Duties of Choice (18+ violence)

For 18+ stories, poems and other creative art.
Post Reply
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Duties of Choice (18+ violence)

Post by Zakharra »

(( This is a WoW based story, since that is where I play a lot now days. It has nothing to do with NWN or any character here. The character is my Blood Elven paladin and her life experience. If you like it, yay! If not, you do not have to read it. Enjoy))

( I decided after reading the wonderful stories of Kirien and her cadre of friends/companions and allies, and their stories(Hhhhhmm.. beefy paladin men...Mmmmmm.....), it made sense for me to put pen to paper and let Velliria's story be known. I rarely am able to RP with her, so I enjoy the chances that I get. This involves only NPCs since it happened where no players saw.. Mostly)

Chapter 1

Sunstrider Isle. Once a place for the Highborn,dwellers of Silvermoon City, to come and relax by the seaside, a place for the study of arcane powers. Now, after the destruction of the Sunwell, a place for young elves to train and take their place in the new society of Blood Elves that has arisen from the wreckage of before...

However there are still mothers and nannies that take young children to the beaches of the isle. Soft sand, low relaxing waves, freshly cut grass and a gentle breeze, morning, noon or night, draw them yet.

Vellria, a young Blood Elven woman, sat on the eastern shore, writing a letter. A tray of bread, cheese, slices of meat and fish, and a bottle of suntouched wine and half full glass rested beside her. A lynx also lay beside her. The tuft-eared feline lay on her side, licking the grass where moments before a large piece of fish had rested.

Velliria brushed back a loose strand of auburn hair, tucking it back into the bun at the back of her head. Dipping a pen in a small vial of ink, she set it to paper...

To Denothor Arynfire Erynlight, Father,

I have been accepted into the order of the Blood Knights, as an Initiate. The training is hard, but needed, given the new realities that face our people this day. My fair skin, once the pride of our family, is often mottled with bruises and scrapes from the practice weapons. Some of the trainers here on Sunstrider Isle do not like noble born initiates, so they are harder on them. But I am surviving. Nay, I am thriving. The practice to wield swords, shields and hand to hand combat is building endurance and muscle.

The fall of the Sunwell has shown that the Rangers alone cannot keep out our enemies. A force, composed of heavy combat troops, yet able to use healing magics in the middle of battle.


She set the pen down and sighs, rubbing her eyes as memories of the frantic and futile battles from the now Ghostlands to the Scar that ripped deep into the very heart of Silvermoon. She picked the pen up, dipping it into the ink vial again.

The ruin the Scourge have done, has proven that. Much to our regret and revealed the great weakness that plagues us now. The addiction to mana. Lifeblood to our civilization and a cable that ties us to a ferocious need that can tear our fragile society apart in an instant if we let it get free.

She sighed and stared out over the sun-dappled waves. A governess had brought two of her charges to the beach to play and relax. A boy and girl, neither older than 12 years. The boy was running along the shore, kicking at the waves and shrieking with laughter. The girl was quieter, sitting on the grass and watching the seagulls. The governess was chasing the boy..

Vellria smiled and went back to her writing.

I am glad that you are not here to see what our once great nation has fallen to. An entire quarter of Silvermoon is destroyed. Overrun mostly by the Wretched. Fallen Highborn that have succumbed to the need for mana. Mindless Scourge roam the Scar that leads to the City and half of our lands are under the foul control of the Scourge. Including where our beautiful home was.

There are signs of recovery though. The military is being rebuilt. The Rangers are still in charge, but the Order has a great say in the deposition of forces. Places have been retaken in the Ghostlands and patrols roam the Scar. Recovering lost artifacts and reclaiming buildings.

Then there are our new allies. That took some getting used to. The Horde is our ally now. The Horde that we once fought against, now an ally against the side that was once our friends. The Alliance.


"What are you writing?"

Vellria looked up at the young girl. "I am writing a letter to my father."

"Oh. Is he a Ranger? Is your mother a Ranger too? My parents are Rangers. They're out fighting the evil Scourge. Is the lynx a pet?" The girl asked curiously, the breeze blowing gold hair across her face.

The auburn haired woman laughed, smiling. "My mother and father were Rangers. The lynx isn't my pet. she's my friend. Her name is Rayne. I am Vellria Arynfire Erynlight.." She bowed, a hand over her heart. The girl bowed back. Grace personified. The result of deportment and manners instructors.

"I am Lynselle Starbranch." Vellria recognized the name of a mid level noble family that dabbled in trade and gems.

The girl nodded. "I am going to be a Ranger when I grow up. So I can help protect my family."

Vellria stiffened slightly - barely a noticeable motion. "That's good. A child should have a goal in mind for when they are adults. Are you training in bow and swords yet?"

The girl shook her head. "Nanna doesn't want us to do hard work. It's improper to sweat, she says."

Vellria laughed, a half-smile brightening her face. "I found my vocation after certain events," is all she said, fingers stroking the sheathed two handed sword lying on the grass beside her. "You can watch and pet Rayne if you want, but quiet please." Nodding, the girl kneels on the other side of the lynx and begins scratching through her thick fur. Much to the feline's delightful purrs.

Our allies.. How shall I start? The tauren, huge beasital creatures that have a savage look, but are surprisingly intelligent. Despite thick fingers and a primitive upbringing. The trolls, true savages, barely civilized. As we knew from the Amani trolls that plague our western borders. The orcs, barely above savagery themselves, but they have shown a surprisingly sophisticated grasp of things. Giving us aid when we need it the most. Savage, yes. Brutal, definitely, but they are not the beastial monsters that so threatened our world in the first two Wars. The last ally are the most disturbing. The Forsaken. It is almost nauseating to the point of doing something one might regret, to see something that should be rotting in the ground and had been involved on the attack of our beloved home, walking in our city.

Yes, they are corpses. The Forsaken of the Scourge. a small group that has freed itself from the Lich-King. They are lead by the Ranger-General Sylvannas Windrunner, now the Banshee Queen. With her leading them, they are among our staunchest allies. Life is strange.

I must regretfully end this letter. I'll write as soon as I can.

Your beloved daughter, Vellria Arynfire Erynlight.


She set the pen aside, scattering sand on the ink to dry it. When it was ready, she folded the letter, sealing it with a red ribbon. Then she took out a candle and, lighting it, set the edge of the letter on fire. She held it until the paper was ashes. The last bit she dropped to the tray to burn up completely. As it burned, Velliria's face was like a mask, tears shining in her green eyes.

"Why did you burn it? Aren't you going to put it into the Royal Post?" Lynselle had an appalled look on her face at the woman's odd behavior.

"I did send it to my father. He died defending my family's home in what is now the Ghostlands. I am sending it to his soul. He's thankfully beyond this world now." The tears began to run now, and she covered her face with both hands.

Velliria wept silently for several minutes before she regained control over herself again. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and blew her nose in a handkerchief. Glancing at the girl, she felt her cheeks color faintly. "I am sorry for that outburst. It still hurts when I think of them."

Lynselle had quickly turned her attention to scratching Rayne's ruff, embarrassed to be seeing the naked emotion of the woman's face. When Vellria finished cleaning her face, she looked back up. "No. I did not mean to bring any grief to mind. Forgive me." The girl's voice was quiet.

Vellria held up a hand. "No. Grief need to come and be dealt with, and the ones lost that we love should be grieved. There is much to be grieved, and to be protected." She looked up at a shout. The governess was making her way towards the two females.

"Lynselle! Come here at once and let the woman alone. We have to go soon and it's time for your medicine." The older, dark haired Sin'Dorei woman bustled up. Lynselle stood, her head down and hands clasped before her. The woman took her hand and lead her back to the shore, where she sat the girl down. Rummaging in a basket, she drew out two glass vials, and handed them to the two children, who opened and drank the liquid.

Vellria was able to see the bright blue glow of liquid mana, and she swallowed hard, turning away. The sight reminding her of her own curse. The addiction for mana reared it's ugly head and scraped it's claws along her nerves. With shaking hands, she drew out a similar vial and uncapped it. The gentle blue glow illuminated her face. The sweet scent, finer than any perfume, more enticing than any spice, more needed and craved than any drug in the world, called to her body and soul. She took a deep shaky breath, then recapped the vial, tucking it away securely.

"I am the mistress of my fate and I will not be ruled by my addiction." She whispered fiercely, hands clenched tightly at her sides. Forcefully, she relaxed her hands, then gathered up the small writing desk, ink, pen and paper, which she placed back into a satchel. The candle was blown out and put in the satchel.


A long ear twitched as the soft footsteps heralded the girl's return. She stopped several paces from Velliria, who gestured for her to sit by Rayne. A pleased smile broke out on the girl's face as she sat to rub the lynx's belly as Velliria fed the feline more of the fish.

"Do you want to talk about them?" She asked quietly.

Velliria didn't need to ask who she was speaking about. "Perhaps I should. It might make the pain easier to bear." She stroked the sheathed blade gently, her eyes distant.

Chapter 2

"Mother and Father were at the Pass when the attacks came. The Scourge overran everything and it was a route. They fell back, at the Ranger-General Windrunnner's orders. Back north and to the east. To set up an flank attack when the main force was marching towards the City. " Velliria sighed, her voice quiet, dropping her gaze to the shoreline and the waves.

"It never happened. A ranging group of Scourge caught them as they were retreating, and they were never able to get the flanking maneuver set up. Arathis was moving too fast. I was caught in the City, my brothers and sisters still home at the country estate when the Scourge found it. Mother and father were at the City wall when it fell. Their bodies were never positively identified..." Velliria's voice grew soft and thick with unshed tears, and anguish.

"I had to identify them from their wedding rings. The rings were on a woman's hand and the hand of a man. Both limbs ripped off the bodies. I burned the bodies that were nearby in a funeral pyre. Many were burned that day. To keep them from rising as Scourge. "

Velliria's face was like a mask as tears slid down her cheeks to drip onto hands that shook slightly. "I lost my entire family in that one day. Mother. Father. Brothers. Sisters. Everyone. After the pyre was burned out, I wandered the City. Remembering very little. Until I woke up in an alleyway and say the people lying the ground. Ragged women and children. Clothed in rags and bandages. People who were commoners, and nobles. Solder and craftsman. Mothers and children. Scared, wounded. Alone."

The auburn haired woman drew in a ragged breath. scrubbing her face with both hands. The girl was white faced and hugging Rayne close to her - her own remembered fears of that horrible night coming back.

"I saw where I was and what happened to the City, and right at that point I made a choice." She raised her head, her face wet but determined." Never again. Never again would I let myself be helpless and those who need protection to be harmed. I would stand between them and the evils that are in the world... I would join and stand in the line to defend my people to life's last breath and beyond. Never again would the young and innocent be harmed. Never again would defenseless folk be put in danger. I will be standing between them and any threat.... Never again..."

Velliria had risen to her feet, sheathed sword in hand. Her voice rose as she spoke, to drop to a whisper on the last two words. "Never again will our people suffer. I will take all of the pain and suffering, so that they do not have to..." Her gaze met the horizon. Hard and as unyielding as mithril, she was determined to take the blows and protect her people at any cost.



Drawing a deep ragged breath, Velliria drew the sword in one smooth motion. She held the long heavy blade easily on her hand, her strong shoulders moving smoothly under the chain shirt she wore. The breeze stiffened offshore, sending the spray of the waves to brush against her skin and hair, the loose strands that fluttered in the freshening breeze.

The girl, Lynselle, looked up at the tall Sin'Dorei woman, an expression of what might have been awe on her face. "You willl be a great ranger, Velliria, and make your parents proud."

Velliria's green gaze slanted to Lynselle. Shaking her head, she sheathed the sword as easily as she'd drawn it. "No. I am not a ranger. I will never be a ranger."

Confused, the girl ran her fingers thru Rayne's belly fur. "But you said this is your friend, your pet. All rangers have pets. "

"Rayne is not my pet. She is a friend, but not in the way you think. I was here when she was a kitten and fed her. She is no more my pet than I am hers. My path is a different one than the Rangers of Silvermoon. Harder, more brutal, dangerous." Shaking her shoulders, Velliria picked up her things, tossing the last of the fish and meat rolls onto the grass for the lynx to eat. "You'd better be going. A storm is coming." The slender woman tilted her head at the distant horizon, now dark with storm clouds.

The governess came up to take Lynselle's hand. "Come child. It is time to go." She'd seen what Lynselle had missed - the medallion hanging around Velliria's neck, indicating her status as a Initiate in the Order of Blood Knights. An Order she despised.

The girl went with her reluctantly. "If you aren't a Ranger then what-"

Velliria lifted a hand to stop her. "Lynselle, I am a protector of Silvermoon and of our lands. I exist so you can stay safe."

The girl and governess joined the boy. Taking out three medallions, she handed two of them to the children, who began concentrating. Faint green leaves, magically flickered and fell around them. One by one, they winked out, whisked home in magical swiftness. Just before she vanished, Lynselle's eyes met Velliria and she lifted her head proudly, mouthing... "I will be a Ranger."

She stared where the three had stood, then turned to look at the gathering clouds. Unconsciously she rolled her shoulders, readying herself to take up a heavy task. Taking out her own hearthstone, she whisked herself to the Inn at Falconwing Square. Soon afterwards she was trotting to the bat handler. Paying the woman for a swift bat to the Ghostlands. The flight down was swift and uneventful, despite the increasing wind of the storm. The bat landed safely and Velliria soon stood on the edge of the Scar, looking at the various undead horrors that roam the life wasted strip of land.

Slowly she drew the sword, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly in a grim smile. "I exist to drive back the Scourge. I take your pain, your suffering, the anguish that you inflict on others, so they do not have to know it... I am Velliria Erynfire Arynlight, Protector of the Sin'Dorei!"

Raising the sword high, she lept off the grass into the Scar, booted feet running the moment they hit the ashy cinders. She howled as she charged one of the undead, golden light flaring around her as she charged herself with a Seal of Judgement. The undead thing snarled and rushed towards her. Golden light flashed like lightening as she swung her sword with both hands at it. "NEVER AGAIN!!" Lightning and thunder flashed and boomed in the stormy skies.
Last edited by Zakharra on Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

((most of this next part is random and in no particular order. The last section starts the time line again, only a few weeks ago(2 months) This post is more realistic and shows the dark side of the mana addiction of the Blood Elves. The fragility of their rebuilt society and what people will do to survive in it. Violence, addiction, and mild sexual innuendo))

Chapter 3

She'd spent weeks in the Ghostlands, doing what she could to help out, running from post to post. She was glad to do it, for it took her where she wanted to be. In the line facing the Scourge. Again and again, she cleansed the Scar, slaying the undead creatures that walked the withered, barren wasteland.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The wind whistled past her face as the cultist swung a sword, clumsily at her. She twisted at the waist, shoulders leaning over to let the blade pass over. The light caught her blade as she straightened and swung upward across his torso. The dark robed man reeled back, screaming in pain, to fall off the edge of the walkway on the side of Windrunner Spire. Velliria brushed back loose hair as she steped up to the edge and watched him plummet to the rocks below on the shore. Wordless, she shook her head and resumed stalking the next cultist.

Brutally she attacked, catching the woman in the back. Screaming in hate, the woman turned to fling shadowy bolts of energy and curses at Velliria. But the determined young woman snarled and kept up her attack. A last cut and she fell, leaving the auburn haired paladin breathing heavily. It only took a moment to search her body. The only think of value was a ring.

She nearly tossed it away before glancing at the inscription. The name identified it's owner - The Ranger-General Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, now the Banshee Queen of the Forsaken.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Get him!" Velliria shouted as the group, a mage, warlock, rogue, priest and another Blood Knight, battled the hulking abomination, Knucklerot. Velliria hacked at the monster's pasty white rotting side, her sword sinking deep to score the massive rib bones.

It roared, turning faster than she thought possible, and swung at the irritating creature that had hurt it. Food not hurt! Food should be EATEN! It rumbled, the massive fist swinging at Velliria.

She was already turning to cut at it's leg when a shout snapped her head around. She caught sight of the fist and barely had time to bring her sword up in a futile effort to block. The impact stunned her for several moments.

"Why is the wind whistling? I feel as light as a feather..", she mused, knocked nearly unconscious. Dazed green eyes blinked, her mind slowly focusing. She wasn't floating, but flying backwards thru the air... Her trajectory spun her over and she could see the edge of the Scar coming near at a frightful speed. She curled into a tight ball, sword held straight out to prevent it from hurting herself when she landed.

The impact stunned her again, the hard ground blasting the air from her lungs. She tried to control her roll but hit a rock instead - and the roll turned into a limp tumble. She crashed into a shattered wagon, groaning from several broken ribs and badly bruised flesh. Dazed, Velliria lay there for several moments, before rising on unsteady feet. She leaned heavily on her sword, the point digging deep into the soil.

"By the Sunwell!" She murmured. Knucklerot had knocked her nearly clear across the width of the Scar. From where she was, the fight looked to be going badly for her companions, so staggering to her feet, the blood-soaked paladin stumbled towards the distant fight. She didn't have time to heal, only time to run. The stained and cracked boots pounded the ground as she raced back to the fight. Her path took her past several undead creatures that quickly gave chase, seeing an easy meal in the wounded woman.

The abomination roared, many wounds marring it's filthy bulk. Huge rents and blasted wounds gaped, and ripped and torn muscle flapped as it tried to swat the Blood Elves that surrounded it. It raised a hand, roaring, and prepared to smash the annoying rogue. Right then Velliria, howling and glowing with holy energy, crashed into it's side, the point of her sword driving deep into it's ribcage. Then the holy energy hit, causing the monster to roar.

Screaming "Never again!" Velliria twisted, ripping the blade from it, and struck again. This time her blow nearly severed the leg at the knee.

"Watch out! It's going down!" Velliria turned at the shout. Knucklerot's corpse stumbled, then fell to the ground in an earth shaking Thud. The battle was done. Knucklerot was dead. Again...

Exhausted, the paladin smiled at her companions. Never again...

__________________________________________________________________________________

Velliria looked up at the huge floating crystal being and swallowed hard. It was time for another test. This one was to start her passage from Initiate to Adept. She'd been able to draw on the holy Light for the smaller Seals, healing and spells, but anything larger needed a ... greater... source. The very being that was floating above her.

A captured Naaru, a being of the Light... Six Blood Elven Magisters were spaced equidistant around the room, on small platforms half way up the wall. Bright pulsing beams of a foul reddish energy shot from their hands to bind the ancient creature to it's unwilling prison and purpose. As a source for the power that the Order of Blood Knights drew on. Stolen holy power.

"You must draw the energy from the creature to progress further as a Blood Knight.. Take it's energy and be filled with Light. Take what you need, Initiate, but do it." So she was ordered by the Matriarch of the Order. Nervously, Velliria up looked at the Naaru, raising her hand hesitantly. Her green eyes closed as she concentrated on the Naaru.

PAIN Velliria flinched, her mind suddenly awash in agony. She raised her hand back up, knowing that two sets of critical eyes were on her - watching her performance. I need the power you have... So I can protect my people, she thought to it.

I hurt! Pain! The mental visions of red agony blast through her mind, leaving her gasping in sympathy.

Please! I don't want to take your power by force, but I NEED it! The young Initiate thought to it desperately.

I hurt. Much pain from my stolen life... but still I serve the Light. Take what you need, paladin. The alien thoughts scorched her mind and Velliria nearly fell to her knees. Sweating heavily, she straightened and a bright red/green beam shot from her hand, arching up to the Naaru. Energy, clean, pure and untainted by hatred, fear or pain, swept down and into her body, filling Velliria with a inner glow.

She straightened, her pain gone as if it had never been. Brushing back her hair, she turned to face the Matriarch and Magister. This test was done.


After Velliria left, the Magister's eyes lingered on the thin sheer curtains at the entrance. "You think she will be a problem? Her reaction to the creature," he unconsciously glanced up at the Naaru, was.. different."

"Hhmmm... Different or not, she did take it's power. The reports that I've read on her say she is diligent, dependable, and skilled in two handed sword. She has learned the spells well and can hold herself well in a fight. She likes to frequent the Ghostlands. The undead seem to focus her ire more than anything." The tall red headed woman said. Armor clinked quietly as she folded her arms, fingers tapping on the belt.

"Yes. Her determination isn't in doubt. It's her loyalty that concerns me. She seems to care for the commoners." His lip curls in a sneer.

"Interesting. Caring for commoners. Silly girl. Still... have her watched. She might still be of use to us and to the Regent. Just watched for now." She said. The Magister nodded. Both were silent in the light of the Naaru's agonized movements.


_______



Velliria had some time off from the Ghostlands, for armor repair and more training, and to relax in a civilized setting. The sun shown brightly down the white and red/gold limestone and the marble buildings and streets. The colors were soothing to the young paladin after the gloom, foul air and dark dreariness that so pervaded the Ghostlands.

She'd finished browsing the various shops and merchants in the Bazaar, buying little. As much as she longed for the fine things, jewelery, fine silk, linen, rune cloth clothes, she had to put those desires aside for the more practical reality of her armor's repair and payment for training. She knew the fastest way to the Order's buildings was through the poor section of the City. Murder Row.

The outright poverty, depression and miasma of hopelessness that pervaded the area bothered Velliria, so she was hurrying through the streets to an inn. Velliria's boots were quiet on the dark flagstones, stride confident as she moves.

A sound like flesh hitting flesh, followed by a woman's shrill scream brought the auburn-haired woman to a stop. Carefully, Velliria moved to a dark alleyway to peer around the corner. The alley was long, narrow and dark. Two figures stood halfway down it, a man and woman. He lashed out at her, striking her hard enough that she crumbled to the ground, crying. Then he grabbed the woman, hauled her to her feet and proceeded to hit her again.

Velliria couldn't take it. With a howl, she rushed at the man. Gold light flared around her as she charged a Seal. As she flung out a gauntleted hand, the Seal went off, stopping the man from running. He staggered back and dropped the woman, blinking rapidly, hands rubbing at his eyes from the flash blindness. Velliria reached him a moment later and her hand cracked across his face. The power of the blow rocked him back into the stone wall. Bouncing, he hit it again as Velliria proceeded to beat him. Her anger flared from her burning green eyes.

"How dare you hit this woman! Have you no shame?! You" Crack. "Will not." Crack. "Hit a woman." Crack. "Again!" Crack. Her pummeling had him bleeding in the mouth and face. She would have continued to beat him if the woman, who'd been sobbing on the ground, had not leapt at Velliria, striking the armored woman with small fists.

"Stop it! Leave him alone! He's not doing anything wrong!" Shock stopped Velliria and she stepped back, letting the man drop to the ground. The woman knelt beside him, holding his bleeding head against her chest. She rubbed his face and shoulders soothingly while glaring hatred at Velliria. "You foul woman! Have you nothing better to do than to beat on my man?"

"Beat on you--?! He was hitting you! And could have done worse if I hadn't stopped him. Why are you mad at me?!" Unbelieving, the paladin watched as the woman tried to tend to the man. "I'm a paladin - a Blood Knight. Sworn to protect the people of Silvermoon. You."

"You!" She spat at Velliria. "The Blood Knights are nothing but thugs and the armored fist of the Regent. They don't care about us commoners, except when they need to put us down! You are all high and mighty up in your gilded towers. Doing your 'best' to protect us. Well, here's a bit of news, Blood Knight!" She spat again. "Your help isn't doing us any good. You and your kind get all of the food and goods, while we wallow in s&#t and sewage. Take your pity and desire to help and leave!" The man stirred in her arms, and the nameless woman murmured to him, her long loose hair falling around their faces. Shielding them from Velliria's gaze.

