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[FR] Seven Swords of Myth Drannor...[Updated 2-4...A Mother's Lullaby]
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<blockquote data-quote="Celtavian" data-source="post: 1133779" data-attributes="member: 5834"><p><strong>Session 1: Serendipitous Meetings...</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session 1: Serendipitous Meetings…</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Eleasis 7, 1372, Year of Wild Magic…</em></p><p></p><p> The beauty of the Cormanthor Forest in the summer is unrivaled. Green leaves and flowery vines rest upon thousand year old trees like beautifully woven clothes making the forest seem alike to a kingdom of majestic tree kings and queens born in a time of forgotten magnificence. These kings and queens of the forest stand tall and unbent silently remembering legendary times when they called the elves their kin.</p><p></p><p> This beauty is but a veneer for the Cormanthor is filled with shadows, shadows that hide many perils for those who would enter the ancient elven forest in search of adventure. For though one may find the way to the ruins of Myth Drannor, once the greatest city of magic ever to exist in the realms save for the flying cities of Netheril , one could just as easily find the way to the lair of a hungry green dragon; such is the mystery, majesty, and malice to be found within. </p><p></p><p> Even with so many perils, many still linger. Some who have called the Cormanthor home for years longer than elven memory such as fey folk and dragons unchanged and unwilling to change. Others are newly arrived usurpers seeking to turn the Cormanthor into a realm of darkness. For within the ancient forest a war is being fought, a war without end as the old inhabitants battle the new for the soul of the forest.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Two pairs of pale blue eyes watched the hill giant pace back and forth as it searched the surroundings for intruders. Fortunately, this hill giant, being not very keen as was usual for its kind, did not see the two dark elven women to whom the pale blue eyes belonged hidden amongst the trees that surrounded the encampment of camouflaged tents it was guarding. </p><p></p><p>Beyond the giant, several cloaked dark elves moved back and forth amongst the tents. They were stowing gear and preparing to break camp. Near the center of the camp stood the obvious leaders of this shadowy lot, a dark elven man dressed in the robes of a mage and an armored dark elven woman bearing the religious trappings of a Lolthite. </p><p></p><p>“This giant will do as it is told, will it not?” said the Lolthite.</p><p></p><p>“Yes. It will do as ‘I’ tell it” the dark elven mage replied.</p><p></p><p>“How long till the human patrol is in position for our ambush?” said the Lolthite.</p><p></p><p>“Not long, I have scried upon them. They are skirting the wood as we speak. I would estimate their arrival in two hours at the latest. We will be in position and well-prepared by then” replied the dark elven mage.</p><p></p><p>“Good. I look forward to killing these humans. We will teach them with great pain and suffering the difference between the elves they know and the elves they will learn to fear. These lesser races think we have forgotten them, that they have driven us below. Now they will know that Lolth’s eyes have once again turned towards the sunlit realms. Soon they will toil under the dominion of the drow as they have in the past” the Lolthite spoke with venom.</p><p></p><p>The dark elven mage turned his head away and smirked while replying in the most respectful voice he could muster, “More slaves to serve and sacrifices to abate our dear Spider Queen.”</p><p></p><p>“Lolth’s favor will be great if we succeed” the Lolthite snapped while looking evilly at the dark elf mage, “and her punishment will be equally as great if we fail. Be sure that we do not fail.”</p><p></p><p>That finished the conversation. The dark elven mage gave orders to the cloaked dark elves and the hill giant. The hill giant set off first moving noisily through the forest. Shortly thereafter, the campsite was non-existent. The cloaked dark elves and their leaders set off through the wood following well behind the noisy giant. They moved quickly and quietly unseen by any save the two dark elven women who had remained hidden in the nearby trees protected from keen elven eyes by elven cloaks. </p><p></p><p>The two dark elven women marked the movements of the troop, and then moved quietly and warily through the wood to their own campsite. Uthar’zen, an extraordinarily tall and muscular dark elf male with short-cropped white hair and pale silver eyes, stood waiting anxiously for their return. His well-manicured hand resting upon the hilt of his finely made rapier. The two women suddenly appeared as if they had walked out of the trees, such was the magic of their elven cloaks. He tensed ready for battle.