Moon Stone

1. Moon Stone

   #121

   Faith bowed her head to the Knight, and stood to address the camp. "There in the clearing lies Carington Keep. There we will have to buy new supplies. Until this point we have had fortune enough for mildly temperate weather; however, it will get much cooler as we travel to the Northern mountains that hide the temple from the world. We will need heavier cloaks, and some dwarven Tact bread. It is nasty stuff but as long as it is kept dry it will not spoil. Carington Keep is a dangerous place and they do not like visitors especially non- human ones. Therefore Atal and I will take Aldan into the keep. We three will bring back the supplies and head begin our asent into the mountains.The others will stay at the edge of the forest being careful not to draw attention to yourselves. We really do not need to upset these people." With this she calmly began walking in towards the edge of the forest. "Come on now. We should return before the moon rises."

2. Moon Stone

   #122

   "Wait in the woods, I should. Too old for long treks in town." Atal said in pre-defeated protest. He had already hefted his leather bag and readied his walking stick. It had been some time since he had last walked the streets of Carrington keep.

3. Moon Stone

   #123

   Skene stood slowly and sheathed his sword breathing in the sweet air as he stopped the women.
   "My name is Sir Skene Whitewing, m'lady. And I offer my services to this group in pain or death."
   He bowed his head and stared to follow her.

4. Moon Stone

   #124

   Aldan who had already packed up his meager amount of goods followed Faith, "It'd be odd if they saw a Knight of Caladin hanging around with folks like us, and nobody knows me very well. So rest easy Skene, we'll be back in a bit, it's just a supply run. What could happen?"

5. Moon Stone

   #125

   Skene looked the Paladin in the eyes as he tilted his head.
   "I am a Knight of Caladin, if you know of us then you know I am an able swordsmen."
   He bowed his head to the paladin.
   "And I see your point but I have made an oath and I will not break it, I have a debt to pay and the only way to pay it is to protect the m'lady."
   he said nodding to Faith.
   "And everyone else. You have saved my life and I will repay that debt, and proove myself in some way to you."

6. Moon Stone

   #126

   Faith noded her appreciation to the young knight. "I am happy to have you good sir Skene, but I need you to stay here and see that no harm comes to our camp. We will be back before moon High and will be happy to see a warm meal awaiting us. If for some unforseen reason that we do not return before mornings first light You skene should enter the keep and ask to speak to Raspantel. She is a friend among foes, but in secret for if any were to learn of her willingness to help it might mean her death. She has ways of knowing where to find lost people."
   
   This being said she again turned and walked out into the clearing.

7. Moon Stone

   #127

   As the small group left the clearing they could see the Keeps walls looming in the distance. "Listen know palidin" Faith said her vioce a low grumble, "This is bandits land. Do not draw attention to yourself; this Keep opperates under a sorceress known as Astoria, and we do not wish to find ourselves in her company. This said it would be wise for us to stay close together and keep our eyes low."
   
   As they approached the walls a gaurd called out to them in a booming guttoral tone. " What be your bussiness at Carington Keep?"
   
   Faith stepped forward and stated that they come to trade for supplies they would be needing on a trip to visit her dying sister. She added, "we only wish to stay long enough to do our bussiness."
   
   The gaurd smiled wickedly revealing rotting yellowed teeth then he eyed the two elderly beings accompanied they young one. One thought played over in his mind: EASY TARGETS, "Your sister, Aye, well come on then, I being the generous soul that I am couldn't keep an old lady from her family." With this The gaurd let them pass.
   
   The city was filled with the horrid smell of drunkeness and death. As they made their way through the battered streets they noticed greedy glares and secretive whispers. Faith nodded, "The tailors shop should be around that corner. Let our feet tread lightly and quickly there."
   
   ************************************************************
   Meanwhile back at camp Luna decided to find a quiet stream for a bath. The suns had already rose high in the sky and the water was refreshingly cool. It had been a while since she had had a bath. As she was alone her thoughts turned once again to Davynn. It had been more that two weeks since her last dream with him, and she was worried. She allowed her thoughts to dwell on him a while.

