Kindred Spirit Lodge Presents
Roleplay
Sacred Stone
Parts 9 thru 17 (of 27)
by the Kindred Lodgers
June 3rd~5th, 2002
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(Part 9 - by Shasa) --
Shasa pulled Kirsa up short, and jumped to the ground, searching for any sign. But even with years of tracking experience, the sailor could find nothing. “Where the Hades did she go?” She punched the nearest tree in frustration, then grabbed her abused hand and chided herself silently until the pain passed.
She turned around to see her kindred gathering around Nessa, a short distance away. Shasa forced herself to breathe deeply, and still the hammering of her heart. She also said a quick prayer of thanks to Artemis for guiding the arrow, and called upon any god listening to make sure she didn’t rip the Celt’s head off.
She walked towards the group, and as she approached, she could hear the questions blazing. Shasa interrupted. “I don’t know how, but she disappeared. She must have taken to the trees, and if so, I can’t track her.”
Shasa looked at Killian, nestled in the Celt’s arms, then turned her attention to Nessa’s gray eyes. Her own green relayed her anger, and she wondered if she was the only one wanting to thwap and hug Nessa simultaneously. Instead of either, she forced herself to stand down, and turn her attention to Klancy.
Shasa was not good at following orders, and had an especially hard time with patience. But even though she’d wanted to take off immediately and race after the Celt, she’d recognized the fact that she was now part of these people…and that meant she needed to work with them. And all had looked to Klancy for leadership.
And perhaps now, Klancy would also see the need to smoothly intervene and refocus the sailor.
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(Part 10 - by Klancy) --
"Missed, dammit." Klancy rarely resorted to vulgar language, and the coldness in her blue eyes as she looked at the Turk matched her tone. She pulled her arrow out of the tree, freeing the woman's sleeve. "Sorry, Ness. I aimed for this creature's heart."
The sorceress made a hissing noise, but said nothing.
"Blood?" Killian asked, her face still buried in the Celt's shoulder. "Bruises, cuts, scrapes, internal injuries, blows to the head?"
"No, I'm fine, lass." Nessa rested her lips on Killian's soft hair for a moment, reveling in a new feeling of safety. She had awakened to find herself surrounded by a dozen Kindred, and the immediate relief the presence of her sisters brought her all but weakened her knees.
The dream itself had become fragmented, in Nessa's mind . . . she tried to remember what message it brought her, the wisdom she knew she'd glimpsed before --
"So, our first quest, at least, seems a rousing success." Klancy clapped a hand on her friend's shoulder, smiling. "It's good to see you whole, Celt."
"We're well met, again, Klance," Nessa answered, and the two warriors smiled in private understanding.
"Before our second quest begins, Ness, you have other sisters to greet, and assure of your good health." Klancy slipped the arrow back into her quiver. "Then, sistren, I recommend we call Council."
A wave of jocular agreement ran through the Kindred, and they began to move immediately. Calling Council meant first securing their campsite, and setting out sentries, to keep watch. Then they would gather to eat, rest, and plan their next move.
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(Part 11 - by Nessa) --
Nessa stood back and nodded in acquiescence to Klancy. Her relief was evident. She was sure the Kindred would be coming for her but she couldn't have known when. Warriors and wenches alike spread out to set up a camp as Klancy directed. Killian went over to Tuttle and proceeded to remove the mare's saddle. Nessa just watched it all with a sense of gratitude until she looked into a pair of flashing, angry eyes. She braced herself. Shasa moved in with fists clenched and jaw set.
"So what is it Celt? Do as I say and not as I do? How is it that you damn butch warriors get to practice that double standard?" Shasa's voice was low and measured for effect. "You run off to face the ugliest piece of danger we have had around here... you do it all by yourself, and then when we catch up everybody applauds you like you didn't scare the fucking crap outta us!" The sailor's pitch was rising. "Well I won't cheer for you ... you..."
Nessa reached out and pulled the sailor into her. She leaned down and kissed the yelling mouth to silence. She held the small hard body tight until she felt it relax against her. She held the kiss for a long, sweet moment then broke it slowly. Her lips drifted down the side of Shasa's velvet face and rested by her ear. "Listen to me sailor. I didn't know about the danger. Please believe that I need you... all of you and I would not have simply taken off without you. I walked into this treachery unprepared in many ways." Nessa uncoiled her arms from around the sailor and looked into her eyes. The anger they held a moment before was replaced with curiosity and concern.
