From: tinytopaz@aol.com (TinyTopaz)
Date: 12 Jun 1998 23:28:39 EDT
The next morning - or afternoon to some - Topaz went to keep her promise to Palo. The lads at the arena knew just where to find Queen Luthien Tinuviel and were glad to draw her a map on a napkin. Armed with a bottle of the Baroness' favorite scotch adorned with a blue bow and the napkin map Topaz left the arena.
The meeting with Queen Luthien went far better than Topaz had hoped for. Where she had expecting embarrassing questions she had received an understanding nod and where she feared cool rejection a helping hand.
On her way home Topaz stopped by the cork board in the arena to post the official
letter.
Dear Queen Luthien Tinuviel, Huma Dragonbane, Goldendust Evermeadow, and Helix Deverrey Girvin,
Do to circumstances beyond my control l will not be able to be at the annex at the previously set day. l therefor request that the date of the challenge be moved. Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Topaz Eludes
(Author's note: Do to the story line, it will not be posted that the new date is to be the
21st June , 11:30 PM EST.)
Challange to Queen Luthien, Holder of the 9th
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From: qnluthien@aol.com (QnLuthien)
Date: 13 Jun 1998 16:15:24 EDT
The wind knocked the shutter against the sill in a steady, irritating rhythm. With a sigh, Luthien pushed away from the desk and rose to take care of the noise. The office was gloomy. Too early in the day for candles, yet the sky was overcast and offered little light through the windows. Pushing open the slated window covers outward, the strong early-summer wind smelled of storm. She stood there for a time, letting the turbulent wind tug at
her hair and clothing. She loved a storm, but it could not take her mind off of the troubles concerning her upcoming Challenge.
Topaz's request had been unusual, but how could she object. The duel was only a sport after all, and no matter the importance of the match, it was not worth risking anymore deaths in or around the arena. The best she could do was to try and understand. The details she'd been given had been vague, but the urgency in her challenger's eyes did not bear a false story. Just think, asassins! And daring to interupt her anniversary challenge! It
would've been funny, were it not for the real danger. Since when was there an event in her life that did not involve one crisis or another. Luthien had accepted that long ago. Only this time she was not the target, and for this at least she found herself imensely grateful.
It would be difficult to stifle her curiosity when the 20th arrived. She had been warned not to travel to the arena that night at all, just in case. But as the wind whipped black ribbons of hair around her face, the smell of the storm inspired her sense of adventure. She knew she would go..... perhaps catch a glimpse of this would-be asassin. Perhaps do something to rid Topaz of this menace somehow. It had been a peaceful year since the
Deathmatch, too peaceful. How had she managed to stay out of trouble for so long? This time Luthien did laugh aloud, her silvery elven voice carried down over the cobblestones of the courtyard below.
A light, scattered drizzle of rain began to fall. Luthien skillfully tucked the memory of Prudence away, for now...not forever. Guilt would always deny her that relief.
~tbc
Date: 13 Jun 1998 16:15:24 EDT
The wind knocked the shutter against the sill in a steady, irritating rhythm. With a sigh, Luthien pushed away from the desk and rose to take care of the noise. The office was gloomy. Too early in the day for candles, yet the sky was overcast and offered little light through the windows. Pushing open the slated window covers outward, the strong early-summer wind smelled of storm. She stood there for a time, letting the turbulent wind tug at
her hair and clothing. She loved a storm, but it could not take her mind off of the troubles concerning her upcoming Challenge.
Topaz's request had been unusual, but how could she object. The duel was only a sport after all, and no matter the importance of the match, it was not worth risking anymore deaths in or around the arena. The best she could do was to try and understand. The details she'd been given had been vague, but the urgency in her challenger's eyes did not bear a false story. Just think, asassins! And daring to interupt her anniversary challenge! It
would've been funny, were it not for the real danger. Since when was there an event in her life that did not involve one crisis or another. Luthien had accepted that long ago. Only this time she was not the target, and for this at least she found herself imensely grateful.
