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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3192088" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p>The unknown man smiled a little more broadly as his mind began to put together what was happening around him. The more the man smiled, the more the light-gray figure struggled to grasp exactly what was going on around him. He had expected to startle the man, but instead it felt as though it was himself that was being startled. Considering that the light-gray figure was a ghost and there was little on the face of the earth that could affect him, he considered being startled quite the significant event.</p><p></p><p>The unknown man spoke softly to the light-gray figure. <span style="color: Plum">“I figured that you’d be under the mountain by now. I assume everything is going well down there?”</span></p><p></p><p>The friendliness of the speech took the light-gray figure completely by surprise. Of course, the fact that the man seemed to know about the plan also took him by surprise. At the worst, this could be some kind of ploy from the dragon father to get him to reveal some sort of truth about the plan. The light-gray figure decided that it would be best to play it safe. <span style="color: Lime">“I honestly don’t what you are talking about. Why would I be under the mountain with the huge spiders and the gnolls?”</span></p><p></p><p>The man spoke softly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. <span style="color: Plum">“Oh, come now. You are telling me that you are simply hanging around this mountain cave for absolutely no reason at all?”</span></p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure eased out of the tree an inch more. The figure’s complete face appeared just over the edge of the tree bark. <span style="color: Lime">“I’m hanging around these parts because it is impossible for me to go any further!”</span></p><p></p><p>This revelation shocked the man who had come upon the entrance so cautiously. The man reached up and jerked his hood back so that he could get a good look at the ghostly figure. As he did so, he exclaimed in a slightly elevated voice. <span style="color: Plum">“You mean you can’t even go under the mountains?”</span></p><p></p><p>As the light-gray figure saw the man pull back his hood he recognized him immediately. <span style="color: Lime">“Semeion? What in the world are you still doing out of the cave? If the red wyrm were to find you out here he’d kill you on the spot!”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled grimly. There was a clear hint of dark playfulness in his expression. <span style="color: Plum">“He needs to catch me first. I’ve been outside the mountain tunnel for a while now and the dragon father has not yet found me. I highly doubt the dragon father even knows of my existence.”</span></p><p></p><p>The ghostly figure completely emerged from the tree. Rather than imitate walking, the light-gray figure floated an inch above the ground until he was only a matter of feet away from Semeion. <span style="color: Lime">“Even so, don’t you think you are tempting fate a bit by being here? And didn’t I notice a limp as you approached? Your leg looked rather tender as you came along the trail.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion looked down to his leg and then back up to the ghostly figure. <span style="color: Plum">“I’ll manage. I’ve survived for long enough out here. I can survive a bit longer. But you are still avoiding my original question. You cannot join us under the tunnels?”</span></p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure shook his head slowly from side to side. <span style="color: Lime">“The same magic that prevents me from leaving Quehalost is keeping me from entering the tunnels. I will not be joining you all even while you wait for the proper time to leave.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion looked back to the tunnel and then back to the light-gray figure. <span style="color: Plum">“I am sorry.”</span> Semeion wasn’t really sure what else could be said.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure smiled at Semeion’s attempt to empathize with him. <span style="color: Lime">“Don’t worry about it. I’ve spent long enough in this forsaken land. It’ll be less than a month from now and you all should return my possessions to my father. Then my time to leave will come. I can wait that long.”</span> After speaking, the ghostly figure looked long and hard toward the tunnel entrance.</p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled in return. <span style="color: Plum">“I admire your patience.”</span> The young mage’s face revealed that he could think of little else to say that would be meaningful at a time such as this.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure continued to look into the tunnel. <span style="color: Lime">“You never told me why you have the limp. But in all honesty, you’ve likely been here talking to me for long enough. Your luck will likely run out soon. I’d recommend you get moving.