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The Moonklaw: Chapter 5

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2002 9:59 pm
by Ayluen
Chapter 5<br><br>        The masters of the pure arts of magic. Ayluen had very limited experience with them; he had heard rumors about them and the powers they wielded. He didn’t respect them as much as he did his brethren guild of druids, he did know that they wielded as much power as them; almost. The only ones he had ever seen work their spells was a traveling mage that did very showy tricks with his magic. Though he was still very young at the time he vividly remembered the old human conjure up the very elements to do his bidding, but what really stuck in his mind was the fact that he was chosen to aid the man for his final act where he let Ayluen ride on an earth elemental about the size of an ogre. While he did realize that they must work hard to achieve greatness, he wasn’t around them enough to fully comprehend the branch of manipulating reality itself to truly respect the work they did. <br>        As Stouttummy and Crohan talked of the last few years since they last crossed paths, he began to doubt if they really needed an extra hand that couldn’t weld a sword to accompany them into the bowels of Clan Crushbone’s layer. He knew they needed another, but the only other name that came to his mind that might help him was the one he had herd in a bar some time ago. <br>        “What was that High-elf’s name again? Rockwind? Crystalbreeze?” thought Ayluen. “Blast!!!“ Everyone turned to look at him. “What be botherin` yea lad?” Stouttummy inquired. Ayluen sat for a moment and then replied, ”When Leiph and I snuck into your bar during lights out about a week ago, after the fight broke out there was a High-elf that caused everyone in the room to stop where they were. I asked his name but I forgot what it was. I don’t even know what art he follows except that he isn’t a priest of any kind, that all I do remember is that he got really pissed about me calling him a priest and that he was really arrogant.” Ayluen huffed some air, “Woody my arse.” <br>        Crohan looked thoughtful while the young ranger spoke of his meeting with the caster in the bar. “I wish I wasn’t drunk at the time, I might have paid more attention to what happened instead of worrying about being punished for disobeying guild rules,” muttered Ayluen. “Bout how tall was da lad?” Crohan inquired as Ayluen starred at the ground thoughtfully, “ A good two hands taller then I am, but he wasn’t as built as I am.” “Talked like you were a great deal lower the ‘e right?” “Yes that’s right, I didn’t insult him but he seem to dislike me almost instantly, I don’t remember what he said his name was, but he said the first name twice before he said his last name. He seemed to have something against wood-elfs though.”<br>        “I think I remember that lad,” Stouttummy stated. “He always sat near a window so he could, if I remember right, ’not smell the stench of the filthiest animals in the entire spanning of Faydark woods,’ or sometin` to that length. He was one of the few elf from Felwithe to drink at me bar, and the only one that didn’t bear armor come to think of it. Always had one of them fancy dress things on em` all the time. I believe his name was Crystal-something the only other things I heard out of him was, ‘bring me another’, ’here’s your payment’, and ‘shouldn’t the barmaids have less dress on?’, he actually got him a right smack from mistress Dewshine that time, ‘e even left her a gold piece as a tip that time.”<br>        “That sounds like him Stout, do you know what he practiced in?” badgered Ayluen. Leiph squinted, in deep thought,“How come I don’t remember you talking to this self righteous snob Ayluen? I was there with you when the fight happened.” <br>Leiph grimaced as Ayluen replied, “I don’t know Leiph, he cast some sort of spell that made everyone stop, I happened to be behind a table when he cast it so it didn’t affect me for some reason. I got you out soon as he left though.”<br>        “There’s only one following of the magic arts that can stop an entire room in its tracks in the middle of a fight lad, they call themselves Enchanters. I don’t know much about them meself, but they come in real handy when your outnumbered.” Crohan said. “I’ve seen one of them make a rabid grizzly bear come up and eat out of his hand like the tamest of pups. I owe my life to one of them though. While I was traveling here from Kaladim, a troop of goblins ambushed me as I came into a valley. I know that goblins are cowards but there was a good 30 of them with their wizards and strongest warriors attacking any travelers or small groups that traveled by them and would rob them and most likely eat their flesh afterwards. While I managed to kill about ten or twenty of them, they had me down to my last ounce of strength, then the air went shiny and they all stopped what they were doing. All it took was a voice behind me that said, ‘Run, while they are still under my spell, just remember that one of the members of the Art Keepers society of enchanters has saved another life,’ and I took off at a run to Felwithe.”