Dragons and Magic II: The Hunt for DreamWeaver

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial welcomed the feel of O'Bonn's hand in hers as he moved up next to her and Cormac spoke.. she took a few moments before she awnsered because from what she knew of Ona sence they had begun this journy and she had joind them.. Idrial liked the girl very much.....

I understand your fears, and what you say about being a danger to us is true... but there is also great courage and goodness in you now.. what ever you may have done in your past is behind you, and even if you were bad then it is not who you are now... the decision is yours tho i agree with Cormac's words and wish for you to continue the journy with us for as long as you wish to do so.. i would like for you to stay and will not turn you away..

Idrial said looking at Ona and smiling as she waited watching Ona as one by one Valanthe and even the silent Garth nodded in agreement with Idrial's words.

 

[Wolfsister]

"Course, unless you have some more stuff to sell..."

She paused, considering then shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice taking longer to come back to her this time. The voices inside her head seemed to smile, if she could see them, she knew that they were. Suddenly she felt uplifted, as if doing something to please them was the right thing to do.

She suddenly felt great!

Grinning for a little while, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly remembered what Tyler had said before. Her grin turned to a scowl, "Men!" she hissed, somewhat vehemently. Then she gave him an oddly suspicious look, "What do you have planned? What do I have to do?" There was an odd edge to her voice, something that might have lended itself to fear, however it just sounded plain rude and suspicious.

She edged back slightly and waited in trepidation for his answer.

 

[Dracona]

Ona looked at each of her companions and released a long breath she had not realized she was holding. She was still wanted. Standing, she squared her shoulders and held her head higher, her left hand dropping to the handle of the dagger resting at her hip.

"Your words and your confidence mean much to me. I give you my word that I shall do everything in my power to ensure that none in this company shall come to harm, or our quest fail."

For a moment she felt compelled to draw her dagger and...do something. She took her hand from the blade's handle and looked at her palm. For a split second she saw a bleeding gash across her pale skin and heard her own voice echo through her mind "....by blood bound, by blood called....never to let the Brotherhood fall"

There was white hot pain behind her eyes and she clenched them shut as she balled her hand into a fist and shoved the memory away with all her might. The woman who may have made that oath was gone, and good riddance. Slowly she opened her eyes and grmacing only slightly as the pain faded to a dull ache. These were the ones she was bound to now, and that is what mattered.

"I will go see to the horses...." Each step seemed to lighten the heaviness inside her head and by the time she reached where the horses and gear were waiting the pain was completely gone and a smile curved her full lips.

 

[AmenRa]

The High Warrior O'Bonn watched Ona walk away. He then turned to Idrial and Cormac.

"Trust is not given lightly in my kingdom," he told them, "and nor is it here. Such is the way of the Elves. She carries much darkness in her, and although I believe she will harm herself before one of us, I fear Ona must be watched carefully."

With that, O'Bonn finished packing up his small bedroll. He doused the fire with water from a small water pouch, and then shouldered his quiver of arrows.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial wondered for only a moment if O'Bonn doubted her choice but knew that he was only speaking caution, and even so he was correct, they would have to watch Ona and help her thru what ever tormented her if they could.

Idril nodded at O'Bonn letting him know she had heard his words and moved to pack her own belongings, as she did so she also noticed Garth looking up at the sky seeming lost in his own thoughts for a moment before he noticed her and moved to pack his things as well, andi Idrial wondered if he were thinking about the what lay ahead of them or if it were something else.

Valathe had already packed what little she had with her and moved to speak with Ona and help with the horses. Ona.. i am glad you are to stay with us... Idrial wont let anything happen to any of us if she can help it, and i have a feeling she will do her best to help you.. As will I.. Valathe said as she petted one of the horses.. she noticed Bardo was gone and wondered if he had been taken.. Ona it looks as if Bardo has been taken... if you like you can ride with me.. and i'll inform Idrial Bardo is gone.

 

[Mantra]

Draken

As the kuri drew a long cut across the girl's leg, she suddenly jumped up off the floor, bringing her other leg up and around, striking Draken along the side of his head. Both went down in a pile, each squirming to escape the grasp of the other without suffering any more damage.

