Fireside Tales with Al (Story 1 complete, story 2 started) [Archive]

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Bellacouste

02-05-2009, 03:14 AM

((Since I've gotten past the first story, I think I might-should explain my little color-coded system here. XD I have planned 7 stories, one for each of my Charictors, save Aloysiius who is the bard telling the stories. Each story will have it's own color, this makes it easier to find the story you want in the thread (So if you've finished 'City Search' and want to go to 'Mismanaged Magic' you can just scroll down until you see the green titles!) Once I get past one page of posts, I'll put which page the story starts on in the list below, but for now I'll leave that off. So, here are the stories and their colors: Story One: City Search 1st post Story Two: Mismanaged Magic 6th Post Story Three: Hi, Elf! Story Four: Now Stay Dead Story Five: The Darklight Hag Story Six: What Delightful Things… Story Seven: In the Shadows There is a bard, who sits beside a fire and sings songs of people. He travels on weary legs, yet is eager to see what lies beyond the horizon. He has sat before many hearths and paid for food with his voice, as bards often do. If you would look, you may spot him at the hearth of the tavern in your home town and he would beckon you forward and when many, or even a few have gathered, he will begin: “Hail the stars! And may they see you safely to your journey’s end, yet if you would but indulge a haggard bard a moment of your time. For many tales have I collected whilst on forgotten dusty roads. Above Norrath the scarred sky serves as a dance floor for reeling stars and merrily do the moons waltz to their music. It is under that velvet lined ball that we live out our stories to the end. One such story I may have for you, if tonight you should listen… Story one: City search 1: Letters from Qeynos Charlemin Cragmure pulled a letter from the Norrathian Express mailbox and despaired. The small Ratonga glared at the Qeynos postmark and tapped the envelope against his paw irately. There was nothing else in the dark mailbox so he shut the door and went home, tossing the letter on the floor as soon as he walked in. Charlie, as his friends called him had been waiting for a letter from his sister. It was not like her to not send some annoying letter rambling about plants with doodles in the margin at least once a week. He had worried about Bella since she had decided to uproot from Freeport and move to Neriak, saying that the blue glow of the caverns were prettier than the dank muddy grime of Temple Street. Bella was older than Charlie, of that everyone was certain. He was the only boy in the litter, his four sisters, Bellacouste, Belladonna, Bellamuri, and Jumjum had all been born before him. No one was sure in what order the girls were born in, and that had often led to fights over who was older and in charge of their games, fights that Bellacouste lost more often than not. Bellacouste was the smallest, the runt. She had always had Charlie to protect her though, but this had caused the elder Ratonga, including their grandmother some concern. Their grandmother often chided Charlie for looking after Bellacouste, she always told them that Ratonga should look after themselves first; that they would never survive looking after the weak. Nonetheless he had traveled across the Commonlands to visit Bellacouste last Decay Season. He had bought a scraggly plant as a housewarming gift, knowing how she liked them, but wondering how she planned on growing anything except mushrooms in an underground city. The trip through the Commonlands was dusty and boring until a thunderstorm had unrepentantly spread over the savannah, turning the land to mud. He reached the Ashfall Crags caked in mud and trekked through Darklight Wood in the fog. The guards at the gates of Neriak hadn't even glanced at the pale yellowy rat as he had walked through. Bella had excitedly placed the plant on a shelf with the others, the dark city's toll marring the former glory of her carefully pruned flowers already. They had sat down to a homemade dinner of deer steak and orange cider. That was when Charlie had seen a letter on the table with a Qeynos postmark. He asked Bella what it was, but she quickly stowed it away and asked how their grandmother was doing. Charlie had pressed his own question. "Why woulds you has letter from Qeynos?" "Was sents to me wrong." Bella nodded her head and bit her lip and Charlie knew it was a lie. She had never been as adept at lying as their other sisters. Charlie leaned over the short table and snatched the letter from her paw, dashing across the room. "Gives that backs!" She screeched, jumping up and giving chase. Charlie took the letter out with one paw and caught his sister by the ear, holding her at arms length. He ignored her flailing paws and read: Dear Belly, Thank you very much for the food you sent, it was much appreciated. I tried the recipe you sent me, but I burned it. The cat wouldn't even go near it, neither would the dog, the rat, the bird, the funny bone-eating plant, or any other of our pets, so I think there was more wrong with it than the charcoal crust I gave it. Whoops. I'm glad to hear that you've been doing well in your studies, I asked Telamoninioon about the- The letter was torn from Charlie's paws. He was quite confused at first, to see his sister standing before him, letter in paw, but when he turned she was still there, her ear still in his grasp. "I's has begun to learn." She said, wrenching her ear from his grasp and beckoning the Persona over. "And yous writes to-to-" "Llew is penpal!" Bella said, grasping the letter to her chest. "From Qeynos!" Charlie spat. "Hows cans you befriend Qeynosian? Whats would Granmammers say?!" Bella bit her lip and shuddered at the thought of their stern old grandmother finding out. "Don'ts tells her." She pleaded, stomping her paw down angrily. "Llew is helps with magics." "Thats Illusionist spelly! Yous said yous wanted to be Coercer like Granmammers!" Charlie and Bella fought until he left, slamming the door shut. He had rushed home to Freeport to tell their grandmother in the hopes that she'd talk some sense into Bella, but when he was standing on the front mat to their grandmother's he had found that he somehow hadn't the heart to tell. He had kept it a secret, chewing his lip and dodging questions about the trip. He kicked the Qeynos marked letter on his floor under the rug and threw himself onto the bedroll in the corner. He was sure that Bella had written to her friend, and this 'Llew' had decided to send him a letter. He laid back and tried to sleep, but his mind told him that he could see the letter under the rug still, so he turned his back on the room and slept, dreaming of letters that grew on scraggly plants underground. 