[Demon's Hand]Chapter 1:In the beginning

[Talonn]

Talonn was musing at how the dwarf had, once more, wrangled him into buying the drinks. He was looking up at the warrior that they had offered a seat when he saw the cloaked figure move. The hood was pulled far enough forward that he could not see the person's face. He made note of the grace with which the stranger crossed the room. A slender hand brushed back the hood.

[Sala]

"Greetings. I am known as Sala. I was wondering if I could join you for a while. It has been a while since I have seen another one of my kind who doesn't seem to recognize or be bothered by my curse." She looked down, blushing.

[Raye]

He had been watching the half elf and his dwarf companion with an idle sort of interest, the gaze of his sky bright eyes screened and fractured by the fall of his long pale hair. When the warrior, then the elven woman approached and were granted the company of the distant table, his curiosity could no longer be contained and he stood from his lonely seat at the bar. He picked up an empty chair from a table where two kender sat and moved to join the other elven folk.

[Talonn and Kaa]

Kaa sat forward as the elf-maid spoke. Talonn slowly rose from his seat and set his pipe down. There appeared to be great sadness in her eyes. For a moment, he could do nothing but look into her eyes, as if seeking a way to ease her pain. A snort from Kaa broke the stillness of his tongue. "Be welcome, Maiden Sala. I am T'alonnias Egel'kaliuba.", Talonn said with a bow. "I am called Talonn Eaglesmane by men . I would consider it an honor if you would join us." He motioned to the seat closest to her as he sat.

Kaa mumbled through his beard, "...formal greetings" Flourishing his pipe, he spoke clearly, "Please join us, Sala. Your presence is most welcome. We will need more drinks I fear. I hope your purse has some weight, lad." Talonn returned the nudge with smile and chuckle.

[Sala]

Sala smiled happily and took the proffered seat. They both seemed very kind. It had been a long time since she had been welcome in such company and she wondered how long it would last ance they found out the nature of her curse.

[Kaa]

"Now tell me, lass. What is all this about a curse? If your beauty is what you speak of, then I wish to be cursed by you this instant. Hold your tongue, Talonn. You aren't that far from looking like a goat yourself."

[Sala]

Sala looked down and blushed, stopping herself from reaching for her hood. She opened her mouth to explain, but before she could...

[Kaa]

Kaa's eyes widened for a moment before he squinted like he was trying to see through a wall. "What is this? Sala, either I have been blinded by your elfin charms or this rogue has finally driven me mad. Take no offense, I beg you, but I believe the fur stole you wear just yawned at me!"

[Raye]

The dark elf padded up to the the table, his bare feet silent on the Inns wooden floor. "Since when is beauty a curse?" he asked, flipping his hair back from his eyes with a casual toss of his head. "I would think it......" what ever the dark one was thinking is lost as he too looked to Sala's fur, eyes widened in surprise in reaction to Kaa's comment.

[Sala]

Sala looked startled for a moment and then realized that they had taken Pine for a stole. She looked done and raised her hand to her mouth the cover a laugh. As she put a hand up to her shoulder Pine crawled out from his nesting place and looked around curiously. Sala ptted him and said, "I am sorry for the confusion. This is Pine. He is a...friend." She placed the ferret on the table and he meandered around for awhile inspecting thier new acquaintences.

Meanwhile Sala glanced at Talonn, before smiling at Raye and Kaa and blushing some more, "I thank you for your compliments. How I wish that was my curse," she said wistfully. She reached up to stroke the violet sun at the base of her neck, "It is much more devastating, I'm afraid. As you can see since my birth I have been marked, this birthmark and my un-elflike coloring. They are signs of the demons that have a geis on my soul. My parents had wronged the wrong creatures and the demons decided to take me as payment. My parents abandoned me as soon as they saw the signs, but it was the demons' will that I live. Now they take over my body when they will and do with it as they will. When they choose to I will be taken away to thier domain to remain at thier mercy. Everyone I have told this too wants nothing to do with me for fear that it will rub off on them or for fear of what the demons will do when they take me over. I suppose if I remain in this realm long enough I could pass it on if I have children, but I do not think it can be passed on any other way." She paused and looked at them. "There is one point in my favor though. The gods have smiled upon me since it was not my sin that caused this and they have blessed me generously in other ways." She tipped her head and smiled at Kaa, "And not just my appearance..." She Gestured to Pine and he ran over to her. She stoked his fur and suddenly rather than fur she was stroking the black feathers of a crow. Pine cawed and flew up to the rafters.