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion likewise turned to look at the cave entrance. He knew that freedom and life were represented by the coolness and darkness of the tunnel. He also knew that the tunnel represented freedom for the light-gray figure as well. <span style="color: Plum">“We’ll make your sacrifice worth it. I’ll rest easier knowing that you are watching out for our backs on this end.”</span> He stepped to the tunnel.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure watched Ischarus as he approached the cave. <span style="color: Lime">“I’d recommend running, personally. The dragon father watches this entrance like a hawk. You not only need to cross the open area, but you also need to make sure that you get far enough down that tunnel to avoid the effects of his breath. After this many days, I’d expect his wrath to know little fury if he sees you. You’re going to catch the brunt of eight days of wrath in a very short span of time unless you hurry.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion breathed in deeply, knowing that his leg wouldn’t support the faster movement for very long. The catch was wondering how long his leg would hold out. The injury was serious, but not serious to prevent movement when not under duress. There was no telling how long the leg would last if it was put under the stress of running.</p><p></p><p>Semeion breathed in deeply and closed his eyes for a second. He wouldn’t make it far enough into the tunnel with a simple walk if the dragon father was watching. He would have to move with a greater speed than he desired. He looked back to the light-gray figure and watched the ghostly image meld back into the confines of the tree. Once the figure had everything hidden except for his eyes and nose within the flesh of the tree Semeion began to sprint towards the tunnel.</p><p></p><p>As he took his first step towards freedom he thought of Charis. He had often thought of Charis and how she must have missed him over the last week. In fact, he assumed that she had mourned his loss. He would enjoy proving her assumption false.</p><p></p><p>As he stepped out of the forest he heard the deep draconic cry come from high above the mountain pass. He had grown familiar with the cry from hearing it several times in the past week and a half, both before and after the village had been abandoned. Yet as he heard the draconic cry he could feel his leg giving out. Semeion crashed to the ground as a sharp pain surged up his broken leg.</p><p></p><p>Instantly his mind brought him back several months. For an instant Semeion was no longer in Quehalost as a freedom fighter. Once more Semeion was back upon the grassy hill where he watched his master die at the hands of the green dragon. As Semeion crashed down to the earth he rolled over onto his backside. Despite straining for an instant to look up into the sky Semeion could not see the red wyrm diving towards him from a great height. He knew dragon eyesight was better than that of a human, however. There could be no doubt that the dragon saw him stumble.</p><p></p><p>Semeion bit lightly into his lip as he rolled himself over. The pain from his now bleeding lip helped him ignore the throbbing pain he felt in his leg. Semeion lifted himself onto his good foot and began once again to make for the cave entrance. The pain was great, but the fear of dying was now even greater. Semeion endured the pain and as quickly as he could he hobbled to the cave entrance.</p><p></p><p>Semeion made it to the tunnel entrance before the dragon could land upon the ground. He had made it past the first major hazard. If he was going to die, he would die at the hands of the fiery breath of the dragon father. At least he wouldn’t be impaled from a dragon falling from a great height. Semeion chuckled to himself knowing that there was little consolation in dying by fire over dying by impalement.</p><p></p><p>Once he was inside the tunnel entrance, Semeion appreciated the support of the cool rock walls. With the rock to lean upon, Semeion could hobble along faster than in the open ground between the tunnel and the forest. When he was about twenty feet into the tunnel he heard the thunder of the ground shaking. The heavy weight of the dragon landing upon the solid ground sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The roar of the beast echoed ominously from behind him. Semeion’s pace quickened, but pain continued to shoot through his foot.</p><p></p><p>The dragon peered into the tunnel with its ability to see into darkness. The beast saw that Semeion was rapidly fleeing down the tunnel. Much of this journey converged upon this single moment for Semeion. The red wyrm knew that time was running short and he breathed in deeply to make the most of what little time remained. When the beast exhaled the air was ignited in flame. The shockwave of heat expanding the air around the breath hit Semeion from the back and forced him forward onto his face.