Visit the Ironworks Gaming Website Email the Webmaster Graphics Library Rules and Regulations Help Support Ironworks Forum with a Donation to Keep us Online - We rely totally on Donations from members Donation goal Meter

Ironworks Gaming Radio

Ironworks Gaming Forum

Go Back   Ironworks Gaming Forum > Ironworks Gaming Roleplaying > Ironworks Online Roleplaying

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 06-27-2006, 11:13 PM   #1
Deiter Leafblade
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: October 1, 2001
Location: Somewhere
Age: 36
Posts: 934
ooc: Monster post!

Deiter stared at the cracked lines in the stone ceiling. He would often spend his time studying small details to give him a sense of perspective. Hours... months... years... he had no idea how long he had been here. His memories were always fuzzy, and it was hard to concentrate on anything from his past but for more then a few seconds before the spasms would come. He tried to ignore the sharp pain that would explode inside his head whenever the face of a young half-elven woman would appear. Deiter felt connected to her as her blue eyes started to focus. His heart would always clench in his chest when he saw her in his mind.

He couldn't explain who she was, or why the image of this young woman caused emotions to fill his heart. Deiter longed to see her face again but the pain was causing him to thrash against the floor now. Crying out, he tried to clear his mind until the agony in his head became a dull throb. Breathing heavily, he sagged against the wall and stared down at his shaking hands. What was wrong with him? Who was she? Why couldn't he remember anything? He wouldn't have even been alive if it wasn't for Nefris. At the thought of Nefris, Deiter clenched his fists and glared at the locked door across from him.

Nefris had found him battered and barely hanging onto life in a forest Deiter couldn't name. The old man wore robes the color of dried blood, and his golden eyes were always in suspicious slits. He had nursed Deiter back to health and claimed the young ranger owed him his life. Deiter was thankful of the old man, but Nefris forced him into life long servitude as payment. At first he resisted and tried many times to escape, but each time Nefris would bring him back. It was then Deiter realized Nefris was not a feeble old man, but in fact an arch-mage.

The half-elf's features grew grim when he thought of the punishments he received every time he disobeyed him. Unclenching his fists, he stared down at his right arm. He flexed it a little and winced from the strain his thrashing had caused it. Underneath his sleeve was a series of scars running from his wrist to his elbow.

A young messenger of Nefris had returned one day with bad news about a contact of his on the coast. In a fury, the old man hit the boy across the face, knocking him to the ground, and demanded Deiter to kill him. The ranger refused. Chanting out loud, not caring who heard, Nefris took a hold of Deiter's body and forced him to kill the boy. He remembered staring into the terrified brown eyes of the messenger as he ran the child cleanly through with a sword.

Deiter's green eyes grew damp as he slumped to the floor. What had he done... Looking down at the dead body, Nefris simply shook his head and spat at it. Turning to Deiter, he reached down and gripped the ranger's right arm. "Now for your disobedience..." Gripping tightly, he started to smirk as coils of sickly yellow light extended from his fingers and latched onto Deiter's forearm. The coils started to tighten, and the more Deiter struggled to get away the tighter the coils became until his arm was broken.

Leaning his head back against the wall, Deiter wondered if things would ever be the same again. His right arm never healed properly and was now weaker then his left. It didn't bother him often unless under serious strain. He had learned to become left handed to compensate. Grumbling to himself, he stood up and stretched to relieve his cramped muscles. He was about to go back to his ceiling inspection when he heard shouting on the other side of the door. Curious, he quickly crossed the room and pressed his ear up against the old wood. Three distinct voices could be heard. One was the gruff voice of Nefris, and the other two had an odd lisp that Deiter couldn't place.

The argument lasted for several minutes until a loud cry was heard followed by an explosion. The force of the explosion caused part of Deiter's door to burst inward and throw him back across the room. A little bit of the underside of his right ear was nicked off towards the tip from the shards of wood. He tried to push himself up and struggled to remain conscious, but the blow sending him across the room was too much for his weakened state. The last thing he saw before darkness enveloped him was two hunched over figures, their frames covered in ragged black material, dragging the dead body of Nefris out into the night.

