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The Elder Scrolls Forums _ Elder Scrolls Lore _ RP: Morrowind Moonlight

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 02:50 AM

Hello, and welcome to our Elder Scrolls Role Playing threads, where we adventure and socialize in the vibrant land of Tamriel.

Before we begin, we'd like to clarify a few things:

This is an 'open roleplay' and everyone is encouraged to join in at any time!

'Open' roleplay does not mean 'unorganized' or 'limitless', however. The events in this story are usually planned, and if something BIG happens, you can be certain that it is the result of much discussion between players, usually in the mIRC chat (#Loranna_RP). This is not just a bunch of disorganized individuals doing what they think would be fun for their character at the time.

So, while everyone is welcome to join in, they are NOT welcome to jump in and do big, world-changing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST. Let me be very clear about what cannot be done without permission:

1:
Any action that effects another person's character, for ill or good. Although most people realize they can't harm another person's character without permission, many don't realize that you can't HELP another character without permission, either. Many characters have flaws for a reason. Don't go healing, saving, or otherwise fixing another character without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the player involved.

2:
Any event that would drastically change things that have been done to the world, whether the change is physical (rebuilding destroyed locations), political (converting a population to a new cause), military (killing off all the badguys) or anything else. Almost every situation, good or bad, that exists in the RP was done for some reason. Don't go changing or fixing things without DISCUSSING IT FIRST with the group.

Everyone who is involved in the RP is welcome in the mIRC chat channel #Loranna_RP. If you have a plot idea then you are encouraged to go there and discuss it. If you cannot get on the channel for some reason, or if the player whos character you would affect with your plan is not there, then PM them using this board's PM function. That's what it's there for.

For information on reaching #Loranna_RP via Mirc or Chatspike, look http://www.ravensky.org/irc/.

Not following the above advice will only result in one thing: your post is likely to be completely ignored by everyone as if it did not happen. This is obvously not good for anyone, so please, discuss major events before doing them.

Remember: Secret plans and surprises are seldom fun for anyone else. Before they're revealed they're boring, because nobody knows about them, and afterwards they're just annoying, because nobody knew about them.
Thank you, and have fun!

===

Summary:

Loranna, and her companions, have recently experienced a shift in reality, finding themselves in a world where Azura emerged victorious in the Blue Dawn. The heroes who used the Eiodolon to defeat her never made it, and now Azurites were fighting against Captain Cyndarius's men for Ald Raathim. Dres Jazbet, with his Lady Kethiah, control the castle, Jazbet's precognition making him a deadly foe, and the heroes were forced to flee to town, which Cyndarius's men controlled.

The Eight who were to go to Allerleirauh, bearing the Mythopoeic Tome, have been chosen and have crossed the realms of Akatosh and Kyne, though Diamond was forced to turn back. Goranthir has joined the party, however, and now the new Eight stand ready to cross the gate leading out of the realm of Dibella. A guide, Saint Deothur, has joined the party.

Meanwhile, Cyndarius, the 103rd Legion, and those who did not go with the Eight make their way through Skyrim to the fallen Imperial City, hoping to rescue the Emperor from the Azurites. His men have recently joined up with the 95th Legion, and have encountered some more heroes and refugees, including Gram Pyrel, last seen heading out to Skyrim.

Oh ... it's also snowing out. Cats and dogs.

Posted by: Xyber02 Yesterday, 02:54 AM

OOC: Anya, the Bosmeri Rogue left temporarily mute by her sister's shade, is apart of the group of Eight, about to leave Dibella's sphere.

Posted by: Shardie Yesterday, 02:55 AM

Summary
Maranda Biennie is in Daggerfall, fighting in the Army of the Bay, a group of people who have formed under the banner of the Daedric Prince Meridia to destory Azurites, and capture High Rock for the Daedric Prince herself

Lyssia Biennie is currently stuck in the Pale Pass, but even though the pass is clear to travelers now, she is not retreating into Skyrim, instead, she is going foward to see her fianccee, Lord Landon

Lord Landon and the Seven Paladins of Justice are counted as NPC's and hence dont remember squat about the other reality. What are they up to? Find out in my next post!

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 02:57 AM

It was time to stop waiting for the sword to fall and to walk into the sword; Loranna hesitates a brief second, anticipating the further loss of her sense of self, but she sets her lips in a thin line and advances, letting the sword slice through her ...

This time, it was strength ... The strength of a five year old who picked up her father's fallen broad axe, and carried it back to him as he snored off drink. The strength of a barmaid who had to resort sometimes to a deft left hook to deal with troublesome customers. The strength of a woman who had seen her magic couldn't always save her, and who decided not to rely on the big brutes to protect her all the time, but to have muscles of her own ...

Who was she again; she asked that last time. It was getting harder and harder to tell, though she knew, deep down, that she had to keep going. Perhaps that's who she was; the one who kept going when someone had to. Also, they had their guide now; they could do this, they'd come through ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Yesterday, 03:02 AM

Update

Goranthir, the handsome young Altmer/Dunmer ranger is with the Eight about to leave the sphere of Dibella.

Posted by: Stargazey Yesterday, 03:04 AM

Isidor followed Loranna, and jumped through the gate. He felt the sword slice him, but then he felt all of his willpower drain from him. He didn't want to find Kethiah. He didn't want to go back to Skyrim. He didn't even want to go through to the other side of the portal. He wanted to die.

His willpower was gone.

Posted by: Sheogorath Yesterday, 03:10 AM

Goranthir gritted his teeth this time, trying not to scream in front of his companions, but he still did as the sword ripped through him.

His personality, that which set him apart from the other Princes of Firsthold slipped from him into nothingness.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 03:42 AM

Tris pushed through into the realm of Arkay at the same moment the others did.

Tris wondered if he should have warned the Eight. Probably if they needed warned, Deothur would have done the warning. Although it was hard to imagine serene Deothur warning anyone.

Whatever was normally to be found in the sphere of Arkay, at the present time it was a great yawning tear in everything, through which no stars could be seen. Spatters of whiteness and blackness that made you blink your eyes, wondering if you were going blind. At the fringes, reality shredded and bled away; it coagulated into numbers, images, words, or sometimes plain nonsense, and the snakes ate it.

Oh yes, there were snakes. Somehow you could see them, coiling fretfully in the dark; they gave off an eerie sort of non-light, like an afterimage caused by looking at the sun too long. From tiny snakes no larger than earthworms to a massive snake thick around as a tree that coiled out of sight, they filled the gap in reality, a seething mass of floating, twining bodies that devoured whatever came near.

Deothur stepped forward, shouldering aside the snakes.

"They aren't evil," he said. "They are trying to save what remains."

Posted by: Sheogorath Yesterday, 03:47 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 09:42 PM)

"They aren't evil," he said. "They are trying to save what remains."

Goranthir never thought snakes were evil, and he instinctively hissed hello to them, never minding that 1) they probably weren't real animals, and 2) they were too busy for greeting.

Posted by: Chiaroscuro Yesterday, 03:48 AM

Having determined that this was, in fact, a rescue Chiaro set off to find the mother of the child she still carried...

Unemcumbered at last, she proceeded to find a reasonably quiet place to settle herself and rest, something she'd been meaning to do for some hours. Letting her eyes roam over the combination of rag-tag refugees and imperial armor gave her hope that the madness she'd seen around her could be contained.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Yesterday, 03:49 AM

Slyvos just walked through, not hesistating, but shuddering in pain as another part of him was taken... the balance and agility that was Jazbet's before him, that he let weaken over time, was clearly no longer his. It didn't feel like it ever did belong to him... it was there still, but it was something else.

'I'm beginning to feel empty..'

Posted by: serakit Yesterday, 04:09 AM

The orc, basically in the camp, stopped and stood awhile before laughing. "Sorry for that, the brandy still had me eyes for abit" and gave a little chuckle.

"When did it start snowing anyway?" he said icthing his head.

Posted by: Chiaroscuro Yesterday, 04:11 AM

QUOTE(serakit @ Aug 22 2005, 10:09 PM)

Chiaro, having rested sufficiently to lend her limited skills in healing to the efforts of the Argonian helping the refugees, approaches him and waits for the chance to introduce herself.

Posted by: Stargazey Yesterday, 04:24 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 09:42 PM)

Isidor looked out at the sea of snakes. "Snakes?" He said apprehensively. "Un-evil snakes, but still, snakes?"

"[censored] great."

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 04:29 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 09:42 PM)

"Saving what remains by devouring it," Loranna says, tilting her head to one side. " .. .It's not what I would have expected to find in the realm of life and death, yet it seems to make sense to me. I think ..."

Looking at the snakes was easier than looking at the edges of the shredded reality, at the very least.

Posted by: Sheogorath Yesterday, 04:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 22 2005, 10:29 PM)

Goranthir pushes the snakes aside to find the path. "Let's go."

Posted by: Stargazey Yesterday, 04:46 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 22 2005, 10:31 PM)

Goranthir pushes the snakes aside to find the path. "Let's go."

"Sounds good to me." Isidor follows the ranger.

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 04:58 AM

QUOTE(Chiaroscuro @ Aug 22 2005, 10:11 PM)

Chiaro, having rested sufficiently to lend her limited skills in healing to the efforts of the Argonian helping the refugees, approaches him and waits for the chance to introduce herself.

Shaka was still smiling to have found Loranna's father alive. Wait until he could tell the Lady, he thought; then his smile faded as he realized just how far away the Eight were. Maybe they would see Tris again, and pass on the message . . . .

He finally glanced over to the Redguard who had helped heal the refugees, and spoke: "Most call me Shaka, as my true name is a little hard for softskins to pronounce." His hazel eyes studied the tall, green-eyed woman with the distinctive hair that, he sensed, wasn't the product of dye.

Shaka had known a few Redguards in his life, including a spellsword that he had briefly thought might be secretly the Nerevarine, Michael. He had been nicknamed by Argonians: Michael Stands Dreaming. Shaka had since learned that the true Nerevarine had fulfilled the prophecies, but no one knew his or her race or even gender.

Shaka nodded to the woman and moved on to help others in the group.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 05:00 AM

QUOTE(syronj @ Aug 22 2005, 10:58 PM)

Gram follows after Shaka, saying " ... Shaka, I haven't had anything to drink in over a week save weak ale and melted snow. I'm beginning to think I'm going crazy from going dry; what did you say was happening again?"

Posted by: Chiaroscuro Yesterday, 05:03 AM

Chiaro watched the Argonian carefully, trying to further her own skills by observation while moving among the refugees, spending more time with the children as they seemed to be suffering the most.

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 05:07 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 22 2005, 11:00 PM)

"Gram, the good news is that you're not dead and punished by being kept from Sovengaarde. The bad news is that there's .... a crack in Creation that Loranna and some of her companions are trying to mend. You and I have been thrown into an alternate Tamriel where the Blue Dawn was unchecked . . . ."

Shaka went on to explain the rest of it: the torn veil between the living and the dead, the choosing of the Eight, and all.

