New face

1. New face

   #81

   Hamold, who had simply been resting in the Branches of the tree-kin, peered down at the elven lord at the mention of Bartleby's greenleaf. "Bartleby's greenleaf? Now that, I would like to test... er, Simply to advise you on the quality, of course! But for now... Hmm..."
   
   Finally, the halfling slipped down off the hulking tree, and scuttled over past the elf, drawn by the delightful odour of boar meat. He was soon lost in the commotion of the setting up, gone for now, but bound to show up before long.

2. New face

   #82

   Redwick was startled. Never before had he met elves like these, elves that didn't mutter bitterly at the mere prescence of him. To think that this kind of hospitality was still to be found among the tall, pointy-eared people! He figured he ought to enjoy it while it lasted.
   
   "So, along we go then! Is there some hall where one can sit down and eat?"

3. New face

   #83

   Callista had stared right back, more of a stern stare then anything else, she went to say something else but he carried on talking to the others, Callista moved closer to danu, she lent over and wishpered "don't worry not ALL elves are like HIM" she said enphesizing the words, all and him, she turned back to look at the elf-lord, she glared at him, as if he had said something rude, "fine, lets go" she moved forward in front of them all and began to trudge slowly down the hill "come on" she called aragantly avoding the elf-lords eyes, Callista didnt like him one bit, but she would have to put with him to get the information she wanted, there was no use being rude that wouldnt get them any where, so she just tryed to be as poliet as she could after that point

4. New face

   #84

   "Very well," Aelfwine said, a light smile on his face. "If you would care to follow me, we will partake in a light evening meal, and you can tell me more of your encounter, and of your travel on the road, and perhaps even how you came to be in the revered Wood-kins company."
   
   He lead the group to the elfhame, where the doors stood open, and the smell of food was stronger, more savory. The inside of the hall was spacious, tall ceilings held aloft by massive pillars of fluted white stone, the walls and the floors were a beautiful mix of dwarven stonemasonry and elven carving. More surprising were the multitude of flowers, alive in great stone pots, that filled the hall with their own aroma and brought vivd splashes of red, green, gold, and shades of blue to the elegant white of the hall.
   
   The feasting table was not set, but at the request of the lord, several platters of food were delivered to the table. There was no boar to be had, but there was a brace of rabbits, seasoned and spit roasted, a stuffed duck with a fruity sauce, two large loaves of bread, and a wheel of dark orange cheese, the wax having been carefully peeled away from the cheese.
   
   Two more stevedors brought out an old looking casque, mottled with age. Redwick could almost smell the malty aroma of the brew held inside. The two serviced the casque, releasing the pressure, and pouring out a mighty mug of the foaming, almost black stout.
   
   Several bottles of a crisp white wine were also brought out and pouring into comfortable goblets of polished silver. Soon, a varitable feast was laid out before the group, with fine flatware and plates to eat from, it was a far cry from the less appealing food of the traveler.
   
   Aelfwine sat back into his chair, and drew out a long pipe. One of the stevedors who brought the casque provided a hefty leather pouch of dried, and fine smelling greenleaf. He took a good pinch and packed the pipe, and then offered the pouch to Hamold.
   
   "I think it might be the finest leaf outside of the Farthings, but I doubt any but the halfings can grow the best leaf." The stevedor offered the light Hamolds pipe with a match from one of the roasting fires.
   
   Danu and Callista had their seats the farthest from the head of the table.

5. New face

   #85

   Red Un had been standing over at the flowers at first, sniffing at them curiously. Then he took one of them (a red tulip-like one) and took a bite out of it. He chewed around a bit and then swallowed.
   
   "Hum...dwarven cave-tulip. Can sustain a miner for a day if needed..."
   
   Then he saw the barrel that was carried in and immedeiately stopped thinking about flowers. As the mug was filled, there was a glimmer in the half-dwarf's eyes. He rapidly sat down at the table and took a deep gulp from the mug. And then another. Finaly, he belched loudly and grinned.
   
   "Aaaah...best ale I've tasted since I left Kazordoon...I've gotta tell Jimbin of this when I get home..."

6. New face

   #86

   Hamold, who now was seated comfortably, gave a faint snort in mock derision. "We shall see how good this leaf is." The halfling took a deep puff on the pipe, his whole body relaxing further, if possible, and he exhaled slowly. "Not bad, not bad... It's no 'Puffyns crisp', but you are just elves, hm?" Dispite his friendly criticism, he snatched a small handful from the pouch before the stevedor could get out of his reach, and stuffed it in an empty pouch of his own, hanging from his belt.

