Dragon Riders

[Elvenhair]

The wind tore around Waterdeep with vengeance, seeking any unfortunate soul to venture their way outside. It was winter and it was colder then normal, which is definitely harder on one particular person. A lone figure walk toward the city from the mountains, a large white-furred coat covering her body from the cruel wind. The message had been sent out 3 years ago and it was Waterdeep’s turn, for those who still thought themselves worthy to join the ranks of one of the most elite fighters of Faerun: The Dragon Riders!

Greeting prospective students
The order of the Dragon Riders currently has opening in there ranks, Therefore we are giving a chosen few of you change to join us. Three years from now, an officer will be arriving in your town/city. They will NOT enter the town, but wait outside for you to find them. IF you find them, you will be welcome to take the initiation test.

The Founder

Cursing her luck about the weather, Saleme wrapped the cloak about her body and waited under the shelter of a standing rock, hoping that the prospecting students could find her soon.


Here’s the scoop: Those characters who join this rp are people who wish to join the Dragon Riders, an elite group of humanoids who ride and fight alongside the most mystic of creatures, the Dragons. Several tests happen to you before you can our ranks, so this is a school/action rp. For those who want to join, welcome!


Profile:

Name:

Age:

Gender:

Race:

Weapons: (No modern stuff, like guns and lasers. Only swords and bows and the like)

Dragon: (What dragon type do your character wish to ride on? The list of dragons is below)

Appearence:

Bio:

Dragons:
Red, Fire Copper, EARTH ELEMENT
White, Ice Bronze, WATER ELEMENT
Blue, Lighting Silver, COLD (ICE) ELEMENT
Black, Acid Gold, RARE FIRE ELEMENT
Green, poison gas Brass, FIRE ELEMENT

[Delta-Pheonix]

((May join when i have the time ))

[Elvenhair]

Name: Zhai Felendis

Age: 249

Gender: M

Race: Drow/Wood Elf

Weapons: Love of Darkness and Daylight’s Companion: Two six foot Katanas strapped to his back. Love of Darkness is a drow made weapon, preferring the shadows as her choice for surroundings, while Daylight’s Companion is empowered by the power of the sun. Daylight’s enchantments are empowered by holy magic while Love’s magic is wicked and evil, a bane to all life.
Elven Bow and Enchanted quiver

Dragon: Wants to ride a Brass Dragon

Appearance: http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6861/animeguywarriorri7.jpg

Bio: Born out of one of the most unlikely pairing, a Drow and a wood elf, Zhai was an outcast of the elf village. His solitude after leaving the village brought him to a drow outcast who showed him a more enlightened way, the way of the ranger. Never asking for the drow’s name, Zhai left his teachings only knowing the elf’s first name: Drizzt. Doing odd jobs, he found his way to a group of Paladins, the Half-crazed Piecelings, who when traveling with them, found his swords in a dragon’s horde. Still paid by the Pieclings, he waits in Waterdeep for the chance to join the Dragon Riders, knowing of the honor of being apart of the Riders.

[Crimson Wolf]

((Could i join?Here's my info...))

Name: Karina

Age: ???

Gender: Female

Race: Human(Couldn't think of anything else)

Thief Thief

Weapons:Uses small knifes made of mythril with great speed and agility.
If need be,she brings out a scythe with black ribbons tied around the handle,symbolising her clan.

Dragon:
Upon many of her missions to steal precious possessions,Karina has often came across a large black dragon.Whenever she needed help,the black dragon would descend from the skies to aid her in her mission.After several encounters,Karina decided to name this mysterious dragon Cynder.
Cynder:http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q248/piper__po3/untitled-2.jpg

Appearance: http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o74/Eragon_16/rtadeusukcpti1ai30751ldiro312sv0a65.jpg

Bio: karina's parents abandonned her at a young age.Her background is quite a twisted one,with many strange happenings.
After being surrounded by bandits,Karina's precious pink ribbon that her mother gave her was stolen.She was cornered by another clan of thieves,but they took her in and raised her until she became old enough to be the clan leader.

Legends tell of a young girl who is able to talk to and calm the dark spirit of an evil dragon,could this be the reason the thieves accepted Karina as their leader?

[max payne]

I'd like to join if I may.

Name: Romar Dian

Age: 23 (looks older)

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Weapons: Unarmed mostly, anything he can get his hands on

Dragon: Wants a Blue Dragon

Appearence: http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9165/avatar8864yi5.jpg When wearing his mask, looks like avatar. 6'1 and weighs 222 lbs.

Bio: Romar inherited a mask from his father. The mask had been passed down from generation to generation, never being used. Romar began to use it, and he discovered what it did. While someone wore the mask, it would blot out all of the wearers emotions. Logic becomes paramount. Unfortunately, it takes quite a toll on the users mind and body and eventually the change becomes permanent. This is starting to happen to Romar, he has become increasingly indifferent and unfeeling towards other's lives.

He wishes to join the dragon riders to find a cure and to find a purpose for his life.

[Caine]

I think I might join.
One question before I make a char though. Is magic allowed?

[Elvenhair]

(Crimson, Payne. It looks ok we'll start soon. Caine, Sorcery and Magic are allowed, but not to a destroy-world power. You're still technically 'students'
One thing Crimson, You may have Cynder, but he can't be introduced into story right away, ok? Everyone else has to earn their dragons.)

[wolfy147]

Name: Michiko

Age: 117

Gender: F

Race: Silvanesti (elf)

Weapons: Uses a hidden blade (wakizashi) but not often, also uses a yew longbow, has enchanting magic which make her sneak attacks more deadly

Dragon: white/blue dragon (if I can't have this please say)

Appearence: Has lilac eyes, long light brown hair, usual elven face.
Clothes: Wears a light ice blue coloured robe and hood, dislikes armour.
Height: 5ft 7inch
Weight: 147lbs

Bio: Came from her homeland of Krynn, but at a young age was a outcast, and was to never set foot again in her homeland, she found herself living in a distant place among humans, she got on as well as she could for most of her life, but left the city to live with nature. She hand crafted her bow and her arrows, and learnt the way's of enchanting/magic and how to sneak so not even a human in front of her couldn't detect her.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Name: Arthos

Age: 18

Gender:M

Race: Necridon (Singualar) Necridi (Plural)

Weapons: Void- A natural phenomnon harnessed by Arthos to be used as a weapon, like all Necridi. This paticular weapon has never been seen before by the Necridi. After a terrible accident in a magic experiment Arthos was bound to Void, in apearance it is simple a black ethereal void and can change form to make any weapon, though Arthos prefers dual swords. He can also absorb other phenomonons such as will-o-wisps to argument the power and has limited destruction magic.

Dragon: Ice

Appearence: http://www.spanishcalibur.com/galeria/Souls/Necrid.jpg (Height is
6' 5")

The Necridon: Hailing from the northen wastes Arthos belongs to an enigmatic race known as the Necridon, many years ago the Necridon were caste out by the worlds inhabitants for there blood firsty nature. However after much time the evil has been exorcised from them and now they slowly return seeking expetance. Necridon are often tall of stature and born warriors, but they can also make fine mages and even arcitects. Most of the few Necridi that venture south are Paladins seeking to atone for there fore farthers sins or adventureres hoping to shed light on there races dark past.

Bio:Arthos comes from the Necridon capital Necara. After the accident that bound him to his Engima weapon Void, he heard that a Dragon rider had traveled to Necara. This stoked Arthos's curiosity, deciding this could be his best chance to help peace together the past of the Necridi he has decided to test his strength and become a rider.

[mikiwolf]

Name: mina

Age: 16

Gender: girl

Race: Black elf

Weapons: black bow with jewels down it, and arrows, a giant black whip ((BLACK WHIP OF DEATH!)) , a small dagger

dragon: http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/dnd-online-dragon.jpg

appearnce: http://www.calculateme.com/MySpace/background-images/anime-girl.gif looks a bit older

bio: when she was 13 she killed her whole clan...and now lives alone.
she has no home...and no where to stay. (( the rest is a secret.ohhhh))

[Elvenhair]

(It looks great everyone. ok, I'll start it up now. Everyone else is welcome to join up until the end of the first 'trial'. Remember, you get your dragon after a few trials, so no real introductions until later.)

Zhai smiled as the day started, exactly three years when the announcement came out. Clasping on the twin katana's on his back, the half-elf exited his room and started to walk down the hallway to the stairs when two brutes stepped out and blocked his path. "I have no buisness with you two, so let me by."

The two brutes obviously didn't understand and reached for the smaller Zhai, but the nimble elf hopped over their hands and ran up to their shoulders. When they followed his movement with their heads, a dual kick knocked them both into the walls while the warrior walked down the stairs. Ordering up a meal from the maids, he waited as the two large humans came down, nursing their heads. A smaller man lead the two, a gruff looking indivisual leading a pair of ugly dogs. As Zhai's food arrived, the leader spotted the elf and walked forward.

Zhai began on his meat as the man stabbed his knife into the table. "I 'ear you were messin' with my men?" Zhai looked up then returned to his food. "Well? What you get teh say?"

"They attacked me so I responded in a like matter. Besides, you're only doing this cause I'm not human. So as compensation, here," He tossed a small bag of gold coins to the man, who growled but took it. After finishing his meal, the half-elf walked out of Waterdeep and shivered slightly from the wind. Taking shelter under a rock, he spotted a dark-skinned lady under there too!

"You here for the Dragon Riders?" Zhai nodded and settled in, warming himself slightly.

[max payne]

Romar Dian trudged through the winter cold, his mask barely protecting his face from the winds. In the distance, he saw the outline of Waterdeep. He had been away from his home town for almost 3 years now. He left 2 months after the annoucement was made to improve his abilities. Now he had returned.

He finally reached the city he saw some people around, he didn't know if they were there for the same reason he was or not, so he stayed away from them.

[Caine]

Name: Shizou Khazad
Age: unknown, appears 20
Race: Appears mostly human, true name of race unknown
Height: 6'0
Weight: 180
Eyes: Blue, with specks of yellow in the left and specks of red in the right.
Hair: appears black, turns a hint of blue under the influence of certain magiks
Clothes: Appear to be those of a desert nomad, though upon closer examination the material is superior and the few stripes of color, are not normal dyes.
Weapons: sorcery, glaive, small kunai, hidden in his sleeve, belt, shirt collar,and boots.
Doesn't care whaat type of dragon. (will probably end up with a red, barring me changing my mind about where I can go with his story)

Bio: Shizou was born millenia ago. His people greatly resemble humans and elves, but there is some type of foreign magik, which grants him his sorcerous talents. His people sealed him in their now long forgotten city. He doesn't know if any more of his people were preserved, if any survived, if they evolved, or what became of them. He remembers little, other than a great war, but he has dreams. Whether his dreams are visions or mere imagination he cannot tell.
He searches for any hint of the past. He believes that the dragon riders offer him his best chance; dragons are long lived creatures whose vast hordes often contain scrolls of many sorts. While finding a dragon who might know of his people is at best far fetched, at the very least, a dragon rider should be able to search the most remote ruins and consult the greatest scholars in hopes of finding the archaic tales which Shizou so desperately seeks. Lastly, some have suggested that it is dragon's blood that flows through his blood and grants him his magik. He has heard so many rumors about his strange brand of sorcery that he believes no such gossip, but he can't help but wonder.



Shizou sat on the ledge and saw the buck in the clearing just a short distance away, but still more than 50 feet below. Few could have made the throw from the ledge, which was barely wide enough to find purchase on, but Shizou was a skilled on ledges and cliffs, and he took the buck across the throat, and used the momentum of his throw to begin his descent. It took fast hands to find the holds so quickly after releasing the glaive, but Shizou's hands didn't need much to hold unto. He quickly descended and made his way to the kill.

