On The Shores of Despair (Part 4)

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

Frad snickered, he was picking up the gist of the conversation as the two drow talked with Aurora and shook his head. "Don't ya worry, frosty; they'll be pullin' clothes off o' each other in a day of so more. Just find 'em a private moment together somewhere an' they'll be so far gone ya couldn't pry 'em apart wi' a two-hander wreckin' claw." A short chuckle then, and he prodded at the broth he'd made. "Or I could just drop a few o' the choicier 'erbs inta the stew tomorrow. Th' two couples 'ere would be hookin' up on the spot an' Lyon might make a fool o' himself, but those o' us without a mate could just sit back an' have a cruel laugh at their expense." He was kidding of course, hence why he said that in the open where all could hear him, but even so the capability was there. The FYT contingency, in case all of them ever turned on him at once with their pranks. Speaking of troublemaking. . . "Tha' reminds me. How'd ya rate me as a kisser?" No reason not to be troublesome at Aurora again after all, now that everyone else was distracted.

Lyon's reactions to the whole scene that unfolded were those of bewilderment and relentless awkwardness. "Well. . . uh. . . wow?" He really had nothing else to go on, this was out of his league in a major way. "She's certainly not dull." Understatement of th e decade though this might have been, Lyon managed to say it with an ironic inflection to convey his congratulations to Veraka and a compliment for Neriah rather well. He wasn't brilliant at the banter yet, but he was learning.

Pwdn was tinted pinkish as Neriah returned, an involuntary reaction to being voyeur to such a personal scene. "I couldn't, not forcing myself on someone like that. I'd never be able to go through with it." She fidgeted slightly, even though that was the proper reaction for her and she was very much the girl-next-door type despite everything that made her so unusual, she had a sleight wish that she could be able to just express herself in such an unrelenting fashion.

She recovered as Neriah told her story, returning to her usual cyan-blue, and listening intently to what she said. "I don't think I ever have, no. I suppose in a way I've never actually done anything that I knew was wrong, I've simply come to better understand what right and wrong really is over the years. That's not to say I've never done anything bad, in the past I relieved a great many people of their valuables but I never really thought of it as anything other than a way to survive, and that it was just what I was told to do. That it might be in any way wrong simply didn't occur to me; do you think it's incorrect to say that because of that I was never truly evil? I've had a much easier life than the majority of those who came to the surface in the manner I did, I'm sure you will have met one or two in your life who could have attested to that. Even so, if the past could ever truly be changed into what we might wish it to have been then the Thayvians would have figured it out and be ruling over us all by now." A soft smile came at this statement. Pwdn had travelled with several red wizards, all of them perfectly pleasant people, which was how she came to understand just how cut-throat and bloodthirsty the academies really were as well as the obscene levels of power the Thay could obtain. "Assuming of course that all we have in this land is simply the product of a stalemate between two rivals each of which is awaiting the other of them to make a final, fatal mistake. Failing that, we all live with our histories and try for a better future, which I'm happy to see you appear to have well in hand." She shifted closer, whispering confidentially in a return tease. "You know, I'm able to perform both marriages and the blessing of newborns. We seem to have ample time free for the first of those this evening and I have no trouble with waiting around for the second." Her demeanour was entirely serious, she was either teasing with incredible finesse or actually asking to marry the two of them right here and now. In truth she was doing both, about the only way she could do this convincingly was to actually make the offer and le them react to it however they would.

Frad, hearing this, chimed in. "What about these two young lovers across from me? Ya sure ya couldn't make that offer a twofer?"

[Adian Novar]

Adian wanted to bury the obnoxious dwarf in snow again but he'd disturb Cinder if he did. Instead his eyes made the promise for him. He held Cinder protectively as she slept, giving her no hint that he was promising different degrees of violence upon Frad.

The wine, however, was winning. He wasn't a drinker, and the effect of the wine was stronger than it might have been. He let his head sink to his folded cloak and his eyes began to lose focus and close.

