A lone Half-Orc stands on the top of a lonely hill, his waist-long black hair slightly stirred by the breeze. Dressed completely in black, he has a foreboding look about him, which is enhanced still by the spiked bracers and gauntlets he wears and the morningstar on his belt. A strange-looking lute, black, shaped like an upside-down V is strapped to his back.

"Build a clan headquarters," he mutters to himself in a deep, hoarse voice, "how am I to do that on my own? I'm a bard, a warrior, a musician. Not an architect. Nor a carpenter, a logger, or stonecutter."

He sits down on a rock and begins tuning his lute.

"Ack, guess I'll just have to wait untill the others arrive."

<font color="silver"> The newly come Elf raises his Left hand to reveal a silver Ring Which shines brighter than even his Staff which has now been laid beside him.
"now lets see, 3 paces North, 5 west.." The ring Suddenly lights up to even more brilliance, and the groung begins to shake. Slowly but surely an Ancient ilver palace with towers at each corner and a fitfth on top of the main keep in the centre, rises from the ground, and into the very air itself. "There we Go!! At least one of Merlins things still works properly"
He picks up his staff which was left lying on the ground beside him. As the ring fades to a low Silver hue, the Wizard whistles 3 times, suddenly a wooden Cariage, pulled by two Winged Silver horses comes hurrying towards him.
" To the palace with all haste! "
The pegusie rear up outside the closed gate. The Elf again raises his hand and the ring Glows brightly again.
" IN the Name of Merlin, I bid you to Open" suddenly, as if by some Magic (which this undoubtable is) the gates swing open and the Elf rides inside. He steps out of the cart, and the Pegusee fly off again to places unknown. The Elf then raises the Ring a third time, muttering "A bridge, a bridge, let me see now" Suddenly a great Stairway appears linking the palace to the Ground. The Elf again speaks, his voice Magically magnified.
" Behold now the Palace of Merlin, thought to be lost centruies ago. While these great gates are open, all are welcome!! "
Then the Wizard walks up to the inner moat, and the Great doors open for him. " I will be in my throne room in the center if I am needed. You there, Bard come up here. You are one of those in the Order, you are welcomed here above any others who come here. "
The Elf now stands watching the Sunset, his Silver robes and Golden Cloak blwing in the breeze, his silver wizard Hat blown clean off his head, his great rings, silver on his left hand and gold on his right, glow brighter than Ever,and his silvery hair remaining Still despite the Wind. He then raises his Staff if intertwined Silver and Gold, and conjures a Sphere of Silvery hue, too light the coming moonless night. </font>

<font color=cyan>As the pale sky sat overhead of the ethreal spires of the palace laying upon the rolling plains, a stirring breeze rose through the air the soul chilling bite of winter everpresent as it rode the wind. The cold aura of the sun shone balefully down on the gleaming silver of the palacial walls, the reflecting light a mere shadow of its former glory.
And as a shadow itself, a silent figure stood gazing down scornfully at the frail shining city of light before him. Eyes like blue ice glared from under arched brows, the face without having set on it a canine cast like that of a wolf. In his dull white armour the figure blended to the background, his body lost to the harsh weather in the surrounds.
"Enough of this.." harshly whispered the man in a dire voice.
With one smooth movement the man set off in a loping gait to the very gates that stood before him in their failed majesty, one more obstacle yet to pass on his way to conquest.
He reached the bridge marring his path to the palace and stopped dead in his tracks a look of utter contempt upon his face. With a quick violent stab the man thrust into the ground a lance formed from the icy wastelands, a flag flying defiantly from its end the picture of a wolven head overlaid on some sort of baked goods proclaiming the identity of the man.
And so his mark left upon the very earth of this clan, his buisness finished for now he dissapeared into the freezing blizzard which went as quickly as it had come.
The stark challange there for any to defy it.</font>

The burly Half-Orc watches the wolf-man in silence. When he has gone, he comes out of hiding, rips the flag off the lance and tucks it in his pack.

"This will make a fine decoration for the walls of my quarters in the palace."

J'aran Bloodhymn crosses the bridge and enters the palace gates.
Within, he stands looking around, searching for the right direction.