He arrived to find three ruffians over his kill, two with drawn bows, obviously looking for the mysterious hunter. The third picked up the glaive. "what a catch we have here, boys. This is a fine little pigsticker," he said, examining the foreign but obviously valuable weapon.
"Perhaps you should be more cautious with other people's tools," Shizou calmly said as he approached.
"I thing yonder fool wants my pigsticker boys! Well, let it never be said that I'm not generous enough to give fools what they're asking for."
Shizou easily stepped into the man and caught the swing below the glaive's blade. The bandits were stunned, and thus not only failed to use their bows, but also missed that he brought the other end across his assailant's throat. They didn't regain their senses until after Shizou delivered a blow to his assailant's sternum using the magically enhanced butt of the glaive, which just happened to send the man into one of his companions. In the same motion, Shizou stepped towards the third man, ducked beneath his arrow, and whipped his glaive through the man's legs. He rose and calmly sliced off the hand that the man he had sent the first bandit into was trying to use to knife him with, then knocked that man unconscious with the butt of the glaive. He finally cleaned his glaive and picked up his kill, whose skin and meat would fetch enough a bit of money in the town. He left the bandits, who would likely die of their wounds.

After selling most of the meat, salting the rest, and buying what few provisions he needed, Shizou again left the town, with a few more coins in his pocket. As he approached Waterdeep, he saw several likely shelters, and approached the one holding an obviously armed half elf.

[Elvenhair]

Saleme looked out over the snow and her sharp eyes picked out Romar. "Are you here for the Dragon Rides? Come out, there's no need to hide."

Zhai muttered a few words and created a small flame, big enough to warm his body. He looked up and his purple eyes spotted an odd looking man dressed like a desert Nomad. Is that man crazy? Winter in Waterdeep in those clothes? He's definately a foreigner, the half-drow thought as he waved over to the man. "You want to share the fire?"

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked apon the town infront of her, she sighed as she hadn't had any contact with anyone for 3yrs, bar traders who she sometimes ran into, she also had the message 3yrs ago about the dragonriders and was very willing to join their ranks.
"i.. i wounder where they all are.." she said as she looked around the outskirts of water deep, maybe she could find someone who would understand her, or maybe everyone outcast her again like so many times in the past..... she found it very hard to make friends as she never trusted anyone since she was thrown out of her homeland for a mistake.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos's breath came out of his mouth in great billows, he shook the light dusting of snow that had collected on his head with irritation. He had been travelling on foot for a month from his home land in the chaotic northern wastes to be here. Finally after the hard journey he had almost reached his goal of meeting the one the day walker had spoke of so that he may join the ranks of the dragon riders.
He proceeded onward out of the woods that overlooked the town, a chilly breeze swept by cuasing Arthos to shiver a little he only wore a leather jerkin, trousers and a pair of heavy hob nailed boots. As he marched onward he noticed a female and by the looks of her build she matched the descritpion of an elf.

[mikiwolf]

mina stood on her dragons head holding on to the horns, she turned her head to the rght and saw a couple people messing with there dragons. she sighed a bit then sat down and pulled out her whip and cracked it. the crack of the whipe could be heared from a mile away. her dragon the lifted of the ground and huvered above a man that had a small fire going.
"hehehe."

[Caine]

"Many thanks" Shizou said as he moved out of the weather.
"It appears you be here for the Dragon Riders, yes? So too am I, though I know little of what is expected. I forget myself though, my name is Shizou Khazad." He extended his hand as he introduced himself. Oddly, his hand did not seem cold, nor did he appear too cold, and while his clothes appeared to be those of a nomad, they were slightly thicker.

[mikiwolf]

mina heared them over talk and moved futher down. she knew they could see her and she smiled a bit more.

[wolfy147]

Michiko kneel'd down by a tree and looked out for the camp were the dragon riders were suppose to meet, "oooo where are thoese guys"

[Elvenhair]

(Miki, I'm sorry to say, but the only other person with a dragon is Saleme at the moment and her's is hidden. So you might want to have your dragon dissappear for now. Caine, you forgot what type of dragon you want on your profile)

Saleme seemed to move for the first time, looking up at the girl atop the dragon. "Missie, you can't use you dragon just yet for these trials, so I'm afraid you must send him away for now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zhai smiled back and shook the strangly warm hand. "Zhai Felendis. Yeah, I'm here for the Dragon Riders. I know a little about this, but not enough." The half-drow brushed off a little snow on his shoulders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A massive Green dragon plopped down next to Michiko. "Are you looking for the Dragon Riders, miss?" it said in a deep male voice.

[Caine]

"A pleasure to meet you" Shizou said. "Judging by events taking place just over my left shoulder, I'd say we might be about to find out more." Shizou turns to watch the exchange between Saleme and the strange girl who already has a dragon.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos snorted in irritation after being ignored by the elf girl, he decided to move on, after a few moments he chanced upon a camp occupied by several youths, he noted that they were mainly elves to his dismay. According to the Necridi archives the elves were there prime rivals in the old times. Disregarding this Arthos stepped brazenlt into the congragation and in a low gutteral voice asked "Dragun riderz?!" to no one in paticular.

[mikiwolf]

mina claped her hands and her dragon disapered. she then fell to the ground but landed on her feet. she looked at every one and sighed.
"tis nice to see others." she said smiling a bit.
"and yes i am looking for dragon riders...for i wouldnt be this raf out of my vilage for nuthing" she said laughiong a bit.

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked at the dragon.... "... why yes i am... do you.. do you know where they are?"

[Crimson Wolf]

((Ok then.Let's go.Oh,Btw,Elvenhair,Cynder is a girl :naughty:))

Karina looked at the small pile of food infront of her.
She clenched her fist in anger and closed her eyes,thinking what to do next.
"Goro,our food is disappearing fast....we need more to keep us going through these harsh times."

Goro,the first assistant to Karina,looked down.He was a bold man,with a scar over his left eye,making it partially yellow.
"......Yes,but..Miss,where else have we to steal from?.....The village is vacant after that fire."

Karina cringed.
"Damnit......"She got up,"Looks like we'll need to move locations.Somewhere busier,perhaps a town?Get the rest of the clan into the main room.Tell the it's for a meeting...."Karina said,as she walked off behind an old curtain.

Later,in the main room,the clan members sat on rags and blankets,waiting for Karina to appear.Although the clan was pretty small,it was large amoung other clans,and therefore,had more power over rival clans.
Karina appeared and stood up on an altar,with tribal rugs hanging down from the ledge.Goro stood beside her,his arms crossed behind his back.

"People,listen!After that fire that spread throughout the village,we are short on food,as most of it was simmered,and all survivors have left the village!We must move on,to a busier place.With more victims,and more prizes!Who's up for it!"Karina exclaimed,raising her hand to the roof.

The clan cheered as Karina smiled.She started to walk away.
"Tell everyone to get their things packed.We'll be leaving tomorrow morning...."She said to Goro walking away and disappearing behind the curtain.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos looked at the newcomer, "Then you harv found us day walker, but tell me how is it that you already have a Dragun? he queried his toungue struggling to form the delicate words in elvish.

[Elvenhair]

The Dragon smiled, which would scare most people and pointed out a large standing rock with one claw a ways away. "There. My Rider awaits for you." With a flap of his wings, the dragon lifted off and landed on top the rock.

Saleme looked up and smiled. "Garabath, nice of you to join up." The dragon smiled again and nodded.

Zhai was about to adress the odd-looking man when the Rider's dragon appeared. For a moment, the half-drow just stared but he shook his head and stood up. "Ma'am? When do we start the testing?"

[max payne]

As always, Romar maintained a stony silence. He observed the group of people converging around, he knew he was right. It was confirmed when a dragon came. "Hurm..." it was confirmed. He stared moving closer to the other people around.

[Caine]

Shizou turned and bowed to the dragon, but continued to listen for an answer to Zhai's question.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos turned around and scrutinized the Rider, it struck him that under any other circumstance he would have disregarded him as any other daywalker and passed him by, he felt a moment of anger within himself of how ignorant he was. It also struck him that should he survive the trials he would be the first Necridon to be a rider.

[mikiwolf]

mina smilled. "i guess i should introduce mysself...my name is mina...nuthing more nuthing less" she said she looked behind herself, and smiled knowing her dragon was behind her. "pararu show yourself....my friend" she said smiling.
the dragon reapered and stood on his hind legs. his peuples thined and he looked at the others. "hello" he said in a demonic voice.
"this is my dragon pararu...a black dragon and a peurbred kinda like a a dog" she said laughing again.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos made a hissing growl to shush mina "Well when do we start the trails?" he asked the recruiter impatiently scuffing his boots on the ground.

[Elvenhair]

Saleme saw the recuits becoming restless so she smiled and opened her arms. "Now. Welcome propecting Riders. I am Master Saleme, your teacher until we get to the halls. Congradulations on getting passed the first obstacle, finding me. Your first challage is one of endurance: We run on foot to the Riders headquaters. You are allowed only your strength and stamina for this. No Magic-enhancing or using a helper to rest. It will take us most of three days run into the Spine until we get to your next test," The lady said as she indicated the large forboding mountains in the distance, "So conserve your energy, because we may also get a little troll trouble along the way. You can follow either me or Garabath for this. Ready? Go!" She jogged off into the snow as the dragon hopped down and took a parallel course.

Zhai nodded and put out the fire. "Well, let's go for a run!" The half-drow, half-wood elf filed in behind Saleme.

(Crimson, wolfy, you two can still hop in if you catch up with the group. ok?)

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos gave an eager roar at the prospect of fighting a troll and began to set his own pace that was a little slower then Zhai's, "I am Arthos of Necara, an you are?" he inquired in what summed up to be a freindly voice.

[max payne]

Romar watched the others leave, he decided to travel with the dragon to avoid awkward questions from others. He set off, travelling a little faster than a walk, but enough to keep up with the dragon.

[Caine]

Shizou fell in right behind Saleme. He had experience in tracking humanoids, but none in tracking dragons. Even should he somehow fall bhind, he could easily track Saleme. He would like to have thought that he could track Garabath, but he was not so conceited as to wager his chance at becoming a rider on such a boast. Besides, the main group was with Saleme, and he had no wish to intrude on the outsiders, though he knew that all who were here were outsiders in some way.

"Forgive my ignorance, lady rider," he adressed their instructor, "but I have a different understanding of magik from most. When you say we may use no magic, you mean we may use no magical transportation or magically enhance our abilities, but may we us magic to remove obstacles and enemies, such as those trolls you spoke of?"

[Elvenhair]

Saleme smiled and opened her mouth, but Zhai spoke first. "The rules are that magic in this trial is only allowed in rest periods and only in combat. Removing inanimate obstacles, enhancing limbs, or transportation are illegal and you will get thrown out of the program if you've broken any of them."

Saleme eyed the cross-breed suspiciously. "You know much about this trial. Where did you get that information?"

"When I was with a paladin squad, one of the members was a former Rider and told me of this trial, but he died before he could tell me more. A dangerous profession, being a Paladin." Zhai shrugged.

[wolfy147]

((Sorry i was at my dads))

Michiko looked around woundering were everyone went, she grabbed her bow and ran off towards the sounds of foot-steps, she caught up with romar and ask if she could walk with him

[max payne]

Romar turned around to face Michiko "Yes." he said simply and turned away, keeping up with the dragon. "You want to be a rider?" he turned but kept on walking.

