Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Bitterness Overcome: (Now A Completed Story!)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 2858343" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p>Before Charis and Semeion were able to turn away and get their horses to duck out of sight, a pair of horses riding relentlessly turned the corner. The rider on the right pulled back hard on the reigns to get her horse to perform a sit-stop maneuver to avoid slamming into the back of Abijou. Semeion smiled broadly as he recognized the familiar voice.</p><p></p><p>Rhema yelled as her horse performed the desperate maneuver. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Whoa, Shauvry!”</span> </p><p></p><p>As Shauvry performed the maneuver Ischarus sailed past Semeion and Charis on the galloping Elistra. He stood lightly in the saddle and slowed Elistra back into a slow trot and then eventually into a walk. By this time he was nearly a hundred yards down the horse trail. Once Elistra was under control he turned her around and began to walk her back to the group.</p><p></p><p>Abijou was startled by the loud sound coming from behind and as Elistra galloped past he spooked slightly. Semeion clenched the reigns tightly and didn’t allow Abijou to pull away. The net result of all the commotion was that Abijou was permitted to spin his hind quarters in a clockwise circle until he was now facing the opposite direction as Thana and Semeion. Abijou snorted loudly as the cloud of dust rose from the ground underneath the hind quarters of Shauvry. As luck would have it, the wind was coming from behind Shauvry and Rhema and thus blew the cloud of dust right into Thana, Abijou, Charis, and Semeion. Charis let out a long string of coughs as the cloud passed her by and filled her already rough throat.</p><p></p><p>Rhema looked to Semeion with disgust. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“What are you doing?”</span> Rhema screamed at Semeion. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Why are you just standing here in the middle of the road wasting time? Do you not know what exactly that dragon is going to do once Druff comes to his senses?”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled grimly. <span style="color: Plum">“He will roast every living person he can find until she is found.”</span> He pointed to Charis as he spoke.</p><p></p><p>Rhema looked startled at Semeion's words. As he spoke and pointed to Charis, Rhema focused on her for the first time as she sat atop Abijou. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“You’re … you’re not dehydrated and burned by the sun anymore.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion turned his head to look at Rhema as she spoke and then focused in the opposite direction upon the approaching Ischarus. <span style="color: Plum">“She’s a healer, Rhema. She was being bred with the dragon to produce other healers for the sake of her people.”</span> Semeion turned for a second and translated to Charis what had been said.</p><p></p><p>Charis looked angrily at Semeion and added, <span style="color: Orange">“Which my people will never need because our father dragon will kill them all looking for me!”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus replied from afar, although he was fast closing the distance. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Your father dragon was going to kill them all anyway, Provenience.”</span></p><p></p><p>Chairs jerked the reigns out of Semeion’s hand and used them to spin Abijou around to face Ischarus as he approached. Rhema used the time to bring Shauvry back into a standing position. As Charis peered towards Ischarus the red edges of her gray eyes increased in intensity. She could feel the anger bursting inside of her.</p><p></p><p>Semeion noticed that Charis had been taken with a sudden agitation. He asked of Rhema’s power quietly. <span style="color: Plum">“Are you losing your power over her?”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded in the affirmative. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“She must come to terms with what is happening on her own, now. It is not right for me to take control any more.”</span></p><p></p><p>As Rhema and Semeion had their side conversation, Charis lashed out in angry speech against Ischarus. <span style="color: Orange">“What do you know of my people? What do you know of the ways of the dragon born? What do you know of the affairs of the Provenience? I could have brought peace to my people through my healing.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus shook his head, internally debating as to whether or not direct confrontation would work with Charis. He bit his lip in a steely resolve and mentally went through a weapons check in case things got ugly. <span style="color: LightBlue">“I, too, am dragon born. But my father dragon does not abuse us the way that your father dragon abuses your people. My father dragon rules with justice, mercy, and compassion rather than fear of utter destruction. Where your father dragon used your people to create loyal and fearful servants, my father dragon taught us out of his own knowledge and raised us to respect life as a gift and not a resource to be used and expended.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis raised an angry finger as Ischarus challenged her. She prepared to speak, but Ischarus cut her off. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Tell me honestly that what I said is not true. Yes, your father dragon protected you from the harm that can come to you in this world, but at what expense? He protected you not out of love but out of greed. You all are pawns to his greater master plan – and the greed of a red dragon is exceeded by none! I have it on Druff’s authority that once you were taken by your father dragon that your people were to be expunged. You were to breed with your father dragon many times over and produce the building blocks for a new people and a new community. Only a select few were to be spared out of your whole people. What we did was give them a chance to flee before the coming wrath of your father dragon.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus knew that his words were angry in tone, but once he had committed himself to direct confrontation he knew that he had to keep speaking until the Provenience broke in spirit. As Ischarus prepared to finish his speech he rose in his saddle so that he was in a standing position, high above Charis’ head. <span style="color: LightBlue">“We did not bring the wrath of your father dragon upon your people. The wrath was already coming because your father dragon rules selfishly and out of greed. The wrath was going to destroy them already. The wrath was going to overtake them without warning. We provided them a means of escape so their lives might be spared.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis looked up to Ischarus. Her angry soul searched for words to shout back at Ischarus, but none of them made sense anymore. She knew that if what Ischarus had said was true then these three strangers had given her people their only chance at life. She desperately wanted to hate Ischarus for his words. She wanted to lash out and call him a liar. She wanted to be the Provenience and bring healing to her people. A people that Ischarus claimed would have been dead without warning. </p><p></p><p>As the turmoil boiled inside of her, her hands began to shake. In a weak effort to stop the shaking she clenched her fists tightly around the reigns. As she tightened her muscles to prevent her hands from shaking, the shaking merely spread up her arms. Her forearms and elbows began to shake. Suddenly her mind found something that she could focus on. She licked her lips quickly and mustered the words in her draconic language.</p><p></p><p>Charis spoke with an angered tone. <span style="color: Orange">“Paash Ahrah.”</span> </p><p></p><p>Ischarus winced slightly as he was caught unprepared for the fact that she commanded magic. Fortunately the spell was not against him. Following Charis’ words a shimmering transparent golden field expanded from her skin and formed a solid sphere around her body at a distance of a solitary foot. Instinctively Semeion heard the words and reached out to touch Charis. He was hopeful that his earlier compassion would cause a soothing affect to come over Charis.</p><p></p><p>Semeion’s hand reached past the shimmering golden field and his fingers passed through it without any resistance. Charis jumped in shock when his outstretched fingers caught her shoulder. She turned and asked, <span style="color: Orange">“You can touch me?”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus settled back into his seat, knowing that his challenge had begun to work. He was grateful for Semeion’s physical assertion, hoping that if the focus could be taken off of him Charis would be given time to contemplate his words in the sanctity of her own mind rather than through further confrontation.</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded as Charis turned, slightly pulling his hand back from her shoulder. He was careful to not put his fingers entirely out of the shimmering golden field. <span style="color: Plum">“Indeed, it would seem that I can. Why does this surprise you?”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis swallowed hard as her mind churned fervently trying to interpret the meaning of this action. <span style="color: Orange">“My words protect me from the touch of my people – even the touch of Druff. When I speak them and am in my field, only a rare few people can touch me and not be wounded. Those who could touch me were my closest friends. They were the ones wanting to use me to bring healing to my people.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion snatched up the opportunity as quickly as it was presented. <span style="color: Plum">“Then trust me, Charis. If this field protects you from all those except who are good or pure in heart, then you know what I am. Trust me. Follow me. I can lead you away from here.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis slowly licked her lips once more, her mind still churning hard. Her lips parted as if to speak, but before she could utter any sound a loud screech pierced the air. It was a cry. Actually, it was an angry cry. It was an angry cry of what could only be assumed to be a large red dragon.</p><p></p><p>Rhema had been silent until now. There was great excitement in her voice as she spoke. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“We need to move, people, or we will be dinner. Ischarus, lead the way quickly. Charis, follow me. Semeion will ride behind you for your protection.”</span> She didn’t think about the fact that Charis couldn’t understand her language without the aid of her telepathic powers.