Adventures of Caelereth

((New chapter))

Bobbo dismounted his horse and said to the Tristin, "Shaint says he will have the weapons Oscar sent for us."

"He lost them?" asked the Tristin angrily, "I wondered where they were. Oscar said that they would be coming. What trouble have you been in, Shaint?"

Rhas
The red-clad woman rose from the streets of Strata. All was chaos about her. She felt a sharp pain in her chest. She ripped open her shirt and tugged an arrow from her heart. Screaming in pain, but mostly anger, she made the arrow burst into flame and ran down the streets of Strata, foaming at the mouth in rage.

She soon found her way to the gates where the Tristin's army waited. She snarled at the people gathered about the gate.

[ooc: Go ahead and take control of her, Lucirina]

Shaint gritted hi steeth angrilly at the Tristrin "I HAVE LOST NOTHING BUT MY MIND!" Shaint shouted at the Tristrin his eyes got wider as he looke dmore serious, or crazy.. he looked the Tristrin in the eye

"I have been through the desert, IN a sandstorm and THEN attacked by demons of the damned nine hells!, through sewers full of filthy aters and rat brownies, along with thief kings on wich kidnapped the person whom I have loved for so many years after not loving anyone!, I was on the verge of dieing, my companions where injured, and we still have to get the supplies!"

Shaint said his vein's popping from his neck and blood vessels in his eyes like they would like to expload, "we havent Slept, Ate, Rested, Drank, ANYTHING for many of days and ontop of this whole damned thing, WHERE GOING TO START A WAR! now you can shout all you want but i'm warning you, I AM UNSTABLE!" Shaint began breathing heavilly and turned his back on the Tristin, he walked twords his party members...

"Look here!, we need ot get these Supplies for these Men if we don't they die! now come on I am NOT going to have anybody's blood on my hands, and I am Sure none of you do either! now I'm going with or without you!"

At first the Tristin was angry at Shaint's insolence, but then as he described their adventures, he was filled with guilt. The true heart of the Tristin came forth: the heart of compassion and kindness.

"My you have suffered much for me," said the Tristin, "Say no more! I am sorry to shout at you. With what you've been through, I couldn't even expect you to be here. Come, open the gate and come with us to camp. We have plenty of food and drink. After you have rested then I will ask you to go and find the weapons, however, knowing that you have already suffered much, I will not be angry if you refuse. Come, we have fought enough for one day. Wars are not one-day affairs, you know."

Robert smiled at the mercy of his lord. That was why Robert served him really, not just because he was born too. "Yes, Shaint, his lordship is right. Let us celebrate that you have passed your trials! Please, take my horse."

Robert bowed with his hands gestured at the horse he had ridden. The Tristin also dismounted and offered his horse.

"And tell me the number of your party and my men would be glad to offer their mounts for you," said the Tristin.

Suddenly throught the gate standing behind Shaint, Robert saw Rhas standing behind him in tattered clothing. She looked horrible, but in her eyes was the look of rage.

"SHAINT!!!" cried Robert, "LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!!!"

'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'
The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past)
Adventures of Caelereth

Gararion remained still, his civilian attire seeming to hold out on this expedition so far.  As he listened he could feel the pressence of one come, one who had great power in what seemed the essence of fire.  They seemed to be engulfed within it, within anger and thirst for revenge.  With this Gararion quickly dispelled his small spell, revealing himself to any who were watching or may be watching.

Suddenly he heard the words of Bobbo yelling at Shaint to watch out.  My dear Shaint don't be fool, don't add your anger to this persons lit flame. was all that Gararion could think of.

Shaint heard the shouts of Bobbo and he turned his head and then his body his eyes glancing over a woman in tattered red clothing..... "well, why don't you look nice" Shaint scratched his chin and pointed at her with one finger gesturing to her chest "dun be so uptight, whoever you are being mad doesen tbring much especially when your looking at me"

"and by the way, you seem to have a hole in your chest, if you where smiling I might say you had been shot with an arrow, but seeing as how you arent I think it's the place where your heart is supposed to go.......you know of what I speak, the small chunk of frozen ice"

Rhas
The witch stared at Shaint, her eyes wild with anger and pain.
Her voice came out as a sharp hiss as she lifted a hand and carefully aimed a fireball at Shaint.
"Watch your tounge elf spawn, or I will burn your body so bad that even your beloved Avá won't be able to dream you back"
She then turned to Gararion, never lowering her hand and smirked widely.
"Go ahead wind mage, add more power to my flames. In the name of my sister. Where is that wench that calls herself Nightbird?"
The eyes of the witch were burning crazily, even with her heart beating weakly in her chest she had enough power to burn them all to crisp if they even moved a single muscle.

Luci
Lucirina and Qui was entering the city after the Tristin and his men, Lucirina was holding her arm and trying to stop the bleeding coming from a gash in her arm.
Qui was looking down at her, worried and admired at the same time. The little elf had fought with such ferocity and skill he could almost think she was a trained warrior.
As they entered the gates of Strata Lucirina heard the voice of Bobbo warning Shaint of something. Her blood almost turned to ice in her veins when she heard the voice of Rhas, the fire witch, asking her name.
Taking a deep breath and giving Qui a short nod she walked out from the crowd so she was in plain sight.

