Part 5>>>The Shadow of Love (an LoF adventure)

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: Another post for TAO's character.

KayLisa Greywolf

She begins to reply but stops short as the owl shifts in form and a man stands before. A brief widening of her eyes indicates her surprise, but time is too short to dwell long on this.

“Yes,” she replies.

“Yes, I summoned you.” she says once more, this time in a fairly accurate reproduction of the hooting tones by which owls communicate.

The dull monotone of the wolves has drawn closer and even within the protection of the stone circle she can feel a hint of its numbing effect. Her wolves raise their nostrils to the air and the smallest among them begin to whimper upon catching the scent of the banewolves. She looks intently at this unexpected answer to her call, her eyes shining silver in the dim starlight.

“I summoned you,” she says in the common tongue of these forums, “but I will not force you to do what I ask.” She pauses to be sure she is understood. “I am called KayLisa Greywolf and the sound you hear drawing closer is the call of creatures who seek my destruction and the destruction of all who would stand against the power of Modding Shadow. Banewolves they are called.” Once more she pauses briefly. “That there is nothing of the Shadow about you is clear for you would not have gained entry to this grove had you been so tainted. What manner of man you are beyond that I do not know. The spirit within you is strong, but you must be strong as well for what needs to be done.” She pauses once more and her eyes narrow in focused appraisal of the man.

“Of the things that live, I know of only an owl that could move in untroubled flight among the banewolves. That is why I issued the call which summoned you and your appearance may be a sign that a chance for life might be found among so much death. An owl can be a great help. But there are things an owl cannot do, but that a man brave and sure of heart might accomplish.” Again she pauses.

“I will not force you. You are free to leave. But if you would attempt what I ask, then we must act quickly for there is very little time in which to prepare.”

[ 02-11-2005, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Larry_OHF]

Larry Silverfall

He looked at the woman with a fake expression of comprehension...then to his guard, then back to the woman.

"..."

"...okaaaay...well. I suppose we should be getting back downstairs now. I fear for the safety of my friends. As I may have said before, we left them to tend to two fiends of the Mage of Shadow. We must be going now, unless there was something else that we can help you with?"

[dplax]

Plaxica 11/85

"I have heard many tales about you, and I would be more than willing to help you in your fight against the shadow." - he paused wetting his parched lips with his tongue - "Yet I am wounded and weary, for I come from a battle against minions of the Mage of Shadow. The one known as Andrion and a drow were attacking those who tried to block their way to Larry when I fled." - he hung his head in shame.

"I met Andrion twice earlier today. The first time there were five guards with me and the mage took care of all of them with a spell of Horrid Wilting which caused the spirit inside me to take on a consciousness of its own and it brought me out of danger then. The second time I met the mage there was the Inquisitor Marcos, Vincent, Silt and several guards, yet through manipulation of time and well-placed spells the mage clearly had the edge. I was attacking him in hand to hand combat, when a spell he had previously prepared came into effect and nearly killed me."

He lowered his head and looked at his boots while he spoke.

"That was the second time that the spirit inside took over control of my actions, and again brought me out of the danger, yet I can not help but feel that I have betrayed those I left in the castle of Lesismoore."

Here Plaxica paused for several seconds, trying to gather his thoughts.

"So, I would be willing to help you, yet I do not know whether with my injuries and weariness I shall be of much help to you."

He lifted his head back up and looked into the eyes of the druidess.

"What would you have me do?"

[Legolas]

And then there were three

For a moment, it looked like the remaining guards were going to jump the tigress. Silver shone in their hands and with two dead, they were not found wanting for a good cause to slaughter her.

Realism stopped them dead in their tracks. How could even a hundred guards kill that thing if she slaughtered them with such ease?

And Simmis, he decided he was going to be captain not by killing the enemy, but by becoming the veteran guard if ever there would be fresh recruits. It wasn't treachery, exactly. They were ordered to stall, not to die. It had been long enough.

He gestured.

"U... u... u...pp... up..."

Clutching at a chance to live, the other two nodded vigorously.

"It's up the stairs," one added.

"In the tower," added his helppful friend.
"all the way...

"U... u... u...pp... up...," went Simmis.

There was more nodding, as they nervously shuffled their feet.

[Bozos of Bones]

Kynnen 57/85

Kynnen noticed his enemy was fleeing. He almost taunted him again, but that would mean braking his concentration on the spell. Instead, he decided to resume his casting, knowing that he could still use strength to kill if he met some guards. Guards. With the idea of killing more, Kynnen finished his spell with a grin on his face. Feeling the magic imbued into his body, he took a moment to stretch and let it seep into every inch of his body. He looked down at his ankle, and, seeing it bent the wrong way, but not broken, he bent over, gripped the ankle with both hands, above and below, and forced it back in place. A sort of reverse of the popping sound from before resounded as Kynnen's face tilted for a second. Kynnen took a moment to look around the room. Bones, several guards, a paladin, judging by the symbols on himself, and an archer. He knew that somewhere near the door the body of Andrion laid. He decided that he would not leave the room without some.. souveniers. He proceeded to the place he saw the mage die, and looked for his corpse, feeling about with his weapon. The mage had a peculiar amulet Kynnen wanted.

