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

[LadyFairy]

Idrail woke that morning and noticed that her, armor had been cleaned, repaired and quietly returned. Tho she was greatful for the aid it bothered her that she had been tired enough not to ear them being returned.

Rising she dressed and after combing out her hair pulled it back from her face into a tight braid. Gathering her pack and her wepons she moved down the hall to Rhys chambers to wish him fair well, and see if he would break his fast with her before she left to meet with the others when they arrived.

She had seen in Thorn's pool that O'Bonn, Thelron, and the Centar were on their way here. Others who would join their cause if they accepted would be meet along the way...

 

[Screech]

The dog had gone! What a releif! Garfield wandered if he was going to have to stay hidden in the narrow alleyways for an eternity before the man had sent that accursed hound away.

He could also see now that the man and the centaur were moving off from their poision, accopanie by fearful whispers of the townsfolk. Now would be the perfect oppotunity to follow then to treasure!

Pulling his cloak as tightly around him as he could so as to hide his true appearance, Garfeild set off from his hiding place, quite some paces behind the two, wondering just where they were going

 

[AmenRa]

The Fay Hound

As he felt her fangs set into him, the majai-hi rolled and twisted, yet still the undead was attached.

He felt pain. Something he knew nothing of as Fay. But yet, here in this form, in the form of flesh, he felt it for the first time.

He felt his life's essence ebbing away.

Release! cried the One Voice of his kindred to him. He did not want to let it go. He was afraid of what he might unleash upon this world if he released his anger as they commanded.

He could see darkness now.

He let it go.

With muscles rippling, the Fay hound rolled and twisted again, bringing snapping jaws to bear upon Morrigann's neck. Missing her by only a breath, yet his upper canines raked across an exposed shoulder, and he kicked his hind legs up, pushing her off him and sending her tumbling away.

He stared at her, his eyes now glowing a fierce red, his jaws slavering, his breath coming in angry pants in the cold air.

He could taste her blood.

No. It would not be so this day. He lifted his head up and back and howled.

You are not a part of us, he told her, And from this night, you shall be hunted! Leave the man-child to the warmongers of this world, lest the next time we meet, this shall be finished!

And he turned and ran. Catching O'Bonn's scent quickly, he ran to catch up with him.

 

[AmenRa]

The High Warrior O'Bonn

"And so," O'Bonn continued, speaking to the Centaur, "Belos said he would not sit and watch the human be hung for a crime so petty. I agreed, so we set forth to free the man. Only we were not knowing that the man was not being hung, it was his child. Belos, upon seeing such, borne me upon his back and into the village he ran. I tumbled off somewhere in there, coming up with meaning to cut the rope with my blade, but Belos had already snatched the youngling up and was spitting curses upon the people, daring them to stop him.

"The rope had not been tied, and the one holding the rope forgot to let go. So, off Belos went, man-child in one arm, and the rope in the other, and dragging an adult human across the ground.

"I looked to the small crowd that had gathered, and none spoke, only stared in awe at the powerful Centaur who had rescued the child. I calmly struck a few of them, for good measure, and promptly left.

"And that," O'Bonn concluded, "was the last time Belos and I drank mead together."

The High Warrior stopped walking. He turned back to the village, and listening, he spoke again. "There appears to be a ruckus in the village," he said.

 

[Mystical Avalon]

To any other, the wounds inflicted by the majai-hi would have been deadly. To Morrigann they were but a nuisance. She tenderly held her wrist which had taken the worst of all and spoke slowly letting the blood she held in her mouth run over the wound.

"I have tasted you hound as ye have me. Hunt me as you wish for the man-child is of no consequence to me. It is the book that I covet and whom ever has it will be killed" She said. Her words even and dark.

Turning her head to the moon, she quickly tasted the air. Ah, my dear O"Bonn you have met with a mighty traveler. The Centaur were good companions but Morrigann preferred the taste than the companionship. She would follow.

