by Saphyre
Saphyre stepped out into the chilly Neriak morning. Dressed warmly in her rabbit fur-lined cloak with matching boots and gloves, the young prophet of Darkmoon made her way through the city streets towards the main entrance. Once outside in the forest, she smiled up at the dark sky above. The shades of blues and violets meant it was going to be a good day to look for a tree; the perfect tree for Darkana. The three day winter celebration was very special to her guild. The members were eager to help with donations of money and supplies. In turn, the young prophet had spent hours planning, shopping, roasting and baking. Now they needed a tree. No Darkana celebration would be complete without the traditional tree adorned with ornaments in honor of Innoruuk.
The dark elf maiden checked to make sure she had everything she needed: a long rope, an ax, and regents for spells. She felt no need to bring tiny daggers for conjuring her pet sword and shield. She was in her third circle of training now and didn't plan on going anywhere dangerous. Armed with only her totem staff, she slowly made her way past spiderlings and moss snakes. Before she entered the dark woods of Nektulos, she cast the Haze spell on herself to make sure none of the forest creatures bothered her while she looked around. Keeping her eye on the path that lead to East Commonlands, she went from tree to tree, checking for size and fullness. Still somewhat unfamiliar with the forest, Saphyre relied on the path to help her find her way back to Neriak. It wasn't a very busy morning for hunters. A few inexperienced dark elves were around, trying to fight and hunt. Saphyre smiled as she watched them. Her spell was working well for the hunters and creatures alike seemed oblivious to the hazy imaged figure walking in their midst.
As she continued her search, she didn't realize how far she had gone from the city entrance. She continued down the path southbound past shadow wolves and black bears. These animals still attacked on sight so she moved cautiously, ever alert should the haze spell end with any of them close by. Time passed as she began to lose hope of finding anything suitable amongst the enormous trees of the forest. Her dark eyes scanned the scenery as she slowly made her way several yards away from the path. It was not far from there that she spotted a tree that appeared to be the right size. She smiled to herself and hastened to it for further scrutiny. It wasn't very big. It stood dwarfed by the large trees all around it. The view seemed symbolic to her: A small tree standing in the middle of so many big ones. She felt a kinship with that tree and decided it was perfect. It, like herself, was going to leave its "family" to serve Innoruuk and Darkmoon.
She cast her Strength spell on herself then pulled out her ax and took aim at the trunk. At first she hesitated not wanting to kill this lovely tree but she eventually got over her sentimentality and struck it repeatedly with all her might. After much effort and a lot of pushing, Saphyre managed to chop down the six foot tree. She stood looking triumphantly at it till she realized how far away she was from the home. Even with her Strength spell, she wasn't going to be strong enough to pick it up and carry it all the way home. She frowned and looked around for a solution. There was no one in sight to help -- no one but a bear. A black bear. It was at a safe distance so Saphyre thought for a moment. She then quickly pulled out her spell book and checked her spells for something she could use. She decided to try her Mesmerize spell on the bear.
The young prophet sneaked up to the bear and successfully cast the spell on him which left him enthralled and in a controllable state. She safely approached him with her rope. She cut enough rope to tie one end of it around his neck, leaving enough for a leash to lead him with. She then quickly tied one end of the remainder of the rope to his new rope "collar" and the other end to the fallen tree so he could drag it behind him. She beamed with pride as she pulled on the makeshift leash and led the bear down the path back towards Neriak. Along the way, a few hunters stopped and pointed at the sight of a huge black bear passively being lead around by a young female dark elf. She couldn't resist showing off a little; waving to them so show them how brave and unruffled she was. Saphyre was indeed feeling proud of herself and her powers. Darkmoon was going to be so impressed with her. She couldn't wait to tell her brothers and sisters about how clever she was with the bear. The patriarch would shine his smile on her after he learned all the details. Saphyre grinned and chuckled to herself happily until she heard a noise behind her. The noise sent chills up her spine as she recognized it for what it was: a growl. She froze and turned to face the black bear who had returned to his normal state and wasn't very happy.
