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Post by hawkeye on Sept 16, 2009 23:23:38 GMT -8
Her lungs hurt.
That seemed to be the consensus of the thoughts whirling about in her mind. She hurt all over. It was a long flight; crossing an ocean and a continent, even with a God's blessing, seemed to drag on. Or maybe it was just her. The whole of Ira seemed to cry upon her, mourning the loss of her children and the damage to her earth. Rain poured in sheets. The forest surrounding the Keep shimmered in the distance, almost calling her.
'Luvaran...'
A part of her wondered if he could hear her, and wished Hiro had gotten the chance to teach her to mind speak. She wondered how it felt to reach out, if it felt like tendrils or mist or if it was more like sound. The recollection of Hiro speaking to her floated to the front of her mind and she settled on a cross between mist and tendrils. Misty tendrils. How would one stretch out their mind like a misty tendril?
It was interesting what exhaustion would make her think about, but the approaching treeline brought her attention away from musings and back to herself and her destination. Her magic was long past the comfortable release time, and after a moment, like an empty engine, sputtered and died. Alexandra whimpered, almost a cough, and her vision flickered in and out. Pretty much all her magic drained, and still a good distance to go to reach the Keep at the center of the wood, her last coherent thoughts flashed back to a dream she had while with Luvaran.
'Rain fell in torrents. The cold permeated her bones, making the running difficult. Her labored breathing echoed in her head along with the static noise that was the rain. 'I have to get away...' The thought repeated over and over in her mind. 'I cannot be...' Something hit her square in the back and she tumbled to the ground. Alexandra snarled and pulled away from the grasping roots with little avail. "Ira! Frey! Aylin... Help me..." She coughed, the rain still pouring. "Luvaran..."'
A prophetic dream, it seemed, and the earth below rose up to meet her. Alexandra skidded and tumbled through the dirt to a stop, curled up around the book against the tree that had ended her uncontrolled fall. She lay there for a short time, dazed and soaked to the bone cold. After the initial pain and shock passed, she struggled up into a sitting position.
Meanwhile in the forest, a Keeper stirred. The blessing upon the Keep was that the forest would protect it, and would remain a safe haven. Alexandra's presence in the forest triggered the magic, and the information was relayed back to the Keep's master. The closest Keeper, a massive Treant, uprooted itself from the soil and made its way to her position.
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Post by sirigoth on Sept 20, 2009 13:51:19 GMT -8
The Warlock appeared in the realm of Ira like a ghost of death. Looking up the Warlock's presence was hidden in the worlds darkness. The once bright blue skies were still scarred and burned a mix of blood red and black. Rain falling down harshly the Warlock placed himself in front of the only entrance to the keep. Magic readily at his finger tips he stood waiting for the girl to arrive through the forest. He would crush her then return to the Tome to Sirigoth. Behind him in the ominous towering keep he could feel Luvaran's shade stirring. The shade was strong within these walls but the Warlock was crafty. Looking behind him he contemplated entering the keep, but it was ultimately an unnecessary risk. The Warlock would wait at the entrance to the bridge, a dark form masked perfectly by the blackened skies and harsh rains.
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Post by hawkeye on Sept 21, 2009 14:51:41 GMT -8
((I see the big guardians that wander through Darnassus. Just for kicks.))
It would have been frustrating to her if she was thinking straight, but with the lack of magic and the lack of energy to carry on, Alexandra took no notice to how slow it was to be on foot. The murmuring from the book buzzed through her head, but kept quiet, knowing she'd open the make-shift bag to the pouring rain. Not that it would hurt the book too bad, it just didn't really want to get any more wet than it had to. The priestess padded on, deaf to her surroundings. The rain was pounding the trees up and around her, periodically pulling loose debris and weaker pieces down with it. One sizable branch fell, knocking her square in the back. She fell again and lay there, curled around the book, so tired and sore and wondering what would happen next. Thoughts of Sirigoth, Drendil, Arion and Hiro passed through her mind. Had they escaped? Was Sirigoth on his way here now? She couldn't fail in her mission- she had to get the book-
Her thoughts halted for a moment when the treant blocked the rain over her, studying the little elven girl intently. He scooped her up in one of his leafy limbs. Immediately on contact his mind touched hers, discovering her intent and her long journey. Alexandra had defense against his probing, and if she did, she was too tired to even try.
"Luvaran-" She didn't have to finish speaking for the great creature to catch her thoughts. He nodded, and carried on toward the castle, shielding her from the rain. She felt the Keeper's magic seep through her, easing the ache of her journey slowly and methodically as he walked.
