The Great Tree of Avalon, Darkness of the Realms

[heirox]

"Nicely done, Fenella." Evan comments putting his hand on her shoulder as a sign comradeship. Then steps forward asking"should we continue....and does anyone have some dirt by chance with them. 'Cause I don't want to carry around to swords that are on fire."

[alexander]

"Indeed, nicely done holy one." Trialia agreed as she lowered her sword.

"I see we shall have to wait until you're not on holy ground!" The leader of the enemy group called through the emptiness. He began to chant in a language unknown to anyone in the party.

A second later, the enemy vanished in a flash of silver light and the torches mysteriously return to life.

(OOC:) Seriously, well done Celest.

[celest]

Fenella gives a small smile to her friends and nods slightly before turning away from them. She walks up to the ring of fire and raising her hand softly chants.

Power of the Holy Earth
Turn the Fire back to its birth
Raise the wind to quell the Flame
By the power that I tame

Slowly she lowers her hand and as she does the fire dissipates.

“There.” She says turning back to the group. “Lady Olania must have expected this. She taught me that spell only a few days before the meeting.” She raises her hood again before continuing. “We should search the Temple some. There should be others here, perhaps they are imprisoned somewhere. Ayden.” She speaks softly to call the tiny creature out. Quickly it appears out of her pocket and hovers before her. “Fly as quickly as you can through the building and see if you can find any one that may need help. Keep of low light though, there maybe still be a few enemies about.” The thing visibly nods and flies off growing dimmer every second.

[heirox]

"Now what?" Evan asks as he starts putting everything back in his bag and pouring a jar of dirt on the swords. Completely extinguishing the flames completely and then cleans the dirt and toad oil from the two sword's blades with a gray cloth.

[alexander]

As Ayden flew through the temple, the emptiness continued. No one could be seen in places that the creature knew full well there should be people.

Just as he was beginning to become discouraged, he reached a small storeroom toward the back of the temple where two priests were bound. One appeared to be in his forties and in the robes of a high priest. While the other was a small child about nine years old, wearing the robes of an apprentice. Both are bound, gagged, and blindfolded.

[celest]

Fenella waits for Ayden’s return, praying silently that some one was alive inside the building. When she sees the small glow of the sprite light she moves to meet it quickly. She nods at Ayden and the sprite begins to fly away again.

“Ayden has found two survivors. We should go help them immediately.” She holds up her staff as the end begins to glow again and begins to follow the tiny light.

[alexander]

Trialia took a protective position in front of Fenella as she started back toward the area where the survivors were held. "Hurry Evan!" The Flemon called over her shoulder as the two women made their way deeper into the temple.

Ayden led the party to the back storeroom where the master and apprentice were being held. The boy shifted nervously as Trialia entered the room first. The princess made her way past a small maze of crates to get to the two prisoners and first remove their blindfolds. Both seemed quite relieved as their bonds were cut.

As soon as he was free, the master rose and turned to Fenella, "What became of our captors, sister?"

[celest]

Fenella lowered her hood and smiled kindly at the elder. “It seems they used this place to strike at the group I travel with, sir. When they began their attack I was able to repel them by summoning the Holy Flame. When they saw we would not be defeated so easily, they left.” She looks the priest over a couple of times to see if he is injured. “I hope you and your apprentice are not hurt. Were there no other here when they attacked this holy place?”

[alexander]

The elder and his apprentice took comfort in Fenella's words. "This is but a small Temple my sister. We are the only ones here."

The apprentice spoke suddenly, "I sensed them coming..."

The Elder spoke while his apprentice thought of more words, "His sensing powers are abnormally powerful. Sometimes he senses things before I do."

"I believe they came from the Swaying Sea. About two leagues from here." The boy sounded confident in his guess, "I think they went back there too."

[celest]

Fenella nods at the boy. “Thank you.” She says before turning to the priest. “I will send word to Lady Olania of what has happened here.” She then turns to her comrades. “We could reach the Swaying Sea in 2 hours if we move swiftly. I suggest we do so.”

[heirox]

"Good, I have a friend that has several hundred ships and lives on the coast here," Evan says as he comes closer now with a black armored vest of some sort with intricate designms that are sharp and angled on itself with shoulder plates casting a foot from an inch from the neck. Now he is wearing a long curved saber on his hip and giant war axe on his back. And to finish it thick black baggie pants secured with a belt.

