Cor reached out his hand, the magical flagon was within his reach.  A lifetime of unlimited, cold dwarven ale would be his.  His fingers curled around the handle and then his eyes opened as he was woken from his dream by the sounds of battle.  Quickly the Knight-cleric grabbed his trusted axe and made his way toward the sound of battle.  Someone or something must know the group is here for the owner if the house was not in residence and a guard force protected the house.  It was not a random attack.

Arandur was thoroughly enjoying the tranquil silence with his sister, a moment that was long overdue in their eyes. The elf Cleric/Ranger still was plagued by dark, worrysome thoughts of death, hopelessness and dispair, no matter what comforting words he uttered in an attempt to soothe and console Rayden. For it was not only his sister he was trying to convince, he himself was failing to believe his own words that, somehow, all would be well...

I cannot dispel these troublesome feelings. Nay. He mentally shook his head. It is more of an anticipation than a mere feeling. An anticipation that a dreadful event will come to pass, one that will cost me dearly. Rayden...my beloved sister...the one I had sworn to protect with my life. What if I cannot keep that promise? What if I am too incompetent to defend her and she pays the ultimate price for that incompetency?

His muddled thoughts were suddenly interrupted, however, when the sounds of clashing metal and agonised screams rent the air, making his pointed elf-ears tremble in response. Arandur's mind was quickly cast back to what he was pondering before: about the danger and the failure to defend his sister. Could this event that was now occurring just outside their dwelling be the event that made his darkest fears come to ghastly light? The elf's mouth was suddenly devoid of moisture, despite the tankard of fresh mountain spring water he had consumed just a few minutes before. Arandur's leaf-green catlike eyes involuntarily widened as the dread of what may happen sank its icy claws into his rapidly beating heart.

I cannot allow Rayden to see my fear, he told himself. Lest I inadvertently cast the same darkness of doubt and hopelessness into her mind. I must remain strong, positive and confident. Rayden is relying upon me to do so...

'Sister,' Arandur spoke as confidentially as he could muster. He then cursed himself mentally because a small trace of the fear he was desperately trying to conceal was evident in his slightly trembling voice. 'Stay here! Stay with Brutus. You will be safer. I will venture out to see what is causing the commotion.'

The elf wrapped his slender arms around his equally slender sister in what he prayed was a comforting embrace. 'All will be well,' he whispered, hoping his words would prove true. Arandur drew his sword from its sheath with a rasping slithering sound as the elf-steel of the blade scraped the interior of its encasing. Hefting the weapon in his right hand, he once again swallowed his nerves (though this time it was in vain) and placed a tense hand upon the door handle before turning back to his sister. 'Stay here,' he told her again. 'I will be back for you.'

With one final tout smile, he opened the door and, closing it firmly behind him, ventured out into the gloom to meet his enemies...

Rayden scoffed as she watched Arandur walk out of her chambers. She eyed Brutus then grinned ferally.

“Lets go see what chaos we can wrought in this place hey boy?” Brutus huffed a breath and followed the elf out of the door.

The elven ranger looked around to see what was wrong, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword tightly before her mind went to the spells she may need just incase someone got injured. Yes, her brother was important, but she was no weakling that had to hide away from battle. She would prove to this party, and mostly to her brother that she did not always need to be protected.

 

(OOC: So Rayden and Brutus are ready to lend a hand in fighting/healing but for now they are just observing))

“She is not lost forever, she can be saved, but it will take a choice from you, enchantress. For her to be released from the amulet will take both of our magics for neither of us alone is strong enough. However this will in the same way as the halfling and the princess, leave you bonded to me as my companion until one or both of us is dead. So Elf will you bond with me and become my companion as Princess Peri is with the halfling?"

Siréne met the eyes of the fey dragon with her own fey gaze, "It is not an insignificant thing you ask, for I, like you, am not of the mortal world. If you are to bond to me, then know you must swear yourself to the ancient path and to the will of the Goddess before all others. Swear to this and we will be bound, in this world and in faery for time unending."

Pausing a moment, the witch solemnly raised her hand, palm facing the dragonette, "Do you swear? Are we bound?"

It was a sound every soldier knew well - the sound of battle.  The screams of the wounded and dying.  And it was not the first time that particular sound had pulled him from sleep.  He knew the sound well and his body reacted immediately and jerked him awake.  It was a terrible sound.  A call to action.  Who would be attacking this house now?  

