Open Chronicles The past haunts him....

[GanuCandali]

(Okay lets go all open to everyone)

A young Drow sits there casually. He'd been running for a long time and makes his way to the surface world. A flashback haunts his mind, him crawling out the earth of Arethil, fist and claw having found a way to the surface world....and freedom. He makes his way through the forests of Falwood, knowing there he would find asylum. He was a man running from his past. He'd gone through hell to get there. He was a blacksmith and could sell his trade to buy his freedom. The marks on his dark blue skin tone mark him as a former slave.

It had been a harsh life and the Drow sisterhood had seen him as little more worth anything than the dirt surrounding them. He sighs a moment. He looks at his hammer for a moment, he felt like a spider without a web, without the forges of his youth. He found himself in Falwood and he first needed to find a place to stay. He shakes off the old memory and looks up, plenty of day light left to make it through the forest of Falwood. He was definitely lost but by his reckoning he could judge where a settlement would be located, so he headed in that direction.

The trees sway gently in the breeze and the sound form the tree branches almost has an ominous sound to them. He'd seen and been through worse, heard worse. He grabs his trusty hammer and makes his way towards civilization...he looks about carefully to make sure none of the Drow followed him to the surface world...he was on his own.

 

[GanuCandali]

The forest of Falwood surrounded him. Thankfully it was night, he looks up and sees breaks in the canopy of the forest. Pillars of moonlight peek through the canopy. He sits calmly next to one of the trees for a moment getting some rest. He needed it. He'd just crawled through a way through the cavernous Underrealm to make his way to the surface world, There was merit in determination...and the young blacksmith had plenty of it.

He smokes hemp for a moment he was taking a long pull of the wooden pipe. One of few possessions from the underrealm he'd been allowed by the sisterhood and even that had come at a steep price. He was little more than dirt back there....he knew he was destined for even more.

He smokes gently inhaling and exhaling in perfect harmony. he carefully considers the situation at hand turns off the embers of the smoking pipe. He leaves no messes behind. He gathers his personal belongings gets his general sense of direction and starts to walk. Sounds from the forest fill his ears, even at that time of the night itself. He didn't believe in any gods at that point...he'd been cursed enough by being born a slave in Drow society. He narrows his eyes as he walks forward, to many folks a Drow on the surface world would seem an odd thing...

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Night had fallen as they made their way through the woods, the horses trotting with ease along the grass filled roads of the forest, carrying forth a wagon with three people.

Isak wasn't one to dwell on the past, but it had been difficult not to think about his mother once reached the Falwood, given his elven heritage. The wagon had been rented by him in Alliria, along with two other mercenaries to accompany him on the job.

"Boss, what are we looking for?", asked one of them, his longsword resting over his thighs in front of Isak, who was too focused staring at the window.

"Information", answered the businessman, short and blunt. "There are rumours circling around the region about some strange unrest in the southern woods, and since it involves elves...", he took a deep breath, closing his eyes before going on with his thoughts.

"Magic, then? I heard there are many monster attacks around here, especially at night", said the other grunt. Isak shook his head, disdain clear in his eyes. "Only for the fool and the unsuspecting", Isak finished, and the silence gained ground for the rest of the journey.

They stopped moments after, the rider notifying them about the sighting of a small village nearby. A good place to start.

"When we get to the village, don't speak a single word", Isak spoke before getting out of the cart, followed by the two mercenaries. He threw a few coins towards the rider, who was quick to turn the cart around and go the way back, out of the woods.

Isak knew the woods were barely safe at night, but as he was taught - the most dangerous places are the most valuable. And so, him and his mercenaries made their way towards the village.

 

[GanuCandali]

A short while later, Drethok arrives at a small village about the same time as Isak. He arrives at the village and makes his way towards the main hall, it was still night but they were active a town even at that point of night. He walks over towards a burly looking guard and asks for direction.

He bows gently towards the guard as he'd been taught to respect military service since his early youth he'd been a lowly slave after all. "Friend, I am looking to find a place to stay. I'm a blacksmith you see...." He left the former slave portion of it out. That was information that they didn't need. He would seek asylum proper another day....he just needed to get his foot in the door.

