Merenwen loved the beach almost as much as she loved the forest. She had come through Lomedor in search of a place where she could take some time to work on her fighting skills. When she found the beach she knew that this would be the perfect spot. Before beginning to practice she decided to go for a short swim. The sun was high in the sky and the air was crisp yet quite warm.

She set her belongings near to a rock that would hide them from most anyone traveling along the beach and then dipped her toes in the water. She was still wearing her breeches and chemise, though she had set her bodice to the side as she knew how long it would take to dry. The water was cool but not so cold that it bothered her. She moved further into the water and went under a wave. Then she struck out deeper in the water. She was not a great swimmer but she was good and didn't feel worried about swimming in the ocean. She fought against the waves until she was about a quarter mile from the beach and at this time she decided to make her way back. After going about half way she was able to catch a wave and ride it the rest of the way back to shore.

When she arrived on shore her possessions were still there and so she decided to lay out for a little to let her clothes dry. After laying there for half an hour her clothes were mostly dry, though her hair was still slightly damp. She decided that she was dry enough to practice and she began to prepare. She put her bodice back on and found a scrap of leather with which she tied her hair back. She also put her new armor on because she needed to get used to moving in it. With this done she reattached her weapons and drew her shortsword. She had no one to spar with so she decided to begin by running through the motions her father had taught her. She had practiced diligently her whole life and so she began to practice again.

For a long time Saral had been adrift at sea. Unable to drown without lungs, with luck, but since his rotting he had a good deal of challenge to face whenever swimming. He had been put to work on a boat for passage to Lómëdor, and tossed off with an hour left to the city as soon as they discovered his affliction. For hours he drifted, at the mercy of the waves until finally he washed ashore, near a young elf. He had decided to take his chances now, even with no hope of conceiling what he was. He spoke plainly and clearly, "I've got need of help, elfy. Dire need. If you help me, I can help you and trust me that you need help." He said, a faint glimmer of mocking amusement in his voice, as it usually was around elves.

Images of similar training movements flashed through his head. His original learning from his grandfather in traditional elven fighting, something he only knew the basics of, but something he had used through life to create the "Blackhand" style of fighting, with influences in dwarven fighting as well, though it was mainly his own, more aggressive adaption of a knight's fighting. Even as he spoke, he almost began moving with the elf he discovered. Refraining, luckily, he instead bowed down, probably showing his peaceful intent better then adopting a fighting stance. Even as he bowed, though, his weapons were easily visable, his sheathless sword's blade glittering in the sun. Noting this, he threw his weapons down from their improvised loops in his leggings and said, as plainly as he could "A sign of my non-violence, elfy." Now thinking to mask his intellegence. Bumpkins didn't pose a threat in small numbers, although a soon as he said it, Saral also noted that bumpkins didn't say large words like 'non-violence'.

((I can do better. I will do better. And, y'know, better me then nobody.))

((Definitely is better then nobody, no worries.))

When Merenwen saw the 'man' wash up on shore she was a little shocked, not only by his suddenly being there before her but also due to his appearance. When he said, "I've got need of help, elfy. Dire need. If you help me, I can help you and trust me that you need help," she wanted to make a comment on how he definitely looked as if he needed help but she didn't want to be rude to him. He had either been very badly hurt in a battle, worse then she had ever seen before, or he was one of the undead she had heard so much about.

She could see his weapons and while she could tell that he was in need of help she wasn't sure if she could trust him. She had been tricked before in ways that led to very bad experiences and she didn't want to be tricked again. She was able to let go of some of her discomfort as he took off his weapons and said, "A sign of my non-violence, elfy," but she still did not relax completely. Instead she took a small step back and said, "I will help you but only if I am sure you will do me no harm. I have been reminded recently that helping strangers can have dire consequences and now I am even more careful then I was before. Who are you and how did you come to be here?"

