The Time of Dragons, an Magic.. *All welcome*

[Mantra]

A quick swipe of a wing stirred the dust and dirt from the nearby floor. Enough so, that some of the nearest runes were scattered and ruined. Thusly, the scrying spell was broken and LoreKeeper's own pool of water darkened.

He had watched the stirrings in the town, the alterecation with the vampiress and the comings and goings of those around Idrial. Once more LoreKeeper muttered strange words before casting down a handful of stones, each with a different image carved into them. He jotted down some notes, some of many which now covered several pages of similar notes, all of which referred to legends and omens and of things to come.

Finally, he stopped and gathered the papers together, leaving to go and meet with his fellow kin.....

"And so it begins." LoreKeeper said to the three gathered dragons. "As the Matriarch predicted, fate will draw the players in this story to the Protector. I have read the omens and I smell the scent of the old Blood War. So I must ask the question; Can Two-Bloods complete the task before her?"

"I too must ask." Phalanx added. "They are all insignificant, weak and beligerent. They are ignorant of their strengths, even to themselves. How can these lessers do what we ourselves are not meant to do? Why does the Matriarch forbid us from challenging DreamWeaver and laying him back to rest? He at least deserves the honor of being destroyed by our might, not these....persons."

"I would not even begin to doubt the wisdom of She." Reverend countered. "And I know something of fate and destiny. I have seen the Gods at work, draconic and otherwise. If it is meant that the Two-Bloods is to be the Protector, than the Protector she shall be."
"I am however, more concerned by those that she draws to her. Already the undead have made a showing in our town. Our town where the filth of undeath has never been witnessed in centuries. I do not see it as coincidence that DreamWeaver has been turned into an undead abomination and that the undead venture here now. Even the Matriarch has said that Idrial is now marked for death even as the boy is. The others will likely share in the danger, even if not that fate."

LoreKeeper Nodded, pondering Reverend's words. "It stands to reason that balance will be maintained. Such is the way of things. If the Protector brings together such a force for one side, then the other side shall likewise counter. She has an 'opposite' as it was, and they shall be drawn together...eventually."

"Then why do we keep the lessers here?" Phalanx almost hissed the question. "It is my honor and duty to protect the Matriarch. I can just as easilly slaughter and devour the lot of them this very night and eliminate the threat."

Reverend shook his head." Phalanx, my brother, you are as gifted and bold as any dragon I know, but you think too quickly with your fists. Things are in motion already, things that you cannot simply 'eat' and be done with. Besides, they all have their part to play in this story, and the Protector will need all the help possible against DreamWeaver."

"There is also the Wolven to consider," Drakkon cut in smoothly. "and their unseen paymasters."

Phalanx bristled at the rebuke, his eyes narrowing at Drakkon. "Then let me whip them out of town and be on their way. They are slow, these lessers. They crawl when they should fly, wander aimlessly when they should fight, squabble when they should unite."

"They are not ready." Drakkon anwsered evenly, ignoring Phalanx's challenge. "They do not fly into battle as you do Phalanx. They must find their own way. It is dangerous enough for them as it is without you 'rushing them' as you would."

Phalanx snorted. "Then let them go and take the threat away from the Matriarch. At least then they would make for a useful distraction. I do not see what chance they have against DreamWeaver in any case."

"They are stronger that you give them credit for." Drakkon said, his own eyes taking on a glint of annoyance. "I have walked among them, they are capable of much more than you think. Great things, if not Draconic things. You have ever failed to recognize that."

"You have ever been facinated with them to hide your own weaknesses and failures." Phalanx bit back.

"Enough!" LoreKeeper said, silencing the two. "The Unseen are clever enough to hide themselves even from the Matriarch's scrying. Still, I smell the Old Feud rising and their torture of DreamWeaver's remains fits well with their ideology. The Protector's Chosen will go forward, and we shall aid them however we can....and watch."

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn was deep in thought as they trudged upwards towards the keep. The trees of the forest grew sparse, and finally he could see the stonework of the entrance to Thorn's lair above the hill line.

