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The forests of Telpurion [Logged in view]
[RSS] 2009-10-27 07:17:17
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The woods of Telpurion are a dangerous place, the side facing Ecthelion is home to the foul Dark elves, wretched beings who dabble in the dark arts, and delight in the suffering of their victims. This part of the wood has many roads, beware though for many of these roads have their ends in Dark elf covens and woe be the unwary traveler that falls into such a hell hole. Beyound this foul wood their lies a baren ash land. This place is the no man's land, pocked and scared by massive duals and sun bleached skeletons. The far side of the grey plain rises the giant trees that mark the beginings of the wood elf kingdom, the last stable country in perhaps the world.
Lomien browsed the docks, not the least impressed with the fleet before him however large it was. The largest class of vessel was no bigger than a dark army cruiser
this will be fun if we run into a trio of dreadnaughts, what with the port kingdoms being thrown into chaos.....hmmm he mused finding, much to his satisfaction that the wood elves had indeed built a small cohort of ramalis class dreadnaughts "Well....only seven but these will be more than enough to smash through any blockade....ju
st hope the smaller scooners can survive long enough to make it to Tervel" he mumbled to himself dissapearing into the nearest Dreadnaught. The port was huge, the dreadnaughts looked like behemoths even in a port if this size "Two hundred feet long, two decks of oars and enough fire power to send any ship to the bottom of the ocean" he sighed looking out from the spacious cabin. He decided he would look for the others later.
Nin followed Lomien, entering the cabin just a little after him, "And yet my love looks crestfallen." the tall elf observed, a slight smile hovering on her lips. "The others are on their way. What weighs on your mind Lomien?" she asked him
"To many small ships and transports....not enough warships. Yes the twelve dreadnaughts are nice but for a fleet as large as the one setting sail? Ullari can easily mount a force enough to occupy and maybe even destroy the whole cohort....though i doubt it...what weighs on my mind is how we are going to break through the Eastern seaboard blockade....the vessels there are huge, but what worries me most at the moment is if they have any good water elementals...." his voice trailed off as he stood over the map. Tiny markers representing ships from the alliance and the Dark Army stood at opposite ends.
Eldur followed the group to the docs. He didn't like ships very much, and this one, being so big and having so many rooms made him unease. Ships where created to use as much space as possible, no-one ever wanted all to be visible from every point, and that made Eldur unease, his eyes are also his ears, ships block a lot of things for him. Still, his ability to control wind might be of use aboard.
After quite a walk, Celeste and the others finally rounded into the port, where they found Nin and Lomien speaking amoungst themselves and Eldur near them.
"Smaller ships are not always a disadvantage." Nin observed, "We will easily out-maneuver Ulari's forces. Though water elementals would pose a problem."
"Idealy though we would be able to fight....and im sure you can add fire elementals to that list as well" he sighed. He wanted to break through the blockade without using his own ships...a prospect that to him was seeming less likely by the day.
"Ullari will probably oversee the battle himself." Nin mused, then looked up sharply, "Do you think he will allow Rayne to be there?" Nin remembered watching Rayne train as a young elf, even so many years ago she had been able to cause real damage. "She could easily send many of our ships up in flames, but would Ullari keep her away?"
"Seeing as she has been elevated from pet to wife...i would normally say no...however she has a strong will and if Ullari is even remotely the same...he's a sucker for brown eyes" he said roling his eyes at what that brought up "This could be very interesting...we have nearly two hundred thousand fighting men embarking on ships...if Ullari decides to attack us he will be the one out numbered by more than ten to one...however his stouter navy will narrow those odds...." he continued to glance at the map looking over it to see what advantage either he or Ullari might obtain, and how to exploit or deny such an advantage.
Ninquelote stood beside her husband, also gazing at the map, "Things are different now, we used to know Ullari, know how he was likely to act, but now... He has been so unpredictable."
"Only because you have had your head in the ground...or at the very least been far less involved in dealing with him" he said softly with a distracted note as he began gazing intently at the map now.
"Then you saw his marriage to his prize pet coming?" Nin asked Lomien with an amused sideways glance, "No one could have seen that coming, I am sure that even Gurthar was surprised. My point is, if he has done something like that, perhaps it will not be the end of his unpredictability."
"And what do you think the reason for his making her his prize pet was? if only because he was after her....for what i don't know...girl had an attitude enough to run me up a tree" he said with an eye role "He's not as unpredictable as you think" he said eyeing an island. An island that served as the endpoint to the blockade.
"Perhaps." Nin mused, "So, what is your plan?" she asked her husband.
He gestured to the small island "A seige" he said simply "We will take this island by storm....Ullari won't expect it at all...seeing as his counter fleet is stationed where we are most likely to make a run for Tervel"
Nin nodded, it could work, and they would likely have plenty of time before the rest of Ullari's fleet could arive, "It sounds like a plan to me."
"Ullari's resources are far from able to match the force we have shore side...once the island is taken we have little else to do but wait for him to try to dislodge us...if he decides to try for sea as well as land...so much the better"
Nin nodded again, "And if something goes wrong?" she asked, looking up at her husband.
