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Journal of the Souls of Legend (completed)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7893946" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>In the Mouth of Darkness - 1/18/2020</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>As a Sensate I enjoy new experiences; new people, new customs, new secrets, new places, new…anything.</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>So, should I be surprised, that for others, that I am the experience? And what does it say when people, who have barely met me are afraid of what they find?</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>And does that mean I should also be afraid?</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I shook my head, attempting to clear it. I wasn’t sure if I heard what I did, or if my mind was playing tricks on me. The confirmation that it wasn’t my imagination only put me more on edge:</p><p></p><p>--<em>Myr</em>?<em> ‘Meat bodies into loam?’ What does that even mean?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Wait, So you heard it too?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Not really…more like in my head…like you…but not you.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**Hold it…who is that in my head?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Your head? This does not make any sense. Why are you in my thoughts.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Beepu? Iesa? How are you in my mind?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>$$Master; this is all very strange. Why are there other voices?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==What the? I’m not listening to this right? You’re talking to me in my head?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%Not make sense.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%No sense.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%You stop copy me!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%No copy me!</em></p><p></p><p>I looked at the others around me, and I realized we were all silently looking at each other in confusion; the goblins, Iesa, Danneath, Beepu, Gossamer and even Foggle. We were talking like how Gossamer and I talked to each other. Our thoughts were colliding with each other faster and faster. And I was still trying to figure out how we were doing this at all.</p><p></p><p><em>$$Master I--</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--'Master?’ Really? Such formality?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Foggle is being respectful…wait who is this?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Clearly I’m Iesa.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**What, I’m Iesa! Who is that?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==I am listeni—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%-Stop too mu—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%-Noise. Can’t thi—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Gossamer stop that! Don’t confuse—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**Gossamer? I’m hearing Gossamer now!?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##We are hearing everyone, including the familiars.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>&& Let me go back to sleep dad.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Who is that!?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==It’s got to be Mo.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**I can talk to Mo!?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>More like think to him.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%What is—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%--a Mo?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Alright alright…one at a ti-- </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>## --We should take turns. I suggest raising our—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**We need to organi—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==Alright quiet-- </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%Shut—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%-up!</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Are you meat beings done babbling?</em></strong></p><p></p><p>The last voice boomed in our heads, like a loud echo in the cave if we were speaking instead of thinking. Looking around again, I saw that the passage that we were following, opened into another cave, but at that entrance I saw a pair of figures, perhaps my height at the entrance, each holding spears, pointed in our direction. Beyond them was even larger figure, standing with arms crossed, and it looked like it was watching us intently.</p><p></p><p>I waved my arms to get all the others attention, and put my finger to my lips, and then pointed toward the darkness. As each of them turned, they too saw the figures and reacted. Iesa prepared his rapier, the goblins loaded crossbows, while Daneath put himself between us and them. The light from his shield illuminating them for all the group.</p><p></p><p>The spearmen weren’t goblin, or any other humanoid that I was familiar with. Their skin was a mixture of earthtones and dark greens. Their bodies were slim, and had no definition for shoulders or hips, despite being humanoid shape. In fact, it wasn’t even clear where their head started as there wasn’t a defined neck either. Their eyes appeared as simple slits at the top of their form, just below a leathery broad hat, which seemed to be lined with thin strips of papers radiating from the ‘head’ to the edge of the hat. The only thing that made immediate sense was that they had no visible mouth at all. To me that explained why they were shouting in our heads, but I wasn’t clear on what magic would allow for this to extend to us.