</p><p></p><p>The dragon waited for a few seconds until the flames and the heat died down within the tunnel. Looking once more into the cave the dragon saw that Semeion was laying on the floor without any sign of movement. The dragon pulled his head back in a proud statement of his ego. <span style="color: Red">“When they see what I have done to this one they will all come back to me out of fear. And I will kill them all.”</span></p><p></p><p>The dragon looked once more into the cave to gloat over his first small but meaningful victory. To his surprise Semeion was no longer laying on the floor where he expected him. In fact, Semeion had vanished entirely.</p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p>The unknown man smiled a little more broadly as his mind began to put together what was happening around him. The more the man smiled, the more the light-gray figure struggled to grasp exactly what was going on around him. He had expected to startle the man, but instead it felt as though it was himself that was being startled. Considering that the light-gray figure was a ghost and there was little on the face of the earth that could affect him, he considered being startled quite the significant event.</p><p></p><p>The unknown man spoke softly to the light-gray figure. “I figured that you’d be under the mountain by now. I assume everything is going well down there?”</p><p></p><p>The friendliness of the speech took the light-gray figure completely by surprise. Of course, the fact that the man seemed to know about the plan also took him by surprise. At the worst, this could be some kind of ploy from the dragon father to get him to reveal some sort of truth about the plan. The light-gray figure decided that it would be best to play it safe. “I honestly don’t what you are talking about. Why would I be under the mountain with the huge spiders and the gnolls?”</p><p></p><p>The man spoke softly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Oh, come now. You are telling me that you are simply hanging around this mountain cave for absolutely no reason at all?”</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure eased out of the tree an inch more. The figure’s complete face appeared just over the edge of the tree bark. “I’m hanging around these parts because it is impossible for me to go any further!”</p><p></p><p>This revelation shocked the man who had come upon the entrance so cautiously. The man reached up and jerked his hood back so that he could get a good look at the ghostly figure. As he did so, he exclaimed in a slightly elevated voice. “You mean you can’t even go under the mountains?”</p><p></p><p>As the light-gray figure saw the man pull back his hood he recognized him immediately. “Semeion? What in the world are you still doing out of the cave? If the red wyrm were to find you out here he’d kill you on the spot!”</p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled grimly. There was a clear hint of dark playfulness in his expression. “He needs to catch me first. I’ve been outside the mountain tunnel for a while now and the dragon father has not yet found me. I highly doubt the dragon father even knows of my existence.”</p><p></p><p>The ghostly figure completely emerged from the tree. Rather than imitate walking, the light-gray figure floated an inch above the ground until he was only a matter of feet away from Semeion. “Even so, don’t you think you are tempting fate a bit by being here? And didn’t I notice a limp as you approached? Your leg looked rather tender as you came along the trail.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion looked down to his leg and then back up to the ghostly figure. “I’ll manage. I’ve survived for long enough out here. I can survive a bit longer. But you are still avoiding my original question. You cannot join us under the tunnels?”</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure shook his head slowly from side to side. “The same magic that prevents me from leaving Quehalost is keeping me from entering the tunnels. I will not be joining you all even while you wait for the proper time to leave.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion looked back to the tunnel and then back to the light-gray figure. “I am sorry.” Semeion wasn’t really sure what else could be said.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure smiled at Semeion’s attempt to empathize with him. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve spent long enough in this forsaken land. It’ll be less than a month from now and you all should return my possessions to my father. Then my time to leave will come. I can wait that long.” After speaking, the ghostly figure looked long and hard toward the tunnel entrance.</p><p></p><p>Semeion smiled in return. “I admire your patience.” The young mage’s face revealed that he could think of little else to say that would be meaningful at a time such as this.