Caranlinte is waiting impatiently at the desert refuge. As a warforged looks up, that fits Lomea’s description, she nods at him, but doesn’t really look happy about it. “Cromes I guess?” She glares at the construct. “Pardon? Who the devil are you? – But yes, Cromes.” “My sister told me to await you. I’m Caranlinte.” “Sister? Ahh! Yes, Lomea’s sister, is it?” “Aye.” she nods shortly. “Ah, good to meet you, m’lady.” “You are late. We should start our search immediantly.” “err… Yes? You just… Lead the way then?” Caranlinte nods. “Kind of you to try to help me find Eraleas.” “he is my friend… “, mutters more quiet, “the only one I have…”
As they enter the desert, Cromes looks around, studying the scenery. “Damn.. big place to hide…” Caranlinte bows down to the ground and searches for tracks. After a while she stands up and sniffs the air. “hmmmm…. Over there I think” She points to the south west. Cromes looks puzzled at Caranlinte, having no nose himself. “You can actually smell him?” “I smelled even your captain and found him” She narrows her eyes. “I guess I should have put my nose to better use, back when I had one…” “My nose is trained.”
Caran studies again tracks in the sand. “Here are more tracks than his…” She frowns. After a few hundret meter she spots a figure sitting in the sand. She rolls her eyes. “What the…?” “Oh no… not HER!” Cromes runs up to Evvie. “Are you ok, miss?” “Am I only surrounded from idiots?” Caran mutters. “NO!” Evvie thumps her hands down in the sand. Cromes is taken aback by the outburst. “t’s too hot here and I have no water.” She looks towards the empty canteen. “Easy here, we are here to help.” “Let me guess… your waterskin didn’t fir your outfit?” Caran throws one of her waterskins at Evvie. “Seems plenty of people get lost out here. Thank gods you are leading me, lady Caranlinte.” Evvie scowls at Caran but gratefully picks up her skin and drinks a little from it. “Best would be to bring her back to the refuge.” Caran eyes Evvie. “Where are you going?” “Hm, indeed...We’re looking for someone.” “Nowhere where we could use you." Caran glares at Evvie. “You look oddly familiar…” Cromes studies Evvie. Evvie looks at them both questioningly “Who? Eraleas?” she looks at Caran. Caran narrows her eyes. “Er.. exactly. How did you know?” “You would only be a burden.” “Now, now lady Caran. Not so harsh.” Evvie crosses her arms and legs and looks the other way. “I saw him…” “She is a stupid kid. Should better play at home with her dolls.” “So you know each other?” Evvie opens her mouth and stares at Caran but holds her tongue. “Know… kind of… “ Evvie glares at Caran. “Lovely. Now my name is Cromes, miss…?” “Evvie.. we met a while back.” Evvie continues to glare at Caran and Caran glares back. “Oh yes, indeed. Pardon my ignorance. Yes we met when the Captain returned. Indeed. Well met again, miss Evvie.” “She has a talent to bring herself into trouble.” Evvie once again opens her mouth in protest, but only throws the waterskin back at Caran. Caran catches it, controls the cork and drinks a bit from her other waterskin. “I come.” “What?” “With you…”
“You? Exhausted and dehydrated. No way!” “I can make it.” Evvie wipes her forehead with the sleeve and smiles at Cromes. “Well it wouldn’t be comfortable putting you in danger, miss Evvie.” Cromes looks Evvie up and down. “Though you do not seem complete helpless.” “I will be fine. A little dehydration, that is all.” “You have enough water, lady Caran?” Evvie bushes sand off the lower parts of her robe and straightens. “For me enough for 3 days.” “I sure hope we won’t be out here that long.” “Well…” “Luckily I don’t need sleep, water nor food. Only problem is this sand getting in everywhere…” Caran throws a waterskin back at Evvie. “In that case she shall get used to carry her own water.” Evvie pulls a face at Caran and stows the skin in her pack. “An extra set of eyes and hands are always useful.” “ You sure talking about this set?” Evvie ignores the comment and looks around the valley. “Seems they can handle a sword, by the looks of them.” “He went that way.” Evvie points to the east. “Well as there is only one way from here we didn’t come, you might be right.” “Someone just lead.” “Let’s go. We lost enough time.” Caran glares at Evvie. Evvie pulls out her armour and clambers into it hurrying to fasten it. Caran rolls her eyes.
