Cody stared at the miniature monstrosity walking...crawling towards him. His mind was still infused with panic and a half skeleton corpse coming at him wasn't helping anything. Cody knew he needed something, but at the moment he couldn't quite seem to remember what that something was.
He shivered watching Drake step on it, and how that seemed to stop its movement. He shivered looking at what was now apparently just a few more bones decaying on the ground. Cody swallowed, unable to reply to Drake's comment, the skeleton still had his full attention, as if waiting for it to deny him peace and again raise up to attack.
After a few more moments when nothing happened Cody's mind clicked to the next important thing. His head bolted up to stare at their closed doorway. Trapped? He turned his head to look ahead, relieved and terrified there was still another way to go. "I don't think he's very friendly..." Cody's frayed nerves were evident in his words. Finally able to somewhat control his mind he looked to Drake searching the man over. "Are you alright? I'm sorry...I just...I'm not much help." He'd rammed it once sure, but he'd also stood there watching the fight leaving Drake to defend himself. After the attack he'd also been useless only able to retreat from the living skeleton.
"Drake...can we....go back, can you open the door?" Forget the mage...Cody wanted to leave.
Forgotten Faces
"I'm starting to think you were right about him being dangerous." Drake didn't address Cody's other questions of escape, his chaotic half was slowly gaining control. He strolled, almost carelessly towards the other exit.
On the other side was a long room with a soft blue glowing light coming from what he assumed was its center. He inspected the doorway to make sure no slab would slam it closed behind him. It looked solid. "I don't think it'll close behind us." He stepped through the door, not even paying attention to whether Cody had come in behind him.
In the distance, all the way at the other end of the chamber, he could make just make out the movements of a robed figure. Imagining that it was probably the mage, he continued into the room. The roaming shape at the other end didn't pay any attention to his entrance.
On the other side was a long room with a soft blue glowing light coming from what he assumed was its center. He inspected the doorway to make sure no slab would slam it closed behind him. It looked solid. "I don't think it'll close behind us." He stepped through the door, not even paying attention to whether Cody had come in behind him.
In the distance, all the way at the other end of the chamber, he could make just make out the movements of a robed figure. Imagining that it was probably the mage, he continued into the room. The roaming shape at the other end didn't pay any attention to his entrance.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody gave the door a last pleading look, again hoping it would open simply because he wanted it too. Apparently the door didn't much care what Cody thought, rolling his sore shoulder experimentally he followed behind Drake. Standing in the doorway, right where it would have to shut on him if it were to close Cody stared at the figure in the room. He wanted to tell Drake to get back, don't go closer, but instead he stayed quiet scared for the man to notice him.
Cody snorted, though this time softly and took two steps in the room but unwillingly to follow farther after Drake. Cody was all too aware he still had no escape behind him, but the last thing that moved in here had attacked him so he wasn't too keen into interrupting this one.
Cody's hands lowered to his sides, clenching into fists to try and control the trembling, it wasn't working all that well. He was hungry, terrified, and sore...this was not a day he wanted to repeat. Please be friendly...please...just don't kill us!
Cody glanced at the door they had just walked through, waiting to see if it would also close behind him. When it didn't want to close behind him he turned to watch Drake walk away from him....why wasn't he scared? Shouldn't he at least appear a bit more leery? Cody shifted staying in place, eyes scanning for any available exit.
Cody snorted, though this time softly and took two steps in the room but unwillingly to follow farther after Drake. Cody was all too aware he still had no escape behind him, but the last thing that moved in here had attacked him so he wasn't too keen into interrupting this one.
Cody's hands lowered to his sides, clenching into fists to try and control the trembling, it wasn't working all that well. He was hungry, terrified, and sore...this was not a day he wanted to repeat. Please be friendly...please...just don't kill us!
Cody glanced at the door they had just walked through, waiting to see if it would also close behind him. When it didn't want to close behind him he turned to watch Drake walk away from him....why wasn't he scared? Shouldn't he at least appear a bit more leery? Cody shifted staying in place, eyes scanning for any available exit.
