The Elfblood Wanderers--New Story Hour!!
Bob Aberton
First Post
"Who...who are you?" Nystyra asked tremulously, with images of the gallows dancing through her head.
"Now, there's an interesting question, Miss Nystyra," the man said. He reached up an ran his fingers through his hair, and Nystyra noticed for the first time that his voice was high and squeaky for his tall frame. His voice, as a matter of fact, was a bit like..."You can call me..." the man tugged at his hair, and it came off in his hands. Suddenly, standing before, was familiar figure. "You can call me Eliad," Eliad said, beaming up at her.k
Relief hit Nystyra like a club. She let out her breath in a loud sigh of relief and collapsed into a nearby chair. Then sprang at him with a demon's glint in her eye and seized him around the neck, shaking him vigorously.
"Never...do that again, d'you hear?" she said through clenched teeth at the Gnome she was strangling.
"Y-yes...O-of course, M-m-miss Nys-Nystyra," Eliad gasped, through chattering teeth. Nystyra, satisfied, let him drop to the floor. Then, she had another thought, and hoisted him up again by his shirt front.
"How did you do that...bit of disguise?" she asked curiously.
Eliad held up a huge, velvet hat with a ratty blue feather stuck in it.
"It's all in the hat," he said solemnly. "Y'll never guess the things that people told me, out around town. Things that ye might want t'know." He grinned in a self-satisfied sort of way.
****************************************************
I know it's really short, but I'll be posting a big update soon. I just couldn't keep up the suspense any longer
"Now, there's an interesting question, Miss Nystyra," the man said. He reached up an ran his fingers through his hair, and Nystyra noticed for the first time that his voice was high and squeaky for his tall frame. His voice, as a matter of fact, was a bit like..."You can call me..." the man tugged at his hair, and it came off in his hands. Suddenly, standing before, was familiar figure. "You can call me Eliad," Eliad said, beaming up at her.k
Relief hit Nystyra like a club. She let out her breath in a loud sigh of relief and collapsed into a nearby chair. Then sprang at him with a demon's glint in her eye and seized him around the neck, shaking him vigorously.
"Never...do that again, d'you hear?" she said through clenched teeth at the Gnome she was strangling.
"Y-yes...O-of course, M-m-miss Nys-Nystyra," Eliad gasped, through chattering teeth. Nystyra, satisfied, let him drop to the floor. Then, she had another thought, and hoisted him up again by his shirt front.
"How did you do that...bit of disguise?" she asked curiously.
Eliad held up a huge, velvet hat with a ratty blue feather stuck in it.
"It's all in the hat," he said solemnly. "Y'll never guess the things that people told me, out around town. Things that ye might want t'know." He grinned in a self-satisfied sort of way.
****************************************************
I know it's really short, but I'll be posting a big update soon. I just couldn't keep up the suspense any longer
Bob Aberton
First Post
About an hour later, Nystyra was putting on her Sindell costume and sorting through what Eliad had found out. There had been a good many unfounded rumors and random bits of information about which she didn't care. Using his hat, which he had dubbed "Cnorrec," roughly the Gnomic equivalent of the name "Bob," he had disguised himself as a wandering tinker, a barmaid, a warrior of Dwllyn, and a tall, red-haired man. He had learned several interesting things about Lord Meiron.
Item 1: Lord Meiron was rumored to have a lover in among the warriors of the Watch, who were all men.
Item 2: Two days past, a chambermaid was hung in the town square for "prying among Lord Meiron's personal things." A man who had known the chambermaid had confided to a tall, red-haired man in the town square that the maid had never committed any crime, and that all she was doing was cleaning Lord Meiron's chamber. Apparently, a different maid had been hung two weeks ago for the same thing.
Item 3: Strange folk of late had often come at all hours, asking audience with Lord Meiron. Scruffy-looking mercenaries, bandits who all wore red armbands, short bearded folk with strange eyes, and even a man so tall he "almost had to stoop to get in the town gate" clad in skins and chainmail.
As expected, not long after, the Captain of the Guard and Lord Meiron's Bodyguard marched smartly into the Sign of the Leaky Keg, parting the early-morning tavern scum like the prow of a ship parting the sea. This time, there was no open confrontation with the innkeeper, although she and Ellis Millworth did exchange poisonous glares.
"So...ah...Lady Sindell," Lord Meiron lisped in way of greeting. Nystyra was struck by the stuffy, perfumed atmosphere of the chamber and the almost visible miasma of pinkish wig powder floating around the room.
"Lord Meiron," Sindell said distantly.
"Or should I call you, hmm...the, ah, Rowan, perhaps, hmm? Here with your friends, the, hmm...the Oaks. I should certainly hope that trees have not ears for secrets, or they shall soon find them lacking, if you...ah...understand me, hmm?" he lisped, with an air of immense cleverness at having deciphered Nystyra's "prophecy."
