HEROIC REALMS

Orogom stands in the Dragon's den smoking an elf stick. As he finishes the one he is smoking, he pulls out another and lights it off the first and continues smoking. He tosses the butt of the first one into the bucket, then looks into his pack and frowns. "I'm smoking way too many of these," he mumbles to himself. It was fifteen minutes to the appointed time and the Triclops grumbles to nobody in particular, "Let's see just how timely Stery can be..."

Hanz lumbers in, armed and armored to the teeth. His armor fully repaired, and equiped with 3 large maces and a pickaxe. "I think I am starting to understand this idea of traveling light." Says Hanz with a grin. He has a seat next to the Barkeep outside, the chair creaking under the weight of his equipment.

"So... I am on time right?" He looks around waiting for Stery and the Triclops Cleric of Thon. "Comically enough I realized something. I jumped in to replace Samarac without knowing what for. I understand I will be effectively be on the other side of the portal, but I have no idea why." He chuckles to himself and says to no one in particular, loud enough for the triclops to hear. "Methinks I jump in to help others a bit too much sometimes, considering how quickly they seem to turn on me over helping them all out when dealing with Pernix."

Orogom glances over at Hanz and replies, "No, you're in time because Stery has yet to show up, as well as our other companion. As for what we are doing, we are not going through the portal. Stery will create a portal into the dark realm for us to go through and we will have an hour to complete our mission, which is to deliver a message to a person in the heart of the Shadow Forest in the heart of the dark realm. I am also hoping that Zeesa will come with us because we will need the extra charges of magic light. You coming along helps us out for various reasons involving the ability to hurt creatures in there. We are going to try and avoid confrontations, but if they happen, I wanted to be ready."

Orogom takes another pull off his elf stick and gets up and moves towards the tavern door, his foot squishing in the mud in front of the tavern. He pokes his head in and says, "Artha, Vica, Hot Potato is up to you guys until I get back...if Stery comes, that is."

Something suddenly hits Hanz; a realization, not a blow. "So, if you only have one hour, is running like hell through the dark realm a good idea or not? I can sprint in full armor. And I can also suggest to the Cleric that long robes would be a bad idea. Sneaking may keep the creatures off our tales for a short while, but running seems favorable in this instance."

Artha nods, waving to Orogom as he sips his green apple ale. "Yeah, we can handle things here, I'm sure of it." He chuckles. "I'd say 'enjoy the trip', but I think 'good luck and make sure to keep all your limbs and vital organs attached' would be much more appropriate."
He stretches out, then winces. "Ow... oof. Good thing potato duty doesn't require much movement. My ankle is killin' me still."

Laurelin watches from not too far off, her ears catching parts of the conversation. She had come to wish them safe journey and offer what advice she could to those who were venturing to the dark realm... maybe even hope some of the favor Laroon had showed her would carry over to her friends with a bit of prayer. She had paused for a bit, not approaching yet, because the idea of the Dark Realm and Stery bothered her. She remembered how Taldrin sounded when Stery was to be recalled from the Vedican Stronghold... and began to wonder if all this was as it seemed. Perhaps it was just her personal revulsion over the idea of going to the Dark Realm... whatever it was it left a knot in her stomach.

Finally she approached the others. "Good day all. I see you are all still ready to go forward with this trip."

Sitting next to Hanz she patted his shoulder, "My dear faithful of Koralith, I know you think you were helping by telling Pernnix things... and that maybe Pernnix will help us in the end... but I assure you when that alliance is broken...and it will be... the Ardorian's will come and kill whomever they please... regardless of what they may promise. Since that Alliance is tenuous at best... and can break at any moment, it is better they did not know all the details of our other dealings...because they can become an even greater hinderance to the already tremendous tasks we tend. Do I think we should show them outright hostility? No. I do however think we should all be careful of how much they know about us, and concentrate on what we can learn about them."

She turned to Orogom still smoking an elf stick and stood somewhere between the two men. "With your permission, when your other companion arrives, I would like to pray for a moment over you all. Then... after you have gone, I will remain here and keep an eye on Stery and the portal."

Orogom gives a brief smile to the Druid and replies, "Thank you, that would be most welcome...again, if he shows. Taldrin is extremely displeased about this whole thing to begin with..."

