The Alraeican Tavern, Part III
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Meanwhile, the air at the centre of the tavern begins to shimmer and glow, much like the exit portal for a directed nexus - yet somehow subtly different. The glow thickens into the form of a man, then fades.
The stranger looks around at the scorched floor, the statue-like figure, and the open sky visible through what's left of the roof, then looks at the group with a somewhat bemused expression.
"Pardon me, but is this establishment open for business?"
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Damned if you do, and
damned if you don't;
can anybody cache a
damned cheque? -
Moonshadow frowned at the stranger. "If you'ld have bothered to come through the door -" she pronounced the word carefully, while pointing in that direction "- you'ld have seen a sign hanging there, saying 'temporarily out of order'..." The stranger looked disappionted at the notion, so Moonshadow sighed, got up, and walked over to the bar, looking the man up and down. She put some bottles with different drinks onto the counter and beckoned for the man to come over. "Now I don't know how much they are, I'm not the bartender..." she looked over to Talos, and the stranger did the same, nodding as he understood. "But in the best interest of this... establishment... you could help us with our little problem at hand..." She tilted her head slightly, intently regarding the man with her strange, amber eyes, which were glowing golden in the dim light. "Will you?"
BTW, welcome to the webboard!
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This is not dead which can eternal lie,
and in strange aeons even death may die! -
"Whatever we do we should act FAST." said Verran "Magpie is probably going to try to harm or kill Aralic, and there is still the essence of the crystal lef out there, or maby inside Magpie still"
"Yes" said Slayer "We must make our move soon, anybody want to cast directed nexus or should I....."
"Wait!" said Moonshadow "We dont know if, um what was your name mister?"
Hey if we do go to look for the crystals we should probably start a new topic
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Ok so I cant think of a good signature. -
The stranger looked a little confused for a moment.
"Uh, my name? My name
. Uh, I'm afraid I don't recall at the moment - but you can call me... Ronin. Yes, that feels right. Ronin."Um, this may sound strange, but... where am I?
"Thanks for the welcome, Moonshadow.
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Damned if you do, and damned if you don't; can anybody cache a damned cheque? -
'Scuse me please for temporarily hijacking your characters, I just want to get my intro out of the way so the story can move forward. Moonshadow: it seems to me that your character is most likely (of those present) to know ancient Seldane folklore; you can find the basic ideas I'll be alluding to in the Character Info thread
Moonshadow, quite startled at hearing the name 'Ronin', stared at the newcomer with an even more intense, searching gaze than before. From the moment he appeared she'd felt there was something unusual about him; could his choice of name be merely a coincidence, or was he playing a darker game? Yet the number of those that knew the ancient Seldane legend were so few, what could he possibly gain by drawing on the myth?
Moonshadow was so lost in her own contemplations that she completely missed Ronin's return question, snapping back to reality only on hearing Katze's sarcastic retort:
"You're in the Alraeican Tavern; you know, in Cademia? "
"Cademia? I don't know that city," Ronin replied.
"How about 'Cythera'?" asked Avatara, who was beginning to sense that things concerning this Ronin were far more complicated than they first appeared.
"No, that name is also unfamiliar to me."
After a brief silence, Moonshadow tentatively asked: "Perhaps, the city of 'Maayti'?" Avatara looked at her in surprise, now firmly convinced that something strange was afoot.
"Maayti'?" said Ronin, "yes; I was there once, I think - a strange place, a strange people. So, this is the same land?"
"Yes," said Moonshadow, and frowned in deep thought.
"The workmanship on the haft of your sword," interjected Slayer, who'd been only half paying attention; "it's quite different to anything I've seen; can I take a closer look?"
"Certainly," replied Ronin, reaching back over his right shoulder and drawing the sword in one fluid movement. He laid it across his arm and held out the haft to Slayer. "I remember it's called the 'Ruby Fang', though I'm not sure why."
Once drawn, the blade glowed a dull red; it was obviously an enchanted blade, but the form of the enchantment wasn't clear. Slayer studied the workmanship of the sword closely, then reached out a hand to touch it. The next thing he knew he had fetched up against the wall behind him in a loud crash, having just been thrown over several tables and other sundry pieces of furniture. Ronin seemed as surprised as all the others by this turn of events.
"What kind of magic was that?" Slayer gasped. "It didn't feel like anything that's ever been used on me before!"
Moonshadow looked closely at the blade (being very careful not to touch it), and after a moment stated: "It's beyond magic, I think; it's more like Ronin and the sword are bonded ; it simply won't allow anyone else to touch it."
