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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Apr 2005 : 03:19:09
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(My first try at this, feedback definitely welcome)
He woke up dizzy and disorientated. Great, where am I? This isn't Kiriya. The dark figure got up, surveyed his surroundings and finally made a conclusion. "Definitely not Kiriya." Trying to remember past events that led to the current situation, all he could remember was a portal of somesort opening, just before the dessorath skewered him with its tail.
"...Never seen so much green, not like this." Calm down Elcaros, at least there's no fiends here...or friends, for that matter. Looking around a bit, he decided that the trees and plants around him must span at least a mile or two. Something he's never seen back home. "So, where am I?" Elcaros decided, after some time loooking around, to find a way out of the heavy greenery surronding him.
A movement from his left drew his attention. On instinct, his right hand was pointed to the ground, palm open downwards. A blackish-green glow emanated from his palm, and from the glow, a blade took shape, like being extracted from a portal. In seconds, the hilt of the blade came out and Elcaros quickly gripped it. All this in a matter of seconds. Weapon in hand, Elcaros prepared for whatever that's coming. The figure finally showed itself. A strange brown skinned creature with four thin legs and horns like a tree's branches. Elcaros was not sure how to react. It looks...afraid? Then only did he realise an arrow potruding through the creature's chest. Still unsure whether the creature is dangerous or not, he went forward, slowly, to approach the creature.
The stag watched Elcaros walk towards him. Strangely, he didn't feel afraid by this strange humanoid. Stranger still, the stag didn't even think of running from this elf, if it was indeed one. It looks like an elf. More like the black skinned ones the stag saw once near the caves, only that the thick fur on his head is black, not white. The arrow made breathing hard, obviously, but it entered at a steep angle, causing little damage to the stag's lungs. More than enough time to make it to the ranger living nearby. And if this...elf decides to attack...
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Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
Edited by - Rhezarnos on 27 Apr 2005 04:22:35
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2005 : 05:11:32
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Elcaros was just several feet from the stag, his sword now in a non-offensive position. Eyeing the arrow and the blood flowing from the wound it made, he finally made up his mind. Opening his palm again, the blacksih-green aura glowed and sucked the sword back in. Illirien, please let me be right on my judgement He was now an arms reach from the stag, and so far, the stag just remained there, watching Elcaros in a calm, if somewhat curious, manner.
Elcaros' hand reached for the stag's forehead. Suprisingly, the stag didn't feel the need to run. Of course, he was suprised enough to be still standing here and watching the elf. Then the elf spoke. It sounded so different from the other elf types he encountered. A silken voice, smooth and calming, that reminded the stag of a grove he saw months before. The words made no sense to the creature, though he guessed by the elf's focus on the arrow that the elf was going to try keeping him alive a bit longer, or dramatically shorter.
When the creature began to lie down, Elcaros thought that it's time was up. But then he realised that it was still alive, as if waiting for him to do something. He looked at the arrow, then to the deer, and nodded. Slowly, he removed the arrow from the stag's chest. It took some time, especially when it came to the arrow head, but when it came out, the wound started to bleed. A lot. "Damn," he cursed, and called his sword out again.
The stag was now beginning to think that his life was going to be cut short after all. At least the elf tried to help. Then he saw the elf's sword again, and began to feel a bit of fear. The sword was raised, and brought down in a stabbing motion. Expecting death, the stag was again suprised, for he saw the sword pierce the elf's left forearm, held over his chest wound. When the blood trailed down from the sword and fell on the wound, there was a cold feeling, and the stag felt his chest closing up. He didn't notice the elf's lips, moving quickly to some chant.
"That should help you," Elcaros said, satisfied with his work. His own forearm will heal quickly, given a good rest. The bleeding from his self inflicted wound stopped, as it should after finishing the rite of blood healing. The creature got up, licked Elcaros' hand, and went off into the greenery. By the time he realised it, Elcaros was alone again. He looked at the sky, noting the sun positioned just on the canopy of trees. "Has the day just started, or is it going to be dark?" he asked himself, unsure of the time cycle that this world he's in is supposed to follow. Sighing, he drew back his sword and started walking to whatever that lay at the end of his path. Hopefully answers. And some food He laughed softly with that thought.
After several hours of travelling, Elcaros discovered small clearing with a small tent, a campfire, and something small being roasted above the fire. "Abandoned?" He moved cautiously towards the clearing. He was three steps into the clearing when he dodged an arrow aimed for his head. Looking to his left, he managed to dodge another two more before being able to call his sword and seeing his attacker. He stopped when he realised who it, or rather she, was. And for that, an arrow found its way into Elcaros' left shoulder.
Kiandre smiled when she saw the black elf go down. She prepared for his intrusion as soon as she caught sight of him, just moments ago. Of course, she was confused on how a drow would come from the south, when the only known entrance is from the opposite direction, to the north. And stranger still, this drow looked different from the others she encountered, and killed. Still, a drow is a drow she concluded, and she nocked another arrow in place and aimed for his head. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2005 : 19:22:44
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He was going to die, and by the hands of another elf. Elcaros needn't look up to realise that all it takes is an arrow entering his skull to kill him. Still, he got up, facing his elven attacker eye to eye. Her arrow, if released, should enter right between his eyes, and she looked like she was about to find out if it does. He studied her as much as possible, to find at least a clue to her hostility. Her leather armor, longbow, and short sword showed nothing, but when he saw her eyes, it was burning with hatred. "Why do you hate me so?" he asked. Almost immediately, her face turned to one of suprise. This made Elcaros even more confused.