He didn't wait to ponder.  Lothor grabbed his gear and was ready to race to the battle.  He paused for a moment at his door to listen to see if there seemed to be any immdeiate danger outside.  Not hearing any (Assumption - if wrong, his actions would depend on what he hears.  But he would likely open the door anway.) he opened the door a crack and looked out. He then stepped into the hall and listened and looked to see if he could figure out where the action was.  Getting his bearings he sped towards the action.  

Who would attack this house?

Ulthok watched in anticipation as Sirene drew upon her ancient magic. As the power flowed the Halfling saw concern cross the face of Elven Sorceress.

"My apologies Ulthok but I have not the strength to draw her from the amulet."
Her gaze on the amulet a tear building in her eye,,.

A great pain grew in Ulthok's chest as his heart once more began to break. There were very few that touched the mage as he had protected himself from such involvements. This pain was one of the reasons. As he was resolving himself to the loss a small voice, not unlike that of Peri's only with a male tenor speaking in Elven, came from behind them.

"Your right lady Elf, you have not the strength to draw her from her captivity, within the stone of the amulet."

Startled both Ulthok and Sirene quickly looked up to find a new presence had entered the clearing, a mature looking Faery Dragon. His coloring of blue and green, his butterfly wings the color of light blue, placed him as old in the ages of the small dragons. Landing by her body the male faery dragon stood silently as if pondering some life changing choice.

"I was desperate to find the Princess and bring her home alive and well after she flew away and I have searched for these past years since she left the safety of our home. Though I looked everywhere, I now know why she was so hard to find."

The creature turned to look at Ulthok,"She used you halfling, to hide, by bonding with you as her companion, she hide herself from us."

Turning back to look at Peri's lifeless body."The magic of this amulet to us is like a prison, where to you it holds your psyche, or what you call your soul, to us it holds our life essence until such time as its magic destroys it. Your bond with her clearly was very strong for the amulet to even take her, mistaking her essence for your soul."

Standing silent yet again for what seemed like ages, Sirene and Uthlok remaining quiet respecting his moment. A deep sigh came from him as he turned to face Sirene.

"She is not lost forever, she can be saved, but it will take a choice from you Elvin Enchantress. For her to be released from the amulet will take both of our magics for neither of us alone is strong enough. However this will in the same way as the halfling and the princess, leave you bonded to me as my companion until one or both of us is dead. So Elf will you bond with me and become my companion as Princess Peri is with the halfling?",,,.

Once again there was a sight hope in his heart but he knew this was not an simple thing. What the Faery proposed would come with a cost, Ulthok feared it would be a much greater cost than a mire 168 silver pieces.

Siréne met the eyes of the fey dragon with her own fey gaze, "It is not an insignificant thing you ask, for I, like you, am not of the mortal world. If you are to bond to me, then know you must swear yourself to the ancient path and to the will of the Goddess before all others. Swear to this and we will be bound, in this world and in faery for time unending."

Pausing a moment, the witch solemnly raised her hand, palm facing the dragonette, "Do you swear? Are we bound?"

Ulthok winced, the fey do not give and take freely, would this new creature give up his soul to Sirene's Goddess to save Peri? If he would then Ulthok must learn what would drive him so.

Siréne met the eyes of the fey dragon with her own fey gaze, "It is not an insignificant thing you ask, for I, like you, am not of the mortal world. If you are to bond to me, then know you must swear yourself to the ancient path and to the will of the Goddess before all others. Swear to this and we will be bound, in this world and in faery for time unending."

Pausing a moment, the witch solemnly raised her hand, palm facing the dragonette, "Do you swear? Are we bound?"

A glance once more at Peri’s body and the amulet upon it and the small dragon turned back to Sirene.

“No, we do not, I will not swear to your goddess or her ancient path, all of them always seem to have one. That is something I cannot and will not do. I am willing to bond to you as a companion, a familiar of sorts, not as a worshiper of your Goddess or a convert to this path.”

A sigh and a troubled look.

“Halfling there is still one more way to recover her. Let me take both her body and the amulet to a known weyr of my kind, all of us together have the power to bring her back. If you allow me I will leave at once for the distance is not close and I know not how much time is left, so it is a gamble. I can only hope to still make it in time. She is lucky, for were she not magical, her energy would have been released by now. I make only one promise whether if she is saved or not, your amulet will be returned and free to be used once more. What do you say Halfling will you trust one of my kind who you yourself are know to play pranks, indulge in tricks and mischief and even at times lie?”.................................

