Ranger Hall

[S'Lon]

As with all the buildings in what was now the village of Acumin bar the tavern, the Ranger Hall was a building in harmony with nature. Unlike the other buildings in the village this was not unusual for nearly all the Ranger Halls were built that way. All Rangers shared a love for Carmelyas creations and by preference spent as much of their time as possible away from human habitation. It was natural therefore that their Hall was built so that it was as close to spending time in the forest as possible.

Working closely with the Rangers on a daily basis, the Druids had paid extra attention to the Ranger Hall and the walls of the large oval building were made of a lattice work of trees, their trunks melding and fusing to form the solid outer walls of the building and several small outbuildings including the stables. Branches trained out into the building formed the solid ceilings of the rooms on the ground floor and the flooring of the first floor. Other trees had been grown inside the building at intervals adding support for the upper floor and their branches were trained out in espalier to form the interior walls, grafts between different trees locking the whole into a strong framework.

Window spaces had been left on a regular basis to give the place the air and light demanded by the Rangers. The light allowed a thick green mat of what appeared to be moss but was much harder wearing to cover the floors upstairs, smoothing out what otherwise would be a bumpy surface of branches. Downstairs in the main working areas of the Hall the floors were of hard beaten earth.

Continuing upwards on the outside, the canopy of the trees that formed the walls had also been trained into the centre and a tight mass of fine branches interwove to form a watertight roof. Care had been taken in the choice of trees that made up the hall and there was a bright variety of leaf shapes and colours. Spring saw the Hall covered in fresh light green as the buds burst into leaf while summer saw the Hall vanish under softly moving leaves that caught the breeze and camoflauged the outline of the building. Autumn caused a change of colour, a veritable riot of bright reds and yellows, gradually toning down as the leaves fell to reveal the woven woodwork structure that withstood the winter rains.

The centre section of the roof remained open as it was the exit for the smoke from the heating and cooking fires in the building. It did mean that the Hall was somewhat smoky inside and that the rain did sometimes leak in, but the centre of the ground floor was built with gutters to allow any such water to escape, and the Rangers considered the effect of rain falling inside the very centre of the building, whilst they sat in the dry around it as a feature rather than a drawback. The fireplace in the very centre of the Hall and the oven in the kitchen were carefully built using some stone and bricks from the ruins of the old buildings.

The main doorway into the building stood open and leading into a small entrance hall that helped to keep the bad weather from blowing right on into the Hall itself. The Hall itself was not large, the Rangers of the village not numbering more than half a dozen and unusually for Rangers being based for much of the time at the Hall itself. Normally Rangers dropped into the Hall to replenish supplies and relax before heading back out into the wilderness, but here their work with integral with the village and whilst they did spend time away from the village, their focus was here.


The Main Hall
Once through the entrance hall, the visitor entered the main room of the Hall. To the left, with wide windows was a working area of sturdy tables and chairs and this doubled as an eating area as it led into the kitchen at the back of the room. A smaller table at the back carried simple fare such as roots and jerky for snacks, and a part of the kitchen was always free for the preparation of the local herbal tea and the rare drink that made it past the vysstichi raiders. Food and utensils were provided for all, but as with the rest of the village supplies were short and only the basics were to be found. The Rangers took their turn at cooking and cleaning up, as they did with all of the chores around the Hall.

The furniture in the Hall was always inspected at closer hand by visiting rangers since it displayed the craft of the druidic arborsmiths to their highest level. Just as with the Hall itself, the furniture had been grown, grafting the growing branches to form joints and training them into shape. With the druidic acceleration of growth, eras could be compressed into a season, allowing both the Hall and fittings to be completed even in the short time since the fire. With the main framework created by the growing shrubs, the smaller branches were interwoven to form a basketwork for the seats and backs. Nearly all the furniture was fixed in place since it was rooted into the floor and this meant that the space once designed was not easily changed.

To the right of the main hall was a more relaxed seating area, where the seats were set about to allow easy conversation, with small tables. Small cushions were arranged on some of these seats, rough woven cloth or rushes containing dried moss. A couple of stools were also here and these lighter items were actually separate, having been pruned out of the trees once their growth was complete allowing new shoots to form and one day become more furniture. Most of the furniture in Acumin was simply an extension of the buildings themselves, but in this case the creation of free-moving furniture had assisted the growth of their home for pruning was beneficial to a tree.

