3. Nathen Wingates - Mystran Bard.

Nathen Wingates - Mystran Bard.


  • Journal Entry…
    _…I spoke to Roubanes today, he got my letter requesting to meet him in the Mermaid. We met, and chatted. He agreed to help me look for Eli, just as I knew he would. I know alot of people think he's just a maniac, but his heart's in the right place. He's a good person, and unlike some of the other people that are actually in the militairy, he helps whenever I ask him to. He seems just as upset about this whole thing as I am, which I don't know whether or not is a good thing, considering his impulsive habbits. Regardless, I'm happy I have his assistance now, seen as how his impulsive attitude is matched only by his will to help. Hopefully.

    ...We had a major break-through in the case today. Linking most of the crimes together. I need to tell Ro and the others about it. I'm glad, but something's still missing. Still no sign of Eli. Is she alright? I don't know how I could forgive myself if anything else has happened to her. I don't know who exactly did this, but the bastards are going to pay for messing with a gods damned child … for Mystra's sakes, what sort of people are we dealing with. Sickening._


  • "Cold Conscience."

    On the city streets,
    They move en masse,

    Like a rash,
    on the back,
    of a manky cat.

    I watch them watch me,
    But I watch them too:

    Across the street,
    Across the room.

    S.C.

    _Nightfall. Shadows creep across the Peltarch docks district. The orange haired bard makes his way through yet another alley, searching, his greenish-blue eyes hard and focused. Another sign, just another sign, that's all he needed to further help him reach his goal. Something is not right this eventide… Perhaps it's the cloudy skies, or perhaps it's the gentle falling drops of rain?

    "Eli, can you hear me? Eli?" His voice calls, it's tone hinting a strange mixture of determination and grief. She had appeared from the shadows many times before, though, currently, all was calm. Frowning, and shifting his dirty, dark-blue Cerulean Knights uniform, he makes his way turning another alley. "This is the shadiest and darkest part of the city... still nothing..." He ponderous helplessly, would he ever find her? He should probobly just give up and stop looking... there was no point in this, ... was there? She hated him now, she thought him a traitor, a backstabber, a murderer.

    He shakes his head, gritting his teeth and pinching the area between his brow. Closing his eyes, he takes a moment to gather himself in the dark dock-side alley. "Don't give up yet, you stupid bard…" He mumbles, opening his wryly focused eyes to take a glance around. Shadows. Surrounded by shadows. "Blasted things... they're everywhere." The man states, before incanting a light spell to aid his search.

    He couldn't just give up, not yet. His heart had to be strong, Maya was right. He had to brave this, he had to stand unwavering, undaunted and calm -- if he was ever to help Eli become normal again. "I will find you, Eli. I'm going to help you..."

    The past month had proven hard to endure, aye perhaps... Sleep was scarce, and sanity was on the brink at times... But he was still there, he was still trying, he was still fighting for that little girl he met in the Bardic College, what now seems oh so long ago. What he would of once considered a mad plan now brewed and stirred in his mind, all for the sake of a little girl.

    He steps out from the alleyway, taking a glance to the east… Sunrise. He'd have to continue his search the next evening, when it would be dark again. Lowering his head, frowning and gritting his teeth, he makes his way towards the Cerulean Knights Headquarters._


  • Journal Entry…

    (Written with yet another very troubled shake of the hand.)

    I spoke with Shemaright, in the Mermaid Inn, about her adopted son, Tillan today. We were in the middle of our conversation when it happened. Darkness sprouted from just beside us, but that isn't what bothers me. The voice. That voice from inside the shadows. Eli's voice. I am sure it was Eli's. She shouted violently about how I betrayed her.

    (At this point trails and flecks of black ink drops are seen.)

    _She yelled and said I left her for dead. I couldn't of just forgotten about the other kids that one time in the docks… I couldn't... But I shouldn't of just...

    Gods... I'm at a loss for words. The shouting isn't even the most painfull part. She dissapeared after, and when I asked Shemaright to cast a detect magic for me, she found traces of necromancy.

    I fear for what might of happened to Eli. I worry she's become something she she shouldn't of ever even seen at her age. I've spoken to Chaevre and asked her help. She said she could reverse any possible transformations she could of underwent... but only if we find her. I hope we can succeed in time.

    …And this pained guilt in my gut just keeps getting worse._


  • Journal Entry…

    (Written with a now calm hand.)