Drake stopped at the edge of a large rune carved in the middle of the floor, which was the source of the soft blue light in the room. The man in front of him still hadn't payed him any heed.
Drake took a moment to look about the room. The walls were plan earth and stone with the occasional hole carved for storage of books and such. The floor was solid stone without a single speck of dust. The ceiling too was solid stone, but now Drake noticed something strange. There were thirteen holes that allowed light in from the surface world spaced in a perfect circle directly over the rune in the floor. He briefly wondered if they held any connection with the circle of stones.
Drake's eyes drifted back to the man he suspected was the mage, Hamgrint. He was working at a small desk covered with glass containers in various odd shapes and rolled sheaves of parchment. He still didn't appear to be a threat, nor did he seem threatened by Drake's presence.
Drake took a moment to look about the room. The walls were plan earth and stone with the occasional hole carved for storage of books and such. The floor was solid stone without a single speck of dust. The ceiling too was solid stone, but now Drake noticed something strange. There were thirteen holes that allowed light in from the surface world spaced in a perfect circle directly over the rune in the floor. He briefly wondered if they held any connection with the circle of stones.
Drake's eyes drifted back to the man he suspected was the mage, Hamgrint. He was working at a small desk covered with glass containers in various odd shapes and rolled sheaves of parchment. He still didn't appear to be a threat, nor did he seem threatened by Drake's presence.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody still wasn't budging from his spot! Part of him honestly wanted to go back to the door that had shut on them, and simply wait for it to open. However, grudgingly he stayed with Drake, needing to be within a herd or with a friend with the knowledge the area was dangerous. Being with others was always a good way to increase survival rate in bad situations.
The man was going to lunge in and attack Drake any moment, Cody was sure of it. Cody wanted to change forms, to feel more secure in at least knowing he'd be faster but was afraid he'd run off and leave Drake if he was in that form. Cody's eyes glanced at the blue light, then up at the ceiling then back to the man. He had been trying to notice what Drake had seen but couldn't find holes in a ceiling or an odd light source as important as the man who was going to surely try to kill them.
Drake was a good fighter, so maybe he'd be alright. Of course he'd needed help with the skeleton, if this man was harder...Cody heard himself whimper, then cringed as he'd been trying to stay quiet.
The man was going to lunge in and attack Drake any moment, Cody was sure of it. Cody wanted to change forms, to feel more secure in at least knowing he'd be faster but was afraid he'd run off and leave Drake if he was in that form. Cody's eyes glanced at the blue light, then up at the ceiling then back to the man. He had been trying to notice what Drake had seen but couldn't find holes in a ceiling or an odd light source as important as the man who was going to surely try to kill them.
Drake was a good fighter, so maybe he'd be alright. Of course he'd needed help with the skeleton, if this man was harder...Cody heard himself whimper, then cringed as he'd been trying to stay quiet.
NPC POST
Hamgrint went about his work as he did every day. He spent the morning preparing various potions and checking the progress of his other concoctions, he spent the middle part of the day in the woods above gathering supplies for both survival as well as magic, and he spent the afternoon checking that his skeletal guards were still under his control, and then he would spend the rest of the day making another attempt at translating a few of the older scrolls in his collection.
In a normal situation he would have fallen asleep later that night, the scrolls still in his hands, but not today. He had just pulled out the two he wanted to make an attempt at today when the light tinkling of two small silver bells told him of intruders entering his underground home. He had hastily put the scrolls aside and began checking all of his defenses.
When the intruders had exited the entrance hall, he had had to awaken one of his guards to stall them. He had felt an intense shock as the skeleton was destroyed and the bit of power he had invested in the creature became lost to him forever. It was fine though, the creature had served its purpose faithfully.
Now the two stood in his main chamber, gawking at the place in wonder. "Probably thieves looking to steal some powerful item," he thought to himself as he mixed the last bit of spice into a potion that would produce a large wall of flame when its container was broken.
