NationStates Jolt Archive

Warfare and Kajeenith's avatar fought. Kajeenith seemed more serious than Warfare. Warfare took a lot of brusies though, and when he finally killed the Avatar, he seemed weak. That's when the Hellfire surrounded him, and the trial of Final Death began. The real Kajeenith appeared. Warfare grimiced, but he concentrated, and a new sword appeared at his side, and merged with his current one. The new sword was a combination of metal and energy, and had no name, it was simply the ultimate weapon. It healed and restored Warfare, but he was still weak.

"Choose then, my brother, who will witness the trial of Final Death on your Behalf?" Kajeenith asked.

"I choose my Mother, Queen Kaymiril the VII, and you?" Warfare asked.

"I choose Death herself." Kajeenith said.

It was a known fact that it was illegal for the witnesses to interfere during the trial. Their sole purpose was, as their title implied, was to witness the Final Death, and give credit to the stories.

Queen Kaymiril the VII was summoned, whether she was ready or not, fortunatly by this time, the fighting on her end was over with. Death merely had to step in the ring. Both deities formaly waited for their witness to arrive.
The Queen had been going over battle reports with Haldosir when she was summoned, and she stood, looking at what was happening. Death stood next to her.

"For an explanation...this is the final battle between these two. You cannot interfere. They each chose a witness...Warfare's was you, Kajeenith's was me. And all we do is watch."

The Queen nods. Death holds her scythe, impassively, waiting for the battle to start.
**************************************************************
"I was nervous... extremely so, before it started. But, I survived, so it's all good"
She nods.

Kajeenith and Warfare eyed each other. Without warning, the two launched into each other. Not giving an inch. Kajeenith's voice reverted to its originale, passivly sweet state.

"So, this it then?" Kajeenith asked.

"This is it then." Warfare said.

They faught each other using previously unseen techniques and styles.

"Remember the good old days? when we wandered around the taverns, watching Mortals when Mortal kind was new?" Warfare asked.

"Yes, why can't we go back tp the way it was?" Kajeenith asked.

"You choose to turn. To commit evil. I had to stop you." Warfare said.

The two faught on...

OOC: More coming.

Warfare and Kajeenith were bitterly imbroiled.

Warfare sliced deeply into Kajeenith's sides while Kajeenith almost won with a devestating sword strike. Both their armys had stopped to watch their gods battle.

Both Gods energies began to flow freely. All sorts of things began to happen. Death and Queen Kaymiril VII were protected by the rules. the things that happened in the Ring of Hellfire were things that usually took thousands of years to accomplish naturally. It looked like Warfare had the upper hand, when Kajeenith caught his opening. he stabbed twisted, and split Warfare in half. Only his spirit remained. The hellfire quickly consumed his body.

The Queen gasped, and her hand went to her mouth. Death put a hand on the Queen's shoulder.

"Keep watching...this isn't over yet."

Warfare wasn't finished yet. He attacked with a renewed Vigor. He split Kajeenith in half as well. The two spirits faught on. The attacked with Magic spells of all kinds. Warfare attacked with a new spell, Firebolt. It was a combination of every element, yet was pure energy. It slammed into Kajeenith, nearly killing him. Kajeenith used the Dark Energy, and absorbed Warfare's health, followed up with Warfare's Favorite spell, Ultima.

"So, You won, brother." Warfare gasped.

"This is it then. Goodbye, Brother." Kajeenith said.

"Goodbye, brother." Warfare gasped. He looked at Queen Kaymiril one last time.

"Remember..." But what ever Warfare was going to say, he couldn't. His spirit ripped itself in half,ost all cohesion, and left a very big crater in Ephseus.

Anna and Death were sent back to their old locations, and Kajenith was restored to full power, and full body because of his victory. Death could not take him, for now.

"Let the Dark Gods Rejoice! For Warfare is Forever Defeated and cannot return! Let the Age of The Dark Gods commence!" Kajeenith roared, thrilled with his victory. All the Gods heard him, as well as all Mages.

The Age of the Dark Gods, had begun...

Rahegalhoff lead Warfare's followers back to Riptide, where they morned the loss of Warfare.

Arianna cried quietly to herself. Warfare was gone. She looked at her Ring. He gave it to her, he said it was the heart of his soul. It always seemed to glow brightly. Now, it shone brighter than ever. Wait, it did contain the heart of his soul, maybe there was a way to restore him. No, Warfare never took clerics, so it was impossible, he wouldn't have any clerics, or for that matter, any temples.

She racked her brains, trying to figure out how to revive Warfare. She remebered an old Rumor, a story, passed around by the Gods, of a certain temple, where any god could be rivived, provided they still had a soul. It was known as the Temple of Resurection. But, nowhere could she find information about it. Mortals certainly wouldn't know about it, for the Divine Library knew everything Mortals knew, and then some. However, there WAS the Forbidden section, where no one was allowed, under the highests orders.

Arianna went to the Temple of Knowledge.

"Pardon, but how do I get permission to access the Forbidden section?" Arianna asked.

"You have to get permission from A mortal mage of each power, as the first step. However, you must bring them here, and I must witness it." The Divine Librarian said.

He thought a moment then asked: "Why?"

"I need to find the temple of Resurection to bring Warfare back." Arianna said.

"That's impossible, but, what ever floats yer boat." The Librarian said.

