SUMMER

Angkar: Wet season. Precipitation is common during the late afternoon and evening hours. Vegetation grows significantly during the summer, but flooding is a danger due to the monsoons that ravage the country. The rainforest sees evenly distributed rainfall throughout the season.

Ashoka: Desert: Extremely hot and dry. Violent, heavy downpours following long dryspells. Jungle: Hot and humid with frequent, violent rainstorms.

Morrim: Relatively hot and dry, but with a chance of thunderstorms from time to time. The heat may cause forest fires.

Soto: Hot and humid, tree cover is dense while ground growth is restricted. Thunderstorms see the most amount of rainfall during the season, and it can be very windy. On occasion, there are flash floods that can destroy homes and farms built on flood plains.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

March 30th, 2018 As you might have noticed, Elenlond has changed hands and is now under new management! If you have any questions, please direct them to DaringRaven! As for the rest of the announcements, including a season change, you can find them over here at the following link!

January 16, 2018 As you might have noticed, Elenlond has a new skin, all thanks to Mel! Don't forget to check out the new OTMs as well!

December 2, 2017 Winter has settled on Elenlond, bringing sleep for some and new life for others.

September 26, 2017 With the belated arrival of autumn come some interesting developments: new OTMs, a Town Crier and the release of the Elly Awards winners!

July 14, 2017 After a bit of forum clean-up, Elly Awards season has arrived! Head on over to make your nominations!

May 31, 2017 Summer has arrived and so has activity check! That's not all though – we also have some new OTMs for you and some staff changes!


WHAT IS ELENLOND?

Elenlond is an original free-form medieval fantasy RPG set on the continent of Soare and the Scattered Isles, which are located to the south in the Sea of Diverging Waters. The four chief nations of the western side of the world—Ashoka in northern Soare, Soto in western Soare, Morrim in eastern Soare, and Angkar, the largest of the Scattered Isles—continue to experience growth and prosperity since the fall of the Mianorite gods, although power struggles within the countries—or outside of them—continue to ensue.


QUICK TIDBITS

  • We accept any member who wants to RP here;
  • We are an intermediate-level RPG;
  • We have been open since June 2004;
  • Elly's layouts work best in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera. It is not optimized for IE.

  • CURRENT EVENTS

    Angkar: To honour the reinvigoration of the ancient city of Mondrágon, the majestic Queen Eulalia has permitted the opening of a Coliseum where people from around the world and all walks of life can test their combat skills against one another. Many have already done battle in search of honour, glory, prizes and money.

    Ashoka: In an otherwise peaceful times, Ashokans are beset with the relatively minor inconveniences of wandering undead and occasionally-aggressive giant rock worms. There has also been some controversy over the recent re-legalisation of human sacrifice.

    Morrim: Rumour has it that Emperor Leofric de Hollemark is mustering forces for a war. Though the threat from Soto’s forests has passed, the forces previously employed in watching the forest now linger at the border. Rumours also circulate of a small group that has been dispatched to make contact with the tribes of the Do’suul Mountains.

    Soto: The Sotoans have defeated the fey and liberated themselves from Méadaigh’s oppression! Preliminary efforts have been made at rebuilding the city of Madrid, which had been captured at the beginning of the war. However, the Sotoans are hindered from recovery famine. Méadaigh’s magic caused summer to persist in the Erth’netora Forest through the winter. Her power has been withdrawn and the plants die as if preparing for winter – even though it is now summer. The Sotoans must sustain off what food they can get, what creatures they can kill and what can be imported into the city from Morrim and Angkar.

    For a fuller description of our most recent events, check out our most recent edition of The Town Crier!

    daringraven
    Administrator
    Qayin Graves
    SHADOW
    Supporting Admin.

    Kestrel Sumner (Shadow)
    Kindle Blackheath
    Orion de Lacey
    Sinadryn Arsydian
    Welcome to our home, a world in which anything can happen. From sprawling deserts and vast forests to massive volcanoes and luscious hot springs, Soare and the Scattered Isles are beautiful places just waiting to be explored. For the brave and the bold or the cautious and the wary, creatures of all kinds roam the earth, looking for adventure or for a place to call their own. Species of all kinds - the well-known and the unknown - thrive here, though not always in harmony.

    Elenlond is an original medieval fantasy RPG with a world that's as broad as it is unique. Calling on characters of all kinds, the sky's the limit in a world where boundaries are blurred and the imagination runs rampant. Restrictions are limited and members are encouraged to embrace their creativity, to see where they can go and what they can do. It's no longer just text on a page - it becomes real.

