The Harvest Moon Consortium

[rdjparadis]

Posted 08/11/06 09:04 (GMT) -- rdjparadis

Dropping the thin red crystal, Shaia still feels empty, neutrel. As the crystals hangs in the air, she wonders to herself at how it works, but it's only a passing thought as she stares at it's spinning. The priestess nearby begins talking, snapping Shaia out of her thoughts. "The crystal acts as the portal to the pocket plane, only a fey'ri can use it." Shaia wonders if she missed something, since she's pretty sure she's elven, but doesn't bother asking about it. "You should meditate and prepare, then when ready you need to concentrate on the crystal and it will take you there." Shaia simply nods and asked for any last minute information, paying only partial attention. After meditation for a short time, she begins the preparations of entering the crystal. She finds it easy to empty her mind, there are no emotions to hinder her.

In no time at all she's opening her eyes to strange surroundings. She didn't move, she didn't enter a gate, her mind left her body and entered the crystal. Back in Bahamut's temple she was still concentrating on the crystal under the priestess' supervision. To her senses, she was in hell. It was hot, extremely hot. Gathering herself, and wondering why she had to gather herself, she started to venture forth from the circle she was in, to see what was beyond the dark sulphurous boulders surrounding her. She was stopped abruptly but a floating ball of light. She watched it curiously as it approached, then started when it spoke. It introduced itself as the Judge, and told her that she must pass a test, the rules of the test, and displayed what it called the map. She studied the map for a long time, committing everything she could see of it to memory. The Judge gave her vague clues as to how to read the map, it wasn't really a map, it was a set of arrows in 4 rows and 6 columns.

Her first attempt at deciphering the map was a failure, she ended up over the lake of lava the Judge warned her failure would lead her to. Moving slowly across the few walkable paths, she had to stop repeatedly to recover from dangerous traps she sprung. During this venture, she noticed a gathering of Abishia on a platform with no path leading to it, she avoided them, looking for anything else she could use. She found something, she hoped it was something. Hope... it had been so long since she knew what that was. Despite her aprehensiveness, she pulled the lever she found, looking around carefully to see if anything changed. After a few moments of nothing, she began to feel her hopes dying, but then she felt odd. Her vision blurred and she could no longer feel the ground. It only lasted a few heartbeats. Her vision cleared and she could feel the ground again. It was still blistering hot, even hotter maybe. Then before she even saw anything, she heard some guttural chanting. She felt the familiar tingle of magic being cast, of gates being opened. She bolted upright and found she was surrounded by Abishai, Erinyes, and Skeletal Warriors. Near panicking in this situation, she cast her own spell, placing herself out of the plane, but still near it. She took some time to gather herself and figure out where she was, while the devils and undead searched fruitlessly for her. She could see them, scuttling exactly where she was a moment ago, it looked as if they were moving through her. She came back to herself shortly, pushing down her fear, and looked around. It seemed as if she were on the lone platform she noticed earlier, the Abishai there must have summoned the Erinyes to their side. She searched about and found no escape, so she only had one choice, to fight for the moment. Summoning her most powerful spell, a planar rift in the shape of a sword that she could move at will, she was able to destroy the Abishai and their minions. Immediately upon their demise, her vision again blurred, and she was disoriented.

When she had her senses again, she was back in the circle she started in, the judge floating nearby. She couldn't quite tell, since it was just a ball of light, but he seemed to disapprove. Her second attempt wasn't any better, she ended up in the same place and went through the same process, only this time, she knew what to expect, knew where the traps should be, and easily avoided the worst of it. Her third attempt went much better. Finally able to decipher the map into something intelligable, she began walking around the area around the circle, stepping into mystical gates at what would seem random to an outside viewer, but were described by the arrows in the map. This took some time, as the map described 12 such gates to go through in the correct order. Once she stepped through the last one, she came to a field... a field she would describe as beautiful if it weren't for a few major flaws. One major flaw was the heat, it was still blistering hot, second, the very air was tinged red, as if blood were flowing constantly throughout the air, and the third flaw in it's beauty was the army of devils roaming about the area.

