Guilo: *hops on Ember's back* Let's do this!

Erronys: *watches Chayn closely*

Shawn: *eyes fill with tears* *is too shocked to run*

Pirzak: "Gah!" *squirms*

Me: *loves Thysal's reasoning on who to attack first and Gavin's "Tangled quote"*

Jay: "I have a sword. Someone get Shawn out of here!"

Raczr: "Get... off.."

Me: "Squished?"

Raczr: *snarl*

These two posts were when I thought Griffin got on top, when he tried to roll. So could we go back there? Sorry about that.

Seymour: [Brings blade down on Gavin's sword] If this were a fight to the death, your opponent would not care if you were ready or not. You must focus despite any lull in battle. Feign focus, if you wish. But always remember to keep track of where your opponent is and what he's doing.

Me: He seems to tend to the side of being a teacher. I apologize if he's boring.

Seymour: Boring? You're the one making all that stuff up.

Me: Well it makes sense, doesn't it?

Zurik: Of course I played a part in it. I had to heal the hurt my people suffered, I pulled my people out of the ruin and rubble of what was once our home. I did more than play a part in it, I led it!

Me: Easy there. She's not attacking you.

Aelynn: [Comes running back] I found the string!

Chayn: [Noses Shawn's cheeks dry of tears] Don't cry, little one. You must run. I won't have these fiends hurt you. [Breathing slows.] I love you, little one. I always will. [Looks at Jay] Take of care her. [Looks back at Shawn, stretching her neck out far enough to touch her forehead. Then, slowly rests her head on Shawn's lap. Her breathing slows to a stop]

Me: Gah... I feel so bad now.

Tynx: Yeah... I guess that's true. But does Shawn know that?

Me: Give it a while, and she might.

Tynx: If she doesn't strangle you first. Remember the turkey-

Me: I know I know. I'll find some sweet way to revive Chayn in a bit.

Rowen: [Snarls] No.

Tesmir: [Clambers out of the water.] What'd I miss?

Tounon:

Gavin: Feign focus?! Is that even possible?! *pushes sword against blade* You can't feign focus! You have to be focused!

Me: You just have to debate with the teacher, don't you?

Gavin: He just said something entirely improbable! Of course I'm going to debate with him! *glances at Chayn* *sniffles* Okay...even I think that was sad.

Emuna: *tears up* Aww... *creates three orbs and throws them at Pirzak, Raczr, and Skylar* You cruel, sadistic, people! You, you....you and your stupid rope!

Me: *drags Emuna away* I'm sorry...for...her.

Taranis: *eyes widen* *shoots up into the sky*

Me: For a dragon, you don't fight for dragons much...

Taranis: *looks down at me* I do not think the author would want me to. *flies higher*

Me: And so he runs away before he does something really stupid...

Taranis: I heard that!

Jay: "I will."

Shawn: "I love you too." *cries and gets up* "I'm so sorry..."

Me: "I feel terrible too, Aris." *chokes* "Oh, yeah, turkeys."

Pirzak: "Look out, Thysal, for that orb."

Raczr: *grunts* "You are hurting me."

Me: "Aww, poor guy."

Jay: *can't wait for these villains to be reckoned with*

Me - I was listening to a sad song as I read that . . .

Thysal - (Yanks Pirzak out of the orb's way) Don't worry, I've got him! (Flips Pirzak into the air, and catches him in her claws as she takes off. Soars to a rafter and lands, pinning him to the wood beneath her claws) Try any quick moves and we'll see how well you can fly.

Zanya - (Swings off Rowen, and stands by Raczr, hands on hips, tail lashing wildly) I really don't envy you right now, pal. So Rowen, what do we do with this sadistic evildoer?

Sylvia - Aww, Shawn . . . (hugs her)

Ashrai - (Drops down to all fours once more, and prowls towards Mordir) You want to keep going?

Me - . . . I'm going to be gone for several days, so if I don't reply . . .

Sumira - You'll back everyone up.

Me - (glare) No, just act as if my charries aren't there, and my dragons can finish their quarrels later.

Thysal - Aww . . .

"So your worth, your value, was inside you then, even when no one saw your worth, even when you were young."




Ah, alright.

Griffin tries to roll out, but can't, and then Beduuin executes the arm break.

Emuna: *watches Thysal* Why didn't Taranis do that?!

Taranis: Because I have no intention of upsetting authors by interfering in their development...and I don't think Bethany Faith knows how to write a dragon fight.

Me: I do too! There's a lot of...flying and...and...clawing...and...ever so often you roar!

Taranis: *raises eyebrow* That's your description of a dragon fight?

Me: Yes?

