Moon Stone

1. Moon Stone

   #281

   Luna bowed her head, "I will, I promise... We can discuss it more tomorrow. Here Aldan there is a little tea left perhaps it will help you relax." Luna handed him the small cup of warm tea. Then she turned about and began her watch.

2. Moon Stone

   #282

   Luna thought about the happenings this night two members of thier group had awaken with terror in their hearts so great that it made them cry out. She did feel great unease about it this night. She knew some how she knew that their dreams, hers and Aldan's, had been connected in thier origin, She knew that both had to do with an unmistakable darkness. SH e looked out at the stars that speckeld the night sky, how can such horror exsist in a world with such beauty, balance that was the perfection of their world. Life, after all can not exsist with out death....
   
   Several hours had passed and she knew that she should shake Aldan and inform him that it is his turn for watch, but she couldn't bring herself to sleep again, so why not let some one who could appreciate it get it. She knew this would never work after all they would only rebuke her in the morning for not waking them at their turn, possibly even suggesting that she skip tomorrows watch. So slowly she got to her feet and walked over to Aldan. He really was quite pleasing to the eye she noticed, it reminded her of her Davynn, were was he she wondered as she shook Aldan gently.

3. Moon Stone

   #283

   Aldan had feigned rest the best he could after Rad and Luna had chided him but they maybe they didn't have same perceptions but Aldan could feel the turmoil in the Dragon. There was a great disturbance, a hunger, and knew somewhere in the pit of his stomach that the longer he stayed the more danger he put the others in.
   
   Lost in his own thoughts he appeared very much asleep that Luna shook him to wake him up for his watch. "Thanks, try to grab some rest yourself." Aldan said with feigned cheeriness it took an effort to put a good look on things. He noticed the gaze Luna seemed to be giving him. Aldan had blonde hair and colbalt blue eyes that sparkled with life at times and could be stone cold at other times, he was in good form from a light diet of foraging and constant training.
   
   "Do I remind you of someone?"

4. Moon Stone

   #284

   Luna realized that she was staring at Aldan, turning her head she felt her face grow warm. "Yes, You remind me of someone I haven't seen in such along time," she said. " You and I are alike in many ways you know. You may not see it, but it is true," she glanced back at him, "When I was little I would get feelings eerie feelings, I would think myself silly, no one else got them, so I would ignore them and when something did happen I was too afraid to tell anybody that I had these feelings because I thought they would be mad at me for not sharing them, or worse they wouldn't believe me. I guess what I am trying to say is that I...I am glad you're here, You seem to have the same feelings as me and then I don't feel as silly anymore." She drooped her head and smiled, "Listen to me, I should get some rest, wish me pleasant dreams."

5. Moon Stone

   #285

   Aldan smiled, "People often fear what they don't understand. A restful sleep to you then."
   
   Aldan turned away from the fire and stood sentry a dozen or so paces away from the campfire. He turned his head back one last time everyone slumbered enough, that he would be gone not long enough for them to notice. With a step further he stepped off the small plateaus edge. It was no more than a fifty foot drop, wind whistled by as the ground rushed up to meet him. Yet at the last second he played a cushion out between him and the rocky ground using the Dragon and he landed softly as if he had lept off a small embankment and nothing more.
   
   Aldan strode silently down the hill with the experiance of expert scout. He came to a rest before the yawning mouth of the cave he had passed, he had to know if this had once been the resting place of Him.

6. Moon Stone

   #286

   As Aldan did this two beady eyes crept over the boulder followed by a sinister grin, Fools You will believe exactly what I want you to believe, we will have them my Lady Oh yes, we will have them. This is a night for dark thoughts. Strath once again sunk behind the boulder.
   
   Though Luna's eyes were closed and breathing steady she couldn't force herself to sleep again, not after that dream She heard Aldan leave, She sat up abruptly, and went to cliffs edge. His blonde hair stood out vividly in the moon's light as he made his way toward the mouth of a cavern. I tried to warn him, I know he felt it to. He feels the Evil that lurks around that place, why then must he go to it. He's also used his magic again, She hasn't trailed us yet perhaps we are out of her range. even though this thought was in her mind she knew it wasn't true that Sorceress could reach them if she wanted to, why... Why are you waiting. She thought to herself. She sat there arms around her knees, She would wait until she saw his form coming once again across the rocky path. She smiled and half giggled to her self. remind me of someone indeed, Davynn would have done this.

7. Moon Stone

   #287

   Aldan felt a chill run down his spine as he stepped into the dank cave, the tempurature seemed to drop sharply. Aldan raised his sense of alertness he placed a hand on the trail Luna had traveled down earlier than that day. The Dragon was so strong here he could feel the impression she had made on the darkness, tiny footsteps of sweetness over an overwhelming sence of gloom.
   
   Aldan retracted his palm and headed down the other cavern. Every now and then he encountered a beast, it startled him slightly the slumbering creatures seemed tainted that they looked to be dying just not fallen yet. Aldan continued masking his presence and leaving no impressions in a place of this sensitivity.
   