Deiter awoke with a start as water was splashed on his face. Groaning, he pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked at the cause of the water. A young boy stood there shaking, but with a defiant look etched on his face.

"Are... are you a bad man sir?" The child's question left Deiter staring at him blankly. "Bad man?" The half-elf was trying to grasp the situation and failing miserably. "This is a haunted place. Evil things are known to happen here... my... my friends and I were daring each other to enter. We heard an explosion last night from back in the village... and we went to go look the next day." Beginning to understand, Deiter looked past the boy and noticed the heads of three small children peeking around the corner of the entrance. "You can come in." The children watched him warily, but slowly inched inside. "You're not a bad man are you sir? The evil things would have taken you too, and yet they left you here injured."

Using the wall as support, Deiter pushed himself up into a standing position. The children moved back, frightened that he may do something harmful. Noticing their reactions, Deiter forced out a smile. "It's ok, I won't hurt any of you." He made his way outside into the warm sunlight. Chani... That's your name isn't it? Memories of her started to flood his mind, as if a great fog had been lifted from his thoughts. Everything they had done together, the tavern that was their own, their friends... Deiter could only stare at the ground in a mixture of pain and regret.

His thoughts were broken by the gentle nudge of a small girl. "Are you ok sir? You looked like how my mother did when my grandpa passed away." Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Deiter faced the small band of children. "Is your village close to here? Some food and sleep would help a great deal." The eldest boy nodded and pointed east. "It's not too far away, but sir, um... how do we explain you to the adults? We'll get in big trouble if they find out we came out here." Worried expressions covered their faces as thoughts of what their parents would do crossed their minds. "I'll think of something." Noticing that their expressions still stayed, he added in "I promise." It seemed to do the trick as relief washed through them. The eldest boy gathered the others together and started down a small trail leading east.

Deiter was about to follow the children to their village when he paused. My scimitar... The old man probably kept it hidden inside. Memories of his blade danced through out his mind, coupled with the fact that Chani owned its twin. Calling out for the children to wait, he rushed back into the ruined building. Buried under the rubble of the floor laid his weapon. Deiter gently picked it up and brushed off the dust and wood splinters with his sleeve. His reflection in the polished metal showed a young man with messy brown hair and tired green eyes. Placing the blade through his belt, he left the ruins of his nightmares behind him, and caught up with children ahead.
Deiter Leafblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 01:00 AM   #2
Killing Spree
Mephistopheles
 

Join Date: July 11, 2001
Location: The Ashes
Age: 35
Posts: 1,427

For about half a decade now the One-Eyed Wolf tavern had stood in Athkatla. At the time of its opening it had been filled with the warmth of a steadily glowing hearth and the comfort of friends. As the sun rose in the sky that morning, the fire had been reduced to struggling embers, and the only waking soul was the tavern's proprieter, Chani Ravenwood.

Chani's frail frame heaved with the exhausted sigh she emitted as she leaned against a crusty windowpane at the front of her tavern. It was difficult to run the place on her own, especially considering its reasonable level of success. The toll it had taken on her was readily apparent in her sunken expression and unenthused glances. She didn't really want the tavern; but it kept her busy, and that was what mattered. There always had to be a distraction, to keep her from looking back.

It was hard at times like these to think of anything in any dimension of time, really. As the pinks and oranges of dawn fell across her face, as her dull flaxen hair fell limply into her eyes, as the ache in her spine spread to her ribcage and beyond, she could find nothing more enjoyable in life than the coolness of the windowpane against her cheek. Day, after night, after night, after day.


[ 06-28-2006, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: Killing Spree ]
Killing Spree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 01:42 AM   #3
Deiter Leafblade
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: October 1, 2001
Location: Somewhere
Age: 36
Posts: 934
Deiter followed the children closely through out the forest. They were his only connection to reality after living under the control of Nefris. His thoughts wandered continuously on Chani. What was she doing now? His disappearance had to have affected her deeply, and his fists clenched in response. The laughter of the children ahead of him drew him out of his thoughts as a small village appeared in the distance.

