Ander sagged, suddenly tired. He wasn't sure why, but perhaps it had something to do with the magic ...
His thoughts skipped and his jaw dropped open as he fully realized what he had just done. And he only had the time to make that realization before everything else began to happen. A splash sounded beside him, followed by someone making disgusted noises. He didn't look, but thought it might be Illilli. His eyes remained fixed on the man who, beyond all reason, was still moving against the affects of the spell. Granted, he was moving much slower, but he was still moving. Thoughts flittered across his conciousness, making him frown, telling him that occasionally spells didn't always work on those of exceptionally strong will. Ander wasn't sure where the thoughts came from, but even they stopped when the sword seemed to fly up into the air and sheath of it's own volition.
Ander scrambled to his feet as he heard tiny feet pelting into the cavern entrance, Gelden yelling his and Illilli's names, then another pattering of what might have been dirt as she threw something at the now immobile man before him. Ander stepped forward, looking way up to look at the man, taking a small step back at the fellow's eyes. They were ... purple?
Ander finally took notice that the fellow had, while moving, tried to move into a position that looked like he was trying to let them know he wasn't going to hurt them. Ander wasn't so sure of that, especially since he had become less trusting since leaving home.
He waved for Gelden to come in past the giant man, then backed away, moving towards the pond and Illilli.
In a quiet voiced designed not to carry to the man, he said to the two of them, "He won't be moving for a little while. Even if I decided to let him go from..." he swallowed, "from the magic I cast, I... I don't know how."
His head turned to look back at the frozen figure in the doorway, then back to his companions. With a pleading look he asked, "What do we do?"
Haven in the Woods
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Illilli gasped holding onto the rim of the pond.
"Uhm... koff... koff... wheeeze..."
Illilli inhaled deeply, sucking wind as she tried to pull herself out of the pool. Slowly and with the muck skim still clinging to her she pulled herself up and lay half in and half out of the pond like some disgusting half dead fish.
Her leather halter and pants would never be the same, but on the bright side... most of the muck was out of the pool. Illilli stood stinking and dripping on the floor. It was quite clear that if they didn't have a stranger on their hands her first goal would be to go outside, scrape off as much of the goo as possible and then take a very long, very hot bath with alot of the lavender scented soap she adored.
The slow trickle of fresh water was already starting to clear the cloudy murk from the pool. The rocks would probably need scrubbed gently but a hint of the former glory was returning to the pond.
"Koff... You could ask him his name and why he's here..." she muttered as she did her best not to try and shake off the slime. It would be far better to take it far far away from the cave than to muss up the floors anymore than they already were.
"Uhm... koff... koff... wheeeze..."
Illilli inhaled deeply, sucking wind as she tried to pull herself out of the pool. Slowly and with the muck skim still clinging to her she pulled herself up and lay half in and half out of the pond like some disgusting half dead fish.
Her leather halter and pants would never be the same, but on the bright side... most of the muck was out of the pool. Illilli stood stinking and dripping on the floor. It was quite clear that if they didn't have a stranger on their hands her first goal would be to go outside, scrape off as much of the goo as possible and then take a very long, very hot bath with alot of the lavender scented soap she adored.
The slow trickle of fresh water was already starting to clear the cloudy murk from the pool. The rocks would probably need scrubbed gently but a hint of the former glory was returning to the pond.
"Koff... You could ask him his name and why he's here..." she muttered as she did her best not to try and shake off the slime. It would be far better to take it far far away from the cave than to muss up the floors anymore than they already were.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden was frozen several feet away from the intruder, blinking with confusion. She wasn't scared of the man, really. He seemed to be having trouble moving, and she sense that a human, even a male human, not moving to flick off icky bugs was a sign of some sort of restraint. She'd seen even the most aggressive warriors scramble from the smallest wood roach.
Ander's hand beckoned her inside, and she inched past the intruder, pressed flat with her back against the wall and staring closely at him as she shifted by. It never hurt to be cautious. He could just be faking it.
The fae took to a sprint once more the moment she was past their newcomer, but froze upon seeing Illilli's sad state. The tiny woman wrinkled her nose in disgust at the slime which now seemed to have adhered to the large woman's frame, highlighting her entire body with its viscous stench.
The fae stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"Illilli...maybe you better go outside."
This thought has just barely passed through her lips, and already she was grabbing Ander's shoulder in a gentle show of support. This boy was powerful, and he had not an ounce of control over his powers. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but it wouldn't hurt to be cautious around their wayward teenager.
Another part of her shrieked that he would never ever hurt them, not in a million years. But then, the badger hadn't really done anything wrong, had it?
She shook off the morose mood in favor of something more welcoming and trusting in nature. She looked back at their intruder - no, no! Visitor! - and smiled.
"Well, it looks like he's safe enough, if armed. At least he's not waving a knife all around...but that could be 'cause of your magic..."