    Enter Our World

    Username:   Password:
    • Pages:
    • 1
    • 2
    Fragile; For Shrista
    Topic Started: Nov 27 2011, 10:13 PM (743 Views)
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    She feinted away, twisting around the bole of a tree as the weapon crunched into it, chips and splinters of wood showering her, pain bright and red blooming in the back of her mind, numbed a little, delightful and so penetrating, reveling in the hurt. He had managed to catch her a glancing blow, the muffled pop as her ribs gave under the impact and threw her from her feet with the force, drawing a gasp from her lips as she slammed into the tree opposite, rebounding and crunching hard to the ground, driving the air from her lungs.

    Gasping for air she levered herself up as quickly as was possible with the fear pounding at her, driving the adrenaline to rush through her veins, lending her the strength to get up, her ribs protesting every step of the way.
    Shrista staggered up, then backed away, leaping over the next swing and landing level on the blade, running lightly up it and onto Tekun's shoulders, her heels scraping on the armor as she swung the amulet down, trying to force it over the helm, though the chain was too small, and in frustration she began thumping and tugging at it in an effort to get it off.

    "Come on..come on!"
    Time was so fleeting, so short, she was expecting the next hit at any second, but as of yet he hadn't. It seemed to be stuck, unyielding, refusing to come off at all.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    She was on top of him now and his blade. He dropped it and immediately brought both hands upon her. One on her throat and the other on her arm. He squeezed tightly with one while he wrenched on her arm. Pulling it out of it’s socket and then twisting it in a gruesome fashion. As he squeezed he heard a sickening and yet oh so satisfying crunch. Her arm was breaking so easily.

    “So…so fragile.” He cackled as the pendent slipped over his neck. And suddenly his grip lessened and he dropped to the ground. The moment that pendent was slipped on was the moment that the flames that fueled his blood thirst were doused. He dropped to the ground, shuddering and convulsing as if he could die at any moment. He barely steadied himself as he gripped the ground, or something. Whatever was nearby. His hair lost luster and his eyes gained that glassy far away look. He looked fragile. Broken. And then it all came rushing back, the armor dropped and then he bled heavily upon the ground. All that pain, he had a tolerance but…it was a lot to take it.

    “Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” He let out a pained scream as he clenched his chest, his glossy eyes going wide with pain. He could see nothing, he began breathing in a panicked fashion and as he calmed down, he slowly wiped his face. “Please…Please be alive Shrista….oh god…what did I do…” He could barely remember anything. He panicked. Looking about.

    “Why can’t I see anything…” He was blind as a bat. “Is…Is there blood in my eyes…is that it?” There were tears but not blood. His breath was staggered. He tried to get up and collapsed upon the ground in a pained way. How he managed was…in question.

    “Shrista…”
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    Shrista yelped as she was dragged from his shoulders, his fingers around her throat and squeezing tight, her knee coming up roughly, crunching into his face even as he wrenched her arm, twisting it where it wasn't supposed to go. Clenching her teeth she dragged hard on the pendant, the chain coming free where it was caught on the helm and slipping over his head, a ragged cry drawing from her lips as he arm broke, the dull snap as the bone gave under that terrible pressure, pulled away from the socket and reverberating with pain, anger touching her vision with a red mist as flame consumed her arm, bright and purifying, scorching, releasing a strangled shout.

    "AUUUUUGHHHHH! Son of a bitch!"

    Embrace it, don't let it overcome you.

    Her eyes teared, darkness threatening at the edges of her vision as pretty little colored lights danced in front of her eyes, her hand clawing at his wrist, desperate, the dagger falling limply from her useless arm to clatter into the dirt.

    "S-stop...Tek..."

    She couldn't breathe, the air simply not reaching her lungs as she pummeled at his arm, attacking the nerves best she could, feeling that darkness dragging her down with it even as she clung to consciousness with a fierce grip.

    Suddenly he released her, dropping her unceremoniously into the gore soaked filth, shrieking and writhing around while she lay, just taking in sweet lungfuls of lifegiving air, unable to speak for the time being as she flopped back, gasping painfully.

    "You...you asshole."

