She found it odd that with two new forms of communication by thought, telepathic channel of a baatzu opened up as well as a magical spell that allowed thought to pass this time without eye contact, how was it that there was still misunderstanding?
The curse was lifted. The ex-servant of Asmodeus the red-bearded man had kept word to help, taken her to Beastlands and told her the process involved. She accepted but as precaution requested a friend to watchover, she didn't trust him. Just as she was about to set off back to the Cage to find her mentor, he appeared and she realised that he had been following and watching all this time. He was good and it saved her the trip.
A magic circle, a spell of good intent, three drops of her blood in the dirt in the chaotic land of the Brux, a balance of energies and alignments of law, evil, good, chaos and the removal of curse had the mark burning off her arm painfully as she stood in the circle. The pain was bearable however in light of the significance of its retention.
As far as the misunderstandings went, she decided to return to what she knew. This could not be rushed, she didn't know how to approach this. The Elf-Tail might know how, a recent meet had Lyra considering her a friend. She hoped to meet with the fey'ri again soon.
Lyra Fereth
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*Pashan01
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It had taken many weeks, many lessons, from pool, to lake to sea. Carefully guiding, supporting and caring, slow progress without pushing too hard or fast for Lyra to eventually move from float, to propel, to stroke, to submerge and finally, finally, breathe underwater by virtue of particular spell applied using reed about the ear and neck that gave her a form of gills.
She learned to open her eyes and look beneath, to breath water, to remain submerged for a while and swim, hair and bow drooping but she gained confidence quickly and finally.....her toes curled into the sandy shore of the far island. She had made it past a particular fear. Her eyes were shining in the glow of the moonlight of Elysium as she gave the Moon-Father her thanks.
She learned to open her eyes and look beneath, to breath water, to remain submerged for a while and swim, hair and bow drooping but she gained confidence quickly and finally.....her toes curled into the sandy shore of the far island. She had made it past a particular fear. Her eyes were shining in the glow of the moonlight of Elysium as she gave the Moon-Father her thanks.
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*Pashan01
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The Elf-Tail helped, more than Lyra anticipated.
The two girls spent a full two hours in the Festhall 'talking' and trying, designing and plotting. Lyra awkward, the fey'ri slyly insisting and touching the small elf to determine shape, proportion, feel.... making her shift with embarrassment and shyness until Lyra was finally bedecked and equipped with ideas and the fey'ri's interpretation of weapons of a different kind of battle. Lyra, still a bit bemused by the process, firmed her jaw and left the rooms with new determination...how long this would last without the fey'ri present was an unknown.
The two girls spent a full two hours in the Festhall 'talking' and trying, designing and plotting. Lyra awkward, the fey'ri slyly insisting and touching the small elf to determine shape, proportion, feel.... making her shift with embarrassment and shyness until Lyra was finally bedecked and equipped with ideas and the fey'ri's interpretation of weapons of a different kind of battle. Lyra, still a bit bemused by the process, firmed her jaw and left the rooms with new determination...how long this would last without the fey'ri present was an unknown.
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*Pashan01
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Beautiful ...like a hardy flower in the forest
She like the way she looked through his eyes though was in no way comfortable with the new attire selected for this purpose. She had to hike up the long skirts higher to her knees to avoid tripping, barelegged she served him the fine dinner she prepared, picking the choicest pieces, serving him his preferences, making every attempt to bring to him the pleasures of the repast while her nervousness had her leaving most of her own.
She did not need the words suggested by the fey'ri, she did not need the other undergarment to sway or seduce further, the dinner and the long blue dress had the desired effect.
Once during and once in the aftermath, Lyra looked up to the domed sky above, moved her lips swiftly, making silent prayer to the powers of the Elf-Tail goddess.
She like the way she looked through his eyes though was in no way comfortable with the new attire selected for this purpose. She had to hike up the long skirts higher to her knees to avoid tripping, barelegged she served him the fine dinner she prepared, picking the choicest pieces, serving him his preferences, making every attempt to bring to him the pleasures of the repast while her nervousness had her leaving most of her own.
