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| Valoruin; West of Vilyn Woods, South of Kynair | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 20 2010, 12:50 PM (1,690 Views) | |
| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 03:13 PM Post #101 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel began to stir. As his woke, his senses returned to him in bits and pieces, dim, echoey hearing, the taste of blood on his tongue, and the foul smells of the demon. The bearded mage sat up groggily and asked "Did you kill it?" |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| chadden | May 16 2011, 03:25 PM Post #102 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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Mordain saw Kassel give Nathaniel a nod, in response to the mage's question. "I cannot say." replied Mordain. "Our experience with this plague is in its infancy. In Amei, there was nothing that could be done. And how we could quarantine the infected I do not know. I think we know too little of this infection in order to attempt such a thing. If you want to attempt it, then I of course will follow your command, but we would be working blind. There is but one certainty, my King." Whilst the idea that they were tip-toeing around caused Mordain no grief, he knew that James did not want to so much as hear the words spoken out loud. Mordain respected that. |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 03:48 PM Post #103 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel got to his feet and looking around at the rapidly decaying corpses of the city watch nearby and hearing Mordain's words he knew roughly what had happened. He looked like he had a very bitter taste in his mouth as he suggested "Could the monks destroy this plague?" |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 03:55 PM Post #104 |
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The Lord Castoden
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James looked at Nathaniel with an arched eyebrow and then back at Mordain. "What do you think, Lord Mordain?" asked James. |
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| chadden | May 16 2011, 04:09 PM Post #105 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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"Their power is mostly unknown to me, but logic would suggest that their holy magic could purify this dark plague. However... getting them here in time would be a problem. We do not know how long the plague takes to spread, or how long it takes to mature. Conjuring and maintaining my protective spell has drained me, just as I'm sure Nathaniel's powerful spell has drained him. Sending a spell sphere to Asulien is simply too much, and I doubt we have the time to wait for our power to return." |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 04:12 PM Post #106 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel nodded "Indeed, I couldn't magic my way through a wet piece of parchment just now." He said "What about the other mages who were searching? If they're still alive perhaps they could get a message out." |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| chadden | May 16 2011, 04:16 PM Post #107 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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"If they have any sense, they'll be far beyond the city by now as I told them to." Mordain sighed heavily. "I fear we are left with only one option, in order to prevent the spread of this plague." |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 04:19 PM Post #108 |
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The Lord Castoden
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James nodded grimly. "I understand," he said, knowing there was no other option. "Lord Mordain, I am putting you and your Seekers in charge of ensuring that this plague does not spread beyond the city." James made to turn away, but then stopped and said, "Be sure to treat these men with the utmost respect and decency." |
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| chadden | May 16 2011, 04:32 PM Post #109 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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"As you command, my King." Mordain considered asking Nathaniel to accompany him, but perhaps it was best to spare the mage from this task. "Get yourselves away from the city and avoid the guards. I will maintain my protective spell upon you all for as long as I can, but as we move further apart it will be more difficult." The Mage of Shadows moved down the street, heading for the outskirts of the city where he could speak with Seekers he had left there. As he walked, three guards approached him. They looked physically weak and one had a hacking cough. "Lord Mordain... We were searching the city when, well, we're not quite sure what happened." said one. "Gather your comrades and report to the barracks. I will explain everything to you there." The guards looked between one another before nodding. "Yes sir." Mordain kept walking. There was much to be done, and precious little time to do it. |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 04:34 PM Post #110 |
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The Lord Castoden
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James watched Mordain depart and then turned to Kassal and Nathaniel. "Come, we should hurry," he said. He sheathed his sword and began to walk briskly towards the closest edge of the city. |
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| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 04:56 PM Post #111 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel recovered his weapons and followed after the King quickly. |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 05:02 PM Post #112 |
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The Lord Castoden
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They reached the outskirts of the city in a short time, where they came across the City Watch who had been guarding the outskirts. As they approached, James was glad to see that the men here had not been affected by the plague, although they looked concerned as the three men approached them. "My liege," said one, bowing. "What has happened in the city?" "The demon is dead," said James. "But many of your comrades fell from its pestilence." James saw many of their expressions drop as he said this. "They fought well for Weissland and Valoruin." "Thank you, sire," said the guardsman. James clasped the man on the shoulder before walking away, past the line of Watch. He heard Kassal order the guardsmen to remain outside the city until it was deemed safe by Lord Mordain, and then turned around as the Captain and Nathaniel walked to catch up with him. James tried to remain stoic in his expression as he thought of the City Watch who had been caught in the plague, whom he had ordered the execution of to prevent further loss of life, but he knew he was probably failing. |