Celeste walked up to the pair, Lomien and Nin, to see how all was going. "Hey, we've all arrived...is there anything I can helpwith?"
"if a problem arises there is a channel we can take that will drop us right at mouth of the river to Tervel" he smiled at Celeste "well...what do you know about war at sea or for that matter sailing in general?"
"Ummm....well, very little actually...but I'm a fast learner." Celeste flashed a smile at Lomien, letting more of her true nature be seen...
"Well...i think since you are so eager to use your element that ill put you on deck duty.....rearguard at least so you see battle...though less possible harm to yourself" he smiled at her "let me know if you need help fitting the armour"
"Erm...Ok." Celeste turned to go, then quicky turned back and tapped Lomien on the shoulder. "I'm going to need help with that armour..."
"I will return shortly my love" he whispered into Nin's ear. "Well as far as armour goes...what would you like? heavy boarder? light archer?" he asked as he walked with Celeste to the ship's armoury.
"Uh...good question...something light I suppose, so I can move. But I really dont know...I've never really donned armour"
"Well" he said settling his eyes on a particularly ornate and well made suit "This should fit your specifacations perfectly" he said slipping the silver mail shirt over her before setting and strapping the intracate shoulder peice in "This particular suit is made for protecting against frontal attacks...it will stop any thing short of a balista bolt, and should hold up very well against all but the most powerful elemental attacks" he said, handing her a bow as tall as she, as well as a sword "Would you prefer a spear and sheild instead?" he asked looking her over "i dare say young one it looks like it was made for you..try walking around in it to work out all the fit problems that it may have"
"No....no, this is great!" she said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice and eyes. "Alright, I'll do that." She looked down at herself and at her new weapons. A slight glint could be seen in her ever changing
colored eyes.
"Guess what?" he said with a gleem of laughter saturating his voice "It's all yours...consider this...a treat if you will" he smiled "oh..these may be of use...last i checked a bow required them" he said pulling down a beautiful quiver of arrows "There are three types, each marked by a color of feather" as he gestured to the red, white, and black colored arrow feathers.
A huge smile lit up her face. One that no one now alive had ever seen. Funny that I'm so happy about something as small as this. She looked up at Lomien and the arrowns and asked, "And what do the colors stand for?"
He smiled at her "The black are blood loss...they have a bad habit of going boom inside the victim...no need to worry about becoming a victim though...works only after impact. Red will carry your element after you have directed it into the hole at the end of the notch...and white...hmm..white are armour peircing..specially weighted, crafted and sharpened to smash through the thick breast plates of opposing soldiers"
"Ooooo...sounds like fun" she said, inspecting each arrow.
"Well believe me you will get your chance to use all of them i'm sure" he said, wondering what the coming battles would hold.
Celeste continued to admire her new armour and weapns and was just itching to use them...not thinking at all about what the coming battles would bring.
Lomien smiled at the thoughts cycloneing through her head "You will get your chance soon enought to use your toys" he said with a laugh.
Celeste blushed deeply, now realizing what a child she was acting like. "Alright, haha...sorry sir, just glad to be helping in some way." She gave a weak smile and a nervous laugh.
"There is nothing to be sorry about...oh the gold veins tracing the armour...that is actual gold...it's an ancient set really...almost as old as i am to tell the truth" he said with a smile. The armour set was his when he was young....that was over eight thousand years ago though.
"Oh! You shouldn't have told me that!" She said laughing. "Now I'm going to break something here for sure! Haha. Though I'll try not to." She looked down at herself again, brushing something off of the armour.
"I don't think you would be able to break anything...it was designed to hold up even if your entire body caught fire and tried to burst from it..." he stopped with a laugh at the thought "Like i said...the armour is very durable, however it is weakest at the sides and back....still strong enough to take a direct hit from a cross bow bolt and leave you alive...plus or minus a rathe brutal bruise...but all in all it should suit you well" he said perusing the armoury....which was his personal armoury. Every suit of armour was ornately detailed with equally extravagant and exotic weapons.
"Alright.....let's not hope to test the fire thing." Celeste imagined that and put the imae away immediately...hoping she never lost control like that."Wow. These are all so.....beautiful, haha." She said looking through the armoury herself."Where did all of this come from?"
"This is my families armoury" he said slowly "The suite you are wearing, was the suite i bore into battle for three hundred years during the unifacation and expansion wars...as you can guess...i out grew it" he said with a laugh "As for the rest of these suits, they are either my family's or that of prominent nobles"
All Celeste could do was look from him, to her new armour and back up...waay up, to him. "Wow. Okay."
"if it helps not only did i design the armour myself, as well as the weapons you hold...and the suits and weapons here...i designed this suite specifcally for those with a fire element...and believe me it is not possible to be more combustable than when i was....and feel free to beat it up and use it...yeah it's fancy but all reparable" he reassured her.