   He came to the end of the chamber, a giant boulder was forced into the passaged blocking further progress. Only a powerful Paladin could have done this, he surmised. Ancient rues were carved on the circumfrance of the boulder and around the cave wall. A dark blue glow seemed to suffuse the rock. It pulsed with the power of the Darkside. Aldan held out his hand hesitating a second before laying his palm on the smoothe stone. It was ice cold to the touch but that wasn't the only thing he felt. A coursing sickness seemed to run through him, he felt his anger rise for no reason. Suddenly he wanted to use the Dragon to shatter the boulder he could sense them the stress points, the proper pressure at the proper place could produce the proper echo to shatter it.
   
   Yet Aldan did not bask in the power of the Darkside, he resisted giving into the dark temptations. He felt a heavy burden on his shoulders but held himself resolute and using the force of his will pulled his hand from the stone. Shocked, he looked back at the stone. A pure white hand print was left on the dark blue surface of the stone. Aldan resisted the temptation to touch the stone again. Whatever had been sealed in there was sealed in for a reason.
   
   Aldan turned his back and left the cave, no it hadn't been the residing place of the Dark Paladin, it had been something perhaps even more sinister but it would remain buried in those depths. Aldan stood at the cave mouth letting the small sprinkle that was starting cleanse his face and the foulness he felt. He had resisted the darkness with in himself and felt a peaceful calmness come over him. He stood there for five minutes basking in the light rain before making his way back up the mountain to the camp.

8. Moon Stone

   #288

   Luna, feeling the sprinkle of ice crystals on her head looked up, The sky that had once been clear and crisp was now covered with thin clouds that still left a little of the moon light shine through them. This gave the sky an eerie glow. She went over to the members of the group and began pulling there covers over their heads to keep the steady flow of Ice pellets from hitting them. These pellets hissed as they hit the fire. It was freezing out here, they needed the fire. Irresolutely she held out her hands and the fire began to crackle and blaze once more. What good were they to any preditor, sorceress or not, if they were half frozen anyway.
   
   She sat down next to the fires edge. Then she felt it. Aldan, He was on his way back. Their was something different about him though he had attianed some form of peace. Luna smiled as she shook her head slightly, "Leave it up to Davynn, to find peace in a place filled with evil," she mumbled to herself. "I mean Aldan," she corrected herself with a start. He would be back soon, she knew. She had decided at first to go back to feigning sleep, but she was curious and so she decided instead to wait for his return. Shestood and walked once again to the cliffs edge and began humming, which soon turned into words, her song seemed to be carried on the wind itself.
   
   Let me sleep for when I sleep I dream that you are here
   Your mine and all my fears are left behind
   so let the moon shine softly on the face I long to see
   and maybe in his dreams he will dream of me.
   
   I hide behind the clouds and whisper to the evening stars they tell me life is just a dream away dream away....
   
   So let the moon shine softly on the I long to see
   and maybe when he dreams he will dream of me....
   
   *************************************************************
   Strath looked up from behind his hiding place and marveled at the sound of her vioce. that voice... it is the voice from my dream for the first time since Strath had been knocked unconcious life seemed to seep back into his eyes. He began to reach out toward her back... but something caught him and forced him to once again look at the amulet that he held firmly in his left hand, the spark that had just a moment before flared in his eyes was quickly put out like a sufficating fire.He quietly lowered himself back behind the boulder.

9. Moon Stone

   #289

   Aldan paused at the lip of the ledge of the camp was on listening quietly to Luna's humming, she had such a beautiful voice it seemed to call to him like a syren. He held back a moment or two longer before swinging himself up onto to the ledge.
   
   Aldan walked over to the fire and plopped down next to the blaze enjoying the warmth that flowed from the fire.
   
   "Guess I'm not the only one who can feign sleep." Aldan said with a grin.

10. Moon Stone

    #290

    "who could sleep?" she shrugged, "I was going to continue feigning, but then this damn curiosity got the best of me." she said mockingly a grin planted on her face. "Why I wondered would you leave the people you are supposed to be protecting to go into a wicked cave. Lucky I was here to hold down the fort Aye?" She saw him give her a glance. "I'm kidding Seriously though, why did you go back and how is it that you seem so peaceful afterwards, Do you blame a girl for asking?" She smiled cooly at him.
    
    what are you doing?... Your flirting with him what would Davynn say... She remembered the last night they talked at the begining of the journey she was instantly was tossed back into the reverie...
    
    You're a princess to me, You like your new traveling companions don't you?" Davynn asked.
    
    "Yes I do. Something about this journey just seems right. I finally feel safe here." Luna smiled
    
    " You especially like the new Paladin I see,"
    
    "Jealous are we..." Luna giggled.
    
    "No... No." Davynn Blushed, "You may feel safe, but this is not a safe time Luna. You must be on your gaurd."
    
    "My friends and I will protect each other." Luna said trying to comfort her lonesome friend.
    
    " It is not good enough. I need to be there I need to protect you," Davynn hit the tree he was leaning against then as if talking to know one but himself. " But I can't, Not yet, but I will."
    
