Eragon, Where Dragons dare

[doliest]

Bilbo
"Agreed." Bilbo grabs his pack and starts moving around the table, quickly taking things that won't spoil quickly and stuffing them in large amounts. He knew a few recipes that would turn spoiled food into something edible, so as long as it would last a few days, it was acceptable. Soon he'd be on an adventure again, How Grand! It had been far too long since he'd been out and about, stuffed away in his hole; what, five, ten years? He'd take advantage of the expanded life the ring gave him, now that he could! Now if only he could get Gandalf, or Frodo to come for a visit. Following a long night of extra packing, Bilbo hops onto the pony and lets out a, "High ho, Silverwind!"

[Cracklord]

Elric
The Sprite flashes through it, then does not return. Slowly, the residue of light fades, until you are gain in pitch dark.

Arya
Eragon blushed. His cheeks redden, and his neck prickles. You get a sudden urge to laugh. "She said... that is, she felt that the two of us deserve some time alone, to appreciate each others company."

Bilbo/Divlish
The sun rises. Theodoric supplies the provisions, a pony for Bilbo, then offers a guide. Your head is ringing a bit from the ale, but it feel good to be on the road again.

[industrious]

Raistlin

"Eragon, we will have plenty of time together after my...news. I'd like to thank Saphira for saving me as well, and it doesn't work if she isn't here in person. It will only take a few minutes, and then she can leave again. Please...for me?" Arya takes a single slow step towards the Rider as she speaks.

[Cracklord]

Eragon closes his eyes and focuses. Slowly, the dragon flies into view.
I was hunting. Says Saphira reproachfully. Then, she stares at Arya curiously.

[darkblade]

Black Knight

"I am the Black Knight of Camelot, loyal retainer of King Arthur and Merlin the soroucer. I come to negotiate a peace with your Lord and to warn you of an oncoming assault by the Varden." Percy explains.

"I know you have managed to hold your own reasonably against the Varden thus far but they seem to have allied themselves with a great wizard and an undying warrior from another world."

***

Leonidas

Leonidas and the Spartans raise their shields to block any incoming arrows. As they wait to see how the elves plan to get into this keep.

[industrious]

Raistlin


'Arya' bows to Saphira. "I apologize, Saphira, for interrupting your hunt. I assure you that that will never happen again." Moving that she faces the both of them, the mage takes a deep breath and begins to speak, slowly moving closer as she does so.

"Eragon...Saphira, I would like to thank you for saving me in the desert. I would have died without you. Thank you for saving my life yet again. And Eragon..." 'She's' practically touching him now; their bodies are separated by mere inches. 'Her' finger touches his lips. "I just wanted to say..."

Raistlin moves his hands to the Rider's shoulders and shoves him; not hard enough to send him reeling, but enough to make him stumble back several steps.

"...that you're an idiot." Seeing the hurt and shock on the young Rider's face, 'Arya' sneers. "I don't understand, Arya," she taunts, imitating his voice.
"Let me make it clear to your pathetic little mind."

The elf's fingers snap, and the woman is covered by a set of conjured black robes. The right hand flourishes, and the Staff of Magius appears, it's steel-shod tip emitting sparks as it hits the stone of the keep. The left flourishes, and a green marble appears; mist-filled, and glowing faintly. The orb grows in size until it barely fits within the palm of the mage's hand, illuminating Arya's face from underneath his cowl. The Dragon Orb; the last of it's kind. Created by the most powerful magic users to destroy and enslave the race, it is the perfect weapon for a world such as this. And Raistlin Majere is it's master. Face still caught in a gruesome smile, the archmage whispers the words of activation and binding.

"Ast bilak mioparalan Suh akvlar tantangusar!"

[Cracklord]

Eragon draws his sword faster then you can even see. "Letta!" He shouts, forcing Raistlin back to slam into a wall with bone crunching force, then charges after him, swinging the sword. "What have you done with her?" He screams.
Then Saphira opens her maw, and blue hot fire streams out, so hot it melts the very stone you stand on. But it doesn't affect you. Saphira seems almost powerless, impotently struggling against the clutches of the greatest of artefacts.

Percy
The man nods. "Galbatorix would certainly have interest in that, I think." He smiles hideously. "His... apprentice is running things in his absence. Perhaps you will deign to see him?"

Leonidas
The Elves plan is more straight forward then you anticipated. A handful use magic to blow of the doors and iron portcullis, and the rest leap ten feet over the moat at a running jump.

