the sorceror's staff

[poohlive]

Garret made a humble sprint to the sacks of gold. Apart they were nothing, but together they would make a certain person very happy for the next few months. As he looked around this place, it seemed as if there was more than just this chump change.
In truth, he could see potential sacks of bullion that would last him several lifetimes.
He carried the huge sack back to the others. The one mgaician offered him a few gold coins, which he rightly refused.
"No, I believe you can just give me a more righteous payment later. Perhaps something of magical purpose, since you seem to be an expert in that category. For the time being, I do wish to follow you, at least through this forest. Who knows what sort of splendors we shall find."
Garret walked up to Larlairian. A proud warrior like monster. One that would strike fear into the heart of anyone who sought fit to cross the thing.
Garret gave a smile, or him. They were a team now. He placed the sack on the manticore's back, hardly even phazed him. Oh, this was such a good present. He admired it so. His thoughts went to more though.
"Larlairian," he took out a sack of gold, showing it to him, " Is there a place in this valley where there are more things like this? Maybe all bunched together, something similiar... anything at all?"

 

[The GrandMage]

The Manticore

He watched silently as the man gathered all the small discs from the path, putting them in a sack which was then placed on his back. The monster didn't flinch, for the weight wasn't too bad, although it did rather weigh him down. He blinked, and looked at the man.

"More, my lord? No, those that make up the main path are the only of those things in the vallet, although.....I suppose if you like those things, there is something. See there, that tree that rises above the others? It is the tallest tree in the valley, and grows from out of a boulder. There is the only place where you would find anything from outside the valley, like those small gold discs."

And with that, the monster started forward, through the forest, towards the tree.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Elanor:
A somewhat stupid seventeen year old human girl. Has an imaginary friend called Arthur. Ran away from her rich parents in an attempt to make them proud of her. Fond of horses.

Elanor:
She brushed the tears from her face abruptly as she heard people coming towards her. Shifting her weight on the branch she peered down through the leaves at the strange group that approached. Her stomach rumbled.
'What do you think, Arthur? Nice people or bad?' She counted them: a short ugly one, an old wizardy one and ...
She squealed as she tumbled out of the tree, landing with a thump on top of the ugliest horsey she had ever seen.

 

[poohlive]

Oo: The short ugly one better have not been me.
"Whoah whoah hey..."
Garret turned around, expecting that war cry to bring a dozen or so elven archers or something. Instead, he finds little girls falling from the sky. Isn't that weird? She lands on Larlairian, falling to the side.
(he doesn't have any wings, does he?)
Garret looked at her. Oh man, she was just a child.
"What are little ones doing in here? I thought this was supposed to be sealed off or something. I solved the seven riddles of death, and all she had to do was find the back entrance?"
He gazed down at her, she seemed a little frightened. Maybe she was some sort of shape shifter, and only appeared human so they wouldn't hurt her.
No, not even the greatast shape shifter could fake that look of horror in her eyes.
"Well, hello little lady. My name's Garret, a common theif, this is my... umm... Manticore, Lerlairian. And of course there's... well I'm not sure their names, but there are two of them."
Weren't there? When he had stumbled into the cave, he had sworn there were two people who had failed the Manticore. Now there seemed to be only one... oh maybe Larlairian had had a snack or something.
"... And you are?" He said, after he had gotten his thoughts back.

 

[The GrandMage]

The Manticore

He turned, looking at the thing that had hit him, and then to the Garret. Then, he looked around the valley, and shrugged. "I don't know if there is a back way in or not, I was only assigned to guard the front enterance. There might be a pass through the mountains, but I doubt if anyone would try it. Perhaps one of the creatures from the valley let her in."

And he stood there, looking around. "What now? Should we continue?"


OOC: Who, the Manticore? No, they don't have wings.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Elanor:

Elanor looked around her in shock. She hated being the centre of attention and right now the whole group was staring at her like she was a pig on a spit and they were starving.

She shut her eyes. There! Now they couldn't see her anymore. A big grin spread over her pretty face at her cleverness.
"Arthur! Are they gone yet? I sure hope so. That was the ugliest horsey I've ever seen. I almost peed my pants when I saw it."

Elanor tried to stand up, her eyes still closed tight.
"OWWWWWWW" A bright spark of pain shot through her leg. She opened her eyes in horror and stared down at the bone protruding through her calf. Blood trickled down the limb and pooled in the dust.

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

ooc: yes, I'm a bit confused as to who is where exactly... there's the Manticor, Guildor, Garret, Sorian... is that all?