[Kaa]

As Kaa listened to Sala's story a scowl formed on his face. When the ferret turned into the crow, he nearly choked on his pipe. Sera arrived with a pitcher and extra tankards and allowed the dwarf time to recompose himself. It was evidence to his surprise that he paid Sera without thinking.

[Talonn]

Talonn had sat quietly through Sala's tale. As she spoke, he could feel the 'Rage' rising in him. A tinge of red now formed on the edge of his vision. He knew that his eyes would now have a faint glow. He lowered his head, in an effort to not frighten Sala, and pretended to refill his pipe. He barely noticed her animal's transformation.

"Sala, is there a way to break your geis? Surely there must be something that can be done?" Talonn asked.

[Sala]

Sala looked down from where Pine had roosted to Talonn and saw the red glow in his eyes. She swallowed nervously. Was this another demon playing with her? She chewed on her lower lip. No, she had to trust someone sometime. As she spoke her voice was a bit weak, but it got better as she went on.

"I..I tried at first, but there was nothing I could do alone and no one of my kind would help me. I have no idea how I could rid myself of them anyway. My magic is not of that type." As a tankard of ale was placed in front of her she waved her hand over it and it became warmed, spiced wine. She took a couple of sips to sooth her nerves. this was the longest anyone had stayed after she had told her story, but for some reason the demons hadn't come to scare them away yet.

[A walking statue]

Sitting at their table talking, Talonn, Kaa, Raye and Sala slowly become aware that they are being approached by a rather odd... statue?

What looks like an animate humanoid statue, perhaps seven feet in height,seemingly composed of a dark grey stone, is slowly walking in their direction, the 'joints' seeming to flow as though they were liquid rather than solid. It appears vaugely human, almost as if someone had begun to carve it, and then stopped while only the rough features were done. Despite this, it's surface seems to be completely smooth, showing no edges or cracks. It's eyes appear as solid black spots against the dark grey body.

Shortly, it reaches the table where the four are sitting and comes to a halt, then turns it's head side to side, apparently looking the four over, producing that same curious appearance that it's neck is flowing rather than actually moving.

[Raye]

Raye caught the strange motion out of the corner of his eye and looked up at the lumbering bit of stone. A look a startled surprise crossed his ebon features...then his eyes narrowed, instantly wary. "What may we do for you creature of magic?" the drow purred, his voice cool and soft like frosted velvet.

[Kaa]

Kaa sat up straighter as the man....statue stepped to the table. He looked around at the group that had gathered at the table. *Quite a group*, he mused. Tapping his pipe on his boot, he said, "Welcome and well met to all. Sala, my dear, before you answer the question that hangs before us, I suggest that we take a moment to wet our throats and introduce ourselves properly." Sloshing the ale around as he pours some into each tankard, he gestures for everyone to take one.

"I am Ordan-Kaa. My friends call me Kaa, and I count you all here as friends. I come from the enclave of Deepholt. You won't see it on any map here in Montfort for it is many leagues and an ocean away from this town."

[Talonn]

Talonn looked at each that sat or stood at the table. The 'Rage' still burned in him over Sala's curse. The glow of his eyes reflected in his ale when he drank. When Kaa finished his introduction, he set his tankard down and nodded to all.

"I will forgo my elven name for it trips even my tongue at times. I am Talonn Eaglesmane. I hale from the same region as Kaa, although I was born many leagues from Deepholt. Well met to all. If you can sit, large one, please do so and be welcome."

[Raye]

With his wary gaze still on the strange stone creature, the dark one spoke his turn, voice warmer but still velvet soft.

