Part 6>>>The Shadow of Love (an LoF adventure)

[RoSs_bg2_rox]

Silt 61/80

Silt, in spite of the chaos around him, smiled when he saw the familiar faces of Vincent and Marcos. With them, was the elf whom Silt had met earlier, and another, a woman. She promptly proceeded to remind him of his wounds, and he found himself grimancing as she called for his healing. He felt replenished in a moment, and as he saw the woman fall to the ground, clearly exasperated, he did not hesitate to reach down and help her to a sitting position.

"Thank you kind lady, you have taken a great burden from me. My name is Silt, by the way."

He stood silent for a moment, showing his gratitude. He then turned to the others and simply stared, waiting for their reactions to the fleeing guards.

[Morgeruat]

Yevaud

Seeing Ana tiring herself out, and pushing herself on after she should have collapsed pained him, as her sworn protector he could not sit idly by and watch her kill herself, even to save others. "Milady, you must rest, you'll do yourself no good if you push yourself to the point of death, Rest, we will explore this site." He nodded to Silt, thanking him for his help, then pushed the blade of his sword into the soggy earth, and rummaged about in his pack for a wineskin, which he handed off to Anarrima, along with a small wrapped package of dried fruits. "Take some rest, your grace." He then rose and drew his blade up out of the ground, wiping it clean on his cloak in the same fluid motion. He then inspected the edge and slid the sword into his scabbard to wait for Silt, Marcos and Vincent to move, and warning Ana with a slight glare that she was not to move, or further strain herself, not that he really expected her to obey, but he could try to be a good guardian at least.

[Larry_OHF]

Anarrima 55/67

Ana was frustrated that she did not have the strength left in her to move from where she sat, but instead gently smiled at her guardian on this trip and took the offerings he handed her.
It appeared that the three of them were going to go inside the structure, and she did not like the prospects after what had just happened to the people out here earlier.

"I am useless to you for a while, Yevaud. Do take care and try not to get killed. I do not want to return to Evermeet and explain how I sat here and let you wade into death without me."

[Elif Godson]

Vincent Pathfiner 98/98


" Are we ready for this brother's " Vince said with a glint in his eye. Nodding at Yevaud and tilting his head to Silt he headed in the dierction of the window, arrows at the ready.

[Larry_OHF]

Nanashi **/**

She stared at the owl in uttermost confusion. It did not exactly act like an owl would act. It was flapping about and hovering there as to mock her. Most strange. She considered the facts for a minute. There was only one way into the Tower, and it was guarded by Shadowy Guardians. They obviously allowed this creature to pass through unharmed. Now that it was in the Master's Throne Room...the zombie made no attempts to shoot at it. That could only mean one thing. This owl was a guest to this room, and only one personage could invite a guest. The Mage had allowed this owl to be here before, and never revoked that entry pass. Therefore the zombie ignored it.

Nanashi melted into her human form and studied the bird, cocking her head to the side and trying to think of a good enough reason for the Master to have cared to let an owl fly about uninhibited. She'd just have to wait until He returned to discover this mystery.

She was bored, so decided to go excersise in her training room that the Master had built for her. She left the owl to its own heart's content.

[Larry_OHF]

The Undead Grimlock Army Advanced ~Events that occurred days ago.


Sweet had been the kills so far, yet the undead were insatiable in their appetite. The grimlock army had risen from the ground where they had been left to rot during Battle of the Gnomes, and now were driven by a hunger not of this world. Those along their pathway perished in terror and pain.

Slowly, the army advanced Westward from where they had climbed out of the depths of this forum's dark tunnels and made their way to a location that they could not perceive. A driving force led the way. They came to a small forest on the outskirts of a town, where other creatures of the grave had already been doing business...but had left for now. The grimlocks had no reason to care for this. They continued onward, unhindered by anyone until they arrived at a location where much life was present. Cats, actually. They smelled cats. The dead grimlocks surrounded the area and charged in, their rusty weapons and decaying claws ripping into all life they encountered. The screams of life being ended in such mass numbers was not heard however, and no rescuing hero would save these poor beasts as they died in terror at the sight of their killers as they perished.

