A Storm for the Wicked
The company stood alone with their own thoughts. Their campaign was failing. The whole expedition was all in vein. They couldn't hold themselves together. Titania and Taeowyn were the only true leaders of the group. The expedition was all theirs, but now they've left. What does the company do now?
"What do we do?" asked Nazdhar.
"I say we continue on with our campaign." Said Tor. "There is still the unknown south that we have to explore."
"You're right," added Shandris. "The Banshee might be there now, and if we turn our backs to her, then she will stab us."
"Very well," said Nazdhar. "We should head south without our guides. If Taeowyn finds Titania, they will most definitely head to the unknown. Who knows, we may meet them later on."
With that they started out once again. They filled their water jugs by the river one last time and left the oasis.
"What about Tobyneth? What should we do with Titanias horse?" asked Borin.
"We can use him to carry some supplies and things." Said Jonas. Some of the company helped load the horse with baggage. Everyone mounted their horses and the rode off into the night. In the east, the sky began to shine with the coming of the sun. Soon, everyone was riding in the pale light of a spring morning.
Taeowyn rode for what seemed like forever along the cliffs edge. Red sunrise was coming into being. Far off in the distance, Taeowyn could see the Stone Talon mountains. They were beautiful to her. She loved nature. She loved formations of the earth and the growth of forests. Taeowyn especially loved a good storm. If there was a storm brewing, she would stand atop her masters tower and wait for it to come. She was one with changing of the weather, and she was at her prime in the center of storm. Most mages had something practical for their source for magic, but Taeowyn obtained hers from the fury of mother nature. The name Taeowy Stormwind the Grey was given to her for a reason.
Taeowyn rode through the harsh desert. Now and then she would come across a heard of lightning lizards who would shock her right off Bereneths back. But lightning lizards are no match for a mage, and Taeowyn would be off once again.
The apprentice rode on for the most of the day, taking short breaks to eat or sleep. At about mid afternoon she came across a fountain of rejuvenation. She stopped here to rejuvenate her energies. She dismounted her horse and walked over to the small pool. Small fairies buzzed around the mystical waters. Taeowyn walked up the bank and looked into the shimmering, violet mist. She bent closer and drank from the fountain. She felt the cool, healing powers of the water run through her veins. Her strength returned to her. She lifted her head and pulled back her hair. She took one last glance at her reflection and noticed an ugly, pug face looking over her shoulder. Taeowyn quickly turned around and faced the centaur bandit. He had a knife in his hand and he pointed it at Taeowyns chest. She gasped. Several more centaurs were behind the first one.
"Give me all you got." Commanded the head bandit.
"No."
"Don't get smart with me, Missy." The centaur reached his hand out as to grab Taeowyn but she swerved out of reach.
Taeowyn stuck a hand out to where he staff lay by her horse. It instantly shot into her palm and she pointed it at the bandit. The centaur shot into the air and landed on his back. The other centaurs fired their crossbows at her but she leaped into the air. The bolts just barely missed her and ricocheted off the rocks of the pool. Taeowyn landed on the ground and cast a protective shield of ice around herself. She ran and landed on Bereneths back and kicked him hard. She steered towards the bandits and pointed her staff at them. She began to channel a storm bolt within her weapon. The centaurs screeched and tried to get out of the way but the young sorceress fired her spell. The lightning struck the bandits and they were thrown into the air.
Taeowyn rode down a small hill and into a dry forest. She continued on, not stopping for many hours. When the sun began to set she caught sight of some buildings. As she came closer she noticed that they were of centaur architecture. She could see torches being lit in the center of the village. Eight shadows were being tied to posts. Taeowyn looked in horror as she realized her companions that she abandoned were being burnt at the stake. She hurried over to a barricade and looked upon the scene.
Everyone was stripped of their clothing and weapons. They were all unconscious, save for Bazzil who was too helpless to do anything to save them. The centaurs cheered and howled with delight. They had drinks in hand and were seeming to celebrate. Taeowyn crept closer.
"I say we roast 'em nice and crispy and use their limbs as ornaments to put around our village." Said one centaur.
"Naw," said another. "We should cut their limbs first while their alive, then roast them."
"No." said the booming voice of the centaur Khan. "Let me deal with them." And he grabbed a torch and set afire the grass and branches at the bottom of the posts. He then grabbed a barrel of something and opened it up. Taeowyn could make out tiny little skulls inside. The centaur took one of them out and held it up. There were tiny sharp teeth and beady red eyes still glowing. He threw the skull into the fire and black smoked oozed all around. He threw several more into the fire and soon the place was covered with a dark haze.
Taeowyn heard her companions screaming in terror. The skulls were an ancient torturing technique of the jungles. The skulls of these tiny creatures were cursed, and when burnt, they would implant visions of chaos within the minds of those who inhaled the smoke.
