“Be you friends or foes,” the golden-haired said with his sword raised before him. He kept looking, hoping for something familiar… something, or someone, that would bring clarity into the confusion.

The people merely stared at him, a mix of pity and confusion on their faces. Finally, a copper-skinned woman stepped forward, her almond-shaped eyes meeting his gaze. She regarded him for a moment and then spoke. Her words were soothing, like a salve that took the edge of the angst in his soul.

"In truth we know one another not at all, but pointing swords at people is a rather futile way of making friends, is it not? And in your condition I would advise against swordplay. We found you with barely a spark of life, and it is only by the grace of the Lady that I was able to heal you.

The Lady! The Lady? Again, the word teased a memory in the man’s mind, but it was blurred and just out of reach. The woman continued.

“This is no battlefield, you have time to regain your strength. Why not go back and rest?"

The man lowered his sword, “Forgive me, m’lady, if I came across as barbaric. I am at a loss, for I am as newborn entering the world, knowing nothing, remembering nothing.” And then, without thinking, as though it were second nature to him, the man approached the woman with the copper-skin and the almond-eyes, and knelt down on one knee before her. “My deepest thanksgivings, m’lady, for your services to me, a stranger.” Rising, he continued to speak to her. “If it pleases you, m’lady, I shall heed your advice and rest a while.”

After a moment’s pause, the man continued, as if he had thought of something, “If you are able, m’lady, I would be interested in you speaking to me more about ‘the Lady’ by who’s grace I was restored to health. Perhaps, after my rest and over the evening meal?”

Turning to regard all the others, the man began to make his way back to the wagon and said, “If anyone should happen to have a mirror… I fear I remember not even my own face.”

[OOC: Nimu, if Sirene is willing to speak to “the man” over dinner about the “Lady”, please feel free to move our story that far. My understanding from Tann is that we have quite a bit of freedom these first couple weeks to RP and have our characters get to know each other.]

"AAAAAAHHH!!!"

Conall let out a painful scream as his mind was raked by the raw evil that seemed too ooze from nowhere. He clutched his head, trying to force the evil out of it, but to no avail. It was incredibly painful, and it didn't seem to let up for ages. However, it eventually did, and he stood up, straining his senses for something that could explain the sudden assault on his divine senses.

He could not see anything in the room, nor could he hear anything that might be harmful approaching them. Wait a minute... how could he not hear anything? The room had just been full of sounds mere seconds before. Something was wrong here... very very wrong.

"Cor, I don't think this situation will permit me to use you as a shield anymore. Instead, I believe that we will have to protect both of the women behind us. The key to escaping this room is like the last; solving the puzzle. However, I believe that perhaps if we solve the puzzle, then we will also prevent more enemies from coming. Cor, I'm asking you as the friend that I've always been. Help me to defend these two... and don't try anything too crazy."

The last part was said with a smile on Conall's lips. If only they could get out of this room...

Cor looked at Connel with a puzzled grim, "No do tell lad when have I ever done anything crazy? And the time with the bar wench does na count; nor does the time with the dragons; nor the wwandering naked into the temple to prove a point; nor any of the other things you are about to say. I mean when since we entered this room." Laughing he clapped his friend on the back. Defend them with you I shall; stand as a stalwart shield against evil is a granted; but not do anything crazy? Where in Odin's name is the fun in that?"

Conall let out a sigh. "My friend I admire your gusto... But the fact of the matter is that there is some great evil here. We don't know where yet, but I know it's here. And the silence; what would cause what seemed to be an endless horde of those rock creatures to disappear and find somewhere else? Cor, to this point you've not done anything crazy... And I just want to keep it like that. This great evil is coming... and I think our best chance to take it down is through strength in numbers. So don't challenge it to a one-on-one duel, okay?"

"Lad, a one on one battle would be na a bit fair. T'would take at least three great evils agin me ta make it a fairfight." Cor chuckled. He was not known for being overly rash but then again he was never accused of being the kind to believe in defense alone. "For now I fear our only hope is the two lasses. We shall not let them fall but I intend to do more than sit and be hammered on when the time comes."

"I don't expect you to sit back and be hammered on. I expect you to hammer them back when they try and pass." Conall casts a quick glance behind him to make sure that Cynil and Rayne were still there, working on the puzzle, and had not been stolen away.