</p><p></p><p>“Worry not my love. It is I and my sister” Phallon said as she pulled back the hood of her cloak and stood on her tiptoes giving Uthar’zen a kiss on the cheek. He put his arms around her and lifted her from the ground kissing her full on the lips.</p><p></p><p>“They move to ambush a patrol of humans from the Dalelands. I have walked in this part of the forest. We are near Mistledale, so most likely they ambush the Riders” said Thourne as she too pulled back the hood of her cloak.</p><p></p><p>The two dark elven women were identical twins. Both lovely beyond words, they represented the quintessential vision of dark elven beauty having long silvery hair and lithe, athletic, and muscular figures well-developed in all the right places. Their angular elven faces possessed a beauty commonly seen amongst the fey, most alike to dryads and nymphs who are considered the fairest of the fey. Their pale blue eyes, a most striking oddity amongst the dark elves, enhanced their already considerable beauty. </p><p></p><p>The only discernible difference in appearance between them was their hair. Thourne’s long, wavy hair was worn in a loosely tethered pony tail with small leafy twigs and flowers adorning it, while Phallon’s hair was made up of many tight micro braids which she let hang loosely over her body. Both had not cut their hair in years so that it now descended a little past their knees in length.</p><p></p><p>“How many did you count?” Uthar’zen inquired. He set Phallon down and caressed her hair. He couldn’t resist kissing her again on the forehead.</p><p></p><p>“At least ten soldiers and two others, there are probably more that we did not see” the twins stated in unison.</p><p></p><p>Uthar’zen grinned. The twin’s propensity to speak concurrently always amused him. “What are we to do, my twin queens?”</p><p></p><p>“Wait. We cannot defeat them all. There is a cleric of Lolth amongst them…” said Thourne.</p><p></p><p>“…and a mage who has a giant as a servant” said Phallon who spoke exactly as her sister finished so it seemed as though they spoke with one voice.</p><p></p><p>“Then we are overmatched?” said Uthar’zen.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, and I don’t believe Tavitha will arrive with aid in time, so the three of us will need to act” the twins said in unison.</p><p></p><p>“What then is our plan?” said Uthar’zen.</p><p></p><p>“We will watch from the wood awaiting the commencement of the ambush…” said Thourne.</p><p></p><p>“…then we will attack from the rear hopefully drawing off some of the brigands…” said Phallon.</p><p></p><p>“…the Riders are known to be competent warriors…” said Thourne.</p><p></p><p>“…hopefully with our assistance…” said Phallon.</p><p></p><p>“…they will be able to defeat the ambush” the twins said in unison.</p><p></p><p>Uthar’zen nodded. “That seems a most reasonable plan. Let us see it through.”</p><p></p><p>The twins nodded. “Let’s move”</p><p></p><p>Thourne tracked the cloaked dark elves, her sister and Uthar’zen followed, all moving as quietly as stalking animals. The trail led them to the edge of the forest that bordered Mistledale. They hid amongst the trees within sight of the open grassland that lay just beyond the forest’s edge. </p><p></p><p>“I see no one. They are hidden well, probably using <em>piwafwi</em>” Uthar’zen said after unsuccessfully searching for any sign of the hidden dark elves.</p><p></p><p>“It will be difficult to detect them until they attack. Keep sharp and await their movements. They will show themselves soon enough” the twins responded.</p><p></p><p>“What about the mage” Uthar’zen asked.</p><p></p><p>“I have called for aid in dealing with the mage. Hopefully it will come” said Thourne.</p><p>“What aid? Did we not agree that Tavitha would not arrive in time?” said Phallon, as both she and Uthar’zen looked at Thourne with surprised curiosity.</p><p></p><p>“Not Tavitha or other Eilistraeean’s…You will see soon enough…I hope” Thourne replied.</p><p></p><p>* * * *</p><p></p><p></p><p>“Holly, where are we?” Kaela said in a bewildered tone.</p><p></p><p>Holly looked up through the canopy of trees. She couldn’t get a good look at the sun, so she wasn’t sure what direction they were going in. She pulled the map out of her magic haversack and studied it for a few moments. “We should be getting close to Myth Drannor. We’ve already been traveling for nearly a tenday. I don’t understand why we haven’t found even a trace of the ruins. Maybe I am reading the map wrong.”</p><p></p><p>“Or maybe that shyster Feldon sold you a false map” quipped Braydin, “Let me take a look at the map, see if I can figure out where we are.” </p><p></p><p>Holly glared at Braydin. The Halfling was getting on her last nerve.</p><p></p><p>Braydin just smiled big and held out his small hand. “C’mon, let me see the map. I can’t see it from down here. Anyhow, maybe if I lead, you won’t walk so fast and leave me behind. I can’t keep up with your long legs and fast pace. These short Halfling legs can only go so fast for the love of the gods.”