En Dharasha Everae RP thread

[mrm3ntalist]

For the past week, Mendel has been rarely seen inside the village. He was out in the forest, patrolling and tracking the Orcs movements. Now, the time has come, the time to fight the Orcs and drive them away from the village. He got Nai and they both travelled to FAI where the bought supplies to aid them in the war - mainly arrows, healing kits and healing potions.



Having gotten their supplies they Traveled by Plant back to Misty Forest. Once there, they left the supplies to the Dala'Haera so that they will be distributed to the elves. Mendel and Nai, made their way to the Rillifane Rallathil's temple and while waiting for the rest to join, they prayed for them, their village, their friends and families...

[Emperor_Krayt]

A thick and lurid winter mist embraced the steep slope. Set aglow by a intense glaring moon whose gaze dyed the fog into bright cyan at top before it faded to teal and blackned out at the lowest. The slothful billowing mass was reluctantly herded upwards by a frisk night wind borne from the great moor. It curled and toppled over itself before it eventually clawed itself over the ridge and rushed north west. Nigh impenetrable by the eye exept for long furrows cleaved open by tall pine trees casting long dark shadows into the silvery web. Somewhere in the slope with half above and half aneath a sole female elf kneelt before a frozen pool of water collected in a small basin in the wall of rock, a towering pine rising majestically a few feets behind her. She reared a elaborately embossed but plain in shape tin quaigh againt the thin skin of ice shattering it with a stifled crackling sound before she let the water fill it fully and took it to her mouth and drank vigourously. It had been a grueling journey, since she had learned of the new orcish threat from the druidess of The Winged Mother she had travelled towards the Misty Forest with few halts impetuous as she were by nature. She gazed up as the fog enclosed on her from all directions. Mayhap this was a unwise course she begrudged as the mist beveiled her, of course it was she quickly counter-thought curling a peculiar smile. Briskly and ardent she sprung to feet and resumed the ascent. Aside from the pines the ice clad rock was mostly bare of vegetation exept for a few tussocks of half frozen sphagnum. A thin layer of newly fallen snow made it even more treacherous to tread. With the humid air the snow soon became sleet and eventually a few rillets of melting water started to wind down the slippery slope. Dashing for nearest tree her fleet feet didn't gain much footing as the wet leather sole skid against the ice. Floundering, slipping and sliding she eventually made it to the fast ground neath a pine after a arduous sprint burst. Having made it to several such pine points she came crushing in on the next one with a leap. Trottering forward as she alit bumping into something. A rock? No it felt too soft and unstabile, by reflex she lashed her head and looked down. A strange boulder indeed, siting with a rugged pelt wraped around it was a bruised orc. Huge drab coloured tusks emerged from the broad thick-liped mouth. It's narrow eyes hinted bewilderment as they made eye contact it turned to rage within the tenth of a second. She barely finished the thought before a hellish bellow sounded. With ringing ears the elf quickly drew her twin set of blades, the distance was short and the swords too long for either slash or thrust. With a lightning fast snatch the orc grabbed two massive and crudly forged battle axed that had been put on the mossy ground just in reach. The elf reared the blades high above her head and brought them both down with the pommels first forcefully upon the skull of her advisary. A resounding thud but no crack was heard upon impact. In the corners of her eyes she saw two blue gleaming discs of blurred dim light closing in on her one from each direction, like being trapped in a vise. Quickly she put her left foot on the rising creature's shoulder and leapt aloft and threw herself backwards into a backflip. Through the ringing ears she could still hear the terrible din when the axes slammed together just underneath her as she rotated. She brought the hilts close to her body, the left hilt on her right side and vice versa mindset on retaliation with a reversed version of the orc's own blow. As she had looped fully around, her eyes gained the visage of her foe and when she thought her feet just about to reach the ground she released the dual-stroke whistling a shrill song as the vibrant blue edges clove the air and speeded towards the orc's neck. Alas before the blow had landed her feet was flung aside, the