The Blood Cartel: Haunted Waters

Asmodeus · Aug 9, 2012

What is the Blood Cartel?

For 600 years we have asked that question. Since the lands of Kalimane were first settled, the Blood Cartel has struck out at mankind.

They are Vampires, ancient and malevolent, who throughout history have attacked during the sacred time of the Elder Moon - the night of fertility, in which the kings and queens of men are conceived.

Their motive? To stop the conception of a prophecised child - one who will herald the return of an ancient race known as the Star Children.

The oldest legends speak of a Holy Mother and Holy Father: two beings who walked the earth and loved one another at the dawn of time. They raised a child but fell to jealously and strife. In their quarrel the Father burrowed into the earth and became the first of the Vampires, while the Mother retreated to the sky and birthed the Star Children, who still dwell amongst the heavens. And their child, the one they had fought over, was abandoned on the surface to evolve into the race of men.

The feud runs deep.

But why the Blood Cartel should fear the reunion of the Mother and Father Races is a mystery. For 600 years they have fought against it, and for 600 years four factions have watched...

The Malvolen Bloodline, a family of powerful human wizards, seek to find the prophecised child and ensure mankind's supremacy.

The Brotherhood, a monastic order of priests and paladins, seek to worship the Star Children as benevolent angels.

The Vampire Noel, current leader of the Blood Cartel, has inherited the feud of the Father Race but has yet to make her intentions clear.

The traveller Alexandra, the first human to uncover the feud, continues her vendetta against her maker, Noel.

As the saga continues, Alexandra and her allies are heading north, beyond the Kingdom of Heleway, into the frozen seas. They follow the trail of the Vampire Noel, who has stolen the soul of a Star Child invoked by the Brotherhood in a catastrophic ritual. Only time will tell what Noel will do with this newfound power... and only time will tell whether Alexandra's vendetta puts the fate of all things at stake...

The night of the Elder Moon approaches...

THIS CHAT RP IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY 11TH AUGUST, 10PM CENTRAL TIME

Asmodeus · Aug 10, 2012

Tristan Malvolen

The current heir to the Malvolen bloodline, Tristan is a repentant character haunted by the crimes of his ancestors.

His need for atonement is all the greater now for the mistake he made on his home island of Stobrek. By seeking forgiveness for his family, he allowed the Brotherhood to confiscate the magical texts and arcana of the Malvolen dynasty. This act unwittingly gave the corrupt Abbot Wexley everything he needed to summon the soul of the Star Child. Tristan holds himself responsible for Noel's empowerment, and so is resolute in helping Alexandra slay the vampire for good.

Though his spellbooks were lost in the disaster, Tristan has memorised a few low level powers. And with the blessing of the Duchess of Stobrek he has requistioned a ship and a crew of volunteers to aid in Alexandra's quest.

His role in this story will be spellcaster, navigator and second-in-command.

Ochalla · Aug 10, 2012

Miiiiiight be in. Busy weekend, but damn if I don't adore this saga.

Asmodeus · Aug 11, 2012

10pm Central Time tonight, boys and girls.

Be there, or be meh.

Diana · Aug 11, 2012

You get Alexandra as always!

Effort · Aug 11, 2012

I'll bring my magically-latent monk-priest dude. I just have to remember his name.

Tegan · Aug 11, 2012

"I was imprisoned in Gahron Tree for 600 years, yes. But who said anything about sleeping?"

Noel's story begins as an incompetent vampire assassin. Her pedigree and abilities were without flaw; however, her unbridled lust and unhinged, violent mind would be her ultimate downfall--until she was infused with Gahron Tree's Elder magics and made a servant, until she betrayed her own kind and devoured the Father of the Blood Cartel, until she was possessed by the spirit of a Star Child.

Now, not quite alive or dead, good or evil, male or female, Noel flees to the frozen waters of the North, with the humans and the remaining members of the Blood Cartel in pursuit. One cannot tell what drives her, now. Whether she is slave to the fighting powers within her or to her own love for chaos and despair, all is shadow until she finds what she is looking for in the glaciers.

Maybe she's just looking for a good place to watch the world burn.

"I'm not saying what I'm doing is right. I'm only saying that you're too stupid to stop me."

Marika Emeraldi always had an appreciation for the feel of the sea air, the warmth of the sun, bathing herself in precious jewels--the finer things. These things are not often made available to bar wenches and nuns, and her chances of encountering any non-hostile wish-granting animals were, statistically speaking, pretty shitty. She had her mother's quick mind for business, and everything is business, and handy with all manner of sharp things and explosives. Pirating was the most practical choice. She climbed her way up, and up and up... She's a Pirate Lord, and she's not stepping down from her throne without a fight. Now all she needs is a ship.

Theory · Aug 11, 2012

Zile of the brotherhood.

One of the highest leader priests of the brotherhood.
He spends most of his days worshiping the star children but as the elder moon approaches he finds himself on a journey to help keep the world safe.
His intentions are unclear to everyone, even those who are part of his group.
The man has a short temper and is a joker, even in serious situations. He doesn't value his life as much as he values the world remaining whole.
If there was no civilization then the star children would be forgotten, and that was not alright with him.

(um...i hope i did this right?)

Kitti · Aug 11, 2012

Theodore "Theo" Helmsworth
Standing at barely five feet and ten inches in height, Theo might have still been intimidating despite being on the short side of the heigh spectrum for men. However, he was also not fortunate enough to inherit genes for a solid frame and he is instead short and scrawny with little muscle mass. His hair is pale brown with a slightly orange tint and his eyes are amber colored. A smattering of freckles covers his nose and cheeks.

Theo didn't start out being especially intellectually gifted, but he spent his spare time working hard and studying when he ought to, and is diligent if nothing else. He assumes that somewhere, he failed to inherit the prowess of magic that his mother spoke of men in her distant family having and has instead been rather disappointing his entire life. Despite all this, he wants very much to make a difference and when the chance arose, he couldn't help but eagerly join.

Overenthusiastic when presented with the chance to make friends, Theo is also easily swayed by pretty women, and it comes as no surprise that the combination of all these things would get his unrelenting support - even if he's not particularly wanted along.