7. New face

   #87

   Redwick supressed a giggle at the comment "you are just elves" by drinking some more ale.

8. New face

   #88

   Aelfwine took their ribbing with good humor. The food was eaten and wine was consumed, and pipes were smoked. Aelfwine stood and walked to one of the windows, the glow of faerie fire casting his shadow against the pale stone of the wall. It seemed that a great weight sat upon his shoulders.
   
   "The dark times are returning after a century of peace." he said, his voice bore the same burden. "And it seems that the sacrifices of so many a century ago were but in vain. The demons are returning, they have begun to corrupt mortal flesh with their tainted essence. We lost so many fighting them last time, and the death has begun again.
   
   "The young warriors and hunters find the abominations and slay them, but many are wounded, some are killed and the tide has only begun to rise, no demon has manifested completely yet, but it only a matter of time.
   
   "Our allies have run thin. The dwarves have closed up many of their doors, many of their halls. None have come down the Dwarf road in a human generation. The men of Eharon have become decadent and corrupt, the noble warrior-kings have played out, they are naught but merchant princes, bankers and thieves.
   
   "It is my duty to see to the protection of my people. If nothing can be done, we will have to leave this place. The elves have passed into twilight and our strength was of the old world, not of this new world." He opened one of the side doors that lead out onto the veranda. Aelfwine stepped outside.

9. New face

   #89

   Ow, did I arrive in this world at a bad time thought Redwick to himself. Then he went back to eating and drinking.

10. New face

    #90

    Danu liked this place. There were enough shadows that were deep and dark enough to hide in. Not that she needed to hide, she just didn't feel too comfortable around company that were so vary wary of her.
    She understood though. She'd be wary around her too!
    
    "Callista," she said finally, walking over to the young elf, "I do not know what help I will be able to offer you, but I swear, if I can be of assistance I will do all I can for you. I know I have a colourful history, but trust me. Please?" She had said the last part loud enough for everyone else to hear too.

11. New face

    #91

    Callista looked deep into Danu's eye's "of course i trust you, even if some of the other's don't, i don't care what other people think" she said slowly, no sigh of lieing on her face, she nodded slightly to Danu and continued to drink her wine, Callista had been staring at the elf-lord for a while now, she didn't like him and she would perfer to leave this place as soon as possible, it was a lovely place but Aelfwine made her feel uneasy, very very uneasy, she wasn't sure she trusted him even if he was like her, she turned to Danu "Do you trust him?" she whispered "that Aelfwine, because he makes me feel really uneasy" she whispered, looking at him as she said it,

12. New face

    #92

    Redwick had never trusted elves, but ironicaly, he greatly apreciated this one.
    
    He noticed that there was no food left on the plate. Not wishing to bother these friendly elves, he decided to find the kitchen himself. He rose up and tried to silently sneak outside...

13. New face

    #93

    "Ah, Master Dwarf, I see that you found the meal to your liking?" Aelfwine asked he tried slipping out of the room.
    
    "There will be more feasting tomorrow, the boar will be ready by then, as well as the rest of the feast. If you are still hungry, there is adequate food in the kitchen." He indicated a low building seperated off from the great hall. Below in the clearing, several tall posts had been raised, an enchanted stone at the cap of each one, producing a brilliant glow.
    
    "It pains me to see Callista in the company of demon spawn. Did you know that each of the poles represents one of the seven who died to banish the demons a century ago?" he asked the dwarf.
    
    "Three elves, three humans, and one dwarf. They stood valiantly and were slain by the claws, horns, and poisonous blood of the demons. One of them is for Kelsta, Callista's father." he said, a hint of regret in his voice.
    
    "One should be for me, as I should have died on that dark day, instead of him." Aelfwine said.

14. New face

    #94

    Callista walked over to Aelfwine, "i do apoligise for my rudeness when we first met" she said quietly bowing slightly "and i do understand that many have died, trying to fight the demons, but Danu i trust her, i would trust her with my life, and for starters she is only half demon, that may not count for much but it counts for something, i beg of you try and see what i see in her, and you may say that my father died fighting the demons but you do forget that he also made friends with one of them, and some demons actully stayed out of the war, you must also relise that" she bowed once again and apologised, and then began to once again walk away, she walked over to one of the pillars, she knelt at the base of it and looked down at the floor

15. New face

    #95

    "I hope you understand that it is very difficult for me to tolerate the presence of one who even just half demon. Their kind has laid so much pain and suffering upone our people, we have lost so much to their depredations. Your father was more understanding than I, I admit that freely." He said.
    
