An alchemist goes in to a bar...

[JCP]

The door creaks open, sending the late afternoon sun across the dusty floor.

Conversations slowly stop as patrons notice who has entered, and a few mutter respectful greetings.

Rubbing his eyes, JCP the Alchemist makes his way to a large chair by the fire, stopping to regard the Farmboy sitting in his favorite spot.

Shrugging his shoulders, the alchemist turns and walks to the bar, taking a stool and nodding to Cedrick's unspoken request for a drink and a meal as the chatter of the inn once again picks up.

The farmboy smiles, and begins to laugh, "Ha! Did ne1 c that? u r nothing SrAdmin d00d!"

A stark silence fills the inn.

"Watch your tongue," cautions the alchemist, not bothering to turn around.

"Y? This is how u talk on teh interweb."

"Not here, you don't."

"Wot r u gonna do?"

A chair slides across the floor as a page at a back table stands up, hand on her weapon hilt, ready to teach the farmboy a lesson in respect.

Before she takes a step, a large hand appears on her shoulder, preventing her from advancing. Her eyes trace the hand back and up until she looks into the eyes of a large and powerful warrior wearing a horned helm. Terron shakes his head to discourage any further action.

The door bursts open, and a woman enters. SaucyWench already has her banstick out, and it only takes a few seconds for almost every patron to recognize her, turn, and point at the farmboy.

The farmboy only has time to open his mouth before the banstick reduces him to a pile of ash. JCP doesn't even turn around to acknowledge the goings on around him.

Cedrick places a tray of food and a mug of dark beer before JCP, who takes them, walks past SaucyWench to give her a kiss on the cheek and a "Thanks," on his way to his chair, where he sits without even bothering to sweep away the ashes.

The excitement over, the noise level of the common room returns to normal.

[whitecrow]

Walking into the bar, all whitecrow sees is the pile of ash, Saucy is long gone by now, but the Alchemist is still at the bar. Walking gingerly around the ash, he takes a stool next to the Alchemist and nods to Cedrick. The barman slides an ale over.

Turning to the Alchemist, he nods.
"Fifth one this week" whitecrow says after a quick gulp.
The Alchemist acknowledges whitecrow with a raised eyebrow.
"I stopped counting" He says in a low voice.
Silence fills the air.
"A long time ago"

[Okami]

The door swings open yet again.

Okami walks into a bar.

Okami wakes up several hours later with a large bruise on his head from not looking where he's walking. :lol:

[Mungo-licious]

Mungo scoops up some of the ashes, and adds them to his mug. He then adds some steaming hot water, and mixes up the concoction.
"Mmmmm, the banstick always makes such tasty tea! Bottoms up."
He downs the resulting mixture, supresses a wretch, and slinks back into a dark corner of the bar.

[mysticii]

walks into the bar and sniffs the air...
"ahhh the sweet smell of the ban stick in the morning"
walks over and orders a drink of JD and wondering when the next victim will fall before the wrath of the admins :twisted:

[Atrus]

Atrus walks in, orders a mead and a meal, sits down and eats with relish, pausing always to dab his mouth with a serviette.

A farmboy walks over, and looks at his battle axe apprehensively.

"It's..got blood on it" the farmboy says in a small voice.

Atrus smiles knowingly.

"Yes, I know..I keep forgetting to clean it"

Atrus turns at a tap on his shoulder, and then stands as Sneakabout moves to lay a cape over his shoulders, the cape oversewn with a small shield of a green dragon with two lightning bolts superimposed.

"Wear it with honour, young warrior" he says softly.

Atrus nearly bursting with pride (and maybe a small tear), pulls out his gold pouch,tossing it with a jingle on the bar.

First round of drinks, and I'm buying!!!! he cries..and is promptly bowled over by the thirsty mob.:)

[sativ]

*sativ enters the tavern and shakes his head*
"looks like one of those farmcreatures thought this place was the aol lobby again... that's what happens...
yo, atrus! you're buying drinks?"
*leans towards cedrik*
"in that case... an ale please."

[Mitsuko]

Silently entering, she takes but a moment to survey the room's occupants from the doorway before proceeding to the bar. She pulls her cloak off, tossing it upon a bar stool. Sitting down upon the barstool, she orders an ale from Cedrick, placing some gold on the counter. Murmuring a thank you, she takes the ale and sips it gingerly, taking in the sounds around her. After a moment, she silently wishes there was some music playing...

[sativ]

*enjoys his ale*
*turns towards cedrik again.*
"hm.. where's the music? there was a band playing when i was here before..."

[WilliamtheBloody]

As William the Bloody enters the room no one even acknowledges his presence. He heads over to a dark corner slams his fist on the wall and out runs a rat. Before the rat can get half way across the room William the Bloody takes out his Page's Short Sword and throws it at the rat chopping it's head clean off. William takes the rat and carries it to the bar. He sits down and yells for Cedrick to get him an ale. Cedrick brings William the ale and shakes his head in disgust. William then proceeds to swallow the rat whole and quickly gulps the ale. Feeling full he gets up from the bar, stares angrily at JCP, then retires to his room for a little rest.

[Kroz]

Kroz walks into the bar sniffing the air. "Those @!#$ farmies can't tell the difference between the AOL inn and the BoarsHead inn. I've been in the AOL inn...I'll tell you I almost died. Anyway, Cederick poor me some Ichor!" He picks up his drink and marches over to the table the Seth is sitting at. He sits awhile talking of sports. Soon though he feels awkward and quickly asks Seth to sing.

[Mitsuko]

She chuckles lightly at Kroz's entrance speak, lightly sipping her ale. Upon Kroz's suggestion of a music interlude by Seth, she lifts her glass in agreement.

"Yes, play us a song!" Mitsuko calls to the bard, unpocketing a few gold coins for proper tip to a performance. "That is, of course, if no one else has any objections."

[Ragnarok]

Ragnarok enters amid much commotion and general noise of people having fun. He smiles and takes a deep breath. At last...home. He ambles up to the bar, taking in all the sights. He puts a foot up on a stool and gives a few respectful nods to JCP the Alchemist and the other legendary figures already occupying their usual spots, and swells with pride to see them nod back, even if only in casual politeness.

"Cedrik?" The innkeeper turns. "I'll have the usual." Cedrik nods and goes into the back storeroom, returning a moment later with a large black tankard, steaming from the top. The acrid smell fills the air, and a patron sitting next to Ragnarok asks suspiciously, "Is that...dragon blood?" Ragnarok smiles mirthlessly and takes a long draught from the tankard. All the patrons around look on with worry creasing their faces, but when Ragnarok slams the tankard down on the bar with a satisfied "Ahhh!" they all laugh and turn back to whatever they were doing. Ragnarok sits on the stool, relaxing against the bar and looking out with a contented smile. Good to be home.

[Kroz]

As the song ends a strange man walks into the inn. He seems familiar but he can't quite put his finger on it. As he gets up he chugs the rest of his drink and walks over to where Ragnorok is sitting. "Come here often I see, but not often enought that these people here actually know you well. I've seen you around a few times. Yeah, I saw you running, then crawling out of that cave. I was the one that guided you when you were halfway blind...you probably don't remember...but I saved your life."

[Ragnarok]

Ragnarok gives the old gentleman an odd look. "Are you sure you're not the one that's halfway blind?" he asked. "I think you've got the wrong guy. I've never even been to the dragon's cave, much less actually defeated the thing." Glancing down into his tankard, Ragnarok notices with dismay that it is empty, so he gets Cedrik's attention and orders a mead.

[Mitsuko]

As she gets another round of Ale, she watches Ragnarok and Kroz conversing. She lightly drinks her Ale in sips before throwing her head back and chugging the rest of the contents. She looudly 'places' the empty cup on the couner, her hand over top to signify that she wishes for no more. Her head hangs low for a moment as she catches her breath a little, her odd behavior perplexing to even herself.

