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 Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:05 pm
 I am gone from my home, my world...
It would seem his hopes had not been for naught, and the two girls squeezed into the almost uncomfortably small cell, with the food and his equipment. "I am very glad to have actually met you and grateful for your company, and all that you have done for me." He looked up at both of them, incerity showing itself.
"I deserve much worse, losing myself the way I did, endangering all of your lives," he cleared his throat. "Again, thank you."
He laughed at the outwardness of the snow leopard girl, who was seemingly amazed with him. He looked at the tray, and it looked more like a feast then a platter of morsals. Had it really been all that long since he had eaten real food?
"Let me think," Gwarn said, looking into her eyes. He tried to concentrate on which had taken more effort and more care, through her surface thoughts, but it was a haze to him. That magic had not neccesarily been lost, just addled. He grinned, knowing more challenges awaited when he was released from this hovel. "Perhaps.." he said, looking at the tray, "perhaps this one."
With a small stick on the edge of the tray in a box of similar sticks, he began to smalpe the culinary delights desplayed on the page. A meat, smoky and wild flavor drew his attention the most.
Then the second question hit.
His home plane was far from here, but it had long been forsaken to him. He started to explain he was a Rakshasa who had been born, not neccesarily with deffects, but different. He paused a moment.
"Most Rakshasa's have palms where the back of a normal race would have the back of the hand. If you look, you will see tha mine are not."
He held his hands up, their normallity not truly drawing too much interest.
He went on with his story then, telling them of his banishment from the lower planes to the prime material, where he rose to become a warrior king in the mountains and tundra of the spine of the world, but accross the barren ice, towards the lands of Kara-tur and other eastern civilizations. He lead his people, other banished peoples from their own races, to honor and glory, a keep high in the mountains and land which was fertile.
He was adviced by his councellors to see the wise woman of the spine during his last days in the north.
She told him that there was one, on the continent of Faerun, along the western shore, who would be able to bring his father's people to justice.
The Rakshasa were evil in nature, but some, like Gwarn, had good hearts, able bodies, and sharp minds, but not truly the power to hold the feral rages at bay. Perhaps when his ancestors had been brought to the light, a god or goddess would hear their plea, change them, heal them.
"I was given a small device, a product of the time of troubles, called a rift device, these are peices of the broken weave of magic, and in them, is a magic power so strong and versatile, it can be shaped to any means. This was given to me by...." He had to stop and think of the name. Was it Elman? Emrol? Elminster?
He coudn't remeber, and continued his tale.
"He told me it would take me to the one I sought, and I thought it would work. I beleived him. The man I was supposed to find, the tainted soul, it is obviously not what the device was attuned to. This place is not home to that man....."
But it is really gone from me?
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:22 pm
Coline didn't move an inch as the beast shuffled about, surprisingly enough, hands still locked with the drow's. Brow furrowed slightly she returned her twisted grin with a passive expression, allowing a few thoughtful moments to pass before she spoke.
"...I see. That's very honorable of you." she began, placing her trident securely onto her back. Regardless of whether she was willing or not, the fact remained that the toad-like creature fulfilled its duty to its master. And Coline found it to be an act that merited a certain degree of respect. She lifted her hand to meet the beast's massive finger, shaking it as best she could. "Likewise. It's a pleasure to meet you... Miss Corie."
Her eyes trailed towards the remaining gifts sprawled across the cave floor. "I'm afraid you caught us in the middle of something important. We've just about finished stacking up the boxes." she turned back to the beast, a little flustered. "Surely you haven't been instructed to topple everything back down...?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:59 pm
 “So you are stuck here too,” Feline blurted out sadly after hearing his tale, “I was the Goddess, I guess the best word is leader of my land. During a great work of magic that went wrong and I woke up here with no way of getting back either. I’m sorry that what you sought is not here.”She wished to reach out and touch him again, but held herself back afraid of…well she didn’t want to think that far. After that brief touch earlier the fur had dulled again. It made Feline curious as to why that happened. Her amethyst heated up on her breast as she pondered that. It seemed to want to tell her something, but Feline was not able to understand what that was yet. The storm thundering outside reminded her of the night she drug him in. Something occurred to her. “Gwarn, the night you came here. You were carried here by another man. Both of you were bleeding to death by the time I drug you both to the healers.” She paused and looked up at him, “The thing is that the man who came in with you is also from another dimension. I was in one of the leaders study’s when he appeared to pledge himself to the High Priestess and he spoke of traveling through planes in the same manner as you have.”Feline took a breath and looked away again, “I don’t want to get your hopes up, but he may be someone you’ll want to speak to when,” her voice caught, “I mean if you get out of here.”Looking out at the rain that pounded the ground Feline could feel it falling in her heart. Gwarn’s situation was mirroring her too closely at times and she had to wonder if that was why she was putting so much effort in helping him. Looking back at him eagerly eating through Meta’s plate of food, she smiled. There was more to it than just her sorrows, the more she got to know him the more she began to like him. “I’ve asked the High Priestess to come and speak with you to give you a fair hearing. What you choose to do with that is up to you.” Feline informed him, “I also managed to pick up your sword when I went to gather your gear. I promise you that it will be kept safe in my keeping till the day I can return it to you.” She bowed deeply giving her promise as much formality as she could.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 1:33 pm
"Of course not," the slaad replied cheerfully, having waggled her clasped finger in a strange mockery of the human greeting. "What kind of monster do you take me for? I'm here to help you move them."