"Greeting and well met, Lady Sala, Talonn Eaglesmane and kind Kaa, I am Raye Nightshade. I was born in the not so distant forest of Elmore, the fair wooded kingdome of my sire Fernhoof. I have just returned here alone to Monfort after the companions i had long travled with went their seperate ways."

He picked up one of the unclaimed mugs of ale and took a thoughtfull sip before he spoke on. "I do get tired of my own company from time to time and i thank you greatly for allowing me to join in on your company and for the blessing of this ale."

[Hammer]

"I am Hammer, champion of clan Devil Dog. I hail from a small villiage in Mythguard. Having only seen the winter wastes of my homeland, I wish to see other sights from this world. I seek adventure so at home they will sing of my glories. I know you are not familiar with my traditions, so I will not sing of my glories so far. However, I have known adversity, and conqured it."

Hammer then downed his ale quickly, looking at all assembled as he waved for more Ale.

"I am a bezerker, so I will never leave your side during battle, and I fear nothing. I bring this battle rage on myself at will. Their are no accidents."

[Sala]

It had been so long since she had had to formally introduce herself she wasn't exactly sure what to do. She smiled nervously at the others, "All I can remember of my true name is Salana'talea, but all anyone has ever called me is Sala." She looks down at the table sadly, "I was too young when I was cast out to remember more of my name or to know the manners of how to act among others, let alone how to introduce myself. Please excuse me if I do or say anything wrong."

[A Walking Statue]

At last the statue spoke, it's voice sounding like stone sliding agaisnt stone, which may well have been exactly what was happening. "You intend to pursue an objective together. Then I will join you. I am studying the ways of organics. I have no name as you use them." The statue's face had remained completely expressionless as it spoke.

It made no move to pick up the ale that had been set aside for it, but simply stood there after speaking, motionless again.

[Sala]

Sala looked around at those gathered at the table. It was so wonderful that they hadn't sent her away yet. They even seemed interested in helping her if it might be possible. Then she realized exactly how tired she was getting. She called Pine down from the rafters and petted him once again turning him into a soft bunny this tiem. She curled her legs up underneath her and scooped him into her lap, softly stroking his fur. She tried to stifle a yawn, but failed.

"I do not know what more I can do to find out about these demons. If anyone else does I am open to trying." She looked down at Pine and ran her fingers over her birthmark. "It would be nice to be freed from a curse that has been with me since before birth." She looked back up at them.

[Hammer]

"In my villiage, we have a Priest, Y'mak, who talks with The Thunderer. And The Thunderer tells him why things are the way they are. Why the snow does not fall, why the food did spoil, why the Orcs were raiding. The Thunderer gives him puzzles for answers, but he does answer. Perhaps Y'mak can find out for you? I do not know if The Thunderer would answer or not. However, it is a suggestion."

[Raye]

Looking thoughtfull....Raye listened to the conversation before offering "I am not a grand fighter, and i have no Priest to offer. I am however a fair healer, and would be glad to offer my magic and sword to your cause." His bright eyes glitter with a soft, gentle affection. "It would be my honor to aid such a fair lady as thee Sala."

[Sala]

She smiled at these people who had offered to help when no one else ever had. "I thank you all for your help. Perhaps tommorrow we can start looking." She ducked her head and coverd a yawn with her hand, "I think it is time for me to get some rest." She looked away from them and then looked back a little embarassed. "I do not have a room, but I will return in the morning when the sun comes up. If any of you still wish to help I will see you then." She got up and slipped out of the inn into the night.

[A walking statue]

"I will wait here." the statue stated, not moving from it's position.

[Raye]

Not long after Sala quick departing, Raye too made his way to the door. "I shall see you all in the morn" he declairs, then disapears into the gathering darkness.

[Hammer]

"I have had a long journey to find the famous Dragon's Inn, well known as the meeting place of adventure. Klar was correct in suggesting I come here. I will join you in morning, but perhaps a good nights rest is in order. Good night, my new friends." Hammer picks up his giant War Hammer, and approaches the Bar Keep, buys a room, and retires for the night.