Veil of Madness

BaravarImrathiln · Post by **BaravarImrathiln** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:46 am

((OOC: For now I'm just kinda following the plot as it unfolds...I don't know where it should go, or how far it should go...I'm not driving, as they say.))

Baravar had knelt beside the fallen Priestess, and watches Vorrick with growing unease. This was growing more and more likely to end with real bloodshed.

He breathes a little bit when Silke speaks up, but that doesn't stop him from acting on his own. The unique ring of well-honed steel leaving a scabbard adds an edge of warning to his icy tone.

"She's right, Sorceror." Baravar steps closer to the paralysed priestess, his blade point-down in a defensive stance, but clearly ready to intercept anything Vorrick attempts.
"What exactly is it that made our old ways stronger, Sorceror? Our bloodlust? Our disrespect for life? Our desire for revenge? Our disunity?" Baravar's voice is calm and icily emotionless. It took him little time to shift from skilled healer into a Dancer with Death. But he doesn't want to shed any blood in needless fighting, and his face bears the worried expression common to reluctant warriors. He speaks more from a desire to get Vorrick to think things through one more time before anyone is killed.

"Do not harm her for the sake of your meaningless revenge. You kill her now and then what? What will be accomplished?! She is no threat to you now. Let her be judged by her goddess, and not by your rage."

Vorrick · Post by **Vorrick** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:54 pm

His eyes burning with rage he speaks without taking his eyes off of Illorya's back, "Do you know what she did to me? Three weeks I was held helpless while they used whip and blade, fire and fist to hurt me. For that she deserves..."

Vorrick stop suddenly looking confused and starts laughing as he falls to his knees. He puts the sword point down in the ground to steady his fall and where it hits bursts in flame. Through his laughter Vorrick says, "She deserves death for doing what I just declared strength. Vorrick Marskaun you truly are a fool. 'We survived the darkness by becoming it and we'll survive the light the same way' that's what she said. The answer to my revelation was found 30 years ago."

Standing up Vorrick uses his foot to prop Illorya on her side and loosens his shirt to expose the spider branded on his neck. Looking into her eyes he says, "A woman like you burned this into my skin and the man I was made her suffer for it, but that man died a long time ago and his methods are not mine." Letting her fall back to lie face down on the ground he looks to Baravar, "Heal her quickly, before I start losing again." Walking off towards a tree he begins laughing again.

<OOC: When looking at Vorrick keep in mind, he's insane.>

Alaunavin_Arabana · Post by **Alaunavin_Arabana** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:24 pm

Eilistraee and Alaunavin were completely joined.. Her eyes still closed Alaunavin speaks "I have heard enough and seen enough". She sits up and slowly rises to her feet. Her pack who have known her well all came around and laid down around her. They knew she was more and gave their respects. She slowly opened her eyes to view everyone around, her eyes weren't blue but the color or rain. They glowed as the Goddess her self shows her self. Alaunavin was very much alive and her voice was hers but it was the Goddess Eilistraee's who spoke.

"I have seen enough blood from my children, we need not to draw any more blood than necessarily." Alaunavin had tears as the words came out of her mouth as she looked from one to the next and ended with Vorrick. A hand towards him to tell him to join. "Vorrick, I have been watching you and know your suffering. Your friends here are right, revenge will not fix your past. Live now and your past will heal, you will never forget it, but you can learn from it." Alaunavin looked to the priestess and frowned.

"You call yourself a priestess of a Goddess yet you do not worship her like you should, for the only thing she wishes is to live in harmony with all races. Not to do what you have been doing, and to this Drow here. I too have been watching you and I frown upon you." Alaunavin took a breath as she was still getting used to having another sharing her body. She knelt beside her and looked into her eyes... the priestess almost passed out in shock.. but then Alaunavin placed her hand on her back where the arrow was.. and chanted a few words as she healed the wound and removed the drug.

"I will be watching child.. Both of you I will be watching. I see great things from you all, just let go of fear of, darkness, power, for they will be your undoing. You all need faith and this child I am in has strong sense of spirituality. She is no different than you, you, or even you." She pointed to all and even the wolves.