Things were set in motion now. The attack by the zombie assassin while he slept gave O'Bonn little to know. He was in hopes that Thorn or her brethren would know the attacker's identity. And then, there were the wolves that had shown themselves in the forest just prior to his battle with Morrigann. The wolves that had fled upon the sight of the majai-hi. O'Bonn knew these wolves were in service to someone, or something, as well as was the assassin that stalked him in the dark.

O'Bonn looked to Idrial, who had said little about what she had learned during her visit to Thorn.

Gar, the newcomer, the armored werewolf, trodded along beside him. This one sought the spoils of war, something he had no interest in. As son of M'Rhun, the king of the High Elves, O'Bonn had plenty of material wealth. This was something he cared little for. O'Bonn knew that Gar was a good soul, and even though greed may drive him, the werewolf would be more than useful in battle.

O'Bonn hoped Thelron the Drow would be waiting for them at the keep. He longed to share his tale of the battle with Morrigann and the wolves over a cup of tea.

Morrigann. O'Bonn was suddenly filled with sadness. Not because he had slain her, but because something with her was left unfulfilled. He did not know what it was, but it clung to his heart. Something he should have said? Something he should have done? He shook his head, his long, blonde tail swishing against his quiver of arrows.

O'Bonn reached down to rub the fur of the Fay hound as it padded along beside him. His ears detected a unique sound, coming from the East, from the forest. Was that the bleating of a donkey?

 

[Keldun_Rae]

As he watches O'Bonn and the others make their approach to the keep, he too begins making his way to the main entrance once more. As he draws near to a cave, he hears the sounds of Ogre speech coming from within. Quietly, he draws his scimitars and flips a loose rock over his shoulder towards O'Bonn and the rest to draw their attention.

 

[Dracona]

"Shhh, Bardo....rest easy."

Ona lay a calming hand on the donkey's neck and he relaxed. He lowered his head to the small stream they had camped beside the night before and continued to drink. They had made good time on their journey and the rocky crag of the dragon's keep was in sight, but now there was a wrinkle to be dealt with. As she was breaking camp and preparing to leave Ona could sense things moving in the forest. Dark things with evil intent. Bardo had caught the scent and gave a bray of fright before she could stop him. She got the impression of a predator, something canine. Wolves?

Ona cast her mind outward feeling the terrain along her path. Between her and the Keep the creatures had gathered. Not wolves, not really....something more. Wolves didn't lie in wait as these creatures were doing. They stalked and they hunted, but they did not consciously lay an ambush. She relaxed a bit, realizing their focus wasn't on her, it was toward the Keep, and she 'looked' farther that direction.

The others were there....already facing more danger. The ambush was for them.

Ona smiled grimly, what a surprise these wolf creatures would have when they discovered their ambush wasn't quite the surprise they intended. She would warn the others, but first she had to get to them unseen. Sheilding herself and Bardo from detection wouldn't be that difficult. She had developed a sort of distraction field around her clearing, anyone nearing it would suddenly find their attention irresistibly drawn in another direction. She could use the same tactic to pass by the creatures lying in wait, the trick would be to keep Bardo calm enough so that he didn't give them away with any inopportune braying. Donkeys weren't the bravest of animals.

Perhaps a distraction within a distraction....Ona's hair began to unwind itself from its braid, the reddish highlights glowing faintly in the light of the sun. She directed Bardo's attention toward the Keep with impressions of warmed oats drizzled with honey and sweet alphapha hay. The wolf creatures she distracted with impressions of a large band of hunters moving toward them from the opposite direction. The villagers were rising up, intent on seeking out and destroying the predators. Ona tried not to become too amused with her fancies. She had a tendency to let her imagination run away with her, and this was not the time.

