A chance for the past }{ First thread Open

[lia]

Lia smirked at the Knight as the Strange One set his staff in the ground and tossed his hat, bowing. She was impressed when the hat landed on the staff.

"Greetings Lia, I'm pleased to meet you though i wish it were under better circumstances. My name is Felix Montoyez Alfonzo Zorander de Mavichronolus III, but you may call me Mav. I would apologize for my friends behavior but for the fact that, i honestly don't know if that is common for him. He does seem to be a bit short tempered for a paladin though..... Anyway as a way of showing my thanks i would like to invite you to join us at our camp, which were just about to set up right Atamis?"

Lia eyed the Knight named Atamis, and chuckled. "It would be a pleasure to join you. The two of you seem... fun. I wouldn't mind staying in your company a little longer." She laughed and sheathed her Jian and holstered her other gun, holding out her hands. Her wings folded up behind her as she tilted her head, grinning. "What do you say, Atamis? I promise I'm not as dangerous as I seem."

[atamis]

Eying Lia warily, Atamis sheathed his sword.
I don't like this, Atamis thought, she might get in my way.

"Fine," Atamis said aloud, "We should set up camp before it gets too much later"

The moon shone down upon the pass, the danger gone but still the feeling of overwhelming lonely remained. Words seemed to carry great distance, and even whispers sounded disturbing loud.
This was an evil place, it could be felt on the rocks, it wrapped around the three with every gust of wind.

Atamis was near his goal, the creatures were one of the first trials blocking his path to his goal. Many more lay in his way, but now he had help, expendable help.

"So Lia, tell us about yourself" said Atamis as he began to clear the area of rocks and pebbles. Unpacking his bedroll he spread it upon the ground.

The wind started again, chilling Atamis. A voice only he could hear called "Atamis..."

[Mavichronolus]

Mav breathed a sigh of relief, he had thought that maybe Atamis had different ideas about letting Lia join them. After what had just happened he had come to the conclusion that they needed all the help they could get....

As the paladin began setting up camp Mav stepped carefully over the still lit torch and began collecting some dry wood from the side of mountain trail.

The violent encounter still vividly playing through his mind, Mav 's thoughts raced over every piece of information he had ever read which could possibly be related to the appearance of the small creatures. They came out of nowhere, out of the shadows....

Shadows

Mav's memories flashed to a library, the name was unimportant, but what was significant was the tome he was reading. An ancient manuscript of necromancy, it had taken him almost a month to get the librarian to let him read it, the evil in the book obvious to even an untrained observer. He had come across a passage involving things called "Shadow-spawn" and describing what they were. The ancient book itself seemed hesitant to mention them, it held only small chant which issued a warning to anybody foolish enough to attempt to summon them....

"Of any shape, of any size
Can be the dreaded shadow-spawn
Woe unto he that gains this prize
You shall not see the dawn"

Even remembering the poem sent chills down his spine. That was the only direct reference to the things that he had ever seen, though they were hinted at in a few other necronomic texts. If someone or something sent the beasts after himself or Atamis then they would have to be the most powerful necromancer that the plane had held in over a century. This did not bode well for the small group at all.....

Still a bit shaken by his revelation Mav finished collecting wood and headed back to were Atamis was finishing up the campsite, he would wait till a little later to tell them his hypothesis.

[auron]

lial takes a long sniff into the air......


"what? life on the mountain?"

Lial took refuge on the mountain because no one dared travel at night, as as Lial was she had to check it out. Animal blood would not suffice much longer. as she approached cautiously, she saw a little camp with 3 figures. could they be here to hunt lial? she stopped thinking and she noticed an odd smell, blood....and metal. Normally that would not matter but the smell of iron and steel was so strong it could not just be the armor they wore.... wonder if i can get a closer look. but cant rick being seen if they were here to kill her. Untying her belt leaving her tools behind a boulder. she wandered closer hiding behind rocks, boulders, and mounds. trying to listen for words....

[lia]

Lia chuckled. Atamis didn't trust her, which was very amusing. She watched him clear up the area, and considered her answer. "I am one of the Fallen, you might say. What more is there to say? The thrill of battle and of... other things, has tainted my purity. Thus, I am a Fallen, or Dark, Angel."

She leaned against one of the few trees, and the only one in this area despite the fallen branches, and looked up to see if there was a strong branch to sleep on. Lia wouldn't be like these men and sleep on the ground; if she had to, she would make use of a boulder or she would stay alert. Her eyes followed Mav, noticing his silence as he dealt with the torch and searching for wood - another reason she was staying off the ground; she didn't want to be anywhere near a fire if they chose to have one while they slept.

