NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm sure if you said you misrepresented yourself, they'd apologise." Lorathin said

"Well, I would admit misrepresenting myself if I did..." Ar'mai replied. "Though I hardly see how it is my fault that they misunderstood me and even further than that, I don't see how the misunderstanding of my comment could warrant a threat of death," Ar'mai preached.

"I stand fast that if anybody is owed an apology it is me," Ar'mai said from a calm sitting position.

Meanwhile Bael'ther stood by restlessly from the dispute of words - rather than swords which he preffered.

"Well, since Bael'ther can't apologise for his saber-rattling, it falls to you, as his companion, to do so." He commented

"I will not apologize for somebody else... besides... he doesn't want to," Ar'mai said.

Bael'ther stood motionlessly.

"Besides... if it is as easy as apologizing for someone else, you can apologize to them - you seem to have a relationship."

"I don't have a relation with the Fates." He replied, "And I can't apologise for him as I'm not of his kin, not an elf."

"Just because we are both elves... doesn't mean we are at all alike," Ar'mai said. "We are from different clans and are different races."

"Besides they can also apologize for uninvitedly touching Bael'ther..." Ar'mai commented. "He strongly hates it when people do that," she added.

"They grope any male that willingly comes into their cave and they haven't already." He sudders a bit, "Anyways your're both of the same species, so you fit into the same class."

"Well they don't have any right to grope him then," Ar'mai replied.

"His entrance was implied consent." Lorathin replied

"I don't belive you are right," Ar'mai replied. "He was forced to enter..."

"Really, how, who?" He asked, "Couldn't he have just waited outside till buisness had been finished?"

"He is bound by the most powerful of magic," Ar'mai replied, "...to me."

"Not my or the Fates fault if you've made him your slave." Lorathin commented, "You could always have waited outside."

"You are a pompous jackass, you know that," Ar'mai replied.

"Try to find out the backstory before you open your big mouth and stick your foot in it, okay?"

"Then what is the situation?" He asked, "And don't worry about my feelings, I've been called far worse, by those I respect far more."

"I don't care about your feelings whatsoever and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't talk," Ar'mai replied.

"Sure, I'll still be here when you finally settle things with the Fates." He commented as he laid down and began snoozing.

As Morti fell asleep, Ar'mai leapt to her feet and checked to see that he was really asleep. When she had confirmed his slumber she sat down next to him and begun to chant quietly. Within seconds she had completed a sleeping spell that would keep him in his present state of slumber for weeks.

Standing up and walking to the fates she apologized sincerely. They accepted her apology and allowed her to leave, unsealing the cave and showing her the way out.

As she left with Bael'ther in tow, she whispered, "Sleep tight..." with a grin on her face and a blown kiss.

She exited the cave to find it day time again. "Ah the light is sweet," she commented as she climbed onto Gael'kadar with Bael'ther and took off into the air.

Lorathin hadn't been sleeping so much as astral walking, thought there were no physical differences. Finishing the walk he found and removed the spell and re-entered his body. He then got up and noticed the elves were gone and wondered if they'd left for good, temporarily or just left the cave.

"So Mavis, what do you want to do now?" He asked

"Well I regret doing this to the lich... but I must," Ar'mai replied as Gael'kadar flew towards the caves entrance and hovered in front of it.

While its wings flapped magestically, Ar'mai began praying to the God and invoking an ancient prvilege.

"God of my ancestors,
God of my blood,
Grant this wish to me,
Assert your power over this domain,
Show those who defy and oubt you.
I call upon thee... Melchior."

She finished her prayer as the sun was eclipsed and the sky turned dark. There was an electricity in the air... a divine presence and power. The clouds rumbeled and the skies shook as a massive lightning bolt - larger than Ar'mai had ever seen before - rocketed to the ground. The bolt hit the cave dead on but did no apparent damage. It did not cave in and the rocks did not move as if nothing had happened - though it had. The awesome power of the Gods surrounded the cave and created an invisible barrier that could not be passed through and restricted the use of magic.

"It is done..."

OOC: Sorry took forever to finally post on this part of jolt. and yes Mindlesszombieslaves you can join along with the other nation that asked to join...

IC: Mavis felt his power suddenly affected as though his connection to the Death Gods had been severed this left Mavis in a bad postion. If he was killed here it would be true death. His soul was in there domain and had a magical link to his body. If this body died he could come back in a matter of days but now he was vulenerable to true death something Mavis still feared...

Mavis not wanting to give away his sudden weakness thanks to this new problem saids, "I think we need to some how get out of here in order to save ourselfs my friend."

"Let's go see what I'm guessing the elves have gone and done." He commented as he began heading toward the exit of the cave.

The Lich Mavis follows his body is starting to decompoess. The once fairly decent looking Undead man was losing his apperance and his power could not hide the fact. He would soon look like one of the walking dead liches everyone knows and hates. Mavis saids, "This is not good. It seems this has worse effects than I could hope for." as his fleshy face was becoming a skull.

OOC: The Soul was keeping his body from going through this effect now his body is acting like it is dead. He will not die or turn to dust from this but he is going to start to look the part as a lich making socializtion much harder than before..

"Mind if I stasis you, you're flaking." Lorathin asked

Mavis saids, "Anything to save my somewhat living apperance."

Ar'mai watched the cave's entrance from a few feet away while she sat atop her winged horse. Bael'ther had dismounted and was standing a few short feet to the side on the ground.

Lorathin bade Mavis to lay down and close his eyes. Once the lich had done so, he set to work on the spell. As he set to work on the spell, he remembered the times he'd studied this particular spell. His fellow students had dismissed this particular spell of the estoric Arts primarily because it was difficult and highly limited, compared to the easier, more powerful and more versitile spells that did the same thing. As he finished, he made a special twist which finished the incantation, sealing Mavis in a bubble that would freeze and protect him from time, decay and the elements.

Now that Mavis was secured and free of the ravages of lich decay, he set off to figure out a way out of the annyance of an inhibitor bubble. He exited the cave and began probing the walls before he noticed the elf, "This is your doing, isn't it." He said

"Me?" Ar'mai replied innocently as Morti came to the exit of the cave before being stopped by the magical bubble. "Why I have no idea what you are talking about... what in heavens do you mean?"

