Illusion Vale: A Spirit's Cry

[wolfknight20]

"Silver, I don't know what your past is, but I trust you will not turn away from the task at hand. I am a pleasant enough fellow," he smiled, "But when my friends are hurt or killed, I can become rather.... unpleasant. Please do no judge me by what I do to him in order to get answers," he pointed the bound elf.

"What we need to know is how much he knew. Why he was here and for whom."

Silver looked at his new Friend varic and said" for one i agree for another my past life i was what here might be called a assassin i don't know if you have ninjas here or not but i feel the same way as you this fool deserves what ever you are planing for attacking us and killing Eric

it might not of been his arrow but it just as well might either way he was part of it "

this said he curled his self up and drifted off to regain his strength

 

[Kalika84]

Sita sighed and leant back against the cool cavern wall. She could only go out at night and had to drink blood for the rest of eternity...maybe? And where did she have to go? and how far was it?

Playing with the stone hanging around her neck she smiled. "Brod, am I immortal? Will I ever be able to go out in the day time? And what exactly is threatening this 'world'? How far is this Spirit that will give me the information I need?"

Having exhausted her plethora of questions accumulated so far she sat back and continued to fiddle with the gemstone. She also noticed that every now and then Brod seemed to have an adverse reaction to her. Hmm. "Also? Brod, do you have something against me? I mean sometimes your friendly and all but you seem reserved and sometimes I sense something odd flickering in your eyes...or maybe I'm just imagining things. So! How long until nightfall anyway?" This last was said with a false bright smile.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Eeth

"And who is to draw first? Will the bead be placed back in the bowl afterwards, so the second drawer will have a chance at the same... disadvantage? Very well. Cast the first game and tell me of the outcome. And hurry with the second. I grow weary of this fightless Challenge."

Eeth figured that the queen hadn’t been paying all that much attention to what he had been say; if she had been paying attention, she wouldn’t have had to ask the second question. Eeth decided not to point that out to her, figuring that he had poked the wildcat with a stick quite enough.

“You shall draw first, your majesty,” said Eeth. “And after your pick has been recorded, the bead shall be put back in the bowl so that I may have a chance at picking the same one. Now, with that explained, time for the coin toss.”

Eeth walked over towards Van and handed him the bowl with the beads in it. Eeth then brought out the gold coin, holding it between his thumb and index finger on his right hand, displaying it for all to see. Then with a quick twist of his wrist and a wave of his hand, the coin was gone. Eeth then turned back to Van and produced the coin from behind Van’s ear, a small smile on his face. A little slight-of-hand never hurt anyone, thought Eeth. Besides, it just wasted about ten to fifteen seconds, which is good for me.

Eeth turned back around, saw the look on the queen’s face, and then proceeded with the coin toss. Up the coin went, flipping several times before landing in Eeth’s palm, and then turned over onto the back of his hand. When Eeth pulled his hand away, his face remained deceptively blank.

“The blank side,” announced Eeth, shortly returning the coin to its owner. “Magic shall be allowed.”

Eeth then turned back to Van, retrieved the bowl from him with a thank you, and then made his way over to the queen.

“Now, your majesty, time for the drawing,” said Eeth, holding the bowl over the queen’s head, but within arm’s reach. “Reach in and pick one.”

Valeros, make sure she doesn’t cheat, Eeth communicated to his Magi. Then he waited.

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver

Varic listened gravely to Silver and nodded once the Guardian was done. He smiled grimly, "Very well, get some rest my friend and I will try to prevent him from screaming too much,"

Watching Silver set himself to sleep, Varic noted - a frown on his smooth features - that the captured elf was slowly stirring. He saw a typical specimen of elfish features. Long straight blonde hair (tied in a ponytail ), long slightly pointed ears and a very slender figure. He seemed rather effeminant in his looks and Varic knew that should he look in a mirror - besides the blueberry hair - he would see the same thing.

Grimly, he set about his task...