It would be difficult to stifle her curiosity when the 20th arrived. She had been warned not to travel to the arena that night at all, just in case. But as the wind whipped black ribbons of hair around her face, the smell of the storm inspired her sense of adventure. She knew she would go..... perhaps catch a glimpse of this would-be asassin. Perhaps do something to rid Topaz of this menace somehow. It had been a peaceful year since the
Deathmatch, too peaceful. How had she managed to stay out of trouble for so long? This time Luthien did laugh aloud, her silvery elven voice carried down over the cobblestones of the courtyard below.
A light, scattered drizzle of rain began to fall. Luthien skillfully tucked the memory of Prudence away, for now...not forever. Guilt would always deny her that relief.
~tbc
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From: tinytopaz@aol.com (TinyTopaz)
Date: 14 Jun 1998 01:56:08 EDT
(posted for Cane by request)
Cane sat at his desk going over the aspects of the contract. This "Claw" person had never shown himself, merely sent a messenger with the contract and partial payment. Cane shrugged as he read through the contract once more. Never before had an employer sent a partial payment which they deemed worth even the effort. Apparently, the Claw would be at the Arena, hidden in the shadows and know if Cane had made the attempt. In the event that he
had attempted to complete his mission but failed, there was no true punishment. Of course, failure would not look good on Cane's record.
Cane remembered the last time he had failed. Hired by an Outworlder through various intermediaries, he had been given the task of assassinating a man calling himself Lord Arkanan, known to some of his friends as Reaper. Cane relived his meeting with the self-proclaimed true heir to the World-Throne.
Reaper had sensed him coming despite all his precautions to ward himself. Within moments, Cane had found himself assaulted with magic. Luckily, the amulet he had been given by his employer, the amulet he still wore under his shirt, absorbed all of the magic and dispersed it easily. But, he had not been prepard for the man's skill with the blade. The pair fought hard, until Reaper managed to disarm him.
Reaper had spared Cane's life, but now, Cane was given the opportunity to hurt him by killing one he loved. And, as for the second target, that was merely an extra little bit of fun.
Date: 14 Jun 1998 01:56:08 EDT
(posted for Cane by request)
Cane sat at his desk going over the aspects of the contract. This "Claw" person had never shown himself, merely sent a messenger with the contract and partial payment. Cane shrugged as he read through the contract once more. Never before had an employer sent a partial payment which they deemed worth even the effort. Apparently, the Claw would be at the Arena, hidden in the shadows and know if Cane had made the attempt. In the event that he
had attempted to complete his mission but failed, there was no true punishment. Of course, failure would not look good on Cane's record.
Cane remembered the last time he had failed. Hired by an Outworlder through various intermediaries, he had been given the task of assassinating a man calling himself Lord Arkanan, known to some of his friends as Reaper. Cane relived his meeting with the self-proclaimed true heir to the World-Throne.
Reaper had sensed him coming despite all his precautions to ward himself. Within moments, Cane had found himself assaulted with magic. Luckily, the amulet he had been given by his employer, the amulet he still wore under his shirt, absorbed all of the magic and dispersed it easily. But, he had not been prepard for the man's skill with the blade. The pair fought hard, until Reaper managed to disarm him.
Reaper had spared Cane's life, but now, Cane was given the opportunity to hurt him by killing one he loved. And, as for the second target, that was merely an extra little bit of fun.
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From: lrdevasion@aol.com (LrdEvasion)
Date: 15 Jun 1998 11:24:05 EDT
::walks up to the boards, kinda belatedly::
Duel very well, Luth.
::Walks away::
~~Lord Tom Evasion~~
~~Warlord of the Duel of Swords~~
If you go into battles prepared to win,
you've already won half the battle.
Date: 15 Jun 1998 11:24:05 EDT
::walks up to the boards, kinda belatedly::
Duel very well, Luth.