"The holes," he said without turning around, "run up through the ground and through the rocks in the ring that you no doubt used as a land mark to find my cave. No, no, you didn't see them because they have an illusion spell cast over them." Now he turned around.
A large smile crossed his face when he saw the first person. "Ah, it's you. I was actually beginning to wonder what had happened to you." As he looked to the second person his jaw sagged in surprise. "And you! This is an odd meeting for sure. Creator, creation, and the man that made it all possible."
Hamgrint went about his work as he did every day. He spent the morning preparing various potions and checking the progress of his other concoctions, he spent the middle part of the day in the woods above gathering supplies for both survival as well as magic, and he spent the afternoon checking that his skeletal guards were still under his control, and then he would spend the rest of the day making another attempt at translating a few of the older scrolls in his collection.
In a normal situation he would have fallen asleep later that night, the scrolls still in his hands, but not today. He had just pulled out the two he wanted to make an attempt at today when the light tinkling of two small silver bells told him of intruders entering his underground home. He had hastily put the scrolls aside and began checking all of his defenses.
When the intruders had exited the entrance hall, he had had to awaken one of his guards to stall them. He had felt an intense shock as the skeleton was destroyed and the bit of power he had invested in the creature became lost to him forever. It was fine though, the creature had served its purpose faithfully.
Now the two stood in his main chamber, gawking at the place in wonder. "Probably thieves looking to steal some powerful item," he thought to himself as he mixed the last bit of spice into a potion that would produce a large wall of flame when its container was broken.
"The holes," he said without turning around, "run up through the ground and through the rocks in the ring that you no doubt used as a land mark to find my cave. No, no, you didn't see them because they have an illusion spell cast over them." Now he turned around.
A large smile crossed his face when he saw the first person. "Ah, it's you. I was actually beginning to wonder what had happened to you." As he looked to the second person his jaw sagged in surprise. "And you! This is an odd meeting for sure. Creator, creation, and the man that made it all possible."
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
Drake had been looking at the holes again, but now his eyes were riveted on the mage that stood before him. So the mage had known him, but what had he meant by that last statement. "Creator, creation, and the man that made it all possible." It was a very odd thing to say indeed.
"What do you mean? How do you know me mage?"
"What do you mean? How do you know me mage?"
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody didn't like him at all! He felt suddenly more wary and defensive from the last comment. He could figure out what he meant by the first two terms, creator and creation, but he wasn't sure he wanted to believe it, it was quite possible he misunderstood, or that the man was lying.
Still, he wondered how that would make Drake the one who made it all possible. Then again if Drake had lost his memory who was to say he wasn't the one the man had termed creator and the mage the one who made it possible. Cody shook his head visibly in frustration not wanting to think on any of it.
Defiance once again slowly stirred in Cody, showing itself in the lowered head, narrowed, and again the stomping of a foot. "I'm not your creation..." Somehow he didn't like that term, even if it was true, and he certainly didn't like this man using the term. More than likely it was his fault they were attacked after all.
Still Cody kept one eye slightly in range of seeing that the door behind him was still open, bravery only went so far after all. "Drake...can we go? We saw him..."
Of course the one door was still shut, but maybe the guy would open it now...Cody doubted it, but he sure hoped so.
Still, he wondered how that would make Drake the one who made it all possible. Then again if Drake had lost his memory who was to say he wasn't the one the man had termed creator and the mage the one who made it possible. Cody shook his head visibly in frustration not wanting to think on any of it.
Defiance once again slowly stirred in Cody, showing itself in the lowered head, narrowed, and again the stomping of a foot. "I'm not your creation..." Somehow he didn't like that term, even if it was true, and he certainly didn't like this man using the term. More than likely it was his fault they were attacked after all.
Still Cody kept one eye slightly in range of seeing that the door behind him was still open, bravery only went so far after all. "Drake...can we go? We saw him..."
