Order of the Dark Flame (Story, No Spam)

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 3:38 pm

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
<STRONG>I thought Gwalchmai was a nut.</STRONG>

OOC: You did?

Er, what kind?

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 3:41 pm

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:
<STRONG>OOC: You did?

Er, what kind? </STRONG>

{Ooc, pine nut

}

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 4:53 pm

" 'Right' is a relative term, Loner. Can you be more specific ?", Thantor said distractedly. He appeared to be shaping something. As Loner looked closer, she could see that he was weaving strands of metal together, but without touching them. He task completed, he looked up and handed the item to her. It was a bracelet. "An elven alloy," he noted. "With a little help from me, it's effective against mind control attacks, magical commands -- things like that." Loner noted that Thantor was wearing one also and she smiled. "I've never know you to be a collector of magical trinkets," she teased. "Too much time on my hands," he chuckled, "just be thankful we aren't near a kitchen." He grew more serious. "Tell me what you have observed." Loner thought about this for a moment, then said, "I'm not sure. Energetically there are inconsistencies, but I can't place them, and emotionally I feel on-edge and uneasy."

Thantor sighed. How much could he trust her? As she had pointed out earlier, she was not the same person he had known years ago. No, she is my student, he reminded himself stubbornly. To have anything happen to her while he was near would be a hundred times worse than any death by betrayal. He decided to bring her into his confidence. "We are all in significant danger, Loner. I believe Anomen is under the thrall of a powerful and evil force, perhaps the same one that attacked jennabard. Given the fact that he/she/it obviously knows our position, but has not attacked a second time, I fear we are being lead into a trap. In addition, contact with me was not necessarily in your party's best interest. I would have left, except for the occurrences with jennabard and then reuniting with you. Do you remember the energetic pattern quek-so-veck?" One of the few I do remember, Loner thought ruefully. The words translated to the "taming power of the small" and she liked it because the imagery was on of a kitten taming a lion. "That pattern informed my strategy, which had involved using myself as bait."

"Given the dangers you speak of, do you think that is wise?" asked Loner, attempting to keep the concern from her voice.

Thantor chuckled. "Do you really think I was just wandering around out here in the woods alone like some love-sick poet on a picnic? Hardly, Loner. I meant to set a trap for Anomen but this has been disrupted by recent events. What do you know of these two men, Darkpoet and Eunuch?"

"I believe that's Enoch, Master."

"Right. Enoch."

"Darkpoet has been with the Dark Flames for sometime and has always been loyal to us. I don't know much about Enoch. Why do you ask?"

"To be a paladin requires a great force of will. This results in a characteristic energy signature. Both Kramor and Darkpoet have this signature, but Enoch does not. An interesting twist, which we may be able to use to our advantage. But we will return to that later. During our confrontation about Dyami, do you remember when Kramor joined us?"

"Yes," Loner answered.

"There was moment there when I could not feel your ki, as if you had both stepped back into another dimension." Loner looked a bit puzzled. She probably wasn't aware of it because of the emotional upheaval she was dealing with, Thantor thought. "Could you please talk to Kramor about this? It could be important. I would also advise you and Kramor to discuss various defensive strategies and contingency plans in the case of sudden attacks. Since he doesn't know me, the two of you should pair and cover each other's back."

"What about your back, Master?" asked Loner.

"It's a bit stiff, but thanks for asking." Loner rolled her eyes. "Not to worry, Loner," Thantor said levelly, "I always cover my back."

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: thantor3 ]

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 7:59 pm

Loner knew exactly what Thantor was referring to...she had felt the change instantly; and now she supposed it was inevitable that Thantor should sense it. Still, it was a little...uncomfortable. She sought out Kramor.

"There's something wrong," she told him. "The ki in that paladin, Enoch, is off somehow. It's not the signature energy a paladin should have. And...I hate to say this, but...there is something off-kilter in DP's signature as well. I can't place exactly what it is though, it seems...blurred, somehow. I wanted to speak to you about this before I put the others in a paranoia...

{OOC: So is anyone else waiting for Loner or Thantor to say "There is a great disturbance in the Force..."?

}

Waverly · Post by **Waverly** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:19 pm

[ooc: errrm, loner, stop staring at my ki, it's not polite

]

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:22 pm

Kramor nodded, "I had the same feeling, I'm very uneasy. Not only with, those two, but your master also. I don't mean to hurt you, I have an uneasy feeling about him. And I support you in your training, I will help in any way. How are you doing?" He asked touching her face.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:23 pm

{OOC: Loner stares at Waverly's ki as if she would bore holes through it...