[industrious]

Raistlin

The elf's face streches, distorts for a moment, and assumes a pathetic, loving expression. Fear-filed eyes look upon Eragon..."Help...me...", 'she' whispers, reaching the arm holding the Staff towards Eragon...and suddenly returning to Raistlin's usual derisive sneer. Ignoring the pain that dwarfed that of his Test, Raistlin speaks the Words once more.

"Ast bilak mioparalan Suh akvlar tantangusar!" The Dragon Orb had bound the great wyrm Cyan Bloodbane to its will centuries ago. It would bind the young whelp Saphira Bjartskulr equally well.

[doliest]

Lord Soth
Soth's head shakes; he can feel the wizard activate the dragon orb. Soth stalks up to the roof from where he can feel it's power emanating; careful to stay out of sight as he makes his way up. He had promised not to interfere and he would not, but he did want to see just what the Wizard was planning.

[Cracklord]

Saphira, with a groan of defeat, submits. Her eyes are still defiant, but the rest is meekly submissive. Eragon's word drops from nerveless fingers, an instead he launches a haymaker punch, knocking Raistlin of her feet. "Let her go!" He demands, following with another punch, dislocating her jaw. "Both of them!"

[industrious]

Raistlin is knocked down, but he still smiles through bloodstained lips. Through his jaw, he manages to croak out three words: "Pin him down."

[Cracklord]

Saphira knocks Eragon from Raistlin, a huge taloned claw restraining him. Eragon struggles, furiously but uselessly, then his eyes (hazel and flecked with blue as his bond with his dragon strengthens) harden. Slipping his hand into the bag he wore at his side, his eyes narrow. "Letta." Saphira is thrown from him, then held in place, unable to move, suspended in midair as though time had stopped just for her. Eragon removes a piece of amber shaped like an egg, glowing brilliantly but rapidly fading, and turns to stare at Raistlin. "You just crossed a terrible threshold. " He all but growls.

[industrious]

Raistlin

The archmage inclines his head. "Match him. Power for power. Even if you die trying."

The only move the wizard himself makes is to hold the Staff of Magius before him defensively, the orb stowed away in one of the robe's pockets. He doesn't need actual contact with it to command the dragon; he is the artifact's master.

[Cracklord]

Eragon holds his place for a minute, then rhe amber stops glowing and he collapses. Saphira plummets like a stone.

[industrious]

Raistlin crosses over to Eragon, and takes the amber egg from the Rider's hand, before moving back away. Placing his hand on the dragon orb he clucks his tongue. "Wake up Saphira; there is still work to be done. Pin your dear Rider down, but be careful not to harm him unduly. I wish to have a chat with him."

[Prime32]

Lina Inverse
Lina and Gourry spend the next few days travelling along the path {which follows the Toark river?} looking for signs of bandits to rob.

{Sorry to break up your scene }

[Cracklord]

Ristlin
Saphira catches herself at the last moment, swooping back up and doing as you command, but gently, almost tenderly. Eragon's eyes open as she lends him some energy, and they mist over with hate.

Lord Soth
You arrive to see Eragon pinned by his dragon, Arya/Raistlin strutting around him, sneering.

Lina Inverse
You don't seem to be in luck, the path appears deserted. Truly this seems a terrible world. Then ahead, you see what appears to be a palisade wall. Perhaps you're in luck.

[industrious]

"Oh Eragon, Eragon, Eragon..." Raistlin begins. "It must be a burden for you to be so utterly incompetent. It is entirely possible that you have as much power as me, magically speaking, but I, unlike you, use it. I explore the paths and powers, seek out the options other than brute force alone. While you, my dear Rider, are nothing more than a boy" ('She' straddles him now, reveling in the power 'she' has over him) "with an inordinate amount of undeserved power. You didn't even think to invade my mind; any first-year apprentice in my world would have thought to do so. After all, that is the only way to break the hold I have on your elf and Dragon. Mind against mind, will against will, alone. No dragons, no magic; just a contest between two men."

[darkblade]

Leonidas

((You are making the universe will them back into their movie Speedos aren't you?))

Spartans! Discard your armour and swim across to the other side! Leonidas who had already removed his breast plate in the sewers jumps into the moat and swims across.

***

Black Knight

"That would be most helpful yes. If I may." Percy nods as he ties Thunder down.

[Cracklord]

Eragon
"I'm not as big a fool as you think." He says back. "You seek to force me into a confrontation sloped in your favor. well never fight the way your opponent wants you to. For the moment, you've won. Now what? Take over the Varden and kill Galbatorix yourself?"

