The Seven Keys.

[Strolling Gecko]

OOC: Heh, no problem BEL.

IC: I pulled a chair up and sat down at the table. Leaning forward, I looked at the one who had spoken Lan's name. A smile crept across my face. Relief washed over me. If this man knew Lan. There was only one he could be.

"Yrismir." The name of one of Lan's old companions. Truly he was a warrior of great reputation. I gave him a slight bow and turned my head to look at the lady with the wolf.

"Excuse my rudeness for not introducing myself. My name is Ramas Vae and I was sent by Lan, to answer both of your questions. I am looking for a girl. I assume she's one of my race, as Lan told me she was from the same island I am originally from. She was sold twice. Once into slavery, then she was sold again to an auction taking place tonight at midnight. Lan charged me with finding this girl. He also charged me with finding six others to help me secure her and keep her safe." I glanced around the table.

"And if the great warrior Yrismir, my mentor's old companion, is among them then I feel we shall be more than successful. There is more to tell, but right now it is not my place to reveal it. I apologize for my rashness."

I looked around the table. I wondered what each of them was thinking.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna's face grew somber at his words.

"Slavery," She spat out, her own sense of needing freedom being of great import. "An evil thing and my heart goes out to your lady. I hope we can be successful in that if not in what the gods have sent us to do."

 

[usmc_sgt]

OOC: Sorry bout the newb mistake. Won't happen again.

Nova

I duck the blow aimed at my head. It whistles by close enough for me to feel the wind from it. It's a good thing I'm not drunk yet.
Obviously these people have no sense of humor I thought to myself. Oh well. Most people don't.

Sighing "If I offended you folks, I do apologize." I said to the group now gathered as I took a seat. "Just a little joke is all, I've got lots of 'em" I continued, smiling my most innocent disarming smile.

"I too came looking for someone," I said to the group, the turned and spoke directly to Yris, "however, unlike the rest, I have not come seeking you Yris. In truth, I don't know who I'm seeking, just that it's a woman. And you don't exactly fit the bill." I finished, playfully eyeing him up and down and finally giving him a little wink just for good measure.

"You say that your letter mentions a man with many rings. I am curious about this. Perhaps you should tell us more."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yris grunted, looking up at the knight. He sighed, and leaned back in his chgair, closing his eyes. He leaned forward, and whispered in elvish to the wolf, and smiled at it. He brought his hand back up, grabbing ahold of his staff yet again.

He sighed. "Look, I would love to help you, really, but I don't think it's on my list unless she's one of our seven or,...Well, it's not time for anything beyond that. I don't really want to get sidetracked. But, if you must,..."

He sighed. "Of course, we're supposed to be saving the entire world from the Evil Gods ravaging the world, slaughtering millions, enslaving the womenfolk to be pleasure-slaves to wicked demons, fire raining from the kies kind of torment. But if she's so damned important that you want to put that off for a few hours,..."

He reached behind him, snatching a tankard of ale off Nina's serving plate as she returned, downing the whole thing in one fierce chug and slamming it back onto the table.

"Then I guess we can go get her and let the forces of evil get a headstart. I mean, it's only a race for the future of the whole world? Who cares, right?"

He turned to the illusionist. "Just a man with many rings. And it's not a letter, I scrawled down the list when I came to. A man with many rings, who is sent here under mysterious circumstances, is supposed to help us save the world, illusion-boy. So if you be him, speak up."

OOC: Yo, Sarge, you gonna duck or did I hit you? If so, feeling of dread and evil!

 

[usmc_sgt]

I mumble a few words under my breath and suddely have rings all over my body. My fingers are covered as well as my ears and nose.

"Aye, that would sound like me." I reply with a smirk. With a snap of my fingers the rings dissapear. "I must admit," I continue, "this saving the world thing was exactly what I had in mind when I strolled in here. And with such a amiable group to boot. How could I turn you down?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna took Yris' outburst in stride, looking at him in a searching way.

"If he was told to bring his concern to us, who is to say that rescuing the woman is not part of the God's plans? You said yourself that the details are unclear. Mayhap she is to be a part of this as well. Can we take the chance of not doing this and finding out later that it was so?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

He sighed. "Okay, so far we have ring-boy, white haired woman, in touch with nature, Knight, and drunkard. Looks good. Missing Unruly human, and blendy-with-the trees. Tell you what, if we don't hit seven by the end of the night, we'll go save his mystery girl. Who knows, maybe she's the one Nova wants."

