Linwe sits at her desk and pens a letter to those she trusts and considers friends:

My friends,

The gravity of the recent situation concerning the demons and the drow  is prompting me to write this missive to you. I am asking that each of you watch carefully not only the sky, but those about you, for great dangers lurk in the oddest of places.

The demon has managed to convince our good friend Lore that he is his former master. To that effect, Lore has been instructed to kill me. I spent half the afternoon being chased around the realm by this insane undead . The only answer right now is to stake him until the demon problem can be rectified. Harsh, I know. But a necessity.

The second item we must deal with is Swith. She is being used, unsurprising in itself because of her drunken condition, but we must turn this around so that we in turn use her for our purposes. Not unkindly, but with control. She holds much information in her foggy mind that can only be attained through the ample use of..rum. I ask that each of you watch her. See who she speaks with. And where. If she makes one motion towards the Underdark, warn either Vasil or myself, or the Ancient One, who is working with us to rid ourselves of the current menace. Make sure that Swith does not become suspicious of your motives.

The third factor in this is the drowess. There is some confusion as to what part she is playing in all this. Let me assure you though that Vasil is now disillusioned with her and sees her for what she really is. A danger and a threat. Do not trust her. She is like a powder keg set next to a bonfire.

The succubus is also to be watched and her movements reported. She has been seen in league with both the drowess and the other demon. Be wary, for she can throw flame if angered.

Watch Wulf. Her consorts with Ivarru and with the drowess also. Do not trust him for a minute.

I am sorry this missive is so long and pedantic. I trust each of you to do their part in this. It is time we stand together.

Naamarie,

:Linwe Celebrindl

Mayhap if we all watch and listen, we can put together enough information to move forward solidly and rid ourselves of these bad times we are having.

A Meeting in the Woods

Casandra: good day sir
Conner: good day indeed
Conner: we meet again fae
Casandra: yes

Scary armor and weapons, I wonder at how naive I am at times, that I simply do not take one look and flee!

News of Vassil's capture

A song drifts around the village on the wind…

♫ Beware the sin, when ye begin,

Oh elfin man o' passion... ♫

♫ For fool be 'im, who's novel whim

Doth soon go out o' fashion... ♫

♫ What ill mistake... the bread's near baked,

The oven needs attendin'... ♫

♫ An' where's the baker? Out the back.

'Gainst cats the rats defendin'. ♫

♫ Ah poor ol' baker... can't yer see,

That when yer's beat the cats, ♫

♫ The rats'll bite an' scratch wi' glee

An' wear yer ears fer hats. ♫

♫ So shall ye, dear ol’ Vassil, be

A vessel to the dark? ♫

♫ Nah torch ta keep the rats at bay,

'is future's lookin' stark... ♫

Ah yes… it would seem that the elf, Vassil, has put himself into a grave predicament this week. Perhaps an elf should know better than to verbally defend a drowess against his eldar. Little is known about what actually happened when he was taken captive in the drow cave, but the event caused the death of the eldar herself, Linwe, at the hands of Ivarru, the powerful demon, when nobody answered her calls for help to formulate a rescue.

Now she is gone, her body unceremoniously dumped at the elven hall by the tavern keeper (‘What do they think my tavern is? A crypt?’), and the elves flounder, uncertain what to do, their unity crumbling amid stubborn disagreement between each other.

Vassil, on the other hand, has now been seen roaming the village, apparently given leave to wander by his captor, but he is raving as if enchanted… speaking of his need to rescue this drowess from what he claimed to be an imminent sacrifice by the aforementioned demon. Reminding him of his wife and newborn son seemed futile – his mind would not turn from the dark and the drowess. What a mystery are the elvenfolk… Upon hearing of the eldar’s death, however, his rage grew, and he vowed to embark upon a personal mission to kill the demon, amid protests from onlookers. Out of control, it seemed, he launched a sudden attack on a succubus, before storming off in search of Ivarru. Oh, inevitability… when seen next, he had been brought down in the village by the mighty demon and his drow allies and left for dead.

