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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:14 pm
"Gods and thier ways have never sat well with me..." then a little paranoid laugh and a look around, messing with her hair some. That just kinda popped right out there didn't it? "Um...no offense intended or anything." Though Piper wasn't really in the position to answer questions either. After all...she had skipped out and had been sulking and hiding away for a good long while. Bet Kieran would be useful about now too. Hm...pity...she'd be a lot more useful right now than just being used for a voice.
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:22 pm
"Roarke...." Ton thought about that a moment.
"And...Meilikki..." Eca thought on that a moment, before she seemed to snap back out of it. "Slave? Son of Chaos? What do you mean?" She sounded almost...angry.
"Will speak with mother soon."
The both looked at piper. Eca dug a toe into the ground. "Well, we never pretended to understand his mother."
"She did after all, have children with my father. And several other children aftrerwards with other men too. She had a...habit of falling in love."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:38 pm
"Never can understand them." And that was ad far as her opinion was going to go, least she get a bit...negative on the whole subject really. Sure, she knew her own Gods and everything, didn't mean she liked to show that devoute faith to them. Though she shook her head. "You have no proof of that Malik and I doubt Tanundra would allow it. Don't jump to conclusions and worry them." She set her hands to her hips...good lord she was standing up for Tarathiel...well, not Tarathiel, more so for Meilikki's integrety. "Tarathiel is a Drow pirate that proclaims himself Son of Chaos. Meilikki is staying in a keep of his."
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:05 pm
"Tarathiel isn't even his real name. that's a high elven name, not a drow name. he claims to be the son of Lloth. as for your mother...well...we'll cross that bridge if we have to. but I am not having my home or Piper threatened by your liched brother becaues you mom might not help. I'll do what I have to to make sure he's destroyed."
Malik crossed his arms lightly.
"And I don't care if I have to invoke gods from ym home plane to do it."
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:53 pm
The light stun Tarathiel's eyes, even though it was just the permanent glow of the distant city of Deep Water. He sighed, and thought about returning to the darkness behind him, perhaps to find that little enclave of undead.. Perhaps to find a nice hole to live in... Or maybe, he just missed the utterdark.
"Beautiful." Gil-hadriel Thefhand said as he surved the lake and the city, noting that they had actually exited the tunnels near where the Integrity was docked. "Excellent." He said, pointing to the ship.
"For you, at least." Tarathiel turned his back on the open waters, but felt his heart craving for the swaying of a wooden ship. The sea was addictive as any substance.
"Why such a sour look? Do you fear the light?" The halfling's demeanor revealed concern, a concern which caused Tarathiel to feel concerned for the halfling.
"I fear only one thing, and it consumes my soul as we speak." Replied the apathetic sound of Tarathiel's voice.
"Love, or Regret?" The halfling asked. He turned his body to take an account of the drow, but the sudden rumble of a small tremor distracted his thoughts, he looked about to see what the ruckas was, to discover that a path allong the sea wall had simply collapsed into the sea. The seismic waves from the lake had knocked the sea wall loose, causing a small earth quake. A common enough occurance not to suspect foul play.
"The sea is hungry for blood."
"What?"
Tarathiel smiled, and chuckled before explaining, "My people believe that seas are hungry for blood, and the rumbles of the lake floors is the groan for more food. A convient excuse to kill, and convince the less knowledgable to march in front of us."
"Less knowledgable?"
"Fouder, the ones who absorb the arrows and javilins of the enemy before the real soldiers arrive. Usually, primitive and archaic tribes of goblins or other small creatures manipulated into serviving us through outright coersion or simple bribery."
The halfling narrowed his brow to that, "That sound devious."
"That's the way she likes it, Lloth."
"Lolth you mean?"
"Spider Queen, Goddess b***h, it doesn't matter."
"Are you not her son?"
"How can a man-"
"Have two sons, you mentioned that before."
"Speaking of Gods, am I to live or die? For certainly, I shall not remain your prisioner."
Gil-Hadriel bit back his tongue, and looked towards the upper ceiling of the great cavern that was Deep Water. He stared for a long moment, then turned his face towards Tarathiel. "Kimmuriel, you have certianly commited many crimes, but is it true that you once raced into a burning building to save a small girl from being incinerated?"