The druid nods with a bit of a frown. "Why am I not surprised? Hence my offer to make sure nothing strange happens with the portal. I have a bad feeling about this."

Orogom smirks at the Druid and says, "Oh, like the fact that his intentions are probably to use me as a replacement for his lover who is trapped in there? Nah, THAT thought never crossed my mind..." Orogom takes another drag off his elf stick and continues, "Stery's mind is blinded by love and guilt, but that doesn't mean he isn't a conniving bastard. Truth be told, I would love to have prepared a method for going in there and actually bringing her out safely, but Taldrin recommended against that when I initially proposed the idea." Orogom tosses the butt of his elf stick into the bucket and calls out, "Does anybody need a last-minute drink?" Turning to the people in the Dragon's Den, he remarks, "I'm sick of waiting, so I'm heading up to the guild to be a gadfly." the bartender then walks to the tavern to fetch people their drinks.

"Don't hesitate to use that Dimension Door if you need it." Artha says with a nod, taking another drink of ale.

The Druid takes a moment to consider Orogom's words, she didn't let on that she had no idea about all he just told her... and further she didn't speak anymore on her own suspicions. She followed the path the tryclopse took toward the tavern stopping in the doorway. When Orogom re-emerged she called to him, " You stay here in case he wanders down... I'll take a run over to the guild and see what I can find out. If he does come before I return... don't step through any portals. Just delay him... I know if anyone can, you can."

Orogom laughs and replies, "Thanks, I hate dealing with their door guards. However, given that it is after midnight and he said to meet him at three hours to midnight, I'm doubting he will be coming around. And even if he does, I think I'm going to tell him to cool his heels until we are done with other issues first. Oh, by the way, I've lost count of how many times hands have been changed, but it's been way more than 9 and I would eventually like a full night's sleep, so can you see if Taldrin or the Awthorns can give us a hand? I'd really appreciate it."

"Before you go, see if the Klor's guild can recharge magical items. I know that it is normally the silverhand's thing, but maybe they would be willing to help conisidering the previous favors done for them." Calls out Hanz. "This necklace of Armor, has saved my skin enough for me to actually want to keep it around. Otherwise, I'll see if Stark can get a Silver hand member down here. The better Prepared we are, the more likely we'll live."

Artha laughs, nodding to Orogom. "Yes, a full night's sleep. I'll drink to that." He slumps slightly in the chair, possibly a bit drunk or otherwise just tired from having not slept.

"Give us a hand? I think that point is moot." The druid laughed. "Hanz, I don't plan on staying long incase Stery shows up in my absense. But if I see Taldrin I can ask... though, Im sure I already know his answer... resources are spread very thin." With that she gave a wave and headed off into the woods, taking a winding and careful path.

"Ask him for one of those... wait, that's Varden... why do I keep mixing those two up?" Artha let his head fall back in the chair. "Blarg."

Orogom looks sympathetically at his friend and says, "Artha, why don't you try to get some sleep. I'm sure Vica can keep time for you." Orogom coughs loudly and spits into the trees by the tavern, then lights up another elf-stick and walks back to the Dragon's Den.

Laurelin returns some time later and makes her way over to Orogom. "I spoke with Stery, he wont be coming. Taldrin has stated he does not want any portals to the Dark Realm opened at this time... so it seems for the time being this mission has been placed on hold. So I guess you can return to doing whatever you were doing."

Orogom bows his head towards Laurelin and takes another drag on his elf stick...he had already gone through a whole pack since he had started waiting for Stery at the beginning of the night. "Thank you. I had figured as much. Perhaps it will give time for the Belladoons to get here, if they are coming at all. I'm getting tired of playing this..." Orogom looks into the tavern and sees Artha sleeping and Vica silent at a table in the back corner. "Excuse me a moment, my dear Druid."

Crossing over to the tavern, Orogom gently wakes Artha and whispers, "Hot Potato," and takes Artha into the stock room.

Artha groans lightly, then gets up out of the chair and heads along back for the switch. "Wheee..."

As the pair come out from the back room, Orogom hands a small cup to Artha and says, "Here, drink this. It's a whiskey I've been working on, should put you right back to sleep and numb that ankle pain to boot." The triclops groans inwardly at his unintended pun and helps the mage back to his seat.

