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Story Hour
Dusk in the land of Fading Stars - Femerus' Story hour (updated 2-20-03)
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<blockquote data-quote="Femerus the Gnecro" data-source="post: 430967" data-attributes="member: 2381"><p>The two warriors circle each other warily, each seeking to probe the other’s weaknesses and gain an advantage. After experimentally crossing swords two or three more times, Saryna begins to attack in earnest, intent on dropping this man for the indignity of disarming her while *drunk* of all things. </p><p></p><p>Expertly, he blocks nearly all of her furious attacks, pausing only for a small moment to wipe blood from a small cut on his hand. Then, approaching Saryna confidently yet wobbly, he begins his counterattack. Some seconds later, Saryna is driven to her knees, her vaunted skill with a sword only serving to keep her head attached to her body. Blood streams freely from several wounds, including one brutally deep gash across her stomach. Her left hand keeps her guts from spilling out while her right hand holds up the shortsword in a defensive posture. The drunk however, seems content to let her bleed to death, making no move to kill his obviously outmatched foe.</p><p></p><p>As Merileene rushes to Saryna’s aid, Damek angrily steps forward and begins to chant. Burning seeds of energy shoot forth from his fingers, striking the drunk man squarely in the chest. Surprised, he turns and for the first time sees Saryna’s companions, save for Kerim, who has taken the opportunity to sneak around behind the scene of battle, close to Saryna’s discarded sword. </p><p></p><p>For a moment, the drunk man locks eyes with Lucien, who returns the stare. Then, surprisingly, Lucien begins to cast as well. </p><p></p><p>“Sleep.”</p><p></p><p>To Lucien’s shock, the man simply stares blankly at him, turning his attention back to Damek, who has begun calling to mind another spell. Meanwhile, Merileene, with Saryna’s battered body cradled in her arms, pours the healing powers of the father into her wounded friend, closing the mortal wound and lessening the severity of several others.</p><p></p><p>As Saryna stands unsteadily to her feet, the drunk turns to her again, ready to defend himself. His action leaves him unprepared for the attack that comes at him from behind however, and Kerim quite expertly plunges a dagger into his unarmored leg. The stealthy halfling twists the knife brutally as he withdraws it, freeing copious amounts of blood from its corporal prison.</p><p></p><p>Lucien and Damek take the opportunity to advance further, bringing Damek within range of another spell. A few arcane gestures later, the drunk finds himself beset upon by dazzling lights that threaten to overcome his senses. </p><p></p><p>They fail.</p><p></p><p>The drunk, ignoring the mages for the moment, turns his attention to Kerim, but finds the small halfling too fast to hit. Kerim, on the other hand knows exactly how close the man came to splitting his skull open. In a flash of insight, he begins to realize exactly how outclassed they are by this pathetic, drunk man. </p><p></p><p>Beset from all sides, the drunk man whirls around, eager to find a challenging opponent. At this precise moment, Lucien steps forward and touches his hand to the man’s chest, sending violent arcs of electricity throughout his body. The man’s anguished scream is echoed by Lucien, who suddenly finds a sword where his right lung used to be. Wheezing and bleeding, Lucien slumps to the ground, unconscious.</p><p></p><p>Saryna, eager for an opening, attacks again, this time scoring a vicious hit along the man’s back. Snarling, the man turns to her and bats her sword away with a deft maneuver before plunging his shortsword into her bowels. Merileene gasps in horror as the sword point exits Saryna’s back. The drunk man ignores the sword, and Saryna’s limp body falls to the ground like a sack of grain. Drawing his longsword, the drunk stands motionless, awaiting another attack. Using all her skill, Merileene rushes to keep her friends from death’s door, even going so far as to pull the sword *out* of Saryna’s body in the midst of a healing spell. Lucien, after drinking a potion of healing, turns to confront the drunk man again. However, before the battle can begin anew, a powerful voice rings out in the night, causing all present to flinch in recognition.</p><p></p><p>“Stop this nonsense at once! Leel, drop your sword!”