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[Xeen] Compendium Chapter 12
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Amaranth Talorin, the most recent addition to Zephilia
Elessidel's troop of Legentors, hooked one strand of golden-
blonde hair behind her ear and tightened her grip on the reins of
her horse.  Though the party was riding out to meet Dardt, and
the weather conditions were less than inviting, her mood was
light, almost cheerful.

Not everyone in the party was quite so light-hearted.  Most
-- including Zephilia herself -- carried grim expressions.
Amaranth glanced at the girl Cari, who bore a grimace of
discomfort.  Amaranth would wager the girl had never worn armor
before, it lay so uneasily upon her.

Unlike her mentor, Amaranth noted, who carried his polished
armor like a second skin.  Oh, but he cut a fine figure, with
those broad shoulders and that brooding look to his gaze.
Amaranth's own green eyes traced the line of his shoulders with
an inward sigh.  Gossip-mongers back in Haven had placed Thai
Silverrun in Semareth's room the night before, and reported that
he had opened the door bare to his waist.  -Lucky girl,- she
thought, almost shivering at the image conjured up.  Amaranth,
however, was certain Silverrun had resisted his charms; the bonds
between her and the other man, Jarrad (who himself was none too
shabby) were obvious.

-Her loss,- Amaranth thought to herself, one corner of her
mouth curling upwards.  *She* wouldn't have wasted such an
opportunity.

Her eyes lingering on Semareth's back, Amaranth resolved to
seize any such chance (to find out exactly what lay underneath
that armor ...) that presented itself to her after this operation
was completed.  Assuming they survived, of course.

Not even that thought was enought to dampen her mood.
--Rebecca Ward

Following Draca's directions, the company, lead by Amaranth, back 
tracked slowly to the point where the second path led eastward. "On 
your guard soldiers," barked Zeph to her Legentors. Obediently they 
checked their weaponry and made ready as possible, save exposing 
their metal.
--Dave Smart

One of the Legentors gave Cari a suggestion on a efficient way to turn 
her horse, which she managed to accomplish without confusing the animal 
too greatly. Once under way though, as the party backtracked over the 
treacherous ground, Cari found that Semareth's adjustments were allowing 
her to ride straighter, with more confidence, though she was fervently 
hoping that they would stay to a walk. 

The chainmail still sat oddly upon her, but Cari was no longer paying 
heed to her discomfort. Now that she wasn't completely wrapped up in her 
fear of falling she turned her attention to staying alert to their 
surroundings; just as every member of the party was doing. She wasn't 
actively sensing; she was always lightly "aware" of 
her surroundings. That was just part of her, and often her instincts had 
proven true.
--Cathy Mosley

The narrow trail wove its course along a desolate landscape of 
blackened tree stumps that protruded half hazerdly here and there 
reminiscent of a once bountiful wood. Erosion from wind and rain 
had cut itself ugly gullies and ridges. Some smaller of which, cut 
the trail here and there, forcing the weary horse to make a small 
jump from time to time. This routine became quite taxing to 
Strawberry's system and he long to be by Draca's side, drifting the 
currents of the wind -but where on Ifreann did that desire spring 
from. For all Strawberry could recollect, he was afraid of hieghts. 
Within the first hour of their march, the tiny legion found its 
path cut off by a protruding cliff of slick muck and rock. "The 
path has been cut off," shouted the lead rider. "We will need to 
find another route."
  
"Damn!" shouted Zeph in frustration, wet strands of hair covering 
her face. "Our travel has already been delayed by this miserable 
weather." Looking to the sky, small pellets of water splashed her
face allowing a moments repose. She called to Thai who rode beside 
her. "Summon Draca. We could have her scout a new trail for us 
faster than any of my Legentors could."
--Dave Smart

She pulled her horse to a stop, and felt some sympathy as its head 
drooped. It looked as miserable as she felt. 

Cari patted the animal's neck and in her private thoughts ran through 
several earthy curses at the mud slide and the overall day.
--Cathy Mosley

Semareth sat silently on his horse as the rain beat down on his 
cloak. The thin tendrils of vapour which appeared as he breathed 
formed dragon wisps in the mist. He looked out into the gloom and 
imagined Dardt's serpentine eyes watching back, a sickly black tongue 
licking dragon lips in anticipation.

"Calm yourself, Zephyllia.", he soothed, speaking just loud enough to 
be heard over the rain. "We will face Dardt eventually... let us just 
take the journey one obstacle at a time."

With that, he settled back into silence, the reins in his hand lying 
idle.
--Nick Takayama

Thai did as she was bid and tried not to let her annoyance show. Hadn't 
she brought up this very possibility as a reason to take the griffons 
over horses?

With so much riding on this venture she was not in the best of moods but 
tried not to take it out on anyone around her.

::Jarrad, I can see as Draca does, but I would not mind another set of 
eyes. Do you have any abilities that could help?::

Over Jarrad's shoulder Thai could see Zephyr looking around uneasily lest 
there be a surprise attack as they sat here. Biting her lower lip she 
stroked the neck of her horse, walking it forward slowly so it did not 
have difficulties.
--Phaedra Whitlock

::I could scan ahead, but it may be much more effective, to cause antoher 
mud slide, wipe all this mud away, and leave the trail available.:: 
Jarrad sent.

