Pleasure Kingdoms: Second Attempt

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He shook his head slightly as he watched Taren blush over his comment. He then looked to Eeve, "It's abit easier than riding a real one or a horse as I can do a little better at helping you keep your balance."

He stood still and waited for Eeve and Hotaru to decide who was sitting where. He was actually comfortable with giving the two girls or any of their party members a ride. He didn't mind, the girls from his village loved when he would change and give them rides around the village.

Sometimes it was good to be able to shapeshift. Luckily he didn't get as embarrassed having the girls so close to him as it seemed that Taren did.

 

[vbabe2001]

"Oh, I can be in the back"

- Hotaru blinked, not really wanting Taren to leave ahead, but she scooted to the back to let Eeve sit infront of her. Her violet eyes had looked at Zarl, blinking several times. -

"You favor alot of women, don't you Mr.Zarl?"

- She smiled warmly and looked behind her, wondering if Julian would ever come showing up. Most likely, it would be when they least expected it.

She looked at Lavestine, some how that woman just gave her bad vibes. She didn't keep focus on her, for fear of her facial expressions giving her uncertainty away -

 

[Armphid]

Taren

He thought he could hear the beat of hooves pounding on the road behind him, as well as the occasional flap of leathery wings. He knew that he should probably slow down...but it felt too good to pratically fly through the forest like this. He hit a broad branch running, his right arm snapping out with the whip. Leaping free, he swung to the apex before pulling the whip free and tumbling forward through the kaleidescope of greens that rushed past him as he fell. Perhaps twenty feet from the ground, the whip cracked out again, and he soared up into the canopy. Vaulting and dancing through the air, he made his way until he came to where the woods fell away. Before him he could see the still smoking remains of house and barn...and the bodies that littered the green fields around both.

A whip swing carried him far out onto the green, the brown leather trailing behind him almost like a ribbon. He began to somersault before striking, continuing to roll forward after hitting to diffuse the force of the impact. He came to his feet with Overture and Finale at the ready, just in case some lurkers still prowled. He held his stance, senses straining to take in all that they could. He heard only the sound of the wind rustling torn cloth and whistling through the destroyed roof. His nose smelled blood, offal, a heavy putrid musk-like scent, and burnt wood. His eyes took in the devestation, seeing no living thing in the debris.

He sheathed the blades and began to poke around the farmstead, looking fro signs of what had happened, and which way the maruaders had gone. As he did, he noted the brutality with which the dead had been slain, limbs torn free of their bodies in some cases. Others were missing heads, or had been torn open at the lions and been spread over several yards. Gynan had told him of the results of a monster attack, tried to prepare him for it, but this was the first time the young half-elf had ever seen such a horror himself. The worst were the older women...they hadn't been kidnapped, but the beasts had their fun before killing them. He wanted to be sick, or just collapse and weep, but he couldn't afford either. He'd just have to deal with it later...for now, he had to worry about the living.

One thing was clear. The attackers had gone to the north-east, toward the foothills of the mountains. While he waited for the others to catch up, he guessed it would only be a few minutes, he found a few mostly undamaged sheets and began to cover the worst of the bodies. Taren did not want Hotaru to see this...and he prayed that they would find no worse before this was over.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Zarl rolled his eyes at the half-elfs comment about flying unseen. For some reason, everyone seemed to think that just beacuse he had wings, he could fly! He understood some of that thinking, but there were larger birds throughout the lands that couldn't fly, and he was larger than most of them.

He decided not to let it bother him. He glanced over at Hotaru as she asked about him favoring women. He grinned broadly at her. "Well, what can I say? I may not be a bloodthirsty lug, but I still suffer from monsterous desires."

He stretched a little, glancing at the others before jogging off after the half-elf.Such a strange bunch of people...

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

After Eeve and Hotaru had settled on his back and Levastine got on her mount, he headed off after Taren and Zarl. He kept his pace slow as he knew if he didn't he would leave the horse behind too easily. It would take a true unicorn to possibly leave him behind.

