NationStates Jolt Archive

"It won't take me long, not sure about everyone else." Lúthien replied as she could get some travel gear together in fairly short order.

"They are," Beatrice replied with a gentle smile, motioning towards a few beds nearby. "They are all here...resting soundly."

Beatrice's eyes slowly rose and met Harlins. "You are very brave," she whispered. "Thank you..."

Harlin smiled warmly, "I've never been called brave before."

Sitting up, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up letting the blanket fall away, only to realize that he was completely naked. Blushing and covering himself with his hands, he turned and asked Bea, "Do you know where they put my clothes?"

"I'm ready," Kalzog said as he crossed his burly arms over his barrel of a chest, being the image usually associated with him- a brutish warrior, unparralleled in strength.

"I'm ready, and I'm sure Glurp is as well," Ixair smiled, his eyes lingering slightly longer on the mischevious little girl and her mother. The goddess of beauty...and her demi-god child. Ixair shivered as thoughts swarmed through his mind. Thoughts, if Alegain heard them, that would most likely be tortured as much as the mage could muster. Or possibly thrown to Habdebza, who supposedly was the best torturer in all the heavens and earths. Except...perhaps Skrangor... Ixair cleared his throat, desperately trying to rid himself of the thoughts, but instead was met with four beautiful eyes staring intol his own. Two bright blue ones and two dark red ones. He cleared his throat again and looked at his empty plate.

"A rebel? You will probably try to kill us," Eva replied, making it clear she had still not forgiven him. However she could not deny her lingering feelings for the man. The gentle curves of his mustles, his messy blonde hair, his passionate kisses... Eva felt something jabbing at her shoulder and looked up to see her mother smiling wickedly.

Eva noticed her face had turned a bright red and she smiled nervously as she hid her pimpled face with a napkin. That was one other thing...she desperately needed to get rid of those blemishes.

Rimoru smiled as she too wondered about Ixair. Earlier, she was able to catch a good view of the elf and his body and she had to agree, he was quite handsome. Perhaps, when Alegain was not looking, nor anyone else, she may have to enjoy some private time with him...

"We wait for you and potentially Harlin, Beatrice, and..." Rimoru trailed off not wanting to name off Azrael. "Perhaps we can bring Mavey and family to Mebbiwik as well."

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"Why not? You went into the hear-" The dark elf's began, her blue lips curling into a cute smile. However, she never expected the event that would happen next.

Beatrice's eyes went wide and it seemed as though her whole upper body seemed to glow a dark purple as Harlin stood up.

"Uh-Uh-Uh" was all Beatrice could mumble as the assasin's whole muscular body filled her vision. And yet...she could not close her eyes or divert them away. It was the first time she had ever seen...well, a naked man. A naked anyone except herself, really. She had never even seen Bodista naked.

Beatrice was able to reclaim some of her ability to speak when Harlin turned around, however she was still stunned. "I...I-I'm sorry...I d-d-don't know where...y-y-your clothes are...but I-I-I do know where towel's a-a-are..." she stammered as she managed to cover her eyes with her hands.

"So should we go see if they're awake Rimmy?" Lúthien as she thought she saw Rimoru and Eva flirt, with thier eyes alone, with Ixair. While males were interesting, they didn't interest her in the same way as they seemed to do with the two former royals.

ooc: lol at Bea

ooc: lol Bea would be my other girlfriend

"Alright. They've slept long enough anyways," Rimoru giggled as she stood up and stretched, bringing her arms behind her as far as they would go, thrusting her very ample chest out. Ixair shifted uncomfortably as his eyes absently scanned her inviting body, every gentle curve, every inch of skin that she let be seen, and began to clear his throat, but decided against it, instead taking a hint from Eva and placing a napkin on his face, rubbing at an invisible piece of food. Underneath, however his face also turned a bright red.

Rimoru seemed to notice when she finished stretching as a large smile showing off her perfectly aligned white teeth. Her delicate fingers laced across her flat stomach and she rubbed gently before pulling her shirt down over it.

Glurp himself seemed somewhat entranced to Rimoru's beauty, but the goblin seemed more interested in Ixair's discomfort. "Hullo? Elf? Ixy? Glurp wonders where your mind has wandered."

Kalzog watched as well, but showed little change in his emotions. He did, however notice a few hints going about of romances between Ixair and the royal family's females. Then his eyes went to Luthien, like an over protective father, making sure she was not trying to get some moves in. To his relief, she didn't seem like it. The ogre relaxed slightly and debated whether he should shove the seductive Rimoru out of the room, or enjoy the show.

Yes, even he enjoyed the little show, however, not for the same reasons as Ixair. More for the reasons of Ixair. Kalzog couldn't deny Rimoru was more beautiful than words could describe, however the ogre, like his ex-master, was incapable of love, therefore feeling no attachments or drive for the Empress. Not that she would even care for an ogre.

However, Rimoru seemed to have definately struck a chord with Ixair. Kalzog could tell by the way he squirmed in his seat, or how he slowly slid lower, how his face turned red, just like Eva's, or how he tried to cover it up with his napkin.

For a rebel leader, he wasn't so good at hiding his feelings...maybe that's what made him so well liked in Iskan.

Lúthien watched with a smile as Rimoru teased Ixair. Eva and Rimoru were silly, and a bit mean, to the elf leader. "So shall we go get the others Aunty?"

Horatio awoke from his musings and shifted in his seat as he felt Mienna moving further away, it would seem the others had left already. He stood and walking to the bed he tored off the armor he had taken from the armor and left it in a broken pile on the floor.

He lay down and slipped into a mostly restive state, though a small part of him kept tabs on Mienna's progress and noises going on around her.

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Mienna did not stir as she was picked up and carried, the hit to her head, from which there was a small trickle of blood drying on her face, would mean she would not wake for some time. She was not a heavy burden and should do little to slow the demon.

ooc: Sorry, got a 360 and have been 'busy', well that and friends birthday.

ooc: I think a proper apology would involve sending that 360 to me ;)

"We should," Rimoru replied cheerfully and walked over to Luthien with a perky step. "And perhaps you may show me Beatrice as well?"

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Kre'tahn and the others were rapidly approaching the woods. That's where the demonic hounds of Valtrox and Habdebza went, nearly immediately. The perfumes of the royals were very inviting scents and quite easy to track down.

"Kre'tahn! Look what has been found..." a nearby demon spoke as he pointed to a rather large bag on the ground. Several maws slobbered over it, their tongues probing it for any signs of life or food...usually both being the same. Several demons shoed the Maws away and Kre'tahn picked it up and opened it.

"Clothing...lots of it...they have ditched the bag. Keep searching!" Kre'tahn barked as they once again continued their move.

"Let us be off then." The girl said as she took her god-mother's hand and lead her out to find the others, Harlin, Beatrice and the others that had been rescued with Rimoru.

As they were walking, Rimoru started giggling again before she looked down to Luthien. "Luthy...do you or have you had any boyfriends?" she asked before they entered the room with the wounded or resting.

"Nope, no boyfriends." She replied with a little giggle. "Why?"

Rimoru joined in with Luthien's giggles. "You are too studious, Luthy. The best way to have fun...is with a boyfriend...or with me...or both!"

"Someday Luthy, there will be a time when your concentration on your studies begins to whither, but every time a boy walks past your field of vision, you study him. Is he right for you? Is he ugly? Is he a one night deal or a potential suitor? Mind you, Luthy, don't go for the suitor first...then you get tied up and potentially have children..." Rimoru chuckled pursing her lips while her hands gently stroked Luthien's silky hair out of her face. "And believe me. Luthy, you will have guys lined up just to talk to you."

"No I'm not." Lúthien protested when Rimoru called her too studious. "But you and daddy are both fun to be with."

"Boys are too silly to be studied." She said with a giggle, "And I can't think of why I'd want to study one or have children."

"Why would I have guys lined up to talk to me?" Lúthien asked as she was still, at least in the field of dating and the reasons for such, relatively immature.

"If you know how many nuts a Jelve Gecko eats, then yes, you are," Rimoru giggled as she gently tapped her finger on Luthien's nose. "Luthy, guys would be lined up...because you are so beautiful. I've seen women kill for looks like yours."

"And believe me, you shall be getting these feelings...soon enough..." Rimoru chuckled, gently squeezing one of her soft cheeks. Sooner than you know...

"But I've never even heard of a Jelve Gecko." Lúthien replied as she got gently bopped on the nose.

"You're beautiful. I'm just me. You are much prettier, Eva is as well." She added Eva almost as a partial afterthought. "How would killing someone who is prettier, make a woman pretty?"

"Maybe, but I don't think so. At least not for a while."

Rimoru chuckled and scratched her own chin. "A Jelve Gecko is a little lizard that lives at the edges of the deserts and forests collecting cactus nuts or tree nuts. They can eat up to...well...thirty nuts...or somewhere around there," Rimoru replied as her eyes narrowed in thought. She chuckled again and looked at Luthien. "But that's besides the point. I know you're the studious sort."

When the subject came to herself, Rimoru's cheeks slightly reddened. "Luthy, I am so pretty...well..." Rimoru nervously tugged at her sleeve but smiled at Luthien anyways. "It's complicated. And Eva takes on many of my traits physically. You must be confident in yourself, Luthy. You are a darling. A magnificent character of beauty and smarts, the perfect combination. If you think yourself...not so pretty...then Me...and Eva, shall help you realize your beautiful self."

When the subject came to killing other women for their looks, Rimoru smiled nervously. She shifted in her crouching position and gave Luthien a hug. "Let's just let the matter sink in for a bit, alright, Luthy?" she whispered with a smile. "Come now, let's go see the others."

"Is it a case of type recognising type?" Lúthien asked with a smile at Rimoru's display of 'studiousness'.

She watched Rimoru act slightly nervous and wondered at the reasoning. "I am confident, there is just no way to predict males so I can't tell what they think about things."

"Alright." She replied as she returned the hug before opening the door.

"Ah! Flirt first...study later," Rimoru giggled. "Ah! That's where the fun is! The fun ones are unpredictable...but even the most unpredictable...can be predictable. Like your daddy is perhaps one of the toughest for me to figure out..." Rimoru continued as her eyes seemed to look somewhere far off.

As they walked through to the resting area, Rimoru's eyes fell upon quite a site.

"You have quite a good view of the moon," she chuckled as her eyes fell upon the rump of her savior. "A nice moon at that..." she said to herself as she walked closer, her cheeks slightly red.

However her eyes fell upon the other awake figure.

She was beautiful as well. Smooth skin, full lips, silky, long, white hair. Revealing outfit, bright blue eyes...ample chest...

All attributes that Rimoru did not like in another woman.

"And who...may you be?" Rimoru asked, trying to mask her annoyance.

"I-I-I'm B-b-b-beatrice," Beatrice replied, very nervous as she was unable to see the newcomers with her hands over her eyes.

She smiled as she listened to Rimoru and entered the room.

"What happened Beatrice?" Lúthien asked as she noticed the oddities of the situation. "Oh and Beatrice, this is my new aunt Rimoru. Aunt Rimmy, this is my friend and new sister Beatrice." She said as she introduced the two to each other, after averting her eyes from Harlin's backside of course.

"Hello Miss Rimoru," Beatrice said as she turned towards the voices and opened her fingers a little, revealing blueish eyes behind them. She bowed her head before closing her fingers again. "I-i-i'm sorry," she whispered both to Harlin and to Rimoru.

"I see the resemblence between you two," Rimoru chuckled at Beatrice and Luthien, before giving her a small curtsey, not that the dark elf could see. However, Rimoru's eyes once again went to the naked man and the barest hint of a smile showed through, her cheeks slightly red.

"I think he needs clothes..."

"Luthy, can you please guide me out so I can gather a towel or clothes?" Beatrice asked as she stumbled about, taking one step too far and bumping into Harlin. She yelped and stumbled backwards a bit. "I'm sorry!" she replied, again blushing deeply.

"Alright." She replied as she walked over and took Beatrice's elbow and guided her out. At the exit to the room, she turned slightly and said to Rimoru, "Now no attacking him aunty."

Lúthien then lead Bea the rest of the way out, "You can uncover your eyes now."

"Me? Attack?" Rimoru giggled. "I'm not that mean...all the time."

When the younger elves took off, Rimoru smiled mischieviously and looked Harlin up and down. "My...The jiltaken certainly train their assassins well," she said quietly as she approached the naked figure.

***********************

Beatrice spread out her fingers again and peered through the cracks. She smiled nervously and lowered her hands. "Thank you, Luthy," she said happily. Then, she looked around her and crouched so she was eye level with Luthien.

"I...I saw...everything," she whispered, slightly sounding worried, confused, and interested.

"You're silly aunty." She said before stepping out.

Once Beatrice lowered her hands Lúthien gave her a hug. "Do you mean everything from the front or the back?" She asked as they were quite different in terms of situational effect.

"Both," Beatrice said curiously, her eyes wide in wonder. "I've never seen...a man...naked before..." Her cheeks darkened again and she shivered slightly. "Do they all look like that?"

"Daddy's textbooks say so, with some minor variations. Aunty Rimmy might have more knowladge about it." She replied, "I don't remember ever seeing a man naked."

Beatrice held in her breath for a few seconds, then burst out in a giggle. "It was...awkward!" she chuckled. And it was somewhat...invigorating...

"Me? Attack?" Rimoru giggled. "I'm not that mean...all the time."

When the younger elves took off, Rimoru smiled mischieviously and looked Harlin up and down. "My...The jiltaken certainly train their assassins well," she said quietly as she approached the naked figure.

Harlin pulled the blanket off the bed and draped it around himself, trying to regain his modesty to some extent. He turned and looked at Rimoru for the first time in a long time. She was just as he remembered, so beautiful it hurt.

He smiled, "They don't call us ass-ass-ins for nothing you know. Yes, they train us long and hard," he winked.

"I would imagine. We're getting ready to go find one of Aunty Rimmy's friends, would you like to come with?" She asked, hoping the answer would be yes as she liked Bea and found her partially comforting to have around.

Rimoru chuckled as she walked up to Harlin and placed her fingers of her left hand on Harlin's chest, gently tugging on his hand. "I am very intrigued at this 'training'. Perhaps...you should give me a little demonstration..." she whispered seductively, her right hand gently reaching under his new cover, trying to pulling it off, but stroking his bare chest underneath.

***********************************************************

Beatrice looked up at Luthien as her smile grew wan. "Will it be dangerous?" she asked quietly. She desperately wanted to go...but she worried...what if she was caught?

"It might be." Lúthien said as she wasn't going to lie to Beatrice. "But without some risk, it is difficult to grow and go forward. I'll be there with you though."

Rimoru chuckled as she walked up to Harlin and placed her fingers of her left hand on Harlin's chest, gently tugging on his hand. "I am very intrigued at this 'training'. Perhaps...you should give me a little demonstration..." she whispered seductively, her right hand gently reaching under his new cover, trying to pulling it off, but stroking his bare chest underneath.

