winter wonderland

[adaun]

Adaun huddled close to the fire that she had lit. The temperature had dropped to a cold that would freeze the flesh to your bones. She had no idea what this enviroment was like, she hadn't ever seen snow untill earlier that day.

She pulled the wolf skin tighter around her, she had thought of changing into dry clothes but she didnt' dare remove her clothes in the fridge night air. She hadnt' realized that when the snow fell from the sky that it soaked all it touched and then froze to it once it had melted. A strange place this was, no where in her books had it mentioned the fact that snow was wet, it mearley said cold.

Cold? she laughed to herself. This is far beyond cold. Adaun couldn't belive that things lived in this weather. It was said that this is the land where the monstorous Barbarians hail from. Though why any intellegent being, using that term loosely aren't we, she thought to herself, would want to liver here was beyond her.

The night edged on and Adaun shivered by the fire trying to survive her first night in the snow covered lands. Tomorrow, if I make it, I need more skins. She mumbled to herself.

Phelan would pay, up here in this forsaken abyss of a place she would learn to be as rugged as him. He wouldnt' win again, only one of them would walk away next time. I ecspecially want to rip apart all of his friends one by one, I want to watch his face as they die because of him. The biggest mistake of his life was leaving me to die. She thought to herself as she stared that the fire.

[adaun]

Adaun awoke to the shrill cry of some sort of bird. Adaun hadn't even realized that she had fallen asleep, she looked around her hand falling immediately to her sword. She cursed herself silently for falling asleep without clearing the area.

She scanned the area around her camp and realized that the world here was still in slumber. The snow covered land glistened in the sunlight and sparkled like a thousands stars at once. Adaun had to shield her eyes from the harsh light.

She looked to the sky and sighed the sky started out a brilliant blue at the horizon and became cloudy in the middle of the sky. As she sighed a flake hit her nose, she sighed again. She packed up her meger camp and began her hunt.

She cringed with every step, the loud crunch of the snow packing beneath her armor. The bottoms of her armor creaked and squealed horribily from the legs, ice hung from the joints and rust had begun to form.


"Fur..." She thought
" More fur, that is what I need or I shall surely die this eve."

Adaun marched on toward the woods in the distance, she would kill many wolves this day. She stalked and killed almost a dozen as the sun crested miday. She began a fire and started cooking, she would move north again in a few days. She would find a tribe of Goblins to prey apon and begin honing her skills.

[adaun]

Adaun finished her meal began treating the hides, it would take her most of the rest of the day. She worked with out complaint, she knew that if she didn't do this she would die this eve. Winter was approaching where she lived and she assumed that the temperature would drop here with each passing day as well. Again she made her camp in the same place and this time she had a heap of furs to curl up in.

She stripped herself from her wet clothes and layed them out on the ring of stones around her fire. The cold wind bit her soft naked flesh as she changed into her dry clothes. She shivered though she had no intention of doing so. she also piled her armor near the fire trying to melt the ice from it.

Not so very long after she had sat in her pile of furs and sat watching her clothes dry, the wind calmed and the snow had ceased falling. The armor had also dryed and was free of ice.

" I will deal with this in the morning. " She decided and fell asleep in the warmth of the furs.

[adaun]

Adaun awoke in the middle of the night to a soft crunching noise. It didn't register in her head as to what the noise was. As she looked around to locate it she noticed that her fire had died out and there was only the filterings of moon light through the clouds to illuminate the landscape.

" What is that noise?" She thought to herself. " I know I have heard it before.....snow....it is footsteps in the snow......My armor.." her thoughts trailed off as dread coursed through her briefly. " oh well too later for that" she thought as she rose out of the blankets and trying very hard to remove her sword quietly from its scabbard.

"this ways....shhhhhs yous needs to be quiets..or it will hears usss " came a hushed hissing voice from the darkness.

"I don't cares, there is only ones of itsss " came a louder voice, followed by a dull thump.

Adaun pulled her cloak about her and squatted low sword at the ready, she couldn't tell where the sounds where coming from, the noise echoed off the hills about her. Dread gripped her, this wasn't her enviroment, not her home. She had the sinking feeling that she was sorely outmatched in this place.

"whys did yous smashed up Wortses head? " came a very quiet hissing voice, that seemed to be all around Adaun.

" Shhhhhsss...its is on the moveses....wes need to bring thiss ones back and not let its gets aways. The profitsss wantss to talks to its befores we eatss it. " Adaun shivered at the thought.

"These must be goblins, but are they after me or something else?" she thought. "Maybe I will luck out, maybe they will walk on by." She thought with a sense of renewed hope.

