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The Elder Scrolls Forums _ Elder Scrolls Lore _ Loranna's RP: Blue Dawn

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 15 2005, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 12 2005, 09:43 PM)

Hello, and welcome to our Elder Scrolls Role Playing threads, where we adventure and socialize in the vibrant land of Tamriel.

Before we begin, we'd like to clarify a few things:

This is an 'open roleplay' and everyone is encouraged to join in at any time!

'Open' roleplay does not mean 'unorganized' or 'limitless', however. The events in this story are usually planned, and if something BIG happens, you can be certain that it is the result of much discussion between players, usually in the mIRC chat (#Loranna_RP). This is not just a bunch of disorganized individuals doing what they think would be fun for their character at the time.

So, while everyone is welcome to join in, they are NOT welcome to jump in and do big, world-changing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST. Let me be very clear about what cannot be done without permission:

1:
Any action that effects another person's character, for ill or good. Although most people realize they can't harm another person's character without permission, many don't realize that you can't HELP another character without permission, either. Many characters have flaws for a reason. Don't go healing, saving, or otherwise fixing another character without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the player involved.

2:
Any event that would drastically change things that have been done to the world, whether the change is physical (rebuilding destroyed locations), political (converting a population to a new cause), military (killing off all the badguys) or anything else. Almost every situation, good or bad, that exists in the RP was done for some reason. Don't go changing or fixing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the group.

Everyone who is involved in the RP is welcome in the mIRC chat channel #Loranna_RP. If you have a plot idea then you are encouraged to go there and discuss it. If you cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the player whos character you would affect with your plan is not there, then PM them using this board's PM function. That's what it's there for.

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, look http://www.ravensky.org/irc/.

Not following the above advice will only result in one thing: your post is likely to be completely ignored by everyone as if it did not happen. This is obvously not good for anyone, so please, discuss major events before doing them.

Remember: Secret plans and surprises are seldom fun for anyone else. Before they're revealed they're boring, because nobody knows about them, and afterwards they're just annoying, because nobody knew about them.

Thank you, and have fun!

===

Link to part 11 http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57679

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 15 2005, 09:21 AM

ooc summaries:

Tris is in the Vaults of Gemin.

Allerleirauh is involved in conversation with Arynel, at Jazbet's castle.

Doll is at Jazbet's castle.

Mirea is in Wayrest.

Skein, Dragon, and Tamne are in Daggerfall.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 15 2005, 09:22 AM

Summary-

Dante, enjoying the warmth from hot rocks.

Illidan, .......

Brum, Inzoliah, Merciander and friends, on an island somewhere.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 15 2005, 09:22 AM

QUOTE

"Nir," Allerleirauh said. "Nirn, Mara, Alessia. The earth where I was standing, the cold chill of the sodden leaves where I lay. All earth is made of mouldered bones, you know, every bit of it is soaked with blood. I - none of this will help you. Your path will be your path, not mine."

"The only constant of my path is its unpredictability, it's only peace a constant motion, everchanging as suits the need." Arynel said. "From this, what hand should I take for guidance?"

The Breton realized he was tapping against his thigh, and made an effort to stop.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 15 2005, 09:32 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 15 2005, 02:02 AM)

Allerleirauh put her hand over Arynel's restless hand, and let out a deep breath, almost a sigh.

"You are my blinding light," she said. "I thought once you smelled like Vehk, but that is only because CHIM is the same whatever form it fills. You are nothing like Mephala. You are not Y'ffre, for he set rules to everything, and you would unrule us all. Neither are you Lorkhan or Auriel, who tore their sister-daughter asunder. You are my sweet little hawk, who harms no one, except by your absence. Perhaps you are like Magnus who imagined the world and then wanted no part of it. But I think you are kinder than that. It may be you must pass through alone, with no hand to help you."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 15 2005, 09:35 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 15 2005, 01:12 AM)

Arynel nodded, his expression forelorn, but at the same time understanding.

"Show me the knives." The Breton said, biting his bottom lip.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 15 2005, 09:37 AM

Dante watched absent mindedly as the hot rocks gave off the relaxed, constant glow. Eventually however the cave began to grow intensely arid, and was causing Dante to become increasingly irritated.

He made his way to the water and scooped some up in his hands, he then carefully carried it back towards the hot rocks. Pouring it on them excitedly resulted in a large amount of steam to find it’s way from them. Dante grinned.
--------------------------

A dark island, somewhere-

“Illidan....” the hollowed Dunmer voice sung out eerily. The owner of it walked around him, each step planned out like the construction of a building, showing no flaws.

“Why must you fight it, Illidan? Surely you must be quite hungry…” He asked calmly, patting him on the head.

“Mmmrrph” was the only response he could give, his face hidden by his now bloody, and knotted hair. Illidan knelt shirtless in the center of yet another un-familiar room, his hands bound and dangling just a little below his stomach. His entire upper-body was covered in bruises, burns and lacerations.

“Pardon…?” Asked the Dunmer individual again, cupping his hand next to his ear mockingly. Getting no response he nodded to a cultist across the room, who approached holding something a lot like a sword, yet wooden, a very flexible wood.

He held it above his head, before bringing it down sharply on Illidan’s bare back, after repeating the process several times over he left, back to his place in the room. Illidan groaned and hissed, biting his lip and letting a teardrop fall from his eye.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 15 2005, 09:44 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 15 2005, 02:15 AM)

Arynel nodded, his expression forelorn, but at the same time understanding.

"Show me the knives." The Breton said, biting his bottom lip.

"I can only show you where I found mine," Allerleirauh said. "And that would mean nothing; one forest is like another, and the tree has fallen, and decayed into the forest floor."

That was too easy an answer. She thought a moment, then said, "You know where they are. You have felt their edges against your flesh. You turn away from them, like any sensible creature. I had to be driven onto them, like a stag running into a field of sharpened stakes. All you have to do is to turn towards them."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 15 2005, 09:48 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 15 2005, 01:24 AM)

"I will be cut down either way," Arynel said, "may I be cut into a better shape."

The Breton paused, taking a breath. "I will do what I must, rather, I will go there by my own accord, and set food upon the unmarked trail."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 15 2005, 09:53 AM

QUOTE(Arynel @ Feb 15 2005, 02:28 AM)

"Fair journey to you," Allerleirauh said. "It's very easy. The thing that you believe you cannot do, that thing you must do."

She smiled. "I think you have time to eat, and drink, before you set out. These things have a way of happening in their own time, not ours. I'm going to sneak into the kitchen after the cook is asleep and make custard. Will you come?"

Posted by: Arynel Feb 15 2005, 09:55 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 15 2005, 01:33 AM)

"Yes, I will come." Arynel said with a smile.

"I fear I know little of cooking, though," the Breton added, "save for that which one learns on the road."

Posted by: Nalion Feb 15 2005, 04:02 PM

Summary:
Nalion had set out with the group seeking the gem called "Flamekiss", believed to rest in the depths of the dark and dangerous Vaults of Gemin.

Nalion sat not far away from the stones he had heated and watched curiously as Dante poured water over them. The steam that arose was more pleasant than the cold rising from the waters in the rest of the cave. His clothes were as dry as they could be at the moment and the given circumstances.
Despite that Lorannas magic had cleansed his body from the poison, his rejection of healing - that led to his pains initially - still lingered in the back of his mind.
He had overestimated himself, thought he could deal with it alone.
"Fool that you are." he cursed himself. "You're no warrior, shrugging wounds off like flies. You know how difficult it is for others to heal you, born under the Atronarch as you are. A mage relies on his control of the arcane, not in corporeal strength.
He remembered a passage from "The Art of War Magic" he had read in his time with the Telvanni.
"Knowledge of the enemy mage's mind is of the foremost importance. Once you know his mind, you will know his weaknesses."
It rather seemed to Nalion that knowing ones own weaknesses first was of importance, too.
"Know your weakness and through your weakness, gain strength." he muttered thoughtfully.

"You're beginning to be a burden to your companions if you continue being reckless. You need them and they need you. Only by combining our strengths will we be successful: Ciel, the seasoned warrior, Tris and his wits, Loranna and her healing and caring, Dante and his seemed randomness - which led to burned spiders rather than eaten companions - Reichi and his companions, Erenius and his skill of organization and logistics... and a reckless mage trying to be a hero."

Companions... He'd used this term freely before, but had he really understood what it meant? Not only being responsible for his own deeds, but considering how they affect others, how they affect their common goal?

Every decision he made was a crossroad, different paths leading to different outcomes, but here and now, one decision would set a path for all of them. The archways they had encountered - ever shifting, offering opportunities, risks and dangers - seemed a perfect example for this, and how the actions of one would affect others.

Thoughtfully, he pulled out ink, feather and paper from the waterproof leather box he had been carrying and began to write.

Crossroads, diff'rent paths will meet,
New opportunities, where will they lead?
To outcomes being dire, grave?
Or to deeds so great and brave?
When roads meet, winds of change will fly,
Alt'ring fate and earth and sky.
Revelations new will come,
Joining others, unite, be one.

He set down the feather and blew lightly over the ink to let it dry. He looked again at the words he had written, then put parchment, ink and feather back in its case.
The mages gaze swept over his companions, and a realization came over him. It felt right to be here, to be part of something important. Nalion had a feeling now that he knew where his place was - a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.

Posted by: FireMaster Feb 15 2005, 07:14 PM

*Erenius sits down near Nalion, weary from whatever side-affects the antidote he took earlier had on him*

"And you would have thought the alchemists that created this stuff could create a potion without anything negative about it..." Erenius mutters, drowsily as he takes a seat, taking out a book on a the border skirmishes and war between Valenwood and Elswyer some twenty five or thirty years ago.

Posted by: Aki Feb 16 2005, 12:00 AM

Summary
Reichi is enjoying the warmth of the heated rocks, while the other three Werewolves are hoping to get out of the Vaults before the next few days pass a full moon rises, as then they will loose all control, and would have to be subdued or killed to prevent them from slaughtering the party.
------------------------------------------

Reichi finally rose to look for the next path to go through in this vault, where to go next, as he did, he noticed Erenius's book. Again, he wondered why people brought such things into dungeons, and the like. Books were okay to take from them, but really, who took them INTO places like this?

