The World of Layonara
Character Development => Development Journals and Discussion => Topic started by: Xaltotun on March 18, 2009, 07:30:10 AM
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*A mugging in Port Hempstead - How the Baker Street Gang started*
He heard a knock at the door and a small cough to attract his attention.
The guardsman looked up from the paperwork on his overflowing desk and put on a smile. 'Good evening madam. What can I do for you?' He asked, while wondering why he ever took this promotion.
He looked at the time – it is past midnight and I have still not had any supper, he thought. He looked at the woman in front of him – she not only looked as if she has not her supper either, she looked as if a good wash would not go amiss as well. And that smell?
The old woman cleared her throat again, as if unsure of her words. 'Sorry t' bother you sir, but me mind is worrying me an' I wasn't sure if I should tell someone or not.'
The guardsman improved his smile, hoping it would look welcoming rather than the way he really felt. 'Speak up freely my good woman, you have nothing to fear here.'
With a stammer, the newcomer began. 'As you know sir, I help around the the city's sewers, an' well, earlier tonight a strange party approached me asking fer work.
'Well, the pipes had become clogged again – I 'ave reported this before but the council seem unable t' do anything about ...'
'Please, my good woman,' the guard interrupted the sudden outpouring, 'tell me what happened.'
'Sorry sir, it's just that..' A withering look brought her back to the main story.
'Sorry sir. Well, there were three 'o them, or perhaps there was a fourth, but he was always in the background, like a shadow, and it was...'
The guard looked pained as the woman wandered off again in her story.
'Sorry sir. As I was saying these three, or four, asked fer work and I tole them t' go down an' clear the drains.
'Well they was gone for some time, but then they comes back an' the woman, I think she was a woman, said she had found the problem an' sorted it, so according t' the bye-laws, I rewarded them then left them t' come an' report the drains were working again, and write another request t' get the drains fixed....'
The man looked pointedly. 'And? There is more to this than a simple repair of the drains, hmm?'
She looked abashed again as she realised she was back on her old hobby-horse. 'Sorry sir. Yes, there is. Well, I had left them t' come here, but then remembered something and was heading back t' where I last saw them.
'As I neared the barrier beside the sewers, I could hear three or four voices talking harshly – their accents were really strange, except the small one who sounded quite cultured really. I wonder if he is from some...'
The guardsman coughed to bring the woman on track again.
'Sorry sir. Anyway, there was also this kid too. Little nipper and well, I couldn't really make it out, but it seems he was on an errand t' deliver some money t' the baker for his mum.
'Anyway, he was hiding. But the woman and the tall man walked up t' him as they was talking t' him, see?
'The little guy, the tall man called him
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It was a fine day and four of us had gathered to see if we could make some coin, the easier the better. The three of them were talking in voices that were pitched too high for my ears given my current fragile state of health and the time of the day.
Wee man looked over at me and asked, 'Awright duchess? Yer very quiet loik, and lookin kinda rough?'
I replied pithily, 'Ah hid too many cans last night at the Scamp's Mug, man, and got pure dedd glaikit, but ah've goat a bottil o' bru an' ah'll be okay in a while. But gonnie keep the rammy doon; ye'll gie me the boak with a' yer rammy.'
We were talking about what we thought we should to do to gather some cash, and I suggested, 'Ah wis sayin' we should go an' tan a shoap fur sum fun.'
But Wee Man, he's the taller of the four, says, 'Nah duchess, we should go daan an' noise up the kobolds instead.'
Helluva rash, I thought, and then the Big Man spoke up, 'We should go to Fort Llast and see if we can help them there. I have heard there is a wizard in need of some assistance.'
With a lopsided smile, I said, 'Ston up when yer talking.', although the smile would have been difficult to see on account of the hood I was wearing.
Big man glared at me while wee man spoke up in his defence. 'Aw, 'e is standin' ap. Just 'cause e's the smallest 'ere, yer don't need to go pickin' on 'im, awroight?'
Big Man looked with thanks at this and glanced balefully at me. 'I have asked you before not to call me that!'
I came back, 'Ah, shut it wi' yer whinin' and greetin'; yer dain' ma heid in. Too much e a rush, that's yer problem.'
So we got our stuff together (mainly me on condition of my unaccountably sore head) and were about to head out to Fort Llast, when a stranger appeared on the road from Hempstead Fields. I was struck by her apparel and her bearing instantly. She held herself perfectly erect and composed, sure of her surroundings and her place within them.
She was wearing a beautiful outfit, in shades of red, lined with what looked like white ermine, and her cloak was the most amazing colour of red, again lined with the white fur of some creature. And her shoes, well, suffice to say they must have cost a small town's yearly taxes.
I stood at her approach and tried the common vernacular I had learned in my previous life.
'Hi rerr doll, howzit gawin'? Yer claes urr pure dedd gorgeous, by the way.'
She stopped dead in her tracks, as if she had run into a dwarven shieldwall. 'Why hello,' she replied, 'and I thank you, I think, for your compliments.'
'Where wis ye aff tae?' I asked 'Wese yins wis headin' tae Fort Llast an' wondert if ye'd hud any trouble fae that direction?'
She replied that in fact the roads had been remarkably clear; perhaps due to the Road Wardens of Toran's recent activities, she mused. There must have been something in the way
she held herself, the way she seemed so self-assured, so I decided to take a chance and spoke to her in my own language. To my complete delight, she replied in that same language, the tongue of which I had not heard spoken by another for many years. I forced down a welling tear in my eye so I would not show any weakness as I replied in our own speech.
