The New RPG! - Page 129 - Writers Forum

Foxee · 08-09-2008, 10:30 AM

Berul shook his head weakly.

“Celtis won’t sacrifice her…in that way. She will go with him to the other side of the Gate where the ritual will…where the ritual will…”

At the look on Vahn’s face Berul’s heart tried to beat itself out of his chest and he found himself screaming.

“It HAD to be her! This…Skye…she had the eyes. You saw them, they were pale like looking up through…through” he sobbed again, “through clear water and the dark hair. Not every woman can be used in the Naacht-vai…in the…combined seeing.”

Vahn simply waited.

“Your little friend will become like a scry…a medium between Orro and Celtis. Celtis will roam the world seeing for Orro. Eventually…” even now Berul couldn’t resist a smug look at the thought, “long before Skye dies she will wish for death.”

Berul shook his head upside-down at Vahn a small smile showing his bloodied teeth.

“But killing a Gaashan-vai will kill the scry as well. So once the ritual has been completed, if you kill Celtis you murder Skye, too.”

slayerofangels · 08-10-2008, 05:12 PM

"Hmmm."

Vahn stepped closer to Berul. Reaching out one armored hand, he let blood drip from Berul's face onto his fingers.

"I wonder if he knows," Vahn asked, rubbing the blood with his thumb, "how petty demons can be. You know we found this one poor s'waal last year, sacrificed two dozen of his followers to summon some elemental type thing. Ugly thing; all claws, spikes and gaping maws... Anyway, he summons the thing, and rather than be grateful for the two dozen souls it just recieved, it laughs and rips his intestines out."

Vahn flicked the blood onto the ground.

"Turns out it found the colour blue offensive."

Vahn shrugged, and flicked the knife again.

"Now onto my other questions."

Aurasheild · 08-10-2008, 06:18 PM

Karin noted how Alexx masked the creatures scent, it would indeed come in handy.

"Alexx," Karin whispered when she was close enough. "When we move onward, we will be on our feet, is there anything we can catch thats easy to carry? Or at least bring with us alive."

Slowly Wolf crept back into position ahead of another creature, it was completely unaware of his presence.

Renos Babe · 08-11-2008, 12:05 AM

"I'll be able to salt and preserve whatever i catch which will enable it to be easily carred as well as kept for a long time" She whispered back watching wolf Carefully as he stalked another deer type creatuer.

Blossom · 08-11-2008, 05:25 PM

“There.”

Laurel stepped back as she finished securing the litter between the horses, allowing Mano and Va Poor to heave Kinareth up and on to it. Laurel had dosed the young Nenarai with more thorn apple a little while ago, keeping him unconscious while they moved him.

Her communications with Arin had resolved in the conclusion that Kinareth could not be brought along with them; thus, a mage had been assigned to transport herself and a litter to the Heroes location, and bring Kinareth to Arin for proper treatment.

The mage sent was a young girl, no more than perhaps seventeen or eighteen and pretty, with a delicate oval face and carefully braided dark red hair, and dark purple robes that denoted her status as a novice still. She had to be powerful though, as to transport herself the distance she had, along with the horses and litter, and have enough reserves to take Kinareth back to Arin was a tremendous feat that required stamina, control and finesse as well as raw power.

That fact seemed to bypass Va Poor and Mano, who had asked tersely why mages had not appeared earlier to offer their help.

Rufus had been more distracted by the acolyte’s pretty face, attempting some casual and amateurish flirting that had amused Laurel and Mano, and confused the girl. Va Poor, oddly, had watched them with the strangest expression on her face – partly self disgust and anger, and partly wistful longing.

If pressed, Laurel would have guessed he was thinking of Skye.

Now, with Kinareth in the litter, the mage student, whose name Laurel had learnt was Ellya, placed a hand on both horses and closed her eyes. Seconds ticked by in silence, and then there was a blinding flash of white light and the horses, Ellya, and Kinareth were gone.