impact of the landing was too great and the ice her feet met too slippery. The blades twang violently as they missed their target and was brought to a halt and the elf crashed into the icebound rock. The orc quickly realized the opporunity given and rushed at her leaving the safe tuft near the pine. Through the daze she spot the axe meant for her skull just in time to roll away from it. Renewing it's attack the orc hacked into the ice both twice and thrice. It felt as hand pulling her down when she started to slide on her back realizing too late that she had just rolled into a rush of melted water. Out of options she kicked the orc just above the ankle on his shin as it was about to strike at her again holding his axes aloft. Gaining momentum she slided away just as it rammed it's heavy body into the ice with a clamourous bang. Picking up speed she rolled over to her stomach and with some effort managed to bring herself sitting on her shins as she sild fast downward plowing up a heap of watery slush before her which eventually began to slow her down as it builded up. Her palid blue hair fluttering vividly behind her. The orc on the other hand following in the trail only gained speed sliding on his knees and knuckles as it clutched it's axes still. Not good she thought as she looked behind her. Seeing a blurred bushy silhouette further down the slope looking like a frore octopus reaching for the skies, a faint smirk of confidence alit her face as she saw her chance in the uprooted pine that sprawled it's roots broad and wide. To her feet she arose with wildly wobbling arms before she found the balance with the aid of her swords holding them low and far from her body, she crouched slightly to gain additional speed. A resounding clung followed by a shrill metallic clatter. The orc's thrown axe had missed her with a few feets. Closing in on her it grasped after her fluttering mantle being too close to her to spot the obstructed path ahead. The elf leapt to the air again aming to set her two feet on the fast approaching root, the old pine yielded a painful creak as her soles hit hard against it. Streatching out horizontal as she possibly could the elf simultaneously raised her blades points directly at her foe as the root sprung back from the impact. Obscured by her mantle the orc did notice first when the tips pierced the orc's leather armour and sank rapidly into the guts until it reached the cross guards of the hilt. The weight and speed of the orc caused a tremendous collison tearing two huge gashes in its belly as he was wringed aside spewing a flood of hot fuming gutter water. The elf wasted no time, as fast as a flash of lightning fades from the sky she wheeled away from the root landing on her feet her swords twisting around three quarters in the guts of the screaming orc. While the blades were entangeled in it's entrails she reeled back and pulled the swords towards her ripping out a tangle of innards as the orc flashed past her. The same root that had suported her knocked the orc down on his back before he continued downward in the icy rill before he crashed into a slab of rock thirty feet away. With a stroke in the air she cut loose her blades. Panting heavily she looked to the trail of entrails leading away into the dense mist then she diverted her gaze to the root. With a sweet melodious voice she half sung half spoke. "O thou bole of ould I thank thee sore, gold wouldst I nay hold to trade thy succor for"
She went down to make sure that the orc was truly dead and found it hugging his nether torso as to stop more from spilling out. It sat amid a pool with it's back leaning agaist a rock. Clattering teeth and shivering, all hope had faded from it's dark eyes as he looked on her with a pained pleading look. The elf ended it's missery with one swift broad swipe of her left hand sword severing the main artery at it's neck. With a final gutteral grunt his head fell limp against his neck as a gush of blood streamed down it's body discolouring the water it sat in. A scout, a stray or a lone orc? She wondered for a moment before she determinded made the ascent and crawled over the ridge. The mist had become alot thiner by now. "Ne craig o' craic thou art me friend. A geld of guts the toll for thine slant of pines to bestrode." She said jestingly through fierce panting. She lingered in the frozen grass laying on her back watching the thin veil above her dance with the wind, before she vanished into the denser wood.

[TheKai]

A couple of days after the war, after the healing and the revelry, Kai made his way out of the hidden village. The expression on his face made it obvious to any who saw him that something weighed heavily on his mind.