Drow...the drow don't talk like that Kiandre thought, shocked at hearing the voice of the alleged drow. She hesitated, and regretted it when she saw him break into a run. Deep inside her, something told her that her judgement of the black elf was wrong, that he was no drow at all. She thought of letting him go, but her curiosity, not anger, got the better of her. While tracking him, she began rationalizing the encounter. Which drow isn't affected at all by the morning light? Even the Vhaerunites wear some sort of protection. And he didn't kill me when he had a chance...a trap? Such thoughts ran through her mind as she followed her quarry, who was several dozen steps away from her.
Elcaros ran as fast as he could. He looked back, and she was right behind him. "Damn it," he cursed, pushing his body to the limit. But the loss of blood he suffered left him weak and he realised that eventually, he'll be caught. He stopped just in time when the ground burst several paces in front of him. The elf stopped too, he noticed. Who wouldn't stop to see a dessorath? In front of him, a monstrous thing with three pairs of arms ending with claws, standing on four legs, looked at Elcaros. It's tail, a long, thing and poisonous one, was raised like a scorpion, while it's red bat-like wings were opened, as if to ensure no escape. "Damn it," he cursed again, and charged the fiend, sword leading the way.
As Elcaros battled the fiend one on one, Kiandre was paralyzed with fear, seeing such a creature that should only have existed in a child's nightmare. She noticed the drow, or whatever he was, fight the monstrous being, trying to slash and stab his opponent. She watched his movements, faster than most elves she'd seen, as he tried to breach the fiend's six arms and tail to score a hit. Soon, the first hit was made, by the black elf, cleanly severing the right wing of the fiend. The creature looked like it didn't even care. At that point, she made a decision, and drew her bow.
A downward slash deflected by a right arm, then dodging two left ones, followed by another dodge, this time to evade the tail. Elcaros was tired and wounded, but still he kept trying to at least remove an arm or two, but having to concentrate on the 7 appendages was hard enough. Usually, it took three of his kin to bring one down. This time, he was alone. Or so he thought until an arrow whistled pass his head, digging into the desorath's tail. It didn't even feel the hit. Dessoraths don't feel pain, they inflict it But at least the hit slowed the tail's approach, giving Elcaros a window of oppurtunity. His sword slashed across, and the tail dropped off. This, the dessorath noticed, and it became mad.
One down, six to go Elcaros mused while parrying two arms. The problem with them is their hands are too damned hard he thought, as he tried to no avail to at least scratch those claws. A series of arrows streamed through, and one arm of the dessorath moved slower. Seeing that arm was raised high, Elcaros quickly stabbed into it, going right through the much softer forearm. As he did that, he barely managed to evade claws that would have left him without legs. He also took note of the arrows potruding from every arm of the dessorath. His sword already skewering the forearm, Elcaros slashed his sword upwards, leaving the arm dangling uselessly on several muscle strands. He brought the sword downwards in one smooth turn, and three of the dessorath's left arms were no longer a worry to him.
Kiandre kept firing arrow after arrow. When she saw the fiend's entire left side become arm-less, she almost cheered. Her next shot found its way in the dessorath's exposed side of it's face, burying itself in the left eye. The shots after that made the left eye look like an arrow pin-cushion. When she reached for another arrow, she couldn't find any. She sighed, "not a good time to run out," and drew her shortsword and entered the fray.
(Please forgive me because of my bad writing style. I just started on this, and I know it isn't grade A material) |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 28 Apr 2005 : 14:35:50
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Elcaros noticed the sudden improvement of his situation. Three arms is, after all easier to handle than six. He also noticed the elf joining in to help. A forward stab towards the fiend's chest was deflected away by the middle right arm. The top right arm then went down to hammer down on Elcaros, while the lower right did an uppercut. Elcaros twisted himself away from both attacks, leting both clawed arms collide on each other. The elf took advantage of it and went for the chest. Unfortunately, she almost for got the middle arm, and was forced to evade a sweeping blow by it.
Things are looking up now. Elcaros ran his sword through the dessorath's top arm, blade facing up, skewering it and pulled the sword upwards. One down, two to go He smiled as he managed to breach the fiend's defenses and slash its throat. But like all other wounds it received, it didn't feel the pain others would have, and neither did it bleed. The slash had an effect though, and the fiend started to fade away. Elcaros jumped back to better position himself, but was caught off balance as he dodged a clawed fist. He fell on his back, rolled away as the same arm, the middle one, tried to crush him.
The fiend was still fighting both attackers, having to concentrate on two agile and oppurtunistic elves. Though it was fast fading away to nothingness, it still fought on, determined to accomplish its mission. Fortunately, both elves failed to realise that legs were as good as arms in battle, especially if they ended in sharp blade like points. it saw the black one roll away and lifted a leg to greet him. The leg fell on the elf, going right through his left shoulder and pinning him to the ground. Now all it had to do was take care of the other elf.
Kiandre was almost battered down by the sudden barrage of arms and legs. Amazingly, it seems that the fiend could actually support itself on just two legs, using the other two as additional weapons. She couldn't do anything, not even move back, but parry and block the strikes. She managed to parry a swing from one arm before getting tripped by the other. So I die One leg was raised, poised above her head.
Elcaros was in pain, more than he could handle. Gathering what strength he got left, he held his sword and hoped he was right, and the sword slashed upwards. He was right. The legs were not as hard as the claws. The leg pinning him down was cleanly cut off, and Elcaros went for the next leg he could reach. As that leg was severed, the dessorath tilted to one side, and fell on its right side. It's arms were now stuck under its own body weight, and the deathblow to the female elf was stopped. The dessorath kept struggling, it's whole body already pale and ghostly. After a few minutes, it faded away, banished back to its home plane.