When she had spoken she felt kind of bad for not being more willing to help someone in need but it was true that the last such person she had thought she would help had kidnapped her and she would not let that happen again. He may have set his weapons aside but trickery was a weapon that she knew very well. On the other had, though he was standing it looked as if he would fall over any minute and she wanted to believe him.

Saral was relieved just to see that the elf he suprised wasn't about to try to tear him up, and for that small favor, he decided to give her the straightest answer he could. "I am the former Sir Saral Blackhand. Once a good knight of this very city, now, for all record, I am buried under a small monument in the Misty Forest. I am unlucky, and now I need to tell someone very important to me that. Can you understand my need?", he had rushed out. Trying now to get most of the words out while he was still not fighting.

Even as he spoke, though, he tried to adopt a more prideful pose, one you'd expect a knight to have, standing up straightly and with even shoulders, in spite of his 'natural' hunch At this point, he had absolutly no idea how to appear harmless. He hadn't had to do it in over a century, and anything he'd known about it was far gone from his memory, including consistency. Still, he was at least able to stand as he used to.

In something of a ritual, Saral took a few steps back from his weapons and laid his soaked cloak over them, a way of reiterating his harmlessness. "Take them, as a bundle if you wish. I won't be needing them unless you turn out to be less then honorable, and, really, I'll be doomed with or without them in that case. I am at your mercy. Help me if it strikes your fancy, but I beg you, let me do this without making it more difficult." He explained, taking further steps back, doubling their distance so she could feel safe enough in taking away his arms. At that point, Saral was fully appearant as undead as well. His rot was undenyable, as the faint stench, somewhat washed away and masked by the sea, yet far from gone.

Merenwen awaited his response and hoped that nothing bad would come of this. When he gave her his name and said that he needed to tell someone very important to that he was unlucky she wasn't sure exactly what kind of help he wanted from her. He had also not answered her question as to how he came to be on this beach, but then he probably thought the answer he had given was plenty of explanation. She wasn't sure if she should leave it at that but thus far she could see no sign of his having evil designs.

She could see that he was trying to straighten his back and hoped that she were never to get into such a state. The smell wafting off of him was one that she wished wasn't there and it was beginning to overpower the smell of the ocean breezes. He was a frightening sight, with his rotting body and attempt to stand straight, but thus far he had seemed to only want help.

When he laid his cloak over his weapons and backed away she began to relax her stance. It was possible that he had some form of power and was doing this only so she would let her guard down but with everything that had happened thus far she didn't think that was the case. When he told her she could take the weapons and while he would appreciate help all he needed from her was for her not to make his task more difficult she was almost sure that he was being truthful. She did not take the weapons but rather lowered her own. She would still be prepared if he came at her but for now she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

After lowering her sword she said to him, "I am not sure how I can help you but I am willing to try. You may have your weapons back but be warned that I will stay on my guard. I believe you mean me no harm so I will do nothing to harm you. What is it that you feel I could help you with?" She was taking a risk but she thought it was only a slight one. In order to make him more comfortable in recollecting his weapons and cloak she placed her sword back at her side and took a couple of steps back.

Ethari was flying through the ocean while the waves spray splashed him in his face. His angel wings pulsed with each muscular pump. He slowed down so his dove Cataraza could catch up. As he slowed he noticed a man and a women meeting on the beach. As he focused more on threre consveration. The man was Undead! But something wasnt right. He couldnt sense something evil about.

Ethari loved how somthing was different. His eyes always wandered and he dreamed through his night time soars with the stars. Hopeing to learn more he glided through the waves in hopes of catching to them before they leave. As he reached the sandy shores he pulled upward and landed softly on the sand.

Instead of normally hiding his wings and pulling his hood over his blue eyes he made no attempt to conceal his cestailal heritage. He had his wings open and let his eyes shine at them. Just in case his instincts were wrong his sword hung visibley from belt and his bow and quiver hung from his back. Shortly after landing Cataraza landed on his shoulder and stared at the two humanoids before him.

