Nolan perked up at the mention of sending one of the Irregulars into Albion. Ayslyn smiled at him, but shook his head. "Nae, not one of them. They are still a bit too young to venture such a journey. No," he mused, "I shall go myself. It will give me the chance to contact some of my agents there and check on Azi and her sister. I am sure the disappearance of their father is troubling them. I shall make sure that young Crispian learns that you are well." He went through one of the doors, and into a room that held racks and racks of clothes of every type. Ayslyn returned with a monk's robes and a large brown cloak. He chuckled as he packed them and a few items into a bag. "It's a good thing you Avalonians are built similar to us. So long as no one sees the ears, I shall have no trouble moving about freely. Write some letters to whomever you wish. I shall ensure that they are delivered."

 

-----signature-----

Toorc smiled, Ayslyn was a better host and companion than some of the Albion's he'd stood shoulder to shoulder with, fighting elves. He had lost a lot of his pride in helping the intelligent races kill each other, but he would amend that.

"ou risk much good master Greenwillow, and I am thankful for your willingness to help the forces of good, no matter their other alligences." Toorc took out a smooth pebble from his pocket and whispered to it, telling it the message he wished delivered to Crispian. "Now little pebble, take care to remember all of that."

Toorc removed his signet ring and handed it Ayslyn saying "Should you have any need to pass by guards or convince people you're an ordinary Avalonian, this will help immensely. I wish you the best of luck, and please, take this letter to Azi, she'll have suffered much." and with that he pressed a small pebble and a parchment note into Ayslyn's hands.

Toorc bowed and then saluted the Elf, for his journey would be quite lengthy and dangerous. Ayslyn, however, had made that journey before...

The League hall was quiet when she arrived. Her eyes moved over the hall to the low fire in the hearth and the remnants of gathering the night before: a half-filled mug on a table near the fire, a mussed stack of card beside it, tracks left by muddied boots. She padded through the hall toward Crispian's chambers in hopes of finding him or at least Tannir there, and nearly collided with the young squire as he rounded the corner with an armful of soiled linens.


"Lady!" He gasped, "Please excuse me, I didn't hear you enter."


"That's fine, Tannir," she smiled up at the young lad, allowing herself a chuckle. He'd grown taller already than Crispian himself. "Is Crispian about? I would speak with him." The serpent-man flashed vividly in her memory, bringing her back to the matter at hand.


"es, Lady. In his chambers. Just a moment." He turned on his heel before she could notice his blush, and slipped through the door of Crispian's chambers. Azaeli followed and stood by the door, certain Crispian would see her. Three deep voces conversed within and she moved away a bit to avoid eavesdropping. A moment later Tannir peered out from the door. His arms were still laden with the linens, and now a pair of trousers and nightshift had been tossed on top.


"Please go in, Lady," he said softly, bowing as he rushed past. Azaeli smiled and nodded, still rather nervous at the prospect of visiting anyone other than Ascot in his personal chambers. But this was Crispian, after all.


"Azi!" Crispian smiled, holding his arms out as she entered. The two shared an embrace, which was difficult with Azi in her platemail and Crispian in his thin linen shirt and padded breeches. He motioned her to sit, and she noticed the remnants of a breakfast table set for two before her. It was then that Tobyas poked his head out from an inner room.


"Hail, Azi," he called in greeting, and she smiled and waved in return. Crispian's eyes lingered on the cleric for a moment, then he turned to her with a michievous grin. Azi smiled and tried desperately not to look uncomfortable.


"ou wanted to talk?" He said, getting to the point quickly as he was known to do. Tobyas strode out in full regalia, looking so stunning in yellow and red chainmail that Crispian and Azi both found themselves staring.


"I'll leave you two to your conversation," he said rather reluctantly, strapping on his belt.


"Tobyas, I would have you hear this as well," Azi said quickly, suddenly glad to have arrived when the two were still here together. "Something has been troubling me."


Tannir came in with tea and a bit of breakfast and cleared away the dirtied dishes as Tobyas settled in at the table with Crispian and Azi.


