Bound,Gagged ,and Blindfold.....

[darcane]

It was a dark night in the Mossclaw,the light of Selune was suppressed by the ominous black storm clouds of Talos.A steady rain was present, muting the footfalls of the invisible druid stormlord.It didn't take him long to find his target,the lover of a Sunite dog,a female magic user known as Kathryn Blake.


Her dog for a lover was with her,including others.This meant nothing to Vader,kidnapping the Sunite's lover before his eyes would bring him great pleasure in its self..The Talassan studied the group intensely,waiting for the perfect moment to slip behind the woman and put his electrical charged dart to her pretty pale throat.Quickly ,silently he circled around them,taking his position behind a large jutting rock that was one of the many great boulders that made up the Mossclaw's landscape.


The group was in heavy conversation and the woman stood silently adjacent from her lover.This was the moment Vader was looking for,the woman worked with his plan without even knowing.His eyes narrowed in determination.Still invisible, the dark-skinned stormlord eased his way from behind the rock and crept up behind the unsuspecting prey.Whispering in her ear with the point of the deadly dart to her delicate soft neck his words danced quickly off his lips."Say a word,do anything i dislike and this dart goes in your neck."Hissing silently,"Nod if you comply."Of course the woman was no fool,with her life in the fanatic's hands she nodded."Tell your lover you have to leave,it is urgent and you will return as soon as possible.Quickly now, tell him!!"Pressing the charged dart to her skin to give more incentive she spoke to the dog and of course he protested to her claims.With much convincing the paladin gave in.

Kathryn appeared to walk alone, leaving the forest behind.Upon reaching the forest's border,the Talassan bound her with a length of rope..Must be careful with this one,arcane spell gestures will not be taken lightly.She issued many threats and retorts,to no avail of course.."I tire of your witch's tongue!! If the journey is to be a pleasant one it would be wise to shut your mouth!!"Using his better judgment , not wanting to hear constant threats,bickering, or arcane chanting he gagged her tightly with a strip of old leather.Satisfied,he commanded her to walk."We goto Sestra,now walk woman!!"Standing before him with defiance in her sparkling eyes..she remained still,unmoving in the face of her captor."Ha,you think to defy me,a stormlord!!! You play with powers you cannot begin to fathom woman!!"Tugging hard on the length of rope,the Talassan sweeps the woman violently off her feet."So be it,then i will drag you there,like a ...dog!!"

The journey was hard on Kathryn,the barren road full of jutting tiny rocks biting into her skin.Finally,giving in to the pain of being dragged and falling down constantly,she decided it would just be more wise to obey and less painful.In a deep resonating voice,Vader announced their arrival to the coastal town."We are here.."Still gagged, Kathryn tries to say something ,but her voice is muffled and weak behind the leather."You still persist,even gagged you wish to run your mouth!!"Ignoring her muffled protests,the stormlord brandishes a black cloth.With it ,he ties it around her head securely,making her blind to where they go."If you escape,which is highly unlikely,I dont want you bringing an army to my doorstep!!"Throwing her tiny body upon his muscled shoulder, he carried her to an abandoned keep upon a stormy cliff,laughing in a deep menacing tone."Your dog of a lover will grovel before me!!"She struggled in his grip..bound,gagged,and blindfold..


((Ok the next part is for Kathryn,through her eyes...everyone else follow accordingly))

[Gabryal]

Rage flowed through her "How dare he!" she fumed as she stumbled forward. "Fool, dogmatic Fool!" never in her young life had she felt like this. She had known terror, she had known pain, she had known rejection, but never rage like this. She knew it threatened to consume her, and feared it, even worse than what would happen to her.

Strong hands forced her to her side on cobblestones, her legs were jerked back behind her and tied to the binds around her wrists. For a moment she felt fear, a resurfacing of another time she had been helpless before a man, then the rage came back, and she remembered in satisfaction what happened to that man.

The Talosian spoke, she only half listened, "More dogma" she thought "wind and air" She smiled inwardly that she had compared Talosian dogma to wind and air, "ironic comparison" she thought.

"Cirion will come, and this foolish man will regret what he has done, I need only buy time" she thought, absolute faith in her champion. Then the blindfold was gone and she looked around the room, it was a fairly nice building, well kept. " If you behave I will remove your gag" The Talosian said, she knew his name but refused to use it, her own small defiance. After a moment she swallowed her rage and nodded. The man removed the gag with surprising gentleness.

