Joel - 2000-03-08
al nodded his head again, and smiled at Keleos and Muranog. "The village it will be."
He turned towards the woods. He called out Talos' name and waited for him to show. He clenched his silvery hand in reflex knowing what his efforts would cost him and prayed that he had read this young elf correctly.
Talos heard Jenra's brother call his name and stepped back into the clearing. As he spied the Outlander elf, and felt their eyes lock, he heard a voice in his head ask "Can Jenra find me?" Before he could even choose, the answer "yes" sprung forth.
The voice whispered in his head, "Tell her if she wishes to find me, I shall be with these outsiders for a short while. If she does not find me I will eventually find her". Finally, the Tal's voice forlornly said "Now, my friend, I hope you will forgive me for what I am going to do."
In a loud voice, so all could hear, the strange elf addressed his distant kinsmen. His voice caught them all in it's spell but most of all it wove its power around Talos.
"Young ones, why do you fear these people so, they come in peace. There is danger in these woods but not most likely from here. I ask you again. Who killed this man, lying here? Why did you not see his murderer or murderers? Why do you not find them? Why are they on the loose? Who are they?"
"Someone stalks these woods, and someone stalks you all. You, supposedly are the hunters, can you tell me who they are? What their habits are? Did they also slay my clan? And how many other unexplained deaths in this forest do they account? Elves, humans, other creatures, who else have they taken? Look around, are they among you? How do you know? And how do you know they are not?"
"Why again do you not know them? Who among you will be next?" Each word cut into Talos' heart. There were too many unexplained deaths in the Kethiel. Something was going on.
The voice softened, weaving more threads: "Before you hunt did your elders not teach you to study your prey? These people before you, if you have truly watched them they you can begin to guess at their talents, and still you would attack? I can only thank the Gods that I survived my youth, and pray that you will too."
"Look at this man's robes and know him for an man of fire, an elder in his way" Talos found himself staring at the scarlet robed man, as the voice reached deeper within him. "This is a true pyromancer, look into his eyes and see how his will has been forged stronger and harder in the heat of the fire. Will you test the power he controls? Look even further and you might feel the hunger of the eternal flame that calls to him. Feel the heated colors licking the air, yearning to devour your woods."
Talos shuddered for within the mage's eyes indeed he saw pyres and ashes, and he could feel the unrelenting passion within those flames to consume all in their path and part of him was being seduced by its charms.
The voice went on "It is only this man's willpower that holds back the desire, and some day even that will might fail. The pyromancer seeks peace, would you foolish children summon his master down upon the Kethiel?"
The words and pictures of fire and flame echoed in him mind sucking him, luring him deeper into the fire within the mage. He could feel the flames within the magician reach out to lick and caress his skin. Talos could feel the heat taste the trees and all the life around and stir itself. Then suddenly, he felt the hunger recede and merciful cool air came gasping back into his lungs as the mage imposed his willpower on the fire. The young elf was torn between the consuming desire of the flame for his woods and the abysmal fear of it's destruction.
Talos still in turmoil was drawn to look at the other party members as Tal's voice called to him again, "The Kethiel way is to nuture life, would you kill this broken blue jay" pointing at the Avarel. "And would you release the fire within her?" Talos once again was called by the flame, but this time the flame ran back and forth with little control, striking in terror, yet the vision was the same, the destruction of all the life around him.
The world spun about him and the only anchor was the voice echoing in his head and strange images of the Outlanders in front of him... The one they called Keleos looked like a gathering storm cloud and the other like a young beaver tripping over his tail.
The voice returned to its original theme: "If you wish to hunt, where are the killers of this human's companion? Where are those who stalk you and your kin? Why have you let others walk through your woods like it was a summer day? And why do you let them kill as if they owned the forest?"
Tal paused and asked "And why did my clan die, when I left all were living and breathing? Where were you, my kin when they died and why do you not have answers?"
Talos suddenly found himself staring into the elf's eyes again. And in short snapshots saw the Tal's history take place before him. He felt the Kethiel itself call to Tal and he knew him for a 'kethanar', truly summoned. Finally, Talos saw through Tal's eyes his approach to the forest and saw the roots of evil that had taken place within his home. Talos cried in despair and wondered how such could take place.
Talos suddenly found himself released back in his body, his mind whirling from all he experienced . The whole glen was silent, except the bees buzzing loudly. Tal's last words echoing in his head. "I am Taletherion Darkecat, the forest has called me home and I have come. I shall return when these folks are safe, I hope you will have answers."
