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Story Hour
Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5817018" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Braddok studied the map with Festus, who had raised his eyes to the sky at Erevan's observation.</p><p></p><p>They were not, it seemed, back in the Feldmere...or even Orea as far as he could tell.</p><p></p><p>The night was alive with the sounds of crickets and frogs across the marshlands. The bright, if curious arrangement of, stars bathed the party in a soft white light that seemed to be the only source of illumination. The moons were noticeably missing. But then, Festus mused, depending on where and when they were, they may have set for the day. There were a couple of noticeable mounds barely breaching the treetops far to their...presumed 'north.'</p><p></p><p>"I suggestion we make camp here." Fen proposed. "Get our bearings in the morning. I am all but spent of my energies and we have all had a, lamentably, trying day. And it seems, for the moment peaceful and a secure location to rest." By Fen's calculations, back in the Feldmere, it should be nearing 6 or 7 o'clock at night.</p><p></p><p>"There!" Festus burst. "There's a tower is just there!" the satyr pointed triumphantly to what they had decided was 'north' and west.</p><p></p><p>The other companions, besides Erevan, strained to see the rising slender form of a tower of dark indigo, blending almost seamlessly in the dark shroud of night that filled the heavens there.</p><p></p><p>"We would never make it before the morning, and I must concur with Fen." Alaria said. "We need to rest and recoup...and settle ourselves." she said finally in Haelan's direction.</p><p></p><p>The poor distraught halfling cleric was on his knees, apparently deep in prayer for their lost companion.</p><p></p><p>She nodded to no one in particular and, without waiting for confirmation, began unloading her bedroll. She also took out her spellbook. Looked at the brown leather cover blankly and put it back in her pack. The taste of black ginger tea still lingered on the back of her tongue.</p><p></p><p>The party set to camp. Haelan, eventually, cmae out of his meditations and produced a thoroughly warming spiced chili in his bowl, again. They ate in near silence, set watches (with Braddok volunteering to take two to accompany Duor in Coerraine's place) and went to bed.</p><p></p><p></p><p>"Alaria...Alaria! Wake up!" </p><p></p><p>It was Haelan. The rest of the companions stood around the sleepy magess with their equipment and weapons, obviously ready to break camp. </p><p></p><p>The sky was still dark. The soft white light of the stars filled the area.</p><p></p><p>"Haelan...what is it? Are we under attack! Coerraine?!" the magess suddenly came to her senses and jumped up, grabbing her staff.</p><p></p><p>"No...but...um..." Haelan began to answer.</p><p></p><p>"It has been ten hours, magess." Erevan said plainly, his eyes to the star-filled sky.</p><p></p><p>"It...What?!" Alaria said in disbelief. She looked up and around. There was no indication of dawn in any direction. She felt rested, yes. But it still appeared to her that it was the middle of the night.</p><p></p><p>"It's true." said Braddok.</p><p></p><p>"It would seem," Erevan began to pose, "that as Gorathgraard...or the last Gorathgraard we visited was a realm of, presumably, endless winter...this is a realm of endless night."</p><p></p><p>"So we are still in the onion, then." Alaria said offhandedly, relaxing herself and setting to gathering her stuff.</p><p></p><p>Braddok waved her off with a soft smile and began to do the magess' work for her.</p><p></p><p>Alaria looked around.</p><p></p><p>The one thing about this realm that struck her most different from the "real" Feldmere, if there were such a thing, was the distinct lack of fog clinging to the low parts of the landscape. Also, it was much warmer than the Feldmere they knew. She had not noticed before, coming from the very cold realm of the Lady Amthyriine. But now, it seemed almost humid. Like the night of a late spring in her homeland.</p><p></p><p>She looked to where the dark tower had been the "night" before, it was still nearly impossible to see...but it was there.</p><p></p><p>She withdrew her spellbook again and set to studying its pages. </p><p></p><p>"Haelan, a bit of black ginger tea, if you please." Alaria said sleepily.</p><p></p><p>The Hilltender made the request to his magic bowl and filled one of the wooden cups he carried with him. He'd carved a star, some time ago in the "real" Feldmere, to indicate it was Alaria's cup.