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked at romar and nodded, "i would love to be a rider, but.... i dont know if im strong enough"...... Michiko noticed that romar didn't have a wep, she looked at romar in confusion.

[Caine]

"Interesting" Shizou said slowly. Though he did not show it, he was deeply troubled. His understanding of magik and what they called magic were clearly different. Apparently the gap of an unknown number of millenia and being of different race would prove more difficult than he had first thought. Still, this paladin might have access to useful information.
"You are a paladin?" he asked Zhai. "Then tell me please, master paladin, does the order have records dating to its foundation?"

[max payne]

He looked at her for a moment "I don't think your strong enough either You should go home." he paused "Joking, of course." he kept walking "Don't fall behind."

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos scowled anoyed he had been ignored by Zhai, deciding that this group would require proof of his worth he sped up a little to see what was ahead, he leapt over a fallen tree and stopped to sniff the air, "Troll" he murmerd to himself as the trace of the rancid sweaty stench cuaght his nose, the were far off but he knew they would run into the Trolls soon.

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked at romar.... "well... were do you come from?" she moved quicker to walk along-side of romar.

[max payne]

"Waterdeep. Yourself?" he kept walking staring at the dragon ahead of him so he didn't lose sight of it.

[mikiwolf]

mina hopped on her dragons head and cracked her whip, they soon cought up with the others and she looked around.
"so...this dragon ridder thing...im not use to it what exactly do we do i mean i have a dragon i have had him my whole life" she said patting his head.
she looked at Michiko and then at her dragon.

[Delta-Pheonix]

"The Dragon riders are an elite corps of peace keepers to put it shortly, upon passing the trails we are given a dragon to bond with." Arthos stated as he jogged back to rejoin the group from his scouting trip. "Though why you already have a dragon is somthing I am rather curios about." He added.

[wolfy147]

".. i came from Krynn, but i havn't been there for many years, but i don't mind as long as i get in the dragon riders, they will give me everything i need.... i hope" she replied

((ahh... we dont have our dragons yet!!!!! jeeez))

[mikiwolf]

"i already have my dragon." she said smiling a bit.
"but helping out others is not what i was realy looking for..." she sighed and looked at
pararu.
"when i was younger i killed every one i saw in my vilage. some tryed to exscape at night...
but i was there...i was there waitting for them." she said looking at her own hands.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos's eye's widened in suprise, as a Necrodon he was no stranger to brutality even in these times the nortern wastes were filled with monsters and the followers of demonic lords but his people had maintained there intregity. "That's not somthing you should talk lightly about" he growled in a gutteral tone.

[wolfy147]

"errrm lovely?" she looked back at romar, "we nearly there yet i'm bored outa my skull"

[max payne]

"No. Still a long way I geuss." he kept looking straight ahead "I don't know. It wouldn't be much of a trial if we only spent 10 minutes walking in the snow."

[Elvenhair]

Zhai shrugged at Shizou's question. "The foundation I am in is a relativly new Paladin group, funded by a noble family in Silverymoon. We are in corresponence with one of the eldest groups, so they certainly must have records. Why do you ask?"

Saleme looked back at Mina and sighed. Slowing down, she quickly mutter a wod and thrust a gloved hand at the girl. A magic projectile erupted out of her palm and knock the girl off her perch. "Your only warning: You're the one that is running, not your pet." She resumed the run, turning east toward a gap in the mountains.

Garabath smiled as the girl joined the boy and they started up a conversation. Looking ahead, he saw the marker and turned west, the mystical beast's breath creating clouds of smoke that trailed over the pairs head.

[Caine]

"You may have noticed that I am not human. I am not elven, dwarven, gnommish, nor halfling. My people were in a great war. As our city fell, some of us were taken and sealed away, safe from the ravages of this world, but also out of time. As far as I know, I am the only one to have awaken, but I can remember little. I suspect I was awoken accidently. Speech, motor skills, reflexes and magik, all these came easily to me, but history and memory are buried, lost. I seek my people's history, that I may find our long lost cities, discover what happened, and perhaps restore my sleeping brethren."

"I know not how long I have slumbered, but it is certainly many centuries. I recall paladins, though whether their order still exists I know not, but if there is any chance I could find anything, any lead to follow, I must look. That is why I seek the ancient records. It is this same quest that leads me to seek to become a dragon rider."

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked around, spotting some oak wood on the floor, she ran over and picked it up, and then ran back to the side of Romar, she pulled out her fletching knife and started to make shafts while walking along, "always good to make supplies i think" she said as she finished making the shafts, "you never know when you might need spare arrows now" she tipped them and attached the feathers, "all done" she said turning to face Romar, "sooo.... you think we are there yet?"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos overheard Shizou's lamentations and walked over to him, "I know the pain you speak of, the Necridi lost much history when we were cast out of these lands in the anceint times. Many of us are now searching for clues to are own dark past." He rumbled sympathetically.

[mikiwolf]

mina sighed and made her drago disapper again.
"im srry" she said then walked off "i realy dont think saving people and all that is a good thing for me...and if any of you try and change my mind its almost imposible." she said walking away.
"i dont save i kill....and thats what i will do"

[Delta-Pheonix]

((Enter our first major villain))

[wolfy147]

"Mina get back here you whimp!!!!" she shouted, "people these days i don't believe it".

[max payne]

"Don't bother. Let her do what she wants." Romar said in unconcerned tones. "We have a trial to finish." he turned to Michiko "And if you ever ask "are we there yet?" again, I'll push you off a cliff."

[mikiwolf]

mina turned quikly. "im not a whimp...i dont like to save lifes unless it prarus or mine, thats just who i am" sh said walking twords the girl quikly.
"i dont want to fight....i just want to be on my way, is that ok?" she asked the girl her peuples thining a bit.

[wolfy147]

Michiko looked at mina, "come any closer and trust me, you WILL regret it" she turned around to look at romar, "would you want to really push me off this cliff?" "o and mina dragon riders, it means we are a team, no I in team ya know" michiko looked at the dragon they were following, "mr draong we there yet?"

[max payne]

"Yes I would." He said simply and kept walking "Like I said, just don't bother, let her go. If she doesn't want to be a rider, she doesn't have to be. She can make a decision on her own."

[Caine]

Shizou nodded, made an odd and quick sign with his hand, and murmurred a few words in his language, then belatedly remembered to translate for those around him.
"Its my people's formal way of wishing one respect on one's quest."

[wolfy147]

"Well... i think mina isn't coming back" she said to romar, and then carried on walking, she pulled out her wakizashi and started to clean it, "no point hunting with a bow if u can get close with a blade" she said.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Shizou nodded, made an odd and quick sign with his hand, and murmurred a few words in his language, then belatedly remembered to translate for those around him.
"Its my people's formal way of wishing one respect on one's quest."

Arthos nodded then in response to the greeting clenched his right fist leaving his index finger an little finger pointing upwards, he then rested the fist onto the oposite side of his chest bowed.

[mikiwolf]

mina walked back to her dragon and it layed its head down for her to get ontop. she sighed a bit and cracked her whip. pararu lifted of the ground and hovvered above the others.
"lets go pararu" she said taking him by the horns. he turned and started to fly away

[max payne]

Romar watched Mina start to fly away. "Hmmm..." he turned back to the dragon and started following it again "Glad that's over." he thought to himself "Maybe." he replied to Michiko.

[wolfy147]

"She just scared she wont pass the test....." Michiko said to romar, "nevrmind lets carry on playing follow the dragon"

[mikiwolf]

mina and her dragon hid in a forest near by, she sighed and pet her dragon on the snout. she was a bit sad for making enimes already...
she layed down and looked at the sky.
"this place is vary lonly.

[ladyshiro]

Can I join. Or is it to late

Name: Shira
Age: 25 appears younger
Race: A rare Vamp-Elf
Height: 5'2
Weight: 100
Eyes: Blue, but turn red when vampire powers are called upon
Hair: Blond hair pulled up into a pony tail
Clothes: black and blue t-shirt with a gold wing like emblems on the back and black pants
Weapons: some magic, Elven fighting Knives magically enhanced that she wears in shealths on belt behind her back, a her bite, she has healing powers as well as foresight.
Dragon: would like to ride a Blue

Bio: Shira was born of a rare and unlikly paring of High elf and vampire. She was born in the vampire kingdom, she is the grand daughter of Count Darula which makes her a princess. She has small gold wings like a bats that she keeps folded down her back people mistake them for decoration on her shirt, powers of both elven and vampire With very few of the vampires weakness. She is the only one of her kind as far as she know. She searches for some place to belong and to prove herself. And hopes she has what it takes to be a dragon rider.

Appearance: See looks kind of like this. Except the sword in her hand isn't right.
http://www.geocities.com/stinger_42/Shira.jpg

[Caine]

^well, I personally thought this had died, but I'm down with trying to ressurect it

[Delta-Pheonix]

((I'm up for it))

[ladyshiro]

"She'll be back I'm sure of it" a strange blond girl said walking up to the group. When she stopped in front of the group they could see she was standing on top of the snow "She just needs to believe in herself" she looked very strange she had an elvish look to her but yet not. "By the way I'm Shira, let say we catch up with those dragons"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos rolled his massive shoulders 'Lets' he agreed and continued his stride in the wake of the Dragon.

[ladyshiro]

"Here you go" Shira said as she handed each of them a chunk of labris bread "Your all going to need your strength very soon" she told them "This will keep you full for a little while"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos blinked in suprise at the kind offering, he gently took the hung of bread in a clawed hand and bowed. In silent responce he took out a skin of water and offered it to the Elf girl.

[ladyshiro]

"Thanks but no thanks" Shira told him "nothing against you but i don't normally drink water"

[ladyshiro]

She could sense everyone looking at her oddly "Was I wrong to not except it from him" she thought to herself.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos snorted and contiued walking chewing on the bread, it was suprisingly filling and he was glad to have it. But he could not help but feel annoyed about the slight on his hospitality.

[Caine]

Shizou tooked the bread and bowed his head in thanks. He tore off about a third of it to eat, saving the rest for later.
"You drink other than water?" he asked quickly. "Are you then..." his voice trailed off as he thought.

If she was a vampir, then perhaps his blood could tell her something.

"Apologies Milady. My name is Shizou" and again he bowed.

[ladyshiro]

"That's quite alright" Shira sighed nodding to him "I'm quite used to it by now" "I'm only half..." she stopped what she was saying and ran up ahead and drew her fighting knifes from behind her back "We got trouble and lots of it" Three Mountain Trolls appeared infront of the group. One really big one and two little ones each had a big spiked club. They Roared in anger at the group.

[ladyshiro]

They started to charged at the group with spiked clubs raised. "Three to start man" she said.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos roared at the attacking trolls defiently and stood his ground, even the smallest troll was at least two feet taller then he was. Arthos readied his weapon; Void a samll black orb that hovered above his palm then like lightening it morphed into a the vaugue shape of a long blade. He pulled on the handle area splitting the wraith sword into two smaller ones.

[ladyshiro]

Shira readied. She watched as the arrows some of the others were shooting were just bouncing off the the troll's tuff hide. She looked over to Arthos and Shizou. All of sudden she threw herself into Arthos causing him to fall back, Shira meet a spiked club with her fighting knives. A fourth troll had appeared from the bushes. Shira was meeting the trolls strength with her own. A few of the long spikes on the trolls club were inches from meeting skin. The troll roared in anger it didn't like having its club stopped "Arthos you alright"
She looked over to him briefly then looked back at the troll. Her eyes were red now instead of the blue they were earlier.