“I could have done more. I could have prevented the deaths. Prevented many more deaths. The healing power of the Protector was with me, but what of my skills? When I had none to see to, I could have been out there with the warriors and archers. But my skill pales in comparison to the Ahk’Aegis, Villi Mendel or Ar’Vil Fhaeo. Thinking back on my training, sword play was something I cared little for, until now. Yes, my faith is strong but a strong sword arm would only enhance that. What I thought not important on the Green Isle turns out to not be the case here in this Sword Coast region. I have learned the ways of healing, now I must learn the ways of combat…and war. In this I believe, I will better serve the Protector. The skill to heal, treat and comfort Tel’Quessir is but one aspect of the First of the Seldarine. Now I must learn a second. To fight the war that the Protector fights against the darkness below and on the surface. I must learn the art of war.”

Letting out a long sigh, he walks for hours in the forest, chuckling every now and again at what he thought would be the expressions on the Ahk’Aegis’, Villi’s or Ar’Vil’s face when a simple healer comes asking for training in combat.

[TheKai]

Kai sat on a mossy rock, next to the river winding through the village. As it slowly recovered, he took a moment to watch the villagers..young, old, healers, warriors, wild elf, moon elf, wood, wood elf, gold elf, and one resounding phrase could not leave his mind: Unity through diversity. How all Tel’Quessir came together to thwart the menace of the Black orcs and how they now, once again, work together to build a strong village and community. Warriors applied bandages and healers polished swords…every Tel’Quess he could see did what was needed to move on for the greater prosperity of all.

The weather that night was favorable for the conditions they were working in. Praise the Winged Goddess. The moon shined full and bright in the sky. Praise be to the Daughter of the Night Sky. The beauty of the night and of The People overwhelmed him. Praise be to Lady Goldheart. He silently gazed at his Crescent Moon symbol, the mithral metal almost sparkling in the moon’s light. Praise the Protector for all that he has done to protect his children.

Once again the thoughts of the Seldarine coming together to aid Corellon’s children filled him with joy and reminded him why he came here.

Unity through diversity. That thought would stick with the Elf through the night and in the coming days ahead.

[Invoker]

He looked upon the scorched remains of what was left of his enemies. The fury had faded, just like the blazing light in his eyes. He released his short-term battle wards, as he planned his next move. Exhaustion was beginning to overcome him, after a day and a night of combat weaving...

Staggering, he struggled to clear his mind and recall the exact spell as he dismissed the few elementals left, now idle after the tireless onslaught that had crushed the fleeing remnants of the orc warband.
He could not rest yet. There was too much to be done, and probably precious little time to do it. He did not know how long, and that was perhaps the worst of it...
Pushing the weariness away, he voided his mind and invoked the right formula. Channeling just enough power for a small force weave, he crushed a tiny diamond in his left hand while he traced glyphs of power with his right one. As the diamond dust swirled around the glyphs, he murmured in the arcane language of magic:

"Travel".

A moment later, he vanished in a brilliant, white light.




As preparations for the grand celebration to honor the victory began, and improvements to the village's defenses were being discussed, a letter could be found on Laisren's desk, delivered by an unusually large spider (levitating beside it, actually) and written in the Archmage's elaborate handwriting:

"Akh'Aegis,

pardon my unannounced and prolonged absence.

I will be back right on time for the celebration, as well as our

gathering. There are a couple of...things...I need to take

care of first.

Corellon be with you,

Kael"

[TheKai]

Rebuild...Rebirth...Renew

Those words echoed throughout Kai as he sat in reverie. Scenes of the village flashed through his thoughts for countless moments. Scenes of families sitting under the open sky, of lush greenery, of Elven faces smiles. Scenes of the battle with the Black Orcs, the fighting Elves and a tower blending into the foliage of the forest...domineering yet beautiful at the same time.

Rebuild...Rebirth...Renew

Go with the druids and rangers to learn the forest.
Seek the elders to gain their wisdom.
Shadow the warriors to learn their tactics to defend our People.
Chase the spring with the Fey.
Revere the mothers for they are beautiful.
Never forget the lessons of the Protector but these too, are your own now.
To know them is to know Angharradh, the Queen.