The guard is surprisingly not quick to strike him with the lash of a whip or bludgeon him with a mace. Instead, the guard nods. "We have a hotel here stranger. Do you have a name lad?" He was a burly human with a thick accent.

"I am called Drethok. Of House Xellok." He introduces himself with a small sense of pride despite his former slave status.

The guard folk nods. "Aye pleasure lad. We have a smith here that could always use volunteers. You could inquire about that in the hotel." The guard says adding further instruction on where to begin. "Listen, lad, just make sure you stay out of trouble." The guard sees Isak's wagon come into town too...."Lots of guests tonight this should get interesting." The guard says.

Drethok nods and parts ways with the guard on the way over to the hotel, he does notice the old forge and makes his way towards that....

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak and his mercenaries quickly caught the eye of the people around the village. It was a bit too crowded for his liking, especially for a small settlement in the middle of the night, but he paid no heed to it. That night was rather cold, and luckily Isak was wearing his coat, fashioned in expensive and warm fabric, along with a hat and his gloves. The other mercenaries were less impressive, wearing their leather armors and armed with swords while the other one had his long sword sheathed at the side of his waist.

It didn't take long to reach what looked like to be a inn, brewing with clients by all the noise coming from the inside, as well as the sharp smell of beer. He recognized it very well, from his club back at Alliria. He also noticed another traveler going inside just moments before, his clothing and mannerism a tad different from the other people at the village.

Isak glanced over to his mercenaries with a quick nod, prompting them to scatter around the village as he entered the inn alone, earning a few more looks and side murmurs from some of the people there, but those didn't bother him.

As a man who always liked to stay more than a few steps ahead of everyone, Isak was getting quite annoyed about not having any sort of clue about the 'unrest' in the woods, but he figured that collecting some gossip from the locals would be a better start as any.

"Good night, sir. It's a bit unusual for people like you to visit our village. Do you need anything?", asked the bartender as Isak slowly put his hands over the wooden table splitting them at a distance.

"A room for the night...", he replied, his gaze moving upwards to meet the elf's eyes, a sharp look towards him before throwing a small pouch of coins at the table. "And information, if you have any."

 

[GanuCandali]

That raised the bartender's eyebrow. Only clients with a lot of crowns paid first he whistled, impressed by Isak. "What sort of information you're looking for?" He readies a drink Isak assuming the crowns paid for such services, the bartender was not a daft fellow at all. He readies a good house ale, and slides the fancy goblet over towards Isak. "No good to discuss information on an empty stomach." The bartender chuckles. "Vintage ale, the crowns you provided covers that with your room." He explains calmly. He runs his hand through his long hair, it was red. The bartender was an Elf and he was an unusual sort of Elf. He seemed a little burlier than most Elf types who tended to be book worms.

The bartender eyes Drethok as he enters the bar proper. He kept his eyebrow raised. "Busy night tonight, don't get this many strangers out here lad." He nods. "What sort of information can I exchange for yer crowns?" The elf asks.

Drethok is guided to a small table and with what few crowns he does actually possess, he paid for a small regular ale himself. Cheap ale. He still was lacking fortune but he would get there. Drethok eyes Isak for a moment and nods calmly towards him and a few moments later the ale is brought to his table. Drethok was careful and he was trying to make sure he didn't get in any sort of trouble. Not yet anyway.

He watched the bartender with the other fellow for a long moment then minds his own drink, it was standard affairs that bars like that drew adventurers of all sorts in all hours of night. Drethok was on the bottom of the rung trying to climb his way up. He drank casually and listened to the tunes from the local bards....instruments he'd never heard before in the underrealm.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak calmly looked over the fine goblet being handed over to him as it was filled with ale. By the smell, he could feel it was a good one, but he cared little for it since he wasn't a frequent drinker, only when it involved business. Nonetheless, his gloved hand firmly grabbed the cup as Isak drank most of it in a single sip while his eyes rapidly scoured the place around.

He had a incredible memory, able to remember places, objects and most importantly faces with just a few quick glances, and Isak liked to be well prepared and having knowledge about every place he went, or else risk falling into a trap emptyhanded. But he couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary, just the usual banter between bellies full of drink, poor gossip and a few arguments over cards, much like how every night went by back at his Raven Club.