Saphyre quickly tried to cast the Mesmerize spell again but it only fizzled. The bear charged after her. Lifting the front of her robe, the young prophet ran for her life. Had it not been for the weight of the tree which hindered the angry animal, he might have caught her, mauling her to pieces. His strength, however, kept him close enough she couldn't stop to cast another spell. The dark elf maiden ran, dodging trees and creatures as she headed towards the city entrance. She frantically called out for help and looked for anyone nearby who could assist her. To her dismay, there was no one. The black bear growled threateningly causing her to scream and panic. And so they ran, prophet and bear up the path, past spiderlings and wolves. Trying to use the element of surprise, Saphyre suddenly stopped and attempted to use her staff on the bear, hitting him squarely on his head without delay. To her horror, it did practically nothing. Her magical strength was gone. With a mixture of embarrassment and fear, she gave the snarling bear a nervous laugh then quickly bolted once again up the path.
Just outside the front entrance of Neriak, two guards watched from their post. Day after day, they see many a young hunter run from pursuing forest creatures out there but they are commanded never to leave their post. It was, therefore, nothing unusual to them when they spotted the figure of a young dark elf female running past in the distance. What they never saw before, however, was one of the forest's bears, in hot pursuit, dragging a pine tree behind him. Now this was something new. "Perhaps it is some kind of ritual, sir?" asked one guard to other. The second guard shrugged and quipped "Who knows with these spell casters. I'm not even sure we should report this. Who is going to believe us? A bear with a tree tied to it? Nay, not I!" The two guards chuckled for a moment before continuing with their rounds. Saphyre ran missing her turn to the Neriak entrance and continuing northbound up the path. The young prophet, the bear and the tree were heading towards... Lavastorm.
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Back from his latest expedition in the ruins of Guk, Lamhantar walked through Nektulos Forest buying bone chips and various supplies for his next trip. As he rested on the so-called "Newbie log", Lamhantar saw a too familiar sight: a young dark elf maiden running from an angry bear. Lamhantar prepared a spell to slay the beast when he noticed something peculiar. "Was that a.. a tree behind the bear?? And that maiden... Saphyre??" he wondered. Smiling to himself, Lamhantar hid in the shadows and started running close by, following his prophet sister. He tried hard not to laugh, surprised when she passed the Neriak entrance guards and kept on going up the path to Lavastorm. "What is she doing? Oh well, better follow her and make sure she won't get hurt. Maybe I'll have another good laugh or two before this "crisis" is over," he thought to himself.
When Saphyre was convinced that she had long passed her turn she cursed at the forest for being so hard for her to learn her way around in. "Why don't we have SIGNS!!?" she complained to no one in particular. She knew now that she was heading for Lavastorm. She remembered this from studying her maps back home. Anxiously she looked ahead for a tree she could try to climb. She just needed a little time to cast a successful spell. Nothing more. A tree would give her that time. She was growing very tired now. Her legs were starting to cramp under the strain. Panting with exhaustion, she finally spotted such a tree. With the last of her energy, she ran with all her might to gain enough distance to allow her time to climb the tree. Swiftly she scrambled up the trunk to the first limb before a heavy bear paw swiped at her legs. The cloak and robe were slashed as she pulled away to get to the next branch up. Suddenly a boot slipped off. The bear sniffed at it for a moment then went back to pawing upwards at the prophetess. Still hidden in the shadows, the chuckling necromancer had to move a further away for fear of being overheard. Lamhantar wasn't worried at all. In fact, he found all of this rather amusing. He loved spying on his sister.
"Now look what ye made me do!! Stupid bear! Who is going to pay for my cloak and robe?!" yelled Saphyre. Forgetting her fear, now that she was safely up a tree, she leaned over a branch and began to whack at the bear's head with her totem staff. WHACK!! WHACK! WHACK! The bear was stunned and wounded this time. He tried to swipe at her staff. Saphyre decided it was time to try a Mesmerize spell again. Everything was going to be all right. Everything was under control again, or so she thought. Steadying herself on the tree limb, she was about to cast her spell when suddenly she heard several cries close by, "BEAR! A BEAR! By that tree! Get him!" Saphyre watched as a band of halflings and dwarves suddenly attack the bear. Lamhantar heard them also. Laughter was replaced by cold hate, "What were those "stumps" doing in OUR forest. They need to learn where they belong." Throwing some bone chips to the ground, Lamhantar brought forth the dead to do his bidding. He waited and continued to watch, deciding to act only he really needed to.
