|
Post by Chris on Sept 24, 2019 13:24:08 GMT -5
The Curtain of Blue Fire
The passageway enters a 30‘ wide, 70’ long, 20’ high room. Stone steps descend into a pool of white, bubbling, translucent goo and emerge from the muck at the other end. A 1‘ wide stone bridge arches some 5‘ above the pool crossing all the way to the other end of the room. Bisecting the room exactly halfway across the bridge is a 30’ wide, 20’ high, 5‘ thick wall of transparent, crackling blue fire that leaps from wall to wall and from the ceiling to the surface of the goo. The air smells as if a lightning bolt has struck nearby.
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Sept 25, 2019 16:23:11 GMT -5
Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords The Caves of Drachensgrab The Curtain of Blue Fire The Hanging Rope The Storoper The Wooden Room ended play on Godsday, Fireseek 4, 577 CY, 2:59:07am, Luna is waxing MVP Josh Murphy as Ceyleen our plays on rpggeek.com/plays/thing/46082?userid=1168080
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Sept 26, 2019 1:31:19 GMT -5
The first rays of lights sneaks through the windows as I wake up to Avelin back in my arms with us together again in bed. I sigh content, my heart sores with joy and I just want to stay here but I need to get work done. It takes me sometime untangleing my limbs from Avelin. She grumbles but doesn’t wake as I slip out of bed and don my armor. It’s such a relief learning she will not turn into a raging werepig. I was really worried every night. That one night instead of walking up to my wife’s face it would be to tusks in my guts. I slip on my boots and soundlessly make my exit but I pause and backtrack as I pass Zeks room. I didn’t like what he said about me and Cayleen yesterday. I guild into his room, taking his holy cloths and his holy underpants. I leave a red letter behind, the red barons calling card and leave as I hear the man mumble about smiting his foes. I pass the town square and button them onto a statue, having a good laugh at the visual of the Paladin streaking through town in the early morning. With the barons mischief managed I hop from tavern to tavern. I have one stop at the farthest tavern. As I open the door and I’m shocked at what I find. The entire place is destroyed! Tables broken in two, splatters of blood in certain places and mystery stains everywhere among the broken glass that litter the floor. I spy a large bar maid attacking a large blood mark on the floor under the table with a scrub brush. I can’t help raise an eyebrow. I’m getting desuvu from this type of carniage. Just as I step in a catch a familiar line of curses. “Damn those clowns! “Umm madam. Is the brewmaster in?” “Who’s f***s asking!?” “Well, jar-“ she immediately starts screaming in rage and I can’t help but jump and flinch as she storms towards me. “No! No more of you lot! I’ve had it up to here!! Get out! Out right now!!” “Sorry!! Sorry!” I vanish and bolt out of there, heart jumping into my throat. Maybe not this one. What the hells are problem? After Checking and double checking our sources and the brewmasters. There ready. The wine will be ever flowing tonight! By the time it’s done its past noon. I tell the gang to go wait at the tavern as I get Avelin. I close the door behind me and sigh wiping the sweat off my brow. Finally it's all ready. The booze has been paid off, the right people have been complimented or punched. We’re ready. I climb up the stairs for the inn till I reach the door. Fixing my collar, checking my appearance and pushing my hair back. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I push open the door. “Hey! Who’s ready for your party-. Why are you still in bed?” I step into the room to see my wife still in bed. She rolls over to look at me eyes puffy from crying. She’s thinking about him again. I sigh. “I’m sick.” My eyes narrow. “Dear, you'r not sick. It’s past noon. It’s time to get up.” She grumbles and throws the blanket over her head turning on her side. Ok that does it. “Avelin, I am not letting you mop in bed. Up and attem!” I begin to grab the blanket and she fights me back as i wrestle the blanket from her. It’s back and forth and dig my heels pulling harder into the floor. “Come on! I did just pay for all this and Cayleen and Hans didn’t waste their time just so You can’t sleep through it! Please Avelin.” Suddenly the door open and Sean peeks his head in. “Need shome assistances little man.” “f**! off sean! I’m busy!” The door closes behind him with a chuckle. Bloody b******d. I renew my efforts and I get the blanket off her. Before she can even grab it back from me I toss it out of the window panting dusting my palms. She’s sulking on the bed now and I sigh. “I can’t believe you threw out my blanket.” “A necessary evil.” I take her hand and grab a comb from the night stand. “It’s going to be fun. I think we both need it don’t you think?” She looks at me, sighs and then takes the comb from my hand. “I’ll be down in a second. Just turn around a minute and I’ll be ready.” “It’s not like I haven’t seen anything before-. Ow!” She hits me with the comb as I turn around to face the wall. ——————
The party is crazy. All throughout the town all drinks are free. The drunk and the carousers are running wild through the streets. The guard have their hands full with the chaos needlefest haven come ridiculously early this year. The Paladin has finally past out drunk which mean more for us and now I can cut loose! Finally!! The night is just getting started I slam my hand into the table and take a knee on the table, stein raised. “A toast to Avelins 100th kill! May she continue to kill her enemies stone dead! Hear hear!” “Hear! Hear!” I chug down my glass, wiping my mouth with the corner of my sleeve. That hit the spot! My ears prick as Avelin calls me over. I slide over next to her in the bar still wrapping an arm around her waists. She looks gorgeous today. She’s wearing that blue dress from saltmarsh. She’s even wearing some make up and the necklace and earrings I stole from her “Enjoying the party.” She kisses my cheek giggling. “I am! You and everyone did a marvelous job!” “Of course. It use to be part of my job to throw parties before I failed.” “Failed?” “Eh, not important. You look fantastic tonight.” She doesn’t seem to buy my deflection tactic as we watch Hans once again try to hit on Cayleen only for her to completely miss the hint. Damn, that’s cold. I whisper to Avelin. “I feel really sorry for the man. He keeps trying and keeps getting rejected. Think I should give him some tips? It’s not going to do him any good though. Cayleens too crazy for any of it.” “Worth a shot. They worked on me.” I chuckle rubbing the back of my neck blushing. “I might know one or two ladies I could set him up with but they would rob him blind.” I listen to the laughter and the carousing going on around me as I sip my ale. I’m keeping it on the lighter side tonight. Last time I was black out drunk I ended up engaged, not that I regret a single moment but I don’t even want to chance it anymore. Im watching a tough looking barbarian looking alittle out of place among the partiers. He’s got this heavy scowl on his face. I lean over to the bartender and hand him a few silvers. “Get that man a drink. He looks too sober. The good stuff.” The bartender nobs and takes down a bottle of fire giant ale. Suddenly Avelin stands and points at the bottle. “Actually get us both that as well! No scratch that give us each a full bottle” Before I can say anything two giant bottles of fire giant ale is sitting between us. Oh s***. My brand. We meet again. “I’m a challenging you to a drinking contest!” She declare bring the attention of the entire tavern and I can feel myself sweat. Oh s***, does she know what this stuff does to me!? “Avelin! Do you even know what this stuff is!” “No but who cares! It’s a party! I’ve seen you drink this all the time in tiny shot glasses and I want in! Let’s see who can hold theirs the longest!” “But-!” “Dear in all our time together you never get to drink with me when we’re in dungeons! It’s been too bloody long!” “I want to know which who among us is the best Drunkard. Or can my hansom hubby not hold his liquor compared to his lovey wife.” I grab the neck of the bottle and pop the cork. “Start counting.” Cayleen ends up being the ref as Elmarth judges. “I can’t believe you roped me into this but fine. On the count of three. One... two-.” Suddenly Avelin starts chugging and I do the same as the chanting of partiers echo around us, making bets and egging us on. Oh f***k! it burns so good! We’re both only halfway through the bottle, evenly match as it burns all the way down with the punch of the cinnamon in the back of my throat. I reach the dregs As we both slams the now empty bottles on the table gasping and stare at each other waiting. The entire bar goes silent as the fire giant ale starts to burns deep, flushing our faces and causing a cold sweat to break out. A minute passes and I’m feeling light headed but Avelin lerches using the table as support. Avelin looks like she’s struggling as I chuckle. “What’s the matter Dear. Alittle green around the-.” It then slams into my stomach and I throw my head into the bucket near by as it comes back up. “Ha! In your face! I Still got it!” the tavern erupts into cheers. By the time I climb back up from the bucket my wife is looking very smug. “Who’s queen of the booze love?” “You are.” I cough. “And don’t forget it!” She says chugging her beer. “Ya, ya. Just get me something to wash out the bile.” We sit together drinking and becoming obnoxious. A warm heavy feeling in my stomach settles in me. a wave of euthoria washes over me, numbing my senses. Suddenly everything is really funny as I burry my head into my hands giggling. The fire giant ale finally burning its way into my head. ——————————
10 minutes later I giggle to myself invisible hanging upside down from the rafter, I’m so happy! Huh, I can’t find Avey. “Avey! Hey Avey!! Where you go? You hiding?” I squint as something shiny flies through the air and clatters to the floor. Oooo. I drop down landing on the bar stool as it tips over. Oopsadaisy. I crawl to my feet and hover over the source of the shimmer. Ooooo. It’s a necklace, expensive necklace. Shinny. Just as I reach to grab it another sticky hand snags it. “Mine!” I hiss and punch him in the face. The man stumbles but holds on as we fight over the necklace screaming at each other as we roll over the floor. I slam my head into his nose, the force of it making him let go. Eventually he crawls away as I spit in his face. I win! Oh hey! There Avey! She’s missing her shinny! She needs a new one. I stumble over and climb myself back into a standing position as I place the necklace around her neck. “Got your pretty back! Going to find more now.” I giggle to my self as I lay my entire weight into her shoulder and slide to the floor. As I’m crawling on the floor I’m suddenly picked up by my shirt collar and sat at a table, it’s Hansy! “Hi hansy!” I slur patting his shoulder. His brows come together. “By the might of Kord Jaris, pull yourself together! You'r embarrassing yourself.” “Wha.. naw. I’m all good. You know your one of my bestest friend. You know that right. Right. Right. I don’t want you to die to!” I start sobbing into his shirt as he pulls me away and sits me at a table. “That’s it. Wait here. I need to get my holy symbol. Do not move an inch!” Hes gone before I know it as I swing my legs under the table. Suddenly Sean steps in front of me laughing, holding a large glass stein. “Wow sharis, didn’t take you as such a cry baby.” He starts laughing and my blood starts boiling. Suddenly the beer in his hand starts to boil as the glass super heats, exploding in his hands. Everyone jumps in the room but not by much. Broken glasses are common. “Ow! What the hells!” “Sean! Buddy! Are you ok? Let me help you with that.” I grab him by the collar and drag him to a kneeling position next to me as we pretend to pick up the glass. I lean into his ear. “Don’t think for a second you'r my buddy. Ive wanted to but were beyond that arnt we. yes we are. The reason your still here is because I don’t like getting my hands dirty and I respect our favorite dwarf cleric. Never forget. If you make Avelin cry, you’ll find yourself short a pair of legs.” I pull us both back up as Sean looks pale and shocked. “Ehh... your no fun mate! No fun at all!” I stumble away from him over to my wife how’s slumped over on a table. “Avey ave! It’s time to go!” I grumble pulling her into my shoulder as she groans. “Ahhh, dear. Where are we going.” “Some place fun!” I shout manic with glee as she shuffled along with my movement. “As long as theirs more booze!” She demands as we stumble out of the bar into the cold winter air. ———————————
A filter of dull light shines though my eye lids. I groan rolling over into my stomach as the throbbing pericing headache. Everything’s swaying! Oh, my firk! ding! blast!ing head! I feel like awful! SomeOnes biting incense in here. Why Hans!? Why?! I throw the blanket over my head ready to go back to sleep when the bloody rooster starts shrieking! Ah bloody birds! Wait. The inn doesn’t have any chickens. I throw myself straight up from bed and regret it as my head throbs painfully. It takes all I have to open my eyes. Instead of the wooden walls of the inn my eyes are flooded with color. I’m in the familiar purple and orange tent, laying in a make shift bed of pillows and blankets in the recovery ward and the smell of jasmine becomes clear where the heck I am. I’m back home. This is the recovery ward, were we throw the sick, injured, or the past out drunkards. I’m by myself and I can hear the sound of work outside, of the hammering of tent likes and the sound of animals which I recognize from the nearby holding pens. How the heck did I get back home? Wait? Oh f***! I took Avelin with me! I swing myself out of bed and I notice I’m not wearing my usual cloths. It’s just a white blouse and a pair of . I spy my old cloths folded next to the bed, clean and pressed along with my cloak. I’m grateful no ones tried to nick anything while I was belligerent. As I don on my belongings a cry of surprise, and cheers erupt next door. Good bet She’s there. I exit the tent, cringing as the light burns my eyes. I’m hit by a wave of nostalgia seeing the many members of my family in their bright costumes and leather setting up tents and letting the animals out roam in the snow covered fields. Horses graze the frosted snow while chickens roam the camp grounds. Jodish, the elven Smith is sharpening blades on the stone wheel as sparks dance, young kids are back stabbing straw dummy’s as some are being flipped over their teachers back for failing to pick pockets. Some are even doing mock battles, dining their wooden masks like me and joe use to do. The ladies in their bright dresses are practicing their fiery dancing around the bon fire while the old women are working the weaves. Oli clerics are gather together in a circle drinking and laughing while men work around them doing all manor of work such as practicing for the night shows and setting up the camp. I creep past the chaos going around outside to the large tent next door and as I peel back the tent flap the noise grows into a roar. I see the rows among rows of wooden tables and chairs, the jumbo cooking in the back in the old iron pot and theirs Avelin. She’s surrounded by hoards of theives and scoundrels all screaming and betting as she’s arm wrestling with-. The b******d luck of Oli thats Javok! Jakov is a wall of muscle that he makes a orc proud despite being human and Avelin is winning. Her face is red and she’s clutching the table with her free hand but damn she’s doing it! “Im betting five gold she does him!” “Piss off! No one beats Jakov! 20 gold!” A large argument breaks out as money is exchanged and past along but as the bartering starts Jakov begins to lose ground and Avelin slams his hand into the table silencing the entire tent. She did it! She bloody did it! “ Stands up with arms raised she shouted at them! “Victory is Mine!” Her voice breaks them of their shock. Groans go out while some cheers and jibs are exchanged along with coins. Jakov is massaging his arm muttering a few choice words. I take this moment to slide next to Avelin as she put her head on the table, taking her hand under the table. She looks like she’s fair well as I am with the hangover. "Ave, you ok?" I whisper to her. She turns her gaze on to me, her eyes bloodshot. "My heads killing me. That was one wild party last night. Where the hells are we?" "Well, These are my family. I seem to have dragged you back home in my drunken stupor." She sits up a little straighter, her eyes darting to me and then to the rest of the men and woman arguing their wins and losses. "OOoooohhhh. That explains somethings." Were interrupted when a familar pair of meaty hands claps onto my shoulder, ohhh no. "Little brother! Long time no see! You finally risen from the dead!" Javok bellows and i already feel the bruise from the force of his grip. "Javok! Good to see you! please release your paw on my shoulder before you crush it." He releases me with a hearty laugh and then looks to Avelin and bows. "Tis an honor to be bested by such a vision of beauty. Jaris certainly nows how to pick the best for a young lass like yourself besting me in a feat of strength.." he then turns to the both us. "I must know, how long have you've both been together." "Umm, a couple of months now, like half a year? Right dear." "Sounds right love." "ho, ho , ho. Such a long commitment for the two of you. Before you know it you'll be wed." He then puts a foot on the table and raises his mug of ale into the air. "To the happy couple, hear! hear!" "Hear! Hear!" The room chants back as cups are lifted. I glance at Avelin, knowing fully well what happens next. Theres no way around it. "It already happened Jakov This is Avelin, my wife." Javok starts choking on his ale, gasping for air wided eyed as his eyes stare. The entire room goes quiet, the attention drawned back to us. "Married! All this time and you didn't come back for grannys blessings!" "S*** happened Jakov. It happened fast." His looks at us with urgency but a big stupid smile on his face and tears in his eyes. he suddenly swings around to the crows again. "Our little ferret has grown up already without old Jakov! We need more booze for the celebration!" the room erupts in cheers and we are surrounded by well wishers asking questions. Avelin looks like she wants nothing more but to get to bed and half*** some of their questions until Javok slams a fist to the table. "Alright scram! They need to prepare for the ritual, so everyone shove off!" With lots of whinning our well wishers leave and Avelin looks confused, looking to me for clarification. "Ritual?" I don't say anything. its forbidden. with the tent empty of people jakov wipes his eyes. "You must go to her right away! Im sure she will be sore learning you did'nt receive her blessings before the partial materaony." "were not exactly in the best of conditions right this second as you can see." he ruffles me hair laughing. "non sense! Just suck in some air and you'll make it. I'll save some of the jumbo for the both of you. Now get!" "We will, thanks. Come on Ave, we need to go." She goes without a fight and soon we are weaving our way through the camp heading towards granny, our matriarch. She speaks as we get closer to her tent. "Dear? What is this ritual he was talking about." I sigh, i should have told her sooner. "He's talking about the Union of Shadows. A marriage ceremony that happens when a troupe members marries an outsiders. He was rushing us because we cant do it without the blessings of our leader, my grandma Jolls. If the Union is never completed then the troupe will never consider or marriage complete. "But what is it? What do we have to do?" "I cant tell you. It's a secret that the newly weds share with each other. We're here." We stand before a large decorative tent. I squeeze her hand, looking into her eyes. She's nervous. "What if she says no? What if she doesn't like me." i kiss her and smile. "She'll love you." I hold the tent open for her as we walk inside. the smell of incense is even more over powering then it was in the recovery ward. Avelin almost gags from the smell and i cant blame her considering this isn't agreeing with both our hangovers. Its is then we spy her. She is sitting in a plush arm chair sipping some tea, a great silver axe displayed in a display case. She's donned with the bright patterns and colors across her old bones, her long hair pined, braided and decorated with an assortment of bobbles as a starey shawl overs her head and obscuring her face, curtains of white hair spilling past the shadows. Hey striking clouded eyes look up to us, a ghost of a family spreads across her lips.