[Caine]

Shizou ran around Shira. At first this looked almost like an act of cowardice, but his run gave him the angle and momentum he needed to leap onto a nearby boulder and bound from there to the face of the mountain. As he passed, he swiped the arm of the troll Shira was fighting. It wasn't a deep cut, but it surprised the beast and forced it to let up for just a moment. Shizou's jump drew the attention of the tallest troll, which ran in and swung at him. He spun beneath the beast's swing and landed a deep gash going from the top of the troll's pectoral to almost a foot beneath its armpit. He had successfully taken the back of the enemy formation, but he had also isolated himself.

[ladyshiro]

The troll roared in pain and dropped it's club in suprize of Shizou's attack. Shira jumped out of the way of the falling club. Shira used the oppinunity to run up one of the trolls arms to the top of the troll's head and ran one of her fighting knifes deep into the trolls skull killing it. She could see Shizou fighting the big troll by himself. She knew that big troll wasn't going to be easy. The wound Shizou gave it wasn't enough to kill it, it just enough to really anger it. As she started to pull the knife out she seen a spike club coming at her from above she flew out of the way as it smashed into the dead troll. A second spiked club caught her in air by the shoulder as she tried dodging it penning her to the boulder behind her. This troll now had two clubs it had picked up the club the dead one had dropped.
The Troll prepared to bring the other club down on her head. A strange red mist appeared around Shira just as the troll swung it's club Shira had vanished. The Troll roared in anger that she had escaped. Shira threw her other fighting knife at the trolls throat as she reappeared standing on top of the boulder. The knife hit it's mark. The troll fell backwards gasping for air. Shira could feel blood rushing out of her wounds, but she didn't dare look them now. She streched out her golden wings and took to the air. She needed to help Shizou. She had neither one of her fighting knives.

[ladyshiro]

She had a idea that might just work. She figured Arthos could handle the other troll "Shizou" She yelled "When I bring this thing down you be ready"
"Gross" she said "Can't believe I'm going to do this"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos got up feeling annoyed and embarresed by Shira's intervention he rushed headlong into the smaller troll and rolled to the side to avoid being pounded by it's club. Arthos countered by attacking the legs spinning round behind it he slashed under the knees.

[Caine]

Shizou now had no choice but to hold his ground; he could neither take the offensive nor attempt maneuver with Shira's plan unknown. Unfortunately, the Troll would force his actions. It swung down at him with the club, but the injury to its chest forced it to let up on the swing. He met the blow with his glaive, and spun off of it to swing at the beast' weakened side. He did little damage, but the troll jumped back in response to the attack on its wound. Shizou also backed off. Now he and the troll were close to where they had been before. He could only assume that this was the best position to hold while he waited for Shira to enact her plan.

[ladyshiro]

Shira dodge the great trolls swing and landed on the back of it's neck and crawled to the side of it neck. The troll couldn't feel she was there through it's thick skin, it was too busy swinging at Shizou. She could see everyone of it's vanes with her vampire eyes. She sank her fangs deep into the side of the trolls neck in till she could taste the putrid taste of troll blood enter her mouth, it tasted so horrible she wanted to gag. Now the troll knew she was there. Shira sank her teeth in further to deliver more of her bite, she also dug her nails in to it's skin to keep from falling off as the troll swung it's arms at her and banged it's back against things to try to get her off. She held on with all her might, she darned not let go yet. Shira could sense the beast wearing down her bite was working, it was working it wouldn't be long.

[Caine]

Shizou immediately realized what she was doing, and the trouble that she was in. He dropped his glaive and dropped a kunai into each hand as he rushed the beast. With perfect precision, he slashed the beast behind the knee, severing tendons and collapsing it under its own weight. The creature tried to stay up and struggle through, but he had done enough damage that it couldn't properly stand, and more importantly it couldn't injure Shira. Her actions may have been hasty, but she had offered help.
SHizou retrieved his glaive and watched her until she finished. Arthos had the other troll under control. He wanted to know how she reacted to feeding, and to make sure that her wounds were under control.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Void sliced the trolls leg of cleanly cuasing thick stinking blood to gush out onto the ground. The Troll roared in pain and toppled over with a mighty crash, it flailed around on it's back as it tried to grab Arthos. He Waled around to the head reformed Void into a single great blade and stabbed the Trolls head splitting open cleanly, it's body gave a final death spasm and was then still.

[ladyshiro]

Shira relized what she was doing probly looked hasty to the others but she knew what she was doing. She was thankful for whatever Shizou had done to keep the troll from moving. The troll stumbled a little and drop it's club as started losing conciseness. Shira knew it wouldn't be long. Finally the beast lost conciseness and fall back causing the ground around to shake in it's wake. Shira vanished from the troll's neck and was nowhere insight.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos stood up to full height and took a deep breathe to calm himself he couldn't help but feel this had all been set up. 'Was this a part of the test?' he wondered out loud.

[Caine]

(((I hope you guys don't mind this, but without elvenhair we need to advance things on our own. I can take over our guide or we can do things as they become necessary)

"In a way, it was. I'm sure that they know there are trolls up here, and toughness is a prerequisite for being a rider." Shizou said all this as he approached the other two.
"I suggest we stick together and track our guide, who apperently wishes to test some of our other skills as well."
It was obvious that their guide had left in the commotion.

[ladyshiro]

(sound like a plan to me)

Shira reappeared standing in a strange red mist infront of a nearby tree behind Shizou. She bent over and spit out the troll blood she hadn't swallowed (which was pretty much most of it). She knew she needed blood but not that blood.
"One of you guys finish it off, cut off it's head" She choke out "What I did only knocked it out for a little while, That's one thing I don't want to see a vampire troll" she told them with a little laugh as she wiped blood away from her mouth with the back of her hand. She looked up at them with her still red eyes.

[Delta-Pheonix]

''Trolls can't become Vampires 'Arthos yawned 'May aswell leve it alone cutting it's head off won't do anything they just grow back' he gestured to the other two Trolls, 'Give em a day or two and they'll regenerate and be none the wiser.'

[Caine]

"Pardon me for my bluntness, but I don't care if these trolls regenerate or not. We have already lost our guide. He is obviously skilled enough to make tracking difficult, and we are under time pressure. I plan to set out to track him. I think the best course would be to stick together and track him now. If either of you have any ideas, please voice them. Otherwise I will begin to track him"

[ladyshiro]

"Maybe your right Arthos" Shira sighed as she retrieve her fighting knives. "A Vampire Troll would be kind of far fetched" She laughted. She still worried alittle that her blood had gotten mix with the trolls when she bit it but she didn't want to argue with them about it. How were they suppost to know her blood was different then a normal Vamp."If it did turn it couldn't hurt anything, and with out a proper master it would be too stupid to understand and die from the thrust" she thought to herself. Which she knew she could do very easy with all the blood she had lost as she eyed her injured left shoulder. She grabbed a canteen from her belt and took a drink out of it. "You'll find our guide about two miles ahead" she told them as she looked at Shizou her eyes had returned to blue. She could tell Shizou was getting impatent. She looked up the path ahead using her senses she had inherited from both vampire and elf. "I can sense and see her" she said as she took another drink out of the canteen and put it back on her belt.

[Caine]

"Interesting. We still might wish to track him. We aren't supposed to use magic, and he will be suspicious if we don't do as he expects."
SHizou set out actually tracking him, but soon realized that it wasn't a difficult task. He hadn't bothered doing much to hide his trail.

[ladyshiro]

Shira was hurt at being suspected of using magic to sense and see their guide those ablities are natural ablities that don't require magic to use, she's been pretty good at keeping her magic ablities under check, but Shira understood the guide wanted them to track him. Shira helped Shizou track their guide. She didn't know if she should tell them she could hear their guide as well.
"You guys weren't injured were you?" Shira asked "And Arthos I'm sorry for pushing you earlier" Shira said "I couldn't let what I seen in my vision happen to you guys"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos shrugged 'What vision?' he inquired as he sniffed the wind, unfortunatly the stink of the Trolls filled his nostrils.

[Caine]

Shizou made sure to slow the pace as they approached. He was very itnerested in hearing of this vision. The fight hadn't taken too long, and they were close enough to their guide that they shouldn't lose him. They could catch up after they heard about this

[ladyshiro]

"Well how do I explain this" Shira answered "You see I'm half vampire half elf, So I have abilities of both" She explain " One of my abilities is Foresight, which lets me see into future alittle ways, it's a rare ability among the elfs" She told them "In that battle I seen you Arthos being killed by that troll I intervented with and you Shizou I seen you being stomped and killed, I couldn't let it happen" She said

[Caine]

He wasn't sure of the reliability of this claim. Arthos was obviously a more than competent fighter and neither of them were likely to fall to a troll, let alone both of them in the same battle. It wasn't impossible, but it was highly improbable. Then again, he had always doubted predictions of the future. No matter, there were more important matters to deal with.
"Interesting. This ability of your only works for the short term future?"
Shizou didn't let it show, but he was disapointed. He had hoped for a true seer who could unlock the secret of his memory; future sight, and short term future at that, wasn't what he wanted. Still, there was one favor he could ask of her. It would be best to wait until they had time to rest, but it was an interesting idea.

[ladyshiro]

"Yeah pretty much" Shira answered "I just developed the ability about year and a half ago when I was heading to Watersdeep, so I'm still learning how to use and control it, like I said it's a rare gift among the elves and for someone at my age developing it is just unheard of" Shira told them "Up to just recently I've accually been disregarding the visions and using just my senses since we were told no magic. Foresight is kind of a magic ability but yet not, I wasn't sure what they would consider magic. But the thing is I can't shut it off the visions come to me whether I want them or not." She sighed.
They were getting closer to their guide she could tell. She glased at Shizou she could sense he wanted to as her something.

[Delta-Pheonix]

'Nothing is set in stone, the future consists of numberless paths and only we can choose them for ourselves' Arthos said to noone in paticualar. 'I wouldn't worry about the visions for the moment, come let us move on.'

[Caine]

"If you do not understand your visions, do not act on them. They serve to create doubt and fear in th minds of those who do not know how to use them."
They came within sight of their guide, and Shizou swiftened the pace until they were almost up to him. As they approached, he tuirend around to reveal nothing a faceless shadow before vanishing.
"A simalacrum. Interesting"

[ladyshiro]

Shira understood what Shizou was getting at, he spoke in wisdom that could match the high elves. She remembers her mother teaching her about foresight and was told the samething. She knew she doesn't alway understand the visions she sees. The ones she seen earlier were as clear as day.
As they approached their guide Shira could sense something odd about him but she didn't know what it was she was sensing. When the guide revealed a faceless shadow and vanish there was something very familar about the way he vanished Shira had seen many dark elfs and many vampires use this skill.
"Very interesting" Shira said agreeing with Shizou. Shira stayed on alert "What now" Shira thought to herself.

[ladyshiro]

Shira looked to the others for any clue of what their plan was. She had a very uneasy feeling about this place.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos calmly scanned his surroundings, there was nothing out of the ordinary. The craggy landscape fell down into the valley there was copse of scraggy pine trees just off of the path and the trickling of a stream could be heard in the background. A cool western breeze carressed Arthos and he could not help but feel a sense of peace here despite his unease.

[Caine]

"I should have known..." Shizou's voice trailed off in disapointment. Still, they were in the mountains. As long as they were around cliffs the terrain favoured him.
"I think we will have to climb and look for our guide. I do not know our destination, and even if I did I would not know the way." With that, he took off and went straight up the rockface. He was climbing with an extraordinary speed and agility. His people had lived by cliffs and rock.

