On the Edge of the Breathing Swamp

Aylstra Illianniis · Post by **Aylstra Illianniis** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:27 am

"You know," he says, following Eilae when she goes to Inrii, "I know you want to save those you can, but believe me when I tell you that that one is far beyond redemption. It has been offered before, and she has always spurned it. How can one save a soul who tortures those weaker just for sport, or who is callous enough to beat or whip her own mother? She does not WANT to be saved. She cares only for what gains her the most power, and if it comes to who pays more, she will choose the one that offers her the most pleasure in torment of others, every time."

He lowers his voice to barely above a whisper before continuing. "But her need to dominate and cause pain might also be our advantage. Offer her up a target too tempting to resist, and perhaps there might be a chance."

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She is getting tired of traipsing around in dismal bogs, when there is little time to waste. Knowing the fool is being protected does little to improve her foul mood; nor does the prospect of dealing with orcs and kobolds. They are little more than pathetic battle fodder, but their leader might have potential- if only as a temporary playmate. Nevermind that she will most likely tire of the small-minded fool and kill him- as she has done so often before- in the meantime, he is still amusing in his belief that he could ever control her.

After a while, her magic finally locates what she needs. It is not a true wyrm, but will do just as well for what she has in mind. She stands atop the small mound that rises from the muck, and speaks loudly in draconic toward the small cave in its side. <<Greetings, oh mighty one,>> she says, and hears an answering rumble from within. <<I seek an ally, and I bring you an offer of riches for your lair.>>

A moment later, a large scaly snout appears, followed by a head with large horns and spines down its mud-colored neck and back. A pair of wings and a long tail with what appears to be a spiked club on the end. The four short legs sport large talons, and the entire beast is heavily armored. The swamp drake looks her over, its large golden eyes narrowed. <<What business do you seek with me, two legs?>> He asks, as odd dribbles of what appears to be acidic mud fall from his jaws.

OOC: The drake is from an old issue of Dragon magazine. I might have the breath wrong, but if so, I'll fix it later. But yes, the drake is legit. It was out of an article on drake steeds that they did WAAAYY back.... It was a toss-up between either this one, or the one with a big stinger and a pouch full of wasps for a breath weapon!

Inriiaynrae Jaelre · Post by **Inriiaynrae Jaelre** » Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:29 am

Inrii just listened and attempted to drink the strange drink.
the descrption of the hunt reminded her of her house and their 'hunts.
nights of the new moon are considered sacred observed with midnight stag hunts that range over miles of shadowy woodlands. these occurred on mounted on riding lizards brought up from the
Underdark, run down a noble hart and then sacrifice its rack of antlers
and still-beating heart to the Masked Lord.
She didnt know that these sacrifices perverted the ancient ways of the surface elves.
"oh, such as?" she ask Eilae, truly curious now.
She signs discretely to Lothir, [i:3dgu0xih]and who's playing the bait?[/i:3dgu0xih]

Bhaern Quel · Post by **Bhaern Quel** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:13 am

Eilae smiles at Lothir's words. "All can be saved if they are willing to atone It is for her to choose, should she reject it will not be because the option was not offered by us. There is wealth in being a friend of the world, I can show you some of them now. Your sister should she choose can also learn them, should she come in peace." The whisper not directly addressed at this time as her eyes turn to Irnii and speaks to her. As to what is more fun for a priestess then the High Hunt is the answer you get, though she is not sure that was the question was that. "The successful clearly leads to a celebration, however we also celebrate by song, craft and love - all that She honors as worship as well. This without running though thorns." reaches a hand to both of you.

"Come, you should see a tour of our camp. There is much and little here, but if you are to stay a while you should know the island better."

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Derek considers his options considering that the locate person did not provide a reply. Morganna willing to kill his troops just to send a message does not bode well for any future agreement that can be trusted. He decides it becomes, for now, a time to watch what she will do and prepare his own attack plan. Also to boost his defenses against her.

