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Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5814960" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p><em><Author's Errata: As a point of clarification, Amthyriine should have referred to Selurians as 'the White Tribe of the <strong>West</strong>' not 'East' as was posted. It is really neither here nor there, but for the reader's understanding and world consistency, the White Tribe...who would become the Selurian nation...were from the West, not the East. /Errata. Moving on...></em></p><p></p><p>The party entered the base chamber of the tower. It was massive, easily 100-150 feet in diameter. The walls and floor were composed of the same white and silvery stone at the exterior and the whole space glowed with a soft white light. Compared to the glaring reflection of the snow covered landscape outside, the softer light was most welcome. </p><p></p><p>'Stark' was the best way to describe the huge round chamber. In the center of the room a large (20' diameter) circular firepit burned with a low even flame. Around the pit, chairs, stools, benches and divans all strewn liberally with bright white and pale grey furs. </p><p></p><p>A single stone staricase off the right twirled around the outer wall to disappear at a landing high above them at the easily 50 foot ceiling. A second staircase, leading down, far at the far side of the chamber.</p><p></p><p>"Make thy selves at ease and comfort. I shall present refreshment." Amthyriine said and "moved" across the wide hall (as her skirts seemed to simply flow across the floor, making no sound or motion of "steps") to the stairs leading down.</p><p></p><p>The party, for the most part, made themselves comfortable in the various warm seats around the fire.</p><p></p><p>"She said she was not faye. Yet, we have no confirmation this is not actually a fairy-realm." cautioned Erevan. "I would counsel against partaking of any of her refreshments."</p><p></p><p>"There is something off about her to be sure. Not a Selurian. Not a faye. Did you see, she left no tracks in the snow? She may be some kind of lost spirit or something." Braddok posed quietly.</p><p></p><p>"Well neither do I and I'm not a spirit." defended Fen.</p><p></p><p>"No. Yer a 'traitor'. Wud'ja think she meant by that, hmm?" Duor said mockingly.</p><p></p><p>Fen just shrugged in return to the questioning eyes of the rest of the companions.</p><p></p><p>The dwarf took one of the pale grey furs from ff the seat he'd been standing by, waiting for Amthyriine to exit down the stairs. He wrapped himself in it and, silently (thanks to his magic boots), began padding across the room to the walls. He carefully inspected the floor and walls as he went. He removed a glove and ran his hand along the strange white stone. No seems. No irregularities. Very much warmer than stone "should be" according to the dwarf.</p><p></p><p>"Duor, do not offend our hostess." Alaria whispered, much annoyed by the rogue's uncoothe behavior.</p><p></p><p>"I think we can be at ease here." Coerraine suggested as the golden glow of his mystic sight left his eyes. "There is nothing here that is evil. Indeed, I sense a pervading warmth of good and peace."</p><p></p><p>"Sure it isn't the fire? It is lovely warm." Haelan posed snuggling into the furs of the chair he had hoisted himself into.</p><p></p><p>Coerraine looked at the cleric with mild humor. "I am sure, friend Haelan."</p><p></p><p>"We must get answers." Alaria said, again, quietly. Yet the openness of the chamber seem to amplify all but the weakest whisper.</p><p></p><p>"Indeed we do, boss lady. Like where's the bloody treasure?" Duor replied absently as he placed an ear to a section of wall and tapped lightly with his fist.</p><p></p><p>"Alas, dwarf, the riches of Gorathgraard are not here. Nor mine to give, if they were." came Amthyriine's voice to everyone's surprise. The white clad maiden had ascended the stairs carrying a tray on which sat eight large and deep, beautifully crafted, silver goblets studded with white stones and crystals. </p><p></p><p>"They were lost to us when <strong><em>she</em></strong> ensnared our lord with her wicked wiles." she added as she came to the firepit and passed out the goblets.</p><p></p><p>'OOoooo! Hot chocolate! How did you know?" smiled Haelan.</p><p></p><p>Alaria looked at the steaming liquid in her own goblet and sniffed deeply. "Lady, Amthyriine, if I may ask, who is 'she'. Is...is this...black ginger tea?" the magess asked in surprise.</p><p></p><p>"Is it?" replied Amthyriine, obviously not sure.</p><p></p><p>For Festus, Braddok and the two elf-folk a warm steaming mulled red wine.</p><p></p><p>Coerraine looked at his goblet in surprise as well and asked the white lady, "Is this really warm sheep's milk with nutmeg?" The Redstar Knight tried to remember the last time he had partaken of the traditional winter "nog" of his homeland.</p><p></p><p>"With honey brandy if I do not forget the tastes of the Red Tribe of the South." Amthyriine smiled back at the paladin.