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure continued to look into the tunnel. “You never told me why you have the limp. But in all honesty, you’ve likely been here talking to me for long enough. Your luck will likely run out soon. I’d recommend you get moving.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion likewise turned to look at the cave entrance. He knew that freedom and life were represented by the coolness and darkness of the tunnel. He also knew that the tunnel represented freedom for the light-gray figure as well. “We’ll make your sacrifice worth it. I’ll rest easier knowing that you are watching out for our backs on this end.” He stepped to the tunnel.</p><p></p><p>The light-gray figure watched Ischarus as he approached the cave. “I’d recommend running, personally. The dragon father watches this entrance like a hawk. You not only need to cross the open area, but you also need to make sure that you get far enough down that tunnel to avoid the effects of his breath. After this many days, I’d expect his wrath to know little fury if he sees you. You’re going to catch the brunt of eight days of wrath in a very short span of time unless you hurry.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion breathed in deeply, knowing that his leg wouldn’t support the faster movement for very long. The catch was wondering how long his leg would hold out. The injury was serious, but not serious to prevent movement when not under duress. There was no telling how long the leg would last if it was put under the stress of running.</p><p></p><p>Semeion breathed in deeply and closed his eyes for a second. He wouldn’t make it far enough into the tunnel with a simple walk if the dragon father was watching. He would have to move with a greater speed than he desired. He looked back to the light-gray figure and watched the ghostly image meld back into the confines of the tree. Once the figure had everything hidden except for his eyes and nose within the flesh of the tree Semeion began to sprint towards the tunnel.</p><p></p><p>As he took his first step towards freedom he thought of Charis. He had often thought of Charis and how she must have missed him over the last week. In fact, he assumed that she had mourned his loss. He would enjoy proving her assumption false.</p><p></p><p>As he stepped out of the forest he heard the deep draconic cry come from high above the mountain pass. He had grown familiar with the cry from hearing it several times in the past week and a half, both before and after the village had been abandoned. Yet as he heard the draconic cry he could feel his leg giving out. Semeion crashed to the ground as a sharp pain surged up his broken leg.</p><p></p><p>Instantly his mind brought him back several months. For an instant Semeion was no longer in Quehalost as a freedom fighter. Once more Semeion was back upon the grassy hill where he watched his master die at the hands of the green dragon. As Semeion crashed down to the earth he rolled over onto his backside. Despite straining for an instant to look up into the sky Semeion could not see the red wyrm diving towards him from a great height. He knew dragon eyesight was better than that of a human, however. There could be no doubt that the dragon saw him stumble.</p><p></p><p>Semeion bit lightly into his lip as he rolled himself over. The pain from his now bleeding lip helped him ignore the throbbing pain he felt in his leg. Semeion lifted himself onto his good foot and began once again to make for the cave entrance. The pain was great, but the fear of dying was now even greater. Semeion endured the pain and as quickly as he could he hobbled to the cave entrance.</p><p></p><p>Semeion made it to the tunnel entrance before the dragon could land upon the ground. He had made it past the first major hazard. If he was going to die, he would die at the hands of the fiery breath of the dragon father. At least he wouldn’t be impaled from a dragon falling from a great height. Semeion chuckled to himself knowing that there was little consolation in dying by fire over dying by impalement.</p><p></p><p>Once he was inside the tunnel entrance, Semeion appreciated the support of the cool rock walls. With the rock to lean upon, Semeion could hobble along faster than in the open ground between the tunnel and the forest. When he was about twenty feet into the tunnel he heard the thunder of the ground shaking. The heavy weight of the dragon landing upon the solid ground sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The roar of the beast echoed ominously from behind him. Semeion’s pace quickened, but pain continued to shoot through his foot.</p><p></p><p>The dragon peered into the tunnel with its ability to see into darkness. The beast saw that Semeion was rapidly fleeing down the tunnel. Much of this journey converged upon this single moment for Semeion. The red wyrm knew that time was running short and he breathed in deeply to make the most of what little time remained. When the beast exhaled the air was ignited in flame. The shockwave of heat expanding the air around the breath hit Semeion from the back and forced him forward onto his face.