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Well, I guess chasing some tail is as good a reason as any to save the world. Sure, why not? Fine. We'll help her. But we ain't taking her anywhere out of our way, so she needs to go someplace special, she better hope we pass through or she can hotfoot it herself. But I tell you this, the details may not be sure, but I've been given a general outline: and it starts with gathering the seven. And we're two short. So let's focus on that for a while, eh?"

He yawned, and leaned back, hand slinding across the wood of his staff. He could feel it, pulsing throughhim, that feeling of evil. But, more importantly, something only he seemed able to feel: anger. He smiled. The asshole was dead, but still he managed to show his anger from whatever pit in Hell Tenora had sent him to.

Tenora. His eyes darkened. He looked up. "Any of you need rooms, tell the innkeeper you're with me. If he doesn't give you something, he'll hook you up."

He turned to Cali, leaning his staff against the table. He leaned an elbow on the table, resting his head on one of his hands. "So, beautiful, given any thought to it?"

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I listened to all of the byplay making mental notes. A good rouge always knows what's about her, I thought, hearing my Aunt's voice in my head. The memory brought a pang with it- my aunt, who was not my aunt.
I spoke up at the mention of a woman with white hair. "My hair is white in the hot months, most of the time. The sun steals all of the color from it. Unless I spend the summer seasons in the shadows like this past year."
The converstion went on, a Knight showed up. He seemed pleasent enough.
The mage played more with his illusions. I rolled my eyes- I had little patients for mages, but I'd try. If I could guard the Shibab of Allah, then I could deal with a single maglette.
I listened to Yris talk about saving Ramus' girl. I wasn't against it- had no problem with stealing slaver's trade goods. He turned to me, leaning his staff against the table. He leaned an elbow on the table, resting his head on one of his hands. "So, beautiful, given any thought to it?"
I considered being coy before tossing it aside. "Well, not quite yet. Of course, I'm assuming you know the truth I was luered here with. Tell me that and its a pretty good bet the sun's rising will see you quite pleased."

 

[poohlive]

The one thing Goven couldn't get enough of were the drow. They were a race of elves that had, like himself, learned all too well of the true power that lay within the forest's grasp.
He had days where he wished he had been a drow, learning their ways, their speech, their mental capacity. It would be a,most like that of a dwarf, if one could ever compare the beauty and inteligence of an elf to that sort of monstrosity inside the earth.
Goven let his hand waver over the contract, blood pouring from no cut, dropping with finely woven precision on the paper, and then stopping once he had finished.
The contract meant nothing to him, or rather, it had little to do with his hopes for the goal. The benefactors promised riches if these items, or whatnot, were returned. Power, immortality, and rishes beyond the wildest dreams awaited whoever followed these plans. Who could want anything more?
Goven had a slick smile over his face...
Who indeed.
It took him a few seconds before he caught up with the drow, her hair bouncing behind her as she walked to the door. He followed suit, not wanting to disturb her, she already looked like she would cut off anyone's head that rubbed her the wrong way.
The last thing Goven wanted to do was rub her the wrong way...
"Excuse me," he spoke, soft, and almost gentle. He caught up beside her, giving her a brief smile, and looking her up and down once more for his own benefit. Yes, she would do nicely.
"I wanted to introduce myself. It seems a shame to have all of us here for one purpose, and then split up if we are to perform the same task..."
A large shape loomed behind them, coming out from within the shadows themselves. From his size, it seemed impossible something like that could ever hide inside any sort of shadows, but when he made his presence known, several attendee's stood back.
"Tork," Goven's voice was curt, and low, almost a growl, "Sign."
The ogre moved off to the piece of paper. He took the huge battle axe from off his back, long, big, and made of a blackened steel that didn't seem to be of any metal recognizable. In a swift move, he cut open the juicy flesh of his palm. It was a deep dash, blood poured in mountains from the cut, running passed his skin, and even seperating tissue.
The parchment was drenched in ogre blood.
Goven paid no attention though.
"I was looking for someone with a magnitude and... passion for this that matched my own. Perhaps, if we became partners in this little venture, more could be had."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Ophelia

Ophelia had felt the other following her but gave no sign. However, her muscles tensed in preparation for any attack. Instead a surprisingly quiet voice called for her attention and she stopped, pivoting to look at who would address her.