"I'd better see if we have some medicinal flin or mead left, eh Gram," he concluded. "Gods, it's good to see that the Azurites didn't kill you, when so many others have fallen."

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 05:15 AM

QUOTE(syronj @ Aug 22 2005, 11:07 PM)

Gram is standing rather still.

"Oh; so I'm not going mad, just the world is," he says. He reaches into his cloak and pulls out a small, ornate chest, seemingly made out of gold and silver and decorated with precious gems. Though even a small chest like this should be somewhat heavy, he holds it easily in three fingers, a small grin coming to his hirstute face.

"I found it, you see," he says, chuckling a little. "Found it after all these years; in a forgotten dungeon carved out of the deep ice not more than fifty miles from here. I found it, I was heading back to Hasfalgar, to visit the cairn of my wife Mista, to show her I'd finally found the one thing I promised her would make our lives good ..."

He shakes his head, and slips the chest back into his cloak. "And when I got there, it was like the end of Morning Star all over again, only this time it was Nords who lay dead or dying on the snow, Twilights ripping them to shreds. People I even remembered, even if none of them had ever a kind word for me back when I was but a young and foolish lout of a lad."

He sighs.

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 05:19 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 22 2005, 11:15 PM)

He shakes his head, and slips the chest back into his cloak. "And when I got there, it was like the end of Morning Star all over again, only this time it was Nords who lay dead or dying on the snow, Twilights ripping them to shreds. People I even remembered, even if none of them had ever a kind word for me back when I was but a young and foolish lout of a lad."

He sighs.

Shaka's mood quieted too. "I'm sorry, Gram. So you really found it ... I've only heard bits and pieces about the treasure: some ancient king's casque that creates gold from nowhere? Or am I off about that?"

The Argonian noted in the corner of his eye an orc who seemed familiar with blacksmith hammers; he would find plenty of employment with the Legions heading for the relief of Cyrodiil, if the orc had the determination to join them.

Posted by: serakit Yesterday, 05:25 AM

Kokotr looks around to see broken armor and weapons all around him. Then he looked around and saw a very heavly clad warrior.

*Guess he's in charge*

He gave a grin. "Well i guess you need a smith from the looks of it, and i need work,interested in hireing an orc?" He looked at the warrior.
"Oh and the names Kokotr-gro-Groshub, just Kokotr."

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 05:27 AM

QUOTE(syronj @ Aug 22 2005, 11:19 PM)

"Aye; once a day you reach your hand in and you find wealth enough to bring a smile to any man's face, no matter how much they have in their own coffers," Gram says. "I had been thinking of bringing it back to my own village, to present to the chief to show that after all these years I had lived up to my grandfather's legacy after all. The gold is nice but it was the winning of the gold that gave me the most pleasure."

"Though I did notice for all my lone wolf ways that I wished some of you all could have been there to see the fight," he adds, winking. "When we get to a tavern I'll have to tell you the tale properly; ancient monstrosities of twisted metal and magic guarding a shaman so aged and decrepit his beard was thicker than his flesh, yet he was as cold as the ice he surrounded himself with, as unyielding as an avalanche and as deadly as any drake you could hope to find. I'm not sure he even remembered his name; the only books I found in that place were written in a tongue I don't recognize, but perhaps Nalion can decipher them, later. When this insanity is over."

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 05:29 AM

QUOTE(serakit @ Aug 22 2005, 11:25 PM)

Shaka shook Kokotr's hand, a little careful not to get it crushed. "Shaka, though I'm by no means in charge. I'm sure the Legion will be happy to have another skilled armorer on hand, though. General Cyndarius is commanding the relief force. Come back with us and you'll have all the work you can handle."

Posted by: Shardie Yesterday, 05:50 AM

The Imperial Provence, On the road to the Pale Pass

The Glave passed through the neck of the Azurite soldier with ease, and Issac quickly removed it before blugining another Azurite with the blade, skillfully on his horse. Mounted Combat was somthing that few in the Provence of Cyrodiil could master, but to Issac, it was almost natural, the other horsemen, and three horse women galoped up behind him, noting the road to the pass was virtually clear for the time being. Landon was surprised he had lost none of his Paladins, and was even more surprised when he ran into a unit of Blades escorting the Imperial Potentate to the safety of Skyrim. Landon and his Paladins had decided to escort the Potentate to the border, before returning to the city. By all accounts, a large Azurite force was besieging the Pale Pass, but by cutting up the main road to the Imperial City, Landon hoped to cut the supply line, and fight thier way through the pass. The seven Paladins, Landon, the Potentate and the ten blades who accompanied him continued on the road to the Pale Pass

Posted by: Tri Yesterday, 05:55 AM

The escape from Ald Raathim was mostly uneventful; it consisted largely of Marein throwing himiself headlong into Azurite lines and taking the injuries as they came; Shai was at his side, preventing most of the blows he ought to be recieving. They fled and hid in a nearby forest.

Shai reached out to Diamond's neck and felt for a pulse. "It's there," she said gently, "there but faint. She has a pretty bad wound in her leg, the bleeding is harsh. It will kill her in a few hours. My Teacher once told me about a few herbs to pack into a bandage..."

She ripped at the sleeve of her robe and wrapped it around Diamond's bloody leg. "Leave the arrow in, for now. It may infect over time, but she's bleeding enough as it is." She disappeared into the foliage...

Thirty minutes later, Shai returned and tended to Diamond's wounds, gently twisting the arrowhead out of her torso.

"Marein," she murmured. He was still nonresponsive. "Marein. It's all right. It's not real."

He snarled. "Not real, Shai? Not real? What's not real? That I can't do anything right? That I've betrayed the Eight, betrayed you and Diamond, betrayed my own fiance?

"Celeste is dead, Shai. Slain by my hand. That is very real. That is more real than you can imagine." His voice broke, cracked - "I - I tried to save her. I tried to save all of you. Tried to save the living universe as we know it - and I failed. I was turned back at the gate, I failed saving Diamond, you saved yourself - and I killed Celeste. In this sick world we're on, a man has to kill the love of his life."

He turned to face her, and she saw how red his eyes were. He had been crying all this time. "I've been afraid of this since I saw her fall, that day five years ago...since I saw her alive...'We got lucky that time,' I would think, 'but will you fail the next?' I can't take it, Shai, I can never be everywhere...we got new bodies, but I kept my scars...to remember..."

Shai looked at him. "Diamond will be all right," she said firmly. "You saved her life. Celeste was dead when she bowed to Azura." Even as she said this, she knew it was a lie.

"No. No, if that were true I would believe it. I know Celeste was alive. I KNOW she had a heart left in her. She died a hero at the Blue Dawn! There was CHIM in her, and I destroyed it, with this bloodied dagger.."

"Come on," said Shai softly, "Let's go find Cyndarius."

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 06:09 AM

Back at Cyndarius' camp, Shaka helped unload the injured refugees from the horses. When the last had been triaged and the treatments were ongoing, he took a break for a moment.

Three people appeared in the distance, walking through the mountain trail for the camp. Shaka didn't recognize two of the group at first; he had never seen them in the flesh. But the worst-injured of the three caused his eyes to widen with recognition and something close to fear:

"Diamond? . . . No. It can't be, the world hasn't been set right!"

Posted by: Moonblink Yesterday, 06:16 AM

Luxi came through the portal, feeling a bit taller.
She looked at her arms; they were gaining a blueish tint.

"Uhh... Loranna?"

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 06:26 AM

QUOTE(Moonblink @ Aug 23 2005, 12:16 AM)

Luxi came through the portal, feeling a bit taller.
She looked at her arms; they were gaining a blueish tint.

"Uhh... Loranna?"

Loranna turns to look at Luxi, raising her eyebrows at the young girl's now bluish arms.

"That's ... kinda odd," she says. "Maybe that's part of the essential you showing through ...?"

Posted by: Moonblink Yesterday, 06:27 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 12:26 AM)

Loranna turns to look at Luxi, raising her eyebrows at the young girl's now bluish arms.

"That's ... kinda odd," she says. "Maybe that's part of the essential you showing through ...?"

Luxi tilted her head.
"Huh?"

Posted by: Tri Yesterday, 06:30 AM

Shai led the group, her pretty face distinctly damaged. Her lip was bloody, her nose broken, and worst of all, her red right eye was blackened, bruised and bloodied - it might never be the same again. There was a nasty slash across her left arm, and little cuts all over.

Diamond was slumped over Marein's back, so that her left leg was visible to Shaka. There was a bloody bandage wrapped around her upper thigh - it looked like a very deep wound was beneath it. She also had an arrow wound showing through a hole in her sooty, snowy gown, poking through the side of her torso.

Marein, who was carrying Diamond, looked awful himself. His face was lightly peppered with cuts from little nicks he had gotten rushing past Azurites. His robe was torn up, and you could see the wounds he had gotten from past battles as well: a scar in the shape of the letter Koht, etched into his back from Naga poison at the Vaults of Gemin; a leg that glistened terribly with thick scarring from an Azurite attack many months before.

What was worse about Marein was not physical but emotional; a deep, embedded anguish radiated from him, and it washed over all the nearby members of camp.

The emotion hit the Legionaires like a wave, and all around there was whispering.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 06:32 AM

QUOTE(Moonblink @ Aug 23 2005, 12:27 AM)

Luxi tilted her head.
"Huh?"

"Remember, as we pass through the spheres we shed the gifts the Eight gave us at birth," Loranna explains. "What is left is our souls, as they were before they passed through the spheres. Maybe that's what's happening to you."

Posted by: Moonblink Yesterday, 06:33 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 12:32 AM)

Luxi nodded. She understood imeaditly.

"I see..."

Posted by: Teleran Yesterday, 06:52 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 22 2005, 09:30 PM)

Teleran heard something happening just a little bit away from him in camp and ran to see what it was, “More refugees?” He came around to where he could see and saw the three figures approaching. To his shock he recognized the frontmost.

“Shai! But we’re still here… what happened? You’ve got your body back, but how did you.?” Teleran said. “What the hell happened? Are you okay?”

“Healer! We need a-” Teleran started to yell but stopped short and gasped as he felt Marein’s anguish roll over him., “Marein!?! Diamond! What happened? Did those blades? Azurites? Healer now!”

He started throwing his own paltry heal spells at them as he ran towards the three. His spells were not strong enough to do much, only partially healing even the superficial injuries, but he continued casting in the hopes of slowing the bleeding.

Posted by: serakit Yesterday, 06:57 AM

Kokotr made his way back to the legionare camp. "That Shaka wasn't kidding, with any luck i might have everyone's armor fixed in two months." he said with a frown. "Better then sleeping in the snow i guess."

He noticed three strangers enter the camp, they looked like they'd been to heck and back.

Posted by: Tri Yesterday, 06:59 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 22 2005, 08:52 PM)

Teleran heard something happening just a little bit away from him in camp and ran to see what it was, “More refugees?” He came around to where he could see and saw the three figures approaching. To his shock he recognized the frontmost.

“Shai! But we’re still here… what happened? You’ve got your body back, but how did you.?” Teleran said as the wave of anguish hit him. “What the hell happened? Are you okay?”

