Client: Capital of Furlinithen
Difficulty: 1
Task: There've been unknown creatures scourging the forests across Hybernia. They've tried to attack some villages, but have almost always been thwarted by the Rangers. You're now set out to hunt them down and cut them off.
Reward: 1,800 Gold, 3 Venthan's Pelts
Manpower Limit: 3

((NOTE: Remember Only Human Rangers May Participate In This Realm.))

Surrounded by trees, you sit and wait, wondering what is in store for you just beyond the light's gentle grasp. The shadows stare in upon you, your campfire is crackling, and there are boundless dangers ahead, and behind. Two fellow Rangers sit with you, and one is shrouded in the dark of his hood. A gentle breeze blows by, reaffirming the crisp, aromatic smells of the forest. The leaves rustle, and the fire dies, the shadows engulf all that is not blessed by the kiss of the moon.

The day arises, and you're alone, your companions have already taken flight to some unknown destination in this land of mystery. So you head out towards the nearest town, lightly stepping upon the ground so that no leaf, twig, rock, bramble, or bush, breaks underfoot. Your pace quickens from a walk to a run, and a run to a sprint as you glide between the thin trunks of trees. Finally, you come to what looks like a clearing, some five yards into the distance. The scent of smoke and sorrow scratches at your nose and burns your eyes. What you see upon reaching that clearing sets you back upon yourself.

Trees burnt black, but still standing, lifeless, leafless. The town was set aflame by some malevolant beings. All who stayed burned, all who fleed... were slain. The bodies of your countrymen lay huddled upon the ground in scattered patterns and locations, stabbed or slashed nearly beyond recognition. The skin about their face is torn open, and you can see their jagged bonestructure of the face, and the ground around them is stained a dark brown, and their stomachs are torn asunder, laying the path with their lives out-of-grasp. Heavy, your footsteps take you into the town, charred black from head to toe. Irreplaceable lives lay stolen in this town. Some of the houses you walk into became ovens, cooking mother, children, and whomever else may have been there. The irrecognizeable faces and bodies of parents guarding their young ones, hoplessly trying to protect them from the flames with their own bodies, and failing. Children lay smoldering, and shirveled upon the ground.

You find yourself walking into another house at the far end of the village, and there you find a group of what appears to be older ladies, dead. Their children, too, lay slain, like everyone else in this village, but they were toddlers, not even old enough to walk. One child's corpse you approach has an odd glimmer upon the face. As you kneel to see, you find a single, crystalized tear, balanced upon the cheek of this innocent's face. On boots, like lead, you pivot and step from the facility, only to find death, all around you. There remains only one sign of life, and that is the other Rangers who are investigating the incident, and those who are guarding the treeline. One of the Rangers approaches you, a special brooch holding his cloak together suggests to you that he is of rank. This ranked Ranger hands you a note in his dirty, glove-clad hand. When you unfold it you find your orders, to go into the wilderness with the aid of two others, and find that which has done this deed. Be wary...

Tonio mutters to himself, his dark green cloak blowing in the wind as he stands, perched upon the top of one of the black, lifeless trees. With his keen eyes, he surveys the area around him, examining the mass desolation where no longer life can exist. He grimaces, cursing whatever gods may exist in this world for allowing such a thing to happen, averting his gaze from the tortured and mauled bodies of the fallen.

He pulls himself into a crouch, having seen a higher ranked Ranger heading into a building on the far side of the town. He leaps forward into the air, his cloak trailing slightly behind him, his hair tied back to keep in from getting in his eyes in case a fight broke out. He nimbly lands on his feet atop one of ruins of a burnt house, leaping off that quickly. He then lands lightly a few feet from the building he decides to investigate, a small cloud of dust rising from beneath his feet.

He waits outside the building for the other ranger to come out, not wanting to investigate what could have possibly be within the building. As soon as the ranger comes out, he takes the orders from him, hiding his face beneath his cloak in order to keep the other ranger from recognizing his age, knowing that it would probably cause a bit of doubt for the others to see his young face. He glances over the orders, deciding that it needs to be done as soon as possible.

He quickly runs over to one of the closest trees, using his agility to quickly climb onto one of the branches of the trees. He stands atop it, looking around the area to get a quick survey of the area, wondering where the two teammates could be. Deciding that it would be fun to do a quick test, he sits quietly on the tree branch, keeping a careful eye out for when one of them arrives, ready to pounce upon them and test their reaction.

Among the trees, hiding in the peace, the shadows. Birds chirp and sing their perky little songs, telling all those below who lend an ear that it is sunny above the eaves of leaves. Bushes rustle and sway to the shaking of tiny animals seeking shelter and a place to store their food. In the branches overhead sit a family of birds sheltering one of their unhatched eggs while singing pleasant songs of happiness. Even the squirrels are busy, but merry, in this part of the woods. A few gentle rays of light break their way through the canopy of branches and leaves weaving around in complex patterns and paths, shining brightly upon the forest floor, exhaling their warmth into the cool forest and brightening the otherwise darker corners of the woods. All seems very peaceful and warm. Despite the death and destruction left behind.

