The Rod of Lordly Might

1. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #81

   Tethon slowly worked his and Alexia's way down from the tree. Time to go. What had Alexia said before going under. 'North East'. yes that was it. At least she knew her geography. According to memory, there was some sort of village north-east of here. The girl had taken the antidote, so she should be fine, even with as much delay time as she had before taking it, but she would also be tired. Maybe not tired enough to black out, but the blood loss could account for that. It was only a hope that nothing else was wrong. Her breathing was slow, but not too slow.
   
   She had been called quite beautiful. It took a moment to recall what beauty was, but Alexia seemed to fit that. Although such a term could be very ambiguous.
   
   He started off at a light jog with Alexia over his shoulder. He hoped to make the village by night-fall...

2. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #82

   Klaatu dug quickly and popped up a short distance in front of Tethon and Alexia. "Excuse me!" he said in Common. "Strangely enough, the soldiers have left, at least for the moment. I offer you a safe place, a very safe place to stay for the night. I'd like to talk to you, and if you will allow it, (he said looking at Alexia) I can cure her sickness. She has been poisoned, right? I had not gotten a chance to check her balances before the commotion started, it started. Reversing poison is a simple fundimental transformation, simple fundiments."
   
   He sniffed the air, and spoke again, "There is something big and probably dangerous nearby. I don't know what it is but I think you should find safety before it finds us, finds us. You can eat a meal if you wish. I cannot leave until morning. My son will meet me at the forge, the forge at midnight. If you fear him, leave before he arrives. It's not like he can sneak up, sneak up on you, you know."
   
   The mole-man looked up at them and stepped out of the hole, shaking the dirt off his robe. "You're all welcome. I mean no harm, no harm. I'd like to talk... I need news of the lands beyond this area. What say you, say you?"

3. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #83

   "Lead the way stranger. I accept your offer" Tethon replied slowly.
   
   He would be on his gaurd. The man seemed strange, an d strange individuals often had some bad habits.

4. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #84

   While waiting for Omaru to respond Andimia noticed that the voices of the soldiers were moving away from them, she scratched her head, careful not to poke herself with her sword in doing so.
   
   "where do they think they're going." she thought aloud to nobody in particular. She heard Teathon come down from the tree and turned to see that he had Alexia over her shoulder. She turned back and tapped omaru on the shoulder with the flat part of her blade.
   "c'mon, let's go." and she started after Tethon who was already twenty feet ahead of her.

5. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #85

   Klaatu peered at each of them, squinting (?) at them from behind the goggles. They could not see his eyes. These were rather hidden behind thick lenses of some sparkling, not-quite-transparent glassy substance held in placed with a strap.
   
   He said, "Please allow me to retrieve my staff," which had been dropped when he first started digging. He scampered quickly with a curious short-legged gait over to the hole, and pulled the strange metallic rod out of the soft dirt, scrutinizing certain points on it for a moment.
   
   Apparently satisfied, he said, "Please follow me. But do me the favor of looking about, looking about? My sense of hearing and smell is quite good, quite good, but I cannot see especially far. Together, nothing would find us first. I remember how the elves can see! Can see."
   
   He led them through the forest, stopping from time to time to sniff and motioning them to be quiet while he listened. Nothing seemed to be amiss. They moved up out of the forest into a more rocky area, leading up a hill. The soft ground grew hard.
   
   He said, "Leave no trail now. No one will follow up here if you step carefully and leave no marks behind. All those living in these parts fear this place, this place." He seemed pleased with himself and looked at them. "I made sure of THAT. Nasty surprises for those who stray near, stray near." He grinned, and his sharp little teeth showed. They looked like a cat's, except that they seemed to be made of silver.
   
   Up the hill, hidden behind large rocks in the appearance of a landslide, was the entrance to a large cave. It could be easily defended from within. Klaatu sniffed about once more and then stepped in. His staff lit up again, and illuminated the room with surprising brightness.
   
   In the back was a small but well-crafted forge, with a glowing fire set and implements of craftsmanship neatly racked on the walls and by the anvil. The smoke from the fire was not evident at all, but disappeared into a cleverly constructed flue. Other tunnels, some very small, receded into the walls. A table and several chairs were present, some of wood, and some of crafted metal with no familiar pattern. One chair already at the table was very small, and one was huge. He sat at the small one and turned around to face them.
   
   He said to those outside, "Come in, if you will. I will prepare food. Tell me what is your preference? If you are concerned with the haste so far, take your time looking around, looking around. I understand one such as me, as me, does not show up every day."

6. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #86

   Andimia stopped and called back to Omaru
   "Get your feet moving!" after a moment she looked back to see if he was comming but then spun around again realizing that Tethon could not be seen anywhere. "Damnit!" she cursed to herself. For a moment she was indecisive of which direction to go, looking in the direction of Omaru and then back towards the direction that Tethon went with the girl. She sheathed her swords and bent to the ground. Tethon's hevy footprints were clearly visible in the soft ground.
   he might as well leave a trail of torches she though to herself. Andi decided to wait for Omaru, no sense in walking back unless he took forever, and no sense in striking out alone, that was far too boring. She stood up and leaned against a tree, drumming her fingers upon her arm as she waited.

7. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #87

   Tethon did not reply immediately as he placed the girl gently on the floor. She would be fine, in time, but she needed some rest.
   
   "I need somethiong wholesome. Do you have meats here perhaps? A soup would be best I suppose." He figured that the little man might not eat meat, but surely the giant would. There should be something for her. He wanted her strength returned and them out of this cave as soon as managable. This little man was small, but certainly odd, and possibly untrustworthy, despite efforts to the contrary. As for the giant clad in armor, well, he did not trust anybody who's eyes he could not see.
   
   He quickly took his bow from his back and unstrung it. If left strung too long it could warp and become less usefull. Then he proceeded to lay his pack on the ground, as well as the pack that belonged to Alexia. Finally done with preparations he made sure his sword was loose in it's sheath, in case it needed to be loosened further, and leaned against the wall.
   
