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Post by mammoth on Mar 8, 2008 20:02:32 GMT -5
"Arya..." the letter began, Caelic huffed indignantly. The old wizard had never understood royalty, much less the respect they deserved. The queen continued "I send this letter through a friend's son, His father claims he has the potential to be a great hero but from what I hear he is useless outside a library." Cleary's cheeks grew red as Caelic laughed again. Arya shot him a look and then smiled kindly at the half elf and continued reading, "Nevertheless it has come to my attention that the breathless ones are becoming bothersome in your area. First let me assure you that it is not the doing of myself or my brethren, second I regret to inform you that it seems we cannot find the source of these beings..."
The letter continued at length, eventually Cleary leaned down and whispered to the gnome that was standing beside him. "So, who is Ilk'Na?"
Gershwin looked nervously at the queen not wanting to show any disrespect by speaking over her, "The honored Queen and mighty King have many powerful friends. Fighters, Paladins, Thieves, Heroes. The strangest among them was Pellen Sajou, a young priest. Through a series of dark events that are stricken from all written records Pellen's family was put to death for religious reasons. Young Pellen was next to be killed but miraculously disappeared. He was gone three years and when he emerged he wore vampire skin for armour, his eyes were white and lifeless and he bore a huge and terrible raven on his shoulder. It was said that he had taken to the black magics and undergone terrible rituals. He had renamed himself..."
"Ilk'Na." The queen had finished the letter, interrupting a startled Gershwin. "He had become a necromancer of near unrivaled skill, and as always he was nothing but kind to myself and the people of this realm. He has helped us in all of our times of need. And he is on his way here now. Now, Catheloon. What is it that you have to request of us?"
"Honourable queen, I was merely curious as to whether or not your great kingdom was in need of my services but I see that it is well handled so I will be on my way." Cleary turned to leave.
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Post by amikwa on Mar 9, 2008 17:25:19 GMT -5
The last undead fell to the ground. Séanait gave a herself a cold grin. The zombies weren't so tough. Five of them laid on the ground in pieces. They had been a little difficult at first, but Séanait learnt quickly that a blunt knock to the head did more damage to the souless beings the the blade of her sword could.
Now Séanait searched the motionless bodies. She found nothing except one single medallion. It didn't look like it was worth much, so she carried it over to the traveller who had hired her.
"This mean anything to you?" she tossed the medallion at the man who caught it.
"Yes," he whispered, "It was my brother's."
"Very well," Séanait muttered, "Pay up and be on your way."
The man handed over a small pouch of gold. Séanait took it and started to walk away. She feared the man would start to cry or thank her. Such emotions were weak and she refused to witness them. Plus, she had to get back home before dark. Only a fool would run about the forest at night.
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Post by Ashleigh on May 13, 2008 16:12:32 GMT -5
Arya frowned to herself for a moment. If Ilk'Na was writing to her, this had to be important. Cleary didn't look like much, but she trusted Ilk'Na's judgement (or as much as anyone could trust a necromancer, anyway). Besides, Arya was not one to pass judgement on people based on first impressions. She raised a slender hand to stop him. "Cathaloon, wait a moment, please," she told him kindly. Caelic heaved a gruff sigh and stroked his beard.
"You're giving another chance to another runt, aren't you..." he muttered moodily. "You're too kind for your own good," he told her as if he were her older brother chastising her for being foolish. Arya merely raised a slender obsidian brow.
"As you so often feel the uncontrollable need to remind me," she replied cooly, but not unkindly. Cruelty was just not in the Queen's nature. Forgetting about the grumpy dwarf king for a moment and turning to Cleary, she continued on to him. "Cathaloon, I am always willing to accept honest help when it is offered for the sake of my people and my lands. What sort of assistance are you offering?"
((This may not make any sense Chris, because I still don't really have a clue where this is going. You may have explained it to me before but I probably forgot.))