Asmodeus · Aug 27, 2012

<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The island of Stobrek had been saved. But the Vampire Noel was now on the run. They had said goodbye to Koit and Lester, and to the Duchess whose gratitude had provided a seaworthy vessel. Now the hunt had begun. They were heading north, on the good ship Ando, piloted by their ally Rum Gulbrand, who had ordered his sister to stay behind. As the people of Stobrek waved goodbye to the handful of volunteers, it was with a sense that they were sailing off the edge of the world. And indeed, this may have been so. For no mortal, since the time of the Elves, had ever ventured this far north. It was said that only doom and madness awaited in the frozen seas. Yet Alexandra's vengeance had outlasted twenty generations... and it would not be stopped now... The night of the Elder Moon was approaching, and the fate of all things would hang in the balance. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra really, really hated the sea. Probably because she was trapped on a boat in close quarters with a bunch of people she wasn't exactly fond of. Then there was the... <i>problem</i>. Making sure she didn't starve to death without murdering people of the crew, or worse, having a bunch of angry seamen trying to lynch her. For the time being she was up on deck, leaning against the rail and glaring down at the ocean. <span class="time">-10:08 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Tristan Malvolen sat on the quarterdeck, his feet dangling inside a coffin. He was perched on the edge and looking down at the ashes that lined the coffin. They were moving... coalescing... shifting. These were the ashes of Lethael Durrant, a vampire who had served the Cartel at Noel's side. Even in death he was being drawn to her location. And so, his coffin would serve as their navigation device. <span class="time">-10:09 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Two degrees to starboard," he called... just as he called all the other directions since this journey began. <span class="time">-10:10 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Theory enters.] <span class="time">-10:10 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Two degree, aye," responded Ale Gulbrand, who lazed against the wheel. He was just as tired as Malvolen, as just as cold in the freezing winds of the north. With the sun sinking, it would only get colder. <span class="time">-10:11 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Theory</font> is off to rescue a damsel in distress!]</font> <span class="time">-((10:11 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika loved the sea. What she didn't love, however, was being cold. After three days of hard sailing, they were on the edge of the North, specs of ice already dotting the waters. Marika hugged her arms around her chest. "Blast! Pirates were not meant for these seas! We were made for tropical storms and scorching sun! Not having our nipples freeze off from this damned wind--SOMEONE BRING ME MY CLOAK!" She barked at the crew, teeth clattering. <span class="time">-10:12 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Then to Malvolen. "What's the box of soot telling you now, boy?" <span class="time">-10:13 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Noel was keeping due north till about an hour ago," the wizard responded. His short black hair was ruffled by the breeze, and his rugged features were growing paler in the cold. "Then she changed course. I think she's found something out there." <span class="time">-10:15 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Theo shivers sulkily and ponders his decision to join the quest, before reminding himself that it was his chance to make something of himself and to perhaps earn a bit of respect.] <span class="time">-10:16 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Zile enters.] <span class="time">-10:16 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> It was so white, so quiet... No trees, no life, no death. All was silence, all was night frozen in the water. Noel left her clothes in a pile by the hole in the ice before she dove into the black depths. She swam for hours, not thinking or minding, like a polar bear, white hair fanning around her like a halo. She wove in and out between the submerged glaciers. <span class="time">-10:17 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Only pausing to gaze into the largest one. <span class="time">-10:18 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> She had found a friend. <span class="time">-10:18 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Which means we're in for a great deal of trouble when we find her." she muttered darkly. Because when has it <i>not</i> ended with the situation getting ten times worse every time she encountered Noel? Now the cunt was infused with a star child. If anything was a mission of suicide, this boat load of fools was it. Alexandra cast a glance over her shoulder. <span class="time">-10:18 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Hey, Red!" Gulbrand shouted over the wheel and down at Alexandra. "Tell us again, why do you hate this bitch so much?" He went back to correcting the course. "I know you're pissed... but this was the Brotherhood's fuck-up, not yours. Seem like overkill to me." <span class="time">-10:20 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> The entire crew seemed to be less than pleasant than normal, far less welcoming than they had been when they requested volunteers, anyway. Perhaps it was because of the boat, or just being around one another so much. He didn't know for certain. Even the pretty girl, Alexandra? he was nearly certain her name was Alexandra... even she seemed a lot less alluring here on this boat. She glanced over her shoulder, though, and Theo still smiled hopefully at her. <span class="time">-10:20 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> Even with all the negative attitudes on board Zile found himself having much the opposite reaction to the sea. It was true the young man had never sailed in his life and perhaps that was the reason he was not logging people's heads off at the moment. Instead, he was relaxing atop a small crate set in front of the captain's cabin. He had come aboard hearing the rumors of the night soon to come. He also knew others were out to stop this night from being fruitful and that definitely settled with unease in his stomach. Raising his head slowly, the hood on his cloak rising just enough so that his soft gray eyes could scan the deck. He heard one person in particular ranting about his organization and while he was indeed a member of the brotherhood, he would not defend it...yet. No, sitting quietly, for now, was going to be his choice of action. <span class="time">-10:21 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> What a unexpected situation Geal found himself in. On a both with several strangers hunting some vampire, it's not that he was displeased. On the contrary he was quite elated. It was like a gap in his soul was being filled. He was on an adventure, to vanquish some evil no less. Finally, he felt like he was fulfilling a purpose. Geal reflected on this, as he sat on a crate with his arms hidden within his cloak. <span class="time">-10:23 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "I wasn't expecting a warm welcome," Marika mused as she fastened the cloak someone had brought to her. "And trouble means treasure, girly. If she's looking for something, then that just means we only have to kill her before we take it." Marika smiled, catlike, as the fur lining warmed her flesh. "And knowing that, why ARE you so hostile to this woman? Did she steal your boyfriend?" Marika added with a smirk at Malvolen. <span class="time">-10:23 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen looked away quickly, focussing hard on the ashes <span class="time">-10:24 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Despite having been on a boat once or twice before in his life, Theo had never been on an extended trip such as this one. He remembered with a twinge of guilt how ill he had been those first few hours. However, there was little time for remembering it when he realized that the swaying was beginning to cause his stomach to churn again. His hopeful tightened on his face as he worked to keep the contents of his stomach inside of him. This whole trip had been less than pleasant for him so far and he only stayed because he was worried that if he complained, they would maroon him. None of them seemed a friendly sort and he'd nearly been punched trying to mimic the man who seemed to be in charge. <span class="time">-10:25 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Why don't we just call it revenge and reckless heroism and leave it at that, Captain." she called back, turning to lean against the railing and cross her arms over her chest. Deliberately, she was ignoring Theo. Focusing a scowl at Marika instead. "She's done more than that. But I suppose chasing a man-stealing whore is more common than killing off homicidal vampires these days?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. Here was another reason to hate boats. Everyone wanted to get chatty. <span class="time">-10:27 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Yeah, but I'm just saying..." <span class="time">-10:28 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Enough." Malvolen's voice was soft, but forceful enough. It's very subtlety was enough to silence Gulbrand. Leaving his post at the coffin, which another deckhand took over, he moved down from the quarter deck and stood at the rail next to Alexandra. He glanced at her, then gripped the rail himself. "I'm sorry..." He had been saying that a lot lately. <span class="time">-10:28 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Another sway of the boat and Theo was feeling very ill indeed. He scrunched his face and tried to move nearer to the railing without appearing to be sneaking up on Alexandra and then... the guy who seemed to be in charge moved over to her first and Theo froze, debating whether he wanted to go near that or make a move for the other side of the boat instead. His stomach was not as indecisive as he was though and he turned heel, nearly leaping at the other railing. <span class="time">-10:29 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Landlubbers got no sense of humour," Gulbrand grunted, before turning to the wheel. He was in his element here, despite the cold and fatigue. The ship was his cock and the ocean his woman. It was just a shame that Marika had been appointed captain of the ship. She may have been the Pirate Queen... but Gulbrand knew how to sail. <span class="time">-10:31 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "In my line of work it is." Marika turned away from the two to address the others. "You heard him, crew!" The pirate lord boomed. "We've changed course-Damnit Theo, either be sick or not but stay on the damn boat- ALL HANDS TO YOUR STATIONS." Marika strode over to Geal. "That means you too, new guy." <span class="time">-10:32 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> Suddenly behind the sprinting young man Zile grabbed the back of his collar as he lost more then some meager cookies. "Perhaps they should feed us better food...something that doesn't; bite back?" Yeah, Zile wasn't a big fan of stored goods, he had always eaten freshly baked goods and vegetables, not the groul they call 'food' on this boat. Patting the guy's back lightly he waited by the side until he was finished, then stepped back with a faint smile. He'd heard the other retort to the man who was badmouthing his brotherhood, it felt pretty good that someone had shut him up. Hearing the call to stations Zile frowned. "Station...he didn't have a station..." <span class="time">-10:32 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra stiffened for a moment, but her expression softed to a slight frown. "And what are you sorry for now, exactly?" she muttered. Her fingers were tapping at her arms as she watched the crew start to scatter. <span class="time">-10:33 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Hm? Oh yes. Of course." Geal hopped up from his seat on the crate. ".....what was I supposed to do?" <span class="time">-10:33 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Marika Emeraldi ] <span class="time">-10:33 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Take the picky eater and the light weight up top. One of you relieve the lookout and the other two, scrape the ice from the sails." <span class="time">-10:34 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen smiled, weakly, and moved a little closer to Alexandra as they both stared out to sea. The shoreline of Heleway, the only land they had ever known, was being left far behind. "You're right. I should stop apologising. I spent my whole life trying to atone for things, and it only gave the Brotherhood more power to summon the Star Child." He paused, flexing his left hand, feeling the magic pulse within it. "I just want you to know, Alexandra..." His pale eyes turned to her. "I'm with you on this... till the end." <span class="time">-10:36 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo was about to ask what he ought to be doing, since he was too often sick to be bothered with speaking to, but his answer was given by the lady captain from the sounds of it. He gulped and smiled sheepishly at the chastisement he had received. "I can do that!" he declared, making his way to where Marika was indicating. He tripped a bit as he moved, trying to walk too quickly for his legs to keep up. "Should I look, or scrape?" he asked of the other two, staring up at the lookout's nest. <span class="time">-10:37 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Doesn't hurt to say please," Gulbrand muttered under his breath as he watched Marika bark out her orders to the crew. <span class="time">-10:37 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Pretty please with an arsing cherry on top," Marika added with a glare at Gulbrand. "Don't crash the damned ship." <span class="time">-10:38 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Oops.) <span class="time">-10:38 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Wrong tab.) <span class="time">-10:39 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Gulbrand stared at her blankly. <i>How the hell did she hear what I was saying?</i> "Hey!" he retorted. "I only crashed ONE ship! And to be fair, we were fleeing a meteor strike at the time!" <span class="time">-10:40 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> (Oops as well) <span class="time">-10:40 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Certainly, Captain" Geal gave Marika a brief smile before making his way across the deck to Alexandra and informing her of the the Captain's orders and then made his way to join Theo. "I can do the scraping" he said as he was going to collect the necessary equipment. <span class="time">-10:40 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Zile</font> melts away.]</font> <span class="time">-((10:42 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> The man had an uncanny way of getting under her skin, and Alexandra wasn't keen on the feeling! She shifted awkwardly where she stood. "The end might be sooner than you think..." And then interrupted (saved?) by Gael's blabbering about Captain's orders. Alexandra was scowling again. "I am <i>not</i> a deck hand." <span class="time">-10:43 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "All right! I can look!" Looking couldn't be so hard, could it? "I use this rope here to climb up, right?" he asked, frowning at the rope in question, which he had clasped tightly in his hand. He trusted Geal to retrieve the supplies. <span class="time">-10:43 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen nodded, his rhythm broken by Geal's interruption. The man meant and fought well - that much had been proven. But his timing left much to be desired. Rubbing his hands together, the wizard pulled his cloak tighter and glanced again at Alexandra. "You look pale. Have you been eating?" <span class="time">-10:47 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal brought the scrappers and the harnesses and set them near Alexandra "You may not like it but we are on some one else's ship" He looked around at Theo and said "I think you use that over there" he indicated a roped ladder. He also handed him a spyglass and gave him an encouraging nod before turning back to Alexandra "Come along, lets not be rude" and went about putting on the harness. <span class="time">-10:48 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Do you like it? I made it for you, with my brain." Noel mouthed to the glacier as she floated in the abyss. No air bubbles escaped her mouth. Gingerly, she pressed a golden circlet into the ice. "I love you, wake up soon and keep me company." Then, the pale woman swam upward, up and up and up toward the surface. <span class="time">-10:50 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Completely oblivious to the tension between Malvolen and Alexandra, he tried to catch her eye before climbing up the rope ladder, clutching the spyglass in hand for fear that he might drop it. She did not look at Theo, did not even glance in his direction before Theo began to climb. He was hard to deter, though, and thought about how he might impress her if he looked and saw something grand. Perhaps he would find something so fantastic, she would smile at him and tell him that he was the best lookout there was... <span class="time">-10:51 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "I've eaten enough." It was possibly the one time she had ever been greatful for Geal. It gave her something to focus her anger at, so that she wouldn't have to deal with the wizard. "And we have this ship because of <i>my</i> mission. So by all means, keep trying to give me orders and see how long it takes me to throw you over board." <span class="time">-10:52 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand squinted, leaning forward over the wheel. He was sniffing the air too. "Well well, what have we here..." A few seconds passed and then he straightened up, looking suddenly to the lower deck. "Wizard! We need light." <span class="time">-10:53 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen was cut off mid-sentence. He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look up at Gulbrand. He followed the pilot's gaze. Then, with silent understanding, he moved to the prow and stretched his left hand. "Bareth aesh, kal rekard!" An orb of greenish light blossomed in his hand. He tossed it skyward, and the light zipped into place high above and in front of them. Like a flare it lit the sea ahead, and cast an eerie green glow upon the tiny island they were nearing. <span class="time">-10:53 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika's eyes narrowed and she strode forward to stand next to Malvolen for a better look. "There shouldn't be an island here, the maps don't show anything like this for hundreds of miles." <span class="time">-10:55 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "INEXPLICABLE LAND HO!" Gulbrand shouted. <span class="time">-10:55 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Avoid it! Last thing we need is to be stranded on some illusionary landmass or some cannibal infested hell hole." Marika retorted. <span class="time">-10:56 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal smiled at Alexandra, it wasn't the regular nice priest smile he gave everyone, it was more like the grin of a mischevious boy "This way" without waiting to see if Alexandra was going to follow, Geal ascended another rope ladder that lead diagonally up toward the sails and fastened the harness to the proper lines. He had never been on a ship before and it had taken him several hours to obtain his sea legs. Then he peppered the crew with technical questions about several aspects of the ship. It was pretty awesome. <span class="time">-10:56 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand started to turn the wheel, as Marika ordered, but then a hasty hand signal from the deckhand behind him made him pause. He glanced at the coffin on the quarter. "Er... begging your pardon, Maam-Captain... but the ashes are pretty hard for this island." <span class="time">-10:58 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen turned to Gulbrand. "The vampire ashes point to this place?" <span class="time">-10:58 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "That they do." <span class="time">-10:59 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> From his position, holding the spyglass surprisingly correctly, Theo looked out at what the others seemed to be in a panic about. He cleared his throat and called down lamely "I see... something." <span class="time">-10:59 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra decided that Geal was for dinner. That thought had to be put on hold, though, as she unfolded her arms to lean on the rail and look out towards the island. "Then that's where we're going." <span class="time">-10:59 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>What Theo saw through his spyglass was an insland, less than a quarter-mile across, featureless save for rugged rocks, crashing waves.... and a great stone monolith that protruded from the far shore. It seemed to be surrounded by smaller standing stones. And it was no kind of architecture that he had ever seen. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "And my nipples are hard from wind burn, that crazy bloodsucker can't have stopped here." Marika sighed, knowing full well that if the ashes were pointing to it, then they should atleast send someone expendable to shore to invesitigate. "ZILE! Front and center." <span class="time">-11:00 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Eer, switch our posts) <span class="time">-11:00 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> At a loss for how to explain what he was seeing, Theo just stared at the landmass, his eyes wide, before realizing that he should be explaining to the others. "It's... well, it's not very big. There's a big stone, with smaller stones. It looks like there's nothing alive. Is that where we're aiming toward?" <span class="time">-11:03 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "No way I'm going near those rocks. I wanna keep this ship for more than 24 hours, if it's all the same to ya." Gulbrand scratched his ferrous red hair. "We'll have to takea rowboat if we wanna get ashore." <span class="time">-11:03 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Timeout) Marika Emeraldi</font> doesn't post enough.]</font> <span class="time">-11:04 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen crossed back from the bow and up the steps to the quarterdeck. He gripped the coffin's edge and stared inside. The ashes of Lethael were pulled against the coffin sides, straining towards the island. "It's her..." he muttered. "Noel is here..." <span class="time">-11:04 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Oh good, let's send a little Kill-Me-Vessel to the shore--ZILE THE HELL ARE YOU?" <span class="time">-11:05 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Zile enters.] <span class="time">-11:05 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> It took a little while for Geal to notice the slight clamor from on deck. He looked down at everyone and followed their line of sight and saw the island. Hm he may not have a lot of time to do this job. As he looked at the island there was an increasing sense of...something, it made him uneasy whatever it was. Well, he better do as much of this scraping as he could before it was time to take their adventure back onto land. <span class="time">-11:06 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> Zile blinked up at the angry woman, shaking his head and sighing. "Your anger is a....deterrant like no other." Looking over the ground he then glanced over the landscape. "I believe I will continue on my own. Please don't mind." With a slight bow of his head he turned away from the loud person and trodded off. (sorry, vanishing *runs*) <span class="time">-11:07 Aug 11</span></div>