" Hello I didnt mean to interupt but I couldnt help but notice this odd conversation. It seems that this meeting is quite interesting." Ethari said with a small smile.

Merenwen was waiting for Saral to reply when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Her head twisted and she watched as an angel set down near to them. His suddenly being there made her jump a little and without thought her hand was resting on her weapon once again. She could see the sun glinting off his wings and when she looked up and into his eyes she saw they were an amazing light blue, the likes of which she had never seen before. She didn't think the angel was evil but fright often caused her to reach immediately for her weapon. Her combat reflexes would not allow her to be caught unprepared. The sight of the dove landing on the angel gave her more reason to believe he wasn't evil, neither angels nor doves were often anything but good.

As she reflected on this she heard the angel speak. "Hello I didn’t mean to interrupt but I couldn’t help but notice this odd conversation. It seems that this meeting is quite interesting," he said. It took her a moment to think of why the conversation might seem interesting to him but then it wasn't often that an undead was not evil. Rather then reply to his comments she felt the need to learn something about him. She could not be comfortable with this situation until she had more information. She shifted so that she could more easily see both of them and said, "Who are you?" Her hand still rested lightly on her weapon but she didn't think she would need to draw it.

" Oh Im sorry, Im Ethari Xilophent. I am a unoffical paladin of the stars. I have a partner Lothemadal (( His screen name is Silvaris)). Together we are saving to form a guild. We will call it the Order of the Istari. We are also looking for members who also have a strong connection to the stars like we do"

During his reply he noticed the elf grab her weapon hilt. She seemed nice but not too easy to make friends as easily as he thought. He did not grab his weapon in a similar manner because instead of her doing that in a unfriendly manner she probly just did it to be safe. On accident he looked into the sky. Normally he would not do this because someone could it that he was ready for some kind of combat move. But instead he was looking at the first few stars peeking over the horizen.

As a child the stars is the only thing he loved besides his sister who was still missing from his life today. He quickly averted his attention to the elf. " Sorry its just that the stars have great meaning and I look up in the sky without thinking" he said apoligeticly. This whole time Cataraza who was perched on his shoulder looked on the two creatures with friendly almost peacefull look.

Merenwen listened to the man introduce himself and explain his plans to create a guild dedicated to the stars. She knew some about the stars but she wasn't an expert by any means. As she thought about the stars she noticed that the angel, Ethari, was looking up at the skies. Her hand still rested on her weapon but she was about to take it away. It was possible that the angel was preparing for a fight but when she made a short glance at the skies she realized that the stars were beginning to come out. Since he had talked about the stars she thought it was likely that it wasn’t a fight he was looking for, he was just admiring something that he loved.

Her suspicions were revealed to be correct when he looked back to her and explained the distraction the stars had for him. She could understand being distracted by nature and with that she moved her hand back off her weapon. She was still prepared to reach for it if need be but everything this angel had said thus far made her believe that she could trust him. She spoke up saying, "I don't know that much about the stars but I also enjoy looking at them. I am Merenwen Coamenel and this is the former Sir Saral Blackhand." She had pointed at Saral when saying his name and now turned to face him more fully. While she found this angel to be interesting she still wanted to know what it was she could do to help Saral. For this reason she said again, "What is it that I can do to help you Saral?"

" Yes I would like to help too, if thats okay" Ethari said with a hopefull glance. He gazed at the undead with a questaining look. " Merenwen said that you were a "sir" are you of noble heritage, you dont have to answer if you dont want too. Im just interested too know." He had done it again. His curisosity had gotten the better of him. His want to learn things overwhelmed him at times.

