On the Edge of the Breathing Swamp

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii heard the song as she reached her pack, Zarstra sitting there, gleaming with excitement.
"I did it. i casted the spell and took out that kobold."
"good job. Alright, here we go," letting Zarastra climb on Inrii shoulder as she picked up her pack.
She looked to Lothir and then looked to the others. If she, or whoever was going, didnt get to the spellcaster, things could get worse.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

He notices her getting ready to leave, and steps over to speak to her agian. "Leaving already? I thought you wanted to talk to the priestess about your friend?" he asks, puzzled. This female intrigues him, and not in the usual way. Well, he amends, perhaps a little bit that way, but mostly because he has never met anyone like her. Full of questions and contradictions, she is clearly in need of direction. But then, so was he once.

He makes up his mind to tag along, if only because his sense of honor and chivalry won't allow him to let her go off alone into the dangerous swamp. "Are you sure you won't at least let me persuade you to get a decent night's rest first?" he says, thinking logically for once. "It's never good to go off like a half-drawn bow-string- it makes one careless."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Logically, resting would be a good idea. But how long before their enemy returned to finish the job?
"rest would be nice, but I dont know how much time we got before whoever shows up. They may not be worried, but no one's gunna attack and then give up that easy. maybe someone can cast a rest spell? my spells are offensive and for spying."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

He shakes his head. "No, I'm afraid I don't have one either. Mine are more for- entertainment," he says, trying hard not to smirk. A gleam in his eyes betrays a hint of humor, as he sighs and shrugs. "I suppose it can't be helped then. Do you mind company? Two can face unknown dangers better than one alone. If I'm not being too presumptuous."

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Up ahead, the half-drow woman hears voices and someone playing a flute. She sneers to herself, recognizing the sound of drow language. Pathetic Moondancers, she thinks to herself. They deserve to be destroyed. She tightens her grip on the bone-handled blade-staff, a wicked glint coming to her amethyst eyes. He is near, she is sure of it. But perhaps she might have a bit of fun before she finds her brother and guts him. And if he turns out to be among the dancing fools? So much the better...

[Bhaern Quel]

Eilae, rousing from her meditation speaks in general.
"The male has with drawn for now. I sense a female or two out there but waiting. A battle well won, though I could not find the reason for an attack."

Takes up a horn and trumpets a victory adding to Jordon;s flute. For those that hear it and understand, it means for now the place is safe.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

"I dont mind the company. Many of the people back home are a little too 'uptight', if thats the right word. and pranks dont go over too well with instructors. I figured our race would have learned to develop a sense of humor. But the most I got out of it was a beating. Could been worse, like a snake headed whip!" she joked as she shuddered.
Inrii headed off in the direction indicated earlier when she heard more music join the flute behind her. As she walked she remembered her sword. She cast indentify on it, revealing what she already confirmed; the longsword's name was Shadowblade.
'irony'
Zarstra whispered into Inrii's ear. They both sensed it. Inrii looked back and around, whispering the arcane words for her true seeing spell.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"You mean that was not their way showing humor?" he quips with a wry grin. "My sister's idea of a joke was to put scorpions in beds or to grease the stairs in front of hapless servants. I never saw anyone laugh but her, though."

He gathers up his few belongings and begins to follow her, finding that he enjoys the female's company. She strikes him as different from most of the drow he has known, if perhaps a bit sheltered. Not so very different from himeslf when he first came to the surface.

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The half-drow hears voices up ahead, and stops in her tracks, listening intently. After a moment, she grins, and slowly turns toward the sound of the two slowly approaching her. She slips the hood of her piwafwi up, becoming invisible, and silently darts through the trees to a suitible spot for an ambush. <He is making this far too easy,> she muses darkly.

[Bhaern Quel]

((Always a fight? ))

Jenia steps away from the gather, her senses of one to close maybe better then Eilae's as concerning the swamp. Her battle axe carried and she with a gleam in her eyes as she steps off toward the swamp.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

OOC: Nope, just a little game of cat-and-mouse!

IC: As he begind to head the way Inrii is walking, Lothir suddenly pauses, as if sensing something amiss. Hastily he pulls a small pendant from under his shirt, in the shape of Eilistraee's symbol. It is glowing faintly with a silvery light.

He grasps Inrii by the wrist, tugging slightly. "Hold on," he says quietly. "There's something out there. Something- evil..." He shakes his head, not quite knowing what it is, but he has a growing feeling of dread.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((fight or lots of conversation...? hmmmmm...lol. I wish i could come up with good puzzles and stuff...but alas, I stink at that... ))


Inrii paused as Lothir's hand closed around her wrist. It startled her a second when the male grabbed her, making her flinch but then she calmed and shook it away. She signed quickly, [i:10m37krq]I see a cloaked figure among the trees several yards away. They've cast invisibility.[/i:10m37krq]
Inrii began the words to another spell, when she interrupted herself, "get cover!" as she pushed Lothir out of the way of incoming fire (ammo or spell 'fire').
She heard another coming up from behind as she fell to the ground with Lothir.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

He turns to look in the direction she signed, and sees nothing but the trees. Still, his pendant's incessant warm throb against his chest tells him that someone is near- someone who has harmful intent, no doubt about it.