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus spun Elistra around and immediately began galloping away. Rhema pulled Shauvry around Abijou and charged after Elistra. Semeion slipped his hand from near Charis’ shoulder down to her trembling hand that held the reigns. His warm hand embraced hers and he noticed it was cold. <span style="color: Plum">“You can trust me, Charis. Trust me.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis looked into Semeion’s eyes and then down to their joined hands. She quickly nodded and checked Semeion’s eyes. They were staring back into her own. She looked up to the sky and quickly stood in the saddle. In her draconic language she yelled, <span style="color: Orange">“Ride, Abijou!”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion spurred Thana into a gallop after Abijou and Charis. As he followed, he noticed that Charis often turned around to check the sky. As they began to ride hard for the mountains another piercing draconic cry could be heard echoing through the forest. This one was much closer than the last.</p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color Free Speech Section]</p><p>Before Charis and Semeion were able to turn away and get their horses to duck out of sight, a pair of horses riding relentlessly turned the corner. The rider on the right pulled back hard on the reigns to get her horse to perform a sit-stop maneuver to avoid slamming into the back of Abijou. Semeion smiled broadly as he recognized the familiar voice.</p><p></p><p>Rhema yelled as her horse performed the desperate maneuver. “Whoa, Shauvry!” </p><p></p><p>As Shauvry performed the maneuver Ischarus sailed past Semeion and Charis on the galloping Elistra. He stood lightly in the saddle and slowed Elistra back into a slow trot and then eventually into a walk. By this time he was nearly a hundred yards down the horse trail. Once Elistra was under control he turned her around and began to walk her back to the group.</p><p></p><p>Abijou was startled by the loud sound coming from behind and as Elistra galloped past he spooked slightly. Semeion clenched the reigns tightly and didn’t allow Abijou to pull away. The net result of all the commotion was that Abijou was permitted to spin his hind quarters in a clockwise circle until he was now facing the opposite direction as Thana and Semeion. Abijou snorted loudly as the cloud of dust rose from the ground underneath the hind quarters of Shauvry. As luck would have it, the wind was coming from behind Shauvry and Rhema and thus blew the cloud of dust right into Thana, Abijou, Charis, and Semeion. Charis let out a long string of coughs as the cloud passed her by and filled her already rough throat.</p><p></p><p>Rhema looked to Semeion with disgust. “What are you doing?” Rhema screamed at Semeion. “Why are you just standing here in the middle of the road wasting time? Do you not know what exactly that dragon is going to do once Druff comes to his senses?”</p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled grimly. “He will roast every living person he can find until she is found.” He pointed to Charis as he spoke.</p><p></p><p>Rhema looked startled at Semeion's words. As he spoke and pointed to Charis, Rhema focused on her for the first time as she sat atop Abijou. “You’re … you’re not dehydrated and burned by the sun anymore.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion turned his head to look at Rhema as she spoke and then focused in the opposite direction upon the approaching Ischarus. “She’s a healer, Rhema. She was being bred with the dragon to produce other healers for the sake of her people.” Semeion turned for a second and translated to Charis what had been said.</p><p></p><p>Charis looked angrily at Semeion and added, “Which my people will never need because our father dragon will kill them all looking for me!”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus replied from afar, although he was fast closing the distance. “Your father dragon was going to kill them all anyway, Provenience.”</p><p></p><p>Chairs jerked the reigns out of Semeion’s hand and used them to spin Abijou around to face Ischarus as he approached. Rhema used the time to bring Shauvry back into a standing position. As Charis peered towards Ischarus the red edges of her gray eyes increased in intensity. She could feel the anger bursting inside of her.</p><p></p><p>Semeion noticed that Charis had been taken with a sudden agitation. He asked of Rhema’s power quietly. “Are you losing your power over her?”</p><p></p><p>Rhema nodded in the affirmative. “She must come to terms with what is happening on her own, now. It is not right for me to take control any more.”</p><p></p><p>As Rhema and Semeion had their side conversation, Charis lashed out in angry speech against Ischarus. “What do you know of my people? What do you know of the ways of the dragon born? What do you know of the affairs of the Provenience? I could have brought peace to my people through my healing.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus shook his head, internally debating as to whether or not direct confrontation would work with Charis. He bit his lip in a steely resolve and mentally went through a weapons check in case things got ugly. “I, too, am dragon born. But my father dragon does not abuse us the way that your father dragon abuses your people. My father dragon rules with justice, mercy, and compassion rather than fear of utter destruction. Where your father dragon used your people to create loyal and fearful servants, my father dragon taught us out of his own knowledge and raised us to respect life as a gift and not a resource to be used and expended.”