“Healer! We need a-” Teleran started to yell but stopped short and gasped as he felt Marein’s anguish roll over him., “Marein!?! Diamond! What happened? Did those blades? Azurites? Healer now!”

He started throwing his own paltry heal spells at them as he ran towards the three. His spells were not strong enough to do much, only partially healing even the superficial injuries, but he continued casting in the hopes of slowing the bleeding.

Legion healers rushed in and took Diamond and Shai to a tent for healing. Marein followed, bringing Teleran with him. When he spoke, his voice was soft, but intense, hateful, and above all else, broken.

"We were turned back at the gate," he said, "for being three and not one. Goranthir went up in our place. Azurites attacked us. There was a fight..." The look on his face made it clear that this was the sore point. "Diamond was hurt. We fought our way out. Tended to ourselves. All went wrong. We're here."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 07:09 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 22 2005, 09:29 PM)

One of the snakes swiveled its flat head to look at Goranthir and Loranna, and said,

"Everything is reused."

The other snakes said, "Busy, busy, busy..."

"Careful," said Deothur. "They aren't evil; that doesn't make them friendly."

Posted by: Teleran Yesterday, 07:09 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 22 2005, 09:59 PM)

“Bloody gates,” Teleran muttered. “But you got out of that place with the blades alright? Just the [censored] Azurites getting in the way, always count on the Azurites to get in the way.”

Teleran was calming a bit with Shai and Diamond being tended by the healers and finally registered the Marein’s tone. “Are you feeling alright? You sound … different than I remember.”

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 07:11 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 01:09 AM)

"True, and they're also overworked right now," Loranna says. "We should leave them to their work, and hurry on to fix this ..."

She pauses and looks to Deothur, adding " ... Unless, there's something we could do here to meaningfully help them now?"

Posted by: Tri Yesterday, 07:14 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 22 2005, 09:09 PM)

Marein opened his mouth and closed it again.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said, his voice shaky yet cold.

Posted by: Teleran Yesterday, 07:17 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 22 2005, 10:14 PM)

Marein opened his mouth and closed it again.

"I don't want to talk about it," he said, his voice shaky yet cold.

Teleran nodded slowly and stared towards the healing tents. He thought about going in to see Shai, and Diamond too of course, but decided against it, she was probably recuperating from her injuries as well as the constant travel they must have undertaken to catch up with the legion.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 07:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 22 2005, 10:11 PM)

"I think we would be best off," Goranthir said, hissing his apologies to the snakes he was pushing aside. "Doing our job quickly, and let them do theirs. We would only get in their way. And they are a little ... cranky."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 07:35 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 12:11 AM)

"By walking that bridge you are doing all that there is to be done," Deothur said. A snake had twined around his torso; another smaller snake crawled on his face. Their delicate, forked tongues shot out, tasting his warm brown skin.

"Taste... color," the snake on Deothur's face said. "Taste... youth. What is Dibella's child doing in this place?"

"I travel in the name of the Most High Tiber Septim," Deothur said.

The snakes were also coiling around Tris, who was trying not to scream. They were cold. And their tongues felt electrical, as if they were sampling him.

The snakes did not taste any of the party on the bridge.

"I should go," Tris said. Despite his best efforts, his voice wasn't steady. "Tell the General we have our eighth."

Ahead, through the snakes, like people pushing through undergrowth, they could see a clear space, a space that was more stable, less affected by the tear. And in the clear space... ghosts.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 07:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 01:35 AM)

Loranna somehow manages to keep from making a move when Tris was being coiling around Tris, though her eyes emoted what support they could.

" ... You're right," she says to Deothur, hurrying on. When they reach the clear space, she says "This spot seems more stable." She pauses a bit to see what sort of ghosts lie ahead.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 07:41 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 10:35 PM)

Ahead, through the snakes, like people pushing through undergrowth, they could see a clear space, a space that was more stable, less affected by the tear. And in the clear space... ghosts.

Now Goranthir shuddered. "And the spirits, Deothur?" he whispered, moving forward against the nerves in his body that told him to turn back. "They are not evil?"

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Yesterday, 07:44 AM

Slyvos felt... cold, like something he once knew was here...

'something isn't right...'

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 07:51 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 22 2005, 11:44 PM)

Slyvos felt... cold, like something he once knew was here...

'something isn't right...'

"Nothing is right, here, at the moment," Herwyn said. "But still... I'd tend to agree, Slyvos."

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 07:52 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 22 2005, 10:44 PM)

Slyvos felt... cold, like something he once knew was here...

'something isn't right...'

Goranthir nodded. He didn't like the way they stared -- mostly, it seemed, at him ... with those dead eyes ... but he stayed on the path.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 07:57 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ Aug 23 2005, 12:41 AM)

Now Goranthir shuddered. "And the spirits, Deothur?" he whispered, moving forward against the nerves in his body that told him to turn back. "They are not evil?"

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 23 2005, 12:44 AM)

Slyvos felt... cold, like something he once knew was here...

'something isn't right...'

"There should not be so many of them," Deothur said. "This is only a stopping place; these should have been sent on."

He had stopped when Loranna stopped.

It was hard to say whether the ghosts were evil. There were men and mer and beastmen, male and female, old and young. These were clearly ghosts, not spirits, still bearing the marks of their earthly lives and deaths, the young still young and the old still old.

"Tris," Deothur said. "Go now. This place is not safe for those who are not on the path."

One of the spirits stepped across the path, setting one foot on either side of the sword bridge, and looked at them. He was an older man, Imperial, who looked as if in life he had been poor. Now his expression was belligerant.

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 07:59 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 11:57 PM)

One of the spirits stepped across the path, setting one foot on either side of the sword bridge, and looked at them. He was an older man, Imperial, who looked as if in life he had been poor. Now his expression was belligerant.

Herwyn stared at, and through, the spectre. "Do you block our way, Sir?" he said in an even tone.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 08:05 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 22 2005, 10:59 PM)

Herwyn stared at, and through, the spectre. "Do you block our way, Sir?" he said in an even tone.

Goranthir was glad Herwyn spoke. He was afraid his own voice might shake, but he stood with his companion.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 08:14 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 12:59 AM)

Herwyn stared at, and through, the spectre. "Do you block our way, Sir?" he said in an even tone.

The ghost, however, wasn't looking at Herwyn. He was looking at Goranthir.

"You seem to have a way out of here," he said, in a rough voice. "What makes you different than the rest of us?"

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 08:17 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 11:14 PM)

The ghost, however, wasn't looking at Herwyn. He was looking at Goranthir.

"You seem to have a way out of here," he said, in a rough voice. "What makes you different than the rest of us?"

Goranthir stared and then when he understood, he laughed uncomfortably. 'I am sorry, sir, but you are confused. I am not dead.'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 08:23 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ Aug 23 2005, 01:17 AM)

Goranthir stared and then when he understood, he laughed uncomfortably. 'I am sorry, sir, but you are confused. I am not dead.'

"Your body's not dead, anyway," the man said. He turned and looked up the shining silver line of the sword bridge. "So if you have a live body, you can go that way, eh? What happens if I take yours?"

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 08:26 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 02:23 AM)

"Your body's not dead, anyway," the man said. He turned and looked up the shining silver line of the sword bridge. "So if you have a live body, you can go that way, eh? What happens if I take yours?"

Loranna feels a chill run down her spine.

"Sir, arduous fights await us at the end of this path," she says to the ghost. "Is that what you would run into?"

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 08:28 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 11:23 PM)

"Your body's not dead, anyway," the man said. He turned and looked up the shining silver line of the sword bridge. "So if you have a live body, you can go that way, eh? What happens if I take yours?"

"You’ll be grateful you can only die twice," replied Gorathir with a confidence he did not feel, bringing his daikatana into position.

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 08:32 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 12:23 AM)

"Your body's not dead, anyway," the man said. He turned and looked up the shining silver line of the sword bridge. "So if you have a live body, you can go that way, eh? What happens if I take yours?"

Herwyn was quitely impressed by the young man's response.

"He seems to be last in line," he said to the spirit, "I would be happier if you would simply step aside, but if you won't, then so be it. Your fight begins and ends here, at the front of the line."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 08:38 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 01:26 AM)

Loranna feels a chill run down her spine.

"Sir, arduous fights await us at the end of this path," she says to the ghost. "Is that what you would run into?"

QUOTE(S'reddit @ Aug 23 2005, 01:28 AM)

"You’ll be grateful you can only die twice," replied Gorathir with a confidence he did not feel, bringing his daikatana into position.

The ghost man had deep-set, narrow eyes. Now he turned them on Loranna, then Herwyn. "I been here six months since they hanged me for highway robbery. I don't figure they can hang me twice. And you know the funny thing? They hanged all my gang, the same day."

Several more men stepped forward from the crowd of ghosts.

The crowd of other ghosts stood watching or pretending not to watch, mostly with the look of affected disinterest of any bystanders trying not to feel strongly enough to get involved. But there were a few bystander ghosts who did look interested - and they didn't look as if they were planning to leap to the rescue. More like starving dogs waiting for a tasty scrap of meat to fall from the table.

"Stop this," Deothur said, raising his voice for the first time. "I have fought wolves before, to protect my sheep. You don't frighten me."

Tris still floated nearby, encased in snakes; he had not obeyed Deothur's instructions.

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 08:42 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 12:38 AM)

"I see it this way," said Herwyn. "Maybe I can just walk right through you and go on my merry way, and there's nothing you can do. And maybe not. If not, and you are capable of harming me, then I am you, and I would strongly suggest you remove yourself from this path."

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 08:45 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 22 2005, 11:38 PM)

The ghost man had deep-set, narrow eyes. Now he turned them on Loranna, then Herwyn. "I been here six months since they hanged me for highway robbery. I don't figure they can hang me twice.

"No, rope’s too dear for the likes of you," Goranthir’s ebony daikatana slashed forth in a wave of blackness at the bandit ghost’s midsection.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 08:51 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 02:38 AM)

"Yes, stop this," Loranna says, staring first at one ghost, then another.

"You take our bodies, and then what?" she asks. "Others get the same idea, they try to take them from you. Our bodies get destroyed in the fight, or you get banished, out into that -"

She nods back in the direction of the snakes eating at the fringes.

"Or you go forward and you find yourself at the gate, and the sword - and you'll have to give up part of these bodies anyway, until there is nothing left. And beyond the last gate - we don't even know what awaits, save that there are ghosts beyond who have done nothing but fight everything in their path forever."

She shakes her head. "Or you can let us face those dangers instead; that's what we're here for. Face them and fix this so all this can be ended, and everyone is safe again."

And, at that point, Goranthir swings his blade, and Loranna's heart sinks.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 09:06 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ Aug 23 2005, 01:45 AM)

"No, rope’s too dear for the likes of you," Goranthir’s ebony daikatana slashed forth in a wave of blackness at the bandit ghost’s midsection.

Goranthir's blade was enchanted; it cut right through the ghost, which wailed in anguish, and dissolved into transparent goop. The snakes clinging to Tris released him, shot through the air like arrows, and sucked up what remained of the slain ghost.