Arianna disappeared. She needed time to compose herself, before asking Warfare's Wizards.
**************************************************************

Roy found Arel

"AREL!" He shouted. He was on his way to a medical tent. He had one eye missing, three fingers gone, most of his flesh missing, in one form or another, and was very bloody.

He got surrounded by a Drider, and a lot of Lolth's Drow. He may have been hurt, but he used his mastery of Sonic Energy to slice them in half, which was not an easy task.

Death called her armies back, and smote down the rest of Kajeenith's army with a wave of her scythe.

Noting among the bodies the lizard creature that Renor had sent as a parasite, she cast an enchantment upon him.

He went jerkily back to Kajeenith's fortress. "Thisssss god and hisssssssss followerssssssssss have been markedddddd for deattttttttttthh."

He then collapsed. His body contorted in horrible ways, and he melted away into ash...the only residue that remained of him settled on the floor in the shape of a death's head.
****************************************************************
Anna was sent back to the battlefield where she stood for a few moments.

The field was as clamarous as ever, and Haldosir approached her.

"Ussta Valsharess, a search party was sent out. We feared for your safety."

She didn't even hear him. As what had happened finally sunk in, she fell to her knees...or she would have, if Haldosir hadn't caught her.

"Ussta Valsharess?"

She broke into tears. "He's dead."

Haldosir looked over at Rildorath and Nervim. Nervim cast a spell putting a tent around them, with a chair for the Queen, and then he and Rildorath sent away the onlookers.

Meanwhile, Kaymiril continued to cry. Haldosir stood by, concern etched on his rugged face.

"Who died, my Queen?"

K -- "Warfare. He killed him...he's dead...and he's not coming back."

This was barely coherent. The Queens were strong...but they were also mortal, subject to mortal feelings.

Haldosir knew the cause of his Queen's grief...he had been one of the few entrusted with the knowledge of her pregnancy...and with the identity of the child. There was nothing he could do for her, but leave her to her grief...so he did.

Roy found Arel

"AREL!" He shouted. He was on his way to a medical tent. He had one eye missing, three fingers gone, most of his flesh missing, in one form or another, and was very bloody.

He got surrounded by a Drider, and a lot of Lolth's Drow. He may have been hurt, but he used his mastery of Sonic Energy to slice them in half, which was not an easy task.
Arel turned, and her hands went up to her mouth. "Gods of Chaos, Roy, what happened?"

She guestured to a medic, who whisked him off to the make-shift hospital on the field before he could answer her question.

Costh continued trying to find out what in hell had happened.

Arianna got each Arch Wizard's Permission.

"Now, you mustget a blood relatives permission to Revive Warfare." The Librarian said.

"I am Gypsy, his Daughter, I give my Permission." Gypsy said, whom knew this was going to happen, and was mysteriously ready. She left.

"Well, that was quick. Now, you must get the permission of the one being who cannot go to the Temple of Resurection, the Keeper of Souls, Death." The Librarian said.

"Ok." Arianna said. She Teleported to Where Death was, since she hadn't actually went to her temple yet.

"Umm, Aras, i need your permission to go to the temple of Resurecction, to bring back Warfare. Its possible, because you see, I still have the heart of his soul, trapped in my Ring." Arianna said.

Aras nods. "You have my permission...good luck in your endeavor."

Costh continued trying to find out what in hell had happened.
OOC: You're still at Hoeth! We're in Kaymiril. And/or wherever!

ooc: I realize that, that's why he's so confused, none of the Drow at Hoeth are there, so he's trying to figure out what's happening.

The Librarian was watching.

Arianna returned. The Librarian escorted her to the forbidden section, and locked the door behind her.

Arianna delved into the forbidden knowledge, learning the forbidden secrets, to bring Warfare back.

ooc: I realize that, that's why he's so confused, none of the Drow at Hoeth are there, so he's trying to figure out what's happening.
OOC: But no one can answer your questions, b/c they wouldn't know what was going on. Anyone that knew wouldn't have been there.

Costh spent another few hours futilely searching for someone with answers. Once he decided no one there had any answers, he teleported to Mithdelmar to see if he could find some answers.

Mithdelmar is extremely busy...unless you're severely injured, you're not paid any attention.

Kajeenith considered the Lizardman's message.

"Death is meaningless to an immortal God like me.." He decreed

Arianna came out with Mold growing on her. A sign she really hadn't moved much, so facinated was she with what was in the forbidden section.

She went to go find Queen Kaymiril VII

"I, I need your help, to resurect Warfare." Arianna said.

Costh exited Mithdelmar and began looking for someone who might be able to tell him what happened.

Costh exited Mithdelmar and began looking for someone who might be able to tell him what happened.
Kaymiril is busy repairing itself...and not that many people speak Common.

Arianna came out with Mold growing on her. A sign she really hadn't moved much, so facinated was she with what was in the forbidden section.

She went to go find Queen Kaymiril VII

"I, I need your help, to ressurect Warfare." Arianna said.
"What, how?"

The Queen had been in a foul mood of late, and had fairly put the country back into her mother's hands for the time being. She had sworn vengeance on Kajeenith...and thus was searching (and having searches done) to find out how.

But was there a way?

"How would we ressurect him, Arianna? What do you need?"

Costh, finding no one that could answer his questions, pitched in with helping at the small village he'd found himself in. While he couldn't speak the language, hard work and help tended to be universally understood.

