The ancient tower was one of mystery and beauty but today that awe was taken away by some necromancer who had found a crystal that could take away the abilities and defence of whoever entered the area around the crystal. The gem was placed at the top room in the tower where the necromancer was working, however blind luck was on the side of good. The crystal was damaged so while it still did what was expected of it the crystal could not get rid of one weapon, one item, one spell and one familiar of the people who entered the area around the Ancient tower, now a small group of people were going to finish what blind luck had started and destroy the crystal.

The day was sunny enough, a few clouds in the sky moved in front of the sun blocking it once in a while. A figure stood in front of the Ancient tower, she wore only a sword on her back as she looked up at the tower. "Well I wish I could say it could be worse but I bet it will. The things I go through to keep places safe for travelers. Well I gotta stop wasting time, I better head on." she said. Suddenly a moan was heard, from the tower windows jumped two orcs and an ogre, she shook her head as she drew her sword. The orcs jumped at her and she spun slashing them with a sword. A clean stripe of red went across the orcs stomaches. They roared in pain as she dodged their axes. She went under one and stabbed it. Quickly withdrawing the sword leaving the orc to fall she turned to the other who swung its axe over hits head in a big show off routine that failed when she stabbed it as well. Turning to the ogre she barly had the chance to move away when it almost hit her with a mace. She dodged the mace and went in for the kill. Standing up from the ogre she looked at the three creatures who protected the tower. "Well...Like I said. Things can get worse and they did. Who knows what creatures are hiding inside to stop anyone who tries to get in." she said. Another sound was heard and she spun to see who it was, her sword at the ready.

Nero had been wandering the woods throughout the day after just leaving the last city he had been in. He didn't really nowhere to go, such was the life of a wanderer like himself. As he made his way quickly and quietly in the woods as to not disturb anyone, sounds and cries could be heard. One might not examine it for being afraid, but Nero was not one to be afraid. A small fairy had been following Nero around lately, and he was thinking that it enjoyed his company.

The medal on the staff he had glimmered in the sunlight reflecting off on trees. He looked around and saw a large tower. The structure of the place was magnificent in size and in beauty. When he came to clearing he stopped to see a beautiful girl, holding next to her a weapon. Nero looked at the girl strangely as two orcs and an ogre appeared. After a couple minutes of battle, it finally ceased as the girl had won. Nero strangely appeared out of the woods as the girl spun around.

Nero looked at the sword hesitantly. "No need for that..." Nero said in a tone of voice as he looked up at the castle. His fairy glimmered by him resting on his shoulder. "Now...what is the reason why we have gathered here today?" Nero asked looking around, "I suddenly feel somewhat weakened when I'm around here. Is this tower why were here?" The wanderer looked up at the castle as he saw a slight glimmer before it vanished.

"Oi, and there must be something up there we have to see about in business? I'll go with you if you would like." Nero said, looking at the girl. Nero turned away as he stared back up at the castle, I wonder what's up there that brought that girl here...No disregard but she's going to need help if the entrance was hauled by two orcs and an ogre. I don't even know if I alone would be able to take on that type of numbers. Very skilled indeed...

The wind started up as crackles appeared in Nero's shirt while staring up at the castle. A daunt mood had loomed over them now, and all they could do was to start in. "Do we need to wait for anyone or..." The fairy tugged Nero's shirt as he spun now spun around. "What is it?" The fairy kept pointing in the wood.

[edited to acknowledge the presence of Twinblade and the fact the Ogre's dead >.> i missread alot before *thwaps self*.]

Arlen had heard of the tower that stood within the Salquedor Grasslands, the great stone oblisk was home to a gem of incredible power, thanks to the tampering of an unknown necromancer, the modified gem was originally inteded to strip people of their powers, however, the necromancers enchantment that was placed upon the gem was failing.
Arlen had heard rumour that a band of adventurers were seeking to route the evil and destroy the gem once and for all and to keep the Salquedor Grasslands free from any such plight.

It had been early morning when Arlen had set off, sitting on his flying carpet he watched the world swoosh past beneath him, the grasslands were a simple place, open widespread plains, greenary all around from small desnse patches of scrub to a few small woods, he could see as he flew over head a heard of animals grazing down below.
Though his eyes were upon the floor, his mind was somewhere else.
Arlen was wearing his wizards cone, a large blue hat that sat upon his head, the cone wasnt the standard that most wizards wore, this one whispered words into his mind whenever he wore it, and this time he needed it, he needed the information it could offer on what it was he was about to come up against.
Of course the cone still threw in some degrading comments about how pathetic a wizard Arlen was, though he squeezed the tip everytime it did causing the cone to yelp and threaten him more, it provided Arlen with minor amusement and kept the cone from going too far.