"Cor, I agree, those two are our only hope. So let's make sure not to lose hope, okay?" Conall winked at Cor. This would be a great test so it seemed. But, as it always did - "Well, okay, as it usually does" Conall thought - his faith would get him through.

Rayne planned to pick up two pegs put them in have Cynil pull the pink peg and if that didn’t work then she switched the colors to make sure even as she picked up the black and the white putting in the white on top and the black on the bottom. She did not take her hands off the pegs only waited for Cynil to check the pink peg. While she waited she wracked her memory of that first day. After choosing from the gifts offered to each of them and leaving that room then moving done the hall the Magic moth had spoken.

Torches will flare room to room
Who of you to live or to die
Only you, he, she, fate will decide”

“Black hearted sword that rules the night
Hidden here from the light
Steals the colors from your sight
Into your mind it will bite”

“Black-red, yellow-white
What is wrong, yet what is right
Is it up, is it down, is it all around
Is it real or is it false, a mirror image
can you find the truth inside the illusion
that you call your life.”
Perhaps somewhere in those verses lay a clue.

Black-red, yellow-white. Those colors were named in the last verse. If neither white-black or black white allow Cynil to remove the pink peg. Then what next black and red or yellow and white. Black and red had negative feelings for her. Death and blood, yellow and white were the sun and the light.

For her the choice between the two set of colors was simple though it may be not any more right than any other choices she could make. Rayne will grab out the black peg out leaving the white peg in place in the bottom hole and and then insert the yellow peg on top and have Cynil they try to pull the pink peg.

Rayne then remembered that the second magic mouth had said

“ASK A QUESTION ONCE A DAY
BUT YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY”

If this did not work then she would ask.

He was difting there in the air wondering where his summonings were while the others smashed and broke apart the rock creatures who were either frozen or trapped in their webbing. The two girls were working on the trap with when Conall dropped to his knees screaming. Only a something great in evil would have dropped the devoutly faithful paladin like that.

Ulthok's attention was peeked and his level alertness rose as he looked out for whatever was the source of his friend's distress. Conall's breath seemed to be a little taken away and he gritted his teeth a little bit as he bantered back and forth with Cor; only the two would be doing such a thing in a time like this.

(Not quite sure what kind of spell to ready here, so just going with the flow at the moment and hopin for the best.)

Seeing what Rayne is doing brings to mind something about the riddle at the beginning of the test. Black and red, yellow and white. If none of Rayne's choices pan out she will suggest first putting in the black and the red and then yellow and white right after it.

Sirène watched the man closely, his tension seemed to relax and he lowered his sword. The elf stepped forward regarding him with a soothing gaze.

"Forgive me, m'lady, if I came across as barbaric. I am at a loss, for I am as newborn entering the world, knowing nothing, remembering nothing." The golden haired man addressed her with a renewed calm before kneeling before her, "My deepest thanksgivings, m'lady, for your services to me a stranger."

Sirène cocked her head to the side as she studied the kneeling man for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder, "There is no need to kneel before me, I am not the Goddess. I am only glad that by the grace of the Lady I was able to heal you. What good are healing magicks if they are not used?"

The man rose to face her and nodded, "If it pleases you, m'lady, I shall heed your advice and rest awhile." He paused a moment as if to think of something and then continued, "If you are able, m'lady, I would be interested in you speaking to me more about 'the Lady' by whose grace I was restored to health. Perhaps, after my rest and over the evening meal?"

The elf nodded and smiled, "Any who wish to learn of the Great Goddess need only ask. I will tell you what I can of the Lady, but only after you have rested."

Seeming to accept her agreement man turned to regard all those around him as he made his way back to the wagon, "If anyone should have a mirror... I fear I remember not even my own face."

Sirène watched the man walk off towards the wagon, pity for him washed over her. Whatever ordeal he had passed had scarred him deeply. The magick of the Goddess and the unseen world could heal the body, but what of the soul? Sighing quietly she moved forward to join him.

Laying a hand on his should Sirène spoke in a quiet soothing voice, "I have a small mirror, you are welcome to use it if you wish." The copper skinned elf produced a small silver mirror and handed it to him, "Take all the time you need."

