| Welcome to Imythess, the border between dreams and reality. We hope you enjoy your visit. Imythess is a creative writing board where you narrate the story of a character in the medieval land of Imythess, on the planet Chaon. Each topic is an opportunity for your character to interact with the world and its peoples by cooperatively writing pieces of a story with other members, one post at a time. We call this role-playing, because you assume the identity of your character as if it were your own. In order to play, you must register an account for each character you would like to write about, and begin their tale by filling out their basic profile information: Race (human, elf, demon, etc.), class (warrior, mage, etc.), physical appearance, and any other personal details you would like to describe. You are also encouraged to come up with some background history information for what your character's life has been like up to the point at which their story in Imythess begins. There is no approval process or application required to join, so long as you follow the rules then you are free to write whatever character details you choose. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Create a character now! If you're already a member, you can log into your account below: |
| Vengeance | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Wed Dec 8, 2010 11:33 pm (911 Views) | |
| Caoimhe Whelan | Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:03 am Post #46 |
 
|
Caoimhe drew in a sharp breath as she watched Aiden fall. She had an idea about how to save him, though he probably wouldn't like it - and there was no guarantee that she would make it in time anyway. The ice bridge she'd created before had taken a couple of minutes to produce; Aiden would be long-gone by then. But it seems that she did not have much of a choice in her next action, however, as she whirled about to the tune of a half-snarling voice. Seeing him up close for the first time, Caoimhe had to suppress a shudder and the sudden urge to step back. Oh, the man didn't stink as the trolls had - but he was hideous. His bulbous nose and too-hairy eyebrows, his jutting chin and huge cheekbones, his broad forehead and greasy sideburns...this was not a man who would ever win over a woman by looks. Then again, maybe that's why he was in such a bad mood. His charge was nothing short of catastrophic, for his momentum was something that would more than likely take him right over the edge and into the chasm. It seemed as though he was slowing, however, for he stopped suddenly as Caoimhe's staff parried his thrust and slammed into his back. He threw his weight backward and she had to dart back to avoid a sudden swipe from his sword. She parried two more thrusts and darted back from another swipe before he taunted her again. "What's the matter, girlie? Can't handle a little love?" Caoimhe said nothing and the man attacked her again, expertly striking in places that she knew were weak points in her defense. Anyone fending for themselves in the wilds of the northern lands knew well the weapon or weapons they carried, and it was said that any farmer would know well how to wield a quarterstaff to defend himself, his family, and his property. But Caoimhe was finding it difficult to fend off the continued attacks of this man; he was a mage, yes, but he also seemed to be rather exceptional with a blade. "Tell you what, lass," he said with a repulsive, yellow-toothed grin during a pause in his attacks. "You come with me, we do a little jig, have a little wine...I'll let you live." Caoimhe almost threw up when she heard that. First off, what the man was suggesting was something reserved for a wedding night that, at this rate, Caoimhe would never see. She had yet to meet a man worthy of her attention, let alone...that. Secondly, this man was so ugly, she almost wanted to fight another troll. They might stink worse than rotten fish, but at least they were better-looking. That was just...very, very sad... "If I wanted a man that badly," she retorted, "I would have lain down with your drakes." The man snarled, but Caoimhe viciously attacked him as she finished her brief speech regarding his inability to please a woman. He was only barely able to parry a blow from her staff and had to duck the second and the third. He jumped back from another blow and blocked yet another. His footwork was rather fancy and he was keeping himself well-adjusted to her attacks, but just like his own, they kept coming. Anger and hatred pounded threw her body now, pumping her blood hotter and faster than she naively believed any man ever could. In her mind, she saw only the faces of Mirzina and her father. She felt the injustice of all that had happened thus far, and the mage slowly began to realize that he may have erred. Perhaps he had pushed his luck just a little too far this time. The first major blow to the mage came at his thigh, a sharp crack signaling the breaking of a bone followed up by the bruising of three ribs in rapid succession. Caoimhe herself half-growled, half-roared as she broke the man's nose and sent his blade away from him. She blackened his right eye and nearly took out his left; she shattered his knee, invoking a scream from him as he fell, and then she slammed her staff into his ribs again - breaking them this time. She shattered his other knee with a fierce blow, rage driving her more than anything else at this point. The death of her friend's father, the kidnapping of her friend and now - now, the presumed death of a man that had not only saved her life, but had actually done nothing but help her selflessly up until this battle. Oh, yes...she was beyond angry. She slammed her staff into his mouth twice and his forehead three times, and then she dropped to her knees with her staff across the man's throat. She pressed hard, her teeth gritted, her gorgeous blue eyes ablaze amid a sea of white-blond locks. The man could barely move, hardly breathe, but Caoimhe could care less. "Where is Mirzina, you hog-sucking bear bait?!" she shouted at him. "Where?!" |
