[Admin from Phaedra Whitlock: this compendium was put together by Von Sleigher who plays in this thread.] ##### [Admin: What you are about to read is just a little story or a brief description as to why LT needs the sword and so on: The way it is believed: This sword, though it seems like any other sword, has the soul of a goddess in it who once walked Ifreann. She along with another god, who some believed to be Horus (an Egyptian god) while others believe to be just another idol, were in love at one point. Lord Thunder, one devil of a man, was also in love with her (like most villains). Well to make a long story short LT, with the help of devils, demons, and other things that go whahahaha in the night fought against her and her lover while the good guys errr gods were off healing the world...making it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race. They were doing a good (that's evil) job taking the goddess' soul, placing it into a sword, turning the female into a mermaid and the male into birdman. Both with no recolection of who they really are. The good guys...err gods come back in force making the devils, demons, and the others go back to where they've come from. Lord Thunder escapes the gods wraths and flees to an area of Ifreann. He "joins the dark side" as the gods create a symbol of the birdmans true form onto the now goddess/sword. They also cast or create a spell that once the ruler of Shiron city (Lord Thunder) is killed with the sword the mermaid will change back to her true self as will her lover and they will live happily ever after...and the sword will vanish for ever. However if Lord Thunder manages to get a hold of the sword he will try to destroy it thus ruining the gods plans, leaving the goddess as a mermaid, the birdman the way he is, taking complete control of Ifreann, and destroying the whole universe including the earth as we know it. But of course the good guys, us, will always triumph over evil like this Lord Blunder creep..sheesh what a looser I mean the (POOF!) ribbit..oh hello sir..ribbit...call you names? Me? No way...ribbit..what feed the dragons? Hahaha are you kidding? ulp...... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@ PART 5 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@ Lord Thunder sat upon his dragon-throne looking at a large circular mirror that was hovering in the center of the room. He watched as the dragon fought against the attacker and grinned when the dragon made contact with its foes. He continued watching and then suddenly he stood up. "THAT'S IT!!!" He said pointing at one of the beings at the Inn "there's the sword that I've been looking for." He continued watching while trying to think on how to get to it. Just then he saw the vines grabbing at the dragon and others on top of it. "Pathetic..." Lord Thunder said as he waved a hand causing the mirror to disapear. Just then one of Lord Thunders servants entered the throne room. "I thought that I had ordered no interuptions" LT said "Yesss m'lord but the Mendozzzza family wantssss to know if*" a lizardman wearing leather plated armor and carrying a spear began to say. "Kill them" LT demanded "I'm through with their begging and pleading for mercy" "But how and witthhh" the lizardman said "A KNIFE! Just like these" LT said as five razor sharp blades emerged from his fingertips. LT took a hold of each knife. "All inhabitants of this city are supposed to taken to the courthouse and judged there." "Yessss m'lord" the lizardman said as LT played with one of the knives. The lizardman began walking away when Lord Thunder called for him. "Oh and Sketch? Take these knives" LT began saying as he threw each knife towards the lizardman "and put up a few Wanted posters. You will see that on each side of the knives are the faces of some worms that I would like either brought here alive or killed." "Wormssss your majessssty?" The lizardman said while removing one of the blades from his leg. "YES WORMS! You deaf land crawler...just like the*" LT began saying "I'm going I'm going Sssssketch will obey no turn into worm" the lizardman said Lord Thunder laughed "Very good now post all of them up around this city, inform everyone that there will be a big reward for these assassins (for those of you who fought against the dragon...guess who LT is talking about >:) and a bigger reward for anyone who brings me the birdmans sword." "Asssss you wish..." and with that he left the room. *************************************************************************** ***** The faces on each knife displayed the same faces of those who attacked the black dragon. It was from these knives that posters were made of the capture or death of these attackers. W A N T E D D E A D O R A L I V E Matszu, S'ral, Cassander, Fleige, (the list went on) [Admin: Hope I didn't mispell your charactors names] Last seen at the Red Dragons Inn Rewards beyond your wildest dreams will be given for the death or capture of these criminals. Lord / /_ Thunder / / As news started to spread the whole city (all faithful followers of Lord Thunder) got together to decide on how many and who will go across the land of Ifreann to find these people. Some fought in Shirons Arena, a building where both people and creatures fought for the sport, money, or any other reasons. After a while a group of about 50 left the gates of Shiron and onto a hopeful victory. This group consisted of beings that were half-dragon and half man, bearlike creatures, fighters, 3 elves, wolf people, a female magician, and many others. As the group departed Lord Thunder casted a spell that made the group travel closer towards the Inn. He laughed knowing that this group will probably get the job done. *************************************************************************** ************ Lord Thunder's army of bounty-hunters made their first camp that night. So strong an assemblege of fighters, monsters, and mages were they, that they could not conceive of failing in their assignment. The slayers of the black dragon were as good as dead. As they slept that night, however, each and everyone of them was visited in their dreams. Each found himself alone in a ferno of unending torment, and unlike normal dreams, the pain was real and felt. A visiage of a giant face appeared before each bounty-hunter in his own dream. The face was wickedly handsome of features, with white hair, grey skin, and black eyes with purple pupils that glowed a promise of unending agony. "I am Desimeon, Prince of the Demon Fhae. Know this, vassels of Lord Thunder. I have no quarrel with you or your great Lord. But if one of you brings about the death of Cassander Vallasier, such torment as you feel now will be yours for eterninty. Yea, and much more than you could imagine in your most desparate and terrible nightmares!!" The demon flashed an image in front of their faces of a human male, with grey/black hair and beard, in a black and silver uniform. "This is Cassander Vallasier. He is MY ENEMY, he is MINE TO DESTROY. Do what you want with the others, but Cassander has not suffered long enough for me to allow his miserable life to end yet. I will decide the time and the manner of his inescapable demise. Know my will, and FEAR ME!!" With a last roar, the Demon Prince let the bounty-hunters return to their normal sleep, though that itself was filled with nightmares inspired by the vision. In the morning, each was astounded find that every other person in their assembly had had the same dream. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @ PART 6 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ *************************************************************************** ***** As the group of hunters sent by Lord Thunder continued in thier journey towards the Dragons Inn they talked of how they would kill each of the infidels who had dared to challenge their lords power.Many of them spent hours dreaming up tortures to please their lord and perhaps increase the reward promised,nothing but a lust for blood and their greed for the treasure filled their minds.Such strength had these thoughts that the very land they passed over felt them,slowly as they continued on their way a number of small creatures began to follow them,birds,foxs,and other forest creatures.They didnt know who these people were,all they felt was that they meant harm to one who was one of them.Speeding ahead once they realised this a small group of the creatures headed unerringly for the Dragons Inn and specifically a man seated inside... ************************************************************************ A group of 10 beings burst through the Dragon Inn. Two skeleton warriors armed with swords stood at opposite ends of the entry way as 5 barbarians armed with swords and axes entered looking about. After the seven had entered two lizard-like beings one female and one male also entered the Inn both armed with spears. They looked around at all the Inns guests as one of the barbarians spitted in Siers direction and another gave a harsh growl in Matszus direction (did I spell that right?). A small mist soon entered the Inn and behind it stood a sorceress dressed in a long black and red dress with flowing black hair. "Gentlemen" she said addressing everyone in the Inn "by order of Lord Thunder all who have murdered thy lords dragon shall now be murdered themselves." She then looked at the group that she had brought with her. "Take them....spare no one" A loud growl from all of the barbarians echoed in the Inn as each began attacking the Inns inhabitants. The female lizard fighter swung a fist in Fleiges direction. He grabbed the fist as it moved past him and tried to holding it back away from him. "Here birdy birdy" she grinned "taste sssssssome cold sssssteel" and with that she swung her sword. Fleige blocked it with his own sword which for some strange reason began to hum as though it were alive. Fleige pushed her away from him and as she began to try to attack him he quickly moved his left wing which striked her in the face causing her to fall. "It's not nice to hit females, birdbeak!" said a big bearded barbarian as he swung his fist at Fleige. Using his quick reflexes Fleige blocked the attack and watched as the barbarian hit the wall. The lizard man sneered at Sier who was standing near a table. "Come little man...letsssss dance" he said waving his sword back and forth. The two skeletal warriors looked at Matszu and holding their swords tight began to attack. *************************************************************************** ******* "Mmmmmm..." Azuria purred as she sat in a tub of steaming bath water. "Now this is much better..." She closed her eyes and lowered her long raven black hair into the water. She tried to relax, but nagging thoughts kept appearing into her head about the days events... (I've only been on this world for one day and yet so much has happened.) Azuria thought as she slowly stood up. She reached for a near by towel and began to dry her glistening lithe body. (I must thank Hugh for this soothing bath and this wonderful room.) She finish drying herself off and began to brush her long black hair. (And what to make of today's events...) (I met a most interesting man... an ordinary sell-sword, he called himself) she thought with a smile, (Hardly, with his display of magical ability, I think he is actually much more than that...) She finished brushing her hair and formed a few arcane gestures with her fingers, while mumbling a few words... In