Twining her fingers in Bardo's stiff mane she urged him down the path. Her hair now floated around her head like a cloud of darkfire. She would keep the distractions going until she reached the others safely. She grinned to herself once more, she was finding many things about this adventure darkly amusing. She would most likely arrive in the midst of another fight.....and she would call that safe.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

To O'Bonn

My fair High Warrior, worry not. You have wronged me in no way. Your soul is heavy with a burden you cannot carry. Your jouney will lead you farther into a land where things are not as they seem. You must clear your mind and focus on the task at hand. It is within you to help those around. I

Morrigann watched from the mists and shadow as the Old Warrior's mind wandered into thought. He must not feel burden nor need for clarity for his task ahead was one of importance. Idrial would need him.

O'Bonn, once your journey is finished. come to me in the mists and shadow. Let us be as once we should. But for now she and the man child need your strenght.

Her powers diminished greatly and she fell to the ground. He must focus. Yes she would admit something with them was unresolved but that was for another time. The time now was for the man child and Idrial. She would stand in mists and shadow and watch over the company.

 

[AmenRa]

Thelron's stone did not go un-noticed.

O'Bonn looked to the keep, hearing with his Elven ears sounds that should not have been there. He held a hand up, motioning for Idrial and Gar to slow and stop. He then took his bow and nocked an arrow.

Slipping silently around a boulder, O'Bonn narrowed his eyes, searching for the entrance to the keep. He found it and saw shadows within. He then detected a faint shadow near it, a shadow he knew belonged to the Drow. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

So they planned an ambush? Against a High Warrior and one of the Underdark? Not to mention the half-Elf and shapeshifter that were now in this fellowship. Oh, what little these trifling ones knew.

As he lay quietly behind the large stone, O'Bonn felt the lightness of a feather touch him. Whispered words carried upon the wind to his ears. He felt her, even though he could not see her. Morrigann. For a fleeting instant, he felt the lightest touch of her lips upon his skin. His thoughts of sadness and sorrow were cast out then, and the inner warrior of his true self surfaced once more.

O'Bonn held his hand up again for Idrial and Gar to stand by. The High Warrior would wait for Thelron to attack. And once it had begun, they would send to the waiting Ogres certain death.

 

[Keldun_Rae]

The Greatest Dance.

With still amazing silence and agility, that could only truly be obtained by an Elf, Thelron rushes towards the Ogres and leaps into the air, flipping over their heads to land behind them. While in the air and above them, his twin scimitars flash out with incredible speed. One blade removes the head from an Ogre while the other pierces entirely through another's throat. Both corpses fall to the ground before the beasts have time enough to realize what happened. As the remaining Ogre's turn to face their assailent, Thelron calls upon his innate Drow abilities to drop a fifteen foot radius globe of darkness upon them as he steps closer. From the cave, he hears the sounds of more Ogres approaching and wonders if his companions will arrive in time to assist him.

 

[Screech]

Gar had followed his two new companions to a large and imposing fortress. That was a bit unnerving. What was more unnerving was the fact that ogres seemed to be guarding it! Now wor ordinarilly be a good time to run away, or even try to sneak by, pretending to be an ally. However, when two of the ogres fell to the twin blades of a Dark Elf, he rasoned that perhaps, in this one instance, flight wasn't totally neccisary.

Charging forward at his best speed (which, thanks to the lycanthropy, was impressive), he lept at the first ogre to come stumbling out of the blackness. Uttering a couple of words, he reached out and struck the ogre in the belly. It, of course, looked somewhat bemused for the two seconds of it's remaining life, as Gar's spell took hold and caused the beast to keel over backwards, compleatly dead

 

[AmenRa]

Within an instant O'Bonn had stepped from behind the rock and unleashed two arrows. They both flew swift and straight, each striking a pair of Ogres through the neck. The creatures fell forward, one toppling on the body that Gar had dispatched.

O'Bonn nocked another arrow and ran quickly to the keep's entrance.

"The best way to defeat an ambush is to charge it," he told Thelron, smiling. "Good to see you again," he added.

O'Bonn scanned the entrance, then spoke a few words in Elvish. The torchiere high in the cavern's ceiling lit with flame.

