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| | From:  melchon (Original Message) | Sent: 1/23/2004 4:03 AM |
|  | As the old man approached the village, the wind whipping his long, greyish white hair about. The man's white robes shone within the rays of the sun as they broached the grey clouds above. He stopped at the edge of the village, surveying the various buildings and appearing to be looking for someone or something. | |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 2/24/2004 2:38 AM |
Leopold frowned, then nodded his head as Holga departed. Turning to the High Priestess, he shrugs before continuing, "Sins of the past oft trouble the present." With a wry smile, the monk focuses his attention on Sia, "Nothing concerns the present, save the future." Looking about, the man guestures broadly, "Where shall we go next? Diamondback can be taught anytime; but the day is yet young. And Nothing serves the Future like the Past!" |
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Siannodell chuckled at his pep. "My, Leopold, do you always speak in such riddles?" she asked. She took a sip of her tea and watched him. "The day is, indeed, young, and we can no doubt find some sort of mischief for you to take part in, I'm sure," the High Priestess commented. "We could visit the Temple gardens and I could show you the burning lake, or we could visit the waterfall...it's beautiful on sunny days like today." She paused and sat back, taking another drink from her cup and thinking. "I could introduce you to some people, if you'd like. There are the wizards of the Trinity, and their towers. They always seem to have something interesting around. Or if you're of a mind, we could make a trek out to the ruins..." her face grew thoughtful and darkened a little at this. Leopold could almost see the gears turning behind her bright, brown eyes. "It's about a two hour walk, as the crow flies...and we still don't know much about them. But I'm rather curious to see what resides there, myself. The traveling circus I spoke of earlier...their leader seemed to be quite enthralled with them for some reason." |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 2/28/2004 4:41 AM |
Leopold laughed in delight at the prospect of an afternoon's jaunt. His accented voice carried throughout the room as he replied, "Most certainly! The Ruins it shall be! Nothing like the remenants of the past to put the present into perspective!" Nodding amiably, he looks over at Sia as he continues in a quieter tone, "Are these Ruins actually unexplored?" A small smile winks briefly on his face as he continues, "Not that I fear for myself, my dear High Priestess, but one can never be too careful." "Should we take a lunch and picnic among the fallen stones?" Leopold's smile broadens at the thought of an afternoon with the intriguing High Priestess. |
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The thought was appealing to Siannodell, too, and it showed in her smile. "Yes, that sounds like a wonderful way to spend the afternoon, Leopold," she said brightly. When her order came, she had Jarlosh, who had also brought butter for their tea, wrap her meal up and also prepare a couple of sandwiches for them to take to eat later. As the barkeep was preparing everything, Siannodell continued to speak to the monk. She nodded gravely, her expression darkening a bit. "Yes, indeed, they haven’t been explored yet, but the Trinity has mentioned plans of sending an exploration team into them sometime soon, so that we may learn more." She glanced around the tavern and lowered her voice a little. "Actually, they don’t want anyone out there at all, but I don’t think they meant me. After all, if there is anything unholy or dangerous lurking around the ruins, it’s probably nothing two sturdy adventurers like ourselves couldn’t handle, right?" she asked with a sparkle in her eyes. When Jarlosh brought them the basket of food and drink, Siannodell thanked him warmly and paid him with a tip. Then she slid from her chair and pressed her lips together to hide the grimace caused by an aging back. Keeping the forced smile, she stretched slightly and then spread her arm toward the door, grasping her staff and ready to travel. |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 3/5/2004 2:16 AM |
 | The man smiled as he and the Cleric departed the Inn. As they stepped onto the street, the man withdrew an ornate iron bound staff from within his robes. The staff stretched for about 5'; seeming to come from a hidden pocket of unknown depth. The pair stepped onto the road and set out on their journey. "Do you think that you should tell anyone where we are going? After all, I wouldn't want them to think that I have kidnapped the most beautiful woman in the town." | |
