It was cold. A lonely melody rang out, rising and falling with the howling wind as it blew cracks in the ice.

“…avahé ramasöe
anara kanitïe ré
aso salitïe
mara ahkiré a narée…”

The voice singing was an older voice, full of wisdom and age, but as it carried on the wind another voice joined it. This voice sounded younger but it had the same wisdom, senserity and fullness as the first. That girl who was older than time itself, who sounded so young and innocent was mourning for the death of the only person she had ever known. The voice which had started was that of her new guardian but as the tears streamed silently down her face the girl who had no name made a vow to never rest until her sister was avenged and the whole world was at peace, forever.

as he trekked through the dense forest, Verminard heard the voice, wafting on the winter wind. Changing direction, he headed towards it. Southeast. More forest he thought. he was used to the open mountains in the north. At least it was cold here. Thats a girls voice he thought. He picked up some deeper tones, harmoniously blending in with the treble of the girl. breaking through the forest at last he found them, sitting on a rock

OOC: Please can more people join here??

BIC: The girl stood tall and proud with more authority than it looked as thought she had - she looked only about fourteen in age. She looked the stranger in the eye with a piercing stare that made her look as thought she was reading his mind then bowed deeply and said:

“Frei gān ikara-e oë ahkiré uï dreyn-a, ré sali amaan aletho qariik nu.” At the same time a voice seemed to echo her words in the common tongue: By the power of ice and fire I will speak truth unto you.

OOC: please we need more characters than this!!

Raign walked through the forest following the mysterios voice he heard. "It's so ominous, everywhere yet nowhere. Whoever is singing this mornfull song is not normal in any way, let's hope whatever it is is good." Raign thought until he stumbled into a clearing and looked down to see the ice had been recently cracked, the fissures ran deep. "Who is this who's voice can pierce the elements themselves?" asked Raign as he looked at the small being.

She straightened up and was about to say something when a crunching noise sounded on the ledge behind her. She whirled around and scanned the landscape with a piercing gaze, then spoke a harsh command:
"Reiyna frë xar ranyïa-el nu geia. Nu geia trimaë rashnē nu geia mana dreshnāk." Come out wherever you are. You are safe unless you are my enemy.

OOC: lets go in this order: me, nutta_99, Haydenblowers91

ooc: soz iv been in edinburgh 4 2 weeks with my theatres production on the fringe festival

ic:Watching from the darkness of the trees Verminard watched closely. The posture of the girl seemed to radiate authority, and the stranger who had just appeared out of thin air seemed to be saying something. I can play at that game too he thought, and rapidly teleported himself by their side

Raign stepped out farther into the clearing. "I am not your enemy, unless your mission is of evil or wrongdoing." said Raign trying to make himself look larger and more confident than he actually was. "I must ask who are you, and where have you gained such power?" Raign quizzed.

her eyes focused on him for one second then she turned away and replied: "Who I am is none of your business, and where I get my powers is no concern of yours either." she stopped then flicked her gaze towards the other and said: "And what are you doing here, Verminard? Yes I know your name...and you're Raign, right?" she said turning her piercing glaze on him. Then she turned and walked to the woman seated on the rock and whispered something in her ear. The old lady stood and bowed stiffly while she returned the farewell, then her Guardian turned and walked out of sight.

"So," her voice had a demanding tone to it, "so, why are you here? Wait don't tell me, I think I already know..."

"I apologise for your loss, I recognised the Funeral Chant. As for what i was doing, if the stars have revealed to you what i search for then is their any need to ask me about the Dreamer and what power he holds?" And he shot her a look of withering admonishment. "What are my trivial matters to you?" All seeing one he added in his mind, sarcastically. He never really cared for fortune telling and divinators. What would come would and what wouldnt wouldnt. Was their any need to know in advance?

Raign laughed "Of course, forgive my manners, I was merely trying to understand the source of your power, it's not everyday I come across even another wizard let alone someone with your skill, but it seems I am not welcome here, so I will be leaving, Good day" Raign walked away from the clearing. "I'll see you again, I am sure." said Raign as he dissapeared into the woods.

"Thankyou for that sarcastic thought, Verminard. And the dreamer is not a he - you should know that the Dreamer can be either male or female. You are searching for the Dreamer and you have found her. I am she.

The Dreamer shall be the one with unmentionable powers. The one with no name and no memory of their past shall become the Dreamer.

That is what the prophecy states although I do now know my past from the dawn of the world and some of my future towards the nightfall of the world and its end.

Indeed we will meet again, Raign, and we will too Verminard although I fear our meeting will be perilous and result in death for one of us. Trimaë-frié iek nu. Farewell to you.

The voices of his dragon guardians came back to him. Be wary of the all seeing one, for the dreamer will find you when you are in great need. Come to the dreamer with no questions, for all shall be revealed to you in time... despite this, Verminard pondered "How is it that one such as yourself would let one dear to you pass away? Surely it was within your power to stop it?" Verminard left his question hanging in the air, and, turning on the spot metamorphosed into a dragon and winged his way northward after Raign.

OOC:I can't come up with anything go on without me.

ooc: ok then

ic: On a whim, Verminard turned round and cried "Wait!!" yet all that came out was a harsh cry. Suddenly remembering he was in his dragon form he used telepathy. Wait, let me travel with you? he asked. For some reason, when he was around the dreamer his wits seemed dulled, or maybe it was just because he was in awe of her.

OOC: yay...the story's going good!!

BIC: The way you said that made it sound as though you need protection. You can transform into a dragon; what protection do you need? The voice echoed back into Verminard's head.
I will travel with you if you wish me to for I must find my enemy sometime. And I did not let my sister into danger; she did it herself and betrayed me.

With that she muttered a few incomprehensible words and huge ebony-coloured wings burst out of her shoulder blades and she jumped high and pushed strongly with her bird-like wings; up, up, up and she was at Verminard's height like a guardian angel with black, feathered wings that matched her longer-than-waistlength hair.

