Alright, this is my first try to make a rp thread and my creativity is --><-- this big.
Anyways, I'll do my best to throw some good rules and a fun story in here.

Rules

1.No power posing, of course. For those who do not know what it is, power posing is when you play your character to be über superduper strong in every way. If you're a mage, be a mage and not a fighter with the skills to set his magical summoned crossbow on fire and make it shoot 654 magical summoned arrows at a time. Also, no one can kill 37 skeletons in a single blow, nothing like that.

2.Don't play someone else's character. don't decide what other people say, think or do.. unless it's something unimportant, like accepting a gift or so. Just don't make someone else's character jump into a volcano and die or anything like that.

3.If the GM, me , says that you shouldn't do a specific thing, please don't do it.

4.Please play well, have fun, and don't start any fights with anyone, you know, the basics, be nice, have fun.


Setting

The land of Karwyll has always been considered as a peaceful country by it's habitants, it is ruled by three wise wizards called The Great Three and with the help of these men, Karwyll has made its way from a group of small trading towns to the strongest nation for miles around, finding no contest in wealth or power from any other nation. The country is filled with humans, Though crazy stories speak of trolls and ogres in the forests, everybody knows that there are no such things anymore, the humans made sure of that when they first arrived there.

Although everybody knows it is The Great Three who rule Karwyll, there is still a king, mostly to make sure the people have someone to look up to, someone to see as their leader. Everyone knows that the king has no real power, even if he did, he would not know how to use it, no other king has got a weaker character then this one, his real name is Theodore Loresatch, but the people him The Hare after his habbit to always sneak away from any battle, big or small.

Stories tell he even ran from an encounter with a bandit Dark Elf, though everyone knows they're all gone. In later years, the situation has begun to change, The Hare seems to have gotten alot braver.. or alot less frightened, stories tell he even went to visit the Mountain that stands where the sun sets, the most feared place in the whole kingdom as numerous stories tell of the evil spirits who live there, not dead, nor alive, they lure thoughtless travelers to walk of the cliffs and meet their deserved death below.

The People have also begun to notice a change in their beloved leaders, The Great Three. Over the last couple of years their orders and laws have begun to seem.. strange, even plain stupid sometimes. Like the time they ordered that everyone who even said that there were other races than the humans would be executed immediately, this seemed very strange since The Great Three had always cared much for knowledge and knowing that there are many differences in the world.

The Hare, however, hates everything except humans, everyone knows that. This has caused many theories about corruption and that he has actually killed The Great Three or in some way made sure that he himself is the ruler. Many peasants have been protesting about the higher taxes and the law that 30% of their harvests must be sent to the capital city, Nayreth, to prevent the supposed starvation going on there.

Now, many have reached the ultimate limit before rebellion, but only a few have actually picked up arms and some even formed a secret army with the purpose to overthrow the king and The Great Three to restore order in Karwyll.


Races

Ok, this will list all races found here. I might add some more if I remember them later cause I've forgot half of everything I wanted. Note that only the ones listed in the Characters part are playable.

Human(Duh)
Elf(Did anyone say Legolas?)
Dwarf(Small men with axes
Lizardman(Human-like lizard, tail, claws)
Gnome(A hobbit but not quite the same, can use magic and make a good ranger)
Orc(Evil green people, very strong)
Troll(You know what a troll is)
Goblin(Small orcs with small weapons)
Horseman(Half horse, half man and better archer than elves)
Demon(Hellspawn, evil, very powerful)
Ghost(Can't do any harm to living people, but they scare)
Dragon(Big, shoots fire, very hard to kill)
Werevolf(Half wolf, half man, only silver kills it)
Vampire(It bites you and you become one. No known cure, dies in the sun)
Snow beast(Looks like a werevolf, but it lives in the north and it doesn't take silver to kill it, very hard skin though)
Cyclop(It's huge and it's got one eye, probably some kind of club to)
Fairy(It's small, it shines and it is magical)
Unicorn(It's a horse with a horn, very magical, very rare and very hard to catch.

Besides from these races/monsters, there are normal animals such as deer, wolves, dogs, cows, you name it.


