Beginning Again (Journal of Lone Starraiser, Ch. 2)

[Cerberus]

Lone sat up against several cushions that had been gathered for him while he lay recovering at Dragon's Watch in a tent. His fiance, Isioviel, sat on several cushions at his side, stroking his arm gently. She had yet to leave his side since his return, and frankly, he didn't care. He longed to see her face again, and did not want to ever leave her side again.

Looking to his other side, a young elven child slept peacefully on a pile of cushions. Isioviel said she found the poor girl in a small cave, and brought her to Dragon's Watch. The elvish girl had grown attached to the two of them, although it made Lone uncomfortable, she had nowhere else to go, and so stayed close to him and Isioviel.

He sat down looking at some of the papers that had been stacked up. In his left hand, he fingered a small ring that matched identically to one he himself wore. It was a Hunter's Band, and it had belonged to Den. Den had left it behind and disappeared shortly after Lone returned... Den was close to Lone, but it was apparent whereever he went, he was not in trouble, and left on his own will, not wanting to be followed.

Shaking his head, he pocketed the ring, and sighed quietly. He arrived, and already there were things for Lone to handle, no rest. He calmly patted Isioviel's arm, and turned to the attendant that had been provided to him to fetch anything he needed.

"Please, go and find Myles. Tell him I want to speak to him." Lone said, nodding. The attendant nodded and backed out quietly.

Waiting for a moment, Lone looked into Isis' eyes. They still looked at him as if he were only a dream, an unreal visage that would disappear if she blinked. He felt responsible for her discomfort, and ran his hand along her arm.

The flap flew open again, and Myles strode in, looking around as if he expected a threat to jump out at him at anytime. Lone eyed him carefully, he had grown much while Lone was gone.

Behind him, a young lady followed, carrying a number of satchels and books. Lone recognized her immediately as Myles' sister, Ra'enya. Lone nodded to the two of them as they entered. They looked at Lone patiently, waiting for him to speak.

"Nice to see you both once more," Lone said, nodding to the cushions, motioning them to sit. Lone pulled out Den's ring again, and tossed it to Myles. "Den's gone. He doesn't want us to find him. I don't know why, but I'm inclined to follow his wishes."

Myles only looked at the ring, not yet speaking, but not surprised either.

"I am curious to see what the Silver Thorns have done in my absence." He noticed Isioviel's eyes blink a moment at the mention of the Silver Thorns, but he figured it was time she learned.

With what he had planned, everyone would know what the Thorns did.

He sat back and awaited Myles to start speaking.

((EDIT: Added the part about Isis' child that she found.))

[s4rx7]

A young Elven woman sat with her legs dangling over the side of the fortified walls, simple enjoying the morning sun light. “HEY!” The brute bellowed from below “You no should be dere, git down before you fall off!” With a wink and a smile she used her hands to launch herself of the wall landing gracefully only a few feet away. Looking back at the brute with her childish grin, she could see the brute was not very impressed as he mumbled as he walked away.

Cynath ran her fingers through her fiery red hair while she looked around the camp. Her attention focused around a single busy little tent that she noticed a couple of people going into. Curiosity drew her closer to the tent where she found a small camp fire just out side. To most others that past by the tent would have muffled their voices, but to an Elf’s, there was little trouble. Not wanting to appear suspicious she found a small pot and some water. Pulling some herb out of her bag Cynath let her back face the tent as she made the tea.

The tea’s pleasant aroma drifted through the area. To most of those around it would have been little more than a delightful smell, unbeknown to her however the distinctive fragrance would soon rekindle memories of a happier time not so long ago and of a love that has past.

[Mon-Da-Oth]

Myles had remained near the entrance to Lones tent wanting to make sure that no one bothered him and Isioviel. Ra'enya had approached wanting to speak with Lone but the stern look on his face spoke loudly enough that she didn't dare try to enter.

Lone's attendant exited the tent and was only able to take a few steps before Myles stepped in front of the man blocking his path. The man gave a short gasp as the heavily armed archer seemed to just appear in front of him.

"Myles, sir, Lone wishes to" The servant began.

Without waiting for the man to finish Myles entered the tent followed very closely by Ra'enya.

He stopped shortly inside the tent as Lone flipped a ring to him. Ra'enya bumped into his back almost causing him to drop the ring. He looked at the ring recognizing it as one of the hunters bands and noting the it was the ring that belonged to Den. Myles let out a sad sigh.

"Myles can you tell me what the Hunters have been up to since my absence?" Lone asked.

Ra'enya leaned over Myles shoulder to look at the ring. "Is that Den's ring?"

She quickly turned her gaze towards Lone and Isioviel. "Is he still suffering from....well you remember right? She made her way pass Myles and sat down in front of Lone.

"I think I might have found something to help. Let me show you what little I was able to gather....urk"

Myles had grabbed the back of Ra'enyas gown and was lifting her to her feet away from Lone. "Not now Ra'enya."

An angry scowl crossed Ra'enyas face and she muttered a brief arcane word while reaching back and touching Myles hand.

A loud popping sound was heard along with a flash of blinding light and the smell of ozone.

