Part 2 of -The Shadow of Love -

[Larry_OHF]

For Marcos:

As you look about, you recognize a battered old Oak that had been hit by lightning some years earlier and bares the scar down it's trunk. This tells you that you are about four hours ride to the tavern where Larry's company began this adventure they set out on.

For role-playing purposes, take your man all the way to the tavern at least, or even pick up the trail that Liam led into the forest where they are temporarily staying...depening on your desire. If your character makes it to town, then please add to your post that the dark form that was tailing you seems to have backed off now that you are in town, as you do not feel it's closeness like you did before on the trail. If you do not make it to the tavern in your next post, assume that the creature is still there somewhere, keeping it's distance.

[dplax]

OOC: managed to get an hour on the net. I'm online next time either tuesday or wednesday.

Andrion Wilgor 47/60

Anger was boiling in him. He had nearly stood up and swung his staff at Roderik when Silt started speaking. He saw reason in Silt's words. He could deal with the annoying bard later, when the situation was more to his advantage. Silt helped him up and Andrion wiped his face on the sleeve of his robe. He was surprised to see some blood on it.

"I shall forget that you hit me. Here take this stupid candle."

Andrion threw the candle at the middle of Roderik's chest.

[Morgeruat]

Roderik 64/70

Taken by surprise by Andrion's returning the candle the bard barely managed to catch it before it hit the ground after bouncing off his chest. He quickly wrapped it in his cloak and placed it carefully in his pack (next to the broken arrow) and then set off after Silt, letting the elf lead the way forward.

[ 06-14-2004, 10:42 AM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]

[Skydracgrrl]

ooc- now now boys, play nice! [img]graemlins/hehe.gif[/img]
Larry, I'm going to assume that everyone in the Necklace team "passed the test"...

ic-
As the Necklace team peered questioningly at the two entangled trees, one by one their looks turned to wonder and surprise and a few actually bothered to rub their eyes, to check their sight.

The two trees had disappeared to be replaced with a comfortably sized cabin, with an herb/vegatable garden to the side and a chicken coop in the back. Around the building about half a dozen chickens wandered about, clucking to each other as they scratched in the dirt or wandered back to the coop. What was even stranger than this sudden appearance of civilization midst the wilderness was the immense number of cats.

Sprawled on the roof, across the steps and porch, yawning casually on the ground, sniffing the empty food bowls, pestering the chickens with a bored paw, cats of all shapes and sizes were everywhere. There were tortoise, wild, tabby, black, gray, yellow, calico; ones with green eyes, or purple, or yellow, or brown. And there were even a few more wild varieties, such as bobcats, caracals, lynx, jungle cats, leopards, margays, and many more that the group could not name. Not a single tiger was to be spotted in their midst.

The cats and chickens seemed to live in a somewhat peaceful co-existance, and as the spell fell away from the cabin a few cats glanced in the group's direction, sniffing with disinterest.

Liam

Liam shot KayLisa a look, then his eyes narrowed into what could only be described as amusement. "Indeed, I do not think we arre in much dangerr of this dangerrous tigerr that is rrumourred to be about. I am surre my frriends would tell me beforre he could get close." The tall man gestured towards the multitude of cats.

"Welcome to my home. I do hope none of you arre, how do you say, allerrgic?" he gifted the group with a wry grin before leading them towards the cabin. A few cats wove their way over to him to sniff him and yowl, obviously in protest of him bringing uninvited houseguests and about the state of their food dishes.

"Ahh, you complain too much, little one. You know you arre frree to come and go as you wish, to hunt," the tall man addressed one particularly adamant tabby with mismatched eyes. It sniffed and wandered off in response, it's tail twitching irritably. Liam shrugged his shoulders and continued to lead the way to the door of the cabin, cats and chickens moving out of his way with their own parting comments.

"Herre, feel frree to eat. Therre is some food still available in the cupboarrds, I'm surre. I must quickly look afterr my frriends, then I will help you come up with a solution as to how you will check on the otherr grroup's prrogrress, Larrry," the tall man drawled in his strange accent before walking back outside.