</p><p></p><p>Charis raised an angry finger as Ischarus challenged her. She prepared to speak, but Ischarus cut her off. “Tell me honestly that what I said is not true. Yes, your father dragon protected you from the harm that can come to you in this world, but at what expense? He protected you not out of love but out of greed. You all are pawns to his greater master plan – and the greed of a red dragon is exceeded by none! I have it on Druff’s authority that once you were taken by your father dragon that your people were to be expunged. You were to breed with your father dragon many times over and produce the building blocks for a new people and a new community. Only a select few were to be spared out of your whole people. What we did was give them a chance to flee before the coming wrath of your father dragon.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus knew that his words were angry in tone, but once he had committed himself to direct confrontation he knew that he had to keep speaking until the Provenience broke in spirit. As Ischarus prepared to finish his speech he rose in his saddle so that he was in a standing position, high above Charis’ head. “We did not bring the wrath of your father dragon upon your people. The wrath was already coming because your father dragon rules selfishly and out of greed. The wrath was going to destroy them already. The wrath was going to overtake them without warning. We provided them a means of escape so their lives might be spared.”</p><p></p><p>Charis looked up to Ischarus. Her angry soul searched for words to shout back at Ischarus, but none of them made sense anymore. She knew that if what Ischarus had said was true then these three strangers had given her people their only chance at life. She desperately wanted to hate Ischarus for his words. She wanted to lash out and call him a liar. She wanted to be the Provenience and bring healing to her people. A people that Ischarus claimed would have been dead without warning. </p><p></p><p>As the turmoil boiled inside of her, her hands began to shake. In a weak effort to stop the shaking she clenched her fists tightly around the reigns. As she tightened her muscles to prevent her hands from shaking, the shaking merely spread up her arms. Her forearms and elbows began to shake. Suddenly her mind found something that she could focus on. She licked her lips quickly and mustered the words in her draconic language.</p><p></p><p>Charis spoke with an angered tone. “Paash Ahrah.” </p><p></p><p>Ischarus winced slightly as he was caught unprepared for the fact that she commanded magic. Fortunately the spell was not against him. Following Charis’ words a shimmering transparent golden field expanded from her skin and formed a solid sphere around her body at a distance of a solitary foot. Instinctively Semeion heard the words and reached out to touch Charis. He was hopeful that his earlier compassion would cause a soothing affect to come over Charis.</p><p></p><p>Semeion’s hand reached past the shimmering golden field and his fingers passed through it without any resistance. Charis jumped in shock when his outstretched fingers caught her shoulder. She turned and asked, “You can touch me?”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus settled back into his seat, knowing that his challenge had begun to work. He was grateful for Semeion’s physical assertion, hoping that if the focus could be taken off of him Charis would be given time to contemplate his words in the sanctity of her own mind rather than through further confrontation.</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded as Charis turned, slightly pulling his hand back from her shoulder. He was careful to not put his fingers entirely out of the shimmering golden field. “Indeed, it would seem that I can. Why does this surprise you?”</p><p></p><p>Charis swallowed hard as her mind churned fervently trying to interpret the meaning of this action. “My words protect me from the touch of my people – even the touch of Druff. When I speak them and am in my field, only a rare few people can touch me and not be wounded. Those who could touch me were my closest friends. They were the ones wanting to use me to bring healing to my people.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion snatched up the opportunity as quickly as it was presented. “Then trust me, Charis. If this field protects you from all those except who are good or pure in heart, then you know what I am. Trust me. Follow me. I can lead you away from here.”</p><p></p><p>Charis slowly licked her lips once more, her mind still churning hard. Her lips parted as if to speak, but before she could utter any sound a loud screech pierced the air. It was a cry. Actually, it was an angry cry. It was an angry cry of what could only be assumed to be a large red dragon.</p><p></p><p>Rhema had been silent until now. There was great excitement in her voice as she spoke. “We need to move, people, or we will be dinner. Ischarus, lead the way quickly. Charis, follow me. Semeion will ride behind you for your protection.” She didn’t think about the fact that Charis couldn’t understand her language without the aid of her telepathic powers.