The Seven Keys.

[poohlive]

"Death is a gift given to those who do not deserve it," Goven wrapped his finger around a single string that seemed to come out of thin air. As he did, he cast a simple spell, letting the words sprinkle on the undead creature.
"My friend," He said, squeezing his finger. The creature wailed in pain, falling to the floor, "It seems as if being undead has made you weak. You have forgotten what pain tastes like. Let me remind you."
Goven squeezed again.
The creature writhed, trying to escape from nothing, moving this way, and then that, and finally curling up in a corner, wailing for his own death.
"So you can speak... good. I have a few questions about this master of yours. He is here, isn't he?"
The creature nodded.
"Is he trying to stop us from meeting him? By sending pathetic little creatures such as yourself?"
The creature nodded, stopped, and then shook his head.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Goven moved closer, close enough that his ear was right against the undead's lips, which has rotted away some time ago.
"I see. And what is the best way to go and meet him?"
Again, the creature whispered, soft and gentle, almost like lover's whispering.
"Thank you so much. You have been quite helpful. Now, it is your choice. Life, or death..."
The creature whispered a final time. Goven gave a small smile, nodded, and got back up. The creature disapeared from sight.
"I do believe it's this way," He said, walking down the tunnel.

 

[poohlive]

Sabaka.

Food. He was about to argue, and throw a nice big tantrum, but the promise of food and ale was tempting. He held in the majority of his grumpy behavior, as he followed toward some ale and grub. Good stuff, too, not this elven garbage he has been forced to consume the past week or so.
"Eventually? Are you not after the ogre and his clan? Why would you go willingly to the Neutral Zone if not to catch them and destroy them? You just let them escape?"
Elves!!! Oh, when would they learn!!!!???!!!!

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir glanced up as someone entered the hut. He walked towards the woman, and stopped a short distance away.

"Hello. I am Yrismir Clanslord, the Wise One's heir. How may I help you?"

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I glared at the dwarf for a moment. "Sabaka, patience is a virtue. We're going to cross paths with the other team, the one working for the dark Gods, eventually. With that in mind, be useful. Besides- Yris told us we'd be cared for. So lets go get cared for and get some dinner."
I lead the group inside, eyes alert for any problems.
Pushing through a set of double doors I call out to one of the guards. "You there, good Sir, I am Calixte and my collegues and I are here with Yrismir Clanslord. We were told by his niftyness that someone would help us get what we need. So, in that spirit, how do we get to your dinning hall? I'm starving and so's the dwarf and they're not too polite when hungry."

 

[Mantra]

Viktor sheathed his sword, letting sound return to the void around him.
"That seemed relativly simple." He said, then looked over towards Goven. "If you had such influence over the creature, why didn't you force it to lead? Do you believe it told the truth?"

 

[Strolling Gecko]

"Cali is absolutely right," I said to the dwarf who had joined us. "We're going to run into the group with your ogre again very soon. And besides, you aren't the only one with a mortal enemy on the side of evil. My brother and I are bound to meet again and fight until one or both of us are in the cold, cold ground."

I could feel Trianna's eyes on me. I knew she was thinking I was going back to my old, moping self. "But for now, I suggest we take full advantage of this break in the action. I don't know about the rest of you, but I could certainly use a pint of mead after fighting the Dark Gods servants and a plant demon wizard thing." I turned around to the servants. "Bring me some mead and whatever the strongest alcohol you have for our dwarven friend."

 

[poohlive]

"Mortal enemy... " The dwarf could only scoff at the human's attempt at thinking of anyone as a mortal enemy. If this brother of his was truly a mortal enemy, then there would be no stopping, no side stepping, and no trails down other paths that led to the Neutral Zone. One would keep going until the enemy was either dead, or you yourself has met such a sad fate.

But, the human was trying to be nice, so the dwarf accomidated.
"You don't even know where they went... so why go to the Neutral Zone? It seems a good magician or so could pick up their trail... if they truly did disappear. And, if not, a good tracker could find them..."

Did they even try? What sort of group was this? They decided to go on vacation before meeting up with their "mortal enemies" once more?