Now recovering, what path might this elven mind take? Some say he is mad… some say enchanted. Some say he is conspiring with the drow. Whatever the truth, the ones who must be most ill-effected are his loving wife, Mandi, and their new son… what a mercy they are far away from the situation…

SLitis

A few days ago, the isle slowed to a crawl for some of the residents, Linwe reset it. After a while the populace started returning to see....

As it turns out SL in general had problems that night. I lost all of my money, I received a notice that I couldn't be verified! luckily relogging took care of both. Each thing happened in a different sim. Did any problems or warnings show up on the Second Life Grid Status report page??? Noooo, not a word.

That was pretty much it for the evening, we retired to our respective beds or other diversions. The next day I spent over two hours beside this tree including two role plays. It never did rez for me.

It has always been the last thing on the isle I can see and obviously sticks out as I look to the hills. If the population included a dwarf with an axe, I wouldn't be overly upset if ......

Lore vs Asara

Lore woke to find the entire jail burning. After putting the many fires out (and getting burned himself), in a fit of rage he began to pursue the only person who would desire setting the tower on fire in revenge: Asara.

Loralleti Dexler bursts into the tavern, his clothing in shreds and smelling strongly of smoke. His skin his badly burned and peeling, so much so that no mortal could have survived it, and he looks nothing like Lore....it wouldn't have been known it was him if not for his voice. Looking like something from the Abyss, he bellows in a rage never before seen from him, "WHERE IS THE DROWESS?"

katyklysma the beautiful (katy Stratten) turns at the clamour and forwns

katyklysma the beautiful (katy Stratten) says 'What is this noise?'

Briana Palianta says "True...then shuts up as Lore crashes in

Loralleti Dexler repeats, "Where is the DROWESS called Asara?" as he pulls off a ripped part of his shirt, tossing it out the open door. "Is she here?"

katyklysma the beautiful (katy Stratten) stalks up to the vampire

Briana Palianta: The only drowess in here was El...but I saw one out on the street earlier

katyklysma the beautiful (katy Stratten) says 'You come bursting into this place, disturbing our tranquility, demadning to see a DROWESS??'

katyklysma the beautiful (katy Stratten) says 'You are a very rude pile of dust'

Loralleti Dexler glances around, but hearing Zara's words, he snarls. He whips around and dashes back out the door, moving slow from his wounds, and toward the drow caves

Loralleti Dexler roars, his words echoing through the isle, "Drowess, where are you?"

Loralleti Dexler growls as he hauls himself the last few feet up the mountain

Asara Thursday looks up at the growling Lore, backing down the mountain side carefully, hidden completely within her cloak.

Loralleti Dexler stands up painfully, the flesh peeling from his bones as he curls his upper lip, exposing long, slender fangs......"You"

Asara Thursday points a gloved finger to herself, forcing her voice to sound stange and old. "Me?"

Loralleti Dexler snarls and leaps down to her level, his crimson eyes wild with pain and lacking any sense he would have had before: "Yes, you!"

Asara Thursday pulls her cowl down, shrinking her size considerably, still using what she would call her granny voice. "I'm just a little peddler, looking for places to sell her wares."

Loralleti Dexler leaps down again, crouched, an animal-like fury seeming to emanate from him...his pupils narrow until they are slits like a serpent's. His fangs still glisten in the fading light: "On MOUNTAINS?"

Asara Thursday coughs haggardly, stepping back from the screaming man, hunched over and hobbling. "Aye, had to cross them I did..." She coughed some more, stepping away again. "And I see I've intruded upon your mountain, I be leaving I will."

Loralleti Dexler creeps forward, his fingers curling and stiffening to resemble claws. His voice rises until it's a bellow, "You think me a FOOL, but I know better! I know who you are!"

Loralleti Dexler seems to have lost his mind from the pain, and he stumbles toward her, beginning to lose his grace: "I know...I know it...you are the drowess..."