"I need you, personally. You see, when I married Warfare, the ring he gave me, contained a part of his soul, the Heart of his Soul, the most important part. I can take it, I can take you, to the Legendary Temple of Resurection, but I cannot enter, Gods are forbidden, lest they use its powers to construct great works of destruction, and undo creation. I need you, because you are the only Mortal Relative he has, and since he has no Clerics, You must be the one to restore his soul to his statue, and follow the directions within the Temple to resurect him." Arianna said.

Anna nods. "I'll do it."
**************************************************************
Costh's help is appreciated.

"You also need to take along the Elite Mages to get you into the Temple.
The Archwizards would come, but their busy covering the collapse of Warfare's government in his abcense." Arianna said.

She nods. "Is there anyone or anything else I will need?"

"Just me and Rahegalhoff." Arianna said.

Once the village was repaired, having a mage working helped speed the process up immensely, Costh managed to get his request of the next village's location and headed thier where he began aiding again.

She nods. "I will summon the Mages. Then I will be ready to go."

OOC: This will be its own thread that I will make later.

Roy was in a world of pain, but Arel was All right. That made him happy. He lost his Lute somewhere. His world had no music for the moment. He was in a world of pain, a fact the must have been appearant by his many froans of pain.

When Arel was finally let in, she sat at a chair near the foot of the bed and played her lyre. Maybe it would take his mind off the pain...pain he shouldn't be feeling, on whatever the Gray class had him on.

As the grey class treated him, the pain floated away. He at peace, then, he heard Arel's Lyre play. He felt worlds better, just listening to music.

"Thank you." Was all Roy had the Energy to say.

She smiles slightly. "You're welcome. Now, get some sleep...it'll do you good."

ooc: just a note, Costh is going to keep doing what he's doing, helping the villages of Kaymiril, until he finds someone who can speak common and will either translate, or can tell him what's going on.

He only heard your welcome, when sleep overtook him. His dreams we're filled with Nightmares of Drider, and Evil Drow, and at one point in his sleep yelled out:

"NO AREL, DON'T DIE ON ME!"

This caused Arel, who was half asleep herself, to start and become fully alert.

Nightmares...

She goes and sits on the edge of the bed.

"I'm not going to die, Roy." She spoke softly, so as not to wake him up, and had altered her voice so that it would pierce into his dream, but seem a part of it.
**************************************************************
At one of the villiages, a drow man comes up to Costh.

"Who are you, and why are you here? Were you left here by the Snake Eaters?"

"I am here because I am both helping repair what ever caused all this destruction, and because I am looking for an explantion of what happened. As to being left by the Snake Eaters, no I am from a different nation." Costh replied as he continued working. "As to who I am, my name is Costh."

He awoke sometime in the Morning. Arel's words had dissolved his nightmares. He decided against sitting up. He was quite hungry though. He called out:

"Uhh, when is Breakfast?"

"I am here because I am both helping repair what ever caused all this destruction, and because I am looking for an explantion of what happened. As to being left by the Snake Eaters, no I am from a different nation." Costh replied as he continued working. "As to who I am, my name is Costh."
"An attack by Lolth and her armies is what happened, although most of it was contained."
*******************************************************************
Arel had only gone to sleep two hours before, still sitting in the chair, with her feet propped on the low foot board. She pulls her cloak over her head.

"It's not even morning yet."

"If you'll excuse my ignorance, who is Lolth?" Costh asked

"Lolth is the Spider Queen of the Demon Pits. Most Drow serve her, and live in the Underdark. Not Kaymirilian Drow, which is why we suffered this attack."

Roy fell back to a partial sleep. What he saw was a mixture of reality and fantasy. He dared not speak. He had no way of knowing how much time had passed, but he saw himself surrounded by endless Drider, and he had to kill them all with a sword and his loot. The one Drider he actually faught was hard enough, endless Drider were infinite seperate nightmares.

In reality, his own hair kinda looked like a Drider, and his mind, amped up on drugs, and not so full of energy, hallucinated all of it. He layed there, no track of time. until someone checked up on him, and would notice him hallucinating silently.

A gray class comes in and checks on him, then sighs.

"Battle wasn't for this one." She casts a few spells, and gives him a few injections which aught to bring the hallucinations down, then leaves some very easily digestible food there.

Roy eats the food. and now he only has a single hallucinatonary Drider chasing him.

Arel wakes up later, pulling down the cloak and blinking at the light. "What time is it?"

"Do you know why Lolth might have attacked, and if there is anywhere my skills might be put to thier best use?" Costh asked

"I think its about noon, but, I can't escape the Drider. HELP!" Roy cries, nearly breathless. To him, he really is running from a Drider, never mind the fact that most Drider could outrun him easily, he's still outrunning one.

"Do you know why Lolth might have attacked, and if there is anywhere my skills might be put to thier best use?" Costh asked
"We do not know why exactly she attacked, and our people have things as much under control as they can be at this stage.
*****************************************************************
"I think its about noon, but, I can't escape the Drider. HELP!" Roy cries, nearly breathless. To him, he really is running from a Drider, never mind the fact that most Drider could outrun him easily, he's still outrunning one.
Ooooookay. He's hallucinating.

Arel drew back one of the shorter (higher pitched) strings on her lyre, and released it, creating a sound similar to that of an arrow being loosed.

"Okay. I shot it. It's dead. You're safe."