Tonio Asura had decided to take perch behind one of the trees waiting to test the skill of those who are to accompany him in this undertaking, the very thought of it sent a chill up his spine. The idea of tracking and hunting, everything in these gentle woods. What was there to hunt? The beautiful thing about a Ranger is that their presence doesn't disturb the woodland animals, it is almost as if they're at one with their realm. As Asura sits attentively waiting for his allies, presumably dreaming of his love, oh-so-far-away from where he has found himself - a twig snaps in the clearing on the far side of the tree, away from the destruction, and in a place where very little light is shed.

Assuming it is one of his partners, Tonio Asura leaps out with his hand on the sheath of his Rapier, ready to strike. However, he finds nothing. Not even the twig that had presumably snapped.

While he looks around, and glances back towards the burnt village, two ruby red eyes open in the shadows, and a single pearl tooth shimmers. As Tonio turns back, they vanish. Feeling a bit uneasy, Asura draws forth his sword. At the sight of his shining blade, the creature, thrice the size of a wolf, and twice as vicious, leaps out from the shadows and assaults Asura. It's fur of grey and black makes him look like a mass of smoke as he falls upon his prey: The mortal Ranger, Asura.

Tonio leaps back away from the pouncing beast, a bit surprised at first from the strange creature, but his instinct kicking in from a constant life of combat, forcing him away from the wolf-like creature. The creature's claws dig into the ground where he was once standing, ripping through the brush and kicking leaves and grime into the air in a small cloud. The Ranger grimaces a bit, looking towards his cloak, realizing he was a bit slow in his movement, narrowly avoiding the attack. He doesn't have much time to think about this, holding his rapier in front of him, parallel with the ground in an attempt to hold the enemy at bay before it leaps again.

However, he is unused to the weapon that he is currently utilizing, misjudging the weight and power of the blade. The beast at his bay pounces again, its powerful claw sending the rapier to the side from the boy's hands, the blade embedding itself into the ground to the side. Tonio flips back away from the beast, his cloak floating slightly behind him as the claws sweep out dangerously close to his body, forcing him to be on the defensive without his weapon. He mutters to himself for being foolish, dropping into a loose fighting stance that seems to be a mix of many different fighting styles, hoping he could possibly get a quick jab in the beast for a chance to get his sword back.

The beast leaps at him again, its deep red eyes most likely inspiring terror in most, though not in Tonio. Almost as a reaction his leg comes into the chamber of his body, just as fast lunging outwards into a sidekick, the heel of his boot smashing into the monster's skull. It stumbles back a bit, broken out of its jump, but probably not staggered for long. Taking advantage of his momentary gain, Tonio dives for his sword, pulling himself into a roll and sweeping his rapier from the ground before rising to his feet, in a light stance again pointing his blade towards the strange creature he's facing, hoping that his fellow rangers come quick to help out.

A pair of eyes floating in the darkness, observing all, but all that he observes looks not to him. Their attention is put elsewhere for the moment, but, the eyes assume, none of those who stand below could see him even if they wished it so. The eyes, ever watchful, glance to and fro, Rangers from across the forests and plains make their way to this smoldering location drenched in death and decay. All about things run black, which fortunately match the attire attached to these twin, silent eyes. Shaking in the bushes, rustling leaves, a snapping branch and beast's breath on the air. Though none below seemed aware. Perhaps they were in such great numbers that they didn't mind being observed by a beast of possible malice... A twang, a taught bowstring pulled beyond the limits of the mind. Wood, smooth and slender, sliding against its fellow shafts of wood, an arrow.

One among the others stands out, is different. All about stand the Rangers, plains, forests, all things abound. Greens, greys, blacks, tans, yellows, all forms of armor and tattered cloaks, swords, bows, a few lances - which don't follow suit with the "Ranger's Call". Perhals they're not Rangers? Armors and colors of all sorts mixed into a flurry of men, a mismatched army that protects the realm from the evils around it, within it. However, one there is different from the others. Battle hardened men, gaunt in the face and body, and standing among them is a boy, nurtured, eyes of innocence, and a Rapier at his side. The boy walked casually through the ranks of men exploring and examining the area, making guesses at the assailants by the looks of the footsteps and imprints. A man, captain of a Ranger corps of Fornilingoth (marked clearly by the forest-green stripped ribbon wrapped 'round the right sleeve), handed a folded form of paper. Perplexed, the boy took the paper and walked towards the edge of the burnt town.

As the boy faded from view, the eyes maintained their vigil on the destroyed town. It seemed that none knew exactly what had happened in this place, other than it was destroyed. Presumably burnt to the ground by ungodly flames. In the eyes, they could not care. Behind the eyes the bushes below quivered out of fear, and the breath returned unto the air, throwing a thin veil of light upon the fact: something was near.

A roar in the distance, not too far off. Though, none of the Rangers heard, the pointed ear of the eyes flinched, and after taking note of no unusual movements in the town, the eyes took their leave.

Footsteps, light and nimble, quick, leathersouled black boots pushing from branch to branch. Finally, the clang of metal on bone met with the ears and eyes that were no observing something altogether different. The boy, his sword lying upon the ground far from him, and the beast. Familiar scents rise to the nose of the eyes, that breath, the same that was watching the destroyed town. A stance is taken, and the eyes are confused, staring, waiting for a move to be taken.