"There it is! That's our village!" The eldest boy puffed his chest out proudly as if expecting Deiter to be amazed at the small sight before him. "What is the name of it?" He directed at the small girl walking beside him. "Geoma, don't you know? It's the only village around this area." She giggled then, as if Deiter had asked a dumb question for an obvious answer.

Small wooden cabins greeted them as they made their way past the village gates. A middle aged man stared at Deiter, taking in his appearance. "You're not from around here are you?" Deiter looked over at the older man and nodded. "I was traveling around these parts and happened to notice chimney smoke. These children here were kind enough to welcome me to your village." The eldest boy nodded his agreement. "He's right, Warner. He was in the need of food and shelter so we brought him here." Warner eyed Deiter suspiciously, but finally nodded his defeat. "All right then... take him over to the tavern to get some food." Deiter and the children expressed their thanks as he was lead through the village.

The children stopped outside the door to a cabin larger than the rest in the village. "This is Gareth's tavern, but we're not allowed inside... it's not very fair." Several small heads nodded in agreement. "Tell Gareth that Warner sent you here and he should give you food and a room for free." The children bid Deiter farewell as he made his way inside the smoky building. A large man with a crooked mustache stood behind the bar counter. Deiter briefly reflected back to when he was the bartender for his own tavern with Chani as he made his way over to him. "Are you Gareth?" "Aye, I am." Relief made its way across Deiter's face as he explained that Warner had sent him and what he was in need of. "You’re welcomed to stay as long as you like if you were sent by Warner. Grab yourself a plate and here's the key to your room." Deiter nodded his thanks, almost drooling at the thought of food.


Five days had past as Deiter slowly began to recover. The children had followed him around everywhere, except for when he went into the tavern to discuss any of the latest news with the patrons. He felt well enough now to travel on his own, and knew it was time to make his way back to where he belonged.

[ 06-28-2006, 02:28 AM: Message edited by: Deiter Leafblade ]
Deiter Leafblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 02:32 AM   #4
Killing Spree
Mephistopheles
 

Join Date: July 11, 2001
Location: The Ashes
Age: 35
Posts: 1,427
Chani grimaced as she heard footsteps creaking down the wooden stairs. They were heavy, drowsy, and careless sounding, but the voice that accompanied them cracked sharply and alertly. It demanded food and apologies for the shortcomings of the accomodations. She could just barely stifle a groan as she pushed herself from the window and turned to face a tall, aggitated looking man. She just returned his peeved expression with a look of absolute blank indifference before shuffling off to the kitchen to make some breakfast. Time slipped from recognition as she mechanically performed the task at hand, and consciousness was regained as she sprinkled cinnamon over the pastries and heaved the tray to a large round table between the stairs and the bar.

By then a handful of patrons had awoken and were waiting with mixed levels of anticipation for her arrival. Some were eager to return their keys and be on their way, some had questions about the city, and others were just hungry. By the time they'd all stopped assaulting her the sun was well into the sky. She stumbled over to an oversized and well worn chair, patting the old gray wolf that was laying beside it on the head as she slumped down. Her gray-blue eyes shifted to the world beyond the tavern, focusing on something unimportant: the wood of a doorframe or a single cobble in the street. It was times like these, all alone, when she could no longer run from the things she'd buried deep within herself. A lonesome ache surrounded her heart as she was unable to hold back flashes of memories. Cold water, a walk by the lake at night, green leaves and paint, a ladder to the roof, knowing glances, things never said by the lips barely kissed. She closed her eyes. Gods damn you, Deiter Leafblade.
Killing Spree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 03:19 AM   #5
Deiter Leafblade
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: October 1, 2001
Location: Somewhere
Age: 36
Posts: 934
Gareth greeted him as he made his way down the stairs to main hall of the tavern. "Good morning! Here, grab yourself a plate." Deiter thanked the bartender as he took his plate over to a table by the window. He inhaled his food quickly and leaned back in his chair to watch the early morning activity of the tavern. His heart ached again at the memories of the One-Eyed Wolf and the young woman he had spent his time with there. I wonder if the tavern is even still operating... and if she'll be there. Deiter's expression turned gloomy as he pondered on the possibility that Chani could be anywhere.

Warner made his way into the tavern and spotted Deiter. Taking a seat next to the young man he gave out a troubled sigh. "Those children are quite attached to you." Deiter smiled faintly as he buried his thoughts away and studied the shifting of the grains in the table before him. "Gareth tells me you plan to leave for Athkatla today. Is that true? You looked like you had been through hell and back when you passed through the village gates." Determination filled Deiter as his thoughts of Chani resurfaced. "I plan to leave after I finish up here actually. From looking at the map Gareth had, it should take me several weeks on foot to reach Athkatla."

Warner's face remained expressionless as he watched the young half-elf. "I know it's none of my business, but why Athkatla?" Deiter genuinely smiled this time and looked Warner in the eye. "The woman I love is there." Warner's placidity cracked as he raised an eyebrow. "And you know this for sure? I don't want to see a young man like you going on a fools errand from city to city." He couldn't say for sure that Chani was there, but their tavern was, and with that fact in mind, he was fairly certain she would be there as well. "I'm certain enough to go." With that said, Deiter bid Warner farewell and gathered supplies together for his trip.

An hour later he stood at the village gates with a map in one hand and the reigns to a horse he had managed to get in the other. The children were clustered around him, sad to see him leave. "I'll come back and visit." Deiter offered as he picked up one of the kids that had jumped on top of his horse. They waved goodbye to him as he made his way down the trail and out of sight of the village. It was a lonely journey, but he had his thoughts for company and his determination to see Chani to help him along the way whenever he faltered.

Weeks had passed and according to his map he should be able to see the city in a few more days. Nervousness started to set upon as he wondered what she was like now. Would she even be here? Would she have ended up someone else? Deiter couldn't answer the questions before him and decided it better to not dwell on such things.


[ 06-28-2006, 03:28 AM: Message edited by: Deiter Leafblade ]
Deiter Leafblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 04:09 AM   #6
Killing Spree
Mephistopheles
 

Join Date: July 11, 2001
Location: The Ashes
Age: 35
Posts: 1,427

There was a storm that night. The wind blew in fitful gusts, first strong, then weak, then stronger than before. Thin branches were torn from the arms of their old, jaded mothers by the droves, while the saplings twisted their spines in bizarre arcs in attempts to keep their families together. One tree near the center of the square was struck by lightening and split straight down the middle of the trunk, but as it was the oldest and most brittle of the trees it could muster no dramatics in response, and merely offered a creaking groan and an ashy smell. The sound of the downpour, as it bounced off roofs and cobbles, was ridiculously similar to an army marching in formation, and the sound of the thunder was comparable to cannon fire.

Chani laid on her bed, the covers kicked aside, one arm dangling over the edge of the matress and the other folded beneath her cheek. Rain poured on the roof cacophonously. She hadn't had a good night's rest since he'd left... Left? Died. She'd decided a while back he had died. Hadn't she? Wasn't that easier? She didn't know. She usually didn't even let herself think about him. There wasn't a point, seeing as he was gone. Gone. Everybody was gone. Not just him. Her friends, her brother... What else was gone? Dreams. Hope. Maybe. She made a silent pact to herself to leave soon, and then fell into a cloudy sleep.
Killing Spree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 04:31 AM   #7
Deiter Leafblade
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: October 1, 2001
Location: Somewhere
Age: 36
Posts: 934
The days quickly passed as he drew nearer to his destination. The only trouble he had encountered was the remains of a storm the day before. Certainty soon filled his chest as Athkatla came into view. The city looked familiar and yet alien at the same time. He had convinced himself that Chani would be there, and was eager to prove himself correct. Deiter led his horse off to the stables before looking around. It was apparent the storm had hit the city hard as he tried to find his way to the tavern. It had been many years since he last set foot here, and ended up having to ask for directions. His heart clutched in his chest when he spotted the familiar sign Chani had painted for the tavern, swaying in the warm breeze.