Characters

Ok, I know this might be alot of stuff for a simple rp thread, but I started and then I couldn't stop.. anyways, for this adventure I'll be needing 4 players max, I'll be playing to, so that'll make 5, but it would be good if a few more could join in.
Now, I know I said in the lore thingy that only humans were in the country, but that's a lie. The people don't know about the other races.. yet, but you can play the following:
Dwarf- fighter
Elf-Wood-ranger, High-wizard, Dark-thief/assasin
Human-anything goes
Gnome-bard/entertainer/craftsman/ranger
Lizardman-fighter/fightermage/mage

If you have another race in mind, please feel free to PM me and we'll see if it's ok, no "evil" races like trolls, ogres, orcs, yada yada though(I know Dark Elves aren't nice). Please try to stay within the lines, the things I wrote after each race are just suggestions, off course I won't kick you out for being a Gnome fighter, but try to make the class and race match, you know . Oh, I have to say one thing, magic is supposed to be limited here, so you won't see everyone running around pouring fire out of their mouths, so if you want to play a mage, PM me and I'll send you info on what you might play like.

BTW, if you've got questions about equipment ans such, the technology is medieval style, enchantments are allowed, just don't make it to much, no swords that kills anything in one blow. About armor, just specify what material it is made from, and any details. If it's shiny, if it's rags, if it's made out of leather, steel, iron, specify.


Additional info

Ok, so you know what race/class you want to be, but you don't know what kind of equipment, skills, whatever you may have, maybe you don't know what I mean by something specific, send me a PM and I'll answer your questions. To sign up, send me your info, Race, Class, Age, Gender, Appearance, Personality, Equipment and anything else you might want to share and I'll put it up here if it's ok.

Damn I hope I didn't miss anything.. would be rubbish if they locked this thread instantly..


Edit1

Alright, I realised I didn't actually put in any info regarding what equipment you will start out with and such, so I've decided that when you join up, you will get to decide for yourself.. within limits, of course. No über 9 inch plate mail that's impossible to penetrate, just think of something that would fit your character. Also, I'm going to allow anyone who wants to have their own special pet or whatever, to have one. By pet I mean a horse, a trained hawk or a wardog or stuff like that.. no dragons or summoned cars with machineguns though.


Edit2

Ok, I realized I need to post some more details. Money is divided into three values, copper, silver and gold. A good starting amount would be bellow 10 gold, unless your character is a tradesman of some sort. I've also decided to cut the ammount of people to a maximum of 5 instead of 6, to prevent overcrowding.
About potions, they won't be found in stacks of 750 everywhere, they're supposed to be both rarer and stronger than most rpgs use, a potions effect is better than almost any resting or healthcare, therefore only a few should be on your character, 3-6 would be fine. And.. health potions are for anyone, endurance is also for anyone, but mana is only for mages. I also thought of a new mage thing, if you're playing a mage, it would be nice if you wrote a short note about where you got your powers, either by natural magic or a relic of some sort, a powerful ring or staff or something like that.

10 copper=1 silver
10 silver=1 gold

Edit3

A little bit of lore.. this is kind of funny, though it's getting pretty long now.. ah, you'll all have to put up with it, for I'm am maker of rubbish lore that doesn't serve any purpose other than boring everyone!

Edit4

Removed the crappy lore since it serves no purpose. Will add a "common knowledge" thingy soon.

but i have the ultimate overthrow the emperor rpg... only kidding, good look with your rpg dood.

I'm liking the set-up. I'm in, if you'll have me. Here's me, then.

Name: Erunanion

Gender: Male

Race: Elf

Age: 134

Class: Ranger

Skills: Erunanion is an expert bowman, a fair swordsman, and a basic healer, but lacks any real skill in this area.

Equipment: Erunanion wears little armour, satisfying himself with a simple leather cuirass, wearing hard-wearing trousers and jerkin underneath this. Covering his clothing, he wears a long black cloak, which is hooded and enveloping. He carries what at first glance is a quarterstaff, but is in fact an Elvish longbow, painted black with soot. When strung, it is incredibly powerful, and will throw arrows two hundred yards with perfect accuracy. The arrows are kept in a material arrow bag, which is braced with a frame of thin wood, to prevent damaging the feathers of the arrows. The bag hangs from a leather belt, to which is also attached a plain steel longsword and a small bone-handled dagger. In several pouches that hang from the belt are the basic accutrements of field healing - a needle, thread, and soforth; 15 silver coins, and a handful of copper; a tinderbox; a pencil, and several pieces of parchment; a two bow cords and a length of fishing line.