Draken's ears were ringing from the blow, but he held back, fighting defensively while waiting for the poison to work. It took several minutes, longer than it should have taken and Draken had to absorb yet another palm strike to his chest before he saw any change.
Finally, the young weoman's movements slowed as her breath began rasping, her skin became palid and clammy. She staggared back, keeping her hands up but unsteady on her feet as she faced Draken.

 

[Mantra]

Khan

"You have my word, on my honor as a warrior, that I shall cause no harm nor threaten you or your people intentionally. Besides, you have my sword and shield in your possession."

The woman was silent for a second or two, looking momentarilly over Khan's head, behind him. At the same time, the elf who had deaprted, returned, whispering in the woman's ear briefly and quickly.

"We have identified what you carried as belonging to a champion of the Mori. We shall let you rise...for now."

There was a moment as someone stepped up behind Khan. A quick motion, and Khan's bonds were cut, but the archers in the trees did not relax their stances.

"You have been let loose on your word and our generosity, but the Mori have not been about in the world for many, many years. Why are you not with them and why do you shroud yourself with illusion? We cannot see through it, but we can sense its presence about you."

 

[Bladesman]

Smiling evily Draken tilted his head. "Doesn't feel right does it? It is manticore venom, black manticore venom. It is more deadly then the normal manticore but takes its time to act. On the upside it is very painful and very entertaining to watch from the standpoint of the poisoner." He returned the poisoned kukri to its sheath and drew his scimitar.

Then he struck, his scimitar slashing in what could only be described as the speed of a drow. He slashed at vital area's, severing any tendon that possibily allow her to attack him. He began to whistle a lively tune, a tune that dated back five hundred years to when the City of Shadows had turned from Lloth and turned to the Queen of the Chromatic Dragons.

"Hail to the five headed dragon, what a glorious day to fight.
With the scimitars a-flashing and the sounds of battles crashing."

A smile crossed his face as he sang the first words of the song, He remembered the first fights against those spider kissing priestesses, the glourious bloodshed that had erupted when the Shadow Legion had joined the fight. Then like now he had had one arm broken, and like then he was about to kill.

He slashed out with the scimitar once more. The mortally sharp scimitar slicing into the delicate skin of her throat with a splash of blood.

 

[Mantra]

Tiana

Tyler had one of his infamous smirks, which was usually present just before he got himself neck-deep into some kind of trouble.

"Theres this fat guy, Alvo. I think he's a merchant or something." Tyler's features soured for a moment. "Either way, he's a real jackass. Anyway, I see him pass through every couple of months or so...REEAL slob, but he's always got money, uses it for stuff like gambling and whoring. I don't think many people like him much, I mean, even the whores bitch about him, but he's got gold to they put up with him."

The smirk returned again.

"And I know where the fat bastard is staying." he said triumphantly.

 

[Mantra]

Draken

With the poison in the woman's veins affecting her so, the fight was over soon. The killing stroke drew a pleased sensation from his weapon, but also a feeling of unquenched thirst. With a practiced swish, the weapon was returned to its sheath.

As the adrenalin ebbed, the effects of the fight became more apparent to Draken. Most notably was his broken wrist, but also the throbbing in his head and back. He pushed the feelings away, they were not nearly as important as feeling the rush of the kill, the satisfaction of knowing that while this girl was good, he was better.

The cottage was uninteresting and very little was found of value. Draken was also aware of just how near he was to the human lands and their cities. He may even already be over the borders of their territory, not that he cared about borders, but perhaps there was a healer and entertainment to be had since he was less than a day away. There was the lingering though of what to do next. He drew his knife again and watched as it rotated finally pointing deeper into the woods where he had come from.

Decisions, decisions....

 

[Wolfsister]

"And I know where the fat bastard is staying."

Tiana smiled. Despite what she knew he would become, she couldn't help but be affected by the infectious smirk that seemed to always signal an exciting caper or two.

"Okay... I guess we can get some gold for him. I'd love to eat a hot meal tonight," she said softly and stood up, brushing errant strands of straw from her dusty, travel worn dress. "So, where do we start?" she asked, fresh optimism shining in her dark orbs.

 

[Mantra]

Idrial and Company

The group traveled together, going deeper into the forest and towards the swamp which had seemed even more sinister as each day passed. For the most part, the days passed uneventfully but the sounds of the forest became fewer and fewer, even as the vegetation and moisture thickened. Bugs, particuarilly mosquitoes and midgeflies, continually harassed the group and their horses as they traveled.