"I agree," added Verran, "there was no sense of any normal magical power being released."
Tycho just looked bored, and wondered when they were going to start the next round of drinks.
Ronin returned the sword to its scabbard and asked, seemingly of no-one in particular, "I wonder why it glows red?"
Moonshadow looked at Ronin and nibbled her lower lip for a moment. "Look, I'm sure regaining your memory is important, but right now we have some pressing matters to discuss; will you join us, until we have more time to assist you?"
Ronin smiled and indicated the rest of the tavern with a sweeping gesture of his right arm; "I seem to have no other pressing engagements; I am at your service. Although, perhaps you could all introduce yourselves?"
As the introductions proceeded, Moonshadow leaned back in her seat and nodded in satisfaction; she still wasn't at all sure of the newcomer, but had concluded it would be best to keep him close under her watchful eyes - until there was time to explore the situation fully. Then, when the full truth was known, all would soon know that legends truly walked the land - or she would see to it there would be a reckoning for this 'Ronin!'
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Damned if you do, and damned if you don't; can anybody cache a damned cheque?(This message has been edited by cache22 (edited 09-07-2001).)
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Avatara turned to Slayer still against the wall, shaking his head so he could recover from the magic. "Please, sit down. I don't think you're planning on going anywhere right now, and you're going to miss out on all the fun!"
Avatara grabbed an un-opened bottle from in front of Moonshadow and started pouring everyone a round of drinks, while the group began discussing their plans.
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"I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me." -
While the others began to discuss their options - or just sample the free grog - Avatara and Moonshadow quickly brought Ronin up to date on recent events.
"So," said Ronin after they'd finished, "as I see it we're faced with three - possibly four - problems:
1: Talos. I question your conclusion that the crystal was used to entrap him, unless you're accusing Slayer of doing it - since he held the crystal at the time Talos was frozen. If it wasn't the crystal, then what - and who - was it?
2: Magpie. After his recent experiences, his current intentions are far from clear, and he may even try to oppose us.
3: The tomes on curses missing from - where was it? Picnix? Panix? Pancayx? Wherever. Someone, somewhere, seems to have a great interest in curses - and just as great an interest in depriving any others of that knowledge. Perhaps their intentions are benign, perhaps not; but can we take the chance?
And possibly 4: miss Katze's invisible assassin. Was it one of the mages you killed, or is that person still at large?"
"Aha," exclaimed Moonshadow, "it might be a curse after all. I was sure I couldn't be that wrong!"
Avatara looked down at the table in deep thought. While for the most part he considered Ronin's analysis to be a masterful work, there was still one elusive, niggling thought that was bothering him; he couldn't quite bring it into focus, but it had something to do with the crystal and time... time... time...
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Damned if you do, and damned if you don't; can anybody cache a damned cheque? -
A traveller whose equipment show that he has obviously seen his share of adventure and exploring walks into the tavern. The traveller seems oddly familiar and a couple of the people in the tavern stare in deep thought.. trying to bring back some memory of the traveller. The traveller isn't surprised that nobody in the tavern seems to greet him.. he can hardly recognize anyone himself.. All he knows is that some vague memory brought him here.. He can't even remember some of the quests that he has been on with members currently present in this room.. some of which he planned and started himself..
The traveller walks in and stands for a moment.. He sits down at table in the corner and just.. sits. Trying to remember something about his past he tries to say something several times but just stays quiet. He suddenly seems to remember things about his equipment.. his cloak and enchanted daggers... proof of his identity for anybody that has met this strange traveller in the past would surely know that the owner would not fall easily and would not hand over his most prized possesions over to anyone....--------
Hi.. I'm back.. If any of you remember me like a mentioned above.. I sortal remember a few major battles I participated in.. And something that had to do with one of my characters with a boat and.. well.. not much.. Oh.. and I remember writing the first 'story' for the chronicles..(I think it was the first story.. though not the first post).. of course that was chapter one and I never got to start chapter 2
..
The things I wrote up there I basically wrote things as the thoughts came back to me in real life.. I only changed a few bits to try to fit it in with the whole atmosphere of this place...
I haven't been able to visit the ASW boards for.. well no particular reason that I can think of
but for some reason I decided to come back.. so I'm hoping some of you'll welcome me back.. Since I've been gone for too long and since I'm too lazy to read 5 pages of this thread I don't really know what is going on.. some crystal? Talos frozen??? If someone is willing to welcome me back I could really use an update...------------------
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Moonshadow barely even noticed the man at first, being so dep in thought. After a while she looked up, and saw the somehow familiar figure at another table. She frowned, trying to remember... the daggers... the cloak... they seemed familiar... then her face brightened. She walked over to the supposed stranger and asked tentatively: "J.Ace?"