Taranis: *shakes head disappointedly*

Me: "I'll just freeze Pirzak, then."

Pirzak:

Shawn: *hugs Sylvia back and cries softly*

Me: *guilt*

Jay:

Raczr: "I did what I was told."

Skylar: *dodges the orb and glares at Emuna* *watches the rest of the scene with pleasure*

Seymour: [Taps Gavin against his hip with the end of the staff] Yes you can, if you try. If cannot use your eyes, use your ears.

Rune: Aris, now you've got Gavin tearing up. The poor boy is already teased by his friends.

Me: Why're you yellin' at me?!

Tounon: Because it's essentially your fault.

Tesmir: [Walks over to Shawn] Let's get you out of the line of fire.

Rowen: [Pressed down further against Raczr, careful to keep his head arched high above, lips curled in a snarl] Now you know how Shawn feels. And how I feel. I don't deal kindly with those who murder family. [Loosens pressure, but not by much] Your pick, Zanya. I'm too angry to attack right now. I'd probably blow up the whole area.

Mordir: [Painfully rips the bolts from his arm] I won't quit.

Zurik: I suppose.

Me: I completely just backed myself into that corner.

Zurik: Of course you did, now I can't get out.

Cassie: Haha!

Zurik: That doesn't mean I won't give in without a fight. You just might be included.

Chase: You touch her, I'll-

Zurik: You'll what? Swing that sword of yours around? You are only half, if that, of what your father is. I am not afraid of mere children.

Me: Seriously, I will not dole out pity when someone kills you.

Rowen: [Leans over and noses Chayn's cheek, then looks back at Raczr, glaring]

Tynx: You're in for it now, author.

Me: Hey, I'm looking on the bright side. The villains get beat up first.

Tynx: You're hopeless.

Me: I love you too.

Gavin: *crouches down and blocks staff with his sword, swings his leg under Seymour* My ears? How do you use your ears in a battle?! That's physically impossible!

Me: *head/desk* Not, it isn't!

Gavin: Oh, fine, then. Go have your sister sword fight you while you're blindfolded, tell me how that turns out, genius.

Me: I'm not a trained soldier!

Gavin: *scoffs* And yet you write books about such.

Me: Well, writing books about an average person would be boring.

Emuna: *feigns offense* I do not tease Gavin! I...offer my opinion in a potentially offensive manner.

Gavin: *cough*teasing*cough*

Erronys: *snorts to remind Zurik who is allied with mere children*

Me: Sorry guys, I'm having trouble wrapping my head around what all my people are up to.

Don't be upset about it.. Hetsila is trained in the Elvish arts of verbal wrestling as well as physical. It takes some incredible negotiation skills to avoid losing (depending on how she defines losing).

"Would anyone have seen your potential? You yourself only admitted realizing its presence it just now."

Okay, I'm going to try and get everything straight now. Beduun has one of Griffin's arm in that lock thing, but where is the other arm? And Beduun has his legs wrapped around Griffin's, right?

Sounds good.

Griffin is on his back with his legs slightly bent, with his right arm in Beduuin's lock. His left arm is loose, but useless. Beduuin is face down on him, his legs hooked into Griffin's and providing base so he can't be flipped over. He is tight down with his head tucked so strikes can't hurt him.

Seymour: [Sweeps his leg around in a full circle and hooks it into Gavin's as Gavin's comes around. Then pulls back] You are fully capable to using your hearing, should you be unable to use your eyesight. You listen for the slightest stir of the grass, the whisper of a cloak, the rasp of steel against its sheath. You listen to know just where your opponent stands, just where he is. Or, depending on whom you're fighting and where, you may also be able to smell him.

Me: You talk a lot more when your dueling.

Seymour: Do I?

Rune: That could possibly count as teasing, Miss Emuna.

Cassie: You show him, Erroy!

Zurik: Oh, please. We've already demonstrated what we do to reptiles who stand in our way. Your mute pet is no different. [Turns to Hetsila] I'm sure there might have been, but they were too cowardly to admit it before my father.

Me: Oh, I'm not upset. It's fun.

Tynx: Losing? [Gets hit by a dictionary]

Gavin: *falls* *(does a really childish thing ) grabs Seymour's arm and pulls him down as he falls*

Me: I soooo can't sword fight. *cough* I mean. Gavin can't. Gavin can't sword fight.

Gavin: I resent that comment! (@Seymour) Poetic, but a good soldier will be able to avoid being disabled and having to fight blind.

Me: Since when?

Gavin: Since it's true!

Me: *cough*prideful*cough*

Gavin:

Emuna: Is there a such a thing as teasing in self defense?

