A World of Danger: Part One

[Selwythe]

Shelina gathered up her belongings hurriedly. She had dreaded every second for news of that like and now they had materialised before her very ears. She tried to keep her arms steady, she had time. Yet the more she thought of her impending danger, the less speed she seemed to progress with.

Arcon, in the hall, decided to pause his actions. He was looking too suspicious. Besides, if the innkeeper had done what he thought he would do, his victim would panic and walk right out, right out into him.

Arcon's ears stood at attention. He had heard a door open and close again and in that short instant, his wandering eyes had caught the face of an elvish woman. Whether this Shelina was elvish he did not know, but he did not have all day to think about it. He went up to the door and knocked on it.

Like her neighbour only a few doors down the hall, Irid was packing for the journey with Tal'niel's company the next morning, albeit with much less haste. She was impatient for news of the leaving and had looked out of her door down the hall in hope but did not see her would-be companions

Her door suddenly sounded with a knock. She opened the door in relief, thinking that they had finally come to speak to her. She expected to see an old man, or a handsome elf, or a dwarf, but she never expected to see a man hooded in dark-green, the one she had espied outside. But before she could voice her amazement or shy away in surprise, a dart pierced her neck and she knew no more.


---------------------


Arcon stepped into the room and closed the door, pondering how to bring this woman back to his abode in the woods, for no doubt in his mind, this was Shelina, the woman in dire need of haste out of this inn. He had kept to the requiem of the captive, shooting her with a slow flick and only with an unpoisoned dart. He had only aimed it at a nerve, not her spine or blood vessel. She would not die, he knew very well, in fact she would be unharmed, but she would be unconscious until the dart was removed.

Perhaps where he had come in would be the only safe way out. Carrying the woman and her belongings, he shuffled quickly down the hall into the window he had opened. In his haste, something dropped out of her bundle but he did not realise this.

Also in his haste, Arcon did not notice that even as he hurried along, a door behind him had creaked open slightly and shut in an instant. The occupant was of course the real Shelina.

*OOC, Irid is not injured, only unconscious. It was an acupuncture-style piercing and no blood flowed nor anything harmed.*

[Irid al'Menie]

*geez, thanks for not harming me, That's really nice *

Irid slowly regained conciousness. She didn't open her eyes, but listened. She heard someone breating next to her. She had no idea where she was, so her mind searched for an animal nearby. She found a bird who was sitting above her.

"Where am I?"
"Well, for starters, you are here, but I don't know what this place is called."

*OOC: where am I?*

[Selwythe]

*OOC, in the forest. Uh, don't ask me which. Never good at geography.*

Irid tried to move but found her hands and feet bound together.

"Struggle, Shelina," Arcon smiled, "You won't break free."

"Who are you?"

Arcon sat down. He had been gathering some firewood beside her.

"No, I think I'll be more interested to know who you are," he started and leaned close. "Tell me, Shelina, why this Vardor desires you so much and even better, tell me if you know anything about Orpholin."

Irid spat in his face, "Curse the vile name of Vardor! And curse the name of Shelina too, for I am but Irid, fostered by the wolves!."

Arcon smiled strangely, "Even in a dead end, you lie. Excuse my hospitality for a while now, for I go now to hunt for food. And let's hope that your tongue frees itself when I return hither. And fear not, for I entertain my guests well and leave them within vigilance. As a matter of fact," Arcon suddenly locks his eyes upon Irid's, "they love my abode so much that they never leave. No, never."

Arcon walked away. But behind a tree, he suddenly dropped his blowpipe and collapsed and clutched his chest in pain. He gasped for breath. Yet in his need did his hand suddenly fall upon the bracelet under his sleeve and the pain subsided. He slowly got up. Unbeknowst to him, this was the ancient curse he had at work, though hurting him for the first time, he knew not what had brought it upon him. What he did know, however, was that he had never felt so vulnerable before in his life. Nay, not even when he was an infant surrounded by hordes of orcs in this very forest years ago.

He picked up his blowpipe again and walked off, relieved that his prisoner had not seen his embarrassing collapse. He had to appear an authoritative and imposing figure before her to earn her fear, but suddenly, that did not seem that easy to do.