"There have been rumours around the city about a unrest happening in these woods, but as gossip goes...", he answered the bartender's question shortly after putting down the goblet. "There are many versions, and none of them are true."

He fixed his gaze upon the elf, almost like staring at his soul. Isak had a remarkable intensity to his eyes, which is how he had started a fairly ruthless reputation amongst his business peers back in Alliria, always getting what he wanted with a just few words. "Now, you wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you? Not any strange events happening in the region...?"

Throughout the conversation, he could also feel something else. A few quick stares towards his way as he talked to the bartender, and even without turning to see it, he could sense it coming from one of the tables at the end of the inn.

A man, alone, having just been served a drink by the other bartender. The same fellow in strange clothing that he saw before, when he arrived with the mercenaries. He had sent them away to try and discover something on their own, to scout the village and talk to some of the locals while Isak handled the tavern gossip, passing themselves as simple travelers.

Of course, no one there happened to know that he was in fact a rising crime lord amongst Alliria's criminal underworld, travelling all the way to those woods in search of the opportunity to get more resources for his dealings, to expand his business, both in legal and illegal ways. He cared nothing for the law, only to take from his less than honorable rivals. It was his own version of poetic justice.

As for the stranger at the table who was looking at him before, Isak decided to take his time and not do anything for now. He would remain patient in wait for some information from the bartender, and if that failed, at least now he had other ways to get them.

 

[GanuCandali]

The scents of the bar were almost intoxicating in and of themselves.

It was one of the busiest establishments of the village at all hours of the day and night.

Drethok considers his next move. He looks at the lovely waitress, she was an Elf, and nods towards her. “I’m looking for work at the smithy.” He tells the waitress.

She nods. “Ask the bartender he’s currently busy with the other fellow though.” She says in regards to Isak.

Drethok takes his drink and approaches the bar area, sitting down on a nearby empty stool.

The red haired bar tender notices Drethok approach but keeps Isak entertained. “Aye lad, there have been troubling events in the Falwood of late. Guards saying something that the monsters are really aggressive of late, might be their mating season or might be something else. Either way opportunity for more crowns there.” He raises an eyebrow slyly. He then continues. “A few of the guard folks been vanishing on patrols some saying it’s the monsters others saying it’s something else…worth looking into for sure.” He nods as he busily cleans off nearby goblets and cups. He is cleaning it with an actually clean rag to clean such items off with…

Drethok looks at Isak and the bartender hearing the bartender who was speaking loudly enough. “I can confirm monsters are acting strangely.” He says to add to the conversation proper.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Not many things could go past Isak unnoticed. Back in Alliria, some would say he was like a predator, eyes and ears trained for the slightest movement. Even when he seemed focused on something else entirely, he could sense every change in the surrounding, and it was so as he noticed the traveler rising from the table at the back, making his way towards him.

To put up a more relaxed demeanor, Isak played the part so that Drethok wouldn't know that he hadn't been watching him ever since he went inside the inn and sat at his table. He seemed like a odd fellow, almost like he was out of place amongst those people.

The bartender had said something about monsters while Isak was taking another sip of his drink, putting down the now empty goblet back at the wooden counter. "Monsters? I thought the elven people protected their woods", he said, looking back at the bartender again. There was a bit of a sting on his speech, almost like a vengeful tone as he remembered how those same elves once kicked his mother away, their own flesh and blood, to care for him alone and with no support.

It was then that Drethok finally reached them, no doubt having overhead the bit about monsters being talked about by the bartender. Isak took only a quick glance at him before signaling for the bartender to fill his cup with more drink.

"People vanishing from these woods is always a bad sign, given the history of this place", Isak said, now looking at Drethok and taking the time to read some his features before he decided to start his round of questioning on that stranger. "What are you then? A monster hunter?"

Surely he wouldn't have more competition for whatever prize waited him, or else that venture would've just become a major waste of his precious time.

 

[GanuCandali]

The bartender honours the Isak's request and refills the drink, glad the fellow liked the house ale special. He nods towards Drethok. The bartender notices the acidic tone in Isak's voice but the fellow was a payin' customer so he lets that go. The comment lingers in the air for a moment. With a soft grin he speaks to the both of them. "We do protect our forests, sir, but we can't be everywhere at once. That's what you adventure folks are here for." He smiles at Drethok but grows weary at the man's dark blue skin. He was also a paying customer so he makes sure to keep his disdain for the Drow at bay.

