Nightshade’s eyes snapped open. She was in her bedroom, the only room in a tall tower. The drop from her open window was thirty stories from the ground, at least. The room was dark, only the starlight made a slight light. She was lying in her black canopy bed. She quickly walked to the window. Her extremely keen ears picked up shouts from the ground level.
She grabbed her sword, bow and arrows, and her black cloak. She swiftly ran down the steps, and within ten minutes, made it to the bottom. She entered the dimly-lit room.
Her Captain of the Guard rushed into the room. Surprise lit up his face, he stood there a moment, then quickly bowed. “Five of the prisoners have escaped,” he said, still facing the ground on his knee.
“How did they escape?” she asked, her face a mask of cool perfection. The only part of her that usually showed emotion was her eyes.
“They picked the locks with a fork, and escaped.” he said nervously. He looked up, to see her expression. He was rewarded with a hard slap across the face.
“Why didn’t the guard notice them?” she asked, still showing no emotion.
“He fell asleep.” he said.
“Did they take horses?”
“Yes.”
“Follow me.” came the answer, but surprisingly the voice was not in front of him. He looked up, and didn’t see her. He looked around swiftly. She was standing, holding the door open, waiting for him to come. He walked to her, with as much dignity as he could muster.
She turned, and walked swiftly down the hall. The hall ended, and she walked into a huge courtyard that was lit by fires in each of the four corners.
“Gather my cavalry and swordsmen.” she said, while walking towards the stables. “And,” she turned to him, “You better make it fast. You wouldn‘t want your cellmates to leave you alone.” He bowed, but she was already walking away.
She went into the stables. The stable hands scrambled out of her way.
The head groom walked up to her. “I will personally see to it your horse is ready for you,” he said bowing, as he had been listening to their short conversation.
She looked at him, her eyes told him she was disgusted. She pushed him out of the way, and walked to the last stall. The cavalry men and women showed up then, saddling their horses and taking them outside to mount. She completely ignored them. She stepped into the dark stall. She didn’t flinch as a black head materialized from the darkness.
“Synbad,” she whispered. The horse snorted slightly. In one swift motion she jumped lightly onto his back, and he galloped out of the now-empty stables. She stopped in front of her cavalry and faced them.
“Soldiers, search the city thoroughly. Bring the captives to me if you find them. You are dismissed.” she said, and the swordsmen left to search the huge city in which they were in the center of.
“Cavalry.” She turned back to them. “Follow me,” she said, and urged her horse into a gallop.
The cavalry followed, a swift and silent force. The main street was empty except for a group of street children. She drew her sword, and quickly killed the two closest to her in stroke. The cavalry finished the rest. She had no place in her heart for children.
In fifteen minutes they drew near to the gate. She slowed to a canter, and looked at her herald. He blew three short blasts on the horn hanging at his side. The gates swung open silently, and they cantered through. She tracked them over a small plane, and then into a dark forest, in the direction of Niefland.
I will find them...She thought.


Plot: Nightshade is the queen of a country named Zephoran (the capital, in which the prisoners were kept and Nightshade and her army resides, is called Carasbane). Zephoran borders the sea and a country called Niefland (short a in “-land”). Unknown to the king and people of Niefland, Nightshade has been planning an attack for seven months now. Her army is ten times as big as it was, and four times as big as Niefland’s.
The king of Niefland, Glactorus, sent one messenger (with four soldiers) to Zephoran with a treaty to be signed by the queen, even though there had been peace for five years. The group never came back. (What happened was they “accidentally” overheard Nightshade’s plans to attack them. They were caught by Nightshade and put into prison. They stayed there for two weeks, when they escaped, and yes, using a fork. Their plans are to inform Glactorus on the plans of attack, and then to follow his plane from there.) the king sent another messenger, asking if she got the last message. She answered that she hadn’t, and they must have been harmed by nature by the way and were killed.
The soldiers and messenger are now galloping towards Niefland on horses they “borrowed” from Nightshade’s stables.

Characters:

Evil:
Nightshade - Lasbelingur
Nightshade’s daughter - Lasbelingur

Good:
Messenger - Dark Melda
Soldier 1 - Dark Melda
Soldier 2 - Elenriel
Soldier 3 - Elenriel
Soldier 4 -

OCs:


Note: OC’s may be in Nighthshade’s army, or in Glactorus’s (once the group gets to him).

My Bios:

Name:: Nightshade Orion (or-ion, short I)
Race:: Elf
Age:: 29
Gender:: Female
Attire:: Black leather shirt with one short sleeve that goes over left soldier, black skirt down to ground, black cloak with a hood that fastens onto shirt
Appearance:: White eyes with slight hint of blue, black hair down to lower back, short in height, very muscular yet lean in figure
Weapons:: Curved sword, bow/arrows, multiple daggers
History:: She was born in Carasbane, and was brought up as a warrior by her father, the king. When she was sixteen, she fell in love and got married to a man named Isbane, a human. When her father found out about their marriage, he stormed in on them, and killed him. Nightshade gave birth to their child, and named her Starfire, defying the tradition of naming all children with a name beginning with n. She became queen at age 24.