The dwarf huffed, picking at his food and drinking goblets and goblets of ale.

"I can see why you haven't won a fight yet..."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I narrowed my eyes at the dwarf's rudeness. "We're in the Neutral Zone to figure out where the next key or keys are hidden," I said. "And if our track record is anything to go by, then we'll probably find it near here. Which means that those fiends who we fought at the palace will likely show up. And that includes your ogre."

I took a swig of the mead that had been set in front of me and set it back down. I wiped my lips dry and continued. "And as for not winning a fight, I'm pretty sure we defeated that plant demon in the courtyard. And I seem to remember you fighting to a draw."

There wasn't any true harshness in my words. My knowledge of all things dwarven wasn't anything that would make a sage nervous about his job, but it was fairly comprehensive. Dwarves were known to be blunt with their words and blunter with their weapons. I was attempting to equal Sabaka's bluntness.

"Besides," I said as I took another swig of mead, "We've no mage in the party, although we do have an exceptional ranger in our midst." I placed a hand on Trianna's and smiled at her before turning back to the dwarf. Now it was my turn to be blunt.

"We'll cross that ogre's path very soon I feel. Your best bet is to sit tight, fill your belly, and drink your fill of ale on a half elf's tab." I wasn't sure if Sabaka knew of Yrismir's elfin side, but in my travels taking advantage of free drinks, especially when the one being taken advantage of is of elfin blood, rarely sat wrong with a dwarf.

 

[LadyFairy]

Tela stoped just out of reach. Crossing her arm's over her chest, her unusual terquoise eyes flashing. Looking at the one who claimed to be the wise one's heir, from her observation he didnt look happy to be there. So she quickly explained why she was here so they could both be on their way.

My name is Tela la Moonbrook my foster mother Ivana, and her friend a Druid by the name of Levan sent me to seek out the wise one. I am on a quest to find out who my parent's were. All i know is that i am half elf. If it is possable for you to aid me, i would be most greatful.

Tela decided to wait before revealing that she could talk with the animals, and change her shape. She needed to know wether or not he would help her.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

yrismir looked at her, and turned his eyes heavenward. "I bet this is your doing, isn't it, mother? I mean, what's the chances of two people trying to find their parents asking me for help in this time frame."

He looked down to her, and threw his hands in the air. "Well, I can try, but I won't promise anything. After all, it's not like you can just find everyone's parents. Do you have anything to work off of? A clue as to whether they're alive or dead, any telltale signs they might be anyone of some importance?"

He looked around, and walked back to what was left of the chair he'd been using, and sat down, looking at her. "And why would you be sent to the Wise One?"

 

[LadyFairy]

Tela tryed really hard not to laugh at his ranting, and did her best to answer his question's.

No i have no clue wether they are alive or dead. I was found near the village.. As to wether i have anything to work from. well i can change my shape, and speak with animal's. The only other thing i have to go on is my unusual eye coloring, and that my hair is more like the fur of a wolf than that of a human or elf, with it's brown's black, and silver coloring. Tela hoped that he would be able to help. Tho she tryed to look as tho it didnt matter one way or the other. As for why i was sent to the wise one. Ivana thought that the wise one, may be releated to me. She replyed.

 

[poohlive]

"The undead aren't really capable of lying... if you can call it that. They have no use to speak unless they need to. And in this case, the creature needed to."

Goven moved forward down the trail, coming to a corner, pausing for a just a moment, and heading off left.

"I didn't control it right away cause I wanted to see what you would do, Viktor. You are... if I can be so bold, the new one, and I felt it'd be nice to see how you'd handle such a creature. I know how my friends here fight in battle, but you... I know nothing of you. You can learn a lot about a man by watching him fight."

Goven turned back, giving Viktor a small wink, before moving on.
"Now, I do believe we're about to have company again, very soon. So, please... ready yourselves.

 

[poohlive]

"A draw? You must not have seen the fight my friend. I lost... I lost. And yet, he didn't finish me off. When I meet him again, I'll have to ask him why, right before I kill him."

Sabaka finished his third mug, calling for more. More and more. Mugs and mugs, two, three at a time. Good stuff, not bad, anyway. It wasn't dwarven ale, but then again... it was far from elvin piss water, so he couldn't complain too much.

