Part 7>>>The Shadow of Love (an LoF adventure)

[Larry_OHF]

For Tao:

As you already know, the area you find yourself in is the swamps of Lesismoore. You have emerged from an ancient oak that sits several hundred feet from the beginnings of the marshy soil, facing East which is the front side of the castle Lesismoore. Your eyes are keen enough to see ditch that has been dug around the perimiter of the castle, and the excavation site is guarded by nobody.

In the middle of the marsh you see a most grotesque sight of a number of enormous leeches bunched up over what appears to be a carcass of some kind underneath. The thing they are draining is already dead, but the kill had to have been recent. You cannot tell what the victim might have been.

OOC>>>In case you missed it, the victim was Liam, brother of Nanashi. If you happen to learn the identity of the thing under all the leeches, you might pass along the information that her brother is dead. [img]smile.gif[/img]

You are free to roam about, including the exploration of the excavation sight where you would find an open window from a building underneath the one that sits above ground. Down those corridors and down those stairs, you'll eventually find some people you might know, and at least one of them you might have not expected to ever find underground again!


Tower Team:

And so it was that Andrion the powerful yet reluctant servant of the Mage of Shadow joined the Echo to witness the finalization of a grand masterpiece of illusionary magic projected by the great artist who was just some guy named Joe. Yet to these two, it could have all been reality. Besides, who was Joe?

Silverfall held the power of Shadows at his fingertips, the great huntress was brought down by her assailants, The large bodyguard with his silver-tipped rod and the shadow-assassin standing solomnly over their fallen enemy...these and many more things lingered still and silent for a moment as though a strange peace had suddenly fallen over the entire room.

As the two Shadow Servants looked on at the Scene of Defeat, the fictional characters, the sounds, sights and smells...those all dissapated like shadows melting in the light. The scene that was left showed the onlookers a fallen and possibly dead tiger, a fallen elven lady, a fallen Silverfall and his bodyguard kneeling beside him, none of them anywhere near where they were last standing only a second earlier. What was going on here?

Only Echo noted that a man was missing in the ranks of these intruders. He had been an eye witness to how many there were. Where was he now?

[ 06-23-2006, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Cyril Darkcloud]

Joseph

The final aspect of the seeming to fall away, of course, is that aspect which veils his own presence. Were he not so exhausted he would have managed the conclusion of things differently, but it has been difficult enough to simply regain his feet and recover his balance. He is vulnerable for the moment, and in this racket, a vulnerable guy is a dead guy. That’s why a guy needs to make sure he’s ready for stuff like being completely wiped out after a long day of plane crossing and tower breaching and making sure he don’t get his head torn off by the chick with the fangs and claws. A simple gesture activates the enchantment of his belt – any edge at a moment like this is a good one, and this one has generally proven to be effective.

He’d give anything for a chance to rest, but he can ill afford to relax. “Six steps ahead of the competition,” that’s what he learned as a young man new to the Art. “Seven, of course, is better.” This he taught himself. But here, a guy’s gotta refuse to settle for anything less than eight.

The situation is still his to define. He unsheathes his blade......

..... The last aspect of the seeming falls away to reveal a small pool of blood near the lycanthrope and Joseph cleaning the blade of a glowing dagger. “I gotta hand it to ya, Toots, you’re pretty good,” he says as he rises to his feet. “But me, I’m magic.” *

He looks at Morg as he stands, “Look I know you didn’t like the idea, but you gotta admit the kid was right. The poison did the trick.”

He turns then in the direction from which Echo had last spoken, “Echo, buddy, can you believe these guys? ‘Use the shadows,’ they say. ‘Burn the fancy scroll. Hide in the shadows. Hope the kid can use some of that fancy shadow power of his. Stick her with the poison.’ Now that’s all well and good in theory I tell ya, but I coulda been killed here. I mean just looks at those teeth. That’s the trouble these days, the guys what are the heroes come up with the plans and but it’s the working stiff who gets stuck going up against the monster with nothing but a pixy stick. Now that just ain’t right.”

* With a tip of the hat to Frank Miler's classic original run in the Daredevil comic.