Also on the right hand side was the wide but shallow staircase, and this was perhaps the pinnacle of all the druidic craft, for two trees formed the sides of the stair case. Branches intermeshing to form the steps whilst others rose upwards to form the banisters and handrails. In keeping with the small size of the Hall, the steps were only wide enough for one person at a time, the soft brown bark of the handrails had been polished by the passing hands to a rich reddish glow. The banister rails were covered in small leaves which rustled softly as the rails flexed in time with the each persons steps as they hurried up and down.


The stairwell led upstairs to a an open area at the back of the building with a stub of corridor leading to the rooms at the front of the building. There were only four sleeping rooms upstairs, two larger dormitories for the Rangers who lived there plus two single rooms for visitors. All contained simple furniture, enough to store and sleep comfortably but not somewhere that any but the most frugal would spend long periods of time. Of course, most Rangers were that frugal and some preferred the simple solitude of their rooms in the evenings rather than socialize in the common area downstairs.

Behind and below the main stairwell was another set of steps but this time leading down into the ground. The steps here were carefully finished with more stonework salvaged from the old buildings and led down to a cellar where foodstuffs were stored, the armoury such as it was and a small gaol area. The gaol was not used a great deal and wasn't large but sufficed for anyone who drank too much in the Inn or visitors whose status was somewhat questionable. The gaol was not much more than a room dug into the earth with walls and the open front covered in a network of vines. The vines had been hardened by the druids who grew them in place, though in truth they weren't vines but the roots of the trees above. The front wall was covered by a open network of bars, the solid woodwork which normally had a strength not unlike steel opened into a narrow doorway at the touch of certain of the rangerism responding to an enchantment that the druids had placed there.


Routine
A typical day for the new ranger was perhaps surprisingly laid back, but they were not a military organization, relying on motivation not discipline to achieve results. Rangers got up when they wished, even those in training - just so long as they were in time for wherever they needed to be, though in truth many were to be found out on the archery range before and after breakfast making sure that they maintained their expertise with the bows. The day for trainees was divided into three shifts; morning, afternoon and evening. Classes rarely held in the evening though and only then for paying guests wanting training after the end of their working day.

There was always activity in the Hall since the Rangers worked an elaborate shift pattern which allowed them to guard the village, patrolling the boundary and generally keeping an eye out. The shifts were normally short and could be doubled up at need which allowed the Rangers to hunt and to patrol out into the forest and keep an eye on what was happening further a field.

During the day there was only the need for one guard; the time taken for an attacker to enter and the likelihood of someone else noticing and raising the alarm means that just one Ranger need be on duty. At night, two were on duty at any one time for a number of reasons; they needed to patrol more regularly because everyone else was asleep and allowed one to be busy with something and the other to still be on guard. In addition their duty times were staggered so that at least one of them had full night vision. This also meant that they used no other sources of light, using what natural light filtered down and their ears to identify movement. This meant that they normally were aware of visitors long before the helpful pinkish glow of the boundary highlighted someone passing through it.

The standard guard duty roster in hours (B - brightening, D - darkening) was as follows;

Ranger 1 B12 - D4 (8 hours)
Ranger 2 D3 - D 8 (6 hours)
Ranger 3 D5 - D11 (6 hours)
Ranger 4 D9 - D15 (6 hours)
Ranger 5 D12 - B2 (6 hours)
Ranger 6 B3 - B11 (7 hours)

The darkening duties were shorter and the staggering meant that there is always a fresher guard, but note that it took six rangers and they had duty every day. For dawn, the traditional time for attacks there were two on duty; dawn allowed the attackers night to move into position very close to the objective and then to attack with the benefit of light and when the defenders were tired - of course the local Vysstichi were more likely to attack at night but then thats was another reason for the two guards.


Rangers in training worked with the other Rangers, sharing guard duty and using the time to learn both Ranger and guard duties. The Ranger Hall provided for all the basic needs of the Rangers and did not charge for the provision of those services, but on the other hand did not pay the Rangers either. The village did intend to make payment for the guard duty, and would perhaps manage to do so one brightening.

Rangers who wished to have additional income to buy personal weapons or any one of the thousand other things that made life more luxurious or simply were not provided by the Hall needed to earn crowns on their own. To be sure, luxuries were almost unheard of in the village, there were no exports to pay for their import and life was too hand to mouth for the Rangers to accumulate the necessary crowns. For an experienced Ranger this was not a difficult thing, though the constant work needed to survive here limited them to trading furs and similar work related skills. Rangers were Rangers because they loved their lives and lifestyles and so for most what they earned was merely a means to allow them to continue that lifestyle.