"You are cleverer than I thought, Lord Meiron," Sindell replied. "Many men less wise do not understand my prophecies, and are vexed when they come true." Nystyra sed to herself, though she did not let it show. This man may be clever, she thought, but I have won the first battle. He had fallen for her "prophecy" hook, line, and sinker.
"So, ah...Lady Sindell," Lord Meiron said, leaning closer enthusiastically, "What do the fates hold in store for me today?"
"My Second Sight does not do your bidding, Lord Meiron," Nystyra/Sindell said sternly.
"Hmm..." he said, vacillating between frustration at being so rebuked and respect for the Seeress.
"Red is the color of blood, Lord Meiron," Sindell said suddenly.
"But of course," he said, evidencing some slight irritation at this odd remark. The room returned to its normal perfumed stillness for many a long moment. Suddenly, her eyes, apparently staring at things mere mortals could not see, widened in apparent shock.
"Red is YOUR blood, Lord Meiron, and red the hair of your killer! O beware, thy days are numbered!" She cried wildly.
Lord Meiron rocked back, visibly shaken.
"What is this? Is my death indeed so near? How may I escape it?" he asked wildly. His wig fell askew and his handkerchief dropped from his hand as he stared at "Sindell" intently, fearfully.
"Blind!" Nystyra/Sindell wailed loudly, clenching her hands and then covering her eyes. "I am blind! O sweet Sight, but it will not come! Nor more may I say, the Fates are veiled from my eyes!"
"Tell me! You must tell me how to escape my fate!" Lord Meiron shouted. He leapt up, upsetting his chair, which fell with a crash. He looked about in a panic.
"O you are a dead man, Lord Meiron," Sindell cried, in a high, shrill voice not at all like her own. "You are dead, and I am blind! The shears! The shears of Fate!" And with that, she collapsed.
"Vile Hag!" Lord Meiron cried. Tears streamed down his face, and he seized Sindell about the neck in a rage. "I cannot die! I do not want to die! How may I live? Tell me, tell me!"
But Sindell, despite his shaking of her, did not wake, and suddenly he was quiet. The whole roomed seemed quiet. He stood there, breathing heavily, and staring about with bloodshot, fearful eyes. A thin scream escaped his lips.
"I am a dead man!" he wailed, and, suddenly frightened by the stillness of the room, opened the door and ran out down the hallway.
****************************************************
And Nystyra unveils her devious side. I tried for just a bit of Poe-ishness at the end there...did I get the atmosphere right?
Sorry I took so long between updates, but school has reared its ugly head. I will try to update once a week, but this may not be possible, so I trust my faithful readers will keep my Storyhour well and thoroughly *BUMPED*
Item 1: Lord Meiron was rumored to have a lover in among the warriors of the Watch, who were all men.
Item 2: Two days past, a chambermaid was hung in the town square for "prying among Lord Meiron's personal things." A man who had known the chambermaid had confided to a tall, red-haired man in the town square that the maid had never committed any crime, and that all she was doing was cleaning Lord Meiron's chamber. Apparently, a different maid had been hung two weeks ago for the same thing.
Item 3: Strange folk of late had often come at all hours, asking audience with Lord Meiron. Scruffy-looking mercenaries, bandits who all wore red armbands, short bearded folk with strange eyes, and even a man so tall he "almost had to stoop to get in the town gate" clad in skins and chainmail.
As expected, not long after, the Captain of the Guard and Lord Meiron's Bodyguard marched smartly into the Sign of the Leaky Keg, parting the early-morning tavern scum like the prow of a ship parting the sea. This time, there was no open confrontation with the innkeeper, although she and Ellis Millworth did exchange poisonous glares.
"So...ah...Lady Sindell," Lord Meiron lisped in way of greeting. Nystyra was struck by the stuffy, perfumed atmosphere of the chamber and the almost visible miasma of pinkish wig powder floating around the room.
"Lord Meiron," Sindell said distantly.
"Or should I call you, hmm...the, ah, Rowan, perhaps, hmm? Here with your friends, the, hmm...the Oaks. I should certainly hope that trees have not ears for secrets, or they shall soon find them lacking, if you...ah...understand me, hmm?" he lisped, with an air of immense cleverness at having deciphered Nystyra's "prophecy."
"You are cleverer than I thought, Lord Meiron," Sindell replied. "Many men less wise do not understand my prophecies, and are vexed when they come true." Nystyra s
ed to herself, though she did not let it show. This man may be clever, she thought, but I have won the first battle. He had fallen for her "prophecy" hook, line, and sinker."So, ah...Lady Sindell," Lord Meiron said, leaning closer enthusiastically, "What do the fates hold in store for me today?"