She introduced herself as Saira and we spent a while talking and sharing opinions, during which my companions, looked lost, grew bored, and eventually walked away; except Wee Man who stood by, just in case someone happened by that he could talk into parting with some money.
After a length of time, another stranger approached us, and as the gods would have it, this newcomer was of our race as well. After the initial hesitations until we felt we could trust each other, he introduced himself as Naster. We shared some banter and some tips on the best ways to travel in these lands, and then we parted our ways, but only after Saira tried her best to better him in a game of words and bravado about her god's pleasures.
By this time, my comrades had returned and guv'nor said he had heard of a call for help from a camp outside Vehl that he thought we could benefit from. We headed off to the camp, and spoke to the man there and he told us he was being bothered by a strange creature called Zamin. He said that the Zamin had some undead help to support him, so forewarned, we moved to his camp.
Sticking closely to shadows of the trees and hills where best I could, I scouted ahead and came across some zombies, and returned to the others to make our plans. Since they were so slow moving, we dispatched them with volley after volley of arrows, but then came some sort of dragon, horse thing, that was all skeletal and we had to close with swords to dispatch it.
Working our way slowly, we came across the Zamin's camp. Once again, I walked forward slowly, trying my best to merge with whatever meagre shadows were offered by the trees. I got near each one in turn, and in turn, stood out in open view to lure each of his guards away and bring them to the rest of the gang so we could return them to their lost graves where they belonged.
Finally, we positioned ourselves to take on Zamin himself. I gave out instructions to the gang, as natural leader of the men, and we moved in for the close. We had agreed to count to 10 to allow me time to edge close to Zamin, so I could attempt a strike at his unguarded back. Alas, someone counted too fast and the fight had started before I could get into position. With battle engaged, I tried faster than I should have done to move to get a better position to strike at Zamin and took my thrust.
A hit! But at what cost, for he had seen my approach at the last moment. He staggered under the blow and turned on me, giving the others the advantage. As he moved towards me, I tried to slip to the side and into the shade of a nearby tree and he momentarily lost sight of me. That was enough to discourage him and make him turn to the others.
But he was fast. With two swift strokes, he cut at guv'nor, knocking him to the ground with a death blow and moved to his next target. I will never understand why, but without thinking of my own plight, I ran from the shadows to pour a healing potion down guv'nor's throat, and Zamin took his chance.
As guv'nor revived from my ministrations and moved away, Zamin's thrust took my life. As the last breath left my lips, I saw the Soul Mother take me in her embrace and pull me to her shadowy land.
Some time later, I awoke outside Hlint and all I could remember was the Soul Mother's voice in my ears telling me that she would grant me another chance at life but that I had to be more careful.
I returned to the gang, and they were amazed to see me whole again, for when they had looked for my body to bury after they had slain Zamin, they said it had gone.
So all is well that ends well I suppose, but I know I will be happy if I do not feel the Soul Mother's embrace until I have reached a fine old age and have grandchildren at my feet.
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Dusk was starting to set and the winds had dropped to a low susurrus in the background as the two people set up their fishing gear around the small pool.
Without looking at the man, she says: 'Hiya.
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Ah furgot tae write this up earlier, like, but ye'll love this wan.
A wee while back, ah wis wanderin' through Wayfayre like, an' came across a bunch o' adventurers. Always oan ra lookout fur a fast true, ah sidled up tae 'em tae see whit wis gawin' oan.
Turns oot they wis headin' tae Folly, tae capture sum bandit who'd escaped frae therr jail. Well, ah could smell money in ra err, so ah said ah'd go alang fur ra ride, llike.
Well, we never fund ra bandit, but we say her handiwork, like. She hud goat in tow wi' sum others and hud creatit a bunch o' golems and she threw 'em at ra toon in revenge. Well yours truly wis only really in it fur ra dosh, but ah wis caught between a rock an' a hard place, so ah hung back an' used ma bow tae help ra heroes oot. In between ra fightin', ah managed tae dash aboot an' squirrel sum gold away, but no much tae get frae golems, ah fund oot.
Anyway, ra point behind mah story, an' dinni you be readin' 'is thinkin' "at long last", is 'at insteed o' catchin' (oar in mah case, helpin') ra bandit, we, yours truly included, endit up bein' bleedin' heroes by savin' ra toon frae 'ese golem attacks. Ra bleedin' mayor an a' came oot tae thank us an' laid oan a perty an' a' fur us too.
Me! A hero! Ah'll huv tae go an' belt a couple o' kids tae make up fur 'is wan; oar maybe tan a few shoaps.
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*One evening, in the inn in Port Vehl, a small, dark clothed and hooded woman is consuming far too much alcohol, but even so, remains very much tight lipped and to herself until a hooded figure approaches her and sits down.*
'Is the deed done?
'Aye, he schwimms wae ra fishesh noo. Nae worries.'
'And no-one saw you,' he asked nervously.
'Whit dae ye take me fur? Shum short o' amateur?' I replied testily.
He seemed happy with this, so he slid a small purse across the table to me. 'Are you not going to count it?' He asked in surprise.
'Why dae ah needsh tae? If it'sh no right, ye'll find yersel' buried alive sum night?'
He gulped, nodded, and slowly left the inn, never turning his back on her.
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It his bin too long since ah penned sumthin', and therr is much to tell ye noo.
Ah huv bin allowed tae join a big group of mah ain people, an' they wis oot tae grab a prisoner, like. The guy in charge had his ain designs oan ra prisoner, and man, ah kin tell ye, she suffered afore she finally died. Ra High Priestess did her best tae keep her breathin', but man, she eventually gave up and croaked it.
