Around Faerun in 80 Days

[Kyrvias]

Such is life in a 2nd edtion world...

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Derisive laughter and loud arguments over doctrine settled into a hush as the woman stepped into the room. Ceremonial guards and acolytes looked at each other uncomfortably, and only the leader seemed comfortable, even eager, to greet this particular challenger. The woman was as feral and animalistic as she was their last encounter, but moreso with the power of the grove coursing through her. She gazed at the sorceress with hungry eyes.

"Well, what have we here?"
"You know damn well what you have here."
"Such language in such a sacred place. I should kill you where you stand for such blasphemy."
"You speak to me of blasphemy? You have invaded this place with your foul presence."
Faldorn tilted her head haughtily. "A subject you know much about as sure as I know much about you. Don't think I can't smell the source of your unholy power, Raven."
"I am at peace with myself and the source of my power. I do not regret the choices I have made."
"You left the true path because you couldn't handle your past. You will learn that there are concequences for your mistakes."
"I have made no mistakes! Leaving the grove was the correct decision." Raven raised her voice, commanding the attention of the druids around her. "Look at yourselves! Do you have any idea what you have done to the town of Trademeet? What you've done to the images of druids across Amn? Do you have any idea what must be done to repair this? This is not the way of the druid!"
Faldorn sniffed. "You are in no place to comment on the way of the druid. When you leave our ranks, you abandon the right to question our actions. You said so yourself, long ago. Or have you forgotten?"
"I forget nothing. You are the one who has forgotten, Faldorn. You have drained the strength of the grove."
"I have taken nothing. The Mother feeds me that I might fight for her."
"No, Faldorn. Your power was stolen, and I am here to ensure that it is properly returned."
Faldorn looked around. The druids were now whispering among themselves, some of them even looking hopeful at the prospect of Faldorn's ruin.
"Silence! I am the leader of this grove! Are you going to listen to this woman? She is not one of us!"
"I am no longer among your number because of you, Faldorn."
"Really? I thought you had left us because of your tainted blood."
"Blood is something we cannot help. We simply make of it what we can."
Faldorn looked at the other members of the grove, who were nodding. "This woman is descended from a troll shaman."
Raven merely laughed. "Too distant to make a major difference in anything, Faldorn. But enough to grant me fascinating power."
"I refuse to listen to you any longer. Guards, remove this woman and return her to the earth!"
"You will do no such thing!" The sorceress used a cantrip to amplify her voice and create an interesting play of light around her. "You are subject to the traditions of old, and you will not remain here another day! I have come to issue a challenge!"
Faldorn laughed. "You cannot challenge me! You leave the grove, you relinquish your rights!"
"I, however, remain in the grove." Cernd stepped into the light. "Faldorn, your reign here has ended. I declare you an unfit ruler and issue a challenge, as is my right!"
"SO BE IT! You may fight, but you will fall! Fate demands it!"
"Actually," Raven began, "He is destined to win this fight. Just try casting 'Control-Why' on him. It won't work. The fight is as scripted as 'A Comedy of Terrors.'"
"Damn!" A look of dread crossed Faldorn's face, followed by a flicker of hope. "Am I Improved? We all know I have a 50/50 chance of winning if that's the case."
"Doesn't matter," said Raven. "I can warp the time-space continuum to put me right before the fight, and I'll do it until he wins."
Cernd looked around, incredibly confused. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter," said Raven, "Just get into the pit."

Within minutes, it was over. Raven went back to Trademeet and announced the liberation of the town from the yoke of the genies and Shadow Druids. She contemplated how amazingly talented the diviner/transmuter sculptor was. How else would he know what Mara, Sandra, Esmerelda, and Lilith looked like? Furthermore, why was she not at the center? Mara hadn't lifted a finger on this quest. Not that she was bitter or anything. With a yawn, she headed back to the Druid Grove for a much-needed rest.

[ 12-03-2006, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: Illumina Drathiran'ar ]

[Kyrvias]

Great stuff. Control-Why? Oh dear... That's beautiful

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Status update:

Hello, Dedicated Readers. I just wanted to provide you all with a broad status update, because sometimes the writing is a bit unclear.
All characters are currently at level 12.
Major quests that have been finished: Trademeet/Druid Grove, Planar Prison (details to follow), the graveyard district, skinner murders, Sir Sarles and Helm temple sidequests, Aran Linvail's tasks, and others.

You may have noticed that the time concept has been abandoned. This is because I found my characters far too interesting to hamper them with time restraints. I'm still certain that I'll be finishing the game well under 80 days.

I believe that's it for now. I'll update again soon.
-ID

[Armen]

nice [img]smile.gif[/img] - i found improved faldorn beat cernd so many times i took her cre file out of the override folder - it is so clearly his Destiny to prevail . . .

yours

a Dedicated Reader

[Lord Michael]

*bump*

-an anxious reader

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Expect an update soon... You all know how the holidays can be.

