Into the dark we go.

[Melantha]

Plot: Surda has fallen to the Shade army. Melantha, Andromeda and Nextith(Jaxrond) have flown from New Doru Arabea to assess the damage on the Capitol and the surrounding lands as well as try to help any one in need then report back to the Elders in New Doru Arabea. While they do everything in their power to stay under the radar things don't always go as planed.

See this thread for more details:
argetlam01.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=nda&thread=1550&post=27969


Occ: sorry this is a short one

The sky grew darker as they flew, Melantha watched the Sun set in the west her mind totally consumed with thoughts of finding a safe place to land and thoughts of flying over dozens of shades. Too busy to appreciate the beauty of the colours that filled the sky caused by the suns rays low on the horizon.

Andromeda timed her flight by the shades of the sky and the height of the sun the plan was to arrive in Surda by nightfall undetected. Andromeda concentrated on flying and her surroundings; in the back of her mind she could hear her riders thoughts. ‘I cannot decided what to do without my thoughts being swayed by yours but perhaps you should consult Nextith he should have a say as the outcome could effect us all.’

Melantha gave Andromeda a mental nod one in which she praised the dragon for bringing the obvious solution to her attention.
“When we arrive the sky will be dark enough for Andromeda to fly around the capitol at a height with out being seen, I do not want to waste the opportunity but as it’s our first night here I think it is also important to find a safe place out of site to hide during the day time, What do you think Nextith?” She asked her voice taking on a serious tone.

[Deleted]

(OOC: I have no muse! Gahhh! *rolls over and curls up in a ball*)


Nextith looked up as he was addressed. He had been wrapped in his own thoughts for the duration of the flight. Memories of the last time he had flown on dragonback threatened to choke him. Upon hearing Melantha's voice, he blinked, clearing the memories.
"I too am eager to get on with this mission. However, if, by chance we are seen, we will find ourselves wishing we had found a place to retreat to beforehand. It is my opinion that we should find our hiding place first."

[Melantha]

occ: this one is terrible lol

Melantha was glad Nextith was thinking the same way, "its settled then we shall find shelter first." she declared leaning forward and producing a folded piece of parchment from one of the saddle bags that hung from the side.
Fumbling in the dark she whispered "Garjzla" and a small ball of light appeared in the palm of her hand, she unfolded the parchment which contained a detailed map of Sudra and the surrounding areas.

Melantha looked at the map for a long minute "I'm thinking our best bet is at the base of the Beor mountains to the east of Aberon on the eastern side of the river that flows from the Tudosten."

Melantha continued with her proposal still unsure. "With the mountains at our backs it would eliminate a possibility for the enemy to surprise us from behind, and we wouldn't have to worry about water supplies."

"but wouldn't we be backed into a corner?" Andromeda pointed out keeping her wings beats steady enough to keep them a loft, she circled in the air hopping they would decided on directions soon.

After ending the spell and putting out the little ball of light Melantha spoke "I hadn't thought of that, but we wouldn't exactly be in a corner, i just think that the Shades will avoid traversing the mountains on foot just to attack us from behind, that said we could still flee into the mountains on foot or on your back."

Melantha sighed "if worst comes to worst, and we are willing to settle for a location outside of Surda and further than expected, then there are several natural and dwarven built cave systems we could use, but im afraid with out a proper guide they might be hard to find which could be in our favor."

Melantha noticed Andromeda was flying in a loose circle she hoped andromeda would stop soon she was beginning to get dizzy
"Close to the mountains is probably our best chance they will provide us with cover but the trick is to remain unseen, then we shall have no problems as long as they do not stumble upon our camp by accident." She awkwardly waited hoping Nextith might have a better idea.

Andromeda changed her course sensing her passengers discomfort to flying in circles She headed to the location her rider suggested it wouldn't hurt for them to have a look as the map could only show so much.

