<font color="#33CCCC">Rodie 39/70

Standing up unsteadily, Rodie carefully cut the web away from his face, it would take some time to get it out of his hair however. He looked at the mage of shadow before him and nodded at the words spoken by him. "I could use some healing, I don't want my body to die while that bastard has control of it."</font>

<font color="goldenrod">Liam</font>

Falling backwards, Liam's mind raced as he thought about all of his past "jobs." He was pretty sure that none of the dead knew who he was, nor had a were-tigress offspring.

<font color="goldenrod">"I know not of what you speak of,"</font> Liam growled at the tigress as he shifted to hybrid form and jumped forward. <font color="goldenrod">"You must have me confused with someone else... I was not the one who killed yourr motherr, and I have no brrotherr rrelated to me by blood... I used to have a sisterr, but she and the rrest of my family werre killed by..."</font>

He stopped, his face distorted by old anger and pain. <font color="goldenrod">But that happened a long time ago, and is none of yourr business. I have no wish to continue this pointless fighting with you, it solves nothing."</font>

<font color="peru">Sabbiel (Sand Cat)</font> (and Chisa, the mis-guided tigress)

Sabbiel's brow furrowed as he thought over what the She-wolf had told him. Shaking his head in puzzlement, he stalked over to Chisa while the others were distracted. He would think over the strange statement later. Right now, action was needed.

<font color="peru">Chisa, my sister, you acted foolish!"</font> He scolded the larger tigress while looking over her wounds. She rolled bloodshot eyes to look at him.

<font color="darkorange">"She is a threat, I will not let any female take Him away from me,"</font> she growled. Sabbiel gave a cat-like snort.

<font color="peru">"He can handle himself. He knows about two-leggers and their strange ways. And you are not his mate,"</font> he addressed her sternly. Chisa wheezed a laugh while the smaller sand cat attempted to push the tigress away from the fight with his head.

<font color="darkorange">"No, He is not my mate... yet. But I will make Him change His mind. Ah, small one, stop your fruitless efforts. When some of my energy returns I shall rejoin the battle. Until then, let me be."</font>

Sabbiel hissed in response but sat himself at her side, his tail lashing in aggitation as he turned his attention back to the fight.

Seeing the battle, Arcades shapeshifts faster than ever before, turning back into a half-sized dragon form and stands taller than the were-tigers. A deep growl escapes his throat as he watches, bareing his knife-like teeth.

"Two on one is hardly an honorable fight." He watches Nanashi struggle, and keeps his fire breath ready should she escape Tao's bindings.

<font color=steelblue>Mage of Shadow

"Why of course, Rodie, Boy! I can certainly take care of that for you..."

The Shadow Mage was a mage, and not a cleric...so he should not have had powers to heal. However, he no ordinary mage, either. The powers he worked were beyond what most people on this forum had dealt with before, and the point that he was a demi-god lent him untold authorities beyond the norm.

Therefore, the Mage could do as he wished with this form of unending magical supply. Even alter the past if he so chose.

The Mage rose into the air once again, calling upon his powers to do his will. A dark and swirling mist began to vortex in the middle of the room and a cow stepped through, obviously surprised at its new surrounding. It began to pine for help as it ran to a corner of the room. No sooner had it done so that the shadows around it formed eery dark claws that grabbed the cow and held her in place. She began to scream with terror, which did not last long. One of the shadows poured down her throat and she began to convulse.
When the mist of darkness poured from her nostrils, she was dead. The mist looked like a ghost in cow-shape as it formed on the ground, and began to walk to a now-nervous Rodie. The cow-ghost's eyes were black obsidian and her form was fiery and unnearthly.

She stopped. The Mage smiled. Then the cow-ghost leapt into the air toward the horrified Rodie and flew up his nose, turning to mist again as she went.
In an instant it was done.


The mage looked at Rodie who was not quite sure what had happened by the look on his face.

"I gave you her energy of life. The strength she had has been transferred to you and you have now been healed.

Now the fun begins with Roderik. Roderik! I call you forth to fend for your life!"

The Mage clapped his hands once, and was gone in a dark swirl.</font>

<font color=darkgoldenrod>Nanashi

She stopped squirming against the hold on her heels by the plants and looked up at her brother...he not even knowing who stood before him. She turned then to human-form, and stared him in the eye with her own fierce and beautiful glare.

