Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

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06-18-2011, 06:08
Visor

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"Glunny, over here! These the noblemen that stole ya sheep?"

(Talking about Greyblades character and Gilford, who Rufus has just seen.)
06-18-2011, 07:05
B-Wing

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Glungurd still stood in astonishment at the brutal duel that had just taken place before him. When Rufus prompted him about the two knights whom he had just met at the intersection, Glungurd merely shrugged. He had no idea whether his missing sheep had actually been stolen or simply wandered off, but he was eager to find out if these two men knew what had become of them. As he approached them, Gilford drew his sword, pushing Thomas behind him, and growled, "I can handle this demon by myself; you stay back, Thomas!"

Glungurd froze, and as Gilford's blade was swinging toward the Odglok's head, it met Rufus's own broadsword, stopping inches above the confused creature. "This fella's no demon; he's just not from around here," spoke Rufus casually. "And I kind of like him, so if you don't mind, put your sword into somebody else."

Gilford hesitated, then withdrew his sword and sheathed it. "I suppose I can agree to that," he replied. "Now is an awkward time for introductions, but I think it is in order. I am Ser Gilford Millicent, and this is my liege, Thomas Targryn. We are knights from-"

"I lost my sheep. Have you seen them?" interrupted Glungurd.

Gilford stared at the Odglok for a moment before answering, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Listen, we are trying to make our way to Lake Birun, and-"

"I thought we're gonna visit the cemetery!" interjected Thomas, sounding both angry and disappointed.

Gilford turned and gave Thomas a stern look, saying, "We don't have time for that right now! Listen, we need to get to Lake Birun, now do you two wish to join us? It should be safer for both of us that way."
06-18-2011, 07:19
Visor

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Rufus shrugged. He didn't have a plan, but they seemed to. Though their manner was a bit insulting to him. Gods, how he hated the nobility of Lassara, pompous fools and bigots. Knights were only a little better, but that's what they were so he would deal with it.

"Maybe the sheep went to Lake Birun?" he said to Glungard.
06-18-2011, 09:01
TheLastDays

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Alain wiped the sweat from his brow. He had taken his helmet off to have better vision in the dark tunnel they were walking through but he soon entrusted the leading of the group to one of his men. "Alright", he spoke, when he was walking next to the princess, Drax being only a step behind them, "Your Majesty we should be halfway to Lake Birun now. We will find a secret hiding place of the royal guard at the end of these tunnels..."
"What? Why didn't I know of this place?"
"Well, your Majesty, we haven't told you. You were not crowned yet and even if you were, you would not know. Your father didn't know either. We can best assure your security if no one know of these places that we have hidden across the country."
"There is more?" the queen seeme puzzled as she inquired.
"Oh yes, there are plenty." Alain smirked and looked back at Drax. "I hope I can trust you so far that you don't betray our position to anyone once we get there. Still I will have to have a talk with you there." He didn't wait for a reply but returned his attention to the princess again. "Princess Amalia, we will find water, food, horses, fresh clothes and most everything we need for a journey there. I will judge the situation as soon as we're out of this tunnel to see if it is safe to spend a night there but I sure hope so. You will need rest, so will out new friend here and it wouldn't hurt us guardsmen either."

***

A loud roar was suddenly to be heard from the top of the city-hill that shook the city once more. Vayne was standing atop the holy knight who lay on the ground, holding his bleeding side. "Where... where is my heir?"
Vayne shook his head: "Such stubbornness, such loss. Things have changed, Cantus, you know? Your descendants seem to want us back here." He pointed at Boreale. "So go and go forever, this is not your realm ANY MORE!" The twin swords met with a metallic sound as they cut off the holy knight's head and Cantus died a second time and a blinding bright light seemed to pull his body into the sky. After the light faded thre was nothing left, no body, no armor, no sword, not even drops of blood on the ground. Vayne nodded and looked over the city while behind him LIvius slowly crawled back up that hill. "So, Milord Boreale, I think we can say we have taken the city, your army is under our control too and the rest of the land will follow. Are you satisfied?"
"I am not",the consul steppd ovr to Vayne, "you have lost the princess. As long as she is out there she is a threat. She will try to win back hearts and her followers will fight us.."
"Relax... She will be found. I sent Enego, he will find her and I will send Shamma to Tar Cantun and take revenge on the city that has broken my Lord Darganta."
"No, I need you right here."
"Don't worry, I won't go myself. Lorkan will go and command my forces, Bane will be with him and they will take this island of Cantun. May I advise to send most of the army down to Anaba, capturing the towns along the way? We can send Alastor and Serak with them to convince the people to follow you."
"What about Avin and the eastern peninsula?"
Vayne smiled and waved his hand. A wooden platform descended from the flying fortress, carrying a muscular creature, armed with a huge axe and a sword. "Meet Vron. He will take care of it and he doesn't need an army other than his deathknights. We can stay here and take care of the capital. Rashid will make sure we have enough defenders..."
06-18-2011, 11:27
Diamondeye