Name:: Synbad
Owner:: Nightshade Orion
Race:: Horse
Gender:: Stallion
Appearance:: very muscular, all black, 15 hands tall-5 ft. at withers, or base of neck

Name:: Starfire Orion
Race:: Half-elf
Age:: 13
Gender:: Female
Attire:: Black dress down to ground, black cloak with hood that fastens onto shirt
Appearance:: Blue eyes, black hair down to lower back, very muscular and lean in figure
Weapons:: Bow/arrows, multiple daggers
History:: Was born child of Nightshade and Isbane Orion. She was taught to be a warrior from the moment she could walk. She has the authority of the first/top general but is still a private.

Name:: Silvamord
Owner:: Starfire Orion
Race:: Snow leopard
Gender:: Female
Appearance:: three feet tall, muscular and sleek, all white

Name:: Sylan
Owner:: Starfire Orion
Race:: Horse
Gender:: Stallion
Appearance:: very muscular, all black, 13 hands tall-4 ft., 4 in. at withers, or base of neck

Please Join!!!

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Sounds cool
I'll take the messenger and one of the soldiers, if thats OK. :]
Bios;

Messenger;
Name:: Scarlett Abyssia
Edit;p middle name is Tyadon. Her mother sometimes calls her Tya.
Race:: Elf
Age:: 27
Gender:: Female
Attire::
Appearance:: Just past shoulder-length hair; dark red eyes[her namesake]. Average height, slender, lithe and agile in movement. Very slight smile.

Weapons:: A short, thin daggter, with the symbol for "truth" etched into the blade. A long slim bow, and a quiver of silver-tipped arrows.
History:: HAs spent most of her life working for the king, delivering messages to people of importance or simply messages of urgency. HEr father was advisor to the King, therefore she found he place as a friend as well as a willing and trusted server.

Soldier;
Name:: Kandyl Leonide
Race:: Elf
Age:: 32
Gender:: Male
Attire:: Navy blue uniform; imprinted with the insignia of his station and command unit.
Appearance::
Weapons:: Daggers held in in his hands by specially made straps, also a sword handed down from his ancestors, passed from father to son.
History:: As his was military family, he naturally joined to serve the King, as his father did before him. He got to know Scarlett through his work near and about the King with his father; then when needed he volunteered to help her in her delivering of messages, at times when she needed to stay undiscovered or safe.

Those alright?

Welcome, DarkMelda. Those bios are fine... Now if we could only get other people to join...

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Yessssss.

I pokes them.

Can I join as a female soldier (I guess in a sense she is like a shieldmaiden)?
If you would like, I can take another soldier as well.

EDIT: Here is my bio.

Name:: Rane Anwyl
Race:: Elf
Age:: 24
Gender:: Female
Attire:: A dark green form-fitting tunic, dark boots and wrist guards and a dark cloak to conceal her features (when she is out in the field alone)
When she is on a mission however, she wears the standard uniform
Appearance::
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6071/maidenwa3.jpg
Weapons:: Curved sword with the elvish word for Justice inscribed on the blade, long bow and daggers
History:: Rane grew up as a lady of noble birth, yet she had no love for needlework and dance (though she was forced to learn them by her family). Rather she was born with a strong spirit and found her place in the service of the King’s army. She had a natural affinity for the sword and bow and often found herself volunteering for the most dangerous missions. She knew Darius since she was a little girl and often liked to ‘tag-along’ with him and his companions-much to the older boy’s annoyance. As she grew older, she found herself drawn to childhood friend for many years, but refused to admit any feelings for him.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Sure, Elenriel, you can have a soldier. Do you want to have two soldiers? Cuz if you don't, I'm not going to make you. But I'm not saying I don't want you to take the soldier...
Sorry, if that's confusing...

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Sure, I'll take a second soldier. Will it be okay if I eventually pair my two soliders together? I'll have the second bio up later.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Sure, Elenriel.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Thanks.

Here is my second bio.

Name:: Darius Gwyar
Race:: Elf
Age:: 25
Gender:: Male
Attire:: A dark colored tunic, dark boots and wrist guards and a dark cloak
When he is on a mission with the rest of the army however, he wears the standard uniform
Appearance:: http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6805/30iq7.png
Weapons:: A long sword with the elvish for ‘Honor’ inscribed on the blade, a long bow and several daggers
History:: Born of noble birth, he was destined to join the King’s army like his father before him. As a child he excelled at sword play and archery, and enjoyed learning combat techniques. Darius and Rane were childhood friends, although being older than she, he found her constant desire to join in with their mock sword fights annoying and at times he found her strong will to be out of place. Nevertheless, they joined the army at about the same time and he soon developed a deeper affection for the woman he had known all his life, though he refused to admit it.