</p><p></p><p>Holly chuckled, “Long legs? Maybe to you, but my legs are considered short and stout by human standards. My sister Jahlyl has long legs, if you see her, then you’ll know what long legs are.”</p><p></p><p>“Long legs or no, you walk too fast. Now let me see the map.”</p><p></p><p>Holly reluctantly handed the map to Braydin. “You know these lands better than I, so take a look. Maybe you can figure out where we are.” </p><p></p><p>Braydin had been slowing them down all day. Holly hadn’t been too keen on taking a Halfling along in the first place, and now she had a good reason why she wouldn’t take a Halfling on her next trip: they walk too slow!</p><p></p><p>Otherwise, he hadn’t been so bad. He was quite a good scout and had sharp eyes and ears for trouble. Already they had avoided a confrontation with a bear and got the jump on a group of brigands due to Braydin’s scouting. She was mainly worried about his well-being. To Holly, Halflings looked like children. “It wouldn’t do to allow harm to come to a child” she had said to Kaela “I’ve seen enough dying to last me a lifetime.” Kaela had assured her that Halflings made the best scouts and that it would be an insult to treat a Halfling like a child. So she had relented to allow Braydin to come along, which so far had been good advice. </p><p></p><p>“Well, Braydin, can you do any better than Holly?” Kaela asked. “I’m sick of walking and my feet hurt.” She sat on the ground. </p><p></p><p>“Well, if I were to venture a guess, I’d say we’re somewhere near Mistledale. The forest seems familiar, but without having a good look around, I can’t be sure. Anyhow, we’re nowhere near Myth Drannor. I’ve never been to Myth Drannor, but I’ve been here before.”</p><p></p><p>Holly stood behind Braydin and looked over him at the map, “Are you sure? Maybe you just don’t remember.”</p><p></p><p>“I remember just fine. This isn’t new territory, just the same old wood bordering the Dalelands, probably near Mistledale.” Braydin studied the map some more. “If we keep following this map, we’ll probably end up back in Battledale or maybe make it all the way to Harrowdale. It’s a fake, and following this map won’t get us to Myth Drannor. That shyster Feldon probably sold you a map of his trip around the Dalelands.”</p><p></p><p>Holly took the map back. She ran her hand through her short, windswept black hair as she looked it over trying to find something she had missed. She refused to believe she had been conned. “We’ll try veering a little to our east. That should bring us out of the wood and allow us to get our bearings.” She thought to herself ‘I hope I didn’t pay the last of my gold for a fake map.’</p><p></p><p>Holly had bought the map from a human mage named Feldon during the Shieldmeet in Essembra. It had taken her over a week to find someone willing to sell a map to Myth Drannor. Most folk both adventurer and commoner alike didn’t want to send such a young girl to her presumed death. But the human mage she bought it from didn’t seem to mind. At the time she thought it was a lucky break, but now she was wondering if Feldon wasn’t thinking the same thing because he had found such a gullible fool to pawn his map off on for a hefty price. </p><p></p><p>Holly could feel Kaela’s eyes on her. Kaela had been certain the map was false, but Holly had insisted on buying it anyhow. She didn’t like being wrong, especially in the eyes of a friend who didn’t know the first thing about woodcraft. </p><p></p><p>Braydin sighed, “Fine, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if that’s where this map leads. No use trying to get you to believe me.”</p><p></p><p>Kaela studied Holly for a moment, “Braydin is from these lands. Don’t you think we should heed him on the matter of the map? We can find someone else to show us the way to Myth Drannor.”</p><p></p><p>“Are you two coming?” Holly said tersely. “Just give it a few more days at the least, and if we don’t find our way, we’ll head to a town and start again. I have faith that Shaundakul will provide the way, whether it is this map or some other way. We just have to keep on going.” </p><p></p><p>Kaela said resignedly, “So be it, let’s go on.” </p><p></p><p>They set out through the forest again.</p><p></p><p>* * * *</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>A group of seven well-armed, lightly armored horsemen rode in a loose formation along a part of the Cormanthor forest that bordered Mistledale. With them rode one heavily armored knight wearing a strange helmet in the shape of a dragon’s head. They traveled at a slow gallop surveying the forest for any sign of trouble. </p><p></p><p>“Keep alert. The drow are like shadows under the eaves of the forest. Be wary of any movement, even if you think your eyes are foolin’ with ya” commanded Beorn Oldbear, a large man with ruddy skin and flaming red hair who had heard of and been in many ambushes during his thirty plus years as a Rider of Mistledale. </p><p></p><p>The drow were the worst ambushers he had ever faced often using magic to mask their presence striking only when assured of a swift and merciless victory. He rode at the head of the group of horsemen hoping that his experience would allow him to spot an ambush before too many of his men died.