2: Run The sandy-furred Ratonga paced the floor of her single room apartment, chewing her lip and trying not to cry. "He's wouldn't tells. He's wouldn't." She pouted and stomped her foot defiantly. "I's can be friends with anyones. I's do nots care!" She yelled to the plants in the empty room. Bella sat down on her floor. She smacked her paws on the floor and kicked her feet. "He's can’t tells Granmammers!" Bella thought back to when they had been little, the neighbor's son had been caught smuggling documents to the Tunarian Alliance of Qeynos. The young Gnome had been branded a traitor and was quickly dealt with in the Execution Plaza of West Freeport. She fell silent and stared at her feet, a thought suddenly crossing her mind. "They's wouldn't do that's to mes, woulds they?" Bella's breath caught in her throat as she sobbed. "No's!" She bolted up and grabbed her rucksack from the corner, quickly grabbing whatever was within reach; food, drink, books, plants. All that would fit into the magic bag was hastily stowed away. Her deep brown eyes scanned the room one last time before she ducked out the door and left. In the hollow cave of the New Foreign Quarter she pulled her cloak about her tightly and kept to the deep shadows that she knew well. Bellacouste had heard rumors, whispers of traitors from the cities, a place for them, hidden from all eyes, a place of exile. From there, surely there, she would be safe, underground in Haven. Yes, underground, where the beat was stronger, the darkness deeper, a Ratonga more at home, no cities, no lights, no cruel monuments of execution (she hoped). She set off, keeping to the many shadows of Neriak, thinking about the beat. Freeport was fine, the beat was there too, felt from the feet by those who knew how. Neriak was better, the beat was always stronger underground, but the people, the horses, the trolls and the noises of a whole city perpetually echoing in the caverns was so distracting to Bellacouste’s feet. The beat was- Sunlight. Bellacouste, like her plants had missed the sunlight in Neriak. Was that right? Was it wrong? The Ratonga were masters in the dark, with sensitive eyes, with tails and feet in-tune to the ways of the Underfoot. Her paws slowed to a walk. Was she really so different from other Ratonga? She had been the runt, the sickly one, she had been left on her own, as all Ratonga, to fend for herself. When she had been sick there had always been her plants to take care of. But she had not relied only on herself, like the other Ratonga, she had leaned on her brother, like the plants had relied on her for water and light. Bella became aware of a strange noise all of a sudden. She looked around the empty paths, wondering if the echoes were messing with her. It was late, only a troll lay in the light of a torch at the other end of the tunnel. Another look and she caught eyes in a shadow, glowing eyes. A tiger-striped Kerra stepped out. Bella nodded her head and laughed nervously. “Nice night for a walks, yis?” “Ah…” The Kerra hissed lightly. “A little meal-“ He smiled coyly. “I mean, ‘rat’ shouldn’t be out so late, it’s dangerous you know.” Bella’s eyes went wide and she turned, dashing down the tunnel. The Kerra laughed and stretched out. “I haven’t had a good hunt is such a long time! I’ll give you a head start!” Bella urged her feet to go faster, she passed the drunken troll and risked a look over her shoulder. The predator wasn’t there. She turned back and skidded to a stop, her nose inches from the Kerra’s bare midriff. Bella could smell fish and beer on the cat’s breath as she leaned down to look Bella in the eyes. She raised her paw to cast a spell but again the Kerra wasn’t there. “Too slow.” A low voice whispered in her ear. Bella squeaked and darted forward again. ‘Water!’ She thought. ‘I needs water! The docks!’ She scrambled towards the sound of water. The Kerra gave chase, having no trouble catching up with his long, graceful strides to her. He leapt right over her head and landed crouched, blocking the way. He grinned. “I let a little mouse escape into the water last week. It was better that way. I hate dirt in my meals.” “Leaves mes alones!” Bella waved her arm, weaving energy into the air, but the Kerra’s casting was quicker. A bright spark burst in the darkness, blinding her and sending her flying back towards the troll. She lay in the tunnel, dazed, as the Kerra slowly stalked forward. “My mother always told us to play with our food, but this game tires me. Pray to your god, rat.” Bella’s shrill squeak filled the tunnel and stirred the troll. A thought formed in her mind and she scrambled to the drunkard and shook his arm. “Wakey wakey!” She hissed. “That kitty over theres says your mama is ugly like a boarfiend butt. Yous gonna takes that?” The troll grunted and rolled his head towards Bella, sending a hot wave of stale beer-laden air into her delicate nose. “’Couse he sayz that. She ish ugly.” He hiccupped and closed his eyes. “Not like me Figgy. Shesh real gud lukin.” “Well-“ Bella squeezed the giant brute’s arm tighter. “He says he takes you’s beer and you’s Figgy, he is!” At this the troll’s eyes opened wide and he leapt to his full height, filling the entire tunnel with his bulk. “NOT ME FIGGY! AHHH!” The Kerra quickly turned tail and ran, the stumbling troll close behind, smashing a gigantic knotted club into the walls, sending rocks and dust showering down. Bella heard angry yells from the shambled housed behind her. Lights appeared in windows and a few of the braver citizens opened their doors wide, spells prepared to be fired. She decided that now was the best time to go. Bella had no more obstacles between her and the way out, she passed the teleporter and to the gate. The guards were not at their posts and the loud cry of ‘FOR FIGGY!’ echoed behind her as she passed out of Neriak and into the Darklight Wood.

