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Story Hour
The Journey across Midnight (Updated 07SEP03)
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<blockquote data-quote="Tokiwong" data-source="post: 1099724" data-attributes="member: 961"><p><strong>The Best Laid Plans</strong></p><p></p><p>The party broke the tree line, with Malstrom, taking the point, they were haggard, wounded, and tired, but still they pressed on. The war horns sounded all around them, and before them was a wide plain of low laying grassland. They would be out in the open, exposed, with little to no cover. It was risky, but they had to get to the other side, so they pushed on across the expanse.</p><p></p><p>It was more a light jog, then a march, as the tired party made haste across the open expanse. Corine and Semmarin scanned the grasslands, as they heard another sounding of horns. They were just about to the other side, when a large figure moved to block out the waning sunlight, its massive wings were spread wide, yawning to swallow the whole of the maroon sky. It was a fearsome spectacle, it was both true terror, and true majesty; it was a dragon in the tongue of men.</p><p></p><p>Its scales were harder then steel, and they shimmered, red and black in the setting sunlight, from head to tail, it was well over one hundred feet in length, and its wings nearly five times that from tip to tip. It descended upon the Accursed Forest, and landed causing a flurry of white snow, as it flapped its massive wings, when it landed it roared. The roar, shook the very earth, and sent a chill down the spines of the heroes, it was a fury that was both ancient, and nigh unstoppable. It was an engine of destruction, and nothing they wanted to toy with.</p><p></p><p>Corine turned to the party, “Lets go, we can’t stand around and gawk,” even as she turned back and spotted its massive neck craning above the trees. She could not be sure, but she thought for a moment, it may have looked right at her, the thought sent a shiver down her spine, and quickened her step. The others followed.</p><p></p><p>It may have been hours later, as the party continued in silence, working their way through this thin forest on foot. A light snow, settled on the forest floor, but it was melting quickly, whatever storm, or fury had produced the cold, it was quickly retreating. Corine proceeded cautiously, and she rarely jumped now, whenever she heard the war horns of the orcs, there were more horns now, it was as if the orcs were trying to pen them in. </p><p></p><p>Tuk shivered, “It is so cold, I could go for some hot cider, that would warm us right up, it would.”</p><p></p><p>Malstrom grumbled, “Shut up Tuk, be silent, these woods are filled with-” the Malstrom never finished, as figures stepped forth from the darkness, their bows ready. The party was surrounded, by slim, short figures. They wore masks, and suits of dark green and black, Semmarin recognized them right off, and they were the Caransil, the wood elves.</p><p></p><p>Tuk grinned as he recognized the warriors for what they were, “Elves we are saved!”</p><p></p><p>Corine scowled, “You are too optimistic, Tuk.”</p><p></p><p>A slim elf, stepped forward, pulling back his mask to reveal a slim sharp-featured face, to a human it was both feminine and masculine at the same time. Sharp yet delicate features framing dark green eyes, and long black hair, draped about his delicately pointed ears. He was shorter then Corine, but he seemed in no way intimidated by her size, in many ways Corine, was intimidated by him.</p><p></p><p>Malstrom growled in his dwarven dialect to Dae, “I don’t like this.”</p><p></p><p>Dae nodded, as he kept his weapons out but held down towards the ground, waiting to see what happened.</p><p></p><p>The wood elf paced by Corine, without a word and focused on Semmarin, “Elfling, you traveled with Sildarin yes?”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin nodded, responding in High Elven, “Yes, I did,” he choked the words out, “but I have not seen her in some time, she has been missing, and our other companions were betrayed and put to the sword by orcs.”</p><p></p><p>The wood elf nodded, “I see, then come, the Avatar will wish to speak with you, I am sure. Tell them to sheathe their weapons they are in our care now.”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin nodded, and motioned for his allies to sheathe their weapons. The party complied, and followed the troupe of warriors deeper into the woods, where more wood elves waited, watching the party with suspicion and curiosity.