The shaft is drawn and the string is taught, the hands await the eye's command. A kick is taken, then a leap. The Rapier is taken unto the hands of the boy, and the beast staggers for a blink of the eyes. Malice forming in the eyes of the wolf-like creature, a breath is drawn and a missile launched. The arrow, barbed on the head and made of steel, peirces the side of the oversised creature, sending it's presumed attack askew. Another arrow is released a moment later, utilizing the speed of the eye's Elven kindred. Again the projectile meets the flesh of the beast. A flurry of blood spurts from the side of the creature like a miniscule fountain. The forest floor and fur of the wolf-creature are stained a deep crimson and the animal wheels for a moment.

During this moment of weakness, the eyes leap down to reveal themselves. A man clad in black, including a cloak, carrying a modest bow of wood twined with elf hair, is seen. His eyes shimmer quietly in the dim lighting of the tiny glade of which all the trees surround. Another ranger, this obviously is, as he glances from the foe to the boy, and wonders what is to be done at this junction.

The beast is recovering...

Tonio quickly glances towards the source of the arrow, the hood of his cloak falling backwards with the motion. Deciding to use the arrows stabbing into the creature to his advantage, he raises his rapier vertically over the beast, quickly bringing it down in a swift downward motion at the beast. The blade digs into its back, not piercing completely through, but dealing a good deal of its damage to the muscles of the back. He then pries his blade free from the beast, leaping back a bit in order to get some distance from the enemy.

"About time some support got here! Ya think rangers would be able to support each other more with all the speed they have..." he mutters a bit softer towards the end, again drawing his attention back towards the enemy at hand. The enraged wolf-like beast jumps at him again, meancing claws threatening to rip apart his body limb from limb. Tonio rolls to the side, kicking up leaves behind him as the creature spins on its legs, slashing at the young ranger with its menacing claws. Its claws dig into his flesh, sending him backwards with the force of the blow. He smashes into a tree, collapsing against it for a bit before forcing himself to shake off the blow, shaking off his pain, holding his torso for a second to feel the blood starting to soak the area of the cloak around his wound.

"Sheesh... these things are strong..." he curses under his breath, barely managing to leap to the side as it makes another lunge, claws digging into the tree behind the ranger, ripping up bark and leaving it defenseless for a bit. Clutching his wound tightly, trying to stop the bleeding, Tonio backs away from the enemy, holding his sword with one hand in an attempt to ward off the beast. He glances upwards towards the ranger, hoping that another attack is made on the beast soon so he doesn't have to continue fighting it alone.

Bolindad sighed as he slipped his purple hood off his head, he looked around the ruined city, his eyes taking in the damage and the death. He despised such destruction, whether it came from human, elf, or otherwise. But for some, death was life, which was far from his own perspective.

He shook his head as he stepped threw the town, the building and death around him causing him to shiver, as all death had. Being raised in the tutalge of a Monk had its effects on Bolindad, to the point of despising pain, and all those who cause it. He looked at the parents, crateling there children in there arms till the end, and he if he would ever be able to have a family.

After a few moments he was glad to find that he had coem to the edge of town, he pulled his hood back around his head as he exited this place. He made his way towards the tree's the only place he had felt at home since he left his real one. He looked up, and saw a field full of people, all Rangers, all going into the forest.
So much for a quiet stroll, He though as he walked towards the woods, he knew they werent all there for a stroll, and he knew this many Ranger's meant somethng bad would be in the forest...

The boy is flung backwards off his feet, careening to the ground. While the massive wolf-like creature is preoccupied with him, Derhlith pulls forth another woodshafted arrow and draws taught his bow. A tree is ripped to shreds when the boy dodges off to the side of the wolf's fatal claws, sending innumerable shards of wood spiraling to the ground. Derhlith's senses flared up as he felt the presence of others in the woods now, two others, similar if not the same as the wolf they were facing.

Derhlith began to chant quietly, slowly raising the tempo in his voice and speaking louder as he spoke more swiftly. All the leaves around the feet of the Half-Elf began to raise up 'round his body in a spiraling inverted cone. Soon the slight breeze had become a gale of wind that shook the very trees 'round the small glade. Soon all the leaves had risen up off the ground into a flurry that was thicker than fog, no one person or creature could see the other two. However, a green light began to form in one spot, it started out as a small jade green orb of light and grew into an orb the size of a baseball. With that all the vast winds were sucked towards the orb with great force. Every tree around the orb began to creak and snap as some of its roots lost their foundation and the trees themselves began to get pulled towards the orb. When all the winds had been channeled into the orb, that very same second, they all burst forth in one powerful blast, the orb rushed forward, aimed at the oversized wolf creature. The wolf cunningly straffed the blast and then made a rushing leap at Derhlith.

With his Charge Shot wasted, he was temporarily defenseless. The wolf slashed its massive claws out at him in an upward slash. However, an explosion of wind from the missed shot burst from the trees in the distance and rushed back towards the small glade with the speed and force of a bullet train. It threw the two rangers, and the wolf off of their feet, and flung them several feet backwards. Before Derhlith could stand back up, wondering what had happened, all the leaves settled down on the ground again.