<br>        “When I did reach here I told the cathedrals high-priest of the event and he directed me to the northern part of this city. All the enchanters asked of me was to aid the clerics forge armor for the newest members of their congregation till I felt the debt was repaid.” Crohan sighed, “They know me there lads, I can get you in and help you find this Crystal-whatever man. Follow me.”<br>        Now that the other three had caught their breath once again and had ceased to bleed further, they were led into the heart of the city of elfs. Ayluen and Leiph knew that none of the buildings were as high as the living trees that held Kelethin above the ground of the forest floor, the fact that stone had seemingly been formed to make these enormous and shining buildings held them in awe at their splendor. Most of the buildings were constructed out of granite or marble stones, but as they came to the dwellings of the Art Keepers, they beheld halls of learning make of countless colors of quarts all blended together in a seamless fashion.<br>        “Is this where they live?” whispered Leiph, Ayluen nodded an answer. True the mighty oaks and pines of the woods were indeed splendid in the way of nature, this was a new site to him indeed. As the sun lifted above the tops of the surrounding trees, the crystals of the buildings all around caught the light and made it into an almost unbearable display of bright and vivid colors of all possible spectrums. The only things that looked out of place were the dull looking stone doors on the front of the buildings.<br>        They followed Crohan into a building on the left side of a lake and saw several young high-elfs following a much older one who was talking about the dormitories and general rules of the guild. One of the elfs standing in the middle of a large stone circle walked over to Crohan. “What brings you to our humble adobe, Sir Crohan. We have not seen your bearded face for some time within these walls.”<br>        “Aye that you haven’t, I spend most of me time showing your young ones how to properly bless their weapons and armor with their gods will, but I came here on different matters today Master Goldweaver. I be here to inquire about one of your pupils or possibly even a journey man that we would like to talk with.”<br>        The elf raised one eyebrow in a leisurely fashion, “Really? What might the name of the one you seek?” Crohan hesitated for a second, “That I really don know sir. I know his surname is Crystal but not all of it. He be a bit taller then the wood-elf over there and wears a black, green and dark blue robe. I was hoping you might help me find him.” Goldweaver seemed to roll the thought over a few times in his mind, and then came to a decision, “I think I know of the man you talk about, he shows great promise in our art, but he seems to have a inferiority problem, he seems to attack weakness with the same ferocity the attacks his studies with.” He turned to a student that was passing. “You there, tell the adept Crystalwind to come down at once, and that I don’t care what he is doing right now.” <br>        With a brief nod, the student scurried away. A few seconds later his voice was heard addressing someone from above, followed by a shout, a sound that is best described as a, “Wump” and the student running back down the stairs with a large burn mark on his robe as well as a few smoking patches. “I t-t-told him Sir,” he stammered, “ and w-when I tried to t-t-touch him, my robe caught fire.” “Did he say if he was coming or not?” “W-w-well yes sir, he did, but you did say for him to come down at once s-sir.”<br>        About this time there were footsteps coming from the staircase the student had ran down from. A high-elf in a darkly colored robe and wearing a small band of silver with runes etched in it came down into the room. “Yes Master Goldweaver,” he calmly stated, “what did you need me for?” <br>        “Before I tell you that, let me ask you this: how many times did I say not to leave an aura of feed back on you when you might be summoned?” <br> Qumin smirked as he replyed, “I believe its been three times now, but I still think they should be bright enough to know not to touch someone who is very competent in these arts, I know you still have your aura up when you deal with the rest of the Masters of this Library, sir.” Ayluen noticed that Goldweaver had turned slightly red in the face.<br>        The guild master turned a slightly brighter shade of red and gruffly spouted, “These men wish to hire you, I did not ask of the price or the job itself out of courtesy towards a graduated and excepted member of this guild. I will show you all to a room, and have drinks and meat sent to you while you discuss the terms of employment.”<br>        They were all ushered into a fairly large room, and after the food was brought, the enchanter locked the door behind them saying, “If I find out that any of you are listening to this discussion, I will personally sign the papers sending you to Qeynos to deal with their sewer cleanings.”