RPG Dragonial 4

[Dragon Warrior]

"Don't forget some cookies, a sweater, some new clothes, a lamp, something to read. Gotta keep up on your studies."

"Martha. The boy's going to the next town, not into the heart of Zebdor." Mrs. Gersh folded another piece of clothing, but Roe just stuffed it in his pack like it didn't matter.

"still, if anything happened to Roe..."

"If anything happened to Roe? Nothing will happen to him. That boy has had skills since they day we found him." Mr. Gersh argued.

"Still, Arthur, I'm not letting him go unprepared. It's a week-long journey to Akubar."

Mr. Gersh crumpled his newspaper. "Alright, alright. Roe, allow her to pack your stuff." Roe nodded and allowed Mrs. Gersh to take over. "And don't forget the package that goes to Akubar. That's the most important item with you besides yourself, ya know."

"Yes, sir." Roe replied.

"Thatta boy." The old elf stood up and put down his paper. He walked over to where they were packing and ruffled Roe's hair as he passed. "Your a fine young man, Roe. You'll grow to be just fine." He took a glass from the cubbard and started towards the sink when he suddenly started to moan and shake. Roe and Mrs. Gersh didn't pay attention because they thought it was another back cramp. Mr. Gersh tends to get them.

Suddenly, Mr. Gersh dropped his glass and it shattered on the wooden floor. Mrs. Gersh jumped at the sight of Mr. Gersh collapsing, hlding his arm. "He's having a heart attack! Help, Roe!" Roe tried to help, but it was too late. Mr. Gersh was gone.


It stormed the day of the funeral and Roe's journey was postponed for a week. Akubar was informed that their delivery wasn't going to make it in time and they allowed it to slide. Roe visited Mr. Gersh's grave everyday in the Elven village of Roose. Everyday until his journey came again. it turned out to be 2 weeks later. 1 week later than suppose to be.

Once again, Mrs. Gersh packed Roe's stuff and when he was about to leave the house, she gave him a big hug. Tears rolled down her soft cheek. Despite her age, she still kept her youthful beauty. Elves tend to. "You be careful out there, Roe. I don't need to lose another."

"I will, madam. I will." And soon he was off. It was when he was in the cornfields outside of Roose did he turn back and look at what he was leaving behind. He dried a tear with his hand and waved his tail to and fro. And then, he was off.

[Deedlit]

[color=green]ooc: sorry if this is such a short post, but most of my intros are.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Elsyan was gathering some of her belongings from her small house at the edge of the Elven village. It didn't take long; she liked to travel lightly. As she went along packing some provisions and supplies, she was thinking to herself about this "Dragonial," whatever it was. She had never heard of it, and rumours were going around the village that it was missing. After about half an hour, she was finally ready to set off. She didn't want the other Elf villagers to see her off, for they would just ask her questions and delay her, and something in her mind was telling her that time was imperative, so she waited until it was well past midnight before she left her house. As silent as a shadow, she continued along the moonlit path.*[/color]

[9mm Avenger]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Marth sat beside a large bonfire, chewing on a dead warthog he had killed earlier. he hunched over his seat, a large pack, containing alll he every owned, a few meagerly clothes. Marth's elvish face was scrunched up in a mask of hate, remebering the fat, stupid Elven king who cast him out.

As Marth thought, he became angrier, and a strange light began to glow on his back, and the fire jumped 3 feet in height. Marth was shocked by this, and the glow and the flames stopped. Recollecting himself, he put his backpack on, put his sword belt on his hip, the close combat dagger in it's scheath, and continued onwards, living his pointless existance...[/i][/COLOR]

[GinnyLyn]