Harlin was about to remove the blanket when he thought about Shara. Shaking his head, it was like a spell was broken. He was suddenly unsure of what he was doing, but the situation was one that could be very bad, on very many levels.

Looking Rimoru in her eyes, he gently pulled her hand from his chest, "Rimoru... I'm married, and so are you. It would be unfair to our spouses for us to do this." Just saying that took massive will power, he wasn't sure if he could resist if she made more advances.

Beatrice glanced at the floor, then at Luthien, quietly clearing her throat. "Alright, Luthy. I'll go with," she finally whispered, giving her adopted sister a hug. I hope I don't endanger them... she thought to herself sadly.

***********************************************************

Rimoru brought her face closer to Harlin, instead wrapping her arms around his chest and gently feeling his back. "They will never know," she whispered seductively, bringing her lips to Harlin's and kissing gently.

As she attempted to seduce Harlin, her mind scanned the billions upon billions of images in her mind. Unfortunately, when she was hit with the orb that took her powers, it had also send her mind out of order, things getting mixed up, names forgotten, spells destroyed, her parents...forgotten.

And now she looked for a love interest when she first met Harlin, however she could not remember either of them so well. Rimoru knew she only met Harlin briefly and never really spoke to him before...but there was an elf girl with him...was it the same one with Inzikai? If so...Rimoru will make sure to seduce Harlin and destroy his marriage. No twit gives me an insult and gets away with it.

She smiled as she returned the hug. "Shall we go get something for Harlin?"

Rimoru brought her face closer to Harlin, instead wrapping her arms around his chest and gently feeling his back. "They will never know," she whispered seductively, bringing her lips to Harlin's and kissing gently.

As she attempted to seduce Harlin, her mind scanned the billions upon billions of images in her mind. Unfortunately, when she was hit with the orb that took her powers, it had also send her mind out of order, things getting mixed up, names forgotten, spells destroyed, her parents...forgotten.

And now she looked for a love interest when she first met Harlin, however she could not remember either of them so well. Rimoru knew she only met Harlin briefly and never really spoke to him before...but there was an elf girl with him...was it the same one with Inzikai? If so...Rimoru will make sure to seduce Harlin and destroy his marriage. No twit gives me an insult and gets away with it.

Harlin kissed her back for several moments, and then stopped pushing her away lightly, "The other's will be coming back. They could catch us." He kissed her again, giving into her seduction.

Slowly, the blanket fell off of him as Rimoru worked her hands around his back.

Rimoru let out a small moan as her hands searched his backside. "Let them come," she whispered, before giving him another kiss and pushing him towards the bed. "Besides...I still need to give you my thanks, Harlin. You did save me and my family," she continued. She smiled as her seduction still did not fail her, yet in the back of her mind she could feel something tugging at her, telling her to stop. And as her own hands slipped to her shirt and began to tug it off, it began to throb annoyingly.

She let out another moan and gave out a few more kisses before pushing away gently. Her fingers gently traced circles on Harlin's chest as she looked up at him. "Marriage is a terrible bondage," she whispered to herself, before kissing Harlin again on the lips. "But alas, we do not want to be spotted. Perhaps we shall continue this later?" she asked quietly, wrapping her arms around him again but setting her head on his chest instead of kissing him.

***********************************************************

Beatrice nodded as images returned in her mind. She giggled quietly as she stood up again. "I did not know he was unclothed when I was in there. But I did say I will find something for him to wear."

"Alright." She replied as she led her sister to a small room that seemed to be one large closet. "What size do you think he is?"

Beatrice looked at all the clothes in wonder and giggled. "I'm not so sure. He did seem kind of bulky in the chest area, though."

She giggled again as she pulled out a few pieces of clothing, looking for something for herself.

Bea would find the female clothing a bit small as they were in Lúthien sizes. The girl pulled out a vest and pair of pants and asked, "Do these look like they'd fit him?"

"He is kind of short," Beatrice replied with a giggle, pulling out a small pair of robes, most likely Luthien's.

"Aunty Rimmy is really pretty," Beatrice said quietly.

Lúthien put the pants back and got out a shorter pair.

"Yes she is, but then so are you." She replied, "Shall we go back and get him dressed?"

Beatrice blushed and shook her head. "Bodista told me that...but I was never really...out of my home to notice anything. Luthy you are pretty too," she replied with a gentle smile as she put away Luthien's robes.

"Alright, let's go back."

Holding the clothes for Harlin in one arm, she took Bea's hand and lead them back to his room.

Knocking once on the door, Lúthien opened it and walked in.

Rimoru let out a small moan as her hands searched his backside. "Let them come," she whispered, before giving him another kiss and pushing him towards the bed. "Besides...I still need to give you my thanks, Harlin. You did save me and my family," she continued. She smiled as her seduction still did not fail her, yet in the back of her mind she could feel something tugging at her, telling her to stop. And as her own hands slipped to her shirt and began to tug it off, it began to throb annoyingly.

She let out another moan and gave out a few more kisses before pushing away gently. Her fingers gently traced circles on Harlin's chest as she looked up at him. "Marriage is a terrible bondage," she whispered to herself, before kissing Harlin again on the lips. "But alas, we do not want to be spotted. Perhaps we shall continue this later?" she asked quietly, wrapping her arms around him again but setting her head on his chest instead of kissing him.

Sighing, Harlin both thanked and cursed her restraint. "Perhaps we shall..." He hugged Rimoru, and then stepped back. Lifting the blanket back up, he wrapped it around himself, satisfied by the way it hid his state of arousal.

Looking down, he wondered where Beatrice and Luthien were now.

Rimoru sat on his bed and crossed her shapely legs. She looked up at Harlin and smiled. He is a handsome morsel...

"So..." she said quietly, trying to break the awkward silence. "Who are you married to and what is she?" she asked quietly with a mischievious smirk.

Suddenly, the door burst open after a short knock, Luthien walking through with Beatrice close behind.

"That seemed a bit anxious. Looking for something?" Rimoru giggled as she eyed Harlin's clothes, hoping for something that would accent Harlin's muscles. Her fingers curled slightly as she remembered stroking those muscles.

"Yes, to keep you out of trouble aunty." Lúthien said with a teasing smile. "These are for you, I hope they fit."

She gave Harlin the vest, sleeveless, and the pants that would probably fit, but be a bit tight.

"Yes, to keep you out of trouble aunty." Lúthien said with a teasing smile. "These are for you, I hope they fit."

She gave Harlin the vest, sleeveless, and the pants that would probably fit, but be a bit tight.

Harlin smiled, taking the clothes. "Ladies, if you could all please avert your eyes."

He put the clothes on, and noticed that the pants were a little tight, and a little short, but no matter, at least he had clothes now.

Looking at Rimoru he said, "Do you remember Shara? She was with us at the palace."

Rimoru chuckled and reclined on the bed, looking up on the ceiling. "I am a good girl, Luthy. I would have thought Azzy would have told you," she said softly, the edges of her lips in a gentle curl of a teasing smile.

When Harlin asked the girls to 'avert their eyes', Rimoru lifted her head quietly and watched hungrily, resisting the urge to continue what she started earlier. Not to mention the fact that the clothes were a bit tight, atleast the pants, while she could still see his muscles. "Nice clothes," she commented seductively, again crossing her legs.

"Shara? I don't remember so well...I took quite a...hit in my home," she replied quietly.

Rimoru chuckled and reclined on the bed, looking up on the ceiling. "I am a good girl, Luthy. I would have thought Azzy would have told you," she said softly, the edges of her lips in a gentle curl of a teasing smile.

When Harlin asked the girls to 'avert their eyes', Rimoru lifted her head quietly and watched hungrily, resisting the urge to continue what she started earlier. Not to mention the fact that the clothes were a bit tight, atleast the pants, while she could still see his muscles. "Nice clothes," she commented seductively, again crossing her legs.

"Shara? I don't remember so well...I took quite a...hit in my home," she replied quietly.

Harlin looked the clothes over, and smiled at Rimoru's comment. He would have preferred his leather armor and cloak, but if Rimoru liked it, he must look good in it.

As Rimoru mentioned the ordeal she'd gone through at home, Harlin looked at her and said, "I'm sorry, I know. I shouldn't have mentioned it. She's tall, blonde, half elf, half woman, gorgeous, and a disciple of the Sister's of the White Rose."

"Oh?" Rimoru asked with a hint of annoyance. Yes, you shouldn't have mentioned her. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Harlin."

Rimoru rolled onto her stomach and looked the opposite way from Harlin. She already wasn't liking this Shara character. "I still don't remember this person and I can assure you I have no idea what this organization of white roses is."

"But very playful as well." She replied as she averted her eyes at Harlin's request. "Shall we be checking on the others now Aunty?"

"Yes, let's. Harlin, you are welcome to come with, as we are going to get Mebbiwik, but we are leaving now," Rimoru said as she leapt off the bed from her former position, landing on steadily on her feet.

As Beatrice walked in, she blushed a bit as she looked at Harlin, but said nothing as she watched Rimoru's acrobatic trick.

"Yes, let's. Harlin, you are welcome to come with, as we are going to get Mebbiwik, but we are leaving now," Rimoru said as she leapt off the bed from her former position, landing on steadily on her feet.

As Beatrice walked in, she blushed a bit as she looked at Harlin, but said nothing as she watched Rimoru's acrobatic trick.

Harlin nodded, but then his stomach growled, and he doubled over in a fit of pain. "I'd love to go, but after we eat. Luthy, could you direct me to the kitchen?"

"Alright, come on." She replied as she gestured for the others to follow her to the dining room.

"Snap snap, let's not spend so much time," Rimoru said, snapping her fingers for emphasis.

In fact, Rimoru was unsure about time anymore. Being as old as she was, she was worried that she may just drop dead any second, considering she has very little power in her anymore.

Lúthien lead the four to the dining room so Harlin could get some food in him and they could then go find Mebbiwik.

Harlin ate heartily from the pleothera of victuals that were arrayed throughout the dinning room. The veritable cornocopia of Lorathin's kitchen put an end to his ravenous hunger. When he was finished, he felt much more energized, and ready to move on to find Mebbiwik.

Rimoru slowly trailed behind, her lucious hips swaying seductively as she did so.

When Harlin sat down, she made her way across from him, and bent down so she was eye level with him as he ate, giving him a good view of a large amount of cleavage. Whether this was intentional or not, would remain a mystery to everyone except Rimoru...for the moment.

Hurry up, you assassin! You can make quick kills but you can't eat quickly! Rimoru thought. She giggled to herself as she repeated the words in her mind a few more times. Time...Now that I am weak...will it finally catch up to me? Rot me to my bones? she wondered to herself, slowly becoming amazed at the change in thought. The ex-empress moved those thoughts away as she brought up her mental checklist of things to do before she...kicked the bucket. Many she would never reveal, even to her own family. However one was quite obvious to most people, so much that it even earned her the name 'Prosititute of Iskan'.

She was a creature of sensual feelings and was even called a succubus by one of the Arch Mages of the College of Magicks. That was a very excited night, she had to admit.


Rimoru bit her lower lip and shifted her weight to her other leg as she thought about it. Then her mind drifted elsewhere, to a few hours ago and even a few minutes ago.

Twice she had been 'worked up' and twice she never finished. Perhaps that led to her irratible mood. Now, she just wished for time alone with any of the men in the room...minus a brutish ogre and a slimy goblin.

Rimoru's mind began to drift to more desirable details as she quietly hummed to herself, her bottom moving to a strange beat as she traced strange symbols on the table with her fingers.

Eva herself examined Harlin more thoroughly, even revealing a pose much like Rimoru loved to do at a table. Lean forward, exposing a good amount of cleavage. "So, Harlin...Are you married? Do you have children? Do you have a palace? Where do you live? Is this your first time in Iskan? Is it your first time in Lustria? Have you seen my palace before we were ousted? Do you have any special assassin pimple cream to get rid of blemishes?" Eva asked rapidly, leaving little time to respond.

Ixair almost fainted by the sight. His hands clenched nervously under the table as he looked around, desperate to find something that would take his attention away from the two ladies in front of him. And Glurp provided no help as he seemed to be taking a ritualistic after-food nap. Kalzog was his best bet as the large ogre paced impatiently around, glancing at the group on the table occasionally. "So, how long does this trip take?" the ogre asked suddenly.

"Oh?" Rimoru asked quietly as her mind reoriented itself. She crossed her arms and stood up straight, giving a silly lopsided smile. "Depends on the route. See, we can go by foot, carriage, or horseback. Or, we can perform a mass teleportation that could get us very close to Mebbiwik without crushing him or his property."

"Mass Teleportation sounds quicker," the ogre replied.

"Oh it is! Unfortunately...it requires enormous amounts of energy. When I was pregnant with my little princess," she glanced at Eva, who blushed and smiled. "I required the help of five of my most powerful mages to assist me. Now, considering how...powerless I am...I will need all the assistance I can get."

Rimoru looked slightly saddened by her explanation and resorted to drawing symbols with her fingers again.

Lúthien looked over at Rimoru and added, "I'll help you aunty."

She didn't know how effective her aid might be, but she was willing to help her god-mother if she needed it.

Eva herself examined Harlin more thoroughly, even revealing a pose much like Rimoru loved to do at a table. Lean forward, exposing a good amount of cleavage. "So, Harlin...Are you married? Do you have children? Do you have a palace? Where do you live? Is this your first time in Iskan? Is it your first time in Lustria? Have you seen my palace before we were ousted? Do you have any special assassin pimple cream to get rid of blemishes?" Eva asked rapidly, leaving little time to respond.

As he ate, Harlin delighted in the fine view across the table. When Eva asked her rapid fire series of questions, he thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, no, no, The Jiltakin Fortress, no, no, yes, and no. Sorry I can't help with the blemishes," he added making a gesture of regret.

"Luthy, thank you so much. Your help will is appreciated," Rimoru said warmly. Such a darling girl...

"Luthien, before we got here, before your father lied to me, he said he had some sort of pimple cream that helped him get rid of his?" Eva asked, much to the displeasure of Kalzog.

"Let's go. Harlin is done," the ogre said aloud.

"Aye...time is..." Alegain added, still half asleep, however trying to wake himself up. He stood up and began to walk to the ogre, however almost tripped on his own feet. His hands flew out to grab hold of a solid object to steady him.

That solid object happened to be Rimoru's waist.

The ex-empress jumped with a squeal and giggle as she spun around and helped Alegain up. "Not there, Alley...I'm...ticklish there," she giggled as she buried her head in her husband's chest.

Alegain smiled and kissed her gently on her cheek. Rimoru raised her head slightly and recieved another kiss on her nose. She smiled sweetly and they parted as Alegain headed towards the ogre, Rimoru waiting for the ones at the table.

"You're welcome aunty." She replied with a grin.

"You insult daddy and ask me for a favour?" Lúthien said, before smiling. "Yes, he has some, it's in the medicine closet. Would you like to come get it with me?"