the blink of an eye, most of the moisture from her hair evaporated into a small cloud of steam above her head. (I always did like the simple cantrips they showed us in the Arcane Academy... so simple yet so useful...) She moved over to her bed and began to take articles of brown leather out of her impossibly deep-pocketed pouch. (And then there was the dragon fight... oh that brought back so many memories...) she smiled as she thought of adventurous times long passed... (And then there was him, the Dark Cloak, as he called himself) Azuria thought, her face growing slightly cold. (He proved himself quite a impressive warrior in slaying the dragon... but all this talk about demi-god if not god-like status, abilities, and attributes...) Azuria started to put on her suit of supple brown leather. (Why would someone of his abilities be seeking simple adventures? It would seem that any abilities we would have would not even begin to compare with what he has... Most puzzling...) She reached over and belted on her daggers and pouch. (Something is definite strange here, the situation is so unbalanced, it's almost blatantly obvious...) Azuria laced on her boots and stood up. She walked over to the window and threw open the shutters letting in the cool night air. (There's an evil moon tonight...) she thought as she stared into the night... Azuria closed and locked the door and proceeded down the stairs to the common room. The smells of strong alcohol and dinner waffed by her nose. (I'd better be wary tonight...) *************************************************************************** ******************************* Fighting barbarians was not what Betlazar had in mind for the evening. After hearing that they were after the dragon killers, or did they say murderers Betlazar thought to himself. Well, if they are after the group that killed the dragon, Though I played a small part, I must help the others. >"It's not nice to hit females, birdbeak!" said a big bearded >barbarian as he swung his fist at Fleige. Using his quick reflexes >Fleige blocked the attack and watched as the barbarian hit the wall. Betlazar pulls his hand-sword and head for the barbarians. Betlazar had to duck as he move forward, for one of the barbarians though it would be nice to slam his face in the wall, compliments of Fleige. With a wave of his hand-sword , a smile, and nod of praise to Fleige, Betlazar attacks. Having never fought a person with an ax, Betlazar was unready for the blow. The barbarian struck faster than Betlazar thought was possible, going for the head. The only thing that saved him was his ability to duck. The ax passed over him but he duck so fast the hood of his cloak wrapped itself around the ax92s head. The barbarian as he pulled his ax back from the strike was surprised to see it still attached to Betlazar cloak. After gathering his wits and shedding his cloak , Betlazar makes his stand. Knowing now that the ax is a swinging weapon, Betlazar comes in low with a stab. The barbarian as he pulls the cloak from his ax sees Betlazar coming in for the attack. Taking the cloak in one hand and the ax in the other he prepares himself . As Betlazar lunges in with the attack the barbarian returns Betlazar92s cloak to him. This would have been a good thing; however, after side steeping the attach the barbarians placed the cloak over Betlazar92s head and steped back. With a wild yell screamed "PREPARE TO DIE NOMAD OF THE WASTELANDS!!" Stumbling back with a cloak over his head, Betlazar hears the scream from the barbarian. Knowing that he was embarrassing himself with this stumbling fumbling attack, he slaps his side and his cloak disappears. As he turns toward the barbarian, the barbarian is no longer yelling but trying to figure out where the cloak went. Getting mad with rage the barbarian lifts his ax and with a barbaric scream races toward Betlazar. With red in his eyes, Betlazar brings his hand-sword around. With a flip of his wrist the hand-sword separates and a blade flies out of the guard. As the blade move closer to the barbarian it grows in size and edges. The barbarian never knew what hit him. If he did, he though it was a wall, for the blade hit the barbarian with such force that it carried him across the Inn and tacked him up like a trophy next to the door. As Betlazar wipes the sweat from his face he turns to see what else is coming As the horde entered, split off to engage various patrons of the inn. 2 of the barbarians moved quickly towards the table that Andry and Betlazar were at. Andry makes a tacticail withdrawl inorder to give himself some space to work. "AIRUTH DOMO REGLOS SEGAL" incants Andry as he closes his fist then blows on it. One of the barbarians stops suddenly, held as if the air about him acted as if it had turned to stone. A sigh of relief issues from Andry that his spell didn't mess-up. With the one opponent effectively neutralized, Andry turns to see what else can be done. Andry Looked at the mages that seemed to be concentrating on Matzsu. That was just fine with him. Most mages knew alot more about arcane lore than he did. But then they made a mistake, they crossed out of thier element and into his. Andry recognized the fireball spells before they were cast. He knew he wasn't as strong as his Master, who would be able to cancel them out but Andry would at least be able to limit there power. As the mages cast thier spells, Andry cried out "FLAZ EXT MORR". The flames exploded at Matzsu but didn't extend much beyond that. The fires didn't burn with there normal intensity. Andry suddenly realized something went wrong. He could still sense the fireballs in the room. He had only delayed the major part of the fireball's energy, it would flash up again creating another. Andry put forth all his strengh to hold the flare-up at bay for as long as he could. Hopefully Matzsu and the others would move out of that area before lost his concentration... 