Located at the west side of Norwood Forest was the Hauntwood Marsh, but she hadn't known that when she had started out walking. Now she wished she had. None of the Wood Elves had warned her, they probably already thought that she knew, but now she wished she had asked for a map or something. The ground made a sickening squish sound beneath her feet and bits of ooze came ouf of the plants she passed. Not to mention it was getting darker.

Most people would turn and walk back the other way. In fact, Nessa Nénmacil had done that.... about three times. First it had been to get out, then it had been because she had heard noises, and then third was because she had thought she saw something; the Moon Elf wasn't quite sure of what she thought she saw, it looked like a person... type thing, but she knew she didn't want to fight it or meet it at the moment. And that was how she had gotten...

completely lost.

Wart walked through the marshes. He had no place in particular to go, and this place felt like home to him. The humans can have their kingdoms and cities, and the elves can have their pretty forests, Wart preferred this place over all of them. Though the place looked twisted and freakish, the lich considered it a sanctuary of his kind, even though they hated him, and they were the ones he hunted. Wart found many of his kind here, the undead. Most, mindless and flesh-eating, wander around with no destination, but there were other, like Wart. Who wandered here, not because they were lost, but because this is where their home was.

The lich walked through the marsh, making no noise. He walked so quietly and smoothly, that he looked as if he floated over the mud of the marshes, and in the distance, he could hear another. Wart could not tell if it was undead, or something else. Many unnatural things lurked in the shadows of the forest. "I wonder... He thought, grasping his staff with both hands. The lich peered through the darkness of the forest, spotting the silhouette of a woman. He chased after, curiosity getting the best of him. "This is no place for a woman, I'd suggest leaving before a monster gets you..." He said, letting out a fake evil laughter out after he talked. Wart was only trying to scare this person out of the forest, for her own good. He drew closer, with ten feet of the girl, waiting for a reply.

Nessa jumped and turned towards the voice, bringing her staff in front of her. This was a lousy time to get caught by the evil beings of Imythess, with no real training yet and only one spell to help her along the way. But despite the odds against her (and her pounding heart), the Moon Elf responded with a strong voice:

"I am not afraid of this marsh, nor of you, Evil One! Show yourself, Fiend!" She bent her legs slightly and prepared herself for anything that might reveal itself...

Wart laughed at the woman. This was not fake like the last one. "So be it woman, if you wish to see me, I shall reveal myself. But I warn you, I am not easy on the eyes." He said, again laugh. The lich muttered an incantation, and cast Light on the end of his staff, and brought it up to his face, revealing his rotted skin, pitch black eyes, and a very toothy grin.

"I have revealed myself, and now it is time to show yourself." He said, holding up his staff to the woman. Wart realized that it wasn't a woman, but a moon elf. She had very pale, almost blue tinted skin. "Looks like I found myself a moon elf..." He said, again laughing.

((Eh, I hate the word toothy, but I couldn't think of any other word to use. :/))

((OOC: Toothy.... it's fun to say. Toothy Toothy Toothy Toothy XD))

Despite herself Nessa gasped and backed away a couple of steps, her eyes growing wide. Her body began to shake, from both fear and anger. He was undead and undead were evil. Those were the only thoughts running through the Moon Elf's mind at that moment and she prepared herself for an attack.

Even as she shifted stances another, more minor thought, entered her mind: I'm not strong enough to defeat one of the Undead. Nessa pushed the thought away and spoke sarcasticly:

"Thank you, Sir, for revealing yourself."

Wart laughed again. He could not help himself. Like most others, she feared Wart. He could tell by her surprise, and shaking. But Wart was not truly evil. He considered himself a pseudo undead. Most others of his race lacked a will, a soul, and some even the ability to talk. Wart although, was different from them. "I apologize, girl, for frightening you." The lich started to say, letting out small chuckles as he talked. "I imagine that you think I am evil, malicious, perhaps even flesh-eating?" He continued, recovering from his laughter. "I am Wart, a lich of no renown." He said, sticking his staff into the ground. He began leaning on his staff. If one stood too long in the mud, they're feet would eventually sink in. Though this wasn't a problem for those who had flesh, it always posed a risk for Wart, because an attempt at pulling himself out of the mud just might seperate himself from the lower half of his legs.

The shorter woman stared for a moment before recovering and growing angered. "I'm not a girl! I'm one-hundred and twenty-four!" Although in her race this was considered young, she still found it offensive to be called a girl when she was rightfully of a young adult human's age. "Just because I am small and lack BIG curves does not mean that I am a child! Nor am I to be treated as such!" Nessa brought her hands to her side, keeping her staff in her right hand at all times. She glared angrily at Wart, for the moment forgetting her fears and righteous anger for such a trivial matter. She knew what her mother would say at a time like this: "Ladies do not spout off angrily at the person whom they are talking to; they quietly reprimand."

"And I'm not afraid you." Again, Nessa's voice contained the sarcasm and harsh tone that she had come to know over the years. It was just who she was...

The lich smiled. "And I am 286. Thats a little over a century older than you." Wart said. His gaze shifted around real quick, to make sure they were not being watched. His staff's brightness might attract some very unsavory guests. "And perhaps if you gave me your name, I would not have to use the names girl and woman, and avoid you getting so upset about it all." The lich added, his smile fading away. The light on his staff started to dim out. Good, now maybe we won't have to deal with any trouble. He thought to himself. Wart was not afraid of anything in this marsh, but he tended to be lazy, and didn't enjoy dealing with monsters and undead when he didn't have to.

"My name is Nessa Nénmacil. And you?" Her dark blue eyes watched the light at the end of his staff as it began to fade before darting around at their surroundings. Only then did she notice that she was almost up to her waist in mud. She gasped lightly and began to try and remove herself from the earthen material while glancing up at Wart every so often to keep track of his movements. "Look, sir, I don't mean to be rude or come off as stand-offish or anything but I'm lost and if you can find it in your schedule to help find a place in this marsh stuff where I can stand, I would be very, very much obliged."

Wart thought about helping her. "Hmmmmmmm... It is a marsh, theres not going to be anything dry around here for a distance. Give me just a second to recollect..." He said. It had been a long time since he had been out of this marsh, so it took him a few seconds to remember. "Ah yes... I remember now. There is a village of wood elves west of here. Can't say I like them too much. They're not too fond of undead like myself." Wart said, adding a little more information than needed. "But if you just want something dry to stand on, then just go west. I'm sure eventually you'll find solid ground." The lich stated simply. The light on his staff dimmed out completely, and a sigh of releif left Wart. He was glad nothing had spotted them.

"Thank you." Nessa managed what she could of a bow and then began to trudge off in a direction, unknown to her, she was heading north. A little voice in her head made her sigh and turn, calling back to Wart. "Sir, I owe you. If there's anything I can do to help you in any way, I'll try my hardest to do to it. Just name your price."

((OOC: Oo... sorry that's so short....))

Wart waved at her. He noticed that she was going in the wrong direction, but he didn't say anything, knowing that she would lead herself into the Debon Plains if she continued going north. "I'll remember that!" He shouted back, fading into the darkness of the marsh. Wart took his staff out of the muddy ground, and continued wandering around the marsh, thinking if there was anything that she could help him with in the future.

((Mines short too... :/))

((This now conludes "Running Blindly" and RP started by Nessa Nénmacil and continued by Wart, which was not supposed to be personal but somehow ended up becoming so. If anyone is reading this, I hope you have enjoyed it. Drop Nessa Nénmacil or Wart a PM anytime you wish to RP.

~Clair XD))