Deiter paused, entranced by it. He was about to find out whether his hopes would be crushed or not. The uncertainty that threatened to claim him propelled him forward as he stepped through the tavern doorway. Various things had changed slightly, but it looked almost the same as it did in Deiter's memories. No one appeared to be awake yet in the tavern, and he realized it was still early in the morning. What do I say to her? Sorry some old guy kidnapped me for four years? He shook his head, unsure of himself now as he made his way over to the bar counter. Fond memories sprang up in his mind as he rubbed his hand against the wood. Deciding to wait the morning out, he sat down on the stool in front of the counter and contemplated over his inner turmoil.
Deiter Leafblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 05:10 AM   #8
Killing Spree
Mephistopheles
 

Join Date: July 11, 2001
Location: The Ashes
Age: 35
Posts: 1,427
The light filtered through the thin, tattered curtains adorning Chani's bedroom window as the clouds lifted and a new dawn prepared to rise. Songbirds chirped conversationally, flitting from branch to branch and knocking rainwater from the tips of the leaves. Their whistles roused Chani from her shallow slumber, and with a mighty yawn she stretched and heaved herself out of bed.

As she dressed herself in a soft, loose blouse and a simple skirt, she contemplated packing the rest of her clothes into the saddlebags in the corner. As she combed her hair and shook it out of her eyes, she wondered if anybody would really miss her if she simply took off. The stableboy and the maid could probably manage the place well enough without her, now that she thought about it. The Amnish government would quickly sieze the property after the taxes stopped rolling in and that would be the last of any of her obligations. It was settled. She'd just walk out. Nobody would be up at this hour, she'd just sneak out. Nevermind her things. She didn't need them. She'd go home, to Ravenwood.

Quietly, she tiptoed down the stairs. All of the sudden, all of her aspirations were crushed by the sight of a lone figure sitting at the bar, perfectly conscious. Chani sighed. There would be no escape today. But who the Hell was this, sitting at her bar, not passed out in a drunken stupor, before the sun was even up? She finished descending the steps and circled around behind the man, cleared her throat and asked curiously, "Excuse me, can I help you?"
Killing Spree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 05:30 AM   #9
Deiter Leafblade
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: October 1, 2001
Location: Somewhere
Age: 36
Posts: 934
Deiter was jerked out of his thoughts at the sound of a woman's voice behind him. A voice he knew very well. Taking a deep breath to try and calm his racing heart, he removed himself from the stool and turned to face her. Her shock was apparent as his green eyes took her in. Running the tavern on her own seemed to have taken a toll on her, and he silently cursed himself for not being there.

But there she was, after all this time, standing right there in front of him. What do you say Deiter? Look at how shocked she is! Not trusting himself to speak, he moved in closer to her until they were almost touching. He decided to express how he was feeling with actions instead of words, and leaned in, hugging her tightly to him.


[ 06-28-2006, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: Deiter Leafblade ]
Deiter Leafblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2006, 05:54 AM   #10
Killing Spree
Mephistopheles
 

Join Date: July 11, 2001
Location: The Ashes
Age: 35
Posts: 1,427
Chani couldn't quite comprehend what she was seeing. She supposed she was dreaming, but then she hadn't slept well enough to dream in years. Then, suddenly, she was wrapped in a warm embrace. It wasn't an illusion. Here was Deiter Leafblade, back from the dead.

The arms held her tightly, wrapped securely around her frail body as if to lock her in place for safe keeping. There was something different about those arms. He was thinner, weaker, more careworn. She realized in an instant she'd never given herself a chance to wonder what might have happened to him. Who knew how much he'd really changed. But in spite of these concerns, a familiarity washed over her, along with a longing to just be held tighter and tighter. Her head pressed tightly to his chest, she wrapped her arms around him and clung to his shoulders. She knew the instant he'd embraced her that there was nothing to explain.
Killing Spree is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©2024 Ironworks Gaming & ©2024 The Great Escape Studios TM - All Rights Reserved