 

[poohlive]

Ooc: There's supposed to be some Elf named Laren here as well. Silverwolf was playing him. I think some owl thing wanted in too, but never posted beyond a introduction.
Silverwolf (Guildor, Laren) Grand Mage (Sorian, Larlairian) Poohlive (Garret) and Chelsea (Elanor).


Garret looked at the woman with a sad touch to his eyes. She didn't look like much of a threat, but maybe this Arthur was. He had heard of an Arthur before, in legends. Full of magic and weird forces.
He glanced around warily, trying to find the source of this other person. He couldn't see anyone though. He turned to the wizard, pointing at the girl.
"See if you can take care of her, ok? You must know some spells of healing or whatever. Larlairian and I will go for this scroll thing or whatever. And be on the lookout for more people falling from the sky. The next time they might not be so friendly."
He nodded for Larlairian to lead the way, following down the path. He had no reason why he decided to pick us as leader or anything, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Besides, he didn't want everyone running around like a bumbling idiot.
The forest was calm and clear. The path cut through it almost magically, not leaving a speck of dirt or grime. As if it had been tended ever since it was created. Finally, the path cleared out to a large tree growing from inside a boulder. It was mgnificent, brighter than anything around it. He looked up, seeing what looked like a white acorn on the top.
Yep, that's what they were looking for.
"So," he sighed, "Is there some sort of riddle for this too? Or do I just begin climbing?"

 

[The GrandMage]

The Manticore

He looked at Garret in surprise. "Climb? The tree? I should think not! The very idea...That tree is taller than a mountain! You'd die before you managed to make top. No, the tree grows on the boulder, see? There are five small tunnel-like openings in the rock."

He nodded to the boulder at the base of the quite massive tree. "All five at one time held a scroll of ancient magics. Four of them have been taken, and are held in the fortholds of the four major religions. The Way of the Phoenix, the Way of the Dragon, the Way of the Unicorn, and the Way of the Gryphon. It is said that one of each of these great creatures once guarded the valley, but of this I know not whether it be truth or fable. I know only that one scroll remains..."


OOC: An acorn? Where did that come from?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Phaedures

The throne room, if it can be called that, is a small room, the walls decorated with various cloth hangings. The actual throne sits ontop of a small platform, separated from the floor I now stood on by only a few stone steps. THe guards are standing around me, only five of them, and three of them stand in front of me, leaving me out of their view, while the other two stand to either side. THe shackles are heavy indeed, but I can carry them with little difficulty.
"Well?" The voice of a fat man in clothes that would be a disgrace to the term 'poor excuse for rich man's clothing.'
His red pants and shirt, covered by a red cloak, are all dirty and stained not only with soil from being in the field, but also with grease and butter from his various meals. A few gold chains and a small gold septer alone declare his stature of leader.
"What reason have you to interrupt my evening meal?" THe fat man blathers, spitting kernals of corn from his overstuffed lips as he speaks.
"Baron, we found this man stealing from the army's meal wagon." The lead guard, standing out front of the others, proudly announces.
"Stealing?" the Baron shouted, "From me?"
I debate rambling about how I am a poor man who simply wants to eat, but decide not to overdue it.
"Aye, sir," the lead guard replies, "We brought him immediately."
Death, I think, he'll command death. War Barons, so predictable. I fight back a smile, though it would have felt misplaced on my own lips. Smiles were not good for business, and I was all about business.
"Death to him," the Baron shouts, lifting a turkey leg out before him, leaving his septer sitting in his lap. He waves the food out before him as he shouts, as if having mistaken the two. "Let him hang! No one steals from the Baron of Buteshler."
Having finished his rant, he immediately sinks his teeth into the turkey bone.
"Aye, sir," the lead guard replies.
"Baron, may I speak on my behalf?" I try to sound pleading, but acting is not my specailty.
"Speak? On YOUR behalf? What could a grunt such as yourself possibly have to tell the Baron?" The fat man smiled at me, as if amused by my insistance on speaking.
I cocked my wrists then, allowing the blades strapped to my forearms to extend to full-length. THe tips extended to well past my fingertips now, except my fingers were busy holding the shackles.
"It's the shackles, you see..."
THe Baron stared back at me, already bored with my antics. "The shackles?"
"Yes...I've unfastened them."
THe Baron looked dumbly to the lead guard, who just stood there, as if he hadn't heard.
I let go of the shackles, allowing them to fall and strike the stone floor with a clang. But before the sound erupted, I'd already raised my hands to either side, doing so as if to uppercut each of the guards to my sides. THe blades drove through their throats and upward into their brains, killing the almost instantly. I withdrew my right arm, using my left to hold the dead guard in place while I drew his sword from its sheath.
Now armed, I threw the second guard away, raising the weapon to face the three that remained. Two advanced at once, and I dodged one's attack, stepping to the side and leaving him between me and the other attacker, who stepped back so as not to injure his ally. I lunged and stabbed the nearest in the gut, withdrew the sword and swung beneath the others overhead attack. THe two fell one on top of the other.
The lead guard advanced now, lunging with his weapon, a more skilled opponent than the others had been. I parried the weapon, spinning away from the blade and stepping forward at once, going from in front of the man and facing him, to beside him and facing in the same directin as him, then continuing until I stood behind him, back to back with the man. I continued to spin, stepping further away and swinging backhand at him, severing his head from behind before he had time to turn to face me.
His body slumped to the floor.
I turned to the Baron, who now stood to full height, his fat belly pushing the robe to either side in the front. He'd dropped his turkey leg and stared at me in disbelief.
"Guards," he shouted, food he might have had stored in his teeth for months being propelled across the throne room. I hurriedly leapt forward, poising the sword to lunged it into the man's chest.
Once I was atop the stone steps, the fat man fell back in his throne and stared at me, his eyes wide, his jaw slack. I held the blade to his chest.
THe doors behind me burst open and I could hear footsteps echoing through the room.
"Up," I commanded.
THe fat man didn't hesitate. I slipped around behind him and held the blade across his throat.
"You'll never get out of here alive. If you harm me..."
"You pay their salaries," I replied, "With you dead, they'll recieve no pay, and therefore, not bother to avenge your death."
He was quiet, thinking on that. A moment later, humbly, he asked. "How do you plan on leaving?"
"Through the front door," I replied.

