A less traveled path. (Countdown to halloween)

Quiet and dark even in the day.  The forest did give him a bit of the creeps but he tried to pay it little mind as he was on a mission for the Empire and duty was most important.  He looked at he companion smoothing the folds in his red and black robe and wandered what was next.

He went about his duty and reviewed the morning reports the men were all accounted for. 40 fighters, 10 mages.  As long as they stayed within range of the idol the mist and vistani and every other danger this land had seemed to avoid them.  The first group to scout beyond its limited range, though, they had lost contact.

Veli felt responsible for them.  Kids, they were just kids.  Good soldiers, but just kids who joined the Imperial Ranks for either duty or riches.  It was not bad enough he lost his own children he had to send others to their end as well. It reminded him what he always said, "The only reason to do this is because you believe in the Empire and what it stands for.  No amount of money is worth what you will be asked to do."

In large part he had that speech to thank him for being here.  Terrance had heard it and decided then he was a leader of men. Terrance served under Veli in the crusade when the Warship Galactica was still operational.  But those were thoughts of another time.  Now he was taking orders from Terrance on assignment directly from the Daughter Heir.

His expertise was not Ravenloft though it did hold a fascination for him.  He had made a study of it and new the basics and what to expect.  Though it would seem Terrance knew every turning leaf.  He had a key that got him in and out of this sealed domain and allowed the possibility to study this realm closer.  That was one of the objectives of the mission -- study and record.  But the primary objective was bold indeed -- steal a dark lord from Ravenloft and bring it to the Imperial mage corps to study.

"May the Light save us."

And a child shall lead them. (Countdown to Halloween)

"When the purple mistress came to Castle Barovia, was it the aged who protected us?"

"No." Came back the resounding call of his disciples.

"Who was targeted by her infectious evil?"  He asked calmly

"Parents"  Came the angry reply. So much fear so much anger.

"Yes, the beast,  those who live beyond the 19th harvest and are corrupted by the vanities of the world and the pride of it.  They were ripe to fall to her temptations.  But who survived?"

"The children."

"Yes we did.  Fleeing, as we ran our mothers and fathers and all those beyond a 19th harvest scooped out of the sky by the blood sucking monsters, we found to hide in the fields. and who saves us now?"

"He who walks behind the rows."

"Yes, he loves use and shelters us.  Protects those still innocent of this cruel world. He stopped the vampires from draining our blood and hides us from the Purple mistress.  What is all he asks in return?"

"Obedience and sacrifice." echoed the reply in solemn chorus.

"And that we shall give him.   All who reach their 19th harvest will be sacrificed.  We shall obey his words as shown forth by my mouth. So say we all."

"So say we all."

"SO SAY WE ALL."

"SO SAY WE ALL."

To Sail (Countdown to Halloween)

The cool mist of the sea sprayed on the Intrepid's bow.  Balthier inhaled deeply and did not wipe the spray from his face.  He had been sailing a long time, but since he had no where to go he was not worried about being lost or taking too long.  He figured he would get where he was going, when he got there. . . if not a moment before.

Souske sat around doing nothing as usual and Mist played with the nav charts.  She wasn't content with being lost.

As the mist rolled over the ship again he thought he saw it.  The face he had seen so many times.  He jumped up to the wheel and swung hard to starboard. The ship screamed and the timbers complained at the stress, but he did not care.  Jillian was in the mist and he had somewhere to be.

This hell I'm living (Countdown to Halloween)

Lux leaned against the rusted railing which ran the length of the bridge in her courtyard.
Waiting in the dark she thought, "Isn't there someone trying to save me?  I thought that they would be here, by now.

She thought a lot of things which turned out to be false.  She thought she could save them, she thought the power would save her.  She thought he friends would stick up for her, she thought they would chose her over Raven. She thought she could trust those she traveled with, bleed with.

She had dreamed a dream of a better world.  And now she was here, barely herself.  A dark presence consuming her mind, the mist torturing her.  When all a long all she was was . . . scared.






Theres nothing but the rain,
no footsteps on the ground,
She listened but there was no sound.

WON"T SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE ME HOME?


It was a long cold night.

One door shuts...(countdown to Halloween)

"Come now Burke, Justice does not sleep."

Burke squinted through tired eyes at the mage in the red robes, "Please don't pretend to care about justice."

"I do care in fact i appeal to it now, The Saint, praise to his name, has ordered me to build a prison like unto Ravenloft for him to cast the unholy.  To do that I need the key that can enter it.  purely academic I assure you and will speed my research by years."

"I live for the Saint's will and his word of justice.  But, I've already slotted the key for another mission."

"You can calm the conflict of conscience agent." He said with a positive smile, "I worked with IO.  I know the key was going to the party who destroyed the venom cult.  I went with her to Brendon ford fought with herr companions and at personel expense and risk cleared the mountain.  Also while others rested I used a list of members found in the caves and executed all which could be found.  I have rightfully earned the key."

Burke reviewed the documents on his desk. "it woudl seem you are right.  Thank you for your service to the empire... lets talk about your next mission."

Upon the lofty spire (Countdown to Halloween)

Crows cawed in the distance providing a symphony to the night.  As a well tuned orchestra, the ravens called to each other as she over looked over her domain, all that she had.  At first, it was a lonely solitary caw answered moments later by another.  It was the silence between them which she most loved.  In that silence she could write her own music.  The music of the night. Her thoughts could race to memories of what was lost, and passion for what was about to come.

CAW...

The shriek was echoed through out the sky and into the farm fields below.  It was the only sound made there now.  Her subjects had no more need for food.  Only hatred nourished them, their shared hatred of those who had betrayed their lady and master.  The consumption of hate and malice filled their souls and gave them the strength to do what was necessary.

CAW...

The shrieking was more violent now.  As waves collide against a rocky shore so did these haunting sounds collide against the cold stones of the tower.  Her home which had taught her and given her much, yet remained empty and hallow.  Power meant nothing unless you could use it to extract your revenge.  Revenge, a goal yet out of reach, she could no more grab it then she could strangle the loosed ravens' caw.

CAW...

The fire now joined in completing the orchestra of night with its haunted crackles.  The shadows moved in circles of the dark room crossing the cold bed and slithered across the walls and leapt to the ceiling.  The shadows were all that accompanied her.  Once a life full of friends set empty filled only with the mis-shapen demons of this room.  So it would remain, until those friends returned and her army awoke.  Until then she watched the shadows and stared into the fire.

CAW...

The latest volley of notes landed on her pale balcony banner.  It stared into the fire as well.  That fire which had consumed and sustained, created and destroyed.  The dark omen stared through her into the fire and in it she could see the fire as well.  A cage with wings, that despite all of her fire she was still resting in a cage.
She lashed out and with no effort the rage took shape striking down the harbinger of the nights symphony.  As the winged beast cascaded to the graveyard below two more landed each echoing.

CAW....

She knew she would never be free.

Caw.. caw...caw...caw...caw...

Protect the venom born

"we've lost the top levels an army of kajhitt fights with them we need all the miracles you have, if we are to save the venom born."

Seettth heard the words and one of his heads retorted, "if you would have done your job, they would be dead or chasing a different lead.  You have failed the venom born and nag.  But I will save us."

The six heads chanted and prayed in unison. The filth of power flooded the temple and the corridors.  Those dwarf spirits so long ago lost and slain by Brendon clung to their mine and their treasure.  Now through the power of nag they emerged. Centuries of hatred and venom corrupted their soul as they absorbed hatred and malice from the holy defilers who made their grave a home.

"The unborn now rise and defend the venom born.  One more life lost and chosen child shall lead them on."