HEROIC REALMS

The trees cast no shadow due to the sky being overcast in the early hours before dawn. However, if one were to look closely in the right place, they might see a shadow flitting about in the deeper shadows. Suddenly, the flitter breaks away from the trees and, seeming to be made of shadow, glides along the pathways of the stronghold. In the barracks, the shadow slides under the door and sees the various residents snoring away. The shadow takes time to look at each persons face before moving on to the next. As it gazes, each person stirs in their sleep as though having a mild nightmare, but nobody wakes up.

Exiting the barracks the same way it came in, the shadow glides down the path towards the Constable's hut. Entering through a crack in the wall, the shadow gazes down intently upon the sleeping forms of Constable Morgan and Vica. They stir, as the others did, but do not awaken. Slipping out through the wall, the shadow makes its way up the paths towards the Manor House. Flitting all over the house looking for an entrance, the shadow finally ducks down a chimney and comes out the fireplace below...directly into the sleeping chambers of Lord Elecsirt. Gazing upon the sleeping face for an instant, the shadow reaches out a thin translucent finger and touches it to Lord Elecsirts forehead, right where a third eye would be. The touch burns hot, causing Lord Elecsirt to awaken. At the instant his eyes open, the shadow disappears.

((OOG - Okay, that should set the stage, let's have some fun!))

Lord Elecsirt reaches for his mace and finds that no one is there...who, what...where are you. Quickly using flint & steel, he lights a candle casting light upon the room....clearly no shadows will be seen now?!?!?!

As the candle flames spring to life, a soft angry hissing is heard throughout the room. Lord Elecsirt looks all around the room, but sees nothing out of the ordinary. His forehead still burning, he calls out again, "Who's there?"

Without warning, there is a knock on his chamber doors and a voice comes floating through, "M'Lord? It's Skal, Head Protector of the Mages Guild. Is everything okay?"

The angry hissing grows louder at the newcomers voice. Reaching a crescendo, the Shadow suddenly leaps out from the tiny shadows at the base of one of the candles and, swift as light, moves towards the door, slides under it, and draws itself up before Skal. Before he can react, the Shadow reaches out and puts its full hand on Skal's forehead. Skal screams in pain before falling unconscious to the ground and the Shadow darts off, leaping from shadow to shadow on the walls, floors, and ceilings. Lord Elecsirt, throwing open his door, sees the body lying in front of his chambers and calls for a medic and a mage.

((OOG - Skal was the mace-weilding NPC that we created for me at the end of last year. He started out as a protector for a visiting mage and, after challenging the follower of Vith who wished to judge Rowen for his illness, Skal was promoted to the first ever Head Protector of the Mages Guild. There may or may not be more regarding that in game, depending on how much he is used.))

Meanwhile, Tylia as usual always stands guard at the circle especially durring the night sence her nightmeres are steadily worse as of late so she decided to guard this past couple of eve's and sleep or nap durring the day by one of the sacred ent tree's to help ward her mere's away and puts her more at ease...every once in awhile she'll let out a bark or howl to let the others know that she is out and about and all is well...to the others...it is a warning...this is her territory and to stayaway.

Upon hearing the screams of help from her Lord, his aide Melinda comes running down to hall to investigate the scene.

Panting and out of breath she says "Me-Lord are you alright!?!? I heard you screaming from down the hall. What is going on?? Shall I call for a healer??"

But before Lord Elecsirt is able to respond she followed his eyes to the floor to find Skal lying there motionless.

She questions "What happened?? Did he try to attack you?? Shall I call for the guards??" she pauses waiting for his response but finds him to be lost in thought as if analyzing something......he remains quiet......"Excuse me Me-Lord??...........Me-Lord??"

Finally breaking his thought he looks to Melinda with the utmost blank expression on his face and within seconds his eyes light up like fire as if he just solved some great mystery. He then quickly departs the scene in extreme hurry as Melinda calls out after him........"But Me-Lord.....What about Skal????" With that she was only then greated by the sound of his hurried footsteps running down the corridor.

She turned to come face to face with what has turned out to be an audience of this maddening scene. All of the houseaides have made there way to investigate the mysterious shoutings. Her eyes finding her brother Devon, the stable master, she says "Devon, help me bring him to Sanctuary we need to find him a healer at once!"

With the sense of urgency in his sister's voice he quickly lifts Skal up over his shoulders as the two quickly make their way down to sanctuary to get help.

Stopped by an unseen figure in the darkness, a voice is heard. Me lord...me lord. It is time...you must stop and come with me at once. You need not worry, my pet will see your will of this one through...

Lord Elecsirt pauses and watches as a green ball of light appears. It expands outward forming a large portal. He move towards the portal examining it when...