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus spun Elistra around and immediately began galloping away. Rhema pulled Shauvry around Abijou and charged after Elistra. Semeion slipped his hand from near Charis’ shoulder down to her trembling hand that held the reigns. His warm hand embraced hers and he noticed it was cold. “You can trust me, Charis. Trust me.”</p><p></p><p>Charis looked into Semeion’s eyes and then down to their joined hands. She quickly nodded and checked Semeion’s eyes. They were staring back into her own. She looked up to the sky and quickly stood in the saddle. In her draconic language she yelled, “Ride, Abijou!”</p><p></p><p>Semeion spurred Thana into a gallop after Abijou and Charis. As he followed, he noticed that Charis often turned around to check the sky. As they began to ride hard for the mountains another piercing draconic cry could be heard echoing through the forest. This one was much closer than the last.</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 2858343, member: 35788"] Before Charis and Semeion were able to turn away and get their horses to duck out of sight, a pair of horses riding relentlessly turned the corner. The rider on the right pulled back hard on the reigns to get her horse to perform a sit-stop maneuver to avoid slamming into the back of Abijou. Semeion smiled broadly as he recognized the familiar voice. Rhema yelled as her horse performed the desperate maneuver. [Color=PaleGreen]“Whoa, Shauvry!”[/Color] As Shauvry performed the maneuver Ischarus sailed past Semeion and Charis on the galloping Elistra. He stood lightly in the saddle and slowed Elistra back into a slow trot and then eventually into a walk. By this time he was nearly a hundred yards down the horse trail. Once Elistra was under control he turned her around and began to walk her back to the group. Abijou was startled by the loud sound coming from behind and as Elistra galloped past he spooked slightly. Semeion clenched the reigns tightly and didn’t allow Abijou to pull away. The net result of all the commotion was that Abijou was permitted to spin his hind quarters in a clockwise circle until he was now facing the opposite direction as Thana and Semeion. Abijou snorted loudly as the cloud of dust rose from the ground underneath the hind quarters of Shauvry. As luck would have it, the wind was coming from behind Shauvry and Rhema and thus blew the cloud of dust right into Thana, Abijou, Charis, and Semeion. Charis let out a long string of coughs as the cloud passed her by and filled her already rough throat. Rhema looked to Semeion with disgust. [Color=PaleGreen]“What are you doing?”[/Color] Rhema screamed at Semeion. [Color=PaleGreen]“Why are you just standing here in the middle of the road wasting time? Do you not know what exactly that dragon is going to do once Druff comes to his senses?”[/Color] Semeion smiled grimly. [Color=Plum]“He will roast every living person he can find until she is found.”[/Color] He pointed to Charis as he spoke. Rhema looked startled at Semeion's words. As he spoke and pointed to Charis, Rhema focused on her for the first time as she sat atop Abijou. [Color=PaleGreen]“You’re … you’re not dehydrated and burned by the sun anymore.”[/Color] Semeion turned his head to look at Rhema as she spoke and then focused in the opposite direction upon the approaching Ischarus. [Color=Plum]“She’s a healer, Rhema. She was being bred with the dragon to produce other healers for the sake of her people.”[/Color] Semeion turned for a second and translated to Charis what had been said. Charis looked angrily at Semeion and added, [Color=Orange]“Which my people will never need because our father dragon will kill them all looking for me!”[/Color] Ischarus replied from afar, although he was fast closing the distance. [Color=LightBlue]“Your father dragon was going to kill them all anyway, Provenience.”[/Color] Chairs jerked the reigns out of Semeion’s hand and used them to spin Abijou around to face Ischarus as he approached. Rhema used the time to bring Shauvry back into a standing position. As Charis peered towards Ischarus the red edges of her gray eyes increased in intensity. She could feel the anger bursting inside of her. Semeion noticed that Charis had been taken with a sudden agitation. He asked of Rhema’s power quietly. [Color=Plum]“Are you losing your power over her?”[/Color] Rhema nodded in the affirmative. [Color=PaleGreen]“She must come to terms with what is happening on her own, now. It is not right for me to take control any more.”[/Color] As Rhema and Semeion had their side conversation, Charis lashed out in angry speech against Ischarus. [Color=Orange]“What do you know of my people? What do you know of the ways of the dragon born? What do you know of the affairs of the Provenience? I could have brought peace to my people through my healing.”[/Color] Ischarus shook his head, internally debating as to whether or not direct confrontation would work with Charis. He bit his lip in a steely resolve and mentally went through a weapons check in case things got ugly. [Color=LightBlue]“I, too, am dragon born. But my father dragon does not abuse us the way that your father dragon abuses your people. My father dragon rules with justice, mercy, and compassion rather than fear of utter destruction. Where your father dragon used your people to create loyal and fearful servants, my father dragon taught us out of his own knowledge and raised us to respect life as a gift and not a resource to be used and expended.”