<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Zile</font> has logged out.]</font> <span class="time">-((11:07 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel closed her eyes as she fell back into the snow, moving her limbs up and down, making a snow angel. <span class="time">-11:07 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Trodded? WHERE?) <span class="time">-11:07 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (DAMNIT LET ME KILL YOU WITH DIGNITY) <span class="time">-11:08 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Zile is afraid. ] <span class="time">-11:08 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> Turning around he paused a moment, watching the other who had addressed him. "Pardon?" Angry yelling was one thing but death threats? "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to yell at strangers? They could harm you...or your puppy." <span class="time">-11:09 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Paranthesis mean OOC, yo) <span class="time">-11:09 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> (yeah I figured, just ran outta ideas, not used to group stuff lol) <span class="time">-11:10 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Lucky us." she muttered under her breath. Alexandra checked her cloak to make sure her knives were there, and crossed the deck to take a peek in the coffin herself. If she got lucky, she could throw Noel's ashes in there too. <span class="time">-11:11 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>(The plot is happening. I have it planned. You don't need ideas. Okay, enough OOC comments now.) <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen looked over to Alexandra, then again at the island. "I'll take a boat. If she's there, we can finish this." <span class="time">-11:12 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Water's getting rocky," Gulbrand shouted from the helm. "This is as close as I can get!" <span class="time">-11:13 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal hummed to himself as he scraped the ice off the sail, enjoying being physically active. <span class="time">-11:15 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Right," Mariak checked her pistols and rapier and the straps that held them in place against her body. "Gulbrand, you and Zile keep an eye on the ship, we'll signal you if we need back up. The rest of you, to the row boats." Marika sighed, she hated anything remotely related to the dark arts, or mystical creatures, or anything that didn't directly involve shiny objects. "Let's get this over with." She kept close to Malvolen and Alexandra. "And let's hope this ash-filled box hasn't lead us into a trap." <span class="time">-11:17 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "I don't think that I want to go onto that island... no offense. Could I mind the ship as well? Or am I needed?" Theo stumbled nervously over his words, a blush rising in his cheeks. <span class="time">-11:19 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #26466D; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> (My apologies, my migraine is being demanding. Feel free to abuse and murder Theo.) <span class="time">-11:21 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Theo</font> fled in terror.]</font> <span class="time">-((11:21 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Your people smuggled this box for centuries, Marika," Malvolen answered as he rose to his feet and took up his staff. "With the ashes of a vampire inside. If it <i>could</i> have harmed you, it would have done it by now. The coffin is lined with the wood of the Gahron Tree. It prevents the resurrection of vampires and suppresses dark magic. I trust it with my life." He moved to the port side, where other deckhands were lowering the rowboat. <span class="time">-11:21 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "My great great grand-daddy trusted it too," Gulbrand added from the helm. "When he slayed that bastard Lethael, he made SURE he wouldn't come back for seconds." <span class="time">-11:23 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Theo enters, with puppet-strings] <span class="time">-11:24 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Glancing down, Geal noticed some of the crew lowering a boat into the water. "Hey!" he called down "We going ashore?" <span class="time">-11:25 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "There's a structure of some sort on the far side of the island," Theo said as he came down from the rigging and clambered into the boat next to Malvolen. "I saw it with the spyglass. I can get you there." <span class="time">-11:26 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra actually smirked. "And if we all don't die from meteors, monsters, or worse, there will be some extra ashes for you to so foolishly put your trust in." ...and there went Geal again. Her exasperation was visible when she brushed a hand against her forehead. "Can we leave <i>him</i>?" she very nearly growled through her teeth. <span class="time">-11:26 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "There's your first mistake, boy." Marika withdrew a cigar from within her cloak and lit it. If she was going to die, she wanted to die smoking. Still, she had to admire the boy for his stamina. Hopefully that stamina would come in handy if Noel was on that island. Marika exhaled a puff of smoke as she climbed into the rowboat, joined by Geal shortly after. <span class="time">-11:27 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> "If you mean we as in 'you', then I doubt it. If you mean we as in 'me'...definitely not." Zile had just gotten on the ship not too long ago, why would he want to get off so soon? Whether the other went on shore really wasn't any of his interest but the man's actual personality was starting to poke through. He wasn't just a nice calm worshiper. Nope. <span class="time">-11:27 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "No more leavies," Marika added to Alexandra. "I ain't payin' you to cruise along, in fact," she mused. "I ain't payin' you at all..." <span class="time">-11:28 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal gave Alexandra an almost playful yet serious look as he hopped into the rowboat. No way he was missing this adventure. <span class="time">-11:30 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>The landing party was assembled. Malvolen, Alexandra, Theo, Marika and Geal were lowered into the waters, the tiny rowboat snagging in the waves and twisting violently before it was brought under control. Geal and Theo got to rowing, while Malvolen lit the way with his staff. The rocky island loomed closer, and already they could seen the monolith on the other side of it... smooth and narrow, almost curving. Even from a distance they could tell that the architecture was exquisite. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Keep the ropes ready," Gulbrand told the other pirates. "We may need to get them out of there fast. I've faced Noel before. She fights like a bitch in heat." He held the wheel steady as the anchor was lowered. <span class="time">-11:36 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel's eyes shot open and she darted up in the snow, her senses focused on a noise in the distance. The creature that was Noel growled. <span class="time">-11:36 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika blinked as the first flakes of a fresh snow began to fall. "Great.." <span class="time">-11:38 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "Ugh.. shit... wait..okay!" Theo finally got the hang of the oars and started rowing as best he could in tandem with Geal. He smiled at Alexandra, and gave her wink to assure her that he had everything under control. <span class="time">-11:39 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Zile</font> escapes to a secret lair!]</font> <span class="time">-((11:39 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Zile enters.] <span class="time">-11:39 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> The place had to be old... older than she was. And there was that feeling. The little twinge of dread and something else, deep in the pit of her stomach. Noel was definitely there somewhere, and now ten times as crazy as before. Alexandra glanced up at the snow. "It isn't the snow I would worry about. Be wary of shadows." By accident she caught Theo's look, just returning his wink with a frown. <span class="time">-11:40 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen carried a wooden box, fashioned from the lid of Lethael's coffin. It held a handful or so of the vampire's ashes and would act as a compass for the rowboat. With his staff a-glowing, he directed them through the smaller rocks that were half-submerged around the island. "I'll do what I can," he answered Alexandra. He meant so much more. He would die for her if he had to. He had got them all into this darkness, after all. <i>If only he had been stronger...</i> <span class="time">-11:43 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #01C5BB; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Zile: </span> Zile turned and walked right into the captain's quarters. Guess the person had been so busy speaking with the others that they'd forgotten to lock the door. However, Zile didn't have any ill intentions as far as stealing went. His eyes fell upon the cot and he grinned. Looking a lot more comfortable than the ones they were assigned. With a slight grin he turned and wedged his staff against the door, then walked over and fell into the bed. With a soft sigh he drifted off to sleep, not worried about reprocussions of where he was. (falling asleep, can take control of him, night) <span class="time">-11:44 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: "Verdana",verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Logout) Zile</font> is off to feed the plot bunnies.]</font> <span class="time">-((11:45 Aug 11))</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo stopped staring at Alexandra abruptly as his oar hit a rock. He pulled it in and started using it to push and prod the boat along. He winced every time the rowboat's bottom scraped the rocks. They were almost there... <span class="time">-11:46 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> The blizzard was starting to pick up, but Noel paid it no mind. Her slitted eyes were focused on something in the distance, something coming for her, hunting her. <span class="time">-11:48 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> With the ship anchor and bobbing in the icy waters, Gulbrand reclined against the railing. He was looking up at the stars, a smile on his face. There was nothing better than being back on the ocean. His sister would have loved it out here... if she hadn't been forbidden by Gulbrand to come. He would have enough trouble keeping himself safe on a voyage like this. "Sure is a fine night for demon-slaying, huh, holy man?" He called to where he thought Zile was, on the deck behind him. <span class="time">-11:50 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "We should land here, can't risk a hole in the boat. Water's shallow enough to cross without us catching hypothermia." <span class="time">-11:50 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo nodded and steered the boat so it would wedge against two of the larger rocks, about twenty feet from the shore. <span class="time">-11:52 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Hope you kids packed your long stockings," Marika winced as she stepped into the shallow water, the cold pooling around the ankles of her thick boots. <span class="time">-11:53 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Oops, sorry, water's knee high) <span class="time">-11:54 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Alright," Malvolen replied. As the boat braced itself, he gripped the edge and swung his legs over. He plunged up to his knees in the chill waters, his breath misting around him. His staff kept up the glow of pale green light, and he forged ahead, clearing the space between the boat and island in a few shivering bounds. <span class="time">-11:54 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika was quick to follow the young wizard, not keen on hanging around in freezing water. <span class="time">-11:55 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Cat got your tongue?" Gulbrund straightened his head and turned to where Zile had been standing a few minutes earlier. "Hmm... where'd he go?" <span class="time">-11:56 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo tucked the oar inside the boat and then smiled at Alexandra. "Ladies first," he said as he held the boat steady for her. <span class="time">-11:57 Aug 11</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra gave Theo another frown and followed, only a clenching of her teeth to show that the ice cold water bothered her at all. She made sure none of it soaked her cloak. She stopped on the shoreline with the others. More than a little wary about their surroundings. She hated those vague feelings that there was something watching, or nearby... They were never useful for anything more than putting her on edge. <span class="time">-12:00 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Doing the same as Theo, Geal put the oar aside in the boat before hopping out into the brisk water. "Nice day for a wade" Geal said to no one in particular as he made his way through the waters toward shore. As he went he had a creeping feeling going up his spine, having the eerie sense of being watched. <span class="time">-12:01 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> There. It was there. With an infernal roar, Noel pounced forward into the gail of snow, claws and fangs bared. <span class="time">-12:02 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika stamped out her cigar in the snow and looked around the deserted, frozen land. "There's nothing here." <span class="time">-12:02 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Theo enters.] <span