"I didn't insult your father. I only said he lied to me," Eva replied as she got up. "None the less, I would like to get some." She walked over to Luthien and examined her more closely than she had done so before.

Lúthien returned Eva's look and then lead her out of the room so they could go to the medical closet.

Eva followed behind in the awkward silence, occasionally turning around to examine some small detail.

"You don't talk much do you," she finally said with an annoyed sigh.

"I don't make meaningless small talk with someone who doesn't seem to like me, you mean?" Lúthien replied as she turned her head to look at Eva.

"Hey, I never said such things! Besides, you wanted to know more about me. Now is your chance," Eva growled as she clenched her fists.

"Well it seems like you don't like me. Will you tell me about yourself then?" She replied

"Not anymore I wont," Eva replied, crossing her arms and pursing her lips. "I am no longer in a good mood, so it would be best to just go about and collect the creme and we be off. I don't like people making assumptions about me."

In truth, Eva did not enjoy being in Luthien's company, much less now that she had gotten Rimoru attached to her as well.

"Being surly doesn't get the best results with people, at least people who have no reason to scrape and bow to you." Lúthien replied, "And we're here."

A grey, instead of the usual colour, door was in front of them and she opened it to reveal jars and bottles of various stuffs.

"Blah blah blah, just collect the stuff," Eva grumbled. "And no funny business either. Or else I'll make sure vengeance is repaid twofold."

"Now I know why you are quiet all the time; all you do is assume assume assume."

"Mind helping me look?" She said, "It's in a grey, short bottle with a blue lid."

The thing was, that there were a number of bottles that met that description.

"Alright," Eva replied as she began shifting through all the bottles, before coming finally coming across one. "What are all these for, anyways?"

"Hah! Found it!" she laughed. "I guess I'm just too good at every- what's this?"

She picked up another identicle bottle and she looked at Luthien. "Alright, which one?"

"Various medical things." She replied as she began looking as well.

"Neither actually. The one in your left hand is a muscle relaxant and the one in your right is for sun-burns." Lúthien replied after briefly glancing at the two. "Daddy doesn't use a filing system that I've ever been able to figure out and he refuses to let me change it."

Eva snorted with laughter and set the bottles down. "How can you tell?"

The princess continued searching and pulled out four more bottles, two in each hand.

"It's called unorginization, Luthy," Eva chuckled. "It's a style of organization that only men are capable of. My father always does it and when mother or I change it, he always looks confused." She looked at the bottles in her hands and set them in between herself and Luthien. "Are these the right ones?"

***********************************************************

Rimoru turned her attention to Harlin as they waited for the girls, tapping her full lips as though there was something bothering her.

In fact, there was. She had a question that she needed to get out.

"So where is this Shara?" Rimoru asked with an annoyed expression on her face.

"Aye, you two are now married, I presume?" Ixair asked with a weak smile. Darn...so much has changed...people getting married, having children, settling down...soon it will just be me going on adventures...by myself. His slowly looked at the table, and for the briefest of moments, his face was that of sadness.

"They have different designs, of a magical nature." She replied as she turned to look at one she found before shelving it, slightly regretfully, as it was a jar of laxatives.

Looking back at the four bottles Eva held, she pointed to the one on the left in her right hand. "That one's it."

Eva smiled as she looked down at the bottle and set it down to shelve the others, in no particular order.

"Are you sure?" Eva asked as she inspected the bottle closely. She looked Luthien in the eyes and gave her a very mischievious smile. "What are the more interesting or funny substances in this stash of medicines? I'm sure there's gotta be something with humor in there."

"What do you mean when you say funny substances? Are you talking about for practical jokes?" She replied, "And yes, I'm sure."

"What else would I be talking about?" Eva chuckled. "Do you know what kinds they are? Maybe we can get someone with them!"

Eva picked up her bottle and searched for somewhere safe to put it. She frowned as nothing turned up and set it down behind her as she began shuffling through the bottles.

"Well there are a couple things for making people sleep, a laxative or two, something that daddy says is an excellent head-ache remedy and also an aphrodisiac." She replied as she watched Eva with her bottle of pimple cream.

"A what?" Eva asked as she looked around the medicines. "Where?" Her lips curled up into a wider smile, as if she already knew what the word was.

"I'm not entirely sure, I've never needed it so I don't know what it looks like." Lúthien said, as while she could probably find it in short order due to the fact that she knew what most of the stuff was and it would likely be an odder container, it seemed more practical to avoid the possibilities brewing in Eva's mind.

"Sounds...enticing," Eva giggled to Luthien. "Let's find it and we can figure out who to use it on first! Oh this will be great!"

She laughed excitedly again, clapping her hands softly.

"Shouldn't we be getting back, your daddy seemed like he was in a hurry and I don't think he'd like waiting." She replied in an attempt to forestall any pranking Eva might be planning.

She'd probably do something with it that would cause a big fight.

"Luthy! Luthy Luthy Luthy!" Eva giggled as she shook her head. "Come on, Luthy, I guarentee, this will be so much fun!"

Eva took Luthien's hands in her own and smiled. "Trust me, Cousin."

"Alright, we can spend a few minutes looking for it, but only a few." She replied, as she was willing to look for it, but not long.

Eva giggled and wrapped her arms around the smaller elf, squeezing tightly. "Thank you, Luthy!"

With that, Eva began to pull out random medicines and line them up for her 'cousin' to pick out.

"So you wanted to know a bit about me then...I'll tell you a little," Eva said as she continued to work, glancing at Luthien every now and then.

"My mother is Rimoru, while my father is unknown. My father, is, however, related to Alegain, hence the red eyes."

"Our last name is never to be spoken. Alegain's last name was unknown, however he had to forsake it for ours, and he is not allowed to speak it either. Don't ask me why..."

"I am fifteen and a half years old and my Full known name is Eva Victoria, Victoria being my middle name. I don't know where it came from."

As there were naturally quite a few misses rather than potential hits, Lúthien was making new, semi-organised piles as Eva passed them to her.

She listened to Eva's story with interest as she set aside a third possible out of a great many 'no ways'.

"You sound like you have an interesting family." She commented when Eva finished.

ooc: Gone for the night.

ooc: So Soon? Stay for another 15 mins!!

Eva chuckled and nodded. "You haven't heard the last of it. Perhaps later I'll tell you a bit more."

Eva paused and looked around for a little bit before leaning close to Luthien's ear. "And maybe I can tell you a few of my mother's dirty little secrets...they're good," she whispered with a giggle.

"I'd like that." Lúthien replied as she set the upteenth container to the side. They were up to eight possibles.

"That'd be interesting, but should you really be telling your mother's secrets?"

ooc: Nope, needed my sleep.

"How else will anyone else know?" Eva replied as she continued to bring out the bottles and set them in front of her. "Found any yet?"

"Besides, if you hung around my mother long enough, you'd probably be able to figure it out yourself!" Eva giggled. "But they're still good..."

"True. I've found eight that might be it, but I can't tell for certain at the moment." Lúthien said as she continued to partially organise the bottles Eva was passing her.

Eva furrowed her brows after what she deemed as the millionth time of taking out bottles. "Why do you guys need all these bottles? I don't feel like shuffling through all of them!"

She looked at Luthien and sighed tiredly. "How would you find out if those eight were the right ones?"

"There are a great number of different situations where a medicine might be needed." She replied, "And I need to go check the translation. They were picked up in a foreign land."

Eva cocked her head slightly, raised an eyebrow, and pursed her lips; a trait she took from Rimoru as well. "Sooo....how do we get those translations?" Eva asked, hoping the little elf girl won't say they need to travel to these foreign lands...

"Have to get a book and an apple." Lúthien replied as she stood up and held the door open for Eva so they could go get the stuff.

The voices of Kre'tahns demons made there way through Mienna's ears to Horatio's mind and a restless feeling burned through his body, an anticipation and thirst for battle, even though he may not directly be taking part in it.

The restless feeling grew and he slowly woke, breaking off his connection to Mienna, he stood and began to prowl across the room, looking for some way to release the energy building up in him.

He grabbed his scythe and the scimitar he had taken earlier, left the room and stalked through the passages, eventually coming to a guards training room and tearing several targets apart. Eventually he began to tire and left the room, returning to the garden and kneeling on the ground, drew the scimitar and laid it before him, the grass grew into a plinth underneath it.

He focused his mind on the blade and began to channel some of his own energy into the blade, small designs began to almost grow across it, the designs were supposed to be natural, but the demonic influence in him corrupted the images and gave the blade a distinctly evil looking appearence. The blade would be tougher and sharper than its normal counterpart.

He finished and lifted the new blade, as he did so the plinth it had stood on withered and died, leaving a blackened mark where it had once stood. Horatio smiled as he examined it and returned it to its sheath. Then shifting his position he slipped into a meditative state, he had been abusing natures power somewhat and was considering how to make amends. Nature was a fickle mistress. Indifferant to good and evil, but she deeply valued loyalty and could easily cut him off from her blessings if she felt so inclined.

------------------------------------------------------

The noises had also had an affect on Mienna, she was slowly stirring, though the regular pace of the demons feet was lulling her slightly. Or would be, if it wasn't for the uncomfortableness of his shoulder.

As her conciousness returned she opened her eyes and tried to make sense of the images in front of her, the ground was moving and she could make out various shapes, though her eyes were still blurry from the blow to her head.

"What happened? Where are we?" she asked in little more than a whisper, still framing the words somewhat awkwardly. Her fear had not reinstated itself yet and she drifted on a comfortable cloud of ignorance.

"An apple?" Eva asked, still confused as she stood up and walked out the door. What could an apple be used for? Some shaman ritual?

"An apple?" she whispered again. She glanced at Luthien and chuckled. "Alright, let's go! Hurry, before our parents start searching for us!" Eva giggled and clapped her hands again.

Our druidic friend, right? Horatio Boomed a voice inside the druid's head. That was a nice blade you created there...but there is a way to make it even more powerful...

Tell me, Horatio...do you believe in Valtrox, the greatest of gods, the one who was wrongfully shunned? Do you trust Valtrox?



***********************************************************

Kre'tahn glanced at the woman over his shoulder and shifted her slightly. "Stay quiet," he growled as his eyes swept the area. A death hound ran past, his grotesque skin glistening in the descending sun. A maw nearby rose it's grusome mouth and licked it's teeth with a sickening squelch, before speaking it's gibberish and running deeper into the forest.

"We are in Iskan. You have fallen asleep," Kre'tahn finally replied as he followed the beasts as they continued onto the forest.

'Yep, an apple." She replied with a grin as she lead Eva back to a small library, picked up a book then headed to the dining room to get an apple.

"There you little sneakers are!" Rimoru said as the two girls walked into the dining room. "We were wondering where you'd gone."

"We're...primping," Eva replied with a smile. "We never know who's watching!" Both Rimoru and Eva giggled.

"I guess you're right...mind if I join you?"

Eva's smile weakened and she looked at Luthien. "Uhh...for little girls only..."

"Oh? Well..." Rimoru raised an eyebrow but couldn't continue because she hadn't a clue what to say next. "Fine then...just...hurry up."


"Yes, or else I'll be the one that pull you two out," Kalzog boomed, his arms still crossed at his chest.

"That's alright, you need primping too, Kalzog. In fact, we'd do it to you...but we don't have enough make up to make you look halfway decent..."

Rimoru burst out laughing, but covered her mouth as she looked up apologetically at the ogre. "She is right..." she giggled.

Kalzog's eyes narrowed and he placed one finger on Eva's head. "I don't do dress up," he growled, pushing down slightly.

"Yeah yeah, whatever," the princess replied as she pushed off Kalzog's hands and combed her hair back with her fingers.

Horatio flinched as the booming voice caught him completely by surprise. It did not seem openly threatening, but something about it made him wary nonetheless. He considered how to respond to the voice, since it was inside his head he assumed thoughts would work.

"I am Horatio," He thought, to the comment on the blade he respnded; "How would one go about empowering this blade?" He was trying to keep his mental voice as neutral as possible until he identified this intruder.

He considred how to respond to the second question, a wrong word could bring unfavourable results. "I have chosen to serve Valtrox, it would be hard to serve something you do not believe exists, and i trust that he will use me to further his aims until i am no longer useful to him."

If this was Valtrox in his mind then he hoped he had a sense of humour, it was a fine line he was hoping to walk.

"So that's what looking for prank supplies is called?" Lúthien commented innocently.

"Uncle Kalzog looks good like he is." She said, defending the ogre who didn't need defending.

"Ah...the truth..." Rimoru asked with a mischievious smile.

"You squealer!" Eva said as she gave an angry glance at Luthien. And I was starting to warm up with the prat! I'll have my revenge!

"Thank you Luthy. Now since we have nothing important to remain here for, I will say, it is time to leave," Kalzog growled.

"Agreed," added a slightly annoyed, yet still tired Alegain.

****************************************************

As soon as Horatio replied that he was a believer of Valtrox, a blinding light flashed in front of Horatio, along with the smell of brimstone and charred flesh.

Just as soon as it appeared, it disappeared, leaving a long figure in front of him. The figure was that of a human male, bright red hair, red eyebrows, and glowing red eyes. The man wore a cocky smile as he brushed a few pebbles off his elaborate robe.

"Quite simple, really, Horatio...you can have a god imbue it with some powers," The man smiled again as he looked over the druid. "I enjoy your sense of honor and loyalty...but alas, any Valtroxian servant must prove themself to truly serve Valtrox...and reap his rewards..."

"Tell me now, is that what you wish? To become a druid much more powerful than any ever before you, to command nature and magic with unmatched skill? Do be able to get anything you want or need? If so, tell me now, tell me that you want to become one of Valtrox's servants. Then you shall recieve a mission that will determin your loyalty..."

"What are you talking about?" She asked Eva. She honestly was confused as she'd never heard of primping before and primp and prank sounded similar enought that it was a viable leap to associate the one with the other. Her brain had 'skipped' and considering what Eva and Rimmy's chief interests seemed to be, had assumed what they were talking about with-out paying attention to the actual wording.

"One second, Eva still needs to apply the cream for her face." Lúthien said, "And we have to get some supplies ready."

"Not anymore you don't," Kalzog growled as he stood in front of the two girls. "We leave, now."

Rimoru looked between the ogre and the two girls and pursed her lips in thought. "Don't worry, I'll watch them, and make sure they do their stuff quickly and efficiently," she finally said to the ogre.

"What? No, no more pranking or primping! We leave now!" Kalzog growled, getting to the end of his fuse.

"Uncle Kal, we need to get some clothes and food. It'll only take a few minutes." Lúthien said

"There's food over there. And I'm sure your highness here can have sex with a few shopkeepers to get clothes," Kalzog growled.

Rimoru looked at Kalzog in shock as Alegain furrowed his brows.

"Listen here, you stupid ogre, my wife no longer gets into bed with everyone. She may have a long time ago, but she is married now and she upholds the rules as I do!" Alegain growled.

