Randomly decided to check in after years and see talk of Doordie and Amel. Lots of fun memories! Arguably my first long time character, Narwyn, ended up closely aligned with Amel as his protege.
Doordie was one of the best RP's I ever played with. His stories, with his character Amel, were amazing. Rich, deep, complex. I hope Doordie is doing well! You have a really great Uncle!
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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(( Reference: Endings and Beginnings ))
Background:
When Itarildé had reached the age 12, she was approached by an elven bard. His name was Artuar. He was a bard skilled in using the Song for healing. Artuar roamed the many worlds and planes looking for people who could be trained in the art he learned a long time ago.
It was a great responsibility and would require a lot of training and dedication. Danath was against it at first, he knew what responsibilities lay with power, but was persuaded by Kasith to let her begin training.
They agreed that training would take place in the temporal plane and inside the community they lived in on that Plane.
Her education consisted of the magic within music, herb-lore and healing. Danath’s affinity to bend magic had been passed on to her and made it easier for to attune herself to the music. Artuar was curious towards her affinity for fire. She could exert some limited control over fire and she could drawn on her inner flame to heal through the Song and showed potential to burn away disease and poisons with the same magic.
…The years passed…
It was half a year before her 18th birthday. Danath and Kasith had talked about this with Itarildé and Artuar, and it was time for them all to return to the Prime. Because Danath had return to Thain for a few days under special circumstances, they decided that he would not be allowed to head to Thain for one more year, but Kasith and their children were free to go as they pleased. They didn’t know how long the Weave would be out on Thain so they were told they would not be able to send a portal to Thain itself, but instead to a port near Thain. Itarildé didn’t want to leave her family, but it was time for her to go and learn to live on her own and develop her skills as a bard and healer. Ravan would accompany her to Thain.
On the eve of her 18th birthday, she was called to Artuar for a ceremony. She had completed her training with him and it was time for her to show what she had learned over the years.
When the ceremony was complete, Artuar told Itarildé she was one of his most promising students yet.
She liked using the magic within music and tapping into the vibrations around her, which she could use to bend magic like her father once did. Her herb-lore and healer training would be of great use too. And then she thought of her unique abilities, passed on to her from her mother. The gift of fire, purifying and bright.
Finally Artuar presented her with a small silver horn, decorated with various elven runes. A gift from one bard to another. Giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, she thanked him and ran home.
All her friends were there and even Danath’s parents had come for her birthday. From Kasith and Danath she was given a dark green leather quiver. From her grandparents she was given a leather scabbard, made for a long sword. It looked like an ordinary scabbard, but it had a magical enchantment on it, that it could hold any kind of weapon, even those burning with a fierce fire and it wouldn’t be damaged.
When the festivities were over, she prepared to make the trip back to Thain. Saying her goodbyes her family and friends. Lightly packed, taking only a few clothes and her gifts of course, they stepped through the portal leading to the seaport…
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Artuar Picture
(( A jump to here: Endings and Beginnings ))
[ Edited ]
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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Herb Lore – Lesson 1 -
Itarildé sat in her room in the Trade, reviewing her notes on Lore of Herbs. Her supply which she brought with her from Evermeet was running low and she decided review her writings before heading out to find new supplies.
Agrimony reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet. It has leaves up to seven inches long, which are serrated, green on top and white underneath. It has yellow flowers with five petals which are arranged in a spike on top of the stem. Its dried leaves must be boiled in a pint of red wine for five minutes, and then left to stand for an hour. It should then be used on sprains and bruises in a compress. A successful application will cure sprains and bruises in half the normal time.
Warning: Agrimony was also believed to produce very heavy sleep if placed beneath a persons head, so deep that the person could not be woken until it was removed.
Angelica’s root should be boiled in water for an hour and then drunk in order to relieve coughs. The plant can grow to a height of eight feet. It has a hollow stem and has large, broad pointed leaves at the base of the stem. It has a cluster of white or pink flowers at the top of the stem. The herbs does not in any way act as a cure for any disease causing a cough, it merely reduces the amount of coughing.
ATIGAX Available: Winter 40% Locale: Grassland Preparation: 1 day
The roots of this plant must be brewed over a low fire for one day, and the resulting distillation drunk. If used successfully, sight will be protected from glare or blinding light for a period of nine hours. This herb can thus be used to limit the ill effects suffered by subterranean creatures (such as drow) in full sunlight.