"Here One is fire witch!"

She called out, hopeing to distract Rhas long enough to let any of the others take her down.

Gararion watched with cauion as Shaint seemed to insult the witch only added to her anger.

"Go ahead wind mage, add more power to my flames." Were words directed towards Gararion.

"I fear you don't understand my full potential witch!  Without the very air that I control you have no power for your fire can not burn without its life.  Threaten me again and you will see what power I truely have!"

Gararion seemed anoyed now, never before had someone showed him such disrespect since he became one of the most known wizard within Ximax, teacher of many.  As Gararion spoke he held his staff in front of him, ready to defend himself against any form of attack of this female, his staff slowing burning with a even more fierce blue fire.  Gararion also seemed to be engulfed within a turrent of air as every thing belonging to him seemed to flap in the winds, small dust clouds rising from the ground only to fall again to the ground.

Bobbo was very scared for Shaint's life when he insulted the fire druid. He backed away cautiously.

"Shaint," he said, his voice raspy, "It would not be a good idea to insult such as her. I know what they can do."

The Tristin had already backed up from the city gate and watched from afar.

He heard the voice of Lucirina shouting defiantly at Rhas. His eyes widened in fear. Fear for her.

"Lucirina!" he cried, "Stay back! Don't do this!"

'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'
The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past)
Adventures of Caelereth

Gararion watching the events unfolding now slowly made his way past the others and closer towards Lucirina.  He knew what powers this witch had, without seeing them in actions. He sensed the Oh'mód'hál around her, knowing her abilities and had already thought of a way to counter most spells that she would be able to cast with a single spell of his own.

Gararion now remained where he was, waiting for anyone to make a move so he may make his own.  But Gararion could also feel something else, he sensed something about Lucirina, a deep hatred.  Why...

Rhas
The fire druid snarled at Gararion, not paying more attention to him as Lucirina walked out of the crowd.
"So you decided to show yourself wench, you suprise me.
I thought the likes of you hid behind your so called friends and then looted their bodies."
She cast a fast glance toward Gararion while lifting her other hand, a fireball forming in it, and aming at Lucirina.
"You may be strong wind mage, but if you do anything hasty I will take out the little elven wench here, not that you would care much, elven scum as you are."
She then turned toward Lucirina who was still standing in front of her, a smirk came to the lips of the witch.
"Nightbird, how do you wish to die?"

Lucirina
Luci swallowed deeply a few times as Rhas saw her and lifted her hand in her direction. She heard the vpice of Bobbo calling to her to not confront the witch. But she knew she had to, it was her Rhas wanted.

"If you desire your revenge witch then come and get One.
But remember this. One already made it off with your sister."

She was playing a deadly game, she was taunting Rhas as she had taunted Issrah, taking her atention away from the rest of the warriors. Her mind racing, praying someone actually understood what she was doing.
Her eyes moved for Gararion for a split second, a pleading look, before returning to look at Rhas.

Qui
The warrior struggled to make himself a way between the crowd, calling out the name of Lucirina. He couldn't see what was going on but he had heard the feer in Bobbo's voice as he told her to not do whatever she was doing.
Cursing and elbowing his way he finally caught a glimps of what was happening and what saw turned the blood to ice in his veins.
Lucirina was standing unarmed in front of the fire witch and it looked like she was about to be burned into oblivion.

Gararion eyes watched the hand which a fire ball slowly began to form.  With that Gararion placed his spellbook on a small hook designed to carry such items.  Now with his second hand free, the other holding his staff firmly, Gararion began to softly speak a few elven words in preperation of a spell.  The air around Gararion began to grow dense as if he was gathering it about him but why?

Bobbo saw what was taking place and noticed that Lucirina held no weapon with which to fight Rhas. Bobbo knew in his heart that Lucirina must face Rhas alone, but unarmed?

With a quick deft movement of his hand, he withdrew Avenger from its scabbard. "Lucirina!" he said to get her attention, "Take this."

He tossed the sword so it would land at her feet and it did successfully. He now knew that it was only a question of whether she would pick it up. Pick it up, Lucirina. Pick it up for your sake and for mine the last thought sending pain through his heart.

Shaint riased an eyebrow he was really starting to relise why he never really cared about anything and just acted like a child all the time, it saved him alot of trouble......he had done a good job of stopping it but.Shaint was still indeftenatly Shaint....,

He blinked and arched an eyebrow to the 'Witch' before him as she argued with people one of wich was Lucrina...

Shaint cracked his jaw and spoke up "Hey, no need to curse a whole race, plkenty of suich words could be said about humans, and more-so than the tribes of elves of wich I have met......and through time it has come to be alot...

now, you know stop calling the on eyou speak of as 'nightbird' a wench, quite solidly your are both a wench and witch, anymore names you want to be called? I have plenty..." Shaint blinked quickly and looked at Rhas....

