Okay, guys? Part of why I took Peleto on a journey was to get him away from the group and spice up the story. So bringing him back in right after he left kinda defeats most of the purpose of my last post. So can Peleto, not be in this fight scene? Thanks.

Peleto~

I had been riding for about 7 hours now, and both Canuel and I were getting pretty tired, so we stopped to rest. We had gotten out of the forested canyon, and had gotten to a sandy, peaceful, orchard-looking valley dotted with trees. I had found a shady spot, and dismounted Canuel. In my bag, I had smuggled some of Emmeria and Ferlin's food.

I food some fruit, and fed it to Canuel, as I snaked on some sweet bread. While we were eating, I decided to take inventory. I had my staff, of course, the box and note, five loaves of bread, two cheese wedges, a generously sized flask, some meat, a bit of rope, a book, and a knife.

I opened the book, not quite remembering what it was, and read tales of five heroes. The leader, who was unamed, was one of the best enchantresses in the world. She could clear a band of goblins in a matter of seconds. The second was a Seer, called Fithuk, and could telepathically go pretty much anywhere. The third was a healer, also unamed, and if you weren't dead, then they could help you. The fourth was a witch, called Wedia. She didn't like being called a witch, as her morals were enlightened, and her personality kind. At least that's what she shared with her companions.

The fifth was a swordswoman named Eve. She was brave and skilled, but sadly was the first to leave the party. She had many affairs to settle, as she was secrectly royal. She was never heard from since then. As I decided to close the book, I heard the clanking of metal wheels and the murmur of orcs. I roll behind the raised bank that the trees were on, taking my bag and items. I peer back over the bank, and see a huge shape-a wagon, maybe?- and at least a dozen orcs approaching.

Drat! Canuel was still on the other side of the trees. I try to scare him away, but he is distracted. I decide to lay low and roll farther down the road, away from Canuel. An orc notices him.

"Oy! What's this 'orse doin' 'ere?" he exclaims.

"I won't c'mplain, it's a free 'orse, after all!" replies another. They laugh, and attempt the grab at Canuels reigns. He resists, and starts trotting southwest down the road. They slowly and clumsily chase him bringing what now looks like and armored wagon. As the orcs in the back trot ahead to help the ones in front, I roll out of cover, and quickly grab the bottom of the wagon. There seems to be a trapdoor, so I open it a crack. Only one orc is inside, shuffling through papers and weapons.

I get a plan in my head, and wait to strike as I ride in the wrong direction. 

Sorry Pete!  I'll fix that in this post.

Emmeria-

I see Peleto fall.  He had been running for his life just moments before, but now he's gone.  Just gone.  Poof.  That puzzles me, but I'm too busy helping Nellethiel save Miffy.

She has a long gash in the side of her leg, reaching just below her knee, to her waist.  I can see Aragarien and Ferlin fighting off the Thing, Nellethiel calls it a Neverbeast.  "What happened to Peleto?" I ask. "That wasn't Peleto," Nellethiel replies. "That was an illusion ment to lure us to our deaths.  Whoever is sending these Beasts knows who we are, what we're doing, and that Peleto has left us."

As the boys finish off the Neverbeast, I voice the question no one wants to ask. "If that was an illusion, Where is Peleto?  Has Sattagut really been destroyed?"  "I don't think so." Aragarien says firmly. "That illusion was ment to trick us, we shouldn't trust anything it said."

Not really knowing what else to do, we fix Miffy up the best we can and start off on the road to Sattagut.

Pete, I hope that fixed the problem! I promise I will reveal Emmria's backstory soon to the other charries soon! 

Top

Yay! Backstory time!  I'm still saying Emmeria though cause thats what she goes by.

Emmeria- 

We travel all day and partially into the night.  Finally, Miffy's horse almost collapses from her dead weight, we stop for the night.  After settling in and making camp under a large oak, I decide it's time.

"Guys," I say. "I think I know who's after us."  I certainly have their attention.  "It's the Enchatress.  And I think she's after me."  A few seconds go by, everyone is staring in shock.  "Now, Nellethiel already knows what I'm going to tell you, most of it anyway," I continue. "So she can help if I forget anything."  Nellethiel nods at me, she gets that I'm sharing the entire story now.

As I explain my past there are quite a few gasps, grunts, and at the mention of my real name, Avalinia, Miffy almost fell over!  Here comes the messy bit.  "But," I say. "There's more.  Soon after leaving Sattagut I found out that the men who had hired me, had all been working for the same person.  The Enchantress.  Back then she was just Merily Seshoni, a wealthy merchant who dabbled in magic.  Then I found out that all the men I had been hired to kill had been magic."

"What?" Ferlin exclaims. "You, I mean Avalinia were only targeting men with magic?"  "I didn't know it at the time," I say. "But yes.  Mages, Warlocks, Tricksters were especially easy.  I'm nervous abou going back because I still have quite a reputation there.  Someone might recignize me.  I'm really worried about the Enchantress.  She burned me and Miffy's village to the ground when we were babies.  I think she knows what we are after, and she wants it too."