 |
 
|
| swordhunter | Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:03 am Post #47 |
|
OOC: oh dear... BinC: Croix's entire body was battered and bruised. She's a little firebrand, isn't she? he thought, accepting the pain now coursing through his body. He registered the fact that a quarterstaff was pressed against his throat, slowly cutting off his ability to breathe. "Where is Mirzina, you hog-sucking bear bait?! Where?!" Croix's eyes locked onto Caoimhe's and deep inside, he felt some sort of...pity for her, for a reason that was beyond him. "No...clue," he spat, keeping his eyes locked on the young woman. However, at the same time, he slowly moved the hand on the side of his body away from the young woman. He might have felt pity...but he certainly wasn't going to let the actions of the last five minutes cloud his judgment. This girl was formidable...but she was no Aiden. No way to heal quickly enough unless I immobilize her, he thought, closing his eyes as if he were slowly accepting his death. In fact, he was letting blood flow down his arm into the small hole he'd managed to burrow into the ground beside him. Then, when the time was right, he opened his eyes and finally said, "Mestyl." Suddenly a column of steam shot into the air. A circle of red light surrounded both Croix and Caoimhe, encasing both of them in a sudden wave of heat. "I hope you die slowly, girl," Croix spat, strength beginning to stream into his broken body. Moments later, a long, dark arm emerged from the tundra's surface. This was followed by a black body climbing from below. The demonic form's bloodred eyes opened and quickly focused on the young woman before it. Then...it opened its tooth filled mouth, as if smiling. Croix may have been broken for now, but the demon he summoned would easily return the favor. . . |
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Thu May 5, 2011 8:54 am Post #48 |
|
((Indeed...)) "Liar!" she cried out against the man, as though her words would somehow wound him further. She pressed down even harder upon his throat in her anger, forgetting for the moment that one required breath in order to speak. But this one seemed as callous as he was intent on killing her. This only angered her further, his tone driving her to nearly crush his throat beneath her weight. She drew a small bit of satisfaction from the gagging noises he made, from the sounds of him choking even as he lied to her. Or perhaps he told the truth...but Caoimhe was in no fit state to believe the man. Indeed, she would have killed him slowly had it not been for the sudden rush of magic. She felt it before she heard it: a deep rumbling somewhere deep beneath her. She did not at first register the noise, but the cracking of the ice and snow drew her attention as surely as the sudden blast of heat did. Throwing her off in her momentary surprise, the dark priest or wizard or whatever he was coughed and gasped as he desperately sought life-giving air. Caoimhe rolled to her feet, wincing from the heat, and stepped back as a large and obviously powerful demon rose before her. And it had to be some kind of demon, for what else could carry about them such a monstrous appearance? Weakend and half-dead, the man on the ground crawled away as the demon grinned - if indeed that was what it was doing. It certainly seemed that it was doing exactly that. But whatever it was doing, Caoimhe was not certain that she could handle this thing alone. She had heard horrible tales of demons with fantastic powers beyond the scope of ordinary magic. It was said that they could fly and become invisible, yes - but it was also said that they could literally turn a person inside-out and hurl whole icebergs at their foes with one viciously clawed hand. Whether or not the tales were true, this was yet another thing Caoimhe knew next to nothing about for certain. It seemed that this journey was not only far more dangerous than she could have imagine, but also held far more numerous nightmarish adventures than she ever could have wanted. |
|
|
|
| swordhunter | Sat May 7, 2011 2:55 pm Post #49 |
|
Aiden barely registered the fact that he was falling towards the floor of the canyon, concentrating as he was on drawing out a deeper power. It was one he hardly understood, yet he knew that accessing it was the only way he would be getting out of this situation in one unbroken piece. A distance below, the elf could hear the thrashing of the drake Caoimhe had defeated earlier--apparently it wasn't dead yet either. Wonderful series of events here, Aiden thought as he brought his hands together and closed his eyes. Soon, his senses dulled to the point where he didn't hear the winds whistling around his plummeting body. The sheer ice walls of the canyon which were hurtling past went out of sight and mind as Aiden gathered magic around him in a way that he was still unused to. Eladrin, the elf said within his mind, hoping beyond hope that he hadn't been abandoned. Abandoned? came the incredulous reply, I just joined with you, why would I abandon you so quickly?! Aiden smirked unconsciously as power flooded through his body. The celestial connection he had developed was strong indeed and now, that connection was proving its usefulness. The fatigue which had gripped the elf's body began to slip away, replaced by a new, seemingly limitless energy. Forgive