Caran looks for tracks. “He went up.” She sniffs the air and studies the ledges to find a way through. “Hope you can jump.” “If for nothing else, I’m good at falling.” After a while jumping over ledges, they reach the other side of the canyon. Caran sneaks a few steps ahead, then stops abruptly. “Scorrows. We will have to fight.” “Alright then..” “Scorpions come out at night.” “Ah.. that’s bad then..” Caran mutters something about ‘going alone into the desert’ and ‘great idea’. “Let’s kill them.” Evvie begins to hum a tune, while she re-tightens her armour. Together they fight their way through the drow area. Suddenly Caran bows down. “Blood… dried blood…” “With some luck its not Eraleas. Just some other… Unfortunate… traveller…” “It smells like him… But its only a few drops – and leading over there.” She points to a small passage. “Oh.. Good then…At least it’s a trail.” Evvie starts wandering around. “Where is she?” Caran rolls her eyes. “See? Nothing but trouble with her.” Caran looks around. “Over there.” She points at a figure looking at some of those odd stones. “Evvie!” She strolls back to Caran and Cromes. “Dammit! Stay together!” “No point to shout. I was not that far…” “I’m not sergeant and temporally captain for no reason! I keep my men… and women alive.” Evvie looks blankly at Cromes. “You should have learned about wandering alone in the desert, kid!” They continue their path, following the tracks.
Helpless
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
by Lommy » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:52 pm
Caran stares into the upcoming darkness and points at some heap on the ground. Drows are about to attack. “There!” “Dammit!” The threat is quickly removed. “Just in time, as it seems…” Evvie looks a bit weary. Caran hurries over to Eraleas and kneels down beside him. “Now why’d he have to go do that?” Caran spills water from her Waterskin over his face and into his mouth. Slowly he opens his eyes. “Drink.” He tilts his head to the side, while Caran looks if he is wounded. “Damnit, Era! If it wasn’t for Caranlinte here, we’d never found you! You’d been baked to crisp.” Evvie rolls her eyes. “More so, even.” Eraleas chokes. “You were not to find me, fools.” He whispers as the Shard suddenly glows red. “You you were here, the drow can get you?” She points at the fresh corpses. He sits up and looks at Cromes. “And… Why should I even care?” An evil grin is on his face. Evvie watches silently. “Care? Care about what?” “Care about your life, perhaps?” Evvie peeks from behind Cromes with a worried face. Eraleas chuckles. “Getting you worried of course.” The shard glows even in a more reddish colour. “You were fools to follow me here…” He crackles. Cromes gives Eraleas an odd look. Evvie’s eyes widen a little and she holds on Crome’s massive arm. “I see only one fool here.. errm two.” “Well I guess.. You shouldn’t have to care? But.. you… well… But don’t worry Era, we will get you home safe. Those over-ground desert drows doesn’t stand any chance.” Eraleas growls. “I don’t WISH to be saved!” “You nearly died…” Caran stops abruptly and glares suspiciously at the shard, as she has the feeling three sets of eyes stare directly into her soul. Evvie withdraws behind Cromes a little as Eraleas growls. Eralea’s eyes start to obtain the crimson glow of the shard. “Now now.. The Captain’s death took hard on all of us, Era…”
The voice of evil speaks out of him. There is no Eraleas anymore, only the voice of something evil and the suffocating feeling to be watched from 3 sets of eyes if one gazes into the cursed shard. “You must gain it’s trust.” Lirandel’s words echo in Caran’s ears. “ I’m your friend… I’m on your side, no matter what comes. – My Master.” She kneels and bows deep down before Eraleas “We don’t trust you! You shall not be our friend! You lie!” “Test me! Test my devotion… shall I kill… HER?” She points at Evvie. “No.. I wish you to kill yourself, foolish drow, after you have killed the other two…” He grins evilly. “Eeek!” “But your death is the most important.”
“Damnit.. You’re doing nothing of that sort, lady Caran!” “As you wish… Master…” Evvie begins to step back slowly. “Lomea’s sister or not, don’t make me hurt you. “Eraleas! Stop it!” Evvie begins to cry at first a little then full on sobs “STOP IT!” Caran takes a certain arrow from her quiver and aims for Cromes. “Hmmm? Eraleas… No no no my child, Eraleas diedback then.. as he decided to give up his soul.” “Don’t do it..” “Eraleas has always been an empty shell” “What?” “Pure acid in there… friend…” “Now fight Cromes… For your dead wife!” Evvie looks at the situation with fear in her eyes. “You are lying!” Crome’s eyes flash red. “Cromes no, don’t!”