Just a question, is Miffy with a y or ie?  Her charri sheet says y but I've seen it with ie too.  

Ah!!! sorry Shadow Dragon!  this sould make that better.

Emmeria con.-

Suddenly I realize something.  "Where's Aragerien?  I haven't seen his since that attack." 

Just then, a wolf walks up to us. 

Peleto~

The sun is setting, and the orcs have stopped in a grove of beech trees. It is dark, and they are sleepy. The orc inside the wagon had exited. This was very fortunate, as my arms were mostly numb, and the parts I could feel burnt like fire. I dropped quietly to the ground, and whispered a charm of health. I could feel my arms again, so I cautiously climbed in the trap door. 

I looked around, and peeked out the opening in the front. Canuel was tied up to the wagon with two other horses. I followed the rope with my eyes, and found a horizontal pole at the bottom of the wagon, where the ropes were tied. I was about to put my plan into action, when I noticed a glinting coin on the floor of the wagon. I'm not usually this greedy, but I pick it up and look at it.

At first, I recognize it as a gold piece of Kollund, the region in which we lived. But after further examination, I find it looks different, and was probably modified by the orcs. It is about the size of my palm, and the thickness of my pinky. It consists of a human guard, with a bejeweled helmet. I'm about to pocket it, but I notice another thing. Upside down, it looks stangley like a church, with the jewel at the steeple.

In my mind, flashes when I was young. The council leader was giving me my verse to protect: "When all seems lost, they will seige the people. look for the lantern on the steeple!" The lantern on the steeple. This coin must mean something. I pocket it, just as I hear footsteps approaching.

"You got m' skinnin' knife yet?" I hear an orc yell.

"'M gettin' your bloody knife!" I here a much closer orc say. I have to act fast. My plan was starting now. I whip out my staff, and send emerald fireworks out the front opening, scaring the horses, and confusing the orcs. At the same time, I cut the the horses loose with my knife. Canuel knows what is happening, though. The wagon jolts forward as Canuel takes off. Flares of the fireworks fall down and enchant Canuels feet, giving him speed and strength.

What I did not anticipate, though, was Canuel flying. He suddenly takes off into the air, forcing all the weapons and clutter to slide down to the back of the wagon. The doors give out under the weight, and swords and spears rain down on the shocked orcs.

"Take that, you filthy horse theives!" I exclaim, not realizing that I too was sliding towards the open doors. I grab a table, but that slides down faster under my weight. I quickly grab onto one of the swinging doors, holding on for dear life. The rope suddenly snaps, and the wagon and i plummet towards the ground. I look down, and see that we're falling towards a combination of a house and a cave.

The wagon crashes through a wooden ceiling, And I land in a well-placed haystack. I do not see Canuel anywhere. I emerge from the hay, and see at least a hundred goblins before me. The goblin lair. How convenient.

"Well, well, well, look who finally shows up," says a goblin, emerging from the crowd. He looks significantly larger and better dressed than the others. I assume he is some kind of leader.

"Just give me the key," I mutter, righting myself.

"Uh uh uh!" replies the goblin leader. "You need to give us something worth more money." he says, emphasizing on money. I panic, then find an option. It is not necessarily good, but I have no choice. 

"Here," I murmur reluctantly, handing him the coin.

"Hm. Well, orc-forged... very large as well... hm..." he mutters, then eyes the jewel. "Oh my. Yes. Yes! This is plenty! I mean- to fix the roof and all, but- this is enough! Have your key!" he exclaims, as he runs off and clicks his heels. The crowd starts to follow, and somebody from within tosses me the silver key. I slip it into the box.

Now, to find Canuel and get to Sattagut.

(Sorry for big post!) 

top?

Nobody is posting! I'll post, I guess... again...

Peleto~

As I trudge up the dirt stairs towards the exit of the goblin lair, I see the lights of Sattagut twinkling in the distance. They remind me of the coin. Somehow, I needed to get it back from the goblins. But that brings up the question: why did the goblins let me go so easily? Those backstabbers haven't valued something that much in a while. But, I guess I shouldn't dwell on it that much, since I had to get to Sattagut as fast as I could.

I gave out a long whistle, and looked out over the goblin mountain, and over the forests. But Canuel was nowhere in sight. I start to trudge down the rocky trail, when a net comes up from underneath me and snares me. I knew those goblins were up to no good.

"That was almost too easy," said the goblin leader, walking out of the shadows with his snickering henchmen.

"What more do you want?" I ask. "All I have is cheese."

"Oh, I don't want your cheese," he answers. "I know a certain someone who would pay a pretty price for the coin, the key, and you." he continues, stopping before saying each item. I ponder who it could be, but come up with nothing. The orcs? No... and there haven't been any wars in Kollund since the days of the council.

"Gas him," says the leader abruptly. I panic, but find no escape from the net. I slowly slip away from conciousness, as the goblins fling sticky, gas-filled bombs at the net. This couldn't be happening...