::Walks away::
~~Lord Tom Evasion~~
~~Warlord of the Duel of Swords~~
If you go into battles prepared to win,
you've already won half the battle.
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From: reaperarkn@aol.com (ReaperArkn)
Date: 21 Jun 1998 00:47:05 EDT
Krollon approached the bar where he had been told he could find Cane. Hoping that the man was here after his failed attempt earlier that night, he placed one hand on the hilt of the CrystalBlade and pushed the doors open. As he walked in, several faces looked up. A few, Krollon recognized as mercenaries he had dealt with before. Two men in black cloaks rose and drew their blades in unison. As the first approached his right side,
Krollon spun and dropped low. Drawing his blade and cutting in one fluid motion, he disabled the man by slicing into his leg deeply. The second man rushed him as his comrade was struck, but a small flicker of magick was enough to bring him crashing down, waves of pain rolling over him.
Krollon looked about, noting that the eyes upon him held fear now instead of curiosity. He approached the first downed man and rested the blade against the man's throat and spoke in a low, grating voice. "Bring Cane."
The man nodded cautiously and slowly rose to his feet, limping from the wound in his leg. He walked to a back room and came out a few moments later, the man known as Cane directly behind him. Cane looked calmly at his other mercenary lying on the floor unconscious and shrugged in uncaring. He walked over to Krollon slowly and looked into his eyes.
~tbc~
Date: 21 Jun 1998 00:47:05 EDT
Krollon approached the bar where he had been told he could find Cane. Hoping that the man was here after his failed attempt earlier that night, he placed one hand on the hilt of the CrystalBlade and pushed the doors open. As he walked in, several faces looked up. A few, Krollon recognized as mercenaries he had dealt with before. Two men in black cloaks rose and drew their blades in unison. As the first approached his right side,
Krollon spun and dropped low. Drawing his blade and cutting in one fluid motion, he disabled the man by slicing into his leg deeply. The second man rushed him as his comrade was struck, but a small flicker of magick was enough to bring him crashing down, waves of pain rolling over him.
Krollon looked about, noting that the eyes upon him held fear now instead of curiosity. He approached the first downed man and rested the blade against the man's throat and spoke in a low, grating voice. "Bring Cane."
The man nodded cautiously and slowly rose to his feet, limping from the wound in his leg. He walked to a back room and came out a few moments later, the man known as Cane directly behind him. Cane looked calmly at his other mercenary lying on the floor unconscious and shrugged in uncaring. He walked over to Krollon slowly and looked into his eyes.
~tbc~
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From: reaperarkn@aol.com (ReaperArkn)
Date: 21 Jun 1998 00:53:05 EDT
"Evening, Brother," Cane spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Krollon nodded briefly as he answered, "I see you've discovered that little secret. Perhaps at about the same time as I did. Seems our father wasn't entirely faithful to my mother."
Cane shrugged, "And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Brother?"
"You know very well why I am here, Cane," Krollon replied holding his blade loosely, the tip pointed to the ground. "I figured you'd come back here after failing to complete your task. So, how much did this Claw fellow pay you?"
"Enough so that I could leave RhyDin and live comfortably for a while, if I had succeeded. Seems you always have something to do with my failures. Don't want your younger brother to show you up, do you?" Cane spoke with obvious dislike for his brother.
"The first time, you tried to kill me. Now, you take a contract out on my future wife," Krollon replied as the common room of the tavern began to empty. "You should have known I'd do what I could to stop you."
Cane nodded and dismissed the last remaining mercenaries with an absent wave of his hand. "So, I expect you'll want my word to keep away from her."
Krollon smiled slightly, "Something like that." A low tone emitted as Krollon raised the CrystalBlade. Seeing the motion, Cane drew his own black sword as well.