(((OOC: I think they should have to find him, but if you guys have any other suggestions I'm open to them)))

[ladyshiro]

Shira to started to straight up the rockface as well. She soon caught up with Shizou using her own speed and agility. She knew she could just fly to the top but what fun would that be. she kept up her pace even though her shoulder was killing her but she didn't let on, it wasn't the vampire way to surrender to pain. The wounds had healed but it felt like something was in her shoulder. She could look at it later right now she was impressed with Shizou's speed agility.

(((OOC: Yeah we probly should find him, it probly be a good challege for us)

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos groaned and followed the others he scrambled awkwardly up the landscape. His bulk was a disadvantage on this terrain and he kept sending pebbles and rocks scattering down the hill side none the less he was able to keep pace with his comrades showing impressive speed that offset his large ponderous nature.

[Caine]

SHizou periodically surveyed the area, but it still took him more than a minute to find the right vantage point. He knew what to look for, but he couldn't cover the area that he needed to quickly, and he doubted that their examiner would simply be out in the open. Still, if he hid it would buy them time.
"If either of you have suggestions I am open to them. The only two possibilites I see are to hunt him from cliff to cliff until evenutally he must cross our sightline or to again try to track him manually. Neither idea is greatly appealing, and both carry a large potential for failure. Still, I see no other option"

[ladyshiro]

Either plan had great potential of not working. Tracking wouldn't work because the guide was offestly good at hiding his tracks. Going from cliff to cliff would take alot of time and energy. Shira stretched out her wings and flew a little higher. As she scanned the area her keen hearing and nose were picking up many noises and sents, a sound of some bats chirping came to her attention. She didn't know if the others could hear them
"Hey" She yelled as she landed "I think someone's over there by that rockface near a cave" She told them pointing up the path to the next rockface "Some upset friends were telling me there is someone over there distrubing them It could be our guide" She told them "I could just barely makeout a figure in the shadow" She waited for their reaction, she didn't know if they would believe that she could understand the bats.

[Caine]

"Is he in the cave? If he's outside I can come down cliff and follow him. If he's inside..." His voice trailed off. He didn't know if either of the others could see in the dark. He could do so passably, but to track quarry of this caliber would take precious time. On the other hand, if the caves and tunnels were simple enough his familiarity with rock could be an advantage. Either way he needed to know where this man was.

[ladyshiro]

"Looked like he was just outside the cave hiding in the shadows" Shira answered. Shira could tell Shizou was worried. "Don't worry about us" she said as she walked to the ege of the cliff.

[Caine]

"Hiding? No. That's wrong..." Hiding was not this man's way. He wouldn't go easy on them like that.
It looked like Shira was going to take this one head on.
"If you go, be careful. I don't think its him." He knw she could take care of herself, but if she was surprised they could lose precious seconds.

[ladyshiro]

Shira looked over to where she heard the bats trying to sense out the figure. "I'll be careful, One of us has to go check the figure out" Shira said "Tell you what while I'm gone you you guys check some of the other cliffs, I'll catch up if its not him""If it's him I'll send a signal" She said as she jumped off the cliff and flew down silently toward the figure. She kept alert as she got closier to where the figure was.

[Caine]

Shizou simply stood there, thinking. He couldn't be careless; he needed to think.

*****

The rider continued on his way. He went slowly, doing his best to leave few tracks and remain out of sight, but never stopping or hiding. He knew they could be close, and actually hoped they were; a group that he could shake that easily wasn't much of a recruiting class.

*****

The hermit wasn't from this area, but he still could tell when there was something wrong with the wildlife. He stopped examining the plants and looked around. He found himself looking straight at some winged creature, no, winged... woman? and quickly was in motion. He burst towards an outcropped ledge, but then dove in towards the face of the mountain, disappearing into a small hole.

[ladyshiro]

Shira caught a glimps of the hermit before he disappear into the hole and she decided he wasn't their guide. She apoligized to the man for scaring him and asked if he had seen anybody else pass by.
"I seen a man probly a couple of minutes ago walking slowly through those trees" the hermit told her pointing to the tree. He decribed the man to her and it sounded like their guide. she thanked the man and gave him some labris bread because he looked he was hungry and she knew she had enough of it. She flew away to go tell the guys what the hermit told her.

[ladyshiro]

"That hermit said he seen a man slowly walking through those trees a few minutes ago" Shira told them when she returned "From what he described it sound like our guide" She hoped she had helped in someway. As she waited for a response a large vampire bat landed on her shoulder and chripped at her.
"No need to be formal, my little friend" Shira answered the bat holding out her hand to it. The bat crawled to her hand and chripped some more. "Your sure" the bat chripped some more and looked in the direction Shira just came from. "Okay" Shira knew to the others it sound just like chripping to them but she could understand everything the little bat was telling her "Your so kind Thank you, my little friend"
"My little friend here just informed me he knows where our guide is" Shira said addressing the others "And has offered to lead us to where he was"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos crouched on his haunches and growled. 'We can rule the caves out theres no way the trainers dragon would fit...much less want enter them. He pointed to the tree line that edged the top of the hills 'We could try the forest, alternitivly those ravines to the east may be a good place to try...it's your call.

[ladyshiro]

Where Arthos was pointing to was where the little bat keep looking toward. Shira petted the top of the little bats head. It chirped at her again "I told you no need to be formal out here" She told the little bat "Out here just call me Shira" She waited to see what Shizou wanted to do.

[Caine]

"Actually, there are caves in here that the dragons could get into. Still, if we've got a lead, we might as well follow it."
He hadn't meant to be their leader, but Arthos was so quiet and Shira was so enrgetic... It didn't matter. He would have to step back more. No, that was wrong. He would do what he needed to become a rider.

[ladyshiro]

"Will you lead us my little friend" Shira asked the bat with that the bat took flight and chripped infront of her waiting for them to follow. "Okay we're coming" she told the bat "I can fly us all down if you like" she turned and told the guys "It would be alot faster then climbing down and I can carry both of you at the same time" She didn't think they would fly with the idea but she had to at least offer. Shira hated coming off so strong with the guys but if that bat could so them where their guide was then she would follow it.

[Caine]

"If it's just getting down I'll be quite alright on my own." He waited for Shira and the bat to lead the way.

[Delta-Pheonix]

A bead of sweat rolled down Arthos's brow at the suggestion of being carried by Shira, she was strong granted but such a delicate looking person carrying a hulk like Arthos seemed unnatural.
'Erm...i think Ill get there on my own steam aswell...thanks for the offer though' he said with an awkward smile, either way he was beginning to like these two.

[ladyshiro]

"If you guys are sure" Shira said walking up to the ege of the cliff and jumped off, since it was just her going down she wouldn't bother flying. "They can't say I didn't ask" Shira thought to herself as she land on her feet at the bottom and waited for the guys.
She took out her canteen and took a drink out of it. She poured alittle of the red substance into her hand and offered it to the bat "Sorry I can't give you more" she told the bat. The bat landed in her hand an laped it up. She looked up to where the guys were. "May I ask you another favor" the bat looked up at her "Have you seen another vampire around here" The bat chripped a few times times at her "Thank you"

[Caine]

Shizou simply stepped over the edge. This brought back memories. He bent his body slightly forward, his legs slightly back, and used his legs to control his fall. This brought back memories. He didn't know where his home was, but he knew cliffs and chasms had been a large part of it. He was smiling, something he had not let himself do much of so far during the exam, when he landed.

[ladyshiro]

Shira saw what Shizou did and was amazed. She could tell he enjoyed that himself because of the smile on his face. That was the first smile she had seen on his face since they had started. "Fun isn't it" Shira called to Shizou. She looked up to where Arthos was, she was ready to fly if he required any help. She knew rock was not his specialty.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos chuckled at what was to come and casully jumped off the edge landing on a small outcrop, he proceeded to jump from out crop to outcrop until he was halfway down. He puased for a moment guaging the distance between his postion and the ground satisfied he jumped.
He grunted as he hit the ground leaving several small cracks in the rock then stood up none the worse for wear.

[ladyshiro]

"Arthos, you alright?" Shira asked as she put her canteen back.

[ladyshiro]

"Fly low my friend so we can see you" Shira told the little bat when she could see that Arthos was all right. The bat took off and entered the forest with Shira close behind it. Shira kept on alert as she enter the forest. She could hear the bat click at her as well as some wolves howling in the distance.

[Caine]

"They're resourceful alright," he said to himself. Well, now for the fun part he thought. He no longer tried to hide his presence. Instead, he began to run. It wasn't a particularly fast pace, but it was nice and steady.

[ladyshiro]

The bat click at Shira"Yeah I hear him" Shira "We are going to need to speed up if we want to catch up with our guide" Shira told the guys as she speed up. She didn't want to go too fast and lose the guys but she didn't want to lose their guide either. "This is beginning to be fun" Shira thought to herself.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos began to run after the Shira, he didn't look it but he was suprisingly fast. He cuaght up with her So the chase now truly begins!'

[Caine]

Shizou also began to run. He had good speed and endurance, but he was sure their guide was faster than he was. Still, he didn't seem to be losing any distance. It was obvious, he realized. Their guide was here not as their adversary but simply to make sure they met a certain standard. Reassured, he quickened his pace slightly so that he would slowly gain ground, but kept it slow enough that he wouldn't tire.

[ladyshiro]

They were gaining on their guide fairly quickly. Shira got an Idea. She Jumped up into a tree and jumped from tree to tree. She knew she could go faster this way then running and it was working she was right over their guide. Then with one great leap she jumped over their guide and landed in front of him. She waited to see what their guide would do, if he would stop of keep going.

[Caine]

He kept going, completely unperturbed.
"What, no flight?" he said, faking offense. "By the way, the idea of this is that you're supposed to do it on your own, without magic. I understand that you have a number of interesting abilities, but many of them are magical in nature. Except in battle, you'd do well not to use them if you wish to pass"

[ladyshiro]

Shira was hurt with being accused of using magic. She hadn't used any magic with what she had just done she had done that one her own. She was pretty sure the others could do what she had just done without magic. "If I had used magic everyone would have known it" she thought to herself as she followed their guide again.

[ladyshiro]

"I would like to know what he considers what's magic and what not" Shira said out loud. The more she thought about the more irratated she got "I have lots of abilities and only about a handful of them require magic to use and I've only used two of them this whole time" She thought alittle "I used both of them while fighting the trolls"

[Caine]

"That's the problem" Saleme replied. "You are an inherently magical creature. You did use magic to catch me. Not just now with the trees, but when you talked to the bat. Paying attention to nature is one thing, communicating with it is another. Also, your wings are magical in nature. They are too small to physically lift you, so you use magic. It may be unconscious, but you use it."


Shizou would have benefited from hearing this conversation, but Saleme was not speaking loudly and he was making no serious effort to catch up.