"My Second Sight does not do your bidding, Lord Meiron," Nystyra/Sindell said sternly.
"Hmm..." he said, vacillating between frustration at being so rebuked and respect for the Seeress.
"Red is the color of blood, Lord Meiron," Sindell said suddenly.
"But of course," he said, evidencing some slight irritation at this odd remark. The room returned to its normal perfumed stillness for many a long moment. Suddenly, her eyes, apparently staring at things mere mortals could not see, widened in apparent shock.
"Red is YOUR blood, Lord Meiron, and red the hair of your killer! O beware, thy days are numbered!" She cried wildly.
Lord Meiron rocked back, visibly shaken.
"What is this? Is my death indeed so near? How may I escape it?" he asked wildly. His wig fell askew and his handkerchief dropped from his hand as he stared at "Sindell" intently, fearfully.
"Blind!" Nystyra/Sindell wailed loudly, clenching her hands and then covering her eyes. "I am blind! O sweet Sight, but it will not come! Nor more may I say, the Fates are veiled from my eyes!"
"Tell me! You must tell me how to escape my fate!" Lord Meiron shouted. He leapt up, upsetting his chair, which fell with a crash. He looked about in a panic.
"O you are a dead man, Lord Meiron," Sindell cried, in a high, shrill voice not at all like her own. "You are dead, and I am blind! The shears! The shears of Fate!" And with that, she collapsed.
"Vile Hag!" Lord Meiron cried. Tears streamed down his face, and he seized Sindell about the neck in a rage. "I cannot die! I do not want to die! How may I live? Tell me, tell me!"
But Sindell, despite his shaking of her, did not wake, and suddenly he was quiet. The whole roomed seemed quiet. He stood there, breathing heavily, and staring about with bloodshot, fearful eyes. A thin scream escaped his lips.
"I am a dead man!" he wailed, and, suddenly frightened by the stillness of the room, opened the door and ran out down the hallway.
****************************************************
And Nystyra unveils her devious side. I tried for just a bit of Poe-ishness at the end there...did I get the atmosphere right?
Sorry I took so long between updates, but school has reared its ugly head. I will try to update once a week, but this may not be possible, so I trust my faithful readers will keep my Storyhour well and thoroughly *BUMPED*
Bob Aberton
First Post
Sindell was later seen to be escorted out of Lord Meiron's castle by a double squad of soldiers, looking wan and pale.
She reeled into the Leaky Keg, stumbled up the stairs and into her room, and immediately her haggardness left her. She burst out laughing. Then she swooped down on the Gnome sitting near the fireplace and whirled him around the floor in a "happy dance."
"We've done it!" She said joyfully. "He swallowed it, hook, line and sinker!"
"Er...that's wonderful, Miss Nystyra," Eliad said cautiously. "But what did I have t' do wi' it?"
"Oh, you haven't played your part yet," she said confidentially. "But you will soon."
Meanwhile, back in his room, Lord Meiron was nervous. Very nervous. In fact, he had long ago shredded his pink lace handkerchief, and his nails were down to nothing. He paced back and forth, back and forth again, thinking and chewing his nails.
What have I done to deserve this? he thought. I have been a good man...as good as the next man anyway. I only sought to make myself comfortable in life...why me?
But this strain of philosophical thinking did not last long, and soon he was thinking of the more practical details.
I must appear at the Commendation, he thought. I simply must. No doubt the people will be terribly dissapointed if I do not come...and a bit of adulation would do me well, in the state I am in...
"Guard!" he called sharply. A bored-looking Bodyguard poked his head in the room.
"You called, Lordship?"
"Yes. Bring me...ah...bring me some more of this...hmm...excellent wine. And summon my favorite...ah, you know who I mean..."
"Yes, m'lord." the Bodyguard replied, rolling his eyes. It was not fetching the wine that he objected to so much, but he couldn't fathom why his Lord always wanted to be alone with that particular Bodyguard. Some details of his Lord's personal life were best left unquestioned...
The Commendation was a grand ceremony. A celebration particular to the town of Dwllyn, it was held every year on the first day of fall, to commemorate the hard toiling of the farmers that produced the crop that would keep Dwllyn's citizens alive through the winter. Lord Meiron's father had started it, and Lord Meiron had found that it endeared the people to him to have their efforts commemorated.
But, standing at his gaily beribboned lectern, delivering a long flowery oration to The Common Man, he let his mind wander. Despite what the Seeress had said, he couldn't stay inside all his life...and he had plenty of men guarding him, he had nothing to worry about...
Or had he? Crouching on a rooftop nearby was a tall, red-haired man, staring intently at Lord Meiron and fingering a dagger.
Lord Meiron had no time to react. He had the crowd give an audible gasp, but thinking it was merely due to the dashing figure he cut in his newly tailored plum-colored overcoat and curly pink wig, he continued speaking.