Derhlith's sapphire eyes flashed open just in time to see the wolf bearing over him. A twig snapped, signaling the wolf's attention. Suddenly, Derhlith was aware of the hundreds of men all about them, hidden in the shadows of the trees, branches, and brambles. The Rangers of the Shadow had come to their aid in the last moment. It seemd like the wolf sensed them too, for it took off into the woods at great speed.

Returning to his feet, Derhlith walked over to the boy, pulling him back up to a standing posture. "I am Derhlith, leader of the Rangers of the Shadow. I take it you're the one who was sent to face whatever it was that had attacked that town. Assuming you are, you just bore witness to its power - that thing that attacked you was exactly what you're here to destroy. I am here to help you, though my men, who you may be able to sense all around us, are needed elsewhere so I guess we're on our own for the time being."

With that said, Derhlith turned away from the boy and fixed his belt, sliding his bow up over his shoulder and pulling the black cloak 'round his body, lowering its hood. The presence of the Rangers slowly left the forest as he watched the distant shadows in the direction the creature ran.

Tonio looks down at the ground, trying to hide his face from all the other rangers in the area, knowing it is probably a futile effort in the long run. He pulls the hood of his green cloak back over his head, realizing it had fallen down at some time during the fight. He tries to ignore the pain in his torso from where the beast's claws had managed to land a blow. He pulls his hand that had held the wound up to his face, looking at the unsightly blood. He quickly wipes the blood off on his jeans, searching through the folds of his cloak for a bag. He then digs through his bag to pull out a basic bandage kit, opening it up and taking out a few bandages. He then pulls up his shirt a bit, wrapping the bandages around his torso to put pressure on the wound to keep it from continuing to bleed, though causing it to sting a bit more. He then looks up towards the taller ranger, shaking his head a bit to clear his mind from the pain.

"Yeah... that would be I guess. Tracking and hunting a dangerous beast like that..." he mutters softly, brushing off the back of his cloak a bit with his hands as he talks. "Of course, now we know what those were. Too bad we don't know how many or where they went." He then looks over the general area, wondering where the wolf-like demon had went. His rapier is gripped a bit harder, then slipped into his sheath until it needs to be used again. "Nice shot though... too bad it didn't hit..."

Bolindad pushed a stupid thought to the back of his mind, seeing all these Ranger marching into the woods reminded him of a reidiculous old song form a play he had seen as a child. He chuckles lightly to himself as he pulled his hood tightly across his face, making his way into the beggening of the tree-line.

He couldnt help but smile at the thought of all those people dancing around, singing, yelling, having a good time. It seemed so long ago, and it was, almost 12 years now. As his thoughts drifted, his smile faded, he remembered the site of his father standing in the doorway as he was run out of the kingdom on that day. The pain in his eyes, he prayed that one day he would be able to go home.

Back into the woods,He thought as he pushed a few branches form his face they never said that in the song.....it was always into the woods, they never did say what happened there....

He shook his head, mostly to get a few fallen leaves out of the tangle that was his hood. His hands slid into the fold of his cloak, and just rested there, he kept his head low as he continued to walk into the woods, humming the old tune.

Watching the boy repair his injuries, Derhlith takes to examining the area for any signs of movement, or a possible trail. He is never out of eyeshot of the energetic youth, although from time to time the cloak he wears on his back makes him drop from view of the inexperienced eyes as the colors shift and change to match their surroundings. For a moment the Ranger crouches down and picks up a pinch of dirt, grinding it in gentle circles between his index, middle finger, and thumb. Before the last of the dirt had sprinkled back to the ground, Derhlith rose a bit of it to his thin and distinct nose, taking an inperceptible sniff of it. Throwing it to the ground, he stands back up. A leaf rustles its way to the ground after falling from a tree that a Ranger had been perched upon some five minutes before. Looking up into the canopy Derhlith noticed that he could see the sky. It was bright and blue, cheerful and hopeful, not a care or complaint in the world. Then something else came into his view, the bleak clouds of billowing smoke coming from the village nearby, burnt to the ground. Blond strands of hair flow back and forth as the Half-Elf shakes his head in sorrow, taking a few strafing steps towards the glade where he and the boy had the runin with that wolf creature. With his view shifted when he looks back up through the hole in the canopy, a different body comes into view. The ominous clouds of Avalon, a constant reminder to the rest of the realm of their failures all those years before. That realm was now in perpetual shadow, and the stench of death and decay laid thick in the air like a mist.

**********

Grass, on all sides, as far as one could hope to see. Shadow ahead, clouds overbearing, shrouding the ground and sky alike. A silver spike raising up from the horizon - Tharkas Castle. Bolts of lightning hurtle from the sky, javelins of justice smiting all life that are unfortunate enough to come into contact with them. Sprinting, sweat, the smoldering heat of air trapped between cloud and earth. The familiar clouds hanging in the air, mocking the Half-Elf as he rushes up to the front of the conflict. To the Elf's back are his trusty Rangers, though mortal blood spills from their veins, and flows through their bodies, they are skilled, and have been trained well for combat.