Eraleas starts summoning a blade barrier closing the three in. There is no way to escape. Hidden from view she forms words with her lips, addressed to the construct, and shoots it down. Eraleas’ evil laugh echoes the canyons. “Cut off his head!” “Why would you do such a silly thing? He is the leader of the Thorn right now. You could… use him. It would be stupid to kill him.” “That construct must die!” Eraleas draws his sword and takes position to cut Cromes’ head off. “Stop it! That’s silly!” “You are none of us!” Cromes jumps up and disarms Eraleas. “You might keep your life, but you cant save this vessel!” Eraleas runs and jumps down the canyon.
Without hesitation the three follow him. “Eraleas! Stop it!” But the only answer they get is a maniac laughter. Caranlinte picks one of her poisoned arrows and readies her bow. Draw – aim – shoot. Eraleas goes down, paralysed by the poison. Cromes blocks the way, to make sure he does not run off again. Evvie follows Cromes and Caran, not understanding what happens here, puzzled, tears in her eyes.
Caran kneels besides Eraleas, removing the arrow, just a plain one, made from wood, leaving only a small wound. The shard around his neck is glowing with heat, burning his skin. “Take it from him!” Evvie cowers at his side. “It will kill him if we try…” “It hurts him…” The words of the others fade, as Caran stares helpless at the evil shard, burning into his skin and the pain written in his face.. his eyes… its him… pleading for redemption. Caran grabs the shard, wraps her hand around it. “I don’t fear you.” Acid and fire burn her hand and the stench of burning flesh fills the air. She keeps it, ignoring the pain. But the shard connects with his skin and flesh, becomes one with it, pulling itself into his breast. She opens her hand, as it takes not the pain from his eyes when she holds the shard. The shard burns it’s way through his flesh, aiming for his heart.
They try to cool it with water, but this magic heat cannot be cooled. Magic… the slime, Lomea gave her some extract of arcane slime, to block magic.. perhaps… She takes the glass with the extract and pours it’s content over the shard. The heat radiating from the shard vanishes as it is covered with slime. It works! But before the slime covers the whole shard a scorching ray of bundled heat escapes from the shard, shooting through his chest, bursting his heart. The sand beneath Eraleas turns into a deep red and the shard falls from him. He is dead. His eyes in agony and his face frozen in a horrid mask of pain. It takes minutes of shocked silence until the three realize what happens. Meanwhile the sands shift and the shard vanishes. Evvie sobs and breaks the silence.
Cromes starts mumbling.. “Lommy... She can fix everything.. She is good… she will make him alive again.. isn’t it?… Caran?” He looks at her and sees her shocked face, tears gathering in her eyes. “No… it can’t be… no…”
“We must bring him to Lommy. Caran!” She still stands there like paralysed. “You must lead us out of this maze – Caran!” Evvie steps to Caran, touching her arm. “Caran… please… lead us home… we need you…” Caran stares blank at Evvie and Cromes, who carries Eraleas carefully. Without any word she points into a direction and leads the little caravan through the desert and home to the tower.
The voice of evil speaks out of him. There is no Eraleas anymore, only the voice of something evil and the suffocating feeling to be watched from 3 sets of eyes if one gazes into the cursed shard. “You must gain it’s trust.” Lirandel’s words echo in Caran’s ears. “ I’m your friend… I’m on your side, no matter what comes. – My Master.” She kneels and bows deep down before Eraleas “We don’t trust you! You shall not be our friend! You lie!” “Test me! Test my devotion… shall I kill… HER?” She points at Evvie. “No.. I wish you to kill yourself, foolish drow, after you have killed the other two…” He grins evilly. “Eeek!” “But your death is the most important.”
“Damnit.. You’re doing nothing of that sort, lady Caran!” “As you wish… Master…” Evvie begins to step back slowly. “Lomea’s sister or not, don’t make me hurt you. “Eraleas! Stop it!” Evvie begins to cry at first a little then full on sobs “STOP IT!” Caran takes a certain arrow from her quiver and aims for Cromes. “Hmmm? Eraleas… No no no my child, Eraleas diedback then.. as he decided to give up his soul.” “Don’t do it..” “Eraleas has always been an empty shell” “What?” “Pure acid in there… friend…” “Now fight Cromes… For your dead wife!” Evvie looks at the situation with fear in her eyes. “You are lying!” Crome’s eyes flash red. “Cromes no, don’t!”
