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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6146494" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Pyrnion and Fen alit on the broad shelf of stone that comprised the entryway of the main keep. Their arrival garnered several “oo’s" and “ah’s" at the grandeur of the Lordmage’s gala, attracting such a rare and notable guest as one of the zepharim. </p><p>A line of dignitaries, nobles, wizards and priests of various faiths arriving to the party at the midnight hour following the Midwinter’s ceremony at the amphitheater of Manat outside the keep walls. Most slowly climbed the long borad stairs that rose to the great doors of the central hall. About halfway up the stairs was a small flat dias upon which Arganor, his sons Montor and Malac, and the high-priestess of Manat, Corandralla stood in gracious reception. </p><p></p><p>Rhea, Alaria, Braddok, and some great tall warrior in plate awaited their arrival. As they landed, Haelan, Duor, the satyr Jovias, and the violet-robed Lord Chamberlain came rushing up as well.</p><p></p><p>“Here now, Rhea, what is going on? The Hilltender said you were in a trance.” Celerion said with both concern and annoyance.</p><p></p><p>“Here are your answers, Celerion.” Rhea said curtly, as the zephari and druid came again to solid ground.</p><p></p><p>“Alaria, there are some faye-beings all in black coming here, even now. The pixies called them ‘darklings’ and said they would be seeking to lay waste to the Lordmage’s house.” Fen said as quickly as he could.</p><p></p><p>“Darklings? Whatever are darklings?” Duor said. “Yer takin’ the word of some pixies?! Nasty lil’ things. Probably playing a joke on you, druid. I’m back to my ale.” without a ‘by your leave‘, the dwarvish rogue turned to return to the party.</p><p></p><p>“I am afraid, Rhea, I find myself in surprising agreement to the dwarf. Though I will not so quickly dismiss your intuitions. Show me.” Celerion said, more to the seeress than the arriving messengers.</p><p></p><p>Without a word, Rhea’s teardrop emerald again sparkled and all those present found themselves in a link of thought and image. Pyrnion and Fen’s encounter with the pixies, the redcaps, then the dark lean figures that emerged from the stone. Their short altercation and the fearful dots of black zipping from shadow to shadow against the snow laden fields beneath their frantic flight. When the mental translations were complete, Rhea apologized for her abrupt intrusion. “It simply is easiest.” she said finally.</p><p></p><p>Celerion’s wiry greying eyebrows rose upon his wrinkled forehead.</p><p></p><p>“KEEP!” the elderly elf chamberlain shouted. </p><p></p><p>Immediately a sphere of blue-white light came into being before the elf.</p><p></p><p>“Lord Chamberlain?” Its multitudinous voice hummed in the night air.</p><p></p><p>“Put the citadel on Security Alert: Sapphire. Lockdown all essential areas. Inform the Lordmage and Princes to enter the Great Hall, at once!” Celerion said to the sentient ball of light.</p><p></p><p>“As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball replied immediately. Then, with a bit of personality the companions all found odd and a slightly more feminine tone to its voice(s), “But what about the Midwinter’s Gala? What about the guests?”</p><p></p><p>“They needn’t know a thing, yet. Get the Lordmage and princes into the hall. The party may continue, hopefully, unabated or disturbed. Inform the Captain-at-arms to inform the guards to hold further guests due to...” Celerion had to stop to think for a moment.</p><p></p><p>“Over capacity?” Haelan said in an attempt to be helpful.</p><p></p><p>The elderly looked at the halfling with a surprised grin. “Over capacity, Keep. Initiate!”</p><p></p><p>“As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball’s many voices replied in unison as the light faded from view.</p><p></p><p>The companions could see, even as it disappeared from their location, the ball of light formed far down the broad starcase, upon the flat dias area where the Lordmage et.al. were receiving guests. After a moment, the Lordmage took Corandralla’s arm and whispered something to her. Montor and Malac took on a grim look and bowed deeply at the next nobles to arrive at the platform. Almost in unison, the three nobles and high-priestess of magic rose into the air and flew with some speed, over their guests, and into the great hall. The huge, dragon embossed doors did not close, but a curtain of pale blue light became visible, seeming to “pour” from the keystone. The guard at the huge doors suddenly had double the number of guardsmen rushing to it from either side tower.