An Adventure in Black - Chapter II

[Gilith]

Gilith had just began to travel with Quael. He was glad for the companion but was feeling a little hopeless as to finding his companions.

At least he felt that way until he saw a strange light floating in the air. His hope rose like the light when he remembered that Rayne was a mage. "Quael this way!" Of course this was unneccesary as he could only limp towards it and Quael could probably see the light as well.

After a few minutes of travling he was almost there. He was thankfull that he had those miyu berries and that whiskey or this would have been a lot more painful. When he entered back on to the road he saw Rayne and a strange red robed man in concentration. He stood there not saying anything as they were probably making the light.

[Serpentfang]

Jarrox walked through the forest once more with his hand firmly holding the collar of his dog. He peered through bushes before going out in the open to prevent a surprise assault on them. With his injuries acting up again he was not in top condition and it might jeopardize his attempt to defend themselves should a wild animal decides to make a snack out of them. He need not worry though, as David is capable of defending both of them. But most wild beasts hunt in packs; facing all of them at one time can be very disastrous.

He was cutting another notch on a tree when a very bright light caught his eye. It was shining far above the canopy of trees, prompting the large psyrpent to climb the same tree in order to have a good observation of the object. Normally he would find a clearing in the forest to take a look, but he'd heard of stories about forest wisps and how they lure explorers to their doom, and he's not about to add themselves to their list.

Climbing up the tree was harder than he thought. First of all, the most of the branches are thin and will not support a creature of his size. The lower branches are the thickest and were able to bear his weight without snapping. However he was not able to see through at all. With that he threw caution to the wind and climbed higher, hoping that the trunk of the tree would be strong enough to carry his weight.

At the top he saw a most peculiar sight; a small globe of light, nearly similar to that of the sun. However this one was of a different color and it was flashing. It must be one of his mage companions, or one of the wisps. He looked at the thing intently, pondering if he should go to its location when one of the branches broke off under his weight. The psyrpent lost his balance and he went crashing through the tree's foliage and straight to the ground with a huge thump. Luckily the smaller branches slowed his fall or else he would be riddled with broken bones.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his butt before standing up. He called David to follow him and went off to the direction of the light.

[Quáel]

Gilith wait! What if that ball of light isn't a beacon, but a trap?

But Gilith was already hobbling as fast as he good towards it, what could Quael do but follow. All of a sudden a giant black mass, much like a shadow, shrouded Quáel's vision. Once it dissapeared, a new shape appeared before her eyes. One of the demon, human, creatures was right in front Quáel, nose to nose.

Give it to me. These words were spoken in a harsh whisper, that was very demanding.

Hehe. That's all Quáel could do, laugh, because she had the power, not the enemy. She kept her eyes at the steady stare that the demon was giving her.

Don't, play games with me. This was said with frusturation and anger. When the elfess didn't respond, he slapped her across the face. It hurt, but she held her ground with intensity. Her face was tingling and felt like it was on fire, but still she stood boldely against the enemy.

Quáel pulled for her sword with one swift, sweeping motion. But right when the blade should've hit the demon's flesh, he was gone. Wow, thought Quáel, these guys are like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands, it's nearly impossible.

[Ridgen Sú'ufanán]

A bright light illuminated the forest as the beacon rose into the air, a freakish mix of fire magic and something more. Freakish, yes, but wondrous as well. This was obviously no wisp. It was a signal - either that, or a trap. Knowing full well that following the signal was a better idea than wandering around aimlessly, Ridgen headed off in the direction of the light. If it was a trap, so be it. He'll spring it and talk his way out of it, like he normally does.

It was both a relief and disappointment, though, when the search revealed that Rayne and someone else, presumably an ally, turned out to be the perpetrators. Oh well, it's best to leave them to their task.

[Termat Geirskun]

Termat looked around in no little confusion. He stood alone in the featureless centre of the forest with his cutlass in his left hand.

“Well.” He lowered the cutlass to his side. “ ‘Not a sound there was of any human heart’ indeed. ‘Nor speech, nor breath, nor step’. Now what?”