::Or I could use psychokinesis to steady the mud and bore a tunnel through 
it.:: Jarrad added. ::The key issue is whether Xeen / Dardt would detect 
psionics, as opposed to magic. Know you anything about that Zeph?::
--Paul Raj Khangure


Semareth turned his head as he noticed a figure approaching. It was 
Draca, come to report her findings. He adjusted the reins in his hand as 
he listened, steam rising from the horse beneath him as rain continued to 
beat down in a steady rhythm.
--Nick Takayama

Draca had been testing out some of her new knowledge of flight 
dynamics, using her task as scout as an excuse to practice some of that 
which she had studied the night previous.  She took great pains, however, 
to ensure that she used only the _physical_ applications of her lesson.  
She was amazed at the complexity and diversity of fine-tuning that were 
at her disposal.  (Technically, after all, she was a fledgling... her 
'one owner' set of wings had only been tested a few times, due to the 
constraints of her 'servitude' to the Church.)

When Thai, obviously annoyed at Zeph's peremptory tone, relayed 
the message that they were in need of a new route, she merely assented, 
and flew back.  (After all, she _had_ been scouting..)

She carefully selected a landing spot far enough from the horses 
to avoid startling them, and walked the remaining hundred yards, 
carefully selecting the untrampled higher ground beside the path, and 
avoidig the worst of the mud.  Shaking the water off her wings, and 
squeezing the worst of it out of her drenched hair, she began her report.

*This is but the first mudslide in our original path.  There is 
another, smaller, less than a quarter mile ahead.  <opens wax tablet, 
starts sketching rough map>  If we backtrack nearly a mile, there is a 
passable deadwood thicket that would provide some cover, but leave us 
cornered in the event of an ambush.  It leads out to the open country 
about a mile west of our planned route.  Or, we could back up a quarter 
mile, and take the east fork of this path.  It is clear, has good footing 
for the horses, and leads out just east of our objective.  However, it 
feels wrong.. almost like.. it was engineered for our 'safe' passage.*

She finished her sketch, and handed the map to Thai.
--Margaret Tayti

Thai turned slightly to let Zeph have a better view of the tablet.
         
::Zeph, you know the enemy best. The less travel time we take the better, 
else we will likely be meeting Dardt before we arrive. The possibility of 
ambush in the thicket concerns me less than a trail that might exist only 
in our minds.:: 
--Phaedra Whitlock
       
She new Thai's cautions about time were true. Zeph had 
guess-timated that the narrowest time frame was about 3/4 of a day, 
just enough time for them to get to the lair and set up for an ambush. 
However, any delay countered that goal. Frustration and anxiety 
remained just beneath the surface as she attempted to adhere Semareth's 
earlier counsel. She needed her wits!
--Dave Smart

"Hmm .... " Jarrad mused, before asking philosophically "Is it better to
avoid a marked passage, or wander through it, ready to dismantle the trap
at the end? If this passage was made for us, then Xeen or Dardt already
know of our presence / goals."
--Paul Khangure
   
"Not necessarily." butted-in Strawberry. "Tactically, our enemy may have his 
forces spread throughout this desolate land in the hopes of trapping any 
party that has been sent out by foot. Chess pawns if you will."
--Dave Smart

::In this case, if he knows then let him waste his power creating 
mudslides and traps. We can go elsewhere and stay alert for whatever 
comes next. If it is a permanent trap, which is my belief, then I would 
prefer to be Jaunted across this mudslide and draw his attention, making 
him improvise, rather than see what he might have spent hours concocting.::

::If we try to second guess everything that occurs between here and 
Dardt's cave, we'll never get there. Zeph?::
--Phaedra Whitlock

It was not good for the horse to stand still in the cold, so Semareth set 
it into a trot around the group while he thought. The elves seemed quite 
comfortable riding, some even looked quite graceful on their mounts -- 
all looked sharply contrasted with Cari.

He dismounted, and led his horse through the mud until he was at Cari's side.
"Hold still a moment," he muttered, half to her, and half to her horse.
--Nick Takayama

Cari started in surprise when Semareth came to her side so lost she was in 
her discomfort. She was more than willing to comply with his directions, 
for fear of falling off the great animal.
--Cathy Mosley

He took a moment to adjust the stirrups to an appropriate height, then 
physically lifted Cari and moved her a little back on the saddle.
--Nick Takayama

She got the feel of where he had placed her, and started to understand 
that her center of balance would be better.
--Cathy Mosley

"Now put your feet here," he ordered, placing them in the adjusted 
stirrups, "and when your horse moves faster than a walk, stand up. I would 
wager your rear will not feel well for a while.".
--Nick Takayama

Cari decided not to pursue the state of her seat, which was diligently 
reminding her of its existence. Instead she sent, ::I'll keep your 
suggestion in mind - for as long as my thigh muscles are willing. Thank 
you ...this will help.:: She was grateful for Semareth's aide, but still 
in a dour enough mood to want to sulk a bit at his amusement - though she 
was starting to see how comical she might look.