Of course the one door was still shut, but maybe the guy would open it now...Cody doubted it, but he sure hoped so.
NPC POST
Hamgrint smiled wolfishly. "Oh yes my boy, you are certainly my creation." Seeing that the boy was not going to accept this statement he decided to go into further detail.
"You see I was wondering from place to place selling my wares and services, and I had settled in the town of Shim for a little while. Then one day, a man of some repute came to me and asked me to create for him something on a grand scale. After a lot of haggling over the price he would pay, I agreed to do it. I agreed to create for him a steed of unrivaled beauty and speed, only, this steed would not be any ordinary horse, it would have the intellect of a human." He winked at the boy.
"Now, I only had to have someone to gather the necessary materials for me." He looked at his old employee with another devious smile, "This is where you come in Drake. By the way, how is your little 'friend?'"
Hamgrint smiled wolfishly. "Oh yes my boy, you are certainly my creation." Seeing that the boy was not going to accept this statement he decided to go into further detail.
"You see I was wondering from place to place selling my wares and services, and I had settled in the town of Shim for a little while. Then one day, a man of some repute came to me and asked me to create for him something on a grand scale. After a lot of haggling over the price he would pay, I agreed to do it. I agreed to create for him a steed of unrivaled beauty and speed, only, this steed would not be any ordinary horse, it would have the intellect of a human." He winked at the boy.
"Now, I only had to have someone to gather the necessary materials for me." He looked at his old employee with another devious smile, "This is where you come in Drake. By the way, how is your little 'friend?'"
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
Drake looked at his friend curiously as the mage explained part of his earlier statement. Based on what Cody knew of his creation, and the reasoning behind it, Drake thought that this man could very well have been the mage that created Cody.
Drake looked back to the mage, his eyes narrowed, as the discussion shifted to his involvement. His hand gripped tightly around the hilt of his sword at the mention of his "friend." This man was starting to make him mad, but he would hold onto his temper for Cody's sake, if not for his own.
"How do you know about that?" he asked bluntly.
Drake looked back to the mage, his eyes narrowed, as the discussion shifted to his involvement. His hand gripped tightly around the hilt of his sword at the mention of his "friend." This man was starting to make him mad, but he would hold onto his temper for Cody's sake, if not for his own.
"How do you know about that?" he asked bluntly.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Cody shifted in place now dealing with the unusual sense of fear and anger colliding inside of him. Sure, technically he knew it was someone with magic that had created him, but some part of him liked to consider his master his creator, and he didn't care for anyone throwing the truth in his face. Sure, there had been comments in there that could be taken nicely..the speed and looks...but..he shivered feeling this odd and unwarranted sense of anger welling up inside of him.
Cody wasn't sure who the man was referring to when he said Drake's friend, but Drake sure did and didn't appear to like it either. Cody felt mild curiosity, but it was something that would have to be saved for later.
Cody stepped forward closer to Drake, hardly aware of his own actions. He wanted to again tell the man he was lying, but down in the pit of his stomach he knew the truth well enough. More questions for Drake later, as to his part in it...though like Drake had said he didn't really know himself.
"Let us out of here..." He wanted to leave. Cody wanted to get away from this man who suddenly seemed more dangerous by what he said than what he did.
Cody wasn't sure who the man was referring to when he said Drake's friend, but Drake sure did and didn't appear to like it either. Cody felt mild curiosity, but it was something that would have to be saved for later.
Cody stepped forward closer to Drake, hardly aware of his own actions. He wanted to again tell the man he was lying, but down in the pit of his stomach he knew the truth well enough. More questions for Drake later, as to his part in it...though like Drake had said he didn't really know himself.
"Let us out of here..." He wanted to leave. Cody wanted to get away from this man who suddenly seemed more dangerous by what he said than what he did.