“Now,” came a refined yet rasping voice from behind him, “you give me the box.”

Spinning sharply on his heel, Termat brought his cutlass up to a level position pointed directly at the source of the voice - a tall, thin, almost emaciated man leaning against a tree. He had an aura of danger about him, and a wolfish, predatory cast to his face. His voice, when he laughed, was sardonic and scornful, and the glint in his eyes became a sinisterly gleeful gleam at the petty act of defiance.

“If I were you, human, I’d not try to hurt me with that toy. If you give me the box willingly I’ll let you return to your friends unharmed, but if not” - he gestured expansively - “the forest is wide and I am powerful. You could wander for a very long time here and none would ever find you until one day another traveller trips over a skull lying by a cravat pin. He’ll wonder briefly who you were and how you died so very close to the path, and then he’ll take your pin and give it to a sweetheart to wear as a brooch, or sell it at his next stop. And your story will be over.” Termat slowly lowered the cutlass but kept a tight grip on it.

“The box? Just what do you want with a box?” His right hand had gone to his pocket and he stood with his eyes fixed firmly on the stranger.

“Give me the box now or I promise that you will regret it. I will get it eventually, but if you hand it over immediately I’ll not flay the skin from your back or break your hands and feet before leaving you here.” Real venom had come into the man’s eyes as he spoke. “If you were wise, you would know it is not well to anger Defalgren.”

“I shall keep it in mind. I have many boxes; I’ll gladly give you one of them. I daresay I have too many, and I mustn’t be stingy with my way out. Here, have this one. I keep my monocle in it sometimes.” So saying, Termat withdrew a box from his pocket and held it out. “Take it. ‘Please, Gods, let me not be mad,’ I think.” The strange man, easily a head taller than Termat, glanced at the box before letting out an angry hiss.

“Fool!” He struck the box from Termat’s hand and with a vicious backhander struck the boy across the face. While he was reeling from the blow, Defalgren dealt a violent blow to his abdomen and, as Termat fell to the floor, kicked him contemptuously. “You will rue this day, human. Look over your shoulder in future; one day, I shall be there.” Once again, Termat knew nothing but blackness.

Termat raised himself to his feet. He did not know how long he had been unconscious for, but nearby was his cart, the donkey grazing peacefully, and in the distance as he rose to his feet he could see an orb of light rising into the sky. Nothing in the forest could render him as much harm as the strange man with demonic powers, and that man could find him wherever he was. On the off chance that the light was that of a friend, Termat straightened his waistcoat, checked his watch as an automatic action, and began to navigate the forest with his cart.

[Alýr (Rayne)]

At first it had been clouds—a mist, a fog, a haunting that had obscured their vision and separated them all in the forest. Now it was shadows, creeping along the edges of the trees and canopies, moving like snakes through the branches and along the forest floor, which had no hint of light.

Remis cursed to himself that it had been convinced to this forsaken wood—though he could see well in the dark. His brown eyes saw the corpulent oaks, gorging themselves on the swampy sustenance of the fertile earth, and the vining shrubs that skulked darkly along the ground.

He did not much care to reunite with the group, more concerned with escaping the wood and finding his gryph, Abal. He felt comfortable here in the darkness; in some ways, it reminded of the home from which he had been exiled, though there existed here an inscrutable mystery that tempted him to look over his shoulder from time to time.

It must have been hours searching—for a road or for the trees to clear, and still he was lost. He grumbled to himself and trudged on. Despite his cautiousness, he didn’t hear the footsteps of the demon behind him. He sensed something and turned to find himself looking at a dark figure with the whisper of horns in his curly black hair. Remis's eyes narrowed distrustfully, but the man seemed to be searching him with his eyes. It was a moment before either of them spoke.

"You don’t have the box," said the demon man.

Remis didn't say anything, and the man smiled almost cruelly.

"She doesn't trust you--that wretched elven woman. And why should she?" he smiled, taking a few steps to the side. His manner was easy and casual, his tone and movements, degage. "A dark elf, from one of the most wonderfully bloodthirsty tribes, who still holds to a belief in Coor, the dark god."

