Of the Woods (chris2c4u)

[TaintedHeart]

::OOC-This SRP was arranged between chris2c4u and myself, though if you'd like an arrangement, PM me. Comments welcomed.::

The forest was a peaceful place. Serenity and beauty was kept in balance always, always by the Nymphs. The Wood Nymphs. It had been like that for ages. Unknown to society as it grew and prospered and changed, over years and decades as they passed, the Wood Nypmhs remained the same, tending to the forest as a mother would her child, each with a satyr to hold the balance of them all. They protected their satyr, who in turn played the melodies in which aided their magic in helping the forest grow. Each three had one satyr, all except for one Wood Nymph. The most powerful and graceful of all the woodland wonders that dwelled here was Eris, a Wood Nymph bound to one satyr.

The forest remained a ever happy place in her wake. Eris was a beauty of the forest itself. With her wild sense of freedom and kindness toward anything earthly, she drew many a viewer. She, unlike all of the other Wood Nymphs, held a power. A power that any mortal creature would give their soul and more to recieve. The power of immortality. And she also guarded the way to get it. Around her neck signified it, a single droplet from the springs of Eternal. With healing powers beyond comparison and the power to grant immortality, the springs were what kept life in all things living. And with it, a world of darkness could be dawned. The very reason Eris was destined to protect it.

Eris stood tall, with golden glowed skin, the normal hue being a earthy green or light green blue of her kind. Pointed ears and golden red hair, wild, untamed, glittering and beautiful falling past her waist, normally used to cover a beautiful figure that seemed to glow with the purity of earth itself. Her eyes were twin pools of emerald, like leaves upon a moon lit night of the forest. As a wood nymph, clothing was not required, but from time to time a emerald dress of light material, seeming to be made of the color of leaves, extremely thin and whispy, kept about her form by glittering ivy leaves made as attire. And other times, a smooth, flawless form, holding the very essence of feminine quality remained un-touched and un-concealed. She was a creature of nature, she knew no mortal boundaries.

The day dawned itself with the twisting of leaves as she rested upon a bed of moss, that bare form glistening with droplets of beaded dew from earlier. With a yawn, Eris awoke, rubbing her eyes with slender hands and smiling softly. The forest was quiet, with birds singing gently in the distance. Over the forest the echos and laughter of the wood nymphs told her all was right. Except for one thing.

Turning her head, the earth creature listened. She heard the pan flute as clear as bells in the wind...of several other of the satyrs. She, unfortunately, did not hear the flute of her satyr. Normally they would all be awake, chasing around the other nymphs mischieviously, aiding to tend to the forest as they always did, another day of fun and joy to ensure peace. But she did not hear the pan flute of her own. Something wicked was amist.

Standing gracefully, soundlessly, that sheet of crimson, golden stranded locks falling over each shoulder, she started out slowly into the forest. There was a clearing she knew of where he met her everyday to speak and ask of the conditions of the forest. A old willow tree stump, with a sprouting bud in the center of it was always their meeting. Nearing the place, it so seemed, she paused.

"Hello? Satyr? Are you here?" The words echoed like the sound of a rose singing to the wind as she gently parted the trees leaves in her way, meeting the clearing as the early day sun shined through the forest canopy above. There, aside the stump was the pan flute, left there with nothing more than a circle of roses around the stump of a soon to be new willow tree. Fear froze the nymph. Her satyr was no more, it would seem.

In fear she hastily danced off into the forest, disappearing into the leaves of the trees to reappear elsewhere, far from the clearing she normally met her satyr. Only to not know that soon...so very soon, there would be a surprise waiting there...calling for her there. Dreadfully soon.

 

[chris2c4u]

Human towns were squalid. Umiel knew this from experience rather than the lore and half truths whispered by other demons. Yet here he was again trudging down the worn path in human form, a stranger in black to the farmworkers he passed. A mystery man to milkmaids who admired his broad back, his dark eyes hidden by heavy lids as they glowed unnervingly from beneath the hood of his cloak. His long steady stride in dark, mudspattered boots.

He stopped on his descent into the town and surveyed the forest beyond where, even on this grey day, the greenery seemed a little more vivid, the air with a greater shimmer than the fields and woods around. He strode on.

Humans were greedy; all demons knew this, it was the way they could be
controlled. Offer them a little something they couldn't resist and they would slit one another's throats until there was but one still standing.

A few scrawny chickens scattered in his path as he approached the Boar's Head, the tavern where the greedy humans were to meet him.

Inside the pub was quiet; mostly its clientele were working. Standing still he surveyed the rough hewn bar and the sawdust and bullrush covered floor.

"Looking for a room, traveller?" A fat man in an apron appeared from behind the bar; he was perspiring as he came up from the cellar tending to barrels of ale.

Umiel's reply was preceeded by what the innkeeper would recall later as a near snarl.

"There is a meeting here I am attending."

"Ah." The innkeeper's face paled as he nervously showed the guest to a door in the back of the Inn. Umiel knocked and the door was opened from inside. Three men, better dressed that the townspeople he had seen sat and drank wine from pewter goblets. None of the humans seemed to know what to do - was it proper to shake hands with a demon? Did demons have hands? One man stepped forward and looked up at Umiel's tall figure and tried to make out the face under the hood.

"I am Richard Welmaine," he said. "I - I asked you to come."

Umiel nodded. "You summoned a demon. My master Belfeyre. He send me - Umiel - to conclude negotiations. This matter does not require his powers."

Richard gave a nervous nod and introduced his brother Thomas and the local Baron Hardwick, who tugged his black pointed beard and said nothing.

Umiel sat at the oak table and refused wine; he placed leather gloved hands on the table. "You want my help," he said simply.

Richard nodded but the Baron leaned forward. "The forest," his voice was slick like oil coating water, "we want the forest. Not all of it of course - but the town needs to grow, after all." He turned up his hands on the table in a gesture suggesting it was so obvious it need not be stated more.

Umiel looked at the Baron. "And you cannot take the forest because?"

"Wood nymphs," the Baron hissed the words of the creatures between gritted teeth. "Particularly powerful wood nymphs." They had been unknown to the humans since before anyone could remember but now, as the town began to grow, as trade began to prosper, the riches of the woods were needed. The trees for wagons, buildings, ships, for charcoal to make metals.

"But no, a few years back, we try to take what is ours - it is virgin wood in my Manors, it is mine..." He brought his fist down on the table and then tried to remain calm. "They stop us. Men grow weak near the wood, they cannot enter. It blocks our road to the sea, it cannot be exploited." The Baron gazed into the darkness of Umiel's hood. "We want it."

"What would you have me do?" Umiel asked.

Thomas spoke in the reedy voice of a self-taught scholar. "The nymphs they each work along side satyrs, players of music, helping keep the balance of nature. When we tried to talk with them about this keeping us away from our property then one nymph came to us. Her name is Eris. She seems more powerful than the rest and is close to her satyr."

