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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5782901" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>"Is it a clock?"</p><p></p><p>"No."</p><p></p><p>"A coin?"</p><p></p><p>"No."</p><p></p><p>"An egg! It must be an egg....the answer to all riddles is eggs."</p><p></p><p>"No." replied Sinjhal once more. "You weren't a particularly intelligent mortal, were you?</p><p></p><p>"Despite your other, obvious, physical attributes." The sphinx's eyes looked to Braddok's lap, where the loose pale grey fabric had shifted, revealingly. </p><p></p><p>"Hey!" Braddok objected and quickly adjusted his shift to cover his privates. "Well, what is it then? I give up."</p><p></p><p>"You can't give up." the sphinx objected. "Where's the fun in that?"</p><p></p><p>"Look, I've guessed everything I can think of. I don't have any more ideas."</p><p></p><p>Sinjhal shifted her body, rising on her hind legs and stretching in a distinctly feline fashion.</p><p></p><p>"No, matter. It is time. Climb on. I shall return you." the sphinx replied.</p><p></p><p>"What? Now? But that was your first riddle." Braddok jumped up, surprised. He bounded across the treasure-made 'sand' and climbed up onto the sphinx's back.</p><p></p><p>Without a reply, the sphinx leaped up into the air and with a few bats of her large black-feathered wings, was soaring over the fog0shrouded path of the river beneath them.</p><p></p><p>From this vantage point, Braddok could see much more of the terrain to either side of the river. The darker bank was completely barren and broken, sharp black mountain peaks were visible at the edge of his vision. To his [now] right, the grey leafed trees and rolling hills gave way to a massive forest of grey extending as far as he could see.</p><p></p><p>He turned around to watch as the huge seated goddess and endless tapestry shrank incredibly fast into the distance.</p><p></p><p>Before them, the mists o the river seemed to go on forever, eventually obscured into the grey clouds of the sky and grey clouds of the fogs below joining at some indistinct horizon.</p><p></p><p>"My thanks for this, Sinjhal." Braddok called, hoping his voice might be heard above the roaring wind as they passed.</p><p></p><p>"No need, Braddok Kar Barforth. It is not by my will you are returnnnnned. [that last word seemed to be Sinjhal's voice in chorus with untold others] Hang on!" the sphinx said a nano-second before pitching her trajectory and diving into the mists below. "Fare well, mortal, may we not meet again...before your allotted returnnnnn...." the sphinx's voice trailed off from his mind.</p><p></p><p>He came acutely aware that there was no longer any form beneath him to sit upon...instead he seemed to be lying...somewhere.</p><p></p><p>"Returnnnnnn...." the symphony of voices came.</p><p></p><p>"Returnnnn..." again the grouping of voices was heard in his mind. One, the loudest, was distinctly female...though not Sinjhal's.</p><p></p><p>Braddok felt cold stone beneath his back. An odor...a menagerie of odors assaulted his nose....sandalwood....and patchouli...some kind of musk...A dull golden glow flickered before his eyes....Braddok realized his eyes were closed!</p><p></p><p>They shot open. As they did so, his mouth also gaped open to take a long huge gulp of air.</p><p></p><p>"By the Grey Goddess, Lady of Fates and Mistress of Death, Braddok Kar Barforth, <em>She</em> commands you RETURN!" came the strong raised female voice from behind him somewhere.</p><p></p><p>Braddok bolted up to find himself sitting on a slab of grey stone....an altar? Uncountable candles burned all around him. Braziers at the four corners of the stone slab smoked pale grey wisps of burning incense. </p><p></p><p>"Braddok!" a blond daelvar at the foot of the altar cried and jumped up and down with a disturbingly large smile on his face.</p><p></p><p>Behind the halfling stood a golden-haired warrior with a red tabard...and an elf with silvery hair glimmering in the candlelight. Amazement was the only expression on their faces.</p><p></p><p>"Nice t'have yeh back, boyo." came the rumbly deep voice of a voice to his left. There was a satyr standing beside the dwarf.</p><p></p><p>"Um...uh...yeah...nice to be...uh...here?" he looked around the chamber at the cardinally placed triads of grey-robed priests and priestesses.</p><p></p><p>There were others in white robes with flowery trimming and rosebud shaped amulets hanging form their necks. To the other side, a rather stoic looking group of figures robed and hooded in dark blues and purples. Their faces marked with a blue mask-like star tattoos.</p><p></p><p>Something in Braddok's mind recognized the Sacred Daughters of Gilea, goddess of healing and fortitude, and the Witch-priests of Manat, "the Blue Star", goddess of magic. </p><p></p><p>Then he saw...her! The pretty dark haired woman he'd seen in his visions from...<em>there</em>. She smiled lightly at him. Her eyes seemed to glimmer with unfallen tears....or perhaps it was just the candlelight flickering across them.</p><p></p><p>"You!" Braddok said to the woman in the purple sleeveless gown.</p><p></p><p>"Welcome back, Braddok. I...We've missed you." she said with a smile. She moved forward and gave the newly rejuvenated man a strong close hug.