The Wind in the Trees

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Okay, support, keep it coming, and maybe we'll get her attention!

[Orcs Blade]

Ok. I've said it before, but whatever. Great story, bumper!

[bumper15]

Alright guys, here's the next chapter. GRF I don't know if you were trying to provoke me, but I am not a 'her'.

Chapter 4

Orin stood up and walked to where Ullar waited. "General Ullar, there is one more of my people that could be summoned."
"How is that?" Ullar asked intrigued, "The battlefield has been stripped of Wood Sprite souls."
"He was killed before the battle," Orin replied respectfully.
Ullar nodded and walked back into the other chamber. Orin, curious about what actually happened during a summoning, followed. He watched as Ullar laid his hands on certain runes on the wall. As his fingers touched them they began to glow. Ullar's face was twisted with concentration as he sought to locate the Sprite.
Ullar's face abruptly relaxed and he turned back to Orin a confused look on his face.The lights on the walls were fading. "It is very curious, I have found two Sprites," he said, however the first one is beyond my power. The second one is ready to be summoned."
"Just summon the one you can," Orin replied. Orin wondered who the other sprite was, and why he was out of Ullar's reach, although his gut could guess, and he didn't like the guess. Ullar turned back to the cavern wall and pressed a different set of runes, these also glowing when touched. Suddenly the wellspring began to glow a soft yellow and Orin watched as golden dust rose from the water and began resting on the small island.
The dust began to collect and make out a shape. Orin's hopeful face turned to anger as he saw that his guess had been proven right. Lying on the island was Lindon. Orin watched as Lindon looked around, his eyes finally settling on Orin. Lindon quailed and seemed to shrink.
"Raise the bridge," Orin said quietly, a sharp edge to his voice. Ullar reached across Orin to press a rune on the other side of the wall. It glowed, and the land bridge lifted from the water. Lindon slowly walked across, avoiding eye contact with Orin. Orin grabbed him roughly by the shirt and said menacingly, "This is your fault. Go to the second cavern and wait for me."
Lindon hurried out to where Mother Tree now rested her roots. Orin turned back to Ullar, "He wasn't the Sprite I meant for you to summon. There was one that was killed before the battle, his name was Benji."
"Was he captured by the Necromancer's magic?" Ullar asked. Orin only nodded an affirmative. "He was the one I couldn't summon," Ullar continued, "For that reason."
Orin looked confused, "You stole the rest of us from the Necromancer, why can't you steal him?"
"If I took Benji, than no one would have led the Necromancer to the southern forest and none of you would have been killed, I would have lost all of you. I know that he means a lot to you, but I can't lose everyone for one person."
Orin nodded his understanding and turned back down the tunnel. He made it to the entrance cavern and saw the Wood Sprites all ganged up against Lindon. "Hold!" Orin shouted, and they moved away. Orin continued, facing Lindon, "Lindon, you are now being held on trial for carelessness and causing a genocide of the Wood Sprites."
Lindon paled slightly, one of Mother Tree's roots snaked from the wall and softly pressed into Lindon's back. Since each Wood Sprite was a part of Mother Tree, she could tell when any of them were lying. Mother Tree was both the judge and the jury, and Orin was the prosecutor.
"State your name," Orin began, this beginning was ritual in Wood Sprite trials to make sure that Mother Tree hadn't been tampered with. There had been one trial many years ago that this had happened, A tribal trial was held against every member to see who had released the Necromancer. It was only found after the Necromancer had been sealed away, that the person who released him had been enslaved, and he faded away when the Necromancer was gone. He had used dark magic to confuse Mother Tree into believing the opposite of the truth in all cases.
"Lindon Sammison" Lindon said quietly. The root sticking from his back glowed green.
"Were you an elf before you sprouted?" Orin asked.
"Yes," Lindon replied. The root glowed a faint red. Lindon had to lie, as part of the test. If the root had stayed green, then it would have shown that the root had been tampered with. For some reason, only humans sprouted into Wood Sprites, so their was no way that Lindon could have been telling the truth when he agreed to being an elf.
"Were you captured by the Necromancer?" Orin continued now that tradition had been satisfied.
"Yes," Lindon answered. The root turned green
"Did you not fall asleep guarding Mother Tree the day of your capture?" Orin asked.
Lindon looked up in shock and confusion, "No! I didn't. I was awake," he said in disbelief.
The assembled crowd gasped as the root faded and turned green again. Everyone had been told that Lindon fell asleep at his post.
Orin was just as surprised, he continued, "How were you captured by the Necromancer?"
Lindon saw that the wind had turned his way, and he more confidently answered, "I was guarding Mother Tree when Golgor came up to me, we entered into a conversation, and suddenly I was struck from behind, the next thing I knew, I was staring up at the Necromancer."
Orin paled, Golgor was the one who lied to him about Lindon. Orin turned to the crowd, "Is Golgor amongst us?" he shouted to those assembled.
"He is not," a voice returned.
Orin looked upon the assembled crowd, "The rest of the Wood Sprites will be drawn here, Golgor included. When they arrive, Golgor will be put on trial." A murmuring began in the crowd, they had come to the same conclusion Orin had.
Orin turned to Lindon, "Lindon Sammison! You are hereby released from all charges against you. I apologize for the false accusation."
The root holding Lindon snaked away, leaving Lindon standing alone, "Thank you Orin, for a second chance at life, I will not fail again."
"Don't thank me. Truth be told, I didn't want you here. I am again sorry for doubt. If you must thank someone thank Ullar."

