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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 4097535" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #430] Breaking Up is Easy, part 2[/PLAIN]"I have fought alongside Ahlear before and in the time since I have been away, Malcom has spoken often to me of him. His word alone is enough to convince me that he is worthy of our fight," Morier said in a conversational tone. His voice was not deliberately muffled, but neither did he make an effort for Ahlear to hear him as he spoke."But, in truth, I think it's important that you know that Ahlear carries a darkness with him... although I assure you that that darkness is his own and you've nothing to fear from it. I want to be sure that you know and are prepared to ask him to be candid about it." All save Shamalin turned to look at their new companion as he knelt, feeding something to Nibble."We all carry darkness inside of ourselves," Shamalin said matter-of-factly. Then she favored Ayremac with a smile and added, "Well, except maybe Ayremac. But Huzair's got enough to go around." There was nothing left of her smile when she turned to the mage. He smirked at her."Forgive her, Anania. I think she has a crush on me," he said with an oily smile. "She is the type who likes the bad boy."Ignoring the wizard's comment, Shamalin turned to Ahlear and raised her voice, calling, "Which darkness is yours, Ahlear?" The man stood and smiled, unfastening his cloak as he strode back toward the group."I have nothing to hide from friends," he said, and begins stripping off his armor. He looked to Morier to lend him a hand in speeding up the process. He stripped off his shirt and his winter clothes, and stood naked to the waist in the bitter cold. His torso sweated a little, steam rising of off him as he turned to each so that they could see the tattoo on his chest and said, "This is the physical emanation of it, and I know a little about it myself, but not enough to explain easily to you all what it signifies."On the right side of his chest, starting on his lower neck and ending roughly below the nipple, there was a large tattoo. It was a grinning skeletal head, with blood drops running counter clockwise around the skull, and wavy flames spurting outward around the whole. The tattoo was completely pitch black, and in the bright white environment it seemed to suck light away from its surroundings."Me and the elves have found out that the Tattoo is a combination of variations on the symbols of Graath, the Black Sun, Myrkul, the Lady of the Dead, and Bhaal, god of pain, destruction, and murder, but the full why and how, is not known as yet," he explained, studying each of their faces as they looked on the symbol. "Only that when the elves found me, I already had this tattoo. With my parents slain gruesomely, the elves decided to take me for safekeeping, and two of the elves adopted me. Then when I went to train with Malcolm, I accidentally came across some of those gods' followers, and they seemed to recognize the tattoo and I had to run for the protection of Malcolm. We fended them off easily, and we were safe for a while, but the pressure has been mounting recently. There have been sighting's of members of all three churches in and near the village, although no attacks yet this time. That's when me and Malcolm both decided it was time for traveling, and we thought of Morier and his travels." His voice trailed off then and he started dressing again, looking at Morier to help him."I do no know how you do it, Whitey," Huzair groused. "You have got everybody thinking you are some great role-model. Malcolm, Wyverneye, Garan-zak... Pretty slick!""I'm assuming the elves tried everything," Shamalin said as Ahlear pulled on his jerkin."Yes, they have, and to no avail," the man said. "They class the magic as not removable. Although under a Detection spell it shines with magic no greater than an orison or a 1st circle spell, perhaps, nothing has been able to remove it." Shamalin nodded her understanding and looked down at her feet and pondered the ramifications of such a symbol. Unfortunately, she knew little of Graath and Bhaal, and what little she knew of Mykul led her to believe that Lady Death wouldn't ally with evil gods. It was all quite puzzling. While Morier helped the man into his armor again, Ahlear turned around to eye him squarely, and put a hand on his shoulder."Morier, I do not judge your motive nor your intentions," the druid said. "But what if separate enemies are doing things to whittle this group down to nothing, each evil doing its own thing but wearing the group down bit by bit so that it cannot function even in the bigger frame that you have as a goal? Think on this. I give you and your group's members advice only, as it is not my place here to judge or give my own ambitions." The albino sighed."Look, Ahlear, you don't know everything that's gone on with this group since we set out to stop Aphyx, so I don't fault you for not seeing the whole picture. I'll tell you the story while we travel if you'd like, but there are a few points which make me think that my goal is not A goal, it's THE goal," the albino explained. "I was lucky enough to survive the Grove of Renewal, which took two of our number from us and turned two others away. It has taken and turned back countless others throughout time. I have been given the gift that might allow us to reunite Dridana's heart and body in our lifetime. How often are mortals chosen for that opportunity? Add to that that we have managed to procure four of the most powerful weapons known to the Realms to assist us in doing so and, no matter what I want, I don't have the luxury of chasing Sir Alechtus right now. I feel so compelled to use the gifts I have been given to the ends which they were intended, that I am willing to leave here on my own with those that would follow me to attempt to follow this pull." He tapped his forehead and pointed off to the east. Ahlear followed his gesture but could see nothing but blowing snow."Morier, as I told you before, I have no qualms with your logic," the man explained. "But if you let Alechtus live, then he will come to take another, perhaps from the party." Morier waived off that assertion."It would appear that Alechtus had the opportunity to killl those of us that remain in our sleep last night and opted instead to leave us in perfect peace," he scoffed. "I fear him not.""He is a cowardly villian who will pay with his life," Huzair snapped."I do not think that Ixin feared him either, but he slew her just the same. He could do it again. And by the time you get face-to-face with the actual evil that needs to be corrected, you find out you're lacking in power because of all those sustained losses," Ahlear explained as he slipped on the remainder of his clothing. "It's like a hydra: you might succeed in killing