When the Gods' Meddle...

[Ambrosious]

Mabis rode for the rest of the day and on into the night. She stopped at moonset, due to the fact that her horse could easily snap a foreleg in the dark. She made camp with an unsettling feeling in her stomach. Mabis had no idea why, but lately she had a sense of foreboding. Something was making her hurry upon her journey and Mabis knew in her heart that it couldn't be good.

After making camp and starting a cook fire, Mabis settled in to wait on her evening meal of roasted meat to cook, and along with warmed over barley cakes, and a flagon of ale, she felt she would sleep like a lamb in a bed of fleece. Just as the hisses of the juices from the roasted meat had indicated that her dinner was almost ready, a man appeared, seemingly out of thin air. Maybe this was another God! Sillier things had happened to her lately. With a tremble in her hands and a quiver in her voice, Mabis began to introduce herself.

"H h hello sir. M m my name is..."

"I know your name already, Mabis," the stranger stated. "You are being followed."

"What?!" Mabis exclaimed, "If anyone dares lay a hand on me, I'll get nasty, fast! Let them face the wrath of Mabis the Mighty!"

"Shut up! Blast but you are a silly girl. Listen to me closely. I can help you, but please keep your voice down. Do you want to announce our presence to the entire realm?"

Stopping to think for only a second, Mabis aggreed to let the brash young man help her. After all he was kind of cute.

From the Godsrealm, Hecate smiled.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

i quickly took notice to this girl... hmmm strange i feel as if i know her.....

" Hail Adventurers And Good day to thee!"

 

[Moneytalks]

Lady Luck tired of watching her brother and sister arguing. She raised her hand and vanished from the earthly realm, riding the dark corridors of power until she reached the heavenly palace... Hecate's domain. She materialised before the Goddess. "My Queen" Luck intoned graciously, her expression as always, carefully blank. Hecate smiled, "aahhh... the Mistress of Luck... "
Luck smiled, the smile did not reach her eyes... but it was a beautiful smile. "You sent out a querie as to the status of the earthbound God's??? I thought I would answer directly... "
Luck wandered over to the mystical pool of power and glanced down seeing a mortal woman's image before Hecate raised her hand vanishing it. Luck was intrigued, though it did not show on her face. She turned as if she hadn't noticed and peered through the pillars into the clouds. "I feel a game has started Hecate, surely you intended to inform me, I am your Lady of the dice after all... "
Hecate hesitated before she replied... even she did not especially like Luck, she was a wild card... she could go either way... "Of course not sweet lady... however... the rules dictate... that I must not interferre with Luck... or Fate..." Luck tensed at this... her twin sister Fate... "ahhh" she replied...

"I really must go back... to work... you understand..."
Hecate smiled... her eyes flashing...
"Of course dear Lady... and I am the last God to even dream of interrupting your work... " she paused... delighted with this game... "send my regards to your sister when you see her"
Luck frowned... shocked that Hecate could read her so easily, Hecate was NOT one to be underestimated... "Of course my Queen"
She bowed elegantly before vanishing through the portal of power... riding the darkness to her sisters abode. Damn Hecate... it was uncanny how she could guess her every move... she needed to think fast...

 

[Darb]

Avery:

He followed the lass the rest of the day. He noticed that someone else was following her too. This other tracker was a bit a careless though and almost gave away his presence to her several times. Avery wasn't sure of this strangers presence so he decided he would make contact with the girl at nightfall.
He waited until she had built a fire and was settled in and then approached her.
She was startled at first, but began to speak with arrogance.
"you're being followed" he said in a whisper.
"IF anyone dares lay a hand on me.."she began to shout
"SHUT UP! you silly girl!" He said covering her mouth with his hand.
"Do you want the whole realm to know of our presence?" he asked without expecting a reply.
"Listen to me, i have been scouting you all day long and there is someone else following that I believe wishes ill upon you" he continued"I know the gods are on your side and for some reason are giving you safe passage, thus my reason for coming to you now. I want to be on the gods good side and I don't want them to think that I knew danger was upon you and I did nothing to prevent it, and I also find you very intriguing." He loosed his hand from her mouth.
"Now listen to me...I am offering my help to you, I know you think that you are invinceable right now, but I think you need tobe reminded that not all the gods see eye to eye and some may not wish for you to reach your destination...I know this land as good as anyone, i know the people, the cultures and the languages, not to sound brash but I think you would be a fool to not allow me to escort you on your journey" he paused to hear the beauty's answer...

