Moon Stone — Legacy Forums — Strolen's Citadel

Moon Stone

#241

Strath lay asleep unable to wake. Of all the countless dreamscapes he had to ind himslef in this one. It was a dark lonley hall the rain was quickly was beating in torents outside the beautiful stained glass window. The window depicted a single pale white rose light bursting from it driving away the darkness that ebbed on the very coners of the window. Beneath the soft colored rose lay seven rose petals floating peacfully in a small pool of water Six of the petals lay in a ring around the stem of the rose the other petal seemed to have strayed from the rest of its companions and was growing ever more closer to the darkness that took over the corners.

Strath was staring in awe at the beautiful Window, how it seemed to light up when lighting flashed in the distance. The torches that had remained un-lit before suddenly flared to life and Strath could hear a familiar voice ring through out the hall.

one of your group is the seventh petal you know. Straying further and further towards the darkness, towards the madness. My handsome warrior is it you?

Strath backed against the wall, "Who are you? Show yourself." he shouted in vain the voice was gone, the torches once again became empty voids on the wall. He stood and went to the window He touched his palm to the seventh Petal, and then he rest his trembling hand upon the rose, odd it was as if he could feel the heat radiating off of the petals warm glow.

A searing pain shot through his head and all of this setting, the torches, the cold hard floor, the window, they all melted away into nothingness. Only to reform into a new place a different setting.

Moon Stone

#242

As the team moved, further and further into the the rocky hill-side they found the first pitters of rain began to fall. Atal called to the group "The cave I spoke of is just on the other side of this set of hills this will get us out of the rain, and allow us to get a little rest." He looked at Aldan, I am sure we all need some."

They reached the cave by morning and by this time were soaked to the bone by rain, Luna had gathered up the fire wood that they had not used last night but it would take a little effort to get it started because no matter how she wrapped it it was sure to get wet. The cave was tall enough for their tallest member to step inside with out bending his head, It was big enough for everyone to mill and move about. rad began trying to light the fire as Luna took Strath and lay him next to the wall so that he would face the fire when it was started. She touched his head, "only a little fever that's good, he is soaked to the bone though. Luna walked back over to the fire. She looked at Faith, "we might need to get out a bit of that Tact bread now, everyone must be hungry. Atal, have you any more of your tea that would help to warm us all."

Atal answered, " Aye Tea have I, but what of water? fret not there is a spring in with in the cave just follow that pass into the next cavern, then listen for the water I have a feeling it will call to you."

Faith sat down, next to the fire that Rad was succeeding in making. She neeed to think, Something was not right, She could feel it's subtle feeling here in the room with them, but it wasn't concrete, it was more like an abstract thought or feeling. Were things as they should be in the dream world? She had sworn to protect those worlds in there infinite planes, but to weak was she now to surrvive a jump, she must conserve her energy so she can pass the resposibility to another. There are other dreamkeepers she told herself. They will make what is wrong right.

Moon Stone

#243

Aldan felt a wave of appreciation rush towards Atal as they stopped at the cave, he walked over to the far side wall, he sat slowly down leaning his head against the wall. His ribs were aching but the fact he was sitting far out-weighed the pain. Aldan leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, he let his breaths out slowly, dropping his heart rate soon he was in a deep medatative trance. It was an intensly deep dreamless sleep.

Moon Stone

#244

Luna crept through the cave and could hear the gentle rumbling of the undergound spring. It was pitch black in the cavern the only light was that of the spark that ignited her torch. It was creepy back here all alone, the voices of the water seemed to echo off of the very walls. She quickly found the source of the water and filled the tea pot. She then gathered the water in her hands and began to wash her mud stained face and hands. "Oh how it felt to be clean again, she said more to the water than to herself, we are getting closer to the Temple of Icelos. I have a feeling that it is there that destiny awaits us all. I am partly afraid of what my vision will entail there, yet I feel that I must go. I always do this I put up a front that everything is okay, and it isn't."

"Luna, You are confused and scared," She jumped at hearing these words. She looked around, "Who?"

