The Thelanis Anthology Thread

[Music_Man]

The Merry Pranksters, The Saga of Killbot, Chapter 3: Triumph?

Looking out over Gianthold, Killbot caressed the docent in his hands. It had been a gift to him from Jaggie Jukebox, he had received it in the mail only earlier that day with her blessings for him & his companions. Killbot was quite proud of his recent triumph, he had just lead a group of companions through a battle to save Xendrik.

Killbot believed that triumph was aided by the well timed gift form Jaggie. Recently, Axyl decided he had no use for the relics he had been collecting, and gave them all to Killbot. There had been a surplus of dragon relics, which Axyl said was the result of “loot running.” Killbot didn’t understand what Axyl meant, but he assumed it had something to do with his inexplicable compulsion to fight the same battles and repeat the same objectives… Killbot was quite confused on that whole topic of habitual heroism, though Axyl had a very interesting, and radical theory on all of that. The fact, Axyl was widely viewed as psychotic elf with mass delusions and hallucinations (to certain circles of Stormreach, mostly those in the healthcare industry but the rumor had spread) didn’t help Killbot’s situation, however, Axyl seemed to always be right about things – unless, he wanted to be wrong.

Regardless, Killbot jumped on the chance to take the relics & acquired a group of able bodied companions to conquer Gianthold Tor. Afterall, now that he had come of age he needed to do something to be remembered for, or atleast that is what Axyl had relayed to Killbot in regards to Barbarian Tradation (Killbot being alien to Xendrik didn't know too much about tradition, and looked to Axyl for answers to many things). After slaying the gatekeeper and dragons within, he bathed in the dragon’s blood and after finding a few more individuals – who as Axyl was quick to point out, somehow wore the dragons' blood despite being absent when Killbot slew them -- entered the inner-sanctum .

The blood-phenomena perplexed the warforge immensely, but not so much as it would have since Axyl had also provided Killbot with a book to promote clear though, which interestingly enough made the barbarian feel smarter and allowed him to learn more skills.

Killbot was aware of the huge threat Stormreaver posed to Xendrik’s future & wanted so greatly to be among the hero’s immortalized for thwarting the giant’s destructive plans & saving the world. Before he lead the charge to engage the gaint, Killbot made sure to kiss Jaggie’s Good Luck docent and then equip it.

The battle was mostly a blur in Killbot’s mind, quite unusual for the warforge who was known notoriously for his ability to remember every move he made in combat, every attack he made & every attack he dodged and absorbed. He assumed it had something to do with the large amount of electricity being emitted by the Stormreaver and his device.

At one point, Killbot began flying and was instructed to find a lever in the ceiling to the west, which he did with ease – though the spikes around were quite interesting, he knew not to touch them.

Shortly after the lever was pulled, his party disabled the device and Killbot was allowed to rejoin his companions. The announcement was made to all the world, that Killbot and his companions had saved Xendrik.

Killbot was ecstatic about his triumph & couldn’t wait to share the news with Axyl, whom Killbot greatly respected & took orders from (at will).

Much to his disappointment, Axyl was not overly impressed. Axyl was very supportive of his big friend, but he also mentioned it wasn’t the first time Xendrik had been saved & the Stormreaver thwarted, and it certainly wasn’t going to be the last. Though, that was why most folk consider Axyl to have a screw or two loose.

At that moment as Killbot sat overlooking Gianthold, which was interestingly enough unchanged, he had a brief intrusive flash of information – the kind Axyl described schizophrenics to have, or so Killbot assumed. It was announcing someone else had saved Xendrik and thwarted the Stormreaver.

Killbot was dumbfounded.
His triumph reduced to “Sisyphusian Struggle” (as Axyl put it).

And now, all he could do was wonder…
& try to remember his past, before he reached Stormreach.

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn X "Testing the Waters" Chapter 4

------------Transcript----------------
(Contributors:
Merlask: Varro, Uxor, The Avatar
Deriaz: Deriaz and Ragyr
Liyra: Liyra
Clanscorpion: Sorgo, Sho, and Lord of Blades
Jaggie: Jaggie and Saber)

*The forged who had attacked Ragyr lifted his arm to attack again, but it's eyes went black suddenly as Deriaz stabbed through its chest. Ragyr looked confused as Deriaz ran by him, seeming focused on Jaggie*
Ragyr: What, not even a thank you for the whole beacon thing??
*Sorgo turned in Jaggie's direction, noticing her, and noticing that she was charging him, but it was too late, so he tightened to be hit*
*Blades, not caring if it was his own or not, grabbed his two-handed sword again and started twisting. He was doing a whirlwind... everyone was his target.*
Jaggie: Ruuurrtt! *she leaped at the Flame Knight Sorgo, hands outstretched*
*Uxor staggered up only to be met by the whirling weapon of Blades. It gashed her across the midrift, laying open a portion of her plating. She in turn resumed her onslaught with the Sirroco in hand, and again the sand and tremors met Blades to try and cast him to the ground as well.*
*Deriaz raised his shield in time to block the attack, though it knocked him back a few feet towards Ragyr, who was slowly fixing himself.*
*Sorgo took the hit, his breath knocked out, shield bent, but the sword still in his hand. He swung the best he could at Jaggie.*

*Saber shook the mud from his eyes as he regained consciousness. Warforged ran past him.*
*Ragyr sighed, and glared at Saber. He grinned as he felt the axe next to him.*
Ragyr: Hey, you! *he pointed at Saber* You and I still have a score to settle, don't we?

*Uxor tried to keep Blades occupied on her, now that she was fully visible. It was hard not to miss her in her glowing white skin, and bright gleaming armor, even in the mere moonlight. The blood that welled up in her mouth, she spat into Blade's face, and it was as cold as the harbor waters.*

*As Varro moved through the dancing sphere, which he knew was drawing to a close, he focused everything he had on making himself disappear for the time being, still hoping that his charade had frightened enough forged out of setting lose arrow into him. Once out of sight, Varro resumed trying to get his melody out to ensure those round him went to idle standing*

Sorgo: Sorry, only to get you off *he barely breathed out*
*Deriaz moved forward, trying to get a hold of Jaggie, and not caring if he got himself cut on her spikey plating.*
Deriaz: Jaggie, we've gotta get you out of here!
*Liyra threw the shield to the ground, and made her way toward Jaggie and Sorgo, hypnotizing as many warforged as she could on her way.*
Jaggie: Ruuurrrt *her fist smashed at Deriaz's chin*
*Deriaz took a step backward, looking stunned. He shook his head, and looked to Jaggie again* Deriaz: What are you doing? Are you insane? We've got to get out of here!
Jaggie: Ruuut..... Flaaaaaame. *her head tilted at the amulet about Deriaz's neck, and suddenly Sorgo was no longer her target.*
*Sorgo crawled out from Jaggie in pain, dropping his shield.*
*Deriaz looked confused* Deriaz: Flame? What are you talking about. *he glanced down at the necklace* You mean this thing?

*So long as she could, Uxor continued to bring forth the sands via the magic of the sword to daunt Blades vision. Her blows did not cut deeply, but they were an immediate deterant.*
*Blades swung everywhere with great strength, trying to clear his eyes again*
*The benefit of still being upon her feet and having her sight proved helpful to Uxor in avoiding many of his blows, but not all of them.*

*Sorgo had no choice. He said a little prayer and then stabbed his sword through Jaggie's shoulder, then pulled it back out. With the flat side of his blade, he hit her hard in the head, trying to knock Jaggie out*
*Jaggie clamped onto Deriaz's shoulder. Sharp, jagged fingers were digging into the plating there. Then the blade went through her* Jaggie: Gaaah!
Liyra: Sorry Jag... *she waved her hands and let out a volley of sleep spells on Jaggie.*
*Deriaz growled in pain, but his eyes widened at Sorgo's attacks.* What are you doing!? *without thinking, he swung his fist not at Jaggie, but at Sorgo*
Jaggie: Ruuurrr *she let go of Deriaz and slumped from the blow to the head*
*Sorgo fell again, nose and jaw broken from Deriaz's strike.*

*The sound of music started to waft down to them. Blades recognized it. Saber did too. As did Der and Ragyr. And Uxor. All of them felt a sensation of stillness overcoming them. Uxor grimaced as she heard the song... she too felt it overcoming her. Apparently, the song was aimed at friend and foe alike*
Saber: Yes, 'forged we do have- *the song filled his head*
*Sorgo stood up, only to not hear the song...he could NOT hear at all... all was silent to him.*
*Blades slowed and slowed then stopped as music hit his head fully*
*Uxor froze in mid swing on Blades.*
*Deria and Ragyr both stopped, as Spike clattered to the ground. He had been in mid leap of an attack.*
*Blades felt more magic coming upon him, trying to twist round his consciousness. Dance. The urge to dance.*
*Blades danced a little, trying to resist, but still he danced.*
*Another burst of the swirling dancing light errupted around all of them. Blades was the center of it.*
*Sorgo looked around, wondering why everyone had stopped.*
*Varro's voice came to Sorgo, near at hand* Don't move friend, else you'll unravel my work.
*Varro moved for Uxor, slapping her hard across the face to snap her out of the daze of music. Uxor had never been so releaved to be struck before. She assessed what forms were where and who was attacking what. Varro put a hand on her shoulder, and her form wavered in a haze as he cast displacement on her.*
*Sorgo was dazed, confused, and stuff appeared flickering in his vision* What's going on? *Sorgo tried to ask quietly, but ended up yelling.*
*Uxor wasn't entirely certain of what was taking place among Jaggie, Der, Liyra, and Sorgo, so she pulled out a great sword from her belongings, and set to attacking, with great force, the Lord of Blades, who was dancing.*
Varro: *he tried to speak to Sorgo, but he was still not aware that Sorgo couldn't hear*
*Saber was dazed, still partially lying in the dirt*
*Meanwhile, Sorgo saw Varro eyeing the others. He knew nothing else he could do for them, so he looked to the warforged Saber in the dirt. Saber heard a very soothing voice say* Stand up friend. You and I have work to do... *and Saber felt as if he'd known Varro for many years, and they were as close as kin.*

[Merlask]

REVISED (and ignore what Robi quoted me on below this) as of August 1st, all stories in the anthology - even with the most recently updated content - are eligible for nominations in the SIRies

[Robi3.0]

Thank you Merlask I was really going to do that just didn't get to it yesterday.

Also on that note all ineligible stories will not be add to the index until after the contest. I am doing this to keep things simple so not to confusing anything especially myself.

I will be nice for Robi3.0 and state that all posts AFTER this one are not eligible for consideration in the Siries Awards. Deadline was yesterday. Still feel free to continue to post your stories here on the anthology, but in terms of what folks should be using for consideration, it is the posts that occur before this one.

[Deriaz]

*Another reminder, that stories after Merlask's story segment titled Fellowship of the Golden Night, The Ambassadors,Volumn X "Testing the Waters" Chapter 4 are NOT eligible for the Award Show. So, please, these are just for enjoyment. Do not vote for them, please.*


The Brothers Forged
Chapter 5
Jealousy



*The following is another transcript. Thanks to Jaggie, for helping out.*

Ragyr had given a message to Jaggie, telling Deriaz to come to the dock in the Harbor. If it wasn’t suspicious enough, Ragyr told Jaggie to tell Deriaz not to come armed. Feeling uneasy and even though her emotions were on overdrive, Jaggie accompanied Deriaz to the dock, where she spied under the dock by looking through the cracks. . .

- - -

Ragyr stood at the end of the dock, staring out across the water. His thoughts raced through his head. <Make him feel comfortable, chat for a bit. Pin him down, get his head, done. . . Make him feel comfortable, chat for a bit. Pin him down, get. . .> He glanced up, and turned around at the sound of Deriaz’s footsteps approaching. “Deriaz. . .” he grinned, but the grin faded quickly at the sight of the five swords and the tower shield. <Maybe not as easy as I had hoped. . .> “I thought I told my little messenger no weapons?”

Deriaz shrugged. “You’ve got your own, so why can’t I bring mine?” He pointed at the long dagger at Ragyr’s side. Ragyr laughed. <Great, so much for talking. . .> Deriaz thought.

“What, this? Oh, no, this is nothing. . . Nothing. . .” he laughed again. “So. . . What’s this I hear about a wedding, hm?”

Deriaz laughed. “You heard correctly. A wedding. That’s all. Between me and Jaggie.” <Please be getting this, Jaggie,> he thought, remembering Jaggie still beneath the two in the water. “Why? Isss that a problem?”

Ragyr’s eyes narrowed, and he growled. “Cut the hissing,” he snapped. “And yes, it is. How did you pull it off, hm?”

Deriaz tensed very slightly as Jaggie shifted herself below the water to get a better view of Ragyr. <She must not be hearing everything. . .> He shook his head, and shrugged. “What do you care, Ragyr? It’s not like you know anyone you’d want to m—“

Deriaz had struck a cord. Ragyr’s voice suddenly rose. The sword unsheathed, revealing the black metal of Adamantine. Ragyr grinned to himself, knowing that the blade also had a slight enchantment of being a bane to constructs. <You’ll regret saying that, runt!> he thought. “DON’T KNOW ANYONE!? YOU DON’T—“ He stopped himself, and calmed down. He began again after a moment. “You don’t know the HALF of it!”

Deriaz shrugged. <Stay calm. . .> “Explain it to me, then. You’re right here. And I don’t know the half of it. . .”

Ragyr growled again, and the grip on his sword tightened. His free hand rocketed upward, and the runes around his body began to glow. A gust of wind burst forth from his hand, attempting to knock the weapons off of Deriaz, though none did.

<****. . .> “You want the story?” Ragyr growled. “Then fine, you’ve got it. . .” Deriaz glanced down subtly between the cracks, to see Jaggie raising her head out of the water to hear the story.

Ragyr sighed after a moment. “It was ten months ago, almost to the day. Yesterday, on the eleventh. . . Everything changed, then. . . You’re lucky you’ve got the ru—That girl. I wasn’t as lucky. . .” Deriaz crossed his arms, but Ragyr continued. “She was perfect. Everything I could have asked for. She loved money, and I could get it for her. I loved music, and she would play it for me. I don’t know of a better match made anywhere in Eberron. We lived like that for a few weeks. . . I can still remember the nights we would spend in random towns. Her lying next to me. . .” He shook his head.

“Anyways. . . She was all I could ever ask for. But one morning, things changed. It was shortly after midnight. . . There was a group of bounty hunters, two of them, that had heard Serpent and I were in town. Her and I. . . We were spending the night in a nearby warehouse. . .

It all happened so fast. One moment, we were lying happily together, and the next, smoke was filling the warehouse. We heard banging on the front door. We went to the back, but that’s where the fire was. So, we went back to the front door. . . She played a song of fascination, and I opened the door so the two bounty hunters could hear it. . .

She told me to run. I told her I wouldn’t leave without her, but she told me to leave. By then, the fire was burning the supports. I left, and turned to beckon her out. . .

When the roof gave way.” <She never stood a chance.>

Deriaz opened his mouth to talk, but Ragyr just kept going. “The roof gave way. I stared in horror as the roof collapsed on top of her. The song, unfinished, released its grip on the bounty hunters, and they came at me. I ran. . . I just. . .

. . . Ran.” His voice was low, and filled with sorrow. “I ran, looking back, and just praying she was alright. But it was hopeless. . . She was gone. . .” He glanced up at Deriaz, and stared at him for a few moments. Out of the corner of his eye, Ragyr could have sworn he saw something sink back under the water below the dock, but he shrugged it off. “But you. . . You’re lucky. . . You’ve got her. . .”

He continued to stare, before the rage swelled up and him and he was back to yelling. “YOU’VE GOT HER, AND I’VE GOT NOTHING!” The runes on his body flashed, and Deriaz was pushed to the wood on the dock by an invisible force. “YOU’VE GOT HER, AND MY WHOLE LIFE WAS TAKEN FROM ME!” He laughed psychotically. “Well, FINE! You want to know the WHOLE STORY!?” He pointed the blade at Deriaz.