</p><p></p><p>The pair at the end of the passage were perhaps my own height, but the one beyond them, was far taller and broader. Somehow, I felt it was this one that was communicating with us, as it actively twisted to-and-fro as we…conversed. It also didn’t seem to have an obvious weapon in hand. Whatever it was, it projected both calm and confidence as we continued. </p><p></p><p>Daneath at this point actually spoke aloud and barked “Quiet!” in that commanding tone he would use in battle. The rest of our minds took a moment to quiet down. Daneath took a moment and stepped slightly forward.</p><p></p><p><em>==Alright, we apologize. This is new to some of us.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--Most of these idi-- </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Gos! Keep that to yourself</em></p><p></p><p>Daneath simply turned and glared at me and Gossamer who flitted nearby. I only could mouth the word ‘sorry’ in response. Shaking his head, he turned back to face the leader of the strange beings.</p><p></p><p><em>==Again, apologies. Now that we are…are…conversing, you spoke of gardeners?</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>The ones that you have slain. The ones with the shells.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>==Ah…I see. We were…were—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Ignorant.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==Yes…thanks Myr, ignorant that they belonged to any—</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>They did not belong to us. They were encouraged to clean the place of vermin.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>==Right. Well, we only came here to help Drik and Drok—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%Me!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%Me!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==Quiet! Get their things.</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Of no concern of ours. You have done damage. You must correct.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>==Of course, well. Sure.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**Wait! </em></p><p></p><p>Iesa stepped forward, putting his hand on Daneath and stepping in front of him. I watched him scrunch his face a moment as he was trying to put his thoughts together.</p><p></p><p><em>**Our friends Drik—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Oh! They are friends no—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%We—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%--Friends?</em></p><p></p><p>“Shhhhh” I said aloud, glaring at Beepu and the goblins, who both covered their mouth in surprise. Beepu however had a look of annoyance and fuming as he glared at the pair. I then waved at Iesa to continue.</p><p></p><p><em>**Anyway, they have others that sent them here to mine.</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Others?</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>**Yeah…goblins and hobgoblins many of them.</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>Then you must eliminate them. Do this and we will take no more interest you. Then you must leave.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><em>**Sure! We can do that!</em></p><p></p><p>I think everyone looked at Iesa with an expression of horror, shock, surprise, or a combination. He in response looked at us with a wounded expression and thought back.</p><p></p><p><em>**What?</em></p><p></p><p>Daneath grabbed his brother and started hauling him back towards the entrance of the cave, grumbling as the rest of us followed.</p><p></p><p><em>**I don’t see the big dea—</em></p><p></p><p>“Stop that!” Daneath hissed. “That whole thing gave me a headache. Speak! Don’t Think. Or…think to yourself and don’t speak…argh. Just stop volunteering us for things like this! This is worse than that Ettin!”</p><p></p><p>Closing my eyes for a moment I took a deep breath, and then asked “Drik, Drok, how many goblins were with your lasher?”</p><p></p><p><em>%Girl one talk to us</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%What should we—</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%Should answer—</em></p><p></p><p>“Aloud!” I said sharply. That got their attention as they both looked at me with guilty expressions.</p><p></p><p>“Er…more than three,” said Drik</p><p></p><p>“More than two,” said Drok at the same time.</p><p></p><p>“Right…more than five,” I said. “So where do we do this?”</p><p></p><p>“Outside the cave,” Daneath said rubbing his chin. “We can duck inside for cover if needed, and the entrance way will be narrow enough to prevent us from getting overrun.”</p><p></p><p><em>**That work—</em></p><p></p><p>“Works for me…sorry. That thinking stuff…I want to talk to Mo now. He called me dad!”</p><p></p><p>“Can we worry about the lasher’s crew first?” Daneath asked his brother, his patience already fraying. Iesa looked at him sheepishly, and we continued our way to the cave entrance.</p><p></p><p>The light was slightly dimmer, from the front of the cave, but as we approached it, we all heard noises coming from the outside. Putting a finger to his lips Iesa started to quietly creep up to the mouth to take a look outside.</p><p></p><p><em>==You know, you could just have told us here to be quiet.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>**Wait…they can’t hear us?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>They might hear us, but they can’t hear your thoughts Iesa.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%I know that.