It was the cone that alerted Arlen to the sight of the tower on the horizon, it started off small, gradually increasing in size, though as he got closer and closer to the tower and thus to the effects of the gem held within the carpet began to grow slower.
"Ahead of you, there it is..The Tower!" the cone whispered into his head, Arlen focused his eyes upon it, intent on studying the tower, however no sooner had he got close enough to study the detail of the tower did the carpet plummet, magic seemingly disappearing from its fibre.
Falling through the air quickly and without any form of protection to soften the landing Arlen soon hit the hard ground of the plains.

As he looked up, he saw that he was at the feet of a woman, holding a sword directly at him, though not intentionally, he could also make out another person standing reletivly near too, his mind still dazed this was all he could make out, apart from a blur behind her which he assumed was the tower.
Rubbing his eyes, his vision soon came back.
Behind where the woman stood, upon the floor lay a mighty Ogre, who held a frigtningly large mace, rolling from under the point of the sword Arlen jumped too his feet and uttered the words of incantation that would produce his flaming lash, his only form of defence against Melee attacks, after all there might be more of them.
The cone lay on the floor next too the now unenchanted carpet, he would pick the cone up later.
"Intresting, the gem is an antimagic focusing device it seems, though it doesnt seem to be working fantastically.."

As he looked once more at the woman, he realised who she was, she had saved him from the Misty Forest some time ago, she had found him lost and in despair and had shown him the way out.
"Umbra!" he cried in shock "A pleasure to meet you again, who's your friend?" He asked, nodding at the stranger.
He turned his full body round too look at him and nodded towards the stranger "Arlen Elderson, Wizard" There was a fight to be had and introductions were hardly at home on a battle field, though he also saw the fact that the stranger was a fighter, just another dumb fighter.
Though he could still feel the pain in his arm from the fall, he hoped this adventure would go well, a stray blow to his arm could potentially make him more useless than he would like too be.

((OOC: It's Raven. This is my alt. :lol:))

The Salquedor Grasslands--a collective name for the expanse of land that stretched between Estolad and the Ered Annon Mountains--was a stretch of land that anybody attempting to get to Ondolond needed to cross. Airell Tarenn had crossed the Salquedor Grasslands many times before in order to reach the Library of the Divine Trinity in Ondolond, home of the Lightbringers. Those had been partially because his own job within the Lightbringers was as a runner, meaning that the task of transferring books from one library to the Library of the Divine Trinity usually fell on him.

This time, however, it was not a return to the Library that made him cross the vast grassland, but a different sort of mission. He had heard disturbing rumors about the goings on at the Ancient Tower in the middle of the grasslands, rumors involving necromancy and a strange but powerful jewel. It was investigating these very rumors that made the celestial fly over the grasslands on that day.

Airell spread his white feathery wings, flying through the slightly windy air that day. The tower was easy to make out on the flat landscape--a single spire of stone that stuck out from the earth. The angel turned towards it, silver hair whipping in the wind as he flew. Blue eyes scanned the area below him as he watched for any attackers. He may have still been inexperienced, but he knew that he made a very easy target.

As he approached the tower, it was clear that something out of the ordinary was happening in this tower. Directly below him, he saw the shape of three people, as well as three creatures that were currently lying dead on the ground. As he flew closer, he realized that the three dead figures happened to be two orcs and an ogre. The people standing around them were a woman who upon closer inspection happened to be a half-demon, a man who seemed to have some angelic heritage about him, and a human who had the look of a wizard.

Airell landed near them, folding his wings against his back as he did so. He noticed that his sole weapon--a longsword, was still there. That made him wonder about something. He had heard that whatever dark power lurked within the tower negated all weapons. Perhaps that wasn't so after all. He turned to them, blue eyes ghosting briefly on the dead creatures at their feet.

"I take it that the dark rumors about this place are indeed true then," he said.

Airell turned to the half-demon. She seemed familiar to him, and he wondered where he had met her before. A sudden thought occured to him, and he began to speak.

"Might you be Umbra?" he asked, "I believe we've met around Lake Aelin."

That had been some time ago, and the meeting hadn't been long, so he couldn't be sure. He remembered that she was there, however, along with a drow and a fellow paladin. He wondered briefly if she was indeed the same half-demon from back then, or if she merely looked similar. He also wondered what all of these people were doing here, and if they were going to investigate the very same rumor he had heard.

((Umbra, I was referring to the "A Lakeside Morning" topic in Lake Aelin.))

A man walked out of the bushes nearby. He seemed startled by the fact Umbra was pointing a sword in his direction. "No need for that..." he said as he looked up at the tower above the two of them, "Now...what is the reason why we have gathered here today? I suddenly feel somewhat weakened when I'm around here. Is this tower why were here? Oi, and there must be something up there we have to see about in business? I'll go with you if you would like." he said. She nodded at the remark of being weakened. "There is a crystal at the top of this tower. According to legend that crystal can completely eleminate any offence and defence a person has. Thank Kieraline that blind luck caused the crystal to be damaged. Thus why we each still have a weapon. But if you want to help...Your more than welcome to come." she said.