"It started in Lyonesse.." She told them everything, even repeating that which they already knew to refresh thier memory as well as her own. "...and so I've seen him in my dreams and in waking times, this man with a serpent in his left hand." She looked down to her hands and realized she'd torn a biscuit into little crumbs as she spoke. She looked up again to Tobyas, who's expression was sober and laden with worry.


"Azi, you're certain---" He was interrupted by Tannir, who entered again wide-eyed.


"Lords," he bowed, then looked to Azi, "Lady. I'm sorry, but there is a guard here asking for you, milady. He said it was urgent." The four exchanged glances.


"ou two go and see what he wants. Tannir will help me dress and I'll be there shortly." Azi and Tobyas nodded and headed downstairs. Her heart pounded. Why would a guard wish to see her? Had Lexi done something again? They rounded the corner to see an old veteran guard in scorched and dented armor. He looked exhausted, but Azaeli recognised him immediately.


"Sir Buin," she gasped, "What happened?" The man looked gravely at her and stepped forward, taking her hand. She knew him vaguely, her father fought by his side on occasion in the name of Albion. He always had a kind word for her when she visited Ludlow, where he was stationed after coming out of retirement a few years ago.


"Miss Azi--Lady Azi," he said gravely. His hand shook holding hers. She felt it even through the plated gloves they both wore.


"What, what is it?" She asked softly. Commander Guin was overtly brave and valiant, what would reduce him to such a state? And what had it to do with her? She could see deep regret in his eyes. Oh, Lord, she thought, its Lexi, I know it..But no, this was too grave a face before her for it to be caused by a little girlish mischief.


"Lady..this morn a great evil showed itself in Ludlow." He glaced toward Crispian as he strode out from his chambers and nodded respectfully.


"Go on, sir," Azi prodded, noticing that his reluctance to reveal his news was growing.


"Azi," he shook his head sadly, "There was naught we could do, it was a great force of evil. And the tempters, they were everywhere! All of our men tried to fight them off, but the great demon proved even worse a foe." He looked at her again, as if trying to force himself to speak. "Judan fought bravely, Lass. But to no avail. He was dragged into the pit by the great demon."


Suddenly Azi rememebered Pappa talking of some business in Ludlow this morning. She remembered hearing something from a crier as she'd made her way through town to the hall. She looked at Bruin, searching his sooty face, then remembered her scream for her father as she had awoken this morning.


"He crawled out, did he not? He is well, resting in Ludlow?" The strands of hope slipped through her fingers as Bruin shook his head.


"He was dragged beneath by the demon called Cook, and the ground closed up tight just after." Azi felt her body go numb, her thoughts emptied.


"No.." she whispered, "Anyone but Pappa..." Crispian caught her up swiftly as her knees gave way and she collapsed in a faint.

'ou're crazy lexi...' she told herself, staring in front of the portal leading to the falls of darkness. 'If father couldn't beat off this demon... I don't stand a chance... but I know it's really me it wants, he's been trying to get me and this is the only way he knows I'll come willingly...'


Lexi took a deep breath, and then descended into the falls. The impish merchants were there, trying to sell thier demonic wares to foolish venturers. Lexi looked down the path... templars floated around the room, lil spawns walked back and forth, the plated fiends laying in wait for something to eat...


"Maybe I should find sis first after all..."


"No one can save you now girlie..." a dark voice spoke out from behind her.


Lexi twirled around immediatly going for her Jambiyas. There stood before her a group of Necyomancers. "I dont wish to fight!"


The younger necyomancers laughed as the leader stepped forth. "One... where is the other? Ah! Find sis... you came alone? How foolish..."


"Wha, what do you want?"


"The cook sent us to find two females... he said they were sure to come... did your sister run away? Scared of the all powerful Cook?" the necyomaner laughed.


"We aren't afraid of you or your master!" Lexi yelled.


The necyomancers laughter died out, and leader lowered his head and arched an eyebrow to her, and spoke in an even darker voice than before. "ou should be... yes... you should..."


Lexi stood there, she looked at the lead necyomancer, 'Sis could probably beat him... but me? And expecially with his two friends...' The other two younger necyomancers walked around Lexi, forming a triangle with her in the middle.


