LOF - Aftermath: A restless Hunger

[Lord Starshadow]

The elf did not like her tone. And he could feel her fear, which was quickly replaced by contempt. It brought a smile to his face. "You're a bit cocky considering the situation you're in," Syrathic answered in another harsh whisper. "A simple accident," now the tip of the elf's second blade joined the first at the woman's back, "and you could be returning to nature. And wouldn't that just be a shame?" The elf's tone made it obvious that he had a dark smile on his face.

Syrathic had learned in his many travels that the unexpected guest could be either a great boon or a deadly enemy. He was not taking any chances on it being the latter, but it was not for him to say whether she would be the former. It was a result of his learned mistrust, instilled in him in his early years. Trust could only be earned through blood. The group had earned some of his trust in the battle with the creature the afternoon before, and he was happy to see them ready to defend him in this standoff. It had been a long time since he had had that.

Even though he could see that his companions were up and about now, he did not relax his guard. He figured that she would be doubly dangerous now, ready to get herself out of the situation if necessary. "I am not the leader nor the one who asked for reinforcements, so you are lucky in that regard. You will live for now. But do not make a move or I will be forced to cut. And do not think that you will escape my blades. If you try to spin, I will slice. If you rush forward, you will be skewered. I don't think you'll back into my blades, so we'll leave that possibility out. And you will not get a spell off before I disrupt it. Leaves you at a bit of a disadvantage, don't you think? Now let's see what comes from this, shall we?" He poked her gently with the tip of one of the blades to punctuate his point.

[ 11-11-2002, 03:45 AM: Message edited by: Lord Starshadow ]

[mistral4543]

Rhianneth

Despite the spinning world about her, she remained conscious enough to realise she was actually laughing caustically ~ "Yes, indeed... you have the upper hand and delight in harping on your advantage." ~ To hell with fear! I came for one purpose and if this is the end... so be it! ~ "It seems I have been the fool, then." ~ Her eyes flashed at the sky, glittering brilliantly ~ "I could have slain the whole lot of you from afar, but like a gullible fool that comes in peace, I find myself in this most... interesting situation."

Damn you, Mistral! Even in death, you have so many allies...

Her back still facing her most violent aggressor, she spoke again, with deadly calm.

"I repeat: I wish only to speak to the one who sought reinforcements." ~ Her face was now an impenetrable mask, lovely even in its haughtiness.

[Morgeruat]

Facing her, Morguerat stands, sheathing his sword, he patted Brendon on the shoulder as he walked forward, hoping that he would understand the signal, Morguerat continued walking until he was in front of Rhianneth, as he spoke softly, his face seemed to change, losing much of the haggardness it had aquired since his fall, and his natural charisma became apparent once more, "I lead this group, what is your business here. waiting a few moments more he added, " I seem to remember you wandering the halls with the Modding Mage who's evil caused this (although indirectly) mess, and yet when it came time for the final battle against him, you were nowhere to be seen, yes I met with nearly all of the Mod Mages henchmen when I served under him briefly. Make you case now, and make it good, or I'll spit you and feed you to the lion myself." Morguerat is now standing nearly 3 feet from her, with his hand on his sword hilt.

[mistral4543]

OOC>>> Alright folks, it's almost nighty night over here so this will have to do for the next few hours Drat timezone differences! *shakes her fist*

Rhianneth

Her gaze lowered to meet his compelling one, and her eyebrows arched slightly as she caught sight of his signal to the youthful-looking face beside him ~ So... that's the one. ~ Briefly, she contemplated exposing the farce then shrugged, wincing as she felt the unfriendly blade point against her neck.

"As you have said yourself, I was not among the henchmen of the Modding Mage." ~ A crease formed on her forehead momentarily, then eased away ~ "That itself should be proof - which I suspect is what you want - of my neutrality." ~ Her eyes quickly raked across the group which had now, inch by inch, crept up, brandishing their weapons with almost laughable ferocity.

Her answer was not satisfactory in the least, she saw that.~ Suspicious throat-cutters... not that I can blame them, she added silently ~ "I come to see for myself the merry band of do-gooders who are all out to destroy evil or what has been rumoured, a Devouring Wind." ~ Seeing that at last she was breaking ground with this revelation, she continued:

"I do not pretend to be a goody-goody two-shoes that will claim justice as my reward." ~ Her voice was gaining confidence by the minute ~ "All I seek is to see for myself the truth of the situation, and to lend a hand, if need be."

It seemed as if her facial features were finally relaxing as she finished her piece ~ "Well? What do you say?"

[RevRuby]

the sound of a lion entertaining the idea of breakfast breaks the small silence. wyrd strides carefully behind morguerat and does not allow the stranger out of sight even as he passes by morguerat and comes to a halt on the man's right hand side, still several feet behind.

smaller notes of a calming hum ride lightly on the morning air. directed at the newcomer ruby's humming builds on it's own strength. the woman can feel it's help in calming her nerves and clears her head of any thoughts that might disrupt her concentration.