"Let us make our stand here!" he shouted to the others. "Soon, the dragons will come, and these ones will perish in fire!"

 

[Dracona]

Slipping past the wolf creatures hadn't been as difficult as Ona had anticipated. They were easily distracted. Now as she neared the Keep she could hear the sounds of fighting and feel the tingle of magic on the air. She hesitated just inside the treeline trying to see inside the cave entrance where the sounds were coming from. The others were in there, along with...what were they....ogres? So the ambush in the forest was merely a fall back, here was the first line of attack. Ona glanced around taking in her position and shrugged. She had come this far to offer what assistance she could, it was a bit too late to reconsider. Leaning close to the donkey's ear she whispered for him to stay within the trees until she came for him and she slipped silently toward the cave.

Keeping her distraction shield pulled around her like a cloak she edged inside and along the wall of the cave, giving her eyes time to adjust. Here was darkness and light struggling for dominance. The strange dome of blackness in the center of the cavern was unfazed by the bright light of the flames near the ceiling. The bodies of several nasty looking creatures lay on the floor, but the fallen had been replaced by more of their kind. Apparently they were too dull witted to realize when they were outclassed, despite their number.

She turned her gaze on the others and smiled despite the situation. They stood poised for battle, the elven warriors, the huntress, the werewolf and the strange hound and for a moment as she gazed on them they seemed to be surounded by soft blue-white light. Here was a shinning company indeed. She inched past the ogres who now stood facing them ready to attack and drew as close as she could without revealing herself. It wouldn't do to suddenly appear as if from nowhere, although she was fairly certain the hound had sensed her presence already.

Bracing her back against the stone wall she looked upward and focused on the flames near the ceiling. Tendrils of fire began to curl down from the torchiere like creeping vines. The tip of the first one licked at an ogreish ear causing the owner to reach up and slap itself upside the head. The second tendril slid down the spine of another ogre and it began to hop around bumping into the one next to it and knocking it to the ground.

Ona chuckled softly to herself at the sight. Her trick may not do very much damage, but it was certain to confuse the ogres and take their focus from the others.

 

[AmenRa]

Whilst waiting word from the others, O'Bonn looked towards the torchiere high on the cavern's ceiling.

Was his mind playing tricks on him? He cocked his head to the side to watch a tendril of flame reach down and lick the head of one of the creatures. He almost laughed as the ogre reached up and hit himself upon the head.

There was magic at work here. Magic that was not his. Surely Idrial nor Gar had cast a spell upon the candle's fire. Thelron would not have used his command of the elements here, either.

That meant they were not alone.

The majai-hi had been laying beside O'Bonn, waiting for the rush of attack. Now, the High Warrior saw, the Fay hound was staring off towards the path, towards the tree line. He noticed the silvery-white fur was not bristled, but the look in the hound's crystal blue eyes said he was watching something, or someone, that only he could see.

 

[Hun1918]

Far along a muddy trek was a blind man dress as a beggar and walked with ivory staff.
His body was slowly decaying with age and yet his face still maintain most of his skin and flesh.
He cared not for his appearance and rarely encountered other human on his travels and harboured utter hatred to all living things.

“Soon I find the scroll of animus the wise and unlock it knowledge hissed Malus to himself”.

 

[Dracona]

Ona hummed softly under her breath as she let the fire do as it pleased with the ogres, she had other ideas now. Flicking her gaze to the fallen she concentrated hard. One of their crude swords rose shakily from the dead hand of its owner as if on invisible puppet strings. The ogres were milling around in confusion and didn’t notice the sword at first. Once they did, however, they stood gapping slack jawed at it. Ona did not know if ogres were superstitious creatures, but it was definitely a distraction to them. She could easily have cause the sword to injure, maybe even slay one of the foul things, but she would never attack from hiding in that manner…it would be un-sportsmanly of her. She was merely buying time to see what the others would do next.