Meanwhile, the touch of darkness from the warlock's presence did not go unnoticed to the other Keepers of the forest. Two of the closest to the Keep began to move to investigate the disturbance. The three active Keepers, including the one carrying Alexandra, arrived at the clearing at the same time. Magic buzzed in the air, probing. The warlock wasn't foolish; he knew how to hide. The Keepers were still uneasy though, and so one of the unburdened ones approached the bridge first, and the other followed Alexandra and her companion close behind.
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Post by fenrir on Sept 21, 2009 14:57:55 GMT -8
"Elf lady wait for me!" yelled the boy who had followed her out of the Void.
His feet squished and splashed through the mud, his red eyes had returned to gray for the moment and he almost seemed to enjoy the exhaustion.
Then he saw it. A giant tree.
"Mister Stompy!" yelled the boy, "Can I climb you?"
Still, the boy felt uneasy, and to sum up this uneasiness without adding unnecessary fluff to the concept, he decided the solution would in fact be to have necessary fluff. Puppies always knew when something was wrong, and could sniff it out. But no... He had decided to be a good boy today and what great being did the universe seem fit to show its feeble reward? A tree.
"At least evil gets me a vicious beast..." muttered the boy to himself, "HEAR THAT KARMA? i'M GONNA GO PLAY WITH MY SHARP SHINY FRIENDS IN A VILLAGE SOMEWHERE WITH A BIG PUPPY WHOSE GONNA PEE ON YOUR STUPID TREES! HA!!" then, realizing the endeavor was not yet over said, "But can you please make mister stompy let me climb him first? Oh and help the elf lady I guess..."
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Post by hawkeye on Sept 22, 2009 7:26:49 GMT -8
Alexandra tensed up when Fen's voice carried just above the rain. Anything out of what was expected was sure to make her fidget. The Keeper soothed her while the one that Fen stood by touched him on the forehead lightly with one leafy finger. If a tree could balk, that is exactly what this one did. The lead treant glanced back and gave what would be the equivalent of a questioning look. Fen's Keeper shrugged and picked up the boy, but was prepared to crush him should he change his mind and attempt to destroy them.
The party turned back and carried on toward the gate. The first treant came to the bridge and stopped to one side. Alexandra's treant, now for the most part done with easing her exhaustion, stepped forward and let her down at the foot of the bridge. It told her to hurry in; there was something wrong and it wouldn't do for her to tarry long. Alexandra nodded her thanks while the third tree let Fen down next to her. The elven girl glanced at the boy, an eyebrow raised. She wondered what Luvaran would think of him, but was grateful for a companion none the less. Alexandra put a hand on his head, straightening his hair.
"Sticking with me?" She asked, almost as if it weren't a question. Her Keeper nudged her, encouraging her to get moving.
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Post by fenrir on Sept 27, 2009 15:04:59 GMT -8
Personally, Fen didn't see the point of trees fighting demons, especially if that pesky warlock was around. Even the boy knew that fireballs were a warlock's bread and butter.... which sounded tasty.
"I'm hungry... I wanna eat something... can you make a fire? Wait... That's not right."
Seeing a squirrel hop into the tree which had violated his personal space earlier he threw his shiny friend, whose chain wrapped around the squeeling mass of fur.
"Shut up we need to be sneaky!" said the boy as he bit off the squirrel's head, crunching happily on the rodent.
"You want some?" asked Fen, offering the bloody lump of fur to the elf. She would be useless in a fight it she was hungry.
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Post by hawkeye on Sept 28, 2009 11:34:31 GMT -8
((What're you waiting for, Warlock boy?))
Alexandra leaned away and shook her head. She'd seen some disgusting things over the course of her life, but some things she just never got over. "No... You caught it you keep it."
She crossed the bridge, tense and prepared to raise her shield or lash out or whatever. The great doors of the Keep stood before her. It was a quick walk to them, and with a quiet creeping sound, the door swung open enough for her to enter. The Keep was dark and cool.
"Luvaran?" She called, looking for the Shade. Alexandra stepped carefully. It was almost nostalgic, coming back to the Keep this way. The vision the Druid had shown her before crossed her mind, causing a chill to run down her spine. Her people would live if she completed her mission.