Slowly, she takes a moment to look up, her emerald eyes a bit dulled by the Ale, her system not truly used to it from weeks of sobriety. With a quick moment, she sits up straight, her hair flipping back and her hands smoothing it out like a comb. A headache also came from this motion, but she keeps that to herself...

[Terron]

**Earlier that day**

Terron makes the long journey from his current home in the fields of Romar to the Village of the Elves, looking for his love Anyanka. Finding her asleep in the fields, he jumps in front of her as a Trowel is lunged towards her. Causing Terron to giggle, the Trowel bounces off him back towards the attacker, imbedding itself in to the eye of the Farmboy. As he died the farmboy was heard to say, "Please, sir, may I have some more?” Terron kisses his wife, and heads off to the main village. He quickly checks out the fields here, only to find farmboys clutching their Woodsman’s Axe +1 sleeping, smelling of cattle. Moving on he stops at the bank and picks up a few gold coins to bring with him to the Inn. He takes a moment to check out the statue; this one is of one of his Clan members, a very common site. He then passes the stocks and hides a gem near it.

As he enters by the main entrance, he knocks Violet over on his way to chat with Seth. Seth sings a song about how "U-G-L-Y" he looks and tries to put Terron's sprits down. Seth continues to sing, "You have lost a fight, because of my clever put down..." when Terron smacks Seth's head into the wall. "Lucky me I had one more left" mutters Terron as he leaves the crumpled bard crying on the floor and approaches an empty stool at the bar.

Taking out a few gold coins, Terron extends the currency towards the inside portion of the bar. Cedrik, hears the sound of gold coins, starts making his way over to the source of that heavenly noise. With one big swipe, a layer of filth and gold is swept away, causing a smile on Cedrik's greasy face. Terron knows this game well.

Placing another amount of coins on the bar changes Cedrik expression. "What can I do for you?" asks the bartender. Looking around, Terron replies, "I need a key for upstairs." Knowing exactly what Terron means Cedrik shows him a list. Looking at the top of the list, Terron points to the top name. After slipping him a key, Cedrik innocently returns to his position behind the bar.

On his way up the stairs, Terron passes his clan mate Booger, carrying a severed head with him, no doubt heading to Dag to collect. They exchange nods and continue their business.

At the top of the stairs is a series of corridors, with many doors leading to different rooms. Terron looks at his key for the number, which is #721. Wandering around for a few minutes, he finally finds the correct room. He listens at the door only to hear snoring. He slowly puts the key in to the lock and turns it. The door slowly opens and he enters, the floor creaking under his weight.

From out of nowhere, Terron sees a shiny object coming towards him from his left. It crashes into his helmet chipping some of the purple war paint from it. A deep voice bellows "Get up! Get up! Intruder!!" from the shadows on Terron's left, no doubt a bodyguard attached to the item that just struck him. A startled demigod jumps from the bed, with his weapon drawn. The frightened demigod shouts, "Prepare to die scum!" towards the tall figure in front of him.

The attacker on Terron's left, lunged his weapon towards him again, but did not connect. Instead Terron catches the weapon, twists it free from the bodyguard and impales him with it. Then the demigod charges at Terron hitting him in the leg. Terron, angered by the attack, hurls some curses towards the demigod removing most of his left side. Shocked at this, the demigod frozen in fear, falls victim to a MEGA power move as Terron's fist crushes his head. Some were in the deep swamps; the demigod's mother gets a sharp pain in her side, which causes her to fall.

Looking around in the room, Terron sighs. Only wanting to ask the Demigod if he wishes to review with him, his application to the BAD Clan, Terron takes out a scroll and writes something on it. As Audrey's out of work kittens come in to clean the room, he gives the scroll to one of them to take to the mail carrier. The demigod's name is on it, asking him to respond on if he wanted both the medical and dental coverage. He then leaves the room.

He goes down the stairs, past the bar and notices a young boy dressed in a T-shirt speaking in tongue towards the Alchemist. He walks towards the back of the inn as a chair slides past him and turns around. He sees a page drawing her weapon. He places his blood-covered hand on her shoulder and Terron shakes his head. He bends down and tells her, "what will happen will be far worse than that sword could do."

He takes a seat and looks on at the show.

[Ragnarok]

After the strange man leaves him alone, Ragnarok orders another drink and looks around. His eye catches on Mitsuko, who is swaying slightly from the effects of her drink. Ragnarok stands and ambles over to where Mitsuko is sitting and takes the stool next to hers. "Good ale, eh?" She nods slightly. "Well, the only way to get used to it is to have more!" Ragnarok laughs and swigs down the rest of his drink, then waves for Cedrik to come over as he asks Mitsuko if he can buy her a drink.

Sorry if this is character control; I tried to do as little as possible.

[Kroz]

As Kroz's head looks up, his face turns into a huge grin. Seconds later, he's gasping for breath cracking up laughing. He stands strait up, with a strait look on his face and burps into the mans face. Laughing as he walks away lopsidely from the many drinks, he orders another.

[Mitsuko]

Her gaze averts from staring out into space to Ragnarok as he sits beside her and asks if her ale was good. Without hesitation, she nods, though whether she enjoyed it or not was still lost from the headache. With a laugh, she's offered another drink. For a moment, she stays silent before taking her hand off the top of her cup with a grin.

"I'd love another one!" She chimes out cheerfully with a grin.

[Ragnarok]

Ragnarok smiles at Mitsuko and his eyes sparkle merrily as he orders more drinks for the two of them. He takes his and starts to sip it when suddenly music starts as a band takes the floor. Soon everyone is standing and clapping, and Ragnarok stands. He extends his hand out to Mitsuko as he bows formally.

"May I have this dance?"

[Kroz]

Kroz quickly hearing the music leaves. "I hate that song, I'm going to castle slaag to see my honey from the chest," he grumbles as he leaves.

[Atrus]

A touch on his arm brings Atrus out of his quiet dozing, looking up he sees Bluispring, annoyed and tapping her foot impatiently.

"What is so important you had to see me here? I'm busy"

Atrus hands her a folder "The <BAD> training report you asked me for a week ago? It was delivered this morning."

At her uncomprehending stare he continues "The one you asked me for and said you had to have by tomorrow...??"

Bluespring blinks.. "Um, yes I did. Sorry" she takes the folder and turns to go when Atrus stops her.

"Bluespring..when was the last time you had dinner OUTSIDE your office?"

At her blank stare Atrus shakes his head in disbelief.

"Uh huh, thought as much. VIOLET!!!"

At his stentorian bellow, the Inn's ravishingly gorgeous waitress rushes over, one hand holding a towel.

"Yes, Atrus? We're kinda busy today"

"I know..look can we scare up some mead, two medium steaks and vegetables and a loaf of bread? Bluespring is having dinner away from her desk for a change"

Bluespring starts to back out, but Atrus firmly points her to a chair.

Atrus looks at her "C'mon...Yoresh can handle things tonight for a change. You look tired.And don't tell me you've had eaten today because Mireband was here earlier and he said you skipped lunch...AGAIN."

Bluespring sighs, rubs her eyes and sits down, dropping her cape across the back of the chair.

Violet giggles."Of course, darling" she kisses Atrus soundly and rushes off.

Two young Squires start to walk past, then join Bluespring and Atrus at their invitation. The table is soon a hum of merry conversation and much chomping, interspersed with eager questions to Bluespring on tactics and attack methods.

[Mitsuko]

She takes her Ale and takes a long gulp of it before Ragnarok stands and extends his hand. Placing her drink down on the counter, she takes his hand and stands as well.

"Why, yes you may!" She grins cheerfully. Wow, all of these guys like dancing, I guess... She thinks as she recalls her dance at the last tavern.

[Ragnarok]

People start pushing aside tables to make room for the flood of dancers coming out. Ragnarok smiles at Mitsuko and leads her out to the space that has been cleared, and they start to dance.