She picked herself up and saw it disappear. "Good riddance," she said harshly. Then her eyes turned to her original prey. He was badly wounded, still lying on the ground, and looking at her. She saw his red blood dry into a black-green crystal as she walked towards him, her sword in hand. As she neared, he said something. She coudln't understand it, but by the way he said it and him baring his throat to her, she could make a good guess on what he said. Now she was totally confused. If he isn't a drow, what is he? |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2005 : 06:26:37
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Expecting and waiting for the her to end his life, he closed his eyes and tried to remember his home. If it could be called home. The barren wastelands with so little life, and his people had no other place to settle but there. life was hard, but it was life nonetheless. He remembered the city vaguely. Then he remembered the temple. Before he could go on with his recollection, he heard his supposed to be executioner say something, and opened his eyes.
"I can't do it," Kiandre said, almost in a guilty tone. She looked at him, his wounds, then she sheathed her blade and knelt by him. "Stay still. I'll do what I can about your wounds." Not sure he understood, she continued and took a few pieces of cloth and tried her best to at least bandage the wound. Funny, it stopped bleeding so fast When she was done, she saw him looking at her, his expression as a mix of uncertain gratefulness and pure confusion. "Can you walk? My camp isn't that far away," she nodded back to the clearing, "and you can rest there for a while." He got up and to her suprise, began talking in elven. "Thank you...for help...can say...what this land is?"
Elcaros regretted not having properly spending enough time at the city's library. He could make out what she was saying, roughly, and tried responding. The expression on her face told him that she could understand what he was saying but not what he meant. Never skip history class again he mentally noted down. He tried again, this time modifying the sentence a bit. He wasn't sure how it came out, but he wanted to say "Thank you for your help, but can I ask what is the name of this world?" This time he caught a flicker of understanding in her eyes, and she replied "Toril". Pointing on the ground, she said "Faerun" and she pointed back to her camp and asked "rest?" He nodded and followed her.
At least he understands a bit she thought, smiling. They reached her campsite, where she found some clean bandages for him. When done, they both sat opposite of each other, and after some time staring, Kiandre asked "Who are you? Where do you come from?" He pointed to himself "Elcaros" and paused. "Kiniya" he finally said. the name didn't ring a bell, so she tried another question: "Are you a drow or something else?" The word 'drow' caught his attention, he answered "No drow...cousin" She didn't know what to make of it, but she left it at that. Before she coul ask anything else, she heard someone coming. She turned to see a group of humans, rangers, staring at both her and Elcaros. Their weapons were already drawn, but seeing Kiandre sitting and talking to the the black elf, they were unsure of what to do.
"He isn't a drow," Kiandre said, and told them to keep their weapons. They hesitated, but seeing how things were, they agreed. She looked at Elcaros. "Wait." Then she went up to talk to the group. Not sure of what they were talking about, Elcaros just sat there, staring at his hand. Drow? They think me drow? Why? The last time any of his kin saw their traitorous cousins, they had light skin. Unless... He looked up to see the group of humans arguing with Kiandre.
"A black skinned elf. A drow, I say!" one of them said. "He isn't a drow," she replied. "And how you know that?" "Because if he were, I'd be dead by now, and he would not be sitting there.""Maybe he's a spy,"another said. The others looked at him incredulously. "He makes a bad spy then," one stated. "Alright then, assuming he's not a drow, what're you going to do with him? Even if he isn't a drow, he loooks like it." Kiandre couldn't argue with that. She thought about it, and looked back at Elcaros, or at least the empty space where he was supposed to be sitting. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2005 : 06:06:59
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Kiandre's human friends were suprised. They were all facing his direction, surely they would have noticed if he made a move? All of them looked around, searching for him. Even as rangers, they didn't seem to find any clue of where he was headed. "Told you, Kiandre. Drow," One man said, before being stared down by Kiandre. They looked everywhere, searching the ground for hints of the black elf's whereabouts. Nearby, above the branches, two jade green eyes watched them. If only they checked above their heads once in a while...
Elcaros smiled, being able to hide from them. Of course, they aren't as hard as dessoraths or elari, but still... "Now what do I do?" he whispered to himself, hiding away as one human walked to his direction. She stopped, looking around, then turned right, continuing the search. "Interesting humans," he chuckled softly, seeing one staring at Kiandre as she bent down to inspect a nearby tree. The search could have gone on, except that a globe of darkness appeared suddenly, blinding the entire place. Elcaros was on the ground when he heard one of the humans shout "Drow!". Then crossbows clicked away, and bolts whizzing around in the darkness.
Kiandre got hit by several bolts before falling to the ground, paralyzed. She heard metal against metal and screams of her friends. Then the darkness disappeared. Those in it were caught off guard, especially the four drow. Standing in the center of the now gone globe, was the strange elf, his left hand reaching outwards and glowing with a fading black energy while his right was holding a sword. The drow were confused, unsure of what to make of him. Before he could even register it, the nearest drow to Elcaros saw himself falling away from his body. By the time his head dropped to the ground, Elcaros was charging towards the other three, previously fighting against two humans side by side before the darkness dissipated. The battle ended with one great slash at neck level.
Kiandre couldn't see what was going on, and when she felt someone carrying her, she assumed the worst. The black hands, the quiet footsteps, the black hair... black hair? Then she passed by a drow's head. "Sorry...your friends, can't save..." she heard him say. He laid her down by a tree, leaving her in sitting position. Then she felt him remove the bolts from her body, followed by some sort of chanting. Kiandre saw the glimmer of the sword, and saw it descend. Before fear could even register, she felt warm liquid fall on one of her wounds, quickly hardening and cooling. After a few moments Kiandre realized that her body could move again. She got up and saw the bodies. Four drow, all with their heads seperated, were dead, along with all six of her human friends. "They," Elcaros pointed at one of the drow, "they are drow?" Kiandre nodded, tears falling for her fallen friends.