The death galvanized the waiting crowd; tensions were high, and any breach of the peace would serve as an excuse now. Suddenly the eight on the bridge, Deothur, and Tris, were fighting hundreds of ghosts.

"Tris Gaerington, why are you still here?" Deothur thundered, in a voice which did not sound simple at all, as Tris drew his own blade and sliced through a ghost.

"I'm here for the same reason you are!" Tris yelled back.

The ghosts were variously armed and dressed. It wasn't clear what damage they could do, if any.

Then the ghosts did exactly what Herwyn had said - they passed through Herwyn, through Loranna and Slyvos and the others behind him.

They did not pass through Goranthir. Instead they surrounded him, clutching him with their hands. Ghosts didn't take up space; they could pass through each other, so that in seconds Goranthir was fighting many ghosts.

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 09:12 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 01:06 AM)

Then the ghosts did exactly what Herwyn had said - they passed through Herwyn, through Loranna and Slyvos and the others behind him.

They did not pass through Goranthir. Instead they surrounded him, clutching him with their hands. Ghosts didn't take up space; they could pass through each other, so that in seconds Goranthir was fighting many ghosts.

"What the..." Herwyn asked, rhetorically, and raised his hand at Goranthir. Trusting in the young ranger's magical protection, he sent a handful of flaming whips at him, which lashed mercilessly at Goranthir and the hungry ghosts.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 09:14 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 12:06 AM)

They did not pass through Goranthir. Instead they surrounded him, clutching him with their hands. Ghosts didn't take up space; they could pass through each other, so that in seconds Goranthir was fighting many ghosts.

Goranthir was angry, and he didn’t know why. All he knew was that he was no longer scared, and this was much better. It was enormously satisfying to watch his assailants melt before his blade, and see them then devoured by snakes. His armor enchantments on his cloak were soaking most of the damage he was dealt for now.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 09:15 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 03:12 AM)

"ENOUGH! LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN!!!" Loranna yells, casting a Turn Undead spell at Goranthir.

Almost immediately, she casts a regen spell at the mer, to try and mitigate whatever damage is being done to him - though what her healing magic could do to stop possession, she did not know.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Yesterday, 09:19 AM

Slyvos sighs, rubbing his hands together a bit and letting the powers he had learned over the years come to him...

'say goodbye'

He stretches out a hand, a volatile green light spewing forth from it and blasting some of the ghosts... their spectres promptly vanished from existance, leaving only the basest of what made a soul a soul. Still... damn too many to hit all of them.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 09:33 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 23 2005, 02:19 AM)

Many of the ghosts fell back, shrieking, as Loranna's spell touched them. Dozens were destroyed by Herwyn's magic, and it was impossible to tell how many fell to Slyvos's spell. Tris swung his sword manfully; and the saintly Deothur wielded his staff with the courage of one who had once stood, alone, in the path of Tiber Septim at the head of an army.

Goranthir's blade cut a path around him.

But as many ghosts as they slew, their places were instantly filled with new ones. The ghosts were enraged. How many people had died, in all of Tamriel, between the 20th of Sun's Dawn, and now, late in Last Seed?

That was how many ghosts were here. They had been waiting a long time. They were bored, and desperate, and angry.

One of the ghosts clung to Goranthir's head from behind. The ghost began to lose cohesion, to stretch and distort. Its fingers became tendrils of slimy goop, which entered Goranthir's ears, his nostrils, the corners of his mouth.

Posted by: Solin Yesterday, 09:35 AM

The ghosts stir, though, their disturbance does not stem from any presence or command from the bridge. Something else comes. The wall of spirits parts forming a path.

“What passes here?” a strong male voice demands.

An armor figure appears in path near those stranded on the bridge. A tabard tattered beyond recognition is draped over his armor. The spirit is well equipped with a sword in hand and a visored helm covering his face.

“What souls here seek warm flesh now? Dares to violate the sanctity of the living, the order of things? Who rids this realm of spirits?”

The last was addressed at Goranthir.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 09:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 03:33 AM)

Loranna, amid all the chaos, stops to share pie recipies with the local ghosts ...

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Yesterday, 09:41 AM

Slyvos looks at the figure, raising an eyebrow as he catches a glimpse of pie, but then returns to staring at the figure.

'... not even gonna ask'

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 09:42 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 23 2005, 03:41 AM)

Slyvos looks at the figure, raising an eyebrow as he catches a glimpse of pie, but then returns to staring at the figure.

'... not even gonna ask'

Loranna looks to the newly-arrived, armored figure as well, lowering her hands ...

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 09:44 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 12:35 AM)

“What souls here seek warm flesh now? Dares to violate the sanctity of the living, the order of things? Who rids this realm of spirits?”

The last was addressed at Goranthir.

Goranthir’s fun was over. He felt raw panic again. If he were not wearing the ring that kept him anchored he would have fallen already. "We asked them not to block our path three times, milord," he gasped, trying to get the ghost out of his mouth.

Posted by: Solin Yesterday, 10:06 AM

QUOTE(S'reddit @ Aug 23 2005, 02:44 AM)

The spirit stood silent a moment and turned his gaze about the gathered crowd.

"This must be ceased," the spirit ordered his fellow. "None shall make abridgement against the living. Restrain your desires. This bridge is not your path. Stay off it lest you suffer your end here in this broken place."

The translucent figure turned back towards the group on the bridge. He brought his hands to his head and removed his helm. Holding it in the crook of his arm he calls.

"My friends," says a familiar face. "What brings you to this place?"

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 10:11 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 03:06 AM)

"Deothur of the realm of Dibella," Deothur said. "We seek passage in the name of Tiber Septim, to the ninth sphere and the battles there."

"Ciel," Tris said. His lips felt numb; his ears were buzzing, and he could barely speak.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 10:14 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 01:06 AM)

"My friends," says a familiar face. "What brings you to this place?"

Goranthir was shaking. His dark flesh appeared gray, ashen, even as he watched the ghosts who were assaulting him slip away.

'We are trying,' he said hoarsely as he realized who it was, from Tris's stories in the book. 'To fix all this.'

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 10:14 AM

"But..." said Herwyn, "Ciel's alive. I mean, bringing him out of this place is what caused this!

"Tris, be wary!"

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 10:17 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 04:06 AM)

"Sir Ciel ..." Loranna feels tears come to her eyes, and she walks forward without thinking, before catching herself.

Ciel, here, in this realm; Loranna didn't know what to say. Her mind told her what this meeting must mean, but her heart was too busy being overwhelmed at the sight of Ciel in Arkay's realm to care.

"We're ... we're trying to fix all this," she says, gesturing with her hands. "Allie and the others are waiting for us beyond; they have a plan ..."

Posted by: Nalion Yesterday, 10:19 AM

Summary for Nalion
Rift Pass, 103rd Imperial Legion

Nalion, a male Breton mage, currently travels with Cyndarius' 103rd Legion over the Rift Pass, with destination Cyrodiil and the Imperial City. He has recently met a Corporal of the 95th Cohort and talked to him for a while, noticing that he was one of the few who are actually aware that 'things' are wrong right now.
/Summary

Nalion was happy that he managed to get some hot stew and a slice of bread from somewhere and ate hungrily at some place out of the way of the main trail. His new horse Forsa stood nearby, its warm breath creating clouds of mist in the biting cold.

His thoughts were at places elsewhere, though, thinking of the companions in the Spheres...

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 10:23 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Aug 23 2005, 04:19 AM)

Rift Pass, 103rd Imperial Legion

Nalion hears a familiar voice rumble "The bread's good in this outfit, but the ale leaves a bit to be desired, friend. You should have grabbed my daughter's wine when you left."

Gram Pyrel, called Gram the Wild and Gram the Witty (at least, by himself), grins at the Breton mage, munching on a crust of bread himself.

Posted by: Solin Yesterday, 10:28 AM

The ghost Ciel bit his tongue for a moment.

“Voices,” the knight began. “New…”

He smiled to Goranthir.

“and old…”

He frowned at Herwyn and continued to address him.

“I am not surprised to find you here, I cannot fathom in the most depraved depths of this soul what would wrench you from your post yet, it has an appropriate feel,” he turned to the floating Breton, “Tris! Did you recruit him to your brave company?”

He addressed the others.

“I would bid you stay and welcome for introduction but this place is lacking in its hospices… and besides, you’ve come to wake me from my nightmare.”

Posted by: Nalion Yesterday, 10:31 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 10:23 AM)

Nalion glanced up from his food, eyes focusing on the Nord in front of him. A broad smile and a gleam in the Breton's brown eyes greeted Gram.
"Now if that isn't the biggest threat to alcoholic beverages right after a certain Bosmer and Isidor! Gram! That's unexpected but most welcome!"
Nalion put the empty bowl of stew aside and brushed the few crumbs of bread from his robe and shook the towering Nord's hand fondly. How did you end up here? We haven't heard anything from you since your departure from Solunastra!", Nalion asked.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 10:39 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 01:28 AM)

“I would bid you stay and welcome for introduction but this place is lacking in its hospices… and besides, you’ve come to wake me from my nightmare.”

Goranthir looked at the ghost: "I am glad to know someone who can save my life in his dreams. You are right, we should go. I look forward to meeting you … in the flesh. "

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 10:39 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Aug 23 2005, 04:31 AM)

Gram fairly squeezes Nalion's hand till it feels ready to break, but he lets go at the last moment, grinning fiercely. "Aye it is - most welcome for myself and my recent companions, all of us having been a bit on the run for the past few days," she says.

"As for myself, well as I was telling Shaka, I finally went and found the coffer of good King Orgnum," he continues, briefly pulling out the small ornate chest to let Nalion see. "A marvellous story to tell about its getting, and I've even some musty old tomes in a script I cannot fathom from the old greybeard who tried to turn my blood to bile that you might be able to read. But since I got out of the dungeon of ice where I found this, it's been a rehash of my worst nightmares from the Dawn, only in snow instead of sand."

He shakes his head. "Hasfalgar got decimated; the only survivors and I fled the Azurites, pursuing the vague rumors of an Imperial Legion in this direction. We figured if anyplace could be considered safe, it was there. And so here we are, and lo and behold who do I find but two friends and the shiny general who beat the snot out of those blue-eyed devils the last time around, in Red Mountain. And, if I understand Shaka aright, my daughter is once again off making her poor father look like a layabout and a slacker by running in the footsteps of gods while he trods the poor green earth, swinging an axe back and forth."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 10:42 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 03:28 AM)

The ghost Ciel bit his tongue for a moment.

“Voices,” the knight began. “New…”

He smiled to Goranthir.

“and old…”

He frowned at Herwyn and continued to address him.

“I am not surprised to find you here, I cannot fathom in the most depraved depths of this soul what would wrench you from your post yet, it has an appropriate,” he turned to the floating Breton, “Tris! Did you recruit him to your brave company?”

He addressed the others.

“I would bid you stay and welcome for introduction but this place is lacking in its hospices… and besides, you’ve come to wake me from my nightmare.”

