To Walk a Dragon's Path, Chapter 2-Wills of a Demi-Goddess

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

"Istosunduiri vlos; uoi'nota cha'kohkev chath errdegahr" He hissed under his breath. Calaethis's eyes began to whirl, a clear sign he was becoming cold or angry. In a tone of ice, he replied, "As you command, dear cousin" his tone was deeply respectful. Too deep. It was so respectful, it was almost mocking. In a sardonic voice he continued, "And then I shall report back to you?" his lips twiched very slightly in a sneer, it was hardly present though. "I suppose that denying me food, you can bend me to your will, Ilharess Ilhar." his eyes cutting into her back he said "Good bye Alliene." then whirled around and merging with the shadows, he left. Alliene could hear the soft padding of footsteps, walking slowly, calmly, and deliberatly as her cousin departed.

He walked back to his bedroom, even though Alliene had commandeered it. Locking the door, he shoved a chest in front of it. It would take someone a bit of time to get though, or they'd have to go around another way. He stripped, and changed into his usual garb, pulling on his elven-chain before his overtunic went on. Buckling his sword in place, he ignored the sword's mental message that he was being extremely foolish and very childish. Gathering up his normal clothes, he laid his finary on the bed, all save one set - the stormcloud-light grey/blue set and the matt black breeches. He took those with him. Shoving the chest out of the way, he made sure he had everything, and left the room.

He marched down to Verlorens suite, still merged with the shadows. He banged on the door thrice, loudly. When Verloren opened the door, he stepped out of the shadows, and said simply, but very formally; "Your Majesty, I would like to appologise for my behaviour last night; you have my most heartfelt and sincere sorrow, and I pray that I did not cause undue offense. I humbly beg your pardon and forgiveness. I make no excuses for my behaviour, nor do I shift the blame onto any causes. I accept full responsibility for my actions. Never should I have said those things, and... I am sorry." he bowed his head, the last line distintly unformal, however his tone was flat, and his eyes cold. "I will accept without question, or objection, any punishment you may have in sotre for me, be it death, or otherwise."

He waited for his cousin's sister to speak. His eyes burned firey-stormclouds of green. He held himself with his usual elven grace, and his feet were together. He addressed her as full royalty, respecting her rank. His body language neutral, there was something about him that ...cooly arrogent. It was his aura. Verloren could see that Alliene had irrated him this morning. It was clearly marked in his attitude towards her - being her sister, and having come to know her cousin, she could tell it was out of character for him to behave this way, and that Alliene must have put him up to it. Verloren was certain, however, that Alliene did not tell him to appologise as he had. She also noticed his change of clothing...

Translations:

Nightsinger's blood; hell cursed fire demons
istosunduiri vlos; uoi'nota cha'kohkev chath errdegahr

Ilharess Ilhar
Matron Mother

*edit, missed a single tag again *

[ 02-16-2003, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

[Lady Blue03]

Verloren frowned. So nice of her sister to force an appology he obviously did not want give upon him. Her eyes filled a pulsing red on their own accord,
"So nice of you to wake me, Calaethis, when the sun has not even risen half way above the land. I can tell Alliene put you up to this, I would have done the same in her place. However I do not accept apologies from someone I don't know," she said pointedly, "Come back when you are yourself again, not an arrogant elf with a burr in his pants," she straightened a bit and lifted her chin defiantly, not noticing Avalon looming behind her, his molten silver eyes traveling slowly from her to Calaethis, narrowing suspiciously. He had gotten as much sleep as Alliene, and their voices had woken him.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Calaethis smiled. His tone soft; "Farewell Verloren." was all he said. He dissapeared into the shadows again, and stepped away from the door. Silently he saluted her. Then he turned to leave...

