A New Path, A New Day

[Phelan]

Phelan looked up as the person who came in began tryign to unlock the shackles. He moaned and gritted his teeth against the pain in his shoulder.

"I ....I am Phelan....and...you must not undo my bonds, or we will both die......Something has happened to Kalysta...." Phelan's breathing became labored and he fell into unconciousness.

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

“ What do you mean something has happened to Kal!” Slyfoot nearly cutting into his neck, pushes the dagger to his throat. Seeing no reaction she throws the dagger to the ground and slaps him across the face violently. “ Answer me!”<br>
“V’talin!” She curses. She picks up her dagger, goes to the door, and peers out a crack as she opens it. Two guards are walking down. “….v’talin malin…two more….” Slyfoot quickly becomes invisible once again, and hides in the corner of the room in which she once saved Kal. “Now what…” She thinks to herself, readying for another round of spilling blood.

[Phelan]

::: Phelan finds himself surrounded by mists, and suddenly he is back in the main chamber walking out the door with Kalysta, who had just killed her father. Then the red smoke rose up and sucked into her.

Phelan had a concerned look on his face as she looked back and they began to walk out. Then the pain, shooting searing pain shot down his left arm, it went numb as he fell unconcious to the floor. :::

"Why Kalysta why?" He mumbled in his delirious and feverish state. "What did I do to you? Why....." He trailed off back into delirious mumbling.

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

Slyfoot glanced over at the muttering dark elf hanging there. “ What on earth does he mean, oh well, no time” She thought as the door opened. The two guards rushed in swords drawn having seen their dead companion at the door.

“Who did it?” The guard looked around nervously.

“ I did” Slyfoot appeared, glaring at the guards, her eyes flashing red as she readied her staff. They charged but Slyfoot was quicker. She rolled between the guards, one of them leaping upon the other and attacking his comrade as she fell away from them. She waved her hand and the guard attacked his comrade again. The comrade, dumb struck at his partners actions watched in horror as the blade was run through his chest. The guard then turned, his eyes blank, standing before Slyfoot. She thrust her hand forward and the guard mimicked, but thrusting his own blade into his gut. He fell, queezing as he went down.

*********

The officer approached Kal, sitting upon her throne. He bowed deep, not looking at her, his eyes down cast to the floor.

“Your greatness, there is a problem.”<br>
“ A problem! What do you mean a problem!” Kal hissed.

“ Your most powerful highness, I sent two guards to check on the prisoner with orders to come back immediately. They have not returned and it has been 10 minutes.” The officer bowed deeply, cowering before her in hopes the news will not mean his death.

[Kalysta]

"It would appear we have company..." Kalysta said, regaining her regal composure, "they will be expecting a warm welcome, lets not disappoint them - shall we?"

With a wave of her hand, twenty additional soldiers flooded into the throne room.

"You will slay this intruder and bring his heart to me." she commanded them, smiling cruelly.

As the soldiers rattled down the long hallway to the dungeon, Sly glanced up to the ceiling.

"Sounds like ten or twenty.." she whispered to Phelan, "If we're leaving, now's the time."

Instructing him to move his head, Sly finds the locks on the shackles and pulls a thin lockpicking kit from her boot.

"Always prepared." she laughs to herself as she unlocks the now unconcious Phelan from the wall.

Throwing him over her shoulder, she carries him to the window and lifts him to it.

"If you can hear me, now is the time to help." she says to him, straining under his dead weight.

Just than, the delf is drawn through the window from above, and Sly clambers through to see who it is who has helped them. Standing face to face with a small gnome, Slyfoot nods her thanks and throws Phelan over her shoulder again meaning to run for the waterfront.

"If-if I may?" the gnome asks, grabbing hold of Slyfoots hand he whispers to himself and an eerie bluish light surrounds the trio.

The sound of wind rushing by is all that can be heard, and nothing can be seen but a great blur of color. Sly, still holding Phelan is standing in Freeport, just outside the city walls.

"You're aide is greatly appreciated - just dont think that means you'll be recieving a reward." she says to the gnome, still wary of where he had come from.

" 'Tis a pleasure to help one as beautiful as you." he replies, tipping his hat as he backs up a step and than vanishes.