Inriiaynrae Jaelre · Post by **Inriiaynrae Jaelre** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:28 am

Craft she could understand. 'song' and love were unknown concepts to her. She tried to hide such thoughts from her face as Zarstra showed up from her scouting.
"what did you see?"
Zarstra told her about the female and her vanishing from sight after awhile. Inrii told them what Zarstra said as she stood up to Eilae's invitation.

Aylstra Illianniis · Post by **Aylstra Illianniis** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:06 am

He sighs as he considers all that Eilae has said, though inwardly he knows that his half-sibling is far beyond saving. Goddess knows, he has tried before, but what can one say to a soul who views all compassion and love as weakness? <If they knew what she was capable of, they would not even bother,> he thinks sadly. <How can one save someone who felt no remorse when her own mother was sacrificed? She laughed when she told me Ravyn was dead. I know they mean well, but when even my own amulet shows her as thoroughly evil, there is no hope for her- and I'm tired of trying to show her the light. This will never end until one of us is dead.>

He glances over and Inrii, and gives her a half-hearted smile. <<I would be the most likely choice, since it is me she is after. >> he signs. <<But I doubt she will fall for a trick easily. This Derek, on the other hand, perhaps we can strike some sort of agreement with him?>>

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<<Perhaps you mistake me for one who is interested in the affairs of small folk,>> Rumbles the drake. <<why should I aid you?>>

<<As I said, great drake of the swamp, there is treasure to be gained, not to mention the prospect of the pleasure of destroying a cadre of moon-dancing fools! Do you not hunger for fair maidens' flesh? The taste of blood and bones in your mighty jaws?>> She cajols, grinning wickedly.

<<There is something to what you say. Perhaps I might even start with you...>> he replies with a toothy grin.

<<Ah-ah. You would find you had bitten off more than you can chew, my fine scaled friend.>> She says pointedly, holding up her copper-gloved hands. <<These came from not one, but TWO of your larger metallic cousins, and they were even more powerful than you. You would not like the taste of me in any case- I've been told by a certain red that I am simply too tough. But I CAN show you where these others are.>>

Bhaern Quel · Post by **Bhaern Quel** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:27 am

Inrii takes your hand and looks to Lothir and hand extended after you complete your hand talk. "Come learn of the wonders of the Island that Derek wants and we will not give." Eyes look to Zarstra "thanks to you, friend of my friend, alas teleport makes it hard to know all one travels to, perhaps you also want to see the treasures of the Island?

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Derek mutters in waiting for the orc cheif to report the attack, his magic though detects the Drake. The tree huggers haven encouraged the dragons near by to leave or die, they so far have not got down to the Drake. The fact it was active at this time appears to indicate someone, likely Morganna, was talking with it. He does issue orders for double guards and an increased patrol.

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Jorden sits near the fire braiding a rope, Jenia with her battle axe grins at his efforts, though also stands as one of the guards of the camp. "You need a better fishing line then that."

Inriiaynrae Jaelre · Post by **Inriiaynrae Jaelre** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:47 am

Inrii slightly jerked as Eilae's hand grabbed hers. she calmed herself, hoping it wasnt a trap. She couldnt believe she would but she still needed to stay cautious.
"okay, if there's time?"
Zarstra looked to the lady and nodded her understanding.
"She says she would," Inrii answered for her allowing Zarstra to climb up on Inrii's shoulder.

Aylstra Illianniis · Post by **Aylstra Illianniis** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:03 pm

OOC: Actually, I was just waiting to see if something would pop up that I could work off of. At the moment, I seem to be out of ideas, at least concerning him. I've also been really busy lately, and only really been able to lurk more than actually post much. Job-hunting will do that....

IC: He nods, and decides to follow Eilae on the "tour" of the island. Personally, he can't understand why either side would really want it. The locale does not appear to be what he would call especially pretty, and the relative inaccessability makes it seem unlikely as a place from which to aid travelers or local villages or even build some sort of kingdom to rule. So why all the fuss? He wonders.

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Morganna waits for the drake to make up his mind, then smiles when he agrees. She shows him the holy symbol she keeps for dealing with his kind, and suddenly the spike-covered snout sprouts a wide, toothy grin....