"You naive little man...you know nothing of the wench that is your wife!" Kalzog shouted back, balling his fists and looking more menacing than usual.

Rimoru looked back and forth not truly sure what to do. Alegain still thinks of me as the perfect little angel, incapable of doing wrong... Her eyes closed as her lips formed into a frown. I am horrible... she thought to herself, holding back a few tears.

Eva also was dumbstruck, staring at the arguing adults constantly. "Uh...let's hurry and get the creams while they argue," she whispered queitly, not taking her eyes off the adults.

"STOP IT." Lúthien yelled as she gave both Kalzog and Alegain a furious glare. "Both of you leave each other alone. If you can't be civil to each other, then don't talk to the other."

"We are going to leave in five minutes. We are going to find Rimoru's person. And we are going to be civil. Got it?" She said, her tone one that would accept only a meek yes for an answer and heaven help the person who gave her a no. As she was talking, small packages of travel foods, clothes and other travel goods began getting brought in.

Beatrice walked in a gentle smile on her face until she noticed the tension in the air. She quivered as her eyes darted about and she slowly made her way behind a wall and out of sight.

Kalzog bared his deadly teeth as his eyes glowed a furious red. "Five minutes. That's all I give you," he growled angrily.

Eva stared at Luthien, before nudging her in the side. "Does that mean we get the creams and stuff too?"

"Good." She replied as the stuff was set in a series of piles for each person.

Lúthien then turned to Eva who was in part responsible, and replied, "It's to give you time to put that cream on so you can get rid of those pimples."

"What about the amphroma-whatever potion? We're still going to get that, right?" Eva asked. "And what's with the apple? And what about the translations?"

The princess searched herself, getting no signs of the bottle. "I forgot the bottle up there in the room," she whispered.

Kalzog looked at the goods being piled on the floor and crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't need anything. I am self-sufficient," he growled.

"Possibly." Lúthien replied, "The apple was for me, I was hungry."

With a faint sigh, she pointed to the pile for the princess with the cream sitting in its pot beside a pair of sturdy walking shoes.

"Uncle Kal, I know you are self-sufficient. Just because you don't need anything doesn't mean you might not like something like a couple cinnimon rolls." She replied with a smile as last time she'd seen him he'd loved cinnimon rolls.

"We must get the whatever bottle! Or else we'll never see what it does!" Eva growled.

She looked at her pile and crossed her hands. "Those are not fashionable shoes..." she sniffed.

Kalzog frowned and looked at the pile of items Luthien had brought to him. "Take the other stuff away then. The food I will keep for now."

"It all depends on how much space and such we have left." She replied to the princess. "They are not meant to be. They are meant to keep your feet from bleeding."

"Until you finish eating it you mean uncle?" Lúthien asked with a hint of tease as over ninty percent of Kalzog's stuff was food.

"Well, I used to have fashionable walking shoes. On our way to the college I will ask the shop keeper to give me some new ones."

"And the stuff is just a bottle...it can't take up much room!"

Kalzog sniffed and looked at Luthien. He wasn't easily pleased when he was in a foul mood, nor was he easy to calm. "Perhaps," he growled in return.

"So what kinds of food do we all have then?" Alegain asked as he put on the shoes.

"I guess, you can take all eight until I figure out which is which." She replied with a bit of an impish grin.

"Thanks uncle." She replied with a warm, happy smile. She loved the ogre, even when he was grumpy, but he was somewhat dour at times.

"Mostly travel foods and some tasty food. As well as stuff uncle Kal will like." Lúthien said to the ex-emperor.

Eva frowned at Luthien and shook her head. "Annoying pest," she mumbled under her breath as she walked to her supplies. "Where are they and where would I put them?" she asked aloud.

When Luthien said her thanks, Kalzog looked away, not wanting to look at the girl fearing she may break through his angry mood into his soft center.

Alegain looked at his pack and frowned as Luthien explained what was in it. "Stuff for the ogre? Like raw meat, dragon dung, little kids?" Alegain sneered.

"You failed to mention ex-emperors and their families," Kalzog threatened, the ends of his lips curling up cruelly.

"They'll be put in with your stuff." She replied as she took a bite of an apple.

Lúthien gave a slight impish grin as Kalzog turned away. It mirrored one of Lorathin's defences against her almost exactly. As Alegain began sniping again, her grin turned to a frown.

"What did I say about being civil?" Lúthien asked, "And it doesn't really matter what it is as it isn't for you or going to effect you."

As soon as Horatio replied that he was a believer of Valtrox, a blinding light flashed in front of Horatio, along with the smell of brimstone and charred flesh.

Just as soon as it appeared, it disappeared, leaving a long figure in front of him. The figure was that of a human male, bright red hair, red eyebrows, and glowing red eyes. The man wore a cocky smile as he brushed a few pebbles off his elaborate robe.

"Quite simple, really, Horatio...you can have a god imbue it with some powers," The man smiled again as he looked over the druid. "I enjoy your sense of honor and loyalty...but alas, any Valtroxian servant must prove themself to truly serve Valtrox...and reap his rewards..."

"Tell me now, is that what you wish? To become a druid much more powerful than any ever before you, to command nature and magic with unmatched skill? Do be able to get anything you want or need? If so, tell me now, tell me that you want to become one of Valtrox's servants. Then you shall recieve a mission that will determin your loyalty..."

Horatio tried to shield his eyes in response to the blinding light, but it had vanished before he had a chance, in it's place stood an unusual man.

"Those are all tempting rewards..." Horatio replied, then gathered his courage before replying. "However, first and foremost i would like to retain my freedom to make my own choices. Apart from that, i will recieve whatever gifts you choose to give me. I live to serve." He knelt in front of the man with his head bowed.

"With my stuff? They won't be mixed with my pimple cream, right?" Eva asked, her eyes flaring open suddenly.

Rimoru smiled weakly as she picked up her shoes and gently put them on. "They sure beat walking around barefoot," she chuckled. Rimoru was known for walking around barefoot in her palace and even outside of it, however her delicate feet were no match for rocky hills and rubble. "Eva, use these. It would be best we don't show ourselves very much in town...who knows where Valtrox's ears are."

Eva frowned and grumbled something under her breath as she plopped down and took off her currently muddy, somewhat damaged, shoes that were once the envy of all teenage girls.

Alegain glared at Luthien, but softened up slightly. "I was only guessing, Luthien, Kalzog merely took it as offensive..."

"No, I only added onto the list, Alegain," Kalzog growled again.

***********************************************************

"Freedom...is such a broad term...what kind of freedoms are you thinking?" the red-haired man asked with a smile as he sat in mid air and looked at Horatio's sword.

Horatio glanced at the man, the smile was a good sign, but he knew he would have to pick his words carefully. Seeing the man looking at his sword he drew it again from it's sheath and laid it between him and the man.

"I would request the freedom to act in any given situation, in the way which i believe would be most useful to your cause, though the reasoning behind it may not be clear at the time. I would like the freedom to pursue any missions you give me by any means i deem necessary, without interference from Habdebza." In short, Horatio did not wish Valtrox or his demons to interfere in his affairs if he did not request it and to be given free reign of how he dealt with problems. He also did not like the idea of Habdebza keeping an eye on him.

"That's a lot of freedom..." Valtrox replied as he scratched his chin and narrowed his eyes. "And a lot to ask for...bold move, druid."

The god stood up and began to pace, pausing only to crack his neck with a loud pop. The demon would look at the sword occasionally, but made no move to grab it.

"Funny you should mention Habdebza. He asked for the same thing when...I took him in."

"But he is much different from you, Horatio. He does what I ask and completes his missions properly. He has my trust behind him. Something not given easily."

The god crouched down and sniffed at a few flowers, smiling widely, vicious fangs being revealed under his lips. "Complete a mission first. If it is satisfactory, I shall let you do so. If not, perhaps I shall give you a second chance."

"However, there will be rules you must follow if you happen to complete this mission. One, you are not a demi-god. Do not think of ordering my demi-gods. Two, I am your one and only master. My orders are law. Three...do not get a lot of my people killed. With the ruin of Zlatlan and the death of my favorite pet, Rothargot, I lost control of a good many demons as they are lost in your world now...not to mention worshippers..."

"So, are you in?" the god finished as he stood up to his full height, seeming to have gotten taller as he sniffed the flower.

Horatio watched the man as he moved about with interest. Coming to the conclusion that he was definataly Valtrox.

"I am your's to command Valtrox."

The god looked into Horatio's eyes and smiled wickedly. "Excellent...Very excellent."

"Let's get started, shall we?" Valtrox turned his back to Horatio and took a few steps forward before pausing and taking a deep breath. "Would you believe that there are gateways in this here garden? Part One of your mission requires you to find the gateways, Horatio. But these gates will be broken and shattered. Perhaps nature can lend it's hand in rebuilding them?"

"You see, Rimoru's father was charged with overseeing these gates...something he never told Rimoru...but then again, having destroyed them, he probably thought he wouldn't need to. It's partially why I wanted Rimoru out of the picture. She is not dead, is she?"

Gates? i have heard of no gates in this area... how unusual.

"Rimoru lives, though her power is largly dimished, something of Habdebza's doing. Several adventurers broke into the castle and freed her. We are rectifying the situation though."

"Gates... is there any more information you could give me?"

"Oh? You were not around here during the Gate Wars, were you?" Valtrox asked with a curious smile. "The gates I talk about now, the ones I ask you to rebuild are large stone structures, about ten feet tall, ten feet wide. They are basically doorways that lead no where...until you activate them. But that is for later. In this garden, I believe there were three. You should be able to detect them from Nature...the gates are not quite so natural..."

Valtrox carefully studied Horatio, his face one of concern as he let the druid take in this information.

"Why not, the bottles are different afterall." She replied, wondering if even with the fact that the mystery stuff was in a different type of container than the pimple cream, Eva might try using it.

"Now that everything is here and the five minutes are up in about eight seconds, shall we be off?"

"Yes, let's go," Kalzog replied angrily.

Alegain nodded as he was all packed. Rimoru was giggling as she bounced around in her shoes. "Comfortable," she chuckled.

Eva stared at Luthien, her mouth open. "You are the only one that can tell the difference between the bottles!" she whispered angrily.

"Then lets go." She replied to her uncle as she lead them to the door out. "Everyone here?"

"The pimple cream is in a different style of bottle from the mystery bottles." Lúthien replied to the worried princess.

"B-b-but I don't know which bottle is which!" Eva growled as she tried to pick up her bag. She looked at Ixair and waved him over.

"Could you carry my stuff please, Ixair?" she asked, giving the elf a sad puppy dog look.

Ixair cringed as he knew right when she asked, he'd end up doing whatever she asked of him. "Alright," he replied submissively. Eva nodded her thanks and gave him an air kiss, in which Ixair blushed at.

Kalzog chuckled to himself at Luthien's response of "Then let's go", as he followed close behind, followed by Alegain, Ixair, Glurp, then Eva.

Rimoru stood behind, hefting her backpack behind her. "I'm not cut out for this," she gasped with a small chuckle as she looked around. "Azzy?" she asked, wondering if the mage could hear her.

The girl watched the princess boss around Ixair as she looked around for Beatrice. "Uncle Kal, have you seen Beatrice?"

When Rimoru asked for Lorathin, a disembodied eye and ear appeared in front of her, calmly watching her. The eye blinked, as if to say, 'What'?

Kalzog turned around and looked past the group to a small figure huddled in a corner. "I think she is over there...We probably scared her," he said quietly.

Rimoru looked at the eye, her face expressionless. "Take care of yourself," she said quietly, before turning around and joining the others. I wonder how long Azzy's mood will last...

Lúthien walked over to Bea. "Are you alright?"

Beatrice looked up to Luthien and brought her into a hug, sniffling quietly. "I am scared...I thought a fight would break out...But I was worried too...that someone would get hurt, like you," she whispered, tears coming down her cheeks.

"I'm safe thought and nothing happened. While some things are scary and worrisome, they must be faced to be overcome rather than hiding from them." She replied as she brushed the tears away.

"I'm sorry..."Beatrice replied sadly. She realized that she was a coward, that she was always running away from things. She lowered her head and wiped away her tears. "Alright, let's go," she whispered, slowly standing up.

"Don't be. Overcoming fear isn't something that is easy." Lúthien replied as she took Beatrice's hand and they headed to the door.

"No, i was not in the gate war, though i have heard tales of Inzikais defeat." Horatio said as he shifted into a more comfortable position and stretched out his mind across the gardens, searching for anything unnatural. If one watched closely them may see or feel what was almost like a subtle shockwave emanating away from him in a sphere, powerful enough to leave a small ripple across the grass or feel like a very light breeze.

It was not a fast moving sphere, but it gradually spread. As it passed Valtrox, Horatio jolted slightly, the spell marked him as one who had caused much destruction and death, an image of the currupted lands of Zlatlan appeared in Horatio's mind and his body shook as if it had taken a blow.

But the spell soon passed Valtrox and continued to spread outward.

"Inzikai had gotten farther I had expected and defeated a very threatening figure...however, he died and I had not been freed. But that is a different matter..."

When Horatio jolted and shook, a cruel smile spread on Valtrox's face. "Are you alright?" he asked.

***********************************************************

"Kre'tahn, they have been spotted nearby," a demon said from a bush nearby.

The demon lieutenant nodded and set Mienna down and bringing out a long cord of rope. He picked her up and pushed her against a tree trunk with his lower arms and began to tie her up with his top hands.

When she was tied up, Kre'tahn smiled and stared at the woman. "Scream, creature. It is the only way to survive," he whispered quietly.

"An... unnatural image, that is all. I am fine." Horatio's voice was distant and his eyes unfocused as he focused mostly on the task in hand. His bubble slowly exanding outwards.

He could feel the pulse of life from each and every creature and blade of grass that it passed and it was a struggle to remain focused, but eventually his mind brushed against something unliving and unnatural, he raised an eyebrow as the spell moved around it and found many such objects scattered around the same area, buried a foot or so underground.

He stood, still looking unfocused and moved towards it, when he arrived at the periphery he used a spell which should move the earth from above them under them, forcing all the peices and any other debris including stones and insects to the surface.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mienna let out a small cry as the demon pushed her against the tree, she was still dazed and unsure what was happening. But as she felt her arms being lifted and tied to the tree fear pierced through the haze, causing her to emit a shriek of pure terror, she began to struggle like a caged animal against the bonds. And occasionally between gasps for breath she would scream again.

"I see," the god replied as he watched a mound of dirt rise up and burst as debris tore through. Thousands of insects fluttered and crawled their way around, trying to get back to their dirt holes and underground lairs.

Three such objects rose up from the surface like unholy plants.

Valtrox smiled and walked behind Horatio as he watched what was happening. "Nature should be able to help put it together..." he suggested as he walked towards the mound, insects seeming to detect his prescence and scattering wherever he went.

