From: 2:32 Subject: [Dagger] [Porc] Another Soverian joins the fray.To: Hello ladies and gents. This is Jim's girlfriend writing this time, as I want in on this. I have been reading since Jim started writing Porc tales, so I am ready to go. I am bringing my own character in now. I was originally Catris, but she seems rather bitchy right now. So, this is my first time. Be gentle! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Twas a fine summer day in Thornwood. The benevolent Lord Tamislane's city floated overhead, blotting out the sun for a moment. Glancing up at the inverted mountain, a flood of memories came to me. Above all was the memory of the time I met Lord Tamislane. He was kind and quiet, powerful with magic, but gentle in manner. Word had seeped through the rumor mill that he was gone from Sovere, gone to try and rule some other world. I remembered his kind words when I was on Kalisis. I had dropped my money pouch on the ground, spilling the few copper coins that I had. Lord Tamislane pushed some of his entourage aside and moved to help me as I was picking my coins from the mud. He looked into my eyes and his eyes flashed a moment. He handed me my purse, which was now solid and full. As Lord Tamislane kissed my hand and moved away, I opened the pouch. The near worthless copper coins had been replaced with the currency of Kalisis, an ingot of pure platinum stamped with Lord Tamislane's visage. But that was long ago. I had spent the money wisely and still have one platinum piece as a souvenir. Now though, I felt that coin, which I always kept on my person, was burning hot. I knew not what this meant. I tightened my robe around me, double-checked the steel blade and war hammer at my side. I began to scan around, when I saw it. A portal, arcing with fierce red energy, shot through with veins of black. Knowing that the only people on Sovere who can open such portals are the gods and Lord Tamislane. The wind screeched suddenly into the portal. I was blinded as my hair, hair the color of a fine red wine, whipped toward the wind, covering my eyes. My Sidhe senses, especially attuned to magic, could feel the power of the spell Lord Tamislane had used to open the portal. The tightened the straps on my armor and stepped through. I appeared on a flat, grassy land. I could see nothing, so I allowed my vision to dip into the infrared spectrum. I saw the remains of a fire, a group of people gathered around it, and a huge form above me. The form in the air had huge wings, like those of an angel. The figure dove at me, and I tensed, not sure what to expect. The thing was a nightmare in black. All I could see were two eyes under a full body suit of black silk. The eyes shone with power, glimmering like emeralds, even in my heat vision. My mind was frantic as the beast flew straight up into the night sky, ever higher. Afraid for my life, I clenched tightly to the beast, finding that the form beneath the silks was more Sidhian than monstrous. I felt the weight of a Sidhe male's muscles. As the figure climbed ever higher, I began to grow faint due to thinning atmosphere. The eyes behind the mask flashed brightly and a bubble of air exploded into being around us. Able to breath again, I asked "What manner of beast are you?" A voice, small and slight at first, spoke into my mind, "I am the Dark Angel. I am in this form because several Tamrillians are not happy with me and I require the powers of this form." As it spoke, the voice grew louder and more powerful. The beast and I were far above the ground now, looking down on a bay with several islands in it. My thoughts were on the identity of the Dark Angel. "Were you the one who opened the portal?" I conveyed, unused to the ease of psionic communication. "It was I," the voice said smoothly, "and we have met before, m'lady, though that was almost a thousand years ago." The Dark Angel scanned my form for a moment, then, somehow sensing it, the Soverian platinum piece appeared in my hand. "Lord Tamislane!" I cried and conveyed. The Dark Angel cringed at the volume, both psionic and auditory. "Yes...." the voice in my mind said. "Why have you summoned me, m'lord?" I conveyed, curious. I am just one High Sidhe woman, no one of note. So why did the ruler of Kalisis and, indirectly, Sovere, call upon me? "No, here I am not of title. I called you because you would see things my way. Life here is down-right mundane here. I tried to conquer the world to show them the true meaning of magic, Kali's magic, but they opposed me. My troops are still under my command, but this is not known to any, save you and I. I am sorry. I have never caught your name. Mine is Jemalas. Please, do not address me as lord, eminence, or any other title here." Before I could reply, the emerald eyes caught on the star amethyst around my neck. He spoke again, before I could reply. "I see you are a Dweomerkeeper! Good for you! What rank?" I closed my eyes and concentrated, keeping my message under control. "My name is Krystalas Karyanne. My rank is Neonate. Jemalas," I said, the name odd on my tongue, "you are still noble to me. I have wanted to know you since that day long ago when you helped me with the spilled coin." The Dark Angel, Jemalas, looked down at me. Knowing who he was, I felt safe in his arms. Even though the ground was thousands of feet below, I felt as though nothing bad could ever happen so long as he held me close. He stared for the longest time at my face, at which I grew uncomfortable. I have always had problems with my self-image. Jemalas took us down from the clouds, to exactly where we met after I exited the portal. We moved closer in on the camp, but we were still out of range of infravision of even a Sidhe. After a cursory glance down over the rest of my body, Jemalas intoned again in my mind, "My dear woman, you should not doubt yourself so. I think you are most beautiful." Before I could say anything, I moved my hand to the silks concealing his face. I unwrapped them and planted my lips on his. A unique effect occurs when two Dweomerkeepers kiss. The weaveglow in each of our bodies activated, a hundred times more powerful than normal. I suddenly remembered that Jemalas had said the people in camp were trying to kill him. Jemalas screamed as an arrow tore through his feathered wing and deep into his shoulder. With the weaveglow, we were the perfect target. ~Krystalas Karyanne, Neonate Dweomerkeeper jrdavis@penn.com ICQ- 16848203