Coming to Terms
The rain fell. She was finally asleep again. He lay awake, staring at the roof of the tent, eyes focused on nothing. Amalanna's quiet breathing, the babe's squirming in between. His eyes bleary. The rain fell.
He was tired...his mind raced. Darting through mazes. To come clean on the other side...was there even an other side there? He doubted it very much now...but it did not stop his feet from falling, one in front of the other..trudging onward...as if through the bend at Dead Rope Pass toward home in midwinter...the snow falling hard...freezing...days away still... candlelight so far away...no warmth...just dark..cold...silent...your mind focused on getting home...the only thing that keeps you moving...keeps you alive...home.
Thunder booms, flash of lightening near.... the gods themselves warring above...the babe wakes...crying, frightened..so frightened and alone....He picks her up, cradling her in his arms, as Amalanna shifts and turns. Softly humming as the storm increases in intensity, praying for the safety of something so small...He felt....perhaps the way Lyon felt. Protect...shelter... He looks down to the babes tears....it was hard. Hard not to get so attached to this bundle of a miracle...Hard to know that perhaps he would have to give her up soon. He had not even named her..out of respect for the parents that might or might not be alive. SHe bawls into his chest, he cradles her tighter, surrounding her with his warmth and presence.
He closes his eye slowly, tears welling, feeling like a frightened child once again, himself. He quietly murmers, with all his heart and soul...that the babe not be scared..that she calmed...that she be at peace..... a soft green glow surrounds them....and the babe falls quiet. He opens his eye as the green glow begins to fade, looking down to her....smile. Tears rush down his cheeks as his face lights into a huge grin. He had not done that before...had not even know it was possible.... She giggles....
and he names her Cassandra.
He was tired...his mind raced. Darting through mazes. To come clean on the other side...was there even an other side there? He doubted it very much now...but it did not stop his feet from falling, one in front of the other..trudging onward...as if through the bend at Dead Rope Pass toward home in midwinter...the snow falling hard...freezing...days away still... candlelight so far away...no warmth...just dark..cold...silent...your mind focused on getting home...the only thing that keeps you moving...keeps you alive...home.
Thunder booms, flash of lightening near.... the gods themselves warring above...the babe wakes...crying, frightened..so frightened and alone....He picks her up, cradling her in his arms, as Amalanna shifts and turns. Softly humming as the storm increases in intensity, praying for the safety of something so small...He felt....perhaps the way Lyon felt. Protect...shelter... He looks down to the babes tears....it was hard. Hard not to get so attached to this bundle of a miracle...Hard to know that perhaps he would have to give her up soon. He had not even named her..out of respect for the parents that might or might not be alive. SHe bawls into his chest, he cradles her tighter, surrounding her with his warmth and presence.
He closes his eye slowly, tears welling, feeling like a frightened child once again, himself. He quietly murmers, with all his heart and soul...that the babe not be scared..that she calmed...that she be at peace..... a soft green glow surrounds them....and the babe falls quiet. He opens his eye as the green glow begins to fade, looking down to her....smile. Tears rush down his cheeks as his face lights into a huge grin. He had not done that before...had not even know it was possible.... She giggles....
and he names her Cassandra.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
He muttered in his sleep, sweat forming on his brow.
He floated in a familiar darkness....a void within...the deepest recesses of what lay within.....Two pinpoints of red light appear...floating in the depths, a shortsword appeared in his hand. The two pinpoints expand immediately, rushing to where he floated....red eyes...the cowled figure hovering before him cackling madly....a many armed demon...pocks all over the skin of it's arms.....he quickly slices toward the figure, a finger falling from one of its hands.....out of the darkness an arrow glided through the air, taking another finger off of one of the many hands. The figured howled in anger, turned and fled....but not before he saw the sacred pool in the depths of those ruby eyes....a tanned figure quickly passed by....turning her head, her head blurring with motion, eight faces at once......Laurelin's voice coming in slow motion, then speading up to normal.... "QQQqquuuuuuiiiickly!".....She strides forward, and again he floats alone in the void
He tosses, shivering.
