Mordria
07-24-2009, 05:13 PM
A pale fog hung over Lordamere lake, the shape of the ruined city shimmering in the distance. A summer rain had begun to fall, the sound of raindrops hitting the water echoed back and forth across the lake. A small boat appeared in the mist, sliding gently towards an island in the middle. It seemed to move of its own accord, turning slowly before coming to rest with a soft scraping noise against the wooden pilings of a dock. The tall and graceful shape of a talbuk gingerly stepped onto the wood, its passengers holding on lightly as the beast picked its careful way up the hillside. Two pairs of fel green eyes peered out from underneath a voluminous cloak.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, keep going, up the path there.”
A thin grey hand reached from underneath the cloak that was wrapped around the pair. It wavered a moment before leveling out and pointing up the hill towards a path that ran through the middle of a half ruined wall. To Esmi the wall appeared to surround a small town or outpost. Weeds grew up among the ancient cobbles that made up the road. As they got further along, it was apparent that no one had tended to this area in years, and more than once Esmi felt as if tiny eyes were watching her from the abandoned houses along the narrow street. She shuddered and tilted her head slightly. Small growls could be heard coming from inside the buildings
“Is there anything I need to know about this place? it feels…occupied.” Esmi whispered, biting her lip.
A small chuckle was the response from the figure behind her.
“Nothing we need to worry about, just a few stragglers left behind by the scourge.”
After a few minutes they came up to the entrance of a medium sized keep. This part of the road showed signs of recent work. The walkway had been swept recently and the large front door was closed and barred. Esmi clucked her tongue and the Talbuk came to a stop. She dropped down lightly and turned around, holding out her hand to the other figure. The thin hand reached out again and took the offered help, allowing Esmi to practically levitate the figure to the ground. It gained its footing carefully and Mordria removed her cloak, throwing it over the back of the talbuk, and looked around. Together the pair approached the door and now Esmi could see that the hinges and bolts were shiny and new. She watched as Mordria lifted the exterior locks and walked forward to help when it seemed she would not be able to pull open the heavy door alone.
Two large figures came rushing at them as soon as the door was opened. Esmi jumped back, her eyebrow quirking in disgust as the two gnolls came bustling forward. They greeted Mordria with exited yips and growls as she reached out and tenderly patted them on the head. She stared at them intently for a few seconds in turn and they turned around and scurried back off into the keep, Esmi could smell a touch of burning sulfur as one by one the gnolls lit the torches along the hallway.
They walked through, into a large dining area. Mordria calling out for the deathknight Karnya whom she shared the keep with. Esmi looked around at the clean tables and well polished floors and marveled at how well the place had been taken care of.
“How did you come by this place Mordria?”
Mordria turned her head to look at Esmi as she sunk down into a chair.
“Karnya found it, it was overrun with scourge, the only ones that remain are these gnolls. Sylvannis never sent anyone to clear it out, and the humans aren’t coming back here anytime soon.”
Esmi tapped her finger against her lips a few times as she looked around.
“Interesting, very interesting.” She spun around and looked at Mordria.
“This place is stocked? Has food and beds?”
“Yeah, it has all of that, Karnya stocked it, made all the beds. Why?
Esmi approached the other priestess and knelt down next to the chair.
“I have a proposition for you…”
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/rachelvasb/newmord-1.jpg
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, keep going, up the path there.”
A thin grey hand reached from underneath the cloak that was wrapped around the pair. It wavered a moment before leveling out and pointing up the hill towards a path that ran through the middle of a half ruined wall. To Esmi the wall appeared to surround a small town or outpost. Weeds grew up among the ancient cobbles that made up the road. As they got further along, it was apparent that no one had tended to this area in years, and more than once Esmi felt as if tiny eyes were watching her from the abandoned houses along the narrow street. She shuddered and tilted her head slightly. Small growls could be heard coming from inside the buildings
“Is there anything I need to know about this place? it feels…occupied.” Esmi whispered, biting her lip.
A small chuckle was the response from the figure behind her.
“Nothing we need to worry about, just a few stragglers left behind by the scourge.”
After a few minutes they came up to the entrance of a medium sized keep. This part of the road showed signs of recent work. The walkway had been swept recently and the large front door was closed and barred. Esmi clucked her tongue and the Talbuk came to a stop. She dropped down lightly and turned around, holding out her hand to the other figure. The thin hand reached out again and took the offered help, allowing Esmi to practically levitate the figure to the ground. It gained its footing carefully and Mordria removed her cloak, throwing it over the back of the talbuk, and looked around. Together the pair approached the door and now Esmi could see that the hinges and bolts were shiny and new. She watched as Mordria lifted the exterior locks and walked forward to help when it seemed she would not be able to pull open the heavy door alone.
Two large figures came rushing at them as soon as the door was opened. Esmi jumped back, her eyebrow quirking in disgust as the two gnolls came bustling forward. They greeted Mordria with exited yips and growls as she reached out and tenderly patted them on the head. She stared at them intently for a few seconds in turn and they turned around and scurried back off into the keep, Esmi could smell a touch of burning sulfur as one by one the gnolls lit the torches along the hallway.
They walked through, into a large dining area. Mordria calling out for the deathknight Karnya whom she shared the keep with. Esmi looked around at the clean tables and well polished floors and marveled at how well the place had been taken care of.
“How did you come by this place Mordria?”
Mordria turned her head to look at Esmi as she sunk down into a chair.
“Karnya found it, it was overrun with scourge, the only ones that remain are these gnolls. Sylvannis never sent anyone to clear it out, and the humans aren’t coming back here anytime soon.”
Esmi tapped her finger against her lips a few times as she looked around.
“Interesting, very interesting.” She spun around and looked at Mordria.
“This place is stocked? Has food and beds?”
“Yeah, it has all of that, Karnya stocked it, made all the beds. Why?
Esmi approached the other priestess and knelt down next to the chair.
“I have a proposition for you…”
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t163/rachelvasb/newmord-1.jpg