9:Renzin

From Reydala

Aknier spent several hours examining the doll they had brought back from the depths of the De'nan caves. He found the make intriguing...but derived little honestly useful information from it. Sighing, Aknier put the doll folded into his pack. He knew why it was hard to concentrate...the water maiden who died because of his recklessness. Feeling the weight of depression coming on, he retreated to the forest to sort out his thoughts.

Aknier walked east some ways, blindly. His mind was filled with thoughts of what he could have done differently...and more importantly, how he was going to bring this maiden back. It would be a new mission in his seemingly growing list. After a while, Aknier sat down beneath one of the great trees, and processed these thoughts further. It would take cleric of power greater than his...and one very large diamond to focus the soul...but how...

Aknier's hair began to stand on end...it was his only warning before briefly seeing a flash of light and hearing arcane words in the far off distance. Aknier's eyes widened, as he dove behind the tree...were it not for his traning in spellcraft, he would not have recognized the light for what it was. A bolt of lightning crashed into the tree, setting it ablaze. Aknier looked with horror, and gave a prayer to Mulinel to conjure water to extinguish the flames. It was not enough to immediately douse, but the theurge's concern was elsewhere. That bolt was powerful, and whoever shot it was rather far away...farther than such a spell should allow. There was no time to run though, and while behind the tree, Aknier quickly made himself invisible as the next best alternative.

A moment later, Aknier heard footsteps in the direction the bolt came from. "Tch," was the only sound the person made. Aknier silently prayed to Mulinel that this person figured he had already fled.

"Unless you'r a total coward, I know you'r still here. Yur stuff's still here."

"Damn it!" Aknier thought. Of course, avoiding the lightning bolt didn't including bringing his things with him. Aknier looked around the tree to glimpse the man calling for him. A wild elf...dressed in a black robe, holding a sword...and bandaged up as well. Aknier thought he looked familiar...very much like Mikhal with a somewhat different face and hair...then gasped slightly, remembering he was the strange figure that had recklessly jumped into the portal to Blackthrone. What was he doing here, though, and more importantly, why did he come out shooting bolts at Aknier? Sighing, Aknier quietly weaved a Ventriloqisum spell.

"What is your goal, here?"

The elf in black looked around for a moment, slightly confused, before bearing a smirk and closing his eyes. "Nice trick."

Aknier quietly stepped out from behind the tree. The elf seemed to have recognized the spell for what it was...but it would at least not reveal Aknier. "Thanks. Now I think I asked you a question..."

The elf opened his eyes, still bearing the smirk. "Ya gots somethin' o' mine. I want it back."

"And that's why you cast a bolt on me? I don't understand, but if I have something of yours, couldn't you have just asked?"

The elf grinned. "Now, now...there ain't any fun in that..."

"For that matter...I recognize you. You were that reckless elf that jumped into the portal. How did you even escape?"

"Y'all be askin' too many questions now. You ain't in a position to do that."

The elf in black robes paused for a moment, then spoke again. "I'll say I'm gettin' tired of devils though. Demons, angels, and gods alike. All a mess. Ya want one thing done, and everyone's up in you'r face about it."

"Well, Hald's not exactly the friendliest god around..."

"Huh. And just who is?"

Aknier paused for a moment. "I follow the path of Mulinel. I find her teachings of love and peace...comforting"

The elf paused again, and begain laughing hysterically. "You'r a sellout! Ain't no god worth trustin' like that. They all use ya' in the end."

Aknier felt moderately insulted. "It's a mutual relationship. She needs us as much as we need her."

"Ain't much of a man talkin' like that. 'sides, what kind of spellslinger talks 'bout love n' peace?"

"...Theurge."

"What?"

"I am...a Mystic Theurge! One who combines her teachings and the teachings of spellcraft!"

The elf drew a look of entire confusion for a moment, then frowned. "Then you'r merely the ultimate sellout." He looked up at the smoldering embers in the tree, still sheading a small bit of light. The elf drew his sword. "So...are we gonna' sit here and have tea together, or are we gonna' settle this like men?"

Aknier felt the magic of the spells fading. His body was slowly becomming visable again. Running was not an option, but then again, Aknier was begining to feel less like running and more like standing his ground against such a bigot. He walked infront of the tree, as the conjured rain fell about him. Aknier's robes wavered like an ocean in high tide as they came into visable sight again. He stood firm. "So be it."

The elf in black grinned, excited at the proposal of a challange. "Let's go." He added, after a thought. "Theurge."