She sat up straighter, figuring she could look good. At least until the 
horse started moving again.
--Cathy Mosley

Smiling, he leapt back atop his horse. He wiped rain from his face in a 
futile gesture, feeling grateful he had found chance to shave before they 
left - a beard would have been most uncomfortable in this weather. His 
mount shifted under him as if expecting to go somewhere... it was 
reminding him a decision was still to be made.

To the group, he spoke, "Whether it is a trap or not, we did not come on 
this journey to avoid our foes. If indeed, our enemies have engineered a 
safe passage to lure us to them, is it not wise to accept that over a 
strategically riskier path?". He found it strange to agree with Jarrad, 
yet obviously they both had some tactical experience.
--Nick Takayama

Silently she sat upon her massive black steed as she pondered the 
questions put to her. Her gloved hands rested pensively upon the 
saddle's pommel, reins coiled around her digits. The elven cloak 
she wore danced lightly in the breeze, her chain-mails' only 
defense from the constant rain. Alone in her thoughts she appeared 
imperturbable, although, lying just beneath the surface, bubbled 
her conflict. She never did enjoy the role of leader and all that 
encompassed it; at least she had Thai to share that burden now. 
With a twist in her saddle she bid Amaranth to join her side. 
Amaranth failed to hear -her mind was elsewhere perhaps. Through 
clenched teeth, Zeph repeated her desire. "*Amaranth*, your 
counsel is required!" 
--Dave Smart

This time the Legentor came to. With a jolt that caused her gelding to 
rear onto its hind legs she turned her horse away from Semareth's 
direction to face the small group surrounding Zeph and Thai. "As 
lead scout (Legolas's former station), do you have anything to add 
or confirm?" the High Inquisitor asked her subbordinate with a 
noticeable inflection of irritability in her voice. 
--Dave Smart

Amaranth's mind raced, as she worked through the conversation she 
had only half-heard.  -Blast it,- she thought, knowing this was not the 
most auspicious way to begin in Zephilia's service.  The woman set high 
standards, and expected her Legentors to meet them; and the last thing 
she needed now was a scout who was too busy mooning over Semareth to pay 
attention to the mission.  (Though he had been quite a sight, prancing 
around the party like that, and she *had* considered idly whether she 
should ask for assistance in adjusting her own stirrups.)

"The eastern path is real enough," she said shortly, in response 
to Thai's earlier remark.  "It does not exist only in our minds.  Though 
I doubt -- as do we all -- that it is as unobstructed as it seems."  She 
met Zeph's one-eyed gaze levelly, not quailing under that impatient 
glare (though only with some effort).  "Either way, we will be delayed.
By back-tracking further and dealing with a less passable path --
which will surely have its own ambush.  Or by taking the nearer,
seemingly easier path -- which most assuredly will have its hidden risks."
--Rebecca Ward

Thai sighed and scrunched a bit further into her cloak. Offhand she could 
think of several things she would have set up to guard a pass like that, 
and Eldarion probably had learned the same tricks and others besides.

::Zeph, whatever else he is, Xeen lives in Eldarion's head. If it were 
Eldarion setting up such a trap, what might we expect to face?::

Thai knew she was about to be overruled again, as she had been on the 
griffon-horses debate, but had no reasons for insisting on the other 
path. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

::Semareth:: sent Jarrad, privately, including Thai in the link, but 
noone else.

::This standing around, debating which trap to trigger, is pointless.
Suppose I just jaunted us across the slide, the same skill which Cari 
posesses, but I am stronger in it.
--Paul Khangure

Semareth looked sharply in Jarrad's direction, perhaps prompting the next 
addition.
--Nick Takayama

If you object to that, then perhaps we should just pick a path and begin, 
the others will follow. ... Especially Zephillia's new head scout.::

The last was sent with just a tinge of humour, and a brief image of the 
blonde woman, blindfolded, following Semareth over a cliff.
--Paul Raj Khangure

Confused for a moment at the imagery, Semareth failed to react. He 
recognised the woman in the sending as one of the legentors. She was 
quite an attractive woman - was Jarrad taunting him?

He let it drift to the back of his mind for the moment, and waited while 
the group decided where to go. Amaranth - for that was the scout's name - 
became responsible for the final decision, Semareth had a feeling that 
Zeph was testing her out.