class="time">-12:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>Theo</font> ]</font> <span class="time">-12:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel crouched within the ruined carcass of a polar bear, idly chewing a bit of sinew. She, and the snow around her, was stained crimson. <span class="time">-12:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> She was again alone in the vast tundra. But atleast she wasn't hungry. <span class="time">-12:05 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Only these rocks. Why would the ashes be pointing us here?" <span class="time">-12:05 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen drew up beside Marika, staring at the monolith that loomed over the crest of the rocks. Other boulders had been place in circle around it. "It's like a marker..." he said aloud. <span class="time">-12:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #ffffff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo checked his footing on the rocks, getting higher so the waves would not lap at his feet. The island was tiny, by a small plateau had formed where the monolith and standing stones were. He peered at the object. "Is that writing on it?" <span class="time">-12:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Back on the ship, Gulbrand and a few of his shipmates had assembled outside the door of Marika's quarters. They could hear Zile inside, snoring. "Captain's gonna be pissed," Gulbrand said, before nodding to the Bosun - a man built like an ape. A running barge was all it took to send the door crashing inwards. And in the next moment, the pirates were inside, dragging the priest from his insolent sleep. <span class="time">-12:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "There is always more to these things..." she muttered, stepping closer to the stones to examine the writing on them. She reached out to brush her fingers over the words to flick snow out of the way. <span class="time">-12:10 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> As the others examined the stone, Marika stepped away a few yards, searching for answers amongst the other stones. Alexandra was right, there was always more to these things. Unconciously, her fingers ghosted over her flintlock pistol. <span class="time">-12:12 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>It was Gael who recognised the writing. His childhood in the monasteries of the Brotherhood gave him a sense of such things. Although he had never actively studied it he remembered it in glimpses, snapshots of memory. The writing on the stones was Elven. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Hey, the writing on the stones is Elven" <span class="time">-12:15 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>"LET IT BE KNOWN... THE ELVES FORESAKE THE LAND OF KALIMANE. WE LEAVE IT TO THE FATHER'S CURSE, AND SAIL FOR HAVENS NEW. MAY WE TWELVE REMAIN HERE, TO GUIDE OUR KIN UPON THEIR WAY." <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "What a coincidence," Marika added dryly, lighting another cigar. "There's twelve stones." <span class="time">-12:18 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>This was what was written on the monolith at the centre of the twelve standing stones. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal squinted at the stone and read it aloud. "It says something like 'Let it be known the Elves foresake the-" he scratched off some frost that blocked the passage "'-the land of Kalimane. We leave it to the father's curse, and sail for havens new. May we twelve remain here, to guide our kin upon their way.'" <span class="time">-12:22 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Just assume I said what I said after Geal. *stops jumping the gun*) <span class="time">-12:22 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen examined the twelve stones, his fingers tracing the carvings. Each stone had a symbol... perhaps a name?... and beneath it a number of dots. Like constellations. "It's a map..." he muttered. <span class="time">-12:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo's foot nudged against something, which made a clinking sound. He looked down, frowned, then crouched to pick up the vial. <span class="time">-12:24 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "The whole thing?" Geal stare at each stone in turn to see if he could glean any further clues from the stones. <span class="time">-12:25 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "A map to Kalimane, perhaps?" This wasn't her area of expertise. ...but she did know she could feel that viper somewhere. So why on such a small island could she feel that attachment, and yet they still had gotten anywhere. Alexandra rest her hands on her hips. "Can it be deciphered?" <span class="time">-12:27 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "The inscription is facing south," Malvolen said. "It was meant for people coming FROM Kalimane." He continued running his hand over the stones. "I think this was meant for the Elves, when they first left the lands of men. It's a map to the uncharted waters..." <span class="time">-12:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "If Noel was here... then she must have come for the map..." His hand stopped abruptly. He pulled it away and stared. There was a bloodstain on his fingertips. <span class="time">-12:29 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Why would elves go into this frozen hell? What could possibly be out there for them?" Marika had rejoined the group, and scanned over the stones, trying to piece it together. <span class="time">-12:29 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Mal, you're bleeding." <span class="time">-12:30 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "Hey..." Theo called, as he straightened up with the vial he had found in his hand. "Is this blood?" <span class="time">-12:30 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen looked at his hand, then over at Theo... then back at his hand. <span class="time">-12:31 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Now the others saw it. Each of the stones had been pierced - deep holes drilled into them. And around those holes were stains of blood. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "I need to write my mother, tell her you CAN get blood from a stone." <span class="time">-12:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Theo enters.] <span class="time">-12:33 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>Theo</font> ]</font> <span class="time">-12:33 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "It appears the stones and blood are related some how" Geal keenly observed. <span class="time">-12:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "....did the blood from from the stones?" <span class="time">-12:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "From Kalimane." she repeated in a mumble, narrowing her eyes at the small hole in the nearest stone to her. "...Blood magic. Maybe she activated something with it." She cast another exasperated glare in Gael's direction, then she was circling the stones again. "Is there enough blood in the vial to give it a try?" <span class="time">-12:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> *come <span class="time">-12:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Maybe Noel needed a snack," Marika mused. "Something to help her along the way." <span class="time">-12:36 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Frowning deeply, Theo's eyes went from the stones to the vial, perplexed and disturbed. "I, uh, sure if you want to give it a try I s'pose." <span class="time">-12:36 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>(Timeout) Noel</font> has timed out.]</font> <span class="time">-12:37 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen checked the holes. "Someone drained blood from these..." In his other hand, the ashes in the makeshift compass suddenly swirled in the other direction. "Is there something inside these th--" He was cut off mid-sentence as a skeletal hand smashed from inside the rock and seized him by the throat. He screamed and dropped his staff, plunging them all into dusky gloom. The sounds of shattering rock echoed around them, in time with the waves. <span class="time">-12:37 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>A stone shattered next to Alexandra, a skinless face burst from inside to scream with ancient malice. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> The realization dawned on Geal just before the bony hand appeared, and then was reinforced by it. There were bodies in the stones. <span class="time">-12:39 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He let out a shrill scream, nearing dropping the vial of blood as the scene played out before him. Instinctively Theo curled up a leg close to him looking around frantically. <span class="time">-12:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Holy mother!" Marika was quick to react, her left hand took the lit cigar from her mouth, while the other drew her flintlock and took aim. Once the skeletal hand clutching Malvolen was briefly illuminated by its glow, she fired. <span class="time">-12:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> (Gah, Marika tossed the cigar toward Mal. *drinks more coffee*) <span class="time">-12:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> It seems she was doomed to have everything backwards today. What was wrong with her instincts?! She wasn't getting anything right! Alexandra ducked and dodged to the side, a knife being pulled from her cloak and ran over the palm of her hand to draw blood. <span class="time">-12:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> The cigar bounced off of Malvolen's face, briefly burning the flesh on his cheek. <span class="time">-12:42 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal leaped forward and a bullet whizzed passed him toward the skeleton. From under his cloak his swords flashed out and struck at the skeletal arm to dislodge the thing. <span class="time">-12:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> The creature grabbing Malvolen disintegrated in the blast of the flintlock and as it crumpled it took the standing stone with it. Malvolen fell away, the cigar that Marika had tossed burning his face. He rolled and tumbled, picking up the staff again. He muttered the enchantment anew and green light pulsed around him. It lit up the shapes of the other eleven Elves, emerging from the stones. <span class="time">-12:44 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The skeleton that had emerged near Alexandra did not pursue. It turned towards Malvolen and began a slow, hateful advance <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika cocked her pistol, ready to fire again, then snatched up Theo by the scruff of his neck. "Running back to the rowboat seems like a good idea about now!" <span class="time">-12:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "I do love walking in to traps." growled Alexandra. Immediately she threw her shadow tendrils at the skeleton advancing on Tristan. Wrapping around it, jerking hard and flinging it past her in to one of the other stones. "I agree! The boat is an excellent idea!" <span class="time">-12:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Clutching the vial of blood close to this chest, Theo snapped his eyes shut, muttering incoherently under his breath. "Can't... Run. Legs f-frozen." <span class="time">-12:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "So... Very. S-Scared." <span class="time">-12:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand has just got through tossing Zile into the cargo hold when he heard the telltale echo of a flintlock from the island. "What the hell? Has the captain started shooting folk?" He and the other pirates made their way back to the top deck and tried to get a look at what was happening. <span class="time">-12:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>A skeleton loomed in the shadows next to Theo. It glared at him, Elven jaw pulled wide in an expression of anguish and hate.... then pushed past him and headed towards Malvolen. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Swiveling around as soon as the skeleton stopped moving, he noticed one more ignore Alexandra and lurch toward where he and Malvolen, but was taken care of by Alexandra. He looked around for another target, one corpse pushing past Theo and headed toward Malvolen. With a great leap, Geal landed in front of the corpse and spun briefly with his swords flashing out, slashing at the corpse three times with the last one decaptiating it. <span class="time">-12:52 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Fahrin el darga!" Malvolen yelled and his staff discharged a blast of mana. Another skeleton was flung away. But two more of the fiends dashed around the monolith and seized his arms. He was dragged backwards, their bony fingers scratching at his flesh. <span class="time">-12:52 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He let out another scream, this one more high pitched than the one before. The touch from the skeleton was enough to make Theo move and move did he, sprinting at full speed towards the boat. "Something touched me! SOMETHING TOUCHED ME!" <span class="time">-12:53 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "What the hell is he doing?" Gulbrand muttered as he watched Theo through the ship's telescope. The rocks were concealing the rest of the fight. All he could see was the boy Theo running back to the boat. <span class="time">-12:55 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "THAT'S THE SPIRIT BILGE RAT!" Marika hollered as a way to encourage Theo to do the right thing as she sprinted forward, drawing her rapier with her free hand. With an expert thrust, she plunged the blade into the arms of the corpse holding the wizard's staff-weildng hand. Hopefully he would be able to free himself now, or Alexander or Geal would take care of the other. <span class="time">-12:56 Aug 12</span></div>