</p><p></p><p>The dragon waited for a few seconds until the flames and the heat died down within the tunnel. Looking once more into the cave the dragon saw that Semeion was laying on the floor without any sign of movement. The dragon pulled his head back in a proud statement of his ego. “When they see what I have done to this one they will all come back to me out of fear. And I will kill them all.”</p><p></p><p>The dragon looked once more into the cave to gloat over his first small but meaningful victory. To his surprise Semeion was no longer laying on the floor where he expected him. In fact, Semeion had vanished entirely.</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3192088, member: 35788"] The unknown man smiled a little more broadly as his mind began to put together what was happening around him. The more the man smiled, the more the light-gray figure struggled to grasp exactly what was going on around him. He had expected to startle the man, but instead it felt as though it was himself that was being startled. Considering that the light-gray figure was a ghost and there was little on the face of the earth that could affect him, he considered being startled quite the significant event. The unknown man spoke softly to the light-gray figure. [Color=Plum]“I figured that you’d be under the mountain by now. I assume everything is going well down there?”[/Color] The friendliness of the speech took the light-gray figure completely by surprise. Of course, the fact that the man seemed to know about the plan also took him by surprise. At the worst, this could be some kind of ploy from the dragon father to get him to reveal some sort of truth about the plan. The light-gray figure decided that it would be best to play it safe. [Color=Lime]“I honestly don’t what you are talking about. Why would I be under the mountain with the huge spiders and the gnolls?”[/Color] The man spoke softly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. [Color=Plum]“Oh, come now. You are telling me that you are simply hanging around this mountain cave for absolutely no reason at all?”[/Color] The light-gray figure eased out of the tree an inch more. The figure’s complete face appeared just over the edge of the tree bark. [Color=Lime]“I’m hanging around these parts because it is impossible for me to go any further!”[/Color] This revelation shocked the man who had come upon the entrance so cautiously. The man reached up and jerked his hood back so that he could get a good look at the ghostly figure. As he did so, he exclaimed in a slightly elevated voice. [Color=Plum]“You mean you can’t even go under the mountains?”[/Color] As the light-gray figure saw the man pull back his hood he recognized him immediately. [Color=Lime]“Semeion? What in the world are you still doing out of the cave? If the red wyrm were to find you out here he’d kill you on the spot!”[/Color] Semeion smiled grimly. There was a clear hint of dark playfulness in his expression. [Color=Plum]“He needs to catch me first. I’ve been outside the mountain tunnel for a while now and the dragon father has not yet found me. I highly doubt the dragon father even knows of my existence.”[/Color] The ghostly figure completely emerged from the tree. Rather than imitate walking, the light-gray figure floated an inch above the ground until he was only a matter of feet away from Semeion. [Color=Lime]“Even so, don’t you think you are tempting fate a bit by being here? And didn’t I notice a limp as you approached? Your leg looked rather tender as you came along the trail.”[/Color] Semeion looked down to his leg and then back up to the ghostly figure. [Color=Plum]“I’ll manage. I’ve survived for long enough out here. I can survive a bit longer. But you are still avoiding my original question. You cannot join us under the tunnels?”[/Color] The light-gray figure shook his head slowly from side to side. [Color=Lime]“The same magic that prevents me from leaving Quehalost is keeping me from entering the tunnels. I will not be joining you all even while you wait for the proper time to leave.”[/Color] Semeion looked back to the tunnel and then back to the light-gray figure. [Color=Plum]“I am sorry.”[/Color] Semeion wasn’t really sure what else could be said. The light-gray figure smiled at Semeion’s attempt to empathize with him. [Color=Lime]“Don’t worry about it. I’ve spent long enough in this forsaken land. It’ll be less than a month from now and you all should return my possessions to my father. Then my time to leave will come. I can wait that long.”[/Color] After speaking, the ghostly figure looked long and hard toward the tunnel entrance. Semeion smiled in return. [Color=Plum]“I admire your patience.”[/Color] The young mage’s face revealed that he could think of little else to say that would be meaningful at a time such as this. The light-gray figure continued to look into the tunnel. [Color=Lime]“You never told me why you have the limp. But in all honesty, you’ve likely been here talking to me for long enough. Your luck will likely run out soon. I’d recommend you get moving.”