"Oh yes. The stick. You all defeated the stick. Congratulations for you. It was my understanding one of you had that stick to begin with, using it willy nilly before it turned. Ahhh, biting the hand that feeds you, eh? I thought there was a magician in your midst, it'd take a strong man to weild something that powerful... or a very stupid man."

But, when the dwarf learned it was an elf, he laughed outright, causing several people near them to stare indifferently.

"Ahhh, of course. Who would have thought that? Well, I will not fault you. Never trust an elf, we learned that a long time ago. But, we are here for keys, if I'm not mistaken? Keys? For a door?"

The dwarf drank the rest of his ale, dripping off of his beard and onto his tunic. He picked up his warhammer, "Ahhh, that's my key. you need a door unlocked, I'll unlock it. The ogre wouldn't be looking for a key though, not on his own. He wouldn't have left me for a key, no matter how important."

But, there was something not quite right about the ogre. Now that Sabaka had time to think on it, something dull, almost foreign in his eyes. It was a doll's eyes, dead and lifeless, but also there was a flicker, like the reflection of a fire, or a flame, something that was the essense of a soul.... a substitution.

"I'll have to ask him that too. But, why are we after keys? If the ogre is after them, then perhaps I should be after them too."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

"And you did fight to a draw. Both you and the ogre were passed out from exhaustion at the end of the battle."

I finished off my pint and had another set before me. I lifted it up and gestured it towards the dwarf.

"It strikes me that the ogre is the servant of one of the evil doers. So yes, he would leave you to go in search of a key," I said following my words with a long pull from my pint. "And we aren't sure how all of the keys work together or how we even make them work. Cali's key was a sword. Although it seems to have taken on the characteristics of her favorite weapon. As for our other key...." My eyes flashed over the group. "I'm sorry, I thought we had two." I said covering up my mistake. I quickly switched topics.

"And I think defeating the 'stick' as you so eloquently put it, is something to be proud of. It isn't every day you send a demon packing."

I polished off my new pint and asked for another.

 

[LadyRozes]

Tana watched the interaction between the dwarf and Ramas. Her eyes wide open as though she were watching somethign she had never seen before..

When Ramas looked over the group Tana felt a slight chill run down her spine.. She looked around confused .. there was no draft in the air..

She shook her head then contentedly sipped her ale as she watched the dwarf and ramas eat.. It really seemed very entertaining to her

*******

An elder council member interrupted the meeting and spoke, "Your rooms are ready son of the Wise.. when ever you are ready.. " Clearing his throat he continued, "there is apparently some message for you there from.. the wise one.. apparently its been waiting since you left last.."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

A part of me growled inwardly at the insult to Yris but I let it slide. Dwarves were an insulting lot and, while good fighters, rather one track-minded.
I sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face.
"Okay, we've eaten and conversed. Dwarf- you'll get to see your little ogre friend soon. Ramas- we'll find your brother, whoever he is."
I turned on Tana. "And you girl- eat more, for heaven's sake you're skin and bones as is. Come on now."
I put actions to words by placing thick slices of meat and hearty bread on the former slave's trencher, topping it with a hearty veggitable gravy. Least I thought they were veggies.
"Eat up. Who knows when we'll get as finely prepared a meal as this on the road," I asked rhetorically, meaning what I said. I stood and found one of the servers. "Please, extend my thanks and praise to your kitchen staff. This is wonderful, best food I've had in days."
And it was- I didn't care for the fluffy, airy fair of the elves. Give me red meat and potatoes instead of pastries and fluffy bird meats.

 

[Strolling Gecko]

"You've all ready met my brother, Cali," I said as I took another big swig of mead. "He was the snake of a man I was fighting at the palace. The one that kinda looked like me." I finished my tankard and pushed it aside before calling for another one. I turned to Tana.

"And yes, eat up. We need you to be in tip top shape."

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir looked the woman over. He glanced over at the councilwoman, and nodded beofre dismissing her. He looked back to the woman who had been looking for the Wise one.