"I see that yourr past crrimes haunt you to this day, foolish one. What you have lost leans on yourr conscience too heavily for worrds."

She smiled, but it held no happiness, for it was twisted with sinister thoughts.
The contrast against her lovely face was as an eclipse of day and night together.

"Howeverr fun this has been forr eitherr of us, I do not have time to enterrtain yourr frriends anymorre. YOU arre not the one that I have been asked to deal with and so I shall let you go for now until another time is arrranged forr YOURR funerral. Until then, I must be on my way."

Her form changed to Hybrid as she leaped straight into the air, and the vines that held her ankles came with her upward. In an amazingly agile move that astounded all but Liam, she reached down with her newly-formed claws, tore at the bindings that could not grow back fast enough into the air to retake thier position of hold on her, and then she continued upward and grabbed onto a particularly high branch of a tree with her outstreched claws.
Swinging into the tree brush, then leaping into the next, she made her way in the direction of the city at an unbelievable speed and agility. Too quickly, she was out of sight from all. This was how she could get by the outer perimeter of wolves standing guard down below. </font>

OOC>>>Arcades....I am sure you would not have attemped your fire on her during her flight away from everyone, seeing as how you would have set the trees on fire. That is why I let her get away without your confrontation. I hope my opinion was correct.

<font color=skyblue>Tao

As the spell on the vines were broken by the were-tiger's sneaky move, Tao had tried to speak to the tree that Nanashi had perched in, to ask it to throw her down. However, the agile female was faster than Tao's words could be spoken, and too quickly was the were-tigress on her way towards an unkown mission in the city. Why there? she wondered.

"Still think it was an uneven fight, Arcades?"...she asked her old friend.

"That young one has potential...if only she could use it for better purposes than some plot of revenge."</font>

OOC>>>It is hard! hard! hard! not to use Tao's power to their potential against Nanashi, but instead having to suck it in and let things happen as they just did. I RP'ing against myself! I know the plot, so its not fair!

<font color=steelblue>When The Mage saw that Rodie had faded away from the face of the man that stood before him, who took on a totally different visage, he knew that Roderik had woke up.

The Dark One smirked and faded away, leaving behind something standing in the shadowed corner on the other end of the room where Roderik found himself trapped. Having a high Lore told him immediately what he was facing.

A neogi, which appears as a cross between a wolf spider and a moray eel.
The short, furry, eight-limbed body is topped by a lithe, bare, fleshy neck with a serpentine head, its mouth filled with needle-sharp teeth. The ends of its limbs are tipped with small claws. The fur of the neogi is a light tan color.

</font>

ooc- think of it this way, Larry. At least you don't have to rp my characters as well ;) :D

<font color="goldenrod">Liam</font>

Liam collapsed to the ground on his knees, his hybrid form melting to human as he fell. The amount of shape changing had destroyed his clothing, but he is still covered in the black wraps and armour that were able to change shape with him. Liam's blonde bangs hide his expression as he leans forward on his hands, his unusually sharp fingers digging into the earth. The strange teeth-scar ringing his right wrist looks red and angry, in stark contrast to the rest of his pale skin. His body quivered as if he was crying, but no tears fell to the ground.

Abruptly he stilled and stood. The amount of emotion the man had shown in the past moments was more than any of the others had seen him express before. The look on his face was blank and withdrawn, and he almost mechanically strode over to Chisa's side. After stroking her face for a moment, he gathered the wounded tigress into his arms and turned towards the direction of his cabin, not bothering to see if the others followed.

Sabbiel continued to sit on his haunches, looking after the slowly retreating back of the were-tiger. His tail curled in confusion and agitation, and he turned his head to peer at KayLisa. He rose, and once the others were ready to follow, he led them back to the cabin.