Asara Thursday shakes her head, the hood moving side to side as she makes a great attempt to keep a distance between them. "No, no. You're mad in rage, I seen no drow about these ways."

Loralleti Dexler suddenly drops to one knee, being very weak in his state and the sunlight only adds to it. His voice weakens too, and he goes on, "You are her..."

Loralleti Dexler seems to drain of all the power he had displayed only a few minutes before, though his skin continues to slowly heal and begin to resemble what it looked like before

Asara Thursday tilts her head to the side, watching the vampire fall with curiosity. Keeping up her old woman facade a little longer till she knew it was safe, her lips smiling. "Mayhaps I be, mayhaps I don't." It was clearly her voice ringing out now, the old woman facade dropped as she stayed well hidden.

Loralleti Dexler's head sinks despite his will, the tattered parts of his clothing moving in the wind. He mutters, his mind sinking into a pit of pain and darkness until he would fully heal, "You are..."

Loralleti Dexler smells strongly of smoke as he makes an effort to raise his head, his fangs disappearing as his upper lip droops: "You did it...you shall...pay..."

Asara Thursday moves closer, moving to his side, a booted foot kicking out at his ribs to finish knocking him down. "You might be correct..." She hissed lowly.

Loralleti Dexler groans from the pain as he falls onto his side, too weak to stay upright.

Loralleti Dexler struggles to sit up, still somewhat crazed, though his skin begins to lose its burned-on scars as it healed: "Peddler on...mountain...what a see-through...disguise..."

Asara Thursday presses her boot into his back, pushing him back towards the ground with force. "Shut up and die." She hissed, lifting her boot from his back and kicking his ribs once again.

Loralleti Dexler groans again, but lifts his head, his eyes focusing on her face. A grimace upon his own, he says weakly but with the tone of a promise, "Sum quod eris; fui quod es..."

Loralleti Dexler summons some strength to sit up, though it's slow and painful. As darkness falls, he

Loralleti Dexler goes on, clambering to his knees where he sways for a moment, "Bibo ergo sum...sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"

Asara Thursday decides that he is growing into a problem, kicking his ribs over and over. She wanted him down, and if he did fall she had mind to keep him down.

Loralleti Dexler loses his balance and almost falls again, but as the night grows darker and darker, his crimson eyes begin to glow again like red lights in the night: "Sed ut vivam edo"

Loralleti Dexler manages not to fall, though he remains on his knees

Asara Thursday growls lightly, finding herself weaponless and with a strengthening enemy she finds it best to run, tearing off towards where she stored her staff.

Loralleti Dexler tries to go after her, but falls

Loralleti Dexler shouts: Bibo ergo sum!


Thank to Linwe for this submission to the Chronicles

The Dilemma

Fraught with internal confusion, Linwe seeks out her fellow druid friend to confide in.

They sit in the tavern discussing a mutual friend:
Linwe says 'Ye know...I had a thought...I dunna know if we be doin Siwth any favours lettin her get away with what she do here in the tavern'
Linwe says 'For a long time I slipped coin under the mat for what she took'
Justine Aye...me too, when ye dinna
Linwe says 'But…tis nae doing her any good...the truth be...she be a thief....and I know there be reasons...but I wonder if I should justify it anymore?'

Linwe says 'Tis odd...but summat the demon said brought this to light for me…he called her my pet'
Linwe says 'When I reflect on it...I may hae done just that...inadvertently made her my pet by turning away from what I know to be wrong...because of the past'
[Justine Moyet raises a brow
Linwe says 'I hae tried to protect her...but do she really need my protection?'
Linwe says 'Or would it be better if she faced things as El has and be made to see the high road?'


Thank you Linwe for this submission.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

So… a new house of drow, and new troubles ahead. New troubles in an instant, in fact, when it transpired that a Lolthian drowess, who is suspected to be the appointed matron of this house, set her sights upon the elven eldar’s adopted drow daughter, Elestria. Cornered by this ilharess and an unknown male, the young drowess was quickly overcome and taken by force to a cave set into the cliffs… a cave, which it seems has become their dark home, under the noses of the villagers. There, she was caged.