[Lady Blue03]

Avalon ground his teeth in annoyance and stepped around the confused Verloren, seizing Calaethis's sword arm in a vice grip,
"My lady, if you please, I'm sure Alliene would enjoy your company for breakfast," his eyes remained on Calaethis.
Verloren gave her sister's cousin one more firey-eyed look before sweeping off down the corridor, hands folded on her abdomen.
"You had better bloody listen to what I have to say, elf" Avalon growled, "You have not done anything to me, but with my love carrying my kin in her stomach, she's on edge, I'm on edge, and your bloody attitude like you're bloody better than everybody else is angering me. Your cousin doesn't need your lip either, after what she's been through, so I suggest you stop acting like a bloody spoiled brat. I don't bloody care if my words have an effect on you or not, but you are not leaving this manor if I have to stop you myself," The silver spikes atop his head wavered and stiffened, and his face was grim.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Calaethis eyes blazed in defience, "Release me. Now." his tone was cold. He bared his teeth, without meaning to, snarling at the silver "Who are you, silver one, to challenge me? I, an Elf of the Blood, bonded by the pact of the Golden Ones long ago; before your time, ages past! Golds we once were, mated with elves, ensuring dominance - one line - both dragonic and elven - nobles all... to live again... to awaken once more... " during this, Calaethis was speaking ancient dragonic, his eyes had turned a bright burning gold, the same colour as Sssiks vress'lve's scales. His voice had changed - it was a dragons voice, speaking down though the millennia... suddenly Calaethis snapped out of it, and would have fallen save for Avalons crushing grip on his arm. His eyes returned to their normal colour, and he shook his head, and whispered weakly "W..what just h-happened?"

[Lady Blue03]

Within the blink of an eye, Calaethis found himself pinned beneath Avalon's gigantic silver foot, bared fangs an inch from his face. The bulk of the Ancient filled the hallway, but the male dragon was too enraged to care,
"Elf of the Golds are you?" the dragon roared in his face, the sound booming through the castle, "I stand only to defend my love's honour and you theaten me with long dead dragon blood? WELL! Show me your true form then, Golden one! Or are your words just a measley pack of filth ridden lies!" Cool breath cascaded down on Calaethis's face and sharp talons poked into his back.

"Avalon?!" Verloren's voice snapped the dragon's head up. She was standing there, gaping at him, totally pale. Alliene stood with her, one hand supporting a plate of food, the other holding Zachana by the tail as the black desperatley tried to reach them. With a deadly growl Avalon shifted to his human form, clad in dark silver coat and breeches with black turned down boots, a thick black cloak hanging from his shoulders. He cast a deadly look at Calaethis and walked over him and past the women to the steps,
"I'm going home," he spat, "Come and get me when that boy has learned what it means to threaten me," without another word, he swept down the stairs, cloak snapping behind him.
Verloren watched him go for a moment before she started trembling. Alliene set aside food and dragon as her sister collapsed to the floor tears streaming down her face, sobs racking her body. Alliene enfolded her sister in her arms and glared at Calaethis as she spoke quick words to Zachana.
The dragon shifted to her human form and took the plate of food, carrying upstairs to her rooms. She opened the door to the living room and noticed the drow was awake. She placed the food on a table and drew a small dagger, cutting off his silken bonds,
"My lady will be with you shortly," she said in common, not caring whether he understood or not, "There was an incidient below with her cousin and the silver...I'm sure you heard," shrugging, she stepped back and closed the door.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Calaethis's eyes flashed golden, and he bleed freely from where the silvers talons had pierced the skin. His skin, slowly began to heal, his blood still flowing freely. It ran down the little rivets in his skin, and very slowly, it turned ivory, and then gained an almost golden tint, and tiny scales formed, covering his arms, hands, and then his face... thousands of tiny scales covered the elf, each the size of his normal skin normal cells, right up to his eye lids. The whites of his eyes turned golden, but his hair still raven-jet black, remained the same. His fingernails turned into long talons... and his wounds healed. He stood up, softly. He still looked elven. He opened his mouth to speak, and in place of his elven teeth were dragonic ones, but they fit his mouth perfectly. He spoke, "Never question me again, Avalon of the silvers." he spat out small flames of golden-red fire, and he flexed his hands. His head had changed shape - it was more arched now, he looked more dragonic, more noble. He looked at Alliene, and Tagnik was in his hand, he looked... complete "Well cousin, this is what I have become." Verloren looked up at him. Horrified. Calaethis let out a snarl that Avalon could hear, "RETURN SILVER! Dare you show your face to me now?!"