***********************************************

As suddenly as Mienna started to scream, Kre'tahn smiled wickedly as he walked through the woods, stopping and crouching to whisper a few words to the ground, before continuing through the forest, leaving the captive woman alone.

"Don't be. Overcoming fear isn't something that is easy." Lúthien replied as she took Beatrice's hand and they headed to the door.

Beatrice sniffled and nodded as she stood close to Luthien, trying to figure out how she can be brave. "Do you stay near fights, Luthy?" Beatrice asked quietly.

"Where is Lorathin? Is he coming with?" she asked quietly.

"Occasionally, but there are times when it is more courageous to avoid a fight." She replied as she looked up at her sister.

"Daddy's occupied at the moment. He'll catch up later." Lúthien replied, deciding not to mention what Lorathin was occupied with.

Beatrice didn't say anything, but continued to walk alongside Luthien, before stopping suddenly, her eyes wide in guilt.

"Luthy, I forgot to put my dishes away," she whispered apologetically.


*******

Ixair stepped back in the familiar area, only to cover his ears as a woman's shrieks blared through his sensitive ears. Glurp fell unceremoniously out of the portal, his legs over his head as his chin rested against the ground.

"Glurp no like portals," he said in a garbled voice. His eyes flicked from side to side as more screams filled the air.

Ixair unsheathed his sword and pulled his goblin companion right before the heavy foot of Kalzog came through.

"Kalzog, someone's in trouble..." Ixair said as he dropped the goblin on the floor and took off towards the screams.

"I don't care," the ogre replied angrily as he debated following the elf.

"That's alright." She replied before cocking her head at the screams. "What is that?"

Beatrice shivered as her bright wide eyes looked around. She scooted a little closer to Luthien as well. "I-I-I don't know..."

"Ixair went to go check it out," Kalzog replied as he walked into their view.

"A-a-a-alone?" Beatrice stammered.

"Yes," Kalzog replied quietly, as if pondering if he should go as well.

"Well, perhaps if those thugs saw me, they'll run away, believing I'm still a goddess," Rimoru chuckled as she stretched out her arms.

"I'll go with you. If they find out you are powerless, they will no doubt take advantage of you. I atleast have a weapon," Alegain said quietly. Rimoru smiled and leaned on her husband, kissing him gently on the neck.

"You are a sweat heart," she whispered, before walking off towards the screams. Although if one noticed her clenching fists, one may come to the conclusion that she was quite nervous about this.

"Well lets go check it out as well. We shouldn't leave Ixair alone, he might get in trouble." She commented as she looked over at the ogre.

Lúthien smiled as she watched Rimmy and Alegain, but did wonder what a sweat heart was.

ooc: LOL Meant Sweetheart

"I think Ixair is good at keeping out of trouble," Beatrice said quietly, blushing slightly.

"Oooh someone has a crush..." Eva chuckled nearby as she shifted through her packs laying neatly on the floor.

Kalzog nodded to Luthien, but held his hand, palm facing her. "But you will stay hidden, alright?" the ogre said. "I don't want you or Beatrice getting hurt," he added with a whisper, gently nudging both of their cheeks with two large fingers. He had to admit, they made such a cute pair.

"We'll stay safe uncle." Lúthien replied, grinning as she got poked in the cheek by the ogre.

ooc: I figured as much, but was using your mistake for funniness.

Kalzog turned around and smiled, a very strange look on the ogre with glowing red eyes and vicious sharp teeth and a reputation of death, destruction, and the eating of many children.

Beatrice smiled at Kalzog and swayed gently as she felt his rough finger on her face.

The ogre finally stopped behind Alegain, who was behind Rimoru, who stood on her tip toes to look over Ixair's shoulder.

"Who and why would someone leave a damsal in distress here except to lure something..." Ixair whispered.

Rimoru nodded her head and frowned. "They wouldn't know we're here...as far as anyone knows...we are gone."

"It may be a trap by some demons, using a doppleganger type as bait for an ambush." Lúthien commented as she'd seen such in her travels with Lorathin.

"Perhaps..." Ixair replied. "Or dragon bait," he chuckled as he slowly crept out of hiding and towards the woman.

Without a word he brought his sword to the rope and began cutting at the bindings to get the strange elf woman out.

Back in the bushes, Rimoru squinted her eyes. "She looks like Mavey..." she said quietly, noticing the slightly green tinted skin and the pointed ears.

"Dragon bait?" She asked, not having much experiance with the draconics outside of text.

"I guess we'll have to get her story once Ixair rescues her."

Kalzog sniffed the air and frowned. "Stay low," he whispered to Luthien as he got up and pushed Rimoru and Alegain out of the way.

Rimoru and Alegain looked at each other and then at Luthien and Beatrice. "Any idea what he's doing?" Rimoru whispered.

She crouched down as Kalzog headed toward Ixair. "Do you mean uncle Kal or Ixair?"

Many of the bugs ran over to Horatio for protection, sensign hewa s a druid, but he ignored them as he focused on the task in hand. Toying with ancient and clearly magical structures probably isn't the best idea... He cast a subtle glance over at Valtrox then returned his attention to the blocks, I don't have much of a choice though. Best not to touch them though.

Several stalks of grass thickened and grew, they wrapped around the pieces and held them in a rogh order as Horatio examined them from afar, looking for any pattern or other hint that may prove useful. He was also using a varient on his previous spell to feel the boundary's of where natural air met the unnatural magic of the stones to help match the edges together.

His attention was distracted by fear from the bond to Mienna, soon followed by relief and recognition. He smiled, the trap seemed to be working, though he could not devote his attention to it. Should i mention it to Valtrox? He wondered.

The vines covering the stones began to try piecing the stones together following Horatio's hand movements. He was standing a few metres away in case there was a backlash of energy or magic from the objects.

OOC: What kind of size pieces are we talking about here anyhow?

-------------------------------------------------------

Mienna paused as Kre'tahn had vanished, but after a moment continued screaming and struggling against her bonds. She let out an especially loud scream as the bushes near her moved, but fell silent when the elf she recognised stepped out. She was scrabbling to remember his name, though the memories were not entirely perfect.

He drew his sword and she tried to move away from him, though still tied by her bonds. She was clearly scared, but she relaxed slightly as he began to cut the bonds.

"It's a trap," she croaked, her throat sore from screaming. His name finally surfaced in her mind; "Ixiar, trap, we have to go." she coughed and moved her tounge in her mouth to try and moisten it, then added. "Demons, everywhere."

ooc: Think kinda like stone henge, except 10 foot entrances (height and length) or Warcraft Dimensional gate thingy lol. The pieces are fairly large, with a few little pieces chipped off that aren't mandatory.

Valtrox smiled as he examined the construction of the gates and spun around to face Horatio. "Feeling...exhausted?" he asked as he crouched to examine a few runes eroding on the side of a rather large rock.

***********************************************************

Ixair jumped when the girl knew his name. Her certainly did not remember a girl like this, however perhaps a drunken night may have joined the two for a day or two.

"Demons?" he asked, just as suddenly a large, shiney creature, bulging with muscles leapt out of the nearby bush, massive, sharp teeth snapping at him.

Ixair fell to the ground, barely avoiding the beast as it sailed behind the elf, spinning to face him again. It certainly had the form of a rather large dog, however it had no fur and was covered with a sickly looking goo. It barked again as it eyed Ixair on the ground. Before it pounced on the hapless elf.

However, it fell very short, collapsing to the groung, revealing the large ogre behind, holding the beast's legs.

"Well...get up! Get her out!" Kalzog growled as he tossed the dog into a tree trunk, cracking the dog's spine. And yet, the beast whined as it pulled itself closer to the two.

And yet three more rushed out to meet the three.

"Blast, she was right!" Ixair said as he hacked at the ropes faster, before something else caught the corner of his eye. The other demons...

"Wow...there are a lot," he mumbled as he deflected a blade with his sword. "I may need help here, Kalzog." Indeed, three more came down from the tree, surrounding the elf.

"A little busy...here," Kalzog growled as he had five hounds pounce on him at once, trying to bite through his tough skin. The ogre cracked a few necks, however the beasts continued to attack him with whatever they could.

*****

"Both could work, I suppose," Rimoru giggled, when suddenly, she heard the shouts of the two. It certainly was a demon trap.

"We have to help!" she said a little too loudly as it seemed to have gotten the attention of a stray hound...

Horatio shrugged and said; "I am well. It is just that parts of my mind are... elsewhere." The three pieces finally fit together in a way that looked approximately right and the vines wrapped around them, anchoring them in place.

He turned to face valtrox and saw him looking at a large rock with markings on. "What do they mean?" He was genuinely curious, but was also stalling for time so he could pay more attention to the combat.

-------------------------------------------------------

The bonds holding Mienna had been broken and she pressed herslef back against the tree to avoid the jumping creature. Before she knew it the swarm of demons had appeared and was swamping the various men.

She looked around for a weapon and she fle the rapiers shieth tap against her leg and she drew it, she was nearest to Ixiar and using it stabbed at one of the demons surrounding him.

"It's only a warning. It says something along the lines of 'May the Guardians keep watch and never let the evil contained escape again'. Funny how lies work, isn't it?" Valtrox replied as he stood at the doorway. "Good thing you are not exhausted...I need you to open this one gate and it will require enormous amounts of power."

The god looked at Horatio and scratched his chin as he furrowed his brows. "You need to make a circle around this gate. A large one, about fifteen feet in diameter. Within it, evenly spaced and lined along the inside of the circle, I need you to scratch in a few symbols," he continued, holding out a hand. Red symbols burst into flames, hovering above his open palm, eventually floating towards the druid.

***********************************************************

Ixair dodged a lunge and hacked off a demon's hand and kicked the demon away, only to feel another blade barely cut his arm. Still, a cut was a cut. Ixair took a few steps back, only to hear a demon let out maniacle laughing. The elf prince turned around, bringing his blade up. Yet he knew he wasn't in time...


But he was saved by the pretty green tinted woman whom he just saved. Her blade went right through the demon's hand, pushing it astray and leaving it open. Ixair took advantage and hacked at it's head, making a clean cut across.

As the creature slumped to the ground, he turned to get a good look at the damsel. She was pretty, but he could not recall her. He smiled warmly and nodded. "Thank you, miss," he said quietly, making eye contact with her.

Horatio smiled at the order, without moving a circle started to form, the dirt moving to leave a clear outline and after Horatio had examined the runes, those too spread around the circle, though they were bruned into the ground. "The truth is never as true as it seems, history is written by the victors."

This had been easy, but the implication that great energy would be needed made Horatio regretfully bring his attention mostly away from the combat, just as things were getting interesting.

---------------------------------------------------------

Mienna was surprised that her relatively untrained stabs had had an affect and blushed slightly as Ixiar examined her, though she did meet his eyes briefly and said; "Now we are even, and my name is Mienna." before spinning round and looking for another demon to attack.

"Excellent," Valtrox replied as the symbols began etching themselves into the dirt. As soon as the dirt work finished, he walked to each symbol, inspecting them closely. Satisfied with the work, he nodded to Horatio.

"Now for the hard part. I want you to pour as much power as you can into these words. Mikrás Mazorés Démáno Xempiâtór. Repeat it ten times and draw these symbols in the air," the god said as several more symbols appeared in front of Horatio.

"That should open the gate long enough for a helper to come out," Valtrox said with an amused smile.

***********************************************************

"Mienna?" Ixair asked, more himself than anything else. I know that name... He thought to himself beginning to try to connect the name to someone he knew. His eyes scanned her shapely backside and he had a lopsided smile on his face.

Suddenly, he found himself looking at the edge of a blade and quickly reflected it. Can't think about it now... he thought to himself. As he ducked under a horizontal swing and thrust straight into the beast's chest.

As Mienna turned around, a large maw burst through the bushes, it's enormous tongue shifting around, wiping it's lips before licked the woman in front of it. It said something in its garbled tongue before it opened it's mouth wide and tried to chomp down on Mienna.

"Shhhh." Lúthien said as she cast a cantrip to distract the demon. In theory it would see one of the other demons as its target rather than them.

The demonic dog sniffed a bit and barked, then fell silent with a growl as Rimoru, Alegain, and Eva stood as still as possible.

Beatrice shivered beside Luthien and kept her teeth from chattering as best as she could.

Then the demon pounced at Rimoru, it's massive teeth bared.

"No!" Alegain shouted as he dived for his wife, knocking her down as the demon soared only inches away from the two.

The demon landed in between the couples and turned to look at each group. It snarled again and this time charged at Luthien and Beatrice.

Alegain threw his hand out, his fingers spread apart as a sudden burst of fire soared in the demon's backside, a blast quite powerful, powerful enough to sear off it's hide and part of it's muscle. The hound yelped as it continued on with it's momentum, trying to atleast reach the two elves.

"Run!" Alegain shouted as he looked at his wife, making sure she wasn't cut or anything. She looked up at him and smiled warmly.

"This is a comfortable pose," she whispered, before pointing to the others. "Take care of them. I can take care of myself." She kissed him gently and pushed him up.

Eva had already taken flight, cursing the fact that she hadn't listened to Luthien as her shoes were being torn apart by her running, not to mention the enormous amount of blisters she was getting.

"Someone do something!" she screamed as she ran past Luthien and Beatrice.

As Alegain sent a fan of flame to scorch the demon, Lúthien concentrated and cast a spell of her own. A section of the ground broke up in a pillar to slam into the bottem of the demon dog. Best case would be crushed bones and pulverized inards, worst case it would be sent flying.

As Eva fled past, Lúthien replied, "We're trying to."

The demonic hound yelped as it was carried into the air, bits of burnt flesh and muscle falling to the floor. A few ribs were cracked in the creatures chest, however it slid off quite well with it's slick hide, falling to the ground nearby the pillar with a crunch.

The creature wheezed and whined as it looked up at Luthien, it's eyes giving a pleading look.

Beatrice shook unsteadily, her right hand constantly moving over her sword hilt, and moving away again. Back and forth. She knew she should draw it and defend...but she did not want to...she was no fighter...

Lúthien wasn't totally heartless, but she was also smart enought to not leave a functional enemy behind. Deciding to keep her spellcraft in the same field, she invoked a spell to bury the hellish hound. It would find itself buried in the ground save for small holes for air and sufficinant space so its lungs could expand and contract to breath.

Unless it was much weaker than she thought, it would likely be unable to escape for a day or more likely two.

Horatio looked at the runes Valtrox had drawn, commiting them to memory and repeated the words over in his mind, Mikrás Mazorés Démáno Xempiâtór As he moved to stand in front of the gate, though still several metres away from it.

He started off saying the words relatively quietly, though his voice rapidly returned to normal volume and then louder as he repeated them, once, twice, thrice, six times, then ten. It seemed like a simple act, but it was clear that he was putting a lot of energy into it as he finished saying them because he hunched over and gasped, but he made an effort to straighten himself he lifted an arm that felt like lead to trace the symbols in the air...