</p><p></p><p>“Sergeant, ahead, something near the trees, ahead and to our right, look” a Rider to Beorn’s right exclaimed.</p><p></p><p>Beorn looked in the direction the Rider had indicated. There was indeed a large figure near a copse of trees that lay a short distance from the forest border. The figure stepped into the open.</p><p></p><p>“A GIANT! Spread out in a flanking pattern, three to the left and two to the right. Use your bows at a distance while I close. Vaevictus, Lar, follow me in” Beorn commanded while drawing his longsword from it’s sheathe and urging his horse forward. </p><p></p><p>Vaevictus, the heavily armored knight, and Lar, a fair-haired young rider bearing the holy symbol of Torm about his neck, urged their steeds forward. </p><p></p><p>“It seems we are being called to duty Vaevictus. We go to battle brother” said Lar.</p><p></p><p>“Good, I tire of waiting for the shadows to strike. Let us fight an evil we can see” replied Vaevictus in a deep, growling voice unlike any human voice ever heard.</p><p></p><p>The riders hailed the hill giant with arrows while Beorn, Vaevictus and Lar advanced. The arrows mostly glanced off the thick hides that covered it. </p><p>The hill giant fished inside a large sack that hung on its worn leather belt. It pulled out a rock the size of a man’s head and threw it like a child might throw a skiprock onto the surface of a pond. The rock flew through the air and slammed into a rider nearly knocking him from his horse. </p><p></p><p>‘THWACK’!!! The rider groaned as he felt several of his ribs fracture.</p><p></p><p>Beorn pushed his steed faster, he knew the riders were no match for a rock throwing giant. He charged the hill giant shouting a battlecry while striking fiercely at it. Vaevictus maneuvered his steed to Beorn’s left and swung his Greatsword at the hill giant. </p><p></p><p>A terrible battle ensued. The hill giant pulled forth a greatclub that it had tucked in its worn leather belt and swung it with force enough to crush the skull of a common soldier. Beorn took the lion’s share of the blows, and was sorely wounded. He and Vaevictus had yet to strike a serious blow against the hill giant. </p><p></p><p>“Lar, I need Torm’s aid. Get over here now, priest” he shouted.</p><p></p><p> Lar had turned his horse aside to help the rider who had been struck by the giant’s rocks. Lar remounted his steed and rode to Beorn’s rear. He chanted a prayer while touching his hand upon the old sergeant, the power of Torm flowed through him providing invigoration and healing.</p><p></p><p> “Torm is with you Beorn. Fight till your duty is done in victory or death” said Lar.</p><p></p><p> The fight raged on. Again, the hill giant wounded Beorn forcing him to retreat from battle. </p><p></p><p>“Fight on Vaevictus; you are the only one who can withstand its fury” uttered Beorn as he eased his horse back from the battle. But the hill giant wasn’t going to let Beorn go so easily. Vaevictus used what strength he had left to draw its attention from the old sergeant.</p><p></p><p> “Come giant, to the death” shouted Vaevictus as he lifted the visor of his helmet revealing an elongated draconic mouth and nose covered in silver scales from which he unleashed a cone of misty white cold that froze the blood of the hill giant. It howled in pain and turned towards Vaevictus with a look of rage upon its ugly face. </p><p></p><p>The hill giant charged. Its huge greatclub held above its head in both hands. </p><p>Vaevictus and his steed stood firm as he called upon the power of Torm smiting down the evil hill giant with one powerful blow from his greatsword. The giant’s entrails spilled forth and it fell backward making a loud thud. Its blood wet the ground where it lay dead.</p><p></p><p> Cheers went up from the Riders and Beorn. Lar rode to his brother’s side to congratulate him on a well-fought victory. </p><p></p><p> “Well done brother. You have proven yourself the strong arm of Torm as our father said you would.” Lar had a look of great pride upon his face.</p><p></p><p> Beorn and the other Riders rode towards Vaevictus. They drew closer together as they approached and stopped a short distance behind Lar.</p><p></p><p> “That was the mightiest blow I’ve ever seen in all my years as a Rider, well done lad, well done” Beorn said with muted awe. </p><p></p><p> “Torm has given me strength to use for the good of Mistledale. I served only as an instrument of Torm’s will. I thank you for your compliment Sgt. Oldbear and I encourage you to give similar praise to Torm in your prayers” Vaevictus replied humbly. “Lar, my body is hurt, but my spirit is still strong enough to do my duties. Call upon Torm to heal me, so that we may return to them.”</p><p></p><p> Lar healed his brother of his injuries using what was left of the Power Torm had given him for the day. “It is done.”