Appearance: Erunanion is tall, like most Elves, and broad across the shoulders. Clad in the black cloak he makes and imposing figure, which his face does nothing to soften. His face is long, and the natural elegance of his race has been hardened, first by the mix of human blood and then by the hardships of his life. His eyes are a piercing green, fitting well with sallow cheeks and pronounced chin.

Personality: Erunanion is, on first meeting, slightly icy and distant. He will fit into light conversation, but is very guarded on personal matters and if asked about his background he will close up immediately, leading to his lack of contact with towns generally. He keeps a tight grip on his emotions, remembering his past actions, and is rarely seen not to be under complete control. Despite this, he will unbend with those who he has taken into his trust, and will protect them with all his skill. The lessons of his father to protect your family, which implicitly includes his friends, were well-learned.

Background: Erunanion has made his profession simple - stay alive in the wilderness. He was born the illegitimate son of lord in the service of the Great Three, but being born by a Elf mother was not accepted in proper society. However, being kept in secret by his father he was trained in the ways of war and peace, learning in tactics and diplomacy. He was taught to be patient and calculating, and his charcter reflects this. He does, however, have a darker streak. At the very beginning of the return to power of the Hare, one of his followers killed Erunanion's mother, who his father had given up keeping a secret. Erunanion, in retaliation, slaughtered the assassin, his family his household staff in a fit of rage. For this crime which his father, no longer powerful, could not protect him from, he was outcast and forced into the wilderness. He has spent the last four years surviving, avoiding any bounty hunters after his head, and attempting to make penitence for his awful crime, which he regrets more than anything he has ever done.

EDIT: On the advice of Adelbert, i've added to my character.

Here goes my character

Name:Davanír Vharn
Age:53
Gender:Male
Race:Dwarf
Class:Warrior

Appearance:Like most dwarves, Davanír isn't very tall, being a little over 5 feet tall, he's still one of the longer members of his family. Even though dwarves aren't very long in body, many have long beards and Davarín is no exception, both hair and beard being long and black, he would never shave either of them.

Personality:Dwarves aren't to be made fun of, everyone knows that, but this specific dwarf could take basically anything as an insult if he's in a bad mood or if he's been drinking to much. To much probably means very much to those not used to drinking all the time. Although he isn't tall, he has proven many times that length doesn't count if you have a strong will and a big axe.

Equipment:In battle, Davanír wears as much armor he can possible carry without falling over. Outside of the battlefield, huge plate armor isn't the best choice. Thick leather boots cover his feet, Leather pants reinforced with a thin layer of steel hides his short legs and a strong chainmail, crafted by his ancestors out of silver and steel and passed down to him through several generations, protects his upper body. Davanír also has a full helm that covers his whole head, except for a narrow opening that allows him to see what he's doing.

If this isn't enough, he also has a round steel shield with strange runes that no one can identify anymore, even the oldest dwarves known had a hard time understanding the meanings of the markings crafted on the shield. What's strange is that the shield seem to be undestructible, everyone who tried to harm it in any way has seen their weapon destroyed and the shield just the way it was. Besides from all this armor, Davanír has a huge axe with a silver blade that could easily cut a man in two. He also carries two smaller axes for throwing.

Over all his armor Davanír has a green/brown hooded cape. The older dwarf priests and warriors from his hometown told him about the use of friends many times when he talked about leaving to fight The Karwylle Mining Group and they even had a white wolf trained to follow him and help him in need. Davanír was amazed when he first saw the white wolf, the white colour was so pure it almost seemed to shine in the dark winter night. It's followed him ever since and saved his life numerous times.

His equipment for surviving in the wilderness isn't much, a few maps over various dwarf mines hidden across the world, a bedroll, 2 bottles, one for water and another for any alcohol he can get his hands on, and a small pouch where he keeps his money, all together it's 1 gold coin, 23 silver coins and 14 copper coins.

Here's Malchik's character description that he sent to me.

Name:Traxis Revenant
Race:Human
Age:23
Class:Spy/assasin

Personality:He's very likeable, a bit of a clown unless he needs to act in a specific way, this is one of his strong sides as he can take on many various characters to get the job done. Traxis has all the normal skills of a spy, he's good at disguising, he's very sneaky, and if it's needed, he can use his assasin skills which include both poisoning and strangulation.