"So, where's the bar? I could use a drink."

<font color="gold"> Producing a long Steel bar from his robes, the Elf speaks to the nearby HalfOrc.
"Take this. Cross the Moat between the Inner gates. Your quarters are the 351st door on the left, second floor. The bar's in the great hall to ur right. You might have to Knock to get in"

The Elf then walks into the Castle and Marches straight to the Throne in The centre. "I hope noone expected me Earlier..."
</font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

J'aran looks at the steel pole in his hands, puzzled.

"What am I to do with this then? Fierljepping-poles aren't usually made of steel... Besides, there's a bridge across that mote. Aw, hell, what do I care."

With that, he starts to run towards the moat, thrusts the pole into it and uses it to propel himself over the moat.
After landing safely on the other side, he proceeds towards the stairs to the second floor, and onwards to his quarters. Inside, he hangs Azurewolf's flag on the wall, arranges his meagre possessions and leaves for the bar.

<font color="silver"> Laughing heatily the Elf says to him self "Using a POLE to cross the moat ?? (more laughing). Atg least he crosed while the Innere gates were open..."


"Oops, I forgot to restock the bar!!" And with that, he stides away to the Great Hall.
"and id better put the air lifts back in- the stairs just take up too much room" </font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

All of a sudden, behind a little creek, a suited Dwarfs charges *arrrrrr haaaarrrr* "Will all the might ye be!"
"Who are ye travelers?"


---- "We mean no harm" A voice responds.

"Harm, Darm, Barm, seems fine to me bein'." The Dwarf mutters,
"Well, I guess I'll travel along with ye for the time bein' as I dont know where in the hells me goin'".

<font color="gold"> The Misterious Elf, back in the throne room having stocked the bar, removes his flowing silver cloak and waves it about, such as a very brave man would at a rodeo. "OK, that spell wont work" he nflicks through a book sitting on a table next to him. "Aha. Here we go" he puts his cloak back on and Picks up his staff. He waves it around three times in a circle infront of him, suddenly the Orb at the top of it flashes once. Then the entire room flashes as if there is a thunderstorm outside it, as this flashing continues the Elf, suddenly sounding more menacing Shouts
"Oommu Tralza Arrious" He lifts his staff and the flashing stops, in a sudden violent explosion in the centre of the room, which does not seem to bother the Elf in the slightest, brings forth a great beast, a Dragon of no obvious colour, yet of every colour in existance.
The Elf speaks to the newly come spirit dragon.
"You have come, now you will fall"
With that he lifts up his staff and chants "Kilna Aremwa Withorn Arena" a great burst of concentrated energy bursts out of the top of his staff and hits the Spirit Dragon, which crumples beneath the force of the blast. He removes all the scales from the dragons body and lays them on the ground on the other side of the room. He waves his staff over them and suddenly they vanish, in their place 12 great cloaks.

Then he again removes his cloak and throws it onto the ground. Sitting the head of his staff ontop of it he mutters "Crayarm Sulye Multza" and a bulge appears in the middle of the cloak. The Elf then removes his staff, and picks up his cloak. He speaks to the newly come Goblin.
"Go to Floor 2, in the 351st room on the left, you will find a flag decorated with a head superimposed on baked goods. BRING IT HERE. "
</font>

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

<font color="silver"> OOC---> OK, Id just better explain a few things quickly concerning the palace. The outer gates are big enough to fit 6 Peguses-Drawn Carriages easily. The reason they are pegasus drawn is quite simply because we are something like 500kms in the air (312.6 Miles for u crazy yanks who use imperial), When they are closed, NOTHING can get through. And also- they can only be moved by the magic of the SIlver Ring of Merlin (which I wear on my left hand). The Moat has no water in it, It simply is a hole which drops straight down to earth- it is not crosable execpt when the iner gates are open, and then only between the inner gates. There are no stairs in this palace. There are lifts. sortof. These are simply Holes in the ceiling with air Currents. There are 6 Located around the Castle- 1 in the Corner of the Great hall (it goes up for all 3 stories of the castle), 1 in each of the Guard towers, and one just outside the throne room.
And the Outer Walls look EXACTLY like the Silver ring of Merlin, execpt theyre square and alot bigger. The shine exactly like the ring.
And yes, All of the items I have equipped were enchanted by Merlin himself. (Gloves of Merlin, Silver Ring of Merlin, Cloak of Merlin, Gold Ring of Melin, Staff of Merlin, Robes of Merlin).