"This bubble, the one that's killing Mavis, that appeared after you left in a huff." Lorathin commented

"Certainly not I?" Ar'mai replied as Gael'kadar's wings continued to flap magestically in the sunlight. "One such as me could not be powerful enough to cast such magic..."

"If a priest asks their god to intercede on their behalf and cast the spell, for all intents and purposes, the priest has cast the spell." He replied

"So who is to say that I was the priest... or priestess... that invoked a God," Ar'mai replied.

"Well, Bael can't talk and you're the only other person nearby." Lorathin replied

"Can you be certain that there is nobody else here?" Ar'mai asked.

"Besides... you don't need to be to talk for the Gods to hear you."

"Well then mind asking whatever god you follow to deal with it, it's harming Mavis." Lorathin commented

"Sometimes, one has to be sacrificed for the greater good," Ar'mai replied. "Besides... he will be fine. The undead can be reawakened so long as they aren't disturbed - and you and your buddy fates are the only ones that could disturb him in there."

OOC: Tnx a bunch :D

IC:
"That was a...glorius sight..." whispered Sarik the Valiant as he rode along. The lightning and thunder was loud and majestic, yet looked deadly.

His mount was a beauful white drake, the symbol of his religious order. Although it was smaller than most other drakes, it could still easily swallow a horse in one bite. Sariks drake was covered in silver armor, from head to the tip of its tail. Having all that armor as well as a heavily armored passanger or two made the drake extremely powerful, as one would expect.

Sarik was of a lizardman species. He was about 7'4 and was incredibly strong, even for a lizardman. Unlike most of his brethren, he lost his lisp after many many years of intense training from the high priest of his Order at their academy. He was a high paladin of the Order of the White Serphant, a religious group striving to unite the lizard clans. He wore heavy gold plating and a grand white cape with the symbol of his order sewn on it. He wore a mace around his waist and a large broadsword on his back, underneath a large kite shield with a similar insignia as his cape.

From the Academy, he learned many different styles of fighting and many spells to use in combat. Yet he was also very good at healing magic, a power that tends to come naturally to a good-natured paladin. He graduated first in his class, and eventually became one of the idea paladins of his order.

Until recently, the Order has had little luck on uniting the clans and unintentionally got involved in the wars. Sarik was involved in many of these battles and recieved his share of battlescars. Yet he was always at the front of the battle, boosting morale of his brothers in arms and healing the wounded, earning him the title of Valiant.

Unfortunately, everything has its own darkness. Sarik has the habit of going into a bloodthirsty rage if a battle gets incredibly heated. Although one may consider this a good thing, for he is almost unstoppable in this rampage, yet he cannot tell friend from foe.

This is why he has been sent to find an item that may help end these clan wars. He searches for a lost artifact of great power, used by a mighty lizardman hero long ago.

"I hope the fates can help me find where this item is...otherwise we'll have to find it by legend, myths, and hopefully our god, the great Zavers, can point us in the right direction " Sarik told his drake. The Drake looked back, blinked and looked forward again. Sarik and his mount, Andrezlia, had a special connection, both seeming to understand each other well, and caring for each other as if they were brother and sister.

"There it is...the mountain range of the fates....and where that strange lightning struck..."

Andrezlia and Sarik continued to fly low in the mountain ranges, straining to find the cave of the Fates. As they flew past several more mountains Sarik saw a flying horse with a passenger.

"Perhaps they have just visited the fates as well? Shall we ask them?" asked Sarik to Andrazlia. Andrazlia made a coughing noise and continued on her trek. "Find then...have it your way. I will ask them myself" Sarik chuckled.

Soon after he said those words they touched down a short distance away from the flying horse and Sarik dismounted. With his cape flowing in the wind, he clanked towards the entrance where the flying horse hovered...

He walked several minutes, having little trouble navigating the rocky terrain, thanks to his intense training. He looked back and saw Andrezlia inch towards him and, stopping once she noticed he was watching. He laughed and shook his head as he turned around and continued walking along. He hoped the horse and its mount would not be frightened by the drake, if Andrazlia crawled all the way to the cave entrance.

As he closed the distance, he took off his helmet, nestling it between his arm, and straightened up. He did not want to scare these people either, or fight anyone if they were the fighting kind...

"Sometimes, one has to be sacrificed for the greater good," Ar'mai replied. "Besides... he will be fine. The undead can be reawakened so long as they aren't disturbed - and you and your buddy fates are the only ones that could disturb him in there."
"Not if he dissolves, as he is in the process of doing." Lorathin replied, "And greater good of what?"

"For the greater good of keeping you and those Fates locked away from the rest of the world," Ar'mai replied. "All battles must have their innocents... if you can even call the lich that."


ooc: Blastit Empire, a couple of things you might want to know.
a) If you had read more carefully, Bael'ther had dismounted the horse and was stanind to the side of the cave's entrance - though it is not of much importance.
b) It is quite strange for your character to try to enter the cave and yet not aknowledge the existence of Ar'mai, Bael'ther or Morti at all. They are right there at the cave's entrance and in attempting to enter you would pass by all of them.

"The Fates arn't bound by this bubble, they are found in many places around the world at the same time." Lorathin replied, "And how am I such a threat to the greater good?"

ooc: tnx for the catch, yet arent there any other cave entrances or only one?

ooc: one

IC:
"The Gods wouldn't have answered my prayer if they didn't feel that it was a good idea," Ar'mai replied.

"Or they could have been bored, but anyways, mind getting it remove?" He asked politely.

"Don't insult the Gods. They are not so impudent and prevaricators like yourself," Ar'mai replied.

"I've met a few gods, and at least for them, boredom was quite prevelent." Lorathin commented

"And again you stick your foot in your mouth. You make assumptions all the time... that is what I despise about you."

"What assumption, they told me outright." Lorathin replied, "And you don't make assumptions? Did you not assume because I had secrets I was evil?"

"You assumed that the Gods could have cast this barrier out of boredom... that is an assumption," Ar'mai replied. "And no I never assumed you were evil - I am not sure why you assume that I assumed that. All I ever have assumed was taht you were not telling the whole truth and you even admitted that confirming that my assumption was right."

