, his breathing hard and rattled.

Indicating to the two men restraining Jerith the captian grinned at the bleeding theif. "Search him." Jerith was grasped roughly by one guard while the second stood before him. He gritted his teeth hard as he was frisked and non too gently, most of his belongings scattered across the dirt. Resisting the urge to struggled Jerith watched as the guard stood, a confused look crossing his face as he examined the itme in his hand. It was the belt buckle that Jerith had stolen from the tall ranger about an hour ago.

"Hey! Tha's mine!" Any other words of protest were stopped by his captor shaking him roughly. The second soldier stood conversing with the captain in hushed tones, both glancing worriedly from the buckle to Jerith. Walking over to him slowly the captian held the golden buckle nervously in his hand.

"Release him." When the guard looked at him with confusion the captain hardened his tone. "I said release him, don't make me repeat myself again." Jerith was let go and caught himself just in time to stop himself from tumbling to the floor. Rubbing his arms Jerith watched the two men warily. The captian held the buckle forward, offering it back to him. " We sincerely appologise sir...we had no idea that you were of the Imperial Army."

[i]Imperial Army?[/i] Jerith took the buckle and examined it, the IA standing out brilliantly upon the metal. Jerith's eyes widened as he remembered.

"Aye..aye tha's right. Imperial Army, that's me."

The captian bowed respectfully, indicating that his subordinates should do the same.

"If you'll just come with us sir. The council is waiting."

Jerith looked confused as he stashed the buckle in his pocket, wiping the thin trail of blood from his chin.

"Umm...Council?"

"Yes, the council is expecting you, as a representative of Talisov." The captain and his guards took off in front of him, expecting Jerith to follow.

"Oh aye....right." Jerith followed meekly, desperatly trying to think of a plan to get him out of this.

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] Several hours before dawn Draak had reached the foot of the range, its ground harsh and rocky compared to the soft grass he had grown accustom to travelling in. He was now halfway up the first of the seven peaks he was required to climb to reach his master, the small creature had fall into sleep sometime ago, Draak could feel its soft body atop his back.

As the sun peaked over the mountains crest Draak decided to stop and take nourishment. He laid the young woman gently on a soft patch of dirt and collected the rabbits he had caught and salted yesterday, he considered offering one his companion but decided against it, she would probably need to start a fire and slow them down even further, besides he was hungry and had only manage to catch two, a meagre meal indeed. Biting into the flesh of the small broken creature Draak withdrew the stone, as he did during most of his resting periods, and began to ponder how it could be so important to his master.

Finishing off the second rabbit Draak stood and gathered his things, wondering whether the small figure that travelled with him would have made a better meal than the rabbits, human flesh had so much more taste to it, and if you knew how they could be made to keep for weeks. With a sigh the lizard scooped Senrai?s tiny figure up into his arms and replaced he on the broad expanse of his back, they still had quiet away to go yet and he wouldn?t be able to carry her over the steep peaks ahead, it was better to let her rest now.

Draak continued up the narrow winding path, although his paces were slow they were more than large enough to overtake a running man, let alone a walking one. As the pair continued slowly up the peaks they were unaware of the powerful eyes that had fallen upon them. Trapped in the foul confines of the ancient cave the Dark Lasin had regained much of his former powers and now sat gazing out over the land before him, the foolish members of the White Lasin hadn?t even met, he would have no trouble conquering these lands?[/size][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Her lashes parted slowly, and, true to her character, Senrai didn't wonder where she was. Instead she simply let her eyes open wide. Draak looked over his shoulder at her. He could tell she was awake, even when her eyes weren't open. The breathing that was so soft and comforting had stopped and been replaced by slighly shallower breaths. Senrai smiled and sat up, shifting her weight slowly to avoid throwing Draak's balance off.

She stretched carefully, then arched her back, hands resting on his. Her body seemed to shimmer before it contorted, joints slidding and slipping back into place. The smooth crackling noises of ligaments moving into position was slightly disturbing, but not so unpleasant.[/i]

"You're flexible."

"And....for the record, I'm not a human, so I wouldn't be quite as tasty as you had hoped."