He speaks at that point. "There's always work supporting the guard if you two are into that sort of thing." The bartender notices Drethok's blacksmith hammer. "Maybe you're here for another purpose?" He asks.

Drethok nods towards Isak and the bartender with considerable respect. "Not a monster hunter myself, you see, I'm a blacksmith for hire. Looking to help the local forge out." He makes sure he covers his tracks with regards to being a former slave.

"Looking to make some good crowns helping the forge." Fame and fortune, that was an honestly simple pursuit many adventure folks held dear into their heart. He nods and takes a sip of his own drink. Drethok needed work, but he wanted to be in that forge...that was where he belonged after all.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Now seeing that man up close, Isak realized that he was indeed very different from the other elves of that settlement. If not for his choice of clothing, his skin much darker than the common pale touch that elves possess, which indicated something of a very curious nature to Isak.

Yes, he had heard of them before. Elves living in the shadows, like his mentor used to tell him about, in a vast city right below their feet. He remembered it now, they were called Drow, and they weren't known for doing casual walks in the surface, which meant that the stranger was either dangerous or being in danger.

And yet, he couldn't grasp any indication of danger coming from him. If anything, the fact that he was blacksmith could be proven even more useful to Isak than he first anticipated. The underworld factions and gangs of Alliria were powerful, their influence strong in all circles of the city, from meddling into nobility's businesses to patronage of a lowly thief.

Isak had money, and some sort of influence if he could say that. The people in the Outer City knew him and even feared his name in certain circles, such as calling him a young devil, playing with people far beyond his reach. But still, many of those people had entire armies at their disposal, while Isak could barely hire a couple of well trained mercenaries to accompany him to the Falwood.

Which brought him to another very important question -- timing.

The young man reached for his pocket watch, it was a fairly impressive piece of silver, quite expensive at first sight but not so him. He had stolen it from a fat and rich merchant he has business with, and he knew that to this day the man hasn't even realized it.

An hour had passed, and Isak had noticed that none of the mercenaries had come to the inn as he had instructed, so he was starting to fear the worst. And if monsters were really the cause of that whole ordeal, he would have to get his hands dirty anyway.

He put the watch back inside his coat's pocket, looking at Drethok. "A blacksmith, then? I don't know about forges, but I may have a job for you, once this is done."

Isak threw a couple more coins at the counter, right in front of the barman, a small token of gratitude for his services and the small bits of information that he had provided, before walking towards the inn's doors.

 

[GanuCandali]

Drethok observes the mannerisms of Isak in that momentary interaction with him.

He looks at the bartender. Then looks back at Isak. "We can discuss business now if you so like?" He tells Isak casually as he prepares to leave. He knew the bartender could get him situated and that was all falling into place around him.

He looks at Isak carefully. "I'm not much of a fighter type you see, but I can arm you and yours and repair your gear." Drethok promises. He liked that Isak fellow, the man got stuff done.

Back where Drethok was from, such people got things done and often were elevated in really high seats of power.

Drethok awaits the man's response and the bartender scoops up his extra crowns...

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak stopped for a bit, listening to Drethok's proposal while the rest of the inn was preoccupied in talks of their own.

Not a fighter, then? But perhaps, someone with far more value. On his many lessons, Isak learned that businesses were games of pieces, each having their own worth. It wasn't as ordinary as simple games like chess, but they often followed the same logical path, with more important pieces and its pawns. His mentor had taught him that fighters were regarded as the lowly ones on the pillars of importance.

'Every man can pick up a sword and fight, but not every man can win such fight without even reaching for his weapon', those were the words said to Isak, he remembered on his mind.

Of course, fighters were skilled pawns and could present death at the tiniest window of carelessness, but the thinkers? The smart ones, always prepared with plans and schemes, those were the most feared men.

Isak was a fighter himself, he was taught how to combat and was armed to do so, but he always valued intelligence and utility over less refined means of getting things done. He could use fighters for his undertakings in the future, but his need right now was something else entirely.