She did not need the words suggested by the fey'ri, she did not need the other undergarment to sway or seduce further, the dinner and the long blue dress had the desired effect.
Once during and once in the aftermath, Lyra looked up to the domed sky above, moved her lips swiftly, making silent prayer to the powers of the Elf-Tail goddess.
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*Pashan01
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She met with another of his friends, one he so clearly showed trust in and she made the connection to the time with the message handed by the bat that this was Isonade. Skilled enchantress and crafter, two chivs did her mentor show her of such fine quality, crafted by this friend. Lyra, made business deal tempered by the clear friendship, offering gem and essence without requirement for jink in return but help for her own needs, quietly requested via him to the girl as she sized her up.
The crafts were fine indeed and long overdue. Not only that but he suggested her further to learn from the girl in the ways of her magical archery, promoted her in fact where he had not promoted another friend before. Lyra would consider it, indeed she was keen to learn more of how to apply magical force of arrow in her bow work.
The crafts were fine indeed and long overdue. Not only that but he suggested her further to learn from the girl in the ways of her magical archery, promoted her in fact where he had not promoted another friend before. Lyra would consider it, indeed she was keen to learn more of how to apply magical force of arrow in her bow work.
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*Pashan01
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She counted out the rest of her coin purse. The jink left would not go far and sale of her items was going slowly. But the gold she had spent was spent well and she was pleased. A shift in enchant and she was now better equipped through the good advice of her mentor using the new acquaintances and old of the Bronze-Witch, the Exotic-Sovana-Elf-Tail and the Moon-Father's close friend Lady-Isonade. She had yet to put her name to this female, studied her carefully in one joint hunt and admired her skill at archery from the sidelines, thought she that her hiding skills could be improved, yet her ability to run when outnumbered was satisfactory. Perhaps Lyra could offer the girl return of learning, for knowledge of her magic in arrow, she informed her mentor. While Lyra did not take to the other girl so immediately as she did to the Elf-Tail, their natures were different and her offer, she hoped, would show to him that she was trying.
The team work she had enjoyed. Two archers, wicked eldritch power and the divine prayer and blade of her mentor. They had ripped through the enemy lines easily and when near outnumbered in later battle, had prevailed through. When others arrived, they were then many in number, Lyra had slipped away. Crowded battle was not her style.
So back to her problem of coin. Since departing the parlour she had not kept up her quota of work and would need to return to this in due course, she...wanted to, though would do her best to avoid any orc clan. In fact, for her Sovana's help, Lyra had offered a free tattoo or piercing of her choice in return. Invited back to her abode, Lyra had studied the pattern of the small dracophoenix and took note of the girl's requirement, advised on the larger design and placement of its body and wing. This one would take a while to both sketch and create upon the Elf-Tail and in the meantime would bring in no coin. But promise was promise and Lyra vowed to find time also to go on some of her old hunts to rectify the situation. The time spent with the Moon-Father was the most enjoyable and rewarding but she was hard pressed to keep to her old ways...yet...she took pleasure in the new, the sharing of the time.
She was wary of using the telepathic powers she had been offered by the Curse-Lifter for two reasons. Firstly, she felt a losing of self by enabling that power. Secondly, he had warned of harsher and more vivid dreams by opening up mind in such a way. Her current dreams of present were pleasant, the hatred and horror of the past was buried well enough and held at bay that she was cautious to use that which would bring them back in force. So when asked 'Are you practising?' she simply shook her head and left it at that, not trusting to more. Gesture, mime and lip read were enough...for now.
And gesture oft took her breath away, literally. She was growing more confident in the water and was shown a calm haven, a cocoon of silence after the blood bath of Abyssal battle, a purifying quietness filled with simple pleasures in the blue. Now, when asked 'Where shall we go? she might offer to read 'Under and blue' as a favourite place to compose.