Other than this brief (lawyer style), it will (hopefully) be added to and become more wonderous with our adventures. </font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SookmaCook:
<font color="silver"> Laughing heatily the Elf says to him self "Using a POLE to cross the moat ?? (more laughing). Atg least he crosed while the Innere gates were open..."
</font><hr></blockquote>

OOC: Well, what else was the thing for then? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
/OOC

Bloodhymn, having found the bar devoid of stock, wanders aimlessly through the palace, as he suddenly spots a goblin making for the throne room with Azurewolf's flag trailing behind him. Curious about this apparent burglary of his private quarters, he follows the little critter to the clanmaster's throne room.

<font color="gold"> OOC- The pole was for Decoration. Ill be pulling all sorts of things out of my robes before this clan disbands (which i hope wont be anytime soon).

IC- Noticing that the Goblin has come back (finally) with the flag, the Elf speaks to it "Good. Now give it to me" Angry at the Goblins refusal to follow its masters comand, the Elf lift his staff " Curio Arian Mitric" The goblin falls to the ground, in a state of Suspended anumation.
Picking up the flag (very carefully), the Elf bgins to examin it. " No homing spells, No detonation curses, And obviously manufactored by a leader without a staff!!. No apparent magic to it, but best to take no chances"
Touching the Flag in one corner with the Golden ring on his right hand. "Allya Kenya Armen" and with that, the flag burns, and its ashes fall onto the floor.

"Now you, Half Orc. You brought a mysterious object into the Castle. I should punish you, but for now I believe it will be enough puishment for you to live with the guilt of what you may have done "</font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SookmaCook:
<font color="gold"> OOC- The pole was for Decoration. Ill be pulling all sorts of things out of my robes before this clan disbands (which i hope wont be anytime soon).
</font><hr></blockquote>

OOC: Hmm, as long as you keep your "magic wand" INSIDE of those robes, I have no problem with that [img]smile.gif[/img]
/OOC

"But it was just a normal flag! That guy had put it there as a challenge, nothing more.
By the way, what are we going to do about that? Basically he insulted us by planting his crest in our front garden."
As he speaks these words, the Half-Orc absentmindedly runs his fingers over his morningstar, as if suffering from the desire to use it.

<font color="silver"> "What are we going to do ?? Why thats easy. It WASNT an ordinary flag- look"
As the Elf speaks, the ashes move about, reforming the flag that was burnt to form them. " A phoenix enchantment, were going to do all that we can do. We are going to wait. Once we are strong enough, we will pursue the Wolf-Man. Until then I will keep this" as the elf puts the now fully reformed fg into his robes, he mutters quietly " Arien Curio Arien"
"We must bide our time, for now, I have stocked the bar with drinks from all around the world- I recomend the Liqueurs. ;) " </font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

The elf looked up, gazing at the great Palace and chuckled to himself, "Now how am i supposed to get up there? Ah, i will worry about that once i have had something to eat, im starving!" the elf sits dow and starts rummaging through his pack and all the while muttering to himselfe about how all the other magicians managed to pull rabits out of their hats when he still had trouble pulling a pice of cheese out of his bag.

<font color="gold"> Appearing next to his newly come Elf-Kin, the mysterious Elf (OOC- my one. Not Dagorions) speaks some mysterious words, which noone can catch, and the newcomer is lifted into the air, and placed in the palace airs.
Then jumping up there himself, he speaks to the new comer. "Welcome to the Palace of Merlin"

He then pulls a Rubber Stamp out of his robes, and handing it to the other elf says "This is your souvenier" Then striding off towards the throne room he mutters " Arlye Hemle Ariana" and continues walking. Suddenly, The battlements a filled with mages constantly casting magic MIssle and Chromatic Orb into thin air. The leader then waves his hand, and they are again gone.