"Well...alright..." She started moving around a bit to get a feel for the armour. "You designed all of this?!" Celestes eyes went to a light brown as she inspected her borrowed amour.
"It's a hobby of mine that i have had for as long as i can remember...oh and the armour and weapons are yours to keep" he said looking over a suit that resembled Sauron "Oh and the hand and knuckle guards will channel your abilities...meaning you have the comfort of protected hands...but can still unleash your fully capacity"
"Wow, thats great.....REALLY!!?? I can keep them?? haha! thank you!" Celeste hurried forward and hugged him, forgetting herself for a moment, then backed away with a blush. "Sorry....Ummm, alright. Do you mind if we do some training in this? So I can become accustomed to it?"
He gave a start at the unexpected hug "What's there to be sorry about?" he said with a slight laugh "Well then i will get a set of my own on" as he turned to an intimadating set of armour, equally as ornate but this suit had a fell look to it, each point that the armour tappered into was a sharp point instead of a smooth edge, and the coloring was that of burnt metal with gold lining. The helmet and mail shirt where jet black, though he never donned a helmet less specifically requested by the lady Nin herself. The weapon of choice was a spear with a curved long blade. He of course also had a long single edge blade strapped to his side "Shall we begin on the deck then?" he asked Celeste softly.
Celeste looked at him with wide eyes. Wow...only fools would stand against him in battle...and here I go.....into training with him... "Erm, alright." She said this just as softly, almost reverently, without even meaning to. Lomien just seemed so commanding to her.
Lomien set aside his armour, hanging each peice up "I won't be using this armour for our training session...i will however where a mail shirt, and i will not fault you for any accident that may take place...it happens" he said removing all but the arm and hand guards "Ready when you are, oh and the lack of armour is no insult to you...after all we are training you how to use your new suit...not me" his voice was light, he enjoyed training almost as much as he liked getting himself caught in the thick of battle.
"Alright then." I'm sooooo no ready "Ready." Celeste figured shed start out somewhat easy for herself and ended up throwning a few fireballs his way.
Lomien with outstreched hand caught them, forming the energy into lightning "Your armour will withstand against such a hit, but not indefinately" he warned as he sent the bolts hurtling in all directions towards her. He did this so as to be sure one hit her, hoping that once she realized the amout of protection afforded by such a suit would give her more confidence on the feild.
Eldur reached Ninquelótë with his mind. how can i be of your assistance my lady? I believe i may have the skills to help our boats sail faster, and i might be better at using magic than fight itself; my fight is with my mind His eyes glowed slightly silver-purple.
"Do what you feel is nesscesary to do Eldur" Nin said with a smile i agree with what you say, if from what i have been told is accurate as i'm sure it is then your mental abilities should come in handy...can you fight other elementals psychicly? she asked.
Seriph, tired and very saddle sore spied Eldur "Eldur a word if you please" he said limping slightly...it had been a long time since he'd ridden in a saddle that long "It's regaurding our little asignment Lomien gave us awile back at the castle" he said lowering his voice.
Starteled by the bolts coming at her, Celeste turned to block the ones behind her first remembering the weak spots in her armour, then turned back to the front reflecting two that were coming at her face. Then, she was thrown back by 2 more that struck her in the torso. Celeste bit back a small scream when the was thrown. "okay....."
Lomien smiled "Told you it would hold, those where...believe it or not, inderect hits. Your armour can take a direct hit, however that depends on how powerful your opponent is" he said sending a bling flash of lightning into a cliff side. The ensueing avalanche that followed was a show in itself, even though the cliff was quite a ways off "That, your armour would not deflect...however...there aren't very many left in this world with that kind of power....and even fewer who would go to war"
Celestes eyes grew big as she observed the disappearance of the cliffside. She got up quickly, stiill looking at the cliffside. "Well, lets hope I dont make any enemies as strong as you." She attempted a light tone here. "Alright....I can so take you.....bring it on! Haha!" Celeste sent a flurry of fire raining down onto Lomien and was pleased when his clothing caught. YES!! I've never gotten any attacks past his barriers without them being reflected back at me before She smiled in slight triumph and continued with an attempt of the same litening bolts Lomien had sent at her earlier....she'd never tried it before, but attempted nonetheless.
Lomien allowed a smile to escape him "Very good...now...let us begin training" he said dissapearing, only to reappear behing her. He sent an armoured fist into her side, connecting purposefully with the armour. Leaping clear he brought his foot down in a crescent, sending a fire arc at her "Lightning expends alot of energy...only use it when you are seeking to breach armour, as at your age and capacity you would be unable to sustain it for long" he said as a whip made of lightning formed in his hand and lashed across her amour plateing "If you feel a breach in your armour let me know.....we'll fix it then resume" it was very clear he was happy now, despite a hole being burnt into the side of his robe.
Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her side, Celeste turned to find a wall of flames coming at her. She blocked this, feeling a little weak. Oh...As soon as the whip landed accross her, Celestes eyes turned a flaming red as she lashed out at him, ignoring her weakening self.
