"You do not have to bow after every sentence," Sarin intoned. "And I will do as you ask, for this mission. "I will follow after your group. I wonder, how did the orcs get so numerous so fast and so long?"

Jechir started to turn red. "I.. uh.. I'm a... sorry. I don't know how to behave around such noble a being. I've never really been exposed to much, you know? Not many of your people come around the human cities I normally work by."

He realized he was probably making a fool of himself, so he sighed. "I gladly accept your help. And if I knew why the orcs are the way they are, I would tell you. Perhaps that's something we'll discover before this war is over."

Litheril walks up, his travelling pack on his back and his quarterstaff in one hand. He is obviously ready to depart. He nods to each perosn in turn as greeting. "I am ready to leave. What is our plan for this attack on the bandits?" He waits calmly for a reply, eyes slightly downcast.

"Perhapse I could answer you question, Master Elf." A soft melodic voice called out. Approaching from behind them was Judas.

She was beautiful, even by elven standards. Her long dark hair was tied back in intricate braids, and the light blue silk dress she wore seemed to glow a pleasant Cyan. She smiled sad irony at the surprise she detected within Sarin, who would not have expected to see a member of his own race, let alone his own village.

"The Orcs have existed as long as we have, overunning the mountains of the North. We had never known exactly what their numbers were because their endless blood feuds and internal wars kept them confined to the Mountains. They were considered nothing more than a road hazard, and all were warned that they merely had to avoid the mountains to avoid trouble from the Orcs." She explained.

"But it seems that only now, after countless Millenia, that the Orcs have finally unified under one banner; and it does not seem to be only the Orcs." She continued. "It is an interesting conundrum; that a Xenophobic and Militaristic race would turn to other races for allies. But this seems to be the case, they have allied themselves with the Goblins, Trolls, Ogres, and even the worst of the Humans... It seems that they have more than a few tricks up their sleeve; and it is why Antarrak is so dangerous."

OOC: BOOBIES!!!!:D

ye gods, you post fast!

IC: Hakar cursed himself for oversleeping, putting on his clothes, gathering his equipment, and heading to the room where the others were conversing, "Sorry I'm late...I overheard the part about the allies Antarakk has gathered, do you think perhaps he has some way to keep them in line? I know that he has an immense army, but ogres and trolls are still restless creatures...they don't take orders easily." he frowned suddenly, "Where's Kiiri?"
************************************************** ********

*the night before*

The airboat floated at the edge of a balcony, several brutish orcs, one with startling yellow eyes, leapt onto the balcony, smashed the glass doors that guarded the person within, and charged. Kiiri had heard them coming, and already had her spear in hand, bolas twirling over her head. She hurled her bolas, its cords wrapping around the ankles of one orc, another unfortunate orc getting impaled on her spear, but then the rest were upon her, ropes and manacles in their hands. The door burst open, and two guards rushed in.....swords hacking and slashing at the intruders. the yellow-eyed orc turned, impossibly swift, his own blade coming out.....a ninja-to of black steel. He skewered one guard through the neck, seeming to vanish into the shadows as the next one struck at him. The guard gasped suddenly, as the black blade impaled him from behind. the sword was withdrawn, the blood wiped off on the slain guards' tunics. They had killed several of the orcs before he had felled them....these must have been some of Gwaethir's elite warriors. As the spell that had altered his form wore off, the orc became a tall, black-clad figure, with the same yellow eyes. Beneath the half-mask (ninja-type mask) covering his face, a pair of lips curved in a cruel smile. He had three orcs left....and they had secured the girl, tying her up and gagging her with a cloth. He picked up the sword one of the guards had dropped, and in three swift moves he and the tied-up girl were the only living creatures in the room...besides the orc Kiiri had tripped with her bolas, who was still trying to untangle himsself. The yellow-eyed assassin smirked, beheading it with one quick stroke. He dropped the sword, carried her to the airboat despite her attempts to struggle free and muffled screams, and set off into the night...

OOC: no weopon upgrades for me

IC:Mat was wandering the corridors when he heared voices from a room. He looked inside to see: Litheril, Jechir, Sarin and an Elf witch he had seen once talking to Jericho. He heared her talking about the Orcs. Then he heared Hakar coming down the hall. Hiding around the corner untill he went in". "After he heared what he said he entered as well. "I heared you talking about orcs, I have had some experiance with them and the only way he could order them, ogres and trolls as well, is by fear. If they are afraid of him then he might be able to control him". "And I haven't seen her in a while" he said to Hakar.

OOC: about the "BOOBIES!!!!" thing....SAAM might understand it, 'twas something from the last RP.

Secretskull.....edit your post, you forgot to put "IC:" before the IC part of your post. Also, you didn't need an apostrophe for "orcs", since "Orcs" is not genitive in this case. Basic grammar.

by the way, I apologize once more for all my painfully long points.....but I just wanted to set up some parts of the plot before we begin with the adventuring, and the mass slaughtering of orcs.

