Dragons and Magic II: The Hunt for DreamWeaver

[Wolfsister]

"What am I talking about? I was ordered to find and protect you nothing more, nothing less. "

The stranger pulled back his hood so that she could better see his features and it was then that she realised just how dark his skin was. It wasn't fair... but it wasn't black either. The tan of his skin was just the right shade of grey. She blinked, what manner of man was this?

Of course, Tiana had heard of Drow, and elves. But she had never actually seen one before. She had presumed that this man was elvish... but his dark skin was something completely unexpected.

She took a hesitant step towards him... looking at the weapons he carried, remembering the strong tone and definate action he had taken against the guards. She ignored the frantic pulling of Tyler on her ragged sleeve. She took another step, the Voices clamouring inside her head.

At her next step, she ripped free of Tyler's struggling grasp, her eyes filled with black and her voice came from deep within her throat, hissing and spitting.

"You come! You protect! You fail, you die!"

Then she teetered forwards, unconscious.

 

[Mantra]

Milaashi, Garik and Lucian

As Millashi and Lucian approached the small group of soldiers, they almost as one, stood and turned toward them, each snatching their longswords up as they rose.

As a whole, the group seemed worn and beat down. Not injured per say, save perhaps the odd cut or mark on them. Instead they looked notably travel worn, as if they had spent many days outside and the wild had not been particularly kind to them.

"That is close enough." one of them called. "Who are you and what do you want here?"

 

[Bladesman]

Draken leapt forward quickly and caught her before she could hit the ground. He checked her pulse and nodded when he was able to find a strong pulse beating in the vein in her neck. Lifting her up in his arms, Draken looked at her friend. "Run along, this no longer concerns you. Otherwise I may let the City guard get you. Or worse yet for you, perhaps better as a form of entertainment I will kill you. " Draken stood to his feet and concentrated on his amulet and began to rise into the air.

After a moment they rose above the roof and Draken laid her gently on the roof and poured a tiny bit of water on her face to wake her.

 

[Dracona]

Ona accepted the bowl and utensils from the female Lizardling offering a smile of thanks as she moved away from them. She recognized a lot of the items that had been laid out for their meal, but some she would never have thought of eating. Glancing at the others she half shrugged and leaned forward to follow Lashare's example, skewering a piece of the same meat he had chosen and sitting back to nibble on it gracefully. It briefly occured to her that the food might be poisoned, but then she thought that if they had wanted them dead plenty of opportunities had already been presented for their demise.

The meat had a strong but not unpleasant flavor and Ona licked her lips appreciatively. Thinking practically she knew that this might be their last hot meal for a while and she for one intended to make the most of it. Plus she didn't want to offend their 'hosts' in some way by spurning their hospitality.

She leaned forward and scooped some of the fish soup into her bowl, skewered a few chunks of roots to go with it and settled back beside Valanthe with a discreet wink.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Valanthe smiled watching Ona gather up a good portion of the food and begain eating. She herself followed sute keeping quietly to herself while she ate.

O'Bonn she knew could tell of news from the elves, Cormic could speak of news from his people.

Idrial, and Ona could speak of the people and things they had met on there journys before they had all joined together in there comon cause.

Valathe however could only share what it was like living with the dragon kind if permitted and of there journy thus far.

 

[AmenRa]

"I can tell you of days," O'Bonn began, "long remembered by my people." He took a bite of food, washing it down with drink. "But the most important thing is the Festival of Seasons, whose time draws near.

"It is a banquet and gathering that lasts seven days. It is a celebration of the time when the snows melt, and streams warm, and the fields turn green.

"All peoples join in this. There are, of course, Elves, but there are Centaurs, fairies, men, and some years even Dragonkind.

"This is our most important time," O'Bonn finished, "because it is a celebration of life. Many marriages," the High Warrior stole a sideways glance at Idrial, "happen during the Festival, as are many children born."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial listened to O'Bonn's news nodding in agreement, Tho she had never gone herself fearing that as a half breed even at such an event she would be unwelcome. It was on one such occasion where her mother and father had met.