me, Aiden thought, opening his eyes to reveal their new reddish hue. I certainly didn't mean to offend. You might want to stop apologizing, the celestial replied, Or you'll meet a rather gruesome end before long. Aiden didn't bother looking down--he knew how much time he had left before crashing into the ice below. "Let's get moving then," he said to no one in particular and looking up at the mouth of the canyon far above. "Thia!" he shouted. In response, a powerful flame surrounded the elf's body, encasing him in a red light. Then, just as suddenly, the light shifted, covering the elf's back and slowly forming into two pairs of fiery wings. With a thought, Aiden slowed his descent to a crawl, eventually coming to a stop just meters above the thrashing ice drake below. For a fleeting moment, Aiden thought about taking the beast out of its misery, but there were other ways of doing that. Like killing its summoner, for instance. . . Neither Caoimhe nor Croix were aware of Aiden's current state, busy as they were with their own fight. Croix was huddled against an ice drift, breathing heavily as he flooded his body with healing dark energy. Meanwhile, his pet was fully formed now, its four legged form pacing around the young woman which was its target. Croix didn't bother looking at the fight unfold--he knew that few could deal with a beast of such power on their own. Even now, the demon was exuding a powerful evil aura, one which weakened any nearby and filled them with a sense of dread. The demon let out a powerful roar at Caoimhe, cracking the ice around it, before charging forward with incredible speed across the ice. It snapped viciously as it pounded across the ice, readying its claws to rend this woman apart piece by piece. "Good, good," Croix muttered, closing his eyes as he slowly recovered his strength. This fight had taken quite a bit out of him, but now it was in its closing stages. And he never imagined that he would meet with such success--the elf was dead and soon, his companion would be too. Zieg would be most pleased...as would whatever group was being chased by the pair. Croix could barely conceal his happiness as he rolled slowly to his feet, his strength almost restored to a point. He would watch as his demon clawed the girl to bits before finishing her off himself. "Should have taken my offer," he muttered with a shrug. . . OOC: One more haha |
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Mon May 16, 2011 9:45 am Post #50 |
|
((Sorry again for the wait.  ))Fear. That's what she felt now. It's something she hadn't felt in a long time, not since she was a child having nightmares about a bear wounded by hunters. It had gone mad and mauled over a dozen people before it was put down by...she found herself trying to remember by whom despite the situation, and then she realized: it was the first time she'd ever known of the wizard. Actually, it was the first time anyone had known the wizard. The tower was new then, a point of fascination by many locals. True, some of them had seen or heard of such towers before, but many had not. Then, of course, there was the matter of the wizard himself - a very peculiar matter indeed. He had come seemingly out of nowhere, just as the tower had, and annihilated the bear with a couple of minor spells. But Caoimhe could not have known that they were minor, of course. It was only second- and third-hand that she even knew the story of his sudden arrival. He had apparently created quite a thriving trade of potions and elixirs for himself after that, and even some magical armor on occasion, Caoimhe had never had much contact with him at all. Yet it seemed that he had saved her life without her having realized it at first, namely via the gifts he had left for her - gifts that, unfortunately, might not aid her here. Indeed, the aura was something that did things to her mind none had done before. This amount of fear was the same as after a bad nightmare, and she was almost rooted to the spot. Yet she stumbled backward, trying to steel herself against...ah, there it was, an attack at last! And one that she only just barely got out of the way of. In truth, the roar was almost as dangerous as the charge had been. Caoimhe would never have admitted it, but she was slightly stunned by it. She spent a moment stumbling to her feet as the demon skidded to a halt and whirled about near the edge of the badly damaged ice. Looking from it to the demon warily, she knew that the ground couldn't take more than another couple of blasts like that. She could run - the hills were behind her now - but she wasn't sure if she could make it. And if the demon didn't kill her, the mage would. As the demon grinned again and growled from somewhere deep in its throat, Caoimhe found herself swallowing hard. This was about as bad as things got...she hoped... |
|
|
|
| swordhunter | Mon May 16, 2011 3:57 pm Post #51 |
|
