From: Darvoso <
darvoso@fortwayne.infi.net>
"It's Seashimmer. . .is this private, or can I enter?"
From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>
Shadowblade was recovering from Erelan's miraculous recovery when she felt
another entry on the scene. (Two entries. I believe Sofaltis has entered the
clearing.)
:"It's Seashimmer. . .is this private, or can I enter?"
'Blade turned around and saw the woman entering rather bashfully. "Hi there,
Sea. Nah, I don't think any of us would mind." She stepped back to include Sea
in the rough circle, and inclined her head in Xenon's direction. "Obviously,
Xenon has done all the hard work for us. I don't see anything even a little
injured about Erelan. Nothing hurts, right?" She peered at the now-healed
dragon. Erelan shook her head and... was that a draconic smile?
"So, I guess the two of us are rather redundant. Should we make our way back?"
'Blade shrugged and waited for a respond.
From: <Seashimer@aol.com>
<<"So, I guess the two of us are rather redundant. Should we make our way
back?"
'Blade shrugged and waited for a respond.>>
(We seem to be rather redundant wherever we are, in this group), Seashimmer
thought, but decided against commenting out loud. She cast one last curious
glance at Erelan and Xenon, who seemed to be waiting silently. Erelan looked
somewhat different, but Sea had no experience with draconic emotions, and
couldn't interpret it.
"I suppose we might as well," she told 'Blade. She turned around fully
towards the dragon and mage.
"Do you have further business here? Otherwise, we should probably all return,
before the main party thinks we've been eaten." (Or is eaten themselves,
which may be more likely. . .yes, we should definitely regroup and start
moving. Or more probably talking about where we're moving _to_. Do the new
comers even know? And who would join us if they did? I wonder if anyone's
considered spies. . .I suppose I should leave such thoughts to those with
experience, but they all seem so trusting.)
From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>
:"I suppose we might as well," she told 'Blade. She turned around fully
:towards the dragon and mage.
:"Do you have further business here? Otherwise, we should probably all return,
:before the main party thinks we've been eaten."
'Blade saw the woman's twitch. (Ah yes, the "redundant" bit. Maybe we are
redundant. I think maybe it's time for a little sidetracking.) "Let's return to
the clearing, Sea. I think we need to ask the rest why we are all here. It
seemed to make perfect sense at the inn, but now, I'm not so sure."
She turned back to Xenon and Erelan, with a nod in the direction of the
clearing, she made her way back through the trees with Sea slightly behind her.
From: Heather Arnold <
typodrgn@arches.uga.edu>From: <
Sorchafyre@aol.com>From: "KSD" <
fallenangel_ksd@usa.net>Xenon accepted Erelan's beautiful scale with quite a bit of surprise and
real pleasure.
"You are quite a gentle lady of your folk Dragon Erelan" he murmered "and
our bargain is sealed and done." he finished formally. Unfortunately his
last words were mostly drowned by the severely strained branches above
cracking and depositing the woman Shadowblade nearly on top of Erelan.
He began to respond to the words she spoke to him, but then held them as
Shadowblade abruptly, and to his mind quite discourteously turned away and
headed off. He noticed the healer Seashimmer arrive and then return to camp
as he moved further back into the shadows of the surrounding trees.
He began a quiet chant the Tree Mother had taught him, in thanks for the
help the forest giants had provided him in his endeavors. It felt strange
to use such simple magics again, and he hadn't in such a long time. Xenon,
unlike many Rangers and Scouts knew the woods in a different way. In the
way that ancient plant form beings had taught him to know it. To understand
how it all fit together, and how that balance could be stewarded by those
with power.
He knew that Tree Mothers and Old Treeman had wanted him to become a druid,
and he smiled as he remembered his quiet efforts at never letting Savar or
any other Soul in the Citadel know of his abilities in that area of magic.
