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Post by Micha the Darkness on Sept 13, 2007 11:23:29 GMT -5
Moving through the thick undergrowth, the hooded man paused for a few moments, running his hand across some moss on the nearby tree trunk to seemingly check the direction. He never looked at it, however, choosing instead to check his knife was still securely fastened to his waist. He already knew it was, but it gave him an odd level of security.
Convinced he now knew the way, he turned left and set off again, running a little while until he found what he was looking for. He had buried something very precious here, at the foot of a tree that was smaller than those surrounding it. Though he had vowed to not disturb it until the morning, he was tempted to dig it up right now. His mind wavered for a moment, before it was disturbed by a rustling behind a nearby group of bushes.
The man instantly stopped, drawing the dagger at his waist and a second from one of the sheaths on his leg. He kept his focus on the bushes, however, not looking to see if he had a hold of the handles - he knew their location extremely well. Holding one defensively and the other offensively, he kept silent and still, waiting to see what would happen next.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Sept 14, 2007 8:21:07 GMT -5
Laurana tried her best not to tremble as she crouched down in a thicket of low bushes. She had never been so frightened in her life. As she concentrated on holding her breath and staying completely still, she thought back to what had transpired over the last few hours.
Laurana had been searching her father's study for a clue as to where her brother Gilthanas might have gone. Her father had sent him away on a secret journey, and for the first time Gilthanas had not confided in her as to where he was going. While she had been searching through her father's desk she came across a strange ring. The band was thicker than most rings of elven design and there was a large square cut ruby set into the band. Without thinking about what she was doing she slipped the large ring on and the ring seemed to shrink before her eyes until it was small enough to fit her slender finger. As she stared at the ruby everything around her went completely black and when her vision returned to her she looked around and saw that she was no longer in her father's study, she was in a strange forest.
This forest was not anything like those of Qualinesti, it was completely overgrown with underbrush and the trees seemed larger and more twisted.
As she stepped forward to study the bark of one of the larger trees she heard movement to her left and quickly dove into the underbrush. She caught a glimpse of a strange man dressed all in black right before he ducked out of sight.
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Post by Micha the Darkness on Sept 15, 2007 15:52:17 GMT -5
What was he going to do now? He was armed, and he could defend himself well enough, but in no way did he have the element of surprise! The person, or thing, in the bushes had that advantage over him; and he hated anyone to have the advantage over him. However, his objective was clear in his mind - he had to protect his buried treasure. It was important, and having an objective in battle was key to victory. Backing towards the tree, he positioned himself against the trunk, with a foot pressed flat against it to propel himself off if he needed to. Keeping his daggers still and primed, he spoke out in a loud and strong voice.
“Who are you? You have no business here. Show yourself, and I will not come to find you.”
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Post by Xander Hughes on Sept 15, 2007 19:48:42 GMT -5
Xander was also traveling through the strange forest. He was only less than a mile from Micha the Darkness and Laurana. He was mounted upon his strong mare, Lightfoot, urging her forward and nudging her in the ribs with the heels of his boots. She was nearly exhausted, but Xander was determined to coax her through the forest. The three pursuers grew closer with every second, their strong stallions' breath hot upon Xander's neck. Xander and Lightfoot crashed through the underbrush, causing a loud din. Sweat beaded along the young man's forehead and neck.
The three pursuers picked up their speed and surrounded Lightfoot, frightening the young mare into a frenzy. She kicked out with both front legs, but accomplished nothing. The larger horses stared her down, and she quieted. Xander remained silent, eyeing his enemies fiercely.
"You thief! What do you think?! Give us back our money now and we'll spare you're pathetic life!" One of the older mercenaries shouted.
Xander's gaze flickered to each of the three men. They had once been his business partners, but he had stolen his share of the money, and a little extra, while they slept, and abandoned them. They had chased him down and trapped him in this blasted forest, and now he had nowhere to go.
"Come on, Zane. Let me pass. I took my share and left. I want no more part of your schmening," said Xander.
"Sure, 'you took your share'. You took all our shares. And we want them back. Now!"