The ironclad man strode out of the darkness, within mear inches of his face. Smoke slowly rose out of the armour and a quiet voice came. "Do not come full circle again....." His blade rose, then came down swiftly toward his head, great runes glowing...only to imbed itself in something behind him....something taller....the smoke issuing forth turned into a mist as he turned around to see the true enemy...the same mist forming into a woman wearing Zhentarim armour, bearing her fangs.....she falls away into the dark, revealing three other behind....a small girl feeding on the blood of Cassandra, Chista, dressed in malitia regalia, tearing out anothers throat.....the moon-faced dark hair licking the blood of Amalanna from her lips.....the three fade....
His eye twitches to open, as he is pulled ever deeper.....
A feral man stepped from the darkness, facing him for a moment....his beard matted with blood, his long hair hanging, eyes wild with the hunt. "Do not forget....I come." The mans muscles begin to wrench clear...the face slowly distorting, his hands growing into enormous paws with knifelike claws. Lowering his muzzle to within an inch of his face...."I come." The smell of death coming from its maw....then he fades....
"You never truely leave...do you?" Three Eyes appeared before him cackling madly as he cracked the whip.
He bolted upright, sweat soaked and shivering. Unclenching his fists, small trickles of blood ran where the fingernails had dug themselves in...He steadied the uneven breathing....and tried to forget.
He floated in a familiar darkness....a void within...the deepest recesses of what lay within.....Two pinpoints of red light appear...floating in the depths, a shortsword appeared in his hand. The two pinpoints expand immediately, rushing to where he floated....red eyes...the cowled figure hovering before him cackling madly....a many armed demon...pocks all over the skin of it's arms.....he quickly slices toward the figure, a finger falling from one of its hands.....out of the darkness an arrow glided through the air, taking another finger off of one of the many hands. The figured howled in anger, turned and fled....but not before he saw the sacred pool in the depths of those ruby eyes....a tanned figure quickly passed by....turning her head, her head blurring with motion, eight faces at once......Laurelin's voice coming in slow motion, then speading up to normal.... "QQQqquuuuuuiiiickly!".....She strides forward, and again he floats alone in the void
He tosses, shivering.
The ironclad man strode out of the darkness, within mear inches of his face. Smoke slowly rose out of the armour and a quiet voice came. "Do not come full circle again....." His blade rose, then came down swiftly toward his head, great runes glowing...only to imbed itself in something behind him....something taller....the smoke issuing forth turned into a mist as he turned around to see the true enemy...the same mist forming into a woman wearing Zhentarim armour, bearing her fangs.....she falls away into the dark, revealing three other behind....a small girl feeding on the blood of Cassandra, Chista, dressed in malitia regalia, tearing out anothers throat.....the moon-faced dark hair licking the blood of Amalanna from her lips.....the three fade....
His eye twitches to open, as he is pulled ever deeper.....
A feral man stepped from the darkness, facing him for a moment....his beard matted with blood, his long hair hanging, eyes wild with the hunt. "Do not forget....I come." The mans muscles begin to wrench clear...the face slowly distorting, his hands growing into enormous paws with knifelike claws. Lowering his muzzle to within an inch of his face...."I come." The smell of death coming from its maw....then he fades....
"You never truely leave...do you?" Three Eyes appeared before him cackling madly as he cracked the whip.
He bolted upright, sweat soaked and shivering. Unclenching his fists, small trickles of blood ran where the fingernails had dug themselves in...He steadied the uneven breathing....and tried to forget.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
-
Inwintersshadow
- Orc Champion
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 2:39 am
- Location: Wanderer GMT -5
- Contact:
Cool
Nice work Dan!
Admissions Goon
Primary PC: Vohrigg Cragstomper ~ Rock-climbing Spelunker of High Home http://pinterest.com/pin/229965124694678786/
Secondary PC: Nicobus Trask - Private Investigator of Silverymoon http://workerslawwatch.com/wp-content/u ... igator.jpg
NWN1 PC: Corgrym Aerthen: Warrior-Priest of Chauntea & White Chalk Village Militia Leader in Daggerdale
Primary PC: Vohrigg Cragstomper ~ Rock-climbing Spelunker of High Home http://pinterest.com/pin/229965124694678786/
Secondary PC: Nicobus Trask - Private Investigator of Silverymoon http://workerslawwatch.com/wp-content/u ... igator.jpg
NWN1 PC: Corgrym Aerthen: Warrior-Priest of Chauntea & White Chalk Village Militia Leader in Daggerdale
Perhaps she was right. Perhaps there is no peace until death comes. He quietly put one foot in front of the other, rounding the corner of the building yet again. So much..so many different directions....all at once. The wolves were quiet at least. He casts his mind deeper, keeping his eye unfocused to catch any faint movement. The dwealers...and the Watcher, would take care of them....