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%Same.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>&&Quiet dad, making noise in head. Can’t sleep.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>$$Master can we make the others silent. Is confusing.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>--It! It is confusing. Use your pronouns.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Don’t you lecture Foggle, you feathery hairball!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>ALRIGHT ENOUGH! KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF!</em></p><p></p><p>Gossamer was enough thoughts in my head to keep track of, let alone any other issues I had bouncing in my head. Fortunately, we were interrupted.</p><p></p><p>“So, our gatherers found helpers,” rough sneering voice rang out into the cave. “That’s fine; more labor is always needed.”</p><p></p><p>I moved up behind Iesa and looked around him. There in the gully leading to the cave were a mixed group of goblins and hobgoblins. A large burly one in boiled leather and a shield, and an axe on a shoulder was the one calling out to us. His grin, full of chipped teeth and a scar from lip to eye had all the warmth of the depths of Cania. The others were milling about, not really committed into a proper battle line, but all were armed with axes, swords or maces.</p><p></p><p>By my leg I felt shivering, and I looked down to see Drik…or it could have been Drok, using it for cover as he looked around at the pack outside. He clearly wasn’t eager to rejoin the warband.</p><p></p><p>“Is that the lasher?” I asked</p><p></p><p>To my surprise he shook his head, “No. Little lasher. Lasher bigger. Little lasher mean.”</p><p></p><p>“So, a pack of friends, this is going to be fun,” Daneath said as he peered around me and pulled back. He pulled the straps on his shield tight and readied his sword. “So what? Charge and bait them in?”</p><p></p><p>“I can put up a fog,” Beepu pointed out.</p><p></p><p>“No,” Daneath disagreed. “I need to be able to retreat back here.”</p><p></p><p>“They don’t have worgs,” Iesa noted. “This may be simple. Myr can you do anything.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, I can make their ears bleed.” I said starting to pull the strands together. “Just don’t go in the middle of them.”</p><p></p><p>“Ok, we run out hit some, and drag them back after Myr hurts them. Beepu, as they chase us hit them with that ice spell.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Yes, that is a good idea.” Beepu said, pulling out his skin, and pouring a bit of water into his hand. “I am ready.”</p><p></p><p>“Let’s go!” Daneath said, and Iesa and he bounded out of the cave shouting. The pack was not expecting this, and they scrambled, puling themselves into a tight group, ready to repel the sudden charge.</p><p></p><p>Pulling a piece of mica into my hand, I then mentally twisted the strands together, and started to pull on them. I focused in the middle of that pack and then pulled hard until the strands snapped apart.</p><p></p><p>The thunderous explosion of noise echoed in the gully as the strand’s resonance created a high-pitched ringing sound. I felt a rush and smiled as I watched the goblins all put their hands to their ears, many of them coughing up blood. Then I watched ten of them fall over onto the ground, lifeless. My heart quickened with excitement as I watched this, and was surprised that only a pair of hobgoblins were still standing.</p><p></p><p>Daneath charged into one of the pair and quickly brought him down with two quick slashes, disemboweling his opponent. The other one, who was more to the rear of the pack, started running back the direction they came. But Iesa chased after them, rapidly closing. Both scampered around a corner and were out of sight before we could say anything.</p><p></p><p>“Well…I guess I will save this spell for later,” Beepu said almost disappointed. “Not much point casting it at corpses.”</p><p></p><p>“I guess not,” I said, as looked at the pile of bodies in the gully. Drik and Drok then came around me and looked at the corpses and then turned to look at me with wide eyed awe.</p><p></p><p>“Girl, Booyahg.” Drik said with awe.</p><p></p><p>“Killer Booyahg,” nodded Drok looking at me with awe and fear.</p><p></p><p>I was still marveling at the sudden collapse of the hobgoblins. I had thought I would have injured them, not outright killed the majority of them. I was grinning at the swath of death that I had laid down on their heads and was just beginning to question why I was so happy with this, when we heard noises from the other side of the gully.</p><p></p><p>Looking down the path, I saw Iesa sprinting back towards the cave. Then Daneath turned and started his own run to the cave. Rounding the bend were another pack of about a dozen hobgoblins; but this band was wearing heavier armor of iron bands, not leather.</p><p></p><p>“Get in the back of the cave!” I shouted. Beepu, the goblins and our familiars all snapped to attention and started retreating. </p><p></p><p>“I am watching you!”</p><p></p><p>“You just want hat.”</p><p></p><p>“You want<strong> both</strong> hats.”</p><p></p><p>“That is NOT what…” I heard Beepu’s voice trail off into the depths. I started pulling on the dark strands and waited. First Daneath ran by me in a huff. I could hear him pant, “In the back, in the back,” as he clamored in his heavy mail. </p><p></p><p>Iesa was only barely in front of the pack, who were sprinting as well. Iesa had a slight lead and was gaining, but he also was busy dodging a hand axe being tossed at him as he ran. His eyes were wide in terror and he passed me at the entrance. As he did so, I started to cast and pulled on a single dark strand. I pulled it at it faster and faster, and focused winding it around a greenie I held in my hand. I backed up some steps and I watched Iesa run out of sight towards the back of the cave. Once I saw that, I pulled the strand taught around the coin and released the weave.