The team work she had enjoyed. Two archers, wicked eldritch power and the divine prayer and blade of her mentor. They had ripped through the enemy lines easily and when near outnumbered in later battle, had prevailed through. When others arrived, they were then many in number, Lyra had slipped away. Crowded battle was not her style.
So back to her problem of coin. Since departing the parlour she had not kept up her quota of work and would need to return to this in due course, she...wanted to, though would do her best to avoid any orc clan. In fact, for her Sovana's help, Lyra had offered a free tattoo or piercing of her choice in return. Invited back to her abode, Lyra had studied the pattern of the small dracophoenix and took note of the girl's requirement, advised on the larger design and placement of its body and wing. This one would take a while to both sketch and create upon the Elf-Tail and in the meantime would bring in no coin. But promise was promise and Lyra vowed to find time also to go on some of her old hunts to rectify the situation. The time spent with the Moon-Father was the most enjoyable and rewarding but she was hard pressed to keep to her old ways...yet...she took pleasure in the new, the sharing of the time.
She was wary of using the telepathic powers she had been offered by the Curse-Lifter for two reasons. Firstly, she felt a losing of self by enabling that power. Secondly, he had warned of harsher and more vivid dreams by opening up mind in such a way. Her current dreams of present were pleasant, the hatred and horror of the past was buried well enough and held at bay that she was cautious to use that which would bring them back in force. So when asked 'Are you practising?' she simply shook her head and left it at that, not trusting to more. Gesture, mime and lip read were enough...for now.
And gesture oft took her breath away, literally. She was growing more confident in the water and was shown a calm haven, a cocoon of silence after the blood bath of Abyssal battle, a purifying quietness filled with simple pleasures in the blue. Now, when asked 'Where shall we go? she might offer to read 'Under and blue' as a favourite place to compose.
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*Pashan01
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Two small events, hardly worth mention of the day in the life of Lyra but pertinent to her nevertheless.
She found the author of her tome about magical tattoos and requested him to place signature to the page. She carefully passed across the well used tome (well used because it still bore loose pages and marginal scribblings from its previous owner the Bronze-Witch) and gave the helmed mage her quill pen to jot his mark. He did so though the words written were cryptic and scrawled, not making it easy to determine the name. His scratched dedication seemed of standard fair without much personalisation.
She discovered the Exotic-Sovana had an instrument for sale, and spent near the last of her jink in acquiring it. A fine lute with some magical abilities that brought smile to Lyra's lips and was worth every 'stinger' she paid, as the girl put it.
She found the author of her tome about magical tattoos and requested him to place signature to the page. She carefully passed across the well used tome (well used because it still bore loose pages and marginal scribblings from its previous owner the Bronze-Witch) and gave the helmed mage her quill pen to jot his mark. He did so though the words written were cryptic and scrawled, not making it easy to determine the name. His scratched dedication seemed of standard fair without much personalisation.
She discovered the Exotic-Sovana had an instrument for sale, and spent near the last of her jink in acquiring it. A fine lute with some magical abilities that brought smile to Lyra's lips and was worth every 'stinger' she paid, as the girl put it.
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*Pashan01
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The hunt went better. She returned to old haunts of the hells alone. Two dogai she pierced with forceful arrow to find them in possession of enchanted item worthy of selling at least. The dogai were worthy and tricky opponents, ones she knew never to turn back against, their chivs hurt alot. It was a game of hide and seek with them, one she enjoyed, worthy of a nick or two to herself so long as she quickly turned the game about to her advantage. The beast in the cave defied her still however, its winged mass broad, strong and huge as it stomped heavily through the dank den. She studied it carefully, hidden against the cave walls. Its treasures were usually plentiful and she wanted them. Usually, she would slip past to snatch the hoard, this time, she paused. How many and what kind? Which bow would bring the devil beast to its knees? she wondered. Both her main bows were woodbased, arrows of shocking element and nature's harm. She readied both, prepared them to switch quickly as the need arose and positioned herself well back yet within good aiming distance of her target.