"Thank you." Roy says. He really wasn't ready to face Drider.

He looks around, and realises its actually Midmorning.

"I guess its really mid morning." Roy says.

"Alright." Costh replies as he goes back to doing what he was doing before he met the drow.

"I gathered." She stands and moves over to sit on the edge of the bed. "And you're in Mithdelmar, and there aren't any Driders. It's safe."

"Really? Last I remember, I was out in the feild." Roy says.
"I lost my lute somewhere. I don't know where." Roy says after a minuete.

"Alright." Costh replies as he goes back to doing what he was doing before he met the drow.
Costh is left to work. If he wants to help, then he can.
***************************************************************
"I haven't seen it. Maybe it'll turn up...and if not, I know some places where you could get a new one."

"okay, it was my favorite lute" Roy says

"Why did you take it onto the battlefield, then?"

Costh continued to work, using both magick and muscle to get the job done.

R - Its also my favored weapon

"Well...where's the last place you remember seeing it?"

"Oh, somewhere by a really big tree, right before it got crunched beneath a random drow. Fortunatly, shortly afterwards, the retreat was sounded." Roy said.

"So, you're saying it was destroyed?"

"Yes." Roy says. He really didn't know what was what. He really wasn't himself, at the moment.

"Then we'll get you a new one later, when you're better."

"Okay." Roy says.

"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

"I feel dazed, confused, and have no real sense of direction. I just want to get better." Roy says.

"Hey, look at me." She puts a hand to his cheek and turns his head slightly. "You'll be fine in a day or so...all you need to do until then is rest."

R - Yeah

She stands up. "I'm going to go check on my sister. I'll be back later, okay?"

"Okay." Roy says. It is about this same time that warfare gets killed.

Roy mourns quietly.

OOC: Has his fingers and eye been restored?

OOC: Yes.

Arel leaves for a bit.

Roy flexes his fingers and blinks his eye, getting used to them, but not over using them.

A Gray class comes in to check on him. "How are you feeling?"

"I have no sense of direction. i feel lightheaded, and somewhat dizzy. Fortunatly, I'm laying down, I think. I might be flying for all I know. I do seem to be getting back to my normal self though." Roy says.

"With the injuries you had, you're doing fairly well. YOu should be ready to leave in a few days."

"Okay." Roy says. By the end of the day, Roy almost feels like him normal self, if it wasn't for the sheer stifness in all his joints, and the dizzyness when he moved.

Arel's back before the end of the day, as her sister was treated and released.

"I feel better, I know the diffrence between up and down, and left and right, but I fill stiff as a board, no, a rock. And everytime I move, I get really dizzy" Roy says.

"H'mm. Okay, do you want to be less stiff, or do you just want to not move?"

"Oh, a bit of both. The stifness is not comfortable, but i don't like the dizzyness either." Roy says.

He moved his arm, and it crackled and popped like bubble wrap.

She raises an eyebrow. "Well, I have a solution for you. Close your eyes, and give me your hands."

"okay." Roy says.

More crackling and popping occurs, and he gives her his arms.

She takes his hands in hers, then pulls him into a sitting position. Letting go of his hands, she takes his shoulders and twists them one way, then the other, causing his spine to pop. She then lets him lay back down.

"Better?"

Roy moves his arms, with no crackling, the same with his legs.

"Much." He says, then, dizzy, he lays back down.

"The room will stop spinning in a moment."

The room eventually stops spinning.

"Well, now we only have to wait for the Healers to release me." Roy says, highly optimistic.

"That will probably be tomorrow. Be patient...you were injured almost beyond recognition."

"A credit to the Grey classes skills." Roy says

"But then, you already knew they were skilled."

She nods.
OOC: Obscure... and many pages ago

IC: After an hour or so, during which they talked about nothing in particular, as couples do when in this sort of position, he checked his watch again. It read 0745,"Just over a day since it started"

She turned her head to look at his watch. "True...and I have to get going." She kisses him, gets up, and prepares herself for the day, kissing him again before she leaves.

At least she slept well last night

What are the chances of having a repeat of that?

Slim to none... but it's done her the world of good

He followed suit, leaving the room five minutes after she did. it was very quiet, considering the time of day. He wasn't surprised, as it had been the first large battle... and in some cases the first kills, for a fair few people. It was easily the largest battle he'd been in since the war against Death... almost a year previously. He sighed as he wandered through the halls of Rendelmar, sticking to his boundries, unseen but still there.

Classes were easy and short that day. Rendelmar was still reeling from its loss...between Derscon and the day before, it had lost thirty-five...from other causes, five more...forty, in just over two years. Training would become more difficult as the hidden city tried to make up for its lack of experienced mages.

He found the class short, and easy, but saw the trials ahead. He knew that training would be tougher, longer and above all more challenging than he had seen before, simply because of lack of numbers. He found himself back in the room by midday, following his class with Vedt, and changed before going to work out. A stress relief, an exercise time... a quiet time in his head, where he could think things through more carefully

He was left undisturbed.

By five in the afternoon, he'd been working out for five hours, only taking short water breaks. He sat up from the weights, dabbing his face with the towel he'd brought with him to remove the excess sweat. He went back to laying there, but didn't start to exercise anymore. Instead, he just spent the time reflecting on past expierences

After he classes, Rhenna went to work. It was her job not only to properly file all deaths, but to seek out where there might be new magickally gifted orphans that they might be able to take in.