</p><p></p><p>To me, everything became brighter, and the shadows melted away. But I knew that for anyone else near that coin, there was now an area of impenetrable darkness, even for the hobgoblins. I ran into the cave and dropped the coin next to stalagmite, all the while keeping the strand intact, allowing the darkness to hold.</p><p></p><p><em>##Myrai? Does this still work? I cannot see you, the light to the cave just…</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I know. I made it dark. They can’t see. But I can tell you when they get close the edge.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==So, they can’t see the light on the shield?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>No. Just don’t enter the darkness with the shield, or you will lose it.</em></p><p></p><p>I pressed myself against the wall and focused. While I couldn’t be seen, I still could be found. My heart was pounding even as I saw the first four enter the cave. I could see their frustrated ugly faces as they realized they could not see. But they were smart. They stood abreast, moving slowly, letting a shoulder or a shield touch and drag along a wall. And I could see them turn their heads, listening. For me, or any other opponent that would try to take them unawares.</p><p></p><p>They moved slowly, and then another four entered the cave mouth. They started to do the same thing. I tried to keep my breathing still, as I watched them. It was clear they had dealt in cases where they couldn’t see. They stayed with other, they used the walls, and they moved slowly. I turned to look, and the first set was three paces away from leaving, just as a third set of four entered the cave. I pressed myself against a wall on the left out of reach of any of them, as they threaded through using the right walls as a guide.</p><p></p><p><em>The are about to leave the dark, on your left-hand side. Get ready.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>##Daneath is ready. Ouch that pepper is hot. Just exhale when you see something appear D.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==Fine. Don’t call me D.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%%D!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>%Big D!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>==Shut up!</em></p><p></p><p>I watched as one of the hobgoblins, stepped forward, leading with this sword. I could see light reflect off the tip as it left the darkness, and then I watched as Daneath puffed up his chest and blew. From his mouth a gout of frost emerged, and I watched three of the hobgoblins winced in pain, and a pair fell on the ground motionless. The other two charged out, only for one to find himself at the end of Iesa’s rapier, and the other was pierced by a pair of quarrels. Both fell over in quick succession.</p><p></p><p>The others paused a moment, trying to determine what had happened. They barked some words that I wasn’t familiar with, and the spell I had for translations didn’t translate either. It must have been some type of battle language or code. But as the next group got closer, I focused on the last one. They were near where I left the coin, and so I focused and with a dark strand, formed a pair of skeletal hands to grip and tear at the hobgoblins. The pair screamed, twisting to try to see what was draining away their life. But they quickly collapsed to the ground, unmoving.</p><p></p><p>The second four ran into the bodies of the first and charged forward, only to walk again into the frosty breath of Daneath. But this time, the blast was weaker than the first and they broke through swinging at Daneath. But neither attack was effective, being easily deflected by Daneath’s shield.</p><p></p><p>This left them open to Beepu, who finally used the drops of water in his hand and threw a shard of razor-sharp ice at one, which exploded, killing him and one of his peers. The other died to Iesa’s blade and another pair of quarrels from the goblins. </p><p></p><p>The remaining two stopped. They stood there listening. All they had heard were twangs of crossbows, whistling of blades, and the groans and gasps of their comrades as their armored bodies slumped to the ground. I could see their faces change from brave to fearful, as their eyes darted back and forth vainly trying to see their foes. Or their fate.</p><p></p><p>To which I quickly answered for them, as I flexed the dark strands again, and watched as they helplessly fought the skeletal hands, gripping at them. I stepped forward, to reclaim my greenie on the ground; the center of the black place they found themselves.</p><p></p><p>“Death comes to everyone; and today it is your turn,” I said. Their faces in fear reminded me of elves in Whitepetal; fear of the unknown coming to claim their soul. But I was more than happy to take theirs in recompence for what they had done. I was feeling euphoria as I felt their life falter and then leave their bodies. I felt powerful. I felt righteous. Then the moment passed. I waived off the strand holding th darkness there, and once again the shadows cast by Daneath’s shield played over the bodies of the slain. The others, having their vision restored, now could see the full accounting of the damage done to the hobgoblins. I watched the others look at each other with disbelief and then with smiles as they realized that we had actually one against over twenty hobgoblins.