"I never said they did it out of boredom, I said they may have done it out of boredom. I apologise for bothering you with my assumptions." Lorathin said

OOC: Hey Theao does this stasis spell allow my character to be aware of his surroundings or is it complete stasis as in stuck in time effect?

ooc: He can't move(Save respiration/eyes), but anything he can hear/see is available to him.

"Well that is certainly a first step," Ar'mai replied as she watched the new comer walk head long into the barrier.

"There's a barrier." Lorathin commented to the man as he ran into the bubble, "I apologise for insulting Bael'thar, and you as well." He said to Ar'mai.

"Very good. A second step to freedom," Ar'mai replied.

"I'll do my best to not being annoying as well." He commented

"Your best isn't good enough," Ar'mai replied.

"Either you are or you aren't going to be annoying, in the ways that I deem annoying, from now on," she said in a bossy tone. "Do, or do not. There is no 'try'."

"What do you deem annoying then so I can avoid doing it?" He asked

"Ah... now we are getting somewhere," Ar'mai replied. "Annoying would be, mostly what you have been so far. Making assumptions, refuting everything I say, being mysterious, or insulting."

"I'll avoid making assumptions, being insulting and refuting your statements, thought I may not be able to help be mysterious." Lorathin replied

"Well that is a problem," Ar'mai replied, "As it kills the trust factor."

She grinned, "Perhaps you could tell the newcomer of you history and he could relay it to me," and quickly added under her breath "If he survives."

"Could I instead make a deal with you, something along the lines that if you ask something I won't answer I'll just say ask something else or we could go with, ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." He commented

"I don't find either terribly satisfiable," Ar'mai replied after a short deliberation. "As so far I have asked you questions and you have dismissed them all. And as for asking no questions... that is not an option as it is the same result as telling me a lie."

She again paused to think a moment as she basked in the sunlight. "We will try the first option and see how it works," she commanded more than said. "First question. Where is your allegiance, what if any groups are you apart of and what is your current occupation?"

"Please clarify what you want for the first question, ask me another for the second, and I have no job at present unless you count being a guide to Mavis or being a mage a job." He replied

"Your allegiance... who you have a connection to - your country, your family, a certain party, an organization, what?" Ar'mai replied.

"Well I don't follow any nation, I have a sister, not into politics and ask me another one." He replied

"Though I am not getting much information... it is more than is said," Ar'mai commented as she noticed he again side stepped the question about if he was a part of a certain group.

"Second question. What is your mission in life and where did you learn your magic?"

"I don't have a mission persay in life, and I learnt at verious schools, and on the road." He replied

"So did you have any particular teachers or masters?" Ar'mai questioned.

"Do you mean did I have a favorite?" He asked

"No... I meant any notable ones or ones that I should know about," Ar'mai replied.

"I don't think you'ed know of any of them." He commented

"That is not an acceptable answer according to the agreement we are trying out," Ar'mai replied. "I will ask again... who were your teachers or masters of notary."

"None of them were well known." He replied, "And if you're asking for specific names, for those you'll have to ask another question."

"I see..." Ar'mai replied. "It is quite clear that you don't want to talk about some soceity you are a part of and its members... therefore I have no other option but to assume that you are a part of a secret soceity."

She paused for a moment as she sat straight up on the back of her winged horse. "I should leave you here to die," Ar'mai replied, "But alas... it is not my way."

She lept into the air and performed a double flip as her silky hair trailed, glistening in the day's sunlight. Landing exquisetly on the back of Gael'kadar, she stood with the grace and beauty of an Elven Princess. She murmured unhearable words at first, but her voice grew louder:

God of power.
God of elves.
I call upon thee, Melchoir.
Release them from your power.
Uncast your spell

The heavens began stirring again as the clouds swirled above the very spot they stood. A glowing white light emerged and descended to earth - as it did the magic barrier flooded into it and disappeared into the heavens.

BUT,
Hold him to what he has said.
Hold him to what we have established.
Hold him till Death take him.
Hold him with death dare he break them.

A booming voice was heard as the light disappeared and the clouds disappeared from the sky, leaving a blue splendor behind.

It is done!

"What was that all about?" He asked, while removing the spell on Mavis so he would now be re-linked to his energy/soul.

"I asked the Gods to remove the spell surrounding the cave," Ar'mai replid, "And they did." She sat down on her horse, "Where to?"

"Oh... and I forgot to mention. They are also holding you to your oath - if you break the agreement that we have come too... they are going to kill you," Ar'mai smiled.

"That wasn't nice was it?" He asked, "And it's up to Mavis, thought there are a few that are easier and safer than others."

"Meh," she laughed, "I care not for safety... I live for adventure, for challenge."

"I think we should journey to... Drakothil," Ar'mai replied. "How does that sound to you all."

"Personally, I'd prefere none of them, but we'll see what Mavis says." Lorathin replied

Sarik saw what looked like an elf talking or even argueing to one inside the cave, something he was not too fond of.

I guess i'll just look inside the cave myself, thought Sarik to himself. Suddenly he fell backwards with a large thud.

For several long minutes he laid there, the argueing voices distant.
"This hurts my ego..."he whispered to himself as he propped himself back up with his tail. Just then, white light fell upon the cave.

Sarik looked at the elf, then saw who she was talking to. There appeared to be a strange pale creature, almost human but starting to smell of death. Next to him stood a creature that looked to be human.

"Excuse me fellow travellers, i am looking for the fates, or a powerful lizardman artifact, known as the Sszzarvu, some sort of artifact used long ago. May any of you know where i may find either of them?"

"The Fates are in there, and why in the blue hell do you want that damned Sszzarvu?" He asked, "Oh and my name's Morti, and I'll let the others introduce themselves."

"The fates are ruddy bitches," Ar'mai said to the man from her spot on the horse.

Bael'ther continued to lean against the stone exterior wall of the cave (basically outside the cave).

"I am Ar'mai Corvianna, princess of the Akenea'raeheal clan," she said introducing herself. "And that there is Bael'ther, my manservant." She lowered her voice to a whisper, "He would introduce himself... but he is mute... long story."