The first two nature arrows flew swift and true but skimmed off the hard skin with little damage. She shifted bow, took aim and immediately let a hail of electrically charge arrow shoot in the exact same location. One pierced the tough hide but did not have the affect she was after and by now, it was on to her. Hissing with annoyance, surrounded by spectral form she backed off and slipped to the far shadows of the cave again, avoiding its attack, circling round yet not retreating. Damn its hellish hide, she thought silently, and took sly enjoyment in stealing its hoard anyway, vowing that the next time, she would see it slain.
She made her return to the Cage, happier with the result of the day than she had been before. It was hard to accept the many gifts offered and not have something to give in return, yet the gauntlets and cloak were unlikely to be worthy offering to her mentor...lover she finally admitted to herself with wry grin...the coin they could bring would allow her to shop around and find something to match.
The first two nature arrows flew swift and true but skimmed off the hard skin with little damage. She shifted bow, took aim and immediately let a hail of electrically charge arrow shoot in the exact same location. One pierced the tough hide but did not have the affect she was after and by now, it was on to her. Hissing with annoyance, surrounded by spectral form she backed off and slipped to the far shadows of the cave again, avoiding its attack, circling round yet not retreating. Damn its hellish hide, she thought silently, and took sly enjoyment in stealing its hoard anyway, vowing that the next time, she would see it slain.
She made her return to the Cage, happier with the result of the day than she had been before. It was hard to accept the many gifts offered and not have something to give in return, yet the gauntlets and cloak were unlikely to be worthy offering to her mentor...lover she finally admitted to herself with wry grin...the coin they could bring would allow her to shop around and find something to match.
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*Pashan01
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- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
She had never taken stance before when faction warred with faction. Hardhead and Sinker, now Revolutionaries and Red Death, playing with lives as if they meant nothing. Yet this last move, nearly had her breaking her reasoning, acting unwisely but for the sense of her mentor and reminding herself that she was no hero, but survivor.
His own old scars testimony to what can happen in playing the war game between two armies leading to genocide. Getting in the path of such fervour was a downward spiral to certain death should one side see supposed allegiance to the other. She took no side. Only through quiet hunt and learning would she know the truth and have chance to 'deal' with her beliefs accordingly though she questioned how far the Lady herself would let this blood bath continue.
Rare attempt at levity and firming of bond had fallen by the way upon the Curse-Lifter's passing information and call to arms and aid then rush with friends towards to the hive. This bout initiated by the Mercykillers had all heroes and adventurers leaping to take side of innocents threatened in the faction war. The pair of elves didn't rush to join the group or take side, yet discussion turned harder as to their choices that remained few.
To hear that his good friend was part of their Red Death had her scowling anew. Yet his belief remained firm and resolute in support of his friend the Lady Isonade when she put before him a hypothetical event and questioned his choices he would make thereon.
***
The slight elf had followed her mate out the attic window, to remain high and hidden upon the rooftops, agily wending way across rooftile to follow in stead of those she knew below. Her anger at the warring sides egging her on, anger at both fanatical faction upon bringing their battles to her neighbourhood. Yet her hand was steady as she followed up the carnage with her bow work, lending magical arrow to finish off what chiv or orcish fist laid assuner. At the end, many a long arrow would lie within both Revolutionary and Mercykiller alike, careful aim to ensure she sent her sure shot to make each count.
During pause in the carnage, she pulling black cloak, cowl and hood about her... Gehenna-the-Silent has spoken...a smirk and a thought passed down to the one elf taking moment in prayer below...she returned to their abode earlier than him, tiring more swiftly following her previous hunt.
***
It had been a fitful reverie after the stove-side 'discussions' and rooftop hunt, not the quiet one she had anticipated but necessary. But she couldn't settle back to her meditive state. Instead she rose and approached the easel, flipped back the cloth that covered it and taking fresh paint and clean brush continued from where she'd left, some background to shape and fill around his form.