</p><p></p><p>It was just then, Braddok realized he was still wearing the pale grey...loose-fitting shift. He blushed self-conscious.</p><p></p><p>He hugged her for a moment before releasing her.</p><p></p><p>"Well...um...thanks for the welcome." he smiled to her and the other strange collection of onlookers. "Did you bring me back?"</p><p></p><p>"We did!" piped up the cheery looking daelvar. "You didn't think we'd just leave you in that horrid place!...It was horrid, wasn't it? I mean, I don't know....never being dead, of course....but I hope you had a fairly nice afterlife or a while..."</p><p></p><p>"Haelan. Be still." the elf said, setting a gentle hand on the enthusiastically rambling halfling's shoulder. The elf peered at the warrior with deep violet eyes that betrayed no emotion. "Braddok?" the elf questioned.</p><p></p><p>"Um...yes. Yes! I am Braddok Kar Barforth. Swordsman of Denil and heir to the Barony of Barforth." he smiled and then paused to see the assembled companions looking at him. Their amazement was slowly turning to concern.</p><p></p><p>"Please, tell me your names that I might thank you properly for this great honor you have done for me and my family." the dark-haired warrior said.</p><p></p><p>All of the companions looked with surprise at each other before turning to the dark-haired woman. She backed away and the relief he had seen in her face a moment ago turned to sorrow. </p><p></p><p>Then all of them looking toward the raven-haired grey-robed priestess that stood at the head of the altar. </p><p></p><p>"I <em>am</em> Braddok Kar Barforth." the warrior protested.</p><p></p><p>"Yes. You are." said the raven-haired priestess. "Dolorn, fetch Braddok some suitable attire, please. You must take it easy. Your spirit has had quite a shock."</p><p></p><p>She nodded and a couple of the other grey-robed priests helped Braddok to stand. </p><p></p><p>The woman looked at the other assembled people and spoke as if Bradok were not in the room. "His memories shall return. It may take some time. But the Grey Lady has seen fit to have him returned and intact....more or less. You must have fiath and give it some time."</p><p></p><p>The daelvar and dark-haired woman, who Braddok could now tell from the etchings of her gown to be a wizard, came to Braddok's side as well.</p><p></p><p>"It'll be ok, Braddok. You'll be fine. Let's get you back to the Keep. We have so much to tell you." the daelvar again began rambling.</p><p></p><p>"Not just now, Haelan." the woman said to the halfling. She looked again into the warrior's eyes. "As the high priestess said, you must give it time. You will remember us..." She smiled weakly.</p><p></p><p>Braddok just nodded, somewhat dumbly. He did not know why, but he felt badly...as if he had hurt this woman somehow. But he'd only been alive for a few moments. What could he have done?</p><p></p><p>"I'm sorry." he said without knowing why.</p><p></p><p>Alaria nodded a smile in return. "Don't be. You're back. That's a start."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5782901, member: 92511"] "Is it a clock?" "No." "A coin?" "No." "An egg! It must be an egg....the answer to all riddles is eggs." "No." replied Sinjhal once more. "You weren't a particularly intelligent mortal, were you? "Despite your other, obvious, physical attributes." The sphinx's eyes looked to Braddok's lap, where the loose pale grey fabric had shifted, revealingly. "Hey!" Braddok objected and quickly adjusted his shift to cover his privates. "Well, what is it then? I give up." "You can't give up." the sphinx objected. "Where's the fun in that?" "Look, I've guessed everything I can think of. I don't have any more ideas." Sinjhal shifted her body, rising on her hind legs and stretching in a distinctly feline fashion. "No, matter. It is time. Climb on. I shall return you." the sphinx replied. "What? Now? But that was your first riddle." Braddok jumped up, surprised. He bounded across the treasure-made 'sand' and climbed up onto the sphinx's back. Without a reply, the sphinx leaped up into the air and with a few bats of her large black-feathered wings, was soaring over the fog0shrouded path of the river beneath them. From this vantage point, Braddok could see much more of the terrain to either side of the river. The darker bank was completely barren and broken, sharp black mountain peaks were visible at the edge of his vision. To his [now] right, the grey leafed trees and rolling hills gave way to a massive forest of grey extending as far as he could see. He turned around to watch as the huge seated goddess and endless tapestry shrank incredibly fast into the distance. Before them, the mists o the river seemed to go on forever, eventually obscured into the grey clouds of the sky and grey clouds of the fogs below joining at some indistinct horizon. "My thanks for this, Sinjhal." Braddok called, hoping his voice might be heard above the roaring wind as they passed. "No need, Braddok Kar Barforth. It is not by my will you are returnnnnned. [that last word seemed to be Sinjhal's voice in chorus with untold others] Hang on!" the sphinx said a nano-second before pitching her trajectory and diving into the mists below. "Fare well, mortal, may we not meet again...before your allotted returnnnnn...." the sphinx's