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 Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:01 am
This was probably the first time in the couple months he'd been living in Au Shinduago that he walked more than a few blocks with an escort. Now he was wandering the city alone, bareback on his placid gelding. Halvard was blind in the dark, unlike the Shadow Guard's cavalry herd, but he didn't mind. There wasn't much that he could see through the cloud of white and black mane that hung past his lips, and there certainly was nothing that the druid on his back wouldn't lead him through. He wore no saddle, no bridle, not even a rope around his neck. Harou was gentle enough to not need them.
It felt strange to be alone, away from the base. For the past two decades or so, he'd been living under Kal'Daka's watchful gaze. Anyone that talked to him was interrogated. Anyone that looked at him was glared away. Anyone that got close to him? The Inquisition. Complete with death penalty if she so saw fit. He knew he needed the vigil, but a little independence wouldn't hurt. He already felt horrible enough being forced to live in this cesspool of evil and chaos that was this city. Now while he could hole himself up in his room at the run-down inn and try to pretend that if he opened the curtains he'd see sunlight... it only worked for so long. The mice and horses were only so much company. He would say that the entirety of the Shadow Guard were like a bunch of children that he needed to baby sit, but his own son had been such an angel growing up (... excluding the violent shifts in mood, but that was nothing the half-dryad could help) that he felt like he was somehow insulting Torsten by throwing him in with this lot...
Halvard stopped when he felt his rider heave a heavy sigh, tossing his head back a little to try and free up a soft brown eye from under the explosion of silk permanently obscuring his view. "Don't worry. Just thinking about things." He gave the black and white cob a good pat and they continued to plod along through the thinning crowds the further and further they got from the city.
As he climbed in elevation, he caught the heat wave of massive amounts of bodies, trying to pass it off as nothing. They hadn't been there before, and he hadn't heard much of anything... no one would invade that city, right? Lord Val'atar, devil of a man, had the whole city patrolled as if the premises was the capital of all knowledge, military, religion, politics, art, everything. You couldn't so much as sneeze there without a guard looking at you funny, and heaven forbid if you bumped into one. He didn't usually use such derogatory language, but it'd take a moron to try and invade any city run by any half-fiend. Let alone this specific abomination. He'd never met the Lord of the city in person, and he prayed he'd never have to.
The last ring of guards passed, and he let himself ease into the flow of the gelding's pace and soft slope of his shoulders and barrel. The wilds of the underdark were just as dangerous as the city, but, they were the wilds. He could hear Her voice here, resonating out of the natural stone walls and seeping out of the patches of fungi, warning Her revered son of any impending danger.
Or, in this case, a point of interest.
He liked to think his goddess could get away with being subliminal with him, as he was keen enough to pick up on the symbolism. All in an instant, and only for a moment, he felt a surge of pity, or loneliness, and of paternal pride. "An orphan... Out here?" (He couldn't help but let one teeny little chuckle out. That would have taken Kal'Daka months to figure out, and her god just didn't have that kind of patience, often dropping in to 'put something in stupid for her.') Halvard gave a good huff, testing the air to help his friend find this abandoned child. He smelled something alright, tensing and flattening his ears. All the horse caught was a big stinking cloud of negative. Smoke. Demon. Embers. Drow. A few more careful steps and the source of the stench came into his rider's sight.
The smell was the child. Haruk slid off of Halvard's back, kneeling beside the tiny, battered thing. The boy's hair billowed ever so slightly with no wind, surrounded in a soft, smoking haze. When the boy flicked his eyes up to catch a glimpse of the intruder, Haruk couldn't believe his own. They were white-hot, as if they were embers. The child was abyssal... but a child nonetheless. A battered, bleeding, starving, helpless child. "What happened little one?" He wasn't going to bother asking the boy if he was alright. The answer to that was obvious, so he skipped straight to the reaction and placed one hand on the unicorn pendant around his neck, and the other lightly on the boy's forehead. Cure Serious Wounds was a powerful spell on such a little body, and the boy likely felt better than he had in years. "What's your name? I'm Haruk... I just moved here with my little cousin." He knew the boy wouldn't trust him, but there hadn't been a drow born that could even fake his warm, rare smile.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:47 pm
With the ring still looped around his half-a-ring finger, he leaned back against the boulder and sighed, his eyes closing. He wasn’t tired, but he was bored, and he learned pretty fast that boredom would only get him into more trouble if he let it.
So he’d sleep before it did.