"Devil spawn, C'oor' looker, Harlet...." Shaint kept randomly picking out names and tossing them at Rhas....

Radaroc groaned, The damned elf with kill us all....I'm not sure which elf inparticular but one of them for sure.  
He eyed Lucirina and the fire druid, I should help but I get a feeling if I try both will end up attacking me.....This ain't good.

Lucirina
The elf heard the call of Bobbo and the thud of the sword as it landed on the ground by her. She didn't take her eyes off Rhas that was fuming even more with every insult thrown at her by Shaint, the two fireballs in her hands had grown in size and Lucirina was quite sure that she had no time to reach the sword in the sand.
She slowly touched the handle of the dagger hoping the witch didn't notice her movements.

Rhas
Was grithing her teeth at the many insults from Shaint, but she knew that she had to keep focused. It seemed that the elven wnech that was standing in front of her was important to many of the people in the crowd.
She grinned evily as one of them threw a sword to the elf, making it land in the sand close to her feet.
"One movement wench... just one little movement and I will burn you to crisp."
Her breath was heaving and the wound in her chest was burning like hellfire, making her sway ever so slightly. Yet the fire of hate burning in her mind was more than enough to keep her from fall.
She noticed that the elf she knew as Nightbird didn't move toward the sword at all, instead her hand was straying over her forearm. Rhas wondered what she was doing, but then a short reflex coming from the concealed blade as the elf lifted her sleeve revealed the plans of the elf to her.
With a wide smirk she aimed the fireball at Lucirina and fired, a maniac laughter coming from her lips.

Qui
The crowd made place so Qui could come trough.
He saw the sword fly trough the air and land by Lucirina, he saw her ignoring it and slowly moving her hand toward the hidden blade.
His eyes grew wide in fear as he saw the witch smirking-
*Luci...NO!!*
The thought ran tough his head as Rhas aimed at Lucirina.
Before anyone could do anything to stop him he had crossed the distance between him and Luci and embraced her, shielding her from the burning orb with his own body, reciving a impact that send both him and Luci into the ground.
The smell of charred flesh and burning clothes filled the air along with the scream of Lucirina.
Rhas was still laughing and aiming a new fireball at the crowd behind Lucirina, her other hand still aiming at Gararion.
"Who will be the next one?"
She said mockingly.

Gararion watched as the witch fire one of the fire balls toward Lucirina.  Gararion moved towards sending his aid when a man came from no where and embraced Lucirina within his arms, then being engulfed within a ball of twisting flames.  As soon as it started it was over, with both the man and Lucirina lying upon the ground, motionless.  With that Gararion slowly made his way in front of the two, in front of every one else in the group.  Raising his staff above him quickly he created a wall of powerful twisting winds, the strength of a twister, around himself and Rhas.  Dust from the ground below began lifting up, creating a sandstorm around everyone blocking from sight what was going on within the walls of the twisting current of air.

"I will not watch in silence no longer fire witch.  We've seen what pain you can sufffer and you've seen that the one you wish to kill, the one you call nightbird, has friends within our group.  I have seen far to many hurt within our little adventure, no longer!  By the dream of Avá I will end this now!"

The winds seemed to grow stronger by the minute, but how long could Gararion hold this protected wall up protecting those who stood behind it, surely this battle would take much away from him and from Rhas herself.  Gararion would at some point release the wall if he wish to remain at full strength to fight this Rhas, hopefully he could weaken her enough before then....

Gararion hurled his power agaist the fire druid but he was straining.  Radaroc looked to Derm who was in one of his vest pockets in the shape of a small dune mouse.  "Magic users need to stay focused, right?" Derm let out a small chirp of affirmatioin.
Dashing to the side so as not to disturb Gararion's wind wall, the full grown male troll charged Rhas.

Just before he smashed into her however he grabbed her and held the witch to him in a powerful bear hug.  "No more fire!  I don't like fire!" he grimiced as his arms and chest grew hotter.

Raoneth moved slowly towards them, there was shouting inside the croud. "I bet someone's angry because we didn't bring the weapons..." he murmured before an explotion of fire erupted in the middle of the crowd. He could feel the warmth as it hit his face and barely had time to rub his eyes before he could feel someone using wind magic nearby. A thick wall of wind appeared in the middle of the croud.
He moved closer, a couple of people lay at the place of the explotion, the man on top was severely burned on his back,
probably dead. Perhaps he sacrificed himself for whoever is underneath him.
First true man of honor I can remember to have seen... too bad he's dead. He thought as he turned towards the wall of wind, carefully probing it with his magic.
Probing with wind magic didn't seem to be mutch different from doing it with life magic. Sending out a few strands of wind to search and attempt to penetrate the wall. Baithag! this is thick. whoever made this must know what he's doing. Or maybe I'm just very untalented.

(thanks for pointing it out, Gar.)

Edited by: Raoneth at: 7/30/03 17:06

OOC: I think that post was suppose to be within the OOC thread and not the IC thread  

Gararion keeping his attention strained toward Rhas waited for her to make a move.  As this happened Radorac rushed past the wall of air he had made and grappled with Rhas.  Wretched troll Gararion thought.  Gararion waited to see what would happen next.  Simple minded troll, he doesn't know what he is getting himself into....