OOC: He intends to spend a few rounds here, looting the place. He intends to take whatever he may find and he deems it has some use to him. Unless anyone thinks this seems too ... ya know?

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: One more for TAO.

KayLisa Greywolf

Her gaze is not without sympathy as the man tells his story for she was once a young shifter herself and she has known others new to their condition who could not easily master the willfulness of the spirit within them. Still, flight would be disastrous here .......

“Spirits such as that within you are capable of many things,” she says, “but they know nothing of sacrifice.” The silver of her eyes darkens and her voices shifts once more into a series of low hooting sounds. “Now is not the time for your selfishness,” she speaks directly to the spirit and the strength of the command in her tone is unmistakable, “for the lives of many are in danger.” Her voice shifts again into the familiar cadences of common speech, “And you will have neither strength of body nor of will while you are wounded in this way.”

She removes her gloves. Her hands, as well as her forehead bear runic marks that are etched deeply into her skin. Placing her hands on either side of the man’s head, but not touching him, she looks skyward and intones a soft, vaguely musical prayer. The runic marks on her hands and forehead glow blue with power. As the prayer reaches its conclusion she shifts her gaze to meet the eyes of the man and a blue light washes over him. Vigor and health are restored to tired limbs and the lingering pain of battle drains away. The light lingers over the man as she steps away from him and puts on her gloves.

ooc – Plaxica has been fully healed.

[dplax]

Plaxica 85/85

Magic worked in mysterious ways, as did those who used it. Some used its powers for destruction, while others used its powers in more peaceful ways. The magic passed through his body and he felt that the harm which had been done to him by one magic user was now undone by another. He smiled a warm smile as a thanks to Tao.

"Thank you. What is it that you would wish of me?"

[Larry_OHF]

For Kynnen:

You search about, finding yourself in a possible gold mine of treasure for the taking. Your first thoughts drift to the mysterious and powerful mage, who would most likely have the best treasures. Even as you poke around for him, his body fades into view. With the body growing cold, the amulet no longer hid the mage's flesh and materials from the eyes of onlookers.

You search his belongings.

Here is what you have found:

normal-looking boots, worn down and old.
the robe he is wearing
his belt
a normal dagger
an amulet around his neck.

OOC>>>PM about the amulet.
Let me know when you are ready to look at another dead guy in the room, by posting who and when.

[ 02-12-2005, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Larry_OHF]

Nanashi

She stared hard at the men, and a low growl emenated from her throat. She smiled, and it was a vicious, sinister grin. The three guards felt that maybe she was getting ready to attack again with that look in her eye. But she never did. Instead, the female turned and headed back toward the way she had come. She was now on her way.

She began to search and find her way around the castle, locating any passage that might lead upwards. Her speed was tremendously fast.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

ooc: Another in a series of posts made on TAO’s behalf by someone who isn’t her.

KayLisa Greywolf

She does not answer his question immediately, but quietly places several items in a leather pouch. The last item that she adds is a small bottle of water. “This water,” she says quietly, “was taken from the spring at the heart of this Grove. It is bitterness to those who walk not according to the ancient ways, and it is cleansing and life to those that do.” She closes the pouch and places it in the hands of the man. Her grip is firm on his hands and it lingers as she speaks, the pressure of her fingers adding emphasis to her words, “A friend of mine was lost this night beyond all hope of living again. I would see that his death is not meaningless.” With these words she releases her hold and steps away. The droning calls of the banewolves have grown silent, but the cowering of the wolves within the circle announces that the danger has drawn close.

“There is not much time and you must move swiftly,” she says. “You must find the spot where he was slain and you must do so before his blood has finished draining into the earth. Arcades was his name, the dragon who served as guardian of the Ley Lines. His blood will seek to return to the lines but it has been corrupted by the banewolves. Should it not be purified the Lines shall be poisoned beyond all healing.” She pauses, her ears now very alert to any changes in sound. “When you find the place, crumble the herbs into the water and press the runestone into the soil. Then cry out to the gods as the spirit within you knows how and pour the water over the rune.” Again she stops. Her gaze is the frightened and solemn look of one both well aware of the dangers she is to face and willing to meet them. “You must follow the steps in the order I have given you and you must not stop for any reason once you have begun.”

A low growling intrudes upon the quiet of the grove. Even the oldest of the wolves whimpers in response. “Go!” she says, “before your limbs grow numb and movement is impossible. Go!”