Rebuild...Rebirth...Renew

Seek the mysteries of Sehanine.
Revel in the beauty of Hanali
Explore the world of Aedrie
Know the love of the goddesses and you will know Angharradh, the Queen.

Rebuild...Rebirth...Renew

Help The People
Guard The People
Rejoice in The People
To love and care for The People is to love Angharradh, the Queen.

Kai's eyes opened wide, the morning sun peaking through the foliage overhead. Time flew in the darkness of midnight till now, evident by a rumble in his stomach. His fine Elven robes was drenched in sweat, his breathing hard. Taking a long sigh he slowly makes his way to his feet, a tiny piece falling to the ground. Curiously he bends over to inspect it closer and notices the fine metal is mithril and the shape that it bears is three interconnecting circles laid out in a triangle pointing down. He could feel the power emanating from the symbol...a power warm, strong and full of life.

[TheKai]

Excitement and hope was the atmosphere around the village lately. After returning from a day in the forest, that was all he could feel. The past ten days learning of the flora and fauna, how to properly work the soil, the best places to plant particular seeds and roots and how to properly approach and care for animals in the wilderness had him exhausted. The new dogma of Angharradh was pleasant and some areas unfamiliar to him, but he was learning.

Everything in the Misty Forest was in stages of spring and renewal, and he reveled in it.

The efforts of Dharasha pleased the citizens and elders alike and more smiles could be seen day by day. The warriors were coming along in the healing process and the gardens were blooming stronger and more bountiful than ever. As the citizens settled into a daily routine all efforts seemed to be directed in the accomplishment of a large, secret undertaking. Not many were privy to the ongoings of Dharasha but all eyes looked on curiously as the Dharashans murmured to each other, inspected, raised their voices and then murmured once more.

An excited energy filled the village and everyone felt it.

[Invoker]

A sound burst, a hail of ice and a fireball hit him from three different directions as he slowly walked on. They all washed over him, leaving him unscathed as his wards absorbed the energies hurled at him. With a blank expression, he shifted his fiery gaze from one of his companions to the other.

Mendel was a whirling deathstorm, cutting, slicing and dodging in a tireless dance of destruction, his movements a blur that made the extremely powerful Undead champions guarding the Vault cumbersome and untrained as his loyal bear companion was covering his right flank with fearless, brutal efficiency.

Athalantiel was advancing almost indolently, unconcerned, immovable like a rocky mountain defying the wind. She crushed the walking dead as they advanced, with devastating spells and powerful blows, uncaring of the attacks bouncing on her nigh-impenetrable draconic skin.

An enormous broadsword crashing through one of his Mirror Images brought his attention back to his own situation. The Death Knight growled his hate, a guttural and unnatural sound coming from a long-dead throat, thirsting for the kill: "You cannot match me, mortal. You will die, and join us here...forever". Kael smiled a terrifying smile, as he gripped his fist murmuring in the arcane language of magic: "Black Vise of Grief". The pure force spell he evoked began crushing the undead from all sides, slowly grinding his bones as the enraged monster struggled to move to no avail. As the Archmage completed his weave, another spell crashed on his wards, this time a negative energy attempt at penetrating his defenses. He slowly turned towards the lich as the ancient mage was about to attack with another necromantic curse: "Sunstrike". The blast of positive energy hit the undead wizard with disastrous consequences, and as the light dissipated, only the abomination's burned garments remained.

None of these enemies, despite how formidable, was a match for their power. They would all be crushed for stepping on their way to their real objective. "Keep coming, and keep dying till dawn comes..."