</p><p></p><p>"I was able to notice, " Erevan informed the R'Hathi magess, "that while the stars do not turn, in our sense of the word, from day to night...they <em>do</em> seem to circulate, ever so slowly, about the top of that spire."</p><p></p><p>"You don't think...I mean...we're not in the realm of the dark dragon, are we? It does seem peaceful here...dark...but peaceful." Haelan asked worriedly to the elf and wizard.</p><p></p><p>"At the moment, we have no way to tell, Haelan." Alaria answered taking a warming sip of her tea.</p><p></p><p>A couple of the other companions took a cup of the warm aromatic liquid also, though only Festus and Duor really enjoyed the taste of the stuff. And that, not so much as anything alcoholic.</p><p></p><p>Alaria closed her book some time later...it was difficult to tell how long. </p><p></p><p>"I am prepared." she said seriously. "Let us inspect this mound for another gateway. Then, make for the spire. We will find what we find...and Manat grant it be a way out of here."</p><p></p><p>"What's that?" Haelan said with characteristic innocence. The daelvar priest pointed to a vague orange-ish trail of light, far away from their position.</p><p></p><p>Erevan looked with his violet elvin eyes. After a moment, an eyebrow cocked.</p><p></p><p>"Bollux" said Duor at the now familiar reaction.</p><p></p><p>"We should descend. Into the trees. It seems a dark horse with rider...flames trail from tail and hooves. I do not like the look of it. A demon-horse of some kind." the elf said plainly and quickly took up his pack and quiver again and began moving down the "back" side of the mound, away from the far distant creature.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the companions knew better than to question the Miralostae's keen vision and followed suit.</p><p></p><p>Festus did his best to keep the company on track for the dark tower, but this forest floor was almost as murky and swamp-like as the Felmere they'd entered. Avoiding the wet portions and mud-holes proved difficult in the limited light.</p><p></p><p>Even though most of the trees seemed to hold at least <em>some</em> of the dried leaves of autumn, light filtered down through the starlit sky enough not to inhibit their vision too much.</p><p></p><p>They had not traveled, it seemed, very long before Festus was lifted by his cloven-hoofed foot from the ground by what seemed to be a living vine.</p><p></p><p>"Ahhhhh!" was Festus' eloquent surprise.</p><p></p><p>A single vine would have been fine, but what came after was a towering mound of leaves and mud and roots that held the upside down satyr before a its leafy maw and curious "holes" in the foliage that appeared where "eyes" would be.</p><p></p><p>Braddok, who had assumed a forward position in the group charged forward and struck deeply with his enchanted sword.</p><p></p><p>The creature looked down at the "intrusion" in its business and an "arm" of vegetation seemed to rip up, off, of the body of the thing and swat the warrior to the side.</p><p></p><p>He landed, unceremoniously, beside it. Mud and murky water splashed all over the next row of the marching order.</p><p></p><p>Erevan's arrows flew with true aim. One passed right through the thing! The other seemed to get stuck in the vegetative morass that formed the thing's body. If it harmed the creature, none could say.</p><p></p><p>"By the Forge!" spurted Duor, spitting mud and muck from his mouth as he did so. He fire his hand crossbow into the thick beam of growth that appeared to be a "leg" and withdrew his ethereal dagger.</p><p></p><p>The small crossbow dart seemed to disappear entirely into the moss and dead leaves and slime that composed the thing's semblance of a body.</p><p></p><p>"Stay your weapons! It is a Shambler!" called Fen.</p><p></p><p>"Kill it! Kill it before it eats me!" cried Festus and swung his blades at the thing, though he was not nearly close enough for them to hit.</p><p></p><p>"But, it has Festus!" Haelan protested to Fen, about to summon up some of Faerantha's power against the thing.</p><p></p><p>"Is it dangerous?" Alaria asked the druid.</p><p></p><p>"Well, it <em>can</em> be...but..." Fen replied, clearly unsure of his answer.</p><p></p><p>"Whatever it is, Fen, we have neither the time nor I the patience for this. We must get out of this realm!" Alaria also protested before summoning forth her staff's greatest power and sending a lightning bolt straight into the "shambler."</p><p></p><p>"Alaria, DON'T...!" Fen protested, but his cry was lost beneath the increasing volume of the staff's crackling energy.</p><p></p><p>The staff crackled and shocked for a moment, before a bolt shot forth, sending a rumbling thunder throughout the landscape.