Knowing that the ogres were sufficiently distracted that they wouldn’t notice her even if she chose to drop her distraction shield completely, Ona shifted her consciousness and slowly revealed herself to the party standing at the entrance to the Keep. She knew that her unruly hair would be floating around her head and shoulders, snapping loose the occasional spark, and that her eyes would be fairly glowing by now, but surely she would not be that much of an oddity to powerful creatures such as these.

She glanced first to the hound who was watching her with a steady gaze, no common hound this one, and then to the warrior at its side and beyond to the rest. Catching their gaze she gave them a half smile and a nod, hopefully enough to convey her friendly intentions.

 

[Mantra]

The rout Malus traveled was seldom traveled by anyone in these times. An out of the way, muddy cart path between sprawling villages. The occasional farmer or cart might have trundled past during the harvest season, enough to keep the road in some semblence of use, but now, in the depth of winter, there was no one.

No one except...

A decrept and ratty looking tent, as dirty and dicheveled as Malus himself perhaps. It was not very big, only enough for a person or two, and opened down the center by two wobbly and gnarled sticks, each stapped ungainly into the mud. A wicker basket sat overturned with a crude wooden sign reading simply; Questions Anwsered

A man, perhaps in his late thirties and just as ragged as the tent around him, sat on an overturned bucket and leaned against a spade, which had been set into the ground. He seemed to be asleep and otherwise oblivious to Malus's existence.

 

[Mantra]

Near the Keep...

The battle with the ogres had not been going long when the inner gates of the keep finally opened. From within a small flurry ow dwarven warriors came bustling out, quickly forming into ranks before moving forward. They marched in an orderly fashion towards the outer courtyard, exiting onto the hillside and turned towards the battlefield as it was. The first rank of ten, knelt down, each raising a heavy crossbow. Directly behind them were ten more who hefted similarly deadly looking weapons.

"Och!" one of them bellowed towards the group. "Git down ya daft fools! Down now!!

There was only a brief hesitation for compliance before twenty crossbow strings twanged, flinging their deadly, steel-tipped projectiles towards the ogres.

 

[Hun1918]

The landscape was bare of life and the sky grey and misable just the way Malus liked it and one day the world would stay that way when Malus seize the power of the old ones and set himself along side the gods.

Malus approached the tent and study it slightly; the human is in his prime and yet alone thought Malus.
Yet fate had seem to bring him here to this remote spot and saw the sign and walked nearer toward the tent.
“Young man what is the meaning of the sign asked Mauls in a cold chilling voice and kept his head down as in not to scare him.

 

[Mantra]

Looking over the tent revealed noting new to Malus. It seemed to be exactly what it appeared to be as he stepped up.
His question startled the man, whose head jerked up off of the spade with a snort. His bleary eyes focused in on Marius as he spoke.
"The sign? It means just what it says, m'lord. Some people cross my path, and some ask questions which I attempt to answer."

He smiled, revealing a less than perfect set of teeth.

 

[Hun1918]

I am no lord young man just a simple traveller looking for relics from the old times and maybe you know the location of the scroll of animus the wise.
Malus looked at him and saw nothing new in this human and yet felt with his Dark power a faint aura around this one.
He lifted his head to listed and reveal his almost rotting face to him.

 

[Mantra]

"Ah yes traveler." he said smoothly, his smile broadening. "And I am but a simple man sitting in a muddy field." He closed his eyes and sat in silence for almost a full minute.
"Animus the Wise, also known as Animus Elfbane, Animus the Devourer, Animus the Animal and a myriad of other such colorful descriptions. It was said that he learned to absorb the talents and gifts of animals by consuming the raw flesh and blood of his chosen interests. Someting looked upon with distaste by his fello mages but tolerated...until he saw his fellow man as the greatest animals to 'learn' from."

"This you likely know already, as you likely know that Animus was hunted down and slain, mostly by the elves who were so reviled by his chosen pursuits. His body and tower were burned, his artifacts smashed and lore scattered to the winds in order to banish his legacy."

His eyes looked into the hollow sockets of Malus's face. "But why do you seek it O Lord? To what purpose have you in mind?"

