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 Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:07 pm
Stoneshaper appeared in the woman's cell, holding a robe and a plate. "Food and clothes." He said in his soft voice. He was roughly six feet tall, and had a strangely pale complexion. His grey eyes looked older than his physical body, which seemed to mimic the colouration of stone. He pointed a finger at the wall, and a slabe moved out in the shape of a bed. "Rest." He walked through the wall with little notice that it was ever there.
Soon their after, the sound of screaming seemed to echo off the rocks, but it could have just been the woman's imagination.
Fresh air entered the room from the bowl in the centre, the old air seemingly disappeared as the new came in. On the ground was the remenents of a piece of chalk.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:15 pm
She did not move when the man came in, though she did not see how he did it. She wasn't hungry, so she ignored the food, and the bed too. Her floor was stone, her bed was stone, waht did it matter whre she slept? It was all the same. She threw the robe over she shoulders, but she didn't submit to putting the damn thing on. The screams, imgained or real she didn't know, made her grind her death. The damn bastards, she was finally out of Deep Water, she had finally gotten away from that...pathetic excuse for a human they called king.
Someone as going to get hurt, as soon as she found soemtihng to hit them with. Course, looking around, she figured she'd be the one to get hurt first. She put her chin in one hand, that elbow on her knee.
"Peachy."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:23 pm
It could have been hours, it could have been days, it could very well have been five minutes, but then, the strangest thing happened to the favorite prisoner. A drow elf appeared in the centre of the room, dressed in battle atire, actually, it was that drow elf who asked them to surrender.
"Greetings." He began cheerfully, "Sorry about the missunderstanding, I was looking for political prisoners, and found a few peasents." He smiled, his arms were resting at his sides, his scimitar's were sheived and he tilted his head. "If I did not come personally, I feared you might have been mistreated, or mutilated like the others... They refused to talk, like they didn't know the answers to our questions... Saddly, they needed not to suffer." He could have been lying, or he could be telling the truth. His tone was so masterfully desguised and controlled, he could be telling her she was his long lost daughter and she could have believed him, if it were not for the obvious difference in genetics... Then again, he could tell her his name, and she would not believe him...
"IF you answer my three questions. I will let you go." Tarathiel said with a smile. "Together we can destroy D'mitri and his kingdom, or you can die and I do it alone." He turned his head and looked at the wall.
"You'd never believe where we are... Then again, I don't think I shall tell you anyway."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:29 pm
Onyx saw the direction Moon pointed, and climbed up on the rocks, and flared his wings, heading in that direction yelling over his shoulder.
"Take Bode to Piper's, I'm going after Whirlwind and Ironsides!"
And as hard as his wings coudl flap, and gliding on thermals, heading in teh direction Moonstone pointed.
Malik nodded lightly at Keiran.
"Me and her have a special relation. she's wild, and I tamed her somewhat. every Shadowknight, once they reach a certain skill, is offered a quest. a chance to find a mount that is thiers, a mount that will follow them through light or dark. most don't survive the rigors of such quests, and those that do are lauded not only for survival, but for thier mount. Some come back with missing limbs but powerful and loyal rides. I foudn her in the shadows of Hate itself. fought her, bested her, and borke her to bridle and armor. Piper can ride her, but not easily. she doesn't obey piper like she does me."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:31 pm
She regarded him with a cool stare. Inside she was quite frightened, and she was pretty sure this drow knew it. She didn't much care. She would just not show it, that's all. "It does not matter, if I believe we ae where you say we are, as it doesn't matter where we are to begin with. I don't much care." She took off the robe, threw it on the "bed." HSe couldn't tell if he legs were week from standing, or bored from standing. She just didn't know how the time passed here. Maybe it didn't.
"You say you'll 'let me go," well let me go where? Open up a doo to the cell abd push me off a cliff? Or will you send me back to my...." well they weren't really friends yet were they? She had even threatened Onyx, twice if she recalled correctly, "Escorts?"
Ugh, it didn't matte either. She sighed. "Ask your questions," she waved a hand vaugly.
Moonstone shook his head. Onyx giving orders? the idea was unheard of. Still, he couldn't fight with Bode in his arms, and his wings wouldn't hold him up for ever. Letting out a sigh, he pumped his wings to gain a bit of altitude and head for Piper's place, following scents on the wind.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:37 pm
The open water was calm, no sign of movement, no sign of schoners or larger vessels. It was as if the ship simply disappeared.
Judging by the speed at which the ship retreated from what appeared to be fiery doom, it could not have travelled more than several miles, but the calm waters did not show a wave trail, which was impossible for a moving vessel to accomplish without... Without usuing a water elemental to reshape the waves...
A few miles away from the spying flier, the crew of the Salmander watched him back, completely unseen. A wizard, Orko, got a strang idea that would make the cat's skin crawl. He formed a small group with the wizards and Warhammer, then caused a glamour to form in the water ner the cliffs. A giant air bubble, followed by giant kraken tenticles and a scream. For an added effect, a few wooden splinters were added, floating up from some unseen abyss. Then the waters went calm, and the splints remained.