Lomien sensed the weakening, though it surpprised him that it had taken this long for her to weaken. Weeling around, he delivered a heel kick to her side, pivoting off and delivering a hammering blow with his other heel to her shoulder before leaping clear. i felt the armour give alittle...it should hold but her bones are realatively thin...we'll just have to wait and see he thought to himself as he readied for her attack. He made sure he had unblocked what untapped energy reserves that she had.
Breathing slightly heavily, Celeste stumbled with Lomiens contact then spun around to face him, throwing herself off balance as she sent a wall of fire with a suprisingly huge force toward him. ouch.. Still with glowing red eyes, Celeste jumped up off the ground and sent a suprisingly strong kick at Lomiens chest then a wall of fire quickly followed by scalding hot jets of water without realizing the switch as her eyes changed from the former red to a deep ocean blue.
Lomien whatched as she, the fire wall and the hot water passed through him. Solidifying he sent the lightning whip lashing across her back, drawing up another lightning burst and sending that at her as well.
At that, Celeste let out a scream and fell forward, arching her back to the whip.
Lomien started "Are you alright?" he asked, a hint of caution lacing his voice. "Perhaps we are through training, or do you wish to continue? would you like to train with weapons now? i think that part is at least done fore now....it's up to you" he said taking a seat, the only sign of weariness being the slight sweat forming on his brow.
Getting up, shocked by how quickly she weakened this time, Celeste said, "Yes, I-I'm fine." She threw him a weakly plastered on smile. Yes! Let's continue! No one on the battle field is going to give me an easy time." She gave yet another smile and stood up in a stance ready to fight, though she was a bit shakey.
Lomien smiled, the problem with ancient elementals was that they rarely tire of battle. Lomien drew a broad sword that was at least as tall as celeste and double edged. with sword in one hand he formned another sword out of fire and pure energy in the other "I'll go easy on you for starters" he said smiling, setting down the sword and choosing two short elven battle swords instead, opting yet again to exchange this for a long katana "Ready?" he asked softly.
Celeste looked at the long sword as he put it down and stared in amazement at the sword of fire and energy. Wow, I wonder if i could do that. She drew her own sword, and measured its weight, noting that it was a bit heavier than her old one. "Nope, not at all." She gave a huge smile and went directly into a fighting pose. "But lets do it!" She stood and waited for an attack.
Lomien cocked an eye brow at what she said "Very well" he said reappearing behind her "Weapons or element?" he said ramming a fist into her side, feeling the armour bend and cracks form in it.
I cannot easily fight like that my lady. As my mentally link with the spirit realm is established, i have no barriers to use. said Eldur to Ninquelótë. Excuse me he added and turned to Seriph "no need to change your volume level my friend, i remind you that it is your lips that tell me what you say, not the voice of your viscera. You can keep it always silent with me" whispered Eldur in weird voice.
Seriph smiled "Very well then, when do you wish to begin our little journey...i have a long boat ready...not a large cruiser but it's definately sea worthy and more than capable of holding its' own even in a storm" his voice was its' natural cold whisper.
Celeste gritted her teeth against his blow. "Weapons." She turned to swing at him with her blade.
Sheathing the long katana, two energy rods appeard, one struck another breach in her armour, energy cackling around the slash mark that exposed her shirt "Wow...clean through both the plate and the mail with a rod?...haven't done that in awile" he mused as he absorbed the rods and drew the katanna.
Celeste grabbed where the rod struck her. ARG! I can't even get at him! She lifted the heavy sword and swung at him yet again, not attempting to copy his weapons of pure energy.
Lomien blocked her sword, holding his blade now with one hand "Your armour has at least two breaches in it...your strengh impresses me Celeste" he said, and he meant it. He had not expected her to still be standing after being hit with such a blow...however her body had not actually been harmed plus or minus a couple nasty bruises and possibly a broken collar and shoulder bone he added mentally, awaiting her next move.
"Yeah, right." She slid her sword up his blade then quickly swung low at his thigh. He's not even showing signs of tiring yet and here I am, doing all I can to just stay standing...<i>I have alot of training still to do.
Lomien spun on his toes, swining around behind her and brining the grip of his katana crashing into her back "It does, everyone else that i have trained your age and even some older and more advanced have colapsed from exhaustion by now...or been knocked out from one of the blows" he said with a smile.
At that blow, Celeste lost her breath and fell to the ground. "Ouch." She then turned to lay on her back. There was a slight twinkle in her eye though and she quickly kicked out toward Lomien's feet, tripping him and jumped up, swinging down at Lomien's throat, keeping just enough control to top before actually hitting him.
Lomien lept clear, sending a volly of throwing stars at her...all of whom embedded themselves into her amour, making sure none of which breached her armour plateing, but they where embedded deep "Have fun removing those" he teased, circling around her.
Celeste glared at him with firey red eyes. Nah, I'll give you a nice big hug first. Her sword began to glow a bit by the heat she was radiating as she used both hands on her sword to lunge at him.