</p><p></p><p>“What do we do?” Haelan said, ever-eager to help.</p><p></p><p>”Celerion, what is it? Who are they?” Alaria asked, ever-inquisitive for answers.</p><p></p><p>“I pray you do not find out, Magess. Quickly now. Come with me, I shall see you back to the party.” Celerion offered.</p><p></p><p>“My lord, if we can help defend the keep then we would do so.” Braddok said, drawing his enchanted blade from its sapphire studded scabbard.</p><p></p><p>Londar clasped a large hand upon Braddok’s shoulder. “As a true Steel Dragon would.” his smile through his beard in the deep baritone. “Would you ask Rhea or myself to simply ‘return to the party’?” Londar asked the elf.</p><p></p><p>Celerion nodded. “You young ones will be the death of me some day.” he shook his head.</p><p></p><p>“Keep!” Celerion said, again, forcefully.</p><p></p><p>The ball of blue light appeared once more.</p><p></p><p>“Permit Magess Alaria and her companions, here, Sapphire access to all areas.” Celerion said plainly.</p><p></p><p>“As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball said simply.</p><p></p><p>“That is all.” Celerion replied and the light dissipated.</p><p></p><p>“Heed me, Stormriders, and heed me well." Celerion said with a degree of seriousness that gave all of the companions chills.</p><p></p><p>“If I am right, and I pray to all the gods and arts that I am not, these are ShiDaeiri. They will be ruthless and incredibly powerful. What they want here, I can not say, but they must not attain it for, whatever it may be, it will be ruin and evil for the realms. Destroy them if you can. Flee if you can not. Am I clear?” Celerion finished with expectant lavender eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Well what if we...” Haelan began to ask.</p><p></p><p>”Pff, there‘s only eight of them.” Braddok tried to bolster the mood.</p><p></p><p>“Am I clear!?” he said with almost a manic twinge in his eye.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Celerion. Where can we serve you?” Alaria said, the severity of this situation was gaining increasing weight by the moment. If Celerion was this obviously concerned by the ShiDaeiri, things were about to get very bad.</p><p></p><p>“I would suggest you return to your chambers and arm yourselves properly.” he turned to leave before turning back with a mad look on his face. “Stormrider! Where is the Ihs Repahl?!” Celerion said suddenly.</p><p></p><p>“I left it in our chambers. I didn’t think it would be appropriate to...” Alaria began to reply.</p><p></p><p>“It is appropriate now. Get it, immediately, and return to the Great Hall for protection.” Celerion said even as her waved his staff with a flurry and disappeared in a whirlwind and low rumble of thunder.</p><p></p><p>With a thought, Rhea’s gem sparkled again and the Green Witch was surrounded by a few inches of green light before she began to float up into the air. “Come, my love.” she said we must search.” she said out loud.</p><p></p><p>“Can you not sense them, dearest?” Londar questioned.</p><p></p><p>“There are far too many minds here to pinpoint anyone. I will have to be near them.” Rhea responded.</p><p></p><p>“Fen and I are already armed. We can aid in the reconnaissance.” Pyrnion said and with a single beat of his wings rose into the air, beside Rhea. “They should not be hidden to my eyes."</p><p></p><p>Rhea nodded approvingly.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll survey the grounds.” Fen replied. “Can you keep us...uh...mentally in contact?” Fen said, not truly understanding the woman’s formidable psychic powers.</p><p></p><p>“Keep!” Rhea said. She continued as the blue ball of light reappeared, “Maintain communications of all activities with the Magess Alaria and her companions.”</p><p></p><p>“As you will, Rhea Willowlake.” the voices replied. The ball split into three smaller spheres. One went to float near Alaria. One beside Fen. The third rose to hover near Pyrnion’s shoulder.