Remis spoke curtly and coldly: "What do you want?"

"Nothing, but to remind you that you and I are not so different. Look at me. Tell me that you don't notice something familiar. We may come from different worlds, so to speak, but you and I both believe in the power and glory of destruction. I require nothing from you, but if you believe, like a true dark elf, that death is ultimate worship, then be my eyes and ears within this adventurers party. Earn their trust and help me obtain what that wood elf holds."

"What is it?" Remis asked.

Defalgren laughed. "She hasn't told you? You owe her no loyalty. It is a box, which contains an orb with the power to link to the netherworlds, and through that link, summon demons to this world. Think was dark power and destruction we could cause! A fitting means of worship to Coor."

Remis glared. "Why should I help you?"

"Why should you help her?" Remis did not answer. It was a valid question. The demon noticed his hesitancy, and went on: "I ask nothing of you but to watch and see. Think about my proposal, and your loyalties. I will visit you again, when the time is right. Until then, dark friend."

In a flutter of shadows, the demon was gone, and Remis was again alone in the forest. He could not ignore the demon-like man's proposal, for he had spoken persuasively. He had little care for this group of misfit fighters and warriors, but he was not one to be mocked or betrayed, and had little trust in the horned man. His pondering was disrupted by a light that swam in through the trees. It was close, and as he followed, he found the road to be much closer than he had originally thought. He noticed the dark-haired wood elf farther off, but stayed partially in the shadows to hide his sensitive eyes from the light.

[Tak]

A deep rumble echoed through the forest. 

“Hmm, it’s got enough boom but not enough flash, or fire.” Tak rushed back to his wagon and rummaged through his bags. "Let’s see…more Saltpetre.  Yes, that should work.”  Tak filled a small glass vial with a mixture of Chymicals, a trade gnomish secret with a little twist. “Careful, careful…ahh too much Brimstone, lets pour some of that out…” Tak examined his vial closely, one eye closed, and very carefully added in a small burning stone before sealing the vial.  He dropped this vial into a larger vial filled with a Gnomish fire solution, corked the whole thing and ran back toward the small clearing he had found and took aim at the scorched stump.

“This time it should be perfect!  Ready Buttons?"  He glanced over his shoulder at his pony, Buttons, who was busy pawing the ground, looking for something to eat.  She paused, looked up at Tak, and snorted.  “Yes, yes, ten paces. I know, I know.  Stupid pony thinks it knows more about explosives and geology.  Well, here it goes!” Tak readied his wrist-mounted sling short and let his new concoction fly. 

A black-cloaked figure snatched the vial out of mid air. 

“Hmm…what a quaint little creature you are.  I wonder what this little thing could do…” He held the vial in his hand and inspected it carefully.  “Interesting very interesting.” 

Tak flicked his wrist, which let a Super Fragsent roll into the palm of his shooting hand.  “I didn’t see you there.  Are you in need of a fire mage?  I just so happen to be the mightiest fire mage in this forest!”  He snapped the fingers of his free hand, sparking his spark gloves. 

The black-cloaked figure laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.  “You are no mage.”  He snapped his fingers and two red-eyed beasts appeared behind him.  He looked at the beasts, then eyed Tak, “Yes, these should do.  I do not know why you are in this forest, but I’m afraid you have terrible luck.  You will die now, but don’t worry.  I’ll take this little concoction with me.  I’m sure I can put it to good use.”  As quickly as he appeared the figure vanished, but the two creatures he had summoned growled and crept toward Tak.

“Buttons run!”  Tak shouted, in a fluid motion sparked the fuse for the Fragsent in his hand.  He counted the fuse and eyed the beasts. “Not a mage huh? And leaving like that, how rude.  Well, I can still make short work of your stupid pets.”  Tak loosed his shot between the creatures.  It exploded right between them, sending burning shrapnel into both creatures, which exploded, in a fine mist.