Shreiks... shouts... the clashing of swords... blasts of catapults... A strike - the lightning falls. An unnatural light rises up from the castle walls as the group nears its destination. The attack has come. Commands yelled out, muffled by the pangs of battle, and the godly roars of thunder. Famous warriors of great importance stand upon the ivory walls of the city, commanding their valiant troops against the despicable dark hoards - the virus scourging the land - scortching it black with voluptuous poisons.

Coming on the right flank are the Rangers, arrows fly, the battle rages on. A string of silver trumpets break out into a clarrion call, the King has come forth. There is a pause in the chaos as friend and foe alike look to the nobility of the final ruler of men. Goblins and Orcs cower before the military might that he weilds, while Knights of the White Cloud burst at the seams with pride. An indifference drowns my heart...

**********

Something in the distance snaps the Half-Elf's attention back to the present as his right ear twitches. A faint humming, probably inaudible to the human, but quite clear to the Elven Ranger. Looking about the area, the sapphire eyes scan the trees and brambles for signs of life, friend or foe. Nothing is seen. Derhlith motions to the boy, who's finished his bandaging. In order to further clarify, the Elf whispers "Come quickly... stay low." With that, Derhlith disappears into the woods silently, with some help of his Elvish cloak that blends his body in with its surroundings, the rest of it is experience and countless ages to master the skills of stealth.

Coming up onto a treebranch near the edge of the woods, Derhlith spots a Human dressed as a Ranger walking merrily through the woods humming a tune. This is no Ranger... Where's his caution? His stealth? After Derhlith has surmised that it may be a spy sent to gather information on Fornilingoth's forces, he monitors the fellow for a trifle longer, until he can hear the boy coming closer. Before the boy happens to alert this humming man, Derhlith leaps down to the forest floor with utter silence. Landing behind the man, not a sound is made until the string of his bow - twined with his own hairs, creaks with the stretching of its limits. "Stop there! State your name and purpose!" Derhlith commands the stranger from behind, his hood up to block his face from view, his bow armed with a barbed arrow aimed defensively at the man's back. "You're no Ranger... So who are you?" Derhlith asks, keeping at a safe distance from this mysterious person.

Bolindad sighed, he hated when things like this happened.....

"Stop there! State your name and purpose!" A voice came from behind him, "You're no Ranger... So who are you?"

He rather slowly turned around, the 1st sound to have caught his attention was obvious, a bow string. Tho the tone was of higher pitch, he knew what to expect, and his assumption wsa right, standing b4 him was an Elf.

"I, am Bolindad." He said, removing his hood from his head. "Just a man, wondering in the woods, trying to find his way to whatever town is beyond them." He said, with a slight bow. "Might I ask who I have the plessure of being confronted by?" he aske,d turning his hed slightly and motiong towards the arrow.

Tonio follows behind Derhlith, wondering what had suddenly caused him to become so much more alert. He does as the older ranger asks, keeping his center of gravity low and trying to avoid stepping on any leaves or twigs that might cause whoever is being tracked to be alerted. His free hand shifts aside his green cloak, resting upon the sheath of his rapier as he follows, trying to keep up with the swift elf. He tries to glance ahead as they swiftly move through the forest, keeping a careful eye on Derhlith at the same time in order to avoid losing him.

He barely pays attention as Derhlith questions the unsuspecting traveller, trying to keep out of sight while at the same time keeping a careful eye on the man. He relaxes a bit however, boots crushing a twig beneath his face, one of the few noises in the wood besides the normal sounds. His head is removed from the sheath of his rapier, now much more comfortable in the knowledge that they had not been approaching one of the demonic beasts, instead facing a simple man.

Tonio, deciding that any stealth was probably blown, leans against the trunk of one of the trees nearbly, slumping against it as he tries to ignore the pain that seems to radiate outwards from his torso. He wonders how after any amount of time in being in this new realm he still managed to fail to adjust to his new weapon. In his mind he briefly tries to think of how to adjust to the new style, how the balance and strength of the weapon would have an effect on various techniques, and how he was going to manage without chi to enhance his normal abilities. However, his thoughts of this are quickly diverted to thoughts of home and of Lain, his eyes staring into space as he loses himself in his thoughts.

Eyes transfixed, hood up, the shadows encompass his facial features. Coming up from his knelt position, Derhlith slackens his grip on the bow, and slowly releases the arrow but still keeps it in-hand incase he would need to attack this man, or something else, with haste. A few birds swoop down into the canopy of the trees overhead, chirping a happy melody. "I am Bolindad," began the stranger, "Just a man, wondering in the woods, trying to find his way to whatever town is beyond them." Obviously this man wasn't a native of Fornilingoth - or he would have known of the turmoil this perticular area was in. His clothes looked very odd, too. It wasn't totally apparant whether or not he was indeed a Ranger. His build was that of a Ranger's, but he seemed oblivious to danger and unschooled in the ways of this land.

From the corner of his eye, Derhlith noticed the youth slip up from his all-to-obvious hiding spot behind a few bushes and come to lean upon a tree trunk a few feet behind and to the right of the stranger. His expression let on that his thoughts were elsewhere, so Derhlith left him to his own devices and continued on with the matter at hand.