Back in the throneroom he mutters "Armyen Intul Carrion" and is surrounded by a magical cylander with a bluish hue, within it the Elf appears sleeping, and the throne room doors arre closed.
With the Elf mutterng quietly, the flag in his hands begins to glow softly. </font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

A bit stunned at dagorions welcome, the half-elf that snuck in slowly wanders around the palace until he hears word of a bar, suddenly liking the idea of this place he runs as fast as he can towards the bar, and almost knocks himself out when the door closes before he gets in.

As he slowly drags him self off the ground he opens the door and slumps at a table.

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: shadowhound ]</p>

<font color="silver"> Meanwhile, back in the throne room, the Great Mysterious Elf has woken from his apparent sleep.
"So, as I thought, this is a HADB flag. Enchanted in the HADB castle itself. They will pay for leaving their filthy simbble on the Clean airs of Merlins Palace."
Putting the flag back into his robes he mutters to himself "I hold grudges for long ages at a time. They will pay, in time"

Then, taking off his long flowing Silver cloak, and wrapping it around his staff he chants from the Spell Book next to him " Arien Culrae Invertus"
Unwrapping the Cloak he talks to the Raven which appeared. " I suspect that a split person has been performed. Keep an eye on the ones called Dagorion and Shadowhound. They are in the bar now. GO!
The raven flies off quietly to the bar, while the Elf sits back down. I think ill keep my own eye on them aswell... and the blue cylander engulfs him again.</font>

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

After four or five mugs of ale (he cant remember) shadowhound drags himself up from the table to see what else of interest is in this place. As he stands he notices a large bird fly in, thinks about it for a split second and then forgets about it.

With a sudden urge to releive himself shadowhound starts searching around for a toilet or a jug, or somebodys dinner plate for that matter and falls asleep while urinating in the kitchen pots.

Seein Shadow pass out he decides that it wouldand be such a bad idea and then procedes to drink himselfe stupid.

After several drinks of Coke he realises that you caunt get drunk unless you drink alkahole and decides that it isnt worth it. He begins to explore the Castle, after a while he finds some closed doors. As he opens them he sees a faint blue light eminating from the room, he enters and sees the man who meat him out side the chastle surounded by a blue light,"Thats not a bad idea" he sais and he sits down and casts a spell. suddenly a blue cylander encased him. After a few seaconds Dagorion lets the enchantment fall and sais to himselfe "Now how the hell did i do that?" he shrugs to himselfe and then procedes to curl up like a cat woild and falls asleap at the feat of Merlin's Heir.

After waking up and realising what has happened shadowhound stands up and reminds himself never to eat any of the food prepared in this kitchen.

After wandering around for a while he finds himself in a room with a elf in a blue cone and another elf who thinks he is a cat. After thinking for a bit he slowly sneaks into the room and searches through the draws for any thing of value, his thieving nature getting the better of him.

After "borrowing" some gold coins he found a flag and decided that he would keep it and use it as a hankercheif. He slowly wandered out and looked out over the Battlements at the 500kms down to the ground.

[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: shadowhound ]</p>

fealing aq bit peckish Dagorion wakes from his slumber and looks for something to eat. Realising there is nothing in his pack he reaches in further untill the rim of the bag is up to his shoulder and finding what he is looking for pulls out an Orange. He lookes up at the man in the blue thingy he says to him "want an orange?". (if you have ever read Raymond E. Feist youll understand)

As shadowhound wanders around he goes down to the dungeons, and finds a door barred locked and with a big red sign GO AWAY.

Immediatly he wants to get in, he tries to pick the lock but it is well made and unpickable.

So he hides behind a barrel and waits.

Getting rather boored with the whole idea of a Misterious Elf he decides it is time to have some fun. Dagorion turns and looks a the rather strange looking elf incased in hard blue stuff he wispers a Word of Power he casts a spell at the Mage. "POP" Suddenly he finds himselfe turned into a coffee table "Bummer" says the excentrick elf and he waits for the spell to wear off.