He was likely the best Necromancer and Demoner/Summoner ever in this world
or very close, and his Protection magics, and Healing magics, the sisters of
these were equally as strong. His Creation magics were born of his ability
to destroy, and they were intimately entertwined with his studies of Plants
and, to a somewhat lesser extent Animals. But it had been years since the
clear green quieting flow of tree magic had flowed through him and he used
it now, with a sense of peace to heal the strained trees about. Plant magic
was, perhaps, one of, if not the most difficult sort of magic to detect in
its use and he doubted that any besides a very forest tuned elf, very close
or a woodland creature would notice. And there was pain and sorrow
interlaced with the peace of the healing, a matter of rearranging carefully
the life flows in this area of forest, as he remembered the destruction of
the ancient beings, the treefolk, who had gladdened his childhood.
After a short time the magic was released and the flow placed into patterns
which the warping of the Kaladh could not easily corrupt. Xenon saw that
Erelan was engaged in speaking to Solfaltis, and he moved further back into
the forest, Kang's farseeing seeking for any foes, and then Xenon moved off
quietly as the shadows of evening in the Kaladh began to grow towards
becoming the predecessor of the thick darkness of night. He had no fear of
the Dark or of the Kaladh and its denizens for that matter, and he was quite
aware than the great black dragon was not gone for good. He had been sent
to accomplish something, and he would not dare to return to Savar without
accomplishing it.
He had heard nothing from Raven and hadn't really expected to, but he knew
she had heard him. He wondered how useful Solarin would be now that she was
gone, and then chuckled very quietly since he had never thought Solarin very
useful to begin with. Another annoying Elf rather.
He wondered as he returned to the camp, just what should happen now. It
would surely amuse his Uncle to no end to see this gaggle of mostly
incompetent misfits try to come to the Citadel at Savar's invitation, and
attempt to do anything other that die for Savar's further amusement. Xenon
had fought in the pits at the Citadel many times against many different
creatures and beings. Savar called it "exercise" and if Xenon hadn't
performed all he was doing to Savar's liking (and even, often, if he had) he
found himself in a pit in the ground, awaiting, usually without any weapons
whatsoever, and occassionally with mage chains on, the slobbering nasty of
the day. He knew that Savar was aware of how much he hated to get filthy,
and it only amused Savar further he knew to see him covered in spittle or
blood or gore of some sort.
He returned his thoughts to the camp. It was unfair to call them all
incompetent exactly. There were several with much power and several with
much skill, and even a few possessed of both. He had agreed to stop and
rest, as was their desire, but it had become apparent over the course of the
day that they knew not how to function as a group. He had thought that, for
all their faults, Raven and Solarin might be able to begin to encourage the
group to talk and then act efficiently, but the much vaunted Raven had gone
rushing off like a child in a fit of Pique to attack the walls of the
Citadel alone. He hoped she calmed and began to use reason prior to doing
so. It sounded great in the poems of the bards, those lone charges, but
they usually ended in the death of the charging party. She was a cute
little dusky beauty, and it would be a shame to see her die so uselessly.
And it would be annoying to feel Solarin's pain when/if she did.
The troll wasn't going to work as a leader either. He was too large and
frightening to most to be looked towards for leadership by most of these
folk, and hadn't the understanding of the ways of the surface societies he
would need to mold this group into a cohesive unit (if such could be
accomplished at all). :Still, he and his ally are the only ones that really
stand much of a chance of survival against Savar's power in any direct
confrontation except those under my care and myself" Xenon thought.
Several, he knew, could elude Savar's patrols for a time, and perhaps,
assist others in doing so. Several were possessed of the courage, and/or
foolhardiness and lack of information to try to face Savar. But no one but
Agelein and he were sufficiently knowledgeable concerning Savar to attack
the Citadel. Agelein would not, and he wouldn't think of doing so directly
without an excellent force of trained warriors and mages at his back.
Only, that was exactly what he was considering. It was a fool's errand.