He finished his workout, having noticed that she had left Rendelmar whilst he had been working. He didn't know what she was doing, having never been filled in on that side of her job, but he didn't question it. Having grabbed some dinner quickly, he retired to the library, seeking more information on anything he thought could help him. He'd read through plenty of stuff on Snake Eaters during his time in Rendelmar, a file that was growing ever larger due to increased contact.

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

General Garion approached the Valshanth, a letter in his hand, his peaked cap on his head. He'd been ordered to give this letter to the Queen herself, no other

"What is your purpose?" a guard demands of Garion. While he would under no circumstance be denied entrance, it was a question that had to be asked.

"I am to deliever this letter personally to her highness Queen Kaymiril VII"

The guard guestured to a different member of Valshanth security, within, but before the other could come, Haldosir stepped up.

"I will take you, General."

"My thanks to you," said Garion, removing his peaked cap as was custom within the walls of a building

Haldosir took Garion through the palace, and stopped outside the throne room. "She will be expecting you."

By this point, the Queen had pulled herself into some semblance of together...as much pain as she was in, she had a job to do.

Garion bowed to her,"My aplogies for disturbing you, your Highness, but Lord Barbarossa asked me to give you this personally"

He took the letter, and passed it to her. When she opened it, it would read:

Your Highness,

I have heard the post-battle reports. Allow me to offer my deepest condolences to all those who lost family or otherwise in ths battle. Until the current crisis is fully resolved, the remaining Marines, under General Garion, are at your disposal. There is also another letter enclosed for Colonel Cougar. I request that it is delivered to him with all due haste. Many thanks

Jacius Barbarossa

"My thanks to you, General, and to your people. Your aid in this matter is and was greatly appreciated. Xal gre'as'anto alu xuil dos."

She gave a slight nod to Rildorath, who was just inside the door. He would take the general to the place where he and his men would be staying.

"Always a pleasure to aid," said Garion, as he bowed once more, before following Rildorath out of the room

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

Cougar lay on his bed, his eyes closed, but his sense wide awake... well, other than his hearing. Earphones where in his ears, and faint music could be heard if anyone entered

"You and your men will be staying not far from here, during your time in our country. Vashano is primarily a military city, and the home of both Sarnor Zotreth and M'elzar Zotreth, as well as any units that wish to train. There is sufficient room there for all of your men."

Rildorath stepped onto a rug and stopped. As Garion got to the center, the rug levitated up and began to move. Rildorath nodded when they got within view of the city.

"I would not rank it as entirely comfortable, but it is a training city. Your men should be all right here."
**************************************************************
The first thing Kaymiril VII did after Garion left was send the letter to Renor via portal. The Black Class master would see that it got to Cougar.

She then sat down to write a letter to Barbarossa.


To: Lord Barbarossa, Snake Eaters

The aid your men gave us both on the battle field and after was very great.
Without their timely assistance, it is almost certain that Kaymiril would have
fallen today.

We are forever indebted to you and your people.

Xal Gre'as'anto Zuch Ser Dosst Menvis

Valsharess Kaymiril VII
**************************************************************
Renor recieved the letter, and sent it through a different portal to Rhenna and Cougar's room. It would land either near the human, or on top of him.

Garion nodded,"My men will be comfortable wherever they go."

He looked down at the city, and had to comment,"Very extensive, very well equipped... this should prove an interesting expiernce for all involved"

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

The letter hit Cougar in the chest as it fell out the portal, causing his eyes to snap open. He looked down, and took it into his hand. Slitting it open, he unfolded the letter inside and read it:

James,

Keep yourself safe... and Rhenna as well. I know it sounds odd, but I have a bad feeling about this whole buisness. Be careful out there

Jacius

The rug stopped in front of a building. "Here is where you and your men will be staying."

Garion stepped off the rug, and took a look inside,"Is there anywhere we can store the battlesuits... they are bulky constructs after all"

"How many are there?"

"There are now 150... we lost one hundred in the battle and another fifty were too badly damaged"

Rildorath indicated a building across the street. "There. There should be enough room."

"Brilliant... I'll have my men in here soon enough. We shall move in tomorrow... Until then, I shall return to the transports"

Rildorath nods. "I can take you there, if you like."

"No, it's alright. It isn't too far from here that we established a temporary landing zone, and the walk will do me good. Good night, Rildorath"

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

Cougar took his earphones out, and set the player to one side. He saw the glittering crystal figures on a shelf, and couldn't help smiling at Warfare's gift... shame it couldn't have come at a slightly better moment.

He lay back, and was asleep within minutes

"Good night, General. Oh...and my condolences on the loss of your men."

"Think nothing of it... they died doing what was right. Their bodies will be given a full military funeral at home"

Rildorath nods and the rug levitates.
**************************************************************
Rhenna comes back in shortly after he goes to sleep. She smiles slightly, and sits next to him, going through the list of candidates.

He stirred slightly, but didn't wake. The letter, crumpled in his fist, fell out onto the sheets

Rhenna takes the letter and puts it on his bedside table, then returns to working.

He continued to sleep. It wasn't a good one though. Barbarossa's letter had caused his nightmare to resurface once more... but it was only a flicker of his eyelids and a slight twitch in his cheek

She reaches over gently to stroke his hair soothingly. It may or may not wake him up...but he normally relaxed when she did that.