Eraleas starts summoning a blade barrier closing the three in. There is no way to escape. Hidden from view she forms words with her lips, addressed to the construct, and shoots it down. Eraleas’ evil laugh echoes the canyons. “Cut off his head!” “Why would you do such a silly thing? He is the leader of the Thorn right now. You could… use him. It would be stupid to kill him.” “That construct must die!” Eraleas draws his sword and takes position to cut Cromes’ head off. “Stop it! That’s silly!” “You are none of us!” Cromes jumps up and disarms Eraleas. “You might keep your life, but you cant save this vessel!” Eraleas runs and jumps down the canyon.
Without hesitation the three follow him. “Eraleas! Stop it!” But the only answer they get is a maniac laughter. Caranlinte picks one of her poisoned arrows and readies her bow. Draw – aim – shoot. Eraleas goes down, paralysed by the poison. Cromes blocks the way, to make sure he does not run off again. Evvie follows Cromes and Caran, not understanding what happens here, puzzled, tears in her eyes.
Caran kneels besides Eraleas, removing the arrow, just a plain one, made from wood, leaving only a small wound. The shard around his neck is glowing with heat, burning his skin. “Take it from him!” Evvie cowers at his side. “It will kill him if we try…” “It hurts him…” The words of the others fade, as Caran stares helpless at the evil shard, burning into his skin and the pain written in his face.. his eyes… its him… pleading for redemption. Caran grabs the shard, wraps her hand around it. “I don’t fear you.” Acid and fire burn her hand and the stench of burning flesh fills the air. She keeps it, ignoring the pain. But the shard connects with his skin and flesh, becomes one with it, pulling itself into his breast. She opens her hand, as it takes not the pain from his eyes when she holds the shard. The shard burns it’s way through his flesh, aiming for his heart.
They try to cool it with water, but this magic heat cannot be cooled. Magic… the slime, Lomea gave her some extract of arcane slime, to block magic.. perhaps… She takes the glass with the extract and pours it’s content over the shard. The heat radiating from the shard vanishes as it is covered with slime. It works! But before the slime covers the whole shard a scorching ray of bundled heat escapes from the shard, shooting through his chest, bursting his heart. The sand beneath Eraleas turns into a deep red and the shard falls from him. He is dead. His eyes in agony and his face frozen in a horrid mask of pain. It takes minutes of shocked silence until the three realize what happens. Meanwhile the sands shift and the shard vanishes. Evvie sobs and breaks the silence.
Cromes starts mumbling.. “Lommy... She can fix everything.. She is good… she will make him alive again.. isn’t it?… Caran?” He looks at her and sees her shocked face, tears gathering in her eyes. “No… it can’t be… no…”
“We must bring him to Lommy. Caran!” She still stands there like paralysed. “You must lead us out of this maze – Caran!” Evvie steps to Caran, touching her arm. “Caran… please… lead us home… we need you…” Caran stares blank at Evvie and Cromes, who carries Eraleas carefully. Without any word she points into a direction and leads the little caravan through the desert and home to the tower.
- Lommy
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:01 pm
by Lommy » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:56 pm
On the way to the Thorn tower no one lost a word. Cromes carries Eraleas’ corps, Evvie sobs and Caran stares blankly somewhere. Lomea awaits them in her lab, still weak and leaning on her staff. As she sees, who they are carrying, a tear runs down her cheek. “No… not him too… Why… what happened?” Croms lays Eraleas on the bed in her lab, his cloth soaked with his own blood. Evvie falls besides the bed, holding Eraleas’ hand tight, pressed at her face and sobs. Caran keeps staring at Eraleas. “You can fix that Lom… you can heal everything…” Cromes looks quite despaired at Lomea, while she looks at the huge wound in his chest. “I can’t, Cromes… I can’t even help Lirandel… I spent all the strength I had to save him, but…it didn’t work. I cannot afford enough power to bring them back without killing myself” “Take power from me. I have enough of it.” Lomea smiles sadly. “My magic is weak. I can share my power, but I can’t take power from others. It is exhausting me more than it helps. It might be possible if the energy is already free, but that would afford a powerful magic.” “I…. I killed him…” Caran whispers. “Lirandel warned me…. Not to remove it…. But… but it was hurting him… I killed him…” She cries silently. “Damnit, no Caran.. it was the shard.”
