Hazardous Times, Part VIII (All welcome)

[Galadria]

OOC>> Hey, Attalus, Elite Zhentarim Guard, congrats! IC>>
ELIZA (The next day they all arise and mount to ride. Sir Blandamour has announced that they must revisit the Druidess again, which vexes Galadria somewhat, as she wants revenge on Britomart, but she obeys. Eliza rides the horse that Galadria stole, feeling slightly guilty, but noting that the brawny Lady does not. They arrive by mid-morning, and Blandamour points out the silver-headed Druidess, TAOwolf. Eliza dismounts, and runs lightly to the strange-eyed woman, and says)"Madame TAOwolf? I am Eliza. A man who claimed to be a Harper agent was murdered by Bazguul's agents, but, before he died, he entrusted this message to me for you. He says that Bazguul has reclaimed the pendant, and that dire consequences are sure to follow. Do you think that you can do anything?"

[Larry_OHF]

Raymond

Raymond stops sipping on his tea and looks over at the two women conversing, and also worries about why the two paladins had returned. Did they change thier minds about wanting him? He looked at the other newcomer and wondered just waht was going on. he then cast a glance toward Isaura to see waht she was thinking. If she looked worried, then maybe he should also be worried, and plan to escape. He tried to listen in on the conversaion of the pair, to discover their motives. He watched TAO for any sigen taht she might give for him to take off and run.

[Attalus]

SIR BLANDAMOUR(From the corner of his eye, he sees Raymond staring fearfully at him. He turns his head slowly, pulls a grim face and...sticks out his tongue.)

[Legolas]

Legolas

He closes his eyes a moment, trying to clear his head. She thinks herself a selfish, heartless monster? How?

"Sorsha, that's not true. Remember when we were set upon by bandits just outside Greenville?"
He did, vaguely. His mind had been clouded by the amulet back then, and he had almost paid for it with his life. Oddly, it had been the amulet which saved it as well.
"You were prepared to give up your amulet to safe my life, even though we hardly knew eachother.
In Ankhmor, you showed you wanted to avenge the deaths of three innocent people, knowing that would not get them back but possibly ease their spirits.
You told me yourself how you felt about Jaime's death. That's not being selfish, it's caring. Caring about others."

He pauses a moment, combing his hair back with his fingers.

"And you've shown everyone you would make a good heroin. Physically, you are fitter than you think. Also in Ankhmor, you hit Jaime square on the head with a small pebble. You killed king Cedric in a single blow. Small examples, but more than valid.
Even adventuring seems to think you're fit for the life of a hero. Since you left Greenville, you have been through more than most people in their entire lives. When you had the chance to start a new life in the monestary, you gave it up, preferring the road instead.
You have it in you to be a saviour to everyone. All you lack is a little..."
A little self esteem. She badly needs some of that.
He knows now how wrong he had been before. By protecting Sorsha, she had probably begun to believe she needed to be protected, that she couldn't protect herself. Change of tactics. She needs more time to discover who I think she really is.

"But I'll not ask you to do these things, not for me. And since you are... worried.. about me, I'll stay here with you. I'm sure Rrang's family wouldn't mind having us as guests."

He smiles a little.
"How do you prefer your meat? Cooked, or raw?"

Though he does not want to admit it to himself, he is glad she is 'worried' enough not to want him to leave. Again, he wonders at the feelings she awakens inside him. Wonders, and worries.

[TAOWolf]

OOC: *LMAO* at Sir Blandamour

The longer she listens to Eliza, the more her bracer glows, and her eyes turn brighter silver. When she mentions the name "Bazguul" her head snaps up. "Did he say his full name, child? What was his FULL name? Do you remember?" She lays a gloved hand on the girl's arm, calming her so she will remember. She glances at Raymond out of the corner of her eye, and slightly shakes her head indicating for him to remain calm....

[ 04-19-2002, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: TAOWolf ]

[Galadria]

ELIZA (frightened, she throws a pleading look to Blandamour, who nods at her and smiles reassuringly. Achingly, she finally recalls the strange syllables.) "He said that his name is Bazguul'tek Devennírre! What does it mean?"

[Larry_OHF]

Raymond
Startled that he had been caught staring, Raymond quickly lowered his gaze. Then he heard TAO become rather concerned about what was being told her by the other lady, and so he got up and started walking closer. If this was indeed an adventure ready to begin, he would beg to be included! He stopped short, and remembered Isaura. He could not see, but felt her gaze upon him. He slowly turned around to confirm that she was, and saw only a troubled face greet him back. It was obvious that she read his intentions, and did not approve. She just wanted to remain safe and far away from harm. Yet...this was what Raymond had left his farmland for, all those months ago! This was what he had hoped would happen to him...albeit not the curse part...but all the rest...
yet, at the same time, he had found a lover. Which one should he choose? Both was not rational. Stopping his progression to the side of TAO to volunteer himself to be killed for some just cause..., yet not wanting to turn back...he just stood there, looking down at the ground, as if he were considering a blade of grass as the most important object in the world.