Artha downs the whiskey in one gulp, then coughs. "Gahk... strong stuff..." He plops back down in his seat, leaving his staff rested on the wall, and thankfully having missed that pun. He promptly slumps into his usual napping pose, trying to nod off.

Laurelin stood by the forge for a few moments, her expression revealing she was lost in her own thoughts for the moment. She wandered over to the clearing where the battle with the demon lord took place and stood quietly for awhile longer, her gaze sweeping across the field as she revisited the battle in her mind. With a sigh she turned and headed back the way she came making her way to the Druid's circle alone.

Orogom heads back out to the Dragon's Den and addresses the people still there, "Well, if you didn't hear, Stery's not coming, so we are off the hook for the night."

Psst, could be heard from the path up ahead, stopping laurelin in her tracks.

The Druid draws her sword instinctively, not having expected anyone nearby. Her ears flicker as her gaze scans the area, "Who goes there? Show yourself!"

Artha drifts in and out of sleepiness, but sleep itself evades him again and again. He sighs, and takes out a larger scrap of paper, upon which he starts to sketch. Whatever he's drawing looks to be fairly big... a dragon, perhaps? It looks like it has wings now...
Ahhh... what a week. This moon was another odd one... and it's irritating to know someone may have intercepted my mail. I've finally mastered the art of Permanency, but now... I need the right ritual, and I need the mithral. And for both, I need Alkanahl. And then the scarecrow still at large... and my scroll experiment having failed utterly... and Dart... all my plans coming apart at the seams... I need to find a way to take all of this into my own hands. Relying on the others is an admirable way to get to my goals, but it seems that some things are even beyond them. He glances down, then back to his drawing as it indeed starts to resemble the late Grey dragon, reared up amidst his fateful fight with Orogom. And with this chunk of history in my pocket, I have a physical reminder... yet at the same time, it's odd... something this important, and I CAN take it into my own hands. He chuckles, setting his pencil down. Eh... might as well sleep on it. Or nap, anyway... He thinks to himself, as he slowly drifts off to sleep.

(This is an NPC)

A gentle breeze pick's up around Laurelin sending several leaves aloft. Her magical sword hums and glows slightly, probably intuned to her emotions, which have been jolted by the man in the shadows. Put down your weapon, Im not here to fight. I offer to you my services...Interested? A stocky tryclops in an green antique mantle comes from out of the treeline, in a direction you didnt expect. I heard talk of travel to the Dark Realm, yes?

The druid eyes the Tryclopse warily, lowering her sword though not yet sheathing it. "Forgive me... but voices from the shadows seldom wish to help friend. I am Laurelin Curonhast." The druid holds her hands in front of her chest together, bowing her head in the elven tradition. "And you are?"

(This is an NPC)

My name is Grivel Stormfist. Do you seek travel? you name the place and I'll name the price! Grivel extends his open hand forward as a gesture of greeting. Your kind of little to be all alone, Laurelin? The small hairs on the back of your neck crawl as a strange energy seems to surround Grivel, and you as he nears!

Laurelin's right hand clenched her sword instinctively, ready to react, though she kept it pointed down for now. She managed something of a polite smile, "Small... aren't we all compared to great things? Like the trees around us." The druid took some measure of comfort in the nature around her. "I do thank you for your kind and generous offer Master Stormfist... but my destination is only a few paces up the path here." She nods in the direction of the druid's circle as she extends her hand to the Tryclopse, though her foot is poised to take a furtive step back given the strange sensations creeping over her.

(This is an NPC)

Grivel utters In elven," hold on Laurelin" as he grabs your upper forearm.. Blinding swirls of colorful light can be seen all around you. Then, just as quickly as they appear there gone...Blinded and confused you stumble to find a foot hold but alas can feel no floor. As your vision returns, you feel yourself bound with an invisible force, suspended. Ghostly cries call out from below..."Laurelin you were right, Help us!." please Laurelin!" Limbs ripped from bodies decorate the crossroads of the Dark Realm, bodies of your friends, slain! Your eye's begin to burn as the Dark Realm begins to fade.You awake the very next morning with a spliting headache, in the middle of the druid circle, you find yourself all alone!