Umiel supressed the growl he felt well up inside him and said, "continue."

"She told us that we would never enter the forest and so it has been. Her power is great and she unites the rest of the nymphs and holds us at bay. If she - if she could be shown that her power was not strong enough to stop us...she would...negotiate."

Umiel seemed to consider for a moment. "I will bring you her satyr," he said, simply. "Dead."

The Baron's face cracked in a smile. The humans drank to success. Umiel stood and left the room. Greedy humans had called a demon; now they would feel the power of the clash between good and evil that they had begun and more - here was The Forest. Eris was here, the protector of the Springs of Eternal. More greedy men would pay a high price in the souls of others sacrificed to the demons to ensure their own would live forever.

****

The forest was protected by many spells, many traps that would easily stop a human and of course that was all the nymphs thought they were facing, humans. They had not protected the forest from demons. Umiel shed his human form and became a dark lance hovering in the air, then sliding effortlessly past the spells into the deep and lush interior of the forest. This way and that he flew his senses keen picking out the satyrs as they played or hid from him. Then he saw the one he sought, playing the pipes, unconcerned near a willow tree. In a moment Umiel was upon the half goat half man; the pipes were dropped and the satyr tried to flee but was impaled on the obsidian blade of the demon's sword and dead
before he hit the ground.

Umiel decorated the pipes with flowers and left them for Eris to find and kept his bargain with the men of the town. The Satyr was delivered and then carried in triumph by the Baron's men to the edge of the wood where he was left as carrion with word for Eris to speak before her precious Forest was again invaded and more satyrs died - or even nymphs.

Umiel though had his own plans and began to practise playing the pipes he had found, began practising shape shifting int the forms of beautiful men or even a satyr. He had to return to the forest soon, to be inside before it was protected against demons so that he could approach Eris, win her confidence. Take her.

 

[TaintedHeart]

::OOC-Excellent post! ::

What evil had come to her forest? Eris had to wonder, had to ponder this as she no longer felt the same security the forest had offered her before. There was no sure sense of justice. The emerald leaves of the trees seemed colder to her touch of glow as she set her fingers upon them, no longer hearing the sound of the pipes to her ears. No, she heard the sound of laughter. The sound of the flutes to her sisters, to her counsins the trees, to her child, the earth, yes...but no longer did that same sound reach her.

Celebration would be given for her lost Satyr...no nymph grew to see death as a thing to dread. No...this was something to celebrate...it ensured that life would go on. And her satyr would be reborn...if not in the plants and trees, but in the wind and sun to florish and grow her forest.

Eris could not find herself to let go. How could one such as she give her mind to one being for longer than needed? The Forest still needed her. Her sisters needed her. And so, without the sound of the flute or pipes to her ears, she went about, replenishing the earth as it needed it's nourishment, but with a bitter distaste.

"What troubles you so, sister?"

The sound of voices reached out to her as she circled the farthest glade from that of which she had thrived with her satyr, knowing to never return there. Her head turned, that beauty of earth itself as that long sheed of hair draped over her shoulder, her bare form holding the golden hint as always.

"It is not normal for a nymph to hold sorrow, but you lead us all. Emotion comes with the responcibility, you are not ment to rejoyce and play day long like us, you know."

"But do not let it worry you so, sister. For it worries us, and surely the earth does not need this influence."

Arthinia, Caylis and Illisian. Three of her wisest nymphs no doubt, her most favored sisters. She smiled so softly as she went about, allowing the large blue glowing mushrooms a chance to grow still under the earthen magic wraftin from her hands. They were right, she knew for sure.

"Yes, you are right. But how may I deal with this situation? How might I find a way to over come this...my satyr is gone, yes, so where do I turn now?"

"We offer you our comfort, sister, but we cannot lead the way for you.." With giggles and laughter the three disappeared into the leaves to continue to alight the forest with their joy. Eris sighed softly. Something was troubling her. Her satyr was no more, yes, but where had his body gone? It should be to the earth, or he shall never be reborn.

Soundlessly she allowed herself to be swept away with the wind into the trees as she came to a place, at the edge of the forest. Ah, as rare as she ventured here in fear of all of the humans knowing of her presense, here was a time she knew, it seemed, instinct had drawn. She would find her satyr here, her mind told her. She knew it as a fact already.

And here, it seemed, was her satyr. The still icyness kept her from getting to close, the deminished of a poor soul and life stilling her eyes. Never had she seen death before, never had she to look upon it's grisly meaning with such tender eyes and know that this was the doing of evil. It pained her heart as no nymph could feel, and yet she knew what must be done. She approached, letting that icy cold sink into her bones as she lowered aside him, removed the necklace and let the drop of the Eternal take over his form. Slowly her bloodied and broken satyr disappeared into nothing, the warmth returning to Eris as a smile did.

Where he had laid, his final resting slowly a small bug sprouted. Drawing her fingers above it, the glittering use of earth magic spilled so willingly, making the tree twirl, grow, slowly and surely into a full youngling. Flowers, moss, grass sprung up around it so avidly and she smiled. So this was the meaning of life. Touching her delicate, soft hands to it she felt it thrive. Her satyr was here with her after all, and so now it seemed she had a more massive problem. Those humans.

How did greed come to be a part of their lives?

Humans had always been the reason Nymphs existed. Because, they needed them. The Nymphs created the forests all around their lands to aid them in surviving. Of all ways, to the south and east and west they must simply have the north as theirs? The one forest which was the center of humanity, the balance of earth and the spreader of it's magic over all the lands they must have? It angered her, dearly. She must venture there, it so seemed, soon, before once more an act was given. But now, she needed to let them know that she would, and she acknowledged their means of knowing...and that they may be denied to the fullest.

Gathering the earth from the ground below, seeing that village so close and far that seperated her world from theres, she smiled. Taking it, she blew, and the wind blew, carrying that earth on, on to the center of their town where it dropped her seed. She left, she could no see, the enhanced eyes of one who saw all could not see, but she knew. There, in a matter of moments among them all a tree sprouted. And it grew...and grew...and grew, it even captured a small boy as it rose, it's golden petals blossoming as it stood so tall and proud, it's roots digging past the cobblestone below. That was her sign. And she would meet them there.

The forest stirred with laughter as her sisters went about, and a smile to her face as she turned her head lightly. Here in the forest it seemed, she must open the spring. So secretly she travelled, slowly, carefully to the structure of rocks that marked the Eternal. Drawing her hands over them, the world around swirled, grew, and slowly melted into a place of pure serenity, one in which no one could enter...no one, but Eris. And unless she was there, no one would ever be able to enter it.

She made her way to that spring and dipped that necklace in it, taking back the drop used to set her satyr to rest. Then, turning her head to the water she summoned it's ability to seal the forest. If anyone was in, they would remain locked inside. If anyone attempted to enter from how she had set it, they would not be allowed in. And this was, it seemed, the highest degree of magic the forest could offer. She made sure all was fine, and hastily left the springs. And that was when she heard it.