Idrial in turn spoke of her travles and the people she had met, and the search for her brother. I have yet to find him? Have you perhaps seen one such as he aside from ourselves in your swamps?? she asked.

Idrial had left out only the part about finding Rhys and there journy thus far. Knowing that if Lashare wished to hear more about it then he would ask.

 

[Angelus]

As Garik moved slowly through the woods he kept his eyes on his companions as well as the group of soldiers. He could have told Lucian that this was not a good idea, that it wasn't going to go well but he knew that Lucian would not have listened to him. He wanted to laugh at that notion but he knew that it would give away where he was to the group and that was the last thing any of them wanted.

He then saw in the corner of his eye that the soldiers were getting up as one and snatching up their longswords. He watched as his companions moved closer to the soldiers, obviously trying to talk to them. Garik could tell just by look of the soldiers that it was not going to go well and slid his sword as quietly as he could out of its sheath. He watched the soldiers, just in case they did something that would put his companions in danger.

He knew that it would be the last mistake they would ever make.

 

[Wolfsister]

Tiana coughed slightly, spots of blood spraying from her mouth, as the water dribbled onto her face. Her eyes, when she opened them, had returned to their, albeit dark, normalcy. She blinked up at the drow that crouched over her and suddenly panic gripped her. She had woken and found herself in this position in the past too many times for her not to jump to conclusions.

Instantly she was on her feet, crouched and at the ready to flee. Though something indefinable made her stay. Her eyes watched him warily as she wiped the blood from her mouth. The Voices were for once silent and she had time and room to think for herself.

"Who are you?" she asked again, this time asking for much more than he had given her before. Specifically, a name.

 

[Dracona]

Ona kept her gaze on her soup bowl as she listened to the talk around her. She had nothing to say. Being a hermit for a few years kind of had that effect on a person's life. Add to that not knowing what went on before that and she didn't exactly have scintilating tales to tell over a meal.

She thought of Idrial, searching for her brother, and O'Bonn's talk of great festivals of his people and sighed softly to herself. Perhaps....if she survived this quest....she would not go back to her hut in the woods and her solitary life. Perhaps she would try living among people again. She thought that just maybe she had gained enough self control that it could be safe to be with others. And maybe if she could find a chance to use the stones given her by the Dragons she might gain complete control of her 'talents' and be able to really use them for good. Something told her that she had a lot to make up for in her forgotten past.

 

[Bladesman]

When she came to, Draken stepped back and sat down on a nearby crate that was on the roof. He winced when she coughed up the blood and pushed a flask of brandy over to her. "Here, it will help calm you down. You wish to know my name?"

He stood to his feet and bowed in a noble form. "I am Prince Draken Shadowlord of the City of Shadows, commander of the Legions of Darkness. and head of the order of dark Warlocks."

Draken pondered for a moment. "Your clothing will not do, we will have to get you outfitted better. Hmm some clothes, a bit of mail a sword as well as a dagger and also a cloak. Otherwise you will be too noticeable while traveling.

 

[Wolfsister]

Tiana's eyes went wider and wider the longer his speech went on. She didn't pretend to understand all he said about titles and such, she had never met a person with that many before. Let alone with one, actually. She was just a simple girl from a simple farmer's village. Didn't stop her from being frightened of him though.

As he began to make plans for her, that's when she began to get angrier and a little more anxious. Here was another man that had waltzed into her life and now was essentially planning her life for her. Exactly what her father had done before. And look what happened to him. If only for the service he had done her earlier in the tavern, she wished him no harm.

And she knew that she was dangerous. Somewhere, deep inside, she knew what had happened to her small village and that she had been the cause of it.

Slipping her hands into hidden pockets, she fingered the small monocle she had yet to throw away. Just as he turned away to muse out his plans, she ran.