"...thus it is that the Common Man's toils are commendable, nay, laudible, for it is his back upon which rests our livelyhoods. Indeed...err...indeed..." Tired of the crowd's pointing above his head, he turned to look at the rooftop above his podium. He speech faltered as he realized that the tall, red-haired man perched on the rooftop was holding a flashing knife.
"Sic Semper Tyrannis!" the man yelled, and lept off the rooftop, brandishing his knife.
A heavy weight hit Lord Meiron in the chest and he fell to the ground. His vision was suddenly full of flashing knives and red-haired assassins. As the red-haired man leaned toward him with that wicked knife, Lord Meiron heard Sindell's words echoing in his mind; "Red is your blood, Lord Meiron, and Red the hair of thy killer...!"
Incredible, Lord Meiron thought, she is a genuine Seeress. Then his vision turned black and he knew no more.
****************************************************
In lieu of a *BUMP*, I updated again. Happy, O invisible readers?
She reeled into the Leaky Keg, stumbled up the stairs and into her room, and immediately her haggardness left her. She burst out laughing. Then she swooped down on the Gnome sitting near the fireplace and whirled him around the floor in a "happy dance."
"We've done it!" She said joyfully. "He swallowed it, hook, line and sinker!"
"Er...that's wonderful, Miss Nystyra," Eliad said cautiously. "But what did I have t' do wi' it?"
"Oh, you haven't played your part yet," she said confidentially. "But you will soon."
Meanwhile, back in his room, Lord Meiron was nervous. Very nervous. In fact, he had long ago shredded his pink lace handkerchief, and his nails were down to nothing. He paced back and forth, back and forth again, thinking and chewing his nails.
What have I done to deserve this? he thought. I have been a good man...as good as the next man anyway. I only sought to make myself comfortable in life...why me?
But this strain of philosophical thinking did not last long, and soon he was thinking of the more practical details.
I must appear at the Commendation, he thought. I simply must. No doubt the people will be terribly dissapointed if I do not come...and a bit of adulation would do me well, in the state I am in...
"Guard!" he called sharply. A bored-looking Bodyguard poked his head in the room.
"You called, Lordship?"
"Yes. Bring me...ah...bring me some more of this...hmm...excellent wine. And summon my favorite...ah, you know who I mean..."
"Yes, m'lord." the Bodyguard replied, rolling his eyes. It was not fetching the wine that he objected to so much, but he couldn't fathom why his Lord always wanted to be alone with that particular Bodyguard. Some details of his Lord's personal life were best left unquestioned...
The Commendation was a grand ceremony. A celebration particular to the town of Dwllyn, it was held every year on the first day of fall, to commemorate the hard toiling of the farmers that produced the crop that would keep Dwllyn's citizens alive through the winter. Lord Meiron's father had started it, and Lord Meiron had found that it endeared the people to him to have their efforts commemorated.
But, standing at his gaily beribboned lectern, delivering a long flowery oration to The Common Man, he let his mind wander. Despite what the Seeress had said, he couldn't stay inside all his life...and he had plenty of men guarding him, he had nothing to worry about...
Or had he? Crouching on a rooftop nearby was a tall, red-haired man, staring intently at Lord Meiron and fingering a dagger.
Lord Meiron had no time to react. He had the crowd give an audible gasp, but thinking it was merely due to the dashing figure he cut in his newly tailored plum-colored overcoat and curly pink wig, he continued speaking.
"...thus it is that the Common Man's toils are commendable, nay, laudible, for it is his back upon which rests our livelyhoods. Indeed...err...indeed..." Tired of the crowd's pointing above his head, he turned to look at the rooftop above his podium. He speech faltered as he realized that the tall, red-haired man perched on the rooftop was holding a flashing knife.
"Sic Semper Tyrannis!" the man yelled, and lept off the rooftop, brandishing his knife.
A heavy weight hit Lord Meiron in the chest and he fell to the ground. His vision was suddenly full of flashing knives and red-haired assassins. As the red-haired man leaned toward him with that wicked knife, Lord Meiron heard Sindell's words echoing in his mind; "Red is your blood, Lord Meiron, and Red the hair of thy killer...!"
Incredible, Lord Meiron thought, she is a genuine Seeress. Then his vision turned black and he knew no more.
****************************************************
In lieu of a *BUMP*, I updated again. Happy, O invisible readers?
Don't worry Bob you probably have more readers than you think.
And if you just keep posting updates more of them will start posting until you will wish that there weren't that many of them.
About the story .... Excellent!!!
Very good show by the pc's or is it due more to your artistic abilities ?
And if you just keep posting updates more of them will start posting until you will wish that there weren't that many of them.
About the story .... Excellent!!!
Very good show by the pc's or is it due more to your artistic abilities ?
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