Bellacouste

02-24-2009, 03:26 PM

3: Of Schooling, Savannahs and Sea ships Bellacouste pulled the hood up on her simple robes and crossed the Indigo Draw, telling herself not to look down into the deep canyon below. She thought of her penpal in Qeynos. At first, yes, the letter had been sent to the wrong person, an errant mistake in the magic of the postbox. Bella had thought to place the letter back into the box, send it on it’s way to the recipient or back to the sender, what would she have cared? But, there was a heavy clink when she placed the envelope down in the wooden box, the clink of coins that all Ratonga knew well and she could not resist. Yes, she weighed the possibility of stealing something from the mailbox, sure that there were wards and spells to prevent thievery, but that only made her think of the challenge of pilfering from the letter. She took it home and examined it by candlelight, thinking. The envelope was clean, but the writing was terrible. She could not even make out either name. It had been sent to her though, maybe the spells to keep thieves out would not activate, did it matter that her name was not on it? She wedged a thin claw under the flap in the envelope and slowly lifted. The paper tore easily and the spells did not activate. Inside were 3 gold coins and a letter. Gold! What luck! Bella reached in to grab them when her eyes caught a word on the letter: ‘medicine’ Her paw ignored the shining coins and instead took out and unfolded the short letter and read the scribbled words. “Llewenayah, I don’t care how much you protest, I know you’re stubborn and all, but you’re still my sister and you need the medicine. Take this money, and go get it. I don’t care how expensive it is. -Dan” Something tugged at her heart. She looked out the window into Temple Street. If any of the Ratonga out there had gotten the letter they would have taken the coin and not cared, some might have even been so bold as to reply, saying that they took the gold. But, still something had tugged. She placed the gold and the letter into a new envelope, wrote the name in the letter carefully and placed it back in the mailbox outside. She pushed the letter and the gold from her mind until another letter showed up, this one was addressed to her. “I’m not sure why, but I got a letter from my brother, however it was your name on the envelope. I’m sure it was his letter, because no one has handwriting as bad as his. I can only figure that his terrible writing mixed our names up, must have been that double ‘L’ we both have. I’m very grateful that you sent the letter back, when his letters get sent wrong, we normally don’t ever see them again. Again, thank you. And have a happy Frostfell! -Llewenayah Redmantle.” Bella wanted to kick herself, she had forgotten the magic of the postbox; Her name, not ‘Dan’s’ had been attached to the letter when she re-sent it. The girl already knew Bella’s name, so she gave into her curiosity and replied, asking if the medicine had helped, and commenting that her own brother had terrible handwriting too. Before she knew it, Bella was writing Llew as regularly as she wrote Charlie. Llew had even sent her a book on mushroom growing when she had moved to Neriak. Bella considered what Llew had said of Qeynos. The weather, the sun, the fertile land, the undead roaming beneath the city. But what city didn’t have walking undead nearby these days? Bella made it through Darklight wood and the Ashfall Crags looking over her shoulder. She made it into the Commonlands just before daybreak. She kept her hood up and checked her water supply, refilling from Dog Trapper Lake before continuing. She kept her eyes forward and ignored other travelers, instead watching the sky glow brighter and brighter as Ro climbed higher and higher into the heavens. The savannah dust choked the little rat, but she told herself she needed to conserve her water. She took out her map and walked with it before her, thinking over different routes to distract her from thirst. She could go the safe way, following the road when it turned south and stopping at the Crossroads before taking another road southeast then northeast to the docks. She could also keep going east when the road turned south and cut across, but she had never been that way and didn’t know the dangers. Keeping to the roads lead her rather close to the gates of Freeport though, and she wanted to avoid them. If she could keep the sun on her right shoulder as she walked, she would still be going east, even if she got lost or delayed. Eventually she would make it to the cliffs and then it would only be a matter of following them south until she came to the docks. She decided that following the roads would take too long and too close to Freeport and when the road diverged south, she stepped off and kept going. Bellacouste felt better than she had in seasons. The sun was a bit bright, but warm, the savannah was lightly spattered with hardy green plants, she could see a stand of trees up ahead through the waving heat. Her steps became light in excitement. She hummed a tune and continued east. She stopped to refill her canteens once again, this time in the river and decided to set up a camp in the stand of trees for the night. She chose a tree and scurried up it. She found a large branch and took out a cloak that she had bought special years ago. The cloak was a deep black color and big enough for a good sized troll, but she had never bought it for wearing. She tied it tightly to the branch and climbed in. She had learned a long time ago that most people never look up, they’ll look in things, or under things, but very few look up, especially if they know they are looking for a Ratonga, who like to hide below. The cloak is what she would use when thieving was something she did more regularly. She’d find a target at nighttime, always nighttime, tail them and if she got caught there was always some dark place above to tie the cloak into and hang-out until everything died down. She spent the night in her hammock, listening to the sounds of others who choose the trees for the night. In the morning Bella peeked over her hammock. She hadn’t realized that so many had set up camp below. Many of them she saw were young, possibly apprentices or students. She squinted, yes, they were all clothed in the robes of the Freeport Academy of Arcane Sciences. Below Bella a tall, stern looking Teir’Dal stood. “Pack up now! We need to be at the docks by noon!” “Relax Prof!” One of the students yelled back, poking his head out of his tent. “Nek Forest will still be there!” The teacher merely flicked his hand and set the student’s tent on fire. “It’s ‘Professor’ and ‘Nektulos’.” The students laughed as they packed up and watched the boy scramble to put out his tent. Bella carefully untied her cloak and climbed down, ducking into a tent after a student left it. She looked around and found a robe in the corner. Snatching it up she quickly changed, pulling the hood over her head again. She ducked out and joined some of the students around the tree. “He’s a real jerk, huh?” A boy whose robes were singed leaned against the tree next to her. “Last time I mouthed off he burned my homework and gave me a zero for not turning it in.” Bella nodded. “I don’t recognize you, are you one of ‘em from old Thrin’s class?” “Yisyis.” “I hear her class is easier, I should have taken it, but, well. See that girl over there?” The Ayr’Dal boy pointed to a group of Teir’Dal girls. “Isn’t she pretty? I saw her signing up for Prof Cranky’s class, so I did. I’ve been trying all semester to get her to notice me. I’m Grigle Yungle, by the way.” “Erm…I’s is Delly Finium.” “You must keep yourself out of trouble, I’ve never heard of you.” The boy paused. “Or maybe-“ He whispered. “You’re just really good at not getting caught.” “Maybes.” The old Teir’Dal came by. “Get a move on! Don’t lollygaggle, Yungle!” Bella stayed by Grigle on the walk to the docks. Grigle was talkative and Bella soon had a good assessment of the situation. The second-year students at the Academy took a field trip around D’lere every year starting with the cemetery outside of Freeport where they saw the tombs of the traitorous Knights of Marr, then out into the Commonlands to see the Spires, then back across to the docks for a specially charted ship tour of the island, at the end of which they will dock in Nektulos, where they will be given an assignment to catalogue and collect samples. She also learned that the cantankerous Teir’Dal was Professor T’mher, one of Freeport’s more prominent Wizards. Grigle was training to become a wizard. (‘Delly Finium’ was apparently training to become a necromancer, judging from the smell of soil and rot clinging to the robes.) Bella looked ahead, they were almost to the cliffs, her sensitive ears could already pick up the crash of the waves under the talk of students. They took a winding path down the cliff side and soon stood on the dock. A burly barbarian rowed the students in small groups out to a ship. “I’m going to try to get into the boat with her.” Grigle led Bella up to the Teir’Dal girls. He stood close to them and they managed to all get into the boat together. He was just about to sit down next to the tallest girl when Professor T’mher stepped onto the rowboat. “How nice of you to save me a seat, Yungle.” T’mher sat in the last seat, leaving Grigle to perch precariously on the side of the boat. The professor nodded to the barbarian and the boat lurched forward, almost sending the Ayr’Dal into the water. The girls tittered behind their hands and set their chins in the air haughtily. They made it to the ship damp from sea spray. Grigle caught the rope ladder thrown down and offered to hold it for the girls. “You want to help, you go up first and help them over the railing, you’ll not get any peeks up robes on my watch.” “I wasn’t-“ Grigle’s face turned red. “Fine.” “You go last.” The Professor said to Bella as he climbed up next. “I thought rats were always the first to abandon ship.” The tall girl whispered to her friends. Bella smiled nicely and wondered if she could risk cutting the girl’s hair off later.

