'We will leave tomorrow. So pack your things and be ready.' Claire stared at Ruthivan in horror. Not only had she just witnessed him slay her own father in cold blood, now he was taking over the tribe her father built with his own hands. She stared at him and shook her head. 'No. You're not...' 'I'm not what?' Ruthivan snapped and rounded the table by which Claire stood. She swallowed, carefully choosing her words. 'You're not high born, you didn't earn it.' 'Your father didn't *earn* it. He was worthless as a leader. I will show all of them how things should be run. We will never be at the mercy of Vector again.'
Claire could say nothing. She bowed her head and nodded. She had no flames, she had no time to pretend that everything was well. She looked at the blood stain on the floor and fought the rise of emotions that choked her. 'Clean that up.' Ruthivan said, and left the room.
Dutifully, Claire went to the sink and filled a bowl with water. She couldn't even use magic to take care of the blood of her father. She got on her knees and wiped up the floor. She withdrew into herself with each stroke of the rag, knowing this was the end. She would never be free of this life.
'By the way,' Ruthivan said, entering the kitchen again as he rolled up his sleeves, 'you will do well to drop this attitude. Our people will need a figurehead to look up to - a tribal queen that is worthy of their adoration.' 'And what do you think they will say when your mate cannot leave her house.' 'Nothing, if they know what is what. You will learn to love me, Claire. You may think you hate me now, but you will learn. We have eons for you to gain understanding.' 'It will never happen.'
Ruthivan was on her like lightning. He lifted her onto her feet and shook her in both his hands. 'You will learn, do you hear me? Now, say it!' 'Say what?' she asked, her arms throbbing in his powerful grip. 'Tell me what you think of me, my love.' His request rolled out like a snarl. Claire closed her eyes and set her jaw. He shook her again, harder this time. 'The children hate you.'
The powerful slap across her face came from nowhere. She kept her eyes closed, her head bowed. 'Tell me what you think of me,' he repeated, and only when he drew back his fist to strike, did she let the disgusting words fall from her lips:
'I love you.'
Seeking Seranfrit
Ruthivan entered the forest, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the tree line. Somewhere Claire's mother had escaped, though it was unlikely she went far. He had killed Claire's father in a fit of rage when the elder had threatened to free Claire and take his children. No one would take what was his.
He went back into beast form and sniffed at the air. The change was instant, as was the scents. He could follow the trail of scent left behind as though it were a neon sign. And in short order, he caught up with Seranfrit.
"Please," she begged, backing up against one of the trees. "Don't kill me. Please."
"Seranfrit," Ruthivan crooned, effortlessly turning himself into his esper form. "Why would I do that?" She let out a sob and shook her head. "You killed my husband!"
"You hated him anyway. I did you a courtesy. And now you will do one for me."
"What are you talking about..."
"You will go back to the tribe and let them know that they have a new leader." Seranfrit's eyes grew wide. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, but I am. Eladrim was a failure, he couldn't get our people to populate, the numbers of those in the tribe are the same as they always were. What good will it do our people if we aren't prepared?"
Seranfrit inched away, but Ruthivan slammed a hand on the tree trunk beside her, blocking her way. "You don't want to challenge me, do you?" She merely shook her head. "Good. Claire and I will provide the perfect example of what needs to happen - what good, solid esper pair bonding can do to help a people rebound from the brink of extinction. No Vectorians will cross us once we have built up our numbers. We will crush them, and all that oppose us."
"You're mad..."
"No. I'm a leader, your leader. Go and get the main tent ready for our arrival. You may move into ours. And Seranfrit... if you cross me, I will give you the same courtesy I gave your pathetic husband."
Ruthivan watched Seranfrit scramble as she rushed through the forest. He turned and walked back to the tent house and froze when he met eyes with Celiara and the other children. He smiled, and they fled back into the house. His breath caught in his throat and a scowl came to his face. Claire. She made him do this. She made him kill her father and as a result, she made his children fear him. 'No matter,' he thought. 'Time will heal that wound, and when they see what an esper leader should be, they will understand why that needed to happen. All would be as it should be.' Ruthivan entered the house.
He went back into beast form and sniffed at the air. The change was instant, as was the scents. He could follow the trail of scent left behind as though it were a neon sign. And in short order, he caught up with Seranfrit.
"Please," she begged, backing up against one of the trees. "Don't kill me. Please."
"Seranfrit," Ruthivan crooned, effortlessly turning himself into his esper form. "Why would I do that?" She let out a sob and shook her head. "You killed my husband!"
"You hated him anyway. I did you a courtesy. And now you will do one for me."
