Ouskar: Books? I suppose that could be similar.

Me: Two introverts can have a decent discussion.

Victor: Are there waterways to this castle? We can always wreak havoc as long as there's water.

Lyna: I'm a water person too, but I can be land assault if necessary.

Timothy: Yeah, humans with wings are cool. Have you met my brother? He has eagle wings like an anthrogryph!

Trevelian: *nods* Greetings. Where do you hail from?

Ouskar: We're storming a castle? I volunteer to scale the wall.

Jaymes: Why are we storming a castle?

Jordan: It looks like somebody got kidnapped...

Charis: How can you tell that?

Jordan: * shrugs * I picked up on the tells...or Beth told me.

Charis. * chuckles * I'm guessing it was the latter?

Jordan: Perhaps....

Ouskar: I still volunteer to go up the walls. I haven't done it in a few weeks so I need practice.

Dri: Give me a lesson!

Ouskar Drund: First of all, do not resort to profanity, or insulting the opponent's family. There is nothing clever about those. Instead, be witty and clever, like you're telling a joke.

Me: is remembering the best witticism ever*

Zurik: I did not sign-

Me: Yes you did. Goodness knows you need it, and so do I.

Zurik: With the insults you have me say? You need it.

Hakor: You two fight like Gavin and Emuna.

Zurik: [Glares, but listens to Ouskar] OK. Don't insult family or use foul words. Got it.

Chase: Aw, he sounded so much funnier when he didn't know anything!

Me: Oh, I'm sure you'll get enough laughs from him.

Chayn: Hop aboard then. We seem to have plenty of help, so let's see what we can do to get Zaely and Ark free.

Tynx: Tell me what an anthroglyph is, and I'll see if I've met him!

Me: Real subtle, Tynx.

Seymour: Subtlety is a trait your characters don't posess.

Hakor: Except you. You probably even top Aris's maturity level.

Me: He's in his thirties. Don't go bashing my maturity!

Jek: [Smiles] From a world with three countries. I come from the country more to the south of the other two. It's called Piensor, where most of the others here are from. At least most of those who've gotten Aris to bring them in. It's a beautiful country. But, we tend to go to war a lot. What about you?

Levi: * hesitates, but then gets on Chayn * All right. Onward we go, then.

Ouskar: *follows the rest forward and checks grappling hook* Right, other than that, be clever. Now, let's do some rescuing.

Raven: (@Jaymes) Engagement? What-
Me: *headdesk * Don't start that again. Engagement is similar to betrothal.
Raven: Oh! *smiles* Thank you, Sir Jaymes.

Carter: (@Ouskar) Are you from Ainaan, then?

Jaymes: Betrothal?...they still do that these days?

Charis: In some places, I think...

Jordan: Those must be interesting places...

Ouskar: Yes, from the country Rhoronen to be precise, but my intelligence and recklessness led me to Windy Bluffs to be a bard.

Raven: (@Jaymes) Betrothal is practiced everywhere in the known world. You do not do so? (@Ouskar) *interested* You are a bard?

Jaymes: No...not in America, anyways. Betrothal isn't very common in our world.

Jordan: Our world? There isn't any other world.

Charis: Well...these people seem to think there is.

Jordan: Mmhmm....

Raven: We are also from Earth. What is this America of which you speak?
Me: *headdesk*

Ouskar: Yes, a special type of bard. I find artifacts. I sing as well, but my harping isn't that good.

Raven: Bards find artifacts in your world?

Ouskar: A few of us do. Most bards do the usual bard thing; telling tales. A few also act as negotiators.

Me: What is a bard?

Chase: I think Zurik flunked the clever test.

Zurik: I did not!

Me: I just can't think of anything clever most of the time.

Tesmir: And when she does, it's usually only her that finds it funny.

Me: No one asked you.

Chayn: [Spreads her wings and takes to the air] Here we go! [Circles the area, then fliies off] I think I can see the fortress.

Me: How long is night going to be?

Me: A more detailed description may or may mot be found here: viewtopic.php?f=89&t=4007
Or at Wikipedia. A professional poet in ancient and medieval cultures.

Ouskar: *slightly flummoxed* Bards are keepers of the histories and songs of Edradria. We sing them, teach the simpler songs to others, and pen new ones.

Levi: Can you land near the castle, Miss Chayn?

Ouskar: Can someone explain why we're storming the castle?

Raven: (@Ouskar) That is interesting indeed...... Where we live bards are only employed in singing songs and telling stories.

Carter: (@Ouskar) The lady Zaely and Sir Ark were taken captive. They are storming the castle to free them.