As for that bracelet, he assumed to be an heirloom of his parents, for he had borne it for as long as he knew, and for as long as he had lived. He never knew that the bracelet had burned the orcish hands which tried to pry it away.

[Lief Erikson]

An assassin, or another enemy from the past who felt somehow betrayed by her? Shelina wondered as she glanced out at the young man and his captive elf. He was mistaken. Was following the fire too dangerous? Get too close, and she'd be burned, staying away would be safest. But if he really did come from Vardor? He wouldn't try to kill her, would he?

Pain and whiteness. Gripping hands and tearing pincers. And Vardor laughed at her torment.

She winced at the memory, unconsciously running her hands over her body, as if to make sure it was all there. All there, and whole. Somehow, she'd made a full recovery. Even most of the scars had been removed, but not all of them. Pain filled her memory whenever she came across it again.

Was she a fool to come here? she asked herself, forcing her mind back to the situation at hand. No, she was not a fool. She simply had to know what Vardor wanted . . .

She stepped out from behind the tree, whipping her dagger out and stepping towards Arcon. "Don't move, and don't try to attack me. I am not unskilled with this, and will use it if need be.

"But tell me who you are? Who do you serve, and why do you hunt me?"

[Irid al'Menie]

Irid tried to move her hands, as the one who captured her was away. She couldn't move anything, so she let her mind wander around again. She was searching the wolfpack she had felt before, but knew they were too far.

Just when you need them, they're not around.

Then her mind just dwelt around, to give her body some rest. She hoped he would know his mistake soon.

[Selwythe]

Arcon froze. In his fit a few moments before, he had not noticed the presence of this woman.

He did what she commanded but even then, his mind worked quickly to find a way out of this mess.

"But tell me who you are? Who do you serve, and why do you hunt me?"

The woman stared at him.

"I am Shelina. Or perhaps the name Fore Dog rings a bell in your mind?" the woman replied stoutly but even then, her hand was shaking in fear.

"You lie. You feign. For even now Shelina lies in my abode bound in ropes and ravaged with fear."

[Lief Erikson]

*Actually, she's not better known in these parts as Fore Dog. That's a name Vardor and his servants call her. And would you mind explaining who this Eshian is?

Oh, one more thing. She doesn't have dozens of knives secreted all about her. Some people somehow got the mistake in an earlier RPG that a character of mine had dozens of knives, when she actually only had one.*

"You mistake her," Shelina said, shaking her head. "And it is you who is under questioning at this moment, not I. Who are you, and whom do you serve. Speak now or be forever silent," she said, raising the dagger a little higher.

[Selwythe]

*OOC, I saw in the Characters thread that it said "Eshian to some, Fore Dog to others" and there was no mention of Shelina so I was pretty surprised you refer to her by that name.*

Arcon's lips glanced upwards in his trademark subtle smile. Yet his eyes still stared cold into this intruder.

"Nay, I want your real name. I may be under questioning but I was ambushed unawares. The least you could do before waylaying me is to give me the real name of my assasin, whether it be Orcish vermin or Elvish aloof. Shelina lies a prisoner with me and unless she turned violent or," he chuckled through a sneer, "or very ugly suddenly, you are not Shelina."

The woman was not amused. She stared at Arcon, waiting for an answer.

"Wait," Arcon's eyes suddenly lit up, a rather rare sight. Yet this was the common of the rare, for Arcon had never showed enthusiasm before with good intentions. "A visitor will come at night bearing tidings for you, from your master. You will learn more, for even I am just a mercenary and servant of no one for long."

This he said even as his hand strayed slowly into his cloak where his hand could make a fine choice between dart, dagger or sword. He held the gaze of this woman, precautioning against their straying and beholding of his hand.

[Lief Erikson]

*Okay, I probably renamed her when I was thinking the whole thing through more seriously. Sorry for being confusing.*

"A mercenary." She nodded her head slowly. "Figures. They haven't heard from me for quite some time. Take me to this person you've mistaken as Shelina. Now."

His eyes flickered down to her knife once, and then he nodded. "Of course," he said, beginning to turn around and pulling a dart free in the same movement. The same dart that had felled Irid, and with the same potion on it.

Shelina gasped as she looked down at the dart sticking out of her shoulder, her hand quivering suddenly. The dagger fell to the ground and she sank to her knees. Not at all a deep wound, but sufficient.