Aryan continued her journey, Golgor at her side holding her hand in his. In the absence of Orin, Golgor was chief. "We go that way," Aryan said to the figure on her left, pointing north.
Aquilla turned to her, "Are you certain? That leads directly to Utgar's territory."
"I am positive, the energy is still weak, but it is there." For some reason, after the initial sensing, everyone else had lost touch with Mother Tree, only Aryan could still point her out.
Aquilla thought to herself, Utgar wouldn't bother with soldiers as subtle as the Wood Sprites, preferring brute force over skill. That meant that the Wood Sprites were beyond Utgar's borders, in Ullar's territory. Ullar wouldn't give them up easily, it would be difficult to convince him to give them to her, but it could be done. She smiled softly to herself.

Golgor looked across the plain, plan after plan running through his head, he just had to gain enough influence for everything to come together. He massaged his throat, Aquilla had been able to heal him, but it was still raw, and it was difficult to talk.

[Orcs Blade]

Originally Posted by bumper15

GRF I don't know if you were trying to provoke me, but I am not a 'her'.

I wondered about that.

Great chapter, keep it coming!

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by bumper15

Alright guys, here's the next chapter. GRF I don't know if you were trying to provoke me, but I am not a 'her'.

Sorry 'bout that, I was sure you had said otherwise somewhere. It must have been someone else.

Great chapter! Nice and long too! (long chapters are a good thing, never a bad thing)

[Orcs Blade]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper's Friend

Sorry 'bout that, I was sure you had said otherwise somewhere. It must have been someone else.

Great chapter! Nice and long too! (long chapters are a good thing, never a bad thing)

They could be bad, just not when bumper posts them. His story is to involving to have long chapters be bad.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Originally Posted by Orcs Blade

They could be bad, just not when bumper posts them. His story is to involving to have long chapters be bad.

I was thinking that I should have rephrased that later that same night.

[bumper15]

All the comments are appreciated, but feedback and criticism is also highly sought.
Chapter 5

Orin turned to admire the portraits hanging in front of him. Ullar had taken the Wood Sprites to his castle several days ago, saying that wherever they were, it would take time for the others to arrive. There were five paintings, and one was obviously Ullar, so Orin guessed the others were his relatives, three brothers and one sister. There was a larger than usual gap between the first and second portraits however.
The portraits were arranged by age Orin judged seeing Ullar second to last, where Ullar himself said he was. The oldest appeared to by tall and noble, Orin could tell he was used to attention and leading. His wings were a deep, feathery white and they were obviously well taken care of. Ullar's wings in contrast were tinted with a faint brown. He reminded Orin of his own brother, he never had disliked his brother, but he always envied how his parents always ignored him in favor of his brother.
The second was slightly shorter and his wings were a deep black color. He was deeply tanned and his face was set with rigid discipline. He was unreadable to Orin and Orin thought to himself that he never wanted to get on this man's bad side.
The painting directly to Orin's left of Ullar's sent a chill down Orin's spine. The person depicted had steel gray wings and a pale complexion so different from the previous painting. His eyes however revealed a cold mind and a driving urge to succeed, no matter the cost.
On the other side of Ullar's portrait was female with brown wings. Her face showed no evil intent, but Orin could tell in her eyes that she was always calculating her chances of gaining anything in any situation.
A presence behind him spun Orin around. There Ullar stood watching him silently. "Are you admiring my family, Orin?"
"It is quite a collection of relatives you've got that's for sure," Orin replied, "What are their names may I ask."
"I have already told you their names."
Orin had suspected this when he had first seen the paintings, this was why he had been studying them so intently. "Why do you fight a war with your own flesh and blood?"
"I have already told you the story. As you have probably figured out, I have taken down the picture of my older brother Utgar, after his grab for power."
"You also said that Einar and Vydar are also enemies, why do their portraits remain?"
Ullar sighed, "Because they aren't evil as Utgar is, they both are impartial to the war, they have only chosen Utgar's side because they believe he will win."
"Your sister Aquilla seems dangerous also," Orin observed returning to the painting of the girl.
"She has to be. Growing up the youngest of our family, not to mention having an older brother like Utgar has made her what she is. She is often pleasant company, but she will find a way to win at any situation."
Orin nodded in response, absorbed by the painting. He would have to be careful around her because like her, Orin always tried to find a way to win.