He spoke at length, " More Dogma " she thought, but listened anyway. It was becoming rapidly apparent that this man was suffering from wounded pride, more than any sort of outrage at what he called " Blasphemy "

" Destruction? " she finally said " Yes, I can see your point. Destruction is necessary " She left unsaid that it was his destruction she found necessary " If our situations were reversed I might feel the same way about you ". She fought down the image of the Talosian burning with magic flames at her hands, knowing that she must fight the rage, that the anger in her was the true enemy she had to fight.

" Yes yes " the Talosian said " You understand, I shall not kill you no, that is not what I want, I want you to humble that proud Dog of Sune " He paused " Yet I will hurt you, yes I will, unless you tell me where the dust is? "

" What dust? " She answered genuinely confused " I know of know dust that you are speaking of " This seemed to enrage the Talosian who lept at her with his spear " The Lich dust! Where is it? Or I will put this spear of Talos in you! "

The anger welled up inside her, she found she could use it to fight off the fear she felt, answering calmly " I do not know " stressing each word, the man stopped and looked down at her " Perhaps you don't, but that Sunnite Dog will " He began to pace, cursing all Paladins, Sunnites, and as far as she could tell his own parents from all the sense his tirade.

She felt it a moment before it happened, familiar magic, arcane, and divine and into the room from some place beyond her vision she knew she was no longer alone. Hano's voice Boomed through the Hall " Vader Stop! You have crossed the line, release her "

The Talosian lept towards her his spear tip so close to her throat she could feel the cold steel of it's blade " If anyone moves she dies " he hissed, Cirion's voice came next " Your quarrel is with me Vader, leave her out of it! " She could see the Talosian hesistate and suddenly there was a flash of light.

When she could see again, she was being lifted up by Hano over his shoulder, Jos'iah, Cirion, Snow Hawk, and a woman she didn't know closed in around Vader who was backing away from them. Hano called to the others " I have her, deal with him " He started for the door, free of danger, the rage welled up in her found an outlet. As she was carried out the door she looked back at Vader and all but screamed " Remember Talosian! Remember this moment when the day arrives when our situations are reversed! " With that, she slumped and dizzy with pain and fear, swooned, her last thought one of relief that she had such friends who cared so much for her.

[me_less]

Cirion looked flustered and hurried. He approached Jos'iah with deep worry in his voice.

"Jos'iah. I need your help." "Of course, Cirion. Whatever you need." "Can you help me find Katie? And Vader. I think Katie is in trouble." Quickly connecting the dots, Jos'iah immediately responded. "I need a campfire. Now."

Throwing magical dust into the fire, it sparkled and turned the fire blue. With eyes closed, he concentrated on the the people being searched for, he felt the shadows of their presence in a Keep in Sestra. The "coincidence" did not make him feel comfortable.

"I fear that you may be right, Cirion. We must hurry."

Fearing it was a trap, Elusa, Hano, and SnowHawk was gathered to help rescue Katie. Vader could not know that they would find him so quickly so time was of the essence. We were counting on surprise so it was fortuitous that SnowHawk knew of a back entrance into the Keep. And it worked. Vader did not have the time to gather any allies, henchmen, or traps for us. He was alone.

Rushing into the room, Vader was quickly surrounded. Not fast enough however. With swift reaction, a blade was to Katie's throat. This was not good...

The parlay was getting nowhere. Vader's deep-seated hated for Cirion had blinded him. Despite the odds, he would not release Katie. Hano then whispered. "Jos, do you know of magic that can transpose people?" "You're brilliant, Hano" Jos'iah thought. "I need you to stall him just a bit longer so I can prepare the spell."

A final question was asked of Vader. "Are you sure you will not release Katie?" There was no response. That was all Jos'iah needed to know. Elvish words was whispered under his breath and a bright flash filled the room. Vader shielded his eyes and suddenly found Jos'iah in front of him. Katie on the other hand was beside Hano, stunned but safe.

Temptation urged Jos'iah to smite Vader where he stood. He used to fight alongside Vader once. He had convinced Jos'iah that he was not evil. He now knew that he was just a pawn to achieve his means. Hano and Cirion made an oath however. An oath that Vader would not be harmed unless the hand was forced. Though not bound to the same oath, Jos'iah honored it as if it was his own.

It was over. Katie was safe and Vader's threats fell unto deaf ears. One by one, the heroes left. Vader's anger echoed throughout the keep, powerless and unheard.

Jos'iah's feeling of betrayal soon turned into pity. Vader's greed for power had blinded him. Talos was only using him as a pawn to achieve his own means. He could no longer see that true power is found amongst his friends. No. Not mere allies bound to a common cause. But one that would care for another. One that would be willing to die for the sake of his friends. This is where true power lies...