"Oh, my dear child's come home. Come closer so i can see your face." I smile suddenly nervous. i bend down to her level as her bony hands cup my face as his rings clink against each other. I suddenly feel like a kid again under her pericing eyes as her eyes light up. "Ah, Jaris. you've come home. hmmmm. You've changed. So many scars. You'r different. Your souls been touched by death and yet you stand before me." "Hi granny, it's good to see you." Her brows crinkle in confusing, her eyes darting behind me to Avelin. "What has happened to your other half dear boy." my joy fades a little. "He's gone granny. He's gone to the other side." She falls into silence as her hands leave my face and I step back. "You've brought a woman with you. Who may you be dear?" "Um, hi. Im Avelin. Jaris wife." Her expression changes from one of sorrow to one of intrigue. " what a surprise. Im not surprised often. Come closer dear. These eyes maybe gone but i can recognize your shape. I don't bit, much." she cackles. Avelin looks to me for guidance. looking lost. I take her hand, tell her it will be ok and lead her to granny lowering her face to the woman. he flinches when her long nails grazes her skin, stiffening as her unfamilar hands take in her face. "Such a beautiful face." granny mutters. "Um grandma-." "Silence son! I am thinking! cant an old woman think!?" She continues her investigation. "You are strong. You having what he lacks. I see why he chose you." She releases her face and pats her on the head with a smile then locks her gaze to me "So this is the woman you married without my permission." I squirm under her eyes. "I'm really sorry. Alot was going on." "I can see that. it bothers this old woman deeply when you snot nose punks start going on flings." I get on my knees and bow. "Granny, i know i messed up but please bless our union. She means the world to me." She hums to her self looking at Avelin. "Jaris, please wait outside for a moment. I would like to speak to your wife alone." I bow again. Avelin doesn't want to let go as she whispers don't leave me. I pet her hand, ensuring her she'll be fine and leave watching the troupe work. it feels like its taking for ever so i end up picking a stick up from the ground and drawing circles in the snow. I got through eight circles when Avelin waves me back in. Avelin a lot more at ease than she was from the beginning. I cant tell what granny might have said to her? "What happened with you two?" "I cant tell you. it's a secret." oh how rich. granny sits up straight in her chair smoking from her pipe. "Now then." She gets out from her chair, hobbling towards us and Avelin eyes go a little wide when the hunched up old woman stops hunching and is taller than her. She places both her hands on our shoulder with a smile. "As the leader of this gang i give you both my blessings. Now I think it's time shall we." She turns us around as Julis and Johanna walk through the door. My is Julis here? How is the troupe cleric involved in the ritual? "You called for us." Johanna asks with a knowing smirk. "Yes dear. Could you help sweet Avelin prepare for tonight. she'll need to look nice for the event. Julis you'll take Jaris." He nods and he gives her a solute taking my arm and dragging me away as Johanna takes Avelin. As we step outside were taken in the opposite direction, separating us. She gives me one worried look before she disappearing into the girls tent as I'm taken to the med ward feeling a little worried. ---------------------------------
I walk right into the tent and Im instantly assaulted by Julis with a slur of medical questions and starts poking and probing me. Im sitting in a chair as Julis is shifting through bottles on his shelf, all my magic items and gear are sitting neatly in a corner. Im really confused. Is this what it's all about? I heard stories but sitting here with the medic isn't what i imagined. Im jolted out of my thoughts as Julis speaks. "So jaris, which color do you prefer. Blue or orange." He says holding up two bottles. "I don't know. orange i guess." "thats too bad. You'r getting blue." He then places the orange one back into the shelf and brings the blue to his work bench as he grabs a jar filled with red powder. he consults an open book on his desk and stirs the powered into the blue liquid turning it purple. I really don't like where this is going. He gives is a quick look, humming to himself as he holds the bottle in his hand. he flips though the book and begins to speak. "I still remember that day you know. When you came to me to ask a favor. Do you remember what i said?" I sigh, feeling a little foolish when he brought that up. "Ya, you said no. That i need to find happiness in myself." "Ah good. As strange as this is you may get to experience that wish." He pushes the bottle into my hands. "drink it." my eyes narrow "What is it?" "You will be experiencing true darkness for the ceremony and we cant have your special eyes breaking the rules. Time is short, the suns already setting now so drink." I glance at it not wanting to drink this s*** but i want to go through with this, let my marriage be recognized by my family. I sigh. "If it's poison you owe me a drink." I drink it and immediately i feel weird and light headed. Him hit by a wave of nausea, my skin crawls, and it doesn't help my headache as the room sways. My ears sting and my eyes burn. "What did you give me!?" I demand, feeling the strength leave. Darkness starts creeping around the corner of my eyes as Jakov walks into the tent. I cant see or hear what there saying but soon he has me over his shoulder and were walking as I start feeling weirder and weirder going in and out of awareness. Its like when Elmarth turned me into animals but nothings changed. He takes me into the woods nearby just as the sun set. We arrive at a hole in the ground with a rope latter as he lets me go. I have to sit down on the ground as the last of whatever was done to me passes. On the bright side the fresh cold air did wonders for my hangover. I looks at my hands and i'm relieved to see my normal hands but what changed? "You ok laddy?" "I'll live." I push my hair out of my sweaty face but it falls back into my eyes rather then stay back. What the hells? Before i can investigate He shoves a different back pack in my hands and a short sword. "Well this is it. For the ceremony you must find your wife in these caves, spend the night in darkness and escape. There is nothing threatening inside the caves but you each have one weapon. We'll be waiting for you and good luck." He gives me a pat on the back before departing as i descend into the hole as the light above starts to fade. Ok find Avelin, get out. It will be easy with my eyes- wait! I cant see! I stumble and falls off the latter with a thud. It hurts but i can ignore that. Why cant i see?! Wait! i reach up to my ears but instead of their blunt knife tips their round and smooth. Im.. human. I barely grasp this revelation. I cant believe he did this to me. I'll sort this out latter. I need to find her but how? I start clinging to the wall blind. its seems to go on forever. I continue walking till i bump into a dead end. Damn! I turn back and barely manage to find the other corridor. I feel so exposed, I feel like somethings going to jump me at any moment. This must be what it's like for Avelin. It's scary. Have i been taking my abilities for granted? I hope i find her soon. She doesn't do well in darkness. It then i hear her, crying. My ears don't twitch at all but thats far from my mind. Avelin. "Ave! Is that you!? Just stay there, I'm coming!" "Jaris!? Thank the gods!" I start crawl my way through the cave as fast as possible. Suddenly i slam into something as Ave screams and slaps me. Found her! "Ave stop! It's me!" she stops her attacks and throws her arms around me, kissing me as i finally relax knowing she's safe. When she parts she tries to push my hair back drying her tears. "Im so glade i found you. They put me down here said I had to find you in this dark pit alone. It got too much." "I know but I'm here." "Im so glade my husband can see in the dark. Now you can easily get us out." "Ave, i cant. They took away my infer-vision for the trail." "What! s***! What they do to you?!" she feeling around my face but her breath halts when she touches my ears. "Jaris. Your.." "It doesn't matter right now. We need to get out." I take her hand and we walk with only the sounds of our foot steps echoing through the darkness. She clutches onto me tight as our feet travel blind through the caverns. "Im glade you'r with me, even though you cant see you make me feel safe. You keep the nightmares at bay." I smile "And you make me feel confident in myself.I never realized this is what true darkness looks like. Is this how everything looks in the dark. It feels like my eyes are being covered." "What do you see then?" "Well, I see the heat signatures of the walls, the floor and the imprints of feet. but now...Its is just nothing.... Ave, I'm sorry i never realized how scary the darkness was for you." I suddenly feel myself hugged from behind. "Its alright. Thats why i have you." We continue walking through the darkness. It feel like hours go by, that we are simply walking in circles. My legs start hurting and i can feel myself getting sleepy. "Well, ready to bunker down?" She yawns mumbling out a yes as I chuckle. I set down the bed rolls when i feel her crawl next to me and place things in my hands. "Jaris! They packed us some wine." Oh, the wineskin and the other i think must be jerky. I take a sip, its good and sturdy brand. It really hits the spot. Avelin inhales her share. "Thank the gods they gave us that. You know i would die without it!' she exclaims. We drink and eat our fill and lay down onto the bedrolls, arms curled protectively around each other. ---------
I dream that night. Im with Avelin about fair away from me. we approach each other, our shadows parrell. As we stand side by side as shadows people emerge around us. They are theifs and lost family member. Every single Jala thief lost to death. They each come to us, touching our hands before departing, sharing their blessings. It then comes to Joe and Greg. Joe kisses Avelin hand as Greg embraces me. "Its good to see you both." I tell them as they smile. They switch off and give us their blessings as they depart for the last time. Avelin reaches out to Greg. "I miss you greg!" She shouts out to him and he nods knowingly and he whispers. "I love you to cousin." and like dust their both gone as one last person approaches us. We can hear his laughter vibrate around us. A man cloaked in light and shadows, a laughing and frowning jester mask obscuring his face. He takes our hands and place them in each other hands. "I approve of these two. May your love bind your fates together." It is then that in the great shadow of this man both mine and Avelin's shadows merge with each others.
We both jump up from the bed roll gasping. We search around the darkness for each each other till our arms. "Did you see it to?" I asked, confused and breathless. "Yes! I think they slipped us some drugs!" I start laughing, only Avelin. "Wouldn't put it past them but I don't know. At least we got to see them again." my laughter causes her to chuckle. It's time for us to move on. We pack up quickly and once again continue this long and ridiculous journey in pitch blackness. Im starting to think that I've just walked us into a huge circle when i hear it. Music. Its just up ahead! We pick up speed and the darkness starts peeling back as the early morning sun greats us. Bathed in the glow of the early morning light i finally get to see. We're standing in the middle of the woods, the music echoing farther ahead with the dim glow of a fire. I look at her. She's just as she was yesterday, her hair a little of a mess but she's still beautiful as she ever was. Even more so now. She fought back her fears. She now radiates with confidence. This is a shared victory. I wrap her up in a hug and look into her eyes. She pushes my hair out of my face. "We did it!" I cry out excited. She smiles in response but she looks sad with her fingers running along my round ear, playing with it. "I miss your ears. They were cute." I try to move them but i cant. I chuckle blushing, feeling so happy. In the past id would have wanted to stay this way, but now. I want to go back to being myself now since that was the man she feel in love with. I feel like we've both changed from this experience for the better. "They can fix that later but for now let's celebrate." I kiss, arm around each other in the early glow of the morning light. --------------------------------
We both wince in pain as the last of the painful process finishes up. With the trail over its time for our official symbol of our marriage. We stumbled into the camp and were cleaned up. the both of us given fresh cloths, a bath, and all dolled up for the party. The girls did an amazing job on Avelin. They fixed her ear piercings, did up her hair in all sorts of jewels and pins, did her make up and placed her in the troupes nice dresses dawning our orange and purple in the skirts with a white peasant top. Julis, and Johanna places the dyes and the needles down. "There! all done. Best work yet." Johanna exclaims as Julis sighs tired. "Do you mind. It's still too early. You enthusiasm is ruining my mood." He tells her off as we move our arms away from each other to examine their work. On my fore arm I now posses Oildammars half mask, the mask of tragedy for my foes. Avelin looks at her to see his mask of Comedy for strength in battle. We line them up again and its the complete mask. No ones going to be stealing or losing this. "Do you like it?" I ask her curious. She smiles big and wide. "I love it." We both get up from our chairs stretching. I look at Julis and Johanna respectfully and grateful. "Thank you both. It looks amazing. by the way, when is this going to wear off." I point towards my face as Johanna starts cracking up again. Julis sighs. This is a record for him to be speaking for so long. "Give it another day and it will wear off. Now off you go. Your keeping everyone waiting." Satisfied we exit the tent to be greeted by the massive party that has been going on outside as the wine flows from the kegs and the music sing through the chilled winter air. the moment we are seen cheers and applause meet us as we hold our newly marked arms up for the crowd to see. We are herded to our seats at the table besides granny as she grins knowingly. She pick up her large tankard as she stands. "A toast to there happy marriage and my new granddaughter! May they live a full and happy life!" We all raise our glasses and agreement and drink. Granny slams her down before anyone can finish, shaking the table. "Now who wants some of granny's jumbo!" ---------------------------------------------
A few days later we set off on our new journey refreshed and ready. They are not going to escape the second time. a barbarian has joined us this time on this misadventure. theres only few goals for me. find Avelin parents, make sure everyone gets out alive, get flithy stinking rich. Like the bunch of crazy unstoppable bad*** we kill a group of Gnolls and Avelin skewers a tiny invisible theif known as a leprechaun in the next room. I feel for the poor thing as myself being an invisible theif. He never saw it coming. I come to the disturbing revelation that boars eat meat. Great job Cayleen, you've ruined bacon for me. As the skilled expert of the group i find a floor trap and we cleverly avoid it as i jam the gears only to find the door i went to the trouble of getting to turned out to be a fake door. How cute. there doesn't seem like theres another way down or up in this complex. It just loops back around. Suddenly another tiny theif tries to snag Aves necklaces but this time she manages to talk to him and he shows us that they slide down the trap door with the raw hides in the next room. Perfect. Bravely and surprisingly Ricardo actually agrees to help scout down there but learned quickly why we don't send him to do a theif's job. Im glade he's ok. he's passive aggressive but he's such a good dragon. cayleen the comes up with this amazing plan as we all pile up on the sleds. I had to aggravatingly re activate the floor but once the gears are back in line Off we go. We slide faster and faster with building speed when we see our enemies. More gnoll's with one very large one standing as their leader. Everything goes to plan. Cayleen throws her flash bomb, stunning them, our wonderfully deadly archers fills them with arrows as the slide flies in the air. Elmarth blasts spells. We hits the ground running as Hans holds person. theres still some that arnt stun. the back guys. I sprint down to them unheard and unseen but lazer focus. He raises the cross hairs of his cross bow to my wife as anger flares. I pulled the blade back, slamming into him as the beast yelps and screams. "Not one my watch b***!!" I scream as i twist the blade and a fountain of blood pours all over me, soaking me entry! I can feel it bleed through the cracks of my leather armor and over my shirt. "Ugh! Come on! This is going to chaffe like a crazy!" I try shaking the shocking about of blood with no use. I glance at the rest of the group to see they manage to kill all but one. "Holy S**T" Sean says looks a little pale in seeing the carnage. The paladin looks at me with disgust as the barbarian as a proud look on his face. I raise up a bloody hand. "Hi, don't think we've talked much yet." Avelin looks at me with such pride i can feel myself getting hot under the blood and gore. I rub the back of my neck feeling uncomfortable. "Well, this is awkward. Im going back to invisible now. Bye." I vanish again. Cayleen is slowly making her way to us, moving unnaturally slow. What happened to her. I need to get this blood off. It's going to make traveling ten times harder and i don't want to smell like carrion to my wife.
-Jaris F. J
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Oct 1, 2019 10:01:35 GMT -5
Jaris finally cleans himself up and rejoins us just as we are trying to figure out how to get through the wall of blue fire. Not wanting to waste any time, and deducting by the stairs leading down into the bubbling goo, I stick the pinky finger of my left hand in it. If I'm going to lose a finger, that's my best bet. The goo doesn't hurt, but it does get very sticky. Testing it a bit more, I submerge my hand. Pulling it out, it's very hard to move.
I make it through the fire after completely covering myself in goo, but when I join Ceyleen and a very naked Manbear on the other side, the goo already is hardening over me and my shield magnetized, pinning my arm to my chest. Everyone else gets through, some taking more damage than others due to not using the goo. We are all worried about getting attacked since most of us can't move, and unfortunately Elmarth's dog took off running and barking. However, we rest, the hardened goo peels off, and we heal up. The dog even comes back! A group of bugbears didn't fare so well, very eager to come kill us... they all got fried trying to walk through the flames.
Moving on some hours later, we come to a room with a rope hanging in the middle. Ceyleen runs in, and swings on it. It doesn't go well for her. The floor folds back, she falls in a pool of acid, and after a bunch more acid damage and fumbling around, Manbear gets her out. We leave and hope that the floor comes back so we can get to the door on the other side.
When we open the door again, the floor isn't back. We have to take the rope! Manbear goes first, and makes it across. He sends it back, and one by one we all cross and nobody else falls in the acid. Manbear helps by catching everyone, but apparently my husband told him not to touch me in any way, shape or form so I land hard and fall on my a**. Jaris is needlesly jealous, and if that gets me hurt or killed I will prick him with poison myself! But, I would never do that.
We move on, and open the door to a room with a statue about my height, but wide and kind of plant-like. As Manbear enters the room, it shoots out vines! I raise my bow, nock an arrow, and-
Kill them. Kill them all.
Kill. I need to kill. The casters! They want me dead. They want master dead! I shoot the mage, and he falls. Good! The swamp witch is next... she is dangerous. Then the big guy with the holy symbol... he doesn't like that- good! Die, you monsters! The thief is hurting master! I have to take the cleric out, but the thief is next!
My head hurts. Bad. Someone is holding me and shouting. I start to come back to awareness, groaning in pain. My eyes feel like they're swelling up, and my nose drips blood in a steady stream.
"What happened?"
Jaris turns me toward him, and holds a handkerchief to my nose. He looks a little worse for wear, and really mad.
"I thought you died. You turned to stone, and then turned on us."
"Is the statue dead? Last thing I remember we were running at it."
"Yes. It's dead. It had you and Manbear under its control."
"You nearly killed Elmarth and Ceyleen." Hans says. "Hurt me pretty good. Sorry about the punch, I couldn't help it."
"What punch?"
I see Ceyleen rubbing her knuckles and glaring at me. Guess those two are the reason my face is wrecked.
"No hard feelings." I hiss.