8. Moon Stone

   #128

   Skene nodded nd sighed as he started to make some food from what he found. He found his pack and he smiled wide. He pulled out some chicken and put in a pot over the fire and some bread where he set it up with a little bit of cabbage. It was all he had and he hoped the others wouldn't mind it. He sat down beside the fire and hummed an old beautiful Dejy song he had learned when he had gone with his father to the coastal cities in a market where some Dejy lived. He was entranced by those native people. They were strong and their tatooed skin made them more intriguing.

9. Moon Stone

   #129

   Rad watched the knight prepare himself a meal and then hum a strange song he had never heard before.Now would be a good time to learn more about this stranger,he realized.More about his true agenda and whether he is truly who he says he is.
   
   Walking to the Knight's cook fire,he seated himself comfortably beside Skene.''I hope you don't mind my company,Sir Knight''he said in what he could only hope was a warm tone.

10. Moon Stone

    #130

    Aldan trudged behind Faith and Atal weary of those around him, the emotions he was sensing. The amount of greed, fear, and corruption here was almost overwhelming him, he hadn't been in populated centers very often, and back in his old village he hadn't yet been made aware of these things. This place was foul, a ces pit of darkness Aldan controlled his disdain barely, he sensed a spark or two of light here but the overwhelming sense that the sun had been eclipsed. He trudged on focusing putting a damper on his senses. He felt a twinge of malicious intent here and there but he wrote it off to the general pool of dark emotions in any place of population.

11. Moon Stone

    #131

    Skene nodded to Rad and shrugged.
    "No matter what the company, it's better then being alone."
    He handed him a steaming plate of food.
    "Here you go. Made it meself, hope you like."
    He smiled slightly and started to eat his small ration. He had stopped the humming and tilted his head as he thought on something.

12. Moon Stone

    #132

    Rad accepted the offered food gladly.His wanderings in the wilderness had made him appreciate the value of a hot meal when it came his way.Digging into it with gusto,he begun to ask the knight questions between the noisy mouthfuls of meat.
    
    ''Well,Sir Knight,what brought you here to this miserable dirtball all the way from that place you come from?''

13. Moon Stone

    #133

    He shrugged as he ate a piece of bread calmly he looked over at Rad.
    "My country is my home. I would do everything I could to protect my home and this is part of it. My country is threatened by beasts that plan to overrun it. I came to find help."
    He wouldn't say anymore as he ate more food, seeming to be too interested with it

14. Moon Stone

    #134

    As Luna finished her bath she took the clothes that she had washed and let sun dry and wrapped them about her. dusk was setting in and she needed to return to the camp. As she made her way back to camp she hummed to herself. Suddenly a crash echoed behind her. She quickly turned to see Strath right behind her. He fell backward in laughter tears staining his face. " You should have seen your face." Luna Giggled and said "Yeah well laugh at this Fixing her gaze right above his head a bubble of water started to move in his direction only to spill ontop of his head. He laughed, " Okay, I give up. We had better make our way to the camp they will wonder what is keeping us I am sure."
    
    
    *************************************************************
    Mean while in the keep the threesome were exiting the tailors shop there arms laiden with long heavy cloaks each the shade of midnight blue save one that was pure white. They began there way to the local grocers to buy the tact bread when a drunken man ran into faith he was all over her she could smell the vile scent of wiskey on the mans putrid breath. Another man came at her this one hidden beneath the folds of a dark cloak; she thought he was coming at her to pull the large dunken brute off of her. However, instead she hear the bitter cry of agony as the cloaked one plunged a daggar into the drunks back. Faith stumbled backward Then a man form the crowd crowed Murderer, and before she could even take a step farther several men crowded around her their swords drawn for the ready. Faith Knew it would be foolish to brandish there weapons or wield magic at this time so she eyed the others hoping that they would understand that they syouldn't fight, but try and prove their innocence.

15. Moon Stone

    #135

    Aldan stepped forward, this was going to take alot of strength, "People here me! Do not call this woman a murderer." He let the Dragon flow out from him with an invisible blanket, he sought to dull their suspicion and tried to fill their pity. "Look this man here is a strong lad, and street smart. How could a feeble kind lady to any harm to him? The true murderer is among you. This dead drunkard accosted the Lady from the front, how could she have stabbed him in the back then?" Aldan shouted for the crowd as he rolled body over and pointed at the knife wound.