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D Beroth whirled around as the ten entered, his fine golden-hilted sword suddenly in his hand. He sttood watching for a moment, judging the evil ones, and those they attacked. The one who faught the barbarian could obviously hold his own. The two skeletons seemed to overmatch the one human at first, but then Beroth sensed the man's power. The lizard things seemed the biggest threat, Beroth concluded. Beroth rushed into the fray, shouldering past a barbarian to get to the male lizardman. The lizardman noticed the strange elf-human being flying towards it and turned, crouching low. At the last second, Beroth leaped over the lizardman, flashing his sword downward, disarming it. The lizardman kicked backward and caught Beroth in the back, sending him into the bar. The impact knocked the sword from his hand, and he reflexively unfurled his wings as he stood. "Come on, then," he snared to the lizardman. One of the barbarians used Beroth's focused attention and tackled him from the side. Down they went, and Beroth flipped the barbarian off of him easily. The barbarian slammed into the wall head-first and snapped his neck. Suddenly the lizardman was on him, his weapon back in his hand. Beroth rolled, barely avoiding the cutting blade, and snatched up his sword. The lizardman was quicker than Beroth, however, as Beroth's mind was elsewhere, and battle-trained instincts were missing. The lizardman's sword cut into Beroth's right wrist, and down went his sword again. Beroth's cry of pain was not unlike the roar of a dragon. "Get thee gone from this peaceful establishment!" Beroth's left arm glowed a bright gold, and he thrist his hand in the lizardman's face. A stream ofpure magical energy blasted into the poor startled lizardman, virtually disintigrating his head. The corpse dropped. That surprising blast of power took with it most of Beroth's strength. "How in the hells did I do that?" he wondered just before he blacked out. 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D 3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D3D Azuria was about to enter the common room when she heard the announcement and the uproar of the ensuing melee. She entered the doorway and saw the battle unfolding in front of her. Her companions seemed to be holding their own... but then her eyes alighted upon the rest of the patrons of the inn. The simple folk who were huddled in the far corners of the inn afraid for their lives. "HUGH!" she cried over the roar of the battle. She desperately tried to find the innkeeper in the writhing mass of people all over the inn. (We have to get these people out of here!) Azuria thought... (Hopefully there was a backdoor or something...) She started gesturing with her hands and mumbled Ironguard to complete her spell. She ran to the corner and with superhuman strength started to usher the frightened people into the kitchen. A shadow loomed over Azuria and the old woman that Azuria was helping to her feet suddenly screamed with her eyes wide open! The barbarian behind Azuria had recognized her when she crossed the room from the likeness on the wanted poster and approached for the kill. He drew a wickedly edged blade and, as Azuria turned around drove it through her midsection with enough strength to cut a woman in half! The blade passed right through Azuria as if she were made of thin air! The follow through of the massive slash completely disrupted the balance of the barbarian and he stood there ready to tetter backwords... Azuria helped him to the floor by backhanding him with her clenched fist and sent him sailing across the inn! She grabbed the old woman and ran for the kitchen. Another barbarian, eager for the reward, grabbed a nearby wooden chair and hurtled it at Azuria... she got nailed in the back and fell to the ground in a cloud of dust as she pushed the old woman into the kitchen... "By the Great Wyrm that hurt!" Azuria stammered as she slowly got up and met the barbarian head on as he plowed into her. He was more than astonished when she wrestled him to the ground and picked him up by the scruff of his leather armor and tossed him across the room to join Azuria's other playmate... With most of the non-combatant patrons out of the inn, Azuria concentrated on trying to find her companions in the confusion. "This is not good... There's going to be H*LL to pay for this!" she angrily said to herself as she ran over to a tall and handsome elf who obvious was also endowed with the Art Arcane. Her raven black hair streaming in the breeze from the open door and her sapphire blue eyes blazing with inner fire... [Admin: Yes this is you Sarkis!] "Fellow mage! We have to try to drive these "things" out of the inn! Innocent lives are at stake!" she shouted above noise of the battle. She whipped off another spell and lanced another barbarian and sent him groaning in pain to the floor with with her soul daggers and waited for his reply. Seir was startled out of his revery as barbarian spit was sprayed upon his golden hoof. That definitely did NOT please him. The fact that another growled at one of his new found freinds did not help his disposition towards these new entrants of the inn either. : "Gentlemen" she said addressing everyone in the Inn "by order of : Lord Thunder all who have murdered thy lords dragon shall now be : murdered themselves." She then looked at the group that she had brought with : her. "Take them....spare no one" : The lizard man sneered at Sier who was standing near a table. "Come : little man...letsssss dance" he