RPG Welcome To The Desolation

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Attempt number 4 at getting a decent rpg going... Here goes nothing.

IC:[I]Lacroix jumped cautiously down from the tree he perched in. The sound that had flagged his attention persisted. He stalked silently through the Mire, alert to attack from the very landscape. Lacroix reaches one of the many pits, scored into the earth like wounds. The Mire was a forsaken place, unforgiven and unforgiving. But it had been uninhabited for aeons.

The dark pool in front of him bubbled slightly. This was not unusual however. Sometimes Lacroix wondered if the entire swamp was set on a sulphuric vent. Lacroix broke of part of one of the twisted trees, slicing it lengthwise before gripping it fully. In this place, trees could bite back.

Lacroix carefullly stirred the water. Immediately, a roiling, heaving mass appeared, and a thin form shot out of the water with a shrill scream. Lacroix brought his other hand up sharply. The reaper knife he carried speared into whatever had leapt at him. It was revealed to be a karth eel. Lacroix shook the beast off his knife.

An abberation of the more common animal, karth eels were fanged, and quite often clawed. They acted with uncanny intelligence, often attacking in concert. They killed for mere rapacity. The thrill of blood, the tangle of fang, claw and body the very sinew of life. The legged eel flopped around, the last vestiges of life fading. Lacroix bent down and sliced the spined head open. This was a new mutation. Scaled body, about two inches thick, stretching two metres. Spines ribbing the back, fangs nearly half its mouth size, and six feet, each with four claws. Lacroix carefully removed the venom sac. He balance it on the side of his knife, and then carefully dropped it. A clear liquid propelled itself outward from the burst sac, causing a hiss to emanate from whatever it contacted.

Lacroix jumped backwards. Cierl-ankeshed toxin appeared only in spawnings. The deadliest venom known, the vicious compound could be absorbed even through the slightest skin contact. It caused a wasting of the nerves, a firestorm of agony consuming the victim. Quite often, in the week or more it took to kill the victim, cierl-ankeshed toxin would drive the recipient made. Lacroix shuddered a sigh of relief. He was very lucky to be alive. He set off, vowing to map out the latest abberant creatures that had infested the only place he could call home, and boded ill for the world at large. Lacroix's inner quandry was more pressing. Should he give warning to those outside? Should he let his home be destroyed? Lacroix knew that the Dhruigals, in particular, would not let the world be destroyed again. Lacroix, while more than ready and willing to face the monsters in the swamp around him, agonised over running into any other sentient beings. Especially if they were those he may once have known. Unless... His love was still alive. Somewhere. Should he find her again... Or she find him...[/font][/color][/I]

[LoneWolf/TML]

[i] Today, of all days, seemed somehow strange. I did not understand how this could be, for everyday was the same, uneventful. No Humans dared to come near my "home". Most feared me, others were sickened by the very sight of me. Few were the Humans that wanted to "befriend" me. Back to the subject, I could "sense" that someone was heading my way, but not from the Human Territory. This being was coming from the Lake Of Matakra, heading to The Mire. I did not know why anyone would go there, but I knew this person, whomever it was, would past by my resident. I would wait for this being to come, and then deside what to do...[/i]

[Talon]

[i]Blaze awoke, his eyes glazed. He looked around, wondering what part of the world he would walk to next. He trudged through the Mire, sickened at the horrid smell. He knew this area of the land to be the Mire, where nobody lived. He walked, walked, and walked, his hand on his sword. He killed a few lost lizardmen with bad attitudes, and he managed to destroy an ogre. He got into a mess with a TRIBE of ogres, however. He fought valiantly, but the poison in their axes was getting to him at last. He slowed down with only two ogres left. He almost died, but a dark-elf saved him from certain doom. Later, in the elf's "home", they introduced themselves. Lacroix, the other dark-elf, was in search of something... or someone. Blaze was in search of his past. They both began to leave the Mire, as friends and the only kin either of them had, even if it was only by race. They had a long journey, and it was merly the first of a thousand miles. Blaze only had a memory of a beautiful girl with azure hair and brown eyes. Lacroix had a picture that he thought was hidden, but Blaze knew it to be kept in the hidden pocket in Lacroix's armor. Both of them were thankful they had someone to talk to besides tree stumps and ogres.[/i]

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]They reached the edge of the Mire. Lacroix turned and looked into the twisted ruin of his home. Sighing, he resolutely turned his back on it, perhaps forever.