“Then you don’t know ANYTHING until you know how I FEEL!” Another flash of runes, and the invisible force slammed into Deriaz, pinning him to the dock. “My whole LIFE was taken from me in those few moments. . . I HAVE NOTHING! You’ve got it MADE! But no, no, I’ve still got one chance to reclaim my life. All I need is a little money. And YOU’VE got just the right face to fill the bounties!” <She’d be so pleased, if she only knew how much this. . . This. . . Fool is worth!>

[Deriaz]

The Brothers Forged
Chapter 5, Part II
Jealousy


Jaggie rushed up to the dock, trying to get to Ragyr before anything happened. But Ragyr was already in a frenzy. He slammed his foot into Deriaz’s stomach, and laughed. “Where should I begin, hm? How about the eyes? The horrid sight of watching everything vanish, hm?” He spun the blade in his hand, and crouched down on top of Deriaz. He lowered the blade inches from Deriaz’s left eye.

Jaggie let out a sharp vibrating sound, which was her version of Otto’s Resistable Dance. In her hurry, though, the spell fluttered and failed entirely. Ragyr didn’t notice the sound, though. He brought the blade down, easily cutting into Deriaz’s left eye. He kept pushing, until the felt the blade hit wood. . . From behind Deriaz’s head. As Deriaz growled in pain, Ragyr only cackled. “That’s only HALF of how I felt! YOU DON’T KNOW HOW BAD THIS GETS!”

“STOP!” Jaggie yelled. It got Ragyr’s attention easily.

He snarled. “Brilliant! The other half is here. . . What do you want!? I told you to deliver the message, and that was IT!” He stood up, and slammed his foot down onto Deriaz’s neck as Jaggie kept rushing towards the two. “What do you want!? THIS DOESN’T CONCERN YOU!” He dropped the blade to the ground, and snapped his fingers. A lute appeared at his fingers, and the familiar melody of a Fascinate began to play, which Jaggie had taught him the other day.

“Knock—Knock—Knock it off!” Jaggie cried, and chirped her own Fascinate in return.

“Knock it OFF!? KNOCK IT OFF!? DO YOU THINK I HAD THE CHANCE TO SAY THAT!?” He started to crouch down again, but the song stepped him. He growled furiously. “THIS DOESN’T CONCERN YOU!”

Jaggie growled in return. “It. . .” She burped slightly, as more emotions ran through her face. “. . . Does!”

A small puddle of oil was starting to form under Deriaz’s head, and began to drip down into the water through the cracks on the dock. Ragyr continued to scream in his emotional fury. “THIS. DOESN’T. CONCERN. YOU!” He began to struggle violently trying to break out of Jaggie’s Fascinate.

“I would not harm your love. Don’t harm. . .” She hiccupped, “mine. . .”

“Wouldn’t harm!? WOULDN’T HARM!? It’s too LATE for that! She’s DEAD! DEAD! DON’T YOU GET IT!?” He growled again, struggling even more violently.

“But he’s NOT! Don’t take him away!” Jaggie cried again.

Ragyr broke out of the effect suddenly, and the runes on his body began to glow like strobe lights. He jumped back, and both hands went upward. They were angled at both Jaggie and Deriaz, who was still pinned to the dock. “THIS DOESN’T CONCERN YOU!” he screamed, and a massive jet of flames erupted from both hands.

“Geh!” Jaggie dove out to the side, away from the flames. Deriaz, however, groaned as the flames covered him.

Ragyr continued to scream in rage, though it almost sounded like he was sobbing at the same time. “YOU KNOW NOTHING! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!” This time, two beams of ice shot forth from his hands. One was aimed for Jaggie, and the other was destined for Deriaz.

Deriaz’s connected first, and spread over his left arm. He growled loudly in pain as it struck. The one that was aimed at Jaggie was off-center, and scraped across her right shoulder. It was still enough to make her grunt in pain as she fell to her side. Ragyr growled again, and grabbed for the sword he had dropped in the chaos. He hovered over Deriaz again, and planted his foot in his stomach again. “This. Doesn’t. Concern. YOU,” Ragyr growled at Jaggie again.

Ragyr laughed again, and crouched down to Deriaz. “Now, then, where was I? . . . right, the sight. . . You only know the half of it. . . You know the pain. Now, do you know how SLOWLY that roof fell, in my eyes?” The tip of the blade pushed lightly against Deriaz’s eye. “I could demonstrate if you’d like. . .” He grinned, and the blade began to slowly lower through Deriaz’s eye, and deeper still.

“STOP!” Jaggie yelled. The command shook the very dock itself as she released the sound burst. Ragyr growled in surprise and in pain as the spell connected to him. He blinked and swayed slightly, stunned by the sheer power of it. “Please. . .” she hiccupped again. She sat up, and made her way closer to Ragyr. “Don’t do this. If it’s money you wish. . . Take mine. All of it.”

Ragyr shook his head after a moment, and took a firmer hold of the hilt of the blade again. “This. . . Isn’t. . . This isn’t about the money! THIS IS ABOUT REVENGE! THIS IS ABOUT HOW THIS DAMNED FOOL. . . How. . . How. . .” Ragyr stopped, and growled. <This is for her. . .> “THIS IS REVENGE! NOTHING MORE. . . Nothing less. . .”

“Why?” she hiccupped. “Why—Why?” Jaggie began to grow frustrated with herself at her stuttering and hiccupping from the emotion overload in her. “. . . Grow up. You’re a bloody Warforged! Not a **** fleshling child!”

“Because. . . Because. . . He. . . Because he’s never known something like this. . .” he said quietly, “. . . And he never will. . .” In a quick motion, he grabbed the blade again, and pushed down until the hilt was almost touching Deriaz’s face. “NEVER!” He pulled the blade out quickly, and Deriaz hissed in pain. “Where next, now? Hm!?” Jaggie looked at the sight blankly. For the first time, no emotion was playing on her face. “Where next, indeed. . . Hm. . .” Ragyr continued. “Maybe the chest? I could make you feel like I did. . . Dead.” He laughed again.

[Deriaz]

The Brothers Forged
Chapter 5, Part III
Jealousy


“Next. . .” Jaggie reached out for the end of the blade. “I’m next. . .”

Ragyr shook his head. “This doesn’t concern YOU. This is between HIM and ME.” Deriaz was growling constantly now, both from the pain and the fact he was blinded from the loss of both of his eyes. Ragyr pointed the blade dead center in the chest of Deriaz. “I can make it fast, but that’s no fun. It was slow for me. . . It can be slow for YOU!”

“Warforged. . . Rurr. . .” Jaggie growled again, as strange emotions riddled her face. She tackled Ragyr off of Deriaz. Ragyr wasn’t expecting it, and as the two connected, the force of the tackle made the blade drop from his hand. He hit the dock and rolled away from Jaggie with another low, guttural growl. “I SAID THIS DOESN’T CONCERN YOU!” The runes erupted with light again, and a large ball of fire grew in his hands. He hurled it forward, aimed at both Jaggie and Deriaz.

“Rahur!” Jaggie’s words were altered as she charged at Ragyr and the bright bloom of flames. The ball exploded around her as she charged into the ball, though the explosion has occurred too soon to reach Deriaz. As she emerged from the flames, with her plating charred and blackened, her vision was met to the sight of Ragyr summoning a wall of acid arrows. He was grinning maniacally, and thrust the wall of them at her. The runes on his body were slowly beginning to dim.

She didn’t stop her charge. Words that she had spoken hardly a day before played in her head. “. . . I’d give up more!”

“More!? Exactly how much more?” he glared at her as four of the acid arrows connected. “Like I said, this doesn’t concern you! GO HOME!” The arrows dug deep yet still, she came at Ragyr. One word escaped her mouth as she reached out to take Ragyr into a bear hug and over the dock with her.

“All. . .”

“All!? THEN FINE!” Ragyr yelled. The runes flickered again, practically dead, as electricity pulsed around him. “I’LL BRING YOU DOWN WITH ME!” A ball of lightning formed and burst between the two as Jaggie connected into Ragyr. The electricity pulsed over both bodies, yet Jaggie still grabbed hold of him. With Ragyr in tow and her knees giving out in pain, she took both of them over the dock and into the frigid Harbor water.

Ragyr went limp as soon as the water enveloped the two. Jaggie struck wildly in the water at whatever she could, the water hardly slowing down her blows. She didn’t stop for some time, until she noticed Ragyr wasn’t moving.

Up on the dock, the invisible force holding Deriaz down gave way, and he rolled over in pain. “Gah. . . Can’t. . . See a thing. . .” He shook his head, trying to shake the pain away.

Jaggie grabbed hold of Ragyr, and swam with ease to the shore. She dropped Ragyr’s unconscious body on the sands, and ran to help Deriaz. She dumped out her supply of wands, and began to pulse healing magics on Deriaz, amid his groans to heal herself first before worrying about him and his injuries.

* * *

Two white, metallic feet walked slowly onto the sand where Ragyr lie. A Warforged stared down at him, and then up to Jaggie and Deriaz off in the distance on the dock.

“You’ve come a long way since I last saw you. . . And yet you still cling to the thoughts of me, ten months later. . .” The voice was feminine in nature, and had a melody-like quality to it.

“Come on, you. . . Let’s get you fixed up. . .” She grabbed hold of Ragyr’s arm, and lifted him up into her arms. “You need to learn not to give it your all, sometimes. . . Just like I remember you.” She laughed to herself and carried Ragyr off to find help.

She stopped once, and glanced back at Deriaz and Jaggie out on the dock. Her eyes fixated on Deriaz for a moment. “So, he’s worth money, is he. . .?” Her eyes glanced over to Jaggie. “And she’s attached to him. . . Ragyr, hon, you really need to think more. . . Go for the weakness, first. . .” She continued to stare at Jaggie for a moment before moving again.

[Deriaz]

The Brothers Forged
Chapter 5, Part IV
Jealousy


Darkness. . .

Everywhere. . .

Deriaz sighed, and shook his head. His eyes were killing him. He couldn’t see a thing. It was times like those he was thankful he was more a sound-oriented person than anything. . .

A flash of light came to his vision. He jumped slightly, but wasn’t aware of where it came from. A moment later, he heard the sound of water. <Jaggie. . . Ragyr?>

A voice came into his head. <Deriaz!?> It was low. It took Deriaz a second, until it finally registered.

<Ragyr!?> he gasped. <But, I thought. . .>

<Yeah, I know. We’re not connected anymore. Well, guess what? Looks like you got hit with a bit of that lightning spell. . .> Ragyr’s voice was slowly growing quieter.

<You’re telling me that because a spell of lightning zapped you, and a bit of it reached over and hit me. . . We’re connected again?>

<Yeah, that’s about the gist of it. . . . Look, don’t ask me, alright? I don’t know either.> His voice was barely a whisper. <I was enjoying the silence. . .>

<Ragyr, where are you?>

<I honestly couldn’t tell you. I think I blacked out. In the water, some--> Ragyr’s voice disappeared.

<Ragyr? Ragyr! Where. . . Why!?> He yelled out in vain, but there was no answer. . .

. . . The only thing that came to his ears. . .

. . . Was the soft hiss of a serpent.

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn X "Testing the Waters" Chapter 5

------------Transcript----------------
(Contributors:
Merlask: Varro, Uxor, The Avatar
Deriaz: Deriaz and Ragyr
Liyra: Liyra
Clanscorpion: Sorgo, Sho, and Lord of Blades
Jaggie: Jaggie and Saber)

*Saber stood, though his eyes didn't look directly at Varro. He scowled at the fleshie bard, though not in complete disgust* What do you want?
Varro: Well, you and I have a task to do. I was told that you are the most commanding of Blades assistants, no? That you hold great sway over all your numbers, is that not the truth? That you are a great commander of forged?
Saber: I... I only command when Blades allows... *his eyes glanced about, though didn't focus on anyone.*
Varro: Yes, but Blades doesn't have time to speak directly to you at this moment. His time is valuable right? Well what he wants is for you to restrain that there forged *he gestured to Jaggie, who was still attacking friend as well as foe* but leave her in tact. Can't have the prize messed up before it is enjoyed by the master.
Saber: Yes *he looked at Jaggie and stopped* kill it.
Varro: If that forged is spoiled before Blades gets to do it himself, he'll be down right... well you know how he is about failure.
Saber: It is worthless now. Kill it.
Varro: No no, Blades wants that joy himself. Would you dare rob him of that?? *Varro glanced for a moment back towards Sorgo, Blades, and Uxor*

*Sorgo turned, then saw Blades. Anger filled him* Because of people like you, Sho will be sentenced to death!! *Sorgo yelled and charged Blades, blazing sword in his hands. Halfway to Blades, Sorgo stopped and fell, darkness covered his eyes, and he got on his knees and then threw up, over and over a few times*
*Uxor meanwhile was laying into Blades with full force of impact with the greatsword, and all its properties of good and lawful power. She looked between Sorgo and Blades. She tried to assess how badly wounded Blades was, but she had no talent for that.*
*Sorgo got up, vision going on and off, and blindly walked in the water, and fell. He blacked out.*

Saber: It turned like that before. Kill it while it doesn't move. It knows not friend or foe.
Varro: *opting to change tactics* Blades has bigger plans for you my friend. He needs you to gather up all these forged here and get them to the beach. He's got a few turn coat fleshies planted here and there. We'll serve our purpose for now, for his great plan *he worked as hard as he could to try and steer the charmed warforged to doing something useful*
*Saber finally looked at Varro then looked at all the other forged about them* Scarce! *many warforged began to break off, and take rank formation*
Varro: *over his shoulder to Liyra, who he released from her daze with a rough slap to her shoulder* Go and help Sorgo. Quick!
Liyra: *She shook her head briefly, then obyed, and ran to Sorgo*
*Varro casually set to waking up Deriaz and Ragyr in a similar fashion from their fascination song. He glowered and turned his talk to Ragyr mentally*
Varro: <Eh... so... any ideas what I should do with a whole army of forged?>
*Ragyr instantly set off to finish reparing himself. The runes scattered on his body were beginning to look very dim, though.*
*Deriaz knelt down next to Jaggie's unconscious body* Jaggie, you ok?
*Ragyr laughed* <I've got an idea for ya, but I don't think you'd like it. Soooo, I'd say just send 'em back to where they came from.>

*Uxor laid waste onto Blades for as long as she could, but she knew very soon the dance spell would be gone*

Jaggie: *oil had stopped flowing from her shoulder, though still leaked from her brow. A faint glow was in her eye but she did not talk or move*
Varro: *At Ragyr's reply, Varro resumed audible speech with Saber* Now, good good, they weren't pulling my leg when they spoke of the fine ranks of the forged, in all their assembled glory.
Saber: Of course. We forged are the master race *he growled at Varro, then looked back at the ranks*
Deriaz: * glanced up at Ragyr* Ragyr, come here. Help Jaggie out would you?
Ragyr: *he only looked at Deriaz in disbelief* You want me to use what little power I have to... *he sighed* Fine. *he moved over to Jaggie, and began to slowly repair her with his magic.*
Varro: *he turned to Deriaz, Ragyr, and Jaggie* psssst. What should I do with them? *he motioned to the army round them all*

*Liyra waded partially into the water, struggling to pull Sorgo out, but without much progress. She repeatedly punched his arm lightly to try and wake him up.*

Ragyr: *glanced up at Varro's question* I dunno. Kill 'em?
Deriaz: *glanced up as well* I'd say just send them back to where they came from.
Varro: *turning back to Saber's comment* Very very true! Now *he considered Ragyr's and Deriaz's words* I've just received word that the homeland, the great divine land that Blades himself crafted with his own might, is in danger. You must gather the forces together to return to the Mournlands!
Saber: How do you know of the mournlands before I? Blades would give the command to return. Not a bloody fleshling.
Ragyr: *sat back and sighed, the shoulter injury and part of the face healed completely* Exactly how much of the little power that I have left do you want me to waste?
Deriaz: *shook his head* I dunno. Just enough to get her up? *he shook Jaggie, trying to see if he would get a response.*
Jaggie: eyes flickered* Ruuurtt *the tone was low this time, but much the same.*
*Deriaz glanced at Ragyr, who sighed and moved forward to begin slowly reparing her again*
Ragyr: If I would have known it would have been this much trouble, I wouldn't have done any of that, you know.

