Parrotman Political Piranha
Posts: 353
(4/3/02 11:41 am)
04 - Collaboration - A Dark Plan
Xoriz stood in front of the tiny coffin that Hiemer had supplied. He chanted slowly and in muffled tones. Soft green light covered his hands and head, pulsing as he spoke. Slowly the light grew stronger in intensity as he neared the end of his casting. Ezmrella stood to the side waiting while Ouze and Rohm spoke in hushed tones farther away from the group. At once, Xoriz waived his hand in the air and ceased his chanting. The coffin was bathed in green light for an instant and then... nothing.
"Well, where is he?" said Ezmrella. "I don't know" Xoriz said. "There was no corpse to summon." The companions looked at each other in confusion. "Something is not right here" said Hiemer. Slowly signs of worry began to show in the faces of the companions. "Well now what?" said Ezmrella. Ouze looked at each of the members of the group around him. "Now, we go back for him."
Kapena awoke in a darkened room to the sounds of muffled chanting. A soft blue aura covered his body but faded quickly. He was dizzy and weak but he was once again alive. He recognized the lingering effects of a resurrection and slowly he rose to a sitting position.
In front of him sat a dark elf female. She was dressed in various pieces of armor, all of them black as midnight. At her side she carried a black mace, one that seemed to scream almost inaudibly, yet just on the edge of Kapena's range of hearing. She stopped her chanting, opened her eyes and looked at Kapena but did not say a word. Kapena returned her gaze. After a moment he spoke. "Who are you and where am I?" The dark elf rose to her feet, picking up her mace in her hand. Kapena rose as well and readied himself in his fighting position. He was still weary and dazed but fought hard to hide his true condition. The female smirked, then turned from him and walked deeper into the darkened room. Kapena's eyes followed her and for the first time noticed two other figures toward the back of the room. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness, and the weariness was wearing off allowing him to perceive his surroundings for the first time.
He was in a large darkened chamber. In the center of the chamber rose a towering spiral staircase leading to a stone walkway. Toward what he thought was the front of the room was an entrance with standing sconces on either side. Around the room itself torches were set in the walls. In front of the entrance stood the three figures and to either side of the entrance floated a small familiar. One familiar was dark red with tiny puffs of smoke rising off its body. The other was light blue and covered with small ice crystals. Both stared directly at Kapena, watching his every move.
Beyond these creatures, Kapena felt even more eyes upon him. He searched the room looking for the source of his discomfort. Finally, his mind brought his gaze back to the torches on the walls. There were 8 torches in all, all of them burning low and not giving off much light. He had noticed slight movements from the torches earlier, but his mind had dismissed it as the flickering light and the effects of being brought back to life. Now, with clearer perspective, he realized that each torch was alive and all were watching him, just like the familiars.
"How are you feeling young monk?" said a voice out of the darkness. The voice was female, yet cold and grating, almost unearthly. It seemed to echo around the room and off of the walls. Kapena realized the voice had come from one of the figures standing near the entrance. Slowly she approached him, a woman dressed completely in white. Her long flowing white robes draped her to the floor. Her skin was ashen and gray except for two large black wings protruding from her back. She smiled at Kapena and he caught sight of two fangs protruding from her mouth. "I trust you are feeling better?" she said. "Compliments of my hospitality." She nodded slightly. "I am Tserrina and you are still in my tower." Kapena felt a chill run through his body. Tserrina was a well known creature of evil and one who possessed much power. He and his friends had come to her tower seeking to plunder some of its riches and adventure through some of its halls, but they had vowed to stay clear of Tserrina's area, knowing she was a formidable enemy.
"My cleric allies have resurrected you so that we may talk" said Tserrina. "And what is it you would like to discuss" stated Kapena. "First, your intrusion into my home, and second, how you are going to help me." A sly smile crossed Kapena's features. "I do not believe I will be helping you any time soon, and as for your home, it could use a little more light... something to brighten the place up mayhaps." Tserrina was not amused yet held back her anger. "Ahh, but you will help me, and for that I will forgive the intrusion." "You are the leader of a band of companions,... friends if you will?" Kapena nodded. "Well then, it is they who I wish to speak to you about." "Particularly the ones known as Ouze and Xoriz."
Kapena tensed visibly. He did not know what this was all about, but he did not like the way Tserrina seemed to know so much about his friends and he liked the idea even less that she had some business with them. Tserrina noticed his shock and confusion. "Yes, Ouze, Xoriz and I have unfinished business, but that is not the issue for you." "You will help me settle the matter." "You will help me destroy them both!"
"I will not" stated Kapena. "Kill me if you wish, but I will not help you." "Oh you silly human" laughed Tserrina. "Why would I kill you after I have gone through all the trouble to bring you back to life." "No, you will serve a greater purpose to me alive rather than dead, and you WILL help me." "You will see." Tserrina's voice hardened as she spoke and the smile left her face, replaced with anger. "Even now as we stand here, your friends are on their way back to this tower." "They seek to rescue you.... how noble." "They will come, and they will die." "In that way you will already be aiding me in my goals."
Kapena knew his friends and he knew Tserrina's words were probably true. They were probably on their way back to the tower in search of him right now. He was the bait that Tserrina was using to spring the trap for Ouze and Xoriz, as well as the other friends who accompanied them. Kapena's heart sank as he began to worry for his friends, yet, he had journeyed with them many times and knew them to be a resourceful and capable group. He just hoped they were capable enough to deal with Tserrina's tower.
"Not only will you lead them back to me monk," Tserrina stated, "but you will assist me in the final battle that brings about their demise." "What perfect irony that the companions will be slain by one of their own." At that Tserrina began to laugh out loud. "You are mad," Kapena said, "and you are mistaken." "We shall see young human.... we shall see" said Tserrina. At that she turned from Kapena and strode from the room, her long white robes trailing behind her. She was followed out by the cleric and the other figure. As they left, 10 large crystal golems entered the room. The moved to block the exit from the room as well as the stairway in the center of the room.
"I guess they don't want me to leave," thought Kapena. "Well guys, not sure what you have gotten yourselves into, but looks like a fine mess.... should be fun." A smile crossed Kapena's features. He sat down to meditate, and wait.
Edited by: Parrotman at: 5/31/02 10:20:23 am
Parrotman Political Piranha
Posts: 354
(4/3/02 6:49 pm)
Re: 04 - Collaboration - A Dark Plan
That will be revealed later Ouze. All part of the story.
Maybe it is a dark elf cleric, maybe not. Lets just say that just because it "looks" like a dark elf female, does not necessarily mean it is a dark elf female.
Mr. Saturday Night Fever
Posts: 980
(4/4/02 10:54 am)
Re: 04 - Collaboration - A Dark Plan
hehe, I love these stories....its so funny to hear descriptions of the tower and know exactly the spot being described....i can see now how a series of Everquest books could be successful. Keep up the good work storytellers, I'm always excited when I see a new post under the Tavern of the Wandering Muse!
Maybe in a year or two you can combine all the pieces, clean it up a bit and send it off to a publisher ...ok maybe that's a little ambitious, but this stuff really is entertaining.
...ok maybe that's a little ambitious, but this stuff really is entertaining.
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