Croix’s grin grew wider and wider as he finally recognized fear in the eyes of the young woman before him. All this time, she had managed to keep her defiant gaze, as if focused on something far beyond the here and now. But that look was now gone, replaced by one filled with uncertainty at what would happen now that all avenues of retreat were gone. The ice bridge was all but destroyed and the path back to the north was too exposed to stay hidden from the mage for very long. Not that I’d let her get that far anyway, Croix thought, almost liking his lips with excitement at what was to come. His demon, sensing that the kill was close as well, was calmly stalking its target, its red eyes trained on the woman before it. Caoimhe had skillfully dodged one attack…but who knew how much longer her strength would be able to hold out against the demon’s attacks. “You’ve lasted quite a while, I’ll give you that,” Croix taunted, “Really, I could have used you as a helper or the like. But I suppose that the time for that is long past.” Advancing menacingly, Croix picked up speed as his demon moved forward as well. Together, the pair cut off Caoimhe’s retreat and closed the distance between them rapidly. The woman was trapped, she knew it, and she was staring death in the face. And Croix couldn’t be happier. “DIE!” Croix shouted with glee as he raised his blade for the final bout of close combat. “Thosi shar!” came a shout, causing Croix to turn in mid-attack…and recoil in horror. An instant later, a white blur surged past the mage and his pet, standing firmly before Caoimhe. Croix didn’t really have to make a guess as to what it was—the flash of red from the form’s eyes gave it away just as a sudden, powerful wall of flame rose up from the ground. A column of steam shot into the air as the holy-tinged fire cut through the ice without a pause. Croix was able to stop in time, but his beloved summoned demon wasn’t so lucky. With a roar, it charged the wall separating it from its prey. Its headlong attack, however, could do nothing to penetrate Aiden’s barrier which stopped the attack and slowly burned away at the demon. Inside of the wall, Aiden was breathing heavily, visibly shaken and fatigued. With a thought, he allowed his fiery wings to dissipate, saving what energy he could to maintain his defensive stance. Meanwhile, he turned his head towards Caoimhe and smirked tiredly. “You’ve been busy I see,” he said slowly, turning back towards the task at hand. “Sorry I was a little late there.” You’re running a little low there. Try not to use what’s left of your stores. Aiden nodded at the celestial’s suggestion, knowing already that he was likely at his limit. Nonetheless, he refused to end the fight until Croix’s steaming corpse was lying at the bottom of that drasted canyon. Drawing his lightning blade once more, Aiden took a deep breath, then quickly lowered the wall of flame around them. “Moji!” he shouted as his fire spell dissipated, unleashing a bolt of lightning towards the still shocked Croix. The time for truly ending the fight had come…and honestly, Aiden didn’t much care who took out the mage, as long as they never had to see his sneering face again. . . OOC: Killing Croix is now a free for all haha |
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Sun May 22, 2011 5:36 pm Post #52 |
|
One thing Caoimhe did that unnerved some people was refuse to blink. Oh, she blinked every once in a while - but it was a rare occasion and locals tended to be intimidated by her and her family for that particular talent. But here, she couldn't help it. She blinked. Her jaw set as the demon came on, switching her gaze rapidly between the mage behind her and the demon before her. If she could somehow find a way to get out of the way, the demon would take out the mage... And then she was momentarily blinded. As her vision was clearing, the blast of heat she felt was as much a relief as it was a burden. She suddenly felt too hot in her garments, uncomfortable, but that feeling quickly passed as she was cooled by the holy energy of the wall of fire that now surrounded her and Aiden. Aiden... As Aiden spoke, Caoimhe thought to herself that he could not possibly know just how relieved she was to see him alive. While her face was a bit taken aback, her eyes were flooded with relief even as she replied. "About time you showed up." She did not say it to be mean, however. She was extremely grateful that he was not only alive, but here to aid her. He did not seem well, however. It was obvious to anyone with half a mind that he was exhausted. He had been pushed to his very limit and it showed. But he was...different. It was the eyes. She gave him a look, but said nothing. Either way, the relief in her at his presence was clear as day and she turned toward the mage. Now her jaw was set as much in determination as it was in anger. There was no fear in her eyes any longer. The fear was gone. "I'm done playing, mage." Almost as she spoke the word 'mage', a powerful blast of light and sound erupted. At the same time, an equally powerful gust of wind drove the sound toward the mage so that Aiden would not feel it. She was starting to like this magic stuff, though it was mostly a means to an end. She was also starting to get the hang of it. The mage was thrown back, unable to see or hear for a few moments. That was all the time Caoimhe needed. Her anger seemed to heighten her focus, for she was able to concentrate the wind after its initial blast into the side of a large chunk of ice - about the size of her own head - thereby propelling it forward at a surprising speed. The mage, already temporarily blinded and deafened, had no defense; it slammed hard into his stomach and he fell backward into the ground, gasping for air and clutching his stomach. Caoimhe propelled the ice out of the way and rushed her opponent. By the time she got to him, he was already recovering, but she had bought herself just enough time to attack. He managed to duck her first attack, but he took a hard blow to the sternum from the second. He had the wind knocked out of him again, but he was wearing some kind of armor - so Caoimhe went for his nose, but he dodged it and she ended up blackening his left eye. She came around quickly, snapping back to break his nose a second time. He cried out, but managed to get his arms up to block the next strike. And the next. And another. But his arms collapsed under the weight of a fourth strike and she slammed her wood into his. He crumpled as any man did when his