    _…I was going to buy some flowers for Maya today, at the Norwick graveyard, when something terrible happened. Tond, the flower salesman, was no where to be found. Instead, I was attacked by a Red Armored, hooded man. Not only that, but he used summoning magic to call shadows to help him. I couldn't avoid the fight, the gate was locked. I fended him off the best I could. He was too quick, moving in and out of the shadows, quiet as a mouse and as unseen as a bat. And when our weapons clashed, his blunt speed and strength overpowered me. I've never been beaten so badly. I was at his mercy, his blade could of easily been at my throat, … but he didn't kill me.

    Thank the gods above and below for the fact that Maya, Kara, Meril and the others showed up. Either he did not to be seen by them, or only wanted me intimidated, whichever the reason, he didn't stick around long. I filed a report on him in the Cerluean Star Knights' H.Q.

    ...Gods he was quick._


  • Journal Entry…

    (Written with a slight shake of the hand)

    _…Most of the children from the earlier catastrophe, involving shadows, have returned. Much to my relief. But even with they're return, something is missing. It pains me how I failed her... I cannot believe I let that happen. Did I make the right move? I'm so used to thinking things through. That night in the docks, it happened too fast. Something urks me, this guilt in my gut again, she didn't deserve that fate.

    No. She has to have returned like the others. She has to. I can find her. She has to be here. Somewhere… The reports won't be helping me this time. I've begun searching the darker alleyways of the city, currently to no avail. I've heard rumors of sounds there, and other happenings. She has to be alive, she's stronger then that..._


  • Journal Entry…

    …I voyaged back to Cormyr. What a trip. I needed a small break, anyway. I didn't find my familey, though, which is odd. A nobleman recognised me and told me they had moved, or something... I searched the entire city and didn't find them. What a dissapointement. Well, I returned to Narfell a few tendays afterwards. What a shame.

    ...I met up with the elf we rescued from the pirate ship today. His name's Azilar. He's a nice fellow, a noble in Peltarch. Who'd of thought it? Heh. He gave me a special ring to express his thanks. What a swell guy. I mentioned something about a gift, and I think he was dissapointed. Me and my big mouth. Oh well, I'm glad he's alright and doing well with himself. The ring he gave me is very nice. Extremely beautifull. I've never seen anything like it.

    ...I saw Maya today for the first time after my trip. She was so happy to see me. She shouted my name, ran up and hugged me. I told her I had written a poem for her, too. She liked it, I payed a few bards in Peltarch and we all gathered around her bench, and she was the center of the commons for a few moments. It was perfect. I'll just stick that poem in here.

    (A poem wedged between two pages.)

    @e91ffa9b01:

    "Ode to Maya."

    She's got eyes,
    the Deepest shade o' green,

    As bright as the skies,
    The prettiest you'd ever o' seen;

    Her smile so charming
    it stops farmers from farming,

    So warm and exciting,
    There's nothin' mooore inviting;

    Her laugh's so cheery,
    oh don't make me start,

    The sound'll inspire the dreary
    And it'll warm up your heart;

    She's got skin
    of the softest feel;

    Holding her tight n' close,
    Is just so unreal.


  • "Unwavering Resolve."

    Journal Entry…

    _…Maya and I went on a grand adventure today! It was exhilerating. Nico had just finished getting her order in for her armor, but something went wrong. When the merchants were supposed to deliver the suit to him, they got ambushed and attacked by frost giants! Jeez, they barely managed to sneak a messanger to Peltarch for help.

    So anyway, Nico called me, Maya, Kara, and a bunch of others to his office to explain what had happened. We couldn't just leave the merchants there, so we ended up sailing to there rescue. The ship's captain was a real jerk, too. I'm glad we didn't see much of him throughout the trip. Anyway, on the voyage we got ambushed by pirates. We fended them off easily enough, though. It was exciting.

    After fending off the pirates, we finally arrived at the icelace patch of land where the merchants we're being trapped by the frost giants. We faught our way through bears, giants, wolves, trolls -- A whole bunch of dangerous threats. Things were looking pretty bad, but I kept my spirits up and tried to keep everyone elses nice and high, too.