Lomien batted aside her sword whaching it pass by his face till her hands on the hilt came up. Grabbing both hands with one hand, he grabbed hold of her armoured neck. "Don't let your anger get the best of you" he said blocking her abilities, though she would not know it till she tried to use them. She could still breath fine.
Celeste gasped as her hands were grabbed, then freaked out when Lomien grabbed her throat and tried to burn his massive hand, but couldnt. "Hey!!!" She kicked at him and struggled to get out of his strong grip.
Lomien smiled, throwing her onto another ship "This one we don't have to worry about destroying" he said running up along the oar line. Hitting her hard, he renabled her abilities, only to be knocked into one of the masts by a black blurr. The blurr turned out to be an assasin which Lomien casually threw over board. Seeing five standing atop the cabin he smiled "Whach the fire works" he whispered. A massive fire and energy storm coalesced arround him, only to diminish to the size of a pea. He combined both of these and sent them through the cabin window. The assasins laughed "Fool you missed! you must hit your target for the element bomb to work" as he finished, the entire back half of the huge ship disintegrated in flames. The screaming bodies of the survivors could be seen every where....all two hundred "This is a dark army battle ship Celeste" he said lowering the energy sheild he had put in front of them when the blast started.
Celeste quickly stood, rather confused as to why they could destroy this ship. She rolled her shoulders, feeling a sharp pain in and around her right shoulder. I dont know how much longer I can hold out.. Suddenly, Lomien was thrown aside and she stared at a loss as he stood up and aimed an energy bomb at a huge group of dark army assasins. "Oh." Was all she replied to Lomiens statement. She almost lost her balance as she backed away from more assasins coming at them, thinking se may not be able to handle a battle with them. They wont go easy on me like Lomien did...
Lomien whached as the crew came scuttling out of the burning ship, despite his being sore i think i broke somthing he thought, remembering he had no armour on so any hit he took would immediatly affect his body. Blood ran down the side of his face from hitting the mast as he stood surrounded by the angry crew "Back off" he growled, fire and energy seemned to erupt from him. What crew weren't dead or screaming in agony went scrambling for cover.
Celeste thought about hiding behind Lomien, but she didnt want to seem cowardly....she just hurt all over. "Okay....so what am I going to do?" She asked herself more than she did Lomien. When she looked toward him though, she saw how menacing he looked and even after training with him and such, she feared him. She was thrown back a bit my the eruption oof energy from him and she tried to fend off a couple of the braver crew members.
Lomien smiled, whaching her fight the few crew members with fight left in them. A large rhino burst from the cargo hold. Lomien eyed the rhino. A breif scream of agony erupted from the dying animal before it simply ceased to be, enveloped in a fire ball. Turning to Celeste "are you hurt, are you done for today or would you like to continue?" he asked her softly.
"I'm fine." Then she winced as she moved her arm and grabbed at her right shoulder. She quickly tried to cover it by swinging her blade and killing a crew member who ran at her.
Lomien eyed her, walking her back to the ship they came from, sending the Dark Army ship to the bottom with a blinding flash of fire. He turned to her "Your not ok...your shoulder looks broken...it's ok to disclose your injuries" he said softly sitting her down on a bench, dried blood covering half his face from a gouge above his forehead.
Celeste looked up at Lomiens face, a bit of fear showing on her own face. <II didnt realize how dangerous he really was. "Alright, sorry." was all she said, looking down. She tested her shouder and felt yet another pain trvel through her. Yup, broken. she took her left hand and ran it down the side of her armour, running over some sticky blood. She lloked down and touched one of the stars still in her armour and then looked back up to Lomiens gaze, without meeting his eyes.
Lomien winced alittle in pain, looking down at his leg, he sighed "This is why i hate fighting on ships" he pulled a blood soaked peice out of his leg. He was bleeding from multiple minor wounds that didn't seem to phase him "Here lets have a look...where do you think your wounds are most severe?" he asked quietly.
"I dont know." She still could not make eye contact. "I kind of hurt all over." She followed this up with a small laugh"
Lomien sat down in front of her placing a gentle hand on her shattered shoulder "Well then i suppose i'll just have to probe" he said as he carefully removed her armour, revealing her charred dress "Well i'll see to it that this one is replaced, you picked the right kind of fabric whatever it is...it doesn't stick to your skin when it's burnt or bleeding" A cold feeling swept over her body "Don't panic...that is my spirit probing your body and repairing the damage done to it" he said softly. An hour later he was done and sitting stretched out on a set of crates in front of her "Feel better?" he asked her with a yawn...the only indication of the possibility that he was tireing.
Celeste shrugged her shoulder a bit at his touch and immediately wished she hadnt. "Mhmm....its comfortable." She winced. She gasped and jumped a bit when his spirit entered her. She sat rigidly, then it was finally over. "Yes, I do feel a bit better, thank you. Sorry I'm so quickly weakened. I need to work on that." She looked at him for only a moment. She was still slightly frightened by him. Now she knew what he could do and was sure there was more to come. I must remember to stay on his good side....Though even a simple training mistake on his part could send me to the grave.. She had never seen anyone so fierce. She looked down at the ground with clouded grey eyes.