Upon reaching the cabin, the group could see Liam boiling some water and preparing dressings for Chisa's wounds. His movements were less mechanical, but he still had his withdrawn expression on his face. All the cats were noticably avoiding him, but a few tentatively touched noses with and sniffed Chisa. Larry and Vincent could be seen with confused and questioning expressions on their faces, but it is obvious that they would get no answers out of Liam. The only reaction he had made was when he accidentally brushed against Vincent's newly made arrows. He flinched, but continued to tend to Chisa's wounds.

ooc-keep in mind that neither Vincent nor Larry know of Liam's transforming abilities (besides guesses). All they know is that he came back roughened up and only in armour, with a badly hurt tiger in his arms. Although they can probably sense that something bad happened, since the withdrawn aristocrat is more withdrawn than usual. [img]smile.gif[/img] *dances around, throwing angst over either shoulder* ^^;

[ 08-07-2004, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

<font color=#AAAAA> Silt 80/80

Rong: "The man who was looking for Larry is at the tavern, and has just given a beggar a coin. Do we want to go ahead or stay back and let him leave first?"

"I think we should stay back first, and wait to see what he does, but bear in mind he also knows who we are, so maybe we should stay out of sight; we don't want him changing his plans because we are around now do we."

</font>

[ 08-09-2004, 05:19 AM: Message edited by: RoSs_bg2_rox ]

ooc- way ahead of you, ross ;)

[ 08-07-2004, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

<font color=darkgoldenrod>Nanashi

Her ruse had worked. They figured that as long she was heading to town, she'd be no threat to them, nor to Larry. The fools instead had provided her with a fresh scent trail straight to him.
She was wary of the wolves in the forest, keeping a watch for her, so she made sure to hide her scent by triple back-tracking, taking to trees and streams where possible, and finally coming within sight of the encampment. Her expert powers in the hunt was far superior than her brother gave her credit for, else he would not have allowed this to happen. It seemed that his mind was not as alert when the prospect of a loved one being hurt came into play. She had to remember that one. She also had to remember that the wolf-lady was allied in this bunch and it seemed that she had a golden dragon on her side as well.

Larry was surely keeping himself protected from trouble and making alliances with powerful friends...as was expected from the former <font color=steelblue>Lord of Darkness. </font>

Now she needed a plan. Her Lord would not approve of her blindly rushing in and slashing the throat of Larry, leaving no room for escape. Sure, the deed would be done, but there had to be a more safe way to do so.

She decided to hang back and observe the area, and let the plan come to her in its time. </font>

<font color=aqua>Larry 13/13

"Is there anything I can do, then? I mean...I used to be a ranger, so I am handy with herbs if you need me to go scavange for any.

Will your tiger be okay? What the hell happened out there, anyway? What attacked you guys?"

As usual, Larry the notorious bumbler rambled on and tried to make himself useful where he could...and get himself into adventure where it might be.</font>

<font color="goldenrod">Liam</font>

Once Chisa looked like she would be okay, Liam sighed and turned towards Larry. <font color="goldenrod">"The best thing you can do is stay herrre. Chisa will be fine, and we werrre attacked..."</font> Liam stopped and shook his head. <font color="goldenrod">"I don't know if she was afterrr me orrr..."</font> he paused, then turned his hollow look towards Larry.

<font color="goldenrod">"Considerrring herrr... abilities, I would say she is prrrobably afterrr you. She headed towarrrds the city, but once she rrrealises that you arrren't therrre she will come herrre... The spell I have up will prrrobably hold, because only a verrry strrrong mage can brrreak it, but once we leave this place she can see us. And therrre is always the possibility that she has accomplices."</font>

Liam glanced around the clearing, his empty golden eyes looking intently at the surrounding brush. <font color="goldenrod">"If the Mage sent herrr afterrr us, then perrrhaps the otherrr grrroup is on its way back to the taverrrn... and in that case, we should prrreparrre to leave. It will not be quite as safe leaving as it was enterrring, I am afrrraid. If you will excuse me..."</font> The tall aristocrat's accent was noticably stronger throughout his little "speech," and when he re-entered the main room he was cleaned up and wearing his usual garb, with a satchel slung over one shoulder.

<font color="goldenrod">"I will give you all a few moments to collect yourrr things beforrre I lead you back to the taverrrn to meet the otherrrs."</font> He sat himself down on the front stoop to wait, petting Neomea absently as he became absorbed in his own thoughts.