</p><p></p><p>“Good luck to you Stormriders. To us all.” Rhea said and began floating away over the courtyard far below. </p><p></p><p>Pyrnion flapped again and soared off after her.</p><p></p><p>Londar donned his helmet with the blue plume. “We shall meet again, my new friends. The gods’ grace watch over you.” He took a small palm-sized length of metal from his belt. In a moment, it blazed to a full length halberd in his hands as he sped off away toward the long staircase.</p><p></p><p>Fen gave his friends a grim faced nod and followed him.</p><p></p><p>Alaria turned to the remaining companions. “You heard them, let’s go.” </p><p></p><p>Alaria, Braddok, Haelan, Duor and Jovias raced up curving staircases and through long corridors that gave way to more stairs as they climbed through the northern tower to their chambers. The small, palm-sized ball of blue light that was some iteration of “Keep” bobbed and floated along with them, easily keeping pace.</p><p></p><p>Periodically the voices were heard, reporting, apparently from elsewhere in the citadel.</p><p></p><p>“All portals shielded and holding.” the many voices of Keep relayed to all who were listening.</p><p></p><p>“This is Captain Daeror to all Watches. Two guards have been found dead on the south wall parapets.”</p><p></p><p>“Sergeant Hurbin, here. Three dark figures are moving across the base of the south tower. Gods they’re fast! Moving to eng-urk.”</p><p></p><p>“South Watch move to the...where the hells...*clang* clang* AAH!” Daeror’s voice cut off abruptly.</p><p></p><p>“Two intruders detected on transept bridge five.” the voices of Keep said dispassionately. </p><p></p><p>“Intruders engaged in the western gardens. Four of them are trying to gain access to the northern tower through the western garden. Shields seem to be holding. They...”</p><p></p><p>“All Watches this is Rhea. Captain Daeror is dead. Converge upon the north and south towers. Hall guards remain vigilant. We are moving to intercept the intruders on bridge five.”</p><p></p><p>“West watch, acknowledged.”</p><p></p><p>“South Watch acknowledged.”</p><p></p><p>“East Watch acknowledged. We can see them on the bridge from here. They haven’t gained entry at either side...They...they’re gone! Disappeared in a ball of shadow.”</p><p></p><p>...</p><p></p><p>“North watch?” Rhea’s voice sounded again.</p><p></p><p>“North watch?!”</p><p></p><p>A moment later the cold voices of Keep again spoke, “North Tower garden entrance portal has been breached. Intruders in the North tower.”</p><p></p><p>“Aren’t we in the north tower?" Haelan said with concern.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Haelan." Braddok said as the party reached their chambers.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 6146494, member: 92511"] Pyrnion and Fen alit on the broad shelf of stone that comprised the entryway of the main keep. Their arrival garnered several “oo’s" and “ah’s" at the grandeur of the Lordmage’s gala, attracting such a rare and notable guest as one of the zepharim. A line of dignitaries, nobles, wizards and priests of various faiths arriving to the party at the midnight hour following the Midwinter’s ceremony at the amphitheater of Manat outside the keep walls. Most slowly climbed the long borad stairs that rose to the great doors of the central hall. About halfway up the stairs was a small flat dias upon which Arganor, his sons Montor and Malac, and the high-priestess of Manat, Corandralla stood in gracious reception. Rhea, Alaria, Braddok, and some great tall warrior in plate awaited their arrival. As they landed, Haelan, Duor, the satyr Jovias, and the violet-robed Lord Chamberlain came rushing up as well. “Here now, Rhea, what is going on? The Hilltender said you were in a trance.” Celerion said with both concern and annoyance. “Here are your answers, Celerion.” Rhea said curtly, as the zephari and druid came again to solid ground. “Alaria, there are some faye-beings all in black coming here, even now. The pixies called them ‘darklings’ and said they would be seeking to lay waste to the Lordmage’s house.” Fen said as quickly as he could. “Darklings? Whatever are darklings?” Duor said. “Yer takin’ the word of some pixies?! Nasty lil’ things. Probably playing a joke on you, druid. I’m back to my ale.” without a ‘by your leave‘, the dwarvish