-----------------------------------------------

Mienna tried to jump back and avoid the creatures tounge, but it still licked her and sent shudders of disgust rippling across her body, as it tried to bite her she dodged sideways, but angling past it she thrust the rapier towards what she hoped was the neck of the creature. But as she did so she felt a great leeching of energy from across the bond that linked her to Horatio, she was not entirely exhausted, but she began to breath heavily.

Before the hound was buried it snarled and hunched it's shoulders, before letting out a loud cough, a sickly ball of poison launching out of it's mouth straight at Luthien.

Beatrice squeaked and pushed Luthien down, landing to the side of her as the poison stuck to a tree and sizzled.

"I don't like these creatures," the dark elf whispered as she heard sniffing under the pile of dirt that covered the creature.

Suddenly, a crack sounded from the poisoned tree as it swayed back and forth. The poison had rapidly eroded it's trunk.

"Oh no!" Beatrice whispered as the tree descended upon them.

***********************************************************

The Maw let out a humanlike scream, but pulled away with it's sickly body as dark red blood poured out of it's wound.

The beast's lips curled up in anger as it pounced again at Mienna, however, this time, it curled it's body around her back, so if she were to step backwards, she would trip over it's stubby tail.

The creatures scream sent a shiver down Mienna's spine, she brought her rapier up and tried to change her stance, but her back foot came up obstuction, almost causing her to lose her balance.

She cast a quick glance at what it was and saw the creatures tail in the way, hoping to avoid the creature's attack she leapt backwards, trying to make it over the tail. However, she didn't quite make it. One of her feet landed on it and she slipped backwards, swinging her rapier wildly to try and stop the creature from pinning her to the ground and buy time for her to regain her footing.

The Maw growled as it turned around and backed away as the rapier nearly hit it's upper lip, however once it saw an opening, it leapt at her, placing one of it's long, sickly hands on her wrist to try to pin her down.

It licked at her again and let out a strange noise that sounded like a chuckle, along with garbled words that resembled the common tongue of "Like old times".

Ixair kicked the feet out of his more recent attacker and looked around to see a Maw about to rip Mienna apart. The elf acted immediately as he dove under several blows and ran at the beast, leaping up to catch a low branch and using the momentum to swing into the beast, catching it directly into the side. Although the blow was not heavy enough to knock the Maw completely off of Mienna, it was enough to divert it's attention and free Mienna from it's binding hands.

As she got tackled, she looked up at her tackler to see who it was. Seeing Bea, she replied. "I agree, they're ugly."

With the crack of the tree, her eyes widened and she cast a spell, a minor one akin to a cantrip, to cause the falling tree to stop its fall for a few seconds so they could roll out of its path.

Beatrice crawled away as fast as she could, making sure Luthien did the same.

"Luthy...I don't know if I can...attack one," she whispered quietly, her eyes misting up. "I...I want Bodista to come..."

Alegain rushed to their side and held out his hands to help them up. "Things are getting a bit out of hand here," he said worriedly as he looked around to make sure nothing else appeared out of the bushes. "Do you guys know where Eva went?"

"Maybe he's linked to your sword." She suggested as she made sure they were semi-safe.

Lúthien looked over at Alegain, "She ran off in that direction. It might be a good idea to go look for her, but a few of us have to stay to help protect the others."

"I don't-" Beatrice began to say when suddenly, another three hounds burst from the nearby bushes, all growling and snarling at the three elves in front of them.

Alegain crouched and instinctively ran his hand along his belt for a sword, but did not find any. He cursed under his breath and readied a spell as the three dogs pounced on them.

As she saw the hellish hounds, Lúthien was torn between escaping with Bea or trying to deal with them. As Alegain prepared to fight them, she decided to aid him and casted a spell to call bolts of lightning down on the beasts.

ooc: Gone for the night.

ooc: This isn't a lightning storm is it? How many bolts? This better be wearing Luthien out cause I don't see a 20 year old elf being able to muster powerful magic! lol

The demon hounds scattered as lightning slammed into the ground they previously inhabited, running under the cover of the trees to pounce on the three elves.

Alegain growled something as fired three bolts, aiming for the creatures snouts. One hit, sending the beast in a frenzy as it scratched at it's nose, trying to get rid of the charred flesh that hampered it's sense of smell.

The other two, however continued to charge at the elves.

Lúthien concentrated and caused another one of the bolts to smack down in front of the dogs so it would, she hoped, either fry them or at least scatter them so she could try something else.

ooc: No, only a few

Mienna wiggled free of the creature after Ixiar had distracted it. She rolled away and pushed herself to her feet, bringing the rapier up to stab at it while it was still distracted.

ooc: next time, please be more specific. I had to guess whether the bolts were coming from the sky and how many there were.


The remaining two hounds scattered, one of them recieving a slight shock, yelping as it's left side was slightly burned.

The last demon hound, however leapt into the air, it's jaws unnaturally wide as it pounced on the elves.

Alegain gasped as he sent a stream of fire towards the incoming beast, however his fire was not strong enough to stop the momentum of the beast.

*****


Mienna's blade struck the Maw's other side, sending it to squeal in pain. It lunged at Ixair, who nimbly leapt back, dodging the incoming tongue as well. When the tongue came at him again, he pushed his sword through the middle of it, cleanly cutting it in two when it retracted back to the beast.

The Maw screamed with a nearly human cry as blood began to pour from it's mouth. The unholy creature spun around to deal with Mienna again, catching Ixair completely by surprise. He charged the beast and began to slash and thrust at the creature, increasing it's wounds by quite a bit. It must be dieing...and trying to go for the supposedly weaker opponent... Ixair thought as he hacked at it's back leg, causing the Maw to screech and cry out in pain before it crouched and leapt, it's massive body moving several feet in the air and surprisingly covering a good distance as it tried to slam into Mienna, or atleast get close enough to her to attempt to bite her in half again.

Mienna had seen it turn and had already prepared herself to avoid its charge by dodging to the left, at the same time slashing at it as it passed. There must be something more i can do against these things She thought, at the back of her mind faint ideas stirred, almost as if they were being suggested by someone else rather than herself.

Ixair held onto the creature's tail and climbed atop it's back, thankful Mienna had escaped the creature's path. He plunged his sword in the middle of it's back, grease, fat, and blooding gushing out.

"This is one of the grossest things I have ever seen," Ixair gagged as he looked away and got a better footing. As he held onto the sword, he looked on the creature's body for some sign of weakness, since everything else seems to have failed so far. His eyes caught the demented, stretched face above it's lips. "By Elune..." he whispered, closing his eyes in disgust.


The Maw turned, chasing after Mienna, whipping it's bloody tongue out at her.

Rimoru had been trying to plot out what to do and how to do it, considering she had no weapon and no idea if she could pull off some of the weakest offensive magics.

I should've gotten rid of that orb when I was through with it... she thought to herself as she finally saw her opening. She watched Ixair leap at the Maw, kicking it off the woman, whom also seemed to know how to fight. Ixair also seemed to be slightly surprised with her, when they spoke something.

"Bah, I'm getting distracted!" Rimoru grumbled as her mind returned to the matter at hand. She braced herself and took a deep breath, before running full sprint at one of the four-armed demons. The unholy creature appeared surprised to see an unarmed, unarmored, beautiful female, running straight at them, and failed to realize that she was much more a threat then they expected.

The creature merely dodged at the last minute.

Exactly what Rimoru wanted. She smiled as she pulled one of the long thin swords out of the demon's hilts at it's hip, spun around, catching the demon's tendons with the edge and flipped the sword in a much comfortable position, the blade facing upwards.

Rimoru smiled as the demons growled something. "Don't think about it," she chuckled in their same tongue, surprising them yet again.

"Get down." She yelled as she dove to knock Beatrice down so the beast would miss them. Alegain might have been somewhat more in the way of the hellish hound, but Bea was more important to her.

ooc: Sorry about that, it's what I get for posting on short energy and brain-power. It was intended to be a few from the sky.

ooc: Tis alright, we all know what lack of sleep/energy can do lol

Beatrice fell with a loud "Ommph!" as the wind was knocked out of her. She looked around to see the hound smash directly into Alegain, ripping him off his feet and onto the ground a few meters back from where he once stood.

She tried to scream but only a little peep came out of her as the beast's jaws opened wide to rip off the ex-emperor's head.

This is the end! the voice in Alegain's mind blared as he squinted his eyes shut. The world seemed to slow down to a standstill when suddenly, strange images filled his mind- images of being in the palace...with Rimoru...however...it was very different.

Rimoru was tiny. Or he was huge and his mind was in a flurry. He remembered not wanting to do something with her...but somehow she persuaded him to do so. It was simple, no romance, no nothing, just...well...running up the stairs...

Then he remembered a dimly lit room. Rimoru's room...or atleast a version of it. And crunching down on something the mischievious little Empress had forced onto him.

And He was shorter- not shorter than her...more like his current size. And he felt different: soft, emotional, powerless...scared...and love...

Alegain opened his eyes again, however they were no longer how they once looked. They burned with an incredible fury. The beasts humid breath blasted into his face as it moved in for the kill.

However, Alegain's muscles bulged as with incredible speed, his right hand latched onto the creature's upper mouth while his left took hold of it's lower. With a snarl, he pulled the two halves apart. He heard a whine and felt blood pool down his hand and arm. Then a snap and the creature let out a pitiful yelp. But he didn't stop. Alegain continued to pull the creature apart. He felt something within him change, he felt blood pool out of his arms as well, unsure of why. He would check later, as his eyes remained on the whining creature within his grasp. It's slick skin began to rip apart as the creature struggled desperately to get away.

Alegain's lips curled up in a devilish grin. However the grin was short lived as the beast made hacking noises. The ex-emperor immediately shut the hound's mouth as far as it would go and felt the life slip away from the creature as a reddish-green foam seeped from it's mouth. Alegain dropped the creature and made sure none of the acidic poison was on his hands.

The remaining hounds snarled and looked at the three, circling around them as they planned a new attack.

Lúthien blinked in surprise, not sure she'd actually seen what she'd thought she'd seen. What she'd seen didn't make sense but there was evidence that said it was right.

Looking around, she saw the other two hounds and made sure to help Bea up. If they had to run, and it was looking that way, at least they'd be on thier feet to do so."

Alegain blinked in a few times, his eyes returning to normal as he realized they were still in trouble. He dropped to one knee in exhaustion and frowned as the demon hounds slowly closed in.

Suddenly, another beast leapt through the bushes. A maw and a large one at that. However, something else was atop it, something that made the ugly beast even more grosteque, like a green wart or growth. However, upon further inspection, one would notice this growth had long ears, a long nose, and wide eyes. It was a goblin.

"Yeehaw!" the goblin screeched as the Maw ran into the two hounds, it's tongue being pulled by the goblin who was bouncing up and down on the beast's back.

The hounds barked and leapt up at Glurp in an attempt to free their ally, however, Glurp brought up the Maw's tongue, effectively using it as a sheild.

The Maw screeched as a piece of it's tongue ripped off into the hound's mouth, leaving Glurp with no more reign. The ugly Maw immediately spun around, stomping on one of the hounds while grabbing the other howling mutt in it's teeth and slurpped up it's body with a gruesome slurp, raising it's mouth in the air as if to help the hound fall down it's throat.

The Maw, however howled and writhed, tossing the goblin off it's back as suddenly it's stomach practically exploded, organs, body fluids, and past foods spilling out as the creature died from the poisonous skin of the hound.

Beatrice gagged a few times and placed her hand over her mouth, her skin darkening. "I...I don't feel so good..." she gagged, before rushing behind the nearby tree stump.

OOC: Sorry for the immensely slow reply, internet troubles and just generally not being at this laptop.

Mienna was beginning to think she had bitten off more than she could chew with this creature, and as she began to despair a series flashed through her mind, almost as if she had done these actions a hundred times before. As if she was in a dream she followed the actions and a clump of vines grew up from the floor between her and the beast and tried to wrap around it.

Due to her unfamiliarity with magic it was a weaker version of the normal spell and the vines were not particularly thick, a strong effort could break them, but they should at least delay the creature.

The Maw roared as it lurched forward and fell onto it's stomach. It raised itself again and growled as it began to chew visciously on the vines to free itself.

Ixair, however, took this time for action. He speedily walked atop the Maw, careful not to fall off, until he came to the ugly face.

He turned away and gagged as he noticed the beast still had two little eyes under those eyelids. "May Elune have mercy on your poor soul," he whispered as he plunged his sword in the beast's face.

The Maw let out a terrible scream before it slumped to the floor, it's tongue lolling out. A pool of blood formed quickly under it from all it's wounds.

Ixair pulled his sword out with a noisy slurp and leapt off close to Mienna, studying her intensely, not only to see if he could remember her, but also, as much as he would deny it, for her looks.

"Good idea," Ixair smiled weakly, before turning to the others. Kalzog seemed to be handling himself rather well. The great heap of hounds that had pounced on him seemed to be scattered along the ground or nearby trees in bloody pulp or otherwise. Kalzog himself was engaged with one of Habdebza's personal soldiers, ripping off it's arms, much to the pain of the guard.

Even Rimoru was fighting surprisingly well, hacking, slashing, and dodging her way through the group of demons that were once fighting him.

"Are you alright?" he asked Mienna, returning his attention to her.

While Ixiar had dispatched the creature, Mienna had leant against a tree to catch her breath. The earlier blow to her head had left a mark and there was a trickle of fresh blood coming from it, perhaps it had been hurt when she had fallen, she wasn't sure.

At first she didn't realise that Ixiar was examining her, but when he spoke she looked up. "Tired, is all." she said as she pushed herself upright again and looked around, the ogre seemed to be capable of protecting himself, and the empress was holding her own.

Her first though was that maybe she should help, but a seperate concern came to mind; "Where are the others?" She could hear some noises, but couldn't see them.

Lúthien shouted encouragement to Glurp to use the really-ugly to kill the hounds. She knew there was a reason she liked the goblin, and maybe he didn't make up as much as might have been thought.

When the really-ugly exploded, she felt ill and joined Bea in the losing of the lunch, but didn't take shelter behind a bush and let loose then and there.

"Tired can be many things," Ixair said quietly. He frowned as he noticed the trickle of blood coming from her head and slowly walked up to her. He reached into his coat and pulled out a clean piece of cloth and wiped up the blood. He slowly traced it up to the wound and held it there gently. He smiled at her as he did so. "I'm sorry, just habit. Before I came to Iskan, when I lived aboard a sea ship, I would occasionally help the medics patch up our crew. Unfortunately, I wasn't much use other than bandaging people...I have little or no magical talent," he chuckled.

When she brought up the others, Ixair raised an eyebrow. She was certainly a person who could use her senses well. He began to wonder if she had heard them or they had appeared somehow...

"They are over in those bushes," he said quietly, pointing past the ogre to a group of shrubs and behind some trees. He looked back at the girl, tempted to just keep her there and question her, but he knew there was time for that later. Hopefully...

