Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Broccli_Head" data-source="post: 775532" data-attributes="member: 105">Happy St. Patrick's Day!Early Summer, 1378, Year of the Cauldron "I hate these woods!" yelled the mage to his travelling companion. His companion raised an eyebrow and continued to march, maintaining a distance of exactly five paces. He gave no response. Instead he continued to watch the woods his eyes constantly in motion taking in very detail. Amazingly, the man wore full mithral plate armor and made less noise by his careful steps than the sorcerer in front of him. "And I hate walking!"He stopped and turned around to eye his fellow walker and remove a stone from his boot. His friend also halted, but continued to move his eyes back and forth. "These elves are really hard to find. I hate this! I hate this! I hate this! I'm getting tired of being "messenger boy"! I know, I know Aris said, 'You won't be able to find them. They'll have to find you.'"His partner remained impassive even as the mage hopped on one foot to put his boot back on. Finished, the mage shook his fists, "You're no help!"The mithral-clad knight sprang towards the young sorcerer, drawing his great sword from the scabbard on his back in one smooth motion, and knocked him to ground. An green-fletched arrow pinged off his armored chest a half-second later. In an even tone, the warrior responded, "It seems that someone has."The mage rolled over and came up in a crouch, arcane energy welling up in his balled fists."Hold!" came a voice from the trees. A troop of Wild elves melted from the surrounding vegetation, bows drawn. One they recognized, and this one, a wild elven female with burn-scarred flesh upon her face, approached the pair.  "Should I take her now?" asked the mage.The warrior shook his head but did not let down his guard. The elven woman signed to the others and they lowered their bows. "Aris will not like this," spoke the knight as he watched the hand-signals transfer back and forth between the wild elves, understanding most of it. "These two strangers are friends of the Chosen," spoke the elven woman. "Good to see you too, Talindra," spoke the mage rising to his feet and dusting off his clothes. "I will take you to him.""I see that you have the same wonderful personality as well."The armored knight elbowed the mage and sheathed his weapon."What? I'm just trying to be nice. Lighten up the tension...""Lady Talindra," spoke the mithral-clad knight bowing, "please lead us to Ellysidell."Talindra narrowed her eyes at the both of the them and motioned for them to follow. They continued through the forest now escorted by these wild elves and not a word passed among them. *Talindra led Nosr and Kyros to a clearing deep in Cormanthor, the Elven Woods that dominated the Dalelands in Faerun's heartland. There they were escorted to a tent well camouflaged to look like the surrounding forest. Talindra pulled back the flap. Ellysidell kneeled on the floor. Surrounded by several other wild elves, he drew pictures in the dirt. Apparently, they were planning some sort of raid. He looked up as Talindra made a short, high-pitched whistle. His eyes beamed as he saw his two former adventuring companions.Nosr spoke before he could, stepping in front of Talindra, "Do you know, how long it took us to find you?!"Ellysidell double-blinked. Kyros spoke, "Lord Ellysidell, Chosen of Fenmarel Mestarine, please do not mind Nosr. He is a bundle of emotions more and more lately especially as the day approaches."The Chosen gave Kyros a quizzical look. "So you are finally here to aid me in my campaign against the children of the Spider Queen?"It was Nosr and Kyros's turn to be surprised. "Not exactly. I'm here to give you this."Nosr held out and envelope. Talindra took it from his hand and presented it to Ellysidell, half-kneeling before him, eyes downcast. Ellysidell looked disappointed and then shifted from where he was kneeling looking suddenly uncomfortable. Kyros examined the exchanges and pursed his lips retreating to the depths of  his mind to contemplate the myriad of reactions in the room. Nosr broke the tension. "Just open it so we can get this over with and Kyros and I can get out of here."Another expression of hurt crossed Ellysidell's mind, "So Aris is not going to send any men?"Nosr looked at the ceiling of the tent and sighed, "No he is not! Okay! Open the letter...please."Kyros thought he heard a low growl from Talindra. Ellysidell tore the letter in half and tossed it back towards Nosr. "Tell him--"The wild elf stopped as golden leaves spilled from the pieces of the envelope, disintegrated into goldend dust and formed a message."Tell him what?" asked Nosr already impatient and outwardly ansy to get out the tent and the woods."I don't know...," replied Ellysidell, his voice trailing away as he stared at the words."Well there's no RSVP. So come if you want. I have to go.  Aaarrghh! The next one's gonna be even harder. Kyros?"Nosr whirled around to leave, very distraught. Kyros felt guilty as well, but tried to remain calm. He looked at the faces of the wild elves around him. He noticed scars. Some were fresh. He saw desperation. "I am sorry Ellysidell. I would stay, but..."He spoke barely over a whisper and turned to leave before Ellysidell shot him again with that look. Nosr and Kyros then disappeared in a "poof" leaving a trace of ozone behind. *Ellysidell sat hands wrapped around his knees in the middle of the clearing. Rain poured down steadily and puddles formed around him. Talindra sat on her heels near him. "What will you do, Chosen? Will you go?""I think that I must, Talindra. Our raid will have to wait.""What about our fight here? Your friends have not helped you. Where have they been for these five years? Now when they call, you go, dropping everything."Ellysidell remained quiet as Talindra's strong and fervent words came at him. "I am sorry, Ell-, Chosen. I speak out of place."The rain continued to fall."May I go with you?"Ellysidell looked at Talindra. "No, Talindra. You must stay here and see to the rest. I shall return soon."Talindra looked away."As you wish, Chosen?"Ellysidell rose to leave. Talindra looked up, "Chosen, what do you see in me?"Ellysidell looked past her and made an awkward face."I will leave in the morning. Take the others to the lake and meet me near the elven communities there. You know the spot?Talindra nodded her head and continued to look down as Ellysidell returned to his tent. The wild elven woman looked at her reflection in the pool of water below her. Seeing her scarred face, the legacy of the humans who had tortured her and left her for dead, she began to weep, grateful that the rain hid her tears.</blockquote>

Verification