Just then he feels Inrii pushing him aside, as a bolt of glowing green energy streaks toward him. He hears her warning, and grabs hold of her to pull her down with him. The green bolt explodes into a tree behind them, and sizzles as it becomes a thick green acid that oozes down the side of the tree, leaving holes in nearby plants where it splatters. He hears a vile drowish curse in a distinctly familiar female voice, and freezes, his mought open in utter shock.

"No- it- it CAN'T be..." he murmers, eyes wide in disbelief. "How in the Nine Hells did SHE get here?"

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Morganna releases her acid bolt at the former prince, a wicked smile on her lips. Then the female with him cries out a warning and pushes him aside, out of the bolt's path. They both go down to the ground amid the underbrush. Morg curses vehemantly in her native tongue, and decides that the time for spells has passed. After all, if will be so much better to carve out his heart by her own hand. She draws the strange double-bladed weapon, and ducks behind a tree to levitate up into the branches. She stealthily slips along on the high path of branches toward the pair.

[Bhaern Quel]

Jenia rushes past the two hiding, swing her axe in arcs as she charges toward where the attack came from. Maybe not the best tactics, however she might get lucky.

Jordon and Eilae, indicate another battle is here.

Jordon, takes leadership of the males as they run though the woods.

Eilae, taking the the hands of her sisters [i:34ohj5ie] Portal[/i:34ohj5ie] the three of them to where Inrii and Lothir are are, all ready to cast spells of attack.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((I remembered not to mess with others characters after I wrote my response, so i was glad you went along with it and/or wasnt upset. when writing stories, its hard to get out of habit of placing everyone, and just deal w/ your own. still working on it tho. ))

As Lothir fell, Inrii saw the green bolt coming. She couldnt believe she just saved someone and risked her life like that. She didnt know it was in her neither. Her thoughts were short when a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her to the ground as he fell. She fell atop the male and made herself roll to the side. When he recognize the attacker, she hurried to cast another globe over him. Then she saw Jenia come out, ax swinging.
"In the tree!" she shouted while preparing a low level spell.
A blinding light burst from Inrii's hands twords the attacker, enough to stun or cause her to hesitate.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

OOC: It's all good. It sort of fit in with what I had in mind, anyway.


IC: He looks up when Inrii preparing her spell, but still sees nothing. "Curse that elg-caress, why does she always show up where she isn't wanted?" he rants, with an uncharacteristically dark look in his face. He gets to his feet, the two daggers springing to his hands in a flash, then just as quickly enlarged to their true shape. He feels the globe Inrii had cast on him, and is grateful for the protection, for all the good it will do. He knows his sister too well.

"Are you going to come out and face me, or are you going to sneak around in the trees all night like the cowardly assassin you are?" He yells out, taunting her to show herself. Not likely to happen, he admits to himself, but it's worth a try, at least. "It's a shame we never finished our business the last time- or did things just get too hot for you?"

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She hears the female warning him of her spot in the branches, and curses silently. The interfering wench will go down with him, as will the one with the axe, she thinks darkly. Too many spell-casters for her liking. Then she hears his shout from below. <Stupid male, never could keep silent,> she thinks in disgust. She catches the tell-tale movements and murmer of the female casting her next spell toward her, and laughs as she drops a pinch of sulfer at her feet, disappearing from the branch, only to end up in another tree nearly twenty yards away.

"Nice try brother dear, but your little friends will have to do better than that!" she laughs. "Perhaps I'll come see you again when we can be alone!" With that, she tosses out another pinch, and is gone.

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The stench of a teleport still lingers in the air, as he spins around rapidly, blades ready for even the slightest hint of her return. When it is clear that she has left, he curses vehemantly. "Vith! By the Lady, I will pay her back some day. Wasn't it enough for her to kill me ONCE?!" Then he remembers Inrii beside him, and stops in mid-snarl. He turns to her, composing himself swiftly, and gives a gracious bow.

"Forgive that outburst, she is the one person in all the multiverse who truly gets under my skin. Rather like a bad rash. How the Hells she got here, though, is beyond me. Unless she found the portal I came through..." He pauses, then shakes his head. "Thank you, kind Lady. I am glad to have you as an ally. And to you all, as well," he continues, noticing the others for the first time.

[Bhaern Quel]

Jenia with all her finesse, swings her battle axe into the tree that Inrii indicated, the tree groans and starts to fall even as Jenia looks for signs of the caster.

Eilae takes a concentration posture as she senses the use of the teleport, searching for how far are near that spell caster is now.

Nuta steps to the side of Lothir and Inrii looking to see if there is any need of healing.

Micha steps forward clearly ready to cast a combat spell if a traget can be found.

Jordon, Sieweim, Chub and Smust coming the slow way arrive and circle the Priestesses and the guests.

A comment is made by Jordon. "Are we having fun now? " with a grin on his face.