</p><p></p><p>But it was Drik and Drok that I most interested in. They looked at the hobgoblin bodies fearfully at first. As if they expected to be punished by another pack they hadn’t seen or expected if the bodies would jump up and punish them from the grave. But none these things happened. And they looked at all of us and nodded with approval.</p><p></p><p>“Drik, Drok, Are there any others?” I asked, snapping them out of their shock.</p><p></p><p>“Nnnno. That is all them. All two / three” Drok answered, with Drik chiming in on the count.</p><p></p><p>“And the Lasher?”</p><p></p><p>“Lasher dead there,” Drik pointed to one of the better armored figures on the ground. “We good.”</p><p></p><p>Once again, I felt the presence from deeper within the caves in my head.</p><p></p><p><strong><em>They are dead. Now go, and do not return.</em></strong></p><p></p><p>We stayed quiet a moment, and then Iesa spoke up, “Well, I’m going to search the corpses. We still have a chance to catch Ravalan before nightfall.</p><p>The bodies had little useable salvage or money. We dragged them outside and I made short work with burying them in the dirt. I noticed as I sunk the corpses into the earth and covered that the goblins were watching me. I wasn’t sure if it was in fear or in awe. But I noticed that they took pains to keep their distance from me. As a looked closer they were wringing their hands nervously and avoided eye contact with me. </p><p></p><p>I wondered why that was. It wasn’t that I was a <em>Booyahg</em>, because by that definition so was Beepu. And they certainly didn’t show fear of him at all. In fact, they were intent on harassing him as often as they could. But they were acting more like they were afraid. Afraid of me?</p><p></p><p>We gathered everyone up and started back on the trail. It wasn’t long before Iesa announced he found Ravalan’s tracks, and we were on our way. But as we walked, I thought about the goblins and their fear. I guess I could understand their fear on one level; I just did personally kill fourteen or sixteen goblins on my own. But, it wasn’t like the others didn’t kill.</p><p></p><p>As we continued, I then remembered again the euphoria; the almost unbridled pleasure I felt when the magic exploded, and I slew so many of them. The wicked grin I wore for anyone to see. I realized that the others were used to this now, but for Drik and Drok it was new. I had always thought of myself as a street savvy woman that could hold her own when the knives were out. I guess I left a much stronger impression on the pair.</p><p></p><p>So which image was right? Mine or theirs?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 7893946, member: 6971069"] [CENTER][B]In the Mouth of Darkness - 1/18/2020[/B] [I]As a Sensate I enjoy new experiences; new people, new customs, new secrets, new places, new…anything. So, should I be surprised, that for others, that I am the experience? And what does it say when people, who have barely met me are afraid of what they find? And does that mean I should also be afraid?[/I][/CENTER] I shook my head, attempting to clear it. I wasn’t sure if I heard what I did, or if my mind was playing tricks on me. The confirmation that it wasn’t my imagination only put me more on edge: --[I]Myr[/I]?[I] ‘Meat bodies into loam?’ What does that even mean? Wait, So you heard it too? --Not really…more like in my head…like you…but not you. **Hold it…who is that in my head? ##Your head? This does not make any sense. Why are you in my thoughts. Beepu? Iesa? How are you in my mind? $$Master; this is all very strange. Why are there other voices? ==What the? I’m not listening to this right? You’re talking to me in my head? %Not make sense. %%No sense. %You stop copy me! %%No copy me![/I] I looked at the others around me, and I realized we were all silently looking at each other in confusion; the goblins, Iesa, Danneath, Beepu, Gossamer and even Foggle. We were talking like how Gossamer and I talked to each other. Our thoughts were colliding with each other faster and faster. And I was still trying to figure out how we were doing this at all. [I]$$Master I-- --'Master?’ Really? Such formality? ##Foggle is being respectful…wait who is this? --Clearly I’m Iesa. **What, I’m Iesa! Who is that? ==I am listeni— %-Stop too mu— %%-Noise. Can’t thi— Gossamer stop that! Don’t confuse— **Gossamer? I’m hearing Gossamer now!? ##We are hearing everyone, including the familiars. && Let me go back to sleep dad. ##Who is that!? ==It’s got to be Mo. **I can talk to Mo!? More like think to him. %What is— %%--a Mo? Alright alright…one at a ti-- ## --We should take turns. I suggest raising our— **We need to organi— ==Alright quiet-- %Shut— %%-up![/I] [B][I]Are you meat beings done babbling?[/I][/B] The last voice boomed in our heads, like a loud echo in the cave if we were speaking instead of thinking. Looking around again, I saw that the passage that we were following, opened into another cave, but at that entrance I saw a pair of figures, perhaps my height at the entrance, each holding spears, pointed in our direction. Beyond them was even larger figure, standing with arms crossed, and it looked like it was watching us intently. I waved my arms to get all the others attention, and put my finger to my lips, and then pointed toward the darkness. As each of them turned, they too saw the figures and reacted. Iesa prepared his rapier, the goblins loaded crossbows, while Daneath put himself between us and them. The light from his shield illuminating them for all the group. The spearmen weren’t goblin, or any other humanoid that I was familiar with. Their skin was a mixture of earthtones and dark greens. Their bodies