Me: Ooh, bards sound cool.

Zurik: You think anything fantasy sounds cool.

Me: Maybe...

Chayn: I can. [Circles low until she lands more or less quietly on the ground, lowering her body so Levi won't have much of a drop]

Chase: Can I go storm the castle?

Me: No. Trying to locate your sister and a villain is hard enough, having you go off storming castles won't help. Just stay put.

Hakor: Where is your villain, exactly?

Me: I don't know. That worries me.

Levi: * carefully jumps off Chayn * Where in the castle do you suppose they would be?

Ouskar: Bards are highly regarded in Ainaan. We keep the past alive to learn from for the present.

Me: *snickers* That makes me think of a big corporation. I might use it in alternate Edradrias.

Ouskar: *ignores author* They'll probably be in the dungeons. Underground rooms are the hardest to break into or out of because it requires going through the main castle. He pulls out a kit and a transformation begins. The carefree face disappears beneath a coating of black paste mixed with spit. He rubs it behind his ears, on his eyelids; then mixes it with lighter shades. His pack is set down and replaced with a coil of rope with a grappling hook and a scabbard holding a sword. The sword itself; a shorter weapon with a curve and sharp point is also coated with the paste and slipped back into the scabbard. He also pulls out two rounded objects composed of a wooden handle and a metal blade from a concealed slit in his cloak. He drops the cloak and folds it over the pack, which he hides under a bush. I'm ready now.

Chayn: Yes, the dungeons would probably be the best place to start first. But I won't be able to go through without bringing attention. I'll provide cover from the air and keep guards busy with me, and you all hurry into the castle and get Zaely and Ark out of there. [Lifts wings, but then pauses] We're being watched... [Looks around, then slowly takes to the air, hearing nothing unusual.] Be careful in there, little ones.

Me: This is exciting. Wonder where Sven is?

Chayn: [Slams her tail into the side of the castle, roaring and causing a distraction]

Tynx: Well, she knows how to demand attention. I thought attention was something she didn't want, though?

Tesmir: She would cause attention if she went in. Outside, she can be the selfish attention grabber she wants to be, taking all the spotlight on herself and leave the others in the dark, unoticed, to rescue Zaely and Ark.

Chayn: You make me sound arrogant and prideful. But yes, that is what I want for the moment.

Me: Ok guys... my computer access was diminished for five days! So... I didn't get to check this. I don't know how I'll read three pages of this. Can ya'll give me a quick summery? Sorry I was gone!

Me: Lots of talk and we're storming the castle.

Ouskar: slips around through the underbrush and reaches the bottom of the wall. He tosses his grappling hook up and starts climbing silently. He pauses as guards rush past atop the wall.

Lyna: *rides Victor to the bottom of the river and crawls up the castle's drain*

Levi: They're crawling up the drain. Those usually lead to the dungeons. I'm not sure if the captive will be able to come back that way.

Hey, everybody? Remember how I left two characters in here, about ten pages back? [Edit: I actually left them on page 229... ] I think it's time to pull them out now.

*a little girl with beaded braids swinging runs over to Maf*

Girl: Daddy!

Maf: My girl! I'm so glad to see you!

Girl: Daddy, Mommy's looking for you. She said Grandpa wants us, because he's going to neg-so-shiate with the Morancians.

Maf: Negotiate.

Girl: Right. *pulls on his hand* You're s'posed to come.

Maf: *closes eyes and takes a deep breath* Okay...I'm coming. Come on, princess, let's go.

*they leave, the little girl bouncing and tugging at Maf's hand, Maf walking resolutely*

Me:

Okay, now for my other character:

*a man in armor walks over to Faolan*

Faolan: *stands straight* Yes, Captain, sir.

Captain: It's time, Faolan. Today we will stop the Agrothian prince once and for all. *hands Faolan a sword*

Faolan: *takes sword carefully and buckles it around his waist* I am willing to sacrifice to set things in Morancis right again, sir.

*they walk out resolutely*

Me:

Me: * skims * For one evening...y'all post a lot. Well, I don't raid castles in my books sooooo...I have no idea what I am doing.

Levi: * tiptoes near castle opening *

Me: * chuckles * Oh my, I'm better at sword fighting.

Lyna: *climbs up out of a well and into an empty courtyard* Hm, wrong turn... *slinks along the wall looking for dungeons.

Me: No bad for wearing fuchsia and black stripes...

Victor: *surfaces in a vast drain pool in what seems to be dungeon*

Me: Oh yeah, Trev was talking to Jek...