Warhammer walked to the bow of the ship, and whispered into the water, the ship didn't move, nor did anything make a sound. To bad the winds had died, and the pulse was headed further out to see, carring what was left of the crew's scent.
Tarathiel tilted his head. "Do you know anything about D'mitri's defences, the number of his legions, and the names of the most loyal of captains and commanders?" The drow looked at the robe, "Please, do dress. My wizards do not deserve to be treated by your nude form."
"Where do you want to go?" The drow paused, "Is my final question. If you do not cooperate, my minions will not be so pleasent. Your shipmates got the same treatment. This is not special for you, special prisoner."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:47 pm
That got a raised eyebrow. "Pip can ride a Nightmare?" Even if she did it to a less than easy degree, it would still be impressive that she wouldn't get thrown. Though he chuckled lightly and nodded in rather approving fashion. "Then again she would be one to brave a Nightmare. I remember she used to want to take a shot at them in the fields...and more so the Zephyr Nightmare crosses." Then he was bumped again in the back and he looked to Nerian noticing that with the arrival of Malik, he had gotten rather fidgety. "Putta ai'nandor Nerian." Though that didn't seem to do anything and Kieran merely took to rubbing at Zephyr's snout. "Shadowknight...impressive title. Tell me, what does the class entail? I still haven't breeched that yet."
Dressed, but somewhat slow still, she was looking for her bandana...where the hell was that thing. Bright red piece of cloth and she couldn't find it. She swore if Malik hid it like that one time she was going to kick him around. But then she remembered where it usually ended up. And so she slipped her hand under the mattress, feeling around and ah ha, there it was. It usually ended up tucked under the edge of the mattress to keep track of it. Rolling it over she tied it on in normal fashion, fixing her hair and all to make sure everything at right and her ears were covered. A tug at her collar and she made her way from the room...getting the giggles again.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:51 pm
Onyx glided toward the glamour..but once the scream wasn't human, and no other remains to a ship that damn large...he ignored it. and landed nearby on a cliff edge, wings flared slightly, testing the wind, nose searching for scents. wood, flesh, anything worth noting.
"I know you are out there! Coward! You horned cow! Why don't you want to fight me without your comrades and magics! Warhammer! Give me back what's mine..or so help me when I find your ship I'm going to burn it and eat every crewmember on that ship just for the taste of charred flesh!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:55 pm
She looked down at her tattered silks. "What's wrong withmy body?" But she complied and threw the robe around her shouldesr once more. She didn't feel like getting into a tiff with a man who had a sword. Although she continued to glare coldly at him. Shipmates? Smae treatment? Good luck getting anytihng out of them.
She answered. "The difensis lie in the wall structure. Shaped like the spokes on a wheel, they glide outward from the center. Other walls block these ones at regualr and iregular intervals. There is no gate that is fornt of another gate. There are several agtes. The whole this i a structured spell. I don't know the little details of it myself, but genreally the whole tihngs creates a...how sohuld I put it...manuverable shield around the castle.
"His legions..." she had to tihnk about this one. Some suspected that he sued the salves as a backup, fodder if you will, to throw at the oncomming enemy. Some did not believe that he would spare slave lives like that...some belived he did not have many slaves to begging with. Lie. "4000 on men. Ten sub divisons, ten recruited special forces in each. Four Crimson Gaurd, his most loyal. And Wizon Watch Tower."
And wehre did she want to go? Well, to home really, but she did not think even this drow knew where it was. Plus, she anted to see Dimirti's downfall. "I want to go where we were headed."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:01 pm
Jin nearly keeled over with laughter, but the gravity of the situation was still set in. Warhammer did not have pride, nor did he care perticularly for anyone on the ship, at least, at the moment. If Warhammer had heard the plea, for to Jin, it could be nothing else, he made no mention of it.
Sstrl looked out over the edge of the boat, and judged the foe's strength.
Aven, the third largest crew member waited by the rutter looking out at the strange flying creature. He thought it looked rather sad, and quite pathetic.
Warhammer, still at the bow of the ship, continued to speak soothing words to the water. He grew weary of the clam. "The captain always despises the lawfulness of nature." A moment later, the ground beneth Onyx formed into a roughly human shape, and began to throw chunks of earth at the flying denizen. The water elemental, meanwhile, continued to control the waves near the boat, easing the hidden ship away from the cat. "Hopefully the earth elemental will distract the creature long enough for us to position ourselves for the next raid." The minotaur said with little concern. Six seconds was all the time Warhammer actually needed to move the ship, but then the Captain would be upset with him. THe captain hated not having a trail to follow back to his ship. Warhammer lived for the joy of the captain.
Tarathiel looked into the woman's eyes, and noted something in them, a sparkle or twinkle that illuminated hope or desire... And she lied about the numbers. Specific numbers didn't matter, a ball park did. So he would have to deal with an armies thousands. That was easy enough.