They set out first for the lake of Matakra. The closest area likely to be settled, Lacroix intended to find out just exactly how much the outside world knew about the abberations in the Mire.

They walk in silence a long while. Blaze consumed in his own thoughts, Lacroix enjoying the silence, and alert for signs of any other life. The day darkens quickly, and they are forced to set up camp.

Although they conceal the fire well, someone still manages to pick it up. Blaze and Lacroix stiffen and rise nearly at the same instant, and turn to face in the general direction of Lake Matakra. A figure slowly appears. The figure stops just outside the firelight.[/I]

Figure: Lacroix? Is that really you?

[I]Lacroix starts, surprised that someone here should know him. Memories come flooding back, people he had once known.[/I]

Lacroix: Eve?

Eve: It is you!

[I]Eve walks into the firelight, and Lacroix makes some hasty introductions.[/I]

Eve: Pleased to meet you. So, where are you two off to?

Lacroix: We need to find out how much the outside world knows about the Mire. You are aware that it is stirring aren't you?

Eve: That's why I was going there. And I was looking for you.

Lacroix: How did you know?

Eve: A few years back, I ran into a half dead human. He was rambling about some crazy dark elf running around in the Mire. Now that could only be you.

Lacroix: Well, as you can see we've just come from there. There's nothing we can do without more aid.

Eve: Where first?

Lacroix: Milanhost. Capital of the human realms. I've had a bit of contact with some of their scientists here and there. They should believe me. I hope.

[I]They settle down for the night, Lacroix remaining on watch.[/font][/color][/I]

[Talon]

[i]Blaze introduced himself to Eve, whom he thought looked familiar. As he took her hand, he got a glimpse of another memory....[/i]

[b]Blaze:[/b]Get outta here! I'll handle this! Rain, get her outta here!

[b]Figure:[/b]Okay, but be careful!

[b]Eve:[/b]Help!

[b]Demon:[/b]Live out your days in the Mire, you fool!

[i]Blaze took the blast for Eve and the figure with blue hair, and he found himself in the Mire, with no memories...[/i]

[i]The flashback ended, and Lacroix stood over Blaze with concern in his eyes. Blaze had been writhing and twisting and screaming for an hour. He awoke, sweating. Eve cradled her knees, recognizing the dark-elf that had saved her life.[/i]

[LoneWolf/TML]

[i]It was past night, I already knew the one who should have pasted did not. I knew that he or she had taken a different route. I knew he or she was an Elf....[/i]

[b]Ryuu:[/b]Well, well... Some things going on here... I'll bet it has some thing to do with The Mire...

[i]Since I had no reason to stay were I was, I desided to find this Elf and see just what was going on.

I packed my things and then I jumped on to the only horse I had, and headed to where this Elf went...[/i]

[Phantom]

[color=sienna][b]Gaib:[/b] ?Damnit Ilythiirtar, be carefull with those flasks!?

[b]Ilythiirtar:[/b] ?Aye, but Ganshed said to hurry!?

[i]Confused and a little bit annoyed, the human scientist waved his young elven apprentice off, hoping in his ineptness he would not ruin yet another of his grand labs. Just shaking his head at Gaib, Ilythiirtar moved out of lab and into the hallway of petalblossums, where he set the flasks of solute on the stands for his mentor. ? Mostly master, for since Ganshed, his true teacher and dear old friend of Lacroix, could not maintain the sufficient training for the young elf, so he sent him away for a couple years. ? [/i]

[b]Ilythiirtar:[/b] ?I have to leave Gaib, Ganshed told me to meet him at the brook outside the city.?

[b]Gaib:[/b] ?Whatever, as long as my flasks are safe?..? (under his breath) ?..ungrateful wretch, you??