Shame, 'cos she wis a fine lookin' wummin'. Never mind. Where wis ah? Oh aye, well we hud ra prisoner tied an' gagged, an' whit dae ye think, but ah stupit wee dwarf blundered intae us. Well, ye coulda hogtied 'em, but quick as a flash, ah called the wee guy oot, and blow me, but by ra time ra ithers gathert aroon, he wis up fur a fight.
Brave? Aye, nae doubt, but man, really stupid. Wan slash frae ra gang, an' he wis doon an' deein' like a stuck pig. Well, they carved him up guid an' proper so no even his mammy wid recognise him, and then left him fur ra beetles tae finish aff whit wis left.
Stupit dwarves. Think they kin take oan ra world. Think they kin take us oan? Nah, nae chance.
//OOC check out the full story here: http://forums.layonara.com/1362942-post510.html
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I first tested him when I met up with Solena and Cra'xis. Caradith was his name and Solena wanted me to assess his fighting skills, so suggested we head inthe Red Goblin caves.
We went down quite far, and I was a little impressed by his skill with his sword and shield. I watched Solena watching me too: she's a clever one, that one.
We killed a lot of goblins that night, I can tell you, and even got their leader. Caradith worked well enough and with time, will improve. He could be an asset, so I will have to watch him grow, perhaps even help him.
Time will tell.
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One day, in Vehl town centre, two dark elves happen upon a chance meeting. They have met before and after some preamble;
After an initial talk where I a tried to interest him and he turned me down, I spoke to Eriis in our native tongue, so there would be no misunderstanding, 'You can be on about your chores now. I have more important things to attend to.'
His gaze turned sharply to me, 'Do you imply something?'
I replied coldly in our own tongue. 'I imply nothing, child. But you may infer whatever you wish. I matters naught to me.'
He stopped and said quietly, '... I understand you are under assignment by Solena?'
I frowned and replied in the common tongue, 'No, ah wouldni say that - who telt ye that?'
He made a vague gesture, 'No... annoying person to be dealt with?'
'Dealt with?'
Eriis smirked... more so to himself, 'I thought so...'
My toned deepened, 'Speak clearly an' stop talkin' in riddles.'
He frowned, 'Oh no, I am not in any part of this, as much as I would want to be... I was merely curious.... ' He grinned wickedly, 'I'd like to flay her myself....'
'Flay her? Hmm, maybe you could be useful 'en.'
Eriis, '*his eyes flaring up momentarily* 'I'm sure I'll get much amusment from it... *grins wickedly* a little payback involving... *looks to one of his many concealed pockets, one which has a small spider shuffling in it.
I said, 'So, ye think ye've heard sumthin' then. My, my, how the chatter flows.'
Eriis shrugged, 'I do what I do... gather information.....'
'Well, gather it fur me, an' ye'll find me.. pleasing tae please. It wid help me tae huv sum extra ears an' eyes oot therr.'
Eriis went on to say he would something in return; something to help him hone his skills as a spy, so I suggested we test his skills so far.
Eriis muttered something under his breath about "damned tests", but followed anyway.
I laughed over my shoulder, 'Dinni worry, it's an easy test - folli me an' we kin start right away," and walked off without waiting for the reply. We arrived at the door to Vehl Crypts, where I waited.
'Well, ra door isni gonni open by itself, ye know!'
He muttered, but opened the door and went through first, as was fiting his station.
I watched Eriis as he worked his way around the skeletons, noting his skills and his style. His summons worked particularly well.
I whispered to him, 'ra dug fights better'n ye dae,' and once we had finished the test I said 'Well, ye'll dae. Ah wid rather huv ra dug, but oan account o' ah canni speak dug, ye'll dae"
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An' things keep gettin' better.
Spoke wi' an auld friend again when we bumped intae each ither in Vehl, an' it seems she's concerned ower a darthir who is causin' problems.
Ah huv bin given ra joab o' capturin' 'is elf *she spits* - no killin' them, capturin' them! Me? Seems mah client waants tae keep the darthir so it never gets oot again.
Ah wonder hoo ye kin trap sumwan forever? Anyway, ah best gets oan wi' it. Ah wonder hoo ah could hire tae cum wi' me.
Ah could mix sum poisons an' stick it oan therr food, like, tae knock them oot. Oar a could jist folli them an' chib them unconscious and carry them away.
Ah think ah needs tae find them an' watch ra routine fur a wee bit and then make mah plans. Treat it like a real assassination an' no get sloppy, like.
Aye, that's whit ah'll dae.
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It's possible ah may huv a career change pendin' so wi' 'at in mind, ah took masel aff tae ra Ice Caves oot by Krashin and took oan ra kobolds toe tae toe.
(http://forums.layonara.com/photopost/data/101742/Kobold_Practice.jpg)
Ah even went wan better an' stopped tae intimidate ra last few tae show 'em hoo insignifcant therr magic wis. Ah laughed as ra last wan collapsed in front o' me.
(http://forums.layonara.com/photopost/data/101742/What_a_dark_elf_thinks_of_your_magic.jpg)
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Ah met ra maist annoyin' man in ra whole world ra ither day in Fort Llast. He goes by ra name o' Wimwick Rugratchet an' he's a bloomin' gnome.
He went oan an' oan an' oan aboot devices an' mechanisms until mah ears wis bleedin'. Ah tell ye, ah wid've dun fur him therr, in toon, but Lilyvaen Glensmere arrived an' distractit me.
Ah found that ah could blank oot ra chatter frae 'at stupid gnome jist by starin' at Lilyvaen; oh, an' talkin' tae her too.
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Bumped intae a dwarf today. Ah wis doon in ra Vehl Crypts, collectin' sum knuckles, when a wee dwarf came towards me oot o' ra darkness.