</p><p></p><p> Vaevictus patted his brother on the shoulder. “We have served Torm well today.”</p><p></p><p> Lar smiled at Vaevictus. His boyish face still beaming with pride. “You are too kind brother. It is your powerful swordarm that has won the day. I am just glad that I was here to witness the beginning of your great deeds.”</p><p></p><p> Vaevictus replied encouragingly, “Our great deeds brother, our great deeds, all for the glory of Torm.”</p><p></p><p> “For the glory of Torm” Lar replied as he set his hand upon Vaevictus’s opposite shoulder. </p><p></p><p>Both hoped that this was the beginning of a life of honorable and glorious service to Torm.</p><p></p><p><em>To be continued...</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Celtavian, post: 1133779, member: 5834"] [b]Session 1: Serendipitous Meetings...[/b] [B]Session 1: Serendipitous Meetings…[/B] [I]Eleasis 7, 1372, Year of Wild Magic…[/I] The beauty of the Cormanthor Forest in the summer is unrivaled. Green leaves and flowery vines rest upon thousand year old trees like beautifully woven clothes making the forest seem alike to a kingdom of majestic tree kings and queens born in a time of forgotten magnificence. These kings and queens of the forest stand tall and unbent silently remembering legendary times when they called the elves their kin. This beauty is but a veneer for the Cormanthor is filled with shadows, shadows that hide many perils for those who would enter the ancient elven forest in search of adventure. For though one may find the way to the ruins of Myth Drannor, once the greatest city of magic ever to exist in the realms save for the flying cities of Netheril , one could just as easily find the way to the lair of a hungry green dragon; such is the mystery, majesty, and malice to be found within. Even with so many perils, many still linger. Some who have called the Cormanthor home for years longer than elven memory such as fey folk and dragons unchanged and unwilling to change. Others are newly arrived usurpers seeking to turn the Cormanthor into a realm of darkness. For within the ancient forest a war is being fought, a war without end as the old inhabitants battle the new for the soul of the forest. Two pairs of pale blue eyes watched the hill giant pace back and forth as it searched the surroundings for intruders. Fortunately, this hill giant, being not very keen as was usual for its kind, did not see the two dark elven women to whom the pale blue eyes belonged hidden amongst the trees that surrounded the encampment of camouflaged tents it was guarding. Beyond the giant, several cloaked dark elves moved back and forth amongst the tents. They were stowing gear and preparing to break camp. Near the center of the camp stood the obvious leaders of this shadowy lot, a dark elven man dressed in the robes of a mage and an armored dark elven woman bearing the religious trappings of a Lolthite. “This giant will do as it is told, will it not?” said the Lolthite. “Yes. It will do as ‘I’ tell it” the dark elven mage replied. “How long till the human patrol is in position for our ambush?” said the Lolthite. “Not long, I have scried upon them. They are skirting the wood as we speak. I would estimate their arrival in two hours at the latest. We will be in position and well-prepared by then” replied the dark elven mage. “Good. I look forward to killing these humans. We will teach them with great pain and suffering the difference between the elves they know and the elves they will learn to fear. These lesser races think we have forgotten them, that they have driven us below. Now they will know that Lolth’s eyes have once again turned towards the sunlit realms. Soon they will toil under the dominion of the drow as they have in the past” the Lolthite spoke with venom. The dark elven mage turned his head away and smirked while replying in the most respectful voice he could muster, “More slaves to serve and sacrifices to abate our dear Spider Queen.” “Lolth’s favor will be great if we succeed” the Lolthite snapped while looking evilly at the dark elf mage, “and her punishment will be equally as great if we fail. Be sure that we do not fail.” That finished the conversation. The dark elven mage gave orders to the cloaked dark elves and the hill giant. The hill giant set off first moving noisily through the forest. Shortly thereafter, the campsite was non-existent. The cloaked dark elves and their leaders set off through the wood following well behind the noisy giant. They moved quickly and quietly unseen by any save the two dark elven women who had remained hidden in the nearby trees protected from keen elven eyes by elven cloaks. The two dark elven women marked the movements of the troop, and then moved quietly and warily through the wood to their own campsite. Uthar’zen, an extraordinarily tall and muscular dark elf male with short-cropped white hair and pale silver eyes, stood waiting anxiously for their return. His well-manicured