    "Watcher did not object to her presence, and I trust his judgement more than I trust my own. I hear truth in your words, Callista. Do not ask me to show her kindness, I cannot do that. There can be nothing between Danu and I but restrained animosity. She may stay as long as she likes, in your company, but do not ask me to welcome her like a prodigal child."
    
    "Twilight comes, our time now. Is it the end of the Elfhame, are we to fall to the demons? Our strenght is not what it once was. The dwarves seldom come down the road, and men. What of men, the strength of their blood has spent itself. We stand alone before this menace of the ancients."

16. New face

    #96

    Callista looked up and gently nodded her head to show him that she understood, she placed a long slender finger on the name Kelsta on the bottom of the pillar, and traced it, a tear rolled down her face, she had loved her father, or what she new of him, the tear rolled and fell to the floor, it had hurt when she found out that her father was dead, but there was nothing that she could of done, she shook her head and pulled herself up, she blinked another tear out of her eye, and turned she bowed to Aelfwine and then returned to the feast

17. New face

    #97

    Redwick had went away to the kitchen, and returned chewing on a big piece of meat just to hear Aelwine lament over the "menace of the ancients" yet again.
    
    "I'm sure that I'm gonna end up on some long, dangerous adventure for asking this, but is there any hope left?"

18. New face

    #98

    The shadows near Redwick rippled, and a hulking shape moved out of them. Its skin was pebbly and black, like that of some obscene lizard. Two eyes red as charcoal embers menaced him from a squat toad like face. The beast moved forward using an ungainly three legged gait, using one forelimb like a tripod leg.
    
    Three more of the brutes filed out of the darkness, knuckles digging furrows in the ground. They looked towards the dwarf and his piece of meat. One broke away towards REdiwck, the others moved south towards the knoll where the seven pillars were being lifted for the festival the next day.
    
    There was shouting as the demons cracked two of the pillars, and struck down several workers. Redwick had only his piece of meat between him and the demon that faced him down

19. New face

    #99

    "Uh...go fetch!"
    
    Redwick threw the piece of meat as far as he could, hoping that the demon didn't just look doglike.

20. New face

    #100

    Callista turned her head as a ruckas reached her ears, she sighted the pug-ugly demons and drew her bow and arrow, ready to fire if needs be, she moved it between all of the demons, waiting for an opputunity to open, she looked for the others, she noted redwick throw his meat away, probably hoping that the demon would follow, but not all demons where thick, she watched waiting any moment now, she let a arrow fly through the air as a warning sign,

21. New face

    #101

    Redwick was able to breath a sigh of relief, these were brutish and dumb demons. Two bolted after the haunch of meat. Another hiss angrily as an elven arrow narrowly missed it.
    
    More had come out of the darkness, bringing their number up to eight. Callista and Redwick could hear the elves from the Elfhame arrive north of them, and charge into battle with weapons drawn. Steel struck sparks against their dark hides, blades clattering against their skin.
    
    One gave a curious bellow as an arrow punched through its eye, ichor running down it's face. A runner approached Redwick, his axe in hand. He passed the half-dwarf the weapon and stood ready with a sword of his own.
    
    "Aelfwine says help is on the way if you can hold but for a little." the courier said two Redwick, and to Callista

22. New face

    #102

    "it would be my pleasure" she said firing two more arrows at two more oncoming demons, she swung around and fired another one at a demon who was stalking up behind one of the elf fighters, she turned once again "what are these thing's, i know they are demons but where the hell did they come from" she fired another arrow "and how many are there?" she turned once again firing another two,

23. New face

    #103

    "There are perhaps one dozen of these demons." Aelfwine said, striding up next to Callista, his sword drawn. It was a long narrow blade, akin to a rapier, but still bladelike, still a sword. (estoc or tuck for the sword savvy)
    
    "They have come before, but never so many. To kill them, you have to strike through a vital point, and forget hitting the heart or lungs, We've not found a blade to pierce their hide." He accentuated the point by quickly closing with one of the monsters, parrying an attack, and following with a brutal riposte that plunged the blade through the mouth of the monster. It gagged and struggled back, more black ichor pouring from its mouth. It made a bubbling noise, clawing at its throat, before collapsing to the ground.
    
    Even as it landed, its supernaturally hard flesh began to hiss and sizzle and the body dissolved.