All that now remained of their companion were his sword and armour, which the group had decided Rufus could borrow for the remainder of their quest.

That weight at least off her shoulders, Laurel stooped to begin clearing away the rest of the campsite, when a breath of air across her neck stopped her. Her skin tingled, and as she focused, she felt the burn of blessed salts and heard Vahn’s voice whisper from a distance, Laurel, Bard, this way.

It came from the direction in which Skye had seemingly been taken.

Behind her Bard lifted his head and whinnied. Clearly he was more than ready to rejoin his master.

“What is it?”

Laurel turned to see Mano had come up beside her, noticing her sudden concentration. “Vahn calls. Get ready; as soon as Alexx and Karin return, we leave.”

Foxee · 08-11-2008, 07:11 PM

Berul looked at Vahn in disbelief as the elf seemed to weigh his blood before flicking it away. The slight smile had been wiped off of his face. He was blinded by his own blood, ached in every muscle, and was on fire from the cuts, especially the ones inflamed with the salts.

“I don’t believe that,” he grunted, finally, shutting his mind to the story. He had to because some instinct was running in panicked circles, screaming that the elf was right. “Bedtime tales for scaring children.”

He tried to watch Vahn, sure that the elf would do something horrible to him any moment. Berul originally had thought the branch too high. Now he wished it was a bit higher. Out of the elf’s long reach for a preference.

“What questions?”

The beast perked up its ears at the scent of the humans and laid them back at the scent of the wolf. Whinnying a call to the others, Sneak led the small herd of heros’ horses out of the wood near the gorge, crashing through brush and stampeding into the open ground not far from where Laurel and the others prepared to leave.

Halfway across the field she stopped, the others milling around her, and reared, calling to Bard.

Va Poor’s anger and loss were well hidden, he thought. The dagger’s weight stoked his will. When the pretty young mage had come for Kinareth, Va Poor had watched Rufus with her, wishing that he was once again in that position with Skye. Wishing for another chance.

But now he knew how she had duped him, had duped them all, and inwardly he renewed his vow to remove her from this world.

Skye’s unease grew the further that Celtis’s band went. A few of the other riders watched her with furtive lasciviousness and she began to worry actively about what might happen to her when they broke for camp.

Berul’s warning about worse things than him rang in her ears.

“Please,” she asked Celtis at last, “I know that I’ll be fine if you take me back to my friends. I’m asking you, please take me back.”

“No.” He didn’t turn to look at her.

“Then just let me go back. I’ll find my way.” Her heart beat nearly out of control. She knew she was trapped.

“No.” He didn’t look at her.

Biting her lip, Skye reined the horse suddenly to the side, away from the band, kicking the animal hard into a bolt. It pinned its ears back, reared a little and obediently turned, springing off it’s haunches to leap into a startled run.

Then Skye had to cling on as the horse slewed to the side, all of the potential motion turning into a half-circle around Celtis’s hand where he held her reins.

“D’you really take me for a fool?” Celtis asked, reining his own horse to a halt.

Skye didn’t answer.

“You are here to stay.”

At his small jerk of the head a grinning rider came to tie her hands once again and also tied her feet under the horse’s belly. The man took his time, boldly caressing her thigh after he had tied her.

“Enough.” Celtis snapped and the man backed away with a mutinous look. Then Celtis raised his voice.

“This woman is here as our guest,” he gave that word a little sarcasm but no-one chuckled, though Celtis addressed the band of men his words were a warning for Skye as his eyes bored into hers, “The next time she does not act like a guest, treat her however you like.”

Tying a lead-rein to her horse’s bridle, he kicked his horse into motion and hers followed when it went taut.

slayerofangels · 08-17-2008, 11:30 AM

Vahn smiled, enjoying the uncertainty that hung around Berul like flies

"Your friends from the traders; the witches," he said, "what do they hope to achieve with the possessed mage?"

He sketched a rune in the snow with his foot and stamped it out before continuing.

