You're surrounded by spinning white flowers with sharp teeth, and razor-edged petals constructed in the genetic research factories of Glinda the Good Witch.  They are slicing you into ribbons, and using the ribbons to put bows on boxes sent to the South Pole where Evil CLAWS rules.

So your body is spread out between hundreds of boxes, rocking on the the conveyor belt, back and forth....

...back and forth.  You wake.  You're laying on your back.  Bright sun is in your eyes even though they eyelids are closed.  Wood is under your fingers.  You're swaying slightly.  You smell water, and hear a light, sweet voice, and the clanking of metal.

PT

I slowly open my eyes to take in the sights around me. What just happened? Where's Devlin? He'd better come through or I swear I'll kill him until he stays dead.

I slowly sit up and get to my feet. I look around for any signs of Devlin.

Hey Devlin, you there? Devlin?

You're on a slim riverboat made of some glossy, tightly fitted gray wood.  There is a square sail, and some boxes on the top.

Its about thirty feet to the densely forrested riverside on the right, and twenty to the left.

A silver haired man is in the front of the boat.  He turns and looks at you with a startled expression.

But you don't hear what he says because you can see his ears.  Pointed.  And not just a little bit.  They are very pointed, and his eyes are cats-eyes.

He's dressed in a silver-grey tunic, and matte gray trousers and boots.  A long knife hangs at his waist.

You hear grunting.  To your right, on the other side of the mast, you see a long line of dirty, dressed in rags, pointed ears, tusked teeth, flattened noses....

*I'm on the riverbank watching you pass.* You hear Devlin's voice in your mind. *What was your name, minion?*

PT

How did you get on the river bank? My Name is/was Valiant. Doesn't seem to suit me anymore. where are on the bank are you?

I look around in wonder at the pointed ear people. They seem like a creature from anime known as necojin but I can hardly believe that to be the case.

Hi, I mean no harm. Could you possibly tell me where I am?

*We were physically separated in the last world, and so we're separated here.  Why do you need my location?*

The helmsman looks at you, and nods.

"Peace then lie between us, human.  May Gaia's grace clothe us in new friendship."

He makes a complicated hand gesture.

" You stand upon the Silverwind, which is my father's boat entrusted to me and my pack.  The river is the Dawnstream which carries us toward the Heartswold of the Elven People.  You must be a mighty magician to have flung yourself through space even if you wit not your landing for this boat is not large enough to hide upon."

A couple similar to him come out from under the deck.  He swiftly explains your presence, and they bow a quarter bow to you.

PT

Because I want to begin to use my powers and your the only one I know who can show me. not only that the deal was I'm your minion. I don't shrug those things off.

I smile a little and shrug casually.

I don't know about magician but I'm certainly glad to meet you. I didn't mean to intrude on your boat. To be honest I had no idea where I was going to end up.

*I can't move from the shade of this tree during the daylight.  Why don't you concoct some excuse, pretend you're sick or something.  They seem naive.  Get them to dock the boat for the day on shore.  I'll show you some things once night falls.*

It turns out there are four Elves on the boat.  There is a small underdeck area where one can sleep out of the sun, or where especially fragile cargo is stored.  They invite you to share food with them, a light fresh bread, ripe peaches, honey and homemade 'soft cheese' that looks kind of like Mozzarella, and wine, to refresh yourself after the long travel.

They also give the chained twenty on the deck a meal of stew.  One of the chained beings tries to slurp it out of the bowl, and gets smacked on the head enough to sting a lot, but not bruise.

"Be civilized as Gaia wants you to be."  He is rebuked in soft, even tones.

PT

I begin to woble around on the deck of the boat trying to look as if I've never been on a boat before.

ohhh... umm excuse me. but I don't think water agrees with me. would it be too much trouble to let me walk on shore a bit? just so I don't get sick over the side or on your boat?

They hurry you to the shoreline, and beach the boat on a ten foot strip of one foot wide river 'beach'.  Its a sweet boat that handles very well.

Devlin yells at you inside your head for coming up with such a fake excuse.  However, the elves seem to have bought it.

They help you walk on the land, one on each side of you.

One whispers to a tree, and the branch droops to his hand so he can pluck off a wild plum.

"This may help settle your stomach, or not."  The elf holds out the plum for you to take or not.