"No," Tris said. There was a ragged edge to his voice. "We're not here to wake you from your nightmare. It's not that simple or that clean. We're here to cut this whole place loose and push it off... I don't..."

He took a breath and tried again. "Ciel. You're dead. You died. And in another world I brought you back to life and it did -" he gestured with his hand to the serpents, and the Void "-all this. Now we're going to fix it so this world never existed. You'll be alive there."

But is it you who will be alive there?

Surely a man could only have one soul. Wherever he found himself, in whatever peculiar manifestation, Ciel was Ciel. And so Ciel alive would be Ciel alive.

"You have a pleasant voice," Deothur said. "I believe you belong in the realm of Stendarr, not here. But you are needed here, I see, to keep order. Fare thee well, friend."

Posted by: Rhedd Yesterday, 10:45 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 02:42 AM)

"You have a pleasant voice," Deothur said. "I believe you belong in the realm of Stendarr, not here. But you are needed here, I see, to keep order. Fare thee well, friend."

Herwyn didn't open his mouth. It was the hardest thing he'd done in a while, taking the next step. He wasn't sure if he should, or if he should wait... give Tris time.

The people they'd left behind didn't have time, though.

His eyes on the spirit of Ciel, he continued toward the next gate.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 10:48 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 01:45 AM)

Goranthir bowed to Ciel, and with a signal to the others, followed Herwyn.

Posted by: Nalion Yesterday, 10:55 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 10:39 AM)

"You truly found that coffer? That's an amazing thing!", Nalion said, then hushed his companion. "Don't bark it out too loud though. There's people in this world who would not hesitate and try to rip it from your hands. Stumbling into brigands with every step and them being no challenge for one such as you can end up being annoying.", Nalion said, still grinning, but secretly rubbing his right hand to ease blood circulation.
"I'm sorry to hear about Hasfalgar, Gram, at least some people have survived, thanks to you. We all hope that Loranna and the other seven will make it, then all this mess will be mended. ", the mage began and explained the situation with brief words and added the recent news to it as well.
"You can be proud of Loranna. She's doing well. I believe though, that we who remained still can get some deeds done while we are here. We're en route to the Imperial City to help where we can."

Posted by: Solin Yesterday, 10:56 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 03:45 AM)

For a moment the ghost stood on the edge of a precipice, confused by the perilous realization at hand, and then took a step back.

"My will is to serve," the knight bowed. "High praise, Saint Deothur."

"Farewell, friends," Ciel said as they departed. "My fondest wishes follow you."

He was silent a moment and then whispered.

"Goodbye, Tris."

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 11:01 AM

QUOTE(Nalion @ Aug 23 2005, 04:55 AM)

Gram grins. "Tis all right; I checked to see if anyone else was about," he says. "And thank you for your kind words; in truth I never felt comfortable in Hasfalgar, but all the same it's my baby girl's home, and it still means something to me."

He nods grimly. "We should give our friends in the heavens a good run for their money; who knows when it will finally be us to take up the banner and shake the foundations of the world? Or put them back together again, either or." He laughs. "Let us make all haste to the Imperial City then; my axe and shield are at your side, should that Cyndarius fellow say it's permissable. And even if he doesn't, I'll go on my own anyway!"

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 11:08 AM

Goranthir looked back at Tris and Ciel, and then went through. With a scream, he relinquished his Stamina ...

Posted by: Allerleirauh Yesterday, 11:09 AM

QUOTE(Solin @ Aug 23 2005, 03:56 AM)

"I should have listened when you said to go," Tris said, his voice barely audible. He shot off in the direction of the gates.

Deothur followed the others. He paused, and bent, and lifted something from the ground.

"Ghosts are not entirely spirit, you know," he said, conversationally. "They haven't been purified by passing through the spheres, as you are doing now; they are mostly spirit, but also matter, which is why they can easily be harmed by the appropriate weapons."

He showed what he was holding; a small, black, pitted stone that fit neatly into the palm of his hand.

"Snake stone," he said. "Concentrated cast-off Mundus, the detritus left when the snakes make their meal. If you hold it, you reflect magic. Very handy."

He handed it to Loranna.

The ghosts parted, like a wave, to let them through, now that Ciel had spoken. They could see the bladed gate ahead.

Posted by: Loranna Yesterday, 11:15 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 05:09 AM)

Loranna takes the snake stone from Deothur's hand, saying "Indeed ... thank you ..." She smiles at the handsome youh, her heart trembling.

Turning to look at Ciel, she says quietly "We will see you again, dear ...", then she curtesies and hurries after her friends, holding the snake stone firmly in her hand. It felt warm, and fit easily in her palm, and she was thankful, for her armor and her best absorb jewelry was back in Ald Raathim.

And then, she was through the gate ...

The good fortune that blessed her when she found the stream that day, after she and her father had wandered lost in the forests of High Rock. The rotten luck that kept her from actually landing the good men in the tavern's eternal competition of barmaids for men. The grace that kept her head on her neck when the woman with silver hair first thought to show kindness through steel, and which kept that lovely woman from destroying her when it would have saved so many lives ...

A desperate struggle against a blue-eyed Khajiit, when she had just recovered from having Sen-Yedda cut from her womb. The misfortune of losing her magicka to a simple spell despite her protections, right before a deceased duelist began carving people up left and right.

All ... gone. Luck undefined, more sense of herself gone. She wonders what she would lose next, and whether it will get easier now that she has shed half of herself.

Posted by: S'reddit Yesterday, 11:23 AM

ooc -- Off to bed, night night

Posted by: Nalion Yesterday, 11:30 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 11:01 AM)

Nalion's tone of voice and his expression grew earnest.
"I have seen the world trembling twice now in rapid succession. These are remarkable times - and terrible at the same- Gram. As those who travel in the Spheres right now will have to make their stand, we will, too. As above, so below.", the mage answered.

"Let's go and catch up with the trail. I want to get off this pass, soon." Nalion packed his bag and took the reins of Forsa and began walking back towards the head of the column, inviting Gram to join him.

Posted by: Aki Yesterday, 01:17 PM

OOC Summary

Reichi is one of the Eight, tasked with passing beyound the realms of the Aedra, and fixing the cracks in reality, who are currently in Arkay's realm and passing to the next...

Posted by: Stargazey Yesterday, 02:46 PM

As Isidor jumped through his portal, he felt all of his wit, all of his knowledge, leave him.

His intelligence had left him.

Posted by: syronj Yesterday, 03:52 PM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 23 2005, 01:17 AM)

After his initial shock at Diamond's reappearance, Shaka had hurried to help the three travellers, realizing they must be Marein and Shai, flesh once more.

He looked at Diamond on her cot within the healing tent. Shaka didn't know if she could hear him, but he said it aloud anyway: "Diamond, in case you or the others are beating yourselves up about coming back before reaching your destination -- don't. We're all flying blind in this nightmare."

Poor kid, he thought, seeing Diamond's wounds. Shaka had tried to help Shai's eye and the others' wounds as well, with as much healing magicka as he had learned over the years. He would have to talk to the blue-eyed dunmer/Nord Teleran soon. It had been obvious from Teleran's expression that he had a long acquaintance with Shai . . . .

Posted by: Tri Yesterday, 11:53 PM

Shai woke from her healer-assisted sleep, immediately flicking her eyes around to get a hold on the situation.

Marein was sitting in the corner of the tent, his head in his hands. He might have been asleep. Diamond was lying on a makeshift bed next to her - she looked unconscious.

At the foot of the bed was a very worried-looking Teleran.

Propping herself up weakly on her elbows, she said, "Teleran. I'm awake."

Posted by: Teleran Today, 12:08 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 23 2005, 02:53 PM)

“Shai!” Teleran exclaimed. “You’re alright,” Teleran said moving to hug her, “I’m just so … so … I love you.” Words started flowing from him, straining to get out and jumbling themselves into a mostly incoherent mess, “I wish I could have stopped … I should have been there … waited at the gate…”

Retreating to arm’s length he looked at her wonderingly, “How did you manage to be three again? Listen to me, worrying over everything and ignoring this, I’m a fool, aren’t I? Only paying attention to what’s going wrong.”

Posted by: Tri Today, 12:29 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 23 2005, 02:08 PM)

She smiled faintly. For a moment it seemed like she was wavering on death's doorstep, and she was distant. "I remember the first day I met you, Teleran. Remember it like yesterday. I was feeling awful, you know, and then there you were, that very day...I thought about you this whole time, when I was away."

The level of her voice lowered further. A gentle smile played across her face. "I love you too..."

She glanced concernedly at Marein. "Oh, he's so upset..."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Today, 01:00 AM

During the fight with the ghosts, as they retreated away from Gorathir, Slyvos noticed something... odd. A strange symbol on Gorathir's body; it seemed, dark, unnatural... but this was a concern for another time, when they weren't messing with the fabric of existance....

Slyvos had gone through the gate, losing his speed... his desire to hurry, to rush, the concepts were still there, but the desires of such were not his own anymore... he was beginning to look more like someone else... and alot less like jazbet.

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 01:11 AM

Anya stepped through the gate, biting ehr tongue as the swords peirced her.

She felt... bland. Yet, she still retained herself. The feelings, gestures, remarks, comments she made throught her life to define her had left, followed by a feeling of stark nakedness as her true self shown. Her personality was gone, replaced with who she was stripped of flesh and meanings.

Posted by: Aki Today, 01:12 AM

Reichi headed through the gate. Feeling the blade come down on him, and as it passed out of him, it took his endurance with it. His ability to continue on with a heavy wound, to keep fighting when utterly exhausted, to never give up. Gone.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 01:14 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 23 2005, 07:00 PM)

Loranna looks back to her companions, to make sure everyone is all right. Her eyes fall on Slyvos and she looks at him curiously, realizing just how much she'd become used to his look as Jazbet.

" ... Slyvos?" she asks, looking more carefully. Yes, that was him, she was certain; she saw it in a moment back when Slyvos first took Jazbet's body. Still, it was a bigger change than she had expected - which was foolish because she knew this was going to happen.

Loranna herself looks ... different, yet not. Maybe a little taller, a touch more slender, maybe her hair is a little different, but she still looks more or less like Loranna.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Today, 01:19 AM

Slyvos looked at Loranna, trying not to stare... failing miserable but trying; luckily he didn't have to... but he was nice like that after all, he had only seen the true her once... and that moment still burned deep in his memory.

'so... where are we now?'

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 01:31 AM

"Julianos," Deothur said. "The scholars of Julianos have a saying, which they learned from the Psijiics: 'The power of ignorance can truly shatter mithril like glass.' I never understood what they were hinting at; if ignorance is so mighty, why be educated? But I suppose it makes sense to them."