It helped a little. The twitch stopped, as did the flickering of the eyelids. However, it was obvious that he was still having the nightmare... just slightly diluted

So she continued. If it helped, even a little, why stop? She could work well enough with one hand...gliders were convenient like that.

The nightmare faded, replaced with a smile and a good dream... he needed one of those right now. He relaxed slightly, and even subconciously moved towards her slightly

A small smile crosses her face. She'd lean down to kiss him, but that would wake him up.

He obviously didn't see any of this, but in his dream, he got the sense that she was close by. Like her, he felt safer when she was around. He didn't know why, he just did... and it was a feeling he enjoyed

Eventually, she waves D'anthe away and lays down next to him, to try and get some sleep.

He didn't stir much when she laid down, which was prehaps for the best

She woke perhaps an hour later, and sat up. Again...only a dream...

She gets up and takes a quick shower, then gets back to work. She'd be unable to get back to sleep.

His eyes flickered open. His left eye blinked at him,0354. He opened his eyes fully, and saw her sitting there,"Another one?"

She nods, and reaches over to run her fingers through his hair. "I didn't mean to wake you...go back to sleep."

"I've had six hours, it's enough."

He sat up, taking her hand away from his head and holding it softly,"You alright?"

She gives him a slightly strained smile and nods. "You worry too much."

"Comes with the job," he said, noticing how strained her smile looked and not liking it at all. He leant over, and kissed her softly, just once

She kissed him back. "You were having a nightmare earlier...before I went to sleep."

He nodded slightly,"I don't really remember much of it... although I know what caused it"

"What?"

"That letter I got"

"That one?" She nods toward the one she'd put on the table earlier.

"Yeah... that one," he said, uncrumpling it and reading it again,"Bloody Barbarossa, I'm gonna kill him"

"No, you're not...and you know it. What did it say to trigger off a nightmare?"

"I was speaking metaphorically... and it just asked me to be careful... and you. He has a bad feeling"

"Ah."

He smiled slightly,"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that. Now, I think I'm distracting you from your work, so I apologise"

"I'm almost done with this part, anyway." She leans over to kiss him. "You still have time to get a couple more hours of sleep."

He kissed her back, softly and lovingly,"I know... but this is me we're talking about"

"True...and you like being sleep-deprived, for some reason."

He sighed,"Fine... I'll get some more sleep if it'll make you happy"

"Well don't if you don't want to. I'm not going to make you, certainly."

The snap was due to lack of sleep, he knew that, so he chose to ignore it,"Sorry Rhenna... you know I didn't mean anything by it"

She shakes her head. She doesn't say anything...just shakes her head.

You tried... just leave it at that. You tried

He sighed, feeling hurt as he lay back down, and closed his eyes, trying to get back to sleep.

She continues with her work.

He fell back into his sleep, dreamless this time. He wouldn't get up until it was seven in the morning

She left the rom at six.

He rose, noticing she was gone, at seven on the dot. He still felt a little hurt from the previous night, but he knew she hadn't meant anything by it. In her state, she may do things that hurt people inadvertantly, as he sometimes did. He understood... didn't stop it hurting though. He got up, and went to his classes for the day

Rendelmar had had its day to mourn...now it was time to train. Vedt put them through advanced magickal theory, and then had them put it into practice.

Cougar found the work a welcome release. He knew it wasn't perfect what he was doing, but he focused, and was pleased that by the end he had improved his skill somewhat. He made a mental note to practise that somemore in the afternoon

Vedt dismissed the class, but asked that Cougar stay behind.

Cougar stopped and waited for the class to file out,"Yes?"

"She does not speak of it, does she?"

It was more statement than question...as if he already knew the answer...but merely wanted to confirm it.

Cougar dropped his eyes,"Not since about five days ago... since then, not a word has been uttered about it between us"

"I thought not. This is a habit of hers...if she doesn't deal with it, then it isn't real. She'll work herself almost to the point of death, depending upon the loss, so she doesn't have to deal with it. Before, Renor or myself have broken that trend before it got too dangerous...however, now...it falls on you."

"I know the feeling... it is what I do as well. I've got my eye on her as best I can... but I'll be honest with you, Vedt, I'm scared for her"

"As well you should be. In Rendelmar, our laws forbid that you keep any children you have within the city. Eventually, she would have lost that child anyway...but that does not mean it should have died...before it even lived. Her recovery will be a painful process...for both of you...but eventually, it must be done."

"I know the law of the city... I would have left with the child so that it could live a life with at least half it's family intact... I believe there is only one way in which she can truly face her pain and sorrow. I need your help"

Vedt conjured two chairs. Taking one, and guesturing for Cougar to take the other, he sat, waiting for the human to speak.

Cougar sat down,"The only way she can face the pain is be taken back... I know, it is cruel... and I don't like to do it, and I very much doubt you do either... but it's the only way she can ever move on from this. Unless of course, you have a better idea, in which case I'd use that one"

"Back to the scene of the pain...an interesting notion. I'm afraid my expertise in this situation is limited. I would say to ask Mith...but he is overwhelmed with work at the moment."

"As is mine... and with Mith overburdened as he is, it is unlikely that we could get his opinion... no, this is something we must do alone."

"Getting there will be difficult. If the place hasn't already been destroyed, it will be within a few days."