Lúthien shouted encouragement to Glurp to use the really-ugly to kill the hounds. She knew there was a reason she liked the goblin, and maybe he didn't make up as much as might have been thought.

When the really-ugly exploded, she felt ill and joined Bea in the losing of the lunch, but didn't take shelter behind a bush and let loose then and there.

"Oh dear," Alegain groaned as he closed his eyes so as not to witness the gruesome and very grosteque scene before him. "Come on girls," he whispered as he cleaned off his hands as best he could and motioned for the girls to come over to him when they were done. He had to try his best to keep from joining the two elves. Luckily, thoughts of his strange vision filled his mind, distracting him a bit from the gruesome scene.

He had to find the others, after he took the girls to a safer, and cleaner, area.

After a few more dry heaves, Lúthien wiped her mouth and spat a few times to try and get the taste out. Trying to avoid looking around, she replied, "Alright, lets go."

"Tired, as in tired." Was Mienna's reply, though she let him clean the wound. "I'm sure your past is fascinating, but for the moment, we should finish up here and leave, there may be more demons."

She made her way towards the bushes, avoiding Kalzog and the bleeding demon he was fighting, though she kept the rapier ready just in case.

She pushed through the bushes and was somewhat disgusted by the smell of charred and disolved flesh which assaulted her. She caughed and covered her mouth as she looked round, seeing a tall elfish man she didn't recognise and Luthien, but didn't see Beatrice or the annoying princess. She would have said something, but did not want to take too deep a breath of the stench.

Ixair raised an eyebrow and chuckled at Mienna. "Alright," he replied. "How many demons were waiting for us? Are the ones we fought all of them?" He added as he followed close behind. Who is this woman? he kept wondering to himself, the question becoming very annoying in his mind.

*****************
Alegain wrapped one arm around Luthien, covering part of her vision with his hand, waving to Beatrice with the other.

The dark elf crawled out of her little place and gagged again, before running to Alegain. He put his arm around her and she squirmed a little, but made no move to try to take it off. He blocked her view of the gruesome scene with his taller and slightly bulkier figure, and quickly guided them away, when another figure came into his view. The girl that was tied up.

"Are you alright?" Alegain asked as he guided the girls away, towards a small clearing, bushes and trees blocking the area. However, just opening his mouth almost made him gag.

"I don't know, this bang on my head isn't purely decoration. I woke to find myself tied to a tree with a demon breathing in my face. I'm sure there are more, i didn't see their leader in that fight, but we had better not stick around to see if i'm right." Mienna responded, she wasn't in the best of moods, the burst of adrenaline from the fighting was wearing off and she was beginning to feel more tired.

When the elf passed she folowed him to the clearing. "I am ok, thanks to Ixiar. The ogre and the empress are mopping up the last few. Are you ok?" She asked, posing it as a general quesion to all three of them.

She was unsure where the fluidity with the language came from, but like the magic, it seemed to be coming from someone else. She didn't have the time now to consider it in detail.

"I'm alright." She replied and immediately regretted it as she felt another dry heave wrack her frame. "Are we going to go find Eva?"

Ixair nodded, wide eyed at Mienna. Fiesty, he thought with a chuckle. "Sorry for all the questions, Mienna," he replied sheepishly.

When they finally came to the clearing, he smiled and nodded to the other three.

As Mienna explained how Ixair saved her, he smiled again and winked.

"I am..." Alegain started on instinct, however one look at him would give the impression of amazement of how he was still alive. He just realized his hands were covered in blood and incredible pain shot through his arms. His shoulders burned ferociously and he had a slight wheeze to his breath. "Good enough," he finished, hiding his hands behind his back.

Beatrice looked at the odd green elf girl in front of her, then at Luthien, then Alegain, and finally Ixair behind the new comer. "Sit down, please. Rest will do you good," she said weakly.

Alegain nodded and almost immediately dropped to the floor. The pain increased, but he ignored it for the time being. "I think...we got them all," he whispered. When the question of Eva came up, Alegain's eyes went wide. "Oh no..." he gasped as he pushed himself up, however he fell over onto his side with a thump as his fingers shot incredible pain through his arms. "Agh...infernal," he growled as tears escaped his eyes.

Mienna was tempted to sit and rest, but she couldn't just ignore the bleeding man on the floor, it seemed miraculous he was still alive. "Can anyone help him?" She asked, she had seen Horatio make simple remedys and salve's from herbs and leves, but nothing that would have a great effect on the damage it seemed he had sustained. Never the less, she cast her eyes around the bushes on the clearing, she might be able to scrape something together that might reduce the pain.

"Don't worry, we will find Eva." She stated, then turned to Ixiar, "Go make sure the ogre and empress are ok, bring them here. They may be able to help." She was not used to being commanding, but it seemed nobody else was taking the role.


OOC: Not on for much longer

Rimoru crouched, avoiding a would-be lethal blow, and hacked off the hands that dealt it.

With a swift backstab, the creature gasped it's last breath and slid off her sword and onto the ground.

"That's the last of them," Rimoru said to no one in particular as she watched Kalzog finish with his own attackers.

She turned around again, tossing her blade to the ground, to find a better one and hopefully, with a sheath.

However, when she spun around, she was met with a vicious looking hound, saliva spilling over it's oversized jaws. Rimoru silently cursed her bad fortune as she looked over at her sword. If I time this right...

The hound leapt at her and she dove for her sword, rolling until she looked up at the sky. She sumersaulted up, however was pushed back down by the dog, a burning sensation forming on her chest.

She brought her sword upwards and screamed as the hound's gaping maw filled her vision.

She looked at the stranger a trifle suspiciously. She was responsible for them getting attacked afterall, if only by being the bait. Lúthien decided that later she'd try a magical scan as well as asking the green skinned girl a few questions.

"Ixair, can you carry Alegain as I don't think he's in very good shape at the moment?" She asked as she was already thinking of how to find Eva quickly.

"I am fine," Alegain growled, not wanting to be the center of attention and his usual stubborness and feeling of being invincible. "Thank you...I will join you in a...bit." The ex-emperor attempted to get up as he spoke.

Ixair nodded to Mienna, then recieved conflicting orders from Luthien. "Uhh..." he started as he looked at both girls. He shrugged and came up with a compromise of helping the ex-emperor up, since he was able to walk before. Then going to see the damage done with the Ogre and Rimoru.

He walked over and bowed his head slightly. "Sir," he said with a smiled as he gently wrapped his hands around Alegain's waist.

"What-Gerroff me! I don't need any of your infernal help!" he growled, not wanting to push Ixair away, but motioning to do it anyways.

Ixair brought him up anyways and nodded. "Alright, sir," he chuckled as he turned around to help the others. Just then, he heard a scream that made the hair at the back of his neck stand on end. "Rimoru?" he shouted as he rushed out to help the ex-empress.

"Aunty." Lúthien called out when she heard the scream, knowing the Kalzog wouldn't be screaming like that as she hurried toward Rimoru.

Kalzog looked over at the source of the scream, knowing just seconds ago, Rimoru was handling herself surprisingly well. What he saw even made him slightly on edge. Rimoru's body remained unmoving as blood poured from her head. The hound had already done its job. It had ripped her beautiful face right off.

"Rimoru," Kalzog growled as he ran to the demon's body as it gouged itself on her flesh. With a roar he gripped the demon's neck and pulled it away, only to pause as he saw the gruesome site.

Rimoru was very much alive, however she was covered in the demon's blood...and a lot of it. Apparantly she had pierced the creature's vein.

She smiled weakly at the ogre, blood seeming to even have gotten into her mouth. "I didn't think you cared about me..." she whispered.

"I don't," Kalzog replied with growl as he tossed the dead creature away.

"Aunty." Lúthien yelled as she saw all the blood, unsure of where it had or was coming from. Running over, she asked, "Kalzog, what happened? And are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Rimoru said as she rolled over and spat out some blood. "So...gross..."

"But I saw it...eating..." Kalzog growled as he scratched his head.

"The beast was twitching before it died," Rimoru replied. "Ugh...if we're done...I would like to..." She spat again. "Get to a spring to wash myself off..." She smiled at Luthy and wanted to give the girl a hug, however it was not the most comfortable thing to get hugged by a person covered in blood...probably even if that person was Rimoru. "Where's Alegain? And Eva? Where is everyone?"

Alegain and Ixair ran over, both having a look of relief as Rimoru was up and alive.

"I feel so loved," she giggled, before spitting again.

"Are you hurt? What's that?" Alegain asked, concerned as he pointed to her stomach. Indeed, the beast's poisonous saliva scarred Rimoru's once smooth stomach. A look of sadness came over Rimoru but she shook her head.

"It's...alright," she said quietly.

"And the blood?"

"All the hound's."

"Oh, Rimmy..." Alegain said as tears rolled down his cheeks. He gently wrapped his arms around her, despite the blood, as he had his own on him and kissed her cheek.

"Alley...you are in terrible condition..." Rimoru said they pulled apart.

"Ah...it's nothing. We must find Eva. She ran away and we have not yet found her..."

The blood in Rimoru's face drained quickly as her skin paled. "Eva!" she shouted. "Eva, it's safe!"

The bushes rustled nearby, before two hands shot up. "It's me!" she said so no one would try to kill her. "I'm here..."

When she got out, her face was covered in tears and she ran to her mother and father and wept. "I was so worried..."

Beatrice came out last, Glurp proudly walking behind, his chest puffed out.

"Glurp save the day, as always!"

Beatrice giggled quietly and wrapped her hands together and turned her upper body left and right as she looked at the royal family. "I'm g-g-glad you guys are alright," she said.

Rimoru smiled warmly at Beatrice. "I'm glad we are all alright, for the most part."

"Enough with this, let's get going," Kalzog growled.

A large smile lit her face as she found out that Rimoru was alright. As Eva was 'found', she was tempted to make a crack about cowardice but decided it wasn't worth it as it would just cause more problems.

When Glurp came out with Bea, she walked over and gave the goblin a hug. "You were very brave Glurp, thank you."

"Alright, that sounds like a good idea, but who is the damsel in distress?" Lúthien asked looking over at the girl who caused the mess.

Glurp was surprised when Luthien, 'the nose-whacker', came over to give him a hug. At first he thought she was going to somehow smack him, but when she wrapped her arms around him, he blushed slightly and smiled. "Glurp knows. Glurp always brave," came his reply as he wrapped his small arms around her.

As a matter of fact, Glurp didn't even mean to get on the Maw in the first place.

***

Knowing that a battle was coming, Glurp had scrambled up a tree when the others left him, however, at the top was a particularly ugly, one-eyed demon. The demon mumbled something and tried to kill Glurp, but only succeeded and chopping off the brance the goblin ran to, which fell atop a Maw.

The Maw brought it's tongue out to sweep away whatever it was that had hitched a ride on it's back, only to feel it's tongue being grabbed. And so it bucked and reeled, trying to get the little goblin off, but failed to do so as it stampeded through into it's own allies.

***

"Who is the damsel in distress?" Rimoru asked as she searched for the green tinted woman.

Eva let go of her parents and looked around nervously, making sure no other creature as going to pop out at her.

She just smiled proudly at the goblin. Had she known the whole story she'd have laughted, thought she'd still be thankful. "Yes, you are brave, very brave."

"That's what I want to know as well Rimmy, but uncle Kal is right as well. We should put some distance behind us before we find out." Lúthien replied

ooc: lol didn't mean to repeat, got distracted and needed to finish that post up quickly.

"There's always time for questions as we move," Ixair nodded, a good compromise.

Rimoru nodded and gently ran her hand through her husband's wound areas. "Don't worry, Alley...you'll be saved soon..." she kissed his hand gently and looked past the gruesome landscape and to the massive tower in which she once lived. Her eyes fell to a group of nearby buildings. The Library, the College of Mechaniks, and the College of Magicks.

She also wanted to somehow get time to wash herself off. Being in blood, especially blood from another was not quite comfortable.

"That sounds alright." She replied as she looked around for a bit of water as it looked like Rimmy wanted to get rinsed off. Failing to find one, she decided to keep her eye out for one and asked, "Which way is it to whatshisname's house?"

Mienna caught up to the others and bowed deeply. "My thanks." She straightened than said "I am Mienna and you're right, we should get out of here." She too wanted a wash, the maw's tounge had left an unpleasent feeling.

"Mienna?" Kalzog asked gruffly. He glanced at Beatrice who said Mienna's name twice. "The druid's crow?" Without waiting for an answer, Kalzog began to walk in the direction of Rimoru's cluster of buildings.

Ixair's eyes widened in realization as he looked at the elf. "Wow. You look good, Mienna," Ixair said with a smile as he followed the ogre. "How...did this happen? Last time I saw you, you were pecking off my fingers as I tried to give you biscuits!"

Beatrice smiled at Mienna and curtsied politely. "I am Beatrice," she said quietly, before moving along with the ogre and others. "I am glad to see you with us again!"

Rimoru bit her lower lip with a smile, but frowned as she spat out some more blood. "Let's go, the sooner we get to Mebbiwik's, the sooner I can get my palace back, and the sooner you guys don't have to wait around in the forest with no place to rest, except another deminsion," she chuckled.

"What, if anything, is your relationship to the Mienna that was a crow that was the familiar of a druid by the name of Horatio?" Lúthien asked before adding a number of other questions in rapidfire style, "If you are that same Mienna, where is Horatio, why are you not with him, what, if anything, has happened to him, and how did you go from being a crow to your present form?"

"And while your answering, we can get to walking to find Mr. Mebbiwik." She added as she began heading after Kalzog.

Mienna replied "Give me a chance to explain." Then she bowed to Beatrice and said; "As am I."

She turned to Luthein. "First, druids do not have familiers, i was his companion by choice. I am the same being as i was before." She fell silent for a momnet as if rememberig the past. She shook her head and then continued. "Horatio has succumbed to a demonic taint in his blood."

She stopped again before answering the last question. "How i became like this...?" She asked as she looked at her hands. "I think i died." She fell silent, a distant look on her face.

"How do we know you are not lieing to us?" Kalzog asked as he brushed away a few branches.

"Can you walk alright?" Ixair asked, as he had not really watched if she had the hang of walking like a normal person would.

"Animal companion, familiar, same thing." She replied as she watched Mienna for any signs of mistruth or any odd behavior. "So you are the Mienna that was a crow. How would death cause a change like the one you exhibit? Also, where is Horatio, why are you not with him, and how did he succumb to a demonic taint? In addition, why were you being used as bait by demons and how did you come into thier possession?"

Lúthien was suspicious of the former crow simply because she use to be a crow and her actions, unwitting as they may have been, could have cost her a great numbers of friends, companions and family.

"Simply put. You don't, you will have to trust me." Mienna replied. She was walking well enough, although she still stumbled where a normal person might find decent footing, and showed some slight awkwardness, but she was accustomising to it quickly.