NPC
Hamgrint chuckled at the reaction his words had received; it had been expected, but he still enjoyed the fact that he had gotten a rise out of his visitor. "Now why would you want to go now and ruin this chance to catch up. I bet I can answer a lot of your questions, even some about your friend here, Mr. Istalii. Like his 'friend that I mentioned, you have no clue who that is do you?"
Hamgrint chuckled at the reaction his words had received; it had been expected, but he still enjoyed the fact that he had gotten a rise out of his visitor. "Now why would you want to go now and ruin this chance to catch up. I bet I can answer a lot of your questions, even some about your friend here, Mr. Istalii. Like his 'friend that I mentioned, you have no clue who that is do you?"
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
Drake took an angry step towards the mage, but for some reason, he couldn't make himself move any closer.
"What right do you have to go telling my personal matters? You coward, pull down your spells, draw a weapon, and face me like a man!" The rapier was now drawn and clutched in Drake's shaking fist. He made a practice swing in the direction of the mage.
"What right do you have to go telling my personal matters? You coward, pull down your spells, draw a weapon, and face me like a man!" The rapier was now drawn and clutched in Drake's shaking fist. He made a practice swing in the direction of the mage.
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-
Cody
Well, Drake's move was all well and good, however for all Cody's bravery he wasn't all that ready to fight. Fear started leaking through that moment of defiance and he felt himself backing up and moving behind Drake. So much for trying to impress the guy and hope bluffing would work. What had been thinking anyway? He'd felt like charging at him..actually attacking the man as if he had a hope of winning...idiotic!
Cody shivered hoping Drake could beat the guy but more importantly just get them out of here. Cody looked back towards the door again, then to the mage and Drake. Feeling a bit guilty he made several more steps till he felt that cruel moment of decision as he was back in the doorway. He could stay with his friend or bolt out of the room and hope a way out would appear on the other side.
For the moment, he stayed still watching his friend and the mage, hoping this wouldn't end bad.
Cody shivered hoping Drake could beat the guy but more importantly just get them out of here. Cody looked back towards the door again, then to the mage and Drake. Feeling a bit guilty he made several more steps till he felt that cruel moment of decision as he was back in the doorway. He could stay with his friend or bolt out of the room and hope a way out would appear on the other side.
For the moment, he stayed still watching his friend and the mage, hoping this wouldn't end bad.
NPC
Hamgrint put on a serious face now. "Cody, I'm sure you don't want to go that way. The door's closed and more of my bony little friends are waiting out there, just hoping you'll come join them."
"Now, as I was saying; Drake told you about his soul being halved right? Of course he did, he tells everyone that gets close enough to him and asks the right question. What he hasn't told anyone, and I had to drag it from his mind to find out, is that the other half is still in his body. He can hear it speak to him in his mind, and sometimes he even talks back." The wicked smile had reclaimed his face.
"Oh yes, I would say that that is the half of his soul controlling that body right now. Look at him; teeth clenched, eyes narrowed, nostrils flared, and fists clenched. Yes, yes, that is surely the half that is in possession of his body right now."
"Now, where was I. Oh yes, our dear friend, Drake's involvement in your coming to be."
Hamgrint put on a serious face now. "Cody, I'm sure you don't want to go that way. The door's closed and more of my bony little friends are waiting out there, just hoping you'll come join them."
"Now, as I was saying; Drake told you about his soul being halved right? Of course he did, he tells everyone that gets close enough to him and asks the right question. What he hasn't told anyone, and I had to drag it from his mind to find out, is that the other half is still in his body. He can hear it speak to him in his mind, and sometimes he even talks back." The wicked smile had reclaimed his face.
"Oh yes, I would say that that is the half of his soul controlling that body right now. Look at him; teeth clenched, eyes narrowed, nostrils flared, and fists clenched. Yes, yes, that is surely the half that is in possession of his body right now."
"Now, where was I. Oh yes, our dear friend, Drake's involvement in your coming to be."
“Where there is much light, the shadow is deep”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"You know, it wouldn't hurt to think like a serial killer once in a while." -Foamy The Squirrel of Neurotically Yours