At a loss, the fae bit her bottom lip to consider their predicament. She just didn't have it in her to assume the worst of someone, and the man had made the difficult effort of making himself seem non-threatening. Maybe...maybe Illilli was right!
The fae bounded toward the man, but stopped a prudent four feet away and beamed up at him.
"I'm Geldenwing. This is our home. Are you going to hurt us?"
Well...maybe the faerie hadn't quite understood what Illilli said after all.
Ander's hand beckoned her inside, and she inched past the intruder, pressed flat with her back against the wall and staring closely at him as she shifted by. It never hurt to be cautious. He could just be faking it.
The fae took to a sprint once more the moment she was past their newcomer, but froze upon seeing Illilli's sad state. The tiny woman wrinkled her nose in disgust at the slime which now seemed to have adhered to the large woman's frame, highlighting her entire body with its viscous stench.
The fae stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"Illilli...maybe you better go outside."
This thought has just barely passed through her lips, and already she was grabbing Ander's shoulder in a gentle show of support. This boy was powerful, and he had not an ounce of control over his powers. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but it wouldn't hurt to be cautious around their wayward teenager.
Another part of her shrieked that he would never ever hurt them, not in a million years. But then, the badger hadn't really done anything wrong, had it?
She shook off the morose mood in favor of something more welcoming and trusting in nature. She looked back at their intruder - no, no! Visitor! - and smiled.
"Well, it looks like he's safe enough, if armed. At least he's not waving a knife all around...but that could be 'cause of your magic..."
At a loss, the fae bit her bottom lip to consider their predicament. She just didn't have it in her to assume the worst of someone, and the man had made the difficult effort of making himself seem non-threatening. Maybe...maybe Illilli was right!
The fae bounded toward the man, but stopped a prudent four feet away and beamed up at him.
"I'm Geldenwing. This is our home. Are you going to hurt us?"
Well...maybe the faerie hadn't quite understood what Illilli said after all.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
As time passed, the forces holding him in place seemed to gradually weaken. The people in the cavern before him seemed much less afraid of him, and one had even moved right past him, although admittedly she had seemed scared whilst doing it. His eyes had followed her as she passed, that being the extent of his movement ability at the time.
Now, however, the worst seemed to have passed, and he was able - with some effort, mind - to move, stretching his muscles and trying to regain whatever dignity he had left. Removing the cockroaches on his face and arms, he carefully set them on the walls, taking great care not to damage them. Taking a deliberate step forward, he realised the one who'd slipped past him had asked him a question.
Thus, it became his job to remove it, as best he could. Taking a breath, he said softly,
"No, I'm not going to hurt you. I would have said so before, but I found myself quite unable to. I am Xyon of Calhoun, and my blade will protect you all for as long as we remain together."
Flexing his back once again, and trying desperately to get rid of the last of the magic still holding a few muscles in quite uncomfortable positions, he asked, "Which one of you did that to me, anyway," beckoning back toward the entrance, "and how?"
Now, however, the worst seemed to have passed, and he was able - with some effort, mind - to move, stretching his muscles and trying to regain whatever dignity he had left. Removing the cockroaches on his face and arms, he carefully set them on the walls, taking great care not to damage them. Taking a deliberate step forward, he realised the one who'd slipped past him had asked him a question.
Xyon was truly shocked by the question. Do I really look that threatning? he thought, baffled by their reaction. Then he remembered what had just happened to him, and that magic was outlawed here. Add to that the fact that he was, in effect, a seven foot armed giant with glowing eyes and a shiny sword, and he could perhaps understand a little bit of intimidation.Geldenwing wrote:"I'm Geldenwing. This is our home. Are you going to hurt us?"
Thus, it became his job to remove it, as best he could. Taking a breath, he said softly,
"No, I'm not going to hurt you. I would have said so before, but I found myself quite unable to. I am Xyon of Calhoun, and my blade will protect you all for as long as we remain together."
Flexing his back once again, and trying desperately to get rid of the last of the magic still holding a few muscles in quite uncomfortable positions, he asked, "Which one of you did that to me, anyway," beckoning back toward the entrance, "and how?"
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
A red blush crept up from Ander's neck to settle in his cheeks after Xyon spoke. He hadn't expected Gelden to just run up to the giant, although in retrospect, he should have.
He took a quick step forward, his stomach an angry knot. It roiled, battling within himself, but he hardly noticed. His eyes became intense, glinting as his features hardened into a frown. His usual reticent way of speaking vanished as he spoke.
"I spelled you, big man. I'd do it again too! There have been too many vagabonds crashing into our little hideaway, waving sharp, pointed objects."
Ander blinked, suddenly confused. He didn't even know what a 'vagabond' was! But he kept speaking, a little quieter and much less confident.
"As for how... I haven't quite figured it out yet. I am sorry, but ... I was startled."
Immediately after finishing speaking, Ander turned to Illilli and gently took her arm, beginning to pull her towards the cave entrance.
"Let's get that off you."
His only response to Xyon should the man attempt to speak with him would be a simple shrug as he made his way by while studiously avoiding looking at the man.