Rushing, Sly runs with Phelan still in tow. "With any luck," she thinks, "perhaps Renee might help him."

[Kalysta]

"AHHHHHHHRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!! CANT YOU IMBECILES DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!?"

Kalysta's screams could be heard straight across Neriak, and many shivered at the thought of what would surely come next.

"You let them escape... YOU LET THEM ESCAPE!! ALL i had asked was that the intruder be brought to me, and that Phelan be kept in the dungeon-" she fumed, pacing back and forth before the throne and her soldiers, "AND YOU MORONS CANT EVEN DO THAT!!"

Waving her hand the entire lot of them begin to writhe in pain, some falling to the floor dead from fright before the torture could even begin.

"Pathetic.." she spat, turning to the door and the solitary soldier who had entered it.

"M-my lady.." the soldier stuttered noticing his surroundings and now obviously terrified, "w-we f-f-found something in the dungeon."

Holding out a lockpick, Kalysta grabbed it from him and examined it closely.

"Sly..." she whispered under her breath.

Taking a deep breath, Kalysta began to chant an ancient spell. Before her, three winged gargoyles appeared and, bowing low to show their allegiance, listened intently for their instructions.

"You will go to the human city of Freeport. Once there you will seek out the one named Slyfoot and slay her... bring the one they call Phelan back to me." she said.

The three took to the air immediately, and once alone Kalysta stood proceeding to her chambers just off the main throne room to get some rest. Posting two guards at her bedroom door, she also enchanted the room against intruders before removing the lid from the thick silver and hemitite coffin.

Once inside, her eyes closed, she began to picture her minions flying to Freeport, and the carnage which would most likely ensue thereafter. Smiling to herself, Kalysta drifts into the deep dreamless sleep of the dead.

(take it away guys )

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

Slyfoot drops Phelan to the ground as gently as she can. She mumbles a spell to herself as features become larger, more human like. She takes out an eye patch from her pack and places it about her head. “ There, now to business.”<br>
She hefts Phelan up on to her shoulder and carries him down the back allies. Whispering into his ear as they walk, “Can you hear me?”<br>
Slyfoot keeps her eyes alert about her surroundings, every time she entered the city it changed. “ Are you awake? Can you hear me?”<br>
Then a strange cry is heard from the skies. Slyfoot moves her chin to her shoulder, looking up at an angle towards the screech. “….Gargoyles….” She glances at Phelan’s shut eyes. “What does she want with you….oh well, Renee’s house is out of the question. No way am I bringing her into this.”

The enchantress made her way out of the city gates and paused for a moment hidden in the shadows of the city walls. Turning herself and her cargo invisible she lugged the dark elf into the dessert, and hid in a cave not far from the city.

The dust plumed as she dropped him next to the cave wall.

“Errgh”<br>
“Sorry, I tried not to drop you. Just stay quite. I need as much time as I can get.”<br>
Phelan blinked at Slyfoot.

“ Where are we?”<br>
Slyfoot put her finger to her lips as she walked to the edge of the cave. The gargoyles were circling the city.

“They are not patient beasts…if I do not get their attention soon they will start to kill anyone…I am going to need help…”

Shutting her eyes, Slyfoot resummoned her telepathic ability which she had not used since death.

::: Darlena…..Darlena…..I’m in a mess… :::::

::: Zugarok……I need your help…:::

::: Rhabuka….I need a healer….please come…:::

“Then there is Wilkens…..no, I won’t let her get hurt. Besides, if those gargoyles don’t cooperate with my plan, then she may have to protect Renee."

Slyfoot tosses Phelan one of her daggers. “Sit tight. If you have to, use it. Otherwise, just stay out of the way.” Waving her hand, Phelan disappears again under a veil of invisibility.

“Hurry…I can’t do this alone…..”

[Darlena O'seth]

:: Neriak dungeon::

"Take the Red-haired traitor an bring the elf to the queen." The guard captain commands.

The guards charge Darlena an Jwiz. One by one they fall but gain ground as she is forced back.

" Can't you do something I really do wanna have to go all out."

" I can feel my power slowly returning... please fair lady just a bit more time.."

" Fine so be it." Darlena begins to transform into her feral wolf form an charges back into the guards.

" Sir she is a were beast we'll be sluaghtered."