The lack of pay was also a significant deterrent to anyone who thought that the Ranger Hall was a soft touch and a means for paid training. On the other hand, the village supported the Rangers with the provision of foodstuffs that weren’t hunted such as grains and vegetables. The village was too small for it not to work as integrated team and so the Rangers played their part, supporting even as they were in turn supported.

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[Throk Mumson]

After his little chat with Matthes, Throk was very curious about this whole 'becoming a Ranger' thing. He always had this affinity with nature, so protecting it would only seem natural(pun kind of intended). Not to mention that he wanted to repay this kind village for what they have done for him.

So there he stood, right in front of the Hall. It didn't look that flashy. He had thought that people like rangers would have a more....grand building. But this one looked just like the rest; overgrown, bushy, and old. Not that none of this really mattered, but Throk noticed it anyway. He pushed the doors aside, bent over a little, and entered the building.

Now that he was inside, his new objective was to find someone who might make him a ranger. He grabbed the nearest Ranger he could find by his shoulder.

" 'Ello sir, ah was wonderin' if ah could b'come a Ranger. Who do ah need ta see fer dat?", he asked the ranger politely.

[Desmodus]

As it turned out, Throk grabbed the nearest ranger he could find by *her* shoulder, and she seemed none-too-pleased by it. A young woman with at least partly elven features looked up at her hulking assailant with cool grey eyes that now winced slightly from the discomfort caused by the giant's grip. "I will answer that question if you let go of me, sir," she said evenly. "You had my attention before you had even entered the Hall."

Assuming that Throk complied with the half-elf's request, she sucked in a breath to calm down, then introduced herself. "Serale, my name is Ethilde. You must be Throk Mumson, as I doubt there are many other one-eyed giants in Acumin these days. The person you need to talk to is Jon Litate, the Master Ranger of this Hall. Being a Ranger is not simply something done by asking, but I will let the Master Ranger explain all that to you."

"Yes, Ethilde, you certainly shall," cut in a rough voice from the back of the main hall. The source of that voice turned out to be a weatherbeaten man of middle size and age. He was dressed in a worn green outfit that fit him more tightly than it probably had the first time he had donned it. He had been holding a bow in his hands, which he then slung smoothly onto his back without breaking stride as he walked towards Throk . The man appraised the situation in his Main Hall with keen, alert eyes. He examined the giant with an air of one who was willing to be pleased with what he saw, but had not yet quite decided to be pleased. "Serale, Throk Mumson I presume. I am Jon Litate, Master Ranger of Acumin. You wish to become a Ranger, you say? That is much easier said than done. It is a lot of work and requires one to learn a wide variety of skills."

The Master Ranger stopped directly in front of Throk and extended one of his now-free hands to the giant. "Whether you become a Ranger or not, I appreciate your interest. If you want to find out more about what it takes, come with me outside. I have some rounds to make, but we can talk if you will walk with me. Besides, I suspect you will find it more comfortable outdoors, where you do not have to stoop."

Jon Litate waited a moment for Throk to follow him and then headed purposefully towards the exit. He was a busy man with a vulnerable village to protect, and a greatly understaffed Ranger Hall with which to protect it. A giant could be a welcome addition-provided he was sufficiently motivated, as opposed to being just idly curious.

[Throk Mumson]

Throk carefully let go of the woman's shoulder, while he shame fully muttered a muffled excuse. How terrible that he didn't see it was a woman! Luckily, a man interveined so Throk could put his attention elsewhere.
He listened to the man's words with great care, and followed him to the outside of the Hall. That Litate was right, it was much nicer outside then in.
"Yes, ah know ah've got loads of skills to learn b'fore ah can be a Ranger. But ah fink ahm really up to it y'know. Dis village needs prutecshun and all that.", he told Litate. Throk was very sincere - when was he not? - about becoming a Ranger. This was what he really wanted!

[Desmodus]

The Master Ranger grinned at the giant's response. He wasn't sure how stealthy Throk would ever manage to be as a woodsman, but then the dwarf Bork Valding wasn't very stealthy, either, and he managed to have success as a Ranger. There were more ways to be a good Ranger than just being able to sneak up on a deer and tie a ribbon to its tail.

Jon Litate walked briskly, although Throk with his huge stride would have little trouble keeping up with the considerably shorter-legged human. The pair made briskly towards the shimmering pinkish barrier that shielded Acumin by slowing down those not favored by Carmelya.

As they walked, Jon Litate began explaining becoming a Ranger to Throk: "The first thing you will learn as a Ranger are the basic principles of being one: what our goals and purpose are, what our ethos is, what it is like to be a Ranger from day to day," he paused a moment and tilted his head up and to the side to catch Throk's good eye, "What it will cost you in terms of commitment to be one of us. I can teach you some of those even as we walk now, assuming you are sure about this."