Unseen, a lonely phantom hovered high above them. Her shadowy hair tumbled down her back, and the bright silver globes that had replaced her long-gone eyes searched the scene below her.
"So..." she rustled, with a crackling voice like the sound of dead leaves,
"The Elven Lady has joined, at least temporarily, with a mage of the Unspoken society. Furthermore, connections are sensed to the young Lich Mavid. This must be known to Histus, for he will reward me greatly, should I be the first to inform him." She smiled an eerily ancient smile for her apparent, (non-existant) youth. Slowly, the pearly glowing figure faded away.
That night, three necromancers would begin their search in Death for something, something to destroy a Lich.

Sarik turned to Morti and bowed low.
"Greetings Morti, I am Sir Sarik Shizk the Valiant. I look for the Sszzarvu for the high priests and priestess of my order believe it will bring unity to our divided clans. I can only hope and pray that it may be true, for i have seen too many of my friends cut down in battle..."

Then Sarik turned to Ar'mai and bowed even lower.
"Greetings, mi'lady, As im sure u heard, i am Sir Sarik Shisk the Valiant. I am pleased to meet you.

Afterwards, Sarik turned to Bael'thor and bowed again.
"Greetings Bael'thor. Judging by your looks, you seem to be a warrior, strong, sturdy, and brave. Ar'mai must be proud to have such a warrior by her side."

Soon after Sarik stood up, Andrazlia glided to the top of the cave entrance and let out a bellow.

"Ah yes, this is my mount, and in many ways, my guardian and almost my sibling. She is very shy and tends to dislike others, but never worry, she is very honorable," said Sarik. As he said that, Andrazlia bent her neck low, as in a bow.

"It is an honor to meet you all. May I ask of you what your party is looking for?"

Unseen, a lonely phantom hovered high above them. Her shadowy hair tumbled down her back, and the bright silver globes that had replaced her long-gone eyes searched the scene below her.
"So..." she rustled, with a crackling voice like the sound of dead leaves,
"The Elven Lady has joined, at least temporarily, with a mage of the Unspoken society. Furthermore, connections are sensed to the young Lich Mavid. This must be known to Histus, for he will reward me greatly, should I be the first to inform him." She smiled an eerily ancient smile for her apparent, (non-existant) youth. Slowly, the pearly glowing figure faded away.
That night, three necromancers would begin their search in Death for something, something to destroy a Lich.
ooc: Did you get permission for Deatheron?

Ic: "Well he's looking for someone who can create a soul." Lorathin gestured, indicating Mavis.

"And I want a heart! And I want a brain," Ar'mai gested (Wizard of Oz if you missed it). "No but seriously... I am not looking for anything in particular - except an adventure of course. If we find anything worth trying to get, then that will be what we are looking for."

"Ah so you are undead?"

Sarik bowed low to Mavis.
"It is an honor to meet an undead creature that wont kill me," chuckled Sarik.

"Adventure seems to find those that look for it. Where will you guys be heading? Perhaps i may be able to join your party?"

"Depends which of the five he want's to attempt first." Lorathin commented

ooc: Did you get permission for Deatheron?

Ic: "Well he's looking for someone who can create a soul." Lorathin gestured, indicating Mavis.

OOC: Well I did say it was an open Rp, plus that was a decent intro...

IC: Mavis's eyes had melted from there sockets. His once human looking blue eyes were gone and now all that remained were these glowing red eyes of pure magical energy. Mavis's face had also taken a hard hit from the lack of souling connection and his flesh may never recover without somehow finding a way to regenerate the skin without using healing energy. (harmful to undead)

Mavis returns the bow with a nod of his now very grotesque face. Mavis then saids, "I feel the void in my being more clearly now. Thanks to that little stunt. I will remember to call on my gods for protection the next time a member of the group wants use there gods to harm my person." Mavis looks at Ar'mai as he saids this.

OOC: Mavis is very angry that his human face has slightly melted. He now can not blend into human society without using illusion based magic something he does not have much knowledge in.

The Void is the lack of having a soul inside himself. To him it is like a hunger and remember one of the ways these liches feed is by draining the souls of there enemies as Morti witnessed back in Death Hold..

"If we can get one of the five possibles in a good mood, especially what's his name, they should be able to reverse that as well as giving you a new soul." Lorathin commented, "Thought which do you wish to visit?"

ooc: List of the five:
Aernal Bannirae
Drakothil
Lecar O'll
Dethoal
Jui

The Lich Mavis saids, "These people must be very powerful indeed if they can create souls. I was wondering do you know any of them and which ones would be the most likely not to kill or harm us on the way."

"The average likelyhood of any one killing the entire group is moderately high, except in the case of Jui or Lecar O'll both will, unless very delicately approached, kill us out of hand. Dethoal is either your worst or best bet, while Aernal Bannirae and Drakothil are random shots." Lorathin replied

Mavis smiles and after several minutes of thinking. The Lich saids, "Let us try Dethoal."

"Alright, but I have to advise you, he'll either blast you to bits or heal you right up." Lorathin commented

Mavis saids, "I have dealt with powerful people before. I will be on my guard."

Mavis then mutters a single command word in Draconic and his staff of Arch Necromancer appears in his right hand.

Mavis smiles and saids, "This should be enough protection in case we have to go in blasting."

"Possibly, but I'd definately avoid necromantic spell if at all possible if you have to try and take him down." Lorathin said, "Everybody ready to head out?" He asked

Mavis saids, "What is this Dethoal some kind of Necromancer?"

"Something along those lines." Lorathin said, "Or at least if the rumours are to be believed."

Mavis saids, "What rumours?"

"Just some rumours I've heard." Lorathin replied

Mavis saids, "Does this Dethoal have immunity to Necromantic magic? I need to know exactly what to expect or we may end up as dust on the floor."

OOC: Mavis is refrenceing from a Distengrate Spell...

"Most of my knowladge of him is hearsay and conjecture, so I can't say for certain." Lorathin commented

Mavis saids, "hearsay from whom? Or is this something to do with your secret society."

"Just general." Lorathin replied

Mavis smiles and saids, "Well my friend we should probally get going." Mavis begins to summon another Nightmare when he remembers he needs horse hair again.