He gripped the axes tighter, becoming more and more used to their weight and balance. He was loathe to carry them...their weight and bulky size got in the way at times. Still, they had their uses.
He eyed the sky as dawn came, then gave a last glance to where the trail had ended. She was fine. He thought that she always would be. He turns, and makes his way home. He picks her up, then sits down, placing her in his lap, to begin the feeding ritual anew. He was...amazed...at how good of a babe she really was. She fussed little, and then only when she needed changing. He would not know if she were hungry...he merely kept track of the hours since she was last fed. In fact, she wore a small grin most of the time, as if the world were a circus. Perhaps that is why she liked Renunzio so much. His mind wandered to the hins for a moment, and he sighed. So much left to do. He looked back to Cassandra, and clutched her tighter. Perhaps....soon....he would have to find a home for her...he was too dangerous to be around.
He gripped the axes tighter, becoming more and more used to their weight and balance. He was loathe to carry them...their weight and bulky size got in the way at times. Still, they had their uses.
He eyed the sky as dawn came, then gave a last glance to where the trail had ended. She was fine. He thought that she always would be. He turns, and makes his way home. He picks her up, then sits down, placing her in his lap, to begin the feeding ritual anew. He was...amazed...at how good of a babe she really was. She fussed little, and then only when she needed changing. He would not know if she were hungry...he merely kept track of the hours since she was last fed. In fact, she wore a small grin most of the time, as if the world were a circus. Perhaps that is why she liked Renunzio so much. His mind wandered to the hins for a moment, and he sighed. So much left to do. He looked back to Cassandra, and clutched her tighter. Perhaps....soon....he would have to find a home for her...he was too dangerous to be around.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
Slowly, he let loose the reigns, and the load on his shoulders. Was it not she that said there was no shame in taking time for oneself? Then he was definately due time to focus on other things. The warrant for the Hins hole should be forthcoming soon. Wardings against Chista were already being seen to. A trip to Teshmear for the whistles....perhaps he would take the time to deliver the additional malitia request to Mestin personally. How long had it been since the truce to the scales? Men were needed here now. And they needed to be organized and taught about what the Glenn faced. The Talonites, the Vampires, the Pool...were other peoples problem now. He could no longer strike, no longer protect. This suited him just fine, he was overtired in dealing with the whole mess. After all, why trust him in one thing, and not in another?
It was overtime to focus on home. To train. To change in order to survive. His duties had given him nothing. This he could accept, rank, medal and recognition were for the proud. If any did come his way, he would refuse them. He did not need them. It would not be too long before Laurelin would be paid in full. And he could wash his hands of that completely. A mere small triumph, nothing more. And if the place were infected again? Someone else could deal with it. Was he being proud? Spitefull? He was not quite sure. He did know where he was wanted and needed. Home. Perhaps none would understand his code...he didn't expect them to. They were not him. They had no idea....
His mind slowly turned, softly turned, slightly bitter. He would do what needed to be done, but only where he was wanted.
It was overtime to focus on home. To train. To change in order to survive. His duties had given him nothing. This he could accept, rank, medal and recognition were for the proud. If any did come his way, he would refuse them. He did not need them. It would not be too long before Laurelin would be paid in full. And he could wash his hands of that completely. A mere small triumph, nothing more. And if the place were infected again? Someone else could deal with it. Was he being proud? Spitefull? He was not quite sure. He did know where he was wanted and needed. Home. Perhaps none would understand his code...he didn't expect them to. They were not him. They had no idea....