He took a quick step forward, his stomach an angry knot. It roiled, battling within himself, but he hardly noticed. His eyes became intense, glinting as his features hardened into a frown. His usual reticent way of speaking vanished as he spoke.
"I spelled you, big man. I'd do it again too! There have been too many vagabonds crashing into our little hideaway, waving sharp, pointed objects."
Ander blinked, suddenly confused. He didn't even know what a 'vagabond' was! But he kept speaking, a little quieter and much less confident.
"As for how... I haven't quite figured it out yet. I am sorry, but ... I was startled."
Immediately after finishing speaking, Ander turned to Illilli and gently took her arm, beginning to pull her towards the cave entrance.
"Let's get that off you."
His only response to Xyon should the man attempt to speak with him would be a simple shrug as he made his way by while studiously avoiding looking at the man.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
"If someone could start some bathwater in the kitchen sink, I'd greately appreciate it." Illilli gasped as she minced her steps out of the cavern, desperatly trying not to drip.
Following Ander to where they had removed the previous batch of slime a distance away from the cave was a messy adventure. She had a pretty good idea how it felt to be tarred and feathered judging by the massive amount of leaves that were now stuck to her pants and body where she brushed up against the local foliage.
There was a nice sandy spot rather near a nice large bush that gave Illilli an idea.
She slunk around behind the bush and focussed on changing. Another self-induced headache later and her sodden leather clothing fell to the ground with her tiny dragon self coiled within. She struggled out of the slimy leather pants and halter and made for the sand.
"This is actually kind of fun." she giggled as she started rolling and rubbing her body along the sand caking the slime with dirt and slowly scouring most of the nasty from her tiny scaled body.
A few minutes later she was fairly clean if quite a bit dusty. At least this was a dirtyness the sink could handle.
"If you could get my clothing Ander? I don't know if I can salvage it, but its worth a try." she called as she perched carefully on his shoulder.
Following Ander to where they had removed the previous batch of slime a distance away from the cave was a messy adventure. She had a pretty good idea how it felt to be tarred and feathered judging by the massive amount of leaves that were now stuck to her pants and body where she brushed up against the local foliage.
There was a nice sandy spot rather near a nice large bush that gave Illilli an idea.
She slunk around behind the bush and focussed on changing. Another self-induced headache later and her sodden leather clothing fell to the ground with her tiny dragon self coiled within. She struggled out of the slimy leather pants and halter and made for the sand.
"This is actually kind of fun." she giggled as she started rolling and rubbing her body along the sand caking the slime with dirt and slowly scouring most of the nasty from her tiny scaled body.
A few minutes later she was fairly clean if quite a bit dusty. At least this was a dirtyness the sink could handle.
"If you could get my clothing Ander? I don't know if I can salvage it, but its worth a try." she called as she perched carefully on his shoulder.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
The fae watched with blatant approval as the man carefully placed the bugs back on the wall. She couldn't help but feel amused that he'd just saved them from a watery fish-food fate. And she was the nature lover!
When the man pledged his sword, the faerie's hand shot upward to grab the trinket around her neck, dangling from its thin silver necklace. His demeanor, his size...it was too close to home for her. Too easy to remember.
Ander's proud declaration startled her enough to push those memories to the side. She turned, eyes wide, to stare at their shy little teenager as he berated their guest. The small woman could only blink in surprise; she couldn't think of a single thing to say that could make such an uncharacteristic outburst seem less random.
Illilli and Ander made their way out of the cavern, and the fae but her bottom lip as she watched them go. Illilli had every right to want that muck off of her skin; even the woodlands creature was disgusted by it. But now she was here alone with the stranger.
Only one remedy for it: obnoxious friendliness.
The faerie had found over her lifetime that the easiest way to discourage violence was to act in your friendliest manner until the other party left off. Well, friendly was no problem for Geldenwing; she was practically made of sparkles and sunshine, and her sunny disposition gave her an edge over her more human friends.
"Well then it's nice to meet you!"
The fae stepped forward and held her hand out, tiny though it was. If the man accepted her hand, his palm would easily dwarf her child-sized grip.
When the man pledged his sword, the faerie's hand shot upward to grab the trinket around her neck, dangling from its thin silver necklace. His demeanor, his size...it was too close to home for her. Too easy to remember.
Ander's proud declaration startled her enough to push those memories to the side. She turned, eyes wide, to stare at their shy little teenager as he berated their guest. The small woman could only blink in surprise; she couldn't think of a single thing to say that could make such an uncharacteristic outburst seem less random.
Illilli and Ander made their way out of the cavern, and the fae but her bottom lip as she watched them go. Illilli had every right to want that muck off of her skin; even the woodlands creature was disgusted by it. But now she was here alone with the stranger.
Only one remedy for it: obnoxious friendliness.
The faerie had found over her lifetime that the easiest way to discourage violence was to act in your friendliest manner until the other party left off. Well, friendly was no problem for Geldenwing; she was practically made of sparkles and sunshine, and her sunny disposition gave her an edge over her more human friends.
