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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1396715" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>Part Two of the 2-20-04 adventure:</p><p></p><p><strong>Reflections Before Battle</strong></p><p></p><p> Shaun meanwhile had gone off a short ways to eat dinner alone, and by the muffled sobs coming from that area, to cry over Elenya as well. After a bit he came back, eyes blurry and blood-shot, and asked Siabrey gruffly if he could talk to her.</p><p></p><p>Siabrey looked up at him, remembering how he had been the one to save her life, to make her realize that perhaps in fact her love for Lucius could be strong enough, and teach her that even a punk rogue like himself could fall in love.</p><p></p><p>She nodded and stood, giving Lucius a soft smile as she left in hoped of keeping his mind in the here and now instead of being lost to the darkness.</p><p></p><p>Shaun picked his way across the sand to where he had sat shortly before, and leaned against a tall rock heavily. Siabrey waiting, understanding the need to be silent until he spoke first.</p><p></p><p>“There was a dream I always used to have.” He began, his soft voice barely reaching her. “Of being locked in a small dark room, hearing jeering laughter coming from outside the doors.” He glanced at her, his eyes full of repressed pain. “When I was a kid, and my twin brother died, my father forced me to go to school in his stead, rather than waste all that money.”</p><p></p><p><em>Wait, you had a twin?</em> Siabrey’s mind wanted to interrupt, but she repressed it and continued listening intently.</p><p></p><p>Shaun pushed away from the rock now and began to pace, anger stealing over his features. “It was a very strict school. When kids were bad, they would lock them in this tiny dark closet, and all the other kids would jeer at them.” He stopped pacing and closed his eyes. “I was locked in that room so many times…” he whispered.</p><p></p><p>“And that’s why you’re afraid of the dark?” Siabrey ventured gently.</p><p></p><p>His eyes opened and shifted in her direction, but he barely seemed to notice she was there. Giving a swift nod, he continued pacing.</p><p></p><p>“Lately, I’ve been having the same dream again, but this time it was different. It starts the same; I’m locked in this tiny dark room, laughter ringing all around, but now, all of a sudden, the laughter fades. Suddenly, the door opens, and Elenya’s standing there, smiling at me, and I’m no longer afraid.”</p><p></p><p>Shaun stopped pacing again. Tears glistened in his dark eyes as he smiled at Siabrey. “So you see, I have to get her back. She’s driven away the darkness when nothing else has, and I’m no longer afraid. I’m no longer afraid, Siabrey.” The golden-haired fighter walked up to him and wrapped her arms gently around him.</p><p></p><p>“It’s ok Shaun. We WILL get her back.” She stroked his back soothingly. Oddly enough, repeating the same words to him that she had several nights past brought back that same feeling of strength and vengeance. She felt it in Shaun too, and the pair was united once again under the stars.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Tess excused herself from the ring of men that sat discussing strategies for tomorrow and went to kneel upon her bedroll. With the stars and silent desert winds as her witness, she vowed vengeance upon the Black Rose Assassins, Rogar, Ilia, and the Countess. The night passed quickly as she contemplated dark, angry thoughts about what she’d do to all of them when she finally had Fa’rallan at their throats. To her fright, part of her mind reveled in the terrors that she would cause. She found herself split, twisted... one half wanted slow, gory deaths for those that had hurt her and those she loved, the other was her normal self, fighting hard to keep alive.</p><p></p><p><em>Tess, you are sinking into darkness, plotting these things!</em> her normal mind, weakened by the losses over the past week called. </p><p></p><p><em>Those that hurt innocents must pay the price, no matter how bloody or vicious,</em> the mind for vengeance said coolly, calmly... so much so that her normal mind was unnerved. <em>Blood shall be spilt on the morrow... and the enemy’s should run as a river out of the temple...</em></p><p></p><p>Pellaron stopped by to see her once, asking what was wrong. She told him brusquely that she was merely thinking and preferred to be alone, forcing the paladin off with a harsh glance. Her normal mind reflected quietly that she knew he had taken a liking to her... and wished she was not as sharp in her talk to him, not for her sake but for his.</p><p></p><p><em>Pellaron, for his vicious blade and his dragon-killing.. is a soft heart. Even though I’m not attracted to him, I should be...</em></p><p></p><p><em>What? Weak to him?</em> her vengeful mind snarled. <em>He is a blade, nothing else... use him for vengeance!