 

[silverwolf]

guildor/laren

ooc:sorry i ahven't posted in a while i was sort of indisposed.well just to let you know guildor and laren are both there so i am playing a dwarf human and a wizard for right now anyway.he he he he he

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Elanor:

She started sobbing in pain, screaming as every movement she made forced the bone further out through her leg. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the horse leave.
She wanted to cry out to them to wait, but her leg was hurting too much.

"Arthur! Stop them!" she whispered to her friend. "Don't let them leave me here!"

Arthur had never failed her before. He could put people to sleep, make her invisible and even... she felt a burning flash on her broken limb. She shrieked in pain as the bone straightened. New flesh quickly healed over. "Arthur, you could have warned me!"

She stood up, gingerly testing her leg. She asked the wizard standing next to her "Where did the horse go?"

 

[poohlive]

Ooc: there's a white acrorn... is all. lol. If I see a white acorn, I see a white acorn.



Garret looked inside each of the caves. A stone of what Larlairian had just described were true. A unicorn statue, a gryphon, he made his way to the end. There was a Manticore, and a scroll right next to him. Garret nodded, picking it up. He decided against reading it, not really caring what it was, more like what it was worth.
"Ok then, all this magic is giving me the creeps. Let's get out of here. See if that wizard or whatever has done his job."

 

[The GrandMage]

The Manticore

"Let us be off."

As they started to wander back the way they had came, the monster speared a baseball sized white acron from the tree, and popped in in his mouth. "Mmm. It's magicially delicious..."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Phaedures

The Baron refused to shut up. He whined, he moaned, he even cried for a few moments...when he fell silent, I collected my thoughts and debated the fastest route. It was three days journey in the wagon the Baron's men had arranged (with the Baron's humble permission, of course), but if we broke the horses loose and traveled with less weight, we could probably make it in a day less.
"Who sent you?" Endless whining and questions.
"Would it be a the same if I told you...I would hate to ruin the surprise."
"Stop toying with me...do they want me dead? Are you going to kill me?"
"It's not the plan," I replied, "But I do have permission, so don't get any ideas."
He was silent again, but not for long enough.
"Where are we going?"
I didn't reply. I sat quietly, holding the reigns and thinking, 'If we take the woods and manage to get relatively less traffic, we may be able to take another six or eight hours off, as well.'
He was quiet as I unhitched the wagon and gathered my things. I'd retrieved my own weapons, cleverly hidden outside the Baron's lands, as we exited his camp. As we started off again, he gave in and started again.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"If you keep pestering me..."
"Seriously, are you..."
"Look," I began, "You've pissed off a lot of people, a lot of your neighboring villages, and a lot of other leaders. One of them has gotten to be more than a little annoyed with you."
"Tomo?"
"Tomo."
"So you're a freedom fighter?"
I smiled and shook my head. "Baron, I couldn't care less about Tomo, his men or any of your men. I'm in search of greater things...and Tomo has offered me a great number of these things."
"Gold coins?"
I smiled back.
"If I live through this, we'll have to keep in touch...I have some business of my own a man like you could help me wtih...unless your a man of good consciousness."
I grinned smugly at that.
Good consciousness? Who was he kidding?