    She knew it wasn't his fault, he'd warned her, but still she'd not expected a reaction quite as violent as that. Instead she just closed her eyes to the brightness that was the sky, shutting it out for now, listening to him fumble around in the mud beside her.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    He heard her voice. She was alive. There was…a look of relief upon his voice and he simply stopped fumbling. Shrista would note that he had bled significantly to the point where he had a chance of bleeding out. He could very well die here. He groaned in utter agony. In pain. Barley moving. Yeah, he was an asshole for this. He knew that much.

    “I’m sorry Shrista…I’m sorry.” He replied weakly, his voice held only sorrow. His body had since gone numb. This one wasn’t that bad. But the memories flooded back, it was all he could see. He winced heavily in pain. To be in such a weak state.

    “I…” He had nothing more to say. He bit his lip. Trying to look about. He saw nothing but darkness. “I can’t see how bad it is…do…do I…want to know…” He blinked, his eyes were glassy blue, the pupils dialed fully. Unchanging. Clearly something had happened with them. He wiped his face weakly again. He could keep on apologizing, but what would that do? Truth be told. He had no idea where he even was. He could have been on top of her for all he knew, or on a corpse. Things felt cold however.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    Awkwardly pulling herself to her feet, clutching at her arm, she stooped and snatched up the discarded blade, her boots crunching as she walked towards him, her face like thunder.
    Drawing back her foot, she slammed one heavy plated boot into his gut, wincing as it jolted her shoulder, then stood over him, resting her foot on his neck and pointing the blade, angled at his face.

    "I should kill where you are!"

    She ground her teeth a moment longer, pressing her foot down on his throat, then removed it, scanning over him with those frosty eyes, her face hard and grim.

    "I blinded you. It's temporary. Believe me, I could have done a lot worse."

    Like sever the nerves in your eyes and make it permanent.

    In his weakened state she could easily take advantage of him, stab a dozen holes in him and leave him to bleed what was left into the earth, leave his corpse for the crows. The entity that had taken him over didn't seem to have any sudden hold on him now, and she assumed that he'd die like any other mortal man, fading out of existence and memory.
    Sighing she hunched down beside him, a sharp intake of breath as her ribs protested, gaze sweeping this way and that until she picked out the few survivors of the battle, the ones she could detect had some small vestige of life in them.
    Grappling them with air she used the force to drag them towards her, close enough that they'd not be a nuisance to reach for what she was about to do. It would be a benefit for both of them, they would get a swift and relatively painless end, and she would get to continue on living. As would the mercenary before her.
    Slapping her hand down firmly on his chest she shuddered in revulsion at the feel of that armor, and instead moved her hand to his face, resting two fingers on his forehead.

    "Don't bloody move or I'll make sure you won't be getting up."
    Like being doused in ice water she delved him, feeling the extent of his wounds, then left in that state she took a deep breath and began with the worst injuries, lessening them and taking them unto herself, the smallest injuries healing completely as dozens of gashes, bruises and punctures began opening over her skin. Blocking out the pain she gritted her teeth, taking as much as she could, before falling back, drained.

    Her hand snaked out, trembling and exhausted as she found the first victim, maimed but still strong.
    "Don't worry, I'll make sure it's quick."
    "What are you doing? Wait! Please!"
    He shrieked as she drew his life force into herself, the wounds on her skin healing again and inflicted on the already wounded man, her form almost luminous, giving off a radiance as she drew everything he was out of him, absorbing him completely, leaving an empty and lifeless corpse before she turned her attentions back to Tekun, renewed.

    "A shame you didn't leave more of them alive."
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    Tekun groaned in pain and had to resist the temptation to roll, he coughed hard and immediately tried to calm as he felt cold steel against his throat. What was going on?! Had he missed one? He looked legitimately terrified as he looked at Shrista with blind eyes. He just simply couldn’t tell who was who or what was what and that frightened him. Was he about to die?

    "I blinded you. It's temporary. Believe me, I could have done a lot worse."

    It was just her…that oddly enough seemed to relieve the tension. But there was still the matter of a blade being pointed right at his throat. He felt her move, she had hunched down perhaps? He couldn’t particularly close. He felt her hand press on his chest and he shuddered. She’d feel wounds, plenty. Blood and then two fingers on his forehead. He looked puzzled, unsure of what she was exactly doing. And when she made her threat he simply nodded. He was too wounded to move and feared doing more damage just by doing it.

    Tekun’s wounds were inhuman. If he was a lesser man, he would have died. But Tekun clearly wasn’t such. He was in danger of dying, but with the treatment he’d live. She’d know she crippled him temporarily but oddly enough it didn’t look like she had done the damage to his eyes. It looked different than a flash of light. It looked unnatural, as if something had stripped him of his sight.