</em></p><p></p><p></p><p>Siabrey also came by to see her a short while later, clearly worried about her friend, but Tess gave her the cold shoulder as Lucius gently pulled the sad-looking Siabrey away. Tess went to sleep early but lay awake for a long time, tracing Quinn’s face in the stars above, and when she finally did fall asleep her dreams ran red with the blood of her enemies. </p><p></p><p></p><p>The sun rose the next morning fiery red as the eyes of a siabrie. The fighter with that name couldn’t help but wryly think that it symbolized the bloodshed to come. As she helped Lucius buckle on his armor and him help her in return, she spotted the three paladins smoothing the sand in a large area about 10 paces away. </p><p></p><p>“What are you guys doing?” she asked, rebraiding her hair more tightly as she walked over to them. </p><p></p><p>Pellaron stood and gestured over the area that he and his fellow paladins had cleared of all rocks and twigs. “We are preparing to conduct a service before battle.”</p><p></p><p>“Ahh, I see.” Siabrey nodded. She was familiar with Hierneous’ customs, being of his church, and quickly took up position in the cleared area next to Aris and Igbar, who nodded politely at her. Pellaron was about to start the service when the small sound of a throat being cleared stopped him. Turning, the paladin saw Grumki and Lucius standing behind him, the boy looking somewhat nervous.</p><p></p><p>“Grumki and I were thinking, and, well, neither of us has ever participated in a service to Hieroneous before.”</p><p></p><p>Pellaron smiled. “Say no more. You are welcome to join us.”</p><p></p><p>“Thank you. We asked Tess to join us but she, um.” Lucius glanced over to where Tess knelt on her bedroll still, eyebrows furrowed in anger, clearly nothing but vengeance on her mind again. </p><p></p><p>“She’d rather be alone.” Pellaron sighed and nodded. “I understand. You two will be honored guests of the service this morning.”</p><p></p><p>As they started to kneel down, they heard another set of footsteps behind them, and turned to see Shaun standing there, his face slightly red.</p><p></p><p>“Shaun? What are you...” Siabrey started to ask, before he interrupted her.</p><p></p><p>“I... I’m not normally religious, but... um... Elenya means more than life to me, and I’ll need strength and guidance today to find my love and bring her out safely. So I thought I might... um... join... you today?” he finished, his face clearly expecting a lecture from the paladins on how Hieroneous did not support reformed thieves.</p><p></p><p>Instead Pellaron’s face broke into a smile. “By all means, Shaun,” and he motioned for a position alongside the two paladins in front. He then e motioned the Grumki and Lucius to stand on the other side of Siabrey, who smiled at them softly before folding her hands and closing her eyes. The others did likewise.</p><p></p><p>Pellaron cleared his throat and raised his arms. “Oh mightly Hieroneous, we ask your blessing on this day. May your strength guide our blade and give haste to our feet as we seek a lost compatriot….”</p><p></p><p>On it went in a sweet singsong, Pellaron’s voice rising and falling in a mix of praise to the god and appeals for success in the battle to come. At the end, the paladins, Shaun and Siabrey drew their swords in salute. Grumki and Lucius were a bit slow in drawing theirs (Grumki drawing his warhammer instead), but managed the salute just as neatly. </p><p></p><p>Afterwards, the party smeared the sand around the area where they stood, hiding the evidence that people had recently camped there. Fully armored and armed to the teeth, the eight brave warriors strode up to the entrance that Kelir pointed out. As they drew nearer, they could see that a large boulder had been shoved in front of the opening, one that was too great for any of them, even Grumki, to move.</p><p></p><p>“Look!” Pellaron pointed to something carved in the stone. “It’s some kind of message…” He studied it for a moment. “It’s written in Infernal…but I cannot read it.”</p><p></p><p>“I can.” Kelir moved forward and stared at the engraving for several moments, his lips moving silently. “It’s a riddle of some sort.” He said at last, then began translating it outloud for his friends. </p><p></p><p>“I am written by the victors, I forget the vanquished, and men change me over time.”</p><p></p><p>“History.” Tess said simply, and the rock moved aside with silent grace.The others blinked and stared at Tess in surprise. She gave a shrug. “It’s part of an old bard song.”</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t learn that one…” Shaun muttered under his breath, gripping the hilt of his rapier tightly.</p><p></p><p>Kelir watched them all staring into the narrow corrider before nodding swiftly. “I go to make the distraction now. Give me…” he glanced at the sun. “Thirty of your minutes.”</p><p></p><p>“They’re not just our minutes, they’re everyone’s minutes, Kelir.” Siabrey smiled, trying to add a bit of humor to the fact that her heart was pounding with the thought that this might be the last time she saw her father. Everyone merely stared at her.</p><p></p><p>“Shh, it was a joke.” She muttered under her breath in a startling imitation of Shaun, who smiled slightly at her before his face grew grave again.</p><p></p><p>Kelir blinked at Siarbey, then held out a hand. “Farewell, my daughter.” Siabrey looked at his hand for a moment, then threw her arms around her father. “Farewell my father. Safe hunting to you.”