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Siannodell's brow quirked with interest as she watched Leopold pull the staff from his curious robes. "Hmmmm," she mused. "I know someone who has a cloak that's very similar to that. She says it's an enchantment called 'DeepPockets' or something." The High Priestess didn't miss much, and she was pretty shrewd at figuring things out. She breathed deeply of the beautiful day Mielikki had graced them with as they began to walk down the road toward the Temple. Nodding her platinum head, she managed not to blush too much at Leopold's flattery. "Yes, we'll stop by the Temple on our way, and I'll have to let Melanie know, so she won't worry." Sia looked over at him. "She'll be surprised to see me in such handsome company," she flirted back, containing the smile that threatened. "But then, it might do people good to know that even though I'm chaste, I'm still human." There was laughter in her deep brown eyes, but she managed to keep a straight face. |
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Siannodell chuckled at Leopold's words, just shaking her head in amusement. In a little while, they reached the temple. "I'll be right back," she told the monk and then entered the magnificent structure. Of course, Melanie had to come to the door to see just who it was that the High Priestess would be making her excursion to the Ruins with, and she gave Sia a delighted, surprised look and grinned at Leopold, giving him a small wave. Sia disappeared into the building for a few minutes, leaving Leopold to bask in the sunshine. Then she returned wearing a floppy sunhat to protect her face and a mischevious grin. They set off on their adventure at a casual pace, walking beside the stream which flowed nearby. "So tell me about the monastery where you lived," she invited as they walked, wanting to hear more about this charming gentleman. "Were there many members? What did you learn while there? How is it you came to travel instead of setting down roots, Leopold?" |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 3/8/2004 12:20 AM |
 | Leopold twirled his staff into an intricate series of loops, tossing it high as Melanie waved. As the iron shod staff appeared to float in the air, he waved langerously back. Catching the staff in his right hand, he grounded it and leaned outwards, enjoying the air while he awaited Siannodell's return. An ornate band of platinum adorning the monk's hand rang on the polished wood of the staff when he caught it. As the pair moved slowly by the stream, Leopold gave the High Priestesses questions some thought before answering. "What do you want to know about the monestary? What were its members like? Or perhaps the floor plan? The way the light hit the center courtyard in the morning, lighting on the rock garden? Or the way the morning dew settled, dripping down the grey rock in the center of the garden?" As she elaborated, the monk smiled and nodded, "Easily enough to say. There were not many members, for ours is a demanding discipline and few can pass its tests. I would say less than a hundred at any given time are engaged in the pursuit of its knowledge. As to what I learned..." The monk once again tossed his staff with a twirling spin, the light catching and reflecting off of the iron caps. "Just this...or perhaps that everything has a cause, but that the first one is unknown. Or perhaps that I know so little as to make what I know insignificant." With a wry smile, he continues, "They say that Ignorance is Bliss, and on a day such as this Bliss is within easy reach. Who would question the workings of the universe when such wonderful company is by your side to distract? Catching the staff as it returns to earth, Leopold continues onward, "As to why I never settled down...well, let's just say that life is meant to be lived. One can not do that from a place of surease." | |
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Siannodell smiled as they walked, glancing sideways at him and the ease with which he handled his staff. Her own, smooth oaken staff was quiet as it marked the soft, thick carpet of grass they walked upon beside the stream. "Indeed, 'tis a beautiful day the Goddess has granted, and the charming company makes it even more agreeable," she grinned. When the High Priestess smiled, it took years from her fair face and Leopold could see a hint of how beautiful she must have been in her youth. "It sounds as if the monastery was a peaceful place full of quiet knowledge and those who would practice it. Although," she amended as she studied his staff once more. "I can see that they realized the value of self-defense and training." Sia was actually quite spry for her age and managed to set a decent pace. It was not enough to wind either of them, but enough so that it provided a moderate workout. "As to your comment about living life from a place of quiet and rest, I would have to politely disagree with you, Leopold," she smiled. Sia gestured at the surrounding forest casually. "Elmshade is not as peaceful as one might think, but when it is, there is no place I would rather call home. However, you must have seen a great many places in your travels, Leopold. Tell me, have you ever been to the ocean?" |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 3/13/2004 4:14 PM |