"Related? I doubt that. The Wise One was over a millenia old, so that rules out most forms of kin, and she didn't have any children that we know of beside me, and I was adopted."

"I have to admit, the characteristics you described aren't exactly common, so it should be fairly easy to find someone if they match those characteristics. I'm still not promising anything, though."

He looked towards his mother's rooms. "I have a quest I'm on now, it's very important, and very dangerous. If you want, you can tag along looking for answers, but I don't recommend it. If not, you can hang around here and wait, or go searching on your own. I need to get going."

He started off towards his mother's rooms, wondering about this note. What could it possibly say?

 

[LadyFairy]

Tela was unsure wether, or not to join with him on his quest, or continue on her own. She had seen the other's with him she had yet to meet them. They may not wish another to join them.

Deciding to meet with the other's of his party before making her disicion. She moved off to join them at their meal. Ether way she would still be seeking awncer's to her questions, tho the odd's were much better in a group than on her own.

Entering the hut where the other's were enjoying their meal. Tela greeted the other's, and introduced herself. Hail.... My name is Tela.. May i join you in your meal???

 

[poohlive]

"You do have a lot to be proud of," The dwarf shrugged his shoulders. The conversation grew tiresome, and he rather didn't want to mention that from his point of view, it seemed like none of them had helped at all when it came to sending the demon packing... the other mage had done that.

Humans knew nothing of battle, nothing of conquering, and nothing of victory. If you didn't help, you weren't victorious. That's how things were, and... a draw is as much of a loss as anything else. If you didn't win, then you lost. Dwarves knew of this, there was no second place in life, no consolation prize. You won, or you didn't...

And Sabaka didn't.

"Have a good evening, then."

He decided to go off on his own for a while, drinking himself in solace. He could find some other dwarves, and have a good old drinking contest. He just didn't want to be around elves, even if it was just one female at the moment. And the humans weren't much help either.

 

[Mantra]

Viktor

Viktor offered a twisted, half-smile as Goven passed.

"I rather think you might learn more about a person by how they play actually. Who knows, if you live long enough, perhaps you'll see just how I fight,.... and play."

He picked up the smouldering book and blew on it's pages, rekindling it into a 'proper' light source. He fell in about five paces behind Goven, following down the stairs.

"Speaking of 'play', perhaps we should just whistle for this mage to appear...or just wreck the place until he decides to show himself. There has to be something pretty, valuable and breakable in this place."

 

[LadyRozes]

Tana watched the Dwarf go with a sigh. He was one of the most fascinating people he had ever met after Trianna..and the purple haired girl.. what was her name..... oh right it was Cali. She had never seen anyone with so much animation.. She almost had to stop herself from following him out the door..

She turned her wide eyes to huge platter of food in front of her, and just when she was looking for a distraction... she saw one..

She smiled at the girl by the door and said, "Hello I am Gaetana but you can call me Tana .. come sit here.. There is a lot of food.." Tana patted the seat next to her..

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

I looked to the newcomer with a ready smile. "Salutations to thee, new comer. I'm Cali Mercer. Come, join us, what's your story?"

 

[LadyFairy]

Tela

Tela was greatful for the welcome.. and gladly went over to join them, telling them her storie as she had been requested to do. Encluding her converstion with yrismir, and his offer for her to join them. I did not wish to intrude. Tho he said i could join i wished to know how the rest of you felt before i did so. she said.

 

[poohlive]

"There is... but he's guarding it. He's guarding it with his life," Goven stopped when the trail went off to the left. He paused, long enough to feel the rock, and then pressed his hand against it.

The rock to the right shimmered, and then moved. It looked as if Goven himself were moving the wall, from the left to the right. When he was finished, the trail moved right instead of left.

"Tricky..."

Goven continued down the path.

"I think that's part of what the mage here wants. He wants us to start running amock in here, using up all our energy, casting all our spells. He wants us as weak as we can possibly be by the time we reach him. Which... isn't too far off."

Goven led them into a tavern, bigger than the others, with a light source above them, although it wasn't clear just what that light source was.

"We have arrived at the Endgame. It's time to play... Viktor, as you so eloquently put it."