</p><p></p><p>“And…to you.” Kelir felt the beat of his daughter’s heart and gazed once more into the eyes so like his own. Pulling back, he gave a brief nod to the other party members and took off into the sky.</p><p></p><p>Gripping their weapons tightly, a collective deep breath shuddered through the group as they stepped into dangers unknown.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1396715, member: 15043"] Part Two of the 2-20-04 adventure: [b]Reflections Before Battle[/b] Shaun meanwhile had gone off a short ways to eat dinner alone, and by the muffled sobs coming from that area, to cry over Elenya as well. After a bit he came back, eyes blurry and blood-shot, and asked Siabrey gruffly if he could talk to her. Siabrey looked up at him, remembering how he had been the one to save her life, to make her realize that perhaps in fact her love for Lucius could be strong enough, and teach her that even a punk rogue like himself could fall in love. She nodded and stood, giving Lucius a soft smile as she left in hoped of keeping his mind in the here and now instead of being lost to the darkness. Shaun picked his way across the sand to where he had sat shortly before, and leaned against a tall rock heavily. Siabrey waiting, understanding the need to be silent until he spoke first. “There was a dream I always used to have.” He began, his soft voice barely reaching her. “Of being locked in a small dark room, hearing jeering laughter coming from outside the doors.” He glanced at her, his eyes full of repressed pain. “When I was a kid, and my twin brother died, my father forced me to go to school in his stead, rather than waste all that money.” [I]Wait, you had a twin?[/I] Siabrey’s mind wanted to interrupt, but she repressed it and continued listening intently. Shaun pushed away from the rock now and began to pace, anger stealing over his features. “It was a very strict school. When kids were bad, they would lock them in this tiny dark closet, and all the other kids would jeer at them.” He stopped pacing and closed his eyes. “I was locked in that room so many times…” he whispered. “And that’s why you’re afraid of the dark?” Siabrey ventured gently. His eyes opened and shifted in her direction, but he barely seemed to notice she was there. Giving a swift nod, he continued pacing. “Lately, I’ve been having the same dream again, but this time it was different. It starts the same; I’m locked in this tiny dark room, laughter ringing all around, but now, all of a sudden, the laughter fades. Suddenly, the door opens, and Elenya’s standing there, smiling at me, and I’m no longer afraid.” Shaun stopped pacing again. Tears glistened in his dark eyes as he smiled at Siabrey. “So you see, I have to get her back. She’s driven away the darkness when nothing else has, and I’m no longer afraid. I’m no longer afraid, Siabrey.” The golden-haired fighter walked up to him and wrapped her arms gently around him. “It’s ok Shaun. We WILL get her back.” She stroked his back soothingly. Oddly enough, repeating the same words to him that she had several nights past brought back that same feeling of strength and vengeance. She felt it in Shaun too, and the pair was united once again under the stars. Tess excused herself from the ring of men that sat discussing strategies for tomorrow and went to kneel upon her bedroll. With the stars and silent desert winds as her witness, she vowed vengeance upon the Black Rose Assassins, Rogar, Ilia, and the Countess. The night passed quickly as she contemplated dark, angry thoughts about what she’d do to all of them when she finally had Fa’rallan at their throats. To her fright, part of her mind reveled in the terrors that she would cause. She found herself split, twisted... one half wanted slow, gory deaths for those that had hurt her and those she loved, the other was her normal self, fighting hard to keep alive. [i]Tess, you are sinking into darkness, plotting these things![/i] her normal mind, weakened by the losses over the past week called. [i]Those that hurt innocents must pay the price, no matter how bloody or vicious,[/i] the mind for vengeance said coolly, calmly... so much so that her normal mind was unnerved. [i]Blood shall be spilt on the morrow... and the enemy’s should run as a river out of the temple...[/i] Pellaron stopped by to see her once, asking what was wrong. She told him brusquely that she was merely thinking and preferred to be alone, forcing the paladin off with a harsh glance. Her normal mind reflected quietly that she knew he had taken a liking to her... and wished she was not as sharp in her talk to him, not for her sake but for his. [i]Pellaron, for his vicious blade and his dragon-killing.. is a soft heart. Even though I’m not attracted to him, I should be...[/i] [i]What? Weak to him?