<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Geal was finally making himself useful, but Alexandra was seeing a pattern. One she really wasn't liking. She darted forward, knife out as she collided with one of the skeletons trying to drag Triston away. The knife severing bone to pop it's head right off. The second Marika took care of. "This is not the time to get yourself kidnapped, Tristan!" she hissed. <span class="time">-12:57 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> With another glance around Geal spotted a nearby corpse and delivered a powerful sternum breaking kick to it's chest and looked beyond it to see skeletons dragging Malvolen away. "They're after Tristen!" he shouted, in case anyone else hadn't noticed yet, and leaped away to perform another series of slashes to cut down more skeletons. <span class="time">-12:58 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Scrawny legs flailing about and the water being kicked up, Theo tried his best not to lose the vial of blood. Once within ear shot of Gulbrand, Theo stumbled with his words. "Gulbrand - The rocks, they... And blood, blood on the rocks." He gulped hard. "Skeletons! Attacking! Need help!" <span class="time">-12:58 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Another skeleton seized Marika by the shoulders, pulled her aside, then pounced on Malvolen. The wizard was now pinned to the ground, crying out as the fiends bit and clawed at him. Meanwhile, another two had leapt over the rocks and landed before Alexandra. They eyed her... uncertainly... compelled between murderousness and bewilderment... <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Where would they be taking him?" he called out to no one specifically. <span class="time">-12:59 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen felt one of their fingers pierce his hip. They were clawing at his at his waist... where the compass was tied to his belt... <span class="time">-01:01 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Suddenly the two skeletons in front of Alexandra surged forward. They had decided to kill her too. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika lay in the snow, dazed for a moment, before she was on her feet again. She slammed the butt of her pistol down onto the top of the one of the corpse's skulls, shattering it. <span class="time">-01:02 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand frowned at Theo and cupped his ear as he tried to hear the boy's shout. "Speak sense, boy?" He motioned to the other pirates to get the ropes ready on the port side. <span class="time">-01:03 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Dashing past Alexandra, Geal swiftly cut down one of the skeletons without breaking stride, calling out to Alexandra "Now's not the time for making friends" and launched his sword at the other corpse as Marika bashed the other one. <span class="time">-01:03 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> *other corpse attacking Tristen <span class="time">-01:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Shit. She had paused only for a moment when they paused, just as bewildered at the sudden stop. But now she was swinging her blade against bone to keep from being grabbed and using the shadow trying to jerk them out of her way. "Fuck you, Geal!" <span class="time">-01:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen got his foot up under the other skeleton's chest. He cried out, pushed, and sent the fiend sprawling. His hip was bleeding now, and the compass with Lethael's ashes had almost been torn from his belt. As he clambered up another skeleton dived at him, clawing at his belt. "The boat... get to the boat!" <span class="time">-01:05 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Panting, Theo watched impatiently as the pirates threw ropes down. Not wanting to waste any more time, Theo climbed up as quickly as he could, shouting on the way up. "Skeletons, attacking, need help. Skeletons attacking, NEED HELP!" <span class="time">-01:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>An arm hooked around Alexandra's throat. She was pulled back against one of the standing stones, a voice once Elven and beautiful howling in her ear with centuries of anguish. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Trying!" Marika turned and aimed with her pistol, firing a round into the spine of one of Alexandra's attackers. <span class="time">-01:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Damnit!" Marika swore when she realized she had to reload. "Why do I even bother!" In her rage, she hurled her pistol at the nearest corpse. <span class="time">-01:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> The boy hadn't even taken the rowboat... He had swum through the icy waters right to the ship itself. If that wasn't terror, then Gulbrand didn't know what terror was. As Theo was pulled aboard the pirates set him down. Gulbrand knelt and shook the boy. "The others? What happened to the others?" <span class="time">-01:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BACKUP!?" <span class="time">-01:08 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen stumbled away, backtracking over the rocks. The compass felt from his torn belt. He saw the eyes of the Skeletons follow it. He kept on retreating. The skeletons didn't follow. They were closing around the compass. <span class="time">-01:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> *fell <span class="time">-01:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He hoped that wasn't a stupid mistake, swimming through the freezing water. His teeth chattered as he spoke through the cold. "W-We were looking at these rocks a-and they had this writing on them. T-Then all of a sudden these skeletons appeared and I-I" He looked around him, "They're out numbered sir, they need help!" <span class="time">-01:10 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Very few things startled the hell out of her these days, but apparently this was one of them! Jabbing her knife in to the skeletal wrist, almost striking herself just to crack the bone free, Alexandra stumbled forward. Tristan was loose now too, and Alexandra was quick to follow! <span class="time">-01:11 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand slapped Theo on the shoulder. "Can't get the ship any closer, mate. But Marika's a good pirate. She'll get them out." He nodded to the other pirates. "Get the boy some warm clothes before he freezes to death." Then he got up again, pacing the decks and looking again through the telescope. <span class="time">-01:12 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Picking his sword up out of the corpse, Geal deftly dodged under the pistol as he collided with a corpse and turning it into an attack that cut it's legs from under it as it was hit with the pistol. Geal used some momentum from that attack to swing his other sword through the neck of another skeleton. He noticed one skeleton approaching what looked like the compass and saw that Tirsten was retreating to the boat. Well, they did have the coffin of ashes. Swords still at the ready, Geal made his way toward the boat, but not before making sure Marika was following as well. <span class="time">-01:13 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> The skeletons were clawing at the fallen compass, smashing open the wood, scattering the ashes. Biting and pawing at Lethael's remains with a tragic fury. Hatred resonated in waves from their tortured forms. Soon they were the beyond the light as Malvolen back into the waters near the rowboat. "They're not after us..." he whispered... "THEY'RE NOT AFTER US!" <span class="time">-01:15 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "I'll write that on my list of things to be grateful for!" Marika snatched Malvolen up by his cloak, reached into her cloak and pulled out a tightly sealed vial full of a lime green powder. She made sure the others were well past her before she threw thev vial. Then ran like hell. <span class="time">-01:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> As the group ran back toward the boat, the were sillouhetted by the green flames that exploded around the stones. <span class="time">-01:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The Skeleton holding Alexandra did not let up. Breaking from the stone, he stumbled after her, clawing and snarling with inhuman malice. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Dazed at the man's words, Theo could only watch and hope that the others would make a safe return. As the crew members tossed him warm clothes - which he quickly donned despite there being others around him - Theo kept scanning the land, praying. <span class="time">-01:17 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Holy shit-balls!" Gulbrand shouted as the island was wreathed in flame. The pirates reeled for a moment, before rushing back to their stations. "GET THE ROPES READY!" Gulbrand yelled as they saw the landing party rushing back to the rowboat <span class="time">-01:18 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Alexandra and Malvolen fell against one another in the bottom of the rowboat, while Geal and Marika saw to the oars. The boat dislodged from the rocks, but already a pair of skeletons, smouldering in flames, were wading through the water with hands outstretched. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "They look like they're still after us to me!" she growled out. Grabbing on to to the wizard with one hand if only to make sure they stayed balanced and didn't tip the boat over in their escape. <span class="time">-01:22 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Well, they can follow us from the bottom of the ocean, then. ROW FASTER." Marika started rowing harder to pick up speed. If the damn things were set on swimming after them, she would let one of the new recruits get some practice with the cannons. <span class="time">-01:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Through the freezing water the rowboat sailed, each row-stroke fuelled adrenaline and urgency. The reached the ship and from above the pirate let down the ropes. Geal climbed first, then Alexandra, followed by Malvolen and Marika. Behind them the island glowed with fire and skeletons were pouring into the waters. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen hauled himself over and fell down next to Theo, gasping for breath. "The compass... they were after the compass... Lethael's ashes..." <span class="time">-01:27 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand watched through his telescope. The skeletons they had cut apart on the island were reforming... skulls and limbs mending back together, bodies rising anew. <span class="time">-01:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Overjoyed that all had it to the ship, Theo would have hugged all of them if he could. In his hands he still clutched the vial of blood. "But why would they want that?" He asked, frowning. <span class="time">-01:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Huh," Marika remarked, wiping the sweat from her brow before it could freeze. "There's something you don't see every day." Nonchalantly, she turned to Gulbrand. "Fire the cannons." <span class="time">-01:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand blinked at his captain. "Er... at <i>what</i>, Maam?" Beyond his shoulder the monolith at the centre of the standing stones seems to shimmer with ancient power. The skeletons around it were reforming and marching into the water, their eyes fixed on Alexandra. <span class="time">-01:30 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "I imagine they woulda ate the damned ashes if they had the throats to swallow with." came her sarcastic response. Alexandra was just glad to be back on the boat. ...however they didn't come back with anything useful and the viper hadn't been there. The others were watching the shores though and prepping the cannons. Alexandra climbed back to her feet and rushed over to the railing. "If they wanted the ashes, why are they diving in to the s- .....Well shit." The answer occured to her mid-sentence. "Well?! Fire the damned canons!" <span class="time">-01:30 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "The father race..." Malvolen was muttered as he shivered and bled. "The Elves foresake the father race... the Vampires... they hate vampires..." <span class="time">-01:31 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika's eyes drifted to Alexandra, briefly weighing the pros and cons of tossing her overboard for the skeletons to take, then back to Gulbrand. "Let's start with the magic rocks and see where that gets us." <span class="time">-01:31 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal was out of breath and his arms burned with all the exertion of rowing so fast. As Malvolen mentioned the corpses were after Lethael's ashes, he glanced casually toward Alexandra where she was at the rail. "Maybe they don't like vampires" he guessed. <span class="time">-01:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo nodded in understanding then hesitantly held up the vial of blood for the others to see. "Funny how this was just laying about isn't it?" <span class="time">-01:33 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Aye Maam," Gulbrand saluted, glad for the target practice. He relayed orders to the gun crew, who rolled the prow cannons into place. Gunpowder and shot was loaded, the fuse lit, a hoarse shout heralding the boom of thunder. The boat rocked as the cannonball fired. It flew across the water and clipped the monolith, blasting out a chunk of stone, but not felling it. <span class="time">-01:33 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "The ashes..." Malvolen rolled onto his front, and gazed towards the coffin on the quarterdeck. "Oh God..." <span class="time">-01:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The chain that held the anchor jerked suddenly. Skeletal hands emerged from the water and gripped the chain. It began climbing. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Remembering the coffin of ashes, Geal grimly drew his swords once again. <span class="time">-01:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika sighed. "Someone bring me my direwolf rifle." <span class="time">-01:36 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "And fell that damn monolith!" <span class="time">-01:37 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He flinched at the sound of the cannon firing, his eyes moving slowly toward the coffin everyone was speaking of. "That is bad... Yes?" <span class="time">-01:37 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen was on his feet, leaning against his staff as he hobbled towards the quarter deck. "The ashes... throw them overboard..." He climbed the steps and gripped the edge of the coffin. <span class="time">-01:38 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Skeletons began to climb the anchor chain, their glares carrying interminable hatred <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> The ashes in the coffin. Alexandra almost forgot about those. They <i>needed</i> that coffin, though...! She was quick to move up to the quarterdeck to help grab the other end of the coffin. "Maybe the ashes the will be enough." she muttered with a grunt. <span class="time">-01:39 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Fire again!" Gulbrand belowed from the helm. <span class="time">-01:39 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal tromped to where the anchor met the ship and patiently waited. <span class="time">-01:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> A deckhand dragged the massive rifle to Marika, who take hold of it and aimed for the place the first skeleton would emerge. "I'll get the first one, Geal, you take the second while I reload." <span class="time">-01:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Knowing he had not been helpful at all during the encounter with the skeletons, Theo rushed up to help Malvolen and Alexandra. If only I wasn't so scrawney, he thought, then I could do more. <span class="time">-01:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "On three," Malvolen said. "One, two, three!" He and Alexandra hefted the coffin onto its side, tipping the ashes out. They caught in the window immediately and blew in a thick and dirty cloud. They rained into the waters and immediately the skeletons that clung to the chain let go and dived into the water after the ashes. <span class="time">-01:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "As you wish Captain" Geal moved aside a few paces to be clear of the gun. <span class="time">-01:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika lowered her rifle, looking somewhat disappointed. "Aaaaw." <span class="time">-01:42 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> On cue, the ship rocked again as the cannon fired its next shot. The monolith was obliterated and a pulse of magic swept in all directions from the island. The skeletons fell apart like sawdust and the sails caught the wind. The ship twisted spun, carried away on a phantom tide. <span class="time">-01:42 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Courrier New,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> [Noel ] <span class="time">-01:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "AAAAAAAAW!" They had dumped the ashes for nothing. <span class="time">-01:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel shot up in the snow, staring wide eyed at a moon that was so big and bright, she could just reach out and pluck it. <span class="time">-01:44 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> A fanged smile split her face wide open as she laughed. "There's no map. No map without water." <span class="time">-01:45 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>"Wooooah!" Gulbrand gripped the wheel, trying to get control as the crew were flung and floored. They seemed to be in an whirlpool, then a stream, then a waterfall. The lamps on the boat when out and they were plunged into a mist that loomed beyond the island. There were screams, the howls of undead, the creaking of timbers... and then... silence... The ship righted itself and driftly serenely in the dark... <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> The tundra echoed with her laughter. "M-O-O-N! That spells--Spell! A SPELL!!" <span class="time">-01:45 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Suddenly the ship moved, nearly throwing Geal to the ground as he felt a pulse of energy in the atmosphere. It seemed also that the corpses had been taken care of, he calmly put his swords away and let out a breath. <span class="time">-01:45 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel unsheathed her frozen blade and with godlike strength, hurled at the moon. Soon, the blade was a speck against the hovering disc, and then nothing, gone. <span class="time">-01:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> *Geal falls to the ground and panics with everyone else <span class="time">-01:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "SOMEONE FIND ME ANOTHER SWORD." <span class="time">-01:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Sword..." <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Sword..." <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Sword..." <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> The word would echo for miles. <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> They were safe. The waters were still. Malvolen pulled himself up on the coffin, then offered a hand to Alexandra. "Is everyone okay?" <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> The ship's sudden movement tossed Theo around, slamming his back hard against a crate. Groaning, he sat up, rubbing his back. <span class="time">-01:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra was nauseous by the time the churning had stopped. Perhaps it was the magic pulse too. The ashes of the vampire were gone, but they still had the coffin. That had to be enough. She grabbed the wizards hand to pull herself up. Casting a look around them. "I don't think anyone is dead this time..." <span class="time">-01:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Besides nearly impaling myself on my own weapons-" he sheathed his swords as he got back up "- I am fine." <span class="time">-01:49 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> "Ugh - Just fine," he replied, still rubbing his back. <span class="time">-01:50 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> <span class="time">-01:57 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Hours passed. Repairs were made to the ship. It continued to drift through the strange mists in which it had found itself and as night drew in the first of the icebergs could be seen. They were entering an ice-field, and it was clear that no man had ever been this far. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "It appears we are entering an ice field" Geal diligently noted. <span class="time">-02:01 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra was back on deck again, staring at the mists. While repairs were made to the ship she had.... a snack. Made easy by a locked up idiot who thought it appropriate to sleep in the captain's bed and got himself thrown below. And as far as she knew everyone was too busy to realize she had disappeared. As she eyed the distance, there was still that feeling on unease. Alexandra was making mistakes more and more often... this wasn't good. She finally glared at Geal. "Is it? I thought we were sailing in to poppies..." <span class="time">-02:02 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He tried to silence the sound of his teeth, but the cold was cruel and enveloped him. Rubbing his arms, Theo swallowed hard, surveying the scene. He spared Alexandra a glance, noting her sarcasm. <span class="time">-02:05 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen was sat by the coffin again, his leg freshly bandaged, his head hung low. He was staring into the coffin. "The ashes are gone... we have no way of tracking Noel. This voyage has failed." <span class="time">-02:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Nearby, Gulbrand was checking the ship over. "No stars... no wind... mist and icebergs all around. This is a dead zone." <span class="time">-02:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "We can just turn the ship around, navigate through all these icebergs and wait for the sun to explode, I suppose." Marika tugged her cloak tighter around herself. <span class="time">-02:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Or we can just get it over with and freeze to death. Not too keen on either, since none involve me getting rich." Marika walked to the ships prow and stared into the distance. <span class="time">-02:11 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> (GODDAMNIT) <span class="time">-02:11 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Malvolen began pacing, his breath misting and shivering. His cloak was lined with ice now, and with most of the food stores frozen he was fast approaching starvation. "It was Noel who drained those Elven corpses... I am sure of it. That is why they came for the vampire ashes with such vengeance. She needed that blood... for some purpose... for some reason..." <span class="time">-02:12 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Up ahead, the icebergs drifted closer, huge and destructive, ready to dash the ship apart. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> At the mention of blood, Theo's interested peaked. He lifted the vial of blood, staring into it. The glass, like his clothes, was lined with a thin layer of ice. <span class="time">-02:14 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal looked over at Theo following the same train of thought. "Elve's blood?" <span class="time">-02:14 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen paused, looking over at Theo... at the blood vial he held in his hands. His lips were almost blue now. "Wh... what is that?" <span class="time">-02:14 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika was fighting it, but her eyes were starting to drift closed. The cold was getting to her, like it was getting to everyone. Everyone except.... <span class="time">-02:15 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Blinking, Theo looked at everyone and slowly pointed a finger at the vial. "This? Oh it's just a vial... Filled with blood. I found it at that island." He gave them a nervous sheepish grin. "Guess none of you noticed with the skeletons around huh?" <span class="time">-02:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> As the others conversed, Marika's half-lidded eyes drifted to Alexandra, who seemed to be doing just fine. Who the corpses also began to pursue... <span class="time">-02:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "...we can turn back." she finally announced, watching the wizard pace back and forth. "The mission isn't failed. I will keep looking for her. But everyone on this ship is going to die from cold or starvation at this rate..." She paused following the sightline towards Theo and the vial. "Bring that here." she held out her hand. <span class="time">-02:17 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika's attention was suddenly drawn to the vial. "What...?" <span class="time">-02:17 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand let go of the wheel. The ship was now dead in the water, and the icebergs were moving closer. The cannons had seized up in the cold, and the sails were blocks of ice. There was no way to stop the bergs approach. <span class="time">-02:19 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Cautious and unsure of himself, Theodore moved towards Alexandra. His hand trembled dangerously from the cold as he transferred the vial from his hand to hers. <span class="time">-02:19 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Alexandra... what are you doing?" Malvolen stepped down from the quarterdeck, his eyes glancing to the field of savage icebergs that now surrounded them. <span class="time">-02:20 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> They were without control of the ship and surrounded by icebergs, but Marika was too cold to even panic. <span class="time">-02:21 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal's arms were tucked into his cloak, as usual, unseen and crossed over his chest. Cold, it was cold, and it appeared as if they were about to crash into solid cold. <span class="time">-02:22 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Turning around he leaned against the rail and said in the general direction of Marika and Gulbrand. "If I'm not mistaken, we are headed towards large portions of ice that may be devastating to the integrity of the ship." <span class="time">-02:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "What would you have us do," Marika whispered through clattering teeth as she sank down to the floor, eyes fluttering. "Abandon ship?" <span class="time">-02:25 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> "Well" Geal looked briefly into the water "If we do maybe we could fashion another ship out of ice." It was a grim situation. <span class="time">-02:26 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "That's crazy talk. You're crazy from hypothermia." <span class="time">-02:27 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Go sit in the crazy corner." <span class="time">-02:28 Aug 12</span></div>