Many hours later, just as Silver was finally waking up, Varic would be found sitting near a fire, his eyes dark as he stirred the coals with a long stick. Of the captive there was no sign. Varic's ever present scimitars were no longer on his back - instead they were lying on the sandy earth beside him, still dripping with blood.

"Oh, you're awake. I'm glad I didn't disturb your sleep... if you're hungry I have some more meat," he paused, "Don't worry... I won't make you eat Elf." Then he sighed. "We are in rather large trouble, I'm afraid."

 

[Wolfsister]

Sita and Brod

"Brod, am I immortal? Will I ever be able to go out in the day time? And what exactly is threatening this 'world'? How far is this Spirit that will give me the information I need?"

Brod stopped and considered her questions thoughtfully. He kept idly swinging his hammer around and around, still making that sweetly sorrowful note - letting it hang in the air.

"I believe that vampires are supposed to be immortal, milady. Though I have not lived long enough to test that theory - and I doubt any vampire has either. They are hunted most ferociously, I am saddened to say." He shook his head for a moment, muttering - "Though not for good reason..." until he said it, he hadn't known he would. He could only hope that she could not hear him.

"I have never known any tales of vampires walking in the day, I am also saddened to report, my lady. As to the last two questions - I do not know specifically what is threatening this land. Although the Spirit is weakening, we do not know how it is happening. And she is not far. It should take only five or so nights of travel to get to Vale City, if we do not meet trouble,"

He let her digest this latest information, thinking ahead to when they would travel and how best to. Her next question caught him off guard and he rocked backwards slightly.

"Also? Brod, do you have something against me? I mean sometimes your friendly and all but you seem reserved and sometimes I sense something odd flickering in your eyes...or maybe I'm just imagining things. So! How long until nightfall anyway?"

He was silent for a long while, so much so that it soon became uncomfortable. When he spoke, it was softly - "Someday, I might tell you, Lady. But for now, my past is my own. I am very sorry... I do not wish to discuss it further."

Then he got up and disappeard along the long, dark tunnel. He came back presently, however. "It is just past noon... a few more hours and we will be able to move on. In the next village, I believe we should purchase a shovel, milady," the last was an attempt at humour to lighten the load. He only hoped she took it as such.

 

[wolfknight20]

silver nodded his head at the thought of food but stopped in mid step and stared at varic the one friend he had in this world he sat down and asked "How much trouble is that from the look on your face i assume they are not just out and about but are directly after us " "or me as it were"

 

[rengadeirishman]

Michael bowed his head deeply "Thank you my queen." he said before turning to the others.

"I want your warriors ready for tomorrow at nightfall," he said to the dwarves. "I will now retire, sound the wake up call an hour before sunrise, so we may eat and move on. The sooner we end this war the better, destroying the goblins will be easy once their chiefs are dead and they have been demoralized."

Michael turned and walked away, heading for his tent. His mind preparing for the next nights slaughter.

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth and Ilandria

Rolyn silently - and only very slightly - nodded to himself. Eeth was doing a good job with dragging out time. He was not all that sure if the young Guardian could last any more than a few minutes with the far stronger and more experienced Ilandria so he approved of the time wasting tactics. He only hoped that Eeth did not come to regret his decision to 'make things more interesting'.

He glanced over at some of the Elders hidden amongst the crowd. Only those of the Cause were close enough to hear them, blocking others from viewing and hearing what they were saying. He glanced back to Ilandria and reassured himself again that she had not noticed their ploy just yet. The coming of the Guardian had been a stroke of luck. Well timed luck.

Van mewed slightly, his lopsided grin still plastered on his face. Rolyn knew the Ctarl Ctarl well enough to know that the grin was all bluster, but he appreciated the charade. Van was more important to this cause and his people than most realised. Rolyn only hoped that he had outsmarted the Queen long enough to keep his friend alive.

Ilandria did not bother watching the coin toss. She was less than amused by Eeth's treatment of the Cat. Although she tolerated him, the messenger was often more trouble than he was worth. But she knew Rolyn had taken a liking to him... her lips thinned on thinking of the elf. Rolyn, a traitor. Her fists clenched momentarily as she mentally checked off the other elf from her list of potential suitors. Just in case she tired of Malas. Of course.