"What are you talking about..."
"You will go back to the tribe and let them know that they have a new leader." Seranfrit's eyes grew wide. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, but I am. Eladrim was a failure, he couldn't get our people to populate, the numbers of those in the tribe are the same as they always were. What good will it do our people if we aren't prepared?"
Seranfrit inched away, but Ruthivan slammed a hand on the tree trunk beside her, blocking her way. "You don't want to challenge me, do you?" She merely shook her head. "Good. Claire and I will provide the perfect example of what needs to happen - what good, solid esper pair bonding can do to help a people rebound from the brink of extinction. No Vectorians will cross us once we have built up our numbers. We will crush them, and all that oppose us."
"You're mad..."
"No. I'm a leader, your leader. Go and get the main tent ready for our arrival. You may move into ours. And Seranfrit... if you cross me, I will give you the same courtesy I gave your pathetic husband."
Ruthivan watched Seranfrit scramble as she rushed through the forest. He turned and walked back to the tent house and froze when he met eyes with Celiara and the other children. He smiled, and they fled back into the house. His breath caught in his throat and a scowl came to his face. Claire. She made him do this. She made him kill her father and as a result, she made his children fear him. 'No matter,' he thought. 'Time will heal that wound, and when they see what an esper leader should be, they will understand why that needed to happen. All would be as it should be.' Ruthivan entered the house.
Vodka Tonic (Part 6)
"The rune in the middle is a dead give away." She pointed it and the bugs eyes widened and feelers perked up. "It's the word of power the monks use. It's strange someone would use it though. It's as if someone was trying to read one of the monks minds. But why go through all that trouble when a simple charm spell on the monk or an insect would be enough to know what they were up to. "
"It's a curiosity! I've got a use in mind for the stone though, if you want to travel with me while I collect some more items I would be happy of such learned company. And then I would let you have the item if it was still worth anything to you." The wizard bartered with the old man for a few moments then turned back to her after purchasing the items.
"Should be an enjoyable evening then. A pleasure to meet you, I am called Vodka." She courtseyed thinking better than to shake the insects claws. "Mmmhmmm, Yes, I am Xzar Firefly, at your service." The bug made agreeable clicking noises and they both ventured off into other parts of the city.
Hours passed as Xzar shopped, it was his first trip to the city and he was enthralled with not only what he could purchase but also on the "Amaza-Za-Zing" deals. The two conversed about a variety of subjects and after a few local drinks shared stories of their homelands. Xzar had been back to his much more recently than Vodka had, but it was hard to say no to 3, 000 brothers and sisters at his families hive. Sharing the tale of her Tonic he was intrigued by such power.
"But even with such power, it must have been terrifying to essentially take your own life and lock it away within yourself!" It seemed everything was a learning experience for him.
"It was, but knowing it had been done once before at least made it a bit easier." She shrugged trying not to think of the hours before that she had sat in her Lab crying about what might happen if things went wrong.
They again shopped, now more freely and with the commeraderie of friends making jokes as they discovered new shops and intriguing items. At an odd shop filled with boxes of strange items, Xzar literally crawled inside one of the crates and thre objects out of it much to the shopekeepers dismay. It was only later and after a few more local drinks that Xzar entrusted her with why he was gathering these items.
"I'm serious! I know there's a way to gain more power, physical or otherwise through the enhancement of armor beyond the obvious temper imbues and magical enchantments." He nodded looking almost hurt that she had laughed at him.
"They've tried that for centuries, the only ones to even get close were the Vectorians and they had to slaughter espers by the dozens to do it and even then they only achieved it within such constructs that they were unsustainable." She leaned in close so that no one could here her next words. "If this happens to be true, it's dangerous. There's no telling how it could amplify spells and enchants! " "Exactly," His grin was almost mischievious. "There's so much more to this kind of power than we could even conceive! Imagine how we could help people! Imagine the evil we could drive from this world."
"It could change everything or destroy it. Balance in this kind of magic was never abundant." She thought deeply and ordered another drink. Could there be more power that her new form was seeking? This wasn't the end, it was for sure a new begining.
"It's a curiosity! I've got a use in mind for the stone though, if you want to travel with me while I collect some more items I would be happy of such learned company. And then I would let you have the item if it was still worth anything to you." The wizard bartered with the old man for a few moments then turned back to her after purchasing the items.
"Should be an enjoyable evening then. A pleasure to meet you, I am called Vodka." She courtseyed thinking better than to shake the insects claws. "Mmmhmmm, Yes, I am Xzar Firefly, at your service." The bug made agreeable clicking noises and they both ventured off into other parts of the city.