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Post by dragonwarrior1 on May 13, 2008 17:45:53 GMT -5
He glanced around, no one was there. His dwelling and everything around it, it seems like time had stopped moving here, time had stopped caring. A small hut in the thick of the woods, not cared for by anyone, so things should be overgrown, mangled, flopping about as the house was reconsume back to the nature it was born from. But nothing like that ever happened, and it was strange to Kevin but he cared very little for it. He hadn't been to the hut in weeks now, since that trek, so everything should be like it was described in how if time had still cared for this place in the woods, but alas, such description of time never came. Kevin needed to head into the village, to alert the queen of the continuously increasing zombie activity, but such a Queen wouldn't dare see a knave like himself, especially since he was Kevin. A father dead from one of the first zombie attacks, almost assaulting the queen for answers of his dead father, and many more reasons of which the past has brought him here to the village hidden in this forest, home to the elven race. He was a Half-Elf. That man... he was a full blooded elf, and yet he let himself die to those zombies. Where were they comming from? How could zombies that strong then disspaear and be replaced by weaker ones now?
Only one memory remains of that man...and that memory is faded in too many clouds that not even his own mother could recall with her "psychic abilities". Kevin sees only one thing, and that is darkness, then a bright light shines in a "door opening fasion" A silhouette appears in the light, and gets small and smaller, and the light fades away. Kevin sees this as the time of seeing his father leave their home in order to head somewhere that at that age Kevin could not comprehend.
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Post by amikwa on May 14, 2008 15:05:22 GMT -5
That night was moonless, lifeless. Séanait sat outside her hut, a small fire burned at her feet with a spit across it. Now unidentifiable meat sat on a spit that she slowly turned with her scarred pale hand.
A cool breeze toyed at the fire, letting wisps of it escape to core flame. She watched the tongues of flame disappear into thin air, like brief memories that meant nothing. The sentiments of life were worthless. A burden on ones mind.
These familiar thoughts ran through Séanait's head as she pulled the meat off of it's spit and began to eat. She pushed them aside though as she ate. Then another thought raised itself in her mind. One that made her take a hung gulp of fine elven wine just to forget about it. How dare her mind bring up her family.
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Post by christina2010 on May 23, 2008 21:38:11 GMT -5
Luna frowned. She disliked not getting an audience with the Queen, but that wasn't what was concerning her. The real problem that was bugging Luna was her friend's behavior, it seemed like ever since they had gotten to the kingdom, Ramsey was jumpy and very nervous, almost like he was expecting a shadow to attack him. Puzzled by this, Luna decided that they should make camp, and try for an audience with the Queen tomorrow. ~~~~~~~~
Ramsey shook nervously that night. He knew that he shouldn't be with humans, especially because of what he knew would happen to him. Taking one sad look at Luna, Ramsey fled, running toward the mountains, back to his homeland.
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Post by Ashleigh on May 27, 2008 8:22:31 GMT -5
After Arya had accepted Ilk'Na's and Cathaloon's help, she argued with Caelic for hours. He couldn't see why she would trust a necromancer and his "minion" as he called him. Arya sighed.
"Caelic, Ilk'Na has been an ally of my mother for centuries," she protested. "It would be foolish of me to break that alliance after her death, especially with the people's lack of trust in me as their queen right now. Any large changes I make concerning the protection of these lands that are my people's homes will be taken negatively, and you know it."
Caelic grumbled and walked away, a tell-tale sign that Arya had won the argument, but he was too stubborn to admit it.
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That night, Arya couldn't rest. At close to three in the morning, she was still pacing in her bedchamber restlessly in her nightgown. Her glossy obsidian hair was let down and flowed to her calves, swishing as she turned to pace in another direction.
"Your Majesty?" Gershwin's voice came from the bedchamber door.
"Come in, Gershwin," she sighed. The gnome stepped inside and bowed.
"Your Majesty, forgive my intrusion, but I heard noises coming from your bedchamber. I was concerned that you were not well. Is there anything I may offer you?" he asked. Arya smiled. Gershwin had been her personal servant since he was a child. His mother had been Illonya's personal servant. He was always very thoughtful.
"I'm just a bit anxious, Gershwin. Could I possibly have a goblet of water?" Gershwin bowed again.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Oh, and Gershwin?" Arya called, as he made to leave the room. Gershwin turned around. "Do get some sleep afterwards, won't you? You don't have to wait up with me every night, you know," she told him kindly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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Post by amikwa on May 27, 2008 21:56:02 GMT -5
"Hold on men! We'll get them!"
Yells pierced the morning air, waking Séanait from her dreamless sleep. Groaning she got up quickly and grabbed her long bow. Dressed in only an over sized tunic that went to her knees, Séanait rushed outside.