Bhaern Quel · Post by **Bhaern Quel** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:55 pm

Inrii Surprised at your reaction of the offered hand. "Please forgive me if I offended you. There is always time for what matters." Smiles to Zarstra "You might find it interesting."

With Lothir's agreement, though refusal of hand. "Come you both, we go to the center of the Island, a bit of a rise as you might expect, the glade and tunnel to below are ther. The wonders and magic of the Island I will also show you."

Eilae walks with the two of you, up a slight hill toward a glade on the center on the Island. Indeed you see a tunnel opening of some kind, but she leads you past that. Releasing Inrii's hands and gestures briefly and an obscuring fog surrounds as she leads to the glade, with a word what appears in the center of the glade appears to be a portal gate. "This is the gift of the Island. My friend Lothir, you said you have traveled from two worlds, here you could travel to thousands of worlds, even at times to a time before - though that is harder and holds many risks. It has the power to do much good, but also the power to do much harm." With a wave of hand, a image of Waterdeep appears. "We can step though that city if you wish, we can step to any place that you can describe." Waves hand again and the image of Waterdeep disappears. "Perhaps you understand how important this Island is now? Why we stay here, at times in greater force when Derek presses his battles. He does not know the full extent of the power of this Island, however he does know there is power here. The sister, likely can sense the power if she has looked, but here she can not hear us. Silence is in place about this. That is while we can hear each other, no one within 10 feet of this spot can hear anything. Not bu magic, not by standing 11 feet away."

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Derek turns his eyes toward the Drake, casting a spell to watch what might be occurring. Still wondering about that women that seeks to kill his people as a way of alliance.

OOC: I try to make it interesting, without trying to control. Each clearly can direct process as they desire in a never ending story.
I do wish you luck on job search, not a good time to be in need of one.

Inriiaynrae Jaelre · Post by **Inriiaynrae Jaelre** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:58 am

"so this camp is to protect the portal? That kinda makes since. Our portal are usually kept under guard and hidden by special magics."
Inrii thought the human rather trusting, or confident, to show outsiders such.
"silence buffers like many of the cities with anit-scrying, that's about right..."

((good luck w/ the job hunting...it's really bad here...I had to be a glorified pooper-scooper till they didnt want me anymore...))

Aylstra Illianniis · Post by **Aylstra Illianniis** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:38 pm

OOC: Really? Ugh, bet that sucked. I'm at the point of going after anything, at the moment. Got two weeks to get rent somehow, or move out... How much does that pooper-scooper job pay...?

IC: At last he understands the reason they fight so hard to keep their hold here. "I see. This- can go anywhere?" He asks, examining the spot closely. the bard starts to think, brow furrowed deeply as he tries to weigh options and plans. "Could it be used to send someone elsewhere, perhaps to a place they can't leave?" He looks from inrii to Eilae, and slowly grins. "I might know how to deal with them both, if we can just get them into it."

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Morg leads the retchenbeast (OOC: Found it! It's also called a muck drake. Short neck and head, bulging eyes and grayish-brown scales with warty knobs al over, and stubby wings and webbed feet. Looks like a cross between a dragon and a toad... Breath weapon causes nausea and blindness- I was mistaken about the acidic part, but it's still really nasty. It spits foul-smelling muck and bile...) back to Derek's camp, entering openly with a smug smile.

"Nevermind those warriors, darling. I found what we need. Did you get my message?" she asks casually, sauntering toward the male with a look that is almost sizzling. She pats the huge creature on its ugly, scaled head, and a long forked tongue snakes out to lick its jaws. "Meet Vilethraix, our new friend. He's hungry." she says pointedly...

Bhaern Quel · Post by **Bhaern Quel** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:30 am

She nods slowly. "In part it clearly is to protect this, however few have the skills to access it. We also do keep this camp because it is a good place to worship, the Lady of the Dance and we would defend it for just that reason."

