Terion walked slowly back through the lightly wooded area near Alulanta Falls, his homeland. He was still leaving a trail of thick tobacco smoke in the air behind him, puffing away in release after two possibly evil beings were trapped by his guile in a snare he had made, conviently, for just such a situation. Perhaps he was growing a bit cruel when it came to his lovely wildland domain. He hoped that the gods, especially his own god Curin, would look mercifully on his choice. As he got nearer to his home he could hear the rushing music of the falls in the air. In the blink of an eye the atmosphere changed drastically. The dusky sky grew darker and redder, it seemed oppressive, as if the world itself wished to crush him into nothingness. Noises, strange high pitched and lonesome things erupted all around him, he was jumping at shadows. He found it hard to breathe as he drew his longsword with a shaky arm. The ring of it. which normally hung in the air and gave him courage, was muffled and dim. Then he smelled it. The stink of magic. He was under enchantment, and despite his anger, he was still petrified and shaking when he saw the source of his current dilema. A tall thin man with long silver hair and icy eyes walked out from behind a thick tree. He wore a skeletal grin and gripped a worn staff in his left hand. Launaux. It was Terion's brother, a face which the ranger had hoped never to see again.

"What's wrong little brother. No delightful jokes? No happy homecoming for old Launaux? I had thought we might have left our old fued behind us."

His brother's tone was cold and sneering, it pissed Terion off to be truthful. He pointed his blade at Launaux's chest and replied.

"What do you want here Launaux? I had hoped your own evil magic had consumed you long ago. The forest weeps with your prescence. Begone! If I never see you again it will be too soon!"

Launaux had come to the Alulanta Falls looking for his brother, Terion. He had known quite well that Terion would not wish to see him, but he had to know something that only his fool ranger of a brother could tell him. There had been a time years ago when thier mother had been lying stricken by intense grief, she had slowly wasted away. Terion had gone on a number of little quests, travelling the land in search of a cure, that would extend her life or lift his curse. He had found many potions and herbs and even a few spells. Launaux had been away from home on a mission of his own, a lusty search for power in realms far from Alulanta. Terion had always held this against him for his little brother felt that Launaux might have been able to help him save the life of thier sick mother. Launaux had been headstrong and selfish in his youth and he did feel some shame at his absence, but time could not be turned back, at least not by any spell that he knew of. Now however, his little brother had some knowledge that he needed.

Upon finding his brother Launaux had cast a charm of fear over him. This was a silly little spell that did no real harm but it might serve to remind Terion of his older brother's power so that he didn't try to attack him outright. The younger ranger would most certainly best him in a combat of arms, but not of wills. Therefore he sent the spell out over Terion for his own safety. Then after thier bittersweet hello, Launaux came right to his point.

"Aren't you going to invite me to your humble abode in the caverns near the falls, little brother? I have some important questions for you regarding your quest for the life of our mother. It may be that you have some knowledge that even your wiser brother is not privy to, and it is in this hope that I visit you today..."

Shintai grunted as he walked towards the falls for a long overdue swim. He built up incredible sweat. Shintai left his people, the Taurens, quite recently.

"Aren't you going to invite me to your humble abode in the caverns near the falls, little brother? I have some important questions for you regarding your quest for the life of our mother. It may be that you have some knowledge that even your wiser brother is not privy to, and it is in this hope that I visit you today..."

What was that? Shintai looked around and saw two males in a bit of a fight. Based on what the taller one said, they were likely brothers. And he could tell that this was not just the daily brotherly argument. Shintai got low and tried to go by unnoticed, but honestly, a big Tauren standing at almost 7 feet tall doesn't hide himself very easily.

It seemed a spell was on the younger of the two as he went by unmoving. A petrification. Shintai pulled out his bulky sword and armed himself.

Terion could hardly believe how bold his brother had become! What right did he have to come here asking for aid? The bastard had abandoned his family at thier time of greatest need and left Terion to grow up much too young. A cold rage like sharp ice spread into his stomach. He struggled against the spell. It released it's hold a bit when confronted with Terion's icy will, thus he was able to lunge forward and swing his sword in a vicious downward stroke, intended to split his single brother into twins. Launaux must have somehow anticipated the attack, he had grown quicker, so only the air felt the brutal bite of Terion's blade. The massive swing left him off balance and when the sorceror proded him from behind with his staff Terion fell face first into the dirt. The mage chuckled.

"Terion! I'm surprised! You must have learned something from your older brother after all. I didn't count on you being so ruthless. I admire your new found strength, but I still require your help."