Uncertain and in shock, Velliria took a step back. This is not what she had expected to happen. The man rose to his feet, wiping blood from a split lip. Clenching the rag tightly, he looked at the confused Blood Knight and smirked. "Not what you expected, eh? Go back to your high towers and high-falooting ways and leave us alone, woman. We -" he draped an arm over the slight woman's shoulders, pulling her close to him. "Will be safe. I protect my own."

Anger flares in Velliria's eyes. "You were beating her. I cannot let an innocent woman be beaten." She was shocked again when both of them began to laugh.

"She's no innocent. She hasn't been that in decades. She's one of my girls. A whore."

Taken aback again, Velliria stepped back confusedly. "I don't understand..."

"Of course you don't. This isn't your class to be around, Blood Knight." He said the name with a sneer.

The woman spoke. "I deserved the beating. Malenthel is good to me. He protects me and helps with my problems."

"Of course, my dear. And now it's time for your mana..." He took out a small glowing blue vial. The woman's eyes blazed with eagerness and her body trembled with need, the addiction clawing along her nerves, screaming to be fulfilled. To taste mana... Malenthel smirked as he handed the vial to the woman.

She quickly drank it. She moaned, arching backwards, body writhing in ecstasy as the liquid mana seeped throughout her body. Slowly she slid down the wall to lie quivering at the man's feet.

His eyes never leaving Velliria's. "Go away to your Light cursed towers and leave us, Knight. This is no place for you." Malenthel's voice was cold and hard.

Very confused and uncertain, Velliria backed away and left the alley. The sound of laughter following her as she practically ran out onto the street and out of Murder Row.

"How can I protect them when they don't want it? How did I fail them? Why do they hate me so? Why..?" She arrived at the Blood Knight headquarters, her faith in her mission shaken.

Chapter 4

Velliria stayed away from Murder Row for two weeks, but she couldn't forget what she'd seen. The sight of the woman, defending her attacker was bothering Velliria more than anything. As she stood in the room that M'uru was held in, late at night, she paced the floor. Why did she do that? Because he helps feed her addiction? By the Light.. why?! The red-headed paladin thought. Hands clasped behind her back, she looked up at the huge crystalline being. "I serve the Light, and live to protect the innocent. Then why do I feel like I've failed?" She asked quietly, frowning.

It didn't answer, leaving the paladin in a pensive mood. She drew her cloak around herself and stepped back along the wall, her eyes glowing a brilliant green in the shadows. The sound of the occasional person coming and leaving barely intruded on her thoughts. Several hours passed before she took her leave of the room.

Cloak loose around her body, Velliria strode through the City. It was time that she faced her worries head on. The sounds of the City changed as she headed into the narrow streets and alleys of Murder Row. She heard the scuff and scurry of feet all around her, with faint whispering, the tap of metal and leather on stone and sounds of pleasure, pain, weeping and despair caught by her ears. As she walked, Velliria kept her hands free, her stride confident and sure. It didn't pay to show weakness in this part of the City.

She was passing an alleyway when she heard a low sobbing. Glancing around, she warily entered the narrow slit between two buildings. Expecting an ambush, the red-haired woman crept along the garbage filled alley until she came across a man hunched over. Clad in torn and worn clothes, he wept, she could see, over the dim remains of a cheap magical necklace that he'd drained of magic.

Pity overwhelmed Velliria as she saw him struggling with his addiction. Without hesitation, she placed a hand on his shoulder and summons the Narru, M'uru's energy within her, releasing it in a slow trickle into him. The man gasped, straightening as he felt pure untainted mana flow from the hand on his shoulder. Burning like fire, cleansing his body and mind, and easing the cravings he had. Velliria felt a sense of peace come over her as she lent the man her mana.

A steady blue glow surrounded them both, the light filling the alley and dismissing the shadows to reveal forms moving in closer. Men, women and children, all drawn by the same thing, walked and crept towards Velliria, the lure of free mana drawing their cravings out. The insane need for mana roared and scraped greedy claws along their nerves, sending them into a near frenzy for the the oh-so-sweet and beautiful sustenance. Some drooled, others were breathing heavily as they reached for the paladin.

The first Velliria knew of any one else's presence was when a hand touched her shoulder. Then another and another. Her green eyes snapped open and she gasped as they mana tapped her. The holy energy that she was channeling, flared once, twice, then light exploded around her as more and more people reached out with addiction-greedy fingers to wrench the power from her.

Velliria arched back, then sagged against a wall, her heart pounding in her chest. "Please... don't take so much... you're drai...ning me....", she gasped. Her limbs grew weak and her vision blurred as the Blood-Elven poor sucked more mana from the female paladin. Velliria was on the edge of unconsciousness when a sudden surge of Light filled her.

Take what you need, paladin, and share it. M'uru says in her mind. Power, more than she'd ever felt filled her body and she instinctively turned it to mana for the ever growing mob to take. Power and light flared up brightly, lighting the dark alley like a pale blue sun. It rushed through her body, searing her nerves as she freely gave it out.

Sweat poured down her face and her heart pounded heavily in her chest as she channeled the immense power. Feeling joy at first, it began to grow too much and the faint trickle of fear and then panic crept into her mind. The joy quickly turned to discomfort, then pain as her body began to get overwhelmed by the power exchange.

"Sto... stop it... It's too... much... Please st... op taking it... It's... hurting me... " Velliria gasped, sagging against the alley wall. She felt it turn to pain. Nerves on fire, lungs burning for breath, Velliria's fingers scraped the dank stone walls as she fought to stop the flow.

With great effort, she closes the energy tap from M'uru and nearly fell to her knees as the pain stopped. But the people tapping her didn't stop. They had found mana and where going to drain it to the fullest. Energy continued to flow out of her, pulled by the bone and body-deep need of the people. Velliria felt the pain again as this time her life's energy was taken from her. She struggled and fought, but the demand was too great and the female paladin felt her body weakening.

Her breath rasped in her throat and the sound of her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she fought to shut off the taps that took from her. "St... stop... you...'re going to... kill me... Stop... stop please..." Velliria muttered. Her vision grew first grey, then black at the edges, the darkness growing to swallow her sight.

Suddenly the mana flow stopped and she staggered backwards, crashing into the wall. Breathless, nearly sightless and barely conscious, Velliria saw the mob around her waver. Some people falling, others holding onto each other as they writhed in the throes of blissful joy.

Just before she fell, Velliria caught sight of the woman that she'd seen the first time so many weeks ago. Then darkness welled up and took her sight and consciousness, and she slid bonelessly down the wall to collapse on the garbage strewn ground.

Chapter 5

Velliria slowly swam to consciousness. Exhaustion claimed her body. Every nerve, every muscle felt as heavy as the statues that stood at every gate in Silvermoon. Her mind was blank. Where am I? Why am I so tired?, she thought. Slowly she focused her mind and the memories started to filter back to the surface of her mind. The alley, the man., the unexpected mana surge from M'uru and the crowd draining her of mana, and lastly, the pain and unconsciousness. Suddenly she was awake, but still unable to move. Or hear...

At first all she could hear was vague noises. Then they began to clear up and they became clear. Low moans from people, the quiet drone of wind blowing over the roofs of buildings, a not too distant cry of a baby, the yowling cry of a cat and that of footsteps and low voices.

Then the smell hit her nose. Dank stagnate water, rotting food, bodily wastes and the acrid reek of urine brought Velliria fully awake. Finding the energy to open her eyes, the auburn haired paladin slowly lifts an arm so she could sit up. As she moves, the voices sharpen.

"She's awake! Twisted Nether, the bitch is awake!" Booted feet moves towards her then her world moves as hands grab and lift her up. Pain explodes in her head as she was shoved back into the wall. "Hello, Blood Knight ", a male voice sneers. She was slammed again into the wall, the impact focusing her mind.

Blearily, her eyes open and the blurred face of the man she'd beaten up a few weeks ago, stares back at her. "Remember me?" She did, his face was mostly healed of the battering she'd given him. A faint discoloration around the eyes the only sign remaining.

"I remember you. I can't forget that face." Tiredly, Velliria smirked, hands twitching at her sides. The man, Malenthel's, face twists into a hateful snarl and he slams her back against the wall several times. The impacts hurt, but serve to focus her mind and clear her head. She could see the crowd that'd gathered around her was mostly gone. A few remaining figures lying on the dank and filthy pavement as several figures quickly riffle their clothes and pouches.

"Hey boss, lookit their eyes.. They're blue.." A young male says, lifting a unconscious woman up into a sitting position and pries an eye open. Velliria saw that instead of the usual green glow, the woman's eyes were a soft blue.

Malenthel grunts, eying Velliria. "I don't know what you did, you parasite, but I'll find out , but until then, you're going to be my 'guest''. You owe me.. and I always collect.." He snarls, turning her around and slams her into the wall again. He took out a cord and yanking her hands behind her back, ties them together. Tightening the cord cruelly.

"In fact, I'm going to collect some right now.." Fingers knot in her hair and her face slams into the wall, stunning Velliria. Turning her back around, he drew out a long wicked dagger. The edge flashes as he drew it down her face. The pain and sudden rush of hot blood wrenches a cry from Velliria. The slice was burning and Malenthel laughing as he held up the dripping blade.

A loud yowling snarl, followed by screams and cries of pain and fear made the blood elven man turn. A tan colored blur knocks him away from her, taking the man to the ground. More screams rip the air as Velliria slid down the wall and slumps over onto her side. Blood dripping down her face.

Several minutes pass before she could focus enough to realize that the screaming was gone and that some creature was licking her face with a rough tongue, and purring. Blinking blurry eyes, Veliria saw a familer tawny tufed eared face. "Rayne. What are you doing here?" Velliria's voice was strangely slurred to her ear, and the pain intensified as Rayne's tongue washes the side of her face. "Ow.. stop that. I'm up.." Sliding back up the wall, she saw what her feline friend had done. The man, Malenthel, was lying on the ground, moaning quietly, his face and torso torn by claws and fangs. Other blood covered bodies mark where Rayne's rampage had left Malenthel's companions.

It took Velliria the work of a few minutes to locate the knife that Malenthel had used on her, to cut the cord around her wrists. She rubs them, and stands on wobbly legs. Her strength still much diminished. Turning her gaze inward, she found the holy energy of M'uru, nearly gone from her. The reserves a Blood Knight was taught to take and hold, drained.

The pain of her face drew her back and she gingerly explores the cut with the edge of the knife. The cut was deep, running diagonally down the right side of her face. From just below the corner of her eyes, over the cheekbone and ending below the corner of her mouth. The white flash of bone, blood and gaping flesh made her feel nauseous for a moment, then she pushes away from the wall to stagger towards the entrance of the alley.

Rayne was by her side, purring loudly. The remnants of the crowd that had gathered around her was now gone and only Malenthel and his people lay on the filthy stone pavement. With weak legs, Velliria staggers out onto the street. Her feet moving forward until she found a fountain.

She nearly fell onto the edge, bracing herself with a hand as she scoops up some water to wash her face. Wincing as it was cleaned. She uses several bandages to dress it, and wash her face. Feeling much clearer headed by the time she was done. The right side of her face felt like it was dipped in hot oil and swollen to three times the proper size. Her joints and limbs hurt, weakness threatening to make her fall, but she stands and with a nod to Rayne, walks out of Murder Row towards the Blood Knight buildings in Farstrider Square.

(This one is a small tribute to the wonderful story of Kirien and her guardians. And to several others that are tied in by various characters. No disrespect or dishonor is intended.)

Velliria drew many stares as she walks along the street. Her armor wet and smeared with filth and blood. A bandage covering half of her face, blood already soaking thru the thick linen cloth, sweat and blood matting her hair, and a tawny tufted eared lynx walking by her side. Thru great effort, Velliria kept her pace steady, if slow, thru the turns of the gates and up the steps to the Blood Knight building.

The guards eyes widen as she came up to them, then they wrinkle their noses as the pungent oder coming from her hits them. The curtains that act as a door to the building flutter open as Champion Bachi came out, followed by several initiates and adepts.

"Adept Velliria",his voice cool and commanding. She instinctively stops, coming to a species of attention, wobbling slightly. Bachi stares at the young women, looking her over with a professional gaze. "Adept Velliria Arynfire Erynlight, you are to go, immediately to the training compound north of the city wall and speak to Master Keleron. " A moment's pause, "Where have you been? You reek.." He held a hand over his mouth and nose.

She gave him a blank look for a moment. "The building north..?"

"The Sunfire estate! Where that git of a Sunfire girl stays and distracts everyone with her silly inane blather. Go!" His green eyes blazing as he snaps out the orders.

Behind him, Velliria saw that many of the young men start and look at Bachi in amazement. More than a few narrowing in anger at the rude words directed to the daughter of the Sunfire lord. She was barely able to keep in a smirk. The girl, Kirien Sunfire, had charmed many of the initiates and adepts, and Bachi was too stupid or arrogant to realize that.

Velliria salutes sharply. "Yes, Champion Bachi. I hear and obey." I came thru Murder Row. Turning on her heel, she heads off, Rayne by her side


Earlier that day...

The magister who was monitoring the wards surrounding the Naaru, M'uru was bored. It had been a long day shift. Nothing had happened in weeks with the gigantic being of Light. The warders were keeping it in place, allowing the Order of Blood Knights to tap into the near limitless store of Light within it. The flow of energy out of it varies, depending upon the demands of the members of the Order. Any escape attempts were squashed as soon as they were detected.

Yawning, he looks at the arcane instruments that measure the energy. Another boring day.. He thought, passing a hand over the power crystals. Mana flow, regular. Light fluctuations, within limits. Wards, holding within bounds. Energy surge buffers, empty and ready. He yawns again, just another boring day under the Blood Knight Hall.

He was turning to get a drink of apple cider when the Mana regulator began flashing. Curious he looks at it. Then again in disbelief as the rate of energy flow registers. Rising higher with every passing second. From the room M'uru was held in, a bright light flares and grows. The reddish glow turning a deep vivid blue.

"What the Nether is happening?!?!" A deep female voice shouts.

"I don't know.. Warders, strengthen the wards, NOW!" The Magister bellows. "Aerenthol! What is happening to it?"

The magister, Aerenthol, bends over the crystal displays, fingers touching places to try and bring the energy flow under control. "I don't know. There is a massive flow of energy out of the Naaru. A pure mana flow!"

"Where is it goi-- Nevermind. Is it trying to escape?"

He checks the ward display "No sir. The wards are holding."

Then by the Sunwell, where is the energy going?" Magister Bloodsworn said, suddenly right behind the younger magister. He peers over Aerenthol's shoulder to examine the readouts.

"It's going somewhere.." Quick fingers bring other crystal displays to arcane life "It's not going far. The focus it to tight for a long range transfer, and mana doesn't travel that well over long distances... The rate of loss and bleed is to much." Fine tuning the displays, he leans forward, sweat dripping down his face. "Locating.. locating.. loca-- It's in the City. Not too far... Murder Row!"

"Where in Murder Row?" Bloodsworn's hand tightens on his shoulder.

"Locating.. locating..." Just then the bright flare of light dies down to what it had been before, and both of them curse. "The locus of the transfer is lost. Murder Row is the closest that I could get it. "

"Keep full monitors and warders on the Naaru. If this happens again, I want to know where it goes to and if there is a way to stop it. We have uses for mana." He left the room to speak to Matriarch, Lady Lainddrin.

Aerenthol nods, his pleasantly boring day shot to hell...


Later....

Champion Bachi watches Velliria walk off. She'd been in Murder Row... Turning on his heel the tall black haired Knight stalks towards the entrance to the underground holding room for M'uru. Passing down the stairs and into the Matriarch's office, he bows before the Matriarch and Magister. "One of our adepts was in Murder Row. Velliria."

Lady Liadrin's head snaps up, green eyes narrowing. "Velliria... " Rising, she walks to a oak cabinet and withdraws a file before returning to her desk to open and look at it. "Excellent record. Outstanding in swordsmanship and bravery. " She murmurs, flipping the sheets of paper. The Magister reading over her shoulder. "She had a odd reaction to the creature and her activities are sufficiently odd. Bachi."

The champion looked at her.

"Have her watched. If she was involved in the mana surge, she'll be deapt with. but", she held up a finger. "Until we know for sure or she does something warranting cause, just keep her under survalliance."

Bachi nods and left the room. Behind, the two leaders of the Blood Knights remain quiet for some time. Liadrin's finger gently tapping the file. "If she gives us cause, we'll bring her in. We need to do better than that fisaco with the traitor. " She grimaces. Being knocked into the fountains had been extremely embarassing.
Last edited by Zakharra on Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

(mana addiction, murder))
Chapter 6

Velliria walks slowly thru the large city, Rayne by her side. As before, the appearance of her battered and filthy armor and face, blood soaked bandages, exhaustion stamped on her face, and the tawny tufted eared lynx padding by her side, drew stares.

She made her way out thru the Shepard's Gate, turning west along the City wall and heading towards the gate to Falconwing Square. The Scar was quiet when she passes over it. Staggering on a blackened bit of bone before she caught herself. Several people pass her as she enters Falconwing Square. Going both ways.

Velliria took the opportunity to rest for a moment on the edge of the fountain in the square. Pulling off soiled gauntlets, she uses the cool clear water to wash her face and armor. Removing the garbage and blood. Heat from the sun warmed water and stone seeps into her tired body. Calling for the young paladin to lie down on a bench and sleep. No. I cannot sleep now. I have to report to Master Keleron, she thought, standing and stretching.


Splashing water on her face, she felt more renewed and set off down Dawning Lane with a brisker pace. Her mind going over what had happened to her in the alley. Rayne by her side, Velliria walks head down as the events flow again. Three quarters down the lane, she pauses in mid step, eyes widening. "It used me..", she whispers quietly.

Shock and disbelief surges through her, followed by rage. M'uru had used her as a conduit for it's mana flow. Apparently not caring that if she hadn't cut the flow off, she'd have been burned out. Fury courses in her blood, burning in the blazing green eyes and the taut rigidness of clenched fists. She was willing to help those who needed it. Giving mana, protection and aid when and where she could to people.

The guard patrolling the lane passes Velliria, glancing at the trembling woman. Unconsciously he takes a side step away from her. He shivers as he continues along the railing of the Lane, eyes looking out for Wretched or damaged arcane patrollers.

Velliria didn't notice him, so enraged was she. It took several minutes before she could control her rage and calm down. The exhaustion she'd put aside suddenly rising over her again. She stumbles to the railing on the western edge of the Lane, sitting on the stone rail, hands covering her face. She wept, from frustration, anger and a sense of shame at being used so.

Velliria wept for several minutes, Rayne sitting by her side, purring and nuzzling her leg. Finally her tears started tapering off and Velliria uses her hands to scrub her face. Drawing in a deep breath, the Blood Elven paladin sat, resting to regain her strength.

Velliria rose to her feet, hands patting several loose tresses back into place up on top of her head. She started walking north, the Lane empty of people for once, when she stops. Frowning, Velliria felt something stir within her. A need, a desire ....., a craving. A hunger for something. Her body trembles as she clasps her hands tightly together, trying to fight this sudden hunger.

The muted sound of a arcane patroller caught Velliria's attention. The glowing crystal core drew her eyes like a moth to flame. Suddenly she knew what she needed, what she was craving. Magic... mana .... Unconsciously the young woman steps over the railing, her eyes glowing with a unnatural fire. She quickly ran down the embankment towards the towering metal and crystal construction.

Up close it was apparent that it was damaged. Cracks ran all along one side of it's chest armor and shoulder pieces, where blackened fragments were missing. A faint glowing trail of mist trickles down from the power core, leaking mana. The elusive and tantalizing arcane scent drew Velliria. She pauses, trembling with the need to take and consume the mana for herself.

Training makes her wait until it had turned and was walking away from her. At that moment, Velliria took off running. Her boots nearly silent on the thick uncut sod. Strands of auburn hair flew back as Velliria leapt onto the back on the patroller. It turns, arms flailing as she plunges her hands thru it's armor to wrap trembling fingers around the power core.

SSSSSSKKRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE!! It screeches as light flares around them, swirling as the Blood Elven woman began to drain the mana from it. The sweet tantalizing mana flows into her. Filling her veins and flesh with power, with pleasure, with life. It's arms hit Velliria several times. Making her cry out in pain, but she never let go of her death grip on the core. Her unsated craving pulling more and more power from the arcane construct.

It's flailings grew frantic as it felt it's power draining away. Twisting, the patroller tries to knock Velliria off of it's back. Suddenly it stumbles, falling to it's knees. The light from the power core fading rapidly. With a last Ssskkkkrrreeee.. the arcane construct fell to the ground. Limbs quivering for a moment before falling still.

Velliria rolls off the patroller's back, onto the grass. Writhing in ecstasy as the mana seeps into every fiber of her body. Easing her cravings. Sweat pours down her face as she arches her spine, twisting to curl into a tight ball, shivering and moaning in pleasure. It was better than winning, it was better than alcohol, better than sex, and Velliria's mana starved body determinedly took every scrap of pleasure and enjoyment from the stolen mana.

She lay there, slowly writhing on the grass. A look of rapturous bliss on her face. Finally she stood, brushing loose hair back from a flushed face. Velliria looks down at the dead patroller and giggles. "Thank you for your gift of mana..." She purrs, turning on a heel and walking away with a swaying gait. As she walks, she saw things differently. Nothing of her hurt, nothing aches, everything had a golden glow that whispers promises of pleasure to her. Everything was good, the future was good...

A distance away, a Wretched was crouching over the body of a slain Blood Elven rogue, pawing thru the corpse's meager belongings. "No mana! I must have mana... " The Wretched hisses, standing to look for a mana source. It saw Velliria, glowing with her stolen mana and skipping along the stone path, giggling and spinning. Grinning, the mana starved creature ducks behind a shrub and starts to stalk the auburn haired woman.

Velliria, enjoying the blissful experience of a mana rush, heard Rayne, who was still by her side, growl softly and turns to see the Wretched, running at her. Her mana heightened senses could see the low stores of mana the creature had and she smiles widely. Another 'donation' of her precious mana was coming to her. She turns to the side as the creature leapt at her, hands stretching to grab her and drain her mana. Velliria's training let her avoid the rushing attack easily as she slams a hand into it's spine. Knocking it to the ground.

Her smile stays as her fist hammers into the back of it's skull. "Stay down! There's a good boy..", she croons, kneeling beside the creature. Bending over it, she lowers her head, hands cupping the sides of it's head. "I need something you have, creature...". Velliria murmurs quietly. Blue/green light flares in her eyes, and the Wretched arches up as Velliria rips the mana from it's body. Draining every bit she could.

The mana surges thru her veins, making the young woman moan at the ecstasy of it. Straightening, she threw back her head, laughing. Then she bent back over the prone Wretched, and grabbing it's head, wrenches it around. It's neck snapping like a green tree branch.

From there, Velliria, drunk on the mana rush went from Wretched to Wretched, draining their mana and killing them after she was done. The sun was lowering when she looks at her hands and wonders at the blood on them. She suddenly stood, looking down at herself in the late afternoon sunlight. Blood covers her hands and arms, her legs and torso were splashed with it as well. Nausea rose up and she barely had time to turn her head to throw up. Everything she'd eaten that day came up as she retches. After emptying her stomach, Velliria ran back to Dawning Lane and north until she was out of the City.

She walks straight to the beach and into the surf. Letting the warm salt water wash away the blood. Cleaner, Velliria strode higher up on the beach and uses some of her water to wash away the salt residue from her skin and armor. Then squaring her shoulders, she heads east along the path to the Sunfire Summer Estate.