*wyrd, darling, she may not be friend, but that does not mean she is foe. please don;t threaten to burn a bridge we may need someday*

[ 11-11-2002, 11:25 AM: Message edited by: RevRuby ]

[Larry_OHF]

Brendon Grey

Suddenly, recollection hit Brendon, and he remembered the name as well as her part in the story that he had read. Dropping his bow to the ground, he walked up for a closer look.

"Yes! I do remember your part in the story of the Mage's Tower. If I remember, you were in a hurry to go somewhere, and never returned. From what I read...it does not seem to be true that you were ever close to the Mad One. You seemed to have your own plans. Yet here you are now! Yet, you seem to be misinformed. The Devouring Wind is from another tale in another part of this world. We are after the Hunge that Mr. Cyril Nightblade left to grow in the ground. It is a Hunger that kills all that tread in the valley of the Mage's runied tower. Noone has even looted the remains of that hellacious place! For all our sakes, I hope to never even be in the same game as the Devouring Wind. So...anyway...why are you here? To venture with us? Did you leave your purse in the tower when you left in such a hurry? You want us to help you get there so you can have all the treasure to yourself?"

OOC>>>Sorry Cyril...my last OOC post was really meant as a sarcastic humorous post...with no real intent of pace setting intended. I just wanted to make Mistral squirm with nervousness...you understand... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe]

"Lower your blades." A voice is heard from the shadows of some treees to the right. Dantes steps out of the clump of a trees appearing as a group of twisting shadows.
"I know of your past and your previous involvement, but what would make you desire to help us in our quest to destroy the hunger. Another companion would be welcomed, but how do we know your are worthy of our trust." Dantes asks.

[Cyril Darkcloud]

THE TREEHOUSE

Zhydo’rah

Such relentless activity within the mind of the one below her! It is as if the strange creature’s life was entirely invested in the act of thinking. So powerful and focused is the thinking that there is little room to intrude upon it. Indeed she would risk being crushed within its movements should she invade this mind. The laughing whispers stir within her breath at this.

Ah! Little Zhydo’rah, you are more now than you were within those tombs and there is nothing to fear even should the great power of that mind be turned upon you ...... O! Yes! For though the dead do not breath, still they move within the air, use it to form words in their mutterings and allow it to bear sound to their lifeless ears ..... Yes! O yes! This will not be difficult in the least .....

It moves from her nostrils, little more than a small breath of stale air, a tiny portion of a much greater draft, and enters the treehouse. It hovers about the little man who sits busily scribbling notes on little white napkins and as he mutters the surface thoughts of his mind, this breath of whispering laughter mingles itself with his words. Without realizing it, the little man becomes insecure in his thinking as the strange new words within his mutterings whisper the nightmare of flawed assumptions and unchecked data and of important information that has been forgotten. There is a burst flame upon the roof of the treehouse and the figure who squatted there is gone leaving little more than the stink of brimstone behind. But as Myron halts in his thinking and faces the nightmare of thought gone horribly off course, the dark hag of night is there within it to greet him. She smiles. No, this has not been difficult in the least.

ooc: Even the NPC's aren't safe. [img]graemlins/blueblink.gif[/img]

[mistral4543]

OOC>>> Me? Squirm?? The bumbling ranger underestimates me [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Rhianneth

A pompous-looking warrior impersonating as the leader of the group... a vicious, taunting stalker... a fresh-faced lad hiding his uncertainty with seemingly brave words... a wary yet honourable gentleman seeking assurance of her trustworthiness...

It was all too funny... so funny that it ought to be forbidden.

Threatened by the stirrings of a restless laughter, she focused on the strains of the strangely soothing music instead. A tiny smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she looked in the direction of its creator. And as she spoke, it seemed as if she were engaging in soliloquy.

"How does one prove his innocence to those who would condemn him at first sight?" ~ A wry smile crossed her face at last and she continued to stare into nothingness ~ "Oh, they would have a million justifications for their distrust... justifications which they would insist are true." ~ The self-imposed strain on her body was beginning to overcome the effects of the music ~ "And if the poison has been planted, all the words in the world will not sway their prejudices."

She blinked for a moment, then exhaled slowly.

There really was nothing to say beyond this.

[Lord Starshadow]

Syrathic moved lowered his blades on Dantes command, lowered them to her lower back, that is. "If you come in peace, why do you attempt to sneak up on us while we are resting? How do you expect us to view you? Especially with the information we have?" He lowered his voice for her ears alone. "And you would not have killed me if you had attmepted to destroy us from a far. I was away on watch. You would've died anyway, with a blade through your back. So consider it your lucky day."

Meanwhile, his thoughts raced forward. "A good amount of treasure, eh? Now that gets my attention. A noble cause is all well and good, but add some treasure to that, and it just gets better and better!"

Aloud, he spoke again to his companions. "So, what do you think, my friends? I do not trust her, but I will defer to your decision." Then for the woman's ears alone. "But I will be watching closely."

[ 11-11-2002, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: Lord Starshadow ]