'It was a beautiful day! Laroon has blessed us all!' Tylia took a deep breath of the floral scents of the exoctic flowers that are blossoming in the circle she had planted last season... on a day like today you just cannot seem that anything bad happens around here there's just too much beauty. 'Tylia takes in another deep breath enjoying one of the few queit moments she has with her goddess and a blessed moment that was'

a sudden wind came up and the aminals suddenly became quite Tylia quickly became aware that her peaceful moments are at an end.
Taking to the tree's she went into hiding to watch what happens...

As Devon and Melinda hurry Skal down to the Sanctuary, dawn's ass cracks over the horizon. As a beam of light touches Skal's face, he stirs and moans in pain on Devon's shoulder, but does not wake up. The more the light touches his face, the more pain he seems to be in.

Finally, they come across the ruins of the Sanctuary where a man is standing, inspecting the damage. "Present yourself!" Devon calls to the man, getting ready to drop Skal if he needs to fight.

The figure turns, revealing an aged face behind an impossibly long beard that is looped through the mans belt to prevent him tripping on it. "I am here to help him," he quietly replies, pointing at Skal. As Devon makes to move away with the body he is still carrying, the old man continues, "The light is painful to him right now. Please, bring him inside what is left of the Sanctuary. There should be enough still standing to keep him in the shadows."

"First," says Melinda, "I think we are going to need some proof of who you are."

With a smile, the old man pulls his beard to the side and reveals a Symbol of Raul hanging on his chest. "Satisfied? Now, shall we help your friend before the pain becomes too unbearable for him?"

Devon, still carrying Skal who is now all but thrashing in unconscious pain, immediatly takes the body inside and sets it down in the darkest spot he can find, next to where the alter once stood. The priest follows them and kneels down next to Skal while Devon and Melinda sit on the remains of a pew. As the priest makes his intonations, he hovers his hands over Skal's body, tracing over the legs, torso, arms, and finally coming to the head. With his hands an inch away from Skal's temples, he frowns and says, "I sense darkness..." Turning to Melinda and Devon, he asks, "Did you see the attacker?" Both shake their head no. Muttering, the priest returns to his work. After over half and hour, he finally stands up and says, "Bring him to a place where he can rest comfortably. His body was easily mended, but his mind..." the priest trails off and shakes his head as though tossing a thought away, "And make sure there are guards posted for when he wakes up...lots of them. I will stay in the Stronghold until then."

Without another word, the priest exits the Sanctuary and heads towards the manor house. Melinda follows and Devon, after picking Skal's body back up, follows her.

((OOG - Oh yeah, gotta love an hour of time when there is NO work to do. Sorry for stepping on toes...okay, no I'm not, but I am happy to get a chance for some creative outlet ))

Traveling up the path to the manor house they are confronted by three orcs and one hobgoblin leading them... The hobgoblin motions his hand towards you and in foreign tongue calls out "Barrack-o-thor." The orcs draw swords and begin to make their way toward you...

"hissstth" "bark , baaarrrrroooook, hiiisssstttthhhh" Tylia croaches ready to spring onto her prey the stench of hobgoblin, and orc filling her nostrals was almost more than she could bare but she stood her ground pacing back and forth showing her force of stregnth by hissssthing and starring them into the eye... Tylia imitated the hobgoblin eye for eye word for word...trying to repeat the words "Barrack o thor" tho she might have fumbled the rythem of the contenents...she was not to sure... so she then called out to them a commune with nature spell so she could then question them...

"what is it you want?"
"are you looking for somthing? what is it?"
"why are you in my woods stay out! next time i will not warn you again"
questions along those lines...

Melinda & Devon quickly turn to the sound of barking coming out from the woods as their eyes meet a woman of the wood. With the evil beings approaching steadfastly Devon quickly puts Skal's body on the ground and calls Melinda to stay by his side as Devon quickly unsheathe's his sword.

Melinda hears the woman begin to talk to the foul creatures and says "Why are you trying to communicate with them?? Those being's are not natural they are abominations!! They care not too converse with us they only care to kill. Surely you have some other magic's that would be more useful to help us against these foes. Please understand this man lying here is very ill!!!"

From the corner of her eye she see's one of the orc begin to charge at Devon and she screams "DEVON!! LOOK OUT!!"

With an elegant movement of his sword Devon meets his blade to that of his foes blocking the attack. Now the others begin to charge in upon the group...............

That's when Tylia took action...she used her magicks of elemental lightening to help dispurs the orc called forth the roots to entangle the hobgoblin so that she can then just plumet it with her stick...Tylia then dodged the gobgoblin's terribles throw's to let the other strangers to dispatch it to check out the wounded one that was on the ground... first and formost she had to look after the wounded in this area the best she could... so she heald with her feable healing talents and then gave em' her one true goddess's blessing she could give with the help of her pin... then she looked back to see how the fight was ensueing between the others... and dove in to help finish it off... with some minor wounds to herself...
"why are you in my woods? hisssth pant pant"
<Tylia asked while addressing her own wounds, then...> "do any of you besides that one (pointing to the one now resting confortably on the ground fully healed) need any healing?"