** Author's Note and Disclaimer: Yes, the name of my main character is familiar :) The following few stories are all taken from a roleplay I participated in awhile back for the Lords Of Krynn, a player guild in Ultima Online. My character was in fact molded with the idea of David Eddings' Ce'Nedra in mind. So, I don't claim originality for her name. However, everything else is of my own imagination. These following stories may seem disjointed. That is because they are only the parts that I wrote for the roleplay, so I will include a little cap at the beginning of each for reader's benefit. :) Enjoy and please write a review! **
Captive!
The sun glinted playfully off the youth's fire red hair as she wandered through the woods. Despite the biting chill of autumn, the azure sky was clear of clouds and songbirds flitted from branch to branch in the surrounding forest, singing their sweet melodies.
Finally after what seemed like the hundreth time that she had jumped from some phantom presence, Ce'Nedra stopped in her tracks and let her lightsword slide back into it's scabbard.
"Why did I have to wander off from that blasted maze!" She grumbled, hiking her backpack higher onto her shoulder.
She sighed and glanced around, pulling up the hood of her brown travel cloak. An action more intended to fight off her nervousness than the biting cold. It had been more than once that she'd noticed green shadows passing among the trees.
The young mage smiled in spite of herself, thinking back on how she managed to get herself into such a predicament. It hadn't been more than a day ago when she was adventuring through the woods with her friend, Daren. Eager to see more of the lands other that those of her home she persuaded her friend to let her walk ahead when he needed to return to town for more reagents. She regretted that desicion now more than ever.
"No." She thought stubbornly. "I'm not going to start feeling afraid now. I've been able to live in the woods before. This is my element." Lifting her chin, she tromped onwards taking in the sights. She couldn't help but think that the calm city life had spoiled her.
Suddenly she heard such a monstrous sound from the trees behind behind her she nearly jumped. Only cold apprehension kept the small yelp from escaping her lips, but sent a chill up her spine. She spun around and, yanking her recall rune out of it's pouch at her waist, called upon words of aincent wizards past. "Kal Ort Por"
She spoke with such clarity and conviction that the advancing lizardman hesitated for a moment. Lizardmen were notorious for their dislike of magic.
Ce'Nedra suddenly felt the familiar odd tingle run through her body. She groaned inwardly, dread and panic rising. Her spell had failed and magic reserves were too low now. The lizardman was far too close for her to call another spell - it would be on her before she even had the spell in her hands. Her only hope now was the magic lightsword strapped to her side.
A lump of dread rose in her throat as she drew her sword.
Immediately her elven childhood teachings on the sacredness of life sprang to mind. "No... I can't kill! I'm just a mage - a novice!" Her thoughts raced in all directions.
Almost as if sensing her fear, the encanted weapon began to hum. It's smooth and elegant silver curves and edges catching the sunlight, it seemed to dance without moving from her now steady hands. She couldn't quite grasp the dissonant tune, but as the soft musical hum spread through her bod, an odd calm settled over her and she was finally able to force those thoughts out of her mind, replacing it with a mask of calm determination.
This is the way it had to be.
Shoving aside the part of her that she had hidden so long, the apprentice mage surrendered herself to her training.
The serpent man lunged forward, tail lashing as wildly as his rust eaten sword. It's eyes burning with mad eagerness. Ce'Nedra steadied herself, checking her grip and posture as she stood her ground, hidden in the shadows of her hood. The lizardman's irratic charge came to an abrupt halt as their swords met with a clash that rung out through the enclosing forests. The steely ring of metal upon metal reverberated through the trees.
Her opponent bore down relentlessly, using his full weight to force her to the ground. The mage dropped and with catlike grace, twisted and was on her feet again.
Before the creature could recover, Ce'Nedra swept in, twisting her sword upwards in a butterfly sweep, slicing it's baldric and leaving a nasty gash ascross it's chest. The lizardman hissed in fury. She noted with saticfaction that desperation was making it move much more clumsily. Twisting sideways to dodge a retaliating thrust, she feigned an attack to it's waist, rolled to avoid another lunge, and coming up behind it, knocked the overgrown lizard upside the head with the hilt of her sword.