Perhaps a well trained elite strike force could enter and conduct a
decapitation maneuver against the head of Savar, but this camp included a
babe, a noble woman, an heir (and her betrothed) of a foriegn nation who was
nearly the most incompetent person Xenon had ever encountered, a soul
sucking demonic, an admitted agent of the enemy, an Angel of Laoghaire who
was not a warrior, a Knight of Laoghaire who was half possessed of a Demon
blade, a flighty but beautiful bard, a skittish halfelven woodsrunner, a
small dragon who has already suffered defeat at the claws of Savar's dragon,
a two soul demonic which couldn't decide what to do in this world, some new
female who seemed marginally competent at best even with the large wolf, a
troll, not long in these lands, an empathic healer who seemed adverse to
combat and wore no weapons, a Karilanthian paladin who was managing, as
paladins and Karilanthians in general do, to annoy or offend everyone about
with her haughtiness and pride, including the now soul sick Karilanthian
ranger, an assassin who fell from trees upon dragons and appologized
thereafter, a war fairy who wandered off but seemed a decent fighter when
around, a weapons skilled but useless in the woods streetrat bard, a demon
controlled unconscious berserker fighter who couldn't control his anger when
he was awake prior to the demon, and Xenon himself. To top it, the hardened
mercenary female had deserted the camp in a fit of anger and rode off on a
path of silver elf light to try to slay the evil wizard who was well
enscounced it his great Citadel and quite safe thank you very much by
herself. There were also some allies and familiars and such, including
Kang, who, in general were at least as, and in several cases far more
competent that their more anthropomorphic bondmates. Some small hope.
:Arrgh, Kang: Xenon thought. Maybe the bards, at least are useful.: Xenon
stood in the shadows at the edge of camp and watched the assassin of all
people trying to rally the camp to some semblance of order. She didn't seem
to be having much luck so far.
: Alright: Xenon mused behind his and Kang's shields, :It is time to assess
this situation and determine my own best course of action.: He paused to
again review the people in the camp and then began to sort them and sift
them in his mind.
The troll, myself, the incompetents from Animi, Aggy, and Delane are mages
of any great power. The troll is competent and battle seasoned, as am I.
Those from Animi are not trained, have no social skills with people they
meet outside of Animi, fight between themselves inferring to the outside
world that Animiians are incompetent bumblers which I know is not entirely
the case, and send up bursts of raw mage power to signal they are there, and
generally are powerful bundles of emotion and teenage angst who do not know
themselves very well and are, to all appearances unfamiliar with any nuance
of tactics or, for that matter self preservation. Typical noble of that age
for some countries. They are best managed carefully, or better, encouraged
to go home or elsewhere if we do truely seek to meet and vanquish Savar.
They are not likely to listen to _anyone_ and I have no desire to babysit
them and cater to their noble foibles. But, perhaps they will be
surprising, and shape up a bit and be useful. Nobles do often come from
blood lines that were once excellent warriors, planners, plotters, assassins
and other useful people. :
:As for Aggy, she is best watched warily and, of course, considered an asset
of Savar's. She could be managed, and perhaps even turned to or aid our
purposes if there is the time and circumstance to do so.:
:Delane is a creature of Power and Evil. I might find a way to guide her in
accordance with our purposes, but it must be done in quiet. She seeks to
corrupt, and such use of her skills would come with a price not easily
avoided. But, I suspect it can be done. If she remains interested in this
group at all.:
:So, the troll and his ally and I and mine are the mage bastion of the
group. I could, I suppose run a subterfuge with the Animiian's and put them
forth to take the brunt of Savars initial attack or to act as a magical
decoy as it were to allow the rest of us easier penetration into the Citadel
(or I suppose go strait into the Jaws of the trap Savar has laid....I think
not). No, the others would not go for it, and they are innocent for the
most part, if highly annoying. So they are a factor in flux.:
:Warriors are the next question. Both the troll and I again qualify as does
Etain, Erelan, Raven were she here, Solarin if he was well, Atalya, Jonas,
Solfaltis, Shadowblade and Dak. Zeke surely would if he could be truely
persuaded to help, and the situation did not get difficult until he could
not back out. Solfaltis is more woods runner than strait up warrior, and he
and Solarin (if Solarin can be again rendered useful and does not immediatly
leave) would make excellent archers to deploy. Shadowblade and Dak would
make excellent skirmishers and be competent to make a needed blow from
behind an enemy. Erelan would make excellent air support. She is brave,
and would likely win another battle with Savar's black if she had proper
magical support. That would certainly send a messaage to Savar... . Etain
and Zeke would also likely fill the skirmisher position, but Etain may be of
sufficient skill to hold a center. Still, if Erelan were on the ground, she
and the troll must certainly take center against the greatest threats,
allowing the skirmishers room to move and use their speed, and if she were
in the air, the troll alone, is, I think, bastion enought to hold center
against almost any foe. The difficulty may be in others surviving nearby he
and or Erelan if they are pressed to fight hard. Blows they may take would
kill most others instantly.... Excepting I if armoured, or another
protected. And both need room to fight....:
:Atalya and Jonas would make excellent front line fighters or a rear guard
bastion in an encirclement, or complements to the troll and Erelan if they
took front and rear. Though it would be chancy. Neither are likely to have
any love of the Demon Blade, and either have a great love for those
ridiculous Karilanthians. Either could distract them, though I consider it
unlikely in the troll's case.:
:Then we must consider the others who might qualify as combatants.