said waving his sword back and forth. : The two skeletal warriors looked at Matszu and holding their swords : tight began to attack. Seir blinked his eyes at the lizard man that was taunting him, and pawed the floor, careful not to scuff it. Holding his head high and gazing down upon the creature he said, "Little MAN, I am not, vile creature. But dancing is a high skill among the Children of the Moon so I will accept your kind offer." With that Seir swept his tail high in the air, tossed his head so that his horn glinted in the light, and moved towards the lizard man with light dancing steps that one could not believe that so massive an animal as a unicorn Herd Stallion could accomplish. The lizard man seemed to lose much of his frivolity, along with a good bit of his confidence when he realized what he was faced with. He certainly looked as if he believed the creature facing him was insane. Seir moved with a lightning fast thrust and tore open a small gash on the lizard man's face, danced back out of range of his sword and said, "So let us dance, my lead, your loss." [admin. I am supposing that it is night, so that therefore I am in unicorn form. I need to constanly be aware of the time of day to play my character, considering its were nature. Thanks.] Matzsu stared at the two skeletons and laughed. "Come foul creatures. Come and face the dark cloak. Come face the High priest of the five temples." Matzsu saw the fidgeting. He had gambled that any mention of holiness or priesthood would cause a pause and fear of a blessing that might undo the undead creatures. Matzsu could not do this of course for he had not mad much use of his Priest training in that aspect as his augmentation made magic difficult. As a consequence he learned abilities not spells. He could still have the effect of exercising but had to touch them and preferred to channel that spritual energy through his forearm blades as he attacked. He took advantage of their hesitationa and extended his claws. He screamed loudly and dashed forward whipping his blades outward and sliced off both of thier heads. Satisfied he scaned the area. Suddenly the spandex covering of his face was ripped clean off leaving his true features revealed. He turned and saw the skeletons bodies attacking him and thier severed skulls lying on the floor cackling at him. His anger at their assualt along with the pain thier bony fingers were beginning to inflict caused his spiritual energy to flow along his chi lines until he began to glow a pale white color. He grasped both thier sternums in his hands and channelled his energy until the skeletons were reduced to a pile of ash that he knew would not rise again. He exhaled deeply. That channeling of the spirit of the holy temple through his own spirit via the chi lines had sapped some energy. "In Nae--preserverance" he reminded himself of the tenet of one of his temples. The dark cloak must constantly preservere. He scaned the room to determine how his companions fared. He feared for their well being and could not bear their injuries for his actions. He leaped to the center of the room and called loudly "Evil ones. Know that I and I alone slayed the black dragon. If any have come for his killer then come for me for I am who you seek. I slayed the dragon and will likewise slay all those who seek revenge for that deed." Those who were already attacking his companions ignored him but the three mages who had just entered the inn glared at him as did the two unoccupied barbarians on oppossite sides of Matzsu. Matzsu smiled and called to the Inn keeper, "Hide yourself and pray that you can rebuild the Inn. Things seem as if they could get interesting." With that Matzsu leaped into a portal he had created. He bent the light and masked his smell and sound. When he came out of the portal he was unpercievable. The mages began incantations to locate him. Suddenly the knee caps of one of the barbarians was on the floor and a second later the man hit the ground screaming and bleeding. A minute later his head swiveled quicly at a vicous angle and he was silent. Unused to fighting invisible opponents the other barbarian began to flee. As he did so he suddenley fell to the floor grabbing his crotch and moaning in pain. A minute later and his chest and arms were covered in deep wounds and he was quickly bleeding to death, (most noticeably from his severed jugular vien.) The mages cast a spell and Matzsu's whole body began to glow purple. The other two mages cast fireball spells which Matzsu was hard pressed to dodge. Then the mage s switched tactics. The entered his mind and began to stimulate the pain sensors. Matzsu reflexively began mental exercises which allowed him to ignore the pain. The mages power was great however and Matzsu knew that he alone would not hold out long against the combined power of the three. So he once again reached for the chi of the three mages and placed himself inside the chi of the closest one. Now his mind was the mages mind. The mage screamed in pain and stopped the spell. This triggered a backlash of energy that flooded the minds of the other two mages incapacitating them. As Matzsu severed the link he stared in amazement. One chi move he thought was somewhat effective had in this instance sent all three mages screaming in pain to the floor. Having had his share of killing that day he slashed open a portal and hurled all three mages into it. He did not know where they would end up but he opened the portal with another planet in mind and knew that they would be hard pressed after such a battle to return to the Inn. Matzsu looked around to see how his companions fared and if anyone else had been angered by his declaration of SOLE responsibility for the slaying of the