Reichi knew, back in Balmora, in a room at the Morag Guild hall in a locked chest a book belonging to him probally still resided there, maybe because it held the knowledge of how to control a Werewolf's transformation, the rituals required, and all that. It could simply be rare, or it could be the only book of the kind in existance. Reichi never took it from where it had been hide until no one was around, and never took the tome with him.

Maybe some Azurite had it now, maybe a member of the Morag Tong did, or maybe it had been left behind. He almost hoped it WAS an Azurite that had it, a Morag Tong would know that was his room, and such a book would be very incriminating.

Reichi shook himself of his thinking and began searching again.

Posted by: Tricrux Feb 16 2005, 06:53 AM

Marein Night-Scar, still missing...

Posted by: Temple of the Dawn Feb 17 2005, 01:55 AM

New Temple, one week ago:

"Yes, I told you I believe it can be done," said Gilvas Barelo, Archcanon of the New Temple. "But not all that can be done should be done. We must not forget the virtues in our quest for power."

"The virtues are what Vivec invented to control the weak. Time to stop suckling Vivec's milk finger and grow up."

The speaker was Alandro Sul, immortal son of Azura, wearer of the Wraith Mail. It was Nibani Maesa's prophecies, and the records of the trial of Vivec, that had guided them to the resting place of the Wraith Mail. Many tiny rings had been restored to a full suit of mail, and a young Ashlander, from among the many who claimed to be descended from Alandro Sul, had been chosen to wear the mail. It was the Mabrigash who had chosen him - they had picked the one too strong to kill. Now the legendary hero of the First Era walked among them again. In a Velothi cloak of fringed netch leather, his hair ornamented with beads in the style of times long past, he made an imposing figure.

His personality took some getting used to.

Vivec had called him "lover/liar." One of the scholars had asked Alandro Sul why. He had answered with a spear, thrown in a single, brutal motion, through the questioner's throat.

"Vivec lies when the truth would serve. I never lie without a reason."

Still, he had a knowledge of the military strategy of times long past, times when mer were gods, and Veloth flourished, and magic flowed like water.

Alandro Sul raised his spear, and five Azurites - these had been Buoyant Armigers, before the Blue Dawn - raised theirs with a shout, then planted them solidly in the ground, in a row. A priest of the New Temple chanted ancient words of invocation, and the air was filled with the keening of ancestral spirits yanked from their sleep. Between the spears, a blue wall rose, trembling, then sparking with power - a Ghostfence, a small one, but potent enough to act as a fortification for those behind it. Once, long ago, every Velothi household had kept its own household spirits and built its own Ghostfence. But Dagoth Ur had changed that - the spirits were needed to defend the land from Red Mountain. Now that Red Mountain was no threat, the spirits could be pressed into service again.

"We're ready," Alandro Sul said. "We begin with Sadrith Mora."

Present time:

The colossal statue of Daedra Prince Azura groaned as the first light of dawn touched it. The sound carried for miles. The groan rose to an eerie wail, then to a shriek, with heavy banging tones, so deep they shook the earth, behind it.

"The goddess has granted us a great victory!" Nibani Maesa cried. She was flanked by handmaidens in blue gowns, recording her words, translating them into poetry, to be carried all over the land by swift runners. "The ease of our victory at Sadrith Mora is a sign of the goddess's pleasure, and a token of great things to come! The Ghostfence was the greatest work of the Dunmer spirit - the work of the Azurite spirit shall be far greater, and the Palisades of Dusk and Dawn will stretch from farthest East to farthest West, to defend us from all outsiders!"

Within the deepest pit of Red Mountain, in a cage suspended as near to the lava as it was safe to go, the prisoners from the Imperial outpost of Wolverine Hall sweated in the orange light. They knew, by now, that insolence meant swift death. Most of them had determined to surrender.

The Telvanni Azurites stood on platforms surrounding them. Beneath them, rising from the lava, taller than a man and still growing, glowed the largest soulgem in the world - a massive blue stone that throbbed like a heart. It was the Pillar of Azura. Telvanni slaves carried lesser soul gems to it, where they were consumed. The lesser soulgems contained the spirits of the Azurite dead.

"Now, let the spirits of those who have fallen in the service of Azura receive new life," chanted a priest of the New Temple.

The Telvanni had prepared the sigils, in the shape of a star, as Azura's artifact, now destroyed, had been a star. Now they chanted the ritual. It was one that had been forbidden under the Tribunal temple. But just because something was forbidden did not mean it was forgotten. Blue lights rose and swirled in the air above the giant soul stone.

The weakest among the prisoners - the Altmer mage - cried out first. She collapsed to the floor of the cage, screaming. And then she rose up with blue eyes. Her eyes were not the true, glowing blue of those who had come to Azura willingly. They were flat and dull, with no distinction between pupil and iris.

Hours later, the strongest of them - a Breton who had been a priest - said a last, short prayer to his foreign gods, as his brown eyes were overcome by azure.

"Go," Alandro Sul said, to the new slaves. "Bring us our princess."

Jazbet's Castle:

Solin was disturbed from his reverie by a strange sound. It seemed at first to be coming from the mouth of the simulacrum, but that was a trick of the mechanism's acoustics. The sound originated within its womb of bronze.

Deep within the simulacrum, the unborn child was crying.

Posted by: Aki Feb 17 2005, 04:53 AM

Tel Silgrad
Raddin had lost his horse in his thus-far fruitless search for Reichi. He had lost the trail where Tarenen had been last, Ald Sotha, there were no signs of a group movement, as if some spell had been cast and they vanished into thin air. Raddin walked into a random bar and began drinking, eventually he overheard some people talking.

"Yeah, im telling ya, this mer, his eyes were red, but they looked like a wolf's!" One, a breton said. Raddin knew only one mer that fit such a descritption. The Old Werewolf hunter listened intently. The next thing the breton mentioned to his companions was the company he had been travelling in, and where they went.

Into the mages guild, and from there, who knows where. Perhaps he could track from where Reichi had come, afterall, he would be returning, no one ran off in groups that large to the black marsh, the place was too hostile to non-argonians.

Raddin rose, and once the breton left, he 'politely' asked how the party had arrived. Parraptons, they had arrived on. It was only a matter of figuring out who had parraptons.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 05:43 AM

Attempting to prevent King Helseth from using an ancient super-weapon named the Eidolon, a group of brave volunteers departed from Jazbet's estate to the legendary Black Marsh dungeon called the Vaults of Gemin.

The Vaults were found to be magically divided into five parts, each part connected to the rest by an odd, ever-shifting portal, forcing the group to chose which part of the Vaults they would enter next.

Now, with only once choice left ahead of them, the group huddles in a damp cave around magically warmed rocks.

Before them is a natural crack in the wall, leading to another water-filled cave. Behind them is a screaming mass of poisonous, flying creatures, who at this very moment are trying to decide if they will brave the cold cave water and pursue our heroes...

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 05:48 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 16 2005, 11:23 PM)

Loranna rouses herself from her rest. "Guess we ought to get moving soon," she says. "Is everyone prepared?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 05:50 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 16 2005, 10:28 PM)

Loranna rouses herself from her rest. "Guess we ought to get moving soon," she says. "Is everyone prepared?"

"I'm ready," Tris said. "My shoes are finally dry."

He frowned at the crack in the wall. He disliked being underground. He really hated cracks. And swimming was hard when you could only kick with one leg. But he supposed it was better than flying poisonous monkeys.

Posted by: Aki Feb 17 2005, 05:52 AM

Reichi gave a nod, as did Tohe. Camassim and Eya merely looked into the water-filled cave, trying to see if anything nasty was in the waters.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 05:56 AM

"Let's get through this place," Teleran said. "I'm ready to go when we go. I don't have too much left to pack, I've already shredded a few sets of clothes and I didn't take quite so much from those corpses as you did Loranna, a whole set of armor, amazing that it fits so well."

Teleran made sure his daggers were secured and picked up his spear, letting its chameleon enchantment wash over him. "Shall I take lead through this one?" he asked, his form wisp like.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 05:59 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 10:36 PM)

"Fine with me," Tris said, casting water breathing on himself and Ciel. "Can everyone else breathe? You going ahead to scout, or do we all plunge in?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 05:59 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 11:36 PM)

"Yes; I try not to think too much about that," Loranna mutters, preparing people with water breathing spells and the like. "Um ... sure? Try not to get killed?"

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 06:03 AM

"Get killed? I reserve that right for the one who tries to stop me," Teleran says grinning widely, "I guess I'll take the first plunge, but some of you better be quick behind me, don't want to get too far ahead of you." Teleran gulps down his remaining waterbreathing potion and heads through the crack and into the water.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 06:04 AM

It was a short slide down the slippery stone into a wide, deep cave full of freezing water. Almost immediately, the ceiling dropped to meet the water's surface, leaving no room for air.

In the magical light, a featureless mud bottom could be seen through crystal-clear water. Here and there, mirror-like pockets of air could be seen trapped in the rough limestone ceiling.

Nothing alive swam in the water, but small, nearly transparent shrimp crawled across the bottom, fighting to stay on course.

Unlike the other, unnaturally still, cave, there was an obvious, strong current here. It swept along, leading downward.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 06:14 AM

Teleran slipped into the water and felt its icy chill engulf him. He took a deep breath before heading under, not that it mattered when under a water-breathing spell. Almost as soon as he was under the water he felt the current pulling him down. He kept himself steady in the water and waited for the others to follow. "Nothing so far, other than some shrimp."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 06:15 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 10:54 PM)

Tris followed Teleran into the freezing water. He thought that if experience was any guide, they should probably be headed either against the current, or with it - but couldn't decide which.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 17 2005, 06:16 AM

Ald Raathim:

Arynel ran his fingers over the books in the library, scanning the titles. At last he stopped at one with the words Arcturian Heresy inscribed on the spine. The Breton pulled it off the shelf, and a handful of other books down the row fell sideways to fill the space that had opened up in the books absence. The Breton sat down at a table and placed the book down, he opened the cover to the first page and began to read.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 06:16 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 11:54 PM)

Again, Loranna is privately grateful her parents came from Skyrim, as she follows Teleran and the current.

Still, she thinks to herself, there was a lot to be said for wide, open spaces ...