ability to bear children was suddenly and brutally impaired. Caoimhe conked the man on the head and then slammed her staff into his sternum again. She knew it wouldn't kill him, but she had one last thing to say before she finished this bastard off. "When you become the plaything of some hairy, sweaty, fat, ugly demon in the afterlife...tell him you're a gift from me." The mage started scowled as he quickly started uttering a spell. He ducked one blow and back out of the way of another. But just as he was uttering the final word of the spell, Caoimhe's staff slammed hard into his nose. "Salami-gurk!" He stumbled backward and shuddered violently, his face twitching and contorting as the cartilage was sent rocketing into the bone and the bone was sent rocketing into his brain. Finally, he fell to the ground and twitched a few times before lying still. Finally, the mage plaguing the pair was dead. Caoimhe's anger was sated - for the time. She still had no clue where the wizard or Mirzina was, but she had a feeling this mage was just as much a pawn as Caoimhe and Aiden seemed to be. At that thought, she turned around to focus on the demon. Aiden might be as stubborn as her and more powerful a caster, but he was far from at his peak now. Despite her wariness of the gargantuan monster, she began to study the thing and settle herself into the idea that she was about to fight a myth. |
|
|
|
| swordhunter | Wed May 25, 2011 2:58 pm Post #53 |
|
Aiden felt like absolute garbage. Though he knew that it was because he wasn't quite used to this new power, he still...felt a bit unsettled. Do you normally make your hosts think about vomiting, Eladrin? he asked the celestial, still feeling well enough to let his usual sarcasm flood his thoughts. There's still a demon there, you know... Eladrin replied, Do you really think that now is the time to make such a jest? Honestly, the elf had forgotten all about the demon for a few long moments. His attention had been focused on the fight between Caoimhe and the mage that had so tormented them along this journey. Not even to the foothills and we've already had so much trouble, the elf thought, almost wistful. It had been a very long time since he'd be pushed to such a limit...and yet...he couldn't help but feel a flooding sense of satisfaction as he watched his companion finish off Croix. She was a force to be reckoned with, to say the least. And perhaps no one understood that better than Croix as the flurry of blows from the young woman shattered his body and mind. As Caoimhe landed the final blow and Croix fell to the ground in a lifeless heap, Aiden smiled in spite of himself. I offered to 'teach' her magic, he thought with a silly grin, I thought she was just being stubborn...but I suppose she'll do fine in her own way. AIDEN! Eladrin thundered. "Oh right," the elf muttered. His eyes fell on the demon and any worry of being too tired to fight melted away. The demon had already been weakened from its headlong charge into Aiden's firewall, and now all that was left was to take it out of its misery. "I think I have enough left to finish you off," he said confidently, twirling his blade in one hand and holding the other straight out towards the demon. "Thia," he whispered, causing his wings of flame to return. Filled with a new surge of strength--likely a late gift from Eladrin--the elf's wings flapped powerfully, sending Aiden a few feet into the air. "Let's see how fast this works," Aiden muttered with a smirk. He drew his right arm, holding the lightning blade, back as he slide his left hand along the edge of the blade. Then with a thought, Aiden flew forward at an incredible speed, his body simply forming a streak of red streaking towards the black demon. The demon, sensing that the elf was on the attack, gave a mighty roar and spun, throwing its tail at the elf. Aiden neatly dodged the attack with a mid-air spin, cutting close to the ground as he swung his blade forward. "Moji!" he shouted, sending another bolt of lightning towards his enemy. In response, the demon opened it's huge mouth and slowly gathered energy into a powerful darkness attack. With a load roar, the demon sent the powerful blast towards the oncoming lightning bolt. A sizzling crack filled the air as the two spells collided, sending up a wave of cold wind washing across the ice plain. Power surged in the air as the spells seemed to fight in mid-air. Then, a powerful explosion rocked the plain as they both expended their energy. The demon, it's tail moving cautiously, looked about the plain slowly, trying to track its unseen enemy. "Nice try," Aiden muttered to no one in particular as he plummeted from the sky, his blade pointed down. A moment later, the elf plunged his blade into the demon's back with incredible speed. The demon roared in pain and anger as it thrashed about, but the elf didn't budge as he closed his eyes and incanted. "Moji." This time, Aiden's point-blank attack didn't miss as a blast of electrical energy surged through the demon's body. It was dead before it hit the frozen ground, its body smoking in places and outright burning in others. "Well how's that?" Aiden asked Eladrin aloud. You should learn to take your cloak off before using those wings, I think. came the subdued reply. Aiden was extremely puzzled with the seemingly unconnected response. Then he caught the smell of burning fabric...and yelled in surprise as he flung his smoldering cloak to the body of the dead demon, stomping furiously as he tried to save the cloak from burning to ash. You could have warned me!!! You seemed rather busy. Didn't want to distract you during your ego trip. . . |
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Tue May 31, 2011 8:40 pm Post #54 |