24. New face

    #104

    Callista nodded to make sure that he new that she understood, she fired an arrow which flew through the air straight into one of the demons neck, it struggled with the arrow, she ran up and plunged an arrow right down the demons throat, she ran back "this is going to be hard with bow and arrow, have you any swords that i may use" she once again fired an arrow trying to keep them back she awaited the answer from Aelfwine

25. New face

    #105

    Aelfwine only had a short sword to spare, a backup weapon in case he lost the estoc. Deftly he removed it from its sheath and floated it to Callista (underhand toss). It was a well made, if non-magical elven blade, leaf shaped, wider just below the tip, and narrowing towards the haft.
    
    "Do your ancestors proud!" Aelfwine shouted to her as his sword thrust again, driving one of the demons back as it sought to protect its delicate face. He shouted an elven warcry and struck again, striking through the ocular cavity, dislodging the beasts luminescent eyeball with the stroke. The demon howled and staggered away, hands clasped to its face.

26. New face

    #106

    Callista nodded her understanding and slashed the demon across the face, with the short sword, she moved to the back of the demon and forced down on the back of its neck, she pushed the sword in further into its back plunging deeper into his chest, the demon fell to the floor and began to writhe on the floor, she turned and one head came clean off, she at once shuved her hand into the goo, she ripped her hand out clutching a wrinkled and shriveled black lump, which she assumed was it's heart, she grimaced as she wiped the goo of her hand onto her clothes, "i hope this stuff aint poisonous" she said to herself quietly,

27. New face

    #107

    "Hurm, thanks for the axe, but I think I'll get my sword..."
    
    Redwick swinged the axe and even tough he couldn't get trough the demons' skin, it was still sent reeling by the blow.
    
    The half-dwarfs sword was up in the dining-room. He started advancing, pushing demons aside with his axe as best as he could (he wasn't very skilled with it).

28. New face

    #108

    The courier who delivered the message to Callista returned to Redwick, his sword in scabbard, "I apologize for my assumption Master Undersoor. I though that you would prefer the axe.."
    
    He handed the sword over, and only a second later took a demonic haymaker to the head. The elf crumpled like a rag doll, and hit the ground hie face a ruin of broken bone and blood.

29. New face

    #109

    Danu faltered, unsure as what to do. Her companions (and she used that term loosely for the majority of them only just tolerated her presence) were in a battle against her own kind, demons. It was a hard choice to make. Surely if she were to fight she would have to revert to her demonic form, but then...
    
    She took a deep breath, mind made up. Growling viciously, she shifted her form. Large black wings sprouted from her back, her spine extended to form a whip-like tail, razor fangs grew from teeth, claws grew from nails. Her ivory skin took a silvery blue hue, and eyes glowed. She was unseelie. A creature of darkness and shadows. And she would kill all who stood in her way.
    
    With a snarl she whirled towrds her first enemy, claws raking deep wounds in one beasts chest, drawing hot blood, then spinning round for another lightning fast strike before the creature could even raise one of its club like hands in defence.

30. New face

    #110

    Casllista looked over to Danu, she ducked narrowly escaping a bludgen in the face, she turned at shot an arrow through the beast's eye causing it to fall back with pain, she once again repeated her prossedure, she cut its head of with the sword and stuck an arrow down its neck to reach the tender heart inside, she looked over to Danu again and smiled a tiny bit "that will show that she is a friend and if he still doesn't believe,then that is his decision" she swung around to face another demon once again dodging out of the way of the demon swinging it's hand down towards her, she dodged and sliced of it's hand and then jumped behind it, to attack from the rear, she saw a smooth almost gooey surface on the side of the demon and thrust the sword upwards into it, making the demon howl in pain,

31. New face

    #111

    "Ah, now we're talkin'..."
    
    Redwick drew his sword and charged at a demon.
    
    "Weak point...weak point...Hey, your zipper is open!"
    
    Before the demon could realise that it didn't actually have a zipper (or pants, for that matter), Redwick thrusted his sword right trough it's bowed head.
    
    "Hurm...I don't like fighting to be this gooey and stuff..."

32. New face

    #112

    Callista fought her way over to redwick "how you doing over here?" she asked stabbing another demon in the side "not getting to much for you is it?" she smiled and even gave a short inaudible laugh, she stabbed a demon who was coming up behind redwick in the side

33. New face

    #113

    "Bah, don't worry 'bout me, elf..."
    
    As a demon charged at him, Redwick jumped up on its back.
    
    "Yeehaw!"
    
    He held onto its horns and steered it into another demon...
    
    SMASH!
    
    Red Un got off the fallen creature.
    
    "That was fun! But how many 'o these things are there?"