They were spotted taking their trophy home by the the minstrel, Swith, as she stumbled a little drunkenly out of the tavern. Lingering a while to watch, she decided to follow against her better judgement. What with the huge spider near the cave entrance, however, and the precarious position, she ended up running back to the village, where she bumped into Lore and an elf who was passing through: an elf who, upon hearing word of drow, went rushing into the cave like a wild boar, shooting arrows. The minstrel, cursing the elf, slipped back in and tried to free the lock on the cage, only to turn and run again as they realised the ilharess was outside, casting an enchantment on the very rocks of the cave to seal it. She got out herself, but Elestria was still trapped within.

A vicious fight ensued, as the elven eldar Linwe rushed to the scene, magic lighting up the area, lightning bolts sparking off the rocks. These two powerful opposites continued to fight until one lost sight of the other and they parted, the enchanted cave impossible to enter, for now. There is no word of the young drowess as yet... whether she escaped in the confusion or not is yet to be seen...

The tavern keeper catches up with Elestria

Well well well... seems that young Elestria's tricks caught up with her somewhat the other day when she crossed the tavern keeper...

*Note - Not for the weak of stomach - lol*

Wulf Redgrave draws a small knife and holds its tip toward her. 'Don't ye dare run, girl...

Elestria Ulrik shakes her head, still sitting......"I'm naut.....I've been waiting for you"

Wulf Redgrave scowls, 'Oh? Something to say, have we?'

Elestria Ulrik sighs and nods, looking at his shoes. She mumbles, actually feeling sorry for doing something for once......."I want to apologize for what I did to you two days ago at the tavern, and for going onto your ship, even though I didn't know that was yours. It was really childish, and now I want to make it right......in whatever way you want me to.

Wulf Redgrave says 'I've got a good mind to keehaul ye. Ye know what that means, girl?'

Elestria Ulrik nods, swallowing nervously. She whispers......"Throw me over the boat and under it so my skin gets ripped off, I can't breath and sharks eat me"

Wulf Redgrave smiles, thin lipped. 'Aye, so ye do know. Don't suppose ye want that do ye? But 'tis fitting for a young troublemaker who doesn't know who they're mixing with, no?' He lifts a lock of her white hair with the blade of the knife.

Elestria Ulrik continues to sit there, tense and nervous.....she really didn't know what to think of Wulf. She whispers, staring wide-eyed at the floor......"If....if that's what you think.....then siyo.....I guess....."

Mandi Tiponi rests one hand on her belly and the other on her dagger, hoping she wont need it

Wulf Redgrave says 'Ye need to learn respect, my sweet... a young girl like ye... acting like a scrag of a child, playing tricks... well ye need to learn that there be some about who will pay you back for your childish games...' He lets the hair fall from the blade. 'But I am a reasonable man... I am willing to give you a chance to... learn.’

Elestria Ulrik swallows again and still doesn't look up, her imagination running wild with what he would possibly do to her and scaring her half to death.

After a short walk to the village stocks, in which Elestria finds herself soon locked…

Wulf Redgrave strolls to a basket of rotting food... similar to the stuff the drowess put by the doors of the tavern the last eve. He sniffs it. 'Oh, nasty... such a smell lingers for days, don't ye find? Rotting food...’ He picks up a seriously revolting lump of something and holds it under her nose.

Elestria Ulrik grimaces

Wulf Redgrave says 'Take that in, my sweet... quite offputting, no?'

Mandi Tiponi puts her hand on her belly, trying not to lose anything

Wulf Redgrave scowls, 'Answer me, girl.'

Elestria Ulrik answers, trying not to gag with the stuff right under her nose......"It's.....bad.....siyo.....but I've.....swum in middens.....just ask Linwe.... Smells almost as......bad.....”

Wulf Redgrave says 'Ah well ye shan't mind this then...' He wipes the lump across both of her cheeks.