</p><p></p><p>"Art they not to thy liking?" she seemed concerned she had served the wrong thing when none of the companions partook of her offerings. "I couldst prepare alternate libation, if thou wouldst prefer."</p><p></p><p>"Forgive us, lady. But it isn't magicked or anything is it?" Haelan blurted with sincerity. The poor daelvar was practically licking his lips to get at the sweet frothy chocolate staring him in the face.</p><p></p><p>"Poisoned, perhaps?" Duor offered, surreptitiously returning to the circle to take the goblet and sniff deeply as the deep golden warmed cognac in his cup. "Sweetstone Amber?! Where'd you find this?" </p><p></p><p>To their collected surprise, the dwarf didn't waste a moment waiting for a reply, but took a long sip accompanied by a satisfying moan deep in his throat. "Aaaaaah. That's the<em> real</em> thing. *buuuurp* Mm. Nothin' wrong with this stuff."</p><p></p><p>Amthyriine smiled lightly at the dwarf's apparent satisfaction.</p><p></p><p>"Forgive our hesitation, my lady. But time abroad has taught us to be cautious." Braddok explained.</p><p></p><p>The pale woman nodded with a sadness the companions had not expected to see. "It is to be understood. I thou assure no enchantment nor poison wouldst I soil the hospitality of the House of Gorathiel...even unto his enemies."</p><p></p><p>"You must understand, Amthyriine, that you have exhibited more than a small talent for the Mysteries. And we still do not understand how we came to be in this enchanted place or what effect it may have." Alaria explained in as courtly and congenial a manner as she could muster.</p><p></p><p>"Enchanted...yay. Gorathgraard exists, only thus, due to enchantment. Twas our lord's final gift to we that remained...in the end...when he finally awoke from the dark serpent's snares." the lady replied. "But by then, the damage was too great."</p><p></p><p>"So this<em> is</em> a fairy land?!" Festus nearly spat out his drink in concern.</p><p></p><p>"A 'fairy land'?...how curious. Nay." Amthyriine again seemed to stare off in distraction before continuing. "And yay...in a way, I suppose. This permutation of Gorathgraard exists as a...pocket...a 'demi-plane' wouldst thou call it" she turned with a questioning look to Alaria. "Hidden away from the mortal realms and, originally, protected from the insidious evil of the dark one. Our lord created it in his final days, with but six gateways. Only four now remain."</p><p></p><p>"And this 'dark one', the serpent, you refer to, is that Desaarthal?" Alaria asked.</p><p></p><p>As she spoke the name, the room darkened noticably and a rumbling thunder could be heard throughout the chamber.</p><p></p><p>"Speak <em>not</em> her name in this place!" Amthyriine said in obvious concern. She looked about her and the chamber as the rumbling trailed off and the light returned to normal.</p><p></p><p>"She knows it is here. But Gorathiel's sorcery was greater than her own. Once, we were wholely protected here. But she has found ways to infiltrate the realm. Pick away at the edges...as it were. The wolves were the first to turn on us. Some of the other creatures as well. Then the ice trolls began moving through the outer wood..." her silver eyes, again, filled with water, and another single tear flowed from one eye, to solidfy and clink upon the stone floor.</p><p></p><p>Duor watched in curiosity as the bright, clear, crystal he was assuming to be ice just laid on the floor...and did not seem to melt.</p><p></p><p>Amthyriine gave it no mind, staring somberly into the flames flickering in the fire pit. She bent down to pick up a long silvery poker and set to adjusting a few of the logs.</p><p></p><p>"Forgive us, my lady." Coerraine stepped forward. "We meant not to cause you sorrow. My own heart is pained to see you thus. Is there anything we might do to alleviate your suffering?"</p><p></p><p>The Swan Maid looked up at the red-tabard of the paladin and the curious golden shield amulet flanked with spears that hung from his neck.</p><p></p><p>"Alas, champion, even the offer lightens my soul. But I fear there is naught that might be achieved by even so valiant a soul as thine. All of our lord's knights made such attempts and our lord, himself...in the end..." her eyes again stared off blankly in the fire.</p><p></p><p>"We can take out this Desa-ar-um...'dark one' fer yeh...For a modest reward, of course." Duor offered in a casual manner as he sipped again on the strong warming liquor.</p><p></p><p>"Did you not here her, Duor? The dragon still lives!" Fen protested.</p><p></p><p>"You mean, this dark one is the dragon we've heard about in legend and it yet lives and accosts you, even here...right?" Haelan asked for clarification.</p><p></p><p>"Yay, my noble'hearted guest. But enough such talk of it. Tell me of your people, gentle one. Whence art the day-al-far? What art thy pasttimes and goodly pursuits? I must make apologies that I trouble guests with such concerns as gloom the House of Gorathiel. Tis remiss for a hostess to divulge trouble in such a manner. I have forgotten much, it is seems, in my long solitude."