His mind slowly turned, softly turned, slightly bitter. He would do what needed to be done, but only where he was wanted.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
Just as quickly, he was reeled back into the frey. If not for his tribe brother, he would have refused, no questions asked. There was too much that needed doing in the Glenn...
Yet here he lay miles away from his home, the boards of the cabin floor a pillow. His eye closed, he silently cursed himself, and not for the first time. Yet again another wall between himself and Laurelin. He curled up tighter....wishing for a moment that it would leave him alone. But you never really leave, do you? A tear came down, as he thought of leaving Amalanna yet again. Were things always to be so? Everytime, he stuck his nose into problems, trying to find an answer. Why? It only left him away from the one place he truely wanted to be, and with friends angered at him. He should not have walked those grounds, he knew better. Once this was over, he would stay to the Glenn, and only leave in persuit of that which threatened it, or in aid of it. Or if his Brother asked it of him. Otherwise, he was an annoyance to be placed elsewhere, a constant reminder of what lay on the horizon. Find them, deal with them, and go home. The wolf came into his mind. Whole...healed...healthy. It looked to him...his mind slowly fuzzed...and he faded into sleeps of wolves...running with a pack....and in that sleep, he smiled, ever so slightly.
Yet here he lay miles away from his home, the boards of the cabin floor a pillow. His eye closed, he silently cursed himself, and not for the first time. Yet again another wall between himself and Laurelin. He curled up tighter....wishing for a moment that it would leave him alone. But you never really leave, do you? A tear came down, as he thought of leaving Amalanna yet again. Were things always to be so? Everytime, he stuck his nose into problems, trying to find an answer. Why? It only left him away from the one place he truely wanted to be, and with friends angered at him. He should not have walked those grounds, he knew better. Once this was over, he would stay to the Glenn, and only leave in persuit of that which threatened it, or in aid of it. Or if his Brother asked it of him. Otherwise, he was an annoyance to be placed elsewhere, a constant reminder of what lay on the horizon. Find them, deal with them, and go home. The wolf came into his mind. Whole...healed...healthy. It looked to him...his mind slowly fuzzed...and he faded into sleeps of wolves...running with a pack....and in that sleep, he smiled, ever so slightly.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"
***Disclaimer**** This post is by no means a personal attack on anyone. I enjoy each and every player on DD, and I hope that it is not construed as a personal attack. I am merely giving people a glimpse as to what goes on in Chris's head. HOWEVER, if someone is offended, I will gladly remove this post, no questions asked. But do keep in mind, that this is what Chris thinks and feels...that is the beauty of interpretation... ****End Disclaimer***
He wanted to howl, to scream, to pull out his hair....wrench his other eye from its socket...wanted to cry a flood that would wash this cursed Dale off of the maps and the memory of every being that had lived, was living or would ever live....Wanted to tear out throats, wanted to scream in elvish "There is your father figure!" wanted to crush every small sentiment under his boot into a billion peices....wanted to wrench the hearts out of Akbar's oh so caring friends who did nothing but shun him after the tower....Wanted to .... die.
He remained motionless, expressionless, staring at the night sky. These things would never pluck the surface...no one would ever see. How something so simple as a man dying, could alter you...perhaps forever. What the Zhentarim were not able to do, had finally been done. His spirit withered quickly, like the leaf from the touch of a Talonite.
He eyed the strutting halfman, all smothered in self-importance, a simple mask for the fear that quivered deep within his cowards heart, the fear that he would be next...the fact that his mouth had partially cost Akbar his life, oh, how he squirmed and writhed like so many worms he had used in the river now that his "friend" was not here to protect his pathetic excuse for an exsistance, the performing laugh at me dolt. No, now take me seriously, why does no one pay attention you'll be sorry RIP YOUR THROAT OUT SO YOU CAN SPEAK NO MORE YOU INSOLENT CURR! Walking by muttering about long legs, why he was still roaming free... PICK UP A HOAR DAMNED BADGE AND SEE HOW YOU LIKE THE TASTE! But you won't will you little man....for no matter how well endowed you are.........you have no balls. You'll let others do the work, while you run your mouth from the side.