</p><p></p><p>At the center of the grouping of elves was a woman, sitting cross legged on the soft snow, she seemed to be deep in meditation, and her pale skin, clashed with her dark hair, and ruby red lips. She was a slim athletic beauty, and despite her size, she wore a finely crafted suit of chainmail, it twinkled the gleam of mithral, it was nearly as light as a feather, and twice as hard as steel.</p><p></p><p>The Avatar opened her black eyes.</p><p></p><p>She spoke in a voice that was rich, and powerful, “Welcome the I am the Avatar of the Witch Queen, Aradil, she who is most wise of us all, she bids you good tidings.”</p><p></p><p>Corine bowed her head, having learned the tongue of the High Elves early in her travels. Semmarin and Tuk both bowed their heads in reverence, while Malstrom and Dae watched with some awe confusion.</p><p></p><p>“Step forward the one that is named Semmarin,” the Avatar spoke.</p><p></p><p>Semmarin stepped forward slowly, his head bowed in proper respect. Never meeting the eyes of his better, as is proper in elven society. Semmarin spoke quietly, “I am Semmarin.”</p><p></p><p>The Avatar gazed at the elfling, and nodded in approval, “What is the fate of our sister, Sildarin?”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin replied, “She is lost milady, I have come into the company of agents who fight the Shadow,” he gestured to the party, “and they have told me that she gave them her ring, and the missive scrawled at the behest of the Witch Queen. Even now we work to fulfill this dangerous quest, and stop the shipment of a Black Mirror.”</p><p></p><p>The Avatar nodded, as she closed her eyes, “Bring forth the ring, so that we may see it.”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin turned to Dae, and spoke in Erenlander, “I need the ring that Sildarin gave you.”</p><p></p><p>Dae nodded, and pulled the ring from his satchel, and dropped it into the small hand of the elfling. Semmarin turned back to the Avatar, and bowed his head, presenting the ring to the Avatar. The Avatar, glanced over the ring, her black eyes scanning its minute details, before placing it back in Semmarin’s hands.</p><p></p><p>The Avatar spoke, “This ring is her Life Ring, and it is given to those agents who are often far from our homeland. If she has given it up, then she believes she was to die. We shall not give up hope, for Sildarin’s survival, but we must assume the worse, and press on.”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin replied, “I will not give up, no body has been found, Sildarin was skilled, she may yet still live.”</p><p></p><p>“We agree, but we must look forward, rest tonight. We will heal your wounds, and give you food. You have traveled far, take rest and be at peace. Tomorrow we leave this place,” the Avatar turned, she had finished her piece.</p><p></p><p>The party rested, their bones weary, their wounds were tended to by elven magic, and they were given elven food, warm and sweet. It was strange to both Dae and Malstrom, but the rest had sampled elven foods before, and were used to the flavors. The elves gifted the party with magical gifts, as well, for their service to the resistance. Tuk was given a charm that granted him luck, Dae and Malstrom were given potions of healing, Corine refused any gifts, revealing her elven wrought leather armor she wore as giuft enough, and Semmarin was gifted a Cloak of the Elves that seemed to shift and blend in color, enhancing his already considerable stealth skills.</p><p></p><p>Morning came all too soon, for the heroes, and they found that the elves had already left. They were refreshed for the journey ahead. And set out once more, there was hope yet in the world.</p><p></p><p><strong>*************************************</strong></p><p></p><p>They called him Runt; he was the smallest of the orcs. He had a bad attitude, he was gruff, spiteful, and rude, and he often did not realize that he was as small as he was. But that made the others even more wary of Runt, he did not know when to give up, a flaw he had turned to his advantage, time and time again.</p><p></p><p>Perhaps that is why Runt was in charge of this scouting party, he just didn’t know how to quit, and he enjoyed a good challenge. He sniffed the air, and turned to his comrade, a larger brutish orc with one eye, “I smell fae, you head around that way,” he pointed, “I will report to the Holy Mother.”