Craggen Core
General St Alban’s home
As the four remaining members rushed from their rooms and to second floor to look at what attacked they were shocked. The floor below them was covered in rats, normal, hungry rats. They had over powered the guard by sheer numbers alone and from wherever they had come from there were easily one to two hundred.
However for Rayden it was different as only she noticed that the rats were not eating and seemed to be searching for something or someone. Upon closer scrutiny she found that there were three giant rats hiding in the corners seemingly to be somehow controlling the normal rats in some way. Whether true or not the house was slowly starting to fill with rats some even now heading for the stairs to the upper floors…............

(DM OOC: Ok my new post and whats going on. Lots and lots of rats lol Ok next post Saturday/Sunday or Monday have fun.)

"By Odin that is a large pack of wee beasties.  Such canna be natural."  Cor looked around at the horde trying to figure out what brought them all to this place.  "Tis time ta see if I can call a few reinforcements ta the fight."  Cor smashed to wooden banister with his axe causing a shower of small wooden sticks to fly out and land on the floor.  Calling on the power of Odin he brought 17 of the sticks to life in the form of snakes ready to do his bidding.  Three of th conjured snakes were regular rat snakes but 12 of them were poisonous vipers.  He sent them a mental command to kill the rats.

e

OOC: Cast sticks to snakes and rolled a 2.  Cor gets a d4 + his level of snakes.  He has a 75% chance that each snake is poisonous.     

Rayden was shocked as she saw all the rats convening in the House. She suddenly squinted quickly grabbing Brutus around the neck, struggling to keep the bear by her side, “Easy Brutus. Now is not the time to fight.. Stay with me..” She pleaded over again with the bear, until finally she felt his muscles relax as she looked up spotting one of the other companions, she was unaware of his name as she was very vaguely paying attention before. Quickly she looked around calling first to the stranger,

“Stop shooting at the smaller ones, there are three bigger ones in the corner! Target them!” Her voice was curt, to the point as she hoped her new companion could hear her over the scurrying of the rats.

As Lothor looked down at the floor below him he was surprised to see hundreds of rats.  Rats?  What could possibly cause them . . .obviously something was driving them.  Something had to be causing this.  As he prepared to put Andurile's Blood to good use he offered up a little prayer of thanks to Rayne.  The bow was an amazing gift.  It was time to use it.

As he raised the bow he peered around looking for whatever commanded the creatures that covered the floor in front of him.  As he did so he heard one of the young elves (Well, that expression wasn't quite right, but now as not the time for contemplating that fact!) yell out,  “Stop shooting at the smaller ones, there are three bigger ones in the corner! Target them!”

Already scanning the room for just such a thing it didn't take more than a second to spot his targets.  He aimed at the one on the left and fired and kept shooting.  Hopefully Cor's snakes could stem the rat tide for the moment.  He would target the big cheese.  

Why did his mind always come up with bad jokes in the middle of a battle?  It made him grin.  

Thanks to his sensitive elf ears, Arandur could hear the scurrying and scuffling of the many tiny paws on stone before he even arrived at the door where the creatures dwelled. Upon approaching the wooden barrier between him and whatever horrors awaited him inside, he inhaled deeply and prayed that Rayden had stayed in her room safe as he had requested.

I go into this fray for her! He thought with determination. To protect her with all my power! She will be kept safe!

Before fear could extinguish the fire of battle that blazed in his soul, he grasped the handle and thrust the door open, his wide eyes meeting with a confused writhing muddle of countless rats, so many that they resembled a squirming rug of matted, greasy coarse brown and grey fur. Quickly assessing the strange situation (for it is not everyday that so many of these rodents are allowed to breed in such a well-kept human dwelling), he scanned the room and noticed with relief that his companions were present and prepared to join him in this battle, which allayed his fear somewhat knowing they were there to support him. His fear returned, however, and transformed into dread as his eyes locked onto one of their number whom he certainly did not wish to be anywhere in proximity to this danger: Rayden was perched on the other side of the rat-infested room, sword in hand and shouting to their companions about the presence of what appeared to be another three rats, these considerably larger than the much more numerous standard sized rodents.

Agravúl, Arandur cursed in his native Elvish (OOC: Yes, just made that up from the top of my head. Sorry if I'm not allowed to make up words of the elven tongue. I can edit it if I'm not allowed). She is always so reckless. Or perhaps it is me. Perhaps I am being too overbearing and overprotective. Maybe I should let her go...allow her to prove herself? But what if in the process she gets injured...or worse? He sighed deeply, then emitted a low growl. I do not know!

There was no more time to stand there stationary, pondering the 'what ifs', as his companions needed him-as did his sister, Rayden.
He contemplated the scene before him, an idea slowly materialising in his mind.

