New Story: The Adventure Begins

[hyaline]

As Mirabel and Leonis made for the village to find a healer Morhau clutched Jena in his arms. “She’s not going to die, she’s not going to die,” he mumbled to himself over and over again. He just sat there waiting for his friends return; there was nothing else he could do, his helpness was intoxicating it poisoned his soul. “They will abandon you,” the female tiefling voice echoed throughout his mind. A shiver ran down his spine; questions rolled around in his conscience like a thunderstorm, questions about the present and future. He couldn’t find the answers within himself, his heart would not tell him, it was still darkened by years gone by.

A moan reached his ears and looking down he relized Jena had regained conscienceness. “In here, everthing going to be fine.” Jena’s body was tense as she winced against the evident pain. Morhau lowered her to the ground and produced his last two potions. He helped her drink them, afterward she tried to say something but the pain held her back. Morhau didn’t know what to do, he wasn’t a healer, her cursed himself.
As he reached out for her hand Morhau heard a faint sound a looked up expecting to see Leonis or Mirabel . When he looked up there stood the female tiefing with a small crossbow in hand. “Are you a fool? I will you!” Morhau said with hatred while drawing his dagger. He heard a twang and tried to dodged the bolt the had been fired at him but it caught him in the chest. He tore it out and charged the assailant but his next steps were staggered. He felt lightheaded and drowsy as the ground rushed up to meet him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
He open his eyes and looked around he was in a dimly lit cave but through his cat eyes he could see fine. He was alone, his limbs were bond but he didn’t have any control over them anyway. His head was all he could move. A moment later Morhau heard footsteps at the caves entrance. “What do you want,” he said defenseless.
“That is not your concern,” the female tiefling snapped, “There is more afoot here than I was aware, how long did you think you could hide what you are.”
“Where is she,” Morhau replied. How could she have known.
“You will speak of what I tell or your lady friend will die a painful death.”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? How is it that you do not know?! Don’t you feel it?”
“I can’t feel anything at the moment why don’t you release me so we can talk face to face.” Morhau stalled, he was trying to by some time as he could feel his paralysis wearing off.
“Don’t be stupid you have powers beyond my comprehension if you are truly the one I believe you to be and there can be no mistake.”
Morhau laughed.
“So be I’ll be back with your lady friends bones.” A wicked grin spread across the females tiefling face.
“No I’m the one you seek,” Morhau said defeated.
“I do not seek you,” she spat, “but there are others…..If you are the one you are meant to be, the one which flow the blood of one of the most powerful demons that has ever walked the planes.”
Suddenly she turned toward the caves entrance listening. Morhau heard it a moment later, there was some sort of commotion, something was happening. The female tiefling rushed out of the cave.

[werebeargoddess]

Morhau watched as the female tiefling hurried out. Had she been telling the truth when she said that he was the child, or at least descendent of one of the strongest demons to walk the planes? It was possible.

Morhau shook his head. He was bound, and even if he wasn't, he wouldn't be able to leave anyway, he was so weak. Instead, he looked around the cave, seeing if Jena was there. Then he spied it. There, in the back, was an entrance to what looked like a tunnel. Maybe that led to where Jena was.

Some movement drew his eyes back to the cave entrance. As he watched, a figure slipped in. As the figure drew closer, Morhau could begin to make out more distinct features. The figure was a young man, clean shaven and simply garbed. He looked to be about Morhau's age, maybe a little older. From the way he dressed, he was a priest of Lathander. Morhau relaxed, only then realizing that he had been tense. Priests of Lathander were well known throughout the lands, and were well trusted. Undoubtedly he was the healer that Leonis and Mirabel had gone to find.

The young man snuck cautiously up to Morhau, then started a healing spell on Morhau. He felt instantly better. After that, the priest started undoing the tiefling's bonds. When they were broken, Morhau stood up and thanked his rescuer.

"Many thanks, friend. I am Morhau. Pray, are you the one my friends set out to find?"

The priest looked relieved. "Indeed I am. I almost thought that I was in the wrong place. My name is Travis, and I am a priest of the Morninglord, Lathander. I was once a fighter like you, though those days are over. Now come. I understand that you have a lady friend in dire peril, though I do not see her."

Morhau nodded. "She was taken. But I have noticed a tunnel leading out of the cave; they might lead to wherever she is."

The two set off. Before they left, Travis took a torch from its bracket on the wall. The two set of down the tunnel. It took a while, for the tunnel kept winding around. Before long, they came into a large cave.

Either they were incredibly lucky, or the female tiefling was incredibly stupid. Travis lit the torches in the brackets around the wall. The cave showed obvious signs of inhabitation; apparently, the female tiefling didn't expect anyone to find their way down here.