He looked like yer typical dwarf, sma', bald an' sporting a wee beard, an' he wis as suspicious as a' ra rest o' em, an' he ca'd himself Klass Hrendhamar. Anyways, we goat tae talkin';
'Never trust an elf mother said. Why trust you?'
Ah replied, sumwhat wittily, ah thought, 'Well ah'm no an elf mother, so ye should be okay.'
Klass said, 'No elf mother? what?'
'Whit's tae trust?' Ah said. 'Ah help you, an' you help me.'
Ah said, 'You said "never trust an elf mother"'
'Me mother said,' he said. 'Never trust an elf.'
I laughed at his confusion, 'Oh, never trust an ELF, no an elf mother.'
Anyway, efter ah'd goat him tae furget whit his mither telt him, he saw sum sense in whit ah wis sayin', so in exchange fur helping him get sum dust, he taught me a whole bunch o' dwarven. Ah jist needs to go an' remember it a' noo.
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Ah wis in Vehl today when who came through ra door tae ra toon but Eriis.
He came over tae talk tae me, an' as usual, wis anglin' fur me tae gie him a belt ah hid made. We bantered back an' forth a wee bit, but therr wis an edge tae it, like.
Ah didni waant any money fur ra belt, so instead goat him tae gie me a lock o' his herr, and a promise that he wid dae me a favor when ah asked him fur wan. He hesitated a lot an' asked why ah wantit his herr, like, so ah telt him it wis tae gie me power ower him so he widni brekk oor deal. He hesitated, then cut a lock aff, tied it in a nice wee knot and gave me it. Ah persisted wi' ra second part o' ra deal, that he wid dae me a favor when ah asked fur it, an' he eventually agreed.
So, he his a new belt noo an' ah huv his herr an' a favor.
He's dedd lippy though, an' heidstrong. Ah'm trying tae squelch that spirit, but maybe instead o' takin' oor usual harsh way o' handlin' it, maybe ah should try ra humie way o' smooth talkin'. Difficult, 'cos ah tried extendin' a hand o' friendship tae him, an' he turned me doon flat, so he isni reddy fur ra ways o' ra humies, yet. Ah think that will jist appear as weak tae him, so ah dae, an' ah canni huv 'at.
Ah'll keep talkin' tae him an' see in whit way ah kin get him in mah power. 'is favor is ra start. Whit else kin ah think o'....
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A big group o' us went tae hunt doon some giants, an' oan ra way, we came across a caravan wi' sum deed humies an' giants.
We tracked them intae therr cave, like, an' blaw me, it wis fu' o' necromancers an' giants. Turned oot ra necromancers hid taken a bunch o' humies captive an' wis caryyin' them away when they ran intae ra giants.
Anyways, we hud oor hands fu', ah kin tell ye, an' durin' it a', Lilyvaen Glensmere goat hersel' near kilt. We checked her pulse, like, but man, she wis near pan breed, deed, so wan suggestion wis tae sling her across Daring's back an' take her tae a healer; but somewan found a scroll and healed her a' better.
Ah helped her up and watched her oot safely, but ah kin tell ye, ah goat stick fur it.
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Ah met up wi' Razeriem today tae sell him sum stuff. Good pay, but man, that man is aye flirtin'?
Ah gave him it back tho', an' we rolled aboot an' laughed like a perr o' weans oan a school trip, ah kin tell ye.
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Ah wis looin' fer a clue tae ra werr aboots o' ra pirate captain, Old Captain Twinkltoes, when ah met up wi' Nestor. We chatted a bit an' he agreed tae join forces an' help search fur ra captain, oar his remains.
We wis daein' awright, searchin' an' lookin' but wi'oot any luck, when eventaully Nestor lost his heid ower sumthin' ah said, an' we fell tae fightin' each ither.
Man, he's guid that wan, ah kin tell ye. Ah goat a few strikes in at him, cut him a wee bit, but then he hit me wi' a few spells an' a wis stopped in mah tracks, paralyzed. He walked up tae me, an' a' a could dae wis mumble an' wriggle a wee bit, an' he took oot a knife, an' showed it tae me, then started oan me...
Well, he eventually stopped when he saw ah wis bleedin' bad, an' telt me tae learn a lesson. Well, ah learnt a lesson awright: ah'll make sure ah gets me some better magic protections, then we'll see whit happens.
//OOC The fight between us was properly observed and agreed and we broke party and used the PvP widget to start the engagement. The fight was kept IC at all times, and we talked to each other OOC to make sure both sides were happy with the ongoing engagement.
Thanks to geloooo for getting so involved, and a shame there wasn't a GM in-game to see this as we both had enormous fun playing it out.
Dark Elves forever!!
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//OOC Maw Baker (aka duchess) was meeting up with Mearden Fereir to investigate a site he had been told of that would hold important information about a mission he had recently undertaken to do. The site would also have her retainer fee hidden in it, if she could find it. Mearden was there to provide a backup, in case things went awry and it turned out to be a trap for her.
Lance Stargazer narrated the description of the site and the plot to them both, revealing the plot line as they made decisions based on his descriptions.
Major kudos to Lance and Mearden for this adventure. This picture is one of the highlights when Maw Baker was asked to make a decision based on her wisdom:
(http://forums.layonara.com/photopost/data/101742/Lance_s_Story.jpg)
Lance also made her make several hide checks, bearing in mind she was completely clothed in red and white - always good colors for hiding. Great fun all.
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Oh, ah furgoat tae mention, ah bumped intae Vrebel an' Tralek Rivarmar earlier, an' Trally invitit me tae help him learn hoo tae become a sword fighter... me?