The young man let out a short smirk before signaling with his head for Drethok to follow him out of the inn.

"Taverns are the worst places to discuss business, unless we intend to get ambushed by any curious listeners", Isak said as they got out of the tavern and into the cold air of that forest night.

They walked for a few minutes, with Isak keeping his eyes on any movements on the narrow alleys of the village, waiting for any signals coming from his men, but accepting that something had gone wrong after they weren't at the intended meeting place.

Isak and Drethok stopped near the village's entrance, who was strangely unguarded at the time. By his watch, it was almost midnight and not many settlements left their borders without protection in the middle of a forest at that time, especially not with rumours of monsters or whatever else was afflicting those woods.

Isak turned to face Drethok, putting his watch back into his coat's inner pocket. "I may have a job for you, but there are strange powers at play here. Will you be up to the task, blacksmith?"

 

[GanuCandali]

Drethok nods towards the bartender one more time...they would have to have a talk a little later.

He looks at Isak and smiles calmly. "From my knowledge of the situation so far..." He begins. "...The animals and monsters around here been getting active and agitated by something or someone." Drethok explains. He'd been out in the forest wilds proper and he'd been attacked more than once.

He fought the creatures with his blacksmith hammer, trusty as it was. He carefully looks at Isak with his own grey eyes, deep in thought. "I'm going to seek work at the local forge as soon as I can. I intend to be as productive to this situation as possible." He explains.

"I am interested in what job you may have available. Earning of crown is always a worthy pursuit." He says slyly and nods once more. Want of crown was oft a simple desire and hunger...easily taken care of. Easy to purchase loyalty with. Drethok listens to Isak as the man spoke. He was eager to help the fellow out.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak's eyes scanned the drow, taking in the details and seeking to grasp at what was his purpose in such a unusual place for his kind - the surface. He let out a sly smirk at Drethok's remarks about earning his coins, sensing that there was indeed a smart man beneath that cloak.

As Isak was once taught, coin is a man's greatest ally as well as his worst nemesis. It makes and breaks them, and like any power, it corrupts as it demands more and more. One could never truly master coin, because it was impossible to have such a hold over a infinite force, but there were those who sought to use it towards intelligent goals, and Isak liked to believe that he was one of those people.

Of course, he was man after his own luxury, but coin was just one of his motivators. His coin demanded blood, from his enemies, from the people like his mentor, who take from others and condemn them to miserable lives. His life's task was to now do the same to them, and bleed them dry of their pockets for the sake of it.

"A worthy pursuit indeed, but a dangerous one, especially out here", Isak said, turning a bit and taking a few steps towards the settlement's main square. From the moment he got there, the young businessman could sense somewhat of a eerie feeling, a different and unknown chill to that place.

His men were gone, maybe even killed and their bodies hidden away in the forest, which further strengthened his case about whatever kind of strange business was afloat in those woods, and he felt that monsters were only the beginning of it.

Forever watchful, Isak saw the people slowly getting inside their houses, calling it a day's end, as another one of those roaring breezes of night's air got past them, shaking Isak's coat and worsening his already messy hair.

"Monsters don't seem to be the only strange thing happening here, drow", Isak said bluntly, emphasizing that last word as directly addressing Drethok.

He was running out of leads to follow, and he thought that the fellow beside him could perhaps provide him with some.

 

[GanuCandali]

Drethok was new to those lands too.

However, in the brief time he'd been there he'd fought some of the monsters in the forests himself. He looks at Isak calmly and also feels the same wind dancing about the two of them. Drethok smells a particular scent in the wind though. Blood. His eyes narrow for a moment and he looks at Isak. "There's fresh death in the wind." The Drow says calmly, he nods casually.

Drethok didn't yet have his own place to stay in that village. He'd been planning on going to the forge and just working his way through the problem at hand. People needed weapons and gear...that much he knew. He looks at Isak and extends his hand out towards the fellow for him to shake.

Drethok had long hair, coloured black and the tell tale sign of his people dark blue skin tone. He had exotic marks on his exposed flesh the ones that were visible 'neath his old cloak. He had precious few earthly belongings given his former status as a slave. But what he did have was the desire to work hard.