Alaunavin got her voice back and said, "Please don't anger Eilistraee, I dont wish to see no blood. Life is ment to live to the fullest in good health, love and prosperity. We are not ment to hunt and kill one another. Life for humans is too short to do so, and us it is meaningless to cause pain and suffering. There is no reward for killing the most. And again," looking to Vorrick and the priestess, "Revenge is not the problem solver, either work it out or never cross paths again. I will do what ever I have too, to stop this mess......even my own life to do so." With her last words coming in pants... she was exhausted from the Goddess and collaped to her knees.... She looked to each as her eyes went back to normal.. thinking she was insane...

Vorrick · Post by **Vorrick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:12 pm

Illorya was taken back by all of this stammering she says, "But he's just a male. He insulted your Priestesses surely he deserves punishment for that. Goddess if I have failed to carry out your will I'm sorry but he's just a male."

Hearing the priestesses words Vorrick felt rage surge through him again but quickly got it under control. Visibly struggling to remain in control Vorricks says, "As the Goddess has spoken I will spill no more blood this night." Shifting uncomfortably Vorrick sighs and continues, "I am...unwell, in the head. If anyone here knows any spell or medicine that may help I...I need your help." That last request for help comes out as if it weighed as much as a mountain and was being dragged 10 miles.

silke_rahn · Post by **silke_rahn** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:47 pm

Silke looked at Vorrick a moment. Then wondered about the Dark Lady's powers.

"Mistress Eilistraee is it within your powers to heal any of your children from their afflections? If so would you be able to do so for Vorrick."

Alaunavin_Arabana · Post by **Alaunavin_Arabana** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:16 pm

Alaunavin looked from each of them... and with her own words said, "I will love to help, it was my lot in life to do so. My mother told me even though I am a drow, I have a spirit of a goddess. I did not understand her then... but now I think I do."

She looked to the priestess and frowned. "I don't think Eilistraee wanted you to punish anyone. For punishment like as what you were doing was just as bad if not worse than what had accrued in his past. You went below his level and touchered him. No punishment is like that. Trust me, I know punishment and what toucher is. I have had both and neither is pleasant." She looked down and shivered at the thought of both. "You had no right in what you did. And as your punishment your stripped of your powers priestess."

With that Alaunavin's eyes lit as the power of Eilistraee flowed through her as her arm raised up to the priestess, followed by ancient words only the Goddess knew yet she spoke them as if she knew them by heart. A light shun from her hand as she bent down and touched the priestess's forehead. The priestess could not move out of the way, for she was so terrified with fear Alaunavin would do far far worse if she did move. After the light faded the priestess fell asleep, but she would be well after she awoke. "As soon as she awakens please tell her she will be able to use magic after the moon is full three times." A smile came to Alaunavin as she knew the Goddess wouldnt remove her magic pernamently.

She turned and faced Vorrick with soft warm eyes. Alaunavin really wanted to help him, she smiled and motioned him closer. As she looked into his eyes, she chanted the same spell she did before. Alaunavin was not worried this time for she had her Goddess with her in this attempt. This time she will beable to fix the problem as long as he truely wishes it to be. She thought as her mind connected to his, 'This might get painful my friend, bare with me as I have seen what lyes in your mind'. This time she placed her hand on his forehead and looked deep into his spirit......

BaravarImrathiln · Post by **BaravarImrathiln** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:30 am

Baravar replaces his weapon in its scabbard, slowly. He wanders back to his cooling pot of medicine, pulling a small metal flask off his belt. He kneels while the others chat with the Goddess. It wasn't really a thing he bothered much about, deities and faiths. He knew where his heart pointed him, and all the rest was immaterial.

He gingerly strains the tea into the flask, losing only a drop here and there. It would be potent, but useful, later on. Fevers usually brought delerium, and this medicine would deal with most of that.

He tucks the flask back into his belt and walks back to his horse, bringing the beastie into the clearing and tethering it near a tree, mostly ignoring the others, though he keeps a half an eye on the fallen Priestess.

silke_rahn · Post by **silke_rahn** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:15 am

Silke quietly cups her left hand to her left ear. Then she whispers into the microphone that was part of her tactical radio's headset.

"Scout say again all after..."

Her icy-blue cat-like eyes widened as she listened to what Major Patwin was telling her about her father's condition.

"Roger, will ask her to come with me after she is done here, over."