[CinderSuru]

Cinder awoke with a slight hang over even though the wine was watered down it must have been stronger than she thought normally one drink of a normal wine would make her light headed this how ever worked slower or maybe she just didnèt notice. Adain had her in a rather tight embrace even thow he was sleeping. She wiggled up to kiss his neck softly and moved her hands across his back and shoulders waiting for him to awake. The cool air on her face was just what she needed to clear her head. Some one was moving around and put a few logs on the fire she gently turned around not to wake Adain and saw Bio.. Good morning she whispered can you put some water on for tea Biot please. Good morning Cinder, i was thinking just that. Cinder smiled and put her finger over her mouth indicating she did not want to wake Adian.
[youtube:2ppf1jl3]BvcNtoHwd6Y[/youtube:2ppf1jl3]

[veraka]

[i:3d5z25he]Adian just ignore the stout one; maybe I'll freeze his mouth shut tomorrow night, how would that do?[/i:3d5z25he] the great wolf said to the drow paladin in a private telepathic message; then Aurora perked her ears up to where both touched the tip of the other, like a satellite array, [i:3d5z25he]besides, if my ears didn't just deceive me, I believe that I might be an aunt here sooner than later, knowing Veraka, anyways.[/i:3d5z25he]

[i:3d5z25he]As to you, Frad,[/i:3d5z25he] she said, turning her white furry head to the obstinate dwarf; [i:3d5z25he]I believe that your knowledge of smooching is up there and comparable with that of a priestess of Sune; but you lack the subtlety found in most other races that I would compare to a male dire wolf whose in heat.[/i:3d5z25he] The great wolf wondered if the dwarf would catch the pun.


Veraka looked at Lyon with a slight grin; "that's what I get for falling for a fey'ri," he said with a grin.
This comment drew a slight "hey. . . " from Neriah; but she merely smiled back and let the mighty warrior go on with his teasing as she cuddled up in his embrace.

[color=indigo:3d5z25he]"You know, I'm able to perform both marriages and the blessing of newborns. We seem to have ample time free for the first of those this evening and I have no trouble with waiting around for the second."[/color:3d5z25he]

If Veraka hadn't known Pwdn for this little adventure of theirs, he probably would have been drop jaw at her offer. Sure, he considered Neriah his lover and would marry her without a second thought; but here, [b:3d5z25he]now[/b:3d5z25he]. If his expression of surprise didn't make Pwdn laugh, it sure did Neriah.

They fey'ri started to giggle uncontrollably in the aasimar's embrace. When she had stopped, she looked Pwdn in the eyes, saying "I would be honored if you could do such a service; though, I do have one question?"
Neriah admired Pwdn's humor, but if she [b:3d5z25he]was[/b:3d5z25he] going to become married to Veraka, she wanted to make sure that she was marrying the paladin that had she had fallen for.
"Why marry us, Lady Pwdn; I mean, I understand that as a cleric, it is within your power to do so, but if I'm not mistaken doesn't the ceremony have to happen within a temple of Bahamut or something like that. I know that most paladins have to have their marriage sanctioned by their church."

"Actually, my dear, the great Platinum Dragon does not have many temples at all to his name, and those that exist are usually far from civilization. The Dragon-Father prefers that his faithful to speak through their actions rather than with overly inflated words. I do not need to have a priest of the Dragon-Father present for myself to marry you. The only request that Bahamut gives his faithful is to stick by their code of honor that they took when becoming initiated into his faith's ranks."

Turning to Pwdn, the warrior said, "Lady Pwdn, if it is within your power to arrange such a ceremony, then I have no qualm with that. What about you, Neriah; is that something you wish?"

The fey'ri's eyes lit up, and within an instant, Veraka found his senses being nearly overpowered as Neriah latched onto his neck and kissed him passionately for a good half-minute.
When she released, she had a devious, and very impish look on her face; "and after that, the second offer that Pwdn just said shouldn't take too long, but that depends on how much stamina your body possesses."