"Well, whichever of you is Shelina," Arcon said, stepping closer, "I think I can be pretty sure I have her."

[Selwythe]

Then Arcon smote her with a blow, which was purposed to knock out, not to injure.

He carried her back to his small hut, cursing her disruption of his errands. The hut was set in a tangle of trees and was hidden to all except for the keenest of eyes. He opened the door of the hut. It was humble, as he described, for it only had one room and contained naught but a warm bed and a fireplace. The only adornment was the design he had carved on the outside with his knife in the shape of a wyvern, green and wrathful. In this bed he set her down and bound her with ropes. He had better be more vigil this time.

He then closed the door and went to the glade where he had left the supposed Shelina. 'Supposed' it was to him, for he was now very doubtful of her identity. She was in a sleep and he roused her roughly before undoing the bounds on her hands.

She had been rather groggy when he undid the ropes on her hands, but now she awoke with a mad ferocity and immediately clawed at the hands of her captor. She tried to stand up but failed from the ropes on her feet.

Arcon drew back, nursing the trickle of blood on his wrist. His wrath had been aroused, but her trip had reminded him of her vulnerability. He steadied his nerves.

"Calm yourself, for I come for a parley. I am doubtful now if you are Shelina. Tell me who you are and everything you know and I may set you free. But a lie you sayeth and I give you up to the messenger who comes from the north, not before cursing you with words or poison, or both."

[Lief Erikson]

*This is Irid your character is talking to now, correct?*

[Irid al'Menie]

*OOC: Yes, he was talking to me*

Irid shakes her head, a sad smile on her face. She didn't understand why he didn't believe her. There was something he didn't know though.

"As I told you, my name is Irid. I can't see why you don't believe me. But maybe you believe me now."

As she said that, a pack of wolves entered the glade. They all surrounded the two humans. One of them, the leader, came to her and she put her hand on his head. Another one bit through the rope at her feet, so she was free again. One at the time came standing in her neighborhood, untill 20 wolves were standing between her and the man. Behind her were even more wolves. She saw that this man wasn't easily threatened, but now he had a scared look on his face. He turned around and ran to a hut a bit further.

[Selwythe]

Arcon rushed hurriedly to his secret abode. Woeful was his day, and he was beginning to think that this Vardor had cursed him. He looked in and was relieved to see that Shelina was still there, captive and safe. That was his prime concern, this Irid was next, but he had lost her. He had not foreseen that she would be able to call on the aid of wolves, and had panicked thus for his peaceful glade had never been host to so many visitors, but now he kepts his darts ready and his sword unsheathed, ready for a sudden ambush.

Perhaps it was time to resume what he had meant to do. He took out a horn from his coat and blew it long and true. The sound was high and shrill and ancient, for the horn had been given to him by a creature which had lived long. And even now, the giver of this gift gave an answering call from the north.

He gathered more firewood as he waited for its arrival. Night was drawing nigh and it was time to make the fire of the Green Wyvern, wherefore the messenger could come guided by its light. Orpholin he had not found, but Shelina he wanted to rid before his recent ill fortune reached its peak.

All through his toil, his ears rang with what he had heard some time ago.

"My name is Irid"

He remembered that forever, but for the reasons, they are yet untold. For the present, he burned with an unquenchable fire to recapture her, for she had escaped him, and no one had before. But now was not the time, he decided, for she had a powerful escort. Besides, the forest was thick and without a guide familiar to its paths like himself, she would take long to find a way out, if she did at all. She had no food or possessions with her for he had withheld her belongings in the hut and thus he trusted he might find her carcass lying in the forest in the future.

*OOC, what about 1 or 2 of the wolves sacrificing themselves for meat so you have food *

[Irid al'Menie]

*OOC: Really funny. Maybe arcon hasn't heard of such a fenomenon before, but those wolves are my friends *

Irid was running with the wolves. After a while they stopped at a glade. Some wolves disappeared, and came back with a small rabit. She knew the ways of the forest, living in one for about her whole life. She was able to get a little fire going, and she had a good meal. Further they ran. She didn't know where she was, but the wolves did. They led her back to the inn, indefatigable as they all were.

She went directly to the room where she knew Tal was in, accompanied by Twofighter, the leader of the wolves. Noone wanted to stop them. She knocked one time, and went right in. She could see the surprised look on his face.