<font color=#AAAAA> Silt 80/80

Speaking to Lyulfe, "Sounds like a plan!"
</font>

ooc>>sorry, must have read that post and not taken it in, I read 2 pages of the story last night, so I must have forgotten. Also, sorry couldn't really write much else, since I don't know what the inquisitors actions are. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-09-2004, 05:18 AM: Message edited by: RoSs_bg2_rox ]

ooc: Your right Larry. I wouldnt have used fire when there's a possibility of setting the trees on fire also.

Arcades snorts slightly in irritation as Nanashi runs away. He quenches his built up flames and looks back at Tao. "I'll let the little beast get off this time." [i]he looks back at Liam and shapeshifts into his Drow form he intended as his disguise.

<font color=green>Andrion Wilgor

Andrion had rested some time in his quarters in the Tower of Shadow since the night's sleep had been short for him. But then he woke. He left his room and walked to the chamber where the mage's throne could be found. Although he couldn't see the mage there he knew that he was aware of Andrion's every action. Therefore Andrion bowed deeply before speaking.

"I am ready to go on another mission, Dark One. Command me!"</font>

OOC: hope that is OK as a comeback post, I still have to get back into gaming mode after the holidays.

<font color=white>Within the land of the Mage</font>

<font color=teal>Wind.
The freest of all that is free.

Unceasing is its movement, knowing neither pause nor rest and allowing none to grasp and control its passing. The Wind moves where it wills and how it will, and here in this land where light is swallowed by gloom and shadow holds sway over all, a foreign movement runs beneath the stale and heavy air. Unbidden it has come for its movement is its own. Unhurried are its stirrings, stirrings not yet given over to gusting violence. Silent is its passing and bitter its breathing and never has this land so far from the skies known the passing of so bitter a breathing as this.

Silent is its passing and bitter is its breathing and in this bitter silence it searches. And in this seeking there sounds a note of distant and unforgiving thunder ......</font>

<font color=skyblue>She starts to speak then stops, as her silver eyes gaze upward into the swaying tree branches...

her eyes roam back and forth searching....

"Where is it?" she asks herself, feeling but not yet seeing.....

A soft whisper escapes her slightly parted lips as her eyes finally rest upon that which she sought...

"The sound of whispering wings...." her eyes shift swiftly to wolf and she raises one gloved hand slowly towards the owl resting on a branch of a mighty oak in the clearing..

She smiles softly, a soft light entering her eyes as her heart begins to beat a little faster..

and a small tug of hope begins to weave its way into her soul..............</font>

[ 08-10-2004, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: TAOWolf ]

<font color=aqua>Larry 13/13

Being told that they were now heading back to the tavern, Larry sprinted off and began to prepare, as he had been instructed. He had this burning desire to meet this Inquisitor, and also wanted to get back on track with recovering Mistral. She had rested in the grave long enough and now it was time to bring her back to life. All he needed was that candle.
When he came down from his quarters with bags packed, he found Kaylisa in meditation, or dreaming. He did not know which. He thought it best not to disturb her anyway. He walked over by a stump and sat down, finding a cat to play with while the others were getting ready to go as well.</font>

[ 08-10-2004, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

<font color=lime>Roderik 70/70

Once more in control of himself the minstrel eyed the Neogi warily, and considered what he knew of them, quickly. They were notorious slavers, and most had one or two umber hulk slaves at all times, if it had one waiting he would be done for, against one foe, he had a chance, against two foes with very different fighting styles, he would be in a tight spot.

Since their society was so predominantly pro-slavery, the quick thinking bard was quick to capitalize on this. Lifting his voice into a baritone semi-song, he asked the creature in undercommon (common tongue of the underdark), "There is no reason to fight to the death. You are strong and have great power, as do I, let us spar to decide who is greater, then the lesser shall serve the greater for a time."</font>

ooc check pm's larry.

OOC>>>I ran some checks and balances on this criter, and plugged in your post. This is what I got.

<font color=white>The Neogi to Roderik

The neogi studied the human for a moment, weighing him for threat level. The human began to talk, and the neogi could feel the suggestive magics in the air with the song-speak. How dare he try such mind tricks! Speaking in the undercommon, as this one clearly knew how to...the neogi responded,

"You are already my slave...but you must first be taimed."

