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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6112141" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Haelan sat, legs outstretched, looking out over the Dale on the warming summer evening. A permanent grin on his face as he closed his eyes to allow the twilight breeze to caress his face. The wind brought with it a fragrant waft of wildflowers and pine trees.</p><p></p><p>He tilted his head back and opened his eyes to gaze up into the broad branches spreading over him, like a great green-furred umbrella. His eyes caught sight of a flitting blue-spot butterfly passing by. He followed the elegant creature's looping trail until it came to rest on the outstretched finger.</p><p></p><p>Haelan started. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone else was here."</p><p></p><p>Haelan felt himself begin to blush, despite himself. The female daelvar was beautiful with rosy apples of cheeks, rich full lips and a head of flaming auburn curls contained within a ring of bright yellow and blue flowers and large white daisies. Her dress was a simple shift of white cotton, but intricately embroidered along the hems with incredibly intricate patterns of leaves, vines and budding flowers, again of blue and yellow.</p><p></p><p>"I...uh...I'm Haelan Spurthistle. I don't recall seeing you 'round these parts before..." the daelvar priest offered as he watched, with some surprise as a chipmunk came bounding up to the woman and jumped into her lap where it curled itself up in obvious rest. All around the woman the ground was sprinkled with daisies and buttercups, as Haelan now noticed, was most of the slow sloping hill upon which they sat.</p><p></p><p>"I know who you are, Hilltender. You have achieved great things in Faerantha's name. All in a few short months since you've 'ventured beyond here," the woman stretched out her arm to indicate the quiet lazy dale stretched out before them. "More than most Hilltenders ever do in their lifetimes. You are truly blessed to have made such diverse folk your friends. Together you may achieve great things, all while maintaining and honoring the spirit of your own kind. It is truly a thing of beauty." The woman paused a moment to receive a chirping bluebird on her finger. She let the bird chirp for a few moments and then said...to the bird?!..."Yes, of course." The bluebird flew off and the woman turned to look, directly at Haelan.</p><p></p><p>The Hilltender met her large pale green eyes and felt himself filled with a falling sensation...no...rolling down a soft grassy slope. It was a feeling of pure comfort and safety and oneness with the grass, the flowers...the hill! Haelan's eyes darted to the ground and, if he hadn't already been lounging, he would have dropped to his knees.</p><p></p><p>"Apologies my Lady! Are...are you...you are Faerantha?! Am I...I mean, is this...Am I dead?" Haelan fumbled all over himself, desiring beyond anything to sound reverent.</p><p></p><p>The female daelvar placed her fingers to her bright cherry red lips and twittered a little giggle. "Me?...Faerantha?!" she giggled some more. "Certainly not, I'm far too pretty. Don't you think, Hilltender?" she leaned forward slightly and batted her long auburn eyelashes the tips of which sparkled with almost imperceptible points of light, like diamonds.</p><p></p><p>Haelan's mouth went dry and he stammered over himself several times to get out a discernible "Yes, very." before reality dawned on him. "You are Jepsabelle! The Morning Dew! Holy daughter of the Spring, beauty and love!"</p><p></p><p>Jepsabelle smirked at the hill-priest's realization.</p><p></p><p>"Forgive a poor servant's foolishness, lady. I am mortal after all and can not help but mistake one goddess for another." Haelan quickly offered by way of explanation.</p><p></p><p>At this the bluebird, which had been watching from one of the lowest branches again twittered, with some insistance. Jepsabelle took notice and seemed a bit annoyed. "Yes. Yes."</p><p></p><p>Then, she rose and moved to the still bowed daelvar. She placed her fingertips beneath his chin and lifted it until he faced her.</p><p></p><p>"Hilltender Haelan Spurthistle, your time is not now. As I said, you have many great things that may yet bring further glory to your beloved gods."</p><p></p><p>"I am the Holy Family's humble servant, lady. Anything you wish is mine to attend." Haelan responded with complete veneration.