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| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 05:10 PM Post #113 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel was leaning heavily on his staff, the dragon wings of the head piece near his head. He was still extremely tired after the draining spell, and he would have no power to use magic for some time yet. |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 05:19 PM Post #114 |
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The Lord Castoden
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"Sire, are you alright?" asked Kassal. James took a moment to look at the Captain, and then nodded slowly. "Sometimes it seems there is no way to win," he said. "The demon is dead, my Liege," said Kassal. "That is a victory." "Yes, yes it is," said James. "Still..." Kassal nodded. "I know. You did what had to be done, sire; the right thing." "I know," said James, sighing. "I know." |
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| Gorfang | May 16 2011, 05:25 PM Post #115 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel said to the King "These enemies we face will always put us in positions where victory seems a hollow thing. Good men like you must be strong, do not let their evil make you despair, or they really do win. Remember that your actions here saved the city, and that is a good thing, a worthwhile victory." |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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| Hotshot | May 16 2011, 05:27 PM Post #116 |
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The Lord Castoden
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James nodded at Nathaniel's words. "You are right," he said to the mage. "Thank you." |
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| chadden | May 17 2011, 09:44 AM Post #117 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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The Seekers had helped to round up the guardsmen and bring them to the courtyard of the barracks. The men seemed confused as they looked around and spoke amongst themselves, waiting for answers. Mordain looked at them from the shadows, pondering how to go about the business. A painless death was what the King would want for them. He sighed and walked forward, standing on a raised platform before the men. "Lord Mordain!" "What's going on?" "Why are we here? Where is the King?" Mordain held up his palm to quiet them. "Firstly, servants of Weissland, you should know that we have successfully hunted and defeated the creature we came here to slay." There was a cheer from the crowd, many bellowing forth patriotic chants and the like. Again, Mordain raised his palm to quiet them. "But it has come at a price." A deathly silence fell over the courtyard. By the looks on their faces, many seemed to already know what Mordain was going to say despite having a complete reluctance to believe or accept it. At the back, Mordain saw one man trying to slowly move towards the two heavy wooden doors. Such an act was pointless; the door was barred and Seekers waited in the shadows. "The dark smog that washed through this city has infected you all with a plague." he said. He paused, allowing them to take in the information. "This plague is powerful, potent and new to us. We have no method of curing it." "Is it manageable?" asked one, a concerned yet hopeful look on his face. Mordain sighed again and slowly shook his head. "This disease will claim your body and your mind alike. Your body will relax, and over time it will lose the capacity to do anything at all. Your internal organs will fail, over time, but that will be long after you have lost the will to eat. This disease will cause you to allow yourself to die. Rather, to give up on living." "Nothing can do such a thing! What you speak of is choice! If we choose to keep eating, then what power could it hold?" exclaimed another. "That will not be enough. In order to prevent your suffering, and to stop this plague spreading any further, you have all been sentenced to death." Mordain stood tall as his words sounded out, his eyes scanning over the men before him. Some would accept their fate. Some, but not all. "Y-you can't do this!" screamed one. Other shouts and yells followed. Mordain spoke spell words, amplifying his voice. "There is no shame in this. You are required to make the ultimate sacrifice, for Weissland. The King wants you all to know that you shall be remembered as such; heroes of Weissland. It is my task to handle this, and I wish for it to be as painless as possible for each of you. You-" "Ahhhhhh!" One of the guards' came running at him with his blade held high. Mordain turned and grabbed the man in a whiplash motion. He twisted him around and slit his throat with a small dagger. The wound was clean and death was instant. He wiped the blood from his hand and turned back to them. Seekers appeared along the walkways above the courtyard, armed with crossbows. "I take no pleasure in this, but none of you can be allowed to set foot beyond this courtyard. Be it by painless sorcery, or crossbow bolts from above, you must all die here. Now, I ask you to choose." There was crying from a few of the younger members, others stood stoic, others still frantically searched for a way out. There was one man, however, who threw down his sword and shield and walked slowly up to Mordain. He stood before the towering mage, spread his arms and closed his eyes. Mordain placed the palm of his hand over the man's face. He leaned in and whispered "For Weissland, brother." Then he spoke a single word. There was a flash of ghostly-white light and the man fell to the ground, dead in an instant. |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Hotshot | May 17 2011, 01:49 PM Post #118 |
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The Lord Castoden