"Then we have to move soon... I hate having to do this to her"

"She'll make it through. I will go today to see if and when the room will be destroyed...and you might want to start steering her toward the subject."

"That's going to be difficult to do... I'll find her though, and do my best"

Vedt nods and stands.

Cougar followed suit, and set off towards the door. He stopped before he got there, and looked over his shoulder,"Vedt... thanks"

Vedt nods. With a snap of his finger, the chairs are gone, and a moment later, he is, as well.

Cougar watched him leave, and then left as well. He was dreading doing this, but he had to... to help her. He couldn't stand seeing her like this, and finally he had to do something. Vedt and he didn't see eye to eye... but it looked as though they could put their differences aside for her... they cared too much.

He set out into Rendelmar, thinking about how to bring it up in conversation. He couldn't make a move until Vedt returned, so he could have anything from half an hour to a few hours

She's in the library when he finds her.

He came up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders and rubbing slightly,"Morning"

"Good morning."

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm okay."

He rubbed her shoulders gently,"Glad to hear it"

She smiles slightly and turns her head to look at him.

"About earlier this morning...I sounded harsher than I meant to."

"I know you did... it's alright. Hurt at the time, but I understand"

He bent down to kiss her softly

She kisses him back, just as softly.

He's up to something...

If she twigs before we manage this, I'm dead

He broke the kiss after a moment, and then looked over her turned shoulder at the book,"What you reading?"

"There were thirty orphans across the nation with potential magickal talent...we only have room for twenty. We put them through tests, and now I'm trying to decide which ones should remain and which should be sent away. I'll make my comments...Vedt will look over them later and add his, and Renor will make the final decision."

"So that's what you were doing yesterday... I wondered how you found them"

"It's more complicated than it's worth to explain, the entire process. But yes...we go out and find them."

He smiled,"Thanks for dumbing it down into something I can safely understand"

She raises an eyebrow.

He laughed slightly,"You said so yourself, it's more complicated that it's worth to explain"

"It really is."

"There you go then"

He fell silent for a minute or so, then took a deep breath,'Here goes nothing...,"I wonder... would it have been a boy or a girl"

She pulls away from him. "Don't do this, James. Not now."

I was expecting this

"If not now... when?"

She shakes her head, and a pleading tone tinges her voice. "Not now."

God... I can't bear this... I really can't

"You've been running from it, thinking that if you keep going, it will just go away. I know, I've been there. I can't stand it anymore. If you keep going like this, you're going to kill yourself!"

She shakes her head. "I need more time."

Vedt appears behind her, so that Cougar can see him, and teleports the three of them there.

She looks around, and just stands there a moment, silently.

"It's not just me, Rhenna. You have to see this, face up to it. If you don't, it will never heal"

His voice was calm, soothing, laced with a hatred of himself for having to do this, but also a steely determination to.

Rn - *Not appearing to have heard him* "Back here..."

V -- "Yes, back here. You know what happened here...you can see it, can't you? The lingering after images seared permanently into this room by the pain that was caused. You see it still, don't you?"

She's looking around the room still, and starts to tremble slightly.

V -- "You can still feel the pain. All of it."

She shakes her head, pulling away from both of them. "I don't want to be here."

V -- "No...you don't. But look at me."

She doesn't, and an edge enters Vedt's voice.

"Look at me."

She turns her head to look up.

"There is nothing that was done in this room that you could have prevented. From what data we had, we thought you could handle it. We were wrong. Those that carried out what was done here were punished and executed according to our laws, but other than that, the past is the past...and it cannot be changed. It hurts, yes...it hurts very deeply...but you cannot change it...so accept it. Feel your pain, and move on."

His voice was harder than normal, but still laced with self-hatred,"If you don't accept it, your own pain will destroy you, and everyone you care about. Me, Vedt, your students... everyone will suffer. If you keep running, let your pain control you, then you can never heal. Look around you. Look around. Take in every detail. As Vedt said, you cannot change your past... so face it, and defeat your demons"

Vedt made a small guesture with his hand, and he and Cougar stood back in the library.

"And now...we let her face it on her own. I'll go back later to get her."

"She's going to hate me for this," he said, sitting down in a chair, more like collapsing than sitting

"Hatred, anger, pain, she will deal with in there." Vedt sat down, taking the papers Rhenna had left. "I fully expect her to be numb for a few days after she returns."

"As do I..." he let his voice trail off,"See you around"

Vedt nods.

Cougar got up from the chair, and went back to the room. He lay there, looking at the photo he always had on him

Through his bond with her, he would feel sharp pain and sorrow for a while, then a dulling pain...and finally, nothing.

He'd been expecting it... but it was still a shock when it came. He lay there, refusing to cry. He had nothing to cry about... but he hated what he had done

Vedt left her there for a while after, and then went to get her. She finished her review of the reports, then went back to the room.

He stood up as she came in. He couldn't feel anything. He didn't know what to do, wether to hug her, stay where he was, anything. In the end, he moved closer,"I'm so sorry... I wish I hadn't done that"

"You did what you felt you had to."

"That doesn't make it right"

"But in the end, it will be."

There is a hollowness to her voice that he would have never heard before.

OOC: A few pages ago...

IC:

Roy simply lay there all through the night, waiting for the morning to come. He slept, he slept a full eight and a half hours, unfortunatly, he dreamt he was laying there staring at the Mithdelmar ceiling waiting for morning to come, and release. When he awoke, he still stared at the ceiling, not realising he slept, but feeling oddly refreshed.


