From:  Marvin Kosh <marvinkosh@omniloth.net>
Date:  Mon Apr 22, 2002  8:22 pm
Subject:  [DL-T] Mind if I just pass out?

Day 4, near noon

*Joanna*

She couldn't find the words to express herself. She was peripherally
aware that the danger was past now, and they were going somewhere. Her
eyes never left Ilara for a moment, as if afraid that the wounded
priestess would stop breathing if she did.

This vigilant concern kept her from going into shock, for she too had
been wounded, though the physical injury was a scratch compared to the
betrayal she and the others had barely survived. She doubted herself;
to have worked alongside someone for so long and then be taken unawares
like this, well.... it made her wonder how well you could really know
someone.

But it was more than that. Joanna had trusted him, looked up to him.
And in the end it was her that had to stop him from hurting anyone else.
It didn't feel like an act of heroism at the time, and it still didn't.


*Ilara*

Consciousness flitted in and out for her. The sun was warm against her
face when she felt it. She could feel her heart beating and her chest
rising with slow, shallow breaths, and on top of that was a searing,
dizzying agony that momentarily sent her blissfully back to where she
couldn't feel physical pain. Her mind would replay the events that had
transpired at blistering speed, from the fateful beginning to the
heinous end. She would struggle in these nightmares but her body was
too weak to mimic with anything more than the occasional muscle twitch.

She too felt betrayal, but grief at the destruction was forefront. She
wept at the sight of her lovely town in flames, the people screaming,
scattering and running for their lives.

She remembered his eyes, green and glinting malevolently in the fires he
had created. Ilara's fury had overcome her grief then and she'd
followed him into the heart of the Meborham Mounts, where she had
struggled with him for mere moments before he overcame her and gave her
this nasty slash across the chest.


*Lynara*

She was only two years old so she couldn't understand what was going on,
except that her mummy was hurt badly, so she would lean into Joanna's
uninjured side and cry some of the time until she went back to sleep.


*Niklas*

He felt very tired as his wary eyes swept the inside of the caravan.
Ilara was stretched out on the length of the seat opposite to keep her
comfortable, while Lynara was scrunched up between him and Joanna. He'd
tried to talk to Joanna but she could only look at him with anguish in
her eyes and shake her head.

Apart from a sore head, which he'd got from being flung into a wall, he
was in better shape. But he shared their feelings of grief and
betrayal. Everything that Ilara had worked so hard for had been
destroyed. Joanna and Lynara had nearly lost Ilara.

And he'd lost.... someone who he'd been able to open up to about his
past, a mentor of sorts. He'd lost that when their friend had turned
into a madman.

Part of Niklas was glad that Joanna had been able to stop him. Another
part wished.... that somehow they could have brought him back from the
madness. But there had been no time, and he had already hurt Ilara by
the time Niklas caught up.

The caravan drew in to the Medical Center at Telnor. Niklas carefully
lifted Ilara in his arms and carried her out with his teeth gritted at
the weight of the supposedly slim redhead, while Joanna brought the
little girl, Lynara.

"What happened?" he was asked as someone rushed over to help him.

Niklas hesitated for a moment before replying. "A rogue rider attacked
us. We were lucky he was heading in your direction," he said, nodding
to the driver of the caravan. It was an over-simplification, but it
would do for now.

"There's a lot of bleeding here but it's nearly stopped." The nurse,
Libby, indicated the ad-hoc dressing ripped from Ilara's robe, which was
stained through with blood. "This saved her life."

"I helped out in the med center when I was at Xylian," Niklas explained.
"You pick up a few things here and there."

"She's going to be all right?" Joanna asked, the first words she'd said
since the sun came up.

"Early to say, but yes I think she will make it," Libby replied.

"You hear that, Lynara? Your mummy is going to be all right." Joanna's
eyelids fluttered and she almost fainted there and then, but Niklas
caught her and eased her down onto one of the nearby beds, gently
extricating the child.

Libby looked where Joanna was clutching the side of her abdomen, prising
the fingers away she found a wound that had re-opened, probably when she
walked in.

"There's another one on the back. She ran right into his.... uh....
sword," Niklas ventured.


Respectfully transmitted,
Marvin Kosh <marvinkosh@omniloth.net>

writing for:
Ilara, Joanna, and Niklas Telnor Warren

nrpg

Yeuch! All that blood makes my feel queasy ;)

Okay, we're here. Bios appended. They're not actually updated with
these recent events, because that would spoil the surprise, but you can
pretty much glean a lot out of them.

I wasn't sure when to bring them in so I figured, just a little after
what's happening in John's last post would do. <G>

Summary
Day 4, near noon - Ilara, Lynara, Joanna, and Niklas sort through what
happened to them on their way to the warren. They are taken to the
medical centre to have their injuries looked at.

--
Omniloth Network <--- http://www.omniloth.net/wildroses/

<System overload> "I know." <System overload> "I know!" <System overload>
"I know!.... but, it must be done."