It was at this point that the unlikely pair reached the barrier, and the Master Ranger paused in his speech as they prepared to transit it. Jon could not remember if Throk had passed through it before, nor whether the giant had been able to do so easily. If he were not favored by Carmelya, even his titanic strength would not suffice to pull himself through in less than an hour. But apparently the giant was on the good side of Acumin's divine protector, as he no more slowed down going through the strange shimmering bubble than did the Master Ranger himself. Good sign thought Jon to himself. Relieved at this favorable development, he then resumed his discourse:

"The next thing you will need to learn, Throk Mumson, is some skill at archery. The bow is a Ranger's traditional weapon of choice." He again looked up at the giant appraisingly for a moment. "The only issue I see with you is finding a bow suited for your size. My suggestion is that you train in shortbow, since a human-sized longbow will feel like a shortbow in your hands. We will probably also eventually want to get a bow specially made for you; however, that will take time and money, and to be quite frank, I want to make sure that you will 'take' as a Ranger before anybody invests time and money into you."

Besides which, he thought ruefully, our Ranger Hall doesn't really *have* any money right now.

Now that the pair was outside the bubble, Throk might have noticed a slight change in Jon Litate's manner. His eyes now rested less upon his companion and instead surveyed the scenery around him. The giant would not be able to tell right away what the Master Ranger was looking at or for, but even he could sense how keyed up and attuned to his environment the human seemed to be.

After a pause, Jon continued: "Of course, being a Ranger isn't just about skills. There is also work involved. Even as a brand new Junior Ranger in training, you will be expected to pull guard duty from six to eight candlemarks every day. You will also be expected to contribute to the chores needed to keep up the Ranger Hall itself. Are you with me so far, Throk Mumson?"

[Throk Mumson]

Throk felt his tummy itching while they trespassed that weird bubbly thingy that Carmelya had placed. He really enjoyed being in the woods these days, but that barrier still made him feel funny. That put aside, the forest was his favorite place to be. Some people in Acumin cursed him because of his length, or because of the man-eating reputation that Giants had. Hence, he would go out to the forest where he was alone with the animals and himself.

"Jon, ah know fer certain dat ah want ta b'come a ranger. Ah know a little of yer goals 'n all. Matthes told me a wee bit about that; protectin' nature 'n such. An' ah would like to learn sum fings already," he replied to Litate's introductions.

They continued their walk through the forest, and Throk was enjoying every bit of it. He had gone hunting here once. Found himself a nice big boar, he did. Too bad Branch had smashed the best parts. He still tasted very good though. It would take more then Branch to mess up a meal!
But Jon was acting a little strange all of the sudden.

"Are you okay? You seem a little tense ta me? Oh well," Throk reassured himself. He would be a little tense himself, just like going out hunting it was!
"Like ah sed Don, ahm more den ready to b'come a ranger. Chores don't botha me, just like the guard duties. Dey need to be done, just as everythin' else."

[Desmodus]

Jon Litate ignored Throk’s question about his nervous state as he and the giant walked their circuit around Acumin; the human's eyes searched the trees and forest floor for signs and traces that would have been both invisible to the giant, and meaningless for him if he had seen them. The Ranger’s keen senses strained for anything untoward in their surroundings. Acumin’s enemies had been repelled, but not destroyed, and with only the Barrier to protect them, this tiny remnant of a community needed constant vigilance in order to survive. A strange set of fresh tracks, a broken branch, an abandoned scrap of fabric –all seemingly innocuous to the untrained eye, might well indicate that the vysstichi were again on the prowl, or that perhaps the denizens of Dar Havark were contemplating breaking their fragile truce with the Acuminites.


But even if he ignored Throk’s question, he did not ignore the one-eyed giant’s enthusiasm and apparent earnestness. Jon Litate, Master Ranger of Acumin largely by default, gave a satisfied nod at Throk’s repeated assurance that he was committed to becoming a Ranger. Whatever reservations he might have about his hulking companion’s wits or skills, he needed all the motivated warm bodies he could find.

“Very well, Throk Mumson." the human replied after a pause of a few paces. "I shall begin by explaining to you the basic principles of being a Ranger. I want you to listen carefully to what I am about to say, for these principles will be your life for as long as you pursue the calling of a Ranger.”

Jon Litate stopped walking abruptly and turned to face towards the giant. He waited for the giant to stop and face towards him as well before continuing.