PT

Well make up your damn mind will you? you tell me to get on shore, I do and now your nit-picking at my methods.  Now what? should you bored the boat as well or should I tell them to go on ahead?

I continue to worble and wobble as if severly sea-sick. I take the offered plum and slowly eat it.

Thank you, this is helping me alittle. how did you do that with the tree?

It is mouth-watering, tongue-shocking goodness.  You've had plums before, but nothing like this.

The elf looks a mite confused.

"I just asked the spirit of the tree to help out."

*Get them to stay here with you. I'm feeling the need for some munchies, and I can't move until nightfall. And watch your tone with me, Minion.*

PT

Red>That's neat. I don't really know much about that. but as long as the tree doesn't mind I guess it's ok.</Red>

I sit down slowly on the grass and with a few minutes wait I lay down.
I look lazily up at the sky and try to act as if I'm still sick.

Ohh that boat ride is not going over well. I think I may have to stay on land for the night. I don't want to impose but I will ask. I don't suppose you and your friends and crew wouldn't mind waiting with me would you? I only as because as you may have noticed I'm not really from around here and you guys are the only people I've met and I don't wanna end up dead.

yeah yeah, just stop being twitchy. I'm trying to get them to stay.

<

They agree with some reluctance.

They bring the chained orcs ashore,a nd chain them in long chains to various trees.  The chains are padded where they touch the trees.

Several small campfires are made for the orcs, and food is brought out for them.  The Elf Captain who introduces himself as Sunwise leads the orcs in a stumbling prayer to the Lady Gaia for her protection.  This is followed by a short sermon on following Gaia, and on abandoning evil gods.  After this is food for the orcs.

The single elfmaid, Glisten, asks you if you know a fire spell to get the campfire going.  She lays out the sticks in a well-laid out fashion amidst a ring of stones.

The third elf goes into the woods to 'ask the woods to share its bounty'.

PT

Master, am i able to call up fire? if so how? would help with their trust of me as a Magician.

I think so, Give me a minute to focus and we'll see if I have enough energy for the task.

I cross my legs and sit in a "meditative" pose.

*Cross your legs, and breathe deeply.  Let your spirit connect to the natural world.  Feel the heat in the air,a nd draw it to yourself.  See the target on fire in your mind. Speak the words..."

He rattles off a string of Latin.

You make him repeat it.

You sense uncertainty in his mental tone, and when confronted he admits.

"I read it in a book. I'm a vampire for crying out loud. We don't cast fire spells!"*

Glisten sings a short song to the ground, and you see several insects crawl out of the ground, and away from the campfire.

"Okay, Lord Mage, its ready." She turns to you with a small smile.

PT

I smile at Glisten and begin to speak the words in Latin that Devlin told me about. Near the end I try to push out with my mind and feel the fire ignite.

Suddenly your fingers feel like they are scorching, you jerk them back.  You make a note next time to visualize the fire a good foot from the ends of your fingers.

The campfire is lit, and you feel strange energies swirling, and connecting you to the fire.

Glisten calmly puts on a grill, and a pan with butter in it.  She seems completely calm about the working of magic.

A few minutes later, one of the elfs is back.  He has an armload of forest goodies.  Its all vegetarian.  Pretty soon Glisten is making peach, apple, blueberry cobbler, and the guy is digging at the fire, and then burying a half-dozen root plants under the fire....

PT

I smile at the fire and get up to stretch. I notice only vegetables being brought in and quirk a smile.

I take it none of you are big on meat?

Well what do you know? that actually worked. how did you want to come in? or did you just want to murder them all in their sleep?

One guy brings over the fish he caught in the boat.

"We seldom eat field meat.  And fish is not that common.  Some of us believe it offends Gaia to eat any meat. Others only eat in moderation.  The Orcs believe in eating fresh-killed meat of anything, and with every meal, and in plenty, but that is one of the many unhealthy practises we are weaning them of.  Poor things don't know better.  They live in their jungles, and worship their pagan gods, farm from the light of Gaia."

He bends his head, and prays, and you feel distinctly uncomfortable.  Beads of sweat pop up on your forehead as he prays for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the wicked.

"O Great Lady, send us your kindness and favor.  Bless us with your presence at this simple meal.  Help our new friend, the Lord Mage in his travels, and ease his stomach.  Dear Lady, help us to show your light to the Orcs so that they may love you as we do.  And in your joy, as you have commanded, I pray for the protection of the good, and the destruction of the wicked."