[ 11-23-2005, 01:07 AM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

[Larry_OHF]

The Echo

The Echo had no reply ready. This puny human had created this entire fiasco, keeping Nanashi guessing as to where the attack was really coming from, and in the end, she was done in by a mere poisoned blade and a man of increadible talent, humble only in word. The Echo had nothing to taunt about.

The elven lady had already fallen before this battle, but Nanashi had at least done some damage to Silverfall in the course of her prowl. It was not apparent how much, but she had tried to get him. There was only Andrion now who could deal death to the enemies...but he was a mere owl. The fight battle was over.

This Joseph could not be stopped. The shadow guardians of the Tower would certainly not be able to withstand him if the great Tiger has fallen! What was to be done? Silently, the Echo brooded over the matter.

OOC>>>
This is a tie-in to Andrion's arrival, filling in the scene a bit more so that the full effect could be taken in from all angles possible.

It also proves without a shadow of a doubt who is the real culprit behind the seeming death of Nanashi (She is not dead, but she thinks she is at this time, and so is out cold for a while. Joe actually bled her under the canopy of his illusions which only adds to the appearance that she has been slain as he brags aloud about it as if he were the one to have done it.)

[ 11-23-2005, 01:00 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[TAOWolf]

She finds herself a few hundred feet from the edge of the swamp, and looks around, eyes glowing dimly. She looks towards the castle, and frowns slightly, watching the huge leeches at work.

The part of her tainted with shadow chuckles, but is quickly shut down by the other part, protected by the runes, and she whispers to herself, ”Hush, you do not have that much control over me…”

She slowly moves closer to the ditch, watching the leeches warily, but they are not interested in her, only their meal. She notices a ring on one finger of the right hand, held in the death grip of ultimate terror, and her eyes flash as she recognizes it.

She looks to the sky, and says a silent prayer to the one known as Liam, and sends a blessing to his spirit to be at rest. Skirting past the leeches, she walks around he castle, ignoring the doors, and notices a small window in what appears to be a much older foundation.

She can sense that the cause of the disruption to the ley lines falls down this path, and settling her pack, she lightly taps her staff to the ground.

”I’m getting really tired of castles, and shadows…” she whispers to the wind as she heads towards the window and what might await her below..

[Elif Godson]

Vincent Pathfinder 89/98

Having managed to slip back into the shadow's avoiding any sight with the creature, Vincent thought about his next move. He realized his own weapon's were useless in this battle being the best he could do would be to stab the creature with arrow's which would be highly ineffective. Just then the creature pulled the long sword from it's back and threw it and then attacked again with it's breath. Watching where the sword landed he headed through the shadow's to that location all the while keeping a weary eye on the combat at hand. Yevaud was a marvel to watch, even in his tired state he was impressive with his blades, Anrrima however was not faring as well. Finding the weapon he was searching for, he changed his attention to pick it up and give it a quick inspection. Hearing word's of magic being spoken he looked back to see the creature rear in pain, he saw the Yevaud move in and attack with the creature faliing upon him in fury. With the creatures full attention on Yevaud, Vincent had the perfect opportunity to attempt a finishing blow on the creature. Reversing his grip on the sword he came out of the shadow's to the creatures back side attempting to drive the blade home just under it's skull at the base of the neck trying to sever it while controling any chance of a mishap considering Yevaud's plight..

[Larry_OHF]

For the Castle Team:

The daedroth was attacked by a sneaky hit from Vincent which severed its spinal cord and shut the beast down completely. The creature did not even scream nor flail about, rather it merely slumped down and was dead. The three remaining adventurers in this team had won this tough battle.

However, their health was not so well. Anarrima and Yevaud had both been plagued by the creature which continued even after death. To underline this problem, Anarrima's frail body shook with a jolt again, but her prayer she was working on was not disrupted this time as she concentrated so hard to keep her thoughts focused.

OOC>>>Anarrima took another 3 hp damage but remained focused on her prayer.

She had been working on Cure Serious Wounds which was the fastest spell she could get off that had enough healing in it to be worth the effort. When she noticed Yevaud getting really hurt, she knew she had to save him as quickly as possible. She is not even aware that the battle is over, so focused she is on this spell.


Anarrima 44/67

Anarrima casts: Cure Serious Wounds on Yevaud.