    When we arrived at the town, it was surrounded by frost giants! We charged through most of them, and actually managed to get inside, fending most of them off. The damarans werent happy, since we had opened the gate, so there captain yelled at us for a bit. Before he could finish, more giants broke through the walls and attacked. We faught them off for a long while, before Maya fell…

    We barely managed to push the last wave of giants back, I rushed to help Maya. She wasn't breathing, so I started praying. After a few moments, Kara motioned me to bring her to the inside shelter of the war-zone town. So I did. When I dragged her into a corner, lightning shattered the window! It charged into her body! After a few moments pause she was moving again! It's a miracle. Tempus must really be fond of his champion. I know I am.

    The damaran captain then recognised her. He gave her the suit of armor, it's actually a really nice suit. I'm impressed with the craftsmanship. Those damarans really know there stuff. Unfortunatly, the giants we're flowing into the time worst than the kobold assaults back home in Peltarch. An old lady suggest we use the 'stones' in the hidden cove of the town. She said they would bring us back home – But with one condition, she would have to remain with her city. We had no other choice. We agreed, and she took us to the stones.

    The rest of the citizens of the town came with us. I'll never forget the sacrifice the old lady made, I asked her name, but it was too late. She was already incanting the opening for the portal. We hopped inside. It worked, we found ourselves in Jiyyd!

    The others, the damaran citizens, I mean, werent with us. I hope to Mystra they're safe somewhere. Maya brought me to her mansion house in the town. She was slightly sad for a few moments, she even cried a bit. She wanted to hear a tale... She even asked me. I said yes. We made love, and she fell asleep as I whispered a story through form of ballad in her ear. I hope she feels better.

    What a day._


  • "Eye of the storm."

    The eye is the absolute center of a storm, hurricane or other [weather-related] catastrophe. When in the eye, the winds are calm and the sky is clear. 'A moment of peace when surrounded by chaos.'

    -Shadowy heart.

    _Maya always told him he hid his heart behind a mask of shadows. And for a good long while he had no idea what she meant. Sun bathed across the Peltarch streets, a golden armored, orange haired bard is seen on a bench on the commons. He twists the cog, – the cog of the broken crossbow across his lap. He sits there, pondering as he fiddles with his ranged weapon. His eyes absently distant, wandering his thoughts, his reflections of situations and ponderations.

    He still remembered her words... "Nathen is like wizard Ro, wizard Ro hide heart behind actions. Nathen hide heart behind words." She spoke those with a smile in the nars pass a few days ago. He shakes his head, rubbing his metallic finger across his brow with a tiny grin. He had no idea how many times he had begun visiting Norwick just to see the blonde barbarian, it's not like he'd been counting. "Nathen heart surrounded by shadow." For so long he had pretended to misunderstand, or just wait for her to continue on with something else.

    She was right, though, the bard figures, as he adjusts a spring on the trigger of the wooden ranged weapon on his lap, bright sunlight still beaming down on the orange haired man. The shadows Maya speaks of, to him, he figures, are caution, because a heart is easily broken.

    "Caution is key," he had taught himself that so long ago. Before the undead uprising, before the complicated senatorial race, before the coup, before the civil war. Without caution, a heart can be broken. A broken heart means a broken man… But what's love if but a game of caution? He wonders. Nothing at all.

    He attaches a cord to the shaft of the bow, then slings it down to attach it to the trigger piece. Caution is not the key, obviously. Sometimes it's best to take a chance, maybe extinguish these 'shadows' the barbarian lass keeps talking about... He rubs his face with a gauntletted hand, down his eyes, his nose, his smile. "Stupid bard, quit daydreaming. Your cross-bow's broken, fix it..." A murmur, before returning to his fiddlings and repairs.

    "Maya think Maya and Nathen need big adventure." She always did mention adventures. Advenures, the bard ponders as he prods at the twisted bolt-shaft of his weapon, create tales. And there's nothing more fun then sailing away on a boat to some far away land with your friends. Spinning a tale to sing about upon your return, around a table, a feast. But always with your friends. Your friends, and people you love.

    Love. Curious thing, he frowns thoughtfully. Holding the crossbow up and pointing it at nothing in particular, seeing if the shaft was straight, – but his mind still absent in ponderations. "Still thinking about love, Wingates? You sap, you've got bigger fish to fry. Quit fooling around." He tells himself, smirking on the inside.

    "There..." He twists a prog into place, a snug click. "Marvelous. Fixed." He smiles somewhat, weighing it before re-attaching it to his back. One less thing to worry about then, he decides, exhaling slowly.

    The undead and the missing children itching away at the back of his mind, his smile fades at the edges as his hand finds itself discretely holding his stomach. A sneer crawls across his face. Guilt. He shakes it off, closing his eyes for a brief second.

