DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Downtime Role Playing
HTML https://savemybones.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Travels in Illiya
*****************************************************
#Post#: 518--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Deetoo Date: January 31, 2020, 10:11 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Halan leans down to Tali, summons Bubo and puts him on her
shoulder. "We'll be back soon. We aren't quite done with
asskicking,I suspect."
Then he looks as if he would go for a hug but he doesn't know
how to do that properly and goes for an awkward shoulder pat
instead. Quieter he says, "Thank you. I personally don't think
this face is all that much but it's nice to hear it anyway."
Then he turns away, changing into a drow and standing next to
Hexor as he finishes casting the spell.
Right before they disappear, he winks at Kiran. "This face is
only temporary, so no worries about falling in love with me."
#Post#: 519--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Rojosama Date: February 5, 2020, 5:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Hexor turns his head at Halan's comment, but says nothing. Once
Halan enters the circle, there is a flash of blue light and they
vanish.
After a moment Halan and Hexor find themselves in a small cave,
barely larger than the space needed for the circle. At first
there appears to be no exit, but looking closer, you find one
wall has a small opening near the floor, less than a two feet
high. Hexor bends at the waist, folding himself under it.
When you get to the other side you see a wall, barely a stride
in front of you, and Hexor is unmoving. He pulls a small
runestone from one of his belt pouches and holds it up before
him.
"The Snake Under the Sun requests an audience with Archmage
Solom Ned'razak," he calls out, seemingly to no one. At your
look he nods his chin upwards and following that line you can
see on top of the wall, there is another opening, the same size,
but nearly twenty feet up. On each side of the opening is a
small alcove, ten feet wide and half as tall, and laying in each
are two drow with crossbows aimed and ready.
#Post#: 520--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Deetoo Date: February 5, 2020, 7:16 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Halan steals a look and then tells Hexor through the mind link,
if it's still going: "Shouldn't you mention you're bringing a
guest? Also, how realistic is it that I won't need to talk?
Because I can understand everything now but I can't speak anyway
and I don't think the old 'I find the language tastes wrong on
my tongue' gambit will work here."
Otherwise he waits and follows Hexor's lead.
#Post#: 521--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Rojosama Date: February 6, 2020, 9:44 am
---------------------------------------------------------
"I wouldn't worry overly much, my people here aren't very
talkative to outsiders," he says aloud in elven. "Sadly, most
drow born on the surface do not speak this language anyway, and
most of the people here speak enough elven to get by. Besides,
dealing with my people is similar to dealing with any dangerous
animal. Be confident, be aggressive, and it doesn't hurt to
wound a few to warn off the others," he finishes, tapping his
jaw by the ear and nodding upwards.
Looking up you can see one of the drow on watch bears a visible
scar in that exact location.
After a few minutes of waiting, there is soft *click click
click* and the entire wall in front of them lowers silently to
the ground, covering a section of fast flowing river on the
other side. Another drow in very ornate robes is waiting for you
on the other side, she nods her head toward the two of you.
"The Archmage awaits thee in his chambers," she says before
turning and walking back toward the center of the island.
As they walk, no few heads turn to follow them and no doubt many
whispers fly even faster. Hexor walks with a confident stride,
looking neither left nor right. If you remember this island is
dominated by large mushrooms, most nearly 20ft around at the
smallest, and the drow here have taken to fashioning themselves
homes within these stalks, not unlike they elves of the
surfaces, though making that comment aloud might be a good way
to get a dagger in the back.
The center of the island is dominated by a large tower of black
metal, obviously a magical creation, with two guards in full
plate and glaives posted outside. Hexor again brings up the
runestone, and now that you've seen it more closely, it is
nearly identical to the one he gave Halan those many weeks ago,
though the specific rune is different. The guards, seeing the
stone, step back and allow entrance.
The Archmage Solom Ned'razak stands waiting within as you enter.
His tower, stangely for drow, has a small fireplace burning in
one corner illumiating the area, though not providing any heat.
There are stacks and shelves of books, a pair of small tables, a
single large chair near the firelight, and a central staircase
spiraling both up and down. Hexor moves before the Archmages and
offers a deep bow.
"Greetings, Archmage Ned'razak," he offers from his bow.
"Greetings to you as well, and your companion, though I did not
expect one," The Archmages offers in reply. "You've returned
long before I expected, it has been barely months since you were
last here. What brings you to me?" He says folding his hands
within his robes.
"My tasks are threefold, Archmage," he begins and pulls out the
tome on Spellweaving. "We recovered this tome during our travels
and I recall studying something similar within your own
collection." With a gesture the book floats from Hexor into the
Archmage's waiting hand. He flips it open randomly and reads for
a moment, before closing it. He walks over to a nearby shelf and
looks over the books there before pulling out a smaller one.
"As you know there are many, nearly endless, paths within the
Art and no two mages are identical in walking it," He walks over
and hands the two books to Halan. "This path is one few find
worth in traveling, but it does offer some measure of power to
those that do. If I recall, it allows a skilled mage to weave
two spells together, losing some power from both but combining
the effects into a single casting. Handy skill to have should
you be limited to the lesser forms of . . .," he cocks his head
to the side for a moment, before narrowing is eyes are Hexor,
who simply nods.
You feel the mental connection of the Hivemind break, and a few
wordless moments pass between the drow before Solom speaks
aloud.
"We knew this could happen. You were warned before you under
went the Right that it could greatly increase your magical
endurance, but also limit your access to the higher levels of
magic. Is this a constant effect or an outlier?" He falls
silent, bringing a finger up to tap his chin, lost in thought.