</p><p></p><p>"That's 'daelvar', sweet lady." Haelan corrected gently. He smiled after a long sip from the "simply scumptuous" hot chocolate. "Well, I personally hail from the Free Hollows...near Hawkview. Do you know it? It's a lovely place. There are other Dales, of course, scattered about Orea. As far as I know, the Hollows was the first, though. As a people, we like..."</p><p></p><p>"Haelan, later, if you please." Alaria interrupted. They were beginnign to get somewhere and the Hilltender's ramblings would easily take them hours off course.</p><p></p><p>"So there is no one else with you...um..here? In the whole of this realm?" asked Erevan.</p><p></p><p>"I have the beasts and birds. Them that hast nay fallen to the dark one's influence. Yay, though my heart is heavied by dreams tis only a matter of time ere they all will be corrupted." Amthyriine replied to the elf's question.</p><p></p><p>"But otherwise, nay. My sisters have all gone. The knights fell or were lost to her wicked charms. My lord gave himself that we few who remained might have this place."</p><p></p><p>"They 'have gone', lady? To where if they are not here?" Alaria inquired calmly before a sip of the delicious tea of her homeland.</p><p></p><p>The magess' mind swam with the possibilities. Perhaps this woman held some telepathic ability, like Rhea. How else did she know what each of them individually wanted? Besides the conjuring that would be required to manifest the drinks so speedily. She, apparently, was a potent sorceress, changing into the winds and snows and freezing Duor as she had. She was still at a loss to describe just of what the seemingly peaceful lonely woman was possible.</p><p></p><p>"To Gorathgraard, of course." she replied, as if this was the obvious resposne.</p><p></p><p>"I thought this was Gorarthgraard?" Haelan said innocently, slurping again at his hot chocolate.</p><p></p><p>"Yay. So tis." Amthyriine replied. She seemed confused at the party's confusion.</p><p></p><p>"Shhho," began Duor who was nearly the bottom of his goblet and feeling nothing but the warming licquor flowing through his veins, "ifve take care ovvv this dar-*erp*-ragon fer yeh, wut're we gettin' in return? Wutsh ish gotta do with Nor Gorthok?" </p><p></p><p>"Nor Gorthok?....ah, I see. Wouldst seem to be a name of thy kind." Amthyriine answered.</p><p></p><p>"So Nor Gorthok is Gorathgraard?" said Alaria, beginning to comprehend.</p><p></p><p>"Aren't we in Gorathgraard...right now?" Haelan said, still confused. His confusion became quickening concern at the prospect that there was some ancient dreaded evil dragon on the same place he was.</p><p></p><p>"Yay." Amthyriine said to Alaria. She turned to Haelan at his question and again said, plainly, "Yay."</p><p></p><p>"And the other Swan Maids are in Gorathgraard, also?" Fen posed. The druid was also becoming more confused.</p><p></p><p>"Yay. Tis all Gorathgraard and Nor Gorthok. Tis all the same. Dost though not comprehend?" she answered the druid, though her face betrayed some irritation in the half-elf's direction.</p><p></p><p>"I'm afraid I do not understand, my lady." Braddok said. He looked at Alaria. Maybe the wizardess was getting this, but he was just a soldier, a warrior.</p><p></p><p>"I believe I understand." Alaria said before their hostess could be barraged by any more questions from her 'less versed' companions.</p><p></p><p>"It's like an onion." the magess explained to her companions. "You said, Lady Amthyriine, this was a 'demi-plane.' We are in Gorathgraard...and there are other Gorathgraard's where others of her kind are, or might be, in their own hidden realms. And all of the Gorathgraard's are also where Nor Gorthok is...on Orea. They're all contained within a pocket dimension, like the layers of an onion. Each separate, but all the same onion." Alaria looked at their hostess for confirmation with the hopeful expectation she often felt at having the 'right' answer.</p><p></p><p>Amthriine grinned slightly and nodded. "Just so....an onion. Curious, though not inaccurate."</p><p></p><p>"Iiiii still don't get it." Haelan said with a shrug. "But it was a lovely explanation ,Alaria."</p><p></p><p>"Me neiver. *hic*" piped in Festus as he had reached the end of his goblet. "Got any mora thish stuff? 'Ssreally good."</p><p></p><p>Amthyriine nodded with a grin. She took the empty goblet from the satyr and placed it upon the silver tray.</p><p></p><p>"Is there any more hot choclate_" Haelan asked in wide'eyed hope. "If it's not too much trouble."</p><p></p><p>"Nay a trouble at all, small one. It warms a long cold heart to bring thy satisfaction." Amthyriine smiled in response.</p><p></p><p>When she had floated back across the chamber to descended the stairs to who knew where, the companions discussed what Alaria had explained for them.</p><p></p><p>"If that is so..." began Erevan, his mind mulling over the curious dimensional situation, "could be not, perhaps exit this realm anywhere within Nor Gorthok?"