Chapter 7

Boot heels ring on the cobblestone pathway as the wet Blood elven woman walks towards the manor. The lynx, Rayne, padding along nearby. Velliria saw several groups of trainees and the teachers working out in the courtyard. Sparring, practicing on sword pells, wresting. or resting on the grass. Velliria walks thru the courtyard to stand before Master Keleron. Snapping a salute, she waits...

The tall blonde haired man glares at Velliria. "Where in the fragmented Sunwell have you been?! You're three hours late, explain Adept trainee."

"I was detained by some Wretched and a damaged patroller, Master Keleron", is all she said.

The armored knight snorts. "Since you deigned to arrive so late, I have a task for you. You're coming along well in swordsmanship. It's time you were tested in a fight. Falinel! Front and center!" A young man, tall, long blonde hair, wearing the armor of a Adept trainee rose to his feet and walks to stand at attention by Velliria's side. "Adept trainee Falinel, Adept trainee Velliria, you will take to the sparring circle. He will have full use of his abilities. You, Velliria", Keleron says with a sneer. "Will use just your sword. No Seals or Commands, no mana, no spells."

The two nod, eyeing each other out of the corner of their eyes. Spreading out, the courtyard clears as people move to the edges. Bets were called in quiet voices as the two opponents stood ready. Falinel, his armor clean and shiny, healthy and hale, the glow of enchantments soft around him, And Velliria in her battered and damp armor. A bloody bandage covering the right side of her face, loose strands of hair hang alongside her neck and face, and the tiredness visible to the watchers.

Falinel straps on his shield and draws the long sword he favors, while Velliria drew her Sin'Dori warblade. He swung his sword, moving the sharp steel thru several patterns. Velliria let the point of her blade rest on the dusty flagstones and just waits.

"Begin!" Master Keleron snapped, stepping back.

Falinel circled Vellliria, sword and shield ready. Velliria just waits, the tip of her curved blade resting lightly on the dirty courtyard ground, the hilt held in one hand. She turned to watch him. Seemingly at ease, if tiredly. Falinel pauses to cast several spells on himself. Velliris recognizes the distinctive arcane circle that flashes momentarily around him as a Seal.

The tip of her sword rises as she readies herself for the attack. She doesn't have to wait long. The young Blood Knight shouts and charges her. The bright light of a Judgment flickers from his sword hand, to slam into her. She grits her teeth in pain, fighting the punishing effect to deflect Falinel's thrust. Steel clashes as her blade knocks his aside. She skips back to avoid the shield.

Keeping her eyes on him, Velliria forces herself into what she calls her 'combat mind'. Centering her consciousness on the task at hand. The noises from the watchers, boots and armor scraping and clanking, the quiet murmur of voices, even the faint sound of the surf crashing on the shore fades. As does her notice of how tired she is, and her pains. Everything fades, leaving behind a cold, crystal focus of battle. The corner of Velliria's mouth curves up in a sardonic smile.

The auburn haired paladin moves lightly on her feet, bouncing forward and back, her blade flicking out at Falinel's shield like a serpent's strike . Kept beyond his reach, Falinel leapts at her, a flick of a hand summoning the Consecration. Rings of holy fire burst out from him. Each wave searing Velliria's flesh.She ignores it as Falinel's sword cuts at her from high. The longsword's blade cutting down at her left shoulder. Velliria twists and raises her hilt up, blade pointing down so his sword skitters harmlessly away.

Swiftly, Velliria punches at his right arm with the hilt. Falinel's shield blocks the strike. The smile turns to a smirk as she lunges at him, trapping the shield between them and shoves. They split back and the swords clash together. He leaps at her, sword jabbing and slicing at her. She deflects most of the blows. Gaining only a few new wounds.

Master Keleron paces around the edge of the courtyard. Intently watching the fight. "What is the first duty of a Blood Knight?", he asks.

"To serve the Regent and Prince", is the reply by everyone in the courtyard.

"Who do you serve? Velliria, Falinel, answer!"

"The Regent and Prince", Falinel pants.

"The citizens of Quel'thalas and Silvermoon, and the Regent." Velliria rasps, brushing back strands of sweat soaked hair from her face.

Some of the watchers nod, others stay silent. Master Keleron pauses in his pacing to look hard at the female Adept trainee.

As they fight, he hammers her with the divine might of his Order. Seals,judgments, and Consecrations hammer her constantly. Fresh bruises darken her pale skin, fresh blood stains the bandage on her face, and sweat runs down her face as she doggedly fights Falinel. At every blow that lands, the smirk on her face stays. Taunting Falinel as she takes blow after blow.

Sweating himself, the male Blood Knight's chest heaves from his exertions. "How long can you stand this?" He asks, hitting her with another Consecration spell. His store of mana was low as he charges another Seal, but it was enough for what he had in mind. Velliria just smirks and attacks. With a light step, she howls and charges, the long two handed blade sweeping up and coming down in a cut meant to cut deeply into the flesh and bone of his shoulder or into his shield. Which met the sword with a hollow boom. The edge cut deep into the shield. Trapping it there. He wrenches the shield away, tearing the sword from her hands.

The unexpected move sends Velliria staggering forward. Falinel turns and slaps her across her backside with the flat of his sword, followed by a boot that knocks her sprawling across the courtyard. She lands heavily in the dust. Her blood tempered ranseur slipping out of the loops that had held it to her back. Confident, he walks after her, laughing. Almost strutting.

There is other laughter from some of the watchers. Others are watching Velliria carefully. They notice what Falinel and the others had not. That her hand had taken a grip on the haft of her ranseur. Falinel was still chuckling as he walks up to her. "Ready to give up?" He sneers, tapping her foot with the flat of his blade.

Velliria came up off the ground like a snake. She rose to her knees, striking backwards with the haft of her ransuer. The butt of the weapon thunks onto the ground behind him, the haft between his ankles. Caught by surprise, Falinel struck at Velliria as she twists the ransuer haft. His arms flail as she knocks him off his feet. He crashes in the dust as Velliria rises and steps on his sword arm. Pinning it to the ground. The butt of her ranseur thumps hard into his stomach, where the lower edge allows for him to bend forward. Then she spins the weapon around and places the razor sharp tip at his throat. "Are you ready to give up?" She asks, her chest heaving in deep breaths. Eyes cold and pitiless chips of emerald ice.

The courtyard was silent except for the quiet sound of the wind, the ssshhuuusshh ssshhuuussshh of the surf on the sand, birds, the creak of leather as the watchers move and of Velliria's heavy breathing. Falinel groans, giving a little shake of his head. "No", and hit her with a Judgment that he'd charged up. The divine blow knocks Velliria back. She dug the ranser's butt into the ground, shaking her head. Falinel rolls to his feet, casting a Hammer of Justice at her.

The Hammer hit hard enough to stun Velliria. Falinel struck while she was dazed. The first blow knocks the ransuer from her hands, the second cut thru the armor on her upper left arm. Into the flesh. He was drawing back for another blow when Velliria's mind recovers from the Hammer's blow.Her eyes snap back up and she jumps back in time to avoid being run thru. The edge of the sword instead plows across her right cheek. Tearing the bandage off to slice a bone deep cut along her jawline.

Throwing up her arms to block or deflect his attack, Velliria skips backwards. As she backpedals, the heel of her foot catches on the edge of a tilted flagstone and she fell heavily.

Falinel laughs as he leapt at her, chopping down with brutal force, both hands on the hilt. Velliria rolls to her knees and desperately deflects the sword with a sideways push of her arm. The blade clangs off of her steel bracers and rings off the ground. Throwing Falinel off balance.

Velliria makes a fist and with all of her strength, lashes out with her right arm. Every male in the courtyard winces in sympathetic pain as her hard clenched fist impacts Falinel's groin. Then she rose and grabbing his head as he bent over in pain, bright her knee up sharply. Bone and cartilage cracks and blood spurts as she adds a new insult to injury. The two blows drop him to the ground. Moaning in agony, curling into a tight ball.

Breathing in huge gulps of air, Velliria walks over to get her ranseur and sword, slinging the two handed sword across her back. The ranseur in one hand. Gently, she runs the tip across Falinel's neck. "You are dead in this fight, Falinel. Live and learn." Exhaustion slurs her voice as she pushes back loosened hair. Her left arm hangs at her side, blood running down it in a steady stream. More blood flows from the reopened wound on her cheek and the new one. Swaying she turns to face Master Keleron.

"The match is done Master Keleron. I am-", she stops in mid sentence when darkness rises up around her and embraces her in a soft oblivion. The last thing she heard was a shout for someone to catch her as she passes out.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

Chapter 8

It was dark when she woke up. Lying on a thin linen pad and a damp cloth over her eyes. The exhaustion was still there when she tries to move, but the pain from her wounds was gone. She summons the strength to remove the cloth,. Bright moonlight blinds her for several moments before she is able to see again. Her arms tremble as she tries to push herself up. Hands grab and lift her into a sitting position.

"There you go. Feeling better?"

She nods, fingers feeling her right cheek. The faint lines of healed scars are the only tactile reminder of the vicious wounds that she'd had. As she felt her face, she became aware of a unusual amount of activity around the Sunfire manor and training area. "What happened?" She croaks, surprised at the roughness of her voice. The man, a Blood Knight hands her a water bottle. She gratefully takes it. Drinking deeply.

"Lord Sunfire has been murdered."

Velliria chokes on the water, coughing. "What?!" Shock wipes away her exhaustion and she sat up straighter. "Oh gods..." She whispers. "Poor Kirien, this will break her heart...", her own heart went out to the noble girl. Loosing a parent was never easy, and loosing a beloved parent was even harder. Her head lowers with her voice as two tears run down her cheeks at Kirien's loss. "If I could have, I would have spared you this, Kirien. Innocences should be treasured always, and you have just lost your's..." The water bottle drops from her hands and she covers her face to weep for the now parentless girl.

Velliria wept for only a few minutes before she was able to stop weeping. She wipes her eyes, regaining her composure and looks at the Blood Knight sitting beside her. He'd picked up the dropped water bottle and was now holding it in his hand.

"What happened after I passed out. Besides ..." An open handed gesture to the large mansion behind her indicates the coming Sunfire problem.

He grimaced. "After you hit the ground, Master Keleron was incensed with you. He was going to make you heal Falinel, but that was impossible. you were out cold and hurt far more than he was. So we healed you both. Falinel is fine. The only thing hurt on him is his pride. What you did to him wasn't one of the correct Eight moves. You fight dirty. Very unlike a noble."

The auburn haired woman shook her head. "I fight to win, and if you never think that the nobility will not fight dirty, how do you think they got there in the first place? By being the meanest, hardest bastards to ever walk. It was earned by the sword, dagger, arrow and spell. Over broken bodies and spilled blood. Now we claim nobility by birthright. Just because we are born into it." Velliria snorts, shaking her head in disgust. "True nobility is earned by deeds and in the heart, not by birth." She glances at the mansion again. "I hope Lady Kirien is one of those. She has a good heart..." Sighing, Velliria took the offered bottle and finished it off. "What else?"

"Master Keleron wants you to speak to him as soon as you you woke up. He's not pleased with you." He said.

She snorted and rose to her feet. Wobbling a bit. "Pleasing him is the last thing on my mind. I'll go see him now. Where is he?"

Velliria wobbles, legs weak. Determinedly, she fought off the dizzying weakness. One hand holding the man's tightly. When she could see and stand straight, she looks at him.

"He's over there." A finger points out the figure of the tall instructor speaking to several Adepts and higher ranking members of the Order. Thanking the man, Velliria picks up her sword and ranseur, slinging them over her shoulder. She walks over to Master Keleron, her legs steady. She stops and slides into a form of parade rest.

Her wait was short. Master Keleron turns to glare at the auburn haired woman. "With the death of the Lord Sunfire, things are unsettled here. So your orders are changed. You will head immediately to Tranquillian in the Ghostlands and patrol the Dead Scar. You will also do whatever our representative tells you to. There you will stay until otherwise ordered. You will have one day in ten off." Keleron smirks and held out a folded envelope to Velliria.

In disbelief and shock, she took the envelope, opened and read it. The orders were more formal, but the same. "Sir, why are these bei-" she asks before his glare silences her.

"Do not question your orders! Go and fullfill them." Keleron's glare grew fiercer.

"Yes, Master Keleron." Snapping the Blood Elven salute, a casual flick of the fingers to her forehead, Velliria turns on her heel and strode away. As she reaches the edge of the courtyard, she stops to grab the arm of one of the men that Kirien had charmed. "Tell, Lady Kirien that if she ever needs my help, all she has to do is ask. Tell her it's a gift from a Lady and friend." The man nods, bewildered.

Releasing his arm, Velliria headed off down the path, tired down to her bones. It took nearly an hour to reach Falconwing Square. She knew that she should go straight to the bat handler, but she needed a bath first.

(This post will take the new instance into account. now that Zul'Aman is open, are the trolls just going to sit there and wait to be attacked? I think not...)


The bath was a slice of heaven. Less than an hour after entering the Inn, Velliria was lying back in a tub of hot water. Letting the heat soak away her aches and pain. She lay there, eyes closed in blissfull peace. The water was cooler when she reluctantly washes and dries herself. The blood soaked cloths and armor, she also cleans. Having a servant girl sew the rips. Finally she was ready. Clean and feeling much better, Velliria paid for the bath and services, and soon after was climbing onto a sleek giant bat.

The trip to Tranquillian was short and uneventful. After landing, Velliria was down in the Dead Scar fighting and putting the roaming undead Scourge to rest.



Not too far away, in the lands of the Amani trolls, three young trolls where talking while dismembering a dead blood elven woman for the cookfires. The largest, a huge muscled warrior, split a leg, carving the meat from the bone. "What jou want ta do mon? Jus wait heah for de pansy blood elfs? Dey come and kill de wimmin and chillen. We stay heah and take it."

"It be as da king say, Quetzal. We stay and take der best in battle. Killing de weaklings. We neva die." Said another, lithely muscled troll as he fed pieces of raw elf to the cat laying lazily beside him. "Der blood feed de soil. Keep de spirits happy."

"Dat is true, but we still be de ones dat suffer. Dey come to us, why we not go to dem?" Quetzal replies, laying meat on a rack by the fire to dry.

The third troll was lanky for a forest troll. No axes hung at his side, no animal by his feet. Instead carved totems and voodoo paraphernalia hung at his waist and across his chest. A tall voodoo mask covers his face, leaving only his lower face visible. The two fearsome tusks carved in the hideous symbols of the dark voodoo."If we want to prove ourselves, we need to do de deed. We need to prove dat we are worthy of being a Joined One. Der are many heah to stop de fools. Weneed to go and prove to de Elfs dat nowhere are dey safe. Dat none of der chillen are safe. Dis was our land before dey come. Now it time to remind dem of dat." Long fingers hold up a newly carved totem for inspection. "I say we go and kill some of der young. Like dey do to us." He looks at the other two with dark eyes.

"You have a way to get past de patrols? And de pansy city walls?"

"Da. I have a way. Dey no have fleet, so we go by de sea." Three smiles widen to fierce grins and they all laugh. They were going to go on a raid.

Velliria spent the next three weeks constantly patrolling the Scar and Ghostlands. She spent endless hours killing the various undead that roam the ash-blackened blight, escorting caravans to the edge of the Eversong wood. For days she kept on her feet, doing battle or running from one end of the Ghostlands to the other. At the end of her day, she drops her armor and sword off at the smithy to be repaired and sharpened, and fell heavily into the bedroll, into a soundless sleep.

It was 24 days before Velliria got a break. Her previous attempts at a day off, stopped by the efforts of raiding Alliance troops. Who attacked the village of Tranquillian and the caravans that supply it. As well as the Scourge that constantly wandering the Dead Scar.


During that same month, the three trolls were planning their raid. Dried meat was set aside, blades sharpened and armor prepared.Nearly three weeks pass after they made their decision to go, they were ready and set off. The path took them north along the mountains from the Ghostlands to the sun drenched woods of the Eversong forest. The Amani name for the wood was different, of course.

There they snuck past the Rangers patrolling the Eastern flank of the forest, and down past the girl keeping watch on the abandoned mage school. Getting past the arcane guardians, mana wyrms and spirits took some doing, but long troll legs and paws carried them past into the sea quickly enough.

There, they traveled up the coastline. They took to the sea when a Blood Elven patrol came by. The leader, Questal and the hunter, Montar, got on a thick log, the hunter's feline behind him. Growling quietly at the water. The shaman, Loktari, had gotten into a long board. Planking from a wreck, worn smooth by the waves, the ends were rounded with a hole in one end. From there they paddled north, keeping in sight of the shore.

Questal and the hunter were closer to the shore, the shaman further out to sea from a rogue current. They were nearing the northern end of Sunstrider Isle and the sun was lowering in the west. Questal waves his arm to Loktari, who waves back. The three turn to the shore and start paddling.

Loktari lags behind. Something about the water was disturbing him, so he went slower. Trying to figure out what it was. Questal and Montar were paddling hard. Their logs cresting the crashing waves to run up onto the narrow beach. Montar's cat jumps to the shore, spitting and hissing angrily at getting wet. He snarls at Montar before settling down to groom. Ignoring the dried bat meat his master drops beside him. Montar sighs, sitting down beside him to dry his clothing and gear. Questal stood straight, looking out over the ocean, a hand shielding his eyes. "What is he doing?"

Tiny in the distance, Loktari was just sitting on the board. Communing with the spirits he felt around him. "Talk ta me, spirits of de watah. What do ya wan ta tell me?" He straddles the board, hunched over, head down, listening to the whispering sounds of the sea. "I heah and will do." Raising his head, Loktari turns the board towards the shore and began paddling. Soon the waves were rising around him as they pass over the shallow water near the shore. Ahead the waves rose high, the crest curling over to crash as it spend towards shore.

Loktari's hands dip deep into the water, pulling him up the back of the next wave. As it rose higher, he grunts, forcing the board over the edge to start sliding down the shoreward side. Right then the shaman saw that he'd be swept under the water if he didn't do something quickly. So he rose to his feet, balancing his weight near the middle of the board. The board skids along the front of the wave, nearly dumping him. His thick toes curl grip the surface of the board, holding him there as he waves his arms to keep his balance. "Daem! This not gon ta work!" Thinking quickly, he grabs a air totem off his belt and jams it in the hole at the back of the board. "Spirits of de wind! Help me stay on ma feet!"

The end of the totem juts thru the board, acting as a rudder and letting him steer more easily. Finding his balance, Loktari leans forward and to the side. Sending the makeshift board sliding down the front of the wave, just before the top of the wave curls over. The tunnel of water chases the troll, sending a cascade of sound and mist over him. A fierce grin stole over the shaman's face as he found he could control the direction by leaning to the left or right. Sending the board faster down the wave front or up to jump over the top and back down the front in a heart racing display of daring. By the spirits of the earth, this was fun!!

"Whoo hoo!" He cries out.

Questal and Montar stood on the shore. Looking in disbelief at the shaman as he went up and down the face of the wave. The hunter's pet merely glances once at the noisy shaman before going back to grooming itself. The closer the wave got to shore, the larger it rose. The two trolls back up slowly.

Loktari's board swept up the face near the top then slids down into the tunnel made by the wave curling over itself. Letting out a joyful whoop, he let a hand trail across the water. The water spirits whisper to him, letting him know how to ride the waves. Loktari shot out of the tunnel of water. A rooster tail splashing up behind him as he drove the board down the front of the massive wave. Shifting his weight, the shaman turns the board to shoot up the front of the wave and over the crest just before it crashes down into a frothing wash of water.

He drops into a siting position on the board. Resuming paddling. As he paddles towards the shore, he laughs, a wicked gleam filling his eyes. Questal met him on the beach, hands clenching tight. "What de 'ells were ya doing?! We is supos'ta be quiet!" He barely kept his hands from grabbing Loktari's soaked robe and shaking him.

"Relax mon. Der was no harm. I was communing wit de spirits. De are happy we are heah. Dey be plenty mad at be pansy elves. And dis communing is someting anyone can do. It be de troll way id I read de spirits right." Loktari claps a hand on Questal's shoulder and carries the board up onto the beach. Dropping the board on a rock above the high tide mark.

Questal snorts and shakes his head. Letting his anger fall away like a wind blown leaf. "Come, it is time we be hunting de pansy elves" Loktari nods, wringing out his robe and emptying water from the various pouches on him. Montar just grunts, already moving south along the narrow shore. It was time to hunt.

Velliria, having finally gotten time off was walking up Dawning Lane towards Sunstrider Isle. Fresh food and drink in her pack. The trip was uneventful, except when a damaged arcane patroller stumbled onto the lane. It had only taken a few moments to render the magical machine into scrap metal. It's arcane energies carefully siphoned off by Velliria. She was wary of falling prey to the addiction that had so nearly claimed her several weeks before.

At the east facing beach, Velliria saw that she was not alone in enjoying the peaceful shore. A young white haired woman with an infant in her arms was walking, as was the young children she had seen the last time she stood on the beach. The girl, Lynselle Starbranch, her brother and governess, were also enjoying the warm day.

She was smiling as she set the pack down and took out the food and water, setting them on a low fold up table. She also drew a portable desk, ink, pen and parchment out. She made herself comfortable and began to write. Rayne deciding to make herself at home by Velliria. All unaware of the eyes that spy upon them all.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

((Fairly graphic violence, blood and gore. Death, pain. Do not read while eating tomato soup, pasta, oatmeal or beans.))

The pen was dipped in the ink vial.

Dear Denothor Arynfire Erynlight, Father,

I am still alive. It has not been easy to do, but I still am here to carry on the family name. I hope you and mother are happy. I miss you all so much it hurts. I have not looked very much into trying to find my brothers and sisters. I've heard nothing from any of them, so I'm assuming that they have died as well. I will not accept that they are now among the Scourge. It is better to have died and been eaten by them than to be one of them.


Velliria had to pause to wipe the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

Much has happened since I wrote last. I am a Adept of the Order of Blood Knights. It is hard training. Even harder than before. The physical training alone of much harder. I've traveled to foreign lands to complete parts of it. To aid our nation's allies, the Horde. Our divine training is also proceeding. Difficult at first, but the spells and skills seem to come easily to me. I am suited to the life of a Blood Knight, a paladin. I like the life.

It's hard, as I said before, but I am traveling the world. I've been to the southern reaches of the Eastern kingdoms, and even to the wilds of Kalimdor. The land of the Kal'dori, and now home to the capital city of the Horde. Orgrimmar, the orc home. I've been to Ashenvale, the former home of the Kal'dori. Desolace, Tantaris, the Barrens, Durator. The list goes on. There are so many places to go in the world now. Even beyond the world in Outland.

I've fought the undead Scourge in the Ghostlands, and in the Silverpine Forest, wild cats, bears and giant spiders, as well as humans and ogres in the Southshore area, in the Forsaken lands. Ravenous wildlife in the Barrens. More wildlife in Ashenvale. There I also fought demons. Members of the Burning Legion. Felguards, fel fire infernals, succubi and satyrs. I have seen where the great orc hero, Hellscream fell. Rejecting the corrupting influence of the Burning Legion forever.

There is where I met the Kal'dori, night Elves. Our cousins. They are members of the Alliance, which we were once a part of. Now our uneasy foes. I have to admit that I have killed a number of them. It is hard sometimes, but needs must be done when the demons drive.


Velliria set the pen down and rubs her eyes. "What are we when we are enemies with those who were our allies and allied to the ones who served our foe?" She asks quietly and picks the pen up, dipping it in the ink.

I have written before on how I feel about our peoples path. Is it leading up into the Light, or down into the darkness of the abyss?