</p><p></p><p>Dagron’s commanding tone cannot be ignored even by the drunk man, who drops his sword as if magically compelled to do so. Seeming to regain some composure, the drunk man approaches Dagron, his head hung low in shame. </p><p></p><p>“Leel, I thought better of you than this. I never want to see you drinking again, for any reason. Do you understand?” Leel’s reply is soft, but clearly heard.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Dagron.” After retrieving his swords, Leel staggers off, eager to pass out in the comfort of his own bed. </p><p></p><p>With incredulous looks on their faces, the conscious members of the party approach Dagron, whose ingratiating smile stings almost as much as Leel’s sword. Unsurprisingly, Lucien speaks first.</p><p></p><p>“What are you doing here, Dagron? Who was that man?”</p><p></p><p>Dagron chuckles softly and regards the party. “You are always so full of questions… it surprises me almost as much as finding you guarding a petty carnival when there are reports of orcs about. As for Leel… well, he is a complicated man. Let’s just say that though he once served the Imperial Legions with dignity and honor, his current ‘assignment’ is more… taxing.”</p><p></p><p>To the surprise of everyone, Damek is the next to speak. “Why are the orcs important? From what I’ve heard, they’ve been attacking the city on and off for as long as anyone can remember. What makes these new rumors any different? For that matter, why do they keep bothering to attack a city that seems to be able to defend against them?”</p><p></p><p>Dagron regards Damek carefully, as though taking the elf’s measure. Finally, he begins to speak. “You ask searching questions, elf. Continue to question with such insight and you’ll go far indeed. As for the answers… yes. The orcs have been attacking the city for many years, so it stands to reason that they’re seeking something. Not even orcs are stupid enough to stage suicide attacks for years at a time. However, if you seek to know more, I can think of no more direct route than by asking the orcs themselves. I believe you can find them somewhere in the southern hills. For now, however, I will be going. I did not come here to subject myself to your inquiries. In fact, I merely came for a drink with a friend. Good evening to you all.” </p><p></p><p>The incredulity with which the party regards Dagron as he walks past them to the closed bar is almost tangible. Torchlight flashes in their unblinking eyes for another few minutes until the carnival caretakers extinguish even those last remnants of illumination.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Femerus the Gnecro, post: 430967, member: 2381"] The two warriors circle each other warily, each seeking to probe the other’s weaknesses and gain an advantage. After experimentally crossing swords two or three more times, Saryna begins to attack in earnest, intent on dropping this man for the indignity of disarming her while *drunk* of all things. Expertly, he blocks nearly all of her furious attacks, pausing only for a small moment to wipe blood from a small cut on his hand. Then, approaching Saryna confidently yet wobbly, he begins his counterattack. Some seconds later, Saryna is driven to her knees, her vaunted skill with a sword only serving to keep her head attached to her body. Blood streams freely from several wounds, including one brutally deep gash across her stomach. Her left hand keeps her guts from spilling out while her right hand holds up the shortsword in a defensive posture. The drunk however, seems content to let her bleed to death, making no move to kill his obviously outmatched foe. As Merileene rushes to Saryna’s aid, Damek angrily steps forward and begins to chant. Burning seeds of energy shoot forth from his fingers, striking the drunk man squarely in the chest. Surprised, he turns and for the first time sees Saryna’s companions, save for Kerim, who has taken the opportunity to sneak around behind the scene of battle, close to Saryna’s discarded sword. For a moment, the drunk man locks eyes with Lucien, who returns the stare. Then, surprisingly, Lucien begins to cast as well. “Sleep.” To Lucien’s shock, the man simply stares blankly at him, turning his attention back to Damek, who has begun calling to mind another spell. Meanwhile, Merileene, with Saryna’s battered body cradled in her arms, pours the healing powers of the father into her wounded friend, closing the mortal wound and lessening the severity of several others. As Saryna stands unsteadily to her feet, the drunk turns to her again, ready to defend himself. His action leaves him unprepared for the attack that comes at him from behind however, and Kerim quite expertly plunges a dagger into