BASE MULLEIN Available: Always 90% Locale: Rural Preparation: none
Base Mullein is very easily found due to the fact that its flower stalks often obtain a height of 8 feet or more. Its clear yellow flowers cover about 3 feet of the top of the stalk, and form a long funnel about an inch or two in diameter. If the leaves of this herb are applied to a burn within one hour, it will reduce the damage taken from the burn, by half.
Basil must be used almost immediately on being picked. The leaves should be applied to the bite of a venomous creature, and it will then have the effect of drawing out the poison. Any damage already sustained will remain. The herb has one upright stalk, and small white flowers.
BASTIT Available: All year 20% Locale: All Preparation: none
A small succulent that, when crushed, tends to repel parasitic insects, including mosquitoes and the like. It has a pungent but not unpleasant odour.
BITTERMOURN Available: Winter 5% Locale: All Preparation: 2 hours
A rare, colourless lichen that grows on rocks beneath year-round ice. When crushed and strained, it creates a clear gel at freezing temperatures that melts into liquid when warmer. Imbibing a pint slows the aging process and grants a lifespan of twice normal length.
Bursthelas must be brewed for one week in fine red wine before it can be used. It must then be drunk within one month or spoil. A successful draft will heal any fractured bones within the body within one to three days.
Cow parsnip has small leaves covered with tiny hairs. These hairs must be made into a salve. Cow parsnip will cure madness for a short period (a few hours). Repeated application over a two week period may cure insanity altogether.
Cow wheat is a small straight stemmed yellow-green plant. Its pale yellow flowers produce a white powder when crushed, between two hands. If this powder is placed into food or drink it will cause a person to act as if drunk. Each dose of this herb successfully administered will increase the level of drunkenness by one step.
Marigold can grow to a height of two feet and has rows of flat orange and yellow petals around a central disc. These flowers must be dried and then mixed with olive or other vegetable oil to produce a soothing balm which will soothe and clean small wounds, in order to prevent infection.
MOUNTAIN GARLICK Available: Always 30% Locale: Mountains Preparation: 1 day
This herb keeps a person warm for one night or one day, and prevents them suffering from exposure. This can mean the difference between life and death.
This small (5,91 inches) plant has black green leaves, sawed deeply several times, and three flower stalks with tiny white flowers and brown seed pods. The seeds are fine as dust, and are therefore usually worked into pills, although, in a pinch, it is possible to simply pluck a stalk and eat it whole. In both cases, the seeds have the effect to avoid lycanthropy.
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Heritage – part 1
After the failed rescue attempt of Tara and Franck in the Poisonwood Stronghold, Itarildé told the others she would remain south, in Cobblewall for a bit. With Ravan gone, back to Faerun to get her mother, and Tara and Franck probably still very angry with her, she felt there was little point in going back to the Trade and Tackel for the next days.
After a troubled night, filled with nightmares, she finally awoke. Dawn was still an hour away and the tavern itself was quiet. The red glow from the dragon rune on her bracelet lighted up the room enough for her to see. Quietly she put on her clothes and buckled up the belt. She took her horn and hang it from her belt. She opened the window and smiled as the rain had stopped, although for how long she didn’t know. She made her way to the tavern area and was startled by Cobblewall himself. She hadn’t expected him to be up so early, but someone has to tidy up the place, she reasoned. She nodded to him as he bid her a good morning. The door was still unlocked and she left for a morning walk, making sure she steered clear of the ogres.
She went for a stroll, following the road south. She didn’t dare go to the Greenvale alone. The night was still looming over the landscape and she could smell the Razorfangs stalking the road, waiting for travellers. Instead she took the road leading to the Bloodguard guard post. Along the southern shore, not to far away from the guard post, she sat herself down. In the distance she could see the clouds slowly drifting back. She became aware of a light in the distance, spreading over the horizon. The sun was coming up. She blew on her silver horn, then began singing a song in tribute of the sun, it’s light and warmth.
Slowly she ended the song and smiled as the first rays of sun fell onto her skin. She found herself more intune with the warmth it provided and her control over the fire had stabilised somewhat. Both Card and Ravan had said she was coming into her Heritage, her Dragon Blood. The first effects had already revealed them to her. She felt stronger and yet she didn’t have the muscles to back up this newly found strength. She could call upon hidden reserves of strength when she let the Blood run wild, but it made her angry when she did that. A rage from within. But this new strength was different, it didn’t go away when she calmed herself down. She didn’t have any scales but, although her skin was a soft and smooth as it always had been, something was different. Almost as if there was something underneath her skin that had hardened.