Bobbo cried out, "NO!!!" as he saw the fireball fly towards Lucirina. He quickly aimed his ring and used its power to try and deflect the ball, but the flame only passed the ball, a much stronger magic than that of the ring, and hit the gate. Soon the gate of the city was red hot and began to melt. The hinges broke off and the gate came carreening down to the ground, not near anyone of course.

Bobbo's face filled with anguish as he knew Lucirina's life was over. Then he watched hopelessy as Qui threw himself in the path of the fire. Bobbo's eyes widened as they both flew to the ground.

Bobbo rushed to their sides. Kneeling down before them, he looked at Qui's wounds. His eyes filled with tears. "Aye, that it must come to this!"

He rolled Qui's body over to look at his face, and found that he still lived, if but barely. Looking to Lucirina, he found her only bruised from the fall.

Bobbo looked into Qui's eyes and said, "You have done the most noble deed I have ever seen. You have put your own life on the line for her. Woe that it had to be this way. If I had known the love you have for her, I would have given her up to you."

He looked at Lucirina and then turned to Qui and said in a quivering voice, "Woe that you were not the lord and I the soldier. For you are a better man than I. You deserve her more than I. I . . . am nothing. My heart has forgiven you."

Tristin The Tristin was quite overwhelmed by the flow of events. As the fireball went towards Lucirina, he gasped in shock, and then watched in shock as Qui came forward and took the damage. He saw them go flying to the ground, and he saw Lord Robert rush to their side.

Looking to Rhas, he saw that she was already preparing another fireball. Drawing his sword and rushed to stand in front of those on the ground and Robert. Pointing the blade to the heavens, he stood stoicly before the witch and watched as Gararion's winds closed around him and Rhas.

That will not hold for ever he thought to himself.

"Just try, witch!" he shouted defiantly into the winds, "If you have anything strong enough to get through this blade, then you deserve to kill us!"

'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'
The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past)
Adventures of Caelereth

In a sudden burst of energy, Radaroc was forced to break his hold and flew back from the sudden explosion of flame.

Shaint watched all the occurances happen one after another Strong winds shot up after the witch threw a Fireball at Lucrina that was intercepted by a man, the Tristin drew swords and everything seemed to go to Hell and radaroc flew backwards,

The actions catching Shaint off-guard to begin with the winds slammed his body as he moved to help out and threw him backwards and in the air he threw words out in Sty'rash as he did so his body slammed into a stone wall with an escape of an 'GUYGH!' from the breath being knocked from his body he landed on a knee he slowly stood up he was still in good rang, it had only felt like he had flown for 60 peds

He mumbeled inwardly "I recall why I allways hated the practice of Magic

OOC: Gararion, did you ever give Keelin her sword back? I'm just going to assume he didn't.

Keelin braced herself as the winds sprang up, but she still slid back several peds. Between the wind and the flames, it was hard to tell what was going on, but it couldn't be anything good.

And I though all we had to do was assassinate a powerful, evil lord. Silly me. I should have expected there to be a confrontation with a fire witch.

She bared her teeth in a silent snarl of frustration. What in Coor's name does she WANT anyways?! As if we didn't already have enough to deal with!

She gripped the hilt of the sword she'd been given tighter and took a few steps foward so she could see what was happening.  

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint threw a forearm infront of his face and kept watching the 'battle' infront of him allmost completely forgetting that he still needed to get the supplies for the tristrin and his army, Shaint turned the corner and got behind a building where there was no winds... he took off running through the streets of Strata sand covered and dirty he stopped at the first Merchant he came to, asking if they knew where Oscars friend was...

Edited by: Shaint at: 8/1/03 19:35

Keelin tore her gaze away from the battling wizards and glanced around. This is not good. Troas is going to notice this sooner or later and he's going to wonder what's going on. And if he gets here and the Tristan's army still doesn't have their supplies... This could be really bad.

She spotted Shaint rushing off. Where is he going? She thought,turning and following.

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint shot his head around and saw Keelin "I'm glad you decided to come, come we need to find Oscars friend we need those supplies!" Shaint  spoke to every merchant that he could see untill finally running into a small shop about the size of a little tavern, Shaint trudged in out of breath and leaned on the counter out of breath "I, I'm looking, F , for a friend of, Osc, Osca, Oscar's, Oscar Lo, Lotus"

Shaint said as he looked at the man, he was old of age...and his eyes filled with wisdom

Old Man:"I know of the man you speak, Oscar Lotus of the Thirsty Herald, good man he is what might you be needin Mr.Elf?"

Shaint perked up and dusted himself off "I believe it's you here is what I need" Shaint said pulling an ruffled torn piece of paper from under his leather vest and recited it the man behind the counter got serious looking and nodded leading Shaint and Keelin to he back.