Laurelin awakes the next day with a start, still haunted by the disturbing visions. Her heart pounds as she wonders if she is too late and moves to free herself from the lingering grasp of sleep upon her still weary limbs. As she starts to rise to her feet she falls to the ground again upon her knees, grabbing her head. A searing white flash of pain ripped through her head, causing a breath to catch in her throat. She blinks her eyes numerous times trying to clear the blurred vision left by watery eyes. The pounding in her head felt like a mace thrashing upon her skull. Her hand reached back a moment as if to check for a wound or blood. Finding none she rested her weight upon her hands bending her will to focus away from the pain. Slowly she lifted her knee to find her footing. Shakily she reached for the Treant to steady herself, noting a low lying branch she had not seen before. She whispered a note of thanks thinking the Ent was offering her a bit of help as she finally stood to her full height. She winced as her head throbbed again, and began to stumble out of the circle toward town. The blinding headache rendering her travel to be quite slow.

Awake early, Orogom steps out of his cabin and makes his way towards the privy when he sees Laurelin stumbling down from the Druid's circle, looking like she had slept on a bed of leaves. "Good morning. Don't tell me you're picking up Tylia's habits now," he jests to her as a greeting.

Laurelin looks up as she hears the voice, the early morning sunlight piercing through the trees causing her to wince. Pressing her hands to her pounding head she speaks softly with a bit of a raspy tone as if the volume and sound of her own voice might split her skull in two. "Orogom...Stery...Dark Realm... You must not go...ever."

She holds up her hand as if to indicate she needs a moment to collect herself. Then sits down on the path, her back resting against a nearby tree. Closing her eyes against the sunlight she continues. "A very strange... experience... gave me a vision...The Dark realm... all of you dead... your voices calling to me saying I was right... begging for help..." She pauses once more, the splitting headache starting to gain the focus of her attention as she rubs her head. "Strange... Tryclopse...named Grivel....Grivel Stormfist...was in the woods last night... he somehow... gave me this... vision."

Her eyes open ever so slightly as she looks at you. "Need to speak to... Taldrin... or Ickathon...maybe they know more."

Orogom's eyes lose all their laughter when the Druid starts speaking. Kneeling down, he listens intently to Laurelin, then he stands up and holds out a hand to help her up. Once she is standing, he puts an arm around her to help support her and says in hissing tones, "We need to speak with Taldrin immediately. Nobody else is awake yet, so I can presume that Zeesa isn't up, so unless you know a way in, all I can suggest is we go trip one of their alarm spells..."

She looks to Orogom, the thought of travelling all that way making her even more exausted. "I.. I do know the way.. I, I can lead us there but... well you know the rules... I vowed absolute secrecy...but still my worry... my worry is running into Stery...This is all so strange..." The druid pinches the bridge of her nose. "I need a few more moments...but.. can I ask you a favor?" She reaches somewhat clumsily into her pouch withdrawing a silver leaf. "Can..you place this amongst the flowers by...the Ent in the Druids Circle? Im worried that... Ickathon might be... feeling like I am. And.. if he is able to merge with my thoughts.. he may know exactly what I saw.. and answer the questions we have. It might be a safer bet? What I saw in the vision... makes me all the more apprehensive... about who Stery was sending you to see. Coupled with Taldrin's forbidding the portal... to even be opened...I don't know... what do you think?"

Orogom looks around and takes the leaf, placing it into his pouch with a wistful look at it. Looking around, he leans in close and whispers, "I was told that the woman that Stery loves was trapped in the Shadow Forest as they were trying to escape and something happened where she merged with the energies of the realm and now she is some sort of power anchor or some-such magical mumbo-jumbo like that. Here, rest here for a minute, I'll run up and take care of this for you, then I'll meet you back here, we'll make a privy run, then go to the KG." Helping Laurelin over to a rock to sit, Orogom then takes off, jogging up the trail. When he gets to the Druid's circle, he enters, bows to the Ent, and places the silver leaf amongst the flowers as he had been instructed to do. Rising up, he bows once more to the Ent and heads back down the path to Laurelin. When he gets back to her, he asks, "Are you feeling any better?"

Laurelin takes several steady measured breaths and nods slowly. "As I ever will be... by the gods... this head ache I awoke with is awful." She rubs her temple once more before standing. "Alright... let us go before I change my mind."