   Only with that done did he really take in the scene around him. The matalworking area was an interesting thing. It was common knowledge that dwarves were good forgers of steel, and less common knowledge that gnomes, being more densely built and more precise in ability, were the makers of exquisite weapons and armor, but he did not think that this man was either of the two races.
   
   Curiosity did finally win over caution.
   
   "So exactly what is your profession?"

8. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #88

   The mole-man stood up. "I am a metallurgist, a metallurgist. I have also been called an alchemist, but that term is imprecise. To be precise, I am a 'fundimentalist', a fundimentalist. As I mentioned before, you may call me Klaatu, and my son Braandu."
   
   Seeing that the elves were not acting either afraid or dangerous, he walked around the large room and lit several torches attached by metal hangers imbedded into the stone wall with his staff, then extinguished the staff's light. The torches burned a bright blue light, without visible flame or smoke. It was clear from the position of the entrance and the rockslide that the light would not be visible from outside.
   
   He moved with precision, despite his waddle. His hands were large, like scoops, and clawed with sharp metal tips where fingernails should be. Gloves were over his hands, covering all but his fingertips, where they were open.
   
   He talked a lot. "All things are built of fundimentals. Tiny particles, too small to see. Not too small to feel, if you can, if you can." He poked his staff into the top of a metal brazier. A fire instantly appeared with a "Foomp." He placed an iron pot of water over it to heat.
   
   He waddled over to trap door and lifted it. A device was activated.... a long and slender rope seemingly wound itself around a windlass quietly and drew up a box, dripping with cold water. "Keeps the food fresh, the cold spring below, below." He opened the box and drew out a haunch of venison. Drawing a long, very thin knife out from under his robe, he sliced off number of thin slices of meat, then some chunks -- and then cut right through the legbone creating some large chunks of that bone with surprisingly little effort -- and put everything in the pot. "Adds flavor, and balances the fundiments of the meat". Then he replaced the meat in the box and pulled out some cold vegetables and chopped them lightly on a stone block next to the brazier. This was obviously not an ordinary knife, and the fire was not a wood fire... the water was beginning to boil already.
   
   As he worked, he chattered about the tiny fundimentals and how each was different, how they combined and interacted, and how they could be controlled by a metallurgist. He offered mushrooms and roots taken from a pantry to the elves for approval, then chopped them and put them into the pot to cook. The smell of the stew was savory, delightful. However, the strange and unseen ventilation system removed almost all traces of odor quickly, vanishing upward into a black hole in the ceiling.
   
   Then he said, "While that is cooking, I'd like to check her balances, her energy balances?" Noticing their concern, he walked back to the table and laid the knife down on the stone chopping block by the bubbling pot. Unarmed except for the metallic fingernails, he held out his hands, open, and seemed to squint at them. "I wish only to hold your hands for a moment, young lady, and I should be able to tell how best to make you well, you well. What say you? I shall bring you no harm, no harm."

9. The Rod of Lordly Might

   #89

   OOC: I know it's been a while since I've posted but I got into a car accident and I have been on bed rest ever since. That and trying to keep up with homework and exams next week. Sorry! I will try and do better in the meantime.
   
   IC:
   
   Alexia dreamed of the obligations she had to go by. She hated it. Every minute of being trapped behind a wall of guards and a stack of rights. She wanted the ultamite freedom...
   
   Her arm was sore as it swung down Tethons back. Her ice blue eyes seemed dim as her breathing became normal. Her surroundings were different but she didn't question it. She realized Tethon had taken some good care of her and while she looked to be going north east she shivered not from the cold but from the way she and he were headed. A conversation in the background seemed reasonable as she could not tell who was talking, only hear the booming of the voice. As her head pounded she tried to shif off his shoulder to see better.
   
   "Morning." Alexia said softly until realizing the time it was. "Why are we running." Her voice was scratchy and different than usual but it was the care she gave it. The wound still hurt as she regained her conscious back, but she dared not say anything of it for now.
   
   OOC: Sorry for the spelling!

10. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #90

    OCC: Alexia, I hope you are recovering well from the car accident. Regarding your post, we're glad you're back, and understand all too well that real life interferes with the best fantasies we can create.
    
    Having said that, I want to say I was a bit puzzled by your post of May 12, which seems to have you riding on Tethon's back, rather than having arrived in Klaatu's cave "just in time for dinner", as it were. Did you miss the various posts of May 9th, 10th, and 11th?
    
    I will post tonight as if you were at the cave, per the posts of May 10 and 11. If I have missed something, please let me know and I'll scrap or fix the following post...
    
    
    IC:
    While he held out his hands, Klaatu looked at the elf girl lying on the floor as she murmured "Why are we running?" and he said, "Sounds like she's not quite with us, with us?" Seeing no objection from Tethon, he took her hands in his, palm to palm, and grew silent. He concentrated for a few moments as he sensed her chemistry, then said, "She was poisoned, yes.... The humans' usual poison in this land; a mixture they extract from certain roots, certain roots." Looking up at Tethon, he asked, "and someone, you?, provided her with an antidote..." Not waiting for a response, he looked at her again and went on, "This is easily corrected, easily."
    
    Still holding her left hand in his right, the little fundimentalist put her right hand down briefly on the floor, and placed his left hand over his heart for a few seconds, then picked up her right hand again. He concentrated. A full minute went by, in total silence. Not even the sound of his breath could be heard.
    
    A warm tingling sensation flowed through her left hand, up her arm, through her whole body, and back out her right hand.
    
    He put both of her hands down and looked up. "Wake up, young lady. I have helped your body rebalance itself. You should feel much better now." Looking at them both, he said in a serious tone, "I am not the best of my people at healing. Serious wounds always take time, although I can help them along. But rebalancing the fundimentals of simple blood problems like poison is an easy matter, an easy matter for us, especially when the fundimentals of an antidote have already been introduced. And a good meal can't hurt, can't hurt."
    