I check on Elmarth and apologize. My arrows hit him hard, and not often does anyone live to tell the tale of how it feels to be killed by Aevlin. He wears the scars as a badge of honor. I apologize to Hans and Ceyleen, and hope their resentment fades. They understand I was under control of that Storoper, I couldn't help it. But we know now that if anyone is going to be mind controlled, they definitely don't want it to be me!
We move on after much needed healing, and come to a room with fully wooden walls. Looks like this is a job for Jaris. I hope we aren't in for anymore surprises...
>>-----> Aevlin, Archeress of Death <-----<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Oct 1, 2019 15:43:09 GMT -5
"Hey guys i'm back. Sorry i vanished on everyone. What happened to the paladin and what are we standing infront of." Before us stands a bubbling pool of with stairs leading into it, a narrow walkway leading through a blue flickering wall of death. I don't like either option. Avelin waves me over as i stand with her in front of the pool. "Good to see you dear. He was killed on the way here." "oh." I should be concern that this doesn't worry me anymore. Ive seen and done too much s***. "Anyway, we're going to try and cross this mess but first." She then sticks a pinky in. When it comes back unscathed she sticks her entire hand and it comes back covered in the goo and rubbery. Cayleen sends her beetals through the firewall and they all zapped upon impact. I cringe. Avelin tells me going through it might be safe but we might get stuck and drown but this stuff should keep us safeish. I glance out into the goo and recoil. I really don't want to drown in that. Whelp, guess well have to get covered in this stuff don't we. sigh. Before Avelin can begin Manny then steps up and prodeces to strip right in front of us. My hand flies to Avelin's eyes. "Jaris come on!" "You don't want to see this, trust me. I wish i hadn't." Manny then proceedes to walk through the fire and get zapped though not as bad as the bugs but then the goo on him starts to harden "Its getting hard to move!" He shouts waving an arm as he makes it to the other side. A side effect from the lightening, but how long does it last. Im starting to hate both my options. Getting shocked or drowning in goo. I start taking off my gauntlets, boots and my rings. Better safe than sorry. Everyone starts coating up. I only have my arms when Avelin brushs past me and kisses me on the check. "See you on the other side." She then proceeds to go across, her armor magnetizes and with a clank her sheild is now stuck to her. Elmarth scares the s*** out of his dog when he transforms into a large eagle and picks him up and flies safely to the otherside. Now it's just me, the new guy and Nylen. "Im going in." Says Nylen and he begins to wade in. As he goes up to his chest I'm reminded of stories of quick sand. "Nylen wait!" he's gone just as I reach the stairs and as I plunge my arms in looking for him he's far gone. "S***." the new guy then tries to breast stroke into it before going under. Im by myself now. "Come on Jaris! Hurry up!" I sigh looking at the flame wall. F*** it. Im going for it. I just need to have faith he's not dead. I breath deep and step through it volts go coursing through me causing me to stagger on the bridge but i keep my footing. I make it across trying to find the rythem back in my heart. My arms feel like their in clay casts and i can barely bend them. I lean against the wall not feeling good and sink to the floor catching my breath with everyone else who got more of a shock like i did. Manny then stumbles over. "You don't look well. Need some first aid." "That would be great thanks." I then learn quickly that i made a mistake. he f***ing did it somehow but I cant believe him. "Thanks, i guess." I tell him. While he goes to heal the other the new guy emerges from the goo looking like a slime monster but alive but no Nylen. "Just so you know don't do that to my wife." I shuffle to Avelin and sit by her watching the goo. "he still hasnt come up." I tell her extremely worried. "Maybe he's stuck." Give him some time." We watch with batted breath. We've been through a lot together and in some crazy way i consider him as our group leader. I don't want to know what will happen if after all this, a pond of ooz is what did him in. Suddenly he emerges unharmed, holding something. He wipes the goo off his face. "Turns out you can breath it. Found this." He holds up a short sword and whips the gunk off with his cloak only to reveal nothing underneath. I blink eyes wide. An invisible sword... My hands go to grasp the blade and instead of thin air I feel its sheath in my hands. "Why don't you take it Jaris. You'r the only one without a magic weapon." I hold it in my hands memorized. Again, Nylen finds me the coolest s*** next to Avelin. "T-thank you" I grab the sheath and draw the blade out, still invisible. I put it back and find the straps and tie it to my belt above Dafadill and I vanish! What!? With everyones help we do a series of test and realize that the sword makes it's wear invisible, which mean. I take the ring of invisibility in my hand. You served me well. I then place it back in Avelin's hand with a smile. "As promised." She smiles taking it back. She then gives it to Hans and i can tell he's enjoying invisibility just as much as i have. We rest and watch Bug bears get zapped. A name drifts into my mind as i hold the sword. Lyon. I cant remember were i heard this name but it fits. I shall call this sword Lyon. the goo then starts to chip off and i have free movement again but now have to peel of this garbage. I wince in pain. My arms are now silky smooth and hairless. Whelp. Avelins loves spa treatment we unintentally got. "We should have gone in, my skin never felt so smooth." I chuckle but jump as Manny howls in agony. Cayleen just helped ripped a large peice off his back. I cringe, wincing in sympathy thinking about his now personal problem. "Ave. I think you should cover your ears. It's going to get loud." -------------
We bypast an acid trap but not without incident. Cayleen fell in but thanks to the efforts of Manny and Cayleen testing the rope we managed to get by. Avelin's getting tired of my over protectiveness when manny let her fall on her rear. She's probably right but i cant help but worry about her. It was a quick spat that ended quickly and was forgiven just as fast. WE marched down the corridors. Ive given up the ghost on searching for traps in this corridor. It takes too long and risks us getting caught. Elmarth already got jumped by a spider already. The hallway lets out into this room were a large stone statue stands in place. It's a very ugly peice of art work. I stand behind Avelin unseen as we hear something. Suddenly tenticals erupt from the statue and lash out. She readies takes aim, Manny charges, then they are periced by the tentacles. Her and Mannys body begin to harden and crack into stone as im powerless to stop it. I watch the stone encase my wife’s panicked face and instead of my beautiful wife is a statue frozen in terror. I feel myself go numb and a part of me starts to die. I feel like I'm dying. My trembling hands cup her face but there is no warmth. Only cold hard stone. Avelin... she... it... killed.. my wife. It. Killed. My wife. My hands start trembling and I look wide eyed behind me to the monster and it’s many failing limbs. IT KILLED MY WIFE!! I run. Run with all the speed I have till it’s within my reach. I draw Lyon and jump high in the air. “YOU KILLED MY WIFE!!” I slam my body, my weight and the unseen blade and my seething hatred and pain straight through its gapping maw. It gags and sweeps its tentacles as I twist, its vile blood slickening the blade and my arms. Mind wild and with the ferocity of a savage beast I twist roaring in pain and anger as I raise Lyon again, the blood already sliding off the blade. It sweeps a tenticale at me as I drop from its form. I’ll make it bleed. Make it suffer. Suddenly I hear a sound. The famialr twang of arrows and Elmarth short scream. I look back to see Avelin, alive, beautiful but eyes cold and vacant. She’s shooting our friends. Why... my bow. “Your alive.” I choke, confused but over joyed. I feel the warmth come back into my soul and I feel like myself again. Suddenly teeth but into my shoulder hard as I growl and scream. I slam an elbow into its teeth, causing it to let go as I stumble away from it. Damn. I hold Lyon still invisible while I am not. Come on Lyon. Show me how you work. Hans screams at me and it clicks. I slide the blade back much to my displeasure as I vanish once again. It needs to pay. I need to free Avelin. Elmarth is on death door. The thing is dragging both Cayleen and him to its maw. I strike but the accurty i once had is gone and i swing too wide. Just as i begin to fear Ive damned myself Nylen rushes and and so does the new guy. Inviso Hans freezes Avelin and Manny and they strike it down. Avelin and Manny collapse to their knees panting. Cayleen and Hans get their before me and slug her in the face. If they werent my closest friends and I didn't see what happened i would have been furious. I scoop Avelin in my arms and i can feel myself sobbing into her shoulder. That was too close again. I manage to pull myself together as she comes to. "What happened?" She asks me as I'm trying to stop her nose bleed. We move one after some recoperating. that battle did a number on us. I tell her everything. somehow we made it through this again. It doesn't get any easier. We descend down into the pit, going deeper into this place. Where are the slaver?
-Jaris FJ
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Oct 7, 2019 23:02:43 GMT -5
The wooden room isn't as scary as we thought. After failed attempts to kick the door open, and nearly breaking my ankle, Ceyleen got it open. She took a bunch of spikes to the chest, but we got through to the next one. After following a hallway for a bit we come to an obviously locked door. I fail to kick it, and nearly the whole party tries before Elmarth casts knock.
This room is stacked with enemies. Including a demonic gnoll sitting on a throne, ghouls, more gnolls, and a big dinosaur thing. It bellows, charges, and the fight begins!
After shooting the monster, the illusion it was under falls apart and its revealed to be a smaller thing with antennae and feathery tentacles. As it attacks Jameson and our new dwarf, their armor completely disintegrates- rust monster! I keep shooting, but my arrows keep dying to it. Nylen is shooting at an old man that appeared when the gnoll demon thing disappeared, and it seems we are dealing with an illusionist. Elmarth runs off to talk to him, but soon darkness obscures them.
"Aevlin, don't look, they're naked!" I hear Jaris call.
"I've already seen everyone naked!" I laugh. "Hans and I were in prison together... I'll let you figure that one out."
I think I might have put my foot in my mouth with that one, as my husband goes quiet. What, it's true! I started my journey against the Slavers fighting nearly naked and I've been on the road with adventurers ever since!
Ceyleen goes down, and I fear for my best friend as she lies bleeding, but soon I'm attacked by a big gnoll with a broadsword. He kicks my a**, but I get him. Soon all the enemies are gone, most of them illusory, and one rust monster having been eaten by Kevin Bacon. We move forward into the room, Hans dispelling the darkness so we can see.
I go immediately to the throne, and take a seat. It feels... right. And as I sit, I feel a secret compartment! Opening it reveals a map of some city... Suderham. Poor Jameson walks up to me in nothing but a shirt and trousers.
"Hey, Jameson. You look like you could use some armor."
"Yeah... the gnolls' stuff is a bit too big."
I dig through my pack and pull out my rolled up chain shirt.
"It's a little girly, but this is my old armour. It served me well."
"I'm a half-elf, the girliest of all humans!"
Soon everyone comes back into the room, some having gone down the tunnel behind the throne to fetch Elmarth and the wizard guy.
"Elmarth, where are the bodies?" The old man asks him.
He explains that we burnt the bodies of the horrible adventurers that attacked us, and apparently we are mercenaries working for the slavers. Interesting cover story. Suddenly a scorch mark appears that wasn't there before.
"Why is there a scorch mark appearing?" He seems very suspicious, and Elmarth casts charm again.
"Can you help us get to Suderham?" Elmarth asks the old man, who we are told is Wimple Frump, an illusionist. He unties him.
"Elmarth, I know the way," I say, holding up the map. "We don't need him!"
"What does she mean?" Frump asks Elmarth.
"She doesn't know what she means!" Elmarth replies, walking over to me.
Suddenly I'm knocked off my feet by the most powerful slap I've ever received. I think my soul left my body. I touch my stinging cheek, slowly coming to my senses. Jaris slaps him back, and Elmarth covers up to Frump that as mercenaries this is how we keep everyone in line. I'm just impressed at the power of our Elmarth, he packs a punch!
We get a glimpse of the Aerie of the Slave Lords as we come to the City of Suderham. Just outside the city gates we jump some aristocrats, taking their robes and papers. There's enough for all but one, but Jaris and Hans are invisible. We enter at sunset, handing off papers and are granted entry. As we enter, an old limping beggar approaches, asking for alms. Elmarth obliges, and the man says one thing:
"Seek out the Ivory Paladin."
We make our way through town, acting like snooty nobles but mostly minding our own business. Ceyleen asks someone where we can stay that has a bar, somewhere nice, and we are told to go to the White Knight. There's our Ivory Paladin!
We are stopped by guards, and despite Nylen's best efforts of pulling the snooty noble card, they don't seem to give a damn who we are. They think Nylen wants to speak to their manager, but we quickly dismiss that. We get into the White Knight, and it's definitely an upgrade from the usual places I've been frequenting in our travels.
I go straight to the bar and order one of everything from the overweight and sweaty bartender. He gives me a look, but I've got the gold.
"There's no way a girl your size can handle that much liquor." He says.
"Sir, I've had a rough couple days. You would be surprised how much I can drink."
He cocks an eyebrow, and starts pouring. Nylen tries to give me a talk, but soon we are interrupted by a tavern girl telling Ceyleen she can't have Kevin in here. We soon settle that he will stay in the stable, but Ceyleen won't be parted with him.
"Alright, we can get drunk and do mud masks in the barn, then." I tell her.
I feel Jaris siddle up next to me as Hans emerges from the men's room, visible again. I complain to Jaris about him always being invisible, when all I want to do is get drunk with him and... well, other stuff. He let's me lead him away down the hall so he can reappear without drama. We don't get far before I stop him, grabbing him and voraciously kissing him against the wall. He reappears, grinning madly. Sadly, we are interrupted, but it's also high time for a drink. I left them under the care of Elmarth, so hopefully they're still safe!
When we are all gathered back together, Nylen asks the barkeep for a drink called the Ivory Paladin. Apparently it is something they have, but for a good chunk of change... I cough up a bunch and others pitch in, and the barkeep looks mighty pleased. He pulls out a dusty bottle of wine, and pours us each a glass.
"Not all who lie may be resting." He says. He gives each one of us an embroidered napkin. "Learn from the knowledge that never dies."
I down the wine in one shot, and he looks annoyed.
"Okay, you didn't get to enjoy that."
"No, I did!"
Jaris sighs, and hands me his.
"Sip it, love. Try to savor the taste."
Pffft. What is the point of savoring it, it's supposed to get me drunk?! I think about what the barkeep said... not all who lie may be resting. Lie as in telling lies? Maybe. Or... I giggle.
"Does he mean having... intimate relations?" I ask Jaris.
"What?"
"Not all who lie may be resting."
Jaris raises an eyebrow, and downs one of my drinks. I may be on to something.