Calling to her not so far, she could hear a familiar sound. The pipes! A smile lit her face as she listened...did she have a new satyr? So soon? Ah, but they were calling to her, she could here. Perhaps she may have had a new satyr. The place she had been so reluctant to near before called, and she disappeared into the forest to reappear there. Slowly, so carefully she began to walk forward, her hair swirling around her shoulders like a golden red cloak as she walked, smiling. The pipes were heard so clearly here.

Slowly she stood as the forest canopy dappled the ground with golden light. She smiled, looking around in the trees as she listened.

"Hello?"

 

[chris2c4u]

Baron Hardwick looked up at the tree that had erupted in the town square. Two men were climbing down holding a tearful buy rescued from its branches.

"So, this is how she responds," he said, looking up at the tree. He turned to the slightly cowed Richard and Thomas. "Have it chopped down."

Thomas cleared his throat and the Baron closed his eyes expecting news he sidn't want to hear. "Any person carrying an axe...cannot get close...sir." He coughed nervously.

The Baron shook his head; the tree, the symbol of her willingness to meet he had misinterpreted as some defiance. "Where is Umiel?"

"He hasn't been seen since the satyr's body was delivered," said Richard.

"Still in the forest?" the Baron asked, more of himself than them.

"It is to be hoped," said Thomas, the scholar, "for they - the nymphs - must know that something powerful had broken in and they would protect against it. If he
was not in he would need great powers to break a wood nymph's spell. Now we must wait and see what happens."

****

Umiel practised; he played the pipes; as he did it was only he could hear, copying the cadences the other satyr's commanded so easily. He had to be the best.

He twisted time, to make more time; he needed to do this, it was the way to her... and if he had her, if he had the Spring - he would have human kind, as they were greedy - greedy for eternal life. The souls they sacrificed in this cause would make him powerful. More powerful than Belfeyre. He would no longer be in thrall. All humans on this world would do his bidding. The power made his demon cock erect with the very thought. He growled; it sounded like a purr of a very large demented cat.

But. Now, he had to work hard, plan. She would never surrender to a demon. So he had to disguise himself and the only disguise was a satyr. First though, he appeared to Arthinia as a man; a nude, attractive man - knowing she would look and, surpassing any lust, she would report back to Eris...a man! Inside the defenses!

Then, to many, he appeared as a Satyr, playing pipes. They assumed it was Eris's, immediately restored and he smiled and didn't speak.

He went to the clearing by the willow and played the pipes; called her. He grinned as he heard her uncertain greeting.

"Eris," his voice imitated the zephyrs of spring among the trees, "it is I, come again, restored in form to you. No demon could destroy our power together ...come, my darling, let me play for you...tell me your plans to stop the humans..."

He curled his goats legs beneath him, played the pipes for a moment. His gaze and looks were hers, were the queen of what stood before the demon's success and...

 

[TaintedHeart]

The nymph fell back, back past her emotions now. No more attachments. She had a forest to raise, her sisters to lead. More people needed her than just one. And as a wood nymph, it was her duty to withdraw her feelings...she was one with the earth, after all. Sorrow could be expressed, yes, she was leader...but that did not mean that she had to be leader all the time.

For she was one of them, before she was a leader. Eris paused as the Satyr came first, or what her eyes saw as a Satyr. Her mind and the earth was sending her oddities about this Satyr, for now it seemed...but she got that feeling from her old Satyr the first time she met him, hadn't she?

The sound of the pipes flowed like liquid gold to her ears at first, the music that seemed to send each of her sisters into dance, which seemed to aid and set the pace for having the forest to grow. Perhaps she was just being defensive. Perhaps...but Eris knew better than to be so trusting.

Light the wind she disappeared into the leaves with a ringing laughter, still there, yes...but with the earth. No eyes could see a nymph in the trees, that was the way it had been for years.

"Satyr, how is it that I know this is no illusion of sorts? You know my name, yes...you know what evil invaded my forest, true...but how might I be sure?"

The forest had been sealed. And as she travelled to this clearing at the willow, her sister had come to her and reported anxiously a human man in her forest. How had he gotten in? How had he gotten out, was the question now.

Magic of this forest was strongest, the Spring ensured that, and what she saw needed was used. While it would bide her time to gather herself properly to venture to that vile human village, she knew it's ability.

It could keep out all...no one exits and no one enters. So where had this Satyr come from...where had that human gone?

"It so seems, Satyr, that these times are slowly turning against me. So, before I speak any of my intentions toward how to deal with the humans, I must be sure...sure that you are no spy...or no assassin here to diminish my forest."

The wind turned, the leaves of that massive willow, with the rocks that held this Satyr there below. And she reappeared, as if she had been there all along, gently perched with crossed legs upon one of the low branches of the willow. That golden glowing form seemed to echo it's purity, it's untouched grace which had rarely been viewed my human eyes. That sheet of red, golden lined curls was draped over one shoulder as the powerful nymph looked down at this Satyr.

He played the pipes...yes, as only Satyrs could. Humans would never be able to master it...demons had tried, and failed all the same. Only one with the forest seemed able to do that..but still.

What if this was that demon in disguise? No human could have killed a satyr...leave it to them, however, to hire a demon to do it.

Her suspicions were not lost so easily as she studied the Satyr. Throughout the forest silence seemed to seize. The Satyrs halted their playing, the voices of her sisters fell to silent. No bird sung, time in this pure palace of greenery halted for a moment.

And there, among the trees she could hear them, her sisters, watching, listening...the silly little things loved to play and joke...and gossip. They would not be there for long, she was sure.

She waited for this Satyr to play once more, to allow her ears to listen. She could tell, she would be able to. If he played these pipes as only Satyrs could, then perhaps she may lose that suspicion...if not. Then it may seem that they had a problem, and he would be facing the power of the Earth itself. She gazed upon him, the wind curling it's long fingers gently around her form.

There in the trees she could hear giggles, though her attention was centered for now. This new satyr.

 

[chris2c4u]

Now he had to take care. With demonic magic his playing was as good as it could be. With being in the forest he had also picked up the instinctive feel for the music the satyrs had.

She was strong though. She would listen would be ready for any hint of deception so as well as playing the pipes he had to distract her, to get close, as close as she had been to her other satyr. Taking on the shape of the vain, proud creature also gave him an idea of the feelings they had and he could sense desire in them for the nymphs. This he could use.

He approached the lesser nymphs with gifts from the forest before he approached Eris. They giggled and the colour of their bodies rippled with pleasure, like chameleons against the background of the leaves. They smiled and with a touch like the soft fur of a woodland deer they grazed his satyr's skin with their own in reward.

Each day he would play in the clearing, each day he played better and she did not seem to suspect. He asked few questions until he felt that he had been accepted. Slowly life in the forest was becoming pleasant again; no men had been seen within, no demon. The townsfolk could not harm them and for now could be ignored. The nymphs got on with their business.

