A meeting in the woods

[CloakandDagger22]

Sylleth moved slowly to the top of the cliff over looking the river that ran through the Viridale Forest. He slipped unnoticed into the tall grass to look down on the high cliff, the rain had not stopped since the nightfall before and the ground was wet. Despite the muddy ground, Sylleth moved with such expertise that his footsteps left no trace in the soft ground. The wind was strong and inconsistent, but Sylleth could feel the wind within him, he always had a strong connection to the natural world through his bloodline.

The lightning was intense and Sylleth watched it with mild interest, despite the unpleasant nature of a storm, the wood elf ranger had always found a small amount of pleasure in watching nature work, and a rainstorm is merely a shift in the activities of nature.

As the storm began to die a sudden gust of wind blew past Sylleth, suddenly he was lifted from his low position as a whirlwind surrounded him, he snapped forth his scimitar from its sheath and pulled the hatchet from the loop on his belt. No sooner had he done so then the wind moved away from him and took on a humanoid form, the form of the Druid Karthus.

The druid greeted Sylleth with a wry grin and the simple word "Howdy."

"I should've known." spat Sylleth, a primal growl in his voice. The wood elf shifted his weight, his back foot moving outward towards the edge of the cliff, his muscled tensed and ready to strike, his stance entirely predatory.

"You speak with such malice! Have we not overcome our... unpleasantness?" Karthus said questioningly.

"You have yet to prove to me that you are worth giving pleasantness." Sylleth spat back.

Karthus glared at the thin wood elf, his piercing eyes cutting through Sylleth. "Dangerous games, you play with words. Could I not join the game by saying that you have yet to prove to me that you are not worth killing?" Karthus's voice lightened a moment later and with a smirk he continued, "I think we have to assume to some extent, that you are not worth killing, and that I am worth being pleasant to, accordingly. It makes for an easier co-exsistance."

"Explain then, why should I trust you or take your word that you mean no harm to this wood, when the Keeper of the Grove says otherwise?" Sylleth challenged the Druid.

Did he really say that I was harmful to the forest? I doubt that. I would imagine that he said I was a danger to the Grove - but never the woods. I have done nothing to harm the woods." Contested the Druid.

Sylleth tensed for a moment then let his muscles slowly relax, as Karthus waved lazily, summoning forth a spell of entanglement to the side. Suddenly Sylleth saw that the Druid had not been forsaken by nature and if whatever deity Karthus followed still granted him Druidic magic then perhaps the Keeper meant only to bar the rebel Druid from the Grove, as the Druids have no true claim to any forest other then their Grove. Karthus spoke again, but Sylleth paid him little mind, he had made his decision.

The scimitar of ice spun forward as Sylleth's weight shifted forwrad as well, pulling the ranger away from the cliff's edge. The blade spun around to the ranger's front and with practiced dexterity the blade found its sheath. Sylleth then dropped his hatchet into the loop at his belt, its handle hanging below against his thigh.

For a moment Karthus confused the movement for an attack and shifted from his stance of defenselessness to block the blow in a mere blink, but upon realizing the movement was not hostile, he returned to his original stance, with his sword in hand but at his side.

The conversation was amiable at best from there on, Sylleth asked many questions and Karthus offered a small bit of explanation, Sylleth defended the Keeper when Karthus questioned his priorities, but Karthus seemed convinced that the Keeper was not quite doing what he should.

Karthus's only explanation was that he had larger goals in mind, goals that would resound for centuries after he was gone. Sylleth knew before Karthus said that he could not share his intention, the wood elf was not a fool and knew that if the Druid could've shared his goals and not foiled them, he would've.

Karthus then left and Sylleth returned to his watch of the bridge and the forest, he still did not trust the Druid, for he takes allies of the most vile nature and no matter the goals, Sylleth couldn't help but think that there must be another way, perhaps if Karthus shared, then others could help him find the less vile way of accomplishing his goals. For a tool as vile as the Banites, should never be wielded unless absolutely necessary.

A small part of Sylleth, was hoping that if he ever did learn of Karthus's goals, that there would be no other way of acocmplishing them, so Karthus could be redeemed, but the ranger had a hard time letting that thought sit, a hard time indeed.