Vrebel is teachin' him, like, but he wantit a sparrin' partner, so he asked me.
Ah agreed, oan condition they teach me hoo tae be a fighter too,'cos ah kin see as hoo ah'm gonni be needin' that sort o' skill in a wee while.
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Raz took me tae ra arena today an' taught me tons o' stuff aboot hoo tae use a sword as a stand-up soldier, sort o' thing.
Man, but he's good, an' he taught me tons o' stuff too, so ah need tae pit it intae practice noo. He's a real joker too, always chattin' away an' tryin' his best tae make me laugh an' furget masel'.
(http://forums.layonara.com/photopost/data/101742/Fighter_training_01.jpg)
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Spent ages talkin' dwarven wi' Eriis today.
//OOC see the account here: http://forums.layonara.com/1395182-post9.html
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Went wi' sum folks today tae ra Goblin Wasteland tae talk aboot ra pirate coins an' it a' went tae Bodak dust.
Furst, naebody trusted anybody an' naebody wid say whit clues they hud. Ah' said we should just pit oor cards oan ra table, so to speak, an' said ah wis only interestit in ra pirate treasure, but they jabbered oan, until Raz said, 'Anyone who is a dark elf, put therr hands up'
Ah s'pose it wis way o' clearin' ra err.
Well, ah looked aboot an Tyillaan put her hand up, bless her, as did Iradril, so ah folli's suit and we a' took oor helms aff. Eriis didni, so Raz said, 'Well, anyone still with a hood or helm on will be assumed to be a dark elf.' And that sort of did fur Eriis then.
This wis when Valanca went loopy and stormed aff tae Hlint. Never trusted that bi?%@ wan we bit; in fact, durin' ra whole time up tae then, she did her best tae turn ra ithers against me, but no Raz, he wis stickin' up fur me (ye hear that Solena - it dis work, see!!). Anyways, Valenca and me wis starin' daggers at each other, until she leaves, Verideth an' Layl followin'.
The rest o' us went intae ra forest tae get oot ra road, but we couldni cum tae any agreement, so went oor ain ways an' split up. Raz an' Jehoram went tae an inn tae talk aboot it, so ah went wi' them tae pit in mah bit too. Besides, ah owed Jehoram sum information he asked me tae get.
Ah wis aboot tae sit doon wi' them when ra Hlint guard came in, so ah scarpered, like, and left toon fast. Oh well, it wis bound tae happen sum time, an' tae be honest, ah'm sort o' glad it's oot noo. Maybe ah kin walk aboot wi' mah hood aff and get sum air aboot may face an a'.
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Well, that's it dun noo.
Ah kilt Razeriem last night.
Ah hud tae dae it, ye see, 'cos Solena telt me tae. She his banned me frae her sight until ah did an' ah canni no see her ever again. She said ah wis despoilin' oor bloodline wi' mah carryin' oan wi' Raz. Ah mean, as if ah wid waant a half-darthirae wean; cum oan.
She seems tae huv found oot aboot me an' Raz, ye know, dallyin' ragither, like. Ah think it wis that blasted Eriis; he wis always aboot, sneakin' an' tryin' above his station. Him an' his stupit passion fur hurtin' himsel' fur his "cause".
So ah met up wi' Raz an' we startit talkin', like, but we baith knew it wis oor preamble tae his bed. Ah took a lot longer than we usually did; ah wantit him as tired an' sleepy as ah could get him afore ah did him in. We startit kissin' an' cuddlin' an'... well, ye get ra general gist o' it.
It wis ra wee, wee hoors o' ra mornin' when it came time fur me tae leave and dae ra deed. Raz wis so tired an' satiated by this time, that he hid nae idea wherr he wis, so it made it easier.
We opened ra door an' stepped ootside, and ah reached up tae gie him mah final kiss. Ah took mah time, savouring his kiss - it'll be ra last time - an' we broke aff an' ah said "goodbye" tae him. He looked at me strangely, almost as if his befuddled heid could see whit wis comin', an' ah slipped oot mah dagger frae behind mah back (ah hid pre-prepared it wi' poisons so it wid dae ra job) an' stabbed him wi' it, right in his heart. He fell tae ra grund, an' it wis only then that ah became aware o' sum passers-by oan ra street, so ah legged it intae an alley beside his hoose an' took aff tae ra hills. Ah didni huv time tae check his boady, but ra blade wis true an' ra poison wid hiv finished him even if the blade didni.
So, that's me noo. Lost an' wanderin' until Solena sends fur me. Ah jist hope that blasted Eriis isni abbot, 'cos if he is, he'll be joinin' Raz.
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Ah heard Solena wis due tae deliver er baby today, so ah went oot an' bought sum nice wee gifts fur ra wean an' Solena, an; wrapped them in a nice red box.
Oan ra way, ah met an elf in blue, an' we went tae ra inn fur a drink. Sumthin' aboot this man ad didni trust, so when he wisni lookin' ah moved mah untouched so when ah turned aroon, ah could knowck it ontae ra flair.
We chatted a while an' he escorted me tae Naster's hoose, wherr Solena wis, an' he left me, but afore he went ah tried sum dwarven oan him. He didni reply, so ah reckon he couldni huv bin Eriis in disguise, but ah'll keep watch.
Anyway, Nestor wis ootside ra hoose, an' he widni let me in. Ah pleaded wi' him, cried, beat mah chest, threatened him, nealry tore mah herr oot, but he widni budge. Solena cried an' howled wi' ra pin, an; it near tore mah heart, but ah wis stuck ootside.
Eventually ah heard ra sound o' a bairn cryin', so ah assume Solena wis awright. When will she let me in tae her sight again?