Just as he was about to speak, the stranger continued, "Might I ask who I have the plessure of being confronted by?" He then motioned towards Derhlith's arrow that was still being held lightly in his left hand. The two sapphire eyes of the Half-Elf traced down to the barbed arrow that was in his hand as he shifted the position of that hand with his left wrist. Finally, before beginning to speak, Derhlith lifted his left hand up and slid the hood of his cloak off his head, drenching his delicate features in sunlight. The golden beams of light radiated off of his hair as the long locks fell down upon his shoulders and dangled playfully near his neck. There were two braids in his hair, one on either side of his head, typically they were pulled back and clipped or tied together to hold the rest of his hair back, but right now they hung loose against his cheeks.

"I am Derhlith, Captain of the Rangers of the Shadow. You've entered the realm of Fornilingoth. Though you look like one from our leaf - you certainly do not act it, nor are you aware of the dangers of this region. A village yonder has been burnt to the ground - two nights ago." Derhlith's left hand raised and motioned off in the direction that the man had seemed to be headed. "Now there are several unidentified creatures roaming the forests in the vicinity of the village - we suspect that they're the cause of the loss of life. Now, you've been given proper warning, do as you will. However, proceed with caution - not only of wild beasts, but of the Rangers. They're nearly impossible to see or hear in the forests, from under leaf and over head they may strike any unknown. Wear your cloakhood up and you should be left alone." Derhlith's eyes glanced over at the boy as he took several steps forward, walking past the stranger.

"Come... we should go." The Half-Elf's steps took him through the brambles and back towards the woods, and he expected the boy to follow close behind.

Tonio listens to the conversation, half in thought and half listening. As he hears Derhlith start to leave, he pulls himself up to his feet, brushing off the bottom of his cloak a bit. He quickly runs up behind Derhlith as he leaves, trying to keep quiet and not cause too much noise, not wanting to seem too un-rangerlike. He steps up behind the older ranger, deciding to introduce himself since he hadn't earlier.

"So you're Derhlith? Nice to meet ya! I'm Tonio Asura." He nods his head as he talks, keeping an eye as they continue forward. His cloak trails slightly behind him, a mix of various shades of green that blend in behind him. He tries to keep an eye on Derhlith through the darkness of a cloak, trying to judge his reactions to get a better feel of the person.

Bolindad nodded, listening to the warning..He didnt mind the fact he might get shot while he was out and about, he'd had worse happen since he left home. Hell leaving home had exactly been easy, he didnt mind Monsters, he didnt mind Rangers thi9nking he was some one else, what he did mind tho, was the idea that bhe was walking some where with no point.

Bolindad was always the kind of person who knew where he was going, and why he was going there. He was going to the next town cause it was the next town, and he had not yet been there. He had been in the last town for the same reasonm, and the one before that. That had actually been his reason for continueing on his path since he had left Cytonia.

"Come we should go...." The elf, Derhlith, said to the younger Ranger who stood near him, and after a few quiet words they left, and Bolindad stood alone.

A Ranger, huh?....1st time I have ever been confused for one of those. He thought, pulling his hood back around his face I just hope I dont get shot at, I'd hate for somthing bad to happen. He pulled his sword slightly from its sheath, the blade now sitting loosely in it so he could draw it faster, after doing this, he began to walk along the same path as before. Continueing foreward towards whatever town Derhlith had refered to.

Carnage... Death... The screaming of a thousand souls exploding into billions of shards of light only to disperse in that same instant and to become forgotten. The shadow... Pain... A light flashes... and I'm alone. A soul lost at sea... The boat rocks and creeks as a baby is coddled close to its Mother. Her uncanny beauty and grace, unlike any other human around - and yet, she was just that. The storm rages on... Carnage... Death... a wave rushes up and engulfs the mother, ruthlessly stealing her baby away. The screaming of a thousand souls exploding... Shores... The sand... Sunlight... warmth... and to become forgotten. A man in the trees, eyes... always watching.

Eyes... auburn and red, pangs and glares of malice, hatred, a snarl. Orcs and Goblins by the thousands rushing across the fields and plains. Elven marksmanship matched against a shield of Human might isn't enough to ebb the flowing tides. Orders are cried out among the chaos, only to be drowned out by constant battle. There are too many... Walls crumble, men are slain - families ruined. Cities burning, clouds rising, a shadow over the realm... The eyes... always watching. Men clad in black, odd formations... bows. Snipers in the trees, watching... and a breeze... The powerful gales of wind, mages chanting - the battle rages on as life of all kinds dies out, a flickering candle in the wind... Winds lift up, sand about the face... Men in black are knelt in the sands, bows outstretched. Hands uplifted towards the sun, a cry breaks out... A cry for help that cannot be heeded, it heavies your heart as you fight, slaying Orc after Goblin after yet another Orc, and the cry turns to a gurgle and dies... Carnage... Death...

A man walks out, clad in armour, shining, bright, strong. Amid those in black, guarding him from all sides. Uplifting his hands are, taking the baby from the harsh, coarse sands. "I will save you..."