Time passed, she lost track enjoying the soothing pace of her art, closing out the noises of the building and below as much as she closed out the helpless feelings of before. But her ears atuned immediately to the sound of his soft footfall upon the steps to their attic room.
She lowered brush, paint, palette and flipped cloth once more over the canvas. He might have expected her to be in the larger cot bed yet would easily spot her as without hesitation she approached, arms outstretched to take him back to an embrace. But this time her manner was different, her would sense swiftly an urgency about her, a need not for word or discussion, not gentle comfort but for affirmation of something else, an affirmation of life.
***
((http://z13.invisionfree.com/nwn2planesc ... c=2722&hl=))
The petite elf in blue tunic had raced to gather her things as the brothel building looked as though it was about to go up in flames, looking to the little stove dejectedly before quitting the room. She dumped her things to safe corner outside before dashing into the tattoo parlour and scrambling to snatch as many tomes, drawings, sketchings and tracings as she could, instruments and ink bottles from the shelves before the parlour too succumbed to the burning.
The remaining harlots and jinkskirts, some with babies tucked and crying to their hovels and makeshift shelters, looked up terrified at her as she passed by. She paused by afew of them, familiar faces all, feeling partially responsible for their welfare and made motion with her free hand that was not holding magical bag for them to gather their belongings and flee. She pointed in the direction of the lady's ward route and motioned them to make haste. They, like she, cared not for this displacement, having known only this neighbourhood as home for so long but it was being torn apart and there was no choice for the present.
She had not thought she would have ever acted to support orcish action but had seen them come out of Nishrek as if to protect their own home or entrance to it and there was small measure of understanding of that to allow her to put aside her distaste of them as she supported their fists in the street battle.
There was little more she could do for the street girls at this point, it was time to leave. They all cowered for a moment as one burning roof collapsed nearby, then Lyra padded off quickly to rejoin her lover.
She met up again with the other elf and finally allowed him to show her to their new temporary abode in the Lady's Ward with her Sovana.
But this was not to be the end of it...
His own old scars testimony to what can happen in playing the war game between two armies leading to genocide. Getting in the path of such fervour was a downward spiral to certain death should one side see supposed allegiance to the other. She took no side. Only through quiet hunt and learning would she know the truth and have chance to 'deal' with her beliefs accordingly though she questioned how far the Lady herself would let this blood bath continue.
Rare attempt at levity and firming of bond had fallen by the way upon the Curse-Lifter's passing information and call to arms and aid then rush with friends towards to the hive. This bout initiated by the Mercykillers had all heroes and adventurers leaping to take side of innocents threatened in the faction war. The pair of elves didn't rush to join the group or take side, yet discussion turned harder as to their choices that remained few.
To hear that his good friend was part of their Red Death had her scowling anew. Yet his belief remained firm and resolute in support of his friend the Lady Isonade when she put before him a hypothetical event and questioned his choices he would make thereon.
***
The slight elf had followed her mate out the attic window, to remain high and hidden upon the rooftops, agily wending way across rooftile to follow in stead of those she knew below. Her anger at the warring sides egging her on, anger at both fanatical faction upon bringing their battles to her neighbourhood. Yet her hand was steady as she followed up the carnage with her bow work, lending magical arrow to finish off what chiv or orcish fist laid assuner. At the end, many a long arrow would lie within both Revolutionary and Mercykiller alike, careful aim to ensure she sent her sure shot to make each count.
During pause in the carnage, she pulling black cloak, cowl and hood about her... Gehenna-the-Silent has spoken...a smirk and a thought passed down to the one elf taking moment in prayer below...she returned to their abode earlier than him, tiring more swiftly following her previous hunt.
***
It had been a fitful reverie after the stove-side 'discussions' and rooftop hunt, not the quiet one she had anticipated but necessary. But she couldn't settle back to her meditive state. Instead she rose and approached the easel, flipped back the cloth that covered it and taking fresh paint and clean brush continued from where she'd left, some background to shape and fill around his form.