    Rising, he gathers his things and makes his way towards the Cerulean Knight Tower._


  • ''Numb.''

    _Exhaling slowly, I once again find myself slumped down in the commons and thumbing through a book on the shadow plane. Something about guilt that makes your innards squirm. My eyes flicker over each word calmly, I'm not smiling or passing some cheery comment, I'm trying to make things right. Commoners go about there day, most are just trying to forget about the shadow uprising, most are trying to forget about everything that happened.

    Wish I could forget, but I can't. The memory of those kids is branded into my brain – I can remember as if it were yesterday...

    ''Numb'' Part II; Remember.

    I was taking the kids to there elven classes, no big deal, just a casual day. Ruby was looking for Eowiel, and had wanted a tour, so I told her she could tag along. When we get there, Ruby has to leave. I say my goodbyes, so does Eowiel. I had only realised something was wrong a moment or two after we found our way to the lounge. A whisper? Did I just hear someone whispering? No. Couldn't be. It's the wind. Just the wind.

    I turn to face them, and to tell them to stay with Eowiel, that's when I see it; There eyes. Nothing. Empty, glazed, unfocused, something was wrong alright. Something was very wrong. ''Eowiel, … Are they alright?'' I pose my query, all the while keeping a baffled eye on the children. She doesn't have time to answere. The girl, probobly not older then 8 years old, jumps up and lunges at my neck.

    Eowiel casts a daze spell and the kid's grip loosens, not that it was ever that tight. She blinks a few times, timid, normal, just a kid again. She's confused, obviously, something made her do it. Something vile. Magic maybe? Enchantements?

    Eowiel and I discuss the matter after making sure the kids are easy breezily safe. We're still in the lounge, we're still talking about what could of got into the kids when we hear it again, -- another whisper? Am I hearing things again? The look on Eowiel's face makes me think otherwise, she hears it too. She has to.

    The entrance, the doorway; Darkness seeps from the tops of the walls down to the ground. Eowiel, the kids and I turn to face it, my hand hovers near my mace, Eowiel's near her rapier. Slowly, the shadowy matter slides down the walls, unto the floor, molding itself into form. A shadow humanoid, two legs and two arms, -- humanoid, but definatly not human. The girl manages to grab ahold of a pillar, the other two children, the boys, get pulled into the dark matter and dissapear. ''KILL IT!'' Eowiel and I charge. Vicious, hard to hit, it takes us a few moments to take the thing down.

    ...

    Two children missing, the girl's scared as heck. Eowiel orders me to take the girl to the guard house, a null magic zone, for safe keeping. She being my superior officer has nothing to do with my agreeing and following her suggestion. It making sense does, though. I nod, calm the kid down and make my way out of the college and into the night swept Peltarchian streets.

    Eli. Her name's Eli. We get to talking. She seems at ease now, alot less worried, alot less scared. Good. She has to be brave to recover what she just saw; At her age she could easily of been scarred for life. She tells me she's still a bit afraid. I tell her not to worry, I tell her she's safe, I tell her I can protect her. I hold her hand and we continue towards our goal.

    We're just about to enter the guard house before getting an unwanted visit. Shadowy matter, shaky, violent, it sprouts from the ground below us. It covers us, consumes us, something happens -- Her hand. I don't feel it anymore. My teeth grit together as I lunge out blindly in the dark to where I last felt her hand. The shadowy matter around me evaporates, I find myself lunging towards the stone ground with a thud. Nothing. She's gone.

    ...I told her she'd be safe. I told her I could protect her.

    ''Numb'' Part I Continued.

    A small shake of my head pushes the memories to the back of my mind. Stupid daydream. Stupid guilt. Clearing my throat, I look up from my book, look up at the ever busy commons. Closing the book on my lap, slipping it away, I pull myself up and exhale emptily. Zyphlin can help, that guy knows everything. I nod politely, if not absently, to the gathered people around the sundial and get up off my bench to make my way towards the college. Uncomfortably, as I walk, I rub at my stomach with my lip curled into a sneer, ''something about guilt that makes your innards squirm.''_


  • Journal Entry…
    …Wow, I found one of my old poems from the old days with Divinus. Guess I'll just stick that in here.

    (One very old, dusty poem sheet is found between two folded pages.)

    @f54c8e318d:

    Bardic Failiure.