But, didn't move. For some reason, she was stock still. Her mind screaming for her legs to move, but her legs not listening to her one little bit. Blinking, the Voices began to clamour once more. This time it was in disapproval. Disapproval of her. It was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Fine... do whatever you want. But if you touch me..." her eyes gave him as hard a glare as she could muster. A little hell cat she was. Of course, what she did muster shouldn't have made an impression on the Drow at all. If anything, it was more impressive that she tried.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac nodded, for he had heard of such festivals. His people had only truly been friendly with the Satyrs, but they had many similar festivals amongst each other. He ate the food, for it was certainly sustaining, though not to his taste, and waited to see if any would ask about his people.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Talk later turned towards Khan's hope of finding a cure for his curse and his own quest to learn form the sages among the Moon Elves. This had the imediate effect of causing an uncomfortable and grief filled silence from his hosts.

Khan and the Moon elves sat for a long time, talking. The elves seemed to be more interested in the business of the dragons of Red Mountain rather than in Khan’s story. It was sometime, in fact, before they were seemingly convinced that he knew no more about the dragons of Red Mountain that he had already told and that he himself was not a dragon. They seemed rather disappointed when he finally convinced them that he wasn’t a dragon and that there was no dragon-related reason for his presence in their kingdom.

Then the real reason why Khan had come to the Moon elves was brought up, followed by a rather uncomfortable silence from the elves.

"Perhaps my father- He might have been able to help you, for he was our greatest sage as well as our sovereign, but he ... he has taken the journey, as so many of my people have in these past few weeks. Alas, for this is all that remains of my people, of my queendom. At least, all that have been restored to me since the fall of our ancestral home. Still, we pray to the stars that there are still more of my kin hiding among the wilderness and unspoiled by the dead-walkers. We fight to restore the few that may still be hiding... And we fight to avenge the fallen."

Khan was silent for a minute, his head lowered as if he had just seen his last hope die right before his very eyes. Some may have thought that he was silently crying, but when he raised his head again, there was no trace of sadness or of tears upon his face. Instead, his face was set and his eyes were hard.

“If there are none among your people that can help me, your majesty,” said Khan. “Then allow me to help you and your people. I feel that by helping you and your people, I may find a way to redeem myself and rid myself of this curse.”

“Queen Doon,” said Khan, raising. “I swear to you and those present that I shall aid you and your people in any way I can or die trying. This curse that lies upon me has kept me alive many hundreds of years longer than the oldest of men to have ever lived. Until this curse is lifted or death finds me through another’s hand, I shall help you and your people in your efforts to reclaim what was yours.”

Then Khan fell silent, awaiting the response of the elf queen.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Rhys knew the Matriarch would call for him when or if she was ready to awncer his questions, and so the next morning went out with the majai-hi to meet with Drakkon, and phalax for his wepons, and tactic's training.

Knowing that the evening's would be spent with Lore Keeper, and Reverend as he gained knowlage, and the ability to study others learning not only to read and write , but politics, Languages of all races, and the old ways long forgotten by many, and how to use these abilitys wisely.

The majai-hi an almost constant companion and his thoughts never far from Idrial and the group of warriors who went with her to save one small boy, and the fait of the world.

I have come and am ready for my lession's to begain.

 

[AmenRa]

The Fay Hound

Seeing that the man-child was in the company of the dragons who would teach him the arts of war, the majai-hi wandered his way back into the chamber of the Matriarch.

He listened to her breathing, and he saw the tendrils of smoke rise to the cavern roof.

He thought back to the time before time, when even the Fay were knew, and he felt and wondered at the sounds and colors of the birth of life. He reached out into the fabric of things that were, touching the creation of the deep magic, of right and wrong, of the Dark and the Light.

He raised his head towards the Great Dragon and pondered.

The time draws near. The one of two-bloods, the humans, the elf, their fates are bound within the pools of spirit. As it is such with this man-child. Should they conquer, all will be set right with the world. They will prosper, they will grow, and in time they will even learn to make war no more. I fear they will no longer have need of us.