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

((OOC: We are advancing pretty fast here. I need DiY's reply before we can go anywhere.))
06-18-2011, 11:56
naut

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

(OOC: The Glungurd/Rufus dynamic is pretty cool. xD )
06-18-2011, 12:05
Death is yonder

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Wiping his now clean blade on the grass to dry it, Guantano was pleasantly surprised as the woman he accompanied was civil to him.

Looking up, he replied nonchalantly. "Demons running amok in the city, useless city guards, scared people running around. I'd say nothing has happened to the city except for the demon part." Shrugging, he continued, "Thieves or Nightravens, the slums has never been a very accommodating place. Still, I suppose that has something to do with all this."

Following his finger towards a floating fortress above the palace, Alyssa silently marveled at the sellsword's capacity for the obvious.
06-18-2011, 12:30
Diamondeye

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"We need to find out what is happening," Alyssa said as she cared for her courser; it had been ridden hard and carrying two people. "I think we should keep going, away from this, until we hit a city. Surely, someone there will know what all this means," she said, waving towards the scene of destruction and the huge, floating fortress. "But I don't doubt it's something serious. I haven't heard of any magicks powerful enough to keep a castle suspended in the air, and I'm well into the known history of this place."

"Also, we should probably continue on foot for a bit. I don't want the courser to fall dead all of a sudden. Can you keep a pace?"
06-18-2011, 12:45
Death is yonder

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"Oh the lady would be surprised what a mercenary can do." Guantano chuckled. "Perhaps we should head for Leon, in my travels I recall a professor there at the library. Specializing in the study of demonic history, he should be well-qualified to tell us of the happenings in Lassara."

Hastening his pace till he overtook the female, Guantano flashed a grin as he turned around and said, "no hurry princess, there's only a bloodthirsty demonic army behind us busy ravaging the city". Whistling a happy tune, Guantano continued on, oblivious to the daggers stared into his back.
06-18-2011, 12:55
shlin28

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Though fear still gripped him, Drax had to admit that the Guards were good at what they do. They quickly swept through the small and dilapidated farmhouse, searching for enemies and opening secret compartments to bring out much needed supplies. A few of them went outside and soon brought back two other guards back along with at least dozen horses, presumably the sentries permanently stationed here in case of emergencies.

The news they brought wasn’t pleasant however. The army had rebelled en masse and now there are isolated skirmishes in the area around Birun as the small number of loyalists fought their way out to the open – making their original plan to try to reach Birun unworkable.

“Maybe we should try to move west? We are bound to find support in Leon and the southern colonies; they were always the most loyal to the Royal House.” Suggested one of the guards.

Though he tried to maintain a neutral face, Drax was terrified – Leon was the ancestral seat of Lord Carus and his good-for-nothing step-son still holds it as a personal fiefdom. If Drax dared to step in that city, the personal guards of ‘Lord’ Nias would tear him to pieces most likely, civil war or no civil war.

His weak objections of course counted for nothing, as the Guards’ priority is the safety of their Queen, not some common criminal they found on the street – thankfully none of them had yet been able to make the connection between Drax and the face stuck on posters across the capital. The decision was soon made to move the next day and everyone was dismissed by the Captain.

Except for Drax.

“Er, you wanted to talk to me?” he said nervously.
06-18-2011, 14:55
Greyblades

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

 <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent> With there being little more to do than flee the city the two sets of companions made their way through the streets until they happened upon a clearing that looked like it used to be a market place.

The knight raised his fist as a signal to stop.

"We're stopping here. I need to get something."

"What? Are you insane!" replied Rufus "There are demons flying around and you want to go shopping?!"

"Do you want to carry him next?" replied the knight, gesturing to the now delirious Thomas being clumsily carried by Glungurd. "We need to find an apothecary there's bound to be something to get him back in his feet."

Rufus gave the Knight a quizzical look. "You mean he's not always like that?"

“No. Besides the demons have been giving us a wide berth for some reason so I think we have the time.” With that the knight started searching the nearest buildings for an apothecary sign.

“Fine but take too long and we’re leaving, right Glungy?”