“The main tasks of a Ranger are to safeguard the lives of Alleria’s subjects, and to ensure that the folk, flora, and fauna around us thrive and live in balance. Our most important and basic principle is simply that all life has value, whether it be human life, as well as that of other races in Alleria, animal life, or plant life. All living things must be given the opportunity to thrive naturally.

“A Ranger must be an exemplary citizen; that means you are loyal to the Empire and all duly appointed authority, and that you always give laws and customs their due respect.

“As we just talked about earlier, the Ranger may also be called upon to give aid to a town when the Militia is inadequate for its defense, or cannot resolve some issue.

“In addition to being the guardians of our community, we are also the stewards of the countryside around us. We offer aid to those who work the land, whether hunters, farmers, or herdsmen, while at the same time we ensure that nature’s resources are not wasted or wantonly destroyed.

“Now I want you to think about what I just said, and to ask me to go over again anything that is not completely clear to you. There is no point in continuing with anything, not guard duty, nor bow training, nor any other Ranger-related skill, if you have not first mastered these basic principles. Once you understand them clearly, you must decide whether or not you are committed to them, whether you are prepared to devote your life to them, and possibly to risk that life for them as well.

“So, Throk Mumson, what do you think? Are you going to be a Ranger from this brightening on, or not?”

The Master Ranger was now focused completely on Throk as he awaited the giant’s answer.

[Throk Mumson]

Throk stopped for a moment to listen to the Master Ranger's words. He listent to them carefully. Becoming a Ranger was something for life, so this was a very important moment for Throk. This moment decided the rest of his life, basicly. This was a small step for a giant(just from this spot to the next, right over there) but a very big step for Throk!
"Jon, yer tellin' me all kinds of things what a Ranger has to be 'n all," he answered proudly.
"An' ahm sure dat ah've got all it takes ta b'come a ranger. Ah love animals 'n nature, an' it would'nt be the first tahm dat ah smashed someone fer doing ugly fings ta animals. Not ta menshun dat ah would nevah let someone 'urt anyfink in dis town!"
And he ment it!
"Yes, ahm more den ready ta b'come a ranger, Jon. Please make me ranger so ah can repay dis nice town for what dey've done fer me."

Throk was so passionate about Acumin, he would have done just about anything to protect it from harm. And by becoming a ranger, he could combine his love for nature with his love for Acumin!
Please Jon.., he almost begged the Master.

[Desmodus]

Jon Litate was touched by Throk's answer. It pained him a bit to hear the pleading tone in the giant's voice as he asked to be made a Ranger. Still, his answer and his enthusiasm satisfied the Master Ranger. And besides, he could only be so picky, because right now he needed every Ranger he could get. If Throk didn't work out, he simply wouldn't get promoted.

He beamed at the giant and said: "I am happy to grant your request, Throk. You are now Junior Ranger Throk Mumson. Welcome to the Acumin Hall."

Once the celebrating was over, the Master Ranger turned back to business. "I have a bit more to do here, Throk. You are welcome either to continue to accompany me, or return to the Ranger Hall. Either way, the first thing to do will be to introduce you to the other members of the Hall. Then either I or another Ranger I select to be your trainer will explain more to you about what your duties and training schedule are to be like. If you choose to continue to walk with me now, I can start to show you some of the things we Rangers do and look for while on guard duty. Since you will be doing such duty yourself pretty soon, it might not be a bad idea to learn something about it now. It is up to you, Ranger Throk."

At those words, the human resumed his brisk walk. Within a few paces, he had reverted to the same keyed-up attitude that Throk had noticed earlier, as the Master Ranger searched the area for clues of anything untoward.

[Desmodus]

Leilani
Ooc: continued from here


Lehan Y’Las was not an easily-upset person, but hearing the stranger calling out the different names in the differing voices shook his equanimity as it had not been shaken in some months. Ethilde had mentioned that the woman seemed confused, disoriented, conflicted, and that there was something odd about her voice; that did not convey just how disturbed and disturbing her behavior was. The Druid had heard tales of such things as demonic possession, as well as of those crazed persons who thought they were possessed when they most likely they were not. He thought he recognized in this woman’s behavior some of the signs he had heard described in those reports. He had, however, no experience with such things, nor were his skills as a Druid likely to help here. This seemed like a situation that called for a Mystic, and unfortunately there were none currently in Acumin.