Suddenly Evvie falls to the ground, cramping heavily. Cromes looks shocked at Evvie. “What happens to her?” “Not again…” Lomea grabs a vial from her shelfs and pours it into Evvies mouth. “She has this… fits… since she was kidnapped.” Evvie’s cramps relax slowly. ”I don’t know what it is, but I am working on a cure. Please help me to bring her down in one of the free rooms in the quarters. She needs some rest.” Cromes picks Evvie up and brings her to the quarters. Lomea takes some vials and follows them. Caran didn’t notice Evvie’s fit. She just stared at Eraleas. Like in trance she steps over to a hidden drawer and takes out Eraleas’ old amulet. She rubs with her fingers over it and sits down besides Eraleas. “I don’t have to protect you from others… I have to protect you from me… I killed my daughter.. I killed you… When will I kill Lomea? All those close to me die.. It is my fault… my wrong reactions… my emotions…” Tears running down her face. She looks quite a while at him, not daring to touch him. His face is still cramped in pain. “I was not able to do anything, as they took her… but I will find a way to bring you back.. No matter what it costs.” She lays the amulet on his chest and adds very quiet “And after that I will protect you and my sister from myself.” She looks for a last time at Eraleas and leaves.
Thoughts stir in her head while she strolls through the streets of Stormreach. From somewhere a bard’s tune is to hear. Powerful magic did Lomea say… free energy… The text of the tune invades her mind and something is catching her attention. She listens for a while, before she finally heads to the desert.
Suddenly Evvie falls to the ground, cramping heavily. Cromes looks shocked at Evvie. “What happens to her?” “Not again…” Lomea grabs a vial from her shelfs and pours it into Evvies mouth. “She has this… fits… since she was kidnapped.” Evvie’s cramps relax slowly. ”I don’t know what it is, but I am working on a cure. Please help me to bring her down in one of the free rooms in the quarters. She needs some rest.” Cromes picks Evvie up and brings her to the quarters. Lomea takes some vials and follows them. Caran didn’t notice Evvie’s fit. She just stared at Eraleas. Like in trance she steps over to a hidden drawer and takes out Eraleas’ old amulet. She rubs with her fingers over it and sits down besides Eraleas. “I don’t have to protect you from others… I have to protect you from me… I killed my daughter.. I killed you… When will I kill Lomea? All those close to me die.. It is my fault… my wrong reactions… my emotions…” Tears running down her face. She looks quite a while at him, not daring to touch him. His face is still cramped in pain. “I was not able to do anything, as they took her… but I will find a way to bring you back.. No matter what it costs.” She lays the amulet on his chest and adds very quiet “And after that I will protect you and my sister from myself.” She looks for a last time at Eraleas and leaves.
Thoughts stir in her head while she strolls through the streets of Stormreach. From somewhere a bard’s tune is to hear. Powerful magic did Lomea say… free energy… The text of the tune invades her mind and something is catching her attention. She listens for a while, before she finally heads to the desert.
- Lommy
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:01 pm
by Lommy » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:57 pm
The price of the Djinn was high, but it did not matter. It was my fault, I have to pay. She rubs over the little bones in her bow. Please forgive me, Linte.. please forgive me, Lomea… and please forgive me, Eraleas… She stands on top of a rock in the desert, waiting for Celeena, waiting for the night, waiting for the Djinn. Even if it costs my life… there is nothing worth living for anyways, when he is dead.. nothing to loose… my fault… She sees Celeena in the distance, making her way through the sands. Good, his sister will bring her essence to Lomea. She might be the most trustworthy courier for this mission, herself might not be able to end. She avoids telling her the details, she just soothes her – or is it more herself she is trying to sooth? Anyway, she had made her decision, she was willing to pay the price to undo her failure. As the night falls, the Djinn sends his power to collect her debt.
Caran lays in the dust. Weak, exhausted, coughing, catching for breath, holding her bow tight. The orb, made from the strength of her heart, her breath, her blood and the bones of Linte is in Celeena’s hands. But before Celeena heads off to the tower, she drags Caran somehow to the deserts refuge, leaving her in the hands of the local cleric.