Its a quiet prayer he prays.  All of them are standing, and holding hands with eyes closed as they pray.

*Sunlight remember?* The harsh voice snaps in your head. *We'll murder them in their sleep, if elves sleep.  If they don't its going to be harder, but we can manage.  I can take two of them. Who do you want to kill?*

The elves open their eyes.

"Lets eat!"  And they dive into the food with merry abandon.

PT

Do we have to kill them all? wouldn't it be easier to left them live until we don't need them anymore?

ahh, I certainly don't want to offend anyone then. Thank you for the food.

I begin to eat the food and study those around me.

*Tie them up, and eat them later?  Or just waylay one in the woods at night?*

You become more familar with your current companions.

PT

It's your food. I'm no vampire.

I smile and begin to flirt with Glisten as the meal is eaten.
So is it possible to teach someone how to ask the spirits? or is this something you have to be born with?

*You are my minion, Minion. Or did you forget who you swore to serve?*  There is danger and coldness in that mental voice.

Glisten is not exactly sure how to take it, but she seems by turns interested and reclusive.

"Yes, anyone who knows the language of the spirits can talk to them and ask them for aid. We are friends.  Sometimes they ask us for aid as well."

It develops that the local spirits know how to speak Elvish, and that you are speaking Trade Tongue with the elves.  Trade Tongue seems to be English with a bit of an accent, and a strange word here and there.

PT

Ya, I know. Geez your touchy, I don't even know what I said wrong.. or do you plan on turning me into a vampire? either way I'm your servant.

I smile at Glisten and give her a small wink.

Is the language hard to learn? I just never knew the spirits would so readily communicate with the mortal world.

*Right now, you are a ghoul, an Igor, its possible that in the future I'd turn you as a blessing to you.*  Devlin seems calmer.

"It used to be more common, but in these fading days, we see little.  My grandmother remembers the days when dragons and gods walked the land.  But that was nearly five hundred years ago."

Glisten smiles more easily.

"Oh no, its not hard."

And she begins to teach you Elvish...

"Mae govannen..."

The others join in on the practise with you.  Time flies by.  The orcs snore.  Devlin occasionally makes an acid comment in your head.

Its getting close to nightfall.

PT

I practice the Elven language with Glisten and try to commit as much as I can to memory.

The gods actually walked the earth? In my world/dimention Gods and Elves are things of legend. Do elves live long lifespans? what else goes on here?

They assure you that its true. The last sighting of Gaia was 481 years ago in which she announced to a few of her closest friends that she was still going to be looking in on things, but she would not be walking the land anymore.

They draw you a crude map.  It shows the Elfwoods which fill a valley that runs northeast to southwest, and the Human lands which are on the plain above the valley, and the hillands to the north west of the valley.

"Between the upper side of the Great River, and the Sea is human lands.  They are sheepfarmers there.  In the plains, they farm, and they ranch."

They draw out a sketch of mountains which border the plains and the river on the south side, but go straight south. And once the mountains end, to the south of the river is jungle.

"The mountains are held by the various Dwarf Kings, and the jungle is filled with Orc Tribes who worship false gods.  Everyone else worships Gaia."

They pause when you ask about lifespans, and you can tell you've touched on a sensitive topic.

"Humans are graced with a hundred to two hundred years of life.  Elves can live...up to three and four times longer."

*I am coming.* You hear in your mind as the last light fails from the sky.

PT

I smile at Glisten and lean in towards her.

I know this is a bad question to ask a lady... but how old are you?


Alright, you going to slaughter them all or play it nicely?

"Just a little over a hundred, a young woman among my people, just given my full adulthood rites but five years ago."  Glisten smiles back.  She seems to have gone from shy to happy.

*What do you think? They are nauseating.  I'd be doing the Multiverses a favor by getting rid of  such sachharine and disgusting beings.* Devlin's voice comes back to you in your head.  You can tell that he is coming closer.  You're not sure how, but you just feel his presence, cold, predatory, with an endless hunger.

"Ahem, let me tell you a story before we sleep..." One of the other elves interupts. "Its the Tale of Sir Robert the True and Delianie the Elfmaiden."

The male elf then goes on to spin a tale of a human knight in love with an elfmaiden.  He had to spend three years proving himself with nine feats of courage and wisdom and power in order to win her hand. A number of the feats seem impossible--like outshooting all the elves at archery.  But he trained very, very hard, and found a magic bow, and then the night before, he drank water while he paid for a huge feast of wine for his competitors.