She paused a moment watching him take the mirror from her and then continued, "Before you go come with me, we can't have you roaming around in sleep clothes now can we?" Leading him forward the elf smiled, "I am Sirène Talà Melete of the elven lands to the east, please call me Sirène. Now, what do I call you..."

*******

It was nearly full dark when the golden man wakened and emerged from the wagon. Not long ago the caravan had stopped for the night and already small cook fires dotted the roadside as the traveling people prepared their evening meals. Yet as promised Sirène had waited for the man to wake before having her evening meal. Sadly he was more scarred than she had imagined, remembering not even his name. He had turned to her to give him a name, and she had obliged. Sirène called him Allanan the Wanderer and she thought it a fitting name. Still it was not his true name and she could not imagine the pain of such a loss, but perhaps such a tortured soul would find comfort in the embrace of the Queen of Heaven. If he wished to learn of the Lady then she would tell him of Her. That she had healed him and he now sought to learn of the Lady was certainly the will of the Goddess.

Sirène smiled as he approached her, "Greetings Allanan, you are looking well. I hope you like foods of tree and plant, I eat no flesh food and have no meat to offer you. Now come, if we are to speak of the Lady we must do so in full view of the night sky."

The elf led him to a grouping of large rocks at the edge of the camp. She took a seat on one of the rocks and motioned for him to do the same. As Allanan sat next to her she unfolded a cloth containing an assortment of dried fruits and nuts.

Sirène took a breath and exhaled quietly, "I will tell you what I can of the Lady, but know this She is at the core a mystery. Among my people we call Her the Lady, the Great Goddess, and the, Queen of Heaven, but her true name remains a mystery for She is beyond knowing. To know the Lady is to know you know nothing."

"All things are of the Goddess and the Goddess is all things. She is the sky above us and the earth beneath us. She is the gentle rain and also the raging storm. The Lady holds creation and destruction in balance, without her the world would surely tumble into utter chaos. The way of the Lady is one of harmony."

"We celebrate the body as well as the spirit, for the Goddess is found as readily in the unseen world as She is in the world of matter. To follow the Lady is to serve Her will, and that will is not one of piety, but rather one of ecstasy."

"The Queen of Heaven is at once eternal and ephemeral. She is an enigma."

The elf paused a moment to study Allanan and then continued, "To tell you all there is of the Lady would take more than a lifetime, but if there is something you wish to know of Her you need only ask."

(OOC: Ayrn, it's my understanding that Sirène was to name him Allanan the Wanderer - if I goofed let me know and I'll make a change to the post. Also the items given to her by the caravan leader were armor and items for a man, she brought Allanan to the horse with those items so equip and dress him as needed.)

The quiet in the room continued to lay heavy upon all as if something was waiting, yet waiting for what was question....

For the moment nothing moved as the fighters and mages stood ready, or flew ready. as was the case with Ulthok. Though not even he at his height above the rest of the party could see what had caused the raking pain of Conall’s ability. For what he could see through the few clear patches in Cynil’s Thorn wall nothing was on its other side. Whatever evil lurked inside the room clearly it was out of sight behind Cor’s Iron wall.

As he watched and waited for any hostile creature he wondered as to the absence of his summoning, as something should have arrived by now. The lack of any such help brought yet another worry to the Thief/Mage’s mind, for the moment without an answer

As it had the round before once again it fell to the female elves to figure out a new combo of colors. Rayne’s first choice of colors this round was Black then White…… To no effect….. Her second the reverse, White then Black…… Again to no effect………… Something still was not right.
Having just remembered the words of the Magic Mouth in the beginning of these tests her first choice of colors for the next round would clearly have to be different.

To all the silence continued to increase until it was almost crushing in its quiet as if that was the new enemy, however it was finally broken by the banter of Conall and Cor as each awaited a new enemy to appear.
If not for this show of no fear of thia lack of sound, that silence could have very well driven all of them insane.

But for the moment nothing attacked and no new enemy did appear, the Evil felt by the Paladin, though very very near, was for the moment seemingly content to wait......


THE SOUTHERN ALA-ZAH ROAD, midnight camp 15 miles from Main
With the man calmed and resting Sirène took stock of the his situation and realized just how bad off he really was and easily knew what she must do to help him recover some semblance of his dignity.