 

[Moneytalks]

Lady Luck dropped back into the earthly realm, her slender figure shimmering briefly. She had sensed something, and decided her sister could wait for the moment. Instinct told her it wouldn't do to do exactly what Hecate expected of her. Her earthly body solidified. Her shimmering silver hair flowed about her shoulders. Her midnight blue robes emphasizing her slender curves...

She looked between the trees to see a man and woman. She cocked her head, curious, that hair... she noticed the womans hair and remembered the briefly glimpsed image in the vision pool. Hmmm, interesting, she smiled to herself, some fun perhaps? She opened her palm before her, a shimmering ball of power appeared glowing softly, she focused her mind, sending out her random image of power, releasing it inside the glowing ball. She grinned, oh she loved the chaos her twists brought out in the world... chaos.. ah... her thoughts turned to the God of War... her heart beat a little faster as she thought of him... sighing she shakes her head, enough daydreaming, time for a little fun... she blew a kiss... watching the ball of power float towards the duo.

The ball of power hovered about them then disintegrated, raining it's unseen power over the two. Suddenly three men rushed into the clearing, their daggers held ready, they approached the duo menecingly. Intrigued by the turn of events Luck watched to see what would happen....

 

[Lady_Aline]

"Damn, DAMN, DAMN gods!" Shouted the crone. Both the warrior dwarf and her apprentice, Garen, looked up from their meal of roasted rabbit.
"Did you feel it?" She demanded to her companions.
"I felt nothing." The dwarf shrugged and carried on eating.
"What, mistress?" Garen looked up at the crone like a puppy.
"The Lady is playing. She's rolling her die again."
"Oh." Was all the dwarf said, nonplussed of the situation. He threw his rabbit bone over his shoulder, then yawned visably. He was bored; when was he going to see some action?
"She's entered this world, so that must mean she's left a gate to the Other world." The crone thought for a bit. Tomar the dwarf started to toss his axe nonchalantly with his free hand. Garen winced everytime he did.
"W-w-what world?" Asked Garen.
"Stupid boy! What world is there left?"
"The Gods?" He asked aprehensively. He winced as if to be hit.
"Yes, well done. Make a priest out of you yet." The crone did not hit him. Garen relaxed. "Alright, everyone get up. we're going to meet our makers."
The dwarf caught his triple spinning axe and slung it over his back. "No one told me anything about meeting the Gods."
"What, can't you handle it?" The crone hit Garen for not tidying up the camp quicker. "Faster, boy! We don't have much time."
"Yes, but-"
"That's OK. Now, everyone stand back. Hold this." She thrust her stick into Garen's full hands and strode to the centre of the fire. "Lintus, Linratus, liborartus. Zenatur, zenatut zenatur..."
A huge clap of thunder stroked the ground like a caress; it opened, like the way a hot knife divides butter. Above the swirling mass of howling winds and bitter rain that appeared with her words, the crone walked to the edge of the crack.
"We go down here," she shouted to her companions. Garen turned white. The dwarf smiled recklessly. And she jumped, and as she did, a swirl of lightning carried her to the skies.
"It's a test," shouted Tomar. "The Gods test our courage, to see if we're reckless enough to jump into an abyss... come on!" Tomar yanked Garen's hand and they both jumped into the split land...
...and were snatched away by a hand-like substance that squeezed their bodies. Both lost conciousness. But the Gods' saw their audacity.

 

[ShyGoddess]

She could only take listening to Huntus for so long, and a breech had been made. Mortals had come through a crack in space and time. She disappeared with a flash of light.

A priestess, a dwarf, and a young man. She felt his innocence. She was instantly drawn to him. The priestess and dwarf were seperated from the young man at her command. The young man, Garen, was brought to what appeared to be a meadow, but nothing was as it seemed in this place.

Alenea sat under a tree with Garen's head cradeled in her lap, waiting for him to awake. She stroked his hair, her warm eyes taking in what he seemed to be.