With a grin, Tak turned to his pony, “I’m more of a mage than he is…Buttons…where did you go?”  The pony was nowhere to be seen. “BUTTONS!  WHERE ARE YOU?”  Tak heard a whinny off to his left and went to find her.  “Buttons what are you doing over here?  I said run but it was for dramatic effect. You should know that by now.  Wait, what do you have there?”  He peered over to see Buttons licking the face on an unconscious woman. “Hmm…an elf.”  Tak walked over to her and saw the very light, very subtle condensation from her breath. “You want me to bring her to town don’t you?” 

Buttons snorted.

“Ok, ok, we’ll take her to the nearest town.  I should report that strange angry man to the watch as well.  But I can’t carry her.  You know what to do.”  Tak waved at Buttons to bring her back to his cart. 

After a few minutes, and some re-arraigning of Tak’s cramped wagon, the two of them had managed to fit the giant (compared to Tak) elven woman into his cart and into a relatively flat position.  Tak readied Buttons to travel and said, “Now, let’s get going.  Yah!” And they both headed back toward the road.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid woke up to the creaking sound of a moving cart. That was... odd. Had she been placed in Termat's cart for some reason? But no, when she opened her eyes, it seemed that this one was somewhat bigger, though still too small for everything the owner tried to get in there - and she was taking up a lot of the space. She stayed still for a while, trying to figure out where she was and what had happened. A glance outside the cart convinced her that she was still in the forest. In a forest, anyway, and judging by the way the trees grew close together still in the Már'cál'ethrón. Had she gone wolf? No wait - she had found herself alone in the forest, all her companions gone. And then... everything was black. Obviously, something must have happened, and she had no recollection of it. That did not bode well. Had she been wolf to the owner of this cart? Possibly, but not probably - if she had, she would not actually be inside it.

Using her keen sense of smell as well as her ears, she tried to make sense of the mysterious cart owner. The vials and tubes surrounding her had a sort of acrid smell about them that she did not entirely trust. More than half the things she could see, she did not recognise. She wondered again where she had landed. She heard someone mumbling to himself at the front of the cart. Or to someone else? A quick glance in that direction convinced her that he was quite alone. And quite small, with a pair of goggles in front of his eyes.

She was now quite convinced that this personage did not pose any threat to her - if he had not wanted to help her, he wouldn't have gotten her into the cart. She tried to sit up, and felt the pain in her chest. No, definitely something had happened, a pain like that did not happen on its own. But what? Little use wondering, she would not find out. Turning to the cart's driver, she examined him for a moment. Except for the goggles, the predominant feature was his nose, which was bigger than any she had ever seen. A gnome, judging by his size, but there was something slightly odd about him. Scooting closer - there wasn't actually room to stand up - she said: "Hi."

[Tak]

Tak was plotting a course of action.  He needed to get to a town, the closest being Voldar; however, wasn’t the best of news to Tak.  Tak had accidently set a guard on fire while fiddling with the mixed ratio for “Abngor and Tak’s Super Flammable and Sticky Solution”.  Tak was having problems opening a vial of gnomish fire.  The guard came by and offered to help, unfortunately for him, the vial slipped out of Tak’s hands and slashed on the guard’s boots.  The details were still a little fuzzy to Tak, but he may have accidently struck a spark, igniting the boots and the guard.  No one was too injured, but the guards ‘escorted’ the gnome out of the city with the clear indication that he shouldn’t return any time soon.

But what else could he do? The woman in the back was unconscious, he could manage to keep her comfortable, but she needed to see someone who was trained.  Maybe if he bought the guard a new pair of boots it would make everything better. 

Then there was that strange man, who now had a vial of Tak’s experimental explosive gnomish fire.  Tak knew the damage potential that vial had and he was worried to say the least.  He could take her south to a smaller town like Cemphiria, but he didn’t know the extent her injuries.

“Should have become a Physician.” Tak muttered to himself.   No, he would need to take her back to Voldar. 

While he was working out excuses and some theatrics to get into Voldar, Tak noticed a bright light rising above the trees.  Tak let his plans and schemes wander to the back of his mind while he studied this light.  It had to magical, but was it friendly?  After his run-in with the black hooded figure, he had no idea.  Maybe it was this woman’s friends looking for her.  They would certainly draw attention to themselves.