[flying-aces]

((A Continuation of Rp, so that the entire story could be heard by those there and a little base explaination of the story so far for those who wish to enjoy it OOCly))

Bea had decided it was time to visit En Dharasha Everae and say hello to those who she had met that called the place their home. Gathered in the bar with Shyntvayas LiNeer, Laisren Ua Tieman, and Fhaeo'Lingi Mriht'Ess the topic of her past came up and she began telling them of her past, albeit with some misgivings about revealing the truth. She told them about the first memory she had, her pain under the hands of a drow while her family lay dead around her. She told them about how human adventurers had saved her and left her to live with a group of Black Archers.... where she learned the ways of rangers... and honed her skills to kill drow. Going on with her story she explained how this second family fell to the drow as well and she once again only survived by luck. Explaining how after the death of her second family at the hands of the drow she sought power and skills to help her get her revenge on the drow, and how she became an assassin, trained in the ways of murder. She explained the group of assassins never had a name she knew, and she had been little more than a mindless slave to them... killing whom they told her to, believing what they told her. Thinking that each murder was a piece of art. A search for "The Perfect Kill". She then told them how the organization had betrayed her. her image appeared on wanted posters and the world knew her as "Beatrix the Bloody"

Leaning against the bar in deep thought remembering the past Beatrix continued the tale

"After the world discovered who I was i fled.... I knew I had been betrayed easily enough... only the organization knew my plan for the job and no one knew that "Hawk" was really named Beatrix.... Once the wanted posters for Beatrix the Bloody showed up I knew i had been betrayed... so I ran." *Beatrix would have at this point started pulling out unlabeled vials of various liquids from a pouch and started sorting them* "Ran from Country to country looking for a place to call home where the wanted posters and bounty hunters would stop looking for me, Eventually made my way to the Sword Coast.... thought I had escaped my pursuers and the assassin organization as well.... for you know there is only one retirement plan for assassins in the eyes of any organization."

*at this Beatrix would sigh and put the now resorted bottles back in her pouch looking to the distance a bit* "still I hadn't changed at all... I did what i could to get by... fooling people into trusting me... not really trusting anyone in return. keeping my skills sharp by going with groups on adventures but tending to stay away from most cities.... Joined Doron Amar back then too.... never said a word about my past."

"during one of the "adventures" with a group of people i had come to enjoy helping....we ran across a woman seeking the help of our band.... her caravan had been attacked by Betrei near Cloakwood and her daughter had been taken.... the rest of the party wanted to help the woman... i was naturally opposed.... as it had nothing to do with me.... but the party went off and i didn't want to miss out.... after all i could always just sneak away if things got bad. We started in... but had to go back to regroup... when we got back to the where the mother had said she'd stay we found the woman dead..... even then I told the others that the child likely was dead allready and it was pointless to risk their lives to try to save her." Beatrix would look at the distance with a a look of regret on her face remembering the way she was obviously a painfull subject.

"The party of course pressed onward and I followed... we fought our way down to the bottom of the mines in the Cloakwood where the girl was being held as a sacrifice to a 'god'. Turned out this 'god' was just an oversized Umberhulk the size of the Keep in the FAI.... a pain to fight..... but not impossible. In the end we slayed the monstrous beast and saved the girl....however when i saw the girl.... I saw the same little girl who I had been... family killed by Drow and the lone tortured survivor, no one in the world to be there for her.... and i felt emotion for the first time in forever... I was the little girl i found... And i wanted to make sure she was cared for." *a small hint of a smile comes to Beatrix's face... but never a full smile. Its as if the woman has actually forgotten how to smile at all and is still learning* "It was a major crack in the armor i had built up around myself, and Nurse Abigail from Candlekeep, where we had taken Shiera after the adventure, used it well. She suggested i adopt the girl, who's name is Shiera by the way. So I did... of course that brought a whole set of problems of itself... I hadn't changed truly... I was still a horrible person... a non-repentant killer, but i had this girl that reminded me of my past before i had become a murderer... Time wore on and Abigail
noticed how cold i was when i wasn't interacting with Shiera. She gave suggestions here and there about how I should change for the sake of my daughter. Knowing next to nothing about caring for children i listened... and what she said made sense... eventually I even gave up my quest for revenge when the young Shiera thought it was a good idea to follow me on one of my training missions to the Troll Claws. It was pointed out that the child would be in danger if i continued my quest for revenge and she followed me to the underdark. I agreed... for i knew i would outlive her and my revenge could be withheld till she had settled down on her own.... and the feelings i had for my daughter had strengthened and i found i would do anything to be with her and keep her safe... This is when the wanted posters showed up.... and the bounty hunters." *Beatrix would take a pause to take a sip of some water from one of the skins on her hip looking at the three*