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As they stood outside the city, one of the guards called out, "A rider!" James turned to see that there was indeed a Weissland soldier riding quickly towards them. James walked out to meet the rider, who rapidly dismounted and bowed. "I bear a message from Asulien for you, sire," he said. "What is it?" asked James. The man smiled and said, "Your wife has given birth, sire. You have a son." A small smile crept across James's face, but then he quickly asked, "And the mother?" "She is doing well, my liege," said the messenger. "She wishes to know what you want to name the child." James thought for a moment; he had known about this child for months now, but honestly he had been so wrapped up in the business of the realm that he had never stopped to think about what he should name him or her. He thought through the heroes of old, the old Kings of Weissland, and the men whom he had fought beside. He wracked his brain for ideas, and then finally settled on one: "Cullen," he said. "But tell her to pick something else if she doesn't like it." He laughed, as did the rider. "Aye, my liege," said the man. "I shall bring it to her at once." He turned and rode off, back in the direction of Asulien, and James smiled widely; he had a son. |
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| chadden | May 17 2011, 02:14 PM Post #119 |
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High Advisor to the Archmage
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Seekers moved through the streets of Valoruin, pulling and escorting heavy carts piled with the bodies of the guardsmen. Mordain walked in front of them as he lead them to the far side of the city. His work had taken a couple of hours and now it was time to clean up the mess. The bodies had to be burned so that all evidence was wiped away. The barracks had already been cleaned of blood, as well as any other lingering traces of what transpired there. Perhaps half of the men had gone willingly in service to Weissland. Others had gone out of the fear of suffering from their illness, and some had not wished to go at all. But none had survived. The convoy kept moving. He had already relayed messages through his Seekers to instruct the remaining guards that the city was safe, apart from the south-east side. He had told the guards that further work needed done there to make it safe. In truth, he just didn't want anyone close by as he burned the bodies. No witnesses. Many had fallen to him when their only crime had been knowing too much. Such was the nature of many of the tasks he had to carry out. His fist clenched at his side. The 'civilised' people of Weissland could not live their comfortable lives without monsters like him taking care of the dirty work and cleaning up the messes. Sometimes, he was filled with true disgust towards his own countrymen. If they knew half of what went on in the shadows... Time passed and soon they were at the site. It was perhaps half a mile from the city and hidden from direct view by a rocky outcrop. Mordain gestured to the Seekers. "Pile them over there. Once the stacks are complete, you know what to do." The Seekers set about their work. Mordain had taken a risk by including them. He did not doubt their loyalty, but he had risked them to exposure. It had been a gamble that their masks and garbs over their mouths and noses would protect them from exposure. However, he could feel no trace of the plague in any of them. That was good. There was no reason for them to die as well. At least, not yet there wasn't. When the bodies were piled, the Seekers collected hay and other flammables from the carts and placed them into the piles too. They turned to Mordain to await further instruction. Twenty or so Seekers stood before him. He cleared his throat. "You are men of the Seeker Order, sworn to do whatever you must in the service of Weissland. You have sworn to obey my every command, and now I see fit to remind you of that. For now... now your command is secrecy. What happened here today must never be spoken of again. You will take this knowledge to your grave, or you will be buried here and now with the guardsmen. To speak of these events will be deemed an act of treason. I will do whatever I must to safeguard what happened here. Am I clear?" The Seekers were silent and merely nodded. "Good." Mordain shot his staff towards the piles. He spoke spell words and fired a single ball of flame and each pile as well as the carts, igniting them all. Putrid smoke began to fill the skies above. The people of Valoruin could think what they wanted, as long as they never knew the truth. He turned and, with the Seekers in-toe, began to move back towards the King's location. |
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"Stand against me if you must, for of course you will. Conflict is just another part of this flawed reality. You need to cling to your concepts and purposes, your feeble honour and glory. None of it serves any purpose in the end. And the end draws close." - Krodalis Thaendil. "It really is amazing; she killed Kelan Wealer, not that I am complaining, but then the order welcomed her as their new leader. It makes one wonder if I were to ram a blade down her throat, would the monks then follow my commands?" - Mordain Thaendil. One of the Last Guardians. Suck it. | |
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| Gorfang | May 17 2011, 03:32 PM Post #120 |
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Nathaniel Drakkon
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Nathaniel had gone to find Captain Duir. The city watch commander was holding the cordon and telling a couple of nobles from the city that they could not return until clearance had been given by the King and Lord Mordain. From the angry blustering it seemed such an answer was not acceptable to this pair of fools. Drakkon was wearing the black robes he normally wore, with the hood pulled up over his head. Nathaniel was tall for a human, sometimes even towering over elves of below average height. He stepped up in view of the two nobles and glared at them. The men shrank away and quickly found other things to occupy their attention. Duir said with a grim smile "I'd rather hunt any criminal than deal with these damn nobles." Drakkon replied "Agreed. I wanted you to know, the thing is dead. You'll probably be allowed back into the city some time soon." Duir nodded "Thank you." "Also," Nathaniel said quietly "I'm sorry to say you lost a lot of men in there to that thing. It was a great deal more difficult to kill than we ever imagined." Duir remained stoic "Did they die well?" Nathaniel answered "Like bloody heroes." Duir looked at the mage and said "Let's hope people say the same of us when we die." Nathaniel responded "Yes, hope." |
![]() Anubis, IPU is dead, long live IPU! A-Team member. "If a loyal servant of Weissland is threatened, I will aid him to my dying breath, with every drop of my blood. There are older and more powerful things in the world that have faced me and underestimated my resolve, to their end." - Nathaniel Drakkon "For what is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger!" - Aeron Damphair, a Song of Ice and Fire. Visit the Drakkon Grimoire - The Collected, Completed Nathaniel Drakkon Fiction | |
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1:15 AM Jul 11