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 06:19 AM

The water seemed to be rushing toward a distant light, flashing slowly, deep in the water.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 06:21 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 16 2005, 10:59 PM)

The water seemed to be rushing toward a distant light, flashing slowly, deep in the water.

Tris figured that whatever was flashing was bad news - and therefore that was the way they should be headed. He cast a spell of swift swim on himself, and jetted ahead.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 06:23 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 16 2005, 08:01 PM)

Tris figured that whatever was flashing was bad news - and therefore that was the way they should be headed. He cast a spell of swift swim on himself, and jetted ahead.

Teleran followed in Tris's wake, though he lost ground due to the swift swim spell, which he did not have access to. 'Yet another spell I need to learn. When I have the time...'

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 06:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 12:01 AM)

Tris figured that whatever was flashing was bad news - and therefore that was the way they should be headed. He cast a spell of swift swim on himself, and jetted ahead.

I'm gonna need to heal him again any moment now, Loranna thinks to herself, wishing she were telepathic still so that she could plot with Ciel on how to keep Tris from getting himself killed next time.

She follows after the speedy Breton.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 06:26 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 16 2005, 10:01 PM)

Tris figured that whatever was flashing was bad news - and therefore that was the way they should be headed. He cast a spell of swift swim on himself, and jetted ahead.

The spell worked exceptionally well. The closer Tris got to the flashing light, the faster the current became, until he found that he was swimming backwards against it, instead of forwards.

The light was a door in the stone, down near the water's muddy bottom.

The water rushed constantly through it and into the space beyond, but the space changed.

It was difficult to see through the torrential water, but one moment the doorway was dark, lit only by a dim red light, and the next it was very bright.

Although the sight was very distorted by the water, the bright room beyond the doorway looked high-pillared and cathedral-like, and the light was coming from something shining and brilliant at the center of the huge room.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 06:28 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 16 2005, 11:06 PM)

Tris slowed himself against the water to let the others catch up to him.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 06:32 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 12:08 AM)

Tris slowed himself against the water to let the others catch up to him.

Loranna fights the current and looks into the doorway; her expression conveys her question as to how they're going to time getting in there with all the water rushing in.

Sighing, Loranna tries to time the shifting of the rooms and the rushing of the water, praying she gets the timing right and casting a small levitate spell on herself to make the going easier. Once the proper moment arrives, she goes forward ...

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 06:40 AM

The knight managed as best he could in the water. The others had gathered around the stone portal no doubt wondering how to enter. Carefully, Ciel maneuvered himself closer to get a better look. As he does Loranna makes to enter the door.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 06:45 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 16 2005, 10:12 PM)

Sighing, Loranna tries to time the shifting of the rooms and the rushing of the water, praying she gets the timing right and casting a small levitate spell on herself to make the going easier. Once the proper moment arrives, she goes forward ...

Letting herself get carried by the current was like getting fired from a cannon. Once through the door, Loranna felt herself pushed downward by the rushing water, despite her levitation spell. Wildly spinning and out of control, she finally surfaces in a relatively calm pool.

The constant stream of water from the door fell about ten feet into a pool that ran along the wall of the circular room. Beautifully carved, white marble pillars ran into the pale mist high above.

Across a mirror-polished marble floor, in the exact center of the pillars, there was a dias. On the dias there was a pedestal, and on the pedestal something glowed brightly enough to light the entire room.

Far across the magnificent room was a small marble bridge across the circular pool, and a dark doorway.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 06:52 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 12:25 AM)

Loranna takes a couple moments to regain her bearings, having just learned what it felt like to be a projectile. She lets out a huge sigh of relief at having managed not to get killed.

The majesty of the room captivates her for another moment, but she remembers her friends and turns away, floating up to the door she just came through and sticking the glass axe through the doorway. She contemplates trying to bury the blade in the ground, wondering if the current would wash it free.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 06:53 AM

The axe acted like a wing in the water, and the rushing torrent threatened to throw it across the room. It took all of Loranna's strength to hold it in place for a very short time.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 06:53 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 16 2005, 11:33 PM)

The axe acted like a wing in the water, and the rushing torrent threatened to throw it across the room. It took all of Loranna's strength to hold it in place for a very short time.

Tris followed Loranna into the room.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 06:54 AM

Teleran came through the now still doorway and tumbled into the room. He turned about and tried to regain his bearings

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 06:57 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 16 2005, 10:33 PM)

Tris followed Loranna into the room.

Ciel hovering near the door managed to sneak in with Tris.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 06:58 AM

Once everyone managed to get into the room, Loranna floats away from the door, the axe almost slipping from her hands.

Numbly clipping the axe back onto her pack she lets her arms hang, trying to rest them.

"Well, here we are ..." she says, once again looking around.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 07:00 AM

"I'm thinking that's our goal," Tris said, nodding towards the shining light. "In hopes of avoiding traps..."

He levitated, and approached the dias at the center of the room.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 07:04 AM

Teleran looked around the room and looked toward the center dais. He grinned, whatever this was it was important.

Teleran darted under Tris towards the dais. He wanted to get first look at whatever it was, but he wouldn't touch it, nope, it would probably explode. Well, at least he would not remove it from the dais. He told himself that he wouldn't do that at least.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:07 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 12:44 AM)

Loranna prepares her strongest ranged healing spells in a hurry ...

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 07:09 AM

The glowing object on the pedestal was truly a thing of wonder. A shining golden helm. The faceplate was carved to resemble a stylized, bearded man's face, and upon the brow was a crown of nine eagles, wings outspread and sapphires in their sharp beaks.

All of this the two men saw for a moment. Then with a click, long iron spears shot from the pillars, piercing the man who set off the trap, and the man who floated above him.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:12 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 12:49 AM)

Loranna lets out a wordless cry of anguish, before looking to Ciel. "Help me get them off those!" she says, floating toward Tris already.

Oh no not this again; how are we gonna get them off those without making things worse ... she thinks, before her eyes widen and she hurriedly casts a shield spell on herself and Ciel before coninuing to approach.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 07:12 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 16 2005, 08:49 PM)

Teleran felt an immense pressure, then he didn't feel much of anything as his body stopped moving forward. He wondered what was holding him back. He looked back as a burning pain overwhelmed all other sensation and thought. "EEEEEAAaaarrrrgh!!!"

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 07:13 AM

Ciel closed his eyes as Teleran ran forward and then opened them when he heard the click. He was already moving towards where Tris was.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 07:19 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 12:52 AM)

Dante ran to Teleran's aid, wrapping his hands around the spears shaft he began to slowly extract it. "Scream if this hurts buddy...."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 07:20 AM

Tris found that the spears didn't actually hurt much, which was a bad sign. He didn't seem to be able to move or speak, however, and darkness was closing in at the edges of his vision.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 07:20 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 16 2005, 08:59 PM)

Dante ran to Teleran's aid, wrapping his hands around the spears shaft he began to slowly extract it. "Scream if this hurts buddy...."

Teleran just kept screaming. Not that he was quite up to making concious decisions at the moment, but he was reacting exactly in accordance to Dante's wishes.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:22 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 01:00 AM)

Tris found that the spears didn't actually hurt much, which was a bad sign. He didn't seem to be able to move or speak, however, and darkness was closing in at the edges of his vision.

Loranna reaches Tris, and touches his cheek, using a spell meant to give him enough strength to hang on a few moments longer.

She and Ciel had to work quickly, get Tris off of those damnable spears; Loranna wraps her hands around iron shafts and starts pulling them through, muttering under her breath.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 07:23 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 16 2005, 11:00 PM)

Tris found that the spears didn't actually hurt much, which was a bad sign. He didn't seem to be able to move or speak, however, and darkness was closing in at the edges of his vision.

Ciel arrived and knelt next to Tris. He looked back to Loranna. "Quickly," he said in a tense, worried voice as he made ready to remove a spear.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 07:26 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 17 2005, 12:03 AM)

Ciel arrived and knelt next to Tris. He looked back to Loranna. "Quickly," he said in a tense, worried voice as he made ready to remove a spear.

Pulling the spears out, however, did hurt. A lot. Tris let out a strangled scream, and volumes of blood rushed from the now open wound.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 07:27 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 01:00 AM)

Teleran just kept screaming. Not that he was quite up to making concious decisions at the moment, but he was reacting exactly in accordance to Dante's wishes.

Dante shortly managed to remove the spear completely. Tossing it to the ground a few metres away, He hoisted Teleran over his shoulder and began searching through his pack. "Let's see....potions....potions, damnit, here, this will do until we can get someone to heal you." He stated briskly, holding a piece of Hackle-lo up to Teleran, indicating him to start chewing it.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 01:06 AM)

Pulling the spears out, however, did hurt. A lot. Tris let out a strangled scream, and volumes of blood rushed from the now open wound.

As the spears come out, Loranna casts healing spells to staunch the bleeding, pulling healing potions out of her pack in between. She hands a potion to Ciel, saying "Have him drink this," as she turns to quickly give Teleran similar treatment.

"Not enough hands to do all this ..." Loranna mutters, fumbling out a second healing potion.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 07:31 AM

The golden helm sat upon its pedestal, as if emotionlessly watching the life and death struggle.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 07:34 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 16 2005, 09:07 PM)

Teleran forces his jaws together, but as he chews Loranna offers him a potion which goes down a bit too quickly, causing him to sputter a little, but the vast majority of the potion was swallowed and he felt better, not completely, but he didn't think that he was in serious danger of dying anymore and he wasn't bleeding too much anymore, relatively minor cuts remained where there had been spears piercing him.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 07:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 16 2005, 11:09 PM)

Ciel nodded and accepted the vial in the same instant. With the precision of a skilled military man who had seen many wound in battle he unstopped the potion and administered it to Tris.

"Drink," he said voice still tense, however, a edge of calm forced its way onto the word.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 17 2005, 07:39 AM

Ald Raathim:

After he had finished the book, Arynel returned it to its resting place on the shelf. The Breton took a few blank peices of paper off of a desk, and with them an inkwell, which he placed down on the table, and he himself in the chair. He began to write.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 07:41 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 17 2005, 12:18 AM)

"I'm okay," Tris said, when he could talk again. He wasn't okay when he spoke, but he was only a few moments later.