Myles jerked back a slightly burned hand staring down at his sister. He looked up at Lone and shrugged.

[Clerified]

In another tent at Dragons Watch, Mitchifer replaced his armor for his flowing clergy robes. He examined the sturdy chasis of the Lost Crusader and turned to a nearby guard and instructed him to put it in their armory for any spare unit who could use it.

He glanced at his self-forged heater shield with a built-in gem that warded off flame attacks and caught the gaurd by the shoulder, "Wait. Take this too." The half-orc grunted with a respectful nod at the weight of the equipment and turned to go without giving Mitchifer another look.

The cleric smiled slightly and gave his hammer a good looking-over. He had learned quite a few tricks in smithing that he could put to good use with this yet. He stuffed it through its handle on his pack and stepped out of the tent almost holding his breath.

This was a new beginning for himself as a pacifist. He supposed some things he wouldn't be able to bear his wrath from in spite of, such as the horde of undead, and the malevolent and forever present evil taint of the most hideous kind that existed in characters like the heretics of the dark gods, but all other forms of wrong or bad were no longer apart of his judgements. It had been too long for himself that he had fought against such things, and there were fresher faces, those of the new age, to pit their beliefs against one another.

Plus, he would always be better as a full-time priest anyway. He wasn't exactly the fighting sort, and this would allow him to pursue his god in a more distinct way... By revering his dragons instead of killing each one that tried to eat him, for starters. Mitchifer new inside that this decision was the path Anu had been leading him to for years, but he had been too young to understand that he didn't have to wear shining plate to fight for justice. And peace was a result of justice that he should have always known he could not examplify with war. Yet he had experienced so much in Daris that he wasn't about to get into the politics and the necessity of war. He was only changing the madness to his method, so to speak.

The cleric stood close to the nearest entrance gate of the keep and watched the tent he knew Lone stayed at as Myles and a female elf hurried in after a brief ushering by an attendant. They were so brisk to enter that he thought there might be some trouble, and so headed toward the tent himself. Stopping just outside, Mitchifer decided not to enter or let them know of his presence so as not to intrude if anything important was being discussed, and settled for an amiable walk to the nearby campfire where he stood in case they needed him and returned to his inner thoughts.

[JaeEleutheria]

Jae Eleutheria sat outside of Falson's tent with her katana drawn and resting on its hilt. Drakin and Skia had taken both of their cub litters out for a hunting lesson, so with everything about it was still very quiet at Dragon's Watch.

She watched with a blank expression on her face Lone and Myles talking on the other side. She looked down. She had wanted to be there when Lone was found, but she had to be by Falson. Falson had been coughing up blood for the last couple days and she had been worried. Everything she tried to do didn't help, and he continually told her that. Ariadne had been extremely annoyed when she tried to do what she knew how to help him and nothing happened. The paladin did not exactly like being told that "it wouldn't help" and Jae couldn't blame Ari for stalking off somewhere. Perhaps back to town.

Jae wasn't really certain what to think. Falson told her to be patient, but that was something she was never good at.

So she just sat there, wondering what Lone was going to be doing now that he was back. She looked around at all the people residing in Dragon's Watch, the brutes, the dwarven builders, the new merchant that had nice stuff, and then the few people remaining from the rescuing of Lone.

While she wondered what the cleric was up to, she kept her guard of Falson's tent, hoping that no one would disturb his rest.

[Rego Blin]

Tathar walked out from behind a wagon, he had been keeping an eye on Lone's tent since he had returned. Although he was unable to assist in rescueing Lone, due to his other duties, Tathar had kept a close vigil on the tent Lone was resting in.

Seeing the young elf sit herself near the tent, Tathar moved closer. When the smell of the tea reached him he moved right to her.

"Miss, can you please brew that tea at another campfire, Lone is still recovering, theres no reason for unnecessary smells and the like."

[Cerberus]

Lone looked at Ra'enya sternly a moment. "A lot has happened while I was away, Ra'enya. I can assure you that I will set aside time to focus on that. Right now, I'd like to speak to your brother."

Lone looked to the young elven girl. She was startled awake by the large popping sound that had been made by Ra'enya. He reached over and put a soothing hand on her head, calming her.

With one hand caressed by Isis and another calmly stroking the hair of the young girl laying next to him, Lone turned his attention back to Myles. To show Ra'enya the importance, Lone brought on his official tone. "Bring me up to speed, Corporal, and I'll tell you my plans."

[s4rx7]

Frowning as she looked up at Tather "What's wrong with my tea? *sniffs* smells alot better than those brutes" then pours some of the tea into a mug and hands it to him.

[whiteguyinblues]

Vrok approaches as the comment about smelly brutes is spoken

Joo wan be talkin bout smells. Me mudder say peeple dat smellin too much gutz ta haf a big noozz. So joo tak yer big noozz, enn yer Tea, en MUV!

Vrok points to a section of Dragon Watch where the Brutes already have a fire going


Joo make tea ova der. En if dat noozz give joo amy mur trubles joo let me know. I bash et fer joo!