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Post by sirigoth on Sept 30, 2009 16:42:38 GMT -8
The Warlock appeared suddenly behind the pair, with a wave of his hand green flames jumped up behind him, baring the pair from escape, and keeping the trees from them. Guardians or not there would be little chance of them willing to throw themselves into the fire. "Hand me the book child, don't make this more difficult for yourself," he said, his words silky and dripping with magic. Looking out from beneath his cloak he eyed the elven girl. She was exhausted and near breaking. With one hand clutching his staff he moved the other out, waiting patiently for the book. She would not have long before he took it from her.
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Post by fenrir on Sept 30, 2009 17:22:45 GMT -8
Fen stepped up to the warlock. He didn't look like much. But he had green fire. Yes... He would name it Oliver and be great friends with it someday.
"You and Oliver can't take me on scrawny boy..." said Fen to the man. "Alex... Give me the book... Creepy man has strong magic, but I'm stronger. If you distract him there's no way he can stop me without breaking his ribs," said the fuzzy boy.
"Even if I can't get past him you look sleepy, you might take a nap and he'll snatch the book. Give me it, at least then we'll have a chance."
Fen had actually planned this when he saw sleepy elf lady stumble around in the rain, the fact that she refused to eat wasn't helpful to her condition, after all what kinda of dumb dumb doesn't eat? Eating is great. Fen's puppy would eat a lot.. and puppies aren't smart.
"Come ooooooonnnn!" said the young man, blood still on his face from the demons he had killed earlier, giving his best smile, "pleeeeeaaaase?"
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Post by hawkeye on Oct 8, 2009 10:49:45 GMT -8
She stared at the warlock, pausing for a moment. What he was doing here, so close to the Keep, was beyond her, but none the less he was here and they were potentially going to die.
"No." It didn't sound like her. The elven girl shook her head- her hair stuck to her face. "Fen, take care of him. I've got this."
She turned, shifting plains as she ran. Here the colors were inverted, throwing everything in a bright light. The gate stood before her, beckoning her inside.
"LUVARAN!" She shouted, unsure if he'd able to hear her in this plain. A grand stair case stood before her. Alexandra ran up them, taking the steps two at a time. Where was the Shade? Where did she need to destroy the book? How?
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Post by fenrir on Oct 8, 2009 21:25:19 GMT -8
Alex was being bossy. Fen did not like bossy. What Fen did like was the book, so as Alex turned Fen's Reaver's lashed out, one wrapping around Alex's waist, the other headed straight towards her back. Invisible or not the attack was fast, sudden and most importantly, an ambush.
The boy's eyes began to glow red, the annoying trees, the stupid warlock who was perfectly content to let Alex skip away willy nilly with the book and Alex's bossiness.
A blast of black and red shot from Fen's hand, aimed straight at the warlock's feet. In the least it would give them some cover from the pesky warlock.
Fen had a better idea of dealing with the book. And he was sick of people brushing him off.
Exactly why he needed a puppy.
(OOC: DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN. Yes, i realize you were invisible, but the attack was before you turned to run.)
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Post by fenrir on Nov 1, 2009 23:54:08 GMT -8
(OOC: so its safe to say its well past the autohit portion, and because I've been informed that Alex doesn't want to post until i change mine... which is not happening, and its also been the better part of a month, I'm just gonna go ahead and do the hit and be nice and not kill her... If the site survives Im say we give her until next week before saying she bleeds to death, that way she can pick up in the otherworld) Fen's blade ripped into Alex's shoulder, the chain tripped her, which oddly enough saved her, preventing the blade from completely impaling her. Still, this much was clear: she was out of the fight and would die soon from blood loss if she didn't get help.
The boy grabbed the book and help it at last in his hands, finally...
He lifted it up and sniffed it, the smell of dry parchment, and dark magic.
His mouth opened wide and he bit it, but the book was too thick. He spent time gnawing on it, tearing pages, covering it in drool. It didn't taste very good, but finally he got a small bit off and swallowed it... and his stomach started hurting so he threw up, taking care not to get too much vomit on the book.
"Disgusting!" he laughed, "changed my mind, you can destroy it your way after all."
Not that it was necessary, the pages were torn, the ink smeared, the book was already mostly destroyed, the stomach acid already began eating away at the binding.
Still, Fen tossed the book to the entrance of the Druid's keep, Luvaran could destroy it if he wished.
He looked to the warlock, and decided not to bother, if he wanted to kill Alex fair enough. If he wanted to let her die on her own, oh well. If Luvaran came and helped her, good for her.
Fen had his own mission to complete before rejoining Drendil.
The boy began walking towards the Forlyn Valley, where he would get his puppy and live happily ever after until he destroyed the world.
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