[/Color] Charis raised an angry finger as Ischarus challenged her. She prepared to speak, but Ischarus cut her off. [Color=LightBlue]“Tell me honestly that what I said is not true. Yes, your father dragon protected you from the harm that can come to you in this world, but at what expense? He protected you not out of love but out of greed. You all are pawns to his greater master plan – and the greed of a red dragon is exceeded by none! I have it on Druff’s authority that once you were taken by your father dragon that your people were to be expunged. You were to breed with your father dragon many times over and produce the building blocks for a new people and a new community. Only a select few were to be spared out of your whole people. What we did was give them a chance to flee before the coming wrath of your father dragon.”[/Color] Ischarus knew that his words were angry in tone, but once he had committed himself to direct confrontation he knew that he had to keep speaking until the Provenience broke in spirit. As Ischarus prepared to finish his speech he rose in his saddle so that he was in a standing position, high above Charis’ head. [Color=LightBlue]“We did not bring the wrath of your father dragon upon your people. The wrath was already coming because your father dragon rules selfishly and out of greed. The wrath was going to destroy them already. The wrath was going to overtake them without warning. We provided them a means of escape so their lives might be spared.”[/Color] Charis looked up to Ischarus. Her angry soul searched for words to shout back at Ischarus, but none of them made sense anymore. She knew that if what Ischarus had said was true then these three strangers had given her people their only chance at life. She desperately wanted to hate Ischarus for his words. She wanted to lash out and call him a liar. She wanted to be the Provenience and bring healing to her people. A people that Ischarus claimed would have been dead without warning. As the turmoil boiled inside of her, her hands began to shake. In a weak effort to stop the shaking she clenched her fists tightly around the reigns. As she tightened her muscles to prevent her hands from shaking, the shaking merely spread up her arms. Her forearms and elbows began to shake. Suddenly her mind found something that she could focus on. She licked her lips quickly and mustered the words in her draconic language. Charis spoke with an angered tone. [Color=Orange]“Paash Ahrah.”[/Color] Ischarus winced slightly as he was caught unprepared for the fact that she commanded magic. Fortunately the spell was not against him. Following Charis’ words a shimmering transparent golden field expanded from her skin and formed a solid sphere around her body at a distance of a solitary foot. Instinctively Semeion heard the words and reached out to touch Charis. He was hopeful that his earlier compassion would cause a soothing affect to come over Charis. Semeion’s hand reached past the shimmering golden field and his fingers passed through it without any resistance. Charis jumped in shock when his outstretched fingers caught her shoulder. She turned and asked, [Color=Orange]“You can touch me?”[/Color] Ischarus settled back into his seat, knowing that his challenge had begun to work. He was grateful for Semeion’s physical assertion, hoping that if the focus could be taken off of him Charis would be given time to contemplate his words in the sanctity of her own mind rather than through further confrontation. Semeion nodded as Charis turned, slightly pulling his hand back from her shoulder. He was careful to not put his fingers entirely out of the shimmering golden field. [Color=Plum]“Indeed, it would seem that I can. Why does this surprise you?”[/Color] Charis swallowed hard as her mind churned fervently trying to interpret the meaning of this action. [Color=Orange]“My words protect me from the touch of my people – even the touch of Druff. When I speak them and am in my field, only a rare few people can touch me and not be wounded. Those who could touch me were my closest friends. They were the ones wanting to use me to bring healing to my people.”[/Color] Semeion snatched up the opportunity as quickly as it was presented. [Color=Plum]“Then trust me, Charis. If this field protects you from all those except who are good or pure in heart, then you know what I am. Trust me. Follow me. I can lead you away from here.”[/Color] Charis slowly licked her lips once more, her mind still churning hard. Her lips parted as if to speak, but before she could utter any sound a loud screech pierced the air. It was a cry. Actually, it was an angry cry. It was an angry cry of what could only be assumed to be a large red dragon. Rhema had been silent until now. There was great excitement in her voice as she spoke. [Color=PaleGreen]“We need to move, people, or we will be dinner. Ischarus, lead the way quickly. Charis, follow me. Semeion will ride behind you for your protection.”[/Color] She didn’t think about the fact that Charis couldn’t understand her language without the aid of her telepathic powers. Ischarus spun Elistra around and immediately began galloping away. Rhema pulled Shauvry around Abijou and charged after Elistra. Semeion slipped his hand from near Charis’ shoulder down to her trembling hand that held the reigns. His warm hand embraced hers and he noticed it was cold. [Color=Plum]“You can trust me, Charis. Trust me.”