</p><p></p><p>The bright white energy streaked forth and slammed into the creature. The jolt of the lightning was enough to cause the creature to drop Festus, head first, into the muddy waters in which it stood.</p><p></p><p>A bit of steam rose off the plant creature, but that was all. No scorching. No burning. Not even a step back. It did, however, seem to increase in size by a few inches...in every direction.</p><p></p><p>When the remnants of the fierce magical attack trailed off into the night realm, its hole of a "mouth" opened wide and it roared at the party. Leaves and bits of vine and gods know what else splattered out toward the party.</p><p></p><p>"Oh..." Alaria said with wide eyes at the distinct lack of effectiveness of her attack.</p><p></p><p>Festus picked himself up out of the muck and called to his companions, "Go! Go! Let's go!"</p><p></p><p>He lept up a good distance to land several feet behind the creature in the shallow muddy waters.</p><p></p><p>"We can outrun it!" the satyr implored again.</p><p></p><p>The creature bellowed again and with a flick of its vine/"hand"/"arm" whatever it was, struck out toward the party.</p><p></p><p>Fen and Alaria were far enough to avoid the attack, but only just.</p><p></p><p>Haelan ducked and the vine flew over his helmed head.</p><p></p><p>Duor attempted to dive aside a moment too late and was firmly smacked into the soft ground and water.</p><p></p><p>"I bet it doesn't like fire! <em>Everx imberil rex!</em>" the magess called out.</p><p></p><p>As they were supposed to, violet red flames fanned out over her companions. As they supposed to, they burst in a roar against the creature's plant-appearing body. As they were <em>not</em> supposed to, they steamed up and away off the moist surface of the creature, only minimal scorches here and there trailing off wisps of smoke.</p><p></p><p>The creature bellow again and made a swipe at the risen Braddok who had hacked, now twice, through damp leaves and mud. Whatever he had managed to cut or cleave, the shambler's "wounds" (if you could call them that) just came back together with no apparent damage or signs of slowing.</p><p></p><p>Fen grabbed Alaria, almost in a hug and began running around the shambler with a curt "Apologies, magess. But the satyr has the right of it!"</p><p></p><p>Haelan helped Duor up and the two stoutfolk made a wide circle behind trees and brush to circumvent the creature. "Braddok, c'mon!" called Haelan seeing the warrior about to attack again.</p><p></p><p>The warrior thought the better of it and, narrowly blocking another swipe of its tendril with his shield, raced passed the thing toward the others.</p><p></p><p>The party, collected at the "rear" of the obviously confused and slowly turning creature, continued on into the night-scaped woods with all speed.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5817018, member: 92511"] Braddok studied the map with Festus, who had raised his eyes to the sky at Erevan's observation. They were not, it seemed, back in the Feldmere...or even Orea as far as he could tell. The night was alive with the sounds of crickets and frogs across the marshlands. The bright, if curious arrangement of, stars bathed the party in a soft white light that seemed to be the only source of illumination. The moons were noticeably missing. But then, Festus mused, depending on where and when they were, they may have set for the day. There were a couple of noticeable mounds barely breaching the treetops far to their...presumed 'north.' "I suggestion we make camp here." Fen proposed. "Get our bearings in the morning. I am all but spent of my energies and we have all had a, lamentably, trying day. And it seems, for the moment peaceful and a secure location to rest." By Fen's calculations, back in the Feldmere, it should be nearing 6 or 7 o'clock at night. "There!" Festus burst. "There's a tower is just there!" the satyr pointed triumphantly to what they had decided was 'north' and west. The other companions, besides Erevan, strained to see the rising slender form of a tower of dark indigo, blending almost seamlessly in the dark shroud of night that filled the heavens there. "We would never make it before the morning, and I must concur with Fen." Alaria said. "We need to rest and recoup...and settle ourselves." she said finally in Haelan's direction. The poor distraught halfling cleric was on his knees, apparently deep in prayer for their lost companion. She nodded to no one in particular and, without waiting for confirmation, began unloading her bedroll. She also took out her spellbook. Looked at the brown leather cover