|
Caoimhe's expression as Aiden fought could only be described as one of awe. The wings themselves were a bit too warm for her tastes and she stepped away warily (though she didn't really need to). But the speed at which he flew! This was clearly no mere elf, regardless of whatever magical knowledge he claimed to possess. Perhaps he was a greater caster than she would ever be, but she highly doubted this was standard magical fare. Of course, as the dragon fell, she found herself shielding her face with her arms from the sudden blast of snow and ice. When all was still and quiet, she lowered her arms; then he asked how that was. "You need a new cloak," was all she said. He promptly started jumping around atop the demon's still-hot corpse, trying in vain to douse his burning outer garment. She just stood there shaking his head. All that, and then he set his own cloak on fire. Whatever he was, it seemed he wasn't too bright after all. Tired or not, this one had some problems. Caoimhe waited for him nonetheless, stretching out some aches and popping her neck as she watched the dancing elf. Finally, though, she turned away and walked slowly toward the mage. She stared down at him for a moment, mixed feelings coursing through her like the blood that undoubtedly still flowed so freely from the demon's back. All this for nothing. All these fights against this bastard, and they were no closer to getting where they needed to be. They still knew nothing, save that this was bigger than a few kidnappers, thieves, and murderous religious fanatics. It had to be, for why else would someone this powerful have tracked them? They must have known something without realizing it, for why else would he have attacked again and again? But enough of these reflections...they would do her no good and she knew it. She heard her father's words from a long time ago as she stared at the mage's broken corpse: "Anger is a powerful tool, young one. It can be a deadly weapon and it can keep you alive and healthy when you need it most. But it's like wildfire...it spreads quickly and burns everything around you. You must learn when to control it, rather than letting it control you." Well, she had definitely let it control her here and it had done her some good. Maybe too much good. Regardless, it was time to go. She spat upon the man and looked back to Aiden only once, figuring he'd either get it or he'd catch up. Then she looked down the path to the drop ahead of them, where the first dip into the valley lay just a few hundred paces away. She started walking in that direction, weary and pondering the events of the day. She did hope Aiden would be all right, but he seemed to be fine. Tired, but fine. The quicker they got into the hills, though, the safer they'd be. She hoped. Edited by Caoimhe Whelan, Tue May 31, 2011 8:41 pm.
|
|
|
|
| swordhunter | Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:11 pm Post #55 |
|
Aiden danced about quickly, stepping on his cloak and snuffing out the very light flame dancing around its edges. Though he imagined the spectacle looked quite silly--Caoimhe's slow headshakes were the only necessary confirmation--Aiden couldn't help but feel that if his cloak were the only thing lost here, then it was certainly the lightest price he'd ever paid. Though he and Caoimhe had fought in such a god-awful place against a rather strong foe, they had managed to come out on top with admittedly light injuries. Didn't even pass out this time, the elf thought with a wry smile, remembering his last extensive use of magic on the snow plains surrounding Striberg. He figured the increased stamina was yet another positive effect from his bond with Eladrin, though he couldn't be certain that there wouldn't be less pleasant aftereffects later. Either way, Aiden knew that it was far safer to keep moving than to stay here much longer and revel in their victory. Picking up the mostly whole remnants of his cloak, Aiden leapt lightly from the demon's carcass and landed on the icy ground with practiced ease. Aiden could tell from the look of his companion that she too was just as anxious to get away from this place, though probably for different reasons. Her forced killing of the mage had left them alive, but with just as little information regarding his mission as before the fight. And now, of course, there was the added certainty that they were on the right track...or at least a track. The mage's ambush seemed far too determined to simply be the work of one man. Aiden and Caoimhe had suffered a series of planned attacks at their most vulnerable, and they had yet to even reach the foothills looming in the distance to the south. "We'll need to get going then," Aiden said, hoping that he wasn't being insensitive or ignoring any of Caoimhe's possible injuries. He had lost sight of her during most of the battle and had little indication of her physical state, though fatigue was expected at this point. "Are you going to be ok to move quickly? Or do you need time to rest? I'm fine with the former, but I wouldn't object if you needed the latter. . ." Aiden waited patiently as a light snow began to fall once more in the tundra. For once, it seemed far less threatening or ominous than it had for the entire journey. There was hope that it could perhaps be a sign of an easier road ahead, though that was unlikely. Their journey was only half finished and they had already been through hell. At this rate, Aiden half expected they would have to fight their way out of the Deep Cities against an army of foes armed to the teeth...it certainly wouldn't be surprising at this point. . . Edited by swordhunter, Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:14 pm.