"So, you really think you can take me, Brother? You barely escaped with your life last time." Cane's tone was smug, but his eyes betrayed his own worry over the outcome if they were to cross blades once more. Trying to look confident, he jibed, "And now I can use magick just like you. Strange, all it took was finding out I could, next thing I know, I've perfected using illusions to hide me."
"So that's why no one saw you at the proposed time of the match," Krollon spoke with understanding. "I had wondered how you managed that."
"Well, are you set on this course, Brother?" Cane asked as he dropped back slightly, his blade rising just a hair.
"Aye."
"So be it." And with those simple words the brothers began to try and kill each other.
~tbc
Date: 21 Jun 1998 00:53:05 EDT
"Evening, Brother," Cane spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Krollon nodded briefly as he answered, "I see you've discovered that little secret. Perhaps at about the same time as I did. Seems our father wasn't entirely faithful to my mother."
Cane shrugged, "And to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Brother?"
"You know very well why I am here, Cane," Krollon replied holding his blade loosely, the tip pointed to the ground. "I figured you'd come back here after failing to complete your task. So, how much did this Claw fellow pay you?"
"Enough so that I could leave RhyDin and live comfortably for a while, if I had succeeded. Seems you always have something to do with my failures. Don't want your younger brother to show you up, do you?" Cane spoke with obvious dislike for his brother.
"The first time, you tried to kill me. Now, you take a contract out on my future wife," Krollon replied as the common room of the tavern began to empty. "You should have known I'd do what I could to stop you."
Cane nodded and dismissed the last remaining mercenaries with an absent wave of his hand. "So, I expect you'll want my word to keep away from her."
Krollon smiled slightly, "Something like that." A low tone emitted as Krollon raised the CrystalBlade. Seeing the motion, Cane drew his own black sword as well.
"So, you really think you can take me, Brother? You barely escaped with your life last time." Cane's tone was smug, but his eyes betrayed his own worry over the outcome if they were to cross blades once more. Trying to look confident, he jibed, "And now I can use magick just like you. Strange, all it took was finding out I could, next thing I know, I've perfected using illusions to hide me."
"So that's why no one saw you at the proposed time of the match," Krollon spoke with understanding. "I had wondered how you managed that."
"Well, are you set on this course, Brother?" Cane asked as he dropped back slightly, his blade rising just a hair.
"Aye."
"So be it." And with those simple words the brothers began to try and kill each other.
~tbc
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From: reaperarkn@aol.com (ReaperArkn)
Date: 21 Jun 1998 01:22:27 EDT
The two squared off, trading blows with their swords as well as their magick. In time, both men were sweating and bleeding profusely. Suddenly, Cane lunged forward and embedded his sword in Krollon's abdomen. Krollon staggered back, dropping his own weapon just as he wrenched the wounding blade from his opponent's grasp.
Cane stepped back and regained his breath briefly, looking towards Krollon with a smile. Once he could speak, he taunted his brother, "Guess yer not as good with a blade as you once were." He stepped forward, barely glancing at his own wounds and kicked the injured leg he had given to Krollon. Krollon winced at the pain and yanked the blade from his body, tossing it off to the side. Smiling in anticipation of the kill, Cane stepped back and
began to draw on the magick. Sensing what his brother was about to do, Krollon also tried to draw the magick and found *nothing.* It took only seconds for him to realize that the weapon had loosed a poison in his blood which was now blocking his magickal abilities as well as the healing energies of the CrystalBlade.
Cane raised his hands, the magick beginning to arc between his fingertips. "And now, you die."
As Krollon braced himself for the strike, he found that his hand had strayed to the ivory hilt of the dagger Topaz had given him. He recalled her words, "It will alsways fly true when used to further the cause of light." With a supreme effort, he drew the blade and threw it at his opponent. Cane, lost in the ecstasy of the magick, suddenly staggered back , the hilt buried deep in his chest. He struggled to rise and back-pedaled until he was
leaning against the tavern's fireplace. He looked towards Krollon with genuine surprise, slowly pulling the dagger from his body and dropping it to the floor. Krollon rose struggling, his left leg injured severely.