All too soon, it was over. None had survived. The grimlocks however were not filled, nor their bloodlust sedated. They continued onward, driven by a powerful force.

OOC>>>The camp where Liam lived and the party had resided temporarily has now been destroyed along with all those cats that refuged there.

Liam...come and get it.

[ 06-15-2005, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Legolas]

Inquisitor Marcos of Snowdale - 98/98

And so they had disappeared, either comfortably amongst the living, or dragged away unseen in death. It appeared he was left without a trail, for the moment.
Although the inquisitor knew he was ultimately responsible for bringing death to this place, it was plain that Silverfall had been motivation personified for many of the dangers. Any being that attracts so much evil is either composed of darkness itself, or brighter than the heavens. The evidence so far was not pointing in favourable directions for any on these boards.
But it was he who had carried with him the bait which drew the predators, and it was he who had to take pennance over the drama that had unfolded.

As he arrived in the courtyard, it became evident all that would have to wait. Something had been found after all, and it might well be the werecreature. One of the were creatures, he reminded himself. There was an owl about as well.
Perhaps, before she died, she would point him in the right direction to let him continue his quest.

Or possibly this was some other threat. The drow was still on the loose and did not appear to shy away from battle. And indeed, the death of the warlock, the collapse of the tower, none of that meant there was not yet another peril stalking the castle grounds. Like witches to a daemon they were drawn.

He assessed the situation.

The guards had endured enough. Though they would normally fight to the death to defend the castle, their morale had taken serious blows with each freshly arriving terror. If it was at all possible, he would see that no more of them had to fall today. There would be survivors, for the men had fought hard for their own lives and those of others, and were deserving.
Then there were the elves. Elegant creatures, but no more immune to evil than any other. They were bystanders and civillians here, and such casualties were ever best kept to an absolute minimum. Then again, the inquisitor reflected, he would see every good spirit live untouched by the machinations of darkness regardless of the situation.

But there was not always that option, and at times losses were as necessary as the risks which led to them. He might tell them to stand down, and perhaps they would heed him, but it might not be the wise course of action if a residue of evil was still prowling the grounds. Instead, he determined to be prepared.

"Halt a moment," he called out to the advancing archer. Without further explanation, he extended his senses.

ooc: Marcos is once more attempting to detect magic, and evil thereafter if the first divination doesn't knock him senseless.

[Larry_OHF]

For Marcos:

You sense a great deal of magic, ancient in its casting.

You do not, however, detect any evil presence.

[Legolas]

Inquisitor Marcos of Snowdale - 98/98

Whatever the tower's collapse had uncovered, it was archaic. And whatever had driven the guards from the site, was a mystery. The inquisitor considered they might have been traps, magical or otherwise, sprung upon those unfortunate enough to set foot inside. But that would sooner delay than truely deter those interested in the architecture and other arts of old. He considered it might indeed be the werecreature or a similar pawn of darkness, cloaked from his senses by whateverwards had been erected. But it would make little sense for such shields to be in place.
He considered whatever roamed inside was protective, merely loyal to a perished cause or perhaps even pure. The guards would have been mistaken for intruders, and driven off. There was no guarantee an elf, or indeed an inquisitor with tainted virtue, would not find himself facing a similar reception. So, there was but one thing to do short of confining these adventurers to their rooms.

"I think it would be best if I passed through first."

((Edit to close tag))

[ 06-16-2005, 06:27 AM: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Morgeruat]

Yevaud 45/45

"I am useless to you for a while, Yevaud. Do take care and try not to get killed. I do not want to return to Evermeet and explain how I sat here and let you wade into death without me."

"I think it would be best if I passed through first."

The bladesinger though weary from an extremely long and tense night smiled, and winked at Ana. Then looked to Marcos, and nodded. "My blade and my Craft are at your disposal" He saluted then by solemnly raising his right hand touching the tattoo on his left cheek and then moving the hand upward to the corner of his right eyebrow, in what he hoped was an acceptable mix of the Bladesinger salute his school had taught him and the less formal salute humans tended to use. "Lead on Warchief"