Old Man:"you finally came, I was wondering if you would ever come to get these supplies, The Resistance is going to need them against Traos"

Shaint looked at the man and spoke firmly "I know, the resistance is here now!" The ld man looked suprised as he brushed his scruffy white beard and quickly grabbed a hat and cloak

Old Man:"COME Mr.Elf we shall take my wagon they need supplies this instant!"

Shaint blinked as the Old man ripped the sheet covering a wagon allready stocked with crates of 'supplies' and Shaint climbed aboard the Old man getting into the drivers seat and slapping the reigns the horses took off from inside and burst open two large wooden doors they turned a corner and headed down the sandy covered roads to the eastern gate where the tristran and his men where behind it, in th ecenter stood Lucrina and the witch known as Rhas....

Keelin listened and watched and decided she really didn't know what was going on, but it was apparently a good thing...

She got up and sat on the back of the wagon as they moved off. I hope this helps. This is a bigger mess than I was expecting.

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint stood up from the front and grabbed the side of the wagon and put his foot against it getting leverage he swung off the corner from where the carrige was attatched to the wagon and hugged the wall down to the opening where he slowly swung aroun dthe corner and stepped into the hay spread wagon and slowly walked twords Keelin he smiled lightly before looking down at her, the canopy on the wagon causing him to duck slightly, "Keelin, theres something I need to tell you...however i'm not sure if I should...because i'm not at all sure what your feelings would be after I said it..."

Shaint said as his face got to a blank look with a slight hint of smile ever so often, "Keelin, sadly we havent gotten to spend much time together, alone anyway but even so I've grown quite fond of you during these travels, perhaps...." Shaint froze as he thought of the words to say fidgeting with his fingers at his sides. "Keelin what I am trying to ask is two things first of all I'm asking you to seace wondering the lands, and second....well..........second...."

Shaint stopped to crouch on one knee and pat himself down quickly before removing a dagger and slicing the seem on his pants where a pocket opening would be, after sheething hi sknife he pushed two fingers into his pocket and pulled from it a dull silver ring, it had engraved designes of vines and leaves, along with few elves runes... Shaint held it tightly between both of his fingers and made it stand up to be seen perfectly....

"May I have thine grace of taking your fine hand in marrige, and calling you forever as mine own to love and to cherish for the rest of my existance upon this world?...." Shaint left it at that in silence as he awaited an answer......any answer........ as he hoped in the back of his mind that the nights of camping in the desert and melting the fine metal and engraving the arts into it would pay off.....as he had poured his very life and soul into it's creation....

Keelin looked at the ring and ran a finger lightly along one edge, then folded Shaint's hand back around it. 'You should not be so quick to ask this of me. I... care for you. And for your sake, I will not take this.'

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint spoke in reply his thoughts only of 'i will not be shut down so quickly.....i hope..' he spoke calmly and with a smooth voice... "for my sake you speak? for my sake you would accept this for I have asked you to become my lovely wife and in doing so i have considerd what i have found to be my best actions, even so if something where to be against my own sake it should be my own fault and you could have not prevented it, for it was my own will do do what i hath done and all considerations have been considered......in this not thinking on my half of this matter of love and marrige...

May you grant me thine hand in marrige for wich I promise to never leave unless by my death and continue in love if it should ever come to yours...."

Shaint finsihed and slowly opened his hand again revealing the ring once more....

Lucirina
The lithe elf saw all her plans crumble to dust as the witch Rhas lifted her hand and threw a fireball at her. She was almost certain that Avá was calling her back into the dream when someone shouted her name and a shadow blocked out the sight of the fireball.
She didn't see who it was and as the fireball hit them both she could feel the world swirl around and hit her hard as she slammed into the ground with the heavy weight of the one shielding her on top of her.
The world went black for what seemed like and eternity but as she finally managed to open her eyes what she saw was some of the most terrible sights she had ever seen.
Kneeling by her was Robert and resting on the ground by him, badly burned by the witches magic, laid her darling Qui.
The agonizing warrior opened his eyes and looked into hers, she slowly crawled to her knees and gently took his hand, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Qui could do little but return her gaze, his eyes speaking of the love he felt for her and of the sadness he was feeling for leaving her. With a sigh he closed his eyes and left the earthly realm, Queprur taking him away.
The eyes of the elf went dull and cold as she slowly pulled Qui´s sword free from its sheat and stood up.
Her eyes were directed at Rhas and they now burned with poisonous green sparks.

You will pay... even if it the last thin I do you will pay

The voice of the elf was as cold and poisonous as her eyes and as she turned to Robert he could see she was ready to die to get her revenge on the witch.
Without a word she returned to her horse and mounted it, waiting for the order oif charge, the sword of Qui unsheated in her hand pointing directly at Rhas.

Radaroc shook his head, "Oh, fardles." he groaned as his vision tunneled and he neared blacking out.  Holding his head up he fought past it to stand up.

Gathering himself he saw the elfess ready herself for a charge, that was more like it.  Grabbing his sword he readied himself.  Derm stood next to him as a great wolf, ready as his master to finish this.

"You would offer this to a wanderer whose history you know not? You may know what you offer, but not what you ask."