As the cleric is distracted by some adventurers, she struggles to her feet with the last amount of strength she has left. Alone… I need to be alone… no one shall see me like this… neither shall I be an easy prey…Lesson 54. She makes her way to the rim of the little canyon, that separates the desert from the refuge, slides down the slope and hides in one of the numerous gaps in the rocks. She cowers in her little cave, in her left hand she still holds her bow, since the Djinn took the bones from it. Her fingers still try to rub over the small bones, as they were used to all the time, but there are no bones anymore. Only the sharp edges of the gaps, cutting the skin are left. She does not feel it as she cuts herself over and over again, neither the scratches and bruises from sliding down the slope, or her left palm, where the shard burned her. Physical pain… its long ago since she noticed this kind of pain the last time. She had learned to ignore it. Why does it hurt so much? Why cant I ignore this pain… these… emotions…. Lesson number 12: emotions make you weak!…. They were right… they were so right…. I am here… weak… helpless… because of my emotions… but these rare moments… these moments he was around… it felt so warm… so… good… I felt strong… I need this feeling back…. I need it back…. Please let it work… Linte… forgive me… I gave you away… her thoughts begin to wander between Eraleas, Lomea, Linte… what she had lost, what she had given. Her mind is floating in her memories. She cries silently and her fingers still try to rub over the bones. Blood has meanwhile glued the bow to her hand.
Caran lays in the dust. Weak, exhausted, coughing, catching for breath, holding her bow tight. The orb, made from the strength of her heart, her breath, her blood and the bones of Linte is in Celeena’s hands. But before Celeena heads off to the tower, she drags Caran somehow to the deserts refuge, leaving her in the hands of the local cleric.
As the cleric is distracted by some adventurers, she struggles to her feet with the last amount of strength she has left. Alone… I need to be alone… no one shall see me like this… neither shall I be an easy prey…Lesson 54. She makes her way to the rim of the little canyon, that separates the desert from the refuge, slides down the slope and hides in one of the numerous gaps in the rocks. She cowers in her little cave, in her left hand she still holds her bow, since the Djinn took the bones from it. Her fingers still try to rub over the small bones, as they were used to all the time, but there are no bones anymore. Only the sharp edges of the gaps, cutting the skin are left. She does not feel it as she cuts herself over and over again, neither the scratches and bruises from sliding down the slope, or her left palm, where the shard burned her. Physical pain… its long ago since she noticed this kind of pain the last time. She had learned to ignore it. Why does it hurt so much? Why cant I ignore this pain… these… emotions…. Lesson number 12: emotions make you weak!…. They were right… they were so right…. I am here… weak… helpless… because of my emotions… but these rare moments… these moments he was around… it felt so warm… so… good… I felt strong… I need this feeling back…. I need it back…. Please let it work… Linte… forgive me… I gave you away… her thoughts begin to wander between Eraleas, Lomea, Linte… what she had lost, what she had given. Her mind is floating in her memories. She cries silently and her fingers still try to rub over the bones. Blood has meanwhile glued the bow to her hand.
- Lommy
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:01 pm
by Lommy » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:58 pm
How long am I here? An hour? A day? A Week? It does not matter… nothing matters… I am still weak, so he is still dead… what did the Djinn say? I will recover when he accepts my sacrifice… but why shouldn’t he? “Ey lass! Ya need ‘elp?” Was it a dream? Or has someone found her? “Leave me alone! I’m fine!” She knows it is a lie. Talking exhausts her, breathing is still difficult. A dwarf keeps talking at her, asking questions and she hears herself threatening him and finally answering… It does not matter anyways… she feels how her life slowly runs from her like dry sand through her fingers. If he does not accept your sacrifice, it will be your strength that keeps his body alive, the Djinn told her. “ I’m lookin’ fer mercenaries and me could use ya skills out there.” She looks puzzled at the dwarf… He wants a nearly dead one as merc?… if she had the strength for it, she would laugh about him…She keeps talking, hoping the dwarf will go away when he has his answers and leave her alone again. With every word she speaks she feels weaker and her cough grows bad, spitting blood. And as the dwarf finally leaves her alone, something inside her calls for Lomea. She knows her wounds affect Lomea somehow… but will she be as weak as herself now too? Fear overcomes her. Why doesn’t he accept… why… does he hate me? It was my fault… and he hates me for it. She drifts back into her thoughts.