Let me know if I need to change anything. I also edited my first bio a bit.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

It's great, Elenriel. Now... We need one more person to join.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

This needs bumping, methinks.
Shall we be starting anytime soony?

I'll join as a soldier. Get a bio up later (probably around eight or nine) but you can get started without me.

_________________
Four Gods wait on the windowsill,
Where once eight Gods did war and will,
And if the Gods themselves may die,
What does that say for you and I?

Now, three Gods wait on the windowsill
Where one God's blood was lately spilled
While black tongues lap at the spreading pool
And build the strength they need to rule.

Thank you for joining, Doc.
Yay, now we can start!


Nightshade felt Synbad tiring. She was pushing her cavalry hard. They had to find those soldiers. She didn't think her sentries could have been so stupid. They escaped with a fork? And not one person recognizing them? She shook her head. The sentries that were posted when the captives escaped would pay for it. The sky was still dark, but she knew dawn was not far away. Then the captives would stop running, if they were smart.
She slowed Synbad and brought him to a halt, the cavalry quickly followed suit. She beckoned to her second in command in the cavalry. He rode up to her side, then bowed his head respectively.
"Send the scouts ahead of us. Our horses need rest. We will walk for a while." she said, then she looked at him raising her eyebrows when he stood there.
"Oh, right." he said, then took off towards the cavalry, who were about thirty feet behind them. He galloped to a small group in the front of them. "Scout ahead. Find them." he said shortly then returned to Nightshade's side.
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Starfire smiled. Finally she got to do something other than sit on her horse and act like she was interested in what they were doing. She nodded to the scouts beside her then urged her horse, Sylan, to a gallop. Silvamord, her white leopard, and the other scouts followed.
It was difficult to find footprints and clues to follow while galloping, but Starfire had been born to do this. A snapped twig, an hoof impression, they were pretty easy to follow. She glanced up at the sky, it was lighting. They were coming up to a darker place in the woods. She and Sylan moved as one to jump a fallen tree in their path. Nothing could stop them.

((I have an idea... How about the soldiers ambush Starfire and the scouts. They slay all the other scouts, then one goes to slay Starfire, but she fights, then when she loses she confesses who she is. They then take her and still try to get to the king. They hope to use her to help Nightshade to negotiate a treaty. Is that okay?))

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

[[Sounds goood. ]]

Scarlett pushed her hair out of her eyes. How long had they been running? It seemed inpossible to say. Still no sign of the sun, so they keep running. Trying hard to stay calm and rational, she held on tightlt to the unfamilliar horse's reins. <i>How long can we go on like this?</i> she mused silently. <i>She won't stop.</i>
Kandyl glanced over his shoulder. He could no longer hear the bulk of Nightshade's cavalry, but appareances could be decieving. It wouldn't be unlike his impression of her to cover all trace of her cavalry. <i>We can't risk stopping. Not now. Not yet.</i>

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Rane glanced behind her for a brief second, trying to detect any shift in movement from the cavalry, but she could no longer hear the roar of thundering hooves after them. "This is not right," she muttered. "Nightshade would never cease a chase this quickly,"
__________________________________________
Darius could not help but agree with the younger soldier’s words. What does one do, when they want to get their opponent to lower their guard? he thought to himself. "Perhaps she only sent a few to trail us now, so that we will lower our guard," he muttered to the group.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Hurry up." Starfire said to the scouts following her. They were hot on the captives' trail. They would be on them in a very short period of time. One of the reason the captives could not travel as fast as the cavalry could was because each horse was trained for one person, and one person only. Never in their lives had they been ridden by anyone else. Starfire could make out shadows moving in front of them. Now she could vaguely make out the figures. She had them now. Then one of the worst things that could have happened did.
Sylan stumbled. He and his rider flew and did a pretty cool, but very scary, flip (it wasn't one of the things you'd want to do again). Sylan flipped and landed on his back. Starfire flew much further than him, and flew with a 'humph' into a tree.
The scouts quickly halted their horses and ran towards Starfire, though one went to Sylan. The one who got to Starfire first quickly got to his knees and checked her wrist for a pulse. "At least she's alive." he said, "What should we do?"
"She would kill us if we let them go if her mother didn't get to us first." one said. The others nodded their heads in agreement.
The first scout nodded also. "We'll get her back on her horse, make sure she says there, then keep going after them." he said, apparently electing himself the leader.
Sylan meanwhile heaved himself onto his feet. He was miraculously uninjured, but very much shooken up. He walked slowly over to where Starfire was. He softly nudged her arm. Getting no response, he looked around to everybody else with a puzzled look on his face.
"Let's get going then." the secound scout said. He got Sylan to stand still then got Starfire onto his back. He secured her arms around Sylan's neck to keep her from falling, then, taking Sylan's reins, mounted his horse. The others followed suit and they were soon off after the now-ahead captives.

((I'm changing it. How about starfire gets knocked out. The captives still ambush the scouts, but they take Starfire and her horsse, cuz one of them recognizes Starfire as Nightshade's daughter))

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel