SAGA - The Tale of The Black Knight and CloudBringer Ch1-10

[Black Knight]

Note - the following was Cloudy - just wanted to give credit where credit is due

The woman in a gown of sky blue and a cloak of storm grey sat quietly on the short three-legged wooden stool. She contemplated the stark furnishings of the room for a few minutes then closed her eyes. There were wards around the room. Powerful wards. Try as she might, CloudBringer couldn't push those wards out even a little. She sighed and rubbed her temples. Hard work, the mind magics. And the bruises she could feel in several places, including a few she'd rarely considered, had made concentration difficult. She'd known the wards would be there. But she hadn't counted on their dark strength surpassing her own capacity for clearing such things. Her captors had told her she 'd be well guarded but she'd long ago learned not to take anyone's word for things she could as easily test for herself. And Jerome, being her ArchNemesis, was certainly likely to taunt her no matter how strong or not so strong her guarding.
Sighing once again, Cloudbringer put an elbow on the table and rested her forehead on the the tips of the fingers of her left hand. Her right hand made small arcing motions and she recited the cantrip that she'd known since she could first put more than two words together. The table began to heat up. Soon a silverhot light fused it with heat and engulfed it entirely. Cloudbringer's elbow lifted ever so slightly off the table and she repeated the cantrip twice more. The glow slowly left the table and the heat soon followed. Nonetheless, the plain scarred wooden table was not the same as it had been ten minutes ago. Seated in the middle of it was a huge black cat. It yawned and stood up to stretch out, its impressive length not quite equal to that of the small table.
The Storm Queen spoke in dulcet tones to the sleek black feline. That in itself was nothing new, as Cloudbringer had a knack for talking to just about anything, including herself on occasion. The amazing thing that would have shocked any bystanders had there been some, was that the cat replied.

Cloudbringer gave the large furry creature a shaky smile. " So, Sigil! What news have you for me?"
The object of her scrutiny eyed the woman for a few seconds, then stretched again, sat down and raised a back leg to lick a spot near the back of his foot. " Bit bare in here isn't it, Chosen One? You usually surround yourself with much nicer trappings." His golden eyes blinked once at her as he continued cleaning the offending dirty spot on his foot.
"Sigil, you are, as ever, incorrigible!" Cloudbringer's smile waned a little and she poked the cat in the stomach. "You are eating too well at the castle. I think I shall send you planeswalking more often!" She winced as she moved back from the cat. The bruise she felt near her rib cage may have been from a cracked rib. She had no healing spells available in her repertoire and wasn't versed in clerical arts so she grimaced and continued her conversation with the now reclining cat. "What news from my estate? How fare my family and those who serve us?" Her eyes had gone from their usual languid blue-grey to a deeper grey.
The cat rolled on his back and proceeded to clean his tummy in a methodical and efficient manner. He raised his head to the Storm Queen once, saw her push back her hair and sit straight up . Her frosty glare in his direction didn't go unnoticed. Sigil continued cleaning but the motions were jerky and he missed several spots. His Chosen one was going to do some shouting soon, he knew the signs. He sat up as he heard her intake of air. "Very well, Chosen. I have some news, though not such as will please you, I think." He purred beneath the rumbling sound of his voice. A staccato accompaniment that was pleasing to the human ear and soothing to the StormQueen's spirit.
Watching the cat, Cloudbringer whispered to no one in particular, "Black Knight!". She tugged at the ring on her left hand. It was warm against her skin, but there was no familiar tingle, no assurance that it's mate was near. Her own scrying powers were useless with the wards in place around the room. The ties that bound her to Sigil were stronger than any ward, but she was weak from casting the spell to bring him through. Maneuvering the spatial planes in so small a place without the usual agents of aiding was no mean task. Still, Sigil would have found her on his own sooner or later. She just preferred sooner and forced the issue. Knowing the tears of fatigue and pain would fall soon, and not wanting to give in to them, she snapped, "TELL ME!" , at the purring cat.
Sigil, sat up in the classic pose of cats from time immemorial. Head held high, ears erect, tail curled around his sleek black haunches, eyes pure golden circles. "The chosen of the Chosen one comes. He gathers together those who will aid in your rescue as we speak."
"I knew he would come, my beloved would do no less! But is there no way to make him stay behind, Sigil? Tis him they want. I am but the bait in the trap." Cloudbringer sighed and looked around the room again. She pressed at the wards with every bit of concentration she could muster , but nothing stirred and she could not see past them. "Black as the pits of the nine hells, are the wards they've placed! BAH! My head hurts, Sigil. Tell me, is my sister alright?! Was anyone hurt when they took me and that hideous thing in the hooded robe?" Cloudbringer spat as she mentioned the hooded figure. A most unladylike and most unCloudbringerlike gesture. The cat hissed and reared back. Between clenched teeth, the bard said "Why must I always be in the middle of things? 'twould be wonderful to just sit on a rocky beach with my beloved knight and contemplate the ocean's waves for a few weeks!" The laugh that followed was unexpected, but Sigil recognized his friend the StormQueen in that sound.
"So, you can still laugh! Good. You had me worried. Thought you'd given up....most unlike you! Your mate is well, but very loud! Your littermate is well, but howling. She wants you back too. The big one will decide." Cloudbringer smiled again. The cat had trouble with names. Always had. He used such descriptions as 'big one' or 'littermate' to indicate her family and friends more often than not. He knew the names, just didn't use them if he didn't have to. Knowing Sigil and knowing her heart's true love, she knew he meant her consort, The Black Knight, was probably tearing the estate apart for intruders or traitors and choosing the party he'd bring to rescue her. And from the sound of it, her sister was chaffing to be part of the group. She wondered about Sir Tainly, Tobbin, KDog, Wolfgir..and all the other dear friends and retainers who were there when she was abducted. Were they ok? Did they know which way she'd been taken? Of course The Black Knight would know that it was a trap. He'd come anyway. She knew it as sure as she knew any of her collected names. Just as she knew the household was in turmoil and her sister was doing her part to help the turmoil along, in her own outspoken fashion. Cloudbringer smiled a tiny little affectionate smile, then felt one of her bruises and remembered why she was there.
"Sigil, this is not good! He must not come! They WANT him to come!" Cloudbringer slumped across the table, the tears came. "Sister! Hear me! He must not come!" Reaching one hand out to the cat, she cried out "Please, oh please! Dearest Heart's Desire, you must not fall into the trap that awaits.!" The cat purred and time slowed for the waiting occupants of the tiny warded room in the middle of nowhere.