As Siannodell remarks on the disruption of peace, Leopold laughs, "Then I most certainly will have to make this my new home." With a sly smile he quips, "Just enough adventure to spice up one's dinner, a beautiful companion to enjoy it....one must wonder where the heavenly choir has set up to spring a symphonic accompanyment to the day upon us...." Tilting his head slightly, the monk pauses, "Sea? Hmm.....not recently. But I have ventured across several." The monk smiles at the memory, "There is nothing like it, Siannodell, the waves flow and intertwine....patterns of the divine." Once again a sly smile etches itself on his face, "They say the sea is a fickle woman....but then I make it a practice to never get involved with woman who are that much larger than I." Leopold chuckles lightly, then continues, "But you have done naught but ask me questions. So I suppose it is my turn." The monk turns his piercing grey eyes upon the woman, "Siannodell....well, what do you do here? Tend your flock? Guard them? Or do you have another tasking from your diety who makes such a fine day?" |
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The elder woman gave him a wry smile at his words. "Indeed, if you made this your new home, we could charge good money for you to flatter the local farmwives with that silver tongue of yours," she laughed gaily. "You and Avon, our local Bard, could no doubt rake in a small fortune." She nodded at his description of the ocean, a wistful look in her eyes. "Yes, I've heard that it's like that, and that it's always referred to as a 'she', although I never understood why, exactly, until now. I'd like to see it someday before I pass from this world, I think," she remarked. At his question, Siannodell shrugged and nodded again. "I do watch over and guard my flock, tending them...marrying them when they're of a mind, christening the young, advising those who are troubled. All manner of things someone in my position would be expected to do. But I also serve the Goddess by carefully trying to keep the balance in nature here, Leopold." Her face turned a little more serious as she thought about it, and her pace slowed marginally. "I work with the druids to keep the forest as close to its natural state as possible. The fae creatures are my friends, and I watch out for their well being, too. There are many creatures in the woods here that only exist in legends elsewhere, you know. And our troubles recently lead me to believe that they will be threatened more and more often in the times to come." Her gaze strayed ahead as they finally began to draw close to the ruins. She pointed her staff in the direction of the rubble, noting the blackened grass and trees, the damage wrought from some furious, recent battle waged here. She shook her head slowly and turned in a circle, studying the surrounding area in disbelief. She had heard that the damage had been bad...but this...was worse than she expected. "Especially since events have uncovered these ruins, Leopold. There is something of incredible power that lies below. Something evil enough to call creatures across dimensions...from other planes and other worlds...something calls to them." Siannodell's face had paled and her brown eyes held deep concern as she began to pick her way through the stony remnants of what had once been a courtyard. |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 3/17/2004 3:54 AM |
Leopold frowned at Sia's words, stopping to rest on his staff as he observed the area. "Siannodell....if such calls then you must either guard it's portal or destroy it. For such can easily unbalance the region by attracting things which were never meant to be within this sphere." With a sudden look of determination, the monk began to move forward in ernest, his staff raised in an odd position and his frame deceptively relaxed. His tone carries across the clearing as he does so, "Are you ready to explore this nexus of evil, Siannodell? Between the two of us, we should be able to resist any creature that comes out." As his dark eyes scan the clearing for an enterance to the chambers below, Leopold continues, "I have fought creatures from the Abyss and even an Avatar of Gruumsh once....not a fight I would care to repeat, but at least I was faster than it was." |
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Siannodell arched both brows in respectful surprise at Leopold's claims. "That is impressive, indeed, Leopold," she remarked. The fair woman nodded uneasily to him and was about to enter the clearing, when her ears caught the sound of muffled, guttural voices. With a frown, she paused and set the picnic basket down, creeping closer through the underbrush to spy on the owners of the voices. She was sure there were more than one. Sia glanced at Leopold and silently motioned for him to join her. (( Moving to the thread "Offerings of Malice" on the Ruins Board. Sorry it took so long for me to respond, but now we may see just how adept your smooth talking monk can be! *Grins*  )) |
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| | | From: melchon | Sent: 3/20/2004 11:55 PM |
Um....didn't know you wanted to fight him....oh, boy...LOL; I should properly introduce him to you.... Leopold, the Gambling Monk Master of Winter Level 17, 1st Edition (Dragon Magazine Modified Class) You are going to hate this...and it's not my fault...LOL.... P.S. (This is the 2nd PC I ever created, and he's still alive. So is the Paladin, who was my first PC, but that's another story) |
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