A warm shiver of something she could not define ran its way over her back when she thought of Malas. The only Guardian she would ever love. The only Elf she would ever love. He had betrayed her -- she knew now that he had only done so to protect her, but it still smarted that she longed to be with him and he was stuck guarding that pathetic excuse of a goddess, The Spirit. She almost spat with the thought, but managed to control herself as the coin came down on Eeth's hand.

She pursed her lips as the toss was announced. It wouldn't have mattered, but the use of Magic would none-the-less at least make this entertaining. She wasn't sure how long she intended on playing with the young guardian, buy she reasoned that she should at least enjoy it.

Ilandria did not bother standing. She cocked an imperious brow up at the young elf standing before her, actually towering above her. But she let it pass. She was getting weak, it seemed. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes at her own choice of thoughts, she reached up and curled her fingers around a small bead.

Picking it free of its brothers, she pulled it from the bowl and presented it to the crowd and Eeth. "Red," was all she said and then popped the bead back into the bowl. Settling back into her throne, she nodded for Eeth to pick his own bead. Her long nails clicked impatiently on the arm rest of the oaken chair.

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver

Varic shook his head. "You have the right of it my friend. Not only were they after a Guardian. It seems that they were after you specifically. Somehow they knew where you would be and what form you would take." He shook his head and sighed, giving Silver some of the food to fill his stomach with while he talked.

"I have only a few suggestions as to why and how. The how of it... there must be a spy somewhere within the Blue Tower," he growled with the thought, his brow crinkling with concern. "I must warn Mother and Father... but don't know how to without raising suspicions. What's worse is that they were Elves. I know Ilandria has had her - shall we say - worse days. But she would never try to openly kill a Guardian."

He sighed, "Besides, Marcis didn't mention anything about the Elven Queen, or Neferin for that matter." He stirred the coals around in the fire, the golden flames reflected starkly in his eyes. "We shall have to be on our guard more than ever - I cannot say for certain if this was the only party sent to kill you."

He looked over at Silver, concern in his gaze, "I am truly sorry you could not have come to my beautiful home in better circumstances."

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

There was a roar of approval, though somewhat halfhearted. For some, it was the sobering of the thought that many deaths would be seen, dealt and felt in the coming days. For others, it was merely the lateness of the hour.

Sila scrambled to catch up with Michael, him having swept through the tent and outside before she knew it. She placed her tiny hand on his massive arm and tugged gently, letting him know she was there.

Her injuries, although physically gone, were still there in her mind. So she still walked more than she flew and even then she would limp most often than not. She was physically healthy, but her mind had yet to recover. She had been through so much. Even so, she was proud of herself for not breaking. Not once. She was stronger for it all.

Once they were back at their own private (although cramped) tent, she sighed and flopped onto the blanket roll stretched over the ground. Cupping her chin on her hands, she stared up at Michael, "Tell me more of your world," she whispered.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Michael lay on his side on the bedroll, pushing the hair out of Sila's face, he chuckled tiredly as she asked and lay on his back, hooking an arm behind her head.

"My world eh?" he said. "Its a very big place, with many countries and different kinds of people. Though there are only humans there, save for animals. Where i come from dwarves and faeries are myths, as well as goblins and dragons and just about everything here. We dont use swords anymore, and there is no magic. I was a soldier there, in something called the Marine Corps for awhile. Unfortunately, war is something the Vale and Earth have in common." He said, holding her close.

"Promise me that when we raid the goblin camp, you'll stay here where its safe."