[Mitsuko]

Mitsuko dances with Ragnarok. "I don't recall meeting you before. I don't seem to know much of anyone anymore..." She trails off as her eyes wander to the many farmies. Her mind snaps back to Ragnarok with a grin. "I'm Mitsuko!"

[Angul]

*watches everyone from the dark shadows of a corner, a smirk playing across her lips*

[sativ]

*looks around*
something's not right here...
there's someone watching us... or something...
i know that someone from somewhere... strange...
it reminds me of the night masks...

[Ragnarok]

Ragnarok introduces himself to Mitsuko as they dance. They keep on twirling and laughing until the music stops, and then Ragnarok leads Mitsuko over to the bar, orders a mead, and asks Mitusko if she would like anything.

[SapphireShadow]

SapphireShadow glides in through the door unnoticed and comtemplates on whether to talk to Violet or order a drink. Deciding on a drink, she walks up to the bar and orders an ale, avoiding Cedrik's eyes. Turning around so her back is to the bar, SapphireShadow takes a sip and watches various people chatting. Her eyes land on JCP the Alchemist and she gives him a small polite nod. Taking her final swig of ale, she puts her glass back on the bar table and orders some cider.

[Mitsuko]

She takes her seat next to Rangarok and nods to his offer. "I'll have some elven wine. I need something sweet on my tongue after that ale..."

[Whitewater]

White water walks inside the Inn, engrossed by the dancing takes a seat and orders some ale.

[Angul]

*continues to watch everyone, and begins to twirl a silver dagger*

[sativ]

i know what it is! it has to be angul!
hope she's in a good mood today... because if she's not... there will be trouble...

[Angul]

*looks over a Sativ, continuing to smirk*

[sativ]

i've once seen angul upset when i was a member of the night masks... the best thing to do is to run for cover if she's after you...
*starts to look for angul*

[Angul]

*laughs a bit and watches as Sativ searches for her*

[sativ]

she has to be somewhere here...
*looks around the room until his eyes find a dark shade in a corner of the room.*
there you are... i better observ what she's planning to do...

[Angul]

*flicks a cute little fireball at Sativ*

"I see you have found my hiding spot"

[sativ]

*wonders what the fireball was about.*
i see i really did... what are you planning to do, mistress?

[Angul]

"Oh, I don't know....maybe cause chaos, destruction..."

[sativ]

sounds like fun. as long as it doesn't concern me...
*grins*

[Angul]

I've considered burning down this inn....but then the JCP might smite me down....and I don't feel like being smited...So...what should I do?

[sativ]

if i may ask, why did you want to burn it down?
i have a suggestion...
burn the inn down and run as fast as you can.
no, wait... there's no escaping when you are traced by the jcp...

edit:
bad, evil angul. striking me down when i'm sleeping in the inn. :lol:

[Angul]

*giggles and ruffles her wings*

Why sativ, you were a simply delightful morsel.

[sativ]

i might not be one of the weak one's. but i know when i won't have a chance. so don't wait for me to avenge me. but wait for the bored gods to avenge me. or well... to have some fun. *grins*

so... what are your burning down the inn plans doing?

[Angul]

Ah, so evil!

*darts and grabs sativ*

I dunno, I think I may just roast a nice plump sativ over a fire

[sativ]

why would you do that? i don't taste very good...

[Angul]

Still.

*she smiles evily*

[sativ]

so... let me get that straight... you, the angul of the night masks, my old clan friend, wants to roast me out of nothing?

[Angul]

Angul of the Night Masks? poor sativ...don't you read the news?

[sativ]

i do.
but that's the way i got to know you.

[Angul]

really....I'm not so bad am I? I'm much happier in my new home...

[sativ]

and so am i. i just asked myself why my old clan friend wanted to roast me. :roll:

[Angul]

Friend? I am nobody's friend dear boy. Besides, a nice juicy piece of BAD meat...just so tempting...

[sativ]

*sighs*
this conversation seems to be running in circles... if you could call this a conversation...
that BAD joke is not getting any funnier... no matter how often you repeat it...
*grins*

[Angul]

*smirks a bit*

oh the BAD jokes are quite funny...

[sativ]

if you say so... but don't blame me if sneakabout lets terron out of his cage to come after you. just to be funny...
*snickers*

[Sneakabout]

*lets Terron out of his cage*

Oh no - hes loose! Run for the hills!

[sativ]

*sighs*
i've been warning you...
*winks to sneakabout*
thanks, sneak... that girl almost prepared a sativ for dinner...

[Angul]

I'm supposed to be afraid of Blooming Aromatheric Dimwits?

[sativ]

don't know... are you?

[Angul]

Not in the slightest.

[sativ]

oh. sorry about that.
...
i feel dead. :lol:

[Angul]

Aye, you should *smirks*

[sativ]

watch it... i think some gods are coming for you again... ^^

*sighs*
i think this was one of the worst days of my life. angul killed me... and i got slain when i attacked a virtue. and then again when i attacked a... whatever it was...
i heard there was a power called "number generator"... and it's stronger than any of the gods... and i think this power hates me...

[Schattenjager]

Are we playing whos scared of who tug o' war? Both of you are quite frightening... I think I may sit down with a list of all the clan names and write a message using all the clan names that I can, and still have the message readable...

See ya at the inn... :lol:

[Terron]

*runs from the cage (a few weeks late) and sniffs around.

[Kroz]

*looks at Terron and runs in terror.*

[Ithilden]

Ithilden walks into the Inn, raises a eyebrow at everyone and goes straight to the bar. She nods to Cedrik as he asks "The usual?" Handing her a bottle of Elven Wine and a glass, he resumes polishing counter and tending to the others. She watches the others cautiously as she drinks, retreating to a silent corner table in the inn.

[Angul]

*looks at Terron*


Awww, cute.

[sativ]

careful. his biting is not as cute as his looks.

[Angul]

Perhaps I might like it?

[sativ]

oh, ok. i didn't see that aspect.

[Ithilden]

Ithilden suddenly wonders why everyone thinks Terron's bite would be bad. I mean sure he has a vast collection of Ithy heads that he collected by beheading her in the fields multiple times, but come on, he isn't that bad.....Ithy keeps this thought to herself and looks around to make sure no axes for beheading are nearby as she casually sips on her Wine.

[Arillius]

Arillius enters the bar and since dwarves are lower to the floor than most is stopped short by the smell of ashes. He sees the remaining pile of ash on the floor.
Looking around he spies SaucyWench and the ban stick hanging from her hip. Nods respectfully and grunts pulling out a small weathered book and begins muttering something over the ashes.
The room quiets as they assume the elf is giving last rites over the recently departed.
".... and may a Balrog take them and their decendants," he finishes. Closing the book he spits on the ashes and heads to the bar.

[UpstandingCitizen Selekta]

He blows the smoke out through his nose, and pops a stylish collar. Turns out he didn't enter like the rest. He has been there for quite some time. *A yawn and a strectch*. His urban armor was splattered with the blood of whatever foul warrior he had just laid waste. One peer into his stein tells him that he needs another ale. He grunts as he rises to his feet while the women in the bar seem to watch his every move. He sets the huge mug on the bar, and orders another, gently massaging the bite in his neck given to him years ago by Vampiress Mystic.

"Good day, Saucy" he says with a flourish and a bow.

Saucy yawns "Oh..hello Selekta. How fare you?"

"Well, my dear. Well."

He runs his fingers along the hilt of his Masamune as he lets out a sneeze.

"sick?" Saucy inquired.

"A bit" Selekta said, rubbing his nose.

"Good." Saucy smiled, tapping her banstick™

"I gotta get me one of those someday.."

"Due time, Selekta. Due time. Ask me again, and you will GET IT sooner than you think." she scowled. Her pretty face seldom looked threatening.

Selekta grins and doffs his hat. "Have a good one then" he said as he made his way back to the table. He nods to various TTP clansmen as he awaits the Haberdasher for a Dew.