the main body in time for it to die without too many losses, but what if the Hydra gets 'lucky' and devours so many of us that we no longer have the strength to kill it? And all the heads might not even be of the original Hydra, anyway. There might be more then one, each doing its part to wear us down.""Bees! Rabbits! Hydras!" Huzair grimaced, clutching his bald head as if it might explode."Well, I know little of hydras, Morier, but I do understand your commitment to this quest," Ayremac said, stepping forward. "Trust me - commitment, faith, duty - these are things I take very seriously. But it is because I can understand that I must take a different path." He turned to address the whole group then and said, "I will be tracking this Alechtus and I will kill him... or die trying. I invite you all to follow Morier, he leads an important quest, worthy of all your attention. But if you choose to follow me, know that I mean to dispense Justice on a criminal... I am not seeking his knowledge of the evils that plague this land.""Damn it, fly boy! I may just start to like you!" Huzair said with a grin. "Let us work together on this one.""I am with you two, if you want me," Ahlear offered with a nod. Shamalin listened to the debate silently. It was not until Ayremac's plea for the rest to continue on with Morier while he pursued Alecthus that fear began to well up within her. She could no more allow him to continue on alone than she could have let Huzair explore the pit alone days ago. Considerably less, in fact."Ayremac..." she began urgently. But when his eyes locked with hers, she was not certain if she had said the words aloud or not. He seemed almost to shimmer with the strength of this new purpose. And once more the clarity of his being seemed to accentuate her own uncertainties. Suddenly she did not know where to begin in an attempt to explain her reasons to stay - her duty to Morier. In the end it didn't matter. Huzair and Ahlear stepped quickly forward in offer to accompany Ayremac.Shamalin looked emphatically at Morier, but his back was to her and he seemed absorbed in his own business. "Ayremac..." she began again. And once more he turned to her, sensing her struggle."Go with Morier. Keep him safe." He nodded in the albino's direction. "We will find you." Huzair scoffed at that."No. Morier needs to come with us. He is vulnerable all by himself," the wizard chuckled. "Stay back in the battle, Whitey. We will protect you.""What about you, Anania?" Ayremac asked, catching the elf maiden's eye."My mission is the original one. My place is with Morier," she said."I have no interest in hunting this murderer although I do wish you luck in doing so.""It is settled then," Huzair laughed. "Boys after Alechtus, girls following the pull."While Ayremac, Ahlear and Huzair made their preparations to leave, Shamalin wondered if it had occurred to Morier that the two members of their party who were not carrying elemental blades were gone? What could that mean?Intrigued by her own speculations, Shamalin removed Waveblade from the belt at her hip and studied it thoughtfully. The hilt was cool and smooth to the touch, and as always seemed coated in a layer of condensation that was unaffected by the cold weather. There was a single rune carved into the guard, and she ran her finger lightly over that symbol and along the wire-wrapped handle, keeping the blade fully sheathed to prevent the one characteristic of the sword she found hard to embrace - its incessant talking.Waveblade was fully-sized now, and she marveled at its magic. There was a pattern to the changes - from dirk to long sword. She had her suspicions about its behavior, but had never spent any length of time near natural bodies of water to be certain. In fact, she remembered the first time she had ever laid eyes upon the ocean. How vividly she recalled standing knee-deep as the waters pooled around her, swirling her skirts about her legs with undercurrents she had never knew existed. That had been lifetimes ago, but somehow, holding the blade made the memory seem vivid and alive - as if it had happened only yesterday.Her thoughts returned to the weapon in her hand - one of four elemental blades powerful enough to reunite a goddess' heart and body. And yet not powerful enough to stop the death and destruction that littered the path they followed toward that end? Would things have turned out differently if the keeper of an elemental sword had been on watch nights before with Ixin or Karak? She resolved to insist that Morier set a watch with at least one elemental blade with every shift from now on and so she trooped over to him and forced the albino to pay attention to her."What of the swords?" she demanded. "If something happens... what good does it do us to follow your pull if we arrive at the end with only two of the four keys?""I was just thinking that," Ayreamc said as he stepped up to the two of them with Windblade sheathed in his hands. He pulled the weapon from its scabbard and marveled at it. It was nearly invisible against the snowy background, a slight waver in the air the only clue of its presence. That and its howling voice."Free!" it shrieked. "Free to taste the snowflakes on my blade! Free to-" Ayremac re-sheathed the weapon and handed Windblade to Morier."I will come to collect this shortly," the holy warrior said and it was clear that he was having some difficulty in parting with the sword. "But it's more important they stay together." Then he turned and walked away, his hand resting on the morningstar at his hip."What about you, Huzair?" Shamalin called. "Are you giving up your sword before you go?" The mage barked laughter."Hells no, I am not going to give it up!" he called back, stuffing gear into his Handy Haversack."Why?" Shamalin asked wryly. "You never get close enough to use it anyway.""Oh, I am sorry. I am not wearing Blackheart's armor to protect me," the wizard shot back with a keenness of wit that came from years of wisecracking his way into and out of trouble on the streets of Freeport. "You do not even know what this sword does for me, so make fun all you want. We may need it and I do not plan on dying.""Huzair!" Ayremac shouted. "That was low even for you!" Shamalin bristled at Huzair's remark and turned away to make her own preparations.Ahlear just watched the banter, looking in the face each person giving it, but keeping silent as he tried to judge how serious the remarks were intended and what the underlying meaning they were meant to have. But mostly he tried to judge the personalities of these new companions of his and hoped that much of the commentary might just be stress being vented.----------------------------------------------------[1] Which is to say that he was raving like a madman. Chag is the god of insanity as well as spiders.</blockquote>

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