The man looks up, surprised. "Do I know you?" he inquired, curiously staring at the woman.
"Well, at least now I know it's you..." Moonshadow grimaced. She turned around to her other friends. "Hey, people, J.Ace is back!"
Everyone looked up, those who don't know him with puzzled expressions, those who do with pleasantly surprised expressions.
J.Ace stared at the group soon gathered around him, and one by one he remembered. Monshadow had surely been on the quest to the homeland, and Avatara and... who else? He wasn't quite sure. Anyways he smiled at them. Moonshadow grinned back. "It's good to see you've come back. You've been gone for some time and probably missed out on a good deal..."
"I'm pretty sure of that." J.Ace's gaze wandered to the frozen Talos. "What has... Talos, wasn't that his name? What has he done that you built a statue for him?"
"Built a statue?" Avatara asked. "I wish things were like that... no, my friend, this is Talos!"
"What? But how?"
"He was somehow cursed or frozen in time, we're not quite sure which of those... but since that fateful evening almost a month ago he is like that, and we don't know how to cure him." Slayer explained.
"We tried to, take my word for it." Verran added. "We went to get Slayer's crystal back, and -"
"Wait!" J.Ace said, totally overwhelmed. "What crystal?"
"It is one of three ancient magical crystal that hold different powers - Slayer's held the power of time..." Moonshadow explained.
"What do you mean - held?"
"It was corrupted in some fashion, much like the Crolna, so it had to be destroyed. Now we don't know what to do, as the crystal would have made it much easier to turn Talos back to normal." Avatara said.
"Maybe now it's not even possible at all..." Slayer said gloomily.
"I wouldn't say that!" Katze suddenly broke in. "We still have some alternatives, some things we have to do!" And almost inaudibly she muttered. "If I ever I get that Magpie..." She clutched her fists.*Welcome back, J.Ace!!! It was really getting a little lonely here, since a few of the old(er) board members seem to have stopped posting here :frown:. Or maybe I'm just imagining things, but anyways, some new ideas would be great ... As for Talos, I would explain everything, but it's a long story. For better understanding you should at least read the "The Search for the Thieves' Cavern" topic, many things are explained there... don't be that lazy
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This is not dead which can eternal lie,
and in strange aeons even death may die! -
Avatara smiles, obviously glad J.Ace had returned (I can't find the landking hall - for story, does that ring a bell?).
"Please sit down, we can make room. A little more company would be welcome." Avatara said. "We were trying to figure out how we are going to break this 'curse' on Talos." Avatara grabs an unused cup and pours J.Ace a drink.
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"I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me." -
J.Ace - which became the name decided for him until he can remember his real name
- is obviously glad that someone was able to recognize him. He starts to ask around for imformation about the Search for the Thieves that Moonshadow mentioned to him.. But while asking around he finds that he would have liked it much better if they still had the librarian(the ability to search the boards for keywords :)).. Then he would have been able to read through his previous adventures and information about himself(One of the old Character Info threads have got to be in there somewhere.. and Avatara.. that does ring a bell something that had to do with a quest to the homeland that obviously put us in some strange world filled with giant savage inhabitants that had some kind of leader that we had to fight.. and then some strange monster that was summoned and...)
"Well..." J.Ace says, "I'm not sure if I'll be any help to liven the place up since I am a person of few words(I'm really bad at writing dialogue.. not that anything that I write is particularly good :p).. but I'm starting to remember some things that I had planned on in the past but never got to do... but first I guess we should do something about Talos...(goes to find out more about 'Search for the Thieves')------------------
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A middle sized man about.....well you couldn't really place his age, he looked ancient, yet young and full of energy, walked into the bar and somehow managed to hit his head on the ceiling even though he was alot shorter then the roof. J. Ace glanced over in his direction. "And who is this wonderfull newcomer?" he quieried with a grin. "My name is Sylph, and no relation to that horrid thing on the island am I"
After a couple of drinks Sylph stammered a few words about the Landking hall, none of which anyone could translate. At that moment Sylph shimmered, fading for only a microsecond. Most people put it down to having just a little to much to drink, but something about that second in time sent shivers down Ronins spine.