    
    "He's coming for me..." she said out loud barely louder than a whisper.
    She noticed the question mark look on Aldan's face.

11. Moon Stone

    #291

    Aldan gazed into the fire as she asked the question. When he looke up he began. "I think you've heard me drone on a couple times about the Dragon, regurgitating what my Master taught me as any apprentice would. For years I've always questioned whether what I believe is really right. That through passive action and acting in knowledge and defense I was doing what was right. Part of me was curious yes, but a deaper part of me wanted to test my metle on the aura of the Darkside in that place. When I stood in the bowels of that place I was tested, when I laid my hand on the boulder I was surged with a wave of almost incredible power, it was as tangible as you see me now, and with that power all I had to do was give into my hate and the power would have been mine. But I didn't give into my own desires I resisted the urge to utterly let my self cut loose I stayed calm and collected and was able to resist non-violently and with that I felt a sense calm. Neither part of the Dragon is stronger Light or Dark it isn't the circumstances that matter it is how you react. And I was able to walk away from the power in that place, I don't know how to describe it I just feel better. Enough of me droning on though."
    
    "He's coming for me..."
    
    "Whose coming for you Luna?" He leaned over and looked into her eyes worried and took her hand in his.

12. Moon Stone

    #292

    Blushing she turned her head to face him what wonderful blue eyes, "Huh? I'm sorry I was lost in my own thoughts a moment there wasn't I. I don't know who he is any more I thought I did... but now I am not so sure. She held his hand a moment longer then let go running her fingers through her hair. You say that no side is greater light or dark? Is that all their is for you... no inbetween. My father used to have a saying, "birth and death complete balance one can not exist with out the other, However it is not a persons birth nor their death that they are remembered by it is all events that fall inbetween. I fight for good, yes, but I understand that a completely good world could never exist unless it be nothing more that a silent tomb, therefore I understand that darkness like all other things has it's place in the fates design. It is my job to fight for good so that the world is kept in balance, inbetween." She looked back up at Aldan the fire light flickered on his blondish hair. She felt she needed to ask a question, "Aldan do you believe in dopplegangers?"

13. Moon Stone

    #293

    "Aldan do you believe in dopplegangers?"
    
    Aldan quieted his thought thta he wasn't fighting all evil but he it was like he was stuck at a mountain top with the power he had, he could see the worst and best but the valley below where the gray aera lies is a blur to him.
    
    "I don't really know, sometimes I think one haunts me sometimes." Aldan shuddered slightly, "It's like there's something out there that deliberately wants me to never sleep."

14. Moon Stone

    #294

    "He was in your dream then, Mine too." Luna shivered. "She has been their before, but never like this never like she was tonight." The dark night was begining to fade into a dreary gray morning it would be time to waken soon. It seems all the others had slept with little trouble, "Why do you think the others are permitted rest and we are tourchered? Luna bowed her head and walked again to the edge of the cliff talking to him with her eyes trained on the sublime view. "When we again are on the trail I think it would be best we described told Rad about our dreams. I feel that something is amiss, and it will soon have to be addressed. Should we give them a few more minutes before waking them?" she said turning once more to face him.

15. Moon Stone

    #295

    Aldan stood up and stepped to where Luna stood, he waited beside her, standing quiet for a second as the faint traces of dark blue colored the black sky that would herald dawn in perhaps an hour. Aldan's gaze hardened as he seemed to look out to the same spot Luna gazed. "Lets wait a few minutes I've always enjoyed the coming of dawn." Aldan said carefuly avoiding her quesiton.
    
    "You can't trust him, you can't trust anyone, and you most of all can't trust me." Aldan spoke with rapacity. "The shadows are beginning to flower here, each of us is here on an alterior motive, I never intended to appear the figure of light the others make me out to be that you think I am. Each of us has our darkness, I may have resisted what lies in myself tonight but that was not the true test."
    
    Aldan's voice grew icey, "I fear I cannot stay much longer, the draw of that cursed stone kees ever louder in my ear."

16. Moon Stone

    #296

    Luna looked back at Aldan her eyes just as icy as his, " You run then. You leave the people that have become your friends, you leave me. Even though it has been prophecized that each member of this group including you has a part in this, this whatever is going to happen. We were each to receive a vision in this Temple and we are but two days from it, Perhaps it is the darkness that calls you away, the darkness that causes you to mistrust so that you will forsake this group and leave." Tears now filled her eyes she quickly turned her head to aviod any gaze he might set on her. "Never intended to be the figure of light, and yet all to often we become what we least intended to be. I do... I trust you Aldan, just as I trust Rad, and just as I Faith and Atal and Skene whether you leave or not. We will all be tested, atleast I will have friends at my side, She turned again and looked at Aldan, she took his hands again, Let me, let us fight at your side... she searched his blue eyes...
    
    suddenly Luna heard a faint crack at the corner of thier camp. She looked at the members of the camp all still slept silently, but something was different than it had been before. She glanced over them again, Strath, Skene, Atal, Rad, and Faith, All there she let go of Aldan's hands and went over to the corner where she had heard the crack. She stared wide eyed at the site. "Aldan," her vioced quivered, " I think you should see this..." There before her eyes she saw a drawing of herself peering into a black pool in which her doppleganger looked back at her with her twisted grin, and beside her was Aldan gaping and gasping at his own sword.

