Lore: Behind Stone Walls

Eosan Skerra · Post by **Eosan Skerra** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:20 pm

Good Gods, thought Eosan. A talking horse. He tried to identify the beast in front of him. As black as night it was, with a strange jewel seemingly embedded in it's forehead. A NightMare? Surely such a creature as that wouldn't be helping an innocent child. Perhaps a transfigured humanoid of some kind. That would make sense - transformed into a horse as a means of fast travel.

"I wish I could help your pains...." he said softly to the girl, "But my power does not extend to the healing arts." He looked around. "Your equine friend is correct, however. Whomever these people are, there may yet be more to come. It is best if you are off, and quickly at that."

He thought for a moment, then continued. "You come from Iwama village? This was my destination. Or at least, that was my plan." He considered the condition of the three fugitives. "Perhaps my desire to visit has waned some. You look like you could use some help. I'm no warrior, but I have other skills, as you have seen. I would travel with you, if you'll have me. You may again need my talents, and I offer them freely."

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:43 pm

"Iwama is... taken. It is no safe haven." Neko said sadly, remembering her mother's death. Thinking to herself, Neko knew they could use someone else's hand to help them get away. She doubted the horse would mind, as long as they left soon.

"Come, please. We both need help," she said meaning her party and the elf.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:55 pm

"Are you well enough to walk?" Adonis asked the suspicious stranger, wondering what happened to all that pain from a moment ago. Maybe it was still there...his focus had switched to Neko, thought he was working to hide his concern. On the one hand, they had little hope of fighting off another attack without him. On the other hand, if an attack came from him, they couldn't evade it. But if he wanted to attack them, the perfect opportunities had already passed. He sniffed the elf, judging him warily.

Eosan Skerra · Post by **Eosan Skerra** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am

Eosan nodded to the horse. "My gift does not come without a price, but, thankfully, the price is paid rather quickly, most times." He stretched his limbs again. "I still feel a little sore, but I can travel."

He motioned back the way he had come. "There is a stream with fresh water just ahead, down an old animal trail. And berries. It might serve us to stop there briefly to refresh before we move on in earnest. By the way, my name is Eosan. I am...a wanderer, of sorts. I seek to expand my understanding of our world." He looked at the condition of the warrior slumped over the horse next to him. "Although, there may be some things in this world I may never understand."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:26 pm

For a moment, Eosan's explanation made Adonis wonder if the elf's ability was the same Dark magic as his own. The residual effects he hinted at sounded like something the unicorn could easily relate to, though somehow he doubted this person had traded his soul for power. He stopped himself from asking, though he was surprisingly curious about it. As for the recommended bearing, as long as it took them away from the village, it sounded like a great idea. If the guy had really been lost as badly as he implied, maybe his sense of direction would give them luck. He wanted to be as far from civilization here as possible.

"Lead the way," Adonis said courteously to the stranger. He wasn't so naive as to let the man walk behind them. On the other hand, he didn't despise the elf. He seemed to have taken it in stride that he was a talking horse, no theatrics, no irking questions. It was something he greatly appreciated.

* * * *

Meanwhile, on a ship off the coast South of them...

"Is that so?" Amarra smiled at the female prisoner that seemed to think she was in control. As if in time with her voice, the ship pitched upward on a wave. In the room full of sea-legged men, the lack of uproar was enough to make a land-lubber think they were half crazy. "You mean to say that I may not be alone with this man without your permission? How awfully dull," Amarra chuckled, though her eyes met Laya's with a contesting ferocity.

The confrontation was interrupted as Telanis got a strange look on his face. He shook his head uneasily as if something had washed into him, looking unbalanced.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:01 pm

Laya looked at the woman with a hard glare, trying to regain her balance as the boat pitched forward. "Incase your forgetting... He's not a man. He's a unicorn. A sacred creature. Must I remind you, that doing anything to him means risking your soul..." Laya, who at the moment seemed as if she had regained some confedence, glanced towards Telanis. Her attention faltered from the person she should have been directing it towards. Something seemed wrong with Telanis.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:12 pm

"Now what's wrong wit 'im, then?" Amarra speculated as she followed Laya's rebuke to Telanis's behavior. Another wave lifted the ship up over the water.