"Awake and arise, Garen. You have been summoned by the gods to do so."

His eyes slowly opened and beheld a beauty before him. Eyes of violet and hair that held the fire of the sun. Alenea watched as his mouth dropped open and he sprang to his feet. "I...Um...I.I..I..."

"Please, don't fear me. I am Alenea, guardian of the innocent and Goddess of Music. I have brought you here for a reason."

He only blinked at her.

"You see, something tremendous is happening in the heavens. All the gods fear it, even if some don't admit it. There is a young woman. Her name is Mabis. She is our saviour, she can stop what will happen, but not if she can't complete her journey. I have summoned you here because you are to help her in her journeys."

"But..bbbbutt..."

"You have great power within you, Garen. You have only to believe in yourself. You stutter with innocence and fear, and at times are a little akward, and yet there is intellegence shining in your eyes." She approached him laying a hand against his cheek. "You, Garen, will one day become a great preist of the gods." She kissed him softly. "Believe in yourself, as I believe in you. Should you have need of me, all you need to do is call." She turned to leave. "Oh, one more thing. I give you this amulet. It will help you in your journeys."

With that Garen found himself back with the priestess and the dwarf, a shining silver snake, coiled into a knot, supended from a chain around his neck.

 

[Moneytalks]

Lady Fate felt the crack as a human opened the rift to enter their realm. She frowned... she had felt this particular trade-mark power before... what was the woman's name? Ahhh... so many years... she had managed to hide in solitude for many millenium, trusting her sister, perhaps too much to handle the affairs of the humans. Fate and Luck, important to the mix, the balance if you will, without them, the power could be too great, either way.

She sighed, turning to a silver platter beside her, she waves her hand over it and sees the old crone, a dwarf and an innocent tumble into the realm of power. Frowning she waves her hand again, finding her sister watching the unfolding of events after her power release. Fate glared, emotion flaring in her chest, the silly woman, what was her morbid facination with watching the turn of events triggered by their powers. She sees the innocent collected by Alenea and smiles fondly. Ahhh, there was a sweet Goddess, and the music she inspired in mortals was intriguing, Fate frowned, waving her hand again, now where did those other two get to?

MEANWHILE...

Luck felt the ungainly tear as a mortal opened a portal. She frowned, she had felt that particular magick before. She considered this and waved her hand as a hand mirror materialised in her palm. She blew into it and saw Alenea with an innocent, she blew again, and saw the crone and the dwarf. Intriguing she thought, a smile spreading across her face... she vanished the mirror... watching the three theives edge towards the two mortals, sighing, "seems I will not get to enjoy watching this particular outcome," shrugging, she pushes herself into the stream of power, travelling towards the place of the rift...

 

[Lady_Aline]

"Is everyone alive?" a moan of pain escaped from under the crone.
"Is that my leg?" The dwarf poked himself gingerly.
"No, that's mine. I don't touch me again. Everyone up," commanded the crone. "I have to trade a favour from an old friend." The crone looked at herself, then thought for awhile. He wouldn't want to see her like this- as a ungainly, repulsive crone- so she thought- how did he see me when I was younger...?
She started by running both hands along her hair, as if straightening it. As she did, grey was washed with a brilliant blood-red that curled all the way down her back. She lifted a hand over her face, as if swotting a fly and wrinkles left, youthful skin replaced the old. Distantly she swirled on her feet as spritely as any teenager and her body turned to that of a curvacious twenty year old. Both dwarf and apprentice watched with open mouths.
"How do I look," she asked with a light, playful contralto instead of the harsh alto she used to have.
"Like a lady."
"Good. Then let us proceed. Dwarf, you will take the boy to the castle of the Gods."
"Where is the castle?" Asked Garen. The crone -now the maiden- pointed to a looming, forboding castle in the centre of the landscape. "Talk to no one. Eat no fruit, take no strange food. Trust no one. There are many gates to Hell that will lead you to the Goddess Chaos. She likes to toy with mortals. Do you understand?"
Garen merely gawped. He fingered his new necklace nervously, but then thought of the beating he would recieve if he were caught with it.
"B-bbut why, mistress?"
"Because we're going to ask the Gods what they are playing at. I will meet up with you shortly. Go. Scat," She said with a clap of her hands.
"We're going," The dwarf literally dragged Garen away, parting him from his mistress. When the maiden thought it safe, she called to him.
"Huntus, I know you are here," she said, hands on hips, staring at nothing in perticular. In a billowing cloud of smoke and lightening Huntus made himself known. The maiden coughed in all the smoke.
"You know, for the god of hunt, you're not very subtle." Her eyes locked on his dark green eyes that reminded her of some dark forrest somewhere...
"Seralina, you look stunning. And sarcastic as always." He strode to her, a wicked grin of his face. "My, love I've missed you. Missed the mortal warmth you give me."
The maiden snorted, her gestures similar to that of the crone. "Liar. How many women have filled my place since I left you?"
"None." He wrapped his arms around her gently and kissed her; Seralina allowed herself to get caught up in the kiss for a brief moment, then pulled away.
"What is happening here, Huntus? Please, the mortals are scared that the Gods are planning a war... mortals will be hurt."
"I will tell you love. But only if you'll be my queen."
Seralina looked up apprehensively. "I left you because I did not want to become a God."
Huntus kissed her again. Hecate looked on from her looking glass, fury radianting her pretty frame. That crone! A god? Over her dead immortal body...