Trevelian: I am from a region known as Cargan. But at this point I merely wander.

Michael: Ok; let's see... I'll just go along with it! *Looks at the thrown grapling hook* Why do you need that?
*Starts climbing the wall*

Svensteel: Annoying little monkey!

Krystal: Monkeys are cute!

Svensteel:



Svensteel: Err... I'm not too sure you want to go out in the open where everyone can see you. *Says a few words and his body turns to darkness. Not unlike a shadow; hidden from view. Then climbs up after Ouskar's rope*



Gilead: There's an idea! Let's get Krystal!

Krystal: EW; no way I'm going down there!

Gilead: Well stay here then! *Jumps into the water and weaves around a dead rat that lay in the water*

Krystal: Have fun with your dead rats! I'm gonna wait here for Beleth!



Me: Aye, we'll have to bring the prisoner back out the top. Anyway; my characters want revenge and after they find Ark/Zaely, they are going right up to that tower and killing everyone up there! Oh and one more thing everyone; lets stay as a group! When you get inside the dungeon just stay there and wait for the others. We will need our full forces to take out the prison guard!

Me: Good point, but I'm not sure if Levi can scale walls... * looks at Levi *

Levi: Umm...it'd be a helpful ability in chapter twenty.

Me: Good point...

Levi: * starts climbing up wall, carefully *

Me: I would think sneaking in and out would work better. Why kill all the poor underpaid guards? Lyna can incapacitate them long enough for everyone to get in and out.

Dri: As much as I dislike what they've done, if there is no better way to hold the guards off, we're gonna have to resort to fighting by sword combat. Now, once I get up the wall where do I go? *Begins climbing up the grappling hook line as soon as the other person is up*

Chayn: The lot of you skeedaddle into the castle. I'll create enough noise and confusion out here. [Slams her tail into the wall, away from where everyone scaling walls/swimming in sewage]

Jek: You just wander?

Tynx: [Chases tail]

Victor: *floats along silently in the pool waiting for Lyna*

Trevelian: I no longer have a home to return to.

Lyna: *Slips down a long hall and into a deep staircase* This would be much easier with tapestries. *hears footsteps*

Jek: Do you mind if I ask what happened?

Tynx: [Picking up speed]

Chayn: [Sees Aelynn and Seymour] Look who decided to join us.

Seymour: [Ignores her and jumps the wall]

Aelynn: [Hangs back, but then jumps, not making it quite as far as Seymour, but enough to scramble up]

Me: There, that settles the question of whether or not female Luvarians can jump high too.

Hakor: That was a question?

Me: More or less. Ya'll be careful. My assassin's on the loose, and goodness knows where he is.

Hakor: You normally shouldn't say things like that when the adventure is already rather dangerous and risky.

Me: Oh well. It might not be a problem.

Rob: It might not be? You're cookin' somethin' up. I can tell.

Me: Maybe...

Trevelian: We were attacked and everything we had was destroyed.

Jek: I'm sorry. Who attacked you?

Seymour: We should make our way down to the dungeon. Perhaps in small groups, large groups aren't easy to hide in shadows.

Aelynn: Well come on, standing up here won't rescue anyone. We should probably get them out before Chayn's demolition work blocks any exits.

Chayn: [Snorts] I'll be sure to leave you an opening.

Lyna: *turns a corner and knocks the patrol unconscious with her tail then continues to the dungeons* Oh, Victor. Good, you're here. Any ideas on opening the cell?

Victor: That would depend on the state of the lock and hinges. Can it be picked?

Dri: *anxious to stage the jail break* I can make the cell doors disappear!

Seymour and Aelynn: [Make their way down to the dungeons]

Seymour: Did you find them?

Aelynn: I don't like this place. I'm getting the feeling we're being watched...

Seymour: I'm sure it's just your nerves.

Me: Real sympathetic there, buddy.

Tesmir: OK, you don't call a grown man buddy. That's just weird.

Me: No one asked you. You're just bored.

Zurik: And you think I'm bad at insulting people.

Chase: You are. She's stating the obvious.

Ouskar: He pauses for a moment and takes in the guards patrolling around the castle, timing them.

Victor: *slithers onto the stone floor and grasps the door with his teeth*

Lyna: Well that works.

(Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it's been a crazy week!)

CASTLE COURTYARD

Michael: *Silently walks behind a guard, then grabs his neck and breaks it*

Svensteel: Come on, I see the door leading to the dungeons!




SEWAR

Gilead: Everything can be picked! *Draws from his cloak, a small lock-picking kit* 'Never leave home without it!