<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "She took it for a reason. It does <i>something</i>." Alexandra turned the vile over in her hands. She had gotten everything backwards on this mission. Everything wrong. Instinct was saying throw the vile out in to the sea. ...but if she couldn't trust her instinct. What would be the last thing she would do? Her gaze went up to Tristan and she frowned. Alexandra open the vial, tilted her head back and drank it. <span class="time">-02:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>In an instant, as the blood coated her stomach and slipped into her vein, her true eyes were opened. Elven whispers echoed through her mind, and as she blinked the world became bathed in gold. She saw the icebergs for what they truly were... meteors... fragments fallen from the heavens. They were all part of the same... pieces of one great rock that had fallen millenia ago. With each blink of her eyes the symbols appeared, like the ones on the standing stones, showing up like golden fire beneath the surface of the ice. She understood... she read... she traced the path to the largest of the bergs, dead ahead of them... where the ice swirled like a wall of water. Only she saw this. To the others it seemed as solid as the rest. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Taking a step back, Theo's eyes widen in horror as he watched Alex tip the vial into her mouth. He fought the bile rising up his throat, blinking through the frost coating his eyelashes. "A-Alex?" He inquired, quietly. "Are you alright?" <span class="time">-02:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Well, she's still alive," Gulbrand remarked as he stared at Alexandra. <span class="time">-02:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal was too cold to be much concerned about Alex, it just helped confirm his suspicions. <span class="time">-02:33 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel looked up from her place in the snow, surrounded by the snow angels she had made, she peered through the meteors at Alexandra and grinned. "You finally figured it out. I was afraid you wouldn't be worth anything." <span class="time">-02:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra pointed point towards the largest iceberg. This too felt nauseating, but she wasn't going to question it. "Head that way." <span class="time">-02:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Gulbrand looked dumbstruck at Alexandra's order. So too did Malvolen, for a moment... then he nodded and headed to the stern of the ship, his staff beginning to glow. "This will drain most of my power..." He paused, and looked back at Alexandra. "To the end..." He chanted the sacred words and a bolt of magic shot like lightning into the water. It propelled the ship, gently, towards the one iceberg which Alexandra had indicated. <span class="time">-02:37 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand trembled, his hands coming away from the helm as the boat drifting under the magical force. "What the hell are you doing, woman! You'll kill us all!" <span class="time">-02:38 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Some of the other pirates turned on Alexandra, their eyes uncertain, their hands drifting towards their hilts. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> As their course changed and they headed toward the indicated iceberg, he lowered his head and said a prayer. <span class="time">-02:39 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Vaguely she was aware she would get lynched for this, but it was hard to shake the effects of the bloods or that eerie, strange feeling that came with it. She was unwavering though. Watching was the ship was propelled forward. "This is the right way." <span class="time">-02:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Still unsure, and nervous, Theo too hoped that Alexandra knew what she was doing. He moved towards a railing, gripping it tightly. He tried to look brave but his eyes were telling him they were heading towards their graves. <span class="time">-02:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "To a quick and terrible death!" Marika struggled to her feet. "Just whose side are you on, Alexandra?" <span class="time">-02:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "She's crazy! She's fucking crazy!" Gulbrand grabbed at the wheel, trying to wrench the ship off course, but Malvolen blocked his way, shoving him back with his staff. <span class="time">-02:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The berg towered above them, huge and solid, barely feet away now. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Strike me down if I'm wrong, but do it a moment before and you <i>will</i> die." Alexandra warned, without even looking back at the others. This WAS the way. <span class="time">-02:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Nooooo!" Gulbrand dived to the deck as they sailed prow-first into the iceberg <span class="time">-02:45 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>The ship sailed through the ice wall, which, like mist, dissolved before them. There was no crash, no sudden shock, only a gentle shuddering and a great spray of snow in all directions. The air changed. The angle shifted. Suddenly they were somewhere else... another place... of fresh snow and blooming arctic flowers. The ship slid to a halt, half-buried in the snow, and listed gently to one side. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel stared at the ship's prow that had stopped mere feet away from her, then down at her ruined snow angels. Gingerly, she placed a hand against the frozen wood. "Bloop." <span class="time">-02:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Living tendrils burst from the ship around them, leaves and flowers and thorns lashing out to rend the passengers apart. <span class="time">-02:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen was on his feet in seconds, calling Alexandra's name, stumbling amidst the snow and curling thorns. <span class="time">-02:49 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> "Ffffffuuuuu!" Marika's frozen hands fumbled to draw her rapier, weakly slashing to keep the tendrils at bay. <span class="time">-02:50 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Looking up, Geal spotted Noel nearby. "Now I am less concerned about icebergs" and exploded into movement, swords flashing out and slashing at the tendrils. <span class="time">-02:50 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>They had arrived... in the place that Noel had sought... the place where none had travelled. They were at the foot of a great wall of ice... where something lay entombed... something that Noel had come to free. This was her prize... and the heroes had interrupted her taking of it. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> <a href='http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l81/Asmodeus1845/Stories/Destroyer_by_gallen0.jpg' title='http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l81/Asmodeus1845/Stories/Destroyer_by_gallen0.jpg' target='_blank'>http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l81/Asmodeus1845/Stories/Destroyer_by_gallen0.jpg</a> <span class="time">-02:51 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Theo backed up quickly, looking about him for a weapon while at the same time looking for the tendrils. The only thing he could see to use was a piece of wood. "Well I suppose that's something," he breathed, trying to muster up the strength to swing. <span class="time">-02:52 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> "Aaaaaagh!" Gulbrand was lifted up in a great knot of snaking wood, his body pierced by thorns. His screams made chorus with the cries of the other deckhands. <span class="time">-02:52 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Gulbrand!" Marika rushed forward, thorns slicing her flesh, as she hacked at the tendrils that held her ship's pilot. <span class="time">-02:53 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> (FUCK) <span class="time">-02:53 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> ....relief and dread flooded through her all at once. She was right. And Noel was here. Chaos erupted and at the sound of her name, her knives were out. Slashing tendrils away, and turning back to fetch the wizard and the others! <span class="time">-02:54 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen came back-to-back with Alexandra, his staff swinging high and low to block the vines. "We have the coffin. It will trap her magic. Someone must distract her while we get to it!" <span class="time">-02:55 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel stood, popping her neck as she did so. Save for her white hair spilling down to cover her breasts, Noel was completely naked. Her pale skin did not seem to mind the cold, nor did her exposed female pubis, or erect phallus. "I'll let you play with the plants while I see to my new friend." She turned on her heel and strode toward the massive thing in the ice. <span class="time">-02:56 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Distract her, kill her... It will be one of the other." she shot back. A slash of her palm, she summoned her blood magic again. Whipping through vines and thorns until she was leaping off the edge of the boat to land in the snow below. "<i>NOEL!</i>" <span class="time">-02:59 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Wha?" <span class="time">-02:59 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> With a cry he swung, the plank of wood smacking thin air as a tendril tore into his shin. He cried once more, this time in pain. Theo heard Malvolen's orders but what could he do that was distracting? <span class="time">-02:59 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel peered over her shoulder. <span class="time">-03:00 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "I love you..." He didn't know if he thought the words or whispered them. Malvolen turned away from Alexandra and sprinted up the incline of the ship, the coffin wedged against the helm before him. "The coffin! Get the coffin!" He was splayed across the deck as a vine slapped him visciously <span class="time">-03:00 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Gulbrand was slammed against the mast, then against the ice-hard sail. His leg was pierced. He was losing blood. The world was spinning. <span class="time">-03:01 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Torn between orders and an injured crew mate, Theo had to act quickly. He shouted an apology to Gulbrand, dodged a crashing tendril and sprinted to the coffin. But alas, the damn thing was too heavy for one person to move. <span class="time">-03:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #00FF66; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Marika Emeraldi: </span> Marika, beaten and bloody, was next to her comrade in moments, slashing at the tendrils. "Gulbrand! Gulbrand, get up! We have to help them!" <span class="time">-03:04 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "Noel." Alexandra stalked forward, carefully... warily. Once upon a time she knew what to expect, but now...? "What crazy shit are you up to, viper..." she asked, drawing out her shadow. "Why don't you come here and tell me." <span class="time">-03:05 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Moonlight soaked the sky and made the ice like silver. It was the night of the Elder Moon... the sacred hours in which a child would be conceived... a child who would have dominion over all the earth. In the great wall of ice before Noel, the Star Child waited. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal was a whirl of glinting metal and cloak, a whirlwind that danced across the deck, hacking at the tendrils coming after the crew and his party-mates. It occurred to him that Noel was in control of them, so he changed his course and danced toward Noel. <span class="time">-03:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "Why don't you make me?" Noel taunted, raising her left hand. <span class="time">-03:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Sword... <span class="time">-03:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Sword... <span class="time">-03:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Sword... <span class="time">-03:07 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> The ice between Noel and Alexandra burst, shattered, rained down around them. From the frozen abyss a blade rose, clutched in the ghostly hand of the vampire Durrant. <span class="time">-03:08 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "I got lonely so I brought him back from the dead." <span class="time">-03:08 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> His leg was bleeding again, soaking through the bandage. He got up, glancing at the full moon overhead. His magic was expended. He must prevail by mortal means. Ducking under the vines, he limped towards the quarterdeck and climbed the steps next to Theo. <span class="time">-03:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> She might have visibly flinched. "So afraid to deal with me on your own, Noel? You have to get help to do it?" Taunting, she hated taunting. That always ended with trouble. But she was gritting her teeth and doing what a good distraction did. Distracted. Alexandra bypassed Durrant when she flung out her shadow, aiming for Noel herself. <span class="time">-03:10 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Whatever sweat Theo produced was quickly frozen. Muscles straining, his eyes made brief contact with Malvolen. The magic user was struggling with pain and Theo was struggling with his fears. He gave the man a smile that was more of a grimace. "We're tipping this over...Right?" <span class="time">-03:12 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "BO-ORING!" Noel's form blurred, her body becoming Durrant's. Shadow and sword clashed, sending Alexandra into the snow-covered ice. Noel met Geal halfway, her hair lashing out, ensnaring his limbs. "You wanna dance with me?" <span class="time">-03:13 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Something cold gripped Theo's ankle, giving a violent tug, and dragged the