Silke then looked back at Alaunavin, now Eilistraee watching her heal the mentally afflicted Vorrick. Silke was hoping that her selflessness did not cost her the father she lost so long ago and only recently recovered from the clutches of a Lolthite priestess that just happened to be her very own great aunt. It was only that the Lady's powers were needed here to restore a Drow male's spirit, soul, and sanity. [i:202evpjs]True my father needs healing just as well, but Vorrick needs her touch just as much as dad does.[/i:202evpjs]

"Scout, this is Shadow Alaunavin is busy at the moment healing a person over hear. Let her companion Lily know that she will be there shortly, over."

This time Silke took little effort to conceal that she was using some sort of device to communicate with her companions who so far were hidden from view by the thicknes of the woods and underbrush.

BaravarImrathiln · Post by **BaravarImrathiln** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:54 am

Baravar looks to Silke as she stops hiding her radio. He raises an eyebrow at her, slightly curious about her equipment, but he doesn't ask about that. He can read her worried expression well enough, and he'd seen enough of the wolves to know that the companion must me Alaunavin.

"Is there another nearby who requires healing?" His voice is concerned and soft, typical for a ranger accustomed to spending his time without sentient contact. He's still near his horse, taking some of the tack off, his saddlebags draped over his shoulder.

Vorrick · Post by **Vorrick** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:11 am

As Alaunavin touches his forehead Vorrick braces himself, he knows what waits for him this tiem. Again the two representations of himself are there but they no longer fight. The younger seems cowed and shrunken in the presence of the Goddess, while the older is healed of his earlier wounds and seems of a larger build.

The younger refuses to meet the gaze of the Goddess and instead addresses the older, his tone much more respectful and pleading than before, "Vorrick you cannot allow this to happen. I'm part of you, if you let her destroy me you'll lose part of yourself." Darting eyes shift quickly to the Goddess and then back to the older Vorrick, he draws himself up and his voice seems more confident as he continues,

"Besides where was your precious Goddess while you lived under the tyranny of your family in the Underdark? Where was she when you fled into the wilderness? Where was Eilistraee when her priestesses tortured you? You are alive today because of me. Even after you shunned me for Eilistraee's wench I was always there making sure you didn't let weakness keep you from doing what you must. You owe me your life old man."

The older Vorrick smiles and says, "I have no intention of destroying you. You are right that even after I began following Eilistraee my darker instincts proved useful." Turning to face the Goddess the older Drow kneels. "Goddess I thank you for what you have done for me and ask only one thing more. I ask that you join us together, for I will not survive his destruction, and if caged or chained again how long before he breaks loose. I ask you to help me accept me as you do, darkness and all."

Still kneeling the older Vorrick remains motionless. The younger shifts not knowing whether this is to his benefit or not. Still refusing to look at the Goddess he also kneels and says, "Whatever the Goddess wills let it be done; destruction or salvation let it be quick." His lips are curled in a wordless snarl as he waits.

silke_rahn · Post by **silke_rahn** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:35 am

"My father, a human from another Earth than the one I live on. Here he was a Ranger in the service of the Dark Maiden. On the Earth of his birth he served the German Reich. During the last hours of a battle in a place called Stalingrad some power teleportation magics were used to steal him from that place and time. If it had not been for the intervention of Eilistraee he would have died in some pit fight. Instead the Lady reached out and redirected the spell with the help of Mystra. My father told me that he remembered a loud explosion and an extremely bright light then darkness followed. When light returned to him he was laying in a snow bank on a trail in the Nether Mountains just northeast of Everlund. My mother told me the Dark Maiden guided her to my father. After they met Nedylene Vrinn, my mother took him to her home in the human town of Morn's Forge that used to lie along the road from Everlund to Yartar."

Silke choked back a memory of her last day there, the fires, the smells of burning corpses in their homes, the screams of frightened children and civilians, the yells of the town militia as it tried to hold of the last attack of Qulie Vrinn's army, and the roar of the red dragon that allied itself to Qulie's cause just to seek vengance against Silke for killing his brother. Silke continued her story.