Ce'Nedra came to her feet, and brought her sword up again for another attack. The creature staggered for a moment and dropped to the grassy floor with a sickening thud, bouncing on the mattress of damp foilage. Ce'Nedra sighed in relief and, mopped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. She spun at the sound of mock applause behind her, bringing her sword up once more.
Ce'Nedra's heart sank. Standing in among the trees behind her were dozens of lizardmen, just like the one she'd just fought. The jeering applause came from a hooded man in dark robes that seemed to completely shroud him in its depths. Try as she might, all she could see of this stranger were his hands. Hands that were chillingly human, but boasted the smooth and sickly green scales and sharp claws of the lizardmen. Even though she could see nothing of his face, Ce'Nedra knew instinctively that he was a mage. The strong and malevolent aura of magic that he exuded as well as the fact that the lizardmen went out of their way to avoid him, spoke volumes on that. "I must commend you, woman." He purred. His voice had a horrible sweetness to that repulsed and intruiged her at the same time. You fight very well for a-"
"For a what? A mage!" She spat scornfully.
The dark mage was silent for a moment. Slowly, he seemed to move his face forward, peering at her. At last he smiled. Ce'Nedra's knees went weak. The mage's smile revealed an inhuman face, an odd mix of serpent and man, only he looked to have more human qualities. His smile held no warmth, only cold hatred, revealing row upon row of sharp, pointed teeth.
"Oh gods, what have I gotten myself into now!" Ce'Nedra thought, mentally berrating herself for letting her temper get the better of her - again.
Seeing this in her face the magic user spoke from the depths of the hood. "Lay down your weapon and we shall not harm you - elf." He spoke demurely but his last words cut through her soul. She flinched, checking her hood, she fingered her eyes. "How...?" she thought confused.
"You are ashamed? Hm"- he grunted self-confidantly -"Half-Elf" he spat, taking in the shadow of puzzlement that passed over her face. "Come now, you can't hide those pretty eyes! Not even from lowly serpent men!"
She smiled humorlessly. "They wouldn't be so confidant if my Drake were here." She thought, a pang of sorrow touched her chest as she realized her dear friend wasn't around anymore. If only Cinder were here now. Sighing inwardly, she returned her attention to the hooded man that was now speaking and the predicament she'd gotten herelf into.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
The mage smiled again, sending a chill up Ce'Nedra's spine "You didn't think we'd let you come all the way out here with that drake, did you, half elf!? Now be a good girl." His golden eyes gleamed with menace as he gestured to the lizardmen. They had all fanned out, completely surrounding her and the mage. "Drop your weapon, and you shall remain unscathed.'
Ce'Nedra frowned. He had avoided her question, that was no surprise. But he'd referred to her thoughts instead. Ever since she was young, she had had the strange gift of detecting thoughts and emotions. Over time she had learned to block them out when it baecame too much, as well as keep her own thoughts from others. Ce'Nedra peeked out from behind her mental wall for a moment, searching the mage for thought patterns. She was nearly floored when her gift touched nothing but air. She fanned out her search, but only met the sickening presence of the lizardmen. Ce'Nedra recoiled in disgust. Giving herself a mental shake. The mind of monsters were never plesant to touch.
The dark mage lifted a scaly finger and tapped the side of his forehead. He grinned and shook a chiding finger at her. "Uh-uh. No sneaking around, halfblood." His eyes darkened. "You sicken me with your presence."
Ce'Nedra stood baffled. Her gift should have countered any probing he would do, whats more - to her gift, he didn't exist. She reached out with a magical hand, tentatively checking if the mage was just an illusion, or projection.
Her breathing quickened when she "touched" a solid presence with no trace of a projection spell.
He - It - was very real.