Elcaros saw the sadness on Kiandre's face and decided to leave. He started to move, but Kiandre's arm stopped him. She began talking, but all he understood was "wait", "could be" (or was it "could not"?), "more", "drow", and "let me follow you". His looked at her, seeing the pain and hunger for vengeance in her eyes. Her eyes also had a pleading look to it, one that Elcaros found he coulnd't say no to. Women He sighed and nodded, asking her name before signalling her to follow him. They found footprints nearby and decided to track the owner. After a few minutes, they reached a small cave entrance. Lying outside, dead, was the owner of the foorprints. He was drow, and his body was shredded, even with the armor. Upon inspection, Kiandre noted the walls of the cave had claw marks on them, ones that fit the fiend she and Elcaros battled earlier. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
Edited by - Rhezarnos on 03 May 2005 08:11:59 |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2005 : 10:07:26
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Elcaros looked at the shredded drow. The body was torn to shreds, some parts several feet away. But what Elcaros was interested in was the composition of the drow himself. He remembered being taught that they were a fair skinned bunch of traitors, starting a civil war and causing chaos. He didn't expect to see them turn so...black.
Elcaros then thought about his own people. Their original appearance was skin that was slightly green, hence their name "jade elves" or "emerald elves". But that time has passed, for they were sent into another plane, their current 'home'. Centuries of adapting to the condition made Elcaros what he is now... Skin as black as the dead drow, but with black hair and green eyes. Gone were they known as jade or emerald elves, replaced with the silk elves.
He looked up to see Kiandre staring at him, studying him. Her look was confused, doubtful and uncertain. He could understand why. Because I look like a drow. Because I look like my cousins. Indeed, the drow goddess Lloth and the last surviving silk elf goddess, Illirien, are sisters. And if not for her niece Eilistraee, Illirien and the silk elves would not have survived. Then Elcaros wouldn't be here. He just stared back at Kiandre, trying to guess her thoughts, whether she regrets not killing him or not.
They both felt the dessorath before they saw it. The ground beneath them shook, causing both elves to move away. Elcaros had his swrod ready, as did Kiandre. As soon as the fiend erupted from the ground, Elcaros was already bringing his sword downward in a vertical arc, cleanly severing two right arms by their elbows. Kiandre went for its legs, stabbing one left leg until it fell limp, and headed for the other. This time, both elves attacked the fiend with a vengeance. It didn't even manage to lift an arm, as Kiandre quickly finished it off with a stab into the creature's throat and pulling it upwards, splitting the thing's face in two.
As the fiend faded away, both of them looked at each other, with Kiandre smiling and Elcaros shaking his head in amusement. Then he aid to her, "That, dessorath... Stupid move..." he pointed to the ground and made an exploding motion with his hands. Kiandre laughed when she heard him explain that the dessoraths are deadly but had "rice brains", which was to say that they weren't too clever. They both decided not to enter the cave as it was getting dark. Kiandre was suprised when Elcaros suddenly ask about the Seldarine and Lloth. Still having difficulty communicating with him, she told him that she couldn't tell him much because of the language barrier. Elcaros nodded, and followed her back to the camp.
In a small black room, a female elf dressed in a silver gown watched Elcaros and his new companion through a viewing portal. She was like Elcaros; a silk elf, but her appearance was one that most would confuse with a certain goddess. A certain drow goddess. And since Lloth and Illirien are lookalikes, she would probably understand that confusion. Both have the same face, at least back then they did. Both were cast out, and both hated each other. Illirien smiled as she saw her Elcaros, knowing her plan had worked. Like her sister, she was a mastermind, and soon, if all goes well, the silk elves will return to Toril, and exact vengeance on the one who caused so much suffering. If all goes well, a new elven civil war will start again.
(Credits for this part goes to my DM, for doing the history of the silk elves and their relations with drow. Since there is not much mention about family ties in pantheons, we decided to create a sister for Lloth and see what happens. If this post is inappropriate, please tell me, and I will 'correct' it ASAP) |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
Edited by - Rhezarnos on 10 May 2005 11:42:50 |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2005 : 04:44:40
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That night, Elcaros found himself staring at the stars and missing his home. He muttered a simple prayer to Illirien, asking for guidance and answers to his current predicament. It was full moon that night, and back in Kiriya, celebrations were made during such nights, lasting as long as the full moon. Elcaros asked himself in pure un-seriousness, "Would she be able to appreciate it, coming from here? I'm a world apart..." He looked at Kiandre, deep in reverie, and decided to go ahead. She wouldn't be waking up any time soon, right?
And so Elcaros stood by the campfire, gazing up to the moon. He began humming a tune, then slowly, words started to form, which lead to a full song. The song reaked of sorrow and pain, retelling the hardship the silk elves had to go through during exile; the deaths of kin and deities, the threats of elari and dessoraths, the harsh life in before Kiriya... Within seconds, the memories flooded Elcaros again. His arms lifted up to accept the moonlight, Elcaros continued to sing even as the first tears fell and his legs gave way. He felt the watching eyes of many, but he didn't care, he continued.
Nature reacted to the song. The trees around him warped, spiralling and morphing endlessly. Bushes and shrubs shrank and grew, like small explosions playing over and over again. The grass around him became like waves of the sea, rising and falling to the song. The animals retreated back, confused and afraid. It took half an hour for Elcaros to finish his song, and he saw the effects of it. "She listens." He got up from his kneeling position and looked around, making sure that no one was there. When he turned around, he found Kiandre staring at him, her eyes and cheeks wet. For a short moment, Elcaros could have sworn that there was something in those eyes of hers. They just stared at each other for some time before Elcaros walked to the edge of the trees and stood watch.