From the calm came a relaxing of Eris to him; she had seen no fault and his playing was beautiful, helping to erase the memory of violent death to one of his own kind. One morning after light rain she came to him and as he played she let her half corporeal half magical fingers fingers trail through the hairs on his chest. Still he played as her body shimmered as her hair moved back and forth in the light breeze, affording him views of her naked form. He tried to keep his eyes away from the vial around her neck and was rewarded as his false body became aroused.

She smiled and her lips grazed his as only birdsong filled the clearing for a moment. His strong fingers reached for her but in a cloud of green and red and gold her body seemed to flow from him with a kindly laugh. It was enough.

Trust was building between them and he commented on how well the forest was. Her body had flowed to a rock where she sat, legs drawn up, hair demurely covering herself and nodded.

"What of the humans?" he asked, "will they try again to take our forest?"

Soon, he was ready again to disrupt this idyillic life. He had to make them fearful, perhaps so they would reach out beyond the forest for help, lower their defences.

Another morning dawned as he stalked Caylis on her rounds, ensuring the forest was well. Taking on the form of a centaur he knocked her to the ground. Before she could respond magically or shift away she felt him in her core, inside her, draining her strength as she was violated. He watched as the healthy colours drained from her; grey like the stones she became as if going back to the earth as his falseness filled her, assaulted her. The sound of approaching sisters, no longer giggling but preparing deep magic made him make his body disappear into smoke and soon all were around her and she was being restored.

Another warning, another danger. He ran up in satyr form and played his pipes
to help restore her. It was the most beautiful music he had ever played, as his lips curled in a smile behind the pipes.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Weeping, grasping her sisters, the sickened frightened nymph could not flee to the forest trees as she normally would. Eris made her way upon instinct to that places, once more removing the necklace, the playing of the satyrs around them aiding her magic as the drop from the Eternal brought back that emerald glow to Caylis. How close had she come to losing this time not a satyr but a sister? Anger burned like smouldering coals as the light honey hued eyes of Eris looked around. And the instant Arthinia and Illisian ensured themselves that their revived sister was fine, weeping and crying in the presense of another cluster of nymphs, the satyrs comming to this place as well Eris scowled.

"It was those humans!"

"It had to be! They're vile, and greedy! We should overgrow their town with forest, and see how they respond to that!" The angered pair caused the wind to whip, the forest in deadly silence as the satyrs around tried to calm the nymphs.

"We cannot be sure..Caylis, what did you see?" With ever tear that hit the ground it blossomed into some form of plant or leaf of sorts. Caylis sniffled, clearing her face as Arthinia and Illisian sat aside her, realizing how close they may have come to losing a nymph.

"I didn't see anything..it came up behind me and..." Again a flood of tears. Eris fumed angerily, her gaze raising to her sisters.

"We are no longer safe alone. I want no nymph to travel near the borders of our forest, nor be alone inside at any times. I will see that this matter is resolved.

As the satyrs departed, the nymphs taking to the trees, the forest still holding an echoing silence as Eris observed a ground. A centaur? Inside of her forest? And how might that have come around? Long had it been that they inhabited the west, why would they trouble with comming to her forest? She sighed, left alone with her satyr and perched her bare form upon a rock, looking to her satyr.

"This situation is getting no better. But I will not fall to those..things. This forest has been sacred to us for centuries...and they wish to destroy it for what? Wood? Coal? Material things that they have all around, it disgusts me...Do they think we will forever be here, that we may just grow more trees and waste away the precious magic of the earth for their greed?" Her voice was quiet, still angered, very, but quiet, addressing herself and her satyr at the same time.

"It may very well be that they will send something in here...it may very well be that they sent that satyr, as I am sure they sent a demon...but I will go to them tonight. The leaves upon that tree have greened now, and it is an easy portal between myself and their village. And if it comes to it, I may very well need to open the Springs, take their magic and leave this forest for another. And we may need aid in this...But we shall see...what do you think satyr?"

Her trust had been given to him over that short time, he'd given her no further reasons to suspect anything. Resting upon the rock as ivy curled from the earth around the rock. Her head turned to him as the music of the forest sprang up once more.

 

[chris2c4u]

Umiel contemplated the nymph's words. He had to take care; now her trust was growing but he must not overstep his influence.

"There is great beauty here, the humans do not see it's harmony and baalnce and what you do to give them this serenity. They simple wish to take, hungrily and reduce our forest to a workshop for their needs. While we might triumph by turning their town here back to the primeval forest, they would return. They would bring strong magic of their evil grasping sort and, though it might take time, they could breech our defences. Indeed - maybe they have done so already?"

The nymph nodded and a ripple of colour ran through her body at the memories of the wounds they had recently received.

Grown bolder he stepped forward near where she sat and reached out to take her hand, his gaze upon her eyes, their green glittering the hue changing as he touched her, as she thought.

"Our strength comes through a love of working with nature, not in taking what she gives with no thought. We celebrate the senses," he smiled and kissed her hand. His eyes lit as if he had just hit upon the idea.

"Why can we not give them a feast? Show them what working with nature can do? We can bring on the fruits, the grain, we can provide them with meats from lands far off...we can give them wine and music!" He played his pipes merrily and she smiled.

"Bring our two worlds together for a day, upon the common land. Entertain, offer them peace to get them to see the great things we can offer in exchange for our forest. We would have to take care but I think we should be safe if we stay close to one another; we can show them our great magic can also be pleasant."

His eyes were bright in the hope that she would accept, that in her negotiations with the humans she would make this offer.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Always, always would they make their way back, Eris had noticed. Yes, they could take the forest and spread it into their town, destroy their houses and overgrow it with massive trees, tall fern plants flowers and such beauty of nature...but that would be twisting the thought of natureto make it into something horrifying. It would make it seem evil, dangerous. And they would come back, and with but one spring of Eternal, and at least thirty of her sisters, they could not watch all of the forest.

"You are right, yes...and the last thing I would want is for them to seek out higher powers than what they've already mustered. Knowing them if they cannot have the forest, then they will want no one to have it. Only once have they ever tried something so farfetched though...and that was nearly their destruction as well..."

Yes, she recalled a time when the idiots of the village drew in a dragon. The creature burned anything he had in his sight, starting with a majority of the village, and only part of the forest. He'd flown too close, landed in a glade, and was constricted by vines, only until the earth swallowed him up. The dragon stones remained there, a seperation between the far north forest and the ocean, before leading on to the massive sea and it's villages there.

But she no longer wanted any sorrow. She did not want to worry if she or her sisters would be assalted, or their satyrs killed at due of these humans so called 'property'. It was frustrating.

As he kissed her hand she smiled for a moment. The earth was not a tool of war, the time of the dragon had been mere self defense, defense for the Eternal. But carelessly destroying a village...well, that most certainly may throw off the magic the earth gave.