[Lady Blue03]

Alliene rose slowly, her sister in her arms, her eyes cold and unafraid,
"You shame me, golden one. You have no right to make demands on anyone, despite your blood. You have broken my sister's heart with your foolish words, and I do not hold people who harm my family in high esteem," her eyes glittered in anger and a dimsension door opened in front of her, taking her to her rooms, leaving Calaethis alone in the hall.

[Lady Blue03]

Silent tears streamed out of Avalon's eyes as he soared north toward his mountain home. He had heard Verloren collapse in the hall as he left, and the Gold's challenge, and he was half tempted to teach the child that his new weakling power was no match for his own, but he would not remain in a place where his dominance was threatened and his love dishonoured. A long loney roar escaped his throat as he flew above the clouds that were now pouring steady rain over the city of Amn.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

***OOC - Calaethis can change his skin now to golden scales - this gives him a +2 ac bonus - he can do this once a day; or, expend 15hp to do it as many times as he likes, adding 5hp to the total each time, e.g. 1st time, free, 2nd, -15hp, third -20hp, fourth, -25hp and so on.

Also, he can read and use magic in his dragonic form - but he cannot use his ranger cleric skills, nor his bow - he can still use his sword, but loses all of the ranger class bonuses, reducing him to a fighter. Bit like a fallen ranger really.

In essence, he is a lvl 15 fighter/mage will full proficenies in longsword. His stats are unchanged. He cannot use any weapons, other then a sword, spear, or anything that doesn't includes a blade. He can use shields and wear full armour, however he cannot cast spells if he does; he cannot cast ice, death or any non-enegy, non fire based spells. This excludes dimension door.

He retains all of this elven racial abilites, but takes double damage from cold based spells and weapons. He cannot use any magical items, save for weapons and armour. E.g. he can't use wands, but can read scrolls.
His allignment changes to either True Neutral, or Chaotic Neutral depending, for as long as the form lasts.
This form lasts for as long as Calaethis's chooses, up to 4 hours.
Think of bg2 slayer...

Appearence - Calaethis resembles a lizard; an elf covered in thousands of tiny golden scales, each the size of a "normal" skin cell. His skin looks like Sssiks vress'lve's scales. His head is more regal and proud, his brow arched. His face looks like a dragon and an elf merged. His eyes are like the semi-precious stone "tiger's eye", and the iris's are golden fire. He is taller, 5'11, as opposed to 5'9.

May add more to this later, tell me if this looks too unbalanced ok?***

Calaethis eyes burned golden fire. He looked at himself in the marble reflection, and snarled. His hands began an incantation and his mouth utter acane words he didn't know he had in him. A shimmering portal formed. He stepped though...

He looked around. He was in a glade, a small pool was nearby. He cursed savagely, why was he here? Swearing profoundly, he snarled aloud, "And where were You when I needed You, Mother?" His goddess's avatar appeared, and gently touched his cheek. "Did I not tell you that it would not be easy, My child? I am... sorry you had to go though this, but it is necessary. You will get though this, I promise you, My child. Do not forget I still love you." Calaethis snarled "And for this - this, I have forsaken my family? My cousin disowned, by her hand, and though my deeds? Because of *this*" he spluttered. "Damn You, but if this was the price of my power, take it back!" The goddess embraced him, "Your cousin still loves you, and I would not take this back, even if I could. You do not understand My child." "I don't *want* to understand! I would have died for her! I loved her more then my own life!" "I know child" she replied. "Hush, I will teach you how to control yourself, and later - when everything has calmed down, you may return..." Before Calaethis could say anything else, the goddess held him, and he slowly changed back into elven form, his dragonic features sinking back into his skin, the arched brow, gone. A white light consumed the pair of them, and they dissapeared, only to reapear in another glade, in an area Calaethis knew not. This glade was ancient, trees covering the sky... Laying the young elf down on soft moss near the pool, his diety soothed him to sleep, and Calaethis drifted into peaceful dreams...

***edit, a couple of points here: a) Cal will be staying away from the party for a while, and b) there *is* a reason behind all of this, and it shall be revealed in the fullness of time.

[ 02-17-2003, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]