When the sun rose, Kiandre saw the full effect of last night's performance. She looked in amazement as the trees continued spiralling, this time back to their normal state. The grass felt more like water now, even leaving ripples when she walked. They headed back to the cave entrance, walking in silence and uncertainty of each other. When they arrived, the stench of death greeted them. A dozen or more drow corpses, all males, were found lying around in pools of bloods and gore, each corpse incomplete with a missing limb or two. In the middle of it all, stood a tall slender figure. Its skin was like marble with no eyes on its face nor a mouth. The legs ended in sharp hooves while the hands were clawed. It faced both of them. Kiandre turned to see Elcaros face pale to a light grey and started to worry. He said one word, and by the tone of his voice, and the way he said it, it was as if that word could explain everything. "Elari" |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2005 : 10:17:49
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I'm going to die... Elcaros thought. How fast? 20? 30 seconds? The elari took one slow step toward them. One slow, confident step. Kiandre saw Elcaros' blade appear and started to draw hers. She was stopped by Elcaros who pushed her behind him and began talking in his native tongue. "Kiandre, ni'kasin. Vir na'esh kova... Ni'kasin kalil!" His voice was wavering and filled with fear. He walked toward the elari and broke into a charge.
Kiandre guessed what he was saying but couldn't leave him alone to battle with that...that thing. She drew her shortsword and advanced toward the elari, hoping to at least not end up like the pieces of drow lying all over the place.
In her room, Illirien watched as the elari stopped. She sighed, looking at Elcaros running his sword through it, or rather trying to, since the sword broke on impact. The elari grabbed his throat and lifted him up. Then Kiandre came, rushing to his aid. Before she could do anything, a hooved leg found it's way into her gut, throwing her back several feet, on the ground clutching her abdomen. The elari ignored her, and lifted Elcaros as high as it possible can. Then it started to tighten its grip. Elcaros struggled. Illirien saw the fiend straightening its other hand. With a quick jab, the hand found its way into Elcaros' heart, going through ribs and lung. She closed her eyes when it pulled back its arm along with a beating heart.
Elcaros just stared as the pain left him numb. He gasped for air but ended up coughing out blood. His vision began to darken, and for that one moment, he asked in his mind Illirien, what did I do to deserve such a death? His world turned black as the elari closed its hand, crushing Elcaros' throat before throwing him on the ground. It then turned its attention to Kiandre who was still trying to get up. She saw it advancing, saw Elcaros' body on the ground, his heart in the elari's arm. She didn't know what to do. And so she prayed. She didn't specify which power in the Seldarine to answer her prayer, but instead just asked whoever that's hearing to intervene. At that moment, just as the elari was about to crush her under its hooves, her prayer was answered by a shaft of green light.
The light consumed the fiend, disintegrating it into nothingness. Before she could act, she found herself bathed in the same light, but instead of pain, she felt invigorated and her wounds mended. "What in the..." Kiandre couldn't finish her sentence. The light moved towards the heart lying on the ground. It then split, with one shaft going towards Elcaros' body. then came a blinding flash, forcing Kiandre to shield her eyes.
Elcaros felt himself being dragged back into the world, as his spirit was halway back to being assimilated back into the Weave of Illirien. He woke up with a gasp, hungrily gulping down air and coughing out blood. "Forgive me for doing this to you," he heard. The voice belonged to a female, that he was sure, and when he looked up, he almost went back to death again. Standing in front of him, his creator, his source of existence, looked down at him, her face full sorrowful and apologetic. "...but I needed someway to get back into this world again." He couldn't speak. Transfixed by his goddess, he couldn't find the words. Finally, he found control of his body and went on his knees. "Illirien..." he finally mouthed. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2005 : 11:53:29
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Kiandre couldn't move. The sight of that elven woman in front of her made her felt inferior, and the way Elcaros knelt infront of her brought up a little hint of unknown jealousy. She heard them converse, unable to make out anything, except her own name, Elcaros' and Illirien, which she figured is the woman's name.
Elcaros didn't believe what he was hearing. "But, with all due respect, goddess, do you have the power to return us all here? The Weave-" he was cut off by Illirien, her voice calm and assuring. "I have waited, young one, for a lnog time. I know my limits. And I know yours. Soon, we will all return home." "But...what about the Seldarine? What about," Elcaros hesitated, "What about Lloth?" The deity's face didn't change at all. "That will be settled. Even my sister. Now, all I need you to do is prepare this place for our arrival. I need you to do as I say." Elcaros nodded.
Kiandre could feel the aura from her. She radiated a calm, assuring air, but also Kiandre felt the loss, betrayal and pain. She heard her name mentioned again, and this time got up. Illirien walked up to her. In perfect elven, she said, "Kiandre, am I right? Thank you for calling me here, but now I must request something from you." Kiandre was speechless. Illirien's aura overwhelmed her, leaving Kaindre motionless and stunned by the emotions flooding withing her. Illirien touched Kiandre's forehead, and Kiandre felt as if her tongue was being pulled out. Then it stopped, with Kiandre falling into darkness.
Elcaros watched, still feeling uncomfortable with his new assignment. He then proceeded to pickup his shattered sword, a sigh of disappointment escaping him. "Worry not, I have a new one for you." He turned to see Illirien holding a long, katana-like blade. It was uniquely double-edged, measuring a good 5 feet in length overall. A zikiri... With great reverence, he took his new wepon, and bound it to him with his blood. Then he unsummoned it. Illirien gave him his last instructions before leaving, and Elcaros was left there, watching over an unconsious Kiandre. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2005 : 13:55:08
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Kiandre woke up, her throat feeling burnt and sore. She rubbed her neck several times before noting the time of day, or rather, night.
"How long did I-" She was interrupted by a familiar voice,
"One day." Kiandre turned to Elcaros who was sitting nearby and wanted to ask something else. She was about to speak when she realised something. He's speaking in elven. Perfect elven Her eyes went wide.
Elcaros noted her shock and replied, "Remember what Illirien did to you?" He pointed at his forehead and replied in his language, which Kiandre found she suddenly understood. "Trade of tongues, they call it."