<br>        After he seemed sure they had left, he sat down and poured himself a cup of wine. “I suppose you wonder why you’re here.” Ayluen asked him. “If I knew I wouldn’t be here, now would I?” the caster retorted. “What I want to know first though is how you knew my name.” Leiph spouted out, “He didn’t, he was so drunk at the time he forgot all but the Crystal part.” Ayluen glared at him. <br>        Stouttummy scratched his beard and said, “There be no reason to get cocky with us yet lad, but it would help all of us if you were to tell us your name again.” “Its Qumin, Qumin Crystalwind.” His eyes rolled. “Now, what did you wish to pay me for? If you need more brains you’ve come to the wrong place, it’s the gnomes that like to mess with things in hopes they work better, but usually they just blowup instead.” <br>        Ayluen removed his helm and opened his mouth to let out an insult, but was cut off as Qumin said, “Well, well, its that little oak head that managed to dodge my spell somehow. Now I know why you didn’t know my name, you relied on him to remember something.”<br>        Ayluen began to reach for an arrow to nail the enchanters mouth shut by attaching the lips to the back of his skull. Crohan grabbed his arm before he could reach his quiver though, and succeeded to only make Qumin’s smirk wider then before. “If you wont say what you want me to stay in here for, I will head back to my studies and get something done today.” Leiph elbowed his friend in the ribs, “Tell him, just to shut him up or something.” Ayluen nodded, and begin to speak, “We need you to help us with the orcs,” “Is that all? Even you could kill a group of orcs. If your done wasting my time I will be going.” Qumin finished his cup and started to push back his chair.<br>        “But that’s not all, we need you to help with the orcs inside the Crushbone camp itself.” The caster stopped in mid motion, “You want to what?” he said momentarily speechless. “We believe that the orcs of Clan Crushbone are planning a joint raid on the elfs with the aid of the dark-elfs.” Ayluen continued. “We aren’t sure of their numbers so we though we could use someone with your…” Ayluen gritted his teeth to stop the complement from becoming an insult, “…great talents.”<br>        “Aye, think of the glory you will bring your god lad.” Crohan said. “I don’t follow a god.” Qumin stated in a distracted tone of voice. “So let me check this, you four want to raid the actual orc stronghold and you though you might need one more one this? So what are we, the shock troops? We stall them for a bit till the full army comes in and takes over, right?” Stouttummy looked down at his feet and mumbled, “Weelll, yes. Except for that last part.”<br>        A wide grin stole over Qumin’s face, “I use to think dwarfs were at least halfway intelligent, you have to be with stone mines, but really, have you been eating mushrooms on the way here? Because that was the single most stupid thing I have ever heard.”<br>        Stouttummy sighed, “Well ladies, it was worth a try.” Qumin started to stand, but Crohan grabbed his shoulder and sat him back down. “I didn’t want to resort to this,” he said quietly, “but I have no other choice.” He the said in a much louder voice, “We still haven’t discussed your pay yet.” <br>Qumin gave him a funny look, “What do you mean pay? I haven’t agreed to join you!” Crohan reached into his coin purse and pulled out a star ruby the size of his fist. “This my lad, is only the down payment on this. I also have a ring you might find very useful to you.” Qumin’s eyes turned about ten shades brighter as they jewel illumined its beauty on his face. <br>“Yet I was about to say…now what was that brilliant plan you had for storming the orcs?” Leiph snickered, Stouttummy smiled into his beard and Crohan set a small ring on the table as Ayluen started to draw his plan out on a sheet of parchment.<br><br><br><br>WOOOT! Hoped you enjoyed it, let me know whatcha think! <p><center><img src="http://home.attbi.com/~boswellbrian/wsb ... <BR><br><a href="http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.h ... 03">Ayluen Moonklaw</a>:Tunare's Bounty Hunter<BR><br>51st Pathfinder<BR><br>Mystical Lightfighters<BR><br>Morell-Thule Server<br></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub78.ezboard.com/bmysticallight ... >Ayluen</A> at: 11/22/02 9:06:13 pm<br></i>

Re: The Moonklaw: Chapter 5

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2002 2:22 pm
by leiph
Heh - very good, steadily entertaining <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . Now when are we going to see you in Norrath? <p></p><i></i>

Re: The Moonklaw: Chapter 5

Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2003 7:39 pm
by Ayluen
/bump <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.geocities.com/shogo_trumpeter/Ayluen_sig.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.h ... 03">Ayluen" target="top">Ayluen Moonklaw</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->:Tunare's Bounty Hunter<br>51st Pathfinder<br>Mystical Lightfighters<br>Morell-Thule Server</div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

Re: The Moonklaw: Chapter 5

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 3:26 pm
by Aay1ia
Well, I finally had a chance to read all five (six) parts at one time with no interuptions. I am impressed and look forward to more. Well done. Interesting reading. Who needs Harry Potter when we have this <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . <br> <p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.h ... 21">Aaylia Templaer</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>59 Knight<br>Mystical Lightfighters</p><i></i>