"Transferring a daemon to a host body is tempermental at the best of times," he said, "even the most powerful of mages could only withstand such possession for a few weeks at most before the energies tore them apart. Right now the union is stable but tampering with it would more than likely kill everyone involved. Surely they know this already. So why then? Why risk it?"

Renos Babe · 08-18-2008, 12:30 AM

Alexx watched as Wolf brought the beast down for her, shaking her head she stood up whistling to wolf to just hold it down while she found soemthing she could tie around it's neck to take back alive. Looking around she found some vine, testing it she decided it would be strong enough to hold the beast at least until she got back tot he camp and find out how long she had to salt the kill she'd already made.

As she knelt down next to the deer she couldn't help but cringe sharp pains yet again starting to fly up her back. Wolf looked at her as she tied the vine around the creatures neck and whistled for him to move back letting it stand. Keeping a tight hold on the vine she walked over to Karin handing her the vine, "keep a tight hold on that and head back to camp, i'll grab the other one and meet you there"

Foxee · 08-18-2008, 03:02 PM

Berul writhed in his bonds, grimacing at the sight of his blood dripping to the ground.

“I don’t know anything about-

He was interrupted by a casual motion the Elf made with the dagger.

“- No! Wait, I remember…”

He kept his eyes on the Elf’s daggar hand.

“The girl was some kind of transporter for a demon. I don’t know what they want it for…no! no! no! stop…wait…I don’t, I really don’t but she was supposed tobesubsumed byit.” He finished in a sobbing rush.

Lyonidus · 08-20-2008, 07:04 AM

Kinareth awoke to the sound of a thrush on his windowsill, the placating sound of the whistling of the bird consuming his mind an filling his consciousness much as water fills a bowl, adapting itself to the edges and being sufficient to evict all other thoughts....

That was before the pain resumed its attack.

There was no eruption of pain, no blinding of the senses with white light, no stabbing behind the eyes or at the temple.
It began as a simple burning, somewhat like an itch over the majority of his body, a thing easily ignored yet clearly exhibiting every intention of making itself felt.
Within fifteen minutes his entire body was aflame, indeed he wouldn’t have been surprised to witness an orange glow encasing his body such was the heat he was sure he was emanating.

Half expecting to witness the sheets burst into flames due to the contact with his body he raised his head slightly and looked up, surprised to see his eyes simply meeting a mass of bandages where once his legs and torso had been...

“It matters not.” He thought to himself, for what did? In the face of such pain he was close to passing out and knew it, everybody has their limits and the human body, even one trained to undergo rigours beyond most human capabilities can only survive so much.

Kinareth’s body was approaching that limit...

Aurasheild · 08-21-2008, 09:40 AM

Karin watched in pity, as Alexx ignored her wounds as she tended to the beast. As much as Karin wanted to jump in with a healing technique, she knew that Alexx was vote against it. Also she couldn't risk lowering the supplies anymore then they were.

Nodding slightly, Karin grasped the vine. This beast was different from the other one they had killed. It was larger, narrow head and only had three legs. The beast made a snuffling noise and began to move towards a small patch of grass, stricken here and there with dandelions. Sighing Karin was pulled from flower to flower as the beast happily munched on. Karin's fragile figure didn't have the strength to order the beast to move. It simply pulled her along as though she were tied by the vine.

Erinima save me! she thought to herself as Alexx disappeared from sight.

"Come on, little creature." Karin beckoned softly, tugging on the vine slightly, holding a handful of flowers from the creatures mouth. His hunger took over and he began to follow Karin back to the camp. Now and again she would drop a flower and allow the beast to savor it in reward.

Step by step, Karin managed to lure the beast back towards the camp. Rufus spotted her struggle and half laughed, striding towards her with his chest out. With a mocking grin, he took the reins from her. However the beat smelt the leftover food and with a lurching jerk, it started forward, Rufus stumbling behind him. karin covered her mouth as she with held her laugh.