16. Moon Stone

    #136

    The Knight's sudden reluctance to talk was observed with some amusement by Rad. So,Sir Skene has secrets too,he mused.Will those secrets be to our disavantage or to our advantage? I must know them,either way.And I think I know just the person who can help me out there.

17. Moon Stone

    #137

    He stopped and shook his ehad as he looked into the fire as his eyes glazed over and a strange invisible aura came around him as he spoke strangely as if not himself.
    "We hide many things, and the mysteries are accepted eagerly by holy men, but some mysteries bite and bark and some bring darkness in the silence or with gleeful banging of drums."
    He shook his head as he stood up and bowed his head to Rad.
    "Excuse me."
    He walked off into the shadows and breathed heavily, he shouldn't have used the sight.

18. Moon Stone

    #138

    Faith quickly looked at the Paladin and motioned for him to end his use of magic. There were greater forces than these men to worry about and she didn't want to inform them of the power that each member wielded. His pity might have worked on average people with average emotions, but this was a no ordinary keep. This was a land of bandits and killers; controled and ruled by one person alone the Sorceress Astoria. She would have sensed the magic used already, but perhaps she could not pinpoint the wielder just yet. As this Thought crossed her mind a raspy call could be heard among the muttering crowd. As they peered upward a large black raven could be seen circling the keepin the know dark sky. One from the crowd peered upward as he whispered in a tone like a hissing snake, "You have drawn the attention of Astoria I see, well we will just have to throw you in the lock up until she tells us what to do with you." Faith merely bowed her head as if to say let us not fight this, not here and not now.

19. Moon Stone

    #139

    As Luna and Strath entered the Camp they saw Skene exiting the Camp,
    "Were is he going?" Luna asked. She then looked at the pot of warm food on the fire. " Who made dinner? It smells wonderful, perhaps more so because I had no part in making it." At this Luna giggled at this. By this time the moon had shown itself above the trees in the distance. " The others should be arriving back soon Should we wait and dine with them?" She secretly hoped that Strath would want to go ahead and eat.

20. Moon Stone

    #140

    He sighed and stopped and sat at the base of a great tree. He closed his eyes and went into prandu bindu trance, a deep metation in which his mind was sent into super-awareness and his body shut down, making it look like he had died. The stars passed by in a speed too fast for the eye to follow as he saw many things, many things that had happened, and that had not.

21. Moon Stone

    #141

    OOC: Sent I have PMed you please read it before posting.

22. Moon Stone

    #142

    Rad jerked his head around at the arrival of Luna and Strath.''Ahh,I see you have noticed the sudden departure of the Knight.Our strange friend seemed to be nervous when I asked him what he was doing here.Obviously,he has a shadowy agenda that he does not want us to know about.It might not be a bad idea if one of us was to keep an eye on him.''

23. Moon Stone

    #143

    He came out of the trance and stood up shakily shaking his head. The variables in which could happen in the future were limitless at this point and to see them all in a blink of an eye sometimes left him dazed and confused as his mind tried to compute all the massive data it had just collected. He looked around and once again walked into the camp, sulken and sour.

24. Moon Stone

    #144

    "I agree Rad I sense unease about this one perhaps as you have already eaten you should keep first watch." Luna replied

25. Moon Stone

    #145

    As the three members were carried to the lock up Faith looked up at the moon, it was climbing ever closer to the high point in the sky. The others would begin to worry soon she knew. "Find Raspantel," she silently sent her message, "Find the keeper of the lost ones."

26. Moon Stone

    #146

    Rad nodded.''As you wish.'' With these words,he took up a position near the camp fire,all the while careful to keep an eye on the strange Knight that had just returned to the camp.This strange human wouldn't be able to sneak away and get up to any strange business,not when Rad kept an eye on him.

27. Moon Stone

    #147

    Things were bad, and only getting worse. Atal knew it was time for some action, the cutthroats and vagabond had set them uop, and were fixing to take them down for the coin they thought they had. An ignoble way to die, lynched for a faked murder, or left to die in a dismal cell under the stones of the keep.
    