Elestria Ulrik makes a face at the smell and awful feeling, but doesn't say anything

Wulf Redgrave says 'Not nice putting this stuff around people's doorsteps either, is it?'

Mandi Tiponi puts a hand over her mouth and starts breathing hard

Elestria Ulrik answers......"Nau"

Wulf Redgrave muses, taking a rotting apple from the basket. 'Hmm... do ye know the tradition of we humans for them who has been bad enough little scrags to end up in the stocks?

Elestria Ulrik hears Mandi breathing hard, and tries to look at her around Wulf......."Throw food" She can't move her head to try to look around Wulf, and tries to use her eyes, but then gives up

Wulf Redgrave chuckles. 'Throw food... ye are correct, youngster. And I find it very hard to forego such strict traditions...' He takes a few more apples and casually steps back from the stocks, then takes aim and throws.

Elestria Ulrik gives a small yelp as the first apple hits her, but remembering that drow blood courses through her veins, bites her tongue so she can take the humiliation with what dignity she has left

Wulf Redgrave shakes his head, 'Oh, but if I were not bound to tradition...' He throws another, then smirks at Mandi. 'Ye want a try miss? Don't let me have ALL the fun...'

Mandi Tiponi keeps her hand over her mouth and shakes her head

Elestria Ulrik says, keeping her eyes closed as rotten food slimes its way down her face before dropping off, and trying not to gag......"Don't get upset, Mandi; it's naut good for the baby"

Wulf Redgrave walks back to check his shots and sniffs a little at the drowess. 'Oh, now that is foul... Perhaps something else besides apples might mix well with the perfume... let us see what we have here...' He takes his knife and digs around in the bottom of the basket, grimacing at the smell himself as some of the blackened juices lower down seep to the surface. He jabs his blade into a corpse of a cabbage head and pulls it out, dripping.

Elestria Ulrik feels her stomach heave at the smell, but decides not to open her eyes to see what it is

Wulf Redgrave curls a lip, 'Ugh... now that's just too bad for words...Have a whiff of that, my dear, see what ye think...' He brings the cabbage head on the knife under the drowess' nose.

Elestria Ulrik says, her voice so strangled by the horrible smell of it being beneath her nose that it only comes out as a whisper, refusing to look......."Pretty bad"

Mandi Tiponi takes her hand down and says "Dont...dont throw that, please, she's learned"

Wulf Redgrave leaves it there for a good ten or twenty seconds, chuckling low. 'I believe ye be right, miss... Pretty bad indeed...' He glances over his shoulder at Mandi. 'Oh? seems this one takes a while to learn, I reckon... what say ye, youngster?'

Elestria Ulrik says weakly......."You may want to take a step back, Wulf"

Wulf Redgrave smirks and steps away. 'Too much, dearest? Ye don't want this wonderful perfume in your pretty white locks?'

Elestria Ulrik waits until he steps back, before vomiting onto the ground from the horrible smell

Wulf Redgrave laughs and flicks the cabbage off the knife into the vomit below her, so she can look at it. 'What say ye, young scrag... are ye going to mess with my property again? Go onto my ship?'

Elestria Ulrik's eyes are open only as a crack after she's through, and sees the cabbage in the vomit. Then she moans, closing her eyes again. She whispers, so faint that it's hard to hear......"Nau....."

Wulf Redgrave comes a little closer and bends to scowl at her, harshly. 'Consider this - ye have gotten off lightly. Ye think this is punishment? No...no no no. This is play. Understand?'

Elestria Ulrik's eyes are still closed, but she can feel his face close to hers. She answers in the same barely audible voice......"Siyo.....this is a drow world, even among humans; this was letting me off easy."

Wulf Redgrave lingers by her a moment, fixing her hard with his good eye, then smirks suddenly. 'A little more time for ye to think in these fine stock, my dear... and then methinks ye ought to get a bath - ye stink...

Elestria Ulrik doesn't reply, just hangs in there with her eyes closed and face covered with filth.