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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5449912" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>A dark-haired and feathered, equally beautiful, harpy soared up over the cliffside, drawn forth by her sister’s shrieking wail of sorrow. At first a look of shocked horror was evident on her face. Then she took in the party surrounding Shireen. The harpy, Estraytha, smiled in spite of herself. She hovered, fluttering in place above Grizzelda’s body for a moment.</p><p> </p><p> “Oh bollux. Another one?!” said Duor.</p><p> </p><p> Alaria seconded the dwarf’s unorthodox swear.</p><p> </p><p> Erevan was equally disheartened though he would never use such a vile dwarven and human oath. He stepped forward beside Alaria, training an arrow on the latest arrival.</p><p> </p><p> “Wait. What? What’s going on here?” mumbled the befuddled Braddok, still recently shaken from his ensnaring of Shireen’s magical charms.</p><p> </p><p> Trihna moved gently to stand before the warrior to stand at the side of Coerraine.</p><p> </p><p> “Estraytha, they killed Grizzelda!” called Shireen, sorrow evident in her voice. Then she looked to the green-cloaked newcomer with sheer malice. The red-headed harpy’s words dripped with malevolence, “Release me, fire-head, or my sister will rend your pretty little body from limb to limb.”</p><p> </p><p> “I see, sister. Be still.” Said Estraytha. “Release her!” said the harpy nonchalantly as she alit beside her fallen sibling. “We will not fight you.”</p><p> </p><p> “Estraytha!” shrieked Shireen.</p><p> </p><p> “Be STILL!” commanded Estraytha, sounding very much as the recently deceased elder harpy. Shireen flinched and went silent.</p><p> </p><p> Alaria stepped forward, gathering the courage from where, she knew not. She leveled her staff towards the newest harpy and announced with all of the confidence she could muster, “Stand down, harpy. Return our companion to us or feel our wrath. Your sister was unfortunate to deny our request and you see how that turned out.”</p><p> </p><p> Estraytha gathered this was the wizard Grizzelda had mentioned earlier. She sized up the group…Eight strong and, while most were men, the two women and the elf had obviously been more than a match for her powerful elder and younger sisters…a magess and priestess no less…and who knew what the elf could do?</p><p> </p><p> “For three centuries we have been under my sister’s talon. The last of which, chained to this pathetic no account island. Feeding on crabs and fish," she spat"...and recently the occasional goblin. I am SICK of this place and would take wing to a more…enjoyable roost. </p><p> </p><p> “We want no further quarrel with you. Your vaari is alive and, as yet, unharmed. Let him stay that way. Let us pass from here and you may collect him at your leisure. Engage us at your, and <em>his</em>, peril.”</p><p> </p><p> At this, Shireen was thoroughly confused. “But…but Estaytha…” she half chirped.</p><p> </p><p> Alaria was painfully evident that all eyes were on her. She paused to think…for a moment…</p><p> </p><p> “Milady, we cannot possibly allow…” Coerraine softly offered from behind her.</p><p> </p><p> “We seem to have little choice, Goldshield…for Haelan. He’d do no less for any of us.” Alaria replied. Raising her voice, again attempting to be confident and commanding though her insides quivered like so much Yuletime jelly, “We accept your truce. Duor, release the rust-feathered one.”</p><p> </p><p> Duor, in some surprise, but equally thankful, lowered his hand crossbow. The newcomer also lifted his spear.</p><p> </p><p> Shireen immediately lifted with a seemingly effortless wing and landed beside her remaining sibling.</p><p> </p><p> “Hahaaaa! FOOLS! Now we take them, right sister?” Malice dripped from her lovely lips.</p><p> </p><p> “No.” said the harpy Estraytha simply. “Now, we go.” And she took wing. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Shireen followed, looking confused.</p><p></p><p></p><p>As they flew off towards the mainland in deepening evening sun, Estraytha seemed to explain to her bereft younger sister, “Let Tresahd and his claw-hands have his stupid little island. We are off for a real life…and real meat.” As they flew off, Estraytha turned and winked at Braddok. The warrior’s stomach turned.