It was with some satisfaction that he listened as she supported his 
earlier suggestion.
--Nick Takayama

The time came for a decision. Enough time had been wasted already. 
"As stated earlier, and I am assured by most of your eager 
expressions, that time is of the essence," Zeph finally said. 
"After considering what council I have been given, we shall take 
the quickest path -the path that points east. I prefer we did not 
use any form of magics unless absolutely imperative." She glanced 
at Jarrad and Thai. "We will make haste, but without jaunting or 
teleporting." Then to Draca who stood patiently by still holding 
her wax tablet with the ruff sketch, she continued. "I know Draca, 
that you feel apprehensive about this route and perhaps your 
intuitiveness may prove to have merit, but let us make our way to 
the eastern branch. There, we will advance with our guard doubled 
and with you --Draca, high above to sound the alarm if anything 
suspicious in nature should be spotted, will give me some added 
comfort. Let us be off then." Then to Amaranth once the two were 
far away from the others so as to afford some form of privacy. "You 
came through gracefully in the end, but it will serve you better to 
give your full attention to the task at hand." That said, she bore 
her heels neatly into the sides of her horse and moved ahead to 
join the others.
--Dave Smart

Her face had long since lost the ability to burn with shame,
but Amaranth shrank inside at the sharp note in Zephilia's voice.
Though Amaranth had never cared to hide her appreciation of a
handsome man, she most assuredly did not want to let it interfere
with her duties as a Legentor.  Especially on *this* mission.

As she moved to take the lead, she thought she might have
detected a small smile (hell, almost a grin!) on the man Jarrad's
face.  She raised one eyebrow as she passed him, sweeping her
gaze over him from head to toe with a cold expression that said
he clearly ranked second-best.
--Rebecca Ward

Semareth barely held his humour in check. Amaranth was surely a woman of 
spirit. If it had been his nature, he'd have sent Jarrad a mental image 
of a monastery... as a suggestion of sorts. As it was, he contented 
himself with a smile as he urged his horse after the head scout's.

The grey landscape did not seem at all different when travelling in the 
opposite direction, he mused, as the party went on its way. It had been 
just over a year since he had last been on campaign, and he realised just 
how much he had missed it. It was on that campaign that he had been 
wounded, returning home with what was assumed to be a mortal wound. His 
father, the head of the Church of Sh'al had prayed day and night over his 
bed, his bearded visage wet with tears.

Semareth remembered this now, as he remembered the terror of the next few 
days as death-deep gashes healed without a trace, bones re-knitting with 
unnatural precision. His father grew quiet, and appeared outwardly 
disturbed as his son recovered to full health. There was no logical 
explanation for this miraculous healing -- it was not Sh'aljien's wont to 
openly affect the lives of his subjects, even should they be born to the 
church. Yet it was then that Semareth first heard the voice of Sh'al. It 
was then that Sh'al admitted to healing him, and advised him to leave the 
northern lands as soon as possible.

It was three days before Semareth was able to ride, and he left without a 
word to anyone.

Thus it was he came to Montfort, and into this crusade. 
 ---
Semareth was jolted from his thoughts as his horse shied away from a 
potential obstacle. He cursed himself for letting his mind drift - those 
were problems for another time.

He gave his horse some slack, and quickly caught up with Zephyllia and 
Amaranth at the head of the party. With a nod of his head, he spoke, 
"Ladies...", he half-bowed in his saddle, "I'll just scout ahead in 
front. Perhaps Draca might miss something from the air.. and," he 
grinned, "I need something to keep my mind active.".

With that, he heeled into his horse gently, and pulled away in front.
--Nick Takayama

Amaranth fidgeted in her saddle, cursing under her breath and 
wishing she had kept her thoughts on more serious matters earlier.
Zeph's scout should lead the party -- Zeph's cold expression would have
told her that much if she had not already known -- but now any
insistence to ride ahead with Semareth would be deliberately misread.
-That's what I get for making calf's eyes at the man like a simple
schoolgirl.-

Zeph just stared at her, and Amaranth tried not to squirm under
that unforgiving scrutiny.  "Oh, hell," she muttered, jerking her reins
and digging her heels into the gelding's sides.  -Let them chatter,-
she told herself.  She would be facing worse on this journey than some
simple ridicule, however sharp the teeth behind it.
--Rebecca Ward

Thai watched Amaranth's horse slow when she had caught up to the High 
Inquisitor's mount. She glanced at Zeph and wondered if she was thinking 
the same thing. In many cases "scout" was equivalent to trap-finder. Not 
because they had any ability with such things. It was simply that they 
were likely to trigger any traps there might be.

She checked the others over her shoulder. Strawberry and Cari looked 
uncomfortable. Jarrad and Zephyr looked as relaxed as did the elves. Not 
much in this situation.

She turned back forward and directed her attention to the road ahead. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

She pulled her mount up even with his, and keeping her eyes
directed straight ahead, said, "The turn to the eastern path is just
ahead."  She bit off the words, feeling Zeph's glare focused right
between her shoulder-blades.
--Rebecca Ward

Sensing some tension in the elf's voice, Semareth looked at her briefly, 
confused.

He returned his gaze to the job at hand, and replied in a lower voice. "I 
apologise if I have offended. I merely wished to assist in some way.", he 
paused, as if apologising was not familiar to him.
--Nick Takayama

-That one cost him,- Amaranth thought, grinning before she
could stop herself.  "No apology," she said in a low voice.  "The
offense was not yours, it was mine."  She did not add that Zeph
was not particularly forgiving, nor that Dardt and Xeen would be
even less tolerant of reckless inattention.  Besides, this was
not the time to explain something that everyone else in the party
had noted, but to which he had been completely oblivious.
--Rebecca Ward

The eastern path was now visible through the dense rain, and Semareth sat 
forward in his saddle to see better. He was sure the elf had been able to 
see it well before him, that, he had learned, was one of their 
advantages. 