>>-----> Aevlin J. <-----<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Oct 8, 2019 15:36:44 GMT -5
The wooden room turned out to be not as scare as I believed. Besides my fumbles and Cayleen getting stabbed by a spike door I once again screw up a lock. Since we've been though alot im up front with my failures. “Whelp. I f***ed up. Who wants to kick a door.” Everyone joins in but this door just doesn’t budge. Time for me to step up. I raise a leg to kick it down when suddenly a famialr loud deafening knock echoes through the hall. S***! My foot falls through the open door as I tumble through. As I dust myself off I stand up and regret. A bloody dinosaur, a huge gnoll and a small army with ghouls. Nope! Nope! Backing up. Everyone runs by me just as a fireball explodes in the center of the room and something shatters. I start circling the room trying to see who I can get at. That other half elf, the warrior Jameson and a new dwarf warrior are fighting the dinosaur as everyone attacks from afar. As were fighting Nylen releases an arrow and reveals the giant gnoll is actually just a human spellcaster and I start to sweat. I’m not having another cold of cold or lightening blast in my face! As the gang are attack the creatures start poofing out of existence. Everything’s fake! Even the dinosaur is fake but I wish now it wasn’t. It’s turned into this giant insect that destroys metal. I can’t kill it! Even silver is not safe. I end up moving over to a gnoll and I bury my sword into its guts only to once again arms deep in blood. “Oh what the hell! Of course I pick the ones that were real.” I vanish again as everyone finishes the hoard off. Elmarth is having a conversation with the wizard through a darkness spell before he runs off by himself. Jameson and the dwarf fighter cries out in horror as his awesome armor rots off him thanks to the rust monster. I lean next to Avelin. “Don’t look, they’re naked.” I warn her. She laughs. “I’ve already seen everyone naked! Hans and I were in prison together... I’ll let you figure that one out.” I’m stunned. She never really talked about her imprisonment. She saw everyone naked! Everyone! Even Hans! Despite that she still choosed me.. I start blushing, feeling flattered I looking at the monster. Can’t stab it, maybe try burning it. That’s boring. I give a quick glance. Everyone looks like they got it. Avelin will get peeved if I stole her kill again. I start concentrating on it. I can burn it alive. I just need to concentrate. Kevin charges and then kills and eats the monster before anything happens. Wow. I will never eat bacon again at this rate. Avelin being the kind woman she is gives Jameson her old chain mail. It fits his lithe form looking grateful. “It’s a little girly, but this is my old armor. It served me well.” “I’m a half elf, the girliest if all humans!” “Excuse me!” I shout feeling offended. How can he say that about his own race! I’m half elf too but I’m in no way shape or form girly! Sure, it takes some time to grow hair, and my face is narrow and flawless, My emotions get the bette of me, that one guy a few years called me pretty.. s***... but still, I’m not! Damn elf blood cramping my rugged good looks. “Your excused.” He shouts back. I huff and start running after our wizard. He’s been gone for too long. Just as I reach the secret door he opened Jameson is right behind me. Guess he wants in on the fun. I glance at his ears as I’m keeping pace. Does he know who his parents are? How does he manage knowing he’ll out live his human friends but will still die a short life compared elf friends. We find Elmarth and the other wizard. Elmarth is in the ground as the other wizard stands in front of him. Didn’t see that coming. Charm spells are scary. Suddenly the wizard is covered in web, breaking the charm but trapping him. It takes no effort to drag him back to the room. Ave found a map to a city in the throne. Suderham. Sounds exciting. My gods a city, which means booze. Avelins eyes are glowing with excitement. Apparently this wizard is an illusionist. Good to know they can’t cast deadly magic but just trickery. Elmarth charms the man again but he starts asking questions. Our cover story looks good till the bodies are meantioned. S***! Someone should have told me before hand. I start scorching the ground but it’s easily noticed. Avelin then puts her foot in her mouth. “Elmarth, we don’t need him. I have the map.” “What does she mean?” “She doesn’t know what she means!” Elmarth then b**** slaps my wife. He hits her so hard she falls and I’m seeing red. I walk up and punch the wizard in the jaw, reappearing as he hits the ground rubbing his chin. The illusionist eyes widen in shock as I crack my knuckles vanishing again. Not even in the city yet and I blew my cover. Elmarth saves his lie by saying this is how we do things as the illusionists nods. We take a breath as everyone licks their wounds. I go to Elmarth. "Sorry for punching you. I know you did mean it." I apologize. he sniffs "Just dont do it again." ———————
After a long walk and rest we find ourselves before suderham in the heart of a sea of lava. I can smell the crime and booze from here. We wait behind some rocks plotting our entrance when obnoxious laughter echoes behind us. A group of well dress individuals across our path and just like brave hero’s we are we choke them out and steal all their papers and cloths. Perfect disguise. I return to invisibility as Hans does the same. Better that our numbers not match too closely to their reports. No doubt they are expecting us. I fix the petite coat and lower the hat. Hang in their mom and dad in law. We’re coming for you. ——————-
We slip by without problem. After elmarth tips a beggar he gives us a cryptic word of advice. Find the ivory Paladin. Not knowing what to do with this information yet we explore the city trying to find an inn. My eyes scan the street. Taking in the light and noise under the cowl. It’s a strange feeling to be in a city again. It’s been so long since I’ve had a job in the city. For once I feel at ease in my skin here. I’m in my natural environment. I’m at home. In any city I am home when I’m not in a circus tent or gambling halls. I wonder if this is how Cayleen feels when we were in the wilds and knee deep in filth. Unintentionally I creep up next to Avelin and take her hand as she jumps. “just me. Something wrong.” She sighs in relief. “Thought you were hans at first. He slapped my ass as a joke while you were gone.” “And I missed your reaction!” I chuckle doing just that as she yells but somehow she finds me and pokes me in the ribs as I huff back a loud laugh. Cruse my sensitive ribs. The inn appears in sight. The white knight. As we step in the noise and music is deafening. While Cayleen is pitching a fit with the innkeeper about Kevin I see Avelin pouting and scowl next to me. “What’s with the face?” I lean into her ear and whisper. She folds her arms and turns away from my voice with a scowl. “Why are you always hiding from me! I haven’t seen your face in so long! We’re not in danger and you still wont show yourself. I don’t like looking like I’m talking to a ghost. I want to have some drinks with my husband, maybe have a little fun but not with an invisible man.” My brows furrow. There’s nothing more then I want to do but get wasted with her but this is the heart of enemy territory. It’s too dangerous. Someone has to remain conscious. I then Become painfully aware that I’m being a kill joy. I sigh then take her hand. I lead her to an off room in a long corridor somewhat out of the way as I prepare to reach the exit but I don’t get far. Suddenly She grabs me by the collar, pushes me against the wall and begins kissing me roughly. Stunned, my eyes widen then flutter half closed. My heart beat slows. The invisibility falls from me as I melt under the kiss. I pulling her closer to me, returning the kiss with the same roughness as I run my hand through her long hair. A stupid grin pulls on the corner of my lips. We’re not bothered for awhile till a stray wolf whistle directed towards us shocks us back to the present as one of the patrons winks and walks on. We untangle from each other’s arms embrassed and flustered. Avelin straightens her hair as I pull my lopsided coat back on my shoulders. bristled from being interrupted but still giddy from the experience. “Umm, well. That was... wow...” “Did you like it?” “I loved it.” I hook my arm with Aves as she leans heavily into me. We take a seat at the bar as Nylen starts talking to the bartender. He asks for an ivory Paladin and throws a shocking amount of money at the man. I give a quick glance around the bar trying to find any interested faces. Nylen should be careful throwing that amount of money around. We’re already dressed like money thanks to these cloths, we don’t need to draw unwanted attention. It’s going to be embarrassing if we get picked pocketed by apprentice theives. He pulls out a dusty bottle and pours us each a glass with a moniker napkin. He says something cryptic and we take a sip. Everyone’s shocked by how good this vintage is except me. It is an amazing Vintage! But there’s something missing. There’s always something missing ever since I came back from the jaws of death. Something changed and I don’t know what. It’s like I’ve had better but since when? “Something wrong dear?” “Just thinking. Cheers.” Before I can even finish she’s slammed the entire glass in a very unclassy manner. She makes Oli and me proud. The bartender looks displeased. I slide my glass over to her. If I can’t 100% enjoy then she should. “Sip it love, try and savor the taste this time.” She does if only alittle before inhaling that drink as well. We drink some more when Avelin speaks up. I think she’s on to something with that saying but I can’t help but raise an eye brow. She’s not suggesting what I think she is, is she? The look on her face says otherwise. Well, tomorrow should be interesting if very awkward. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for theives. Where there is money and crime there will always be theives and cutthroats. They should know we’re the slaves are sold.
Jaris
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Oct 14, 2019 23:15:30 GMT -5
While sitting at the bar, a man comes up and stands somewhat close to us, and Jaris notices he's observing us. The barkeep brings us all a mug of ale, and says its from that very man. Naturally, we invite him over to a table in the corner to have some drinks.
He tells us he has heard rumors of some people, infamous people that he has to meet. A man who killed over 250 orcs in one go- obviously Elmarth!
"You've got a lot of drinks, there." He says, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Well, you know- gotta stay hydrated."
"She's going through a tough time," Jaris tells him. "Her cousin died recently."
Thanks, Jaris. I wasn't thinking about that. Now I am.
"So enough about us," says Hans. "Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm just the son of a fisherman. My name is Callum Gree."
"What?!" I nearly choke on my wine. "I'm a fishermwwoooman!"
"Are you?"
"Yes!!! I grew up near a river and my dad used to bring me. I'm really good. I caught an alligator several months ago."
"It's true, she did." Jaris says.
The waitress brings over a bunch of cheese, and it's one hell of a spread.
"Who bought this cheese?" I ask, suspicious.
"You bought this cheese." Says Ceyleen, reaching in the window and grabbing a chunk.
Ceyleen got kicked out of the bar, so she's standing outside the now open window. She sends Patrick Sprayzee in, and he crawls across the table to sit on my shoulder.
"Oy! Get that thing out of here!"
Ceyleen calls him back, and Patrick goes out the door. One of the bouncers closes the window, and locks it.
Ceyleen motions to us to meet her in the bar, and we quickly finish our drinks. I've still got three ales, a glass of wine, and two shots of some kind of liquor, so I start drinking as fast I can. Jaris sighs, grabs a couple of the glasses to bring with us, and waits for me to take the shots.
"Pace yourself, dear. We have all night." He says.
"We are off to check our mounts!" Elmarth announces, and nobody in the bar seems to care. We also no longer have mounts.
We meet up in the stable, and Ceyleen gets herself settled in a stall with her pets. Kevin is out cold and snoring within minutes.
"So I've been thinking about that riddle... not all who lie are resting. And I've had a thought. I'm dead sober right now, so lis'nup."
Everyone complies, and I take a swig of ale before continuing.
"So... when people are lying and not resting, they're doing something else while lying down. Get it?"
"Lying, like not telling the truth!" The dwarf pipes up.
"No... lying down. In bed. Not sleeping, but..."
"She means they're having sex." Ceyleen says.
"Exactly, thank you Ceyleen! So where do people... do that?"
"Well, judging by you and Jaris, anyw-"
"THANK you, Ceyleen, not what I was asking. A special place for it! Maybe there's one in this city!"
The others think I'm full of it, but I march back inside and ask the bartender.
"Excuse me, sir, weird question. Are there any... prostitutes in this city?" I whisper.
"Do you mean a house of ill repute? There are two. One in the thieves quarter and one in the wealthy quarter."
"Perfect! What are they called?"
"I assure you I don't know, madame."
"That's fine. Can I get a pitcher of wine? It's for my horse." I add, realizing we look odd drinking in the stables.
I return to the stables, and report my findings. We decide to go check out the one in the wealthy quarter in the morning. Then, we do a bit more drinking. I sleep in the stables to keep Ceyleen company, I guess, because in the morning I wake up in a bed of straw, wrapped up in my bedroll, and Jaris next to me.
"Aevlin, passing out drunk is not sleeping." Ceyleen says when I ask her about our sleeping arrangements.
I really could have used an actual bed, but no matter. We break our fast, and the group meets up in front of the Sign of the White Knight. Across the street is an armor shop, where we end up buying the dwarf some new armor to replace what was eaten by the rust monster. After that, we see what's around the inn. Another bar, the Dancing Bugbear, and some place with a rose on the sign.
"Flower shop?" Callum questions. "I'll check it out."
He comes out a few minutes later with a sh** eating grin on his face.
"So, I found the house of ill repute!" He announces. "Elmarth, I may have told the Madam that you are a Lord and looking to use the empty room. I checked out all the girls, you really don't want any of them."
He turns to me.
"Aevlin, you're his concubine."
"Excuse me?!" Jaris narrows his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Jaris, but she's the richest looking girl we've got. Ceyleen is filthy."
"I'm okay with this. What are we doing?" I say.
"Check the room out. See if there's anything special about it."
Elmarth and I head in, and we start acting. I giggle as he takes my arm, and leads me to the empty room. The madam smiles and winks as we pass her. I feel Jaris brush past us.
We close the door, and after the appropriate amount of time, start making noises. Invisible Jaris and Elmarth search for hidden doors while I make the bed springs squeak in a believable manner. Elmarth and I use our acting chops, and I'm sure Jaris would be turning red if I could see him.
They find a trapped door under the bed! After much deliberating and Elmarth and Jaris messing with the Madame, we send Jaris down into the trapdoor. He comes back and reports that there is some big, metallic man in an octagonal room down there. Elmarth goes and grabs the group.
When they all enter, I realize the absurdity of what the Madame saw with them coming in. A dirty elf, a bunch of animals, and a dwarf. We are definitely getting our money's worth. Elmarth tells us that Wimple is being serviced by some of the girls, and by that he means getting beaten and given the wrong safe word. Poor man. Also, he has the Madame charmed. We head down, and come into a room with the big metal man.
"Flee now! Or I shall breathe poison breath upon you all!"
We ignore the warning. Bring it on, or we are calling the bluff!
"I seek the knowledge that never dies!" Elmarth declares. It ignores him. Very well.
We all move in, fanning out.
"You have chosen... death." It says.
The battle begins. Magic missiles don't seem to hit it. I shoot it, and the arrow bounces off something. Jaris suddenly appears behind the big 8ft tall metal man, and tries plunging his sword into it's back. It looks like it merely annoys him, because he turns and pummels Jaris. He goes down like a sack of potatoes.
I was mid run towards the other end of the room, but I can't leave my husband. Just as I get up to his limp body, Callum strikes it with his magic sword. It cuts through the metallic painted exterior, exposing strange sewn together flesh. Ew. As it turns to attack Callum, I strike with my luck blade. I destroy it!
Jaris is healed and back on his feet, so we start exploring. A secret door, hidden by a thin coating of plaster, is found. I try to kick it open, and immediately regret it when my knee pops and buckles, and I fall on the floor. Jaris steps past me and simply opens the door. He at least helps me to my feet, and it seems the knee is still holding up despite all the failed door kicks I have subjected it to.
We go down a hallway, and Jaris falls into a pit! Just as we go to look and see if he is okay, a brass nozzle comes out of a wall panel, and fire engulfs all of us. When it stops, I smell a bit singed and can feel my skin is slightly burnt, but I'm alright. Unfortunately, Philip Seymour Squawkman is roasted. I really liked that parrot!
Moving on, we come to a door. Despite the fact my knee and ankle hate me, I attempt to kick it open. Alas, success!!! It slams open. This room has a big, bulging wooden chest on the far end, and 2 doors.
"That looks suspicious." I comment. It's really, really bulging.
"It does. Mimic maybe." Jaris replies.
Without further ado, I pull out my bow and shoot it. The arrow thuds into its side, stuck in the wood. It doesn't spurt teeth, so I guess we are good. Jaris goes in, and then stops.
"I'm stuck to the floor." He says, trying to move but failing.
We all start doing in, some going up the middle, and some along the sides like I am. A blob comes up out of the floor, and its game on. Psuedopods start coming, and they just keep appearing at random while people are getting stuck. I hold my shot, waiting for one to pop up. One does, and I let loose. A second later Jaris appears, my arrow sticking out of him, and swaying. The pseudopod attacks, and he drops, sagging awkwardly as his feet are still stuck.
"Aevlin, shoot the chest!" Elmarth shouts.
I turn and fire at it. My arrow strikes true, and the chest turns into a blob. Everyone is immediately freed. I guess it really was a mimic afterall.
Ceyleen heals up Jaris, but he isn't in great shape. My arrow really got him good. I'm devastated, but glad he is alive. I'm deadly, its undeniable. Unfortunately everyone in this party has experienced my shots first hand, not always my fault.
"I'm sorry, Jaris. I couldn't see you."
He kisses me, and then grabs my face and looks me in the eye.
"You did what you had to do. I still love you. Stop worrying about me, I'll get some rest and then I'll be back in business."
I should really work on my aim. Or everyone else should just not block my shot?
>>-----> Aevlin, the Terrible, Raging Alcoholic <-----<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Oct 16, 2019 0:13:58 GMT -5
Cayleens been kicked out of the bar again. Which means one thing. Avelins going to stay with her which means I’m going to end up sleeping in the stables. Sigh. I thought I was finially going to be in a bed again. At least I can use Kevin as a back rest. He’s a very comfy pig. It’s with the creeking of the door I spy a man slip into the bar and take a back seat in the corner of the bar. I don’t think anything of it at first but when I glance back ten minutes later, the man is still there. Still staring at us.
“Hey ave. He’s been staring at us for awhile.”
I whisper into her ear as I chug my stein.
I’m starting to think we may have a spy on our hands. We may have been found out.
“Ya, he has been.” She mutter back. The man then speaks to the barmaid and she goes behind the bar and speaks to the brewmaster and he then places ale in front of us. It’s me and avelins eyebrows go up curiose.
“What’s this about?” I ask very surprised and very supiouse.
“Man over there order one for everyone, on the house.”
Avelin doesn’t hesitate. She pushes the glass into my hands and grabs her.
She clinks hers with mine and chugs it down before I can stop her to check for poison. Too late now. I join her. This is about a 3/10 compared to the last glass that was 8/10 but still good. I’m hard to impress when it comes to my booze so cudos to his attempt.
She slams the empty glass down.
“I like that guy. Let’s bring him over.”
“Agreed. No asshole pays for someone else’s booze.”
She turns in her stool.
“Hey you! Come over here!” She yells belligerent. He pulls a seat near us and we begin to chat.
"You've got a lot of drinks, there." He says, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Well, you know- gotta stay hydrated."
"She's going through a tough time," I tell him, better if he knows of her hot streak then find out by arrow point. "Her cousin died recently."
She gives me a scowl, pouting. Oh, i just realized I shouldn't have mentioned that.
He begins his introductions.
Apparently he’s from really far away. He left on a mission to stop the slavers and heard rumors of a large band of adventures have been harassing and weakening the slavers hold. He then meantion a rumors he heard of members of our group. A man that never lost an arm wrestling contest, a wizard that killed 250 orcs, a living bush, A woman married to no one who is a raging drunk. Huh. So I'm a unperson now. I can live with that. A thiefs name shouldnt be broadcasted or wide spread, even more so if my reputation grows and others folk to me. I'll need an Alias then.
Ave starts talking to him as I order three more bottles courtsey of Nylen, looking for a buzz as she swapping fishing stories with the newcomer named Callum Gree. Maybe I'll remember his name, maybe I wont. Ive seen lot of deaths these past couple of days. While we are talking and giving names the barmaid brings over a large wheel of cheese and the bartender locks out patrick and closes the window on cayleen. Ive gone through one bottle, gripping the bottle by the neck when he turns to face me.
"So who are you my friend?" He asks me as i use the corner of my sleeve to wipe my mouth.
"Im the 'no one' married to her. Friends call me Jaris."
"Why don't the rumors mention you?"
"Because Im allowing you to see me." i tell him taking a swig.
"He can also burn things with his mind and get huge!" Elmarth yells down.
"No I cant, you'r drunk."
"What do you do in the group?"
"Im a man of many talents. Thats Nylen over there, our fearless leader I like to call him." I say lazily pointing to the elf faced down, passed out on the table. Guess he's a light weight or maybe just tired. Ave catches Cayleen motioning us outside and on que I help Avelin finish her glasses. I take the other two bottle watching her slam shot after shot. Im still recovering from the fire ale incident. I don't even want to look at another shot for awhile.
"Pace yourself, dear. We have all night." I warn her as everyone leaves, she's going to end up like Nylen at this rate.
She goes over to me, looking me in the eye.
"Whats wrong."
“I though we were finally going to sleep in a real bed.” I confess feeling dejected. She lays a hand over mine and smiles.
“I know this isn’t ideal but at least we’re together. Maybe next time." I flush looking at the ground.
"Lets head to the stables." I say wraping an arm around her.
-----------------------------
Im using Kevin as a back rest as Avelin sits on a crate in the stables. She says she figured out the riddle. The answer is sex as she slowly tries to steer the group and the innorcent dwarf to her conclusion.
"Exactly, thank you Ceyleen! So where do people... do that?"
I take a swig from the bottle then she opens her mouth.
"Well, judging by you and Jaris, anyw-" I bolt straight from my relaxed position, ears red, choking on my drink. I pound on my chest trying to releive the cough. Bloody hells Cayleen, cant a couple have privacy anymore!
"THANK you, Ceyleen, not what I was asking. A special place for it! Maybe there's one in this city!" Avelin finishes off and i have to agree. It makes sense. No one checks brothels due to its clientel, makes it a perfect hide out. If these people are anything like me its a good spot. Id considered putting a theives guild there once just because of its stigma, don't think so now considering I'm married now. Some members of our group don't think so. No one wants to end up walking through a brothel for a dead lead which only strengths my resolve that this is the right way. Ave went inside and confirmed there are indeed two brothels in the city. One in the Wealthy district, the other in the theives.