Me: You know, I noticed something, y'all fight a lot less than when I first brought you into CI...

Emuna: Because of the end of book one, remember?

Me: Yeah...but I still wish you would fight more. It's more fun. Oh, hey! Who wants to meet a Taninim?!

Brian: A what?

Me: A type of dragon. *digs through purse to find magical character glitter* Found it! *sprinkles black glitter in the air*

Brian: Not again....

Terminus: Who is this?

Brian: I don't know...but adding another character into this mess cannot be a good thing.

Terminus: I kind of like the chaos....

Me: *ends post right about when character is about to appear*

Malcolm: Aside from the fact that he's far larger than your last victim and far less rash than most reptiles that was almost reasonably intimidating except, oh wait, we're fire-breathing reptiles.

Kaida: Who get ticked off when other fire-breathing reptiles are in jeopardy.

Guilo: And form alliances readily enough to be plenty powerful.

Tanner: And if you can't beat our human dragon fighter *nods to Kaida*, how can you best the real thing?

Trevelian: *half smiles beneath his hood from his seat by the river*

* laughs * That's good.

"Yes, there are many things that can make one refuse to acknowledge the potential for worth in another."

Raczr: *stares back into Rune's eyes* *furious*

Me: *headdesk*

Shawn: *looks at Tynx*

Me: *has splatitis in the CI* *eats cupcake* "There. RJ, have I mentioned recently that I love your characters? They rock."

Me: Thanks I'm afraid they've all picked up my argument style... I need to make them a little more unique on that front.

Me: "It's a formidable style."

Jay: "Unlike yours..."

Me: *wings dictionary*

Jay: *rubs head*

Seymour: [Twists his arm and grips Gavin's, pulling him back up] Try keeping your feet and using your opponent's sweep to knock him on his back instead. [Smiles slightly] You're doing very well, young master.

Rune: There might be. You just need to quick enough to come up with a cutting remark that leaves the antagonist without a sensible answer.

Me: Why are you coaching her on insulting?

Rune: I'm not coaching. It's a simple discussion.

Me: [Points to Seymour and Gavin] That started out as a simple friendly duel. Seymour's turned it into a lesson.

Seymour: [Ignores] True, but what of warriors who have been blind from birth? They would use their hearing to sense where their opponent is.

Zurik: [Snorts] I seem to have already bested your human-dragon. She withdrew from our duel. As to this other one [Waves at Erronys] I will be happy to duel him, as well. [To Hetsila] Yes, but it is the cowards who let those reasons stop them from stepping up.

Me: A little over-confident there, buddy.

Mordir: You called him buddy? Sheesh, we're both villains, and I don't call him buddy.

Rowen: [Narrows his eyes] I'll make you pay for every shred of pain you have caused me, and Shawn.

Me: Rowen, don't get yourself killed too. I don't think I'll be able to stand against Shawn and Zanya when they finish pounding the villains.

Rune: And we're not helping you.

Me: Your loyalty has me in tears, really.

Tynx: [Looks at Shawn, tries to smile comfortingly] It'll be OK, Shawn.

Kaida: Withdrawing when my sword is wrapped around your throat is actually called smug superiority.

Guilo: Why is it villains can never draw the line between cowardice and common sense?

Aren: Because they tend to lack to more desirable while having an over abundance latter.

Melany: And that doesn't even bring courtesy or pity into the mix.

Erronys: *shrugs and remains seated*

Me: Ah! So many new posts! *closes eyes and throws CI post together*

Gavin: Well...that sounds easy...I...guess. *thrusts at Seymour's shoulder* Warriors that have been blind from birth, does not apply to me.

Me: It just miiiiiiight.

Gavin: You can't just add things to the storyline like that.

Zurik: Smug superiority? You had the chance to kill me, if you wanted. But you backed off. I wouldn't call that superiority. That is fear. Fear of killing.

Me: Oi, you're so weird.

Zurik: [Ignores] Worthy in my own eyes? I thought I was worthy enough while my father still lived and ruled. That was perhaps around the age of sixteen. I knew many people who became successful when they are a great deal older than I. What does that have to do with this?

Me: Oh, I'm sure it has a lot to do with it. What does beholden mean?

Zurik: [Slaps forehead into his palm]

Me: What? I'm trying to help you out here.

Chase: Oh, I think he's doing a brilliant job of failing all on his own.

Me: [Glares]

Cassie: [Giggles]

Seymour: [Twists his torso so the blade passes just in front of him] True, but you could learn from them. Blindness sharpens hearing. They can perhaps teach you things you might not have been able to learn from someone who has the gift of sight.

Aris: Like Gail?