He kept his gate level so as not to jostle the too women upon his back. It wasn't hard making thier way through the underbrush of the woods and didn't take them all long to reach the farmstead.

 

[katalynn]

LAvastine ~

Happy that I didn't need to *carry* one of these ruthless people. Leaned down low on Luthas watching the others get ahead some and whispered within his ear.

Rise like the fires, let their dancing flames provide you safety and speed.

With that Luthas took off running faster than a normal horse would, his hoofs seemingly not touching the ground. Leaving no sound nor tracks. Catching up to the elf that was flying through the trees.

 

[Sky Jade]

Evee had managed to get herself on Logan with a little bit of trouble, but soon had herself sitted in front of Hotaru. She gave a soft smile to Hotaru as she settled herself on Logan, her staff across her lap. She curled one hand into Logan's mane firmly but gently so she could hold on.

"It's a lovely day for an adventure."

 

[Armphid]

Taren

He did not hear the horse approach. He saw a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye, turned and saw it galloping through the air to where he stood. Taren stood, having just pulled a sheet over the body of the youngest farmwife. Further off, he heard the pounding of hooves...Logan would be here soon.

The green tressed warrior nodded as the horse and its darkly lovely rider pulled up. "A very impressive spell, Lady Lavastine." "The elves of Greenwood taught me to travel through the trees with speed, and I haven't seen anyone match it yet." He inclined his head in a gesture of respect, "Lucky for me, I got a head start." He smiled, though it faded as he turned back to look at the ravaged farmstead. "It looks a few hours old...I'd say three or four, though I'm no great tracker." "Hopefully, Zarl is more skilled at that than I am." "I think they went to the mountains...but I couldn't make out any individual tracks." He knelt atop the wreckage of a low stone wall. "We still don't know what's out there."

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Following only a few moments behind, Zarl came out, looking across the farmstead as he slowwed his running, coming close to the others. He felt good. He hadn't enjoyed a good run for a while yet.

His eyes roamed over the scene, the covered bodies, the wreckage, and the tracks in the ground. He moved over, and knelt down, studying a few of the tracks. He frowned, and then stood up, looking in the direction of the tracks before turning back to the others.

"So,....What do you guys think?"

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He came to a sliding stop at the edge of the clearing and managed to keep his balance to let his riders stay seated upon his back.

He looked over the clearing and the carnage it contained. He shook his head and took a few steps back not wanting the two women on his back to see the mess they had come upon, but he knew if he had seen it they had too.

 

[Armphid]

Taren

The half elf exchanged a grieving, sorrowful look with Hotaru. He hopped down off the stone wall he was on to stand by Logan. Reaching up he took her hand, "I'm sorry you had to see this Hotaru." "It's never pretty...but this one is unusually bad." "We'll take our vengeance for it though...cold comfort, but it's all anyone can offer for an atrocity like this."

He turned to face Zarl then, "Well, I wasn't able to make out what we'll be fighting or even how many." "The tracks all run over each other." He pointed to the dark wood and the mountains. "I think they're going that way though, and that we need to ger chasing after them now if the kidnapped are to have any chance."


"If no one has any objections, I say we start out again now."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

Logan looked to Taren and then the others. "I agree. The longer we wait the farther away they get with the women and children."

He lifted his head and sniffed the air in the direction that Taren thought the captives had been taken, he could catch the slight scent in the air, but it was quickly fading.

He took a few steps forward as he hoped the others would agree and follow as well.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

He mumbled to himself as the others got ready to head out. "Trolls,....maybe a handful. But a good deal of goblins. Now why would they,...?"

He glanced up, and over at the others. He sighed, and stretched his wings. He drew his sword, holding it out as he stared at it a moment before looking to the others.

"Okay, fine. But I say we move with caution. They're acting very strange, and I'm not sure if I trust anything about this whole situation..."

 

[katalynn]

Lavastine ~

Didn't have much of an expression on my face at the horrible site. It was sad yes, but there was nothing we can do about this now. Seemed as if we were to afraid to move and follow the tracks. I saw a small set of tracks through the many that obviously none as seen. The scent of the fowl creature lingered in the air still, my senses seemed to always have been stronger than most. Having the elf in me seemed to help with that.