Still safely hidden, Saphyre counted 5 members in the hunting party. The dark elf maiden swore under her breath as she witnessed them kill the bear. "Is it not bad enough that they roam freely throughout most of Norrath, that these "abominations of nature" feel a need to invade our sacred lands as well? Innoruuk! Lord! What should I do?" She was furious now. When it was over, the group noticed the tree and the ropes tied to the dead animal. Curious, they all looked up at the tree. Saphyre's heart pounded as she assessed her chances to try to fight the hunting party. "Fight them!" she urged herself, "Rid these sawed-off humans from our land!" Visions of glory filled her head. Her brothers and sisters would look upon her with more respect for her bravery. Even if she fails and dies, at least they will know she was brave enough to try. "Yes," Saphyre whispered, "I must!" Quietly, she took off her cloak, gloves, remaining boot and backpack. She took a deep breath and said a short prayer. She only had this chance so she had to make the best of it. As the hunting party looked for her, the prophet enchanter cast Strengthen and Haze on herself. She then heard one of them begin to cast. "NOW!" she told herself, "Quickly!"
Lamhantar gripped his scythe tightly but stayed in the shadows, not sure if he should engage the intruders yet for fear of jeopardizing Saphyre's safety unnecessarily. Honor was at stake, as well as safety. He knew better than to interfere where he was not wanted, but this was Saphyre and he was charged to protect Darkmoon's prophet. Nonetheless, he waited and was surprised when he saw Saphyre jump down from the tree, shouting her hate at those unworthies. Like a lioness defending her pride, Saphyre pounced on top of two halflings then rolled to her feet with her staff ready. Her surprise attack created enough confusion at that moment that she was able to strike again. Down went one stunned halfling as the totem staff found its target. She then cast Suffocating Sphere on another, rendering him helplessly choking on the ground for awhile. Lamhantar was stunned. Never before had he seen the dark side of Saphyre. It was the first time that she let her hate flow freely. Lamhantar was enthralled by the wild dark elf wielding her deadly totem staff. The young necromancer smiled proudly at his little sister. The group desperately retaliated. The Haze spell, however, made it difficult for them to harm her. She fought expertly, dodging their blows, and striking without hesitation. The hazy image of dark elf maiden moved quickly amongst the remaining four members. Blow after blow, she fought them as she had been taught by her senior elder, Atos. Pleased by her performance, Lamhantar was beginning to believe he wasn't going to be needed at all when suddenly a dwarf managed a lucky blow from behind the prophetess. Blackness came over her as she felt the sharp pain to her head. She screamed and stumbled to the ground.
"That's it!" the young necromancer cried out angrily. Furious now, Lamhantar reacted without further hesitation, leaving Saphyre's attacker lying dead, a tendril of smoky poison rising from his chest. With another swift movement, Lamhantar directed his skeletal servant to kill another. The odds were improving. Lamhantar called forth the image of Innorruuk upon one of the dwarves who suddenly coiled back on himself in a fetal position. It was then 2 to 1. Not liking the odds, the remaining two members of the party ran away.
After making certain that the place was secured, Lamhantar knelt beside his fallen sister. The wound was deep. Casting a soft incantation, the necromancer's hand glowed with a dull blue aura. Gently, he touched the maiden's wound. Absorbing the pain, part of his life-force was given to her so that in a matter of seconds, she was completely healed. Lamhantar felt his fury slowly fade away as he held his dark sister, waiting for her to awaken. He whispered to her, "I'm proud of you. You did very well, Saphyre." Blood began to flow from the wound that appeared on his head. Grimacing, Lamhantar fought the pain till it left him weak and exhausted. It wasn't too long before Saphyre awoke and discovered she was laying on the ground next to her brother. His arms were still protectively around her. He seemed to be unconscious. She ran her fingers through her hair and found blood clots in it, but no wound. She raised herself up on one elbow and saw the bear, the tree and three bodies close by. She remembered the attack and anxiously turned back to her brother. "Lam!" she cried out.