Bellacouste

03-01-2009, 10:57 PM

4: Tread lightly Bella sneaking on board had thrown off a couple of numbers. When the teachers divided the students and lead them into the cabins Professor Thrin quickly figured out that there were less beds than girls. “I should not think that rats would have a problem sleeping on the floor.” “I’s shouldn’t thinks that moody elves would has a problem sleepings on the gloomy ocean bed.” A dark furred Ratonga girl said, toying with a wickedly curved dagger. “Do not make threats you can not back up.” The dagger flew through the cabin and imbedded itself in the wooden bedpost, cutting some of the Koada’dal’s white hair along the way. “You’ll pay for that!” She screeched, gathering energy into her palm, but the professor grabbed her wrist. “You can’t use a fire spell on a wooden ship, you idiot! You two can sleep on the floor tonight and anyone caught trying to sink the ship will get thrown overboard. Now get up on deck for today’s lesson, all of you!” On the swaying deck of the ship Bella found Grigle clinging to the rail, looking paler than before. “I don’t think I like the sea.” “Youse will gets used to its.” “I’d rather use a portal.” “Ick. Youse upset about swaying of seas, but don’ts minds the gut-wrentch of portals?” “Portals are instant, ships are slow.” He leaned over the side so far that Bella felt a need to grab the back of his robes to prevent him falling. “Strange.” Bella looked over her shoulder into the face of Professor T’mher. “What motives do you have in helping him, rat?” “No funs at all to push hims now. He needs to be betters first. More funs to be had thens, yisyis?” “Hmm.” T’mher looked off towards the distance, where the floating citadel of the Overlord could be seen above Freeport. “I think I’ll grade you on Yungle’s…well being, at the end of the trip. Whose class are you in?” “Professors Thrin’s.” “Hmm.” The Dark Elf stood silent while Grigle wretched again, before climbing the steps to stand next to the captain by the wheel. Grigle stayed clinging to the railing all through T’mher’s history lesson of Freeport. After the history lesson was done the teachers handed out some assignments to keep the students busy on the rest of the voyage. Bella looked over the paper denoting that anyone failing to turn in the essay would be ‘volunteered’ to the advanced necromancy students. Grigle’s stomach was a little better now that it was empty, but he was still pale and a little feverish. They found a pile of coiled rope under the stairs to sit on to stay out of the sun and talk. “I always thought I’d like ships, you know. I always watched them when I was little, wanted to travel all over.” “Yous off to a goods starts.” “Yeah, real good.” The lithe Half-Elf stretched his legs out, putting them up on a nearby firkin and reclining. “You seem at home on this ship, you travel before?” “Only to Neriak.” “Huh. What’s it like there? Are all the Teir’Dal sarcastic jerks like T’mher?” “I’d don’ts knows. They nevers talked to mes.” “I’ll take that as a yes.” Grigle looked around and leaned a little closer to Bella. “You don’t have to do that assignment, not like you’re ever going to turn it in.” “I’s do nots wants to be necromantic volunteers. No sirs.” She nodded. “Yeah, that would kinda suck, but if they catch a stowaway like you, it’ll be worse than that.” Bella forced a laugh. “I’s is not a stowaways.” “Liar. You’re not that old, but you’re certainly not young enough to be a student. Besides, I saw you sneak into Huje’s tent and come out dressed in one of his robes. I know because I spilt the ink on him that stained them.” Her paw slowly crept towards the dagger she kept in her boot. “I won’t tell anyone though.” He said. “I think you’re here to cause trouble, sounds fun. Need any help? Itching powder in boots, laxative in the stew? What’s the plan?” He grinned. “I’s don’ts haves a plan.” She said slowly. “Going by the seat of your pants, eh? That’s good too. Spontaneous. But T’mher has already begun to suspect you, I hope you’ve got a way off the ship if things get…messy.” Bella merely nodded curtly and kept her paw on the dagger’s hilt. “Well, I’m going to go to bed early, don’t start the fun without me though.” He climbed to his feet and stumbled towards the cabins. Bella followed but turned into the girls cabin. She checked to make sure it was empty and cast a spell. Kinj T’mher knew a traitor when he saw one. He didn’t even have to ask Thrin if the Ratonga was in her class. Freeport did not deal lightly with traitors, but if she was found on the ship, even if something had not happened to the students, the very influential parents of some of the students might call his judgment into question. The rat had to be dealt with silently. T’mher waited until he could only hear the moon-touched waves lapping against the hull. He silently slipped into the cabin assigned to the girls and located the bed where the traitor slept, a quick slice, the warmth of blood and the deed was done. He wrapped the body in the blanket and slid it over the edge of the ship into the water. T’mher went back to the boy’s cabin and placed the dagger where he got it from Grigle’s backpack and slipped into his own bead. Nothing like killing two mongrels with one blade. Grigle was pulled from his bed and roughly brought on deck, which didn’t help his stomach much. “You’ve done it now, boy.” T’mher hissed in his ear. “There’s still time for the essay, I’ll have it done by the time we dock.” “Oh, this is a bit more serious than an essay.” Grigle was thrown to the deck. “See, while you were ogling the girls yesterday, the captain was explaining the rules of the voyage, one that you have clearly broken.” “What’d I do?” Grigle demanded. “While on this ship, you will all abide by our rules.” The captain roared so that all the students gathering on the deck could hear. “While no one would bat an eye in Freeport if a citizen was slain, murder is punishable by death on this ship!” The hulking Barbarian drew a chipped and battered claymore and pointed it at the Ayr’Dal’s throat. “The dagger was your undoing, lad. I wouldn’t expect a wizard to know that you always clean your blade, the blood lead right to you!” Grigle protested as the sword was raised and- KAPLOW! Grigle Yungle the Half elf peeked between his fingers, the captain lay on the deck, smoke rising lazily from him, his claymore twisted and smoldering beside. An eerie voice rose, cawing. “HEARS ME NOWS!” A lightning bolt sparked in the clear sky above the ship. Everyone turned and looked up. On the top of the mast stood a white hooded figure, with lightning crackling from it’s fingertips. “I’S HAVE COMES BACKS TO WREAK VENGENCE UPONS MINE MURDERER!” “He is there!” Cried Thrin, pointing at Grigle. “NO’S!” Boomed the figure. “HE IS THERE!” It pointed to T’mher. The students and teachers stepped back from him. “No! It was the Half elf’s blade that killed you!” T’mher cried. The figure jumped and landed upon the deck, sending everyone scrambling to the side of the ship. “AND YOURS HAND THAT WEILD ITS!” “You snuck aboard the ship! You’re a traitor, aren’t you? You know the penalty for betraying the Overlord!” “IF’S I’S WAS JUSTLY SLAINS AS A TRAITOR, WOULD THEY’S HAVE LETS ME COME BACK FOR REVENGE?!” The hood was thrown back and the face of the figure was white and covered in blood, it’s eyes large and wild, it’s teeth bared and red. “I’S SHALL TAKE YOUR SOUL WITH MES!” It screeched, reaching out with lightning still jumping on it’s paws and T’mher back away. “No!” He prepared a spell. “IS KILLINGS ME’S ONCE NOT ENOUGHS?” “Spare me!” He cowered. “AS YOUSE SPARED MES? IF’S ANY ON BOARDS WILL VOUCH FOR YOU’S, I SHALLS PASS ONS AND HAUNTS NO MORES.” The ghost spun slowly, taking in all assembled on the deck. “Thrin. Thrin, we’ve known each other for years, decades. You’ll vouch for me, won’t you?” “I know what happens to those who vouch for other’s sins. She’ll take my soul in your place. I’m not damning myself for a loathsome worm like you.” “NONE?” A bolt zapped past T’mher’s ear. “Someone! Anyone!” He pleaded. “I will!” All turned to see Grigle standing. “I will vouch!” “SO BE IT!” The lightning crackled and flashed brightly, blinding everyone. When they looked up, the ghost and the Half Elf were gone. The Captain had gotten to his feet and kicked his melted sword away, calling to one of the crew to bring him theirs. “That Half Elf saved my life.” T’mher gasped to the captain. “He shouldn’t have done that.” The Captain took a saber from the crewman. “You broke my rule.” The saber flashed and T’mher’s head fell overboard.