She carefully made her way across the grass, being carefull to avoid being seen, and searching about for anything suspicious. She was half-way across, she estimated, when she was seen. She was surprised by this because she masked herself with her magics, but the Glabrezu could see through it as if she were standing there normally. It lumbered near to her, but stopped short. Shaia, wondering what it could possibly be doing, cast more magical protections upon herself just in case. This turned out to be the right thing to do, as the Glabrezu began casting it's own spells at her, attempting to take control of her mind. Clutching her protective staff closer to herself, she again summoned her planar rift to fight for her. The Glabrezu wasn't alone though, it was surrounded by 3 strange creatures that she had no name for, they looked like mummified jackals. The rift tore through them easily, but they regenerated each other, so it didn't make any progress, it was a tedious battle, the Glabrezu still trying to break through Shaia's protections. She was very gratefull for her staff, it was the only protection for her mind that survived that encounter. Once she realized that the rift wasn't going to be able to defeat the Jackals, she decided to get involved more directly. She began casting other offensive magics, bring the purity of the sun to bear on the Jackals and the Glabrezu, the Jackals burnt almost immediately under the power, but the Glabrezu wasn't impressed at all, it moved forward, closing in to take Shaia physically. This distressed her, as she knew she was weak physically. She held Ammo's sword tightly, believing in it's power to help in such a time, and rushed forward to meet the devil. It was rather quick, the sword flashed on the Glabrezu's scales, slicing it as if it were butter. Shaia stood triumphant, and confused, over it's split corpse.

She didn't have time to take more than a breath to amaze at her success though, as more Glabrezu and other devils approached, alarmed by the noise. Shaia concealed herself with her magic again and ran to the water she heard nearby, hoping to use it as further concealment. The water itself seemed to conspire against her though, as soon as she touched it, her mind felt odd, as if she were drugged. Her thoughts came slower and slower. She pludged onwards, seeking a safe place to stay for a few minutes while the devils searched the area around the corpses.

She took deep breaths while sitting behind her hiding spot, a small pile of rocks, it was the best she could find. She tried to focus herself, but had much trouble. Her mind was still fogged from the water, and she had another problem, one completely unexpected. She was afraid... she was worried... she was nearly overwhelmed by the feelings, ones that seemed to have avoided her for so long, years perhaps. It was such a bad time to be distracted by them, they were overpowering her weakened state of mind. She eventually dug herself out of her hiding spot, dredging enough courage to scurry forwards slowly, stopping suddenly when she spotted a pair of Cornugons, simply standing there. She looked around, it was the only way to go... they were right on top of the bridge, and she couldn't risk the water again. She clenched her teeth to conceal a growl of frustration. Seemingly without thinking, she summoned her magic again, the rift fought against them. It wasn't easy, the Cornugons were born fighters and hard to hit properly, but they couldn't fight against a rift, they didn't have the power to disrupt it. She crept forward to their corpses, using them to hide as she looked around, her rift still floating nearby. Inching across the bridge... she made it... she felt a flutter of relief run through her, almost enough to drop her right there.

Her relief quickly turned sour in her stomach as she spotted another Cornugon, then another, and another... they were coming to check on their fallen comrades. Shaia ran as quick as she could, trying to hide beyond their sight without going back across the bridge. As she ordered her rift to attack, the Cornugons spotted it and called out. The battle this time was very long. Many Cornugons came, but since they couldn't see Shaia through the magic, it wasn't them that concerned her, it was the 4 Glabrezus. They could see her, and they would fight her, not the rift. She was frozen by fear when they appeared, trudging towards her through the picturesque landscape. She snapped out of it when her rift dissipated though, panick rising in her. She acted on instinct at this point. If you asked her what she did, she couldn't have told you, but she brought out all of her power against the devils, they didn't go down easily, but they did, eventually, go down. When it was over, hiding yet again, scared almost to tears, Shaia sat and waited. She heard nothing, but that didn't stop the fear, it didn't stop the pain from her wounds. After a long stretch of time, seeming longer still in the deathly stillness, she got up and continued, away from the water, away from the corpses.

It was only a short distance away, almost within hearing distance of the last battlefield, where she came across something. It stood out because it was natural. In a place where nothing was natural, all was an aberration of some sort, she found something natural. She walked slowly down the cliff, entranced by the pillar before her. It was glowing, a deep red, not the same red as the surrounding areas, but a beautiful red, and it pulsed with life. Before she came to her sense even she could sense the power, it was old and it felt familiar... elven. She was startled out of her entrancement by the flapping of small wings. She looked around the pillar to find an imp. At least, it looked like an imp, but it didn't act like a regular imp. He introduced himself as Cespenar, claiming the title of butler to Bhaal. Then unclaiming it, after a story of being kicked out. After speaking with Cespenar for a short time, she deemed him friendly, unlike the other devils around, and asked him about the area, the pillar, and how Cespenar came to be there. This story is it's own, but the important points came to be that it was a small pocket plane in the hells, Cespenar was exiled there by the replacement of Bhaal, and the pillar was the source of all power for the plane. Destroying the pillar would mean destroying the plane. Shaia's last question was how to find her friend, giving a description. Cespenar immediately was excited by the question, and said he knew how to get there, but he couldn't, but maybe she could. He told her of a pair of pillars nearby that were for transport, but the only way to activate them would be capture the essence of the Mythal produced by the pillar before them. Shaia had no idea how to capture the essence of magic, so she thought on it while asking Cespenar for everything he's learned of the pillar. They talked, and talked. Cespenar seemed very glad for the company. Shaia was glad for the answers, and the friendliness in an unfriendly place. She finally decided to attempt it. To use a jewel with the power of a sequencer to capture the magic, while she used her known magics to penetrate the pillar's protections. It took her some time to brace herself for the attempt, fully expecting to die in it, she was surprised when she was left standing with the jewel in her outstretched arm, fully charged with the raw power of the Mythal. She couldn't contain herself as she nearly squealed with glee from the success. Restraining herself from hugging Cespenar, she ran to the next pillars, they were only a stone's throw away, she ran up to them and did as Cespenar suggested, walk through them with the power of Mythal.