"When I was but twenty-one I went with my parents blessing to aid Neverwinter in their cause. After the end of the Neverwinter-Luskan War I studied under the Dwarven adventurer Drogan in the village of Hilltop. Then after seeking the one that stole some artifacts from his care, I helped the city of Waterdeep to find the
reasons for attacks from out of Undermountain on their streets and citizenry. That adventure brought me into the cause of the Seerer and I helped her people to defeat the Valsharress from conquering the Underdark and eventually the surface. It seems my aunt, Akordia Vrinn was an ally of the Valsharress and later the devil that walked Toril in my place. After I defeated the devil that ruled the eighth level of the Nine Hells I returned home with my freed friend and lover Aribeth. My mother and I with the help of the Lady of the Dance sent Aribeth to a plane of Earth, the one I now reside on, to put her a safe distance from her enemies on Toril. Shortly after that my second cousin Qulie Vrinn under orders from her mother attacked Morn's Forge, the human town that once was the home to the surface dwelling branch of the House of Vrinn. We fought for three days and nights, but in the end Qulie's forces overwhelmed us and we had to escape. In the woods of the High Forest to our south were a range of hills that were foothills to the Lost Peaks. There we prepared to make our last stand. My father, my sisters Sabine and Ursula, and I led our militia in covering the retreat of the survivors of our people. In the last hours of our life on Toril I thought I saw my father fall fighting some of Qulie's Drow warriors, but I later learned from a vision sent to me by Eilistraee that he was instead held prisoner by my Aunt who was now a champion of the Spider Queen. Akordia in the form of a drider led her forces out from her stronghold and purged the neighboring Drow stronghold of all that did not follow Lolth. Most of this did not reach the larger cities of the Drow because my Aunt's city is so distant and near the Mere of Dead Men. I returned about six months ago with the help of my friends, who now tend to my father not far from here, to free him from his imprisonment. My Aunt had tortured my father in her wrath and turned him into one of her living sculptures. We were able with help from a scroll to free him, but his spirit and soul are as tortured as his body and he is not doing well. We had to camp hoping to let him rest and heal, but we have been here days without seeing anyone else until the priestesses there decided in the Dark Maiden's name to torture the already tortured spirit, and soul of poor Vorrick. I just could not let that continue. In my life I have seen to much unnecessary death and wonton cruelty perpetrated in the name of faith to let another suffer in the name of a god or goddess. That is why I left the side of my father and came to Vorrick's assistance though I never knew him until now. If you can help him Baravar that would be great, but I think that we will need the power of Eilistraee to save him from what ever Akordia did to him in the name of the Spider Queen."

Alaunavin_Arabana · Post by **Alaunavin_Arabana** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:21 pm

As Alaunavin and Eilistraee were both in Vorrick's mind she stepped forward to the young Vorrick. Eilistraee stayed back and watched with a smile on her face as Alaunavin began to speak. "Young one you had much lost much faith if you did not think you would have been helped. You are strong and your far from weakness. I know for I had battled you too. Your right for you could never be defeated for your the same as the older one is. You need to work together as one not separately or things will just be out of balance. I speak of this for I have been out of balance but meeting you and everyone I found it and I know it will be a shaky journey. We all have weaknesses, but we have strengths in other places."

Eilistraee brighten her smile as Alaunavin moves to the older Vorrick. "You must never lock him away for you need to work together, and you don't have to do it alone either. Ask for help if needed, there is no shame in doing so." She gives Vorrick her hand and continues. "I need your help to keep me strong Vorrick, I hope you can be there when I need you to be. I also will add I will be here for you if you need the strength from me." Alaunavin looked to both and hoped it was enough as she walked back to where the Goddess stood.

Eilistraee did not say a word for Alaunavin said all that needed to be said. She looked to each of her children and smiled then she pulled out of the spell to end it... she knew if it came down to it Alaunavin would do it again to resolve the problem with in Vorrick. The Goddess saw something grand in Vorrick, like he will come to terms with in himself, but only he will know.

After she was back in her body, Alaunavin looked to Silke and said, Lily has more healing abilites than I do... it is like she is a Goddess in herself from the pack. She smiled and was not worried as she remembers a time she was almost dead from an attack from behind by an archer. Lily came up to her and had done something, magic, godly power, she had no clue but she was breathing and felt better after she was healed.

Alaunavin_Arabana · Post by **Alaunavin_Arabana** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:21 pm

With Silke's father Lily looked at the man who lays before her. Her eyes were wide and she was worried that she couldn't do anything. Then she went ridged, her companions looked worried at first then the remember when Alaunavin had almost died, this same thing happened. They looked to one another and they started to howl, like as if it was part of a chant. Lily's eyes started to glow light blue. Her white fur began to change to gray and finally she slightly got bigger.