IC: Hakar nodded, "I guessed as much.....but what is he, or what does he have, that causes them to fear him? From what I've heard, he's pretty strong for an orc, but ogres and trolls are FAR larger and stronger than orcs...they won't fear him because of his physical prowess." he mused, then shook his head, "I'm sure Kiiri will be up shortly.....and I seem to have forgotten my manners, I'm Hakar." he grinned, though he was rather surprised to see a goblin present...but he didn't mind, "Now, I suppose we have some sort of plan-"

At that moment, the doors were flung open, and a tall Avariel with golden hair and wings stepped inside. Gwaethir's ice-blue eyes were as hard as adamantine, and he seemed to seethe with barely controlled anger, and Hakar began to realize why his father had often called Gwaethir 'The Hurricane'. The Windlord stopped, when he was close enough to look around at those present...his guards having prudently stayed by the door. "Hakar....when was the last time you saw my niece?" his voice, though smooth and melodious, was filled with anger.....and as dangerous as a goblin-made bomb on the verge of explosion.

Hakar frowned, "Last night, when she went to her room....I wondered why she wasn't around this morning, but I assumed that she must have slept late and..." his voice trailed off, seeing the look in Gwaethir's eyes, "What is it? Where is she?"

Gwaethir took a deep breath to calm himself, something the normally composed monarch rarely had to do, and spoke, "Last night, my daughter was kidnapped. She was able to fight them off long enough that the two guards outside her doorway heard the noise, bodyguards I assigned to her personally, two of my best warriors! They slew several of them....but there were too many. Both of them were killed, and the closest thing I have to a daughter is now missing..."

Hakar's eyes widened, "who did this?" his tone was quiet...and he seemed to be in shock at what had happened. Gwaethir gestured to one of his guards, who tossed something to him. Gwaethir caught the 'something' by the hair, lifting it up so that all those present could see it clearly, "Orcs...." his eyes and voice were filled with hate, and the hand holding up the severed orc's head was trembling.

Ooc: It just doesn't compare to Jericho stepping out onto the balcony and yelling for all the world to hear, "I want Pussy!"


Earlier...

Dawn broke out over the Avariel city, sending orange and red rays to glint against the emerald skyline. Far below, on the ground beneath the city Jericho stood with his son, a horse and several Avariel by his side.

As they talked, Gabriel noticed that his fathers mind seemed to be elsewhere; as if he were preoccupied with an event happening in another location.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

Jericho's white eyebrows beetled in concentration. "My powers are not what they once were. There is something in the wind. Something... Amiss. Just a vague feeling of uneasiness."

He chuckled lightly. "But then again at my age, it could be something I ate."

Gabriel nodded to the horse. "I take it that you will not be going by air."

"No." Jericho replied. "I do not have the strength left to propel myself that sort of distance; twenty years ago, maybe. But not now."

He gestured toward the Avariels. "Though I will be accompanied by several of Lord Gwaethir's Royal Guard."

Gabriel pondered for a moment, but was forced to ask the inevitable question.

"What if the Southern Empire does not come to our aid?" He asked solumnly, his gravely voice kept low so the Avariel could not hear.

"Then all our hopes will rest upon yourself and the others." Jericho replied with his voice lowered, but he cracked a wry grin. "And that is a scary thought indeed."

Gabriel bowed his head in a solumn vow. "Then we will not fail."

Jericho clapped him on the shoulder. "I know you won't."

He slowly mounted the horse and prepared for his journey. "With all luck I will reach the Citadel of Arthon two days hence. And perhaps we will gain an ally who can indeed make a difference in this war."

Gabriel lifted his Fist to his heart in the Avariel version of a salute. "Strength and Courage." he said.

Jericho returned the salute. "Honor and valor." he replied, completing the traditional warcry.

The old man then headed off, riding south with all possible speed, a cadre of Avariel flying above him.

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

Gabriel returned to the city, and found it in a great turmoil. He immediatelly made his way to the citadel to find out what was wrong. He emerged from a hallway and discovered a group of the elementals had formed around King Gwaethir and his mother Judas. He saw the orcs head within Gwaethir's grasp, a cold lump forming in his stomach.

"What has happened?"

"Ok...I'm lost. Are we supposed to go after the orcs or the bandits? You following any of this?" Gug whispered to Jerrick. "Oh, and I got something for ya, but remind me later, when we aren't supposed to be focusing on the missing girl."

(SAAM: You did not answer my PM, so I am trying to join as smoothly and well as I can. To everyone else, I have been on vacation and just returned and am joining now, as my character Laine, whom you may remember.)

Laine Novienta walked up to the castle gates. A guard appeared out of the door of the guard tower to the right.
"Halt, knave! State your name and your business."
Laine answered, "I am Laine Novienta of the land of Centia. I have come to offer my services to his Lordship Gwaethir."