"I went to the.... the landking hall nd, and, Laric wasn't well. No not at all...Hic... Mr Landking wasn't feeling..." he clapsed and fell asleep on the bar just then so no one paid any attention to his words.You don't know its Magpie here
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Time is a predator that hunts you down. You can cheat it for as long as you like with doctors and medicines, but in the end time will catch up with you. What if I was to tell you I had found a place where the predator had no teeth? -
The rest of the party hadnt really understood what the newcommer had said, Verran hadent niticed it either at first but he sat back an thought for a moment.
The shimmering for a second, the slightly similar face.... No I cant just distrust a stranger for that. He thought to himself.
But he had said something about being at landking hall and Laric or someone not feeling well.
Suddenly Verran stood up up.
"Alaric is in trouble!" he said
"What?" asked Slayer "What do you mean Alaric is in trouble."
"Didnt you hear him?" said Verran "Mr. Landking wasnt feeling well."
The others looked at Verran thinking he was a touch out of it, what with too much rootbeer and all.
"Dont look at me like that!" said Verran "He said that just before passing out! Alaric is sick, or something. Ill bet Magpie has tried or even succeeded to kill him."
"Then we dont have a moment to loose!" said Moonshadow.
I really think we should go save Alaric now so I hope you guys agree
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Ok so I cant think of a good signature. -
I've changed logins; I thought it might get confusing if I posted as cache22 when using other characters.
Quote
Originally posted by Magpie:
**At that moment Sylph shimmered, fading for only a microsecond... something about that second in time sent shivers down Ronins spine.
**Ronin suddenly stiffened in his seat, his eyes taking on a glassy look as a barrage of images exploded in his mind.
Flash< Hiking...
Flash< Riding...
Flash< Sparring...
Flash< Fighting...
And through it all, always the others...
The others...
Flash< A strange glow...
Flash< The others, then the world, fading...
Flash< A strange land, strange people, tinged with blue...
Flash< Friends...
Flash< Betrayal...
Flash< The journey...
Flash< The TRAITOR!
Flash< No! Fading, again...
Ronin's mind snapped back to the present, and he forced himself to relax; he was still a little disoriented - it didn't help that he had no idea what the others were discussing ("Mr Landking?") - but he began to take in what was being said.
As yet he owed no loyalty or friendship to anyone present, but he had no reason to distrust them; he resolved to attempt anything they asked of him - besides, he liked these people.
(This message has been edited by Ronin (edited 09-09-2001).)
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J.Ace thanks Avatara for his help and murmurs something about looking too far..
He suddenly hears the conversation around him and bolts to his feet,
"Alaric is alive? I thought that his body had passed away and his soul and mind were held to this world by the mysterious power of LKH...(I seem to remember something like this at the beginning of my story thread "Land King Hall - for story" or we could just go on with this new plot.. since it really wouldn't be too fun without Alaric around.. though it might get a little old. And since I don't really want to just kill this plot I'll just go with the fact that he is still alive and sick.. supposedly. ) I suspect that not all that was said a moment ago about the Land King is true.. What I felt from that stranger wasn't anywhere near complete honesty. He was hiding something. He had some motive(For those who don't know this character has some empathic powers that are stated in the character info which avatara kindly found for me :)) I suggest that we don't run into things without first planning something..."
At this the quick eyed Avatara notices a shadow running from the door. All Avatara could see was some kind of armor that had a glow about it and a large weapon that shimmered in the moonlight.. He also noticed something large around the shoulder of the stranger. Avatara started after the shadow but something in his mind told him that it was probably not worth investigating so Avatara went back to his drink..
In the darkness of the Cytheran night Rogar made his way toward LKH. He had been invited into the LKH by Alaric when his services were respected by the people. He was sure that LKH wouldn't be locked to him even now. Afterall he had saved the life of the current Caption of the Guard when he had been little. After casting a quick charm spell he had inherited as an elf he made sure nobody saw him make his way north..
"This is my chance' he thought..
'If I am able to save Alaric I won't be shunned from society even when I don't hide my elf heritage. My work will finally see light and I will return to a normal lifestyle...'
'No more ocean' he thought, 'I hate the ocean'------------------
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Quote
Originally posted by J.Ace21:
**(I seem to remember something like this at the beginning of my story thread "Land King Hall - for story" or we could just go on with this new plot.. since it really wouldn't be too fun without Alaric around.. though it might get a little old. And since I don't really want to just kill this plot I'll just go with the fact that he is still alive and sick.. supposedly.:p )
**(J.Ace, my explanation is maybe this happened before the land king hall-for story. we seemed to jump back in time after the clone, doing things that had results that happened in some of our earlier stories. If I just confused you: Its kinda like writing a book, we've done some of the later chapters, time now to do some closer to the beginning. Hope that made sense.)