Xander took a chance and peeled around them, but one of the three drew his sword and blocked the young man's way. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded, swinging his sword toward Xander's head.
Xander ducked beneath the blow and drew his sword as well, circling the man and swinging at his back.
The man howled in pain and fell from his steed, clutching at his back in agony. His two companions ignored his shouts and followed Xander. The chase wore on, and soon Xander was very close to where Micha the Darkness and Laurana were.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Sept 16, 2007 2:20:09 GMT -5
Another was also on the prowl in the forest that night. Slanted eyes gleamed with curiousity as they watched the scene in front of them, with the odd little man dressed all in black backing towards the trunk of a tree, with his daggers drawn. The same, slanted elven eyes widened when the man spoke.
"Who are you? You have no business here. Show yourself, and I will not come to find you."
Like you can find an dark elf like me, my friend. Kenaira thought, but stepped back even further into the shadows, unaware that another elf, and the princess of the Qualinesti as well, was also abroad in this strange forest, and quite close by too.
Just then, there was the shrill neighing of a horse, and crashes, which sounded quite close by, and seemed to be coming even closer. Kenaira's first instinct was to turn around sharply, longsword drawn, to deal with this new threat, but long years of exile in a rather...unfriendly world that did not look kindly upon her or any other dark elf kept her from doing that. There was very little chance of her being detected, with her dark cloak and clothes, and skill in concealment.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Sept 16, 2007 8:18:02 GMT -5
The dark stranger called out for her to show herself just as the sound of hooves running towards them came from their left. "somehow I've got to get away from here" she thought.
Laurana began to back quietly out of the thicket as she went over every lesson her brother Gilthanas had given her on how to defend herself. She was unarmed, in fact she was only dressed in a flimsy silk night-dress, a cloak, and the strange ring from her father's study.
Once she was out of the thicket she turned around slowly, intending to make a run for it.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Sept 21, 2007 20:58:13 GMT -5
Still extremely tense, and wary now, Kenaira was on high alert. The crashes continued, and they still seemed to be getting closer, but not in her direction. Rather, they seemed to be sounding behind the odd man and his tree.
The wind whistled through the bushes, and the forest surrounding them, making the trees sigh softly, waving their branches in the night air with small, creaking sounds as the emerald green leaves, so bright in the sunlight, now dulled by darkness, rustle softly.
It was because of her alertness she did not miss the sound of rapid, scared breathing, and the person that she heard backing out of something, probably a thicket or a bush, slowly, making very little sound. It was then Kenaira decided that there was an elf here, for she knew precious little humans who could move so quietly. The dark elf also started to back away, but now she drew her long dagger from its sheath in her belt.
She heard the elf she was tracking stop. Probably because he or she was out of the thicket, Kenaira decided, and then heard soft footsteps as the person turned, presumably to get ready for flight. Kenaira took a few stealthy steps forward, until she thought she was behind the person. Now, she saw long hair, the colour of honey, a graceful, lithe figure and a silken nightdress of elven make. Definitely an elf, and a female one at that.
Making almost no sound, she lunged at the elf, trying to clasp a hand over her mouth, and hold the dagger to her throat.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Sept 21, 2007 22:46:45 GMT -5
As Laurana turned to flee, she suddenly caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Just as she was realizing what was happening, a dark figure grabbed her from behind and held a knife to her throat. Laurana struggled to free herself but the dark stranger held her tightly. Laurana reacted with her first instinct, which was to order the stranger to let her go. "Unhand me now or you will regret it" she hissed.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Sept 22, 2007 2:10:24 GMT -5
Kenaira clamped her hand even tighter over her victim's mouth, pressing the dagger down even harder, until it almost broke the fair skin of Laurana. She heard the faint accent of a Qualinesti elf when the elfmaid spoke, and was angered, but at the same time, filled with a sadistic pleasure as well as grieved to hear it. Funny how so many things can be felt at the same time.
"Unhand me now or you will regret it"
Perhaps someone used to giving out commands? Kenaira wouldn't be surprised. The Silvanesti elves considered the Qualinesti barely more than barbarians, Kenaira knew they still had their lords and ladies, their Speaker and his children.