The Odglock looked at Rufus and then at the squire in his hands. “No.”

“What?”

“The Young man gave me an apple he found; I’m going to give him the benefit of doubt. Besides he seems special, see he’s even glowing.”

“He’s what?”

The crest on Thomas’ chest was glowing white.

“Damn it Glungy, put him down!”

Just as he said those words the world seemed to explode as a long shaft of blinding light pierced into the sky. It seemed to be coming from the palace hill.

“Well that can’t be good.”

“Young man’s getting hot.”

“Eh?”

Rufus looked back at Glungurd, this time Thomas’s entire body seemed to be white.

“Holy- Hey, Knight guy, there’s something wrong with your-!“

The spear of light came back this time centred on Glungurd and the squire. Blinded the Oglock dropped Thomas and jumped backwards, causing several roof’s worth of tiles to come cascading down onto the street. The light vanished as quickly as it came and in its place Thomas was standing staring at a white sword in his hand.

“...Anyone else smell incense?”</m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac>
06-18-2011, 15:08
TheLastDays

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Alain sat down on a stool, waving for Drax to sit down on the only other stool that was left int he small cabin that had been assigned to the captain. He eyed his guest up and down before speaking. "Now, Captain Decato or the town guard told me about picking up a prisoner in the slums. Please tell me you're not the one they are looking for in the murder of Lord Carus..."
06-18-2011, 16:54
Diamondeye

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Leon, Alyssa thought as she walked, trying to drill holes in the back of her companions head with her eyes, dragging the courser along with one hand and still clenching the axe in the other, just below the double head. A rotten place when it comes to inhabitants and rulers, but even that would be better than the army of demons currently on our tail. Very well, Leon it is.

She clasped the axe to the saddle and instead took the bow and the quiver. "Perhaps we should stay a bit off the main road," she suggested, "and we also need to hunt for food, and preferably find you a horse. I suppose taking one off a traveler would be the easiest way. You're not shy of a little highway robbery, are you? Purely out of necessity, of course."
06-18-2011, 17:53
Death is yonder

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Looking distant for a short moment, Guantano paused, and Alyssa saw a nearly imperceptible emotion flash across his face. Yet as soon as it appeared, it was gone. As he resumed walking, Guantano muttered, "Not at all, not at all. Sighing, Guantano reached into his sack and pulled out a pastry, tossing it to Alyssa, who caught it, surprised at the unexpected action. "You might as well have this while we wait, I know just the spot, its not too far from here." The soft thud of leather boots on the sturdy ground, and the almost invisible imprint that was left in its wake were the only indications to the next traveler that someone was there.

Alyssa knew better than to question his experience. Slinging her bow back onto her shoulder, she gingerly bit into her bun as she led her courser to the small mound of dirt that overlooked the beaten path. Mmm, meaty and rich. Potatoes? Hint of some spice. Hardly what she expected from an arrogant, irresponsible skirtchaser. She found herself eagerly devouring the medium-sized pastry with relish, and an appreciative growl of her stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten for a while. Grateful, she turned to glance at the mercen-... Guantano, only to find him staring at her, one side of his lips lifted in a smile.

"Careful milady, you wouldn't want to frighten away any travelers with that roar of yours."

The atmosphere between the two softened slightly, but it remained silent. As the sounds of whinnying and wheels rolling over dirt tracks sounded over the distance, Guantano slowly drew his sword, his soft expression replaced by a serious one.

"Now, we wait."

https://img715.imageshack.us/img715/...restambush.png
06-18-2011, 17:57
shlin28

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

 So this was the talk.

The Captain clearly knows more than he is willing to share at the moment – is this a test of some sort? Drax wondered. Regardless, lying at this stage was probably a bad idea, if only because of the rather visible sword only a stroke away from his throat.

“I am… wanted for the murder of Lord Fay’ra, yes. But I am not the murderer, it’s er… complicated.” He replied, trying to put as much confidence into his floundering voice as possible.

“From what I heard, the city guard was hunting for someone who was seen by several witnesses standing over the noble Lord’s body, covered with blood. Are you that person?”

Do not tell him anything.

“I… was there, but he was already dead when I found him, there was nothing I could do.” Drax replied hesitantly; it was the truth, but it wasn’t the whole truth.

“So why did you run?”

“Lassaran justice is hardly the most fair, you should know that, especially when nobles are involved. You must have heard of Lady Fay’ra and her reputation, she would probably execute me anyway for not doing enough to protect her husband.”

Drax glanced at the Captain wearily. Was he persuasive enough? Or will he be in chains again in a few moments?
06-18-2011, 18:44
Diamondeye

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Alyssa quickly put the rest of the pastry in her mouth and grasped the bow again, stringing an arrow and waiting for the wagon to appear around the bend in the road. She narrowed her eyes until they were tiny slits. The sound of wheels approached, and soon, they could see the wagon; It was a small goods wagon, pulled by two stubborn drag horses. Seated on the wagon was a man with a whip, and in the back of the wagon were piled crates of goods. Riding besides it were three men; two were clad in boiled leather and chain, riding lean but unkept garrons, and with their weapons visible. The third man rode a finer horse, a courser somewhat like her own, only it seemed a bit plump and not as fit, a description that also applied to its rider, whose clothes betrayed him as a rather wealthy merchant. The three men were talking loudly between each other, and Alyssa quickly asked Guantano, "What approach? Friendly or ambush? We need a horse from them but we can't suffer their current pace. We might have to kill the guards."
She notched the arrow and drew the string half the way back.
"I think I can get a couple of good shots in before they reach us. Give the sign when you're ready."
06-18-2011, 19:15
TheLastDays

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Again the young captain waited before he replied to the captive's claims. He was right about Leon. The nobility there was not exactly known for mercy or understanding and if they had found him next to the dead lord there was probably no prospect of a fair process. Still it seemed like Drax wasn't telling the whole story. Te captain decided to let the matter rest for now though. He had other things to worry about.
"So what is your name, boy?"
"Indrax Dwymmr... or Drax if you would, Sire"
"Alright, Drax. Look, my job is not to pursue murderers or suspects, I have the assignment to keep the princess safe. At the moment, to be honest, I don't know what in the name of Lassa is going on so I can't really concern myself with your case. Just keep the following in mind: If you show any sign of attacking one of my men, let alone the princess, I will kill you without hesitation, alright?"
The boy's eyes were wide, definitely in shock to the sudden change in tone but he nodded.
"Alright", the captain seemed satisfied, "then we'll get along just fine", he added, returning to his former, more gentle tone. "So... are you any good with a weapon?"

"Our circumstances must really be dire, my captain, if you are already enlisting young civilians to protect me", the princess had entered the cabin, unnoticed and was now smiling her warmest smile at the young Drax. "Don't worry, I won't let him throw you to your death." Her eyes telling that she wasn't completely serious about it.

"Your Majesty, I have to do what I can to ensure your safety..."
The young princess nodded and now smiled at the captain. "I know and I know how serious you take your duty but simply protecting me won't do right now. We need to find out what happened today and we need to make sure to end this crisis as soon as possible. My people are suffering and just as your duty is to protect me it is mine to care for them. We go as soon as everyone has gotten enough rest. To Leon. I know a scholar there, he has taught me while I was young. He will know what to do."
Ar fist it looked as if the captain wanted to disagree but he just hesitated for a moment and nodded then. "As you wish, your Majesty. I will be ready and I'll make sure the men are too. You should get some rest now... both of you", he added, looking at Drax.
06-18-2011, 19:33
Amsel

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Rumours abound in Birun. The word on the street was that an old traveller, his face flecked with blood, had staggered through the city gates not long after the birds had fled. He had, or so claimed the whisperers, delivered reports to the city guard of skirmishes on the outskirts of Birun, and not just the typical 'carnival high-spirits' either. Attacks on innocent people. Then, to make sure his words had the required dramatic effect, the traveller died. Which was a bit selfish of him.

Naturally, a good portion of the mob, that had gathered in their droves to celebrate the coronation, did what any good mob would do on receipt of bad news, or good news, or a worrying lack of news: run around and loot things. Some particularly skilled participants were able to loot while still on the run. One young scalawag had got the wrong end of the stick, jubilantly running around the thing he had just looted.

All in all, some good-hearted family fun. But not for Meghghan Waltz, who had got into a spot of bother.

"'Allo, girrrrrlie," slurred the man, a different one from before, she reckoned, although this one also smelt strongly of the 'boos'. "Wosssup w'you then? Wossupwyou... wossaahaahaha."

Meghghan had decided that she didn't like this man any more than the first man. In fact, if anything, this one was worse. He was altogether too close.

"Please, man, please go away," she tried, backing into a doorway.

"Hahahahahurrr. Alright girrrrlie, I'll go iffayoooo... iffayooowahahaha. Gizzakiss, girrrlie. Goonthen. Orrrrr.... gizzamoney. Kissssormoney. Wahahahaha."

His courteous offer of a choice was lost on Meghghan, as she hadn't understood the first part, and as such, had forgotten it. But 'money' was a word she recognised. This man wanted money! Maybe he had to pay tribute to the boos. Well, Meghghan was a kind soul, and felt sympathy for this poor man, this modern-day hero. Reaching into the cowls of her quiltrobes, she pulled out a small pouch, and offered a coin to the man, who snatched at it.

It didn't have the effect she had hoped it would.

"Wossisthen? WOSSISSS?" he growled. "This ent money youlittle... iss bottel-kapp!" Grabbing the rest of the pouch, his anger only intensified. "Iss ALL bottel-kapp! Youfink I'm stupidthen, dooya? YOU FINK I'M STUPID? I'LL POUND YER HEAD -"

He hadn't been expecting a faceful of sand. Caught off-guard, inasmuch as a drunken looter can ever be 'on-guard', he staggered backwards a few steps, clawing at his eyes in a vain attempt to remove the errant granules.

"WOSSS - WOSSSYOUTRYINTA -" he managed, before his legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees before falling forwards, smacking his head against the door and narrowly missing Meghghan, who had sidestepped in a remarkable (for her) moment of clarity.

Unfortunately, quite a few of the looters and revellers who had been going about their business behind the unfriendly man also started to drop to the ground. It seems that, in her haste to be rid of her assailant, Meghghan had used rather too much of her sand, and some of it had gone a bit further than she had been expecting. Those who had been lucky enough to loot and revel out of range of the sand took a few, bleary looks at their newly-snoring compadres, before turning their gaze towards the girl in the red robe. Although the subtleties of their facial expressions were lost on her, know this, reader: they didn't look entirely pleased.

"Hello!" shouted Meghghan, happily. "I did this!"

Then the door opened, and a hand grasped at the base of her hood, pulling her inside.
06-18-2011, 20:39
seireikhaan

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"That's good," Kyran responded. "Follow me." Kyran turned on his heel, and the tree raised him to a higher, more comfortable position, and he took a brisk pace back to the last place he'd seen the lich. Occasionally he had to slow down for the strange human, who labored on foot to keep pace. "We must hurry!" Kyran urged him. Kyran had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, leaving the other elf girl and that other strange lass with the lich. He had a very bad feeling about what was going to be left in that clearing. If anything. Kyran finally reached it, and turned his head to make sure the poor man behind him had kept up. Maybe a bit worse for wear, but he seemed in one piece. Kyran turned his attention back to the clearing, scanning, scanning.... there! The lich had recovered his disguise, it seemed, for a very familiar, elderly man was sitting, eyes closed, against a tree. The giant white cat was circling around its mistress, who was just beginning to pick herself up. A barely audible growl could be heard from the cat, but that it hadn't attacked seemed odd. Lastly, the odd girl, not quite elven or human or anything Kyran had seen, was still slumped over, looking to be in sleep.

Kyran jumped down from his position, landing on the soft grass. He looked to the strange human who had followed him. Perhaps it would not be wise to panic the poor man by telling him this creature's a lich, Kyran thought. Nonetheless, he wanted to know what it was that had happened here. The source of that nightmare, why everyone had been knocked out seemingly from nowhere, and why that lich was just sitting there!

"You!" he shouted out. "Er, Morangul! What are you doing! What happened?!"
06-18-2011, 21:02
thefluffyone93

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Morangul's eyes snapped open at the elf's call.
"Silence, you fool! Lest you wake her up!"

"Wake who up?", the elf replied.
"The Fey, you dolt! She was the one that cast the nightmare on us!"
The elf look over at the Fey, still sleeping against the tree.
"Whats a Fey, and what is one doing here?", the elf asked.
"I was going to find that out some time ago, but then I was rudely interrupted!", replied Morangul, staring at the elf.

It was at this point that the blue-skinned human was noticed by the lich.
"Oh, great. Now who is this?"
06-18-2011, 23:01
Chaotix

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

When Frijyk entered clearing and saw several strange looking people and a huge white, fanged beast, his immediate impression was that he had been ambushed as he expected. Then, as he realized most of them were sleeping and the beast was in a defensive posture, he considered the possibility that he might not have to fight for his survival.

He addressed the aged man's question even as his own curiosity was bubbling up through his mouth.

"I-am Frijyk. You... look-like a magician. Most people here do-not have magic, I have-notice. And all of-you seem different from Lassarans. I-am curious..."

Frijyk turned his attention to the beast. It was not unlike the white wolves of his land, but much larger and somehow... with an aura of intelligence. It appeared to be guarding the woman it was near. Frijyk was struck by the beauty of both creatures. His eyes turned back to the man he had been following, and gestured to the beast.