She stopped her pondering when the first drops of rain began to fall. She glanced upwards and saw the sun disappear behind the thick layer of clouds that had finally drifted back in. With a sigh she took out her cloak and hood, put them on and made her way back to the Cobblewall Inn.
Upon entering the tavern, the regular patrons already were going about their daily activities. She made her way to her room to drop off her cloak and went to the tavern. Borrowing an instrument from one of the musicians that was on a break, she started to play a tune along with the others. The worries of the past weeks… Months… forgotten for a brief moment as she entertained the patrons and herself.
[ Edited 10:49:04 AM 08/17/06 ]
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
Joined: 1:17:12 pm GMT 11/20/05
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Heritage – part 2
It was a few weeks after she had spend the time in the south. Itarildé had been ill for a few days, putting it off to a common cold. She’d be spending a lot of time around the Trade and Tackel. Out of the corner of her eye she saw some movement and to her great delight it was Ravan. He had brought Kasith with him as well. It had only been months since she left Evermeet, but she was glad to see her nevertheless.
Kasith had noticed the changes in Itarildé. She took her daughter to the goblin caves, to see what Itarildé had learned and to aid her with controlling her dragon side. They were in the goblin warrens and she ordered Itarildé to destroy the gate keeping her from her enemy… and their treasure. As Itarildé drew her blade, Kasith spoke in draconic.
wrote ... You have the fire inside you. You will not need that.
Itarildé sheeted her blade and stepped up to the gate. Behind her she could hear Kasith talk her through it.
wrote ... I know it's there. You just need to learn to let it out. Or you will burn.
Itarildé sang a few lines of a draconic song before it happened. She felt the Blood Rage set in and the Fire was coming together. She let out a low, primal growl and the fire erupted from her mouth, setting the wooden gate in a fiery blaze. The next was a haze for Itarildé but when she came around, she could see burned corpses around her.
Kasith told her that is was imperative she learned to control it. So she wouldn’t do anything wrong in a haze and become one of the hunted. Itarildé knew what she had to do, but it could wait. For now she was going to spend some time with her Mother. They preceded to the Goblin King. Itarildé had to fight him alone to prove herself. She managed to defeat him… eventually. Kasith was not impressed and challenged Itarildé to strike at her and show what she so called learned. After a few attempts, in which Itarildé managed to only get in a few minor blows, Kasith knocked Itarildé off her feet. She still had a lot to learn in her Mother’s eyes.
With the lessons over, they made their way south. To the ruins of the Celestial Temple.
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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Extract from the Journal of Itarildé Eldurain
After the training with Mother, we went to the temple ruins. There we ran into that elf, Elvith. Mother nearly killed him… But she took enough pleasure in toying with him. I still can’t believe he is actually getting two cows for Mother. It was hilarious to see his face, but he deserved it. For what he put Mother through. But we will see. If he tries anything even Father won’t be so forgiving.
Anyway, I finally met someone of my own age… Well sort of anyway. Mother told me it was best to keep certain aspects of the past secret from now on, from everyone. Eric is his name and he seemed to know Mother and Father. But that is hardly a surprise… Almost everyone knows Mother and Father, although the wings come as a surprise to most for some reason.
We had a talk in the Necropolis. This boy seemed to be Kin as well. But from a Shadow Dragon. Shadows… I felt sick at the mention of them. I still have nightmares of what happened when that shadow creature tried to attack me when I was a baby and the worst nightmare is the Shadovar and the Shadow Plane.
Mother suggested Eric contacted Father. He knows a lot of the shadows, even managed to beat them. I’m not sure if I should interact with this Shadow Dragon, but then that would make me just the same as the other Kin haters. I’ll see how it goes. Gods know I need a few people of my own age to talk to and maybe I can learn to overcome this fear of unnatural shadows with his aid.
Later we ran into Uncle Franck and after a while Aunt Tara. She still was angry, but Mother insisted I went and apologise after hearing what happened. Thinking of it now, I see she and Aunt Tara are right. But Uncle Franck isn’t exactly setting a good example. He came out of those goblin caves in the mountains badly wounded. He means right, but sometimes he can say such… Ignorant things… I’m… I’m not going to write any more about it. I know he meant no harm with it and only said it for the best.
