Order of the Dark Flame (Story, No Spam)

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 12:50 pm

Georgi was about to tell Thantor she wasn't sure she liked the patronising tone of his voice... but she saw Kramor collapse, and ran to Loner's side.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 12:55 pm

To hear him say that, it had to be very, very bad indeed. Loner turned him over; he was unconscious, and white as death. A lump arose in her throat, and she couldn't move for some reason...she touched his face, and he was cold as ice. Her heart stopped.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 1:00 pm

OOC: I have to jet. Please feel free to use Thantor as you see fit. Take care.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:00 pm

When Georgi got to Loner, she heard her repeating: "He's dead...he's dead..." in a barely-audible whisper, over and over. "Loner," Georgi called, laying a hand on her shoulder; but there was no response...

Thantor was there in a moment, bending over Kramor. He motioned to Gwalchmai. "Help me lift him," he said, and the two of them carried Kramor into one of the tents.

Georgi stayed with Loner, who suddenly came to life and burst into violent weeping.

**************
Some time later, Thantor emerged from the tent. He went to Loner, who was sitting on the ground, exhausted and numb. He knelt beside her.

"Kramor is not dead, Loner," he said gently. "But he will not heal if his mind stays in this condition. Physically, there is nothing stopping him from recovering. Have you not been able to read his ki field, close to him as you are?"

Loner closed her eyes. "I haven't tried that since I left you," she answered, weakly.

Thantor sighed. "Well, his ki is very, very wrong. There is something eating away at his spirit, and that is the reason why he is not healing." He gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze. "You should go and talk to him," he said.

Loner nodded, and stood with Thantor's help. She went into the tent and sat by Kramor's side, holding his hand.

jennabard · Post by **jennabard** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:13 pm

the wind felt good. flying through the woods, away from her friends, jennabard tore through the forests with tears in her eyes. 'must we leave?' she thought. the shadow continue to exert control over her body, taking jenna farther and farther away. 'its for the best' the shadow murmured. 'we'll rest now. we can't keep this up forever.' jennabard found a quiet glade and stopped for a moment to grieve.
a few hours later a presence was felt. jenna stood up and ready herself for combat. "come out, stranger, i know you are there."
jennabard's eyes widen with disbelief as the figure came out of the woods with a dark smirk on his face.

"anomen"

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:14 pm

He kept hearing a voice to wake up, over and over again. But, when he looked, he couldn't see anyone. "Where are you?" he called out, "I can't see you."
Kramor saw Anomen, laughing and having a good time. The ladies of the Order, were with him. "We don't need you anymore, you can go away." Loner said to him, as she turned her back. "Why?" Kramor called to her, as he went to move, he couldn't. They just kept getting further and further away, laughing at him.

"Kramor, wake up!" the voice called again. Someone was squeezing his hand, he opened his eyes, seeing Loner.
"Why are you leaving me, Anomen? You all are going back to him, when he gets well, right? Just let me go, you will do just fine. He will take good care of you."

[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: KramoR ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:25 pm

Loner was stunned. Was this the thing preventing him from healing?...

Tears came up behind her eyes; she couldn't stop them from escaping and rolling down her cheeks. "Kramor," she whispered. "How...how can you say that to me? Do you not know me?"

She squeezed his hand again. "Please tell me, Kramor...have I ever done anything to make you doubt my love for you? Anything I ever did or said? Have I...neglected you in some way, and not known it? Please, tell me...I've given you everything I have...what else can I do to make you believe that you own my soul? That I will never leave you...that I would die without you?..."

Her heart was breaking; she couldn't go on.

[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:33 pm

He could feel the pain getting worse. What made it even hurt more, was the look in Loner's eyes.
"They left to go find Anomen. You left and didn't say where or why. I have never cared for anyone so much, as I do for you. I want you to know, I'll never stop."

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 2:45 pm

"I left to find him, yes. Do you know why? Because that evil cur sent his men to kill you, and they almost succeeded. I wanted to find him, yes, so I could bring back his vile head in a sack and put it up on the gate. So you wouldn't be hurt anymore."

By this time she was fully weeping.

"My love," she said, caressing his face. "What have you thought all this time? That you were...some kind of substitute?...Whatever I've done to make you think that, I'll make it up to you. You are the only man I've ever really loved, Kramor, you are the only one...I will never leave you..." She collapsed onto his chest, crying. "Please believe me, I beg you...I can't lose you..."

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 3:01 pm

Kramor, wrapped his arms around Loner.
"I believe you, maybe my thinking got the best of me. When he came to heal Georgi, and the way everyone reacted. I thought, I was going to left on the wayside."
Sitting down next to Loner, kissing her tears.
"You never have to make up anything for me, or prove yourself, okay?"
Gently holding her face in his hands, he whispered to Loner.
"I'll kill him, if he gets too close. That's my promise to you."
Kramor noticed the pain had gone down, as he held Loner.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 3:32 pm

"And my promise to you is to stay with you, always," Loner said; "no matter what happens."

