Old storyline; locked

Handheld crossbows don't really cause much damage, but with bolts coated in a special form of poison which also causes paralysis in humans after four bolts peirce their flesh the handheld repeater crossbows were a fearsome pair of weapons when used correctly. As the dragon screamed, slowed down and dropped lower as it passed the hole Airien was ready.
As soon as it got low enough she opened fire and emptied half of the bolt packs she had on both crossbows at the dragon.

OOC: The dragon unless it s strange shouldn't be affected by paralysis but the other effects of the poison, you create Galox

In a moment of time, Koroa and Toro were at the battle scene. Toro wasn't suprised to see another battle. Screeching undead evil dragons screeching in pain... as usual, chaos was breaking loose.

The Dragon was ,unluckily, hit straight in the head by a bolt.

It tumbled down through the sky, and smashed into where the hole was.

Xu was lucky.

Xu got flung down the hole, landing with a forwards roll. Not many people get by a 2 Tonne Dragon easily.

He looked up at the Woman, and then to the King, His eyes glowing purple.

"You may have killed my Dragon, but you have not yet won the War. Move aside, gentle lady, and let me to the boy, or suffer the consequences!" He spoke, in his Distorted, Demonic Voice.

Hawke's eyes narrowed. He knew that kind of voice. and he recognised the symptoms, the voice and the Eyes.
Xu had been Influenced.
It was an old, difficult magic, that effectively allwoed the caster to take control of somebody. Nero had once talked about, threatened his adoptive brother with it.
Hawke also knew how to cure it.
He leapt at Xu, and covered his eyes with hand, beginning to mutter an incantation while pinning Xu's arms to his sides.

Xu launched Hawke to the ceiling with a blast of blue light.

"What on earth do you think your doing?!" He Growled.

His eyes had dimmed slightly..

"Now, why on Earth would all 3 of you try to stop me? I shall not fail!"...

Bandon got up from the corpse of the dragon and ran to the hole but he made one slip up. That was that he got his foot caught in a branch sending him headfirst down the hole. When he landed he winded himself and had to pull himself up in a usual manner. He saw that Xu was at a big disadvantage and he chuckled at the thought of an easy victory.
Garan woke up by the bushes with a thumping head ache. It took him a while to realise where everyone had gone...

Hawke bared his teeth, and a flash of insipration hit him.
He knew how to cure the tree...But it might require a little unknowing aid from Xu.
He stood in front of the posioned pool and shouted,
"Come on then! Try and hit me!" He said grinning inanely.
He hoped this would work. He also hoped that Bandon, who has just appeared behind Xu wouldn't spoil the plan. If Xu was distracted it would make it harder.

Airien stood aside, realising Hawke was up to something, "I just killed the dragon for trying to kill me, go on then hit the boy." Airien encouraged Xu slightly while covertly motioning for Bandon to be still and silent

Xu walked over to where Hawke was, before picking him up by his neck,

"If I were you, mere Child, I'd of quite while I was ahead."

With that, he flung Hawke across the chamber.
He then turned to face Cibhi and the others.

They Looked at him strangely.
"What?" He said...

Bandon stood quietly in a menacing manner and said softly. "You are F*cked, dear boy." He looked at what was forming beneath Xu and let out a bit of daemonic laughter. The fool just got tricked. It better work...

Hawke got up, slowly, looking over at Xu. His eyes were slightly less purple.
Hawke grinned. His quickly dropped trap activated underneath Xu's feet, flinging him into the pool.
Which immediately began to steam.
As did the roots in the cavern, vapour pouring out. Hawke smiled. He hadn't been certain, but then, nothing was.
The Dark Magic in Xu had counteracted with the poison in the water; Hawke knew that the major ones all boiled away when in contact with dark magic. It was risky though; it might be too late, too much poison might have suffused the Tree. But it bought them time, and hopefully, all Xu's darkness should have gone...

Airien watched Xu get launched into the pool, it steamed violently and the cavern was starting to fill with fumes. She whipped out a load of strangely designed cloth, pulled out a bottle, poured the contents on the cloth then wrapped around her face leaving her eyes and hair above it.

When Xu surficed, his eyes were glowing more than ever.

But this time, however, They faded away to his Natural Blue eyes, and his Grey hair returned to Black.

He Coughed, and stood up and walked out of the pool, his clothes wet.

He then Spoke to them all,

"What in All of Grenenndia just happened?!"

Hawke covered his mouth as the fumes slowly died away.
"You were being controlled by somebody. Somebody powerful, with ancient knowledge. You should be immune to it now; and you were...eh...trying to kill the king." He said. He got up, and looked around as Lorains ran into the cavern. Noise erupted as conversation sprung up, and they were bombarded with questions. Hawke waved them away, and walked to the tunnel, and climbed back up.
The Lorians could save the tree now; they were miracle workers with trees.
Hawke smiled, and wondered if he'd get another medal for helping save Grennendia, once again.