"Well, the Cook said there'd be two... he'd be disappointed if only one came..." the necyomancer uttered a word of command to the other two and Lexi found herself attacked on all sides.


Her jambiyas twirled in the air, but three against one were not good odds, and though the younger necyomancers seemed equal to her, the leader was far more powerful. Lexi tripped one of the younger ones, then darted past him to get out of the middle. The three then attacked again. The Necyomancer's blades, three vs her two, she stopped two from finding thier mark, but the leader was more skilled and used the others as decoys as he came up behind her wrapping his arm around her neck, and lifted her up off the ground whispering in her ear. "Fool... take this as a warning... to your sister... and come back, we'll be waiting..." the lead necyomancer took his blade in his other hand and plunged it into Lexi's upper arm, and she fell on to the floor as the necyomancer let go. "I would get running, if you don't see a healer within thirty minutes, that wound WILL kill you... see you soon girlie..." the necyomancers laughed again.


'My sister? What would grandpa want with my sister?' Lexi thought, getting to her feet and running as fast as she can while fighting off the pain of the wound. 'That means... its not grandpa down there... after all... I need to go tell sis... need to...' the light of the entrance peered through the cave... but the blood lost to the wound became too much, and collapsed at the entranceway, her last energy letting out a cry of help.

On Tashtego’s way from Castle Sauvage to Snowdonia on horseback after jes startin another part o his epic quest, he smiled inwardly at himself fer bein able ta make it this far. He hummed ta himself a spry celtic tune, an had a general happiness he was glad ta have back in his Heart again. But then…


He felt it fore he ever saw it. It staggered him so, he almost fell off o his horse, his mind reelin with terrible images. The horse, deciding his rider was not in control, began buckin wildly feelin something in the air as well. All the while, while hands held an iron grip on the tethers, his mind saw terrible thins. Ludlow…it was…no…oh God no…guards torn in two…a lil child eaten alive as it wailed…horrible deaths…the breath was knocked out o him as his horse gave one final strong buck an he flew off the steed.


The horse took off in the other direction, while Tashtego crumpled ta the groun, his head hittin hard on the unfergivin ground. The fall mattered not, fer the visions kept poppin inta his mind. As he witnessed all o this, his Heart, his Gift, took control o him bypassin any other thoughts but ta get there ta help. On his feet in an instant, he ran towards the Cataclysm tha now was in his field o vision. The dark red clouds roiled an looked as if they rained blood while demons beyond hideous flew through them. As he ran as quick as he could, he saw in his minds eye his fair Lady Azaeli and Lexi’s father, Judan, draw his blade an defend the small lil village as best he could. The image o Judan bein toppled an defeated by the demon only gave him more speed, as he saw him bein dragged away inta the crack in the earth. Judan was gone…he could do nothing fer em…yet…


When he had finally ran there full speed, he was to late ta do anything…The battle was over, the few demons tha had remained were defeated, an the remnants o the battle were beyond gruesome. As he came to the place, he immediately helped in any way he could, but as he did, he o’erheard the few remaining guards speak on the event…about Judan…an about Lexi comin in late ta the scene an fleein towards Darkness Falls…


Tashtego’s Heart sunk immediately….no…she would nae survive tha…no…tears came ta him quick…NO!…I will NOT lose ye again… Quickly, he mounted one o the few remaining horses tha was tethered tightly to a post. Mountin it was difficult enough, but with it panicked sech, anything would be hard pressed ta match its speed. Guidin the frenzied beast as best he could, it flew on its way ta Darkness Falls, stopping fer nothing, not even fer Tashtego ta dismount safely nearest the entrance to the foul place. Managin ta get off the thin without breakin a leg, he bolted fer the entrance, hopin beyond hope she could not have gotten far. He figured she had no more than 10 to 20 minutes gain on him. God please help me. Aleph please guard her.