She held him tightly and kissed him. "Lie with me, my love," she whispered. "Let me take your pain away..."

*************
Thantor, wanting to know if everything was all right, went over and looked past the tent flap. He immediately drew back and quickly secured the flap shut. He walked away, grinning and chuckling to himself.

Georgi, Vivien, and Gwalchmai, concerned, approached him. "What's going on?" asked Vivien. "Is everything all right?"

Thantor, still grinning, nodded. "He's going to be just fine now," he answered, with another little chuckle.

Waverly · Post by **Waverly** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 6:42 pm

Laughing, Waverly’s table guest went on. “I see you remember them fondly. I feel the same way, old friend. Those two lovebirds staring longingly at each other, the mismatched miniskirts and halters (god that redhead could use some sun), picking fights with anyone with even an ounce of testosterone…. That probably explains why their lacky servant boys get on with them so well. They are on some big quest to rescue that quasi-eunuch Anomen as we speak.”

Waverly listened intently. Still unable to place the man’s face, it was still apparent that he knew much. “Anomen was left quite damaged by my little game… not that he was worth a bent spoon beforehand.” Waverly smiled. A smile much more like his old one. “I enjoy the thought that they will fail at this task. Just as they failed in their quest to stop me…” At this Waverly trailed off. Had they failed? He wasn’t sure. His life was unnaturally lengthened, but the power and wealth promised him had slipped from his grasp. And then there was his condition. He felt diminished, somehow outside himself watching a stranger animate his body.

The stranger who knew so much continued. “Your actions have left the Radiant Heart much weakened since that time you first slipped into the underdark. I have an interest in keeping it that way.” The man leaned in whispering, and for the first time there was a hint of familiarity about him. Was he a Cowled one? “I can help you. You will loose your grasp on this plane and become but a wraith if the tear between your mind and body is not repaired. Do this for me: see that Anomen finishes his transformation.”

[ooc: I think I understand the plot, but let me know if I need to make a change. @Viv: Waverly is capable of flirting and battling all at once, or are you not up for it

]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 7:53 pm

[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 8:04 pm

Georgi drew Thantor to one side. "Don't get me wrong, it's great that Kramor is going to be okay... but what are we going to do, just sit here while Jennabard wanders the night alone?"

"I'm afraid there is little we can do now, my lady. The night has closed in all too quickly, and with no moon... we would all get lost, I fear," Thantor replied, gravely. He saw the anxious look on Georgi's face, and regretted that he could do nothing to alleviate the worry. "Get some sleep. That is the best thing for all of us now."

Georgi looked at him. "I'm trusting you, now. But if anything happens to Jennabard, or to Anomen, or to anyone else because of your sage advice... I'll kill you. I would swear it to the gods... but I don't think you hesitate to believe me. Don't fail them, Thantor." She turned and disappeared inside a tent.

Thantor sighed. This conflict was far from over.

[ 06-09-2001: Message edited by: Georgi ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 8:17 pm

Loner was awakened by a nightmare, and took the Katana outside to work the dream out of her mind. It was just dawn, and the black blade glinted in the early sun.

Then she stopped, frozen. She saw it again in her mind: Dyami, with his quarterstaff, and Loner training unarmed. Stepping off the line of his attack, then stepping in, hand extended, palm toward his face, with a mighty kiai. Dyami falling dead.

The blade dropped in her hand. She heard someone approaching, and spun around. It was Thantor.

"I think," he said, smiling, "it's time you and I had a talk about things."

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 11:11 pm

Lady Dragon Wench wandered the keep. She was alone. Everyone had gone, and no one had bothered to even leave her a note. Admittedly, she had spent a long time in the bathroom, okay, a VERY long time. Maybe everyone had just gone out shopping. Dragon Wench decided to go to the kitchen, fix herself a snack. She didn’t bother to do the dishes. If no one was around, why bother? She felt like she was on vacation! She cranked the stereo up and danced around the keep in her underwear to the tune of “That Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger and the Silverbullet Band.