Kehho Auronata stared out the window of her small cottage at the full moon hanging overhead.
"Weird dreams," she murmured. A small abino skink, a common visitor to her home because of her fresh supply of water, emitted a noisy raspberry and yawned with its tiny toothed mouth wide, and wriggled its tail. Kehho's wriggled in response, but she quickly hid it beneath her long skirt.
"Bip, you aren't listening to me, are you?"
The skink chirped and stared at her with half open eyes, curled around her wrist, then slid itself to her bedside table, where it twisted around the lamppost.
"I guess not."
There was a knock at the door. Bip wasn't the only one who enjoyed Kehho's fresh water; in the town of Terlingua, Kehho was well known for her unexplainable well of pure, cold water. She was the only one who knew why...but she couldn't tell.
"Coming, I'm coming," Kehho called out, and answered the door. Behind it stood a young boy and girl, Baska and Kiara. Both smiled at Kehho with gentle grins common of youthful innocents. Kehho smiled back at them. "Buckets, please."
The two handed the buckets over, and stood at the door as Kehho fetched the water. She had her back to them, blocking the view of the buckets, so they did not see when she put her finger to the water.
Kehho wore a small golden chain just below her scalp line; an aquamarine hung from the center, complete with, by an unexplainable act of nature, a chip of both diamond and sapphire. The precious gem glowed slightly as Kehho touched the water, and the water glowed in response as it was purified and chilled.
Bored of being alone, Bip had snuck out of Kehho's bedroom, to find out where she had gone. His eyes widened at the glowing aquamarine and water, and instantly burst into a four legged dash to cannonball into one of the buckets.
"BIP!" Kehho hollered. The splash soaked her pretty well, and, beneath her long skirt, her tail lashed about in annoyance.
"Hey, Kiara..." Baska whispered to her.
"Yeah?"
"You see what I see?"
Kiara's eyes followed his pointing finger to the tail tip sticking out beneath Kehho's dress. Kiara grew wide eyed, and gasped.
Instantly sensing something wrong, Kehho snapped her head in their direction; a moment later (and too late), she covered her tail. Kiara screamed and ran out the front door. Baska, on the other hand, stood and gaped.
"Well, Baska," Kehho said nervously, "don't you think you should be following Kiara?"
Surprisingly, Baska was not scared, but rather, curious. "You're...you're a Calith, aren't you?"
Kehho brushed the troublemaker Bip away roughly and nodded.
"Wow. And is that why your water is always special?"
"I guess you could say that."
Someone yelled Baska's name from outside.
"You should go," Kehho urged him. The little boy nodded.
"Sorry...I'm the one that pointed your tail out to Kiara. What's going to happen now?"
Several voices were yelling for Baska now.
Kehho grabbed her bow and arrows from a nearby shelf, and thrust her ever ready traveling sack on her back. "Well, you know how humans feel about Caliths."
Baska nodded sadly. "Do you [i]have[/i] to go? Oh please take me with you!"
"Nonsense, Baska, they'd have your backside tanned. Not to mention what they'd do to me. Now, quickly, take the side entrance, before they break this house apart looking for you."
"But you--"
"Baska, I'll be fine. Now go!"
The boy only had to blink before Kehho had disappeared. He looked around for Bip, but the white albino skink was also gone. Behind him, the front door flew open.
"BASKA!" his terrified mother yelled. "Out of this heathen house at once!" She dragged the protesting boy by his arm. Villagers brushed past them to search the house for any sign of Kehho, but only found the buckets that Kiara and Baska had brought.
"All right, everyone out," a burly villager roared. "I don't want anyone to be caught in this when it goes up in flames."
"What?!" Baska cried out. He watched as a large torch was brought to Kehho's front door, and flung into the house. His mother had to restrain him forcefully from running to it, in an attempt to make sure Kehho had made it out safely. "Kehho, I'm sorry..."

In the forest brush a little ways from the village, Kehho and Bip watched the proceedings.
"Well, Bip, this is yet another find mess you've gotten yourself into."
The skink preened his neck, trying to hide his sigh of sadness.
Kehho also sighed, a heavy sigh. "Ah well, I can always find a new place, I suppose." As she stood up, she tried to shake Bip from her shoulder, but he clung fast. "Excuse me, where do you think you are going?"
Bip tightened his perch grasp, and gave a Bronx cheer.
"You think you're coming with me?"
Flicking his tongue snakily, Bip nodded.
"And there's no way to convince you to leave me alone?"
Hissing comically, he shook his white head.
"Even if I threatened to turn you into an ice cube, which is a lot less than what you deserve."
Bip raspberried her, unconcerned. Kehho laughed and shook her finger at him. "You know you do. I mean, for goodness sakes, managing to get my home burned down, really now!"
Bip tapped the tip of his tail against her mouth, as if telling her to be quiet, then jerked his head in a southly direction.
"Oh, now you're giving the orders, huh? Cheeky little critter."
Bip grinned toothily at the grumbling Calith; his grin grew even wider as Kehho turned south, grumbling playfully every step of the way.

[Raiha]

[COLOR=seagreen][i]Lethe tensed her muscles and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. She could sense a body behind her....moving forwards. Swifly assessing the aura of the being, she stepped off the path and concealed herself in the branches of the nearby mallon tree. Marth walked up the path quietly, moving as only an elf can....then he stopped, and looked to both sides of the path. Lethe dropped to the ground silently, body swaying slightly....like a flower in the wind.[/i]

Lethe: Tulme eth Lethe. Nai?

Marth: ....Marth. Why do you speak Quenya? Are you an elf?

Lethe: I'm elfin born. Same as you. Although I must admit that I am not as high born as you.

Marth: Well, I don't give a damn about my blood lines.

Lethe: Given who your father is...I understand. But that does not explain why you didn't reconise me. I've seen you before.

Marth: I never saw you.

Lethe: *shrug* Where are you going?

Marth: Nowhere.

Lethe: The let me acompany you on your aimless wanderings.

Marth: Don't need it.

Lethe: ......havas no haustin.

[i]She bowed her head lightly and turned to go.[/i][/COLOR]

[9mm Avenger]

[COLOR=royalblue][i][b]Marth, you fool! She has money! Follow her, and steal it![/b][/i]

[b]Marth:[/b]Who..Who said that?!

[i][b]It dosen't matter...Just get the money![/b][/i]

[i]Marth, heeding the bodyless voice, followed Lthe at a distance, his keen eyes watching her every movement...He never made a sound, and walked light as air.