*Days later, she is still watching the house from the shadows, sad, wet and tired, uncertain of events inside the house. She has made a mental note, however, of a certain dwarf who opened his windows during the birth and threw things out of the window -" he'll huv tae be taught a lesson," she thinks, "but no' yet."*
-
A bunch o' us met up with a pirate captain tae ry tae work oot hoo tae find ra pirate treasure frae ra five pirate coins.
We met up an' boarded ra boat; ah took wan o' ra RedArm gang wi' me, an' also goat ra help o' Naster - although ah'm no sure ra deal ah struck wi' him will work fer me. Anyways, glad ah took them along fur protection, 'cos Arkolio did ra same, but ra pirate captain hud enlisted help frae Argali. Ah spoke tae her in dwarven ('member ah'm practicin', and she goat sum o' whit ah wis sayin', so ah must be gettin' better.)
Then Arkolio greeted me as duchess, but Argali heard an' wis startin' tae bristle (she hud read ra postin's in Hlint rat Valanca hud caused tae be pit up aboot sum dark elves), but Ark caught it an' said he hud made a mistake an' ca'd me Maw Baker. Argali wisni sure, but we watched each other ra whole time.
Anyway, suffice tae say, ra talks broke doon, an' we stood aboot tryin' tae make sumthin' oot o' a bad job, when ra ship startit tae pull away fra ra harbour. Wi'oot thinkin' Leisa jumped under the harbour walkways and swam oot tae ra boat. Ah wis nearer it, like, so ah made a jump fur ra sidin's. Arkolio saw this happenin' an' distracted Argali.
Leisa made it tae ra boat an' scrambled up ra side, but when ah tried tae drap her a rope tae help her, ah missed mah footin' an' slipped aff an' fell straight intae ra waater.
Well, ah thught ah wis dun fur, but luckily as wis wearin' normal claes, like, so hud nae armour tae drag me doon. Still tight though.
On land, Argali hud moved aff with ra captain's moothpiece, an' Ni'haer tried tae get her wi' a spell, which failed, an' Dogboy tried tae shadow her, which failed, so they wis fur leavin' when the saw me fall intae ra harbour exit an' ra ship sailin' away, nae sign o' Leisa.
Ark sent an oary boat efter ra ship, so Leisa could get back an' in the meantime, I made it ashore, drookit frae heid tae toe. They a' laughed at me too.
Leisa turned up later - she'd nae luck gettin' ra coin either, so it seemed a lost cause. However, we went at ra coins again, and blow me doon,figured them oot, went tae ra place named by ra coins, and found ra pirate treasure hoard. We split it among ra four o' us therr, so it worked oot awright; fur me anyways.
So ra pirate coins thing is dun at last - a' guid riddance ah says.
-
At long last ah kin understand dwarven - it wis like a candle wis light fur me oar sumthin', but therr ye huv it. It clicked, an' noo they kin undertstond me when ah'm speakin'.
Mair news is ah wis doon ra caves when Raz surprised me frae behind...
(http://forums.layonara.com/photopost/data/101742/Duch_Raz_on_guard.jpg)
It disni happen oftern, but it did this time.
Well, we laughed an' giggled then goat oan wi' ra serious work o' keepin' ra pests doon.
Funny, but ah coulda swore ah kilt him in Leringard... hmm.
-
Ah wis talkin' tae sumwan an' they said they rented a room? Maybe ah should think o' takin' a room sumwherr as well.
Sumwherr away frae Hlint ah think, seein' they huv a poster up wi' mah name oan it an' a dinni think it's fur therr beauty pageant.
-
Met up wi' Tyillaan an' a few others tae go tae get silver. Took a while, but we goat tae ra cave an' Agmundr Nokkadrumbaer goat himself near kilt in ra furst encounter wi' ra giants. Lucky ra Soul Mother didni take him, but we wis gonni get back tae Audira tae wait, when ah spotted a shadow in ra desert.
Ah used ra lens that Eriis gave me, an' blow me, it wis Alantha! Ye coulda knocked me doon. Ra team couldni see her until she removed her spells, but they wis a' cluckin' aboot her like kids at a candy store.
Wan o' them took his hood aff an' said he wis proud tae meet her - bad move. He seemed tae think that 'cos Alantha was a dark elf, she wid welcome him bein; wan too.
Ah laughed an' left them tae it, ah kin tell ye. She husni lived this long by trustin' every dark elf she cums across.
-
Ark is deed!
Long live Ark!
At least, that's ra message ah'm tryin' tae pas aboot Vehl so ra place disni brekk doon itae anarchy, like. Ah huv spoken tae Sasha an' we's in discussion aboot me helpin' tae run ra day to day business stuff; stuff that Arkolio ws involved wi'. Ah huv also spoken to Dogboy, Brian, Lisa an' loads o' others as well, but it's slow an' early. Still, ye ken whit they says aboot monkeys.
Oan another note, ah met a new wummin caled Sil'via Sarissa In'Darsus. She's drop dedd gorgeous by ra way, and we baith goat oan like a hoose oan fire. Ah might see mair o' her sum time soon ah hope.
She an' me met up wi Huntimara In'Darsus and ra three o' us hud a load o' laughs, but Hunty wis mair reserved than normal, oan account o' her sister bein' therr. Sil's a definite take charge sort o' person an' Hunty is real sweet. No sure which a prefer, so ah'll keep baith o' them (there follows a small drawing of a smiling face ):D .
Then me an' Sasha bumped intae each other in ra spider caves in Silkwood, and man, she's lethal. Need no tae cross her.