The humidity of the swamp was driving everyone crazy. It had been four days since they left the wellspring and the forest had long ago disappeared.
"I hope we're not lost," grumbled Golgor swatting a mosquito.
The going had been incredibly hard, and already dissent was growing in the group. Only Aquilla seemed to not mind the swamp. "This is my original home, but Utgar's swarms have driven all of us out."
Aryan was deep in concentration, the connection with Mother Tree was growing slightly stronger, but now something else was beginning to interfere with it. Aryan asked Aquilla if anything she could think of any possibilities as to what it could be.
"There is only one thing between us and the territory beyond, and that is....." She was cut off by a strange humming noise coming from all sides.

[Orcs Blade]

Very cool. I never would have guessed that they are all siblings. However, what does that make Valkrill?

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Three cheers! Here come the marro! This will be fun.

Great addition, Bumper.

[bumper15]

I am truly sorry about the wait.

Chapter 6

A green blast rocked the jungle as it seared past Golgor's face.
"Form the Ring!" Golgor shouted. The Ring was a defensive formation that Orin had invented. It was basically a shield wall curved into a circle. Wood Sprites didn't carry shields however so it relied on their skills with swords. What made it so effective however was the Sprites skill with the bow. Half of them would sit in the center of the ring and fire out while the other half protected them.
Golgor stood facing the trail, twin knives blazing in the patchwork of light on the jungle floor, Aquilla, with her spear, on his right. Aryan was in the Ring leading the archers.
Suddenly the jungle erupted with hundreds of yellow skeletal figures, each looked identical and each carried double-tipped spears. They charged towards the Sprites in a mob, no order amongst them. Aryan gave the order and dozens of arrows flew from the center of the ring.
Blasts from unseen weapons seared across the battlefield, but the creatures were so numerous that they took most of the damage. Golgor risked a glance behind him and noticed that none of the creatures were present behind them.
"Form ranks!" Golgor yelled over the clamor of battle. The Wood Sprites in the back moved to the front and joined the fray. Shortly after, the creatures had gotten too close to the line of Sprites and their order disintegrated as the archers were forced to stow their bows and join the battle hand-to-hand.
The line then broke as the press of creatures forced them back. The Wood Sprites turned and fled, hotly pursued by the skeletal beings. Golgor turned back towards the creatures now giving chase. He raised one of his long knives and shouted, "No surrender!" He then charged towards the mass of disgusting beings.
The Wood Sprites all turned and saw Golgor fighting like he was possessed, a beacon amidst the waves of yellow evil. No spear or blast would touch him. Taking heart in this the Wood Sprites renewed their attack with a loud yell and quickly ended the threat from the jungle.
At the end of the battle, Golgor quickly found Aryan and Aquilla, both were unharmed, but Aryan was pale.
"What were those things?" Golgor asked Aquilla.
"Marro. They are the plague that has invested my jungle and are the reason I summoned you."
"What are they?"
"They are vile creatures that breed like insects. They follow a superior being called 'the Hive'. They are controlled through it and maintain a connection to it telepathically."
Golgor turned towards Aryan, she looked terribly sick. He had never known her to feel queasy after a battle, this troubled him greatly.
"Aryan are you all right?" Golgor asked.
"The link with Mother Tree is fading Golgor," she responded, "Although, if we keep a straight line that way," she continued pointing, "We should reach her in about two days."
"Are you all right to walk?"
"I'll be fine, we better hurry."
Golgor gave the signal to continue. The Wood Sprites hurriedly gathered their belongings, Golgor's bravery had inspired them and they admired him for it.

[The Grim Reaper's Friend]

Woo hoo! Marro! (Sorry, I'm a little obsessed with marro these days.)

Great addition! You know, Bumper, probably the reason you don't have much criticism is because there isn't much to criticize. Three Cheers.

TGRF.~ Hoping for more of the 'yellow evil'

P.S. Fred is with you. (Don't ask)