hand resting upon the hilt of his finely made rapier. The two women suddenly appeared as if they had walked out of the trees, such was the magic of their elven cloaks. He tensed ready for battle. “Worry not my love. It is I and my sister” Phallon said as she pulled back the hood of her cloak and stood on her tiptoes giving Uthar’zen a kiss on the cheek. He put his arms around her and lifted her from the ground kissing her full on the lips. “They move to ambush a patrol of humans from the Dalelands. I have walked in this part of the forest. We are near Mistledale, so most likely they ambush the Riders” said Thourne as she too pulled back the hood of her cloak. The two dark elven women were identical twins. Both lovely beyond words, they represented the quintessential vision of dark elven beauty having long silvery hair and lithe, athletic, and muscular figures well-developed in all the right places. Their angular elven faces possessed a beauty commonly seen amongst the fey, most alike to dryads and nymphs who are considered the fairest of the fey. Their pale blue eyes, a most striking oddity amongst the dark elves, enhanced their already considerable beauty. The only discernible difference in appearance between them was their hair. Thourne’s long, wavy hair was worn in a loosely tethered pony tail with small leafy twigs and flowers adorning it, while Phallon’s hair was made up of many tight micro braids which she let hang loosely over her body. Both had not cut their hair in years so that it now descended a little past their knees in length. “How many did you count?” Uthar’zen inquired. He set Phallon down and caressed her hair. He couldn’t resist kissing her again on the forehead. “At least ten soldiers and two others, there are probably more that we did not see” the twins stated in unison. Uthar’zen grinned. The twin’s propensity to speak concurrently always amused him. “What are we to do, my twin queens?” “Wait. We cannot defeat them all. There is a cleric of Lolth amongst them…” said Thourne. “…and a mage who has a giant as a servant” said Phallon who spoke exactly as her sister finished so it seemed as though they spoke with one voice. “Then we are overmatched?” said Uthar’zen. “Yes, and I don’t believe Tavitha will arrive with aid in time, so the three of us will need to act” the twins said in unison. “What then is our plan?” said Uthar’zen. “We will watch from the wood awaiting the commencement of the ambush…” said Thourne. “…then we will attack from the rear hopefully drawing off some of the brigands…” said Phallon. “…the Riders are known to be competent warriors…” said Thourne. “…hopefully with our assistance…” said Phallon. “…they will be able to defeat the ambush” the twins said in unison. Uthar’zen nodded. “That seems a most reasonable plan. Let us see it through.” The twins nodded. “Let’s move” Thourne tracked the cloaked dark elves, her sister and Uthar’zen followed, all moving as quietly as stalking animals. The trail led them to the edge of the forest that bordered Mistledale. They hid amongst the trees within sight of the open grassland that lay just beyond the forest’s edge. “I see no one. They are hidden well, probably using [I]piwafwi[/I]” Uthar’zen said after unsuccessfully searching for any sign of the hidden dark elves. “It will be difficult to detect them until they attack. Keep sharp and await their movements. They will show themselves soon enough” the twins responded. “What about the mage” Uthar’zen asked. “I have called for aid in dealing with the mage. Hopefully it will come” said Thourne. “What aid? Did we not agree that Tavitha would not arrive in time?” said Phallon, as both she and Uthar’zen looked at Thourne with surprised curiosity. “Not Tavitha or other Eilistraeean’s…You will see soon enough…I hope” Thourne replied. * * * * “Holly, where are we?” Kaela said in a bewildered tone. Holly looked up through the canopy of trees. She couldn’t get a good look at the sun, so she wasn’t sure what direction they were going in. She pulled the map out of her magic haversack and studied it for a few moments. “We should be getting close to Myth Drannor. We’ve already been traveling for nearly a tenday. I don’t understand why we haven’t found even a trace of the ruins. Maybe I am reading the map wrong.” “Or maybe that shyster Feldon sold you a false map” quipped Braydin, “Let me take a look at the map, see if I can figure out where we are.” Holly glared at Braydin. The Halfling was getting on her last nerve. Braydin just smiled big and held out his small hand. “C’mon, let me see the map. I can’t see it from down here. Anyhow, maybe if I lead, you won’t walk so fast and leave me behind. I can’t keep up with your long legs and fast pace. These short Halfling legs can only go so fast for the love of the gods.” Holly chuckled, “Long legs? Maybe to you, but my legs are considered short and stout by human standards. My sister Jahlyl has long legs, if you see her, then you’ll know what long legs are.” “Long legs or no, you walk too