dragon. : Matzsu looked around to see how his companions fared and if anyone : else had been angered by his declaration of SOLE responsibility for the : slaying of the dragon. Seir glanced away from his fight and nodded at Matszu. He hoped that he would be left the joy of finishing his ownm confrontation and then went back to his fight. A large group of people entered the Inn. Wraith's chair flew back as he stood, as he was tenser than normal due to something strange about the people he was seated with. He couldn't decide what was strange, and it was affecting him like an itch that can't be scratched. A pair of dark elves split from the main group, and approached Wraith with weapons drawn. Wraith drew his short swords, and began dueling with the pair. His first stroke took one thoroughly surprised dark elf through the throat. Wraith had spent the entire evening as jumpy as a snake on hot tin. First all the people around him, then a dragon attack, and then some very strange people around him. He was starting to get mad. The second dark elf was a much better swordsman than the first, but it was all he could do to keep Wraiths twin swords from bypassing his broadsword. Suddenly, a fireball exploded across the Inn, distracting the dark elf, who was promptly run through. Wraith quickly looked around, then backed into a corner and began chanting. The remains a broken chair were pushed from the corner by an invisible wall, and a dwarven helmet bounced off the air in front of Wraith. Sheathing his swords, Wraith pulled a pair of daggers from his sleeves. Every time the opportunity presented itself, he threw one, only to draw another from somewhere about his person. ****************************************************** "What do you propose, woman?" Sarkis shouted as he turned from the wall, satisfied that the blaze caused by the stray fireball was dying out. His eyes dipped to the floor spying a hulking barbarian curled up in pain at this mysterious human's [??] feet. Sarkis' mind reeled. In these close quarters the most devestating spells that could handle the situation best would cause too much harm to the structure. This was not the way to make a good first impression. He did have one spell that he was hoping not waste, however .. but he pulled out a tiny smooth stone from one of his numerous pockets and chanted regardless. The wizard spat out the word "magar" with greater emphasis as the tiny bauble in his hand disintegrated and an intense bolt of lightening shot forth from this hand, arcing over the brawl and striking the bodies of the remaining two barbarian warriors trying to right themselves after being thrown into each other by Azuria. When the smoke cleared, two smoking husks remained. Sarkis cursed wasting that powerful of a spell on the likes of those two, but expedience was called for in light of the innocents scattered thougout the inn. He then laughed at the sight of two lizard creatures alone amongst this many warriors. He also hoped that the baboon who claimed to be their target did not put any more in peril senselessly. [admin note .. Azuria cannot come too close to Sarkis as a shield is surrounding him .. she had to shout for him to hear] [Followed by a serious request....at the end] As a full scale battle erupted Hugh sighed. The only rule the Inn really cared about was no fights in the Inn. So what happens? Everyone fights a dragon at the front door. And *_now_* some lot of barbarians were making trouble. It wasn't as if they didn't have a whole world to fight on...they had to fight in the Inn. Apparently, the magical spells that prevented such nonsense weren't working again, so he'd have to sort our that second rate would be magician who passed himself off as a wizard. He said to his wife, Jane "Dearest, who is that lawyer? The one they call Shark?" Jane produced a business card. Hugh started writing down damages for broken furniture and crockery, loss of business, defamation of character (one barbarian had insulted him!), punitive damages, exemplary damages, interest, attorney fees, court costs, and such other damages as the court might see fit to assign. Yes, it looked like 'Shark' would get to file a RICO suit after all... the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations statute certainly seemed to fit the facts! [Admin: Seriously, the Inn is not the place for fighting. It disrupts other people's story lines. So please, let combat take place *_anyplace_* but the Inn!] Sarkis sneered as a fireball glanced off his globe of invulnerability and added to the blaze caused by a second. He wondered who this "priest" was who had so little regard for the inn's patrons. Sarkis snarled a spell to extinguish the flames. He turned back to face the battle, but was confident that the remaining enemy warriors could be handled after seeing the brash man with the claws dispatch the wizard so cleanly. Sarkis wondered if all potential battles were taken care of so swiftly around here. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@ AFTER the Battle @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@ Finding Andry was easier than Betlazar thought it would be. But there he was standing in the middle of the Inn with Fear written all over his face. and then he was gone. In his place was a large fireball. It was a good thing Hugh paid for a fire proof Inn. The fire was out in seconds. The only thing left was a little smoke. Betlazar reaches down and helps Andry up. "Hey Andry don't worry about the fire, Hugh paid big bucks so the place could not burn down. Oh maybe we should worry, I thought this place was also fight and magic proof. :) Oh well, lets get some drinks and see if Wraith will let us join him." With that Betlazar and Andry head for the bar for drinks. *************************************************************************** ********************* Azuria left the side of Sarkis and began to scan the room. She quickly ran to the aid of any of the injured and tried to comfort them until any healers could get to them. "There's going to be H*LL to pay for this..." "This Lord Dunderhead is starting to annoy me..." After seeing to the injured, Azuria began to clear the debris from the common room of the inn. She felt terrible about all of the destruction and guilt about having been involved in the cause for this altercation. She reached into her sidebag and pulled out a blue leather bound book and sat down at one of the few remaining tables left standing. She read for about 45 min's and replaced the book into the bag. She proceeded around the inn and started casting mending spells on the broken chairs and tables until a good majority of them were as good as new... She helped to sweep up the rest of the mess on the floor and approached Hugh, who was undoubted busy behind the bar... She approached him with downcasted eyes... "I'm sorry for the trouble I may have caused you and your patrons..." she started. "I've repaired some of the damages, but I am afraid my magic is spent for the evening... Is there anything else I can do to atone for my involvement in the altercation?" "Oh... I don't do dishes or windows..." she added with a slight smile. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ > Fleige stood up straight, cleaned off both of his wings with his > beak, and placed his sword on top of a table that he put back up. > "Hold.....me....." he heard a female voice say. Fleige looked > around wondering where the voice was coming from. He then picked up the > sword realizing that it was coming from there. He looked at the blade > and on it he saw an image appear. > The steel-grey blade showed blue clouds and strange glowing > orange mist on it then after a while a face appeared. A beautiful > females face appeared on the sword as Fleige looked on curious as to > what he was seeing. > "Destroy......him...use.....me....freeeeeee" the mesmorizing > voice said as the image faded away. The swords steel grey color > returned to normal and for a few seconds the bird carving on the hilt > glowed a blue glow then was back to normal. > Fleige shook his head and then sheathed the sword while > straightening up a chair or two. Hearing a woman's voice behind him S'ral turned around,only to see Fleige looking at the blade he carried,staring as if he could see something other than the steel of its blade. "My friend,is there something amiss ?? It seems that trouble is drawn wherever we are " ,grinning he continued " What happened to the other bird creature you were talking to,i didnt catch his name..and i seem to have lost track of him with the 'excitement' thats been going on. " Seeing that everything had been taken care of S'ral walked to the bar and Hugh, "If it's possible could i order some water please,the best you have,price is no object " he said grinning at Hugh " I feel like celebrating after those thugs were defeated so quickly." Laying down a handful of golden nuggets on the bar he waited,oblivious to Hughs confusion.. Walking back to Fleige he sipped at the tankard of water like anyone else would with ale, " Well,if there is anything i can do to help you only have to ask,after all, you helped me when i was i need.The least i can do is return the favour.." Smiling widely at Fleige he continued to sip his water... "Anything amiss?" Fleige said turning around to face S'ral. "No...not sure that is...something strange about all of this and yes..we have run into a lot of trouble together." Fleige said as S''ral ordered some water. "First dogs of some kind, a black dragon, and just recently a group of murderers." Fleige watched S'ral as he returned with a tankard of water. "I am not sure about this birdman that you spoke of then again I'm not exactly sure as to who I am and what I am doing here. All I do know is that this sword is a key of some kind that, hopefully, will answer all of my questions." Fleige looked at the tankard of water and ordered a big tankard of water for himself as well. "What do you know, my friend, about the northern regions of Ifreann? The reason why I am asking you this is because that has been the direction from which all of our troubles have been coming from." Fleige moved the tankard toward his beak and drank heavily the cold clear liquid that was inside of it. After a while he placed the empty container down, gave a slight grin, closed his eyes for a second as thirst and hunger disapeared then rested his right arm on the table he was sitting at. " I would like to be able to help my friend,but alas,i arrived here just before we first met,i only know what little i have heard about this world.However,there must be someone here who can help us.." Glancing around the common room, S'ral quickly finishes his tankard and steps over to the bar. " Excuse me Master Hugh,you seem to be well aquainted with many of those who are here,perhaps you could tell me of one who would know about the land to the North of here." Gesturing to the table Felige sat at he continued " If you could let me know or direct them to our table i would be most grateful,also,it would be quite happy to pay for this information if that is how things are done here..." Grinning ruefully he added " Oh yes,and two tankards of your fine water please.." vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv v Soon after being handed his topped off mug of mead, Dirge was suddenly illuminated by an unexpected fireball set off by some fool who just couldn't keep it in. [Didn't he know that he was supposed to exit before shooting it off?] The impact of the explosion blew him off his feet and shattered the mug in his hand. His body made an unhealthily loud thud when it struck the wall and crumpled to the floor. His vestments smolderd, giving off a most repugnant odor. A couple of local serf lads who were peaking in the door to see the aftermath of the commotion saw Dirge where he lay and rushed to his side. "Dirge!" one of the lads screamed in his ear, "are you alive?!" "Ow! his clothes are hot." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ The lads had recognised Dirge as the dusty miner who had been staying in town the last few weeks. Unlike the typical adventurer class of character who were so populace in this town, Dirge was like one of them. He spent his time among the simple folk and was generous with his silver ingots with those he deemed his friends. While flashy adventurers were lounging about the inn, paying heaps of gold and gems to get their wounds healed by exotic healers, Dirge and others of like class were left to fend for themselves. One of the boys rushed out the door and brought back Mathanwy, an elder among the local landed serfs. Mathanwy directed the lads to drag Dirge's unconscious body outside where other locals were grouped. These were survivors of the recent melee at the inn. Peasants, servants, miners, woodcutters and the like. Many wounded and in pain. Branwen, an older serving woman shouted out suddenly, "This is enough!" The talking stopped and all eyes went to her. "How long must we take such abuses?" she continued, "we are who make this town what it is. We spend are days working the earth so these rogues who call themselves the gentry can eat and sleep in comfort. And what do we get in return? Misery and death is all. Half of what we what we grow with our toil is taken from us because they tell us that the earth itself is the property of the crown. And what do we get paid for their theivery of our work? We get firey death brought down upon us because of their feudal wars. "Sisters, Brothers, we are the bread that feeds them. We can choose to stop this insanity by keeping for ourselves the fruits of our toils." "But they will ride us down and kill us all," a young serf cried out, "We have no defence against their power." "Listen young Dyfed," Mathanwy interjected, "They used to fight their gold and fame seeking wars abroad, but now they've brought them home. We will die and live in fear if we stay. We must muster together all the power we have and seek an excape before it is to late." Thus it happened that a small portion of the towns peasants risked death by breaking the bonds of peonage and leaving their fields. Their destination is a secret known only to themselves. But rumor has is that an aged priestess of Vasa Anar leads them to a place that is protected by the power of the Godess of the Solar Light. In this way they hope to be safe from the vengence of the nobility and the perilous activities of the adventuring class. Even now they travel westward of the town carrying all their worldly belongings, which are few. After a long debate, it was finally agreed that the small group of human and goblin miners recently come to town could join them on their journey as it was recognised that they would need all the allies who would help them. Thus it came to be that Dirge left the inn never to return. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Wraith waited a few moments after the fighting stopped before dissipating his shield. The magical display had worried him, but none of it was directed his way. 'This Lord Thunder has some explaining to do' he thought. He moved gracefuly around the Inn, collecting the 6 or so daggers he threw durning the battle. He looked at the patrons of the Inn who had been caught in the fight. No healers were in evidence, and some of the patrons needed help badly. "If anyone can do any healing, there are many who need attention. I will render whatever aid I can." he said to the bar in general. Wraith then moved to a spot near the center of the Inn and cleared a small area of the floor. Assuming the magic ban he had heard about did not extend to beneficial spells, he begain chalking diagrams on the floor. The lack of nature life in the area was going to complicate things. Standing in the center of the diagrams, he begain a low, sonorous chant. At the end of nearly ten minutes, he slowly stopped. Everyone in the Inn felt the benificial effects of the spell, many not getting a hangover the next morning, however much they deserved it. Wraith stood still for a few moments, then took a deep breath and looked around. Then he slowly knelt and begain cleaning the runes off the floor. Wraith sat back on his heels after cleaning the runes off the floor. He sat and stared at nothing, until the barmaid handed him a drink. He looked up at her absently. "I don't remeber ordering a drink." he said. "Complements of that man over there." The barmaid pointed out a large human seated at a nearby table. "You didn't have to clean the floor, you know. That's what I'm here for." Wraith looked blankly at the floor he had just cleaned, as if he had never seen it before. Then he seemed to remeber something. "Oh. No problem, I assure you." He absently handed her a coin, and forced himself to his feet. Forgetting his drink, he wandered over to the table the human was at, and collapsed into a seat. Wraith stared over the mans shoulder for a moment, then said, "I thank you for the drink," he gestured vaguely towards the door. "That spell was much more draining than it should have been." Wraith said, mainly to himself. "Even with the lack of nature energy..." He looked up. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?" @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@