Time passed, she lost track enjoying the soothing pace of her art, closing out the noises of the building and below as much as she closed out the helpless feelings of before. But her ears atuned immediately to the sound of his soft footfall upon the steps to their attic room.
She lowered brush, paint, palette and flipped cloth once more over the canvas. He might have expected her to be in the larger cot bed yet would easily spot her as without hesitation she approached, arms outstretched to take him back to an embrace. But this time her manner was different, her would sense swiftly an urgency about her, a need not for word or discussion, not gentle comfort but for affirmation of something else, an affirmation of life.
***
((http://z13.invisionfree.com/nwn2planesc ... c=2722&hl=))
The petite elf in blue tunic had raced to gather her things as the brothel building looked as though it was about to go up in flames, looking to the little stove dejectedly before quitting the room. She dumped her things to safe corner outside before dashing into the tattoo parlour and scrambling to snatch as many tomes, drawings, sketchings and tracings as she could, instruments and ink bottles from the shelves before the parlour too succumbed to the burning.
The remaining harlots and jinkskirts, some with babies tucked and crying to their hovels and makeshift shelters, looked up terrified at her as she passed by. She paused by afew of them, familiar faces all, feeling partially responsible for their welfare and made motion with her free hand that was not holding magical bag for them to gather their belongings and flee. She pointed in the direction of the lady's ward route and motioned them to make haste. They, like she, cared not for this displacement, having known only this neighbourhood as home for so long but it was being torn apart and there was no choice for the present.
She had not thought she would have ever acted to support orcish action but had seen them come out of Nishrek as if to protect their own home or entrance to it and there was small measure of understanding of that to allow her to put aside her distaste of them as she supported their fists in the street battle.
There was little more she could do for the street girls at this point, it was time to leave. They all cowered for a moment as one burning roof collapsed nearby, then Lyra padded off quickly to rejoin her lover.
She met up again with the other elf and finally allowed him to show her to their new temporary abode in the Lady's Ward with her Sovana.
But this was not to be the end of it...
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*Pashan01
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- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
***wrote:The elf approached Lyra when she had roused from her Reverie. "My beloved. Know I that wished you not to perform tattoos on certain individuals, however, both our Sovana and I agree that the work would do some good for you overall. "
"Need you to do that which you know so well." He continued.
"Our Sovana does not mind if you work your tattoos here upon ... " He hesitated but a moment. "Orcs."
"Vorgazar's clan wishes to have matching tattoos to their chieftain. I shall remain by your side and likely Danielle as well. Vorgazar himself swore he would keep his orcs in line. Shall we allow this? "
Lyra groaned softly as she rose from the bedroll upon hearing this. Yet coin was low and the orcs would bring steady income. The parlour was undoubtedly in no state and Lervak busy clearing, cleaning and fixing the place to take the trade. She wondered if her old room was intact. The downside was that a clan full would take up alot of her time, time she had meant to complete her offers and gifts to others, her Sovana's notice and tattoo, the painting of her lover. Time to plan her next kill.
She had two targets in mind..two drowess. One with scuttling pet in whom she had shown a distinct fondness. One more prominent in Cage society which would make it the more challenging. Lyra had not yet decided which of the two she would make move upon first. There was advantage however in lodging for now in the Lady's Ward, she was closer to both locations where the two targets tended to frequent. Still, she had waited this long, she could wait longer. Planning was key.
Lyra looked up to the elf and nodded, yet still wrinkled her nose in thought of what was to come.
If Sovana minds not, Lyra will place Grummsch eye on clan. Great orc brute Vorgazar and clan aided hive. Lyra will do this. But Lyra needs help...new stronger needle instruments, more inks brewed, maybe physical help
She allowed him to read this of her lips, then rose fully before the Elf-Tail 'came to' and cleared away the makeshift bed and curtain from the corner. Her things were still stacked against the side wall and she moved towards the boxes, bags, easel, pile of books and looked towards the Moon-Father in askance of what to do with it all.
((and the rest on the link below))
((http://z13.invisionfree.com/nwn2planesc ... =2732&st=0))