... All is black... Retreat... Tens of thousands dead, and it's all for naught. Pulled to safety... in those arms. "I will save you..."

-----------------

Derhlith walks heavy hearted, his eyes are fixed in one position, never moving, no sign of expression or thought for that which is around him. It is almost as if he is entranced by something - some thought. With unmatched skill he moves hands and feet coherently amid the brambles and bushes, evading every tree and branch without thought. He is silent - leaving his cohort, the boy - Tonio Asura, to do nothing but follow.

-----------------

Across the plains Rangers run. Bows in hand, "Don't jump the gun!" Knights ahead, what's going on? Orcs, Demons... Something's wrong. Forward they rush, arrows notched.

Out from the hills comes a man - clad in armor of blue and silver, hair long and unkept, blade shimmering in the sunlight, notched several times at the base to mark every Orcish hoard defeated. The Knights seem to recognize him, and are pleased. "Our savior has come! Save us!" Silently moving, rushing, aiming, stopping. The arrows are released - a demon falls. The Orcs fall to the blade of the man, his hair swaying in the winds, his style so smooth and fluid. Several were slain in an instant. "Hail him! Captain of the White Cloud - Wren! Hail the Savior from the East!"

Rangers stop, watching victory, pleased. One amongst them, an Elf, ponders. His hood up, shielding all his facial features from sight. An inhuman cry, heralds from above. The Arch-Demons swoop down, armor of silver, swords of black. The Knights are slain. He who came from the hills flips and darts around - a feat within itself, wearing the armor he does. Pulling his sword over his shoulder, he kicks back off an Arch-Demon blade, then hurls the sword end-over-end towards his target. A clash, sparks, and a shattered blade falling to the ground. Thud, the blades are down, and the eyes are wide. Three swords of Obsidian jut through the man, a mere man, blood trickles in steady streams and stains the ground - another soul is shattered and forgotten.

------------------

"So you're Derhlith? Nice to meet ya! I'm Tonio Asura." This caught Derhlith's attention, snapping him back from his memories of the Second Demon War. "You're... T-tonio Asura? Do you know the weight that the name of which you speak carries in all lands that are free? And do you also know the fear it strikes in those under opression? Never speak such a name in these or any other parts so openly. Eyes and ears are everywhere - you're liable to be killed."

Derhlith shakes his head, sliding his hood back up over his head as he decides to push his memories aside for now and focus on the task at hand - the forest. His eyes are constantly scanning the trees for bodies or creatures, and the ground or bushes for sign of movement or footprints - other signs of the sort. "Besides, why would you even jest about your name being 'Tonio Asura'? It's hardly funny..."

Bolindad continued his humming as he walked farther into the woods, ha had really nothing to do with his time, if the next town was destroyed as Derhlith had said, then he had plenty of time to spare. He wasnt even sure where he was going, so why be in a hurry to be there?

He continued pushing threw the underbrush, making as much noise as he did before. He had heard Derhlith's warning, but he wasnt the kind of persopn to travel silently. He knew how to, but he wasnt that kind of person, he wasnt a Ranger, so why pretend to be one by jumping around and being quiet?

Tonio walks next to Derhlith, a bit perplexed by what the man had just said earlier. As he thinks things over, wondering what sort of chance would cause his name to be considered so powerful within this realm, he starts to lose his focus, not noticing even the loud movement made by the man they had found earlier behind him. His eyes close slowly, the young ranger losing himself deep within his own thoughts, thinking about a time long ago.

-------------------------

Tonio stands admist lines upon lines of bookshelves, every single step he takes sending dust up from the long neglected floor. He paces down the long aisles of books, searching through ancient lores long since forgotten by the general public or even some ancient scholars. A single book catches his eye, an ancient history book that seems to had been written by a long since forgotten race. He pulls the book from the shelf, dust from it blowing upon his green cloak as he walks back over to a table where a series of swords are arrayed, each seeming to glow with an ancient light.

Tonio had long been seeking a usage for the gifts that had been bestowed on him over time. His ability to travel through the realms of time and space had long been of no real use to anyone else. Finally, he makes a decision based upon the contents of the book, grabbing one of his many swords that glows with an ancient light. As ancient planeswalkers had possibly done long ago, he runs the sword through the air, striking seemingly into the void through time and space. He steps forward into the complete darkness of the void, the rift closing behind him as he travels through time and space, to a world supposedly wracked with war.

-------------

Tonio mutters under his breath, cursing himself for managing to lose that sword when he had travelled to the plane Hybernia resting upon. He had not expected the world he had heard of to be so hostile to chi, finding that the energy of the world seemed to only allow manipulation within small amounts, and even that had taken some time to get used to. Without the Jigenkatto, his dimension cutting sword, or the chi he so often used, the core to his power was gone. Still wondering what he had failed to learn, he looks over towards Derhlith again.

"So what exactly is wrong with using my name? Its not like I'm evil or somethin' and I'm certaintly not a mass murderer. I'm just a visitor here obviously if I don't know about somethin' so important to ya." he says, keeping a careful eye on Derhlith to judge his reactions, still surprised at the first reaction he had received from his name.