"No, Brother, now you die," Krollon stated as his eyes shifted from their usual blue to a glowing red. Drawing on the Power he had sworn never to touch again, Krollon made a simple motion of with hand. An arc of electric energy shot towards the wounded man and struck him just where the blade had. Slowly, Cane slumped to the floor, his heart now a small pile of ash.
With a sigh of resignation and a wince of pain, Krollon released the Power, praying that the brief contact had done no damage and stumbled to the floor. He slowly retrieved his blade and the enchanted dagger. Tearing a piece from his cloak, he held the cloth against his gut wound and began to stumble from the tavern, his leg mangled atrociously.
Date: 21 Jun 1998 01:22:27 EDT
The two squared off, trading blows with their swords as well as their magick. In time, both men were sweating and bleeding profusely. Suddenly, Cane lunged forward and embedded his sword in Krollon's abdomen. Krollon staggered back, dropping his own weapon just as he wrenched the wounding blade from his opponent's grasp.
Cane stepped back and regained his breath briefly, looking towards Krollon with a smile. Once he could speak, he taunted his brother, "Guess yer not as good with a blade as you once were." He stepped forward, barely glancing at his own wounds and kicked the injured leg he had given to Krollon. Krollon winced at the pain and yanked the blade from his body, tossing it off to the side. Smiling in anticipation of the kill, Cane stepped back and
began to draw on the magick. Sensing what his brother was about to do, Krollon also tried to draw the magick and found *nothing.* It took only seconds for him to realize that the weapon had loosed a poison in his blood which was now blocking his magickal abilities as well as the healing energies of the CrystalBlade.
Cane raised his hands, the magick beginning to arc between his fingertips. "And now, you die."
As Krollon braced himself for the strike, he found that his hand had strayed to the ivory hilt of the dagger Topaz had given him. He recalled her words, "It will alsways fly true when used to further the cause of light." With a supreme effort, he drew the blade and threw it at his opponent. Cane, lost in the ecstasy of the magick, suddenly staggered back , the hilt buried deep in his chest. He struggled to rise and back-pedaled until he was
leaning against the tavern's fireplace. He looked towards Krollon with genuine surprise, slowly pulling the dagger from his body and dropping it to the floor. Krollon rose struggling, his left leg injured severely.
"No, Brother, now you die," Krollon stated as his eyes shifted from their usual blue to a glowing red. Drawing on the Power he had sworn never to touch again, Krollon made a simple motion of with hand. An arc of electric energy shot towards the wounded man and struck him just where the blade had. Slowly, Cane slumped to the floor, his heart now a small pile of ash.
With a sigh of resignation and a wince of pain, Krollon released the Power, praying that the brief contact had done no damage and stumbled to the floor. He slowly retrieved his blade and the enchanted dagger. Tearing a piece from his cloak, he held the cloth against his gut wound and began to stumble from the tavern, his leg mangled atrociously.
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From: qnluthien@aol.com (QnLuthien)
Date: 21 Jun 1998 06:28:04 EDT
She had seen Topaz only briefly, late, on this night that was to have been for the challenge. The fairie had told her that Krollon would not be able to attend the rescheduled event on the morrow. The threats had indeed been real, but thankfully lives were not lost.
So then, the One year anniversary passed quietly. Luthien did not sleep, but watched the sun rise, standing on the balcony of the Willhalmett estate house. The chill of the morning air washed her lingering sleepyness away. It would be a long day. The strong morning rays of light hit the Baron ring and set it sparkling. The 9th ring would be at stake when the sun fell again. She knew it could be Topaz's hand that lifted the ring to the next
morning's sunlight...
...
....but maybe not.
The elf's lean form turned from the balcony again and pushed through the whisps of white curtain bulged inward by the breeze.