FallenAngel, Kay, the Animiians and their and Shadowblade's bondmates could
be useful to an extent if they didn't foul up the fighting of the more
experienced warriors. I'd say let them for a center guard around the true
noncombatants, Sand, Lady Aya, Ruvan, Darro whilst asleep, and the elven
Empath Seashimmer, but I worry that the Animiians would do something else
foolish like trying to throw mage bolts past the front line combattants with
some significant power and no implication of skill. Perhaps send them to
the air with Erelan and have her tell them to keep their distance. And
guarding the non-combattants and the supplies if there are any, is unlikely
to sit well with their unduly heightened opinions of themselves. Best, if
possible, just to talk them into going home most like. Or elsewhere.:
:I think the Unicorn, the Winged Cat, and Fallen Angel would stand with the
non-combattants and defend against anything which entered beyond the front
lines and skirmishers as best they could. Surely a true Angel of Laoghaire
must have some power and talent, and she carries herself well. And the so
called gods of light do love to defend the innocent...:
:I am less sure of the capabilities of this Kay Silversong and her bondmated
wolf, but they seem to be helpful sorts. If they are not as incompetent as
the Animiian's, perhaps she would be useful. She carries a blade and the
wolf would be quick with his teeth. They are of 'good' however, and likely
to be of some use somewhere.:
:I could spend more time bewailing the lacks of those about, or, to be more
useful, I can ascertain where they stand (though Shadowblade seem to be
trying to do somewhat of that) and then attempt to use the assets fate has
lent for this endeavor.:
:And it may be a moot point. If the fighters intend to leave there is
little any can do to stop them. The troll is not using his battle senses
and tactical skills in his concern over his 'ancient friend' there Solarin.
It will be paramount to see what he will do, or perhaps guide him. I think,
however, that he will seek to both succor any elves, and destroy the evil
that is Savar. That will simply be his nature.:
:And someone needs to remove the noncombattants, insofar as at all possible,
from out of this party. Yet we are in the Kaladh and danger for the less
powerful is everywhere. Still the Kaladh, here, is of less danger than
walking into the Jaws of the Citadel. Perhaps Solfaltis, Fallen Angel, the
Knight, Isis, possibly Zeke, and Dak could play guard for those less
combattive and competent. Fallen Angel could lead such I think, with Dak's
gentle guidance from behind. That would certainly make this all more
manageable.:
Still weighing possibilities and planning in his mind Xenon stepped further
into the clearing. He determined to go and talk to the troll, since Dak had
Lady Aya and the babe safely enscounced in one of the more defendable caves
it seemed, and see where the troll stood. Xenon circled the camp, and moved
towards the troll, all the while guaging whether the efforts of Shadowblade
would bear fruit, and determined to appear to be listening to the converse.
He nodded her way as he walked, conveying the impression that he was
listening. He found the troll where he stood by Solarin, entered his
personal space just a bit and waited for his presence to be discerned,
wondering exactly how fast the troll, and/or the warsheep would respond.
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