Keelin closed her eyes for a moment. "Besides,are we not about to start a war? You think this an opportune time?"

As if I needed another difficulty. I don't know what's going through his head, but  no one in their right mind proposes to a mute mercenary. I'm not worth anything,  I can't do anything,  I'm not even pretty... I'll just fade out after this. He'll thank me for it later. Keelin turned away so she didn't have to look at him, it would be too easy to just give in.

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint watched as keelin signed to him before turning her head, Shaint slowly xtended his hand twords keelin's head his heavy black shirt glancing over his shoulder as he put two fingers gently to her chin and he re-arranged himself to see into Keelins eyes....

"Keelin, if you may only feel a glimpse of what passion I have for you you would understand that within that passion lies enough love to overcome anything, as you see to me your past does not matter it is the past, gone and forgotten....I wan't to think of the times ahead, you....." Shaint paused for a moment searching Keelins eyes for any hope.... as he finished "..with me"

"And if the past influences those times ahead? Sometimes what we think is forgotten is remembered better than what has just happened."

Keelin shifted uncomfortably. "And sometimes we cannot do what we wish we could..."

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

"If you accept this, Your past is mine and mine yours any hardships occuring from them is on both of our behalfs, eachothers problems become one that we shall workthrough together, I am prepaired to face hardships....."

Shaint's thoughts where heavy he ment what he said but then again allmost didn't want to think of it, his past was bad enough and two wanderers pasts would be twice as rough but twice the strength.....but it was worth it.........

I'm not worth it. Why's he trying so hard? Keelin tilted her head up and looked at the sky for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

"I would accept, and gladly, but... what kind of wife would I be? I don't know that I can stop wandering, I've done it so long. So long I sometimes forget what I search for. All I can do is swing a sword, I don't know any other way to support myself... and I will not live off charity and be a burden to others. ...And I would not wish to ruin you. My family was torn apart, I would not inflict that upon another."

Keelin finished and pulled her knees up to her chest,wrapping her arms around them. She blinked rapidly, angry at the tears that threatened and made her vision blur.  

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Shaint closed his eyes momentarily as he was beginning to get fed up with excuses for not saying yes....his right hand balled up into a fist hi sbody raced with the urge to hit something....he clenched his teeth and forced the anger down back into the bellows of his body from wich it came and he released his fist slowly letting out a silent breath of Air...

He looked at Keelin  as he saw the glimmer over her eyes of water...the sight before a tear...Shaint slowly moved a hand to the side of her head stroking a thumb gently under her eye clearing a light damp spot he switched to his elven tongue and spoke calmly.... "Keelin, llie 'amek A'maelamin" wich when translated into the human tongue was spoke 'Keelin, you are My Beloved' Shaint slowly got deeper and before noticing is voice had faded to a whisper...

"And I love you...I will allways love you........"

Keelin looked up and managed a weak smile, still trying to keep her tears at bay. "I'm sorry for dodging... I'm just... scared..."

He released is flow of wind and pondered on what to do. A female elf stood up from under the dead man, and gave an ugly stare at the pillar of dust in the middle of the square.
Trouble now. Attack, ripd to pieces with bare hands. Holdstil, control Graygreen. another elf... yet another elf... Will the pillar stop blowing?

((OOC: Who is controlling the witch?  Did you want me to as I am the person fighting her or would you want someone else to?))

((I was imagening so Gararion, as honestly no one else is fighting her that can post anyway......jst ehhh.....  lol ))

The tense battle between the two mages raged on, with both losing track of how much time passed as they seemed to test their limits to the max.  Outside people could see the twisted current of air thrive with energy, but not only the energy of the winds they fed from, but they also energy of the withces engry as well.  One moment the winds would let a cool but strong breeze escape its graspe but in the next moment they would turn red with energy and hot misty steam seemed to seep through the twisted winds grasp.

Within the currents of wind the story would explain more of the situation.  Gararion had little chance to attempt any of a offence agaisnt the witch while he blocked scorching streams of fire and tense firedballs that were directed towards him, directing them towards the currents of air, which engulfed them quickly.  Gararion held his possition agaisnt her, while retaining the focus that was needed to keep the feirce winds that kept them seperate from the others, and other from harm that they might create.

I can't continue to allow this onsluaght upon me..but can I risk what I must do...I must leave it in other hands....hopefully they can protect them.

With that thought in mind the currents that protected his compainion from farm slowly began to weaken.  Second after second the energy from the witches attacks seemed to grow more intense resulting in a brief moment where two streams of fire laid waste to an line of roughly 10 peds each.  Three fireballs escaped through bursting in a 5 ped oval radius each.  Gararion was unaware of where they landed, only knowing the they most like headed in the direction of those he proted, some maybe even striking higher, collasping a few building it seemed by the sounds of what Gararion could make out over the sounds of the exploding fireballs.