--General Hein


************************************************************************
Priestess Ilara L-5 F/Human
Introduced 24 June 1997
Bio last updated 04 September 2001


Name: Ilara Stumnelm (generally only known by her first name)
Sex: Female
Age: 23
Birthday: mid-summer (July 8)
Family: all killed in wraith attack on hometown
Children: Lynara, born two years ago


Early History

Happy family life until the wraith attack on her small home village of
Meborham when she was twelve, which left her orphaned. After her rescue
by a mysterious dragonrider now known as Demathrin, Ilara led a rather
nomadic existence.. never staying anywhere too long to make friends or
enemies, doing what work she could to keep herself fed and clothed, and
surviving the crueller elements.

Along the way she almost abandoned her trek twice. The first time was
also the first time she'd ever really fallen in love. That ended
eventually when her lover Katryn's parents found out, and the memory of
being driven out of the house haunts her from time to time. It was
several years later that love stopped her again, and this time Ilara
thought hothing could come between them, that she and Janna were
forever.... and then she was dumped for a man. She moved on and is
stronger for it.


Joining and Warren life

Until being joined with Erkvinen, she'd never really thought about
becoming a dragonrider. She was confused by the things that being a
queenrider brought, though with help from her friend Sarilyn it became
clearer and a little easier.

She fell in love with a searchling and artisan named Carlynee. In her
reluctant way, Carl eventually fell for her too, but the jealousy of
Ilara's other half drove a wedge between them. The relationship pretty
much ended when Erkvinen rose to mate and Ilara was consumed by
dragonlust that scared Carl in its intensity.

Ilara went on to carry the child conceived in the mating, constantly
harassed by the father B'Lin because of her new relationship with
Sarilyn. He was also suspicious when Ilara started working with his
wife Lecia, who joined with one of Erkvinen's hatchlings, a new queen
named Sadennetta.

Some time after the hatching, Erkvinen fell ill, and awoke one morning
feeling very lethargic. That same day, she died, but Ilara wasn't as
struck by grief as some would have been. She claimed to have seen
Erkvinen's spirit fly away into the skies, and feels even today that her
bond-mate is not really gone.

B'Lin continued to harangue her over the baby - at one point he barged
in on her and promptly made a pass at Sarilyn. In an attempt to keep
the peace between B'Lin and his wife - who arrived in time for this last
scene - Ilara implied that it was Sarilyn who had started it. This led
to her lover being ostracised by others in the warren.

Ashamed of what she had done and unable to undo it, Ilara took off one
night without telling Sarilyn. She took Joanna (a recent and mysterious
visitor to the warren) and Demathrin to see hometown and give birth to
her child there.


Recent history

Ilara was initiated into the priesthood of her now-flourishing hometown
of Meborham, after being overhead talking about the afterlife, where she
believed Erkvinen had gone. Her ideas and beliefs (and to a minor
extent, the one-time experience from Joanna's box) helped to revitalise
the local order, which had begun to wane in popularity in recent years.

The Meborham Order grew and spread to neighbouring villages, thanks to
Ilara's unique people skills.

Gradually though, her thoughts turned to Sarilyn, whom she'd left
behind. Her daughter's name Lynara, which had been forged from a
foolish mix of their names, constantly reminded her of her love. She
requested some time off to visit the warren and was granted it, provided
that she spread the word about her order while she was there.

The journey between Xylian Warren and the town Meborham is a long and
dangerous one, even for dragonriders, but one that she nethertheless had
to undertake to find out if her heart's desire was really true. Her
order allows her to take one partner for life marriage, so she plans to
ask Sarilyn to marry her, even after all she's done, and even though it
would be difficult to see each other regularly.


Personality

Still a little short for words when it comes to her past, but now that
she has seen her hometown again, she will talk about what happened
there. Basically though, she doesn't like to dwell on the past much.

Fairly open when talking about sex and her sexuality. Although her vow
of marriage would restrict her to just one partner, Ilara has been known
to be unfaithful in previous relationships. She actually flirts more
when she has a current involvement. When she makes a pass at someone,
she can be totally outrageous.

Though she's generally quiet, Ilara is articulate and friendly when she
does speak, even though she lacks a grandiose vocabulary and will
stumble to find the right words for what she's describing.


Interests

As well as teaching the ways of her order, Ilara likes to keep fit.
Usually this takes the form of dance practise. She also enjoys good
wines and parties. However, her order requires her to abstain from
alcohol while she is on official business.


Appearance

Neck-length red hair, bright green eyes. Taller than most perhaps at
5ft10in, with a well-curved figure - a little muscular around the arms
and legs - amounting to 150 pounds. She's lightly tanned, though a bit
unevenly.

Faint small scar near the hairline. Tends toward unconstrictive clothes,
often blood-red or black colours, when in informal company. She wears
the white robes and head-dress of her order when on business. A dark
cloak goes on top if it's cold.