She listened as he spoke. Perhaps the more peaceful approach would work. And if not, they could call upon the gryphons, fairies, earth gollums and even the protective magic of purity itself, the unicorn. It seemed their closest neighbors, the centaur, were against them now.

The forest dimmed softly as the golden light disappeared, the blue luminous mushrooms scattered about lighting it with an eerie moon glow. Glitters of fire flies and even small fairies here and there seemed to call to night as it neared. Perhaps, yes, it was best to try a peaceful approach first. She nodded lightly, that red-gold hair turning as she smiled.

"It is a good plan. The night dawns now, I should make my way there and seek out those in charge of this town...we shall see if they wish for such an approach. If not, then we may be very near trouble...thank you for your advice satyr."

Before the forest canopy, with the breaks spredding a glowing silver light down into the dark forest, she stood, the luring music of the forest night reaching her ears.

 

[chris2c4u]

"Baron?" The knocking at his door in the manor house was greeted by a strangled cry.

Richard hesitated to knock again and put his ear to the door to hear a woman crying out. After a few moments the Baron's voice said, "yes, come in."

The servant girl, still naked stood holding on to the post at the foot of the bed, her legs still parted, the Baron's cum on her leaking pussy. Hardwick pulled up his underwear and breathing hard said, "what news?"

Richard managed to tear his eyes from the young woman. "News? Oh, news. Yes, word has come from the forest - Eris herself wishes to address you. She says she has an offer for you."

"Excellent! We make progress!" He slapped the girl's rear and she yelped as she picked up her clothes.

****

Uriel was pleased she had accepted and made sure he would be in her retinue, along with one of her sisters while the rest guarded the forest. It was decided they would meet at the tree she had caused to sprout in the town; there they would be strong, their magic more than enough to defend themselves.

There, too, he would be able to slip away, meet with others, make plans to break in to the forest and take the Eternal for his own. And at the feast itself, he would try to get still closer to this nymph, this fascinating hint of goodness on a world sliding more and more away from the good. He enjoyed his deception, enjoyed hiding beind a good heart. Enjoyed deceiving one - perhaps seducing one. Such fun. Such evil.

They set out and Eris smiled at her satyr, smiled at his advice of peace, of the feast. Perhaps there could be some compromise.

 

[TaintedHeart]

What preparation did Eris need? None what so ever. She so carefully moved, taking the hand of her satyr as she walked. He could accompany her there, she did not favor leaving him in the forest, even if it's enchantment and heavy riddle of traps that would keep any intruder from entering or her nymphs from leaving she strolled, that bare, pure gold glowing form shifting between the earthen magic hues it constantly held. Her hair swirled across both shoulders as she approached and halted at a tree.

Placing a slender fingered hand upon it, the wind swirled as they faded into the earth, and she knew her destination through this magic. Already as the world around them faded into a water color of green, silver and brown, the call of the arriving gryphons greeting her. Yes, if need be, their allies could aid them. The forest was too delicate to be left alone.

----------
The world of man materialized around Eris and Umiel, the trustful nymph leadess not suspecting any sense of foul play here. There near that auburn barked tree, smelling of sweet sugar with it's silver emerald leaves the pair appeared, her hand placed upon the strong creature of nature which seemed to rejoyce at her arrival. With her hand upon it, the sparkling golden glow of earth magic wrafting around the tree, she noticed the silence spring up within the market square. Many a person halted, the citizens of the town halting and staring aimlessly, never having seem a creature as such before. The majority of them, for their own safety, had no idea they even existed.

She stepped away from the tree, feeling the manipulated stones crafted into their roads below her delicate, bare feet, small blossoms sprouting up between them as she stepped, releasing the hand of her satyr. For the most part, in a half conscious, she noticed that her hair had shifted to conceal most of a glowing body, her eyes turning then to the nearest human man.

"Tell me, human. Where may I find the powers of this village?"
----------
In a short distance, motioning her satyr to stay close, she stepped into that tavern, the Boar's Head it had been titled. A filthy name for the grimy place, Eris had muttered to herself. Why curse the nature of the boar, gentle and strong for the simple title of a place not even fungi could habitat? She did not touch the lifeless wood of the door, made sure to keep her delicate arms to herself. Here, she heard the forest call to her. It was natural of a nymph, she was born to be outdoors. Born to flourish the world with her gifts and protect nature as those before her had. Being stuffed into such a restricted area did not please her much at all.

Her mind was not wandering. She did not have to worry about the Eternal being broken into, it's location could only be opened by her magic, and it's place of summoning was just as secret. She did not have to worry about the death of her sisters, or their satyrs...the gyphons were there now to insure that. Now, her mind was strictly set on the happenings in recent time.

She was lead on still, halting the music of the tavern and drawing all eyes as she and her satyr dissappeared behind doors to near this place of meeting. Entering the room at last, waiting until the door was closed, she gazed around at them all.

"I am Eris, Lead Nymph of the forest...I am here to discuss the current clash between your world and mine..."

 

[chris2c4u]

The Baron had taken advice from Richard concerning her powers and steeled himself for the meeting with Eris. Despite this, when he saw her he felt an immediate impulse to kneel before her, to admire her. He, like the others felt they were wading through quicksand; their legs grew heavy in the face of her power.

He dragged his mind back with lewd thoughts about this shimmering creature; her hair was all that covered her and it enticingly revealed curves like he had not seen even on the most beautiful human woman. He was drawn to her, desired her, in lust.

The Baron stopped before her, watching as she waited. "My lady Eris," he addressed her, "Welcome to our town."

She smiled in reply again disarming him so he had to avert his eyes as all thoughts of using the forest were suddenly becoming misty in his memory. He was determined she would not cloud his judgement.

"Shall we begin?"

He put his case about the forest, what people wanted from the nymphs; she listened and made her counter offer of the feast. This seemed to take them unawares but she elaborated, her description almost Bachanalian, it tempted the men, she could see it.

"Let us see if we cannot come together in friendship before we decide on anything more?"

Her voice, like a siren, called out to their desires and soon they capitulated. What harm could it do to feast with these creatures of the forest?

The meeting concluded, Uriel still accompanying his nymph suggested that he should stay a little and see to practical arrangements with the town elders. To this, she consented and cast magic that would allow him and him alone to re-enter the forest without her.

They all watched her go, followed her into the street and to the tree where she slowly dissolved into a mass of tiny white stars and seemed to sink into the earth, leaving only a few tendrils burting up between the cobblestones.

Uriel turned to the humans and without changing his form he let them know who he was.

"We have our chance," his voice came into their heads and they grimmaced; the beauty of the nymph replaced by this evil. "We must prepare. I need to send word to Baalor. Have him come. We need him."

Richard whimpered at the name. The Baron asked who this Baalor was.

"A human - a conjouror of the dark side. He can liberate many demons to do his wishes. Send word to him; he studies at the library in Solor on the eastern sea. Do this by magic, there is no time to send a rider no matter how swift. Welmaine, are you capable?" The demon looked at the scholar who, ashen faced managed a nod.