"How did-" The drow blushed, if can be called a blush, and laughed softly, "You really do talk to the gods."
"Answer the question, or you shall have to suffer the consequences."
"Yes. I am known for doing silly things like that from time to time."
"Is it also true that you once held off a horde of orks to allow a small family to escape a slaughter, placing yourself in great peril to allow people you did not know to escape harm that surely would befall them?"
"That is manipulating it a little bit, I did send the orks that way to being with."
"Be that as it is, you did stand up against the horde, and fought it with all your strength."
"I would never say that a small contingent of orks would ever require any amount of my strengt. They are after all, orks." Tarathiel shrugged.
"One hundred orks is a small army, and you stood allone against them."
"In the tunnels of the underdark, large numbers don't help much."
"You were a DEFENDER of those people."
"I was A YOUNG foolish elf."
"Elf?"
"Drow, whatever."
"Do you wish to be a surface elf?"
"What kind of Drow doesn't! Surface elves are not attacked every time they show their face in a crowd, they rarely are forced to march on other surface elves to slaughter them just because they are there!" Tarathiel's voice was oddly heated, but he sighed. "Who doesn't want to be a surface elf, they are perfect in every way."
"Disillusioned you are, Kimmuriel of a long name I have since forgotten."
"Its ok, I forget what it means too."
"So... Helm thinks that you are a capable defender, though your record is bloched with offenses as well."
"You were part of a warband hunting me? What isn't offensive about that?"
"Defending the innocent from the tyranny of others is a just cause in Helm's eyes."
"So, stopping my enemies from being able to attack my home is a just cause as well."
"Were they your enemies?"
"If you went to Melee-Megather, everything that breathes is your enemy. Did you know that surface elves like to skin drow allive and wear the flesh in their pegan rituals?"
"That isn't true!"
"Truth is only the most widely accepted lie." Tarathiel replied, "Why do you think I say that!"
"That makes an incredible amount of sense. So you are the way you are because you were nurtured to be that way."
"No, if my upbring had that much of an effect on me, I would not feel so regretful of killing one innocent little babe. I think that I really am a chosen of Lloth. She let me feel... sadness."
"What are you implying?"
"My people know two things, the joy of killing and happiness of betrayal."
"You are not so well defined."
Tarathiel shoke his head, "Sometimes, the education process does not work so well."
"Maybe a different god claimed you to spite Lolth."
"Who?"
"Maybe Helm-"
"No. Helm is great and all, but I am not Helmite." Tarathiel paused, "How many gods of Chaos do you think there are?"
"Well, each of the deemed evil races has one, and the number of deemed evil races rises each day."
"Great." Tarathiel yawned. "Well, now what? Do you want to try your hand at me, or should we go our seprate ways."
"I do not think at this moment I am your enemy. You are an honourable fellow, Captain Kimmuriel, but that honour is stained with your own pride. Perhaps you should go contemplate you life in solitude, while I figure out how many elves escaped that ambush."
"I don't think many made it."
"They are a resourceful lot, they have been hunting you after all. It was quite ingenious how they figured out to get around that crafty undetection spell you have placed on you ship."
"They used as series of detection spells and found the place where they couldn't find the water?"
"You know!" Gil-Hadriel's eyes droped out of his jaw, "Why didn't you counter with the counter spell?"
"Because, if I let you follow me, I know where you are and when to expect you. I have a faster ship than you, so I more or less count down the time until you arrive."
"You let us find you, then you deal with us, and then you move on?"
"More or less."
"Why?"
"Maybe, I want to die."
"Your attempts at suicide are costing the lives of many elves." Gil frowned, obviously disillusioned with Tarathiel.
"I don't force you to follow me, and did they ever mention how many elvish settlements underseige they found on their travels."
"Settlement you no doubt attacked."
"I make a point not to bother elves."
"Raciest feelings you have."
"Regret I have."
The halfling paused, "You are layered like an onion."
"Onions? You think I am ammorphous and unchanging in each layer?"
"That- I never thought of it that way."
"Onions have layers, but the layers are all the same." Tarathiel smiled, "How about cake."
"Cake?"
"Cake has layers, the icing, the pastry, and other stuff used on it. My mother enjoys her twelve layered cakes."