The man slept but his dreams did not as he saw the faces of a group of men and women he did not know, a place where he knew must go, and the pull of something dark, evil and old. Upon his waking, though the images faded, the pull lingered, seeming to have grown stronger the farther south they did go.

Then shortly after waking having seen himself in Sirène’s small mirror he had still not remembered his name. It was here that the Elf Enchantress had realized that the man before her was more scarred than she had imagined, with no name to remember and no reference to think of one. As such he had turned to her to give him a name, and she had obliged calling him Allanan the Wanderer, after the great human wizard of ages past.

With this accomplished, and with no regard to any loss of wealth, she took him out to her awarded gear and gave all to him as he could use, including the medium warhorse. Glad it was to her heart that all did fit him and were usable by him and somehow in some way she did not yet comprehend it seemed right!. With him once again equipped she took him off to the woods on the side of the camp to grant his request to learn of her Lady.

With the morning light so too did the cavern load up and prepare to once again to move to the South and the town of Main. Yet something caused Allanan to pause. Turning to the North, the tip of a mountain barely visible in the morning mist, he felt that somehow that was the direction he needed to go, yet unsure if what he was feeling was correct. He stood there his hand upon the saddles pommel unsure of what to do next.


(DM OOC: Ok Bri /Dm as you guys gave me a bunch of choices I was unsure which were the pairs you wanted placed first this round so I went with what I thought you wanted, Black/ White, White /Black the first colors listed in Brianna’s post. Please on your next post be more specific on the colors as I do not want to judge the choices wrongly as that could cost the party time it may not have. Ok Next post Next Saturday as I have plans next Sunday night. Good hunting people and good luck. Tic, Tock, Tic, Tock.)

Sirène and Allanan continued to talk of the Lady as they finished their meal. Full darkness had long claimed the night when the pair returned to the encampment. Sirène waited for the man to go off into his own wagon before retiring herself. Taking a pinch of pungent herbs to her lips she breathed a prayer of farewell to the night and quickly slipped into the restful meditative dream state of the the elves.

The elf awoke from her reverie before first light and began to perform her morning rituals to greet the coming day. It was not long before the caravan began to stir. After washing up and having a light breakfast Sirène mounted her horse and went looking for Allanan. She found him off from the wagons facing north to stare at the mist shrouded mountain peak in the distance. Recognizing the look in his eyes she quickly rode up to join him.

Sirène reached out a hand to touch the man's shoulder, "What is it Allanan? What draws your gaze as the sun rises?"

(OOC: Ayrn, if you want to continue the nocturnal RP then we can back post it a bit. If not we can assume they spoke more of the Lady and what little Allanan remembers. Hope your enjoying your vacation.)

Cor watched the two try to figure out the puzzle of the pegs. They tried twice more and twice more they failed. It was a race between them and whatever evil lurked beyond the walls. Silence was no good for it gave men a chance to think and too often their thoughts were of dispair and death.

"So my friend" Cor asked Connel "do you think the wall of thorns or iron will fall first? I'll bet you a silver my metal wall lasts longer than that plant one. Unless of course there is a rust monster on the other side."

Cor did the only thing he could do; wait. Taking in the shape of the room and trying to remember where the holes were he tried to imagine the point at which the eveil would breech the defenses. He intended to be there waiting for it. He feared the wait would not be a long one.

Conall waited, and waited, and waited. The silence that was within these walls would drive a man insane after a long time. The women were trying another combination of pegs, but to no avail. The more time spent in silence, the more time they had to meet that great evil. And Conall, though sure of himself, did not want to meet such a great evil. What if he was unable to stop it and it went after Cynil...

Suddenly, the silence was broken, and Conall snapped out of his reverie. Looking around for what made the sound, he then realized it was Cor. And he was making a bet with him. A bet! In a time like this!

Conall couldn't help but laugh. "A silver that your wall will hold longer than the wall of thorns? Okay my friend, you're on. And I'll also make another with you. A gold piece to whoever strikes the final blow against the next foe we face together. Sound like a deal?"

Watching Rayne try different combinations, white and black black and white--no-------Black and red, yellow and white, it was a verse in the riddle. "Rayne, top to bottom, do black and red, then follow woth yellow and white."

Was it possible that the riddle was a clue to this puzzle?