The aasimar was astounded at how Neriah could go from this sensitive, passionate young woman, to her normal, mischievous, and very seductive, self. He shook his head, but offered no reply to her overly sensual idea. The aasimar merely smirked at the fey'ri and shook his head.

"Well, Lady Pwdn; I think that it is safe to say that Neriah and I could be married tonight, if you are capable of doing such a thing, I would be honored myself."

"How sentimental," came a calm, unearthly voice from somewhere in the shadows.

Veraka knew that voice; "Not now, not him."

Right then, Veraka's senses flared, ringing in his head like a blaring noise as his aasimar blood went fuming because of the presence of blood of the lower planes within the vicinity.

"How appropriate it is, that my prodigy has come to find a descendant of the Upper planes for my sword to cleave in two," came a deep, booming voice from about 7 meters from Veraka's left.

The aasimar whirled about, only to find the 12' frame of a Balor demon standing there, flanked by two Glabrezu, and a number of Erinyes. Out of the shadows skulked an elite vampire sheathed in some wicked edged black armor, and flanked by an alu-fiend.

"So Veraka; how long has it been since we last encountered each other, two years, and three full moons, if my count is not off," the elite undead spoke.

"Dacuda; I should have guessed that something was going to happen, especially right before something that I could have enjoyed happened," Veraka growled back, his shield coming up as he took up a defensive stance.

((OCC: ok since there's quite a few enemies now, PM me on who is gonna attack who; just an fyi, the balor is Veraka's; part of his character development story))

[CinderSuru]

Cinder instantly melded with Meldrinus he had a powerful magical shield over Cinder Adian and himself, his powers were concentrated on them as they and only they were his charge.

She pulled on Adain... his sword and armour were near with a flash they were on him and he was standing. Cinder was in full armour and her weapons in place as well, she leaped onto Meldrinus and stood directly behind Adian as he will it so in her mind. Meldrinus has speed you have not yet seen Adian, tell me exactly were you want me posted and i will be there in seconds she spoke to him in there shielded thoughts, free your self of thoughts to protect me right now, I am safe just direct me. You have a powerful shield around you as do i and Meldrius and yur mount, he will be at your side the instant you will it.

The cat lurked from far above with a stare that was predatory her stance elegant and ready. Biots eyes glared almost fire like he had an axe in his hand that was frightful.

((( Verake what is MP oh ok PM )))

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

Frad grinned at the veiled jibe, accepting the premise happily. "Life's too short fer subtlety, O fuzzy terror." He laughed as he mimed making a tick on a checklist. "Anyway, I try ta keep up ta some kinda quota fer tha. . . tha hells?!" At this point the evil horde had arrived, and he rolled back from the fire to stand, drawing his axe and holding a second axe ready to haft at the first of the oncoming group to give him a half-decent chance of landing a hit.

Lyon laughed at Veraka's reaction to his lover, and again as Pwdn made her offer to them. "Dad always said that it was always far more simple that people say to just do the right thing, I guess this can only support that." He was about to sit and offer his help on any capacity which he could fill when his mind suddenly felt as though it was split in half. Evil had come, deep and powerful evil, and as he span about to view those that bore it to their camp he took an involuntary step back at the sheer scale of their opponents. His sword and shield were in his hands almost before he realised it, and his eyes travelled over the group to return the soul-destroying glare of the armoured vampire with a righteous, furious gaze of his own. "You. You're mine." He made ready to charge the thing, his only thought now was to tackle this monster and keep it from targetting the others. He wasn't a martyr like Pwdn, refusing to harm another no matter what, but he had steeled himself to combat this thing that was centuries beyond his ability to destroy, because it was the strongest thing there save the Balor that Veraka clearly had the claim to and the others would benefit from his efforts, and assuming he could hold out long enough they would aid him in its' destruction. And he would survive, his story was not one to end here in the wilderness before it had even begun.