"Well then it's nice to meet you!"
The fae stepped forward and held her hand out, tiny though it was. If the man accepted her hand, his palm would easily dwarf her child-sized grip.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
"Likewise", Xyon said softly, as he took the small hand in his own, knelt low to the ground, and raised it to his lips. "My apologies if I scared you. It was not my intention. I actually found you by accident."
Xyon let go of the fae's hand, letting his own drop to his side. He looked around, stretching out muscles which had found his forced containment uncomfortable. Geldenwing still looked a little nervous, and Xyon soon realised it was because they were now alone in the cavern, which would give anyone cause for concern when confronted by so well-armed a stranger.
"What is this place? You declared it your home, but it looks as if it has not been occupied for some time." he asked, unsure of their situation, genuinely curious. He knew magic was illegal here, and they all seemed capable of it. Even the young man who had cast the spell was obviously capable, although he seemed to lack the self-discipline to control it. That, or his temper, it appeared, as his outburst hadn't befit the situation. Overcourageous, he thought, just like me.
Xyon rose from his kneeling position and tried desperately to snap his knee back into place. Several injuries had plagued him throughout his life, but it was the old fractures which bothered him most of all. Twelve years ago, the people who had killed his brother, Fr' Keldos, had tried to despatch him as well, and a twelve-inch-dagger had made it's mark on his knee. Now, it was complaining about the weight he'd just put upon it, since it hadn't had chance to heal properly since that cold winter's night.
Xyon ignored it. Pain was a distraction in everyday life, nothing more. He wasn't quite fast enough to stop it from reaching his face, and momentarily displaying his discomfort there. He could feel Inohen responding to it, and tried to stop her from performing her usual reaction. He failed.
Inohen flashed out of her sheath and shot a foot into the air. The blade glowed vibrantly in the half-light in the cavern, and flashed dangerously, as the glow from the vines caught the silvery metal, shimmering down the fuller as she gracefully arched into his outstretched hand. His eyes flashed a menacing purple as the strength returned to his hand, the part of himself which was contained within the sword returning to his body.
The power flowed through him, a golden glow zipping across his muscles as they flexed in response to it. All of that which he had poured into the sword upon forging now flooded back into his body - all the strength, the power.
The pain.
Grief washed over him, the grief for his family, for his fallen comrades, devoured by the war. Images of their broken bodies, his mother's charred ad blackened corpse, his father, aloft on the blade of a longsword, his brother, throat slit, reaching out to him, his sister, seven arrows in her back, falling face down on the ground, his best friend, decapitated a mere pace in front of him. He jerked back as the blood sprayed from his friend's neck, and felt it's warmth wash over him. Pain coursed through his body, the pain of his knee, his back, all his scars. They opened up, and bled fresh blood, before swiftly closing again, a reminder to what the sword contained.
Inohen glared at him, and he stared back, new sensations, and old ones he had not experienced for years, flashing through his conciousness, breaking down his barriers of self-control, discipline. As he watched her, a thin red line traced the length of the fuller, from crossguard to tip, and coalesced in a blood-drop at the end. It grew, eventually dropping from the sword to the ground, where a small crater announced it's landing.
Inohen's tears.
He stood his ground as more washed over him, the sadness for the citizens of Calhoun, seven hundred thousand corpses, watching him, preying on his soul. Staring at him, their lifeless eyes screaming voices in the back of his mind even he could not block out.
Blaming him.
As the images subsided, Inohen raised his arm for him, until the sword was held vertically in front of his face, mere inches from his skin. She whispered to him, reassuring him, comforting him, apologising, scolding, embracing and disciplining all with the same words:
You are not to blame. You are my master. I am to bring an end to this suffering.
Then, with a flare, she soared out of his hand, and dug herself into the ground. Xyon stared, aghast, as she carved a single sentence into the soil, with no input from him. He had not control over her, and as unpredictable as she was, he couldn't see her harming the innocent girl before him. Nevertheless, he positioned himself between the weapon and the fae, a matter of protection, as the sword finished writing in the ground.
She flashed again, and Xyon's back arched as more pain dug into him. Grief and remorse flared in his mind once more as the sword reminded him of all that he had lost by coming here, on the passage across the continent, his companions picked off one by one, their twitching bodies writhing on the ground in the grips of the fallen's toxins.
Then, with a final flash, the sword was done. She coasted back into her sheath, and settled down. Xyon relaxed as the pain ebbed away, the despair faded to tolerable levels. He realised he was standing uncomfortably close to Geldenwing, and stepped back swiftly, groaning with the effort.
Looking to the ground, where the weapon had carved her message, his heart skipped several beats as he read the words inscribed there:
They have found you. Your companions are not safe
Xyon let go of the fae's hand, letting his own drop to his side. He looked around, stretching out muscles which had found his forced containment uncomfortable. Geldenwing still looked a little nervous, and Xyon soon realised it was because they were now alone in the cavern, which would give anyone cause for concern when confronted by so well-armed a stranger.