blankly and put it back in her pack. The taste of black ginger tea still lingered on the back of her tongue. The party set to camp. Haelan, eventually, cmae out of his meditations and produced a thoroughly warming spiced chili in his bowl, again. They ate in near silence, set watches (with Braddok volunteering to take two to accompany Duor in Coerraine's place) and went to bed. "Alaria...Alaria! Wake up!" It was Haelan. The rest of the companions stood around the sleepy magess with their equipment and weapons, obviously ready to break camp. The sky was still dark. The soft white light of the stars filled the area. "Haelan...what is it? Are we under attack! Coerraine?!" the magess suddenly came to her senses and jumped up, grabbing her staff. "No...but...um..." Haelan began to answer. "It has been ten hours, magess." Erevan said plainly, his eyes to the star-filled sky. "It...What?!" Alaria said in disbelief. She looked up and around. There was no indication of dawn in any direction. She felt rested, yes. But it still appeared to her that it was the middle of the night. "It's true." said Braddok. "It would seem," Erevan began to pose, "that as Gorathgraard...or the last Gorathgraard we visited was a realm of, presumably, endless winter...this is a realm of endless night." "So we are still in the onion, then." Alaria said offhandedly, relaxing herself and setting to gathering her stuff. Braddok waved her off with a soft smile and began to do the magess' work for her. Alaria looked around. The one thing about this realm that struck her most different from the "real" Feldmere, if there were such a thing, was the distinct lack of fog clinging to the low parts of the landscape. Also, it was much warmer than the Feldmere they knew. She had not noticed before, coming from the very cold realm of the Lady Amthyriine. But now, it seemed almost humid. Like the night of a late spring in her homeland. She looked to where the dark tower had been the "night" before, it was still nearly impossible to see...but it was there. She withdrew her spellbook again and set to studying its pages. "Haelan, a bit of black ginger tea, if you please." Alaria said sleepily. The Hilltender made the request to his magic bowl and filled one of the wooden cups he carried with him. He'd carved a star, some time ago in the "real" Feldmere, to indicate it was Alaria's cup. "I was able to notice, " Erevan informed the R'Hathi magess, "that while the stars do not turn, in our sense of the word, from day to night...they [I]do[/I] seem to circulate, ever so slowly, about the top of that spire." "You don't think...I mean...we're not in the realm of the dark dragon, are we? It does seem peaceful here...dark...but peaceful." Haelan asked worriedly to the elf and wizard. "At the moment, we have no way to tell, Haelan." Alaria answered taking a warming sip of her tea. A couple of the other companions took a cup of the warm aromatic liquid also, though only Festus and Duor really enjoyed the taste of the stuff. And that, not so much as anything alcoholic. Alaria closed her book some time later...it was difficult to tell how long. "I am prepared." she said seriously. "Let us inspect this mound for another gateway. Then, make for the spire. We will find what we find...and Manat grant it be a way out of here." "What's that?" Haelan said with characteristic innocence. The daelvar priest pointed to a vague orange-ish trail of light, far away from their position. Erevan looked with his violet elvin eyes. After a moment, an eyebrow cocked. "Bollux" said Duor at the now familiar reaction. "We should descend. Into the trees. It seems a dark horse with rider...flames trail from tail and hooves. I do not like the look of it. A demon-horse of some kind." the elf said plainly and quickly took up his pack and quiver again and began moving down the "back" side of the mound, away from the far distant creature. The rest of the companions knew better than to question the Miralostae's keen vision and followed suit. Festus did his best to keep the company on track for the dark tower, but this forest floor was almost as murky and swamp-like as the Felmere they'd entered. Avoiding the wet portions and mud-holes proved difficult in the limited light. Even though most of the trees seemed to hold at least [I]some[/I] of the dried leaves of autumn, light filtered down through the starlit sky enough not to inhibit their vision too much. They had not traveled, it seemed, very long before Festus was lifted by his cloven-hoofed foot from the ground by what seemed to be a living vine. "Ahhhhh!" was Festus' eloquent surprise. A single vine would have been fine, but what came