17. Moon Stone

    #297

    Aldan rocked back on his heels and a gasp escaped him, she cut him with her words. He had expected pleas to stay or even a tearful goodbye but to just go, Aldan felt sick to his stomach wrought with guilt and fear. On one hand if he left his friends he left them minus a defender, on the other he might draw more of the dark creatures to them.
    
    "Aldan, I think you should see this..." He paced his way over and stared down at the picture shocked, he felt his waist band and the blade was gone Aldan gazed around but the only sign of it lay painted in the picture. He ran a hand over the paint, it smeared.
    
    "Powers above, he's been here and he's got my sword. We should move on now." Aldan didn't lift his land he smeared the the picture until it was unreadable mess. A seed of anger planted in his heart he gazed at the mess. Many dark emotions swirled in him and he gazed at Luna's tearfully eyes.
    
    "He's here now, and he'll be after the stone." Aldan stretched out his senses but the foe eluded every trick to detect him. She trusted him... yet it now the dopplehanger lurked among them and now Aldan felt a sinking a sensation of intense fear in his stomach. It was here and the Dragon was with him.
    
    "I must face him..." Aldan said almost to himself.

18. Moon Stone

    #298

    Luna looked at him perplexed a moment, she sensed nothing no other beings near them but still anger and danger like she had never felt before. She Nodded start packing the things I will begin to wake the others. She reflexivly moved to Skene, and dark half moons shaded under his eyes, a tale tale mark of little sleep. His face was pale and drawn she shook him He grunted and jumped away at her touch next to him lay a stick the tip of which was burned to a sharp point. As her eyes fell upon it he quickly drew it once more into the confines of his cape. He jumped up away from her, she called to Aldan, "Aldan, it's him he... he..." her words were cut off from her as he ran at her the Paladins sword in his grasp. Not thinking but feeling she held out her hand and the blade of the sword began to grow. She dodged his first run. By this time the rest of the camp was quickly stiring. He lunged at her again but the blade was growing white hot it burned his skin and he relinquished the sword crying in agony realizing her shot Luna dove on top of her screaming friend, and tried to hold him down just the way Rad had taught her. Her freinds were rushing to her aide when they stopped whether by force or by awe no one could say above them on a cliff appeared Luna's worst nightmare.
    
    "That smile..." Luna touched her own lips. "Your.. Me?" all breath had left "Hello Luna, I see you remember me, and you to Aldan recognize my face it was I Astoria that you and My dear Strath saw in the fire."
    As the others gazed up at the figure on the cliff they would see what would be an almost perfect representation of Luna except her hair was raven black.
    
    It is time for me to take my prince with me, she statted flatly. He wasn't good enough for you, He loved you, he did. It took much conjoling to get him to turn to me that while he lay unconcious. You ministered to his physical needs, but you could not give him the love that he wanted, so he found it in me."
    
    The gray swirling clouds above her head only made her look more Menacing. Luna no longer held strath down, but clutched him like a mother would a child, he fought her trying desperatley to get to Astoria. "No, No"She screamed. "He is still good , he is still good. "
    
    Astoria's thick laughter filled the chilled air. "I grow weary of your words, she called. I will wait no longer. Strath come to me." Strath fought ever more feircly, but Luna held tightly to him Astroria reached up a hand and chanted words that seemed as old as time itself. Haseth... hamend.... corsoth.... resenthis.. lightning jarred the skies and it struck Luna causing her to release the grip she had been holding on Strath, He quickly hastneed to Astoria's side. Luna felt the surge pulse through her body.
    
    "I am an elemental... the thought seemed so simple... she obsorbed as much of the lightning in her body as she could stand her eyes began to tear up and she screamed in an agony that seemed to last for ever yet she knew that it was but a second. She fell to the ground. She heard that thick laughter once again... she raised her head and she saw it... shock. the shock on her face, the anger.
    So you have survived... Stronger than I thought... you and I are more alike than I thought. This is not the last that we will see of each other I assure you the others will be here soon.

19. Moon Stone

    #299

    When Rad finally arrived at the scene,every powerful muscle in his body tense with anxiety,the sight of Luna weeping greeted his eyes. To his horror,Luna looked as if she had witnessed something too to awful to believe. He face was pale and covered in a thick sheen of sweat,bearing an expression of the utmost pain and agony.
    