The last month has been a hard one for me. I found out that the Naaru, M'uru, can send energy thru those it has a link to. It did that to me. Channeling immense amounts of energy back thru me so I could act as a Mana Sanctuary. I was nearly helpless in it's power. somehow I was able to cut off my link to it. To sever the tie that I established when I tapped it's energy the first time. If I hadn't, I would have been burned out. Rendered into a charred husk or brain damaged shell of a person.

Since that incident, I have not used any of the spell, Judgments, Commands and Seals that are a paladin's stock in trade. I was sent to the Ghostlands after the incident with the Naaru,. I have been there for the last three weeks. Without any time off, or using any of a paladin's powers.

I do not know if I can be the slave of a Naaru or serve the Light anymore..


*splotch*

The pen shook as tears began to run down Velliria's cheeks. The memory of the pain and feeling of being used rose up in her mind again. The helplessness and anguish from the Naaru's callousness rode upon her nerves again, making her body tremble and quiver.


I have to make a choice soon. Between my heart and my duty. I am the last of our family that survived Arthas and the Scourge's coming. I can only pray that someone else has survived, but after so much time, I have almost given up hope.

*splotch*

A choice between heart and mind. I do not trust the Regent or the Prince to guide our people safely. They are traitors to what our people were, and what our ideas stood for. They are traitors to our entire race.

A choice of duties.



Velliria wipes the tears from her face, dips the pen in the ink and starts to write again.

A choice of duties. Who do I serve? What do I follow. What is best for our people? Should we just try to survive or strive for something greater?

There's a saying that I have heard said in the City. It is, 'It's not enough to live'. I think it means that it's not enough to just survive. Life must have a meaning, a purpose, with family and friends, or it is as empty as the Lich-king's heart. It should go as, 'It's not enough to survive, but it is meant to be lived fully.' That is the choice I have to make. do I choose to survive, or to truly live?

The duties of choice.


Velliria's head snaps up when the girl screamed.

The three trolls watched the Blood Elves carefully. "Der be 6 of dem. Only one looks like a challenge. We shou'd hit her first. Hunter she be." Montar said, pointing out the lynx laying beside the red headed woman. His feline crouched lower, it's eyes narrowing to slits.

Questal shook his head. "We can hit her and de others. You pin her down, while Loktari and I do de deed to de others. We come heah to hurt der young." The other two nodded, Montar drawing and stringing his bow, while Loktari's thick fingers ran across the totems hanging on his belt. Then they move through the underbrush, the tall forms low to the ground, intent on their mission of murder.

The two children were running through the waves on the sand, their governess chasing after them in a futile effort to keep them from getting in the water. "Children! You're here to enjoy the sun, not to get wet." She stopped, huffing and puffing, her energy nothing compared to the two rambunctious kids. Her head snapped up when she heard Lynselle gasp, then scream as the Amani trolls ran towards them. One, with a large lynx, ran towards Velliria, the other two raced to the mother and baby, and the children.

The governess found new strength and breath, and ran to her charges. "Quickly, run to the tower! Get help there!" She shouted, fingers weaving a spell. She rarely used magic anymore, but to protect her charges, she'd risk life and limb. If she could just distract the trolls long enough...

Velliria lunged to her feet, scattering the folding desk, pen, parchment and ink all over. Without thinking, she grabbed her sword and ranseur, and charged the hunter, Rayne right beside her. Rayne, the smaller lynx and the hunter's pet leapt at each other. They hit in a snarl of fang and claw. As Velliria passed them, she slung her sword and grabbed the ranseur one-handed. Keening shrilly, she thrust at the larger feline, the head of the ranseur scoring a bloody line along it's flank. Snarling, it lashed put with a paw. The curved claws dug into a thigh, slicing skin and tearing into muscle.

Velliria spun the ranseur, cursing, the butt hitting it's head with a solid 'thunk'. She drew back, spinning the polearm to stab downward, and the troll hunter shot an arrow at her. The shot drew a bloody line across her upper arm, and her attention to the hunter.

Velliria decided that Rayne could deal with the hunter's pet alone and took off running down the hillside at the hunter. Slinging the ranseur, she drew her sword and leapt at Montar just as he drew back for a shot. At point blank range the arrowhead punched through her breastplate and side. Velliria landed badly, but her sword had struck true, cutting the troll's arm badly. She staggered to her feet and snapped the arrow off. The pain was intense, but nothing that she hadn't handled before.

Montar roared as Velliria's sword cut deep into his bicep, forcing him to drop the bow. Angry, he jerked a short-sword from it's sheath and attacked her. His teeth were bared in a fierce hate-filled grin. Gripping the hilt tight, he stepped up to get inside of her sword's reach, and stabbed down at her neck.

Velliria turned and leaned back. The short sword's edge skittered across the turtle shell armor and away to the right. Punching up with the hilt of her Sindorei blade, she knocked the breath from him.

"Curse yo pansy elf!" Montar wheezed, hunched over from the blow. Desperate and angry, he lashed out, catching Velliria in the face. The blow threw her back, stunned. Montari shouted, lunging at the prone woman.

Velliria lay on her back. Head and ears ringing from the blow, she blinked dazed eyes. The dizziness was fading just as Montar leaped at her. Instinctively she brought the tip of her sword up. Both of them were surprised when he ran onto the blade. Montar grunted and forced the blade through his body, the bloody tip emerging from his back. Laughing, he grinned, stabbing at Velliria.

"Dis is our land! You cannot kill me! We never die!" His hot breath washed over Velliria as she twisted, sending his blade plunging into the turf. She brought a booted foot up and placing it on his chest, shoved him back off her sword.

"We'll see about that!" She growled as he staggered off her sword. He roared, slapping at her sword with his short blade. Metal rang on metal. Normally she would have been able to keep her blade up, but her wound and the blow to her head had weakened her - enough that the troll hunter's blow knocked her blade against the ground. He roared again, leaping on her, slamming a hard fist into her breastplate, where he'd shot her earlier. Velliria gasped as pain exploded from the arrow wound.

Montar hit her again. His heavy fist smashed into her face. Blood splattered from a broken nose. Another hit, then he picked her up by the throat. "Joo going ta die, elf. It be 'our' time now..." he said, laughing.

Velliria gasped and struggled against the thick fingered hand wrapped around her throat. It was tight enough to restrict her breathing. Growing desperate, Velliria kicked at him. By chance the toe of her boot hit where he'd impaled himself. The blow made him groan and grab for the wound, and Velliria fell heavily to the ground, rolling against the troll's feet.

The auburn haired woman fought back the red tide of pain and rose to her knees. She struck him with all the power off her body, behind the small fist that hit between his legs. Montar groaned, his eyes opening wide at the new pain. Instinctively his hands covered his groin.

Vellliria was gasping as she crawled from under Montar's feet. Her searching hand hit the hilt of her sword. Grabbing it, Velliria stood up, the sword raised over her head. "Come back from THIS!" She brought the blade down with a hard grunt. The razor edge crunched through his neck, cutting through the thick bone and slicing the hard muscle and into the tough sod. Montar's head flew off in a geyser of blood, rolling along the ground. His long ears and hair flopping.

Breathing deeply, Velliria leaned on her sword, raking her hair from her face with a hand. Once she could see, she raised her head to look around. Where were the other trolls?


They were down on the beach, the taller one driving a dagger into the governess's stomach. The dark haired woman gasped, clutching at the wound as the huge troll pulled the blood-dark blade out. His fist crashed into the side of her head, sending the mage staggering back before falling to the wet sand, blood seeping from the wound. The troll bore several burn marks of his own from her.

The shaman was running after the two children, but given their small size and a child's agility, they were uncaught yet. Frustrated, Loktari snatched a totem, carved with flames, into the damp sand. A thick-toed foot tamped it firmly into the loose grains of sand. "Now it be fun, chillen. Time ta stop running I tink." The lanky troll muttered as a ball of fire erupted from the top of the totem. The fiery sphere streaked down towards the running children. Sand and steam exploded before them.

Lynselle screamed, running away from the hole. More fiery balls burst flew from the totem, the blasts herding the children towards the trolls. She screamed again at the sight of their governess lying motionless in the surf. Her brother raced by her, running full out to the edge of the beach. But the troll shaman was there.

Snarling, he stomped on the sand. Power rippled out from his foot in a circle. The wave flung up sand, making the footing unsteady for the children., and they both stumbled, the boy falling hard. The shaman grabbed the boy. "Got ya!" He cried, as he spun, arm outstretched and threw the boy to Questal.

The boy screamed as he flew through the air, towards the huge troll warrior. "Come ta me elf", Questal growled, snatching him from the air. He threw the boy high up into the air with a wicked grin. Steel whispered on leather as he drew a long sword, the blade shining in the sunlight. "I spit joo like pig elf! Den I cook and eat ya!"

Arms and legs flailing, the boy clawed frantically at the air as he fell towards the upraised sword.

Velliria sucked in her breath, shock slamming into her. Her ambient green eyes widened as she saw what was on the beach. The woman's body, the girl running and jinxing madly to avoid the troll shaman's totems, the boy falling down towards the point of the upraised troll sword. Both of the trolls were laughing...

"NOoooo!" Velliria shrieked and took off down the hillside, ignoring the pain from her wounds, the blood running from her nose and mouth, the steady drip from her clawed thigh. Her feet pounded as she raced past the snarling tangle of fur, fang and claw of the two felines. She knew that she wouldn't be able to reach the troll warrior in time to stop him from impaling the boy, but she had to stop or distract him somehow. Blood-splattered steel clanked in the metal on her back as she jammed the sword into it's carrying harness on her back. The leather strap holding the ranseur over her shoulder stretched, then popped.

She was desperate, and did the only thing she could think of. Finding the balance in the long polearm, Velliria drew back her right arm, body twisting, left arm outstretched, feet skipping for two paces. Her right arm snapped forward with all the power of her strong shoulders, arms and torso, and with a grunt of effort, threw the ranseur. The awkward and point-heavy polearm, meant for hand to hand use, to chop, slice and stab - she threw it like a spear. The ranseur spun slowly, sunlight glinting off of the heavy red-and-gold-flame shaped head as it flew through the air toward the huge troll.

Questal was laughing as the elven boy fell back down to the beach. He'd spit the youth like a pig to be roasted. He was still laughing when the ranseur him him, whether by luck or desperate skill. The razor sharp tip sliced into the armor on his leg - blood spurted as it punched through the armor, into his thigh, cutting deep. He screamed, grabbing at the wound. Questor bared his teeth and yanked the ranseur from his leg. As blood gushed from the wound, he threw the bloody weapon away.

Forgotten, the boy landed at Questal's feet. He landed hard enough to knock the breath from him. Coughing and sputtering, he got to his hands and knees, and ignoring a sprained wrist, he scrambled out from Questal's feet just as Velliria crashed into the troll's side.

Velliria raced after the ranseur, sword in hand again. She smiled when the child landed unimpaled, her feet pounding the sand, then kicking up sprays of water as she ran into the surf to tackle the troll warrior.



Water splashed high as they tumbled into the surf. Velliria's smaller size and weight enough to roll them over. Hands grappled and punched as they fought. Velliria grunted, lips peeled back from clenched teeth. Her arms straining to hold the troll under the surface of the water. The troll warrior heaved and his heavy fist came flying out of the water to crash into the side of her head. Lights and stars exploded in her head as she was thrown off him into the
water.

Scrambling to his feet, Questal's eyes flicked around, looking for the sword. It lay in half a foot of water a dozen paces behind the sopping wet Blood Knight. He roared and ran to his sword. A hard fist lashing out as he passed Velliria, hitting her in the head. She fell onto her side in the surf. Dazed by the blow

"Get up fool!" She thought as she pushed herself up on shaky arms. The beach was spinning and wobbling in her eyes. "Get up and fight or those children will die! Get up and fight! Move it!" she forced the weakness and dizziness aside and stood, drawing the Sin'Dorei blade off her back and straightened. Legs wide spread. Velliria shook her head, water flying from the half undone bun of hair. It stuck in wet strands on her shoulders and down her back.

Questal grabbed the sword and spun to face Velliria. Water dripping off his features and hair. "Elf!" He roared. "Time for joo ta die!" Shaking water from her face, Velliria merely smirks. The taunt sent Questal into a rage and with a shout of fury, he lowered his head and charged her. Long troll legs and a berserker fury gave him more speed than normal, so Velliria was surprised when his shoulder slammed into her. The powerful blow threw her backwards into the surf.

Questal's followed her, water shooting up in huge sprays from his bull rush.

She landed hard, the breath knocked out of her lungs. Desperate to breathe, Velliria sat up coughing as she inhaled some water. She was still coughing as she rose to her knees, sword flashing up to block the troll warrior's attack. Steel clashed on steel as they fought - Questal's sword blurring in wide heavy swings, Velliria's moving in short precise arcs to deflect the larger troll's attacks.

The sound of steel on steel caught Loktari's ear and he turned and then swore. Turning back to the running girl, the troll shaman snarled and thrust his hands out. Heels together, one hand up, the other down. He growled, casting frostshock at the girl just as the fire totem spat another fireball. She spun, flinging out an arm at him. He felt a strange sensation crawl over his skin as the finished the words of the spell vanished into silence. Sand and steam geysered up where the girl was. When the mist cleared, Loktari saw the girl lying still. "Dis be de first, elf." He snarled, and turning, ran to help Questal.

Closing on them, Loktari snatched three totems from his belt and jammed them into the sand forming a triangle around him. An earth totem for strength, a water for healing and one fire for searing flames. Once they were in, he leapt high into the air to land in the open end of the triangle - with a shout in trollish. The force of his landing, augmented by the shamanistic powers, sent a shock wave through the sand. The earthshock fanned out, turning the sand to fluid.

Velliria was backing away from the warrior's attack when the shockwave hit. Making the paladin's feet sink in the suddenly watery ocean floor.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

She cried out as she suddenly sank to the middle of her thighs in the surf, her lower legs now calf deep in the sand. Suddenly desperate, Velliria put all of her effort into defense. Sunlight flashed on the steel web she wove around herself with her sword. She flicked a hand at the shaman as he went about casting another spell. Draining a minute portion of his mana then sending it back in an Arcane Torrent to silence him.

Questal roared, charging thru the water at the trapped paladin. Thick muscles bulge and flex as the troll warrior sought to find a weakness in Velliria's defenses. His sword was a blur of death. Point and edge seeking to taste pale Sin'dorei flesh and blood. Again and again, Questal attacked her, every cut and slice deflected with desperate skill. As she kept off Questal's attack, Velliria kept twisting and yanking her legs. Trying to loosen her legs from the sea bottom.

Her frantic jerking got Loktari's attention, and the troll shaman realized something important. He hadn't seen her using any magic at all. She looked like either a hunter, with the cat, or one of the Blood Knights that plagued the Amani so often now. He threw a Frostshock at her again, alternating with the fire totem that threw searing bolts of fire at the held Blood Knight. Thought flickered in his dark mind and in an instant, decision crystalized. "Questal! She can't use magic! Take her out NOW!" Loktari bellowed in troll as he snatched a pair of blood darkened gloves from his belt. The knuckles heavy with battered brass. Pulling them onto his hands, Loktari leapt up into the air and landing, make the earth shake again.

Questal, hearing the shaman's shout, roared gleefully and increased his attacks. He knew what was coming, so when Velliria staggered and sank further into the sand, his sword snapped out. Knocking the sword from her hand with a unmusical clang. Then leapt onto her, stabbing down with his sword.

Velliria grunted as she felt her body chill. The cold freezing her blood, turning her muscles sluggish. The earthshock turned the sand under her fluid again and sent her legs knee deep in the sand. Velliria's arm flailed in an attempt to keep her balance. A futile attempt when Questal knocked her sword from her hands with a ringing blow that numbed them. "Aaaahh!" She cried out, shaking her stinging hands.

Questal's weight and hands knocked her backwards. The point of his sword punched thru her breastplate at the shoulder, sliding just under her shoulder pieces, and thru her shoulder. She screamed in pain before she could stop it, clutching at the blade with her left hand. Then her back hit the sea bottom. Water splashed over her as Questal drove the sword deep into the sand. The grating of steel on bone more felt than heard.

The large troll warrior crouched, straddling Velliria's legs and hips in a grotesque parody of lovers as he wrapped both hands around her throat and began to choke her. "Yoo will die heah elf! Dis be yoah grave!"

Velliria's hands scrabbled at his arms. Desperate to release the grip around her neck and rise up to take a breath of life giving air, but the troll's thick arms were too strong. She fought the pain of her wounds, and from the sword pinning her to the sand. Futilely she knew, but she still fought.

Loktari knelt beside her in foot and a half of water, resting one finger on the hilt of the sword, a cruel smile on his tattooed face. Then gripping the hilt, he twisted it and she screamed as it turned. Grating against bone and slicing the bunching muscles. Fresh blood colored the water as a burst of bubbles escaped her mouth, and water rushed in.

Velliria knew she was dying. Without her Light and Naaru given powers and abilities, she couldn't heal or attack. She felt the water rush into her mouth and nose. Choking her. Desperately need to breath, she heard the thundering beat of her heart in her ears, tasted the salt and blood in the water, and fear at her failure. The snarling face of the troll grew dim as darkness closed in from the edges of her sight....

Thump

Her heart beat.

Thump

Thump

Each beat seeming to come farther apart.

Thump

Thump

Thump

"I don't want to die. The children will die if I do.." She whispers in her mind. "I can't let them be hurt.. I swore I'd protect them..."

"Who are you?" A soft deep voice whispers, echoing in her mind.

"I am Velliria Arynfire Erynlight. Adept of the Blood Knights. Sin'dorei" She replied, just as quietly.

"What is your duty?" A deep baritone asks. Champion Bachi's voice..

"To serve."

"Serve who?" Bachi's voice again.

"Silvermoon.. the people.. the Regent and Prince..." Her voice hesitated... "The innocents..."

"What is the first Duty?" Master Keleron's harsh battlefield voice.

"To serve the ..." She couldn't finish. Who did she serve?

"What are you?" Her mother's voice, a soft alto, came out of the darkness.

"I am a ..." What was she? A paladin? A Blood Knight? "I don't know.."

"You must make a choice, daughter. It is a duty of your station. Who are you?" Her mother asks again.

"You must make a choice." This voice was crystalline, heavy with pain. M'uru. "You must choose one path."

Her father, Denothor Arynfire Erynlight, walked out of the darkness. Elegant in his tailored hunters leathers, bow and sword at his hip. "There are two paths to choose, Velliria. you can choose to be a Blood Knight. Or a paladin. Both have risks."

A wave of his hand and she saw a woman standing before her. Armed and armored in blood red plate mail and a huge crimson glowing two handed sword. Her face was cold, hard. Cruel. Command and power radiated from her as the woman drew the sword and charged into battle, other men and women in similar armor following. It took several moments before Velliria recognized herself, years in the future. The woman, the future her, changed almost beyond knowing by the hard and bloody path.

The scene with the woman changes. This time she's in Silvermoon as a Master of the Order. At the Matriarch Liadrin's side. Advising. Again the scene changes. She's in a strategy meeting with the Regent and Silvermoon military commanders, a map of Stormwind lying on the table. More scenes follow., with her leading troops into a burning Stormwind, the burning forests of Ashenvale. Sailing towards the sea side village on Teldrassil, fighting her way into the city of Darnassus and the Temple of the Moon. Priestesses dying under Blood Knight blades, by arcane spells and warlock curses and demons. Northrend falling with it's forests on fire, the ice melting from conjured volcanoes. The mighty Lich-King being bound for all time in the empty wastes between the stars. The Exodar burning, draenei being enslaved.

The red wilds of Outland now.. Demons falling before her. Alliance and draenei posts taken. Shattrath falling to the Sin'Dorei forces and the mighty Naaru being reduced to giant crystalline batteries for the arcane greedy Blood Elves. And deaths. she saw herself dying in battle, by poison from jealous rivals, by daggers in the back or arrows in the throat. Beaten to death by a raging mob...

Lastly images of her standing before rank upon rank of blood armored Sin'dorei and forsaken troops. The gold phoenix and suns of a general at her neck. Another of her as Regent in the rebuilt city of Stormwind. honored by all, and alone on the Regent's throne...

Then the scene changes again. Again it was years in the future, this time she was fighting in a battle. Defending Tranquillian. Fairbreeze Village. Another scene change. She was in Murder Row. Helping the sick, hungry, poor. It changed again and she was teaching others of the Light. Using it in battle with the Scourge. Other enemies.. Humans, undead, demons, Night Elves, dwarves, draenei.. The list went on.

The scene changes again. She saw herself being arrested. Stripped of armor and arms. Arms bound by spell locked shackles. Kneeling before the executioner's block, head bowed forward,and the sword descending to her neck. Again she was dying, on a distant battle field. Pierced by arrows and swords. Another one, being burned alive by demons. More deaths followed. Drowning, execution, hanging. Dead from sword, axes, claw and fang, arcane, nature and dark shadow magic. Dying in a bed, wasted with fever. On a battlement, gaunt and faint with hunger and illness while hordes of Scourge charged the walls. Defending a group of ragged women and children.. Of her lying on the floor of the Palace, lips blue from poison as she writhes and twitches in agony before dying.

She last saw herself, centuries from now, standing with a family. Children, a beloved husband and wife, Grand children surrounding them. Then one last death, her hair white with age, flesh fallen in on her strong bones. Weeping family and friends surround the bed. Sin'dore and members of both the Horde and Alliance grieving...

"These are your choices, Velliria" M'uru said. "Both lead to greatness and both are fraught with danger and death. Neither will be an easy path."

Her father spoke again. "You must make a choice, daughter. Blood Knight or Paladin. Either path leads to greatness and fame. You will learn to wield great power. Serving the people and Sin'dorei. To use or be used, to serve willingly or by fear or greed. As a Master of the Blood Knights, you could rise high and do great good for the Sin'dorei. Sweeping away all enemies. As a paladin, your life will be filled with danger. You would be hunted by the Order. Executed or banished from the City." Denothor turned and looked at Velliria. "It is your choice. Your duty to make a choice.."

Denothor fades, with the scenes. Two flaming swords appeared before her. One burning with a reddish green fel fire. It's flames glowing with the seductive promise of power, rank, needed authority to do what she had to. The other a soft yellow/white flame that promised warmth, determination and a desire to protect.

"Choose a sword and your path, Velliria." She heard all of the speakers mixed together in the voice. She took a deep breath. Eyes moving from one blade to the other. Weighing what she had to do.

Out of the darkness, she heard one last whisper in her own voice, "It's a duty of choice.. Choose.."

Velliria stared for several moments.

"What are you?"" The voice whispered, fading away into silence.

She heard. Her head went up, shoulders squaring as decision flared in her eyes and she reached out to grasp the burning hilt of a sword.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

Fire seared her hands, burning through her gauntlets as if they weren't even there. She felt her flesh turning to ash, bones blackening to charcoal. Excruciating pain spread up her arms to pour down her shoulders and into the rest of her body, burning her from the inside out in inescapable heat. Screams erupted out of her throat, high and shrill. Throughout the pain though, she kept her grip on the sword as her chosen path, her choice burning it's mark into her body and soul.

The trolls crouched on and beside Velliria, Questal holding her under the water with a iron-hard grip on the throat, Loktari tapping the hilt of the sword jutting from her right shoulder. Loktari looked pensively through the water at the woman's face. Her struggles had lessened suddenly.

Up on the hillside, the snarling tangle of fur, fang and claw separated. Ranye limped away from her foe, watching with a hissing fury as the larger feline's life seeped out from many grievous wounds. Blood matted her own fur, huge wounds from claws and tooth marring her tawny hide, one ear nearly bitten off and blood caking her face and throat.