Summoning to her the powers of the undead, she worked her spell quickly and without interruption. Again she spoke her words to the Fay hound.

"Hunt me. Yes, you will hunt me. But, your hunt will not be of reward to you. This battle was well fought my old friend but it will not be the last" her words rising.

She would have no need of the others. Just the hound. Retributuion would be hers.

 

[Mantra]

Idrial made her way to the room where she had been told that Rhys would be at, but did not find him. Instead, there was another individual present, yet another dragon if the wings and eyes were any indication. He was a young man, perhaps only in his early twenties. Slender and very fair in appearance, with platnum blonde hair and long, white wings.

He smiled as she entered. "Good morning, you must be Idrial. Would you care for something to eat?"

 

[Keldun_Rae]

As he reaches the edge of town, Thelron quickly vanishes among the shadows. No matter how hard any of the towns people search, they find no trace of him as he watches their doings.

How can I re-enter the town to join up with O'Bonn once more? Perhaps I should try visiting his dreams. They may be warded, but I can still make the attempt.

 

[LadyFairy]

Aye i would thank you.... She said her confusion evedent as she looked around for Rhys before asking..Where is the boy Rhys?, and forgive me if i am being rude but who are you?

Idrial hadnt move yet from the door way to approch but stayed where she was, awaiting his awncer.

 

[Mantra]

The youth smiled non-threateningly. "My name is Reverend, Dragon of Spirit and Air. My apologies that I sould not have attended the gathering last night, but I was preoccupied. A friendly traveler on the road as it were, and some troubles in the township. I am something of a Constable in this place as it were."

He motioned for Idrial to follow her as he continued to speak.
"This was a fort before it was ours, so the accomidations are somewhat spartan. I hope you slept well. You need not worry about the child, he is with the Matriarch."

 

[Mantra]

In the ruined village of Kent....

.....
Seven figures wandered through the ruins of the village, almost lazilly. Nothing was left alive, or if anything was found, clinging precariously to life, the figures ended it with quick strokes from their scimitars. They were tall and rich looking to be sure, but no thief would have come near them. Not only because of their weapons, but because of their tiger-like features. From their tiger heads to their swaying tails to their black and orange stripes in between. Fierceness and magic issued from them like a vapor and their actions, although relaxed and at ease, were precice and deadly. Each wore rich silks and leathers, gold and silver were mingled in their jewelry, bright as the glint of their weapons. They were Rakasha, as lethal with their steel as they were with their magics.

They fell into a loose circle as another group entered the village. A human man, quite common looking, without armor or weapons rode in on a jet black horse whose hoves scorched and burned the earth...when they touched at all. In a semi-circle around the rider were three other monsterous figures, running along on overly long legs, giving them a foolish loping stride. Each thing looked sort of like a cross between a vulture and an ostrich, but where wings should be, long, bony hook like arms extended and curved.
The rider looked left and right, sniffed the air and cursed.

"He is not here."

The Rakasha looked at each other nervously. "We could search Greatness." One said. "Perhaps beneath the rubble..."

"He is not here." The rider said again. "The mensch mean nothing to us. Find the boy."

Two more Rakasha ran in from the opposite side of the village. The halted before the rider and his inhuman escort, breathing heavilly as they reported.
"The Wolven mercenaries have encountered the boy child. He was taken by a female Mensch and carried away before our arrival. The female and some of her following, two black skinned elves and a horse woman, have made it to the mountain pass and the encampment there. They tried to stop the female, but one of the damnable dragons appeared and thwarted the Wolven raiders."

The rider was clearly not pleased at the news. "And how did the whelp survive at all, Hmmm? Doorna, you told me that your clan would lay everyone in their graves with ease, yet not only did the boy live, he has been carried by some misfits and outcasts to the one place we did not want him to ever find."

The Rakasha were unerved at these words. Doorna, their leader, blinked his cat-like eyes before anwsering. "Surely Greatness, there are powers at work here our magics did nto detect, but the Wolven, the dogs clearly chased the Mensch right into the dragon's laps. Had they not rushed agead of my clan mates, the boy would surely be yours now."