Terion looked up from his place among the ferns and saw something very odd behind Launaux. It appeared to be a minotaur or something of that same thread. The creature appeared almost comical in the way that it appeared to be trying to hide. It ducked it's enormous body down into an unstable stoop. He rose slowly watching the beast with cautious eyes. The fear had left him, he supposed it was because his enraged and off balance attack had broken his brother's concentration, thereby nullifying the enchantment. Now though, his brother noticed him looking past him.

"Is this one of your friends Launaux?"

The sorceror turned slowly and the minotaur-thing stood up. Launaux gave a little startled cry and jogged back to stand behind Terion brandishing his staff. They both peered at the creature wondering if he was violent.

"Is this one of your friends Launaux?" Caught. Shintai stepped out from behind the tree and held his sword up in Launaux's direction. He grunted before he slowly stepped forward. It was amazing how quickly that the younger one, Terion, broke the petrification- to a certain extent. Shintai knew that it was probably still lingering on his bones and muscles, fighting back and trying to crush him. He swung his sword one time vertically and twice horizontally.

"Giyal Takaman Aruu," he said in Taurahe before running forward to fight. Shintai had never really fought here in Arda, so this was a bit new to him.

Terion was still shaking a little bit, his sword quivering in his hand. Damn look at the size of that thing! It seemed that the creature had some sort of hostile intention in the manner it swung it's sword menacingly in the air before it approached. The ranger did not know the language that the minotaur spoke. He felt a rapid tapping at his shoulder.

"It's a Tauren, Terion. Very rare creatures in this realm! Take his head I'd like to see what properties I can find with the horn."

Terion turned his head too regard his brother with stunned wide eyes.

"What is wrong with you Launaux? Do I look like your errand boy-assassin? Take his gods damned head yourself! Better yet, why don't you ask him if he'll cut off his own head and give it to you? He's about as likely to do it as I am."

Launaux snorted and shook his head but fell silent. Terion swung his shield around in front of his chest with a metallic clunk. He lowered his sword a bit so as not to threaten the Tauren. He didn't have any idea how he would battle this hulking, bull-headed monster. He had a feeling that the 'Tauren' would probably be able to run him over, crushing him instantly. He would have to rely on speed then to save him in the conflict. He wasn't really even sure he would have to battle the massive creature, but the string of nonsensical words that spewed uncerimoniously from it's mouth gave him little comfort. They were guttural and sounded cruel.

"Do you speak the common tounge, beast? We have no dispute with you! I must advise you to lower your weapon or we will see if my stinger can penetrate your leathery hide!"

((OOC: Your move cowboy...))

"Do you speak the common tounge, beast? We have no dispute with you! I must advise you to lower your weapon or we will see if my stinger can penetrate your leathery hide!" Terion was apparently threatened by Shintai. Shintai lowered his weapon seeing as though the two brothers seemed to both be threatened. Shintai looked at Terion and pointed at Launaux before swinging his blade vertically.

In some the little Common Shintai knew, he said, "Enemy." His tone seemed quite serious and thunderous, deep and like a big wall. Shintai grunted again before straightening his back. From what he could tell, Launaux could be threatening to join... them... So he saw it as Terion being an ally. He flexed his spinal cord out and got into a battle stance where he'd be comfortable moving and swinging the collosal blade around and knocking stuff down.

Launax's eyes went wide, exposing thier bloodshot depths from beneath his hood. He couldn't possibly fathom what he had done to this Tauren, perhaps it had heard him asking his brother to take it's head. He was well trained with the worn staff he carried, but in a toe to toe battle with the Tauren, there was no way he would survive. He felt like running, his magic wasn't strong enough to defeat this enemy. He spat on the ground and put his arm on Terion's shoulder.

"You will help me won't you little brother? You know I can't stand against this creature alone, you know it! You can't let me be slain here. There is much I could show you. I've never had the chance to make up for the time we lost, allow me to do so."

Launaux pleaded with his brother through a sad gaze. He hoped his ploy would work, but his brother wasn't stupid. He glanced nervously at the Tauren, sweat beads blossoming on his brow. Terion only looked at him, there was a softness in his gaze, but also a sadness. Launaux thought he might just let the Tauren kill him. He silently cursed his brother and squared his shoulders, facing the Tauren.

"I meant you no harm Tauren! But, so be it. Come and embrace oblivion."

Thus, Launaux, ever cowardly when it came to physical conflict silently cast his web of fear. Stamping his staff into the ground he threw his hand forward in a mystical gesture, launching the Fear spell at the Tauren. As the spell was in the air he turned on his heel and ran for his life, crashing wildly through the grabbing underbrush.

Shintai suddenly had the urge to run. His muscles strained as he turned around. "Fight it..." Shintai strained, and he found himself standing still with his legs in pain. He turned and began to stomp as a slow place towards Launax. He then stopped straining and was running towards Launaux.