"What is this place? You declared it your home, but it looks as if it has not been occupied for some time." he asked, unsure of their situation, genuinely curious. He knew magic was illegal here, and they all seemed capable of it. Even the young man who had cast the spell was obviously capable, although he seemed to lack the self-discipline to control it. That, or his temper, it appeared, as his outburst hadn't befit the situation. Overcourageous, he thought, just like me.
Xyon rose from his kneeling position and tried desperately to snap his knee back into place. Several injuries had plagued him throughout his life, but it was the old fractures which bothered him most of all. Twelve years ago, the people who had killed his brother, Fr' Keldos, had tried to despatch him as well, and a twelve-inch-dagger had made it's mark on his knee. Now, it was complaining about the weight he'd just put upon it, since it hadn't had chance to heal properly since that cold winter's night.
Xyon ignored it. Pain was a distraction in everyday life, nothing more. He wasn't quite fast enough to stop it from reaching his face, and momentarily displaying his discomfort there. He could feel Inohen responding to it, and tried to stop her from performing her usual reaction. He failed.
Inohen flashed out of her sheath and shot a foot into the air. The blade glowed vibrantly in the half-light in the cavern, and flashed dangerously, as the glow from the vines caught the silvery metal, shimmering down the fuller as she gracefully arched into his outstretched hand. His eyes flashed a menacing purple as the strength returned to his hand, the part of himself which was contained within the sword returning to his body.
The power flowed through him, a golden glow zipping across his muscles as they flexed in response to it. All of that which he had poured into the sword upon forging now flooded back into his body - all the strength, the power.
The pain.
Grief washed over him, the grief for his family, for his fallen comrades, devoured by the war. Images of their broken bodies, his mother's charred ad blackened corpse, his father, aloft on the blade of a longsword, his brother, throat slit, reaching out to him, his sister, seven arrows in her back, falling face down on the ground, his best friend, decapitated a mere pace in front of him. He jerked back as the blood sprayed from his friend's neck, and felt it's warmth wash over him. Pain coursed through his body, the pain of his knee, his back, all his scars. They opened up, and bled fresh blood, before swiftly closing again, a reminder to what the sword contained.
Inohen glared at him, and he stared back, new sensations, and old ones he had not experienced for years, flashing through his conciousness, breaking down his barriers of self-control, discipline. As he watched her, a thin red line traced the length of the fuller, from crossguard to tip, and coalesced in a blood-drop at the end. It grew, eventually dropping from the sword to the ground, where a small crater announced it's landing.
Inohen's tears.
He stood his ground as more washed over him, the sadness for the citizens of Calhoun, seven hundred thousand corpses, watching him, preying on his soul. Staring at him, their lifeless eyes screaming voices in the back of his mind even he could not block out.
Blaming him.
As the images subsided, Inohen raised his arm for him, until the sword was held vertically in front of his face, mere inches from his skin. She whispered to him, reassuring him, comforting him, apologising, scolding, embracing and disciplining all with the same words:
You are not to blame. You are my master. I am to bring an end to this suffering.
Then, with a flare, she soared out of his hand, and dug herself into the ground. Xyon stared, aghast, as she carved a single sentence into the soil, with no input from him. He had not control over her, and as unpredictable as she was, he couldn't see her harming the innocent girl before him. Nevertheless, he positioned himself between the weapon and the fae, a matter of protection, as the sword finished writing in the ground.
She flashed again, and Xyon's back arched as more pain dug into him. Grief and remorse flared in his mind once more as the sword reminded him of all that he had lost by coming here, on the passage across the continent, his companions picked off one by one, their twitching bodies writhing on the ground in the grips of the fallen's toxins.
Then, with a final flash, the sword was done. She coasted back into her sheath, and settled down. Xyon relaxed as the pain ebbed away, the despair faded to tolerable levels. He realised he was standing uncomfortably close to Geldenwing, and stepped back swiftly, groaning with the effort.
Looking to the ground, where the weapon had carved her message, his heart skipped several beats as he read the words inscribed there:
They have found you. Your companions are not safe
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Drifting through a haze, Ander simply watched as Illilli went about getting the slime off herself. He was going back over everything that has happened only moments ago. From the time he woke up ... had I been dreaming before that? ... to the time he confronted the large stranger, he had not felt like himself. He had felt different, upset, scared ... but mostly angry.
He had always had a firm control on his temper. As a young lad, he had always been slow to anger, even when he was being goaded to anger. Only a handful of times had he lost his temper; one time had nearly killed his father. From that moment, he had told himself he would never lose his temper again, but lately it seemed he had less and less control.
He continued to stare blankly until the little dragonet that was Illilli landed on his shoulder, reminding him where he was. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even realized she had shifted again. Her tiny voice drifted into his ear, and he mechanically went about picking up her clothing, using a long stick to lift them from the ground.