[Atrus]

Night falls as Atrus returns to his quarters in the Inn. On his desk are some papers from BlueSpring, the <BAD> daily reports and some bounty updates.

Oh yes..and "The Note" from Violet.

Again.

He tosses them aside and rubs his face tiredly.

There is a knock on the door. Answering it, he sees Saucy standing there, a bottle of ale and what looks like a roast dinner in her hands.

"Aren't you going to ask me in?" she says quietly.

"S..S..ure, Saucy, please have a seat" he stammers. Saucy wanders in and sits down, laying the food on the table and opening the ale for him.

"Cedrick said you had trouble in the Gardens again" she states.

Atrus drops his head to the desk."I wondered when you'd ask me......another swordfight.I know I know...."

Saucy puts a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"You did fine,Atrus.That Garden is supposed to be peaceful and quiet."

Atrus takes a deep drink of ale."They keep asking where they can fight" he says in annoyance.

Saucy hands him a strip-sealed folder."Read".

He flips it open, and his eyes widen."When did you..."

Saucy raises a hand "Not so loud..."

There is a knock on the door, and Atrus slaps the file shut and hands it to Saucy, who makes it vanish. He walks to the door and opens it, revealing jcp and Kendaer in the doorway. Behind them are sativ, clutching a bottle of Erbacher Premium German Lager, and Syrius carrying a huge food basket.

"Vell, Herr Atrus??Vill you me not to the ask come in?" sativ says frostily. Atrus nods, holding the door wide.Syrius spills the basket contents onto the floor, incompetent as always.

With the food laid out, the rest of the team arrives one by one, and the sound of merry laughter and clinking bottles can be heard.

Passersby hear the noise, and check their calendars. Oh yes, the staff meeting is tonight.

[Syrius]

As Syrius is picking up some of the goodies that tumbled to the floor from her basket, she notices a file slightly extruding from Saucy's robes.

Intrigued, she moves closer to try and make out a title but before she can blink, the file is gone and Saucy is looking down at her.

Saucy smiles slightly and says "All in good time, Syrius, all in good time. Now have some food and wine while we go over these reports."

Syrius blushes at being caught out by the boss and moves over to where the table is being set up.

The staff talk of the players, the gardens and other events. Excited voices and the sound of glass against glass tinkling drift through Atrus' semi-opened window out into the night air.

Over the course of the evening Syrius slowly gets innebriated from sativ's German lager and forgets about the file.

[sativ]

sativ chuckles softly.
"Careful with that, Syrius. It might look weak, compared to Elven Wine, but will surely be unhealthy if underestimated."

raises a glass and gulps it down

looks at saucy and tries to find out what the file saucy was holding is about... but decides not to be too curious.

[Kaiun]

Farmboy Kaiun walks into the inn, and sits down at an empty table. With a glance at JCP, Kaiun wonders if he has been watching Fullmetal Alchemist lately...

[ChattyTrog]

Trogdor shuffles inside, his spurs clinking in stride. His big beefy arm pulls out a chair and he pauses to rest. With some reverse nods to clan mates and sheepish grins to giggling females he makes his way to the bar, hoping to charm Cedrik.

Across the room, a shady salesman with a penchant for red eyes his next 'victim.' Moments later, the Burninator finds himself returning to Elessa's to replace the gold which inexplicably fell out of a hole in his T-shirt.

[God Valxirion]

The Valxirion the young alchemist steps in and hands everybody a sample of his new potion, "I don't know how I will call it yet"

OOC:I play a real alchemist in a LARP event

[Kaiun]

Page Kaiun has often wanted to learn Alchemy, but never found anyone to teach him. He once tried to learn on his own from books, but it only resulted in numerous failed attempts.

[God Valxirion]

you also need to do a study of herbs

[BLOODDRAGON]

actualy all Alchemy is (im talking about real people who tryed to do alchemy in the midevil times) turning junk in to gold

[sativ]

oh, someone really knowing the meaning of "alchemy" :D

[God Valxirion]

not exactly that is a dream of them but they cannot, they can make potions out of herbs or create some substances, actually they are just medieval scientists

[BLOODDRAGON]

yeah your pretty much right there the chinese also had "alchemists": people who would work with fireworks and explore different explosive matierials

[Atrus]

Entering the Inn after a very long day..and one impromptu trip to see Ramius (who was most annoyed when Atrus had earned the right to resurrect, as no else would audit his books..then he had clapped him ojn the shoulder and said with an evil smile "You'll be back"), he walks to the stairs, clutching a key for his room.

Curling up, he is asleep for only a short time when a slight "click" brings him to instant alertness. His BAP guard is already in position, sword drawn and ready.

The lights flash on, and a heavily armed Chancellor bursts in, weapon ready in a death dealing strike.

The battle is short and sharp,spilling into the corridor..the Chancellor realising to his horror that he is outmatched and outmassed..and the battle is over with one deadly slash.

There is a sudden silence...a feeling of coldness, and two of Ramius's minions grab the hapless opponent,dragging him down to the underworld, heedless of his protests and attempts to escape.

Atrus goes back to sleep....and is woken an hour later by a radiantly dressed, gorgeous and smiling female warrior, hefting a huge battleaxe over her head.

Atrus reaches for his sword..and then his hand falters.

"Uh...hi, Calandra.Can't you go kill someone else tonight?"

She shakes her head "Nope...en garde".

[Galahad]

Galahad stares suspiciously. He's never liked alchemists. Or sorceresses.


Pity, since he's married to one.

[sativ]

*the noise of the battle woke him up and he went to check what was going on again.*
"Atrus, what's all this noi...", he said and suddenly realized Calandra was standing in the middle of Atrus' room.
So he decided to better sneak back into his own room so he wouldn't be Calandras next victim.
He sat down on his bed when he realized a shadow moving in his room. Before he could act McD had already performed the finishing move. And while Ramius' minions tried to drag him down into the underworld sativ was heard to say: "Why me? Why me, McD? Can't you hunt someone else?"

[Ithilden]

*has the sudden feeling that everyone in this bar is wierd and starts for the door very very slowly, taking her elven wine with her of course.*

[Eris]

::walks up to jcp::
~Uh, mister alchemist? I was just curious, you know, like hypothetically of course, um...
(hears a loud crash, looks over shoulder) :)
If someone were to, say, conjure up a giant, ravenous, animate Roast beef, and it were to start rampaging, um...
(hears screaming, looks over shoulder again) :lol:
and, um several innocent commoners were say, eviscerated by it, um...
(looks over shoulder again)
:shock: Oh, would you look at the time! Well gotta go, I'll talk to you later!
::Runs off, to the sounds of ever-approaching carnage outside::

[Atrus]

...A few days later...

The Halls of Ramius are tall, and grim..but not cold.Death's realm is what it is, but its Lord does believe in creature comforts. With a soft Dvorak symphony in the background, Atrus is at his semi permanent quarters, working on of all things, Ramius' weekly statistics for jcp.

He works for several hours(not having enough favour to resurrect this time), when the raucous sounds of some rowdy farmies disrupts his train of thought.

He then sees one of them with what are definitely dragonfire burns, and an angry face at being defeated. One of the farmboys recognises him, and they quiet down respectfully.

A few minutes questioning reveals they are from the same <JEDI> clan, and that all had fallen to the Green One. A smaller, but well armed farmboy asks him despairingly how he could have died.

Atrus grins, grabs some chairs and sits them down...and an impromptu strategy and attack session is started.

Firing questions, the trio learn some new manoeuvres and tactics, the anger forgotten now, the simple fellowship of warriors soothing the disappointment.

Two days later, he is pleased and proud to note that all three have succeeded and slain the dragon.

The following day finds him back in Esoterra.