*Uxor kept her eye on that which happened around her. She could tell that her assaults on Blades were not as effective*

Liyra: *breathing heavy, she stumbled back onto the beach, having finally dragged Sorgo out of the water.*
*Sorgo twitched, and slowly got up. His eyes grew silverish blue*
Liyra: Hey Sorgo...*she saw his eyes glow blue, and backed off*

Varro: *he looked at Saber in apparent 'surprise'* The... what? No, I'm not giving the order! That would be out of place for a turncoat like me... no no, I'm just letting you know *he grimaced, hoping that Saber wouldn't snap out of the charm*
Saber: *looked back at Jaggie* You should kill it now. *he looked for his axe. The axe was lying behind Ragyr, who seemed to have forgotten about it during the course of reparing Jaggie*
Varro: That isn't for us to decide *he slid inbetween Saber and the forged's path to Jaggie* Now Blades says he wants to finish the little pip squeak off himself, and far be it for me to go against his wishes, or you for that matter, don't you think? I mean, did you hear him say kill it?
Saber: *looked at Varro, then back at Jaggie to see her fly at Ragyr's face* You should kill it.
*Ragyr shielded his face, but Deriaz grabbed Jaggie quickly, making her face him*
Deriaz: Snap out of it!
Jaggie: Ruuuurtt! *she clawed at Deriaz's plating, and tried to even bite at him.
Saber: She's just going to keep doing that.
Deriaz: *winced, but kept holding on to Jaggie* Aaaaany second now. You're gonna snap out of this. . . You're gonna snap out of this, and everything will be back to normal.
Varro: *walked towards Saber, putting a hand on his shoulder, and guiding him away from the scene* I told you, Blades forbade me. And you. That's his privilage, it's his prize. Here, take a walk with me. These troops need whipping into shape. Look at them... I bet there's some flesh lovers among them still.
Saber: *eyes glowered red* Yes there are. *he stomped off ahead of Varro*
Varro: *grimaced* wait a moment friend!

*Sorgo walked up to Uxor and Blades, who were still engaged in fighting, and laid a hand on Uxor, calming her* Peace in the soul, my child.
Uxor: *nearly whirled on him, not expecting Sorgo behind her. She relented, but held her blade up defensively still*
*Sorgo covered Blades in blue flames, and Blades stopped dancing, facing Sorgo calmly. After silent looks at each other, the flames died off, and Blades moved... to the water, to his ship.*
*Deriaz looked from Sorgo back to Jaggie* Aaaaany second now. I only know one way to comfort people, and Uxor showed me a few times, but I dunno exactly how you'd take to that.... Sooo... Aaaaany second now...
Jaggie: Ruuurtt, Ruuurrt! *the sound became less like her soft echoing voice, to a deep metalic sound of grinding metal*
*Sorgo faced everyone the best he could, and smiled. He opened his mouth, and silver light came out from it and his eyes, covering the whole area. Healing, calming, and making peace. When the light died out, Sorgo passed out, the light in his eyes gone*
*Uxor approached the passed out Sorgo and looked to Liyra to see if she was ok, then back to the others, who were contending with Jaggie. She watched as forged walked past them, oblivious, and heading for their ships*

*Varro tried to reapply his charm to Saber, feeling the spell's grip slipping, having wasted far too much time talking with him. The charm failed to take hold over Saber again. He tried to reach into his belongings for a wand, not having the time to cast anything, since Saber was at his right hand*
*Free of the spell, Saber shook his head* Where are they going? *he pointed at the warforged army, which was moving off toward the ships with Blades. He turned back at Varro* You... *he growled with awareness*
Varro: Now now, let's not be hast...*he pulled out the wand and cast it. Saber could feel wounds erupt on his body seemingly from nowhere*

Deriaz: *shook Jaggie slightly* Hullooooo. You gonna snap out of it now?
Ragyr: *laughed* maybe that other forged is right? Maybe we do have to kill her.
Jaggie: Ruuurt! Flame! Ruuurt! *she was trying to rip chunks of plating from Deriaz's side*
Deriaz: *frowned* It's just a necklace, remember? You're the one that gave it to me, for crying out loud. *he seemed oblivious to the fact that Jaggie seemed to be trying to kill him*
*Liyra approached them* Did something get cast on her to make her go crazy? *she once more tried a few sleep spells on Jaggie*
Ragyr: *shook his head* One second she was fine and bound on the ground. The next thing I knew, she turned all jagged and pointy, and was coming after me. Now she apparently has an urge to spill Deriaz's insides across the ground.
*Uxor approached the scene after tending to the safety and security of Sorgo on the ground. She kept a watchful eye to Varro and Saber, but the prediciment of Jaggie was near at hand. She wrote in the sand with the tip of her blade* "docent?"

*Saber staggered, pain running up his back. He took several steps away from Varro*
Varro: Good. Now then, how about you tell me what is wrong with the Jukebox over there, Master Forged?
Saber: *his head jerked back and forth* She was like it befor *he winced* never thought I'd have to be the receiving end of it.
Varro: Explain, if you value your time exisiting
Saber: *he rubbed his head* when we first sailed to come here. She turned to that.
Varro: and how did she come OUT of coming to be that?

*Ragyr shook his head to Uxor's written question* From what I can tell, no. She was fine one minute, and bound. I don't know how she could have put one in. She just... turned into this.
*Deriaz continued staring at Jaggie* Any second now. . .
*Jaggie stopped attacking for the most part, but instead she was trying to get out of Deriaz's arms.*
*Deriaz looked Jaggie up and down, and deciding that she was starting to calm down, let go of her* Feeling better yet?
*Jaggie released, and pulled back from the others* Rurrtt
Deriaz: *continued to watch Jaggie* Well, as long as you aren't crazy... now we just need to get you talking...

Saber: She didn't like the idea of Blades taking over the ship and crew. Threw Maul over board and killed some fleshie woman. *he nodded to where Jaggie was* She was out of control. We threw her over board. Lost two other forged thanks to her.
Varro: That is not what I asked. How did she wake from it. I don't care of how you disposed of her.
Saber: She didn't! We thought that was the end of her. Only time she acted like this before was when we first took her from Flamekeep. She wasn't spiked then... just crazy for a few seconds, and shut off again. When she woke up again, she was crying about some **** kid... that's all I know. I don't know how to stop...urr...how to stop her.
Varro: I suggest you figure it out *he put the wand up, and instead reached for his blade* Walk. *and he motioned for Saber to start towards the group again, and walk round Varro*

Deriaz: Well, she doesn't seem that bad now. Maybe it just takes a little time to calm her down. See, she's not attacking anymore...
*Jaggie growled, and looked at the last person she heard speak after Saber* Rurrtt *she charged at the minstrel*
Deriaz: *groaned* I stand corrected *he got up quickly, and ran after Jaggie. Ragyr, meanwhile, was laughing like it was all some sort of joke.*
Liyra: *she glared at Ragyr for a moment before following Deriaz and running after Jaggie*
*Uxor also sprinted after them, but Sorgo's haste had faded off*

Varro: *not anticipating Jaggie, he was struck hard by her charge*
Saber: Looks like I gotta go *he spun round and bolted before Jaggie got too close to him*
Deriaz: *grabbed Jaggie again, trying to pull her off of Varro* He did nothing to you. What is WRONG with you?
Varro: *tried to spin around on his attacker, but Jaggie was on his back, and he couldn't flip round to better leverage*
Jaggie: *arms pinned behind her back, legs kicking at the ground, she just continued to make the same grinding metal sound*
Deriaz: *wrapped his arms around Jaggie, looking more like some sort of a bear hug* Would you stop for a minute and calm down?
*Varro struggled out from beneath Jaggie's assault* I see she hasn't stopped.
Liyra: She probably won't stop for a while... maybe we should just knock her unconscious and take her back to the city.*
Deriaz: *sighed and shut his eyes* Alright then, fine. Sorry... *he sighed again, and hit Jaggie on the back of the head with his elbow, in an attempt to knock her out.*
Jaggie: Rurrtt! Rurtt! Ke ke ke ke...
Deriaz: *sighed* Was hoping it would have been a one hit thing but... sorry again, Jaggie *he elbowed her again in the back of the head, this time slightly harder*
*Varro glanced back to try and see how far away Saber was in terms of a persuit*

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn X "Testing the Waters" Chapter 6

------------Transcript----------------
(Contributors:
Merlask: Varro, Uxor, The Avatar
Deriaz: Deriaz and Ragyr
Liyra: Liyra
Clanscorpion: Sorgo, Sho, and Lord of Blades
Jaggie: Jaggie and Saber
Pempernel: Pempernel and Sornolin)

*Scrambling to his feet, Varro brought forth a haste spell, which caught Deriaz, Jaggie, and Liyra as well. The bard then set to sprinting across the sands after the fleeing warforged*
Jaggie: *haste didn't matter much for her now. Her eye finally dimmed out, and her kicking stopped. She was out*
Ragyr: *continued to laugh* You have... have no idea how funny this whole scene is to watch. *he grinned, and then burst into laughter again*
Liyra: *looking up at Deriaz* should we take her to the boat, before she wakes up?
Deriaz: *he looked down at Liyra* Um... I suppose. *he hoisted Jaggie up, using both arms to hold her. Ragyr steadied his laughter, and grinned*
Ragyr: We should just go with what that one forged said. Kill her. Would make it easier
*Uxor looked among them, then out after Varro*
Deriaz: *sighed* I suppose taking her to the boat and back to Stormreach would be the best option.
Liyra: *nodded to Deriaz's statement* Yeah. And hopefully she won't be crazy when she wakes up.
Deriaz: *frowned* If she's still crazy, I suppose I could just... knock her out again... *Ragyr stood up, and brushed himself off*
Ragyr: You ask me, the other idea is much easier, but... whatever. *he shrugged. At the same time, Spike came limping around the corner*

*Varro came bounding after Saber, and was getting in range of him now. He coulled out after Saber* What's say we come to an understanding...
Saber: An understanding of I run the heck away from that thing! *he kicked up his feet and ran faster toward the boats*
Varro: An understanding that if you stop running now, I might not kill you.
Saber: Yeah, but then that thing kills me! *he had no idea that Jaggie was already out* I've seen what she can do when she's like that!
Varro: And you suppose what I'll do right now is any less? *he was gaining ground on Saber*
Saber: *running in sand was never something a 900 pound warforged was meant to be good at. Saber was being dragged down, staggering in loose footing and sink holes.*
Varro: *the bard was closing fast on him now, soon within striking distance* Last chance, forged.
Saber: *He cursed. Weaponless and with half the plating on his back plied back, one true strike could kill him instantly* I fold *he stopped, dropping to his knees and raising his hands in the air*
*Varro dashed up alongside the forged* Good ma...eh... forged. Now, how about you tell me how you got her to do that. *he held out the blade, which glowed with goodness*

*Deriaz turned, and slowly headed towards the boat, carrying Jaggie with him. Ragyr, without waiting to be asked, put his hands on Spike, repairing the metal dog. As soon as the spell was cast, the runes on his body seemed to flicker and die out*
Ragyr: Hmph. Guess that flare took more out of me than I thought...
Liyra: *started to follow Deriaz, but turned and ran back to where she had thrown down the shield. After picking it up and brushing the sand off of it, she walked back toward the boat*
*Uxor came to help load the body of Sorgo into the boat*
Ragyr: *bent over, picking up Saber's axe* Hmph. He probably won't be needing this *he continued walking casually, not trying to catch up to Deriaz*
*Deriaz slowly made his way back to the boat, setting Jaggie down carefully. Ragyr and Spike followed close behind*
Ragyr: I'm telling you. Kill- *he started, but a look of rage in Deriaz's eyes stopped him* Alright, alright, sheesh. Forget I mentioned it.
*Uxor looked among them all, then back to the direction Varro had run off*

Saber: *arms still in the air, he looked back slightly* Just now? I don't know. Maybe the beating Blades gave her did it. Last time was... heh. Ever give a fleshie a concussion? Smack to the head and some people don't know what's going on any more. heh.
Pempernel: *suddenly appeared out of the shadows, with his trusty rapier in hand* Ummm Varro, I believe you dropped this dagger by mistake. Lucky I popped by.
*Varro turned, startled at the sight of Pempernel appearing abruptly, and his focus was off Saber*
Pempernel: Minstrel, hasn't being around Points warned you about how well I move in shadows?
Varro: *he put his attention back to Saber* Again, that is not what I asked. How did she know to attack me? *he motioned for Saber to start walking again* This time... no interruptions. Pemp, keep your blade handy, should this forge decide he wants to do anything apart from what I ask of him. Let us hope that you won't see master Pempernel's blade when it enters your side, any more than I saw his approach, Saber, should you try anything this time.
Saber: Attack you? What? I don't know. Honest! Look around, she attacked half your bloody crew!
Varro: Ah yes, but at such an opportune moment. *Varro prodded Saber to walk with them back towards the others*
Sornolin: Hail Minstrel
Pempernel: Hail Sornolin
*Varro looked over at the two, and shook his head* Little warning before you just pop in on one trying to escort a prisoner? But hail all the same.
Saber: Maybe you didn't hear me when I told you what happened last time. She killed a bloody fleshie. She thinks your kind, like you flipp'n fleshies are the true masters of the world. Doubt she killed anything before that day.
Sornolin: *blinks* What's this? Jaggie killed a fleshie?
Saber: Long time ago. Doubt she even knows. Look at her. Well...ahh...when she wakes up.
*Varro escorted Saber back to the main group, with Pempernel and Sornolin along side* Look lively Sornolin, this forged has much to answer for.