|
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Wed Jul 6, 2011 10:44 pm Post #56 |
|
((Hope this is okay. I didn't know what you wanted to do next, but I thought this would make a good scene to end the thread with...like, maybe one or two more posts from each of us describing how we make camp and so on...if you want me to make the next thread in the Deep Cities after that, I can.)) Tired and not in the mood for talking much, the sorceress-in-training simply shook her head without looking back. It was time to move; they both knew it. Even if the immediate danger had passed, it would not be safe to remain here if a snowstorm was on the way. For that matter, even in clear weather, they had already met with far too much resistance to make it anywhere near safe to stay in one place for too long. They were exposed here, with no easy means of escape. Aiden had powers Caoimhe could not yet comprehend, but his voice - though there seemed to be a bit of power behind it - was tired. Caoimhe wasn’t certain they could handle another battle - certainly not another demon. No, it was time to move on to safer roads. Those roads did not take long to reach. By the time the sun began to slowly dip behind the not-so-distant peaks, more and more cover began to be offered to them. The walls were higher, there were more trees than Caoimhe had ever seen - all of them filled with strange-looking, egg-like formations of bark and needle-like branches of a deep, dark green - and Caoimhe had a feeling that the sun would not have been as prominent here even had it been midday. It was still a solid walk through the night to reach the settlement, from what Caoimhe could tell of the map in the small amount of light that remained, but it probably wasn’t very safe to do that. As darkness engulfed them, Caoimhe struck two rocks against a fallen branch until a spark lit it; the make-shift torch would not have been safe in the open, but there was defensible cover here. She could already feel eyes on her, though none made their presence known beyond that gut feeling. After nearly three hours of walking, she spotted a cave nearby. Blowing a breeze inside, she heard no bears milling about inside. The snowfall had gotten heavier as time had passed, creating a veritable wall that would make further travel difficult. They had little choice but to rest here for the night. “In here,” she called to Aiden as she tentatively stepped into the cave. The snow had kept the torch from burning too quickly, but it was now starting to go out due to the wet wood; that was another problem they would have to address tonight, probably before they did anything else. They could not defend themselves in the night if they could not see their enemies. But from what she saw of the large cave before her, they would have an empty place in which to rest for now. It would be good for both of them. Caoimhe wasn’t a complete fool. “We need fire,” she said as she turned back to the cave’s entrance, as though Aiden couldn’t already figure that one out. Likely, he already had some trick up his sleeve - but likeliness wasn’t certainty. All Caoimhe knew for certain right now was that a light winter storm - and someone like Caoimhe knew just how bad storms could get; heavy snowfall was nothing compared to some of the storms she’d seen and heard about over the years, though it could impede travel rather effectively - was barring easy passage deeper into the valley and they were both tired, whether either of them wanted to admit it or not. “Have you any magic left in you? This torch will not last long and I see no loose wood here.” |
|
|
|
| swordhunter | Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:55 am Post #57 |
|
((You should probably do it. As I am still in Germany, my response time might be a little lagging until I return to the States. Just PM me the link you make when you're ready.)) Aiden fell into step behind Caoimhe as they began their passage through the remainder of the tundra. The elf could now honestly say that he had never wanted to leave a place so badly in his life. Absolutely nothing good had been accomplished this entire leg of the trip thanks to the incessant attacks. Not to mention they had gained no information on their other enemies, the Faceless. It was a rather frustrating state of events to say the least, but there was little use complaining now. If one thing was certain, it was that there was no option except to keep moving Caoimhe's determination had clearly not waned, despite the setbacks, and that in itself was reassuring. Any worry about his companion had vanished during this ordeal and the elf supposed that in itself could be seen as a win. He rarely traveled with a companion, much less one that he truly trusted. Whatever doubt might have remained about the young woman was now dead--as were his rather silly offers of teaching her. As he finished his period of reflection, Aiden shifted back to the tasks at hand. Soon they would have to make camp and, as Caoimhe was taking on the role of guide