The troll hunter's pet gave a plaintive yowl of dismay as her legs collapsed under her and the light dimmed in the large eyes forever.

Back down on the beach the trolls jumped back, as Velliria's eyes snapped open and a golden light flickered in a helix around her. The hands, slack only moments before, reached back up out of the water. They were patting Questal's face, along the heavy tusks, cheekbones to his eyes. "What de 'ell?" Loktari muttered, stepping back and readying a spell. This was unusual...

Questal face twisted in a furious snarl. "Yoo is gonna die!" He grated out, releasing one hand from her throat to grab the hilt of his sword. Then he screamed as Velliria, having found his eyes, stiffened the first two fingers of her hands and drove them into his eyes. Strong fingers curled into the sockets, scooping one eye out to dangle on his cheek. His shriek shattered the air, and he lunged back, scrabbling at his eyes. "My eye! De b*tch took my eye!"

Velliria felt herself shift back into her body. The pain of her wounds distant, the need to breathe gone for now. All that remained was the burning fire within her body and soul. The door in her soul that she'd barred so many weeks ago exploded into splinters and power poured through the breach, filling her as never before, filling the empty space she'd created inside of herself. Her eyes opened as she reached up to gouge out the troll's eye., and then she used some of the energy within her to cast a blessing on herself.

The sand suddenly released it's hold on her legs, the sword popping up out of her shoulder as she thrust off the sea bottom and stood. Water cascaded off off her form, and she instinctively cast a stunning blow at the shaman as she Mana Tapped him. Then stepping in close she punched him in the stomach, hard enough to knock him into the water.

She straightened, sucking in a huge breath, the air sweet and pure to her starved lungs. She took another deep breath, wincing and, holding her wounded shoulder. The deep wound bled freely, blood staining the battered surface of her armor crimson. Glancing quickly at the trolls, Velliria took the brief time to cast a healing spell on herself. Holy energy renewed the sliced muscle and skin, smoothing and healing the gouged shoulder bones.

The two trolls were coming back to their senses, Questal holding one hand over his damaged eye, and Loktari gathering his scattered thoughts. Velliria took the time to look in the water for her weapons. She spotted her sword and ransuer, lying some distance away. Quickly she ran through the water and kneeling down, picked up the blades. The sword she slung on her back, the ranseur she held firmly as she turned to face her enemies.

The first thing Loktari did, once he was able to focus, was look for the blood elf. He spotted her surging through the water in search of her weapons. Futilely he hoped, but there were more important things to do right now. Like healing Questal. Quickly he laid hands on his friend's face. Loktari 'tsk'ed quietly as worked. The eye was fixable with enough time and care, but there was none, so he started the wound to healing.

While the shaman was healing his friend, Velliria cast several Seals, Blessings and Auras on herself, while working her way to the shore. There she raked wet hair from her face, tossing the sodden mass over her shoulders. She stared at the trolls as they turned to face her, the warrior picking up his sword.

"Trolls! Leave now and you will live. Stay and you will die here in Quel'Thalas!" She said, tugging her gauntlets tight, then rested the butt of the ransuer on the sand. Surf splashed over the toes of her boots.

"Dis is Amani land! We was here first!" The warrior shouted as the pair strode out of the crashing surf, reading themselves for battle.

"No. Your race lost it's claim millennium ago. This is Quel'Thalas, Sin'dorei land, and in Sin'dorei hands it will remain. Now choose. Leave or die here." Determined, Velliria brought the ranseur before her, gauntleted hands gripping the shaft tight... The red and gold head pointed at Velliria's foes.

"Who are joo?" The shaman asks quietly as the two fanned out around Velliria. He pulled several totems from his belt and held them ready in his hands.

"I am," she replied, widening her stance and staring back with a fiercely glowing blue eyes. "A paladin." And charged.

Velliria swung the ranseur back as her and Questal charged each other. With a cry and clash of steel, the two warriors hit, their feet kicking up wide sprays of water as their weapons swung, chopped, and sliced, seeking to rend flesh and spill blood. Velliria spun, bringing a Consecration up with a tilt of her head, and a cry of renewed faith. Golden holy power flowed out of her into the sand, burning the troll's flesh. She swung the razor sharp ranseur around her waist to thrust suddenly at Questal's chest. He blocked, sending sparks flying, and snapping his blade to the side, thrust at Velliria. Again and again the two circled and fought.

Loktari threw down healing and fire totems. His teeth bared in a fierce snarl, the Amani shaman circled to cast Frost Shock and Earth Shock at Velliria when he could.

Velliria's heart was racing in her chest, sweat and salt water running into her eyes, as she spun, leapt and dodged Questal's attacks. Blood flowed from the wounds that had gotten through her defense, but the corner of her mouth was tilted up. Questal was bleeding as well, from blade and spell. Her smirk grew and she threw out a hand to release a Hammer of Justice on the Amani warrior. The golden hammer of light slammed into Questal, stunning him. Another flick of her fingers and she released the Judgment of the Seal of Command. More holy energy seared Questal's flesh, followed by the edge of Vellira's ranseur. Raising the pole arm overhead, she laid another Seal on herself and renewed the Consecration

Back and forth they fought, both aquiring grievous wounds. The troll fueled by hate and rage, while Velliria was filled with the holy cleansing power of the Light. It illuminated her soul and mind, filling her with a joy that she knew would never leave.

While they fought, Questal's rage grew, driving him to greater feats even as the Sin'dorei paladin carved his body with her weapon. That irritating smirk she wore... "Why won't joo die?!" He howled, a bloody froth dripping from his chin, thrusting the sword out with the full force of his body behind it. "Joo are weak, so why won't ya DIE?!"

Velliria snapped the ranseur to the side, deflecting enough of his blow away so the edge skittered of a pauldron. She ducked under and thrust the butt of the ranseur down between his legs, bent and twisted. Heaving with the trained muscles of a Blood Knight, she knocked him off his feet into the surf. As soon as he hit, Velliria took off running, her blade swinging out wide to pick first one, then another totem out of the damp sand. She Consecrated the ground around her as her attention focused on Loktari.

Loktari swallowed hard as he dipped and bent to avoid the blood slicked point of the paladin's weapon. He leapt back, snatching an Earth totem from his belt to jam into the sand, and immediately cast Chain Lightening at her. White electric fire burst from his hand just as Velliria reached him. A thick bolt of pure electricity connected them for a split second before a scream of agony burst from her as the electricity seared her body.

White fire burned in her mind, bouncing inside of her. Each burst receding, but still burning. She fell to her knees. Smoke and steam seeped from her the seams of her armor and eyes, ears and mouth. She knew she was nearly dead, Velliria covered herself with Divine Protection. Then with pain filled gestures, cast a healing spell on herself. The coolness of the healing spell washed over her, easing the pain and knitting rent flesh back together.

When the bubble ended, she rose up, hands apart on the haft of the ranseur. Calling a last Consecration, she blocked the shaman's punch, deflecting it to the right, and riposted with the butt. The metal-shod end thumped painfully off his thigh, drawing a grunt from him. Loktari growled, throwing a point blank Frost Shock at the wounded woman.

A thick rim of frost formed on her body and thin ice in the water around her, and glittering shards fell when Velliria straightened, the fierce blue fire of her eyes undiminished. He snarled, heavy fists snapping out at her. Smirking, Velliria blocks most of the blows. A thrust of her weapon at his face, sends Loktari skittering back. Far enough back that she snatched a blue vial from her belt and drank it. The pure clean revitalizing flow of mana renewing her depleted store.

The splashing behind her signaled Questal's approach, so she stepped forward, thrusting the ranseur at Loktari's face. He ducked, blocking with crossed wrists. The long-legged troll jumped back with a splash. Velliria spun, using the momentum of the blocked thrust to wheel herself around. The ranseur's head shone bright in the sunlight, with water and ice falling from the edge. She screamed, the haft slapping into her left hand and thrust at the charging troll.

Questal barely avoided impaling himself on the Blood Knight's weapon. Adroitly twisting to the side, he used his longer reach and thrust his sword towards her, alongside her weapon, and she was the one twisting to avoid the point. He slapped the haft of the ranseur away, spun, brought his sword up over his head and with a hoarse shout, brought it straight down in a powerful blow that would have split her from crown to hip, had it landed.

She turned, bringing the ranseur up in both hands to block his sword. Wood screeched on metal as he tried to overbear her. Twisting her hands, she locked her weapon with his, hilt to ranseur head. They were soaked with water and blood as the two stared at each other. His tusks were nearly touching her cheeks as she met his gaze with a calm belief.

"Why won't joo die?" He grated out, pushing with his greater height and weight.

Velliria grunted as she took the strain, her arms bending only slightly. "You have had your chance, troll..." The Blood Knight paladin whispered in a hoarse voice.

thunk

Both of them looked in surprise at the arrow that suddenly appeared in Questal's arm. Loktari stared as well, caught in the middle of casting a spell at the paladin. The two trolls recognized the fletching of the arrow, which startled them more. In unison, the three combatants all turn to look back at where the arrow had come from.

Fifty paces away, the girl, Lynselle Starbranch, nocked another arrow to the troll hunter's bow she held. Drawing it back, she sighted along the shaft, held it for a moment then released the arrow. It flew fast and straight, to thunk into Questal's shoulder.

His scream of pain snapped Velliria out of the startled daze she was in and instantly the Blood Knight paladin brought the butt of the ranseur up and around to thud hard into the troll's ribs. She snapped her arms straight up as she came out of her crouch. The ranseur's head flung the sword to the side and she brought it down with all of her strength, driving the tip through the troll's foot and deep into the sand. "Take out the totems!" She yelled and leapt back, leaving the troll stuck to the sandy beach. Steel hissed as she drew the Sin'dorei warblade from it's harness. She rolled her shoulders and brought it up before her, the corner of her mouth rising further.

Questal's pained shout snapped Loktari back and he immediately began casting heals on his friend. On the beach, the girl shifted her aim and began picking the totems out of the sand.

The soft wind blew loose hair over her face, which she ignored as her brother calmly hands her arrows. Her arms shook from the strain of holding the bow up. Her right side was singed from her legs to her head, the exposed skin burnt and fused with clothing and sand in places. The hair on the side of her head was a black-singed ruin, the ear badly burned and her eye, weeping tears. Blood dripped from cracks in the skin as she drew back again and released. Again and again she nocked, drew and released, targeting the totems and trolls... her aim steadied by the anger she had for the trolls.

Velliria laughed softly, swinging her blade back and forth." You are outnumbered, Amani. It's time to give up and die for your audacity,” she said quietly. Lunging at the wounded warrior, she brought the sword up, then chopped down diagonally from his right shoulder down to the left hip. The paladin spun, fingers flicking to lay a Seal on herself, sword slashing up to circle and stab downward. He dodged, despite his impaled foot. A hand snatched a wicked dagger from it's sheath. He yanked the ranseur from his foot and cast the weapon away. Then he let out a deep throated roar, and charged her. Steel whined off of steel from the fury of his attack.

He knew he was going to die, but he was determined to take one Blood Elf with him. The shout was still echoing when he lunged at Velliria, willingly taking her sword in the stomach in order to get close enough to grab the hilt with a hand, and strike at the side seam of her armor with the dagger.

She screamed as pain exploded in her side, Questal's frantic strength driving the dagger in up to the hilt. She forced the pain aside to let go of her sword, and grabbed onto the troll's tusks instead. One hard boot kicked upward, the toe hitting squarely in the groin. Then her knee rose up sharply as the troll bent down to grab his crotch. Velliria used her hold to guide his head and drove her knee straight into his mouth. He reeled back, spitting blood and teeth, and cursing her.

Quickly, despite Loktari's efforts, Velliria yanked the sword from his gut and severed his head in one blow. She slung the blood from her sword, and calmly walked towards the shaman.

"Damn joo!" Loktari spat. Throwing down a binding totem and casting a Earth Shock at her. She reeled back, feet stuck in sand up to her ankles. Blinking to clear her head, she cried out when Loktari's fist slammed into her face, stunning her. Then the shaman jumped back. He cast a last spell on himself. "Dis not be de last joo see of us, elf!" He snarled ,and turning, ran away over the water.

Velliria followed until she was waist deep. The water was to rough for her. She turned back and waded to the shore, the salt water stinging in her many wounds. She bent to pick up her fallen weapon, and nearly passed out from pain, fresh agony flaring out from the dagger buried in her side. The blood drained from her face as she examined the hilt. It jutted out of her right side, along the seam and just above her hip bone. She knew that it was cutting deep inside of her, from the size of the hilt and from the agonizing pain in her gut. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, forced the pain aside and picked up her ranseur. Slinging her sword, she walked to out of the surf, leaning heavily on the shaft of the polearm...
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

The shaft was bearing most of her weight, keeping her on her feet by the time she reached the childrens governess's still form. The pain from the dagger wound increasing until it felt like her entire torso was filled with burning acidic fire. The sand and figures before Vellria, weaving in and out of focus as she stopped and carefully knelt. Lynselle and her brother were kneeling beside her, tending to the woman.

"Let me.." Velliria whispered, her voice hoarse with pain. Holding on with one hand, she lay one on the woman's back, closed her eyes and let the healing energy flow out to heal the grievous wound. The wounds edges slowly drew closer, growing smaller with each second until there was only a thin pink line marking where the troll's dagger had pierced the woman's back.

Velliria sagged to the right, her hand tightening on the ransur shaft. Fat drops of sweat ran down her face. Dripping off of her nose and chin.

Lynselle and her brother sat in shock. him from the suddeness of the attack, Lynselle from the attack and in shock from her burned flesh. Each movement bringing a whimper from her. She cradled her burnt arm, her world fading into a haze of pain.

Vellria knew she didn't have much time left. Lynselle looked like she was ready to faint, so quickly laying her hand on Lynselle, healed most of her wounds. The girl sighed as the pain seeped away, letting the tense muscles relax. She watched as the black charred skin flaked off of fresh pink skin, the cracks and scrapes sealing closed. As her wounds healed, Lynselle sagged to the ground.

The boy was next to be healed, he stopped crying. Wiping away the tears.

After she was done, Velliria felt ready to faint. Her vision graying in and out. Summoning the remaining strength she could, Velliria forced back the gray edges and turned to Lynselle. "Go and get help. Quickly."

The girl nods, sending her brother off at a run. Velliria gave one of her remaining healing vials to the girl, who used it on Rayne. Healing the worst of the lynx's wounds. As the girl tended to Rayne, Velliria carefully turned and began to sit down. It ended up more as a collapse when the last of her strength ran out and she fell heavily on her left side.

She cried out, agony exploding in her torso. The blade, driven fully inside of her, wiggled. Slicing through intestines and scraping a nerve. The ransur fell from Vellria's hand and she weakly clutched her stomach as pain ripped through her, a gray/red haze darkening her vision. When it receded slightly, she heard Lynselle calling for her. The girl's voice faint through the thunderous pounding of her heartbeat.

Her face was gray under the bloodless skin when Velliria was able to focus her eyes on the girl. "Lynselle.. I have one", a coughing fit interrupted her. The hard racking coughs shaking her entire body, only adding to the agony spreading in her side. blood flecked her lips when she was able to continue. ".. healing potion left. I need for you to take off my armor, pull the dagger out and give me the potion before I bleed to death."

"But it'll hurt you! Can't you heal yourself? You're a Blood Knight!" Lynselle said, wringing her hands anxiously.

"I don't have the strength left, child.. I used everything to fight the Amani and heal you." Vellria said, her voice growing faint. "Hurry.. please..."

Tears ran down the girl's face as she unbuckled the straps holding the two plates together, then the ones holding the pauldons to the front and back pieces. Vellira moaned when she was shifted to much. Each time Velliria moved, the girl could see the life draining out of the paladin's face. Carefully, she lifted the breastplate free and nearly dropped it in shock when she saw the blood soaked under padding and the blood that seeped out from the long gash the dagger had made.

She swallowed hard. Barely keeping from throwing up. Her face pale, she worked quickly to tear the under padding back and expose the wound further. Then dug out the red vial of healing liquid that Velliria had directed her to use. She swallowed again, on the verge of fainting. "I don't know if I can do this...", the girl whispered.

Velliria's eyes opened and she looked up at the girl through blurry vision. Somehow she raised a hand to stroke the girl's cheek, a smile on her face. "You can do it. You're strong and brave.. You fought the trolls when you could have run. Besides..", she pulled the hand back, showing the girl the wet fingers. "Brave girls can sweat. It's allowed."

Lynselle burst out in laughter at the unexpected reference. Visibly girding herself, she nodded and grasping the hilt of the dagger, swallowed. Then in one motion, yanked the blade out. Hot blood gushed out with it and Velliria screamed, arching up in agony as the serrated edge ripped through more of her insides on the way out. Then she fell back limp on the sand. The blood spurting out over Lynselle's hands and legs.

Lynselle jammed her hand against the wound to slow the blood and scrabbled with the other to open the vial. After several desperate moments, the top popped off and she jammed the vial into Velliria's mouth. Willing the woman to drink and heal. She watched with a sinking heart as trickles of the red fluid ran down Velliria's cheeks, and remained still.


The girl's heart sank further as the paladin remained still. "Oh please live...", she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. Her left hand still firmly pressed against the grievous wound on her side. She wanted to scream, wail and curl into a tight ball, but her promise, her need to see Velliria returned to health, kept her where she was. "Come on. Please.. live.. Drink." She leaned towards Velliria's head, reaching awkwardly with her right hand to rub the woman's throat. "Drink.. please.. Don't die."

thump


thump




thump





thump


Where am I? Velliria blinked heavy eyelids. Darkness swimming before her. Blinking again, she sat up. Or tried to. The most she could do was raise an arm halfway before it fell back to the ground. By the Shattered Sunwell! Where am I? Summoning strength from deep within, she forced herself up to a sitting position, with a deep grunt.

"You have to go back. Go back." "Up and at'tem!" "Please get up.. please..." "Get up or you'll be late, Vell."
"They need you." "Get up!" "RISE you noble slacker! Get your ARSE off the ground NOW!" "MOVE IT RECRUIT!"

The sudden random symphony of voices brought her head up with a snap. What? Who said that? She demanded, still as weak as a kitten.

"I'm your mother!" "A friend." "A colleague." "Your TRAINER, you worthless noble!" "A child, please.. don't die."

The voices echoed in the darkness and in her head. Loud enough that she had to hold her hands over her ears to dampen the noise. Not so loud, please.

thump

"Please get up.. don't die.. please.." A girl's voice.

Who are you? Where am I? She lowered her hands. Weariness dragging at her body like a soaked wool blanket.

"You are dying. Your mana, holy power, is drained. You have a large wound in your side and are hanging on the edge of death. Please don't die.... There's a girl who needs you to live."

thump

Lynselle..

"Yes. She needs someone to look up to and to be a big sister."

I will return. There is much to be done yet. Velliria said.

A faint image of the girl, Lynselle ,appeared before her. "Then take my hand." The image said, holding out a hand.

Velliria reached up. Her arm as heavy as the world now. Still, she raised the arm, the hand wobbling before the tips of her fingers brushed the girl's. The girl's hand grasped Velliria's and dropping to her knees, she pulled Velliria into a tight hug. "Please, don't die! Please don't!"



Back on the beach, Lynselle kept her hand on the awful wound and rubbed Velliria's throat with the other. "Please.. don't die. Drink.. please....", she pleaded. She started back with a cry when Velliria swallowed. The healing liquid flowed down her throat, into her flesh. Seeking out the 'wrongness' what it was made to fix. Torn and rent flesh reknitting, skin, muscles and bone sought to bond back together.

The world swam back into view slowly. Gray/black veils wafting about the edges of her vision, Velliria spat out the empty vial and tried to sit up. Pain flared in her side, and she fell back with a groan. The wound was still there. She held a arm over her belly, fingers feeling the edges of the wound. Half healed., she thought idly.

"You're alive!" Lynsele cried, laying a hand on Velliria's shoulder while tears of joy steamed down her cheeks.Then the sobs started and she broke down beside Velliria. Sobbing hysterically as all of the emotion of the last half hour came crashing out.

"Ssshhh. It'll be alright, child.." Velliria said. Gods what was she supposed to do?! It'd been years since she had to deal with children. So awkwardly, she moved a hand to draw the girl into her shoulder and let her cry. Patting her on the back.

The boy raced up the grassy slope, heart and lungs straining. He reached the top and stopped. Breathing hard, sweat dripping off the tip of his nose and chin. After several moments, he started running again. Looking for any adults. Seeing none, he ran towards the stone buildings. There had to be someone there. The boy, Dethnol was his name, raced around the corner, and ran right the tall golden shield of a Silvermoon guardian. He bounced off the hard surface, landing on his backside.

"Hey! You got to comewithmeandhelpmysister! " He said in a jumble of words.

The guard, Gaithwrain, had been having a normal boring day. always the same thing. Young people coming here to learn the basics of their craft, then leaving. While the instructors and guards stayed. Oh he knew that this was an important post, but it was so boring! He sighed, hitching the heavy shield higher on his arm. His cousin, Sunny, always had interesting tales to say from his post in the City. Watching the Regent , seeing everyone who came through the translocation orb. His afternoon musing was interrupted when a young boy ran headlong into his shield.

"Hey there child. Watch where you're running." He said, helping the boy up off the ground. The child's confused, rapid fire pleading had him shaking his head. "We're on Sunstrider Isle. There's nothing that goes wrong here."Hitching the shield up again, Gaithwrain turned to resume his endless patrol.

"I'm not lying! Trolls attacked us on the beach, and this lady with a big sword and spear attacked them and fought them off. Me and my sister got hurt and the lady killed two of them. she got hurt bad and is dying. come on! they need help!" He grabbed the guard's arm and tugged on it, for him to follow. Gaithwrain shook him off.

"Let me go, boy. There's nothing wrong, now go back to your governeress and play. This is no time for games." He leveled a glare at the boy and shook him off.

Despair filled Dethnol's heart. He tried with several other guards and instructors, but to no avail. "Fine." He muttered, bending over to pick up a few small stones. "If you won't come when I ask for help, you'll chase me instead." he tossed the stone up, hand rising to snatch it out of the air. Then he drew his arm back and snapped it forward. The stone flying through the air at Gaithwrain.

He was bored again. The momentary excitement of the boy's attention getting outburst having faded. He had watched as the boy had tried to get others to pay attention to him. He'd felt sorry after awhile, but he had his duty to see to.

wack

The rock skipped off the top of his shield and bounced off his forehead. The impact and pain made the man stagger. Filling his vision with stars for a moment. "Sweet Sun what happ-"

wack

Another stone glanced off his head. The sunlight sparkled nicely for a moment and his knees felt weak. "Ow! What stupid fri-!"

wack

This time he did drop to his knees, blood running from the rock hits. He shook off the dizziness and looked around. It took a few moments to see the boy throwing a rock at another guard. With similar results. Pressing a hand to his head, he pulled it down and looked at the blood. "Damned brat." Gaithwrain muttered darkly as he rose. Shaking off the pain. "Boy! Stop that at once!"

Dethnol grinned, tossing a small handful of rocks in his hand. "Make me!" He shouted, sticking both thumbs in his ears and taunted them. "Ppbtbtbtbtbttbtbtbbtt! You want me? come and get me!" He shouted, throwing two more stones at them. Then he took off running as that guards began to chase him.

Up over the hill and down towards the beach, they chased him. Gaithwrain's eyes widened when he saw the carnage below. Huge smoking holes were blasted in the sand and grass. Two troll bodies lying still. One on the hillside, the other in the surf. Further down, two adults lay stretched out on the sand above the highwater mark, with a girl lying beside one of them. Weeping.