Bellacouste

03-25-2009, 01:49 AM

((Haven't posted in a bit, huh? The weather is getting nicer, so I'll be out in the garden when not painting the house, but hopefully the next update, which should be the end of Bella's story, will be up without the long delay this on got. I've already got the first part of the next story, so I'll be posting the end of this one and the begining of the next at the same time. Yay!Happy Hunting. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> )) 5: Ship Hopping “Whys dids you vouch for hims?” “Cause you smelled like jumjum jam.” Bella finished washing the flour and jam from her fur and sat back. “You really a traitor of Freeport?” Grigle asked, watching the Ratonga as she shook flour out of her boot. “No. I’s is a traitor of Neriak.” “Ah. Well, I guess that makes me the traitor of Freeport. So, where are we headed?” “Don’ts you’s have family to gets back to?” “Not really, no.” “Oh. Wells I’s has friend in Qeynos, wants to goes theres?” “Qeynos, huh? I’ll go as far as Thundering Steppes with you, then I’ll hitch a ride to Kelethin.” The young boy grinned mischievously. “I hear the girls in Kelethin are real beauties.” She wagged a finger at him. “Just stays away from those Renda’Dals, they’s nuttin’ but troubles.” “So, What’s your real name, Delly Finium?” “Bellacouste Cragmure.” She nodded. Grigle bolted upright, rocking the dingy dangerously. “Cragmure? Are you related to Charlemin Cragmure, the Shadowknight?” Bella nodded sadly. “Yisyis, Charlie is brother.” “Wow. I’ve seen him fight in some of the underground matches.” “Charlie fights in undergrounds matches?” Bella waved her paws to replenish the illusionary fog around them. “Yeah, I once saw him take down an overgrown ogre with no weapon. I heard later he was supposed to throw a match, but wouldn’t, so they put him up against Hrathgor, the champion.” “Feh. Charlie has to much prides to throw a match.” “So, how do we avoid getting caught when we dock, or are we still winging it?” “We’s untie dinghy and lets it float frees, then we’s will haves to swims under the docks and stays there untils everyones is gones. Thens we cans buy tickets.” “Well, I’m going to nap while I’m still dry.” Grigle pulled his hood over his eyes and leaned back. Bella was a little surprised about how well her plan had gone, even with all the unexpected turns. She had hid in the shadowed rafters of the girls cabin using her black cloak and had her Personae lay under the covers of the bed. While the doppelganger had been carried out and thrown overboard, only to dissolve later, she had crept into the ships galley for a sack of flour and a jar of red jum jum jam. She had climbed up into the crows nest where the lookout was sleeping in a drunken stupor, telling herself not to look down. (Rafters and awnings were fine, but anything higher than a Griffin’s Tower sent Bella’s knees quaking.) Bella sniffed the potent grog in the jug by the lazy lookout and knew it would keep him out for the rest of the night, if not the next day too. She spent the night in the crows nest, taking short naps. Early that morning a commotion on deck had woken her. She peeked over to see T’mher throw Grigle on the deck. She quickly rubbed the flour into her fur, applied the jam and prepared her favorite lighting based spells. Bella hadn’t actually expected anyone to vouch for T’mher when she asked, she had planned on grabbing him and dumping him out at sea later, so when Grigle spoke up she had grabbed him instead and in the confusion cast a spell of invisibility and carefully led the Half Elf to the back of the ship where she had stolen a dinghy and secured it under the overhanging captain’s cabin. Bella kept renewing the thick fog, unsure if the dinghy could be seen from the windows of the cabin above and not wanting to take the risk. By the time the ship docked at Nektulos, Bella had let the illusionary fog dissipate in favor of the natural fog of the coastal forest. She woke Grigle and they slipped into the water and clung to the pylons under the docks. The remaining teachers lead the students off the ship and began to set up camp under the Griffon Tower Station that stood on the beach. “It occurs to me that we’re still wearing the robes of students and now they’re wet and cold.” Grigle said. “I’s has extra robes in rucksack.” Bella whispered back. “They aren’t all pink, are they?” “Maybes?” “That’s just great.” “They’s is dry, is thats or gets pneumonias. I’s thinks we’s cans go nows.” Bella slowly swam along the underside of the dock towards the shore. Bella peeked over the top of the dock towards the camp. Most of the students were in their tents, only a few sat around a low fire in the middle. She pulled herself up and hid behind a stack of crates on the dock, Grigle followed, having to crouch down. “I’s never learns how to illusion peoples like Llews cans, so’s we’s needs disguises.” “As long as we disguise ourselves as someone whose warm.” The half-elf shivered. Bella’s nose picked up on the faint smell of a leather tanning agent. She sniffed the boxes. “See?” Grigle said. “You’re already coming down with something, you’ve got the sniffles.” “I’s think there’s clothings in these crates. Helps me open thems quietly.” They somehow got the crate open without drawing attention and found the leather gear popular among rangers in Qeynos. They changed and Grigle took their student robes and tied them together with a stone before dropping them into the water. “No pink for me.” He grinned, pulling a red leather cap over his gently pointed ears. Bella giggled and replaced the boards they had pulled from the crate, before pulling a hood low over her head. Grigle limped convincingly behind Bella as they approached the dock master and asked for tickets to Thundering Steppes. “Names?” The gruff man asked. “Daffadown Dilly and Fraxinus Excelsior.” Bella said without missing a beat. The human nodded and wrote the names down in a ledger. “12 silver each.” Bella felt as though there were some invisible thing over her head marking her as an Exile as they watched the ship pull into the dock with the other passengers. Grigle seemed to have no problem with any of it though, he grinned at the ladies near the front of the line and waved cordially as the tittered behind their hands. They followed the ladies up the gangplank. Bella had planned on laying low for the whole trip by staying in the cabin, but the tittering of the women and the questions about ‘that handsome young adventurer in the smart red jerkin’ were more than she could bare for four whole days. She went up on deck and was glad to see the sun was out. She had asked a crewmember if it was alright to bring her plants out and found a clear spot out of the way to set them out. She frowned at their drooping leaves and hanging heads. The stay in Neriak had been one thing, but the magic bag and salty sea air had been no better. She carefully examined her daffodils when a shadow fell across them. Her paw moved slowly towards her concealed dagger as she turned. She saw the red leather and relaxed a bit before realizing the figure was much to large to be Grigle. She shielded her eyes as the tall human made a flourishing bow. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I couldn’t help but to wonder what you were doing with all those plants. Are you a scientist?” She shook her head. “I’s just likes plants.” “They look like they’ve been having a rough time.” “Travels ins a bag sometimes, is nots good for yous either.” The human laughed. “True. True. A couple of us were going to play some music later this evening if you’re interested. Bring an instrument if you’ve got one.” She nodded and smiled back. The human wondered away to the stern of the ship to talk to a pair of Halflings. The four days crossing the sea were some of the most pleasant Bella had enjoyed in a long while. The human in red turned out to be an accomplished bard and played reels and jigs in the evening, many of the passengers danced merrily in the small dining room. Grigle had no shortage of dance partners and switched from one fancy woman to another between songs, even though he said it made his seasickness worse. Most of the other passengers where from Qeynos. There was a group of Halflings collecting recipes from around Norrath for a cookbook, while another group was going home after a tour of the Commonlands and many adventurers in groups or alone. The ship soon docked in Thundering Steppes though and everyone disembarked and bought tickets to their next destination, or set out past the docks into the wild lands beyond. Bella looked at her ticket to Antonica and Grigle’s for Butcherblock Mountains. “You stays out of troubles.” “Yeah, okay, Ma.” “And wash behinds ears.” “Yeah.” Bella patted him on the back and boarded her ship. “You’s writes me whens you gets there! I likes letters.” She called, leaning over the railing to wave. Grigle waved back before cupping his hands around his mouth. “You’ll have to come visit me in Kelethin! I hear they live in giant acorns in the trees!” “I’s afraid of heights!” “Don’t go climbing any masts again, then!” “I’s won’t! Don’t gets seasicks!” “No promises! Bye!” “Bye!” The waved to each other as the ship slowly departed.