Airien climbed out of the hole with a disgusted look on her face. " They only come after someone else does the hard work, typical Loriens... You lot will be going back now and no, I am not coming with you before you even try to ask." Airien told them. SHe turned, uncocked her crossbows, put them back in their holsters and headed off in the direction she had originally been going

Toro gawped mindlessly as the fumes died away, Airien stomped off and the tree healed. He waddled over to were the others were, waiting for someone to say or do something.

Xu also climbed out of the hole, wondering what in Grenenndia he'd been doing for the last few weeks.

He coughed, and stumbled a bit as he walked, before falling over.

"I think I'll need somewhere to stay for a while..." He Muttered..

Hawke sat upon a rock, looking over at Xu. He felt sorry for him; he had alot of time simply erased from his memory, and that was a very unpleasant thing for a mind. Perhaps Cibhi would take him on as a Royal Mage; he was pretty powerful, it seemed.
Hawke yawned, glanced back at the crowd of Lorians currently surrounding the king, got back on his now terrified horse, and slowly made his way in the direction of Ralvas.



Optimarus stared at the wall opposite him, silently and shaking slightly. The unfortunate messenger lay bowed before him.
"What....what did you say?" He said, slowly and deliberately.
"Uh...the..Xu...failed...lord.." Said the man, wincing slightly.
"I see." Optimarus said.
The five guards in the room for the door. The last two were slightly too slow as a wave of fury from optimarus manifested itself as a wall of fire. They were instantly vaporised, as was the messenger.
Optimarus stood, taking deep breaths. His outburst of anger was once again under control. Never mind; the forest could burnt, tree by tree, once the master plan succeeded. Besides, the mountains were still dying. Soon, the creatures would be dead; then would follow the Norn, and without them the Wyverns would once again control the Norvair Range. No living thing would be safe.

Bandon walked away from the tree and got on his horse. Lorians were asking him all sorts of questions though he answered none. He witnessed the snobby woman go off and thanked the gods. He started riding back to his fortress to see how Tulak was getting along.
Garan ran over just as everyone was leaving and decided to go back to his tribe. He hated the rest of this island...

Toro thought he might as well follow someone...maybe Xu and Chibi. He remembered Xu back about 7 months ago, when he helped, and quite possibly saved them from the rather strong ice golem.
"Do you need anymore help?" Toro asked Xu, maybe as a thanks for what he did ages ago.

After watching them saving the tree Airien decided it was time to go home to her father to find out what was going on. In the centre of the city of Travui, three days walk from the capital of Corbep (for the ordinary person), was the mighty citadel of the Duke of Travui, Airiens father. It was here she arrived after a journey on a horse...

Selena relaxed in her extremely comfortable and tasteful carriage as it headed towards the Duke's citadel. The Opera House was going through a paticuarlay good time, and she planned on buying one of the theatres as well. Unfortunately, any major transaction of this kind had to be approved by the Duke first, goodness knew why.
She took out a mirror from a hidden pocket in her stunning blue dress. She pretended to groom her hair, while looking into it, but it was actually a scrying glass.
A man's face appeared in it.
"Madame, I am afraid our informant is dead." He said apolagetically.
She tutted. "A shame; he was just about to reveal a paticularly important piece of information. Try and get someone else, but not a guard this time; perhaps a mage."
"Yes, my lady." The glass went dark. She frowned slightly. It was most displeasing.
"We are here, ma'am." Said her driver.
She got out of the carriage herself, and had her driver announce her arrival to the guards.

OOC:Citadel... It has three gates, not a front door, huge doors, barbicans, turrets, walls, unfriendly guards...

IC: Airien was sitting in one of her dresses with her father discussing what had happened while she had been away for two years. A servant in the livery of her father came in and announced "Selena, the opera house owner is here on buisness. My Lord."

Selena swept past the servant arrogantly. She wasn't actually arrogant, or snobby; but it was best to act that way.She curtsyed to the Duke, and noticed his daughter. There was something about the girl that always perplexed Selena. She seemed so different to the usualy children of aristocracy.
"My lord, I have business to discuss with you. Important business; if you daughter could please leave the room?" She said.

Cibhi edged out through the crowd,through all of the lower levels of the tree.He was almost at the exit when someone spotted him.
"It's him!"They said"The king!Capture him,alive!"Cibhi sprinted through the open doorway.If they were trying to capture him,it meant bad things were happening.
He jumped over the fence of the stables outside the city and pulled himself onto a horse.He looked,and saw the group of people going through the gate,and waited.The gate swung shut,the lock caught.He kicked the horse which charged forward,over the fence and off the beaten path into deep forest.He disappeared into the bushes as the men sat fumbling with the lock,moaning at their terrible luck.