Hours passed as Xzar shopped, it was his first trip to the city and he was enthralled with not only what he could purchase but also on the "Amaza-Za-Zing" deals. The two conversed about a variety of subjects and after a few local drinks shared stories of their homelands. Xzar had been back to his much more recently than Vodka had, but it was hard to say no to 3, 000 brothers and sisters at his families hive. Sharing the tale of her Tonic he was intrigued by such power.
"But even with such power, it must have been terrifying to essentially take your own life and lock it away within yourself!" It seemed everything was a learning experience for him.
"It was, but knowing it had been done once before at least made it a bit easier." She shrugged trying not to think of the hours before that she had sat in her Lab crying about what might happen if things went wrong.
They again shopped, now more freely and with the commeraderie of friends making jokes as they discovered new shops and intriguing items. At an odd shop filled with boxes of strange items, Xzar literally crawled inside one of the crates and thre objects out of it much to the shopekeepers dismay. It was only later and after a few more local drinks that Xzar entrusted her with why he was gathering these items.
"I'm serious! I know there's a way to gain more power, physical or otherwise through the enhancement of armor beyond the obvious temper imbues and magical enchantments." He nodded looking almost hurt that she had laughed at him.
"They've tried that for centuries, the only ones to even get close were the Vectorians and they had to slaughter espers by the dozens to do it and even then they only achieved it within such constructs that they were unsustainable." She leaned in close so that no one could here her next words. "If this happens to be true, it's dangerous. There's no telling how it could amplify spells and enchants! " "Exactly," His grin was almost mischievious. "There's so much more to this kind of power than we could even conceive! Imagine how we could help people! Imagine the evil we could drive from this world."
"It could change everything or destroy it. Balance in this kind of magic was never abundant." She thought deeply and ordered another drink. Could there be more power that her new form was seeking? This wasn't the end, it was for sure a new begining.
Vodka Tonic (Part 5)
Various cities were left behind as she flew overhead. Not much interested her. The desserts flew by, the TriPower Capital of Torregiano, the elemental valley, the dwarven forests, Ganglands and Westbridge. There was still a hunger for more, not for blood but for more power. All sorts of travelers found themselves on the usual trade routes and roads connecting the cities. The leather bound book was on the seat to her right and she looked down at it. What was she forgetting? What needed remembering and how could it be more important than the Tonic that had turned her into this creature.
Almost her whole childhood and early life had returned to her. The blood memories were the easiest to regain in this condition. The past few years though weren't coming together as easily. There were vague memories of magical endeavors, both good and evil swirled like ingredients added to a cauldron inside her mind. There one moment but vague and incomplete quickly dissapearing as she tried to remember. Like so much sand sifting through her hands. The Mountains and Heifong III lay head.
The Airship Port was as large as the one in Torregiano. Grounds crews raced to supply, maintain and land ships carrying supplies to and from the city. After docking her ship off the tarmac and paying the fee to rent the space for a day she took walked off to the city streets of Heifong III. The city was rather new compared to most on this continent. The wealth they had gained when the TriPower invented airships and and they were able to build their own. Oddly enough, the city had become a valuable source for rare trade and exotic merchandise. Some of the side streets boasted pubs with rare brews and porn shops with every fetish imaginable.
It was one of the rare magical goods stores that stood out in her mind. It wasn't a very obvious storefront. Just a simple magical sign that greeted you as you entered adorned it and made it different from the other stores. Inside wasn't all that interesting either. Mostly white walls with a picture of a strange looking wizard here or there. The objects behind the counter were covered by grey coverings mostly and the shopkeeper, although old wasn't of note either. The wizard being helped by the shopkeeper was interesting to say the least though. The Thri'kreen was staring intently at something in its clutches. He made humming insect noises as he thought deeply about the object.
"Marvelous! Simply Marvelous! It's worthless, but it just might work. I'll take 3, but wait, what's that, I sense it under that sheet." The wizard pointed behind the counter and past the old man who turned and looked through thick spectecles and lifted the covering enough to see the object for himself. "Excuse me miss, but you've come too late to get these great deals!" The wizard chortled to himself. The old man pulled out a box from under the covering and put it on the counter. He uncovered it revealing a black stone with green runed carvings.
"It's a Psyonists stone." Vodka knew it from research before the Tonic but not why she knew it.
"Indeed! Very rare to find one like this too." The wizard tilted his head and grinned. The image was slightly offsetting considering his insect fangs.
"Not many survived the fall of Myth Drannor. This one seems very odd though. It's new." The object was very interesting to her.