He didn't know what he expected of a "clear path", but this was not it. 
Admittedly it was flatter than the unhospitable trail they had followed, 
yet in all other respects it looked the same. It was muddy, rocky and 
dominating terrain, devoid of life... or so it seemed in the wan light.

He started towards it with a glance first at Amaranth, then to the group 
behind him. The flat ground here was in the form of a sort of valley 
between small rocky outcrops which were but dim shadows to his eyes. Any 
manner of creature could be lurking in those shadows, watching... 
waiting. A coldness settled on him as he rode, as if the steady rain had 
only just penetrated his riding cloak, and gone clean to the bone.

He reigned his horse in next to Amaranth's until he was close enough to 
whisper. 

"See you anything? Or should I send Jarrad out as bait?", his smile was 
weak, but his gaze held firm on her face.
--Nick Takayama

Amaranth was glad he had stopped voluntarily; she had almost
reached out to grab his reins and pull him up short.  She studied
the path ahead, then met his gaze.  His eyes seemed bottomless.
If she had not seen what she thought she had seen, she might have
risked another upbraiding by Zephilia and simply leaned over to
kiss him.  After all, the direct approach always had proven
fruitful before.

But the last thing she wanted to linger after her was some
hideous ballad about the brave warrior maiden (though that term
hardly applied anymore) taking one chaste kiss before heading off
to her doom.  The very thought would make her spirit shudder for
eternity; if she were to be remembered for a kiss, it sure as
hell wouldn't be a chaste one.

"However insufferable he may be," she said, flashing another
grin, "he's too important to this mission to waste springing the
trap."  Before he could speak again, she shook her head and
continued, firmly, "As are you.  A second-rate replacement scout
on the other hand..."  Shrugging, she turned her mount towards
the trail.  "Don't look so glum -- they pay me to be the bait."
She set her heel to the gelding (too bad, he had proven to be a
reliable, if uninspiring, mount) and moved onto the trail.
--Rebecca Ward

Cari was proud of herself - she was keeping a decent seat. She smiled a 
little at her accomplishment, despite the fact that the chainmail was 
continuing to rub under her right arm. She tried shifting her shoulders, 
but found that her balance was still too precarious, and decided to 
ignore the irritation. She patted the horse's neck and promised to share 
the horse linament she carried between the pair of them. She remembered 
that horse linament was good for both man and beast.

Ahead she saw Semareth ride with the head scout. Both the Priest of 
Sh'aljien and the Elven Inquisitor looked like they belonged to this 
setting of challenge - quick and sure of their power. She admired the 
grace with which they carried themselves, and wished she had that kind of 
surety. She felt the faintest twinge of envy at how well matched the head 
scout looked beside Semarth, but Cari shoved that feeling down. She knew 
that such emotions had no place on this quest; where each must do their 
part. Nor did she have any claims on Lord Semareth's attention. As 
Semareth once told - she was to give her oaths and devotion to Sh'aljien 
and not to him.
--Cathy Mosley

Jarrad saw Semareth pull ahead, and recognised immediately, the 
expression on Amaranth's face, at the connundrum she was in. Supressing a 
chuckle, he watched her go and ride in tandem with the man, and decided 
that perhaps he would range ahead mentally.

Giving Thai a wink as she turned to survey the group, he relaxed, and 
sent ahead a farsensing probe, literally a part of his mind.

As his probe ranged past Semareth and Amaranth, he caught a comment about 
bait, and couldn't help himself from a slight psychokenetic (PK) nudge on 
the horses, bringing the two extremely close together as they surveyed 
the path.

Smiling at the apparently tender moment, he ranged outwards
again, beyond the two to the part of the trail that they had
sensed and had stopped them.

Something was strange about this, it almost seemed this part of
the path was alive.

With an audible oath, he snapped back into his body and hissed
"stop," loud enough for the party to hear, but not loud as to
carry too far.
--Paul Khangure

At Jarrad's command Cari brought her horse to a stop. From where
she was she couldn't see much, but waited for word to come as to
what was found.
--Cathy Mosley

It was almost too late, Amaranth was a step away from death.

Exerting his PK, he startled Amaranth and her horse, by lifting
the two a few inches off the ground, and hurredly floating them
back to where Semareth still stood.
--Paul Khangure

Amaranth was too surprised -- shocked even -- by suddenly
finding herself suspended in mid-air to take any quick action.
She held herself as still as possible, assuming this to be the
result of a friendly mage (if it had been unfriendly, she
imagined she would have been lifted much higher up, and quickly
dropped).  Before long, she found herself safely back on earth,
staring at Semareth.  "So much for not using magic," she said
grimly, lifting her cross-bow.
--Rebecca Ward

Then, after releasing the startled pair, he used is PK to
simulate the weight of a horse and rider, travelling along the
path, just in front of where Amaranth had stood.
--Paul Khangure

She watched as first Amaranth's horse was lifted and moved out of
danger.  She glanced at Strawberry and raised a questioning
eyebrow.
--Cathy Mosley

With a snap, the sides of the trail rose up, and closed on mid
air, just where the horse had appeared to be. Then they unfolded
again, and turned to face the party. It became readily apparent
that it wasn't the trail doing that, but a creature of some sort.
The foot long, razor sharp, white teeth arranged in a ring, was
the first indication.