"I'm sorry Nessa, I guess I was kind of scared." Shasa looked down for a moment then back to gray eyes. "What is this trouble anyway and who is that vicious woman?"
Nessa was brought back to the reality of the situation. "She is evil itself I think. We must sit in council with the Kindred and I will explain what I can." They walked to the circle of Kindred that was forming around a well-stoked campfire.
Klancy raised a hand asking for quiet and then deferred to Nessa for an explanation and information on just what they were all facing. They listened intently as the Celt related every moment as she remembered it to her sistren. She looked into Alison’s beautiful face and saw it go pale at the mention of Tantalas. Many of the Kindred stirred in anger at their memory of the hated enemy. Nessa looked over at her beloved friend, Killian and watched her swallow hard and snap her head up high in defiance of the memory of her capture and all that ensued.
Nessa raised her voice a bit. "This sorceress is dangerous sisters. She has powers we cannot yet see. She is greedy and ruthless. The stone means more power to her. It means death and destruction to us and the land of the little ones if she gets hold of it."
Amber spoke up. "But she knows where it is Nessa. We need to hurry!"
"Yes healer, she does indeed know. But I have a deep sense that she hid it in a place that is too dangerous for her if she shows her face."
"You mean it is somewhere open to our sight?" Klancy asked. "Somewhere that we all know and where we spend time?" A light of understanding touched the Highlander. "The Lodge Kindred! We must return to the Lodge immediately!" The courtly voice rang through the air. Several sisters jumped to their feet.
"Wait!" Nessa pulled in a breath. "She will try to stop us. Be prepared for anything!"
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(Part 12 - by Killian) --
Killian sat behind Nessa, as Tuttle Made her way through the forest. The tall Celt was quiet, as if she was listening to the Forest itself. The Kindred seemed to sense this and stayed quiet, the only sounds being that of the horse’s feet rustling up the Forest floor.
"We need to go in with weapons at the ready Kindred,” Nessa spoke as if in a trance. "There will be many of them. She has created an army to fight us."
Killian shook with a sudden chill. Nessa brought her gloved hand up to cover Killian's.
The Celt continued. "We can take them Kindred, but we need to stay together, and focused. They have dark Magic, and will be using it against us. They may use our thoughts against us, so try to stay focused."
Shasa spoke up. "Nessa, will we be able to see them?"
Nessa didn't reply right away. Shasa was ready to ask again when Nessa spoke. "Yes, Shasa, we will be able to see them. This much I know. What weapons they will be using against us is what I don't know."
Killian tightened her grip around Nessa's waist. "Nessa, do you want me to ride with Amber, so you and Tuttle can be freer to attack?" Killian really didn't want to go anywhere, but wanted to do what was best for the group.
They had reached the tree line. A sea of Raven haired warriors dotted the landscape between the Kindred, and the Lodge.
Killian sucked in air, and clenched Nessa's stomach. "Nessa, I will just get in your way. Let me down, I will go with Amber. You need to maneuver around. This is huge."
Killian felt Nessa's hand tighten on hers as she tried to release hers....
"No," Nessa spoke softly.
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(Part 13 - by Shasa) --
"We can take them Kindred, but we need to stay together, and focused. They have dark Magic, and will be using it against us. They may use our thoughts against us, so try to stay focused. We will be able to see them. This much I know. What weapons they will be using against us, I don't know."
Shasa looked out at the raven sea, feeling a calm settle within her. The fear had gone as soon as she knew Nessa was safe, and the anger had left when the Celt had reassured her through familiar touch. Now, she felt a clarity, almost a quiet joy, spread within her belly. She knew this feeling, and it was sorely missed. She found a smile slowly spreading across her face. After 10 years, she finally stood with her mates again, ready to battle their enemy.
Shasa nudged Kirsa lightly, and the mare stepped forward. "We won't know 'til we try." Green eyes sparkled at Klancy and Nessa. The grin was now unmistakable. "Permission to kick some ass, Skipper?"
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(Part 14 - by Alison) --
Alison slid off her horse and looked over at Klancy. "Get me close enough to the roof of that out-building and I'll start picking them off and drawing their attention towards me. Will give you a better chance of getting in close enough to do your butch warrior stuff. What do you think my friend?"
As Lady Alison waited for an answer she opened the bag she kept her darts in, regular and extra toxic. She decided extra toxic would do the trick well. Bless you Amber.
