Cover of Darkness

[Ambrosious]

Henry looked up at the stars from the courtyard and wondered if he would ever grow up. It seemed to him like he had been 12 forever. He was looking forward to 13 when young boys were expected to go out into the world and make a name for themselves. He had his adventure already picked out. He would scale the mountains of Exbar and speak to the prophets that resided there. If everything went right, he might even join their order.

Henry was so caught up in his fantasy, he never saw the gnome approaching from the shadows of the oak tree. He only noticed the gnome after it spoke.

“Ahem, excuse me good sir, can you help me here?” the gnome asked. Gnomes were unusually polite.

“A Gnome!” Henry yelled. “A Gnome!” he yelled again.

The gnome waited for the boy to calm itself before continuing, “Sir, if you don’t mind, I could really use some help here. I have been sent to recruit help from the land of the large, and you are rather large. Would you be of a mind to help me?”

“A Gnome!’ Henry yelled once again, as other words had left his mind like rats abandoning a sinking ship.

“Sir, take hold of yourself, I NEED your HELP!” the gnome yelled back at Henry, hoping to scare his wits back into him.

“Sorry,” said Henry, “it isn’t every day one sees a gnome. In fact, I don’t recall ever hearing about anyone seeing a gnome, ever. Aren’t you all just legend?”

“Yes, we are legend. And we exist. And we need help. Can you listen to me and decide whether or not to lend assistance? Good. The age of legends comes to light once again as mystical creatures are becoming visible to you and your ilk. What once was fiction now becomes reality as even the most remote stories take on reality. You see me because we are all becoming visible once again. You see the elves, gnomes, fairies, nymphs and other such creatures decided long ago to separate ourselves from you and yours. We were causing a great deal of stress and pain just by our very existence. We secreted a spell from a mighty wizard hundreds of years ago that when cast, rendered us all invisible. Now that spell wears thin and we are once more visible to the human realm. I need to journey to the mountains of Exbar and seek the wisdom of the prophets for a spell that will reverse the undoing of our invisibility. Will you accompany me, for a journey for one of my stature would take far longer than is deemed prudent. I beseech you to help me and my kind. Help us to return to the land of legend.”

The gnome made this request of one who had already made up his mind. Henry would carry this gnome through a fiery pit if it was asked of him. He looked once toward his house and thought of him parents asleep in their bedroom and then at the mountain peaks of Exbar. The proving ground had been laid out before him and Henry fancied himself a mighty warrior seeking his fame and fortune. Henry nodded his assent and went to savage a little food for their journey. He wrapped his newly acquired bounty in a rag his mother used for wiping dishes and made his way back into the yard. He reached down and lifted the gnome up and placed him on his shoulder to make traveling swifter.

“Good gnome, if we are to travel together, won’t you tell me your name?”


OOC: Plenty of room here for all kinds of mystical beings, and someone can now assume the role of Gnome. It is left open for you.

 

[Ravenloft]

David:

"My name is David dear boy. I am a gnome of the forests..." David said with a smile as they walked. He gave a backward glance to Henry. "Do you have any weapons? Anything to defend yourself with if need be?"

 

[Roland Gilliad]

ooc: BRAVO! Again Ambrosious you Never CEASE to amaze me!
Whooo hoooooooo! NYMPHS!!! *coolies* I'll wait a few more posts...Then Im Going to Come in ALL GUNS BLAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Silverlily]

OCC: I'm in.

Eliarne, an elf, grey eyes and silver hair. Once a happy carefree maiden, her world crashed around her when as the invisability lifted, human hunters killed her mate for sport. Prone to moments of melancholy and rage, she has heard through the forest creatures that the Gnome, David is seeking an audience with the prophets hoping to find a way to end the nightmare of all mystical beings.

IC: Unmoving, Eliarne waits in the shadows. She awaits David and a human boy. Her lip curls, a human, she doesn't like humans, but this one is necessary. She has it on good authority they will pass this way soon, so she waits, an eterinity if need be.

 

[poohlive]

Garret walked up to Henry's place. He wasn't around the house. Usually Henry would just be sitting somewhere. Garret frowned.
He knocked on the door, "Hey, Henry? You there."
His father answered the door.
"Garret? I thought Henry was with you?"
He shook his head, "I just got here."
His father looked utterly confused, "I just saw Henry walk off the back fields with another kid. He looked only 10 or 11. He was really small."
Garret frowned, he didn't know anyone that little who Henry played with. Garret smiled, grabbing the two swords they usually played with. They were regular sized, real longswords. Henry's father had given one to him and Henry on their birthday.
They were born on the same day... go figure.
Garret ran down the only trail carrying the two swords. He caught up to him pretty quickly.
"Hey Henry you forgot your...."
He stopped, dropping the weapons. His mouth was wide open. Garret couldn't believe it, he just couldn't believe it.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