The group is now within a small kitchen. Light streams in through a window in front of them, and a window to their left. From the rafters hangs a variety of flowers and herbs, and there's a dusty, aromatic smell to the room, probably because of all the herbs. A strong table with an assortment of chairs is in the middle, and to the right there is a hearth and chimney, with an immense black couldron hanging, obviously to cook soups and other things in. A kettle hangs off to the side, and a few plain wooden cupboards reveal more silverware and dishes and cooking utensils, as well as a variety of food and cooking herbs. Two doors, one to the left of the hearth, one to the group's immediate right, are closed.

Strangely enough, this room seems to be almost cat free, containing only three cats: one elegant, female cat with gray-brown fur and dark stripes sat on the edge of the table, watching the group with sea-blue eyes. Another, more grizzled, older male lounged across the cabinet top, his tail twitching impatiently. He watched the group with the one eye he had remaining, the colour of dark amber. His fur is a rather gray shade, tinged with olive brown. White and black spots contrast across his pelt. Lying along the hearth is a pregnant female, her eyes squinted to mere slits. Her amber pelt, with black spots, moves up and down with her breaths.

ooc- the second cat is a Fishing Cat, here's an image. [img]smile.gif[/img] http://members.aol.com/cattrust/fishing.htm
and the third cat is a Kodkod, here's an image. [img]smile.gif[/img]
http://members.aol.com/cattrust/kodkod.htm

[ 06-14-2004, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: Skydracgrrl ]

[Skydracgrrl]

Originally posted by Larry_OHF: Lyulfe and Rong: If I am not mistaken, you are in the cave, and have made your decision to seek out the others. If you choose, you can try to find them, but remember that you think that at least one of the three is dead as you saw that grave outside. You do not know if there is further danger ahead.

ooc- What can I say, we're crazy like that [img]smile.gif[/img]

ic- Lyulfe

The pair continued along the lit passageway, observing traces of recent disturbances.

ooc- so, DM, where shall they end up? will they encounter any trouble? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[TAOWolf]

her eyes fairly shine, reflecting silver splashes of light around her as she moves to the porch, stopping briefly to look at the cats smiling as she whispers softly, "beannachdan shuasair sibh" {{blessings upon you}}

As she steps onto the first board, a radiant smiles crosses her face, the first true genuine smile in decades. She stops just inside the door, moving slightly to the left to allow the others inside, and drinks in the smells and sights as she removes her gloves, resting both hands upon her staff. A single silver tear rolls down her cheek, and she looks at Liam, shaking her head slowly... "One day... if the goddess allows, I shall have a place like this again... one day..."

She smiles softly again, and walks out, sitting down on the porch steps, cradling her chin in her hands as she stares skyward..........

[Larry_OHF]

Candle Team +

Andrion, Silt, and Roderik easily found their way back up through the tunnels, giving a curious glance at the darker passageway on level two that they had not attempted yet, but knowing that their fate did not lie in that direction...or not yet anyway.

As they came up from level two into level one, they were surprised by an elf male and a woman coming their way, who seemed equally surprised to see the three of them.

Lyulfe and Rong Er have encountered Andrion, Silt, and Roderik on level one at the stairway, with level two's entrance behind them.

OOC>>>You may now interact, and then do what you wish regarding direction to travel.

=================================================

Larry

As Larry had walked past the chickens, they would all run away though the other members of the team did not have this effect on them. The cats, on the other hand, seemed to be more than a little interested in studying Larry intently. They stared, walked around him, approached cautiously and sniffed, then retreated slowly. This went on for quite a while, and it began to unnerve the ex-ranger.

He took a seat in the room they had been led to, and thankfully, Larry only saw three cats. However, these three also seemed to have a keen interest in him, and did not let any subtle movement bypass their inspection.

"Kaylisa? What are they doing? Do I smell like fish or something? Did you guys cast a prank spell on me?"

[Larry_OHF]

The Shadow Mage, Lord of Shadows

During the years that the Shadow Mage had reigned on this forum, he had grown powerful enough to recruit many minions of darkness to his side. Not all of them were there in the day that he fell and the tower crumbled. Larry, in his arrogent pride, had not thought it expedient to enlist the help of everyone he had in his hire that day that the Windbringer came with his two filthy whores and ruined his climatic overtaking of all of Ironworks.