Hopeing he didnt offend him he tried his hardest to make a friendly smile to warm up everyones attitude. He pulled his hands behind his cloak. As he did this he remembered that they did not know he was friendly. Oh well. He continued to reach his hands behind his back and fluffed up his white cloak and pressed his wings against his back to conceal them. Then he pulled his white hood over his shimmering blue eyes. " Sorry" he said " I just dont feel comfortable having my wings out in the open"

Saral nodded enthusiastically as he gathered his weapons up, keeping them bundled inside his cloak rather then holding them as they should be held. Smiling as a plan formed, he offered the bundle to the elf again, ignoring the angel. "If you want to help, then the best you can do to help me is take me along to who I need to see. He is a guardsman... leutenant, if he has not been promoted since my death. He is something of an expert on the undead. So, if he is still around, any guardsman should take me to see him. With an armed escort who has my weapons already-that would be you, elfy, I could make it to him easily, and without running half as much risk of being beaten beforehand. In return, I could teach you. I am a knight, after all. I'm sure I know a good deal about fighting that you don't. Not more, of course, just a few things you don't."

As the focus in Saral's mind faded from the elf he truly noticed the fact a friendly angel was here as well. This would be even greater luck, the angel already stated that it wished to help, and what kind of man attacked one of such noble heritage, or the one they had with them? Saral turned his head to the angel while keeping his bundle held in the direction of the elf "Heritage? Not... quite. I am considered gentry here, yes, but my father would not have been," he said. Noting the second comment, Saral laughed uproarously, "Your wings? That's what you worried about?," he asked, "Worry about my face!" He roared with a only a small hint of good nature in his voice.

((Heh. Minium words, huge delay... sorry.))

Ethari's temper began to flare. How dare he mock him. " You dont get it do you. There are things that I have to hide by instincts. My family was tortured and killed in front of me for angel blood. Now I have to hide my wings because I have instint paranoia. You see thats why!. " By this time he had opened his wings which all angels did when they were mad. His eyes shone with fury. Ethari thought by making fun of his wings he made fun of his dead parents and his missing sister.

Cataraza nipped at his ear. He must keep his temper down. He folded his wings down and said " Im sorry its just that ever since my family died Ive been afraid to reveal my angel heritage." He looked apoligetic at Saral. " But you are correct people mostly dont take to kindly to a zombie amongst them." Ethari sighed and looked at the stars yet again hopeing it didnt upset any one.

As Merenwen was about to respond to Saral she heard Ethari burst out in anger. His anger scared her and she jumped back a little. At first she didn't understand what made him so angry, most people would be bothered more by someone who is undead then an angel, but when she heard what happened to his family she realized what the problem was. She didn't think Saral had meant anything by his comment, it didn't seem like the two knew each other so he probably had no idea of what had happened, but it had to be hard hearing comments such as Saral had made.

She was able to relax again when Ethari's temper cooled; though it seemed obvious that his mind was still on what had happened to his family. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, I'm not going to say I know how it feels because I don't and I wish there was some way I could make things better for you," she said. She didn't know what to say beyond that and thought the best thing to do was change the subject back to why they were all standing here together. She looked back at Saral and said, "I will accept your weapons but if some reason should come where we would need to fight I will return them to you immediately. I would enjoy learning what you can teach and am very willing to accompany you on your quest. I was looking for a new adventure and this one sounds like it could be fun. Do you have any idea where the lieutenant you are looking for is?"

Saral had focused on the angel for a moment, soon deciding he had nothing interesting to say, turned his attention to the newly dubbed 'Elfy', hardly regestering the angel's gibberish of an apology. When Elfy spoke, Saral was well prepared to listen. She spoke of fun and adventure as though they went hand in hand, a refreshing change to Saral.

"The time is only a bit past noon, aye? He'll be at the battlestand for many hours yet. Likes to show off what I taught 'em. Regardless, longer we sit here plottin', better our odds of all getting thrown in a jail cell what makes me smell good. So, Elfy and Shiny, are you ready to walk down the streets to the battlestand with me as your captive? If not, may the gods have mercy on me because I'm going in now. If anyone asks, you're taking me to see Leutenant Veaffson." Saral said, letting small inky blobs of what could be hoped was mainly saliva drip from his maw.