were slim, and had no definition for shoulders or hips, despite being humanoid shape. In fact, it wasn’t even clear where their head started as there wasn’t a defined neck either. Their eyes appeared as simple slits at the top of their form, just below a leathery broad hat, which seemed to be lined with thin strips of papers radiating from the ‘head’ to the edge of the hat. The only thing that made immediate sense was that they had no visible mouth at all. To me that explained why they were shouting in our heads, but I wasn’t clear on what magic would allow for this to extend to us. The pair at the end of the passage were perhaps my own height, but the one beyond them, was far taller and broader. Somehow, I felt it was this one that was communicating with us, as it actively twisted to-and-fro as we…conversed. It also didn’t seem to have an obvious weapon in hand. Whatever it was, it projected both calm and confidence as we continued. Daneath at this point actually spoke aloud and barked “Quiet!” in that commanding tone he would use in battle. The rest of our minds took a moment to quiet down. Daneath took a moment and stepped slightly forward. [I]==Alright, we apologize. This is new to some of us. --Most of these idi-- Gos! Keep that to yourself[/I] Daneath simply turned and glared at me and Gossamer who flitted nearby. I only could mouth the word ‘sorry’ in response. Shaking his head, he turned back to face the leader of the strange beings. [I]==Again, apologies. Now that we are…are…conversing, you spoke of gardeners?[/I] [B][I]The ones that you have slain. The ones with the shells.[/I][/B] [I]==Ah…I see. We were…were— Ignorant. ==Yes…thanks Myr, ignorant that they belonged to any—[/I] [B][I]They did not belong to us. They were encouraged to clean the place of vermin.[/I][/B] [I]==Right. Well, we only came here to help Drik and Drok— %Me! %%Me! ==Quiet! Get their things.[/I] [B][I]Of no concern of ours. You have done damage. You must correct.[/I][/B] [I]==Of course, well. Sure. **Wait! [/I] Iesa stepped forward, putting his hand on Daneath and stepping in front of him. I watched him scrunch his face a moment as he was trying to put his thoughts together. [I]**Our friends Drik— ##Oh! They are friends no— %We— %%--Friends?[/I] “Shhhhh” I said aloud, glaring at Beepu and the goblins, who both covered their mouth in surprise. Beepu however had a look of annoyance and fuming as he glared at the pair. I then waved at Iesa to continue. [I]**Anyway, they have others that sent them here to mine.[/I] [B][I]Others?[/I][/B] [I]**Yeah…goblins and hobgoblins many of them.[/I] [B][I]Then you must eliminate them. Do this and we will take no more interest you. Then you must leave.[/I][/B] [I]**Sure! We can do that![/I] I think everyone looked at Iesa with an expression of horror, shock, surprise, or a combination. He in response looked at us with a wounded expression and thought back. [I]**What?[/I] Daneath grabbed his brother and started hauling him back towards the entrance of the cave, grumbling as the rest of us followed. [I]**I don’t see the big dea—[/I] “Stop that!” Daneath hissed. “That whole thing gave me a headache. Speak! Don’t Think. Or…think to yourself and don’t speak…argh. Just stop volunteering us for things like this! This is worse than that Ettin!” Closing my eyes for a moment I took a deep breath, and then asked “Drik, Drok, how many goblins were with your lasher?” [I]%Girl one talk to us %%What should we— %Should answer—[/I] “Aloud!” I said sharply. That got their attention as they both looked at me with guilty expressions. “Er…more than three,” said Drik “More than two,” said Drok at the same time. “Right…more than five,” I said. “So where do we do this?” “Outside the cave,” Daneath said rubbing his chin. “We can duck inside for cover if needed, and the entrance way will be narrow enough to prevent us from getting overrun.” [I]**That work—[/I] “Works for me…sorry. That thinking stuff…I want to talk to Mo now. He called me dad!” “Can we worry about the lasher’s crew first?” Daneath asked his brother, his patience already fraying. Iesa looked at him sheepishly, and we continued our way to the cave entrance. The light was slightly dimmer, from the front of the cave, but as we approached it, we all heard noises coming from the outside. Putting a finger to his lips Iesa started to quietly creep up to the mouth to take a look outside. [I]==You know, you could just have told us here to be quiet. **Wait…they can’t hear us? They might hear us, but they can’t hear your thoughts Iesa. %I know that. %%Same. &&Quiet dad, making noise in head. Can’t sleep. $$Master can we make the others silent. Is confusing. --It! It is confusing. Use your pronouns. ##Don’t you lecture Foggle, you feathery hairball! ALRIGHT ENOUGH! KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF![/I] Gossamer was enough thoughts in my head to keep track of, let alone any other issues I had bouncing in my head. Fortunately, we were interrupted. “So, our gatherers found helpers,” rough sneering voice rang out into the cave. “That’s fine; more labor is always needed.” I moved up behind Iesa and looked around him. There in the gully leading to the cave were a mixed group of goblins and hobgoblins. A large burly one in boiled leather and a shield, and an axe on a shoulder was the one calling out to us. His grin, full of chipped teeth and a scar from lip to eye had all the warmth of the depths of Cania. The others were milling about, not really committed into a proper battle line, but all were armed with axes, swords or maces. By my leg I felt shivering, and I looked down to see Drik…or it could have been Drok, using it for cover as he looked around at the pack outside. He