“Hi”

“AHH BY THE GODS!”  Tak screamed, turning to see what that was and lost his balance, falling out of the cart.  He grabbed a bag of sparkfire off his belt, readied his slingshot, and slowly peered back into his cart.  “Oh, it’s you.  Glad to see you’re feeling better.  Don’t sneak up on me like that!  Thought you were another one of those demons.”  Tak put his weapons away and climbed back into the wagon. He stood up on his seat to make him just barely taller than she was sitting down, put his hands on his hips and said, “I am Tak –The Magnificent!  Fire mage extraordinaire!  And your rescuer.”

[Quáel]

A few moments to catch her breath, then Quáel notices balls of light and flashed concentrated in an area far off in a clearing of the forest. Hopefully this was a good sign, but she wouldn't know until she looked.

It took a little bit of stepping over large roots from old trees, finding small paths here and there, and trying to avoid the sudden heaviness of the dark forest to get to the source of the commotion. When she got to the clearing, she found recognizable faces. Although Quáel is a force to be reckoned with, she quite willingly admitted that she was beginning to get a little timid while travelling in the forest alone.

Alyr and another were the reasons for the light, casting some sort of spells maybe, all that mattered was Quáel was surrounded by people she knew, people she was beginning to call friends.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid regarded the gnome as he pulled himself up to his full height - after nearly falling off his perch at her greeting. Her first impression had been quite correct - what an odd character! His nose did not come into full effect until he was facing her, and combined with the goggles, it made his face look all eyes and nose, and very little mouth - comparatively speaking, of course.

"I did not mean... to startle you. I apologise. I would not... like to be a bother, but I seem to have... lost my friends - you did not happen... to see them, by any chance? There were some elves and some humans..." As she talked, she rubbed absently over the soreness in her chest. It was giving her difficulties to breathe. Just then she glanced outside, past the gnome's goggled head, and saw the bright light above the trees. They seemed to be quite close, and coming closer - the pony in front of the cart seemed to know what it was doing without the gnome paying it much attention.

"On the other hand, I have a feeling we might find them there." She added, pointing at the light. As she moved, she felt the pain in her chest again. What in Ava's dream had hit her so hard? She wanted to check it, but she was not sure how the gnome would react to her pulling off her shirt right in front of him. Perhaps she should defer until later. Instead, she asked: "Would you mind terribly dropping me off with them, if it is not too much of an inconvenience?"

[Tak]

"I did not mean... to startle you. I apologise. I would not... like to be a bother, but I seem to have... lost my friends - you did not happen... to see them, by any chance? There were some elves and some humans...On the other hand, I have a feeling we might find them there." She pointed toward the light.  Tak noticed her flinch when she moved, she was hurt more than he thought. 

"Would you mind terribly dropping me off with them, if it is not too much of an inconvenience?"

"Well, I suppose there is better than Voldar.”  Tak sat back down.  "Yes, we’ll go to your friends.” He said to her, before saying to himself, "Though someone should still inform the authorities about that strange man in black with the explody creatures.  Stole something very dangerous.”

Buttons plodded along toward the light, and as they got closer.  Tak kept an eye out for anything that resembled trouble. 

And trouble he found.  A small group, of elves and humans, nearly a dozen, and one giant lizard.  Most of them looked like they could toss poor Tak as if he were a small pack.  Having run into bandits on more than one occasion Tak immediately assumed the light was a trap and these people would try to kill him and buttons.  Try being the key word. 

"You should take cover, it was a trap. Looks like there are bandits ahead.  One of them is a giant lizard!”

He readied his sling shot and grabbed a flask of Abngor’s Super Sticky Solution (dyed a very lovely shade of woods rose) from his belt.  Tak thought about using a fireflower, but decided to see if they would chase him first.