</p><p> </p><p> “Wait!” called Alaria, “Where is Haelan? Who is Tresahd? What do you know of the crabmen?”</p><p> </p><p> Estraytha paused a moment. She turned in mid-air and chirped a giggle. “You kill my sister and expect answers as well?” She let out a full bellied cackle. “You have iron tail feathers, magess. I’ll give you that! Your vaari is in our lair. Go claim him. As for the rest…the happenings of this island are,<em> finally</em>, no longer of any concern to me.”</p><p> </p><p> With that, the two harpies lifted high out of range of any weapon or spell and soared off into the west.</p><p> </p><p> “Well,” offered Duor as the group watched them go, “That coulda gone worse.”</p><p> </p><p> As the dwarf casually watched the harpies continue out of view, the rest of the group turned to the green-cloaked stranger.</p><p> </p><p> There was a slight point to his ears and elegant slant to his deep brown eyes obviously betrayed some elvin blood. His firey red hair was cut short with a few strands falling casually just to his eyes. A similar strip of red scruffy whiskers ran from his bottom lip to engulf his strong chin. Brown leathers and green cloak that enwrapt a lithe toned frame.</p><p></p><p></p><p>It could now be seen that his cloak was clasped with the crescent moon set in a half-sun medallion of the Ancient Order. His spear, similarly, ended in the leaf-shaped blade that marked him, most definitely, as a druid of the Ancient Order of Mistwood.</p><p> </p><p> “Our thanks, master druid, for your much needed assistance.” Said Alaria.</p><p> </p><p> The red-haired half-elf made a deep bow to the magess, a charming smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes.</p><p> </p><p> “Tell us your name that we might properly thank you.” Offered Braddok, still unsure how this druid came to be among them.</p><p> </p><p> “My name, noble warrior, is Faeryl. But you may call me by my order’s given name, 'Fen.'”</p><p> </p><p> “Our thanks, Fen. Without your aid…” Alaria began.</p><p> </p><p> “No thanks are necessary. I saw your comrade taken by Grizzelda and followed to aid. Their evil, as you heard, has long afflicted this place, apparently. Longer than I knew. I hope their leaving will begin to return the isle to the balance I’ve been sent to reinstate.”</p><p> </p><p> Before more questions could be offered, the druid wandered over to the cliff’s edge and looked down to where the entrances to the harpies’ lair sat in the vertical stone, almost imperceptible from his vantage point. “Shall we retrieve your friend?”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5449912, member: 92511"] A dark-haired and feathered, equally beautiful, harpy soared up over the cliffside, drawn forth by her sister’s shrieking wail of sorrow. At first a look of shocked horror was evident on her face. Then she took in the party surrounding Shireen. The harpy, Estraytha, smiled in spite of herself. She hovered, fluttering in place above Grizzelda’s body for a moment. “Oh bollux. Another one?!” said Duor. Alaria seconded the dwarf’s unorthodox swear. Erevan was equally disheartened though he would never use such a vile dwarven and human oath. He stepped forward beside Alaria, training an arrow on the latest arrival. “Wait. What? What’s going on here?” mumbled the befuddled Braddok, still recently shaken from his ensnaring of Shireen’s magical charms. Trihna moved gently to stand before the warrior to stand at the side of Coerraine. “Estraytha, they killed Grizzelda!” called Shireen, sorrow evident in her voice. Then she looked to the green-cloaked newcomer with sheer malice. The red-headed harpy’s words dripped with malevolence, “Release me, fire-head, or my sister will rend your pretty little body from limb to limb.” “I see, sister. Be still.” Said Estraytha. “Release her!” said the harpy nonchalantly as she alit beside her fallen sibling. “We will not fight you.” “Estraytha!” shrieked Shireen. “Be STILL!” commanded Estraytha, sounding very much as the recently deceased elder harpy. Shireen flinched and went silent. Alaria stepped forward, gathering the courage from where, she knew not. She leveled her staff towards the newest harpy and announced with all of the confidence she could muster, “Stand down, harpy. Return our companion to us or feel our wrath. Your sister was unfortunate to deny our request and you see how that turned out.” Estraytha gathered this was the wizard Grizzelda