</p><p></p><p>The larger orc nodded as Runt rushed back to the remaining orc party, and bowed once he was in the presence of the Holy Mother. Vuna scowled, watching the wretched little orc, bow to her.</p><p></p><p>Vuna spoke curtly, “What have you to report, are they close?”</p><p></p><p>Runt replied quickly, “Yes Holy Mother, they is real close, perhaps your Holy pet can sense their magic,” he looked down to the wolf nervously.</p><p></p><p>Vuna grinned, and bade her wolf to go and hunt down the fae, she could feel success coursing through her bones, “Find them my pet, find them!” she sneered, and turned to Runt, “Gather the rest of the soldiers, we have fae to hunt!”</p><p></p><p><strong>**********************************</strong></p><p></p><p>Corine crouched against the tree, the orcs were close now, and she could hear their shouts as they stalked through the darkness. She glanced through the brush, and spotted the wolf walking at their side, and she knew in that terrible moment, that things would only get worse before they got better.</p><p></p><p>Semmarin was the closest to her, as he drew an arrow and took careful aim, while Tuk just tried his best to be quiet and not draw any attention to himself. Both Malstrom and Dae stood behind trees, their weapons out and ready. Corine knew there was a way that they could survive, but she would have to act, and there was no guarantee, that it was the right choice.</p><p></p><p>Semmarin lifted his arrow, as Corine whispered to him, “Hold your arrow, I have a plan.”</p><p></p><p>“Huh?” the elfling answered, as he turned back to the orcs, looming closer.</p><p></p><p>“Just stay here, whatever I do, don’t follow,” she replied.</p><p></p><p>Semmarin looked confused, as the realization of what was to come next finally hit him. He watched as Corine turned and ran into the darkness, the flash of movement drawing the orcs, on her as they turned and ran, the wolf bounding after the young Erenlander. The rest of the party threatened to follow, but Semmarin motioned for them to stand still, as a troupe of orcs followed in her wake.</p><p></p><p>The forest was still, Tuk broke the silence, “We should follow her, Corine can’t survive on her own.”</p><p></p><p>Malstrom nodded, “She won’t make it alone.”</p><p></p><p>Dae just grunted, “She might…”</p><p></p><p>Semmarin mulled over the words, “Corine knew what she was doing, she did the only reasonable thing. We have to press on, for the resistance, she knows what she is doing, and we have to do our part, now lets go,” the elfling turned and started down the path once more, <em>at least I hope she knows what she is doing…</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tokiwong, post: 1099724, member: 961"] [b]The Best Laid Plans[/b] The party broke the tree line, with Malstrom, taking the point, they were haggard, wounded, and tired, but still they pressed on. The war horns sounded all around them, and before them was a wide plain of low laying grassland. They would be out in the open, exposed, with little to no cover. It was risky, but they had to get to the other side, so they pushed on across the expanse. It was more a light jog, then a march, as the tired party made haste across the open expanse. Corine and Semmarin scanned the grasslands, as they heard another sounding of horns. They were just about to the other side, when a large figure moved to block out the waning sunlight, its massive wings were spread wide, yawning to swallow the whole of the maroon sky. It was a fearsome spectacle, it was both true terror, and true majesty; it was a dragon in the tongue of men. Its scales were harder then steel, and they shimmered, red and black in the setting sunlight, from head to tail, it was well over one hundred feet in length, and its wings nearly five times that from tip to tip. It descended upon the Accursed Forest, and landed causing a flurry of white snow, as it flapped its massive wings, when it landed it roared. The roar, shook the very earth, and sent a chill down the spines of the heroes, it was a fury that was both ancient, and nigh unstoppable. It was an engine of destruction, and nothing they wanted to toy with. Corine turned to the party, “Lets go, we can’t stand around and gawk,” even as she turned back and spotted its massive neck craning above the trees. She could not be sure, but she thought for a moment, it may have looked right at