 

[wolfknight20]

As Varic finished talking Silver saw him bow his head and he smelled of sorrow

So silver said the only thing that came to mind

"This world of ours is still beautiful and i say ours for i can tell you now with all honesty that even if i was given the choice i would not return to my world my life there was all about taking the lives of others and here it seems its to be the other side of the coin I'm here to protect them and being hunted is no big deal to me my friend it was the same in my world least here I've some magic and i can fly as well as having you to watch my back for awhile at least"

This said silver laid his head down and ate his meat

 

[Kalika84]

Hmm. He was holding something back. Something he wasn't and didn't want to tell her. Fine. Whatever. It isnt like she cared or anything.

Five nights? Walking? Hell. No. "Brod, you seem to be under the assumption that I am willing to walk for five nights which just simply isnt the case. The first village we come to we need a shovel and a horse at the very least. And food. And....oh crap. What about money? I don't have any! How does one purchase goods around here?"

As she started to freak out, her stone started to glow and pulse slightly. Not realising it she started to calm almost immediately. So what if she did not have money? There must be something she could trade for money? Standing she brushed dirt from her clothes, legs and arms.

"Right then. You let me know when it is time to leave. Come to think of it aswell, I think I should acquire weapon from somewhere..."

 

[Infalk]

Drake's Entrance

It had been a hard day as usual.

They had been chasing him for the past week, ever since everyone he had ever known died. He was the last one for them to hunt down and he wouldn't be easy prey, but he knew his mental and physical reserves were running out...

He was now hopefully safe for the time being at an upper class hotel in the middle of London, he was on the 13th floor and the whole wall facing outside had been replaced with a glass window. He had made sure before he checked in that it was tinted black, so no-one outside could see in. It had been raining all day and now lightning started coming down.

He had just gone to look out the window for a closer look when he heard gunfire outside. Shit! How had they found him so soon!? His door exploded and three masked men ran in with sub-machine guns.

He looked down out of his window and smiled. Today was his lucky day. He threw tear gas on the floor by his feet and jumped out of the window.

He landed into a skip filled with old mattresses from a shop that was closing down. He felt the pain and knew that there would be bruises in the morning, even mattresses don't take all the force away. He quickly got out of the skip and started running down the street when he saw a bright flash in front of his eyes and everything went blank.

 

[Mantra]

Jay

The Nightmare reappeared suddenly, hurdling over the fallen corpse of the defeated nightstalker. Sparks flashed as the burning hooves struck an invisible barrier a few inches above the ground and stood, literally in the air before the remaining troupe. One rear leg was held up, the Nightmare clearly favoring that limb. Vaporous smoke dribbled up from a gash where the Nightstalker's spike had punctured the calf. The flank of the same leg was also pitted and blistered from where the spattering, burning toxin had struck him but these injuries did not make the flaming horse seem any more vulnerable to the survivors.

Jay's mane and tail no longer trailed behind him like a wave of flames, but they still whipped and snapped about like living fire. His red, glowing eyes swept along the line of people, regarding them without sympathy or regard. His head lowered and a hiss escaped from between his teeth toward them as each of them were bombarded with empathic waves of pain and rage.

The Nightmare uttered another hiss and stepped forward menacingly.

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

"...We dont use swords anymore, and there is no magic. I was a soldier there, in something called the Marine Corps for awhile. Unfortunately, war is something the Vale and Earth have in common."

Sila paused, frowning. She tried to imagine what kind of world it was that Mike had come from, but she ended up just giving herself a headache. "How could you live without magic? What is -"

"Promise me that when we raid the goblin camp, you'll stay here where its safe."

At that Sila did truly stop and her frown furrowed deeper into her brow. She sucked in a breath, considering. "How can you ask me to do that? How you ask me to abandon my people?" She shook her head, turning away from him for a moment, "Michael... I know I may not have been the smartest of fairies... I certainly wasn't the most responsible. But since meeting you..." she stopped, turned back to face him and clutched his hands in hers, almost desparately.

"I've changed Michael. I've grown stronger. There was nothing wrong with my memory before, I just didn't have anything good enough to remember." She looked deeply into his eyes, willing him to understand, "Michael, my place is beside my people. My place is beside you - fighting for what we all believe in. I'm not a silly girl anymore. You changed me. You made me what I was supposed to be - and I can't go back. I won't."