The rider wasn't listening, but made no outward sign. He still needed Doorna, stupid though he was., so he decided against killing him....for now.

"Tell the Wolven to keep watch, day and night. Tell them that they have not been paid to fail me. If they continue to do so poorly, I will return to exact my own version of 'payment'."

The two Reakasha scouts ran off as the rider continued to give his orders. "Doorna, you and your clan stay ready and stay behind the Wolven. The dogs are expendable so use them as you wish. Go."

The Rakasha all moved out and the rider and his escort turned, going back into the woods from which he came.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn and the Centaur traveled into the forest, making for the winding trail that led to the keep. The sun had yet to lighten the sky, and the full moon shone brightly. The moonlight bathed his white-blonde hair and coppery skin with a luminous softness as he walked the path.

O'Bonn motioned for Gabriele to stop as he saw the silver-white shape of the majai-hi catch up to them.

Battle the Fay hound told him. The Undead still walks among us. This is not her time to die yet again.

O'Bonn nodded his head and looked around. He squatted and began to pull sticks together, to which he uttered Elvish, and a fire sprang up from them.

"We should camp here until the sun has crested the hills," he told Gabriele. "To enter the keep while dark lingers would invite arrows and fire from the protectors, and I have no wish to battle dragons this night."

The High Elven Warrior had barely seated himself beside the fire when the Fay hound began to snarl. O'Bonn looked to the majai-hi and saw his hackles raised and the black lips curled back with white fangs exposed. O'Bonn saw the dog was staring off into the forest. He looked, and he saw, too.

Wolves.

Larger than normal wolves, he saw. There were several around them, closing silently through the trees.

O'Bonn nocked an arrow. "Come," he whispered, "come and taste death."

He raised the bow and released. The closest fell, the Elven arrow drilled into it's chest. More came, circling O'Bonn and Gabriele. O'Bonn could hear the work of Gabriele's bow as her arrows flew. He nocked another arrow and released. He raised his bow a third time, and the majai-hi began to howl.

A horrible, terrible, piercing howl. What was left of the pack of creatures stopped and stared at the Fay hound. Their hackles came up, their ears flattened. Yes, O'Bonn thought, they fear the majai-hi.

The Fay hound now stood in front of the High Elf and the Centaur. He snarled and snapped at the wolves, occasionally rushing towards them. O'Bonn sensed some kind of communication between the largest, the alpha, and then the pack turned and ran.

The High Warrior looked to the Centaur and said, "Nor did I wish to battle wolves this night either, my lady."

 

[LadyFairy]

The youth smiled non-threateningly. "My name is Reverend, Dragon of Spirit and Air. My apologies that I sould not have attended the gathering last night, but I was preoccupied. A friendly traveler on the road as it were, and some troubles in the township. I am something of a Constable in this place as it were."

He motioned for Idrial to follow her as he continued to speak.
"This was a fort before it was ours, so the accomidations are somewhat spartan. I hope you slept well. You need not worry about the child, he is with the Matriarch."

Tis an honor to meet you Reverend..there is no need to appologize the Matriarch spoke of you along with the others.. She said relaxing and making a bow in his direction, before following where he lead.

i slept very well thank you..i have not slept so deeply in a long time, and i do not mind the furnishings. she said as they continued down the hall. Idrial hoped that the others would make it to the keep safely, and thought about her encounter with the wolven kind who had attacked both her and Rhy's.

Reverend.... do you think that the Wolven who attacked me on my way here will attack the others as well?

 

[Keldun_Rae]

((everyone in town, then out, then in then out. I'll never find anyone in character! lol))

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Sensing the anger and smelling the taste of the majai-hi on the air, Morrigann followed closely slipping into shadow. Watching the Centaur and the High Warrior, she felt a strange inkling towards them. Not bothering to shift into her human form, she stalked from under the full moon. Just beyond her she heard the call of the majai-hi. She smelled the wolves. picking up her pace now she ran to the edge of the clearing watching as the wolves tucked their tails and ran.