Seymour Yes. Your friend is a good example. His situation would match more closely to Gavin. He was able to see at first, but then became blind. He still fights as strongly as he did before.

Aris: But it took him a while. [Glares at Mordir]

Mordir: I'd rather not argue with you at the moment.

Me: Hmm... I'm gonna bring in someone new. She's a character for a story I thought up (which has no plot yet). Her name's Hailey. She's eighteen, and lives in Piensor, Allare.

Tounon: That... sounds confusing.

Me: I know, but it's the best way to describe it. OK, to make room. A few people will leave. Beron goes home, and so does Rune.

Rune: Who's gonna keep an eye on Tesmir?

Me: [Pushes him out the door] Everybody else will. Now scoot. And.... Chase goes.

Chase: No way, not when Zurik's-

Me: Oh for pete's sake! Zurik's being handled by Hetsila, and will most likely get himself into a fight with someone sooner or later. Now out! Cassie'll be fine.

Hailey: Hi people!

Kaida: It might be thought of as fear if it didn't have my style in it. That's what makes the action smugly superior and you as sore winner even though you lost.

Tanner: *looks away and smiles*

Amos: There! *picks up kite* Now we just have to get it flying.

Gavin: I still see no bright side nor reason to be blind.

Me: The irony.

Gavin: *slices at Seymour's shoulder*

Me: I am so bored!

Negative Tornado: No one cares.

Zurik: I did not lose, madam. You withdrew. Why am I a sore winner? I am grateful you decided not to kill me.

Hakor: [From the rafters] Was he ever dropped as a baby?

Zurik: [Sends a wall of wind up at him, knocking him off balance.]

Jek: [Grabs his twin's hand and pulls him back up] You really thought that that was a good idea?

Hakor: How was I supposed to know? I thought he was busy arguing with ladies.

Zurik: [Snarls]

Aelynn: Oh! [Touches the kite softly] It's so pretty. Where is the best place to fly it?

Tynx: Where there's lots of wind.

Seymour: Say, in your world, men who are of your faith are killed for it. Or tortured first. Imagine you were among those men. But they didn't kill you first. Say they put out your eyes, but right before your execution, friends managed to help you escape. Would you not still fight for your faith? Even though you are blind? [Winces as his should is cut. Slices upward at Gavin's middle]

Me: Did you have to get that graphic?

Seymour: I did not get graphic. I was merely giving a story. No description involved, I assure you.

Jek: [Looks at Dri and his characters] I will duel one of you, if you want. I'm just as bored as you.

Gavin: Never would my father hurt others because of their faith.

Me: *coughAnikulumcough*

Gavin: Shut up, you don't know what you are talking about.

Me: Hey! I didn't say anything! I have a chronic coughing disorder. *serious nod*

Gavin: *glares at me* *half-steps back and uses his sword to block upward slice*

"Ah, so although the circumstances had not conspired to make you worthy in other people's eyes yet. Although you had not made yourself worthy for other people yet. Although, like so many others, you had not come close to your success. Yet you saw yourself as worthy... and you were worthy to yourself."

It means indebted to, more or less.

Seymour: I meant no disrepsect to your father, young master. But say someone else did all the things I spoke of. [Swings the butt-end of his staff into Gavin's stomach]

Me: Are you inable to use just the blade? The poor kid's gonna have something broken.

Seymour: I'm making sure there will be no broken bones on his person, I assure you.

Zurik: I believed I was worthy, aye.

Cassie: So, what happens if I think I'm worthy?

Zurik: I'm not talking to you. Stay out of this.

Cassie: Hey, you're losing any-

Zurik: I said stay out of it! [Fists begin to crackle]

Me: Dude, calm down before you hurt yourself.

Tynx: He's a villain. They're all prone to being stubborn and reckless.

Me: You forget that you've been conversing with a villain.

Tynx: So? We've been behaving so far. We're practically best friends!

Stellwento: *creeps back in* I'll fly the kite! *hears Zurik's fists crackle* Ya know, you can get arthritis doing that... It's no fun if you get in a fight later. The other bad guys will make fun of you.

Amos: We just need an open space where it can pick up enough wind to fly. With Wen here that'll be easy.

Kaida: Far be it from me to explain my own logic. *calls to Brand* So, who actually won that little race? I was rather distracted.

Gavin: *grunts* I'm sure you didn't, considering you've never met him. *swings sword at Seymour's arm, but suddenly stops and thrusts at his chest instead*

Me: Aye! I should bring the chief in here!

Emuna: Yeah...and what are you going to call him? "The Chief"?

Me: Erm....good point...oh, wait...I still have Avneet appearing.