Mavis saids to his elven companions, "Sorry to bother you again but, I lack the componet needed to summon the nightmare."

"It is fine... his hair is quite regenerative," she said as she plucked a hair from the horse's main and handed to him.

"As for Dethoal... I think we will be able to handle him - as we use opposite magic on the spectrum. He mostly likely will be weak against holy magic if he is a necromancer. But we will see..." Ar'mai replied.

She ushered to Bael'ther and he walked over to the horse and lept on. "Ready."

Mavis saids, "Thank you for the componet."

The Lich then begins to cast the spell and chant the same words as he had before and once again the shadows formed into image of a horse, The Nightmare had been brought back from the plane of Shadows. It's red eyes glowed and match those of the person who summoned her to this plane of existence...

"Oh we're headed northward." Lorathin commented as he got ready as well.

"Right then," Ar'mai said as she petted Gael'kadar's mane. Where she had plucked the hair out, another one grew quickly and it was full again in no time.

Seconds later, the horse soared into the sky and was lost in the sunlight as they headed north.

Lorathin had again 'sprouted' his wings and took off northward as well.

"So we're going to try this the peaceful way first, right?" asked Sarik as he mounted Andrezlia.

Mavis smiles and saids, "I hope so." As he mounts on the Nightmare and the creature begins to float out of the cave...

After they had been flying for a few hours, Ar'mai whispered into the horses ear, and it slowed down until it reached Morti.

"Do you know how much farther it is?" she asked.

"Somewhere in the northern wastelands, so I hope you packed warmly." Lorathin commented

"Uh... not really," Ar'mai said as she thought about the light elven dresses and short clothes she had brought.

"Sigh... oh well."

"I'm sure someone could conjour you up some warm clothes." He commented

"Perhaps..." she whispered as the horse darted off again.

After a long ride, they had finally crossed into the Northern Wastelands.

Gael'kadar shot down out of the sky and flew to earth with incredible speed. A few seconds later, the winged horse was standing on the ground calmly with Ar'mai and Bael'ther on its back.

After a bit Lorathin landed as well, "It's a bit chilly." He commented as he conjured a russian-style overcoat and hat.

"Would you mind," Ar'mai said as she waited for an overcoat of her own from Lorathin.

"Alright, does Bael want a set as well?" He asked

Ar'mai looked at Bael'ther who in turn shook his head. "I think he is fine - used to the cold, ya know. And that armor certainly helps - god only knows what kind of layers he has under that."

"And thanks for the coat," Ar'mai said.

"Alright." Lorathin said as he poofed a tie-dyed hat at a jaunty angle on Ar'mai's head.

"Is this some kind of joke," Ar'mai said as she took of the hat and stared at it with repugnance. "Tie-dye!"

"It looks good on you." Lorathin replied

"I will not demean myself to where such a hideous hat," she said as she tossed the hat to the ground.

Lorathin shook his head, beauty really was in the eye of the beholder. As the hat hit the ground it poofed in a puff of smoke.

"Good riddance I say," Ar'ami commented as the hat dissappeared. "I couldn't stand the hideousness of it."

"Now... lets move on. The sooner we find him the better."

"Why are you so impatient?" He asked

"Because I don't like wasting time," Ar'mai said, "Especially wasting it waiting when we could be on an adventure."

"Fair enought." He replied

OOC: Srry was gone for a bit, was busy lol

IC: Sarik jumped off Andrezlia and landed with a clank. He trailed behind Ar'mai and Morti, keeping a watchful eye of their surroundings.

"So, what exactly is this guy we are looking for?"

"He's humanish." Lorathin replied

"Humanish?" laughed Sarik.

"Is he dead like our friend here?"asked Sarik indicating Mavis.

"And what makes him so powerful?"

"No, is perfectly alive, and if I knew his secrets, we wouldn't need to visit him, now would we?" Lorathin asked

"I suppose not," chuckled Sarik.

Sarik walked a few paces more, then crouched down. He grabbed a handful of snow and packed it close together. He stood back up, aimed, and threw a snowball at Morti. Laughing, he bent to pack more snow.

Lorathin was between Sarik and Ar'mai and ducked to avoid the snowball.

The snowball hit Ar'mai directly in the back of the head. She turned slowly and when her face was seen it was quite angry.

Without saying a word, she raised her hands and a massive mound of snow appeared above sarik. The snow hovered for a moment before falling to earth and burying him.

Sarik's head popped out of the mound of snow.

"Bah! Thats cheating!" laughed Sarik. Still in the pile of snow, Sarik made several more snowballs and threw them at Morti, Ar'mai, and Bael'ther. He then pushed himself through the pile of snow and grabbed his sheild from behind his back and hit propped it in front of him on the ground.

Lorathin got hit by one of the balls, but didn't retaliate.

Bael'ther had stepped in front of Ar'mai and the snowballs crashed into his armor with no effect.

"Aww no more snowballs? Ah well..." Sarik got up, and picked up his sheild and began to walk.

"Sorry about that all, but where i come from, Snow is very rare...As a child my friends and I saw snow only twice. Each time we had a snow fight...Brings back good memories." A look of sadness entered Sariks eyes for a moment.

"Do we know where Dethoal is?"

"Somewhere in this arctic wasteland." He replied

"Perhaps one of us should go look from the sky? We may find out more about where we are heading and perhaps buildings he may be in"

"Not a bad idea," Ar'mai sneered.

She hopped onto Gael'kadar, leaving Bael'ther to search on the land, and sped of into the sky.

All that was visible from the sky were miles upon miles of barren white snow.

"I don't think she'll find anything." Lorathin commented

"You think Dethoal would be invisible? Or atleast where he lives? I remember there was a powerful wizard several paladins and I had to battle. We never realized he was invisible until he fried two of the paladins with lightning. I have to say, he got what he deserved." said Sarik taking on a dark tone.

"Perhaps she can see more than us down here. If not, we might as well call her down."

Bael'ther stared at Lorathin.

"Not actually invisible, but likely that the house would be buried in ice." Lorathin replied, "Thus making it essentially invisible."