rogue turned to return to the party. “I am afraid, Rhea, I find myself in surprising agreement to the dwarf. Though I will not so quickly dismiss your intuitions. Show me.” Celerion said, more to the seeress than the arriving messengers. Without a word, Rhea’s teardrop emerald again sparkled and all those present found themselves in a link of thought and image. Pyrnion and Fen’s encounter with the pixies, the redcaps, then the dark lean figures that emerged from the stone. Their short altercation and the fearful dots of black zipping from shadow to shadow against the snow laden fields beneath their frantic flight. When the mental translations were complete, Rhea apologized for her abrupt intrusion. “It simply is easiest.” she said finally. Celerion’s wiry greying eyebrows rose upon his wrinkled forehead. “KEEP!” the elderly elf chamberlain shouted. Immediately a sphere of blue-white light came into being before the elf. “Lord Chamberlain?” Its multitudinous voice hummed in the night air. “Put the citadel on Security Alert: Sapphire. Lockdown all essential areas. Inform the Lordmage and Princes to enter the Great Hall, at once!” Celerion said to the sentient ball of light. “As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball replied immediately. Then, with a bit of personality the companions all found odd and a slightly more feminine tone to its voice(s), “But what about the Midwinter’s Gala? What about the guests?” “They needn’t know a thing, yet. Get the Lordmage and princes into the hall. The party may continue, hopefully, unabated or disturbed. Inform the Captain-at-arms to inform the guards to hold further guests due to...” Celerion had to stop to think for a moment. “Over capacity?” Haelan said in an attempt to be helpful. The elderly looked at the halfling with a surprised grin. “Over capacity, Keep. Initiate!” “As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball’s many voices replied in unison as the light faded from view. The companions could see, even as it disappeared from their location, the ball of light formed far down the broad starcase, upon the flat dias area where the Lordmage et.al. were receiving guests. After a moment, the Lordmage took Corandralla’s arm and whispered something to her. Montor and Malac took on a grim look and bowed deeply at the next nobles to arrive at the platform. Almost in unison, the three nobles and high-priestess of magic rose into the air and flew with some speed, over their guests, and into the great hall. The huge, dragon embossed doors did not close, but a curtain of pale blue light became visible, seeming to “pour” from the keystone. The guard at the huge doors suddenly had double the number of guardsmen rushing to it from either side tower. “What do we do?” Haelan said, ever-eager to help. ”Celerion, what is it? Who are they?” Alaria asked, ever-inquisitive for answers. “I pray you do not find out, Magess. Quickly now. Come with me, I shall see you back to the party.” Celerion offered. “My lord, if we can help defend the keep then we would do so.” Braddok said, drawing his enchanted blade from its sapphire studded scabbard. Londar clasped a large hand upon Braddok’s shoulder. “As a true Steel Dragon would.” his smile through his beard in the deep baritone. “Would you ask Rhea or myself to simply ‘return to the party’?” Londar asked the elf. Celerion nodded. “You young ones will be the death of me some day.” he shook his head. “Keep!” Celerion said, again, forcefully. The ball of blue light appeared once more. “Permit Magess Alaria and her companions, here, Sapphire access to all areas.” Celerion said plainly. “As you will, Lord Chamberlain.” the ball said simply. “That is all.” Celerion replied and the light dissipated. “Heed me, Stormriders, and heed me well." Celerion said with a degree of seriousness that gave all of the companions chills. “If I am right, and I pray to all the gods and arts that I am not, these are ShiDaeiri. They will be ruthless and incredibly powerful. What they want here, I can not say, but they must not attain it for, whatever it may be, it will be ruin and evil for the realms. Destroy them if you can. Flee if you can not. Am I clear?” Celerion finished with expectant lavender eyes. “Well what if we...” Haelan began to ask. ”Pff, there‘s only eight of them.” Braddok tried