They both talked throughout the night, Elcaros asking about Toril and Kiandre asking about her 'cousins'. She was suprised when she realised that Illirien was a goddess, and even more when she was told that her silent prayer allowed Illirien to come back. Kiandre was given a brief history about the silk elves, how they are related to the drow and why they are exiled.
"It's more of a protection, when you look at it again," Elcaros said. "At least we survive the new world and have a chance to return. Better than being wiped out by spider lovers."
Somewhere nearby, a portal opened, spitting out a small, furry creature that looked like a halfling with a very bad hair day. "Naki cha chana? Ina cha chana?" It looked around, enjoying the sight of trees. Then it picked up a scent with its small nose. "Elcaros! Kana Elcaros! Weeee!" It ran into the woods, following the scent of its prey with a childlike glee.
Elcaros and Kiandre finished talking, and found themselves staring at each other. Please don't tell me I'm... I just knew her recently! Kiandre was holding similiar thoughts, though she found it more harder to accept. Finally, Elcaros spoke up. "Kiandre, I know this might sound out of place at the time, b-" They both got up when they heard the leaves and bushes rustle. Kiandre noticed the new weapon in Elcaors's hand and unsheathed her own shortsword. She jumped in suprise when a loud, high pitched scream erupted together with it's owner. "Kana sabin Elcaros! Yaaaaaaay!"
The small figure rushed to Elcaros, who was caught off guard and totally confused. It hit him at full speed, pushing Elcaros back on the ground a few feet. Elcaros didn't believe his eyes. The small, furry thing was smiling, jumping up and down and hopping in circles around Elcaros, singing (or at least it looked like it) something. "Kana sabin Elcaros... Kana sabin Elcaros..."
Elcaros got up, seeing Kiandre totally confused, her sword lowered. "Is it harmless?" Elcaros sighed. "He is harmless, unless you make him go hostile." Then Elcaros put out his arm, catching the creature by its head and holding it in place. "Nyaaa! Balil! Balil! Elcaros kae balil!" Kiandre tried to hold her laughter. It (or he) was trying to release itself from Elcaros's grip, even when he lifted the screaming thing a good three feet in the air. He screamed, wailing like a small child, his legs running on air as his hands tried to get a grip on Elcaros.
Elcaros turned to Kiandre, oblivious to what his catch is doing. "Kiandre, meet Cho." Then he turned to the still struggling creature, "Cho, naka Kiandre, cha'ela kae." He turned his hands so that Cho could get a look at Kiandre. Cho squealed even more, this time his tone a teasing one. "Kiandre gha ligu ela Elcaros? HAHAH- Oi!" Elcaros released his grip, and the small thing fell to the ground. He turned to Kiandre again, ignoring her near laughing smile and just shook his head. "I doubt Faerun has these?" Cho got up and started runing around Kiandre. "Cho here is a zewinga. Cute, eh?" Elcaros sighed again. "So much for a peaceful journey..." |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2005 : 15:44:31
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"Na-na na na naa! Na-na na na naa!..." Cho's voice didn't seem to waver through out the day. He didn't smell or really look like one, but to Kiandre, the zewinga resembled a dwarf compacted and given a bath (with uncombed hair too). Elcaros said little about Cho, though she saw them talking the previous night, discussing something bad, judging the looks of Elcaros' frown and Cho's staying still (literally). Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she looked at Elcaros slightly behind her, and the zewinga running in circles around the two elves.
They only moved at daybreak, giving Cho time to rest (which meant just standing still with eyes closed). When daybreak came, all three headed to the old camp, burying Kiandre's companions and Cho giving the drow corpses there some kicks and the occasional whack with his furry fist. After that and a simple prayer, Kiandre and Elcaros had a short discussion and agreed on returning to the caves again. So back to the old path again, meeting the now-bloated drow corpses and cave entrance. Only then could both elves find the missing limbs to the corpses, swarms of flies and some crows in the woods, an arm even on a tree branch.
"This will lead to the Underdark. You know of it, right?" Kiandre asks Elcaros, wanting to make sure he understands what they'll be going through. "Enough," he replies with a nod. He gave Cho a quick briefing, and soon he stopped dancing/circling/jumping and kept quiet, giving nods that would break a dwarf's neck if he ever try it. Another quick few words, and Cho pulled a bloated pouch-like item with a long metal nozzle and placed the bloated part under his left armpit, holding the nozzle pointed in front of him with his right hand. Kiandre's confused look got only a smile and a shrug from Elcaros. "You'll know it when he uses it."
All three went into the darkness, Elcaros finding himself saying a silent prayer for Kiandre and himself. The thought of friendly fire by Cho's 'weapon' sent him praying again, just in case. Cho led the way with his nose, Kiandre right behind him with torch and shotsword in hand. Elcaros was close behind with zikiri in his right hand. Even if the light attracted attention, it was better seeing your attacker than not seeing anything at all. Where they were going, though, only Elcaros (and perhaps Cho) knew. It took roughly a few hours before they wandered their way to an exit. And to the smell of smoke and sounds screaming and metal.
Cho quickly rushed out, Elcaros and Kiandre quickly following behind. They found themselves on a hill and were greeted by an evening sun and a burning camp below them. The screams sounded human and...goblin? The hooting confirmed it, and Kiandre was the first to rush down. With a sigh, Elcaros followed, watching Cho literally rolling down along with him. By the time he reached, Kiandre already had her sword in a goblin's gut. He sighed again and joined the fray. There were a few human still standing though not all were fighting. Corpses littered the ground, most of them goblin. More corpses to be added to the day's kills... Four goblins charged Elcaros with spears. The elf brought his blade upwards diagonally, neatly cutting away the spearheads. That sharp? He wondered to himself as he ran towards the shocked goblins. One quick slash and four heads met the forest floor without their bodies. He went on slashing and stabbing, each move never dropping a goblin intact.