*The sight of Saber, Varro, Pempernel, and Sornolin cresting the sand dunes is seen after some time*
Varro: Good...they haven't left yet. *he pointed out the cluster of their group near the boat and on the sands*
Deriaz: *saluted the group as they approached the boat, though Ragyr growled at Saber*
Ragyr: What, you didn't kill him?
Varro: Interrogation is done best on the living, Ragyr.
Saber: *growled back at Ragyr, though kept his arms up* I hope when Blades finds you he kills you slow. Some second in command you are...
Sornolin: Interrogation? Tis better done while deactivated and I read memory banks via the nexus lifeweb.
Ragyr: *seemed to ignore Varro's comment* At least I actually got the position, hm? Besides, I wasn't too fond of the position anyway. Can you believe there were actually restrictions on what I could do?
Pempernel: What a neat concept Ragyr... positions that have restrictions.
Ragyr: *he only seemed to laugh* Yeah well, maybe it's just me, but I prefer what I used to do. Was free to do what I wanted. That's not to say I can't just pick up the old trade, right?
Pempernel: As you wish Ragyr.... freedom though does have a cost itself
Ragyr: *grinned* Name the cost. I haven't been billed yet.
*Uxor came dashing over to Varro, throwing an arm round his neck, and pressing her lips to his*
Varro: *he grinned through the kiss* I told you it doesn't work unless I'm the one who contacts you first... just because you can't hear me doesn't mean I'm in trouble.
*Varro and Uxor both stopped abruptly, Uxor turning round slowly to the others. It was apparent she hadn't meant for them to see that. Varro on the other hand smoothed his robe*
Varro: So...this forged... what's to be done with it?
Pempernel: What do you wish done Minstrel?
Varro: Acquire information from it.
Sornolin: Information from a forged?
Saber: ....
*Deriaz shrugged, not seeming to care at what he had seen* Interrogation is probably the best
Ragyr: *sighed* Already gave you my idea. And again, no one ever likes my idea.
Varro: This one has been deep in the planning of Blades. Not to mention, seems to have a working knowledge of Jaggie. Considering her current state, that has to be of use.
Saber: Wish you killed it...
Deriaz: *growled slightly* Why would you kill her? She's perfectly fine. A little...upset I guess, but perfectly normal.
*Varro looked among them* Are any of you hurt?
*Liyra shook her head 'no'*
*Uxor didn't give a reaction one way or another to his question, but she definately looked worse for wear*
*Ragyr shook his head. Deriaz shrugged*
Deriaz: A little from where Jaggie clawed and scratched at me, but it's nothing. Don't worry about it.
Varro: *he channeled some healing energy into Saber* There... the benevolence of fleshies... ingrate.
Deriaz: *frowned* No need to talk to him like he's some kind of criminal, you know
Saber: *was about to say something, but thought better with the number of flesh folk around*
Varro: What, like he kidnapped someone?
Deriaz: We got her back unharmed, didn't we?
Varro: Tell you what... what do I know anyway... I'm just an Ambassador. I'll leave Saber to your care then *Varro started to tend Uxor's wounds*
Deriaz: Sure, perfectly fine with me *he grinned* if you just want me to turn him loose, that is.
Varro: *he paused and looked at Deriaz* Why would you do that?
Liyra: No way you're letting that guy loose Deriaz. He nearly killed Jaggie! Nevermind him helping break the guildhall in half
Saber: Just doing what I was told, halfling. Nothing more, noth'n less.
Deriaz: I have my reasons.
Varro: If Deriaz were to do as he says... turn you to your own devices... what would you do with yourself then Saber?
Saber: What would I do? What my lord commands...
Liyra: Your lord is high tailing it back to the Mournlands. Try again, Saber.
Saber: Meh, I'll get back. I did the last time. Mind you I had a boat then...
Deriaz: What would you care what he does? I mean, you already consider him a criminal and ingrate. What could he possibly do that would be worse?
Varro: Do not presume that I regard you in a different light because you are forged, Der... if that is what this is about.
Deriaz: *shook his head* not at all.
Varro: Need I remind you that there is a drow among us, Sho, who is about to face trial for his acts as well
Deriaz: Like I said, though, I have my reasons. Call it insanity, which seems to be what I'm considered to be becoming.
Liyra: Hey no one said that you were going insane Der.
Varro: Why defend him Der?
Deriaz: *motioned to Ragyr* He's considering me insane. And who knows me better than him, the one who knows my every thought hm? *he turned to Varro* I said I have my reasons. But this isn't about me. This is about him.
Saber: *getting bored of standing around, looked about carefully, and began to sit* I'll just wait down here, shall I? You folk can talk about what you'll do to me. Sure it's less than what Blades is gonna do.
Varro: Der... no offense, but this forged has commited acts against our Guild. You are but an Ambassador to Blue Line. You expect us to shrug it off?
Deriaz: Of course. Just an ambassador. But I don't expect you to shrug it off. Look...just...*he sighed* forget it.
Varro: I've seen the delights this forged had today, and I assure you, none of them were for anything but delight at serving Blades, and succeeding in capturing Jaggie. What would you have me do Der? I'm really at a loss here *he crossed his arms, relenting on his tending to Uxor for a moment*
Deriaz: *shrugged* I'd at least give him the benefit of the doubt, but that's only because him and I are alike. But do what you want. These are just my ramblings.
Saber: Oh, should have seen when we first found her. Far better. Swear if she could she would have been white as a ghost that day at your guild. heh...oh...I shouldn't be talking. Heh. Shutting up now *he put a finger to his lips and remained silent*
Ragyr: *looked confused, and looked between the two* You know, I've got an idea if neither of you can decide...
Varro: *he rolled his eyes over to Ragyr* Does it involve killing him?
Saber: Oh death! Nice see, which brother brings me back. hah.
Ragyr: *grinned and shrugged* What can I say? Killing both of them actually would make this much easier. But then again, I best you've NEVER heard that idea before.
Varro: From you? Never.
Saber: Just cause Blades hates the Flame don't mean they aint useful around here.
*Varro looked to Saber* You know, perhaps letting you talk of your own accord is over rated
Saber: Hmm...yeah...shutting up again *he tapped a finger to his lips and smiled*
*Uxor wrote* "Let us see about getting Jaggie in order. We can bring Saber with us and secure him until we decide what to do"
*A whimper came from the boat. Along with another 'Rurrtt', but then went silent again*
Deriaz: *turned at the sound of Jaggie, but nodded to Uxor's note* Now that's something I can agree to.
Saber: Umm...sorry...gotta talk. Aint your boat a little small for four warforged a dog and um...five fleshies?
Varro: Afraid to swim?
Deriaz: *grinned* if anything, we can just have Ragyr swim or something
Saber: Me? Swim? Bah! I sink like a rock!

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XI "The means and the end" Chapter 1

((WARNING: This account of the story contains some material that might not be appropriate for sensitive readers. If you are someone who has an aversion to stories of torture, or that contain graphic depicitions of violence, please do not read any further.))

<Help her.>
*No answer came.*
<I will give you my soul, I will give up being Augur, anything you ask I will do it... just please help her.>
*As hard as he could, Varro could not fight past the pain and distress of the situation to contact the Avatar. He knew this. He couldn't even access his Augur visions now. The fact that it was so only served to deepen the sense of suffering for him. He was servant to a diety, an Ambassador to the city, and yet he could do nothing to help Uxor.*

*Before this moment, life seemed to be coming into order for him, with a bit of complication. Blades had been driven off. Saber contained. Jaggie restored. An understanding of his new powers serving the Avatar. Even the fact that Zoltando had thrust upon him a crazed Kalashtar woman, telling her that Varro could help her, had been set right. Infact, he'd formed a bond with her... as had Uxor... in their attempts to help her damaged psyche. It was for this new friend that he and Uxor were now the subject of attack. Ironically, it was through this same kalashtar, Tyr, that he learned of Uxor's plight in the first place. That had been the bait. Rushing to her aid, despite his best preperations, he too had become captive and prisoner.*

*The phantom feeling of where Varro's fingers had once been on his left hand conflicted with the consuming pain of his shattered jaw. He could see the movement of the spiders around him, but this was little distress compaired to now watching the mithril defenders laying into Uxor's legs with fire and teeth. He cringed at hearing Uxor's voice, as she pleaded vainly to their warforged captor to spare him. Whatever the Warforged had done to her earlier, she had been reduced to gasping breaths, which she set to calling out the bard's name, and short pleads for mercy, or to take her instead. This pained Varro more greatly than any of the physical attacks that Juryrig, their assailant, had set upon him with.*

*Varro heard the command given, and he knew the metal dogs would be upon Uxor's mangled leg to finish the job. He fought off the blinding pain to force out* STOP *between his teeth.*

*The warforged approached him again* If you do not cooperate, I will terminate Creature Uxor. Do you understand, Minstrel Varro Velox? Names, Locations, Associations, Descriptions, Whereabouts.

*Varro could hardly focus on Juryrig, but the sound of Uxor throwing herself against her metal binds in the chair pushed him to work words with the paper under his right hand that Juryrig had placed for him to write upon, since he was not capable of talking now.* 'She is no Sword of Liberty. I have told you the truth, she is a lone Kalashtar. A vagabond.'

Juryrig: You have harbored a known murderer... who has brought suffering to innocent families. Innocent children. Innocent forged *he growled*

*The fist to Varro's gut, as he sat chained in the chair, stilled his writing on the blood soaked paper. Juryrig proceeded to lay into him in the same manner he had done for Uxor before Varro's arrival... with each blow came a name. The name of someone who had perished upon the train that had been attacked by the people Juryrig spoke of. Uxor's voice continued to carry to the warforged, who paid it no mind. Varro was running out of ideas. No matter what he said, this forged was convinced that Tyr was with the Swords of Liberty. He doubted sincerely that that was the true reason he wanted so much information about her. He knew he couldn't continue to take the hits though, he was losing rationality now. His Avatar could not help him, Uxor was helpless, he was helpless... and if he didn't stop this, there would be little left of either of them to help. He tried once again to get to a calmer place, in the meditations that Uxor had been teaching Tyr. He could see the woods... the fern filled wooded area, with greenery covering...

another blow to the face rocked his concentration. He tried more, renewed by the notion that the pain now was blurring together in a way that it was difficult to remember what life without such agony had been like. The woods. The ferns. The obscured path. It was enough. Enough for him to will forth the shield. The female counterpart to the Avatar had said the shield was a part of him, so it was time to test this in full. His right wrist was loose enough to lift, and there was a loud clang as Juryrig's fist met a large and ancient looking shield, obscuring Varro's body. Juryrig paid it no heed and beat upon the shield as well. Varro felt the shield forcing down upon him. From behind it his voice railed against the blows, over top of all of his injury, in a shriek of defiance, as clear as he could form the words with his mostly disfunctional mouth*

Varro: SHE KILLED NO ONE! *he knew he'd regret that as he felt parts of his jaw splinter further from the forced effort.*

Juryrig: Sever! *the call came to the dogs and Varro released his will to have the shield between he and Juryrig, in order to have view of Uxor. If they were going to hurt her, he was not going to turn from it. This was his fault.*

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XI "The means and the end" Chapter 2

((WARNING: This account of the story contains some material that might not be appropriate for sensitive readers. If you are someone who has an aversion to stories of torture, or that contain graphic depicitions of violence, please do not read any further.))

*Obedient to its master's call, the metal dog went for Uxor's maimed leg. Varro had all but ignored Juryrig now as Juryrig continued to beat into his abdomen with the vengeful punches. Irritated at his disregard for the attacks, Juryrig's arm became a blade, which went through Varro's shoulder into the chair behind. Varro's focus was for her alone however, wishing that on some level, he could reach her mind as he had in the past, and speak with her. That only worked if the one he wished to contact was happy or experiencing pleasure, and he knew there would be none of that for her, no matter how good at meditation she was.*

Oh that's quite enough of that. *a female voice called from behind Juryrig*

*The blur of a bright force struck the metal dog and cast it aside. For a moment, Varro thought that it was his vision going out from the physical abuse. He recognized this voice though. With effort, he looked up and saw the form of a drow woman, standing on the ceiling. Juryrig too saw this, turning toward her. Juryrig suddenly went still, and the full weight of his body came crashing into his seated victim. Varro choked, and his head arched back not of his own accord, as the blade of Juryrig's arm was forced into him from the large warforged falling fully into him. He felt it passing between his ribes, and could feel the tip of the end scratching his neck, where it had erupted.*

*He was dying. Many thoughts raced within him as he felt his attachment to the world slipping. One of which was that he had spent his time playing off his relationship with Uxor as a casual one... and when she died, that is what she would remember - that he just 'liked to be around her.' That they had 'fun.' That was what he had left her to take with her to the afterlife, which apparently he too was about to have a most immediate encounter with. He thought about Endaria...how enraged at him she would be, if she was there in the beyond, to learn he had - for the second time in his life - not expressed the gravity of what a woman meant to him. A woman who had given everything for him... even the last breaths she would probably take in this existence were being shaped into his name, as he heard her crying out across the room. This was the end. He felt energy upon him, and a fizzing and bubbling sensation inside his body where the blade was.*

*Uxor threw all she had against the chains at the sight of Varro being run through. It was not enough, and the bonds still held her fast to the chair. The hand that had been loose enough to write with she could not cause to function enough attempt freedom there - that hand and wrist had been crushed. The sight of Mekari hopping lightly down before her was immaterial at this point. Any other time she would have perhaps felt fear, or even hate, for the woman. Now there was only the notion that Varro was in immediate mortal peril.*

*She watched Mekari roll the warforged off of Varro, heard the sound of the blade sliding back out from wence it had come into his form, and Uxor could see that Varro very much seemed lingering between this world and the next. He did have enough consciousness to make as much of a scowl as he could towards Mekari however, as Mekari reached out and stroked at his forehead and cheek with a hand, making a soothing cooing noise to him.* My poor darling.

*Meanwhile, Juryrig had started to climb up, and Uxor didn't know what to say or do of it. Mekari turned to Juryrig, and the two were obviously talking, but only Juryrig could be heard.*

*Uxor didn't understand, as Juryrig seemed to be in a discussion with Mekari, calling Mekari by a warforged number of some kind. He also kept disagreeing as Mekari shifted to touch upon Varro and feel at his wounds. Jurgrig seemed to insist that she and Varro were 'his targets' and Mekari spoke to him moving her mouth, but no sound was coming out. The next thing she knew, Juryrig was coming towards her. She didn't care. If this was her fate, then so be it. To watch Varro dying, and out of reach of her, was more torment than all she had been through; whatever Juryrig had in store for her now was nothing. The blade came down at her, and she didn't flinch, as it cut through her bonds. She was freed. Her most immediate action was to force herself up upon her one good leg, and try to hop for Varro. Adernaline at the need to be at his side set her unyielding over, and her mind moved the parts of her that would still respond, all bent on getting to him. She didn't even realize what was stopping her for a moment, as she came into something solid. Mekari was standing in front of her with her arm outstretched, and had placed the outstretched hand firmly into her chest, holding her back. She had no time to process the act, when she felt positive energy pump into her. Mekari was healing her.*

Mekari: ... And YOU'RE lucky I don't care what you think, and came to see him against your wishes.

*Mekari looked to Juryrig, and moved her mouth silently to him, and he came to Varro's chair and cut him loose as well. Mekari then went to Juryrig, and their confused&nbsp;one-way conversation continued, as Uxor hopped the rest of the way to her bard. She took his face in her hands, looking in his eyes to see if there were signs of life still, holding herself up by will alone. Recognition. He knew who she was, she could see that, and her joy in that awareness was only off set by the sorrow at seeing him suffering. She heard Juryrig speak again* Deactivate *and the metal dogs, who had been staring absently without command, went dim and still. Juryrig nodded and set off down the hall. Mekari strolled round, not approaching Uxor or Varro. She didn't realize it at first, but Uxor was aware suddenly that she was putting herself between Mekari and Varro defensively, ready to fight the woman with but her one good off-hand fist, and standing upon one good leg. Mekari shook her head*

Mekari: I will not hurt him, pale faced one. I can't. Seeing this rattles my heart... but I told you, didn't I? *she looked to Varro, who managed to glare back at her* I told you that if they wanted you, I cannot stop them. Even now I put myself at great risk, having interfered. But I am far more capable of dealing with what will come than you, obviously, so what you said of 'being capable has proven to not be so. As for you *she looked to Uxor* I have interviened now, but you are not safe. I am going to deter what is coming for you next... and I may, or may not, prove successful in that. So you had better get him out of here. I've given you all the healing I can. Go.

Uxor: Who are they and what do they want *she labored to ask*

Mekari: So you can talk? Those I work for would not appreciate my divulging such information, but as it may be one of the last things you hear in this world, I will oblige. I am an agent, and those I serve demand resources for their hunt *she looked to Varro* but he is not a resource. He is mine... and I will remind them of this. Now get out. *and the form of Mekari dematerialized in a few strides*

*Uxor tried to pull Varro up out of the chair, careful to avoid touching the ooze that Juryrig had coated the chains in. She did not know what it did, and after all she had been injected with or covered in, she did not wish to know. Varro slumped against her, standing partly on his own, but barely so. He rolled his head into her shoulder as the two tried to find the energy to leave. It was the chains that brought Uxor round to an alarming realization. She breathed out slowly* Trap. There's a trap at the door. I don't know what, but something. *She felt her weight giving out, and Varro came with her.*

*Varro didn't know where to go now. He couldn't teleport them. He couldn't access his Augur abilities. With his mouth ruined, he couldn't cast his magic or read from a sroll, and he knew Uxor had no capabilities with such either. With the door rigged, and both of them with only one good hand, neither was capable of even trying to disactivate a trap. The two were dragging themselves across the room, but with no purpose. He put an arm out to stop their movements. She rolled towards him and seemed to be trying to find that meditative point of hers. How she was able to reach such resolve in such dire times was beyond him. The things she'd been teaching Tyr were nice, but how could anyone do them at a time like this? She was so badly wounded... more so than he. She had endurance to it, but it did not change the fact that she was done for if he didn't get her something. He realized he still had his pack with him... Juryrig had not bothered to remove his affects in the heat of his capture. He couldn't force his jaw to work now.* aaaak. aaaak. *it was futile. He sat up and dragged himself over to retrieve the charcole and a few pages of the paper that were upon the floor. Once back he wrote 'pack' and 'potion' and she nodded in understanding. The two of them worked together lying on the floor to open his bag and find the potion he refered to. A healing potion. He pushed it towards her.*

Uxor: No. Take it. *she tried to push it back, but he shook his head. Between her injuries and his stubbornness, the potion hung in space between them as the two wrestled with trying to force it towards one another*

Uxor: Varro no! You take it. If I am to die, it is my karma. I accept this, and am prepaired *She pushed the potion the rest of the way as his hand went for the charcole to write more. He did not drink the potion, and she watched him writing.*

'I don't care about karma, I care about you.' *after a moment, he dragged the charcole to cross out 'care about' and wrote beneath it 'love'.*

Uxor: Then please drink it for me.