He had Dragon to thank for that - training sessions with the old Void Ranger involved lots of being sliced to pieces while under the influence of healing potions. It taught you not to panic, not to slip into shock.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:43 AM

Loranna casts a final healing spell on both Teleran and Tris, her tearstreaks glistening slightly. She sighs in relief as she sees her friends pulling through.

" ... Teleran ... you ... IDIOT ...!" she seethes, glaring at the blue-eyed Dunmer. " ... Don't do things like that ..."

Posted by: Arynel Feb 17 2005, 07:47 AM

Carpenter’s Amore

“Polish off the end before you put it up for the night,” that’s what he had always said.

Pilus Juliano sanded down the last section of the wooden formation and then sat it aside, he had apprenticed as a carpenter since he was very young, his family had been not so well off, and wanted better for their son. Pilus put away his tools, one by one, those for cutting and those for measuring and those for sanding and smoothing, and put them away in their proper places, next, he took the unused wood he had gotten out to work with and returned it to the stack of boards, the pieces he had worked he laid neatly on a tarp. Pilus went upstairs, kissed his wife on the cheek, and went to bed.

The next day he rose again, and Pilus continued his work, cutting, measuring, sanding; he was well known for his work, as well known as anyone in the village, which is to say rather unknown anywhere else. Here though, his woodwork was highly valued, and his kindness and generosity matched the worth of his labor, his creations were not reserved for the rich. There were rumors, murmuring speculations, why did he stay in all the time? Didn’t he ever go out? He did go out, from time to time, but Pilus loved his work, and his wife, but especially his work.

The second leg he finished the next day; he rose at dawn, or sometimes before, and always ate a morning meal before going to work, taking a break midday for a second meal, it was rumored that his wife was depressed for lack of intimacy, but whenever she was out she always smiled, so it was unknown if this was the truth of things or only exaggerated speculation. When Pilus Juliano finished his work that evening, he put away his tools as he always did, and then the unused wood, and then the wood he had worked on. He smelt of it by day’s end, his hands rough and powdered with wood dust from where he had cut and smoothed.

The third and forth leg he made in a single day, for he had risen long before Magnus with an urge to work, to create. He ate as he always did, taking his time, best not to rush into it too quickly, the time would come. Then it was time, and he took a piece of wood and studied closely, examining it for any irregularities or weaknesses, he studied a number of pieces, and at last found one that suited him. He sawed first the basic shape, and then gradually altering tools in order to cut finer and finer into the wood, until at last he was working on minute details of the chair legs, a design of winding ivy curling down the wooden leg. When he finished, Pilus put up his tools and his wood, both finished and unfinished, kissed his wife, and went to bed. He had missed his midday meal.

The next day Pilus Juliano glued the legs to the seat, curved just so and polished to a shine, alone it would be quiet comfortable, with a pillow or blanket placed over it would be a pleasure to sit in. He left the glue to set, and went out for his midday meal, normally he ate in, but today he went to the local tavern, rumors quickly spread that Pilus was near to completing whatever he had been working on for the past week. A week, that was how long it usually took him, or less, or more, it depended on the piece of work, whether it was a chair, or a table, or a chest of drawers, or anything else; he only worked on one thing at a time, and devoted his full attention to that, his life, his love.

The next day Pilus awoke as usual, but he had no morning meal, he always went without on his last day. He had only the back to attach, which would not take long, or should not take long, but Pilus was meticulous, everything had to be perfect, down to the very last detail, those things so small and unnoticed they would not be realized until years later, when some antsy relative showed up for a holiday. His wife went out and purchased meat and bread, and flour and eggs and sugar and all things for cake, one could scarce but avoid the rumors which were now filtering through the underbelly of nearly every conversation. At last Pilus finished his work, and put away his tools, he left the chair to set, and took a hot bath. Afterwards, he and his wife ate the meal she had prepared that day, specifically for this occasion.

The next day, Pilus Juliano and his wife dressed themselves in their finest regalia, and went out into the center of the town where people had gathered. He gave the townsfolk ample opportunity to look over the chair and admire its beauty, its craftsmanship, he would from time to time answer a potential buyer’s inquiry, but his most common response was simply a smile and a nod. At the end of the day, the chair went for some seventy five Septims. A visitor was there, who had spent the night at the inn on his way through, who approached Pilus after the chair was at last sold, and money exchanged for services rendered. “Why would you go to all that work, for so little money?” He asked, “Craftsmanship of that quality would put many carpenters in Cyrodiil to shame.”

Pilus Juliano turned to the stranger and smiled. “Polish off the end before you put it up for the night, put in your heart and you’ll get back your soul in return.”

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 07:49 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 16 2005, 09:23 PM)

Teleran grinned back at her, "Don't worry I won't charge towards that shiny thing again, I promise." He pulled himself back together, bringing the pauldron and gauntlet back to look as an arm. He rummaged through his pack, two healing potions left. He drank one and walked over to hand the other one to Loranna. "Here's a healing potion, I won't charge at the dais again. What is that for though? Its such a pretty thing." Absentmindedly he starts drifting towards the dais again, but he stops short of the place where spears had shot up and just looks at it.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 07:56 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 01:29 AM)

Loranna watches Teleran with an expression somewhere between dispair and disbelief.

" ... I need to become insanely powerful before our next outing if I'm going to keep us all alive ..." she mutters, just loudly enough for Tris and Ciel to hear.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 08:01 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 11:29 PM)

Ciel, convinced of Tris's well-being, turned to face Teleran. "What," he began in a quiet level voice. "By the Nine, were you thinking? What?!"

The knight's voice was rising in intensity.

"Was it the bauble? Did you have to have it first?!"

He took a few steps towards the Dunmer.

"Were you thinking? It could have been different. You both could lie dead on the floor instead of standing here alive."

Ciel was now intemidatingly close.

"Tell me why that shouldn't change."

The last was almost a growl.

Posted by: Arrogant_Hero Feb 17 2005, 08:14 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 01:09 AM)

Hammerfell, close to Sentinel

Dur’el and Allimar lay outside of an enormous mansion, in hammocks, basking in the cool, afternoon Hammerfell breeze.

“I heard the Azurites are getting worst.” Allimar lazily says, stretching his arms behind his head.

Dur’el yawns and replies. “Yeah, but they’re hardly any in Hammerfell, so It doesn’t concern us.”

A long, calming, silence passes as a cool breeze sweeps over the duo.

Dur’el motions to a glass lying beneath his hammock. “Hand me that drink, will ya?”

Allimar cracks a sluggish smile. “Why don’t you get it? Its right at your feet.”

Dur’el closes his eyes. “Yeah, but I don’t feel like moving right now.”

“Neither do I.” Allimar says, half yawning.

Allimar and Dur’el exchange a glance.

“Oh well.” They say in unison as they both roll over and quickly fall asleep.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 16 2005, 09:41 PM)

Teleran looked at Ciel still smiling, "It should change, we should probably start moving, get to Flamekiss, and get out of here. What could have happened, it did not happen, no need to worry about it now. As for getting to it first, well, why not, I usually manage to move out of the way by the time the traps spring. Not this time I guess.

"I may be impulsive, I may get myself into scrapes more often than not, but I haven't gotten anyone killed. And as long as that remains the fact I will not let you take my life."

"If you want who lives to change, just keep this up, then I assure you it will." Teleran stated, no looking grimly at Ciel.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 17 2005, 08:18 AM

Ald Raathim:

At last finished with his story, Arynel read it over once, and then returned the inkwell and unused sheets of paper to the desk. A Dunmer man, who had been busily transcribing an old Khajiit folk tale looked up from where he sat. The Dunmer put down his pen and rose from his seat, walking towards Arynel.

"That paper and ink isn't free you know." The Dunmer said flatly.

"Yes, I understand," Arynel said, nodding, "I will happily pay you whatever it costs."

The Dunmer eyed him for a time, then at last spoke, "Yes, I know, continue."

With that the Breton handed over the completed manuscript, in exchange for 50 septims from the Dunmer, who took the papers and returned to his work.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 08:31 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 01:56 AM)

Loranna can scarcely believe her ears, and for a second envisions herself picking Teleran up bodily and tossing him back to the flying poison monkeys.

Sensing that Teleran and Ciel are about to come to blows, she readies calm spells in case they're needed, though to be honest she thinks Teleran could use his bell rung.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 08:33 AM

Where, O'where did the Breton's pie go?

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 08:33 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 16 2005, 11:56 PM)

"You must not have a thought in your head," the Breton glowered. "To have nearly killed one of your fellows and not given it a wit."

Ciel was ominously close.

"Let me give you a bit of advice as someone who has lost good men because of his actions," he said, voice drawn from the low former low growl to a whisper. "Don't. Ever. I can assure you, if your recklessness continues someone will die."

There was pain as well as disgust in the Breton's eyes.

The knight turned away, boot heel scraping on the floor, and walked back to Tris, silent.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 08:36 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 17 2005, 01:13 AM)

Tris had been poised to talk Ciel down. Now he found that words failed him.

"Well, he's right about one thing," Tris said, just to be saying something. "We should get moving. That helmet - it looks like something the Emperor would wear."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 08:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:16 AM)

Loranna lets out a breath she didn't remember holding. "It does, doesn't it?" she remarks dully. "Perhaps the Flamekiss is set in it or hidden in it?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 01:18 AM)

Loranna lets out a breath she didn't remember holding. "It does, doesn't it?" she remarks dully. "Perhaps the Flamekiss is set in it or hidden in it?"

"Let's try this a second time," Tris said. He levitated over to the helmet, and, holding his breath, lifted it off the dais.

It was warm, like something alive.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 16 2005, 10:13 PM)

"Then I will try to avoid that," Teleran muttered, somewhat relieved that it had not ended in bloodshed. He spoke louder and more clearly to Ciel, "I will not endanger any of this party by my actions from now on, not unless there is no other option." He felt compelled to add "at least not on purpose" but did not.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 08:44 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 12:23 AM)

"Let's try this a second time," Tris said. He levitated over to the helmet, and, holding his breath, lifted it off the dais.

It was warm, like something alive.

The helm simply lifted from the pedestal. It was surprisingly light.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 08:45 AM

"That was....surprisingly safe" Dante stated loudly, loosening the grip which was earlier on the hilt of his sword.

"Now what...?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 08:47 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 02:24 AM)

The helm simply lifted from the pedestal. It was surprisingly light.