[ 04-25-2002, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Black Knight ]

[Black Knight]

The Estate was bustling with activity. Lady Wendy’s groundkeepers were busy trying to repair the damage done to the Castle. The Knights of the Holy Flame finished watering their horses and Sir_Tainly sent them back to the Training Grounds where the Order stood. The Food staff was scurrying around, preparing provisions for the coming trip. The Black Knight said to prepare for six people. He just didn’t mention which ones. LadyWendy and The Black Knight could be seen arguing.

“LadyWendy, you are needed here. You Estates are in disarray, you people are hurt, and I need cool, level-headed warriors with me …”

“SHE IS MY SISTER …she may be your Protectorate, your Queen, but she was my Sister long before you knew her. Any party that goes from here has to have my consent, or you won’t make it out of the grounds. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” The Black Knight looked at her with an appraising glance. Then he nods in submission. “Good” she says, “We don’t have much time. Who else were you going to ask?”

“Well, you are skilled in arts of Magic, and I with my blade and some healing. I would like another Blade with us, and another mage, and at least one with healing spells better than me. So I was considering asking Sir_Tainly to join us, and then have your Jester Memnoch join us. I’ve seen his Magic skill, and his …other skills with locks could be of use, too.” LadyWendy turns red “Now LadyWendy, do worry, I understand it is your house, and it was your outfit, but did you think I would not notice that it left our trunk last week? All you had to do was ask.

LadyWendy turns around, “ANYWAYS, yes he would be a good choice. Might I also suggest we take my dear friend Cervando? He is quite proficient with his bow, and he also has a knack for being unseen when he wants too.” Father Bronze walks in with his report on the wounded. “That leaves just a cleric.”

“Actually, I am available,” Father Bronze said, proudly. “I’ve come to know CloudBringer quite well over the last couple of months, and it would be my honor to help retrieve the lass.” LadyWendy and The Black Knight exchange a look. “Now, don’t judge me by my age. I was not always just a simple healer. I was left at the monastery when I was born. The monks raised me, taught me to defend myself, showed me how to use the inner peace and internal energy help me with my toils. But I never really fit in. One day I was on my way to the town to buy supplies(which is across town) and came across this assassin who was attempting to kill this older cleric lady. I stepped in, and tried to stop the assassin, but a poisoned dart clipped the elder cleric and the assassin got away. I found her and for some reason, put my hands over the wound and felt this surge of power come over me. I cried out to my god, and found the god to be answering me. I had found my calling. The Elder Cleric recognized my internal power for what it was, persuaded me to visit her in the temple and to train with her. I never looked back. To this day, I can still fight with my hands as well as a mace, and I still retained some of my ability to use my inner strength, but the life of a cleric, healing in the name of my god, much more fitting for me.”

The Black Knight looking at LadyWendy and said, “Seems we found our cleric. Here’s what I had in mind …”

About 100 miles north in the mountains, things were starting to get interesting for CloudBringer. Her Cat, having been bored with sitting around, left, promising to come back later with more information. Shortly after, a dirty, smelly Gray dwarf charged into her padded prison. “The Caps Lock King will see you. NOW.” CloudBringer slowly got up and The Dwarf roughly grabbed her and

[Black Knight]

Chapter 11 - hehe, well, it's coming soon.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

BK

[Ladyzekke]

W.O.W.!!! Boy you've been busy BK! That was an EXCELLENT rendition of all that transpired so long ago! Excellent, brought back so many memories!!! You should post a link to the actual thread too! Man, we had a lot of fun back then didn't we? I couldn't wait each day to see what was added new and by whom, then you started your sagas, sigh, is one of the fondest memories I have with Ironworks. Is what kept me staying after my BGII questions were answered. Funny how an internet forum can affect your life, but it does. IWs is now a rock in my memory, a part of my past and present life, as I have spent so much time here just as if I was visiting a friends house frequently (a really COOL friend LOL who has lots of people showing up at said party). It may be online, we all may be so far from eachother, but we are communicating and having fun all the same, just like in RL, aren't we?

Looking forward once again after all this time, to review the next Chapter! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Cloudbringer]

BK...SMOOOOOOOOOOCH! Thanks for all your hard work!

Cloudy [img]graemlins/stormy.gif[/img]

[Black Knight]

Gonna post the new chapter sometime this afternoon - waiting for my *cough* editior *cough* to finish tearing my ill mannered typing and grammar to bits...later.

BK

[Jerome]

LOL! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I had good fun looking back through them, BK. It's been toolong since the last installment! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Did I mention I was glad to see you back?