Of course, he wouldn’t here. It was too out in the open and he didn’t trust this place enough. He had this small opening in the cavern wall somewhere that was only large enough to squeeze his thin body through, and passed the hole was a tiny cave only big enough for one person. That was where he slept. Now it was just a matter of getting the will to pick himself back up and go there. His legs hurt both from walking and from getting beat, and the idea of walking on them again wasn’t a pleasant one.
That was when he picked up on a noise. Some kind of funny clicking with a rhythm to it, and his eyes started to look around until he spotted the beast that was making it. He’d never seen one before, and the fear of that fact overrode his ideas of how wonderful a creature it looked. And the fact that a man was riding it.
Watching him slip off the creature, Itzal could do nothing except sit there, frozen, as ideas wavered through his mind of what he could possibly want with him, holding the ring in the palm of his closed hand so he couldn’t see it, his body curled tightly into itself as he pushed against the rock.
The man knelt down beside him, and his eyes flickered away from him, his face pale as he listened to what he asked, taking a few long moments before he could answer. “I… I stole something…” There was more to his story, but he couldn’t think of how to word it, nor did he want to say much. He just hoped the man would leave him alone after this. But he heard rustling of moving clothes, and he flinched as his eyes shot up to look as he felt him put a hand against his forehead, feeling the aches and pains leave his body, his fear being replaced with pure shock.
He healed him?
Again he took a while before he answered the older drow, looking up at his warm, genuine smile. He’d never seen someone like this before.. “I’m Itzal..” His some-what raspy voice was kept soft, and would have been barely audible had the man not been right next to him. Then he shifted nervously a little, the shirt he was wearing slipping more down his shoulder, his hands still buried in his lap, hidden from view.
“Why did you heal me?”
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:36 pm
Halvard sensed the boy's unease, and tensed a bit. He couldn't see the source of the smoke and ember and demon and anxiety, though he trusted his friend and rider would shield him from whatever the damned thing was. That was, until, Haruk's scent started to mingle with it. Maybe the bad thing wasn't so bad after all? The gelding relaxed the front of his body, visible to the unseen child, while his haunches remained tensed in the rare event that his master was wrong.
Haruk just smiled softly at the boy when he started to panic, the bright green light cast by his eyes dancing, flowing, and bending along the curved glass and polished metal of his glasses. He didn't need them while in the absolute darkness of the caves, as his infravision was still functioning well enough to get around, but he felt almost naked if he wasn't wearing them, and that wasn't a very comfortable feeling. He went one day without his glasses on the trek down to Au Shinduago, and his own cousin couldn't tell who he was without them. They defined him. "It's alright... I have no place to judge you for that, let alone to punish you. Especially given your circumstances, you're probably only doing what you had to, right?" He reached out to softly pet the boy's hair, almost amazed by it. It was softer than a rabbit's pelt, and every time his hand fell on it, a plume of smoke was pushed out to curl around his slender black fingers. It was near impossible for him to tell how much of the boy's mane was actual hair and how much was mist.
"Pleased to meet you Itzal. You don't have a home, do you? You could come and stay up at the inn with my cousin and I? It's a bit noisy, but it's safe. My cousin's army lives there too. No one will mind sweety. At least come and eat. You need it." He slipped a gentle hand under the boy's chin, tilting it up a bit to look him in the eyes. "I healed you because you needed healed. You were hurt and likely ill."
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:31 pm
His eyes flickered toward the animal that Haruk had been riding, watching it for a moment, but it didn’t seem like it was going to move or anything, so his eyes turned back up to Haruk, looking at the way the glow from his green eyes shined off his glasses. Then he looked off a bit, starting to chew on his lip for a moment before he answered him. “I needed to eat something..” He nodded, and he flinched away slightly when Haruk started to pet his hair back, but even as he calmed down, letting him touch him, his body stayed tense.
He didn’t know Haruk, and he’d learn never to trust people.
Even though Haruk seemed very different from any other drow he’d ever met, he still wasn’t comfortable trusting him. He’d spent too long hating people to let one smile throw that all off. Completely, anyway.
“No… I don’t have a home.” He shook his head, growing both happy and nervous as Haruk offered to give him one at the inn. He had no idea if he should take that offer or not, he really didn’t know if Haruk was someone he could trust, based on passed experiences, which told him no one could be trusted. “I dunno…” He started nervously, afraid to outright decline the offer too. He didn’t know if he’d get mad or not, but he didn’t want to find out.
He looked up at him though, when Haruk lifted his chin. He didn’t understand why he cared about healing someone he didn’t know, no one else would have, or even paid any attention. “Thank you..”
