Dragon Revived, Chapter 1- Surprises from the Past

[/)eathKiller]

Gus chuckled as quietly as he could restrain himself. He then tuggged at his horse's reighns and he and the gnome began to move out.

[SomeGuy]

"I thank you for letting me join your party, I am honored." said the gnome politely as he mounted Gus's steed and they started off. "Hey Gus, how'd you get to this plane anyway? One of these people summon you or what?" said Ivan with curiousity in his tone. "And do you mind telling me the names of the members of this party by the way?"

[ 09-29-2003, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: SomeGuy ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Arlyth appeared out of nowhere beside Alae, still mounted, (a rather disturbing habbit of his), and calmly informed her "There is a suitable campsite at the base of the mountain." and proceeded to explain the details of it to her, and report his findings. Then he said, "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

[Lady Blue03]

"I know of the clearing. Just where do you think you're going?"" Alae said in a cool voice of command.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Arlyth gave his cousin a cold, long look. "I do not feel the need to report my movements when I..." then he snapped, "Tell the 'Kreen to back off, and I shall tell you, cousin. I won't disgrace Her name by uttering it in front of a 'Kreen." Alae wondered just who Arlyth would speak of with such respect, for the young elf had pronounced the word 'her', with a deep respect and almost awe. Curious.

[Lady Blue03]

Alae's mouth drew to one side, and she caught Alaerth looking back at her with a raised eyebrow. 'If you want me to deal with him, I will', was what the look said. Alae shook her head and he continued forward, breaking into the clearing.

"Xvim, if you would follow my brother into the clearing, I will be there shortly." She said, not taking her eyes off her cousin. She waited until the kreen plus Gus and Ivan were behind the trees in the camp before turning Star Shadow left and walking her out of the woods at a right angle to the camp site, "Follow me."

When Arlyth caught up with her, Alae sat facing him, hands folded across the horn of her saddle, against the sheer cliff that marked the end of Avalon's forest. A broad plain expanded out from the trees, marking the end of castle property. There was still light, dull though it was.

"I'm speaking to you now to save you trouble, little cousin, and to give you a warning." She turned her silver eyes from him briefly to look out at the horizon. When they came back, they were still silver, but hard, "Alaerth and I told you that if you wanted to come with us, you would have to behave. Be wise in what you do and say." She leaned forward in her seat, "There are certain values I hold in my heart. One is to be true to my allies. You are traveling with Alaerth and I, by your own will. You are threatening allies that we decided were safe to bring in the party, simply because of what they are, not who they are." She straightened, "I am giving you two choices, Arlyth. One, get over yourself and your antipathy to the kreen who lost everything she had to drow. Respect my brother, for he is the guiding light in this mission. It angers me that you anger him. Your other choice is to leave. We cannot have you snarling at everyone, wanting things done your way, and certainly not drawing your blades on ones who would help you. I love you little cousin, but I won't let you bring this party to chaos." Her calm silver eyes returned to the horizon. She seemed to be watching something far off.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Arlyth walked his steed right to the edge of the cliff, and looked at the horizon, and felt the whispering breeze caress his cheek. He sighed, and his own eyes were distant. "Perhaps... you should know of my hatred for the 'Kreen. You say she lost everything... yet I lost a brother to them. My... you were not the only one to have a twin, dear cousin. Unlike you; I have to live every day with the loss... the grief... you have no idea. Or perhaps you do..." he mused thoughtfully, "Imagine... your brother, Alaerth was taken from you, before your very eyes, and you were helpless, powerless to stop the ones who did it... to see his life blood spilling out in front of you; a fountain of red... that, dear cousin, is why I hate the Thri-Kreen so much." the young elf turned and looked away. "The genasi iritates me with his attitude; this is no game. We ride out to face demons, and almost certain death, and he acts as it is a stroll in the park. You know we are walking directly into darkness... and yet, you surround us with allies, who are made from the stuff!" his eyes flashed angrilly, "A void genasi! A being from a vacuum! A Thri-Kreen!" then he sighed, "The genasi... I can tolerate... I... the Thri-Kreen. Just keep it away from me. Please?" he begged, "I feel.. such hate, and rage when I gaze upon it... it... it frightens me, Alae. I want to slay it, I want to rend it's flesh, as their kin broke my brothers... I..." he blinked back tears, and look at the horizon. "I mourn for my brother every day... I wear black for a reason, cousin..."

"I... perhaps I have not been behaving, but I have been continually mocked. Don't tell me to live with it; I have enough trouble controlling my emotions around the Thri-Kreen... there is a darkness within me, Alae. The taint... that is within my father; only... his is no taint, his is pure... you know why Alliene calls him the 'Golden One'? It is because, he can assume the form of a golden humanoid dragon, but I... within me, is grief. Constant grief, hate, rage and fury. I may assume a similar form to my father, but Alae, dear cousin," Arlyth's voice was soft, mournful and on the verge of tears, "But when I assume that form... it reflects what is within my heart; I become shadow. A draconic humanoid winged shadow... I am split in two... my soul torn in two. A piece of me has been ripped out, and I feel no peace. When I rest, to meditate, I dream... I feel only darkness, the void. A starless night... I... I am alone." he broke off with a wail. "I feel constant pain!" he whispered, "And nothing else, when I sleep... Alae, you cannot know what it feels like." he whispered. "Perhaps I should leave... I respect Alaerth, and I would obey him, as I will obey you, but... I cannot take much more of this. Let me go, Alae... I am too dangerous to be around... I love you dearly, cousin, but I cannot continue being taunted." the elf had slipped off his horse, and was on his knees near the edge of the cliff. Tears ran freely down his face, as he released the pain from his heart, in what seemed like an age.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

OOC: Posting for DK - since he can't atm.

"And so this Cruul says to me, 'aye You need to try talkin' with an accent like this when you've got mendables fer a mouth!' and then the Cruisader Aasimar said 'Well at least you don't have to deal with having 178 Vocal coords!' At which point we all broke out into laughter!" Gus finished the long bizzare story he was telling to Ivan about his days of wormholing people around the multiverse. Too bad the Cruul went def from hearing all those Cruisader's coords go off at once... while laughing that is..."

[SomeGuy]

How interesting... said the gnome slightly confused. "I have a story of my own, but I'll tell you later. Tis a sad story." said Ivan looking around at his surrondings. Have you ever worked with chemicals or anything of the such before Gus?

[ 09-29-2003, 08:34 PM: Message edited by: SomeGuy ]

[/)eathKiller]

"every Void mage must go though a lttle chemistry in order to complete the ritualistic tatooing ceremony, I'm sure y ou'll recognize the chemical if I tell you the process... you see, you take a jar full of insects and you leave it closed shut until they all die, you let the rot and then expunge the gasses into a solutio of evaporating silver, add some pressure and an open flame to remove the oxygen and poof it becomes a black substance, then each of us takes a glove, sticks it in the black substance and scrapes it over our cheek. It's to represent the permanent void we will lay on out lives, which will forever become a part of us, and the best part is it doesnt actually hurt or sting or anyting, you just get a stain on your flesh... I've also been a little into Biology. I worked with vampire parts for a while and discovered a very unique solution which only a few powerfull necromancers know how to cast, but I've figured how to do it as well, and I always carry the material componets with me, unfortunetly I'm under oath and can never reveal the spell, lest it be a dangerouse world for myself to live in." he said with a smile as they rode along.