"You will kill me? Like many before that have made the same exact threat, it will be you who shall die. I have stood back long enough without inteferring, but now you have granted me what I wanted and I must thank you for that.... yet do forgive me, my future acts of hostility...."

He stated with an annoyed face as he had been interrupted, calmly his hand rose and his palm was spread open towards them. After few words a lightning bolt springed from his hand towards Semri as Garthag feverously turned to the chest starting to open it with magic.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Do not think we will let you walk away with what is rightfully ours," said Merrin coldly, snatching up her rapier where it lay and striding forward, albeit rather unsteadily. "We - Kendath and I - fought the Guardian for that Crystal. What were you doing? Hiding in a corner?" The contempt in her voice was almost tangible.

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At that moment the chest springed wide open and Garthag turned towards the renegades, partly to check if they had moved and to give them his opinion on their latest words.

"Are you stupid or just incredibly naive?"

He asked from Merrin with a clearly amused and confused face as his hand reached into the chest.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Get you're *£$*~@* hands off her" yelled Evlyn as Semri gasped and fell to her knees her eyes wide with pain. Evlyn felt some part of the pain in her own chest and stabbed Garthag brutelly in the stomach

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Made by Lembas

Merrin flinched as though she'd been struck. "Maybe both," she responded, chin up defiantly. How she hated that word - naive. How many times over had it been used to describe her, she wondered bitterly. "Be that as it may - "

But then Semri fell, gasping, from some magic of Garthag's. And as Merrin rushed forward to help her, innocently unaware that Semri was no longer her friend, she stumbled slightly and flung out a hand to steady herself - and a bolt of white light lanced out from her palm, coming between Evlyn's dagger and its intended target and creating a brief shield.

The dagger glanced off harmlessly, leaving Garthag none the worse for wear. Merrin stopped in astonishment, looking at her hand as though it had suddenly sprouted a sixth finger.

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[Anduril and Curunir, think you could ally and take off with the Cloud Crystal, since the Meiltha currently have the Star Crystal and one won't work without the other? we have a tentative plot for a sequel that may require that]

Meanwhile Kendath had surreptitiously slipped into the shadows and was circling Garthag from behind, trying to decipher some weakness in the mage's defenses. He balanced a dagger in both hands. Just as he was aligned parallel with Garthag's back, he let both daggers fly in rapid succession.

His aim was true, and they rocketed hilt-blade-hilt-blade through the air, whizzing straight for the spot between Garthag's shoulder blades...

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(hmmm oki)

As Merrin stared at her hand in wonder, Evlyn tried to open the chest but failed, suddenly insapration struck her. She pulled Semri into a sitting postion and punched her. "Blo*dy Meiltha" snarled Semri.
"Open the chest or you die." Semri flicked the cach and the chest opened, Evlyn lifted the Star Crystal out reverently, it was small enough to fit into her palm and emmitted a soft glow. She passed it to Semri, "Here sister." A lust for power covered Semri's features and she slipped it into her pocket. Evlyn pulled her upright and they both fled the temple.

(Evlyn punched Semri becuse if Semri hated the Meiltha at that moment her heart was still purer as her conversion had only just taken place....just clearing that up)

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Made by Lembas

At the sight of the fleeing Meiltha, Kendath broke into a dash for the temple entrance. What the hell was Semri doing? he wondered with some alarm, as it seemed she was actually helping Evlyn. Had she turned like he had? Just went to show how untrustworthy the world - including himself - was.

Figuring to dub them both enemies for now and make possible apologies later, he tossed another dagger their way, and though his aim wasn't perfect as he ran, it coerced Evlyn and Semri to angle from the dagger's path. Cutting a straight line, he intercepted them at the base of the temple steps.

"Nice to see you too," he said by way of greeting, before launching into a fluid offense with his falchion.

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The blade thrown by Kendath towards Garthag missed it`s designated target, just a little bit, but enough to sink into Garthag`s ribs. He screamed in pain and grabbed the blade with a furious face, he dropped the bloody blade on the floor. As Kendath ran away, a furious Garthag pursued him and the two sisters.

He catched them at the stairs where they had been stopped by Kendath, Garthag raised his hand and began to mutter words of magic as his intention to burn them all alive.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"I don't think so traitor" Replied Semri blocking him with her dirk. "You left me for that *beep*?" hissed Evlyn punching im hard in the stomach in her usual underhand way, both of them fleeing down the tunnel as he doubled up. Jemx i don't care about the fumes get here now
Rano same for you...oh and we've turned...don't kill the dragon called Jemx...he's realted.

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Made by Lembas

Merrin barreled into Garthag from behind, breaking his concentration and sending herself crashing to the floor. "Semri - " she gasped after the fleeing twins, completely bewildered and wondering what in the world was going on. Semri was on their side - wasn't she?

Hauling herself into a somewhat upright position Merrin raced after them, furious. I am naive - hopelessly naive - she thought in disgust, berating herself inwardly.

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Kalma! Come quick, you must intercept their dragons so that I am able to retrieve the crystal Garthag summoned as he layed on the ground.

I see... I would have though that you would not have been that incompetent... Came Kalma`s usual answer.

You are just feeding the furnace my friend

Garthag stated as he continued to pursue the two sisters that had not stayed long enough in their places for him to kill them. Yet this time Garthag would not let them escape and he opened a portal that transfered him to where he thought the two sisters would come. He would be ready not to mention Kalma would be prepared as well...

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Garthag appereard in front of them just as they were about to emerge from the tunnle. They both streacked to a halt. "Garthag please.." gasped Evlyn "We can escape together now with the Crystal and sort this out later."
"Or we can all be stopped by those Renagades" joined Semri. "Please Garthag, we won't just give it to you and we don't have time for this."

(did you get the uniteing thing Curi?)

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Made by Lembas

Garthag`s eyes narrowed as his thoughts ran quickly, he liked the idea of having more than one ally yet he could not go along with them, if he had not named any terms. Garthag opened his palm facing towards the sky as a sign of acceptance.

"Very well... but you shall come with me to the north for I have plans there and I like to know that I have the homefield...."

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Kendath recovered from the punch and broke into a dash after Merrin. The darkness of the tunnel closed in on them, but he could still make out Merrin's running form in front of him. How he wished he had Demon with him.

This was all damned ironic, really.

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Racing through the air beside Jemx, Demon angled his dive for the mouth of the tunnel, marked by the Sigil of the Dragon. "This is suicidal!" he roared over the wind as the noxious fumes blew into his face, cutting off his wind pipe. His banked dangerously to the side, narrowly avoiding slamming into a mountain. As soon as the miasma cleared somewhat, he flicked a disdainful glance at the newcomer, Rano.

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Semri was about to disagree but Evlyn cut in. "Allright, just lets get out of here and no trying to take the crystal off us, ok" He didn't seem to disagree "Good, lets go before the Renagades get here."

Jemx soared over the green smog when he came face to face with a white dragon. Who are you He asked neutraly. "Reno, you?"
"Jemx"
"Then we are allies, come on."

(sorry G2G)

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Made by Lembas