"HOLD YOUR GROUND.. MORE GUARDS ARE ON THE WAY."

Jwiz begins to chant his spell as Darlena countinues to fight the guards off. Suddenly a blue light surrounds them an the dissappear.

"The queen will not be pleased by this outcome... I will offer my apologies to her."

The two appear in freeport Jwiz is nealy knocked down by a paniced commoner.

" Where are you Slyfoot.." She says as she reverts to her normal self. " Just hang on."

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

~At a merchant booth in Freeport ~

Rhab looks up at Zug. Zug looks down at Rhab.

“Da Slyfuts is in trouble” They say simultaneously as another screech is heard from the sky above.

:: Darlena, Zug, Rhab, I am in the small cave just outside the city walls to the west. Hurry, and come under a guise of invisibility. You cannot be seen. ::::

Zug and Rhab begin to run out the gates, but nearly trample Jwiz. “ We need invis!” Dar, and the two Ogres say all at once as Jwiz scrambles to his feet.

“ Alright, gees…” Jwiz pouts as he shrouds them all. “ What’s the big deal anyway?”<br>
“ Slyfoot is in trouble Jwiz.” Darlena states plainly as she readies for battle.

“ Again!? Can’t she stay alive for a blasted week!”<br>
The three role their eyes and head out into the dessert.

They walk into the cave and appear again.

“ Ah good, Dar, Rhab, Zug, Jwiz….JWIZ! What on earth is he doing here!”<br>
“ Saving your lovely…..”

“Fine, alright, here is plan. I am going back to the city and once I get there I will become visible and act like I am sneaking back here again, but I will make sure those gargoyles…”

“Oh no, no one said anything about Gargoyles.” Jwiz crosses his arms.

“Fine, coward.”<br>
“Hey! If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t….”<br>
“ Everyone set?”<br>
“Errrrr…fine.” Jwiz pulls out his wand. “Ready!”<br>
Rhab shakes her fur and cracks her claws. “Ready.”<br>
Zug hits his helmet, punches his chest plate, and hacks a loogy, “Ready.”<br>
Dar nods at Slyfoot. “ Be safe.”<br>
“ Or sorry.” Jwiz smirks.

Slyfoot nods back at Dar, throws a quick glance at Jwiz and twirls her staff, disappearing into the sand dunes.

[Phelan]

Phelan didn't hear the last things that the strange dark elf had said, Phelan heard her for only a breif second and then things went black again.

Phelan found himself standing with Kalysta laughing, then turning to leave and then knife plunging into his back. He felt helpless as his body shut down and he hit the floor.

He did understand what had happened, Kalysta seemed so happy to see him.... The scene began again in his head.....

"....why Kalysta?....why....." Phelan muttered while he rolled about on the floor of the cave.

[Darlena O'seth]

Phelan's muttering catches Darlena's attention. She goes over to stop him from rolling around an maybe silence his talking.

" Kal....Kalysta.... why?.."

" That name again... " She rolls him on to his back brushing his hair gently from his face she doesn't even realize she is staring before zug yells out.

"Wut joo doin?"

"Nothing..." She gets up trying to conceal her embarassment.

"Dis not time fer doin funny tings Sly be back soon."

"Yes .. of coarse.." She takes one more look at Phelan before moving back to the front of the cave.

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

“ THERE COMING!” Slyfoot yelled as she ducked into a role landing on the floor of the cave as a gargoyle’s claw swiped where her feet once where.

Jwiz promptly blasted the beast, sending it flying into the cave in a smoking heap. The other two charged in. Dar took one, Zug took the other. The swords clashed on claws.

Jwiz stood between them firing at both the beasts. Rhab remained poised, healing the wounds of her comrades as they were made.

Slyfoot stuttered to her feet and began powering Jwiz, sending her energy into his blows. Then a slight movement caught her eye. The first gargoyle began to stir, his eyes shot open, wings flapped a great stroke and he lunged towards Slyfoot.

“Help!” She screamed as she cast a thundering cloud of pain at the beast.

Jwiz cast a bolt of lightening at the beast knocking him back, and then turned to fight off the other two. Dar and Zug both struggled to keep their beasts at bay, unable to turn their attention.

The first lunged again at Slyfoot, knocking her back.