The night of the fourth day was particuarilly unpleasant, for there was dead silence in the night, save only for the buzz of mosquitoes, the crackling of the fire or the occasional, uneasy whicker of one of the horses. There were no animals, no birds, no crickets about them. Even the wind seemed stagnant and listless, worse still, the occasional wisp brought the scent of...death...decay...from ahead of them. The smell of the swamp was also strong all about them and the ground was soggy, forcing the group to harvest foliage to keep them from sleeping in the mud.

Dawn could not come soon enough and the village of Boar's Back lay ahead. As they rode, the green, moss covered rooftops of the first structures came into view, but from that point, their horses balked. Even Cormac's steed, stalwart as he was, refused to go further.

It was surreal.

There was nothing out of the ordinary about the village, nothing unusual or out of place as they could see as they entered the town square.

Except everyone was dead.

The corpses lay where they had fallen, as if each and every one had simply lay down where they were and died. A farmer, lay beside a half dozen pigs, seemingly being trundled to wherever they were going to. Not far away a woman lay in the middle of a flock of dead chickens, a basket of feed scattered at her feet. Children crumpled, struck down as they played tag in a field, their dog laying beside one of them. Even birds, squirrels and the like lay where they had fallen, stricken from the overhanging trees or rooftops.
On and on it went, a typical day in a typical village and then, nothing.

Worse still was the decay. The people of Boar's Back had been dead for more than a week at least. The natural act of the dead being returned to nature seemed, peverted here. Bloat, rot, decay and insect infestation had turned the tragedy of a graveyard into a nightmare. The stench seemed to drift up in smothering waves and clouds, assaulting the nervous systems of the living.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial had rippd a peace of cloth from her tunic and used it to cover her nose and mouth the stench of the villagers, and animals rotting corpses smelled worse than the burnt flesh of the villagers in Kent where she had found Rhys.

she had no choice but to leave her mount behind as it would not come any nearer the village, tho she kept her bow and arrows across her back and had her sword in hand as she moved about.. searching for any tracks, or signs that might give her a clue as to what had caused such to befall the village. Calling back to the others who had followed she said. Dont touch there bodys we know not what killed them and i see no wounds upon there flesh aside from rot, and decay, i'll not risk us touching them...

 

[AmenRa]

The stench forced a memory from O'Bonn. It was the Second Battle of Garn, when ten thousand orcs lay dead upon the Garn Plains. But the smell was nothing compared to what he faced now. Taking a cue from Idrial, he sprinkled tea on a piece of cloth and then wrapped it around his face, giving his bronze skin and softly pointed ears a somewhat evil look. He followed her into the village, fighting back the bile that rose in his throat.

"Nothing but evil rests here," he said, "and the ghosts of those who were once living."

 

[Bladesman]

Draken headed back to the woods where he had left the horse and slowly pulled himself into the saddle. He groaned and checked his wrist quickly, making sure that it wasn't too badly broken. It was a clean break luckly and would be easy to mend. He pondered a moment then decided to head for the city. He would be able to find a healer and then decide what to do after that.

He kicked the horse into an easy trot, setting a moderate pace that would se him to the city near sunset the next day, all the while his mind wondering about the power he had been offered.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

"You have my word, on my honor as a warrior, that I shall cause no harm nor threaten you or your people intentionally. Besides, you have my sword and shield in your possession."

The woman was silent for a second or two, looking momentarilly over Khan's head, behind him. At the same time, the elf who had deaprted, returned, whispering in the woman's ear briefly and quickly.

"We have identified what you carried as belonging to a champion of the Mori. We shall let you rise...for now."

There was a moment as someone stepped up behind Khan. A quick motion, and Khan's bonds were cut, but the archers in the trees did not relax their stances.

"You have been let loose on your word and our generosity, but the Mori have not been about in the world for many, many years. Why are you not with them and why do you shroud yourself with illusion? We cannot see through it, but we can sense its presence about you."

Khan brought his hands out in front of him, and rubbed them to get circulation going again as he slowly stood up. He also rotated and stretched his shoulders, which were a little sore from being held back like they had been.

Then he thought about what the elven woman had said. The Mori have not been about in the world for many, many years? thought Khan. Why is that? I hope nothing evil has befallen them.