[Mon-Da-Oth]

Ra'enya puffed up at Lones dismissal, her face turning red and the tips of her ears quivering slightly. She was momentarily distracted by the young child who she had not noticed upon first entering the tent.

The child's face split into a grin seeing Ra'enyas reaction and Ra'enya bit her lip slightly and raised a hand up to still the tip of one of her ears.

She smiled at the child and then turned her gaze towards Lone. "I am sorry." she then took a seat just off to the side and looked up at Myles, Lone, and Isioviel.

Myles waved his still smoking hand back and forth trying to relieve the stinging sensation left from the static shock his sister had given him.

"Where to start Lone. A lot has happened that I know about and a great deal more has that I don't know about." Myles looked down at Den's ring still in his hand.

"After you were taken by The One we stopped all operations and began searching for clues as to your were abouts. The end result is that you are hear now." Myles grinned happily at Lone and Isioviel.

A frown then crossed Myles face and he reached into the front of his padded vest and pulled out a black rose that had been dried and pressed. He laid this down in front of Lone. Across the petals could be seen dark red stains which gave the rose a molted appearance. He stared at the rose for several seconds more before looking back up at Lone.

"I also meet with the one who helped you start this organization. He told me how the Silver Thorns use to be known as the Ebon Rose." Myles rubbed absently at a spot near the center of his chest.

"Had I known this before hand I might not have joined. But I can see that under your leadership things have changed. The group is no longer a bunch of Drow assassins and murderers preying on Dasarians."

Myles picked up the dried rose and holding the flower in his hands he slowly crushed the petals. He then opened his hand allowing the stem and the powdery dust of the petals to drop to the ground.

He smiled looking back up towards Lone. "I have no regrets for my membership in your organization."

"As for the Drow, Kell, I caught him sneaking around the keep while we were making plans for your rescue. I managed to hit him with a few of my arrows and I think one caused him a deep wound which he aggravated when he ripped it out. I have heard rumours that he has returned to the Under Dark. Nothing that I can confirm though."

"Tathar has joined as you might have seen him around the keep. He pretty much keeps to himself but in the short time I have known him he will be a valued member of our group. He has also helped me with my own problem." Myles tapped his finger against his head and gave a short chuckle.

"That is also something I wanted to talk to you about but I don't' feel it is necessarily a Hunters issue." Myles gave a short shrug.

Ra'enyas head jerked up at Myles statement and then she looked at Lone while holding a book open on her lap.

[s4rx7]

The little Elven girl had never spoken, she always communitacted with smiles or frowns. After being awoken by the loud popping sound she was alittle on edge, never sure of people to being with she watched on in her usual silent way.

She didn't like the tone of voice this Myles charater was using and when he crussed the flower it looked to her as though he was threating Lone or Isis. She jumped up and stood between Myles and Isis, her eyes glaring at Myles. The draconic words rolled of her tongue as if it was her native language. The tiny sparks cracked into being zapping Myles on the tip of the nose. Immediately starting to cast again.

[Mon-Da-Oth]

"Mother of all!" Myles exclaimed grabbing at the buring tip of his nose.

Staggering backwards he slipped through the tent flap back outside where his foot caught on a tent peg causing him to fall heavily onto his arse.

[s4rx7]

“What’s with you people and Tea? Is this the coffee are or something?” *shakes her head* “Well the tea’s finished now, drink it, tip it out, whatever” *walks off drinking her tea*

To concerned with flicking off Vrok she didn't see Myles come fumbling out of the tent. Cynath tripped over Myles sending the mug of hot tea flying into the air.

[Peregrinus]

The disturbance in the weave of draconic sorcery startled Falson from where he had been talking with the geomancer and a messanger. Turning as the young child continued chanting, Falson spoke a few words and countered her spell, moving swiftly to where Myles, Lone, Isioviel and the girl were talking, he looked down at the girl.

"Isioviel," he spoke softly, the girls eyes now glaring at Falson, "that is a special child you have there."

Falson held the girls eyes steadily, a friendly glimmer in his eyes, but underneath, concern.

"But she shouldn't be casting magic at people here, no matter what's going on."

He knelt down next to the girl and spoke softly in draconic to her, the language of mages.

"You shouldn't hurt Mister Myles," he whispered to her, "I know he seems scary, but he's not a bad man. Save your magic to hurt minotaurs and harpies."

The sorcerer then stood quietly and began heading back towards the geomancer and messanger, keeping barely within earshot of the four.

[Clerified]

Upon hearing Myles's abrupt landing, Mitchifer's attention went away from his personal thoughts. He then paused as the next tumble was clearly milliseconds away. He would have said something, but his hand went up and the damage had already been done, as the second person tripped over Myles and spilled her steaming beverage across the air.

Tossing his eyes with a quiet prayer for the tripped up duo, Mitch strided over and crouched besides them, glancing over each of them and observing the smoke still floating off Myles's slightly charred nose. "Graceful," Mitchifer said with a grimace as he pointed to the smoke, "What happened here?" The human cleric raised a soothing hand toward the sizzling spot and observed the tent carefully.