The neogi said something in another language and a gust of wind was summoned from the air in the room to blow at Roderik. </font>

OOC>>>The 3rd level spell was attempted to blow you against the wall, so that you become disoriented. The trick is, when you are exausted, you are more suseptible to the mind-control of this creature.
Roll for your safety!</font>

<font color=lime>Roderik 70/70

Cursing his luck the bard was glad he had perpared himself for treachery, his stance gave him a great deal of support against the buffetting, blasting winds(ooc made my save). "Curse the Stormbringer" he thought, as he tried to both stand upright and come up with a plan, if the creature could ward off mind affecting spells, as he feared, most of his magicks were useless, but with his skill, and perhaps a few allies...


The bard's chanting was lost in the howling of the wind, it was a tuneless song, without subtly or decent pacing, about a group of monsters given to banitry and preying upon the weak. Knowing that his summoning would be at best random (at worst chosen by some malevolent god), he didn't try to specify which bandit creatures he would call, knowing that once they arrived they would serve him no matter what they were. and in serving him, they would allow him time to plan, and defeat the beast.</font>

ooc cast Monster Summoning I

<font color=white>A mist formed in the middle of the floor and from that mist stepped a chipmunk.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding...

From that mist stepped a dog. (a Doberman, precisely).

It looked toward you in submissive reverence, then turned to the creature that stood before it and growled horribly, baring its teeth.</font>

<font color=whitesmoke>The neogi paused and considered its new target.</font>

OOC>>>The wind gust did no damage to you physically, and now you have a pet to sic on my neogi. Take'er away.

[ 08-12-2004, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

ooc some bandit eh? ;)

<font color=lime>Roderik 70/70

Looking a bit startled, but pleased with his new servant, he unleashed it with a single command, "Bandit, Sic Him." As the dog charged the Neogi, the minstrel began weaving his weapons in a deadly dance as he slowly advanced on the spider-like monster.(ooc: started my offensive spin)</font>

<font color=white>For Roderik

The dog did as it was commanded, and charged the creature in front of it, not afraid at all.

The dog jumped up to grabbed onto the Neogi's long neck, and growled as it hung there. The neogi responded by flailing about, shaking and scratching at the beast to let go. Its shrieks were painful to the ears as it screamed in anger and pain. Yet for what seemed like a long time to these two was but a small fraction of time. The neogi was finally able to shake the dog loose and said a gutteral word in magical language that caused a fireball to erupt from its front legs and strike the dog where it had fallen. Burnt flesh smell was eminent in the room. </font>

OOC>>>The neogi was properly distracted as you had hoped to give you a chance to sneak in a strike. Your move. The neogi has forgotten you for this turn.

<font color=skyblue>She whispers upon the air, to the snowy white owl, then turns as her eyes shift back slowly, and begins picking up her pack and equipment. As she gently taps the end of her staff to the ground, she looks first at Larry, then Liam, and finally Arcades. She steps lightly and softly to stand next to Arcades, waiting...</font>

<font color=white>Elsewhere ..... A place close to the sky</font>

<font color=teal>Finally the last sounds of the celebration have faded into muted notes within breeze. He climbed to this place some hours ago, after his absence would be noted by none save his daughter. Already the Scattering has gone before him and he must follow so that this terrible labor at last might be finished. He should hate the thought of returning once more to that hellish place of shadow but there is that within him which relishes the call of the Scattering. His burned fingers tighten their grip upon the newly made handle of the Stormreaver – the wood is from the land of the outsiders. ~ Fitting ~ he thinks ~ and necessary for what is to come in the wake of these next days.

He places the axe on the ground beside him and grows still once more his ears straining to hear a few faint tones that linger in the air of this place and he smiles a smile filled with both the joy of greeting and the sadness of loss. Soon even these traces of her laughter will be borne away upon the free and living air and the sound of the laughter of she who had been like half of his heart shall be lost to him again. Her spirit has been freed from the grasp of the Devourer – he shudders at the memory of ......

...... but it is best not to dwell on horror, even upon horror that has been defeated, on a day that calls for rejoicing. Yes, she has been freed and this is cause to rejoice, but still she is lost to him. Would that such were not the case ...... But it had been a terrible fight against himself during the ritual not to simply allow the life to pour out from him, to mingle with hers once again. Without realizing it he has picked up the Stormreaver and his fingers move along the burnt wood of its handle. He grows still once more and listens to the fading laughter. Again he smiles, the smile of one acquainted with loss and who has learned to linger in fleeting joy. He turns his eyes upward searching the night skies until they find the Great Nomad, the star which always wanders yet never is lost. For seven years his eyes have sought its light and he laughs himself at the thought that so distant a thing has been his one companion through all the long years of his Exiling.