*He shook his head, but he had little say in the matter as she put it to his lips and tried to help him with it. He turned from it, writing* 'cant open mouth, you take it.'

Uxor: Always scheming.

*If it didn't hurt so much, he would smile, but instead he closed his eyes and wrote* 'semantics. Ironic to have you speak and I write, no?'*

*She shook her head a little with a smile of her own that hurt her broken nose to make. This was short lived as she heard sounds echoing down the passageway. The sound of metal and movement... many feet. Varro heard them too, and went quiet for a moment before writing as fast as he could force himself to.*

Varro: 'This is it. I thought I was dead a moment ago, but now it's coming for real. I have been foolish, and I want you to know I love you. I want you to know who I am. Uxor *he crossed it out and wrote*...Coralbina... my nam

*she took his hand, and held it in her own. Her skin was so cold, and it felt good to him. *

Uxor: Who we were does not matter. You are Varro. I am Uxor. We are who we are now, and we knew love together, that is all I will need to die happy.

*he nodded with a sigh, and held her hand, the two of them skinking down awaiting their fate. It had gotten quiet in the passage in the meantime, but neither of them suspected the threat to be gone. A glimer of the images of the world's pleasure flashed to Varro, as he was comforted to hear her words and pleased to know he'd told her how he felt...and he latched onto it for a moment, holding it and moving with it as he could, but it was not enough to get them out. Resigned that their last hope for escape was lost, he breathed out heavily again. Another notion came to him... if he could show her what he was seeing. At least she could block the end with it, those images and sensations. As if his thought had prompted response, he heard answer to his idea.*
<Yes Augur, you can.>
*Varro didn't waste any time asking why he had not gotten answer before, or seeking to get the Avatar to take them out. He knew, almost on a subconscious level, what the reason was that he and the Avatar had not been able to speak before now.*
Varro:<Help her. I want nothing, just help her.>
<I am sorry Augur but I can do nothing. You can do something for her however. You know how. You just have to do it.>
Varro: <Tell me.>
<You take from the world, but you have not learned to give.>
*For once, Varro understood the Avatar with astounding clarity. This was promptly interrupted by the feeling of another mind coming to meet with his... he heard another voice in his head.*

'Varro?' *it was Tyr. Varro felt a wave of panic wash through him that if she was the one coming down the hall, the trap was still armed. He reflexively cried outloud* aaaaack geee aaaaack eerraaaaa errraaaa *but it came out as garble. Uxor clenched his hand, thinking that who ever was coming was already laying into him with psionic power. After a moment's stupidity, he reached for Tyr with <TRAP> but he could not hold back the rest of what came with that... the feelings of his tormented body.*

*A click and moments later a hiss errupted in the room, with the sound of shouts and magic spells coming forth, as a form came tumbling in, and set to fighting the disabled mechanical dogs. Varro didn't think he'd ever been happier to see an elf in his life as he saw Points was the one in the room with them. He heard a commotion outside as well, but recognized many of the voices. Points came to the two of them, and Uxor looked to Points, who tried to comfort them.*

Points: We're going to get you out of here.

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XI "The means and the end" Chapter 3

*Uxor looked at the floor. Varro had beset, as she knew, to berating her for putting herself in such immediate danger so quickly. She had spent her day under the protection of one named 'Shiningeagle' as she, Points, and Shiningeagle were confronted with an imposter, who had taken one of their own prisoner, and was steadily working to take over the life of the captive. She had turned to Tyr for help locating where their fellow was being held, but it had not taken long for Varro to have awareness to what she was up to, and arrive - in his way of so doing - to whisk her to their home to 'talk.' She knew he would be upset with her for being in danger, still as yet limping from their ordeal, and her hand not yet mended enough to resume writing. She had not even gotten to renew her vow of silence with the brothers. One thing at a time, she told herself. At the moment, the thing she was dealing with was explaining to Varro her reasons for her actions.*

Uxor: What if this captor of Nero is the same one who set Juryrig upon us?

Varro: THAT is immaterial at this point Ux... I'm not having you galavanting around trying to 'save' everyone. If Nero is captured, if the others are aware and working to do something for it, that is enough.

Uxor: I didn't ask it... they came to me Varro. We're ambassadors, and that is what happens when...

Varro: I don't think you understand what it means to BE an ambassador Ux. There is a difference between an ambassador and a general. You are not a general. It's bad enough that Sho is on trial, but you are not him. Hell, we don't even have that issue resolved, let alone you throwing yourself into this.

Uxor: I cannot stop them coming to me Varro. If I have the resources, I am going to help them. *seeing him scawf at her reply, she moved to him to touch his face* What happened was horrid. I don't dispute that. But you can't keep me in a bag of holding Varro.

Varro: Is it so wrong to want you to be safe if it is within my power to see it is so?

Uxor: No. But you know that we love one another, and that I will not simply surrender. If you are afraid that I am not coming back... like Endaria... I swear to you that I will fight to return to you always, even if it is from the beyond. I accept much of my fate in the world, but that is one thing I would not accept.

*He seemed somewhat comforted by her words* Varro: You said that you felt I put the Avatar before you once. Now I feel you put the lives of others before yourself even. I know you try to 'balance your karma' or whatever you call it but, there does come a time when you have to watch for yourself Ux. I don't feel like you're doing that right now. What of us? What of our time? We've both done much for the guild... for the city... when is there time for us to have our own rest or peace?

Uxor: Varro, I put nothing before us. To that ends...so much so... that it is the reason I must tell you now of Juyrig.

*His expression immediately went more stern, and she breathed, knowing that if she was not careful in her wording that he would immediately dash off to confront Jury once he had awareness to where Jury was being kept.*

Uxor: Juryrig has been captured. He surrendered himself willingly. *she took his hands in hers* and I have seen him.

Varro: WHAT? *she felt his hands tighten on hers* Where? How?

Uxor: Please Varro... just hear my words. Juryrig is awaiting justice. That justice comes from those he offended. Those he offended are you and I. They brought me to him because they felt you would simply kill him...

Varro: *he interjected* 'they brought you'...they who?

*she closed her eyes, knowing that she could keep nothing from him... not because he would force it, but because she could not bare to keep things from him.* Uxor: Deriaz and Jaggie. Don't be angry with them. They just want to get to the bottom of this, and killing off the one person who knows who did this to us is not going to help anything

Varro: *he snarled somewhat* I already KNOW who set this on us...not specifically but...

Uxor: You think you know. I don't trust Mekari. You told me once she is a liar, and to never believe her words. Therefor, I don't believe what she said even now, though I don't entirely understand what she said. If we are going to have answers, we are going to do this the right way Varro.

Varro: Fine. So they took you to him and what did you learn?

Uxor: That he is a pawn, and he knows this. That he is aware that we are not his targets... and his orders were false. And what's more... he is insistant that you and I are the only ones permitted to dispatch justice upon him. He says that it is our right. I respect that wish. I have a feeling however that the others won't be so accepting of that.

Varro: Let them think what they will. If my 'justice' is what that forged wants, then he will receive it!

Uxor: I won't stop you Varro, but please *she held his face in her hands to bring his focus off whatever he was contemplating, and back to her* there is justice, and there is spite. Balance. Karma. Neither you or I have died, and it would be no balance for Juryrig to die either.

Varro: And what if I requested to hurt him? To torment him? To sick Zoltando on him for a few hours? *he raised his brow at her*

Uxor: No. Not Zoltando. If you are going to do this, you will do it yourself. Juryrig is correct when he says that justice should come from you and I. If your decision is to marr him, so be it. He is prepaired, and I cannot and will not stand in the way of your decision.

Varro: Fine! *he gnarled his nose* even better anyway, if I had a mind for such, I would want him to be in my own hands for his punishment. When may I dipatch my sentence on him then?

Uxor: Within moments. But you must allow something first... there is a man who wishes to inspect Juryrig for damage. If he can find no reason to believe Juryrig acted outside his capasity... such as compulsion... we may proceed.

Varro: Oh we will proceed whether he likes it or not. This is not his business. This is between the three of us... you, I, and the warforged. But I will humor your request and allow him to perform the inspection. Just don't expect me to stand down, no matter what he finds.

Uxor: I know Varro. He knows this too. But please permit him the chance. I will feel much better about this if I am positive that Juryrig's actions were his own.

*Varro scawfed once again, but nodded in agreement. He awaited word that they were to set out, and paced around the room, rooting through his things. Uxor did not question him on it... if anything, she was just content that he hadn't demanded that she take him to Juryrig. After some time, she received word that the others had been mostly cleared from the room. Now she had to have faith in Varro... the one she was 'mate' to, as Juryrig had so named her... she had to trust that he would bring justice, and not merely vengence.*

Uxor: They are ready. I will show you where they are, but please do not be upset. Deriaz and Jaggie only want to see things done properly, not by mob rule.

Varro: Fine *he quipped* better this way anyway. I don't want anyone saying I was not justified in what I want, and that I did not go through the proper motions to see this done in a civil manner. Take me there.

*Uxor nodded once he was ready. He wore the shimmering purple robe, and she did raise her brow at it*

Varro: *he noted her eyeing his attire* So they know I'm willing to go through this 'civil.' I don't want them to see me in armor and leap to defense. But I want them to know that they are standing in the way of an ambassador if they decide to try and interfer.

Uxor: I understand. And I will not permit them to interfer, but please don't do anything rash. I don't want to fight them off of you Varro, I really just want this to come to resolution. Everyone has been through enough over it... everyone.

*He nodded and offered his arm to her.* Varro: Best we come as a unified front, but non-threateningly.

Uxor: Agreed. I will take us. *In order for him to take them there by his Augur means, she knew now that he had to have some happy - or at least pleasent- thoughts of the location... memories... something he could latch onto. She stroked his arm and allowed her thoughts to drift to happy thoughts of Jaggie's home, of the care that Jaggie and Deriaz had for their forged brother and his well being. She couldn't suppress from Varro her words from the memory of her conversation with Deriaz and Jaggie prior to seeing Varro...*

Uxor: Deriaz, what is more important, love or friendship?
Deriaz: Well...since I've not had the first, I would definately say the second.
Uxor: Jaggie?
Jaggie: Friendship. You can't have love without friendship...
Uxor: Then you will understand when I say that I cannot prevent what Varro desires, for of him, I have both.
Jaggie: Hai *she nodded in understanding*
Uxor: But pray to your gods or whatever you hold dear that Varro feels the same of me, and will see reason in my words. If you try and stop him however, I will come between you, and you will see where love and friendship fall.

*As she considered these things, Varro had already set to willing them to the location of Jaggie's home, and the two materialized before Deriaz, Juryrig upon the floor, and Dalharil coiled around Juryrig's neck and chest. Uxor pressed her lips ever so slightly, and offered for the first time a thought of prayer. She was not certain if the Avatar could even hear her or cared to, but she thought it anyway.* <Please, if it is within your power to do so, help him make the right choice.>
*No reply came.*

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XI "The means and the end" Chapter 4

*Varro glared at Shiningeagle, the dwarf who now stood in his way of delivering that which the warforged deserved. The dwarf insisted that Juryrig was damaged, and in need of repairs*

Varro: There's no sense repairing something only to have it broken again afterwards *and he moved to the form of Juryrig* Agent Juryrig! *he hoped the words bit into the forged as much as he was biting them out. He hoped that the mere sound of his voice to the forged would be like a blade upon him to begin with. He made his demands of Juryrig.

The first thing he was going to correct was this insistance that Juryrig had in refering to the woman he loved as 'creature.' Creature. A warforged was a 'creature.' He knew that Juryrig would have no concept of that, but he did have concept of position and duty, and he would see to it that Juryrig would always refer to her with the respect she deserved.* ...You will refer to her as Ambassador Uxor....

*Voices in his head further irritated him. Cer calling for help. Zoltando calling for instruction. Varro this, Varro that, help with this, help with that. He was tired of it, and yelled to the voices - whether they could hear him or not - that he was through. Nothing was going to stand between him and his right. This was his right. He had the right to see satisfaction in the matter.

He was a man of words, of diplomacy, of social merit, but battle and doom, the destruction of the world or others...these were not his charge, and he was rather tired of others forcing things upon him as if he could set right the whole of the world. He was Augur. The Augur acted for the Avatar. The Ambassador spoke for fellowship. Neither of these things required that he was to be responsible for the well being of anyone in the first place. 'If they die it is on you' indeed, he would not put up with it.*

<I am not the whipping boy to the city. This WILL wait...> *but he felt that Cer had already shut him out. So be it. That meant he could be left to his right. He'd done enough, and he cared not at this point if blood were upon his hands. Cer's mention to him in his mind that the last time he had 'put off' a matter, Uxor had suffered, only served to infuriate him further. It was because everyone pulled his attention six ways from one point that it had come to that. It was because of his standing now that it had happened to her. It was his fault, and he was putting a stop to it. He was going to stop offering his service as Augur so freely. If people didn't hold him so importantly, Uxor would not be a target. If they could gain nothing by him, then she would be safer of it.*

*He stormed towards Juryrig and continued to lay down his requests. If Uxor was going to let the rest of them drag her down a path of danger, he was at least going to find extra ways to keep her safe.* ... you will protect Ambassador Uxor....

*Juryrig weakly confirmed all that was asked of the forged thus far. Now Varro came to his final satisfaction. He reached into his belongings and pulled out the morning star. It was a bane to constructs, and he knew that it would only take one blow from this weapon to quickly deliver that which he sought* ... and I am going to break your jaw. Then we will be even...

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XI "The means and the end" Chapter 5

*Shiningeagle's request was falling upon deaf ears. So too were the calls of Dalharil, who shrieked with insistance not to harm Juryrig.*

*Uxor frowned seeing Dalharil clinging to Juryrig, and at Shining's frustrations. It only made matters worse that Dalharil had been the cleric in the Jorasco healing wards to help mend she and Varro when they had been carried in on the verge of death from their tortures. Dalharil had taken it very hard that Juryrig was the cause of their suffering, for she had apparently befriended the warforged. Additionally was the fact that just the eve before, Shiningeagle had worked to protect Uxor from harm.

But to Varro, they were in his way... holding him back... keeping him from doing what he had the right to do. A right granted to him no less by the very being that had wronged him. How much more just could the situation be?

Shiningeagle emplored Varro for mercy for Juryrig. Mercy... that word inspired terrible wrath in Varro. Mercy...*

Varro: WHERE WAS MY MERCY WHEN MY FINGERS WERE BEING CUT OFF AS I WATCHED HIM CUTTING AWAY HUNKS OF UXOR'S LEG!! *he was on the verge of turning his words into a true weapon. This was his right. This was his justice. He would not be turned aside from it by do-good outsiders sticking their nose where it did not belong, in a matter that was sheerly in agreement by both the victim and offender. He had the mace poised above his head for the strike upon Juryrig* MOVE!

*Dalharil scrambled to put herself in the path of the hit, while Shiningeagle insisted upon being permitted to take the hit in Juryrig's place*

Varro: This is not your affair! This is between me, and the forged! *he snarled at Shining's request* What's say next time I'm watching the woman I love being tormented, that someone stand in to replace then, hm?