A good distance away, Séanait noticed a group of men, elven soldiers to be exact, being swarmed by a gang of undead. Setting an arrow into her bow, Séanait let her arrow fly, piercing an undead through it's neck. This didn't 'kill' it. Actually it didn't even seem to notice. Then Séanait remembered her battle the day before with the other undead. Grabbing a broken tree limb, she ran towards the battle.
******************************************************
"Thank you," gasped a soldier.
Séanait just grunted as she tended to a his wound. She had helped the soldiers defeat the undead, though they lost a soldier. The rate the undead were entering the forest lately was beyond comprehension.
"Why so silent?" asked the wounded soldier.
"Not much to say," Séanait answered.
The soldier shrugged and shook his head.
"You and your men should stay here a while, you are all too weak to go anywhere," Séanait stated as she tightened the bandage. The soldier winced and nodded.
"Fine"
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Post by Ashleigh on May 29, 2008 10:54:55 GMT -5
The next afternoon, Arya was fulfilling one of her daily duties as queen of Sandhirahn Forest; she was holding an audience with those citizens that would like to speak with her about problems they would like fixed. She spoke with a human single mother with three children who felt that no matter what she did, she couldn't earn enough money to feed her children. Arya made a mental note to re-evaluate the Forest's economy that night to see what changes she could make that would benefit her people.
Next she spoke with a hunter who complained that all the game was being killed or scared away by undead and demanded that the queen do more to stop them and protect her people. His belligerency stung her, but Arya politely and kindly assured him that she was doing everything she could to eradicate the undead but that she would still try to find a way to do more.
"I should have walloped that ungrateful oaf for talking to you like that," Caelic grumbled. Arya raised an eyebrow.
"Caelic, he has the right to speak as he feels."
"There's a difference between speaking one's mind and being plain rude!"
"And you would be the most qualified person to determine what is rude and what is not?" the queen asked sarcastically. Caelic crossed his arms and stalked away, muttering about how Arya was completely missing the point.
Gershwin came in and bowed. "Your Majesty, I know your audience period is almost at its end, but would you have time to speak with one more person? He is a soldier and says it is urgent that he speak with you," he told her. Arya nodded.
"Bring him in, Gershwin. Thank you," Arya replied. Gershwin nodded and bowed as he left the hall. He returned a few moments later with a strong young elven man. He bowed to Arya, taking off his cap in a gesture of respect. Arya noticed that he was limping and had one of his arms in a sling.
"What is your name and what is it you wish to speak with me about?" Arya asked.
"Your Majesty, thank you for holding an audience with me," he told her. "My name is Rosh Harkun. I have important news from the edges of the forest." Arya remembered stationing troops at the perimeters of her lands to keep the undead at bay and nodded. "While we were on patrol, a large number of undead attacked our party. We lost one of our numbers but a woman came out of nowhere to help us. She was very skilled with her weapons and more of us would have perished if she had not stepped in." Arya's interest was peaked.
"What is this woman's name?"
"She introduced herself to us as Seanait, Your Majesty." Arya thought to herself for a moment. This woman may be able to help her to seek out the source of the undead and destroy it, but she needed to know more about her.
"Where is this Seanait at this moment?" she asked.
"Our troops are recovering at her dwelling, Your Majesty," he answered.
"I will send more soldiers to help secure your position, Rosh. Thank you for reporting this to me. Please return to this Seanait and tell her that I would like to speak with her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
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Post by dragonwarrior1 on May 30, 2008 16:49:16 GMT -5
Kevin now knows that his father came back to this very forest to "stop a growing evil", atleast thats what his mothers diing words were. it was a shame for Kevin to have wasted his time by comming out to a place for one reason, his father, and having that reason be crushed by the death of said elf.
"He was a foolish man to have died like that..." Kevin found himself to have said that out loud, which he didn't do very often. with no one around to hear his words why speak at all? Kevin decided to hear another voice for a change. He enchanted a small plant so it could move and speak, but he would need to remember to unchant it when he left.
"Mabey there is a part to the story you still don't know? Like how he exactly died, or how long it was between the time he got here and the time he died? Mabey the queen should be able to help you out?"
