Amongst the Elves

[Darlena O'seth]

They made it up to the top very quickly, the gnomes on guard greeted Noble with open arms an waved to Elindar. Once they saw Darlena the notebooks came out and they started writting and looking her over. She was getting annoyed by them but Nobel calmed her with a smile and Darlena ingnored them.

" Lady will you stay her while we go to my friends house for the night?"

" Yeah I suppose I will.. as long as these creeps keep their distance."

They laughed a bit then turned to head back down when they came face to face with Nikkii. Nobel started to back away from her and Elindar drew his swords. Nikkii smiled at him and walked right past them and up to Darlena.

" I'm not here to fight you child... I wanna take you home."

Nikkii took the sword off her back and handed it to Darlena. She then walked over to Elindar and looked him over sharply.

" So Naldany this is what you prefer now .... he is handsom though ... for an elf.. I want you back in Neriak so the hunter threat will be non existant. "

[Nikkii O'seth]

" You control the threat mother.... just like how you have since you took Phelan."

" I am no longer a hunter of Lycanthropes... I am doing this as your mother Naldany."

" So the message was true... Slyfoot restored it. Well I don't go my Naldany anymore it Darlena now."

" Odd name for yourself.... but verywell then.. Darlena."

" Um Lady Nikkii .... umm how can she trust you this time you tried to kill us a few days ago in Klick Anon." Nobel asked timidly

" Would I give her such a dangerous weapon if I wanted to harm her? She has Duties to perform in Neriak now and she must attend to them."

" She is not a handmaiden of Innoruuk as you are." Elindar said sharply

" Be quiet elf you are good looking but that will not stop me from killing you all the same."

" Leave him alone.... I'll go with you , so long as Phelan is free."

" He has married your cousin and is part of the family now."

Darlena hugged Elindar and kissed him.

" I'll be back in a few days.."

[Nobel]

Nobel watched the two Teir Dal depart the observatory. Two sides of a coin, they seemed. Seeing the two of them together was like a preview of what Darlena would look like when she reached her mother's age.

IF she did. The gnome sighed audibly, fidgeting with the ebb wand in her hand. She hoped that Nikkii was being truthful when she confessed to no longer being a hunter. Otherwise their shadowknight friend could be walking right into a trap. If only they could assist Darlena, yet Nobel knew they were quite helpless against one as powerful as Nikkii.

Nobel turned to look at Elindar, who still grasped his twin foils in whitening hands. Her eyes widened as she watched soft tears trail down from his blue eyes.

[Nobel]

The two companions spent the next few days with their friend Snafitzer, who lived in a tree house just beyond the observatory. The old gnome was thrilled to show them his latest wild inventions. They were considered to be over the top even amongst his own people, and that was saying a lot.

As time passed, Elindar's mood steadily worsened. His patience was known to waver at times, but the congenial elf was rarely prone to outright surliness. Nobel grew concerned for her friend.

The message from Klick Anon arrived at noon on the second day. Everyone was horrified to learn of the vicious attack in the middle of their home town. Klick Anon's leaders had asked that Nobel return to the city. They wanted to ask what she knew of these Tier Dal females, and whether they had a past history of such actions. Nobel dreaded going to the gnome council but knew she had no choice.

The bard and mage set out a couple hours later. Elindar kept up a brisker pace than usual, and Nobel moved quickly to stay with him.

"Do you think she has lost control of her lycanthropy?" she asked quietly, finally voicing her silent fear.

The elf stopped and wheeled around, eyes blazing. "This is NOT Darlena's fault! That dark elf witch is to blame. You know this as well as I do, Nobel!"

"Of course," the gnome replied softly. "Of course..."

[Elindar]

"I am not the simple plucker that Lady Darlena met at the tower between Kara and Fayspire. I may even be her equal in swordplay now."

The Gnome who had seen a both the speed and fury of the elf's blades just nodded.

"The time is not too far ahead when I may need to shed the blood of the damn witch. I know squire, with you at my side we can defeat her easily. I know I do not say it much but you have been a faithful companion and your might has grown beyond the boundaries of your stature."

Nobel's cheeks burned red as her feet moved more quickly to keep up with the song of Selo emitted from the bard's lute.

[Keyra]

Keyra made it Klick Anon.. it appeared that something bad had just occured here. Lots of gnomes was crying and swearing could be herd from the guards. Keyra stopped at the entrance to the city and sat on the rock an watched as the bodies was brought out. She didn't care about what was happening only that there was suffing now and she liked that. She munched on the rest of the chocolate. They kept mentioning Noble. She tried to conceal her smile as she knew that she was in alot of trouble and Keyra wanted to make it worst alot worst, she just needed to find out why. Then she saw Elindar and Noble running towards the city. She would make herself seen to just aggrivate the situation.