Bellacouste

04-30-2009, 07:51 PM

((I know I said this update wouldn't have as long a delay as the last one, but a bunch of stuff came up in addition to the stuff I had planned for, but oh well, that's the way these things happen, right?So anyway, this is the last part of Bella's story and as promised the begining of the next story is below that! Yay! XD Happy Hunting!)) 6: Final Voyage Bella happily settled into the private cabin she had splurged for, flopping into the comfy bed with glee. The tittering women were going to Kelethin, as was Grigle, the Captain assured them all clear weather and a fair wind and her private cabin even had a small washroom with a heated machanomagical tub. She took a hot bath, praising the genius of all of Gnomekind and headed down to the galley in her favorite pink robe. She had once again offered her services to the ship’s cook and this time the elderly gnome had accepted. The stern-faced man stood just a tad taller than Bella, and both had to use milk crates to peer into the stockpot on the stove. The galley was a strange mix of smells and items of questionable edibility. Most of the pots and pans were dented and the knives all seemed dull. There were Fayberries in the basket labeled ‘Tomatoes’ and Murdank Oranges in the one labeled ‘Onions’. The floor was slippery with spilt water where it wasn’t sooty from the wood burning stove that had a broken door. There was a basket of kindling next to the stove that smelt vaguely of old eggs. It turned out that the gnome’s eyes were quite bad in his old age, but that he refused to admit it. In fact his eyes were so bad that he had only accepted Bella’s offer to help because he had mistaken her for a bald Halfling woman. “You start the soup and I’ll make a salad, I don’t feel like getting too close to that stove today, I’ve tried fixing it, but the things beyond anything this tinkerer can do.” He waved a bandaged hand around and Bella caught a glimpse of the gnome’s burnt sleeve cuffs. “What kinds of soups shall I’s makes?” She asked, wondering if the mushroom on the counter was picked in a cave or ‘home-grown’ in the galley. “If I didn’t know Halflings were such good cooks I wouldn’t tolerate you talking like one of those Commonlands beasts. I don’t know what kind of soup, whatever you feel like making should be fine. Does this tomato smell right to you?” The old gnome held out a rather large Fayberry before tossing it on the counter and chopping it up, flinging the pieces into the bowl of ragged lettuce. Bella found some good potatoes, carrots, celery and what she hoped was a side of roast vulrich rump and started a stew. While the vegetables and meat bubbled on the square shaped stove she planned her new life in Qeynos. She’d like to have a proper garden and maybe a pet. Dogs were too big and cats never liked her, but she had seen strange birds in the pet shops that waddled on flat feet and had shiny green feathers. She had been told that they make for good dinners, but then, why would they have been sold at the pet shop? She pictured a kitchen with large windows and sunshine pouring in and a hammock stretched across a window in the back room that was filled with books and collected trinkets. The dining room would be lit by candles in the middle of a short Halfling made table and there would be a proper living room. (Like the one she had seen in that mansion in Upper Freeport that she had been hired to steal an artifact from.) The living room would have a fireplace and a plush couch to sit on while the children played on the red rug and- Children? How did they sneak in there? Bella shook her head and glanced around, as if someone had seen the imaginary litter of Ratonga babies. Dinner was a silent affair in the cramped mess hall of the ship until the Bard that had asked Bella about her plants took out a lute and started a rousing song. Bella clapped to the music from the bench with the other passengers. She looked around and noticed that one of the Halflings was giving her an odd look. He noticed that she was looking his way and jerked around to ask an aged Erudite to pass the ale pitcher. If Bella wasn’t in the kitchen with Mr. Cogbinder she was in her cabin nursing her plants back to life in the window of her cabin. One their third day out at sea the Halfling who had been staring at Bella offered his help in the kitchen. “Two Halflings in the kitchen on the same voyage? This might be my most leisurely crossing yet!” Cogbinder exclaimed, squinting his eyes behind his Fizzlepop-bottle glasses*. “Two Halflings?” “Aye, come over here and meet Bellacouste, a fine cook as any. Now, what’s your name again?” “Jummy Cabbagetosser. You said there was another Halfling?” “Are you blind? She’s standing right in front of you.” Cogbinder exclaimed, pointing at Bella. “Can’t miss her in those bright pink robes.” “She’s not a Halfling.” Cabbagetosser scrunched up his nose at Bella. “Well she’s no gnome.” “I’s is a Ratongas.” “She’s got a great sense of humor, that one. Now, get to work, the captain requested Shark Fin Soup today.” Cogbinder shuffled over to the pantry and rummaged for something. Bella had some trouble cooking that day. Cabbagetosser seemed more concerned with what