"Down here," the voice said, "Luna, I can't stay for long. I can only tell you that you must continue the journey to the Temple, the fate of your world and so many others lays in yours and your friends hands. We, I need you to be strong, Listen quickly, before thay come and realize what I am doing, When you talk to the lady of the moon tell her of me, tell her of us. She must understand.."

as this last sentence was finished Davynn's face dissappeared from the from the pool of swirling water. She reached her hands frantically into it hoping that by doing so she could pull him back. She needed him to come back, but he didn't. Her tears fell into the pool, tear by tear, she knew that she needed to return to the camp, but she sat in silence for a few more minutes before heading back.

Upon return she Made tea and went over to Strath's side. She hummed to him while holding the poutch in her hand. She still didn't know it's contents, but holding it and singing to Strath seemed to ease his restless sleep.

She looked around and many of her comrades had fallen asleep by the fire. She knew that soon they would start to climb the mountaian that would lead them to the temple. Was all to end well she wondered???

Moon Stone

#245

OOC: Sorry Guys I am dead tonight. Classes are really kicking me in the butt :lol: I will try an post first thing in the morning see if I can't move the game along abit.

Moon Stone

#246

As the next day began the group stirred in their sleep seven peaceful nights had passed since finding the cave. Strath had finally came out of his sleep, though oddly he refused to speak. He didn't seem ill or mad, only like he had lost the ability or the will to speak. He just passivly sits in the opening of the cave near the fire.

"His odd behavior worries me," Luna said to Aldan, "it is as if none of us, nothing here in this world matters..."

As this was said Faith got to her unsteady feet to make an announment, she was looking more feable every day. "We need to leave as soon as possible this morning. Already we have entered the foot hills leading to the north I Beleive we can make the journey to the foot of the mountain on which the temple rests in about four days time. We will then have only three days to scale the mountain and reach the temple. On that day the full moon will rise to the middle of the sky and only then can we enter the temple."

Come eat, and gather your things. we leave in an hours time.

Moon Stone

#247

Aldan pondered Luna's question for a second, his eyes roved over Strath for a second. "We all have a bit of darker side, for some of us it's harder to supress than other." Aldan picked up a piece of the Tact bread, and took a bite. He resisted the urge to spit out the bit in his mouth and with difficulty he managed to swallow.

"Delicious." He said sarcasticly to Faith, he ducked his head under the rock out crop and walked outside watching the morning son rise. What was it about this day, it seemed tainted. Something that been inert in him seemed to awaken, it toke him a second to realize he was feeling the DarkSide of the Dragon. He looked to the mountain pass they would have to go through. A sudden chill ran down his spine, he took another bite of the thin hard bread. Something in that pass or someone emanated of the taint of the Dark Side.

"So foul and fair a day I hath not seen." Aldan said more to himself gazing out over the forest trees unaware someone might be listiening.

Moon Stone

#248

OOC: Sorry guys RL been keeping me Busy!

IC:

Strath had seen many horrible things in the time he spent in darkness. He tried to make the memories leave, but they wouldn't they images were ingraved on his mind, like runes on an urn. Words, seemed to always bounce about in his mind.

"Dead. That is what I felt like sometimes, dead, in that darkness I even wish I were just that somtimes. There where so many vioces, all calling, confusing me, I lost all sense of truth and lies. The voices told me that my friends were not true... that they lied, they lied so that they could have the moonstone, But the voices told me that the moonstone belonged to me, to me and my beloved alone. I knew, knew at first that Luna, Luna was my beloved, but the voices told me that she was not, She, she loved another, Just like another loved me, I told them no, No, but they would hurt me and taunt me when I said no, put me in horrible places, horrible places, and then, then I would want to die. Then the most wonderful thing would happen, a Specter, some wonderous specter I didn't see her but when she came the darkness wasn't as lonely and she would sing, as if she were calling me home. I realized that she the specter must be my beloved, and the moonstone must belong to us. I knew that what the voices were saying they had to be right my friends were corrupt and they must not be trusted because they will stop at nothing to get the moonstone, no the moonstone belongs to us. I must wait for my beloved.