 

[Hun1918]

Ahh but you are wrong young man, not all of Animus lore and artifacts were destroyed by the elves.
During his time on earth Animus wrote his spells and knowledge on the backs of two human slaves and such was Animus power was said to past onto the slaves descendants.
And my reason for searching for his artifacts is very simple because i want his power to set myself beside the gods.
Now tell me young man what do you know of the fate of those slaves hissed Malus.

 

[Mantra]

Again the man's eyes closed in silence for long seconds before opening again.
"Ah yes, one died in the tower with his master, but the second was a female human of fifteen years. She was captured by the elves and all her belongings confiscated. She was interrogated but the elves saw no justification to cause her harm and released her, banishing her from ever returning."

"She wandered for a time, seeking a means to live and ever drifting her experiences of her former life having made her unadaptable to modern society. Eventually, she found a group who took her in. A group who appreciated her insights and past instead of scorning her. She remained with them, her surogate family for many years. She died childless some fourty years after. Although she shared her knowledge with her cultmates, she never had the ability to utilize the magical secrets she carried, she had no known family to survive her."
He smirked. "But her skin survived, peeled from her remains upon her death by her own wishes."

"And so Lord, why would you wish to sit beside the Gods? Such lofty goals and ambitions are dangerous you know."

 

[Hun1918]

And what happen to the skin hissed Malus and wondered if he should kill the human for his lack of manner and respect toward him.
I seek godhood in the sole purpose of ruling this world till it final end and looked harder at the man.

You would not happen to have the power of foresight asked Malus and thought it possible that this mere human had some unknown powers.

 

[Mantra]

"The skin was kept by the cultists of course." the man said, seemingly unaware of Malus's growing ire. "As the years progressed, some of the cultists managed to unlock the most basic of Animus's writings. A few even learned to consume and absorb the powers of animals, although only temporarily."

Malus peered at the man with his eyeless gaze as he asked him about his forsight. The man seemed...normal. He did not radiate any arcane or supernatural power that he could detect, although he had the idea of splitting him open and disecting him anyway. Still, he was uncannilly correct about Animus so far, too accurate to be simply guessing. Again the man offered his half smile as he answered.

"Forsight? No lord, we do not have the gift of forsight, nor are we a soothsayer, fortune teller or prophet. However, we are blessed with much wisdom and know much more. We are a 'knower of things' that are of value to ones such as yourself." He tapped the sign with the end of his spade. "I anwser questions, lord, and ask them on occasion."

"For example, what would you be willing to give for the scroll of Animus?"

 

[Keldun_Rae]

Deftly performs a series of backflips and leaps to get out of the way of the crossbow bolts. As he lands safely a few feet clear of their path, he watches the bolts strike home and once again marvels at the skill of Dwarven warriors. When the Ogres begain to turn about and flee once more into their cave network, he calls out loudly for the Dwarves to cease fire.

 

[Dracona]

Ona had pressed her back to the stone wall when she heard the gruff voice order them down. Now she slid down to sit on the cold ground watching ogre after ogre fall, pierced with dwarvish arrows. In the space of a mere handful of heartbeats most of the creatures were down, and the rest turned to flee.

One of the warriors called out to the dwarves to cease fire and Ona looked up to see him standing nearby. She observed him for a moment and from somewhere in the shadows of her memory came the name Drow....a dark elf. Gingerly she prodded her memory to see if more information would be released but none was forthcoming. She sighed heavily, she should be used to it by now and simply be grateful that trying to get more hadn't triggered one of the blinding headaches that often accompanied trying to focus her memory.

Pushing herself from the ground she automatically reached up and began to calm and smooth her hair, pulling it over one shoulder to plait it into a thick braid before turning to face the others and the dwarvish contingent. She couldn't remember the last time she had been around so many people, literally could not remember. She swallowed hard to reign in a sudden nervousness. It wouldn't do to let her emotions get the better of her. What kind of impression would she make if she set everything on fire......