"I'm fine," Telanis said. He could swear he was, anyway. No harm had come to him, but he was having trouble standing or thinking straight. He took hold of a wooden beam next to him and tried not to look as ill as he suddenly felt.

"Oh gods....I've seen this before," Amarra said in a grim voice, peering at Telanis like he was the walking dead.

Telanis clutched the pillar and worked hard to hold her gaze without losing focus.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:18 pm

Laya turned towards Telanis, no longer caring about the captain. She slid the blade into her belt and placed her hands on Telanis's should and arm. She tried to help steady him, concering changing her features. "Telanis... let's go back to your room and let you lie down... You are probably getting sea sick..." She looped his arm over her shoulder, glaring at the woman as she turned Telanis to head out of the room.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:24 pm

Telanis sagged slightly into Laya's supportive grip. He shook his head, but couldn't clear it. He didn't want to be like this, not when Laya needed help. But beings of the forest were never meant to endure the sea.

The captain raised an eyebrow at Laya's apparent knowledge of what was wrong with her new toy. "It would appear my unicorn does not care for my ship. This craft is the smoothest vessel on the market," she said to them both. "But the Sea of Ongore is not a gentle ocean. Both of you will come with me," she ordered, leading them at swordpoint out of the crowded room and down the hall to a private room. This was different from the rooms they'd seen earlier; it was large, with a comfortable bed made with silk sheets. There were restraint devices on the wall that Telanis couldn't name, let alone understand. He just clenched his eyes and relied on Laya to lead him.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:29 pm

Laya tried to keep her balance as she helped the unicorn across the room to where the bed was. She admired the silk sheets and thought about how wonderful it would be to sleep in silk sheets. She helped Telanis sit and brushed his hair from his face with a gentle hand. Her gray eyes looked at him with gentle concern, wondering if he was going to be okay.

The archer had completely ignored the rest of the room and had not yet noticed the restraints, or if there were anymore than that.

She glanced back at there captor. "You can go now," she muttered distastefully at the whore of a woman.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:22 am

"Oh, I won't be going anywhere," Amarra said, locking the door behing her with a key she put in her pocket. She crossed the room to a cabinet lined against the wall and got out a bottle and a glass. Pouring some amber liquid into the cup, she brought it over to Telanis.

"Have him drink this. It will calm his stomach," she offered.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:25 am

Laya took the glass and smelled of it at first to see if she could pick out any strong poisonous smell. She couldn't detect any. For a moment she eyed the woman, then settled with the fact that she most definitly wanted Telanis alive.

"Here," she said, placing a hand gently on Telanis's strong arm. She gently help poor the liquid into Telanis's mouth and handed the glass back to the woman.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:44 am

Note: To make things simpler, we're carting Telanis and Laya to a separate thread in the Sea of Ongore for the time being. Carry on!! But don't worry, we'll all meet up again!

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:19 pm

After traveling for a long time, Neko consistently nodding off to sleep then waking with a jerk, they finally made it to a place of safety. Far away from their last location, and especially difficult to find by what may be left of their pursuers. Neko gave a sigh of relief. It was a cave they stood before. A cave shrouded by a thick wall of trees and brush. It'd be hard to see by someone just walking by and not carefully looking.

"This is a welcome sight." Neko said, hauling herself off of the horses back and carefully extracting her brother. She lay him near the entrance, trying to make him comfortable and praying he would make it. "You, my friend Eosan, are a blessing." she smiled faintly, showing her gradtitued.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:08 pm

Adonis made his way into the cave and nearly collapsed on the spot from sheer exhaustion. Carrying two riders was an effort for him. He eased down carefully and deposited Kratos in the rear corner of the cave. He lay there a moment, letting his stiff muscles cool against the chilly earthen floor. Kratos was not looking good, his feverish pain radiating against the unicorn's mind. The unicorn turned his head toward Neko, flicking his ears up at her. "How do you feel?" he asked.