“Yous dies now” the beast snarled as he reached to snap her neck. Then he stiffened, and fell to the side. Slyfoot gulped, seeing Phelan standing, arm poised in the air from the thrown dagger that he had landed in the gargoyle’s back.

Slyfoot nodded to him, then flipped back up to help the others again.

The second fell, then the third lashed out, knocking Dar back as Zug landed the final blow removing the beasts head.

“Well, that was fun.” Jwiz smirked.

The four turned and gawked at him.

Jwiz put his hands up, “Gees, it was a joke….”<br>
Then they all turned as they heard a thump in the back of the cave. Phelan lay there passed out.

“Rhab, could you help our new companion?”<br>
“Sure, mes help joos leetle black elf.”<br>
“I’ll eats him” Zug smiled.

Rhab smacked Zug. “Zug! You no eats dis one!”<br>
“Oh fine, but mes is hungry.”<br>
Rhab walked over and Phelan’s wounds healed as a blue mist flowed form her paws to his shoulder.

“Thank you.” Said Phelan as he came to.

“Ok,” Slyfoot said calmly kneeling beside Phelan. “ Now I need you to tell me everything.”<br>
And they all sat around listening to Phelan as he told them of the prophecy Kal had spoken of and the way she had changed.

[Phelan]

As Phelan related the tale to this new group of unlikely companions, he realized for the first time that his sword belt and swords were gone as well as his armor all three layers.

Phelan tried to cover up the mark on his chest by crossing his arms as his talked, he did notice that the mark had turned from red to white that stood out against his skin.

Phelan stared at the strange group when he was finished, and they stared at him. He was beginning to wonder if he was welcome among this group.

Phelan decided to find out, he stood and bowed gracefully and said " I am Phelan of the house Seladria, pleased to make your aqquaintences" he turned to the female dark elf with the blue hair " Thank you, I am forever in your debt, if it wasnt' for you I would still be shackled to the wall." he waited to see what would happen next...

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

Slyfoot looked at the dark elf.

“Please, no need to bow. We are all equals here. And there is no need for thanks, I have done nothing.”<br>
“But…” Phelan began.

Slyfoot waved her hand. “Please, really, don’t worry about it. Now about this prophecy you mentioned. I know of this prophecy, but there is more to it. You see, in the ancient Teir’dal texts, few of who can decipher it any longer, I recall coming across the recording of this legendary prophecy. If I recall it correctly, it is as such:

Ka' Latys, queen of the night and bringer of chaos, will rise from the sleep of the dead when the last of the line of the elder's has been slain by its own. Once done, she will wed, and bear the child which would one day rule all the universe.

“Then in the old texts it continues:”<br>
Unless the host still has kindness in her soul. If this be the case, then the host shall end the queen’s ruling of her own will, and balance shall return to the land should this kindness be unburied from beneath the Queen’s great hatred.

“ So, if this be true then we must try to stop Queen Ka’Latys rule. Regardless of the Queen’s power, she is still in Kal’s body, and is restricted by Kal’s soul if she is strong enough.”<br>
“ Yeah, so…” Jwiz says twidling his thumbs. “What does that have to do with us?”<br>
“ Well, depends Jwiz, you can either cower here in this cave and wait for her son to rule the universe under hatred and torture, or you can help stop it now.”<br>
Jwiz glared back at Slyfoot as she glares back at him.

“ Alright you two, that’s enough. Sly, what do you propose we do?”<br>
“ Ok, here’s the plan. Zug, Rhab, you two stay here and protect the city. Make sure none of those gargoyles come back.”<br>
“Do I gets to eats dem?”<br>
“Yes, Zug, you can eat them.”<br>
“No Zug! Deys makes joo sick!” Rhab huffed.

“Um, anyway. Dar, Jwiz, Phel, you three are with me. We are going to confront Kal. Phelan, I want you to come up to Kal’s throne with me. Maybe we can reason with her. If you are truly her love, then we may be able to bring the kindness out of her. I am one of the few she calls friend, so perhaps both of us can do so. Dar, you handle the guards.”<br>
“Ok….um…that’s a lot of guards….”

“No no, just if things get tricky. You hold them off until….

“And where do I come in?” Jwiz raises his eyebrow.