It is good that he makes such a decision as this here where he is alone save for the company of the silent Nomad. Reaching into his pocket he withdraws a simple wooden ring, that same ring his daughter was careful to recover for him. He pauses and breathes deeply. To place the ring upon his finger now will be to bring an end to his body’s recovery from its wounds. ~ And yet ~ he thinks ~ what better state to fix within myself than this moment with her laughter still within my ears? ~ His eyes narrow, hardening his choice against the objections of the pain in his limbs and with a single decisive movement his burned fingers claim the ring.

The wind bursts into movement as he does so for the bitter touch of the Scattering knows not the savoring of joy. It calls and he must answer. He tightens his grip upon the handle of the axe and life moves out through his fingers to mingle his joy and his loss with the anger gusting about him. Below him the celebration has reached its end, but here upon this lonely spire of rock an unforgiving movement gathers its strength and a song of death is in the air. There is no warmth in his voice when he speaks, there is only the cutting chill of winter. “It is time,” he whispers, “I am coming for you.”

And the bitterness of the Scattering gathers these words that it might whisper them in the lightless corners of a dismal and cheerless land. And the silent stormwalker steps outward into the wind.</font>

<font color=white>For Silt, Rong, and Lyulfe

After a time, the three companions decide that the Inquisitor appeared to be waiting for somebody. They assumed that he knew exactly what he was doing, so to stand there and watch him from a distance any longer was unfruitful. They needed to decide what there were going to do, and if they wanted this guy involved in it.

There mission was to let Larry know about the loss of the candle. If it meant getting in a scruff with this Marcos...then they needed to evaluate how much they really cared about this whole thing.</font>

<font color=orchid>Rong
[b]
"I could paralyze him where he stands or put him to sleep for hours, with just a toss of one of my tools...but I don't think I want his bosses coming after me. I have been through enough as it is."

She glanced over to Lyulfe with a wink, as though the two of them shared some knowledge of a past experience...

"So...do we wait for Larry to show up here and risk revealing to this Marcos-guy the plan, or do we sneak past him and find Larry first?"</font>

<font color=darkgoldenrod>Nanashi

The prey was so close, yet he was protected from her. There was a field around the perimeter of Liam's home here that would ward against those that would do harm to those within, and she had almost missed the scent of it in the air.

She never would have found it until too late if it were not for the magic-detecting powers that her dark master had taught her. Anything that was of the Weave could be countered with the opposite powers of the Shadow Weave. It was the Shadow of the Weave, the negative from the positive. Nanashi had been a willing pupil from her Master all these years, and the work had paid off. She had powers that none could ever contest.

Alas, she dared not risk breaking the protective powers of this field, for surprise was needed on her side. She ws reluctant but accepted the idea to just sit and wait for the right time. </font>

<font color=steelblue><font color=white>For Andrion</font>

The mage was not in the room, but his presence was ever-present in the entirety of the tower. The only being that was physically inside the throne room was a rotting corpse that held a bow of fine craftmanship in his possession. His name was now Grey, though he could no longer remember what it had been previously.

At the sign of Andrion coming into the room, the ju ju zombie drew up his bow, and waited in case his master were to give the signal to kill this trespasser.

Andrion spoke to the throne as though the Mage were sitting there, knowing that this was a showing of his understanding of his master's powers.

A voice did speak from the darkness within the room, more wispy than normal, but audible and understandable.

"My servant has rested well, and is now ready to be assigned to another labor. Very well. Go to a man by the name of Marcos, the Inquisitor. He waits for Larry at the tavern of the One-Eyed Wolf. Go in a disguise and spread false rumors of Larry to him, without letting him catching your persuasions. Make sure that when you are done, that he believes Larry to be a hazard to society.

One more thing. The three that travelled with you earlier are in the area as well. If they question you, I am sure you can come up with a believable excuse that Roderik overpowered you after you discovered that he was working for the Shadow Mage and you tried to rescue the candle from his grasp, but were too late.