 

[Moneytalks]

Lady Luck materialises a few feet away from a stunning woman with red hair in the arms of Huntus. She looks at them, her face as always, expressionless. She raises her hands and makes a claping guesture. No sound emenates, but her sister, the Lady of Fate hears. Luck waits, watching silently, the two figures, the very vision of young impetuous love, but Lady Luck was not fooled, she saw more here, and she recognised this red-haired beauty.

Luck smiled briefly as she felt her sisters familiar power as she emerged from the stream of power, materialising just behind her. "You called?" Fate asked, her voice slightly sarcastic. Luck decided to let that tone pass. "I believe we both know that mortal standing in our brother's arms..."
Fate stepped forward, and the twins stood together, the resemblance was uncanny, yet strange, Luck with hair & eyes of silver, Fate with hair & eyes of gold. Luck was cool and precise like the very silver her features reflected, thus she was not emotionally involved when she saw the good or bad that her name implied, Fate however, tended towards warmth like the colour of her own features, she could not seem to help but get deeply involved with the Fate's of the mortals she cared for. Thus in the recent millenium, Luck had been given a rather free hand, as Fate sat back, contemplating her place in the realm of the God's. She now wondered at the sight of the young woman in Huntus' arms.

"She looks almost exactly the same, are you sure she isn't her daughter or just someone who looks the same, it has been several human decades has it not?"
Luck continued to stare at the couple, Fate watched her, as always amazed at her sisters ability to remain impassive. "Oh no my dear sister, there is no mistake, she is her... in the very flesh, although I percieve some glamour magick about her, it is faint, she has learnt much over the years I feel"
The sisters watched in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Luck spoke, her voice, silverly, chilling, "you have heard the rumblings?"
Fate took a deep breath, and expelled it with a sigh, "yes, I had hoped the rumours where exaggerated, but even I felt the ripple..."
Luck laughed without humour, "even in your small little hide-away dear sister?"
Fate frowned at this remark, well aware that her sister considered her weak to withdraw from the mortal world as she had... all over the uncontrollable love she had felt for a mortal.
"I spoke with Hecate, she hides much from us all..."
"This is hardly an unusual thing, she plays her cards close to her chest does out Queen"
"Yes..." Luck replied thoughtfully
"But?..." Fate prompted...
"It is a strange thing I glimpsed whilst in her presence, do you think it possible that all our fates could be in the hands of a single mortal?"
Fate shook her head, whether in denial of this possibility or whether she simply did not know, was unclear.
Luck sighed, "I guess, our powers, do not entitle us to know the outcome, much as we wish it did, the prayers I hear sometimes, pains me..."
Fate looks surprised, glancing at her sister, "pain?"
Luck laughs again sharply, without mirth, "dear sister, is it so unbelievable that I have feelings?"
Silence... "You know what you must do my sister," Luck addressed her sister formally.
Fate shivered at these words... "yes... I know..."
Without any further conversation, they vanished...

