Role Playing Story: Epilogue
 

Jericho awoke to the chirping of birds and the smell of incence. He looked about the unfamiliar room he was in. It was elegently decorated, with paintings and tapestry lining the walls; A beautiful rug covered the hardwood floor, and the bed and sheets were made of the finest silk. In the corner, beside some comfortable looking furnature, stood a stone bust; it's likeness that of an Avariel.

Jericho smiled slightly. He was in the Avariel city. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and reached out through the air, attempting to get his bearings.

It was harder than usual.

With much effort, he finally got a mental representation within his mind, and noted the presence of Gwaethir, Delmenon, Talos, and the rest of the group; as well as one other presence.

Judas.

Springing from the large bed, Jericho quickly put on the fresh clothes he found within a mohogany dresser, and set out through the grand hallways.
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Judas stood in her elegent room, her eyes locked on the cerimonial dagger within her hands.

So much blood has stained these hands. she thought mournfully. Hundreds of thousands dead, because of one decision.

She lifted the dagger and pointed the tip of the blade to her heart.
I'm sorry.

As she was about to thrust the blade, a familiar voice interupted her thoughts.

"There is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours."

Judas looked behind her to see Jericho entering the room. He was smiling, but his eyes betrayed the worry and concern he was feeling.

Jericho stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, his hand slowly grasping the dagger and setting it down on a small table beside them. "Don't do this." he whispered in her ear. "I have come so far to save you, please don't throw your life away."

"And what would you have me do?" deep pain wracked her voice as tears flowed freely down her face. "Everyone I ever loved is dead. I will have to live an eternity knowing that I could have prevented it, but instead caused it! Mother, Father, Amos, Titus, they are all dead! I destroyed my own home!"

Jericho wipped her tears away. "You did not do that, it was the Spirit that controlled you."

"But I could have stopped it!" she countered. "Just like I stopped it from killing you!"

Jericho thought for a moment. "Then why didn't you?"

"I tried. I tried as hard as I did when it was going to kill you. I just wasn't strong enough." Judas bowed her head low.

"No." Jericho replied. "It was because the Spirit wasn't weak enough. I think It's attempt at flooding the earth caused it to forget your influence on your own body. What happened happened, there is no way to change it. What we must do is find a way to learn from it, and make amends."

Judas leaned her head into his chest and sobbed. "Everyone I loved is dead." she repeated weakly.

Jericho lifted her chin gently with his finger so that she looked into his eyes.

"And what about me? Am I not loved by the beautiful elven maiden before me?"

Judas smiled weakly at him. "Of course."

Jericho bent down and kissed her softly. She did not shy away, and returned the embrace. She leaned into his reach and he spoke. "I will never let you go again."

They kissed again as Jericho lead her slowly towards the bed...

OOC: you stole the line about breasts from "The Princess Bride":p

IC: Tamona and Delmenon were returning to the Barbarian lands, planning to get married among his people. They had walked for many miles, their eyes more on each other than on the land around them, and finally, they reached Delmenon's home village. The barbarian gently put an arm around his beloved Tamona's shoulders, drawing her close as he looked down at it from the hill on which he stood. He smiled, then scooped Tamona up in his arms and kissed her, making her laugh, "It's good to be home...." he said, just before she kissed him back.

Jack was sitting in his room thinking "i have learned much in my travels". "I can go back and show those fools what they deserve". "But why do i feel as if my path has not reached its end, like more is in store from me". "But where will I start?" "I guess I'll stick with the group Im in now and see what my future holds.

Talos rode on his black horse towards the Barbarian lands. His sister had invited him to be at the wedding, and he was happy to oblige. He was dressed in the noble clothing of the drow, a fancy leather coat and cloak adorned with silver studs with black boots and gauntlets. He had traveled back to his home in the drow city of Ust Natha and reported his mission a success, and that Tanthalas had attempted to kill him and failed. He'd earned his freedom from the gladiator ring and headed back to the overworld, where he approached the wedding of his sister and his companion.

OOC: too bad about the silver dragon and the bhaalspawn attacking Ust Natha....it was a nice little city while it lasted...

IC: Delmenon discovered that, when he got home, his father was stepping down as Chieftain, and had chosen his son to succeed him in that position....He was both pleased and honored to have valiant Talos as a brother-in-law, and the barbarians accepted the presence of drow in their midst surprisingly well.

Talos rode into Delmenon's village, greeting those he visited with a smile and a good- natured, somewhat haggard look. He met the local traders and exchanged gifts of jewelry, pottery, and weaponry with them. He showed hunters how to brew a poison for arrowheads that would immobilize the animals struck by those arrows, and even gave them a few lessons in archery and sparring, having devoted his life to the study of war. He'd been chosen as one of the wedding's ceremonial guards, so he sharpened his blade and donned his finest clothing in preperation for it.

the barbarians appreciated the drow's knowledge of poisons and herbology (I'd say chemistry, but that might be too advanced a term for the setting in which the RP takes place). They also showed him expertly-forged weapons and armor, made by their master smiths.

soon, the day of Delmenon and Tamona's wedding arrived....Delmenon wore his usual armor, and Tamona dressed in gold-and-white robes that made her dark skin stand out, and emphasized her beauty. Delmenon's father had been the tribal Shaman in addition to being Chieftain, and he performed the marriage in the traditional way of his people. The two young lovers' eyes never left eachother as they recited their vows....and immediately after the ceremony, they returned to their hut, while the rest of the tribe began the all-night party that traditionally followed such events.

Talos, being quite tall for a drow (6' tall), had attracted the attention of many barbarian women with his well-boned features and muscular stature. He partied, danced, and drank wine all night, and became a favorite of the ladies who danced with him, for he was also an excellent dancer. He and the men at the party held sparring competitions, and he even taught the women dances from the drow lands, many of which were exhausting and robust. After seven hours, he left the tent and read a letter that had been given to him in Ust Natha. He got his horse from the stables and went in search of Tamona and Delmenon.

Tamona and Delmenon obviously didn't want to be disturbed....so Talos would have to wait until morning to talk to them.

Jericho joined the others on the dance floor, engaged in a beautiful waltz with Judas.

He smiled at her as he said, "And just imagine, this will be happening to us soon."

She blushed slightly as they moved about the room. "I never thanked you." she said finally.

"For what?" he asked, perplexed.

"For saving me." she replied. "Thank you."

Jericho gave his most charming smile. "You would have done the same thing my love."

He bent down and kissed her, and they danced among the guests.
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Judas was engaged in a conversation with a group of Avariels, allowing Jericho to duck out for a moment. "I'll be back in a minute." he told her as he spotted Talos hurrying from the tent.

"Talos!" he called as he hurried after him. "What's the hurry?"