Ander grimaced as the muck slid from them, then decided to give them a quick clean here. He found a fairly smooth rock, placing the clothes as flat on it as he could. He then took a stick and began scraping the muck off as best he could. He murmured to himself and Illilli as he went about it.
"Can't let that stuff settle too deep. Never get it out. More chance to salvage them this way."
What he didn't say was that he didn't yet want to go back inside to confront the stranger and Gelden. Not after his angry outburst. Not yet.
He had always had a firm control on his temper. As a young lad, he had always been slow to anger, even when he was being goaded to anger. Only a handful of times had he lost his temper; one time had nearly killed his father. From that moment, he had told himself he would never lose his temper again, but lately it seemed he had less and less control.
He continued to stare blankly until the little dragonet that was Illilli landed on his shoulder, reminding him where he was. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even realized she had shifted again. Her tiny voice drifted into his ear, and he mechanically went about picking up her clothing, using a long stick to lift them from the ground.
Ander grimaced as the muck slid from them, then decided to give them a quick clean here. He found a fairly smooth rock, placing the clothes as flat on it as he could. He then took a stick and began scraping the muck off as best he could. He murmured to himself and Illilli as he went about it.
"Can't let that stuff settle too deep. Never get it out. More chance to salvage them this way."
What he didn't say was that he didn't yet want to go back inside to confront the stranger and Gelden. Not after his angry outburst. Not yet.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
"Yeah, that leather will probably never look the same again." Illilli draped herself comfortably around his neck as it seemed a perfectly natural thing to do in this form. With her wings folded tight she looked like a fairly gaudy piece of neck jewelry.
"Thanks again for knocking the slime off these. I should have done that before I cleaned up, but I wanted that stuff off my skin pretty badly." she shivered a bit remembering the slime.
"I wonder how Geldenwing is getting along with that big man... He didn't seem quite the same sort as that riffraff that was in yesterday." She noticed he was just about done with the initial scraping of the clothing.
"I really hope we can spell that door to keep hostile people out. I'd feel much much better if we could. We have so much that can be done to reclaim the cavern... but I think that would the best start. Then there would be the dirt areas on the stone floor... Finishing up that pond... and trimming up the vines a bit."
Illilli babbled on while he did his best with the nasty remnants of her clothing.
Soon she drowsed a bit around his neck and hummed a bit of a slow folksong about dragons her mother had taught her. It wasn't long before she was almost asleep.
"Thanks again for knocking the slime off these. I should have done that before I cleaned up, but I wanted that stuff off my skin pretty badly." she shivered a bit remembering the slime.
"I wonder how Geldenwing is getting along with that big man... He didn't seem quite the same sort as that riffraff that was in yesterday." She noticed he was just about done with the initial scraping of the clothing.
"I really hope we can spell that door to keep hostile people out. I'd feel much much better if we could. We have so much that can be done to reclaim the cavern... but I think that would the best start. Then there would be the dirt areas on the stone floor... Finishing up that pond... and trimming up the vines a bit."
Illilli babbled on while he did his best with the nasty remnants of her clothing.
Soon she drowsed a bit around his neck and hummed a bit of a slow folksong about dragons her mother had taught her. It wasn't long before she was almost asleep.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Geldenwing blushed and tittered as the large man knelt and placed a gentle kiss on her hand. She was flattered, to be sure, though it did bring up memories that she forced right back where they came from. Her wings fluttered on her back, and she took a small step back when he raised himself again and seemed to struggle with his knees.
Then his sword moved.
It sprung from its sheath, all on its own, and burst forth with light that made the little faerie shriek and cover her eyes. She stepped back again, flinching to focus on the blade that hovered in the air for a moment and then settled into the man's grip.
The fae couldn't stop the wonder from entering her. True, she was afraid of the sword, but the truth of the matter was that this man was now holding a large bright and shiny object which seemed to move on its own. She lowered her arms, staring with no small amount of shock and curiousity. Her mouth hung open as she gazed up at the weapon, but she flinched and shielded herself as the sword darted once more into the air to bury itself in the ground. It scraped along the floor to give its message, and then placed itself in its rightful place.
The man had just stepped away from the small woman when she stepped forward and knelt before the words on the ground, running her finger under each letter and trying to sound out what it said. Reading was a human luxury which she'd never taken to, though someone had once tried to teach her. But Gelden was terrible at concentration, and she always had a reading companion nearby, anyway. There'd never been a need.
Now it was driving her mad. The letters looked like odd scratchings, and she couldn't figure out even one. She finally pouted and sat back on her thighs with a sigh, then looked up at the large man with wide eyes.
"What's it say?"
Then his sword moved.
It sprung from its sheath, all on its own, and burst forth with light that made the little faerie shriek and cover her eyes. She stepped back again, flinching to focus on the blade that hovered in the air for a moment and then settled into the man's grip.