*There, Locked in battle, were a well tanned Elf (I think thats the basic, boiler plate description of a drow..) And a tall man, swords locked together, Henry was against a tree, eyes wide slightly, no one else was to be seen, The man's (at least, he LOOKED like a man) Sword appeared to be made of Some sort of greyish wood, His eyes Shone like fire as The Drow leaped away and attacked again, This time the man was two quick, he leaped to the side, his eyes flashed and he brough a stern fist down upon the attackers Neck, there was a swift crack, and he fell* Damn them....*the man managed to mutter, He shelthed the blade, then walked over to henry, offering him his hand* Are You alright Kid? You took a nasty fall and almost got skewered by that Drow...*he helped him up* Damnit...wheres the other tyke...*His eyes peered around them, they seemed to see more than you might think..*

 

[Ambrosious]

Henry stood up and dusted off his britches. "Yeah, I'm allright. Now where did..." he trailed off as he laid eyes on Garrett. "Man! What are you doing here? Our longswords! By the Prophets! Good thinking man. Where are you off to and did you happen to see a little man around here anywhere?"

 

[Silverlily]

Eliarne

Eliarne stood in the shadows of the trees and watched, her fist clenched at her side. A tall human and a Drow were locked in battle. Almost as swiftly as it began, it ended, the Drow fell to the man. She shrugged, the Drow was not of her people and therefore of no concern to her. Her agitation came from the growing number of humans, first one boy, now two, and this man. Eliarne squinted; there was something about that man that wasn't what it appeared to be.

Where had the Gnome gotten off to? She wasn't too sure about approaching a group of human without him around, but time was growing short. Leaving her hiding place, she stepped out and hailed the group. "Hail and greetings, I am seeking David the Gnome. I am Eliarne of the Elves; I understand he is seeking a way to return invisibility to the mystical creatures. I wish to help."

 

[Roland Gilliad]

*his eyes focused on the elven woman* Hail Elairne..*he smirked, a Twinkle in his eye* As Do I, For it concerns My own safety...And of my People..*he Kicks the drow in the ribs with a sharp blow from his steel toed boots* Blast them..Infesting these forests...We'll have hard luck getting to the mountain....*He wipes the sweat from his brow, Noticing that they were looking at him Funny, he tapped his toe* Comon! Stop giving those looks, And We need to get moving, If we dont then the spell will be perminantly Disabled, and the world will be forever changed...By The Gods above, We're going to have Alot of Work to Do...*he says, Shelthing the Sharp woodenblade that sounded like metal.*

 

[poohlive]

Garret put on the sheath and sheathed his sword. He gave Henry his sword as well.
"I wanted us to practice, but I see now that we are going to do a lot more than practicing."
He looked at the elf. She was beautiful, her long flowing hair going down past her shoulders. She was as tall as him, and her eyes sparkled, although she didn't seem very comfortable with them around.
"My name is Garret, milady," he said, bowing and kissing her hand. She withdrew the hand sharply.
Garret blushed.
"Henry, you talked about a gnome?"
He looked around, "Yeah, Dave the gnome, he was here somewhere."
Garret looked behind the bushes, nothing. He looked up in the trees, nothing. He glanced around the area, not even a mention of a gnome.
"Is he invisible?"
"No, silly," the elf said, "We can't be invisible anymore."
"You said that the race of elves and gnomes can't be invisible, but can't just one gnome be invisible for a short period of time?"
No one answered. They kept looking.

 

[Ravenloft]

David:

"That would be so good sir." David shimmered back into visiblity. "I am a vanisher. The arts of masking come easier to me than most. That is why I am being sent to the prophets. To see if I can be instrumental in bringing back the veil to our kind."

 

[poohlive]

"So... so you mean this is real? All of it, fairies, dwarves, elves, gnomes, uniicorns.... all of it. Oh wow, this is awesome. We have to tell everybody."
The gnome shook his head, "No one must know. Even this is too many."
He aimed his head in the direction of the tall human, who seemed content on hurting that poor tied up thing on his feet. Garret unsheathed his sword.
"All right. This is going to be an adventure then, like a treasure hunt. This is awesome. Off to Camelot, or wherever."
He jumped up and down excitedly, "Come on, we need to go."
The gnome touched him gently, all of the sudden Garret relaxed.
"Calm yourself little one. We need to think everything through."
Garret nodded, controlling himself now. He looked over at Henry.
"Why are we part of this then?"
Henry shrugged his shoulders. They both looked at the elf. Her eyes looked like they were hiding something.
"You know, don't you," Henry said, "Tell us, please."