[ladyshiro]

Saleme was probly right. Shira could be using magic without noticing but she was pretty sure she wasn't. She knew to most many of her natural vampire abilities like her hearing, sight, sense of smell, strength and agility could appear to be magic abilities when they weren't. But if she wanted to pass she would have to keep closer watch on some of her abilities and keep to the ground as much as possible. She chuckled to herself her wings were alot bigger when they were unfolded and were still growing they just looked small because she kept them folded all the time. "You could be right Saleme, but I do know one thing me talking to the bat was not magic" She told Saleme "In my kingdom all young vampires are taught the language of our ancestor the bat" She explained "Koh, here" Shira looked up to the bat that was still flying above her "over heard me talking to that man, came to me on his own when he sensed what I was" "Bats have a funny way of being able to sense when vampires are near, as we can sense when they are close"

[ladyshiro]

Shira didn't wait for Saleme to answer, she fell back with Shizou and Arthos. She knew it looked strange to them. But she wanted to prove she could do this without magic or her vamp abilities she could control. Shira filled Shizou in on what Saleme had told her about magic hoping it would help him out. She knew he was about like her not knowing what others considered magic.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos chuckled 'Don't let it get you down Shira it's just a formality really' He sympathised greatly with the Vampire girl Arthos himself was a creature of magic and his blood ran thick with arcane power.
A legacy passed down from the dark times when the dwarves remained in there mountain holds and the elves had yet to exist.

[ladyshiro]

"Thank you Arthos" Shira answered with a smile. She was really being to like these guys. These guys were the first that have not treated her like a monster.

[Caine]

(((OOC, you call them small in the description and they are downright tiny in the picture)))

Saleme could tell that they were chaffing at the regulations. Still, there were reasons for them. He was tempted to up the pace since they were giving him distance, but decided on another course of action. He dropped back to talk to the candidates.
"You guys are all, to some extent, inherently magical. I've got some leeway with this test. I could let you use your abilities, but only if we made things more difficult. Your call."

[ladyshiro]

(((OOC, Yeah I know their tiny in the picture they should have been bigger but I couldn't find a girl that work so I made due with her. Her wings look smaller because she kepts them folded. I pictured here wings a bit bigger. I knew there was something else I need to put on the picture)))

"What you guys say?" Shira asked it didn't matter to her. She didn't want to make the call for the guys. She was sure she could control some of her abilities. "You could let us use what are natural magical abilities that we have no control over using but no Major magic unless in battle" Shira said "What you guys think do we leave it as is or do you guys want thing to become more difficult, it don't matter to me"

[Caine]

Shizou simply shrugged. He needed to become a dragon rider. If he needed to do it without magic, he would. If he needed to do it using magic, he would do that as well.

[ladyshiro]

Shira chuckled Shizou felt the same way she did. He didn't really care. And she was pretty sure Arthos was the same. "Saleme what do you think" Shira asked "As you can see it don't matter to us, I'm sure we can all try harder to control our abilities, what would be our best choice"

[Delta-Pheonix]

'Wait a minute!'Arthos said loudly and hopped onto a nearby tree stump. 'Master Saleme has issued us a challenge fellows I put this too you'He faced Shizou and Shira with a twinkle in his eye'We are too become Dragon Riders are we not? It is therefore our Duty too test our limits! I say we take up the stakes and crank up the difficulty!'
A few moments of awkward silence passed by and Arthos suddenly became aware that Shizou, Shira and Saleme were staring at him quizically. Feeling embarresed he hopped off the tree stump and mumbled under his breath 'Well thats what I think anyway.'

[ladyshiro]

"You have my vote Arthos" Shira chuckled. "Let's up the stakes" She looked at Arthos then at Shizou.

[Caine]

Shizou nodded.

Saleme held back his laughter. "Very well then, you want a test? The first stage shall be to get to the city of Vur. Once there, you may not leave without either meeting reporting to your next examiner or forfeiting the test. The only limits are that you may not kill anyone affiliated with the riders or the test, including each other as fellow trainees, nor may you draw the wrath of the authorities. I'll be waiting in Vur"
With that, he disappeared, telling them neither where Vur was, how long they had, nor who their next examiner was.

[ladyshiro]

"What have we gotten our selfs into" Shira thought to herself "Vur" She said "Where have I heard of it" she thought for a moment "I remember" She reached into her pouch pulled out a folded big piece of paper and unfolded revelling a map with a crest of a bat with the words Dracula in the center of the bat on the corner of map "I remember my grandfather telling me stories of it" she looked at the map. "It's right here past this mountain range" pointing at Vur which layed beyone a very large mountain range. "We are about here" She pointed at the beginning of the Mountain range. As the guys looked at the map the more interesting and unusaul the the map looked. There were big red x's in some regions on the map "Vur, from what I remember grandfather telling me it's a very dangerous region to go into" Shira pointed to the word Lykion (Werewolf) which was written many times around Vur.

[Caine]

Shizou looked at the map. It lacked the features he was looking for, but that was to be expected.
"shall we go then?" he asked

[ladyshiro]

"Sure" Shira said. She couldn't help but notice that Shizou was disappointed. It was silent for awhile as they walked through the mountains."Shizou" Shira finally said "You've been wanting to asked me something this whole time" she said slowly "And it looked like you were looking for something on the map"

[Caine]

"Now is not the time for that request. It must wait until after the test. As for the map, it lacks any landmarks I would recognize." He held back on the fact that he was also looking for vertical routes. Of course Vampires wouldn't need them the same way his people had.
Since Shira had agreed, he took off in the direction she had indicated based on the map.

[ladyshiro]

"I understand" Shira answered "When the time comes I will do everything in my power to help" Shira fell silent again as she kept alert to everything around her. She was worried the region they were going to no vampire had set foot on in many years it was a packed the vamps had made to the Lykions that the vamps would stayout of this area but she knew there was no way around it. She tried not to show her worry.
A chirping noise brought her back. She had forgotten about the bat which was still following them "I know, thank you Koh" She answered it "I wish you would go home my friend" it landed on her shoulder and chirped "If you incised you may, but keep out of sight"

[ladyshiro]

(Just wondering is it day or night time?)

[Caine]

(((I'd assume they were travelling for some time and its now in the afternoon. BTW, should I fully take over as GM, should we run it collabartively, or what?)))

[ladyshiro]

(collabartively, if anyone of us has a idea to further the story go right ahead, I don't have anything right now)

[ladyshiro]

Shira could see the sun finally breaking throught the clouds as they worked they're way through the mountains. "Your being awfully quiet Arthos" Shira said as she turned and looked at him. Talking to him seemed to calm her alittle.

[Delta-Pheonix]

((Crap sorry guys I've been pretty busy lately but I'll try to post more often))
Arthos grunted and took a deep breathe it had the sound of a deep rumble like a landlside. 'I should not have acted so hastily please forgive me'. He then said sadly 'However I beleive I know a way to make our journey that much shorter'. he then continued.

[ladyshiro]

"No need to appolize" Shira told him she smiled at himm hoping it would cheer him up. She didn't like to see people unhappy. "I encouraged you" told him "If it's anyones fault, It's mine" she sighed "If I had relized what was consider magic here, I would have tried to control it more" "If you know a way to make this shorter, then do share"

[Caine]

Shizou found this all very cumbersome. They might as well get a move on.
"You said you had some way of making our journey shorter?" he asked Arthos

[Delta-Pheonix]

He nodded curtley and grabbed the map after studieng it for a short period of time he eventually marked it off with a small X. 'Aeons ago before my people had been displaced from these lands by the dwarves we had citys, fortresses and settlements every where'.
He tapped on the X and continued 'Several years ago an expedition team of humans and a Necridon archeologist travelled through these catacombs in the valley and found temselves in the sewers of Vur'.
Arthos then puased for breath 'It will take aproximatly three days to travel through the catacombs it will be in near blackness and probably dangerorus but it is twice as fast as taking the mountains.'

[ladyshiro]

"I up for it if you guys are" Shira said. She looked at where Arthos was pointing it looked like they would run right under the werewolf region. "Maybe they won't relize i'm there that would be good" she thought outloud "Arthos, do you think we'll come out in Vur"

[ladyshiro]

Shira knew she was comfortable going into an area near black she wasn't sure of the other.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos scratched his chin Pretty sure assuming that the catacombs hasn't collapesed.he said dubiosly But I'm sure that hasn't happened Necridon architecture is Extremly durable.he then hastily added.

[ladyshiro]

"I say lets go if this way saves time then it's worth a shot" Shira said "Lead the way my friend" she looked at Arthos.

[ladyshiro]

"Come lets get a move on" Shira said impatiently. Her impatent vampiric nature was showing through. She look at where Arthos had x on the map.

[Caine]

Shizou simply waited patiently. He would like for this idea to work, but he had backup plans in case things didn't work.

[ladyshiro]

"I'm sure if we go the way you suggusted Arthos it will work" Shira said "If not we'll figure something out along the way"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos nodded 'Lets move then the ruins are not far from here'. At that he walked briskly westwards.

[ladyshiro]

Shira followed Arthos westward. Her mind felt more at ease.

[Delta-Pheonix]

The group made there way through a forested area and up a steep hill, after some time they came to a deep shadowy Ravine with a small stream of clear water. The screech of an Eagle could be heard in the distance and a few Hares hopped around in the cool shade of the cliffs.
They Clambered down the cliff walls and settled at the bottom of the Ravine. 'It should be at the end of here, lets move. Arthos said pointing. The sun had began to set in the sky.

[ladyshiro]

Arthos didn't have to tell Shira to move twice as they followed him to the catacoms. Arthos looked like he was getting comfortable leading them.

[Delta-Pheonix]

As they contiued on there way the Entrance revealed itself. The opening was twice as tall as Arthos and was wide enough for five people to walk abreast. There was no door however and the darkness seemed to emenate from the Catacombs.
Arthos aproached the entrance and rubbed his hand on the side it was made of a strange Black crystal perfectly smooth to the touch and unweathered by the countless ages. 'Savour the light while you can this is an evil dark' Arthos murmered grimly. To demonstrate his point he lit a match and threw it into the door way. The tiny light could be seen but it did not illuminate any of it's surroundings.

[ladyshiro]

Shira felt alittle uneasy about the heavy feel of the darkness coming out of the entrance but she also felt comfort with the darkness to come. Shira was born in the night world and like most vampires loved the dark but she also like daylight like the elfs either one was fine with her. She used to explore and train in tunnel with the same feeling of dark as this one in her world this one could be alittle darker though as she watched Arthos throw a match in.
As she looked into the darkness images flash infront of her eyes. They were quick but she seen teeth and fangs then flames. Shira wasn't sure if they were one or two visions so she quickly blocked them they would do no good here she thought.

[Caine]

Shizou followed cautiously. He was fine in caves, but he thought that his vision in the dark, while better than a human's, was worse than that of these two. Still, he had his means. He put his hand on the walls. There was soemthing about this rock that was simulataneously familiar and forboding. They were truly ancient. Unlike some pristine caves, these had a history, a character; Shizou didn't know what it was, but it was deep and powerful.

[Delta-Pheonix]

And so they entered the long smothering dark the group spoke little for fear of awakening some unseen predator with the endless echoes of the dark hall. Occasionally there would be a flutter of a bat or a strange tapping noise of something they dared not think about. Navigation was not a problem becuase it was perfectly straight so long as they did not turn around for whatver reason.

[ladyshiro]

Shira kept her sense alert as they entered the dark. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dark. Everyone was being as quiet as possible. Shira heard the occasionally flapping of bats they also kept as quiet as possible even though she knew they could sense her and her them. Her little bat friend stayed hidden under one of her wings. Whatevers in here made even the bats uneasy. She could hear a strange tapping noise that seemed to sound like it was following them. She couldn't quiet make out it's scent it wasn't one she was familiar with. There were alot of the scents in here she wasn't familiar with some she was.

[ladyshiro]

"How you doing Shizou?" Shira whisper. The tapping noise was becoming more frequrent and it sounded like it was gaining on them.