Pwdn had leaned back to consult the heavens, the stars often seemed to shine brighter when she was going to have a lucky day and this seemed to be one of them. It was to her deepest surprise, then, that they were not visible at all. Her face moved from dismay to concern then approached calm as she imagined the clouds would pass soon enough, but then that voice spoke and she knew what was coming. Standing, the ribbon around her wrist looping in and about her fingers to bind her hands together, she was suddenly filled with a light that shone out through the land and people around her rather than reflecting from them, and when she raised her hands above her head in offering this light seemed to flow from her body and into the ground beneath them. "Ilmater's blessing on the place where we stand, let no bad happen. Let no harm come." She had blessed their campsite, making it holy ground, a fitting place to combat this immense evil. He eyes closed, and she began another casting; there might still be talking done, but in caution there was safety for the others, and maybe seeing that their foe was prepared this other group could be convinced to stay their attack and listen to reason.

[Drakashin]

Drakashin fought off the dizziness that often accompanied teleportation. Looking around he saw a campfire in the distance, as well as hearing some voices in the same direction.

Now why did I come to this gods forsaken region again?" he wondered allowed. For the life of him he couldn't remember exactly why he was here only that it was important.

A deep, almost whining voice came from behind him, "It was your other self that decided to come here, though, of course, he didn't tell me the reason."

Drakashin turned around to look at his familar, a stout four foot tall gargoyle. He just nodded in response, his other personality was always a bit on quite side.

He heard shouts from the direction of the encampment, and he felt the presence of a number of demons. "Well," he said, "I guess that's as good a place to start as any. Maybe I can find something fun to study while I'm here."

[CinderSuru]

Cinder watch Pwdn carfully if any one could take care of her self it was Pwdn, but she wanted to just run and grab her to protect her from the evil. She know better thow, there were many around to potect her any way she had to keep her focuse on Adain.


((( please excuse my french computer that i have know idea how to opperate )))

[Adian Novar]

Adian drew his weapon, humming a hymn to the Dark Maiden. At once his sword was touched with a silvery sheen.

"Well," he said. "I suppose the rest of you are mine to deal with."

He stepped forward and set himself beside Veraka against the inevitable treachery of the unnatural fiends before them.

"Frad, watch Vereaka's other flank," he said. "Cinder, guard Pdwn. We're going to be needing her soon."

He watched the nearest Glabrezu, both unafraid of its menace but very much aware of its terrible power. He had never faced such a being before and was not likely to last long against it. But if it bought the others time, then so be it.

[CinderSuru]

In seconds Mendrinus was by Pwdns side,Cinder tried to scoop he up for got she was in a spell and Pwdn resisted. She waited beside her. took out her most deadlly arrows and cast a spell pullling the magic from a deadly star on the horizion. she was ready to aim when needed. She watched closely at the evil being closesed to Adain. ..When you are ready lady Pwdn take my hand and i will take you to a safe distance, your healing will be required i am sure so please do as i ask. she was ready to pull her up any harm was directed her way and Mendinus would disappear at the speed of light with her.

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

Feeling herself grabbed, Pwdn twisted to avoid Cinder's attempts to move her. With a turn and a duck to move her out if Cinder's reach she regained her footing to continue casting, somewhat slowed but able to hold the spell in her mind despite the interruption. No response or explanation was offered, she hoped Cinder would know better than to try again.

((She can't really be picked up and moved around in the middle of casting, sorry.))

[veraka]

Veraka brought his armored hands together; one balled into a fist, the other cupping it, and raised both of his hands to sky. A white light burst forth from his hands as he began casting Bless upon all of his allies within the distance.