 

[Bladesman]

"Fine... do whatever you want. But if you touch me..." Draken watched as she did her absolute best to glare at him frighteningly. He coughed for a moment and bit the inside of his bottom lip as he tried not to laugh. Looking away he coughed again, then chuckled as he looked back at her. Chuckling for a moment, Draken pondered his next move. He would have to get another horse now, but then for that matter they should be getting him his warhorse soon. As far as equipping her with mail and weapons that would be a simple matter of opening a portal to one of the armories in the City of Shadows, getting her the equipment and opening another portal to return to this city.

He looked at her a moment, a bit of a smile still on his face. "Ever travel by portal?"

 

[Wolfsister]

"P...P...Portal?" she looked at him in a confused manner. She knew what a portal was, but she was just a simple country girl. She had always assumed that portals belonged to the gods, or to great sorcerers. Draken was just an elf... well, a Drow, but still.

"What do you mean? Are we going to visit a sorcerer? I thought they were just myths?" she had completely forgotten her earlier wariness in favor of getting through this little quandry he had handed her. A portal indeed!

"Wait... where to?!" her alarm was always ready to come back at any notice.

 

[Bladesman]

"P...P...Portal? What do you mean? Are we going to visit a sorcerer? I thought they were just myths......Wait... where to?!"

He watched the way she reacted with a slight grin on his face. "No we're not visiting a sorcerer. There is no need to visit one, especially since the ability to create portals is already known." He bowed his head for a moment and concentrated, then made several passes with his hands. A moment later a shimmering purple and black portal opened three feet ahead of Draken. He smiled and stepped through it appearing two feet away from the girl.

"Why visit a sorcerer if you can do it yourself? You wish to know where we are going? We are going back to my home city to an armory there. We can get you equipped and armed at no charge." Draken lowered his head for a moment and concentrated as he opened a larger portal, this one was darker and had a humming sound to it. "You must step through it at the same moment that I do."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Rhy's had finnished his trainig with Phalax and Drakkon making his way inside the keep to break his fast and perhaps bath before going to his study's with Lore Keeper and Reverend when he noticed someone approching the gate's and recoginzed one of the women he had seen in the Matriarc's pool who had been with Idrial... her name if he rememberd right was Aranel, and she had come from her people to seek the aid of the dragons.

He started to head in her direction stopping when he saw Phalax heading her way and then begain to run. He didnt want Phalax to harm or frighten her even tho he knew it was Phalax and the others job to guard and protect the Matriarch. He wasnt even sure what he would say or do when he got there but he wanted to let phalax know who she was, but then as Lore keeper had explained we can not always judge with our eyes for they could deceive us and it could be a trick someone casting a spell to take her form.

So insted he kept silent and hoped that Phalax temper wouldnt cause him to simply be rid of her out right. Stopping in his tracks he turned and went to find Drakkon insted..knowing if she really was who he thought then Drakkon could cool or at least re direct phalax's temper a bit.

 

[Mantra]

Idrial and Co.

The conversation drifted from member to menber, with O'Bonn and Idrial talking the most. Leshare occasionally commented briefly about some tidbit of information or Siswa would ask a question, but for the most part, the Lizardlings seemed content to let their visitors speak.

"Wees hasss a sssimilar fesstival of the Ssseasssons." Leshare said in responce to O'Bonn's tale of the Elvish Holiday. "But it issss only for the Peoplesss."

Idrial then took her turn to speak about her family, finally mentioning her long search for her missing kin. "I have yet to find him? Have you perhaps seen one such as he aside from ourselves in your swamps??"

The Lizardlings regarded the conversation stoically enough, but Idrial's comment about her brother clearly did not sit well with Tzass.

Siswa shook his head from side to side in long, slow motions. "No. Theres isss no one that is nots of the Peoplesss here. He would nots have been welcome if he hads comesesss here."

Tzass struck the stone floor with his fist, the skewer in his hand suddenly seemed threatening.
"Hoomunss should no comesesss here! Points Ears should no comesesss here! Beassstes Menss should no comessesss here! Alwayssss they tressspasss and takesesss the land that the Peoplesess farm, drivesss away our food and makessesss war on the Peoplesssses!"
"Yoos kind bringsess the Blasphemersess here! They are notss of the Peoplesess and seeks to makeses the Peopleses ssslavess! Tzass will not allow the peopleses to become Dead Oneses! Tzass will fight!"