[/i] her vengeful mind snarled. [i]He is a blade, nothing else... use him for vengeance![/i] Siabrey also came by to see her a short while later, clearly worried about her friend, but Tess gave her the cold shoulder as Lucius gently pulled the sad-looking Siabrey away. Tess went to sleep early but lay awake for a long time, tracing Quinn’s face in the stars above, and when she finally did fall asleep her dreams ran red with the blood of her enemies. The sun rose the next morning fiery red as the eyes of a siabrie. The fighter with that name couldn’t help but wryly think that it symbolized the bloodshed to come. As she helped Lucius buckle on his armor and him help her in return, she spotted the three paladins smoothing the sand in a large area about 10 paces away. “What are you guys doing?” she asked, rebraiding her hair more tightly as she walked over to them. Pellaron stood and gestured over the area that he and his fellow paladins had cleared of all rocks and twigs. “We are preparing to conduct a service before battle.” “Ahh, I see.” Siabrey nodded. She was familiar with Hierneous’ customs, being of his church, and quickly took up position in the cleared area next to Aris and Igbar, who nodded politely at her. Pellaron was about to start the service when the small sound of a throat being cleared stopped him. Turning, the paladin saw Grumki and Lucius standing behind him, the boy looking somewhat nervous. “Grumki and I were thinking, and, well, neither of us has ever participated in a service to Hieroneous before.” Pellaron smiled. “Say no more. You are welcome to join us.” “Thank you. We asked Tess to join us but she, um.” Lucius glanced over to where Tess knelt on her bedroll still, eyebrows furrowed in anger, clearly nothing but vengeance on her mind again. “She’d rather be alone.” Pellaron sighed and nodded. “I understand. You two will be honored guests of the service this morning.” As they started to kneel down, they heard another set of footsteps behind them, and turned to see Shaun standing there, his face slightly red. “Shaun? What are you...” Siabrey started to ask, before he interrupted her. “I... I’m not normally religious, but... um... Elenya means more than life to me, and I’ll need strength and guidance today to find my love and bring her out safely. So I thought I might... um... join... you today?” he finished, his face clearly expecting a lecture from the paladins on how Hieroneous did not support reformed thieves. Instead Pellaron’s face broke into a smile. “By all means, Shaun,” and he motioned for a position alongside the two paladins in front. He then e motioned the Grumki and Lucius to stand on the other side of Siabrey, who smiled at them softly before folding her hands and closing her eyes. The others did likewise. Pellaron cleared his throat and raised his arms. “Oh mightly Hieroneous, we ask your blessing on this day. May your strength guide our blade and give haste to our feet as we seek a lost compatriot….” On it went in a sweet singsong, Pellaron’s voice rising and falling in a mix of praise to the god and appeals for success in the battle to come. At the end, the paladins, Shaun and Siabrey drew their swords in salute. Grumki and Lucius were a bit slow in drawing theirs (Grumki drawing his warhammer instead), but managed the salute just as neatly. Afterwards, the party smeared the sand around the area where they stood, hiding the evidence that people had recently camped there. Fully armored and armed to the teeth, the eight brave warriors strode up to the entrance that Kelir pointed out. As they drew nearer, they could see that a large boulder had been shoved in front of the opening, one that was too great for any of them, even Grumki, to move. “Look!” Pellaron pointed to something carved in the stone. “It’s some kind of message…” He studied it for a moment. “It’s written in Infernal…but I cannot read it.” “I can.” Kelir moved forward and stared at the engraving for several moments, his lips moving silently. “It’s a riddle of some sort.” He said at last, then began translating it outloud for his friends. “I am written by the victors, I forget the vanquished, and men change me over time.” “History.” Tess said simply, and the rock moved aside with silent grace.The others blinked and stared at Tess in surprise. She gave a shrug. “It’s part of an old bard song.” “I didn’t learn that one…” Shaun muttered under his breath, gripping the hilt of his rapier tightly. Kelir watched them all staring into the narrow corrider before nodding swiftly. “I go to make the distraction now. Give me…” he glanced at the sun. “Thirty of your minutes.” “They’re not just our minutes, they’re everyone’s minutes, Kelir.” Siabrey smiled, trying to add a bit of humor to the fact that her heart was pounding with the thought that this might be the last time she saw her father. Everyone merely stared at her. “Shh, it was a joke.” She muttered under her breath in a startling imitation of Shaun, who smiled slightly at her before his face grew grave again. Kelir blinked at Siarbey, then held out a hand. “Farewell, my daughter.” Siabrey looked at his hand for a moment, then threw her arms around her father. “Farewell my father. Safe hunting to you.” “And…to you.” Kelir felt the beat of his daughter’s heart and gazed once more into the eyes so like his own. Pulling back, he gave a brief nod to the other party members and took off into the sky. Gripping their weapons tightly, a collective deep breath shuddered through the group as they stepped into dangers unknown. [/QUOTE]
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