An Artic Front

[Jetamio]

Upon introduction, Jetamio remembered the other Dark Elf. She looked at her son and felt a pang of sadness at his malnourished form, but there was determination in his eyes. Nothing she could say was going to make him come home with her. She felt eyes upon her, sensed their dark intentions despite the sweet smile flashed her way.

The elf did not return the smile. She caught movement out the corner of her eye and saw Tajer moving towards her. Jetamio trembled in anger, her eyes glowing like molten gold as lightning began to crackle around her form, converging around her hands. She saw Tajer stop, but turned her attention back to Cerissa. She could deal with her errant kin later.

Remis had never seen his mother mad, and she had very rarely demonstrated her power in from of him but she fought with her increasing rage and spoke through clenched teeth.

"Get away from my son."

[Cerissa]

As the elf begins summoning her Goddess’ gifts, Cerissa moves her body protectively between Remis and Jetamio, as if she could protect the son from his mother. She leans her torso forward slightly spitting out a warning hiss towards the would-be attacker. It was then that Jetamio spoke and Cerissa realized Jetamio’s threat was intended for her, not the half-elven son.

She remains between the son and his mother, her body straightening and yellow reptilian eyes contracting to Jetamio’s glare. Cerissa was never one to back down, unless she deemed the prize unworthy. Her pupils dialate with harvested hatred only a child of the God of Hate could control. The blessing of Cazic Thule shines within them with a harsh, uncomfortably brilliant fierceness. Inexplicably dark swirls form within her open palms as her cloak slips from her shoulders crumpling onto the cold floor silently.

The purity of darkness, hatred and fear embrace its Mistress obediently. The demons and unfortunate souls woven into the fabric of her gown swirl around her body, caressing and clinging to her silhouette while hissing and moaning in their enjoyment of misery. She lowers her gaze towards Jetamio’s rounded belly then raise with a hate-filled grin, “Which son?”

[D`Nar Vel`Dynn]

D`Narr watches the scene unfold with interest. Well if the lad decides to go with his mother, then she would not be needed here. If not then perhaps in the confusion, should a battle take place here, opportunity would present itself for her to take Remis into custody so she could deliver him to Stormfollower. Jetamio, though, may need some assistance in her current condition. Silently, The Lady Knight slides Innoruuk's Voice out of it's scabbard its aura of pure hatred concealed by the magic of her ancient cloak. While the sanguine is a threat, D`Narr senses that the other creature is a more dangerous foe. Readying her harm-touch, D`Narr moves in a little closer.

[Jetamio]

If Jetamio was feeling intimidated, she wasn't showing it. She balled her fists, concentrating the power into even greater strengths.

Tajer was well aware of the danger. She knew exactly what Jetamio was, and really hoped that Cerissa would not be stupid enough to confront her directly. Tajer remembered the months spent trying to control the mad druids wild magics long ago, when her mind was lost to the Void. Cerissa was a newborn compared to the Druid and that alone should have been warning enough. But she was not just any Druid.

Tajer grabbed Remis and pulled him out of the way, shielding his frail body with her own as best she could...which was no easy task when he was at least two feet taller than she.

Jetamio suddenly unleashed a thunderbolt at Cerissa with a primal scream escaping from her lips.

[Cerissa]

Rixcis leaves his group of Mercenaries as the second group catches up with them. “Where is your employer?” he hisses out at the leader of the second group. “She said she would meet us.” He sarcastically looks around then back to the leader, “Has she met you?” The leader realizes his mistake of having left the city without Cerissa as his head rolls across the ground directly in front of the other Mercenaries.

He looks at his band of Mercenaries, filled with his most loyal and strongest males of all races and classifications. “Let’s show the recruits how a real Mercenary does his job.” They laugh as they follow behind him leaving the newly recruited men standing there staring blankly at their leaders head. Rixcis looks back at one of them his strong glare more than intimidating, “Congratulations on your promotion. Lead your men to the edge of the paths. Remain unseen, if you ruin your employers plan you will be,,,,” he pauses a moment pointing at the decapitated body, “relieved of your position.” Once again Rixcis’ band of Mercenaries laugh and pick up their pace to the depths of the city.

An animated statue of earth moves between the pair and crumbles as Jetamio’s lightening strikes across its rugged and bumpy surface, a suicidal sacrifice at it’s Masters command. The Mage quickly glances at Rixcis before summoning another pet to his aid. A loud roar echoes through the tunnels as Rixcis pushes Cerissa aside raising his shield and unsheathing his blade. The band of Mercenaries stand at the ready as they stand their ground around the group.