She pulled back, when she felt another force, cold as death sieze her own recoiling magical aspect. Shock barely registered when a sudden searing pain shot through her. Ce'Nedra gasped as she felt all the air being knocked out of her. Her entire body threatened to fail but she held her ground, refusing to let him weaken her. When she didn't fall, another bolt of pain shot through her. This time driven by mad, unbridled hate. Ce'Nedra screamed, the agony was like a thousand daggers and a lightning bolt strike her all at once. The world began to swim and she crumpled to the ground, clutching herself in agony.
Ce'Nedra didn't know how long she laid there, curled in on herself as the aftershocks of pain rippled through her body. Time ceased to have meaning as she struggled to keep hold of herself and reality. She coughed, fighting to pull enough air into her lungs to steady her trembling muscles, beads of sweat stood out on her pale brow.
Finally she was able to gather her scattered thoughts enough to think coherently. She shuddered at the fading memory of the pain. Never before had she even heard of such magic as this. Again, she wondered why she couldn't sense the dark mage's mind Loathing flared up in the pit of her stomach as she forced herself to stand. Amazingly, she realized that she had maintained a grip on her sword. Ce'Nedra winced as she transferred her sword to her left hand, a fresh memory of the agony came clear. Her sword hand was bloodied and sore from maintaining a death-grip on it for so long.
Ce'Nedra looked up, meeting the mage's cold gaze with an equal amount of ice.
Seeing her stand, the mage grinned, his golden eyes holding hers. "I was told you'd be a feisty one." His eyes gleamed hungrily. "That was so much fun."
"Burn in hell." She rasped.
The dark mage laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Been there, done that." He stopped laughing abruptly but wicked glee was still evident in his face as he clasped his hands at his waist once more. "My master requested you alive but I figured a little fun would be alright. Thank you, for giving me the excuse to do so."
"I did no such thing."
"So?" He shrugged.
Ce'Nedra had to resist the urge to run her sword through him at that point. She had to find out where he was going with this. quickly she checked the shield on her mind and doubled it.
"Your mind magic can't protect you." He sneered. "You see, halfblood, your gift can't touch me because it's limited to the living. Now, I'll only say this once more. Drop your weapon."
She regarded him cooly. "Why don't you just make me."
The mage said nothing. Apparently he was serious about the restrictions on him. Ce'Nedra adjusted her grip on her sword, fingering it's delicate curves and fine workmaship as she glanced around her. Thirty. She laughed ruefully. Even if she did fight, she'd only be able to take down three if she were lucky. Each lizardman was twice as large as she, and probably five times as heavy but their massive frames and muscled arms did nothing to slow their incredible agility. Their heavy, rust-eaten broadswords and axes were all blunt and dull but she knew that with as much brute force behind them as these vile creatures had, they could easily cleave an opponent in two, if they weren't quick enough.
Against one she had a chance. But thirty...
Scowling, Ce'Nedra tossed her sword at the feet of a lizardman closest to her.
The dark mage nodded. "Wise choice, halfblood."
Drawing herself up, she threw back the hood of her cloak as she stood watching them, her eyes narrowed and startled gasps escaped from the captors.
"I am NOT ashamed. Of myself or my heritage, dark mage." She said coldly, lifting her chin stubbornly.
Only now that she had pulled back her hood, could they see her face. Her skin was creamy and pale seemingly making what litle sunlight that filtered through the trees radiate from her face. Her features were delicate and deep set, refined like marble betraying her elven heritage. Long fire red hair cascaded down her shoulders in ringlets and bobbed slightly with the passing breeze.
But it was none of this which startled so the serpentine soldiers, for the large, slanted almond eyes of the elf-maid before them glittered menacingly. And though her eyes were narrowed in hate, regarding them with chilling scorn, it was clear to all the piercing gleam of her violet eyes.
Emboldened, the hooded creature chuckled with an odd note of self-satisfaction. The sound grated on her nerves. "Oh but you should be, foolish woman. Didn't anyone ever tell you to never trust a snake?"