Her dark eyes glittered as she looked the man up and down, one hand placed on her black leather covered hip as she made an obvious assessment of him. Her eyebrows rose, her surprise evident.

"A light elf," She said, almost spitting the hated race's description from her tounge. "What does one of your kind do here in the dark heart of evil?"

She smiled and laughed, a mocking sound. "Don't tell me that one of your kind actually found the power of darkness intriguing enough to wish to possess it. How very...interesting."

Her eyes flickered to the orc who followed this man and she paused a moment. Any who could command such as this would definately be powerful...and maybe even useful. It gave her food for thought.

Looking again at the man, she thought over his proposal.

"I don't like partners," She stated flatly,"They tend to stab you in the back when you least expect it." She should know, she was usually the one doing the stabbing. "However, I can well see your point. It would be foolish to give up a goal or have more obsticles thrown in my way simply because I chose to be stubborn in my own prejudices."

She grimaced again. "I also am not fond of magic. I only trust what I can see and touch. Cold steel is reliable. Unseen forces are not. But...." She looked over at where the orc stood and shrugged.

"Any who could command such as that heeds listening to." She said with a nod. "Very well, why don't we seek out food and drink and discuss this....partnership...in more detail? I am hungry and I think better on a full stomach."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yris grunted, and sat back, spreading his arms wide in defeat. But then he stopped, and dropped his hands to the table. He leaned closer to her, squinting. He grunted, and sat back, a confused look passing across his eyes for a moment. Then he sighed.

"I don't think Orcs were meant to live as long as I have. My mind is playing tricks upon me. As to what you were told to bring you here I wouldn'- No, wait. Let me guess. You were told that I could tell you who you are. Or perhaps, more appropriately, who your parents are? Or maybe what is the word you're looking for?"

He leaned back, and smiled at her. He was amazed, his mind still seemed to be working. "And whether I can give you that knowledge, well, I don't know you at all. Of course, that doesn't mean that I might not know, but I could not tell you at this time. However, we are the chosen of the Good Gods. And I don't think that They would lie. So, who knows. Perhaps if you travel with us, maybe spend a little time with me, tell me about yourself, who knows what could be,...revealed?"

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I shook my head ruefully. "I figured as much. Already said I'm in on this quest of quests. Besides- if all that's good in the world goes to hell, buisness would be shot. Can't have that happening.
"As to who or what the creatures that spawned me were, well I suppose I'll have to wait. Would be to easy if you knew it."
I laughed as his innuendos. This was a type of fire I knew well. "Well, I suppose I could let you get to know me better but only if you returned the favor, Yris. I'd rather not have you know all about me and I know nothing of you other then a name to call you by."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

He laughed. "I could teach you many things, woman. But first, why don't we learn the abilities of everyone here? I'm hoping our illusionists doesn't rely on those skills alone. I, myself, am a competent wizard, a focused hand-to-hand fighter, and able to wield a sword well enough to defeat most enemies if one-on-one."

He glanced at the ceiling. "Tell me Cali, what do you do?"

He turned to her, a look of lust in his eyes. "Are you a pirate? Do you sail? You know, you smell of the sea. I have a particular place in my heart for human women of the sea."

Memories fought at the back of his head, he grinned. "You know, I'm probably more than five times your age. Ye Gods, how the time does fly,..."

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Micaelaend Ambrasia
Micaelae stepped close to the table after the ork had signed,a wave of his hand pushing the dripping blood away as he drew a slim kriss dagger.His fac ein teh light was whole,beautiful,and his body was slender but masculine at the same time,an adonis in a black cloak.
Finally....his dreams would be realized....he would be reunited with Leilana.
"It is worth this planet to go up in hellfire for Her,only Her"he murmered softly and slit hsi good wrist,his right one,the blood dripping softly on the paper before drying into a scripted signature.
"There"he sneered a the man."A pact...but do not expect more from me"He turned with a dramatic swirl of his cloak and was gone.
Another woman slipped after him,looking at him,following him,trying to primp and display herself as best she could.Her skin was perfection,just so,smootha nd flawless and curved perfectly.Her hair came straight down in waves in perfect formation,and she wore a low cut,Very revealing black dress as she simpers and croons after Micaelae,absenmindedly cutting a small line on her wrist wiht a long nail,the blood dropping and signing her in.
"ohhh Micaelae!please wait for me my love!please i know you lvoe em,and once this whole bother of a hunt is over we cna be togethor Forever!"She smiled widely,maybe a bit insanely as she follwoed him into the swirl of shadow,wiht a last..."honey!?wait up please...your going much to fast for me love....."the voice died away..