"Bah, filthy cowards!!" she yelled as they ran past her. Waiting, she saw Gabriel and O'Bonn sit around the camp fire. How? That was the question. How would she resolve this matter before they entered the keep? Trying hard to invade their minds, she could pick nothing from either of them. Suddenly a shadow passed over her eyes. She would die before they entered the keep. She would not make it. For Morrigann, this realization was almost a joke. She laughed the high pitched laugh of the banshee and strode into the clearing.

"I have come High Warrior. Old man of the Elven realm. It is now that you and I will have palaver over the book you possess. Centaur, you will stay or by the Gods I will drain every last drop of blood in your cursed body. As for the majai-hi, this is one fight he must sit out. For with him, I have no quarrel. It is the possessor of the Healers book. You and I" she spat at O'Bonn. Her wounds had healed on the pathway here.

She had no worry even as the Drow made his way through the woods to where they were. It would not be for her to see them back together. She would fight to the death.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn stood upon seeing Morrigann come into the clearing. He listened to her words and gave them thought.

"And, Vampire," he said to her, "what would you do with this book?" He slid his scimitar from its sheath. "I know you, now. Treachery you did speak upon me when I came to you, and healed you, and brought you into the living but for a day!"

O'Bonn utterred something in Elven under his breath, and the runes engraved upon the blade of his scimitar began to glow with red, and then the blade was bathed in a soft, blue luminescence. O'Bonn looked at Morrigann through slitted eyes.

"If you fight with me, you shall fall to this blade, as so many others of your kind have before. I beseech you, as you are not a part of the things that come, to turn from this path. I know why you want the book. You can not do this thing you wish, and if you try this, then you will perish in such a way as there will be nothing for you but eternal darkness.

But, if you are truly so evil, and you want this book," he said as he patted the pocket of his cloak, "then come and claim it!"

O'Bonn heard the Fay hound speak. You can not save her, Brave Warrior. She must turn of her own heart.

Then, he thought, so it must be.

Morrigann would not take the book. She would die, once again, a true death, here, tonight. With the trees, and snow, the forest watching, O'Bonn would slay yet another Undead.

 

[Mantra]

Reverend thought a moment at Idrial's question.

"Yes, I do." he said finally. "The Wolven are nomadic hunters, but they do not often venture near our home. They fear us. Phalanx interrogated the one who ambushed you and the child. Your attacker confessed to trying to intercept you before you could bring the child to us. His orders were to take they boy...and probably kill you."

"What is of more concern is what is not said. We know that the Wolven are mercenaries as well as hunters. What is more, someone either paid them enough or intimitated them enough to overcome their caution of us and attack you in the open."

"So then, who is paying the Wolven?"

 

[Keldun_Rae]

Looking all about him for some idea as to where he should be going, his eyes fall on the keep. With a shrug, he heads in that direction to see what fate lies ahead.

 

[LadyFairy]

Idrial looked at Reverend and nodded her head..please show me the way out so that i might give them aid.... we can all dine together once we are all safe. She said and followed Reverend to the exit.

Once outside she didnt stop to see if he joined her simply continued down the path in the direction she knew the others to be traviling in.

 

[Mantra]

Thelron trudged up the narrow pathway which had been pushed through the snow, leading up to the entrance of the mountain keep. Although dawn had eased the falling snow, fat, white flakes still fell from the sky.
The keep entrance was only a small courtyard with an open gate, surrounded by a stone wall. The rest of the fort being carved directly into the side of the mountain. From his long yeard in the Underdark, Thelron recognized dwarvish stonework as he approached.

"What do you want here, night elf?" came a hard voice from above.

He looked up and saw the red and black winged herald, purched atop the wall, stiing motionless and looking down at him as if he were a mouse.