I shall prepare a portal for you to come out near the place where the Inquisitor is.

Do this task well, and you will be rewarded.

Now go."

The voice stopped, but then a portal of darkness swirled into view in the center of the room.

The zombie lowered his bow and appeared to be nothing more than a dead man, standing.</font>

<font color=green>Andrion Wilgor (OOC: did I regain any hit points?

"In case anything goes wrong and somehow they find out who I really work for, do I have the permission to kill any of them?"</font>

<font color=lime>Roderik

With a momentary lapse in the neogi's attention that the dog had bought him, rodik closed in, throwing one dagger, and stabbing with the other two, as soon as the first had left his grasp. The trick was to make the creature fear his skills, if that failed, he would be hard pressed to keep his foe off balance long enough to win, especially if it was indeed immune to the music the bard weilded like deadly steel. The thrown dagger hit the creature in the neck, ripping it's attention from the fallen canine back to the lunging bard. It raised one leg and knocked back the dagger in Roderik's left hand, only to discover that the one in the blade's right had sunk in deeply, and found a vital organ (Nat 20, describe if how you feel appropriate *dancing in glee*). The bard quickly retreated to try and gauge the next reaction from the spider-snake creature.</font>

<font color="goldenrod">Liam</font>

Liam slowly raised his eyes, feeling KayLisa's gaze on him. Deciding the others were ready to go, Liam got to his feet and started towards the edge of the clearing.

<font color="goldenrod">"Be on yourrr guarrrd, the forrrest is no longerrr as safe as it was when we enterrred,"</font> Liam cautioned before stepping through the enchantment. From that moment on he led the group silently out, towards the tavern.

<font color="darkseagreen">Lyulfe</font>

Lyulfe rubbed his chin and coughed in an attempt to hide his matching grin of amusement.

<font color="darkseagreen">"Ahem, er, yes, perhaps you should reserve your, ah, skills for later. What ever we do, I do not think we should all enter at the same time, that will make him remember us from our previous encounter... as for sneaking..."</font> Lyulfe paused and mulled over the situation for a moment before turning and addressing Silt.

<font color="darkseagreen">"Silt, I don't suppose you would be able to sneak past unbeknownst to him, and get to Larry, now could you? And Rong and I could just find some place nearby to meet up with you later..."</font> Lyulfe scanned their surroundings, looking for a suitable place.

<font color=999999>Reaper

The crystal ball clouded again, it's vision of the area faded into a foggy haze as the ball stopped showing the magically illuminated area he had been viewing. Something had happened with the shadow's pet mage and his heir. As much as he loathed to admit it he knew that his own power was tainted by the dark one's essence, in fact it had made his rise to power so much easier. But he was not yet ready to test his luck trying to enter the spider's lair. No, he would need heroes for that, ones he could lead by the nose into the jaws of death, that would take down his foe, the more visible, deadly threat. His hollow voice, dead of emotion, but carrying an ominous echoed throughout his keep, </font><font color=CCCCCC>"Scraag, come to me."
</font><font color="#999999">within moments the goblin's flapping footsteps could be heard, the creatures were unbelievably poor at stealth, but carried great resolve in large numbers (at least when driven forward by proper motivations, such as the threat of being given as toys to Pit Fiends).</font>


<font color="#999999">The goblin entered the hall of his lord, cowering, fearing the random punishments, and suicidal assignments meted out by the fallen paladin.
It bowed low before the man, trying to avoid eye contact, and generally fearing for his continued well being</font>.<font color="#66CC99">&quot;M-m-m-Master, what need have you? <font color="999999">the goblin refused to meet the gaze of his master until the man's voice sounded again, '<font color="CCCCCC">You shall have a great honor, for you will be permitted to leave my lands for a time, under a flag of peace, to seek out the Tavern of the One Eyed Wolf, A group of heroes are gathering there again, and my previous... operative, is unavailable to watch them. Therefore if you find them there, give them this token, the Ring of Koveras, and this talisman.&quot; <font color="999999">He tossed a small leather pouch to the goblins feet, and waved, dismissing the green humanoid. The pouch and goblin were gone in seconds, and within the hour the goblin would be riding south, bearing the &quot;gifts&quot; to the heroes at the tavern.</font></font></font></font>

ooc: the goblin is riding a horse with a large white flag flying from atop a staff (to hopefully prevent any passing adventurers from killing him)in a faint single stitched outline is the symbol of a scythe in grey thread (not immediately apparent, but if you stop and look carefully it's there plain to see.