"I prefer longboats from large cruisers; I can see better around me and I can manupilate them easier with my powers if needed." whispered Eldur "We can go now, I think. Does Ninquelótë know about our mission? What should I tell her?"
"What she doesn't know Lomien will tell her" he said turning in the direction the explosion "Speaking of the devil...he just blew somthing out of the water....just hope it was somthing that we could spare and not somthing valuable...doesn't appear so" he sighed seeing a dark army captain running along the deck. "Long boats are easier, we'll pick up a crew and sail for the mainland in a few hours....unless you have everything ready" he said as he finished assembling his armour and weapons into a chest.
Lomien gazed after the captain "Pathetic" he said as the captain burst into flames and leapt overboard "You need not worry about staying on my good side, or a training accident Celeste. Weekening quickly? you compare yourself to me....one who has more or less devoted himself to the art of war for the last nine thousand years of his life, i do not tire because of the arts i have delved into....sufice to say Celeste your endurance is already well beyound that of any, and better than many who are far older than you" his voice was soft and reassuring.
Celeste looked up at him then."Alright..." She rolled her still sore shoulders and wished for sleep.
Lomien looked at her "if you want to sleep then sleep...you'll need your rest if your shoulder is to heal, and you are to fight in the battle" he said curling up in a hamoc.
Celeste layed down as well and closed her eyes, trying to sleep. Finally, sleep came to her, along with the all too familiar nightmares.....she couldnt escape them no matter how exhausted she was.
"What I need, I have it with me, I am ready" replied Eldur. "Have you taken care of the supplies?"
Seriph nodded his head "I have all the supplies that we need, i just have to wait for Lomien to wake up from his beauty nap...more like post training siesta...shouldn't take to long...he'll come and find me, give us our specific orders then we'll shove off" he said leaping down onto the long boat.
Lomien sensing Celeste and her nightmares reached over, touching her head with the palm of his hand "Rest well" he whispered, removing the nightmares from her mind "Calm your self young one" with that he dozed off.
Nin walked up to the deck of the ship and stood at the rail, gazing out to sea, Eldur? she asked reaching out to him with her mind, Might I have a quick word before you leave?
Yes, my lady answered Eldur. "I will be back in a while" whispered to Seriph and went towards Ninquelótë. Is something troubling you, my lady? said Eldur to her reaching her mind as he approached her.
Celeste rolled over to her side and slept soundly.
Yes, my friend, something troubles me. Ullari is up to something, we have to find out what it is. Nin turned from the rail to look at Eldur, But do not atempt to listen to his thoughts, you have little defence for your mind, it would be desasterous. If you can descover his plans no other way, try to listen to Rayne's thoughts. It will not likely be difficult to find her, she is always close to Ullari's side. As she spoke, Nin showed Eldur an image of a young Dark Elf with red eyes, long black hair that was pulled back in a neat braid, and skin whiter even than her own. But keep at a distance, she is very suspicious of anything that may possibly endanger Ullari. She has a quick, volatal temper, and powers to match.
Don't you worry my lady, I will follow your orders and instructions. I think I am getting a hand of my strange power, and that I will be able to control it. In hearing thoughts you know i am one of the best; i speak not, so I dwell in a world of thoughts and sences, and the moving of my mind van be so subtle as your voice when you are chanting and none can hear you. Still, I will be very careful, as you suggested. The image will be useful, but have you or someone else ever contacted her mind? The memory of that will help me more, hear her thought without ever see her. replied Eldur.
Nin smiled at Eldur, Unfortunately, the last I saw her was before the fall of Telpurion. I never had reason to make contact with her mind." she replied regretfuly, she had since descided to make some sort of contact with the mind of anyone who she met, there were many uses for such a precaution, "But she will not be difficult to find, follow the gossip and curious glances. Her sudden marrage to Ullari would warent them, I am sure. Nin looked at Eldur for a long moment, Be careful, my friend, Ullari is ruthless. Stay close to Seriphim as much as you can.
Don't worry my lady, I will said Eldur Shall I go now? The sooner we leave, the better.
Agreed, be well my friend. Nin said, resting a hand lightly on Eldur's shoulder for a moment. She smiled before turning to look for Lomien.
Lomien awoke from his quick nap and wandered about the deck. He ordered the captains telepathically to weigh anchor and set sail for the islands.
Eldur smiled back at her and turned and went towards Seriph "Ready to go?" he whispered and leaped down to the longboat, too.
"Of course" he said in his deep, quiet voice. Seriph and Eldur set sail for Telmar after picking up a crew of men seeking employment in the Dark Army.
"Lomien," Nin said softly approaching him, "what is on your mind?"
He smiled at her "Nothing much, just seeing to it that this cumbersome fleet gets underway...and you?" he asked. He was arrayed in his typical black kimmono with black mail woven inbetween the two layers, though this time his sword was in the trunk instead of at his side.