Suddenly a cry for help was heard and Umbra moved just before an elderly man landed in front of her. She looked down at him as he looked up at her sword. "Intresting, the gem is an antimagic focusing device it seems, though it doesnt seem to be working fantastically.." he said rolling from under her blade. She took two steps back looking around at the strangers. Well stranger, one was someone she helped a while back.

"Umbra! A pleasure to meet you again, who's your friend?" Arlen asked her. She shrugged "Never met him before." she said. She heard flapping of wings and looked up. She had been told that at least two others would definately be there to get rid of the crystal. Arlen of course was present. Another would be an angel from the lightbringer guild. She turned to find the angel land nearby. "I take it that the dark rumors about this place are indeed true then," he said. Umbra nodded. "That would be correct sir. The crystal is in place already, luckally blind luck was on our side for a change and damaged the crystal slightly." she said.

Suddenly the angel turned to her, "Might you be Umbra?" he asked. She nodded, "Yes, that is my name." she replied to him wondering why he knew her. "I believe we've met around Lake Aelin." he said. Then it struck her how familar he was. They had met at the Lake, at the time she was training but went to the lake for a rest. It was a short meeting but she still remembered the angel. "You remembered correctly sir. But now is not the time to reminice. Who knows what that necromancer was doing. I have heard reports that the necromancer is somewhere in the mines of Ered Anon. There is a samurai dojo up there, I am sure they can handle it no problem. But our mission is to destroy that crystal. So what do you say we head on up?" she said pushing the tower doors open.

Nero listening to the thoughts of the people energetically leaned forward when the half demon recognized someone. It seemed that only Nero was the person that was unacquainted with everyone, and at the sound of "A pleasure to meet you again, who's your friend?" Nero looked at Arlean suddenly. He looked like a fantastic wizard, but how would he fair against the evil that the necromancer could hold up? It seemed as if only one spell could be used, so combos weren't fair game...unless paired up with another to connect two spells...That would be fair game. If the people here paired up then they would be able to use their weaknesses to their advantages.

Nero looked at the angel, quite the being really. From the look of it, it could be seen that it was one from The Light bringers guild, something Nero only wished of doing. He spotted the tower as Umbra continued with answering questions in due accordance with the correct question. So far, a half demon, a wizard, an angel, and a wanderer had paired up in fighting the evil that had befallen on the necromancer. Nero looked up at Umbra when he caught the part of, "Who knows what that necromancer was doing. I have heard reports that the necromancer is somewhere in the mines of Ered Anon. There is a samurai dojo up there, I am sure they can handle it no problem. But our mission is to destroy that crystal. So what do you say we head on up?"

Nero nodded to himself as he followed the half demon up, and then stopped, looking back.

"You two...are going to come right?" Nero said, looking at the wizard and angel who had been absorbing Umbra's words.

"Well, I'll see you inside..." He said after a moment, following Umbra in. Great architecture flourished throughout the building, it was almost as a Cathedral in the terms. Great pipes went here and there, windows were in great abundance, thought they weren't covered in mosaics. What wasn't like a Cathedral was the terms that it wasn't lined in seats, and there weren't any mosaics. Nero suddenly felt more weakened on going in on the tower, his body more tired then usual. I can't wait for this to be completed...and we just started. He thought to himself with malevolence, he didn't know actually when this great task would be completed, but knew that it would take time for it to be completed.

I wonder if the necromancer possesses any skills other then this crystal in terms of summoning up monsters... If he does, this will be a grand fight. We did meet two orcs and an ogre just at the front door. This necromancer likes the terms of power within him, and will do anything for power. If that means weakening everyone in the world, then so be it...he'd probably do that in a heart beat... though I wish I did know what were up against so I could better prepare for the rigorous task ahead... Nero thought to himself, his mind racing trying to keep alert with himself. He looked around as he saw pictures engraved into the walls, deep pictures that didn't make any sense to Nero. Though only living for a short time, these pictures seemed to date back way beyond when there must of been...nothing. This tower was truly old in this fact, as Nero looked around with wonderance... He kept close to Umbra and kept following her, with his staff close to him.

Arlen looked up at the tower, it was quite the spectacle to behold, the stone work was fine and well ketp, many days or months must have been spent on such a grand construction, however, Arlen had to wonder.
The gem that sat at the top of the tower was everybody main goal, Arlen himself had a theory on such a gem as this. Gem or any other magical item that sat atop towers such as this were often a greater part of the towers foundations as was the stone with which it was built, Arlen believed that this tower had been constructed many years ago and should be in a worse state of repair than what it seemed, indeed it appeared immaculate.