"I became a wanted woman on the coast for a time... and Abigail asked me the truth about the matter. I didn't confess.... but i didn't deny it either.... I asked for help for the first time since seeking power.... For i found myself powerless. Abigail turned me towards Saint Merielle. Saint Merielle was known by everyone on the coast at the time... the leader of the church of Illmatar and a proclaimed Living Saint to boot... It was an interesting first conversation I had with her, I told her everything... the good... and the bad." *Beatrix would give a small hint of a smile now* Meri Was the first true friend i really had on the coast... even if she couldn't help me... she listened and didn't condemn me for what i had been or what i had done... instead she tried to help me become a better person... Granted Sir Jonas Rokranon, one of the founders and leaders of the Radient Heart... and a paladin of Tyr, wasn't quite so understanding or forgiving..."

"I ended up spending a great deal of time with Meri and the Rokranon family, as well as the members of the Radient Heart... I was "being watched"... Meri was helping me become a better person, and Jonas was making sure justice was served."

"Eventually Shiera learned that I was a wanted woman, and was only staying because of her. She wanted to prove she could take care of herself so she ran off again to the Troll Claws where i trained for the longest time.... becoming a noted enemy of the trolls. Jonas and myself as well as a number of people from the Radient Heart went to find her... she had held her own but called down the wrath of the trolls.... In the end I nearly died trying to save her and if it hadn't been for Meri and those from the order... We both would have been dead... on the way back from this adventure however more Bounty Hunters came... trying to capture me through threatening Shiera..."

*Beatrix would sigh* "In the end it was discovered I was wanted by Cormanthyr due to a personal vendetta one of their military leaders had with me, and the man tried to abuse his seat of power to get his revenge... even threatening war with the Gate to attempt to get his hands on me... Negotiations were ensued to try to delay my being sent to Cormanthyr.... but eventually the Dukes gave the order that i was to be sent there to face my punishment."

"Meri however had a great deal of pull with the dukes... and the Church of Ilmatar gave me sanctuary.... where i stayed for a good year... Slowly becoming the woman you know today... Facing all the families of those I'd killed telling them who i was.... and that i was sorry for my actions against them, and for once i realized i was sorry.... I had never forgotten the faces of those i killed.... and i see them when i sleep... haunting me.... but I'd never realized that it was painful and i regretted it till the shield against feelings I had erected around myself had been removed. I met my husband during this time Renec Rokranon, Jonas's brother.... stopped by to talk with me from time to time... I found the conversation enjoyable, eventually we became close friends... and Renec was always there to help me through some of the tougher times."

"During my stay in Sanctuary, near the end.... Shiera got kidnapped by the assassin Organization I had left... I abandond my sanctuary to find her.... leaving no stone unturned. I had changed as a person by then... and a good thing too... for one of the stones was an offer to reveal where my daughter was in exchange for two children from the orphanage... a deal that i could not strike... In the end the assassin organization found me.... trying to lure me back into their clutches with promises. even sending one of the assassins that i had formed.... a bond with to either recruit me or kill me.... In the end I was forced to end the life of what was possibly the closest thing to the first friend i had in life that i remember and she was just like I had been... Brainwashed and enslaved by the Assassin order... programed to obey... unable to feel... I had hoped there was a chance to save her..." *Beatrix would get a far off look on her face, full of sadness and regret again... for such a young elf Beatrix had surely seen a lot*

"her final words led me to free my daughter however..... giving us the location of where the rest of the assassins in the cell i worked for were operating from currently. Where the man who had trained me... was now training Shiera..." *Beatrix falters a bit* "I'd rather not go into details of what that training was.... but it was meant to degrade ones own sense of worth and make one believe that orders were absolute.... in ways.... It was more traumatic than what the drow did looking back on it... Luckily Shiera did not suffer through it long... Renec and Myself managed to kill the assassins.... and stop a plot to assassinate a number of Nobles on the Sword Coast. When I returned to the Coast, The Dukes rescinded their orders to have me sent to Cormanthyr, 'Beatrix the Bloody' apparently died with the organization cell she worked for."