And there, in the back, was Jena. Without thinking, Morhau ran to her. Sitting down heavily, he gingerly took her into his arms, and swung around to face the entrance of the cave. That way, he would have more light by which to see. And Morhau was shocked and dismayed by what he saw. Cuts and bruises crisscrossed Jena's face. She was heavily damaged; more so than before. She was barely breathing. She had almost no pulse. Morhau felt tears coming to his eyes.

Travis came over and sat down next to Morhau. Spreading his hands out above Jena, he began to chant. Slowly, Jena's cuts began to disappear. She began to breathe easier, and began to stir. Within moments, Morhau found himself looking into the green eyes of his closest friend.

************************************************** ********

Jena struggled through a sea of darkness. She couldn't move at all. She faded in and out of consciousness. She had no clue where she was. She had no idea where any of the others were. Maybe they had abandoned her? Somehow, she didn't think so. Leonis knew exactly what she had gone through, for the poor boy was going through it himself. Morhau wouldn't leave her for such a thing. And she felt she could trust Mirabel.

Presently, she thought she heard voices. She assumed it was because of her burning fever, at least until she felt somebody take her into their arms and holding her. No fever could fake that!

And no fever could fake the sensation she received when someone began to heal her. She knew it instantly for what it was. She felt her fever burning away; or at least most of it. She no longer felt bruised in a hundred different places. She felt herself returning to consciousness. Her eyes fluttered slowly open, and she looked up to a welcome surprise, for the person holding her was Morhau.

She was silent for a moment, and then struggled to sit up. Morhau, realizing what she was trying to do, stopped her. Gingerly, he helped prop her up in an upright position, leaning her against himself. Morhau, in turn, leaned against the wall. Jena shifted a little, and then leaned on Morhau, her head resting on his chest. Morhau put his arms around her comfortingly. There was a rustle of cloth, and the sound of someone leaving, though neither of them paid any attention to it. Jena assumed it was the healer.

When she thought back on it later, she figured they made a rather comical scene, like something out of a ballad. Morhau, somewhat resembling a knight, leaned against the wall, while Jena, (she supposed she would have represented the damsel in distress) sat resting in his lap, her head resting on his chest, with Morhau's arms around her. Though none of that mattered. It was Morhau who broke the silence.

"I - I thought I almost lost you, Jena. I would have never have forgiven myself if I... Bah, listen to me ramble. You probably don't care what happens to some tiefling like me. I'm just a demon that nobody worries about."

Jena was shaking her head. Why was Morhau saying this? Of all people, she cared for him; loved him even.

"You're wrong, Morhau. I care for you. If anyone knows what it is like to be shunted aside, I do. I'm a werebear, for crying out loud! I love you, Morhau. Nothing will change that."

But Morhau looked uncertain. "But..."

Jena didn't give him a chance to finish. She grabbed his head, pulling him down a little, and kissed him. When she let go, she told him fervently:

"Don't listen to those people, Morhau. You're worth something. We're both outcasts, Morhau. If anyone can get through together, we can. We have so much in common that I'm surprised that we didn't meet each other before."

She looked up, and met his eyes. "Know this, Morhau. If someone ever puts you in doubt, come find me. We will be able to sort through it together."

Morhau nodded, and then smiled. Bending down a little, he kissed her fiercely; a kiss that she returned with just as much fierceness. They could hear several cheers coming from near the cave entrance....

[Golden Lion 86]

While Jena and Morhau relaxed and conversed, Mirabel decided to scout ahead, checking for new groups of this suspiciously omnipresent enemy. Leonis, in the meantime, decided to speak to the cleric. He appreciated what the man had done for his friend, but it eaised new questions, and opened new possibilities.

"Tell me," Leonis said. "You healed Jena back there in the cave, and her injuries disappeared, as though she'd never sustained them."

"Yes?" the cleric said.

"How did you do that?" Leonis asked. "Is it the same principle that enables Healing Potions to heal?"

"Almost." the cleric replied. "I call upon the power of my god, Lathander, to grant me strength. Then, I thouch the victim, and the Morninglord's power heals him. Healing potions are different. They have a natural component to them, like a healing herb, or an anaesthetic, as well as a bubble of divine power. Healing potions can be made in quantity, but they can never heal as well as a divine spell can."

"I see." Leonis said pensively. "Would it be possible for me to learn healing? I would be of great service to my friends if I could mend their wounds as you just did."