young man to the ground. The corpse of Zile, the one who Alexandra had drained, stared into the terror-filled eyes of Theo, his mouth gaping in a death scream. <span class="time">-Noel</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Well that wasn't something one saw everyday. Geal tried jerking his limbs out of her grasp "Yes, let's dance" Geal stared into Noel's face, the righteousness of his faith building inside him. This is what he was meant to fight against. Evil. And by God he would do everything in his power to do so. <span class="time">-03:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Over the side," Malvolen hissed through gritted teeth. Then his words were cut as Theo was dragged to the ground. Rising from a trapdoor in the lower decks, he saw the holy man, the Brotherhood priest who had accompanied them. His neck was horribly torn. His eyes were dead but awash with anguish. The wizard was paralyzed. <span class="time">-03:16 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra was out classed. Good thing old vendettas and endless rage was such a good fuel! She struggled with Durrant, shadow, sword and knife. Her real goal was inching towards Noel who was tanling with Geal. ...whom Alexandra very sardonically hoped met his maker. <span class="time">-03:19 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "I'll lead." Geal's limbs were being pulled to their limit, threatening to rip him in half. One lone tendril wormed its way into his trouser, clutching his cold- shrunken phallus. "Is this how you inted to fight me?" <span class="time">-03:19 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> At first Theo stared at the animated corpse with resolve and courage. But then his face contorted, his mouth twisted and he let out a scream, thrashing about. Every ounce of dignity that man acquired was thrown to the winds. His other foot, which was still freed, smashed itself against Zile's face. <span class="time">-03:19 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> With a blast of her flintlock pistol, Marika severed the vine that was mauling Gulbrand. The pirate dropped agaisnt the sail, and Marika was beside him, hacking at the other vines. "Looks like you crashed the ship!" she yelled. Gulbrand grinned through bloodied teeth. "Don't worry... we can still... deliver... the cargo..." He let Marika put a shoulder under his arm, and together the two pirates battled their way to the quarterdeck. <span class="time">-03:21 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal grit his teeth at the pain in his sockets and at Noel's intrusion of zippers and buttons. "It's not my preferred method." Her audacity infuriated him to the point where he saw motes of light at the edges of his vision, at least, he was pretty certain they were just in his mind. <span class="time">-03:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen broke from his trance. He moved in, jamming his staff down on the hand of the undead Zile. The staff pierced his decomposing limb and became wedged. As Zile screamed, Malvolen got Theo free and pulled him to the railing of the ship. "Save yourself!" he cried, and with a single shove sent Theo toppling over the side and into the soft snow below. Then he turned... just as Zile leapt and closed his cold hands around the wizard's throat. The two of them toppled into the open coffin, wrestling and snarling. <span class="time">-03:25 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel's brow furrowed, furious. "Is THIS how you intend to fight a God? By TALKING me to death?" Before he knew it, Geal was tossed viciously aside into the hard-packed snow, as Noel's form blurred again. Now, it was Durrant who stood above him, sword plunging down to his throat. <span class="time">-03:25 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel straddled Alexandra, pressing her genitalia against hers, and leaning close. "Thunk, the world is ending." <span class="time">-03:26 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The iceberg rumbled, the Star Child was waking. <span class="time">-Noel</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF9912; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Gulbrand: </span> Marika and Gulbrand hauled themselves onto the quarterdeck. They were bleeding from a dozen wounds, their flesh torn by thorns and bloated with poison. They saw what was happening. With but a single glance to one another the two pirates surged forward and got their hands beneath the coffin. Inside, Malvolen and the undead Zile were choking each other. "Till the end..." Gulbrand cried, and then he and Marika lifted. The coffin tipped over the railing of the deck and plumetted into the snow below. Malvolen slammed into the snow and the coffin fell over him, trapping Zile inside. In an instant, the undead magic was dispelled and Zile fell down dead on top of Malvolen. <span class="time">-03:28 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>The thorns encircled the ship, contracting suddenly and crushing it like a tin can. Gulbrand and Marika were lost in the implosion and sucked into the snow and ice. <span class="time">-Gulbrand</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Heart in his throat, Theo fell, white filling his vision. The snow.. The snow had saved him. But the fall was a small reprieve. Clambering to his feet, Theo dived to the side, narrowly avoiding the falling coffin. <span class="time">-03:29 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>It was the night of the Elder Moon. The night the ruler of all things would be conceived. The heat of Noel's magic was melting the ice. The Star Child was waking within its meteorite tomb. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Fear. Hundreds of years and she still feared this woman. Her hands tightened around her knives as she glared up at her. "Get the fuck off me." she growled through her teeth, swinging both knives up to stab that viper through the chest! <span class="time">-03:31 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen was exhausted, the body of Zile laying over him, the coffin laying over them both, the snow compacted beneath. "Alexandra..." he whisperd, feeling the darkness closing in. <span class="time">-03:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal tumbled across the ground and came to a stop at a wall of ice, his swords landing quietly in the snow some distance away. Never had he felt such a tide of emotion. His broken bones were mending and his body was stitching damaged tissue and bone back together. Specs of light spiraled away from his body. Geal was up, and he leaped across the snow covered ground. As Alexandra tried stabbing Noel in the chest, Geal's mote covered fist rocketed toward her face. <span class="time">-03:32 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>Gulbrand</font> ]</font> <span class="time">-03:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> (Geal punches Durrant in the face with a fist that is flecked with specks of light) <span class="time">-03:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFFFF; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username"> </span> <font size=1 face=verdana>[<font color=red>Marika Emeraldi</font> ]</font> <span class="time">-03:34 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Sap and starlight oozed from the wounds, burning a path down Alexandra's arms, the ichor reeked of decay and grave soil. "Ouch." Seconds later, Noel was sent flying towards the glacier from Geal's blow. His victory was short-lived, however; soon Durrant was upon him again in a flurry of swords and fangs. <span class="time">-03:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> (is cool, Effort) <span class="time">-03:35 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>"The elder magics bless you..." murmured Durrant's voice. Even in death, even enthralled, his voice still bore the sadism of centuries. He beat Geal against the wall of ice, slicing him open. His tongue then licked Geal's blood from his fingers. "But my queen will be the Mother of God." <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel stood, popping her jaw back into place, and placed her hand to the rapidly melting ice that held the Star Child. "Come to me, my love." Her voice echoed with many others, male, female, and elder. She was no longer Noel, she was infused with the psyches of gods. <span class="time">-03:40 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal gurgled his rage. The specs of light that spiraled off his body burned the flesh they touched, and Geal thrashed against the undead evil with channeled fury. <span class="time">-03:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "This world suffers, it lives for nothing. We must end it." <span class="time">-03:41 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Stumbling through the ice and snow, Theo slammed his body against the coffin. Clouds of mist formed near his mouth as he panted. Frozen fingers clamped desperately around the coffin, his mind swarming with desperate thoughts about their sitation. He heaved, using every single ounce of strength to move the coffin. He ignored the feeling of dread at Zile's body, heaving the coffin to the side. "Malvolen...?" Without hesitation he shoved Zile's body aside, concern etched into every line of his face. "Oh god, please tell me you're still breathing." <span class="time">-03:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Her skin burned and the scent was even worse. But quickly she was stumbling to her feet and after Noel again. Against any sort of common sense and working just on adrenaline, she ran until she tackled the woman. Both of them going rolling in to the snow while Alexandra fought to grab her arms or legs, or anything to hold her down. <span class="time">-03:43 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>"How desperate they become," Lethael chortled. "They cannot choose the vampire hunter, for she has killed the innocent. They cannot choose the wizard, for he has caused suffering by his ignorance. They cannot choose the coward boy, or the sinful pirates. So instead they have you, the slow and vacant-minded whelp. Why...even...BOTHER!" Lethael drove his foot against Geal's chest, knocking the wind from him, making him cough blood. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal coughs blood. <span class="time">-03:44 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen released a painful splutter, his eyes snapping open. With a cry of revulsion he rolled himself and tipped the body of Zile off of him. On hands and knees he fought for breath, then looked ahead to see Geal and Alexandra suffering the vampires' onslaught. "We must... get the coffin... over there..." He gripped Theo's shoulder and pulled himself up. The two of them then began dragging the coffin. <span class="time">-03:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel cackled as Alexandra tackled her. "You're our favorite, you know?" There was a crack from Noel's neck, the verterbrae extending at an impossible angle, allowing her to sink her fangs into the space just above Alexandra's collarbone. <span class="time">-03:46 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Breathing hard, Geal managed to hock a bloody loogey onto the vampires chest. "You're dead, I don't expect you to understand notions of the living" with that, Geal continued to struggle against the vampire, trying to snap his hand off at the wrist for starters. <span class="time">-03:47 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra gave a startled scream. One hand shoving against her shoulder and the other covering the viper's face to shove her away. "<i>WHOSE</i> favorite?! Yours!? Fuck you..!" <span class="time">-03:48 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> He gave the wizard a nod, his expression full of determination. He kept his eyes averted from Zile; the sight of him brought bile to Theo's mouth. While his muscles protested, Theo wouldn't let up. Malvolen was injured and Theo wasn't going to allow someone to die while he was still up. <span class="time">-03:49 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> "We...I...They...Love you, whelp. Always...Always since forever and the beginning." Alexandra's vampiric strength was crushing the bones in Noel's face, but she didn't seem to mind. <span class="time">-03:50 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Light. Pure, burning light engulfed them when the Star Child opened its eyes to the world for the first time. This world mother and father had created together, apart in their anguish and rage. Spindly fingers gripped the edge of meteor rock, and the great winged thing pulled itself out into the cold. <span class="time">-Noel</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Lethael's skin began to burn where Geal gripped him, but his snarl did not let up. "So the little orphan bitch was blessed. Champion of the Brotherhood, eh?" He leaned closer, his fangs barring. "You God is a lie. There is only us. Only the Cartel and the Star Children parasites. Between us we will tear you all apart!" His head lunged forward, and he sunk his teeth into Geal's neck. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>The Star Child was love and lust and ecstasy incarnate. It radiated erotic warmth, soul-rending love, passion and fever. A thousand perfumes, a thousand arousals. The heart of a star. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel cried out with longing and ecstacy, her seed ejaculating against Alexandra's stomach. <span class="time">-03:55 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> The coffin began to slide on the ice. Malvolen and Theo started running, pushing the enchanted vessel towards the wall. They had made their choice. They would help Alexandra. Defeating Noel was all that mattered now. Panting and straining, they brought the coffin closer and closer... <span class="time">-03:55 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> "No!" her tone was wild and desperate. Alexandra finally shoved Noel away, and scrambled backwards in the snow. Between the light of the star child and triggered memories she didn't want to resurface, it had her throwing up and arm to shield her eyes as she cringed. <span class="time">-03:57 Aug 12</span></div>