"Sun curse me.. he was telling the truth.." Gaithwrain whispered. He turned, snatching out a whistle and blew into it. It's high piercing sound alerting the Island to the danger that had come ashore and the wounded below.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

The guardian, having summoned help ran down the hill to the beach. A flood of other guardians, trainers and curious students. Quickly the area was quarantined off, the onlookers kept back as the priest and Blood Knight trainers checked the two women and children over for wounds. One of the people that gathered there was the Paladin, Asinity. Riding on his huge wolf.

The armored man blinked at the sight of the battle. The smoking holes in the grass and sand, the bodies of the trolls and people were noticed, but his attention was on the wounded armored woman, with the girl weeping on her shoulder. He dismounted, sending the wolf off a short distance. Then walked over to the women being tended. The paladin and priest trainer, seeing him, moved aside. They knew his healing abilities were far above theirs, so they concentrated in the other woman and the children.

Velliria lay still, patting Lynselle's back and murmuring to her as she cried. She still hurt and knew her wounds still bled, but hoped that the girl's brother would soon bring help. The pain rose and fell with her breathing, and she could feel a bubbling in her lungs with every breath. She would be coughing up blood if she wasn't healed soon.

Her thoughts were broken by the piercing shrill of a whistle, then shouts as feet pounded down the hillside to the beach. "Help is coming", she said A harsh cough shook Velliria's chest, making the woman groan as pain rips through her stomach and chest. Lynselle sat up, looking at Velliria with a concerned look. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and was about to speak when a large armored man strode into view.

Velliria blinked, focusing on him. He knelt down beside her. Lynselle backs away, turning at a touch on her shoulder. The priestess trainer was there and she began to tend her wounds. Soothing away the remaining pain of her burns.

Velliria coughed again, her brows drawing together as she looked at him through a red haze of pain. "I ... know you? Asinity?"

He nodded. "Yes, Velliria. It is I. What happened here?" He asked as he began checking her wounds.

"Help her.. Help the..." She broke off, closing her eyes at a surge of pain. Her hand clenching tight over her belly.

"The guardians are tending to her. You're badly wounded, Velliria. I can heal you, but...it may hurt." He said, noting her many wounds. Cuts, large and small, were all over her body. mostly on her arms and legs. The largest wound being the one in her right side. Blood soaked the padding and still seeped from the partially healed wound. By the Light.. how is she still alive?

"Pain.. is nothing.. new to me..", she murmured quietly. Her voice fading rapidly and her eyes closing.

Asinity frowned, stood up beside her. "In either case..." He held out his hand to her, gesturing for her to take it. "Give it a squeeze, if you need to."

She grasped for his. Fingers fluttering before finding his hand. Warm even through the heavy metal gauntlet. She squeezed firmly.

Asinity opened the heavy book that hung around his neck on a heavy linked chain. A Tomb of Light, the holy book of a fighting paladin. holding the book in his free hand, he opened it, flipping through the pages before settling on one prayer. He cleared his throat, held the book level and began incanting a spell from it. "O Light, that I have served for so long. I wish to humble myself before you, and ask for your aid in healing this woman. Mend her cuts and wounds with your forgiveness, and allow her the strength to stand again in your service."

Light flashed from Asinity's eyes and the tomb, and he gestured towards her with his free hand. Letting the book falling out of his hand to dangle from the chain. The light from his eyes flashed again and it flowed out him and the tomb. Swirling around him like liquid. It flowed around him, caressing him before settling down over Velliria. Enveloping her body, it sought out the wounds, finding them and in an instant, flowed into her body through them.

Velliria arched up, as pain exploded inside of her. Her body writhed as the light flows over her. Seeking out the rent flesh, bruised muscles, shattered bone, cut blood vessels and torn intestines. Healing and mending. Her breath hisses through clenched teeth as she squeezes his hand hard. "Uuuuggggghhh!"

Asinity furrows his brows at the strength to her grip, but did not move. He kept holding her hand until the spell finally flickered and vanished. He glanced at the small girl for a short moment, then turned his gaze back to Velliria.

**
Velliria fell back to the ground. Breathing hard and shallowly, sweat dripping from her skin. She felt her side. Fingers finding that the gaping wound in her side was healed. Only a red line showing where the grievous wound had been. Wiping more sweat from her pale skin, Velliria with drew her hand from Asinity's.

During the healing, the others around them had pulled back from the Paladin and bleeding woman. The Blood Knight trainer watched with a more than casual interest, the priest trainer watched out of the corner of her eye and others as well. More than one turned away at the light show. While Lynselle kept her eyes on Velliria the entire time. Squinting at the bright lights, but never looking away.

"Are you alright?" The tall paladin asked.

She let her hand rest on her stomach, fingertips touching the thin line of the scar."Oh gods... that hurt.." Wiping more sweat away, she looks at the damp fingers. Grimacing a bit, then sighed. "Yes. I think. I feel as weak as a kitten."

": The power of the Light is strong, though...I must say, you seem to be -just- as strong. Did you kill those Trolls by yourself?" He asked her, the wind blowing some hair across his brow.

"There are no more Amani, are there?" Velliria said, trying to sit up. The world spun dizzily before her eyes. Weakness plucked at her muscles and she fell back, her face as white as new fallen snow. Her sweat soaked hair a stark contrast to her skin.

"Ah, Amani." He said, kneeling beside her again.

She nodded. "Yes.. I killed them. One escaped though." Velliria whispered through clenched teeth. Her voice thin and weak from the strain of the fight and energies she used. After several moments, she gave up trying to sit up. The world spun too much.

"There aren't any around that I can see." He said, placing the palms of his hands on his thighs.

"They came here to raid", Veliria said, rubbing at her eyes. Willing the world to stop wobbling.

Asinity frowned, looking at the bodies. Pushing up with his hands, he rose and took a longer look at them. "My, my...you did well, I see." Grim amusement and a faint admiration edged his voice.

"They nearly killed me. If not for Lynselle's help.." Velliria whispered, opening her eyes to look at the girl.

Asinity eyes widened as he glanced at the child, his gaze falling to her eyes. " She helped you?"

Velliria nodded, trying to sit up again. She fell back, gasping for breath again. "Yes." The girl nodded, fingers tightening on the bow.

He blinked " -How-?"

Lynselle held up the bow. Amani sigils adorning the bent arms, and feathers fluttering from the ends. "With this, ser"

Asinity's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "By the Light...you pulled the bowstring back? And fired arrows?" He asked, incredulously.

She nodded and pulled the string back. "It's a Amani shortbow, Ser. I can pull it back enough to shoot."

"She took out the totems." Velliria said hoarsely as she finally sat up. Grabbed her knees to stay up, she blinked away sweat from her brow. Her chest heaving and her face white/gray under the pale skin.

Asinity nodded slowly, a shocked upon his face. "You're quite the archer, little one."

Lynselle nodded somberly. "I had to help, Ser. She would have died if I hadn't." She lowered the bow.

Nodding again, Asinity smiled at the girl. "Nevertheless. Thank you." Blushing, she turned away for a moment. He knelt down next to Velliria, turning his gaze to Velliria.

She wiped her face again, the sweat dripping from her brow. "I feel so weak.." Covering her mouth, she fought waves of nausea. A familer kind of nausea, she realized with dread. The hated and oh so tempting need for mana rose again inside of her. The barriers of will and discipline she used to control it, were wiped out in the fight, and it rose with a vengeance. Wanting only one thing.. Mana. It's seductive call crept through her body. Seeping into the nerves, slithering through her muscles, weaving a undeniable cry in her bones.

She swallowed again, gripping her knees hard to keep her hands from trembling. Shying slightly away from Asinity. The mana residue from his armors, weapons and various rings and trinkets, was enough to rouse Velliria's addiction to full wakefulness. Unnoticed by her, her eyes changed. The brilliant blue fading to the bright fel fire green that nearly all sin'dorie had.

Asinity's brows drew together in concern. "Your eyes are fading, it looks like. Have you medita-..."

She shook her head, not trusting herself to look at him. "No. I don't have any mana potions." The trembling increased rapidly.

He nodded. "I...don't keep them on me, usually, but I can check my pack." Asinity said, narrowing his eyes momentarily scanning her face as she rested her head on her crossed forearms. Bringing his pack around, Asinity set it on the ground in front of him. Rummaging through it for a few moments he pulled out a large glass bottle. The liquid glowing a vivid blue. He eyed it before holding it out to Velliria. "I don't use it, but...here, if you need it."

Velliria's head snapped up as he held the bottle out. The elusive scent of mana brought her attention fully to the bottle. She was trembling with eagerness and need as she snatched it. Her hands scrabble over the mouth, in her efforts to open it before the lid finally pops off. Quickly she raised it to her lips and drank.

She sighed, moaning softly as her spine arched back in pleasure from the sweet mana rush that filled her senses. Easing the ravenous need, sating it's unceasing hunger. Dropping the bottle, Velliria kept her arms tight around her knees. The only signs of her addiction feed was the faint trembling that wracking her body

Several minutes later, Veliria raised her head, the expression of rapturous bliss slowly fading from her face. She rubbed her eyes, trying to ignore the quivering in her limbs. The mana potion had sated the craving within her for now. The distant horizon kept her gaze.

Asinity's brows drew together as he watches her, but his gaze soon follows her own, out to the horizon. "Did you...use the Light? I noticed the heads were...gone, and...the Light can't really do that." He said quietly.

Velliria drew a hand over her face. "I used my sword to remove their heads."

He nodded grimly. The evidence of her skill with the sword evident to any who'd notice. "Quite the swordsman, I see. You must have fought hard. Will you be alright, now?"

She nodded, moving the hand over her hair. "The mana potion helped. Thank you."

The breeze blew some hair back over his face again, annoyed, he brushed it away and took a deep breath. "Your...eyes changed, just then. What...what does that mean, Velliria?" He asked, looking at the female paladin.

Velliria's eyebrows arched up slightly. "My eyes changed?" She blinked, somewhat confused.

"From...blue, to...green." A slightly disconcerted look came over his face.

"What?!" Velliria asked, rearing back in surprise. "My eyes were blue?" Quickly, she glanced at Lynselle for confirmation. The girl, who'd been listening intently, along with everyone else in earshot, nodded. Her gaze flicked back to Asinity.

"Y-yes, they were, for a moment."

"They were blue.. and now they are green?" Her brows drew together.

He nodded. "I can't recall, but...your eyes have always been green, have they not?"

"Ever since the Sunwell was destroyed", she said quietly. And the people of Quel'thalas had had to siphon magical energy from fel tainted sources to keep from becoming like the wretched.

Asinity stayed silent for several moments in thought before he spoke again. ""Mm. That's...curious. That must have meant that you were feeding upon something else...other than the fel magic."

When I was fighting the Amani, I nearly died. They had me under water.." She shivered at the memory.

Asinity watched her expression, his eyes narrowing.

"I don't remember much, but I had a choice to make. a path to follow..." Both hands scrubbing her face.

The tall paladin's head dips in a slight nod, then riaises his head up in the air a bit. "A...choice, Velliria?"

A hand gestured to her eyes. "I made my choice, and it seems to have left a visible mark on me." Dropping her hands from her face, she leaned back to
pull Lynselle into a one armed hug. ""I couldn't let them be hurt. Not the innocent", she said quietly, but firmly.

His eyebrows rose again. "Your choice...saved them, then."

She kissed the top of the girl's head. "You should go and be with your governoress and brother. I think you too have found a path." Velliria says, touching the bow in the girl's hand and points to Rayne, who waits nearby. "Go and tend to your family, Lynselle." The girl nods, hugs her back hard and scurries off as several trainees picked the wounded woman up in a stretcher and began carrying her back up the hill. The boy following along side with his sister and her new pet.

Once they were on their way, Velliria turned her attention back to Asinity. "Yes. It did." She nods briefly. A pause and in a different tone, "What are you doing here?"

He gave a heavy sigh while watching the girl walk away with her brother and nanny. "I came to seek respite, to be honest. A few Night Elves were harassing Eversong, and fought well."

She nodded, resting her chin on the crossed forearms. I come here to relax sometimes too. The kaldori were driven off, weren't they?"

"es. I and a few other Sin'dorei managaed to run them off. I...had to kill one near the Farstrider Enclave in the Ghostlands, but...yes. The threat is gone. As is...the one here, as well." He smiled down at her, and she felt her cheeks heat slightly.

She gathered her strength and tried to stand. Getting as far as to stand before sagging back to her knees. The world swam before her, but not as badly as before. Then she realized she could lean on her polearm. "My ransuer ... where is it?" Her hand scrabbles in the sand and grass for the weapon.

Furrowing his brows, Asinity stood, placing a hand upon her shoulder. "Here, let me help you." Then helped her stand. She had to lean on his arm for a minutes before her legs would support her. He pointed a armored gauntlet at her ransuer. Holding onto her with the other hand.

Seeing it, Velliria grasped his arm tight and dug the toe of her boot under the haft. Then lifting carefully, she hooked it up out of the sand with a jerk of her leg. The haft slapped into her hand, and grabbed tightly. The butt was swung down to dig into the sand as she fought to stay up on her feet. "Thank you. Uuuuuhh.. I feel light headed."

"You lost a lot of blood." He said.

"I must have", Velliria said, looking at the large pool of dry blood in the sand and her blood soaked under padding.

Asinity nodded slowly, following her gaze. "I'd advise resting here, or...somewhere nearby. This hill's going to be difficult for you to climb."

She knelt carefully to pick up the breastplate. Frowning at the holes and new scrapes in the surface. "Great.. another repair bill." Sighing, she puts it back on.

"I...can do that for free, if you do not have the money. I'm...a bit of a blacksmith, you could say", he said, smiling.

The young woman glanced at him, letting the plate fall back top the sand with the ransuer. Careful of her weakness, she walked into the surf. Letting the waves cleanse her of the blood that covered her. She felt Asinity's eyes on her back. "I have the money. That is no bother, the smiths need to work. But this armor isn't going to last much longer."

He nodded. "If you're certain." Just as a large wave hit Velliria, soaking her padding to her like a second skin. Blushing slightly, he turned away. busying his attention elsewhere. "What were you doing out here, when they came?"

She pulled the pins holding her hair, sticking them through her belt as she let her hair down to wash in the ocean. Ducking under the water. She came up, blowing water and threw the wet length of hair back over her shoulder to slap wetly on her back. "I was writing a letter", she said, striding out of the ocean, hands wringing the water from her hair.

Asinity looked back at the slap, then back at the troll bodies. "Mmm.. Feeling better?" He asked as she bent to pick up the plate and ransuer.

"Yes. Some of the blood is washed off."

He nodded, smiling at her.

Suddenly her head snapped up. The letter! "My letter!" She cried out. worry eating it's way back into her. as quickly as she could, she hobbled up the hill to where she'd been writing the letter to her father. She was breathing hard, fresh sweat shining on her skin when she reached the spot. Kneeling, Velliria picked up the scattered papers, pens, inkpot and desk. Putting them back together. She set the half filled portable desk down beside her, then sat on the grass. A hand on her forehead.

"Is everything.. alright?" He asked, looking around, uncertain to what she was worried about.

"The letter I was writing to my father is gone.." She wailed, looking around with frantic haste. When she didn't find it, she sat back, wanting to burst into tears. "It's lost.." Determinedly, she pushed the tears back and put the desk into a satchel. then rose with the help of the ransuer. slinging both satchel and armor, Velliria walked slowly up the hillside. Pausing to wipe her forehead every ten paces.

Asinity following behind.

Near the top, he signaled his wolf . The massive beast looked up form it;s half finished snack of the dead Amani hunter's pet. Shaking it's head, it trotted after it's master. Licking the blood from it's chops. "I suppose I should...leave you to the letter, then. Will you be alright, by yourself?" He asked her.

Velliria turned to look back out over the beach. "This beach was a place for relaxation. A place for people to let go.." she said in a soft voice. Then nodded at his question. "Yes. I'll be fine now. But before you go, I have a question for you first.

"Ask anything."

She glanced around them quickly. Seeing no one close by, she spoke in a lower pitched voice. "When I took the path, the path I choose was the harder one." His suddenly intent gaze made her pause before she continued. "A paladin's path. I think that's why my eyes changed color."

"I...yes. That...might explain it." The tall man paused for a moment, as if letting what she said sink in. "You have made a...difficult choice, Velliria. I would ask if you are sure you wish this upon you, but...it seems you already made that choice."

She smiled, brushing back several wet strands of auburn hair.

"f you need advice, or have any questions...you need not but ask me, Velliria."

"I became a Blood Knight so I could protect the people. I have to.. I /need/ to protect them", Velliria said, straightening unconsciously with pride at his affirmative nod. "Where can I reach you if I have any questions?"

"In the city, for the most part. Silvermoon. If I am not there...I will most likely be found in the Eastern Plaguelands. The Dawn will lead you to me, if you can find them."

"The Argent Dawn?"

"Yes", Asinity said.

She nodded. "I will do so then if I have any."

"Don't be too strenuous on yourself, and...take care. I don't want this sort of thing to happen again, if I can prevent it." He said.

She chuckled heartily. "Help me find some better armor." She was half joking, but she did need newer armor. The one she was wearing had severed since she'd become an Adept, and now she was nearing a Knight's rank.

He blinked, then smiled and nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Then held out his hand to her. "Until next time, eh?"

Velliria shook his hand. "The Light be with you."

Nodding, Asinity waved his wolf over. Gathering the reins in one hand, he mounted it easily. Leaning forward to rub the wolf's thick neck ruff. Elegently, despite his heavy armor and being mounted on a wolf, he bowed to her. She bowing back. Then with a twitch of the reins, Asinity turned the wolf and began to head back to the road that lead to Silvermoon.

"Asinity!" Velliria blurted out at the edge of earshot.

He stopped, turning to face her. "Yes?"

"Are there more like us?" She asked, voice thin with fatigue.

The older paladin smiled nodding. "Few...and far between. They exist, but...it will be hard to find them. Look, with eyes unclouded...and you can see them."

She closed her eyes. Wanting to weep in relief. I'm not alone! His voice made her open her eyes.

"Telarin...and Kirje are those that I know. Remember those names, if you wish to find them." The wolf shook it;s head. An annoying itch back that it wanted to scratch and bite at badly.

"What of the Lady Kirien's brother?" Velliria asked.

Both of his brows shot up. "Jadrien, yes. He is, as well, though...he is having a difficult time getting used to it. I'm training him myself, at the moment."

"I think my path will be a lonely one at first, but a more satisfying one for me in the end", she muses.

Rubbing the wolf's neck again, Asinity nodded. "You are not alone, believe me. The Blood Knight meeting should show you that."

She nodded again, the exhaustion rising up again to steal her strength. "I must go and rest. I'm exhausted.."

He nodded again. "Mm, I had thought so. I'll leave you for now. Take care, Vellirira, and seek me out if need be." Then straightening in the saddle, he saluted her. Saluted the paladin.

She pushed back her weakness enough to return the salute. "I will"

A last look before he turned the wolf back around and setting his heels to it;s flanks, loped away. Velliria stood there, wobbling on her feet before using her hearthstone to get to an inn for a much needed bath and rest.


Vellria spent the next few days in bed. Her blood level was too low, she'd been told. So she stayed quiet for three days before the boredom of the enforced rest had gotten to her, and the auburn haired paladin got out of the bed. Despite the stern orders of the priestess in charge of the healing hall. "Fine! Get out of bed and walk around. Push yourself too hard, Adept and you'll end up right back in it." She'd thrown up her hands and let Velliria walk out to the garden.

From there, Velliria walked around the garden, gaining back her strength slowly. Soon Velliria was taking walks outside of the Blood Knight buildings. On short trips down the streets. Within a week, Velliria had resumed weapons training. The hard exercise tired her quickly, but she kept at it and was soon strong enough to wield her sword near her previous skill. The only problem was a nagging cough that wouldn't seem to go away. It kept lingering

Days later, in the late afternoon, Velliria was checking her mail after a hard afternoon's practice. She wiped sweat from her face with a towel as she walked down the street to the nearest mailbox. Inside she found a large packages. Curiously, Velliria turned the package over, searching for a address. She found one , it was from Asinity. The curiosity within her burned as she tore into the package. Shreds of paper rained down as she tore into the package. Inside was an iron green haubrek. she stared at it disbelievingly. "I was joking, Asinity..", Velliria murmured.

Wanting to try it on, Velliria hurried back to her room. Inside she locked the door and tried on the haubrek. It fit perfectly. Frowning, Velliria took it off, laid it on her bed and looked at her. "How did he know my size?" Suddenly the memory of her washing the blood off in the ocean came to her mind. The water had soaked the under padding. Leaving it molded to her body. A hot blush turned her cheeks red as she covered her mouth. "Shards of the Sunwelll..", she whispered. He had gotten a good enough look to make an accurate guess on her size.

"Oh come on girl, It's only a gift. He was being nice." The mailing date on the package paper caught her eye and her blush got deeper. It was during the Lunar Festival. "It doesn't mean anything Vell! He was being nice." She picked the haubrek up, draping it across her front. Then giggling, threw herself down on her bed. She knew that there was no attachments to Asinty other than friendship, but for a short moment, she let herself think other wise.

"Thank you Asinity", she whispered, hugging the haubrek to her chest. Selfishly indulging as the softer side that she kept quiet came out to indulge in girlish fantasies . "Thank you for the gift.."


((This chapter is a dark one. There is some graphic imagery of violence and fell magics. So if you are not sure that you can stomach blood, then bypass this one. Thank you.))

Five days after the Amani raided Sunstrider Isle.....

A thunderstorm raged overhead at the midnight hour. When the dark spirits were stirring and evil men and beings did their fell deeds. The fronts of two air currents met in a thunderous clash of elemental fury. Winds howled through the mountainous crags and treetops with hurricane force and lightening crashed. Enormous bolts of electricity struck the ground. shattering rocks and blowing mighty trees into burning splinters.

Most trolls were indoors. Hiding from the wind and rain, but in a small glade in the forest and hills, one troll was preparing for a dark and evil ceremony. The glade was barely ten paces across and lit by tall tiki torches. Tucked into the side of the mountain and shielded on both sides by tall fir trees that swayed back and forth in the hurricane force wind. A low stone alter sat close to the mountainside. A young sin'dorei man was tied spread eagled to it. His body covered only by a scant loincloth and dozens of shamanistic symbols that had been painted on. Four posts were driven firmly into the hard packed soil, spaced in a circle around the glade. To each, was tied a figure. One a sin'dorei woman, another a battered tauren female. The third post held a young sin'dorei child and the last a ravening Scourge magelock. Each one wearing the scant loincloth and covered in the same dark shamanistic symbols. Paint, made from blood adorned the stone wall and ground. Outlining a Circle of Power. In the middle of the Circle was a small doll. Shaped like a sin'dorei, with bits of red hair on the head and a thin woven necklace of hair around the neck, and a few scraps of armor on the torso. Blood was smeared on the head and stick limbs.

A bolt of lightening crashed nearby, bright starck light outlining everything for a split second, as the echoing boom of thunder following just as quickly. The tied prisoners cried out, struggling to get away, but one figure didn't even flinch. A tall lanky troll in shamanistic garb stood up as he finished the last section of the circle. "Der, dat be finihsed.." Eyes, burning with hate lifted to fix on the tiny doll. "Yoo kill ma friends, ruin our plans.. Yoo take from me wat be important and for dat, yoo will suffa." Loktari rasped as he walked to the edge of the glade and set the bowl of blood paint down. Another crash of lightening made him look up with a cruel grin. "It be time..."