"Perhaps, I will tell the rest of the story another night.  If you want to continue to hear it."  You can clearly hear the double meaning behind his words.  If you wish to pursue Glisten...

PT

I give an annoyed look to the storytelling elf.

I thank you for your input friend, but I don't really appreciate it.

I turn to Glisten and smile.

I see that no matter where I go, Inter-race relations haven't changed.



I wouldn't mind if you killed a few of them. Though i want to keep this one woman for myself.

The storyteller gives you a frosty look at first, and then shrugs.

"As you wish, Lord Mage."

Glisten looks back at you puzzled.

"I do not understand. It was a good story. How did it offend you?"

Some of the chained up orcs snicker.

And then you feel a pull from the darkness.  Its a faint echo, and you're able to resist, but its not aimed at you.

You see the storyteller rise.

"My apologies for causing a disturbance, but I need to make ready for bed."

He turns to walk into the shadows outside the campfire, and you can feel cold, predatory laughter inside your head.

I smile once again at Glisten and lean in close to her.

Yes it was a good story, but there was also a hidden meaning behind it. He was trying to tell me to save my breath and leave you be. Or I would have to prove myself worthy of you. Not exactly the most friendly of advice.

"Well you do have to prove yourself worthy. Why would a maiden wish an untested man?  Besides, I wish to give no offense, but I am a lady of the Elves, and you are Human.  It is well for you to strive for the great peaks of the mountains, but do not think that because you sketch a picture of one that this is the same as climbing it."

She pauses, and then blushes.

"I am willing to be courted, Lord Mage.  But I am no fruit to merely drop in your hand because you have a pleasant smile.  You must show me greatness."

PT

I wink and grin at Glisten.

Of course I shouldn't expect anything witout first proving my worthiness. No woman, wether she be Elven or human would accept anyman otherwise. I only took offence because he felt the need to point that out to me. I may be a stanger to this world, but I'm not stupid.

I lean in closer and wisper in her ear So you like my smile do you? what else do you like?

She blushes.

"I feel so clumsy, so stupid."

She pauses.

"I like...your curiosity. You are open to the world, and its beauty."

An image flashes through your mind of an elf with his throat ripped out, and blood spattering everywhere.  A sense of satisfaction followed instantly by further hunger pierces into your mind.

*One down, two to go.* You hear in your mind.

PT

I smile warmly and give a small wink to Glisten.

Your not stupid, don't say that. Though I do find it encouraging that your at least interested in me.

Good hunting then.

The other elflord gets up, and wanders off to his doom in the forrest as Devlin 'calls' to him.

You're now alone with Glisten and twenty chained up Orcs at the next campfire about twenty feet away.

*Well...that was tasty. Now, shall I dispose of your little girlfriend, or do you wish to continue this charade for a bit longer?*

PT

No, I'd like to keep her for now. She can teach me more magics... not to mention the other reason.

Glisten gets up, and walks out into the forest.  Your heart jumps, and you know Devlin is looking at her with hunger.  But she comes back safely a few minutes later, and then looks around startled.

"Where are the other two?  What is keeping them?"

PT

I get up and begin to look around with surprise.

I don't know, I didn't even see them leave....I was distracted.

At least let me have her. you can eat the orcs

She looks worried, and begins to sing out a song.  More worried, she sings out another song.  Both songs remind you of the elves you had met.  They capture the personality of the beings in question.

Glisten listens for a reply or something.

Then she stalks over to the boat, and reaches into a box, and pulls out a scabbard with an arming sword held in it.  Both are decorated with silver and large, glimmering blue gems.

Its hurts in your stomach for you to look at it.

"Arm for war or beast, Lord Mage." She says grimly.

PT

I look at her confused.

What? whats going on? why the weaponry?

"I called with the aid of the spirits. If they did not answer, it was because they could not. And any thing that can take down two Elflords in our own woods is danger. Perhaps an Ork raiding party, or a fell beast, or some renegade.  But, I can track them...so make you ready to fight for your life."

PT

I look around trying to appear to see what could be attacking us.

Do the spirits tell you whats out there? I mean going into a fight blind is a good way to get killed fast.