</p><p></p><p>"Yeh. We could get in, get the dragon treashure n' slip back out wiffout the wyrm ever knowin'." Duor smiled. His cheeks and nose had taken on a thoroughly reddish sheen as he swirled about the last sip of his cognac in the bowl of the goblet.</p><p></p><p>"Oddly enough, the dwarf proposes exactly what I was thinking." Erevan said.</p><p></p><p>"Alaria?" Braddok questioned to the wizardess, obviously deep in her own thoughts.</p><p></p><p>"Hmm? I'm sorry. What? Yes! Yes, Erevan, that could be possible. Though I will confess, my own studies in the way of dimensional travel are limited, at best.</p><p></p><p>"The lady said there were but four gateways left that access this place. She said not where they offer egress to...or even if they do. We know the portal we came through goes back...or seems to." she concluded,more to herself than the others.</p><p></p><p>"But if we're in this 'onion' then shouldn't we be able to just leave the onion where we want?" Haelan asked. His mind then drifted to the thought of onions...and spiced meat in the mutton pasties he so enjoyed.</p><p></p><p>"There are 360 degrees of horizontal and vertical, Haelan. We will have to ask Amthyriine.We might come out in Nor Gorthok...We could, as easily come out on the other side of the world...or Dessarthal's treasure chamber."</p><p></p><p>Again, the room darkened, deeper this time and the rumbling thunder seemed as much in the chamber as without. It seemed even the room shook slightly.</p><p></p><p>"Oh *hic* goat-patties." murmured Festus.</p><p></p><p>A clanging crash caught the party's attention to see Amthyriine, who had reuturned to the top of the stairs, as the tray of four filled goblets hit the floor. She placed a hand against the wall to steady herself.</p><p></p><p>"What hast thou done here!? Didst I nay tell thou nay bespeak its cursed name!?" she looked worriedly at the ceiling until the rumbling subsided and the light returned to normal.</p><p></p><p>"Thou hast overstayed thy welcome. I wouldst not see Gorathgraard fall to such careless lips as thine. Begone!"</p><p></p><p>"My lady I am sorry. It was slip..." Alaria began to apologize.</p><p></p><p>"I bade thee goooooonnnnn...!" she shouted across the chamber. Her voice melding with and then becoming overwhelmed by the blasting blizzard of air that manifested within the chamber. All of the companions were swept up in the furious whirlwind.</p><p></p><p>A moment later they were crashing down into several feet of snowy ground. </p><p></p><p>The party roused themselves and took account of their number, including Haelan who was literally standing in a daelvar shaped whole in the snow up to his chin. Everyone was there and seemingly unharmed, though jolted from the abrupt landing.</p><p></p><p>They looked up to see themselves before another towering statue of one of the swan knights. It was, however noticeably different in detail than the one between whose great crystalline feet they had arrived.</p><p></p><p>"Well, that was well done, eh boss lady." Duor grumbled and pulled the grey fur pelt he had managed to grab during their abrupt ejection.</p><p></p><p>"Sure fire way to lose a buzz, that's for sure." Festus said, rubbing his goatish hindquarters.</p><p></p><p>Duor looked down at the crystalline tear he had managed to palm off the floor while the others were talking about onions or some such. His eyes immediately widened in disbelief. He placed the pure clear teardrop shaped stone between his teeth and then just stared at it agape.</p><p></p><p>"What's the matter Duor?" Braddok asked.</p><p></p><p>"It's...it's..." the normally prolific dwarf stammered.</p><p></p><p>"It's?" questioned Erevan unconcerned, shouldering his pack and adjusting his quivers. He shook he silvery grey locks and what little snow was in them fell and slid out easily. In only that moment, the elf looked again as his near-perfect self, like he were about to walk into a ball.</p><p></p><p>"It's a diamond!" the dwarf said, unexpectedly. He mentally chastised himself for informing his fellows, who would surely what a cut. But he wasn't about to give it up. </p><p></p><p>"Well, where to now gentlefolk?" Fen suggested brushing the snow off his billowing druid's cloak as it shifted from the pale grey-green it had been within the tower to a pure white of the surrounding landscape.</p><p></p><p>"DUCK!" shouted Braddok as he dove to knock Alaria, who had also been wiping snow off her cloak and robes, back into the banked snow.</p><p></p><p>All of the party dove, tumbled and were jostled from their feet as an icy snow covered boulder shook through their position, crashing very near where Alaria had been standing.</p><p></p><p>Again, they all jumped up to their feet, this time with weapons raising with purpose instead of wiping snow off themselves. Some fifty feet away, along the treeline of the wintery wood came three gargantuan humanoid figures.