Nin looked at her husband, "I do hope that young Eldur and Seriphim return safely. And," she said, stepping closer to rest her head on his chest, "I suppose I worry for the future."
Placing one hand on her hips then stroking her back with the other "What do you mean?" he asked softly. The ships where now sailing fast out to sea for the two to three day journey to the Cormerant islands.
"After two-thousand years, we are in much the same position as we were at the start of this war." Nin murmured, "How much longer will fate keep us here? And when the tide turns, in who's favor will it be?"
"This war is about to end, and i doubt in Ullari's favor. The Cormerant islands fortress is manned by raw recruits with little talent. Once the blockade is in shambles from their counter attack...he will be left with little naval power to oppose us...especially with Seriph having finished the asembling the navy before he left for his mission. I think Abarhi will lead the fleet from Tervel to catch them in a pincer movement...finishing off the effective portion of the fleet" he knew he would win, Ullari was playing into his trap and it helped that no one save he and now Nin knew of the Tervel navy "We will then have enough men to deal Ullari a crushing blow....not just mach him blow for blow like we have for these past two thousand years"
Nin smiled a little, "I hope so, my love. I just have a foreboding feeling."
"As does everyone involved" he said softly, noting that the ships where now moving at unaturally great speed because of the large number of water elemental sea elves that they had as crew for the boats.
Nin pulled away a little so she could look up at him, her face serious, "No, Lomien, like the day of the fall of Telpurion. I can't explain it, but I know that something is going to happen, but I don't know what."
"The begining of the end for this war is here Nin...with that much destruction and death will follow" he said grimly "I think it is time also to send Telpurion to the bottom of the sea...the ancient support system has saved the miserable island from cleansing long enough....in due time though"
"Lomien," she whispered, trying to get him to understand, "I am not talking only about the inevitable destruction. You remember times when I have had this feeling, and something dire has always followed. I fear what it may be this time."
Soaring in down, finally tracking everyone down after quite the journey, kaiden spots for a landing next to Lomien. "HEY! look out down below!" Kaiden shouting with exuberance, then lands roughly, leaving quite the crator when impacting upon the earthy soils. "Phew, finally i found you guys! Whats been going? Seems I've missed out on a bit eh...". Standing up, walking out of the crator he left behind, shrugging his shoulders to fold his wings down.
Lomien alowed himself a slight laugh "Quite the entrance Kaiden" he said with a smile "I'm sure you will like where we are going to.....bout time we hit the Dark army hard...and i think we are about to" he said confidently, hiding well the fact that he to had a shadow of forboding on his mind.
Rubbing the back of his head, kaiden smerked and replyed boastfully, "Haha, yea...sorry bout the hole in the main deck there..miss judged the wind speeds to land here.." Chuckling a bit, then looking onward, nodding in agreement to Lomien. "So time for a brawl huh? Well lets get this party started!" Cracking his knuckles a bit, realzing one thing.."Uhm, how long until we actually reach their shores old man?"
Ninquelote smiled, amused at Kaiden's antics, "You are in a better mood than when first we met." she remarked.
"With any luck two days at the most...tomorrow at the earlyest provided the water elementals can maintain this blistering speed of theirs" he said laughing at his eargerness "I would conserve as much of that energy as possible...there will be alot of hard fighting once we land and the enemy fleet realizes what happened"
"Well yea, you know how things are when it comes to meeting new folk, always a bit...rocky." Smuggly said, kaiden winks at Nin. "Yea yea, energy conservation is my middle name apperantly." Laughing somewhat annoyed, but calmly said.
Lomien smiled "Trust me youngling...you will appreciate the conservation of energy...and there will be lots of fun to be had once we reach this fortress" he said looking out to the distant islands "Now to hope that the Dark army takes the bait and counter attacks"
Celeste rolled out of her hammock and awoke with a start. She hadnt realized they had already left. She found her way up on deck and made her way to a side of the ship, and, being her clumsy self, almost fell overboard.
Nin raised a thin eyebrow at Kaiden, then turned to see Celeste nearly fall overboard, "Celeste, over here." she called, wanting to get the sleepy young Elf away from the side of the ship.
Lomien laughed inwardly before turning back to Celeste "It is not wise to venture near the rails when one is so tired little one...come on, over by the mast is much safer" he turned to Abarhi "Lead a detachment of men...no more than three hundred strong....capture that fortress by whatever means nessescary before we arrive" he knew the importance of such a thing, and that Abarhi was quite capable of performing such a feet. Giving Lomien a strange look "Since when did I follow your orders? oh well it sounds good enough" he said with a slight laugh. He had his team assembled of eighty well armed, armored and equipt men and with a flash was gone to the cormerant islands though through a misshap he and ten others ended up in Amarlin's library
Pert followed.
Celeste walked over toward Lomien and Nin. A little shakey, she kept tripping just a bit- it wasn't very often that she found herself onboard a ship. She took Lomien's advice and stayed away from the sides of the ship, not wanting to fall overboard. It would be just like me to trip over my own two feet and fall overboard.