*Varro saw Uxor coming inbetween the mess of this, and he awaited what she would say. Agreeing with him. She emplored for Shiningeagle to stand down, and he felt somewhat empowered by her words that this WAS within his right to ask. He hadn't asked to kill the forged. He hadn't asked to mutilate it so far as he and Uxor had both endured. Even his request, painful though it would be to the forge, could be repaired. He'd half a mind to request that Juryrig be set to a vow of silence to make up for being the cause of Uxor having broken her vow. All this he could have asked, but he was not, and yet they looked upon him as if he were the incarnation of evil on the face of the world.... looked at him as if it were not within reason for him to ask this. He heard more noise behind all of them, and saw Juryrig pulsing with energy. Uxor saw it too, explaining to Shining that Juryrig would prevent them all from stopping this. Juryrig would kill himself to try and allow Varro his 'justice.' Nothing short of a command from Varro or Uxor themselves would stop Juryrig from that choice*

Shiningeagle: Then Varro had better change his request!

*Varro's eyes narrowed at that. Others were to be the one to decide how this would be ended? His whole being shivered with utter ire at this dwarf, and his words came out with unrelenting malice and intent*

Varro: I will watch that warforged die before I will see my request denied. I will not be denied my justice. Now move!

*Shiningeagle threw up his arms and howled with curses at Varro, and all manner of ill wish, and Varro spat at the notion. Who was the dwarf to have any say in this matter beyond what Varro and Juryrig agreed to. It was by Juryrig's own request he was here to 'dispatch justice.' He could very well have just killed Juryrig and have been rid of the trouble in the first place. But Uxor was correct... neither of them had died in the ordeal. This request was not out of the realm of reason, it was simply karma! That was Uxor's word for all creation, karma! THIS was karma! To be put to the justice of one you had wronged. Juryrig had shattered his jaw, and removed Varro's capasity to speak, and for Juryrig to endure the same was not beyond reason!*

*Uxor slid aside from Varro's path. There remained only Dalharil, clinging to the forged. Varro held the weapon aloft over them, starting down at her* MOVE!

*Dalharil held to Juryrig all the more furverently. He heard the forged trying to coax her off, telling her that this was right, that 'Minstrel Varro Velox' needed to give 'justice.' Varro stared down at the pair of them and his fist clenched on that morningstar so hard he was losing sensation in that hand. His good hand. The one good hand that this 'creature' had left for him. Images of the torment he had endured came to him readily, almost muting the flow of his Augur images. The joy of the world was being masked by the memory of Uxor's voice crying out his name, begging Juryrig for mercy on Varro's behalf. He stood over Juryrig with the weapon, and he watched Dalharil staring at him.*

*He stared back at her. She looked at him with determination not to move. Fine. He would strike them both. It was not as if she hadn't been warned, asked nicely, asked LESS nicely, and still if she was to be stubborn about this, it was her own doing.*

*The weapon hung in the air, awaiting him to dispatch justice. This was his right. Nothing stood between him and resolution. He stared at Dalharil with an expression meant to show her... he was not going to relent. She could not stop this. He was right, and he would NOT back down. He was not afraid to take her out in the process if she would not move. She still sat there, staring at him. The scene of Uxor's torture kept playing to him again and again - his eyes involuntarily shifted to Uxor as he loomed over the forge and tiny cleric at his feet - and the more he stared at Dalharil, the more one moment kept coming to him again....

<I will give you my soul, I will give up being Augur, I will do anything you ask, just please help her.>

and Uxor, begging for Juryrig to take her instead of him. Watching. Watching her and wanting nothing more than to stop it for her. Knowing that to watch him being subjected to his pain was more distress than all the fire, acid, blade, and all other things being done to her body... she was still calling his name over all of it. Her was Dalharil... watching him. Watching what he was going to do to her friend. Watching and being unable to change what was going to happen, but wanting more than anything for it to stop.

This was his right
This was justice
This was karma
This was balance
This was fair and agreed upon

Varro's arm came down, his white fist clenching the weapon, and the construct bane morning star passing through the air, to dangle at his side.*

Varro: *he practically muttered it as he stared at Dalharil* Why won't you move...

*Dalharil finally spoke* You know that it's wrong.

Varro: No. I just know how it feels.

*He let go of the weapon. It fell to his feet with a clatter, and he stared at the little cleric with her forged friend. There were still things he could ask of Juryrig that would give him a sense of contentment.* Agent Juryrig, you will protect Cleric Dalharil. And you will find out who hired you, why, and report this to me.
*He looked to Uxor, who had closed her eyes and breathed a long exhail of relief. She went to Juryrig and Dal's side, as the forged was in need of help now. Her eyes came to Varro just for a moment, but it was enough for him to know that she was pleased by his choice. Tenatively he reached out to his Augur images to look for happiness from her. He found it, and held to it a moment before speaking to her through these means.*

Varro: <You're trying to make a good person out of me yet, aren't you?>
Uxor: <I am trying nothing, this is your doing my love. I can't say I'm not happy though. Thank you.>
Varro: <I did it for you. I wanted for you what Dal now has for Juryrig. For it to stop.>
Uxor: <Then you gave me what I wanted for you too. Will you help him?>
Varro: <...yes. Dalharil saved you. I have what I want, and I will help her.>

*Uxor tended Juryrig, but very frequently her eyes came to Varro during their ordeal. She knew her love for him was re-enforced by his decision, and she knew such overwhelming happiness that he had put aside his revenge for her. She felt completely and utterly safe with him at last.*

[lenric]

Prologue: The Dream:

The monastery library was quiet and dark save for one burning candle in a sanct corner deep within the stacks of books. There sat silently sleeping a young dwarf of 80 years or so, his red beard neatly trimmed and lain across his lap a book so ancient its pages were yellow and its cover was warped. The book was opened to a page with a picture of an oversized Dwarf wielding a large hammer crackling with electricity, this man was Moradin, an all but forgotten ancient Dwarven god here in the world of Ebberon. Suddenly the pages of the book began to glow and a slight breeze filled the library. The God in the picture began to move and burst with a lightning flash out of the pages and in front of the still sleeping Dwarf. After closely examining the Dwarf for a few moments the God began casting a spell and entered the Dwarf’s dream.

Brunos’ had just crested a ledge on a snow capped mountain when he took a moment to look out at the scene in front of him. The landscape was beautiful even being able to see a lake off in the distance with a small village nearby. He thought he made out a caravan traveling a road just outside of the city. “Arriving this early in the morning, that lucky caravan will have a good day to rest,” he said to himself. Suddenly he heard a loud thundering noise, thinking it was an avalanche he turn back towards the mountain and looked up to see if it was coming his way. When he looked up he saw however not an avalanche but an oversized Dwarf wearing wonderful golden armor and holding a warhammer crackling with energy. He immediately recognized the figure “Moradin” he muttered under his breath.
“It is I Moradin,” the God’s voice boomed through the air giving Brunos a well deserved sense of awe. The God walked down the slope towards Brunos, “I must speak to you about a matter of great importance.”
Immediately dropping to a kneel in front of the God Brunos replied, “I would be honored to hear your quarry my lord.”
“It is an unfortunate circumstance Brunos, for I fear that I hardly hold the privilege to be called your God with my powers so weak. You see, centuries ago I had held an audience with the great Dwarven kings of the world. After that audience I had taken the opportunity of manifesting myself on in the world to walk around and see some of the great works of craftsmanship the people of this world had to offer. During that walk I was ambushed by a group of evil wizards with the aid of multiple Demons. My mighty hammer was stolen during that ambush and the wizards used their magic to send me back to the land of gods.” He took a moment of silence and the hammer he had been holding disappeared. “See you must understand that every god has a symbol of power and with that symbol lies the power that they hold. That hammer was my very essence. Without that hammer it was hard to keep dwarves devout to me and was near impossible to find new worshipers. Once my worshipers dwindled my powers did as well. I have become all but powerless now centuries later and have very few worshipers at all.” He motioned for Brunos to stand and put his hands on Brunos’ shoulders. “I have come to hear your prayers the loudest of those who still pray to me and as such I have chosen you to carry out an important mission.” Flustered and honored Brunos lowered his head and lost himself in his thoughts. “It is a mission not to be taken lightly. I have decided to use the last of my powers to declare you a Golden Warpriest, tis a position I have not granted in centuries and you shall be the only one of your kind. I give you the responsibility to fight for my name and the ultimate goal to find my hammer. Find my hammer and bring it to this mountain where I shall wait for you. Only then can I regain my power and become the true god I once was.” Moradin drops his hands off Brunos’ shoulders and raises Brunos’ chin to make eye contact with the dwarf. “Will you take this burden? Will you fight to raise me to the power I once had?” Stunned Brunos took a few seconds to let the speech settle in before replying.
“I will,” Brunos finally responds his eye tearing up at the honor just bestowed upon him. “I will fight for your name and I will find your hammer so that others can feel your power as I have come to believe.”
“So it is,” Moradin stated, “Your journey will start immediately, and to help you on your way you will receive a set of blessed golden armor as is only bestowed upon those who have been given the title of Golden Warpriest.” Upon finishing the sentence the God vanished with the same thundering clap that he appeared. Brunos left in shock at the encounter sat again on the ledge and looked out into the scenery with a new goal in his life. He would find the Hammer of Moradin and restore his deity to the power he once held. Suddenly he heard a mysterious voice bellow, “Brunos....Brunos wake up.”

Snapped back into reality Brunos looked up at the priest that had just awoken him.
“Brunos you better clean this place up before any of the high priests find you down here. Did you not make it to bed last night?” Now feeling disappointed thinking his encounter was only a dream Brunos stood quickly and thanked his friend for waking him.
“No, I must have fallen asleep here reading, I better get up to my room and put on my robes for morning mass.” Brunos rushed to clean up the area, he blew out the candle and placed it and the book into his sack before rushing out of the library and up the stairs with his friend. “I’ll see you in the main hall,” Brunos stated before parting ways from his friend. The walk down the dormitories hall way seemed longer than ever to Brunos as he thought about his dream and wishing it had been real. He finally came to the door to his room and fumbled through his hip pack for the key. After unlocking and opening the door he rushed into the room to change into his prayer robes so that he could make it to morning mass on time and avoid the demerits that would come with being late when a glimmer from his bed caught his eye. He walked across the room to find spread out on his bed a set of the most glorious armor he had ever lain eyes on. It was the color of gold and the breastplate bore an etched symbol of a hammer and anvil. A symbol Brunos readily accepted as proof that his dream was real, and that he was now a Golden Warpriest of Moradin.

[Deriaz]

The Brothers Forged
Chapter 6
Faceless Visitor


Ragyr sighed, and continued staring at the ceiling in his small, rundown, one-room house tucked away on the roof of an abandoned building in the Marketplace. Pieces of paper were pinned all over the walls, on the ceiling, and some were on the floor. Some of them had red ‘X’s drawn over the faces, or just over the description if there was no picture.

He sighed again, and turned over, staring at the far wall. There were at least twenty sheets of paper alone on that wall, but they were shaped in the design of a circle. Each one had something in common: A face, or a description, of Deriaz. Ragyr shook his head. ‘Not Deriaz. . . Serpent. . . But Serpent’s dead. Jaggie and Liyra supposedly took care of him again. . . But the fact still remains that that body has bounties on its head, and I’m looking to collect. . .’

A loud knock at the door made him jump, and sit up quickly. He eyed the door cautiously, waiting to see if they would knock again. As he expected, a loud knocking came a second time. Ragyr grabbed his four-stringed Rebec, and swung it onto his back. He grabbed the Adamantine Maul sitting in the corner, and opened the door cautiously.

He couldn’t see anyone, so he peeked his head out again to get a better look. Again, there was no one. A piece of paper nailed to the door that he hadn’t noticed before made him jump. He cursed himself for being too nervous, and willed himself to relax. With a frown, he ripped the sheet of paper off of the door, and stared at it. There were notes, chords, and bars scribbled neatly down the page. A small arrow was in the corner, telling him to turn the paper over. He followed the direction, and his eyes were greeted to a message, written by someone with beautiful handwriting. ‘Play this for me~’ was all that it said.

Ragyr stared at it for a moment, and looked around again. He shrugged, and tossed the Maul back inside. Carefully, he placed the Rebec under his chin and held the sheet of music up in front of him. With his other hand, he grabbed the bowstring and studied the sheet music for a moment. His right foot tapped four times quickly, setting the beat of the song, and he played it with ease. The song was a cheery one, and he frowned at it. His usually songs were depressing, and slower. Once the song was complete, he lowered the Rebec and looked around. “Happy?” he said to no one in particular.

A sheet of paper fell from above. He caught it as it passed in front of his face. The paper held only one word, written in the same style of handwriting. ‘Yes.’

Ragyr gasped as someone’s white, metallic arms wrapped around his throat, pulling him back slightly. He cursed himself quietly for tossing the Maul back inside. A woman’s voice came to his ears, and it had a melodic quality to its sound. “You’ve gotten good at it,” she laughed.

Ragyr’s eyes widened. “Ac—“ he started, but stopped as the visitor shushed him.

“No, no, don’t say anything. Just listen to me, for a moment. . .

“I’ve been watching you. For seven months now. . . You and your little friend. . . What’s his name, Deriaz? You two haven’t been enjoying each other’s company, have you? He seems to be doing well, despite having a murderer try twice to get his body back. But you. . . You seem to be depressed. Sitting in graveyards, playing sad tunes to yourself.

“And that suicide. I wanted to step in. I really did. But for me to step in at that time would have made things worse. . . You should be glad that those two little Halflings, that Human, and that musical Forged Deriaz is so attached to were there. Or else I would have had to fish you out myself. Hehe. . .

“I’ve also seen the bounties on your wall, in the house,” she motioned to the door, “regarding Deriaz? Quite a price on his head. Adds up to about eighty thousand platinum, does it not? Would be nice to have. . .” She tightened her grip around Ragyr’s throat, though it wasn’t in a threatening way, and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You’d like that too, wouldn’t you? So. . . If I want it, and you want it. . . Listen up.

“I’ve been watching Deriaz just as much as I’ve been watching you. He’s got that weird mutating ability that Serpent used to show off, so a physical fight may not be the best. Then again, he doesn’t seem to want to hurt you, so that may work in your favor. That’s one option: Go straight for Deriaz. Catch him off-guard. He’s got a weak plate in the back of his head, down near the neck. Aim there, preferably with something that has a bane to constructs. Make sure he won’t wake up.

“Your second option is more of an emotional attack than a physical, though you—And maybe I as well—will have to still do a bit of labor. The music Forged. . . What’s her name?”

Ragyr paused for a second, still savoring the sound of the visitor’s voice. “. . . Jaggie. What about her?”

“Ah, right, Jaggie,” the visitor hummed to herself, “. . . She’s your second option. If you can get at her, you may be able to pull Deriaz to your will. You don’t have to hurt her. Just. . . Tie her up. Threaten Deriaz that you’ll kill her, or something. I don’t know. It’s a bit riskier of an option, because Jaggie may have her own defenses or friends, but it may be easier to get to Deriaz if you have Jaggie. I mean, why go for the head when you can go for the heart, hm?” she laughed. One of her arms left Ragyr’s neck, and Ragyr heard the shuffling of a pack. The sound of glass came to his ears. His first thought was a potion.

“I have to get going now, alright? You go ahead and get back to your plotting. . . I’ll be waiting,” she chuckled, and the second arm left Ragyr’s neck quickly.

Ragyr spun around, trying to see the visitor’s face, but she had vanished. And empty vial was lying on the ground. Ragyr cursed quietly. ‘Invisibility. . .? Maybe. . .’ He looked around again. ‘. . . But. . . She died. I watched her. . . A ghost, maybe?’

He stood outside for a moment, before slipping back inside to think of a plan to collect on the bounties.

[Lessah]

"The Prettiest Maidens Sing the Saddest Songs"

Morah, A bard’s tale

Prologue

Morah had broken out in a sweat keeping up with the other musicians. The pretty halfling with long blonde hair and soft beige eyes had been asked to play as part of a celebration for the Order of the Sword and Rose. Mopping the water from her brow, she glanced across what had become a dance floor. There, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed watching her, was Saldez Boromar. He had been in the Order’s infirmary under the care of clerics for several days following the incident where he rescued her from a group of halfling ruffians known as The Halfling War Counsel.