</p><p></p><p>They were white as the surrounding environs. Icicles hung off of pointed noses and ears. Chunks of ice and snow clung to their shoulders and seemed to stick to their thighs and forearms. Two held giant icicles that looked like clubs. The other, who had apparently just thrown the boulder was grabbing another. And they were huge! Easily 10 feet tall, like hill giants, but snowy.</p><p></p><p>"Hey! Those aren't any trolls!" Haelan said in protestation, as if it would cause the creatures to assume a more troll-like stature.</p><p></p><p>The two ice-club wielders began to charge forward as the third raised another boulder over its head. Their steps thundered loudly as they approached.</p><p></p><p>"Whatever they are, might I suggest a hasty retreat?" Festus posed and pointed at the ice wall that stood between the statues giant feet.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5814960, member: 92511"] [I]<Author's Errata: As a point of clarification, Amthyriine should have referred to Selurians as 'the White Tribe of the [B]West[/B]' not 'East' as was posted. It is really neither here nor there, but for the reader's understanding and world consistency, the White Tribe...who would become the Selurian nation...were from the West, not the East. /Errata. Moving on...>[/I] The party entered the base chamber of the tower. It was massive, easily 100-150 feet in diameter. The walls and floor were composed of the same white and silvery stone at the exterior and the whole space glowed with a soft white light. Compared to the glaring reflection of the snow covered landscape outside, the softer light was most welcome. 'Stark' was the best way to describe the huge round chamber. In the center of the room a large (20' diameter) circular firepit burned with a low even flame. Around the pit, chairs, stools, benches and divans all strewn liberally with bright white and pale grey furs. A single stone staricase off the right twirled around the outer wall to disappear at a landing high above them at the easily 50 foot ceiling. A second staircase, leading down, far at the far side of the chamber. "Make thy selves at ease and comfort. I shall present refreshment." Amthyriine said and "moved" across the wide hall (as her skirts seemed to simply flow across the floor, making no sound or motion of "steps") to the stairs leading down. The party, for the most part, made themselves comfortable in the various warm seats around the fire. "She said she was not faye. Yet, we have no confirmation this is not actually a fairy-realm." cautioned Erevan. "I would counsel against partaking of any of her refreshments." "There is something off about her to be sure. Not a Selurian. Not a faye. Did you see, she left no tracks in the snow? She may be some kind of lost spirit or something." Braddok posed quietly. "Well neither do I and I'm not a spirit." defended Fen. "No. Yer a 'traitor'. Wud'ja think she meant by that, hmm?" Duor said mockingly. Fen just shrugged in return to the questioning eyes of the rest of the companions. The dwarf took one of the pale grey furs from ff the seat he'd been standing by, waiting for Amthyriine to exit down the stairs. He wrapped himself in it and, silently (thanks to his magic boots), began padding across the room to the walls. He carefully inspected the floor and walls as he went. He removed a glove and ran his hand along the strange white stone. No seems. No irregularities. Very much warmer than stone "should be" according to the dwarf. "Duor, do not offend our hostess." Alaria whispered, much annoyed by the rogue's uncoothe behavior. "I think we can be at ease here." Coerraine suggested as the golden glow of his mystic sight left his eyes. "There is nothing here that is evil. Indeed, I sense a pervading warmth of good and peace." "Sure it isn't the fire? It is lovely warm." Haelan posed snuggling into the furs of the chair he had hoisted himself into. Coerraine looked at the cleric with mild humor. "I am sure, friend Haelan." "We must get answers." Alaria said, again, quietly. Yet the openness of the chamber seem to amplify all but the weakest whisper. "Indeed we do, boss lady. Like where's the bloody treasure?" Duor replied absently as he placed an ear to a section of wall and tapped lightly with his fist. "Alas, dwarf, the riches of Gorathgraard are not here. Nor mine to give, if they were." came Amthyriine's voice to everyone's surprise. The white clad maiden had ascended the stairs carrying a tray on which sat eight large and deep, beautifully crafted, silver goblets studded with white stones and crystals. "They were lost to us when [B][I]she[/I][/B] ensnared our lord with her wicked wiles." she added as she came to the firepit and passed out the goblets. 