Jessie raised his eyebrow. "Really?" he inflected, obviously surprised "That's... surprising of Cressa. She doesn't usually let you take your form for such trivial reasons..."
"And don't I know it," the beast grumbled, before raising itself to its full height and belting out another mighty roar. The two humanoids couldn't help but cringe, clutching at each other.
"Stop that," Jessie growled, free hand going to his ear.
"My apologies," Corie answered, not sounding apologetic at all "It's just so good to be free!"
"Yes..." the drow mumbled "It is good to be free."
A short silence passed.
"Well, I for one am glad that Cressa apparently had too much fun on her date to come back and help us. Corie makes things ten times easier than another pair of hands."
He nodded to the creature, gesturing around at the piles of boxes. "Go ahead - show Coline what you can do."
"With pleasure," the servant replied, stooping to scoop up - wow. Her hulking, gigantesque arms could easily hold the equivalent of around twenty trips for the pair alone. And what she didn't manage to lift up in one, Jessie then set about picking up and tossing onto the held pile.
Jessie looked back towards his Coline, motioning towards the creature with a box he'd just picked up. The thought of asking her to help him pick up the stragglers apparently hadn't crossed his mind. "Go ahead and climb up on her back. You should find plenty of holds."
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:48 pm
I am gone from my home, my world...
"I do hope one day we both find what it is we are looking for."
He turned to the other girl, Meta, who was oddly silent, for she had been the one to ask the questions.
He was enjoying the food immensely, it was truly a feast.
"I have to say, Meta," he said between mouthfuls, "Your cooking is the most exquisite I have ever had."
Another swallow, and an audible gulp, and he finished.
"Might I ask how you came to be here?"
But it is really gone from me?
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 12:23 am
I don't like to think of myself as "evil," as such...
Cressa sat scowling, her head pulled against the man's chest. This wasn't exactly the most comfortable position for her. She didn't really do snuggling so long after sex.
Eventually her irritation got the better of her and she wriggled, shucking the man's arms from around her.
"Okay, that's quite enough," she dismissed, a hint of agitation in her voice, standing up in one fluid movement. This was a feat the vast majority of humans would struggle with, but she and Jessie did it naturally and consistently. "Are you going to take me back to your Temple, or do you plan to detain me here all day?"
Detain was exactly the appropriate word. So much time spent with a conquest wasn't good for the soul, and she certainly wasn't going to do it by choice.
...I much prefer the term "morally challenged."
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:09 am
They wouldn't love me if they knew what I look like...
The Priestess glanced away as he reminded her of last week's events. "Ah..." she began, laughing a little again "You're right, of course. I must have very little stamina, compared to you. But still..."
She trailed off, wanting to remind him again of the important of his health to her... but that sounded so implicateous in her head that it wasn't worth voicing.
The silence brought her attention to her hands, which he was clasping just in front of his chest. She blushed a pale shade of pink, but didn't pull away.
"...Um... so, what are you working on today?" she asked, raising her eyes to look at him again. His research was fascinating to her. It reminded her of the sort of work she'd aspired to before he'd decided that school wasn't the place for any woman of his. She'd then resigned herself to being a fiction writer, but really she couldn't help but feel she'd be more fulfilled as an academic writer.
...Beneath these robes, and this dye, and this stupid fancy title.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 4:41 am
The beastly roar was cringe-worthy yet somehow it rang melodic in the recruit's ears. A small smile formed up her lips. Coline knew better than most what it felt like to have a taste of freedom, especially after a lifetime of imprisonment; she could easily compare it to being reborn, like pressing the reset button in life and starting off with a clean slate. Although there were times when she'd stop and think whether or not she'd pressed that button hard enough.
Now was one of those times.