*Beatrix leans on the counter of the bar she was sitting at* "Since then i've been trying to help those along the coast.... leave a little bit of good behind, perhaps to make up for all the wrong I've done..... but mainly because its the right thing to do.... Got married to Renec when we discovered we cared that much for one another... Jonas eventually figured justice had been served in my case, and in fact blessed the union between me and his brother... and I ended up having a child with Renec." *Beatrix would look at the three of them* "So as you see.... I am rather glad I did not stay to the path i had originally had chosen.... I do not know where i would be now if I had stayed as the woman who first came to the Sword Coast.....But I am glad for where I am now..."

[Invoker]

CELEBRATION

He sipped once more from his goblet as he watched the wood elves dance, and feast. This was a day of celebration, a moment of joy, the symbol of courage and freedom triumphing over savagery and bloodlust. Life defeating death.

The forest itself rejoiced, their fey allies cheering with them in their peculiar way. The food, the wine, the warm evening and cool breeze...everything was perfect. And yet, he could not let himself go and join the merry event. He was aware of Ithilwen giving him worried sidelong glances, and that everyone else who looked in his direction shared her feelings.

He drank some more wine. None of their expected Doron Amar guests had made it. It was unfortunate, but after all he could not blame them...they fought valiantly to thwart the menace to Dharasha, but now they had another one to face on their own doorstep. It was only logical they were in no mood to celebrate. Would they ask for assistance? He hoped so. He knew how proud his brothers and cousins could be...he knew himself. He sighed heavily, and this time Ithilwen did not even bother to hide her concern.

As he filled once again his goblet (was it the fourth time? Or the sixth, maybe? He could not remember...did it matter?), his mind raced to Andariel, lost on the Cloudpeaks, in need of their aid...this reunion was the perfect occasion to plan and mount a search party. They would need to be quick...even an individual as resourceful as the Bladesinger would not be able to hold out for too long in such place...

His reflections were interrupted by Kai's approach. As he came closer, he tried to stand and greet him, but fell rather clumsily back on the bench he had been sitting on. Perhaps the amount of wine he drank DID matter, after all, he thought with the first smile of the evening...

[Velaris]

The mage sits by the window of his current study, a borrowed cottage, and looks out upon the renewed vigor in the village.

How so much can change with hope...

He finishes writing the last of the scrolls of the latest project he has been working on, a project of nearly a month of his time, and lays them down neatly on the desk.

The top page holds the writing:

Tower Construction Proposal
Velaris Avlanti

He waves his hand over the stack of pages, all penned in his neat, precise handwriting, and with a quick word of magic, they swirl up and around him in the air. As the close and seal themselves, a handful of summoned messengers, tiny swirls of frost and ice and silken wings, descends upon them, herding them into a controlled circle.

"Go now, and find the one I seek. Let us see if we can make history."

Out the open window the messengers streak, guiding the scrolls to their destination.

[Invoker]

PLANS

His brother's words and good-hearted jests, as usual, succeeded in lightening his mood. But the myriad of possibilities, paths in intercepting vectors and projections of ongoing plans were still there, filling his mind with four dimensional (obviously including the time development) calculations and hypothetical clauses.

He was joking with Mendel in a well-known Nashkell's tavern (the Belching Dragon, or some other equally folksy designation...a nuncupatory matter, really irrelevant), making fun of noisy adventurers who just proved their worth against bands of Hill Giants infesting the Foothills' mining facility and its surroundings. They looked pretty battered, and he could not help but smile sardonically: they would make fine warriors. In time. Provided they did not get themselves killed in the process...