Her pace through the woods is slower than normal but she sticks to her meandering path. When Orogom gives her a strange look all she says is "Incase we are unknowingly followed."

Several more directions taken she finally turns to Orogom and asks him to blindfold himself. "We are near friend. If you would be as so kind to blindfold yourself we may continue. I really don't wish to be hollared at today." She offers something of a smile as she awaits Orogom's response.

Orogom pulls out a strip of cloth from his belt pouch and ties it over his eyes, grumbling about how he should just join the guild so he doesn't have to go through this crap anymore and he lets Laurelin lead him forward.

"Again my apologies Orogom... not my rules." Laurelin whispered as she led him down and around a few trees and rocks. A few moments later they stopped, the sound of a door creaking open and the coolness of the hall meeting them as they enter. She lets go of Orogom, closes the door behind them and says, "Go ahead and remove the blindfold, we are here."

She heads down the long dim hall looking around for someone who might know where to find Taldrin.

Orogom removes the blindfold and follows down the familiar hallway, wondering just what they were going to run into this early in the morning and he hoped to Raul that Stery wasn't around and/or awake.

As you walk down the long hallway a flash of blue light appears (Dimension Door), before you can make any evasive moves your flesh burns hot (Power Word Death) Orogom falls to the dampened floor…(Power Word Death); Laurelin falls beside Orogom…

When you are braught back from lifelessness, a dark robed figure hovers above you…he hands you a goblet and motions you to drink. Feeling very weak, you barley hold the heavy weighted goblet.

(OOG: A pm will be sent to both of you)

Laurelin exits the Klor's guild in a rather foul mood. Her green gaze piercing as she stalks back in the direction she had originally came. The cool morning air does little to settle her fury, but all the same she decides to wait a few moments more, before heading back to the Druid's circle and staying there til an Awethorn came. Gods pity anyone fool enough to cross her path, she was in no mood for any nonsense now. Pacing back and forth, she casts an occasional glare in the direction of the Guild hall before finally departing.

Back in the tavern, Artha gets the strangest feeling that he may have missed an opportunity to get one of those "visionary" candies. He sighs as he remembers his time limit is growing shorter, stepping outside and looking towards where people usually are, hoping someone else on the hot potato list had shown up in the past half-hour or so. "Vica? Constable?" He calls out. "Orogom? Any of you about?"

After a long and exaustive conversation within her own thoughts, Laurelin finally decided to head back. Her gait swift and terse as she took a far less meandering path back to the stronghold. As she came through town she gave a curt nod to those she passed but did not stop to chat with anyone. Instead she headed straight for the druid circle, to a rock at the far end, took a seat and stared at the entrance trail. Her gaze passed over the flora that grew around the ent, noting her silver leaf still there. Muttering something to herself, she wrapped her cloak tightly around her and settled in for the long wait. With her cloak, mask, and still form she seemed to meld right in with her surroundings.

OOG: Laurelin/Orogom: Please check the 2nd PM from me...as somethings occured in the Klors guild that may change the last two responses to this thread.

((OOG: Posts edited accordingly to the changes))

"Yeah, potato's almost done." Artha calls over to Vica, stepping back into the Tavern as she gets to him, while he starts to put his gloves on. "You know where Oro and Laurelin went? I haven't seen them since Oro last passed the potato to me."

"Hmm... anyway..." He puts his arm over her shoulder, his cloak with it so they can make the switch unnoticed without Orogom to open the back room.
After they pass the potato, he whispers quiet enough so only she hears. "And by the way... I'm not sure if I mentioned this already, but if you go up to the Klor's Guild anytime, or you know anyone else is going, try and get one of those dream control candy eyes off of Taldrin. I really could make use of one or two of them, for my own use and for the security of the stronghold."
He pulls his cloak and arm away, nodding to her. "I'm not going anywhere just yet, I don't feel like wandering about the monster-infested woods when I still can't run if need be." He sits down and continues putting his mostly-still-cold bottle of ale against his ankle.

Artha nods to the Constable. "Morning to you too, constable. Blame me for dragging her off portal duty for potato instead, but Orogom isn't back yet from wherever he went, so... not many other alternatives." He chuckles, sitting on a chair near the tavern door and starting to write notes on something in his journal. The page he's writing on seems quite full already.