Blossom · 08-21-2008, 02:01 PM

Va Poor was helping Mano and Laurel clear away the camp when Rufus was dragged into camp by the deer-like beast, alarm and surprise etched over the young warrior’s face in a comic expression. Va Poor couldn’t help grinning, and when Rufus still failed to gain control of the beast he was soon doubled over, snorting with laughter.

Mano chuckled as well when he saw what was amusing his young protégé, and even a faint smile flitted over Laurel’s face. Taking mercy on the boy, she came over and managed to gain the creature’s attention with a chunk of the fish Mano and Va Poor had caught. While it was engrossed in the fish, Laurel untwined the vines from around Rufus’ wrists and, for the meantime, secured them instead to a nearby branch.

“What is that thing?” Rufus asked grumpily, rubbing his chafed wrists. “It’s strong.”

“It’s called a Cayallope,” Laurel replied, the corner of her mouth curled up in a half-grin. Spotting Karin at the fringe of the trees, she called, “How far away is Alexx? We need to leave as soon as she gets back.”

Before the dark haired girl could answer, however, there was a sudden whinnying of horses. They turned to see the horses they had been given at Dalamites stampeding into the open ground near the camp, rearing and calling to one another. Bard, who had been anxiously pawing the ground since Vahn’s call, lifted his head and whinnied in reply.

“The horses!” Rufus exclaimed, then, more nervously, “What’s … wrong with them?”

Laurel frowned. “I’m not sure … I think something must have frightened them.”

***

The Mage Tower’s infirmary was a light and airy room, the windows flung wide open to tempt in a breeze and flowers and scented candles placed next to each person’s bed, as if the fragrant aromas could mask the scent of illness.

There were three Healers on duty during the evening; Nene, a short and stocky woman in her late forties with ash blonde hair that was greying at the temples, and two novices, Ellya and Aludar.

The system of mage training was not a particularly complicated one; all children who showed an aptitude for magic were sent to the Academy in Arin, a huge complex of building that took up a quarter of the city. After five years of generalised, basic training the mage novices could choose to go into a speciality: healing, fighting, alchemy or the study of Lore, or Old Magic. The majority of students chose one of the first three disciplines; Lore study was generally regarded as a pointless waste of time. Occasionally students chose not to specialise, but to continue studies in all four areas – these novices were generally those who went on to gain positions and titles of power, like the members of the Mage Council.

Ellya was a powerful novice, particularly for one so young – she had only turned eighteen in the autumn. Her tutors had encouraged her to consider studying all four areas, but she had always known she wanted to heal with her magic, so now she wore the purple robes that denoted her status has a novice of that discipline. One day soon she would wear the pale blue robes of a fully fledged Healer. However, she had still studied certain skills outside her key areas that may help her career as a Healer, such as the transportation magic that had enabled her to bring Kinareth back to Arin. It had been difficult, particularly in light of his devastating burns, but she had managed.

Now, slipping into the Nenarai’s ward, she realised Kinareth was now awake. His pallor was still sallow, and beads of sweat shone on his forehead. His face was twisted in agony, and he looked close to passing out again.

Nene was busy on another floor of the infirmary, so it was left to Ellya to hurry to the young man’s side.

“Can you hear me?” she said softly, laying a cool hand on his forehead. A gentle white light spread from her palm as she focused in on Kinareth’s torment, blocking the pain from his nerves. This was a practice normally discouraged, but Saehenine herself had approved it for the Nenarai’s treatment.

“That should help the pain,” Ellya murmured, half to herself. To Kinareth, she said questioningly, “Better?”

Renos Babe · 08-21-2008, 08:37 PM

Alexx grimaced again as she struggled to pull the dead beast onto Wolf's back, even hims shrinking didn't help the pain very much. A small smile spread accross her face as seh finally managed to get it on his back, swinging herself up and onto him she spured him on back to the camp.