"Tell me, what is a little elfmaid doing so far from her pretty little Qualinesti woods?" Kenaira whispered teasingly, menacingly, her lips barely brushing the tip of one delicately pointed ear.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Sept 29, 2007 9:03:29 GMT -5
Laurana gasped as she realized it was an elf that had grabbed her, and from the sound of it a Silvanesti. Laurana decided to return the question,"What's a Silvanesti doing so far from their home?" She immediately wrenched her arm free and jabbed it into the Silvanesti's stomach and broke free of their grasp. She gathered up the skirt of her night dress and started to flee into the woods.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Oct 1, 2007 8:30:13 GMT -5
Kenaira cursed as her captive's arm jabbed into her stomach sharply, knocking the wind out of her for a moment. Instinctively, she loosened her hold, and the elfmaid slipped out of her arms and started running rather clumsily, thanks to that pretty nightgown. "For your information, I'm a dark elf." Kenaira whispered after the Qualinesti elfmaid, even though she [rpbably couldn't hear her.
Running after Laurana, her steps much lighter and easier, Kenaira caught up swiftly, a mocking smile on her face, shadowed by the hood that hid her elven features. Solinari's silver light flashed upon the steel blade of a dagger that she had drawn out from her belt. "If I many ask, who are you?" She inquired, and let out a mocking laugh.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Oct 1, 2007 20:44:42 GMT -5
As Laurana fled she could hear the soft, rapid footfalls of the Silvanesti close behind her. She veered to the east and quickly realized this was a mistake as she reached a glade that was hemmed in by large thorny bushes on three sides. She stopped and scanned the area for a weapon, settling on a sharpened branch, then turned, ready to defend herself. She glanced about wildly until her elven night vision had detected the red glow of her pursuer approaching. The Silvanesti was holding a dagger and asking who Laurana was. She thought for a minute before responding, then decided that no one in this part of Krynn was likely to have heard of her. "I'm Lauranalanthalasa of the Qualinesti and if you are thinking of attacking me then you are making a grave mistake," she replied as menacingly as she could manage.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Oct 2, 2007 9:30:20 GMT -5
"I'm Lauranalanthalasa of the Qualinesti and if you are thinking of attacking me then you are making a grave mistake."
Kenaira let out a laugh. She couldn't help it. She had the princess of the barbaric Qualinesti elves at her mercy, and the princess in question had the nerve to threaten her with a tree branch and fancy words!
"In case you haven't heard the first time, "Kenaira stated, her voice dripping with irony, "I'm a Silvanesti dark elf."
A cynical smile twisted her features as she said this, although her attention never wavered from Laurana, and she didn't return the dagger to its sheath.
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Post by Laurana Kanan on Oct 2, 2007 19:03:06 GMT -5
A dark elf! Laurana could hardly believe she had heard correctly. The Silvanesti stood with her dagger at the ready and Laurana needed to think fast to get herself out of this situation. She scanned her surroundings and knew that she would not be able to escape. Perhaps she could reason with her aggressor. After all she was an elf, even a dark elf could be reasoned with. Laurana lowered her branch. "Surely we can talk this out like two members of the most civilized race on Krynn and not have to resort to fighting like mere humans" she said.
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Post by Kenaira the Outcast on Oct 3, 2007 7:11:49 GMT -5
"Surely we can talk this out like two members of the most civilized race on Krynn and not have to resort to fighting like mere humans."
Kenaira's smile changed into a smirk. She didn't lower her dagger.
"Oh yes. Let us talk." The dark elf replied, her musical voice almost a purr. "Why should I hurt a princess like you, Lauralanthalasa?" The dark elf inclined her head in an ironic bow. "It isn't everyday a dark elf like me gets to meet a member of elven royalty."
To be truthful, Kenaira had no idea what to do with this little elfmaid at her mercy. To kill her would be to invite disaster that the dark elf would not have welcomed in the least. But still, perhaps they could just talk, like the princess said...Kenaira was not really evil, more like a neutral person, but chaotically so. She didn't care if people got hurt, as long as she survived, but she did not go out of her way to murder.
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