Abilities

Handy with a blade, but will only fight only in self-defence.
Not by any means acrobatic, but quick on her feet and alert.
Literate but not to a great degree, gets stuck on big words.
Persuasive, and can be seductive. A sensual lover.
Can cook modest meals.


Medical

Suffers badly from sunstroke, often wears a hat in summer.
Keeps in good shape and encourages others to do the same.
Virtually no tolerance for alcohol.
Used to have bad dreams about the attack on Meborham.


Erkvinen

Ilara's bond-mate, a metallic red queen named Erkvinen, lingers still
after her untimely death. Her various traits are sometimes seen in her
rider's behaviour, in a slight arrogant outburst, or a sudden quantum
leap in reasoning usually beyond Ilara, even a rather unwilling but
characteristic 'my-way-or-no-way' attitude.

Erkvinen died some time after her first hatching, from an illness whose
onset was unnaturally fast. However it was mercifully painless.

************************************************************************
Joanna Houston L-5 F/Human
Introduced early February 1995
Bio last updated 05 September 2001

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Joanna Houston
Sex: Female
Age: 22
Birth date: 06 May 2391 (not generally known)
Race: Human
Origin: unknown
Family: unknown
Status: single

Recent history

Joanna arrived at Xylian through unknown means and met Sarilyn there,
who then introduced her to everyone.

At the moment she travels with Ilara so that she might get an
audience for her box and complete her work, whatever that is.

Memory troubles - no long-term history

Joanna doesn't know an awful lot about her past - though the memories
are there. However, what she remembers may not make any sense,
especially since she may have been an artificial life-form at one
point.

Major things she has remembered so far:

Her own name.

The crystal skyline of the place she was working at before she
arrived at Xylian.

The first name of her last lover, William.


Purpose and goals

What she does know very clearly (like some kind of programming)
mainly concerns the box in her keeping, which is a magical device
that taps into the opener's own inner beauty and lets them experience
it in a form that they can understand, perhaps sub-consciously. Its
effects are generally pleasant and positively uplifting. However,
the box will only function in a field of magical energy such as that
found in dragon warrens, and just once for every person that uses it.
Joanna guards the box with her life, preventing its misuse. Aside
from these duties, she is free to do as she wishes.


Appearance

Bright blue eyes, neck-length red hair swept back in an arc, 6ft slim
build, lightly tanned skin.


Psychological Profile

Beliefs: "Life is worth living to the maximum."
Ambitions: none at present
Annoyances: Virtually none, she just smiles and ignores rude people.
Even if she encounters someone threatening, she prefers to sweet-talk
first.

Hobbies: Sculpting, games of chance.
Personality type: Strong/stable, Happy/outspoken, Laid-back/friendly.
A warm and caring person.

Habits: Oversleeping and being late when asked to be somewhere at a
particular time.

************************************************************************
Niklas M/Human
Never introduced
Bio last updated 05 September 2001

Name: Niklas (Nik for short)
Sex: Male
Age: 16
Birthday: Early autumn (September 5)
Family: Has two younger sisters who live with his parents in Free Town.
Children: none

History

Niklas was brought up properly, in the sense that he never got to push
too far, especially while his father was at home. However, with the
civil war in Lotherra, he managed to fall in with a bad crowd looking to
exploit the situation. Stories of his misdeeds got around and grew
legs, but he was never actually caught thieving. It was enough to push
him into leaving home though.

Recent history

S'dan, the searcher for Xylian, ran into Nik a few months ago as the
young tearaway was on an initiation. He'd realised that this heist was
beyond even his abilities and needed to disappear. Luckily for him, he
had dragon affinity, and now he resides at the searchling barracks of
Xylian. It's said though that he's still got sticky fingers. Any time
he is confronted about a theft, the item in question mysteriously turns
up days later.


Personality

Nik is generally friendly but takes his time trusting people, because he
doesn't want to be found by any of his old friends. He has a kind heart
and, apart from his tendency to filch anything he can get away with, he
would never hurt anyone. Over a good drink, and among friends, he will
regale tales that are almost true to history.

Despite what you might hear in some of his bawdier stories, he's holding
out for a woman he can fall hopelessly in love with.


Interests

He likes to dance, but there's an ulterior side to it - keep your purses
and valuables locked away when you go to the party tonight.

Stargazing is also a hobby of his, but again once he's got people
looking at the stars, he'll swoop in like an eagle.

Nik can also sing a bit, but when he does that people will give anything
for him to stop (he's totally tone-deaf).


Appearance

Keeps a dead short cut of his blond hair, so nobody can grab him by it.
He has very light blue eyes, often mistaken as being grey. He's average
height at 5'5" and of course he's thin as a rake for hiding in those
extra-narrow side streets. His clothes are a bit baggy on him - did he
steal those too? We can only wonder.


Abilities

Can disappear into thin air.... if you turn your back on him for just
half a second.

According to the stories, locks fall apart in his hands with no natural
explanation. Of course, those are just stories ;)

Can read and write, but doesn't do much of either.

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