Eilae turns to smile to Lothir. "It can go any where one has been and can describe with ease, it can view other places read about or described and the portal can try to find such a place. There of course is a hazard of something looking right, but being wring." Considers your question. "The portal is one way, one must return another way should they so desire. We have a few such return paths made for easy return. There ... " sadness enters her eyes "where a few have been unable to yet return from, strange places indeed where it appears magic does not work well or at all."
Shakes head
"The wards likely would stop them from reaching this far, and they would have to willing walk though the portal. Finding a place they want to go to, that also prevents a return would indeed be very hard to do. "

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Derek looks at Morg, still interest in his eyes for her form. Smiles to you. "I was wondering if you would return my friend, I see you have been busy in our time apart. I see you have made another friend, perhaps a meal should be order as a welcome? No the chief has not yet delivered the message, then the blood would need to be removed.
Is there a preference of diet that Vilethraix desires, I can point him toward a certain human." Points to a srcying mirror. "She is there with the one or two you seek." All you can see is the obscuring mist about the center of the Island. "I can not see, nor hear what happens there. Often though when she goes there things go badly. That is the prize I seek in this swamp. It is a place of power that must come into my hands."

Inriiaynrae Jaelre · Post by **Inriiaynrae Jaelre** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:53 am

((the horse farm gave me 7$ an hr, but no taxes, the best part

. they were the only place willing to hire me at the time))

Inrii tried to think of the most obscure place she remembered reading about to see if it would show up. then she wondered if it would show 'anti-scrying' places, ones protected by magics. She tried to picture the swamp they were in and standing near the portal.
'i wonder if you can trick it,' she tried, if for no other reason than to trick the portal.
Zarstra shook her head, she knew Inrii was up to something. she always was. Inrii's mind jumped around like a rabbit running from a fox.

Aylstra Illianniis · Post by **Aylstra Illianniis** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:23 pm

He ponders her words for a long moment. "Could the wards be dropped for a short time? Like setting a trap? Once they were inside, you could bring them back up again, and perhaps herd them right into the portal- preferably to someplace nasty." He glances at the two females, and shrugs. "Just a thought," he says casually.

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"A place of power? Interesting. Tell me more, my pet," Morganna purrs, moving very close to the male, until her blue scale armored front brushes against him. She tosses him a coy glance, smiling invitingly. "I do apologize about the orc, but I wanted to prove a point." she says playfully.

Bhaern Quel · Post by **Bhaern Quel** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:43 am

Eilae looks to Inri as she appears to be in concentration toward the now dismissed viewing. She smiles to Zarstra "It will not work my friend, if she is trying to do what I think she is trying" Eyes shift to Inri, "One needs to be skilled in Divine Portal magic to even view, let allow step though. We have not talked much, however you made it though the wards to this place - which is why I trust you with what knowledge of the Island I have shared with you. If you were of Evil intent you would not have reached this place at all without causing concern. My sisters and I do focus on a discipline, Nute - healing, Micha - Combat and I Portals. This of course does not mean any of us can access Portal, Healing or Combat.? *Her hand reaches to touch the hilt of her sword. "Nor are we restricted to just divine magic."

Her eyes shift to Lothir, "There are ways that one might be able to suppress a ward, but they can not be dispelled." Pauses a few moments in though. "It might be able to adjust, though a thing my Sisters, nor I have tried. Without change they last a year and as far as I know can not be dismissed. I have heard of old lore that sometimes mages were able to suppress divine magic, thus it clearly is possible to try to bring them down. In the end though it really becomes a chance all of us must make, because hundreds lives are at stake for a poor plan."

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"Morganna my dear" Well aware, now you are trying to play him, wonders if he can play you somewhat. "Yes it is a place of power, in someways it appears to indicate an intersection of ley lines. The power that could be used from there can do much, just that human stands in my way." Waves a hand when you mention the orc. "That is a small matter, though Barg when he recovers might very well seek to kill Narg for being a few minutes late. Though dear I do ask you what point you sought to make? That you can kill orcs or my outer guards without being detected. That is nothing. Teleport a rock and one can kill a guard, with luck might even kill a leader." In someways not fully sure about how to deal with one betrothed to a dragon and quickly found a Drake as companion or familiar. "So where do we go from here? If you are willing of course we can retire to a private place where you take off your armor. I though suspect that is not what you really seek, though I believe a good time could be had by you."