</p><p></p><p>"You are doing just fine on your own, so far." Jepsabelle smiled softly. "Follow your heart, kind one, and at all times <em>protect the stone</em>, Haelan. It is very important and he must not get it." She let go of Haelan's chin and staightened, seeming...somehow...in an instance to tower over him, growing to the height of the great tree under which they had sat...and eventually seeming to take up the whole sky as yellow, blue and white wildflowers sprouted from everywhere all around him until all he could see were flowers and her giant pale green eyes.</p><p></p><p>*<em>Awaken.</em>* came the goddess of spring's final word to Haelan's mind.</p><p></p><p>Haelan's eyes shot open as he spurted and nearly choked on the pink fluid that was being shoved into his mouth.</p><p></p><p>"MORE! He needs more potion yeh daft druid. Giv'im MORE!" came Duor's voice to Haelan's ears even before his vision cleared to see the dwarf trying to grab the potion vial from the half-elf druid. The magess and warrior stood over/behind them with expressions of severe worry on their faces.</p><p></p><p>"He's awake!" Alaria burst.</p><p></p><p>"There. See. Told yeh. Just leave it to the dwarf..." proudly burst Duor.</p><p></p><p>Fen ignored the rogue and smiled calmly at Haelan. "Be still, Haelan. You had quite a jolt. Gave us quite a scare. Let the potion and my limited talents for healing magic do their work. Gently now..." Fen aided the Hilltender to his shaky feet. "We should get him back to camp so he can rest."</p><p></p><p>"I...I'm fine, Fen. But thank you. I think I might not be here now without your aid." Halean looked around and smiled weakly at his companions. His gaze finally came to est on the huge mound of black and grey fur and the wolfish head a few feet separate. "So...we won then? We killed a demon?!"</p><p></p><p>this brought laughter from a few of the companions. "We did, indeed, Hilltender." Braddok answered. </p><p></p><p>Halean winced as Alaria knelt to give the Hilltender a slightly-too-tight hug.</p><p></p><p>"Don't scare me like that again, Haelan." the magess said.</p><p></p><p>Haelan chuckled slightly. "I'll do my best not to. But, oh Alaria, where I went...what I saw!...it was so beautiful...the goddess of beauty, in fact. It was amazing. You see..."</p><p></p><p>Alaria smiled and nodded as the Hilltender struck off on a detailed and rambling rail of his "vision" while the party was scrambling to keep him from dying. </p><p></p><p>"Yes, he's going to be fine." Alaria thought to herself as the party collected themselves and slowly made their way back to the elvin camp.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 6112141, member: 92511"] Haelan sat, legs outstretched, looking out over the Dale on the warming summer evening. A permanent grin on his face as he closed his eyes to allow the twilight breeze to caress his face. The wind brought with it a fragrant waft of wildflowers and pine trees. He tilted his head back and opened his eyes to gaze up into the broad branches spreading over him, like a great green-furred umbrella. His eyes caught sight of a flitting blue-spot butterfly passing by. He followed the elegant creature's looping trail until it came to rest on the outstretched finger. Haelan started. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone else was here." Haelan felt himself begin to blush, despite himself. The female daelvar was beautiful with rosy apples of cheeks, rich full lips and a head of flaming auburn curls contained within a ring of bright yellow and blue flowers and large white daisies. Her dress was a simple shift of white cotton, but intricately embroidered along the hems with incredibly intricate patterns of leaves, vines and budding flowers, again of blue and yellow. "I...uh...I'm Haelan Spurthistle. I don't recall seeing you 'round these parts before..." the daelvar priest offered as he watched, with some surprise as a chipmunk came bounding up to the woman and jumped into her lap where it curled itself up in obvious rest. All around the woman the ground was sprinkled with daisies and buttercups, as Haelan now noticed, was most of the slow sloping hill upon which they sat. "I know who you are, Hilltender. You have achieved great things in Faerantha's name. All in a few short months since you've 'ventured beyond here," the woman stretched out her arm to indicate the quiet lazy dale stretched out before them. "More than most Hilltenders ever do in their lifetimes. You are truly blessed to have made such diverse folk your friends. Together you may achieve great things, all while maintaining and honoring the spirit of your own kind. It is truly a thing of beauty." The woman paused a moment