Kiandre managed to reach five survivors that formed a defensive circle against the score or so goblins. Her appearance caught the golins by suprise, and that few seconds of pause was enough for the humans to charge out and create new goblin corpses. More hoots were heard as another group of goblins appeared, this one numbering more than two dozen. The remaining goblins retreated to the safety of numbers and then joined along the hooting. As they were about to charge, a spray of small balls hit the raiding party. Goblins fell dead or in pain from it, and Kiandre and he humans found themselves turning their ehads to the source of the spray. Up on a treebranch, Cho was having a good time pumping on his contraption under his armpit with his arm in a chicken-flapping manner. The nozzle was aimed down at the mob of goblins, the hail of projectiles bursting out in coughs.
Elcaros went around the goblins as they were about to retreat while Kiandre and the human survivors flanked hem from another side. Almost immediately the goblins turned tail and ran, most of it never making three steps before being cut (or 'shot') down. With the immediate threat over, the humans gave a cheer, cut short when one spotted Elcaros at last. A branch broke, Cho fell to the ground in a thump, and they spotted him too.
One of them managed to speak (or stammer). "L-Lady elf, what...what company do ye keep with you? To-to have a..." Kiandre answered before the man could finish. "He isn't an drow." "But his skin..." another began. "If my skin means anything, what of my hair? Or my eyes?" Elcaros stepped forward, zikiri recalled and arms open. He knew of his kind's differences with the drow, of course. The problem now is whether others know it. "Most drow wouldn't have helped anyway," he continued. The humans looked at him without blinking, then turned to Kiandre, and finally to each other.
As if they were communicating telepathically, one spoke for them all. "Ye both saved our skins, and we're thankful for that. Me thinks that's all that matter, eh? That we're still alive and neither of you mean us harm..." There was a slight rustle, then "Nyah! Kalag cha-el!" Elcaros smirked as Cho stood up and kicked the tree hard. "Us three, you mean," he corrected the man. Kiandre glanced at the zewinga and then to the black elf. "They call it zheekys," he said, answering her unsaid question. "Don't ask me how they make those, but it works."
(End of college life for now, and I found the history log for Elcaros, so...*shrugs*) |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
Edited by - Rhezarnos on 22 Nov 2005 15:53:45 |
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Rhezarnos
Learned Scribe
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Malaysia
131 Posts |
Posted - 23 Nov 2005 : 15:59:10
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The five humans, two elves and one zewinga camped that night in relative silence. Kiandre did quite well in explaining Elcaros' difference with the drow. Of Cho though, she couldn't explain much, and Elcaros couldn't put what he knew into words. "Just watch him. That's what he is, basically." And so they did. All seven of them watching the furry halfling-lookalike jumping and running about without any signs of tiring.
"It's...he's always like that?" a tall and almost plump man, Argath, asked. Elcaros gave a short nod and a sigh. "You haven't seen him when he's active though." The stares Elcaros received from all six around him showed him the disbelief he'd given last time when he himself was told about it. "And we don't want to be seeing him in that state?" Kiandre asked. Elcaros shrugs. "Depends on the situation I guess." Somewhere a few feet from them, Cho hit full speed and tried running up a tree, only to slip and hit it head first. He stood up, dazed for a moment and then went back to running around, doing a backflip somewhere along the way.
They talked over the campfire (with Cho still running around) and the men explained their situation. "We were supposed to head for Carrowvale," Argath started. A dark and heavyset man next to him who called himself Kelor continued the story. "About halfway through, them goblins came outta' nowhere and started chasin' us." The others nodded at his words, and then each began retelling what happened.
"They chased us for days without stopping. We hadn't a chance ta' sleep."
"...had to lose th' wagons when they dropped th' horses..."
"They came like a flood. Metals an' hooting an' all that..."
"...didn't know where we were headed after that. All there is was trees in front, goblins behind."
Summary? They got chased by goblins, had to abandon their cargo, lost a few of their own as they fled, got lost, and wound up here.
The night would've been longer, except that Kiandre told the men to rest, which they readily did. Within a few minutes, all five men were asleep. By now Cho was on a treebranch, swinging happily while the two elves kept watch. Kiandre on the survivors, and Elcaros on the zewinga. By the time it became pitch black, Cho was asleep on the same treebranch, joining in the choir of snores of the men.
Kiandre was leaning against the tree, hands folded in front of her as she watched the camp. She smiled when she looked up to Cho, wondering if he'd fall down at any time. Her view then shifted slightly to her right, to the next tree where green eyes scanned the area slowly. They stopped when they saw Kiandre focusing on them, and she feel more than see the faint smile that was beneath the eyes. They both went back to their tasks, Elcaros eventually climbing up a treebranch next to Cho for a better view of the area.
If anyone watched the fading campfire long enough, they'd have noticed a smiling face within the flames.
Morning came, and with it the task of burying more bodies. No one complained, no one said a word. When it was over, the men asked the three (two, if you only count those that understand Common) if they'd mind escorting them to Carrowdale to report the loss. Both Elcaros and Kiandre agreed, and soon enough they were headed out to find their way back on the road again. |
Playing a winged dwarf with acrophobia is fun. |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2005 : 16:53:32
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Okay, you said feedback's welcome, so here goes.
First, grammar. You shift tense from past to present occasionally, your phrasing can turn a bit weird -- expected, I suppose, since your native language is Asian. Your punctuation is hit-and-miss, mostly miss, and you could benefit from running this through a spellchecker. Please try to get someone to read it over for grammatical errors. I won't point them out one by one, because that'd make this post way too long.
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On instinct, his right hand was pointed to the ground, palm open downwards. A blackish-green glow emanated from his palm, and from the glow, a blade took shape, like being extracted from a portal.