her, the thought sent a shiver down her spine, and quickened her step. The others followed. It may have been hours later, as the party continued in silence, working their way through this thin forest on foot. A light snow, settled on the forest floor, but it was melting quickly, whatever storm, or fury had produced the cold, it was quickly retreating. Corine proceeded cautiously, and she rarely jumped now, whenever she heard the war horns of the orcs, there were more horns now, it was as if the orcs were trying to pen them in. Tuk shivered, “It is so cold, I could go for some hot cider, that would warm us right up, it would.” Malstrom grumbled, “Shut up Tuk, be silent, these woods are filled with-” the Malstrom never finished, as figures stepped forth from the darkness, their bows ready. The party was surrounded, by slim, short figures. They wore masks, and suits of dark green and black, Semmarin recognized them right off, and they were the Caransil, the wood elves. Tuk grinned as he recognized the warriors for what they were, “Elves we are saved!” Corine scowled, “You are too optimistic, Tuk.” A slim elf, stepped forward, pulling back his mask to reveal a slim sharp-featured face, to a human it was both feminine and masculine at the same time. Sharp yet delicate features framing dark green eyes, and long black hair, draped about his delicately pointed ears. He was shorter then Corine, but he seemed in no way intimidated by her size, in many ways Corine, was intimidated by him. Malstrom growled in his dwarven dialect to Dae, “I don’t like this.” Dae nodded, as he kept his weapons out but held down towards the ground, waiting to see what happened. The wood elf paced by Corine, without a word and focused on Semmarin, “Elfling, you traveled with Sildarin yes?” Semmarin nodded, responding in High Elven, “Yes, I did,” he choked the words out, “but I have not seen her in some time, she has been missing, and our other companions were betrayed and put to the sword by orcs.” The wood elf nodded, “I see, then come, the Avatar will wish to speak with you, I am sure. Tell them to sheathe their weapons they are in our care now.” Semmarin nodded, and motioned for his allies to sheathe their weapons. The party complied, and followed the troupe of warriors deeper into the woods, where more wood elves waited, watching the party with suspicion and curiosity. At the center of the grouping of elves was a woman, sitting cross legged on the soft snow, she seemed to be deep in meditation, and her pale skin, clashed with her dark hair, and ruby red lips. She was a slim athletic beauty, and despite her size, she wore a finely crafted suit of chainmail, it twinkled the gleam of mithral, it was nearly as light as a feather, and twice as hard as steel. The Avatar opened her black eyes. She spoke in a voice that was rich, and powerful, “Welcome the I am the Avatar of the Witch Queen, Aradil, she who is most wise of us all, she bids you good tidings.” Corine bowed her head, having learned the tongue of the High Elves early in her travels. Semmarin and Tuk both bowed their heads in reverence, while Malstrom and Dae watched with some awe confusion. “Step forward the one that is named Semmarin,” the Avatar spoke. Semmarin stepped forward slowly, his head bowed in proper respect. Never meeting the eyes of his better, as is proper in elven society. Semmarin spoke quietly, “I am Semmarin.” The Avatar gazed at the elfling, and nodded in approval, “What is the fate of our sister, Sildarin?” Semmarin replied, “She is lost milady, I have come into the company of agents who fight the Shadow,” he gestured to the party, “and they have told me that she gave them her ring, and the missive scrawled at the behest of the Witch Queen. Even now we work to fulfill this dangerous quest, and stop the shipment of a Black Mirror.” The Avatar nodded, as she closed her eyes, “Bring forth the ring, so that we may see it.” Semmarin turned to Dae, and spoke in Erenlander, “I need the ring that Sildarin gave you.” Dae nodded, and pulled the ring from his satchel, and dropped it into the small hand of the elfling. Semmarin turned back to the Avatar, and bowed his head, presenting the ring to the Avatar. The Avatar, glanced over the ring, her black eyes scanning its minute details, before placing it back in Semmarin’s hands. The Avatar spoke, “This ring is her Life Ring, and it is given to those agents who are often far from our homeland. If she has given it up, then