They were supposedly in Stormreach to procure the ingredients for a lethal poison whose purpose was the subject of much speculation among Order members as well as the Port Authority of Stormreach. Thus far, an official investigation had yielded no results.

Excusing herself from the stage, she practically ran across the dance floor to him. “My hero!” she said giving him a genuine hug and a warm smile.

“It doesn’t look like you were too lonely while I was out of commission.” he said in a half-hearted jealous remark.

She kissed him on the cheek and ran her fingers playfully through his hair. “Don’t be mean to me!” She teased, locking her arms around his waste she leaned close to him and whispered, “besides, you still owe me a night at the Golden Wing Inn.”

He smiled at this, took her by the hand and led her to the door of the atrium. “Why bother,” he began, “I bought a villa in House Jorasco.”

Morah squealed in surprise, “you’re kidding!”

The handsome halfling awarded her a reassuring smile, “would you like to see it?”

In response her facial expression dropped suddenly into a frown. “That depends,” she said with a hint of sarcasm, “on whether or not you are going to abandon me there for my own protection.” She said chiding him alluding to the last time he had asked her to stay with him over night he had made her stay alone in the Golden Wing Inn until she was kid-napped by the Yarbarrow’s.

He fixed Morah with a long overdue look of purposefulness, touched her cheek with the back of his hand and replied, “my Lovely, the only thing in danger this night is your virtue.” He kissed her ever so gently on the cheek and then the neck.

Morah responded at first with no words, and then said, “lead on my lord.” The pair disappeared under the watchful eye of the new moon.






Chapter 1 : The Halfling’s Conundrum

Saldez Boromar had been the favored son of the Boromar clan since he began winning races at a very young age. He distinguished himself in every athletic even he entered, often using his smaller halfling size and youthful appearance to lull his opponents into a false sense of security. In his early days of racing, this always resulted in the competition placing heavy bets in favor of his opponents. The athletic halfling considered it an insult to loose when the odds were against him and had accumulated a very respectable fortune from his winnings.

The Boromar clan had managed to utilize his fame to their advantage. Keeping the family name respectable with the city officials of Stormreach. After all, the Boromar were still establishing a foothold of organized crime in the budding city. Saldez was given logistical responsibilities for the clan’s very lucrative drug trade. It would be harvest time very soon, and the deep forest of tangleroot gorge had proven to be a more than adequate field for growing the Dream Lily, a flower that had hallucinogenic properties and was more than mildly addictive. The authorities of Stormreach recognized this, and were working to slowly eradicate it in its natural habitat, it was also highly illegal. This made it much easier for the Boromar clan to hone the market on the flower, and as a result, made them richer.

He sat on the grounds of the shooting range he had set up out of the way on the south reaches of House Jorasco. His bright blonde hair, which he kept very short, and even shaved the sides of his head occasionally, was dripping with sweat. He wore only a thin white shirt and leggings, and had stripped the shirt off after his long run and discarded it on the ground next to him. His green eyes were fixed on the trigger mechanism of the light crossbow he carried, his fingers busy fixing a spring that would make the device fire much faster.

Every moment would count in his upcoming Race of The Eight Winds, and shaving much needed seconds off of the devices’ reloading sequence would give him a slight advantage over the other racers. The weapon would be enchanted, he realized, so the damage it dealt would not kill his opponent. All the same Saldez wanted to send a clear message to the other racers that he intended to win.

Thinking about his upcoming race made his thoughts turn to his Glidewing. A great flying lizard of gray and green that had been hand picked for its ferocity and intolerance of other creatures. Saldez made a mental note to arrange to have his family transport the beast to Stormreach so he could work with it daily.

He heard a click then, and smiled to himself. The crossbow would now fire almost twice as fast and Saldez squared himself off with the target across the grassy field from where he stood, took careful aim, and fired 6 shots in rapid succession. It pleased the handsome young halfling that all of his bolts had found the target.

"Saldez!" A male voice called from the bottom of the rolling hill behind him. Pointing the crossbow down at his side, Saldez waved to cousin with a smile. "Well met Telano! I hope you bring good news with you, or did you simply come to watch me train?" He asked half teasing his cousin. Telano had saved Saldez’s life when they were children, and neither man had ever forgotten it. As a result, he favored his cousin with positions of greater responsibility and power within the family.

The little halfling approached, and Saldez’s expression changed immediately from welcoming to concerned. The halfling’s body was covered in dried mud and he had several scratches on his face and arms as if he had been crawling through coarse vines. He was equal in height, but less defined in muscle tone, and had shoulder-length black hair that was so dark it made his skin seem very pale especially with the contrasting redness of the scratch marks.
"What’s Happened?" Saldez asked.

Telano responded almost exhausted, "The south field, the one in the gorge, it’s been sacked!"

Staring at his cousin in sheer disbelief, Saldez responded, "What?" His cousin was referring to the crop of Dream Lilies that they had been working so hard to establish outside Stormreach. "How did this happen?" Saldez demanded trying hard to control the anger he felt growing within him.

"Last night," his cousin explained with fear still behind his eyes. "It was the Dassk, they surrounded the field and killed the guards! I narrowly escaped with my life!" He explained.

Saldez was already using all his mental discipline to control the rage he felt at loosing a very large portion of his income to invaders. He closed his eyes tightly, unable to corral his reaction to the immediate, intense anger he felt at the mention of the name Dassk. It was of a clan made up of fiendish brutes of goblinoids and ogres who mercilessly competed with the Boromars for control of the drug trade. They were long hated enemies of Saldez’s family and thus far had not made a real appearance in Stormreach.

The Dassk were too brutal, too notorious to be free to walk the streets of Stormreach. The presence of ogres and hobgoblins in the city would draw unwanted attention from the magistrate. Saldez thought to himself that something was missing.

"Who are they working with?" Saldez asked suddenly opening his eyes.

"What do you mean?" Telano asked not quite understanding.

Saldez looked around quickly, grabbed his cousin by the shoulder so Telano could walk with him towards the target he had been using for shooting practice. "Think about it Telano," he explained. "The Dassk didn’t take the field because they are addicted to Dream Lily, but they are far from conventional businessmen. It’s not like they can enter Stormreach."

"So the Dassk want control of the trade in this part of Xendrick." Telano reasoned.

"They wouldn’t mind seeing all of the Boromar clan dead either," Saldez added. "It seems to be an agreeable situation for them, using Boromar money and effort to gain power." It was a statement that gave Saldez renewed anger; it was his pocket that would be missing coins if he did not act quickly. Saldez had reached the target and began pulling his bolts out of it.

"What are we going to do?" Telano asked apprehensively as he watched Saldez wrap his crossbow bolts carefully into the quiver he carried and secured with a thin leather strap.

The Halfling looked his scarred cousin up and down. "Get yourself cleaned up," Saldez ordered. "Make some inquiries with our city contacts," he explained. "I want you to find out who is working for the Dassk in Stormreach."

"I will Sal," he paused, "what of you cousin?"

Taking a deep breath the young Saldez furrowed his brow, "I have to go see Popi, I need more men." He explained with utter seriousness on his face referring to the head of the Boromar clan in Stormreach, "If the Dassk want war, I’m going to give it to them."

They agreed they would meet later at the Phoenix Tavern, and Telano ran off towards the warded gates that would take him out of the Jorasco province. Saldez began making his way back to his villa thinking of how he was going to break the news to Popi, his great uncle, that the family had suffered a major loss. From his small, private garden in the back, he could hear Morah’s harp. He reached his villa, and sat on the stairs trying to allow the music to drown out some of his more troubling thoughts. The task ahead, he knew, was going to be far from easy.

The music stopped and he heard Morah open the arched door behind him. The pretty bard looked down at him with a trace of amusement in her golden eyes and her blonde hair falling around her face, "are you alright?" She asked.
He shook his head to indicate that he was and entered his home. Morah had taken the liberty to lay out fresh clothing for him, as well as a basin with warm, soapy water for washing up. He said nothing to her as he absently started using it. Instead his thoughts were on Popi, a shrewd businessman who could be quite brutal if he needed to be. He would want action, and he would expect Saldez to have a plan to solve this problem. It was something the athletic young halfling was still thinking about when he walked into his kitchen.

"How did it go?" He heard Morah say from behind him.

"What?" Saldez broke from his thoughts.

She asked again, a bit more timidly, "your practice, I trust it went well?" Morah could see the distraction in him, in truth the girl was still worried that he would decide he wanted to be all-alone in his new home. He had not said anything to her either way thus far, and he seemed very distant now. She had no desire for him to pick this moment to send her back to Lessah’s tiny apartment, so she began looking around for something to do.

"I need a favor," Saldez said finally.

She nodded her head and smiled a bit, "of course my lord." She said and sat down at the table to slice some bread.

He went into his study and grabbed a coin purse that had been very generously filled with gold. "I need bolts for my bow. There is a craftsman in the House Denith whose skills are unmatched," he explained placing the bulging purse in her small hands. "Would you do this for me Lovely?" He caressed her cheek quickly.

Morah nodded her head slowly in reply, never taking her eyes from his. Something was wrong, something was there, but the girl could not place the situation properly. Saldez leaned into her then and lightly kissed her forehead. "I appreciate this, you have no idea." He took a slice of bread from the table and walked out the door pausing only for a moment, he turned and said over his shoulder, "I’d like to see you in a new dress by the time I come back."

Closing the door he took off at jog in order to close the distance between himself and the House Kundrak as quickly as possible. He knew his great uncle, called Popi by almost all of the family, the man would be having his noon meal very soon inside the Anvilfire Inn.

House Kundrak was unique with its structure and architecture. The entire community was quite literally all gray, with high walls of stone, paved streets and grand staircases and bridges that seemed to reach right into the sky. Running past a cache of great stone pillars he made his way up a tiered stairway that would lead to the Anvilfire Inn where Saldez hoped he would be able to seek a private audience with Popi.

Inside the tavern, however, customers were everywhere. They lined the long foyer eating their noon meals on free-standing tables, and all the barmaids were hustling around trying to fill the orders of their customers. The longer tables were also filled with patrons. One long table in particular, was laden with dwarves drinking dwarven ale and singing of a grand adventure they had just returned from. Saldez held his breath as he passed them as they smelled of swamp and bog water.

In the rear of the tavern was a private dinning room with one long table set in it. Saldez pushed the door open lightly and peered in to see if his uncle was there. "We need more wine and more bread!" A booming male voice declared before its owner could see Saldez.

In the center of the table lengthwise, sat Popi, a middle-aged halfling with a double chin and a puffy face. His silver hair grew only on the sides of his head, leaving the rest quite bald and shiny, and his beady dark eyes were set way back in his head. The man recognized that the person entering was his nephew and not a waitress as he had hoped.

"Sal my boy!" He greeted the young halfling, "make yerself useful and fetch me a waitress!"

Turning around to search for a waitress, Saldez thought that he might argue the point, but decided against it. Bad news is best served with more wine, he reasoned, and he flagged a busy, tired waitress down. He ordered the bread and wine and awarded the tavern maid a few extra coins for the trouble.
"She’s on her way uncle." Saldez said as he entered the room again. On either side of Popi, were two very young and beautiful girls, twins, Saldez realized. They each had long brown hair and brown eyes, and wore matching toga dresses that had been dyed a beautiful light green. On Popi’s right the twin sat pouring what was left of the flask of wine into his glass. On his left, the twin was standing over him pulling grapes off of their stems.

Saldez bowed a bit to the ladies, and addressed Popi, "I am afraid I have grave news Uncle," Saldez began uncomfortably, not wanting to discuss business in front of anyone other than family. He looked to the girls and then back at Popi who immediately understood.

"Ladies, take a breather!" Smiling and waving to the twins he said, "yes goodbye beautiful girls…" He wiped his face and mouth with a napkin, and threw it down on the table as the twins made their way past Saldez, smiling at him and giggling to each other a bit as they did. "Now," he began, "what’s so bloody important that my lunch must be disturbed?" Saldez explained the situation, and watched his uncle’s face turn to a look of utter disgust.

"Aye, things were too good for too long," Popi reasoned, "It was only a matter of time before the Dassk showed their ugly, thieving heads." He fixed Saldez with a serious expression, "what do you want to do boy?"

He leaned across the table to his great uncle, "let me use the boys, Popi, let me take back the field before it is too late!"

Looking down at his wine and swirling it experimentally, Popi retorted, "it may already be too late Sal, going back to the gorge is certain death, even with an army, and what are ye to do even in that case?" The man argued, "You gonna make such a ruckus that all o’ Stormreach is gonna come running after ye! Is that what you want fer yer family son?" Popi fixed the young halfling with a look that suggested he wanted Saldez to think of another option.

Never wavering in his stance, or looking away, Saldez answered. "So the field is lost then Uncle? Without a fight?" He could not believe the Boromars of Stormreach would be taken advantage of so easily.

"Did ye hear me say that boy?" Popi scolded his nephew. "Stop letting yer anger do the thinking, and start looking at the long term." Popi leaned forward and explained further, "If you think you got what it takes to reason with a stinking Dassk and work out a deal, then go ahead and do it!" He pointed a finger in warning at Saldez as he spoke, "you’ll be dead afor the first words get passed yer lips! Yer in over yer head boy, and there ain’t no easy way out of this mess."

Saldez looked down trying to understand why his uncle would not be faster to defend his own territory, and then asked, "what if I am unsuccessful in negotiating with them Uncle?

"Have ye not heard a word I’ve said boy?" Popi yelled at him, "Let me give this one to ye slow so there’s no mistake. I don’t want those bloody ogres making even one copper off of Boromar labor." He lowered his voice and leaned very close to Saldez across the table, "you get it all back, or ye burn it, all of it, and better luck next harvest." Popi concluded implying that this would be a very costly lesson for the handsome halfling, and with a sharp wave of his hand, he dismissed his nephew.

Saldez walked out of the dinning area into the tavern. He could not understand why Popi would so easily let go of so much profit, but he also understood that his great uncle did not come by his position lightly.

The twins placed them selves in front of him as he was making his way to the tavern’s door, "Are you leaving so soon Master Saldez?" One of them asked. The second twin came very close to her sister and placed her arm around the girl’s waste suggestively and pressed her forehead against the girl’s cheek.
"Can’t you stay a bit longer?" The other twin added.

He bowed slightly and smiled, "ladies I am afraid I cannot, I have pressing business that wont wait."

They frowned slightly, and the first twin remarked, "then let us wish you luck for your next race." The girls flanked him on either side, and lightly kissed his cheeks simultaneously running a hand over his shoulder and down his back.
"There’s more luck where that came from." The second twin whispered very close to his ear, and the girls walked back toward the private dinning room.

Saldez looked around and realized that a dozen or so envious patrons were watching him intently. One halfling male wearing glasses and sitting alone was shaking his head in harsh judgement. Saldez realized he was one of the writers for the Stormreach Chronicle, most likely preparing his next scandalous story fueling evidence that the halfling was a playboy. Saldez shook his head in utter disbelief of how he manages to get himself into such messes. He left the tavern and made his way down the long path that would take him out of the gates of Kundrak.

His cousin Telano was waiting for him just on the other side of the gate. "There you are!" Telano exclaimed, "I was afraid I might have missed you!" Telano seemed anxious to share information.

"What news cousin?" Saldez asked, not wanting to spill Popi’s cryptic orders to the man just yet.

"I have a name, of the man who is managing Dassk interests in Stormreach." He explained. "He’s a thug, and rumored to be an escaped prisoner, but from where my sources could not say." Telano admitted, "in any case, his name is Corvile. We might find him doing business at the Leaky Dingy or in the harbor along the warehouse district."

Saldez flinched, the last time he had been to the harbor, he had to battle with the Halfling War Counsel for his life as well as Morah’s. It was a sticky situation he did not want to repeat, and the Stormreach harbor was far from his favorite place.

"Did you get permission from Popi to use the men?" Telano added hopefully. "When do we attack the Dassk?"