    Dawn sets in with a morning glow,
    Let the blade seep in, nice and slow;

    You might be wrong, you didn't see it coming,
    Trying to settle the pain with pathetic humming;

    Finding love in all the wrong places,
    Falling for all the wrong faces;

    Beware the pretty ladies that you find,
    A pretty lady can hide an evil mind;

    Twist the hilt, get in there deep,
    Close your eyes, time to sleep;

    You are the bardic failiure,
    Write your last, blood stained letter;

    Past days tarrying the rest of your life,
    Last breath hanging on the edge of your knife;

    Whatever it was,
    Realise through the fuzz,
    It's all because;

    You are the bardic failiure,
    You don't deserve any better.


  • Journal Entry…

    _…Well. Things got pretty boring. Good thing, though, I think, is that we took our city back! Yep! We faught that bum, Koreth's, men and forced them to retreat west into the mountains. Hah! Stupid traitor, stupid senate meeeting attack.

    ...Still boring. Sis and Cotts are gone from camp, which just makes things even more dull. I got back into pranking again, I've been pulling jokes on Mery in the commons. She seems to enjoy them, so no harm done. We have a nice chuckle usually afterwards too. That brightens things up in the city.

    ...Visited Maya in Norwick today. She's captain now. I knew Jandor would promote her, heh. She's happy about it, I think. And good for her, too. I'm considering moving down there myself and away from all this bogus city stress garbage. Either there or Jiyyd._


  • Journal Entry… _…Call Blackrose spoke with me today. She's this doomguide of Kelemvor I know. She thought Kelemvor turned his back on her. She wanted to worswhip a darker god, a very unfitting god. Especially for a girl like her. I managed to talk some sense into her, though. I think I got through to her, too. I'm glad I helped. I spotted her praying to Kelemvor before the attack. That's the way.

    ...I've just finished gathering my things from the refugee camp. I'm ready to move back to the city. It's great we finally took our home back. Heh. I wonder what happened to that rat, Korreth. I hope Maya's alright. Havent seen her after the attack. Getting a bit worried.

    -Nate_


  • Journal Entry…

    _…I can't believe it. That moron! Roubanes went and transformed himself into an umberhulk in the commons. He scared off half the people there, and the guards had to attack him on sight. Me, captain Anakore, and a few others were there. I cast invisibility on myself and followed him, and found him lying down in a spot of grass in the giantspire in his human form. I dispelled my invisibility, and tried to talk some sense into him. Worst thing is, he knew what he was doing! He was doing it just for kicks! So we both use invisiblity and head back into the city for him to apologise, only when we walk in, we hear the guards talking about jailings, bans, and all that stuff!

    I lost track of Roubanes, who was supposedly invisible and next to me, and he probobly ran off somewhere safe -- The first sane thing he'd of done all day. I've got to find him before this starts having serious consquences._


  • Journal Entry…

    _…I spent the night talking with Maya. She showed me this special spot in the giantspire, it was sort of a grotto with stone pillars and high grass. It was beautifull. Anyway, we talked about far off adventures and grand cities... And kings, and warriors, and evil wizards -- with trolls and minotaurs. It was great. We stayed up till the morning without realising it, that's when she had to leave.

    ...Me and Roubanes had such an adventure today. Hah! There was this dark robed guy in the commons, who was obviously trying to tiptoe and hide from us. Talk about obvious, he was lifting his robes up and looking around all nervous like. Anyway, so we follow him. I manage to corner him, and ask him a few questions. He mentioned a 'her' and 'we' -- so I followed Zyph's advice, about how people can be stupid, and I made like I knew exactly what he was talking about.

    He slipped up easily enough, Roubanes kept cracking jokes, it was great and humorous -- until we figured out what the guy really was. The robed guy lead us to the docks, where we tiptoed around and avoided contact with commoners and all that stuff. It was actually sort of amusing. We went to the morgue, where he introduced us to his "boney brothers." These two dark robed guys, with skull masks on, guarding a door.

    They were three, they tried to ambush us, but, heh, me and Roubanes handled them easily enough. We stripped them of there robes and masks and head into the door they were guarding. It lead us to an underground passage way, that brought us to a crypt! There were more necromancer cult members around, but with Roubanes polymorphing into a skelliton, they thought I was a member if there little freak show. Talk about gullable.