Although he's a spy, Traxis has a feeling for what's right for him and there is nothing that's to much if it's needed to uphold the principles he stand for. Traxis likes playing practical jokes on people and he's often the one fooling around. His good trait is that he's not going to abandon his friends, who he would risk his life for without thinking twice about it.

There is still the possibility he'll disobey orders he finds unwise. Although he's friendly most of the time, Traxis doesn't like brainless fighter types who would rather storm into any battle than make up wise plans and use tactics, neither does he have much respect for politicians.

Appearance:Well suited for a spy, Traxis is short and slight, but still pretty strong. His chin is clean shaven and his hair is brown and so are his eyes.

Equipment

When he needs them, Traxis uses a poisoned dagger and poisoned blow darts to get his job done. He also has a bag in which he keeps his various poisons. Apart from this he also has several silk scarves, various items to disguise himself, a tinderbox, a lantern, a bed roll, basic items needed to prepare food and a pouch with 3 gold coins and some silver ones.

He does not wear any armor unless it's needed to acomplish any specific purpose, mostly disguises. His everyday clothes are simple, a pair of brown leather boots, dark blue breeches, a pale blue shirt, a brown leather tunic and a two sided cape with a hood, one side blue and the other side black.

When he's on a mission to assasinate someone, he's got another set of clothes to further increase his chances in the dark, a shirt, a pair of breeches, gloves and boots and the cape, all in black.

OOC:I know that you shouldn't double post, I also know this makes it a triple post, but I've got to start of the thread before the weekend since I'll be away from saturday to sunday evening. I realized this was utterly rubbish, so here goes a new introduction


IC: The warmth from inside the inn seemed very inviting to the three travelers passing through the village, atleast it seemed more inviting than sleeping in the woods again. Mostly, they stayed away from cities, but the constant raining that had been going on for almost 4 days was just to much.

As they pushed the door open, they noticed how many locals had gathered on this day. The barkeep didn't notice them at first, but when the white wolf that was following them around came through the door, it immediately caught his eye. As he hurried to greet them, they walked inside and closed the door. "Hail travelers, welcome to the Traveler's Home, please come, sit. What may I get you all?" he said and quickly wiped of a table close to the door.

It was obvious he hadn't noticed that both a dwarf and an elf had just walked in along with a spy. If he had known, he probably would've threw them out at once. "Whatever you've got that ain't for weaklings", the dwarf said and went with his friends to sit down, accompanied by the wolf.

Traxis stretched easily and relaxedly. He kept a dagger strapped to his lower left leg and the poisons in what appeared to be a money pouch. A rather unpleasant experience a year before when he had foolishly strapped a poisoned dagger to his leg made him more cautious. But the speed with which he could have the dagger in his hands with venom dripping from the edge was startling.

"Crowded in here tonight," he muttered to the barkeep. "Something special going on?"

To his companions he said. "Best chance to get news we've had for a while!"

OOC:I know we were supposed to start monday but I couldn't help it , so you can throw in an opening post or two if you want to, but the real thing starts monday.

"You're not from town, are you?", said the barkeep and scratched his chin. "We've got the postman bringing the news from Nayreth today. Everyone's been wondering about the famine", he said. Davanír placed his helmet on the table and looked around. "I'm sure there's no famine at all", he muttered and sat down.

OOC: I would just like to say that I was considering joining your thread before I put mine up. I also apologize for soaking up a lot of good member that *might* have otherwise posted here. I'm sorry, though, it will be a while before I can join as my whole deal about Darkoor has me preoccupied.

Good luck, and have a great game.
Shadow of the Fallen

Erunanion leaned a black bowstave against the wooden wall, and sat down, laying the scabbard of his sword across his knees. He leaned back slowly, half-closing his eyes, remembering the sounds and smells of the city. Still leaning back, he looked at Davanir blankly. He shrugged to himself, then turned to the barman. "I expect you've been feeling the effects of the famine even out here?"

OOC: Sorry for not putting the accent on your name, i've forgotten the Alt codes for them.

OOC:Ok, I can't resist starting early, so off I go!

The barkeep looked at Erunanion. "Well, I haven't noticed it alot personally, the farmers are the ones who have to take the hit", he said. "Why is that?", asked Davanír. "My God, where have you been? Nowadays, they have to pay almost a third of all their harvests in tax, it's driving them nuts", the barkeep answered, then he went to get them something to drink.