[mikiwolf]

mina woke up from a long dream."wow how long did i sleep" she asked herself standing up. she looked around and then relized she was all alone and hungry.
pereru stood up as well and niped at her shirt wanting her to get up onto his back. she smiled a lil and grabed one of his hornes lifting herself onto his neck.
"lets go boy" she said to him tapping his nick a lil. pereru lifted up off the ground and headed to where the others where.
she looked down at the small group of people and sighed a lil.
pereru looked down as well and gave out a loud roar letting the others know they where back and safe. mina just sat on his neck glaring at him fireiusly.

[Delta-Pheonix]

((Um Miki have you read any of the RP since you left?))
'Ailence' Arthos hissed '...listen'. The scratching grew louder and faster and there was the sound of heavy breathing that did not come from the trio.
Something began to creep around his leg and Arthos stamped on whatever it was in annoyance. The scratching stopped immediately there was silence and then an ear splitting screech exploded right next to Arthos. Further down the hallway behind them more cries called out in answer.

[mikiwolf]

( im just trying to catch up...srry *sighs a lil* i dont want to slow ppl down)

[Caine]

He felt the tapping that Shira heard. It somehow felt familiar, but he couldn't remember what it was. Shizou reached back through the depths of his mind, but all he could get from that time was vague impressions and shadows of memories. Still, he knew he had heard that sound before.
He was preparing to answer Shira when he heard the scream. It triggered something inside him, and he felt a subtle change overcome him as his mind was caught up in the current of time.

[mikiwolf]

pereru landed on the ground close to the others and kept quiet. mina hopped off and walked to he so called "comrads" ans sighed.

[ladyshiro]

Shira had heard the heavy breathing of something. Shira watched as Arthos stomped on something that had slethered past his leg. Shira covered her ears as the ear splitting screeches filled the darkness. The high pitched screeches were almost unbearable to Shira's senitive ears.
Shira felt something grab her legs and pulling her down and began dragging her. Shira stuggled to free her legs. She managed draw one of her fighting knifes she stabbed in into the ground so the creature couldn't drag her any further and drew her other fighting knife, sitting up she slashed through the long viny thing that had her ankles. The creature screeched in pain. Shira quickly got up and rejoined the others when she felt the viny thing release he legs.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos had already summoned Void and he could here it's familiar bass hum. 'Quickly we must move, I don't know what that was but theres going to be more of them, follow me!' he yelled to the others.

[ladyshiro]

Shira followed behind Arthos. In the back of Shira's mind she thought she could sense a trap ahead these creature were just here to distract them on what's going on ahead but she wasn't certain.

[Caine]

Shizou ignored the creatures completely and continued on as if in a daze. Part of him may have been vaguely aware that he was behind the others, but it was not in his conscioust thoughts at all. He simply kept walking, lost in the mists of lost memories.

[ladyshiro]

Shira could tell Shizou was lost in thought as they hurried threw the catacoms. She left him to his thoughts and made sure to keep an eye out behind her to make sure he was doing alright.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos continued briskly down the tunnel with Shira and Shizou in tow, suddenly he felt a great nothingness under his right foot and fell. He began to slide head first down a what he thought might be a tunnel but because it was it
was blacker then pitch he could not tell. He let out an echoing cry as he was tossed around the frictionless crystal tunnel, he thought he heard Shira scream as she fell prey to the hidden pit, soon followed by a surprised yelp.
His head began to spin and the groups combined screams bounced around his head. After what seemed like hours but was really three minutes of twisting and turning at a super high speed the tunnel abruptly ended. Arthos shot out landing on his head on the cold stone floor, Shira soon followed her landing cushioned by Arthos. She regained her balance quikly but was soon bowled over by Shizou as he shot out of the tunnel.
They dazed pile of apprentices had ended up in a hidden cave under the catacombs. It was dimly lit by glowing blue and green crystals. They did not know it but there journey had just been reduced by half.

[ladyshiro]

Shira heard Arthos echoing cry, she turned to see what was wrong when she felt nothingness under her feet. She scream as she fell a suprized yelp followed close behind her. Shira fell on something soft when she came out. As she regained her balance Shizou plowed into her sending her to the ground. Shira slowly sat up her body ached.
“Is everyone okay” Shira asked as she looked around at her surroundings. She put her fighting knives away which had fallen just feet from her. Shira could sense something odd about the crystals but wasn't sure what.

[ladyshiro]

"You guys alright" Shira asked again she could smell a mixture of blood. Shira turned to look at the guys. Shizou was slowly getting up he had a few scratches and bruises. Arthos had a deep gash to the forehead where he had hit his head. "I can take care of those if you like before we go on"

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos' head span and he rubbed his fore head smearing his hand with luminous green blood. 'Ow that smarts' he grumbled only vaguely aware of his surroundings. Shizou mentioned something about healing his wound 'That would be most appreciated' Arthos replied adamantly.

[Caine]

Shizou snapped back to reality.
"We had a name for that, once," he said, looking blankly at the wall. "They were incredibly dangerous, but incredibly useful. A stable rift could get you a thousand miles in an instant. An unstable one... " he trailed off, leaving the consequences of an unstable -thing- to the imagination.

[ladyshiro]

Shira walked over to Arthos and placed her right hand over Arthos forehead. Arthos looked at Shira in surprise. "Hold still all right" Shira chuckled as a warm golden energy began to eminate from her hand into Arthos, he must have been expecting Shizou to heal him she thought to herself. Shira didn't blame him for being surprised a vampire was the last thing someone wanted to see standing over them when their bleeding. In fact Shira could feel her fangs getting longer inside her mouth just at the sight of blood, but she stayed in control as she watched Arthos wound heal. As she healed Arthos Shira could feel a tearing in her left shoulder as one of the wounds from the troll reappeared. She kind of thought that would happen thats why she was only using her right hand to heal, her healing powers were strange like that in order to heal someone else her healing powers must take from her own regenaration powers. She hoped that guys wouldn't notice.
"Hows that feel" Shira asked when she was done.

[Delta-Pheonix]

Arthos noticed Shira's fangs and grin 'I wouldn't if i were you my blood is highly toxic'. He stood up again 'Thank you Shira for the assistance, shall we?' he said pointing down the tunnel.

[ladyshiro]

Shira chuckled "I wouldn't anyway" she said she staggered alittle as she followed Arthos using her healing ability wears her out alittle "it's not lady like to drink without permission" told him grabbing her canteen and taking a drink out of it "And plus it's always been a rule of mine" She trailed of as she looked at her canteen she could feel something wet and sticky on the outside of it "not to drink from my comrades" Shira continued as she found a hole in the side of her canteen. She did her best to patch it but over half the blood that was in there was gone. "I'll have to be sparing with it" She thought to herself"

[Delta-Pheonix]

'No sense in waiting then let's roll' Arthos replied and strode down the cave he had to crouch slightly to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling but was none the less grateful for being able to see again. The crystal hummed serenely with an energy that Arthos found becalming.

[ladyshiro]

As they walk through the cavern Shira pick up a scent of the small breeze that had came though the exit must be ahead aways. The scent smelled was a heavy musky smell that Shira reckonised as the smell wolf hair with a faint smell of blood. She didn't know if the others could smell it the scent was really faint. It made her a little nervous but she had a feeling that sooner or later their paths would cross with the warewolfs. They would cross that bridge when it came.

[Delta-Pheonix]

The group stepped out into the sunshine 'ah much better' he said boisterously and stretched his massive arms.

[ladyshiro]

The bright sunlight caught Shira by surprize as they came out of the tunnal. They were from the looks of it at the edge of the forest the town could be seen just past the trees they had made it. "Is that..."
"My My boys what do we have here a Necridon, a little man and a blood sucker" A deep voice growled. Deep growing could be hear around them. Shira turned to see three scruffy men with eight wolves all around them.
"Can we eat them" another said. Shira drew a fighting knife as she did she turned her eyes red and let her fangs grow.
"The little man yes, the big man no the blood sucker we may have use for" the first man said.
"Let us pass wolves" Shira demanded. A few of the true wolves ran away wimpering as they looked Shira in the eyes. "We didn't come here to start trouble"
"What a demanded do you think we would let you pass Princess" The first man growled. Shira looked at the wolves in surprize she hadn't heard her title in along time.
"Don't looked surprized Princess that we know who you are, your blood smells of your grandfather" The first wolf said
"Didn't come here to start trouble" another said "she says that hard to believe after the last vamp came through here" it said.
"What other vamp" Shira asked
"Don't play dumb with us" one of the men said.
"With you your people would surrender to us easy" the third man said as they began to move in on the group their bodies began to change into giant mutated wolfs "Very unlucky for you". Shira ran through the wolves to the first wolf grabbing him by the throat throwing him against a tree with alot of force.
"What other vamp came through here and when" Shira yelled she heard him say something in what sounded like jibberish. Shira could hear growling behind her "I wouldn't if you value your lifes and don't think I didn't understand what you just said now" she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll ask again what other vamp, next time It will be with my fangs asking"
"He came through late one night about a week ago" the wolf said "No vampire has stepped foot in our lands since the wars we figured there was good reason for him to be here so we were going to let him pass to show we want peace"
"But we were wrong to think you blood suckers would want peace he slaughted as many of us as he could and laughted as he did" A wolf behind Shira yelled "He was probly sent here by your grandfather girl"
My grandfather would not send a murderous rogue like that he wants nothing but peace with your people" Shira yelled "I'm applogize for what took place but I can tell you that Vampire was not sent by anyone of my people he is a wanted rogue that when I check him will pay for his crimes" Shira place the wolf down "I promise you"
"How do we know that you are telling us the truth" The wolf said
"He will pay I promise you he has much to pay for" Shira said "Would you please let us through as I said before I didn't come here to start trouble like my grandfather I also want peace" the wolf looked at Shira

[ladyshiro]

(Guys I'm going to try to wake up the dead)
Shira looked back to the guys who looked like they weren't quite sure what was happening. "Sorry guys I let my temper get the best of me"
"Your different girl" the wolf replyed turning back into its human form "I don't fully trust you but I will lead you out of here to the village if you guys don't mind but if you try anything we won't hasitate to kill you"
"Same here" Shira answered.

[ladyshiro]

The group followed the wolves through the forest. The guys were being awful quiet. Shira wasn't sure if they were mad at her for keeping who she was from them or just trying to soak in what was happening.
"I sorry guys I kept who I was from you for mine and your protection" she said "I am the half vampire half elf grand daughter of Darcula the king of the vampire kingdom. I am the last direct descentant of his noble house. I guess being next in line for the throne makes me a princess"

[wolfy147]

Alexis watched the group walking through the forrest, "Ahh... their she is..." she slipped down the tree slowly, swifty and knelt behind a bush and pulled her bow out, "Vampire.... bah... you turned me..." she aimed at Shira and grinned, "Im sorry..." she let go, watching the arrow just miss Shira by inches, but catching her hair "Damn!!"
she put her bow on her back and ran forwards through the bushes, keeping as quiet as posible, "That should of hit.." she muttered to herself while a sick grin came over her face, now infront of the group she pulled out both of her Wakizashi's 's and stayed quiet "you're mine vampire..." she didn't move and the party passed her, suddenly she jumped out behind them and let out a primal scream....

[ladyshiro]

Shira moved slitly out of the path of the arrow. The arrow caught her hair as it wissed by her head into a near by tree. She had had a feeling she was being watch for sometime and had just barely heard the arrow coming. She didn't think the guys had seen it and she didn't want to alarm them as they continued through the forest.
Suddenly a girl jumped out from behind them and began screaming. The werewolfs with them trembled in fear of the noise. Shira wrenched the screaming was hurting her ears but didn't scare her. Shira drew her elven fighting knifes
"I knew it this was some sort of trap" one of the wolves wimpered
"If you wanted to talk to me girl you could of just said so" Shira said through the pain. She could tell this girl was a vampire as well and meant business. "What is this pick on Shira day" Shira prepared for the girl to make the first move.