clearly wasn’t eager to rejoin the warband. “Is that the lasher?” I asked To my surprise he shook his head, “No. Little lasher. Lasher bigger. Little lasher mean.” “So, a pack of friends, this is going to be fun,” Daneath said as he peered around me and pulled back. He pulled the straps on his shield tight and readied his sword. “So what? Charge and bait them in?” “I can put up a fog,” Beepu pointed out. “No,” Daneath disagreed. “I need to be able to retreat back here.” “They don’t have worgs,” Iesa noted. “This may be simple. Myr can you do anything.” “Well, I can make their ears bleed.” I said starting to pull the strands together. “Just don’t go in the middle of them.” “Ok, we run out hit some, and drag them back after Myr hurts them. Beepu, as they chase us hit them with that ice spell.” “Yes. Yes, that is a good idea.” Beepu said, pulling out his skin, and pouring a bit of water into his hand. “I am ready.” “Let’s go!” Daneath said, and Iesa and he bounded out of the cave shouting. The pack was not expecting this, and they scrambled, puling themselves into a tight group, ready to repel the sudden charge. Pulling a piece of mica into my hand, I then mentally twisted the strands together, and started to pull on them. I focused in the middle of that pack and then pulled hard until the strands snapped apart. The thunderous explosion of noise echoed in the gully as the strand’s resonance created a high-pitched ringing sound. I felt a rush and smiled as I watched the goblins all put their hands to their ears, many of them coughing up blood. Then I watched ten of them fall over onto the ground, lifeless. My heart quickened with excitement as I watched this, and was surprised that only a pair of hobgoblins were still standing. Daneath charged into one of the pair and quickly brought him down with two quick slashes, disemboweling his opponent. The other one, who was more to the rear of the pack, started running back the direction they came. But Iesa chased after them, rapidly closing. Both scampered around a corner and were out of sight before we could say anything. “Well…I guess I will save this spell for later,” Beepu said almost disappointed. “Not much point casting it at corpses.” “I guess not,” I said, as looked at the pile of bodies in the gully. Drik and Drok then came around me and looked at the corpses and then turned to look at me with wide eyed awe. “Girl, Booyahg.” Drik said with awe. “Killer Booyahg,” nodded Drok looking at me with awe and fear. I was still marveling at the sudden collapse of the hobgoblins. I had thought I would have injured them, not outright killed the majority of them. I was grinning at the swath of death that I had laid down on their heads and was just beginning to question why I was so happy with this, when we heard noises from the other side of the gully. Looking down the path, I saw Iesa sprinting back towards the cave. Then Daneath turned and started his own run to the cave. Rounding the bend were another pack of about a dozen hobgoblins; but this band was wearing heavier armor of iron bands, not leather. “Get in the back of the cave!” I shouted. Beepu, the goblins and our familiars all snapped to attention and started retreating. “I am watching you!” “You just want hat.” “You want[B] both[/B] hats.” “That is NOT what…” I heard Beepu’s voice trail off into the depths. I started pulling on the dark strands and waited. First Daneath ran by me in a huff. I could hear him pant, “In the back, in the back,” as he clamored in his heavy mail. Iesa was only barely in front of the pack, who were sprinting as well. Iesa had a slight lead and was gaining, but he also was busy dodging a hand axe being tossed at him as he ran. His eyes were wide in terror and he passed me at the entrance. As he did so, I started to cast and pulled on a single dark strand. I pulled it at it faster and faster, and focused winding it around a greenie I held in my hand. I backed up some steps and I watched Iesa run out of sight towards the back of the cave. Once I saw that, I pulled the strand taught around the coin and released the weave. To me, everything became brighter, and the shadows melted away. But I knew that for anyone else near that coin, there was now an area of impenetrable darkness, even for the hobgoblins. I ran into the cave and dropped the coin next to stalagmite, all the while keeping the strand intact, allowing the darkness to hold. [I]##Myrai? Does this still work? I cannot see you, the light to the cave just… I know. I made it dark. They can’t see. But I can tell you when they get close the edge. ==So, they can’t see the light on the shield? No. Just don’t enter the darkness with the shield, or you will lose it.[/I] I pressed myself against the wall and focused. While I couldn’t be seen, I still could be found. My heart was pounding even as I saw the first four enter the cave. I could see their frustrated ugly faces as they realized they could not see. But they were smart. They stood abreast, moving slowly, letting a shoulder or a shield touch and drag along a wall. And I could see them turn their heads, listening. For me, or any other opponent that would try to take them unawares. They moved slowly, and then another four entered the cave mouth. They started to do the same thing. I tried to keep my breathing still, as I watched them. It was clear they had dealt in cases where they couldn’t see. They stayed with other, they used the walls, and they moved slowly. I turned to look, and the first set was three paces away from leaving, just as a third set of four entered the cave. I pressed myself against a wall on the left out of reach of any of them, as they threaded through using the right walls as a guide. [I]The