The time had come for the group to set out on there journey they slowly began to trudge up the hilly terrain, much hard traveling they had before them. Skene began singing a song of his homeland merrily as they began their hike. Luna strode up beside the Draconian. Will you teach me how to fight with out my magic? I am good with the bow and arrow and Only fair with a sword, But I would like to learn more about hand to hand combat if you will teach me?

Moon Stone

#249

Aldan trudged farther ahead of the group, he moved slightly off the beaten trail they hiked on. Like an unraveling shirt he slowly unwound the cloak of power he held over the Dragon in him. The taint of the Darkside started to grow stronger, it was like a lure, until half way up the pass he could look up and spy a gaping maw of a cave.

There...

Something wicked had lived there, the Darkside taint was not a presence as harsh as a living being, but like an impression, an echo. Something wicked had lived there once. Aldan looked behind himself, their group moved along in a staggered line, Strath not far behind him then Luna and the Draconian and the two oldsters.

Aldan stepped the pace up a bit making his way farther up the pass.

Moon Stone

#250

''Eh? You want to learn about hand to hand combat? ''Rad asked in mild suprise. ''Probally a smart decision. You can't always rely on magic to save your arse and a sword is sometimes nowhere within reach when you need it. Sure I'll teach you to fight with just your bare claws,er hands. And if you're interested,we could even move on to concealed daggers,throwing knives and such. Don't ask me to show you how to fly,though That's the one thing I'm not allowed to reveal.''

Lowering his head,he looked around to ascertain that no one was in earshot and then begun whispering to Luna. ''Do you get this feeling that your friend Strath is um,behaving a little strangely since that encounter with the witch hag in the old tunnel? I imply nothing but I fear that little incident may have affected him more then we think.''

So,Asotria has plans for the Stone does she,the cold detached part of his mind,the mind of the assasin,found itself thinking. But the Stone is mine,hag. Mine. My companions I will not harm or hurt in any way. I owe them too much for that,especially Luna who thaught me what true friendship meant. The Stone I shall take,but none of them will be any the wiser,so none of them will have to be hurt. I shall see to that. But you,foul witch hag,you I will not spare. And the same goes for any of your agents.

Moon Stone

#251

Luna threw her arm around Rad's shoulder and squeezed thanking him, she then turned her attention to the sky, "judging by the possition of the sun, which was now just a hair to the lef of the center of the sky, I would say it is about time for our first break and a bite of lunch. There is a cave just ahead that would give us a little relief from this bitter wind."

The group began there assent toward the darkend cave. The cave opened in front of them like a gapping mouth ready to devour them leaving them dead and alone. The minute Luna stepped into the cave a bitter coldness fell upon her, something evil had happened here. Luna glanced back at Aldan he too was extra sensitive to the natural world and just by looking at him she could tell that he sensed it to. She then looked at the rest of the group Rad, Skene, Atal, and Faith seemed oblivious to sensation, Strath's eyes grew wide and darted back and forth, funny, Luna thought, he never noticed such changes before. Luna went to rad who was sitting down, she leaned over him and whispered to him " your right something isn't right with Strath we Should keep an eye on him I think. She waited for Rad's nod in response. First however, I think I am going to have a look around this cave. I'll not be gone longer than A quarter hour. With this she was off.

Luna was at first frightend and then facinated by the the stalagtite and stalagmite formations in the cave, the way the fire light bounced off them creating erie shadows. The cave was long and deep she came to a cavern not long into her exploring, what she saw there horrified her. Bones many of them some of them animal, but most of them human. The humans were dressed in clothing that dated back centuries. She was about to go and tell the others of her discovery when she noticed the faint refraction of light hitting something held in one of the interred men's hands. She bent down and pryed it away from the death grip of the old man's. She suddenly was not comfortable in this cavern alone she dropped the amulet and ran to the others and explained what she had found. The Strath and Rad followed her into the chamber and Luna took the amulet and retreated into the mouth of the cave, She placed it infront of Faith, Faith took the Amulet into her hand and it burned her. She shreiked as she again threw it to the ground, "Bad magic, this amulet is full of bad magic, We leave it here those men those dead men deserved what ever fate they recieved. We leave now."