Her eyes drifted from the toad-like creature and her astonishing feat to Jessie who was diligently setting scattered boxes atop the pile in the beast's hands. She slowly ran a hand up her arm, thoughts of that morning and the events of the week before playing simultaneously in her mind. After many years she never imagined to be placed in a situation like this again. It was another opportunity, no doubt, but... Was it worth the risk?
Straightening herself, Coline nodded upon the drow's instruction and did as she was told, grabbing at the scale-like material on Corie's back in order to hoist herself up. Once there she paused for a few moments of thought before turning to address the beast. "We're headed for a small wooden house at the far end of the Isle's residential district. I'll... point you the directions if you're not familiar with the area."
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:18 am
"We know the island well - do we not, Jessie?" Corie replied, a hint of mocking we-know-something-you-don't in her voice.
"Yes, we do," the drow agreed, giving her a sharp look as he tossed the last box up into her arms.
The toad-beast smiled smugly as he moved around to her back and hoisted himself up. "Still, be sure to keep pointing me in the right direction."
The slaad gave a sudden turn to the left in order to face the mouth of the cave. Jessie, who'd clung on tightly in anticipation of the movement, then shifted himself nimbly across its back, his arm on Coline's side reaching across her to grab a scale-hold to the side of her head.
"Don't worry," was his whispered reassurance as his body enfolded hers, shielding and holding it in place "I won't let you fall."
He braced himself, and suddenly Corie was off, powerful limbs propelling her out of the cave like a bullet. She jumped, and the leap carried them over the treetops, coming back down to earth with only a few metres of forest left for her to steamroll through. Across the open plains she ran like a runaway train - anyone who didn't get out of her way wouldn't live to regret it. It was a bumpy ride for her passengers, but once you got into the rhythm of her movements it was almost pleasurable. Still, Jessie kept himself alert and covering her protectively. He wasn't going to risk a sudden jolt sending his inexperienced kalye'chev flying to the ground.
They breezed past the southern side of the town - what must people have thought if they saw such a creature racing by? - and Corie came to a sudden stop, throwing her two riders forward and into her back hard. Well, Coline was thrust into her back, anyway. Jessie was thrust into Coline.
"Where to now, hon? Are we close?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:28 am
A low groan escaped Coline's lips as her body roughly met the beast's back, her own firmly pinned down by the Jessie's. She stayed in that awkwardly sandwiched position for some time, feeling the pattering of the rain against the back of her head, before pushing herself up ever so slightly to point a shaky finger forward. "T-Turn right when you reach the end, and go straight ahead. It's the only house there. You can't miss it."
Following the girl's directions, sure enough, they came upon a lone wooden house at the end of the pathway. There were no need for words; a sudden shuffle of movement on her part was enough to signal the drow that they've arrived, and the two slid down Corie's back onto the damp ground. Taking his hand Coline made hasty steps towards the covered platform, safe from the rain, and with swiftness that could only be acquired through experience detached the trident from her back and set it carefully beside the door.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, head snapping towards Jessie, pausing for a moment to roam her eyes over his form. Her heart sank; he'd been shielding her from the rain all this time. She'll have enough time to apologize later, but right now... "I'm almost certain you have a mass of weapons on you," she began, lifting her gaze back up to meet his. "But please keep them out of the Priestess' sight as much as possible. She..." she turned her head towards the door. "Weapons upset her."
It took no longer than a few seconds after knocking that they heard light yet hurried footsteps from the other side of the door, swinging open to reveal a loosely-robed woman in her mid-thirties. Coline's head shot downward almost instantly. "I'm sorry for troubling you, Priestess. I promise we won't take too long."
"Coline!" the Priestess cried out in delight, settling down upon seeing the... strange-looking fellow she was with. Emerald eyes watched him with curiosity and a warm smile soon formed up her pale lips, eyes turning back to the girl. "Don't be silly, dear. You can stay for as long as you... OH!!" The woman's eyes bulged and she staggered back a few steps, one hand clasped over her mouth, the other clutching the doorframe.
The recruit rose her head up, looking over her shoulder to where the Priestess' fear-stricken eyes were directed to. Oh... right. She turned back to her with a sheepish grin. "D-Don't worry. She's a friend."
"Is... Is that so..." she answered back, slowly regaining her composure. The Priestess took a few paces forward, peering over to look at the toad-like beast with a hefty amount of boxes in its hands. My... how curious. "I don't think my home is big enough to accommodate your... friend... but please," she gestured for the two to step inside, her voice warm and welcoming. "Make yourselves at home."