In all the places they had been before, nature - or what passed for nature, in the spheres of the Divines - was most evident. Here, nothing was natural. This was a place built by hands, from plans, lines drawn carefully then translated into reality, not natural at all except insofar as it is natural in men and mer to love straight lines. Straightness, and the desire for resolution, here made manifest. It was oppressive but also grand. Endless rows of white columns led off towards a plaza from which a pyramid rose. Atop the pyramid, a man - or a mer - stood chanting - and on the steps, a vast company stood, listening. The air here was so clear that his words were carried to them even so far away; but the company could make nothing of them. Above were stars, and the sun, and the moons; all in one sky.

The sword bridge ran through the stoa, through the perfect rows of columns, at an odd angle.

"He's going to love that," Deothur remarked. "We should probably hurry."

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 01:34 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 07:31 PM)

Isidor gazed around, in wonder. Isidor nodded at Deothur's words. "Let's go." He began to make his way foward.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 01:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 07:31 PM)

Loranna chuckles a little, feeling a bit nonplussed by the spectacle. She liked to learn, she valued knowledge, she even liked sitting in her library to read a good book quietly, but this place ...

"I wonder how Nalion would feel here," she remarks as she picks up her pace. She'd have to tell him about this, after ...

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 01:37 AM

QUOTE(Stargazey @ Aug 23 2005, 07:34 PM)

Isidor gazed around, in wonder. Isidor nodded at Deothur's words. "Let's go." He began to make his way foward.

Goranthir followed quickly behind. "Reminds me of Altmer architecture," he said, not meaning it to be a compliment. "Loranna, I'm sorry about what happened back there. I didn't know any other way to get that ghost to back off."

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 01:39 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 05:36 PM)

"I wonder how Nalion would feel here," she remarks as she picks up her pace. She'd have to tell him about this, after ...

"He would probably be sorry to be rushed," said Herwyn, "just like me."

Still, though, there was a time and a place for everything, and so he hurried along the bridge, noticing that it did, indeed, ruin the balance of the whole arrangement.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 01:41 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 07:37 PM)

Loranna turns to offer Goranthir an apologetic smile. "We had been warned to be friendly to all we met; I should have told you that when you joined up with us," she says. "Forgive me for my oversight ... I'm just glad you're okay. Though I have to admit I felt like a fool myself; I don't think now that those ghosts would listen to reason."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 01:44 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 07:41 PM)

"Well, I'll try not to make anyone else angry," Goranthir grinned, his voice turning to a whisper as they got closer to the orator.

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 01:53 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 05:44 PM)

"Well, I'll try not to make anyone else angry," Goranthir grinned, his voice turning to a whisper as they got closer to the orator.

Anya smiled as he said that, while looking around. She thought to herself, "Ghosts are fickle things, I find."

She stopped, and stared wide-eyed. Did I just talk? She went to say that outloud, but found she still couldn't. Her momentary joy was covered in puzzlement. Her eyes titled with worry, her mouth open as if to say 'What just happened?'

Why was I able to talk then, but not now? Lotus cawed next to her.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 02:01 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 06:44 PM)

"Well, I'll try not to make anyone else angry," Goranthir grinned, his voice turning to a whisper as they got closer to the orator.

Deothur fell silent, listening to the orator. From his expression it seemed possible that unlike the still-mortal members of the party, he could understand what he was hearing; it did not necessarily look as if he agreed with all of it.

"I think Arynel built this bridge intending you to pass the spheres without hindrance," Deothur said quietly, after a time. "But that's not the way the story is written; every new experience has a price, and Arynel cannot pay the price for you, however much he might like to. The hero in the tale always stumbles at least once, and the stumble turns out, in the end, to have been fortuituous. The one who does not stumble is no hero. Not logic, but then logic isn't everything, is it? We are gloriously illogical beasts, we mortals. And I see something we need to steal."

He gestured with his hand.

Around the base of the square, on small plinths, were statues. Most were of high elves; some were of men; some were even of other creatures. As they drew near, the party saw that the statues were more realistic than seemed possible. They were not statues at all.

"Julianos's gift to those who choose it," Deothur said. "To remain forever as they were at their most puissant moment. Untouched by decay or foolish wavering, an example to all who see them. They hold the symbols of their achievements, given a physical form. That one -"

and here he gestured at a graceful female High Elf, wearing golden robes

"-was known for her ability to teach even the most stubbornly wrong-headed. That arrow in her hand is the Arrow of Insight, and I think we are going to want it, on the ninth plain."

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:06 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:01 PM)

Deothur fell silent, listening to the orator. From his expression it seemed possible that unlike the still-mortal members of the party, he could understand what he was hearing; it did not necessarily look as if he agreed with all of it.

"I think Arynel built this bridge intending you to pass the spheres without hindrance," Deothur said quietly, after a time. "But that's not the way the story is written; every new experience has a price, and Arynel cannot pay the price for you, however much he might like to. The hero in the tale always stumbles at least once, and the stumble turns out, in the end, to have been fortuituous. The one who does not stumble is no hero. Not logic, but then logic isn't everything, is it? We are gloriously illogical beasts, we mortals. And I see something we need to steal."

He gestured with his hand.

Around the base of the square, on small bases, were statues. Most were of high elves; some were of men; some were even of other creatures. As they drew near, the party saw that the statues were more realistic than seemed possible. They were not statues at all.

"Julianos's gift to those who choose it," Deothur said. "To remain forever as they were at their most puissant moment. Untouched by decay or foolish wavering, an example to all who see them. They hold the symbols of their achievements, given a physical form. That one -"

and here he gestured at a graceful female High Elf, wearing golden robes

"-was known for her ability to teach even the most stubbornly wrong-headed. That arrow in her hand is the Arrow of Insight, and I think we are going to want it, on the ninth plain."

Loranna looks at the statues, frowning. " ... Noble, I suppose, but ... statues cannot dance, or laugh," she says quietly. Her eyes drift to the High Elf woman, admiring her gracefulness despite herself.

" ... Is there any chance we can bargain with her for it?" she asks. "I know hereos are often depicted as being roguish, but ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:09 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:01 PM)

"-was known for her ability to teach even the most stubbornly wrong-headed. That arrow in her hand is the Arrow of Insight, and I think we are going to want it, on the ninth plain."

Goranthir was grateful for the lecture on heroism. He still desperately wanted to be one, but anticipated many, many more missteps.'

"The question is," Goranthir whispered. "How to get it in a polite way."

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Today, 02:09 AM

Slyvos looked to it all... a state of being static... the very idea of such is something he escaped at one point, he would never go back to it. And an arrow... what good, could one arrow do? A great deal indeed...

' I think the question is, do we have anything she'd WANT to trade us for it.?'

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:13 AM

QUOTE(Dagoth Lich @ Aug 23 2005, 08:09 PM)

"Teacher," said Goranthir, speaking in a low voice to the woman in the High Elven tongue and in Cyrodilic. "We need your help."

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 02:15 AM

"Well," said Herwyn, "any question of us having that item first means getting to it. Since we, obviously, can't get to it, then it seems that we should find a way to get it to come to us.

"This is the realm of logic, after all," he added with a smile.

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:18 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:15 PM)

"Perhaps she heard me," Goranthir said, looking towards her, hoping.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 02:19 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 07:18 PM)

"Perhaps she heard me," Goranthir said, looking towards her, hoping.

"To give us the arrow, she would have to move, which implies change, and that she has sworn never to do," Deothur said. "Perhaps you can persuade her; but the scholars of Julianos have their eyes forever on the eternal horizon, not on things near at hand."

The scholar did not move.

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 02:23 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:19 PM)

"Persuade her? Why would she care about the fate of Mundus, when she is perfectley serene here?"

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:25 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:19 PM)

Loranna looks to the others. " ... Well, way I see it, we can try to either pursuade her to let go of the arrow, or try to snatch it from her hand," she says. "Either way we probably need to use telekenesis, or ..."

Her eyes drift to Anya. " ... Deothur, could Lotus fly over there safely?" she asks.

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:28 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:19 PM)

"What kind of a teacher refuses to share with students who come begging for insight?" Goranthir said under his breath, and then he thought of his tutors on Summerset. I was the exact kind of pig-headed person this woman tried to help.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:32 AM

QUOTE(Stargazey @ Aug 23 2005, 08:23 PM)

"Persuade her? Why would she care about the fate of Mundus, when she is perfectley serene here?"

"She is here to serve as an example," Loranna says. "And we've seen that Kyne's and Arkay's realms are suffering; how long before the chaos comes to these halls?"

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 08:28 PM)

" ... That I can't tell you; my teachers have been my friends, and Allie especially," she replies. "And more often than not my problem wasn't they weren't trying to share, it was that I wasn't ready to accept."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 02:32 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 07:25 PM)

"It might well be possible," Deothur said. "You have passed four spheres already; I think you might even be able to step on the ground, for a time."

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 07:28 PM)

Deothur laughed. "I suppose you can attempt to move her with your pig-headedness."

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 02:34 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 06:25 PM)

Anya shrugged, she didn't care as long as he would be somewhat safe doing it.

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 06:32 PM)

"It might well be possible," Deothur said. "You have passed four spheres already; I think you might even be able to step on the ground, for a time."
Deothur laughed. "I suppose you can attempt to move her with your pig-headedness."

Anya laughed at that last part, and pointed to Isidor, smiling at him.

Anya shrugged, waved for Goranthir to join her, and gingerly took a step onto the ground.

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:36 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:32 PM)

Deothur laughed. "I suppose you can attempt to move her with your pig-headedness."

"I'm feeling decidedly less pig-headed than her," Goranthir replied. "Imagine resolving never to move again as a testament to your ability to reach others. That's like eating the contents of a bakery to reward yourself for losing weight."

He followed Anya, preparing to pull her back if there was trouble.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 02:41 AM

QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Aug 23 2005, 07:34 PM)

Anya shrugged, she didn't care as long as he would be somewhat safe doing it.
Anya laughed at that last part, and pointed to Isidor, smiling at him.

Anya shrugged, waved for Goranthir to join her, and gingerly took a step onto the ground.

Anya had surrendered already her intelligence, will, personality, and luck... three mental qualities and an intangible. Her foot felt as if the ground were a door that had closed on it. There was no chance she would be able to take even a few steps.

"I am not from here," Deothur said to Goranthir. "Perhaps she could explain it better than I."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:45 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 08:41 PM)

Goranthir helped pull Anya back onto the sword. "I surrendered my intelligence already too ... That may be what Julianos requires."

He looks to the group. "Has anyone still got their Intelligence?"

What an odd thing to ask he thought.

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 02:46 AM

Tamriel, a place that is freeze-your-[censored]-off-cold

A hooded, scarfed, and robed figure looked to Gram and tried to speak, but his voice was so clogged by the half-dozen fur robes and scarves on his words came out as, "am..s...e..co!"

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:46 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 08:45 PM)

Loranna casts a healing spell to mend Anya's wounded foot.

"I still have mine," she says. "I've given up my speed, my strength, my stamina, and my luck. My intelect and my will remain though."

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 02:47 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 06:45 PM)

Anya held herself with Goranthir. Her eyes watered from the pain, bet it started to numb from Loranna's healing spell. She shook her head to not do that again.

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:49 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 08:46 PM)

Loranna casts a healing spell to mend Anya's wounded foot.