"Where are you travelling to and for what reason?"

"Protection? I was raised by the wild dragons in the north.!" With the flick of a talon the forest around them withered and died and a thousand carrion beetles burrowed up from the bowels of the earth. With another hand movement they desintgrated like ashes on the wind. I know secrets of old which none but them may know about. Although, from meeting you i am not so sure. Are there any more ancients left? No matter, I merely wanted a companion. One gets lonely, as im sure you realise. With a silghtly boastful air, he cried "Catch me if you can!" and started a roller coaster flight northwards. He was happy to be travelling with a companion again!

ooc: soz 4 double posting, i dunno wat happend lol! comp musta messed up!

OOC: their problem solved

IC:Raign walked through the woods but looked back as he saw the trees wither and beetles come out of the ground then all dissapear. "They must be having a little fun." He thought as he kept walking. Raign kept walking through the forest until he reached an area with the stump of a tree, he walked over and sat down on it, then took out a wineskin and drank deeply from the wine. All was going well until the ground started to shake. Raign looked to the left and saw a troll come out of the woods, it was large and brutish, with gnarled teeth and a pointed nose. It saw Raign and began to charge with a club in hand. Raign simply stood up, pointed his staff at the beast and said, three words, and the beast was gone.

Don't blame me for being to fast!!
She laughed truly for the first time in days and then put on a huge burst of speed and energy and swept past Varminard like a storm-coloured blur, lightly tapping him on his scaly dragon-back as she rocketed past. Got you, but can you catch me?Then she laughed once more and calling out the word "zrei-na speed " swept upwards into the darkening sky, her wings blending perfectly with the soon-to-be-star-studded sky.

Being a dragon doesn't mean you can catch the Dreamer, Vermina-. Suddenly she stopped and gasped then slowed and slowed until she was not moving upwards, but falling downwards. She managed to call out "catch - write - ice-glyph" and throw something to him and then her mind lost contact with his and she began falling towards the ground. Falling fast. Falling very fast.

racing through the sky Verminard could sense something was wrong. He saw the Dreamer fall and as if in slow motion throw something to him. he caught it and quickly changed into an angle like figure so he could have use of his arms. stowing the cold blue object without a thought he rocketed towards her and pulled out of his dive with seconds to spare. he had been a foot from the ground he thought unhappily. The dreamer lay draped over his shoulder, where he had caught her. a second later and she would have died. Then Verminard felt it. the same power which had made the ancient pass out. He collapsed on the floor, exhausted from his magic-driven flight.

Raign looked to the north, he heard a crash and new instantly that their was trouble with the dreamer and her new friend. "I'd better help." he thought as he started to run toward the crash. After several minutes, he came upon the two wrapped up in webs. "Looks like they flew right over the nests of the slumber spiders." thought Raign "The one race of spiders who can produce a gas that will paralyze and knock out anyone within one-hundred yards due to it's ability to limit adrenaline in the blood, good thing is they are slow and they like their food aged, problem is they can be huge due to the fact that they never stop growing." Raign walked over to the webs and cut them. "Luckily, I am not effected by it, being the berserker, have an unlimited and undepletable amount of adrenaline." He looked to Verminard and saw an object wrapped in his bag. "Power, that object has alot of it, more than many, almost as much as I." Raign grabbed them both and put them on his shoulders and ran. Raign allowed his berserker ability to surge so that he could run far faster for far longer.
Raign was just about to pass through the webbed area, when a giant spider lept in front of him. "This creature is far to big for me to cast away." thought Raign "Looks like I'll have to use my other abilities." said Raign as he put the two down, drew his sword and dove at the creature shoving his blade into it's head, then dragging the blade through the spiders exoskeleton until it was cut from front to back, he dove off as the creature died, then walked over to the dreamer and Verminard, picked them up and walked away from the spiders reach.

She regained her senses in a pale, flickering world. She blinked a few times and sat up then gave a small cry of pain and fell back. She sat up gingerly and examined her side, wincing. It had not been just the spiders she thought, It was more than that. Then she found it; a small arrow the length of her forearm, buried deep in her left side. She summoned her energy then whispered "ahkiré zrei -na nu renn" Ice speed you on, then she carefully - painfully - drew out the arrow and sat examining it, one hand clamped tightly over the arrowhole in her side.

"From the Dreynak folk? Or the Grej-nak people? Or from the Other Ancients themselves?"
She felt her wings gingerly, glad that they had notr been hit by anything and moved them experimentally with a pained expression on her face; the muscles were stiff.

"Verminard and Raign are here somewhere." She stood and swayed then gained her balance and walked to a rock nearby, behind of which both Verminard and Raign lay, asleep.

Verminard had been awake for hours. He had been listening with his eyes closed, ready for the slightest thing. He opened his eyes at a slight rustle. The Dreamer was standing over him. Damn, how can she be so quiet? It'll be a while before I can trust her fully. Jumping up he saw the dark patch on her tunic. "You're hurt. Here let me help" and placed his hand on the wound. It glowed green and scabbed over. "Strange, that arrow must have been extremely powerful for my healing not to work properly. Unless you can do better thats all I can do for you."
"That thing you threw me, what was it? All I saw of it was that it was blue and cold." He hung his head in shame "I'm afraid I lost it, but I feel it's presence. Maybe our friend picked it up? I did not venture to waken him just in case he grew angry, however I probed his mind and apparently it was slumber spiders that weakened us. Who would have believed it? An ancient and myself, taken out by slumber spiders. We have him to thank for our rescue methinks."

ooc: soz 4 the monologue, i got carried away

Raign awoke to see the dreamer and Verminard both talking. Raign sat up and said. "Sure didn't take you long to wake up." Raign said "And I'm sorry I could not remove the arrow from your side, but I didn't have the proper tools and I didn't want to risk doing permanent damage. I'll make some dinner, in case the two of you are hungry." He got up and piled sticks into two piles after setting both on fire he put a pot with water, tea, and some other herbs, and in the other he put a pan with sausage and some vegtables. "While I'm cooking why don't the two of you go and find some more wood, and see if you can't get me a couple of smooth stones to keep the pot warm."
Once the tea water was boiling he poured it into his waterskin and drank from it. "Now if you do not mind me asking this again." he said to the dreamer. "Who are you, and where did you get such power?"