What Lehan needed to do first was to try to get the woman calm, to see if she could tell him anything more. ”Leilani! the elf called to the woman in a raised voice, leaning towards her as he did so as if she were hard of hearing: ”Leilani, hear me!” There was a strength suggested in the young elf’s voice that was not readily obvious to one looking at his quiet, unassuming exterior. ”Kaelin! Gaise! Whoever else might hear me, whatever your names are, listen to what I say! None of you are in danger here right now. Stay, calm down, do not fight with me, or with one another. None of you are threatened here. Be silent and listen. It is Leilani I wish to speak to right now; the rest of you can wait your turn. Be silent and listen. All of you shall have your turn, should you desire it. I shall hear all of you in time. But now I wish to speak to Leilani. Leilani.”

At that moment, a third person entered the room where the strange young woman lay: this was a grizzled, sturdy-looking man dressed in green woodsman’s clothes. He was Jon Litate, Master Ranger of Acumin, and the closest thing the village had to both a constable and a military commander. He looked quizzically at the woman who had clearly regained consciousness, but who was also clearly confused, and at the Druid, who appeared to be calling her by several different names. ”What on Telath is going on here, Lehan?” he demanded, his tanned brow wrinkling in puzzlement. ”What are you doing?”

Lehan, to be honest, had no idea what he was doing, and felt slightly ridiculous shouting at this poor injured woman as if she were a clutch of bickering children. But he had to find some way to calm her, to get her to focus and remain coherent long enough to tell him what had happened to her, and what was going on inside her head right now. He turned around and looked at the frowning Master Ranger. ”I am not entirely sure what we are dealing with here,” he answered honestly. Candor and even bluntness seemed to work best with Jon. ”I am trying to find out what this woman needs, but her condition, whatever it is, is not making it easy to talk to her.” He saw no need just yet to voice his suspicions that the woman before him might be either possessed or dangerously insane.

He then turned back towards Leilani and again called out in his strong-but-calm voice: ”Leilani! You are safe here. Focus on my voice and listen.” Leilani, for her part, could hear the elf talking to her, could sense her name being called out. For some reason, being told that they would be heard seemed to mollify the other voices inside her head, and although they did not fall completely silent, their clamor subsided to a murmur low enough that Leilani could concentrate somewhat and respond in her own voice for a while.

Lehan rose from the floor where he sat and went over near where the human woman lay, standing where she could easily see him, and gazed into her eyes. ”Leilani” he repeated: ”I want you to look straight ahead and tell me what you see. You are safe here. All are safe here. Do you know where you are? Whom and what do you see in this room right now?”

[Leilani]

OCC- may i assume that the cuts on Leilanis hand and forhead have been cleaned and stitched? if not I will adjust this post for you later.

Leilani groaned, clutching her head in her hands as she struggles to regain control of her head, the small part of her that was still aware pleading with the voices to leave her alone.

Then that part of her seemed to get stronger and she realised that sombody was calling to her. Sombody was using her name, a name she hadnt heard spoken in a long time. The voice told her to listen and such was the power of the voice she found she cold not do anything but obey. SHe concentrated on the voice, forcing the voices inside her head to listen as well as she drowned them out, forcing them to obey, forcing them into silence.

She jumped as the third person entered, pushing with her legs, trying to press herself deeper into the wall but was once again calmed by Lethans soothing words.

”I want you to look straight ahead and tell me what you see. You are safe here. All are safe here.

Leilani, still shivering looked into the elfs deep eyes, finding them almost hypnotic. She broke eye contact as she looked at the rest of his face. Never before had she seen any face as beautiful and as noble as this one. Tilting her head slightly she gave a small sigh, reaching up her hand and gently reaching out to touch the elfs cheek, quickly recoiling as she first makes contact, as if afraid of the contact, before reaching once again, the soothing voice giving her confidence as she traced her fingertips down lehans cheek, loosing herself in the deep welcoming eyes.

"I see you." leilani told him, her voice cracked from the long years without speaking. "What are yo...."

Do you know where you are? Whom and what do you see in this room right now?”


The elfs question caused an immediate reaction in Leilani. Her face becoming twisted and tormented as once again the voices began to scream inside her head, clamouring to answer the question, fighting to be heard. She fell backwards, her eyes seeming to bulge from her head whimpering softly between the shouts and grunts of the seperate personalities fighting for control

".....I know who I am. I am Gaise Macon.......We see you little elf, we see you and the girl. Kill her.....kill the girl.....kill her...."

Leilani's eyes bacame bloodshot, seeming to turn red as the voice became louder and stronger becoming deeper in harmonics, as if several people shouting at once,

"kill her......kill her........KILL HER....",

[Desmodus]

[ooc: Your wounds have been cleaned and bound, though not stitched, so some of the bigger cuts may get re-opened as Leilani thrashes about.]