fast. Now let me see the map.” Holly reluctantly handed the map to Braydin. “You know these lands better than I, so take a look. Maybe you can figure out where we are.” Braydin had been slowing them down all day. Holly hadn’t been too keen on taking a Halfling along in the first place, and now she had a good reason why she wouldn’t take a Halfling on her next trip: they walk too slow! Otherwise, he hadn’t been so bad. He was quite a good scout and had sharp eyes and ears for trouble. Already they had avoided a confrontation with a bear and got the jump on a group of brigands due to Braydin’s scouting. She was mainly worried about his well-being. To Holly, Halflings looked like children. “It wouldn’t do to allow harm to come to a child” she had said to Kaela “I’ve seen enough dying to last me a lifetime.” Kaela had assured her that Halflings made the best scouts and that it would be an insult to treat a Halfling like a child. So she had relented to allow Braydin to come along, which so far had been good advice. “Well, Braydin, can you do any better than Holly?” Kaela asked. “I’m sick of walking and my feet hurt.” She sat on the ground. “Well, if I were to venture a guess, I’d say we’re somewhere near Mistledale. The forest seems familiar, but without having a good look around, I can’t be sure. Anyhow, we’re nowhere near Myth Drannor. I’ve never been to Myth Drannor, but I’ve been here before.” Holly stood behind Braydin and looked over him at the map, “Are you sure? Maybe you just don’t remember.” “I remember just fine. This isn’t new territory, just the same old wood bordering the Dalelands, probably near Mistledale.” Braydin studied the map some more. “If we keep following this map, we’ll probably end up back in Battledale or maybe make it all the way to Harrowdale. It’s a fake, and following this map won’t get us to Myth Drannor. That shyster Feldon probably sold you a map of his trip around the Dalelands.” Holly took the map back. She ran her hand through her short, windswept black hair as she looked it over trying to find something she had missed. She refused to believe she had been conned. “We’ll try veering a little to our east. That should bring us out of the wood and allow us to get our bearings.” She thought to herself ‘I hope I didn’t pay the last of my gold for a fake map.’ Holly had bought the map from a human mage named Feldon during the Shieldmeet in Essembra. It had taken her over a week to find someone willing to sell a map to Myth Drannor. Most folk both adventurer and commoner alike didn’t want to send such a young girl to her presumed death. But the human mage she bought it from didn’t seem to mind. At the time she thought it was a lucky break, but now she was wondering if Feldon wasn’t thinking the same thing because he had found such a gullible fool to pawn his map off on for a hefty price. Holly could feel Kaela’s eyes on her. Kaela had been certain the map was false, but Holly had insisted on buying it anyhow. She didn’t like being wrong, especially in the eyes of a friend who didn’t know the first thing about woodcraft. Braydin sighed, “Fine, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if that’s where this map leads. No use trying to get you to believe me.” Kaela studied Holly for a moment, “Braydin is from these lands. Don’t you think we should heed him on the matter of the map? We can find someone else to show us the way to Myth Drannor.” “Are you two coming?” Holly said tersely. “Just give it a few more days at the least, and if we don’t find our way, we’ll head to a town and start again. I have faith that Shaundakul will provide the way, whether it is this map or some other way. We just have to keep on going.” Kaela said resignedly, “So be it, let’s go on.” They set out through the forest again. * * * * A group of seven well-armed, lightly armored horsemen rode in a loose formation along a part of the Cormanthor forest that bordered Mistledale. With them rode one heavily armored knight wearing a strange helmet in the shape of a dragon’s head. They traveled at a slow gallop surveying the forest for any sign of trouble. “Keep alert. The drow are like shadows under the eaves of the forest. Be wary of any movement, even if you think your eyes are foolin’ with ya” commanded Beorn Oldbear, a large man with ruddy skin and flaming red hair who had heard of and been in many ambushes during his thirty plus years as a Rider of Mistledale. The drow were the worst ambushers he had ever faced often using magic to mask their presence striking only when assured of a swift and merciless victory. He rode at the head of the group of horsemen hoping that his experience would allow him to spot an ambush before too many of his men died. “Sergeant, ahead, something near the trees, ahead and to our right, look” a Rider to Beorn’s right exclaimed. Beorn looked in the direction the Rider had indicated. There was indeed a large figure near a copse of trees that lay a short distance from the forest border. The figure stepped into the open. “A