The soft crunching continued and echoed all around her, she sat crouched not moving a muscle, she could see fairly well, but from her studies she knew goblins could see better than her at night. With those thoughts of hope swimming through her mind, she didn't think twice about the tiny prick she felt in her neck. Insects where always trying to distract you when it was nessecary to stay still, then slowly she bagan to realize the implications of what had occured as the horizon began tilting and swaying, there aren't any insects here she realized. as she sat down uncontrollably, she barely moved her hand to her neck to feel a dart with feathers sticking out of her neck.

" yesssss!!! yous gots its!! you hitted it goodss. " came a cheer from behind her.

She could hear the hissing voices but couldn't comprehend what they were saying. The darkness and cold crept in on her. She couldnt' think straight, she was tired, oh so tired. She closed her eyes to rest. Then the last bit of her conciousness welled up with dread when she realized she couldn't open her eyes again, then just blackness.

[adaun]

Adaun awoke to stinging pain, her whole left side of her face felt as if it were being stripped of it's flesh. As she opened her eye, her left one wouldn't respond, she could see that she was being dragged through the iced and crusty snow. Her hands were extended beyond her head and were bound together. Her wrists were in just as much pain as her face, she could feel the warm liquid running down her arm and freezing to it.

She tried to turn her head and almost passed out from the pain. She tried to flip onto her back, waves of nasuea rolled over her stomach. She lost control and wretched in the snow, only to be dragged through it without pause.

All she could hear was the loud scraping crunch of the snow as it tore the flesh from her face. The world spun before her and she was once again assumed by darkness.

"Voices....I can hear them talking. " She thought to as she was somewhere between the ever night of unconsiousness and the reality of consiousness.

" Meess thinksss youss are gonna killss itss unless yous gives itss some timess to stop bleeding. " Came one of the hissing voices, she knew to be goblins.

There was a high pitched feral growl followed by more of the boken high pitched hissing talk.

"Whats do youss knows? I'ss catched its and I'ss willss drags its ifs meess wants tooss!"

"Hess rights you knowss, The Profit will haves yours head, ifs its diesses." Came yet another new voice.

Adaun was finally able to open her eye once more. She gathered all her strength and she had been waiting for the right moment to speak.

"Yesss, youss needs to listenss to usss." Hissed the first goblin.

" You would do quite well to listen to your friends and let me go. How dare you attack one of the Tier Dal " Adaun said as fiercly as she could manage.

All motion ceased, then suddenly she saw sword and spear tips pointing at her, as the three goblins squeaked and wheeled round on her.

" It speakses. Its awakes. " Exclaimed one of the two who were contesting the treatment to Adaun.

" Seess Shes is fines. Shes can still speaks. " The one dragging Adaun growled at the other two.

"Let me go." Adaun said as cold as ice, but her facade of being intimidating was wrecked by a grimace when the goblin pulled the rope taunt again.

" Seess, Blacks elfs, meess is ins charges. Youss wills nots demand anythings from mees. Tevac answers nots to anys black elfs. " He said banging a fist upon his chest. "Yous are almosts not worths the troubles. Yous gonna sleeps mores, yous gonna bess quiets. "

Tevac raised up a blowgun and blackness consumed Adaun once more.

[adaun]

Groggily Adaun awoke to find herself hanging against a wall of ice. Adaun shivered uncontrollably, slowly she got her wits about her and reaslized she had no clothes on. She gazed around the chamber with her one good eye, she saw nothing but ice and a red path along the floor that led to her. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably and she trembled irradicly, he body's feeble attmepts to generate heat. Fear coursed through her when she realized she could no longer feel nor move her legs.

"How long have I been here?..minutes...hours....days..? Where is here is a better question yet. ....Does it even matter?...Is this where I will die? " She thought to herself. "

[adaun]

" So cold. Can't think straight, come on Adaun. "
"Why dont you just give up?"
"Give up? Never! I will not die here. I will die where I chose. "
" It is hopeless, you are a prisoner, just give up. "
" I will not give up!!! I will not roll over and die!!"

Adaun quietly spoke back and forth to herself. She stopped, she heard something. Voices, not her voice echoing as it had been for hours, but someone elses voices. The voices echoed down the coridoor and were getting louder.

"I'ss broughts itss as fasts as weess coulds. "
" Yes I am sure you did, there is nothing to worry about Tevac. You did well. Your command of the common tongue is getting better as well "
"thanks you Profit"
" No need to call me that, we are friends Tevac."
" As yous wishss Lotac. "
" Post guards around I need to speak to the prisoner. "'

" that is no goblin. It speaks common to well.... How can I turn this to my advantage?"

[adaun]

Adaun heard the light pitter patter of the small goblins as they moved througout the tunnels beyond the chamber where she hung, freezing to death.