The human Ranger, Jon Litate, was clearly uncomfortable with the situation in this room. He frowned and tensed noticeably when the strange woman reached out to touch Lehan's cheek. It just didn't seem to him like a good idea to let one in her condition touch him. But he said nothing and did not intervene; he could only hope that the elf knew what he was doing.

In truth, however, Lehan was only marginally less out of his depth than the Ranger here. He wished that his brother, the Thaumaturgist, were here, or perhaps an accomplished Mystic. Once again, the elf was put in a position he felt ill-equipped to handle. Carmelya, help me he petitioned silently, and help this poor tormented girl.

The reemergence of the other voices was somewhat dismaying to Lehan, and the vicious clamouring to kill the girl were even more disconcerting. He managed, somehow, to maintain a calm demeanor, to remain focused on what was happening, on what if anything he could do, rather than thinking of his own fear, or his own safety. For the first time, however, he began to sense that there was perhaps a real danger here, beyond a distrubed girl's simple agitation.

Litate was considerably less calm; he was getting angry. "Now listen here, Gaze Makin' or whatever your name is," he growled at the woman from whom the strange chorus of voices was issuing: "No one's killing anybody in this room this brightening, you got it? Now we need you to be silent for a moment so we can finish talking to Leilani. You can shout all you like afterwards."

Lehan was not entirely pleased by the Ranger's somewhat ham-fisted intervention, but he did not let it show. It seemed unwise to show any sort of division or weakness to whatever or whoever was speaking from this girl's body, especially now that it turned out that it or they could see what was going on in the room. Instead of arguing, he decided to act, though his actions would not be readily apparent to anybody not versed in Arcana.

It only took a few seconds for the Master Druid to reach Clara. Before the Master Ranger had finished his belligerent little rant, the elf could already see the shimmering strands of Ara that the unbound did not see, could sense the Vis pulsing in the other living creatures in the room. He had decided to use the fact that Leilani was pressed against the verdant vines of the wall to his advantage. Concentrating on some of those vines, he cast Entangle, willing shoots to extend around Leilani's waste, around her torso just under her breasts, to twine tightly and firmly around the elbows and shoulders of the arms she had pressed back against the wall when she had started back upon Litate's entrance. He had shaped and grown vines like these many times before; he was practically the architect that had guided the growing of most of the structures in Acumin today.

The vines stirred and responded quickly and stealthily, and even while the chorus of voices clamored for Leilani's death, they wrapped around her, and soon she found herself bound firmly to the wall of vegetation behind her back. Only her legs, forarms, and head were free to move.

"I am sorry, Leilani," said the elf, his voice genuinely apologetic, "but I must ensure your safety as well as that of everybody in this room. I shall do what I can to help you." He peered intently into the girls bloodshot and unfocused eyes, and his voice regained its tone of power. " Leilani, I have no wish to imprison you or compel you to do anything against your will. But I cannot leave you free until I am satisifed that you will not hurt yourself or others. Now, who is this Gaese Macon, and why does he wish Leilani dead?"

As he listened to whatever was said next, and without taking his eyes off of the woman once, Lehan sidled towards his satchel, and began rummaging around for his medical pouch. Inside there were various leaves and powders. "Master Ranger," he said in a quiet aside to the human standing just behind him, "please have one of your Rangers boil me some water, about a tea-party's worth. I also want at least one other Druid here from the Grove, if you can arrange that. Tell them to bring all the herbs and preparations they can carry. Quickly. Please."

Jon Litate was not one who liked to be ordered around, but Lehan had a way of making his commands come across as humble, polite requests. Sometimes the human wondered if the modest Master Druid even realized he was giving commands when he was. Besides, the Master Ranger couldn't think of anything better to do himself. Better to let the Druid handle it. "You got it," he said assuringly, "I'll be back shortly with what you need." With one last wary look at the woman now bound fast to the wall with its own vines, Litate left the room.

Lehan and Leilani were now again alone in the room. The elf simply crouched a few feet in front of the woman, watching her intently, and listening to the voices say what they had to say until the Master Ranger returned. He did not like the idea of relinquishing control to these violent voices even for a moment, but he thought he had to risk it in order to find out more about what he was dealing with.

[Leilani]

Once again Leilani found herself struggling with the voices. There was just to many, shouting to be heard. The small part of her mind that still belonged to her screamed out, a lone voice of dispair, lost within the multitude of personalities within her head. She clutched her head, her arms straining to press against her skull, as if she was trying to squeeze the voices out.