[/Color] Semeion likewise turned to look at the cave entrance. He knew that freedom and life were represented by the coolness and darkness of the tunnel. He also knew that the tunnel represented freedom for the light-gray figure as well. [Color=Plum]“We’ll make your sacrifice worth it. I’ll rest easier knowing that you are watching out for our backs on this end.”[/Color] He stepped to the tunnel. The light-gray figure watched Ischarus as he approached the cave. [Color=Lime]“I’d recommend running, personally. The dragon father watches this entrance like a hawk. You not only need to cross the open area, but you also need to make sure that you get far enough down that tunnel to avoid the effects of his breath. After this many days, I’d expect his wrath to know little fury if he sees you. You’re going to catch the brunt of eight days of wrath in a very short span of time unless you hurry.”[/Color] Semeion breathed in deeply, knowing that his leg wouldn’t support the faster movement for very long. The catch was wondering how long his leg would hold out. The injury was serious, but not serious to prevent movement when not under duress. There was no telling how long the leg would last if it was put under the stress of running. Semeion breathed in deeply and closed his eyes for a second. He wouldn’t make it far enough into the tunnel with a simple walk if the dragon father was watching. He would have to move with a greater speed than he desired. He looked back to the light-gray figure and watched the ghostly image meld back into the confines of the tree. Once the figure had everything hidden except for his eyes and nose within the flesh of the tree Semeion began to sprint towards the tunnel. As he took his first step towards freedom he thought of Charis. He had often thought of Charis and how she must have missed him over the last week. In fact, he assumed that she had mourned his loss. He would enjoy proving her assumption false. As he stepped out of the forest he heard the deep draconic cry come from high above the mountain pass. He had grown familiar with the cry from hearing it several times in the past week and a half, both before and after the village had been abandoned. Yet as he heard the draconic cry he could feel his leg giving out. Semeion crashed to the ground as a sharp pain surged up his broken leg. Instantly his mind brought him back several months. For an instant Semeion was no longer in Quehalost as a freedom fighter. Once more Semeion was back upon the grassy hill where he watched his master die at the hands of the green dragon. As Semeion crashed down to the earth he rolled over onto his backside. Despite straining for an instant to look up into the sky Semeion could not see the red wyrm diving towards him from a great height. He knew dragon eyesight was better than that of a human, however. There could be no doubt that the dragon saw him stumble. Semeion bit lightly into his lip as he rolled himself over. The pain from his now bleeding lip helped him ignore the throbbing pain he felt in his leg. Semeion lifted himself onto his good foot and began once again to make for the cave entrance. The pain was great, but the fear of dying was now even greater. Semeion endured the pain and as quickly as he could he hobbled to the cave entrance. Semeion made it to the tunnel entrance before the dragon could land upon the ground. He had made it past the first major hazard. If he was going to die, he would die at the hands of the fiery breath of the dragon father. At least he wouldn’t be impaled from a dragon falling from a great height. Semeion chuckled to himself knowing that there was little consolation in dying by fire over dying by impalement. Once he was inside the tunnel entrance, Semeion appreciated the support of the cool rock walls. With the rock to lean upon, Semeion could hobble along faster than in the open ground between the tunnel and the forest. When he was about twenty feet into the tunnel he heard the thunder of the ground shaking. The heavy weight of the dragon landing upon the solid ground sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The roar of the beast echoed ominously from behind him. Semeion’s pace quickened, but pain continued to shoot through his foot. The dragon peered into the tunnel with its ability to see into darkness. The beast saw that Semeion was rapidly fleeing down the tunnel. Much of this journey converged upon this single moment for Semeion. The red wyrm knew that time was running short and he breathed in deeply to make the most of what little time remained. When the beast exhaled the air was ignited in flame. The shockwave of heat expanding the air around the breath hit Semeion from the back and forced him forward onto his face. The dragon waited for a few seconds until the flames and the heat died down within the tunnel. Looking once more into the cave the dragon saw that Semeion was laying on the floor without any sign of movement. The dragon pulled his head back in a proud statement of his ego. [Color=Red]“When they see what I have done to this one they will all come back to me out of fear. And I will kill them all.”