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:16 pm
Along the sides of the caravans the troops marched, a wizard or two spaced between them ever so many feet, the rest of the soldiers marched silently, halved at the front of the caravans and at the back, mages loitered amongst them as well. A wizard, a priestess, and ten soldiers walked close the side of the Matron, the adopted daughter and the matron's Shadow, or by the lizard where the assassin would had been. Shadow went to check on the other assassins who scouted ahead to keep watch and send reports of any dangers. None had returned with any word. A minor apprentice had insisted to Shadow that the silence was due to the fact nothing had taken place, however he the trained assassin was permitted by the Matron to check on the scouts.
Not to much time had passed before Shadow reappeared, nestled again on the lizard as he crept up from the shadows on the ground. The sudden appearance was enough to frighten someone not used to his unique presenting. He had nothing to report either, all the scouts were safe and awaiting the caravan at the river. It was not quiet possible to have a such a large group transported across the river by boat, which would matter little considering a vampire is not able to cross the water as it ran.
They came upon the river quickly, the city still slept aside from the mongrels of little importance. At their approach a few troops were dispatched around the area to keep watch and to handle any approaching enemies. Eclavice jumped from her lizard and rallied three wizards to her side along with the closest priestess. From the folds of her cloak she produced a scroll. She was no fool and came prepared. "With this we will have quicker and more direct access to the other side and a straight shot to the exit." She informed the wizards and priestess. With a flick of her wrist the scroll unfolded to them. Quickly they read the words in their mind, memorizing the exact statement and timing the words perfectly.
As soon as the spell was prepared mentally they gathered in a line facing the river, hands extended forward as they began to chat in perfect timing with one another. The repeated the spell once, then twice, and a third time before the magic began to take effect. At the center of the currents the water flowed against itself. The whole river should be flowing in one general direction, however a break was forming as it started flow in opposite directions. The water crashed hard against itself, the pressure causing both sides to bounce away, the magic held the water in place as it formed a cleat path way of stone to the other side. Two giant walls of water on either side of them the group was uneasy as they moved the frightened lizards along the path. The caravans rolled swiftly, only catching on rocks and snags rarely.
After the last of the pack lizards and his load crossed over the magic was canceled and the water fell back on it itself. The water roared and splashed harshly as it hit. The current was slow to restart its normal routine, but it steadily began to flow once more.
From there the party moved into the dangerous tunnels of the dark. The scouts moved out ahead as the rest behind made a swift departure from the city of Au'Shinduago.
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They were deep within the infested tunnels, now far from the Au'Shinduago, close coming of the city that the Matron hopes will accept them into. They had lost few of their members, mostly due the the minor scrimmage with the cave crawlers and few to fatigue, those to weak to continue were left where they fell. Some others had lost their lives to their own leader, they died with purpose however for she used them to dine. The new blood had lifted Eclavice's spirits, she was still stressed for all dangers and challenges have not passed, but she as not as sour.
The losses were worth every bit of the trip. Eclavice was no longer bound to the city Au'Shinduago and it's controlling ruler she was soon coming to a city which is more open, is welcoming to her new re-found religion and hopefully held a less dramatic atmosphere. She never spared a backward galnce as the city disappeared miles behind her. The once Matron of House Derahel of Au'Shinduago had now only eyes for the city that would soon be before her. Ulorbbath.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 11:13 am
He had left to take a look at the house of the Matron Eclavice, but once there, found it empty. "So...that is what this was all about..." The images from the spiders, Val'atars warnings...it was piecing together. A smile formed along his lips. "So she was ready to migrate was she? That also means...our alliance could of just been for show. That would of been a good plan, I must say." He looks at the ring and smirked, activating a communication spell through it, calling out to Matron Eclavice. "Leaving so soon?"
No sooner than his whispering of those words, he thrust his staff into the ground and a high level magic circle covers a twenty foot radius around his, the dark red like from it forming a pillar of light that could be seen all around the city. The earth under him and cracking and ripping apart below his feet from the force of this level of spell. It was a search spell, and even though the magic circle was twenty feet in radius above ground, veins of magical power moves throughout the city, and much....much further. Pools of red energy form on the ground around the city and the wilds around the city. At random points, the ground would explode and a smaller light pillar would shoot out of the terra. "Not without saying goodbye fair Matron." ,he said with purr to his voice.