[Keyra]

Keyra slid off her rock and bumped into Elindar just as a paniced guard ran up.

" Help .... Help ..... The teir'dal preistest has returned... she is at the gate."


Keyra quickly ran to the gate only to see Nikkii vanish. She turned back to see a surly looking Elindar.

[Keyra]

"That was Lady Nikkii, why would she do such a horrible act?"

" That is her true nature .... she nothing more than a evil witch that corrupts everything she touches with her twisted thinking."

" Shut up you rich sob you know nothing of her... You are more evil than she ever could be."

Keyra went to draw her weapon but Elindar was quicker as he held his foil to her throat. Nobel and the other gnomes gasped as they witnessed this.

" Please .. please there has been enough bloodshed now Nobel the counsil awaits you inside."

[Elindar]

"Do not worry Nobel, I am sure we will be able to smooth these matters over."

Elindar sheathed his blade and put his hand on his squire's diminutive shoulder.

"I will stand by you Nobel, though for now we must respect the will of your kin, I have called on the magician Cephius to be your advocate. He is well respected as you know, and I am sure that his plea for leniency will not fall on deaf ears."

Elindar walked sullenly down into the heart of the Gnome Kingdom with his squire at his side.

[Keyra]

" You'll die by my hand one day Rich boy.... just you wait.. You two are about to get what you deserve for aiding evil....."

Elindar looked back at Keyra then continued behind the gnomes. Keyra happily followed but kept her distance.

[Elindar]

That poor rogue. She still lives in that deluded world of hers where she cannot see true evil from good. It is sad that she has grown up a tramp, without the intellectual capacity to see her situation. I remember as a boyelf that the Priests of Tunare always said to love one another. But that Keyra is a thief and a liar. I suppose I will just need to pray for her soul, because the road she is on will only lead to a tormented afterlife in the realm of Innorruuk or Bertoxolous.


I hope that Cephius is able to get us out of this pickle. It was foolish of Nobel to vouch for them, but gnomes tend to be fair in their abjudications, I am sure that they will be lenient due to my squires great contributions to their society.

[Keyra]

Keyra was enjoying the thought of Elindar and Nobel being in trouble but seeing Nikkii act that way troubled her. She stopped about halfway down the ramp then turned back towards the city gate. She took off towards Neriak in a hurry. Nightfall was apon the land but the volcanic rain lite the area. There was a lagre group of gaurds leaving the area, these guards had the same crest Nikkii had on one of her rings. Maybe they seen where she was or heading to her. Keyra followed the group of Dark elves till they was out of the Neriak, Keyra got closer and colser to them. One of the spell casters saw her and struck her with a lighting bolt , Keyra attempted to escape the wizardress attack but the second found its mark as well. Keyra was in serious trouble this time, Keyra had distantanced herself an hid behind a tree she was badly burnt an losing alot of blood. The wizardress found Keyra slumped over and started chanting her spell as she stolled right infront of her. Keyra used everything she had left and plunged her rapier and shortsword into the dark elf. Weak from her injuries as the blades slid of of the woman they fell from Keyra's hands and the poison blade cut her on the leg sending the poison into her as well.

" So this is how I will die .... alone in the woods.... and I let my parents down.. *coughs* I .. never .... killed..... lov.."

Keyra passed out from the combination of her wounds, blood loss and poison. Loveless wasn't too far away as he smelled Keyra's blood in the air. It took him awhile to pin point where she was exactly but in moments he found her near death. She was pale and skin was cold as her heartbeat got weaker. He Knew their was no time to find someone to heal her. He looked at her arm where the gypies brand was and notices that the burns practically destroyed it. He smiled and brought her closer to him.

" Don't worry my little hunter ..... I am about to give you a gift."

He opened his mouth, reveiling his sharp teeth and bite Keyra. He gently placed her back down against the tree and sat down next to her. Atfirst nothing happened which made him think that he was not successful, but then he felt her heartbeat get stronger and color was returning to her skin as the burn skin started to flake off. The poison had also run its coarse and after a few hours Keyra began to move. Loveless smiled as he knew now Keyra would be bound to him. Keyra opened her eyes and looked over herself and where her burns was then saw Loveless kneeling across from her. There was still a pain though but she didn't remeber having it before. She took her glove off and felt her neck, there was a scar there now.