    He stood up. "Let's have some dinner, some dinner, shall we? Then we can talk. And where are the others? They were welcome to come here as well. I could use their help. If they follow here but stray too far from our path, they may encounter my traps, my traps. My son and I have not lived here for six years unmolested without cause."

11. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #91

    OOC: I read it carefully and to announce...yes she’s not with you because she’s still in shock...well until the healing ‘ritual.’ I’m feeling a lot better. Thanks :)
    
    IC:
    After feeling the vibration through her hand she could feel the fatigue disappear but the pain of her shoulder still remained. With the hot rod shoved through her shoulder, it tried to heal leaving its red scab. Letting out a heavy puff of air, dirt on the floor seemed to move as she coughed softly. Her ice blue eyes seemed to focus back to where she was than her dreamland or a subconscious feeling. Her head seemed to pound slightly as she quickly looked around before sitting upright. Everything seemed to be in a cave with dinner?
    
    Sitting up and pushing herself towards the cold, solid wall and looking around seeing her vision a little fuzzy. A moment later she rested her head against the wall and concentrated on a small speck that glowed off a warm light. After getting her sharp vision back, she looked over towards the ‘crew’ and swallowed uneasily. “Anything I missed?� She spoke in ancient Elven.

12. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #92

    Klaatu stood up, and walked around the room, past a weapons rack by the forge, loaded with glistening swords and spears. He reached past the rack to two chairs against the back wall instead, both of appropriate size for the guests. "Excellent, excellent. I don't understand what you said, since my understanding of your tongue is limited, but you look much better, much better," he said.
    
    Pulling along the two chairs to the table in the middle of the room by the stewpot, he picked up his knife and put it back into its metal sheath under his robe. He pulled out a bottle of some sort of wine from a cupboard. Dinner appeared to be ready. He said, "Eat, eat, and drink. We shall gain nourishment, and with it balance and health -- and perhaps then we can tell each other what we are doing here, doing here."
    
    He scooped steaming stew into bowls, and put out spoons at each seat. He moved his hand below the pot, and the cooking fire dropped to a low glow as if by magic. The robust scent of the herbs combined with the savory smell of the venison. Next, he poured wine into glasses, and drank some, so they could be sure of its safety. Then he sat down on a stool, raised his glass, and said as a toast, "May ooloo grant us warmth and energy forever!"

13. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #93

    "Nice to see you well Alexia." Tethon spoke the words in Ancient Elvish as well. The words were choppy ad at times unsure. The high gaurds, having to deal with the King and Queen, were required to learn Ancient, but Tethon had not learned it well enough, and it had been some years. It was handy though.
    
    "Our friend has offered shelter here, and he seems to have helped revive you.". In Ancient, there were several words that denoted friend. Tethon used the one that meant one who has just been met, and might not be completely trustworthy, but still a friend.
    
    Who knows what Klaatu was here for. Two guest chairs? The man did not seem like the type to have guests often. But maybe with the sword trade...anyway, Tethon did not think the man was trying to poison him. He could already have killed Alexia with those strange powers of his called, what did he say they were, alchemism, no that was the other one. Fundimentalism, whatever that meant. Klaatu's explainations had made no sense that Tethon could decipher. Anyway, if it was poison, the man would have just offered poison to Tethon, and killed Alexia afterwards.
    
    Unless he thought that Omaru and that thief woman were coming. Too many years around high court politics. Or maybe not enough years. All poisons and schemes.
    
    "May Ulu grant us warmth and energy forever" he said mispronouncing the word ooloo as he lifted his glass...

14. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #94

    Alexia’s gaze shifted towards the guard, the table and the food. It smelt good but she didn’t trust her instincts. Not even if Tethon was involved. “Who is this Ulu?� Alexia asked in Elven and then common. She looked over towards the man who gave her ‘strange possessions.’ Alexia was puzzled at Tethon’s words: Friend. “You say you know him as a friend. A companion. But you apparently just met him. Why the change of heart?� She asked in ancient Elven, her words slurring as her voice cracked idly.

15. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #95

    Down at the river, down below the surface, Braandu's thoughts refocused again. The voices had lost their battle again, although he knew they would return again. When he was weak, or doubting. He must not doubt his father. He must not think too much about what had happened...
    
    The sun had set. Cool darkness had settled in. He never told father, but he had liked the coolness of dark. He couldn't "see", of course, in the normal sense, but he could feel with the unique sensation of every square inch of his surface area under the chain mail. Even through his boots. The energy of living things. Vibrations. Heat and coolness.
    
    Of course, his father would tell him, "Braandu, you must understand, there is no such thing as cold, as cold. Cold is only the lack, the lack of heat. Heat always travels to non-heat, from plus to minus. It cannot be stopped. You can delay heat transfer, you can insulate heat and cold, but heat is living energy and it will always flow, always flow." And so on.
    
    He had heard the lectures before. Father taught him everything. He always taught Braandu, always explained. It was boring, sure, but it showed his love, as he gave from his boundless well of knowledge. Thinking of father's voice made him feel better, warmer, more alive.
    
    Midnight was approaching. It was time to go.

16. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #96

    Klaatu dug into his bowl of stew with obvious pleasure. He spooned in chunks of delicious meat and vegetables, and slurped up the juices in the bowl, helping himself to seconds. Then he leaned back in his chair and looked at this guests for a moment, saying, "How does it suit you? It has been a long time since I have dined with elves, too long. The ingredients are well balanced for your constitutions, I believe. Of course, being the cook, I suppose it's seasoned to my liking, my liking." He grinned, and the sharp little teeth were seen again.
    
    "Go ahead, eat. Enjoy, enjoy!" He got down from his chair and waddled over to the entrance to the cave and peered out into the darkness. He sniffed. And again, deeper this time. Not good.
    
    Klaatu went inside, to where the elves sat. "Excuse me for a moment, a moment", and scampered down a small tunnel opening.
    