But it seemed that was all that happened, for peering through the dusts of destruction and what remained of the protective currents of twisted air and debri, it seemed the witch had been imobalized.  More careful examintation could notice that the witch seemed lifted off the ground, twisting around uncrontrolably.  Gararion remained still, leaning upoon his staff as it seemed, wether from pain or fatigue from the struggle of the battle, one could not tell.  But his statue soon changed, drastically as Gararion colasped to the ground.  In the same moment the withc seemed to let loose a fierce attack, a ring of fire escaping from her very dying soul one might think.  The ring spread through out the city, covering the city within minutes with a ring of fire about a ped and half off the top of the ground.  After the ring reached it limits it ceased intasntly, becoming nothing but a rising ring of black smoke.  Amazinly no fire damage seemed to harm most of the building, the fire seemed not to be in effect long enough to cause any damage to stronger materials, though cloth seemed to be left in ashes.

What remained of the fierce battle was only a torched body of the fire druid and a limp body of the fallen wizard...

Edited by: Gararion  at: 10/3/03 7:39

Radaroc watched in awe as magic filled the air and the two mages fought.  It seemed to him that Gararion began to throw more and more of his energy into attacking the witch than what had been protecting.  

Gouts of flame flew from the druid in all directions.  The trolls green eyes widened in fear as he saw a rolling ball of fire fly towards him.  He dove away but was scored badly on his back.  Radaroc roared in pain and fury.

Radaroc's vision darkened for a few seconds before it cleared.  His eyes opened to see the charred body of Rhas and the limp form of Gararion.  He struggled to his feet, leaning heavily on his sword to keep his balance.

"WHAT IS C'OO'RS NAME!!!!!!!" Shaint shouted loudly in Elvish in the quick state of shock converting to his Native tongue 'Keelin!' Shaint thought quickly as he tossed his body over hers as a fireball blew the backside of the wagon to bits the old man unfortunatly going with the explosian soon after came a giant wall of fire engulfing the wagon, The ring seemingly exploaded the wagon from it's power and force to protect Keelin Shaint received the greatest pain agony he has every felt,

"GYYAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Shaint eyes filled with water as he closed them tightly and gritted his teeth allmost to the point of making them shatter under there own clenching force, as the flames raced over Shaint's body igniting his shirt and boot's and for the most part all clothing on his body, large portions of his skin gained boils from the heat but as soon as it came it passed Shaint's clothes still afflame his shirt had burned completely away into ass around him as luckilly his leathered pants did not assist the flame as it died out, Shaint's hair had been charred and the end turned bright yellow in color and smelt of smoke,

Shaint's body rolled off of Keelin and to the left form it's own weight Shaint's face wet from the tears of pain, as a large portion o fhis back and chest could only be defined at c'oor's face...his eyes slowly opened still in pain, but it soon turned to numbness as most of his body he couldent move or feel, as his left hand was clenched it slowly opened from the lack of control the ring rolling from his hands out onto the ground and spinning in the circular motion of something right before it would fall and fell flat on the ground....

Keelin sat up and shook her head. Wha? She looked around, trying to get her bearing after being knocked into the ground and screamed at, and spotted Shaint next to her. Ava, not again! She turned and got to her knees, panicked and pissed off. She waved a hand in front of his face to make sure he'd noticed her and signed: 'Where's it hurt?'

There isn't enough time to do everything and too much time to do nothing.

Feeling his strength returning Radaroc heaved his sword up.  He stalked over to where Rhas was.  "Alright witch, time to die." he stated matter-of-factly.  Bringing his sword about a great arc he swung.

With a sickening THUCK" the fire druid was bisected at her ribs.  His deed done he let his sword drop.  Stumbling over to Gararion he unslung his water bladder, unharmed as it had been hung over his back as he faced the flames.

Kneeling he pulled the elf's head up and let some of it drip over his blackend face and lips.

As the troll pulled the elf's head up, it seemed heavy, to hevy for a elf.  As he poured the water into the elf's mouth, it found a route through his throat, though it seemed not to help the elf, at least for now.  The elf still remained limp and motionless.

       

My Website ~      Santharia      ~Live the Dream

Finding this course useless Radaroc moved on, to Shaint sprawled near Keelin.  "Is he alright?" a plaintive tone in his normally hard voice.

And the wind grew stronger, as did the heat. Raoneth made his decision. Why am I here. Money? I see no money. Forget me, they will. Ignore me and leave, taking their money with them. In the interests of my money and safety I leave. Sounds right. Sounds defencible.
 Raoneth turned and walked, the sand crunching unhearably yet feelably underneath his feet. He put back his hood, the wind helped it keep on, for once the wind allways flies against you. Why is that really? Rule of movement, even without wind it would seem as the wind was against me perhaps. No, not fast enough.
 A slight but unnaturally uncomfortable wave of heat (yet of a quite comfortable temperature) hit Raoneth's back. In spite of himself he turned to see if everything was all right. His hood knocked back by the wind. He kept it off as he walked on.

( OOC:  Is this a post saying that you are no longer playing or just a regular post hoping for some reaction? )

       

My Website ~      Santharia      ~Live the Dream

Tristin The Tristin walked over to his fallen warrior and knelt beside him next to Bobbo.  He put his hand on the man's forehead and said, "May the gods receive you and take you to eternal bliss, for you were a great man in life."