It took some time, mostly do to her still traveling. But at the river, he finally found her aura...along with that strange feeling he had when he first visited her home. No matter how bothersome that strange other aura was, he was not about to let this go. His spell shifted, the red light was not shifting, turning from red, to purple, and finally to blue. The random breakouts of light and pools of energy faded. The veins of search magic were no longer needed, and a locking spell, the second form of his spell, focused on the aura of the Matron Mother. "Hide and Seek is indeed over..." He pulled his staff from the ground and the magic circle and the tower of light that went with it shrank almost instantly into nothingness, Llmryn vanishing with it.
The barrier around the city that didn't allow instant transportation spells in and out of the city was a problem, but one that was easy enough to over come in the end. At the edge of the city and reformed and placed a hand on the walk around the city. His body became the same rock and mineral base as the wall and passed threw it, not even so much as loosing a step throughout the process. When he was on the other side, his body turned back to flesh and bone. He held out his staff and a blast of blue light and fire forms a gate in front of him. "This will be the fastest way to catch up to her now...Blue Gate, Hellmouth....OPEN!" The flames part and allow him to walk between the burning door. After walking into the doors, they close and the fire is snuffed out, Llmryn also no where to be found.
As the Matron Mother continued her path through the tunnels, a blinding flash of blue light and blue flames burst in the caves infront of Matron Eclavice, and blood curtling laugh echoed off the stone walls around them as Llmryns face appeared past the flames as she steped from the burning aftermath of his teleportation spell he aquired from the books of forbidden magic. "My my, and here I thought we were going to be such good friends. I'm honestly hurt you didn't even say goodbye."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:32 pm
Lucky for him, it was the social view of his gender that allowed him to slip away unnoticed, and back into the outer limits of the city he calls home. He didn't bother using many spells along the way, feeling he used enough power in his blind rage. With his power nearly exhausted, and the feelings of his misguided actions still looming in his mind, him only thought was to return home. Soon he would report about the Matrons departure from the city, but for now, he needed rest.
He finally makes his way back into the city, he uses a simple blink teleportation spell, sending himself back to him home. ...
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Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:44 pm
Moving along the dark foreboding tunnel Logan kept his face well hidden
by his black cloak, his entire form camouflaged by both that which he
wore and the darkness of the tunnel.
His hand gripped firmly around the pommel of his sword his massive body
moved with a precise confidence as beneath he material biceps as round
as most men's thighs bulge and tense as he kept his body ready to fight
should need arise, his thighs as thick as tree trunks pumped powerfully as
the propelled him across the rocky ground.
His name was Logan Storm and he was a giant of a man in more ways
than one and he was no stranger to the darker side of Gaia for he had a
history of his own.
He was several hours walka way now form the very out skirts of the
city, the first ramshackle shanty like building was bearly visable in gloom
filled distance.
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:15 am
Slowly but surely the lone figure moves through the shadowy path of the
tunnel knowing full well the dangers that lay in wait for the unwary
down the well trodden road leading to the first of several cities.
Though it had taken him all most an entire night and day he was reaching
the edges of the city, he smiles to himself slipping in with a caravan of
traveller so that he might get in with as little attention as possible.
He watched from the darkness of his hood as the Watch Men of the City
began to search the carts taking anything that caught their fancy, the
Drow where just as greedy as humans at times if not more so though he
was wise enough to know never to say that to a Drow's face.
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:36 am
Waiting for his opertunity he watched the guards search and take what
ever took their fancy beatign down any who tried to resist with much
melichious glee.
Then it came the moment he had been waiting for, an opening to enter
the city unchalanged, the guards where having sport with some trader who
had foolishly tried to keep one the other guards from stealing his fruit.
Moving swiftly he was in past the city walls.
[Continued In Au Shinduago: City Proper ]
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:38 pm
Sencing the disturbance had come from the underdark, the nightbringer Drejan embarks on her mission for her godess to seek the powerful individual whom had reawakened. Drawing her scimitars she activates her ring of the shadow wyrm, for the abilities it grants would assist her greatly in her task. Calling forth her figurines powers she summons her pets to her, as well as the wraith in her wraithblade, and she sets out into the tunnels on the hunt for the powerful individual praying she finds him before someone or something else does.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:45 pm
Long had he lain in slumber, the victim of Lolth's child Selvatarm, but even he could not defeat the Masked Lord. Slowly, the Godling regained his power, drawing on those who still worshipped him. When able, he cast himself out in a silent, but powerful urging to his faithful.
~Fear not, I am returned!~
As hundreds of minds cried out in hearing his sending, Vhaeraun arose and stretched. His features healed and with a thought, he moved to his home plane, striding once more up the jagged rock face of Carceri's layer of Colothys towards his fortress domain Ellaniath.
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vVDragonVofVDarknessVv Crew
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