She looked at Luthien as they walked. "There are differances between the two, but nevermind. I am like i am because Horatio gave me a chance for rebirth in a body of natures choosing. Nature gave me this body, i am unsure why and i am unsure why i was brought back." She paused to take a breath and think for a second. "Horatio is still in the palace, i still feel his presence to that direction."

"The demonic taint comes from his bloodline, it was dormant in the forests. I first noticed a change when you all fought the demons in the desert, then more so when you arrived at the city. The turning point was in a forest, a demon gave him something and his evil has been growing since." She paused again.

After a moment though she finall said. "Horatio leads the demons in the palace, i was revived in their custody. He gave me clothes and this sword, instructed me how to use it, and after a short fight knocked me out. I awoke to find the demon who killed me staring me in the face. Are you satisfied?"

"My trust is not easily earned," Kalzog growled as he continued to lead the way, stopping only to make sure they were going the right direction.

Hours flew by and the sun barely peeked out on the horizon, when they finally reached the hill from where they teleported to the clearing.

Rimoru looked longingly at a nearby lake and absent-mindedly scratched at her bloody arm. Alegain noticed it and gently kissed Rimoru's neck. "Kalzog, may we...wash ourselves off? We would looked less inconspicuous if we walked around without bloody clothing."

The ogre grumbled something under his breath and looked at the others. "If the majority wishes to wash themselves off, hurry up. If not, we continue."

"To an extent." She replied as she looked at Mienna one more time before heading to catch up with the ogre.

"I'm not sure about washing off, but I need a bit of a rest. You've almost walked my legs off uncle. We don't all have your long legs afterall." The elf commented as she looked up at the ogre before taking a seat on a log to rest her feet. She imagined that Eva would be crippled tomorrow.

"I too would like to rest." She was tired from the fighting, but had also been drained by the bond. She hated to admit it, but she hoped Horatio was okay. "The demons have not attacked again, we should be safe. For now."

Horatio looked at the runes Valtrox had drawn, commiting them to memory and repeated the words over in his mind, Mikrás Mazorés Démáno Xempiâtór As he moved to stand in front of the gate, though still several metres away from it.

He started off saying the words relatively quietly, though his voice rapidly returned to normal volume and then louder as he repeated them, once, twice, thrice, six times, then ten. It seemed like a simple act, but it was clear that he was putting a lot of energy into it as he finished saying them because he hunched over and gasped, but he made an effort to straighten himself he lifted an arm that felt like lead to trace the symbols in the air...


As Horatio repeated the symbols, he may have heard, or atleast thought he heard something else within the other side of the gateway, something sinister.

The last symbol blazed in the air, immediately fading into nothingness. Valtrox frowned and looked at the druid. "It seems someone has failed..." he growled, getting closer to Horatio. Each step seemed to make the god more draconic, his hands turning to claws, wings growing from his back. Soon, he was on all fours, his fiery body slowly walking around the druid. "Failures don't succeed in life," he growled, before baring down on him, his lips curled as his massive teeth rammed into the druid.

Or so it seemed. The moment his fangs would have crunched down on Horatio, Valtrox was smiling, minding his own business as if nothing happened. "I jest," he chuckled as he looked at the gate. A large foot slowly planted itself on the soft earth. Soon a tall, ten food demon walked through, a demon who carried himself with a cocky gait. He sniffed once in his humanoid face, a handsome one at that as well, and looked at Horatio with piercing red glare. He sniffed once and wiped off his shoulder as he walked all the way through. On top of his head was neatly groomed red hair and ram horns curling around his ears. On his right arm was a large tattoo that almost blended in with the red dotted stripes along his body, if it weren't for the obvious sign of Valtrox. Along his waist, he had a massive sword sheathed. A noticible feature was a long scorpion-like tail protruding from behind him, along with a pair of long, demonic wings. The only clothing he wore was his pants, revealing heavy muscles.

"I am surprised to see someone so scrawny be able to open a portal..." the demon said to Valtrox in a very clear voice will no accent.

"Don't underestimate him. Horatio has proven himself well thus far," the god replied before turning to Horatio. "This is my youngest general, Magledesh. He has been summoned to help you on my quest I am about to give you."

The demon looked at Horatio and bowed his head slightly, however he seemed to be sneering as well.

"There are a few possible alliances I want you to seek. The most urgent, a few politicians or other ranking officials within this nation. Rimoru is gone and this town will fall under turmoil unless the heros and officials whom the people look up to join together at our cause. At the top of this list is Miffin McDungal, a very very powerful man. It is necessary we have him backing us up...it makes things much easier..."

"To an extent." She replied as she looked at Mienna one more time before heading to catch up with the ogre.

"I'm not sure about washing off, but I need a bit of a rest. You've almost walked my legs off uncle. We don't all have your long legs afterall." The elf commented as she looked up at the ogre before taking a seat on a log to rest her feet. She imagined that Eva would be crippled tomorrow.

"I too would like to rest." She was tired from the fighting, but had also been drained by the bond. She hated to admit it, but she hoped Horatio was okay. "The demons have not attacked again, we should be safe. For now."

Kalzog sighed as he looked at Luthien. He'd carry the girl if needed, but he decided he'd let them have their rest. Besides, he'd probably end up carrying all of them if it came to that. And he could always dig into his goody bag Luthien packed for him for a few of her delicious treats. "Alright, then let's rest."

Ixair smiled and nodded as he collapsed to the floor in the soft grass. He chuckled and smelled the cool air, looking around for anything out of the norm and just to observe his surroundings. On one side was a beautiful view of the glittering city, on the other, the dark forest.

"Mienna...how is flying?" Ixair asked quietly as he looked up at the stars.

***

"My best shoes..." Eva sniffed as she looked up at the ogre. "These were my best shoes!"

"Go rest, you little coward," Kalzog growled as he picked up the girl, who gave a little squeak, and set her around and pushed her towards Luthien.

Eva looked at Luthien once and sighed as she sat down next to her and took off her ripped and torn shoes. "Well...those aren't made for walking," she sighed again as she looked at Luthien. "So are you a true elf?"

***

Rimoru smiled at Alegain as she gently lay him down on the ground.

"Rimmy, go wash off, I can take care of myself," he whispered with a smile.

"Oh hush, you would do the same for me," Rimoru giggled as she took off his shirt. "Besides, I always enjoy looking at your-" She paused as she looked at his shoulders. His muscles certainly looked bigger. In fact, Alegain did look slightly larger, or atleast bulkier. "Have you been gaining weight?" she asked quietly as she gently felt along his chest. Rock hard as far as she could feel.

"No...not that I know of," Alegain wheezed as he winced from a few of her prods.

"Hmmm..." Rimoru continued as she got to his shoulders. There was one large scab in the same spot on each shoulder. She gently prodded them and looked at Alegain for any sign of pain. He showed none.

"Oh Alley, I love you," she sighed as she gently leaned up against him and planted a kiss on his lips.

Alegain chuckled and kissed her back. "I love you too, my darling," he whispered. "Now go wash up. I may join you soon."

Rimoru smiled and nodded. "I look forward to it," she whispered as she walked off.

As Rimoru reached the lake, she looked behind her shoulder at the other and smiled, before feeling a sharp pain in her stomach. Vertigo hit her hard and she leaned up against a tree to prevent her from collapsing to the ground. She moaned softly as the pain increased tenfold.

She felt herself get nauseous and she let out the contents of her stomach. Then again. She fell to her knees in weakness and opened her eyes slowly. What she saw frightened her, very much. Her vomit was a dark red. Blood.

She calmed herself down and sat against the tree. It's just the demon blood I swallowed earlier... she thought to herself, however the painful burn within her never left...

As he finished the last symbol he had fallen to his knees and watched with an almost detached bewilderment as Valtrox slowly morphed and moved towards him, he couldnt help but think, Huh, why arn't i moving? in a relatively detached way.

When Valtrox returned to normal though, some energy seemed to return to Horatio, he wasn't sure where from exactly, but it was enough to stand and acknowledge the new arrival, though he didn't like being called scrawny. He inclined his head to Magledesh in greeting before turning to Valtrox to hear the commands.

When Miffin's name was mentioned he straightened and seemed to gain a new source of energy, anger at this man and had to battle internally to keep himself from saying something he would regret. "Miffin... has caused much destruction to nature, i would rather see him dead by my hand. But, if you wish, i will refrain from butchering him." If one looked closely they may notice that the still small spikes and horns almost seemed to grow slightly, as if the anger was fueling his development.

Mienna walked over to a conveniant spot and sat down, resting her back against a stone. She looked at Ixiar and considered how to reply. "Better than walking. It is hard to describe, i never had the chance to truely appreciate it. As a bird i needed to watch for predators even as i flew, but even then it was exhilarating." Her voice was tired and she leant back against the stone and closed her eyes.

She did not slip into sleep, she was still concious of the world around her, but her awareness wass elsewhere. Something seemed to be guiding her. She sensed something was required of her. A voice seemed to say You have my blessing child, there are three aspects which you can harness, Power, wisdom or caution. Their effects are not great, but they will help. When the sun rises, choose one and you will see..

"Thank you uncle Kal." She replied as she gave him a big smile and pulled off her shoes to give her feet a rub.

Looking up at the complaining Eva, she replied teasingly, "Yes, are you are true princess? Why do you ask thought?"

"Horatio, this allegiance shall only last until he is needed. When we happen to take this nation completely under our control, then you, Horatio, and only you can kill him. Consider that a little gift of ours. But at the moment, he is to be brought here, alive."

Magledesh bowed low. "It shall be done, my master," he replied.

"Excellent work, both of you. Horatio, get yourself ready. Magledesh, open the remaining gates. When the enemy finally mobilizes an army, they will stand no chance," Valtrox smiled devilishly.

***********************************************************

Ixair nodded to Mienna and smiled as she closed her eyes. She is really fiesty...then again, she was when she was a crow. However, I wonder if she will loosen up a bit when she is more rested. Ixair thought as he rolled on his back again after a few more glances at her. "It's beautiful out. How ironic," he said quietly, not exactly directed to anyone.

***********************************************************

"Yes, I am a real princess," Eva replied, a little peeved. "I just asked because I wanted to know. My mother is not a real elf, nor am I. Alegain I have no idea about."

"Alright, and considering both the state of your footwear, and likely the state of your feet, are you going to get the better shoes I got for you from Ixair?" She asked

"Bah, that foot wear is probably just as bad," Eva replied as she carefully examined her own feet, brushing off dirt and the such as she did so, and carefully massaging them. "Did you find cover to hide in as well? I mean, back there."

"Do you mean with those demons? If so then no." Lúthien replied, "I remained and fought them."

"Fought them?" Eva looked Luthien over and pursed her lips. You don't look like you could fight the common shrub... "You're lieing to me. I can tell."

She looked away and smiled deviously as she continued to rub her feet.

"Believe what you will, but you could always ask Alegain if you since you don't believe me." She replied a shrug.

"My father seems to have done all the fighting himself. Unless you didn't try to help him as he fended off beasties for himself and you guys," Eva snapped back.

****************


Rimoru sat against the tree for atleast ten minutes, even falling unconscious for a few minutes.

However, she felt the worst was over and carefully stood up, holding onto the tree for support and spitting some blood out. "Spitting is so...unlady-like," she chuckled to herself in a raspy voice.

She slowly stripped off her clothing, gently feeling up her body for wounds and making sure she was still as beautiful as before, except for the ugly burn on her once perfectly made stomach. She sighed and winced as her fingers brushed by the burn. "I can't wait for my powers..." she whispered as she slowly walked into the tranquil waters and relaxed as she floated about, gently washing away the blood on her shoulders.

"You miss much when you are going fast." She replied, before yawning and asking, "Do you want an apple or something?"

"Hmm..." Eva thought about it as she looked up into a tree. "Sure," she finally replied.

She looked at Luthien and smiled mischeviously. "Want to get the potions and use it on someone?"

Lúthien reached into a bag and pulled out a green apple which she passed to Eva. It would be a little tart, but otherwise quite delicious.

"Well first I'd have to figure out what they did, and don't you want to apply the cream first?"

Eva took the apple and took a small bite of it, squinting her eyes as the tart flavor came over her, before smiling as she gulped it down. "Good apple. Did you grow it yourself or is it magic?"

"Alright, let's get Ixair to bring me my bag with the stuff," she giggled.

"Ixair! Can you bring my bag over to me?" she called out to him. The elf smiled and quickly brought her bag over.

"Got something for me?" he teased with a wink.

Eva giggled and blushed. "No, silly elf. Shoo, while Luthy and I talk girl business."

Ixair chuckled and bowed. "I somehow thing this is not girl business, but nevertheless, I shall remain resting in the grass. It is quite comfortable."

He chuckled again and walked over to his spot to lay down.

Eva looked at Luthien and smiled. "Alright, what is what?"

"Neither." Lúthien replied as she didn't have a green thumb, or even a green pinky, and couldn't just create an apple herself.

"This is the pimple cream." The girl replied, pulling out the bottle. "The rest will require translation which will likely take a little while."

"So...where did this apple come from?" Eva asked as she eyed the fruit suspiciously. She held it up with one hand while selecting the pimple cream with the other. "Do I just rub it on?" She asked as she attempted to open it with one hand.

"From a grocer of course." She replied as she watched Eva watch her fruit.

"Yep. Rub it in and leave it one for about a half-hour before washing it off." Lúthien said, having glanced at the instructions earlier.

"Oh," Eva replied as she continued to eye the fruit. "A magic grocer..." she chuckled, before taking one more bite and unscrewing the cap of her face cream.

She carefully spread it on her face, as Luthien instructed her to, with one hand, and looked at Luthien. "Meanwhile, you should look into what these bottles are!"

Lúthien grinned at Eva's comments. "Alright, I'll start researching for you."

Eva raised an eyebrow as Luthien smiled. Is she playing a prank on me? Or does she just enjoy researching these bottles? Or am I just way too funny? She giggled again and crossed her legs as she looked up at the sky, searching for star formations.

"Have you ever met any dragons?" She asked after another bite.

She looked up from trying to translate a particularly obstinent word-form. "Yes I have. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Eva replied as she plotted out the many star systems and made her own, which included dresses, handsome men, money, and most of all, shoes.

"Did you talk to them or did you just see them?"

"Mostly listened to daddy talk with them." Lúthien replied as she watched Eva.

ooc: Star systems?

ooc: My bad, constellations

"Ah...does he talk with them often? When and where did he talk with one?" Eva asked as she slowly lowered her eyes to look at Luthien.

"Not really often, and mostly on buisness. The last time was about a year ago, and a very goodly distance away." She replied as she flipped through a couple pages.

ooc: Assuming you mean the constellations of zits?

ooc: lol if she was looking in a mirror or water lol

"Not in Lustria?" Eva continued to question. She overheard Alegain and Rimoru having a conversation about dragons recently and teaching, however she had grown bored with their conversation and went to play with her many toys.

"No, not in Lustria." Lúthien answered before returning with a question of her own, "Why the interest in dragons?"