" What are you doing here you beast?"


She covered her mouth immediatly after she spoke once she realized that her teeth felt different, they were longer and sharper now. She got up and rushed over to the river and looked into the water.

" You've been given a second chance at life now... my little hunter."

" You should have let me die... now I can't go home to the oasis.... I hate you!!"

[Wilkens]

wilkens walks into the tavern where she last remembers being. she looks around and sees the barkeep, she walks up to him and asks for an ale, after he hands it to her she smiles her thanks and tosses some tunar on the counter.

she walks to a table and sits down, she looks around the tavern and for some reason its absolutely empty.

[Nobel]

The trial went on for just over a week. It was a difficult time for everyone, with almost all residents of Klick Anon having a close friend or relative who had been killed in the attack. Emotions ran high among the gnomes, most demanding a harsh punishment for the young mage, while others (mostly her extended family) asking for leniency.

Of all the small folk in Norrath, the gnomes tended to be accepting of other races. The halflings of Rivervale were insular and sometimes fearful of outsiders. The dwarves of Moradhim and other dwarven villages tended to keep to themselves, remaining intentionally ignorant of the affairs of others. Most gnomes, on the other hand, were on a constant quest for knowledge, and more than a few had an adventurous streak.

This time their relatively carefree attitude towards other races had backfired, as evidenced by the rampage of the two dark elves, Nikkii and Darlena. The slaughter had cost more than 40 gnome lives. The list of the dead spanned all ages and professions – from guards and casters to grocers and tailors. Even Nobel’s eldest brother, a wizard by the name of Rhenium, was among those slain.

Elindar remained by his friend’s side throughout her ordeal. He offered his considerable resources to bear, and persistently attested to the good character of Nobel and even the shadowknight Darlena. He made no mention of Nikkii, not concerned with what would happen to the mighty priestess of Innoruuk. The well-respected magician Cephius acted as an advocate on Nobel’s behalf, and his wife Bubbeltroubl also spoke well of her to the city’s elders.

In the end, the majority prevailed and Nobel was dealt a harsh punishment for associating herself with such dangerous dark elves. She would not be allowed to enter the city of Klick Anon for an entire year. The guards had also been ordered to kill Darlena and Nikkii on sight, should they ever happen to return to the gnome town.

Nobel’s family, having already lost a son, was devastated to learn that they would not be permitted to see their youngest daughter for a long while. Elindar was a great help in comforting her family, for Nobel seemed too stunned to be able to do so herself. She would be allowed to stay the night, but then she would have to leave the city.

Neither friend slept well that night, both wondering where they would go next. Through it all, Elindar made one assumption that proved false early the next morning.

“What do you mean, you’re going alone?” he demanded angrily, as he stood before his diminutive squire.

Nobel put the last few drinks and items of food into her pack, not meeting the elf’s hard gaze.

“I need to see someone, Elindar. I need to ask him some important questions. I know you find this difficult to understand, but I also really need to be alone right now.”<br>
Elindar frowned, not pleased with her decision at all.

“Will you at least tell me where you’re going?”<br>
She smiled sadly, “Of course not, silly elf! I know you would come follow me. Try not to worry. I am not the same inexperienced gnome you met all those years ago in Tethelin. I can handle myself.”<br>
The bard knew his friend’s mind was set on her journey. It would be useless to try to dissuade her. The pair began to walk towards the gates, heading away from Klick Anon.

“I shall make my way to Tethelin. My father must be informed of this. I do not think he will be pleased with the harsh actions of your people.”<br>
Nobel shook her head. “No, I think they were too merciful on me. It is less than I deserve for trusting a bunch of Tier Dal.”<br>
Elindar stopped suddenly, brows raised. Nobel halted as well, her blue eyes glossy with unshed tears.

“I know you love her,” Nobel sighed. “But I do not think I could trust her again. Not after seeing those cruel sword marks upon Rhenium’s body.”

She continued walking then, Elindar eventually falling in step beside her. A silence settled between them like a thick fog. They parted ways just outside the gate, each silently hoping that their paths would cross again soon.


(Note -- Please don't join Nobel on her journey at present, she truly has some things to take care of on her own. Thanks )

[Wilkens]

wilkens spotted elindar talking to nobel as they walked out of klick a non. by the look on their faces something seriously happened to them.

she silently walked behind them waiting for a time to interupt them to say hi. once they got outside she notices that they go separate ways. with a frown on her face she follows the gnome staying just out of hearing shot.