"We should check the theives district." I bring up.
"Hell no, were not going down there." Cayleen tells me and i smirk.
"Are you afriad of me Cayleen?" I jest, she snorts scowling.
"Afraid of you? Absolutely not." I shrug.
"Fair enough. I dont think you fear anything anyway. I still think its a good place to start."
"And get mugged. Sorry dear but I think you'r wrong on this. Think about it, where would you want to go if you were looking for a quick steal."
"The weathy distr-" I catch myself saying and then I laugh.
"Well, I'll be damned. You know me better than myself now, love." I take another swing from the bottle.
------------
The talks wind down from there and I catch the newcomer standing outside the stables looking at some coin in his hand.
"Why are you still standing around? It's late?" He looks ashamed.
"I hate to admit this but i lack the funds to buy a room for tonight." I motion my head towards the inn.
"Why don't you take my bed. Apparently we're not using it tonight and I already gave the deposite." He gasps then bows his head.
"Thank you! I will surely pay you back." I wave him off.
"Think nothing of it. Now get some sleep." I go back inside the stables to see Avelin surrounded by bottles again. I love this woman so much. I sit down besides her watching Cayleen feed Kevin and Patrick some cheese as Seymor nibbles on seed. Cayleen tells us to shut up at one point as she curls up to sleep.
As were joking and talking quietly Avelin lays down on her back.
"You should'nt do that, you'r going to fall asleep." I slurr a little, I feel it creeping in but it's not much.
"Eh, I'll be fine."
"Suit yourself." I leave her be but in five minutes she stop talking to me. She's passed out in the straw. I take this as my qou to get the bed rolls out. Pushing bottles out of the way I find a secluded stale and set the both of them up. I then pick her up with some effort and carry her to the bedrolls. She doesn't wake up when I removing some the plates of her armor so she can sleep in comfort. I brush her hair out of her eyes as I settling into the bedroll besides her, my arm wrapped around her as I drift off.
-------------
The next morning we head off
As were walking towards the wealthy district I get the itch. I already know whats in everyone elses pockets and what they have but the newcomers are a mystery. Once we reach the armorer He tells us he does not have nay money to contribute and i get curious. While he's staring at a polished bow I nick his purse and look. Wow, this is sad. As we leave he has no idea I have his purse still as I clap him behind the back.
"cheer up. You'll be liquid before you know it."
"I can give you some money." Avelin suggests but he raises a hand.
"No, no. I cant accept that. I havent proven my worth yet." Thats a crazy idea. If someone offers money you take it. As he's talking to Avelin my deft hands returns his wallet and a little more. Consider this a Red Barons gift for giving everyone and him a drink. As I glance at a store I hear his gasps.
"Guys! I have money now!" I smirk behind my false face. Avelin looks at him and then turns to me, a knowing look in her eye.
We find the Brothel but i have to let Elmarth put his hands all over my wife much to my displeasure. She says she will do it so its not my place to stop her. "Im coming with you both. there might be a hidden entrance." I clip Lyon to my belt and vanish much to the surprise of the newcomer. Avelin begins to play it up with Elmarth, drapping herself all over him as she giggles and tell him how hot he is while i hide in her shadow. The madam shows them to the room and I begin to investigate. As I'm crawling along the floor my ears heat up, pinning to my head as and my heart pounds in my chest. They both had climbed on top of the bed, begining to jump up and down as they make very suggestive sounds as my hands fumble around the floor. Gods damn it's, it's really hard to concentrate. My hands suddenly catch a seam on the floor and i find a trap door. "Im going in, come get me if I'm not back in five." I slip down into the darkness to find it leads to the sewers. Of course, definitely a theif highway or at least something simlar to it. As i sulk the corridor opens up and in the darkness huntches a large hulking figure. I turn back and rely the news. "theres something down there. Something big. I'll get the others. Elmarth could you stop missing around with my wife and get the door." He does. I make progress through the building seeing and hearing things i wish i hadn't till I'm at the door to freedom but theres a problem. I cant open the door without altering the madam. S***! Im trapped! I stumble about looking for some escape but its locked down tighter than a bank. theres only one way out and its the bloody door. I knock on it lighty, maybe shell open it to see where it's coming from? Instead the woman goes deathly pale and begins to pray. "Oh no not again!" I watch this woman lose her bloody mind as she starts pull out objects. This woman is haveing a conniption in her own brothel. She starts pulling out fake holy objects and then she starts burning sage and waving it about. It burns my eyes and chokes my breathing. I can feel a cough trying to travel up my throat but i manage to hold it in. I should be use to this. Grans incense was the worst. Im getting nostialga from her supertiouse practices. Has she never seen invisiblity magic? Suddenly it hits me. I may not be the frist ghosts she's ever had before. I need to go back. the smokes too thick. Retreating I can hear them through the door and make a knock. When they don't answer I throw open the door and walk in. "Im stuck. I cant get past her. Will you get them Elmarth, you are her client." He runs off and I'm alone with Avelin in the most awkward building in the city. "Well. This is certainly an experience isn't it." I chuckle un clipping the sword and sitting on the bed, she sits besides me as i play with her hair. "Lets leave this part out when we find my parents please." "Of course." I tell her weaving my hand with hers. We hear bellow us the thundering of steps as the gang arrive. As the door open i watch Wrumple from beyond it dissapear into a room with two ladies as our army pours into the small cramped room. As we group together i have my baisi confirmed that the madam is indeed working with the theives or more importantly the slave lords, were on the right track. --------------
"Flee now! Or I shall breathe poison breath upon you all!" The living statue screams at us as i sulk invisible behind it. Daffadill in my hand ready to strike. Lyon would be better but i just cant part using this sword. its been a good blade. it saved me time and time again. It's a home forged blade. Call me sentimental. The gang does not flinch from its words, I'm nearly there. "I seek the knowledge that never dies!" Elmarth declares. It ignores him. Everyone moves in, fanning out. Im right there. I can kill him. Ive fallen orgers and many monsters. I can kill this to. "You have chosen... death." It says. NOW! I jump thrust downward expecting to land true and get splashed by blood but instead I watch in slow motion as my blade bounces off as I stagger. S***! The monster then turns to me clutching its metal fist as it slams into my stomach. I gag vomiting blood, staggering to my knees. I look back up to it just as its fist falls...... ..... I gasp, the life coming back into me as the soft but firm hands of Hans and Cayleen bring me back to life if only a little bit. Im worst off now but i am still breathing even if these brusies will be massive. Avelin helps me up as we find a secret door. Ave tries to kick it open, while she's nursing her knee i push it open. "Sometimes it deeps a delicate touch." She huffs back a laugh. We walk down the corridor. It's quiet, far too quiet. My stomach sinks as the floor clicks bellow my foot and I fall into darkness again. "NO!-" My scream is cut short as i hit the ground and i start choking screaming as memories of spike pit, the river, the maze, assults me. It takes the sudden rush of heat above my head and the cries of pain to snap me out of my thoughts. I find myself not impailed or burnt but safely in a pit of soft sand, tears in my eyes, shaking. I feel a hand land on me as i shrink ready to slap the hand away. "Dont touch me." I hiss ashamed. It's cayleen with Ave beginning to climb down after her, both alittle burnt. Patrick and Ricardo very very singed. But no Seymor? Wheres the parrot?. "What happened?" "You feel into a pit as usual but this time the trap turned on us." Tense hangs in the air. "Your ok now, this time it wasn't you." it clicks with me as she holds her poor dead bird. She buries him in the sand and prays over him. I feel aweful. I failed in keeping everyone safe. "Cayleen, I'm sorry about him. If only i was better?" "Don't be stupid, it's not your fault. But you do need to work on finding them. It is your only job." I want to give her a hug but i think shed rather think on other things. We continue in silence when we find a new room. Theres a chest against the far wall and i start getting a bad feel in my gut as I'm staring at the captivating overstuffed chest. Theres something wrong with it.
"That looks suspicious." she comment as I focus my gaze. "Ave, can you shoot that?" "Sure why?" "I think it's a Mimic maybe. It's too good to be real." I tell her. She aims, fires and it hits its mark but nothing happens. Was I mistaken? "Well, go search the chest there Jaris." says Hans. "I was just about to Hans, I know what I'm doing." I start moving with more care then normal. theres got to be something, a pit trap, spike trap, the giant rolling ball of doom? Just as I make it to the end of the room i find i cant lift my feet anymore. Im as suck as a fly on glue. Oh S***! "Im stuck!" the party begins to mobilize as i frantically try to move my feet. I just dodge a ozzing cesuopode when I'm wracked with agonizing pain. My eyes widen. Pain blooms in my stomach. What? It travels up and down my body shaky my eyes fall to my stomach, a green fletched feathered arrow protruding from the side of my adobmine. I think I’m going to be sick. My eyes dart slowly to my wife who’s gone deathly pale, her grip on her bow trembling. My hand falls to the arrows shaft as I wheeze, breaking the Arrow in two and pushing it the rest of the way through my body till it comes out on the other side as I choke back the pain. I hold the other half of the bloody arrow in my hand making it visible in my own blood as I toss it to the ground. I’m still alive but barely.
sweating, bleeding, clutching the arrow hole and stuck I don’t know what to do. I can’t run or hide now and I’m too shakened to fight or think. I make a dangerous choice I pull out Lyon and drop invisibility. If I go down invisible I’m damned. Hans and Cayleen need to find me. Suddenly the cesudopod forms! I try to move my feet but they still don’t move. I ready to lean back, try any attempt not to get hit! It raises its limb, slamming into my chest. I gag and start sinking into that familiar darkness.
————-
My eyes flutter open to see Avelin in tears. The sight of me causes her tears to fall.
“I’m sorry!. I couldnt see you.” Oh, right. She tells me scooping me up into her arms. I feel weak. I wrap my arm around her.
“It’s ok.” I rasp. Hans comes over to me and examines the arrow hole. He casts his magic and heals me and I expect my strength to return but it doesn’t. With Avelins help I struggle to even stand. What’s wrong with me?
“Somethings wrong.” I complain, disgruntled. Hans shakes his head.
“It looks like all your beating are catching up to you. You need to take it easy and rest.”
“What. No. I can still fight! I’ve walked off worst.” I try to walk only to gasp and stagger about as Avelin catches me.
“Jaris, you need to rest. You'r going to reopen the wound.” She scolds me as I scowl.
“No, I can’t be crippled now!” I try to pick up my sword but it’s weight just drags me down. It becomes a dead weight in my hands as my arms shake.
“F***!” I mutter annoyed. Avelin lays a hand on my shoulder.
“Please don’t push yourself. We’ll be fine. Some has to watch Elmarth dog anyway.” I sigh, visibly frustrated.
“Alright.”
We turn our heads behind us. My ears Reich as I pick up the sound of footfall. Nylen appears looking miffed dragging along Johanna. Well at least they have someone to take over for me.
Avelin pushes the hair out of my face, hand over my bandages." I'm so sorry, Jaris. I didnt mean to hurt you so bad-." I kiss her and then grabed her face, looking into her eyes. "You did what you had to do. I still love you. Stop worrying about me, I'll get some rest and then I'll be back in business." She smiles. "Just get better soon alright."
Jaris
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Oct 16, 2019 11:33:20 GMT -5
Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords The Catacombs The Hell Hounds' Hideout Minotaur Menace Cunning Gelatinous Cubes Grotto of Terror The Black Lake Shambling Mound The Sinister Snakes ended play on Earthday, Fireseek 6, 577 CY, 1:14am, Luna is waxing MVP Aileen Russell as Aevlin our plays on rpggeek.com/plays/thing/46082?userid=1168080
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Oct 21, 2019 22:23:19 GMT -5
We find ourselves going down a long corridor, and it gets hotter and hotter as we go. I'm sweating in my armor and wondering if we are actually descending into hell. It certainly feels like it. As we move further in, I actually feel like I'm going to drop of heat stroke, and then my attention is drawn to the walls sliding open on either side. Puppies!
Well, dogs at least. There is smoke curling out of their bared teeth, and I notice those are long, sharp and black. These are not normal doggos, no indeed! The one in front of me opens his mouth, and I'm consumed by flames!
Luckily I have no more than a little scalded flesh and burnt hair, and soon both dogs lie dead thanks to Nylen and Jameson. Jameson and Callum go to take the fancy spiked collars off of the bodies, and both hiss in pain. The spikes have poison on them, but they both seem to be okay.
Moving along, we round a corner just to have a huge crossbow bolt fired at us, and then the sound of heavy footsteps running off. Johanna, my sister in law/cousin in law... I don't know what she is, Jaris's family- my new family- confuses me, keeps checking for traps as we go. Ceyleen gives me a Nest Making 101 lesson, and I learn way more than I ever wanted to know about swamp life. After going through a seemingly endless maze and Johanna getting shot with a crossbow bolt, we finally come to a room lit by pots of coals, carvings on the walls which upon closer inspection are of humans suffering, a large pile of bones on the floor, and a minotaur.
A very angry minotaur, wielding a big a** crossbow. Jameson gets shot, so I shoot it in retaliation for hitting my new Irish friend. I don't know what Irish means, but he seems to think it's a real place, with flowing ale and whiskey, and lush green fields... heaven! Hans blinds the beast as I shoot it again, just as it reaches up for the Battleaxe on its back. Callum cuts him down with a mighty blow!
I grab the axe, and I immediately like it better than the junky one I picked up in the last dungeon. Ceyleen confirms it's magic, but we don't know the true extent of its power. I guess I will soon find out! We press on. Johanna unfortunately takes another crossbow bolt after setting off a trap. In the room it was guarding, we find a preserved human skull and a bag of powder. Hans picks some of it up, and nothing happens. So, I grab some, and sprinkle it on my head as the others shout at me to stop.
"Did I just sprinkle dead guy ashes on myself without thinking?!" I say, horrified.
"No, Aevlin. You're invisible. Perhaps stay that way." Ceyleen snaps.
I've missed being invisible and messing with people. So, I slap Nylen with his own hand hanging from his neck. He tries to kick me, but misses. My fun is short lived as I reappear an hour and a half later. What a waste! On we go... Johanna is now 0:3 versus crossbow bolts, and getting extremely fed up, but she does her job still. She is a tenacious elf, I'll give her that. Eventually we come to a room with a very slimy, sticky looking floor.
"That's disgusting. Is this the drainage room for the brothel?" I say, and immediately gag.
"Aevlin... I hate you." Hans sighs.
Callum bravely enters, trying to avoid the stickiness, and falls in a pit! And then it appears... a gelatinous cube! Jameson dives to the edge, reaching down for Callum. I grab Jameson's ankle to make sure he doesn't go in too, and I see a shiney anklet of baubles on his leg.
"Aevlin, don't ye be stealing me lucky charms!" Jameson yells back at me.
"I wasn't going to. I'm only married to a thief, not one myself!"
Jameson gets Callum out, and Nylen shoots and destroys the gelatinous cube! We see shiney objects down below, but it takes a bit before I realize pouring oil on it and lighting it would get us through the goo. Once it is burnt down, I lower myself into the pit to start handing stuff up to the crew. That's when I hear a sticky, jello sound behind me. I turn and see ANOTHER gelatinous cube coming for me!
Nylen and Hans jump down to my aid, and I hold my new battleaxe up, ready for it to engulf us. I am not dying in a jello mold, Kord dammit!
"Come at me, I'm used to being sticky!" I scream at it.
"Aevlin, I'm not shaming you or anything... but what the hell are you and Jaris in to?" Asks Ceyleen.
"That's not what I meant."
Jameson reaches his hand down just before it's upon us.
"Hand me the stuff ye daft bastards!"
It surges into us, and there is a bit of pain as the goo starts trying to consume us. Fortunately the great Nylen, Oozeslayer, destroys it before it can hurt us any more!
I pick up the magic chainmail and toss it to Nylen, who is all but squealing like a teenage girl over finally finding it. There's another one of those ion stone things, which Hans tosses over his head. Jameson gets Nylen's old Elven Chainmail, which is a bit tight across the chest, and gives me back my chain shirt.
"Anyone want it?" I offer. Nobody does. "Alright Sean, all yours."
Sean grabs it, grinning like a fool. He then takes a whiff of it when he thinks I'm not looking.
"Shtill shmells like her!" He whispers.
We come soon to a big, natural cavern. The floor is spongy turf, becoming marshy. Large fungi grow here, and stalactites hang from the ceiling. I'm a bit nervous to enter considering the last time we ran into something that looked like stalactites. We go in, and there's a big black, nasty lake filled with blind, white fish covered in leeches. Ceyleen is beyond ecstatic to be here, in her natural environment. A narrow path goes past the lake to the other side. I head to it, and the others fall in behind me.
I'm careful to step over the vegetation growing on the path, but my carefulness doesn't pay off. It gets softer and wetter underfoot, and suddenly a massive mound of vegetation rises up in front of me. It stands three feet taller than me and is huge, and I suddenly regret my life choices leading to now. It clubs me with its treelike limbs, and I'm wracked with pain. This is it, this is how I die- the plants are seeking revenge for every fruit basket I made with their offspring! I get a good hit on it with my new axe, but then I'm stunned by a blooming pain in my back.
"Sorry!" Johanna calls from the back of our pack.
Guess she got revenge for me shooting Jaris. I have no time to get mad at her as the plant monster smacks me again and again. And then it hits itself, hard. I laugh through the pain, it really is a stupid creature. Hans gives me a little healing, but it doesn't matter much anyway. The creature crumbles to the ground in a mound of plant matter.
We completely desecrate the body, looking for goods. When we find none, we find where it came from. A longsword, a potion and gauntlets. Awesome! I grab the sword and it glows in my hands... I don't know if it's any better than my Luck Blade, but worth a look. Johanna takes the gauntlets, leaving just the potion. I'm bleeding and battered, with one of Johanna's arrows still sticking out of my back, so I grab the potion. She tries to stop me, but I take a sip. It tastes good, pepperminty. I chug it, and feel quite a bit better.