"Prepare for the feast in the common field to the east. Eris will supply all but have the people ready to carry it and prepare it tomorrow. We will ensure great debauchery at this event; bastards will be sired, the nymphs will be put of their guard. We may well be able to strike, to enslave - or destroy them. Get word to Baalor - do not fail."

With that Uriel turned and returned to the forest, musing on Eris. He desired her, wanted her for his own. It would be amusing to have her captured, as his consort. He smiled at the thought of impaling another nymth, feeling her power rather than as before attempting to destroy the life force. This may yet come to pass. He considered, as the forest opened to him and he disappeared inside, what it would be like to corrupt her, to turn her to the powers of darkness. Such a two it would be difficult to stop. He would do anything for the power of the Eternal.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Eris went politely, though she knew she was staring into the face of murders. Not only that of her satyr, he was a past creature now, something to not have thoughts dwell on for too long. But the trees as well. They needed them, yes...but they also butchered them for meaningless reasons. Some of the elder trees they never used, simply tossed into the river to be lost or remain dead as they were given. It bothered her.

This man seemed like all of the other humans...if anything, even more degradable to his race. Eris tried to look upon the humans with at least the lightest bit of respect...but they had earned none. She heard of very few good deeds ment by humans in this age. His eyes also told their own story, she so noticed.

His welcome was curt, not nearly as drawn out as she had recieved from many, but this was after all, bussiness affairs.

It seemed that she may just be able to use her appearance as something of a bargaining tool, or a little convincer, so she noticed. His attention seemed to be based on her movements. Why mortal men desired such trivial things she never would have guessed. Her people were not created in such a way that humans reproduced, it simply took the kiss of a nymph upon the cheek of a pure one to draw forth the call of the wild to them. Simple, easy...there was so much she never would understand about humans.

He brought up his issues of the forest, and though she felt a growing annoyance from it, she refrained from throwing back her words. Why hadn't they simply come to them instead of doing such..well, it may have not made another other reason, but they may have been abled to offer other resolutions.

None the less, she set to him the offer that had been suggested by her satyr, a reasonable interest with little doubt, and she seemed to give the idea to him, watch as he pondered it.

His words brought a true smile to her lips that brought a ripple of earthen colors through that delicate, fragile form. She nodded lightly to him in thanks.

Standing from that seat, motioning Uriel to follow she started out of the tavern, undoubtfully drawing a crowd of followers. But first, further business. As she halted outside of the tavern, listening as he requested the magic be made to allow him into the forest, she nodded softly. It would be done, quite easily at that.

On down the road she noticed more and more followers. She knew no fear to humans, let them marvel at a beauty they had never seen, and should have never known, while she tend to what she was born to. Her hand was placed upon the tree gently, the massive emerald leafed structure standing proud in the square, before her body became that of the wind and earth, disappearing like nothing.

Eris was sure that had gone much more smoothly than she may have pictured it to go.

None the less her return to the forest was much awaited. Here she found the tall gryphon figures there, bowing in response to their guardian of the forest. The fairies had gathered, all human size to aid in the preparation of this great banquet, and she was greatful of their support. The nymphs, at the company of equally enetergetic fairies were happy and playful, the satyrs exchanging words and song with the gyrphon.

And there, Eris slipped off into the night, on to the place of the summoning of the springs. She may need another droplet, and insure that the springs were safe.

Placing her hands over the rocks, the world swirled and disolved before returning to her in that Eternal beauty, with the rushing water of the Eternal Springs drawing her hastily to it's magic. None should ever touch it. None ever would while her heart was pure. She dipped the necklace into it, taking the droplet and hurring off to seal the springs with magic only she posessed. Try as they might, creatures would waste away trying to discover how to enter the Eternal.

Preparation began in a hurry, with Satyr and Fairie working side by side to prepare said meals between the two different nations seeming to be but a few steps away, yet miles and miles apart. And Eris sat, there against the willow tree, her hands resting on the gnarled, uprooted structures of the roots as she lay there nessled.

Was she doing right? Something was touching her in her mind...something odd. She only wished for the best of her forest, the best of her sisters. Should danger come, she could not bare their blood on her hands. Perhaps she may flee, far from these humans. Close the eternal, and start anew to maintain the balance of the earth. Perhaps...

Perhaps it was not ment for the spring to remain protected forever. Non sense. She shook the thought. Never had she thought so bizarrely...the influence of those humans, she finalized. Her mind lingered on possibilities. Should the time strike, she would gift Arthinia with lead of the nymphs, and send them away...far away from danger, should she fall to whatever it may be, or conqure it. No sister was to be lost, nymphs were too precious to the world to fall.

The presense of her satyr shook her thoughts now. He had returned to the forest. There she drew her hands up, making a closing motion as a spread of gold seemed to invisibly fan out to every border of the forest. There, no more exits. Not until this feast. Her face lit in a beautiful array of summer time beauty, said flowers springing up anywhere the earth was soft, everywhere nearly in their golden autumn colored beauty.She stood. Now she should talk to him, and warn him of what may come to pass. How would she do without him?

 

[chris2c4u]

Uriel played the pipes well and followed Eris around the forest as she maintained its beauty. The other creatures were helping the humans in the preparations for the feast and soon the day arrived. The nymphs had asked for fine weather and the day dawned bright and warmth grew with the climbing sun.

Hastily a fair had been set up and people from the surrounding villages had made there way to this unusual event, the chance to meet with magical creatures. The humans gawped at the satyrs and fell into spontaneous dancing at their music. A crowd gathered whenever the nymphs appeared; some to gawp at their nakedness, their beauty, others to watch as with a crowd of children, they made flowers bloom in the meadow.

he day passed in feasting and drinking. Men and women disappeared together into barns or between buildings and some of these rapid liasons would bear fruit in the months to come.

Through all of this the Baron passed and his henchmen. They passed time with the nymphs as they waited for news. The necromancer had been summoned and he had arrived but kept his distance from the feast so he might not be detected by the nymphs.

Now, at the height of the feast, Uriel decided he no longer needed the subterfuge of the satyr and more. He reverted to the human form he had taken and, black cloaked and hooded, walked through the streets of the town to the Inn where the Necromancer waited.

He was smal and pale and wore openly the robes of a servant of the dark side. He smiled at Uriel.

"A pleasure to meet you," he said. "You have need of my?"

Uriel nodded. "I need an army. Of demons."

The necromancer's smile broadened and he drew from his robes a small book which he opened on the counter of the inn. With a few words the room filled with a darness that pulsated, that soaked up the light from the lamps and candles.

"You have done well," said Uriel. "You will be rewarded."

"I sense that near here there is something of great power," the necromancer said. "I wish to understand that power."

Uriel nodded and turned to leave his dark followers slipping into the twilight streets. They were not the strongest demons; the nymphs might defeat many of them but if he could capture Eris - that was what he had to do. He instructed them to head for her, to take her but not to try and empty her of life force.