"Its not precise, but the woods remembers the fall of evil feet.  It groans in pain.  And I am an elf...I can see as well in full dark as a human can see at twilight."

She begins to ask the woods and the earth to reveal to her the presence of hateful feet.  You feel a searching attention in the air begin to focus your way as to part of the source of its pain.

PT

I hold out my hand and look at Glisten.

Ok, Give me the sword.

Careful, She's coming for you.

She shakes her head at your request.

"You're a magician, do magick."  She smiles.  "Fear not. The arms of Gaia will protect us."

Which is just what you're afraid of...

She steps into the woods like she is a part of it.

You feel a sense of ravenous hunger through the link.

PT

I'm going to try to put her to sleep. Whats the latin word for sleep or slumber?

Glisten do you know how many of them are out there and what they could be?

*Sommes* Is the reply in your mind.

You cast your spell even as you try to distract Glisten.

"Not many. Something dead, restless, hungering..." She staggers to her right knee, a perplexed expression on her face.  She wavers back and forth as she tries to fight off the spell.

PT
OOC: 1@2 Cast Sleep

I repeat the spell under my breath and attempt to add more energy to it.

Whats wrong?

She starts to reply, and then falls over unconscious.

Devlin slides into the clearing, and the Orcs moan in fear.

"Well done, Valiant."  He gives you a small smile.

PT

I smile and nod.

Thanx Devlin. So whats the game plan? Apparently these elves can sense your "evilness" so that could be a problem.  But they couldn't sense me so this could be interesting.

"They did not sense me until they cast a spell. Perhaps its my undead nature they sense, and you are still living.  I think we need to teach you some magic."

He ties up Glisten, and speaks words over her bonds, and over the blindfold he puts over her eyes.

"Now you wish to learn how to move fast as the wind. The thing to understand is that this power must be taken from something else.  Its possible to take it from the air, or a waterfall, but like draws to like.  Its easiest to access this power from something that has it in like form to you....but...such things can be dangerous....so we start by learning circles of protection.  I'm not trying to defraud you....but its wise to learn to protect yourself.  When you deal with the Honest Powers, the ones that deal truthfully from the base and vile nature that we all are, then you must protect yourself.  Otherwise, you ask to be abused."

He draws in the river sand a great circle with the aid of a stick in the center, and a rope.

"This is a Defined Circle. At its base, or in its most basic form, it provides no protection of its own, but it serves as a point in a legal contract with the Powers...as 'I summon your presence on this plane in the space enclosed by the Defined Circle.'  This is sufficient for some entities.  Some are so weak that they need help to manifest, and others are so strange that they also need help  to manifest....Understand?  Feel free to ask questions."

PT

I lean in to look at the circle.

I think so, keep going and we'll see

He draws another smaller circle inside the Defined Circle.  He then draws to the side a four letter Greek word in the Grecian alphabet.

"This means 'pain'. Its the Second Circle, the Circle of Pain. I know Nine Circles of Protection. Don't worry, I'm only going to teach you three tonight."  He hands you a stick. "Ideally use an athame, consecrated, and not bargained over, and quenched in the stomach of the seller, but for now, we'll make do with a rotted stick with a dead insect attached to it by nature. I want you to write this symbol as many times as you can going between these two circles. All the while fill your mind with the most horrible images of agony and pain that you can. Thus any spirit, which includes us, as we are spirits attached to bodies, which seeks to pass the border must pass through the pain.  You have to really live the images, and make them as harsh as you can. At the end, we'll empower the circle by blood."

PT

I take the stick and start to draw the symbol indicated. I concentrate very hard on very painful and vivid memories while doing so. I also create some new one's and attempt to work the symbol.

The vampire reaches a hand forth, and winces as it comes near your circle.

"Very well done."  He says grudgingly.

You can see him giving you a considering glance.

"Now I promised you a third circle. This is the Barring of Passage.  Its what people who are unschooled think of when they think of protective circles.  Ideally, you strip an escapee of permission, and make him stand in pain as he essays to break through the Platonic Form of Perfection you have created."

He sketches a circle.

"Now visualize a circle in your mind, perfect, without error, wrinkle, flaw or weakness. A bold line full of strength, but most of all, no errors. You are invoking a Perfect Form from what some mages call Idea Space."

He shows you how to take this, and draw it while holding the image in your mind.  The relentless concentration he demands from you soon gives you a headache to which he is completely unsympathetic.