    "Don't worry, I'll make sure it's quick."
    "What are you doing? Wait! Please!"


    It was too much to hear his shriek. Tekun broke into a sweat. Shuddering, he was a bit more feeling than usual and didn’t dare protest though it looked like he had been made incredibly upset. The armor laughed at him. He looked terrified.

    “Get it off me….please. Get this armor off me. I can’t bare it. Their cries…I can hear them so vividly now. I…” He looked panicked. “Please…I don’t care how much it hurts. Get this armor off of me. There’s a strap to the side.”
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    Removing his wounds was a pain in the ass, for sure, but at least he was out of the imminent threat of dying. He'd still need some time to recover, of course she could just heal away the rest of the damage instead of just lessening it and stopping the more internal wounds to the point of bruising instead of bleeding, but it was in a way a smaller form of payback.

    "If you'd just thrown it away like I told you to in Madrid, we wouldn't be having this goddamned problem now would we?!"

    She stamped her foot, moved to the next victim, unconscious as she gripped his chin and drained him, her eyes widening as power rushed through her veins, bringing energy with it, making her feel more alive than she'd ever remembered doing this. Maybe it was just the fact that these 'paladins' were so pure with their divine magic, and here she was, feeding from another god's power. The thought made her smirk as she released the corpse, feeling her ribs begin to pop back into place and mend as she absorbed him.

    "I'm sure you can bear it a moment longer...I'm doing nothing more for you until my arm is fixed!"
    "Please don't..don't! Ahhhh!"
    "Oh shush...it doesn't hurt that much...just like going to sleep, isn't it?"
    They'd feel the initial pain, like a spike digging into their soul, siphoning their energy, becoming numb and cold, fading into a pleasant darkness, no feeling, no life.
    Shrista flinched, gasped then shrieked as her arm snapped back into the socket with a sickening pop, the bones righting themselves where they'd splintered through the skin of her forearm, twisting back into place and becoming whole again, the flesh knitting back together and leaving the barest scar, faint and silvery beneath her tattoos. Her glove was still soaked with blood of course, and would need a good washing, but blood would come out.
    Waiting until her breath slowed, she flexed her fingers, then rolled the shoulder, bending the limb at the elbow and rotating it, making sure the feeling was all there, her eyes flitting back to Tekun.

    Why can't he see yet? I didn't hit him that bad, didn't even burn him.

    Stepping beside him she stopped, crouched down and half rolled him over, deftly picking the strap loose with her dark slender fingers.

    "There. You can do the rest, because if you think I'm going to get kinky and start undressing you, you can think again. You're too beat up to celebrate the victory on top of one of the living ones anyway."
    Sneering she walked away, kicking the remains of the camp into the dirt, putting the burning coals out with her boot, stamping it to nothing.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    That brief moment of contact was more than enough, it might have been delayed but as she fumbled with the armor she heard and Tekun heard it.

    "Get rid of little old me! He hasn’t the stones to do it...and neither do you. My little Shrista...no. I shouldn’t claim you. Ohhhh. -They- seem to have done that already." It echoed and like Tekun, she could hear the low lamentations of something beneath it. It was an old voice, Draconic and cruel in nature. It felt of utter hate. If this thing had its way the world would be nothing but ashes.

    Tekun was already on it, a rush of adrenaline surged through him and he forced the armor off and then the bracers and shin guards. It was a slow agonizing process. He crawled away towards where he thought Shrista was. Where he thought he had heard her and allowed himself to collapse. He fumbled around blindly.

    "Why can’t I...I can’t get rid of it." He curled up on the ground. Still a bloody mess, shaking. He coudldn`t see. He felt pathetic and weak. He looked it too. Blind and disoriented. His head spun, possibly due to blood loss as well. The armor though off gave off an unnatural vibe. It would likely deter anything sane and would attract beings of a chaotic and evil nature.

    "I`m sorry Shrista...for being so weak."

    Was she nearby? He didn't know. He felt helpless, more so than that meek boy he had seen. To be comparable to that urchin was almost intolerable. Shrista would sense one traveler, and much to anyone’s surprise it was the same young elf. He appeared beat up, but in far better condition than before. His bared no weapons and instead a white flag. Having heard the commotion he felt obligated to approach. They had spared his life once, would they do it again. The smell was gut wrenching. Everything here...this sight. Absolutely horrible. He paled at the carnage. Everyone was dead.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    The armor spoke?
    There was a voice inside her head at least, tainted, vile and leaving her feeling filthier than before when she'd merely touched the armor. Her lip curled in disgust as it roiled through her mind, no doubt it would sense her scathing expression towards it.