    They let us into the deeper and, more important section of the cryptic underground of the morgue. We ran into two more freaky cultists, who asked me to go 'get the sacrifices' in the other room. They didn't realise who I was, probobly because of the skull mask and dark robe I had stripped off the first guard. Devious, I must say. Heh.

    We found the hostages down a certain hall, it was horrible. They were caged and scared. That's when a guard showed up and asked us what was taking so long. I had taken off my helmit to talk to the frighten hostages, so the cultist knew I wasn't who I said I was.

    Me and Roubanes just knocked him out. I took his key and released the hostages, then we faught our way out. When they were safe, me and Roubanes returned to kick some necromantic rear end. Hah! That'll show them to abuse the weave. Stupid necromancers._


  • Journal Entry…

    _…I've got to find a cleric to enchant Maya's boots. Maybe Eowien, if I trade her one of my enchantements. I've tried myself, but I don't know the proper spells. Endure elements, I think, is what I need. Ah well. I'll talk to Eowien first thing tomarrow morning if I can manage to stop fooling around and cracking jokes in the commons. Heh.

    ...I faught against Braeth for the first time today. His panther helped him alot, he said they were bonded or something. Needless to say, he won. It was a good match. He was almost as badly hurt as I was. Well, I'm probobly exagerating, he beat me to a bloody pulp. Heh. I faught against Zyph' again too.

    This time it was a very close match, probobly because I wasn't tossing my darkness spells around, hehe, I guess it's a more brave way of fighting anyway. Without all the hiding behind dark walls of shadows and waiting for the oponent to slip. Oh, Maya beat the crap out of Braeth. That was a fun match to watch. She's strong, pretty too.

    …I ate some apples today, but not any ordinairy apples. These were fresh! Yes! First time since I moved up from camp that I've found newly acquired, freshly plucked, off-the-tree apples. I gave the shop-keeper a few extra golds for them.

    ...Maya moved down to Norwick. I wonder why she doesn't want to be a defender anymore. It looks like an easygoing job. Oh well, she's probobly going to be better off down there anyway. Heck, I suggested she apply for militia captain, with that Rando fellow out of town and all that. I think she'd make a great town captain._


  • Journal entry…

    (You come across another torn page of Nate's Journal.)


  • _- … ... -Woosh- the end of Nate's morning star swung downward, Nate charging his upper body with it, "Nngh!" Zyph hopped up, -Crash!- it hit the floor causing a small dent. Midair as he dodged backwards, Zyph chuckled amusedly, strumming the harp attached to his belt and dissapearing in the blink an eye.

    Nate stumbled forward at the dexterious black leathered Zyphlin's maneuver. He gripped his mace tight, gathering himself and standing back, eyes narrow and peeled.

    Tap tap tap tap - Footsteps, right, left, no wait, behind? Nate growled raspily, lips pursed into a thin smirk. His voice still imbued with his cursed lyrics, shakey and imposing, "Chome ohn Zyphh! Stohp hidihng!"

    Tap tap tap tap - More footsteps, again he couldn't pinpoint the exact location. "Invisibility, clever bastard, he's waiting my curse song's effects out." Nate thought to himself, grinning on the inside.

    • Humming, to the side, the right! The sound of the hymn and the pull of the weave made it all too obvious. Zyphlin was humming a healing hymn.A glint in Nate's eye, instinct kicked in and he swung his morning star to the left, turning his entire upper body with it. "Mngh!" Contact, he felt the pressure on the edge of his swing, he'd hit the invisible bard right in the kisser, a lucky hit. "Gah!" The arcane wrapping Zyphlin shook and quivered a moment, letting Nate catch a glimpse of Zyph's reaction, just for a split second. The arcane rewrapped itself, concealing Zyph once again.

    Nate yanked his morning star backward, snatching it in the center of the chain, gripping his shield tightly with the other hand. The cursed song wore off, Nate's voice returned to normal, "Oh come on Zyph! You can't win like this and you know it!" Zyphlin chuckled invisibly. Anakore covered a yawn over in the corner, "This could take a while."

    • Nate took another moment to blink, only to open his eyes to the feeling of cold steel through the interlocking chains on his right arm. "Nngh!" Zyphlin's invisibility dissapeared, he hopped backwards assuming a defensive position, a thin red line streaking down the edge of his rapier.

    He gathered himself, using his weight to bring the tower shield in front again. His grip in the middle his morning star's chain tightened, he grinned, wincing slightly at the hit. "Nngh - Heh, nice hit! From behind as usual!" Nate's voice held a taunting undertone, still Zyphlin's defensive position didn't break. "Whatever works I always say." His bloody grin remained unwavering behind his dark helmit. Nate chuckled, ignoring the streak of blood running through the chains of his armored left shoulder.