The companions gathered up there things and stood in the mouth of the eerie cave, all but one had gathered up their belongings. Strath, pretending to fall grabbed the amulet in his hand and tucked it gingerly into his robes, Nobody saw this. The group continued there journey Rad discussing combat moves with Luna, Atal Skene, and Aldan sharing stories of there past, and Faith and Strath walking slowly and silently onward.

Moon Stone

#252

Aldan was just getting ready to explore the cave some more, this place buzzed with the Darkside power, he wanted to find what made it tick so much. But before he could set off down another cavern Luna came running with something in her hand. He couldn't quite see what is was but he felt it's taint, then Faith cursed it and threw it away and forced to leave. With a heavy sigh he picked up his bag again, he almost didn't come when called. He looked at Strath for a second who was also packing. Then left, he gave Faith a look of mingled disgust and annoyance before resuming his place at point, and picking a safe path up the steep slopes.

A gust blew down from the mountain and whipped his hair around, Aldan gazed up at the jagged peaks of the pass. Today was looking more foul than fair.

He hiked the mountain path using the Dragon to probe for patches of skree and loose soil, an accident would be to easy up here, he would stay alert....

Moon Stone

#253

"So you Move your arm like this Rad?" Luna said as she made a punching motion with her arm, "their is a lot more to this than I thought, Elves don't learn this kind of combat we learn Swordsmanship, archery, I dabbled a bit in throwing knives, but with out instruction I wasn't very good. My family thought that I would never be faced with such danger, I was to be protected not protect myself." Luna looked down at the path her face was hard and resolute. " That's one reason I left my elven home, I will not stand by and watch another fight for me again, there is no honor in that." Luna sighed and looked at Rad with a grin, "What about you were is your home?"

Moon Stone

#254

Rad shrugged. ''Never really had one. Oh,sure there was the hatchery at Mount Doom where my kind were spawned,but that place dosen't hold a lot of golden moments for me. We were treated like animals,me and my brothers,by the Dark Knights who trained us. No,if that dreary prison was my only home,I'm better off not having had one.''

Moon Stone

#255

Luna Coughed, " and bowed her head, I am sorry, I brought it up, but you it isn't all that bad, look at what it has made you. You are strong and clever, You and I are much the same you know. If I had followed and done only what was expected of me I would surely faint at the sight of blood," Luna giggled, "Where as had you followed what is usually generalized as your kind you might have spilled our blood the first night we met! Right! I think all of us have kinda set paths for ourselves that challenge what is the norm. Maybe it is that which has brought us all together? So you hatched from and egg? Did you have parents to care for you or did you just come out born survivors? forgive me if I am prying, but In many ways I am still a child learning and my curiosity is strong!"

Aldan, watching strath like a hawk walked along side Skene, looked extremely bored tried to make conversation, "Paladin, I and curious about how you acquired your powers exactly, were you born with them or endowed with them?"

Moon Stone

#256

Aldan gave a Skene a rather sharp look before speaking. "I grew up a farm boy in a village far to the west of here on the Great Plains. I only remember flashes of it though. It was a happy life I had a good family and sister to share my time with. Then he came... I don't know he was or is, he was a Dark Paladin or Death Knight is what they call themselves. He came one evening looking for something or someone. I don't remember what... someone said something and he slaughtered the whole village. My entire family everyone I knew was dead. I don't remember what happened too much, I remember waking up among dead bodies to an old man's face. He was grizzled and had a white beard, but I'll always remember his eyes... those blue eyes had always looked at me with love. The old man was a Paladin and he took me under his wing." Aldan sighed at this part he didn't quite know how to explain the Dragon.

"The Dragon is in all of us, that is why it's so strong. It's neither good nor evil, but whether you are a Paladin or Death Knight is how you use it. If you use to help, heal, and with peace you are of good. Acts of hatred, greed, lust, or indifference corrupt you and your body. The Dragon is in everything you see, it's a bond of power that connects every living thing like a web. Some of us are more... attuned to it. Imagine a water fall... to some of us we hear it as roar because he stand right under it. For others they never hear it because they are so far away they are almost deaf to it... but believe it's in all of us. With much meditation and training even you could here it's roar."