"I still have mine," she says. "I've given up my speed, my strength, my stamina, and my luck. My intelect and my will remain though."

"Try it," Goranthir suggested, squeezing Anya's hand.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:49 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 08:46 PM)

Tamriel, a place that is having a pleasant snowstrom (sayeth the Nord)

Gram turns and looks upon the bundled-up figure. "Now, what's that under all those rags?" he asks jovially. "I see by your feet that you hail from more marshish climes. Is this Falco I hear, teeth all a chatter and tail swinging back and forth?"

He claps his hand on the figure's shoulder and says "Come on; there's wagons for people who need respite from the chill. No point in freezing your scales off now."

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 02:50 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 06:45 PM)

"I don't think that's what's going on, with the ground," said Herwyn, and stepped off the bridge.

He had relinquished his intelligence what seemed like ages ago, but also his strength, speed, and endurance.

As his foot touched the marble ground, he closed his eyes.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 02:51 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 07:50 PM)

Herywn's guess seemed to be the correct one; in any case, his foot hurt - quite badly - but he was able to take a step forward, even though each step felt like falling from a height.

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 02:51 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 04:49 PM)

After much struggling the freezing argonian managed to wrench the scarves of. He whispered to Gram, "I woulda but Tsei won't let me. Says that the wagons are for the children and the refugees."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:54 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:50 PM)

"I don't think that's what's going on, with the ground," said Herwyn, and stepped off the bridge.

"Tell us what you did," Goranthir said, watching Herwyn plod forward.

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 02:54 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 06:51 PM)

Herywn's guess seemed to be the correct one; in any case, his foot hurt - quite badly - but he was able to take a step forward, even though each step felt like falling from a height.

"Not nearly so bad as being dismembered," said Herwyn, and took another step, and another, toward the statue.

"My physical being is almost gone. That is what can't abide the ground. Our physical beings are too weak, to flimsy for these realms, but we are becoming more real with every gate."

With sickening lurches, he moved closer and closer to his goal. His willpower was still his own.

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 02:56 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 06:54 PM)

Anya stuck her tongue out at Herwyn, as she tested out her foot. Lotus hovered next to her with his slack-jawed smile. She glared at him, How was I supposed to know? Lotus just closed his mouth and turned to watch Herwyn.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:57 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 08:51 PM)

After much struggling the freezing argonian managed to wrench the scarves of. He whispered to Gram, "I woulda but Tsei won't let me. Says that the wagons are for the children and the refugees."

"Tsei? A ladyfriend?" Gram asks, his snow-specked beard shaking with mirth. "Well done lad! I see I've missed much."

"Well, if it's pleasing your new sweetheart you're after perhaps I can help ye make some leggings," he says, tugging on his cloak. "Though it'd be easier just to go sneak in the wagon and say you were helping the children stay calm and happy, you know - entertain them with your flashing wit, amuse them with feats of sleight-of-hand, that sort of thing."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 02:59 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:54 PM)

With his all his physical attributes except his stamina still intact, Goranthir knew that he wouldn't last any longer than Anya on the ground.

"Probably just as well," he muttered. "I was never very good with tutors. Ask Raithen."

Posted by: Loranna Today, 02:59 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:54 PM)

Loranna watches Herwyn, her hands raised to cast a healing spell out of habit.

" ... Mine is as well; all I have left is my agility," she says. She readies herself to step off the bridge, should Herwyn need a hand.

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 02:59 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 08:57 PM)

Cold [censored] place
Tsei appeared behind Falco and said to Gram "Nice to meet you, my name's Tsei. I just didn't think it'd be wise to crowd the wagons. We're not wounded, or young. But, if you think it's best, who am I to argue?"

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 03:00 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 04:57 PM)

"Good idea Gram. Maybe Tsei'll think I'm a bit more mature if I 'help' the children. I'm sure they'd like my story of how I arm-wrestled vivec."

QUOTE(Stargazey @ Aug 23 2005, 04:59 PM)

Falco mumbled something along the lines of "Screw the children, I'm cold." But then said clearly "Sorry Tsei, perhaps I can keep them happy. After all tis best to think of the children."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 03:03 AM

It wasn't far. Herwyn's feet felt bruised and broken, but he was there.

The golden face of the High Elven teacher was as symmetrical as a mask. In her graceful hand, she held the arrow.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:06 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 09:00 PM)

"Good idea Gram. Maybe Tsei'll think I'm a bit more mature if I 'help' the children. I'm sure they'd like my story of how I arm-wrestled vivec."
Falco mumbled something along the lines of "Screw the children, I'm cold." But then said clearly "Sorry Tsei, perhaps I can keep them happy. After all tis best to think of the children."

Gram says "Well met, fair Tsei," ignoring the fact that he never found a lizard anything but mildly interesting looking in all his life, two-legged or four. "We can't all be children of the sky now; there's no shame in you seeking to warm yourselves. We wouldn't want Argonian icicles for the big party in the Imperial City now."

He chuckles, pleased at his own joke.

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 03:08 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 05:06 PM)

"Can't wait to get to Cyrodill and crack some skulls. I don't take kindly to people attacking my home town after all." said Falco eagerly.

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 03:19 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 07:03 PM)

It wasn't far. Herwyn's feet felt bruised and broken, but he was there.

The golden face of the High Elven teacher was as symmetrical as a mask. In her graceful hand, she held the arrow.

Herwyn stood at the feet of the tall, unmoving woman, for a very long time. His feet felt like they had fallen off a few steps ago, but he stood, tears in his eyes.

Eventually, he spoke. "Honored Teacher, here you stand, honored among your peers for your ability to instruct the ignorant, no matter how willful. A well-deserved reward; To be perfect, unchanging, and always surrounded by those who have achieved the same grace. What more can a person wish to achieve in one lifetime?

"It is fact, however, that for every student that your peerless teaching ever enlightened, there are more who have never known your wisdom. One stands before you, and others abound.

"I know that your greatest achievement was your ability to teach, and I know too that to be a great teacher requires the desire to teach, AND I know that here you stand, perfect and unchanging in your finest moment.

"So I know you desire to teach, right now.

"Give me your arrow, Wise One. Continue your teaching beyond your death. Rise above perfection."

Herwyn bowed, and reached out for the arrow held lightly in the unmoving hand...

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 03:21 AM

"Yeah," whispered Goranthir, with a wink. "That's what I would have said."

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 03:23 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 07:21 PM)

"Yeah," whispered Goranthir, with a wink. "That's what I would have said."

Anya just smiled and shook her head, giving him a light shove. Playful, but not enough to move him.

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 03:25 AM

Falco approached a legion officer, "Umm sir, do you know if there are any tents for... two?" He said this last part while staring at Tsei.

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 03:26 AM

QUOTE(Xyber02 @ Aug 23 2005, 09:23 PM)

Anya just smiled and shook her head, giving him a light shove. Playful, but not enough to move him.

Goranthir pretended to lose his balance, but as long as he had his ring on, he wouldn't.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:27 AM

QUOTE(Sheogorath @ Aug 23 2005, 09:26 PM)

Goranthir pretended to lose his balance, but as long as he had his ring on, he wouldn't.

"You two ..." Loranna says, still poised to cast a healing spell on Herwyn when he turns back to the bridge.

Loranna wonders if Herwyn's speech combined with Anya's and Goranthir's antics might not present an even more compelling case to the High elf teacher.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:30 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 09:25 PM)

Falco approached a legion officer, "Umm sir, do you know if there are any tents for... two?" He said this last part while staring at Tsei.

The officer raises an eyebrow, but says "We can work something out, I think ... don't sleep in too late though; we break camp an hour before dawn."

===

The night passes swiftly, and the hour before dawn comes all too soon. Amidst much grumbling and sticking one's head in the snow, the 103rd and 95th resumed their inexorable march to the capitol.

There was an Emperor to save ...

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 03:31 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 09:00 PM)

Tsei smiled. "Arm wrest.." Her face turned blank. She was getting cold. She looked like she was turning blue.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 03:35 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:19 PM)

A voice answered Herwyn, but it was not the teacher's voice. The orator atop the pyramid had stopped speaking, and the listeners in the plaza had turned towards the Eight.

"Desire is of a different sphere, intruder. Take your Dibellan saint and be gone with you; you interrupt our discourse."

"I have leave to be here," Deothur said mildly.

But the argument, if there was to be one, did not escalate, for the next moment, something happened. The teacher moved. She placed the arrow in Herwyn's hand. There were tears in her eyes.

From the scholars arose a clamor of protest. It seemed scholars could in fact be passionate - about some things.

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 03:37 AM

Falco walked alongside Gram and Tsei, "So Gram whats in it for you if you save the emperor?"

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 03:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 09:35 PM)

From the scholars arose a clamor of protest. It seemed scholars could in fact be passionate - about some things.

"Loranna," Goranthir whispered. "Heal his feet so he can return here quickly. I don't want this to turn into a mob like in Arkay ..."

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 03:38 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 09:35 PM)

Isidor grinned, as the arrow was put into Herwyn's hand. "We got it, let's go. Those scholars don't look too happy."

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:39 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 09:35 PM)

Loranna smiles, her face radiant; she holds her hands out to Herwyn and casts her spell so that what wounds he's taken would be healed.

"Desire it may be, it was still perfectly logical," she says to Herwyn. "Well done; now, let us be off dear ..."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 03:41 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 09:39 PM)

"Desire it may be, it was still perfectly logical," she says to Herwyn. "Well done; now, let us be off dear ..."

Goranthir bowed to the orator and the crowd. Words wouldn't persuade them, but he should show them their due honor.

He waited for Herwyn before moving towards the next gate.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:43 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 09:37 PM)

Falco walked alongside Gram and Tsei, "So Gram whats in it for you if you save the emperor?"

Gram chuckles at Falco. "What's in it for me?" he asks. "Falco, how many times does one get to save an Emperor in their life? Especially in circumstances such as these, with long-dead foes brought back from oblivion and the very heavens themselves trembling?"

"Of course, after this business is done, we may be the only ones who know what happened, but still - we can tell one another stories of what we did during these times and it will be enough. And maybe someone will write down our tales thinking them flights of fancy, but saving them for future generations so that they ccan know us."

He hefts Frostkiss, adding "Besides - where else can one swing one's weapons around to such good cause?"

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 03:46 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 05:43 PM)

"Ahhh... I see. But I'm afraid I don't give a rat's [censored] if the emporer dies. I want to save him for the sole purpose of a full pardon from all crimse I've commited. Perhaps a nice little sum of money to, oh and a little house somewhere in the cyrodillic woods. So if it comes right down to it I want the emperor in debt to me."

Posted by: SpartanShea117 Today, 03:49 AM

Summary: Kratos is currently with the troops heading toward Cyrodiil to save the Emperor.

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 03:50 AM

Herwyn felt the spell on his feet like cool water.

He was not in such a hurry that he did not take a moment to bow, very deeply, to the teacher.

Then he turned, and ran.