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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Kasith had asked Itarildé to see Keanes if she was in Hamley and ask if he had made any progress on the research of fire gems and Kasith her project when she was working for him.
She took advantage of a trip to Hamley to do so.
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[ 650_keanes.jpg ]
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
Joined: 1:17:12 pm GMT 11/20/05
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Heritage – part 3
Itarildé had a little talk with Tara. She had decided to confine something with her aunt. Itarildé told Tara of her nightmares and fears. Itarildé didn’t understand it herself, but all her life she had nightmares of the shadow creature that was in her room and what happened in the Shadow Plan itself. She told Tara of how she froze and ran when she saw that shadow creature… Shadows, Shadow creatures and unnatural Darkness instilled a great fear in her that brought back the nightmares of the Shadovar. Her biggest fear was becoming infected with the Shadows and the Shadovar like Danath, her father.
The next day she joined the group heading to the Drakamyre and to locate Anders. She admitted she was going just to see more of the isle and the Drakamyre. And what she saw was beyond her wildest dreams. Vampires, Bone Golems and Devils. She didn’t think Danath had ever seen the Devils… At least not below this Inn in the Drakamyre.
The travelling with the large group went without too much trouble and the missing paladin was found. But this was all secondary to Itarildé. She had been almost constantly bombarded with fireball the entire trip and at the end of the trip she found herself unusually tired. The last thing she remembered was sitting down on the bench in Hamley.
The next morning she awoke in her parents old room in the Roadhouse. She saw she was still in her leather armour and quickly changed. She went down and ordered a meal. Still half asleep, she picked up a mug. Although to her surprise the mug cracked under her grip. She quickly put it down and looked at her hands with a frown. She ate her meal and left Hamley and found a quiet spot out of sight from the guards. Itarildé gathered some firewood and lighted it with her Dragon Flame. She used her control over fire to tone the blazing fire down to a minor flame. She extended her hand to the flame and hesitated for a moment. Then the growled and thrust her hand into the flame. Oddly enough, the fire didn’t hurt her hand. The skin remained unscathed, the flames just bended around her hand. She kept her hand in and increased the fire to a medium flame. Her hand was still unscathed but… she could feel the heat of the flame on her skin. She pulled hand out quickly and doused the fire. So she had become adept to fire and was able to resist small amounts of burn.
Itarildé pulled out a knife and made a cut in her hand… She wiped away the blood and looked inside the cut with a frown. Although she had no scales on her skin, she had minor scale formations underneath her skin. She bandaged her hand and returned to her room. There she checked her body for any visible scales, but the found nothing. Her skin remains smooth. She removed the bandage from her hand and cast a healing spell on it. She watched the skin close up over the scales, without a single scar or any evidence of scale formations.
She began to wonder, now that she was resistant to fire, would this be as far as her Dragon Blood would mature. It wouldn’t surprise her, she was after all only a quarter Dragon Kin. She looked out of the window of her room and wondered if she would be able to catch Keanes on a less busy moment. He had been very busy the last time she was there. Itarildé wrinkled her nose and looked at the patrols of the Emperyeans. She packed her things and knocked on the door of Franck and Tara and informed them she was heading back to the Trade and Tackel. Even though the guards didn’t know of her heritage, she still didn’t feel at ease so close to the people that would kill her mother on sight.
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The Four Aspects – The Aspect of Water
Itarildé lay on her bed, in her room in the Trade and Tackel, and let the events of the past day run through her head again.
Wa'i'miko, the messenger of Wa'i'lanai, the Aspect of Water. It or she, as the Avatar it used was female, came to me and Eric in the Nachtlight. Itarildé thought back to what it had said. In a way it made sense. There has been an upheaval in the balance of power here on this Isle. Out of such destruction and chaos, opportunities arise. This is one such... if you would care to serve the holiness of water… There are four aspects that have arisen since the fall of Light and Dark.
Common sense and the fact that the Water Avatar mentioned an Aspect of Fire, lead Itarildé to the logical conclusion that the other three would be Fire, Air and Earth. The Avatar had asked if they favoured Flame over Water, but here Itarildé stood for a dilemma. She used the best of both worlds. The Flame represented her Heritage, something she would never give up. And the Water stood for her training as a Healer and Weaver of the Song.
As she turned around in bed, Itarildé thought to herself it was really more the ideals of this Aspect of Water that spoke to her then the actual deity or avatar.