to bolster the mood. “Am I clear!?” he said with almost a manic twinge in his eye. “Yes, Celerion. Where can we serve you?” Alaria said, the severity of this situation was gaining increasing weight by the moment. If Celerion was this obviously concerned by the ShiDaeiri, things were about to get very bad. “I would suggest you return to your chambers and arm yourselves properly.” he turned to leave before turning back with a mad look on his face. “Stormrider! Where is the Ihs Repahl?!” Celerion said suddenly. “I left it in our chambers. I didn’t think it would be appropriate to...” Alaria began to reply. “It is appropriate now. Get it, immediately, and return to the Great Hall for protection.” Celerion said even as her waved his staff with a flurry and disappeared in a whirlwind and low rumble of thunder. With a thought, Rhea’s gem sparkled again and the Green Witch was surrounded by a few inches of green light before she began to float up into the air. “Come, my love.” she said we must search.” she said out loud. “Can you not sense them, dearest?” Londar questioned. “There are far too many minds here to pinpoint anyone. I will have to be near them.” Rhea responded. “Fen and I are already armed. We can aid in the reconnaissance.” Pyrnion said and with a single beat of his wings rose into the air, beside Rhea. “They should not be hidden to my eyes." Rhea nodded approvingly. “I’ll survey the grounds.” Fen replied. “Can you keep us...uh...mentally in contact?” Fen said, not truly understanding the woman’s formidable psychic powers. “Keep!” Rhea said. She continued as the blue ball of light reappeared, “Maintain communications of all activities with the Magess Alaria and her companions.” “As you will, Rhea Willowlake.” the voices replied. The ball split into three smaller spheres. One went to float near Alaria. One beside Fen. The third rose to hover near Pyrnion’s shoulder. “Good luck to you Stormriders. To us all.” Rhea said and began floating away over the courtyard far below. Pyrnion flapped again and soared off after her. Londar donned his helmet with the blue plume. “We shall meet again, my new friends. The gods’ grace watch over you.” He took a small palm-sized length of metal from his belt. In a moment, it blazed to a full length halberd in his hands as he sped off away toward the long staircase. Fen gave his friends a grim faced nod and followed him. Alaria turned to the remaining companions. “You heard them, let’s go.” Alaria, Braddok, Haelan, Duor and Jovias raced up curving staircases and through long corridors that gave way to more stairs as they climbed through the northern tower to their chambers. The small, palm-sized ball of blue light that was some iteration of “Keep” bobbed and floated along with them, easily keeping pace. Periodically the voices were heard, reporting, apparently from elsewhere in the citadel. “All portals shielded and holding.” the many voices of Keep relayed to all who were listening. “This is Captain Daeror to all Watches. Two guards have been found dead on the south wall parapets.” “Sergeant Hurbin, here. Three dark figures are moving across the base of the south tower. Gods they’re fast! Moving to eng-urk.” “South Watch move to the...where the hells...*clang* clang* AAH!” Daeror’s voice cut off abruptly. “Two intruders detected on transept bridge five.” the voices of Keep said dispassionately. “Intruders engaged in the western gardens. Four of them are trying to gain access to the northern tower through the western garden. Shields seem to be holding. They...” “All Watches this is Rhea. Captain Daeror is dead. Converge upon the north and south towers. Hall guards remain vigilant. We are moving to intercept the intruders on bridge five.” “West watch, acknowledged.” “South Watch acknowledged.” “East Watch acknowledged. We can see them on the bridge from here. They haven’t gained entry at either side...They...they’re gone! Disappeared in a ball of shadow.” ... “North watch?” Rhea’s voice sounded again. “North watch?!” A moment later the cold voices of Keep again spoke, “North Tower garden entrance portal has been breached. Intruders in the North tower.” “Aren’t we in the north tower?" Haelan said with concern. “Yes, Haelan." Braddok said as the party reached their chambers. [/QUOTE]
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