He then looked the woman right in the eyes as he began to answer her. "The reason why I am not with the mighty Mori and why I shroud myself with illusion is one and the same," said Khan.

He pulled back his cloak to reveal shining armor that covered his legs and torso. The armor was exceptionally made, and on the chest plate was embossed the image of a dragon with wings spread. He then dropped the illusion. Massive leathery wings appeared on his back, which when extended had a span of 12 feet. His eyes changed from normal human eyes to golden eyes, with slits for pupils. When he spoke, sharp pointed teeth could be glimpsed in his mouth.

His eyes were still on the woman, and despite their unhuman nature, a great saddness could be seen in their depths, a saddness that did not seem to suit his menancing appearance.

"This is the reason," stated Khan.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Valanthe stayed back with Garth and the horses, the smell comming from the decaying village had nearly made her ill and had overwhelmed Garths hightned sences to the point where he had gotten sick and was close to passing out.

He was taking slow even breaths and doing his best to stay awake. They both had followed Idrial and O'Bonn's example of using a cloth over there mouths and it helped some but not much...Valanthe stayed with him to help guard him and the horses if the need arose while the others searched the village for clues.

 

[Dracona]

Ona had pulled a square of cloth from her pack and followed the other's example, tying it around her face to cover her nose and mouth. Still the stench crept in and caused her stomach to lurch from time to time. As they moved through the village she tried to distance herself mentally from what she was seeing. This was beyond carnage, it wasn't bloody death brought from battle, it was a senseless indiscriminant waste of life....all life. None had been spared. Tears welled and trickled down her cheeks to soak into the cloth around her face.

"What could have done this?" She murmured softly, yet her voice echoed from the doorways of the dead village. She paused beside the body of the dog and stared down at the ruined face of the child lying next to it. A great silent sob shook her entire frame and her hand reached blindly out behind her as if for something to ground herself. What had happened here was an abomination, an offense against nature itself.

"Are...are we just to leave them like this?" Ona didn't look up or raise her voice but she knew in this sepulchral silence she would be heard.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn was stepping lightly, his armor suddenly feeling heavy upon him. The closer they got to the swamps, the more the mist enveloped them. Added to that the stench of the dead, and it seemed the smell was collecting in the fog that clung to his gold and silver armor and ran in small rivulets across the plates.

Upon hearing Ona's words, O'Bonn stopped. He turned to face her and looked down at her from behind his cloth mask. Her gaze drew his, and he too saw the child and the dog.

The dog. Even the animals were slaughtered here. And Ona was right, it was an offense against nature. And that, he knew, was why even the whispers of the Fay could not be heard in this place.

"Idrial," he called out through the morning mist, "we must burn this place and cleanse it from the evil that has cast itself here!"

O'Bonn then looked to Ona. "Fire cleanses," he said to her. O'Bonn then turned to Cormac. "And buries the dead."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial understood what they wanted and needed to do, she herself wanted badly to lay these poor souls to rest, but not yet. There may be some clue among the villge or sign they had yet to uncover.

Aye i agree once were done searching the village for clues to what may have caused this.. this.. death we will burn the village. I would burry them but we do not know if what killed them was an illness unknown or not, so be careful not to touch them if ye can help it. she said continuing her search thru the village hoping to find something tho she knew not what...

 

[Dracona]

Idrial was right, of course. They couldn't risk losing any clue or hint to the evil that had occured here, especially if it could help them in their quest. Ona squared her shoulders and steeled herself against the nearly overwhelming grief the scene caused her. She needed to see with clear eyes.

But when the time came.....a brief flash of intense anger washed over her and she gathered it into a bright, hot ball in her heart. Somehow they would find whatever or whoever had done this and they would pay....in fire and in pain....she would see to it. Just as she had before.

 

[Mantra]

Tiana

"Not much, I don't think." Tyler said. "This guy, Alfonzo, he always comes around and does the same thing. Eats, drinks, gambling and whoring, y'know?"
Tyler leaned closer, whispering his conspiricy to Tiana.

"I don't even think alot of the shopkeepers like him much, he's a slob, but he always has gold, so they let him do what he does. Guess you can do anything if you're rich."
"So anyway, Alfonzo likes the big room up at the top of Murphy's Inn, but I know that there's some other merchant up there right now. I heard him asking Murphy for something to be delivered there, just before his hag wife chased me out of the kitchen for bothering the cook for scraps." Tyler frowned deeply at that particular memory. Murphy was not fond of street urchens, but his wife absolutly hated them, hounding them to stay away at every opportunity.