"Possibly, but the Queen herself said she didn't know much of him. She only took notice of him when he was dead and brought back to have a proper funeral. To her, he was the average wandering elf who randomly appears and dies. 'I only noticed he was here when he died, so I ordered the proper funeral everyone should have when killed by the undead...and they stay dead', that is her own words, that one long year ago."
"You should still go back. Mabey you should avenge your fathers death by helping out with the undead problem...oh by the way, a couple right now are ravaging toward thw village as we speak. mabey you should go and help take care of them to get your message out?"
"Your roots stretch far, and I thank thee, I should get going in hopes of getting to the village before them!"
And so, Kevin rushed off back to the village, to either warn the Queen, or stall the zombies long enough for the village to become aware from the large sounds he would have to probobly make. He forgot to unchant the flower though...what kind of problem could arise from that?
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Post by amikwa on May 30, 2008 22:12:26 GMT -5
Séanait unwrapped the dressing around one of the soldiers wounds and started to clean it. The soldiers had now been in her little hut for over 24 hours now, well most of them. One left to report to someone, Séanait didn't know who. More importantly, she didn't care. She finished wrapping the now cleaned wound on the silent soldier's shoulder and then reached for a bowl of soup broth. Bringing it to the soldier's mouth, she tipped it gently letting him drink. Once he was finished, he wiped his mouth and nodded his thanks. Séanait nodded back, briefly meeting his bright green eyes. She didn't mind this elf at all. He was silent; the only one not to ask questions. Actually, he hadn't spoken at all to Séanait, and she was almost grateful. The others kept prying her with questions that annoyed her to no end.
"Séanait! Are you in there?" a voice asked from outside.
Rolling her eyes and sighing, Séanait walked past the other soldiers who slept and out into the daylight. Rosh Harkun, the soldier who left to report to who knows who was back. Séanait eyed him suspiciously.
"May I speak to you?" he asked politely.
"If you must," she growled.
"The Queen requests an audience with you," he told her simply.
"The Queen?" she half laughed, "Now what would some royal lass want with a self-employed mercenary like myself?"
Rosh looked at Séanait in horror. No one had ever spoken about the Queen in such a manner.
"I wouldn't know," he stated, "But I suggest you go. It would offend her probably if you didn't."
Séanait rolled her eyes again. Just what she needed. Royal commanding. That would teach her for helping soldiers.
"Fine," Séanait ruffled her messy hair "But you must stay here and make sure none of your soldiers move and make sure you tend to there wounds. I'll be back by nightfall hopefully."
******************************************************
Séanait walked up to where the Queen resided. A small gnome stood outside.
"I was asked here by the Queen," she said quickly, "My name is Séanait Oakwood."
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Post by Ashleigh on May 31, 2008 13:05:54 GMT -5
Gershwin eyed this woman suspiciously. She didn't look trustworthy to him and he would not put Arya in danger, ever. However, he had been ordered to allow entry to those who wished to speak with the queen.
"Very well. Wait here one moment and I will return to retrieve you," Gershwin told her cooly, going back into the massive oak tree that had been enchanted to be the size of a huge oak palace on the inside.
He found his queen in her study, poring over economy parchments with a contemplative frown. "Your Majesty?" he asked. The queen looked up, startled, but then smiled when she saw Gershwin.
"Good afternoon, Gershwin. What is it?" she asked kindly.
"Your Majesty, the woman you requested to meet with has arrived. She has introduced herself as Seanait Oakwood, but I am unsure of your safety in her presence. I would advise protection while speaking with her," he told her. Arya nodded.
"Thank you, Gershwin. I will be sure to have protection. I trust you," she told him, standing up and walking out of the study, her long silk embroidered gown trailing gracefully behind her.
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Arya sat in her audience chamber, with guards on either side of her and stationed around the exits and entrances of the chamber. Gershwin came in with Seanait and bowed. "May I present Seanait Oakwood of Sandhirahn Forest, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Gershwin," Arya nodded to him and then focused her attention on the scowling woman standing in front of her. "Thank you for coming to speak with me, Seanait. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for saving the lives of my soldiers. If there is anything you would like as a reward for your favour, I would be happy to try and accomodate you," she told her graciously.