"We don't have enough information to work from yet. A pity you
were the only survivor."
#Post#: 522--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Rojosama Date: February 10, 2020, 7:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Solom spends a long moment lost in thought before remembering he
is not alone.
"Yes," he clears his throat. "This book should provide some
insight into this path, should you choose to follow it," he
looks at Halan. "I hope your mind is more . . . flexible . . .
than his. I've seen his runes, they are organized to the point
of madness, a side effect of his specific type of magic one
assumes. In order to properly uses these notes, you will need to
be able to adapt to the moment and flow of the magic, to read it
and predict its most likely outcome. A skill few formally
trained mages possess." He turns his back and takes a few steps
before turning back.
"You said three tasks, yes?"
"Yes, Master. Are my quarters still in order? We will need to
recover our spells before we can continue." Hexor says with a
nod. "I also seek the Fleshwarper."
"Ah," the Archmage replies with sigh. "As my student you have
access of course." Hexor bows and turns to leave, taking three
quick strides toward the door.
"Hexor'andorian of House Atticus," The Archmage says quietly,
his voice low. Hexor freezes midstep, foot a few inches from the
ground. He slowly lowers it and turns to face the Archmage,
hands loose at his side as if excepting an attack.
"Do not forget you debts here. When we move to retake the city,
and have no doubt it will be sooner than you think, I expect
your talents to be supremely useful." Hexor's eyes narrow at the
barely veiled threat, before bowing once again, taking a step
back, pulling Halan with him, and exiting the tower.
Hexor leads Halan to a small dome of stone on the very edge of
the island, so near that the dome actually has a portion open
over the water, he gestures for Halan to enter first. Once
inside, Hexor begins to remove his gear and placing it all in
his bag of holding, which he then sets on the ground under the
one stone bed, keeping only his weapon belt and a small pouch.
"I need to go see someone before I rest, the Fleshwarper. I
should return in the in a few hours and we can leave as soon as
you are recovered."
#Post#: 523--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Deetoo Date: February 10, 2020, 11:25 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Halan thinks for about half a second before he relaxes and says
"Yeah, sure, go. I would have followed you but I don't think
it's worth it because I do need to rest. And hey, if this
fleshwarper isn't good enough for you," he changes into his
Halan face, "then knock yourself out. But don't actually knock
yourself out because I also don't want to have to go looking for
you because pretending I'm mute won't work out with that little
sign language of yours." He turns back into a drow.
He looks hesitantly at Hexor. "You know... I think of you as a
friend too. I know I make jokes and if you tell the others then
I might still deny it, but I do. Because you don't seem to do
quite as much pretending with us and because you're pretty
direct and you have my back more than most people I knew. I just
mention it 'cause... listen, I don't know what the only survivor
thing meant and I know you have Kiran, but if you ever wanna
talk..." He straightens up. "Okay, moment of weakness over, you
go enjoy your fleshwarping," and he turns away from the door.
#Post#: 524--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Rojosama Date: February 10, 2020, 6:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Hexor cocks his head to the side, looking at Halan curiously.
"Do I?" He asks softly. He shakes his head a moment later.
"Fleshwarping is less in your wheel house than the name would
suggest, but I should be fine." He turns and walks to the
doorway, before stopping with one hand on the side.
"However," he says, half turning his head. "If you feel I've
been gone overly long, it would be best to leave me behind and
get out of this place." He leaves without waiting for an answer.
*A few hours pass*
Hexor returns finally, looking terrible. He is limping, holding
his chest, covered in sweat. He offers a half smile, before
taking a step forward into the room, eyes rolling into the back
of his head, falling forward and smacking his shoulder in the
bed, landing on the floor and laying unmoving.
A check shows that he is still alive, if only barely, but
exhausted.
#Post#: 525--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Deetoo Date: February 10, 2020, 7:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Halan rolls over from his sleeping position, alert because he
doesn't trust this place but when he sees Hexor, he relaxes
somewhat. "You look like you fought an undead dragon and then
decided to go on a ride through a mincer. This is seriously
fucked up, I hope you know that. Well, wake me up when we have
to go study. I don't want to be here much longer than necessary.
Don't want to leave Tali and Kiran for too long."
He rolls back and says "I'll do what I can in the morning,
should you need it. You should rest too."
#Post#: 527--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Rojosama Date: February 11, 2020, 7:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
When Halan wakes up, Hexor will be gone from the small chamber.
Moving outside you see him doing his daily weapon practice, but
something is wrong. He only makes it a few steps before wincing
and stopping. He takes a deep breath and starts again, making it
a few steps more into his dance before stopping again. His ten
minute dance takes almost an hour before it is complete, and he
is dripping sweat and breathing heavy.
Noticing Halan, he walks over, and even his steps are painful.
His skin is paler than normal and he has deep shadows under his
eyes from lack of rest.
"Are you . . .well rested?" He asks breathlessly, toweling off
his body. "Are you ready to leave this place?"
#Post#: 528--------------------------------------------------
Re: The Tale of Tali and the not-so-best-friend Thraxis
By: Deetoo Date: February 12, 2020, 8:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Halan whispers in Common, quiet so that as few people as
possible can overhear him. "Leave? I thought that we were here
to learn about spellweaving, or have you done that with the
fleshwarper? I wanted to know about it as well, you know."
He gives Hexor a look. "Also, what the hell is wrong with you
and do you need help now? Or do you want to save face and wait
until we're gone? I'm ready to go whenever, you call the shot."
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page