"Is-this the creature you spoke-of?"
06-18-2011, 23:55
Secura

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Tawariell groggily used her arms to help herself up into a seated position, a little worse for wear, truth be told; she was surprised to see Raina in one piece, contrary to the harrowing sight from her ordeal, and was grateful as the aistar nuzzled against her. The elf wrapped a forearm around Raina's muzzle and embraced her, muttering several affectionate phrases in Lammirna that the aistar responded to with loud purrs.

It was only in the corner of her eye that Tah noticed the old man from earlier, the abomination having clearly adopted his human illusion once more; he was seated in a meditative post and his eyes were firmly closed, but Tah knew better than to assume that this made him oblivious to the world. Nearby lay what appeared to be a elven youngling deep in slumber, though her vivid veridian hair and the small horns that protruded from her flowing locks suggested that this was not entirely the case; the elven huntress wondered why she had not noticed such a creature before, until she remembered that the lich's foul taint had taken much of her attention.

A sudden stabbing pain caused Tah to rub her forehead, the anguish she had faced in the fey's nightmare having smeared it's jet-black stain upon her mind; her head ached something awful, and in her pain she did not hear the elder mage talking, nor did she notice the return of the male elf with a mysterious companion that he had found while she was unconscious.
06-19-2011, 00:06
B-Wing

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

In the midst of the chaos and ruin of the capital city of Lassara, things were looking up for one group of survivors. They had managed to avoid fighting off demons long enough to gather supplies of food and medicine from the market square, which was otherwise abandoned. Thomas Targryn had been miraculously revived by a divine force that no one could explain, and perhaps even better, he now possessed a mysterious sword that was clearly enchanted. Given the circumstances by which it had arrived, it seemed safe to say that they would be needing it later.

While they looted the stores that hadn't already been thoroughly looted, Gilford explained to the two strangers the events they had witnessed earlier in the day. He expected them to share his grave concern, but Rufus seemed to be more entertained than troubled by the revelations, and Glungurd seemed disinterested in the story altogether. His thoughts were more focused on finding ale, which he had been deprived of for weeks. Gilford did not exactly trust this odd pair, but allies were very scarce presently.

After gathering all the basic essentials they could carry, they set out east, in the direction the guards had told them to go for safety. They managed to make it to the city gates without major difficulty. Exiting the city, they could see the western shore of Lake Birun in the distance. Not knowing whether demons were to be found outside the city, they debated where to go from there. Only Thomas and Glungurd had strong opinions. Thomas wanted to travel to Cantun to check on his family's safety, while Glungurd wanted to go into Tarania to check on his sheep. They voted, 3 to 1, in favor of sailing to Cantun.

Not certain how safe the roads would be, they decided that for the time being they would follow the edge of the lake, eastward. That way, they could only be beset by trouble from one side.
06-19-2011, 00:12
thefluffyone93

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Morangul looked to where the blue-skinned human was gesturing to.
"The aistar? Ha! The 'creature' this tree-hugger was talking about was probably me!"

The blue-skinned human was obviously confused, and definitely not a local, Morangul noted.

"But you-are just an old man..." said the odd human.
"Don't let him fool you!" Cried the male elf, "He is much more than that! He is-"
The elf gave yelped when the small bolt of electricity hit him.
"That's enough out of you; we don't need to scare the boy, do we?"

Hearing some groans, Morangul looked and saw the elven archer coming to.
"Huh. Its about time you got up. You must have had a very bad memory for you to be out for so long-"
Morangul stopped, and smiled, "I wonder what that was, hmmm?"

"Anyways, whats your story, hmm?", asked Morangul, turning to the blue lad.
"Humans aren't supposed to be blue."
06-19-2011, 01:15
Amsel

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Meghghan didn't like these new surroundings very much. The room looked like brown and smelt like grey. Neither of those colours offered much that would hold her attention on most days. However, her interest returned somewhat when one part of the room began talking to her.

"Well," said the old man, "you certainly caused a stir back there. I don't blame you, though: he didn't look like a particularly savoury character, did he? Don't worry, I have locked the door," and here an almighty THUD rocked the house, "although I fear it might not deter them for long." He sighed. "And I'd just repainted the 'Brown Room', too. Figures."

What is this thing? dreamed Meghghan. It looked like a cloud. But it was too close to the ground for that. And it was talking. Clouds don't talk.

"Unfortunately, the misdemeanours of drunken louts may not be the worst of our worries," continued the old man, stroking his fluffy white beard.