"Unfortunately, I do not know where you were going so I cannot take you there. And since I am not asking you any more questions, you will have to deal with where I take you and when I take you there. For now, you should rest here, and allow the toxin to wear out of your system. You are no safer here than you would be with your own company of bodyguards. Remember though, we are drow, save for a few... I would ask you to join us in our endevour to subplant D'mitri, but I can not ask any more questions. Well, I shall return in a few hours, buy then I will have a better understanding of where you fit into the the riddle that is the destruction of the order in this land... Perhaps I know a place that you might desire, but should I offer it, you would think i was lying, so I will allow yout to ponder what I might offer you, a thing or place you most desire. Or at least, would enjoy." Tarathiel bowed, and slowly vanished from the room. "Think about my offer."
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:15 pm
He asked no more question yet kept throwing them out there, didn't he? She did not look away from the drow's eyes. A habit she had gotten inot when younger. Look away and they attack with sometihng you didn't expect. She sat down on the floor as he left. "You are an intersting person, Captain."
She did indeed, think aobut the offer. It was cetainly inticing, and sparked a fire deep down, the little voice of vengance. My, but it was a seducing sound.
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:28 pm
"A shadowknight is a blending of a warrior and a necromancer. I weild some of the spells of a necromancer..such as lifetaps, disease and poison magics, the banshee aura, a few minro weapon augments and some invisiblity spells. I can summon a skeletal pet, using a bonechip..it's not near as powerufl as the summoned dead of a true necromancer though. you coudl say we are the dark side of the coin to a Paladin. Of course, the pride of our skill, is the Harm Touch. I can lay my hand on an enemy, and send through him such pain and torment as to collapse a man with ease, even seriously cripple an ogre or troll. that skill gains power as the shadowknight himelf does..the strongest can kill even a troll with it."
Then a small smile.
"But I'm unique. thanks to MAlvolence, I hae many other powers at my disposal. psionics, for example. increased strength and speed..knowledge of combat techniques of other races. Malvolence feeds me, if I feed it."
Onyx went airbonr the second the first rock landed, and growled lightly, gliding aroudn in large circles looking for anything, the slightest ripple to faintest scent.
"Face me! I know the secret to the pillars of fire now, and if you won't face me, than fine..I'll cover this whole ocean in flames...lets see you hide your ship then!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:34 pm
The Earth elemental continued the half hearted bombardment of the flier, until, many minutes had passed, and the creature simply disolved back into the earth.
Surprisingly, Warhammer laughed when he was told the treat, the captain would very much like to see the sea burn. It was unnatural to the fullest degree.
"We need to get the Salmander upgrade." Warhammer said out loud. Sstrl and Aven didn't know what he was talking about, so they returned to their normal duties. The drow though, they understood well. Salmander's upgrade made the ship fireproof, through the fusion of specific mineral compounds into the wood to create a new substance that was like wood, but fireproof.
Several of the drow located the wizards and they began the prepriations. Warhammer looked back over the distance, the flier was a small spec now. For a brief moment, Warhammer wondered what he would have done if he truly cared about anything beyond the captian's will...
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:43 pm
Kieran more or less equaled a sponge...whether he looked like he was paying attention or not was an entirely different matter, but he caught the information none the less. Besides, why write it down at the moment when you could enter a reverie and retrieve it that way? Exactly. "Quite the fascinating thing there, and I can see how you easily can analogize yourself as a dark paladin. And by the way, remind me to not get on your bad side...I've already felt a punch and I believe I don't want anymore demonstration." Kieran cocked his head to the side slightly, on hand still petting over Nerian. "Malvolence...that would be?"
Piper was actually sitting up in one of the odd trees that was nearby. When had she gotten there? Easily, when Malik was babbling and father was absorbing. Hell Malik said she could climb trees again, she had free time, she intended to. But she was also listening to them chat about Malik and all things associated with Malik. Father...of course he would want to do that. Malik was her fiance' not his study project. Maybe she just didn't want him to push the wrong buttons and thus bring about Malik's less preferable side. Nightmares, Shadowknights, Malvolence...rather gloomy talk. To her at least.
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:54 pm
"my companion. the blade that I always have, save when Piper relieves me of it. It was forged by my father, to capture the essence of the beast, Cymarron. a Vah Shir..and a tigerlike race..that had a special gift. to absorb memories, talents, strength, powers of enemies by eating them. my father infused the blade with his blood, and bound a vampiric soul to it. Malvolence can also absorb souls and talents..but can only give them to his weilder. and in return, all he asks is for bloodshed."
Before looking a Keiran a bit longer.
"You aren't disturbed that a person like me is with your daughter? Despite what she tells you of me?"
Onyx was highly frustrated now, and so he just kept glding until finally he gave up and headed back toward where he last saw moon. he'd get Piper to help..or that Oracle..someone. that ship had to dock someplace.
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