[Deleted]

Nextith considered her proposal, listening as she listed the pros and cons of hiding in the mountains. His blue eyes drifted toward the Beors, which appeared as a dark smudge that stretched into the distance of the East and rose up to touch the sky. He tapped his fingertips against his knee thoughtfully.
"I wandered the Beors a bit during the last decade or so. Though I never came to this area, as I was avoiding human civilization," his eyes narrowed slightly, "I think it's a good plan. If all else fails and we're forced to flee, I have no doubt we could seek shelter with the dwarves."
Over his time spent on his sojourn, he had met a few dwarves who would be valuable allies should this mission go south.

[Melantha]

Melantha nodded "I have a few contacts, relatives, that would be glad to help us out if we need shelter or to resupply, but lets hope it dose not come to that."

"yes few have a good knowledge of the mountains. the shades have not attacked any city's or villages in the mountains to my knowledge" She paused for a moment deep i thought "Perhaps we could use this as an advantage as a battle strategy?"

********Pushing forward******

Andromeda flew in the dark, even though her vision was not hindered by the lack of light she still heavily relied on all her other senses as well.
"I smell smoke" Andromeda stated

"Its faint but i smell it too" Melantha replied

Andromeda glided along an air current "The wind is blowing from the south west to the east, it must be coming from Aberon or one of the other smaller cities." Andromeda said grimly.
They had seen death and destruction before, they had seen the aftermath of whole villages being burnt to the ground but no matter how many times there was no way of getting use to it.

Melantha stayed silent until Andromeda finally landed. several meters away from the river , she squinted around barely able to see anything apart from the faint glint off moon light reflected off the rivers surface.

Reaching for her magic she spoke under her breath"Skulblakas ven." Suddenly her vision was sharp, She could see the landscape all around but no colour just black and white and all the tones in-between. "i suppose this will do, unless any one objects?" she asked climbing off Andromedas back glad to finally stretch her legs.


occ: ahh so what now...??

[Deleted]

(OOC- Um, well, I guess that they could talk and find out more about each other...it would be nice if anyone with a villain would join...I have a villain that we could use if push comes to shove, but I'd rather not use him because it's not as fun to pit your own characters against each other, you know?)

Nextith's eyes narrowed at the sharp smell of smoke. No doubt the Shade army was killing and burning their way toward conquering the rest of Surda. As soon as Andromeda landed, he leapt from the saddle, landing in a crouch. His sharp elven eyes and ears could pick up no signs of anyone else in the immediate area. He nodded to himself.
"This will be fine."
After setting a small perimeter of spells to alert them of anyone approaching, he returned to his comrades.
"We should get some sleep. Formulating a plan can come in the morning."
He looked toward Aberon as he spoke, imagining the horrors that must currently be befalling the citizens. Then his eyes tightened. He had forgotten until now, but the last time he had heard from Varda, she had told him that she was going to Aberon on a mission of diplomacy. He turned his body more fully in the direction of the city. Though he did not believe in any god, and therefore did not pray, he hoped with all his might that she had escaped safely. They had not seen any sign of her and her dragon on the way to their destination, but it was still possible that they had passed each other without noticing. Nextith crossed his arms, his expression troubled. He did not think he could bear losing the daughter of his dear friend, especially not when they had all struggled so hard to save her from madness. Varda and Eladan were like his own niece and nephew. Eladan had already fallen into insanity, but Nextith himself had helped keep Varda from the same fate. If she died now after all the time he spent loving her.
Please, if her mission was not complete, let her be alright.

[Melantha]

Occ: im so sorry its taken so long, things got busy with christmas and then after since every one is on holidays and wanting to catch up and all. hope your having a good Holiday season this year. and Happy New Year probably by the time you read this.

Melantha took the bags one by one off Andromeda's saddle and set them down on an area of the ground that looked suitable to set up camp.

After setting the bags down she took a seat on a near by bolder and watched and waited quietly as Nexthith set up spells around their camps site.

Andromeda surveyed the land with all her senses, there was no sign of life in the near by areas apart from the smaller creatures burrowed bellow the earth a fair distance away.

While Nexthith continued his spells Melantha fiddled with her wrist bracers loosening the cord that fastened them together. Her old scar on her wrist always got itchy and sore when she wore her bracers especially when the leather rubbed up against it.
Melantha looked up when Nextith began to speak. She nodded "I can take first watch if you like." she offered knowing fully well she wouldn't be able to fall asleep with so much on her mind.