    Inside a close room, he stuck his nose in the dirt of the floor and relaxed his breathing and heartbeat. His senses reached out, further and further. He felt vibrations, sensed life energy.
    
    "Yes... There are the usual deer up on the hill, rabbits in their dens, the badger in his hole down the hill is snoring... and Braandu is coming from the river. As I had told him... But something elsewhere is not right. That big thing is nearer. Very quiet. Why did it not set off my traps?... doesn't it carry any metal? Is is just a dumb beast? Even a dumb beast should have blundered into one of my traps...?"
    
    He went back to his guests. "I do not mean to cause alarm, but that something, that something that was following you did not quit. If you would, finish your meal, and I will close up the cave. You will be safe here tonight, but of course, you can leave if you prefer. My son, Braandu will be here soon, but he can always enter safely when he arrives. I hope you will stay tonight, since he and I were planning to leave this area in the next day or two... and perhaps all of us could travel together, together for a time. I could use your excellent elven eyesight since I am nearsighted, quite nearsighted, and we can be very handy to you in certain ways, as you have already seen, already seen."
    
    He picked up his staff, and then went over to a shelf and started putting some bottles and vials into pockets cleverly sewn into various seams of his robe.

17. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #97

    Andimia cursed. It was getting dark and she handn't thought to bring a torch. If Omaru really wanted to catch up she'd let him find her.
    
    She started following the guard's footprints with what little light was left. She walked through the forest, bending down periodically to check the tracks. When she reached a rocky area she cursed again at the fact that she could no longer see any footprints..
    "Where the heck do I go now?" she said to nobody, as pitch black decended upon the land. No moon shone to give any light on her situation. She moved back to the edge of the forest and slung off her pack and unfurled her blanket and wrapped it around her, sitting with her back against a tree.
    "I'll just have to wait untill morning to continue my search." she shivvered into her blanket and closed her eyes, falling into a light sleep.

18. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #98

    At the mention of that "something" Tethon quickly grew quiet. Being a royal gaurd, his face held no betrayel of his thoughts, and he even seemed very casual, but his eyes told a different story.
    
    He consumed his soup readily, taking in the warmth of the soup. He seamed interested in nothing but the soup, but his eyes were weighing and measuring. Telling nothing outright, but hinting at perhaps a thousand things.
    
    "well, we have a hard journey north-east from here in the morning." Tethon said finishing his soup "So if you would be so kind as to show me where to sleep, and perhaps a bed for her"
    
    He did not call her a Lady, disguise was the best course he thought, but he had failed to create a cover story with Alexia, and she might stubbornly refuse to accept it. Being called in the middle of a lie was worse than not lying at all. Besides, he was still unsure as to how strongly he influenced her, and who knows how she might feel about creating a cover story without her. If there was a chance, Tethon would work one out with her.
    
    If she did not tell this man who she was first. She might enjoy an alias. It certainly was supposed to be an adventure, and this would only add to it, although how she would feel after being shot and poisoned...well most men stopped enjoying such things after a cold night in the rain, not to mention taking pains in battle.
    
    Speaking of which, it was starting to rain. It would not be pleasant to be outside in that cold rain, and what looked to be a heavy one at that. At least it would wash away any tracks that had been left...

19. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #99

    Andimia awoke as a cold wind cut through the blanket and she shivered. She was about to roll over and go back to sleep when she heard a patter off to her left. The half-elf perked up and heard another noise to her right, then the rain came.
    
    Grumbling she stood up and grabbed her pack, Wrapping the blanket around her and over her head. Maybe they made camp just over this rocky hill with a nice fire. She held out her hand and caught a bit of rainwater in her palm and rubbed it over a particularly bad cut on her knee from her tumble down the hill earlier that day.
    
    Andimia stepped out from the forest edge and began walking up the rocky hill. The gentle rain was just cold enough to make her feel miserable, and though the moon or stars wern't out it seemed that something in the air gave her light enough for her elven eyes to see the outlines of the rocks. Slowly picking her way up the slope she crested the top just as it began to pour.
    
    She cursed again, this time a lot louder, as she could see no fire off in the distence.
    "I should have stayed at the inn." she grumbled as the rain soaked through the blanket. Her eyes widened as she remembered she was wearing leather. She scanned the dark land for some sort of refuge from the rain that would shrink her already tight-fitting clothing.
    seeing no shelter anywhere around she gave up and sat against a rock at the top of the hill and curled into a ball, trying to sleep, as the rain pelted against her face and splattered loudly upon the rocks around her.

20. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #100

    There came a point in her life when she knew something was wrong by the facial expressions. Something was quite wrong and she completely missed it. Thoughts poured into her mind: Is the food poisoned? Are we somewhere where we shouldn’t be? She wanted to ask this aloud but didn’t both as she sat down near the chair, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. She looked at the food: It looks reasonable.
    
    The floor started to quake from the rolling thunder. “The Gods are angry this night.� She mumbled under her breath. She wasn’t hungry, just tired. She wanted to sleep but something else kept her awake. Then she herd a lie spoken about her after her name was mentioned. Her ice blue eyes glared at the royal guard. She wasn’t hurt she was disappointed. “My father did not teach a liar!� She roared in her mind wanted to scream it at him. Though, her face told plenty.
    
    Something rang in her ears making them twitch and red. Looking away from Tethon she looked down at the bowl, swallowing hard. Something off in the distance had something making her sensitive ears hurt more than a week’s headache or illness. She wanted to cry but she knew better...
    
    _ _ _ _ _
    
    Their army was of strength and fearless warriors. Each held a bow in their hands and flaming arrows in the other. Off in a great distance men stopped and watched the Elven King speak his ritual of bravery. They waited for their chance to attack and they did. It was a cleaver device made of thin steel so when slapped with a copper stick it rang, piercing sensitive ears for miles upon miles away. Horses were even a little too sensitive as their ears were covered with certain, rare cheesecloth’s.
    