Bael'ther heard Lorathin's comment and unsheathed his massive sword. Holding it up the sky, he reflected the sun's light at Ar'mai.

Seeing the light in her eyes being reflected by Bael'ther, she sped to the ground and landed next to them.

"Hello again." Lorathin replied as he thought a second and pulled out a small box, detached two pieces from it which he stuck in his ears.

"Welcome back. Did you find anything unusual up there? If not, perhaps we should make camp for a bit? We have been traveling a while. And a fire may not only warm us up, but may show something one cant see with the naked eye."

"Not much," Ar'mai replied as she looked at Lorathin stuffing two things into his ears. "Just a lot of snow and ice."

Sarik looked at Morti with curiosity. "What are those, if you dont mind me asking?"

"Didn't think you would." Lorathin said, "But you got on your horse before I could say that." He then began humming.

He removed one of the ear pieces as he saw Sarik open his mouth, "These? They're the ear peices for my MiaB." He replied as he returned it to his ear.

"Right then..." Ar'mai spoke up, "So... how do you suppose we go about finding this place?"

"It certainly can not be seen from the air... perhaps it is buried?"

"Which is what I was going to say before you took off." Lorathin said, "And no idea on actually finding the place."

"Perhaps if someone can summon a burrying animal that can survive in this cold, it may help us find out where we should go. Then perhaps we burn our way through" said Sarik.

"Would you like it if someone burned a hole in your wall?" Lorathin asked

"You got any suggestions? Or are you just going to shoot down his?" Ar'mai asked.

"Will it annoy you if I didn't" He asked

"Well, I actually meant burn our way around his residence, which the animal will tell us, until we find the door. Then we wont have to burn down the wall...But if that wont work, I still think the conjured animal would help us if someone here can conjure animals that survive in the cold."replied Sarik

"Ha!" Ar'mai laughed, "Very smart of you."

She thought for a moment before saying, "Well it isn't annoying me yet... but it would be helpful if you thought of some ideas."

"Or we can start burning," she added.

"Well my suggestion is it's time to take a break for R&R and perhaps some eats, and anywho, there's another perfectly valid and important reason against going burning, and that is frequently there are large air pockets that if you go burning throught you're likely to fall into." Lorathin said

"Then we will blast it from the air..." Ar'mai commented, "The three of us," she said indictating herself, Lorathin, and Sarik, "Are able to fly in some form, no?"

"Why don't we just hover above the ground and start blasting. That way we don't fall."

"Then go ahead, I'm going ahead with my suggestion and taking some R&R as well as getting some eats." Lorathin replied

"Fine," Ar'mai said as she decided to take the time to rest. She had Bael'ther unfurl a masive blanket in which she curled up and fell asleep.

Lorathin stripped down to his shorts which revealed the dragon and basilisk birthmarks, and with a muttered spell, caused a section of the ground to shift into a large natural hotsprings, as well as creating a large chicken sandwich. He then eased into the relaxing and bubbling waters as he reinserted the ear pieces again.

The Nightmare continued to float with following behind Mavis's companions. The Lich stayed isolated and silent the secrets of his trade taught him to avoid large groups of living people. Mavis was also not feeling very social thanks to his now grestoque apperance...

"Hey Mavis, come over here and relax." Lorathin called over to him.

Sarik saw the others begin to rest, so he walked a short distance away from the others and made several strange, loud, hissing sounds. Shortly after, Andrazlia rose from a distance and landed by Sarik. She then curled herself around Sarik and folded her wing around him, like a mother to its children. Behind Andrazlias wing, Sarik took off his plate armor, shield, and weapons and began polishing each one. After polishing his armor, he began to sharpen his sword with a strange rock he took from one of the many packs under Andrazlias armor.

Finally, with his armor and weapons polished and ready for use, Sarik brought out one of the massive bags on Andrazlia and opened it up, revealing a large cow. Sarik bowed, gave thanks to his gods and gave it to Andrazlia. After tieing that bag back on Andrazlias back, he got out a much smaller bag, where he pulled out his own food.

OOC: This is Deatharon as a MT/PMT puppet Xharn

IC: The undead beast started to float faster and closer to the others. Mavis saids, "I am coming, I have just been sulking is all."

The Lich starts looking around for something to cover up his face...

OOC: Mavis's vanity another flaw he has...

Sarik heard Mavis's request and began to rummage through some more packs he had. Sarik found the one he was looking for and brought out a dark colored-helm with two large horns protruding from its sides. Sarik walked towards Mavis.

"Perhaps this helm would suffice? It was my reward for defeating a self proclaimed undead-king back where i come from. It seems to have necromatic curses that i cannot get rid of, but being a lich, you might have better luck than I did," said Sarik

As Ar'mai slept warmly in her massive blanket, she stirred and rolled about. Even in her state of sleep, she could sense the death of innocent animals - it pained her and distrubed her sleep.

"I shall leave it over here. Whenever you feel you want to take a stab at the curses, it shall wait here. I doubt anything around here would want to wear a cursed helmet,"laughed Sarik as he set the helm down by where he expected Mavis to land.

Sarik walked back to Andrazlia, who watched Sarik the whole way. Sarik wondered why Ar'mai seemed to be uneasy, yet he didnt wish to wake her, nor bother Bael'ther with questions that he may not be able to answer.

When Sarik sat behind Andrazlia's wing, he pulled a map and several worn scrolls out from a pouch he was carrying and began to study all the materials. After a while, with a look of frustration, he folded them all again and put them back in his pouch. He sighed as he layed his head against Andrazlia and looked towards the others.

Ar'mai woke up a while later, rested and restored. Stretching and greeting the morning sun, she folded up the blanket to its tiny size and handed it to Bael'ther for storage. "All right then... now that we have gotten our R&R lets look for this character."

"Alright, any suggestions on finding him?" Lorathin asked

Sarik had fallen into a deep sleep...

In his sleep he dreamed very strange dreams.

He dreamed that he was walking along a beautiful forest path. The birds were singing, the flowers were bloomed, bright and colorful, and there were many little critters running about. Sarik watched in amusement as he continued to walk along the path. After what seemed an hour, he came across a massive mound of dirt. Sarik dug into that mound for no apparent reason. He dug and dug and dug. Sarik looked up after a while of digging and found out that he has made a hole so far down, the light above was barely visible. "No matter" said the dream Sarik as he returned to his digging. Soon, he found something hard and sharp.