"Well are just going to stand here and dwell on the past, or follow that trail that leads to the woods?"

Said it as casual as possible, not wanting to show the sarcasm in what was said. Whispered softly into Luathas ear and took off running once again. I knew to be caution, and didn't want to disregard what Zarl had said. But someone had to make the first move, or these creatures were going to be so far ahead, it would be days before we catch them.

 

[vbabe2001]

"I'm ready for anything"

- Hotaru's words were calm and comforting as she jumped down from Logan, putting her slender digits gently against his snout -

"We need to help the others, that is our duty as warriors and protectors"

- She glanced at Lavastine and Zarl -

"I'm sure we all feel that way, hai?"

- Her violet eyes shone with detremination as she looked on -

"I'm ready to show my power to everyone, even if it might be more defensive, we will need both defensive and offensive techinques against the goblins and whoever is responsible for this mess. What I suggest is that we find the survivors, I can protect them with my silence wall while you guys fight our enemies"

- She looked towards the others -

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He looked off as Lavastine took off on her horse and then to Hotaru as she moved in front of him. "Maybe showing it now would be a good idea so as not to startle anyone in the middle of a fight. We're going to need all the fighting or protecting help we can get I am sure. I can heal somewhat in this form, but it takes me longer to change afterwards."

He waited for the others responses as he stood beside Hotaru.Shifting his weight a little to resettle Eeve's weight upon his back, which felt like little to nothing, the two women having been pretty light.

 

[Armphid]

Taren

The half-elf cursed silently as Lavastine galloped ahead. Did she know nothing of tactics? The group needed to move mostly together, and carefully. "You're right, Zarl...everything about this is dodgy."

He looked over his shoulder at Hotaru. The sight of the slender girl, holding the long and wicked glaive made his blood stir. She was so compelling...the gleam of her eyes seemed to lift his spirits and fill him with determination. For her...even more than for the captive, he would see this done. "Your power will be a big help, Hotaru-chan." "If you need to prepare it, do so now." "We may not get a chance after this." "Let's hurry...I don't our impatient sorceress to get too far ahead."

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Holding his sword before him, he stared deeply into the copper blade. He stared into the very soul of the blade. He had not yet thanked the blade for the battle earlier. He sighed, and looked around before stretching. Instead of putting his blade away, he kept it out, at the ready. He glanced over at Hotaru before walking away, muttering to himself.

"I don't need to do anything, especially for others. My life is my own, but I'll help them because I want to."

He wandered over to the woods, and stopped, looking back at the others and waiting for them to get a move on. First they're in such a hurry, and now look at them. Of course, there's much to be said for not rushing into things.

He glanced towards the sky. It was a beautiful day.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan

He looked after Zarl and the path Levastine had taken. "Taren we should follow as well. The girls can continue to ride if they wish, please let them know." There were times he wished the pendant would allow him to talk with more than one person, but he never complained as he was happy enough that he was able to communicate at all.

With Eeve still settled on his back, he looked to Hotaru to see what she was planning.

 

[Sky Jade]

Evve covered her mouth with a hand for a moment as she caught sight of the wrecked farm. HEr eyes look around slowly, sadly. She had seen this sort of carnage before, but she could not get over the sure cruelty of it.

She gripped her staff a little tighter for a moment.

"We must get those who did this. Such a deed is uncalled for."

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

PREVIOUSLY...

Exhausted after the magic-draining battle against the goblins and trolls, Shizura sat in the inn while the others went shopping. She leaned down over the table, pulling up her sun-and-moon headband slightly to rub at her long dark hair, smiling down tiredly into her cup of fruit juice.

What an adventure. These guys are all really strong! I won't have any trouble righting wrongs...

We can reach the Wizard's College... the Temple of the Goddess... maybe visit Double Soul Monastery! All the places I've wanted to go... travel into the unexplored territories... ohh, dreams! With dreams, one loves... Wain once told me that.

I miss you, Wain...

