EN Story telling

[Tom Cashel]

Ringed by foes before dawn, slavering death on every side, Drakhar, Finn, Celine, Gnorvald and Rix all faced outwards from the middle of their tiny camp. Pelor's Gleam had not yet crested the horizon; only a grey gloaming in the north hinted at its approach.

The smoke still flowed from small craters caused by Celina's fusilade, and crept across the dew-dappled grass, causing the feral creatures--still gathering at the hilltop to replace those who had charged and perished in spellflame--to hesitate, unsure of easy victory and hesitant to approach.

But the masked one raised one hand and brought it down in a single decisive gesture, like the arc of a headsman's axe.

A great roar to rival thunder rose out of the forest, a rumbling rush of full-throated vitriol that scattered birds from the trees and pumped icewater into the lungs of those five companions.

Feeling as though his chest were sinking inward and numb with fear, Finn prayed softly to Pelor, repeated the same exhortation over and over, wished and hoped and promised nearly anything if only this moment could pass into relative safety with relative swiftness.

Gnorvald and Rix readied their weapons, unsure of what was to follow the great cry, and Celine just sneered as she nocked another spellcharged arrow in its berth.

And then, like a ray of honey, like a flood of fine-spun silk, like a cooling bath on sweat-stained skin, the dawn's light cut through the trees and fell upon the companions' tiny camp.

The horde, and its masked master, had vanished and left only ribbons of fog that stretched down the valley sides from the trees.

Four people sighed deeply with relief, and cautiously made ready to leave this place with all due haste.

But Rix paused, and looked back to see Drakhar frozen in his place, staring up the hillside. His bearded face twitched once. He was a force of nature held barely in check. He was staring at the place where the harlequin had been standing.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Finn stood up from behind his shield, spat, and whiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Thats it. I'm done. I'M DONE!" He pulled his wineskin off and threw it into the bushes. He glanced once more up to the top of the ridge where the figures had been standing before the morning sun had broken through the clouds. Nothing. Not a single blessed thing was there. He grabbed his pack, threw it over his shoulder, and stood upright. The others were all throwing there belongings into their packs as well. "Guess there is one advantage to passing out before getting camp ready at night." he thought. "Nothing to pack up in the morning." He upended a kettle of water on the smoldering remains of the fire, tied it to the side of his pack, and looked at the others.

"All right folks. I don't know what that was all about, but I want to be well away from here before noon time. We've got 20 miles to make today, if Gnorvald's directions are true."

Who was he to be giving orders to them? Nothing but a drunken, sorry excuse for a priest. Well, someone had to be first on the trail this morning, and he decided it would be him. Head pounding, he turned and headed towards the path they had been following for 3 days. Turning, he saw everyone was moving except Drakhar, still holding his ax and glaring up the hillside. Rix had noticed as well, and was watching the dwarf with interest.

"Rix, Drakhar, come on. Lets get out of here. We should break from the forest by mid-day at the latest." He turned, and with out looking back, hit the trail.

(edit: spelling)

 

[Silver Moon]

The afterlife had been good for Laretinor Sindafalathion. The elvan bard had been reunited with his beloved mate, Annona Luinecorire. They had been together in their mortal lives for over half a millennia, and his final two centuries on the world without her had sometimes been difficult for him to bear. Now they were together again, and all was well. No, that wasn’t entirely true. They still had one fervent tie to the mortal world, and Laretinor’s sense of responsibility for that bond was now nagging at him.

Laretinor levitated down beside his eternal love and embraced her. She reciprocated, taking a measure of his face. After a short while they eventually part and she says to him, “I would ask what is bothering you, but I already know. I have done as you asked, and spoke to the Pantheon about the information you desired.” “Thank you my dear,” the bard replies, saying the words in the form of an elvan song. “I do not deserve you. I ask too much, and you freely give”. His voice then changes to somber words, with him adding, “And I am not blind to the pains of memory that this has caused you.”

Annona answers “Yes, but it was necessary. Our great-grandson needs our guidance. We cannot abandon him now. You have molded Celina’s journey through life since the day that you first placed a flute and hand-harp into his toddler hands.” “How could I do any less?” he states, turning his arm to present to her the star-shaped birthmark above his elbow. “He too was born with the mark. I had clung to the mortal world until then, waiting to pass ‘the gift’ on to one of the next generation.” “Lair,” she playfully replies, “You adored the mortal world, and the accolades you received for sharing ‘the gift’ with our people. You would have been just as happy to have lived for many centuries more.” He answers “Without you? No my dear. I value our being reunited above all else.” They embrace again, loosing themselves in each other’s company.