"The Sszzarvu!" Sarik exclaimed. Out of Eagerness, Sarik immediately dug around it and realized it was a massive sword. Sarik grabbed the hilt and pulled. Nothing happened. Sarik tried again, ending in the same results. Finally, Sarik grabbed it with both hands and pulled with all his strength.

"It is mine!" shouted Sarik with excitement. Just then, the floor collapsed and Sarik found himself barreling down towards a massive floating rock just above an ocean of lava. As if on instinct, he muttered a spell and immediately righted himself and floated, as if lifted by an invisible hand. Sarik looked down and realized the Sszzarvu was glowing a bright white light.

"Quite a glorius weapon, is it not?" rumbled an extremely low voice behind him. Sarik spun around in air and faced something he'd hope never to see. There stood the Demon Lord, Valtrox. He was what his Order was strictly agaisnt. The Cult of Valtrox, which the Order deemed the root of all evil. Valtrox seemed to be made entirely of fire except for his massive horns protruding from his forhead. His shape was that of a massive dragon.

"Begone demon!" shouted Sarik as he began a spell that wounds creatures of evil.
Lord Valtrox flicked it away as if it was nothing. As Sarik began another spell, Valtrox moved with incredible speed and snatched Sarik from the air and began to squeeze.

"Sarik...You know what you are...be what you should be. You should be leading the cult, not destroying it...I created you, i created that sword. Your destiny is to serve under me!

"Never!" shouted Sarik as he stabbed Valtrox's hand with the Sszzarvu, which was radiating the brightest color yet.

Valtrox roared and was about to blow fire from his mouth when Sarik woke up.

Sarik looked around, changed out of his sweaty clothes and put on his plate armor. He saw the others already awake so he straightened up and walked towards them.

"Must have been an interesting dream," Ar'mai commented to Lorathin as she saw Sarik struggling in his sleep. "I wonder what he is dreaming..."

Mavis took the helm from Sarik,

Mavis then begins chanting a spell to identify the type of power that has enchanted the helm. Mavis always does this before wearing a magic item. In his youth he suffered greatly for not testing an item before using it. (Like the time he wore a belt of gender change) For a week he was Mavia. That memory would haunt Mavis for years....

OOC: Sorry for not posting. I had to work on my Senior paper for the weekend.

"Well... does anyone have any ideas about how to find him?" Ar'mai asked as they had been waiting around for a long time.

"Never been up this way so you're guess is as good as mine on finding him." Lorathin replied

Sarik, shaken after that strange dream, struggled to calmly walk towards the others

"Perhaps one of us can summon an animal to burrow and scout below?" coughed Sarik as he reached the others.

"That would certainly be in my nature," Ar'mai commented as she was deeply in touch with nature in all ways.

"If you can find one that could take the cold go ahead and try it." Lorathin said

"I am sure that is in the realm of my power," Ar'mai said as she closed her eyes and became eerily quiet. She was searching the area for any and all animals when she spotted a suitable candidate. Silently, she called it over to her and slowly it made its away across the frozen tundra.

When it arrived, the others noticed that it was a small animal and yet it had massive front claws. It was a rare arctic mole that lived by digging into the snow covered mountains or the iced over flatlands. Ar'mai winked at it and then pointed to a spot on the ground - immediately it obeyed and begun digging with amazing speed and power. "Sit back... this could take a while if we have no idea where to begin," she commented as the mole had already burrowed nearly a foot in.

Sarik watched the mole with curiosity for a while, then looked at the others.

"I think it would be to our benefit if we knew everything we could about Dethoal, for I for one know very little, if not anything, about Dethoal."

"Ask questions and I'll do my best to answer." Lorathin replied

Ar'mai listened intently as she tracked the progress of the mole.

"Any sort of family history or background? How powerful is he and how did he get that way? Are we sure he is alive? Is he easily angered and what makes him angry? Does he minions or is he alone?"

"Family background and history, no idea. He could school anyone of use without breaking a sweat, and again, no idea. No idea if he's alive, dead or undead. His mood is reported to be variable so what might make him mad one day might not the next, and again, no idea." He said as he replied to Sarik's questions in order of asking.

"Thanks... that information certainly helps," Ar'mai said with a hint of sarcasm.

"I don't exactly know much about him." Lorathin replied

"I gathered as much," Ar'mai responded. The mole had now dug many feet into the ice and was searching for anything peculiar.

"So what will you do once we've found him, if we do, or if we don't?" Lorathin asked

The snowmole had found any number of inter-connected caverns, but nothing 'peculiar'.

"We ask him if he can create Mavis a new soul?" Ar'mai suggested obviously.

"I meant after that." He replied

"I would also like to ask him if he knows anything or where i may find the Sszzarvu. I have another question about Dethoal too. Did he do anything important in history?" Sarik asked.

"Not sure, and depends on what you consider important?" Lorathin replied, "If nothing else, I'm sure soulcrafting would be deemed important."

"That it is," chuckled Sarik.

"One more question that i can think of...How old is he?"

"Older than me, but not entirely sure, at least three hundred as a ball park guess." Lorathin said

Ar'mai sensed it at once, There... The mole had continued to dig for hours and hours without result, but now he had found something. About a mile away and deep into the ice, the mole had reached a spot where it could no longer dig. The ground was the same there as it was everywhere else it had dug... ice - but for some reason despite its best efforts it could not even chip away at the ice.

"I think it might have found something," Ar'mai said to the group as she quickly bouned over to Gael'kadar and hopped on to his back. The horse was off in an instant, following Ar'mai's directions to the mole.

Sarik was startled by the sudden interuption and as he saw Ar'mai jump on her horse and begin to fly he turned back to Morti.

"I suppose we should follow," smiled Sarik. He wistled several short wistles and Andrazlia immediatly flew low to the ground, with her head tilted a bit, letting the reigns droop low to the ground. Sarik grabbed the reign as Andrazlia flew by, and was flipped onto his saddle with a quick shake of Andrazlias head.