OOC: I hate dreams like that.

Arel'd slept since, and was awake when he woke.

"So, you're awake. Sleep well?"

"I didn't sleep, I stared at the ceiling all night long, though I do feel refreshed." Roy said.

"I went to sleep two hours after you did, and woke up two hours ago. You just woke up, Roy. Don't tell me you didn't...I know."

R - But, I only remember blinking twice, once last night, and just a few minuets ago, don't tell me I Dreamed staring at the ceiling.

"Well, at least the Driders were leaving you alone."

"True, when is a grey class going to release me, I'm itchin to get going."

"They'll release you when they do."

Roy jumps up and paces in anticipation. He's not good at waiting when he's well, and he can feel the call of the open road in his bones.

"Sit down, Roy. You're going to make me dizzy."

"sorry."

Roy sits down nright where he's at, the cornere, and starts twiddling his thumbs.

She shakes her head. "They aren't going to look for you in the corner, you know."

Roy sits on the bed. He pulls out his harmonica, and begins playing a bluesy tune.

Yeah, the man got me locked up, yeah he got me locked up.

Didn't do nothing wrong, now I'm in here for Long.

My Lady done left me, said she couldn't wait for long, now she's with a warrior in his hall.

My Dog's run away, said he'll see me another day, I'm in here all alone and didn't do no wrong.

Yes, Roy could not wait quietly, or still.

Arel just sits there through it. While well accustomed to being constantly outdoors, she also knew that fidgeting did absolutely no good in some circumstances...so she didn't.

Roy wished he were on drugs so he would have an excuse to try walking up the walls.

A gray class came in and looked at him, then at Arel. They exchanged some words back and forth in Drow, and then the medic ran a few diagnostic spells on him.

"You're free to go." He looked over at Arel curiously, and then ran a diagnostic spell on her. "You, however, are not."

A -- What?

GM -- "You're in worse shape than he is, I can tell you that much right now...you might not feel it yet...but if not treated, you will soon."

"WHAT?!?" Ray says, shocked. He is stone still.

GM -- *Patiently* It looks like a time-delayed spell...a deadly one. I've no doubts there are others who suffer from the same that we haven't caught yet. Like I said, if you've no desire to be here, you may leave. However, she needs to be treated.

"There's no way in any of the hells or on any Layers of The Infinite Abyss I'm leaving without her." Roy says.

"Then stay in the waiting area. This may be long or short in curing."

He then leads Arel out. Her lyre had been beside the chair, and she left it behind.

Roy picks up the Lyre. He goes to the waiting area. He waits best with an instrument to quietly strum.

He sits down, and quietly summons all of his Bardly skills and powers, and plays the Effigy of Healing. It floats down the hallways, and ecourages healing, and infact does heal weakly. The Grey class healers can do better on their worst day, but its the thought that counts, and it is pleasant and relaxing to listen to.

*Some time later*

Arel walks out, picking up her bag from a gray mage. She goes over to him.

"Well...that took longer than absolutely necessary. Let's go."

He hands her the Lyre she left behind.

"You left this behind, I played the Effigy of Healing for you." Roy says.

*Outside*

"Praise and glory be to the Good Gods I'm free!" Roy says almost Triumphantly.

A drow looks at Arel.

"Zhah nindol natha abbil d' dossta?"

A -- "Usstan inbal neitar keffal ukta p'los nin."

She starts walking down the street. "Come on...we aren't really out yet."

Roy follows Arel, hurt that she wouldn't acknowledge him as a friend.

"So, we're off to get you a new lute, right? Want to fly, or walk?"

"Let me see if a man I call the Master still lives." Roy says.

He casts a basic spell, whispering wind. He talks quietly. He waits, a breeze blows for a second besides the normal current wind conditions.

"Let me introduce you to a man that has been making Lutes and other instruments for nearly 500 years straight. I have traveled many places, and met many instrument makers, and never have I met one as skilled as the Master." Roy says.

He takes a step.

"But, this will be my last trip to see him, he is not well. He is going to make me one last Lute. This man is as dear to me as a Father, and then some. I'd very much like for you to meet him." Roy says.

OOC: Roy's meet the sibllings, now its time for Arel to meet the only family Roy has.

"All right."

"Can we Fly? Its along ways away." Roy asks.

"Yeah. Sussun, harl."

The glider spread out, and Arel stepped on.

Roy steps on, and directs Sussan to a nearly succluded section of Kaymiril. There, he casts a gateway, to to a plant devoted to travelers, one of several, they fly along, and roy pays the heftty fee of 5 Gold to get a gateway to Nimphus nine, where the Master instrument maker lived.

The land seemed to come directly out of a fairytale. It was so serene, and perfect.

They come to a wooden cottage. Roy opens the door, and inside sits an incredibly old man, his race, seems undefined. Bences sit nearby, and on them are a Wide array of Tools for making all kinds of instruments.

"Come in, sit, sit. Who is this Lovely young lady?" The old man asks.

"Master, meet my bestfriend, hopefully eventually Girlfriend, Arel, A master Bard from Kaymiril. Arel, meet The Master Instrument maker." Roy says.

"Please, call me Howard. Kaymiril? I don't believe I've heard of it before. Where is that at?" Howard the Master said.