to receive a chirping bluebird on her finger. She let the bird chirp for a few moments and then said...to the bird?!..."Yes, of course." The bluebird flew off and the woman turned to look, directly at Haelan. The Hilltender met her large pale green eyes and felt himself filled with a falling sensation...no...rolling down a soft grassy slope. It was a feeling of pure comfort and safety and oneness with the grass, the flowers...the hill! Haelan's eyes darted to the ground and, if he hadn't already been lounging, he would have dropped to his knees. "Apologies my Lady! Are...are you...you are Faerantha?! Am I...I mean, is this...Am I dead?" Haelan fumbled all over himself, desiring beyond anything to sound reverent. The female daelvar placed her fingers to her bright cherry red lips and twittered a little giggle. "Me?...Faerantha?!" she giggled some more. "Certainly not, I'm far too pretty. Don't you think, Hilltender?" she leaned forward slightly and batted her long auburn eyelashes the tips of which sparkled with almost imperceptible points of light, like diamonds. Haelan's mouth went dry and he stammered over himself several times to get out a discernible "Yes, very." before reality dawned on him. "You are Jepsabelle! The Morning Dew! Holy daughter of the Spring, beauty and love!" Jepsabelle smirked at the hill-priest's realization. "Forgive a poor servant's foolishness, lady. I am mortal after all and can not help but mistake one goddess for another." Haelan quickly offered by way of explanation. At this the bluebird, which had been watching from one of the lowest branches again twittered, with some insistance. Jepsabelle took notice and seemed a bit annoyed. "Yes. Yes." Then, she rose and moved to the still bowed daelvar. She placed her fingertips beneath his chin and lifted it until he faced her. "Hilltender Haelan Spurthistle, your time is not now. As I said, you have many great things that may yet bring further glory to your beloved gods." "I am the Holy Family's humble servant, lady. Anything you wish is mine to attend." Haelan responded with complete veneration. "You are doing just fine on your own, so far." Jepsabelle smiled softly. "Follow your heart, kind one, and at all times [I]protect the stone[/I], Haelan. It is very important and he must not get it." She let go of Haelan's chin and staightened, seeming...somehow...in an instance to tower over him, growing to the height of the great tree under which they had sat...and eventually seeming to take up the whole sky as yellow, blue and white wildflowers sprouted from everywhere all around him until all he could see were flowers and her giant pale green eyes. *[I]Awaken.[/I]* came the goddess of spring's final word to Haelan's mind. Haelan's eyes shot open as he spurted and nearly choked on the pink fluid that was being shoved into his mouth. "MORE! He needs more potion yeh daft druid. Giv'im MORE!" came Duor's voice to Haelan's ears even before his vision cleared to see the dwarf trying to grab the potion vial from the half-elf druid. The magess and warrior stood over/behind them with expressions of severe worry on their faces. "He's awake!" Alaria burst. "There. See. Told yeh. Just leave it to the dwarf..." proudly burst Duor. Fen ignored the rogue and smiled calmly at Haelan. "Be still, Haelan. You had quite a jolt. Gave us quite a scare. Let the potion and my limited talents for healing magic do their work. Gently now..." Fen aided the Hilltender to his shaky feet. "We should get him back to camp so he can rest." "I...I'm fine, Fen. But thank you. I think I might not be here now without your aid." Halean looked around and smiled weakly at his companions. His gaze finally came to est on the huge mound of black and grey fur and the wolfish head a few feet separate. "So...we won then? We killed a demon?!" this brought laughter from a few of the companions. "We did, indeed, Hilltender." Braddok answered. Halean winced as Alaria knelt to give the Hilltender a slightly-too-tight hug. "Don't scare me like that again, Haelan." the magess said. Haelan chuckled slightly. "I'll do my best not to. But, oh Alaria, where I went...what I saw!...it was so beautiful...the goddess of beauty, in fact. It was amazing. You see..." Alaria smiled and nodded as the Hilltender struck off on a detailed and rambling rail of his "vision" while the party was scrambling to keep him from dying. "Yes, he's going to be fine." Alaria thought to herself as the party collected themselves and slowly made their way back to the elvin camp. [/QUOTE]
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