[Lief Erikson]

Shelina woke up slowly, and with a sour taste in her mouth. She looked around herself briefly and tried to stand up, only to fall back on the bed. She frowned as she found that her hands and feet were both bound with rough rope. She looked up at Arcon, who was smiling slightly as he sat on a nearby chair and sharpened his sword. Her dagger was lying on the table.

Then she remembered all, and she looked at him sharply. Hopefully there was a way out of this, but she had to find out who this person was, and who he served. "Mercenary, whom do you serve?"

"You shall see in a short time," he said blandly and continued to sharpen his sword.

"Are you working for a man named Orpholin?" she asked curiously. "Or is it someone else? Please tell me, I'm not going to be escaping anywhere."

[Erewe]

Erewë sat on the branch of a tree above the camp. He was waiting for something. He wasn't sure what. He should be using this time for sleeping, but he knew that something was about to happen.

Grim Wolf left his tent, and walked over to some bushes. He bid a gaurd watching the edge of the camp to leave for a while. Once alone, Grim Wolf emptied himself.

In his perch in the tree, Erewë strung an arrow on his bow, and took aim. Just as he fired, though, Grim wolf bent over to pick up his pants. Erewë swore under his breath as the arrow went wildly into the woods behind Grim wolf. Grim wolf noticed nothing, and, after sending the guard back to the post, re-entered his tent.

Erewë sighed. He had missed his chance. But others would come. Yes, others would come.


--Erewë

*OCC: this is just to let everyone know I'm still here. And also, what does "OCC" stand for?*

[Irid al'Menie]

*OOC: It's not OCC, It's OOC: Out Of Character. If you first have an OOC, and then want to say something back In Character: IC or BIC. Clear enough?*

[Selwythe]

"Orpholin!" Arcon exclamed, nearly dropping the sword he was sharpening. In an instant, he regained his composure and held the sword at Shelina's throat, even as she had done to him some time ago.

"Orpholin, I have been seeking the bearer of that uncouth name. Speak all you know of Orpholin, lest you fall before your time!"

This he had spoken even as the visitor arrived and landed in the nearby glade. It was a green drake, with a barbed tail. It was considered small and weak in draconic standards, (and was thus that Arcon managed to tame him away from his Master in the north) yet still stood at a respectable size, slightly bigger than Arcon. This wyvern was the only being whom Arcon trusted, and very possibly the only dragon ever lived in Arda not working for Morgoth in the north.

Glamdin, for so the dragon was christened by Arcon, saw the pile of firewood in the glade and blew on it in a great burst of breath. The wood caught fire and green wisps of smoke rose into the air. Night was nigh, and one in the woods would need guidance.

[Mathron]

OOC: Well, as apparently Elbreth is still on break, and has not posted in a week, I am going to have to move along the rest of the adventure, perhaps having her catch up later, or something. We will assume that no others, apparently, could be persuaded to join the party, and that the events between Arcon and the others took place over the night. So it should be just approaching morning when Irid bursts in upon Tal.
By the way, Erewe, Grim Wolf left his camp earlier that night, so presumably if you were hunting him, it would be through the woods. Be warned, for he is a crafty and dangerous fellow. ~grin~


IC:

As the door bursts open, Tal leapt to his feet, hand drawing a dagger from beside his bed. His hand locked in mid-throw, as he recognized Irid, and he slowly lowered the blade as Dain grumbled and hoisted himself out of bed. Glancing over Irid's scrapes and bruises, Tal raised an eyebrow, and said, "You look to have met some trouble in the night, if I do not guess wrongly."

[Irid al'Menie]

Irid grinned, but it was forced.

"You can say that again. Some guy burst into my room and somehow made me fall unconcious. When I woke up, i was in some forest, tied up, and that guy, i still don't know his name, said i was Shelina, and he didn't believe me when i told him my name, and then later I had to go with him to a hut, but by then the wolves were there, and they helped me escape, and then I ran here. The wolves showed me. And I think he's got someone else, because he said something of not knowing who was the real Shelina."

As she was telling, noone would have noticed she just ran that much. She had a strong constitution, but she didn't know herself why she wasn't out of breath. But that answer, she would find out later. Now it was more important what she had just told.