    Something was wrong, the pull of Zyphlin's invisibility was still there, but Nate could see him. They circled, eyeing eachother, daring one another to make a move. A smirk spread across Zyphlin's face, he hopped back fading away from view. "Damn it!" Nate thought, "I knew something was off, he's using a sphere!" The invisibility sphere had allowed Zyphlin to escape without casting another spell. Anakore shook his head, turning to Chaevre and reminding her of his earlier statement, "Yep, could take a while."

    Zyphlin remained inside the sanctuary behind his invisibility sphere, watching Nate, calculating his next move. "This is getting repetetive you know, Zyph, honestly now, you need some new tricks." He chuckled sarcasticly, but still with a friendly tone.

    …Silence. No witty comeback, no snide remark. Nate furrowed his brow downward, shifting his eyes around the room. "Damn it, Sierra's here. I can't go losing in front of her. But he keeps dissapearing!" He thought, determined, taking a casual glance over to the hatted brunette sitting in the corner of the academy.

    He felt like slapping his forhead then and there, and he would of, if it werent for the weapon in his right hand and the shield in his left. Sierra was sitting there, arms folded lazily, head tilted forward, the brim of her hat covering most of her face. Breathing lightly, sleeping.

    "She's sleeping! I can't believe th-..." Nate couldn't finish his thoughts,

    • Zyphlin reappeared behind him, slashing his rapier across horizontally, "Hng!" Nate quickly lowered himself, gripping his mace tightly, looking forward at Zyphlin's shadow caused by the torch behind both of them on the wall. "There you are, back in sight already?" His thoughts raced. "Yeah your quick, but fragile, the quick ones usually are." Eyes fixed on the shadow, using it to get a feel of where Zyphlin was standing - which was right behind him. He dug his greaves into the hard academy floor. The outline of Zyphlin's body on the wall was still in the swinging motion.

    • Shoving his entire weight backwards, ramming into the black leathered bard now that his invisibility vanished. He grit his teeth, his morning star clenched tight in his right hand. "Oomnf!" Zyph staggered back, Nate turned quickly. His shield was first to turn, next came his torso, then finally, his morning star, in swinging motion. "Got you!"

    The edge of the star dug into Zyph's chest, he stumbled a step back, then on his knee. His rapier and dagger 'clinked' against the floor, he gripped his chest, breathing heavily. "Mnhg..damn.." A weak grin playing his lips with each breath._


  • "Arcane Vertigo, Part I"

    Don't you give up on it,
    Another one awaits you,
    Don't you give up on it,
    Break ahead, it makes you,

    One dozen years you've trained,
    But don't give up, it takes you,

    Go into the sky, the dust, and the dark,
    Go now, there's no time, to do, or to die,

    Fight, spells acast,
    Go into the night, be ready to fight,

    Fight, fight, fight.

    x-2

    _"You better be ready for this, Nate." Zyphlin grinned across the room, arcane mist still swirling around his ever shifting armor. Nate laughed loudly, running a gloved hand through his hair leading into a shrug and friendly smile, "Oh don't worry, I'm ready when you are Zyph." His smile was a bit too friendly. Anakore was in the corner, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, rolling his eyes at the small talk. "Hey, you two ready or what?"

    Zyphlin chuckled and nodded, "Ready when you are, Nate. I want to see the 'fighter bard' everyone's talking about." Nate glanced over, smiling still, with a nod, "Was born ready."

    "On my count then." Anakore grinned, Peltarch Fighter's academy fell silent. Sierra sat against the pillar, near Anakore, watching curiously. Chaevre was beside her as well, arms folded, watching without a word. "Five…" Anakore started the count.

    Zyphlin hopped from side to side, unsheathing his rapier and his dagger, light on his feet, his armor shifting to it's blackened cloth form. Nate was wearing his casual clothing, flexing his fingers outward, leaning down slightly to asssume a battle positon. "Four... Three..." Nate couldn't see it but he knew Zyphlin was grinning behind that black helmit of his. A confident glint flashing in his eyes. "I can win, all I need to do is figure out his battle tactic."

    "Two... One... GO!"

    ...