Then he walked. He turned his back on his newly renamed companions and walked off the beach, forcing them to be ready for the act. It was a minor cruelty, but they did volunteer to help him, the angel especially. Saral considered it to be nothing wrong, they could even choose to let him walk into Lomedar alone and unarmed, ready to suffer a constant cycle of death at the hands of the guards that would catch him in minutes.

((Yes, I know it's short. But I really like the post as-is.))

As Saral began to walk away Merenwen jogged to catch up. She was thinking about how odd it had seemed for Saral to call himself a captive when she would use the term companion instead, but then he could be taken as a captive in some ways due to the fact he held no weapons. She was still holding his weapons as he had asked her too and thus had extra weight to carry. The extra weight wasn't really a problem, she was in good shape, but she also had short legs and didn't want to risk falling behind. She knew that if she left Saral to make the trip on his own there was a good chance that he would be attacked on sight and if that happened he would have no way to protect himself. She had agreed to help him and she wasn't going to back down just because there was a possibility that they could face difficulties. Part of any adventure was the difficulties one faced along the way and she really was ready for the trip.

As she caught up with Saral she said, "I have never been to the battlestand, not being a soldier myself, but I am more then willing to make the trip with you. If all goes well we won't be thrown in jail and I definitely would prefer not being in a jail cell. It is adventure I love and from what I have heard of jail all you will find is a dark cell." With that she glanced back out at the water and thought about what was to come. The sun was high overhead and with the clear blue skies she could see for miles around. It was nice having others to travel with for once, though she didn't mind being alone. She hoped the angel would come with because with him the trip was likely to be much easier but if he chose to step out then that was his decision.

((Sorry it's a little short, couldn't think of anything else to say.))

Ethari glided over the sparkling sandy beach untill he reached with the others. He landed besides them and walked down with them down the beach. He felt giddy about the adventure like a child because he had a nickname. Hopeing they didnt face diffuculties he kept close Merenwen because she had all the weapons. Without saying a word he drew power from his dove Cataraza he cast the spell Detect Evil, but sensed a lot of small evil aura probaly radiating from kleptomainiac thiefs and thugs who lurked in the shadows. The thoughts of helping undead did interfere with his moral but he was only a unoffical paladin of the stars. Plus the Saral was good undead who seemed realiable in a fight.

" I havent been to the battle stand ether so I have no idea what its going to be like" Ethari said concerened " oh and Merenwen I could help with some of that load if you want some help."

((OOC: sorry mines short too!))

Merenwen was glad that Ethari had decided to come along. She didn't expect problems, especially with an angel along, but if problems arose they would be better prepared as they now had another person to help on their side. She wasn't surprised that Ethari had never been to the battlefield, he didn't seem like the type to become a soldier, but it left her sure that on this trip Saral would have to lead the way.

When Ethari asked her if she would like help in carrying some of the load she had she realized he was probably talking about Saral's weapons. She wasn't sure whether she should allow him to help or not as Saral had asked her to be the escort carrying his weapons and she didn't want to contradict him. She was also unsure if there had been a reason that Saral had specific chosen her to carry the weapons but she wasn't ready to just pass them off without knowing what Saral thought. If he would prefer for her to carry the weapons then she was perfectly capable of doing so. The only effect it would have is that she would not move as fast as the two of them.

She turned her head towards Ethari and said, "I wouldn't mind the help but there may be a reason that Saral chose me to carry his weapons." She hoped that she didn't sound rude but she didn't feel comfortable just passing the weapons off. She turned to Saral and said, "Would it be okay for him to carry some of the weapons or would you prefer I carried them?"

Saral grunted in an affirming way and nodded, trying very hard not to give orders as they got out into the 'open'. He had disagreed with changing around who held his weapons, to keep it from seeming they were both more concerned with carrying his things than making sure their captive did not escape. It was too late to voice those thoughts, though. At least ten people were watching him with wide eyes now, silently but frightfully. It had pained the knight for the people he had sworn to protect look on him with such fear, such disgust. He had wished his rot would vanish, if only in one place so that he could close his eyes and not need to know their disdain for him.