“Ehhmmm…you hold them off until Jwiz can teleport us out of there.”<br>
“Oh, great. Lovely. Give me the job that everyone dies if I screw up.” Jwiz roles his eyes.

“You’re a big boy Jwiz.” Slyfoot shakes her head. “Everyone understand?”<br>
The all nod their head except Jwiz.

Slyfoot sighs “What is it Jwiz?”<br>
“Oh, nothing. I got it.”<br>
“You had better.” Slyfoot says, pulling her dagger out of the gargoyle’s back and putting it back up her sleeve.

[Slyfoot M'Zors]

Phelan looks at Sly and shakes his head a little, " Don’t place your hopes on me. I only met Kalysta a couple of days ago....well at least I think it has been a couple of days, I have been in and out of consciousness "

“That is why it will take both of us. If what you tell me is true, she did care for you. And the queen cares for you. So all we can do it hope.”<br>
Phelan looks off to sand " No one cares about me, or at least no one should. " Phelan gives a glance a Jwiz, thinking he might still be dragged back to the Elven lands.

Slyfoot looks at his back, her eyes saddening into sorrow." We all have our pasts, Phelan. It is how we live each day that matters. Now, are you ready?"

" Yes, lets go” Phelan says, hanging his head. “ I warn you, I will not raise a weapon to her, not even if it means my death "

“ Yes, I know. Anything else?”<br>
“...can I get a shirt? "

Slyfoot's eyes soften " We can arrange that."

" I would appreciate that, thanks "

“Jwiz, could you take care of that please.”<br>
“Oh, I suppose.” Jwiz takes Phelan and leads him into Freeport to buy a shirt, as Zug and Rhab return to their stand.

Once alone with Darlena, Slyfoot turns, her face grave.

“Darlena. I have other plans.”<br>
“Why does that not surprise me.” Darlena smiles.

“ Look, I couldn’t tell Phelan, but I am going to use him. I don’t know if Kal really cares about him or not, but I know she cares about me, and I know the Queen has interest in Phelan. So, here is what I really want you to do. While I am distracting Kal, you sneak up behind the throne and be ready to kill the Queen should things not go as planned. I am going to take Phelan under my spells to assure I get the Queen’s co-operation. If things go wrong, you kill her. Ok?”<br>
“Ok Sly, but why do I get the feeling you are up to trouble again?”<br>
“Because this is a great deal of trouble we are in.”<br>“ Yes….yes it is…..” Darlena says, her voice quieting.

“ Well, it is not the best look, but it will have to do.” Jwiz says with a shirted Phelan.

“Yes, it will do fine. Thank you.” Phelan says softly.

“Ok, Jwiz, if you will. To Nerriak.”<br>
“ Yes ma’am.” Jwiz says as his hands begin to glow blue.

The 4 arrive just out side of Nerriak, and Slyfoot veils them in invisibility. “Ok, you all know what to do. I hope to speak to you again after this. But if not then…”

“Um, yeah, lets not get into the mushy stuff.”<br>
“Right.”<br>
“You are agreeing with me?” Jwiz asked dumb founded.

“If it means you will shut your trap, then yes.”<br>
“Hrmph.”<br>
They ease into Nerriak, with out a sound. They reach the throne and take their positions.

“ I WANT THEM FOUND NOW!” Kalysta screams as her guards run in terror in an attempt to organize a search party. A few fall dead as Kal flicks her wrist. Slyfoot and Phelan slowly make their way up to the throne, and Darlena sneaks around the back.

::: Darlena, are you ready?::

::: Gotcha covered Sly:::

::: Jwiz?:::

::: What?:::

:::: Are you ready :::

::: Yeah ::::

::: Ok, here goes ::::

“ You don’t have to look any further, Kalysta, we are here.” Slyfoot reveals herself and Phelan.

“ KILL HER!” Kalysta orders.

“Ah ah….” Slyfoot says as Phelan’s eyes go blank and he drops to his knees under her power. “ You summon your guards on me, and he dies.”<br>
“ Halt…” Kalysta looks hard at Slyfoot.

“You want me dead? Fine. But you have to kill me yourself.” I hope this works….Slyfoot prayed to herself. “ Any of your guards move, he dies.”<br>
( Take it away Kal! )