"She must be captured and given to me."

Many of the others might escape, the forest might be held against the demons and humans for a little while - but if he had Eris he could make them give up the forest - the home of the Eternal.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Eris was confident that it would be a marvelous day, indeed it would, as she took her time around the forest, her nymphs aiding in the preparing of this feast. She'd saw it no need to neglect her duties as a nymph...and saw it as a perfect time to think, with just the pipes of her satyr and the silence of a near empty forest in her ears. And think she did.

The gryphons were here, at least a score of them. Fairies were here as well, and invited their more fiendish cousins, who were always small, yet polite, Pixies. She was sure she'd seen a structure or two, that of gollums, occasionally moving with a rumble of stone to reposition themselves cleverly. And the unicorns? She had support of three of them, all in which stayed carefully hidden in the forest. They were strongest of magic creatures, weren't they? They could sense if anything was amidst...Undoubtfully, it was a peaceful, happy celebration, and Eris took amusement to watch her sisters play about with their magic.

Eris' mind came to ease as the feast day passed without trouble. She allowed these two gollums, the score of gryphons, and the unicorns clear refudge inside of the forest until this high alert time was over. The fairies and pixies had always lived there, so she saw little need to worry.

Eris had seen little to no oddities as her nymphs flickered in and out of the forest on occasions, the unicorns doing unusual favors by letting them ride about upon their backs, and Eris found a place to sit quietly. Now, just where had her satyr gone? Her mind brought these thoughts as she glanced around. In such a time, she would not expect him to be off so easily...but no matter. Everything was safe.

Undoubtfully she sat herself upon a rock gently, letting her hair shift over such form as she turned her head and watched her sisters and their guests. Perhaps...it may be in order, none the less.

"Sisters, listen to me? We may have solved our issues here...and we may very well leave or stay, it all depends. But should the slightest thing of trouble asrise, I wish you to move as fast to the forest of the west...do not worry about me, or the Spring of the Eternal. Nothing but my magic can open it..."

Her words brought nods through the small meeting she'd started with her sisters then, the gryphons raising to tell that they had seen a few humans while over head leaving...but nothing too horribly suspicious.

Eris' minor preparation had been set, and she issued them all to return to the forest then, deep within the hidden maze of it's trees as she stayed at the border speaking with great powers, the capitan of the gryphons...and the queen of the fairies.

"I do think there is something amidst...it's much too quiet for there not to be. My gryphons will stay here for the night, and the next few days if it is fine with you, Eris."

She nodded.

"If such trouble arises, and you know they will be likely after the strongest, myself, the gryphon leader and you of them all, why not pass the gift to open the springs to someone else. One of your nymphs, or even so, one of my fairies. I am sure you can trust them to hold it carefully and guard it like wise." Eris smiled and shook her head.

"I thank you for that offer, and not that I trust your fairies any less than my sisters...but the thought of having someone after another for simply the ability to open the Eternal is not what I wish...this is a burden I must carry myself...I cannot abandon the forest so early as everyone else, should it be over run, but I must take careful to close the eternal and start a new, should we be unable to defend it"

"Then let us defend it to the fullest!" The capitan said with a click of his massive beak and a smile to Eris. And she smiled back. Let them defend it...they would if nessecary.

 

[chris2c4u]

Past the torpid humans, still feasting and playing, the dark cloud moved, chilling the air as it did so. Uriel was at its head and at his gestures of command the cloud broke and resolved itself into black figures approaching the firest's magical ones.

With a quick strike a centaur fell dead before magic could be used. The nymphs soon saw the danger and the faries and satyrs were told to run to the safety of the forest. Spells were cast, some demons fell, unable to escape the magical tendrils but many others pushed on their aim to capture Eris.

She stood with her sisters, weaving magic in the air; around her the screams of humans fleeing the scene. Uriel stepped forward, eager to close in on his prey but even he began to feel the strength of the earth coming to the assistance of its nurturers. He drew on dark forces, snapped the bonds that, like vine tendrils wrapped around him and strode on.

Pockets of resistance formed, holding back the demons; magic filled the sky like electricity. Gread winds blew as the very air itself was torn apart by the clash. Slowly, the nyphs and their allies fell back towards the forest, a place where the demons would not yet be able to penetrate.

Stride after stride Uriel took, approaching Eris as she commanded the forces and a plan struck him. With a spell of movement, while she was intent upon the fight, his dark force clutched the phial around her neck, tearing it from her and bringing it to her hand.

With a laugh he saw her strtled hand go to her neck and then felt the phial tugging in his hand trying to find its way back to Eris. She stepped forward, away from the others, intent on recovering the drop from the waters of Eternal. It was enough. He sacrificed demons to attack the sisters, to distract them. Suddenly she was isolated and, as with her sister in the forest he was powerful enough to approach, to begin to drain the goodness from her, seeing the pallor of the grey rocks of the earth replace the vibrant colours of her skin.

Her sisters too noticed and they were turning their force on him when he raised his arm.

"Wait," he said. "Your sister still lives - attach me and she will be gone." In the time this allowed him he swept Eris up into his arms and strode away with her, back towards the town. She would not die. There was too much he wanted from her.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Eris had not noticed, not in the lightest as the light, happy air around them seemed to ease her troubles and worries for the time. Perhaps she worried too much, more than she should, either way it was made to know that, undoubtfully, her worries and troubling would pay off, much to her dispair. The dark cloud began to close in, slowly, the air becomming bitter and wavering as the wind around attempted to warn her of this aproaching danger. But, undoubtfully, Eris came to ignore it. Only when the approaching black figures began an assault upon her allies.

Ah, but a majority of them disappeared into the forest, the satyrs especially, and Eris would have it no other way. It was too dangerous. But this, it seemed, was just what she'd been dreading. An army of demons, small but threatening was here, upon these peaceful grounds. That was enough to raise arms. The gyphon and gollum went to work in haste, Unicorns rearing and charging to stamp the land with their protective magic, creating a barrier as they too disappeared into the safety of the forest. Here, it seemed, was her place. Her sisters would stay with her, no matter what.

Moments passed before the world around errupted into chaos, the magic of the forest making it's greatness known as she used it expertly, trapping, crushing, caging in the demons as they attempted to advance. The humans fled, the gryphons took to the sky, but this would be minor, undoubtfully. And here, it seemed, was a problem. There was a demon, she did not acknowledge, making his way forward, and it went unnoticed among her sisters as well.

With the wind whistling, the sky ever darkning around them the nymphs began to fall back. They may take these lands, but they would not reach the forest before her sisters insured the safety of it all. So Eris fought on with them, insuring that no demon would pass the border of forest and field lands.

Amidst the chaos and destruction, the golden glow around the leader nymph brightening more and more as she worked her magic, commanded her sisters and answered to their allies, she felt a tug around her neck. Those glowing white hands were lowered hastily before she felt the lost item. It was none other than the carrier she kept that drop in, fear seeming to seize the wide eyes of the nymph as she tried to locate it then.