[i]His eyelids flickered slightly. Apparently she was a very light sleeper. But if she wasn't a human, and she definetly wasn't an elf, then what was she? Senrai broke off his wonderings quickly by opening the front of her shirt and sliding around to give him a view of her body. It was glowly ever so slightly and her seal, a seven pointed star was etched into the space between her breasts.[/i]

"I'm a sidhe. The Hidden Folk."

"....ah. That would explain your scent. It's exotic."

[i]She smiled sweetly and redid the fastenings on the front of her shirt once more.[/i][/COLOR]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] Draak blink slowly and watched the funny little creature straighten its clothes, he had never seen a sidhe before and was curious to how dangerous they actually were, and how tasty. A soft hiss parted the lizard?s lipless mouth in a sigh as he lowered Senrai from his shoulders, they had come to the foot of a tall crumbling cliff, its soft sandstone face was going to be hard to climb and Draak couldn?t afford to way himself down, or worse, drop his companion, no, master would not be happy if that happened.

?We must climb, not far now, master is at top of two more cliffs like this one.? Draak turned from Senrai and secured a decent handhold on the warm stone, it was facing east and already the sun had climbed high enough to warm the cool rock. They were moving far too slow, Draak had hoped to be at the cave by late morning but several miles still lay between him and his master and the terrain was hard to traverse.

Senrai followed behind the massive creature, uneasy climbing the face, she was not accustomed to climbing mountains, and as far s she knew neither was Draak, being a creature from the swamplands of the south. Senrai sighed and leaned to the side to avoid several loose rocks Draak had disturbed as he powered up the uneven surface.

?Hurry, we already taken too much time, master needs us.? Draak twisted his head down to watch Senrai briefly, she seemed to have little trouble following him but this was the first and easiest climb, the other two were much harder and bordered on several hundred feet of open air. Draak turned back to his climb, quickly pulling himself the rest of the way up the slope and leaning back down to wait for Senrai to gain a height where she could be reached?[/size][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]She didn't waste her time panicing or looking down. Instead she fixed her eyes on Draak's still form and dug her nails in.

By some twist of fate, her foot slipped and she slammed both hands into the rock face as hard as she could. Her eyes flashed bright silver and as Draak looked down, he saw her teeth elongate into fangs and her hands morph into claws. The iron tips sunk down into the sandstone and anchored themselves in. She dug her feet in and leapt upwards, straight into the rock wall. She landed in a tiger-like crouch, left leg held out horizontally, right tucked under her body.

Draak stared with interest. She appeared to have gone feral. Her eyes were back to normal, but he could see a tail protruding from her ass, flicking itself erratically. She rose to her feet slowly, the change of balance forcing her to shift energy.[/i]

"...that explains why you're a Dark Lasin."

"...you didn't think I was simply a hypnotic human did you?"

".....only for a little while. I didn't know you were feral."

"Most don't."

[i]She grinned slightly and looked up at the next rock face.[/i][/COLOR]

[skedy]

[COLOR=teal][size=1] Draak hissed another sigh and moved up the next face, quicker than the last, he wasn?t worried about Senrai falling. Quickly the pair scaled the fifty foot cliff and heaved themselves up over the crumbling ledge, Draak moved out onto the narrow trail that had long ago been worn into the soft rock, when the mountains had been part of a trade route between the sprawling cities Desneath and Falhorn. Pausing in mid stride Draak turned to see Senrai pulling herself up over the ledge, he had forgotten that she was slower than him.

The lizard walked back to the cliff and collected Senrai, placing the small thing on his shoulders, slightly uneasy after her feral display. Eager to make up time Draak quickened his pace, walking as fast as he could, but leaving just enough energy to get himself over the next cliff, there if he made good time now he could pause for a rest before continuing to his master.

As fast as a sprinting man the pair crossed the gap between the towering sandstone cliffs and came to the second. This one was situated atop a thin ridge, barely wide enough for Draak to sidle along. This time Senrai went first, uneasy as she caught a glimpse of the several hundred foot drop below the ridge, turning she found a foot hold and pushed herself up onto the face, Draak close behind?[/size][/COLOR]