Later on, she finally stopped, and fell asleep. marth crept up alongside her, and rummaged through her bag, finding a leather pouch. He looked inside, and there was much gold in it. Putting the bag in his pack, he started to make off, when a distant wolf howled, and Lethe began to wake up...[/i][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Lethe smiled to herself. Then she rose to her feet and wrapped her cloak around her body. She stepped forward silently, making neither noise, nor scent. In an instant, she leapt upwards, and came down, feet planted firmly on Marth's shoulders. He fell to the ground, and in that instant, Lethe had her sabre out, point scraping lightly across his neck.[/i]

Lethe: You know...if you were that desperate you could've just asked.

Marth: *gag*

Lethe: I don't like being robbed. Especially by those who are supposed to be of noble blood. ......

Marth: Going to kill me?

Lethe: I would. Normally. But since I owe your mother a life debt, I won't.

Marth: She's dead.

Lethe: ....navar telimore. Nara lethine, giratara eth.
(She saved me. Now I give the gift of life to you.)

[i]She sheathed her blade and pulled him to his feet; taking the liberty of removing her money from his grasp. Bringing her face uncomfortably close to his, she looked deep into his eyes....her glare penetrating deep into his mind. In an instant, she had placed both her hands on the sides of his face. Murmering in a tounge unknown to him....a sliver of light passed between her mind and his. Then she slowly withdrew and grinned at him.[/i]

Marth: ......

Lethe: When was the last time you let a Shadowcon touch you?

Marth: ...I wasn't aware.

Lethe: Exactly. He had you in his grasp. Another day and you would've abandoned all reason. Probably would've slit my throat. And stole my money.

Marth: ..............sorry.

Lethe: Hungry?

Marth: What?

Lethe: Read my lips...H-u-n-g-r-y-?

Marth: A bit.

Lethe: ....

[i]She smiled and reached into her rucksack...[/i][/COLOR]

[Dragon Warrior]

Bah! I'm behind... -.-

Roe felt jolly as he went along. He had reached the nearby woods of Koorin. They were known for their mystery and misadventures. Just perfect for a curious calith like Roe. Like anyone would on a mission, you paced carefully through. The woods grew rather dark, but Roe hummed to keep the spirit flowing.

An owl hooted in the trees and it's eyes glowed yellow like two overcasted suns. Roe started to feel uneasy and looked around for friendly company. Nothing. Maybe Koorin wasn't as great as expected.

He took his steps cautiously, but not cautiously enough it seems. He slid down a steep grassy hill and through the trees that blocked ways. They scratched him good and blood trickled in the wind, but he continued to fall when he finally landed in a heap of leaves. They flew everywhere leaving Roe into a deep sleep.


When he awoke, he was not in a forest. He was outside in the open. He rubbed his eyes and noticed a patch of poison-smell mushrooms. He picked one and sniffed it. "Poison-smell. I was drugged." He dropped the shroom and got up. Nothing in sight. "Where am I?"

That's when he saw someone in the distance. He started towards them. "Hey! Could you help me?" The figure turned towards Roe. It was a she. It was an elf. He came up to her. "Hey. Do you know where I can find Roose?"

"Roose?" she asked. "That's about 400 miles away on the other side of this continent."

"What?" Roe held out his hand shakily. The elf took it as a welcome and shook it.

"Hi. I'm Elsyan." Roe's jaw dropped and he nodded. Elsyan giggled and nodded back. "Niced to meet you too."

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]Lacroix kicked the last unruly ruffian out the tavern door. He turned, casting a scathing, sweeping glance over the remaining patrons.[/I]

Lacroix: Would anyone else like to try something like that?

[I]The four inert forms groaning outside seemed to dissuade the rest of the people in the cramped room. Lacroix returned to his shadowy corner, his black wings concealing his body and face. And the scroll that occupied his life. He stared at the intricate symbols, their graceful curves flowing into chaos as he tried to focus on them. Undeterred, and prepared, he continued to concentrate. Painfully slowly, rationalism started to return. The symbols stopped their joyful spin, settled into alignment. Lacroix concentrated harder, tried to pull the meaning from their eldritch forms. Unholy fire coursed through his mind, as the markings resisted comprehension. Bound by some arcanus, no mental cantrip would reveal their secrets to him. Lacroix collapsed back, shuddering. The now-familiar depression of failure settled over him again.

The scroll was the only clue he had to who he was, why he was here, and what he as to do. The scroll was no ordinary piece of parchment. Lacroix had learnt early on that it was basically impervious, and failed to stain or corrupt. His reverie was interrupted by a piercing shout from one of the other guests in the tavern. He settled his wings back, the smoky torchlight giving them an ebon sheen that matched his eyes. Lacroix focused on the source of the distrubance. A large, brutish looking man, dressed in a too tight leather jerkin was standing on the bar, yelling about something called a Dragonial. Lacroix's interest sharpened. For a fool like him to know about something as interesting sounding as that, it must be rather unique. Upon further eavesdropping, the news seems rather momentous.

The aforementioned Dragonial had apparently been stolen by the Zebdorians, and they were using it for rapacious purposes. The tavern's backwater inhabitants were alive with speculations as to which doom would befall them. Lacroix stood, stretching his wgins to their full extent, just over 9 feet. This flamboyant display of racial differences provoked a few hard stares from the human patrons. Lacroix's quarterstaff swung a slow, dangerous arc, and the stares were abruptly directed elsewhere. Lacroix sighed to himself, and decided to express to these people how little thier prejudices mattered.