 

[The GrandMage]

The Wizard

"No, really, I'll just sit here for a few minutes. Expecting friends. Should be here soon."

He smiled kindly as he turned down yet another drink, and turned his gaze out the window. The Scroll of the Manticore would be in his hands soon, if the man he had found proved to be worth his snuff. Then, it would be off again, to seek another needed treasure. One that would be more difficult to obtain...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Phaedures

THe journey was long enough, but in spite of all the Baron's whining, Tomo had taken it easy on him. They'd talked peace, and as I listened, awaiting my payment, I learned that Tomo's men were in fact farmers who fought to protect their lands from the Baron's advances. The two came to a conclusion is a few hours. Tomo's people would keep their lands and be allowed a peaceful existance, without the Baron's tyranny. More over, the Baron would be paid periodically out of tax money collected by Tomo to not just leave the farmers alone, but to protect them. Tomo's men, in a show of gratitude, would agree to supply the Baron with food for his soldiers.
Well done...It seems Tomo is an excellent negotiator. THe two even shook hands as they parted.
I agreed to escort the Baron through part of the return trip in exchange for an addition sum, and we were off again that quickly.
It was as we parted ways that the Baron finaly ressurrected our old conversation.
"You are certain you are not of good conscious?" He asked.
"I am of no conscious," I replied, "What is it that you would request?"
"I need a prisoner, someone that regular soldiers would have no access to."
"Continue..."
"I can give you a name, and a general location, and the rest you must do alone."
"And...as far as the aforementioned greater things?"
"I can offer you at least what Tomo has given you, and you'll not have an army to fight to get to this person." The Baron promised.
I nodded. "Okay, what's this person's name?"

 

[poohlive]

"Garret"
He leaned down to the woman, looking at her with some care. She was badly hurt. The wound, healed by magic, still dealed her with pain. It should be over soon though, he held her hand comfortingly.
"My name is Garret. I do not wish to harm you, but I can't leave you here in hopes you will heal. Until you get better, you're going to have to come with us."
He nodded towards Larlairian, and quickly scopped up the girl to put her on it's back. He moved her so she could still lay down and comfortably ride the beast.
"She'll be off in no time, it's just for a day or so."
He gave Larlairian an assuring nod, and looked over at the rest.
"Ok, Larlairian, bring up the rear. Make sure nothing follows us. You two are right in fron of him, and I'll lead. We're getting out of here as soon as possible."
He made his way back to the giant hole in the cavern, leading to the cave. It was a small winding path that finally worked it's way outside. Garret felt a small amount of pride hit him as he had everyone get out safe and sound.
He might even want to be a general or something someday. Thoughts like that were silly though, he didn't want to lead, he just wanted to get a lot of money.
"There, we are all out safe and sound," he took out the scroll, " I believe someone ordered this."
He eyed the now growing audience. It seemed as if another wizard was waiting for them outside. Such a lot of people for a tiny thing as a scroll. Must be of great importance.
"No, this is too weird," he looked at those who seemed to know somewhat what was going on, "Someone better start explaining why I risked my neck for this scroll? Until then, it passes no ones hands."

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Elanor:

Elanor frantically clung to the ugly horse. She didn't know where they were taking her. The brown haired one had spoken kindly to her, but was now walking like he was all swelled up with his own importance. She scowled.

She was tired, scared, sore and hungry.
"Food, Arthur! I'm sooo hungry" she grumbled into the horse's fur.

In front of them, a large apple tree sprung into existence. Tempting polished fruit gleamed on its branches. Elanor rolled her eyes. "Apples, Arthur? Nice try dumbhead!" she exclaimed indignantly. The apple tree disappeared with a little apologetic puff.

Her stomach rumbled. "Hey you! Mr Brown-hair, where are we going?"

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

He wasn't paying attention to her, more interested in waving around an old scroll and pretending he was important.