Meanwhile, the weather was getting worse by the minute. It seemed like it would be impossible for the postman to make it without blowing away. The barkeep returned with 3 mugs filled with a dark green liquid of some sort. Davanír smelled the mug and looked very suspicious. "What's this then?", he asked and eyed the man. "Oh, that's the house speciality, I make it myself, strongest stuff around."

Davanír, still looking very suspicious, tasted it, then a wide grin spread across his face. He swallowed it all, then he turned to the barkeep who had been standing around to see what their judgement was. "That was the best drink I've had for a long time", the dwarf said. "I'm glad you like it", said the barkeep and smiled before he went to see if the postman was anywhere close. "Now that postman better hurry cause all these humans have made me excited, seems like news from the big city is a good thing", said Davanír to his friends.

"In places like this, a postbag is a big event." Erunanion said dryly. Staring around the bar, he picked up the drink without looking at it and took a sip. A slight frown creased his face. "This is attrocious." He drained half the mug, still looking at the room. He frowned again. "A third of all produce seems rather steep," he commented in a flat monotone voice.

"To strong?", Davanír said and grinned at his friend. "I've never seen anyone who could drink more than a dwarf", he said and looked very proud to be an alcoholic. Traxis leaned across the table towards the dwarf. "Maybe it would be wise if you kept your.. roots to yourself, these people still think that they're the only ones in this world", he said.

Before Davanír had the time to answer, the door suddenly slammed open and in came the postman. In a matter of seconds, the locals were all over him, begging to hear the news from Nayreth. The barkeep rushed forward and pulled the young man to the counter. He held his hand up and everyone fell silent. "Now, what's the news?"

The postman quickly started telling aout what he'd heard in the capital city. "Nobody I spoke to knew anything about a famine, nobody had even left the city for months since The Hare has closed every entrance, nobody can leave or enter it without his written permission", he said. "How did you get in then?", one of the locals asked him. "None of your business", the postman answered him.

"Like I said, nobody has even heard of a famine and everyone I talked to thought I was crazy, but what I did figure out was that shipments of harvests from all around the country are being sent out of the city twice every week. No one knows where they go or to who."

By now, most of the locals were outraged and many of them were speaking to eachother about rebellion. "When I was at the postman central I met some guy from the mountains, he told me about a group of miners from the far north who had disappeared right after reports of giants and trolls", he continued. By now, people were laughing instead of shouting.

"Bah, these humans know nothing of the real world, they just want to live the easy life without caring about other things than themselves..", Davanír said in one of his bright moments.

Erunanion listened intently, although without any outward change to his cool, even frosty, exterior, to what the postman said. "It would be a good idea to find out how he left the city if The Hare has closed the borders. Such information would be useful." Erunanion took another sip of the foul drink. "Who would The Hare need to be bribing in such a large amount?"

Erunanion watched the postman be jostled some more, and reached back casually to grip the bowstave. "After he leaves, I'll talk to him. Unless of course, one of you would prefer to do it." He grinned, and his face was suddenly more pleasant and inviting. "But not you, my hard-drinking friend. He gestured at Davinir.

Traxis smiled. "Now where does this good gentleman propose to pass the night do you think? If he is less than forthcoming in giving details of how HE comes and goes in the capital, I might pay him a little visit later. Nothing permanent you know, just to see what passes he has and perhaps get some of our own!"

He turns to his companions.

"Well, do you think we should make for the capital or find out more about the vanished miners. I don't think our group is large enough to split up."

He laughs heartily at the idea. He appears to sip the ale but drinks nothing. A drunken assassin is very quickly a dead assassin.

Davanír seemed a little disappointed about not getting to question the postman, but he didn't say anything about it. He scratched the wolf's head and looked at the crowd around the postman. "I say we go to the capital and see this famine with our own eyes", he said. Meanwhile, the crowd was calming down and the postman could deliver the few letters that had been sent.

"If you're going to question him, now's your chance" Davanír said as the postman was getting ready to leave. Traxis silently sneaked after him through the door. The dwarf waved for the barkeep to fetch him another mug of the strong alcohol. Right then, a rather shy looking young boy approached their table.