The winged horse that Ar'mai had been riding stopped exactly where she had directed it to. Bael'ther had been running after them and stopped next to her horse after a short mile run. The two waited as the others began to head in their direction.

Lorathin picked up the pace and followed the elves to where Ar'mai thought she found something.

"I am sensing the mole has found something of significance," Ar'mai commented as the others arrived nearby. "It seems that it has reached a spot in which no matter how hard it tries... it can't dig past the ice. It seems to have some magicla injunction on it, otherwise the snow mole would have no problem," she commented as she stood directly above the spot in which the mole was continually trying to dig past.

"Then, if you could widen the hole, we could go see this mystery ice." Lorathin replied

"I am sure you can cast a fire spell of some sort," Ar'mai commented to Lorathin as Gael'kadar moved slightly out of the way, leaving enough room for damage to be caused. "I doubt the mole could dig a wide enough hole that deep, unless you want to wait a couple days..." she said rhetorically as she knew the six inch mole would not be able to widen the area for any of them to fit into.

"I'm sure I could, but I'm lazy." Lorathin replied

"You are pathetic," Ar'mai said. "Now get off your ass and make a hole."

"Why don't you do it. I'm not your dogsbody you know." He replied

Sigh... how little he knows "Because an elven priestess can not use destructive magic..." Ar'mai said to him.

"Fire isn't always destructive, it can be constructive." He replied, "And you can only defend yourself, is that it, nothing that could harm anyone?"

"It would take too long to explain and it is getting quite cold out here," Ar'mai replied. "The simple answer is no... now please blast this place."

"Would your companion be willing to do the grunt work if I gave him a tool that would make the job easier?" He asked

Ar'mai looked at Bael'ther. "If you give him a shovel... no."

"Who said anything about a shovel?" He asked, "It'd be a valco-hammer."

"Fine then," Ar'mai said as Bael'ther walked over to the point in which he was supposed to start digging. "Though I am not sure what is going to happen when we get down to where the mole is... its doubtful that Bael will have any more luck at breaking through."

Lorathin spoke a couple words and a glowing red sledgehammer appeared. "Here catch." He tossed it to Bael'ther. It was radiating quite a bit of heat, but was only slightly warm to the touch.

Bael'ther got the hammer with ease and moved it around in his hands slowly. He examined it carefully before raising it over his head. With much anticipation he brought the hammer slamming down on the ice.

Rather than cracking the ice, it left a puff of steam and a large hole that was the imprint of the hammer in the ice.

Noticing that it did not have the same affect as a normal hammer, Bael'ther paused momentarily before removing the hammer from the ice. Raising it over his head again, he brought it smashing down - over and over he repeated the motions.

The hole that the hammer was carving just kept getting wider and deeper.

Bael kept on hammering for a while until their was a massive hole in the ground. Eventually he reached the same spot where the mole had been stopped and as the hammer came smashing down, it did nothing but send a vibration up Bael's arms.

"Well... it appears he has reached the same point the mole had," Ar'mai said as she looked over the edge and down at Bael'ther.

"So what do you propose to do now?" He asked

"You are the only one who knows a single thing about this guy," Ar'mai said. "Why don't you contribute an idea once in a while."

She looked at Bael'ther and signaled for him to stop as he was getting nowhere by continually pounding the ice.

"Just because I know a little about him, doesn't mean I know how to get passed his defences." Lorathin replied

"Well your guess would still be better than any of ours," Ar'mai said.

"I suggest we knock..."laughed Sarik as Andrazlia swooped down the hole and Sarik jumped off.

"Go ahead," Ar'mai commented, "But if he isn't answering the smashes by Bael and the hammer... I doubt he will answer a light knock."

Sarik trudged towards the ice and examined it for a bit. He then knocked on the ice.

"Perhaps this is like a barrier you summoned in the mountains? Maybe this area is protected by some gods. Can you ask the mole to begin searching around this wall for a door?"

"It shall be done," Ar'mai said as she snapped her fingers. The mole dove back into the ice and started digging sideways, every so often trying to go down to see if the magic injunction was still there.

"Not really, I'm not an iceologist." Lorathin replied. as he watched the mole.

THe mole would find that the ice was formed into a ball just over eight feet in diameter.

"Oh and I am?" she replied.

The mole had finally made its way to where it could dig down and so it started digging deeper.

"I never said you where." Lorathin replied

As the mole dug, it began to get an idea of the size of the sphere, which was eight feet in diameter.

Ar'mai sensed that the mole had finally discovered the shape of the object.

"It seems to be a sphere... eight feet in diamater roughly," she commented.

"FOO." Lorathin said

Ar'mai stared at him oddly as he spat out the word "Foo." She stood waiting for an explanation.

Realizing he had no idea what she was talking about, Lorathin commented, "It's the acronym for a spell."

"Care to explain what it does..." Ar'mai asked though her mind was still on the sphere of ice. Must be something to do with the guy we are looking for...

"The Froukolien Objective Orb serves as a conduit from point A to B, provided the user both has his own objective securely in mind, as well as the objective of the caster in mind." Lorathin replied in lecture mode.

"Okay... so did you learn anything?" she asked.

Sarik looked at Morti funny, then cracked up

"I used to call my friend a 'Foo' when I was very young..." laughed Sarik. After several more seconds, Sarik straightened up and calmed down.

"So this sends us to a place we are thinking of? How would we activate it?"

"Sure I can cast one, or dismantle it, but that wouldn't help in this case." He replied

"What do we do with this then? Do we shout in it and hope he hears?" chuckled Sarik as he walked towards it. He knocked again on the side and cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted "Mighty Dethoal, we seek your presence!"

Sarik walked away, chuckling soflty.

A word appeared on the wall of the orb, at eye level in relation to Sarik, What, is all it said.

Sarik jumped back a bit as he was startled by the writing. He immediately bowed very low, not knowing whether Dethoal can see through or not, and said "Mighty Dethoal, we seek answers for our limited knowledge cannot help us in our answers."

Obviously what do you want, the word scripted themselves across the sphere's surface.

"I believe our pall here the necro," Ar'mai interjected from her position above, "Wants to know the secrets of creating a new soul."