Suddenly, she heard a sickening thud followed by numbing pain. Dimly, in the back of her mind she realized that she hadn't noticed the lizardman sneaking up on her as impenetrable darkness came crashing down on her.
Captive!
The sun glinted playfully off the youth's fire red hair as she wandered through the woods. Despite the biting chill of autumn, the azure sky was clear of clouds and songbirds flitted from branch to branch in the surrounding forest, singing their sweet melodies.
Finally after what seemed like the hundreth time that she had jumped from some phantom presence, Ce'Nedra stopped in her tracks and let her lightsword slide back into it's scabbard.
"Why did I have to wander off from that blasted maze!" She grumbled, hiking her backpack higher onto her shoulder.
She sighed and glanced around, pulling up the hood of her brown travel cloak. An action more intended to fight off her nervousness than the biting cold. It had been more than once that she'd noticed green shadows passing among the trees.
The young mage smiled in spite of herself, thinking back on how she managed to get herself into such a predicament. It hadn't been more than a day ago when she was adventuring through the woods with her friend, Daren. Eager to see more of the lands other that those of her home she persuaded her friend to let her walk ahead when he needed to return to town for more reagents. She regretted that desicion now more than ever.
"No." She thought stubbornly. "I'm not going to start feeling afraid now. I've been able to live in the woods before. This is my element." Lifting her chin, she tromped onwards taking in the sights. She couldn't help but think that the calm city life had spoiled her.
Suddenly she heard such a monstrous sound from the trees behind behind her she nearly jumped. Only cold apprehension kept the small yelp from escaping her lips, but sent a chill up her spine. She spun around and, yanking her recall rune out of it's pouch at her waist, called upon words of aincent wizards past. "Kal Ort Por"
She spoke with such clarity and conviction that the advancing lizardman hesitated for a moment. Lizardmen were notorious for their dislike of magic.
Ce'Nedra suddenly felt the familiar odd tingle run through her body. She groaned inwardly, dread and panic rising. Her spell had failed and magic reserves were too low now. The lizardman was far too close for her to call another spell - it would be on her before she even had the spell in her hands. Her only hope now was the magic lightsword strapped to her side.
A lump of dread rose in her throat as she drew her sword.
Immediately her elven childhood teachings on the sacredness of life sprang to mind. "No... I can't kill! I'm just a mage - a novice!" Her thoughts raced in all directions.
Almost as if sensing her fear, the encanted weapon began to hum. It's smooth and elegant silver curves and edges catching the sunlight, it seemed to dance without moving from her now steady hands. She couldn't quite grasp the dissonant tune, but as the soft musical hum spread through her bod, an odd calm settled over her and she was finally able to force those thoughts out of her mind, replacing it with a mask of calm determination.
This is the way it had to be.
Shoving aside the part of her that she had hidden so long, the apprentice mage surrendered herself to her training.
The serpent man lunged forward, tail lashing as wildly as his rust eaten sword. It's eyes burning with mad eagerness. Ce'Nedra steadied herself, checking her grip and posture as she stood her ground, hidden in the shadows of her hood. The lizardman's irratic charge came to an abrupt halt as their swords met with a clash that rung out through the enclosing forests. The steely ring of metal upon metal reverberated through the trees.
Her opponent bore down relentlessly, using his full weight to force her to the ground. The mage dropped and with catlike grace, twisted and was on her feet again.
Before the creature could recover, Ce'Nedra swept in, twisting her sword upwards in a butterfly sweep, slicing it's baldric and leaving a nasty gash ascross it's chest. The lizardman hissed in fury. She noted with saticfaction that desperation was making it move much more clumsily. Twisting sideways to dodge a retaliating thrust, she feigned an attack to it's waist, rolled to avoid another lunge, and coming up behind it, knocked the overgrown lizard upside the head with the hilt of her sword.