'OOoooo! Hot chocolate! How did you know?" smiled Haelan. Alaria looked at the steaming liquid in her own goblet and sniffed deeply. "Lady, Amthyriine, if I may ask, who is 'she'. Is...is this...black ginger tea?" the magess asked in surprise. "Is it?" replied Amthyriine, obviously not sure. For Festus, Braddok and the two elf-folk a warm steaming mulled red wine. Coerraine looked at his goblet in surprise as well and asked the white lady, "Is this really warm sheep's milk with nutmeg?" The Redstar Knight tried to remember the last time he had partaken of the traditional winter "nog" of his homeland. "With honey brandy if I do not forget the tastes of the Red Tribe of the South." Amthyriine smiled back at the paladin. "Art they not to thy liking?" she seemed concerned she had served the wrong thing when none of the companions partook of her offerings. "I couldst prepare alternate libation, if thou wouldst prefer." "Forgive us, lady. But it isn't magicked or anything is it?" Haelan blurted with sincerity. The poor daelvar was practically licking his lips to get at the sweet frothy chocolate staring him in the face. "Poisoned, perhaps?" Duor offered, surreptitiously returning to the circle to take the goblet and sniff deeply as the deep golden warmed cognac in his cup. "Sweetstone Amber?! Where'd you find this?" To their collected surprise, the dwarf didn't waste a moment waiting for a reply, but took a long sip accompanied by a satisfying moan deep in his throat. "Aaaaaah. That's the[I] real[/I] thing. *buuuurp* Mm. Nothin' wrong with this stuff." Amthyriine smiled lightly at the dwarf's apparent satisfaction. "Forgive our hesitation, my lady. But time abroad has taught us to be cautious." Braddok explained. The pale woman nodded with a sadness the companions had not expected to see. "It is to be understood. I thou assure no enchantment nor poison wouldst I soil the hospitality of the House of Gorathiel...even unto his enemies." "You must understand, Amthyriine, that you have exhibited more than a small talent for the Mysteries. And we still do not understand how we came to be in this enchanted place or what effect it may have." Alaria explained in as courtly and congenial a manner as she could muster. "Enchanted...yay. Gorathgraard exists, only thus, due to enchantment. Twas our lord's final gift to we that remained...in the end...when he finally awoke from the dark serpent's snares." the lady replied. "But by then, the damage was too great." "So this[I] is[/I] a fairy land?!" Festus nearly spat out his drink in concern. "A 'fairy land'?...how curious. Nay." Amthyriine again seemed to stare off in distraction before continuing. "And yay...in a way, I suppose. This permutation of Gorathgraard exists as a...pocket...a 'demi-plane' wouldst thou call it" she turned with a questioning look to Alaria. "Hidden away from the mortal realms and, originally, protected from the insidious evil of the dark one. Our lord created it in his final days, with but six gateways. Only four now remain." "And this 'dark one', the serpent, you refer to, is that Desaarthal?" Alaria asked. As she spoke the name, the room darkened noticably and a rumbling thunder could be heard throughout the chamber. "Speak [I]not[/I] her name in this place!" Amthyriine said in obvious concern. She looked about her and the chamber as the rumbling trailed off and the light returned to normal. "She knows it is here. But Gorathiel's sorcery was greater than her own. Once, we were wholely protected here. But she has found ways to infiltrate the realm. Pick away at the edges...as it were. The wolves were the first to turn on us. Some of the other creatures as well. Then the ice trolls began moving through the outer wood..." her silver eyes, again, filled with water, and another single tear flowed from one eye, to solidfy and clink upon the stone floor. Duor watched in curiosity as the bright, clear, crystal he was assuming to be ice just laid on the floor...and did not seem to melt. Amthyriine gave it no mind, staring somberly into the flames flickering in the fire pit. She bent down to pick up a long silvery poker and set to adjusting a few of the logs. "Forgive us, my lady." Coerraine stepped forward. "We meant not to cause you sorrow. My own heart is pained to see you thus. Is there anything we might do to alleviate your suffering?" The Swan Maid looked up at the red-tabard of the paladin and the curious golden shield amulet flanked with spears that hung from his neck. "Alas, champion, even the offer lightens my soul. But I fear there is naught that might be achieved by even so valiant a soul as thine. All of our lord's knights made such attempts and our lord, himself...in the end..." her eyes again stared off blankly in the fire. "We can take out this Desa-ar-um...'dark one' fer yeh...For a modest reward, of course." Duor offered in a casual manner as he sipped again on the strong warming liquor. "Did you not here her, Duor? The dragon still lives!" Fen protested. "You mean, this dark one is the dragon we've heard about in legend and it yet lives and accosts you, even here...right?" Haelan asked for clarification. "Yay, my noble'hearted guest. But enough such talk of it. Tell me of your people, gentle one. Whence art the day-al-far? What art thy pasttimes and goodly pursuits? I must make apologies that I trouble guests with such concerns as gloom the House of Gorathiel. Tis remiss for a hostess to divulge trouble in such a manner. I