"Take your arrow back," I snap at Johanna, turning my back to her. "I thought elves were better archers than humans?"
"I mean, you did shoot your husband, my dear sister."
I smirk at her, and yell as she yanks the arrow out. Thank goodness it wasn't a barbed tip. We move along, but don't get far before two giant snakes attack!
"What do you think about Snake Gyllenhall?" Ceyleen suggests.
Here we go... time to name storm.
>>-----> Aevlin B. J. <-----<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Oct 23, 2019 15:28:42 GMT -5
Johanna complains as Nylen drags her to us by her long ear. “Found this one trying to ruffle through my pockets.” “I just wanted alittle perk! Ow!” It’s then Nylen notices me on the ground in Avelins arms. “What happened to you?” “Well... lost a fight with a golem, fell into a pit again, got tagged teamed by my wife and a killer mimic. Discovered too late that they make the floors stick. You know. The usual.” Nylen laughs as Johanna joins him in a nervous laugh, her ear still trapped. He looks at Avelin. “So still no luck on that divorce huh.” He chuckles. She scowls, unamused. “It’s not like I intended to shot him! Or anyone for that matter!” I chuckle in her arms before I cough racks my lungs. “This is nothing. I just need to work it off. Watch me.” I struggle out of her arms. I start to climb my way to my feet before my wound flairs and I fall, Ave catching me before I can hit the unforgiving floor. “Ah, s****.” Johanna raises a brow, I can already see the gears in her head turning. “You don’t look so good. Need an extra pair of hands boss?” My hand slides over my face. “Ya, I guess I do.” I turn back to Avelin. “Looks like Johanna going to be taking over for me. Just please stay safe. I know you'r a fighter and you need to get in the thick of things but please. If it gets to hot you will back off. I can’t protect you as I am. It’s nothing to be ashamed of to let the other fighters carry some of the bruises.” She huffs. “Oh please. I’m a fighter, I fight stuff. I can stand a few cuts and bruises. You worry too much.” That doesn’t make me feel any better. I wasn’t expecting a yes but I was hoping for a maybe. I sigh, My eyes glide to Hans. “Hans, please protect Avelin in my stead and keep Sean away from her. Gods forbids if anything happens to her while I’m crippled.” Hans give a nod. “Of course. You just rest up and get well.” Avelin helps me limp over to Elmarth who is also tending to his dogs injuries so he gets to be honorary nurse today. Ya... hans clears his throat, looking at Johanna. "So Johanna, want to take the lead?" She huffs hands on the hips. "Oh! You want me, ace temp theif, to scout ahead for traps down this dark hallway! for shame. I mean look at jaris! Hes more scars then man and he twitches sometime." "sooo, will you do it?" " course." ————————
Hobbling along, nursing my wound as I catch the tail end of the fight as dead hell dogs lay at the party’s feet. Then as we travel it falls into Johanna to do my job and she takes her sweet time doing it. I’m honestly amazed the group is letting her take her time. She crawls ahead of everyone on the ground, picking her way carefully in the hallway. She certainly trying to impress everyone here. Suddenly she stops. "Found a trap!" She reveals the pressure plate on the floor. Everyone congratulates her. "Wow Jaris. She's an excellent temp! Why don't you do that?" I sigh. "Good work Johanna!" I catch a glint in her eye as she pushes the plate. Bolts slam into her body as she falls face first into the stone. Did... she just do that on purpose? "Spoke too soon." Cayleen shook her head before going over and reviving her. Oh Johanna, you need to be careful! As she snaps back to awake she looks up at the cruid eggar. "Sooo, do i get workers comp now? I did get injured on the job." Johanna, oh bloody greedy Johanna. Johanna has taken to her new role rather well. How well shell do in a fight.. Well.. when they say Elves are known as the bests archers in greyhawk i don't think they ever met Johanna. I think it's part of the curse. The stories say Jala was an excellent marksmen with a long bow but so far my experience with a bow has been tripping. I even stunned myself on my wedding day. Johanna rounds a corner when she suddenly screams in pain and curses. We catch up to see a bolt jutting from her shoulder and the sounds of running up ahead! Nylen want to run but Johanna holds them up. "It could be a ploy to lure us into more traps. Let's go carefully." The gang listens again! They never listen to me! Whats her secret? One corridor and doors after doors later the gang fights a minatour with a big axe. being the bad a*** everyone is they drop it no problem but Johanna needs to aim better. She shot through between the horns. Darling wife now has a new shiny axe. I bet i'm not going to hear the end of it when its time to rest. -------------
That Minotaur has a nice treasure hoard. It's the perfect place to rest. I chock back the pain as I set up the bed roll in the treasure room. I flinch as Johannas outraged cries perice my ears. "Avelin why!? I could have used that!" I shrug not thinking anything of it. She probably beat Jo to the loot. Im just about done when suddenly feel someone touch me. My eyes widen as i turn around and see nothing then scowl. "Hans? Is that you." Didn't feel like Hans. It felt to womanly. I turn back to my work when I hear the familiar sounds of clanking armor and iim grabbed! Then that familiar laugh. knowing where she is now i wrap my arms in front of me and instead thin air I grab a very familiar someone. "Avelin. How did you become invisible?" I chuckle. "Found some magic dust. Cant undo it so I've been messing with Nylen. Did you see?" "Of course, it's very impressive. That does explain Johannas screaming." My eyes fall half closed, my beatened body exghusted as I flop back onto the bedroll. I can hear her fumble with the belts and buckles to her platemail as it appears clattering to the ground visible. She crawls under my arm still invisible. "Feeling any better yet?" She asks, I sigh. "Maybe after this rest." I tell her hopeful but my abused gut, my bruises, and the arrow wound is telling me no. "I hope so. Johannas a great temp but sh has me a little worried. She keeps getting pegged by bolts. I have to admit she's a very tenuous elf." "She tries her best, it's a hard job. Remember how s*** i was?" "Oh yes, i remember." she chuckles. My eyes start flicking close as it becomes a challenge to stay awake. She kisses me on the cheek. "Get some rest. You'll need your strength. I'll keep watch." I let my eyes fall close. ---------------
After my rest i approach Nylen. "So. You ready to get back to work." "Yep!" his eyes narrow. "Try lifting your arms over your head." I begin to sweat. "Why would i do that. Im feeling fine!" "Just do it." I look at him, nervous then raise them up and i can feel all my injuries screaming. "See. Im well again!" I say through gritted teeth. Suddenly the arrow wounds flares up and i gasp curling in on myself, clutching the wound. "Maybe in a few more hours." I reach, begging. Im so tired of doing nothing while everyone lives are on the line. He clasps my shoulders as my burrows furrow disappointed. "Maybe in the next day. You cant rush these things." I sigh and hobble to the back of the line. This dungeon is very quiet. Johannas been combing the ground for half and hour and nothing has happened yet. I don't know how to feel about this. Elmarth helps me walk as we go, tending to his pup. Suddenly we reach a room filled with a mysterious goo on the ground. me and Johanna look at each other. "Slime." we say at once as she knocks an arrow, sending it down ahead of us into the next corridor. It doesn't hit anything so theres seems to be nothing there but that doesn't mean crossing this room is safe yet. Callum then makes a running jump to get to the non sticky side of the room but as his feet touch the ground it gives way. Everyone rushes to the hole in the ground as I'm left sitting in the corridor watching everyone stab at the hole in the floor, screaming about a gelatinous cube. Jameson gets on his stomach reaching for the archer as Avelin grabs his legs and they pull. Callum comes out wide eyes and coated in slime but he isn't moving. He's breathing and his eyes dart about but he's very much paraylized. The gang throw him next to me as his eyes land on me. "Ya i know how that feels. It sucks. Should wear off... Eventually." Cheers go up as whatever the slime was dies. I hobble over to take a peek to see a large puddle of goo and a few objects of interest. Theres even magic chainmail down there and Nylen loses his mind. We all know he's been dying to get one. Johanna get that look in her eye again. "Im going in. Cover me" She then jumps in treading slime but before she's able to grab anything she starts sinking. He scurries back up the wall with a lot of effort as she pants. "That was close. I nearly drowned in that." "What are we going to do about it though?" We all think and come to the conclusion it needs fire. I had off my flask of oil to Avelin. "Im no use here. Call me when you'r done." I tell her kissing her on the check as i go back to my corner. Eventually seems to arrive for Callum as he begins moving again and joins the group. I slide down the wall next to Elmarths pup stroking its head. I nodd off with the smell of burning slime in my nose. --------------
"Jaris, wake up. We're moving on." I blink awake as Avelin pulls me onto my feet as I shuffle along. Johannas back to scanning the floor but as she get through the hallway she steps on a pressure plate. "S***! not again-!" another bolt slams into her and she slumps to the ground. Hans heals her and she gasps jumping to her feet. "Ha! Im still alive! You havent killed me yet!" She then returns to her job as Hans helps pull the bolt out of her leg. We come across a swamp area with blind white fish covered in leeches swimming in the lake. Cayleens ecstatic, must be home for her. No one wants a dip into that lake. Avelin takes the lead on the dry path and I'm forced to hang back with the pup. Im still too injured and the path is narrow. If Im too close to the group I'll just get in the way and hold everyone back. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth but i wait watching the group on the narrow bridge. I watch as a living mound of plants comes to life in front of my wife and beats the s*** out of her! Johanna tries to help but only manages to stick her with an arrow! She's going to die! I scramble to my feet and make my way down the bridge. I don't f***ing care how injured I am! I will not let her die! By the time i make it to the back of the line the mound is slumped dead as everyone finds its loot. Nylen turns back into a person, approaches me and looks me in the eye. "I know this is difficult for you but don't get involved. You'll only get yourself killed. She handled it just fine." I look at the ground feeling weak. I honestly don't feel well now after that sprint. I lay a hand on my bandages and it comes back red. Hans helps redresses the wound without Avelin knowing as I stagger behind the gang arms wrapped around my stomach. Soon, I'll be back in the fight. It's just hard to wait this long.
-Jaris F J
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Oct 25, 2019 19:50:07 GMT -5
Unfortunately, Ceyleen fails to charm a snake. Very dissssappointing. Hans kills one, and then Vandolin, who found us down here somehow (how did he know to go to the brothel?), gets constricted by one of the snakes. I kill the snake and he is freed. We hollow out one of the snakes to use to carry treasure, like they did back in the lair of the Naga.
"Wait, so that's why it took you all so long to find me?!" I snap. "You were too busy looking for treasure?!! Ceyleen!"
"What, I didn't even know you back then. Blame Hans."
"Aevlin, it wasn't like that!" Hans sighs.
Leaving the cavern of the shambling mound, with Ceyleen dragging the snake purse, we come to another long hallway. Johanna scouts ahead, and reports that she found an open room. Unfortunately, its occupants know we are here, for a moment later a stone wall appears behind us, funneling us in. Men's voices laughing come from within.
"Hi there!" A voice calls. "We've been watching you for some time. I have to say the snake is a little weird, but to each their own. Enter, so we can enjoy the fight and kill you!"
We start going in. Some kind of spell is slowing us down, and I feel like I'm being dragged down as I walk in, bow drawn. As I enter the room, seeing 5 richly dressed men and 9 thrones. These have to be the Slave Lords!
"My name is Aevlin of Nyrond," I say, putting an arrow to my bow. "You took my parents. Prepare to die!"
One of them laughs, and casts a spell. A column of roaring fire descends on top of Callum and Johanna, and a moment later they fall. Dead. Enraged, I fire at the idiot guy who took an invisibility potion, and who is wreathed in Faerie Fire. My arrow strikes true. The guy in front of Odious casts another spell, and a fireball erupts.
I keep my feet, screaming in pain as the explosion burns my skin. I wasn't feeling great coming into this fight, still reeling from the beating I took by the shambling mound, and now I feel worse. I can't give up though. Vandolin and Ceyleen are down now, too. Kevin Bacon is dead. I shoot the invisible guy again.
"How are you hitting me?!" He shouts, moving in to stab Odious.
I shoot him again. I could do this all day. Odious and Hans both have a couple guys on them, while I stand in a perfect position to pick the lords off with arrows. One of the guys charges me, and I notice he has no weapon. I shoot him, and he dodges my arrow like it's nothing. Another arrow, another dodge. He throws a punch, and I dodge his fist. Drawing my axe, I swing and hit him.
"Take it like a man, monk!"
Odious goes down, and now only Hans and I are still standing. The two of us on our last legs, against five slave lords. Ending it how we began. Hans and I were there, so many months ago, captured by the slavers in Darkshelf Quarry. Only the two of us still live of the original party. It is fitting that we are the last to die.
I go to swing my axe once more, but the magic user standing over Odious's body looks at me, raising his hand. Four glowing projectiles streak out, hitting me in the chest in a painful succession. As the last one hits, I feel myself falling.
"AEVLIN!!!!" I hear Jaris scream from the hallway beyond.
"She was mine!" The monk yells above me as I fade into blackness.
---
I'm standing outside a big tent, much like when Jaris brought me home to his family. I hear the sounds of celebration inside, laughter and music. There's got to be booze in there! I go in through the tent flap, and am met by Gregolas.
"Aevlin! You're not supposed to be here- there's not enough alcohol for you, yet!"
"Greg?"
"I'm only here for a little bit, have to get back to plowing Merrika's fields. What happened to you?"
"We fought the Slave Lords. Where am I?"
I hear a tune being played, and many voices singing along drunkenly... that sounds like one of the songs Jaris keeps humming.
"Ysgard," another voice says. I look up and see Jaris.
"Jaris!"
He smiles, drinking from a glass of red wine.
"No, I'm Joe. Your brother in law."
I feel myself growing sad, and tired.
"It's not your time," Joe says, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But have a sip before you go."
I take a sip from his glass, and it's the best wine I've ever tasted. My heart tells me to stay. This place seems amazing.
"I don't want to leave."
"You have to, Aevlin. Many people are counting on you. Jaris still needs you." Greg says, hugging me. "It won't be easy, you're going to hurt, a lot... but you have much more to do before you can come here."
I look back, and can see a vision of myself half naked on the floor of a cell, pale as death, shaking and foaming at the mouth. I don't know what Joe and Greg are talking about, I'm clearly dying.
"Goodbye, Aevlin. We will see you again some day." Joe kisses me on the cheek. "But not today."
---
I open my eyes, and see only black. Am I blind? I feel sand underneath me, and another body next to me. Someone is grabbing me.
"Who's grabbing my a**?!" I shout.
"Aevlin, I can see you. You're grabbing your own ass."
"Oh. Ceyleen, you're alive?!"
"Yes. We all are. Except the ones that matter. Patrick, Phillip, Kevin. Ricardo."
Ricardo is dead? No! I feel someone pull me to my feet, and then kiss me passionately before pulling away and just holding my face.
"I really hope that's you, Jaris?"
"Of course it's me. I would kill Sean if he touched you."
"With what weapon, Jaris? We have nothing." Nylen says.
Hans, Callum and I can't see, but everyone else can. We are in a big chamber, and there are several corridors leading off of it. As my grogginess wears off, and we talk about what happened leading up to being here, it all comes back to me.
I don't know how long they kept us in cells. I remember waking up in pain, and it just got worse. I was so sick, and feverish. Ceyleen says it was the alcohol leaving my body... I never went that long without it, and it damn near killed me. Despite being unaware of the passage of time, it must have been awhile. All our wounds healed, leaving scars, but all of us are healthy again. I've actually never felt better, despite the fact I'm wearing scraps for clothing and sitting in sand.
"They wouldn't let me sleep more than three hours at a time," Hans says. "I couldn't pray for spells.
Ceyleen received similar treatment. Our captors knew what they were doing, that's for sure. I'm just amazed that everyone I saw die right in front of me is alive again. That was an unwinnable fight from the get-go. It seems we all have one shared memory...
---
I'm woken from a fitful slumber by the earth shaking. Dust falls from the ceiling in my cell, and I open my eyes to see Jaris across the way, looking at me. The guards never let us talk, we can only stare at each other. We can see eachother, but never touch. It has been agonizing.
After much shouting and a ruckus in the distance, the high priest enters the dungeon with his guards flanking him, and looks around at all of our cells.
"The Earth Dragon has spoken! He is hungry, and the time has come to feed you to him, as is our sacred custom! Oh, miscreants- now you shall pay for the havoc you have wrought- guards, subdue them with the smoke of the little death!"
A tube comes into the dungeon after they leave, and a green smoke fills the air. I pass out once more.
---
"Everyone try to fill up with pocket sand!" Ceyleen instructs. "I'm making a sling out of my loin cloth!"
"For once I'm glad I can't see!" I say.
"Oh, shut up Aevlin, you don't deserve to see this beauty." Ceyleen snaps.
Jaris grabs Hans and I's hands, and the group starts moving. I can hear the sand being moved around, but I see nothing. That is until a strange flitting light appears ahead.
"We're going down a tunnel, now." Jaris says to me.
"What's that light?" Hans asks.
"Don't know. Ceyleen is following it, though."
We go a little further, and suddenly stop.
"There's something moving!" Announces Ceyleen.
"Oh no- it's the Leprechaun King!" I whisper, my voice shaking. "I knew he would find me!"
"Shh, Aevlin, I assure you there are no leprechauns." Jaris consoles me.
"I think it's an ooze!" Says Ceyleen. "Turn back!"
Next thing I know I'm being dragged along, running as fast as I can. Whatever was there does not follow us, and we apparently go down another tunnel. This one is a good one, as someone finds wood at the end of it. Jaris lights it on fire, and I can see again!
"Aevlin, have you always looked like this?" Hans is staring at me with his mouth dropped open.
"Hans, eyes off my wife! We're all nearly naked, but now is not the time!"
Elmarth is able to read some scrolls that came in a case where we woke up, and there is also a note to us. Apparently we have a friend working undercover, and they claim our belongings are all on the Slave Lords' private boat, The Water Dragon. Great! Now we just have to escape and get to the docks... but where even are we?