The one I serve favours healing, goodness, magic, and protection. Mercy above vengeance, helping over hurting. Wa'i'miko had said. She had never considered religion before, except the occasional thanks or curse to Tymora. She had told this Avatar she used both Fire and Water and it’s reply had been… Indecisive really…. It seems an odd combination to me, but if you use it to help others... that's a good thing.
Eric had ran off, hot headed again… as usual. At least he didn’t blast the drow and went to the exit. Before she left herself she asked Wa'i'miko how to reach her should it be needed. Think of cool running water... pray in a place where there is a stream or pool or lake or by the ocean. If my mistress hears you, she will send me.
Itarildé felt conflicted, Hayleigh had suggested that following this Aspect of Water might be considered denying and betraying her heritage. But she made it clear to herself and to Hayleigh that she wouldn’t change who she is, not even for a god. She drew her magic from the Fire, but used the Water in her everyday healing. She knew one thing, she wasn’t going to make a decision until she spoke with her Mother.
Sleep finally caught up with her and she snuggled deep under the blankets and went to sleep, haunted by the nightmares of the Shadows and the Shadovar, who were kept at bay by the Light from her Flame.
[ Edited 08:04:09 AM 08/21/06 ]
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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The Aspect of Water – Follow up
Itarildé had made up her mind. She had talked with Kasith about it and her words were true. She was of the Fire and not of the Water. Changing that would only weaken her and push her away from what she truly is. Itarildé was curious however and the aspect of new divine powers was intriguing nevertheless.
Kasith had given her a curious crystal, with the warning not to use it carelessly. It would take her to a place where the Fire would be very strong. She wondered if she should ask Eric to join her on this. After she heard his tale down in the Nachtlight with the Water Avatar, she was sure he would benefit from the Water… Calm and quiet.
Despite his Shadow essence she felt very much at ease with him. Perhaps she could trust him with other things… Such as this new quest she would undertake to find the Aspect of Fire. Water and Fire… It could work. Even though Water and Fire are in constant conflict with each other, Itarildé found plenty of evidence in ordinary life that they fill each others weaknesses.
She knew Eric lived somewhere in Hamley, but not sure where. If she were to leave a note to contact him, she needed a place to leave it. Maybe she should just leave a note with Jonan… Maybe she would run into Eric or his father before she needed to talk with him. This was one trip she wouldn’t make without the proper preparations, so she had a bit of time to find out.
With a sigh she took out a piece of paper and after a few moments of trying to write a heading, she decided to wait a bit. It was getting late after all. It could wait till the morning.
Tempting as it was, I decided not to go round hitting people with a crowbar. Registered Member #650
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The Four Aspects – The Aspect of Fire
Itarildé was finally able to sit down at the table and write in her journal. Eric was deep asleep, the burns he got in the Fire Plane healing nicely. Sitting down she took out her latest addition, a gem found on the Plane itself. Her thoughts wandered back to the Fire Plane.
The air was thick and hot. All around lava and fire. The first creature that they encountered was a fire elemental, charging at them. It was easily dispatched. Then they came to a small fort of sorts, within them burning dwarves. Itarildé found the leader, but before anything could be asked about the Aspect of Fire they were being attacked by another group of these burning dwarves. She called out to Eric that they had to leave, but he was overwhelmed by those hostile forces. She has cast a spell of invisibility and lured them away from Eric after he fell. Using her life stone had failed, but one fell out of a burned hole in his pocket. She picked him and carried him to the portal.
She had made her way outside, back to the fresh air before reviving him. She sang a song of healing and his burn wounds were healed up to the point that it resembled sunburn. Using a spell of invisibility, she helped him walk back to the Trade. There she had put him in bed in the room next to hers and stayed with him until he fell asleep.
Itarildé turned the gem around in her hands. It still felt warm to the touch and if you held it just right, you could see a flame inside it. She considered if maybe this gem could be used to find the Aspect of Fire. And, she thought, there were also those caves below the Hammersong. Perhaps the Fire Plane had been the wrong choice and finding them would only work on the Prime. Itarildé decided it could wait for now, but she hoped that trip and her calling out to the Aspect of Fire, when Eric had fallen, would have alerted the Aspect of Fire someone was looking for it.
She put the gem in her box, checked on Eric again, then headed to her own bed.
[ The Island of Thain ]
The Tales of Itarild