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(Part 15 - by Nessa) --
Nessa held Killian's hand firmly pressed to her stomach. "Steady lass." She looked into Shasa's eyes and saw the readiness to battle there. "Ye have no fear do ye sailor?" She watched Shasa's brow knit up at the casual question asked just on the brink of a possible blood bath. Then she shifted a little in the saddle and spoke to Killian in a low voice. "You feel safer up in the saddle with me don't ye lass?"
"Well... actually, yes."
"Then this is where you must stay lass." The Celt turned to the other Kindred. "Klancy, this army of demons is designed to bring up our fear... they gather strength from our fear... feed on it." The less fear we have the greater our chances of defeating this enemy." Nessa understood this truth the second she saw these wraithlike figures waiting like zombies for the Kindred to emerge from the forest and panic at the sight. It was a rather unfortunate misjudgment for `Einni and her souless cut throats. Not that they were not dangerous but Nessa took great store in the bravery of her Kindred.
Quickly, Nessa pulled her dagger from the sheaf and handed it back to Killian. "You'll need this lass. There can't be any staff wielding from the saddle." She shot a quick smile at Shasa, then turned to Klancy awaiting the order that would send them into killing.
Nessa's mind was trying to grasp something about her dream that seemed to be pushing into her consciousness. Something about the stone and where it was.
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(Part 16 - by Klancy) --
Klancy lifted one long leg over Bracken's back, and dropped lightly to the ground. Her blue eyes scanned the battlefield before them -- a beautiful expanse of land, and their home. Then she turned to her waiting Kindred.
"We've never fought for more sacred ground," she said quietly. Murmurs of agreement rustled through the tense women.
"That means we fight smart." Klancy's stern gaze moved from face to face. "We look out for each other. We don't take stupid risks. Every drop of blood shed by this clan must cost our enemy, dearly."
"No worries there, Skip." Shasa's smile was feral, and Killian shivered at the sight, a little afraid of her beautiful twisted sister.
But then another shiver coursed through the girl, and her arms around Nessa tightened. She felt the women around her emanating solid waves of strength, loyalty, and courage, and pride in her clan was a warm ache in Killian's throat. It even triumphed, for a moment, over the queasy fear in her belly. How many of her sistren's blood would be shed, in this battle?
Klancy rested one booted foot on a rock, her gaze on Shasa fond and approving, before addressing the group again.
"We all watch Nessa's back. I'm not being sentimental, Celt -- you ride into greater danger than any of us. This Turkish banshee has a particular distaste for you, and all the fighters we face come solely from her warped mind. Agreed?"
"My thanks, Klance," Nessa said, her gray eyes stormy with rising battlelust. "But I'll be moving too fast for anyone's shepherding."
"No doubt." Klancy grinned at her friend, but then grew grave again. "We follow Nessa's direction in this battle, sisters. Of all of us, she's closest to the mystic forces we defend. We might well need whatever guidance they can give us, only through her."
"We follow Nessa," several voices affirmed.
Klancy leapt lightly back up onto Bracken's back, gathered her reins, and nodded at Nessa.
Nessa lifted one gloved hand, and the Kindred Spirits around her tensed, and waited.
The Celt's eyes closed briefly, and she whispered a swift prayer to those who watched, unseen -- and then barked the order to attack.
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(Part 17 - by DJ) --
Having been waylaid by some unknown force, the Lodge's historian never had a chance to catch up to her clan. They had many hours head start on her. Emerging from an outbuilding at the rear of the property, DJ muttered, "Damn, Butch, what kind of trouble has found you." then she shook her fair head. "Best not be any harm to flesh, spirit, or Kindred soul..."
As she neared the edge of the Lodge to head towards the treeline, a strange feeling overcame her. Something was wrong. Out of place. Not right. Darkness, not of this realm. Unseen forces pelted the area with many troubling vibrations. The blonde couldn't help but shiver. These senses were not good. Not at all.
Dressed in leather vest, long pants and boots, Dj adjusted the sword on her belt, shrugged the Rebel bow over one shoulder, then stealthily made her way around the grounds. Searching. Listening. Ears pounding. Adrenaline pulsing. Fear and darkness gripped the air. My god, this was Not a good time to be alone, especially when knowing you weren't alone!
Something was pulling her towards the knoll overlooking the forest. Off she headed in that direction, very cautiously creeping forward.
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Sacred Stone -
Conclusion -
Parts 18 thru 27