But eventually, she began to worry about her friends. She looked around outside the keep, and found evidence of a fight and two bloating bodies of would-be assassins dressed in brown and green. She donned her cleavage-enhancing armor (not that she needed it), and carefully re-stocked her supply of potions. She included many potions of Dragon’s Breath, as well as, inexplicably, a bottle of fine Merlot. She set out from the keep (locking the door behind her) and began to follow an unmistakable trail into the mountains. She hoped that she would encounter nothing to delay her rejoining her friends, but considering their adventures so far, this seemed unlikely.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Sat Jun 09, 2001 11:32 pm

"One of my teachers compared it to a form of crucifixion, with similar perils and rewards." Thantor’s words struck Gwalchmai as inherently wrong. ‘Benefits from a crucifixion?’ he thought to himself, 'The only thing you get out of a crucifixion was dead and mangled bodies.' He had seen enough of those. But the concept of a shadowed and light sides to one’s psyche... This rang true. And he could further see the need to balance these aspects as on a scale or teeter-totter. And the balance is made that much more precarious when the weights move further from the fulcrum. When the inherent contrast between shadow and light become more pronounced, it becomes that much easier to tip the scale into undesirable extremes. Nevertheless, this dichotomous view of the soul seemed too simplistic. Surely there must be more to it, multiple factors that come into play? Loner and Thantor have demonstrated their abilities to sense and manipulate the kai-energy. Maybe their understanding of it is difficult to put into words and simple dichotomies and inadequate metaphors are the only way to describe it...
Clearly, though, Thantor understood this 'shadowpath' that Jennabard was evidently on. He would have to be trusted if her true voice were to be heard ever again.

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 1:25 am

OOC: Loner, let me know if this doesn't work for you. You did a great job with Thantor, BTW.

Thantor bent down and picked up the mighty katana, handing it back to Loner. "A fine blade," he said offhandedly. He began to circle her and suddenly it was as if they were back in the training circle, Thantor the stern taskmaster and she the apprentice. "Master...?" she asked, uncertain. "I spoke with Kramor at length while I tended to him. He told me about your little 'quest'," Thantor bit off the word, "though he didn't know where you were going at the time. You were going to find Anomen, weren't you?" Thantor continued to circle her and it was becoming hard for Loner to breath. The air was suffocating, oppressive. "You haven't changed at all, have you Loner? The same recklessness, the same selfish disregard for others." Loner's face was flushed with heat, her body was shaking and nauseous. "Why... why...?", her eyes filling with tears.

Thantor had slept only briefly and was exhausted from the effort of helping Kramor to heal. But he recognized his opportunity and had to strike now, while Loner was still emotionally vulnerable from her time with Kramor. The thorny cruelty was exceeding difficult, but he had planned this for far too long to be derailed by childish emotional sentiment. "Who will be next, Loner? Who will die next because of your adolescent hypocrisy?" Loner was sobbing, and fell to her knees. "Kramor?" Thantor hissed. "Does he know the real you, the you that runs ..."

At the mention of Kramor name, something white hot exploded inside of Loner. In a blur of motion, she faced Thantor, crouched, her katana at his throat. "Who are YOU to sit in judgment of me!" she screamed. "You don't know ANYTHING about me, who I am, what Kramor means to me. I bleed inside every time I think of what happened to Dyami. And if I could have died for him that day, I would have. But it was not all my fault." Her eyes bore into him. "YOU were the almighty master. You should have known what would happen! It was just as much your fault! If I was so flawed ... ," her grip faltered, more tears running down her face, "you should have ..."

"Yes, Loner,... it was my fault, not yours. The two of you were my responsibility," Thantor said softly. He moved the katana away from his neck and Loner let it drop to the ground. Crouching down in front of her, eyes bright, he asked her gently, "Don't you think it is time to give me back what is mine?"

[ 06-10-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 5:59 am

"And what would that be, Thantor?" Kramor asked, as he came from around a tree. "You know I made a promise to someone, that I would protect with my life." he said looking at his sword, then back at Thantor, with narrowed eyes. With one hand Kramor, twirled his sword.
"I want you to know something, it wasn't just my soul that was weakening me. It was Dyami's soul."
Both Thantor's and Loner's eyes, widened with shock. A smile played across Kramor's face, then it was gone as quick as it came.
"A while back, Loner was seriously wounded. It was a deep wound, I healed her from the inside. I must of pulled him out of Loner, nothing happened at first. But, the talk of Anomen, that he needed help. Triggered my subconscience, opening a way for Dyami, to get in. He was worried for Loner, he knows it wasn't her fault. Dyami wanted to make sure she was protected and loved, as he loved her. I past his test."

Kneeling Kramor, pointed his sword at Thantor. "When he left, he warned me about you. The warning was, you like to wait until the person is at their weakest, to get what you want. Now I'm asking you, Master. What does she have of yours?"

Stabbing his sword into the ground, Kramor stared at Thantor. Kramor's blue eyes, darkened. This was unsettling to Thantor, he couldn't sense Kramor's ki. As he tried to sense Loner's, it wasn't there also. He knew somethng more had happened, than healing.

[ 06-10-2001: Message edited by: KramoR ]

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sun Jun 10, 2001 6:57 am

Awakened by raised voices, Georgi crept to the door of her tent, and attentively observed what was happening outside, making sure her longbow was within easy reach... just in case...