Her hand rose to her neck then, the white glow fading down as she paused, seeking the ground amidst the chaos before she looked around her. Stepping hastily, the pull of the droplets power calling her away, she seemed to seek around blindly for it for a moment. Oh, but that was when true chaos errupted. There was crashing. Massive trees, covered in thick black thorns curled up, the earth gollums crashing down over the demons as the powers of the earth, magnified by her sisters took out demon after demon. But Eris could look but a moment unsure what was happening, or where to go, until she finally realized. She'd isolated herself. The drop could be forgotten, she told herself, as she turned and prepared to flee back into the forest and call retreat. No evil could reach the forest, it was safe there, but, no. Slowly she felt that drain of energy, that drain of hue as that golden glow around her form began to dull, the very essense that drew power to the forest beginning to weaken as the dull hue of gray overcame her. The ground around began to take on the hue, the vines and binds around other demons losing hue and falling as Eris fell.

There within the forest came a sound. Silence, a dreaded, soft silence as felt unable to move from where she was, not daring a step in this weakened state. The swirling of magic came then, and Eris was sure it would be aimed at her attacker.

But words stopped them, words of someone Eris could not see, approaching behind her as she watched her sisters drop arms in nothing they could do. Kill her even, she was insisting, if it would keep the forest safe. But no, a moment later Eris would no longer be among them, losing consciousness to that of a weakened slumber, her hands reaching out behind her to catch her before she felt the arms of another close around her. Unable to fight, lost now to that of her unconscious state, she felt but one thing before the rest of the world tuned out to her. A cold, yes, a deep, darkened cold.

 

[chris2c4u]

He strode back to the town carrying the body of Eris. Frightened humans scattered though some stared at them, watching as magic, like electricity ran in blue flames across his broad back.

He walked to where Baalor waited; the small man looked inquisitively at Eris and reached out to touch her hand hanging limply. Uriel allowed him the touch and then said, "Your magic is needed again, to protect us until we can get further away from here. They will try and take her back."

Baalor nodded. "There are many of them. I will only be able to hold them for a little while."

"It will be enough to begin," said Uriel, entering the deserted Inn and placing the nymph lat on one of the stout tables. He waited until some colour returned to her.

"Eris," he hissed, "Your friends have deserted you."

She shook her head.

"You have begun to give up the Eternal too." Her hand flew to her neck, remembering the loss of the phial. "It is only a matter of time before the forest falls - we are already gathering a mighty army. Why not tell your friends to give it - save themselves - head for the western lands, where the forests still abound. Give the Eternal to me."

A ripple of clour ran through her, signifying her growing strength; already magic filled the air with a crackle.

QUickly he turned his form to the black of the darkest night and she felt him press upon her chest, her body, violating her, weakening her again. There was no stopping him; again she weakened.

Returning to his humanoid form he stood, breathing heavily before her. It was pleasant to have her, to suck the force from her. He wondered idly if one so good could be corrupted; he would like her at his side, when forest after fireast would fall and his demonic powers be increased many fold. Now, though, he had to move, or else face the wrath of her friends.

 

[TaintedHeart]

Eris still heard, she did that above all things. Such panic, such chaos, fright and confusion seeming to blurr everything about the world around them as she had little idea where she was being taken, or what may happen to her allies and sisters.

She was trying, oh so desperately to regain that strength, that will that made her magic so strong. But it never came, it never seemed to dawn to her. She felt a touch upon that slender, dull hued hand as she lay there, words, screams, it all seemed such a confusion to her in the state she'd been rendered into.

They would not give up, no. The forest was too dear to them all, too important. They would defend, as long as they sensed the life of their lead sister. And once she no longer existed, they would flee. In her death she'd use every ounce of her magic to destroy the forest. And in the process, she would take the location and ability to open the Springs of Eternal with her.

"Eris, your friends have deserted you."

Slowly she could feel it, the return of that bright golden hue to her skin, the glow around her body, so very faint it was as she hung on to life by that strand. She shook her head at these words. They would never!

Her hand rose with his words to her neck, feeling for that phial, that in which contained the drop from the Eternal itself. It was not enough to grant imortality, if the phial was full, it may just be enough. Though that drop, she was sure, would not grant him much help. Still, it had the power to heal, and remain healing for hours. Chances were likely that they needed not be in posesion of even a little of those sacred waters.

That flashing of color as the brightening of her form drew her eyes open now as she lay there, beginning to shift as pops and crackles of magic broke the atmosphere.

And then she felt that once more, saw with her eyes as the demon shifted into something unearthly, pressing against her chest, that fragile of power being broken and spread about again as she weakened, knowing it'd be harder to regain this time.

And then she realized. Perhaps, if this demon shifted between shapes, he was pulling these strings. Perhaps he'd been in the forest not once as one creature but numerous times as numerous, that seemed to clear some of this up for her. But not in time. She attempted to move, feeling so vulnerable and weak, fragile almost as she laughed, a faint, soft, weak sound, her eyes falling upon him as the color returned to them, slowly flushing over her form.

"The Eternal is ment for no demon...if my sisters are harmed, I will use the last of my energy to destroy this forest and take my life in the process, drag with me to the grave the location, and the power to open the Springs of Eternal! This land will never see another seed sprout from it's blackened soil.." Perhaps she may be bluffing, perhaps not, but undoubtfully, Eris was not going to give up her forest without a fight.

 

[chris2c4u]

He laughed, "already you are thinking like a demon - destroy the land, leave it blackened." He reached out, his cold hand on her chin. "You would make a fine consort - what do you say we rule together?"

Her look of defiance made him laugh again and he spun from his form webs of darkness to ensnare her body, to hold her in a weakened state so she would not be able to send magic his way.

Striding outside he looked around and saw the Baron and his henchmen standing, uncertainly, awaiting him.

He turned to them. "You have done well," he said, "the forest will soon be yours. I go now, taking their leader from them - they will want her back and soon will give us land for her, I'm sure."

The Baron curled his lips in a smile. "You have done well to," he said to the demon.

"I will have more power," Uriel said. "Then I will help you still more. Baalor will remain here, his powers will protect you." Uriel wasn't sure the necromancer was strong enough on his own but there were others like him who would sense the battle of magic and may come for the sport. It didn't matter now whether the humans lived or died though - he had his prize and sson the Springs of Eternal may fall.

Returning to the Inn he picked up the tied form of Eris, noting the grey where the webs his placed on her suppressed her magic. Once outside he spoke no more to the humans but grew great dark wings and jumped into the blackness of the night, heading east, away from the forest, the nymph in his talons.

"We go for you to have time to consider," he said, his voice inside her head despite the rushing of the wind. "Before the forest is taken from your sisters by force." Would she give in? He wondered what those magical creatures were doing and if they had summoned help.