She sighed, "You can't keep me here without you anymore than you can keep the sun from rising." She smiled at him and leaned in to place her lips gently on his. "I'm sorry... I'll be careful, I promise. But I can't just stay here. I have do this."

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver and Varic

"This world of ours is still beautiful and i say ours for i can tell you now with all honesty that even if i was given the choice i would not return to my world my life there was all about taking the lives of others and here it seems its to be the other side of the coin I'm here to protect them and being hunted is no big deal to me my friend it was the same in my world least here I've some magic and i can fly as well as having you to watch my back for awhile at least"

"I never expected you to be so... wise..." Varic said softly to himself and then shook his head, sure that the Guardian had heard him. "I'm sorry my friend. Killing never has me in a good mood. There are few of us elves left. The Avians, even the Dwarven folk, are slowly overtaking us... it is sad when one of us dies."

He sighed and watched silently as Silver ate his meal. He couldn't eat, not after what he had just done, but he did not wish to ruin the meal for his newfound friend.

"When we get to Nariel, we will have to be very careful. I will continue your training with Centaur ceremonies - but we must be cautious."

Once Silver was done, they would visit Eric's grave one last time before heading off towards the ancient desert city once more.

 

[Wolfsister]

Sita and Brod

"Brod, you seem to be under the assumption that I am willing to walk for five nights which just simply isnt the case. The first village we come to we need a shovel and a horse at the very least. And food. And....oh crap. What about money? I don't have any! How does one purchase goods around here?"

The strangely coloured orc turned to stare at her for a moment as she transformed from a young composed woman to one that could turn to hysterics at any moment. Unlike her, he did notice the glowing stone cupped in her hands and her almost immediate response. Knowing something of magic, but not enough to get at what this 'stone' was, he kept his mouth shut. She already had enough to deal with. They could address the stone later. Besides, it didn't seem to be doing her any harm.

Once she had calmed down, he cocked an eyebrow, "So you think having a source of food, milady, underneath you during the night would be better than having only myself around you, and able to defend myself against you?"

He knew he was being slightly harsh, but he knew the nature of vampires all too well - no matter that she was an ordained Guardian - "How many horses do you think we would get through in five nights?"

His hammer had gone silent, him having stopped swinging it soon after she had begun to freak out. He didn't seem inclined to start swinging it again. "Until you have better control over your new... powers, I think it best you keep away from people. Innocent people." He was far from being friendly now and a little bit rude, but it seemed he was just being practical. At least he hoped it sounded that way. He didn't want to insult the lady... just he felt a rise of annoyance that he couldn't quite quash.

Then he stood, "I will await the rise of the moon at the entrance. When I call, we may leave." As to the questions of weapons and the trade of goods, he did not comment. She would see soon enough that he was well enough equipped for the trades part... and that she was more than well equipped for the weapons part.

Then he disappeared down the dim tunnel without another word.

 

[wolfknight20]

Silver ate his meat and nodded when he was done

he then rose and walked with Varic to the grave of thir frind

 

[Wolfsister]

Drake and Dorn

Dorn strode whistling through the mountains. He was at the southern tip of the Trinias mountains, not having anywhere better to be. He was close enough to Guardan Hall and South Haven should he need to return to civilisation. It had been around two months since he had been summoned to the Spirit. He had made the trip in less time than expected and remembered the Spirit being pleased with his progress.

"You have a special quest ahead of you. I cannot tell you why you were chosen, as others are as well, only that I know it must be you. Guardians are needed and will be guided back to this world. They cannot know how we have grown in their absence, so it up to you to guide them to me - we need them to defeat what comes."

Dorn had looked up at her, quizzical at this turn of phrases but not willing to question. Of all the humanoids, the Spirit was the only one he truly trusted. After all, if he didn't trust Her, who would he?