"It is possible, my friend," the cleric answered. "But it takes time and dedication. You must first choose a deity to worship. I recommend Lathander, or any benevolent deity. These are reliable, and will grant you mostly healing and defensive powers, but also a few offensive spells. Malevolent deities are not recommended. They do not hesitate to grant you greater offensive powers, but they do so to corrupt you, and the price of their help is high."

"I see." Leonis said. "What if I were to choose Lathander? I will worship him, tithe his temples, and pray to him. What happens next?"

"If Lathander sees that you are pure of heart, and I believe you are, he will grant you small powers, like the ability to quickly recover from minor injuries, like cuts and scrapes, or the ability to see better, to hear better. After years of faithful worship and service to the needy, you will gain greater powers. You will be able to mend broken bones, destroyed tissue. In time, you might be able even to raise the dead, but it may be years before you reach that kind of power."

"How soon can I expect to gain the ability to heal a broken back, for instance?" Leonis asked.

"You pose too many questions, friend." the cleric replied. "It all takes time. Some can acheive these powers in a year, some in ten. No man can know what the gods plan for us."

"Very well. I shall make it a point to learn healing as soon as I can, then." Leonis said with a smile.

Suddenly, Mirabel appeared from the forest. She had a cut running the length of her face, and she wore a look of profound terror. She ran to Leonis, and said:

"We are under attack!"

"By whom?" Leonis spoke. "More goblinoids?"

"Worse!" Mirabel said. "Humans! Dozens of Humans! Well-armed, well-trained, and clever!"

Before she could go to warn the others, a legion of Human warriors appeared in the forest clearing.

"If you wish to live," the captain said. "You will hand over the artifact!"

[werebeargoddess]

Jena and Morhau sat with their backs against the wall. Jena leaned against Morhau, who had his arm comfortingly around her. They had been speaking for a while; though now they had relapsed into silence. Then Jena remembered something. Straightening, she reached into one of her pouches that she used to hold things. Carefully, she pulled out something; an intricately carved bear. Shyly, she handed the bear to Morhau, who took it; surprise evident on his face.

"Pray, what have I done exactly to warrant such a gift?" He asked her.

Jena shrugged. "Well, let me explain. I... I have a tendency for wood carvings. I - I guess you could say it's a - a hobby of mine. And, well, that's one of my carvings" She shrugged. "Most of the time I sell them to make a little extra money. But that one, I kept." She frowned slightly. "I've had that one for a while now. It's enchanted, you see. It's bespelled so that if I give it to someone, and that someone and I get separated, for whatever reasons, they can use it to find their way back to me. Or if I meet someone that I become friends with, and for some reason we have to separate, they can use that to find me if they ever need me. I hadn't thought of giving it to anyone in particular, but I should probably give it to you."

Morhau smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, Jena. I..." But whatever else he was going to say to her was cut off by a commotion at the entrance. There was some shouting going on. The two looked at each other, and got up. Morhau tucked the bear carving away, for safekeeping.

When they got to the entrance, they found Mirabel, Leonis, and Travis, as well as a legion of men, who were standing in the forest clearing.

"What's going on?" Jena asked Travis, who was closest.

"They're looking for some kind of artifact," the cleric responded. "I'm not really sure what kind, though. They haven't been too clear on that. Luckily, it hasn't gone to bloodshed yet. But it will soon." he shook his head. "Really. The four of you have been getting yourselves into so much trouble lately."

There was a shout, and the tree of them turned around. The human who was arguing with Mirabel and Leonis, and who was also probably the leader of the human legion, and just seen Jena and Morhau come. Shouting again, he pointed an accustary finger and the two.

"You!" he shouted. "You have the artifact I seek!"

Jena was decidedly confused. Morhau bent down and whispered to her.

"jena, perhaps he means the enchanted bear you gave me?"

Jena shook her head empathetically. "Doubt it. That's the only carving I've ever had enchanted, and you're the first to know about it, or at least what it is supposed to do. And I'm the one who carved it, so I know that the enchantment that I had put on it is the only one that is on it. So its got to be something else. Got any other ideas?"

He shook his head. No, I really don't. That's just about the only thing of any value that I have. What about you?"

Jena shrugged. "I've got a couple things, but I'm not sure..." A strange look crossed her face. "Wait. I do have something; something that my mother gave me before she was killed. But I don't know why..." She shook her head, and said, almost to herself, "But I don't know why he'd want that, though. I've never used it, and I'm not sure if it even still works..." her voice trailed off.

"Jena..." Morhau's worried voice cut through her thoughts. Jena's head snapped back up. The leader was advancing on them now; his weapon drawn, shouting, "you will give me the artifact!" Jena backed up, fear showing on her face, not sure of what to do...