Finally reaching the entrance, he entered, blood pumpin fiercely through him ready ta take on the whole liege o demons here ta get her back. He almost stumbled o’er her at the entrance, his mind was so bent on headin down inta the pit ready ta slay anything tha got in his way o her. “LEXI!” he cried out. Then he saw the wound…no…who did this…so close ta the entrance…I’ll KILL them ALL!... Fightin off his urge ta wipe clean away the denizens o this deep foul place, he bent before her, collected her up gently like a babe in his strong arms, an took her out o the place, layin her gently on the groun jes outside o it. Her wound bled terribly, it festered something terrible letting him know a poison was upon her, she was white as a ghost, an her breathin was becoming very shallow…


…I have ta act now…feelin tha she was runnin out o time, he gathered himself fer wha he had ta do right here an right now…callin on the power o the Circle, an prayin fervently ta its Guardian, Aleph, Yod, to the One who stood at the Pillar of the Tree of Life…to the “Winds of Change”…please Uriel help me…please…fresh tears came ta his eyes…please God…


…the power came ta him in an instant…he had always had ta concentrate very heavily ta manifest the powers o his Gift of Heart, but they answered hearin his desperate pleas … hearin something in his voice… a white singularity pulsed through his dark platemail…to his hands…to her wound…from his Heart…to hers…an there remained knittin back tagether flesh, cleansin her o any poison, fillin her with his devotion an restorin her ta health…the singularity quickly dissipated back inta him…a heavy sigh o exhaustion fell from his lips as he finally let go o the the Power…


Lookin down inta her eyes, kneelin by her side, he whispered ta her, “Lexi? By God, thankee I foun ye in time…are ye ok? I know why ye came down here, but still…who did this ta ye?” Patiently, he waited fer her ta regain enough o herself ta answer im.

/appaluse ((nice post Tash!))


<Narrator mode on: This point in the story marks an RP event. I hearby place the Quest of Hammerfel onto Lexi and Azaeli, and their friends. They must descent into the Falls *in game* and slay Moloch the Cook, in order to rescue Judan in the story. I hope they take Chatlogs to post up here!>

/ooc


Someone set up a date so I can participate in the RP event! =)

((Tash shall be ready ta vanquish them back inta the pits o Hell where they belon when the time be ripe fer it...vengeance must be paid fer Lexi's blood spilt...his teeth are set fer it an his warface be more than ready ta show itself))


((with the weeks holiday, we need ta coordinate when we can, most of us if not all, can be on tagether, so I cn rescue, er so we all cn rescue, Judan from the twisted clutches o the Cook))


((oh an thanks fer the compliment...tha means much ta me))

*clang*


*clang clang*


*clang*


The steady rhythmic tapping of Judan's hammer rang through the realm. His soul stood chained to a forge, with a terrific array of armor sitting on every silver laced rock.


*clang clang*


*clang*


The flames of the forge glowed a pale-whiteish purple in the realm of Arcalan's Master. Now the soul of Judan was trapped here while Moloch held his body deep in the Falls, and he was at his Master's bidding. Always and forever the moon shone in this world, and the oozing clouds filled the sky with liquid silver. The ground was barren save for a few trees, black and leafless.


Judan pounded the Arcanium metal Tepok had gathered, needing neither sleep nor food, his soul dominated into using his smithing talents to work for Arcalan's Master. While he rebelled with every ounce of willpower he could muster, it was but a grain of sand in a howling wind. Souls were the clay of her Master, the material he had worked since he was a mere mortal man, scorned by the Sorcerors, long before any Academy existed. Long before Albion was called Albion. He thought whistfully of how it would be to see his world once more, he could taste the Rebirth.


*clang*


The pact with Arawn was made, he had scattered the teachings of Necromancy across the land, that Arwan may again be worshipped by man. In return, the god would grant him life once more, for Arawn could heal any wound, and his Cauldron would restore even the shade of one so long dead.


Judan tempered the metal, carefully and skillfully, working as a blacksmith dreams of working. Each action was exectuted perfectly, for this realm was not a physical place, but a world of souls and of the mind. Here Judan's knowledge became reality. Instead of Apolexia, Judan hammerfel had been chosen, to create the Vessel. Nothing could stop the Rebirth. Death was just the beginning, and the Master knew:

after the flesh comes perfection.


*clang clang clang*


*clang*


*clang*

((wow...even up till then I didn't see that coming! Bravo Arc!! Wednesday is good for me.))