 

[Silverlily]

Eliarne

"I know only about as much as David does, I'm afraid," Eliarne sighed. "The prophets in the mountains of Exbar are the most logical choice. Even if they do not have the solution, perhaps they can set us in the right direction." She paced around a bit, and then spoke again, "It is imperative we move with haste. Every dawn that finds our peoples visible is another day of death and terror. Without the invisibility, our kind is hunted. If we fail, we will be forced to take arms in defense and thereby bring about a war that will destroy us all."

Eliarne looked at each one of them in turn. "You," she pointed at Henry, "are hinted at in prophecy. That is all I know." A dark look clouded her face for a moment, "I admit, I have little love for humans. Therefore, I must ask you, young man," she said, nodding at Garret, "And you sir, if you are coming with us, why you choose to take this burden." The latter part had been directed at the tall man, who had spoken very little. "Perhaps once I know your intentions, your purpose will become clearer."

 

[Gateleader]

A pair of eyes watched the boy and gnome.They saw the elf who watched the gnome. They watched as the other boy joined them.
The eyes glowed a bright blue then red as blood. Had anyone been stupid or foolish enought to look in the eyes they would have seen battles of old and battles yet to come. The eyes slowly fored a body.
~Go,my pet. Find out why the humans and folk creatures unite once more~
A siver wolf jume from the muntainside and ran to find the two humans.

 

[poohlive]

Garret shined his sword, and sheathed it again as the human and the elf talked. They seemed to talk a long time, and Garret got a little jealous. He really liked that elf, she was so pretty. He wanted to walk beside her.
"All right, we should get going," the gnome spoke, looking up to the mountains. The two came back, and it seemed like they were going to start. Garret felt so excited, a real adventure. He suddenly realized that his mom would be worried when she woke up tomorrow. That couldn't be helped though, he had to save the world.
Garret got to walk beside the pretty elf, although she seemed a bit uncomfortable, she didn't say anything though. They were going.
Suddenly, in the bushes, a deep growling was heard. Garret grabbed the handle of his sword, but didn't unsheath it. He didn't know what it was.
"Someone... someone go look."
"What is it?"
Garret didn't like this, he didn't like it one bit.

 

[Ambrosious]

Three priests of DaK waited in ambush just ahead along the trail the party was following. They had worked too long and too hard to see everything fall to pieces now. Their forearms were scarred with multiple lacerations, for their god required blood sacrifice daily. The stage was set to expose the mystical creatures to the world as the non-humans they were. The tide was turning...

 

[Silverlily]

Eliarne

A sound in the underbrush snapped her out of her reverie. Damn it, she knew they should have been proceeding with more caution. Roughly pushing the child nearest her into an out of the way spot, she hissed, "Stay low, do not move." Fading against a tree, bow drawn, arrow nocked, her sharp eyes searched for the source of the growling. Her nose twitched, she smelled something feral and under that, the iron tang of blood. Oddly enough, the two did not seem related.

"Ware, there is more than one possible enemy about," she quietly called to the others. The tall man had his strange sword drawn and both boys were holding, albeit awkwardly, small swords. The one who had been standing closest to her looked angry, but stayed where she had put him. David was nowhere to be seen. Squinting through the trees, she thought she saw a flash of grey.

 

[Ravenloft]

David:

Though he had great skill and unmatched natural talent with vanishing magicks David was putting more strain on those skills then he knew he should be. But death was not an option at the moment. He would use his magicks to hide. Though her was not a coward, it was the only sensable thing to do. He severly taxed his powers as he took both of his hatchets in hand and circled out aroung behind the hiding priests. No sound nor visible sign of his passage could be heard or seen. He was puting such concentration into his masking spell. He knew that sleep would claim him this night for such an overwhelming taxation. He had the priests between him, blocking their escape path, and the party that had hidden. He released his masking spell and nearly sighed with the releif of it but shot a glance into the spot his fellows were hidden, hoping they would take the que. He came up behind the first priest swiftly, burrying both keen edges of his hatchets into the mans spine with a sickening "Shinkt" like sound.

 

[Silverlily]

Eliarne

David suddenly appeared behind as group of men. On instinct, she let the arrow fly, taking one of them through the throat. When the man's hands reached for arrow to remove it, she saw the lacerations covering his arms. Priests of DaK! Whatever had been growling in the brush would have to wait until the more serious threat was dealt with.

Shouting at the boys, "Stay back and cover us," Eliarne charged at the priests with the tall man close behind. Bloodlust fueled by visions of her beloved's murder consumed her as another arrow claimed a victim. Too close for further archery, she was forced to pull out a short sword, not her best weapon.