[b]Ilythiirtar:[/b] (to himself) ?Yeah, they are safe, you incompetent swine..?

[i]The glimmering brook outside the laboratory-home of bristled clearly. This one of the few pure streams of water left near the capital of Milanhost, for these damned humans were so destructive?It hurt Ilythiirtar to see such but as business is business, life with be life, and what happens he thinks, is what is meant to be. It troubles him so that he cannot be in his homeland, he would have loved it there. Reminiscing with his subtle dreams, the elf makes his way along the embankment of the brook, a scroll under his left arm, he whistles?

Dropping almost instantly, he draws his dagger of flames, TheGekitsuu, his excess baggage dropped beside him as he nearly becomes invisible to the creatures that seem to be hailing from the far side of the brook.

Seven, maybe eight red, over-sized ferret appearing beasts about ten feet long trot viciously along the stream, fighting and playing with each other. Ilythiirtar freezes in terror, knowing he could kill them all if forced to but not wishing to kill himself, he waits, letting them pass by, knowing that Ganshed would be the first to hear of this new race of felicides?[/i][/color]

[Talon]

[i]Blaze awoke and decided to take a walk by the stream. He walked on and on, the community of Milahost somewhere ahead. He saw a fight between some odd creatures and a young elf. Blaze drew out his longsword, Lanasen, and prepared for a fight.[/i]

[b]Blaze:[/b]Ho, there! I see you need a little help! Shall I be of assistance?

[b]Ilythiirtar:[/b]It would be helpful, yes!

[i]Hunter strode into the strem and focused his mind. He pulled out his silver dagger and threw into the biggest "creature". Oddly, the beast withered and collapsed on contact with the blade...[/i]

[LoneWolf/TML]

[i] I was starting to get a little annoyed. First, my horse's heart gave out, then I was attacked by several Orcs. Finally, I made it to the "camp" where my "quarry" should have been. I was too late to catch up. The "campsite" had signs of three being there, so I knew I was searching for more than one person. But I had run into a bit of a problem, I knew not where they went. I guessed they where all Elves, since they left no signs of where they went. I desided to head to Milanhost, I needed to get some information....[/i]

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]Lacroix and Eve, awaking to find Blaze gone, had lingered a bit before heading onward.[/I]

Eve: You didn't hear him leave during the night?

Lacroix: I heard, but I assumed he'd be back. I have a habit of strange nocturnal wanderings, so I didn't think it out of the ordinary.

Eve: Well then, shall we go find him?

Lacroix: Hell, nothing better to do. And he may prove useful.

Eve: You still measure people by how useful they may be?

Lacroix: No, that was for old times' sake.

[I]Eve looks at him oddly, but says nothing, used to his understated sense of humour. They quickly get ready and leave, Lacroix confident they are only an hour at the most behind Blaze.[/font][/color][/I]

[Talon]

[i]Smiling at his success at finding a weakness in the bastard beasts, Blaze drew his longsword, bringing out a memory as well. He pushed it back, slicing through the first two creatures. He watched Ilythiirtar struggle not to fight, and Blaze pulled back, remembering a dark-elf technique. He slid into the river, disappearing from sight. The waves began to churn, then spiral, and finally, the tumultous waves swallowed the remaining rats. He'd used the magic in his sword to control the water in the river. Dark-elves were one of only a few elves that could focus a sword's energy.[/i]

[Phantom]

[color=sienna][i]Walking briskly in a stark march, Ilythiirtar heads for Ganshed?s house leaving blaze in his wake.[/i]

[b]Ilythiirtar:[/b] ?Elf?longsword? Never seen this before, I do believe it is quite a challenge to hold that eh? hehe.?

[b]Blaze:[/b] ?I know, I have learned over time to become rather adept to this style of fighting?.?

OOC: I just noticed this, how the hell is john allowed a sword if he is a elf? If I knew this..i would have used my shin bar, not this dammned dagger?

IC:[i]Nodding passively, Ilythiirtar leads Blaze to the cabin. Ganshed waiting, his human brow raises with surprise.[/i]

[b]Ganshed:[/b] ?A new friend Ilythiirtar? I thought you were the only elf within miles??