[/Color] The dragon looked once more into the cave to gloat over his first small but meaningful victory. To his surprise Semeion was no longer laying on the floor where he expected him. In fact, Semeion had vanished entirely. [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] The unknown man smiled a little more broadly as his mind began to put together what was happening around him. The more the man smiled, the more the light-gray figure struggled to grasp exactly what was going on around him. He had expected to startle the man, but instead it felt as though it was himself that was being startled. Considering that the light-gray figure was a ghost and there was little on the face of the earth that could affect him, he considered being startled quite the significant event. The unknown man spoke softly to the light-gray figure. “I figured that you’d be under the mountain by now. I assume everything is going well down there?” The friendliness of the speech took the light-gray figure completely by surprise. Of course, the fact that the man seemed to know about the plan also took him by surprise. At the worst, this could be some kind of ploy from the dragon father to get him to reveal some sort of truth about the plan. The light-gray figure decided that it would be best to play it safe. “I honestly don’t what you are talking about. Why would I be under the mountain with the huge spiders and the gnolls?” The man spoke softly with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Oh, come now. You are telling me that you are simply hanging around this mountain cave for absolutely no reason at all?” The light-gray figure eased out of the tree an inch more. The figure’s complete face appeared just over the edge of the tree bark. “I’m hanging around these parts because it is impossible for me to go any further!” This revelation shocked the man who had come upon the entrance so cautiously. The man reached up and jerked his hood back so that he could get a good look at the ghostly figure. As he did so, he exclaimed in a slightly elevated voice. “You mean you can’t even go under the mountains?” As the light-gray figure saw the man pull back his hood he recognized him immediately. “Semeion? What in the world are you still doing out of the cave? If the red wyrm were to find you out here he’d kill you on the spot!” Semeion smiled grimly. There was a clear hint of dark playfulness in his expression. “He needs to catch me first. I’ve been outside the mountain tunnel for a while now and the dragon father has not yet found me. I highly doubt the dragon father even knows of my existence.” The ghostly figure completely emerged from the tree. Rather than imitate walking, the light-gray figure floated an inch above the ground until he was only a matter of feet away from Semeion. “Even so, don’t you think you are tempting fate a bit by being here? And didn’t I notice a limp as you approached? Your leg looked rather tender as you came along the trail.” Semeion looked down to his leg and then back up to the ghostly figure. “I’ll manage. I’ve survived for long enough out here. I can survive a bit longer. But you are still avoiding my original question. You cannot join us under the tunnels?” The light-gray figure shook his head slowly from side to side. “The same magic that prevents me from leaving Quehalost is keeping me from entering the tunnels. I will not be joining you all even while you wait for the proper time to leave.” Semeion looked back to the tunnel and then back to the light-gray figure. “I am sorry.” Semeion wasn’t really sure what else could be said. The light-gray figure smiled at Semeion’s attempt to empathize with him. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve spent long enough in this forsaken land. It’ll be less than a month from now and you all should return my possessions to my father. Then my time to leave will come. I can wait that long.” After speaking, the ghostly figure looked long and hard toward the tunnel entrance. Semeion smiled in return. “I admire your patience.” The young mage’s face revealed that he could think of little else to say that would be meaningful at a time such as this. The light-gray figure continued to look into the tunnel. “You never told me why you have the limp. But in all honesty, you’ve likely been here talking to me for long enough. Your luck will likely run out soon. I’d recommend you get moving.” Semeion likewise turned to look at the cave entrance. He knew that freedom and life were represented by the coolness and darkness of the tunnel. He also knew that the tunnel represented freedom for the light-gray figure as well. “We’ll make your sacrifice worth it. I’ll rest easier knowing that you are watching out for our backs on this end.” He stepped to the tunnel. The