    "Your Shrista? I belong to no one, best you remember that, Mal'ai."

    She turned, sneering as the mercenary began dragging himself towards where she stood, arms folded beneath her breasts and a look of derision twisting her face.

    "Then perhaps you ought to change yourself, make yourself strong."
    She was of course not talking about physically. If he wasn't strong enough to prevent himself from becoming an enraged psychopath, wasn't strong enough to even just leave that cursed armor behind, that was down to his own willpower. Clearly it had done something to him, twisted him somehow and destroyed his resolve when it came to that. Why else would he have spent so long carrying that archaic piece of junk around? It couldn't even prevent him from taking so many hits that he was near death, only send him into a rage and have him try to kill his companions.

    Perhaps she should have more sympathy for him, but she couldn't find it in her to do so. Sympathy had never been something she found easy to come by in any case, nor pity. He was in this situation because he'd done it to himself. Much like that odd term they coined, so fitting now...to dig one's own grave.

    At the sound of footsteps she turned her head, piercing gaze resting on the elven boy as he waved his pathetic little flag, paling at the gore. What a sight they must strike right now, the mercenary crawling at the woman's feet like a tortured dog, a wreck of his former self. Perhaps it was pity she felt then, a slight twist of her innards as she looked back to him, but it was gone again in an instant, fleeting.
    "What do you want, boy? Come back for another round?"
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    There was no reply from the armor, the feeling had long sensed gone but the aura was there yet. And Tekun bit on his lip, to try and grow stronger. How much stronger could he become, before maybe at another time. Shrista would have been dead. Gaining that much control took time. The curse ran deep, strongly.

    “You’re right…” Tekun stated and stopped crawling. He heard someone walking nearby, but his sense of danger, that little feeling didn’t ignite. He didn’t feel safe. The young elf looked to the Immortal Soldier and Shrista. He wasn’t as timid as he had been back then.

    “Nothing….nothing like that miss.” He stated, swallowing air nervously. “Just…to collect the dead. Nothing more…I promise you. I’m not going back to them…nothing will be heard from my mouth…I died back there as far as anyone’s concern.” He managed to look her in the face. He couldn’t believe the carnage. That armor had literally been ripped in two with the horses and their shields. Their weapons.

    “You…spared my life. Um…” He couldn’t believe what they had done to this order. They were all good people, but these people. They had some…sense of mercy. There was some good in them too? He wasn’t sure. He felt indebted. He didn’t know why. And to see the man who murdered them all, in such a bad state. Was this really The Immortal Soldier? He rubbed his arm. Tekun’s ears perked up. That voice seemed familiar, though distorted.

    “If you’d allow it…I would want to return that favor. Your people value you those…right? Favors?”

    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    "Of course I'm right you idiot! You did this to yourself...and now what, I'm expected to just heal your injuries so that you can travel again? No...it's better you recover like a normal person. Maybe you'll learn the lesson. It'll keep happening if you don't take action!"

    She sighed then, her arms dropping to her sides, focusing what scant attention she could manage on the young man. Come to claim the dead...quite a task for one boy, and as it was, they couldn't just leave this mess to be found here. If the authorities found it there would be questions, and as much as she'd rather just leave them to the scavengers to claim, she knew it couldn't be done.

    "Yes...my people value debts. But your people and mine are not the same. Your honor is not the same as ours. If you wish to make a claim to the dead, do so now, before I fix the problem."

    She meant looting anything of value of course. They were dead now, their souls gone, departed, they'd not be using the items they had in life any longer, so it might as well go to a good home, continue it's use.
    Glancing once more at Tekun she strode to the center of the mess and weaving threads of air began to drag the corpses towards her, arranging them in rows that he might take what he valued and say any rites he believed would help them. Once he was done she intended to pile them up, make a pyre, and torch the lot.

    "If you're adamant on returning a favor...I'm sure you can find something to assist us with. Tekun will need treatment, and my magic only goes so far."