Luck reappeared a few leagues down the road that the dwarf and the mortal boy walked apon. Her slender body wrapped simply in a lavender hued robe, her long silver hair loose about her shoulders, she smiled as they approached, this time the smile reached her eyes and warmed them. She was the picture of innocense and warmth as they neared her... they slowed... the boy looked nervous, but he openly admired Luck, the dwarf grinned lecherously. "Hail travellers, where do thee go on this fine day?" Luck asked her voice melodious and warm...

 

[Lady_Aline]

"Blessed be, noble travellers. What brings you to my realm?"
Tomar started forward, his battle-axe raised. "Get back, woman. God or no god, I get paid for this mission. And you're not going to stop me."
Lady Luck raised a fine eyebrow. Tossing back her mane of silver, she pulled from the magic depths of her gown a bottle of water and a small package of food.
"I am not here to stop you; merely, I am here to help. Here, you must be hungry. And thirsty too."
Garen fingered his necklace. Aleanea... that was her name.
"We're not allowed to talk to strangers," Garen said bravely, his jaw as stubborn as the crones.
"We are leaving," mutter the dwarf, ignoring the food.
"But come now... you must be hungry. And thirsty too." Luck walke motionlessly, her eyes portraying no emotion. She help out her hands for Garen to take and as Garen reached for them, someone arrived and...

 

[Moneytalks]

Luck looked up, her face calm, like porcelain, she starred at the new arrival. A smile leant her face warmth that did not reach her eyes, yet gave her perfect features even more beauty if that was possible. The food disappeared from her hands. Her head bowed respectfully.

"I did not realise they were under your protection sister, I beg your forgiveness... I truely intended no harm... simply to make their passage back to their own realm easier... you must agree that they can do no good unto themselves here." Her silver gaze looked up again into Aleana's eyes. Aleana ignored the young boy who looked at her with adoration in his eyes as she walked to stand before Luck. "Well, I do protect them, and they are to visit Hecate herself."

Even luck could not cover her surprise at this. Then her silverly laugh escaped. Rare was it that anything amused her enough to entice laughter from her lips... but this was too much! "They are to see our Queen? Surely you jest sister... they are mortals, and a dwarf too? They would not be accepted into the great castle."

Aleana smiled serenely, "maybe they on their own would not, but the one that accompanies them surely will."

Luck kept her expression carefully blank. "Ahhhh, I see..."

Aleana did not notice Luck's gaze sharpen as she realised they worked under the red haired beauty that at this very moment rested in their brother Huntus' arms.

Luck bowed low again, respectfully. "My dear sister, then I entrust their... fate... in your gentle hands..." She smiled at the boy... her gaze warm... the boy looked startled... he felt his very soul sing in response to that smile. He felt... that all the God's suddenly smiled down apon him... she nodded more to herself then turned... vanishing into a silver mist.

Luck reappeared at her own temple. The safest route from the heavens to earth, she realised her mistake at just appearing just anywhere. Clearly the rift she had caused had been the way that red-haired interferring mortal had entered their realm. She frowned... languishing in the throne of marble that had been carved for her... she waved a hand impatiently and the room instantly became bright with lit candles. She looked around, yes, very well kept this place. She smiled unamused. People always prayed for Luck...

 

[ShyGoddess]

She turned to the two travelers.

"She warned you. Do not trust anyone. Take no food, no advice, even from me. You could have destroyed your journey." Alenea saw the way Garen looked at her, but ignored it. He was meant for another. Someone who would need him in her struggle. "Continue on, my dears, and be safe in the knowledge that I will always be here looking out for you." She disappeared before their eyes, adjoining to her temple to await their visit with Hecate.

 

[Moneytalks]

"So, she thought... "Aleana protects the boy... he is possibly more important than I had realised, and in fact Aleana herself is more involved than I had originally believed. I hope my sister has had better... " she paused, almost laughing... "luck... than I have."

MEANWHILE...

Fate needed to concentrate... it had been many decades since she had stretched her powers... and she felt a little rusty. She stretched out her arms... flexing gently, feeling the power well up inside her. She channelled the power up through her auras and then pulled it back down, channelling it into her arms and legs then she moved with amazing speed to the portal that would take her to her own Temple.