"Mind if I sit here, gorgeous?"

Naturally, she ignored the voice. It's not as though anyone would be saying that to her. Then she felt something tickle at the back of her mind...

Do I recognize that voice...?

She turned, eyes wide, and gasped as she saw the grinning young man standing behind her.

"Dyne!? Is that you?"

The handsome young man adjusted his tattered cap, his dark hair falling over his boyishly handsome features. His smile was cute and slightly impish, his eyes were dark and hinted at keen instincts, and his frame was broad but lean. A young human male in his prime, but with the sort of good looks that seem almost feminine -- one might say, with longer hair, thinner eyebrows, and a slimmer body, he might make a very pretty young lady.

"The very same, Shi-Shi." He pulled out a chair with dramatic flair and plopped himself on it, waving cheerfully at the barkeep, before turning to her. "Astonishing. You've only grown more beautiful."

"Rogue," she accused, grinning back at him. Her cheeks hinted at a slight blush, but she seemed used to his banter. "And you haven't changed a bit. Though you've grown a little."

"And a little richer," he said, leaning on the table and looking at her earnestly. "I'm working the trade routes now. The elves don't seem to mind a strapping young lad like myself, and the monsters don't bug me. I learned enough from our early escapades. Old grump Wain, cute little you, and gutsy sidekick me..."

"Hah! I'd say you were more than a gutsy sidekick. You were almost as good at Wain with the blade."

"And better with the crossbow!" Dyne said, laughing out loud and slapping the table, practicaly glowing with energy. "I am a rogue, though. But the professional term is merchant, so you know." Shizura giggled, and he winked. "My goal isn't money, though. I just want to find some voluptuous woman and settle down with her. Though, speaking of which--" He raised his brow, and his eyes wandered down to the swell of the magician girl's chest. "--you've grown a little yourself."

This time, she really did blush. "Dyne!!"

He laughed out loud again, grinning, and blushing slightly himself with decent shame. "Sorry, sorry. I'm only kidding. Though you only seem to get prettier. What are you up to these days?"

"Trollhunting."

"Sheesh." Dyne shook his head. "I'm moving out of the area, myself. Heading to the capital. You're probably trying to get into the Wizard's College, huh? I hear Wain did very well there, until he left."

Shizura's eyes widened. "He left?"

"Yeah. There are some rumors around it, but I think he was disatisfied with the teaching methods. Probably a mix of his genius and his ego. He needs a little respect." He shrugged and smiled. "Though I suppose I wasn't much of a good influence."

Shizura managed a wry smile. "You're fine, compared to him." Her smile disappeared immediately, turning to a worried look. "But where is he?"

An odd look crossed Dyne's face. Sorrow? Envy? It was gone within moments, and his charming demeanor returned.

"Wain... was sighted in this area. I think he's doing some sort of research, as usual. But without us to help him, Creator knows what trouble he'll get himself into. Being an introvert doesn't mean you have common sense."

Shizura sighed. "His research... he would always talk about strange things. His philosophies. Sometimes he frightened me. But..."

"But you had a huge crush on him."

Her cheeks pinkened. "Dyne..."

He blinked innocently. "Well, you did."

"...I guess I did," she said, her cheeks turning from pink to magenta, a soft smile rising like the sun. Dyne's eyes flickered, looking at her beautiful face make only more beautiful by her smile, and finally he managed a smile too, though not quite so happy an expression.

"So are you going trollhunting alone?"

"No," she said. "I have a group of friends. They've been shopping for a while. I should've told them where I was going... but I'm sure they're still around. We're going to track the trolls and goblins back to their lair. We think someone is controlling them somehow. It's a scary thought. They're very organizing."

Dyne stiffened.

"Dyne? Is something wrong?"

He paused for several long moments.

"The Void is both infinetesimal and infinite. It consumes and does not grow, and it is the source of all lust and desire. But, as desires come, so to dreams, and so does love. Love is connection, and love is home. Our home is all within the Void. We all belong there, and we are all connected. We can all understand each other through the Void."

Shizura stared at Dyne, her jaw slack.