"You think so? I haven't heard of any living Psyonists capable of making these." He grabbed the stone and examined it.
Almost her whole childhood and early life had returned to her. The blood memories were the easiest to regain in this condition. The past few years though weren't coming together as easily. There were vague memories of magical endeavors, both good and evil swirled like ingredients added to a cauldron inside her mind. There one moment but vague and incomplete quickly dissapearing as she tried to remember. Like so much sand sifting through her hands. The Mountains and Heifong III lay head.
The Airship Port was as large as the one in Torregiano. Grounds crews raced to supply, maintain and land ships carrying supplies to and from the city. After docking her ship off the tarmac and paying the fee to rent the space for a day she took walked off to the city streets of Heifong III. The city was rather new compared to most on this continent. The wealth they had gained when the TriPower invented airships and and they were able to build their own. Oddly enough, the city had become a valuable source for rare trade and exotic merchandise. Some of the side streets boasted pubs with rare brews and porn shops with every fetish imaginable.
It was one of the rare magical goods stores that stood out in her mind. It wasn't a very obvious storefront. Just a simple magical sign that greeted you as you entered adorned it and made it different from the other stores. Inside wasn't all that interesting either. Mostly white walls with a picture of a strange looking wizard here or there. The objects behind the counter were covered by grey coverings mostly and the shopkeeper, although old wasn't of note either. The wizard being helped by the shopkeeper was interesting to say the least though. The Thri'kreen was staring intently at something in its clutches. He made humming insect noises as he thought deeply about the object.
"Marvelous! Simply Marvelous! It's worthless, but it just might work. I'll take 3, but wait, what's that, I sense it under that sheet." The wizard pointed behind the counter and past the old man who turned and looked through thick spectecles and lifted the covering enough to see the object for himself. "Excuse me miss, but you've come too late to get these great deals!" The wizard chortled to himself. The old man pulled out a box from under the covering and put it on the counter. He uncovered it revealing a black stone with green runed carvings.
"It's a Psyonists stone." Vodka knew it from research before the Tonic but not why she knew it.
"Indeed! Very rare to find one like this too." The wizard tilted his head and grinned. The image was slightly offsetting considering his insect fangs.
"Not many survived the fall of Myth Drannor. This one seems very odd though. It's new." The object was very interesting to her.
"You think so? I haven't heard of any living Psyonists capable of making these." He grabbed the stone and examined it.
Current Character Description - Calliope
The long flowing robes of blue and white make this young woman a very powerful sight to behold. Black hair shines different colors in the sunlight but her eyes seem to enchant you. Her demeanor is warm and inviting, but this makes her all the more mysterious. A wicked looking whip is curled at her waist and shielding spells mostobviously surround her. The mysterious power that resonates from this priestess is of note, but it seems she is uncertain in these changing times. Perhaps she knows the meaning behind the whispers, the secret that in the dark of night people hope not to dream about and the knowledge is tearing her apart.
Current Character Description - Hiroaki Thai Chi
An extraordinary man stands before you. His face bears no expression. He is dressed in fine robes. He is bald yet has an extremely long beard. He wears sandals apon his feet. He carries no weapon. Yet something about him demands your respect Off in distance your someone say, "Who's the master?"
"Hiroaki's the master!"
"Hiroaki's the master!"
Current Character Description - Zelgadis Graywords
A clever man in a long brimmed hat sucking on a bone toothpick. His well kept gottee hides a grin and a twinkle in his eyes make you wonder how much he has actually seen of this world. Wearing strangley fashioned armor and elven weave, he carries himself with the air of an experienced fighter. He carries two well taken care of scimitars that glisten in the light. The man does not seem out of place, in fact you'd imagine he could fit in anywhere, but perhaps he belongs no where. Called by many names and titles this Knight of the Rose, Mystical Mercenary and Estranged Lover enjoys every moment of life, yet weeps for the world he once knew. A crest in ancient dragon reads "When I looked upon the breadth of my adventures, I wept for there were no more worlds to conquer"
Current Character Description - Vodka Skaya (Vodkavania Chernomyrdin Kovalevskaya)
The tiny pointed teeth that protrude slightly from her lips are half dream and half Nightmare. They draw you in to seek more about the seemingly young woman. Robes of black silk are lined with red and blue. Blackened lightweight platemail is barely noticed beneath her robes which hide much about her figure which must be thin but muscular. There is a grace about her. An elegance to her style and a strength to her posture. Pointed ears peek out from her black hair showing her heritage. The smell about her is intoxicating and it seems that getting drawn up in her mistique is exactly exactly what she desires.
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