    Both truth and lie there. It only went so far, so long as she had no host to steal from again, leech that life back and restore herself from the brink of death were she stupid enough to push herself that far.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    "Shrista! I’m trying! I’ve been trying for years on end…I only now just gained even a little bit of control…It’s…” He gritted his teeth. “A shit excuse. Yeah. A shit excuse.” He grumbled. He remembered Sophia. That bitch. He hated her now more than anything. Why could she be so strong and why was he so pathetic. He literally blamed some dark god. It made his temper rise to the point where the gem was forced to act. This continued to happen and he took measures but it still happened. How much more was he suppose to do. The answer was simple. Till it stopped happening.

    “Everything that I’ve ever done is my fault.” He admitted. “Reap. What we sow.”

    The young elf nodded and did not dare intrude. They were so mutilated. He opted to collect their tags instead. Their symbols. It would identify them at least. Cremation was going to have to be the best he could do. There were so many. It was his burden. He looked to the Immortal Soldier, and approached nervously. “Hold still…sir.” He forced himself to keep calm and control. Tekun wanted to lash out, still calming down. He looked him in the eyes.

    “He has gone blind…” As if it weren’t obvious enough. “But this is nothing natural. This is dark magic at work.” He had seen something like this before. “His wounds…I am not experienced enough but…when I am done he should be able to walk. I cannot say when his sight will return. It may take some time. It may never.” He took a deep breath and he began to channel a spell, something light and heavenly. Tekun looked nervous, but kept his composure. He wasn’t going to hurt him but the paranoia insisted otherwise. His wounds began to heal ever so slightly, the aches and pains. The nausea reduced. He looked healthier but frail yet.

    “That is…the best I can do…” He stood up and backed away. “Please…just take what you wish from them.” It was not like he could stop them from grave robbing. “It may take time to take care of them…”

    Tekun grumbled. His pride had taken a beating. Being helped. And the idea of his sight never returning…he remembered what happened with Mirix. “No…it will return. I remember now…it happened before. Only once. It took a day or two though.”
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    Her voice softened a touch as she continued to drag the corpses toward herself. Tekun wouldn't be able to help her here, but cutting wood wasn't exactly work for a genius. Anyone could do it if they had the will to.
    "I know you're trying. I'm not saying everything rests on you alone, you clearly have an outside entity influencing you, but it's feeding off of your emotions, building on them. That is what needs to be changed."
    There wasn't much point turning to speak to him, he couldn't see her anyway. That thought gave her a sort of grim amusement. She could wander about naked if she chose, and he'd never know.

    "Figured as much. My own magic didn't cause that and I never attacked his nerves either."
    She dragged another corpse, or most of one to the pile, depositing it on top, her nose wrinkling at the smell, already beginning to stiffen and decay. She could use her entropy on them to speed the process but really didn't feel like touching them. It felt wrong, they belonged to another god, even were it just flesh and bone now, devoid of the soul that occupied the shell.

    She wasn't about to use Tekun's weapons either, so watching the boy collect the tags a moment she stooped, picking up a curved saber and hefting it in one hand, then started towards the trees.
    "You won't be burning them alone boy, that will take too long. Feel free to help me build a pyre, there are plenty of weapons lying around that will cut wood."
    The dark-skinned woman stopped, looked back at the mercenary and bit her lip, then sighed, sticking the blade into the ground and looping her hands beneath his armpits, dragged him upright and put his back against a tree.
    "I'm going to fetch fuel, if you hadn't already guessed. I'll keep an eye on you."

    So she did, keeping him in sight as she paced around the treeline, hacking off branches and carrying them back to toss down in a heap. Small so far, but it would grow bigger until she could get the bodies on it and light it.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    Tekun heard her voice soften, only slightly. Logic, not blame. They needed to fix this, that much was sure. He closed his eyes and nodded, despite the fact he couldn’t see. He remained on the ground, not moving just yet before he felt her assist him. He stood with her. Grimacing due to the pain in his legs. He gasped hard. He hadn’t used them since she done all that damage to them.

    “Gah! Shit.” He cussed beneath his breath as he stood. His eyes actually tearing up due to it. Each step induced horrific pain through his body. Though he only felt half of it…it still hurt a great deal.

    “Do I even want to know what happened to my legs?” He managed to chuckled nervously, his eye brow twitching. He leaned against the tree and sat, sighing. As he collected tags he could not help but look to the drow with but a confused look. Why would she help?

    “Thank you…” He didn’t question her motives. He continued. Though it was more than clear he was surprised she was even doing it. It heightened his opinion of them. They were willing to bury their enemies without so much as his asking. They had honor at least. He took one of the weapons and began to hack at the wood around.