The speed took her breath away and as she arrived at the portal her cheeks flushed with the power. "Phew!" she gasped, "that was invigorating" She stepped through the portal lightly feeling the sensation of the flow of power as it transported her to her Temple. She appeared in a golden mist materialising before the statue errected in her honour. A simple girl knelt before her, head bowed in prayer. Fate looked startled. She cocked her head listening to the prayer. "Please blessed Lady, my mother tells me it is my fate to be wed to Garson, but," her shoulds shudder, "he is so... so old and ugly, and all the girls tell tales of how cruel he is... please... please..." she begged..."rewrite my fate"

Fate frowned. She felt her heart ache hearing that childish plea. She focused her mind... chanelling her vision through the girl... she quickly saw her family, her mother... ah... step mother... and a brief vision... that this child had not even seen her future husband yet... only heard the terrifying tales...

She placed a hand on the childs shoulder. The child looked up and nearly fell over in surprise. "Lady Fate??? Oh... Goddess of the fates... please... have you come to me to tell me my prayers are answered?"
Fate smiles kindly... "dear child... I have come to tell you, do not let others tell you of your fate... that is mine alone to decide... pay no heed to your mothers words or even that of your friends... pray to the Goddess of Love, that you may find happiness... but your fate me dear"... she rest her hands against the childs forehead and instantly sees the many paths her life could take depending on her own decisions, on path in particular, ah yes... "when you see a black crow... one that looks you in the eye... pay head... follow him"
She indicated that the child should rise. She rose, trembling before the beautiful Goddess... she bowed and thanked her... Fate smiled... and waved her away... the child hurried out... placing a fresh apple on the alter at the entrance before running off.

Fate smiled to herself... ah... she had missed the mortals... so innocent they were. She stretched her solid earthly figure, feeling the warmth of the air around her and feeling the solid ground beneath her feet. "Time for work," she thinks and moves out of the Temple, following the path to find the woman Luck had described to her...

 

[Morgoth]

Suddenly a dark figure in a darker cloak studded with skulls and gems appeared ,"Hello Lady Fate, I am Belial, God of death, and I wish to know the fate of a mortal by the name of Lokken, will thee please answer me on the future of this powerful lord among men?"

 

[Moneytalks]

OOC: Morgoth.. might I suggest you read carefully previous posts before writing... my character Fate... is moving... she is on a mission of her own... [friendly advice]...

IC:

Fate stops... confronted by the Lord of Death... "You know as well as I that the fates are not mine to randomly reveal... even to another God... why do you seek this one fate amongst all men?" She frowns... "You know that the God's are at the brink of war... do you know something that we do not perhaps?" She smiles... "either way, you will not find the answers from me... pray... leave that mortal soul alone until his time is yours... as they all become in the end..."

Fate moves onward... towards her intended destination...

 

[Ambrosious]

Mabis shrank back in fear as the three menacing strangers materialized out of thin air. She never knew how the hansome stranger knew these men followed her, he must be able to see shadows. The hansome protector dropped into a defensive stance and readied for the first blows of battle to begin. Mabis became one with the bark of a nearby tree.

Two of the attacking men ran for him at once, while one stayed back, forging the first steps of the melee. The protector raised his arms in a cross and took the mace intended for his head on his forearms. The blow rocked him back and he stumbled to his knees. As fast as light, one the protector hands reached into his boots and two knives found a new home in the chest of the man who had attacked him. The man gurgled his death song and perished in a pool of blood. The second man lashed out at the protector and a whip lashed its way across his face. The protector screamed as blood fingers traced the path where the whip had just walked. The protector went down to his back. The avenging stranger grinned a black tooth grin and pounced for the kill. The protector kicked out a foot and the stranger went down, still he aimed for the protector's head.

The stranger grabbed the protectors throat with both hands, and started to press the life from his throat. The protector twisted and turned, determined to break free. He had never fought an opponent that had this stranger's strength. It was almost like he was possessed. The world started to turn gray and he was seeing sparks before his eyes when the pressure suddenly eased, then dissappeared. The protector quicly scrambled out from under the stranger and looked down to find a dagger sticking from the back of his neck. He looked at the third stranger who stood as if rooted to the spot. His eyes were tracking something that wasn't there and had a distant look about them.