    ''Luna'',the big sivak rasped,''what in the Dark Queen's name happened? ''

20. Moon Stone

    #300

    Luna looked at her now empty hands, and again at the cliff face tears streaked her face. He is gone... gone. She looked at Rad. "Did you not see her? Astoria? She came... took Strath... she looks just like me." She sobbed. Faith came and put her hands on Luna.... "Hush now my child. She will be back we cannot stay here. Come let us gather our things and leave now so that we may fight again tomorrow. Perhaps he is not completely lost to us yet, but we must go to the temple." Luna nodded her head in agreement, "let us pack then quickly. "
    
    After all was packed they began their steady climb further up the mountain, There was an old trail that the snow seemed to aviod so the traveling wasn't that difficult. Skene traveled at the head of the group while Atal helped Faith, Luna could tell the journey was becoming evermore tiresome for her. Luna herself traveled between Rad and Aldan. She looked at Rad, "We need to talk..." she looked at Aldan waiting for confirmation, "We three need to talk. Aldan and I each had a dream last night. In it we each saw ourselves only darker... this morning before we awakened you we saw pictures of our dreams drawn like they had been created. It was Strath who created these pictures. I think he took the amulet we found in the cave, in the corner their was also the same words that were on the amulet. I think we should recount our dreams for each other and for Rad, Luna recounted the strange dream she had all the while her next question beat off of the sides of her mind. She remembered what Astoria had said last... "This is not the last that we will see of each other, I assure you the others will be here soon." She repeated these words aloud. What do you think she meant by "the others will be here soon?"

21. Moon Stone

    #301

    ''That is very simple to figure out'' Rad hissed between his clenched fangs. ''The witch will send her minions after us soon. As for the dreams,it is my belief that she spies on us by infiltrating our minds as we slumber. I know this for myself. My head too,was violated by the vile sorcery of Astoria some nights ago. Strath and I actually had a little chat about it.''
    
    Then his reptillian visage took on a mirthless smile. ''Funny that Strath the vigilant one,should have fallen under her spell. But perhaps it's not so suprising after all.I knew Strath was acting very oddly. And I suspected Astoria had something to do with it. If only I had been awake to keep an eye on him. . I am sorry,Luna.''
    
    So it has finally come,he reflected. The final step of the journey was nigh and there was a powerful one who would claim the Stone as her own. He had to be careful,very careful. If he let his guard down for even a moment,he would loose everything. And he had no intention of letting that happen.

22. Moon Stone

    #302

    She placed a hand on Rad's shoulder, "Do not blame yourself we all recognized the strangness that had taken him over." She bowed her head her face still grim she took a deep breath and sighed, "I don't think she meant her minions I think it is something greater than that. Something in the way she said it. She doesn't know how powerful we are she was suprised when her lightning didn't hurt me." At mention of the lightning Luna slightly wenced at remembering it she reached back and touched the back of her neck through her long hair she could feel a mark. A mark she knew was left by the lightning, She didn't mention it she didn't even know why she didn't. She didn't want to remember it she slowly moved her hand down. "We will have to be extra careful I think it best we have double watches. The two older ones seem to need their rest I think it would be best to have Rad and Skene keep the first watch As Aldan and I have had limited sleep We will take the second watch. She glanced at Aldan is that alright with you?"
    
    Aldan had been very quiet and she sensed that he was lost in his own thoughts. Was he still planning on leaving? She didn't know She was worried for him, He doesn't seem to trust anyone not even her, with Strath going Awol this might further push him away she had to make him understand that though trust is risky at times sometimes it is all we have. Her thoughts lingered on Strath, He loved me, I kinda always knew he did. I loved him too, Only I loved him like a sister would a brother. Her words her infernal words crept into her head
    
    "He wasn't good enough for you, He loved you, he did. It took much conjoling to get him to turn to me that while he lay unconcious. You ministered to his physical needs, but you could not give him the love that he wanted, so he found it in me."
    
    If it were anyones fault it was her own she couldn't make her heart feel that way towards him. I couldn't give him the love that he wanted.
    Her thoughts were interupted as her friends began to speak.

23. Moon Stone

    #303

    Aldan did remain silent for a time once their journey began, it troubled him the limits of his awareness. He knew he should have not relied on the sword that much and when he had been instructed to build it he had been taught not to think of it as the completetion of his training yet... He had poured much of his essence into crafting that blade it was as much a part a of him as he it. There was no time to craft a new blade not to mention there was no proper wood to hue a handle from there would be no time to pool his essence into it and give the blade the gleaming edge of the Dragon's teeth.
    
    The discussion of watches had reached his ears and he gazed at the draconian the creature worked an alterior motive yet discerning it proved quite difficult his mind worked differently than a human's or elf's. The moments Astoria had appeared the actions had been to fast for him to respond, he never knew some one could such power to produce lightining, it was tempting to try. He held back though because it was assuredly a power of evil there was no intent in a power like that other than to kill or maim.
    
    "Yes rest will do us some good." Aldan spoke to keep himself getting lost in the traffic of his mind. He drew up his head up and spotted the mark on Luna's neck as her hand brushed over it. He shuddered a sense of forbodding doom came to him, that powerful one Luna had mentioned...
    
    Could it be Him...

24. Moon Stone

    #304

    Luna looked at him, she let his hand brush hers she smiled at him hoping to reassure him.
    