    “I can hear…is that boy with you?” Tekun asked, his ears perking up.

    “I…I am here sir…” He answered Tekun nervously.

    “I’m sorry…” He stated simply, though his voice held absolutely no remorse to it however. He owed him that much. His insanity, his madness. What it might have taken from him, that was his fault. He was met with silence. The elven boy knew not what to say or think. He continued. Eventually the pyre was built. Ready. The dead simply needed to be gathered now.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    Tossing another branch onto the growing pyre, the drow woman let her gaze flit between the mercenary and the boy, still gathering wood as she began to haul the bodies, or at least parts of them, onto the top of the wood pile. She didn't feel the need to respond to his thanks, where she was from, you burned the corpses or they'd come back to haunt you. Quite literally.

    "I don't think I care to elaborate how I do it. It won't leave any lasting damage to you..."

    Dropping the torso she was carrying she wiped her hands on the soiled grass to not much effect, and sighed. It was a tiring job, but it had to be done, at least that boy had come back, it made it a bit faster, easier, at any rate.

    It didn't take very long before using a combination of her air magic and her own strength she'd moved the corpses on top of the wood, fatigue making her legs tremble.

    I need to sleep this off...I've overused my abilities again.

    Still they weren't done, and wouldn't be for some time. They needed to get this under way and make sure Tekun was moved somewhere safer, lest someone else stumble on them in this state and decide to try to claim the bounty on his head. She was confident that alone she could keep them from him but not without rest first. Magic was a tiring business.
    Shrista glanced critically at the pale young elf, and shook her head, a spark of flame igniting in her palm. She didn't believe he'd honestly betray them but you never could be too careful. He'd proved honorable enough so far, even going far enough to have the courage to venture back here after they'd let him go. No, she'd not kill him. If someone wanted to know where they were, they already had the means. The paladins had found them easily enough.

    As she stooped down to the edge of the pyre, lighting it with the holy fire, she spoke to him, the question nagging at her since he'd first showed up with his compatriots.
    "How did you find us?"
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    “An elaborate combination of divination magics that included scrying and location spells. Commander Eluch. We were trying to get an accurate location for about a month now and then finally got a hold of him in a small town with a lot of….goats.” He raised an eyebrow. “He wanted to move in on him there but by the time we could mobilize you would have been in Madrid. The decision to remain outside the city was made.”

    He hoisted a body onto the flame before placing another upon it. He frowned deeply. In the eyes of his group he had likely committed hearsay, consorting with a drow and a monster. But in his eyes he knew this was the right thing. Things just worked out like this he guessed.

    “I never understood why we went so far out of our way…but I didn’t protest because I wanted it. He took everything I ever knew away from me, it was how I eventually ended up in that order. But…as it went by, I didn’t know if that was what I wanted. They took me in.” He rambled and hoisted another body up. He looked to Tekun who now sat, closing his eyes as he leaned back. He appeared asleep.

    “Sir?” He asked, unsure if he was actually asleep or not.

    “Yeah?” He answered, not even so much as opening his eyes.’

    “I accept your apology…” He felt it was needed, after heavy consideration. That part of his life was done…he would have been filled with hate but this man was clearly he victim of something abnormal. He wasn’t a monster, he just had one inside of him.

    Tekun didn’t answer and slumped back, sore and grumbled something utterly incoherent.

    “…” He looked from Tekun to Shrista to the corpse he now carried. They were about done.

    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    "I see."

    She said nothing else just then, turning her back as the flames spread, licking hungrily at both wood and flesh, consuming. There wasn't much that she could say, her thoughts lingering momentarily on the 'goats', seemingly the mage hadn't restored them as he'd promised to do. Typical, rats had more honor than humans.

    Shrista sauntered across the camp, or what was left of it, and nudged at the trampled pack that had been Tekun's, picking ti up by one tattered strap and tossing it unceremoniously at the man so that it landed heavily in his lap, then stood, head tilted on one side as she watched the exchange between them. Except for his scars, they might have been of a similar age. If you didn't take into account the fact that one of them had stopped ageing nearly a millennium ago.

    She wasn't one to try and plan things out, but now she felt the need to ask his intentions. They'd come this far, and it would be stupid to just leave him him here. Why she was still staying was anyone's guess, scowling at him where he sat propped against the tree.
    "Now what? Where do we go from here? You're in no fit state to walk as it is...Gods...what a mess."
    She kicked idly, scuffing at the dirt and pacing back and forth, her hands clasped behind her, occasionally glancing at one or the other.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    The young elf knelt by the fire and began a silent prayer. Tekun brought himself to move, gripping the pack and slinging it over his shoulder. He sat up, sore in pain. He should have been in constant pain but it was dulled. He’d have to deal with it.