It was then that the stranger noticed Mabis. She was also standing as if rooted, however, her eyes looked down at her own hands. They were trembling and her mouth moved as well, without the benefit of sound emerging. Instantly the protector knew what had happened and went to Mabis. The third stranger still stood there, rooted. The protector led Mabis away from the sight of the carnage and wrappped her in his cloak. He retrieved the daggers protruding from the two bodies and inspected them for coin, or weapon. His search wielded a bag of gold dithers, two more daggers, and one blood drake. He discarded the blood drake, after snapping its back and helped Mabis mount her steed. He stopped long enough to make sure that camp was properly broken down and mounted himself. The two of them set off in the direction of Ipsla. As he looked back, the protector saw that the stranger still stood motionless. He also caught a glimpse of the man that followed Mabis. Well, at least he didn't want them dead. he would have acted durng the fight if he did.

Hecate never gave a second thought to the man rooted to one spot. Justice was served and in his mind's eye, he would witness an imaginary fight, waiting for his turn to strike the protector down. In his mind, both of his compratriots and the protector still fought, and to him they would, forever.

"Me damn it!" Huntus exclaimed. His mind had come to back to him while still embracing the enchantress. Will He never learn. He still needed to form alliances. Odin was too old and his boy too eager. He had to have help. As he thought this, The enchantresses tongue played with his own. Speaking of alliances...

 

[Lady_Aline]

There she rested, the crone that was once the maiden, in Huntus's arms, surrounded by woodland. His lips rested thoughtfully on her hair, limbs twining with hers.
"What am I doing? Where am I?" She snapped, jerking out of her position.
"You are here with me... where you belong." Huntus smoothed the tops of her thighs, his hand working up to her stomach. Seraline shuddered visably.
"Stop it. Let me go," she murmured softly. But she made no attempt to move.
"Be my queen. Be my Green Lady," Huntus said between kisses that were as soft as summer rain.
"No. I will not become an Immortal." She pulled out of his hold and stood up. Huntus flopped back on his elbows, looking up at her with wicked eyes.
"Tease," he taunted.
"Take me to the castle. I need to see the Firsts." The Firsts, for those that do not know, were the very fist beings in the universe. They created the Immortals out of boredom. From their loins sprang the Earth -both living and dead.
"The Firsts will not see you," Huntus said in a snort.
"They will. I'll make them." She stood hands on hips, eyes fixed with determination.
Huntus thought for a while. "I will take you to the Firsts... but only if you will be my queen."
"Huntus you-" Seralina fumed then. I do love him, she thought. And I have missed him. "Done." Huntus's eye's widnened in shock.
"You'll... be my queen?"
Seralina's face softened then. Stooping down to kiss him, she whispered "I will."
In a whoop Huntus gathered up a bemused Seralina and ran all the way to the Castle himself...

 

[Moneytalks]

Fate arrived at the clearing to find two dead men and one standing as if in a daze waiting for something to end. His eyes darted seeing something only his eyes could see.

She frowned, noticing slight evidence of a camp site quickly dismantled. She sniffed the air delicately. Whistling sharply, she waited. Passing her hand in front of the dazed man's eyes. Twas powerful magick that held him there, she knew better than to tamper with it, she would probably do more harm than good.

Finally she heard the beating of wings, a proud eagle swooped silently down resting gingerly on a nearby tree limb. His sharp eyes focusing on Fate. She held out her arm in offering, he lept from the tree and glided down resting easily on her arm. "Dear one," she whispered at him, "has it been hard on you? my long abscense... I have a task for you... she lift a finger to ruffle the smooth feathers about his head... go to my sister's temple in Amodeen, tell her, I was too late, but that another travels with the girl we seek..." she smiles softly, as the eagle blinks at her... "go now my dearest..." she lifts her arm and watches the great wings spread and beat at the air, lifting the body up into the sky...

