As you push through the shrubs and small trees, you enter into a small clearing, no larger than 30 feet across. Just as you enter, you see 3 men step into the woods on the opposite side.
My love. tis cold this evening. Perhaps a fire? kodokura exclaims loudly.
Raising his hands over his head, an orange ball begins to grow between them, and grows larger as he snaps both arms forward in a hurling motion.
the ball of fire travels through the open space and impacts upon a tree. A great roar and thunderous explosion fills the air as it impacts your bodies.
from perhaps 500 yards way,in line towards the bright banner in the sky, a fireball suddenly roars into existence, throwing flaming debris high into the sky.
Out of the pattern? Balefire
Lord Aelorn, perhaps it is possible for us to understand some of what happened there, which might be beneficial to you and yours as well. As we are in harms way here this way or the other, what difference would it make? And what you, a man who is cursed to never rest, can lose from trying?
Besides, perhaps the pattern wills that you are relieved of your curse and that is why you found yourself telling us, strangers, about it
"How about a map, or some pointers?" Ryvin asks, shrugging. "Go your way in peace -- as much peace as you can find. And keep you in mind what I said: Tarmon Gai'Don is coming. You may yet do good to balance the bad and free yourselves."
Then the explosion sounds, and Ryvin turns towards it, eyebrows drawing down in anger.
"Dammit! We're moving, people, like or not!"
Fireball with no weaves seen? Saidin? I hope.
Litheene keeps her hold on the power, preparing to counter any offensive weaves with a cut weave or with a shield of air.
Moving where? Alathea and Kodukora just sprinted in that very direction
perhaps you are correct, Ryvin. and you too Lady he bows to LItheene.
please, follow me. i know of a location that isnt within the cursed area, but instead at its fringes. Please, follow me?
Turning, he begins to walk towards where he first entered into view.
Amorial shifts closer to Litheene in case of trouble. "I am glad to see you again Litheene Sedai, apologies for my... absence".
"Answered your own question, didn't you, dear?" Ryvin says to Litheene, a quick, savage grin on her lips. "Time to be heroes and live or die like idiots!"
Ryvin runs off after Alathea and Kodokura, saidar blazing all around her... (She still doesn't care about the Seanchan Ogier's fate.)
The blast shook the very air around him, but a hundred years of fighting in the Ever Victorious Army had dulled his reaction to the sounds of battle with the power.
He had ignored it once, for his duty, now this dangerous monster had followed him and could harm his charge, honor demanded action.
He moved with a grace beling his size, into a flawless execution of Courtier taps his fan. with a massive overhand strike at the abomination.
A loudn thunderous explosion forces you awake, after having blacked out from exerting your will through the a'dam for her to scream loudly for help. Gasping in shock as the pain from your broken leg threatens to send you reeling back into the darkness, you bite hard upon your tongue and force yourself to sit up. Tali hovers over you like a grief stricken mother.
Tali help mistress. Tali help. Please mistress. she moans quietly to you.
you have had this conversation before. in order for her to help you, you would have to unleash her. Last night, you made her howl in pain for merely suggesting it, but now, looking down at a leg that has a bone sticking out of it, and a leg with a dark tinge to it, you begin to have second thoughts.
Fiallain gives Ryland a worried glance at Ryland as she gathers her skirts then lopes at speed toward the explosion. Her long legs quickly outpace Ryvin. Sister, what have you yourself into?
Ryland frowns and shakes his head at Fia as he draws the sword from the scabard on his back. "Does this madness ever end?"
Keelix draws breath to speak just as Ryvin dashes off, and the words change of their own accord as she does so "Flaming, bloody, ashes in a cup!" He sprints after Ryvin, trying to close with her.
Alathea turns at Kodokura's snarled words, but she is not fast enough to stop him from exercising his madness, and watches helplessly as he hurls his fire at the strangers. Through her shock, she manages to spit out, "You fool! You have lost control of yourself, yes?"