Verbose about details that don't really matter (who cares where he points his hand at, really?). Could've been condensed to just "On instinct, his right hand opened, and a dark green glow emanated from it, solidifying into the shape of a blade."
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In seconds, the hilt of the blade came out and Elcaros quickly gripped it. All this in a matter of seconds. Weapon in hand, Elcaros prepared for whatever that's coming.
Paging Redundant Department of Redundant Redundancy.
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The stag watched Elcaros walk towards him. Strangely, he didn't feel afraid by this strange humanoid. Stranger still, the stag didn't even think of running from this elf, if it was indeed one. It looks like an elf. More like the black skinned ones the stag saw once near the caves, only that the thick fur on his head is black, not white. The arrow made breathing hard, obviously, but it entered at a steep angle, causing little damage to the stag's lungs. More than enough time to make it to the ranger living nearby. And if this...elf decides to attack...
Is there a point to giving the stag a point of view? Will the ranger living nearby have a role? If not, then what's the purpose of this apart from tossing out a fluffy-luvvy-animal moment? (Oh, look, the hero's nice to wounded animals. *deadpan*)
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He was three steps into the clearing when he dodged an arrow aimed for his head.
He is Neo? Okay, so arrows are a lot slower than bullets, but seriously, how does he know to dodge said arrow?
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It's tail, a long, thing and poisonous one, was raised like a scorpion, while it's red bat-like wings were opened, as if to ensure no escape.
Learn the difference between "its" and "it's", please. Hint: the former is a possessive pronoun and is what you're looking for; the latter is a contraction for "it has" or "it is." Why do people keep getting something as rudimentary as this wrong?
Also, this sentence is just odd. Its tail is like a whole scorpion? That's an interestingly shaped tail. Maybe you mean "its tail was raised like that of a scorpion." "As if to ensure no escape" is missing quite a few words; try "as if to ensure that there would be no escape [for him]."
The fight scene strikes me as... tepid. There's no real sense of alacrity or urgency, just more of blandly told "and then he did this, and then he did that." It's also hugely confusing due to your lack of punctuation for the italicized thoughts and the overabundance of modifiers.
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The shots after that made the left eye look like an arrow pin-cushion.
Paging Department of Redundant Redundancy. "Arrow pincushion"?
Also, how big is its eyes? I don't think most eyes can really contain enough arrows to make them look like pincushions. Beholders', maybe, because their central eyes are pretty damn massive.
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Unfortunately, she almost for got the middle arm, and was forced to evade a sweeping blow by it.
Forgot is one word.
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oppurtunistic elves
Opportunistic. Any basic spellchecker'd have caught this.
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Fortunately, both elves failed to realise that legs were as good as arms in battle, especially if they ended in sharp blade like points. it saw the black one roll away and lifted a leg to greet him.
I could make neither head nor tails of this sentence (or rather, this pair of sentences, despite the uncapitalized "it") until I realized that, oh, it's from the fiend's viewpoint.
I strongly suggest keeping to one viewpoint per scene. Hopping from head to head is disorienting. (It can be done well, but it takes practise.)
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"A black skinned elf. A drow, I say!" one of them said. "He isn't a drow," she replied. "And how you know that?" "Because if he were, I'd be dead by now, and he would not be sitting there.""Maybe he's a spy,"another said. The others looked at him incredulously. "He makes a bad spy then," one stated. "Alright then, assuming he's not a drow, what're you going to do with him? Even if he isn't a drow, he loooks like it." Kiandre couldn't argue with that. She thought about it, and looked back at Elcaros, or at least the empty space where he was supposed to be sitting.
Oy vey. When writing dialogue, start a new paragraph every time the speaker changes, please. So, the above block of text would be more correctly formatted thus:
"A black skinned elf. A drow, I say!" one of them said.
"He isn't a drow," she replied.
"And how you know that?"
"Because if he were, I'd be dead by now, and he would not be sitting there.""
Maybe he's a spy,"another said. The others looked at him incredulously.
"He makes a bad spy then," one stated. "Alright then, assuming he's not a drow, what're you going to do with him? Even if he isn't a drow, he loooks like it."
Kiandre couldn't argue with that. She thought about it, and looked back at Elcaros, or at least the empty space where he was supposed to be sitting.
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Since there is not much mention about family ties in pantheons, we decided to create a sister for Lloth and see what happens.
How does Illirien of way too many l's fit into the Araushnee/Corellon love affair and Lolth's, Vhaerun's and Eilistraee's banishment from Arvandor?
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Like her sister, she was a mastermind, and soon, if all goes well, the silk elves will return to Toril, and exact vengeance on the one who caused so much suffering.
Caused so much suffering to whom?
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If all goes well, a new elven civil war will start again.
If it's "new", it can't begin "again." If it's again, it can't be new. Pick one.
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Kiandre laughed when she heard him explain that the dessoraths are deadly but had "rice brains", which was to say that they weren't too clever.
If Elcaros' home is some sort of barren wastelands, tell me how exactly rice can grow there (and therefore produce this idiom). Last I checked, rice needs a lot of water to flourish.
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The song reaked of sorrow and pain
How does a song reak anything? Unless you mean "reek", in which case it gave me a giggle, because unless I've missed something, songs don't emit odors.
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The animals retreated back, confused and afraid.
Redundant.
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For a short moment, Elcaros could have sworn that there was something in those eyes of hers.
Sure something's in her eyes. I'd like to hope she's got her cornea, irises, pupils, lens, optic nerves and everything.
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They headed back to the cave entrance, walking in silence and uncertainty of each other.
Uncertain. Guh.
I'm stopping there, because I really don't want to go through another combat scene, and the idea of any character meeting directly with his/her deity makes me leery. |
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Return from exile
Good work.