<font color=magenta>Isaura

She hears Sorsha's words and notes that the others - save for Legolas - does not hear them. Walking over to Galadria, she addresses her in a somewhat forced gaiety ~ "Let us go now, shall we? And this time, we must be better prepared for more... surprises."</font>

GREENTUNIC (He hears the news that Sancha brings and storms into Kinn'zuwannik's den. The dragon is egging the quickling into tormenting Gudrun. Blood wells from her scratches. She is sobbing as she tries to fend him off. ) "Dragon! I have wasted my people trying to destroy these knights and adepts. Now, I am told that I have offended th only one that could save my daughter. Why have you done this?"

KINN'ZUWANNIK "Why, out of malice, my dear druid. You could never have stood against these wights. I shall have to do that, myself. But, now that you have bled yourself white, I shall be the only power in this land. What do you think of that? Now, if I desire to do a thing, I shall not be hampered by your little band of tree-huggers. You may live - to do my bidding. Now, ZZZbrp, show him out!" The quickling attacks him with his tiny scimitars, and he is forced to flee. He goes back to his cabin, where Sancha is weeping into Diana's sheets. She is only conscious at intervals.)

<font color=white>The Steeplewood Forest

THE GROVE</font>

<font color=darkseagreen>Iphigenia watches TAO with great interest, her dark eyes noting the nuances of the visitor’s gestures. At the glow of stones in the woman’s bracer and stave, her own eyes narrow slightly in appraisal. “Yes,” she says calmly, “it is as I had thought – the tale will be much more interesting told by your lips.” She steps forward through the opening in the laurel, leading the others into the grove.

There is a clarity about the air within the grove that lends a vividness to color and a sharpness to sound. Sound and color are what greet the visitors as they pass through the laurel bushes – the dancing of reflected starlight and the notes produced by the splashing rise and fall of water from the spring in the great stones near the entrance. Sound and color greet them once more in the deep and excited growls of Ajax and the shifting patterns of white and grey that define his fur. The sound of Miriam’s voice, still alive with the song of entrance and the sights and colors of the rest of the forest that dance above the basin to the tones of her voice await the visitors deeper within the grove. Within the clear air a patch of mist appears only to take the form of Aesop who runs to Ligeia and barks his own greeting to the new arrivals. The bright colors of autumn fire adorn the trees and a chorus of owls hoots from behind their concealing embrace. The clear air stirs behind them and the way through the laurel is closed once more as blonde haired Claudia speaks the words of warding. Ullalume sits quietly on the stones near the entrance to the grotto, her eyes wide and curious as she looks upon the visitors.

It is a place of relentless beauty, a place that demands both song and silence, a place whose beauty is both painful and compelling to eye and mind.

Ligeia sits on the grass and playfully scratches Aesop behind the ears. “Such is our home,” Iphigenia says to the visitors. “You are most welcome here.”</font>

<font color=silver>ooc: <font color=skyblue>TAO</font> - PMed a couple questions your way.</font>

<font color="AACCFF">Legolas

"We'll move, Sorsha. But it appears we'll have to pick a direction first."

Not wanting to step forward again, he instead raises his voice so he may be heard by the others.

"Lady Galadria, even in the failing light I'll have little trouble tracking her. However, I wont. If you want to visit the grove, you should have told the druid so and let her guide you. The threat has almost certainly been neutralised, and we probably have the better share of information already. Approaching the grove uninvited will end in more bloodshed, all of it unnessecary. More importantly to you, it will cost us time.
I hate having to remind a paladin of her duty, but you have a colleague to help out. I do not believe chasing druids is the best way to do so.

Sorsha and Isaurahave it right, we should leave this battlefield while there's still some light left and find another place to camp. I believe the castle is that way?"

Although he knew that almost everyone in the group would choose good over evil, he didn't exactly agree with the means some thought they could use to reach that same goal. It was not the paladin he worried about, she was likely just caught up in the excitement of the fight. He didn't like the approach of his fellow elven ranger.
So far, all the rangers he'd met preferred to avoid bloodshed through talking. Even Rrang and those like him didn't actively go out and search for something to kill. This one, though, seemed almost to live for bloodshed.
He shoots a disapproving look at Sanael's back before returning his attention to the others.
If not for Isaura's presence in the group, he would seriously consider going his own way with Sorsha. There were too many people showing distrubing behaviour, or not showing very much at all.</font>

Sanael Ganahr

sheaths his sword and dagger, picks up his bow.

"Yeah yeah - whatever. I'm sorry we can't continue this discussion - but i've apparently got a job to do"

He turns to Legolas

"And don't worry colleague - those treehuggers won't detect me unless I let them.

With that said, Sanael gathers his gear and sets off in the same direction as the druidess vanished.

OOC: how's that for an edit ;)

[ 06-25-2002, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Ar-Cunin ]

OOC>Since I am kinda DM'ing this, I shall be glad to arbitrate it. I shall need weapons, armor-class, saving-throws, and such, though.

OOC>> You guys!!! IC>
LADY GALADRIA
(To Legolas, reluctantly) "You are right, I suppose. Let us journey on. As I reckon it, Beresfor's castle is another day's march. Come along, everyone." (She mounts Gold Top and canters to the road)

<font color="white">OOC> Done and done.

My apologies again for the misunderstanding.

(Cerek offers his hand to Ar-Cunin)

There's a few other Posts that will need to be edited or deleted to erase the incident. But there is no reason we can't continue with the story in the meantime.</font>

<font color="plum">Addison mounts his horse and heads for the road behind Galadria.</font>

OOC: Ar-Cunin

takes Cerek's hand and shakes

"just about finished with the editing" [img]smile.gif[/img]

IC: Sanael Ganahr

In the middle of the night Sanael watches over the druid-grove. He overhears the head-druids lament about his daughters fate and the betrayal of the dragon. He notes the depleted state of the population and their apperent dejection. With these informations he melts back into the darkness and heads towards the castle.

OOC>> Good! IC>
SIR BLANDAMOUR (To Beresfor, after tearing his glance away from the vase.)"Tis a nice trinket, sure, but to value it above your own flesh and blood passes my comprehension. But, whatever my opinion of you, King Beresfor, I cannot leave your daughter in danger. I shall journey to the dragon's den and confront Kinn'zuwannik." (He takes his leave.)