The fae couldn't stop the wonder from entering her. True, she was afraid of the sword, but the truth of the matter was that this man was now holding a large bright and shiny object which seemed to move on its own. She lowered her arms, staring with no small amount of shock and curiousity. Her mouth hung open as she gazed up at the weapon, but she flinched and shielded herself as the sword darted once more into the air to bury itself in the ground. It scraped along the floor to give its message, and then placed itself in its rightful place.
The man had just stepped away from the small woman when she stepped forward and knelt before the words on the ground, running her finger under each letter and trying to sound out what it said. Reading was a human luxury which she'd never taken to, though someone had once tried to teach her. But Gelden was terrible at concentration, and she always had a reading companion nearby, anyway. There'd never been a need.
Now it was driving her mad. The letters looked like odd scratchings, and she couldn't figure out even one. She finally pouted and sat back on her thighs with a sigh, then looked up at the large man with wide eyes.
"What's it say?"
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Xyon staggered back, aghast, as the sentence hit him in between his eyes. Vaguely aware a question had been asked, he tried desperately to concentrate.
He failed.
Memories kept surfacing, and no matter how hard he tried to shove them back down, they kept bulling up, forcing their way into his consciousness. His hand darted to his throat as he felt it tighten, causing difficulty breathing.
After a few minutes, the intensity dropped off dramatically, and he was able to ride the wave of memories, and reassert his own mind as the driving force behind his body. Then his brain deemed it an excellent time to remind him of his current situation.
The sentence hit him again, although he was better prepared this time, and it had little effect on him but stomach-crunching fear and shock. The question, which had come from the small creature crouching by the words inscribed in the ground.
"Um... it... it says..." He faltered, suddenly unable. Inohen did it for him, moving his lips and vocal chords in unison to produce the words.
It says his pursuers have found him. Those who travel with him are no longer in safety. You all have the right to be warned.
Xyon blinked several times as the pain in his voice box subsided, and he became aware of the words he had apparently spoken, flat and harsh as they had been, they had sounded completely different from his normal voice.
He swayed, briefly attempting to collapse into unconsciousness, but fought it off valiantly. Nevertheless, he had to sit down, and did so rather quickly. Pain flashed up his back as his rump hit the dust.
"Sorry. I don't know... ugh..." he said, by way of an explanation.
He failed.
Memories kept surfacing, and no matter how hard he tried to shove them back down, they kept bulling up, forcing their way into his consciousness. His hand darted to his throat as he felt it tighten, causing difficulty breathing.
After a few minutes, the intensity dropped off dramatically, and he was able to ride the wave of memories, and reassert his own mind as the driving force behind his body. Then his brain deemed it an excellent time to remind him of his current situation.
The sentence hit him again, although he was better prepared this time, and it had little effect on him but stomach-crunching fear and shock. The question, which had come from the small creature crouching by the words inscribed in the ground.
He swallowed. Hard. Doubts about telling this creature, who seemed no more than a child, the truth. Still, he had sworn to do so always, and even though it might upset the creature, he reasoned it was best to be honest. Besides, the others wouldn't be long. Xyon shuddered to think what they might say when they encountered the situation.Geldenwing wrote:"What's it say?"
"Um... it... it says..." He faltered, suddenly unable. Inohen did it for him, moving his lips and vocal chords in unison to produce the words.
It says his pursuers have found him. Those who travel with him are no longer in safety. You all have the right to be warned.
Xyon blinked several times as the pain in his voice box subsided, and he became aware of the words he had apparently spoken, flat and harsh as they had been, they had sounded completely different from his normal voice.
He swayed, briefly attempting to collapse into unconsciousness, but fought it off valiantly. Nevertheless, he had to sit down, and did so rather quickly. Pain flashed up his back as his rump hit the dust.
"Sorry. I don't know... ugh..." he said, by way of an explanation.
Last edited by Xyon_of_Calhoun on Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
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Ander Valman
- Citizen
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:26 am
- Race: Human
Ander finished cleaning the last remnants of slime from Illilli's clothing. He had merely grunted in response to the little dragon-lady's speech, and now she had curled up around his neck and seemed to be sleeping. He quietly stood, leaving the clothes where they were for the moment.
He had been so lost in doing since he woke up that he hadn't had the chance to really just relax for a moment. He took the time now, Illilli draped around his neck. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, letting the smell of the forest air fill his lungs; the scent of pine, of damp ferns, the undercurrent of rotting logs mingling in a not altogether unpleasant way with the explosion of smell from all the growth in the area.
Ander stood motionless for several moments, simply enjoying the fresh air and the sound of nature all around him. With a sigh, he opened his eyes again, then fetched a stick and lifted Illilli's clothing on the end of it. He still didn't want to touch the slime still on them, even though most of it was gone now. It made him shudder just thinking of the feel of that slime on his skin, as it had been earlier.