Drethok adds further to the conversation. "I'm heading to the forge, perhaps there is easier to talk Isak. People are rightly heading inside it's probably not safe with creatures patrolling the forest. Come with me to the forge we'll talk without too many ears listening in. If you catch my meaning." He winks, Drethok overall had an agreeable demeanor. He knew most places in Alliria simply allowed newcomers to a trade or profession to just walk in and get themselves situated without too much trouble. He was a blacksmith and his hammer was eager to forge their destiny.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Indeed, Isak could feel the same thing as his newly found 'partner'. The sudden and awfully chill breeze, the whole air feeling a bit heavier around them, it was all very strange.

It was only after a few seconds had passed that Isak noticed the drow's hand, extended towards him in a friendly manner. The young man switched between looking at Drethok's face and his hand, hesitating for a few moments. Isak was a hard man to place trust upon others, for several things that had already happened to him, and also because he wasn't particularly fond of trusting strangers in a unknown settlement in the middle of the elven woods.

But nonetheless, Isak shook his hand firmly. "Isak", he says, calmly. At least he could do with a proper introduction, seeing as they were in the same situation, regarding that village and its problems.

Isak felt something close by, like watchful eyes were fixed upon them for a moment, and even though he barely moved an inch, his own eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of whatever was hiding away. He noticed the guards, who were patrolling the main square after leaving the gates, were all but gone now, along with the last of the villagers.

The light in the houses was going off one by one, leaving them only with the torches yet burning along the mudded roads.

"To the forge, then. I've also rented a room in the inn, I'm sure there's enough space for the both of us there, once the forge is done with our talks and secrets."

 

[GanuCandali]

Drethok smiles at the other man for a moment. "Drethok, of house Xellok," he speaks the small greeting to the man. He liked Isak, he wasn't sure why at the time, but Isak seemed like someone who could get things done and Drethok needed that at that point in his life...so much was not certain.

He walks with Isak in the direction of the forge...when something happened. Something happened that would normally have made him sick to his stomach. Someone yelled nearby in familiar Drow language. He turns immediately around to see who was yelling at them. It was his own brother! Shit! I've been followed here! Drethok thinks to himself as he sees his brother. Ellok of house Xellok.

Drethok notices the master lich's robes. House Xellok runes were emblazoned upon them. He stares at them with hate in his eyes. He is knelt down with his hands glowing with lich powers of darkness. Drethok sees another blast coming at them, but he suddenly gets in the way in between the blast and Isak, taking it full on. "No!" Drethok yells in regards to wanting to protect his friend.

The blast knocks Drethok a few paces back and he guards himself well. He has very little previous combat experience except for fighting the monsters that Ellok likely enraged himself.

Drethok looked at Ellok. "You followed me here!" Drethok yelled with anger.

Ellok nods. "I was wondering where you were he heading to." The Drow lich was speaking in perfect common speak so they could all understand him. He was clearly well educated. "Did you think you could run for long?" Ellok taunts as he launches another glowing blast at Drethok...and his friend. His hands were weapons...

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Drethok of House Xellok. It sounded like a strong and proud name, which filled Isak with thoughts about the circumstances that surrounded that man, alone in the middle of that forest, passing as a traveler through that settlement. The lack of knowledge was one of the few things that Isak still feared in his life, the fear of being kept in the dark, without knowing what next steps he could take, how to take advantage of a situation.

For now, he'd play the part and be friendly to Drethok, as they are both useful to each other and on a similar quest of coin, but Isak would be keeping a close eye on him.

And yet, when they were making their way towards the forge, Isak couldn't help but feel stressed, as if expecting something to happen - be it good or bad. The village almost looked deserted by now, the lights coming from the inn now extinguished too, and that cold breeze hitting through them again. But before long, realization would come upon them.

Shouts, words in a unknown language that prompted both Isak and Drethok to look behind, and suddenly there was a man but a few paces from them, covered in strange robes. Isak could almost feel the magic coming from the runes etched upon his clothes, and even though he couldn't recognize their origin, it was the same feeling he got when he first arrived at that settlement.

Before he could say anything, Isak saw Drethok being restrained by magical binds, and a blast of power coming straight at him. He prepared himself to spark some kind of defense, but Drethok had freed himself fast enough to throw his own body in harm's way, though Isak took some of the hit and got thrown a few steps back as well.