Moon Stone

#257

Skene wrinkled his forehead, "Is that the same as Luna?" as she said this he glanced back at Luna who was making quick jabbing motions with her fists, "I had a family once too, I had a several brothers, but no sisters. My father was a great knight my mother a beautiful lady. Our kingdom Caladin lived in prosperity and peace until our king was murdered by ravaging orgres, my father died by his side. My family was ransacked my brothers dead or lost my mother died soon after. I was 14 then, I burried my parents I claimed my birthright as a knight and vowed to gain the knowledge and support I needed to go home and avenge my families sacrifice. My feet have yet to touch that land again." Skene glanced up at Aldan wistfully, "Tell me of your sister, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister."

OOC: Sorry I forgot to tell you that Skene has had to go off on a journey and has thus asked me to take on his character. I am trying to keep his history some-what intact if any remember different please feel free to PM me.

Moon Stone

#258

''Parents? By the Dark Queen,no!'' Rad begun to chuckle with amusement in that raspy way of his. ''No,no parents. I was hatched from the stolen egg of a silver dragon with 39 other sivaks. That's how my kind were made. Sorcery shaped us out of the corrupted eggs of dragons.''

Then,just as quickly as he had begun chuckling,he became somber. ''That's why the great wryms hate us. They can never forgive us for the fact that their children were destroyed so that we could be brought forth into this world.''

Moon Stone

#259

Aldan glanced back at Luna he could feel her presence in the Dragon yet it was altered a little like he saw it from underwater. "Elves have always had a bit of their own magic, I'll never quite know if it's a manifestation or an off spring. But everything is connected to the Dragon and we to it."

Aldan gave Skene a reproachful gaze, "Vengeance is of the Darkside Skene, if you let that be the focal points of your quest. Then forever the Darkside will dominate your choices, whether you realize it or not. You have to forgive the Orges."

Moon Stone

#260

Luna looked at him, "It is the belief of my people that souls can not be corrupted by magic. Your form physically might have been changed, but whether you were a draconian, or a silver dragon you Rad would still be the same. I don't understand how a they can persecute someone for something they had no choice in. You know I hid my abilities from my father for a long time because I was afriad that I would be chasticed because I was different. The only people that knew during my first hundred and twelve years of life were Strath and Davynn. Strath and I would go to the forests at night and I would entertain him by making little flames dance on my fingertips. Then at night as my body slept soundlessly, my mind would go to Davyn and I would sing to him letting the water of the stream shoot up in a gyeser and follow my vioce, perfect harmony. I remember the first time I met him. His dark hair and lumencent eyes, he scared me at first then he showed me that we were the same My abilites are here with in the earth but his, his are with in the heavens. He took me to a small glen and as we laid in the darkness staring up at night sky he told me stories wonderous stories, as he would tell me he would rearrange the stars to make pictures. They woud fade and return to their places after a while but he promised me one day when he was strong enough he would put my picture in the stars and it would not dare move because the heavens would relish with delight in the beauty of the picture..." Luna trailed off and as a grin spread across her face,

" What of you draconian have you ever shared such a bond with another?"

Moon Stone

#261

Skene looked at Aldan with somber eyes, "sometimes I wish I had your will power or perhaps your wisdom, Paladin, but I can not forgive those creatures for what they have done to my family. I could say I forgive them, but I was taught only to say what is in one's heart and I do not feel forgivness towards them. As we journey together each person affects the next, we may gain wisdom, freindship and we may also gain it's negative aspects. We must reep that which is wise and just and throw what is corrupt out. I will keep your words with me so that I to can some day know and live with such peace.

Moon Stone

#262

Rad swallowed,then moistioned his lips. He had never shared this with anyone before. He wasn't really the kind of person who believed it wise to open up emotionally to anyone. After all,why hand a potential foe a weapon? But with Luna,such a suspicion was baseless. Besides,the elf maiden had a certain way of making one want to talk freely.