Gil-hadriel had a dumb look on his face, like someone just perforced commical jest on a battlefield.
"I am not just one archytipical villian, I am all of them." Tarathiel smiled and shoke his head. "Including the anti-hero."
"Anti-heroes are not villians."
"Anti implies counter."
"Again your logic facinates me."
"Well, I guess it is good that you have decided not to kill me then. We can talk more later. If you ever need my help DEFENDING children from rampaging ogres or the like, let me know. You can contact me through the Oracle, just outside of Lostagrace, the maze is pretty easy to figure out, follow the air current."
"Air current?"
"The air can only flow through the one correct path."
"I would have never thought of that... Doesn't it go down all the pathes?"
"But it's stopped."
"Oh, I see. Follow the air current that doesn't stop." Gil smiled then frowned. "Why do you risk yourself to me like this?"
"Because I like you. If you ever feel like travelling with a rage tage bunch of anti-heroes, I'll surely let you abord me ship."
"I thought we sank your ship!" Gil said rather surprised.
"That easily? No." Tarathiel laughed, "A few polymorph spells and a lot of wreakage can make anything, including carbon copies of ships that are unsinkable."
"Your ship is unsinkable?"
"OF course not."
"Why did you say it was?"
"If I felt it would sink, wouldn't I not want to get on it?"
Gil shut up at that.
"Besides, arrogance is the only thing that remotely makes me feel happy."
"Why is that?"
"Because... I am empty."
Gil stared blankly at the captain. After a moment, "Empty? You are the most lively villian I have ever meet!"
"Just because I have a strong personality doesn't mean that I am fulfilled."
The halfling paladin sat on a rock, and pet his mount on the nose.
"I'll get you that helmet. I'll send someone your ship has not seen to bring it to you. Stay near the ship or Deep Water, or come to my little hole in the ground."
"The Oracle... Who is the Oracle?"
"Oh, she's a babe. Damn, I am in trouble. I always tell you what I am thinking, then again, I always say what I am thinking unless I am trying to piss off a psion. That reminds me, have you ever destroyed a potent evil magical sword that was sentient?"
"No, I can't say that I have."
"Oh, thanks anyway."
"Where might this great evil be?" The halfling glared into the distance and placed a hand on the hilt of his short sword.
"Uh... See... Not allowed to kill the person holding it or the plane will be destroyed or something."
"What, what dark and vile magic is this, that a DEFENDER of the realm cannot beat!"
"I don't know, do I look like a wizard?"
"This, this is horrible! If Elric knew of such an evil, surely his forces would have been mobilized against it. What foulness this evil is, for threating the existance of this plain." Gil dramatically moved his body as he spoke, his intent clearly marked by the expression of true passion on his face.
"You certainly are a Paladin, halfling."
"Eye, and to bear with this injustice is unjust." Gil smashed his fist into his palm, "I must do something to correct this evil."
"Don't worry about, he loves a surface elf, and she seems to own him."
"What, a surface is trying to turn him from his dark way onto the path of light?"
"Yep."
"How do you know this?"
"Every evil female surface elf I have meet wore teeth around her neck, and collected heads." Smiling and tilting his head, "She does not."
"Good good, how do you know she is in charge?"
"She was not wearing chains or manacles." Tarathiel paused, "And she was not dressed as I imagine this one would make her if he truly owned her spirit. he claims to be a drow after all."
"A drow? Claims? Is he or is he not?"
"Well, he has blue skin-"
"BLUE SKIN!" Gil surprised face shot upwards, and then he became rather inquisitive... "how is that possible.?"
"Well, I imagine if a drow spent enough time in the sun, his sking would turn blue."
"The sun?"
"Oh, right, you were born down here wern't cha you little surface dweller species."
"Sun, I know this word..."
"Not used much anymore, it was the spherical glowy thingy that circles the roof."
"That sun." Gil smiled at the realization, "In the hills, they have a similar object that is used to create natural light."
"The Fire Sphere."
"You know of it?"
"I have been to your homeland, though, it would have been around thirty years ago."
"I would have been a tike in my mother's arms."
"That was you?"
"You meet my mother?"
"Yes, Son of Don Thefhand."
"You know my father?"
"We did some business together around that time, I took care of a few problems for him in exchange for some of his mead and some wheat."