She had simply smiled, "I cannot tell you where or when. Only soon and in the Trinias Range. I'm sorry I do not have anymore information. You must make haste there and back with the Guardian you collect. Once you find them, you will be bonded to them as your souls are somehow linked through time and space - " she had shaken her head down at him as he had begun to ask questions, "I will know more later, but for now, you must bring me this Guardian you seek and bring them back unharmed."

Dorn stopped whistling and made his way back to his night camp. It was closing down on dusk, rapidly and the air was getting chilly again. He had camped at a different spot every day for two months since being sent on this quest. His parents had been proud, his wife even more so.

He felt a pang of longing as he prepared to face yet another night all alone with no feminine warmth to comfort him. He sighed. Nothing for it. The Spirit needed him and he would be there for Her.

A soundless boom suddenly echoed all around and Dorn was rocked off his heels. He regained his balance almost instantly but was disorientated for a little while. When he gained his senses again, he felt a definite pull in a certain direction. Remembering what the Spirit had said about the Bond between Guide and Guardian, he trotted off in the direction of the pull.

About half an hour away from the camp he had left, when the sun was only just dipping below the mountainous horizon, Dorn saw it and knew it to be the Guardian instantly. There was a large black wolf, larger then he had ever seen, laying unconscious on the ground in the midst of a shallow depression in the ground.

Nodding to himself, the stocky 4'10" dwarf bent over and lifted the giant wolf onto his shoulders. Grunting with some effort, he trotted back to camp. Making a warming fire and placing the Guardian on the pile of blankets, the dwarf busied himself with making some broth and tea.

Lucky, he thought to himself, don't know what I would have done with something bigger than myself....

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Elmhand

Elmhand was on his way towards the forest when an indescribable sound stopped him in his tracks, making him turn around out of curiosity. What greeted his eyes had him frozen in place; the Night Stalker was writhing about in obvious horrific pain. Elmhand watched the final moments of the Night Stalker’s life in silence, not quite believing. Then the Night Stalker slumped forward and hit the ground with an almighty boom that rattled the ground, and had Elmhand had any teeth, would have rattled them right out of his head.

When Elmhand’s stopped vibrating from the Night Stalker’s fall, at least enough to see straight, he saw no sign of the glow-y thingy that had come out of the Night Stalker’s mouth, but he did see the Night Stalker’s body laying face down in the dirt.

Elmhand didn’t know how the Night Stalker’s apparent death had come about, but he didn’t really care; dead was dead. So, Elmhand simply shrugged and started back towards the group. He stopped short however, when the fire horse suddenly popped back into existence, leaping over the carcass of the Night Stalker. Elmhand honestly hadn’t noticed that the horse hadn’t been there to begin with, but he sure did notice the creature now, and he looked pissed.

Thankfully, the horse was facing towards the Mia and the others, with his backside to Elmhand. Even being behind the fire horse, Elmhand got the definite feeling that something was wrong, so, he did what any tree would do: he just stood there, for all intents and purposes, a tree.

 

[Infalk]

Drake Awakens

Everything was black. He realized now that he must've been hit by lightning. It hardly mattered now, he was dead...he'd been hunted for two weeks and now it had been ended by nature.

He tried opening his eyes and found that somehow, he could. He was curled up besides a warm fire on the side of a mountain somewhere. That settled it, he had to be dead or else he wouldn't be on a mountain. He looked around and saw a short guy sitting down whistling a song. Perhaps this was some bizarre paradise, or maybe he had just been born into his next life?

He went to rub his eyelids and ended up clawing himself. He cried out as he looked at his...paws!? What the hell??? Why did he have paws and claws? What was going on? And why was he covered in fur? His claws had specks of blood on them from where he clawed himself and as he stared he saw something crackle across them.

"Shit, this isn't what I imagined would happen when I died! Where, what, when and how is this place? And what am I?" He was completely bewildered and he hoped the short man besides him knew what was going on.

He tried standing up and just fell back over onto the ground, landing on a small rock painfully. He then noted how loud the sound seemed. He realized that he could hear far better than he used to be able to. Whatever he was, it was going to take some getting used to.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Eeth

Eeth put on a friendly smile when Queen Ilandria reached up to take one of the beads. When she pulled out the red bead, Eeth’s friendly smile didn’t change despite the fact that inside he was grinning like mad.