''Yes,I did. He was an Aurak. A draconian spawned from the egg of a gold dragon. Now Auraks,they're arrogant bastards. Just because they come from the eggs of gold dragons,they think they're better than other dracos. By the Dark Queen's heads,they've been known to kill other draconians in fits of rage. But this one,he was different. No airs,no arrogance,no deceit. You could trust him with your life and indeed I did,many times on the war trail. But he's dead. I couldn't save him when those knights ambushed us that night. He was just too far away...'' He stopped suddenly. Rad couldn't continue anymore. His sudden rush of words had brought forth memories he had banished to the dark recesses of his mind. He couldn't face them.

Moon Stone

#263

"A friendship like that is priceless I know," She looked at Strath, fearing that she too was losing one of the best freinds she had ever known, "Friends like that seem to be no longer friends but family, brothers." She looked at the Draconians tourchered expression. It was good to know that even the best of warriors were allowed to have emotions, noting his unease Luna tried to change the subject to a lighter topic. " How many different colors of dragons are there? A childs strory from my home land describes a crystal dragon, Is that even possible? Another quesion I have," Luna blushed furiously when she asked this one, "How can you tell the girls from the boys in your kind? please don't think me impertinent for asking such a question, but again a child like curiosity"

Moon Stone

#264

''There are no females.'' Rad answered with a bitter smile. ''It was the intention of our Queen that our race die out once we had served our grand purpose. That's why the death of even a single draco is a great loss. I fear that soon,there will be none of us left in existence.''

Moon Stone

#265

"How horrible," Luna mumbled; this truly was a fate so horrible that she could not fathom even this. "You would think that their would be atleast one female, I mean just as a fall back, incase her grand purpose didn't turn out the way she thought it should. How then could she replenish her armies. Unless she had more dragon eggs, but lets face it she would soon run out of those too..." Luna looked at him embarassed, " I am sorry I tend to think aloud sometimes. What happed to the Dark Queen I wonder? Is she still alive, I guess that if she were you would still be faithful to her, or would you have a choice?" As Luna continued indulging her curiosity the sun set lower over the bitter frozen ground. Soon they would have to set camp again.

Moon Stone

#266

Knowledge is not a substitute for peace, Skene, perhaps I was wrong you are as deaf to the Dragon as any one else here. Aldan looked up the pass there did not seem any great places to camp other than a ledge that was level and had about twenty cubits of rooms on it. Aldan placed picked a careful trail out on the steep splope and managed to come up and around on the ledge.

The view from here was astonishing, breath taking, Aldan enjoyed for it a second before gathering up some wood for a fire. He piled it in a stone ring he had formed and lit it with the tip of his sword. A cold gust blew and he hugged his cloak tighter around himself and waited for the others to catch up.

Moon Stone

#267

''She fled with the other gods of darkness,never to return.'' Rad answered. Some of us mourn her departure,but others proclaim that our kind is now free. And free we are. Free to be hunted down like animals. Free to be abducted by dark mages and become part of their grisly experiments. This is what our freedom has brought us. So,yes,I wish with all my heart that our Queen had not abandoned us. But even if she hadn't,a time would still have come when the draconian race would cease to exist. Either way,our race is doomed.''

Moon Stone

#268

Luna took one more fleeting glance at Rad, "I fear that we are all being hunted by something now," she said as she stared at the clear crisp darkening sky, "it saddens me to say that you are perhaps better of than many of your kin, as your kind are all hunted, atleast you have friends by your side." luna offered a weak smile, and then set about her chores. As Aldan had said there was little room on this cliff side for manuevering, but Luna's elfish grace allowed her to move easily about. She warned Aldan about his use of magic, "we know not yet if we are out of the clutches of that wretched sorceress."

She began to prepare the food their options were a bit limited, Tact bread, and a little dried meat, The companions used the fire to melt water to use for strong hot tea that was incredibly bitter, but seemed to warm the body through and through. Strath ate little of what was given to him, but readily and greedily drank his tea, then turned hisback to the fire staring at the blank stone cliff face that was directly behind him.