The centaurs fled and ran away from the fires. Taeowyn had to do something, she couldn't let her friends die like this. She ran into the clearing. She could hardly see. She took a breath and choked. The sensation was revolting. She tried not to breath to much as she wandered through the darkness. She began to have terrifying visions in her mind. She screamed. She looked around and continued on. She felt burning on her face as she approached the flames. Then she felt a cool drop of water fall on her face. It began to pour rain and the wind picked up. It blew the smoke away and the rain out the fire. Taeowyn ran over to the posts and untied the company.
Everyone was now unconscious. She stood there not knowing what to do, when the centaurs surrounded her.
"What have we here?" said the centaur Khan. The centaurs laughed. The began to move in closer. The rain was now pouring down harder and the wind was blowing fast. Taeowyn lifted her head and looked at the centaur Khan. Her eyes looked as fierce as lightning. The glowed with a white flame and she raised her staff. The storm around her powered her up. Lightning fell from the sky and she absorbed it. The picked her up off her feat and she floated above the centaurs. She looked to the sky and the clouds shone. Then in less than a second, a hundred bolts of lighting crashed down upon the centaurs. Sparks flew and the centaurs all screeched. All the centaurs lay dead on the ground, steam came off them.
The wind began to blow even harder now. Taeowyn landed and held her staff over her friends. They were all badly burnt. She used the power she still had left and brought them through the air to the outskirts of the village. Their horse were no where to be found. She mounted her own horse which was still waiting for her. The floating bodies suspended around her. She had to hurry and find a source to heal them, her powers were running out fast. She galloped into the night with her friends flying around her.
After about a half an hour, she stopped and laid her companions on the ground. She made a fire and sat in silence. Just then she heard a moan. Bazzil sat up and shook his head. Wha' 'append?" he said. He looked around and saw Taeowyn. "Oh Tae'wyn! So wonderful to see yeh'"
"Yes, well, you are safe now. I am afraid that the others are dying, but I can do nothing. I need to find a healing fountain. Bazzil, I am glad that you have awoken. I need you to stay here while I look for a healing source."
"Ah sure Tae'wyn. But uh.... I'm kinda' naked if yeh' hadn't noticed..."
"Oh!! Yes, I forgot! Where did they hide your clothes?"
"Well they burnt 'em. But we still 'ave some spare clothes in our bags which are on our horses. But they sent our horses off into the desert and I don't know where they migh' be."
"Ok, well you can look in my bag, I have a few cloaks in there you can use. I'll be back in a bit." Taeowyn said as she began to walk out into the desert.
The company stood alone with their own thoughts. Their campaign was failing. The whole expedition was all in vein. They couldn't hold themselves together. Titania and Taeowyn were the only true leaders of the group. The expedition was all theirs, but now they've left. What does the company do now?
"What do we do?" asked Nazdhar.
"I say we continue on with our campaign." Said Tor. "There is still the unknown south that we have to explore."
"You're right," added Shandris. "The Banshee might be there now, and if we turn our backs to her, then she will stab us."
"Very well," said Nazdhar. "We should head south without our guides. If Taeowyn finds Titania, they will most definitely head to the unknown. Who knows, we may meet them later on."
With that they started out once again. They filled their water jugs by the river one last time and left the oasis.
"What about Tobyneth? What should we do with Titanias horse?" asked Borin.
"We can use him to carry some supplies and things." Said Jonas. Some of the company helped load the horse with baggage. Everyone mounted their horses and the rode off into the night. In the east, the sky began to shine with the coming of the sun. Soon, everyone was riding in the pale light of a spring morning.
Taeowyn rode for what seemed like forever along the cliffs edge. Red sunrise was coming into being. Far off in the distance, Taeowyn could see the Stone Talon mountains. They were beautiful to her. She loved nature. She loved formations of the earth and the growth of forests. Taeowyn especially loved a good storm. If there was a storm brewing, she would stand atop her masters tower and wait for it to come. She was one with changing of the weather, and she was at her prime in the center of storm. Most mages had something practical for their source for magic, but Taeowyn obtained hers from the fury of mother nature. The name Taeowy Stormwind the Grey was given to her for a reason.
Taeowyn rode through the harsh desert. Now and then she would come across a heard of lightning lizards who would shock her right off Bereneths back. But lightning lizards are no match for a mage, and Taeowyn would be off once again.
The apprentice rode on for the most of the day, taking short breaks to eat or sleep. At about mid afternoon she came across a fountain of rejuvenation. She stopped here to rejuvenate her energies. She dismounted her horse and walked over to the small pool. Small fairies buzzed around the mystical waters. Taeowyn walked up the bank and looked into the shimmering, violet mist. She bent closer and drank from the fountain. She felt the cool, healing powers of the water run through her veins. Her strength returned to her. She lifted her head and pulled back her hair. She took one last glance at her reflection and noticed an ugly, pug face looking over her shoulder. Taeowyn quickly turned around and faced the centaur bandit. He had a knife in his hand and he pointed it at Taeowyns chest. She gasped. Several more centaurs were behind the first one.