Even in the middle of that heated confrontation, Isak overheard Drethok talking to the stranger, calling him brother. Of course, complicated matters could only get worse.

The stranger powered up another blast, but this time he had made a mistake. Dark arts, forbidden magics and foul powers... Isak was a master of coin and intrigue, of schemes and businesses, but he had his own dark magic at his disposal.

Isak's eyes glowed with a sharply red light for a moment, and suddenly the blast was met with similar energy, a twisting dark form that almost looked like a hand, the ethereal magic flowing from his own gloved fingers as the 'hand' manifested itself whole in front of them, stopping the blast and engulfing the village in violent winds.

As the smoke cleared, Isak's magic dissipated and the three of them stood there, in vigilant watch of each other. Isak took a few steps forward, getting next to Drethok while keeping his eyes fixed upon the stranger who had attacked them.

"I'm only going to ask once, who are you?", asked Isak, firmly but with a sense of calmness about him.

 

[GanuCandali]

Ellok of house Xellok looks at Isak calmly. He wore a hat, and was clearly impressed by Isak's show of power. He tips his hat towards Isak for a moment and then looks at the two of them. He bows oddly enough. "Ellok of House Xellok." The man introduces himself. He's clearly completely crazy. He looks at his two dance partners. "The day is young...friends." He begins. "The hour is still young too. We should entertain these folks with a really good show and dance!" He yells. He launches several more of the bolts at Drethok and Isak. He was clearly...enjoying himself at their expense. He charges more blasts. "Far too long it's been since I've known a dance like this!" He yells there was surprisingly no malice in the madman's voice. He merely was there to fight for the hell of it.

Drethok had seen it before the games the Drow houses played. He explains to Isak quickly. "This is all a game to him, don't let his words throw you off balance!" Drethok says and he grabs his hammer, which by that point was imbued with the drow's dark powers.

He intercepts the blast that was launched at him. The hammer absorbs the crackling energy. Drehok frowned. "Brother!" Drethok yells. "I am a free man now, why have you come?"

"Free...!?" Ellok frowns at the thought. "I'm here brother, because we both know we're not free." Ellok says, again, there was an actual sense of being cordial to them, almost kind. He didn't attack out of hatred, there was something else motivating the sudden attack. "This is a family matter good sir." He says to Isak. "But you can stay and play if you wish to." He grins.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

It's been quite some time since Isak had used his powers freely. He did have a few skirmishes and small fights back in Alliria, dealing with mercenaries or assassins trying to end his life or ruin his businesses, but he knew better than to use his magic carelessly in a city like that.

Alliria wasn't as liberal on the free use of magic by their civilians, unlike places like Elbion. There they had the College and all its marvels, but Alliria thrived on commerce and tourism, and few things whisper disaster for business worse than a spell gone wrong, a merchant cart full of wares being caught in a fire blast.

He knew, of course, he was once one to do something like that. All in the name of business, or was it fun? He couldn't recall, but he certainly felt free now. Even as he raised his hand and called upon his dark magic to summon a shield made of twisting ethereal energy, protecting him and Drethok from the flurry of attacks that came forth from that man.

He said a name, Ellok of House Xellok. Mannerisms that he hadn't hoped to find in such a place, but Isak appreciated it.

Isak stood in a cold silence for the longest of time, watching Drethok and Ellok go back and forth on their discussions, even as far as being surprised by the way Drethok used his hammer to defend himself from one of the magic blasts. He was growing to be quite the interesting individual.

As for the other drow, Isak couldn't quite grasp his motive. He seemed shocked to see his brother talk about freedom. Isak knew how the invisible bonds of servitude worked before, and he had severed them. He wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart, as if he had any, but Isak valued freedom above anything else, even coin.

If Drethok so desired freedom, Isak would help him.

"I do not hail from any house, nor do I wish to know your interest in all this", Isak said as Ellok seemed to pause his attacks. "But this is a game I can play."

Isak took a few steps forward, small bits of magical sparks surging from all around him, a flame growing upon his right, gloved hand. It was growing, consuming and empowering, and it was different from the common blaze. The dark magics of Isak fueled it, turning it darker and more intense.