Cerissa’s body slams forward into the cold stone walls, she looks down at Remis as if asking him if he is worth all this. Her eyes then land on Tajer and the instinct of The Fathers children feeds the beast who attempts to extract itself from its confines. She looks back at Remis clawing at the pendant, once again her lips moving though no sound can be heard as she invades his mind.

“Stop!” she yells spinning around wth Rixcis’ wildly angry eyes glaring at her as she grabbed his arm. Her yellow eyes look over at Jetamio with Innoruuk's grin, “I wonder….” she says as she kneels by Remis glancing a quick wink at Tajer before looking over her shoulder at Jetamio, “Why a mother would not allow her son his path. Were you not allowed the same also, Jetamio? Was your path forced down your throat to be choked upon daily by the distaste you were fed? Wouldn't the tree forced by the wind to bend too far snap under it's pressure?”

Her cold fingers trickle The Fathers blessing over Remis’ hand, sacrificing some of her own strength that his power may grow, even if only for this moment. She pauses a moment to look over at him, a single reptilian eye winks as she intertwines her fingers around his and continues secretly providing The Fathers blessing.

“I would not think your Goddess proud of a daughter who hunts her own son.” His face rounds-out to a nearly healthy tone as The Fathers gifts replenish some of his strength and power. ‘Enough to give him strength, but I must be strong also.’ she thinks to herself.

She grins towards Remis before looking up at Jetamio with the wickedness only a Teir’Dal could bestow. “ Wouldn't the balance of your precious Norrath cease to exist if light did not feed dark, nor the opposite? Our paths may be more closely linked than your blind eyes wish to perceive.”

(( Edited for grammatical and spelling corrections. ))

[Xar'Zith]

Tajer frowned as Remis was temporarily revitalised, turning to a scowl when she noticed the amulet. Cerissa only wanted a pet, and Remis wasn't looking like he had much choice in the matter. The whole situation seemed out of place to her. She knew Jetamio had often walked a fine line between light and dark, for reasons usually beyond her control, but obviously she had never mentioned her time with Tajer to Remis. She was blessed, she had more than enough life force to share it with her son if he had asked, to aid his dreaming. Instead he had turned to stealing the life from others to feed his power.

Tajer was pretty sure something important was being overlooked.

[Jetamio]

The Druid screams in frustration at the monolith that took the hit.

"You know nothing about me or my son! He knows fine well I would have given him anything he asked for, but he did not ask. I have never denied him anything! You however, only want to bend him to your will, you don't want to let him have his own path...you use your dark magics to pollute him further, make him be your puppet. But watch, for he is far more than you or even he knows...you will be HIS puppet!"

Suddenly she shoots a golden ball of light at Remis, which explodes on his chest. Golden tendrils slither over his body as he is restored to his full strength, both mentally and physically. His mind is free of outside influence, free to make his own decisions...whatever that might be.

Jetamio sways on the spot but remains standing, though a flicker of pain shows on her face for the barest moment a sshe tries to ignore the ache in her lower back.

[Stormfollower]

The golden tendrils of light arced over his body filing him with a preternatural strength and the dark power of Cerissa also made him strong. The two polarized energies made him more grounded than he had ever felt in his life. He had thought up until that moment that his power lay only in dreams and the sway he held in the real world was with his gift for deception alone. But he now realized that there was a greater power he possessed.

For years he had heard the voices and he had thought they came from within himself, echoes of his thoughts and desires. But now the clarity of their words had been brought in to a fine focus. A reality existed that his neglected body and twisted mind had never seen. These were the voices of the dead. They spoke to him now and he knew he would be their mortal mouth. The specters that writhed around Cerissa all had their stories to tell and the spirits of the dead from all around the city spoke of lives unremembered to him. Without any shamans veil of mystic smoke or through any bone flung augury they revealed the true lives they had led. Without the religious dogma of a eulogy penned to support their lives maxims they spoke. These were not the stories their loved ones had told over their coffins, full of trumped up deeds and beautified half truths. The stories they told were of their frailties and weaknesses, the self held thoughts that no living being would impart to another willingly. They spoke of their forbidden loves and their secret hopes, plainly and without regret. Each one a perfect non-glamorized retelling of the events that made a life. The truth of their living days laid bare for Remis alone. One after another they came to him in an instant. Thousands of stories of full long lives revealed in only a second of real time. Still more came but Remis bade them wait.