"Give me all you got." Commanded the head bandit.
"No."
"Don't get smart with me, Missy." The centaur reached his hand out as to grab Taeowyn but she swerved out of reach.
Taeowyn stuck a hand out to where he staff lay by her horse. It instantly shot into her palm and she pointed it at the bandit. The centaur shot into the air and landed on his back. The other centaurs fired their crossbows at her but she leaped into the air. The bolts just barely missed her and ricocheted off the rocks of the pool. Taeowyn landed on the ground and cast a protective shield of ice around herself. She ran and landed on Bereneths back and kicked him hard. She steered towards the bandits and pointed her staff at them. She began to channel a storm bolt within her weapon. The centaurs screeched and tried to get out of the way but the young sorceress fired her spell. The lightning struck the bandits and they were thrown into the air.
Taeowyn rode down a small hill and into a dry forest. She continued on, not stopping for many hours. When the sun began to set she caught sight of some buildings. As she came closer she noticed that they were of centaur architecture. She could see torches being lit in the center of the village. Eight shadows were being tied to posts. Taeowyn looked in horror as she realized her companions that she abandoned were being burnt at the stake. She hurried over to a barricade and looked upon the scene.
Everyone was stripped of their clothing and weapons. They were all unconscious, save for Bazzil who was too helpless to do anything to save them. The centaurs cheered and howled with delight. They had drinks in hand and were seeming to celebrate. Taeowyn crept closer.
"I say we roast 'em nice and crispy and use their limbs as ornaments to put around our village." Said one centaur.
"Naw," said another. "We should cut their limbs first while their alive, then roast them."
"No." said the booming voice of the centaur Khan. "Let me deal with them." And he grabbed a torch and set afire the grass and branches at the bottom of the posts. He then grabbed a barrel of something and opened it up. Taeowyn could make out tiny little skulls inside. The centaur took one of them out and held it up. There were tiny sharp teeth and beady red eyes still glowing. He threw the skull into the fire and black smoked oozed all around. He threw several more into the fire and soon the place was covered with a dark haze.
Taeowyn heard her companions screaming in terror. The skulls were an ancient torturing technique of the jungles. The skulls of these tiny creatures were cursed, and when burnt, they would implant visions of chaos within the minds of those who inhaled the smoke.
The centaurs fled and ran away from the fires. Taeowyn had to do something, she couldn't let her friends die like this. She ran into the clearing. She could hardly see. She took a breath and choked. The sensation was revolting. She tried not to breath to much as she wandered through the darkness. She began to have terrifying visions in her mind. She screamed. She looked around and continued on. She felt burning on her face as she approached the flames. Then she felt a cool drop of water fall on her face. It began to pour rain and the wind picked up. It blew the smoke away and the rain out the fire. Taeowyn ran over to the posts and untied the company.
Everyone was now unconscious. She stood there not knowing what to do, when the centaurs surrounded her.
"What have we here?" said the centaur Khan. The centaurs laughed. The began to move in closer. The rain was now pouring down harder and the wind was blowing fast. Taeowyn lifted her head and looked at the centaur Khan. Her eyes looked as fierce as lightning. The glowed with a white flame and she raised her staff. The storm around her powered her up. Lightning fell from the sky and she absorbed it. The picked her up off her feat and she floated above the centaurs. She looked to the sky and the clouds shone. Then in less than a second, a hundred bolts of lighting crashed down upon the centaurs. Sparks flew and the centaurs all screeched. All the centaurs lay dead on the ground, steam came off them.
The wind began to blow even harder now. Taeowyn landed and held her staff over her friends. They were all badly burnt. She used the power she still had left and brought them through the air to the outskirts of the village. Their horse were no where to be found. She mounted her own horse which was still waiting for her. The floating bodies suspended around her. She had to hurry and find a source to heal them, her powers were running out fast. She galloped into the night with her friends flying around her.
After about a half an hour, she stopped and laid her companions on the ground. She made a fire and sat in silence. Just then she heard a moan. Bazzil sat up and shook his head. Wha' 'append?" he said. He looked around and saw Taeowyn. "Oh Tae'wyn! So wonderful to see yeh'"
"Yes, well, you are safe now. I am afraid that the others are dying, but I can do nothing. I need to find a healing fountain. Bazzil, I am glad that you have awoken. I need you to stay here while I look for a healing source."
"Ah sure Tae'wyn. But uh.... I'm kinda' naked if yeh' hadn't noticed..."
"Oh!! Yes, I forgot! Where did they hide your clothes?"
"Well they burnt 'em. But we still 'ave some spare clothes in our bags which are on our horses. But they sent our horses off into the desert and I don't know where they migh' be."
"Ok, well you can look in my bag, I have a few cloaks in there you can use. I'll be back in a bit." Taeowyn said as she began to walk out into the desert.