Ce'Nedra came to her feet, and brought her sword up again for another attack. The creature staggered for a moment and dropped to the grassy floor with a sickening thud, bouncing on the mattress of damp foilage. Ce'Nedra sighed in relief and, mopped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. She spun at the sound of mock applause behind her, bringing her sword up once more.
Ce'Nedra's heart sank. Standing in among the trees behind her were dozens of lizardmen, just like the one she'd just fought. The jeering applause came from a hooded man in dark robes that seemed to completely shroud him in its depths. Try as she might, all she could see of this stranger were his hands. Hands that were chillingly human, but boasted the smooth and sickly green scales and sharp claws of the lizardmen. Even though she could see nothing of his face, Ce'Nedra knew instinctively that he was a mage. The strong and malevolent aura of magic that he exuded as well as the fact that the lizardmen went out of their way to avoid him, spoke volumes on that. "I must commend you, woman." He purred. His voice had a horrible sweetness to that repulsed and intruiged her at the same time. You fight very well for a-"
"For a what? A mage!" She spat scornfully.
The dark mage was silent for a moment. Slowly, he seemed to move his face forward, peering at her. At last he smiled. Ce'Nedra's knees went weak. The mage's smile revealed an inhuman face, an odd mix of serpent and man, only he looked to have more human qualities. His smile held no warmth, only cold hatred, revealing row upon row of sharp, pointed teeth.
"Oh gods, what have I gotten myself into now!" Ce'Nedra thought, mentally berrating herself for letting her temper get the better of her - again.
Seeing this in her face the magic user spoke from the depths of the hood. "Lay down your weapon and we shall not harm you - elf." He spoke demurely but his last words cut through her soul. She flinched, checking her hood, she fingered her eyes. "How...?" she thought confused.
"You are ashamed? Hm"- he grunted self-confidantly -"Half-Elf" he spat, taking in the shadow of puzzlement that passed over her face. "Come now, you can't hide those pretty eyes! Not even from lowly serpent men!"
She smiled humorlessly. "They wouldn't be so confidant if my Drake were here." She thought, a pang of sorrow touched her chest as she realized her dear friend wasn't around anymore. If only Cinder were here now. Sighing inwardly, she returned her attention to the hooded man that was now speaking and the predicament she'd gotten herelf into.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
The mage smiled again, sending a chill up Ce'Nedra's spine "You didn't think we'd let you come all the way out here with that drake, did you, half elf!? Now be a good girl." His golden eyes gleamed with menace as he gestured to the lizardmen. They had all fanned out, completely surrounding her and the mage. "Drop your weapon, and you shall remain unscathed.'
Ce'Nedra frowned. He had avoided her question, that was no surprise. But he'd referred to her thoughts instead. Ever since she was young, she had had the strange gift of detecting thoughts and emotions. Over time she had learned to block them out when it baecame too much, as well as keep her own thoughts from others. Ce'Nedra peeked out from behind her mental wall for a moment, searching the mage for thought patterns. She was nearly floored when her gift touched nothing but air. She fanned out her search, but only met the sickening presence of the lizardmen. Ce'Nedra recoiled in disgust. Giving herself a mental shake. The mind of monsters were never plesant to touch.
The dark mage lifted a scaly finger and tapped the side of his forehead. He grinned and shook a chiding finger at her. "Uh-uh. No sneaking around, halfblood." His eyes darkened. "You sicken me with your presence."
Ce'Nedra stood baffled. Her gift should have countered any probing he would do, whats more - to her gift, he didn't exist. She reached out with a magical hand, tentatively checking if the mage was just an illusion, or projection.
Her breathing quickened when she "touched" a solid presence with no trace of a projection spell.
He - It - was very real.
She pulled back, when she felt another force, cold as death sieze her own recoiling magical aspect. Shock barely registered when a sudden searing pain shot through her. Ce'Nedra gasped as she felt all the air being knocked out of her. Her entire body threatened to fail but she held her ground, refusing to let him weaken her. When she didn't fall, another bolt of pain shot through her. This time driven by mad, unbridled hate. Ce'Nedra screamed, the agony was like a thousand daggers and a lightning bolt strike her all at once. The world began to swim and she crumpled to the ground, clutching herself in agony.