"You think a Daemon of the Eleventh Abyss is going to care that you had a headache before it rips your body into a pretzel?  The perfection of your inner vision is what blocks this occurrence."

PT
OOC: 1@3 Protective Circle of Pain. 1@1 Protective Circle of Platonic Form: Circle.

I shrink a bit at the verbal slap from Devlin.

I know master, I'm sorry I'll try harder

I ignore my headache and form an image in my mind of a perfect, complete and bold circle. I concentrate on this for a few minutes, then ever so slowly begin to draw it in the sand with a stick.

"Now choose one of the ...things...." He waves at the chained up orcs.  "Bring it over here. You will, with my help, steal its speed."

The orcs hear this, and many shrink back, although a few stare at you.

PT

I get up and walk over to the huddled pile of orcs and walk around them as if to size them up.

OK, so this is how it's going to work. You're going to tell me who amoung you is the fastest or I'll begin to randomly burn each of you alive slowly.

There is some chatter, and then one of the orcs reaches out a hand, and touches another orc on the head in a kind, but strong gesture.

Then the first orc turns and spits at you.

"I'm fast. The elven slavers would never have caught me without a pit.  But even the elves were not as cruel as you, monster man. Kill me, and let the rest of my brethren go free."

PT

I wipe the spit from my face and slap the orc across the face as hard as I can.

You pathetic poor excuse for an animal. You dare judge me when you are no better then the dirt I walk on. You let yourself be enslaved by beings who aren't even better then you. I won't kill you boy, but you'll wish I had by the time I'm done.

I turn back to walk towards Devlin then stop and smirk over my shoulder at the orc who spit at me.

I just want you to know one thing dog, You are now responsible for having your brethern killed. I was going to let them go, but now I don't see how I can do that. I am after all a Monster.

The orc rocks back from your blow.

You turn back to him, and deliver your threat, and see him shift rapidly through Denial, to Guilt, to Rage, to Crying Hopelessly.  The other orcs cringe back except for a couple who stare at you.

You walk away, and hear the orcs start to wail and cry behind you.

Devlin nods in respect as you swagger up to him.

"Very nice."

He pauses.

He pulls out a ring of gold with letters of gold in a foreign alphabet on it.  It had been hidden in his pocket.

He holds it out to you.

"A gift for such a fine student. It will open any door."

PT

I take the ring and place it on my right ring finger.

Thank you master. I'm happy to serve. Now how do we go about stealing these things speed?

"Take your chosen thing, and bring it here. Then put its feet inside the circle, and stake them down with spikes in the earth, and thongs over the ankles. Leave its body over the circle, without disturbing the circle.  Hold its left hand, as that is the sinister hand. You can do this alone, but its easier with a helper. I will cut the soles of his feet to let the blood out."

He pauses, and makes you practise the seventeen syllables of a name that rends the throat.  He does not allow you to say the syllables together.  And it has to be perfect.

Two hours later, your throat is hoarse, but you think you know how to pronounce the Hidden Name of the Lesser Kindred of one of the Six Beasts Who Sit in Shadow and Gnaw at the Roots of Heaven.

"You will say the Dread Name. He/it will manifest in the circle, take the sacrifice, and send power up the creature's body into your body. Be ready to receive it."

PT

I look around for something to drink and eat before I go about my task. Once fed and no longer thirsty I draw the circle and concentrate very hard while I do it. once done I point at the Orc who spat on me and beckon him over.

Come here dog, time to fullfill your duty to your master.

The orc walks unwillingly to you, and then at the last moment attacks. With his hands bound, he can do little, but he does drive his prominent teeth into the palm of your hand before you knock him flat, and restrain him.

The spell proceeeds apace.

Suddenly there is a voice from the midst of an indeterminately sized space in the midst of the circle. Whatever the space's size, its much, much larger than the circle you drew.

"Avon calling?" You hear a mocking voice that sounds like dead snakes slithering over each other.

I smirk a little at the comment and begin to speak the words that had been drilled into my head by Devlin. I keep my focus and grip the left hand of my sacrifice.

You feel power flowing up your arm, and settling into your legs.  But other things are flowing up the link as well, bits and pieces of the mind of your sacrifice.

In agony, you look up, and see the vampire smirking at you from across the circle. You share your victim's pain, and a mind-twisting sense of doubleness that is exquisite pain to the mind.