had mentioned earlier. She sized up the group…Eight strong and, while most were men, the two women and the elf had obviously been more than a match for her powerful elder and younger sisters…a magess and priestess no less…and who knew what the elf could do? “For three centuries we have been under my sister’s talon. The last of which, chained to this pathetic no account island. Feeding on crabs and fish," she spat"...and recently the occasional goblin. I am SICK of this place and would take wing to a more…enjoyable roost. “We want no further quarrel with you. Your vaari is alive and, as yet, unharmed. Let him stay that way. Let us pass from here and you may collect him at your leisure. Engage us at your, and [I]his[/I], peril.” At this, Shireen was thoroughly confused. “But…but Estaytha…” she half chirped. Alaria was painfully evident that all eyes were on her. She paused to think…for a moment… “Milady, we cannot possibly allow…” Coerraine softly offered from behind her. “We seem to have little choice, Goldshield…for Haelan. He’d do no less for any of us.” Alaria replied. Raising her voice, again attempting to be confident and commanding though her insides quivered like so much Yuletime jelly, “We accept your truce. Duor, release the rust-feathered one.” Duor, in some surprise, but equally thankful, lowered his hand crossbow. The newcomer also lifted his spear. Shireen immediately lifted with a seemingly effortless wing and landed beside her remaining sibling. “Hahaaaa! FOOLS! Now we take them, right sister?” Malice dripped from her lovely lips. “No.” said the harpy Estraytha simply. “Now, we go.” And she took wing. Shireen followed, looking confused. As they flew off towards the mainland in deepening evening sun, Estraytha seemed to explain to her bereft younger sister, “Let Tresahd and his claw-hands have his stupid little island. We are off for a real life…and real meat.” As they flew off, Estraytha turned and winked at Braddok. The warrior’s stomach turned. “Wait!” called Alaria, “Where is Haelan? Who is Tresahd? What do you know of the crabmen?” Estraytha paused a moment. She turned in mid-air and chirped a giggle. “You kill my sister and expect answers as well?” She let out a full bellied cackle. “You have iron tail feathers, magess. I’ll give you that! Your vaari is in our lair. Go claim him. As for the rest…the happenings of this island are,[I] finally[/I], no longer of any concern to me.” With that, the two harpies lifted high out of range of any weapon or spell and soared off into the west. “Well,” offered Duor as the group watched them go, “That coulda gone worse.” As the dwarf casually watched the harpies continue out of view, the rest of the group turned to the green-cloaked stranger. There was a slight point to his ears and elegant slant to his deep brown eyes obviously betrayed some elvin blood. His firey red hair was cut short with a few strands falling casually just to his eyes. A similar strip of red scruffy whiskers ran from his bottom lip to engulf his strong chin. Brown leathers and green cloak that enwrapt a lithe toned frame. It could now be seen that his cloak was clasped with the crescent moon set in a half-sun medallion of the Ancient Order. His spear, similarly, ended in the leaf-shaped blade that marked him, most definitely, as a druid of the Ancient Order of Mistwood. “Our thanks, master druid, for your much needed assistance.” Said Alaria. The red-haired half-elf made a deep bow to the magess, a charming smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes. “Tell us your name that we might properly thank you.” Offered Braddok, still unsure how this druid came to be among them. “My name, noble warrior, is Faeryl. But you may call me by my order’s given name, 'Fen.'” “Our thanks, Fen. Without your aid…” Alaria began. “No thanks are necessary. I saw your comrade taken by Grizzelda and followed to aid. Their evil, as you heard, has long afflicted this place, apparently. Longer than I knew. I hope their leaving will begin to return the isle to the balance I’ve been sent to reinstate.” Before more questions could be offered, the druid wandered over to the cliff’s edge and looked down to where the entrances to the harpies’ lair sat in the vertical stone, almost imperceptible from his vantage point. “Shall we retrieve your friend?” [/QUOTE]
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