Avatara felt an uneasy feeling at letting the shadow go. A danger sense flared in his conscience. Perhaps Magpie did indeed injure LandKingHall, but memories of times with J.Ace had also triggered something. Avatara had an idea, and since he had nothing to lose he was going to test it.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some pressing matters to attend to." Avatara took a quick glance around, his gaze settling on a J.Ace against the wall sipping his drink and deep in thought about something. Avatara left, and headed south into the night unaccompanied.
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"I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me."(This message has been edited by Avatara (edited 09-09-2001).)
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Only Verran really noticed Avantara sneak out.
He didnt really think much of it though, he was to buisy thinking up his next move. Someone had just snuck out other than Avantara but Avantara wasnt following him. This puzzled Verran a bit but again he decided that he had to at least check on the situation at LKH before they waited too long.
Verran slowly got up from the table, he was very silent and quick, only Moonshadow really noticed him but she didnt think much of it.
Once in a secluded room Verran cast Directed Nexus......
He had been sort of suspecting a trap, he saw it just before the blue light streaming around him (his teleport spell) took him just outside the LKH.
It had been a white ball of energy aimed directly at his head, white but with a tinge of evil in it....
There hadnt been any caster present that he could see however.
As he sat down outside he thought for a moment. He hoped that it had been a trap and Magpie had not actually been waiting for him. However if it had been Magpie then he was in a good bit of trouble here. Normally Verran bet he could probably at least escape Magie but with that, that "thing" possesing him he would be far outmatched.
He hoped that the others got to Alaric soon instead of bickerig, for now he got ready to flee like the wind. Unless of course it was just a trap Magpie can write and decide that
If you guys dont agree with this let me know and I'll change/delete it
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Ok so I cant think of a good signature. -
Magpie felt a tinge of power through his body. He grinned. Someone had enjoyed his little suprise. he continued his work silently slipping the tiny shard into the cronla in Alarics desk. Quietly he made his way out towards the exit when he had an idea. "Those humans will be to late to discover the shard untill Alaric is frozen in time unable to move" he smiled to himself thinking hard "Why not kill them all. Just to be sure" Magpie, with a new plan in mind headed through the caves to who knows where.
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Sylph snuck quetly behind Avatara unaware of Verran. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing. It was like an invisble force had grabbed hold of him. Slyph didn't resist of course but he was aware of it. Driving him and eating at his mind.------------------
Time is a predator that hunts you down. You can cheat it for as long as you like with doctors and medicines, but in the end time will catch up with you. What if I was to tell you I had found a place where the predator had no teeth? -
Quote
Originally posted by Magpie:
**Sylph snuck quetly behind Avatara unaware of Verran. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing. It was like an invisble force had grabbed hold of him. Slyph didn't resist of course but he was aware of it. Driving him and eating at his mind.
**(I went south...that's opposite the direction of LKH)
When the lights of Cademia were out of sight, Avatara took one last look around him before casting a spell. A quick flash of blue light and Slyph couldn't tell where Avatara went.
Deep in the libraries of Pynx, Avatara looked for a specific book. One that might give him answers he needed...
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"I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me." -
Verran Took a deep breath. If Magpie knew, and Verran was sure he did, than if he wanted to he would have come already.
Verran didnt know Magpie too well but he knew the type, power hungry posessed by an evil being and a bit over confident. At that one Verran smiled, He probably didnt know how much Verran had studied magic and he probably didnt know that Verran knew exactly what he was doing.
But, Verran checked himself, he had best dot be over confident too....
He rushed inside LKH teleporting streght to the throne room in case of more traps. But what he saw next made his heart take a nose dive.
Alaric was glowing with that semi evil white light, it looked as though he was in pain too.
"The Crolna..... Nooooooo." he managed to yell before turning to stone in a much similar way as Talos.
Utering a quick curse on Magpies retched hide, Verran dashed for Alarics quaters, blowing the door to his study away with a spell. He got inside and pulled open the droar to reveil the crolna. It was glowing, with that same white but slightly evil light.
"Your too late!" a vioce like Magpie's but twisted and evil spoke into his mind. "And now you will never save Talos!"
But Verran didnt stop. He had to find a way, any way to reverse this spell. There were no counter spells he knew, no reverse spell powerfull enough to purify the Crolna.
"Well" said Verran to himself "I'll Just have to get this to the others, and before Magpie stops me too."
*Just a thought, if the now modified Crolna turned Alaric to stone then maby it could reverse it, and maby taloses too."
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Ok so I cant think of a good signature.