As the earth and mud slid away, the part was presented with the
gaping mouth of a huge worm, some 10 yards (10 metres) in
diameter, the rest of its body buried. If it was in proportion to
the worms he used for fishing, Jarrad would estimate the worm to
have a body in excess of 500 yards long. His mind boggled and
gave up trying to work out what size fish he could catch.

The ground shook as it started to extract itself, and advance on
the party, moving towards Semareth and Amaranth, the first in its
path.
--Paul Khangure

Amaranth loosed the bolt from her cross bow directly into
the creature's maw, but noted almost clinically the complete lack
of effect.  She unsheathed her sword, wrestling to maintain
control of her mount as she slowly stepped it backwards.  The
trap was sprung, and with that having been done, she saw no need
to charge ahead before the rest of the party could mobilize.
--Rebecca Ward

Semareth grabbed tightly to his horses reins as the earth before him 
erupted without warning to reveal the most hideous image he had seen in 
years (see Paul's description <HUGE GRIN and apologies>)
--Nick Takayama

As the ground quaked, and the gaping maw of a giant worm rose
from the ground, Cari's horse panicked; rearing up. Cari threw
her weight forward, but she was hardly heavy enough for a calm
horse to notice. She grasped the reins and tried to pull the
snorting animal's head down.  Whether this was the right thing to
do or not Cari didn't know, but she didn't have many bright
ideas. All she could do was to hopefully keep her own fear from
bleeding through and sent, ::Easy.::

As the other Legentors prepared for battle Cari's horse began
snapping at any who came too close. Finally one of the elves took
long enough to get the horse under enough control, and pulled to
the rear, where it wouldn't be a hazard.
--Cathy Mosley

"I think we should have taken the other path" Jarrad murmured, as
he moved into action, embracing the mental enhancement matrix,
which gave him his lightning speed.
--Paul Khangure

"Probably would have been strangle-vine waiting for us,"
Amaranth muttered in response.  "Or huge carnivorous rodents."
The worm's head whipped in her direction at the sound, and her
horse skittered back.  As she took her first swing at the worm's
eyeless head, cutting a deep gash and dancing aside from the
flashing teeth, she wondered who had the bright idea *not* to use
griffons?
--Rebecca Ward

::Semareth objected.:: responded Thai as she drew her sword and spurred her 
horse into a charge. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Now isn't that ironic," Amaranth grunted, flashing one
disappointed look in his direction, then wheeling her horse
around to gain some more distance from the worm, before turning
to attack again.
--Rebecca Ward

Draca had been circling ahead, trying to locate the 'safest' 
portion of the path, when her attention was suddenly drawn by a twinge in 
her life-sense... She had neglected to scan the path directly before the 
party, choosing to range farther afield.

She tucked one wing, banked and dove, headed back... only to find 
a giant worm rearing up out of a formerly 'dead' path.  Realizing that 
the group below would be in extremely close quarters, and that their 
'adversary' would be unlikely to react to standard damage, she decided to 
get its attention.  (After all, she has _plenty_ of room to maneuver..)

Given the situation, she first threw one of her spears, as hard 
as she could, down the creature's gullet, and watched it sink nearly full 
length into the worm's soft flesh.  She was determined to wait only a few 
moments before trying the tactic that she had hoped never to use... that 
of focusing the pain she carried - as a weapon...
--Margaret Tayti

::Draca! See if you can grab and hold it's head away from us!::
Thai ordered, hoping that the party would then have a few seconds
in which to attack its underside before the rest of its body
could emerge from the ground.  ::Jarrad, help her!::
--Phaedra Whitlock

::I have a better idea:: replied Jarrad, as he prepared to jaunt
in multiplicity.
--Paul Khangure

A volley of arrows from the Legentors shot past Thai, Sem and
Amaranth to strike the worm. "At least it isn't a Wyrm', thought
Thai ironically.

She pulled up to the side of the worm's maw. The horse reared as
she leaned down and slashed at the muscles along the edge of the
worm's jaws.  Her mount's hooves slammed down on the creature's
sides before Thai wheeled it away.

The worm creature surged forward into the place her horse had
been with a twisting, rolling movement, and was upon Amaranth and
Semareth once more.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Loosening as many of her packs as she could first, Amaranth
slid down the back of her horse and to the ground.  In its panic,
the animal was hindering more than helping, and her
maneuverability, even in the mud, would be better on her own
feet.  She tossed what she had managed to save to one side of the
trail, and keeping the horse between herself and the worm, tried
to direct her mount away from the narrow area of fighting.