    The Elven army seemed to have everything under control for a brief minute until their eyes started to swell with tears as the ringing sensation screamed in their minds. Their once perfect aim, seemed to falter by a thin slab of steel being rang over and over. Only the ones with horrible hearing were the ones able to shoot the arrow but they had seemed to die faster.
    
    It would only take hours before Alexia’s father’s Kingdom would soon crumble.

21. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #101

    The seeming-man clumped up the hill from the river. His path was carefully chosen, and he knew the way. As he reached the rocky areas, he slowed down and stepped slowly and carefully, as he had been taught. Now and again, he paused at one point or another to activate a hidden timer that would allow his immense metallic frame to pass without setting off a trap. There was the gas, the flare, the pit, the screamer, the log-roll, the rockslide. Further up, there were others -- some instantly lethal -- at least to anything normal. Deer and badgers would pass. The traps were diabolically clever against anything large or intelligent, or especially if it carried metal. He had helped to build them.
    
    Father was 'paranoid', Braandu would have thought, if he had ever heard of the word.
    
    But there was no such word in Graandusqueak. All Graandus were mentally balanced, or perhaps that is what they inwardly thought. There was a squeakword for "crazy", but it only applied to non-Graandu; that is, to non-mole people. Braandu didn't think about such things anyway. He was only eight. Indeterminately eight. Eternally (?) eight. [Don't think about that.]
    
    Always learning, but never wiser.
    
    If he did not become wiser soon he would perish. Or worse.
    
    It was almost midnight. He was approaching the cave entrance. He transferred his shovel to his left hand and put out his right to activate the hidden mechanism that opened the large round rock which covered all but a crack of the opening.
    
    But inside, his father had heard him coming and exclaimed, "BRAANDU! BEWARE! SOMETHING BIG, IS OUTSIDE, IS OUTSIDE WITH YOU!"

22. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #102

    Andimia's eyes snapped open and she clutched her head. She nearly screamed but bit down on her lip untill she tasted blood. Something was paining her ears, making her brain scream. The most painfully awful sensation, yet the sound was still distant. no matter how tightly she pressed her hands upon her ears she couldn't keep the sound out. It made her insides turn and she felt sick.
    
    Still wet and miserable on top of it she pulled her knees to her chest, hugging them with her long arms as she layed her head upon them. The sound ceased just for a moment when she heard heavy footsteps off in the distence behind her. When she turned to look she saw the large armored thing that took out quite a few soldiers by itself before.
    Maybe he knows where the others have gone. She watched the thing, maybe thirty feet away (hard to tell in the dark) as it's pace slowed and it carefully picked its way among the rocks. She quirked a brow when the man periodically bent to touch something every once in awhile. She froze.
    
    "Traps..." she whispered to herself. She looked around, not moving her arms or legs, making sure she wasn't sitting on one. Sure, she could find and disable traps, but she wasn't that good at it. Andimia glanced down to a large scar that ran up the side of her right calf and she remembered how close that spike was to distroying her leg. The scar was a constant reminder how inadequate her trapfinding skills were, luckily the spike trap only grazed her.
    
    She looked to the dark sky and whispered a prayer to Tymora for keeping her out of the traps thusfar. She watched the man as he approached a large rock, from behind it she heard the mole-man from earlier shout. Her eyes widened trying to see what he was yelling about.

23. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #103

    Tethon gripped his ears in pain for ten seconds before he simply collapsed. Not even twitching. There was no blood, and no reason to think that Tethon was hurt, but he simply did not move. It was as if he had gone into a coma. His heart still beat, and he still breathed, but there was no life in him.
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    The pain. It hurt so bad. Pounding hard inside. The pain went away as soon as Kivvals ears turned off only moments later. What was that? A sonic attack. Kivval had known mages to cast sound attacks, but could this have been a mages doing. Yes it could, but a strong mage at that. Or maybe something else. The thought was not comforting.
    
    Whatever the answer, there might be more immediate problems at hand. That little man had just shouted something. There is something big outside with you. That was not good. Wether it could be dealt with was another story, but, only time would tell.

24. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #104

    After the ring stopped for a brief moment and then something else felt different. As though somebody was about to lose their life. She quickly looked down at the royal guard and noted his breathing. It was shallow; but not too the point of danger. No, it was something else...
    
    Wheeling around on her chair she felt the rock and listened, pushing her white hair away. Her ice blue eyes danced on the shadows of the wall in panic. Feeling warm tears fall down she failed at finding her way out and sat there feeling a clench in her heart; as though someone shattered it.
    
    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
    
    It seemed like endless hours until the ringing had stopped. Turning around to see his wife killed by the enemy he cried, taking up a long bow, unused arrows with special tipped poison and used arrows and beginning to hide behind a large tree, shooting corners rapidly. Thoughts of death poured into his heart and focus until something in the distance moved forward.
    
    His strength was massive as was his body build under the layers of special armor. An emblem of a sphinx holding a twisted blade was embedded on his armor and sword. The Kings guess was the enemy who stood before him was the leader and King. But why the Elven village? Still the thought of death lingered in his saliva. Taking up a bow the man in armor held in his right hand (cloaked) and stuck his blade in the Kings stomach. Blood frothed from Alexia’s father’s mouth as a yelp escaped and then a grunt after the sword had twisted. Upon further movement he was thrown against the thick tree and beheaded upon spot; his head trailing towards the leaders foot as he picked up the head, letting the blood drop.
    
    A soldier off in the distance witnessed this writing it down on a yellow parchment with a special blue ink only shown in moonlight. He then collapsed on the ground not finishing his last sentence; dead.

25. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #105

    Braandu froze. Something Big... What? He turned and surveyed the dark, wet landscape. He didn't sense anything near. No warmth other than traces of the day's heat radiating off the rocks, the surfaces already cooled considerably by the rain. No metal nearby... wait... there was the sensation of metal and warm humanoid flesh hiding a short way down the hill, holding still. Only one, it seemed. Not armored. Not even clothed that much, to tell from the heat signature.
    