she was cooking than his own dishes. He kept a close eye on her and she got the distinct impression that he suspected her to pull out a bottle of arsenic at any moment and dump the whole thing into the soup. One the fourth day they woke to the news the tallest tower of Queen Antonia Bayle’s castle could be seen on the horizon. Jummy was unusually withdrawn while they prepared breakfast and lunch. Bella wondered if he had realized that she wasn’t going to do anything to the food. Cogbinder went to the hold to see if they had any good wine to celebrate the end of the voyage with while they peeled and chopped vegetables. The Halfling suddenly swung the paring knife in a wide arc, catching Bella’s shoulder. She stumbled off the milk crate and crashed to the floor. She examined the growing red stain on her robe and looked up at him. “What are you doings?” “You’re going to Qeynos, aren’t you?” Bella’s paw slowly went towards her concealed dagger. “Aye.” Jummy lunged and Bella rolled out of the way, but the galley was too small and she cracked her head on the cabinet door. The room swayed dangerously as they hit a rough patch of sea and her head hit the door again. Everything faded in and out and she was barely aware of Jummy standing over her. He dropped the small paring knife and picked up the butcher’s cleaver from the kindling pile. “You rats killed my wife, I’ll not have you disease carrying vermin in my city.” He raised the cleaver and brought it down on Bella’s stomach. She doubled up as the pain shot through her body. She gasped for breath and tried to get her hands to stop shaking long enough to cast a spell. Jummy raised the cleaver again and Bella kicked out, catching him in the round gut. He fell back into the burning stove and his vest caught fire. He screamed and dropped the cleaver, bolting from the galley trailing flames behind him. Bella heard heavy footsteps outside in the hall and the door clattered open as she tried to climb to her feet. She slipped in the pool of blood and banged her chin on the counter. “What happened?” Bella groaned and looked up into the face of the bard before her vision darkened and she blacked out. She woke in a strange dark room with thick wool blankets pulled up to her chin. She pushed them away and tried to sit up, but her stomach hurt too much. She lay in the bed, staring up at a strange ceiling. A door opened somewhere and a light bobbed her way. “Are you awake Bella?” A woman’s voice asked. “What happened?” “You were attacked by that Halfling.” The Bard’s voice chimed in. “Lucky for you Cogbinder never noticed his knives needed sharpening, that blow would have killed you otherwise.” “When wills the ship dock?” She asked as someone pulled the blankets back up. “The ship docked two weeks ago, you’ve been out of it with a fever for a while now.” “But why is the rooms still swaying?” “That’s just an optical illusion caused by the candle’s flickering and your fever. Keep the blankets up, we need to suffocate your fever.” The woman said. “If we are nots on the ships, then where’s are we’s?” “We’re in my house, Bella.” “Who are you?” She squinted up at the figure, but the flickering of the candle made her features hard to make out. “It’s me, Llew.” “I’s is in Qeynos nows?” “You are. Aloysiius here found you in the ship’s kitchen and took you to the Temple of Life for healing. They stitched you up, but they aren’t accustomed to treating Ratonga, so they weren’t sure what potions were safe to give you. They found my letters in your rucksack and contacted me. You’ve been here since then.” Bella tried to sit up, but was pushed back. “You can’t move too much, or you’ll tear a stitch. Stay in bed.” “For how longs?” “Until you are better. If you feel up to it though, I’d like to know how you got here. The last I heard you were happy in Neriak.” “That’s something I’ve never heard before, ‘happy in Neriak’.” The Bard chuckled. Bella told Llew and Al the story in short bits as she healed and by the time that she was finished she was taken off of bed rest and allowed to leave the room. She finished healing while staying in Llew’s brother’s bedroom while he was out of town. Llew showed her around the city and after two weeks Bella had started renting a room at the Lion’s Mane Inn. She bought a flat footed bird called a ‘Mallard’ from the pet shop and named it ‘Dinner’. The two room rental had no garden, but that didn’t stop Bella from enchanting some grass to grow in the corner, she soon had a pleasant place for her plants and the scraggly one her brother gave her flourished and bloomed. She began to teach Llew to cook in exchange for lessons in Illusions and she slowly forgot the Coercer spells her Grandmother taught her. The bard, Aloysiius visited from time-to-time, but eventually wandered off, as bards often do. *I took some liberty here, I don’t think the term ‘Coke-bottle’ would make sense in the story. ;P ‘Coke-bottle glasses’ is a rather dated term, if anyone was wondering what they are, they are glasses with extremely thick lenses, like the bottom of the original glass Coca-Cola bottles, they were for people with very poor eyesight and the term is not used anymore because lenses can be cut much thinner now.