    “We press on. That is all there is to it really. I’d say find a safer place to bunker down and find a place to wait till I can at least see again. Stick to the plan, head to Morrim.” He stated with only slight pain.

    “What about yourself? Are you going to be okay?” It was concerned but also a legitimate question. He looked at her blankly with glossy eyes. The horrid thing was they had a certain unearthly beauty to it. Truth be told, he had no idea how mangled she might have been. For all he knew he tore off her face and she might have been lying to him. He didn’t think the damage was that bad but he had heard her shrieks of pain.

    He had the Damascus with him yet, and he hadn’t noticed much now. But his body had been torn further apart by the enchantment of large weapon. How much damage it actually dealt and how much of their pain he felt. It a way fitting, it was meant to deter the curse. It did, it gave further consequence to him being injured. Fighting recklessly was what he knew though. He’d have to deal with it, nothing more and nothing less.

    He looked about, for but a moment and then forced himself to stand. He used his blade, the Damascus as a make shift cane.

    “…Think it be a good idea to just drink this off?” He could smell a pyre going, for some some odd reason it brought him slight comfort.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Shrista
    Member Avatar
    Pariah, Apostate, Heretic

    "I'll be fine."
    She snapped a little too harshly perhaps, but all the same moved to take his arm and guide him towards the road again. They'd be traveling now more in the open, and though she might get away with being able to blend in with the tales she'd heard of Drow in Orl'Kabbar, it still fit just a little too well that the mercenary, albeit the worse for wear, was still travelling with a Drow woman. Perhaps she'd have to look into learning a spell to change her features, or at least, her colors.

    She glanced down at the blade being used as support and shook her head silently. He'd ruin the blade like that, but it didn't seem that he used it that much anyway. Besides, it wasn't as if it were her weapon, it just seemed a shame to see it put to that sort of use. Never mind.

    Turning she stood watching the boy a moment longer, wanting to say something, but unable to find the words. Best to let him be, praying for his dead. Interrupting someone doing that wasn't wise anyway, and she found herself shrugging again, giving the big man a nudge in the small of his back to get him going.
    She didn't know how far he'd be able to walk in that state but she wasn't about to complain, it was his choice to continue on. She'd keep the life leeching to herself as well. He'd not yet seen her 'healing' anyone, so he didn't know how it worked. Nothing like what the boy had done, but if he thought it was the same, then let him. It was probably better that way.

    "Let's move. If you need to stop then say so, don't just collapse on the road. It won't help either of us."
    Stepping ahead of him she stood in the middle of the road and watched the dust settle, waiting for him to catch up.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    Tekun
    Immortal Soldier

    He followed blindly carrying the gear, nudged along like some pack mule. They left that awful place behind. He did not wear his armor or gear. But kept it with him. It needed to come along and he could not explain why. But the horrible feeling settled oddly enough and was left with an even more unnerving silence. He broke it by reaching into his cloak and drawing out a flask of a strong whiskey. Flipping the lid he drank deeply from it and then offered it to his traveling partner.

    The young elf finished his prayer and watched in silence as they left. Perhaps they’d meet again? Perhaps he’d never see them again. That was just how things were. He made up his mind to just leave this life behind. No more revenge or this holy order nonsense. There was nothing left, he held no obligation to them.

    “Helios guide them…” He muttered beneath his breath. They needed it.
    (OFFLINE) PROFILE QUOTE GO TO TOP
     
    1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
    ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
    ZetaBoards gives you all the tools to create a successful discussion community.
    « Previous Topic · Roleplays · Next Topic »
    • Pages:
    • 1
    • 2

    affiliates


    Join us on Facebook!
    Join/follow our deviantArt group!

    Vote for Us and Check Out Our Listings!
    RPGfix Total Drama Website - The Best Role-Play Sites Top RPG Sites Top RP Sites
    RPG-D Seductive Directory
    Nerd Listings

    Affiliates
    'Souls RPG Warden's Vigil: A Dragon Age Roleplaying Community Black & White
    Tales of Illyria Tir Dearthair The Games

    Beyond the Fall
    Edolon

    Word Counter provided by Fission

    Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]