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Post by amikwa on May 31, 2008 14:03:31 GMT -5
Séanait eyed the soldiers around her suspiciously. She knew the Queen was to be guarded, but it seemed a little extreme. Did the gnome see her as a threat and warned the Queen? Whatever. The Queen asked a her a question. Pondering, she answered.
"My you have a lot of soldiers around this room," Séanait stated absently, "I would just like to be repaid for all the food your soldiers ate. They are a hungry bunch. I'm afraid a few must stay at my hut a while longer, too injured to move. Oh, and the supplies they used. I would like those paid back too."
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Post by dragonwarrior1 on May 31, 2008 18:32:40 GMT -5
He saw them, off in the distance. Too far for him to reach, but still, he could see them. That's all he needed, all he needed was to see them, to possibly send off a spell. no spell came to mind, no way to attack form this kind of distace. It was too far, there was no hope.
"Dangit, Kevin stop thinking that there is no hope....mabey I would be able to catch up if there wasn't so much to trip on around here. these roots from the trees, why do they curl so...?"
Ah, right, forestine protection from the undead. surly they would be stupid enough to trip on these. It was his chance, it was his oppritunity! Kevin would find those undead on the ground sprawling around without their legs because they had tripped on the roots and their feet would rip off! It was time! It was--
"Kevin you are dumber than something without a brain...."
He had tripped on a root.
"I know! I'll speed up my feet! a simple spell should do this!" Kevin shouted to himself as he got up and send his magical power to his feet, enhancing the muscles within the legs and feet so that he would be able to move faster, jump higher, and be aware of any roots that he might be able to trip over. "Now it would be easier if I could fly, and Im sure there is a spell for that, but there is too much crap in the way above me to fly fast and peacefully at the same time. Now I just--"
SLAM!! He hit something. Kevin didn't know what...wait..no, he did know what this was...it was the perimiter wall of the village, he had made it there on time. Now he just needed to get to the queens residence. Becuase of his bad behavior that previous time he had gone there about his father, Kevin was sure to act more polite, but it still needed to be rushed. no, wait....all he needed to do was find a soldier, which he did luckily.
"Sir! Sir!"
"Yes...?"
"Un...dead....approa...ch...ing..the village...alert...the...gaur....s" Kevin said as best he could, he was tired out even from the enhanced muscles. Had he really gone that fast? Had he made it with enough time for the soldiers to be alerted...? Only time would tell.
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Post by Ashleigh on Jun 1, 2008 18:08:24 GMT -5
"Of course," Arya assured Seanait graciously. "All supplies and money put towards the soldiers in your care will be repaid in full." At Seanait's comment about all the protection, Arya gave a small, tinkling laugh that sounded more like a song and nodded. "It does seem a little uncalled for, doesn't it?" she agreed. "The guards around the exits may leave," she announced. Gershwin who had been standing near the queen, jumped forward to protest.
"Your Majesty, forgive my interruption, but I would advise against that-" he began, but Arya held up a hand for silence.
"I'm touched by your concern for my safety, Gershwin, but you forget that I am able to care for myself as well," she told him. Gershwin went red and bowed. It was true; she seemed so fragile and vulnerable, but in truth, she was a skilled cleric.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he mumbled, backing away respectfully. Arya nodded her thanks and turned back to Seanait.
"Seanait, I would like to know what your occupation is. How did you come across the soldiers at the Forest's borders and why did you choose to help them?" she asked. There was no accusation or judgement in her tone.
Seanait was about to open her mouth to answer when one of the palace's guards came bursting into the hall, looking panicked. "Your Majesty! There are undead headed towards the village! We think they mean to break into the palace!" Arya was on her feet in a moment, taking command.
"Tell all the guards to gather everyone in the village and bring them within the walls surrounding the palace. Put soldiers all around the perimetres of the palace walls. Gershwin, get me my staff, please," she instructed, calm but in control. Gershwin had Arya's staff in her hands within a moment.
The queen ran out to where the threat was detected to help protect her lands and people, but Caelic caught up with her. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" he roared. He was riding one of the palace mounts. A strong, sturdy gelding.
"Protecting my people!" she retorted, her green eyes blazing with fire. Caelic sighed and pulled his friend up into the saddle with him.
"I may as well come with you if I can't make you stay," he grumbled as the gelding took off. Arya laughed and kissed his cheek. Her friend was amusing even in the most dire of situations.
"Indeed not," she agreed.
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