Emuna: Oh, yay! *claps excitedly as new dragon appears*

Me: *yawns* I'm lazy so this description shall fail:
She is a tall, well-cut dragon with a soft velvet material for wings. Her eyes are bright, crystal blues and she does not breath fire...she breaths boiling, hot water...and...Erm...steam. Anyways, she needs develop meant. Have at her.

Emuna: *runs up to Avneet and hugs her* Hullo!

Avneet: *smiles* Hello, Emuna...umm...what's happening?

Brian: A lot of fighting...

Terminus: Pure Awesomness.

Gavin: Rebellion.

Taranis: War, I think, would be a better word.

Emuna: I think she was asking me!

Avneet: *chuckles* Ah... *sits down and watches with her tail curled around her*

Did Griffin already try head-butting? I can't remember.

Yes, Beduuin's arm is between Griffin's head and his own, besides, the angle kills any sort of striking power Griffin would have had.

"Cassie is correct. Think of the people who helped you become what you are. The circumstances that made you become what you are. They share in your glory and vision. They are more worthy because they made you worthy. Each one of us is like that, though. Why neglect the opportunity to improve your own worth by helping another become more worthy?"

* chuckles * I keep imagining what would happen if he tried to attack Cassie with Hetsila around...

Me: "Jay! Say something!"

Jay: "Why me?"

Me: "You aren't in the throes of misery or pinned beneath a dragon."

Jay: *mutters something about being put near the throes of misery* "Oh, hello, Avneet."

Avneet: Hello, Jayson. How are you today?

Taranis: *mumbles something*

Jay: "Fine. How about yourself?"

Me:

Avneet: Very well, thank you.

Taranis: *taunts, says in high voice* Very well thank you.

Avneet:

Me - And . . . I'm back!

Niarah - (dryly) woohoo.

Me - My feline is feeling lazy. So, where was everyone?

Thysal - (On the rafter, with Pirzak and Jay) Oh, Pirzak's still here. Jay, what do you want to do with him.


Me - Must be an author thing.

Niarah - No, most authors hit snarky charries with dictionaries or snowballs.

Zanya - (Stares down at Raczr) Hmm. An explosion might be just what we need in here. It would be no more than he deserved.

Ashrai - (climbs up a support beam to the rafter) Whenever you're ready, Mordir, lets finish this.

Me - Did I miss anyone?

Raczr: *glowers back at Zanya*

Pirzak:

Jay: "You decide. You're the dragon."

Me: "Brilliant."

Jay:

Me: "Shawn's still by... someone who's name starts with an 'S'."

Aelynn: [Claps hands with excitement] This'll be so cool! Wait 'till I tell everyone back home!

Corelle: For being a young woman, she still has the spirit of a child.

Tesmir: Something Seymour falls for easily? [Gets whacked by Tounon] I was kidding! You people don't get my humor.

Seymour: [Ignores Tesmir... partly. He leans back just in time to avoid getting pierced, but still gets nicked as he jumps to the side and slices at Gavin's leg] I apologize if I have caused offense, Gavin.

Tounon: Hello Avneet!

Tesmir: Howdy!

Zurik: [Glares at both Hetsila and Cassie, but can't think of anything to say]

Me: Now would be a good time to bow out while you still have your dignity intac-

Zurik: [The crackling in his fists turn into electricity. And he turns and attacks Cassie with a stream of electricity]

Me: Oh... that was a bad idea. Did you not learn anything from your experience with Beduuin?!

Zurik: Sure. That doesn't mean I'll take it and use it.

Mordir: Idiot. [Carefully climbs up across from Ashrai, throwing aside his sword and drawing out a dagger, its blade looks stained, and dripping with something dark] I'm ready whenever you are.

Me: My villains are out of whack.

Mordir: It's what happens.

Rowen: A fine idea. [Opens his mouth, a ball of fire grows inside]

Tynx: Our author can't keep characters dead very long.

Me: No one asked you!... But you're right...

Tynx: Sooo-

Me: Stop. Just be patient. I gotta go right now. Villains, someone get Shawn into a dangerous spot.

Mordir: And to think, I have to have her as my author.

Tounon: She worries me sometimes.

Seymour: You're both going to get dictionaries given to you if you don't be careful.

Me: "Go ahead, villains. Do it quietly if you can, though."

Gavin: *jumps up so slice is avoided* Apology accepted...this time. *twirls sword in his hand once then slices at Seymour's neck*

Me: Hey! Friendly duel ring a bell!?!

Gavin: What?...the blade is dull...I think.

Me:

Terminus: Oh! Can I do something evil to Shawn?!

Me: NO!

Terminus: Why not?!

Me: Because I actually like that character!

Terminus: *pouts* Rotten author.