[CloakandDagger22]

Bandits in Viridale

Sylleth sat back on he cliff, watching the bridge below from the tall grass, which concealed him perfectly. The day turned back to night as he sat there, he chewed on some dried meat as he hid and as he did he saw a small group of men coming through the forest and stopping on the bridge. He examined them from his perch and after a short time realized by their equipment and their mannerisms, they were bandits. He was alone and there was a group of six below him, including the leader.

The ranger moved back from the edge of the cliff, out of view of the bandits below. He removed a scroll from his belt and read it in a whisper, bark curling up Sylleth's thin form, covering every inch of him.

Silently and through the tall grass, the ranger made his way down to the bridge. The night was dark and the bandits were speaking amongst themselves. Sylleth stood from the grass near the bridge and one of the Bandits noticed him.

"Hold there boy. That be close enough. You planning on crossing the way, eh?" the bandit held a wry grin on his face, there was a hunger in his eyes, a hunger Sylleth knew but had never felt, the hunger for gold.

The ranger gathered his resolve and at that moment knew how this was going to play out, though he only hoped that his skill with the blade would be enough to see him through.

"I will ask you once." He paused, building up his strength, "and only once. Remove yourself from this forest."

The bandits all laughed, but the ranger did not falter, his face calm and his eyes determined. One of the bandits ceased his laughter to speak to the ranger. "And who do you be then? Some guardian or what not?" He stops as he begins to laugh again.

Sylleth had a thought, he hoped it would sufice, that the Druids name would strike enough fear into these men so he responded, "I am a Ranger of the Grove and if you do not leave... the entire strength of the druids will come down upon you."

Another bandit looks to the man in the center of the group, the clear leader as his weapons looked well crafted and his armor didn't look as if it had been run over by a wagon. "Just kill 'em Lorac."

Sylleth's hope was cut down that moment and he reset himself for the combat he knew was rushing towards him. The bandit who spoke first continued "I tell ya' what then. Just give me ye gold, and maybe I'll let ye pass... and maybe I'll let ye live."

Sylleth's bow came to bare and as he did he drew back the arrow, aiming it at the bandit that spoke and was beginning to move forward. Every bandit tensed and look ready to pounce, but the bandit who the arrow was pointed at stopped. Without an ounce of fear Sylleth spoke once more, "If you take a single step that is not on your way from this place, I will put this arrow through your face."

The bandit turned to look at the leader behind him, "Ye think one lone man can stand against us?"

The leader eyed the ranger carefully and began to move forward, the Bandits thought this a move to attack and started to do the same but with a wave of his hand the leader stopped them.

"Hold your blades lads. Ye be making the wrong choice boy," his gaze on the ranger. "Tis simple really. Pay the tariff and be on your way. Might save yer life."

Sylleth shook his head, knowing perfectly well his metal was about to be tested. "It is infact very simple... leave now, or face the wrath of nature. I will not ask again."

The bandit leader smiled grimly, a smirk plastered upon his face. A chuckle escaped him as he looked over the thin elf once more. "You truly think you can stand against us all? Walk away boy... while ye still have legs that can carry you. This be no concern of yours."

"You simply spew folly from your mouth at every turn.... this is my only concern. This forest is my concern, and as long as you are here, you are my concern." As Sylleth spoke everyone there could feel the tension created by his words, the bandits could sense the combat coming as clearly as Sylleth. It took no more then a few words from the bandit leader.

"Noble words... for a dead man."

Sylleth let his arrow fly, the Bandit leader ran forward and caught the arrow with his shoulder, he screamed and was suddenly met by Sylleth's blades. And with a word Mair, appeared from above, pouncing on the bandits, allowing Sylleth and the bandit leader to duel.

Sylleth's skill was adequate, as they fought Mair fell to the five bandits, but it gave Sylleth the time he needed to defeat the bandit leader, then as the others ran at Sylleth to avenge their fallen leader, Sylleth cut them down easily.

Panting form the combat with the leader, which had wounded Sylleth severely, Sylleth wrapped his wounds and went through he remains of the bandits. A ruby and a shipment of some kind, he stored them away in his pack and moved back to his cliff perch.

The duties of a Ranger are never done, there is always enemies to face and people to protect.