No, definitely not a cloud. Something else. Buoyed by the satisfaction of having reached a conclusion, Meghghan took the time to check her vial. Empty. Oh well. More could be made.

"You saw the birds earlier, I presume." The man was now striding with surprising haste down a similarly grey-smelling passageway, followed (at a reasonable distance) by Meghghan. "All in a hurry, and all flying south. This does not happen in nature." Another THUD. "They were fleeing something. I have attempted to scry the area around the capital, but my abilities are not... what they once were. Suffice it to say that what little I have seen does not bode well."

But wait. Maybe clouds talk all the time, but since they are so far up, in the sky, we can't hear them. This one has come down from the sky to talk to me! Meghghan's commitment to her earlier conclusion was wavering. She decided to take the blunt approach.

"Are you... cloud?" she asked.

The old man's face lit up. "Why, yes! Eucalyptus Cloude, mage-at-large, scion of the Cloude archmages, pleased to make your acquaintance! Might I ask how you have come to hear of my exploits?"

Meghghan didn't know what exploits were, so she decided that this must be a joke. "Ha ha ha," she offered. Cloude's face fell faster than an Odglok attempt at heavier-than-air flight.

"Yes, well." THUD. "There is something in Lassara, something that should not be there. Something that should not be. I know not whether it is old foe or new chaos. All I know is that it is malevolent, and it surely will not stop at Lassara."

Meghghan smiled, immediately forgetting all of this helpful information. In her defense, there was now a painting on the wall.

"Now rumour is rumour, and news is news, and both will travel faster than any malevolence. But I fear it will not be fast enough. The sooner we can alert the towns and cities to the south, the more time they have to prepare. Even an hour is thirty more fighters, one hundred more arrows, two hundred citizens evacuated."

There were a lot of colours on the painting. Red, blue, green, yellow. Purple, pink. Orange!

"And I think I talk too much, when there is so little time to spare!" laughed Cloude, nervously. "But it is important that you know this information. You are young, and can defend yourself in ways I no longer can. You must spread the word."

Was that... turquoise? Oh, what a sight. "Wow," Meghghan breathed, appreciatively.

The old mage cocked his head to the side, puzzled at the girl's reaction. "Maybe this is overwhelming, but I must insist that you understand my message!"

THUD. Meghghan's face was the epitome of blankness.

"Please try to understand, my girl!" Cloude pleaded, grabbing Meghghan by the shoulders in a move that would have caused her to reach for the sand, had she had any. "You must leave the city. You must warn everyone you see."

I must leave the city, dreamed Meghghan. And I must warm everyone I see. Well, that's easy, she could let them all borrow Rags for a few minutes each. Problem solved. Determined to complete her new goal, she turned to leave the building.

"No, stop!" cried the mage. Meghghan stopped. "There's fighting in the streets, you saw those men! It's dangerous to go alone! Take this."

From a cupboard filled with strange gewgaws and contraptions that would have interested Meghghan, had she been paying attention, Cloude withdrew an odd, conical... thing. At first glance, it looked like a horn, one of the music-makers that had enraptured Meghghan earlier in the day; but there was something abnormal about it, a puzzlement too subtle for the girl's half-open eyes to notice. It was as if it did not move with Cloude's hands: as if it wanted, with all its ferruginous heart, to be somewhere else.

"My father was a master of the summon magicks," rambled the old man. "Or at least, he said he was. Did a lot of work for clients, overprotective parents and whatnot. So they could summon their children back from whatever illicit clinch they were lucky enough to find themselves in, you know?" THUD. Jangle. "Anyway, he's dead now. I think he is, anyhow. You never can be sure, with an archmage."

How long is it since I last ate, dreamed Meghghan.

"But he never did master summoning in the other direction: summoning of the self to somewhere else. That was me! Eucalyptus Cloude, my girl, remember the name. But these horns, they always break after one use, so up until now, I've never found a market from them. If only they worked even twice, just twice... it would have revolutionised the way we view transport. Day trips to Epayl Nir! I would have been ear-deep in coin." He sighed, again. "As it is, transport's still a nightmare and I'm up to my ankles in bottel-kapp."

Pressing the horn into Meghghan's hands, he continued. "Just think of where you want to be, and sound a note on this. You will be transported there in the blink of an eye. And remember: you must warn everyone, anyone you see. The fate of this world could rest on you."

The cloud is giving me this nice thing, Meghghan dreamed. That is so very friendly of it! I must say thank you!

"Thank you Mister Cloud!" smiled the girl. "Here," and she reached into her quiltrobes once again, removing a ragged old toy bear, "have this 'Rags', and hug him, but give him back, because he is mine."