[Irid alMenie]

Irid's attention was grabbed for a moment by the mutterings of the gnome, who said something about a strange man in black. She did not remember what had happened in the forest, but chances were present it had something to do with the same people who had attacked them in the inn. One of them had escaped, and had he not been wearing black? She was not sure, but Alyr would be interested.

Lost in thought, she almost missed the moment that Tak the Magnificent tensed up, then told her to hide while grabbing something from his belt. She almost wanted to laugh when he mentioned the giant lizard, except she was quite sure that laughing would hurt. Instead, she grabbed the hand which was holding... whatever it was, something with a rosy colour. "I don't know what that is, but you don't... don't need it right now. The lizard is one of my... friends." Even she herself was not sure whether that last pause was due to her shortage of breath or something else. "He will not harm you. Unless you throw... that at him." Letting go, she made her way out of the cart. A jump down to solid ground left her gasping for breath and pressing a hand to her chest. When the pain subsided a little bit, she went around the side of the cart, going slowly to avoid renewing the pain. She saw Alyr not far away.

Looking at the funny little gnome, she told him: "I think you should... talk to my employer. Tell her about... the man in black." With a glance she invited him to come along with her. As she approached the other elfess, she saw in her indigo eyes the faraway look that she had come to associate with the use of magic. She wasn't sure whether to interrupt her, despite her race's affinity being unfamiliar with magic herself. With narrowed eyes she noted that not all the group had found the light yet. She wondered if they were still coming.

[Termat Geirskun]

Termat was not in the best of states. The direct route to the light he saw floating above the trees had passed through what seemed like a ridiculous number of pools that lay half-concealed under thick moss and rotten logs, and more than once he had sunk to his ankle before he realised that he would have to lead his cart the long way around. He had eventually reached the firm ground just to one side of the road, and there he sat down on his cart, removed his sodden socks and shoes, changed his trousers for a clean pair and pulled on dry socks and a pair of smart but sturdy new boots. Once he had finished, he looked again at his watch; shortly after noon. He hoped that he would find the party soon - at least, in time for lunch - but rather than leave all to chance he pulled out a clay bottle of wine wrapped in cloth and, after pouring a glass of the pale liquid and taking the edge off his thirst, stowed it safely in the side of the cart.

The donkey waited patiently.

Fiddling with his cravat, Termat stepped out of the trees and walked across the few remaining peds without incident - until he reached the last paces, where he once again put his foot straight in a patch of hidden, stagnant bog. The boot was not quite as waterproof as he had been assured, and he felt a trickle of water making its way in, but the trousers did not show the misfortune and it was looking incongruously dapper - far more so than he had any right to be - that he finally stepped onto the path and began to trundle along to the rest of the group.

Most of them appeared to be around - although Termat hadn’t fixed them all in his mind well enough to be sure - but one of them was bearing a staff and had an intense look of concentration on his drawn face - a face and a staff Termat felt sure he would have remembered.

As he walked down the path towards them, he saw another cart pull up by the group, with a tired and pained looking woman looking out - whom he recognised vaguely from the earlier stages of the journey - as well as an impressive person too short to be human - whom he did not. Regardless, Termat led his cart to the edge of the group before stopping the donkey and taking out the bottle. He turned to his nearest neighbour and proffered the bottle.

“Would you care to join me? It’s very refreshing.” As he spoke, he began to fill the glass he held.

[Serpentfang]

After passing through a few itchy plants and thorny growths later, the psyrpent found the source of the light. It was not a wisp thankfully, but his employer and a human mage. He went closer and saw that most of his companions are present. He sat down on a patch of moss covered ground and rummaged about his bag for some salve that can mend the scratches he sustained from passing through some thorny plants as well as the itching sensation he got from those rather suspicious leaves he brushed by.

His dog sat down beside him, his fur riddled with burrs from walking through some thick bushes. The psyrpent reached out and patiently removed all of them before tending to his own needs. Once finished, he took a leather skin, uncorked it, and drank some of its contents. He also reached into his bag, pulled out a piece of dried meat and gave it to his dog.

The cream started to take effect, which made the psyrpent a little comfortable. he leaned against a tree, waiting for the call to move out.

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