 

[Kepic]

Rarinthal

"What-was-that?" I muttered to myself, "Can't-I-get-some-peace-and-quiet?-Can't-a-quickling-take-a-decent-nap-anymore?"

Oh, keen ears weren't always a boon. Throwing aside my cover, and pulling on my tunic and boots, in a matter of moments I was half way down the nearby trail, running three or four times round several trees on the way just for the hell of it, before I came to a stop beneath the shade of an old oak.

"Can't-have-this" I said, drumming my fingers against the bark, as I watched the ensuing fray. An elf, three humans, and a gnome, seemingly together. Humans with an elf and a gnome? Whatever next.

Three dark-clothed humans were facing them, though one was already down, another dying, hands clasped to the arrowshaft embedded in his throat. That last was putting up a fight. It looked like it might take some time to finish him. Well, some time for people not as quick as a quickling.

"Oh-damn-it" I muttered, pulling my needle-like daggers from their sheafs in my boots.

I ran up past the last of their opponents, stabbing him several times in each ankle before running off into the undergrowth opposite. I'd already gone out of sight before he cried out in pain.

"What-" I heard the elf exclaim. Sharp eyes, elves. She must have caught glimpse of me as I shot by. I decided to make a quick introduction. Circling round, I ran up to her side, doffed my leather cap, and looked up at her.

"Rarinthal's-the-name" I said. I stopped just long enough for her to get a better look at me before zipping back into the undergrowth.

[Edited by Kepic on 12-06-2000 at 01:35 PM]

 

[poohlive]

Garret ducked as one of the... things... opponents, as he could best describe them, attacked again. He felt a flutter of something and the first one went down.
Garret unsheathed his sword, and came up swinging. The last guy swung hard, but he easily dodged, and went in for the killer blow. Blood squirted onto his shirt as he plunged the sword deep into the... well whatever it was... chest.
He went down, and Garret cleaned his sword. HE put it back in his sheath. His first battle, and it was victorious. Yes, this is awesome.
"Hey, Henry we..."
He looked back. Henry was lying on the grass, an arrow in his throat. He wasn't breathing.
"No.... NNNOOOO!!!"
Garret ran to him, taking out the arrow, blood ran from the wound. Henry felt soo cold. Garret tried to hear his heart, but couldn't. HE was dead.
"No..." He simply sat there, holding his dear friend to his chest. No, the adventure was just beginning, and Henry was gone. He was dead.
"Garret... I'm sorry."
"I know," he said, picking his friend up, "I want to bury him. Please, will everyone help me."
Soon a hole was dug, and his friend was put inside there.
"I will miss you Henry."
He placed is sword in the middle of the grave, and kissed it lightly.
"We need to go," the elf said, looking around. Garret nodded. HE took one last look, and walked afte the rest.
He would never forget his friend.

 

[Ambrosious]

OOC: Well that's just great, y'all have killed off all of my characters. What a fine mess this is.

 

[Silverlily]

OCC: I would like to know WHY poohlive killed off Henry and who else is he planning to kill? And stop speaking for my character, I DO NOT appreciate it.

 

[Kepic]

Rarinthal

The fight over, I was back to my little cubbyhole in the base of the tree I had found, about to get back to my nap, when I heard a cry of anguish. Now what?

Half a mile back to the scene of the fight was but a few moments for me, and I saw one of the humans cradling another in his arms. Letting himself get hit by an arrow like that, stupid human. But, guess they're too slow to outrun them like I could.

I watched them as they dug a hole in the forest earth, nipping off to a side every time one began to turn their head in my direction, not wanting to reveal more of myself at the moment. They all looked agrieved, of the loss. Whats one less human? I thought.

I caught myself at that remark. Cruel as it was. I may be quickling, but I was not like the rest of my kindred. Oh, unpredicatable I might be, that much was in my nature, but evil and cruel I was not.

As soon as they walked off, out of sight, I was standing by the grave, cap doffed again, this time out of respect for the dead. I glanced at the bodies of their assailants led in the undergrowth nearby, left to the forest carrion. A quick search of the bodies netted me a few human coins, a small gemstone - a ruby if I wasn't mistaken - and a vial of some white, viscous fluid that smelled bittersweet, the ceramic container marked with human lettering.

Then, a run up the trail they had taken, easily overtaking the strange group, skirting about them in the undergrowth out of sight and earshot, I found a comfortable stone a short way ahead of them and waited impatiently for them to reach me. Well, I did nip back to the cubbyhole and collect my own belongings first, such as they were.

I didn't know why I was taking such a keen interest in the group. Something told me there was more going on here than met the eye.

OOC: I'm wondering if poohlive mistook the arrow in the throat that took the priest of Dak with Henry?

[Edited by Kepic on 12-07-2000 at 11:07 AM]