 

[dancinvixen]

I spread my wings as soon as I see Fate arrive. It would not due for Fate to see one such as I. The world had long since stopped beliveing that the elven folk still exsisted. It sorely saddened me, but life must go on.
I took flight quickly, blinking in and out of the trees so fast that one could not see me. Not even the Gods themselves were able to see me. It was a special power the eleven folk did not share with others readily. But in my case, should someone happen to see me, it would be a kinder fate to let it be a human than a God. Gods where notorious for being cruel to my kind. But unfortunately, my Fate had been chosen for me. It was my destiny to watch over the Maiden Mabis, in her ascent to Goddess. It was a dangerous destiny, but I certainly had no problems with danger. Especially considering that Mabis had no trouble finding herself in danger almost all the time.

[Edited by dancinvixen on 07-06-2000 at 01:12 PM]

 

[Roland Gilliad]

shadowy god: watching all of this hubbub was a god that had been unnamed....unsaid....unheard of....he is known as the lost god because he never wanted to rule anything....he is the assassin the god call when some one is out of their reach....he is a shapeshifter and has been named Zeratul

 

[Morgoth]

A dark form steps out of the shadows and says"Zeratul, I wish to hire thee to slaughter a mortal king, one whoes name is Elsin. Be careful though, for he has a powerful god known as Anu, God of Light, for a protector. Will thee accept my task? I shall pay thee handsomely."

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Zeratul: Aye i shall but anu is a incredible adversary it will cost thee 200 thousand gold in advance and 2 million gold after the task......

 

[Morgoth]

"Done, but bring me Elsin's sword and heart as rewards and memoirs of my priest's adversary"

 

[Lady_Aline]

Seralina frowned. Where was the boy and the dwarf? Casting aside the thought, she grabbed onto Huntus's hand and strolled in the castle. One perticular goddess watched and fumed.
"All right," she said in a deep breath. "Huntus, leave me."
"But-"
"Leave."
And he did. But as if he though she would leave him again, he embraced her fiercely and strode outside. This, he decided, would be messy. But he had no doubts who would win.
"I call Mother Earth and Father Universe, I call upon the Firsts!" Yelled Seralina. With a loud pop, ALL the Gods and Goddesses of every country, size and religion entered the room, which had changed into a huge ampitheater. Seralina stood in the middle, aware of every sound and movement. Hutus wanted to go to her, to protect her... but a small, delicate hand that was surprisingly firm held him back.
"WHO CALLS? A MORTAL?" Answered a faceless voice, as gentle as Seralina's own mothers. But it reminded her on so many things... the sound of a waterfall, an earthquake, the howling winds...
"I call," said Seralina.
"WHY HAVE YOU CALLED?" Said an equally neutral voice, devoid of emotion. It reminded Seralina of the infinate.... it seemed to echo in her head for ever.
"To ask why your children- the Gods and Goddesses- are interfereing with us- mortals. We are scared- we do not want a war. Why are the gods playing with us...? We are not toys for them to amuse themselves with. We are people; we did not ask to be played."
"MY CHILD," said the gentle voice. "MORTALS NEED GODS, AS GODS NEED MORTALS."
"But do they have a right to toy with us like- like puppets?"
The Gods gasped in indignation. The sisters Fate and Luck crossed arms simultaniously, eyebrows quirked in interest.
The Firsts' voices were silent then.
"Well? Do they?" Pursued Seralina.
"I GIVE YOU A CHOICE, MORTAL. THE FATE OF YOUR KIND RESTS IN YOUR HANDS. EITHER WE BANISH THE GODS FROM WANDERING INTO THE MORTAL REALMS OR THEY REMAIN AS THEY ARE. BUT BEFORE YOU DECIDE, I TELL YOU THIS: GODS HAVE THEIR ROLE. TAKE IT AWAY, AND THE BALANCE OF THIS WORLD WILL CHANGE."
"Perhaps for the good," she muttered under her breath. Seralina chewed a fingernail nervously; what should she do...?


OOC: I'd think this would work really well if a few Gods and Godesses (I know you're out there...) piped in with their opinion of what Seralina should do... bit like a court scene. (Been watching to many Ally episodes...) Also I'm saying that cause I don't know what to do next... :-(

[Edited by Lady_Aline on 07-06-2000 at 02:35 PM]