He picked his way gracefully through the crowd, showing an unlikely agility for one hampered by encumbering wings. The deadly, pantherish movements caused many of the less inebriated patrons to take cold stock. Even without a large, bladed staff, this was a dangerous being.

One in particular, a heavily-robed and hooded person in the only other dark corner of the room was particularly interested. So when the winged being took a stool in the centre of the tavern and pulled out a lyranthe, he moved closer.

He was shocked out of movement partway there.

As Lacroix layed fingers to strings, sound erupted like spun silver. Drawn in by the liquid transition of fifths to sevenths, the robed being, along with everyone else in the tavern, could do nothing but gasp at the lilting skill the bard possessed. None had wits to think that only minutes ago, this was the being they were reviling and hating.

Lacroix finished his tuning phrase, to a chorus of approval. He tossed his long, raven hair back over his head, and started a lyrical tune. As grace notes leading into another silken run gave way to lighter, brittler notes, none were unmoved. Lacroix sang of tragedy, encompassing melancholy through pure sound. He had no need or words, syllables and phrases were limitations. As the song slowed, and Lacroix's voice lowered into the last, desperate strains, many were reft of heart. When Lacroix lowered his instrument, and stood up off the dais, a pathway opened for him. As striken, sobered people stepped out of the way and allowed him his leave, the robed figure hastened after him.

Once out into the darkness, away from the lights of the secluded mountain village lit by a soft, full moon, Lacroix bent his head, his hair falling over his eyes. He knelt, sorrowing at how far people could fall. A gloved hand on his shoulder caused him to start.[/I]

???: Why is all I ask.

Lacroix: You're quiet on your feet.

[I]The figure smiled, and the robe fell away. Beneath was a Calith, dressed in leather armour, covered in elaborate tatoos. Celtic knotwork. Lacroix was again shocked. He stood, and pulled away his cloak. The moonlight highlighted his alabaster arms, with the dark scars over his veins.[/I]

???: As I thought. You are one of us.

Lacroix: What do you mean?

???: You carry a scroll, do you not?

Lacroix: I do.

???: Good very good. Come, this is much to speak of.

Lacroix: First and formost, who in Sithaer are you?

???: My name is Alqwerik. Nothing else about my life is really a pressing issue. You will find out more in time. Now come, you have much to learn.

[I]Pressed by the possiblity of knowledge, and the old seed of rampant curiousity rising within him, Lacroix had no choice but to accept. He and Alqwerik travelled down the path, before branching off into the woodland.[/I]

Alqwerik: My abode is just up here.

Lacroix: You dare live this close to humans?

Alqwerik: Another mystery that will be explained.

[I]Alqwerik lead Lacroix unerringly towards a small cliff face. Overgrown with thorny briar, it seemed impassable. Alqwerik simply lifted a large section away. A wooden door, bound in iron, lay beneath. A sheer face, it possessed no visible lock or trigger. Alqwerik muttered something under his breath, and the door swung open. Inside was a spacious room, dimly lit by candles. Alqwerik lead Lacroix in, and replced the briar and door. Lacroix seated himself, and drew breathe to enquire the many things on his mind.[/I][/font][/color]

[9mm Avenger]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Marth chewed on an apple that Lethe had pulled from her rucksack.[/i]

[b]Marth:[/b]Thanks alot..This is so much better than the rancid warthog meat I've been eating for the past couple of years.

[b]Lethe:[/b]*rolls her eyes*Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment.

[i]They eat in silence for a few minutes.[/i]

[b]Marth:[/b]How [i]do[/i] you know me..And my mother, for that matter?

[i]Lethe looks at Marth for a few seconds, then returns to eating. Marth waits patiently for a few minutes, then clears his throat loudly.[/i]

[b]Lethe:[/b]Hmmm...You don't need to know right now...Not important at the moment.

[b]Marth:[/b]*Marth stares at Lethe wordlessly for a few seconds, then shakes his head*I do need to know...By the looks of it, your younger than me. Which means you need to be really good at concealing your age, or something my past is amiss.

[b]Lethe:[/b]I [i]am[/i] younger than you..But who says your mother died at your birth?

[b]Marth:[/b]Are you kidding me? I know she did...I remember visiting her grave for years!

[b]Lethe:[/b]You shoulda looked closer at the date that she died, Marth.

[b]Marth:[/b]Alright, fine..But when i [i]do[/i] need to know, I'll have hundereds of more questions for you, Lethe.

[i]Lethe nodded sagely, and pulled a flask of water from he sack, and offered it to Marth. Marth accepted it gratefully, and took a long drag from it. It went down his throat very smoothly, like fine ale. It chilled his belly, and relaxed him.[/i]

[b]Marth:[/b]Damn, thats good water...Where'd you get it?

[b]Lethe:[/b]Some woman named Kehho...She does this thing to the water, makes it fresh, clean and cool...I think she uses a gem of some kind..Well, goodnight, Marth, pleasant dreams.

[b]Marth:[/b]I doubt it.*Lethe falls asleep, and Marth stares into the fire*I doubt it...