A short while later they speak again, with him asking “And what exactly did the Pantheon tell you?” The High Priestess of the Elvan god Corellon Larethian replies, “That the future of Celina and his companions is still uncertain. The dreaded evil known as Morgarth is indeed on a collision course with their mission. They have already briefly crossed paths, although the fateful conflict still lies ahead. The gods see three possible outcomes. In one, Morgarth is victorious and the adventuring party all perishes. In the second, Morgarth manages to once again escape but the adventuring party also survives. In the third path, the evil is finally destroyed, but at a great cost, as a permanent death will come to two of the seven champions.” “Celina?” Laretinor questions. She replies, “That is uncertain. Now, what exactly will you tell him?”

“What you have just told me. The boy deserves the truth, he has earned that much,” Laretinor states. “And will you also tell him the truth about Morgarth?” she asks. He answers, “No, my dear. I will not share with him that this is the same monster that destroyed your mortal form and also brought such misery to his mother, our granddaughter Enmellonie. His dwarven companion is already on a quest of vengeance, as another of Celina’s companions will also be once he discovers whose mortal body the Morgarth evil currently occupies. It is best that we keep Celena’s thoughts from being distracted by such information.”

“That is wise,” Annona comments, adding “Please make him aware that you may not be able to contact him again. He has always sought your guidance in times of despair or confusion. You will not be able to access Celina through his dreams at the final location where they must travel, and he must not become dependent on your advice.” Laretinor answers, “Yes. I know. I have been visiting him far less frequently now that his skills and confidence have grown. I always knew that the time for separation would come, as has he, but a final goodbye at this time would also create an unnecessary distraction for him. It is best that this separation just be temporary. I will save that final conversation until this quest is complete.”

 

[ejja_1]

Celina cancelled the spell he had charged his arrow with, and placed his weapons upon his back once more. He stepped from the branch into the open air, and floated down like a leaf on a gentle breeze. He landed just behind Drakhar, and placed his hand upon his shoulder. " I felt it too friend dwarf, we have future business with that one." Drakher turned and looked into Celinas eyes, and for a moment his face held nothing but sorrow. But then his usual mask of grim grumpiness returned.
" Remove your hand from me elf, unless you want I should keep it for mine own."
Celinas jerked his hand back quickly.
" Yes my friend dwarf, ill remember not to do that again."
Drakhar smiled. " Yes make sure that you do. Now lets move on, my bruises have almost healed from our last ride. Time to make some fresh ones eh?!"
Celinas smiled at the dwarfs unusual attempt at humor, and decided to file this little miracle in the back of his mind for later use in an epic poem he was writing about their travels.
The pair retrieved their horses and mounted up, kicking their mounts into a gallop to catch the others.

 

[Darth Shoju]

Rix heard Finn call his name from a few feet away. Ah...he's sobered up long enough to realize what's going on. Mused the wan little man. Maybe he'll get used to taking charge and get us organized. Gods know we could use it. Setting his jaw, Rix turned to regard Drakhar. He saw Celina descend from the branches of a nearby tree and have words with the burly warrior. Slipping easily into the nearby shadows, the diminutive burglar attuned his sharp ears to their conversation.

Hmmm...the dwarf seems to be more receptive to the elf than usual, despite the defacement of his family's helm. An encouraging sign. Perhaps Finn will have an easier time pulling us together than I thought. At this Rix felt eyes upon him and swiftly looked ahead to where the others had headed into the forest. Gnorvald stood there, looking directly at him. The illusionist wore a strange expression on his face. Uncomfortable being the target of scutiny for a change, Rix gave the man an awkward nod. Gnorvald continued his intense stare for several more moments before returning the nod and heading into the bush.

That one bears watching, thought Rix. He's up to something, although I'm not sure what. I wonder if his magical trickery is always in our best interest. There was something about his behaviour at the ancient temple. But I suppose for now we have more immediate concerns...

Pulling his cowl low over his brow, Rix followed his companions into the forest. His dark eyes remained alert, scouring the foliage for any hint of a white mask.

[edit; changed my original post to keep from contradicting ejja_1's post. And to fix some of my poor grammar ]

 

[Silver Moon]

The sound of the rooster crowing at the adjacent farm woke Brieanna from her restful slumber. “Another day ahead of us” she said to the dog lying by her side, “Come along Skigs, let’s see what we can find to keep ourselves busy today”. She rose and exited from the once abandoned barn that had been her home for the past two years. The farmer who owned this particular tract of land had voiced no objection to her settling in it, seeing the benefit of having a trained druid nearby. The arrangement had been mutually beneficial, as she not only kept the structure in fine repair but had also acted as mid-wife during difficult births of his livestock. The farmer, in turn, gave her this shelter, all of the privacy that she required, and also did his best to keep the locals from bothering her.

She began the day by checking on the injured and recovering animals under her care. At this point in time the menagerie included a golden eagle with an injured wing, a bear whose leg had been mangled in a hunter’s trap, and clutch of six newly born baby otters whose mother had been killed by a predator. Brianna spent time with each, talking softly to them and then providing them each with a nutritious breakfast. Next she saw to breakfast for herself and her long-time companion, the mutt named Skiggles. The dog was the offspring of a large golden-colored working dog and a short tan-colored castle dog, having inherited the best personality traits of both his parents.