A hud a long talk wi' Brian as well; ah might teach him mah tongue an' in return he wid teach me ra skills tae use shadows better. Ah think this wid be a guid deal fur me, so ah'll need tae start practicin'. Naster telt me he startit tae teach Brian oor tongue, but he goat annoyed at him 'cos he wisni fast enough tae pick it up so he dumped him. Typical Naster.
-
Ah met Huntemara (Hunty) in Fort Wayfayre an' we went collectin' stuff together. We ended up way out past Mariners Hold where we fought sum giants to get some nuts. Sounds nuts to me, but Hunty wis guid company, so ah didni mind.
Oan ra way back, ah helped Hunty wi' choosin' sum new armour. She picked oot sum white stag hide armour an' when modelled ah must say ah wis impressed. She looked stunnin' in it, an' ra colours fair matched her ain hair an' skin colours so ah telt her she jist hud tae take them.
She seemed tae get quite embarrassed, so ah busied masel' an' made it look as if ah didni notice.
-
Ah wis oan may way tae Veh tae dae sum business when ah came across an elf called Xanya Enyafailm. A very pretty woman, ah must say,but she wis awfy innocent an' asked me whit ah thought o' her new armour. It wis pretty scanty, an' ah must admit, she turned mah heid a wee bit. Ah told her aboot Maw Baker an' tae get in touch if she needed any stuff, so we'll see.
Ah wis aboot tae go when ah thought ah wid chance mah arm an' steal a hug an' maybe a kiss - well, she looked to guid ah thought sumwan wid eat her a' up - but anyways, as ah broke ra hug, ah sneaked a wee kiss oan her cheek, an' mah hood fell aff; but ah dinni think she saw mah face, 'cos she seemed at a bot o' a loss as tae hoo tae react, like.
Ah think ah'll keep a look oot fur this Xanya wummin. She's goat sumthin' special aboot her - Xanya Icebear - hmm, it husa ring tae it.
-
Ah wis in Mariners daein' sum craftin' when ah bumped intae Huntamara again.
We went collectin' nuts an' stuff an' Hunty helped a farmer get rid o' sum annoyin' scarecrows that wis botherin' him.
Oan ra way back, ah dropped intae ra crafting house tae make sum leathers ah hud bin workin' oan, an' while ah wis workin' Hunty sat doon tae arrange her bags a bit.
Well, she wis sittin' doon, so ah crept up behind her an' pit mah hands aroon' her eyes and shouted "boo". She goat a wee fright an' ah near wet masel' laughin' but she wis a guid sport and saw ra funny side o' it.
Whit a guid laugh she is.
-
Tried sum new tactics wi' Huntemara today, and they worked a treat, so they did. Hunty an' me is a guid team, ah reckons, as we work well together.
Hunty spoke tae me though aboot her sister, Sil'vya, an' challenged me oan sum stuff the two o' us goat up tae.
Ah'm no sure whit Sil telt her, like, so ah said tae Hunty ah wid talk tae Sil. Ah'm no really lookin' forward tae that conversation, ah kin tell ye.
Then there's Brian too!! By the Great Oak's Nuts, whit a messed up family.
-
Ah wis killin' spiders when ah heard a commotion an' saw a barbarian ca'd Xanya in ra distance. We teamed up an' a little later oan, when we headed up, we bumped intae a group o' people: Ben Poetr, Sala an' Jako Stonehill an' Hedessa Tenario.
Ah said mah hellos tae Ben an' Essa and they did ra intros fur me tae ra Stonehills, so we went back doon an' even killed ra devastation spider - whit a result. Ben wis his usual self an' ah offered ta trade him a kiss fur his bow - man, it't pure dedd beltin', so it is. He said he didni kiss elves - his loss.
Ah left them therr tae head back hame, but they wis guid company.
Need tae see Essa sum time later though - ah think she an' I could get oan really well.
-
Huv ye ever noticed how sum people huv long memories?
I was travelleing out from Silkwood when I saw a dwarf loading his ox with stuff, so I rode up to him to talk, as you do.
"Hullaw rerr," I said to him in my fine version of common.
He did not respond, so I switched to dwarven and greeted him in his own tongue. But he had heard me, and was instead playing for time while so he could draw his axe an' shield out; then he turned on me.
"I seem to recognise that voice? Take your hood off so I can see your face, and it you're the person I think you are, you will die this day!"
Well, you could have struck me down with a feather. I was just wanting to have a nice wee chat, and here is this fellow threatening to kill me instead.
"I am Halrath Thundergust," he replied to my question. "And remove your hood at once for I think you are one of the Corathites who struck me down those 5 years ago."
"Ah'm nae Corathite," I replied, "an' ah'm sure ah've never met ye afore." I put my best acting skills to use to try to bluff him out, but he was not to be convinced.
"Your last chance to show yourself elf, or my axe will draw your life from you," he came back at me.
Well, what is a girl to do? I loosed the ties on my swords so they would clear their scabbards easily, and lowered my hood as I dismounted, smiling at him in my best 'I can't believe you have made a mistake' look.
"I knew I recognised that voice," he came back. "Defend yourself, for you die this day!"
"Ur ye mad, man?" I asked him. "Yer aff yer heid. 'member whit happened tae ye last time we met."
"I assure you I do, and I have taken an oath of vengeance on you and your like that will not be assuaged except by your death," and so saying, he shouted at me in obvious fury and rushed at me.
He closed the distance fast, but his axe swung madly at me, and was not well aimed, and his shield was too low to be of use. Almost without thinking, my blades leapt to my hands and blocked his only blow. His axe stopped high above his head, his shield too low to be of use, my rapier slid down his axe shaft and slashed him across his chest, slicing into his lungs, taking his breath from him. A single breath behind that blow, the shortsword in my left hand shot to the side and ripped into the hamstring of his right leg, felling him to the ground.