[i]Marth continues to stare into the fire, and he turns around, away from the fire. When he turnes back, he face looked much more deadly, with shadowed eyes, and an evil piercing glare, and a melovolent smile.[/i]

[b]Marth:[/b][i]This Kehho woman and her gem..That gem must be worth quite a bit of money..I must have it for myself..But, now, sleep...Sleep, and time to plan.[/i]

[i]Marth closes his eyes, his face still sinister looking, but as he falls asleep, it softens up, and he becomes more restful..[/i][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]When Marth came to, he was vaugely aware of a fire crackling softly, and a smooth quite voice whispering a soft song. The words were Quenya....flowing gently over his ears, leaving him feeling completely at peace. He opened his eyes and saw Lethe sitting next to the fire, toasting a slice of waybread over the fire.
Her back was too him, but that was enough to show him that she was wearing her tunic opened across the front slightly. He blushed, then looked away.[/i]

Lethe: Did you sleep well?

Marth: ...how did you know I was awake?

Lethe: You stopped snoring.

Marth: I do [i]NOT[/i] snore!

Lethe: ....you do too.

Marth: ....*sigh*

Lethe: Have some breakfast. *gestures*

[i]He helped himself to the toasted bread and apples she held out. After a few minutes, he was done....wiped his mouth, and folded his blankets.[/i]

Lethe: So...you want to know how I know you....

Marth: Yes actually...

Lethe: Well, I visited the courts of your father a long while back, when he was still true to his bloodline. But...after a time, namely the death of his wife, he changed. You didn't notice...but I did.

Marth: What about my mother? And when did I see you?

Lethe: I watched you sometimes...training all the time...ignoring your family.

[i]He refused to make eye contact with her. All the words she had spoken were completely true, and they burned.[/i]

Lethe: Sorry.

Marth: No, keep going.

Lethe: When I was very young, my parents fell in the Lisar Ogre wars. Remember?

Marth: That was at least 200 years ago!

Lethe: ....I'll say it again. When I was very young....

Marth: Okay. What does that have to do with my mother?

Lethe: The queen took me....when my parents fell fighting. She pulled me from my home. Eluded both Lisar and Orges to save me from the bands of warriors, despoiling the land. If it wasn't for her, I would probably be in some Ogre camp, chained to a wall.....

Marth: ...a life debt...

Lethe: I vowed to aid her if I could. She laughed and told me to save myself for someone more worthy. Like her son. So I did. And she died a birthing death before I could come help her.

Marth: Nothing can stop death.

Lethe: .....natural death. I can save those who have died up to 24 hours....I was too late. And that was when your father changed. So of course, I took to wandering again, rather than let his malice affect me like it affected you.

Marth: ...........oh.

Lethe: I'm sorry.

[i]She looked at him quietly, her eyes flickering in the growing sunlight. He looked away, he didn't need compassion. Lethe divined his thought, then looked back into the fire. She murmered a few well chosen words, then stood up, stretching slowly. Then she shouldered her rucksack and extinguished the fire.[/i][/COLOR]

[9mm Avenger]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Marth, seeing Lethe get up, hefted his pack onto his back, adjusted his sword and dagger, and looked at her.[/i]

[b]Marth:[/b]Well...Thanks for that information, I guess...*He looks at the ground, and looks at Lethe again*Where ya headed?

[b]Lethe:[/b]You drank all of my water, so I'm headed to the viallage where Khonne lives to refill it..And try to see how she makes her water so good.

[b]Marth:[/b]*His eyes shadow slightly, but Lethe had turned away, and dosen't notice*Mind if I come?

[b]Lethe:[/b]Don't see why not. Come on, we have alot of ground to cover.

[b]Marth:[/b]No problem.*He adjusts his pack, and starts walking, and as he walks by, Lethe notices the dark shadows arounb his eyes*

[b]Lethe:[/b][Thinking]What the hell? Did he not get enough sleep?..it was hardly necessary to stand guard..(talking)Marth, did you get enough sleep?

[b]Marth:[/b]*turns around, but the shdows are gone*Yes, why do you ask?

[b]Lethe:[/b]No reason...Musta been a trick of sight...Anyways, let's get going.

[b]Marth:[/b]Lead the way.

[i]Marth and Lethe started off twords Khonne's, and Lethe is completley unaware of the sinister intention Marth's evil spirit harbours...[/i][/COLOR]

[Dragon Warrior]

Wow. I gotta start typing more. ^^

Roe turned out staying with Elsyan for the night. Roe didn't seem to happy, but he was. He just didn't show it. Only Elsyan's great stories cheered him up. Oh how their campfire blazed. Roe never knew how to make one and not one that was so big. It was amazing what an elf had in skill. Especially one outside of Roose.

"So your from Roose, huh?" Elsyan said eating a form of cucumber. "That's far away. You don't look like an elf."

"That's because I'm not. Could I have one of those?" Roe pawed at what Elsyan was eating and she handed him some.

"Not an elf? You kind of have pointed ears." That's when she saw him waving tail. "Oh! Didn't notice your friend there."

"Yes. I have a tail. That's because I'm a Calith. We look like humans and elves, but with a tail."

"And a wild hair doo."

"Hey!"

"Only pulling your tail." She said with a chuckle. Then she really did pull his tail.