[/Color] Charis looked into Semeion’s eyes and then down to their joined hands. She quickly nodded and checked Semeion’s eyes. They were staring back into her own. She looked up to the sky and quickly stood in the saddle. In her draconic language she yelled, [Color=Orange]“Ride, Abijou!”[/Color] Semeion spurred Thana into a gallop after Abijou and Charis. As he followed, he noticed that Charis often turned around to check the sky. As they began to ride hard for the mountains another piercing draconic cry could be heard echoing through the forest. This one was much closer than the last. [Sblock=Color Free Speech Section] Before Charis and Semeion were able to turn away and get their horses to duck out of sight, a pair of horses riding relentlessly turned the corner. The rider on the right pulled back hard on the reigns to get her horse to perform a sit-stop maneuver to avoid slamming into the back of Abijou. Semeion smiled broadly as he recognized the familiar voice. Rhema yelled as her horse performed the desperate maneuver. “Whoa, Shauvry!” As Shauvry performed the maneuver Ischarus sailed past Semeion and Charis on the galloping Elistra. He stood lightly in the saddle and slowed Elistra back into a slow trot and then eventually into a walk. By this time he was nearly a hundred yards down the horse trail. Once Elistra was under control he turned her around and began to walk her back to the group. Abijou was startled by the loud sound coming from behind and as Elistra galloped past he spooked slightly. Semeion clenched the reigns tightly and didn’t allow Abijou to pull away. The net result of all the commotion was that Abijou was permitted to spin his hind quarters in a clockwise circle until he was now facing the opposite direction as Thana and Semeion. Abijou snorted loudly as the cloud of dust rose from the ground underneath the hind quarters of Shauvry. As luck would have it, the wind was coming from behind Shauvry and Rhema and thus blew the cloud of dust right into Thana, Abijou, Charis, and Semeion. Charis let out a long string of coughs as the cloud passed her by and filled her already rough throat. Rhema looked to Semeion with disgust. “What are you doing?” Rhema screamed at Semeion. “Why are you just standing here in the middle of the road wasting time? Do you not know what exactly that dragon is going to do once Druff comes to his senses?” Semeion smiled grimly. “He will roast every living person he can find until she is found.” He pointed to Charis as he spoke. Rhema looked startled at Semeion's words. As he spoke and pointed to Charis, Rhema focused on her for the first time as she sat atop Abijou. “You’re … you’re not dehydrated and burned by the sun anymore.” Semeion turned his head to look at Rhema as she spoke and then focused in the opposite direction upon the approaching Ischarus. “She’s a healer, Rhema. She was being bred with the dragon to produce other healers for the sake of her people.” Semeion turned for a second and translated to Charis what had been said. Charis looked angrily at Semeion and added, “Which my people will never need because our father dragon will kill them all looking for me!” Ischarus replied from afar, although he was fast closing the distance. “Your father dragon was going to kill them all anyway, Provenience.” Chairs jerked the reigns out of Semeion’s hand and used them to spin Abijou around to face Ischarus as he approached. Rhema used the time to bring Shauvry back into a standing position. As Charis peered towards Ischarus the red edges of her gray eyes increased in intensity. She could feel the anger bursting inside of her. Semeion noticed that Charis had been taken with a sudden agitation. He asked of Rhema’s power quietly. “Are you losing your power over her?” Rhema nodded in the affirmative. “She must come to terms with what is happening on her own, now. It is not right for me to take control any more.” As Rhema and Semeion had their side conversation, Charis lashed out in angry speech against Ischarus. “What do you know of my people? What do you know of the ways of the dragon born? What do you know of the affairs of the Provenience? I could have brought peace to my people through my healing.” Ischarus shook his head, internally debating as to whether or not direct confrontation would work with Charis. He bit his lip in a steely resolve and mentally went through a weapons check in case things got ugly. “I, too, am dragon born. But my father dragon does not abuse us the way that your father dragon abuses your people. My father dragon rules with justice, mercy, and compassion rather than fear of utter destruction. Where your father dragon used your people to create loyal and fearful servants, my father dragon taught us out of his own knowledge and raised us to respect life as a gift and not a resource to be used and expended.” Charis raised an angry finger as Ischarus challenged her. She prepared to speak, but Ischarus cut her off. “Tell me honestly that what I said is not true. Yes, your father dragon protected you from the harm that can come to you in this world, but at what expense? He protected you not out of love but out of greed. You all are pawns to his greater master plan – and the greed of a red dragon is exceeded by none! I have it on Druff’s authority that once you