are about to leave the dark, on your left-hand side. Get ready. ##Daneath is ready. Ouch that pepper is hot. Just exhale when you see something appear D. ==Fine. Don’t call me D. %%D! %Big D! ==Shut up![/I] I watched as one of the hobgoblins, stepped forward, leading with this sword. I could see light reflect off the tip as it left the darkness, and then I watched as Daneath puffed up his chest and blew. From his mouth a gout of frost emerged, and I watched three of the hobgoblins winced in pain, and a pair fell on the ground motionless. The other two charged out, only for one to find himself at the end of Iesa’s rapier, and the other was pierced by a pair of quarrels. Both fell over in quick succession. The others paused a moment, trying to determine what had happened. They barked some words that I wasn’t familiar with, and the spell I had for translations didn’t translate either. It must have been some type of battle language or code. But as the next group got closer, I focused on the last one. They were near where I left the coin, and so I focused and with a dark strand, formed a pair of skeletal hands to grip and tear at the hobgoblins. The pair screamed, twisting to try to see what was draining away their life. But they quickly collapsed to the ground, unmoving. The second four ran into the bodies of the first and charged forward, only to walk again into the frosty breath of Daneath. But this time, the blast was weaker than the first and they broke through swinging at Daneath. But neither attack was effective, being easily deflected by Daneath’s shield. This left them open to Beepu, who finally used the drops of water in his hand and threw a shard of razor-sharp ice at one, which exploded, killing him and one of his peers. The other died to Iesa’s blade and another pair of quarrels from the goblins. The remaining two stopped. They stood there listening. All they had heard were twangs of crossbows, whistling of blades, and the groans and gasps of their comrades as their armored bodies slumped to the ground. I could see their faces change from brave to fearful, as their eyes darted back and forth vainly trying to see their foes. Or their fate. To which I quickly answered for them, as I flexed the dark strands again, and watched as they helplessly fought the skeletal hands, gripping at them. I stepped forward, to reclaim my greenie on the ground; the center of the black place they found themselves. “Death comes to everyone; and today it is your turn,” I said. Their faces in fear reminded me of elves in Whitepetal; fear of the unknown coming to claim their soul. But I was more than happy to take theirs in recompence for what they had done. I was feeling euphoria as I felt their life falter and then leave their bodies. I felt powerful. I felt righteous. Then the moment passed. I waived off the strand holding th darkness there, and once again the shadows cast by Daneath’s shield played over the bodies of the slain. The others, having their vision restored, now could see the full accounting of the damage done to the hobgoblins. I watched the others look at each other with disbelief and then with smiles as they realized that we had actually one against over twenty hobgoblins. But it was Drik and Drok that I most interested in. They looked at the hobgoblin bodies fearfully at first. As if they expected to be punished by another pack they hadn’t seen or expected if the bodies would jump up and punish them from the grave. But none these things happened. And they looked at all of us and nodded with approval. “Drik, Drok, Are there any others?” I asked, snapping them out of their shock. “Nnnno. That is all them. All two / three” Drok answered, with Drik chiming in on the count. “And the Lasher?” “Lasher dead there,” Drik pointed to one of the better armored figures on the ground. “We good.” Once again, I felt the presence from deeper within the caves in my head. [B][I]They are dead. Now go, and do not return.[/I][/B] We stayed quiet a moment, and then Iesa spoke up, “Well, I’m going to search the corpses. We still have a chance to catch Ravalan before nightfall. The bodies had little useable salvage or money. We dragged them outside and I made short work with burying them in the dirt. I noticed as I sunk the corpses into the earth and covered that the goblins were watching me. I wasn’t sure if it was in fear or in awe. But I noticed that they took pains to keep their distance from me. As a looked closer they were wringing their hands nervously and avoided eye contact with me. I wondered why that was. It wasn’t that I was a [I]Booyahg[/I], because by that definition so was Beepu. And they certainly didn’t show fear of him at all. In fact, they were intent on harassing him as often as they could. But they were acting more like they were afraid. Afraid of me? We gathered everyone up and started back on the trail. It wasn’t long before Iesa announced he found Ravalan’s tracks, and we were on our way. But as we walked, I thought about the goblins and their fear. I guess I could understand their fear on one level; I just did personally kill fourteen or sixteen goblins on my own. But, it wasn’t like the others didn’t kill. As we continued, I then remembered again the euphoria; the almost unbridled pleasure I felt when the magic exploded, and I slew so many of them. The wicked grin I wore for anyone to see. I realized that the others were used to this now, but for Drik and Drok it was new. I had always thought of myself as a street savvy woman that could hold her own when the knives were out. I guess I left a much stronger impression on the pair. So which image was right? Mine or theirs? [/QUOTE]
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