Andromeda had already set her self down and closed her eyes, her legs curled up snugly underneath her body not waiting for an invitation to sleep.

Melantha observed Nextith noticing the small change in his body language as he looked out to the west towards the Capitol of Surda. Elves were quite difficult to read but there was no mistaking the sudden change he displayed but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. a frown spread across her face. "Is there something wrong?" she asked worriedly lowering her voice just in case he had detected some one near by.

Andromeda shifted slightly opening one eye just as worried as her rider.

[Deleted]

Nextith blinked and turned his head to look at Melantha. He debated for a moment, whether he should tell her or simply brush it off as nothing. However, trust between them was needed on this mission. They could not afford to be distant and strange to each other when they may very well be protecting the other's life.
"I do not know if you remember young Varda. She was a Rider of the Varden and fought gallantly in the war against Galbatorix," he turned his face back to the west, "She is very dear to me. In the last contact we exchanged, she informed me that she was to be sent to Aberon for diplomacy's sake," his lips pressed into a thin line, "We did not pass her on our way here, nor could I sense her...I am worried that she was caught up in the battle and unable to escape."
He felt slightly uncomfortable sharing this information, as it gave insight as to what lay behind his seemingly hard exterior. He glanced at the pair again, wondering if he had not made a mistake.

[Melantha]

occ: Shall we do a time skip to get into some action in the next post or next few posts?

Melantha was some what relived when Nextith spoke and did not bring news of a breach to their immediate safety, yet what he did say was a story she knew all too well.
'Varda?' Melantha and Andromeda pondered in unison.

"Sounds familiar" Andromeda replied

Melantha tried to think back to the old Varden camp days nodding as the name did sound familiar.
As Nextith Continued his story Melantha couldn't help feel sympathy towards the elf, She knew exactly what he was going through.
At the conclusion of his short story Melantha rose from her seat to and stood in front of the elf hopping to provide some comfort, "These are difficult time we face, I of all people understand what your are going through as my husband has gone missing as well. I worry for him every moment of every day." she said sympathetically as tears formed in her eyes.

Andromeda rose from her seat to console her rider. She nestled her head gently agains her riders waist sharing in the pain of being separated form a loved one.

Melantha felt Andromeda's nose against her side. She stroked the dragons scales, it seemed to be calming for the both of them.
"I left my Son with my husband and his dragon in s small village, so i could go speak with the Queen, i thought they would be safe away from the front lines but in our absence the village was attacked. I still do not know how Dubbhan escaped, because" Melantha's voice shook as she spoke "when we got there the village had been burnt to the ground, and the bodies of men women and children littered the ground." Melantha wiped her eyes.
"My Husband and his dragon held off the attack so my son could escape into the forest, but i owe my gratitude to the elf who happened to be passing by. She saved him from the shades that where following him and watched over him through the night. The very same elf i fought along side at Aberon among the many others that were present during the attack." She said sadly

Melantha bowed her head and looked down towards Andromeda "it is just one among the manny reasons we feel we need to be on the mission." Melantha concluded feeling some what relieved to talk about everything with some one other than her Mother or Andromeda.

She looked back up at Nextith with a neutral expression "I just hope that every one is safe, as safe as they can be in times like these." in saying those words she knew very well that not everyone would come out unharmed by the end of the war. There would be many casualties on both sides of the war, but it was only natural to hope otherwise when it came to friends and loved ones.

Andromeda turned towards Nexthith " I do not recall another dragons presence at the time of the city fall so perhaps they missed the start of the attack? and if they were there as well they very well could have escaped much like we did." she said optimistically

"Have hope, they will turn up." Andromeda said trying to reassure Nextith and her rider

[Deleted]

Nextith looked at his companions with ancient eyes, listening to their story. He had heard many of its kind over his long years, however, that did not stop them from being horrible with each telling. He nodded to Andromeda when she spoke to him in an attempt to lift his spirits.
"I am grateful for your optimism," he turned his gaze back toward Aberon. He paused before speaking again, "Though I readily admit that I enjoy the simplicity of battle, I do not wish for war," he sighed, "It has been too short a time since our last great war. For 100 years we fought the tyranny of Glabatorix. Now, when he is gone, we had only twenty years of peace. In the lifetime of an immortal, that is but the blink of an eye."
He glanced over at the Rider.
"You should rest. I will take first watch."
As an elf, he was more than capable of going without sleep for the night.