    Faith turned to them a hint of the old spark flickered in her eyes,
    "come...come and see my children the fruits of your labor."
    
    As they stood attop the cliff over looking a valley completly surronded by mountains shielding it from man's eyes they saw the Temple Icelos. It's ivory towers sored into the sky a cresent moon at it's tallest Spire, each towers top flared open like a skirt being twirled by a young girl, all of it twinkling like it an immortal hand had frosted it. the windows were dome shaped and empty like only the forgotten ghosts of time would wish to visit them, below the grand apparition in the valley lay fresh fallen snow glittering, billowing like white coulds bathed in pure moonlight. and to either side of it were thick green groves of evergreens. The whole of it had the serenity that one would only think could be captured in fairy tale dreams of young children. It was still a distance away but they would make it by tomorrow night the third night, the night of the full moon they would stand at its gates they would except thier destinies.
    
    "This... this is the place were we will have our meal. We eat together here in this serene place that so few of this world have ever set eyes upon... fewer perhaps than you think." With this Faith waited as the group began to pass out each his or her portion of the meal she thought to her self of the vision she received the first night they began this long and cumbersome journey.
    I saw the Evil rising, shapeless and deathly dark. I saw five stars embedded in this darkness, and I saw the one growing deathly dim, Strath, I saw it but did nothing, I my weakness has clouded my judgement. I fear walking in to that temple because I know what it entails, but I can not fail these people elf, human, draconian, and Paladin again my love for them is stronger than my fear.
    Atal grabbed Faiths hand and looked her in her clouded eyes as if to say I understand.
    
    Luna looked at Rad, "I remembered the hold you taught me. It really does work. Luna's hand again went to the back of her neck and fingered the scar left there. You will have to show me more."

25. Moon Stone

    #305

    Atal's usually serene face was twisted in a mildly unpleasant fashion. Perhaps it was that few ever saw more than the puttering old man who often petulantly demanded tea. Or, it could be the fact that for some reason it looked as if his face was not entirely attached to his skull, as the wrinkles seemed to bunch under their own volition.
    
    "Eyah! Tea there they might have..." he said, his gnarled hand holding Faith's hand, a gnarled oak twined about a knob of more dainty if no weaker Crete Myrtle. "Warm the bones...yes." He looked away from Faith, remembering her in her youth, when she was spry and flexible as a cutting from a willow tree. It was one of the few pains of the istari, ageless, and seeing the faces of friends and loved ones grey with the passage of time to face the inexorable ending of death.
    
    He knew what lay beyond that door, one of the Istari's many secrets, but those words he would offer as rites of comfort as the flesh failed and the spirit was filled with fear and anxiety. He would speak the comforting words then. He had been foolish, the eyes of the wise shall be blind, and the hands of the strong shall be bound...
    
    Was it the curse of the young to be inexperienced and the curse of the old to be unable to act? The agelessness of his kind was little comfort when the wind blew cold and the joints clouded with dull ache. Astoria, many times his junior had confounded him more than once, filling his companions dreams with uneasiness, and stealing Strath from them with the ease of a thief snatching a confectionary from a small childling.
    
    The temple lay ahead, how long had it been? Years, possibly even more than a century since he had walked through those doors. The trip to reach the temple had taken too long, and had taken a toll on them physically as well as emotionally. The young paladin seemed as raw as a fresh torn scar, and the sivak almost boiled with inner conflict. Would the soux-dragon rankle to know that the old man could see through his stone calm, and ice cold facade...no reason to find out. He would leave the sivak to his own for the time being.
    
    "Comfort we will find, and protection...yes." He said, vaguely remembering the taste of cinnamon honey tea. That could have been the temple tea, or the tea of any other of thirty towns and provinces. One day, he mused, he would write a book. A book in his own cramped handwriting, the letters crushed together to make sure the book would be small enough for a pair of stout dwarves to carry between them.

26. Moon Stone

    #306

    The group noticed that their was a path down the mountain side, it had once been safe, maybe, but then again maybe not. Erotion had taken it's toll on the mountain side It was soft and crumbling. The path itself was barley a foot wide and had little room for error. They were still several hundred feet high in the air.
    "How do you think we are going to make it down that with out falling?" Skene asked. He looked around the group for suggestions.

27. Moon Stone

    #307

    ''I'll fly you each of you across'',Rad rumbled. ''Just wait for a strong wind to start blowing and my wings will be ready. But don't be silly enough to start worrying about me dropping you. I've carried loads twice as heavy as Skene.''
    
    And as the sivak gazed upon the temple of of Icelos that lay spread out in the valley below and his heart quickened. The final step of his journey was nigh! The moment for decisive action would not be long in coming.
    
    And then what,a grating little voice in his head begun to question him. Will your betray Luna's trust? Will you undo what your companions have fought so hard to achieve,simply to fulfill their own selfish ambitions? They certainly do not deserve this. They offered their hands in friendship to you,but you accepted it for only as long as it suited your sly,sneaky goal!
    