<font color="gold"> Waking up from his second supposed sleep, the Mysterious elf does not seem at all surprised to find the flag missing, nor to find a Coffee post sitting next to his Throne with an Elf running about in it.
He quickly casts freedom on the Coffee pot, returing Dagorion to his true form, then strides off toward the nearest air lift. He walks down to the Large Double doors. Almost as if he expects what he finds, he pulls Shadowhound out from behind the Barrel. "Give me the Flag" almost as if under hypnosis, Shadowhound gives him the Flag. "Here. Take this." He says pulling a giant novelty hand outside his robes. "Your Quarters are the 148th Door on the left as you enter the Second level from the nearest air lift from here. And dont come down here again. Those doors hold the Great Forge of Merlin. It is dangerous to even open the doors unless you have both of Merlins rings equipped. Now GO Halfbread, and dont let me see you down here again" </font>

[ 01-14-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

Getting boored with just siting around and trying to figure out how the spell rebounded onto him he decides to find Shadowhound. After searching for several hours he finds his room and is immediatly bombarded with every profanity imaginable by the now drunken Shadowhound. Deciding that an argument with the theif isnt worth the trouble he casts silence on the bad-mouthed villan and before the theif could react he finds himself tied to a flying horse hundreads of meatres in the air.

<font color="silver"> Having returned to the Throne Room the Mysterious Elf is getting rather Board. "immmm Booaaarrrrddd"

"Ah Im SICK of this old Outfit. I need a NEW look. Lets see now.."

Rifling through the drawers in the throne room, He finds an outfit that he deems suitable. Donning the Large Leather Armour (enchanted in a manner that allows spells to be cast while wearing it, The black Boots with Bright red Jewels at the Top, and The Thrown-Back black cloak with a Similar red Jewel at the next, he puts down Merlins silver Staff, and Picks up another from the Drawer- The staff he bears is a dark grey-silver at the base, strange runes depict an erie story which is yet unknown. The top, what appears to resemble a skeletal hand loosely grasping a Crystal Ball, from which erie scarlet glow eminates. His face growing more menacing in appearance, and his hair shifting from a Silvery-Grey to a blonde, he smiles "Now thats more like it"


Quickly realising that there is Work to be done, he raises his new Staff above his head, and lashes it down, striking the air in front of him, tearing it appart, creating an archway of magical energy, from which a greenish glow persists. he strides though the rift with haste, not turning to watch as it closes behind him.
He emerges out of Nowhere in Mid-air next to a giant pegasus bearing a halfelf in a thieves outfit. "You, get here" he says picking up the obviously dazed Shadowhound, and falling back down onto the Palace. "Be careful from now on. Dont drink that much."

He then puts his staff head to the ground, and draws a half circle as Scarlet as the crystal, from which thick smoke arises. As it surrounds him, ever thickening he fades into the mist. </font>

[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

Shadowhound pissbolts strait to his room and hides under the bed, then thinks about the great amount of wealth that must surely be stored within and wonders about the rings.

<font color="gold"> Teleportung into the great tower, the Mysterious Elf finds one of the Griffins missing. "So someone has found the Griffin stables. Carrium Myten Arious" Looking into the head of his staff, he sees a blury picture of some people fighting without any use of magic.
"Well ill show them how to fight properly" he whistles once, and a lone saddleless Peguses flies in. Mounting it quickly, he says to it "To Madmans bar, with all haste" and they fly off into the distance, the Mysterious Elf feeling very glad he locked the Throne Room. </font>

after playing the prank on Shadowhound and seeing it unfoiled he decides to follow the rather vain and silly looking Mage and reaches into his pack pulling out what looks like a cat with wings. He throws it onto the ground and wispers a word of power, the figurean turnes into a giant flying cat, Dagorion hops onto the back of the giant kitten and begins following the Mage.