“So you think that my prodigy would simply just live with you, for the rest of her years, even as her fiendish bloodline screamed to her to return to her origins?” the balor asked, bringing its sword up and over

Energy crackled up the wickedly sharp edge of Marala Vharc as Veraka drew the sword from its sheath on his back. The aasimar drew the blade just in time to block a heavy over-handed blow from the balor’s sword. Right then, a fiery whip sprung to life from the demon’s other hand and shot forward toward the aasimar. Veraka got his shield up just in time to deflect the blow from the fiery whip.
Right then the demon group sprung into action attacking everyone in sight, the Balor going after Veraka.

[Adian Novar]

Adian braced himself as the demonic beast came at him. He fully expected to get swatted aside by the huge creatures...but something odd seemed to be happening.

The entire area seemed a bit more brightly lit to his eyes, and his body felt lighter. When the beast's malformed claws struck they did not land with the strength that its large body should have delivered. To his surprise he was holding his ground against the infernal thing.

He grinned, an unexpected surge of confidence coming to his face.

"It looks like someone's got my back...or perhaps someone simply doesn't have yours."

Pdwn's blessing was doing its work well.

[CinderSuru]

Cinder stared at the star on the horizon drawing its energy to her and her weapons blocking any kind of perception of what she was doing by the beasts.

she built a haze around her and Pwdn being carefull not to interfere with her spell so they were not easily noticed.

She pointed her deadly arrow at the beast attacking Adian ready to give him a wound he would not forget if there was a threat of any kind to Adin her mind was silently penetrating its anticipated moves. Medrinus was sensing Pwdn needs and would signal Cinder at once if a move had to be made to protect her.

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

Frad hurled his offhand axe through the throng of approaching demons, an Eriyes slipped gracefully out of the way of it as he'd imagined she might, leaving another to try and jerk crudely from its' path and catch the blade across her shoulder, a soft snapping sound could be heard as it cleaved at her shoulder blade and glanced off to fall on the snow, her black blood hissing as it spilled over the holy ground. The creature hissed angrily and made a line for Frad at speed then, outraged at his cheap trick and the indignity it had caused her. He danced backwards, leading her further from her fellows and singling her out from the throng to better get in at her. "Fakken devils, ya do know yer jus' a cheap imitation o' the real thing right? Not ta be too harsh or anythin' but why'd ya even bother? Yer jus' not as good at anything as a-" He ducked aside as she tore at him in a rage, and laughed. "D'ya mind? Tryin' ta taunt ya here." He glanced about, now that he had her attention he'd do well to have someone else come at her while she had her guard down. She was screeching something horrendously abusive at him in infernal, if there was any kind of comment bound to get these things worked up it was dismissal in favour of the hated succubi.

Lyon moved about to find a path through the hellspawn and get to the vampire he'd singled out to challenge, eventually seeing an opening and sprinting through to cross swords with the thing. It mocked him as he charged, barely considering him worthy of the attention. "Pitiful human, you are weak. You cannot defeat me, let alone kill me, you aren't even worthy to make this challenge. Or did you think a duel with me would somehow be easier? Tonight you will die screaming." Lyon laughed, forced back as his swing was countered but blocking the return blow with his shield, resuming his attack and pressing forwards. "You think I can't see your power, abomination? You think that your ultimately finite strength matters to me? Tonight you will slink back to your master and whatever crevice you call your home whimpering my name!"

"Begone!" Pwdn reached out out and pointed at one of the Erinyes, a blaze of glorious white light erupting around it. The creature screamed and howled as she was torn from the material plane and thrown back into the pits from whence she had come. She remained unharmed, just as Pwdn would best have liked, but helpless to return. Pwdn shifted to survey the field; she'd only had one use of [i:2culfygs]Banishment[/i:2culfygs] readied, and her next cast was to be [i:2culfygs]Mass Haste[/i:2culfygs] followed by a [i:2culfygs]Vigorous Cycle.[/i:2culfygs] "I will be fine for now, and healing does require me to be close." She smiled quickly to reassure Cinder and steadied her will to bring forth another blessing to the group. "If you can call anything of this frozen land to our aid, please do."