-Dumb animal!- she thought, wishing again for griffins.
Finally, she released the reins and simply let the horse go; it
dashed across the worm's path.  The creature followed the
movement of the animal and lashed out, catching one hind-quarter
and biting down hard.

Amaranth tuned out her mounts frenzied squeals of pain and
terror.  She lifted her sword and dashed in to cut at the other
side of the worm's jaws.  If she and Thai Silverrun could sever
the muscles on either side, the most the creature could do would
be to roll over them and crush them.
--Rebecca Ward

Just as Draca was about to rush in at the side of the worm's neck, 
her bare hand extended, she was assailed by a cacophony of messages.  She 
analyzed each in turn, choosing to continue on her chosen course... until 
Jarrad decided on rash heroics.
--Margaret Tayti

::Move back, this might get messy::

Having prepared a jaunt, destruct, and shield, Jarrad took
action, his first jaunt taking him straight into the worms mouth,
where he set a destruct matrix in place, and then jaunted again,
20 yards further down into the worm.

With his shield in place, he fended of the worm's acidic juices,
as he jaunted 20 yards at a time, immediately setting another
matrix, then jaunting again.
--Paul Khangure

As he vanished, Draca found she was able to track his movements 
using her natural attunement to life.  She therefore quickly grasped what 
Jarrad was doing, and cursed silently at the waste of his reserves.  
Within moments, she felt wave after wave of deepening exhaustion, and, by 
the time the destruction began, [she noted that her spear returned of its 
own accord] she was deeply concerned for his welfare.  He was severely 
overextending himself.  
--Margaret Tayti

After about five jaunts, the matrices began to execute,
transforming a ring of atoms around the worm into pure energy,
one after another each 20 yards.

Finding himself tiring quickly, Jarrad dug into further mental
reserves, continuing his jaunts, but spreading them further
apart, to 25 yards each.  As he neared the end of the worm, he
increased the size of the matrices he was using, and summoned the
last of his energy, for one final jaunt, landing near where he
left, and collapsing unconscious into the mud.
--Paul Khangure

In the midst of her struggles to sever the muscles on one
side of the worm's jaws, Amaranth thought she had caught a
glimpse of the man Jarrad *inside* the creature's mouth
(somewhere behind the still squealing remains of her horse).
--Rebecca Ward

He didn't manage to see the results of his labours, a rippling
effect which spread through the worm, blowing a section apart,
each 20 to 25 yards.

The worm was mortally wounded, and it turned it's attention to
trying to take as many with it as it could.
--Paul Khangure

When Jarrad failed to reappear outside the worm Thai's blood ran cold.
With a desperate strength she drove her sword into the worm's jaw to the 
hilt. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

     Amaranth cursed vividly in amazement as bits of worm started
flying left and right, then quickly snapped back into action to
continue cutting at the creature's jaws.  When the head started
thrashing back and forth, she danced backwards -- and saw Jarrad
lying unconscious in the mud directly in the creature's path.
Even if the worm couldn't chew very effectively now -- at least
one side of its jaw hung at an unpleasant angle -- with its very
weight it would crush the man into the mud.

     No time to look about to see if Thai Silverrun was in a
position to save her lover.  "Ward me," Amaranth shouted to
Semareth; she sheated her sword and dashed forward, slipping in
mud and worm slime.  (One good thing, the horse had stopped
screaming.)  She hooked her gauntleted hands under Jarrad's
shoulders, dug her feet into the mud and *pulled* with all her
strength.  "You picked a fine time to take a nap," she muttered,
managing to roll him out of the way in time to avoid the
thrashing head.
--Rebecca Ward

Semareth hoped Amaranth did not mean "ward" in the magical sense for she 
would be sorely disappointed. Instead, he urged his mount to charge the 
worm at an angle, distracting it whilst hoping to get close enough to do 
damage.

When he was even with it's maw, he leapt cat-like from his mount, 
grasping at the beasts raw hide with chain gauntlets. In moments he had 
hauled himself atop it's writhing body, bracing himself to the warm, 
oozing flesh. He managed to steady himself on his feet, and moved forward 
to it's head, drawing his sword. With a roar, he planted his blade in the 
middle of it's head as deep as he could, feeling it penetrate through 
layer upon layer of blubber. His intention had been to draw the blade the 
length of the beast, a cut he had seen chefs perform on shrimp with 
interesting effects. However, his consciousness was drawn to an energy 
build up around him, and a warmth...
--Nick Takayama

Now that Cari was far enough back from the monster her horse
calmed enough for her to keep it controlled, and gave her time to
consider what she could do to aid.

There was little she could do physically. None of her darts or
daggers would pierce that thing's hide, so Cari tried to think of
what hurt normal worms - besides being stepped on. Drowning
it wasn't an option, but she could also picture how worms
shriveled when they were exposed to the noon day sun after being
forced to the surface by a hard rain. ::Heat!:: she broadcast to
Draca, Thai, and Jarrad. ::Intense heat might damage it!::
--Cathy Mosley

Draca noted with relief that Jarrad managed to return to his original 
location,  and began circling down to the rear of the party, to wait for 
him to be brought for treatment.  Her last glance before turning was of 
Amaranth dragging him out of harm's way...