"AHHH!!!" Roe ran around the campfire as Elsyan laughed harder and harder. Then he ran into the bushes. "Ouchies, ouchies, ouchies..." he said as his voice faded.

"Hehehe. C'mon back, Roe. I promise I won't do it again." She waited for a response before getting up. "Roe?" She stepped into the bushes. He wasn't there.

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]Alqwerik's eyes barely flickered as the deluge of questions and protestations flooded out. He'd seen this before. He held out a hand, palm up. A scintillating shimmer appeared, swirling slowly around until coalescing into a sphere of purple energy, the surface cracked through with dark electricity. Lacroix started, then waved his hand. The mageglobe was instantly smothered by darkness. Alqwerik laughed softly to himself, then spoke.[/I]

Alqwerik: That's better. Now, allow me to explain your current status. You are a wanderer, with no memory of your life. You carry an indechipherable scroll. You are marked with strange scars. You'd be interested to know that the scars are ritual desecrations normally performed only in demonology.

[I]Alqwerik closed his eyes and sat a long moment. Lacroix restrained himself from more questions. After a long breath, he opened his eyes again and sighed.[/I]

Alqwerik: This can be difficult to explain, and even more difficult to comprehend. Perhaps the best way to relate thisa information would be to explain how I came to this faction.

Lacroix: Faction?

Alqwerik: Yes. But bide now, and hear my story.

[I][B]Alqwerik stood slowly, the summoning complete. The creature crouched in the midst of the pentagram, snarling. Alqwerik raised his hand towards the demon, who lunged back. Fingers and talons interlaced, and Alqwerik was ripped from sanity.


He awoke, years and miles later, to find a scroll on his chest. He quested for years, until he found a wizened old human who knew what had happened to him. Alqwerik was transported to an ancient land, a ruined castle. Down to the vaults he was lead, to the crypts. There resided an unimaginably old being, a denizen of material planes far removed from our own. His was an ancient charge, to rid this land of shadow and darkness. In his earlier days, he had sought out disciples. Those who had contacted the demon realm and been marked. He himself and come from a background ravaged by fiends. Now those who tampered with darker secrets were fewer, and decades apart. None of them had been worthy for years. And none of them had ever had what was required to take his place. An affinity for the shadow itself. Alqwerik was the latest hopeful. He was tested, but failed. Now he was sent into the world to find those who suffered the same fate. His search had lead him to Lacroix.[/I][/B]

Lacroix: You mean we're here to protect the world from demons?

Alqwerik: Not exactly. Originally, our master sought their destruction. Now, after centuries of toil, his bision has slowly shifted. Now, we seek to welcome the demons. We have become a death cult. And one way or another, you will join us.

[I]There was barely a moment's hesitation before Lacroix answered.[/I]

Lacroix: Of course, I accept. This world has had its time. Its requiem will be sung by the howling ravages of fire and shadow.

Alqwerik: Excellent. Now, on to more important matters. How did you extinguish my mageglobe?

Lacroix: I didn't. I simply wrapped it in darkness. You severed the thread of magic that kept it alive.

[I]Alqwerik was on his feet in an instant, shocked mightily. He opened his mouth several times to speak, but was unable to make a sound. Lacroix smiled ironically, and leaned back in his chair. He concentrated, and streams of darkness poured from him. When the haze at last cleared, Alqwerik has regained his composure, and lapsed into a deadly serious quiet.[/I]

Alqwerik: You have an affinity for darkness? Naturally, or were you taught?

Lacroix: Naturally.

Alqwerik: This is most interesting news. You are now a great asset to Eldritch Harbringers. You will come with me, to the wasteland where lives the Master. There you shall begin your indoctrination into the real world.

[I]Lacroix smiled cruelly, and extinguished all light in the room with a small mental exercise. Tommorrow would be a long day.[/font][/color][/I]

[Deedlit]

[color=green][i]Elsyan got up from her spot near the campfire and walked to the bushes.[/i]

Elsyan-Roe?

[i]Still there was no answer. Elsyan started rummaging and combing the bushes, but still there was no sign of Roe.[/i]

Elsyan-Now where's he gone? Surely he hasn't gone invisible.

[i]Elsyan looked at the ground and found the tracks and several twigs lying on the ground that had snapped off when he stumbled into the bushes. She looked at the footprints closely.[/i]

Elsyan-Well, his tracks end here, [i]*She looked at the tree branches above her head*[/i] and he's not hiding up there, so where has he gone to?

[i]She continued searching in the area when she heard a twig snap from somewhere to her left. Her hand immediately flew to the rapier at her side as she cautiously walked towards the noise with all the grace of an Elf, as silent as a shadow.[/i]

Elsyan-Roe?[/color]

[GinnyLyn]

OOC post: Sorry, Mom's been stealing the computer. I'll post as soon as I get a chance.

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC:I feel your pain.... Oh, and by the way, my little escapade here won't effect the overall storyline particularly much.