The more I get to know my characters, the more I get to know things about them. For example, Faldorn might need to still be a druid, and Lilith clearly should be a cleric. I'm actually thinking of making her a cleric and taking her for a spin when this project has been completed.

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

Sandra descended the grand staircase with no small amount of swagger. She eyed the two of them as she walked into view, and leveled her gaze upon the smaller one. "Listen, why don't you go upstairs and do what you have to do? I'd like to talk with this guy by myself, anyway."

The smaller man was either taken aback at her brashness, or decided she was too insane to argue with. Either way, he looked to his master, who was also at a loss for words.

"Er... yes. Kill this creature if she cannot free the child."

The smaller one bowed and made a hasty exit, as Sandra looked around for a chair. Finding none, she rummaged through her bag, interrupted only by an annoyed cough from the other creature in the room. She held up one finger, in a "Give me a minute" kind of gesture, and finally found the small pack of rolled cigarettes that Lilith had given her. They were from the Underdark, handmade by the Drow, and were reputed to be the best in the Realms. She brought one up to her mouth, and eyed the larger creature.

"Got a light, Sparky?"

"Sparky? How dare you! You will address me by my proper name!"

Sandra rolled her eyes and conjured a bit of flame with a cantrip, and took a leisurely drag of the cigarette.

"Listen, Sparky. I singlehandedly fought my way across Faerun, over these blasted hills, and through your dungeon... and, if I may say so, my hair still looks FABULOUS. So can you drop this whole 'Oooh, look at me, I'm a mighty dragon' attitude and simply converse with me? Maybe Mara would have fallen for this act, but I won't."

The dragon's head cocked in mention of the name, as though he had forgotten the initial target of his schemes in light of this odd woman.

"Mara? Oh yes, where is she?"

"Beats me. She could be halfway to Spellhold by now. I'm here, instead, so we might as well chat."

"I have no interest in you, creature. I care little for your bastardized blood."

"Ah yes. My mother warned me about folks like you. What did she say?" Sandra tilted her head, remembering... "They're just jealous, honey, that you inherited the magical talents from your ancestors, but you also have our looks."

Firkragg sneered... or at least Sandra thought he sneered. Really, with dragons, it was hard to tell.

"I am considered quite comely by the standards of my race."

"Sure you are. Listen, Sparky, I can tell a lady hasn't been around these parts in a long time. Just look at your lair! Dust and corpses in the corners and everything. Plus, you have time to devise elaborate schemes to bring about disgrace to minor foes in revenge for minor transgressions decades ago." She took another puff of the cigarette. "By the way, you don't mind this, do you? Wait, of course you don't. Anyway, where were we?"

"Erm.. I do not recall."

"Right. So, here's the thing. You want Mara, and she isn't here. And you clearly can't kill me, because she doesn't know where this place is. It looks like the bastard has destroyed your plan."

Firkragg's response was one favored by Neutral Evil characters across the realms. "I refuse to listen to this."

"Like I mentioned, I singlehandedly bested every obstacle you put in my path. What makes you so sure that, were you to make YOURSELF an obstacle, I couldn't just as easily defeat you? Now, before you answer, or before you let your pride get in the way, think about all the great dragons and other villains throughout our history. They lacked perspective, and, quite frankly, they all thought they were immortal."

"You cannot defeat me. This is a fact."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Well, for starters, you don't know Horrid Wilting. You also lack the proper protection for fighting one such as me, or even spells to breach my defenses."

Sandra fondled her cloak, which, after extensive dry cleaning, finally got that Old Sewer Smell out. "I can turn into a Mustard Jelly. That might eventually take you down."

"You surely don't have the patience for such a feat."

"True... And you, too, would eventually grow bored with such a game."

"I suppose I would."

"So I guess we're at a stalemate, then."

"Yes. I suppose we are."

"Sooooo... I guess I better leave now. Care to have a drink with me?"

"I prefer to keep my interactions with your kind to a strict minimum."

"Hey, you're the one who sought me out. Anyway..." Here she glanced at her watch. "It was nice chatting with you, and I'll probably be back at some point. We can boast about our fighting prowess and have a fight to the death then, 'kay, Sparky?" She turned and headed up the stairs.

"If you ever call me Sparky again, it will result in your immediate death."

Sandra paused. "Funny thing about that, Sparky.. You can't fit through the doors I'm about to go through. Rather short-sighted of you, wouldn't you say? Anyway, if I were you, I would head down to Calimshan and maybe get some throw rugs and pillows down here. It would liven the place up quite a bit." With a carefree laugh, Sandra left the legendary beast to ponder just what the hell had happened.

[ 01-05-2007, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: Illumina Drathiran'ar ]

[Lord Michael]

Love it Love Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Really, with Dragons, it was hard to tell."
[img]smile.gif[/img]

Excellent work!

[Lord Michael]

*bump*

Any new stories coming?