As he toils in the graveyards, he can be heard to moan

"I hate Mondays... :shock:

[Perrin]

:walks into the town and sees the giant roast beef troll and goes bug eyed :shock:. He shakes his head and charges at the beast drawing his thin shining sword down the back of the troll and bounces off mumbling under his breath:
"Damnit the beast has to hard of beef its inpenitrabul with this wepon even with it sent from the god Enki what was it over cooked or what?"

[Laurana]

She sits, rather alone, in a corner boothe with a flute of wine in front of her. She appears to be pondering many things, glancing around the seemingly deserted bar. Why she's not in a more populated place, no one really knows. "..."

[Grim Jestor]

...Suddenly, Laurana is no longer alone at her table. In the seat across from her sits a dark figure, wearing a voluminous cloak and a large, floppy hat pulled down low and hiding the face. In the inn's flickering candle-light, her eyes could almost have been playing tricks on her, for barely a moment ago there was no one anywhere nearby who could have slid into the booth. The figure does not say a word, but merely makes a strange gesture with one hand, pale skin standing out alarmingly against its clothing, and the bartender brings a strange smoking liquid in a tall glass. The figure moves the exposed hand ever-so-slightly, and a few coins appear, which the bartender grabs with undisguised greed. Business has not been very good here lately, and the gleam of gold stands out in a dark room. "I don't have change for gold, ..." the bartender begins, but the dark figure cuts him off, answering in a deep monotone,

"I did not ask for change. Bring the lady whatever she wants, and leave us." Saying nothing more as the bartender hurries away, and not even touching his still-smoking drink, the figure simply turns back to Laurana and seems to stare straight through her for awhile, assuming that there are any eyes under the brim of that strange hat, and waits for her to say something.

[Grim Jestor]

The old familiar voice sounds almost like his own thoughts now, and it rises up almost inaudibly from somewhere in the back of his mind, If this one knows about the grin... then perhaps it also knows our true name. Kill it, and let us leave this place.

Under the hat, his deep-socketed eyes widen just a little, something that might not even be noticed unless one were watching, waiting for the telltale signs. It is dark here, but some have an extra keenness-of-eye that even the deepest shadow cannot foil... Always so quick to kill, he answers the other one, it is a wonder that I still live. But we need this one, whether you like it or not.

The voice does not speak again, and the man picks up his drink and takes a slow sip, the strange liquid somehow still burning as he drinks, although the beads of moisture which have formed on the sides of the glass attest to the coldness of its contents. He turns his attention to the cryptic woman sitting across from him, with all of her bored-seeming nonchalance, and knows that she is following his every twitch and gesture he makes. Recognizing her coded challenge, he replies, "All is not silent in the halls of the dead." He knows that he has answered correctly when the poisoned dart does not shoot out to kill him with a scratch, and thinks even that he can see her relax just the smallest bit, "And you may call me Simon. Simon of Northlands, officially here on trade."

[Grim Jestor]

Simon wonders within himself if he has made some error, spoken the wrong coded phrase, which would make this woman pretend not to recognize him. If such a thing had happened, the rest of his life could be measured in seconds, or minutes if she was feeling merciful. Therefore, he decides to pretend that nothing is wrong. Yeah, pretend. Go ahead and pretend your way out of this bar, and we'll both live to see another day...He ignores the voice, and although it goes on screaming silently at him, he concentrates and hears nothing other than the slow cracking of ice cubes in his drink, both cold and hot at the same time. Not taking his eyes off of his mysterious new companion, he sips again, the mixture running down his throat like liquid fire, and says... nothing. He knows that if he tries to run, he'll be dead before he stands, so his only choice is to wait until she remembers him... or doesn't.

[Grim Jestor]

Simon almost smiles at the thought of dark juju magumbo, but then remembers that he has been up to nothing but for as long as he can remember. So, she does remember us, and this time he does not shut out the voice, But why the charade? Simon takes another drink from his smoking glass, and finally allows himself to speak...

"So, where do we go from here?"

[Grim Jestor]

Simon finishes the rest of his drink in a single gulp, unable to hide the shudder as the potent concoction burns on the way down, surely leaving chemical burns or worse. He reaches up and removes his wide-brimmed hat, showing his face for the first time, still certain that she already knows who he is. His face is unnaturally pale, as if he has been sick or has never seen the sun, and his eyes, though deeply-sunk, are a light gray color, constantly appearing to shift toward blue and back. Simon glares at the woman who calls herself Laurana, and his mouth forms the words without his participation, coming from his mind-passenger with no thought of his own. "We were led to believe that you were to give us some kind of orders, instructions..." Simon clamps his mouth shut even as the voice continues in his head, Or do we have to kill you to find our answers, just like the ancient druids and their rabbits? He is relieved that the threat did not make it all the way out, for this one, although annoying and somewhat drunk, still looks dangerous. Simon has traveled far, and seen much... and knows the steely-eyed look of either determination or murder which he now sees appear in Laurana's face. Has she read his mind? Does she know about his passenger? If she mentioned the Grin... anything is possible. He decides to pretend ignorance, and quickly continues, although he knows that she is not fooled... "You are Laurana of the Black Hand, are you not?" Or am I somehow mistaken?

[Grim Jestor]

Simon pretends for a moment to ignore all references to his mind-passenger, who could not possibly be known to anyone else, unless this strange woman is some kind of psychic... He pauses a moment to wonder what kind of game his superiors are playing with him, sending him to meet this one who has clearly never heard of him. How are we supposed to receive orders from someone not even part of the organization? I say we kill her, and then go back and murder all of those filthy meddlers in Port Pathos. Simon allows a slow smile to cross his face at the memory of that sad city where he came ashore from The Other Place, and replies out loud, figuring that he can abandon the charade of privacy.

"What is it with you and killing? Yes, I know, it is lonely in the dark, and all that mysticism, but has it ever occurred to you that there must have been some purpose in their sending us here? The fact that she knows about you is sign enough that we should either trust her... or we are already as good as dead." Turning his head toward the bar, he calls for more drinks, and after they arrive, another strange and smoky concoction for him and red wine for Laurana, he turns back to her and begins, "Obviously, if you know about my... little buddy, as you call it... what else? Why, if not for mysterious instructions, was I sent all the way here from... wherever I was before they sent me?"

[Grim Jestor]

At the mention of that name, Simon visibly flinches, but quickly recovers. "Although the trails are misleading, you should walk them, and find whatever there is to find. But that is a different Simon, and this one knows nothing of keys or woman warriors."

[Grim Jestor]

The stranger who usually calls himself Simon is appalled by how easily his darkest secrets are exposed before the masses, exposed even to himself who had driven such things out of his mind entirely.

"If you think that you can be of some help to these ones, if they exist at all, you ought to go and offer help..."

He does not add what his mind-passenger is screaming in the depths of his subconscious, And maybe this place of which you speak holds a few traps for you as well!, fearing that revealing things which he could not possibly know would only endanger him more...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon answers slowly, as if in some kind of trance, although surely no one in this nearly-deserted place could have possibly done such a thing without him being aware of it... "I dreamed a dream, in the darkness of the night, and in my vision I saw some humans and a half-elf, followed by a creature of unknown origin into great danger... and I knew that they would die if someone did not find them and help them, if someone did not aid them in their strange and unknown quest. I was certain that I was one of them, doomed to wander into oblivion, but upon awakening I realized that I was not in a dungeon cave, but rather here, in my own body, and that I had a job to do... but maybe this is why I recognized you... maybe you were with them, too..."

Simon says no more, but stares blankly at the air directly above Laurana's left shoulder. His hand curls around his glass as if he were going to drink, but he remains motionless, as if in some kind of living death.

[Grim Jestor]

Sitting alone at the table with their drinks, the two continue to speak, of things old and new, and of things true and not. In the darkness around them, the shadows deepen, and then move, seeming to take on a life all their own. The friendly and helpful bartender is nowhere to be seen, but in the place where he stood now is a pile of ashes, with a small wisp of smoke curling up and up, hitting the ceiling and spreading to become a haze. When it happened, it happened silently, for the two do not notice that they are the only ones there, and whoever committed this foul deed has long since disappeared, or perhaps was never there at all...