[Larry_OHF]

Bazguul'tek

The raiding team of assasins and thugs arrived at the nearby town of Tuscan that evening. They were greeted by the laughter of children playing near the fields where fruit orchards grew. They saw ladies fair and joyful under a nearby shade tree having a picnic and occasionally having to remind the kids to play nice. This was on the outskirts of the town, outside the protection of the gates. Yet, high on the watchtower, a thunderous horn warned of the approach of trouble. The evil men grinned and drew their swords out from their sheathes or prepared theier bows. They could taste victory all so soon. Bazguul'tek was at thier lead and his horse came to a stop. The men behind him stood at attention, waiting for the command. The women had now seen the danger and began to run towards their children at all haste. Bazguul gave the command to his archers, and arrows soon darkened the sky in their travel to seek the blood of innocents. Many found their mark. The men were now running out of the town's gates, screaming and mostly running towards their loved ones. By that time, another volley of arrows were ready to pepper the poor men that had come out at the answer to a battle. Within only a minute, and two volleys of arrows, much death had already taken place. Men with swords, but no armor came screaming revenge to meet the hoarding raiders. They had not had sufficient time to prepare. Bazguul raised the pendant to the air and muttered a few syllables. The grass in the beautiful field shot up like blades of death, and took the lives of all the fastest running men. Confused and shaken, the defenders stopped short to ponder what they should do. At this time was when Bazguul raised his gloved fist to the air, and dropped it. The men that followed him ran with bloodlust out to meet the defenders. Some of the men decided to try and make it back to the safety of the city walls, but were cut down with a third volley of arrows. Melee had began, and steel clashing against steel rang through the valley that had been so peaceful just a little while ago. Now, the land lay scattered with the dead of the innocents. It did not take long to tear down the defenders, and now the city gates stood open and without anybody to guard them. Bazguul spurred his steed towards the town's walls at a blinding haste, and the evil men followed. Just a few more kills, and then they could revel in the spoils. At his chest, the pendant that was Carrick glowed red.

OOC>>>I am sorry if that was a bit morbid and gruesome. But that is what Bazguul does. Wait...it gets worse.

OOC>>>Britomart, you can decide if you are a part of this, or if you stayed behind to guard the keep.

[ 04-19-2002, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Addison sat on his horse, watching and listening to all that was said. He didn't know who (or what) a Baaz'gul was, but considering the druids' reaction and request for the full name, it was reasonable to assume he or she (or it) must be some kind of demon. The demeanor of the two warriors suggested the same thing. He noticed the young boy again. His internal conflict was openly mirrored by his external actions - the boy definitely had a secret that was causing him tremendous turmoil.

While he normally respected a persons privacy, Addison thought it best to see if he could discover the nature of this turmoil. He quietly went throught he somantics required to cast his ESP spell and concentrated on the boy's troubled thoughts.

He quickly learned that the current conflict centered on his love for the girl contrasting with his desire for adventure, but he sensed the true conflict lay deeper. He concentrated more intensely and his eyes unavoidably widened in surprise....a curse that apparantly involved some type of shape-shifting....an undeniable desire for the power granted by the new form, but - at the same time - an inner revulsion at the potential destructiveness of that power. Finally, a desperate hope that the druid could help him learn how to harness the power and control the destructive urges that accompanied it.

Addison withdrew his attention from the troubled youth and focused again on the conversation at hand. He now focused on the druid to determine exactly what knowledge she had of this Baaz'gul character. His mind reeled with a flood of images to horrific to put into words. The shock of those images nearly knocked him out of his saddle (literally) and he quickly withdrew from the guardian's mind.

Addison felt sick to his stomach from the images and he had to hold on tightly to the saddle to remain upright. He suddenly felt a familiar and comforting presence as his companion flew down and landed on his shoulder. Skrith was a pseudo-dragon that Addison had raised from a hatchling. A deep bond linked the two. Addison was the only "mother" Skrith had ever known and he was never far from his side. The two shared a telepathic link and Skrith had sensed Addisons mental pain. He nuzzled his head against the mage's chin, a low purring sound rumbling in his throat. Addison smiled at the comforting affection and stroked the dragon's neck and back.

Suddenly, he realized that the female warrior, Galadria, was staring at him and his "newly revealed" companion. He returned her stare with a smile and gave a sheepish shrug of his shoulders.

[Galadria]

BRITOMART(She looks up to her leader, blood running from the blade of her sword) "Ha, fools like this deserve not their treasure. Shall we loot the place?"