    Deftly he snatched a handfull of coins from his satchel, and he flung them across the square, the air filled with the ring of metal on stone, and the air glinted with the unmistakable gleam of gold. A second handfull of coins flew in the other direction, chaff for the reapers to reap.
    
    "Move quickly." he said as the circle of accusers broke up into a mass of scuffles and shoving matches as the men set to picking up the coins, greedy for gold, mad for it. One of the men made to steal the heavy leather bag, but Atal jammed the end of his walking stick into the man's gut, sending him to the ground sucking in his breath.
    
    "There, take the alley between the buildings here." Atal said, sending a last handful of gold coins into the air as he herded them between two close set shops. Hopefully his friend Goroda, the abbot would be home...or was he even still alive? It had been so long since Atal had been here he wasnt sure if old Goroda would still draw breath and tend to the sick and hungry in his small abbey, nestled between a weavers shop, and a cartwright.

28. Moon Stone

    #148

    Skene sat down away from everyone and became a little genial as he started humming loudly of a dejy song that spoke of the freedom they had been granted by the gods from the terrible Kasmir. Thier very name in which they had called themselves had been lost to history and the very word Dejy had been borrowed by the very Natives(dejy) who said that dejy meant 'fortunate' in Kasmir tongue and this added irony to it for they had hated their dreadful and magical masters.

29. Moon Stone

    #149

    OCC: Working on a paper for ancient Lit class will try and post some Tomorrow Time willing! Thanks :wink:

30. Moon Stone

    #150

    ((Okay))

31. Moon Stone

    #151

    Faith grinned to herself. Atal was quick witted as ever. How she would miss him. She new however that Astoria will have felt the magic used in the keep and would still persue them. She followed Atal down the abbey her feet moving lightly, but quickly. She could hear the deafing roar of the crowd behind her. "There," she pionted to a man that might match Atal in age. "Is this who you are seeking Atal. " The man was silently rocking in a chair smoking a pipe and enjoying the night when his bald head snapped up and his eyes met with Atal's.

32. Moon Stone

    #152

    OOC: I will be taking over strath Joe's Character for the time being. I have PMed him and he has not responded in a while. If he returns he will be allowed to assume his old post, but unfortunately will have to deal with any decisions or changes I seem fit to make. I will write another PM to him soon explaining to him that he is still welcome in the game.
    Thanks, Adel
    
    IC: Luna looked impatiently at the sky. Silently she got to her feet and began strapping her small daggar to her waist. Strath jumped up and asked curiously,
    
    " Where are you going?"
    
    " They should have returned by now, I am going after them of course." She began to take her long silvery blond hair down from the half-braid in which she wore it "This should cover my ears, remember they do not care for the other races. We were to seek the one Known as Raspantel. We must hurry. I fear for our companions."

33. Moon Stone

    #153

    Instantly,Rad jumped to his taloned feet,livid with anger.''Are you mad!''he hissed.If Faith,Atal and Aldan indeed ran into trouble in the city,you think you can just stroll in and rescue them?!Didn't you hear anything she said?Carrington Keep is a dangerous place,a place of wolves.I hardly imagine that two young elves would last for even a moment in a place where a sorceror and paladin find themselves in trouble.Neither of you is a real fighter.''

34. Moon Stone

    #154

    Someone tapped Rad's shoulder and Skene stepped infront of Rad.
    "But I am."
    He said as he nodded looking over at Luna. He bowed his head to her lowly.
    "I will go with you."
    He said. This would be the time to proove himself, and he was going to jump at it and show them that he was no coward.

35. Moon Stone

    #155

    ''A good plan,Sir Knight'',Rad answered in his raspy voice.''I see that saving your life seems to have paid off after all.But if you go into that place,you go alone.These two children are too precious to be risked.No offence.''

36. Moon Stone

    #156

    Skene nodded and strapped his sword to his waist. He then pciked up his pack and shouldered it.
    "I go as a man of honor and I am indebted to repay the debt that I have stored upon thee. If I don't come back then I have fallen in battle, as a man should die. In combat."
    He bowed his head slightly to rad then o everyone else and started to walk off in the direction of Karlington Keep. He would go on in honor trying to save the lives that had done so for him.