    "Koo vu duu perium!" Nate flexed his arms outward, shifting and wrapping himself with a cackling sphere, dissapearing. A similar hymn present the other side of the room, Anakore glanced over, Zyph was also gone. He rolled his eyes. "Typical."

    Hyms, arcane utters, sparks flaring and dissapearing in the blink an eye, the fighter's academy was dazzled in an array of lights. Both sources invisible.

    Inside the sphere, his fingers tense and his eyes determined, Nate Wingates uttered his usual series of hymns. He was strong, aye, but not strong enough. "Bull's strength" He needed to be fast, he needed help avoiding blows, "Mage armor." Along with all the others.

    Quickly, he ran into a corner of the academy, hearing Zyph casting still. He managed to tighten the straps to his armor on, adding one last layer of protection for his duel. He unbuckled and swung his mace out, brandishing his shield with his free hand. He ran back into the center of the fighting area, the invisibility sphere cackling around him. "Come on Zyph!" He called out in a friendly tone, smiling behind his invisible mask. "I thought you were faster then that!"

    He blinked, hearing the step behind him, feeling the rapier find a soft spot under a plate in his armor, "Gah!" the invisibility around Zyphlin's body swelled up and vanished. "Here I am!" He was grinning, as usual, hopping back and assuming a defensive position now.

    Nate's eye cought it, the arcane hyms and spells swirling around the two in a marvelous display of light. "As soon as I make a move, he's going to counter it..." He thought sharply to himself, circling the grinning Zyphlin, looking him in the eye. Holding his shield out towards him, gripping his mace in back, "Come on Zyphlin..," he raised his voice tauntingly, "Make a move..." he tightened his lips readily, "I dare you."

    Zyphlin's grin widened. Standing rapier high, dagger low, on his tip-toes, ready for anything as he circled Nate. "Fine, not going to give into wordplay, eh...?" Nate thought to himself, tensing every muscle in his fibre up.

    "Prepare yourself!" His tone raised, begining to become raspy, his grip on the mace tightened. "Hhhhraaaghhh!" His voice shook and twisted into a banshee-like scream, sending a shockwave towards the bard in black leather. The burning tension in his muscles eased, Nate cracked a low grin as the dark hymn he'd hummed stayed swirling around Zyphlin. "Nghh, damn that hurts!" Zyph replied, gripping his rapier tight, hopping back gracefully.

    "Lhhet's seeh hhow yhoo dhoo nhow, Zyphh!" The sharp raspiness in Nate's voice still lingering, smiling knowingly at the pain Zyphlin had just recieved. But Zyphlin wouldn't be beat so easily, he hopped back another step, avoiding the thrust of Nate's morning star, strumming a small harp attached to his belt midair.

    The fight had only just begun.

    ..._


  • Journal Entry…

    (You come across a torn page of Nate's Journal.)


  • Journal Entry…

    _…I got beat up today for trying to help a citizen who's shop was being raided by a bunch of asshole rebel defenders. They tied me up with shackles and gagged me for it, too. Then they just left with the sack of goods from the store. They're starting to get under my skin. Chaevre then said she could get the shackles off, but used a PolyMorph spell. She turned into a giant bug creature and shook me around a bit. The shackles broke, along with part of my pride.

    ...I got teased to the nine hells today at camp. Oats was pulling tons of pranks at my expense. I guess he's not such a bad guy for a druid. Witty and humerous. His jokes were pretty tastefull, though. Actually made me laugh afterward when he had painted the words "PADDLE ME" on the buttox part of my armor. Sneaky little elf he is, hehe.

    ...When I was sitting in the commons today, Eowiel and Demi started to throw rocks at me. At first I figured they were playing some sort of game or something, so I joked about it. When they didn't stop, Clandra suggested I give Eowiel a hug, which I did. Then she didn't stop so I just used invisibility sphere and got out of there.

    ...I dueled against Eo tonight. A fair match I guess. I won. Afterward she seemed upset. I guess it's because she's such a proud woman. I tagged along even though she dismissed me. When I asked what was wrong I didn't get a real straight answere, though.

    I went with her to a meeting with Rath who was already in a 'conferance' with two women in his room at the city hall. Who I suspect werent talking about city business. I wasn't too sure whether she was OK or not so I waited in the hall for about three hours, too. I ate a bunch of different fruit. A banana, an apple, and some grapes too. The grapes were good.

    When she came out she said that I was looking at the new advisor to Rath Ashald. She seemed to have cheered up, if only a bit._