She stared at him for a heavy moment. Her eyes flashed orange and fire seemed to dance in them, then they suddenly turned icy blue and she stood to leave but something about the two men made her stop. She turned to face them and merely said. "I am the Dreamer. My power is of the Ancients. What I see when I am sleeping can be beyond even my comprehension and could be dangerous to us all."
Then she spread her wings and pushed hard off the ground where she was soon lost to sight in between the stars.

Verminard I can trust, I think, but the other one, Raign I'm not so sure. Verminard lost the Mooncaller's Dirk but he could sense it's power, she thought, coasting on a warm current of air and looking down at the pinprick of light that was the campfire. But while I have no past or name I cannot call anyplace home nor anyone my true friend. I will have to return silently.

She adjusted the angle of her winds and dived fast towards, gasping as the cold air whistled past her and made the wound in her side ache. She landed lightly on the ground and folded her wings behind her then walked silently up behind the two men sitting around the fire. She shivered slightly despite the warmth of the fire and then came out into its light and sat facing them.

Very witty, but surely you can do better than that? is a simple spell of concealment too far below you if you want 2 make a stealthy entrance? Verminard mused to himself. "Ancient, you have told us this much, but what is your name? It feels too formal to call you dreamer or ancient. And no, I did not lose the 'Moon Callers Dirk' if thats what you want to call it, but I can tell it is very near..." using a spell of finding, Raigns satchel glowed green. "Like I said, it is very near. Now, Raign, I would not venture to call you a theif unless you refused to hand over this Dirk, but I dont think you want to reckon with an Ancient do you?"

"I would be glad to hand over the Dirk, I only had it to conciel it from watchfull eyes, but understand this I do not fear the ancients or anyone for that matter, even death has little domion over me." said Raign as he unpacked the Dirk and handed it to the dreamer. "I have been on, and of this earth for hundreds of years, and have uncovered secrets only the eldest and most powerfull beings, on earth know, and some noone but me know, it would be best not to test me." Raign clutched his staff, and looked into the woods. "We had best be moving, follow me if you want the path out of the slumber spiders nesting area, if you would rather find it on your own, do as you wish." said Raign as he sarted walking off. "Enemies may be aproaching, and you can not fly high enough to escape the slumber spiders gas, or the arrow of whoever was aiming for you."

ooc- hold on a sec, is that bit about "i know things that only the highest of ancients know" almost exactly the same as wat i said? i dont suppose u cud edit it cud u? soz 2 be annoying but its kinda repetitive doncha think?
p.s. soz e4 posting out of context

OOC:Better? sorry didn't mean to copy what you said, just trying to come up with an accurate way to describe it.

ooc- doncha just feel so much better now? rofl i pwned u u fecking n00b lmfao!!!!!!!!!! rant over...

"If you want to know my name you should not ask me; I do not know my name, nor where I came from. The only thing I know is that I was born at the Dawn of Time itself. I only remember from three thousand years back. If you want to call me a name you may call me Kerri. It means dark and mysterious, and indeed that is my past."
She took the dirk and tossed it upwards where it vanished.
"I know I could have used a concealment spell but I chose not to; I didn't need a stealthy entrance." She directed this comment at Verminard.
"Are we leaving now, then?" She pulled three glowing, icy-blue, shell-like pieces of rock seemingly out of nowhere. "These will help us all, I think." She held them in her palm, where they quivered slightly. "Take one each and combine its power with yours." She murmered a few incomprehensible words under her breath then looked up.
"Are we flying or walking tonight?"

"ok then, Kerri, lets walk. I feel that I've had enough flying for one day. Don't you agree?" Verminard chuckled quietly. "so what are these things? As for joining them with my power, i will do. Now, if you'll excuse me I want to put this on my sword hilt. The ruby i already have needs a partner doncha think?" And with a flick of a finger the little blue rock embedded itself on the sword hilt, the light coming from it pulsed and a tounge of light slowly slid out from the stone and encased the blade in a shining blue caccoon. The light from it slowly dimmed and left the blade with a blue sheen. Hefting the weapon, Verminard felt a new power running down his arm, strengthening him. "Kerri, where did you get these things?" A smile spread across his face. "Guys, iwould advise you to do the same..."

"I would rather not use mine until needed." said Raign as he slid it into his satchel. "But, thank you Kerri for the gracious gift." he said smiling. "We should go this way, it is most clear of other dangers." Raign said as he lead the way. "Of course, Karri, you still need to tell us where we are going. I can find most anywhere on this planet, but I need to know where to find first."

"I am not headed to a particular place but I am looking for a particular daemon, by the name of Pyralis. He is a fire daemon headed for destruction as soon as I catch up with him." Her eyes turned a brilliant orange and glowed and she pressed her lips together and was silent for a while as they continued walking.

"He led my sister to his side, promising to her great riches and luxury. Then when I began to chant the Summoning he killed her. You see, the words of the Summoning are similiar to the words of the Rite of Death. He made it look like I killed her. Her spirit thinks I killed it." She fell silent once more.

"Well, where would we find this Pyralis? I hope it's to the North, for that was where i was born and I think a visit to my guardians would be in order. They are dragons of the Rift and I am sure they would help us find your sisters killer" Verminard shot a look at Raign. "I don't think you need a spell to find this place. I know where i was born. Shall we go then?"