Saldez explained to his cousin what had transpired at his meeting with Popi. They walked along the West side of the Marketplace, making their way to Silversmith Road, which would lead them through the Marketplace proper, past the open-air vendors that was overlooked by Lessah’s small apartment, and through the city gates to the harbor district.
***

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XII "A New Proposition" Chapter 1

*Varro stared at the sands as he enlightened Tyr to her position in the world. He’d taken her to the only place he was relatively certain of privacy... the desert, beneath the small runty tree.*

Tyr: Then there is a real possibility I’m going to end up dead

Varro: *he sighed at having to relate this to her. In the time he’d spent mending her shattered psyche, he’d come to think on her as kin. Now one he considered family was a target for certain, and he had to be level with her concerning it* Yes. I’m sorry to come to you with this but I felt you had a right to know. The trouble is with the evidence I’ve gathered it conflicts with the answers. If it is Mekari trying to kill you, this is not her way. She would never bring harm to me; Uxor probably, but not me. All her work is to protect me. If it is those she works for however, I would be dead. It doesn’t make sense for them to hire one like Juryrig. In either case Tyr, I’m no longer certain how much protection I can offer.

*The two of them sat quietly a moment... she absorbing his news that her life was being hunted... he considering who was hunting her. Then his thoughts turned elsewhere.*

Varro: Mind if I ask you something a little less depressing?

*Tyr nodded to him*

Varro: I am considering asking Uxor to be my wife. I suppose that’s not so much a question but...

*Tyr beamed a smile at him* But what?

Varro: I don’t know that now is the most appropriate time to try to do something like that, in light of what all is going on.

Tyr: Brotherman... don’t wait until it is too late. Live life now. You go to her right now and ask her!

*At first Tyr’s suggestion seemed rash, but then he reflected on when he thought Uxor and he were going to die in that room... lying broken and helpless, waiting for the end. Did he really want to wait until once more there was a blade to his or Uxor’s throat before he had the chance to wed her?*

Varro: You’re right. We’re going. Now. *he stood up, motioning for Tyr to come to his side so he could transport both of them with a scroll*

Tyr: Can we make a detour first to the courier?

Varro: For you Sister, anything *he grinned and put an arm round her. This woman he owed much to. He let his thoughts roam to happy times of he and Uxor helping to teach her to be calmer, thus rescuing her from her self-imposed insanity. They materialized in his home with these thoughts. It would be no trouble to take Tyr on her detour to the courier box, for he had to locate Uxor. He scanned his Augur images closely for sign of her, but he knew that if she were not presently experiencing direct happiness or other such sentiment, she would not show to him. Then he rolled his eyes as he walked with Tyr through town, letting her tend to her errand. He was doing this the stupid way. He could either sift through billions of images of the pleasures of all in the lands... or he could simply find others of the guild who might have seen her. He knew too that Juryrig would be with her, so she ‘should’ be safe. He decided that the best place to start was the Phoenix, and he and Tyr set off to the tavern*

-----((Chat Transcript))----

Varro: *came striding into the Phoenix with Tyr in tow. He stalked back to his usual table, looking around, looking for Points* Points... *Not getting a response, he tries again* Points man, are you drunk? Where is Uxor? Where are you?

Ruse: *stands up suddenly as Varro and Tyr come walking in, and moves towards Tyr trying to gage the weight of whatever has caused the two to come in*

Tyr: Sunshine! *looks over at the black-haired woman in grey... and the elaborately painted face*

Ruse: *reaches her hand to Tyr, and following Varro, rather forgetting about Uma*

Varro: *looked round to see who else was in the tavern, and comes stalking towards the remains of Sprue and Dalius, both seeming a bit ... off* You two, have you seen Uxor?

Sprue: *hanging on the ladder beneath him, she looks up and stares into Varro’s nostrils, laughing so hard she loses her grip and falls to the lower level of the Phoenix*

Varro: *rolls his eyes at Sprue, thinking her to be completely blitzed*

Darius: Varro *he nodded* she’s in the guildhall right now. It does not seem a welcome place, and I was thinking of returning to Khorvaire for a while. Apparently I’m not welcome.

Varro: *he offers Darius a low bow* My apologies. It seems that recent strife among the ranks may impact our welcome to you my fine dwarf. I must say, you’ve shown us ample service. I greatly apologize, but I have a matter that cannot wait unfortunately. Thank you for your help.

Darius: Silver tongued as the reports say. You do amuse me, Velox.

Varro: I do that which I am required... and smoothing over the shortcomings of my fold well.... that is among them.

Points: *stumbles into the Phoenix, brushing at spider webs on this clothing.* HAIL ALL! GREET THE LUCKIEST ELF IN STORMREACH!

Darius: *stares at points* Well, look what the spider dragged in?

Points: *continues to brush at web* does it show?

Varro: *bows to those present* Well well Points... would I could stay for your good luck, but I have my own to tend

Points: *abruptly, he goes streaking out the door. Points is very quick*

Varro: *gives Points an odd look as he goes flying by. He heads out of the Phoenix, and stalked along the city streets, glancing back to see if Tyr was with him still. He arrives at the guildhall, pushing the doors open*

Points: *Tyr senses fear from the direction Points ran*

Tyr: *Practically sprints after Varro, but stumbles at the threshold of the guildhall* Points?...

Varro: *He walked towards the sound of Uxor and Cerulean talking, stalking straight for them*



Uxor: So... tell me what you have learned in relation to the visions of your forest? Of the key? Of the bear?

Cerulean: ... that doesn’t matter... they do not exist. Perhaps neither do I. But I accept that the path is there, and so is the bear, and the key, and the tree that we all must see felled in our path. I am ready to walk and simply see what is at the next step.

Juryrig: *stands up quickly in readiness. Blue shards begin to pulsate wildly as he fixates on the doorway*

Cerulean: Now speaking of... prepare for potential conflict. It’s just life getting in the way of our best laid plans. *smiles* he does love you very very much.

Uxor: *looked past Cerulean and Juryrig to the doorway that had both of their attentions*

Varro: *he walked into the side area where the little group of Cerulean, Uxor, and Juryrig were gathered, looking them all over*

Cerulean: Greetings Varro *smiles*

Varro: Seeker *he nodded to Cerulean* Agent Juryrig *he nodded to Juryrig, then stalked straight for Uxor*

Juryrig: *ignores Varro somewhat, intently staring at the doorway* Greetings Minstrel Varro Velox

Uxor: *had been seated on the ground across from Cerulean, and looked up with a broad smile at Varro* I didn’t expect you here, but I’m happy

Juryrig: *returned to a kneeling position, but the blue shards pulsate around leaking rivulets of oil*

Varro: *reached a hand out to Uxor, who took it unquestioningly, and he helped her to her feet*

Uxor: *As she stood, she felt something inbetween their palms...small and round. She looked at Varro with a raised brow, then down at her hand, but had no time as he kissed her fully, followed by saying*

Varro: I want you to wear this.

Cerulean: *stays quiet on his own, understanding beforehand*

Uxor: *she blinked at the item in her hand... the band of a ring, set with a red stone, and one that she most certainly recognized* I ... I can’t wear that... that was...

Varro: I gave it, and it was mine to keep when she fell. I have worn it until now... for I want you to wear it *he lifted his chin very matter of factly*

Uxor: This is *she trailed off, staring at Endaria’s ring in her palm*

Varro: What it is.. .is for the Lady Velox... if she’ll accept it.

Tyr: *unclenches the tension that Points sudden mental spike of fear induced, and remembered the parcel in her hands. She knew she’d need her hands free quite soon, so she unwrapped it, and flung the blue cloak from within the parcel over her shoulders, admiring the pretty silver sword worked in the fabric. The smaller package contained a matching brooch.* Ruse... these must be from Ruse *her smile on her face as she stepped into the guildhall, catching the last of what Varro was saying and doing. She laughs aloud as she comes closer to Varro, almost within arm’s reach* Say the words, Brotherman!

Cerulean: *Not intruding, but not silent either, feeling the energy of the room* Now’s the time to say the words.

Varro: *he glanced back to Tyr, then to Cer, followed by folding Uxor’s hand over the ring, as the form of Juryrig went streaking by them* Be my wife.

Juryrig: *glares at Tyr, moving toward her in great speed* We are under ATTACK! *unleashing his sword into a locked position, and running it through Tyr, tackling her in the process*

Cerulean: *wonders if to cast a hold person was his ‘path’ or if he must not interfer, and let Juryrig do this on his own*

*Varro and Uxor both turned round, calling out orders to Juryrig*

Varro: AGENT JURYRIG! That is not a threat!

Uxor: Jury, no, no!

[Merlask]

Fellowship of the Golden Night
The Ambassadors
Volumn XII "A New Proposition" Chapter 2

Tyr: *reels back at the sudden surge from the warforged, surprise more than anything else written on her face as a bubble of blood pops on her lips*

Cerulean: *Boisterously laughs at the whole thing. It simply... is*

Juryrig: *started to pummel Tyr with his free hand* Sword of Liberty!!

Varro: *fumbled through his belongings until he found his lute, and began to play music, which wafted through the hall towards Tyr and Juryrig. He cringed, trying to make his hand work the way it needed to. It was very painful, but Tyr’s capacity to be in one piece depended upon it*

Juryrig: *stopped striking Tyr, his sword still impaled in her remains, motionless*

Varro: F... *he set to a torrent of cursing, trying to heal Tyr’s wounds with bardic healing*

Tyr: *tries not to exhale, as each breath burbles around the blade in her torso*

Varro: *snapped at anyone who tried to approach* BACK!

Uxor: *came and tried to pull Tyr out from beneath Juryrig’s form*

Cerulean: *knowing an old trick, casts feather fall, making the heavy weight now light as a feather, and making Tyr and Juryrig easily seperable*

Uxor: *Between their efforts, and Varro’s healing, she manages to seperate the two*

Tyr: *turns an interesting shade of grey, mouth moving to form a word, but no sound, only pink froth* sssss.

Juryrig: *stared in hatred, unable to act. Blue shards pulsate frantically*

Varro: *knelt down to Tyr, so long as Juryrig was contained, and set to trying to pump more positive healing energy into her to further her progress away from parting the world*

*Ruse face is painted in fear, feet barely touching the ground in her magic-aid run. When the door is thrown wide by her slight weight, she takes in the scene in the main hall quickly.* Tyr!! *she cries*

Juryrig: *struggles to try and break from his mental bonds, and tries to focus his energies inwards.

Varro: *looked up to see Ruse. Undoubtedly, Tyr must have contacted her mentally...in distress no less. He wasn’t certain of the wisdom of that per say, for this was probably the last thing Ruse would want to see.* Get her out of here *he motioned to Tyr* take here somewhere for healing, but don’t speak of where you are going.

Cerulean: *calmly, he teleports himself to the Jorasco healing wards to speak with the head cleric, but explains to the healers that the location must be somewhere unknown.*

Varro: *he approached Juryrig, aware that Juryrig was able to hear him* Agent Juryrig...I will release you, but only if you relent your attack. If you do not... I WILL extract my justice from you directly

Ruse: *Varro’s sleeve was tugged quickly by the bard, whose face was already tracked with tears. She seemed to try to formulate words, but fails, noticing the blood on Juryrig’s arm blade*

Varro: *looked down at Ruse* Ruse... Ruse, I want you to stay with her, alright?

Cerulean: *he returned, taking both Tyr and Ruse with him. Blinking in and out, he retrieved the additional help the d’Jorascos required*

Juryrig: *strains against his bondage, oil pooling around him quickly*

Varro: *started to play a different song for Juryrig, then asked him questions* Agent Juryrig, why did you attack her?

Juryrig: *strained a little less* She is a Sword of Liberty, and I must protect Ambassador Uxor

Varro: Listen to me... very carefully... Tyr... is NOT... a Sword of Liberty. What you were told of her is wrong. Why do you keep insisting that? What evidence do you have that she is? You **** righteous ones and your blindness to the world... that is what I love about you *he grumbled* all are the criminal if you are told by someone with a bigger... rank... than you.

Juryrig: *winces as oil pours out of different seams* She is wearing the cloak and pin of the Swords of Liberty. They wear that when they attack.

Varro: The... *he stopped a moment*

Juryrig: They kill others...they murder...they suicide...they blow up...

Varro: Agent Juryrig, I have a strong reason to believe that someone is trying to sabotage Tyr and kill her... and I believe that one is my mother *he huffed* the one you call Agent Elana. Agent Juryrig, do I have the capacity to change my justice... as you have two remaining tasks...to protect Ambassador Uxor and Cleric Dalharil...*it was not as effective, but he gave a small bit of healing energy to Juryrig*

Juryrig: *quit fighting his bonds, and surrendered himself*

Varro: Juryrig...answer me... can I alter my request of justice?

Juryrig: Justice is yours, Minstrel Varro Velox *spoken in a whisper*

Varro: Very well Juryrig...you will no longer be the personal guard to Ambassador Uxor. You will simply cease trying to harm I, Uxor, or Tyr, period. Do you understand my justice?

Juryrig: I do not.

Varro: You have wronged I and Uxor...you know your orders were false, and thus you know Tyr is no Sword of Liberty. And additionally... you know that someone is trying to plant false information. The one who is doing it is trying to kill Tyr for their own selfish reasons.

Juryrig: You chose not to explain these things before Minstrel Varro Velox. You said... I was better NOT knowing.

Varro: Well had I know that you have absolutely and utterly no capacity to reason out the world around you... *he snarled* So in order to help you fulfill your justice to me, I am revising the wording to help you understand it.

Juryrig: *finally breaks free of his magical containment, and stares at the floor impassively*

Varro: That wording is... that I am no Sword of Liberty. Neither is Uxor. Neither is Tyr. There is an agent of the Dreaming Dark working to kill Tyr. Rather than actively working to protect Uxor... as my intent was for her safety, but she is obviously going to put herself in harms way every time you try to help her *he glanced at Uxor, who was quiet* You are actively going to not harm I, Uxor, or Tyr. Do I make myself clear?

Juryrig: I reject your new orders Minstrel Varro Velox.

Varro: You avoid my justice then?? You mean to tell me that you are actively going against my right?

Juryrig: I accept the original justice. This is not your justice.

Varro: Oooh, I see. This is not my justice. Tell you what... my justice is for you to not be a **** idiot and blindly leap to conclusions *he sneered*

Juryrig: *stares at his forearm blade*

Varro: If that woman dies, you have killed an innocent. I hope you’re comfortable with that.

Juryrig: I have performed my duties according to your justice, Minstrel Varro Velox. But there is no satisfying your justice. If she would have killed Ambassador Uxor, I would have failed your justice.

Varro: I am tired of your means of following orders. All I want... is for you to leave the woman I love alone... and for you to leave alone my sister... and be gone from our lives. That is what I want. She wasn’t going to kill Ambassador Uxor, I brought her here.

Cerulean: *reappeared* Ambassadors, a word please.

Varro: Yes yes, ALWAYS a word...*he turned toward Cerulean* out with it, what else do I have to do, hmm??

Juryrig: *retracts a still bloodied blade into his forearm, and stares at the floor*

Varro: Actually... no. Wait a moment *he stopped from moving toward Cerulean, and instead turned to face Uxor*

Cerulean: *is shocked at his courage to do this now, and proud as well for it*

Varro: *he held his palms out to her as if in surrender* Uxor... this is the life you’ll be signing onto. Constantly being tugged by the wills of the world, always under the blade of whoever is out to kill the Augur, or the son of Mekari... and I am sorry for it. So... that is what I have to offer you, and I am sorry.

Uxor: I will *she said quietly*

Varro: *he blinked at her, speechless for once*

Cerulean: *even in this tragic day, a big grin is on Cerulean’s face*

Uxor: *moved to Varro, slipping the ring upon her index finger. She took his face in her hands, kissing him softly and saying* Tend the others. I am going nowhere. I will still be here when you are done. If you are never done... I will still be here, and I will come to you, should you wait too long. *she then calmly approached Juryrig*

Cerulean: *to Varro* Ambassador then, let me give you some more good news. In private.

Varro: *stared after Uxor. Out of habit, his head roamed over to Cerulean in a daze*

Cerulean: *placed his hand on Varro’s shoulder, to teleport them away, whispering ‘congratulations’ before the five activation words*

Varro: *did not resist the teleport, but he seemed a bit out of it*