He swung his arm forward, and the flame disappeared from his hand, moments before it appeared in a circled motion in front of Isak, multiplied into several flameballs that were hanging in the air. Before long, all the fireballs soared and went straight towards Ellok, converging into a single attack.

Isak had been in the defensive for too long.

 

[GanuCandali]

Ellok sees the interloper join in the dance! A glorious dance it was! Ellok's mysterious blue eyes widened as the fireballs converged upon his person, with the sole intent of licking him with flames. He'd seen such magnificent power before. He licked his lip for a moment anticipating the pain he would no doubt feel.

Once the orbs of off hued flames lick his flesh, Ellok cries in agony. He's knocked backward from the impact having taken the full blast of almost wild magic dead on, he was a crazy bastard! The light form the impact burned bright for a moment and his own dark blue flesh was singed from the wild magic. Smoke and power rise upward, creating an almost disturbing image. He rises from the attack, having survived. "That dance move...wild magic they call it." Son of a bitch was laughing despite being severely hurt. He looks at Drethok. "My my what a lovely waltz partner you've found yourself." The wind moves Ellok's hat towards his feet, he dusts it off and picks it up. He places it slowly on his head. "What a glorious dance that was!" He bows gently towards Drehok and Isak. "You two win this round. But I do so hope, we can dance again!" He tips his hat and limps off, energy and smoke still swirling off his flesh from the wild magic attack.

Drethok's hammer had been charged. He is still holds it and looks down calmly towards it. He looks at Isak calmly, his eyes had a harder edge to them. When it came to matters of family, Drethok was ticked his friend and the towns folks had been dragged into that mess. The hammer Drethok held, was now imbued with the symbols of the Drow, glowing with dark red energies. Drethok looks at Isak calmly. "That's what I escaped from...that slavery." Drethok sighed at that point. "My only crime was I was low bourne."

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak's hands started to burn with darkened embers again as he prepared another attack, already irritated with that man and his taunts. He had no time for dances, there was a job to be done and coin to be earned, and he was very much interested in that.

He took a step forward just in time to see Ellok tipping his hat and saying something before retreating, which prompted Drethok to charge his hammer with his own magic. The young man was actually a bit surprised to see Drethok having that kind of power, his curiosity about the man was peaking.

He could indeed be a very valuable asset in that undertaking. A forge master like him could provide Isak with many useful things.

Isak let the fire go and the blazes all but vanished in thin air, while his gloves were still perfectly clean. He was able to breath easy after seeing Ellok walk away from their sights while Drethok mumbled something about slavery.

It brought back some painful memories, the kind that Isak wasn't too inclined to relive now. They still had to investigate more about Ellok's involvement in whatever bizarre power seized that village, and he needed to look for his mercenaries.

If they were dead, at least Isak hoped to get some sort of clue about who or what killed them. But now, they knew that Ellok was one of the responsibles for the disturbance in the woods. They would definitely see each other again, and Isak would get more of his answers next time.

"Come now, Drethok. We need to find my mercenaries... if they're even still alive, that is."

 

[GanuCandali]

Drehok heeded his friend's words. He nods gently towards the other fellow. He gathered his hammer and replaces it at his side, it had a glow at that point and was powered by the Drow's ancient magic. Once he replaces it at his side, his body is touched by a mysterious glow from the hammer. Further, his face becomes a little older and wiser seeming likely a direct effect of the magic of that hammer.

He listens to the man's words for a moment or two and responds. "Let's find your companions." Drethok says calmly. Drethok hoped that the mercenaries were still alive. More customers meant that he could make more gear and items. Weapons for their cause and future wars and battles. Drethok goes with Isak and keeps a respectful distance by his side. Drethok had been raised a slave and old habits died hard. The battle with Drethok's brother drew attention from the locals and one of the guards walks up to the pair.

"That was a great battle." The guard begins. "Your friends are waiting in the inn, they returned a short while after that battle. Methinks they may have some information for you two with regards to the events in the forest." He says. He nods with respect to Drethok and Isak. "I hope you will be staying long term, we could use an able bodied black smith." He says.

Drethok nods. He looks at his friend and ally, Isak. "I want to be useful to my ally." He begins. "So I intend to stay here and use the forge at hand." Drethok was eager to work....