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

When Yris asks about abilities that they bring to the group, Trianna calmly stands, unslings her bow and, in a blur of movement, two arrows are in her hands.

Within another instant, two mugs in the middle of a stack upon the bar break with a low shattering noise, those around them untouched and the arrows are embedded in the wall behind. Casually placing her bow beside her, Trianna sits down and sips from her elven wine, placing coins on the table to pay for her damages.

Looking at Yris, she says,"I can track and have survival skills in the woods as well. Anything else you would know of us, Sir Yris?"

 

[LadyRozes]

Nina cried out in shock when two of the mugs on the back shelf shattered at first it didnt seem to make much sense until on saw the two arrows stuck against the wall.

As she walked over to the table fully intending to chastise the woman with the bow, she saw that the woman had layed a few coins on the table to pay for the damage that had been done.

Humphed she slipped the coins in her hand and passed them to a still gapping barkeep.

 

[poohlive]

It seemed intrguing enough to have this woman by her side. She looked like that of a warrior, with drow skills that he needed if he were going to succeed in this scavenger.
"Most elves... well, most light elves, as you call us, don't understand the darkness, and how it works. They think of it as a curse the drow posses and nothing else. A good mage though, as I myself am, have studied many arts, even that of the drow, and found much strength. I use it when I feel a need for it.
"My name is Goven, I am a mage, as you may have already guessed. I deal with the arts, I am a master of magic, and my assistant, as it were, deals with most of the physical gruntwork. He is strong, but also slow. If we ever came up against a ranger, or a group of warriors with as much experience as ourselves..."
He let it trail off, as if specifically leaving her imagination open to the worst of odds.
"I need someone fast, and also that can deal with these kinds of odds. I'm thinking, since we both have skills the other needs, we can perhaps team up. It would be better to have an ally, than a potential enemy. The way some of those guys looked like in there, seemed like none of us should go to sleep without at least one eye open."
She had spoken of betrayal. Well, he did need her, but he didn't trust her as far as he could throw her... or rather as far as Kort could throw her. But, that was for later, for now he needed her on his side.
They could deal with the split later.

 

[LadyRozes]

Baddies

OOC: (I am assuming people can keep things they dont know IC out of IC)

Smiling the red skinned man thought to himself how wonderfully everything was planned out .. snapping his fingers seven contracts were rolled up and put into a larger evelope. Then with a wave of his fingers .. seven letters would appear in front of each member of his little entourage..

The rest of the folks he sent letters that would kill the reader instantly should they open the letters

Within the letter each read:

"...Now then .. those of you still left alive .. your first task awaits you.. Some of our associates have arranged a little swarrey this evening.. with some LIVE entertainment... IF you will go to the Full Moon tavern the cellar there will have a portal. This will lead you to the little swarrey that we have..where.. there we would like you all to inspect a number of slaves for your pleasure.. we are looking for a marked one.. that marked one... shall we say .. isnt available to play with...once you find that one... the rest of the slaves are yours to do with what ever you wish.."

Now then ... the mark you will be looking for on these wonderfully delectable slaves...is (I pm you with the mark just cause I dont want everyone to know at one.. those of you with double charcters .. plz dont let the other Character... know..about it..) now then you have your duties.. no go hopefully we will have success ... I dont believe we will fore see any trouble at all...

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I was impressed with Trianna's bow skill and I'm sure that the look on my face showed it. She was quicker than anyone I had seen in my tenure under Lan. Seeing as no one else had stepped up after Trianna's display, I decided I would let the party know what I brought, somewhat literally speaking, to the table.

"As you all have all ready figured out, I posess the skills that most knights have," I said. "I'm extremely specialized with the longsword, more than compentant with axes, I've trained extensively in the art of wearing heavy and medium armors. Also, because of my training with Lan, I picked up some acrobatic manuevers as well as the magic school of healing and protection. I focus mostly on magical force shields that protect against fire, lightning and cold but I knew a few of the basic healing spells too. Also, though not a skill, I posess a ship I call the Whisper. She may not look like much, but you'll find no ship better than her in all the land."