He looked squarely into his mothers eyes. "I see now why you want me so desperately to be free. Free from pain free from want, free from troubles of any kind. He has spoken to me, your lost one. He has told me of the shortness of his days... Thank you mother. But I am not him nor will my fate be his for greater things are in store now that I speak for the dead."

He then addresses Cerissa "Those souls that cling so tightly to you, I am afraid they will be less able to moan for your pleasure now their lives are known. Each one is more content in its place now that their lives...yes even to the last few moments has been seen by me." He looks at her knowingly.

" The two of you may fight if you wish but either way the outcome will matter little to me." Then without a further glance or worry of confinement he grabs Tajer by the shoulder and pulls her with him back towards the sewers. "Come with me Tajer, there is another task for us to do, lets leave the grown-ups to their discussion."

[D`Nar Vel`Dynn]

D`Narr silently sheathes her dark blade and watches with interest. Perhaps Remis is not needed on the surface just now. Keeping her harm-touch ready to aid Jetamio should this encounter go badly for her, D`Narr silently moves to within a few feet of Cerissa still within the world of shadows.

[Jetamio]

Jetamio stood dumbfounded by his words, although she was confused as to who this he was. She had lost many in her life, and wondered as to whom he referred. But as he turned to leave, she did nothing to stop him, she simply let him go.

Giving into her increasing pain, she started to retreat down the tunnel.

[D`Nar Vel`Dynn]

As Jetamio moves away, D`Narr moves with her, keeping herself just out of the direct line between Cerissa and the Druidess but close enough that she could jump in-between them if need be. Stormfollower would probably rather she protect his wife than chase down his son at this point. Besides, if he stays with the Sanguine then he would be much easier to find later if she needed to come back for him. While she held no love for these followers of the light, D`Narr was honor-bound to assist Jetamio. The time spent raising the Treant had brought many changes to the Knight of Shadow and had softened her edges a little. Seeing Jetamio in her pregnant state reinforced her new-found desire to be a mother herself and put her into a protective frame of mind.

[Cerissa]

As the golden strands of energy wind their way across Remis’ body they die at an instants touch of Cerissa’s skin. She pulls her hand back quickly then rises to her feet followed by Remis. He addresses his mother first, and his enlightenment is made known.

As he turns towards her, his balanced gaze tells her all he didn’t need to before he spoke. After addressing her she grins proudly knowing he sees fully her capability and the depths of which Innoruuk and Cazic Thule both embrace this creation of theirs. Desire driven eyes turn cold at his rejection of the teachings she could provide causing her to nearly scoff at the foolish young male. “Such a waste.” she thought to herself, but then wondered why she expected any clarity from a child born of self-righteous lightbringers.

Her Mercenaries sheath their weapons, though Rixcis refuses as he stands closely to his employer watching the Druidess leave. Cerissa’s eyes lock on Jetamio as she leaves, the provisions of both her heritages speak through her words, “Relax Rixcis, you should never attack a mother about to give birth.” She places her hand on his sword and winks walking past him, the sword now tainted with the boggs of death.

He falls in step with her as the crew walks on, she looks towards the sewer exits and grins as she recites one thing she remembers from her grandfather, “Fish in succession, fish in a row, fish who rot, and fish who sew….” The remainder of the lullaby fades off as she walks into the distance.

[Xar'Zith]

Tajer too was surprised in the drastic change, and suddenly realised just how attractive he was when he had some meat on his tall frame. But her interest was piqued when he spoke of the on Jetamio had lost, and for a moment wondered if he was referring to her own true father, Jetamio's firstborn. Mixed feelings swirled within her, for while she now considered Mogadeche as father, she was curious about the man who had died that dreadful night when she was only a child.

But before she could say anything, she found herself being pushed deeper into the sewers. At first she was too shocked at being manhandled to resist him. She gave Jetamio a fleeting look of concern as she sensed her pain, but then turned her back on the scene and followed Remis.

[D`Nar Vel`Dynn]

Once all the others have left, D`Narr removes the enchantment of her cloak and becomes visible. Turning around she looks the druidess in the eyes.

"Do you need some assistance, Lady Jetamio?" The Shadow Knight queries. "You seem to be in some discomfort."

[Jetamio]

Jetamio jumped at the sight of D'Nar. Her thoughts had been turned inwards and she had not been paying attention to her surroundings.

"Oh! ...Oh it's you." she waves a hand in a non-commital gesture, "I just.... just need to go home. Too much death and darkness. I can Gate."

Not wanting to seem rude, she waits politely for D'Nar to acknowledge her response, but the incantation to take her home is only a whisper away.