I stepped back as he crashed down and watched him, blood tumbling from his wounds as he collapsed on the grass. The wildlife had gone silent, I noticed absently. I looked at him then, without pity for he had provoked the fight.
"Huv ye any last words, afore ye go tae yer maker?" I asked him quietly.
"May you rot in whatever..." But I didn't let him finish, for my deadly blades took his life before he could say his last words. I smiled as the light went out of his eyes, for I thought I saw a glimmer of in them at my offer of last words, only to have them snatched before they could be said. Oh, I savoured the joy of that moment.
I rifled his pitiless corpse to pay for sharpening my blades, and took a souvenir from his right foot: it was a pity I did not think of leaving him a permanent reminder before I took his life.
I left him there, so the snow leopard could feast, and rode off without humour or rancour.
He had done me a favour though. My version of common is perhaps too recognisable.
Perhaps I should see if I can do something about it...
-
Ah met a new name tae me a few days ago - an elf called Aynndel Caladur ah think he called himsel'. Therr wis sumthin' aboot him that didni ring right wi' me, so oan a hunch, ah spoke tae him in mah ain tongue, an' he replied.
Well, well, it seems oor ranks is growin' daily.
Ah said ah wid look oot fur him in the future, an' offered him mah hand, which he took an' kissed. Ah telt him if he needed a favour, he wis only tae ask it o' me.
Oan mah way back ah met up wi' that elf, Xanya Enyafailm, an' we talked a little an' a sold her a pair o' boots. Ah toook sum trues fur them, but ah offered tae sell them fur a kiss - but she turned me doon. Ah'll need tae try sumthin' else oan her, tae get her intae mah grips; let me get mah hooks intae her.
That reminds me. No seen Hunty oar Sil fur sum time.
-
Met Tyillaan briefly, an' she seemed depressed aboot sumthin'. She wis certainly friendlier tae me that she hus bin so far. Perhaps sumthin' hus happened tae Mae? Ah kin only hope so.
Ty seems to know lots o' people an' be well liked, so maybe therr is a change o' attitude tae us dark elves. Ah'll need tae tell her aboot mah plans fur us a', see if she wid like tae be part o' them.
She's cute too, ah must admit, but that Mae...
-
Seems Mae his dumped Tyillaan Selaama, so maybe this is mah chance noo?
Ah met Ty an' we goat tae talkin', gentle, like. She annoys me wi' her stammerin' an' her whisperin'. She should act mair proud. Efter a', we is ra superior race.
Anyways, this time ah sort o' listened tae her and she telt me she wis wantin' tae hone her skills so she could sneak aboot better than she dis at ra moment.
Well, call me soft if ye must, but ah agreed tae help her, so we went aff tae practice her skills an' gie her sum tips an' stuff.
We started simple, like, explainin' hoo tae look oot fur light, shadows, watch the terrain an' so oan, so ye could make use o' whitever wis aboot tae help ye hide.
She showed a lot o' promise, an' a few times ah hud tae help her, but oan ra whole, she wis no half bad at a'.
So we practised her skills fur a bit then went an' pit them intae action against some real opponents.
Maybe it's no Ty at a', maybe it's that damned Mae. But a few times ah wondered whit it wid huv bin like if Ty hudni met Mae at a'.
-
Spent mair time practicin' wi' Tyillaan Selaama again, an' this time we went doon tae ra spider caves in Silkwood.
We concentrated oan usin' whit she hid learned so far tae get her ra best shot, ra killin' blow, wi' her bow.
Man, she's deadly wi' that thing, an' between us we did fur a' ra spiders. Wance oar twice, ah hid tae stand behind her and hold her in position tae make ra best shot, but she's a fast learner. She moves really well too; ah thought a' that stammerin' wis a weakness, an' maybe it is, but no when she's fightin'.
So we spent mair time trainin' an' at ra end o' it she wis near exhausted whit wi' hidin', sneakin', watchin' wherr she pit her feet (she was awful at that tae start wi', but soon picked it up okay), an' then still rememberin' tae aim at ra killin' point.
Efter a long time wi' her noo, she's jist startin' tae earn mah respect, so maybe ah'll change mah plans fur her efter a'. Time will tell.
-
Went tae a place ca'd Misted Village wi' Tyilaan an' we spent ages trainin', passin' oan as much oh mah skills as ah could.
We developed her skills again, an' designed a new tactic that worked really well, usin' her trainin' tae great effect. In fact, she's learned frae me so well, ah telt her she wis noo better than her teacher and had learned a' ah could show her.
Ah telt her she kin cum see me any time if she feels ra need, but she's noo reddy tae take oan proper contracts wherr her new skills kin e used tae best effect.
-
Well, well, so it wid seem like ra pupil hus passed ra teacher!
Ah wis in Misted, teachin' ra bandtis a wee bit o' respect, as ye dae, when an arra went whizzin' past me an' blew up wan o' ra bandits. Ah managed tae dodge, it, jist, but tae mah surprise, when ah turned aroun', it wis Tyillaan.
How we laughed. She hud folli'd me a' ra way frae Dalanther, an' ah didni even see her. So efter we hud wiped ra tears frae oor eyes, we pressed oan as a team this time an' hud sum great sport wi' ra weaklings therr.
She is gettin' mair impressive a' ra time, an' at wan point, she showed me a new sneakin' tip that ah hudni even thought o'. Whit aboot that then? Ah kin see ra time when ah'll need tae go tae her fur sum trainin'.