She looked around confused... nothing happened. She should have teleported, but she was still there, nothing happened. There must be something more to it, there must be, so she studied the pillars themselves. She read the story written on both of them, the story of their creator and what he made them for. It didn't say how to activate them, but did show some hieroglyphics with pictures of a man standing between them, and what seemed to be the mystical power radiating from between his feet. She made another decision she was almost certain would destroy her. She muttered a prayer to prepare, closing her eyes and expecting to see the afterlife when she opened them, she broke the jewel, releasing the magics stored within it. She felt strange, as if she were falling for only a moment. When she had her footing again, her eyes still closed, she noticed something different. It wasn't as hot, and she could hear someone or something moving. Slowly opening her eyes, she suppresses a gasp as she gazes upon Ammo's mother. Fully expecting to be killed out of hand, she frantically begins casting any and all protections she can think of, which weren't many at the time in her state of mind. "What are you doing here?"It bellows. "You don't belong here." Not much more was said, a question, and an obvious answer, then the hostility began. It wasn't a difficult fight. Amazed at it, Shaia concluded that it wasn't real, it was only a projection stored in the pocket plane.

Soon after the battle, teleportation began again. Nearly throwing up from so frequent of disorientation, Shaia now comes to a dark place. Black everywhwere she looks, no more grass, no more water, just black rock everywhere. Curious what other trials await her before she finds Ammo's soul, she wanders forward on unsteady legs. Coming to the edge of a cliff, she squints into the darkness. Her eyes widen slightly when she realizes what she's looking at... a huge dragon, darkly colored, just as was described. She had made it, Ammo's soul was before her. With only a comment of betrayal and a battle roar, Ammo began to fight. It was her realm, she was ruler here. Shaia, full of fear, but also concern for her friend, gathered all of her resources and blasted Ammo with them. Spent from fighting, Shaia continues to swing at Ammo as she lay prone before her, panting from exertion, she's unable to do much with the blade. Ammo is stuck under one of Shaia's spells, but it expires soon. Only moderately weakened, Ammo gets up from this and runs after the fearfull Shaia whose resources are nearly spent. They play this cat and mouse game for some time, both getting tired of it. As she's about to give up, she summons her rift for the last time before collapsing. This time though, the rift connects properly, maybe it was luck, maybe it was fate, but it hurt Ammo badly, bad enough that she fell, unable to continue the fight. It took time for both to catch their breath and gather their wits, but when they did, it was Ammo first, standing to all the draconic height she had in this form, then bowing to Shaia. "You haves defeated mes, from this day forwards, I wills helps as best I cans" Shaia's heart nearly skipped a beat, she knew she could fight no more, she was gratefull it came to an end, and exuberantly excited that she was alive. This is what she felt as she passed out.

Back at the temple, Shaia wakens to the gentle urging of the priestess. Her head hurts severely, and her body aches. She feels good though, strangely enough. She feels... empowered. "You must put it back now, it is hers still" The priestess suggests, indication the still floating red crystal.
Still not quite sure what's happening, Shaia moves to obey, while putting it away the memories of most of her adventure come back to her, and she slows, wondering. "I am in control now..." She gives herself a quiet joy filled celebration for that, wondering still at what she feels.

[rdjparadis]

Posted 08/20/06 09:46 (GMT) -- rdjparadis

Only days after her venture into Amothrawen's soul sword, Shaia is sitting in the farmlands enjoying the campfire. Reading quietly to herself, being watched carefully, and discreetly by Arrilan. She begins to feel odd. Discovering the source of the feeling as her inner connection to Amothrawen, she wonders what she's up to. Concentrating, she focuses on the feeling. It takes no time at all for her mind to become overwhelmed by the sheer power of the Mythallar Amothrawen has merged with. Arrilan becomes curious when Shaia's breathing quickens, she begins to sweat, and her eyes glaze over. He approaches slowly, examining her for any signs of what's wrong, but before he reaches her trouble comes.