“Ey, Caran, lass…” The dwarf again? No.. its another one… he seems somehow… familiar. He touches her, holds her in his arms. The old instinct burns in her.. kill him! But there is no strength left even talking seems to be impossible and the cough is still there. He gives her water, talks soothing. Suddenly she feels some power coming back to her. Did he finally accept? – no… the dwarf keeps talking about a small silver band he slipped on her finger. It’s the magic of this ancient ring. She tries to sit upright and fails. She knows the dwarf. Its Brannigan. The one with the beard Lomea keeps talking about. He picks her up, folding her arm that holds the bow to her chest and carries her, talking about Lomea and about home.
Patiently she is sitting on the chair, while Lomea cares for her injuries. As Brannigan brought her to the tower, Lomea smiled at her, hugged her, told her she had done the right thing.. said something about being proud about her. It felt good, but in the next moment she noticed how weak her acting made her sister, even if she tried to hide it from her as usual. It’s her fault.. again. It was her fault, Eraleas died, it is her fault Lomea is weak.
The door is closed. Anaya locked the room where Eraleas’ body lays, mumbling something about security. Caran is cowering in front of it. She doesn’t know what else to do but sitting there and waiting, lost in her thoughts. From time to time someone joins and keeps talking at her. Even this Evvie… She answers the questions as it is the fastest way to be left alone again and it does not matter anyway. The days pass by. Two weeks since Eraleas died and still no change. Even the power of Brannigan’s ring begins to fade slowly.
“Ey, Caran, lass…” The dwarf again? No.. its another one… he seems somehow… familiar. He touches her, holds her in his arms. The old instinct burns in her.. kill him! But there is no strength left even talking seems to be impossible and the cough is still there. He gives her water, talks soothing. Suddenly she feels some power coming back to her. Did he finally accept? – no… the dwarf keeps talking about a small silver band he slipped on her finger. It’s the magic of this ancient ring. She tries to sit upright and fails. She knows the dwarf. Its Brannigan. The one with the beard Lomea keeps talking about. He picks her up, folding her arm that holds the bow to her chest and carries her, talking about Lomea and about home.
Patiently she is sitting on the chair, while Lomea cares for her injuries. As Brannigan brought her to the tower, Lomea smiled at her, hugged her, told her she had done the right thing.. said something about being proud about her. It felt good, but in the next moment she noticed how weak her acting made her sister, even if she tried to hide it from her as usual. It’s her fault.. again. It was her fault, Eraleas died, it is her fault Lomea is weak.
The door is closed. Anaya locked the room where Eraleas’ body lays, mumbling something about security. Caran is cowering in front of it. She doesn’t know what else to do but sitting there and waiting, lost in her thoughts. From time to time someone joins and keeps talking at her. Even this Evvie… She answers the questions as it is the fastest way to be left alone again and it does not matter anyway. The days pass by. Two weeks since Eraleas died and still no change. Even the power of Brannigan’s ring begins to fade slowly.
- Lommy
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:01 pm
by Lommy » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:58 pm
The Thorns went with the first light to the desert. Investigating something about the glittering sand where Eraleas died. Lomea went with them, still weakened. Caran has a bad feeling about that mission but herself was too weak to join, and her sister too bullheaded to stay at the tower. It’s like the air is crackling from energy… something is wrong… Not even one word from the Thorns for the whole day, only a distant noise comes from the pin, as something is blocking its magic. Nervously she shifts from one corner to another, like a caged animal. There must be something I can do… As the night falls there is still no sign from the others, no sign from Lomea. Some of the Thorn’s mercenaries come back from the pub, talking about news from the desert. A mysterious storm rages in the desert, they say. It came from one moment to the next and even Zawabi has his problems to keep his refuge shielded from it. But no news from Lomea. What if it is the one they suspected… what if it is her old master…Lomea needs her strength or she will loose her aswell... She can’t face him weakened… Eraleas why?…why don’t you wake up… why?!? She hammers at the locked door, screaming, crying, feared.