Loranna watches Tris take the helm. " ... Notice anything special about it?" she asks.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 08:47 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 01:25 AM)

"That was....surprisingly safe" Dante stated loudly, loosening the grip which was earlier on the hilt of his sword.

"Now what...?"

Tris returned to the group. He was pale, and breathing quickly, but relieved.

"I only see one problem," he said. "There are gems in this helm, but they're sapphires. Aren't we looking for a ruby?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 08:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:27 AM)

Tris returned to the group. He was pale, and breathing quickly, but relieved.

"I only see one problem," he said. "There are gems in this helm, but they're sapphires. Aren't we looking for a ruby?"

"I think so, but magic could have been used to disguise the Flamekiss - assuming it was set into this helm," Loranna says. "Or it could be hidden elsewhere in this room, assuming this is the actual vault; the helm is rather eye catching after all, good for drawing one's attention ..."

She keeps from looking back at Teleran.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 08:52 AM

It is impossible to touch the helm without some feeling of reverence and awe.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 08:52 AM

QUOTE(Temple of the Dawn @ Feb 16 2005, 05:35 PM)

[Solin]

In the first moments following the event the mer wore a furrowed brow. It was different from the others. An astonishing development in the mechanics or not, rather, as upon closer inspection the development came from the non-mechanical component.

Solin leaned close, listening. Inside the world of spinning gears he could distinctly pick out the noise’s source.

He straightened his ruffled clothing as he stood up. This was a matter to inform the others of. With a last glance at the simulacrum he went to find the Breton and the Nord.

[Ciel]

The knight stood off to the side as the group inspects the helm. He watched with disintrest to be certain nothing was happening that shouldn't be.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 08:55 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:27 AM)

Tris returned to the group. He was pale, and breathing quickly, but relieved.

"I only see one problem," he said. "There are gems in this helm, but they're sapphires. Aren't we looking for a ruby?"

Dante took the helm from Tris, as politely as one could without alerting someone. He looked at the helm a moment, stroking a finger up and down one of the golden edges, treating it like it was an arrogant man's ego.

"I wonder what's inside of it..." Dante stated slowly, holding the helm to his face and looking in.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 08:56 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 01:35 AM)

"I don't think this is a decoy, Loranna," Tris said slowly. "It feels... holy. And it looks really really old. I don't recognize the style at all. I wonder if this is what the Trinimac worshippers we found earlier put in the vault."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 08:57 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 12:35 AM)

As Dante held the helm near his head, words rung in his ears.

ONLY THE WORTHY SHALL WEAR ME

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 08:57 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 02:35 AM)

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:36 AM)

" ... That could be," she says to Tris, "but weren't you the one who was suggesting they weren't here to deliver Flamekiss at all, but something unrelated?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 01:37 AM)

Loranna found herself staring at the helm with wonder, but when Dante lifts it to his face she blurts out "Don't put it on; that could be very bad ..."

Her eyes are drawn to the dark door she had noted earlier, then forgotten about in the panic of the near loss of two party members. " ... That looks ominous ..."
" ... That could be," she says to Tris, "but weren't you the one who was suggesting they weren't here to deliver Flamekiss at all, but something unrelated?"

"We know that," Tris said. "It was an Argonian adventurer who was supposed to have placed the Flamekiss in the vaults."

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 09:01 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 02:37 AM)

As Dante held the helm near his head, words rung in his ears.

ONLY THE WORTHY SHALL WEAR ME

Dante screamed, stumbling backwards and dropping the helm, he clutched his hands over his now acheing ears. If he were a religous man he'd probably be speaking a silent prayer right about now.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:02 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 02:41 AM)

Dante screamed, stumbling backwards and dropping the helm, he clutched his hands over his now acheing ears. If he were a religous man he'd probably be speaking a silent prayer right about now.

Loranna feels herself blush as Tris reminds her of something they knew all along that skipped her mind, but Dante's scream makes her head snap around, her hands raising to cast a spell.

"What?! What happened?" she demands, going over to Dante to use healing magic if needed.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:04 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 01:42 AM)

"Careful!" Tris said, lifting the helm from the floor. It felt pleasant to hold. But he had no urge to try to wear it.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 09:05 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 12:41 AM)

Dante screamed, stumbling backwards and dropping the helm, he clutched his hands over his now acheing ears. If he were a religous man he'd probably be speaking a silent prayer right about now.

Ciel, having feared this moment, rejoins the group while giving Dante a questioning look.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 09:06 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:42 AM)

Dante, who was now sitting on the floor, holding his ears and rocking back and forward looked up at Loranna. "You didn't hear it...?" He asked flatly, whincing as he spoke. "The voice...you didn't hear the voice?"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:08 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 02:46 AM)

" ... Voice?" Loranna asks quietly, putting on her best reassuring face. "No; what voice?" she asks.

The helm spoke to him? she wonders.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 09:08 AM

Teleran comes over to the group but hangs a little back and stays on the opposite side as the helm not wanting to associate himself with it, he had already messed things up enough, he didn't want to take his chance at screwing things up with the helm, though it still looked awe-inspiring he did not have the urge to look at it and touch it with his own hand anymore.He kept quiet and watched.

'Oh no not more voices...' he thought to himself.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:10 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 01:48 AM)

"We should go," Tris said. "The Flamekiss might be in the last section."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:11 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:50 AM)

"We should go," Tris said. "The Flamekiss might be in the last section."

"Do we take the helm with us, or leave it here?" Loranna asks Tris quietly. "It's sounding like it may be ... more than we're ready to handle."

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:48 AM)

" ... Voice?" Loranna asks quietly, putting on her best reassuring face. "No; what voice?" she asks.

The helm spoke to him? she wonders.

"The voice...from the helmet, c'mon...you're telling me you didn't hear it?" He looked at Loranna and the others strangely a moment, before shakily climbing to his feet.

"It said that, 'Only the worthy shall wear me'...or something similar."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 01:52 AM)

"You don't think the 'Tiberine' needs it?" Tris said sarcastically.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head, towards the helmet. He had no intention of wearing it, but he wanted to hear for himself.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 09:16 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 12:55 AM)

"You don't think the 'Tiberine' needs it?" Tris said sarcastically.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head, towards the helmet. He had no intention of wearing it, but he wanted to hear for himself.

Ciel put a warning hand on Tris's shoulder. "Careful," he said quietly.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:17 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 12:55 AM)

"You don't think the 'Tiberine' needs it?" Tris said sarcastically.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head, towards the helmet. He had no intention of wearing it, but he wanted to hear for himself.

ONLY THE WORTHY SHALL WEAR ME

Tris's ears rang with the sound.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:19 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 01:57 AM)

ONLY THE WORTHY SHALL WEAR ME

Tris's ears rang with the sound.

"Okay," Tris said, laughing a little shakily. "You're not insane, Dante... and I think maybe we should take it with us. I don't believe in coincidence."

The truth was, he was thinking of his last conversation with Aricyn. The one who will be Emperor is in Morrowind now. Maybe Aricyn was delusional. But maybe not. In any case, the helmet sounded like it could take care of itself.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:20 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:59 AM)

Loranna frowns, but says " ... All right; well then, let's investigate the next place ..."

She looks again to the dark door.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:22 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 01:00 AM)

Loranna frowns, but says " ... All right; well then, let's investigate the next place ..."

She looks again to the dark door.

Past the door was a familiar abyss. It was smooth stone and reached into darkness both above and below.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:23 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 02:02 AM)

Past the door was a familiar abyss. It was smooth stone and reached into darkness both above and below.

"At least this one is easy to get into the right one," Tris said. He stepped up to the door and sent a light spell into the darkness on the other side.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:27 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 01:03 AM)

"At least this one is easy to get into the right one," Tris said. He stepped up to the door and sent a light spell into the darkness on the other side.

The ball of magical light sailed lazily across the pit and bumped the far side. It was a half-dozen yards or so away.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:30 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:07 AM)

The ball of magical light sailed lazily across the pit and bumped the far side. It was a half-dozen yards or so away.

"Levitation time once more it seems," Loranna says, trying to look up and down the abyss.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:32 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:10 AM)

"Levitation time once more it seems," Loranna says, trying to look up and down the abyss.

"Right," Tris said. "Please no more flying monkeys."

He cast a levitation spell on Ciel, and headed out across the pit, using his ring of levitation.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 09:34 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 03:12 AM)

"Right," Tris said. "Please no more flying monkeys."

He cast a levitation spell on Ciel, and headed out across the pit, using his ring of levitation.

Dante followed closely behind, awkwardley trying to keep a safe distance between them.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:37 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 01:14 AM)

Dante followed closely behind, awkwardley trying to keep a safe distance between them.

It was very hot in the stone shaft, and somewhat misty. Far below, a deep orange light could be seen.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 09:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 16 2005, 11:12 PM)

"Right," Tris said. "Please no more flying monkeys."

He cast a levitation spell on Ciel, and headed out across the pit, using his ring of levitation.

Teleran looked out into the Abyss and performed a futile search through his pack for a levitation potion, even though he knew he did not have any. He just stood at the brink for a few seconds. Then he looked to those floating. He glanced nervously around, then averted his eyes, "Um, listen Tris, could you well, ahem, cast levitate on me? I ran out of potions in the last chasm. I'm sorry 'bout almost getting you killed back there, but well, we made it out okay in the end..." Teleran trailed off.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:40 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 03:18 AM)

Loranna stands next to Teleran, finishing her recasting of levitation on herself.

"Amazing; instead of asking the healer first you ask the guy you helped get impaled," she comments dryly. "Teleran dear, you're something else."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:41 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 02:18 AM)

"Oh merciful Stendarr," Tris said, rolling his eyes. "One moment."

He raised his hands and began to cast a lightning bolt - stopped just after he saw the other mage's eyes go wide. "Just kidding."

He cast a levitation spell on Teleran, then rejoined Ciel.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 09:45 AM

Teleran wondered what Tris had been 'just kidding' about, but decided it was better not to ask. Then he turned to Loranna, "Oh, uh, sorry. My mind isn't exactly all in one place at the moment." He levitated into the abyss, then he started wondering how long the levitate spell was going to last. A voice started ranting at him in the back of his head.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:47 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 17 2005, 03:25 AM)

"That's okay; casting levitate on others was part of my next lesson set anyway," Loranna mutters, floating up after Tris and Ciel.