Multiple portals open nearby, drow pouring from them attacking immediately. Arrilan avoided his normal tactic of vanishing into the shadows, instead, he ran off blatantly, drawing most of the drow away from the defenseless Shaia. His tactic worked, but not as well as he'd hoped. There were still two drow mages who attacked Shaia, rendering her unconscious. Arrilan fought against the other drow in the meanwhile, unable to get back to her side. While Shaia was knocked out, Vitrial Morgonella came through one of the active gates. She quickly went over to Shaia and roused her awake, holding her upright by the throat. "What are you doing to her!?" She demanded. Shaia, still dazed and confused from the connection with Amothrawen and being knocked unconscious, doesn't respond at first. This angers Vitrial even more and she increases the pressure on Shaia's throat threateningly. It was at this time that Arrilan succeeded in returning to the camp spot, but Vitrial didn't want to be disturbed, so she took Shaia through the gate, this time only locally to the Khannivalis jungle. By this time, Shaia had regained her senses, and had enough information to begin her panicking. She protested innocence and ignorance, not knowing what Vitrial was talking about. Vitrial continued the interrogation for a short time, during which Shaia's panicked pleas increased.

A small pain started in her neck, gone unnoticed due to Vitrials attentions. It quickly spread throughout her entire body though. Shaia thought it quite curious, but didn't take the time to think about it while being interrogated. The next stage startled Vitrial, and scared her even. Shaia's body began to transform, a shifting of sorts. She didn't know what was going on either, but she knew it may have just saved her life. After a moment, she stretched her now huge wings and very long neck, towering over even most of the trees in the jungle as a fully grown Silver Dragon. Vitrial immediately summoned reinforcements against the suddenly powerful foe. Shaia quickly discovered that she had all the physical traits of a silver dragon. She tore through many of Vitrial's henchman before finding no more to fight, then began to advance against Vitrial herself. Vitrial chose this time to flee to safety.

After Vitrial's exit, Shaia looked around for only a moment before her body changed back, and she slumped against the nearest tree in exhaustion. She began to cry, letting out her frustration, fear, and also in respone to the seemingly random change in her body. Arrilan was watching her again, she didn't know when he'd arrived, but he did have blood on him, and had obviously exerted himself.

The rest of the time in the jungle was uneventfull, some comforting, communicating, and soul searching. The next part of this story though comes some days later, when Shaia is speaking with Samual Hughes, Amothrawen's husband. He is given a task by an angel of Bahamut to guard a prize left behind by a silver dragon recently reported as dead. Shaia couldn't let him do it alone, not in his state, so she went with him, helping him search for the glowing rocks mentioned. They searched for some time before coming across a pile of rocks covered in ice and snow. The had a glow about them for certain, and upon closer examination, it turned out they weren't rocks at all, they were silver dragon eggs, six of them. Upon sighting them, they both realized the urgency of protecting them. They both knew what the Order of the Black Dragon did with dragon eggs. So, they set about a guard, some basic defenses, and dug themselves in for a long arduous task of watching over eggs.

They were right. The drow knew of the eggs, and knew where they were. It became apparent when the first of them attacked, it was obviously only a test, seeing how well defended the eggs really were. Through this process though, Shaia's maternal instinct seemed to fuel her, she didn't understand it, they were dragons, but she felt motherly towards them. After several more assaults, each with a more cunning distraction and attempt at stealing the eggs, Shaia and Samual were both exhausted. So this lead to somewhat of a panic when a green dragon joined in the next assault. It warned them away from the eggs at first. Shaia couldn't think of what to do, she only thought of a dragon. It seems that this is what triggers her now. She thinks of a dragon, of needing one, and she becomes one. An unmentioned gift of Bahamut. She didn't know why, or how, but she became a silver dragon yet again, this time challenging the smaller green. It knew better than to face a fully grown Silver on it's own, and so fled. That didn't stop others from still trying though. The fended off a few more assaults from drow. Until the eggs themselves finally hatched in safety.

Six healthy silver wyrmlings came out from the eggs, taking their first steps, and after some food, rest, and drying off, their first flight. Four of these left in search of a lair to make their own, but two, curiously, stayed to talk to their protectors. One asked Shaia to be it's caretaker, the other asked the same of Samual. Samual first responded, saying that he couldn't care for one, his home wasn't suitable with his quest to save Amothrawen. Shaia took a fair bit longer to answer, her mind racing, her heart pounding. She tried sorting through what she felt, it didn't work. She tried thinking about it logically, but her mind wouldn't do that either. So she said what came naturally, from her instinct. She agreed to raise one, still staring at him in wonder. Romath'memmtia became her child. This is how she came to understand the gift Bahamut had bestowed upon her. It is well known among dragons, and those who read studies of them, that a dragon wyrmling would not choose to be raised by a non-dragon. So it seemed that Bahamut had given her draconic blood. She could hardly ask him, but it fit perfectly with what happens to her, what she could do, and what she felt for Romath. A reward for services rendered seems to be a poor description of it.