his unarmored leg. The stealthy halfling twists the knife brutally as he withdraws it, freeing copious amounts of blood from its corporal prison. Lucien and Damek take the opportunity to advance further, bringing Damek within range of another spell. A few arcane gestures later, the drunk finds himself beset upon by dazzling lights that threaten to overcome his senses. They fail. The drunk, ignoring the mages for the moment, turns his attention to Kerim, but finds the small halfling too fast to hit. Kerim, on the other hand knows exactly how close the man came to splitting his skull open. In a flash of insight, he begins to realize exactly how outclassed they are by this pathetic, drunk man. Beset from all sides, the drunk man whirls around, eager to find a challenging opponent. At this precise moment, Lucien steps forward and touches his hand to the man’s chest, sending violent arcs of electricity throughout his body. The man’s anguished scream is echoed by Lucien, who suddenly finds a sword where his right lung used to be. Wheezing and bleeding, Lucien slumps to the ground, unconscious. Saryna, eager for an opening, attacks again, this time scoring a vicious hit along the man’s back. Snarling, the man turns to her and bats her sword away with a deft maneuver before plunging his shortsword into her bowels. Merileene gasps in horror as the sword point exits Saryna’s back. The drunk man ignores the sword, and Saryna’s limp body falls to the ground like a sack of grain. Drawing his longsword, the drunk stands motionless, awaiting another attack. Using all her skill, Merileene rushes to keep her friends from death’s door, even going so far as to pull the sword *out* of Saryna’s body in the midst of a healing spell. Lucien, after drinking a potion of healing, turns to confront the drunk man again. However, before the battle can begin anew, a powerful voice rings out in the night, causing all present to flinch in recognition. “Stop this nonsense at once! Leel, drop your sword!” Dagron’s commanding tone cannot be ignored even by the drunk man, who drops his sword as if magically compelled to do so. Seeming to regain some composure, the drunk man approaches Dagron, his head hung low in shame. “Leel, I thought better of you than this. I never want to see you drinking again, for any reason. Do you understand?” Leel’s reply is soft, but clearly heard. “Yes, Dagron.” After retrieving his swords, Leel staggers off, eager to pass out in the comfort of his own bed. With incredulous looks on their faces, the conscious members of the party approach Dagron, whose ingratiating smile stings almost as much as Leel’s sword. Unsurprisingly, Lucien speaks first. “What are you doing here, Dagron? Who was that man?” Dagron chuckles softly and regards the party. “You are always so full of questions… it surprises me almost as much as finding you guarding a petty carnival when there are reports of orcs about. As for Leel… well, he is a complicated man. Let’s just say that though he once served the Imperial Legions with dignity and honor, his current ‘assignment’ is more… taxing.” To the surprise of everyone, Damek is the next to speak. “Why are the orcs important? From what I’ve heard, they’ve been attacking the city on and off for as long as anyone can remember. What makes these new rumors any different? For that matter, why do they keep bothering to attack a city that seems to be able to defend against them?” Dagron regards Damek carefully, as though taking the elf’s measure. Finally, he begins to speak. “You ask searching questions, elf. Continue to question with such insight and you’ll go far indeed. As for the answers… yes. The orcs have been attacking the city for many years, so it stands to reason that they’re seeking something. Not even orcs are stupid enough to stage suicide attacks for years at a time. However, if you seek to know more, I can think of no more direct route than by asking the orcs themselves. I believe you can find them somewhere in the southern hills. For now, however, I will be going. I did not come here to subject myself to your inquiries. In fact, I merely came for a drink with a friend. Good evening to you all.” The incredulity with which the party regards Dagron as he walks past them to the closed bar is almost tangible. Torchlight flashes in their unblinking eyes for another few minutes until the carnival caretakers extinguish even those last remnants of illumination. [/QUOTE]
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Dusk in the land of Fading Stars - Femerus' Story hour (updated 2-20-03)
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