"What are your stories? You seem to be here in this dark place for a reason," she commented, her ears hardening. Was it her imagination, or did she hear something coming closer? It wouldn't surprise her if it was. There were creatures in these mountains that could move along the rocks with practiced ease. However, after the previous attack, she wasn't going to let her guard down, even if it was nothing like she was sure it was.

[atamis]

A Fallen eh?

Atamis had heard of these before. Considered abominations by his sect, they were said to posses great power, as was proven by her skills in the attack.

"I am a Knight of Amwar, I'm here in search of an evil power which must be purged from these mountains" Said Atamis, once again lying. Lies had become close friends to Atamis, the only thing closer was his sword.

Taking the fire firewood from Mav, Atamis set about making a fire. The sound of the flint on the steel of his dagger reverberated throughout the pass.

A feeling began to creep up into his stomach. It was cold and flowed through him like sludge, creeping higher and higher.

Damn, not now! Atamis's face grimaced in pain as the feeling began to strangle his heart.

[Mavichronolus]

Mav was absorbed in thought as he sat down next to the fire. So much so that he barely heard when Lia explained that she was a fallen. Staring intensely at the growing flames Mav was going over every possible reason he could think of as to why someone would send shadow-spawn after them. Being a scholar, he had seldom (to his knowledge) attracted the attention of anyone of importance, least of all a necromancer! This could mean only that either Atamis or Lia could be the cause of the attack, and since the dark angel had shown up after the fight had begun that left only the paladin....

The rumor of the rogue knight of amwar chewed at his thoughts but he had to face the fact that Atamis had probably, in conjunction with Lia, saved his life. Why would a fallen paladin help someone, or more importantly, had he helped Mav only because he thought him useful?

Still pondering over all the questions raised by the attack, Mav was startled when the voice broke into his thoughts.

Idiot, while you sit lazily by the fire your enemy approaches silently from behind! But by all means please continue to sit idly by while you are stabbed through the heart....

The voice dripped with sarcasm

The voices behavior confused Mav for two reasons. First, it seldom gave warnings, and then it only seemed to do it when his very life was at stake (which was almost never). He had attributed this to a desire to live. In short, if Mav died it died, and it wanted to continue tormenting him for all eternity. Although this could be another malicious trick that voice pulled, Mav highly doubted it. The voice had never downright lied to him before, and preferred to speak in half-truths or riddles. The second thing that confused Mav, was that the voice seemed to know something that he did not. How could the voice, a mere fragment of his somewhat warped mind, have access to information which he himself had no knowledge of? Was it possible that it could tap into his senses and amplify them? He would put the question aside for another time, now he needed to stop the intruder.

Keeping his voice low and casual Mav addressed his two companions,

"It seems that we are being watched. I don't believe he knows we are aware so please keep it that way. I will attempt to apprehend him but stay alert."

At this Mav stood up abruptly and said in a louder voice, "Looks like the fire is beginning to die, I'll grab some more wood so as to last us through the night."

Grabbing his staff he strode away from the campsite in the direction the voice had indicated trying to look as unaware as possible. As Mav approached a small clearing in the trees the voice broke into his mind,

The coward is close....

Mav slowed to a stop in the center of the clearing and addressed hidden assailant,

"Show yourself and explain to me why you are spying on our camp and i may let you live. I am a very powerful wizard of much renown and it would be a pity to waste my cantrips on shredding your being one small piece of a time."

When he was finished he folded his arm across his chest and waited. Though his outward appearance was of supreme confidence, fighting an unseen enemy seldom left him brimming with courage.

[lia]

Lia's eyes went straight to the flint and steel as they created sparks. Of course they would want fire, it provided light and warmth.

"It seems that we are being watched." Lia was startled by Mav's voice, and her concentration on the surrounding area was compromised. "I don't believe he knows we are aware so please keep it that way. I will attempt to apprehend him but stay alert."

Lia frowned; she was alert until he spoke without warning. She scowled.

"Looks like fire is beginning to die. I'll grab some more wood so as to last us through the night."

"I don't see why we need a fire," Lia mumbled. She looked at Atamis, one of her guns in her hand. "Better to be prepared than caught exposed."

[auron]

Lial knew she would not be able to handle three people so she started cutting gashes into herself like an animal had attacked her...