" Keep it together....come on there is no cold.....there is no cold....there is no cold...." she chattered quietly to herself

When she opened her eyes again a goblin stood before her. He was dressed in a fine shirt, sturdy trousers and some stylish boots. The goblin was holding her clothes in a neat pile. His eyes met with hers, she felt vunerable as those eyes wieghed her, then she remembered that it was but a mere goblin and scoffed at him. The goblin smirked at her.

" If you behave I will undue you shackles one at a time so that you may be clothed. You will have to forgive Tevac, he is ever the precautious one. You really can't blame him for being so careful with one of the Tier Dal now can you?" Lotac spoke impecable common with easy.

"....I suppose not, but why am I a prisoner here?...." Adaun said still taken aback at the ability of this goblin.

Lotac Laughed.

" Isn't it obvious? You were trespassing in our lands. Really I would have expected better from a Tier Dal.....Now will you behave so that I can keep you from freezing to death. You do realize there is a reason that your people don't live here, they are not suited for this enviroment." Lotac said.

Adauns mouth drew a taut line across her face at the insults from such a lesser being, but she also knew that she had little choice till the tables turned and she was in charge. She also knew that if she didn't get clothed soon she would be dead.

" yes I will...behave, as you put it. " Adaun replied as cold as ice.

[adaun]

The goblin reached up to the shackles and one at a time undid them and helped Adaun dress. Adaun instantly felt better and began to feel her strength return. She scowled at the arogant goblin.

" How long will you keep me chained to this wall? " Adaun asked

" Would my bed suit you better? " He said smiling

Adaun's eyes widened and glowered at the goblin.

"You dare to presujme that I would allow you ..." She began but was cut off.

"You are in no position to allow me to do anything! That is what you need to realize. Dont worry you are pretty I am sure by your, but I find your appearence quite repulsive. "

Adaun seethed as he spoke. Oh the gal that this...this...wretch has, I just decided how I will kill him. she thought to herself.

" I am sure you are wondering why, exactly I have brought you here as a captive instead of letting them just kill you for you intrusion onto our lands. Well I need information and exchange I give you your life." The goblin said pausing to glance at Adaun.

Adaun just glared at him.

"You see I will let you go if you give me some information concering the lay out of Neriak, locations of guards, shift changes, weakpoints in defense, etc, etc, that kind of thing. When Neriak is retaken and you are captured I will allow you to become my personal aide instead of a slave working in the mines along side the Dwarves when we take those too." He smiled wickedly.

Adaun laughed.

"You really have the arrogance to belive you can defeat the Tier Dal nation? ..... Sure I will tell you everything you want to know. What ever wounds you inflict upon them they deserve, however I doubt that you will break the great nation of the Teir Dal. I must insist however, now that I have agreed to your terms I be treated as a guest. I will tell you what you want to know but at least unchain me." Adaun said smiling.

" Very well, I will be back, Tevac will attend to any needs you have. "

With that the one known as Lotac left.

[adaun]

After a few min, the goblin that had shot her with that dart, or at least she thought it was the one they all looked the same to her they were just goblins after all, undid her shackles. This goblin was clothed as well, Adaun found this odd, from all that she had read it said that goblins were extremley undeveloped in terms of society, but it seems that her books were wrong. These goblins spoke common well, they dressed in clothes, obiviously have metal working skills.

Adaun couldn't help but smile, her freedom was at hand. "This is working beautifully, the goblins will attack Neriak inflicting wounds however minor upon the city, I will warn Neriak in advance and regan some of the stature of the House of Saledria. Now the trick is getting them to let me leave." She was roused from her thoughts by the goblin learing at her.

" What are you staring at? " Adaun snapped at him now that she was free.

" Lotac, tolds mes to seess to your needss and comfortss. Saids that yous wass lonelys. " He hissed at her.

" Oh No you don't, you stay over there. " Adaun said in disgust.

"Its oks meess knows hows to be gentles. " He smiled as he approached her.

" If you take one more step I will kill you and I will enjoy every agoniziing minute of your screams. " She said in her usual ice cold tone.

He backed up a few steps toward the door and knocked on it. It opened and five more goblins in armor stepped in. The goblin who was advancing at her leveled a blow gun at her and then she was consumed by darkness.

[adaun]

Light filtered in to her open eyes, conciousness descended upon her and the cold seeped back into her. Adaun groaned as she looked around. It took her a few minutes to realize she was hanging by her arm, she looked up to see it chained to the wall again. Her head throbbed and she felt as if though she had been thrown about by a troll.

Slowly she gained her balance and stood. Her legs gave out as the pain of the knots and bruises filtered into her still groggy brain. She regained her composure and forced herself to stand.

" So much for convincing them to let me go. What happened? ...." she thought to herself. She thought back to the goblin trying to make advances on her before he darted her again. She shuddered. " Maybe I don't want to know, in fact I really don't want to know what happened afterward. How to get out of here? I still need to tell them the information, I will get free...I will see to their destruction and to some much needed Chaos in Neriak. And I will come out ahead still. "

[adaun]

Adaun hear the footsteps as the door began opening. Knowing that with each fall of the foot, her fate drew nearer. Lotac entered the room, he looked disappointed.