Lily walked so she was at Silke's fathers head and leaned down and placed her nose on his forehead. A glow of energy flowed from her to the father and had him in gulfed in the light. Lily got into his body and started to repair him from the inside out. Only his physical part was to be healed first she thought as she healed his heart, lungs, muscles, bones working to his skin. As she took what seemed to be hours later she mentally got back in her own body. Feeling weak and tired she lifts her nose from him and gets alook of the work she had done.

Lily was impressed as she did not think he was going to be able to fix as this easy. He needed to get liquid down in him... she looked up to his companion and spoke as if she was human.. "He needs something to drink, something that can help him mentally preferred. He will be fine physically and will need much needed rest... but mentally he will need series of psychic healing and I am too tired to do that at the moment. Give me some time and I will be able to start, but Alaunavin will be able to assist me as well for she don't know it yet, she is good." With that Lily's eyes stopped glowing and her body went back to her old self as she laid down from the exhaustion of the healing. Her comrades came to her side and guarded her for she was vunerable.

silke_rahn · Post by **silke_rahn** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:28 pm

Major Neil Patwin looked at the wolf Lily understanding her. He then took his waterskin and held its opening to Hans Rahn's mouth. Gentlely he trickled water into Silke's father's mouth. To help the water flow into Hans' throat better Patwin rested the elder Rahn's head on his lap.

"Captain Maine get some of the onion soup mix from my pack. Take the canteen cup from the carrier on the right side of the outside of the pack. Put some water into the cup and heat it up over a small fire. Make the fire no bigger than an area the size of a patrol cap. When the water is heated to a boil add the soup mix. Then take the herbs in the ziplock bag and add them to the soup as well. Let it boil together for about three minutes. Then take the cup from the fire and bring it over here. Sit it down next to me and let it cool some. I will feed it to Hans once it reaches a safe temperature to drink."

Looking at Lily, Patwin smiled. [i:3vtkcbb5]My spirit animal is the wolf, timber wolf to be exact.[/i:3vtkcbb5]

"Lily thank you for what you have done. Hans has seen more than his share of trouble over the years. His life on this world until his imprisonment was according to Silke and her sisters back on my Earth a relief from serving the Nazi governed Germany of his Earth. I've been to that Earth, I hope to tell Hans that there the Nazis failed too. I hope that when you heal him of his mental wounds he will be happy to learn that news. He deserves a life of hope and peace after all that he has been through. Don't eliminate his ghosts, just help him to live with them. My animal spirit and guardian a wolf not much different than you helped me to deal with my ghosts and made me a better warrior for good. Maybe you can help Hans in a similar manner."

Vorrick · Post by **Vorrick** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:19 am

As Vorrick was released from Alaunavins spell he fell to the ground. His head felt like it had been squeezed under the foot of a Frost Giant but at least it was silent. Laying back on the ground laughing Vorrick says, "I'm whole."

Quickly rising to his feet despite the pain it caused his head Vorrick looks at his companions. He smiles as he looks at each in turn, the suspicion was still there but it ended at suspicion. There was no longer a voice in his head rattling off ways to betray them before they could him.

Looking at Illorya his smile drops a little. Walking towards her he places a hand on her shoulder. Looking her in the eyes Vorrick says, "Illorya, I am truly sorry." Before she can speak Vorrick swings his free hand and punches her in the jaw. Taken by surprise the blow knocks Illorya to the ground though she rises quickly.

Illorya opens her mouth to speak but Vorrick silences her with a single finger held right in front of her nose, "You will listen to me now my spoiled little princess. What I gave you is a fraction of what you deserve for what you did to me. Now part of me would love nothing more than to return every welt, cut, and bruise ten-fold on you, but my Goddess and my friend have asked that I not seek revenge and I will not. But hear this you will leave [i:6zr3ppxd]now[/i:6zr3ppxd] as fast as you can. I will not seek you out or hunt you down but I warn you if you [i:6zr3ppxd]EVER[/i:6zr3ppxd] cross my path again you had best pray that old age has robbed me of my memory or time the strength of my limbs because I will not show the same mercy again."

Illorya quivered with fear more than rage. Opening her mouth as if to speak again she turns and runs as fast as her legs will carry her. Once she's out of sight Vorrick turns to his companions and asks, "Too much?"