The gem was possibly a device which leeched power from any magical source that came near it, negating strength in one item and placing it into the tower which kept it up for many years.
Of course this was just Arlen's theory on the gem, which he kept quiet to himself.

He eyed his present company, two warriors and an angel, of course, Arlen was not best pleased with such an entourage of warriors, if he could have it his own way he would be accompanied by many spell casters, though fate often dealt out hands we do not like.
Arlen had a low disposition on Warriors, any fool could wave a sword and spill their foes blood, though it took a more precise mind to cast a spell with accuracy, and that is what made Spell casters greater in his mind.
He had never seen Umbra use her talent of fighting before, though Arlen assumed it would be just the same as any other warrior, either slow and sluggish with brutal devestation or quick and to points of great pain.
He looked at the other warrior, and did not really know what to make of him, just the same with the angel he supposed, though his proffession was shrouded as well, perhaps a warrior though he hoped for a spell caster, though the former was more likely.

The Warrior and the angel were yet to speak their names, though the warrior spoke.
"You two are comin' in right?

Absent mindedly he nodded his head and replied yes, his thoughts were still on that gem, it would be a useful asset for him to keep hold of if he could, it was such a finely crafted peice of magical prowess that none of the group seemed to understand but him alone.
He had no real intention of letting them break it.
Following behind the Umbra and the warrior he made his way in.

Airell listened to Umbra's words. So the gem was damaged was it? That probably explained why he was still able to keep his weapon. The celestial's blue eyes roved over the Ancient Tower, resting on the top where the gem was. According to Umbra, the gem's controller was somewhere in the Ered Annon Mountains, where he would hopefully be dealt with by a group of samurai.

He watched as the half-demon stepped forward, pushing the tower's great stone doors open. She entered the tower, followed closely by the other warrior. The warrior suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning to them.

"You two...are going to come right?" he asked.

Airell nodded, following the warrior inside just as the wizard did. He couldn't help wondering how they would fare. The gem apparently had a weakening effect on them, which would definitely put them at a disadvantage. The wizard would probably feel the effects the most, seeing as the gem probably negated most of his spells. Also, if those three creatures outside the tower were any indication, the gem could also summon creatures to defend itself. That would cause trouble.

The celestial's hand rested on the hilt of his longsword as he entered the tower. The stone tower had obviously been a very grand place in the past. Now, however, it seemed to be showing its age, although it was still quite strong. A winding staircase stretched far above them, heading towards the upper chambers. The place was very quiet, almost a little too quiet for the angel's liking. There was no sound, other than the sound of his footsteps and the footsteps of his companions.

As soon as he crossed the threshold of the tower, a sudden strange feeling came over him. It was like someone had placed a small burden around his shoulders. It wasn't terribly exhausting, but it was there--a constant nagging presence. He felt...weakened somewhat just by stepping into the tower. There was no doubt in the angel's mind that this was the work of the gem.

"Any idea as to what we might encounter?" he asked, turning to his three companions. His voice echoed uncomfortably in the dark tower, bouncing back against the walls. The tower, however, remained as quiet as the grave--and other than the feeling of weakness and the oppressive air in the tower, nothing really seemed to be amiss.

For some reason, however, Airell just couldn't shake off the feeling that someone or something was watching them, lurking in the shadows above them. The feeling disturbed him, as if something in the tower knew they were there and were waiting for them. He didn't like it, and was eager to get this over with before anything else could happen.

Airell turned his attention back to the matter at hand, turning his eyes back onto his companions. They would need to be ready for anything, since none of them really knew what they would encounter on that day.

Umbra walked in the Tower, the sound of dripping water echoed through the tower making the place sound deserted. But even though the tower was empty Umbra could smell the creatures wating in the Tower. Ever ready to guard the crystal that she and the others had come to destroy. She was followed by Nero after she walked inside. "You two...are going to come right?" Nero asked turning before he walked and followed Umbra. "Well, I'll see you inside..." He said as he followed her inside. She could feel Nero following her closly. She was not sure how the small group would fare but she would go as far as she could. She turned to see who else was comming, Arlen nodded and followed.

They were now in a small circular room, the first floor of the tower. She stood in the stairway and looked up at the stairs. She wondered how long and far they went up to the second floor. All she could see was where they turned. "Any idea as to what we might encounter?" Areil asked his voice echoing through the tower. She shook her head. "Well I fought two orcs and an ogre. So it is apparent that the Necromancer wanted to ensure the crystal's safety. Which makes me wonder what he plans to do with it, and even more...Makes me want to destroy it."She replied.

She looked around. Not much around, knick knacks and such were scattered all over the place. She wondered how many creatures were waiting for them. She sighed and turned to the others. "Well...Lets go." she said as she walked towards the stairway.