[ 08-24-2004, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

OOC: introducing a new character with Larry's consent. I think that no one was using red as a font color so far, if yes, then please tell me and I'll edit the post. Those who played in the Sea RP game might remember the character.

IC:

<font color=red>Plaxica HP/HP(not agreed yet)

After he barely escaped from death at sea Plaxica stayed several days with some fishermen on the coast of the island where he had managed to get with his last strength. After he had recuperated his strength he still had to wait several days before a passing ship could take him to the mainland. He had never been on the mainland before, the closest he had ever came to it was watching it while sailing by in a ship. He was clueless as to what use he would be here and had nothing except the clothes he had on himself. He had vowed never to set foot on a ship again, after what had happened so going back to his birthlands was not an option. For several weeks he worked at the docks loading and unloading ships until he had enough money to move around some on the mainland.

The night before he left on his journey into lands unknown to him in search of adventure it was with surprise that he learnt from an old man in a tavern about Lyulfe and Rong Er, with whom he had been on one ship. The old man told him that they had passed across the town. He was told in which direction they had headed and having nothing better to think of he went in the same direction. Plaxica reached the Tavern of the One Eyed Wolf a day after Lyulfe and Rong had left it with a group of adventurers. People in the tavern had not liked the group, but told him which way they had went.

It was in the tavern that Plaxica heard for the first time of the one known as the Shadow Mage and a certain Larry Silverfall. He decided not to wait for the group to come back, but using his shapeshifting skills he changed into an owl once outside the town's limits and sped after the group. He followed the visible signs of their passage and reached a certain cave, but they had already left from there, so he followed the trail heading away from the cave. The first visible sign of the group he saw was a man riding on horseback with a man tied up being dragged along on another horse, but before he got close enough to be able to make out details the pair disappeared in a portal. Puzzled Plaxica continued on in the air, until he reached the campsite where Rong, Lyulfe and an elf were still asleep. Still in owl form he perched in one of the trees and waited. It did not take long for the group to wake up and they immediately missed their two companions and a certain candle. Plaxica overheard them talking about going back to the tavern and deciding that the time was not right to show himself he headed back towards the tavern, where he took a room and exhausted from all the activity fell deep asleep.

It was only well into the day when he woke up and went down into the common room. As he got there he immediately spotted Lyulfe, Rong and the elf, who seemed to have just arrived. Lyulfe being the one who was closer to him, Plaxica stopped on the stairs as if in surprise and shouted over the crowd:

"Lyulfe! I would never have thought I would see you again! What have you been up to, since you sneaked off the boat? Oh and is that Rong I see next to you?"</font>

<font color=#AAAAA> Silt 80/80

Silt listened to Lyulfe's idea and mused it over. It was a good plan, and the elf thought it not too hard for him, since although he could no longer really class himself as a thief, it used to be his part time occupation. Maybe 'a rusty thief' would be more appropriate. Silt smiled to himself, and then realised he was getting passed the point. This was only a straightforward walk, which most anyone could perform. "Well Rong, that sounds like the way forward Il just nip in now, and Il meet you beside that reall tall building just over to the West." Silt pointed.

He was just on his way when he heard a voice from behind calling:<font color=red> "Lyulfe! I would never have thought I would see you again! What have you been up to, since you sneaked off the boat? Oh and is that Rong I see next to you?" </font>

He turned back to see the man. And went back to join Lyulfe and Rong to see what they had to say.</font>

[ 08-26-2004, 07:16 AM: Message edited by: RoSs_bg2_rox ]

Vincent Pathfinder 98/98


"<font color=silver> I am up for it, let's get going but we must use caution. </font color=silver> " Strapping his pack and pouch's back on and resetting his quiver Vince looked at the assembled group and smiled.

<font color=skyblue> She looks at Liam, and smiles softly, inclining her head as she looks at Arcades, and steps into line, softly tapping her staff along the well-worn road...</font>

[ 08-28-2004, 03:17 AM: Message edited by: TAOWolf ]