<font color="silver"> Upon arriving back at the Palace, the Mysterious elf is again very bored.
"If only that bar had been more fun. Its like I went through all that for NOTHING." He walks up and down the halways muttering to himself. Then after about an hour of this, he has an Idea. "Id better set the mood of this Palace to something suitable... lets see theres too much light in here.." He yells a few sharp and menacing words, and the entire throne room is darkened, so that his staff is the only source of light in it. "Now thats more LIke it".
"now if only there was something to DO.. imm bor-ored!!" </font>

After lying under the bed for ten minutes the goblin notices that all the lights are out. He quickly starts looking around for people, after noticing the dude with the staff that called him "half breed", has got dagorions sword he laughs and wonders what he did to piss off the misterius elf.

<font color="yellow"> Deciding to check out the bar again, the mysterious Elf yells "Lumos Incendos Carrios" suddenly, the light floods nack into the palace again. "Now id better change these horrible rings" waving one hand over the other, he ,utters some well chosen words under his breath, and the rings begin to melt, losing their shine, becoming something entirely different. On his right hand, the gold ring becomes a dull yellow, and becomes shaped as to resemble a snake biting its tail. On his left hand, the silver ring becomes a dull green shifting into another snake biting its own tail. All for eyes shine with a piercing red. The glow of the orb atop his staff also shifts, apparently as a result of the spell, from a crimson, to an eerie green. He swings his cloak over to cover his black armour, and focuses his staff on Madmans bar. Dropping the katana he got from his Elven kin last time he visited Madmans bar, he stares into his staff and fades into the surroundings.</font>

[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: SookmaCook ]</p>

After following the elf dude around shadowhound stops and picks up dagorions sword.

<font color="lightgreen"> Returning from Madmans bar in a very undescribable manner, the mysterious Elf decides to find out how to get past a spell lock- he cant fight without his quaterstaff!! Finding an ancient tome in the Library Located in the dungeons, he throws his staff into the center of the room, and reads by its now brightened glow.
"Ah here we are.. Xestor Mitos Ferrius Unlock! yes this should work well. Ill have to use it next time i go down to madmans bar." </font>

<font color="lightgreen"> Looking around the throne room, The mysterious elf finds that the sword he dropped when he teleported to Madmans bar is gone. Knowing that he saw all but one current dweller of the castle there, he decides to look in the quaters of Shadowhound the Halfbread.
Walking in without knocking, the mysterious Elf notices shadowhound on his bed, again drunken, and throwing every imaginable curse at him. "Maybe I should have left you on the pergasus. Ariatusim" searching the quaters of the now uncontious Shadowhound, he finds the Katana on Shadowhounds body, aswell as a few things belonging in other parts of the palace. "So we have a Halfbread Elf and a purebread thief here. Id better keep my eye on him during Symosis." he then bangs the head of his staff on the floor, and disapears in the bright flash that follows. </font>

The shining figure of an Angel appiers in front of shadowhound makning him wet his pants. A soft, earie voice eccoes in Shadows head "No mortal hands may touch the the Great Blades no one but the Mad Gods vesel. So it is said and so it shal be. Relenquish the Blade to Dagorion or suffer the wrathr of the Gods!!!" Shadowhound responds by explaning that the annoying Elf took it and with that the Angel disapiers leaving the cowering form of Shadowhound to go and change his pants.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Dagorion ]</p>

After getting up and mumbling about angels and weirdo elves, Shadowhound goes and steals a pair of Dagorions pants to change into, after noticing the skin marks he throws the off the battlements and goes and changes into a pair of his own.

<font color="lightgreen">Deciding to test out more new spells, the mysterious Elf returns to the second Dungeon Level, with the great Library in it. "Now let me see... ah yes here it is: Pointless Spells Edition 2 I hope this one has the one im looking for in it.." Reading by the light of his staff, he chants "Allam Cultia Mortis Arrian Carriam Poltry Xana Limnos Humga" a great fog appears in the center of the room,swirling and twisting, creating an obvious Vortex into a plane of pure magic. "WHAT?!?! WHO CHANGED THE COVERS ?? THIS IS THE STAFF MAKING SPELL- IT SHOULD BE IN POINTLESS SPELLS EDITION 3!!! NOW I WILL NEVER KNOW THE SUMMON TOAD SPELL!!" the words magically amplify even more than ever before, so that the very walls of the palace shake. Grabing his staff, he looks for another book, all the while mutternig to himself.</font>