"Now I am gonna be leader. Since I've spent a few years at sea in order to obtain nine of his ships. And these guys are messing with wrong flemon. Does anyone know their leader because whoever he is. I'll be handling him in the last fight. Uhhh... didn't think it would take this long......"

[alexander]

"I agree with you Fenella. We should respond to this now." Trialia declared as she took her hand off her sword for the first time since the party arrived here. As she turned to leave, she noticed Evan standing in... different clothing. When did that happen?

Her left eyebrow rose slightly at the Eagleman's declaration that he would be the leader now because he owned a ship and had a lot of pirate friends on the Swaying Sea. "I was not aware that we chose a leader." Her tone more then a hint of the confusion as she asked the question.

[heirox]

A little confused by Trialia's view of his previous statement, Evan puts his hand behind his hand and smile, one of his broadest grins. And takes a couple steps toward them. Revealing a smaller pack on his back as well.

Then he tries to find a different way to say it to Trialia:"I only meant that I would be taking lead. Because I know these waters and I have a lot of...seamanship skills that most of you may not have...And most newbies rarely don't puke overboard...And I'll be able to easily cope with it. Sorry, I got a little wrapped in the thought for a moment........Oh and Trialia, I had this under my black cloak. Sorry you look a little confused about the change of clothes. And I'm gonna have to be traveling a lot lighter; because now that there is a new constant threat of attack.

[alexander]

"Ah, I see." Trialia replied with a nod as she turned to leave. "Let us leave then."

(Two Hours Later)

The party arrived at the small docktown of Trikna an Elvish town on the coast of the Swaying Sea. Fenella can sense the presence of something dark here, something elusive.

"Evan!" An Elvish man who Evan knew as Heth approached the group. "What brings you to our humble village?"

[heirox]

"Hey Heth How you doin'!" Evan shouts to the elvish man as he throws his arm around the other man and says to the rest," This is my first mate Heth...."

Back to Heth,"Man you look as good as ever. We're planning on crossing the swaying sea and we could use your help."

OoC:Hey Alex can Heth be my character.

[alexander]

"Well... my crew is... of coarse ready to leave at anytime." Heth replied with a kind smile. "Who do we have here?" He inquired with a glance at each party member in turn.

"I am Trialia, princess of the Flemons in Fireroot." The Flemon woman gave the Elvish sailer a nod of respect which he returned in the form of a bow.

"And you are..." He asked as he turned to face Fenella.

(OOC:) Naa... I'll play him for now.

[celest]

“I am Fenella of the Pale Moon, a student of the Society,” she says with a slight bow keeping her eyes firmly locked on the man. “We are on a journey for the Society. We must get to village of Golansa with all speed. Perhaps a boat would get us there faster than traveling by land.”

She takes a step close to Trialia and pulls her hood low over on her brow. “We must keep our eyes wide. Some thing is not right in this town.”

(OOC): What time of day is it?

[alexander]

Trialia nodded ever so slightly to show that she understood what Fenella was saying as the Elvish sailor replied,

"Then fate is with you, my lady. My ship is just about to depart for Golansa. We'll take you free of charge."

The party began to walk toward the docks. Fenella still had an unsteady feeling which only grew as they drew closer to the dock.

(OOC:) It's late afternoon, about four pm.

[heirox]

"Hey, Heth! Still got my ship?" Evan asks. Then clonks him on the head with his knuckles and says,"HEY! Why would you make us pay."
He stops than continues,"They're with me. So anything about my ship?"

OoC: Hey Alex. You should realize that Heth is a pirate and probably drinks. So there should be a lot of ale aboard and occasional brandy.
Sorry, if I'm a little know-it-all. I've just finished reading a pirate book.

[alexander]

Heth looked at Evan with a look of surprise when he got his head bonked by the Eagleman. "Yay, I said FREE of charge." The Elven sailer sounded a little annoyed. "Yeah, your ship is docked at the port which we're walking up to right in front of your beak." The man gestured toward a beautiful wood polished ship with sails in their folded position. The ship seemed to be begging to be sailed.

While Evan and Heth approached the ship, Fenella noticed a small black bird known to the Society as the Fodls, or death bird, perched on the top of the mast by where the flag would be flying if the ship had been sailing.

(OOC:) Heirox, please let me decide what Elvish pirates do.

Celest, this bird that Fenella sees is associated as an omen of death. If the myth is true, something VERY bad is about to happen either on the ship, or at this port.