IC: [I]Lacroix had scarsely been asleep an hour before he was hurriedly awakened. Alqwerik shook him frantically, and then bundled him outside without an explanation. Alqwerik lead Lacroix towards the serene moon, keeping low. All facets of natural cover were taken advantage of. Lacroix was impressed. Alqwerik knew what he was doing. The dash continued, until Alqwerik dove into a small hollow. He sank to the ground, looking around warily and listening intently. After several long moments punctuated only by sharp breaths, he relaxed. Lacroix's censure was quick to follow.[/I]

Lacroix: I'm going to assume there is a damn good reason for this then?

Alqwerik: Of course. For every cult of darkness and damnation, there is your aggravating over self-righteous, disgustingly pverbearing paladins wanting to destroy you. I was remiss not to notice him before.

Lacroix: Why are we running? One man isn't much of a threat.

Alqwerik: Of course not. However, they're amazingly good at getting other people to do their work for them. They tend to raise small townships, where the people are too stupid to know better. We were about to have a small horde of enraged villagers descend on us.

[I]Lacroix's breathing stilled, and there was another moment's silence. Lacroix then continued in a low, dangerous voice.[/I]

Lacroix: Are you meaning to say, that I just ran from, a mob wielding torchs and pitchforks.

Alqwerik: ..well, essentially, yes.

[I]After Lacroix's burst of profanities died down, Alqwerik enquired as to just why that was a problem.[/I]

Lacroix: Simple. It's horribly cliche.


Alqwerik: You damn elitist.

Lacroix: True. Well then, shall we get an early start on our journey?

Alqwerik: That would be a good idea.

Lacroix: Oh?

[I]Alqwerik pointed back the way they had come. A glint of light, low to the ground, was moving across the landscape.[/I]

Lacroix: The aforementioned annoying crusader?

Alqwerik: Who else.

[I]Lacroix rose up, Alqwerik at his side. Instead of slipping away however, Lacroix strode towards the figure. He shook of Alqwerik's restraining hands, and spun his quarterstaff off his back.

The figure changed direction to intercept him. As Lacroix drew nearer, he was able to make out more detail.

The man was large, about 6"3, and bulky. He wore platemail, and carried a war axe. At his belt was a brutal looking spiked mace. His head was covered by a black helm, leaving only small eyeslits. He wore a sky blue cape and surcoat. He moved deliberately, with little grace or alacrity. Lacroix smiled to himself. This would be easy.

Lacroix held his staff across his body, his left hand in reverse grip. The axe rose and swung downwards.

Lacroix slammed the midshaft into the haft of the axe, the staff an oblique line, right hand lower. As the crusader's momentum slammed the quarterstaff down, Lacroix lowered the left end of the staff until it hit the ground. Using it as a springboard, he cartwheeled across it, his feet striking the paladin in the head. As Lacroix gracefully landed on his feet, he whipped the right end of the quarterstaff up and into the man's visor slit. He stiffened, and collapsed with a rattling boom. Lacroix turned to Alqwerik, his quarterstaff snapping back under his arm.[/I]

Lacroix: What's the problem?

Alqwerik: Wait and see.

[I]Lacroix cast a glance down. He blinked once. Small emanations of faerie fire appeared to be coming from the eyeslit of the visor. As the glow increased, a low, mournful keening filled the air. With jerky, uncertain movements, the man returned to his feet. Lacroix backed off, and at Alqwerik's urging, started to run. They quickly outdistanced the shambling corpse, but Alqwerik informed Lacroix that it would not stop.[/I]

Alqwerik: It will follow you for the rest of your days. I have about five on my trail right now.

Lacroix: How did it return from the dead? I thought we were the ones who did that kind of thing...

Alqwerik: Well, that is one of the deeper mysteries of our particular sect. Let it suffice to say that even demons have factions.

[I]Lacroix sat in silence, debating as to whether he could accept demons who didn't want to ravage and pillage all life. He found he couldn't.[/I]

Alqwerik: Come. We have nearly a hundred leagues to travel, in a short amount of time. And the revanent will follow.

[I]Again, they were off, a desperate, concealing flight. They ran on for most of the night, stopping only when they came to the edge of a dark wood.[/I]

Alqwerik: We'll rest inside the undergrowth.[/font][/color]

[Dragon Warrior]

OOC: That's okay, Harlequin.

IC:

Elsyan perked her ears as the sound grew louder. She readied her rapier for attack on anything that would strike. Roe lost was not the problem here right now. She then heard a hissing noise. She peered into the bushes and saw nothing. Suddenly, two yellow glowing eyes emerged, one as big as her head! She jumped back, then started to make a run for it.

"What was that?" Then she straightened up and turned around again, rapier in hand. "I must'nt run. It's time to fight. Come one out you monsterous beast!" But to her surprise, a giant long snake-like figure emerged from the bushes. It had huge spikes bulging from it's sides. A hideous creation of all that is. Elsyan went wide eyed, but was suddenly snatched by someone speeding by. He wore a robe and the hood covered their face. Besides, Elsyan couldn't get a good look at them.

The figure was clumsy, though. He tripped and the two went flying down a hillside and landing KERPLOP on the grassy floor. First the figure, then Elsyan right on top of them. The impact threw the hood off their head. It was Roe!

"Glad you could show up, Roe." Elsyan said, easing with pain.

"Just in time, thank you very much."

"I had that battle all fine."