The shadows really do start to walk around then, moving in ever closer in the shape of human silhouettes, crowding up around the table until they press into every available space, and the air has become hazy from the smoke of the burnt bartender, and Laurana finds herself falling asleep, so quickly that she first thinks this Simon character must have slipped a drug into her wine, but no... no, he never moved from his seat, never twitched except to remove his hat and... remove... and... and then there is only darkness for her.

Simon sees her head hit the table, knocking over her glass and spilling the last sip of wine into a bloody red stain on the old oak table before the table drinks it away. It is only then that he sees the shadow-people all around him, only then that he notices the hazy air and instinctively reaches for his hat, to ready to get up and leave this place. The drowsiness is stealing over his mind now too, and as he dons his hat he cannot find the strength to stand, cannot find the strength to resist, but stares bemused into the strange fog which has taken over his air, and has turned Laurana into merely a phantom though she sits less than a yard away. Simon struggles to turn his head, to ask the shadows why, to ask them who and what... but can't. He grasps his glass in pale hand, and makes a concentrated effort to lift it to his lips, I will have one more drink before I die by this foul treachery, but he never makes it there. His hand, with the glass, falls heavily to the table, and he only barely keeps from spilling his drink as well... and then, then there is only dark silence, and the sound of many footsteps and whispers, the sound of...

...Birds are chirping. High up in the trees, birds call to one another, screaming challenges and invitations in a language which he cannot begin to understand. High up in the... Trees? Why are there trees in a bar? What is a bar? Simon's eyes snap open, and instantly he is blinded in the light, so bright that it causes a flash of pain deep inside his skull, which only fades as his eyes gradually grow accustomed to the strange green clarity of the air, sunbeam streaming down through the leafy branches high above, and birds calling all around him. He finds that he is still sitting at the same table, drink in hand, but his glass is filled with ancient dust and cobwebs, so thick that it sticks to his hand. Laurana is sitting in a chair across from him, tipped-over glass in front of her, shaking her head in confusion.

"Where... where are we?", he hears her ask, "What have you done to me, treacherous snake?" His mouth is thick and dry, and he cannot answer, only stare in surprise. The same table, same glasses--although ancient now--but there is no bar around them, only the bright greenness of nature in an odd forest clearing. He swallows, trying to clear his throat from what feels like a centuries-long sleep, and wonders why after such a long time the woman across from him looks exactly the same as she did what feels like only moments ago. He realizes that they must have not slept at all, but rather were trapped in some kind of spell, but such powerful magic has not been seen in the world for millennia...

Simon finally finds the ability to speak, "I know not what has happened, lady, but do not lightly throw accusations. How do I know that it was not you who conjured those fell shadow people?"

"Shadow people?"

For some reason he believes her. He does not think he would have if not for the fact that he saw her fall asleep while he still struggled... Creaking like a rusty automaton, he stands, nearly falling, but grabs the back of his chair for balance. "I would suggest that we try to find out where we are before anything else... powerful magic has been worked here, and I for one would like to know why..." He says nothing more about shadows or people, but rather attributes them to his own hallucinating and tired mind. He takes a few steps to loosen his joints, which feel as old as his glass, and hears her stand. This means that she will either join him... or attack him... Simon of Northlands simply waits, to see what she will decide...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon just stands there, having recovered his bearing while Laurana stood, and decides that she is probably not going to attack him... yet.

"You had quite a bit to drink, m'lady, and I assure you that you really did drink all of that wine... and we really were in a bar until what feels like just a few minutes ago. But what about the glasses, and the cobwebs? The table looks like is made of petrified driftwood, turned nearly to stone, and except for us it might have been on a journey that lasted hundreds of years. I think we should try to find out where, and when, we are..."

[Grim Jestor]

Simon looks at her steadily, wondering if she is still more drunk than she pretends to be or simply mocking him. Rather than repeating what he says in a sarcastic tone of voice, he thinks that she should be trying to think of a way out of all this. But then it occurs to him that she may be trying to goad him into making a foolish move, so he pretends that her comments have not bothered him in the slightest...

..."Well said, Laurana. Shall we strike out, then, and see if we can find a road to walk on?"

[Grim Jestor]

The shadows weigh heavily upon Simon, and the glance he shoots her way is full of malice and impatience... who is she to get all bubbly and light-headed at the prospect of walking until we die of exhaustion? This time, Simon agrees completely with his mind-passenger, but he can think of nothing to say that would make his unfortunate companion take this danger seriously. Wondering if he would be better off alone, he instead ignores her foolish talk and strikes off in a direction where the trees might not be so thick... due west, he thinks, if the directions are the same in this place and heading straight into the setting sun will guarantee such a thing... not knowing or caring if Laurana is following him at all, he continues on, noting as he goes that the forest floor is surprisingly clear of underbrush and fallen branches, and not a single dead tree can be seen no matter which way he looks. It's almost as if we are walking through someone's garden, but I'm not sure that I'd like to meet the gardener...

And so, into the slowly setting sun walks Simon, lost in his thoughts and gradually getting over his annoyance in this oddly beautiful place...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon has survived thus far by trusting no one, ever, and does not plan to make exceptions now. He looks back at the sound of her voice, surprised not at all that she has continued with him, for the company of a possible enemy is better than no company at all...

"Yes, let us rest for the night, for we know not what may await us further down this road."

They turn aside, finding a convenient clearing in the trees which have yet to reveal anything like a road, and strike a crude camp. Laurana proves quite adept at kindling fire from nothing but dry wood, and Simon finally must admit to himself that he is glad to have her along... If one must be lost in a strange world, who better to have as a companion than an experienced woods(wo)man?

The night passes without incident, and as the sun rises over the trees which encircle their small clearing, they make ready to set out again in the same direction... always westward, at least until they find some indication of civilization.

[Grim Jestor]

The one who calls himself Simon notices only then that he is very hungry, and cannot remember the last time he ate. The drinks in that far-away bar provided some nourishment, but it seems to him that he walked a long and dusty path to get to that place, and for some reason the mere mention of food sets his stomach growling.

"Whatever food we can find in this place, I would eat of it before continuing on our path..."

Simon heads off in one direction, keeping the temporary camp's location fixed in his mind, and Laurana goes in another. They both will find what food they can and return, as quickly as possible...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon staggers out through a clearing between two trees, his clothing smoking, empty-handed and white-faced. "The land back there... blasted... nothing left alive... barely escaped..."

Seeing Laurana there, sitting so calmly with her bounty of forest food, he at first seems to not recognize her, and his eyes go wild as he reaches for a knife, stopping himself only as he is about to attack. "...no, no she's not one of them, I... I know her, or did once... so long ago..."

He shifts gears suddenly, panic entering his voice, "Come on. We have to... we have to leave now. Not back there. They are back there. Nothing left alive. Blasted..."

She looks at him, confused, not understanding why a simple trip to gather food has to turn into another mad flight from an unknown danger, and why everything with this strange person always has to be so dramatic... but gets up and follows him anyway, sighing inwardly...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon cannot stop looking behind him, stealing quick glances every few minutes, certain that they are being followed by some mysterious force or creature which he claims has destroyed all of the lands to the east, where he went in search of food. Now, as they travel into the setting sun, trees blocking their view but growing thinner as they reach what appears to be the forest's edge, Simon grows only more nervous, and finally calls a halt before they reach the open lands before them. No road is here yet, but surely after the forest there should be some sign of civilization in this strange place, surely something lives out here... unless of course Simon's insistence of death and destruction is actually true...