"So what exactly is wrong with using my name? Its not like I'm evil or somethin' and I'm certaintly not a mass murderer. I'm just a visitor here obviously if I don't know about somethin' so important to ya." Derhlith's eyes nearly glazed over as he stared deep into the shadows of the woods, and stopped walking. Vaguely he remembered the days of the Second Demon War, those six years ago... At this time, he recalled especially the Second Battle for Easulan, seven years ago...

-----------------------

All around, Elves, Rangers, the waters of the Easulan River ahead, and the Easulan Checkpoint to their left side, spanning the river from shore to shore. Defending the newly rebuilt Checkpoint was Asura, valiant Division Captain of the White Cloud Army, and friend of the late Wren, Captain of the White Cloud Army. He was commanding his troops from the left flank of the Checkpoint while his Knights surged forward and met the Demonic hoards head-on. Rangers and Elvish Archers alike were firing volleys of arrows into the Orc army on the Eastern side of the Checkpoint. They didn't seem to be doing anything of worth, though. The Orcs just continued to slaughter Knight after Knight. Asura bravely leapt into the fray and began fighting off the Orcs long enough for his men to regain their composure. While they were reorganizing, and a few were aiding Asura, the reserves were pulled up. More and more arrows were fired into the enemy lines. The Knights called for the Rangers to move up into the fight. So Derhlith quickly rallied his Shadow Squad and moved towards the Checkpoint's Western Gate with haste. They arrived just in time to see the battle flare back up. Asura at the helm of his mighty Knights pushing back the Orcs. Arrows were fired, from the back ranks of the Knights, and from the side where the Elves resided, as well. This time the Ranger's arrows did some damage, hitting the weaker front sides of the Orcs.

Slowly the enemy was pushed off the Checkpoint and into the Vieth Plains. However, though the Checkpoint had been retaken, the battle ensued longer than it should have. Asura continued to lead his men on the Orcish advance, hoping to crush them entirely - revenge for his fallen friend. A sharp whistle in the air, and an arrow struck Asura in the shoulder. He continued to fight, but the Orc who fired the arrow burst forth from the ranks and mounted a full offensive against the Knight. The men of the White Cloud pushed forward and slowly began to slay the other Orcs, while Asura and this single heavily-armored Orc battled one another.

While all this was going on, the Rangers moved up into the Checkpoint and secured the position for when the Knights began to retreat. Their arrows were notched and ready, aimed ahead of their projected target, so that they would slay a few as they began their advance after the Knights. Derhlith was standing on the center of the Eastern Arch, commanding the other Rangers, and observing the battle from his perch. Suddenly there was a yell as steel ground against iron, and sparks flew into the air. Derhlith's eyes shot down at the fight between Asura and the Orc. Asura'd taken a harsh blow to his chest. Leaping up into a Charge Drive the well-trained Knight infused his blade with water and then thrust at his foe - from there spinning on his right foot into a diagonal two-handed slash. Just before his blade hit the Orc's armor, a small blade pierced his armor at the waist, shocking the Knight and sending him back several feet. From there the Orc walked up and drove his sword straight through the Knight's face.

In the end the Easulan was saved - though it would fall three days later to another seige, and the man, Asura, a legend in his own time, fell.

--------------------------

"There was once a great man..." Derhlith began after much thought, "he slew many Orcs and Goblins in the last Demon War - and was a great Knight. Second only to one - the Captain of the White Cloud Army. His name was Asura, known to almost all in Avalon as a great warrior, and friend. He fell at the second battle for the Easulan Checkpoint in the third year of the war... Many still revere him for his accomplishments in that conflict." Derhlith blinked, looking towards their projected destination, in the distant shadows of the deep woods. "Come, let us keep moving..."

With that, Derhlith began to walk again, light footed and very silent, the boy, Tonio, close behind.

Into the woods...into the woods.... Bolindad had riscked alot by humming that song NOW IT WAS STUCK IN HIS HEAD!!!
"Damnit..." he grumbled "...I hate it when this happens..." he stopped and shook his head. Music had always been apart of Bolindads life, when he was younger his father had forced him to learn the harp, his mother handed him a flute. He had always been a musical man, and normally enjoyed it when he would get a song stuck in his head, but this time it was just anoying. This childish song would slowly drive him crazy.
He sat down in the middle of the forest, resting his back against a tree. He didnt worry much about people out here, and as for the monsters he had yet to meet one he could not handle, so he closed his eyes and lowered his head. Playing the song out in his mind, running threw the Chorus, threw the melody, his fingers twitching as tho they were moving across the harp he had long ago left.
He sat there, silently playing his invisible instrument, as his throat rose and fell with the vibrations of the song. His humming remaining loud but still, quiet yet always in motion. The song slowly revealing to anything that would hear, the tales of his life threw song.

Due to lack of posting, and lack of time. I am hearby closing this thread. Possibly even this realm - if no Rangers join in. :(

So for now, the rewards stand at:

Derhlith (I'm super-beefy, what do I need stuff for?) 600 Gold
Tonio Asura +2 Lvls ; 1,200 Gold (I'm taking out the Venthan's pelts and replacing them with cash)
Bolindad +1 Lvl ; 900 Gold