As he refused to touch anything with even the slightest hint of alcohol in it (the first and probably last experience with copious quantities of ale at the celebration in Dharasha did not have auspicious consequences...not at all...), he once more reviewed in his mind the matters at hand, like he had done countless times in the last weeks: the academy and the answers they were waiting for from Candlekeep and the Elder Circle, the Orzogoth and the threat they represented, Andariel's disappearance and the organization of a search party, the coming changes in Dharasha's organigram and the implications they carried...

"Let's go take a look at the passes atop the Cloudpeaks once more, Mendel. I need to feel like I am doing something useful, before I go insane just sitting and waiting..."

Before he had even finished the sentence, the ranger had already disappeared in his black cloak, grinning as he raised his cowl and paced towards the door.

[Invoker]

The Gathering

He left the meeting with a strange feeling, difficult to define. Baffled? Befuddled, perhaps? He sighed as he paced towards his rooms, mentally waving away that entire train of thought in order to just focus on the facts.

Several trusted and influent members of Dharasha, who fought and bled to defend the village and had earned (in many occasions even before his time in the Misty Forest) the right to call it home, were in disagreement with the laws and regulations of Dharasha itself, stipulated after long negotiations by Laisren and the Elders. These regulations and parameters had been known and specifically highlighted for weeks before the meeting, and nobody contested them. Not until the gathering itself, at least...

He did not know how Kai, Laisren's appointed regent (a leader ad-interim, until the new structure would arise...supposedly on that very occasion, actually...), would react to this, and he did not envy his position: the People traditionally have a chaotic way of living, hardly attuned to strict boundaries and rigid structures.

He chuckled for a moment, but laughter was short-lived as he quickly darkened thinking about the problems this might cause. Corellon's Light, what a mess! A representative for the Art had been selected without much ado, whereas the Speaker position was outright rejected, and the new Aegis selected was the one he had thought would be the Speaker himself...Nothing was conclusive of course, and there was no need to rush: a few days sooner or later would not harm anyone. But the fact remained, this was much more complicated than he had anticipated.

Politics were best left to somebody else...The Library's construction and Andariel's rescue would require the biggest part of his time, effort and dedication, from now on.

[Displacer]

The Ranger Celundel stands in the corner of the tavern watching the "Outsiders" intently. They had beaten off the Orc Tribe against great odds and taken the name of the village for themselves. He still hadn't formed a proper opinion of them yet but their skill in battle and ability to bring others to The Elders aid bought them his begrudging respect. Still, he was skeptical of these people.

He stood in support of his new military commanders, of which both the Cor'vil and Ar'vil as they had been so named, stood in attendance. He watched the gathered elves banter and bicker in tests of diplomacy which he simply did not understand. He was a soldier, he was born, he was trained and now he did serve. He did not know what these debates were about, nor did he care.

What he did care, is that the one Cor'vil, commander of elven forces and the one whom struck the killing blow against the Chieftain of Orcs, Mufufu was now being slandered as ignorant of leadership qualities. His blood began to heat, as he stared coolly at the verbal assailants. It was rumored these people were forced from the village of Doron for such blatant transgressions against leadership. Now, Celundel could see there was much credence to this, for he knew this one Mendel, did in fact possess the qualities of a proper commander.

What else need there be? He was the strongest, most proud of their people and though at first his people loathe to admit, of his own now as well! Who were these others to question the commander? A Priestess rumored to have charge of a forest Temple hundreds of leagues away from their own. What is her purpose in all this? Why does she need question the will of the ones who lead his village out of the shadow of the Orc and who held the Elder's consent in this plan.

If this was not to be, then the wisdom of the elders would have said it so, not this one Priestess. No, these people's bickering and lack of due respect for the Elders will is not suffice. Celundel will report this to Elder Endrain but he will further support the one elf of this company whom has earned his respect. Mendel of Dharasha shall lead and become a voice with the Council of the Wood, he is the proven and let the Elder's will be done, Celundel will see it so!

[TheKai]

Kaikinnion sits on a chair, watching the citizens peruse the elven wares he has sat out. Thinking of the meeting held before, worry can be seen on his face. He tries to hide it behind a smile as customers approach but the more he thinks about the meeting, the harder the smile comes.