The dwarf picks up a thigh bone laying on the ground with the wood fragments. At least a couple of people have weapons. We move along, and keep walking back and forth as we run into things in the dark. Ceyleen apparently put her hand into something sticky, which smells like tar... and then we end up in a tunnel with what looks like spider legs hanging down. So, we go back to the "tar" puddle, and Odious is able to make a torch out of the thighbone by dipping it in the pitch puddle and having Jaris light it. I've never been happier to have a light source!
We hear scuttling sounds ahead, and when we get closer we can see a bridge made up of giant ant carcasses, and giant worker ants working. Ceyleen goes to cross the bridge, and my heart nearly stops as she falls! It looks like she is gone forever, falling into the bottomless chasm... but then we see her hand! It's still covered in the pitch, and she is so light that she is stuck just hanging by her hand. Hans runs up and pulls her to safety.
We head back the way we came, and Odious dips the torch into the pitch pool. Unfortunately, although it does light the torch, it also completely ignites the pool. We move along, heading through the "spider tunnel" and find that it's actually giant roots. This leads to a chamber with a beach and a large pool of water. Large fish swim in the water, and when we enter, two eye stalks pop out of the water.
A giant crab leaps out, and attacks Callum and Vandolin! It somehow trips itself and falls, and we all brutally tear it apart limb from limb. I manage to rip off an eye stalk. We talk about eating it, or fishing for some of the fish, but then realize none of us are particularly hungry.
Ceyleen tells us the water is clean, and advises we drink some. We don't know when we will next find fresh drinking water, so we oblige. Ceyleen jumps in to take a look under the water, and comes back some minutes later with two strange tube worm things. She tells us they shocked her, but she grabbed them to see what they are.
Odious, being a good strong swimmer, volunteers to go explore further in the water. He jumps in after telling someone to hold his bone, and we wait. Ceyleen ponders the tubes, and soon pulls apart the little red worms inside them and makes a seal on either end.
"These hold air! If we go under water, those of you who are terrible swimmers, Aevlin, can use them to breathe!"
After what seems like far too long, Odious returns. He tells us he found more passages, and another cavern like this one. We decide we are going to all go for a swim, and Ceyleen goes back in the water to get more tubes.
I just hope that everyone knows I am a terrible swimmer in every sense of the word. It will be all for nothing if I made it through this horrible imprisonment just to die of drowning!
>>-----> Aevlin Jörmungandr <-----<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Oct 30, 2019 22:23:34 GMT -5
The snakes didn’t put up much of a fight in the end. Cayleen spell failed so they ended up squeezing the life out of the recent new addition but besides that all ends well. They then begin to start hollowing out the snake in a very familiar way. “Where did you come up with the idea?” I ask curious as Hans looks up wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Your brother. It worked last time in carrying the loot.” Hes says getting his hands dirty. It warms my heart. Avelin lays a hand on my arm, helping me up from the ground. “Stay close the Nylen and Elmarth all right. That way we can find you.” I nod my head, reequipt Lyon and vanish as we continue the march. I’m sandwiched between the party infront and Nylen and Elmarth in the back. Nylens concerned that I’ll run into battle again and reopen my wound. Apparently I can’t be trusted to not do something stupid. Johanna takes point as she slowly makes her way down the hallway ahead of us. She looks nervous. She’s been on a hard loss streak with all the traps so I can’t blame her but something is telling me it’s not that. I feel it to. There’s a sense of dread hanging in the air. Something doesn’t feel right. Johanna reaches the end of the corridor to the opening of a large room and she pales. Her eyes go wide and her ears press against her head. It takes a lot to scare her like this. This ain’t just fear, this is pure horror at what she’s stumbled upon. I can only have one guess and I don’t like it. “Hi there.” We hear as Joh takes a step back. We’ve been watching you for some time. The snake is weird but to each their own. Enter, so we can enjoy the fight and kill you all.” Suddenly a wall jumps behind me, cutting off Nylen and Elmarth. S***! Johanna looks at the Slave lords and puts up a weak smile. “Umm. I’m just a temp.” They don’t listen to her. The party rushes into the room as Odie rushes the wizard who staring into a glass globe. Avelin steps forward, bow in one hand while the other points at them with fire in her eyes. “My name is Avelin of Nyron. You took my parents. Perpare to die!” Cayleen casts fire fairy on the roguish looking slaver. Johanna steps in pale and shaky looking way over her depths. I know what she’s thinking. The rogue would the easiest for her to take out “Get the rogue!” She shouts, shooting and missing horribly. She growls annoyed and runs forward with Callum. Then it happens. Helpless I watch as Johanna and Callum are consumed in pillars of flames. There screams ring in my ears as they fall to the ground with a thud. As the fire disappears there’s no life remaining in my cousin, just charcoaled husk, vaguely resembling her... Tear bit at the corner of my eyes and I grit my teeth bitting back my rage as I watch. The party begins to pale. Cayleen begins to cast her spell as bees begin to appear. The swarm charges as Avelin shoots. Han appears casting a spell but nothing happens! The man wielding a wicked curved blade cuts into him, interrupting him again. Suddenly the other soellcaster finishes their spell and the entire corridor fills with fire, the force slamming me against the wall-!.... I awake blinking away the ash and dust. I look at my hand to see it’s still invisible...What happened? My hand moves blindly forward when I brush against something. As my eyes come back to focus my heart stops. Next to my hand lays Ricardo, his small body lifeless. Tears I’ve held back fall. I scoop him up in my arms and hold him close. “I’m so sorry. Ricardo.” I place him in my bag, tearing my eyes away and witness the devestation. Cayleen lays among her fallen animals, arms wrapped around kevin in a vain effort to protect him. Ricardo must have been blasted away from her. I can’t tell if she’s dead as well. The snake ranger is also down. The rogue stabs Odie with an evil dagger, piosoning dripping from its tip and I pale. Assassin and a powerful one! Being a dwarf he barely feels it and pulls his hammer back to swing. Suddenly Odie falls as the wizard casts magic missels and they pound into his chest, knocking him off his feet. Only Avelin and Hans remain surrounded by these b******ds. We’re.... going to lose.. aren’t we?... this is it.... I grit my teeth feeling the blood in my mouth and the tears streaking my face. I climb to my feet using the wall and march. My tunic feels wet again and I know my injury has reopened but I can’t just sit here. If I’m going to die I’m going to do it protecting my wife! I’m so slow! It takes all my effort to take a step forward. Pain shoots up my spine and my stomach flares but I don’t stop. I cant stop! A slaver charges at Avelin. She shoots her bow but the man speed is so quick, he dodges them like they were flys. What is this man!? Pissed she draws the axe and as she slams it into his shoulder he punches her multiple time. One in the stomach, the elbow, her throat. She gags, hissing and with a great roar she raises the axe to cleave his head! But then her eyes go wide. Magic missels strike her and she crumbles to the ground with a quick scream and a death rattle. My heart stops. “AVELIN!!” I lay a hand on my wound teeth bared as my hand heats up. Burning flesh enters my nose. My head and soul is on fire but I just can’t move fast enough!! F****! I feel rage. All consuming hatred. I push off the wall and begin sprinting at the wizard. Hans is speaking to the cutlass leader but I don’t hear him. I only here the screams of anguish and the desire for blood. I kick off the wall, drawing Lyon as I appear mid strike above the wizard. “Diieee!!” Suddenly a foot slams into my ribs and I’m thrown out of the air and into the ground with a thud. My eye glides up to the evil smile of the assassin. “Oh, surprise, surprise. looks like they had a rat hiding among them. Looks like this ones already half dead. Guess our golem did a number on you.” cough blood turning on my side as I start crawling for my foe. he begins to laugh. A evil soulless laugh. “Well look at you! Still has some fight left in you!?” He kicks me in the ribs hard and I feel something break inside me. Darkness begins crawling along my vision as red hazes my eyes . “Awww. Is that all?” He then grabs me by my hair and lifts me off my feet, staring into my eyes. There’s nothing in them, only death. “Hmm. You dressed like that little elf girl. Did we kill your sissy little man? And that archer over there. Was that you screaming? Was that your lover or your whore?” A gargled growl crawls from my throat. “You’ll.... suffer.” “Ooo, big talk for a corpse.” “Enough of that now! We’re wrapping this s*** up!” Cutlass calls and the assassin looks dissapoint. “Aww, that’s a pity. I was having fun playing with you. Good night then little thief. Sleep tight.” He then reaches to my scolded wound and rips it open as everything fades to white. ——————
My eyes flutter as I’m plagued with dreams. I wonder weak and feeble. I’m surrounded by that mans evil laughter as I stand in blood. I swing out blind but he vanished like smoke. The laughter still present. Surrounded by phantoms “Awww, poor little theif. His sissy dead, his friends dead, his pets dead, even his pretty little wife is dead.” Suddenly he grabs me by the throat as his phantoms “You are a fraud. You can’t survive without your friends to hide behind and your fancy bobbles.” The phantoms begin to strip me of everything. Ripping off my cloak, my protections, and my rings, boots till it’s just me. Then he pulls me to stare into his eyes. The shadow picks up lyon, slightly visible with blood. “Do you want to die? There’s nothing here now. Nothing to keep you tethered to this weak shell. To this miserable world. I can sense it, your desire to go back to that place.” He leans into my ear as I choke afraid. “Let me to free you.” He slide Lyon into my heart as I scream in pain!.............
I fly forward with a scream, a cold sweat breaking out across my body as the pain washes over me. I try to calm down. What a bad dream! I must have over did it this time. “Sorry Ave. I hope I didn’t wake-.” I turn to my side to see no one next to me. I frantically look around at my surrounding to see stone walls and bars. I hear a jingling and raise my hands to see them bind together in shackles. I reach for my neck to find a heavy collar, with chains attached to the shackles. I’m chained in a way I can’t have full movement. It’s obvious this isn’t their first time imprisoning thieves. It all comes flooding back. I slowly, carefully swing my feet off the cot to the floor as I find even shackles on my ankles. I shamble to the bars, careful not to trip and grasp the bars.. Hundred upon hundreds of cells line the wall. Dim torches line the walls only stretching and distorting the shadows and hiding the depths of some of the cells. Damn fire. I can’t see in the cells too well. “Avelin?” I call out and my voice echos and drones along the walls till it vanishes. I’m answered by a series of familiar groans but one stands out. “Do you mind? I’m trying to sleep.” I hear Cayleen further down. “Cayleen! Where’s Avelin?” “Heck of I know.” I see Hans stick his arms out of one of the cells dialonal to me. “She’s right next to me.” I look across from me and I can see a shadow shift in the dark cell adjacent to me. “Avelin! Are you ok?” “.. I don’t feel well.” I sigh. She’s safe for now. SHe doesn’t sound well. B*****ds. I look at my chains. “Are any of you chained up? “Nope.” “Not me.” I get a series of no’s. It’s seems I’m the only one they Chain. Suddenly I hear Nylen. “Alright, since we’re awake now role call. Who’s here?” We call out except Avelin with a groan and Johanna and Callum. So. It is true. I smear the tears, grateful it’s dark and turn back to business. We’re all hear the sound of boots marching and the guards show up. I retreat to the corner of the cell. They reach into a basket and throw a lump of hard bread at me and a leave a cup of water at my cell and move on to the next one. I press myself against the wall glaring at them. I grab the bread and bit into it but it’s as hard as a rock. I take the cup to see it has half a cup full of water. I eat and drink but I’m still hungry and thirsty. I look back at Avelin who’s crawled to the front of the cell and is barely eating her share and drinking. I’m worried. I try to hide the cup behind my back but the guard glares when he doesn’t get it back. “Where is it?” I don’t give him a response. I watch ruffle behind him and her something jingle. I expect him to come in here but instead he reaches down next to his cell and suddenly I’m being pulled along the ground by my collar, dropping The hidden wooden cup. “Leave him alone! Please!” Avelin whispers reaching her arm through the bar. I’m slammed into the bars pinned as the other guard wordlessly unlocks my cell, Steps in and takes the cup as I gag. “Next time don’t take things that aren’t yours.” He slams the door hard as his partner releases the chain to my collar and I can breath again as I cough. “What happened!?” Nylen calls concerned. “Jaris didn’t return the cup.” Says Hans as I regain my breathing. That was rough. I rub at my neck sitting up against the bars. This is going to be a long stay. ——————————————
It’s completely dark now. It’s seems to guards have gone to bed and have let the torches burn out and I can see everyone in the cells but it doesn’t last long. While I’m sleeping I notice the guards come back every so often to relight the torch, feed us, and to harrass Hans and Cayleen every time they try to pray but they leave me untouched. I look at my hands. Do they not know? I check for guards and find none. I look over to Avelin to see her curled up on the cot. She hasn’t spoken to me in awhile. She hasn’t been feeling well and I’m extremely worried. I threw her my bread but it’s still there. How long has it been since she’s been completely clean!? I need to get over there soon. I stare at the links of my chains till it glows red. I pull and pull at them till I can feel the links starting to weaken. I just can’t get it hot enough though. The process is too slow. I sigh and get up from the floor letting the chains cool. I can’t stay still. I need to do something else now. I start doing some basic excerises. I can’t stay still. Other wise the thoughts will creep in and drive me mad. I’m interrupted when I hear Avelin gag! Jumping from the floor I dash to the bars to see her convulsing, foaming at the mouth. No! “Help! Guards! Get your a*** out here!” “What’s happening?!” Shouted Hans. “S-She’s dying!” I rattle the bars and my chains creating a clamor of noise. I hear the familiar creak of the door and a group of men come to my door looking pissed till they notice Avelin. They leave me be and all pour into the room and all I can do is curl into a ball at the base of my cell. I want to pray but Oli only excepts songs and I can’t find it in me to sing. Not right now. The guards talk amongst them selves and give her some medicine but then f**k off and the door slams shut leaving us alone . She’s stoped seizing and now it’s quiet. I don’t hear the sounds of my friends calling out to me as I start spiraling in anguish. I claw at my hair and arms. I feel my body start to burn as I shake. It’s over. It’s all over. I can’t do anything. I hate myself. “Wow, you sdon’t look so hot.” My eyes peel to the back of my cell to see bloody Sean. “How the hell are you here!?” I wheeze, getting up from the floor so I can deck him. “For godsh sake Yaris, your a mess. Cooking yourself alive arnt we. She’d be disappointed” I look to see blisters rise on my shoulder as the heat burns. “Shut up Sean!” I reel back and punch him but scream in pain as my fist connected with him but simply goes through him and punch the wall. I collapsed to the ground holding my hand, the burning stops. I glare at Sean from the ground. “You should look again.” I roll my eyes to Avelins see to see her coughing. Alive. I start crying. I glance back at Sean to see I’m alone in this cell. “What the firk! ding! blast! was that?” “Oh nothing. Just losing my f***ing mind is all.” “Fantastic! Just what we need.” Cayleen exclaims. “Is Avelin all right?” Coughs Elmarth. “She is, for now. She’s still breathing.” I sag against the bars tired. “Jaris, are you going to be ok.” I hear Nylen down the hall. “I will be.” I huddle up against the bars. I’m staring at the ground and I finially feel I can do it now. I dig deep and begin to sing quietly, a song that echos from my forgotten memories. A song of Olidammar and the god trap. One of many tales involving him and his student Rudd, Lady Luck. A song of sorrow and triumph. imprisonment, escape and then freedom. Suddenly I hear another voice joins me and I can recognize her voice loud and clear as Johanna joins the chore. Tears fall as my heart lightens with this knowledge. It’s short lived when the guards start banging the cells but for one short moment I felt free. ——————- I’m in the middle of doing arm lifts when I hear Avelin shift on her cot. I rush to the bars in a furry of rattling chains. I can fully move my arms as the link I have been working on has long since been broken and gone unnoticed. I could leave now but I can’t leave everyone nor Avelin. From her cot Avelin looks at my with painful longing and I return that sad pained glance. It’s been so lonely in here. Nothing but my thoughts and my grown madness. I need to get ride if that! I wish I could hold her and make her feel better. I’ve never felt this alone before. “Avelin. You awake?” Suddenly the ceiling starts to tremble, dust raining down on us. What’s happening out there? The door to the dungeon creaks open as a priest, flanked by his many bodyguards eyes us all down. “The earth dragon has spoken! He is hungry, and the time has come to feed you to him, as is our sacrid custom! Oh miscreants- now you shall pay for the havoc you have wrought- guards, subdue them with the smoke of the little death!” I don’t like the sound of that. The b*****ds leave and the door closes with a resounding thud behind them. Suddenly with a crash a tube comes into the prison. Oh no.... and the begins to pour gas into the room. I hold my breath and I start trying to bend the bars to my cell. I feel my bones start to grow and my muscles. The bars that contained me for months begin to bend. I step out from my prison determined. I rush to Avelins bars. I see her cough and gag and my lungs burn for air. Gritting my teeth I pull the bars and I can feel them break but I’m seeing spots. I need to breath! I gasp for air and then begin choking. I fall to my knees holding the bars as I lose my size and my strength. My eyes feel heavy. After who knows how long Avelin reaches through the bars and caresses my face. I lean into her warm soft hand. A relieved smile spreads across on my face as I drift into unconsciousness, slump against the bars as the fumes overcome me. ———- I scrunch my face as awareness comes back. Using my arms I push off from the ground waiting for the room to stop spinning as groans echo around me. My eyes slide to the figure next to me and my heart leaps into my throat. Next to me is Johanna, holding her head as she struggles to sit up. She sees me and I can see the tears. “Jaris...” I don’t give her time to speak. I scoop her into a hug. She hugs me back and despite her not making a sound I know she’s crying. “I saw it. I bloody saw them. All of them.” I rub her back, trying to calm her down. She’s seen it. I don’t know completely what’s he means but I can feel her pain. She experience what I had a long time ago. The pain of leaving always stings. She pulls away from me sniffling. “I’m ok now. I just need some space.” I nod. There isn’t any words that I can say to console her. It’s a painful process, returning from the dead. I get up when I hear her voice. “Who’s grabbing my a***?!” I turn towards her and I see her on the ground blindly fumbling about. I don’t waste a second