PT

I give a short scream of pain and bear down as the feeling of the dying sacrific flows through me. I shift my stance slightly and look Devlin right in the eye and make no further sound of pain.

The sacrifice collapses.

"Your request is granted. You have stolen his fleetness of foot, and added it to your own." The voice like slithering snakes says. "By the way, why didn't you use a spell to shield you from the pain of the sacrifice?"

And then the Other Thing is gone, and the space on the sand is just a space on the sand with a dead orc instead of a gate to some perverse nightmare reality.

"Congratulations." Devlin says with a bit of a weak grin.

PT

I drop to one knee and breath heavily waiting for the pain to subside.

Thanx Master....We really have to work on this whole leaving vital information out thing. Was it really needed for me to go through all that pain?

He stomps over to you with his hand raised for a back hand slap.

"Who are you to question my teaching techniques?"

PT

I raise to my feet and look him in the eye.

Who? I'm your student and slave thats who. How many have you taught? how many have lived through it? Think about that. I'm willing to learn but getting firey pain shot through me for no reason is NOT the way to do things

He pauses, thinks about your reply, visibly weighs things in his head, and then smiles gently.

"Good answer." He pauses. "I had a previous student who tried to betray me.  I wanted to make sure you were in terror of me so that this would not happen, but I can see that you are made of better steel than he was."

He begins to sketch on the ground with a stick.  Several dozen symbols of arcane nature spread about his feet.

"This is the spell of painlessness. Its a simple, but time consuming spell with over three dozen symbols you have to sketch out.  But, on the good side, the symbols can be in any order, and they don't have to be perfect...as long as you put 'this' one first, and 'this' one last.  I'm not really sure how it works, or what powers it appeals to, but it does work. I found it on a stone in a ruined city, and could decipher just enough to realize it was a spell to block pain."

PT

I try to focus on the symbols drawn but my eyes don't seem to focus and I stumble to keep from falling over.

Master I need rest. I can barely keep my eyes open and my body is screaming at me in agony. Can we continue this at a later time?

He allows that with poor grace, and you go to sleep with the low voiced weeping of the orcs in your ears.

The next morning, you wake, and the vampire has secluded himself.  The orcs are dozing uneasily.

Glisten is stirring, and it looks like what blocked her ears and eyes is gone.

PT

I get up and begin to stretch and shake the weariness out of my body.

I walk over to glisten and bend down over her.

Hey you, are you ok?

She gets up, and prays, and looks much better.

"Where is the other orc, and what happened to me?"

She does not look happy as she gets her weapons, and begins to usher the orcs to the boat with curt commands.

PT

I follow her and come up beside her.

Stand still! I yell at the orcs and turn to Glisten.

I don't know. I saw you fall to the ground and next thing I knew I was waking up and it was morning.

The orcs lurch back in terror from you, and cringe.

But then they stand still.

"These are my orcs, Lord Mage." Glisten says. "Perhaps this is cursed ground, or a great beast lives here.  We must go, and go quickly.  I feel as if I am surrounded by a choking fog of evil."

PT

I look at Glisten hard and step towards her.

let me get this straight. Your going to run away with these pathetic sheep while your friends are still missing all because you "feel choaked by a fog of evil"?

"They're not pathetic sheep. They are orcs with minds of their own.  They need to see the Light of Gaia."  She narrows her gaze, and leans forward.  This uses up the space you gained when she backed up in startlement.  "I am not a Human. Elves do not bearsark.  We deal with our foes in our time, and in the manner of our choosing.  I will come back with a war party, and scour these woods."  She calls over her shoulder.

"Now get in the boat."

The orcs do not move as they stare at you in fright.

PT

You can show them any light you want, but they are sheep. They will obey if your strong enough.

I pull her close and kiss her soundly on the lips.

I'm not a bereserker, I'm just emotional.

You kiss her, but she does not respond.

There is a stabbing pain in your chest.

"I felt the lie in your kiss." She speaks like a statue made of stone as you fall backward, her knife buried in your heart.

You hear in your mind hysterical laughter with a touch of raw hunger to it.  Its your master, and he's drooling over your dying body...

PT

OOC: On attempting to persuade her, you botched (In Multiverser there is success, failure, and botch. Failure would have gotten you slapped.)...a '97', and then on the General Event roll for how bad the botch was, you rolled really badly there as well.