"Excuse me sir, but my friend..", he pointed at another boy a few tables away,".. tells me that his older brother can swing that axe better than such a short man", he told Davanír and pointed at the shining weapon in his belt. The dwarf took this as a huge insult and his face was turning red, it looked like he could go berserk at any second. "Oh, yeah? I'll show that little..", he muttered and stood up.

OOC> You don't have to post for me now I'm here!

Traxis, finding himself outside the door, sidles up to the postman.

"You have to be able to get in and out of Nayreth to do your job. I can appreciate you not wanting to give away anything in front of that rabble. But I really need to get there, I'm worried about some old friends of mine. Can you let me know who issues the passes?"

He hopes that this is an easy question. He does not want to have to trail the postman for the rest of the day.

Erunanion smiles at Davanir's look, musing for a moment what the effects of letting a dwarf, especially his friend, question the man would have been. He made room for Traxis to stand and walk out of the door.

Erunanion watched a gangly youth approach their table, and listened to him challenge the dwarf on behalf of his companion's brother, not thinking much of someone who had to get another to make their challenge for them. Nonetheless, he too stood up and up a gentle but restraining hand on his friends shoulder. He said, not quite in a whisper, "Go easy on the lad. He'll only be young."

The postman stood in the cold wind and watched the man in front of him. "Well, it's The Hare who issues the passes, but the chances to get one are very small, I didn't get one either, the guards took my deliveries at the gate and they gave me all letters sent here. Although they wouldn't let me enter, I've got contacts around town that can make their own entrances anywhere they need one", he said.

Davanír was still enraged about the young boy, but the fact that the whole inn was filled with people who would not take his side in a fight kept him from doing something stupid. "I'm not that young, sir", the boy, not very shy anymore, told Erunanion. "I'm already..", the boy started counting on his fingers, "14 years old and I'm stronger than most boys of my age", he said. This amused the dwarf alot, since he hadn't heard many young boys stand up to a much taller and much stronger man.

"I don't doubt it." Erunanion subjected the youth to hard stare. "Well, why don't you bring us your friend's brother who claims to be so skilled an axeman?" He leaned down to whisper, properly, in the dwarf's ear. "I think Traxis was right. Let us gain what we can from this village and be off to the capital. I like not at all the news we have already heard." He straightened up, and still holding the bowstave like a walking stick, waited at his friend's side.

Traxis smiles at the postman. "Contacts are very useful. If you know of a way we can get into the city I would be in your debt. If there is any small service I could do for you once we are in the city, please tell me and I will try to carry it out."

The postman thought for a moment before saying anything. "I'll tell you what.. you look like an honest man so I'll help you out. It's going to be dangerous though, and if you get caught it'll be your last misstake", he said. "I know this guy who lives at a farm a few minutes outside town, tell him Sam Greystone sent you and he'll get you inside", he said before leading his horse into the night.

Inside the inn, the young boy turned around and ran to his friend, whispered something in his ear, then the other boy looked at the two friends by the table before he ran out through the door. "I bet he hasn't even got a brother..", Davanír said and scratched his chin.

Traxis returned to the inn and let the others know about the farmer. "He didn't actually say where the farm was. But there can't be many just a few minutes walk away. Shall we go?"

"We don't seem to have any more business here, since they just ran off." He looked at Davinir. "Shall we?" He placed a couple of copper coins on the bar for the drinks.

Davanír sighed. "I still wish to see this skilled axeman, I haven't had a good laugh for a long time", he muttered and looked around the inn. "Bah, let's go", he said and grabbed his helmet from the table. Just as they had left the inn they heard voices screaming in the forest. "Now what's that?", Davanír said and tried to see in the dark night.

Traxis points in the direction from which the screaming is coming.

"I suppose we have time to investigate."

He looks to the others for their opinions.

Davanír smiled and pulled out his axe. "Agreed, let's go!", he shouted and without further considering, he charged straight into the forrest with his wolf behind. After running around for a few seconds, he ran straight into a big bubble of bright light. "What the..", he muttered to himself before something sent him flying through the air. The dwarf landed in front of his friends and the wolf came walking after him without caring about the light.

Traxis hauled the dwarf to his feet. "Stop playing games, we've too much to do." He moves cautiously towards the light.