Still, the knight had to put on a show. He stood still with false fear, waiting for one of his 'guards' to urge him onward and maintain the illusion they had captured him. Trying his utmost to look downward, seemingly to them to show submission. In trusth, he was only trying to keep from knowing how they stared at him. It could not be helped, though, he was a monster in their eyes. An abomination. Though he had considered his body violated and corrupted, he had never doubted his own heart. Still he did not, yet it was exceeding clear that they did.

Although it would have betrayed the character he played somewhat, Saral could not bear not begging at this point. "Blindfold me! Please!" he cried, standing again with his face to the crowd. They were even more scared now, he had made an outburst. This showed that the elf and angel didn't have quite the control they may have seemed to have. Saral knew all of this would happen, a knight understood dramatics, according to his mentor, the one he was squired to. This hardly mattered to him, though, Saral was quickly working into a frenzy fueled by pain. It could not be helped, not by any discipline he had gained in training. Honor was the utmost to him, and their gaze sullied it, there were no teachings to be cowardly when your honor was sullied, none at all.

Merenwen wasn't sure what Saral's grunt meant, she was a little confused on whether it was meant to be an okay in Ethari helping to carry the weapons or that he had his reasons for wanting her to carry them. As she was thinking about this she realized that a lot of people were staring openly as the three of them walked into the city. Some of them looked as if they would like to take Saral down while others just looked scared out of their minds. She decided that if he was really to look like a captive it would be best for her to carry the weapons so Ethari would look to have complete control over the situation. She glanced at him and whispered, "I think it would be best if I kept the weapons and you gave the idea of controlling Saral. I don't like the looks we are getting and fear we may end up with a mob on our hands if we don't seem to have complete control."

She looked out over the crowd and then looked back to Saral. He seemed extremely uncomfortable and she felt bad for him but didn't see that there was much she could do. She wished the people would just back off but was afraid to make a scene because it would only bring more problems on them. As she was thinking this she realized just how badly Saral seemed to be freaking out. Then she heard Saral beg to be blindfolded. She knew that to do so may make it look as if they had no control but she couldn't stand to leave Saral in the state he was in. She carefully set the weapons down and took out the leather scrap the she always used to tie her hair back. She went up to Saral placed it over his eyes like a blindfold. It was barely long enough to tie in the back but at least it would suffice for its purpose.

After she was done she looked out and noticed that many of the people were glaring at her now. She rolled her eyes slightly and picked up the weapons again. She then looked to Ethari and said, "If you could guide him along and show that we had control that would probably be the best course of action." She then said to bath of them, "As we go we will have to lift the blindfold sometimes so you can tell us were to go Saral. We better get going before this crowd gets any angrier then they already are." With that she began to walk slowly down the street.

Ethari made a slight nod to Merewens comment on him leading Saral. Things would end badly if they didnt have complete control on the situtation. He had to make it open that Saral was a prisoner and they had definate control over him. To make this point Ethari made no attempt to hide his angel wings, occasionally stretching out his wings, not pulling his hood to hide his bright blue angel eyes.

As he walked down the street, he strutted making him seem like a paladin with his captured victim. Cataraza, his dove stayed perched on his shoulder like a statue. It was unlike her to wallow in the misery of others. Ethari felt sorry for Saral. Being a paladin himself he knew how much his pride was affected by this.

Ethari reached and unlatched his belt, then used it to tie around Sarals hand. As he reached over he whispered in Sarals ear " Im going to tie this around your hands. If you can peek occasionly or tug on the rope Ill let you see the envirment. Then from there you can vaugly guide me by pulling on my belt in a certain direction."

Then Ethari walked back to the posititon in front and flung his sword over his back. He waited for Sarals response or pull hopeing he had enough time to make a small plan to get them to the battle tent.