Bellacouste

04-30-2009, 07:51 PM

Story two: Mismanaged Magic 1: Inheritance Llewenayah Redmantle lived at the end of Erollisi Lane in South Qeynos in a well kept, spacious house that she prized. She kept everything in the house just so, when the many cats let her. The front room was warmed and lit by a fireplace with plush seating, the kitchen was kept almost as well stocked as the library and the attic had been converted to an indoor garden. Downstairs in the basement was a spare room for her brother Danlore, who had once rented a room at the Inn down the street, but had been evicted after an ill-fated experiment had resulted in a rather large hole in the building’s façade. Llew’s favorite part of the house was anywhere she could curl up with one of her books, which was most of the house. She could be found on the bench in the garden with a book on the fauna and flora of the Enchanted Lands, or at the desk in the library with a scroll detailing the latest spell in the illusionary arts, or, like today, laid out on the couch in front of the fireplace with her favorite book, a pot of tea and a cat. She had been trying to get through this last chapter all week, but it had been one interruption after another, but none today, no, she would not open the door until the book was done and closed. She was almost to the best part. The Froglok tricked the Droag into looking over the- Knock knock! -waterfall and he swung the water jug back- Knock knock! -The jug hit the Droag right between the wings- Knockknockknock! -and he waved his arms, teetering on the edge before- THWONK! THWONK! “What now?!” She tossed the book down irritably on the couch, sending one of the cats scurrying from it’s nap. Llew strode to the door, ready to yank it open and tell whoever off for trying to bust the wooden door down with their unnecessarily rough knocks. Neither Llew nor Dan had ever met their grandfather. Their mother had kept a small painting of him in the dining room, so she was sure that it was him on the doorstep. The tall and fair Renda’Dal had pure white hair neatly trimmed to his shoulders with two small braids hanging down behind his ears. He was clothed in expensive robes finely embroidered and surprisingly clean despite the dirt on the leather boots that peeked out from the hem. She toyed with the idea of slamming the door in his face, but didn’t really want to give him an actual reason to mock her human heritage. She stepped back and motioned him in, a wolf, a speck of light and a small boy trailed behind him. There was a heavy silence as his eyes took in the seven cats in the room. He cleared his throat. “I am Thurare-“ “I know.” Llew cut him off. “Ma told us about you before she left.” “Hmm.” “So, what brings you to Qeynos so far from New Tunaria? If you need lodging there is an inn down the street.” She folded her arms. “I will not be staying in town.” “Just passing through?” “So to speak. I am here to…” He paused to choose his words. “My daughter has passed and there are certain…things, of hers that I believe would be better left in your possession.” Llew felt a lump rise in her chest. “Ma- Ma’s dead?” “Yes.” He said simply. “How did she die?” “Illness. I fear that her time with that human made her weak.” “Don’t go there.” Llew snapped. “Pa loved her, which is more than anyone could say about that yuppy dandy she said you arranged for her to marry.” “Branoon is a fine warrior with a pure lineage. That human could not even hold his own against the undead.” He said flatly. “I think you wasted a trip. If you came here just to be cold and insulting, you might as well have sent a letter.” Llew went back to the fireplace and flopped down on the couch, picking the book up. “Get out.” “I will leave your inheritance by the door.” “Just get out.” She snapped over her shoulder. She heard the door open. “Pa gave his life defending this city and us, he died honorably and I’ll not have anyone in my house saying otherwise.” The door clicked shut and Llew fumed and spoke to one of the cats. “Pa was strong, and skilled. That’s why the guard asked him to help, you know.” The cat simply mewed and stretched out in front of the fire. Llew found that she could no longer concentrate on the book and got up to refill the teapot. She stood and saw the little boy still standing by the door. “Erm…did he forget you?” The boy shuffled his feet and kept his head down. Llew sighed. “Which way did you come from? Maybe we can still catch him.” “We came by ship.” He said quietly. “Well, come on, we’ll go catch him.” Llew took his hand and went out the door. They wound their way through the afternoon crowd and Llew cursed her short stature as she tried to see over the throng of shoppers for a glimpse of the white haired elf. They went through the gate dividing South Qeynos from the Harbor and made their way to the docks. Llew caught up to him by the harbormaster, where he was buying a ticket. “Forget someone?” Thurare looked up from the ticket. “I do not believe so.” Llew nodded to indicate the child. “I told you I would leave your inheritance by the door.” Llew looked from the boy to her grandfather. “Is this High Elf humor or something?” “The boy is to be left in your care.” Llew thought for a moment before leaning in and dropping her voice. “Why?” “You are his family.” “He certainly not for Pa’s side, so aren’t you family too?” “After my daughter left us, we searched for her and found her living with a human. We tried to get her to come back, but she would not. We could not let our family name be shamed in such a way, so we told everyone that she had been sent away for her health. We sent letters and eventually she returned and finally fulfilled the contract and married Branoon. When she fell ill in her fevered state she told him everything, how she had lived with that human and he left her and the child. When she died he was left in our house.” “Is there a reason he can’t stay at your house?” “His father has said that he is tainted and unworthy of carrying his name, he will bring shame to us too. We can easily claim ignorance of his mother’s secrets, but we can not do so with his.” “That-that is the most twisted logic I’ve ever heard!” Llew’s voice raised. “I have taken great risk to bring him here, but if you wish, you could always abandon him in the wilderness as I was supposed to.” “You’re sick.” She spat. “Raise him or leave him somewhere, I do not care. Neither he nor you are my kin.” Thurare turned and scanned the docks. “Ah, I believe that is my ship.”