she believes she was to die. We shall not give up hope, for Sildarin’s survival, but we must assume the worse, and press on.” Semmarin replied, “I will not give up, no body has been found, Sildarin was skilled, she may yet still live.” “We agree, but we must look forward, rest tonight. We will heal your wounds, and give you food. You have traveled far, take rest and be at peace. Tomorrow we leave this place,” the Avatar turned, she had finished her piece. The party rested, their bones weary, their wounds were tended to by elven magic, and they were given elven food, warm and sweet. It was strange to both Dae and Malstrom, but the rest had sampled elven foods before, and were used to the flavors. The elves gifted the party with magical gifts, as well, for their service to the resistance. Tuk was given a charm that granted him luck, Dae and Malstrom were given potions of healing, Corine refused any gifts, revealing her elven wrought leather armor she wore as giuft enough, and Semmarin was gifted a Cloak of the Elves that seemed to shift and blend in color, enhancing his already considerable stealth skills. Morning came all too soon, for the heroes, and they found that the elves had already left. They were refreshed for the journey ahead. And set out once more, there was hope yet in the world. [b]*************************************[/b] They called him Runt; he was the smallest of the orcs. He had a bad attitude, he was gruff, spiteful, and rude, and he often did not realize that he was as small as he was. But that made the others even more wary of Runt, he did not know when to give up, a flaw he had turned to his advantage, time and time again. Perhaps that is why Runt was in charge of this scouting party, he just didn’t know how to quit, and he enjoyed a good challenge. He sniffed the air, and turned to his comrade, a larger brutish orc with one eye, “I smell fae, you head around that way,” he pointed, “I will report to the Holy Mother.” The larger orc nodded as Runt rushed back to the remaining orc party, and bowed once he was in the presence of the Holy Mother. Vuna scowled, watching the wretched little orc, bow to her. Vuna spoke curtly, “What have you to report, are they close?” Runt replied quickly, “Yes Holy Mother, they is real close, perhaps your Holy pet can sense their magic,” he looked down to the wolf nervously. Vuna grinned, and bade her wolf to go and hunt down the fae, she could feel success coursing through her bones, “Find them my pet, find them!” she sneered, and turned to Runt, “Gather the rest of the soldiers, we have fae to hunt!” [b]**********************************[/b] Corine crouched against the tree, the orcs were close now, and she could hear their shouts as they stalked through the darkness. She glanced through the brush, and spotted the wolf walking at their side, and she knew in that terrible moment, that things would only get worse before they got better. Semmarin was the closest to her, as he drew an arrow and took careful aim, while Tuk just tried his best to be quiet and not draw any attention to himself. Both Malstrom and Dae stood behind trees, their weapons out and ready. Corine knew there was a way that they could survive, but she would have to act, and there was no guarantee, that it was the right choice. Semmarin lifted his arrow, as Corine whispered to him, “Hold your arrow, I have a plan.” “Huh?” the elfling answered, as he turned back to the orcs, looming closer. “Just stay here, whatever I do, don’t follow,” she replied. Semmarin looked confused, as the realization of what was to come next finally hit him. He watched as Corine turned and ran into the darkness, the flash of movement drawing the orcs, on her as they turned and ran, the wolf bounding after the young Erenlander. The rest of the party threatened to follow, but Semmarin motioned for them to stand still, as a troupe of orcs followed in her wake. The forest was still, Tuk broke the silence, “We should follow her, Corine can’t survive on her own.” Malstrom nodded, “She won’t make it alone.” Dae just grunted, “She might…” Semmarin mulled over the words, “Corine knew what she was doing, she did the only reasonable thing. We have to press on, for the resistance, she knows what she is doing, and we have to do our part, now lets go,” the elfling turned and started down the path once more, [i]at least I hope she knows what she is doing…[/i] [/QUOTE]
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