"Bah", the dwarf muttered and looked for his axe which had flown of and made a deep cut in a tree. Traxis moved closer to the light and now you could hear screams clearly coming from inside the light. He stood and listened, but only screams came from the inside. Suddenly, he was thrown away to, almost crushing the dwarf when he landed. Davanír looked at the elf and grinned. "Your turn", he said.

Erunanion had strung his bow on instrinct the second he had heard the screams, and now had a long arrow nocked on the cord, held at half-draw. Seeing the effects of the light bubble on his companions, he stopped walking several paces away. Thinking for a moment, he then hauls the cord back to full draw, and mutters to Traxis and Davanir, "I'd find a tree to stand behind." Giving them a few seconds to move, he then aims near the top of the bubble, and looses. The angle he has chosen should not, hoepfully, lead to a ricochet back towards the group.

The arrow flew through the air, cutting through the bubble of light and continuing on the other side without having any effect. The elf moved a few feet forward, listening carefully. Suddenly, he heard something else than the screams, something that only keen elf ears could hear. There was a voice in the light, whispering for something. Erunanion took the risk and moved a little closer. "Come on, it's going to throw you away if you get any closer", Davanír shouted.

As he got closer, Erunanion could hear the voice whispering for help, the strange thing was that it was speaking elfish. "There's something speaking inside!", the elf shouted back. "Well what's it saying?", Traxis asked. "It's.. calling for help", Erunanion answered. Suddenly, the bubble disappeared and the light was gone. Everything was as silent as before, except the wind which was blowing twice as hard by now.

Traxis rubbed the dirt off his clothes where the rough landing had marked them. "So," he asked the elf. "What did it say?"

"It was asking for help. I assume it could see us, but i don't know why it was speaking my my tongue and not yours. I couldn't tell if the voice was male or female though." He looked around the woods, as if he didn't trust the surroundings. "So now what do we do?"

"Ain't that obvious? We keep going, this light seems to be a coward and I will have nothing to do with coward lights", said Davanír and looked around, somewhat worried. Just then, another light appeared about 50 feet away, again with the sound of screams. "Great, another one", Davanír sighed. The three of them hurried towards the light, the dwarf a little slower than the others. "Do you hear anything?", Traxis asked Erunanion.

"No.. wait", he muttered and got a little closer. "Bah, this one's just angry", Davanír said when he reached them. "Wait.. did you hear that?", Erunanion asked. "What did it say?", they both said. "It's.. it's calling for help again", he answered. All of a sudden, the light started moving away through the forrest, with the three friends close behind.

Traxis and Erunanion, both being well aware of their surroundings, stopped before running off the cliff, but Davanír, who wasn't nearly as attentive as his friends, ran to far and stumbled down the cliff, rolling a few feet before landing in a small stream below. Although the water barely reached his waist when he stood up, Davanír had great problems getting to the shore on the other side, falling over many times. The other two had no problems at all getting across and when they had gathered on the shore, Erunanion looked around to spot the light.

"There we go", he said and pointed into the forrest from which a bright light appeared. They hurried towards the light and reached a huge glade, surrounded by tall trees on every side. "Take it easy this time, would you?" Traxis asked Davanír, who didn't pay him any attention but ran straight straight towards the light. The dwarf ended up setting of a trap which had him hanging upside down from a tree with a rope around his ankle.

Traxis thought this very funny and fell about laughing.

"If you won't listen to good advice, maybe we'd be better off leaving you to do this yourself. I'm happy to find a comfortable inn and wait until you come back with sensible information."

He makes no attempt to cut the dwarf free.

Erunanion walked past the dangling Davinir, and absent-mindedly drew his dagger and slashed the rope holding the struggling dwarf.

Looking around the open glade carefully, but without every taking his eyes of the globe of light, he approached it slowly. Listening hard, he gets closer than he did before, as if tempting the bubble to throw himself back like his two companions.

Davanír fell to the ground, struggling to get up. "You find this funny, don't you?", he asked Traxis and looked for his axe which he had lost again. The white wolf followed Erunanion towards the light without caring about the complaining dwarf. Suddenly, the light disappeared again. "Great, now I'll never find my axe..", Davanír muttered and sat down on the ground. On the other side of the glade, another light appeared, not even half as bright as the first two.

"Hah, I found it!", he shouted just before being hit in the head by a wooden staff, knocking him over. A group of people had ran past the group from the woods, beating Davanír down before they continued across the glade. Very confused by the blow to the head, the dwarf ran around in circles, cutting thin air with his axe.