He looked at each of the captives before walking to the alter. Standing before it, he raised his arms high into the raging night sky. "Spirits of da Loa! spirits of rage and anger! Spirits of Vengance and Hate! I call on yoo ta witness my oath! To give me da power to bring de HURT down on one dat deserves it! She kill ma friends! Questal and Montar! Cut dem out of da life! De wander da spirit world, angry and lost! Wit dis spell I call upon dem to witness! WITNESS! WITNESS!" He shouted to the sky "I will have VENGEANCE! REVENGE!

He lowered his arms to pick up a long wickedly curved dagger. It's blade carved with evil runes and dark with blood. Then he began to trace the symbols with the edge. The captive's screams were ignored. When he was finished, Loktari held his left hand over the captive's bleeding chest and with a slash, cut the palm of his hand. Blood dripped onto the blade and the captive's chest.

"I call on de spirits to come and feast. to grant my request. I give dem blood. De drink of life. Come and drink. Take what I give." A gust of wind blew into the glade. Flattening the torch flames and blowing Loktari's hair across his face. Swirling around him and the captive, the blood began to flow out of the captive. Shrill screams burst from his mouth as the blood was pulled out of his body.

The other captives shied back at the screams and growing whirlpool of blood that was forming above the body. Except for the ghoul. It thrashed harder. Maddened by the blood scent. Loktari watched, a cruel smile on his face ass the body was sucked dry. Then he turned to face the circle, arms raised, the bloody dagger held in his right hand. "I call for VENGEANCE! I call for REVENGE! I call for a curse to be put on de one who took ma friends!"

The blood mist flowed around him, amide the flash of lightening and boom of thunder, to hover above the doll. The shaman went to the first post and cut the woman free, then dragged her to the circle. Raising her struggling body up, he cut her throat. Hot blood splattered across the circle and doll. The child and tauren woman followed. He dropped their bodies beside the circle. Trails of blood seeping from them in a continuous stream to the circle's runes.

With each new sacrifice, the magic, dark and evil grew. Becoming heavy enough to be felt as thick strands like a spiderweb. And a Presence gathered. Watching... Waiting....

Dropping the last body, Loktari raised his arms again to the skies. "I curse you, Velliria Arynfire Erynlight! Paladin of de light! I curse you in living. I curse you in dying. I curse you in sitting, in standing, in lying. I curse your footfall and the food you eat. I curse you at home and on de street. I curse your seed and your source, your flesh and blood. I curse you till death!"

Sheet lightening exploded overhead and the howling wind rushed down into the glade. Blowing out most of the torches. "I curse you woman. Never will you know rest. Neva will you know quiet. Whateva you touch will turn to dust. Gold to dross. Steel to rust." Loktari said quietly, drawing the dagger across his hand again. Fresh blood dripped onto the circle. "Pleasure will turn to pain, and pain to agony. Your dreams will be nightmares."

He rose and went to the Scourge. It snarled at him, shrinking back from the evil that it could feel in the glade. He cut it free from the post and drug it to the circle, then he bent back it's head and bit out it's throat. Black blood spurted out across the circle and on the shaman. He sucked the blood out. It's foul diseased taint filling his mouth and nose.

More lightening crashed overhead and the torches flickered back to life. Their flame a reddish green. Loktari dropped the body and kneeling beside the circle. spat the blood onto the doll. "You will become what you hate da most. What you fight against, is what you will be. Your friends will come to curse you. Allies to hunt you. Food and drink will be ashes in your mouth. You will suffer sickness and disease. Hate and bile. From all alike. This I curse you with. This I swear.. This I give to you, woman.. My hate, my rage.." He laughed softly.

"De only way ta stop this curse is ta come ta me, and if you kill me, den de curse will be foreva.."

He rose and stretched his arms high overhead, face raised to the sky. "I call on de powers of de Dark and Spirits to give me dis curse! Let her name be reviled and hated! Let her body be filled with disease! Let her be barren! Fill her body with pain! Her gut with bile! Every movement with agony! Let her SUFFER! THIS I ASK!" His shout rose above the roaring wind as he cut his hand a third time. "This I give! Blood to blood! Hate to hate! Make her be what she is not! Make her SCOURGE!!" Lowering his voice, Loktari hissed, "make her suffer"

From the thunderstorm, a huge bold of electricity slammed down. The thick bolt hit the doll in the head and bounced to each of the bodies and Loktari. He felt his body burn, pain overwhelming everything and what felt like his soul being drained. As his vision shrank into darkness, he heard a deep whispering voice in his mind.

We accept. The price is paid.


Then he knew no more.

When he woke, it was dawn. The storm gone and the morning sunlight shining down into the glade. He groaned. Every muscle and join aching, his head felt like it was ready to split. He groaned and tried to rise. Only to fall back. It took half an hour before he was able to remember what had happened and move. But when he raised his head and saw the tiny doll standing before him. It's eyes glowing a soft fel green, he started to laugh. It had worked. The spirits had answered his call and the hated paladin was cursed.....

His laughter echoed in the glade, wicked and cruel.


In the Blood Knight infirmary, Velliria lay sleeping. The thunderstorm barely heard inside the well shielded building. The red headed woman was moaning, her face sweaty as nightmares roamed in her mind. Nightmares of pain and suffering filled her dreams. Formless but intense. When the morning came Velliria began to shiver and cough...
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

The streets of Silvermoon City were bustling with people and commerce. Moving along the streets in a busied disorder. Through the crowd walked Velliria. Her long auburn hair was wound up in a bun at the back of her head, except for several long strands that hung in wisps about her face and neck. She was wearing a leather top. Wide straps criss crossing over her chest and shoulders. Her broad shoulders brushed against people as she walked through the gate into the Royal Exchange

Her stride was confident as she walked, the wound in her side only gave a faint twinge, even after being healed for a week. No matter, it was better and that was enough for her. For now. She'd only gotten out of her bed two days before, to walk and exercise her weakened body. It hadn't taken long for her to realize that her wounds and blood loss had lowered her body's stamina.

So she just practiced enough to keep part of her edge, testing the limits. Much to the physician's dismay. The crowd in the royal Exchange was thinner, and entirely gone around the trimmed hedges and bushes that lined the street by a large fountain that splashed water merrily in the sun. The reason why, she saw, was the Sin'dorei man who was jumping his wolf mount over the shrubbery.

The huge dark furred beast leaped from one side to the other. The man's hair, long and red, she noticed, streamed out behind like a banner. He was dressed in finely made clothes, tailored to him. Velliria stopped and watched as the pair jumped back and forth. A joyful look on the man's face and her's at their antics. She was still watching when the wolf landed before her. It's chest heaving and tongue lolling out of it's mouth. The man leaned forward to rub the beast's thick mane, smiling widely like a schoolboy.

Something about him caught her eye. A certain familiarity that made her look again. Past the admittedly handsome features to see him. tilting her head, Velliria dredged her memory of where she'd seen him before. He was so familiar! The man, she noticed, with a blush, was looking back at her. His eyes looking her less than covered figure and face over, and the blush deepened. She saw his eyes linger on the raw red scar that was visible just above her right hip.

He sat back in the saddle, both hands folded on the saddle horn. "You look familiar..", he said, his voice a deep bass. Velliria nodded, pushing back some hair that the faint breeze had blown across her face. She knew she knew him. but from where? The man tossed his head as the same wind blew his long fall of hair across his chest and the deep red color sparked Velliria's memory.

"Lord-Knight Maelthas?" she asked, disbelievingly. "He smiled and bowed in the saddle.

"You are.."

"Adept Velliria Arynfire Erynlight. my lord", she murmured, bowing respectfully to him. "I was at the meeting we had a while ago."

"Ah yes. Now I remember." Smoothly, he dismounted. Patting the huge wolf on the neck. His eyes looked her over again. Lingering on the scar. She felt uncomfortable under his piercing gaze, and shifted nervously. "Come and sit." He gestured to a bench by the fountain. Velliria nodded and sat beside him on the bench. The wolf padded over to the fountain for a drink. Lapping the cool water up noisily.

"You are looking well." Maelthas said as he leaned back on the bench. She flushed.

"I am doing well enough, Lord-Knight"

"Just Maelthas" he said, smiling.

She nodded, hands clasped nervously in her lap.

"You have some fearsome scars." He said after a moment.

"Yes. I got them from fighting several Amani trolls. Up on Sunstrider Isle."

His red eyebrows rose. "How many?"

"Three, Lor- Maelthas. A hunter, warrior and a shaman. I managed to kill two of them." She knew that she was babbling, but being this close to one of the leaders of her Order was disconcerting to her. Also wearing only the thin leather top. It covered her, but left little to the imagination. Her blush lessened as she realized that his eyes never went below her face. Keeping his intent look there.

"Three? and you took on all of them?" One red eyebrow rose.

"Yes. Not at once. They were after the children."

Velliria shivered as she relived the fear and terror she'd felt in the fight. Her desperation as she fought to protect those weaker and more innocent.. She shivered again and shoved the memories aside to catch Maelthas's question. "Poison? No." She shook her head, making the loose strands of auburn hair dance about her shoulders. "The blades weren't poisoned this time. I nearly died as it was." Unconsciously, she rubbed the healed scar above her hip.

"They can be fierce opponents. It sounds as if you had a fierce fight on your hands. You did well to defeat that many." Maelthas said as he leaned an elbow on the armrest of the bench and looked at the young woman.

Velliria felt her cheeks heat and knew that she was blushing fiercely. "I didn't do it at once. I killed the hunter first, then I attacked the other two. I also had help from a friend. I would have died if not for that help." She moved her hand back to her lap.

Maelthas reached into a pouch at his waist and bringing out a small flask, popped the top and drank. "I see. Who helped you?" He asked, offering Velliria a drink.

She declined. "A promising young archer. She helped pick the shaman's totems out of the sand."

"Good that one of the Rangers came to your aid. I don't care for the rivalry between us. It's stupid and pointless." He said, taking another drink. "Did your friend survive?" Recapping the flask, Maelthas set it on the bench between them.

"They have their uses, as we do ours. We have the heavy armor and weapons for close combat fighting. They are more suited for longer ranged combat." She blinked and nods. "Yes. She survived, but was grievously wounded. Burns." Again Velliria had to push back the images of the terrible burns she'd seen on the girl.

"She'll be alright?" Maelthas asked as he straightened and shot a glance at his wolf. The huge beast, having drank it's fill from the fountain, was now sitting, hunched around and scratching vigorously at an itch behind his ear. The bridle chains jangled loudly. Seeing the wolf was fine, he turned back ot Velliria.

I hope so. She is a credit to the Sin'dorei", she said.

"You should tell her commanding officer that. They don't get enough praise from the Order. They should." Maelthas said with a somber look on his face.

Velliria laughed quietly. "She isn't a Ranger. She has yet to reach her majority. She's not yet fully a woman. I suggested to my commander that her family be given a commendation. she did very well in battle and would make a splendid Ranger."

"It sounds like she would. What's her name?"

"Lyselle Starbranch."

His hands rested on his knees. "Hhmm.. I don't know the family name. Oh well, she sounds like a fine youngster."

Velliria nods, one ear twitching. "Oh yes. With her burns, most people would not have been able to fight, let alone run. The shaman used a fire totem in the battle. They were there specifically for the children. To kill every innocent and child they could find." Her voice softens.

Maelthas's eyes hardened and he shook his head. "Our young ones should not have to fight such battles. But there's so few of us now.." The red headed Blood Knight said, shaking his head again.

Velliria sighs, running a hand over the mussed coil of hair on her head. "Yes. Too many died when Arthas came here. Damn the man's soul." Angry bitterness tinged the words.

"His soul was poisoned long ago. Now he and the Lich-King are one. His people should have killed him when they had the chance. Instead they let a maddened paladin run loose."

She glances at him out of the corner of her eyes. Nervously twisting her fingers together. "Knight-Lord.." She asked quietly.

"Yes?" Curious, Maelthas's eyes moved to her eyes.

"What do you think the path, the future of our race will be?" She gestured at her green glowing eyes and at the city around them. "Everything has changed." A flick of a finger indicated a floating crystal. It's fel green light glowing sullenly in the sunlight.

Maelthas was silent for several minutes, looking out over the square and the bustling people. When he spoke, his deep voice was quiet, reserved. "We speak with many voices. Too many turn on each other. We must change this or we will fall from within. This is what I see."

"One leader, one voice?" Velliria asked. "We used to have that with the King. Now he's dead and the Prince is away."

"One people, one voice. Madness creeps up on many. I'd prefer to see a strong leader, yes. King Anasterian was that person. But he's dead and lost to us."

Now more nervous than before, she subtly looks from side to side. She kept herself from starting when he spoke again.

"Come. Let's speak elsewhere", and rose. A snap of his fingers brought the wolf to his side. "Let's run for a bit. you can keep up?" At her nod, he tied the reins to the saddlehorn and patted the wolf's side. Velliria rose hurridly, still glancing around. She followed Maelthas as he broke into a ground eating trot. The wolf loping easily beside him. The three ran through the gates, past the Blood Knight and Farstrider buildings in Farstriders Square. Up through the Court of the Sun and into the Sunspire.

At the translocation orb, they moved to the courtyard in the ruins of Lordearon and down the road past Brill. Velliria ran, lungs straining and sweat running down her face. The cool air, ladened with spores. pollen and tainted air, slowly worked it;s way down into her lungs and by the time they stopped by the lake, Velliria was ready to fall over. She bent over, hands braced on her knees, slowly catching her breath.

Maelthas patted the wolf's mane and after brushing away some debris, sat down by the shore. The wolf shook itself, then padded over to 'play' with a nearby wandering cursed darkhound. The cursed beast being the play thing. Velliria, once she'd caught her breath, found a spot near Maelthas and stood . Stading out over the lake's black waters with him.

He smiled grimly. "A bit of a run, I know." He said as he drew up a knee and rested an elbow on it.

She nods, gulping down air. "Less chance of being overheard?" She brushed loose hair back form her face and sat down.

"Mmm. Yes. I don't like to talk about these things in the city. With my rank, anything I say can be taken as truth" He glanced at the wolf, which was chasing the darkhound, nipping at it's flanks to keep it moving in a circle.

"Understood", Velliria said. Her eyes followed his to the wolf, then back over the lake. The surface of it's dark waters barely rippled by a thin breeze.

Maelthas plunked a blade from a tuft of grass and turned it over in his hands. "Do you? Not many did at that meeting. There were those there looking at me, wondering why I didn't condemn our Prince."

"I understand why you didn't. It wasn't the time or place for it. As long as he remains in the Outlands, it won't come up. But if he returns.." Her voice trailed off and she ran a hand over her hair again.

"He did do some good things, finding an arcane source for us to tap for our addiction. Not the best, but better than a full Legion tap. I hope we can find another source though." The tall man looked at the slender woman. "It's going to come up again and again, but I can't be the one to say, 'Yes, he's mad' or 'No, it's something else.'

She nods somberly. That would bring a unneeded element of chaos in the City and the Order's ranks, just when it wasn't needed. The City and lands had to remain united. "The fact that the Lady ordered the meeting, says she is worried too."

Maelthas nods slowly. "She is. As am I. " He looked out over the water again. "I.. I don't know what's happened to him. He's not as I remember him." The Knight-Lord said quietly.

Velliria plucks a blade of grass from the ground, rolling the thin stem between her fingers. "I barely knew him. My family was of the nobility, and we were presented at Court, but we rarely encountered the Prince and I never did. Many people have and I will trust their judgment in the matter." She ran a hand across her brow, then on the grass. Wiping the sweat off.

He nods. "I'd seen him once when I was a boy. He came back to Quel'Thalas from Dalaran to visit the King. But I saw him truly when he returned here after the attack on our lands. Where you here for that?"

She nods slowly. "Yes. I didn't see him, but I was here. I did hear about him though. He was truly our Prince. He helped bring us back from the Abyss."

"I was a couple of years shy of my majority. I was at the Academy, training to be a Spellbreaker. My uncle is Duke Saltheron Bloodhawk... do you remember him? He was one a Ranger Commander. Assigned to guard one of the runestones."

She nods, hugging her knees tight to her chest. "Yes. My parents were under his command. Most of my family was. Except for me, they were all Rangers. "

He threw the blade of grass at the lake. Watching it flutter down to the surface of the water. "After he died, and our lands were overrun, my parents spirited us away to the capital. My eldest sister was dead, my youngest caught by a patrol on our lands and torn apart. My parents died defending the Sunwell. Only I survived..."

Only because my father put guards on me. They had to pin me down to me from going to them. I don't remember much of that. Just the screams and slaughter. And the ruins that remained, the bodies in the streets." He sighs. "I'm sorry. It's a tale all too common with our folk. I -tried- to die many times. Throwing myself into battle once the Scourge withdrew and we began picking up the pieces. My own kin wouldn't have known me. I was vengance and wrath made flesh. Anger, hate, pain, I would have fallen away if the Prince hadn't returned.

Velliria looked at him for several moments. Her own memories of that terrible time coming up before her mind's eye.Her voice, when she spoke was quiet. "I remember that too. Many time s I asked, 'Why did I survive?" I know why I survived and lived. to protect our people." He nods at her. "If there's one race that has earned the title of 'Blood', it's the Sin'dorei. We shed enough of it when that bastard arrived."

A grim smile crossed Maelthas's face. "That's what Liandrin told me when I met her. I was blind, stinking drunk, of course. I didn't believe her, not at first. " He sighed, rubbing a hand across his face.

Velliria stared at him disbelievingly. He had been a drunkard? She looked at him again. Tall, composed, well dressed and groomed, even casually. He had the respect of many of the Order, of the people and rulers of Quel'Thalas. In no way could Velliria see him as a disheveled drunkard. She shook her head again.

Maelthas nodded. "No matter. A Blood Knight are Blood Knight, no matter when they joined. You know your duty, that's clear." He smiled as she blushed, ducking her head.

"Yes. I am a Blood Knight. I swore an oath when I joined and I'll die defending that oath."The flush in her cheeks faded as she brushed back several windblown strands of hair. " I don't think my instructors liked me very much. The nobleman's daughter who wanted to be a hero."

Maelthas leaned back on his elbows, glancing over to the wolf. Which had tired of playing with the cursed darkhound and had killed it. Then he turned his gaze back, searching her face for a moment, then he nodded slowly. "You'd not be the only one. For me, I didn't want to be a hero. I wanted to keep others from suffering. I didn't want to fail again, as I did during the attack."

Velliria nodded, hugging her knees closer. "I don't think most of us joined to be heroes. We joined to help. No matter what. Even when.. otherwise. Like Ser Asinity."

A faint frown crossed Maelthas's face when she mentioned Asinity. "I know Asinity. He was cast out of the Order at one point. More stupidity."

She nodded, glancing around. The wolf had buried the dead darkhound, covering up it's diseased flesh and was padding over to lay by Maelthas's side. "I know. He's devoted to what we stand for. To protect our people." She said, tightening her arms for a moment, then forced herself to loosen the grip. "We talked.. after he healed me."

Maelthas sighed, leaning back against the wolf's warm side. "As long as you speak on his terms, yes. I've spoken to him about different paths. He only sees one. If you disagree with his reasoning, he grows angry.I don't think he realizes we are all on the same page."

She broke of speaking when he started, her eyes searching his face.

"What did he say to you?"

"He's a focused man." She told the Knight-Lord of when she'd lost her ability to use the Light, the fight in the alleyway. "That's where I got the first scar." Slender fingers trace the length of the scar running down the side of her face. She told him about the fight with the Amani trolls and what happened afterwards. She didn't tell him was the vision that she'd had when she was under the water, nor of the mana problem she'd had.

Maelthas merely sat and watched as Veliria told him in stops and starts. When she was done, he glanced at the wolf, digging his fingers into the thick mane. Red brows drawing together. "That's a first." Red hair whispered over broad shoulders as he shook his head. "I don't follow the Light. If all of the Order turned to it tomorrow, I wouldn't follow them. I don't think you need to choose a side when your will, your course is set. There is power there, yes, but I care little for the way the Alliance presents it. There have been ages of worthy beings who never knew the Light's touch. that is always overlooked."

She nods, pushing hair back from her face. "As long as we don't like the Scarlet Crusade."

"I will never allow the Order to become like that monstrosity. They pervert what they know for their own reasons", he said, a grim, hard look on his face. Many have wondered about the Scarlet Crusade. Why aren't they stripped of their power? This is a puzzle no one can answer for me.

Vellria tightened her arms around her knees, running a finger along the edge of an ear. "Aye... As long as you protect our people, I will follow you and the Order." She straightened, a fist clenching tightly. Malethas, hearing the determination in her voice took a closer look at the young woman, Brutally scarred, clearly tired and still recovering from terrible wounds, he saw the strength that guided her, and nods slowly. "Until, if ever, that changes, I a and always will be a Blood Knight, and will stand by your side to defend the Sin'dorei.

"We were made to protect the weak. I won't see us turned into a sword to cut down the weak." He said.

Velliria nods approvingly. "

"There are traitors in our ranks that have done just that. There will be a reckoning, when the time comes." He drew up a leg, resting an elbow on the raised knee.

"Forever protectors, never rulers." She said. that's how it should always be.

"Exactly. Few know this, but there are who have. It's one of the reasons the Lady is concerned." He favored Vellria with a warm smile. She got it.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, Vellira's gaze turned to the dark waters of the lake. "I.. ", she had to swallow. "I have a request, if you will help an Adept."

"Ask away." He was shoved forward when the wolf raised it's head to snap at a few flies that buzzed around it's ears. The heavy jaws snapping closed as it bit at the flying annoyances.

She felt her heart flutter, nervous at asking this request of the Knight-Lord. "I have been away from the Order. Most of my time away from the City, so I have missed out on having a mentor or teacher. Is there anyone that you can suggest in the Order that can help me? Bachi doesn't like me very well and that has rubbed in to some."

Maelthas sat back, rubbing his chin as he considered the question. "Bloodvalor. He's very patient and no nonsense. Vranesh is a lady's man, so I won't send you his way. I could also assist you when I have the time."

She felt relief wash over her. "I am nearing the test for Knight. I will be needing some instruction."

"Hhmm.. Those won't be too difficult for you, I'd imagine. Still, it's good to be prepared."

"If they are similar to what I had to do to get my ransuer..."

He brushed back his hair. tucking it behind an ear and shook his head. "No. Nothing so difficult. That one was a challenge for me.There was myself and Kiahna, and no one else. I completed that quest well before I should have been able to."

The mournful cries of a howling darkhound echoed over the water and the two Sin'dorei realized the sun had set and night was falling on the blighted land called Tirisfal Glade. The day's heat, having fled, made way for the chill and Vellira stood, Maelthas a moment behind. "I need to go. It's getting cold", she murmured, rubbing her bare arms. "I'll take my hearthstone back."

Maelthas nodded as he swung up in the saddle, taming the reins in hand. The wolf, long used to being mounted this way, merely stood up and shook before stretching it's back legs out. "Be well Adept Velliria."

"You too, Knight-Lord." After an exchange of bows, she took out the stone and vanished in a cloud of green glowing leaves and Maelthas rode off on the wolf. Leaving the shore dark and still. The surface of the water rippling slightly in the gently breeze. Then the top of a head rose out of the water, the large fish like eyes blinking a membrane over them.

"MRmrmghgllhghglhghlrr.
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

Two days after her discussion with Knight-Lord Maelthas, Velliria received orders to head to Tarren Mills, then to the Arathi Highlands. Dutifully Velliria packed up her armor and weapons and headed to the Mill.. It was raining when the bat landed and the wet and bedraggled Sin'dorei gathered her gear and went to the dilapidated inn to dry off.