" Disappointed? It is just a goblin. But the goblins have been more than they appeared now havent' they?" She mused to herself.

For a long while he stood staring at her, brow furled. Adaun felt inteimidated, then berated herself for being foolish. She stared back matching his intensity with her cold emotionless stare.


"It seems we have a problem." He stated flatly.

"Oh?" Adaun said, thinking about how nice it would be to crush his neck.

"It seems you have forgotten our conversation, remember I said you were free to go 'after' I garnished the information from you not before. As I said you are in no position to 'allow' anything.

Just so that you know Tevac, got what he wanted anyways. Make no mistake, though I may be cordial with you I have no love for your race. I really could care less about your pitifull life, to let you go or to kill you, makes no difference to me."

"Can't we be done with this I have agreeded to tell you what I know." Adaun said.

"Of course but on my time table, 'My' time table. Again you seem to keep forgetting you are a prisoner, you can't demand anything! That excarment in the corner of your cell matters more the you..... I will uphold our agreement, but you will be punished, rememeber it well, do as you are told. " And with that Lotac turned and departed.

[kore]

(Picking up from I’m alive? Reply # 12)

“Fine, we will be setting you up then.” Kore shook Tzukiel’s hand, gathered his things, kicked some dirt over the fire, and headed to the outer shops of Nerriak.

“Kore, I’ll just wait here for you.” Tzukiel stated at they neared Nerriak’s vendors. Kore nodded. So he is afraid to come near Nerriak. Not uncome these days…yet still evidence he is hiding something. Kore purchased some cloth armor and a simple weapon, a blanket and some basic supplies for Tzukiel. He returned, handing over the supplies and headed off north, not following any particular trails, just wandering as though the land was the only map he needed. The pair travled on until they stumbled upon and abandon camp. “Odd…here look, armor..” Kore looked over it. It was that blonde girl’s armor, he remembered it. “And a blood trail..there” Said Kore following the path with his finger. “Ok, well, this could lead to the information I seek. Can you defend yourself?”<br>
“I think I can handle myself if I need to.”<br>
“Fine, for battle may be ahead. You need not bother yourself with coming along if you are worried for your safety. This is my matter.”<br>
“I will go with you.”<br>
“As you wish.” Kore hiked up his suplies over his shoulder and crunched on through the snow crusted land. At least it wasn’t blowing a blizzard. On they walked until they came to a cave, the blood trail disappearing within.

[adaun]

Lotac walked from the room and knew that in a short while they would torture that poor Dark elf. It was too bad really, he knew that blood would have to be shed to reclaim their rightful place in the world. This girl was different, you could see it in her eyes, she had spirit. He had to make an example out of her though, the others wanted him to kill her and then eat her. He scoffed at the idea, he didnt see the point in killing an asset. As he sat at his desk of ice to think he cringed as the shrieks began.

[adaun]

I hate him....I will kill him..... Adaun chanted in her head between blows. She heard someone shrieking and wished that who ever the pathetic whelp was would shut up and die. She could feel the warmth of her freshly spilled blood sliding down the bare flesh of her back.

More scars to add to my collection she thought. How many times had she been beaten and raped and then left for dead in Neriak? Too many for her even to remember, she just remembered waking up in a pool of blood afterwards and slinking back into the alley and somehow she survived. This would be no different. Eventually she would come back here and kill all of these pathetic goblins.

More shrieking, she shuddered they were screams from the abyss, poor girl she thought. Adaun wouldn't cry out though, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction.


Adaun lay over a block of ice with her arms chained to the floor. The flesh of her back was all bloody and resembled nothing of the smooth glistening dark skin that was once there. Blood was splattered on the walls and pooled on the floor. *crack* the whip came down again and Adaun spasmed as she screamed again, the goblin smiled wickedly with each blow not knowing how this elven girl was even still concious. He would have to stop soon he lamented to himself, or she will die. *crack* he snapped the whip down again visciously, splitting the already split and bloody skin. Blood flew every where as he withdrew the weapon and blood coated him as well.

Lotac rose from his desk, he couldn't concentrate with those screams piercing the air. How long had this been going on? hours? Lotac couldn't belive the capacity for pain this girl had, he truly hoped that she didnt' die. He always hated to see an asset go to waste. He headed outside making sure to grab his sword, who knows what else may be lurking about outside, a dark elf in his lands he still shook his head in disbelief. Soon he would unite the other small cells that were operating in this area and form a formidable army. In fact he decided that he would vist the one just north of them right then. Anything to get away from that elves screams.