Biting back the flood of words that threaten to spill out of her, Alathea weaves a shield of Spirit and slams it between Kodokura and the True Source. Once finished, she turns to meet the strange Ogier's charge, but she knows that she's too late to use the One Power to stop him. Without a second thought, she does the only thing she can and throws herself between him and her Heart.
She groans as she looks at her leg. It for sure looks much worse, and the pain is unbearable. She sighs then nods. Allowing her pet to use the that... power on her.
She had to. It was that or they would be dead soon
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"I Say we take it, I also suggest someone extract are other members I would hate to see them bound to the Seanchan"Vala says as her swords are out and she looks ready to fight, despite her pregnancy.
Litheene returns lorn Aerlon's bow, Thank you, that would be most welcome
Then Litheene feels something she haven't felt for a while, and it's close by. Amorial! I got truly dulled by that madman in my head It is most fortunate to meet up with you again.The pattern weaves us together once again
As the others run towards the flag, Litheene raises her voice Ryvin, we are not in a position to fight. We just got out and do not know what is going on. We exchanged markers, please take Alathea and bring her back.
Lord Aerlon, where would be the direction of the place you mentioned? And what is that flag up there?
seeing the strange man in black suddenly hurl a massive fireball that destroys a large section of trees, Chen snaps immediately into a graceful sword form, one the brings his blade high and with a savage grace, brings his full weight behind the blow into a chopping motion. Unfortunately, Kodokura quickly slides away from the blow, and Chen delivers his blow to a unassuming fallen tree. His blow is so heavy that it shears through the large tree's trunk.
Alathea, recognizing the threat, deftly weaves a shield into place, and slides it between the source and kodokura.
NO! I JUST HAD IT!!! Anger plastered all over his face, a primal anger that goes far deeper than a man mad. Around him, trees and rocks turn to dust instantly, along with his clothing. Below him, where his feet touch the ground, it too disolves into nothingness, but then an odd thing appears.
a crack, black as night, no-darker than night. It appears between his feet and just out 3 feet in front and in back of him. anything that it covers is utterly destroyed, vanished.
NOOOOO howling in anger, he leaps at alathea, attempting to wrap his hands around her throat.
Lord aelorn stands gaping at Ryivn's backside, and is surprised to see fia ryland and keelix take after her.
looking at amorial, the lord says simply strange company you keep, Ogier
Tali kneels down and lowers her head to Zira. Zira, with her final strength, unlatches Tali from the silver a'dam. before passing out.
Tali reaches out and sets the leg bone, causing Zira to wake momentarily from the pain. Blackness without pain swallows up Zira's consciousness, and tali begins her work. Weaving strands of water, air, and spirit, she does a bare bones approach to the healing, simply fusing the leg bone and connecting a tendon.
she wont walk for now, but she will survive. I dare not do much more, lest i kill her. i hope help arrives quickly.
the same female voice cries out again
Hmm? oh its south west of here, about a days hike in the hills.Blood and ashes, i did it again! the man swears, revealing something he didnt mean to.
As for that flag, i know not. it is of my time. he mutters, more to himself than to anyone else.
the sound of a sword being loosed from its scabbard rings loudly to those nearby. Before you can react, the man holds the blade tip up against litheene's throat. it takes you a moment to realize that with everyone gone, only litheene, vala, and amorial are standing around.
with a motion of his hand, 10 men burst from the trees further back.
i am really sorry to do this, but please, i wish you all no harm. i had no need for them, and with the explosion in the woods, it has worked to my favor. As i said, i wish you all no harm, but i will kill some of you to get the others to cooperate.
another motion and the 10 men hold up their bows with arrows drawn.
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Still holding the power Litheene looks at the sword And what is it that you want us to cooperate with?
As she speaks, Litheene prepares a weave, threads of air forming invisible all around her, ready to solidify everything in her proximity, herself included.