Once upon a time, a man served a shadow that he did not know in physical representation, but knew simply by it's dark heart and ill intents. It filled him with hatred for others and desires to do as he wished with no regard to others' lives. He thought the ideas were his, but never figured out that he was but a pawn for the darker evils.

This man wanted to rule, and in his evil plot, his family suffered. First, his brother was killed by minions sent to remove his presence. The deceased's wife had two children, a son and a daughter. The son was not present that day when the father was slain, but later was presented his dead father's body. He went in search of his mother and baby sister, but they had fled danger and were well hidden from even his attempts to find them. He vowed to find them, still.

However, the Uncle found those two before the son did, and killed the mother in attempts to torture information from her. He wanted to know if an heir existed that would jeopordize his ownership of power. She died as her tongue remained silent. The little girl was but five years old.

Now the Darkness that had filled the Uncle had its own plans, for it realized a more powerful ally in the young girl. Somebody that could be molded into what it wanted her to be, and so in the act of betrayal, allowed the uncle to be killed by his own men. The little girl was witness to this as well, and knew only what the Darkness told her,,,that he had avenged the blood of her mother in her behalf and that she now owed allegiance to Him.

Years passed. The one named Larry Silverfall had lost his love in a tragedy, and the Darkness heard the man's heart breaking. In a scheme that would change the world of Ironworks forever, the Darkness had an idea to become corpeal. He invaded the heart of Larry Silverfall, teaching him how to suppress his anger and loss and suffering with the cool savor of the Shadows. As Larry Silverfall was filled with Shadow Magic, he began to lose more of himself, until the Darkness was all that was left, except for a fragment of humanity still clinging on for hope of a brighter day.

In his new form, the Shadow Mage, the Modding Mage of Ironworks caused much mischief. None could stop him until Cyril Darkcloud decided to visit the Realms of our forum. He recruited the right people and worked in the right manners, and ridded the forum of the Mage. At the time, the little girl that had grown up into a beautiful young lady with the heart of ice and the eyes to prove it had been on another assignment far away. She felt her Master die and realized that she had lost the only person that had ever cared for her since her mother's death. Yet, suddenly hope filled her cold heart, for the Mage's closest and most powerful allies could feel that he would someday return.

That day came sooner than expected. Not only that, but a strange twist of fate actually separated the humanity of Larry Silverfall away from the Darkness upon his ressurrection, but by then it had grown so powerful that it had a new form of it's own now.

Today, sitting in his throne room, the Lord of Shadows called forth all of his former allies, letting them know that the path had been made to return, and safety was again at the tower for those that served him.

Many dark allies of his had already joined with the Reaper, and betrayed their former master for fear that he was weak and would again fall to the light. Or the Storms. The Shadow whispered to them that they would die for their betrayal.

Those did not matter to The Dark One. He did not need them. He was satisfied with those that were left, who were the truest allies. Among those, the sister of Liam who he had not seen since her birth to his mother.


OOC>>>In summary, this outlines the following:

1. Subplot for Liam, involving his sister
2. History of the Shadow Mage and of Larry
3. Some of the Reaper's monsters

[ 06-15-2004, 09:34 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Skydracgrrl]

ooc- *claps hands* yay, good summary Larry! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Lyulfe

The handsome elf blinked his eyes, a bit surprised at finding the group so soon, and also finding all three of them mostly intact. "But whose..." he murmured, brow crinkling slightly in confusion. He shrugged, knowing that the story was probably too long to tell.

"So we meet again. I suppose you achieved what we came here for originally? If so, we should hurry, Larry will be waiting for us," he said, still eyeing the three somewhat quizzically.

[Morgeruat]

Roderik 64/70

Looking at his still slightly chilled hand, the bard chuckled, "indeed this leg of the quest nears it's end, let us be gone before darker and more vile things come out to greet us."

{editted for font tags}

[ 06-15-2004, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: Morgeruat ]