I pull her into her feet, and then kiss her passionate and desperate. I’ve finally feel better now that I can hold her once again. That despite everything she’s still here. before pulling away i just holding her face, taking in her features. She feels around my shoulders and I wince when she touches the blisters. "I really hope that's you, Jaris?" "Of course it's me. I would kill Sean if he touched you." "With what weapon, Jaris? We have nothing." Nylen says. I see him kick the wall frustrated. He just got that armor as well. We’re all together, even Callum! Well... not everyone one. Ricardo... The surviving party All stand around almost naked in raged loin cloths and bakinis, wondering what now. Suddenly I spy scrolls on the ground. It’s too dark for me to read so I give them to Hans. He’s a scroll guy next to an disposed Elmarth. I think he’s in shock to be in such a situation. I look up and I can see that the ceiling goes higher. Would I find a grate up there? “I’ll be right back. I think I can scale up these walls.” I test my footing and begin to climb, making fast pace. I go higher and higher but I still can’t see the light. Suddenly the rocks give way from under me and I come crashing back to the sand with a thud. “Ow,” I grumble as Ave helps me to my feet. “Did you see anything?” “No, the wall broke free before I got a look. I could try again but the same thing might happen.” The group huffs. Cayleen and Vandolin begin searching the ground for rocks and find some, sadly not big enough for stabbing. She then takes off her bakini too and makes a sling. Looks like we have a weapon now. I stare into the tunnels ahead of us. Our only way forward is through the unknown and blind faith. Cayleen takes the lead with her sling. Nylen is still recovering from the beating the guards did to him along with Elmarth who’s so out of it he’s being supported by Nylen. Cayleen takes up command. She, Odie, vandolin, each take a blind human. I grab both Avelin and Hans, marching into the darkness. We march till we see light flicker ahead and hurry our walk till we feel something slither around our ankles. Hans blindly stomps at the source but I don’t see anything but I do feel it. "There's something moving!" Announces Ceyleen. "Oh no- it's the Leprechaun King!" Aveljn whisper, her voice shaking and crushing my hand in her vice like grip. "Shh, Aevlin, I assure you there are no leprechauns." I try to consoles her and save my hand as the bones pop. “There’s a sand ooze ahead! Shouts Cayleen as she slings. I don’t hesitate, I drag both my friends behind me back to the main room. Thankfully the ooze doesn’t follow us back into the main room. We take another passage way and we find better luck. In this room there lays a femur bone, peices dry wood and another scroll. “Someone keeps leaving us messages but we can’t read them. They should have at least brought a lantern and some oil.” I focus intensely on the flakes. “Jaris? I don’t think glaring at the wood will help our-” the wood ignited as everyone jump startled. Cayleen blinks twice. “Oh right. You have weird mind gos se going on with your head.” “He a Witch!” Vandalin accuses and I don’t dignify him with a look. Callum looks at me with betrayal. Hans blinks owlishly at Avelin and Cayleen without her top. “Aevlin, have you always looked like this?" "Hans, eyes off my wife! We're all nearly naked, but now is not the time!" I remind him and he wakes up from it. “I thought you said you couldn’t did that!?” Callum demands. “Ya, I lied. Sorry. I don’t like to advertise this gos se.” “How do I get those?” Asks Vandalin, my scowl glides over to him unamused. Avelin places a hand on my shoulder. She knows how I feel about them. Especially about expansion and the one we don’t meantion. There’s also the new fact that they might be driving me crazy if the prison hadn’t. “As far as I understand I was born with them. It’s not like a asked for them. There more trouble then their worth.” “Well this time there going to be a huge assest. Let see what these say.” Says Hans as he reads the scrolls to us. Some one is helping us. Someone Elmarth might know. They left us magic scrolls but only two we can use since Elmarth is very ill. Our ally tells us our belongings are in the sea dragon, the slavers personal yatche. Brilliant. Now all we need to die is get out of this rat hole. We move on, sticking to one direction. We come across a hallway filled a type of liquid. Cayleen sticks her hand in it but can’t make it out but it’s extremely sticky. We take another corridor with long dangling shadows and we turn back to the mysterious pool of liquid feeling unnevered. It’s then as Cayleen has her hand near her face she finds out what it is. It’s tar. Wait! “Tars flammiable right?” I ask. “I think so. Heck if I know.” “Try sticking the bone in it.” Odie listens to me and I concentrate again. It lights and now we have a torch! Seeing an opportunity Callum strips and uses his coverings to save some for later. The ladies blush and turn away. We traverse the pool of tar and find a grueling sight. A bridge made out of dead ants. On the other side swarms of giant ants move in and out do the caves. I don’t like that direction. “I’m going to cross the bridge. Say here.” We wait and watch with breath held as she begins her acrossings. Suddenly she loses her footing and tips over the edge into darkness. “No!” I pull Avelin back as she rushes to save her friend but it’s far too late. She’s gone. Just like that. She starts sobbing and I pull her to my chest feeling devestated myself.. of all things to kill her it had to be a fall. “I’m still alive!” All our heads snap forward and we see from the edge of the bridge a sticky hand. We all suck in a deep breath “Holy F***k Cayleen.” I mutter between my breath. Hans easily lifts the tiny crazy elf woman up and over his shoulder and back to us. “One second thought let’s not go that way. It’s a silly place.” Turning around we march through the tar again and just as we make it Oldie looks at his torch. “Let me renew this.” He the. Lowers it to the tar. “No! Wait-“ too late. It erupts into fire and we have to retreat back the way we came to avoid the fumes. Discovering the dangling tendrils are just tree roots we push on and find a beach, a peice of drift wood laying on the shore near the fresh lake. We’re immediately taken by suprise by a giant crab but it doesn’t put up much of a fight. Avelin even rips out an eye stock. With the threat delt with Cayleen once again explore the lake and finds tube worms and more passage ways. Odie, being the one with the biggest lungs explores forward. I look at Callum, wondering. “So Callum. When you died, did you see anything?” He thinks and looks at me. “No I didn’t.” I nod my head. “I see.” It starts getting uncomfortably long. I’m starting to think something has happened to the old dwarf when suddenly he bursts through the water animated and excited! “There’s a beach on the other side!” Avelins excitement drops as she looks at the ground. "Whats wrong?" "Im,, Not a very good swimmer." Honestly i cant say I'm amazing at holding my breath. I squeeze her hand in reassurance. "I wont let you drown. Just stay by me." She smiles, nervous but at least feeling alittle better. God i hope we don't drown.
Jaris F J
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Nov 2, 2019 22:52:46 GMT -5
We team up to make the swim to the second cavern beach. Jaris takes my hand, and we dive in together. I can't see anything, but Jaris pulls me along as I swim as best I can. Not too long after we go in, I run out of air. There's a moment of panic as I try to figure out the tube, but I'm able to get a breath of air and make it to the next cavern. We wait on the beach as Odious swims to check things out. He says there isn't another passage in here, but there is the side passage. After several minutes, and a rather large tremor shaking the cavern, he returns.
"I found the way out! We have to swim again, though. Hope you all have air in the tubes."
We can only hope. Jaris takes my hand again, and we start swimming. We break the surface in a tunnel leading out into daylight, and start swimming. I'm out of breath and barely keeping my head above water, but we make it out of the cave just as rocks fall from above, closing it off. That was lucky timing, and a good thing our dwarf has such prowess at swimming.
A wave carries us out further, and we see sea creatures, from fish to squid to who knows what else, trying to swim out of the swells. Looking up at the island we swam out of, there is smoke and fire.
"Looks like a volcanic erruption," says Nylen. "Come on, we swim to the North shore!"
We make it to the shore, and start walking along the beach. Some of us are collecting sticks and pieces of wood to use as weapons. Callum steps in something and starts yelling in pain.
"Its an ooze! Someone piss on it!"
Nobody volunteers. Fortunately he is able to scrape it off with a stick, and everyone is relieved. We are a bit more careful as we pick our way across the beach. Deciding to cross farmland and make our way to Suderham, we soon hear odd animal sounds. Ahead huge creatures begin running our way. Goats... goats my height! And they look angry.
"I'm gonna punch a goat!" I announce, rushing toward the charging goats.
The first goat is upon me in seconds. I pull my arm back, and release as it runs into me. My hand strikes it's hard, fuzzy head, and it stops. I punch again, and-
"I KNOCKED OUT A GOAT!!!" I scream.
My husband expands and is suddenly a lot bigger. Like, all of him. Mark it? He now stands just over 11 feet tall.
"Aevlin, I understand the marriage now!" Hans shouts.
"Don't look up!!!" I shriek, and go after another goat.
This goat goes down in two punches from me, and then Ballard knocks out another. Odious gets the last one. Hans then puts an unconscious goat in a headlock. It is very impressive, Kord would be proud of him choking the goat.
One of the goats wakes up and charges giant Jaris, headhunting him right where his chest once was, but is now his crotch. Even I cringe. He knocks it out, we take off running, and make it pretty far before another goat awakens. It charges and gets Ceyleen pretty good before we get away.
We proceed to Suderham. It becomes evident as we draw near that Suderham is now a death trap. The guard towers and the South wall have fallen, and the town is filled with yellow, gaseous vapors pouring down from above. We can see people choking and dying in the streets, but can't do anything to help them without killing ourselves entering the vapors. Nylen suggests we skirt the edge of the town, by the water. That's when we come upon a group of other escaped slaves, some crafting spears out of sticks, and others impaling guards upon them. I look for my parents, but I don't see them. Callum says he will talk to the group, and goes up to them.
Whatever he says to them works, because they eagerly give us daggers while chanting about anarchy and killing the masters. They also point us toward the docks, where the Slave Lords may have their boat! As we head toward the docks, we see a village of burning houses near the docks. Only one boat is tied up on the closest pier, a big galley emblazoned with a dragon on the side. So this is the Water Dragon!
As we go closer, a Slave Lord lieutenant comes running out from the houses towards us, shouting. I run towards him, ready to kick him where it counts- and then I recognize him! It's the guy that told us to seek the Ivory Paladin when we entered Suderham! We talk to him and he fills us in- he is the one that left the tube of scrolls and the note. He confirms that our gear is on the boat, and the Slave Lords are getting ready to leave. His name is Selzen Murtano.
Selzen gives us the gear he has- studded leather armor, a shortsword, a cleric scroll, and a monacle.
"Oh, Elmarth isn't here?" He asks. We have no idea. "Hm."
He throws the monocle down, and steps on it, shattering the glass. I hope that wasn't important. We take in the scene at the docks. There is a group of islanders standing on the dock, overseen by an armed ogre, and two humans with longswords and chainmail. On the ship we can see 20 individuals, 6 of them Slave Lords, 6 sailors, and 8 guards in leather armor with shields and longswords. If we fight... we may not live. But we have no other options.
We develop a quick plan. The elves/half elves will sneak through the water and go directly on the ship. The rest of us will go to the dock and cause a distraction, or try to rally the crowd to charge the guards.
"Give us a minute of lead time to get to the boat, then make your move." Nylen tells the human crew, including me.
Jaris takes my hand, and pulls me into his arms.
"This might be goodbye," he says, missing my forehead.
"It may be. But it may not." I answer. "If it is... I will see you on the other side."
"Stay safe, and good luck," he hands me the shortsword. "I love you, Aevlin."
"And I love you, Jaris. Good luck."
We part ways, and after the obligatory minute of waiting, human crew moves toward the docks. I hide the shortsword in the back of my bikini top, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. We mingle in with the crowd, and I hear Hans start talking up the crowd. He tries to incite them to attack, that we have strength in numbers and can take them by force.
"Are you insane?!"
"Those are the Slave Lords!"
"Your options are potentially dying fighting the Slave Lords, or definitely dying by staying here!" I say to them.
"We were just going to float in the water after they leave and let it carry us to safety." Someone says.
What a stupid plan. It seems these people are no help to us, however they agree to cause a distraction. As the Slave Lords start yelling down to the guards on the dock, idiot Vandolin moves up and throws a dagger. Some time later, it hits the ogre.
"WEAPON!!!" the ogre roars. It rushes in with the two fighters, and surrounds Vandolin.
We maintain our cover, blending in as we walk forward. Hans and a couple others go for the ogre. I pretend to walk past the fighters, but when I draw near, I pull the shortsword from behind my back. I'm a little alarmed by the fact that the blade cuts the back of it a little, and I might have a wardrobe malfunction at any second, but I'm also a professional. However, I miss with my first swing due to having to hold my top up. What horrible timing. Hans gets the ogre in an arm lock, praising Kord as he does. The fighters swing on me, and miss. I manage to get a hit in, but I'm also distracted by the show Hans is putting on. He now has the ogre in a waist cinch.
A half orc jumps off the boat onto the dock, and attacks Callum. Then, a bald and barefoot man in scarlet robes joins the fray. He comes directly for me, fists raised. Great, another monk! Why are monks always picking fights with me?! He gets two good punches on me, one in the gut and another to my mouth.
"Holy s***!" I hear from the crowd, and out of the corner of my eye see Hans has squeezed the ogre so hard that it fell unconscious.
Back to my monk, I punch him in the ear, but send myself off balance. He's quick and squirmy, just how I hate them. He misses me as I dodge, pulling the sword back out, and I hit him with it, cutting his bicep. He misses me, but as I start to laugh at him he clocks me center chest, taking my breath away.
Hans puts the half orc in a strangle hold, and a drow on board the ship screams in rage as her magic fails to affect the glorious wrestling Hans. Vandolin stuns one of the fighters, who falls into the water. I dodge yet another blow, but I'm getting tired. We keep exchanging blows, I with the sword and he with his fists. It's clear that he is the better opponent, but I can't give in. Not until I'm unconscious or dead. Callum comes to my aid, and just as I'm about to black out we finish the monk off. I nod to Callum in thanks, and kick the unconscious or potentially deceased monk for good measure.
We've won! The enemy, overwhelmed by our tenacity and prowess in fighting-despite our partial nudity- gave up. We kill those that didn't jump in the water or flee to the burning city. A major victory- finally we have defeated the slave lords! Vandolin is dead, killed by an assassin, but it's a small price to pay.
I feel like hell. That monk was a worthy opponent, and really did a number on me. I'm on my last legs, bruised and bloody, but I help dispatch the last of those on the docks.
Once all the enemies are cleared, Jaris jumps down off the boat, and runs to my side. He places the necklace he gave me, the symbol of our marriage (other than our tattoos), around my neck. My borrowed short sword clatters to the deck as he sweeps me off my feet, kissing me like he's never kissed me before. I think he might have forgotten I'm only wearing a loin cloth, as Hans whistles as he walks by.
"Aevlin?!" A woman's voice calls out.
Jaris puts me down, and I turn toward the shore. Two figures run towards the docks from the burning houses.
"AEVY!!!" A man's voice bellows.
"MOM!! DAD!!"
I nearly crash into my mom as she runs to me, and she grabs me in a death grip hug. It's been nearly a year since I've seen her, but she hasn't changed a bit. Still just looks like me, but older. I see my dad approach over my mom's shoulder, and he is glaring at Jaris. My mom pulls away, looking me over.
'Aevlin, have you been drinking again?"
"No, mom," I laugh. "I'm sober now."
My dad pulls me into a hug, kissing the top of my head.
"Get some clothes on, dear. I don't want any of these gentlemen looking at you inappropriately."
He puts himself in between Jaris and I.
"And who is this?" My dad asks, squaring Jaris up.
"Daddy, this is Jaris. My husband."
My dad's normally jovial bearded face turns to rage, and I can see the person he was before he ended his adventuring career. The sharp eyed ranger looks at Jaris as though he is his quarry.
"Your WHAT?!"
I haven't seen my dad this angry in a very long time... not since I drank his entire fine whiskey collection with my friends when I was 15. I see Jaris stiffen, but he doesn't break under my father's scrutinizing.
"My husband, dad. Jaris and I are married."
My father gets in Jaris's face, and I fear the worst. He looks him in the eye, and Jaris doesn't break his gaze. You could cut the tension with a knife.
"Jaris," my dad says. "Tell me. What do you see in my daughter?"
"Mr. Baumann, your daughter means everything to me. She is the most beautiful, kind and selfless woman I have ever met."
I'm cringing. I don't know what it is dad wants to hear from Jaris, but I hope he's saying the right things.
"Would you kill for her?"
"Sir, I would die for her. A hundred times over. I already have once. But I don't need to kill for her. Aevlin wouldn't let me if I tried."
Suddenly my dad laughs, and wraps Jaris in a hug. I sigh in relief.
"Then I am glad to call you my son!" He turns to me. "Why did you not tell us you were engaged, Aevlin?"
"I did, I sent a letter. I think the slavers got it instead of you and mom."
He nods, a sad look on his face.
"I'm sorry we were not there. Your mother will be wanting a family wedding ceremony, of course."
"I expected as much."
"Good. Any more surprises? You're not pregnant, are you?"
"Well, actually." I say, and see Jaris turn red. "We have a dog now!"
---
We sail away to safety from the exploding island, safe on the slavers' ship. All our stuff is in the big chest that Jaris broke open, and I eagerly take mine all back. I don't think my parents are comfortable with me being 75% nude with my husband.
"Jaris, I have to tell them." I whisper as we get a second to ourselves. Mom and dad are busy talking to Hans, who they're happy to have finally met.
"Tell who what?"
"My parents... about Gregolas."
Jaris's face falls. I still haven't completely processed that he's gone, and mom and dad don't even know! He was their only nephew.
"I'll do it with you, Aev."
Back on dry land, we get all our stuff together for the trek back to civilization, away from the desolation of Suderham. I'm happy to have escaped with my life, my friends, my husband and my parents. The Slave Lords are gone, and we are all finally free.
>>-----> Aevlin Baumann Jörmungandr <-----<<
|
|