[CloakandDagger22]

A shadow of the Nether

Sylleth moved silently through the wood, his feet moving with quick expertise, bringing him from high grass to high grass using them to conceal himself. The ranger glanced over his shoulder, the corner of his blue cotton cloak flashed in the corner of his eye, though his vision found the group of three that trailed behind him. Two large hulking greenish gray skinned half-orcs, one in leathers the other in links made of bone, one with a bow and respectively the other with an axe. The third companion was a thin moon elf in thin girlish leathers, along with a leather helmet and a longbow, which she held clumsily in her girlish hands.

Sylleth moved towards Grimaxe Hold, a sense of adventure about him, still feeling the effects of his luck and accomplishment at defeating the group of bandits. As he stopped once more next to a small group of rocks he looked back once more on his companions. His hand moved along the sheath of his Iced Scimitar, which as usual had a thin layer of frost along its surface. He dashed forward to another group of tall grass and once more stopped to glance backwards. This time however the ranger's eyes fell upon something he did not expect.

At the base of the hill leading into Grimaxe Hold glided a creature of shadow and smoke torward one of the ranger's companions. His blades sprung froth on reflex and the wood elf sprinted down the hill, his blade of cold swinging forth leaving a trail of frost behind it in the air.

The creature of shadow and smoke screeched as the ranger's scimitar cut through it. Diving forward Sylleth rolled past the creature and swung his off hand outward, bringing the enchanted hatchet in his hand to bear, slashing through the creature once more. The ranger was surrounded by the creature's smoke which seemed to engulf and conceal a smaller creature that floated within the smoke. Sylleth struck once more as he watched arrows pierce the creature. From the corner of his eye his saw his companions rushing to help combat this new threat.

As the creature fell and its smoke dissipated Sylleth glanced about to see where it had come from, however all he saw was another creature of the same look as the the creature just vanquished. He tensed his muscles and pounced forward meeting the creature head one. Shortly after that creature fell, and when more came, more followed.

As Sylleth felt his arms start to weary from the endless battles, a larger beast came form, this one's skin was thicker and stronger, and after it put all four of the companions down, though none for long. It slipped back into the cloud and dissappeared back into the Nether.

The ranger had downed a potion of concealment and moved slowly to aid the others, he helped them up and when they had tended their wounds, the group moved forward to investigate as no more creatures seemed to come forth.

Sylleth watched the cloud as the others spoke, the ranger knew he had nothing to give, he had little knowledge of the arcane and couldn't do anything to remove this cloud that spewed forth creatures of shadow. One of the half-orcs, the one in leathers, by the name of Razak, used a scroll and cast a dispel on the cloud, it seemed to shrink for a moment but in response spewed forth another creature, the ranger sprung forth into action cutting the thing down quickly.

With another scroll Razak attempted to dispel the cloud to no avail, however, another creature approached as he did so. Another creature of shadow, though this one was far darker and seemed to be made purely of shadow. The creature moved to the cloud and with a few deft movements cast forth a blast of dispelling magic, causing the cloud to turn in on itself and become nothing.

"Who help fixesss the leaksss?" The shadow creature hissed at the group. The ranger eyed the creature carefully, as its voice though snake like, had a slight touch of an elven accent in it, and the creature's lithe form was shaped to elven proportions, though this new creature's form seemed to shift and pulsate to unnatural lengths.

The creature told little but that it was sent by Moth Oira, which Sylleth knew meant in common tongue 'Dusk Eternal', to fix the 'leaks' in the Nether.

After some confusion on the part of the half-orc Razak and the elf Istahl whom seemed to think the shadow creature was her new best friend, the creature dissappeared, though not entirely. The creature's arms shot out to double their normal length and then swung inwards tearing the creature's chest open and causing the creature to collapse and disappear in a cloud of smoke, however the skin of the creature seem to remain.

The ranger was still confused as he was handed the leathers left of the creature's skin which made for an effective piece of armor by the half-orc whom he traded an axe he found for them. Sylleth moved away silently after all had settled, wearing the shadowskin leathers the creature had left. The ranger's thoughts wandered but he continually arrived at the same conclusion.

The Nether is leaking.... that can't be good.