She storms by, mocking his incorrect assesment of Lyon...oh how she loved her little temper...in love with her little riteous ball of rage. Pure fool, she would charge at him head on, wouldn't she. As if she were the only entitled to be mad. He ached to yell, ached to say... "Were you his neighbor? Did you call him brother? Did you bring him water during his fast? Were you with him in the desert, when he risked all in the service of this Dale, to cleanse the pool? Were you there in the desert, when he was gone for oh so long, to bring him back home? What you feel, is a grain of sand to the desert, compared to my loss! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE ANGRY! NOT IN MY EYES!
He stands, watching her placidly, his thoughts well hidden behind a blank face.
She cries, not wanting to beleive, yet knowing it is truth. It is here, he is touched deeply, for only a moment...she truely knows...truely cares....no other agenda....He pities her, because she will never get to know the man better. Because he was a man worth knowing.
He ached to feel the whip on his back again....such would be pleasure, compared to what he felt now. With no sign of Lyon...he MUST go home....the only thing that could have a chance of saving him was his family, and the pool. And on the way, the bitterness would grow.
And the greatest of all ironies....he knew deep within if his path did not change....he would end up being just like the black clad man.
He wanted to howl, to scream, to pull out his hair....wrench his other eye from its socket...wanted to cry a flood that would wash this cursed Dale off of the maps and the memory of every being that had lived, was living or would ever live....Wanted to tear out throats, wanted to scream in elvish "There is your father figure!" wanted to crush every small sentiment under his boot into a billion peices....wanted to wrench the hearts out of Akbar's oh so caring friends who did nothing but shun him after the tower....Wanted to .... die.
He remained motionless, expressionless, staring at the night sky. These things would never pluck the surface...no one would ever see. How something so simple as a man dying, could alter you...perhaps forever. What the Zhentarim were not able to do, had finally been done. His spirit withered quickly, like the leaf from the touch of a Talonite.
He eyed the strutting halfman, all smothered in self-importance, a simple mask for the fear that quivered deep within his cowards heart, the fear that he would be next...the fact that his mouth had partially cost Akbar his life, oh, how he squirmed and writhed like so many worms he had used in the river now that his "friend" was not here to protect his pathetic excuse for an exsistance, the performing laugh at me dolt. No, now take me seriously, why does no one pay attention you'll be sorry RIP YOUR THROAT OUT SO YOU CAN SPEAK NO MORE YOU INSOLENT CURR! Walking by muttering about long legs, why he was still roaming free... PICK UP A HOAR DAMNED BADGE AND SEE HOW YOU LIKE THE TASTE! But you won't will you little man....for no matter how well endowed you are.........you have no balls. You'll let others do the work, while you run your mouth from the side.
She storms by, mocking his incorrect assesment of Lyon...oh how she loved her little temper...in love with her little riteous ball of rage. Pure fool, she would charge at him head on, wouldn't she. As if she were the only entitled to be mad. He ached to yell, ached to say... "Were you his neighbor? Did you call him brother? Did you bring him water during his fast? Were you with him in the desert, when he risked all in the service of this Dale, to cleanse the pool? Were you there in the desert, when he was gone for oh so long, to bring him back home? What you feel, is a grain of sand to the desert, compared to my loss! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE ANGRY! NOT IN MY EYES!
He stands, watching her placidly, his thoughts well hidden behind a blank face.
She cries, not wanting to beleive, yet knowing it is truth. It is here, he is touched deeply, for only a moment...she truely knows...truely cares....no other agenda....He pities her, because she will never get to know the man better. Because he was a man worth knowing.
He ached to feel the whip on his back again....such would be pleasure, compared to what he felt now. With no sign of Lyon...he MUST go home....the only thing that could have a chance of saving him was his family, and the pool. And on the way, the bitterness would grow.
And the greatest of all ironies....he knew deep within if his path did not change....he would end up being just like the black clad man.
Last edited by danielmn on Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:19 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Zyrus Meynolt: [Party] For the record, if this somehow blows up in our faces and I die, I want a raiseSwift wrote: Permadeath is only permadeath when the PCs wallet is empty.
<Castano>: danielnm - can you blame them?
<danielmn>: Yes,
<danielmn>: Easily.
"And in this twilight....our choices seal our fate"