    That wasn't 'Something Big'. Anyway, the traps always frightened away the curious ones who occasionally overcame their fears of the 'haunted mountain'. (It did not occur to him that one who followed him might see how he inactivated the traps, but then, he was only a boy.) What was it Father was concerned with? He began to be fearful. What if the Something Big was Big Enough to attack him?
    
    In the cave, Klaatu could sense his son's emotions rising. He heard a clatter and glanced at the two guests inside, and was distressed to see that they were afflicted somehow. The female had flailed about then started crying. Why? The male was apparently in a trance. All this at once!
    
    He had to tend to his son, first. Braandu's mental and emotional state was so precarious. Klaatu squeaked in the mole tongue, "Graniterockdoor I/Father Open! Watch/Guard! None/Outsiders enterpast Braandu!" The squeaks and clicks were high and varied, but even to 'outsiders' the tone was unmistakable.
    
    Braandu lifted his shovel to the ready and watched outward again as the rock rumbled open and Klaatu stepped out, with staff in hand. Braandu was starting to focus on an elusive sensation of something too cold to be normal but alive in a manner unlike warm-blooded things like men, elves, orcs, or even deer. Large, cold, and still...
    
    However, Klaatu touched his son's sizeable arm. No words or squeaks were spoken, but the message was, "Let us go inside. We will be safe. I have guests that need attention." They stepped inside while the the rock began to rumble shut, although Klaatu kept a sharp eye on the opening while it closed.

26. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #106

    Andimia slowly picked her way down the hill, going the same route she had come by. once at the bottom she ran to where she saw the big man go up. She began going up the hill and stopped about where she saw the large man stoop down first and searched the ground but couldn't find anything.
    "I better not press my luck with these traps." she muttered as she continued searching the ground around her, but remaining still.
    
    OOC: since they're your traps, dream, you can decided weather I find the switch or not, I can RP it out either way :)

27. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #107

    OCC: Of course, you have my permission to follow Braandu disarm the traps you saw him inactivate, and join us. I tried to say that, but I guess I didn't communicate very well. I'm not fussy about anyone interacting with my "stuff" as long as you're not magically replicating my character's special abilities. For example, you probably cannot transmute his chemicals unless you are also an alchemist. If you use his staff, you might blow yourself up! If you use my knife, it's just a knife, although truly an exceptional one as I'll explain later. I'm not a big stickler for the rules, since I'm new and don't really know them all, anyway. :)
    
    
    IC: Klaatu scurried over to the girl, "What happened!?" he said in Common. She was conscious and he took her hands. "Hmmm," he thought as he held them... "she is not sick, but has had quite a jolt of fear in her; the fundimental traces are strong. She'll probably be all right."
    
    He hurried over to Tethon. Taking the elf's hands, he looked at the blank eyes and the vacant expression and concentrated on the touch. A minute passed. "By ooloo the Great" the mole-man exclaimed to everyone and no one in particular. "He is hardly here at all, at all! Where has his mind gone to?? He is not sick or poisoned. He is barely thinking, barely thinking, and that might be only enough to command his heart and lungs. This kind of trance, of trance is new to me."
    
    "Braandu! Carry his form, his form to the straw pile. Gently, now!" The lumbering son put down his shovel and obeyed.
    
    Klaatu turned back to the young lady. "Please tell me, tell me what is going on! I'd like to help. What sort of Thing, of Thing is following you? And where did your other companions go?"

28. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #108

    OOC: I must ask, Dream, what companions are you speaking of?
    
    IC:
    Alexia didn’t want to be rude to the man who was helping her. She didn’t bother looking over at Tethon. “Where’s a way out?� She finally managed to say wiping what tears were left. She was fatigued but she wanted to know what the ringing noise was and why something felt horrible inside.

29. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #109

    OOC: I think that dream is talking about Andimia and Omaru as the other companions.

30. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #110

    OCC: There was also someone named "Ajax". Whatever.

31. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #111

    OCC: My wife says I have to leave this exciting roleplay behind and go on vacation for the next 9 or 10 days to the Carribbean. No fun, just SCUBA, partying, snorkeling, partying, sailing, and partying. I probably won't have Internet access, so I hope this next post will hold until the end of next weekend. Did I mention partying? :D
    
    
    IC: Klaatu said to his son, "Braandu, finish loading the trunk." The man-thing went over to the forge and opened a large wooden trunk held together with steel bands, and started putting tools from the forge into it.
    
    The mole-man said to Alexia, "I see that you must leave. I am very sorry, but I cannot heal this trance-path your friend, your friend has entered. Worse, as I may have said before, I have to leave tomorrow on a journey for perhaps two days. I will disarm the traps, the traps along the path here so that you may get help for your friend and return. Here is how to open the cave door" (he showed her the mechanism). "There is food and water in the well, and if your friend revives himself he will know how to get it, as he saw me do that before."
    
    "We will come back, come back and find you, if we survive." (at this, the armoured figure paused, and looked at his father.) "Here is a Cersi; a stone that I have carried for a long time." Klaatu reached into his robe to a pocket in his vest, and removed a piece of what seemed to be quartz, except that it glowed a light blue inside. He gave it to Alexia. "This carries a trace of my essence, my essence. I can find you almost anywhere, but this is very important... Are you listening? Good, yes, this is important... You must keep it warm. Keep it on your person, and I can find you."
    
    He went on, "If you are captured or are in great need, swallow it. Your body heat and essence, and essence will call to me, and I will come as fast as I can. But be aware that I am travelling quite a distance. If the stone passes, passes through, recover it from your waste and clean it before swallowing it again, it again. I will do what I can for you because while you have not told me, I sense that there is something terribly wrong in your heart, and I regret that we cannot come with you now."
    
    "Keep the Cersi-stone warm!"

32. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #112

    Alexia looked over towards the guard who seemed too far gone at this point. She looked back, took the stone and held it at the palm of her hand, making a tight fist around the stone. She didn’t say much and dragged Tethon by the arms (after putting the stone in a velvet pouch near her waist), towards the dirt. The rain had saturated the ground as much had made his move a lot easier. She rubbed her temples, which pounded harder and whistled.
    
    A black horse seemed to appear out from the forest and towards Alexia. The horse seemed to turn to the side as if waiting for a jump and a spontaneous adventure. After minutes of attempts, Alexia managed to put the unconscious guard on the horse and sat behind him (after taking her cloak and wrapping Tethon with it), clicking her tongue to spring off towards her homeland.

33. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #113

    A horse would just spring up out of nowhere, thought Kivval. This would make things more difficult. Kivval would have to hurry to keep up. At least the horse would not be able to move at a full gallop. The heavy running would surely loose Tethon from his precarios purch on top of the horse. A light trot at the most.
    
    As the horse trotted along, with Kivval in silent pursuit, the smell of another was in the air. Andimia by the scent of her. Probably close enough to see. As Kivval went by, a pair of eyes could be seen a little way off. Kivval's hearing and sight were linked. When that mage casted his sonic attack, and Hearing went, so did eyesight. Not completely, but enough so that Kivval could only see things a short distance away. That and eyes. Kivval could see people's or animal's eyes exceptionally well for some reason. They seemed to shimmer about themselves, make themselves known, and shine with a clarity like no other.
    
    There were two exceptions. The Armoured Giant with the shovel, and Alexia. Alexia's eyes were somehow duller. They still shone, but they were duller, as if a thin film was placed between Kivval and her eyes. Kivval could not even see the eyes of the giant at all. This was particularily unusual. Either there was something very unusual about the giant, or it had no eyes at all. Likely the latter. That left the question of vision. The Giant could clearly "see" in a sense, but most creatures use eyesight at least a little. This left the question of how the Giant was able to see. Although, if he spent time with the Fundimentalist, it was not unfathomable that another way had been developed, even inside a suit of armor...
    
    OOC: Sometimes players like to spot the guy stalking in the shadows. My advice is, don't. Kivval is a unique character, and unless I pm you to tell otherwise, just assume that Kivval is doing a very good job staying in the shadows.

34. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #114

    OOC: I knew all along you were watching. I wasn’t anticipating on making some sort of movement to locate you.
    
    IC:
    After hours of the same forest floor and shady thick trees, Alexia slid off on the right side and took up the horses’ leather reins. Tethon didn’t seem to show signs of improvement except for the body heat from the cloak. The treetops seemed to shake their large leaves as the wind told unmentionable secrets and stories. She smiled to herself and continued walking until stopping at a small lifeless patch.
    
    Looking at the floor, it smelt of sulfur and sweating men. Broken bows were lodged into the trees with stained blood. Taking one of the closest arrows, Alexia examined it carefully and noted the work of the arrows tips and green bamboo-leaved feathers. A frown came across her face as she looked up and through, smelling a heavier scent of sulfur.
    
    Taking the reins and dropping them the horse, Recko, followed without worry or question. A small village came to view, an almost replica of Alexia’s homeland. Trees were still burning as bodies littered around with half-elves. Heads had seemed to be removed of what looked to be royal threads. A small vibration seemed to itch through her body as she stood up and started to climb one of the ‘clean’ trees.
    
    Reaching the top, sweat seemed to fall down her cheek until the wind cooled her body down. Thick clouds of black smoke filled in twelve places and one that looked to be fresh. Brushing back her white hair she skimmed the place and listened carefully for anything bout found it dead silent except for the fresh burning area. Screams were herd from women and children. With blue eyes she looked up towards a small star with one of the four large moons. It had a crater in the shape of a star on the left side. She counted down and found one of the spots of fire-clouds. It was dying out slowly as she climbed down and began to trot towards that direction as her anticipation seemed to gather with a sense of fear.

35. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #115

    OOC: sorry for not posting for awhile, I had to move out of my dorm and get my comp setup on the network at home :S moving sucks.
    
    IC: Andi kept searching for the switch, but it wasn't easy with the pounding in her skull, after a bit she found it and switched the first trap off.
    Resetting traps, she mused I should get me some of these. She sprinted up to the next point where she had seen the hulking man stoop down, while she was searching the ground she spotted the moleman run across the hill switching all of the traps off, followed by Alexia who was dragging Teathon. Andimia kept silent just in case thing that the moleman was yelling about earlier was near her. She tried to find the second switch when Alexia whistled and a horse came out of the forest.
    "What the--" Andimia began to curse under her breath as she ran back down the hill and tried to signal Alexia. Andi picked up a small stone as she ran and hurled it at them but it bounced of Tethon's limp body. Alexia Clicked her tongue and they were off. Andimia slowed her run and stopped on the forest path. Her chest heaving she put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath. The half-elf was alone again, and nowhere near the place she intended to be. Cursing, Andi kicked a rock and slung her pack off of her back. She crouched down and emptied all of the silver and Jewelry out onto the forest floor. She put a few rings in her side pouch along with a necklace, but left the silverware and silver plates on the forest floor, She stuffed the cup back into her pack. Her pack was much lighter now wich would make travelling easier, as she began a quick but steady jog up the path.

36. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #116

    Klaatu watched the elf-maiden disappear off down the hill with some satisfaction. "At least she can get help for her companion" he thought, "...but where did that horse spring up from? ...Oh, well."
    
    Then he sensed Andimia run briefly after the horse... and stop, apparently out of breath. There was clatter of what was clearly human-crafted-silver-workmanship. Klaatu's first thought was about the metal, of course. "I don't need any silver right now," he thought. "Besides, from the sound alone it's clearly alloyed with base metals. But I need to stop her!" He scampered quickly down to her as she crouched there and stopped her just as she began to take off at a brisk clip.
    
    "Hello, hello, again!" he yelled. "The elf-girl had to leave suddenly, leave suddenly. Her male-elf was stricken with some malady and she took him for help, some help."
    