"North, south, east west? It doesn't matter which way we go. We'll find him." her eyes narrowed, "and kill him," she murmured under her breath.
"The dragons of the Rift are truly ancient,"she continued. "They will help, I hope, for we may need it."
She turned to face Verminard fully.
The ahkiré zrei -na? They're easy to conjure out of nowhere. I didn't get the from a specific place, I only got the idea from the woman I lived with back many years. She was a sorceress with a twisted mind but she had some sanity at some of the time. She was always grumbling about how she couldn't 'carry' magic with her so I made a way to do it."

ooc: guys, i think that if sum1 directs a specific question then we shud answer it straight away rather than waiting our turn. if we fight, roam or enter a normal post then go in sequence

Raign reached down and touched the soil, after inspecting it he said. "We should go, enemies are closing in, and it would be quickest to avoid them, but first" he said as he grabbed a branch and stabbed it into the ground, then he said the ancient words and it began to grow until it became a full tree and sprouted fruit, apples. "Let us gather provisions."

waving his wrist, a spring welled from the ground. Filling the waterskins, he looked up. A nightwolf was watching close by. "Lupus!" he cried in the ancient language "Come to me, be my companion!" The wolf, compelled by the ancient language, ambled over and licked his hand. Useful he thought. Checking on the others he saw they were ready.

OOC: sorry, I've had heaps of schoolwork and stuff, but I'm back now

IC: Kerri stood and nodded. "Let's leave now." She had not taken any provisions from the tree however she did take a mouthful of the water from the spring. I hope we're doing the right thing here, she thought. A voice spoke inside her. Yes you are. You are the Dreamer. Soon you will have a Dream that Pyralis has left this world but you must keep following. You must do this or you will never save your sister's soul.

She looked up and saw that there was not a single star in sight in the sky anymore. well we should keep going or the Vanished Stars will be against us. She appeared quite agitated and sighed, frustrated. "Let's leave now; we must leave now."

OOC: can't think of anything just go on without me.

Taking his sword, he raised it in the air. Saying a quick word it pointed due north. Taking the sword and sheathing it again, he strode northwards, with the wolf by his side. Looking around him, he sensed an uneasy and then realised. It was dark, and extremely quiet. Looking at the sky, he say it was the time of the vanished stars. For a village, it was but a turning of seasons, but to the learned it meant ill portents and evil was afoot. Turning to kerri, he said "I grow uneasy. Tell me more of this Pyralis that we hunt. He seems to be enshrouded in mystery, and it doesn't make me any happier"

"Pyralis is a fire daemon, born at the Dawn of Time, like myself. He was enthroned with the Ancients of the Ancients but he abused the power so they threw him out and he became like a fallen angel; with power but unable to use it, strangled by his own mistakes. However he managed to escape the Curse of the Fallen so now he reigns over the Dead."
She stopped and shuddered then continued in a lower voice. "Pyralis put a spell on many dead people and they are now under his command. Although they are called the Daed they are neither dead nor alive; they are cursed and unless Pyralis falls they will stay that way.Then he found out about my sister. She was eight years old when he killed her and - "she stopped and stayed silent. She tried to control herself but slowly one tear and then another came rolling down her cheeks and she cried silently for a while, unable to control herself and her grief for the only family she had and ever would know.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were so close to her, as you are so old and she was so young. Please forgive me." They walked on a bit "Wait... listen" Verminard said. Drwaing his sword, he advanced cautiously. A twig borke to their left. He looked and thought he say a dark shadow running towards them. Upon hearing another noise he span round. "Defend yourselves! he cried as the shapes bounded towards them. Slashing at the nearest one, it parried with it's knife. Pygmies. Vicious, but not harmful, unless in large groups. Just their luck that there was about 30 or so of the things. Fienting a head cut, he quickly reversed it and cut the pygmies legs from under it, turning he engaged another in combat


ooc: i think that if all we do is walk then it'll get boring, so after this fight and a few more posts after that, lets skip ahead to the next town we get to

Raign grabbed a pigme by the neck and cast it into oblivion. Then he turned to another and smote it with the flat of his blade. "This should be too easy." he said as he threw another to the ground. "Just watch out for the poisoned arrows and darts." advised Raign as he ducked from the spear of another. He swept the feet out from under another then knocked it unconcious.

ooc: why does no1 post anymore?

ic: Taking out two with a short swing, he impaled another to a tree with it's own spear. Jumping over a short sword that was waggling harmlessly around his knees he kicked it's owner in the head, breaking its neck. "9 down, 21 to go! Kerri, what are you doing? Defend yourself!"

Kerri smiled slightly and whispered "ahkiré ikara-e." Her right palm glowed and then a flash of blue light flashed from it, knocking down every pigmy left, stone dead.
"There, that good enough defense?" she raised one eyebrow in the direction of Verminard and Raign. "Are we going to keep going?"
I suppose I could have drawn a sword but its quicker that way, I suppose She smiled slightly something reminding of her sister trying to lift her sword two years ago. She had only been six at the time. She had succeeded in lifting the hilt and was desperately trying to get the blade off the ground. Kerri had walked in and wrapped her hands around her sisters' and together they had lifted it. Her sister smiled and had hugged Kerri then said "I love you - " and Kerri couldn't remember what she had said. It had been her name for sure and she just couldn't remember what it was.

SHe came slowly back to the real world and found herself crying again. Her sister was dead and until they got to Pyralis she could do nothing. Tonight I will Dream her she thought, determined. And I'll never ever let her think I did anything bad to her again.

Raign could see the sadness in Kerri's eyes "we should keep going." he said as he started down the path "I don't know if I can help her, but I will try, the sadness she feels is just wrong." Raign thought.

ooc: does anyone have any objections if we skip 2 the next town we get 2? other wise this cud take a longggggggggg time. If no one minds, the next person to post start off in the town.

ic: Verminard stared at Kerri's back as she walked away. Being the Dreamer was one thing, but being the Dreamer and still believing that using the power of the un-named one of the dark was ok was a lethal combination. Whatever Pyralis is he thought, he better watch out. there's a lot of hate in this girl. He started out of his reverie, and hurried to catch up with them.