"Shhh, Sister. Rest. I am here." The feminine voice was familiar to the worried prophetess. Saphyre turned around and saw the noble Senior Elder, Atos, sitting behind her. "It seems ye have already been healed, Little Sister." Atos looked proudly and knowingly at her son. Atos stood up and checked on the young necromancer. She smiled. "Well done my son! Tis fortunate you happened along. Looks like quite a mess happened here." Atos cast protective blessings on the two Teir'Dals. "Just rest for now, Saphyre. Lam is fine, just resting. He has done this before." Lamhantar awoke and sat up. His wound was completely healed. He smiled at his mother. "Aye, this wound was worth the sight of Saphyre fighting like a true Teir'Dal. Ye would have been proud, Mother. Our little sister is growing up." Lamhantar grinned and rubbed his head. Saphyre smiled bashfully and thanked her brother for coming to her aid. Atos noticed the odd scene of dead halflings and a tree tied to a bear. She raised an eyebrow then smirked at her young prophetess, "I can't wait to hear the whole story when we get back to the tower, Sister."
"The tree!" cried Saphyre as she jumped up seemly unaware of her weakened condition. She stumbled over to the tree anxiously. Lamhantar shrugged at his mother, got slowly got to his feet and followed Saphyre. The three Teir'Dals looked over the damage. Sections of the tree were either broken or missing. Saphyre and Lamhantar lifted it up for a better look. It seemed hopeless. Saphyre looked devastated. She sadly went back to the tree she had climbed earlier to fetch her belongings. Lamhantar spoke with his mother about tree. Saphyre seemed resigned to accept this venture as a complete failure. Once again, she would be the laughing stock of the family. She would never live this down. Tears began to form in the young maiden's eyes but she fought them back. No need to add to her shame by crying like a baby. With a deep sigh, Saphyre recovered her backpack and staff. She tried to hold her head up ,despite her broken spirit, as she returned to her family members.
"Is this the Drakana tree you were fetching today, Dear?" inquired Atos. "Indeed, but look, it's nearly ruined," Saphyre sadly replied. Putting a hand on her sister's shoulder Atos spoke, "It's all right, you were obviously guided to this tree. We shall do what we can to repair it." After a bit of spell casting with few errors, the tree was repaired almost back to its original condition. Saphyre was delighted as she watched mother and son make the repairs. She marveled at their magical powers. Lamhantar chuckled at Saphyre. He didn't quite understand his prophet sister sometimes, but her happiness mattered a lot to him. With the proper ornaments, it looked quite promising. Atos handed Saphyre 20 snake eggs and said, "I understand you have been using these for baking and for tree ornaments. This tree will grant us wondrous Drakana times and prosperous hunting in the coming season. I think we'll skip the bear this time, and let one of Lam's pets carry it this time, I can use a strength spell on him. I'll catch up in just a couple minutes. I have some more ornaments to hang on these other trees." Lamhantar summoned another pet. Saphyre and Atos cast spells to strengthen and protect it. The tree was then tied securely to it. The dark elf trio were satisfied this would work. Atos cast protection spells on the young brother and sister then walked off towards the dead halflings. Saphyre looked admiringly at the great cleric as she waved farewell to her. "Come, Saphyre. We have a long walk ahead of us. Besides, I don't think you will want to watch this." Lamhantar gently lead his sister back to the path home.
Saphyre whispered to Lamhantar as they walked towards Neriak with the skeletal pet carrying the restored tree like a small parade, "What's she going to do?"
Lamhanter laughed then said, "Knowing my mother, she's going to nail those fools to trees to ward off other halflings, just like I would do."
"Ewwwww... ," Saphyre was sorry she had asked.