 

[Mantra]

"As you wish." Reverend said, letting Idrial follow him through the corridors.

The stone halls were cooler as they neared the large opened gatehouse, and the reddish torch light gave way to the more natural golden light of day. There were a few onthers about, mostly dwarves again, but the odd human moved about as well. All bowed respectfully when they encountered Reverend and Idrial.

"Your friends all elected to remain in town, mostly at the inn. I am not so sure they are still there however. Since you all arrived, there have been five murders in town, two at the inn." He fixed Idrial with a rather stern gaze, his eyes still intent regardless of the youthful face.

"I do hope this is not a sign of things to come."

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Morrigann stood boldly in the clearing. As she faced the Warrior, she laughed.

"Your thoughts betray you Old Warrior. My own heart knows what it must do. I am but a lowly traveler" dropping her eyes, she mocked tears.

"You came to aide me. You helped me. For that I am greatful, but you and your centaur stand in my way" bearing her sword, she stepped into the circle around O'Bonn.

"Now it must begin" she spoke as she took her stance. She had fought many fights walking this earth as undead. This one would be no exception. The book called to her. The spells cast within its covers held the answers to her fate. She would know its power and knowlege. She would also know that it held within those bound leather pages, the truth as to whom and what had made her.

Thinking to herself not caring if the Old Warrior could see her thoughts, just the power of knowing those things would be worth dying for.

 

[AmenRa]

O'Bonn stepped quickly, swinging his scimitar in a glowing arc towards Morrigann's torso. It was a pushing sweep, intended to back the vampire up and away from the centaur and the Fay hound. As he finished the strike, O'Bonn began to chant softly in Elvish, and the wind stopped and the forest became quiet.

The High Warrior stepped back, raising his guard, and he took the Healer's book from his cloak. He held it for Morrigann to see, taunting her with it.

The magic he had conjured, with the help of the forest and the Fay, was in the book now. It would be poison to her undead form, as he had warned her. If she took it, it would burn into the essence of her darkness and purge the evil within. If she survived such a passing.

One way or another, Morigann would die this night.

 

[Keldun_Rae]

"What do you want here, night elf?" came a hard voice from above.

He looked up and saw the red and black winged herald, purched atop the wall, stiing motionless and looking down at him as if he were a mouse.

Thelron raises an eyebrow at the herald before focusing his attention once more upon the keep itself. Not answearing, he studies the arcitecture of the building. He studies the stone work. admiring the skill with which the keep was made.

"A nicely made stronghold. Solid, durable, I'd estimate no younger than 2,000 years old. It's been here quite sometime and is still just as strong. Although, I don't detect any magic in use to maintain the stone work. Very impressive...."

 

[Mystical Avalon]

Morrigann felt the wind from the scimitar. She stepped back briefly. Ahh, she thought to herself the fight is on.

"Chant all you wish Old Warrior for whether you wish or not, tonight will be mine" she screamed and rushed towards O"Bonn.

Heaving the sword over her head, she weilded it with a precision of deadly accuracy.

"We will fight but, this night will not be over until we are finished!" Again raising her voice in a screeching howl, Morrigan bad welcome the devils of night.

"The darkest night I welcome, to me devils and demons of night bring forth your power holding the sun at bay. Tonight we will fight. Tonight, until the life is drawn from one or both."

laughing again she brought the sword above her head,

"Fight Old Man, for your life's sake. FIGHT!" she yelled.

 

[Mantra]

"A nicely made stronghold. Solid, durable, I'd estimate no younger than 2,000 years old. It's been here quite sometime and is still just as strong. Although, I don't detect any magic in use to maintain the stone work. Very impressive...."

The man-dragon jumped down from his perch, landing between Thelron and the entry into the mountain keep. He stood straight, golden eyes watching Thelron.

"It was crafted by a clan of mountain dwarves, under our direction for several generations. It is as old as the mountain because it is a part of the mountain itself." Phalanx explained. "Yet you have not anwsered my question. Until then, you may not enter."