"And I can understand one's mind not being all in one place - scary to hear me say this though but you ought to work on that ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:48 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:27 AM)

"Those spells do NOT last forever," Tris said, descending into the abyss.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:50 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 01:28 AM)

"Those spells do NOT last forever," Tris said, descending into the abyss.

It got much hotter as one descended.

The orange light was obviously molten stone, boiling and bubbling and giving off a horrible stench.

Luckily, far above the lava an ornate door opened in the side of the shaft, and past that was a plain stone hallway, leading up at a slight but obvious angle.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:54 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:30 AM)

Loranna is grateful to not get any closer to the lava, though in the back of her mind she wonders if Jaster might have been preferring the heat to the previous lake's cold.

Chiding herself for being so sardonic, Loranna takes the lead for the moment in the stone hallway, drinking a restore magicka potion and preparing her defensive spells.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 09:55 AM

The plain tunnel continued steadily upward.

Shortly, a greenish light could be seen ahead, and a musty smell smelled, and a constant drone of insects.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 09:57 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:35 AM)

The plain tunnel continued steadily upward.

Shortly, a greenish light could be seen ahead, and a musty smell smelled, and a constant drone of insects.

Loranna pauses, looking back to her companions.

"More bugs," she says. "Do we want to try our previous strategy of burning them all beforehand or be less destructive this time?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 09:58 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:37 AM)

Loranna pauses, looking back to her companions.

"More bugs," she says. "Do we want to try our previous strategy of burning them all beforehand or be less destructive this time?"

"Loranna..." Tris said. "I don't think that's a very good idea..."

A dreadful thought was dawning - something about the color of the light. He rushed towards the opening, straining to see ahead of him.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:02 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 03:38 AM)

Something in Tris's tone makes Loranna's blood run cold, even considering the fact that she had been leaning toward not trying to flame the bugs out.

Following Tris, she tries to get a look as well, the greenish light worrying her.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:04 AM

Outside, greenish light streamed through the thick treetops, the water bubbled quietly, and everywhere the insects chirped.

Outside. It was early evening, judging by the light.

The Argonians left to watch the rafts talked excitedly amongst themselves. They had taken bets on whether or not anyone would return alive.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:07 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:44 AM)

Loranna stares blankly at the scene before her for a moment.

" ... We're out, but we didn't find it ..." she mutters, feeling crestfallen. "We must have gotten the gate order wrong ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:11 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 02:47 AM)

Loranna stares blankly at the scene before her for a moment.

" ... We're out, but we didn't find it ..." she mutters, feeling crestfallen. "We must have gotten the gate order wrong ..."

"So," Tris said, very quietly, "If we go back to Stormhold and have a nice drink at the Inferno..."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:13 AM

Although only early evening, the swamp suddenly seemed much darker. Much colder, as well.

The Argonians clicked nervously.

Ciel and Tris recognized the feeling instantly. It was the feeling of death.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:15 AM

Loranna had been about to answer Tris with a comment about going back, resting up and resupplying, and returning to try again, after spending some time thinking over what clues they had found this time out before heading back in.

However, the feeling of death causes her to glance around nervously instead ...

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 10:17 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 01:53 AM)

The knight's eyes widened. The silver blade was in his hand and clear of its scabbard.

"He's coming," Ciel said quietly as he stepped close to Tris.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 10:17 AM

Dante frowned, the last thing he needed right now was the feeling of death bothering him. His eye began to twitch in a symbol of pent up rage. Great... He thought to himself, lightly tapping his temple in a feeble attempt to stop the twitching.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 10:18 AM

Teleran was a little slow in leaving the Vault, they had failed to obtain their goal. He came out of the vaults and saw the Argonians clicking on the rafts. There was something unsettling about the scene. Teleran started playing with Nehtayem. His spear remained in a relaxed position, but his knuckles whitened from his grip.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:20 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Feb 17 2005, 02:57 AM)

The knight's eyes widened. The silver blade was in his hand and clear of its scabbard.

"He's coming," Ciel said quietly as he stepped close to Tris.

"No, not now," Tris whispered.

Ciel wasn't giving up. Neither should he. Leseth was just another mortal, that's all, just one with a lot of fancy tricks.

He focused his energy, feeling the power of the Void flow through his body, through Ciel's body. Making them luckier, stronger, faster.

Please, let it be enough.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:22 AM

There was a low thump in everyone's ears. Like a drum, or a single heartbeat.

The feeling of something being behind, just over one's shoulder, was unbearable.

Turning, all could see a huge, black-cloaked figure, standing near the Vault entrance.

The cloak flapped gently in the dead still air.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:26 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:02 AM)

"Leseth, don't," Tris said. "I beg you. Whatever power the Queen has over you, whatever plans of yours I've interfered with, please, let me make it right. I don't want to fight you."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:26 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 04:02 AM)

Leseth, Loranna thinks, oh no; I thought Tris and Ciel worked something out with him back in Vvardenfell ...

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 10:28 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 04:02 AM)

Dante let out a loud, rough sigh. "Great....who's this joker then?" He asked angrily, clutching the hilt of his sword tightly in his hand.

Posted by: Solin Feb 17 2005, 10:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:06 AM)

"Leseth, don't," Tris said. "I beg you. Whatever power the Queen has over you, whatever plans of yours I've interfered with, please, let me make it right. I don't want to fight you."

Ciel didn't say anything. He just lowered his sallet's visor and stood ready in front of Tris.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 17 2005, 10:30 AM

"Where did he come from!?!" Teleran exclaimed. "I really don't have a good feeling about this guy. The voice just gibbered meaninglessly. "Leseth? The Queen?"

Teleran's spear came down and Nehtayem came up defensively, but he did not make a move towards Leseth, whoever he was.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:31 AM

With a smooth, inevitable gesture, one huge, black-mailed, bear-like hand swept from under the cloak.

It held a stone tablet, the size and shape of a dinnerplate, out to Tris.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:31 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 17 2005, 04:08 AM)

Dante let out a loud, rough sigh. "Great....who's this joker then?" He asked angrily, clutching the hilt of his sword tightly in his hand.

"Someone you shouldn't casually insult," Loranna says at Dante, giving him a look that suggests she'd knock his head off if she weren't so worried about what was going to happen next ...

Then, seeing Leseth hand Tris the stone tablet, she blinks. " ... Wait, is that ..." She trails off as she realizes that she has no idea what Leseth just handed Tris, other than it doesn't seem to be what she expected - namely, pain and destruction.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 10:34 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 04:11 AM)

Dante's eye darted from Loranna to Leseth again. He relaxed and removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. He watched curiously as Leseth held out the large stone tablet.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:34 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:11 AM)

With a smooth, inevitable gesture, one huge, black-mailed, bear-like hand swept from under the cloak.

It held a stone tablet, the size and shape of a dinnerplate, out to Tris.

Tris took the stone tablet. It was heavy, too heavy to comfortably hold for long.

His heartbeat was fluttering like the heartbeat of a bird. But his voice was steady. Leseth was a professional. He had priorities.

"We didn't find the gem," he said. "We don't know the right order of the gates."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:14 AM)

A dark, cold voice came from the black hood.

"There is no queen that holds power over me."

An ebony-encased finger pointed to the delicate script written in a spiral on the stone tablet.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:37 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:16 AM)

A dark, cold voice came from the black hood.

"There is no queen that holds power over me."

An ebony-encased finger pointed to the delicate script written in a spiral on the stone tablet.

Tris had to raise his strength just to keep holding the thing. He looked at it, then shook his head in confusion.

"I can't read this."

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 17 2005, 10:37 AM

Jaster, who had been with the party the whole time (Honest!) looked at this... Leseth. There was something very odd about him, however, the Dunmer said nothing.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:40 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:17 AM)

Tris had to raise his strength just to keep holding the thing. He looked at it, then shook his head in confusion.

"I can't read this."

Leseth's deep voice responded, "First poverty, then wealth, then descent. Into not flame, but death. That is the way to a kiss of flame.

"That is what is written there."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:43 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 04:20 AM)

Leseth's deep voice responded, "First poverty, then wealth, then descent. Into not flame, but death. That is the way to a kiss of flame.

"That is what is written there."

Loranna commits the words to memory, and she says "Thank you," to Leseth, a small, quick smile coming to her face.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:43 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:20 AM)

Leseth's deep voice responded, "First poverty, then wealth, then descent. Into not flame, but death. That is the way to a kiss of flame.

"That is what is written there."

Tris's lips moved as he repeated the words, thinking.

"The plain hallway... the ornate one... the watery abyss... the crypt. Then the fiery abyss. That's right, then?"

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 17 2005, 10:44 AM

"Great. Back past the monkeys." Said Jaster.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:47 AM

QUOTE(Attrebus @ Feb 17 2005, 04:24 AM)

"Great. Back past the monkeys." Said Jaster.

"We survived those before and have items and treasure at our disposal now," Loranna counters. "We can rest up and restock, and make plans for dealing with those threats we encountered already."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 17 2005, 10:51 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 17 2005, 02:23 AM)

Tris's lips moved as he repeated the words, thinking.

"The plain hallway... the ornate one... the watery abyss... the crypt. Then the fiery abyss. That's right, then?"

"I cannot say."

Leseth turned and began to walk away, into the deepening gloom of the swampy night.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 17 2005, 10:53 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 17 2005, 03:31 AM)

"I cannot say."

Leseth turned and began to walk away, into the deepening gloom of the swampy night.

"My heart can't take much more of this," Tris said, so quietly that only Ciel could hear him.

"We have supplies on the rafts, don't we? If I head back to town I'll never work up the nerve to go in there a second time."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 17 2005, 10:56 AM

Loranna makes her way back to the rafts.

" ... We should rest a bit, talk about plans in the morning," she says, settling in. "Hopefully the second trip will go quicker than the first ..."

She closes her eyes and is silent.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 17 2005, 02:07 PM

A mysterious island, in the middle of the ocean-

“Land! We’ve found land!” Shouted an overly excited cultist, jumping around like an idiot. “Stop that!” snapped Brum loudly, giving his voice an echoing effect momentarily.