[b]Blaze:[/b] ?Ah Ganshed!!!!!!!! The Ganshed Lacroix has been ranting about??

[b]Ganshed:[/b] ?The one and only, now where is my old friend??
[/color]

[LoneWolf/TML]

[i]I had caught up with two Elves heading in the same direction I was, but I had stayed back a bit so not to be seen. I had guessed they knew they were being followed, for they kept halting and looking back, as if to see me. They did not. After a while, the path headed down a hill. They had stopped just ahead, so I hid behind a somewhat large rock. I was leaning on it when the dirt gave way. I fell and rolled down the hill with the rock. When I opened my eyes, I had a blade at my throat...[/i]

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Does he? Well then, we certainly can't have that then. Sorry EFK. Make it a long knife, a kris or something. Hell, a dirk would do. I can give you a wakizashi at best.

IC:[I]Lacroix looked down on the stalker, wondering exactly why he had been following them. He stood up slowly, withdrawing his knife from the man's throat. Eve stepped up behind him, and looked down hard at the man.[/I]

Lacroix: You have been following us for quite some time. Perhaps you should explain why.

[I]The man looked at Lacroix a long moment, noting the set of the knives. It was quite obviously not a suggestion.[/font][/color][/I]

[Talon]

OOC:Alright, fine. It's a goddamn longknife. A friggin' silver dagger.

[Phantom]

[color=sienna][b]Ganshed:[/b] (welcoming his old friend, and apprentice, and the three odd, new people he has never met) "Hello hello Lacroix, there is much to discuss!"

[i]His beard, never ceasing to fail him even in his old age. Ilythiirtar stirrs, eyes stuck on Eve, another elf, she radiates a quiet, subtle glow that captivates the young elf. Wearily glancing from guest to guest, only worried about one... The lonesome traveler...[/i]

[b]Lacroix:[/b] (pointing to to Eve, Blaze, And the new one..) "This is Eve, an old friend, and strong warrior, blaze... and ...well I never asked this fellow's name..."

[i]All eyes turned to the wanderer. All eyes less enthusiastic than could be expected, especially for the situation...[/i][/color]

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Bit of a jump there Phantom...[/font][/color]

[Jesus Chicken]

OOC: I guess since I'm back I should post in the RPG I signed up for? Oh well.

[I]Rasitlin was walking away from his house in the forest. His wife, Genwelvieve, was angry, very angry with him. Raistlin did not want to spend eternity with someone who would be angry with him just for going away for a few days to practice magik. He had had enough of just elves. Following this train of thought he had become of the opinion that self imposed exile from eleven territory was the best thing to do. He decided to venture forth into a place he had only dreamed of visiting. The human lands were his destination. Raistlin decided travelling by flight would be faster and easier than travelling by foot. With that, he lept into the air with his huge wings flapping carrying his staff and his book of spells, the only things he would ever truly need.

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Velcome to ze Desolation Jesus. Is that meant to be Genevieve? Anyway, on track. Time to give this a little direction.

IC:[I]Lacroix measured his old friend, unsure as to what the reaction would be. Lacroix had never known what people had though of his running off, what, somewhat close to 40 years ago, perhaps a little longer. He hadn't cared for a while either. But now other concerns superceded his own doubts and self-loathing. Damn existentialism... Lacroix stepped forward, cutting the newcomer off.[/I]

Lacroix: Don't worry about it for now. Names can be found out later, and past is something to be shared by choice. We have more important things to talk about. Everybody here is aware that the Mire is stirring? Sending out its aberrated, twisted beings to again torment the world?

[I]Everybody nodded, even to the last bit. They all knew the history.[/I]

Lacroix: Alright then. This has happened over the last month, in case I haven't told you yet. The Mire is starting small, but the creatures it spawns will grow bigger, and nastier. The main problem is this. We don't know why. The second biggest problem is that we don't know how to stop it, and the third problem is that the assorted governments, are as yet unaware of the fact, or refuse to believe it. The humans and orcs don't believe, the elves don't know, and the Dhruigals, well... who knows what they think. I have a feeling they know though. And that they will be far more sympathetic to our cause. So the first order of business is to get ourselves to Bektis Ko. The Druigal elders will be able to tell us things even I don't know about the Mire, and will listen to us. They may be able to prevail upon the other governments to listen. Now, where were we?