As they walked, Kerri was aware of a faint twinkling of light up ahead of them. When she reached out with her mind she discovered, and some how remembered that there was a town up ahead. She entered through the archway that lead to the town then turned to her companions.
"We should probably find somewhere to sleep. It's nearing midnight." She stopped walking and her whole body stiffened.
"I know this place," she whispered. "I -"
She stopped "Never mind. Let's find somewhere to stay."
She tried not to look either Verminard or Raign in the eye. They'll see my eyes change to Dreaming state, she thought. But it was still awkward walking and talking with them without looking at them.
"...anaruïei, anaruïei, anaruïei..."she whispered under her breath, over and over. Dream on, dream on, dream on.

Raign noticed that Kerri was acting odd, "Hmm, why is she refusing my gaze?" he thought as he entered an inn. "I'm sure I'll find out by the end of this night." Raign walked up to the counter and placed some coins on the counter, "One small room the cheapest you've got." he said as he tried to look Kerri in the eye but she once again refuted his eyes.

Verminard watched Raign. He seemed to be trying to catch Kerri's eye. Did he feel something for her? He didnt know, and put it from his mind. He muttered a quick word, and a heavy bag appeared on his waist. "Let me get this Raign. I'm feeling generous" and he placed his money bag on the counter. "3 of your medium sized rooms please, landlord" turning to Kerri, he grinned and whispered "Well that was simple! By the time we've gone, it'll just be an empty leather sack in his cupboard"

Kerri tried to smile back but succeeded in a slight, pained grimace. She started up the stairs and was almost at room twelve where she swayed suddenly. She put out her hand against the wall to steady herself but the hallway started spinning around her and she didn't resist the pull; she couldn't, and she blacked out.

SHe was aware of being unconscious but she was in her Dreaming state; so she dreamed.

Verminard picked her up, trying to be gentle. He unlocked her room and deposited her on the bed. Putting the key on the table, he pushed the hair that had fallen across her face gently back. He stood up quickly. It was the eyes that frightened him. Roving, although unconcious. All-seeing, yet seeing nothing. He was aware of Raign watching him from the doorway. Crossing the room, he closed the door behind him, and laid a spell on it so that any thief who tried to open the door except with the key he had used (which now lay beside Kerri) would have his soul torn out of him. Quite why he used such a violent and destructive spell he did not know. All he could think about was the eyes. "My friend" he said "I bid you goodnight. Keep an ear and eye open" And he retreated to his quaters. Taking off his belt and sword, he laid them on the chair. Taking his soul-knife out of his robe, he poured a little energy into it so that if he should defend himself, it would poison the victim. Drastic, once again, but he realised that these were drastic times. With a final word, he turned his staff invisible so that he could have it by him without anyone realising should they sneak into the room, and fell asleep.

Raign watched from the hallway as Verminard went into his room. "A clever idea with the door, but I doubt he was counting on what I can do." thought Raign as he went to his room. "This board stretches all the way through her room." he thought as he put both hands on the board, and then his senses stretched out into the board. He found himself in Kerri's room watching down on her from his bed. "If only I could do something more to help her." he said knowing noone could here the essence of his being. "She is a good person, a little lost, but all in all good. The world is losing it's magic, people are losing the feelings they once had to their neighbors, it's not often that you come across a person as good hearted as she." Raign looked deep into her eyes trying to find her in them, by the end he could see the small bit of her, small but impossible to defeat. "I will help her. For I know how it is to want vengence, and how empty it feels when you have finally atained it. I just hope I can help her, her and her sister."

At that moment, Kerri's mind was calling to her sister and crying, but without real tears. Silent but with real, true pain. "Alanna! Alanna! It's me, your sister!" Her dream-self cried out and a spirit came to her.
You will not find her here, she is with the one you hate most. She is unaware of your existance anymore. Then the spirit vanished.

Kerri came back to the real world, crying uncontrollably. It was late at night, no, early morning. The suns rays were just peeping over the horizon as she looked, thorugh blurry, teary, eyes out the window. She tried to pull herself together.
"We have to keep going," she whispered fiercly to herself, "or Alanna will be lost." As she spoke the name it seemed to give her strength. "We will go on."

Verminard had slept badly. He had visions of dark corridors and candle-lit rooms. Memories of his former life plauged him. His mother dying, he sister being raped before him. His father having his head loped off before his eyes. The dragons. Swooping down, the terrible reeking smell of carrion, the withering fire and the Eldest one of all. Kallessin. Coming silently on crimson wings, stretched thin through the bones of his being. The silver-scaled armour, red tinged around the joints. Killing all in his path except the human child he addressed as the Burnt One. One who flew on the other winds, where the air was fresher than here. He was one of a chosen few, who could shape-shift into the purest of his being and back whenever he felt the need arise. He was worshipped as a God, and taught as much knowledge as a God would know, but the envy of the other dragons came upon his guardians. At their death, he killed the whole tribe, a pure white dragon standing in the midst of the carcasses, stained black with the poisoned dragon blood. Knowing what he had done, he fled to human-beings where he could be sane. The position he held over other dragons was terrifing, even to him. None would dare harm him yet none wold come near him unless called. Corridors and darkness, ever stretching beofre him. Walls with eyes... some-one was watching him. Someone close. No, not him, another. Rising, he redressed and went to Raigns room. "Raign, I respect you, but if I place security measures on a door to stop enemies getting in, I do not expect friends to take even harsher measures to get inside also. I'm sorry. I forget myself. Come, we must leave at once." He faced North, towards the dragons who feared him, yet were bound to his service. All was not lost yet, not if they could do something about it.

Riagn chuckled "I apologize but it was not you who I was watching, Verminard, you don't seem to need as much help as Kerri does, it was she who I was watching." Raign said as he rose to his feet. He hadn't slept last night, nor any night since he had learned the wizard's craft. "But I do agree, we do need to go." then Raign prepared his pack and left the room.
A couple hours later they were miles away from the town walking along a path that crossed through a field of wild flower. "I love the calm of such days." said Raign, and as if on cue the ground began to rumble and out of the field rose a giant worm. It's rows of teeth shown as it sensed out the position of the three. "Well, so much for peace." was all Raign said as he drew his sword and lept at the worm, soon more and more worms were popping up out of the ground.