“What we need to find, firstly, is water…” Merciander stated briskly, making several wise gestures with his hands. “I’ll take a cultist and look around a bit.”

As one of the cultists and Merciander walked off, Brum spoke up, “I’ll get started on a fire, and you two go do some hunting.” Inzoliah nodded, and quickly stormed away, the cultist not too far behind.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 17 2005, 05:39 PM

Ald Raathim:

Arynel told no one when he left the library. The Breton visited a number of shops, the selection of goods was low, for the boarders had been cut off and there had been no outside trade. He visited clothiers and fabric stores, eventually procuring a needle, thread, and a piece of cloth; the cloth was a common fabric, white, the thread, though, was rather expensive, a spool of silk.

Arynel then returned to the library, but retreated to a secluded spot to begin his work, he was not well versed in the art of sewing, but he could thread a needle, and he had vision, and vision is oft the driving force for proper formulas and hidden magics. The Breton began to thread the silk into the fabric; he did not cut or alter it—that was beyond his skill to do correctly—he merely sewed in the silk, which blended into the fabric perfectly, invisibly.

He threaded silken letters into the fabric, first the constellations, first the Warrior, and under that the Lady, Steed, and Lord; then the Mage, and under that the Apprentice, Atronach, and Ritual; then the Thief, and under that the Lover, Shadow, and Tower; and then, finally, the serpent, which wound around and through all the others. His eyes told him neither where to poke the needle through, nor in which direction to make the next stitch, the silk was invisible on the fabric, and neither did his fingers give him indication of proper technique, as his hands could not distinguish silk from fabric, the thread being too thin and fine. He worked instead with eyes closed, singing a song as he went to guide his movements, and when he had finished sewing in the constellations, he threaded the words of the song itself into the fabric:

Set your hand upon the hoary firmament
Whence dawn has past and day presently rise
Until dusk come calling when sun does go to rest
With the stars a name written on the inkwell night

When at last finished, Arynel folded the cloth and laid it on a table, after which the Breton retrieved a piece of paper, which he placed on top of the fabric, and on which he wrote a single word:

Tamne

Posted by: Aki Feb 18 2005, 12:26 AM

Reichi, Tohe, Eya, and Camassim sat down in a distance away from the group, a bit too close to the water's edge for Reichi's tastes. "Alright, Full mun is comin' up, can't stay 'ere any longer, marsh too dam dangerous fer us, we too danegerous fer our buddies," Camassim said. Tohe and Eya nodded.

"We should head back to Stormhold," Tohe said.

"No, we just need to recall, the Dunmer serving Jazbet handed out recall amulets remeber?" Eya said.

"Oh, right..." Tohe muttered.

"Alright, so were everyone going?" Reichi cut in.

"Im going to stay at the estate, keep watch, i can ride out the full moon in the woods," Eya said, and stood.

"Same here," Tohe said.

"And you, Camassim?" Reichi asked.

"Im goin' HOME, back to 'Ammerfell, it'd be safe dere. The deserts are harsh, Azurites prolly can't 'andle it, besides if there are any, i'll get the bastids out of me 'omeland." Camassim said, rising. The Redgaurd grabbed his recall amulet and activated it, followed by Tohe and Eya.

Reichi shook his head, then stood, he put his chitin helmet on. "If its a shifting door, we can simply wait for it to shift to the firey abyss again, no need to go all the way back through.

Jazbet's Estate, out near the Parrapton Stables

There were three flashes of light, and three figures apear, one Nord, one Breton, and one a Redguard. The Nord and Breton walked calmly off into the woods, the Redgaurds began running off towards the west. Skyrim was probably closest to Jazbet's estate, from there he could head down into Hammerfell from the Hammerfell/Skyrim border. Provided his map was accurate.

Posted by: Arynel Feb 18 2005, 02:31 AM

Ald Raathim:

Arynel made a quick arm wave, and a soft purple aura appeared and then promptly vanished. The Breton picked up the material he had worked on and held it tightly to his chest. He took a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, and then whispered a string of power,

He fell beneath the floor

He lept passed the comprehension of the recognizable motive

Arynel emerged from the void in the guildhouse at Daggerfall. The Breton remained silent, and made his way to Tamne's room, the little Dunmer girl was asleep. He unfolded the material and layed it over the girl like a sheet.

He wove his arms and there was a flash of purple light, and he appeared back in Ald Raathim.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 07:58 AM

Vaults of Gemin, Outside

Loranna awakens in her usual manner, just in time to see dawn breaking. Reinflating her lungs for a moment, she lies back and watches the sky lighten.

" ... Sunrise is still nice looking," she mutters, getting up and looking to see who else may be awake by now.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 08:02 AM

It was hard for foreigners to sleep in the swamps. The night noises were amazingly loud, and some were quite shocking.

The Argonian boatment volunteered to stand watch for the silly outsiders, but as soon as everyone else was asleep, they too had curled up and rested comfortably in the damp, noisy night.

Dawn was only a little less noisy, but waking was easy. At dawn, the biting insects came out.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 12:42 AM)

"I seem to be delicious," Tris said, slapping his arm. "I think I need healed, after last night. Poison monkeys sound like a treat to me right now."

Despite his griping, he was smiling.

"I'm awake, and as ready as I'll ever be."

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 08:06 AM

Dante sat up stiffly, letting out a mighty yawn an stretching. He wasn't too comfortable sleeping in the swamps, not too comfortable at all. He slapped the back of his neck sharply, killing two small insects that were 'biting' him there, it didn't help his current situation.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:08 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 01:46 AM)

"All those sweetrolls in my youth have made my blood sugary and tasty," Loranna quips, waving her hands to banish bugs and cast minor healing magic on any with bad bug bites. "And I'm ready too, despite this whole going back in thing now seeming much more daunting than it did before a night's sleep ..."

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 08:10 AM

The black entrance to the Vaults yawned before them. It was, certainly, at least as forbidding as it had been the first time.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:12 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 01:50 AM)

The black entrance to the Vaults yawned before them. It was, certainly, at least as forbidding as it had been the first time.

"This time, I say we zap anything we can before we get close enough for it to zap us back," Loranna says, restocking her supplies.

"Shall I do the honors of going in first?" she asks, already pulling out a septim.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:16 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 12:52 AM)

"Please do," Tris said. He was blurrily trying to remember the order of the gates, and hoping Ciel's memory was better than his own. Ciel had probably written it down.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:17 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 01:56 AM)

"Please do," Tris said. He was blurrily trying to remember the order of the gates, and hoping Ciel's memory was better than his own. Ciel had probably written it down.

"Right; first, poverty," Loranna says, timing the shifting of the rooms and dashing forward when the plain hallway presents itself.

Laying the septim down across the doorway, she prepares her defensive spells while her companions enter - just in case.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 08:19 AM

Teleran woke and looked up to see Loranna already standing before the entrance to the vaults, he though about going back to sleep; he had been having such a nice dream, no swamps or dark caverns in them at all. He got up and gathered his stuff before leaving the raft, he made sure to bring more levitate potions and topped off his supply of water-breathing and night-eye, then headed towards the entrance of the Vaults of Gemin. 'Now if I could just remember the path to take to go through the Vaults correctly.'

'Poverty, wealth, descent into death.'

He headed to join those going in as Loranna headed through the first shift.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 08:22 AM

The bare hallway was quiet. There were no hideous leech-daedra to meet anyone in the well, and the foul water below was only beginning to be re-infested with glowing worms. The corpses of the poor lost souls who died here were still where they had fallen, by the portal to the next section.

It was almost eerily silent

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 08:25 AM

Dante quickly made his way to the hole, and dropped into the water. He began to swim towards the gateway.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:29 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 02:02 AM)

Loranna tries not to dwell too much on the eerie quiet of this area.

"Next, wealth," she says, looking to her companions. "The lich king might have reformed by now, in which case we have a fight on our hands here ... if he has, focus our magic on taking him down, just like the last time, and hope he hasn't learned from his encounter with us."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:29 AM

edit

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 08:33 AM

Teleran had half-expected to be taken under the water by leech-daedra again when he hopped in and was pleasantly relieved when they did not show themselves. As he made his way into the next room the absence of identifiable enemies became somewhat nervewracking. He kept looking to any shadows he saw as he entered the ornate hall. He started thinking he saw the corpses moving, though he was just imagining things.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 08:34 AM

The next hall sparkled with jewels and gold.

It was hardly silent.

Far down the hall, the clash of steel could be heard, the distinct sound of magic could be heard, and horrible, high-pitched, animal-like screams.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:37 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 02:14 AM)

" ... The hell ..." Loranna mutters. "Okay, everyone stay together, and NO running ahead," she says, glaring at Dante and Teleran.

"I can turn invisible; anyone else who can, we ought to do so and quickly scout this out, if only to see if we can just get past it ..."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:39 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 01:17 AM)

"I wonder if liches can see through invisibility," Tris said. Actually he didn't wonder; he knew they could. But he cast invisibility on himself and Ciel anyway.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 08:40 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 02:17 AM)

Dante glared back, in a far less serious manner. He waited for everyone else to go forward, he would take up the rear in this little trip.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 08:42 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 17 2005, 10:17 PM)

Teleran nodded and used the chameleon enchantment from his spear, it wasn't as good as invisibility, but it would hide him from casual inspection. He moved down the hall, but tried not to take the lead, though that was hard as he could not see those he was following. He heard a footfalll a few meters ahead and sped up a little bit so as not to be left behind.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:43 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 02:19 AM)

"I wonder if liches can see through invisibility," Tris said. Actually he didn't wonder; he knew they could. But he cast invisibility on himself and Ciel anyway.

"Might as well take what precautions we can," Loranna mutters grimly, casting a shield spell on herself and rubbing Jazbet's Ring. Fading from sight, she cautiously scouts ahead.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 08:44 AM

Ahead, down the hall and around two corners, the group of lifeless soldiers battled with a cloud of winged, screaming, creatures. The monkeys were, for the most part, too fast for the undead, and the undead were completely undaunted by the deadly poision of the monkeys.

Further down the hall, the lich stood in the midst of a rippling circle of magic. At regular intervals, his mouth would open and monkeys would die, screaming and dessecated.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:51 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 02:24 AM)

Loranna isn't sure if this is a good thing or a really, really bad thing. In any event, getting past the fight was a task beyond their ability even with invisibility.