Ganshed: That's the most I've ever heard you speak at once.

Lacroix: I know. I'l have to cut down. Anyway, back to you.

[I]They look back to the newcomer, finally allowing him to introduce himself.[/font][/color][/I]

[Phantom]

OCC: I know that his spot is taken by somone else, so I will immerse you all in some of Ilythiirtar?s thoughts :-D

IC:[color=sienna][i]Still partially dazed from the onslaught of only an hour ago, Ilythiirtar sits, bemused at the creatures appearance. Why would such morbid creatures stir so close to the human capital? Why had he not known that Ganshed KNEW this Lacroix fellow before? Ganshed was always so open with him. Lacroix, it mystified the young urchin that a fellow banished elf, known to him only by legend, lore and myth, could be standing before him now. Always one to live for the moment, the thought of being like this numinous elf purely stunned him.

Shifting thoughts again to the speech he had just witnessed, he almost asks inadvertently if he can join this quest. Ganshed wouldn?t approve so Lacroix must be inquired upon in private. The Mire, such a place, where lack there of life, the only curse placed on the grounds of The Mire, he feels is that evolution is taking a twist of its own. Was there someone? Behind this mess, how to stop it, and the list goes on and on, it inherits Ilythiirtar?s very consciousness, consuming the elf in a pool of unfathomable thoughts, worries, weighty anxiousness. It all envelopes him, driving his infantile elfish mind into a millpond of rippling vex.

Coming out of his trance-like state, he smiles at the newcomer after trading glances with Eve, than Blaze, focusing his concentration on the gambit of this new friend? He does not know, simply allowing his peers to interpret this man?s import.[/i][/color]

[Talon]

[i]Ganshed stared at Blaze, sensing a traumatic disturbance within the young elf's mind. Blaze found himself kneeling on the ground, with Ganshed muttering a spell over his head. Suddenly, Blaze's past was unlocked to him. The elf had been a true warrior, fighting to stem the flow of hatred from the Mire. Some dak, twisted force had sentenced him to live in the bog that he had tried to stop, and he lost all he had loved for it...[/i]

[b]Eve:[/b]Stop it, you're killing him!

[b]Ganshed:[/b]I am showing him where his loyalties lie! His past is now a past, and now he has a future!

[Phantom]

OOC: Sorry, i belive her name is EVE in this rp John :-D

[Jesus Chicken]

OOC: No Harlequin, the name is Genwelvieve because it sounds funny! I hope this RPG works out for ye this time my freind.

IC:

[I]Raistlin had been travelling for some days now. He had already made a name for himself, not necessarily(Spelling?) a good name, but a name all the same. The Winged Theif was his new name. Raistlin had been travelling to the shore of the Eleven Isle stealing food and drink and a bit of money for his travels in the Human Isle. He thought it best not to be known as a theif before he actually met anyone. That sort of thing just seemed to attract that sort of people, not that he didn't like people like that, he just preferred law biding citizens. Raistin had slept last night in the beach, staring out across the ocean. He would be travelling all day in flight across the ocean, but he would be there before sun set.[/I]

[Shinkoru]

[COLOR=blue][I] Eve looked around the room as they stared at the wanderer who stutterd in his mind. Totally out of charictar Eve walked ot his side,lookign ot everyone...[/I]

[B]Eve:[/B] Um.. you know Lacroix. your right, names don't matter. He'll tell us when he wants. Right?

[I] He nodded, thanking her telepathcally. She tol him no problem in his head s they all sat down,dicussing the mire over drinks...[/I][/COLOR]

[Talon]

[i]Blaze sat in a corner, making up his mind to eliminate every beast of darkness in the Mire. He would kill whoever sent him from his wife, or he'd die trying. Eve was the only one to notice the tears in his eyes, but she kept her eyes on Ilythiirtar.[/i]