"D... D... Dyne...?"

He stared straight into her eyes.

"That was one of the last things Wain said to me before we split up at the capital."

A shiver traveled down Shizura's spine.

"What are you talking about?"

Dyne's expression was stony. "Shizura, the rumors said that Wain was doing illegal research on the Void, and claimed that it should be released to the public. He wanted the College to fund him, too. They thought he was crazy, of course. And nobody knows where he is now."

"Hey, magician girl!" called a voice from outside. A harried looking young farmer was looking in from outside. "Your friends just left to help a farm that's under attack from a group of trolls! A group of them! You'd better catch up... they might need you!"

"Did you hear?" said a younger man, standing next to the farmer. "The group of them took out two trolls and almost ten goblins without a single wounded!"

Shizura stood, eyes wide, staring at Dyne.

"Dyne, I don't know what you are saying. But I have to go."

She turned and walked towards the door.

"Shizura! Wait--"

The handsome merchant's shoulders slumped as the pretty magician left the inn without a word, closing the door behind her as the farmers continued to talk.

Shizura continued walking through the town, and then began to jog, and then broke into a run. She had to find her friends. She had to catch up to them. She had to ask the trolls who was leading them.

Through the Void, we can communicate...

Wain... Dyne...

And lately, I haven't even been able to trust myself...

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

He held the sword before him, watching the sunlight as it reflected off the blade. He took deep breaths, waiting for the others to decide to move out. He lifted the sword, bringing it up to stare into the metal.

He glanced up, holding the blade before him, and looked around at the carnage before closing tight his eyes. Before his lay the unending horror of what he was capable of. The death he could bring upon the land if unchecked. The everlasting torment of his existance.

"You guys ready to go or what?"

 

[SwampThing]

"Well," said Laramie, more to herself than to the peasant boy beside her, "Shizura's friend is cute. I wonder if he'll be joining us as well."

The blonde elf watched Shizura rushing out of town. Beside her, a pair of legs wobbled under a small mountain of brightly coloured trunks, bags and boxes.

"Kevin, do be a dear, and put my things in the inn. Shadow shards galore, where's she off to in such a hurry? I bet she's going after those trolls, and that means troll crystals! Yummy! I wonder what else is going on? A lot can happen while a girl is shopping."

Kevin returned, breathless, from the inn. "Aren't we going to help Shizura?"

"Help her spend all those lovely crystals? And reap the reward for those trolls? The glory and riches? Yes, I suppose we should."

The strangely matched pair ran off after the cute magician girl, Laramie gliding gracefully with elven speed and stealth, Kevin stumbling, cursing, and struggling to keep up.

 

[Armphid]

Taren

Taren came up behind Zarl, Logan with the two ladies astride his back walking alongside. "Yes, Zarl." "Let's get moving again." "This time though, we all need to travel at the same pace." Taren was stuffing the whip back into his pouch as he spoke, while it was a fine weapon, it would do little tot he hard hide of a troll.

'As smart as these things have been acting, I don't think we should seperate." "They may have expected pursuit." He looked through the canopy of leaves, judging the position of the sun. "About two hours until noon..." He nodded, then. He hated this...calling the shots. He would have been content to leave it up to Shizura, he was just a muscle-head, what did he know about this? But as none of the others seemed willing to take charge...

"All right." "I know how to move softly and unseen in the woods, though I'm no master." "Zarl and I will take point, as well as keep the tracking up." "Logan, Hotaru, Eeve, and Lavastine will ride about 50 yards behind us." He gave the group what he sincerely hoped was a grim but encouraging smile. "We'll catch them, and deal with them." "Just stay sharp."

The green-tressed half-elf padded forward, moving with littel noise for all of his size. "We go."

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

He nodded, and moved ahead with the man to take point. It reminded him of his home. Although it was much cooler, and the woods were not like the jungle. He moved along with stealth, having spent his childhood learning to hide, and his adult life refining it to an art.

Still, it was not flawless. Anyone actually looking for him would likely spot him easilly. But then again, stealth was best used when people weren't expecting you.