With her back to him to protect him from the Ogier's attack, Alathea doesn't see Kodokura's attack until it is too late. Though she struggles against him, she cannot quite break free as he attempts to choke her. Using the last of her strength before his hands cut off her air, she begs, "My Heart...do not do this! If you love me, if you love our child growing within me...do not let the madness take you! Please..." But even as she speaks, she frantically ties off the Shield on Kodokura, terrified at what the madness might drive him to should it fall away.
His blow shattering a tree, Chen whirls and witnesses a horrifying sight, a crack appears near the madman.
This is why the leash is needed. He prepares to strike through both of the entwined humans. He thought twice at the mention of her baby. He spins into a difficult form, Arc of the moon, in a horizontal slash trying to decapitate the now naked man.
but the damage from the tear knocks chen off his center and the blade swings high.
"And here I thought I would have to fight Seanchan, but alas bandits it will have to be, Unless you wanna keep your lives and leave now?"Vala asks with a smug look on her face, still very pregnant and holding to masterpiece blades.
"Oh, blood and ashes!" Ryvin curses when she sees what is happening between Alathea and Kodokura. She raises a hand, pointing it at the Asha'man, and her eyes briefly meet Alathea's.
"I am truly sorry," she says. "So very sorry."
And then a bead of flame shoots forth from her hand. A pace behind Kodokura, it expands into a sphere of roaring flame, the heat easily washing over Alathea, but the ravenous fire limited to Kodokura.
Amorial growls and tightens the grip on his Axe, "That... was a mistake..."
Chen swings fast, but a bit of wood, hanging upon the end of his blade throws off his aim but the merest of margins. His blade swings fast, yet his timing is off...
As alathea desperately attempts to snap Kodokura out of his madness by pleading with him, she sees a massive blade swinging for the back of her lover's neck. Yet the blade misses, only to connect with her neck...
you have just entered the woods when you hear the sound alathea screaming at Kodokura. your not sure of the words, but it sounds liek she is pleading with him.
Lord Aelorn takes a step back in surprise. his mouth hangs open at the shock of seeing a very pregnant woman, standing in a perfect blade form stance, ready to kill him at the slightest provocation.
lowering his blade, he stammers
im sorry my lady. this is all so confusing. i was hoping to prevent you guys from entering the city. while i may be cursed, you folks are not, and you wouldnt be spun into the pattern again at the next sun rise. yet it is true that we do need the help.
tali is good damane. i must make mistress proud of tali. tali cover the mistress, hide her.
Tali scoops up large clumps of leaves and moss and covers Zira, hiding her from sight.
once complete, she moves out into the woods towards the explosion, hoping someone can help her mistress.
As Aerlon steps away from Litheene, she channels, adding fire and spirit to the flows she already has about her, and inverts the threads With Seanchan around, can't be too cautious. The power flows, forming into a barrier around her and her wardens, to prevent anyone else from entering the area. Other than her hands hidden in her sleeves, fingering the Angreal, Litheene makes no motion to suggest what she did, as the weave remains invisible. She quickly ties it off.
All the while, she speaks Lord Aerlon, despite the chance and the provocation, we do not wish to attack you, as you can see. On the contrary, as you have information which can be valuable to us, I see no point in conflict. If you wish us to assist you, I suggest you explain yourself and your motivation, as well as the reason entering the city is not desirable. Do you claim we are sure to die, and thus won't be able to perform some other task that you seek? If there is help you desire, does it mean you know how to break your curse?
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Amorial grumbles still annoyed that Lord Aelorn got the drop on him. He moves to stand directly in front of Litheene despite the feelings of assurance he has received from her.
"Our friends appear to have found battle, is it wise for us to stay here and talk to this cursed man who cannot be trusted?"
You are right Amorial, they might need assistance. However, our friends were unwise to rush to battle. We might yet have to join them, but we need an escape route, and a plan. If we fight randomly with enemies appearing all around us on foreign terrain, I doubt our ability to last long.
Litheene's eyes are fixed at Aerlon, but she is still aware of the Seanchan flag nearby. As the conversation goes on, she begins to study the land around them, understanding the pattern of the place, to be able to open a gateway if needed.