After a while she calms down, her eyes filling with tears but knowing what to do. She takes her axe and with some well aimed hits the door is open. The axe falls to the ground and approaches slowly Eraleas. There is no other way…no I can’t…I have to…no! all would be for nothing at all…but Lomea…Can’t loose her too…She kneels down at his side, watching him breathing. She lays her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating. Why don’t you wake up? Why don’t you let me undo my failure? Why do you force me to this decision? She rests her head on his chest, listening his heartbeat, his breath. I gave you everything I had… and now I’m about to loose everything… my daughter… you… my sister…Tears escape her eyes. You gave me an idea what life could mean… how life could feel… and I destroyed you… my life…She lifts her head up, looking into his face. There is still the pain written in his face. She reaches her hand out for his face, hesitating, not daring to touch him. Finally she touches his cheek, caressing his face gently. Forgive me… She pulls the blanket back so his breast lays blank and draws her dagger. I can’t risk to loose her too… forgive me…Tears fall from her eyes as she pushes his amulet that is resting over his heart and lifts up her dagger. The hole in his chest was closed. Only a scar reminds about the wound. A scar in the shape of a little hand. She freezes as she notices it. The dagger falls to the ground. Carefully she touches the scar. I can’t do it… can’t kill you both over and over again…I’m too weak. She cowers over him, crying, worried about her sister, not able to kill him to free her strength again.
Suddenly Eraleas' amulet begins to glow, the words "Dol Arrah", "Aureon" and "Olladra" intertwining in harmony with each other. And the glowing becomes a shine and the shine an aura of light engulfing them both. As she looks up it seems like he is smiling at her with the warmth of the sun, before he vanishes in a blaze of light. And left is only a silent hum. And the hum becomes a melody and the melody becomes words:
"And the Child shall be brought back,
But empty as he shall be,
Stray from its Rightful Path.
And commit Atrocities Unseen before
And the Child shall perish and be reborn once more
And From the Flames of Hate shall spring Blossoms of Love
And the Child shall be Cleansed"
As the light fades Caran feels her strength returning. She is cinfused, but there is no time to think about. She collects her weapons and takes her bow, readying herself for a rough journey to the desert.
And as her fingers rub over the place where once the bones were imbedded, as usual, she doesn’t cut her skin anymore. The gaps seem to have been filled up with gems made from light, but she does not notice it. She has to do business.
After a while she calms down, her eyes filling with tears but knowing what to do. She takes her axe and with some well aimed hits the door is open. The axe falls to the ground and approaches slowly Eraleas. There is no other way…no I can’t…I have to…no! all would be for nothing at all…but Lomea…Can’t loose her too…She kneels down at his side, watching him breathing. She lays her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating. Why don’t you wake up? Why don’t you let me undo my failure? Why do you force me to this decision? She rests her head on his chest, listening his heartbeat, his breath. I gave you everything I had… and now I’m about to loose everything… my daughter… you… my sister…Tears escape her eyes. You gave me an idea what life could mean… how life could feel… and I destroyed you… my life…She lifts her head up, looking into his face. There is still the pain written in his face. She reaches her hand out for his face, hesitating, not daring to touch him. Finally she touches his cheek, caressing his face gently. Forgive me… She pulls the blanket back so his breast lays blank and draws her dagger. I can’t risk to loose her too… forgive me…Tears fall from her eyes as she pushes his amulet that is resting over his heart and lifts up her dagger. The hole in his chest was closed. Only a scar reminds about the wound. A scar in the shape of a little hand. She freezes as she notices it. The dagger falls to the ground. Carefully she touches the scar. I can’t do it… can’t kill you both over and over again…I’m too weak. She cowers over him, crying, worried about her sister, not able to kill him to free her strength again.
Suddenly Eraleas' amulet begins to glow, the words "Dol Arrah", "Aureon" and "Olladra" intertwining in harmony with each other. And the glowing becomes a shine and the shine an aura of light engulfing them both. As she looks up it seems like he is smiling at her with the warmth of the sun, before he vanishes in a blaze of light. And left is only a silent hum. And the hum becomes a melody and the melody becomes words:
"And the Child shall be brought back,
But empty as he shall be,
Stray from its Rightful Path.
And commit Atrocities Unseen before
And the Child shall perish and be reborn once more
And From the Flames of Hate shall spring Blossoms of Love
And the Child shall be Cleansed"
As the light fades Caran feels her strength returning. She is cinfused, but there is no time to think about. She collects her weapons and takes her bow, readying herself for a rough journey to the desert.
And as her fingers rub over the place where once the bones were imbedded, as usual, she doesn’t cut her skin anymore. The gaps seem to have been filled up with gems made from light, but she does not notice it. She has to do business.
- Lommy
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:01 pm
. Keep it going, sis.
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