"So there's only one other big room in Murphy's place, that's in the back on the ground floor and there's a window in the room. If we wait till he goes out for the night, then maybe we can get in and see what we get."

He smiled brightly. "Pretty good, huh?"

 

[Mantra]

Khan

The elves before him stepped back once he let his illusion fade. The woman looked to her associated with suprise and wonder as they in turn looked back with equal confusion.

"I do not understand." Said the elf to the woman's left. I had heard that the Mori were some sort of dragon cult, but they have not been seen nor heard of in this land for and age. They had either died out or were chased away, or so I was led to believe. Still, you have the look of the servants of the Dragon Queen of the Red Mountain. Are the Mori sequestered there secretly? Have you come to restart your cult?"

"What brought you to our forest? The Moon elves have naught to do with the Mori nor did we wish ill upon you or your Queen."

The woman raised her hand slightly, drawing silence from her companion. This time when she spoke, there was a kinder edge to her voice. "Perhaps it is time to hear your whole story warrior. What is your name?"

 

[Mantra]

Idrial and Company

The group searched Boar's Back as well as they could, but discovered little save for revulsion and insects. All heeded Idrial's warning and none touched the remains. No sign of injury or poison could be seen, but the wet elements, decay and insects made detection difficult.

It was not until they reached the southernmost edge of the village that they saw anything out of ordinary. At the edge of a field, the land dipped into the brackish water of the swamp proper. The field held the decaying remains of about a dozen sheep and three decapitated cows. A rough beach of rocks and black mud made a three food 'boundry' between habitable land and the deep swamp. It was here in this mud that three wooden posts had been driven vertically into the silt and atop them, sat the heavilly decayed and equally bug infested cow heads, their ruined eyes staring endlessly southwards back into the swamp.
A great many footprints were all about the posts and mud, but they were far too old for even Idrial to make much sense from. All that she could determine is that there were several of them, perhaps as many as a dozen and that they withdrew from the village into the swamp.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial was surprised by what she saw, and tryed not to loose her stomach, but failed.The combination of the stench and the complete differance from the way the villagers lay and the carnage of the sheep and cows confused her, and was too much.

She moved away from the slaughter and cow's heads, quickly removing her mouth cover, and leanning against one of the buildings she puked.

In many of her travels in search of her brother she had come across many things but not this.. She wished the tracks and signs around them could tell her more, but there was nothing..

Finnished she stood and turned after to look at the others Idrial new this sight was.... Horrid and Odd... I am afraid the tracks are old enough, and the enviornment here is making things a bit difficult to track, i can tell you nothing you dont already know. Who ever they were they were many, and departed twards the swamp.

Wether human or another creature i cannot tell. Tho something about all of this is not right... ether these things caused a sickness to spread, or something else happened here She said indicating the cow heads and sheep she continued.. For if that were so then the villagers would have heard the slaughter of the animals and come to investagate...... I'd like to follow where these tracks lead before there all gone... What say all of you what are your toughts...

Idrial knew it was possably the most she had said at one time in awhile but she wanted to let them know what she was thinking and gain there thoughts on the matter.

They had not found anything worth while in the village save for some odds and ends that might be of some worth, and Idrial would not stop the others from looting if they so chose as per her's and O'Bonn's agreement wit Garth when he joined them,but she her self would not. Looking for Dreamweavers soul contianer was one thing, looting the dead another.

Idrial didnt want to burn the village yet as large as the flames and smoke might become they may loose any advantage they had in searching out there enameys, and she knew from Ona's expression she would not wish to leave these people like this a momnent longer, nether did she really but she felt they must.. O'Bonn's expression was unreadable at the moment and she knew he was thinking and so she waited to hear his councel in this matter.

Ona... I know i said we would burn the village once we were done with our search, but if we do so now... i beleave it will aleart whoever left these tracks should they still be in the area... I know it is much to ask of you, but i fear the villagers will have to wait until our return to Thorn once Dreamweaver is put to rest once more... Tis not right i know to leave them thus but i see no way around it for deviding our group with the undead about would be foolish..