Atal seemed to be studying the night sky, as Faith sat still and quite at his side. Faith was loosing what remained of her life force. She had lost the attractive flair that the others had seen at the cave, all shades of gray had removed themselves from the white hair that now fell messily into her face. Her skin was pale and wrinkled like a withered piece of ancient parchment. Her once vibrant blue eyes were now clouded and milky white, The moon stone hung limply and lifeless at her neck seemingly to weigh it down so it appeared that the whole of the world rested upon her frail shoulders, and in some ways it did. Over this single day Faith had been shown many things, things that disturbed her, thought he message was disruppted and sporatic, the things she saw were horrific, even to her who had already seen and done so much. This troubled her greatly

I should tell the others it would be wrong not to do so, But I am so very tired tomorrow, tomorrow I will tell them.she thought.

Skene looked at Aldan, his words had stung. Was it hopless for him to try and seek that which was so obvious to the paladine. Could he offer forgiveness to those that murdered his family? Could he offer this precious gift and mean it? or would he merely be lying to himself? Aldan knows what it is to have everything you love stripped away from you. Has he really forgiven the man that did that to him, would the man even except the forgivness?

As the meager dinner was finished the others began setting up their bedrolls watches had been set First Rad, Second Adel , Third Skene, and lastly Aldan. Each companion found their bedroll, with the exception of Strath and Rad and immediately fell into quite rest. Dreams echoing through their mind.

OOC: Those that are asleep don't be afraid to post yor dreams.

Moon Stone

#269

Luna huddled with in her bedroll all was quiet except the gentle crackling of the warm fire. she breathed in deep the cold bitter air hurt her lungs but for once all seemed at peace in the world atop this cliff side. She heard another faint sound scratching. What was that she wondered? She turned over on her other side nothing she saw nothing, and yet there it was the gentle scratching like a pen across partchment. She saw Rad sitting still at the opposite side of the fire. the others were all slumped in there rolls. had they not heard the sound? If they had they did not make anythin of it. She turned around and tried to consentrate on sleeping. Soon she was asleep as well.

In the corner, partially hidden by a sudden out-cropping of rock Strath sat a peice of wood in his hand. burn untill it was black on the tip, with this he carefully outlined his drawing.

Moon Stone

#270

Luna's dreams were dark a single light shown just above her head and seemed to follow her. She was in a forest she knew, but which forest she did not. She heard a scream, a scream of maddness that seemed to echo off every tree in the forest. "Hello?" she said, "who are? where are you?" the sound of her voice was strange and unfamiliar to her it too echoed in the night. She heard it again and quickly turned about. she began to run, fumbling over the twisted feet of the tree's. She ran towards the sound, she didn't know why she should be running away form it, but it seemed to draw her closer and closer. she felt as if, if she didn't reach it would be her that was driven insane. She ran faster, as fast as her powerful elven legs would carry her. She fell, she fell for what seemed forever. then she noticed her hand it his something wet she glanced and saw a pool of water dark as night she looked in the pool and there she saw herself, her reflection. "It can't be," she said. The girl on the otherside of the mirrored reflection was dark it looked like Luna, but her honey colored hair was replaced by hair as black as raven's feathers, her eyes usually light and clear blue now shown to be dark violet,and instead of the gentle confused face that she knew she must be wearing now was a sly and twisted smile, but their just above her head their was a light., just like the light that now danced above hers. She stared, unable to look away. Then she saw it the girl the other Luna open her mouth in a tremedous laugh then her hand reached out of the water, and grabbed for something inside the folds of Luna's robe. Luna broke free

And as she did she found herself once again awake a cold sweat had formed over her body the vivid images still echoing through her mind chilling her to the bone. She got up and touched Rad on the shoulder, "Go, sleep I will keep watch now..."

Moon Stone

#271

Rad stared questioningly at her pale face. ''Bad dream? You look like you've seen something unpleasent in your sleep.''

Moon Stone

#272

Aldan fell into a trance like sleep, at first his trance was steady deep and undisturbed yet in Aldan's dreams the creature of dark rose rearing it's ugly dark head. The Dark Paladin, and him stood on a transient plane, a dreay gray grass aera where storm clouds vortexed overhead. Aldan produced his firebrand the yellowish blade casting an illuminating glow. The Dark Paladin pulled his own pulsating sword that was the color of blood red, each stood there a second as the mists swirled between them the Night Lord struck.