'Hold your fire!' He exclaimed to Lothor, then, concentrating upon the three larger rats (which appeared to be the Alphas of the smaller), he felt his magic building up inside as he mentally reached out for it. Using his incantation of Talk to Animals, he cast his arcane power at the minds of the three leaders, and mentally probed their subconciousnesses, asking what their purpose was and what they were hoping to achieve by coming to this place.

'Be you friend or foe?' He enquired. 'What business do you have here? Please, brothers, we will not harm you if you do not harm us.'

To his companions, he commanded, 'Please, do not attack until they show signs of agression towards us. I have just ensured them that if they do not harm us, we will not harm them and I do not wish to break that promise.'

The elf then waited, tense and alert to see what would occur next...

Craggen Core
General St Alban’s home.

As the rats continued to swarm the homes 1st floor the guards had no chance each brought to the ground and ripped to shreds.
The first to act was Cor, kicking the wooden banister in front of him, the Dwarven Knight Cleric caused a storm of wooden chips to fall to the ground around the rats. A quickly mumbled word and the wooden shards quickly became snakes. I a matter of minutes the snakes had accounted for fifty one of the two to three hundred rats scurrying below. However one by one the snakes died, as if flaming swords vanishing in the night, as the overwhelming number of rats overpowered the seventeen snake them and devoured them.

Next to act was Arandur, his first action an attempt to talk to the rats using his Ranger abilities. His words clear and strong yet the rats appeared to not hear or understand them. However the sound of the Ranger’s voice had had an effect causing the rats to move towards the stairs and the sound.

It was Rayden who gave the greatest aid for her first act in revealing what she had noticed.

“Stop shooting at the smaller ones, there are three bigger ones in the corner! Target them!”

Lothor, his newly gifted bow Anduril’s Blood in hand, quickly looked, finding the three larger rats Rayden had spotted. The bow up and two arrows launched hitting the giant rat as two bolts of magical energy. A loud unrat like scream, a spray of dark blood, and suddenly the giant rat changed to reveal itself as a 2' humanoid with leathery, bat-like wings, a barbed tail, and sharp, twisted horns. Its skin a dark red, its horns and jagged teeth a gleaming white. The giant rat was none other then a demonic Imp!! Taking to the air the Imp glared at Lothor and was suddenly gone!

In the corner the two other giant rats had split, each heading away from the other.....

(DM OOC: Ok I only posted for the 4 of you at General’s house as still waiting on Nimu and Odyson. Next post next Sunday or sooner. Hope everyone had a good Mother’s day.)

This!  This was exactly why he had once cursed all magic and claimed he hated the stuff!  Why did every stupid thing they fought seem to have the ability to disappear, or blink, or whatever.  At least the rats just stayed in place.  Then you could wack them like they deserved!  Not blinkers!  No!  Blinkers just vanished and then reappeared right behind you!  Rats at least stayed put!  Rats at least . . . had  . . . really big numbers.  Rats stayed put and crawled over everything and everyone.  Ah, crap.  Even rats were bad.  

      Sure that at some point the stupid imp would suddenly appear behind him, Lothor did his best to have eyes in the back of his head.  In the mean time he used the eyes in the front of his head to target the large rat that had just headed to the left.  If this was another imp he knew he could hurt it.  If simply a giant rat, well, fried rat sounded pretty good right now.  He aimed and fired.

    As he tried to look everywhere for the imp he hoped Cor could keep the rats off of them.  The snakes had been a great ploy.  Magic wasn't so bad when it worked for you  . . .

Cor watched as the snakes attacked the rats.  For a short time they held their own and killed over 4 dozen rats.  But, slowly the sheer numbers of the rats overwhelmed the snakes and only pieces of wood lay where once vipers slithered.  He looked with disbelief as the giant rat turned into an imp and then tried to make good an escape.  An imp was bad news but for the moment the rat horde remained the proximate threat.  Once more he shattered a section of railing and cast his spell.  As before, snakes appeared and sought to kill the rats.  

OOC: casting sticks to snakes again.  18 snakes this time but only 10 are vipers

Siréne exhaled and lowered her hand, "Very well, it has been decided."

The witch stood and walked a few steps closer to the lake. Taking another breath, she turned to face the dragon again.

"You ask that I bind myself to you with no questions, and no consequences. There are. As a priestess of the Old Religion, I cannot enter a mystical bond to any being not loyal to the Goddess. If you truly are a creature of Faery then that allegiance is already there. I am willing to accept your bond, but you must be willing to accept mine. We both make concessions to the other."