Qui said nothing, his ability to speak already passing.  As his eyes rolled into the back of his head, the Tristin bent over his motionless head and kissed his forehead.''

"You will be remembered always," he said tears in his eyes.

He closed the eyes of the dead man and rose to his feet.

"Two of my dearest friends have died because of this affair.  Oscar and now Qui.  Curse you, Troas and you Rhas!" he said.

Robert  Robert watched silently as the Tristin gave Qui honorable death.  Suddenly, Lucirina jumped to her feet, grabbing Qui's sword and mounting a horse.  Robert did not seek to stop her, but picked up his own sword, which was lying nearby, and stood by her side.

"As you said, Lucirina," said Robert.  "If we die, we will die with honor, for I would not allow you to face evil alone.  Qui would not have done so, even had it been me who had died."

He raised his sword, preparing to attack, when suddenly fire came shooting everywhere.  Fireballs shoot all around him.  Then a ring of fire shot out from the center of the city.  It was so quick, Robert had no time to duck.  It hit him square in the face, giving him a nasty burn and sending him flying to the ground.

"Ouch!" he cried, bringing his good hand up to his face and feeling the char.

Luckily his eyes had not been hit and he was not struck blind.  However his nose was black and burning and his mouth was dry.

Getting slowly to his feet, his muscles responding slowly due to the shock of the sudden fire, he looked around in silence.  Many were hurt from the ring.  Horses lay on the ground neighing in pain.  Many men were on the ground, some with worse wounds than Robert's.  Some had been struck in the eyes and were now blind.

The Tristin had raised his sword to cover his face and, amazingly, the sword had blocked the flame from charring his face.  His hair was a little black and burnt, but he was in good condition.

Looking closer to where he stood, he saw Lucirina's horse lying on the ground screaming in pain.  Nearby was Lucirina, apparently being thrown from the horse in its panic.

Rushing to her side, he turned her over.  She was heavily bruised, both from the fireball fall and the horse fall, but she was alive and would heal.

"You have done enough this day," he said to her tenderly, "You are wounded, weary, and heartsick.  I trust that the mage who had called forth that windstorm has defeated Rhas.  It is time you rested."

Not waiting for a reply, he picked her up in his arms and walked into the city.  As he continued, he saw the body of Rhas with a bloody sword lying nearby.  He nodded, his suspicions proving true.  Lying nearby was a slumpt form of a mage.

Finding an inn, he talked with the startled innkeep and got a room.  Taking Lucirina upstairs he laid her on the bed.  It was a rather comfortable bed, this being one of the best inns in this part of the city.  The room was clean and sparkling.  There was little furniture, but all necessities were met.

"Now you stay here and rest," he said to her, "by order of Lord Robert Junakin.  To betray would be treason."

He smiled at his kidding and tried to get Lucirina to smile.

"You know, laughter is the strongest medicine to a great many hurts and woes," he said, "but I will send a healer to you as soon as I find one.  Don't worry about me!  'Tis nary a scratch as they say.  I promise you I'll be fine.  You need no worry now, so rest.  I will see you as soon as I may."

With that he left.  His heart was filled with woe at all these happenings.  He remembered the night when Oscar died.  He didn't think Lucirina had ever forgiven him for not trying harder to save Oscar.  Now she would probably not forgive him for allowing Qui to die.

What is a man to do?  I am not perfect.  There are far better men than me in this world.  Oh, woe to me that I should be faced with such evils!  he thought in his darkness of soul.

Walking out of the inn, he said aloud to himself, "But there is much work to do. I cannot be inactive any longer.  Many need a healer or an apothecary.  We must find them."

Finding his way to the men, who were still trying to nurse their wounds, he shouted to them, "Those who are able, go throughout the city and the surrounding territory and find as many healers and apothecaries as you can.  Let the well help the sick."

The Tristin nodded at him for his wise order.  Then the Tristin himself went and knelt at the side of Gararion.  The compassionate king felt the fallen mage's forehead.  It was blazing with heat, but the Tristin knew what ailed him.

"Master troll," the Tristin said to the troll that stood nearby, "This man is in need of bedrest.  His spellcasting has sapped his strength.  He is to be honored when he awakes, for he has saved us all.  Would you mind taking him to a place of rest, sir?"

Robert came to the side of Shaint.  He looked down at him and nodded.  Looking about desperately, he found a small plant shooting through the stones of the road.  He pulled it out.  Finding a bowl and a horsetrough of water, he put the water in the bowl.  He then place the plant in the water and stirred it around with his fingers.

He brought the bowl to Shaint and brought it to his lips, allowing a little of the medicinal water to drip into his mouth.  As it went down his throat, he immediately began to lessen in heat.  His breathing returned to normal and his burns began to return to the tint of his skin.

"This may sting," said Robert, "but it will lessen the pain."

He took the rest of the water and rubbed it on his burns.  They began to lessen in pain.

Tell me which is better:  to die defending your country or to live and watch your homeland die?
Ralai, King of Adylius