Leonidas
((Oh, like they need an excuse))
The men eagerly comply. diving into the water. The arrows shot by the defenders are poorly aimed and you mannage to get tothe other side unscathed.

Percy
The Black Knight was escorted with little ceremony to the great hall, where the entirety of Galbatorix’s court were housed, along with visiting dignitaries and an endless stream of toadies, flatterers, nobles and other aristocrats, all seeking the king’s favor. Almost none of them received it, but politics was never an easy game, and while most wasted their time, occasionally one would, and it led to the opportunity to make alliances and agreements with each other, and was far more interesting then life in their estates.

[industrious]

The wizard's eyes glimmer with something like pride.

"No. I suppose you aren't. But you overestimate the worth of this pathetic war, this miserable continent, this insignificant world. My plans, Eragon? I could rule this world if I so desired, forsaking subtlety for power. I could enslave your peoples until the end of time. But I will not. This whole charade, the reason why I came here to begin with? Practice for my real endeavors." The mage unhooks the Belt of Beloth the Wise from Eragon's waist, and picks up the sword Brisingr. He begins to walk away from the Rider.

"There is no 'for the moment', Eragon. You have lost. Saphira. Eat him."

Crossing the keep to face Lord Soth, Arya salutes. "Lord Soth. Inform Nuasda that Eragon has been captured by a team of Imperial magicians. And that Arya was wounded while trying to fight them off; she asks to see her as soon as possible."

[doliest]

Lord Soth
"So you're doing all this to the young rider, why again, wizard? Somehow I don't think this situation will come up in Krynn." Soth says, watching Saphira begin to devour Eragon, "Don't worry boy; he's agreed not to kill you; otherwise I would interfere, it's really just unbelievable pain for a few hours; days at most. Isn't that right, Wizard?"

[Cracklord]

Eragon screams, hitting Saphira's maw, tears in his eyes and biting his tongue in half. It is a blood curdling shriek, enough to terrify a lesser man. Saphira's mind has all but snapped, as she tortures the being who is literally one half of herself, the pain mutual through the bond.

[doliest]

Lord Soth
"ENOUGH!" Soth yells, hurling a fireball at Saphira, "I need him alive Wizard; call of the dragon or I'll make sure to deliver your weak, sniveling soul to the abyss in advance!"

[industrious]

Raistlin

"Because, Lord Soth, he is a man who has had every opportunity, has the ability to unlock every skill, to wield both sword and spell together at the same time. And he has squandered it. He is not worthy of the power he holds. I earned my power through sacrifice, through years of study and derision. He? He was just a farmboy who got lucky." The mage whispers a few more words of power, feeling the magic flow through this stolen body of his.

"You'll still be alive, Eragon. I cast a spell to keep you in this world for a few days. Though the journey might not be nearly as pleasant as death's cold embrace." Raistlin reaches over to pat the dragon on the head. "Good dragon."

[doliest]

Lord Soth
"Funny; felt more like jealousy to me. Jealousy from a wizard who got lucky, a weak little boy who needed his sister's help just to survive and who watched his brother excel in everything, a little wizard who found out he was good at magic, amazing, really. He reaches his peak and comes to a new world, only to find someone who was everything his brother was, with magic; and that shocked you, didn't it? Now lengthen that spell; I need him alive longer than a few days, and at his peak." Lord Soth says, letting his cold voice ring across the keep roof.

[darkblade]

Leonidas

The Spartans enter the Keep and beguin to slaughter any imperial warriors they come across.

***

Black Knight

Percy waits quietly in the back of the hall listening to the other deals being made. Hoping that something of interest shall be said.

[Cracklord]

Saphira shudders, unable to stop, the fireball dissipating harmlessly, unable to overcome the dragons resistance. Eragon should have fallen unconscious from trauma long ago, but Raistlin's terrible will won't let him.

Leonidas
The Elves have already cleared out most of the lower levels, and the rest of the Imperial troops are making a stand on the top floor.

[doliest]

Lord Soth
Soth curses; it's time to get serious then. He starts whispering the words of binding once more; they failed on the rider, but he was near peak, the dragon is weak from resisting and more, the words might work, and if not...if not The Master of Past and Present would be testing his magic against Lord Soth's.

[industrious]

Raistlin

"Do not dare to order me around, Soth. Or I will send you back to Krynn alone, without your new obsession. Or perhaps to some other world; one where your abilities will be made irrelevant. The Rider will live long enough for your plan. Now follow my instructions, Lord Soth. And I will give you this world, and your precious little Nuasda."