"Then we are closely linked, I felt certain that I knew you when we first started talking."
"There is not halfling mofia eh?"
"No, there isn't."
"Well, we have been talking for a long time, and I do have a few friends who might wish to know I am well, my fat- Dwarf friend who will give you a helm is about too, so... I'd say if you don't see me within a week, I am dead, dying, wishing to be dead, or other."
"Other?"
"You know, good things... Like... Uh..."
"Happy?"
"No, that would't stop me from getting you a helm." Tarathiel fround, "How would I live with myself if you were struck down by some random evil while your helmet was sitting on my shelf?"
"You are a good man after all."
"Not really, but I try from time to time." Tarathiel smiled, and turned and walked away.
Gil-Hadriel waved at Tarathiel, then turned to walk on his way to the ship, followed closely by his brave mount, Braver Justicepaw. "He will do the right thing when the time comes."
A fair distance away, Tarathiel's ears picked up the halfling's voice, and smiled. "Maybe."
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:10 pm
Nightmare was pacing in her stall, snorting and occasionalyl kicking at it. damn those elves! how dare they leave them here and with those imps! they were breaking all the plates and that was going to make for an unhappy Malik, which made and unhappy piper, which made a non responsive and worrisome Serino. and damn it it was her pamper time! and where the hell was her chicken! a loud snort at that, and a nicker to Serino. Oh serino dear...please get me that chicken they were supposed to bring me an hour ago? oh please dearest, sweetest Serino?
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:22 pm
She was getting fussy again...not that he was complaining but it would do some good to show some competence around here. It was already going to be a tense enough atmosphere around here with the slaves having to explain exaactly why over half the plate in the place were missing. Oh that would be a fun one...Malik would be on the war path. And when he was on the war path, Piper's attention was all on him, which meant he got no love...or apples. Serino's attention went to the none too happy mare with a little noise of being inquisitve, perking his ears. They haven't brought you what they want because they're too busy trying to think up how to reverse the plate situation. But he was a sucker for her wasn't he? A light snort and a shake of his head before turning tail. But of course I will...whatever makes you happy and keeps your stress levels down. Bad enough around here already. A blink and he was gone, another blink and he was back with said chicken the mare was craving. Kitchen staff isn't happy with me I think. Then a nicker at her...she was being oddly sweet again what with the please and all.
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:17 pm
Nightmare took her chicken, and was scarfing it down and nickered and whinneyed lightly at Serino, and nuzzled to him from the stable. You're such a good boy. definately great material for breeding, and fine stallion. but, sweet, dearest Serino...can you get me some nice, tastey icecream? oh and some raw steak? I'm famished.
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:44 am
The two dead looked at each other with some concern. "A drow captain? Tarathiel?" But they sighed, there was nothing they could do to try and help their daughter, hould she even need it. They could only hope that she had made the right decisions, and would make more to come.
Ton frowned, not entirley imperssed. "I don't recall being so impatient when alive."
"Neither do I."
"How long did it take us to kill that succubus?"
"Three years."
"What did we do during those three years?"
"War with your brother."
"Ah yes. Now I recall. Oi, did Catawa ever make piece with her white dragon?"
"She did. Don't you recall? She saved you once."
"Oh, that's right. And Din, did he..."
"Ever become an old man, no. Ton Love, we are busy at the moment."
"Hmm? Oh right. The living crave our attention. I feel so specail." He sighed though. "All right, I will see my mother." With that, he stepped out of Malik's body and faded from sight.
Meilikki sat at her table, a worried expression on her face. She had been throwing her new stones for some time, getting the right feel for them, understanding the types of people they were choosing to represent. She took them all up in one hand and tossed them onto the table. All the stones hit the table and stayed there as if drawn by a magentic force, all except the amythist. It bounced off and hit floor, rolling...somewhere near the fireplace, around the dozing kobold. Tames had gotten used to this by now, and stopped bothering to open his eyes at the noise. Meilikki sighed, stood, and went searching for the stone. Every time it feel from the table, it bounced further and further away from her.
He was becoming harder and harder to predict.