37. Moon Stone

    #157

    "Yes, Goroda, my old friend, have you a moment to hide a few wayward souls?" Atal said, looking back over his shoulder, a small sign of anxiety. It would not be long before the miscrents and hooligans discovered that their new gold coins were fake.
    
    "Atal? i havent seen you in an age, yes yes there is always room for wayward souls here. Come in, tea for everyone, and well even close the abbey, yes, no one comes in this time of day anyway, just at night when it gets cold, I am sorry I am just prattling on..." the old man said, sucking on his pipe with dry lips.
    
    He opened the door of the abbey, and let them into the small cloister, it smelled strongly of incence and wood oil.

38. Moon Stone

    #158

    Luna stared fire at the Draconian. " How motherly of you! However I doubt you could stop me. You, sir are over confident, and that may be your downfall. You forget, I am an elemental and can hold my own in battle. I an no coward and will go to the aid of my friends. You do not understand the importance of this Stroll as you call it. Without Faith there is no hope, She has the stone and it is for her that we even find ourselves on this quest. " Luna noticed the spark in the Draconian's eye as she mentioned the stone being lost. She turned to her friend and looked him the eyes. " You can stay here and be coddled by Rad if you wish, but I will not abbandon my friends." With this she pulled her hood about her head and turned to leave following Skene's path through the underbrush. Strath looked at her with a smirk upon his face. She has fire he thought. he turned to Rad and shrugged. Then followed after her.

39. Moon Stone

    #159

    ''Those fools!''Rad snarled,practically spitting the words out.''They really think they can handle a situation that has Aldan and Atal in trouble?'',he begun to rant.''No,those immmature elven bunglers will get killed!And then the Moonstone will be lost for good!If they had listened to me,Skene would have gone alone and I would have found some way to follow him in somehow.After all,I am a sivak born of a corrupted silver dragon's egg,albeit one born with stunted wings that deprived him of the gift of true flight.But still the only one of the Dark Queen's creations capable of taking on the forms of any one of his victims. ''
    
    Skene was supposed to enter the city and find the crone and her two companions.And just in case he had ulterior motives regarding the Stone,I would be there in the form of the first lout I see and slay,to make sure that the Stone goes where it should.But no,the dumb pointy-eared idiots think they are powerful enough to handle this by themselves!They'll bring the whole keep down on them!And then where will I be?''
    
    Don't lose it Rad,the calm,collected voice of his brain said,cutting through the anger and frusturation that threatened to overwhelm him.There are plenty of spare blankets and cloaks lying around.Cover yourself completely with them and the townsfolk will assume that you are afflicted with a most maloveant,disfiguring illness.Then all you have to do, is wander into a dark alley and kill the first lout you see there.Then take his form and you may able to be save the Stone before those brain dead elves bring all your grand plans crashing down on you.
    
    
    And with those words still ringing in his head,Rad gave a little smirk.Well,time to see to it that his precious Stone was safe,Yes,his Stone.His very own.Shrouding himself in an assortmant of foul,lice infested cloaks and blankets,he strode of in the direction of Carrington Keep.

40. Moon Stone

    #160

    Skene made his way to Carlington Keep very quickly and throwing over his cloak, and covering his sword, he was able to gain admittance. He walked around asking a small question here and there. Carlington Keep reminded him a lot of the Western Port Cities. He had seen many things happen there and this was nothing new. Skene stopped and looked up at an abbey. He smiled and knocked on the double doors. If it was true he could find help here. Then he felt someone tapping his shoulder. He turned around and saw guards. They were grim faced and hadn't like the look of him. Skene killed the first one before the guard even knew what happened, having grabbed his neck and breaking it. Skene then left the door and dashed down an alley where he came into a heated battle with at least half a dozen guards. Being a Knight of Caladin, he was superior in sword fighting then these men, but he couldn't be immortal, so he started to wain as more and more of the guards came to avenge their friends. Skene shook his head, as slashed one's head with a powerful arc. He should have came here with someone and now he would surely die if help did not come soon.

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