"Show yourself and explain to me why you are spying on our camp and i may let you live. I am a very powerful wizard of much renown and it would be a pity to waste my cantrips on shredding your being one small piece of a time."

Lial froze at the words... she was in no condition to fight, or be shredded. A Small girl walked out from behind the rock bloody bruised and pale. She stepped out hands in the air slowly.

"Please, help i have been running from creatures. my caravan was attacked by ... monsters most of my friends have been torn to shreds. I barely got away.....please help im tired... cold.. and really "

tears started to form in her eyes as she held her hands out to the man...

[Mavichronolus]

Mav was dumbfounded when a small girl stepped out from behind one of the larger trees bleeding profusely. She couldn't have been more than 19 and she looked like she was about to pass out.

"Please, help i have been running from creatures. my caravan was attacked by ... monsters most of my friends have been torn to shreds. I barely got away.....please help I'm tired... cold.. and really "

"This is the imminent danger you were warning me of?" Mav muttered under his breath.

Sighing, he walked over to the girl, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. As you have probably guessed by my rant earlier, me and a small group of people are camped close to here. You can come back with me and warm up by our fire till morning."

As he reached the girl he grabbed her arm and examined the wounds to see how bad they were.

The voice let out a low hiss

The first thing he noticed was that her hands were possibly the coldest he had ever felt and he didn't know how she had enough body heat to stay conscious. He thought nothing of this and continued examining the wounds. Was it his imagination, or were those cuts caused by a blade, not claws?

"Follow me" he said, keeping a wary eye on his charge. Something did not seem quite right here....

[auron]

Mav muttered under his breath.

..something about danger she heard him she thought to her self, oh you have no idea...






Sighing, he walked over to the girl, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. As you have probably guessed by my rant earlier, me and a small group of people are camped close to here. You can come back with me and warm up by our fire till morning."



As the man reached for her she let out a fake flinch to make it seem like she was still frightened. His touch was odd was it because he had a gauntlet? No, there was something very strange about this man she could not put her finger on it but he certainly was not normal. She approached the fire seeing another man and a women,

[lia]

Mav was returning, and he wasn't alone. With him was a young looking girl, though something seemed off. Lia frowned, watching the girl as she and Mav walked close to the fire and took a seat. There was something strange going on. Firstly, why was a girl as young as her going through these mountains alone? She looked up at her limb and then back at the girl.

"What is this?" she asked Mav. She would go back to her perch after she learned about the new... girl.

[atamis]

Atamis was obvious to what was going on around him. The others voices were drowned out by the whirl of thoughts and emotions going through his troubled mind.

The cold feeling climbed farther up, clawing at the back of his throat, Atamis wretched.specks of black vile splattered the ground in front of him. Her voice in his head. Atamis!

The world faded around him as the emotions swallowed him up.
"Damn!" cried Atamis

[Mavichronolus]

As Mav came back into view of the campsite, the girl following close behind, he saw Lia sit up.

"What is this?" she asked with a somewhat suspicious expression.

As he opened his mouth to answer Mav was cut short by a wretching noise coming from Atamis. Rushing over to the paladin he did a quick examination.

For one thing, he didn't seem to be aware of Mav crouching next to him. He was profusely and his breathing was irregular. Great, at this rate he's gonna hyperventilate thought Mav.

Grabbing Atamis's shoulder Mav turned around so that he they were face to face.

Practically shouting Mav tried to get his attention,

"Atamis it's me Mav, snap out of it. You damned fool, if you don't regulate your breathing your going to pass out! C'mon can you hear me?"

It was no use however because a few moments later, with a final cry of "Damn!", Atamis slumped forward unconscious.

"Well then" Mav said a couple minutes later as he was finishing rolling the immobile paladin onto a bed roll. "What in the name of Denier was that?"

[lia]

Lia's concern for the strange newcomer's presence was momentarily distracted when Atamis let out a strange noise, her eyes focusing on him.

"Atamis it's me Mav, snap out of it. You damned fool, if you don't regulate your breathing your going to pass out! C'mon can you hear me?" Mav was saying. Lia knelt down beside the two.

"Damn!" Atamis said just before he toppled over, unconscious. Lia narrowed her eyes; this wasn't something she was familiar with. How did they treat something that wasn't physical?

"Well, then. What in the name of Denier was that?" Lia shrugged.

"I don't know about this Denier, but I believe this might be mental or internal in some way. Perhaps cursed? I believe that is possible is it not?"

The girl was forgotten.