for the moment, that left Aiden to keep a watch for trouble. Thankfully, there was little to be had here, besides the odd animal here and there. The larger problem was the snowfall that was slowly accumulating on the ground around them. Won't make much progress at this rate, Aiden thought, If it continues tomorrow, it may continue to impede our progress for a while. The elf paused and looked on as Caoimhe made a makeshift torch and continued forward. Soon, a suitable campsite appeared in the form of a large, and thankfully empty cave. Aiden followed his companion inside. “Have you any magic left in you? This torch will not last long and I see no loose wood here.” Aiden looked up and thought for a moment before reaching inside his tunic. Pulling out a small pouch, Aiden replied, "I should probably rest a bit, to be honest. But I believe this might help." As he spoke, he knelt and poured what looked to be a pile of ash onto the ground. "Thosi," he whispered, closing his eyes as the ash suddenly flared to life. A hiss filled the air as the ash came together into the form of a smoldering snake. Though relatively small, the magical beast put off a decent amount of light and heat, both of which could be augmented by Aiden if needbe. "That should serve for now, I think, though hopefully we won't be trapped here by the snow. If that's the case...I'll have to take more drastic measures." He said the last bit with a dramatic smirk, inwardly happy that they had finally gained a place to rest, even if only for a moment. . . |
|
|
|
| Caoimhe Whelan | Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:29 pm Post #58 |
|
((I'll finish up here, then, and post the new thread after. You can post here after me to finish up your own part in this story if you like, or you can just reply to the new thread.)) Caoimhe nodded before turning to find a suitable place to set the torch. The snowfall would cover their light for tonight, and the light from Aiden's magic snake wouldn't be as noticeable in the daytime. By the time light poured into the cave, though, Caoimhe hoped both she and her companion would be rested and ready to go. Ordinarily, Caoimhe was up before dawn, tending her chores and then bundling up for some work outside. But this was not a normal time for her, and likely not for Aiden. They were both exhausted and the threat of an attack had not completely passed, despite their enemies apparently having been driven back for the time being. They seemed to be safe, but recent events had taught Caoimhe not to put too much stock in that word. She found a small crack in the wall and traced it, but it went nowhere; she therefore spent a moment situating the torch in there. Once she was certain that it would not fall, she set her pack upon the ground beneath it and knelt wearily. She didn't realize just how tired she was until she did that, most of her body aching from the constant battles. She wasn't about to change her pace, but it would be nice to have some peace along their road for once. Caoimhe would share food if need be, as evident from the packet of food she pulled from her pack. She didn't know what supplies he carried, though he had supposedly restocked in Striberg. If that was the case, he probably didn't need anything; but Striberg didn't always have ample stock of the things one might want. Its supply was limited at times, especially where food was concerned; other times, hunters had returned with a great deal of meat and possibly some more exotic foods and spices to trade. Still, she wouldn't mention it unless he did indeed seem to be running low; she didn't have enough for more than a week's travel, and they were nearing that now; restocking in the Deep Cities would be a good idea. But she had enough for another day or two, at least. She had no bed roll, but she did have a thick blanket of dyed-crimson wool she could use as a soft pillow. She set it out now and then grabbed some clothes. She collected some of the snow for bath water and went behind a nearby boulder. The icy bath wasn't exactly friendly to her exposed flesh, but it was better than nothing; when she was clean, she dried herself with a towel and slipped into some clean clothes. Finally, she returned and repacked. She sat down and watched the little snake as she ate, pondering her course. Tomorrow, they would hopefully find the dwarven outpost they sought. They would trade for food and whatever other supplies they might need - Caoimhe had a little money and she had brought a few pelts for just such an occasion - and then they would set about asking around. If anyone knew of the cult, it would be the elders; asking the dwarven king was ideal, but they were unlikely to find - or be able to meet with - him at an outpost. Either way, hopefully, answers would come tomorrow... ((Continued here.)) Edited by Caoimhe Whelan, Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:59 pm.
|
|
|
|
| 2 users reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Gwilikith Moutain Range · Next Topic » |
1:21 PM May 19