Laurana has seen no sign of war or terror, and is fairly sure that the one who calls himself Simon is insane or worse, but agrees that they should camp for the night at the forest's edge to rest for the morning, and also because there is no way of knowing what might befall them in this strange place. Simon refuses to sleep, though, and volunteers to spend the night watching, watching for the enemies that he knows follow them... As Laurana drifts off, she remembers her unanswered question of just a short time ago, and decides that Simon is most definitely not okay...

[Grim Jestor]

..."Can't sleep or the shadows will get me, can't sleep or the shadows will get me, can't sleep or the shadows will get me..."

Simon is repeating the same line over and over again in a low but grating voice, just enough to keep Laurana from getting the rest that she desperately needs after a day of walking and weirdness. Grumbling to herself, she gets up, and finds a conveniently thick treebranch near where she had been lying, and walks purposefully over to where Simon crouches, wide-eyed and staring, noticing nothing.

"You really should get some sleep, Simon," she mutters under her breath as she swings. The branch connects with the side of Simon's head solidly, stopping him in mid-sentence, and his already-glassy eyes glaze over even further. Simon pitches forward, unconscious, and Laurana is about to go back and lie down... when she sees the shadow. It is just standing there, vaguely human shaped and obviously darker than the night around it, although there is no light source strong enough to create such a silhouette; it is as if the night here is not dark enough to hide this thing, which must surely come from a much darker place.

"Simon? Simon? Wake up, Simon!" Laurana tries to shake him, to undo the blow already struck, but Simon lies there, breathing shallowly, a slight smile upon his face. Under his eyelids, his eyes are moving back and forth, back and forth, so very quickly, as if he is inspecting the inside of his skull or dreaming some great and involving dream. When Laurana looks back up, the shadow is gone, but now that she does not know where it is, she finally begins to feel afraid. What did he really see back there? She will not know the answer until, unless, Simon wakes up. Gripping her tree branch more tightly, Laurana knows that she will not be sleeping again this night...

[Grim Jestor]

"...or the shadows will... where am I? Can't..." Simon's eyes snap open as if he had never been unconscious at all, but had simply blinked. Confused, he looks around, and stands up. Brushing leaves and bits of grass from his clothing, Simon looks at Laurana with question in his eyes. "The... the shadows? I wasn't supposed to fall asleep, but I just can't remember anything..."

She avoids his gaze, not out of anything like guilt, but because she simply does not know what to say. The stars have dimmed somewhat, with dawn drawing near, and she finally speaks, "I thought we should get an early start, and see if we can find this civilization you are so interested in."

"Ah, right. Villages, roads, people. Let's get started then..."

They continue to the west, the forest giving way to brush land and eventually wide, rolling plains. There is still no evidence of other people in sight, but they keep walking even as the sun cracks the darkness with the slightest rim of pale red over the far-off horizon. Shadows and destruction are forgotten for the time being, and as they walk Simon turns to Laurana, oddly upbeat, "That food you gathered yesterday... do you still have it? I cannot remember the last time I ate..."

Full daylight finds them walking again, fully fed and stronger, although still lost and confused. Simon says nothing, only keeps moving, as if the previous day had never happened...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon can hear his new companion enjoying this place, although her voice seems to come from far away, from somewhere... outside. He is trying to concentrate as he walks, trying to remember where he was before he was in this place, but for some reason finds all of it to be somehow... blurry. In the back of his mind he can see two figures sitting at a table, in a dark place, but he does not know how such a thing can be possible, for surely there are no buildings anywhere around here. The whole time he has been walking, which feels like forever, although surely it is much less than that... Simon cannot remember walking through a single city, town, or village.

A light breeze is making waves in the grass, creating playful patterns in the early day, as the two continue to walk, and looking backward Simon is surprised to find that he can no longer see the forest at all, nothing but waving grass and gently rolling hills as far as the eye can see. We have not walked that far this morning, this night, this day... For as long as we have been walking we were only at the forest's edge early this morning... Maybe they have gone up over a shallow hill, so gradual that neither had noticed a thing, but Simon does not think so. There is something strange, something very wrong about this place. He cannot get it straight in his head, but for some reason this seemingly endless plain, which stretches to infinity in all directions, does not seem quite real.

Simon is startled from his thoughts by a sound, an exclamation from Laurana. He looks up, realizing that she has been talking, but that he has heard nothing. "What did you say?"

"I said, I can see smoke up ahead. Looks like we've found your civilization after all! Come on, if we hurry we should be able to make it there before midday!"

She picks up her pace, and Simon follows, wondering how long he can keep up such a pace, but then he can also see the smoke, black and billowing somewhere not too far ahead. His eyes are not quite as good as Laurana's, but now that he has noticed it the smoke keeps his attention no matter how he tries to take his mind off of it. I have seen this smoke somewhere recently... This cannot be a good thing. Not good. Shadows... But it's day now.... why am I thinking about shadows? Simon can remember nothing beyond walking through grass, and so puts all thoughts of shadows out of his mind. The go on toward the billowing black smoke, both eager to find the answers which they seek...

[Grim Jestor]

The bright noonday sun cares not for the life or death of mortal men, and casts no shadows... but the rising smoke from this blasphemous funeral pyre casts a dark shadow over the hearts of the only two left alive to see it. If a meteor had struck here, there could scarcely have been more damage, and even such a disaster would have done the bodies of the dead more justice, either turning them to dust or burying them beneath the cold and forgetful ground. Here, amid shattered and melted stone, lie still-smoldering bodies of townsfolk, honest farmers mixed with their wives and children, screaming faces frozen forever in bone masks and covered in the ashes of their neighbors. In the center of what was once a town, a great pile of bodies along with everything not made of stone feeds a great blaze that has obviously been burning for days, and may well continue for days yet to come.

Whatever happened in this place, it did not have to involve these innocent people. A cold rage fills Simon, and a determination for vengeance which he did not know he possessed slowly surfaces. If only there were a way to make those responsible for this atrocity pay in some way... preferably slowly and painfully... but he knows that justice is a fleeting thing, never given to those who deserve it. The cold rage lingers, though, just in case he finds the occasion to use it...

Far off, further in the east, a sound like thunder rumbles, although it is much longer and louder than any thunder should be. Not only is the sky clear and blue, oblivious of the horrors which lie even now under its serene face, but given the evidence that now burns slowly before them... Simon knows that similar things are happening in places near and far. Devastation. War. Terror. The shadow of death lies upon everything, not least of all upon what may be the only living in the the entire plains land...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon turns, surprised that Laurana would mention the shadows. "The question is not what I know about these shadows... for I have only seen fleeting glimpses and remember strange fragments... There were shadows all around us, in some place, and they were watching us. But after that, there is... nothing. I cannot remember what happened then."

Frustrated, he turns away, wondering why something that must be his imagination could possibly matter to Laurana at a time like this, and slowly begins to walk through the devastation which used to be a thriving town. There is nothing left here which could be of any use, no indication of what the peoples' names were or of what they did for a living or called their town... it is as if this place had never existed in any other state than in a scene of utter and complete devastation. For a few seconds, as he was surrounded by the ruin, Simon thought he could hear a high voice upon the increasingly violent wind, crying out for vengeance, but then Laurana caught back up with him, and the voice was gone. "There is nothing more for us here, Laurana. Let us leave this place, and continue to the West. Mayhap some survivors have taken the plains, but even if we are the only ones... I would not spend the night in this accursed place."

[Grim Jestor]

When the night falls, they both find themselves not wanting to sleep, although from fear of living shadows or dreams of the dead neither will say. Sitting on opposite sides of a small fire, only the minimum required for what cooking and warmth are required, there is only silence between them, maybe even a permanent breach as Simon's words are proven true, and much worse than he had ever even hinted.

They are still sitting there awake, Simon to the South and Laurana at the North... when the shadows come again. There are more of them now, surrounding the pair and their oasis of light like a solid wall, and they also say not a word. Simon stares off into the darker-than-darkness, seeing the silhouettes and wondering if he has finally gone crazy, when a voice comes, not from any one place but from all around them.