Pulling back to the doorway, she becomes visible again, saying to those that stayed behind "The lich and his servants are fighting the winged monkeys, and so far it's more or less even; the lich might win just through simple endurance of undead things versus living things, but it'll be a while."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:52 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 01:31 AM)

"I wonder if that lich still hates lightning," Tris said.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 08:56 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 02:32 AM)

"I wonder if that lich still hates lightning," Tris said.

"He had to have only just reformed recently," Loranna says, "so hopefully he hasn't had a chance to make himself lightning-immune. Thing is, if we take the lich out, then we'll have to take the monkeys out too - but in this corridor, if we keep the doorway free, we can all blast our magics into the monkeys."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 08:58 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 01:36 AM)

"Give me a minute," Tris said. He poured back a potion to enhance his intelligence, and thus his magicka. And another. And another.

"All right," he said grimly. "Lich king, I did this once, I can do it again."

He released a barrage of lightning into the room.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 09:03 AM

Undead warriors shuddered and fell as their weapons glowed with blue electricity. The magical shield around the lich king wavered and flashed, and all around, monkey after monkey charred and fell to the ground.

A big monkey screamed bloody murder, and as one, all of the winged creatures took to the air and swept down the hall, away from the undead, and away from the newcomers.

The lich king turned his empty eyesockets toward the source of the lightning.

He raised his hands, and a cold mist fell from his fleshless jaws.

The fallen corpses began to twich, then to rise again.

The charred, bloody remains of countless monkeys twitched, and they too, rose again...

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 09:03 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 02:38 AM)

Loranna was about to cast a fortify intelligence spell on Tris, but seeing him pull out potions she elects to cast reflect on as many people as she can manage, downing a restore magicka potion to get everyone covered.

Seeing the monkey corpses get reanimated, Loranna says " ... Crap; everyone, let the lich have whatever you've got!"

... And liches are generally immnue to cold, so I'm left with just my Absorb spells - not that the ice spell was my best attack anyway, she thinks. Oh well; get busy Loranna ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 09:10 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 01:43 AM)

Tris knew from previous experience that lightning was their best chance of taking out the lich, and he was the best person to cast it. He kept casting, although the swarm of undead monkeys was unnerving.

The others would have to fight them.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 02:43 AM)

"Ok Lichy, I got a score to settle with you..." Dante muttered under his breathe. He steadied his balance as he planted his feet and rose a hand above his head, palm facing towards the lich.

He made a few obscene gestures before lowering his hand, a small fireball now resting in it. He clutched onto his arm with his free hand and let loose. A fireball, no bigger than the size of a fist was now drifting outrageously slow towards the lich.

Dante then drew his blade, ready to vent some anger which had just recently formed inside him.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 09:14 AM

Teleran saw the monkeys coming towards them, as well as the zombies and they were joined by the reanimated corpses of the fallen monkeys. Looking at the horde approaching Teleran decided that he may as well find out what that orangish potion did. He chugged it quickly, not even letting it stay in his mouth as it went down. He felt it burning as it went down.

His daggers were flying from their sheaths before the potion could take effect and his spear leveled at the foes charging down the hall.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 18 2005, 02:52 AM)

While casting Absorb Intelligence at the lich, Loranna says " ... Dante, we need you on the defense for now ...kill monkeys first, then liches."

Posted by: Solin Feb 18 2005, 09:16 AM

Ciel slashed at one of the flying abomonations as it passed by where he was standing guard next to Tris bring it to the ground where the knight could hack it further. Every now and then a flash would signal the cascade of power that was a lightning bolt.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 09:16 AM

QUOTE(w0nders @ Feb 18 2005, 12:52 AM)

The lich's empty eyes turned to Dante. An incredibly cold, aged, horrifyingly wrong voice said, "I reememberrr youuu."

The lich raised his hands, but was knocked backwards by a blast of lightning from Tris. The protective spell around the undead king flashed and shattered.

The rotting warriors lurched toward the group, surrounded by skittering monkey corpses, crawling along the walls and ceilings.

The undead monkeys who were too burned and mutilated to move seemed to be crawling into a pile, grabbing each other... They seemed to have a purpose.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 09:21 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 02:55 AM)

While casting Absorb Intelligence at the lich, Loranna says " ... Dante, we need you on the defense for now ...kill monkeys first, then liches."

Dante nodded briefly, before launching himself into the air. The liches voice had a slight unnerving affect on him, but he was too adrenalin pumped to care at the moment.

His sword cleaved through one monkey, once he had landed he drove it through another zombie's chest. With his now free hand he grabbed a monkey tightly around the waist and threw it to the ground, producing a large crunching noise.

He withdrew his blade from the zombie....

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 09:24 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Feb 18 2005, 12:54 AM)

Honestly, Teleran didn't feel very different at all.

It was hard to tell, from the inside, how charming his smile had become. How silky and perfect was his hair. How adorable each and every one of his mannerisms.

He was, in a word, dreamy.

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 09:24 AM

Loranna reaches to down another potion, and to tell Dagoth to take the hundred or so monkeys on the right and let Nalion handle the hundred or so on the left, when her eye falls on Teleran. A sudden, almost overwhelming desire to protect such a pretty man comes over her ...

"Tel dearie, stay back," she says, pulling Teleran into her arms and sneaking a quick kiss on his cheek that none the less leaves the Dunmer feeling a little weak in the knees. "Fight from a distance love ..."

Her armored chest pressing against his fake arm, Loranna hurriedly bundles Teleran to the rear guard ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 09:28 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 02:04 AM)

Tris was trying to look anywhere but at the monkeys.

Kill the lich, and the monkeys will all die.

But he glanced sideways to see what Loranna was doing, and caught sight of the best looking man he had ever seen.

Funny. He had never felt that way about Teleran before.

His spellcasting missed a beat.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 09:31 AM

"Don't worry about me, um Loranna, I think we should get back to the fight, I can do more at the front lines than here," Teleran said, grinning, though quite confused by the attention. "Though I suppose I could do just as much using my daggers from a distance."

Teleran's daggers sped into the monkeys and zombies. They began slicing through the horde, though their paths seemed a little wider than usual, as if distracted.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 09:33 AM

The liche's bones were beginning to char and crack under Tris's onslaught, but then, suddenly, it had paused.

The skeletal king did not miss the opportunity. He opened his mouth and a black stream of corruption poured out into the hallway. The zombies that it touched grew slick with foul new flesh.

What it would do when it reached those who already lived... that was far from certain.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 09:33 AM

Dante looked back at Loranna, who was now fawning over Teleran. "What are you doi-" He was cut short as a screaming monkey whirled past him, leaving a long scratch mark along his cheek.

He quickly stabbed through another monkey, impaling it and bringing it, along with his sword, to the ground. Dante began the struggle of removing the sword from it's new location, every few seconds looking back at Tel. "Wow...you do something with your hair? looks nice."

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 09:36 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 03:13 AM)

Loranna's eyes widen. "Get that away from us!" she snarls, flinging her strongest Dispel at the oncoming cloud of corruption.

"Tel dear; slam the lich with your telekenesis! Keep him distracted!" Loranna suggests.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 09:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 02:16 AM)

"Tel dear?" Tris said mockingly. "Jumping beds again, Loranna? Poor Jazbet."

He was aware vaguely of something nagging at him, as if he were trying to resist magic. But he ignored the feeling and refocused on his lightning.

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 09:38 AM

Teleran thought he remembvered something about liches being very resistant to spells, but he was no expert on the cursed things so he tried it anyway. His daggers slowed as he redirected his thoughts to trying tear the lich apart. Tearing the arms off would be a good start.

"Tris, where'd you get that idea?" He said, growing increasingly aware of Lor's bosom was pressed against him.

Posted by: Solin Feb 18 2005, 09:41 AM

Ciel saw the black stream pooring into the hall through the slit in his helm's visor. His sword cleaved another limb from an undead warrior.

"That looks ill," he said as it washed over the bodies of the dead. The knight still hadn't glanced in Teleran's direction.

Posted by: Rhedd Feb 18 2005, 09:41 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Feb 18 2005, 01:16 AM)

The black cloud of horrible corruption struck the flash of Loranna's spell.

Saying the lich was a more powerful wizard was an understatement.

The light of Loranna's spell was swallowed as the blackness continued down the hall, coating the walls and floors with slick foulness.

Posted by: w0nders Feb 18 2005, 09:45 AM

The black cloud was approaching uncomfortably fast. Dante ran over to a wall and retrieved a torch from it, He hurled it into the cloud shouting "I've got your dispel, right here!"

Posted by: Loranna Feb 18 2005, 09:49 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Feb 18 2005, 03:18 AM)

Loranna feels like Tris just shoved a dagger into her heart; her jaw drops and she whispers "Jazbet ..."

Teleran can feel the Nord woman shaking ...

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 03:21 AM)

... until she pushes herself away from him, her blue eyes blazing enough to almost make her look like an Azurite.

With a sound that usually comes from the throats of lions, not humans, she downs a couple fortify inteligence potions at once, saying in a much-too-quiet voice "Teleran, push the cloud back ... Dagoth, Nalion, help Tris fry that lich ..."

She had already cast reflect on everyone; Loranna now starts casting spell absorbtion to add to their protection, lest the cloud reach them ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Feb 18 2005, 09:50 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Feb 18 2005, 02:21 AM)

Seeing the wave go past Loranna's dispell, Tris stopped what he was doing and focused his energy on the largest reflect spell he had. It wasn't much - area of effect reflection was hard work - but it ought to be able to protect him and Ciel.

Teleran - what had he been thinking a moment ago?

Posted by: Teleran Feb 18 2005, 09:53 AM

"Got it," Teleran said as he focued his efforts on trying to push the cloud back, telekinesis wasn't that useful against gases, but there were a few solid things he could use, some of the bodies that had stayed dead for example. He formed them into a propeller shape and started them spinning, quickly increasing speed; wind pushed at the gas.

The earlier attempt to dismember the lich had gone about as well as could be expected, the lich probably hadn't even noticed.

Posted by: Attrebus Feb 18 2005, 09:54 AM

(Just coming in long enough to lock the thread. )

Continued:
http://www.elderscrolls.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59637