voice trailed off from his mind. He came acutely aware that there was no longer any form beneath him to sit upon...instead he seemed to be lying...somewhere. "Returnnnnnn...." the symphony of voices came. "Returnnnn..." again the grouping of voices was heard in his mind. One, the loudest, was distinctly female...though not Sinjhal's. Braddok felt cold stone beneath his back. An odor...a menagerie of odors assaulted his nose....sandalwood....and patchouli...some kind of musk...A dull golden glow flickered before his eyes....Braddok realized his eyes were closed! They shot open. As they did so, his mouth also gaped open to take a long huge gulp of air. "By the Grey Goddess, Lady of Fates and Mistress of Death, Braddok Kar Barforth, [I]She[/I] commands you RETURN!" came the strong raised female voice from behind him somewhere. Braddok bolted up to find himself sitting on a slab of grey stone....an altar? Uncountable candles burned all around him. Braziers at the four corners of the stone slab smoked pale grey wisps of burning incense. "Braddok!" a blond daelvar at the foot of the altar cried and jumped up and down with a disturbingly large smile on his face. Behind the halfling stood a golden-haired warrior with a red tabard...and an elf with silvery hair glimmering in the candlelight. Amazement was the only expression on their faces. "Nice t'have yeh back, boyo." came the rumbly deep voice of a voice to his left. There was a satyr standing beside the dwarf. "Um...uh...yeah...nice to be...uh...here?" he looked around the chamber at the cardinally placed triads of grey-robed priests and priestesses. There were others in white robes with flowery trimming and rosebud shaped amulets hanging form their necks. To the other side, a rather stoic looking group of figures robed and hooded in dark blues and purples. Their faces marked with a blue mask-like star tattoos. Something in Braddok's mind recognized the Sacred Daughters of Gilea, goddess of healing and fortitude, and the Witch-priests of Manat, "the Blue Star", goddess of magic. Then he saw...her! The pretty dark haired woman he'd seen in his visions from...[I]there[/I]. She smiled lightly at him. Her eyes seemed to glimmer with unfallen tears....or perhaps it was just the candlelight flickering across them. "You!" Braddok said to the woman in the purple sleeveless gown. "Welcome back, Braddok. I...We've missed you." she said with a smile. She moved forward and gave the newly rejuvenated man a strong close hug. It was just then, Braddok realized he was still wearing the pale grey...loose-fitting shift. He blushed self-conscious. He hugged her for a moment before releasing her. "Well...um...thanks for the welcome." he smiled to her and the other strange collection of onlookers. "Did you bring me back?" "We did!" piped up the cheery looking daelvar. "You didn't think we'd just leave you in that horrid place!...It was horrid, wasn't it? I mean, I don't know....never being dead, of course....but I hope you had a fairly nice afterlife or a while..." "Haelan. Be still." the elf said, setting a gentle hand on the enthusiastically rambling halfling's shoulder. The elf peered at the warrior with deep violet eyes that betrayed no emotion. "Braddok?" the elf questioned. "Um...yes. Yes! I am Braddok Kar Barforth. Swordsman of Denil and heir to the Barony of Barforth." he smiled and then paused to see the assembled companions looking at him. Their amazement was slowly turning to concern. "Please, tell me your names that I might thank you properly for this great honor you have done for me and my family." the dark-haired warrior said. All of the companions looked with surprise at each other before turning to the dark-haired woman. She backed away and the relief he had seen in her face a moment ago turned to sorrow. Then all of them looking toward the raven-haired grey-robed priestess that stood at the head of the altar. "I [I]am[/I] Braddok Kar Barforth." the warrior protested. "Yes. You are." said the raven-haired priestess. "Dolorn, fetch Braddok some suitable attire, please. You must take it easy. Your spirit has had quite a shock." She nodded and a couple of the other grey-robed priests helped Braddok to stand. The woman looked at the other assembled people and spoke as if Bradok were not in the room. "His memories shall return. It may take some time. But the Grey Lady has seen fit to have him returned and intact....more or less. You must have fiath and give it some time." The daelvar and dark-haired woman, who Braddok could now tell from the etchings of her gown to be a wizard, came to Braddok's side as well. "It'll be ok, Braddok. You'll be fine. Let's get you back to the Keep. We have so much to tell you." the daelvar again began rambling. "Not just now, Haelan." the woman said to the halfling. She looked again into the warrior's eyes. "As the high priestess said, you must give it time. You will remember us..." She smiled weakly. Braddok just nodded, somewhat dumbly. He did not know why, but he felt badly...as if he had hurt this woman somehow. But he'd only been alive for a few moments. What could he have done? "I'm sorry." he said without knowing why. Alaria nodded a smile in return. "Don't be. You're back. That's a start." [/QUOTE]
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