after was a towering mound of leaves and mud and roots that held the upside down satyr before a its leafy maw and curious "holes" in the foliage that appeared where "eyes" would be. Braddok, who had assumed a forward position in the group charged forward and struck deeply with his enchanted sword. The creature looked down at the "intrusion" in its business and an "arm" of vegetation seemed to rip up, off, of the body of the thing and swat the warrior to the side. He landed, unceremoniously, beside it. Mud and murky water splashed all over the next row of the marching order. Erevan's arrows flew with true aim. One passed right through the thing! The other seemed to get stuck in the vegetative morass that formed the thing's body. If it harmed the creature, none could say. "By the Forge!" spurted Duor, spitting mud and muck from his mouth as he did so. He fire his hand crossbow into the thick beam of growth that appeared to be a "leg" and withdrew his ethereal dagger. The small crossbow dart seemed to disappear entirely into the moss and dead leaves and slime that composed the thing's semblance of a body. "Stay your weapons! It is a Shambler!" called Fen. "Kill it! Kill it before it eats me!" cried Festus and swung his blades at the thing, though he was not nearly close enough for them to hit. "But, it has Festus!" Haelan protested to Fen, about to summon up some of Faerantha's power against the thing. "Is it dangerous?" Alaria asked the druid. "Well, it [I]can[/I] be...but..." Fen replied, clearly unsure of his answer. "Whatever it is, Fen, we have neither the time nor I the patience for this. We must get out of this realm!" Alaria also protested before summoning forth her staff's greatest power and sending a lightning bolt straight into the "shambler." "Alaria, DON'T...!" Fen protested, but his cry was lost beneath the increasing volume of the staff's crackling energy. The staff crackled and shocked for a moment, before a bolt shot forth, sending a rumbling thunder throughout the landscape. The bright white energy streaked forth and slammed into the creature. The jolt of the lightning was enough to cause the creature to drop Festus, head first, into the muddy waters in which it stood. A bit of steam rose off the plant creature, but that was all. No scorching. No burning. Not even a step back. It did, however, seem to increase in size by a few inches...in every direction. When the remnants of the fierce magical attack trailed off into the night realm, its hole of a "mouth" opened wide and it roared at the party. Leaves and bits of vine and gods know what else splattered out toward the party. "Oh..." Alaria said with wide eyes at the distinct lack of effectiveness of her attack. Festus picked himself up out of the muck and called to his companions, "Go! Go! Let's go!" He lept up a good distance to land several feet behind the creature in the shallow muddy waters. "We can outrun it!" the satyr implored again. The creature bellowed again and with a flick of its vine/"hand"/"arm" whatever it was, struck out toward the party. Fen and Alaria were far enough to avoid the attack, but only just. Haelan ducked and the vine flew over his helmed head. Duor attempted to dive aside a moment too late and was firmly smacked into the soft ground and water. "I bet it doesn't like fire! [I]Everx imberil rex![/I]" the magess called out. As they were supposed to, violet red flames fanned out over her companions. As they supposed to, they burst in a roar against the creature's plant-appearing body. As they were [I]not[/I] supposed to, they steamed up and away off the moist surface of the creature, only minimal scorches here and there trailing off wisps of smoke. The creature bellow again and made a swipe at the risen Braddok who had hacked, now twice, through damp leaves and mud. Whatever he had managed to cut or cleave, the shambler's "wounds" (if you could call them that) just came back together with no apparent damage or signs of slowing. Fen grabbed Alaria, almost in a hug and began running around the shambler with a curt "Apologies, magess. But the satyr has the right of it!" Haelan helped Duor up and the two stoutfolk made a wide circle behind trees and brush to circumvent the creature. "Braddok, c'mon!" called Haelan seeing the warrior about to attack again. The warrior thought the better of it and, narrowly blocking another swipe of its tendril with his shield, raced passed the thing toward the others. The party, collected at the "rear" of the obviously confused and slowly turning creature, continued on into the night-scaped woods with all speed. [/QUOTE]
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