light-gray figure watched Ischarus as he approached the cave. “I’d recommend running, personally. The dragon father watches this entrance like a hawk. You not only need to cross the open area, but you also need to make sure that you get far enough down that tunnel to avoid the effects of his breath. After this many days, I’d expect his wrath to know little fury if he sees you. You’re going to catch the brunt of eight days of wrath in a very short span of time unless you hurry.” Semeion breathed in deeply, knowing that his leg wouldn’t support the faster movement for very long. The catch was wondering how long his leg would hold out. The injury was serious, but not serious to prevent movement when not under duress. There was no telling how long the leg would last if it was put under the stress of running. Semeion breathed in deeply and closed his eyes for a second. He wouldn’t make it far enough into the tunnel with a simple walk if the dragon father was watching. He would have to move with a greater speed than he desired. He looked back to the light-gray figure and watched the ghostly image meld back into the confines of the tree. Once the figure had everything hidden except for his eyes and nose within the flesh of the tree Semeion began to sprint towards the tunnel. As he took his first step towards freedom he thought of Charis. He had often thought of Charis and how she must have missed him over the last week. In fact, he assumed that she had mourned his loss. He would enjoy proving her assumption false. As he stepped out of the forest he heard the deep draconic cry come from high above the mountain pass. He had grown familiar with the cry from hearing it several times in the past week and a half, both before and after the village had been abandoned. Yet as he heard the draconic cry he could feel his leg giving out. Semeion crashed to the ground as a sharp pain surged up his broken leg. Instantly his mind brought him back several months. For an instant Semeion was no longer in Quehalost as a freedom fighter. Once more Semeion was back upon the grassy hill where he watched his master die at the hands of the green dragon. As Semeion crashed down to the earth he rolled over onto his backside. Despite straining for an instant to look up into the sky Semeion could not see the red wyrm diving towards him from a great height. He knew dragon eyesight was better than that of a human, however. There could be no doubt that the dragon saw him stumble. Semeion bit lightly into his lip as he rolled himself over. The pain from his now bleeding lip helped him ignore the throbbing pain he felt in his leg. Semeion lifted himself onto his good foot and began once again to make for the cave entrance. The pain was great, but the fear of dying was now even greater. Semeion endured the pain and as quickly as he could he hobbled to the cave entrance. Semeion made it to the tunnel entrance before the dragon could land upon the ground. He had made it past the first major hazard. If he was going to die, he would die at the hands of the fiery breath of the dragon father. At least he wouldn’t be impaled from a dragon falling from a great height. Semeion chuckled to himself knowing that there was little consolation in dying by fire over dying by impalement. Once he was inside the tunnel entrance, Semeion appreciated the support of the cool rock walls. With the rock to lean upon, Semeion could hobble along faster than in the open ground between the tunnel and the forest. When he was about twenty feet into the tunnel he heard the thunder of the ground shaking. The heavy weight of the dragon landing upon the solid ground sent shockwaves through the surrounding area. The roar of the beast echoed ominously from behind him. Semeion’s pace quickened, but pain continued to shoot through his foot. The dragon peered into the tunnel with its ability to see into darkness. The beast saw that Semeion was rapidly fleeing down the tunnel. Much of this journey converged upon this single moment for Semeion. The red wyrm knew that time was running short and he breathed in deeply to make the most of what little time remained. When the beast exhaled the air was ignited in flame. The shockwave of heat expanding the air around the breath hit Semeion from the back and forced him forward onto his face. The dragon waited for a few seconds until the flames and the heat died down within the tunnel. Looking once more into the cave the dragon saw that Semeion was laying on the floor without any sign of movement. The dragon pulled his head back in a proud statement of his ego. “When they see what I have done to this one they will all come back to me out of fear. And I will kill them all.” The dragon looked once more into the cave to gloat over his first small but meaningful victory. To his surprise Semeion was no longer laying on the floor where he expected him. In fact, Semeion had vanished entirely. [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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