<disclaimer: drug use, ritual sacrifice>
"I've been living my life like a man in chains..." Brookshire Keep Outskirts Last Night Rue left Kyla's place in the dead of the night. Hunched into his long leather coat despite the balmy summer evening, the man walked his horse rather than rode. It would do him good to stretch his legs a bit and the 'shire center that held his favored Hart pub wasn't all that far off. He was relieved the tracker was back in one piece from seeking out the Wyverns roost. It meant a tremendous amount to him that Rose would have the delight of seeing her mother in the morning. Perhaps now Rue could follow through on the promise he'd made to himself about Carine. He was determined to do one last good thing before his time ran out, even as he felt the blackness corroding his insides. December to December. He had barely half the year left. Later that night, Rue filled himself with enough laudanum to lie down without pain and once within a hazy slumber, he dreamed... The moon rose over a defoliated mountainside, a grey-robed figure stood at the apex of one peak. The figure was pointing toward a shadowy outcropping in the mountainside, the ground itself was dry and cracked, filled with stones, the word barren seemed to describe the landscape immensely well. All of a sudden something flew toward Rue at such a speed that he was blinded at first and then it swept upward. Rue could see the detail of its bird-like, taloned foot as one of the nails nearly grazed his face. Then it continued upward until he could see a wyvern flying amongst a blood red sky. Everything faded to black then Rue appeared within the forests, the sound of ceremonial drums filling the air around him. The thudding was so strong it assaulted his senses and he felt his own heart resounding. He travelled a few steps into the forest where he saw a gathering of figures dressed in white robes covered with fresh blood stains. In the center on a small alter was the body of what appeared to be a young boy. The sight was gruesome as the figures dance in a circle chanting around the disemboweled youth. What seemed to stand out clearly, was that each figure was wearing a pendant of what looked like a tree with red rubies falling like tear drops from it. Behind this bizarre dancing circle, Rue noticed five figures in typical Wyvern raider dress. But then, their faces shifted from the humanoid facade, their skin tone changed and grew a burned reddish hue, and horns began to sprout from their heads. ...and then he awoke, tangled in the bed sheets like they were steel bands around his legs. Breathing hard, he kicked away the sheets as much as he could and he sat up to bury his head in his hands. WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT?! He rubbed at his eyes repeatedly, struggling to get the vivid imagery from his mind. Was that some kind of reminder from the depths of hell that he was failing in his efforts to avenge himself? Rue shook his head and reached for the half empty glass of alcohol and tincture mix. Finishing the liquid in a few gulps, he laid down once more and stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like a very long time. the_____________end A bit about Rue Denali: http://www.islesofmyst.com/char/rue.html "It sounds cold, but it's not cold," he explains. "I mean, what the truth in life is, you need failures, you need tough times to get any kind of value on what's important to you and what's not. There's no way around it." (BP '92) -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives & Other DMI Lists: http://islesofmyst.com/lists.php3