have forgotten much, it is seems, in my long solitude." "That's 'daelvar', sweet lady." Haelan corrected gently. He smiled after a long sip from the "simply scumptuous" hot chocolate. "Well, I personally hail from the Free Hollows...near Hawkview. Do you know it? It's a lovely place. There are other Dales, of course, scattered about Orea. As far as I know, the Hollows was the first, though. As a people, we like..." "Haelan, later, if you please." Alaria interrupted. They were beginnign to get somewhere and the Hilltender's ramblings would easily take them hours off course. "So there is no one else with you...um..here? In the whole of this realm?" asked Erevan. "I have the beasts and birds. Them that hast nay fallen to the dark one's influence. Yay, though my heart is heavied by dreams tis only a matter of time ere they all will be corrupted." Amthyriine replied to the elf's question. "But otherwise, nay. My sisters have all gone. The knights fell or were lost to her wicked charms. My lord gave himself that we few who remained might have this place." "They 'have gone', lady? To where if they are not here?" Alaria inquired calmly before a sip of the delicious tea of her homeland. The magess' mind swam with the possibilities. Perhaps this woman held some telepathic ability, like Rhea. How else did she know what each of them individually wanted? Besides the conjuring that would be required to manifest the drinks so speedily. She, apparently, was a potent sorceress, changing into the winds and snows and freezing Duor as she had. She was still at a loss to describe just of what the seemingly peaceful lonely woman was possible. "To Gorathgraard, of course." she replied, as if this was the obvious resposne. "I thought this was Gorarthgraard?" Haelan said innocently, slurping again at his hot chocolate. "Yay. So tis." Amthyriine replied. She seemed confused at the party's confusion. "Shhho," began Duor who was nearly the bottom of his goblet and feeling nothing but the warming licquor flowing through his veins, "ifve take care ovvv this dar-*erp*-ragon fer yeh, wut're we gettin' in return? Wutsh ish gotta do with Nor Gorthok?" "Nor Gorthok?....ah, I see. Wouldst seem to be a name of thy kind." Amthyriine answered. "So Nor Gorthok is Gorathgraard?" said Alaria, beginning to comprehend. "Aren't we in Gorathgraard...right now?" Haelan said, still confused. His confusion became quickening concern at the prospect that there was some ancient dreaded evil dragon on the same place he was. "Yay." Amthyriine said to Alaria. She turned to Haelan at his question and again said, plainly, "Yay." "And the other Swan Maids are in Gorathgraard, also?" Fen posed. The druid was also becoming more confused. "Yay. Tis all Gorathgraard and Nor Gorthok. Tis all the same. Dost though not comprehend?" she answered the druid, though her face betrayed some irritation in the half-elf's direction. "I'm afraid I do not understand, my lady." Braddok said. He looked at Alaria. Maybe the wizardess was getting this, but he was just a soldier, a warrior. "I believe I understand." Alaria said before their hostess could be barraged by any more questions from her 'less versed' companions. "It's like an onion." the magess explained to her companions. "You said, Lady Amthyriine, this was a 'demi-plane.' We are in Gorathgraard...and there are other Gorathgraard's where others of her kind are, or might be, in their own hidden realms. And all of the Gorathgraard's are also where Nor Gorthok is...on Orea. They're all contained within a pocket dimension, like the layers of an onion. Each separate, but all the same onion." Alaria looked at their hostess for confirmation with the hopeful expectation she often felt at having the 'right' answer. Amthriine grinned slightly and nodded. "Just so....an onion. Curious, though not inaccurate." "Iiiii still don't get it." Haelan said with a shrug. "But it was a lovely explanation ,Alaria." "Me neiver. *hic*" piped in Festus as he had reached the end of his goblet. "Got any mora thish stuff? 'Ssreally good." Amthyriine nodded with a grin. She took the empty goblet from the satyr and placed it upon the silver tray. "Is there any more hot choclate_" Haelan asked in wide'eyed hope. "If it's not too much trouble." "Nay a trouble at all, small one. It warms a long cold heart to bring thy satisfaction." Amthyriine smiled in response. When she had floated back across the chamber to descended the stairs to who knew where, the companions discussed what Alaria had explained for them. "If that is so..." began Erevan, his mind mulling over the curious dimensional situation, "could be not, perhaps exit this realm anywhere within Nor Gorthok?" "Yeh. We could get in, get the dragon treashure n' slip back out wiffout the wyrm ever knowin'." Duor smiled. His cheeks and nose had taken on a thoroughly reddish sheen as he swirled about the last sip of his cognac in the bowl of the goblet. "Oddly enough, the dwarf proposes exactly what I was thinking." Erevan said. "Alaria?" Braddok questioned to the wizardess, obviously