She tried to catch his gaze by sticking out her tongue at him and pulling the ugliest face she knew how. He didn't seem to notice.

"Apples, huh. Well, if it's the best you can do..." she grumbled "Okay, bring them on"

The apple tree reappeared in front of her. Sighing, she stood on tiptoe, trying to balance on the horse's back. She had her doubts about the horse. She had seen it talk to the brown-haired guy..... maybe it would talk to .
"Hey you, " she yelled, "want an apple?"

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

He wasn't paying attention to her, more interested in waving around an old scroll and pretending he was important.

She tried to catch his gaze by sticking out her tongue at him and pulling the ugliest face she knew how. He didn't seem to notice.

"Apples, huh. Well, if it's the best you can do..." she grumbled "Okay, bring them on"

The apple tree reappeared in front of her. Sighing, she stood on tiptoe, trying to balance on the horse's back. She had her doubts about the horse. She had seen it talk to the brown-haired guy..... maybe it would talk to her.
"Hey you, " she yelled, "want an apple?"

 

[The GrandMage]

The Manticore

It turned, looking at the human-creature on its back. "Yes, I would in fact appreciate an apple. I have not had enough to eat in the centuries of my wait."

He smiled kindly, his lips together to hide his sharp teeth. In the background, he could hear the dwarf-ish person explaining to Garret about a wizard who would be waiting in the town just visable from where they were standing. Talking about how the wizard would explain once they got there...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Phaedures

I was traveling again by sundown, heading off toward the mountains that rose high in the distance, part of my bounty already in my possession, as the Baron seemed less than trustworthy. At nightfall, I stopped and set up camp near a small stream that flowed through the wood. THe woods I was in were vast, and the town I was in search of was located just on the opposite edge. I rested, looking forward to the day's trek ahead.

-----------------------------------------------

I awoke to the sound of a branch breaking, my eyes opening while my body remained still. It was still night, but dawn would come in less than an hour. I shifted them back and forth, listening carefully for whatever had made the sound.
At first, total silence, then a light sound of feet, this time pressing against the soil behind me.
I took in a deep breath, then leapt to my feet, grabbing my sword from the ground in front of me and turning to face whoever was there, pulling the sheath from the blade and letting it drop.
The figure of a man stood behind me, tall, dressed in a black cloak, body totally hidden. It didn't move as I stepped back, my sword held between us, ooised to strike.
"Who are you?" I asked.
No answer. It raised an arm out entending a bony finger as if to point at me...then turned the hand upside down and curled it back toward itself repeatedly, bidding me come closer.
I shook my head, "not a chance."
It remained there, continuously curling that finger, beconing me.
I stepped backward, glancing to either side to see if anyone else was there. No one in sight, no other sounds.
"You WILL answer me," I said, tightly gripping the sword's handle and preparing to strike.
The figure curled its finger once more, then pulled its hand into the sleeve of the cloak once more and lowered its arm. I stood on guard and watched as the figure stepped slowly back, turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows beneath the trees.
I stood there, looking around me, waiting for it or another figure to appear again, then decided to press on early. I wasn't getting any sleep from there on anyway.

 

[poohlive]

"Getting tired of this, I really am," he turned back to the Manticore, and the woman. He placed the scroll inside the knapsack, closing it tightly.
"Make sure no one touches this scroll except me. The last thing we need is some evil magician with excessive powers roaming the countryside."
He paused, looking at the woman. She was eating an apple? Was that tree there before? He had sworn it wasn't. What in the hell...
He shook his head, probably just jitters or something. Nothing more.
"All right, onto this town where the alleged wizard waits."
He saw that the other two stayed behind, bickering about something or other. Honestly, he didn't care, so he kept moving (I will leave Silverwolf's characters there until he starts posting again).
As he walked alongside the Manticore, he couldn't help but gaze at this woman. Who was she? But.. more importantly.
"What were you doing in a forbidden land all by yourself?"

 

[Chelsea_Rose]

Elanor:

"Nice to meet you too Mr Brown-Hair" Elanor stuck out a grubby hand, debating whether or not to pull a nasty face at him again or not. "You're not very polite, are you?"

She jumped up to try and pluck a few more apples, teetering precariously. "Hey, did you know that your horse can talk? Neato, hey?" She threw two ripe pieces of fruit down for the horse. "Anyway, my name is Elanor Renate van Rheede van Oudtshoom tot Nederhorst, Drakenstein, Drakensberg en Grephoek. And what do mean, all alone? Silly, I'm with Arthur! Want an apple?"