Taking his sword out from his scabbard, he threw a throwing knife into the nearest worm. Whilst it howled with rage, he used the weapon as a foothold to launch himself up and to drive the steel-shod foot of his staff into the creatures brain. Drawing the knife from it's body, he dodged the razor sharp sniped tail of another and engulfed it in a whirl of fire from his palm. Whilst it swayed around madly, it stabbed one of its' fellow worms and both collapsed in a heap. Slicing one open head to spine-ridden tail, its roiling intestines fell on the floor. Turning, no less than six worms surrounded him, and closed in on him. Without the space it was all he could do to keep them from crushing him. Clenching his eyes, he muttered and a white light shone out from him and dissolved the worms. "Thats 10 Raign, beat that. Mind you, you might just have the chance" He said so because 40 or so of the things roiled from the earth.

Only ten? That's an easy challenge, thought Kerri. She drew out a long dagger from nowhere and threw it with amazing, yet graceful, strength towards the pile of worms. It flew straight through four of them then vanished, appearing once more in her hand again. She repeated this motion many times and by the time she'd finished there was only one worm left which she quickly dispatched with a fatal blow to the neck.
"That's 40, but here come a few more." However only one more came and so it came to a quick end beneath the razor-sharp edge of her weapon. She smiled. This was easy as anything. She had recovered from her night's grief.

Raign had been watching the two battle seeing that they needed none of his help. But soon he felt something else. He turned to see behind him was a swaying shadow, a closer looked revealed Crumian Worthlen, a freak of alchemy combining man, worm, and shade. "Such a pity, you lost your party of fourty too two people isn't it?" said Raign trying not to stair into the unexsistent eyesockets of the worm man. The beast smiled to reveal several rows of razor sharp teeth. "No matter, you still have me to deal with, Raign." he said then he drew his blades one a broken blade was the blade of death, the other was the blade of deterioration. He leapt at Raign and hit Raign's blade with a defeaning clang. The vibrations threw Raigns hand off of his blade as it stabbed into the ground. "Can you handle this?" asked the worm as his eyes began to glow. "Simply." smiled Raign as his head jerked back, the color blead from his eyes and his jaw clenched now he was the Berserker, and now he was more formidable than any other being who walked, swam, or flew above this earth.
Soon blades clashed at deafening sonics speeds leaving a permanent clang through the air. "You won't escape back into the ground this time!" yelled Raign as he forced his hand on the worms head and crushed it in his grasp. Blood poored down his arm, and into his mouth and face as he held the dead corpse above his head. An insane grin was on his face, as he took his sword and decapitated the being, then took the beings blades, wrapped them in cloth, and loaded them on his back, forsaking his pack behind him. Then his head jerked forward, his eyes regained color, and he was once again his normal self. "We should go now, his family will morn the loss, and be after me." was all he said as he walked through the feild.

As they walked, Kerri's eyes roved over the landscape surrounding them. It really was beautiful; the grass waved with the flowerheads in the soft breeze and the sky was a pale blue.
And to think, she thought, if we weren't headed on this journey this would all be destroyed by Pyralis himself.
Inwardly Kerri shuddered. Fighting Pyralis was not exactly what she looked forward to. After all, fire was her greatest weakness.
At least he doesn't know that, that voice inside her head said comfortingly.

Oh, leave me alone. She thought angrily. The voice was silent and so were her travelling companions and she almost wished she hadn't though it.
"It's getting near midday, are you two going to eat anything?" she directed this question at Raign and Verminard as they continued walking.

Eat? It's been a long time since i thought about eating anything...anything alive and he saw before him the visions of himself when he caught his first prey. When should I tell them? he wondered. Not now, maybe in a few days when I know them better He carried on walking, and said to Kerri "If you want to stop, just ask. And O.k. I could do with some food. How about you, Raign?" For some reason, he remembered the wolf that he had called to him. He had neglected it! When they went to the Inn, all thoughts of it were driven from his head. Conjuring up the image of it in his head, he called to it once again, and it did not resist. As they set out their packs it bounded up to him. Go he thought, I don't know why I kept you in the first place. to his surprise, the wolf answered back. Maybe, but I came willingly. More, I will tell you later. For now, I will follow you at a distance. and he bounded off.


ooc: soz guys, but im really tired atm, and absolutely no ideas in my head... and you'll find out about the wolf later, i havnt decided about it yet. y did i put it in?

Raign set his pack down "I don't need to eat." was all he said as he sat down and started a quick fire. "We should hurry though, I don't want to wait too long and attract attention." was all he said as he drank from his water skin.

OOC: sorry, I've got serious writers block, keep going on without me

Taking an apple out of his pack, he tossed it to Kerri, and started rumaging for some bread and cheese for her also. He did not know what she was used to eating, but his humble fare was good enough for him, so it would be good enough for her he hoped. Except when you want to catch prey He thought. Pushing all thoughts of that nature out of his head was difficult. He turned to Raign. "What is it with all you adventure-types. Can you not enjoy a simple meal? Always rushing off to the next quest. Take your time, I say! Hee,hee, listen to me, I sound like an old man. But really, I'm intrigued, why do you never eat?"


ooc: writers block? Iv got something like writers total-removal-of-the-brain at the moment:(

"I'm not allowed to eat, and it would be a waiste anyway." Raign looked at the ground. "As for my being adventurous, it isn't because I enjoy it, it is because I have to right the torments I let upon the world." a tear began to stream down his face. "It was many centuries ago that I was born, I was put to the top of the academy for wizards, but it was for my intelligence, although my wisdom was not yet developed as it should have been. I made the mistake of realesing several spirits, for even more power, one of those spirits was Pyralis, after several decades I defeated most of the spirits except, of course, pyralis. I eventually learned that the gods had punished me, by taking away anything that allows me to feel good, I was also punished with imortality. I'm hoping that if I can defeat Pyralis and reverse the problems they set upon the planet, I can finally die and leave this world in peace. Like I said we should go."