    With brutal ease,Rad pushed it out of his head. Now was not the time to be sentimental. With an artifact of the Stone's power involved,it had never just about him,though it would be pleasent to enjoy unparalled power. No,he had a pledge to a dying race to keep. And keep it he would. He would do nothing to hurt Luna or the rest of his soon to be former companions,but going against the promise he had made was something he could not allow himself to be contemplate. He shot a glance at the Istari. The old man's face was pensive and thoughtful,but Rad thought he could detect an almost watchful expression beneath that front. The old magi was no fool,having never completely trusted Rad in the first place. Even now,some suspicion about his true motives must linger in the magi's thoughts. In his own quiet,watchful way,he was as much of a threat as Astoria to Rad's plans.

28. Moon Stone

    #308

    "Wait I thought you Draconian's could only Glide. How are you going glide from down ther to up here? It is atleast four hundred feet down." Skene said nervously. Truth betold He hated the Idea of flying. not aything against Rad, but he hated it.

29. Moon Stone

    #309

    "Lets see, yes lets see." Atal said, quickly digging into his bag. "I think I might have a few pinches of that dust left." he rustled in the bag producing a six foot long dried snake skin, a small pocket book of burlesque poetry as well as six mismatched socks. No, no he muttered after each item, tossing it onto the ground behind him.
    
    "Ah, and Rad, sure I am, relative of yours the skin does not belong too, heh heh..." he said with a wheezy cough. THe old man tossed a few more odds and ends onto the ground, a crust of dried bread, a single knitting needle and a childs red cap.
    
    "EYAH and Damn!" he cursed as he rifled through the bag. "AH!" he shouted, pulling out a small leather pouch, perhaps as small as locket. Deftly he untied the strings, releaseing a smell remeniscent of springtime pollen and the loamy smell of wet earth and sun dried wood.
    
    "A gift from the fairy queen it is, special powder, can shrink a man until he is small enough to fit through the door of fairy house. Very small are the doors of fairy houses, yes, very small..." he said with a wry grin. "Swift we will be, the magic short time only works, minutes at most."
    
    "Swallow us you should not," Atal said, casting Rad a mirthful look, "Pop you will when return to normal size we do."

30. Moon Stone

    #310

    Aldan looked from Rad to Atal to Luna last then remarked, "There is no way in the darkest depths of the Dragon are you shrinking me and putting me in his mouth."
    
    Aldan took a couple steps closer to the precarious slope. It dropped about ten metes then sloped at a twenty degrees angle about almost all the way down before sloping gently at the bottom towards the temple. He took another step back onto a small over hand of rock about six feet long and a foot an a half wide. He grinned arrogantly gazing at Luna before winking then before anyone could react he tapped his foot and a fissure ran through the rock the held it to the mountainside. Aldan felt himself slip into a lithe position ancients that lived in the mountains used to get down mountain slopes in a similiar way he had seen a couple in his journies.
    
    Aldan felt himself grip the stone slab with the Draon strengthing everyone of the broken seem and smoothing the contors, so when it hit the ground he absorbed the impact and the stone didn't shatter. It cut through the ice, snow, and dirt easily as he sped down the moutain side.
    
    At one point he flew off another ledge and dropped almost fifty feet before the stone hit the earth again. Aldan kept his grip on the stone with the Dragon sensing each shift in balance and accustoming his body to it.
    
    His eyes teared he sped so fast and as the slope slowly leveled off decreasing his speed he gracefully forward flipped off the the stone ski and it buried itself in the ground. He landed in a crouch about twenty paces from the edge of the closet forest grove.
    
    Aldan grinned back up the other mere specks on the cliffs above but he had a feeling so he sent a cocky grin there way anyways before turning back and examining his surrondings with a baleful eye. Nothing had prepared him something like this but he knew he did want nor need the Moon Stone it was other things that concerned him. Let the others have it, I will meet this specter Astoria is sending and put my fears to rest, then I'll take my sword back from her dead hands.
    
    Though unarmed he was not as you say safe, many powers flowed throw him and he was deft with his fist and foot as he was with his blade. Let them come...

31. Moon Stone

    #311

    Luna had caught the wink and winced when she saw him scamper down the mountainside. She saw or perhaps felt the faintest smirk on his handsome face. Though she trusted Rad with her life she didn't want to be in his mouth either, but did they have a choice. It was a quick and painless way down the mountain.
    
    Skene eyed the draconian. He had been trustworthy thus far, however something just struck him that there was still a little to much draconian mindset for him, He went over and peered down the side of the mountain. Could he make it the way that Aldan did. No. He could not. He was no fool and had no girl he wanted to impress. He looked grumpily at Atal, "well if we are going to do it lets get it overwith, but no one speaks a word of this someone finds out that I let a draconian carry me down the side of a mountain in his mouth and willinglyat that, they will think we are all mad."
    
    Faith too had caught Aldan's momentary wink she looked at Luna flushing just a little and smiled, looking at her dear friend Atal. She didn't need a vision to read a sign like that.