Wolf stopped suddenly as he got to the camp proceeding slower, Alexx looked up confused for a second before noticing the horses, allowing Wolf to keep his slow speed she slid off him when she was behind laurel,
"They seem really freaked," She murmered quietly as she took a step so she was standing next to Laurel.

Lyonidus · 08-31-2008, 01:34 PM

A feeling spread throughout Kinareth’s entire body, the feeling was one akin to slowly submerging oneself in a bath of hot water, water at that temperature where it is close to painful yet not quite so and the knowledge that the body will acclimatise does much to soothe any worries.

His vision swam in and out of focus, the pain’s absence had brought a great weariness to the fore and he felt his eyelids began to droop, slowly yet inexorably shutting the woman above him from his sight.

Before sleep took him, Kinareth felt he caught a glimpse of a pale hand, pleasantly cool to the touch amidst a sea of purple…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

His eyes snapped open!

Slowly he padded his way across the courtyard, ensuring he kept close to the walls and the deep shadows they afforded him to conceal himself.
He had discarded all armour for tonight, swaddling his bright sheath, the hilts of weapons and the soles of his boots in a cloth of dark grey and no sentry caught sight nor sound of him as he slunk his way through the royal gardens of the Nenarai.

War was the business and the culture of his people and this was reflected in the beauty around him, a sparse beauty true, yet a beauty all the same. Even the gardens of the royal palace had been outlined with military precision, planned in such a way as to make ambushes easier on the defenders, every square inch of ground had been placed and prepared in such a way as that should an assault ever come to the walls of Athel the capital the intruders would pay for every foot of ground with rivers of blood.

“I, however am far from an intruder.” The young prince thought to himself as he stole through the darkness of the gardens and stepping through the portal at the far end to appear high above the main courtyard…

Kinareth gasped at the sight before him.

Four legions, each numbering five thousand Nenarai warriors were arrayed in the massive courtyard. His father the king had called the banners but six days ago and still the majority of the Nenarai strength had not arrived.

Yet no longer could they wait!

His father, king Amar the fifth was at the head as the column, a serpent gargantuan in proportion began its advance through the city gates.
Torchlight flashed off mail coats, the polished edges of shields, the hilts of fabulous swords, the tall, proud helms and bright greaves as the body of men twenty thousand strong marched in unison to the call of joy from the people, a great chorus of cheers being raised in unison as the public cheered their brave sons, husbands and fathers who bravely marched forth to meet their enemy.

The demonic hordes!

Kinareth swallowed nervously, casting around him with bright, feverish eyes, drunk on the sight before him yet knowing he was doing wrong.

For Kinareth should not have been there, he was but seven years of age, he was far too young…

He was not the first son!

Blossom · 09-01-2008, 10:36 AM

“Mmmm,” Laurel made a non-committal sound, then, realising who was talking to her, looked round sharply. “Ah, you’re back. Good. Get everything ready to leave.”

Glancing at the camp, she become conscious of the redundancy of that order, given that the packs were already filled, the fire out and the equipment stored away. All that was left to deal with was the meat Alexx had brought back with her. The others seemed to have noticed it as well, Rufus raising a brow at her and Mano trying to hide a smile.

Ignoring them, Laurel turned and started edging slowly towards the horses. Holding her hands towards them, palm outwards, she reached tentatively for the reins of the nearest horses. The mare tossed her head, snorting angrily, but over the years Laurel had mastered many skills – one of which was taming and soothing horses. She made soft, almost whickering noises like she’d been taught, coaxing the horse closer.

Holding one hand flat out, palm up, she let the mare sniff her, satisfying her that Laurel was familiar, safe. Happy now, the horse nuzzled into her shoulder and let the healer stroke her long neck and mane.

“There,” Laurel murmured, “There. You were Aia’s weren’t you … Windsong, that’s it.”

Following Windsong’s example, the other horses came cautiously over and sniffed Laurel, happy that she was no threat to them.

“Well,” she turned back to the Heroes. “Looks like we won’t be on foot after all.”