Yevaud has recovered +24 hp

She opened her eyes to behold the world again. Surprisingly, She saw Vincent standing over a dead daedroth, which had been pushed off of Yevaud who was looking a bit better than he had a moment ago, thanks to her healing.

"Is...it over? Did we win?"

[ 11-23-2005, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Elif Godson]

Vincent Pathfinder 89/98

Rejoicing inwardly at finishing off this creature he wiped the blood from the blade and notoed the blade. Smiling he lent Yevaud a hand to help him up. " Is...it over? Did we win?"... Yes, I believe this one is dead, but I doubt anything is over with just yet. You two should rest a moment and I will have a listen at the far door."

[Larry_OHF]

Anarrima 44/67

Vincent was right. She was mentally exausted. The powerful magic strike against the beast and then the anguish at trying to get a healing spell out amidst the onslaught of the electrical shocks had left Anarrima so weary that she could not mediate any more divine spells at the moment. She needed to sit still and let the splitting headache subside. She chose a wall to lean against and closed her eyes, and rested.

[Morgeruat]

Yevaud 28/45

Yevaud gratefully accepted the help up, ceasing the mumbled incantation he had begun preparing. He bowed to Anarrima and thanked her for her spell and it’s saving of his life. He also thanked Vincent for his quick thinking and surgical strikes. As much as his body longed for rest as the adrenaline faded he refused to allow himself the luxury. It would not be long before his talents were tested far greater than they had been in this battle, he had barely survived the beast in this room, if a greater guardian was near… he did not like his chances, not that he would ever admit that. With a bit of an exaggeration he twirled once, flaring his cloak with the spin and sat down with the fluid grace of an expert dancer (which he is).

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Morguerat

Morguerat felt the tears fall; they ran down his face and disappeared into his mane. YES it was an answer he hadn’t expected to ever hear again, but whether he did or not his duty was what compelled him, a duty that had been justified by the source most important to him. The world around began to disappear, the danger was of no concern to him, as the large man, who guarded so much about himself broke down silently weeping. His companions said nothing, either from respect or focus on other concerns he knew not, nor did it ultimately matter; but he appreciated the silence. The blood on his hands and on the floor was beginning to dry, but there was much of it, Larry had lost a great deal, and even though he had been fully healed he would likely be weak for some time. But Larry rested easy, the wound was whole and more importantly an answer had been given from a God not well known for bending, compromising, or forgiving. As all of this was sinking in he heard the end of Joseph’s statement, something about a poisoned blade. He nodded numbly and jerked upright looking up the stairway as he recalled the weretigress. He saw her form crumpled on the stairs, and above and beyond her an owl, herald of the WindBringer, but this one had a sinister air about it, evil eyes that glowed and pierced, seemingly through to the bared soul most men hid. Morguerat confident once again stood, looked to the corrupted owl (corrupting the toys of others had long been a favorite pastime of the Modding Mage he suddenly recalled) feeling the heft of the staff he hurled it up the stairs in a dual challenge; look into my soul and fear righteousness, mingled with eat this, bird-brain.

The tears continued to fall silently as he smiled grimly watching the staff sail up the stairs.

[ 07-30-2006, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[mistral4543]

It was all confusion, as always. And the confusion surrounded Larry, as always. It had happened in the past, it was happening now, and in all likelihood, it would continue to be so.

Appearing now would be an acceptance of the wrong that had been committed, over the past few years. Yet remaining passive would be a decision to watch his life drain away. Was death the right penalty for him, even if he had blundered no more than a typical bumbling ranger? The answer, though obvious, shook her to the very core. How could she ever break free from this horrendous lie she had been forced to live with, all these years? Was it fair that she had to bear the brunt of these assumptions?

The sense of dread that shrouded her was exceeded only by a wave of indignant anger. How tired she was of all this nonsense!

“Larry Silverfall, you’re nothing but a selfish pig!!!”

She was almost choking on the words and her tears.

“You’ll get up like a man and undo the wrong you’ve put me through, instead of lying there like a squashed pop tart!”

Would he remember the past, especially about the pop tarts?

”I’m sick of living in suspension, you understand? I don’t care if you don’t understand, you goon! You just get up and be a man, you hear me?!!”

Wheezing, she bent over and tried to catch her breath, feeling the beads roll from the corner of her eyes down her cheeks and splashing onto her wrists.