With another shudder, Ander started out towards the cavern, pausing only long enough to pick a few dozen berries from a fairly large bush he hadn't noticed before. He didn't eat any, yet, since he wasn't sure if they were edible, but he was sure Illilli or Gelden would know. He didn't quite want to wake the seemingly peaceful little dragon-lady at the moment, especially with the memory of her reaction to the perceived threat of the knife wielding ... vagabond ... who had been in the cavern yesterday.
Ander paused at the front of the cave, allowing the glowvines to light the way for him inside. They lit the short tunnel all the way down, brightening so he would be able to see any divots in the floor and avoid them.
He had been so lost in doing since he woke up that he hadn't had the chance to really just relax for a moment. He took the time now, Illilli draped around his neck. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, letting the smell of the forest air fill his lungs; the scent of pine, of damp ferns, the undercurrent of rotting logs mingling in a not altogether unpleasant way with the explosion of smell from all the growth in the area.
Ander stood motionless for several moments, simply enjoying the fresh air and the sound of nature all around him. With a sigh, he opened his eyes again, then fetched a stick and lifted Illilli's clothing on the end of it. He still didn't want to touch the slime still on them, even though most of it was gone now. It made him shudder just thinking of the feel of that slime on his skin, as it had been earlier.
With another shudder, Ander started out towards the cavern, pausing only long enough to pick a few dozen berries from a fairly large bush he hadn't noticed before. He didn't eat any, yet, since he wasn't sure if they were edible, but he was sure Illilli or Gelden would know. He didn't quite want to wake the seemingly peaceful little dragon-lady at the moment, especially with the memory of her reaction to the perceived threat of the knife wielding ... vagabond ... who had been in the cavern yesterday.
Ander paused at the front of the cave, allowing the glowvines to light the way for him inside. They lit the short tunnel all the way down, brightening so he would be able to see any divots in the floor and avoid them.
So you were born in an electrical storm, took a bite out the sun, and saw your future in a machine built for two.
Illilli stirred with the light change as they entered the cavern. She gave a dainty yawn that exposed her minute fangs.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep... I really appreciate the help so much... Your neck was so nice and warm and safe. Its just been so crazy lately." She crawled up on his shoulder and gave his ear a hug.
"You're kinda like the little brother I never had... My family always has girls for some reason." She pouted a little, realizing that she had never thought of that particular fact being a peculiarity. There simply were no boys born to her mother, her grandmother, or as far back up the family line as she could remember. Any male family she could think of had married into her maternal line.
"What about your family... have any sisters?" she tilted her head to the side in an inquiring manner.
As they entered the cavern her tiny jaw dropped to see the big newcomer sitting on the floor in a slightly dazed state.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep... I really appreciate the help so much... Your neck was so nice and warm and safe. Its just been so crazy lately." She crawled up on his shoulder and gave his ear a hug.
"You're kinda like the little brother I never had... My family always has girls for some reason." She pouted a little, realizing that she had never thought of that particular fact being a peculiarity. There simply were no boys born to her mother, her grandmother, or as far back up the family line as she could remember. Any male family she could think of had married into her maternal line.
"What about your family... have any sisters?" she tilted her head to the side in an inquiring manner.
As they entered the cavern her tiny jaw dropped to see the big newcomer sitting on the floor in a slightly dazed state.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Gelden hadn't been afraid before, but she certainly was now. Her eyes widened to small saucers as the man's voice changed and he rasped out what was clearly not his own message. The little fae didn't know what to do; she'd never met someone who was possessed before. She wondered if maybe they needed to perform some kind of ceremony to get rid of the beasty that was inside this man and using his voice.
She slowly stood up without breaking her eyes away from the man - Xypher? Xeon? Xethro? - and started backing away, very slowly. There was some threat here, and although it wasn't directed at her, it was certainly implied in the worst way. The threat was a danger to all of them. To Illilli, her tall dragon-lady friend...and to Ander.
Ander, who couldn't stop his magic.
Blatant relief flashed through her when she saw Ander walking in with what looked like a thick necklace. The little fae scooted past their new guest to approach Ander, and was even more relieved to see that the odd necklace was little Illilli. Gelden grabbed Ander's upper arm to pull him to the side, with Illilli in tow. She lowered her voice to whisper - a talent that she didn't really possess.
"I think he's possessed! He's speaking in tongues! Isn't that something possessed people do?!"
She slowly stood up without breaking her eyes away from the man - Xypher? Xeon? Xethro? - and started backing away, very slowly. There was some threat here, and although it wasn't directed at her, it was certainly implied in the worst way. The threat was a danger to all of them. To Illilli, her tall dragon-lady friend...and to Ander.
Ander, who couldn't stop his magic.
Blatant relief flashed through her when she saw Ander walking in with what looked like a thick necklace. The little fae scooted past their new guest to approach Ander, and was even more relieved to see that the odd necklace was little Illilli. Gelden grabbed Ander's upper arm to pull him to the side, with Illilli in tow. She lowered her voice to whisper - a talent that she didn't really possess.
"I think he's possessed! He's speaking in tongues! Isn't that something possessed people do?!"