“You have drawn the red bead,” said Eeth, basically announcing the fact to the crowd, just to make sure. “Therefore, you shall have one arm tied to your body for the duration of the fight. As for me…”

Eeth raised the bowl above his head, and reached in. He twirled his fingers around a bit, making sure the beads kept moving about, then he finally grabbed on and pulled it out. Eeth’s heart dropped when he saw the bead he had picked, but his smile remained plastered to his face.

“…I have drawn the yellow bead,” continued Eeth after a short pause after pulling out the bead. “Which means I will be starting the fight unarmed.”

Eeth handed the bowl and beads back to the woman who had brought them out earlier, and then turned his attention back to the queen.

“There is just one more matter to be dealt with before the fight begins, your majesty,” said Eeth. “And that would be who will be judge of the fight, whose job it will be to ensure that the rules, including the bead choices, are enforced. Of course, both of us will have to agree on the person to be judge.”

Eeth kept his face straight, being absolutely serious about what he had just said; he didn’t want the queen thinking he was talking nonsense.

 

[Wolfsister]

Jay/Elmhand/Becca

Coudron took an involuntary step backwards. The rocky giant looked warily around him, checking the positions of the other Guardians and Guides. Elmhand was currently behind the maddened nightmare, his Guide - Mia - hovering somewhere to Coudron's left. She looked tired, but determined, the joy from beating the NightStalker quickly draining from her face as she recognised this new threat. She was a tiny warrior, that one and Coudron had to admit to a little bit of respect for the water nymph.

Kail's light was waning and Coudron knew that the Wisp did not have much left in him. It was clear to see that Becca had some left in her though, her fists clenched as she weighed up the new threat. She hadn't been all that helpful against the Stalker, more a distraction than a help - but she had done her part and for that Coudron was more than happy. The soldier was still there too and calmly fitting bolts into his double winged crossbow. Coudron had to admit that the design of that particular weapon was rather ingenious, but it wasn't the right time to ask after it.

Coudron felt a stab of guilt as he warily eyed up the Nightmare. Jay was his responsibility and he had promised the young man he would look after him. But after it was all said and done, Coudron felt the shame of not being able to keep Jay from himself. The nightmare was taking over, the rage of the fires, the heat of passion... everything Coudron had once battled and more was now raging in the young horse. He could not have been sorrier.

Taking a resolute step forwards, Coudron also let his own flame show. His normally rocky body with glowing rivulets of molten rock was suddenly aflame. It did not scorch anything that it came in contact with, the fire elemental had more control than that. But it was an impressive show as the flames lovingly engulfed his impressively sized body. His voice came out gravelly and deep, "You've defeated the Stalker, Nightmare. Your part in this is over... let Jay return to where he belongs." His tone beseeching yet remaining commanding at the same time.

 

[Wolfsister]

Silverfang

It was quite some time after they began their day's journey before Varic could find the will to speak. His mind was riddled with questions and doubts about his people and about just exactly what was happening. He had not had contact with either of his parents and he wasn't sure what to do next. The loss of his sure manner was surprising and it caught him off guard.

Plodding along the desert, his eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any more raiders, Varic finally spoke, "Silver, I know that what you have been dragged into may not be the best of circumstances. I am ashamed that you could see my world, this fantastic land, when it is in such terrible need. I can only hope that you can see the true beauty of this place." Varic shook his head, he was moody and it was such a rare occurrance that he wasn't too sure of what to do about it.

"The elf - I will not bother with his name - he mentioned a name. Someone of whom I have heard before, and the more I hear of him, the more I become concerned." Varic looked at his new friend, "I am sure this will mean nothing to you now, but please keep an ear out for his name. It is Arinoth."

Just saying the name had the blueberry haired elf tasting something foul in his mouth and he took a generous swig of his waterskin to try to get rid of it. The sour memories, however, remained.