    Then he squinted up at her face as he thought over the wisdom of asking for aid from someone he didn't really know well, but decided to chance it.
    
    "Braandu and I must take a trip, a trip of two days to consult with a friend, a friend of mine" he said. "It is important that I go, but I could use your help, your help, if you are willing to travel with us and return. My eyes are poor and yours are apparently excellent. If you would accompany us and help keep us from being delayed, being delayed by the humans and their patrols on our journey, I will pay you well, yes, very well indeed. Much more that those impure silver plates, quite impure. What say you? What say you?"
    
    
    OCC: Alexia, although Klaatu has good hearing, my characters did not react to the "Sonic Attack" like the elves did. I assume the spring steel noisemakers do not cripple races other than elves; certainly not at a great distance as your post seemed to indicate. If I am wrong, of if you want to provide guidance on how this weapon affects men, horses, or mole-men, etc, please let me know and I'll try to adjust. Thanks.

37. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #117

    OOC: You have a point and to aid your theory: the ‘army’ was using it against elves so in my best interest there had to have been some sort of material made in that metal to hurt elves only. This does include any character to have any type of elven in them (even a small amount, of course it wouldn’t have GRAVE effect on them either).
    
    Also, for many of you to know where ‘a horse sprang out of nowhere,’ there’s going to be an interesting twist to it. Just be prepared...
    
    IC:
    What seemed an endless madness turned out to be nothing more than another burned down village. Bodies were decapitated of high standards while the less-fortunate were tied up, beaten and raped. Alexia inhaled the stench of burning carcass and wanted to cry but at the same time she felt nothing towards them, only the strange and spontaneous feeling that occurred when she lashed out to cry. Climbing trees wasn’t that hard but figuring out where the spot she needed to be at soon started to become hard as the smoke faded with time.
    
    Thirty-minutes had passed when she finally reached familiar bodies. Friends, distant relatives, children and prisoners were killed by the same arrows that had shot her. An instant pain reached her shoulder as she let go of the horses reigns and left Tethon for a brief moment. Looking around she could see everyone tied up or slaughtered to nothing and homes burned down in the tress. The guards’ heads were put on pikes while the blood had salt under them to drain it quickly without running and leaving hand prints.
    
    Still no sign of her immediate family. “Maybe they got out.� She thought alas feeling a comfort relief. It soon changed with she saw her father’s body but no head. It had been cut off and dragged towards the blacken forest. Her mother’s body had been taken advantage of and her too had her head decapitated. Tears streamed unconsciously down her face as she buckled her knees and fell to the forest floor. Memories poured into her mind and clouded her thinking. This was the reason she cried.

38. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #118

    Braandu noisily ambled down out of the cave entrance to his father and put an enormous mailed hand on the fundimentalist's shoulder. Klaatu squeaked to him quietly, "yes, Braandu, we go soon. I/Father cave/enter next. Packing/box finish, We leave. Goto Brendalo."
    
    The mole-man sniffed around a bit and squeaked again, "No smell/sense BigThing now. Danger Gone/away." He was not as confident as the squeaking to his son indicated, however, and the unknown thing that had been outside the cave continued to bother him.
    
    More loudly, in Common, Klaatu said, "Well, young lady, my son and I will go up to the cave and finish packing. We are off tonight, tonight, unless you are willing to accompany us, in which case I don't mind waiting, waiting until you are fed and rested. I can also give you an advance, an advance on our trip together, if you like. For expenses, so to speak. One quarter now, one quarter when I get to oolooGonio Brendalo's tunnel, and the remainder, the remainder when we return. I have a few small jewels, or you may have gold... or the finest steel, finest steel I expect you have ever seen." He looked at her swords, sensed her knives. "Indeed, I think you might appreciate the weapons-steel the most, the most. I used to be armourer to Kings, you know."
    
    He took the hand of the much larger figure and they started walking up the hill. Looking back, Klaatu said to Andimia, "I suppose you saw some of my traps, my traps. If you do not choose to come with us, please do not attempt to gain entrance, entrance to the cave or you will certainly discover others, other traps that you have not yet seen. I would prefer to give you a gift now and have you leave as a friend, a friend, than return and find your body."
    
    "It's up to her" he thought. "I wonder if she's in so much of a hurry now, or whether she can wait two days."

39. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #119

    Andimia stopped her jog when she heard the mole-man's squeaky voice shout out to her. She turned and raised a brow at the mention of payment but looked back up the path in the direction that Alexia had gone, obviously torn between which way she should go. The lure of payment on one hand and helping that elven girl on the other. There is something about her, Andi felt she needed to protect the girl, but there was no way that she would be able to catch up to Alexia while she was on horseback.
    
    Letting out a sigh she began to follow the moleman and his son back to the cave. A terrible sense of dread washed over her and she looked back over her shoulder, reluctantly she continued walking in the opposite direction the elven girl had gone. She jogged to catch up to the moleman and his son and walked silently behind them. Hopefully they won't stay here long, That noble was likely going to have people looking for his stolen belongings.

40. The Rod of Lordly Might

    #120

    What seemed to be memories turned into a passionate hatred; looking around she could smell the blood upon her people. Alexia bit down on her lip, stood up and brushed her dirty dress off. Petting the horse she turned away from the village, not looking back. Stepping over the dead bodies she knew this would be one of the hardest things ever to accomplish or rid of. Keeping her ears open for any survivors her guess remained the same.
    
    Tethon didn’t seem to move, budge or make the slightest movements. Letting go of the horses reigns she touched his cheek lightly with ice cold hands. There was still nothing from him. No improvements. Stopping the horse, she went under his chest and pulled him off the horse, landing on her butt with him on top with an “Oomph.�
    
    Sliding towards the tree, she propped herself up against a burnt tree, still feeling the warmth from the deadened flames. She sighed and brushed the leaves from his tangled hair, letting her white hair drop towards the sides of his face. “Psst…wake up.�

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