Ce'Nedra didn't know how long she laid there, curled in on herself as the aftershocks of pain rippled through her body. Time ceased to have meaning as she struggled to keep hold of herself and reality. She coughed, fighting to pull enough air into her lungs to steady her trembling muscles, beads of sweat stood out on her pale brow.
Finally she was able to gather her scattered thoughts enough to think coherently. She shuddered at the fading memory of the pain. Never before had she even heard of such magic as this. Again, she wondered why she couldn't sense the dark mage's mind Loathing flared up in the pit of her stomach as she forced herself to stand. Amazingly, she realized that she had maintained a grip on her sword. Ce'Nedra winced as she transferred her sword to her left hand, a fresh memory of the agony came clear. Her sword hand was bloodied and sore from maintaining a death-grip on it for so long.
Ce'Nedra looked up, meeting the mage's cold gaze with an equal amount of ice.
Seeing her stand, the mage grinned, his golden eyes holding hers. "I was told you'd be a feisty one." His eyes gleamed hungrily. "That was so much fun."
"Burn in hell." She rasped.
The dark mage laughed, waving his hand dismissively. "Been there, done that." He stopped laughing abruptly but wicked glee was still evident in his face as he clasped his hands at his waist once more. "My master requested you alive but I figured a little fun would be alright. Thank you, for giving me the excuse to do so."
"I did no such thing."
"So?" He shrugged.
Ce'Nedra had to resist the urge to run her sword through him at that point. She had to find out where he was going with this. quickly she checked the shield on her mind and doubled it.
"Your mind magic can't protect you." He sneered. "You see, halfblood, your gift can't touch me because it's limited to the living. Now, I'll only say this once more. Drop your weapon."
She regarded him cooly. "Why don't you just make me."
The mage said nothing. Apparently he was serious about the restrictions on him. Ce'Nedra adjusted her grip on her sword, fingering it's delicate curves and fine workmaship as she glanced around her. Thirty. She laughed ruefully. Even if she did fight, she'd only be able to take down three if she were lucky. Each lizardman was twice as large as she, and probably five times as heavy but their massive frames and muscled arms did nothing to slow their incredible agility. Their heavy, rust-eaten broadswords and axes were all blunt and dull but she knew that with as much brute force behind them as these vile creatures had, they could easily cleave an opponent in two, if they weren't quick enough.
Against one she had a chance. But thirty...
Scowling, Ce'Nedra tossed her sword at the feet of a lizardman closest to her.
The dark mage nodded. "Wise choice, halfblood."
Drawing herself up, she threw back the hood of her cloak as she stood watching them, her eyes narrowed and startled gasps escaped from the captors.
"I am NOT ashamed. Of myself or my heritage, dark mage." She said coldly, lifting her chin stubbornly.
Only now that she had pulled back her hood, could they see her face. Her skin was creamy and pale seemingly making what litle sunlight that filtered through the trees radiate from her face. Her features were delicate and deep set, refined like marble betraying her elven heritage. Long fire red hair cascaded down her shoulders in ringlets and bobbed slightly with the passing breeze.
But it was none of this which startled so the serpentine soldiers, for the large, slanted almond eyes of the elf-maid before them glittered menacingly. And though her eyes were narrowed in hate, regarding them with chilling scorn, it was clear to all the piercing gleam of her violet eyes.
Emboldened, the hooded creature chuckled with an odd note of self-satisfaction. The sound grated on her nerves. "Oh but you should be, foolish woman. Didn't anyone ever tell you to never trust a snake?"
Suddenly, she heard a sickening thud followed by numbing pain. Dimly, in the back of her mind she realized that she hadn't noticed the lizardman sneaking up on her as impenetrable darkness came crashing down on her.