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:16 am
A chuckle at the two who were chatting among themselves using the two elves' voices, after they had finished and Ton decided to pay mother a visit that is. Piper sighed lightly and stepped close to Malik, laying her hand to his arm gently. So it was them and Eca was it? "Don't worry A'mael...we'll get this worked out before you get worked up on me. Then no more talk of Tarathiel and litches, all you have to do is lay back and relax...at least for a little while then I'll give you your work back."
Ah, appreciative nuzzling...it was always nice. Much nicer than getting kicked or bitten at that was for sure. Ha, he was on he good side...that made him hapy.Right that got a confused look and noise from the horse. And of course as any male...ego stroking was good for him mood and compliance as well...and he was mostly obvlious to the tactic. Then she started asking for things. Icecream...Malik would bottle me for that. Now I know that doesn't seem bad to you but as a Zephyr it's not fun at all. Yeah she had just baffled him. BUt of course...he couldn't refuse her...he'd admit it, he liked being in her herd and doing things for her. Right, icecream and raw streak...I can do that. Two blips and two reapperances with said items...and yelling heard from the open window of the kitchen. He gave a nicker as if laughing. Nope, they're not happy about me at all right now. How is this? Better? You're feeling alright?
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:47 am
"Patience I have. I don't plan on utterly destroying a demi-god lich overnight. but a powerful weapon against him might give him a moment's pause. something blessed by mom might mean mom is choosing to get more directly involved, and thus make him a bit more cautious. Bring him to heel so to speak."
His hand patted Piper's lightly and grinned though you couldn't see it under the mask. damn this toxic gas and thier insistance on hauntign a city filled with it.
"I know, and I'm not worked up."
Ah, Serino the saintly zephyr. and chowtime, raw meat shredded and devoured in moments, and the icecream as well. though the icecream was mostly drank, since breathign heated air or flame tended to melt the stuff. but she was pleased. Yes, I'm feeling...hey...something's moving in there. in fact another movement got a snort and a stomp, and a slightly painful sounding nicker.
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:24 pm
You're brother then, is still alive?
Indeed he is, in a manner of speacking. Did you not know?
I have many children. Some are dead. Some are not. Time flows differently here.
You've said as much before, but that doesn't change the fact that he is not fully dead.
He has liched himself.
Yes, he has.
Why?
Because you would not grant him immortality. He is jealous of me Mother, and wants whatever I was given or offered.
Then he wants...
Yes.
Very well.
Ton faded back into few, looking as if he had stepped from place. He placed a hand on Piper's shoulder, and spoke to the person isnide her.
"Ton says that his mother is willing to bless the object. But she cannot give make something from nothing. The wielder of the sword must give something in return for the blessing."
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:57 pm
"What does she have in mind?"
Boy did that have a defensive edge to it. Goddess adn Gods both. all that power, adn they always want exchanges. He knew from his own experience the gods he knew could bless or strip blessings from items at will. So why all this exchanging and the like.
"There are things that I will not give up, even for a goddess' blessing."
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:36 pm
"It doesn't matter 'what' it is, as long as you must give it up. It is a...security feature. To make sure that you are serious about the belssing, and that you will use it for what it is intended. You could give up you armor, for an exapmle of the physical. or you could give up something less material. Your....anger, your love, any one of your abilities. You could even give up the colour of your skin. As long as it is something that has had some measure of significance in your life."
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Fractured Moonlight Captain
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:48 pm
Well of course something is moving in there, there is something in there I'm sure we're both aware of. Though he took a few steps back at her snort and stomp...un oh was she about to mood swing on him? That was never fun. Though he gave a little worried nicker back, ears flicking as she made a less than happy noise. Maybe you ate too much too fast?
Yes you are, be it slightly but you are. I can hear it in your voice and see it in the way you stand and the look in your eyes. I've studied you for hours on end and I know you Malik." So there, ha. Then a look as Ton touched her and used Eco to relay the message, thus meaning using Piper. Okay...Part of her wanted to ask who would be weilding said sword but she had the sense to know Malik wouldn't let her from the get go. She looked to said sword at her side. Oh yeah...another reason she didn't like to deal with higher powers. Once long ago, by another elf she was asked why didn't she merely ask Corellon to restore her ear, because surly he would do it for her. Hm, this would be why. No matter how much Gods loved thier people, they always wanted something. A look back to Malik, the look in her eyes showing she wasn't too happy at the moment. "So then...we're forced to make deal."
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