deep in her own thoughts. "Hmm? I'm sorry. What? Yes! Yes, Erevan, that could be possible. Though I will confess, my own studies in the way of dimensional travel are limited, at best. "The lady said there were but four gateways left that access this place. She said not where they offer egress to...or even if they do. We know the portal we came through goes back...or seems to." she concluded,more to herself than the others. "But if we're in this 'onion' then shouldn't we be able to just leave the onion where we want?" Haelan asked. His mind then drifted to the thought of onions...and spiced meat in the mutton pasties he so enjoyed. "There are 360 degrees of horizontal and vertical, Haelan. We will have to ask Amthyriine.We might come out in Nor Gorthok...We could, as easily come out on the other side of the world...or Dessarthal's treasure chamber." Again, the room darkened, deeper this time and the rumbling thunder seemed as much in the chamber as without. It seemed even the room shook slightly. "Oh *hic* goat-patties." murmured Festus. A clanging crash caught the party's attention to see Amthyriine, who had reuturned to the top of the stairs, as the tray of four filled goblets hit the floor. She placed a hand against the wall to steady herself. "What hast thou done here!? Didst I nay tell thou nay bespeak its cursed name!?" she looked worriedly at the ceiling until the rumbling subsided and the light returned to normal. "Thou hast overstayed thy welcome. I wouldst not see Gorathgraard fall to such careless lips as thine. Begone!" "My lady I am sorry. It was slip..." Alaria began to apologize. "I bade thee goooooonnnnn...!" she shouted across the chamber. Her voice melding with and then becoming overwhelmed by the blasting blizzard of air that manifested within the chamber. All of the companions were swept up in the furious whirlwind. A moment later they were crashing down into several feet of snowy ground. The party roused themselves and took account of their number, including Haelan who was literally standing in a daelvar shaped whole in the snow up to his chin. Everyone was there and seemingly unharmed, though jolted from the abrupt landing. They looked up to see themselves before another towering statue of one of the swan knights. It was, however noticeably different in detail than the one between whose great crystalline feet they had arrived. "Well, that was well done, eh boss lady." Duor grumbled and pulled the grey fur pelt he had managed to grab during their abrupt ejection. "Sure fire way to lose a buzz, that's for sure." Festus said, rubbing his goatish hindquarters. Duor looked down at the crystalline tear he had managed to palm off the floor while the others were talking about onions or some such. His eyes immediately widened in disbelief. He placed the pure clear teardrop shaped stone between his teeth and then just stared at it agape. "What's the matter Duor?" Braddok asked. "It's...it's..." the normally prolific dwarf stammered. "It's?" questioned Erevan unconcerned, shouldering his pack and adjusting his quivers. He shook he silvery grey locks and what little snow was in them fell and slid out easily. In only that moment, the elf looked again as his near-perfect self, like he were about to walk into a ball. "It's a diamond!" the dwarf said, unexpectedly. He mentally chastised himself for informing his fellows, who would surely what a cut. But he wasn't about to give it up. "Well, where to now gentlefolk?" Fen suggested brushing the snow off his billowing druid's cloak as it shifted from the pale grey-green it had been within the tower to a pure white of the surrounding landscape. "DUCK!" shouted Braddok as he dove to knock Alaria, who had also been wiping snow off her cloak and robes, back into the banked snow. All of the party dove, tumbled and were jostled from their feet as an icy snow covered boulder shook through their position, crashing very near where Alaria had been standing. Again, they all jumped up to their feet, this time with weapons raising with purpose instead of wiping snow off themselves. Some fifty feet away, along the treeline of the wintery wood came three gargantuan humanoid figures. They were white as the surrounding environs. Icicles hung off of pointed noses and ears. Chunks of ice and snow clung to their shoulders and seemed to stick to their thighs and forearms. Two held giant icicles that looked like clubs. The other, who had apparently just thrown the boulder was grabbing another. And they were huge! Easily 10 feet tall, like hill giants, but snowy. "Hey! Those aren't any trolls!" Haelan said in protestation, as if it would cause the creatures to assume a more troll-like stature. The two ice-club wielders began to charge forward as the third raised another boulder over its head. Their steps thundered loudly as they approached. "Whatever they are, might I suggest a hasty retreat?" Festus posed and pointed at the ice wall that stood between the statues giant feet. [/QUOTE]
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