Traxis grabbed the dwarf and splashed water on his face.

"Listen, if we are going to be of any help to anyone we need to act in a planned and rational way. Let us stop rushing about and decide where we are going. I'm happy to follow you but not if you're going to chop me in pieces because you can't see what you're doing."

Traxis mopped the water off the dwarf's face.

"Erunanion, did you get any idea of what was causing those lights? Is it some sort of sentient creature like a wisp or is it an enchantment?"

He let the dwarf go. "What about you Davanír? Have you come across them before?"

"Bah, does it look like I'm used to huge lights running around in the forrest?", Davanír said. "Unless it's someone very fast with a big lantern, I say that's magic causing the lights, but what I care about is who hit me in the head", he continued. and scratched his head. By now, the three friends could hear low voices speaking to eachother. Although the wind was blowing through the forrest and all the trees were shaking, the glade was totally quiet and no wind was to be heard.

Traxis put a finger to his lips and moved quietly towards the sound of the voices.

A few seconds after Traxis started sneaking, the voices moved further away from the group, towards the middle of the glade. The white wolf had run away when the voices started talking and was nowhere to be seen. Traxis sneaked closer to the center of the glade, still hearing the voices. Soon, he spotted a group of people sitting by a campfire.

Traxis beckons his companions nearer, hoping they have the sense to move quietly. Were these the ones who attacked Davanír or are they some other group in the forest?

He quickly calculates how many are seated round the fire.

Davanír and Erunanion sneaked closer, well, Erunanion sneaked and Davanír walked quietly. After a quick look, Traxis counted 5 people sitting by the fire. They all wore cloaks with hoods over their heads, so no faces could be seen. They all sat on the ground, speaking quickly with low voices. "I'm telling you, we've got to get him back before it's to late", one said. "They've got to be after us", another whispered. "Let them come, we can handle them", a third one said.

Then, without any warning at all, a bright light, just like the ones before, flashed behind the three friends observing the group. With incredible speed, all 5 men pulled out their bows and pulled back an arrow, aiming straight at the three friends. "Who go..", one of the men started in elfish. "Who goes there?", he said in the common language. The whole glade was quiet except for the shouting.

Erunanion pulls back behind and nearby tree, hopefully quick enough not to fetch an arrow in the back. Whilst nocking an arrow himself, he looks around to see where his friends are. He then sneaks his head round the tree, and shouts in Elvish "We are travellers! Who are you to attack us?"

The men by the fire seemed very confused for a few moments, speaking quietly to eachother. "Travellers? If you wish us no harm, show yourselves", one shouted. Davanír started pulling out the axe from his belt. "I'm not stepping into the light so you've got more to aim at", he shouted. "Oh, don't worry dwarf, I know where you are already" was the answer.

Traxis takes the risk and steps into the light.

"Well, I'm not attacking!"

Davanír followed Traxis into the light of the fire. "A human and a dwarf travelling together? Why would a human make friends with other races, you know we're all extinct", one of the men said. "That doesn't matter", another one interrupted him, "Which one of you spoke elfish?", he asked.

Erunanion stepped out from behind his tree, the arrow still on the cord of his bow but not held under pressure. "I did. How is it that you understand my language?" He looked sidelong at Davinir. "You don't look extinct to me."

The men by the fire started speaking to eachother with low voices. Finally, one of them loosened his grip of the arrow and lowered hiw bow. He looked at them, then removed the hood of his cape, revealing a proud elven face and long blonde hair. "Don't tell me we're not extinct, tell everyone else", he said in elfish. His companions did the same, revealing 4 more faces, all elfish by appearance and all with long blonde hair.

"Now, reveal yourselves as we have done, we wish you no farm", the elf said and hung his bow over his shoulder. Davanír, still with axe in hand, removed his own hood and helmet. "Davanír", he said. "What business brings 5 elves to an open glade in the middle of human land?", he asked and watched the elves. "Does this look like human land to you?", one replied and gestured with his hand around the glade, where there was no wind when the forrest was shaking from the storm. "Now, who are your companions?"

"I am Erunanion. It has been a long time since i have seen my kin. What brings you to this place?" He is somewhat surprised to see his folk, and disconcreted, although not visibly so.