[wolfy147]

Alexis moved left and right very quickly, almost going invisible between movement, she let out a hiss as she came behind Shira, and screamed down her ear, licking her neck and then going to bite, but before she did she jumped infront of Shira again, and grinned, "See... you.. half vampire... you're no match for me.." she grinned again, moving quick and jumping over Shira, running into the distance away from her "Ill be back.. when you're friends ...... are not around" she screamed as she went out of sight

[ladyshiro]

Shira watched the girls movements they were very fast. before she knew if the girl was behind her. She was about to turn to counter her when she screamed in her ear. Shira could feel the girls tongue on her neck Shira was expecting to feel the girls fangs but the girl appeared infront of her.
"See... you.. half vampire... you're no match for me.." the girl grinned again, moving quick and jumping over Shira, running into the distance away from her "Ill be back.. when you're friends ...... are not around"
"Damn" Shira said angerly punching a nearby tree leaving a deep crater in the tree "What a rude girl" Shira could feel blood tricking down the side of her face from her ear. She wonder why the girl was after her.
"Lets get to Vur" she told the guys.

[wolfy147]

Alexis smiled, sitting in a tree sharpening her blades on her gloves, "I shoulda killed her..." she grinned, licking the one blade and watching the blood trickle down her face.
"Ahhh... their she is..." as Shira came around the corner Alexis grinned and jumped down infront of them all and smiled "Haiiii".

[ladyshiro]

Shira met the strange girls blades with her own. "What your deal, what I ever do to you" Shira looked the girl in the eyes. Shira's eyes were gleaming red. Shira tried an eye raid on the girl. Shira leaped back disappearing in a red mist. Shira reappeared in the air behind the girl giving a well planted kick to her behind. Bats began to fill the air. The girls scent was familiar and Shira thought she should know it but couldn't remember. Shira muttered something as the girl turned to attack. Vines came from nearby trees and caught the girl by the arms.

[wolfy147]

"You shouldn't be alive!!" she screamed cutting the vines and jumping back along the path, looking at Shira eye to eye, "You did this to me!!" she let out another scream, as her teeth lowered slightly, showing her fangs.
"You shall feel my wrath..." she dodged left and right like before and came up right infront of Shira's face, wrapping her hands around her neck "This is you'r fault!!"

[ladyshiro]

"I did nothing to you" Shira chocked out "you have the wrong vamp, I've never turned anyone" Shira placed her hands around the girls wrist . Shira reconized the girls scent "I remember, your the girl from ..." (don't know the name of village). I had no part in that attack" "I'm after the vamp that did" it was getting hard for Shira to talk.

[wolfy147]

"You was the one that led the attack!! you destoryed my beloved homeland Kyrx!!" she removed one hand and pulled out one of her swords, "Give me one good reason why i shouldn't end you'r life!"
She was angry, her eyes started to turn a dark red, hate boiled inside of her as the memories of that hatred day came back to her, the blood and death which happend, and the screams of pain from her family, "You was the one which killed my parents in the church! you nearly killed me as well, but you turned me instead"

[ladyshiro]

"I can't give you a reason not to kill me, do it if you feel it is the right thing to do" Shira answered she looked Alexis in the eyes with a calm look in your eyes. "I know I'm not the one your looking for" Shira told her "The attack was seventeen years ago, I was only eight years old at the time deffenty not old enough to lead an attack" "My father and I arrive there to stop the attack, I arrived at the church after the attack on your family, The vamp that attack your family can shape shift he possed as me when he attacked you" Shira said "I fought him that night and nearly dead myself, my father dead to protect me

[wolfy147]

"I don't believe what you are saying!! it's all lies" she screamed with a tear running from her eyes, and a smile going across her face, "You shall be punished....." she said, as she dived for Shira's neck, just missing but making shira fall over.
"Time to die little vampire...." Alexis hissed as she knelt over Shira, pinning both her arms down to the floor, "You did this... just you and only you.."

[ladyshiro]

"Like I said do it if you feel it is right I won't hold it against you" Shira answered looking into Alexis eyes she thought about that night in the church. She remembered fighting Count Corwell decased as her she was doing all she could against him, she remembered falling behind a pew with a silver dagger in her gut. She watched her father come into the church and fall after that she had no memory of what happened. The next thing she remembered was waking up in her grandfathers are back in the vampire kingdom "If you belive my death will help ease your pain, I will take full responcablity for his actions"

"I wish you would do it already and get it over with" A dark voice said from a tree. Up in the tree a dark looking man sat "Nice to see you both again my ladys" He transformed into Alexis then into Shira.

[wolfy147]

"What... Who are you!!" Alexis stood up, pulling both her Wakizashi, holding the one in her left hand backwards to parry with, "I order you, to tell me, who you are!!"
She pulled Shira up, "Im sorry.... get ready to fight along side me..." she said with a sorry face, but grin on her face.
"So .... vampire... you going to sit their or you going to bring it on!" she let out a scream and grinned

[ladyshiro]

"My is that anyway to talk to your shire young lady" Corwell answered coldy.
"Count Corwell" Shira answered picking up her fighting knives and looked up the tree.
"You remembered me princess" Corwell said.
"How could I forget" Shira snapped.
"last time I seen princess you were nothing but a brat" He laughted "Now your a big brat, I knew your grandfather would send have people after me but I wouldn't have thought he would have sent you" he began to laugh. Corwell dodged one of Shira's fighting knifes as it came soring by him as he dodge it Shira had appeared above him with the other knife then what looked like a second shadowy Shira came at him from behind with the second fighting knife. Corwell disappeared as the blades hit him and reappeared in the next tree "Nice trick girl" he disappeared again and appeared behind Alexis "Alexis your turning was fun, The princess here had a part in it as well and she doesn’t even know it” he laughed. “I used some of the princess’s blood mixed with my own to create you" he laughed. He disappeared from behind Alexis before she could counter. Shira dove at the ground in front of Alexis, she grabbed for something in her bag. As Corwell reappeared infront of Alexis he turned an caught Shira by the neck. "You're such a pest" Shira placed a shiny metal object onto Corwell's wrist. Smoke began to roll off his wrist at contact.
"Pure Silver" Shira laugh
"You..." Corwell said in pain as he let go of Shira. The piece of silver remain in the spot Shira left it as she jumped away from him. Shira grabbed some more silver disc and threw them at him. Steam rolled from each disc as they hit. "You two won't be so lucky next time we meet" he said as he disappeared "I'll see you in Vur"

[wolfy147]

... "So i was sort of right.. you did have something to do with it.. but.. im sorry" Alexis said as she put away her Wakizashi's and puts her hand down for Shira, "let me help you up..."

[ladyshiro]

Shira let her eyes return to blue "I don't blame you for not beliving me" Shira sighed grabbing Alexis's hand, Shira hand stung alittle from where she had touched the silver pieces. "I would find it hard to belive my story if It was me" Once to her feet Shira looked at her hand it was red and a few blister had started to form. Shira wrapped it with a cloth "Looks like we lost our guides" as she referred to the werewolves "I'm sure we can find our way from to Vur from here" Shira grabbed the canteen from her belt and took a drink and tossed it to Alexis. "There's not much blood left in there but you can have the rest." Shira told Alexis as she pick up her fighting knifes and put them away.

[wolfy147]

"It's ok.. i don't need to feed..." as Alexis throws it back to Shira, "I bet we can get ou of here very soon...." Alexis tilted her head back and went into a weird trans, "Ok... we go this way..." she said as she started to run towards the direction she was told to in her trans

[ladyshiro]

"Okay" Shira said following Alexis through the forest. Shira thought how odd this girl was, one minute see was trying to kill her now she's helping them. She found herself lost in thought as they walk through the forest. Shira thought about Corwell and how it was going to take every bit of her strenght to defeat him.
Shira looked back at the guys they probly hated her for keeping who she was from them. Then she wondered why it was she wanted to become a dragon rider in the first place she couldn't remember.

[wolfy147]

"Ahhhh look!!" as Alexis pointed to a village up ahead, "I think we are here!!" Alexis said bouncing up and down of the floor, all happy with a grin on her face "So lets go find that vampire ya?"

[ladyshiro]

"Hold on Alexis" Shira said "We need to find the Dragon Master first" Shira could see Alexis surprized look "The three of us came here to become dragon riders, I would like nothing more then to hunt Count Corwell down right now he has alot to pay for but I need to finish my task here first and become a dragon rider, plus we were told we couldn't kill any one while we were here" Shira replayed "I have a feeling Count Corwell will find us sooner or later"

[wolfy147]

"Thats no fair!!!" she screams, jumping up and down, screaming more, "So what am i suppose to do...?" she said looking at Shira, grinning with a weird laugh, "What are... dragon riders then?" she said looking puzzled/

[ladyshiro]

"Settle down" Shira said "Dragon riders are an elite group of peoples who ride and fight alongside Dragons" Shira answered "We started the trails to become dragon riders in Watersdeep" She looked at Vur "I'm hoping becoming a rider would give me somewhere I belong, maybe help bring peace to my kingdom"

[wolfy147]

"Hmmm.. makes sence i suppose..." Alexis said slightly confused, she hated dragons and everything about them, "Why not fight along side bunny rabbits? or.... birdies!" she said giggling abit.

[ladyshiro]

"What you guys think is the best way to find this master?" Shira asked the guys "What do you think he or she looks like?"

[Caine]

Shizou thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with much. "The obvious thing is to look for his dragon. If that fails, we'll have to get more resourceful, and to be honest, I'm not sure what we'll need to do," he offered.

[ladyshiro]

"Yeah true" Shira answered "If we work together I'm sure we can find him and as far as what to we're to do the master will know" Shira sniffed the air she could smell a hint of dragon in the air coming out of the village but it was masked by a few other scents. Vur was surrounded by a great wall with guards at the gates. They walked toward the front gate to go into the village.
"hold it" One of the guards said "State your business strangers" the second guards looked at the odd travelers
"I don't think we should let them pass" the second gaurs said "they look like trouble" pointing his staff at them.
--------------------
Strife sat at a table outside the local tavern in the center of Vur enjoying his mead while waiting for the apperantices to find him. His blue dragon Horo sat invisible on the wall of the village waiting for her masters orders. Strife did not look like a typical master he was of smaller build then Saleme. He wonder what these apperantices would be like they seemed very sure of themselves. He laugh to himself his test could break them.

[ladyshiro]

"I ask again state your business strangers" the guard asked
"We are looking for someone" Shira answered "we mean no harm as soon as we find him we will be on our way" she looked to the guys then to Alexis who seemed to have vanished.
"What do you think should we let them pass" the first guard asked
"I still don't think so, we can't trust them" the second guard answered as "All we now they could be" his eyes met Shira's "Yes let them pass" he said suddenly lowering his staff bowing "Welcome to Vur my lady and young sirs" "Lower your staff and let them through you idoit" He yelled at the first guard.
"Yes sir" the first guard answered.
"Thank you, your so kind" Shira said with a small smile to her face as they passed through the gate. She knew what had just happened the moment guard had met her eyes he was hypnotised. The village was larger then what Shira thought it would be. Now to find the master where could he be she thought.

[ladyshiro]

Shira and the others looked all over the village to find the master. When they reached the tavern in the center of town they saw a man sitting at a table outside that looked like he didn't belong in the village.

"Are you the master" Shira said