Most of the voices were nothing more than murmurers, faint whisperings heard but not understood, but there was the ones that she could hear and she could understand. The ones who promised her that they will find her, that she will be joining them, damned to eternity, to be used in death as she had in life.

Of theses voices the strongest was that of the man who ordered the slaughter of Leilanis family, the man who had captured leilani and kept her prisinor. Gaise Macon.

"Now listen here, Gaze Makin' or whatever your name is," he growled at the woman from whom the strange chorus of voices was issuing: "No one's killing anybody in this room this brightening, you got it? Now we need you to be silent for a moment so we can finish talking to Leilani. You can shout all you like afterwards."

The laugher that came from leilani's lips was not a sound that should have come from any living creature.

"You dare order me?" the voice sneered, "Why should you care what this.....thing has to say. She is nothing. She though she could kill us, she though she could escape but we will have her, she will never be rid of us. We will kill her..."

And once again the voice grew louder, as if the other personalities were taking up the chant, calling for Leilani's death, as the vines grew out of the wall, pining her to the wall of vegatation.

The small part that was still Leilani heard the elfs words and wished she could tell him that the voices were only in her head, that they could not control her body, just her mind. But her voice was drowned out, silenced by the torrent that filled her head. But there was one small spark of hope that prevented her being crushed altogether. She understood the elfs words, she knew that the beautiful and noble being that had called to her was going to help her, that alone prevented her from sinking further into dispair.

As the ranger left the room, the voices began to fade, once again leaving the harsh voice claiming to be Gaise Macon, a voice as twisted and as corrupt as hell itself, coming from the mouth of a young woman, her face masked with terror.

"Why do I wish her dead? You ask [i[me[/i] why i want this creature dead. She though she was clever she did. She though that by killing me she could escape. Yes little elf, you would do well to keep her tied, she has a habbit of sneaking around and slitting throats, maybe yours will be next..."

The voice of the dead Warlord went on, screaming obsenities and shouting about what would happen once he finally gets Leilanis soul, while Leilani, sat bound to the wall watched the elf, her eyes pleading

[Desmodus]

Leilani

The Master Ranger had bristled visibly at 'Gaise's defiance, but a warning glance from Lehan had told him that it was pointless, and possibly even harmful, to argue with the voice. Though it did not set well with him, Jon Litate held his tongue. Once he had left the room, the elf turned all his concentration on Leilani and listened closely to the voices, repressing his disgust at their malice, vengefulness and lust for domination.

Lehan willed himself to remain calm as he listened to the chorus of voices, managing to remain in Clara while taking in what they said. He could sense Leilani's Vis, could perceive how it was disturbed. He wondered what it would take to simply fix that Vis, to use his own arcanic weave to manipulate it back to the way it normally was whenever the poor woman was calm and lucid. But trying to tamper with a being's Vis was as dangerous as it was difficult, even for a Master Druid. If he succeeded in doing anything at all, that anything could very well have destroyed Leilani, and perhaps the rebounding effect would destroy him as well. The elf wondered briefly if a simple Dispel would work to exorcise the spirits, but realized that would probably not work either; the voices were not a spell effect.

He listened patiently until the man's voice ceased speaking coherently and simply started shouting obscenities and repeating itself. But at last it was time for this abusive babbling to stop for now. "Gaise Macon, I hear you," called out the elf. "I get your rage at being dead and your desire for vengeance. But what you request is not going to happen, no matter how you scream. Do you understand this, Gaise? You can shout until Leilani's voice gives out, and it will gain you nothing. So cease your shouting for now and answer my questions, Gaise. Listen to me."

The spiteful would-be possessor was quite displeased at this, and registered that displeasure with an almost ear-shattering oath; however, Lehan did not relent. "Gaise Macon, and all others who can hear me, listen." And then, almost miraculously, it fell silent. Somehow, the spirits seemed to have decided to heed the elf's request, at least for now.

"Gaise Macon," the elf continued, "understand that killing Leilani would not aid you or your companions in any way. Your ability to see, to speak, to do anything depends on her staying alive. Once her soul departs from the Umblat, yours shall go as well; there is no question of your ever having Leilani's soul. Destroy her body, and you are done. Ruin her voice with your incessant shouting, and you are speechless. Do you all understand this?"

Obscenities and shouts of "Lies! Lies!" issued briefly from Leilani's now-aching throat, but Lehan persisted, and, to Leilani's astonishment, Gaise and the others seemed to heed his explanation. Their hatred, their lust for her destruction did not lessen one bit, but for a while they seemed willing to