The air in the room tensed quickly at Tzass's outburst, but while Lashare and Siswa were unreadable and composed. Both Bass and Kriss nodded with agreement at their WarBoss's assessment. Many of the lizardlings who huddled around the house seemed to quietly hiss and whisper in their own language.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Idrial sat quietly after Tzass outburst, not wanting to make any sudden movements which might be taken wrongly and cause them to be attacked out right. She and her party were still unarmed and only had there hand to hand skills to defend themselves if necessary.

She slowly sat her bowl down infront of her and rested her hands loosly on her lap. She waited to see what Siswa would say before she spoke, they had explained there presance in the swamps and apologized for tresspassing. She and her group ment no harm, but she could not nor would she vouch for those who had come before or may come after.

 

[Mantra]

Silverwing

Slilverwing returned to the city and the Trade of Blades easily enough. While only being gone a day or so, he had already racked up his first set of kills.

"Well, Hellfire and Damnation." the old GuildMaster commented as Silver set out the severed ears. "That was damn quick!" These lil' beasties were that close to the city then? Maybe you'd better show me where all this happened on a map..."

They spent maybe another hour talking about what had happened, with the GuildMaster finally getting around to paying for the bounties on his collected ears.

"K, so that's five silvers for each goblin...an you got nine here, plus two worg ears at ten gold...K that totals to 45 silver an 20 gold. I can convert yer silver to gold coin easy enough, that'll give ya 22 gold coin and 5 silver. Not a bad haul for your first shot as it were."

His bounties paid, Silver visited the local tanner shop next with his wolf pelts. The tanner was more of a taxidermist as well as a tanner, and a rather picky one at that. While he had seemed impressed at Silverwing's dispatching of the two worgs, He was unimpressed with his rough and crude method of skinning. The furs were pretty hacked, both from the battle and Silver's own inexperience at trapping, not to mention the trophy heads were each missing a left ear, but he agreed to buy each pelt for five gold.

Two days work and a bit more than 30 gold to his purse. Not the worst bit of luck to start out with, and the whole city of Trennau was open before him.

 

[Dracona]

Ona kept her face bowed as if gazing into her dish, but glanced at her companions from the corner of her eye. The tension in the air was like a weight bearing down on them all, the situation had suddenly become dangerous. Ona gathered feelings of peace and good will like a gently pulsing force in her chest until she was filled up, then with a soft breath she let it dissipate into the air around her. She didn't know if it would help, but sometimes it had helped with forest creatures when she had lived alone.

"You are right, Tzass...." She kept her voice soft and unthreatening as she lifted her eyes and met the Lizardman's angry gaze. "You must fight to protect your people. The Blasphemers will return. They will send armies of dead ones against you again and again seeking to overwhelm your strength by sheer numbers."

Ona let her gaze move from creature to creature and return to lock eyes with Tzass.

"You have no reason to trust us, but we few are not your enemy. We fight as well. To destroy the Blasphemers who would make all peoples into Dead Ones."

Keeping her gaze on Tzass, Ona lifted her bowl to her lips and drank down the remaining broth from her soup. When it was empty she set the dish aside, swiping the back of her hand across her mouth as she had seen so many of the warriors do, and waited to see what the Lizardmen would do.

 

[wolfknight20]

Silverfang decided to drift around for a bit and see what was in the local shops before stopping in for a pint of ale at a pub

he went down the street slowly as to not attract attention to his self or the 30 gold in his pouch mostly his concern was so as not to get in to trouble for chances were if he got in to a fight the city guard would ask some pointed questions

his past was one thing silver never thought bout much for there wasn't much to think on
he was created by a wizard to fight in a war and when the war was over the wizard had released him for his loyal service to do as he wished

seeing a child running toward his mom and dad he was reminded of why he had chose to leave and had to laugh for it was most likely impossible to ever find someone to settle down with and raise children

but till he found some one he'd continue to travel and do what he could where he could