GIANT! Spread out in a flanking pattern, three to the left and two to the right. Use your bows at a distance while I close. Vaevictus, Lar, follow me in” Beorn commanded while drawing his longsword from it’s sheathe and urging his horse forward. Vaevictus, the heavily armored knight, and Lar, a fair-haired young rider bearing the holy symbol of Torm about his neck, urged their steeds forward. “It seems we are being called to duty Vaevictus. We go to battle brother” said Lar. “Good, I tire of waiting for the shadows to strike. Let us fight an evil we can see” replied Vaevictus in a deep, growling voice unlike any human voice ever heard. The riders hailed the hill giant with arrows while Beorn, Vaevictus and Lar advanced. The arrows mostly glanced off the thick hides that covered it. The hill giant fished inside a large sack that hung on its worn leather belt. It pulled out a rock the size of a man’s head and threw it like a child might throw a skiprock onto the surface of a pond. The rock flew through the air and slammed into a rider nearly knocking him from his horse. ‘THWACK’!!! The rider groaned as he felt several of his ribs fracture. Beorn pushed his steed faster, he knew the riders were no match for a rock throwing giant. He charged the hill giant shouting a battlecry while striking fiercely at it. Vaevictus maneuvered his steed to Beorn’s left and swung his Greatsword at the hill giant. A terrible battle ensued. The hill giant pulled forth a greatclub that it had tucked in its worn leather belt and swung it with force enough to crush the skull of a common soldier. Beorn took the lion’s share of the blows, and was sorely wounded. He and Vaevictus had yet to strike a serious blow against the hill giant. “Lar, I need Torm’s aid. Get over here now, priest” he shouted. Lar had turned his horse aside to help the rider who had been struck by the giant’s rocks. Lar remounted his steed and rode to Beorn’s rear. He chanted a prayer while touching his hand upon the old sergeant, the power of Torm flowed through him providing invigoration and healing. “Torm is with you Beorn. Fight till your duty is done in victory or death” said Lar. The fight raged on. Again, the hill giant wounded Beorn forcing him to retreat from battle. “Fight on Vaevictus; you are the only one who can withstand its fury” uttered Beorn as he eased his horse back from the battle. But the hill giant wasn’t going to let Beorn go so easily. Vaevictus used what strength he had left to draw its attention from the old sergeant. “Come giant, to the death” shouted Vaevictus as he lifted the visor of his helmet revealing an elongated draconic mouth and nose covered in silver scales from which he unleashed a cone of misty white cold that froze the blood of the hill giant. It howled in pain and turned towards Vaevictus with a look of rage upon its ugly face. The hill giant charged. Its huge greatclub held above its head in both hands. Vaevictus and his steed stood firm as he called upon the power of Torm smiting down the evil hill giant with one powerful blow from his greatsword. The giant’s entrails spilled forth and it fell backward making a loud thud. Its blood wet the ground where it lay dead. Cheers went up from the Riders and Beorn. Lar rode to his brother’s side to congratulate him on a well-fought victory. “Well done brother. You have proven yourself the strong arm of Torm as our father said you would.” Lar had a look of great pride upon his face. Beorn and the other Riders rode towards Vaevictus. They drew closer together as they approached and stopped a short distance behind Lar. “That was the mightiest blow I’ve ever seen in all my years as a Rider, well done lad, well done” Beorn said with muted awe. “Torm has given me strength to use for the good of Mistledale. I served only as an instrument of Torm’s will. I thank you for your compliment Sgt. Oldbear and I encourage you to give similar praise to Torm in your prayers” Vaevictus replied humbly. “Lar, my body is hurt, but my spirit is still strong enough to do my duties. Call upon Torm to heal me, so that we may return to them.” Lar healed his brother of his injuries using what was left of the Power Torm had given him for the day. “It is done.” Vaevictus patted his brother on the shoulder. “We have served Torm well today.” Lar smiled at Vaevictus. His boyish face still beaming with pride. “You are too kind brother. It is your powerful swordarm that has won the day. I am just glad that I was here to witness the beginning of your great deeds.” Vaevictus replied encouragingly, “Our great deeds brother, our great deeds, all for the glory of Torm.” “For the glory of Torm” Lar replied as he set his hand upon Vaevictus’s opposite shoulder. Both hoped that this was the beginning of a life of honorable and glorious service to Torm. [I]To be continued...[/I] [/QUOTE]
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[FR] Seven Swords of Myth Drannor...[Updated 2-4...A Mother's Lullaby]
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