Aldan was quickly pressed on the defensive, the Lord seemed to know his every move. Every technique, and every move the Lord was able to anticipate and counter or parry. Until the mists cleared and Aldan stood on the edge of a looming cliff, the Dark Lord pressed until his heel rested on the very edge.

"Hypocrit!" It spoke from under it's hood.

Aldan was shocked the visage never spoke they always dueled until one of the other lost. He trembled and shook, the thing had never spoke to him in dreams before. Unless for a second the dream was a precognition of the Dragon.

"What?"

"You accuse Skene of being of the dark, when you wallow in it's embrace."

Aldan quaked, how did it know these things. Aldan struck out at the Night Lord splitting the dark visage from nape to groin. But as the Night Lord dissolved laughing, Aldan's own blade flashed blood red and the darkness, crawled up his arm and over his chest. Aldan cried out but he couldn't shake it... it seemd to consume him.

Moon Stone

#273

Luna hearing the anguish in Aldan's voice rose and came over to sit beside him. "Shhh..." she called, like a mother would to a child. trying to calm his soul she canted...
" In life there are many
ways to reach ones
destination, some avenues
require faith and others determination.

Still other avenues require nothing
more than senseless ambition
and devious intentions

Be wise when chooseing pathways
in life, some lead to darkness
and others lead to light."

You may dear freind I can see that goodness swells with in you it is only your doubt that hinders this goodness. Sleep in peace tonight, allow me to keep watch over the nightmares that haunt your sleep, I will banish them if I can." She wiped the cold sweat that had formed on his brow. Sleep now, sleep now.

Moon Stone

#274

Rad whistled softly,impressed by the way Luna had calmed and soothed the agitated Aldan. ''You never cease to amaze me,Luna. Precisely when did you learn to provide tortured souls with solace?''

Moon Stone

#275

She stared a bit shocked at Rad's words were they meant in kindness or sarcasitcally, she wondered. "I don't know," she said earnestly "it just seems that recently though I can't ease my own torchered dreams I can sometimes pacify others." she again held the pouch that The old seer woman gave her.

Moon Stone

#276

Now Rad looked concerned. ''Tortured dreams of your own? And how long have these dreams have been going on? It seems to me that Faith might like to hear about this.''

Moon Stone

#277

For one to be smothered in the DarkSide in not a pleasant experiance, imagine every feeling you have slowly hacked off you like a limb lost till all you left was your fear. From the fear flowed anger, when anger stewed and festered soon hatred delivered it's ugly child. It is said the Dragon can do terrible things to a person's mind, strip away their memories, twist though tunil it self destructs, even wipe away the person you are.

Aldan awoke like a man gasping for air, trying to free himself from the drowning influence. He looked around terrified at Luna then to Rad, dark lights sparked around him. He craned his head around and around.

"He was here, I swear it, He was here."

Moon Stone

#278

''And who would that be?'' Rad asked dryly. ''Luna and I saw no one approach. Sure you haven't been drinking one time too many from that hip flask of yours?''

Moon Stone

#279

Luna hushed Aldan and gave a seemingly stern look at Rad. "It was a nightmare nothing more I assure you. Both of you need to get some rest Aldan I will wake you when it is time for your watch." At saying this Luna received stern looks herself. "Alright well atleast lay down and rest you don't have to go back to sleep; to answer your question Rad I have always had periods in my life where ill dreams have haunted my slumber, but tonight, this night , the dream was more real, more dangerous than I have ever felt it before." Luna shivered at the thought, "lets not speak of it know perhaps at daybreak..." Luna glanced over at Faith her shallow breathing and papery thin skin, "I do not wish to trouble Faith with this now, I am afraid for her, her life force is growing weak." Luna bit off whatever words would follow these, though she had only known the crazy old crone of a woman for a short while, though she only knew most of this group for a short while, some how she felt bound to them, bound to them in many deeper ways than she was once bound to her people. These people that sat around the fire they were her friends, perhaps in some ways her family. She knew that it would soon be Faith's time to leave this plane and enter another, but for now she chose not to think of it.

Moon Stone

#280

Rad shrugged his scaly shoulders. ''As you wish. But remember,if you feel something is wrong,don't hesitate to tell me.''