32. Moon Stone

    #312

    Rad pulled a sour face. ''Ach,quit your whining,knight. It's not like I enjoy the idea of carrying an ingrate like you in there,myself. Just let's get it over with.''

33. Moon Stone

    #313

    "EYAH! in Hell there is no way ride in a sivak's I will." Atal protested after Aldan made his dramatic sled ride to the bottom of the gorge. "The smell it is, in hands carry us he can. In bag we will ride." Atal said, looking at the rest of the members as if they were indeed very foolish.
    
    "Teeth are big enough already, yes yes." Atal said, making a small gesture of respect to the sivak to let him know that he meant no malice in his comments.

34. Moon Stone

    #314

    Aldan's lounging grin and became a slight frown at the others took their do time. not that he cared but it would be nice to get there soon.
    
    Aldan sat on the ground cross legged and practiced a meditation while the others worked on getting down. He kept his inney eye focused on his surrondings and the process of their attempted descent but he let his real eyes fall close for a few minutes of rest.

35. Moon Stone

    #315

    OOC: Sorry You guys I have got the paper police on my tale Three due with in the next two weeks. So my posts may be few and far between atleast for that long, just try and bide with me here.
    
    IC: Luna was grateful for this suggestion. "Well in that case go ahead and give him the pouch and let us take this fairy dust." She looked nervously at Atal, "how long will it keep us small, long enough for us to reach the ground I hope. how small will it make us he will be able to see us to put in the pouch right. I have never seen a fairy I don't know how small they get, but if we are so small that he can't see us then he won't be able to hear us either; what if he leaves one of us behind." She took a deep breath as the words just kind of flooded out of her mouth, "Alright I am better now I think, lets just get it over with." she said nervously.

36. Moon Stone

    #316

    Atal chuckled as he handed Rad a leather pouch large enough to carry a few apples in. He then took a pinch of the fairy dust and sprinkled it over Luna's head. She felt a cold tingle shoot through her body, as if she had stepped under a cold waterfall in the springtime. There was a whiff of jasmine and honeyclover and suddenly she was looked at the top of Atal's weathered boot, no more than four inches tall.
    
    "Next," he said, spinkling the dust onto Faith, and then himself.

37. Moon Stone

    #317

    Luna looked around and examined her body, "still all in one peice." She hopped into the pouch and helped Atal get Faith in, She smiled up at Rad, "I am ready to see what it feels like to fly now!" She was excited, she had never flown anywhere before. She didn't worry about Rad she knew that he would not drop them, that is unless the spell wore off then what would they do? No, she told herself You trust Atal too you know that he wouldn't put us in danger. The strings were drawn tightly about them and they were lifted gently into the air. Luna and Atal who were still standing were knocked off balance and fell into each other. Luna's had had went to try and catch the old man before he fell on Faith, but instead knocked the fairy dust pouch out of Atals hands, what was left of it rained down on them, with the drawstrings tied the pollen like substance had no where to go. Luna sneezed, she was covered from head to toe in a a powdery yellow substance. "This can't be good."
    
    Faith sighed, "thats all right dear you will just be a bit smaller for a little longer, no more than a couple of hours I think. Try not to move around a lot no sense in spreading it about one little person is quite enough I think."
    
    
    OOC: One and a half papers down one and a half to go! Decided it was time for a little comedy.

38. Moon Stone

    #318

    With his wings outstreched,Rad waited till a powerful gust of wind came his way. Then,with a fluid movement of his wings,he and his tiny passengers were air borne,soaring through the sky as swift as any bird of prey.
    
    Circling over the valley once,he landed right next to Aldan,the beating of his powerful wings knocking over the startled paladin.
    
    ''Well,paladin,I need not say which of the two of us had the more impressive way of descending here. Moving the rock to make a giant slide is cliche and overblown,as opposed to simply flying to one's destination with a magnificent pair of wings.''

39. Moon Stone

    #319

    Aldan grinned at the Draconian, "Yeah, no offense intended back there, sometimes a moment of excitement is needed to keep the mind sharp. Not all of us are gifted with a pair of extraordinary wings either. So let's check on your little passengers."
    
    Aldan stood up and stretch his arms back and craned his neck invoking a sharp crack as a couple of veterbret popped. When the bag was opened Faith, Atal, and Luna with the rest stood there. Luna seemed to be covered in yellow pollen. Aldan gently sat down cross legged again, he spoke softly, "Hmm this can't really be good?"
    
    Aldan closed and imagined each blade of grass flattening slightly with four curled into tiny chairs. When he opened his eyes again they all stood there, but without the clutter a forest of grass created.
    
    "What do we do now?"

40. Moon Stone

    #320

    "Have small cup of tea." Atal said, breaking into a wheezy laugh. He knew they were in no danger from the dust, it would shrink anyone to fairy size, no matter how much they used, no danger of shrinking out of existance. It would be inconvenient for little Luna, riding in someones pocket.
    
    "Patience, virtue it is yes..." he said. "To temple we go, shelter, hot water and food yes." he said.

Freeform Archive · All categories · Guildhall