Kerri took a cautious bite of the apple, and finding nothing wrong with it, kept eating as they walked. The voice in her head was starting to scare her and annoy her at the same time.
Believe me, no matter how annoying I am I will be very useful.

There it was. Again. If it was real, she thought,I could STRANGLE it!

OOC: sorry, still writers block

"Well, since we all have something on our minds, I'll tell you a little bit about me. My family were killed when i was a child, but the Dragons rescued me, for they saw what I was. The Eldest, Kalessin, took me as his fledgling and raised me as his own, teaching me my true being. I was one of the blessed, An Other, one who flew on winds sweeter than air. I can change at will to my purest form of being. I was taught all that there was to know, from when time began, and before. Of god's, I know all. Of wisdom, I know much. Of social skills, I'm afraid that I don't know much, considering dragons aren't known for their hospitality. In fact, if we're all finished eating, we really should get going. Now I can show you what I mean."
With that, he convulsed, and crouched. Leathery wings brust out from his shoulders, cascading skin arround him, as his body ripped out of his alter-ego. Pure white, shining and spilling the suns radiance around him. Scales glittering, he roared his defiance to the air, and let out a long stream of white hot fire. He was older than time itself, always being reborn and THIS was his vocation. Enjoying his unleashed strength as he always did, he worked his way into the minds of his companions. He saw them recoil slightly as the mental shock he forced upon them entered their minds. Sorry, he said, Sometimes I don't know my own strength. Now, unless you're frightened, hop on. I'm sure you can conjure up a saddle or two, because by The Nine Hells, this won't be comfortable. We will be going beyond the maps of the kingdom, where those who go never usually come back. Oh, and i plan to do it in a day.
He crouched slightly so that his foreclaw and joints made a make-shift ladder for them. Come on, we don't have all the time in the world, far from it. Pyralis is gathering strength. There is a rift in the dry springs and he is drawing energy from it. He is in the Dark Land, and only the power of Many can get us their, unless you want to turn to Demons? I myself have once ripped a hole in the fabric of the world and it took my whole tribes strength to close even that tiny tear. He watched them carefully, waiting for their reaction.

ooc: lol, i have 2 much time on my hands, but I think i should get a medal for having the best post ever lol

OOC: lol I'm too broke to afford a medal...you can have a virtual one!

IC: Kerri narrowed her eyes slightly at Verminard. "I will not. I will not ride on the back of a dragon. My reasons are my own. I shall fly myself. But here is a saddle," she tossed it to Raign, "if you want to use it, anyway."
Murmuring a few incomprehensible words the angel-like wings she'd had before appeared once more and she pushed off the ground, hard.
"Coming?" As they flew, the Voice in her head sounded once more.
See? You've got more strength than you realise, girl. As they flew onwards

Kerri smiled to herself.
Thanks, Voice.

"You insult me." he said as he threw the saddle to the ground, "I don't need to fly." he said as he once again became the berserker, he jerked his head back and his eyes went white, then he looked to his companions and jumped several hundred feet in the air, without much effort. "I can move as fast as your flying by simply running." then he began to bound off jumping and leaping with every step.

If you guys get lost, dont blame me He said. With that, he sped off north, easily over taking Raign. On The Sweeter Winds, as he had been told, many times. In 3 great flaps of his wings he was well over the forests and glades they had been travelling over. Never faltering, he eventually passed over the mountains, specifically the Teeths Edge. The furthest point north on all maps. He felt the presence of other dragons growing nearer. Stopping, he turned round and realised that his friends were leagues behind him. He sought them with his mind. Even in this form, it was difficult. They must be miles away for the connection to be that difficult to find. Friends, I told you to ride. There's no shame in doing so. I will wait at the Teeths Edge for you. Search for my presence. With that he fell asleep for a while whilst they caught up.


ooc: this journey takes about 4 hours. Sorry if it seems like god moding, but i didnt think i conveyed my dudes prowess very well, and am just trying to show it.

Speeding onwards, with Verminard's figure a mere dot on the horizon before her, Kerri flew. The wind was playing with her hair, blowing it wildly about. She decided not to hurry, there was no need but she did speed up slightly and shot through the blue sky, like an arrow from a bow.

Ten minutes later and she was circling above the Teeths Edge, looking for Verminard. She saw him, still in his dragonic form, asleep and so she glided sliently down and upon landing lightly folded her wings behind then sitting. She reached out with the tendrils of her mind, scouting the land. Then suddenly a huge burst of power erupted in her brain and she almost screamed with the pain. It gradually faded and then looking up she saw, with both wonder at the sight and pain at the memories, a silver dragon watching them. She stood shaking and then bowed and spoke:
"Frei gān ikara-e oë ahkiré uï dreyn-a, ré sali amaan aletho qariik nu."
By the power of ice and fire, I will speak truth unto you.

Feeling something... unnatural, yet slightly familiar, Verminard stirred. He jerked his head up. Kalessin! he said What are you doing here? bHe stood up and greeted him, briefly touching The Eldest's foreclaws with his snout. Alothough he was countless times stronger, it was thanks to this huge, aged beyond aeons, that he was able to use it, and find out how it was to be. If it weren't for him then he wouldn't be alive today. Next to Him, Verminard seemed so small and vunerable, pure white against steely silver, a mountain next to a molehill. Kerri, this is the Eldest He said to her. Master He directed at the dragon You searched for me. I was coming to you anyway, for we need your help. How has it become in our lands?


ooc: who wants to be Kalessin?

OOC: I'll be him if noone else wants

Raign hurried up as he saw Verminard fly past. "Too bad, that speed is unsafe for humans, and although I can't die of age I can die of other causes." he said then he rushed forward leaping thousands of feet at a time until he reached his companions, then he saw him Kalessin. Kalessin glared at him, and Raign new exactly why.