34. New face

    #114

    "well i am not quite sure but i suppose if we block of where there coming from if we can find it then, no more will be able to escape right!" she ran forwards and impaled a demons throat on the sword spinning around servering the head from the body and making sure it was dead by thrusting tge sword deep into the demons side, piercing it's ugly black heart.

35. New face

    #115

    Redwick looked around for any demon-portal-thingys...

36. New face

    #116

    There was a cheer from the elfin warriors as the tide of the battle turned in their favor. The air was ripe with the fetid odor of demonspawn as their blackened husks sizzled and evaporated back to the infernal realm that spawned them. Despite the valiant effort of the elfin warrior and the half dwarf, no portal was discovered. The demons, thirteen in all, were slain to the last, but their damage had been done.
    
    Of the seven pillars being lifted to celebrate the Kindling, four lay in various degrees of damage. One was cracked, while another lay in shattered pieces. It would be a miracle if the pillars could be replaced in time for the feast on the morrow.
    
    The cheer of victory faded as the scope of the battle became clear. More than a dozen elves had lost their lives. Most were the laborers who were lifting the pillars, one was a servant, and the last was Lord Aelfwine. The elfin lord lay collapsed on the ground, his retainer near him, head neatly decapitated by a single monstrous blow. The elfin lord had died on his feet, sword in hand, blood on the blade.
    
    "We will gve him a funeral in the old way." A young elf, not even into his first century, said. "It will be a feast for the slain, and we will have to raise eight pillars now instead of seven, one for Lord Aelfwine."
    
    The widow in the croft, and even the dwarves are often ignorant of the old ways of the elves, such as the solemn rites of death as the elves are a deathless race. The survivors moved quickly, the dead were lifted from the field and taken away. On the green, a great bier of wood was gathered, it was as tall as a man, and as large as a room. The workers sang a lament, while others cried with the loss of their kin, but all worked.
    
    As the bier was finished, the host returned bearing the body of the fallen lord, now dressed in his finest silks and velvet, his wounds carefully hidden under bandages. He was laid upon the bier, his sword placed in his hands, pommel up towards his face, blade pointed to his feet, his shield laid across his chest. More laments were sung as oil was splashed onto the bier in copious amounts.
    
    The young elf returned, his face marred by unmanly tears. He bore a single sputtering torch. With a strangled cry he hefted the burning brand onto the bier and the flames spread through it with alarming speed.

37. New face

    #117

    Callista just stood watching as the flames licked the sky, sending smoke high up, she countinued to stare into the flames, realizing that they never had discovered what they wanted to know, she hung her head, grief spread over her as she remebered the pillars smashing to the floor, her fathers between them "ahh i am so insensitive" she cried out suddenly "thinking about the pillars when many have lost there life's today" she hung her head as if she had just been told off, she turned slowly, pushing her hair out of her eye's, she had to find the other's and ask them what was to happen now, she moved slowly almost gliding along with the air.

38. New face

    #118

    Redwick was standing next to the bier, holding his head down sadly.
    
    "Farewell, Lord Aelfwine", he said. "Wherever ya are now, may there always be earth under your feet an' fire in your heart..."

39. New face

    #119

    "What are we to do now?" the young elf said, wiping the tears from his face. "Now that my father has fallen, there are none left to lead..." he said, his body visibly trembling.
    
    "We will have to flee, run away to another elven hold..." he said, his voice tinted with shame as well as the hot dagger of grief. "They have won, we killed all of them and they still won."

40. Enter the Wizerd

    #120

    An elegant figure appeard before the great gate of Elfhame, for the trees that looked on it would have thought he had stepped from shadow himself. When he walked there was the clink-clink of chain mail. He stood a good two meters tall but with a slim build, a runner's build. A dark black blue robe with a high collar hid almost all his body, on top his head was a pointed straw hat, in his left hand was a glove like device, it was made of metal of some kind that ensconed his finget tips and followed the bones of his hand, in the palm was a soft orange jewel that had a distubing inner glow. His right hand was covered in a black leather glove that could have been dragon hide if one well versed with such creatures got a good look.
    
    With a wave of his right hand the great Elven gates creaked open, the Black Mage stood there surveying the field before stepping forward. Everyone stared in a mix of fright, or curiosity at him. Amber gold fixed the young son of Aelfwine.
    
    "Running would be illadvised young Lord, it is time you took your father's place, the Gate of Izreath will not close if you flee from it. It will only grow larger." The figure removed his straw hat revealing middle aged features. He had a mop of chestnut brown hair, and piercing amber eyes that didn't have the warmth of aged wisdom of the Wood-kin but cold unflinching truth.
    
    "My name is Apawfis, I am a Mage."

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