"Oh! Well thank you for your time, and I hope we have cause to meet again, young..." he trailed off, waiting for a name, but the arrival of the bear in his hands rerouted his train of thought. Holding it, he shivered. Something was not right about this bear.

"Your friend here is quite... odd, isn't he?" he attempted. "Did - did you ever -"

THUD. Jangle. THUD. CRASH.

"There isn't time!" Cloude yelped, pushing Rags back into her hands. "Blow into the horn, quickly!" She raised it to her lips.

I am hungry, dreamed Meghghan Waltz, as she vanished.
06-19-2011, 03:54
Chaotix

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Frijyk's eyes widened at the old wizard's display of raw magical power. He had silenced the pointy-eared man with a lightning bolt that he launched with a casual flick of his wrist. He got the feeling that the two men were not on the best of terms, but they did not immediately start fighting, so he assumed they were companions of sort. The young green-haired girl and the beautiful woman and her tamed beast gave no indication of joining the conversation.

Frijyk had missed much of the subtext of the old mage's words due to the language barrier.

"I-am from the north... the mountains. Where I-am from, all-have pale skin."

Frijyk was wary of divulging any more of his past. He was more concerned with the present, so he changed he subject.

"What about you? How-should I call you? All-of you, I mean. You are all... different as well."
06-19-2011, 04:08
thefluffyone93

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"Well, you can call me Morangul. As for the others," the lich looked over at the two elves
and the Fey, realizing he has yet to learn a single thing about them.

"Ehh...Its better for them to introduce themselves. Now, you said you were from the northern mountains, yes?"
The blue lad nodded meekly, still quite confused about everything he saw.
"Hmmm..." Morangul once again racked his brain for any information that could help identify
where human standing in front of him.
The only thing that came to mind was an ancient legend about a tribe of humans that fled the first
invasion of the demons. By hiding in the northern mountains.
Could this be true? Could he really be from....well, only one way to find out.

"Could you possibly be from...oh what was the name again?
Oh yes, the Borian tribe?"

The look of surprise on the human gave Morangul his answer.
06-19-2011, 04:28
seireikhaan

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Kyran couldn't hide is scowl as Morangul began his inquisition of the strange man. He turned to the man. "I am Kyran," he said, pointing to himself. The lad's language seemed a bit off, so hand signals seemed a safe bet. "Kyran. I am an elf. She is an elf too," he said, pointing towards the woman behind the guard of the feline.

Finishing his introduction to the lost lad, he turned back to Morangul. "What's your aim? Why are you troubling us? I asked you questions, and you attacked. I have lived these woods a long time, and never have I seen you before. Why are you stalking my home? Like all men, there must be something you want that made you reveal yourself."
06-19-2011, 04:38
Chaotix

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

Frijyk was completely thrown off by this Morangul person's correctly guessing the ancient and little-known culture to which he belonged. But he was not about to give away any more information than he needed to.

"No. I-am no longer welcome among those people."

The above was not true in the slightest. His grandfather was disgraced, but they were still members of the tribe, and it was unthinkable to abandon or exile in the Borian culture- they were already dwindling without kicking people out. But Frijyk said those words with such conviction as to indicate it was a sore subject and to discourage any further questioning.

Frijyk's own questions had not yet fully been answered, and so he finished speaking. In
the meantime, he found his eyes periodically drifting over to the aistar and it's beautiful owner. "Elf", Kyran had called himself and this woman. They were unlike Lassaran humans, possessing a sort of grace and respect for nature that he had previously only associated with his own tribe. Frijyk suspected he had more in common with these elves than with the humans of his land.
06-19-2011, 04:40
thefluffyone93

Re: Lassara - Shards of Neril - Story Thread

"Ok then, Borian, you can tell me your story later."
Morangul then turned to Kyran.

"And you!"

"If you really think that causing a tree branch to wrap around someone is a good way to start
a conversation, you're even more out of touch than I am!" Morangul said with a bit of laughter.
"If you forgot already, I'm a lich, and if someone uses magic on me, what do you think my
first reaction would be?"

"But, if you must know, I have been in this forest centuries before you were even born.
Its just that I've been sealed up in my sunken fortress until now. I was traveling to Lassara to
investigate whether or not the return of Vayne and the demons had anything to do with the seals
weakening on my prison, allowing me to escape."

Morangul was quite surprised when he saw the looks on Kyran and the Borian's face.

".......You.....did know that Vayne returned with a massive army and flying fortress, sacking Lassara, right?"

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