Velliria was ready when the rain finally stopped. She spent a week in Tarren Mills, killing wildlife, humans and ogres at the behest of the Forsaken before moving to the Arathi Highlands. There she fought the ogres, trolls, raptors and spiders that infested the craggy highlands. As she fought in each place, her strength and speed returned and she felt as healthy as before.

The only problem that Velliria could see was a nagging cough. She was often covered in blood and wet from rain, so the young woman gave it no thought and ignored the symptom.

Velliria's orders, after the Highlands, sent her all over the world. From the hot steamy jungles of Strangethorn Vale, to the misty twilight of Ashenvale Forest, the stone spires of Thousand Needles, the sun scorched sands of Tanaris and the demon haunted wasteland of Desolace, Velliria went. Her sword cleaving flesh, bone and hide. The ransur rending bodies with ease.


Tarren Mills Velliria ducks, spinning down low under the swipe of the ogre's club. "Me smash elf!" The beast shouted, bringing the club around for another blow. Velliria, smirking, dodged it with ease and swung her sword to cut deeply into the tree trunk thick thigh. Slender fingers flick, throwing a Judgment at her opponent . The golden energy slammed into him, sending him staggering back Instinctively, the Sin'dorei woman summoned another Seal and Consecrated the ground again. The holy energy searing the ogre's flesh.

It roared, bringing the club up in a two handed grip and hobbled forward, ignoring the blood that was pouring from the leg wound, and brought the club down with enough strength to pulp any flesh that it would hit. Velliria stepped in close and thrust her sword into the massive gut and out the back. It screamed in pain as she yanked it across the belly and it's intestines spilled out.

Velliria had only a moment to draw in a breath of air before she was buried by the avalanche of blood and guts. She felt the ground shake as the ogre collapsed back into the snow, and spitting to clear her mouth of the foul taste, clawed and kicked her way free. The blood fouled her eyes and hair, and she had to use handfuls of snow to clear her eyes enough to see.

A quick look around and she saw no ogres close enough to bother her as she scrubs her face clean. Disgustedly, she ran a hand over her hair. Feeling the blood and other fluids that had seeped into it. "UUhh.. Shards of the Well, They had better have a bath available ", she muttered as she removed the silk loincloth from the beast and folding it up neatly, tucked it into a pouch. "Where the fel are they getting silk? gods.." Her body trembles for a moment before she headed off to the next ogre. Time for another one to die...

Arathi Highlands The raptor screeched and leaped at her, a leg lashing out as quick as a snake, the massive cutting claw poised to rip into the small frail thing that was attacking it. It missed and landing easily, spinning in place and lashed out again. This time it caught the small woman. The sharp claw tore through her armor, laying a red gash along her belly.

Velliria's face was fixed in a fierce snarl as she staggered back form the raptor's strike. Drawing in a deep breath and shoving the pain aside, she lunged with her ransuer. Stepping in close to drive the heavy point into it's belly. Then striking the shaft and pushing down, she ripped open it's stomach. quickly, she skipped back, slamming a Judgment on the beast as shrieked and it's feet became entangled in it's guts. A last stab to finish the beast and she stepped back. Chest heaving with her efforts....

The Witherbark troll shouted, throwing another axe at Velleiria. She bared her teeth and charged in, sin'dorei blade drawn. She laid a seal of command on herself and cast Consecration just as her blade cut at the female troll. The trolless, baring her teeth, and with an axe in each hand, hewed and cut at the slender woman. Vellira blocked, thrust and cut. Trusting her armor, now many times repaired, to keep the sharp edges from her flesh.

Axe and sword flashed in the bright late winter day, the clanging of steel on iron and the thunk of flesh being cut echoed. finally the female troll couldn't take it anymore and with a last cut at Velliria's face, turned and race. Her long legs carrying her as fast as she could go. She didn't hear the thud of boots behind her in time, so the blow that threw her to the ground, bleeding from a huge cut in the back, came as a surprise before she died.

Stranglethorn Vale Torrential rain poured down from the swollen clouds overhead. Shrouding the thick jungle in a humid mist that hung like a living thing between the trees and vines.

The white tiger roared, rearing up on it's back legs to rake at the small two legged creature before it. It roared again as the point of it's long claw rammed through it's thick hide. A sudden sharp pain, the crack of shattering ribs then the tiger gave a coughing roar and collapsed to the ground. Velliria yanked the ransuer out and ran a hand across her face, wiping away the sweat and rain that ran down her forehead, cheeks and nose. Her fair skin was flushed from the heat and exertions, but her breathing was rapid and steady.

Her blue eyes faded slowly to their normal fel green as she turned to look for any more danger. Seeing none, Velliria sighed and sat beside the corpse in the rain. Now she could let herself feel the pain from the wounds she'd gotten in the fight. Breath hissed through clenched teeth as she touched the deep claw rakes and bites on her legs and torso.

"Beast has sharp teeth and claws", she mutters as she got up with the help of the shaft of the polearm. A savage kick at the dead tiger made Velliria feel a little better before she heals herself. Once her wounds were healed, Velliria took stock of her armor. The mail leggings resembled shredded cloth, more than armor, and the chain shirt Asinity had made, looked like a drunken dwarf had been beating on it. Several puncture holes pierced the upper part and many of the chain links covering her stomach were torn.

Great.. another repair bill. Frustrating.., Velliria thought as she skinned the white skinned tiger and the other beasts that had been it's guard. By the time she threw the bundled hides over her shoulder, the rains had stopped, and the sun shown through the clouds, leaving the jungle hot and humid. After a last look around the hilltop, Velliria heads down the hill to the road. Half overgrown with vegetation, the old stone blocks hard under the sin'dorei woman's boots.

As Velliria ran, she kept her eyes moving around her. She'd already been attacked by hungry raptors, tigers, panthers and apes. Another attack would be.. annoying. The trip back to Grom'Gol Base was uneventful, except for another downpour that caught her a half mile from the gates. So she was drenched and shivering when she swung the bundle of hides off a shoulder to the ground in front of a merchant..

The orc looked down at the Sin'dorei woman standing there. Water dripped from her, and from the fresh hides, seeping into the dry dirt. "What do you got?" He asks, cutting the thong holding the hides and flipping through them.

"Tiger, raptor and ape hides. There's a white tiger skin", she pointed out. The orc merchant merely grunts and hands over the coins. Velliria slipped them into a pouch, turned to go, only to scowl as the downpour intensified. Hesitating for a moment, the young woman went back into the rain, glaring up at the sky. Mud splashed over her boot, soaking through the links.

Entering the inn, Velliria tossed some money at the innkeeper, went to an empty hammock in the back and stripped of her soaked armor and padding, wringing the water from her hair. She dried herself off with a towel. Then pulling on some dry clothes Velliria began to dry her armor.

As she wiped the water off, she began to shiver and she felt her stomach began to churn. By the time she finished her armor, Velliria felt bad enough that she went to bed.

That night she broke into a fever and the dreams started..

Velliria lay on a thin bedrolll, in the inn at Grom'Gol base, tossing in the midst of a dream....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tink Tink Tink

She swung the pick, chipping away at the stone in the dark mine. Fragments of ore crumble at her feet, when the pile was large enough, she moved and began chopping in another place. She was aware of others around her. Some mining as she was, others dragging the iron ore back in rotting leather bags. She hacked away at the stone. Digging ever deeper into the earth.

Tink Tink Tink Tink

After a time, new undead came forward to take the picks and began to dig. She, with the others went back, pushing carts loaded with fresh iron ore before them. The carts were dumped outside by the piles of coke, charcoal and lime, waiting to be poured into the smelters that sent out billowing clouds of smoke. She wrinkles her nose at the smell.

Then they were herded into pits with the rest of the worker dead. Thick wooden grates slamming down, trapping them inside for the night. She wanders aimlessly, shoulders bumping against others as she made her way to a corner. Soon the feeding will start, she thought sluggishly, her head turns this way and that, jaws working at the thought of flesh to eat.

Her face rose, with the other dead as the grate rattles and is lifted. Two broken bodies are thrown down into the pit and the grate thuds back down. The undead didn't notice the grate. Only one thought burns in the sluggish minds. Eat that which is weaker than you, and the bodies were broken. Limbs shattered. She lost all thought as she rushed in a frenzy at the bodies with the other worker dead.

The morning sun barely lit the horizon when they were herded up out of the pit and sent back into the mines.She roused enough to notice the broken and shattered bodies being hauled out. More food for the workers.. There were always undead slaves getting hurt in the mines, and the bodies were used as food.. The Master never wastes material...

Deep in the mine, she took a pick from one of the undead and began chopping at the wall. Work. Mine. Dig, was the command given and mindlessly she hacked at the hard rock.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rough hands grabbed Velliria's shoulders, shaking her hard. "Hey! What the Fel are you doing, elf, smashing MY wall?!"

She started, staring at the angry orc who was shaking her like a rag doll. "What..?" she asks, noticing where she was. In the middle of a downpour, outside of the 'inn', sword in hand. Several of the thick trees that made the palisade were deeply scored.

"What the FEL?! You were cutting the PALISADE ELF!!" The guard shouted, his face mere inches from hers. "Get the fel BACK inside or I'm going to throw your butt OUT of Grom'Gol!"

She pushed wet hair back form her face, shaking her head as the orc released her and stalked away screaming curses. Leaving the confused paladin, standing in the torrential downpour, sword dangling from her hand. 'What the fel happened?" Bewildered, she pushed loose sodden strands of auburn hair away from her face. She'd been dreaming...

Her thoughts were interrupted when she stepped in a puddle and realizes that she was clad only in a thin nightgown. A nightgown that was plastered to her body by the rain. Instinctively, Velliria shrieks, covering herself and dashed back into the dry inn. She shot a hot glare at the keeper, cheeks heating as she went back to the hammock she called hers, to dry off.

By the time she was dry, she had decided to head back north. It was time to get out of the damned jungle.

...she still had the cough and fevers when she arrived at Brill. on the zepplin.

The cooler climate of the Tirisfal Glades was a balm to Velliria after the humid jungles of Stranglethorn Vale. She stood near the bow of the zepplin, eyes closed, hands holding the ransuer as she took deep slow breaths. The air, despite the faint taint of illness of the Glades, eased her coughing. She turned, looking back over her shoulder as the engines died. The deck shifted, thick rope and wood creaking as the floating machine turned and dropped for the approach to the Landing Tower outside of Brill. Automatically, Velliria leaned to the side, keeping her balance, eyes still closed.

Only when the zepplin came to a halt did she open her eyes and hefting her gear over her shoulder, stepped onto the wooden dock that extended from the top of the tower. The dock booms hollowly as the passengers tromped across it and down the stairs. Velliria paused at the base, looking this way and that. To Brill, or head the short distance to the ruins of Lordaeron and the portal to Silvermoon?

Decision crystallized in her and hefting her gear again, Velliria set off towards the gates of the ruined human capital and the home of the Forsaken. She passed under the gate and the stench of slimy water, mold, dank soil, old blood and a vague sense of.. mourning and sadness hung in the air as the auburn haired sin'dorei's boots rang on the cobblestones. Velliria stepped off the path, the dry grass rustling under her boots and set the pack down. A frown pursed her mouth as she pondered which place to go. Then hefting the pack again, she took off at a trot to the entrance to Undercity.

Down in the dank underground city, Velliria went from merchant to merchant, selling the various items she'd found or looted from the jungle land, getting her armor repaired and weapons professionally sharpened and checked. She saw mostly the undead, but a surprisingly large number of the other member races of the Horde. Orcs, trolls, Tauren and her own people, the Sin'Dorei,

She'd just gotten her armor back from the Forsaken smith when she noticed a vaguely familer face. Jadrien Darksun de Sunfire, a Blood Knight in the Order. A quick greeting and Velliria found herself fighting along side him in the Scarlet Monastery, with the mage, Lady Sherarah Aeth and several others. Velliria found herself enjoying the time there, even spilling the blood of humans.

That was one of several trips into the fanatical human outpost. Each time more blood was spilled. Sometimes she went with Jadrien, who was wearing an almost complete set of Scarlet Armor, Velliria had several pieces herself, or with others. Mostly it was in the company of the scarred mage, Sheyarah. Who's arcane might slew many Scarlets..

Between trips to the Monastery, Velliria continued to travel. Seeing the lands of Desolace, Tanaris, even once into the high hilly land of Azshara. Where she felt oddly at peace in the sorrowful land.


....and the dreams continued....
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

Scarlet Monastery She walked alongside Jadrien, in his increasingly crimson armor, Sheyarah Cheyrynn Aeth pacing before them. Her robes fluttering behind her, pale gold hair drifting as the trio passed into the Monastery. Sheyarah paused, turning slightly to pin Velliria with a frigid gaze from her icy fel green eyes. "Jadrien knows what he's doing. You will keep up. If you fall, don't look to me to help you. That is your job. Understand?"

Velliria nodded, hands gripping the hilt of her sword tighter.

"Good", was all Sheyarah said as she turned back and with a elegant flick of the fingers sent a pillar of fire into the pair of Monastery guards. Delighted laughter came from the scarred woman as the two guards burned to a crisp almost instantly. The pair of Blood Knights followed, healing Sheyarah when she needed it, distracting the Crusaders and fighting most of their own smaller battles as Sheyarah ran around the area. Getting the clergy and inhabitants of the Scarlet Crusade to chase after her. Only to die by her arcane might and on the blades of the two Blood Knights.

They'd finished the wings and were ready to start on the Armory when Velliria noticed the scarred mage watching her out of the corner of her eye as she blew the last Scarlets away with an Arcane Blast. Velliria frowned inside, her eyes meeting Sheyarah's for a moment. Then slid away and Velliria pointed to a guard at the top of the stairs. The scarred mage's lips turned up in a tight smile as she turned and ran at the guard. Gathering him and several others to chase the slender woman around the groomed grounds.

Veliria watched as Sheyarah, with an unconscious grace. flash froze the ground around her and the Scarlets, then skipped back and began pounding them with arcane might. Frost, fire and arcane spells flickered and flashed from her fingers and within a minute, there was nothing but a patch of torn and charred, frost rimmed ground and corpses.

From there the rest of the Monastery was cleared, but Velliria knew that she would be back. Evil such as this never stayed dead.



Her dreams continued...

The dead walked. Prodded forward by the implacable will of the Master. Hundreds, thousands of war dead plod forward. Worker dead pulled the massive Meat Wagons, with the wagons pulling the Plague Cauldrons behind them. Tens of thousands of corpses, risen from battlefields or raided from graveyard, they all walked ceaselessly. Driven by His will. Run. Go. Forward.

The Scourge flowed like a diseased wave across the land. Heading south. Ever southward... Small villages and farms were swallowed instantly. The larger towns were swallowed by the leading wave. She saw one town, it's gates breaking under the pounding of Abominations, faint screaming, shrill and panicked, fell within in a half hour. The dead rising to shamble along after the growing undead army.

She waked among them. Her mind dull, merged with the group mind of the Scourge. Still, she was able to notice some things after slow thought. There was an order to the drive of undead. Small knots of organization, where the dead ran with purpose. Their actions driven by a sharper will.

Septs

The word floated up in her mind before fading away. She saw the Septs moving, a large figure with each one. A burning armored skeleton. Bone-Captain[i/] she thought. her mind sharpening slightly. Bone-Captains command the Septs. The Lieutenants command the Bone-Captains and the Master commands them all[/i] The thought vaguely bothered her before the chains that bound her dulled her mind for a time.

The town had fallen, the new dead rising to follow the Ghoul-Lords that shambled in the middle of their cysts. She came aware again outside of a forest. The trees either cut or standing in mouldering stands that sprouted great balls of fungus and mushrooms.

The forest is dying. Poisoned... It poisons the land itself.. Dead brows draw together at that thought. Wrong.. that was wrong...

The undead army stopped outside of a logging camp, the Master's Will grew heavy and her thoughts dulled further as the chains in her mind lit with His wrath. White power limning them out in her mind. He was mad...


Desolace Velliria spat, the arid wind, bitter with ash and sand blew back in her face. She skipped back as a pair of massive stony fists buried themselves in the ground. A enraged roar split the air and the Doomwarder, a swirling vortex of rock, boulders and heat, wrenched it's hands out of the ground Velliria, the corner of her mouth curved up, in a smirk, darted in, the tip of her sword jabbing at it's thigh. The large fel spawned creature roared again as her blade sunk deep into it's thigh would have been.

It's bellow of pain split the air. Long ears folding at the high pitched shriek, Velliria drove in again, sword leading. It spun, a boulder fist lashing out
at her. The auburn haired paladin threw herself to the side, sword between her and the fist. Sparks flew and steel clanged loudly as the Doomwarder's fist was deflected by the sword. She crashed into the ground, broken rock and gravel scraping at her armor and flesh Desperately, Velliria rolled to her feet, leaping back just as both fists slammed into the ground where she'd been. The blow shattered the stony ground, sharp shards of broken rock flew out to patter off the ground.

Velliria threw both arms up to cover her face, the chips pinging off the bracers and gloves. One sharp piece sliced a long thin gash along one of her ears, making Velliria yelp in surprise. Lowering her arms, Light flickers around Vellira , from the Consecration and Blessing that fall upon her. Shaking her head, she grips the sword in both hands, holding the heavy blade up. Idly she noticed the tip of the sword wavering and her arms felt leadened. Breathing hard, she knew the fight couldn't last much longer and gathered the last of her strength.

The Doomwarder didn't look much better. It's boulders deeply scored and cracked, the fire that bound it together flickered more weakly than at the start of the fight. It threw back it's head and howled. The deafening hate filled sound cutting Desolace's sullen air. Then the Doomwarder raised it overhead in preparation to finally smash the annoying mortal woman. Velliria knew that if it hit, it would kill her. So the battered Blood Knight raised her hands overhead and flung a Hammer of Justice at the towering demonic elemental mass of rock and rage. The holy power staggered it for a moment and Velliria darted in quickly. It was time to finish this.

In quick succession she threw a Judgment, blowing off chunks of stone. Then a Exorcism, a renewed Seal of Command, and the last of her energy was scraped to Consecrate the ground. With deafening cries, the two adversaries charged in a last attack. It's boulder fists crash into the small woman. The blow crushing the shoulder and breast plate. A shriek of pain burst from Velliria's lips as her left arm and shoulder were shattered. She staggered back, nearly blind from the pain, but the Doomwarder didn't follow.

Her sword had found the core, the center stone that bound the fel driven creature to the mortal plane. The tip of the blade snapped as it smashed the stone, unleashing it's energy in a furious whirlpool of fire. Pain beyond what it knew in it's tortured existence drove the creature to lurch back, howling in denied fury. Then with a final cry, it exploded. Sending shards of stone flying out in all directions.

Several hit the rapidly backing Blood Knight. Knocking her onto her back. Black and gray hazed the edges of Velliria's vision as she struggled to remain conscious. It took careful breathing and concentration before the darkness receded. Slowly other things made themselves aware to her, her shoulder and arm were numb, hot blood running down her face, various aches and pains beginning to demand attention.

It took several minutes before she could move, and the first time she tried to sit up, the numbness of her shoulder vanished and a fresh ocean of pain swept her back into the darkness.

It was the pain that woke her. It's incessant stabbing nag penetrating her consciousness. Sweat poured down her face, gray and haggard, as she slowly sat up, placing her back against a chunk of rock. Each movement one of excruciating agony and she sobbed from the pain. Her vision kept wavering, fading in and out, but finally she was upright. It took another measure of time before she could call upon the holy power within her to begin healing her shattered shoulder and arm.

A pale gold light flickered, flowing down the fingers of her good arm, to the damaged one. Slowly, torn and rent muscles began to heal, bones smashed into gravel, began to knit together, and crushed blood veins and arteries began moving blood. The black and red faded slowly from Velliria's fair skin, taking on a semblance of healthy tissue.

When her mana ran out, Velliria could only lie limply against the rock, breathing as if she'd been running for 10 miles, but she was able to lift and bend her arm. Wiping the greasy sweat off her face, Velliria climbed to her feet. and took looked around. The Doomwarder was a pile of smoldering rock and gravel. The acrid ashy wind of Desolace already drifting over it's scattered fragments.

The Blood Knight smiled grimly and bending to pick up her broken tipped sword, flicked a ironic salute to the pile of rubble. Then she turned on her heel and left, headed back to the troll village on the coast.

The Scarlet monastery, Cathedral The polished stone floors of the Scarlet Crusader's mighty cathedral lay awash in blood and viscera, the bodies of it's inhabitants lying in silent, repose. Violence had rent them of life. bishops, monks, clerics and holy warriors, all lie dead. Killed by arcane magic, fire and ice and enchanted blades. Now only two Crusaders remained alive. Scarlet Commander Morgraine and his mistress, the High Inquisitor Whitemane

The deathly silence was shattered by war cries, the unmusical clash of steel blades and the red armored Morgraine fell. His armor rimmed in frost and pieced by blades. The arcanist Sheyarah Cheyrynn Aeth, a Blood Knight and Velliria. As soon as Morgraine fell, they turned to face the massive doors behind the alter.

The large doors flew open, slamming against the wall with a boom that echoed in the large room. An enraged High Inquisitor Whitemane stalked out. "Mograine has fallen? You shall pay for this treachery!" She cried, immediately launching into an attack. Arcane power, steel and stolen holy light flashed between them and for an endless instant, Whitemane held off all three.

Then she shrieked as one of Sheyarah's spells penetrated her defenses. Desperately the Crusader flung up a hand, sending her three enemies into a Sleep. Quickly Whitemane stepped over to Morgriane's body and raised him. "Arise, my champion!" The armored commander groaned, rising to his feet. Laying slender hands on him, Whitemane heals her champion's wounds. He bent, picking up his heavy mace and readied himself.

The Sleep spell wore off and the battle resumed. The blasts from point blank bolts of fire and ice, the shattering crash of an icy storm, the sounds of steel hitting steel and flesh, with harsh screams of hatred and pain, filled the empty Cathedral. The battle was short and intense and had only one ending.
Morgraine fell again, with his mistress, Whitemane falling as Velliria drove the sharp point of her sword through the woman. The human Inquisitor lurched forward, startled by the sudden pain and the foot of bloodied steel that protruded from between her breasts. Her hands raised to touch it before she collapsed, coughing blood as Velliria kicked her off the sword.

"Stay dead this time, bitch", Velliria snarls, coughing and giving Whitemane's corpse a vicious kick. Wiping the blood from her sword, she sheaths it, her eyes, glowing blue with from the use of her holy energy scan the room. It was empty, perfect. Grimly Velliria cleaned her gauntlets, tossing the bloody rag aside when done.

Sheyerah had a small pleased look on her face, as she was saying, 'Not too bad, not bad... For a Blood Knight.' Wrapping her arms around herself, she daintily stepped around the bodies, examining them as the two younger elves searched the corpses. The male Blood Knight picked up Whitemane's hat, twirling it on a finger before stuffing it into a bag. Velliria's prize was the heavy mace Morgraine had used.

She knelt and picking it up, marveled at it's perfect balance, the haft seemingly formed for her hands. She held it for several moments before slinging it over her back. Finally she'd found a weapon that fit...
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
User avatar
Zakharra
Orc Champion
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 2:15 am
Location: Idaho

Post by Zakharra »

(( I'm wondering what people are thinking about it. Is it a good story, bad, ok, never set pen to paper again? ))
NWN1 PC: Yathtallar Faerylene
Aluve Inthara Despana, Beloved of Sheyreiza Tlabbar

NWN2 PC: Audra from Luskan.
Post Reply