[Melantha]

occ: Its been soo long.

Andromeda bowed her head, "We cannot afford to lose hope if we want to win this war." She knew above all, hope was the most important thing to hold onto in dark times. She had taken it upon herself to remind the elf as well many others that she had come across some of much shorter life spans, to hold onto hope because that one small factor could mean the difference between victory and defeat.


Melantha turned to Andromeda and smirked knowing from experience that her bonds words were true. She turned back to Nextith as he spoke her mind thinking about his words "20 years? " she thought aloud, that didn't sound right. She started making calculations looking back at the last few years in her head.
Dubhan was eight and it had taken them at least two years of trying to have him and before that they had been travelling on rider duties and such repairing the damage and gaining some sort of order from the last war. She cleared her head realising there was a simpler way to work it out.
"No we weren't lucky enough to have that long, its only been sixteen years." She said with sadness in her voice. She knew the date because the anniversary of the fall of the old empire also coincided with the day her husband had asked for her hand in marriage. She was a little disappointed that she hadn't come to the conclusion sooner, perhaps the curse of immortality that came with being a rider was starting to take its toll, surely not this early.


Melantha nodded at Nextiths offer to take first watch in agreement. Even though it would be hard to sleep she knew she should try to get as much rest as possible. "Wake Andromeda and i up if you need to rest" she offered "or if." she stopped herself from continuing that sentence not wanting to think about being found by the enemy.
She turned to her saddle bags and rummaged through them.

With the question of who was taking watch settled Andromeda lay herself down rolling on to her side and lifted her wing slightly for her rider to crawl underneath

Melantha took out a blanket from one of the saddle bags and brought it over to Andromeda who was already stretched out on the ground making herself comfortable. She threw the blanket across her shoulders pulling it around herself before crawling under Andromedas wing.
It took a few minutes of tossing and turning before she had made herself as comfortable as could be lying on the hard ground, At least between Andromeda and the blanket she was warm.
She found it hard to sleep once she shut her eyes unlike Andromeda who was quick to fall asleep, tired from the long flight.
Eventually Melantha drifted off into a dreamless sleep aided by the silence of the night.


***

The sound screams from a distance filled her ears. Andromeda was the first to wake her ears much more finely tuned than her riders.
Andromeda looked to Nextith seeing him clearly even in the darkness of night knowing he could hear it too.
"Mel wake up" Andromeda called with much urgency, nudging Melantha with her nose.


"Ww,wha, What is it?" Melantha mumbled, shaking herself as she tried to wake herself up.

[Deleted]

(OOC- Just gonna like...throw out a reply...even though it's been forever)

Nextith glanced at Melantha as he took his post at the edge of camp. His own mind ran through the calculations when she put forth the number sixteen. After hundreds of years of existence, time blended together. His life was divided in episodes of memories based around events. He remembered a time before the Fall and a time after it. A time during the reign of Galbatorix, a time during the war. A time serving the Empire, followed by the decision to defect to the Varden n order to protect those he loved. He remembered fighting with the Varden, recovering from the madness that had plagued him during his time spent within the Empire. He recalled the end of the war, followed by a short peace, full of visiting family and travelling. Then, the Shade uprising had occurred and Lucian had contacted him. Now he was here. How much time had passed between or during those events, he did not know. His lips quirked just slightly.

Such is the curse of immortality. Stay young a and good-looking forever, but can't remember how long it's been since anything, really...

He gave up on his calculations. He'd take her word for it. Just like he'd taken the word of those who had said the Fall had occurred 100 years before the war. He didn't remember.