Date: 21 Jun 1998 06:28:04 EDT
She had seen Topaz only briefly, late, on this night that was to have been for the challenge. The fairie had told her that Krollon would not be able to attend the rescheduled event on the morrow. The threats had indeed been real, but thankfully lives were not lost.
So then, the One year anniversary passed quietly. Luthien did not sleep, but watched the sun rise, standing on the balcony of the Willhalmett estate house. The chill of the morning air washed her lingering sleepyness away. It would be a long day. The strong morning rays of light hit the Baron ring and set it sparkling. The 9th ring would be at stake when the sun fell again. She knew it could be Topaz's hand that lifted the ring to the next
morning's sunlight...
...
....but maybe not.
The elf's lean form turned from the balcony again and pushed through the whisps of white curtain bulged inward by the breeze.
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From: tinytopaz@aol.com (TinyTopaz)
Date: 21 Jun 1998 22:01:42 EDT
Topaz came to with a start. It took her a moment to remember her surroundings and to identify that obnoxious sound which woke her. With a thankful smile she nodded to Molleen who, after having given up knocking at the door, had stepped into the room with a coffee tray.
Mollen did not stay for which the fairy was thankful. The night was short for rest and long for worries. She did not feel in the mood for polite conversation. The expected fever had set in just after dawn, and though getting help was not difficult, it took some doing to get Krollon to cooperate. A smile played around her lips as she thought of how patient the man was to have stayed so calm in the face of Krollon's resentment and her 'helpfulness'.
It had taken him a full three hours before he had gently but firmly banned her from the room.
The scouts had reported there was nothing left to recover at the bar. Someone must have been there before they got there and cleaned up which was just as well to her way of thinking. There had been a score of other things to take care of to keep her occupied throughout most of the day. Now it was time to get ready to meet Queen Luthien in the ring of honor.
Her gaze traveled over the dueling outfit of jade and black laid out on the bed, the pin with the ribbons of gold, red, and black Krollon had given her for good luck, pinned on to the left. The crondonian rapier laying next to it caught and threw back the last rays of the waning sun. The ninth ring. Was she really ready? She would find out shortly, in the challenge ring. "Don't leave, Luthien." Topaz voiced her thought, worried, yet not, that The
Baroness might follow Adeena's example.
Topaz cleared her mind of the incidents of the last few days and the worries of the last few hours, recalling her Second's words, "Victory often comes when failure is inevitable but we refuse to give up anyways!"
Date: 21 Jun 1998 22:01:42 EDT
Topaz came to with a start. It took her a moment to remember her surroundings and to identify that obnoxious sound which woke her. With a thankful smile she nodded to Molleen who, after having given up knocking at the door, had stepped into the room with a coffee tray.
Mollen did not stay for which the fairy was thankful. The night was short for rest and long for worries. She did not feel in the mood for polite conversation. The expected fever had set in just after dawn, and though getting help was not difficult, it took some doing to get Krollon to cooperate. A smile played around her lips as she thought of how patient the man was to have stayed so calm in the face of Krollon's resentment and her 'helpfulness'.
It had taken him a full three hours before he had gently but firmly banned her from the room.
The scouts had reported there was nothing left to recover at the bar. Someone must have been there before they got there and cleaned up which was just as well to her way of thinking. There had been a score of other things to take care of to keep her occupied throughout most of the day. Now it was time to get ready to meet Queen Luthien in the ring of honor.
Her gaze traveled over the dueling outfit of jade and black laid out on the bed, the pin with the ribbons of gold, red, and black Krollon had given her for good luck, pinned on to the left. The crondonian rapier laying next to it caught and threw back the last rays of the waning sun. The ninth ring. Was she really ready? She would find out shortly, in the challenge ring. "Don't leave, Luthien." Topaz voiced her thought, worried, yet not, that The
Baroness might follow Adeena's example.
Topaz cleared her mind of the incidents of the last few days and the worries of the last few hours, recalling her Second's words, "Victory often comes when failure is inevitable but we refuse to give up anyways!"