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I awaken tied to a pillar in what seems to be a tall, stone tower. I look out the window, and see that only a layer of trees separates the tower from Sattagut. A goblin guard notices me, and yells out a door.

"'Ey, you lot! 'E's awake!" then, in walks the goblin leader, and what looks like part human, part pillar of smoke, and all nightmare.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. One of the verse-seekers. Don't you know it's not polite to stop me from extinguishing all life on earth?" the thing says, in a voice that sounds like a mix between an angry shreik and a knife on a bottle.

"Except all goblin life!" interupts the goblin leader.

"Of course," says the thing, in a falsely nice tone.

"And when we get paid, we could buy the whole world! Twice!" the goblin continues.

"You shall adress me as Noctem, destroyer of worlds, for the short time you have left to live," Noctem says, now adressing me. Suddenly, I have another flashback. I see my mother, telling me the stories of when the world was young, and how men, elves, dwarves, orcs and goblins fought off the evil lord Noctem, and sealed him in the ground with a spell broken only by fate. And when the council found the prophecy, they had already forgotten about Noctem.

"Now if you will excuse me, I have to speak to that twit of an Enchantress in the city," says Noctem, and floats/walks out the door. The goblin leader follows, grinning childishly.

"And don't even think 'bout escaping," exclaims the goblin guard. "The Neverbeasts will tear you limb from limb."

"Neverbeasts?" I question, confused.

"Yeah, Neverbeasts. Big? Dark? Summoned from the ground by a strong hatred?" The goblin explains. "Not by Noctem, though. Somebody else who he won't mention."

I turn back to the window, and stare out into the city. I hope the group was hurrying and getting that verse... Then I look to the mountains. Or I could get it for them.

(BTW, I am not excluding any possible antagonisits. Don't mess around with Noctem, I have a plan.) 

Just a refresher, a strange wolf just walked up to the fire. 

Emmeria-

Oh no.  The wolf just yapped at me.  "It's Aragarien.  He's stuck as a wolf." I say.  From Nellethiel, Miffy, and Ferlin's blank looks I can tell they can't understand him.  "I can talk to animals.  He says that his horse ran off after he fell asleep and turned into a wolf.  He had to follow us on foot."

After a more detailed account of his problems, Aragarien shows us something he found.  "He says he found this pinned to a tree, just outside of camp.  He can't read while he's a wolf, so he had to wait."  "What does it say?" Ferlin asks impatiently.  I read the note aloud, and everyone, including Aragarien, gasps.

Dear Questers, 

As you have no doubt noticed, the number of humans in your company is quickly dropping.  We have your druid freind, and only we can reverse the spell on the wizard.  If you ever want to see either of these pople alive and well, come to Sattagut.  Quickly.  Once there you will find a poster giving farther instructions.  Make sure to bring a written copy of all the verses!  If you don't, both your friends will die and the Neverbeasts will eat you all.  Come soon, or else!

The Goblins

"What are we going to do?" Miffy asks.  "I don't know." I whisper. "I truely don't know"

Sorry for posting so much! I just have TONS I want to get down!

Peleto~

I turn back to the guard.

"What can you tell me about Noctem's plans?" I demand, struggling in the rope.

"Well, I'm not supposed to tell you much," The guard explains. "But basically, If we help Noctem carry out his plan of destruction, we get unlimited riches, and Noctem won't kill us!"

"I don't think so," I say to the goblin. "Noctem is part Neverbeast. He craves only death. After you help him, he'll stab you in the back." The goblin looks worried. I think he believes me.

"But- Noctem couldn't possibly kill the Enchantress!" He exclaims.

"Enchantress?" I ponder.

"Yes. She's the ruler of the Tyrannic city of Sattagut, and the best wizard out there," he explains. "She wants all magical people dead, and when she found out her plan and Noctems intertwined, the decided to work together.

"So...Hm.. The Enchantress must be the one with the strong hatred. Fate cursed her with evil morals, so the prophecy was made, and Noctem and his Neverbeasts were destined to awaken. That's why their plans fit so perfectly together!" I figure.

"You're quite brilliant, for a human," admits the goblin.

"And," I continue, "My party is the only one destined to peice the prophecy together and save the world, so that's why we've been hunted like deer!"

"But we have a backup plan too," says the goblin almost naturally. "If we get all the verses, and find a magical relic for each verse, we can destroy them, since they are the only thing that can destroy Noctem, and defeat the all-powerful Enchantress!" After a moment, the goblin's eyes widen, and he claps his hand over his mouth. "I've said too much," he murmurs.

"Relics, huh. The key and coin must be relics, then," I figure.

"And we almost have no chance of failure, since we're luring your friends into a trap in the city," he squeaks, before tightening his grip on his face.

"Well, I've got no time to lose. Cut the ropes," I order, leaning to one side.

"What? But, I'm loyal to the plan..." The goblin says.

"Would you rather be rich and dead, or less rich and alive?" I explain. The goblin is either gullible, goodwilled, or a mix of both, because moments later, he slices the rope. 

"We can't stay, though," the goblin points out. I nod, and we stride out the door.