"I will assume you know better than I," his dry smirk grew more pronounced, "Soon enough I'll be like those doddering fools in the deep parts of Du Weldenvarden who wander out looking to speak to the queen of a battle plan they've developed to stop Galbatorix's rise to power, or share something a Rider said centuries ago as if they were just having tea with him yesterday," he sighed, "Oh, well, I suppose I'm just getting old..."

He trailed off, turning his mind away from those thoughts and back to the task at hand. As annoying as Lucian was, the old elf had charged Nextith with assisting and protecting the pair just a few yards away. The past did not matter right now. Presently, he had a mission. And that was all he needed to remember currently.

He did not reply when Melantha spoke again, instead giving just a small nod. He would not be waking her to take a watch, despite the offer. He would be just fine throughout the night. He settled down, cross-legged, and turned his eyes towards the West. If the Shade army continued its march, it would come from that direction.

*****************

The elven soldier had entered a trancelike state at some point in the night. That place between waking and sleeping in which he was aware and yet resting. The trance was broken by the sound of screams. He blinked once, bringing himself back to full awareness, and stood in a quick, fluid movement. He did not draw his sword, though his hand gripped the pommel. He sensed more than heard Andromeda shifting to wake her rider. This was followed by Melantha's confusion as she rose. This boded ill. The promise of a fight was in the air and his traveling companion was still sleepy. He hoped that she would rouse herself quickly. Entering combat while tired was a good way to die.

Nextith glanced back at the pair. The screams meant trouble, and, though their mission was specific, he refused to stand by and allow nefarious deeds to go unhindered.

"Awaken," he said in a clipped but not unkind tone, "We must move now if we wish to assess the situation and see what good we may do."

He snatched up his light pack and slung it across his shoulders, readying to move out.

[Melantha]

Occ: yay. Not sure what they are going to find but I think we need some bad guys.


Andromeda rose to her feet shaking her body from head to tail warming her muscles up, preparing herself for battle.

Hearing Nextith's voice along with the distant screams Melantha fully woke. Jumping into action she stuffed the blanket into the saddle bags which she quickly attached to Andromeda's saddle in record time.

"lets go by foot, less chance we may be seen while landing. I think it is better to maintain the element of surprise if its necessary for us to intervene. Andromeda will go by air and find us a suitable pickup location if we are forced to retrete. She will sscout ahead so that we can get a better idea of what we are dealing with before we arrive" She was confident in her plan and sure that she could keep up with the elf on foot.

With a nod at her riders plan Andromeda launched herself straight up into the air. She climbed as high as she could while still being able to see the ground and then maintained a near silent glide only beating her wings to maintain an altitude which she would remain unseen by those on the ground.

Once Andromeda was in the air Melantha placed one had on the the hilt of her sword and wordlessly nodded to Nexthith indicating that she was ready to go. Turning to the west she began at a light jog which quickly built up in speed to a sustainable run.

[Deleted]

OOC- We do need villains...shall we use random canon fodder NPCs, bring in a boss, or phone a friend?

Nextith gave a quick nod of agreement. He had almost forgotten how very convenient it was to have a dragon-rider pair around. Especially a veteran pair. He wasn't the one coming up with the plan, nor was he stuck figuring out how to best approach the situation alone. Though Nextith could strategize and had a large amount of battle experience to pull from, he was a soldier. He preferred to be pointed in a direction and let loose with some sort of objective in mind.

The elf let his companion set their pace. She seemed to be able to set a good one, and he didn't dare attempt his full speed when they didn't know how far they had to go. She might be able to do it for some time, but, the cost of doing so could cause fatigue during battle. And even an elf of his age needed to watch his energy expenditure when it came to this sort of prolonged physical activity. Sprinting across a substantial distance was not a wise decision. Though he preferred not to use magic, as it wasn't his strong suit, he knew that intense swordplay could be as exhausting as any spell. To use them in conjunction, doubly so.

He kept a hand on his sword hilt as they ran, fighting the urge to extend his mind and sense out the situation ahead. The screams were growing louder and he very much wanted to know what they were dealing with before they ran up on the scene.

[iapetus]

(OOC: Melantha, @jaxrond , are you still continuing this thread? I have been wanting to make some villainous characters and this would be a good intro for one of them, just let me know what you want. )