"You, the living, will avenge us. You, the living, will take blood-for-blood. Go North from this place, to where the sun never rises. There, you will find the guilty, and you will take blood-for-blood."

There is nothing. For a long time then, only nothing. Simon opens his eyes. He cannot remember falling asleep, but somehow he finds himself lying in the grass where they had stopped the previous night, confused and somewhat frightened now. Looking at Laurana, as the fog clears from his eyes, he can see that she is also very confused.

"North?"

"North."

No other words are needed. In the place they awaken, there is no sign that a fire has ever burned. They head north almost immediately, both knowing that the other has also dreamed this strange dream, or been taken by this strange trance. For whatever reason, all answers lie to the far North, where the sun never shines...

[Grim Jestor]

Due North. They do not deviate, keeping the sun to their left in the morning, and to their right as the day wanes, stopping only in the darkness for sparse meals and much-needed rest. Walking wears on a person, especially when one does not truly understand the reasons for walking, and has no destination clearly in mind other than a general direction. Simon notices Laurana stumble on a small rock as they make ready to stop for the evening, and it suddenly occurs to him that the grasslands where they have been walking have grown increasingly unsteady, littered with fallen stones, as if an ancient ruin had fallen apart over the vast eons and scattered itself here before being covered again by nature's incessant forgetful growth.

But these stones are not ancient, not wind-sculpted, not falling to dust. These ruins are far more recent, but have not been torn violently like the remains of that village... it is as if someone built these ruins, or even as if the stones are growing up out of the earth itself, being born gradually even as the unending grass through which we must walk...

Simon does not even need to look to the North in the deepening dusk to confirm his suspicions; but he does anyway, and wonders silently why he did not notice before. Ahead of them, due North, the stones are stacked now, forming rudimentary columns and even partially-completed archways, as if the further North they walk... the further they move into some kind of enchanted city which is gradually building itself.

There is still no sign of anything living other than the grasslands wildlife which they have been killing for food each evening, along with the sea of waving grass. There is no evidence that anyone or anything has been coming here to work on this place, and yet... Simon thinks he knows what will await them as they go: eventually they will begin to walk on roads, and there will be great houses, maybe even palaces, to their left and right instead of the sun. But everything will be empty, completely devoid of life, and the further they go it will be built higher and more advanced, but still empty. And all roads will lead due North...

[Grim Jestor]

Northward. Simon is from the North, far away and in another life, and yet even as they walk he feels further and further away from the place of his birth, for it was a place of life, not cold and silent stones. Here and there a lone tree struggles amid the still mighty grasslands, but standing stones now dot the expanse of plant life more often, and they find themselves having to tread more carefully... Simon has yet to see his silent city of the dead, as he has come to think of it, but all signs point in that direction, although he cannot say even to himself what makes him think in such a way. Maybe only simple paranoia, or maybe I have been here before... The thoughts stroll lazily through his mind, and he lets them go where they will, for he has nothing else to do as they walk due North.

They come upon the first Druid's Circle as the sun is falling slowly to their left, and Simon again is struck by the thought that he must have been in this place some long-ago time, maybe only in his dreams, but in dreams men walk far. Great monolithic boulders have been piled in a seemingly random pattern by unknown hands, and although the grass grows wild here as well as everywhere else, the great ring of giant rocks and their central altar appear new, un-cracked and unworn, as if taken from the tops of mountains only days ago. There is no sign of the builders, nothing to show that anyone has ever worshiped in this place or made terrible sacrifices to the Great Old Ones, except for the fresh blood splattered all over the altar. The altar is literally painted in dark red blood, as if there truly had been a great sacrifice only minutes or hours ago, with the robed priests carrying their dead victim away to hidden caves to do unspeakable things with the exsanguinated body as soon as they heard the travelers approaching...

The wind picks up, waving the ever-present grass around the place where Simon and Laurana stand, their eyes wide from the shock of what they see before them. Has there been another slaughter? Are we going crazy? Or walking in a terrible dream, unable to awaken? Neither of them dares speak these questions, for each knows that the answers are not here, in front of a bloody altar in a weirdly-new ring of standing stones. Each knows that the answers lie to the North, and in this knowledge they walk on without a word, out of the stone circle, due North.

Never looking back, neither notices that the blood upon the druidic altar is gradually disappearing, as if the rock which composes the altar is drinking...

[Grim Jestor]

Have you ever stopped to question why the shadows want us to go North? The Other has not spoken in quite some time, long enough so Simon is almost convinced--and had almost hoped-- that it was left on the other side of... of whatever brought them to this place. But now, now it is speaking, silent in his mind but shouting thoughts that he should have considered before starting out on this strange quest. Why are we going North? To avenge the deaths of some villagers who may have never existed at all? Have you ever seen a living person in this place, or are you being... manipulated? Remember, these psychic shadows were the ones who brought us here, so they must have some other powers as well...

Simon stops in his tracks, stunned by the realization that he may have been manipulated, even as the wind picks up a little bit, seeming to carry upon it the cries of dead mothers and infants, of mourning fathers and lost sons. Laurana stops too, slightly ahead of him, where she had been walking lost in her own thoughts for quite some time. Ever since the altar, they have not spoken much, both somehow convinced even more that there is some great wrong which must be made right, convinced after seeing another sign of terrible murder and destruction... Simon, finally awakened from his self-righteous anger against some unknown enemy, asks her the question which has only recently been asked of him. "Why are we going North?"

She looks at him as if he were crazy before finally realizing that he is truly serious. The rocks themselves seem to lean in closer to hear her answer... but whether they are moving or not would depend on one's point of view. From where they are standing, the rocks and small stone piles really do seem to be inching closer, ready to rush in and smash them if Laurana makes the wrong reply, or if they decide to turn in the wrong direction...

[Grim Jestor]

Simon freezes, looking on in abject horror as Laurana hurls her challenges into the face of the night, watching as the rocks begin to violently tremble. This is not what he intended, not at all, but the Other in his head cackles with glee. Where did you find this one, Simon? She picks a fight with the earth itself, and the rocks of the ground answer... they will answer with fire.

Simon does not know what the Other means, does not understand the riddles, until the very trembling rocks which Laurana addressed shoot straight up into the night sky, suspended upon a terrible cataclysm of molten rock; they stand upon the cusp of a new volcano, and he is certain that it is no accident.

"Run! For your life and the lives of those you would avenge: Run!" Simon does not even need to speak, for Laurana is already sprinting away from the scene of terrible destruction which chases them, great cracks and shaking in the ground, sulfur gas and dust clouds chasing them as they go. Simon is only slightly behind her, and he can feel his neck-hair melting in the fierce heat, knows that he will wake up with a vicious sunburn if he survives this at all, and laughs along with the Other in his mind as he realizes that they are running...

...Due North.

[Grim Jestor]

Simon catches her glance out of the corner of his eye, and can guess what she is thinking. Turning his head, and shouting to make himself heard, he protests, "A river of water will become a river of molten rock, and there we will be swimming in fire!..." But even as he speaks, a rock which surely was not there before pokes up out of the smoking grass to trip Simon, and it catches his left foot perfectly. At this pace, he cannot land properly, and hits the ground hard on his hip.

The fire behind and the roaring in the sky gives him plenty of incentive to get up quickly, but when he does he is not running as quickly. Every few steps, Simon takes something like a limping hop, as if running hurts, and gradually grows slower, falling behind Laurana more and more. She does not seem to notice, running herself in terror of the volcano, and finally he stops, unable to go any further.

Laurana continues on, heedless of his trouble. The sky above is black with ash, the new volcano so close behind them rising in a great earthquake of rocks and fire and terrible roaring, and finally the river, very near now, begins to look inviting to Simon as well... Maybe the current will be swift enough to carry us out of harm's way...

Up ahead, Laurana has finally noticed that he is not there, and turns to see him slowly get up and head for the river...