OOC: umm...why has that posted twice??

OOC: sorry it will occaionaly do that but continue.

tarikka, your turn

can i join?

OOC: sorry, losing track of things...*zzzzzzz*...........yeah you can join in, stargazer! just make sure you've read this whole RP or it might not make any sense cos I don't think it does unless you do

IC: The dragon Kalessin was impressive, his scales glowing eerily and his golden eyes flashing at Raign, for a reason she could not quite understand. The eyes and scales seemed to glow with the light of the moon. The moon...the mooncallers dirk. Kerri drew the long blue-silver blade from nowhere and placed it at Kalessin's feet. Then she looked up and faced him, eye to eye. The complexity of his mind was like hers; with many places to get lost in and although it was daytime, Kerri felt her eyes growing more catlike and glowing slightly and then she looked like the true Dreamer. She was speaking throguh her mind to the Lord of the dragons, the Eldest.

Occ: i almost read every post, bye the way how do i find a fairy avatar that is cool and not tiny?


Reb saw the party of the dragon, the jumping boy and the dreamer. She was a shade on a mission, and if she didn't fufill it she would have to bear the death of her last family member, her brother rebel was threatened by Galbortrix that if she didn't kill the dreamer, then her brother would die. She mounted her black steed, then took off toward the group at a gallop.

OOC: umm...stargazer, this isn't an Alagaesia-based adventure...the avatar I found on a website...

occ: sorry I just had writers block rewriting it


Reb followed the group, all the way through were they were headed. She was smart and had a few questions for the Dreamer, and was interested in her transformed friend and the jumping fellow. She mounted her steed and galloped him in thier trail, as soon as they were out of sight, and her wolves came out and got the sent,,and led her after them.

ooc: no offence stargazer, but i prefered it when it was just us three, cos we had a decent story going. And rather than posting a nu post, u shuda just edited the old one.

ic: Well Kallessin, how are you old friend? I trust the clans aren't giving you too much hassel, or will I be needed to calm them down again? I presume you already know why we are here, but we need your help getting us into the Other Plane

Verminard swiftly changed back into a man, this time with silvery hair and flaming red eyes. He drew his bow and strung a mithril-shod arrow, poisoned with nightshade. Tensing the string, he knew he could not miss, nothing on Earth and beyond could stop this bow from missing it's mark. It glowed red from cracks in the black surface. The black which was a cooling crust on top of the molten metal that was inside, giving it it's rigidity. He sensed the person coming towards them almost immediately, but back in his human form, could not tell weather they were friend or foe at this distance.

k I withdraw my joining cauze I understand great.

Kerri shook herself slightly, breaking the gaze she'd held with Kalessin. Her narrowed eyes watched Verminard closely and she waited for him to loose his black arrow.

OOC: sorry, writers' black and there's not much to say here...

Saying a word, Verminard placed his sight on the end of the arrow and fired it in a high arch arcross the mountains. Whatever presence he felt had gone, and his sight returned to him as the arrow struck the ground. He summoned it back across to him with a flick of the wrist.


ooc: Hayden, u need to answer for Kallessin if uyr gunna be him

Kallessin looked back to Verminard "The clans are fine Verminard, but I will tell you now I refuse to allow this man into the Other Plane." he said motioning to Raign then he looked deeper into Raign's eyes "I will not allow such a fool to be welcomed to the other planes who knows the damage he could cause this time." his intensity grew and Raign simply looked away.

Kerri stared at Raign for a while, a long-lost memory nagging somehwere at the back of her mind. Active enough to want her attention yet seeming to far away to be recognised.
Suddenly her eyes widened and she instinctively took a step back.
"Raign...you're not - you can't be...Dreshnaāk?"

"Wait, I've heard that name... Was it you who Destroyed the 4th Plane with your dabbling with immortality? Or was that someone else?" Verminard silently promised himself to keep a closer eye on his companions from now on. How could he have let something this big through his defences? He was getting old and slow. But then again, Kerri had only just realised...

Raign lowered his head in shame. "I never meant to do what I did. It wasn't supposed to turn out that way." he mumbled to himself. Of course, he new the real truth, it was long ago before he had control of the berserker spirit that it possesed him and clouded his judgement thus allowing him to destroy the fourth plane, let loose the many evil powerful spirits, and curse himself to a never ending life. He looked to Kallessin. "I can only give you my promise, what I did will never happen again, not by mine or any others hand.

Kerii's eyes flashed and she tried to control herself but it dodn't work. "So it was YOU! You, the one who destroyed the fourth plane and let the main Trinity of spirits into this world and also the Others into MY old world?" She was breathing heavily now and instinctively a ball of icy energy appeared in her hand, her eyes turned black and she felt herself almost tumbling out of control. She felt as if she were going to attack the Immortal standing in front of her. But suddenly a Voice she knew all to well spoke quietly in the back of her mind.
Let him go. Ypu know why he did it, how he did it and you surely know by now that it was not intentional. You of all spirits would know that Immortality is not something to try and gain for it costs a terrible price.

"Kalessin won't be happy about this." said Raign as he looked around. "I always hated coming to this plain, so desolate, so boring." he looked to Kerri "Where do we go from now, or do I just go home from here?"

"No, you're staying here so we can make sure you don't do anything else stupid, like destroying us." Kerri replied through gritted teeth. The gritted teeth wasn't from her anger, it was from the pain of the the heat that she had just experianced and from the fresh, blackened scar on her inner forearm. She mentally cursed fire and held her hand over it, hoping the others wouldn't realise why she was.

Kerri raised one dark eyesbrow quizzically but, deciding not to pursue the subject she walked quickly behind him, one hand still clasped firmly over the blackened scar on her arm. After a while she turned her head to glance back at Raign.
"Well, are you coming, Raign?"

Raign followed after the two. "I wonder if they will realise my abilities any time soon?" thought Raign as he looked to the two talking. but he could just smile and follow.