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:30 am
 ☼ "I come from the North, where there is no autumn..."Meta listened to Gwarn's story, thinking as she listened. "Oh, thank you so much! My mother taught me." she grinned. "To tell you the truth, I don't exactly know how I came to get here. It seems a lot of things.... just happened...." she trailed off, looking like she was thinking something over. She scratched the back of her left hand in thought. "I hade come to Gambino Isle to buy some new harp strings with a friend of mine, and the war suddenly broke out. We both got caught up in it, but... he was captured. I joined this specific group to see if I could find him again." Meta looked sad, almost haunted as she spoke. Abruptly, though, her demeanor changed to one of mischievousness. "And hey, we had a sexy piece of demigod to follow! I worked my way up in the ranks to try and get into one of the orgies. You know how long it's been since I found a good piece o' tail? Ever since that Bapp kid disappeared, I haven't been able to find anyone..." Here again, her demeanor changed back to one of sadness. "Have you seen another felinid anywhere here, a few inches taller than me, generally auburn in coloring?" She scratched her hand again. "Damn, my crystal is acting up." "...Where the cold crouches over you like a snow leopard waiting to pounce." ☼
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:03 am
Do I control the blades in my hands?
The tone in her voice made him noticeably irritated.
Did she not know that staying in shelter in the middle of a storm was the best course of action? By Torm, this woman was a handful.
"Cressa," he said, looking into her face, a stern look on his. "This storm is strong enough to swallow us from the mud beneath us, and it will get worse," he looked away from her.
The rain came down like bullets, fast and hard, pelting the canopy of leaves above their head that he was lucky to have found before the mud became to watered down. the bed of moss was a good three feet up from the ground they had stepped up from, and the ground that they had stepped up from was now liquid, deep and treacherous. He explained it to her.
She still was huffing and being a brat after that.
"Look," He said, the blue aura coming back to his eyes, his voice serious, "It is my responsibility to not let you, or anyone else under my protection get hurt or deathly ill by means I can prevent."
He knew she could still here him when he spoke under his breath, but it didn't matter to him. "I would hate to tie you up and wait till it is sure to be safe getting back."
Or do they control me?
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:05 am
I am gone from my home, my world...
Were people in this realm always so forward about sex? he thought to himself. She must have been an extraordinary cook, this girl's mother.
He chuckled with sadness in his voice though, when she asked about her friend. "I am afraid not, miss Metaburo, I have been... Down here all this time."
He straightened, and looked back at her, not knowing how t express himself fully, to either of them. He was just glad that the bedsheet was both stiff and tight enough around his midriff in order to alleviate any mishaps.
But another thing she said caught his attention..
"Your crystals?" he asked.
But it is really gone from me?
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:11 am
Feline ears perked up when Meta mentioned a crystal. In her homeland it had been a rare talent to be able to speak to gems, so the last place she expected to find another was in this Gaia. What was odd though was this one seemed to be in the woman’s hand, not separate from her as most gems Feline had dealt with. “I’m sorry, I’ve not seen any other felinid. I was actually surprised to find you, but what is this crystal in your hand?” Feline pointed with curiosity at her hand. She wanted to pull out her amethyst and show Meta, but caution stopped her. The last thing she wanted was word getting round to Panda that she had it. One day she hoped to be able to wear it proudly on her forehead where it belonged, but that day would not come soon.
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:24 am
☼ "I come from the North, where there is no autumn..."
Meta noticed his eyes widened when she spoke about... her escapades. She rolled her eyes.
"No, most people aren't that forward about sex, usually, so don't get your shorts in a knot. I grew up around a lot of Alsemarians, and they're INCREDIBLY forward. Heck, my friend Corinan tries to woo practically anything that moves! Oh, my crystal."
She brought the back of her left hand into the light, and something glinted in the dim light that filtered through the bars.
On her left hand, they could see there was an intricate tattoo on the back. Most of the fur there had been burned away, leaving bright white skin exposed where there weren't dark ink marks. A circle centered on the back of her hand contained a crescent moon shape, the only place that the fur remained, creating a crater-like pattern in the crescent. Around the circle, five smaller ones were placed at equal distances, each containing a different symbol. They were all connected by strings of similar symbols. Five even smaller circles were tattooed on each of her knuckles, showing five phases of the moon.
But the most striking thing about these markings was in the center of the crescent's circle. A slightly milky, slightly blue stone gemstone shard was implanted into her skin directly in the center. Rays drawn out from it completed the crescent's circle, and the crystal seems to be glowing very slightly.
"This is a sigil... from my clan. The crystal aids in my magic use, and will usually glow when... a member of my clan is nearby, or someone close to me. That's why I asked you about that person..." she trailed off, looking out the slit-window thoughtfully, rather wistfully.
"No matter! How would you like some new clothes? I'm sure I have some wrap-cloths that might fit you. Tribal clothing design is very adaptable."
"...Where the cold crouches over you like a snow leopard waiting to pounce." ☼
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