"But I've heard of that monster. It goes by the name of Iris. That hissing you heard, it was saying it's name. It's a giant snake. Divour you whole, it will."

"Iris?"

"Yes. Now could you get off of me?"

"I don't think I can. The fall was quite painful."

"So is you being on top of me." Roe tried quirming.

"Wuss." She said with a giggle.

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Thanks. Just so everyone knows, I am disappearing until Oct. 4. Not really relevant, but at least it will save me having to post "Lacroix walked alot. Then he walked a lot more" etc.[/font][/color]

[Dragon Warrior]

OOC: Haha. Okay. You do that. See ya Oct. 4.

[GinnyLyn]

OOC again, sorry: Can someone bring me up to date, just a tiny synopsis?

[Dragon Warrior]

Well... I'm eating a sandwich and having lemonade-Oh! You mean the story? Right. Well, I've only skimmed through some posts, but Marth and Lethe are hungry. Lacroix is doing something (Sorry. Haven't read his yet). And Roe and Elsyan have met up and almost fought a big snake. Is that good enough? :bluesweat

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]The two stopped by the banks of the river Anduin. Lethe bent down and refilled the flask with the icy cold water. Then she removed her pack and stretched, her back arching until her hands were resting behind her feet. Marth shrugged and dropped his pack to the ground.[/i]

Marth: Break time?

Lethe: .....lunch break time.

Marth: Oh...right.

Lethe: Your turn to cook.

[i]She turned to the river and undid the top of her tunic, letting it fall to the ground. Then her boots, skirt, and belt followed, leaving her in her lengire and and underskirt. In one smooth movement, she dove into the water, making hardly a splash.[/i][/COLOR]

[GinnyLyn]

OOC: Sorry, now my creative bone seems to be broken. I'm posting for the sake of posting, just to let you know I'm definitely still in...just having writer's block.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bip chirped and ran his white skink tail through Kehho's hair. While it was funny at first, she was getting annoyed with him and brushed him off her shoulder. Trilling angrily, he climbed her long skirt and plopped himself right back on her shoulder; once again, he ran his tail through her hair.
"Quit it already, would ya?" she griped, lashing her tail angrily.
Bip cowered against her shoulder, his tail drooping. With an audible noise passible as a sad sniffle for a lizard, he slowly let himself down the same way he got up. He then quietly skittered away, glancing back at Kehho every few steps, to see just how upset he was.
Kehho giggled to herself; Bip was [i]such[/i] a dramatic. As soon as he got hungry enough, he'd come right back. She was sure of it.
Growing hungry herself, Kehho took an apple and a chunk of bread from her pack, and munched. Taking a small pewter cup out, she set it on the ground, and conjured a miniscule thundercloud, about the size of her fist. It stormed into the cup until it rained itself out, and Kehho drank greatfully.
It wasn't until after Kehho sated her hungry that she began to really get worried about Bip. Standing up and brushing leaves off of her, she called to him.
"Bip! Biiiiiiip! Where are you, you scaly troublemaker? Bip!"
A large black bird cawed in a high tree branch, but that was all.
"Oh Bip..." Kehho moaned. She hated making anyone mad, and given the fact that Bip was all she had in the world now, she was incredibly upset with herself. "Bip, please come out!"
The bird cawed once more, then took flight, and flapped away.
Kehho decided to look for Bip herself, when there was a startled shriek, and a scurrying noise. The bird was back, cawing very loudly, and diving at a moving object on the ground. In a trice, it had the wriggling object by its tail, and Kehho could clearly see that it was Bip.
"BIP!"
The albino lizard screamed in a high pitched way, and futilely tried to deflect the bird pecking at it.
Kehho took the situation in at a moment. The next moment, the bird was on the ground, frozen solid and dead.
The Calith hastily ran to it, searching for Bip. "Please be ok, oh please be ok!"
She was in the act of attempting to pry the dead bird's claws open when she felt the familiar tugging weight of Bip non her shoulder. Greatful beyond words, she hugged him gently, and tended to his hurts.
After a few minutes of (he thought) well deserved pampering, Bip motioned his head toward the bird and chirped questioningly, almost apprehensively. Upon examination, Kehho understood his concern.
They had just killed a baby Roc. Apparentally, it was learning to hunt on its own when it dove at Bip. It would be only a matter of time until one of the parents would come looking for its baby.
"And we don't want to be here when that happens," Kehho told Bip, glancing about nervously.
They made their way away from the body when a deep throated caw rente the air. Large pines and oaks bent beneath the downdraft of an enormous pair of silvery black wings; sharp talons as large as Kehho's head scratched at the earth, searching for purchase to land. It was the mother Roc.
She trailed her lethal beak along the ground, as if sniffing for her baby. She soon found it, cold and unmoving. Nudging it a few times confirmed her worst fear, and she reared up, a sorrowful Roc cry booming from her beak.
Bip clicked nervously.
The mother Roc instantly snapped her head in the pair's direction. Her yellow eyes glittered, death dancing in them. With a deadly caw, she took a step toward them, stretching her wings high above her in a show of attack.
"She's gonna charge!" Kehho screamed.

[Dragon Warrior]

Right on. ;)

I'll post after another post is made. I'm waiting to see if Samantha is going to post before I do.