}

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 8:43 pm

"I'm doing much better than I have done for a long time," Loner answered. "I feel at peace, at long last." She hesitated. "It's been...a long time since I last saw Thantor, true, but...I think he can be trusted."

She glanced at Kramor a little sideways. "He said...Thantor did...that yesterday, when you confronted him, he was unable to sense your ki, and mine. I know why, but...somehow I wish he didn't," she finished, with a little nervous laugh.

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:07 pm

"I don't think he really does. I need to one thing. Can he read minds or thoughts?"

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:18 pm

"Ummm...no, not to my knowledge. Not when I knew him, he couldn't, or didn't. Things may have changed. He is expert at reading energy and intent, not direct thoughts..."

"Kramor...I know you don't trust him, but he is still my teacher. Any ideas on how I'm going to explain this change to him? Without completely lying?..."

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:23 pm

Kissing Loner, the he whispered.
"I can't explain it myself, I'm just as confused as he is. All I know is, I can sense you, feel your fears and joy. I myself don't know what to say to him."

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:27 pm

Loner smiled slightly. "He wants us to use this, as a defensive strategy. I suppose he wants us to find a way to summon the energy of this connection at will in a combat situation." Her smile widened. "That might be a little impractical, don't you think?..."

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 9:30 pm

Kramor nodded, "That could weaken us, consentrating on something we don't understand. Could hurt us in the short run. What have you felt?"

thantor3 · Post by **thantor3** » Wed Jun 13, 2001 10:11 pm

OOC: I'll be away teaching until Sat. Please feel free to let Thantor tag along

.

Waverly · Post by **Waverly** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 3:26 am

For the past hour Waverly felt he had stumbled upon the encampment of some doe eyed love cult. Kramor and Loner enjoyed sharing their feelings… this sickened Waverly no end. He could at last sympathize with Darkpoet. Of course that wanker Kramor had to die; in fact Kramor would probably thank them, preferring to look upon it as an out of body experience. Now the whining and droning about ki and energy patterns was escalating to a fever pitch. Waverly was quite sure he didn’t have any such thing, but if he did, it would be red hot crimson right now.

Wavely nudged DP, “How did you put up with these people?” Darkpoet just shook his head and asked, “Can we please kill one of them soon?”

Waverly saw Thanatos sitting nearby unabashedly masturbating. As Waverly got up to move to a part of the camp where he couldn’t see this strange little man, he realized the quick hand movements between his legs was actually Thanatos weaving a bracelet out of metal ribbon. “How cute,” Waverly thought. “Well I’m glad he wasn’t wanking, but there goes Loner to consult with him… now the verbal wanking is sure to begin.” Waverly left the area only to be greated by Viv swinging in a hammock fondling a pair of firm, succulent sweet rolls. “Interesting….”

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 4:34 am

Georgi watched the mysterious Enoch wander off to flirt with Viv, and seized her chance to speak with Darkpoet alone. He was sitting a little way from the group, whittling a piece of firewood to a point with his dagger.

Georgi sat down, and smiled. "Hey, DP. Are you okay? You don't seem quite your usual self..."

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 5:00 am

Hi Georgi, I'm fine, just wondering what's going on. I'm also tired. Have you found Anomen yet?" Darkpoet asked, as he repeatedly stabbed the firewood.

scully1 · Post by **scully1** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 6:06 am

Loner sighed, shook her head. "I can't really describe what I'm feeling," she said, in response to Kramor's question. "I'm feeling lots of different things. Things from you, your mistrust mostly. Things from that Enoch."

She looked over at Enoch, who was standing some distance away, with his back to her. "There's somthing familiar about him," she said quietly. "Not in appearance, but in a...hostility, that shouldn't be part of a paladin's signature at all..."

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: loner72 ]

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 6:23 am

Georgi sighed. "It's not looking good, DP. And there are too many fresh faces around here for my liking. I get edgy around strangers... at least there are some people around here I know I can trust," she said, catching his eye purposefully. She lowered her voice. "So what's the dirt on this Enoch guy?"

KramoR · Post by **KramoR** » Thu Jun 14, 2001 6:30 am

Kramor stared into the woods.
"There is something about his eyes, like I have seen them before. Just watch your back around him and Dp. He's acting funny."