At the last gate, his speed had become undefined. He reached the bridge in two strides and a heartbeat.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:51 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 09:46 PM)

Gram looks over at Falco, his brow furrowing.

"You know Falco that's the sort of attitude that usually enrages Emperors, not endears them to you," he says. "Don't you think he'll be grateful enough to be saved from this waking nightmare by his Empire's greatest heroes and finest soldiers?"

He shrugs. "Words like that can get you in trouble, said to the wrong person," he continues. "I like you Falco; I saw something in you back in Dagon Fel and I still see it in you now - you wouldn't be marching with us if you didn't have the blood of a hero running through those veins of yours. But as an old battleaxe who's pushed his own luck a few times too many - watch yourself, all right? The wise thief knows when to take only a handful of gold now and when to come back for more."

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 03:54 AM

Goranthir realized that he still hadn't eaten, and he could really go for some pie.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 03:54 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 09:50 PM)

Loranna heals Herwyn again for good measure when he reaches the bridge, then curtesies to the teacher to show her respect and admiration for her gift.

She takes half a second to plant a small kiss on Herwyn's cheek, saying "Again - well done, dear." Then she turns to head to the next gate.

Posted by: Asokei Today, 03:55 AM

PIE

Posted by: Xyber02 Today, 03:55 AM

Anya entered the gate headlong, no longer bothering to hesitate.

The pain returned, and brought with it the sacrifice. She felt it eat at her. A momentary weakness nearly crumpled her at the knees, but she stood up. Gone was the meaning of strength she had made herself, all that was left was what truly made her iron-clad at heart.

How many more half-truths will I shed before the day's end?

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 03:56 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 07:46 PM)

At that moment, some yards away, Cyndarius rode with a scout. He slowed his horse, and stared right into Falco's eyes.

Cyndarius's eyes were bright blue, like the springtime sky, and what little light made its way through the clouds seemed to settle on his golden hair like birds on a branch.

It was hard to tell if it was an angry look or a pitying one, but his eyes seemed to be made of fire, and burned deeply. Falco couldn't look away if he had tried.

Then the scout said something, Cyndarius turned, and simply rode away.

Posted by: SpartanShea117 Today, 03:57 AM

Kratos sprinted to the head of the troops on the march with his pack slung over his back and his shield slung around his shoulders.

He noticed Cyndarius at the front and ran to catch up with him.

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 03:58 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 08:50 PM)

Goranthir's first instinct had been correct. The scholars were, in fact, coming after them like a mob. The sight of one of the champions of the rational, weeping, was too much for them to tolerate.

Isidor, who earlier had touched Deothur's hand, knew that even a simple scholar in this place could put a fist through any one of them like paper.

Fortunately the gate was not far.

"The scholars of Julianos, enraged," the gatekeeper said, as they came into view. "What a wonderful site! Calm yourselves, scholars. Remember Julianos is god of contradictions, as well as logic. Every system of logic contains the tool to smash itself. There is no true order, no perfection, not even in the spheres."

"How dare you!" the orator of Julianos said.

"I dares all things," the gatekeeper replied, and before they could wonder at his misuse of grammar

Not 'I dares all things'

it's

I dares all things

He was beckoning them through the gate with the spinning sword.

Posted by: Teleran Today, 03:59 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 23 2005, 03:29 PM)

Teleran smiled happily with her first words but his demeanor changed dramatically at the mention of Marein he grimaced as he glanced at Marein, “He doesn’t seem like himself. He’s-I don’t know what he is. He just isn’t Marein. What happened to make him so upset?”

Teleran shook his head, “Forget I said that, he doesn’t want to talk about it now. Besides, why spoil your first minutes awake with talk like this? You need rest now; you’re still weak from travel, not to mention you are only recently healed.”

Posted by: Rhedd Today, 03:59 AM

QUOTE(Loranna @ Aug 23 2005, 07:54 PM)

Herwyn blushed a bit.

"Well, it was the logical argument, wasn't it?

"I think we've overstayed our welcome... again."

Posted by: Stargazey Today, 03:59 AM

Isidor jumped through the gate, and felt his endurance leave him. He couldn't kill Striter. He couldn't fend off the wolves, he couldn't even pick up his father's axe.

His endurance had been robbed from him.

Posted by: Asokei Today, 04:00 AM

PIE

Posted by: Argonians rule Today, 04:01 AM

QUOTE(Rhedd @ Aug 23 2005, 05:56 PM)

Falco cared not for either of these people's reactions. He hated kings, emporers, queens and other royalty. Stinking people foolishly following some pathetic 'leader' to their deaths. Swearing oaths of loyalty to the emporer. I'll never understand it. Juts because a man is born a peasant does that mean he is less deserving of respect than someone who was born into a royal family? No it doesn't. The emporer has done nothing to earn my loyalty...nothing.

Falco slowed his pace so that he was at the back of the columns, where he could think without the stares of others.

Posted by: Tri Today, 04:03 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 23 2005, 05:59 PM)

Shai disagreed, shaking her head vehemently; then she broke down into coughing from the strain. "It's important," she rasped. "When we returned to Ald Raathim, as three, Azurite guards found us; we were running away and one of them...well, it was Celeste."

Posted by: Allerleirauh Today, 04:03 AM

ooc: Everyone throw pies at Sheogorath! No going through gates before I say there's a gate, mmmkay?

Posted by: Loranna Today, 04:06 AM

QUOTE(Argonians rule @ Aug 23 2005, 10:01 PM)

Gram watches Falco move to the rear, and looks to Cyndarius, his face starting to show his age.

Slowing his pace a bit, he seeks a chance to talk to the golden general. "Aye there; so you be the blonde-haired youth my daughter couldn't stop talking about," he says, smiling a bit, though his tone suggests his thoughts are still on Falco.

Posted by: SpartanShea117 Today, 04:06 AM

Kratos caught up with Cyndarius on his horse and spoke, "By the gods this snow is damn irratating is it not?" He looked down and saw fur poking out of his frozen but still golden armor.

Posted by: Teleran Today, 04:07 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 23 2005, 07:03 PM)

“Oh no, not her again,” Teleran groaned. “I thought he’d finally been able to put that part of his past to rest.”

Posted by: Sheogorath Today, 04:07 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 10:03 PM)

ooc: Everyone throw pies at Sheogorath! No going through gates before I say there's a gate, mmmkay?

OOC -- Rhedd did it first! And he's in punching distance!

Goranthir slipped into the gate ahead of the mob, feeling himself being shredded, and the speed -- good enough to get him from one end of Tamriel to the other in a year, good enough to get him from one end of Morrowind to the other in day -- slipped away from him.

Posted by: Dagoth Lich Today, 04:08 AM

ooc: *throws a pie at sheo *

Slyvos ran through the gate himself, as with the others, both sides of him were affected; he lost... his strength. He realized now it was not HIS strength, but jazbet's... it was never his to begin with, and it never will be.

He felt... clearer, and yet more of him was gone. And yet... he was used to the loss of physical self; he'd done it once before... but never to this magnitude.

Posted by: Loranna Today, 04:08 AM

QUOTE(Allerleirauh @ Aug 23 2005, 09:58 PM)

Loranna sighs, muttering "Every party I go too ends with people chasing us ..." She hurries herself through the gate, the sword less daunting than a realm of irate scholars.

The grace of a child born in Sun's Dawn, with the Lover's blessing. The nimbleness of tiny hands helping her mother sew. The adoitness of a girl unbuttoning an adventurer's shirt, despite the trembling of a virgin's hands.

The single saving grace of a foolish child who let a demoness use her as a vessel. The most cherished of her physical abilities, for without agility, how can she dance?

Yet, still, as her agility left her, she found herself feeling ... more real. As though what she had just left behind was but a mask for what really lay underneath.

Posted by: Tri Today, 04:10 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 23 2005, 06:07 PM)

“Oh no, not her again,” Teleran groaned. “I thought he’d finally been able to put that part of his past to rest.”

Shai nodded grimly. "You see where this is going. If we never fought at the Dawn, she never turned on the Azurites and threw herself into Dagoth Ur. There was a fight, she attacked Diamond - she's still not awake - and I wrestled with her Twilight, that's what happened to me - when she tried to kill Diamond, Marein got in her way, and they fought and then - he stabbed her."

Posted by: Aki Today, 04:14 AM

Reichi followed headlong into the blade. This time the blade cleaved away his luck. The luck that helped him survive extradonairy events, that had fluxed between good and bad as if a living thing that wished to taunt him by being good at once, then bad after, left him. He could no longer rely on getting lucky, that something fortunate would happen to keep him whole and living.

"Wargh.." he mumbled incoherently. "Never get used to that..." he muttered, more coherently.

Posted by: Teleran Today, 04:24 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 23 2005, 07:10 PM)

Teleran was silent for a second, opened his mouth to speak but snapped it shut. Sighing heavily he wondered aloud, “How will he get over this one? Running through the woman you love isn’t exactly something that you can get over is it? And if he could shrug that off I’m not sure I would like to know him. Gah, he probably blames himself for Diamond’s injuries, yours too.”

Posted by: Asokei Today, 04:41 AM

Luxi stepped through the gate, once again feeling the unpleasant sensation of the sword percing her body, and the "gases" escaping her.
How many more times did they have to go through these things?

The first thing she noticed was that she was much taller, and completly blue.
"Great.." she mumbled.

Posted by: HelterSkelter750 Today, 04:41 AM

hey i was hastled by a moderator for trying to add a new RP so i want to get the "permission" from you all here, can i add my RP?

Posted by: Asokei Today, 04:44 AM

PIE

Posted by: HelterSkelter750 Today, 04:45 AM

QUOTE(Asokei @ Aug 23 2005, 10:44 PM)

-slaps Heltor-

NO!

Acutaly, it's not my desicon... ask Loranna or Allie...
Pie in a moment...

why??? (btw, its helter skelter, not heltor.)

Posted by: Dumbkid Today, 04:48 AM

QUOTE(HelterSkelter750 @ Aug 23 2005, 10:41 PM)

hey i was hastled by a moderator for trying to add a new RP so i want to get the "permission" from you all here, can i add my RP?

You should join THIS RP, not start another one.

Posted by: Tri Today, 04:51 AM

QUOTE(Teleran @ Aug 23 2005, 06:24 PM)

She nodded. "He would. Promise me this: If a cruel quirk of fate EVER prompts a half-demon version of me to try to kill you, run me through without hesitation."

Nearby, Diamond was still unconscious; it looked like she wouldn't stir for some time.

Posted by: Teleran Today, 05:08 AM

QUOTE(Tri @ Aug 23 2005, 07:51 PM)

“You think any version of you would afford me an opportunity to do so?” Teleran laughed. “I’m afraid if I found myself fighting against you I would be destined to lose. I think I’ll avoid that possibility if I can.”

He tried not to imagine Shai gutted by his own dagger, but failed miserably. He was glad that his dagger had been silent since he got to this place, as messed up as it was that, at least, was a blessing. That dagger was bad enough without him providing it ideas.

Posted by: Salamandar Today, 05:09 AM

Time to start a new thread, please

Take care,
Salamandar