Turning to his companions, Tal tried to hid his exhaustion, his metal hand hanging like a weight at his side. With his good hand he gestures for them to gather up their belongings and leave. Not an arrow was raised and many thoughtful faces looked strangely and quizically about, as if waking from a long sleep.
Gavin - 2000-03-08
"The sharp voice of the female elf rung from outside the clearing.emember! They must be gone by nightfall, or blood will flow!"
(I knew the Elves would not like our presence, but I never thought they would be so verment in their hatred).
Daemil saw Keleos took on a stony set. "Fine, it is obvious that we are unwelcome. Our so-impatient guardians would do well to remember that he," she gestured him, "was travelling innocently and was attacked, that I and my charge were brought here by his cry, and that he," she pointed at Muranog, "was brought here by my charge's fire let your precious trees catch flame."
"This clan's hospitality is sorely lacking. I found the Clan of the Black Sands much more to my taste."
(The who...?) Daemil had never heard of this clan. The Pine Martin Clan had lived near the Order of Talar, but the Order and the Clan had a long standing agreement to not interact with each another.
Shaking her head briefly, Keleos continued, "Since we are so very unwelcome, we will depart now. The offer of shelter, was kind, but unneeded. I am capable of caring for myself and my companion."
(What about me? I don't want to be alone...)
Daemil vaugely heard some Shenmiri and Elven being spoken, but paid no attention as he felt dispair at his plight. He had just wanted to get an ordinary job elsewhere in Torrigan and now he had been mugged, witnessed a murder, something he had never come across before and still could not understand, and was now under an Elven death-threat.
The words 'Stoneley Mill' brought back Daemil's attention and he tried to work out what was going on. People seemed prepared to leave, by their stances.
"Keleos here is more familiar with the lands hereabout than I am as yet." Said Muranog. "If she suggests this Stoneley Mill as a more suitable place to parley, I for one will not disagree. Whatever you would say to us, good elf, can surely be said in less hostile surroundings...?"
The Elf nodded at Keleos and Muranog. "The village it will be." Tal then turned toward the forest and called out a name.
An elf appeared out of the forest and as he looked at Tal, Daemil felt a sharp jab of pain in his head and faint Elvish echo amoungst it.
Daemil tried to sit down, but, as the other Elf seemed to freeze, he found he could not move. He heard Elven speach being spoken, but could not concentrate enough to make out any of it. Exhausted, tired and hungry, Daemil felt his concousness slipping away as the voice went on and on...
Images of fire and destruction vaugely flashed before him, and a strange darkness hanging over Kéthiel Forest. It seemed to rise like a core within it...
"I am Taletherion Darkecat, the forest has called me home and I have come."
The voice rang clearly in his head, but as if from far away.
Blackness engolfed him.
Diana - 2000-03-10
She trotted right along, keeping pace with the horse easily. He obviously didn't like the idea of carrying TWO riders AND equipment. She was keeping pace so easily that she trotted right past when Lady Selene asked them to halt. Tiel turned about and padded back, her head low in embarassment. By the time she had reached the horse again, Lady Selene had disappeared into the woods.
"Just who does she think she is, anyway? Or a better question would be who is she, really? Those hounds are after her, judging from the way she has reacted to them. Who could be after her and why?" Trevor hissed indignantly. Trevor straightened and continued, his voice speculative "If I were to make a bet, I would say she is royalty and if so, what is she doing running around out here in the forest?" He sighed, frowning. "There are just too many unanswered questions. But believe me, I intend to find out." He finished emphatically.
A bewildered look came across Tiel's face when his sword seemed to leap from it's sheath and into his hand at a sound from Lady Selene. (Oh yes,) she thought. (He's not a predator and can't -quite- discern one noise from another. Must give him some leeway for that.)
Selene re-mounted the horse wordlessly and communicated to Trevor that they were to be moving again. Trevor clucked to his horse and they were off, Tiel moving right beside them as an escort.
Soon, Lady Selene's fatigue had gotten the best of her and she was out cold and leaning quite comfortably against Ser Ainsley's back. He didn't seem to mind it in the least. Tiel sniggered soundlessly as Trevor looked down at her. (My, but this is amusing!) she thought to herself and turned her attention back to her surroundings. Lady Selene was assuredly safe so long as she was with Trevor, Tiel had faith in that.
Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.