I caught myself bragging. I blushed a bit, which I always do when I'm embrassed. In fact, I may have been trying to impress them. Most of them time I spent my adventures by myself ever since I lost Jasmine. I didn't need anyone's approval, save for my mentor's. We Vaes needed approval. It was in our blood to seek it. I always hated that about us. If there were any of us left. I wondered that as the next of our group spoke.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Ophelia

Ophelia nodded her head in acknowledgment of Goven giving his name and simply said,"Ophelia."

As she was handed her parchment, she opened it and read, her eyebrows arching at the words.

Frowning, she said,"Games! Why must mages always play games? Bah!"

Rolling it up. she thrust it in a bag at her hip and looked to the portal.

"Shall we go?" She said to Goven,"It would be best to be first in this or we shall lose our first foothold in this race."

Without waiting for his reply, she stepped forward and walked into the portal.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna listened to Ramas and nodded her head.

"An impressive list of skills, Sir Knight," She said,"I am sure they will be very valuable on this Quest of the Gods."

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Micaelae and Ambrasia
Micaelae appeared in front of the portal,Ambrasia following in his footseps.Ambrasia had the newest eltter pressed provacaitvly in her chest(though with the dress she was wearign it could just be the lack of anywhere else to Put it) and Micaelae had it held in one hand.He took a step gently into the portal as Ambrasia followed with a constant,annoying chatter.
"ohhhh,but Micaelae my love!,i cna be soo much better then any slave,please tell me what youw ant?oh why do you ignore me so much!"was her last high-pitched whine as she stepped in after him.

 

[usmc_sgt]

I grin a bit. "I'm not such a warrior as yourselves." I begin "In fact, I prefer not to fight much." Sensing the others may not be very impressed, I quickly continue. "I have learned quite a few spells to incapacitate my enemies, putting them to sleep, making them fear me, disarming them or controlling them and such, though the last does fail me occasionally." I say, almost visibly cringing at the thought of the last time it failed me. "I'm also very adept at finding traps and if it does come to the fight, I am quite skilled with my staff."

Looking around the table, I let my gaze come to rest on Yris. "While you may not be much impressed with my little illusions, Yris, I've found most enemies tending to lose their taste of the fight when suddenly faced with a horde of trolls or a daemon lord. Sometimes, not fighting is the easiest way to win the fight, though I doubt you agree."

 

[Vixandra]

Cari

I studied the illusionist for a moment. "Magician's tricks are fine when they work. Long as they work on those who are not part of our party, catch my drift?"
I ran my fingers over a candle on the table, fingers lingering in the flame.
"I'm a pirate occasionally, though it occasionally hampers me fighting with my favorite weapon, or at least it did until I mastered it. I'm a mercenary, I'm a body guard. I weild my shortsword well but my whip- ah that's the scary thing about me, I think. Fire doesn't bother me much, unless there's lots of it. In theory."
I caught a few 'what are you talking about' looks before I sighed.
"Okay, okay, I'll do the fire trick," I said, rising from my chair and moving to an open area of the bar. I raised my voice, a natural showman. "Ladies and Gents, an' the rest of us that are neither, I would ask your cooperation. Please do not come near me while I perform this nifty little trick."
In a flash, I pulled out my whip and cracked it on the floor then in the air, flames sprouting all along its length. Using the whip I sketched a butterfly in the air before me, the flames lingering for a moment before being reasorbed into the whip.
There was an odd smattering of applause and even a few coins tossed by some of the patrons as well as a few people who'd seen my little display through the tavern's windows.
Smiling, I cracked the whip one last time and the flames absorbed back into it with a satisfied hiss. I bowed and returned to my seat.
"How's that? Not as startling as Trianna's arrow trick, which is great by the way, but I like it. Also handy for other uses," I added with a cat's grin.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir looked at Nova, then laughed. He threw back his head, laughing like mad. He shook his head, and looked at the Illlusionist. "No, Boyo, I am a bit impressed with your ability. It's sharp, and good enough to make people believe things that are obviously untrue. However,..."

He took hold of his staff, and sat back. "I'm not impressed with you, Boyo. You have an amazing gift, and you use it to amuse yourself, like there is nothing else to take up your time but tormenting other for your amuzement. You're like a child. Immature, and with that innocent cruelty that comes from not realizing how much you hurt things."

He shook his head. "However, you aren't stupid. The fact that you don't like fighting proves that, so here's something for you to keep in mind: We're saving the world, here, so you best grow up pretty fucking quick. Because I won't put up with your shit, and I don't think the others will, either."