She didn't see Thai's actions until it was too late to stop her..
--Margaret Tayti

A moment behind Amaranth, Thai grimly spiraled her hands in front of her. 
There was no time to wait for the thing to die, it had to die now. A wall 
of fire erupted out of nowhere around the creature's head incinerating 
the 'nose' and working its way backwards. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

With a curse, Semareth yanked his sword from it's resting place as the 
flesh before him burst into flame with a sickening smell. Almost too 
late, he realised the spell that was taking effect. He lunged - 
half-falling in his desperation, flames licking at his cloak. He landed 
ungraciously in the mud, only the hissing sound as he hit earth told him 
how close he had come to being crisped alive.
--Nick Takayama

Now, the pieces of exploding worm flying at her were
blazing.  Amaranth ducked as an especially large chunk came
spinning out of nowhere.  Slipping in the mud, she fell to one
knee, losing her grip on Jarrad's shoulders.  She scrambled back
to her feet, but before she could grab him again, the now-burning
head of the worm thrashed back, one unidentifiable piece catching
her right behind the knees.

Trousers afire, Amaranth rolled desperately out of the way,
back towards Semareth, trying to put out the flames.  In moments,
yards -- and a flaming, but still living, worm head -- separated
her from Jarrad.
--Rebecca Ward

Quickly, Semareth removed his mud soaked cloak and fell atop the elf 
with it in front of him. She was still rolling as he caught her, but 
he managed to smother the flames on her legs. When their rolling came to 
an end, he picked her up in his arms, her legs still wrapped in his 
cloak, and ran for cover.
--Nick Takayama

Amaranth yelped in surprise as Semareth lifted her from the
ground and dashed away from the last, flailing remains of the
worm.  Hell, Zeph's other Legentors were never going to let her
live this one down -- swept up into his arms and carried from the
field of battle like a helpless baby.  It almost would have been
better to have gone down the worm's gullet along with her horse.

Well, maybe *that* was going a bit too far.
--Rebecca Ward

With a significant part of the worm burning Thai called a hasty 
retreat. She slid from her horse and pulled Jarrad away from the worm 
towards the temporary shelter of the nearer stone outcropping.

Checking the pulse at Jarrad's throat she called, ::Zeph, we have to 
get out of here before something comes to investigate! Continue through 
the pass and wait for more traps or go the other way!?!:: 
--Phaedra Whitlock

Semareth stopped as he reached the shelter where Thai and Jarrad were. It 
was then that he looked down at the woman in his arms, his silver eyes 
looking with hope that she was not hurt.

She was not dead, that much was for sure. He could feel her chest rising 
and falling against his, but he dared not place her down until he was 
sure that no damage was done to her legs.
--Nick Takayama

In the slow journey from darkness to light, Jarrad opened his eyes to a 
sight he never would have expected. That was almost an expression of 
tenderness in Semareth's eyes.
--Paul Khangure

Amaranth kicked -- or tried to.  "Put me down, you fool!" she
hissed, knowing that once the frenzy of battle had cooled, they
would soon be surrounded by the other members of the party.
Unfortunately, Semareth was not cooperating with her efforts to
save at least some of her dignity.  In fact, she had to admit, as
she looked into those lovely silver eyes, dignity might be
overrated.

Her kicks, already hampered by the folds of his cloak, stopped.
"My goodness," she murmured, only now noticing the pain from her
burns.  "You *are* a pretty one, aren't you?"
--Rebecca Ward

Seeing Jarrad was okay, just exhausted, Thai quickly stood and joined 
Semareth. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

::Corporal, are you hurt?::

The elf woman looked decidely unhurt and much too comfortable in Sem's 
arms for Thai to tolerate without a twinge of jealousy. That Thai had 
chosen Jarrad over the High Inquisitor had not changed her liking for Sem. 
Thai always had and always would be protective of his interests, and this 
chainmailed kitten in heat was NOT liable to win Thai's liking. They were 
too much alike.
--Phaedra Whitlock

She almost didn't hear Thai Silverrun's question, but a certain
undercurrent of tension cut through the pain from her legs and
the tickle of amusement she felt from Semareth's surprised
expression.  It was a note Amaranth had heard before, the tone of
jealousy, and one Amaranth would have expected to come from the
girl Cari -- surely not Thai, with her lover lying only half-
conscious on the ground behind her.

Amaranth had no idea whether Semareth was reading the veiled
emotions correctly; there was no doubt from the look on Jarrad's
still dazed face that *he* did.  Before Amaranth's better half
could stop herself, she curled one hand around Semareth's neck
and pulled his mouth down to her own.
--Rebecca Ward

Semareth stood stunned momentarily as the elf's soft lips first touched 
his. It did not take long, however, before he found himself returning the 
kiss gently, appreciating the warmth of the woman in his arms. When the 
moment ended, he was speechless.
--Nick Takayama