</body>
</html><div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal gurgled with pain that turned into a vicious snarl. The motes of light swirled around him in no consistent direction. Geal rammed his fingers into the underside of Lethael's jaw and pulled his head away from his neck. With a snarl Geal gnashed his own teeth and tore a chunk out of the vampires throat before punching him in the sternum with his free hand, causing flesh and clothing to burn. Geal rammed his hand up into the vampires rib cage until he grasp what he thought was the heart and crushed it, motes of burning light flowing into the undead body at the same time. <span class="time">-03:58 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>It unfurled from the ice, beautiful and terrifying wings unfolding. It was alien, angelic, utterly unknowable and infinitely enticing. In its light Malvolen and Theo dropped to their knees, overcome by orgasmic awe. They knelt there, consumed by love, gazing up at their goddess. The coffin slid a little further then came to rest against Alexandra's back. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Noel was on her feet, walking towards her celestial lover, arms outstretched, tears burning down her face, vaginal fluids dripping like mercury between her thighs. "Momma..." The two beings came together in a cosmic embrace, coming together, each penetrating the other and being penetrated in turn. The sounds of their bodies colliding was the sound of ages. <span class="time">-04:02 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FFFF00; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=nnar>Lethael fell apart into blood and ash, demolished on the glowing hands of Geal. He felt power like no other, warm and enriching. He turned, feeling the waves that resonated from the Star Child. Questions, wonderment... confusion. The angel was uncertain. It longed to know who it could trust, who it could love. Geal felt all this as clearly as his own thoughts. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "God..." Malvolen whispered, as tears streamed from his eyes, as his skin glowed with erotic sweat. He could not move... could not act... he only watched as the angel entwined with the vampire. The Elder Moon was upon them. The child would soon be conceived. Peace would reign upon the earth. <span class="time">-04:06 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal reached out with a part of himself he didn't know of until just now, touching minds with the Star Child to interrupt conception just long enough....He strode through the radiant emotion, hefted the coffin up and gently pulled Noel into it. <span class="time">-04:09 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> Her response was as sudden as it was violent. Vampire claw and Star Child wing lashed out as one, striking Geal with the strength of centuries, sending him spiralling across the tundra. <span class="time">-04:11 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #800080; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Noel: </span> They would not be stopped by a mortal's hand. <span class="time">-04:11 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> Geal had been wondering if what he was doing was the proper way to go. He found out that it was in fact the least effective method for dealing with the situation. <span class="time">-04:14 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> Alexandra couldn't breathe. This was overwhelming to the senses, to <i>everything</i>. But the coffin was ice cold at her back. The insanity of that viper and... She growled as she rose to her feet. One of her knives cutting a deep gash in to her hand. The magic she let loose was strong, risky strong! Alexandra threw her shadow tendrils out at Noel and her monstrocity and jerked as hard as she could. She'd throw them both in to the coffin if she had to and bury them forever. <span class="time">-04:14 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Alexandra's strength was more than any mortal's. Noel, still recovering from striking Geal, was caught off guard. She was pulled, along with the Star Child across the melting snow and toppled with it at the edge of the coffin. With a scream she crashed down into the enchanted coffin and as she did the connection with the Star Child was broken. The angel pulsed and fell apart into water, cascading over Noel, freezing her against the wood. For agonising moments she thrashed and light consumed the coffin. The survivors were blinded, then gazed in awe at the layer of ice that had sealed over the coffin and entombed the vampire Noel inside. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen blinked and fell onto hands and knees. His skin lost its unnatural colour and he breathed normally again. <span class="time">-04:18 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #1939ff; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Theo: </span> Staring down all he could see was white except for one small circle of red, a droplet of his blood stained the snow. Quivering with exhaustion, Theo lifted a finger to his nose and felt warm blood. A nose bleed. He fell back onto his behind, stifling the flow with a sleeve. Was it over now...? <span class="time">-04:20 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "You did it, Alexandra..." Malvolen whispered, a smile coming to his face as he caught his breath. "You trapped her..." <span class="time">-04:21 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #FF0000; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Geal: </span> The wounds Geal received from being tossed across the ground a second time were healing and by the time he made it back to his other party-mates and saw no imediate threat, the swirling motes of light faded away and his wounds were healed. Tiredly he trudged through the snow and took a seat on the ice covered coffin, letting out a whoosh of breath. <span class="time">-04:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #99182C; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Alexandra: </span> She stared down at the woman frozen in the coffin. It all felt so anticlimatic. She should be overjoyed, or.. something! "So I did." came her soft murmur as she sank down to her knees in the snow. "No more Noel..." <span class="time">-04:23 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Geal felt a shiver along his spine. He turned. Far across the tundra, where a lake of ice had cracked, a ship loomed in the distance. It had come to rest, and from its dark-wooded hull came wisps of smoke. Figures began to appear around it, dark cloaked and pale. They were each looking at the survivors, and moving with solemn pace. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "The Blood Cartel," Malvolen said, drawing up beside the others to watch the approaching vampires. "They were drawn to Noel. They were seeking her too." <span class="time">-04:24 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>They were too tired to dread... too numb to fear... they could only watch... uncertain of their fate. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> Malvolen looked to Alexandra. "You killed their Queen... perhaps now they will serve you..." <span class="time">-04:24 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: verdana,verdana,serif; color: #5B59BA; background-color: #000000;"><span class="username">Malvolen: </span> "Or perhaps... a deal can be made..." <span class="time">-04:25 Aug 12</span></div>
<div class="post" style="font-family: Verdana,verdana,serif; color: #CCFFFF; background-color: #0;"><span class="username"> </span> <p class=ngm>Only time would tell if he was right. The vampires... the Blood Cartel was approaching.... And Alexandra prepared herself to speak. <span class="time">-Malvolen</span></div>

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