Nin smiled at Clelste, "Still waking up, friend?" she asked gently. She looked back up at Lomien, "Abarhi will be able to handle the fortress, right?" she asked, three hundred seemed like so few, but then, he was a sentinel.
Lomien smiled at Celeste "You know...if you are really that tired Celeste then there are bunks below that are alot quieter and safer...though if you get sea sick then i would not recomend it" he warned "That is unless you like puking...which i doubt...you don't strike me as the belemic type" he allowed himself a slight laugh.
Celeste turned to Nin. "Yes, just a bit tired." She then turned back to Lomien, "I'm not that insanely tired. I'm slightly clumsy whether im sleepy or not." She stifled a laugh at Lomien's comment. "So, what's the plan? What have I missed?"
"Currently we are headed for an all out assault on the Cormerant Islands....first we will hit Avalone, as that will be where the fortress is located and where we will hopefully rendevous with Abarhi and his team...after that we will do a quick sweep of the other two...leaving garrisons at each and await the counter attack"
"Ah, hmmm. Alright then. Where am I needed?" Celeste asked this ad she stumbled a bit.
Nin caught Celeste's elbow as she stumbled, "Find something to put a hand on, it will help you balance." she said kindly.
Kaiden sleepishly resting against a stocked barrel, nodding off here and there...kind of popping his eyes open to see whats going on roughly around the ship. Hearing Lomiens' intructions of whats bound to begin, kaiden falls right asleep, concentrating his ki. Softly mumbled in mid drift to sleep, kaiden says, "A night for a day, and we all sail away."
Celeste looked up at Nin. "Thank you." She then turned her attention back to Lomien, awaiting his answer.
"For now you are fine where you're at....the islands are drawing closer though and from what i have heard...Abarhi's mission was more or less a dissaster...he's holed up picking a fight with Lycans" he more or less spat the last word....he had little love for blood thirsty wolves.
"Lycans?" Ninquelote looked up at her husband, a little startled. She had never liked the creatures, she'd never had a good experience with one.
"Yea....that's not good..." POinting out the obvious- as always- Celeste steadied herself once more. I know i would never survive in his place...
"It just makes it all that much more of a challenge" Lomien said simply "Wolves are much faster than humans...but so dreadfully slow and single minded...indeed their very strengh is also their greatest weakness"
"Alright...what would you say would be my chances of running into one?" Celeste tried not to act fearful, but she was not a huge fan of these....animals....
"If you don't run into the rouges that has Abarhi occupied then you will most likely run into one of many Sentinel patrol groups that Ullari maintains for security purposes" he said with a grimace....he had not told her this but in order to get Nin to safty he had been compelled to fight more than one massive Lycan.
"OH. Okay then." I am soooooo dead. Celeste smiled up at him and asked, "So, if...and probably when...I do run into one, what do I do?" She tried to keep a light tone.
"Kill them" he said with a laugh "FIre is a deterent but don't count on it to save you...go for the eyes and you'll be fine" he smiled.
Celeste replied "A-alright then. Now what do I do if that doesn't work? Run away and look for help?" She gave a light chuckle trying to seem okay with it all and not at all scared by the oncoming fighting she would be doing.
"Well you can't out run them so i would advise you know how to use a sharp sword little one...that always works, unless they to know how...then it makes it fun for they are very very strong"
"Oh....alright...sounds like........a blast!" Celest gulped down her fear.
Ninquelote placed a comforting hand on Celeste's shoulder, "Just stay close to Lomien and I, my young friend."
Celeste looked up at Ninquelote. "Alright then, no problem. But only if you really think I should." She threw a pleading gaze before she quickly caught herself.
Nin smiled fondly at her, "Just as long as you do not get underfoot, we should be able to protect you." she joked softly.
"Alright then." Celeste relaxed just a bit at this kind reassurance, though she tried not to let her weaknesses show. She then turned her brilliant blue eyes toward the horizon. Looking for anything that may be out of the ordinary.
Lomien walked over to them "We will be landing soon at the center island" his excitement clear in his voice. He sent up signals to the rest of the fleet either through flags or colorful flares. The invasion would begin soon. What he didn't inform everyone of was that this would soon be their new base of operations. The ships made for Cormerant island
Ninquelote stood beside Lomien, her arm through his, "What are we upagainst love?" she asked, for the benifit of the others present, as well as her own.
"War...the island will be defended by ten thousand conscripts and regulars, in addition to another two thousand Dark army marines. This will prove difficult to dislodge, if only from the fortress. The fighting in the city will be intense, but i'm sure we will overcome them. As soon as we do, then we need to move the non-combatants to Amon island, and make sure we secure Avalone" he said as the massive harbor came into veiw.
Gazing up, after a long rejuvinating sleep, kaiden stretches out yawning loudly, and yet somewhat rude like. "Ah, about time we got here".. Cracking his joints and neck, getting up and looking over to the darkened aura of this land we bistow upon. "Whats that sensation I'm sensing...theres..a slight electricity in the air." Sniffing about getting his barings. "So, old man...what now?"
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