were taken by your father dragon that your people were to be expunged. You were to breed with your father dragon many times over and produce the building blocks for a new people and a new community. Only a select few were to be spared out of your whole people. What we did was give them a chance to flee before the coming wrath of your father dragon.” Ischarus knew that his words were angry in tone, but once he had committed himself to direct confrontation he knew that he had to keep speaking until the Provenience broke in spirit. As Ischarus prepared to finish his speech he rose in his saddle so that he was in a standing position, high above Charis’ head. “We did not bring the wrath of your father dragon upon your people. The wrath was already coming because your father dragon rules selfishly and out of greed. The wrath was going to destroy them already. The wrath was going to overtake them without warning. We provided them a means of escape so their lives might be spared.” Charis looked up to Ischarus. Her angry soul searched for words to shout back at Ischarus, but none of them made sense anymore. She knew that if what Ischarus had said was true then these three strangers had given her people their only chance at life. She desperately wanted to hate Ischarus for his words. She wanted to lash out and call him a liar. She wanted to be the Provenience and bring healing to her people. A people that Ischarus claimed would have been dead without warning. As the turmoil boiled inside of her, her hands began to shake. In a weak effort to stop the shaking she clenched her fists tightly around the reigns. As she tightened her muscles to prevent her hands from shaking, the shaking merely spread up her arms. Her forearms and elbows began to shake. Suddenly her mind found something that she could focus on. She licked her lips quickly and mustered the words in her draconic language. Charis spoke with an angered tone. “Paash Ahrah.” Ischarus winced slightly as he was caught unprepared for the fact that she commanded magic. Fortunately the spell was not against him. Following Charis’ words a shimmering transparent golden field expanded from her skin and formed a solid sphere around her body at a distance of a solitary foot. Instinctively Semeion heard the words and reached out to touch Charis. He was hopeful that his earlier compassion would cause a soothing affect to come over Charis. Semeion’s hand reached past the shimmering golden field and his fingers passed through it without any resistance. Charis jumped in shock when his outstretched fingers caught her shoulder. She turned and asked, “You can touch me?” Ischarus settled back into his seat, knowing that his challenge had begun to work. He was grateful for Semeion’s physical assertion, hoping that if the focus could be taken off of him Charis would be given time to contemplate his words in the sanctity of her own mind rather than through further confrontation. Semeion nodded as Charis turned, slightly pulling his hand back from her shoulder. He was careful to not put his fingers entirely out of the shimmering golden field. “Indeed, it would seem that I can. Why does this surprise you?” Charis swallowed hard as her mind churned fervently trying to interpret the meaning of this action. “My words protect me from the touch of my people – even the touch of Druff. When I speak them and am in my field, only a rare few people can touch me and not be wounded. Those who could touch me were my closest friends. They were the ones wanting to use me to bring healing to my people.” Semeion snatched up the opportunity as quickly as it was presented. “Then trust me, Charis. If this field protects you from all those except who are good or pure in heart, then you know what I am. Trust me. Follow me. I can lead you away from here.” Charis slowly licked her lips once more, her mind still churning hard. Her lips parted as if to speak, but before she could utter any sound a loud screech pierced the air. It was a cry. Actually, it was an angry cry. It was an angry cry of what could only be assumed to be a large red dragon. Rhema had been silent until now. There was great excitement in her voice as she spoke. “We need to move, people, or we will be dinner. Ischarus, lead the way quickly. Charis, follow me. Semeion will ride behind you for your protection.” She didn’t think about the fact that Charis couldn’t understand her language without the aid of her telepathic powers. Ischarus spun Elistra around and immediately began galloping away. Rhema pulled Shauvry around Abijou and charged after Elistra. Semeion slipped his hand from near Charis’ shoulder down to her trembling hand that held the reigns. His warm hand embraced hers and he noticed it was cold. “You can trust me, Charis. Trust me.” Charis looked into Semeion’s eyes and then down to their joined hands. She quickly nodded and checked Semeion’s eyes. They were staring back into her own. She looked up to the sky and quickly stood in the saddle. In her draconic language she yelled, “Ride, Abijou!” Semeion spurred Thana into a gallop after Abijou and Charis. As he followed, he noticed that Charis often turned around to check the sky. As they began to ride hard for the mountains another piercing draconic cry could be heard echoing through the forest. This one was much closer than the last. [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Bitterness Overcome: (Now A Completed Story!)
Top