It was a warm sunny day, and a morning run was in order. She draped a cloth jerkin across her upper body, feeling that her wearing the constraining material was both silly and unnecessary, however the farmer had emphasized that the neighbors complained whenever she ran around without the benefit of attire. Brianna wondered if she would ever understand human customs. She charged across the field as fast as her hooves would carry her, the dog having difficulty catching up. This was the aspect of life that she enjoyed most, the freedom and openness of being one with the land. The centaur society in which she was raised was far too rules-oriented for her to have stayed there, although her need to leave was something that her parents would never truly understand.

She reached the lake and charged right into it, beginning her morning bath. The dog soon joined her in the water, dog paddling about. A short while later a sparrow flew down and landed on her right shoulder. Brianna shared a special empathy to the creatures she had come to know, and immediately noted that the bird was agitated. She conversed with it using the rudimentary sounds they had learned to share, interpreting that it had seen strangers in the valley. “I’d better check this out,” she decided, and commanded the dog to return to the barn.

She climbed out of the water, shook herself off, and then began a druidic transformation. Her body began to shrink, although from her perspective it appeared that the ground was rushing up towards her. Her rear legs became claws, her nose became a beak, and feathers sprouted out upon her body. When the change was completed she and the sparrow looked to be mirror images of each other. They took to the sky, and flew westward. They were soon above the far fields. Her avian friend led her onward, lowering as they neared a dilapidated wall that marked the border of the farmer’s lands.

A group of five adventurers were standing alongside the wall. Their mounts were grazing nearby. As Brianna neared, she could tell that they consisted of five males of various races. "Humans, dwarf, elf and gnome? What an odd combination to be together?" she thought. What she did not realize was that she had just reached another of life’s crossroads, as she was destined to join these men, and one other, for an epic adventure that would forever alter the path of both her own life as well as that of the world around her.

 

[Silver Moon]

Drakhar had not spoken to anyone for the past three hours. While most of the party was willing to give him his time alone, Finn was becoming impatient. They had finally decided to stop for a brief lunch break, and give the mounts a chance to graze.

Finn approached the Dwarf and asked "Do you have any more of that New Rockhome Dwarven Rotgut? I could really use some right about now." The dwarf extracts a metal flask from his pack, and thows it at the cleric with such force that it collides with Finn, and drives him back several feet, falling down beside the rock wall.

Rix turns to Drakhar and comments "Was that really necessary? We are supposed to be working as a team". Drakhar grumbles "He didn't seem to mind." The party looks towards the wall, to see Finn still lying on the ground, happily drinking from the flask.

Two sparrows land on the wall nearby, catching Celina's attention. He approaches the birds, which fly up into a nearby tree. "That's odd," the bard comments, "birds usually like me." "Good thing somebody does," the dwarf comments, as he walks over to the wall and pulls the flask from Finn's hands. Celina thinks to himself, "Good, it's about time things got back to normal."

 

[ejja_1]

Celina pulls his lute from his back, and strums it thoughtfully.
"Come sing with me brothers
A song for the ages
A song full of mages
where warriors rage and spill blood everywhere

A song about hero's
A song about damsels
A song that they'll sing
Long after were dust

We'll sing of our travels to lands farway
We'll sing of our glories and how we saved the day
We'll sing of our fortunes and those we have lost
We'll sing of rewards and also the cost

So come join me friends and lets celebrate life
For the darkness will come and envelope us soon
We'll drink and we'll dance and we'll act quite insane
As we look upon the face of the moon.

Celina smiled to himself. " Wouldst thou avian brothers join me in lunch? I have plenty of bread to share." Celina broke off a few pieces and scattered them in the air among the tree branchs.
The birds came no closer, and only cocked their heads in curiosity.
" Are you shy little ones? Well enough then, you may feast upon them when we are gone."

 

[alsih2o]

Sedge surveyed the party as he chewed the sweet new growth of the grasses at the edge of camp and longed for oats. Carrying a man was obviously below his station in life, but who knows how long it would take this particular batch of simpletons to realize he was so much more than a horse.
Watching these fools bumble through life arguing with one another reminded him of the old days, when he was no more than a wizards apprentice. Back when the constant shuffling and jostling for favor with the older wizards had first pushed him to experiment with the dark arts.
Three more years in this massive clumsy form and his punishment would be up, unless of course he could muster some way of convincing these misguided fools to change him back.

He remembered their last fight with that pety sorcerer kobold, he had clearly recognized the incantations for dispelling and had burst forward hoping to making into the radius of the spell, only to be chastised by his "owner" for being disobedient.


Soon, soon he would eb free of this damned enchantment and that dimwit whi spent too lazy hoursa on his back would be the first to pay.

 

[alsih2o]

*Break in story* yes finn is the human, and is celina a girl or guy? Not that it matters, and it is humorous.*

i actually introduced the human and named him rix, shory for veringterix, but that got lost somewhere