Paradise Revealed MArch 20th 2007

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

"Can you show me the way to this fortress?"  The Pineappleman asked.

She held her hands over her face and shook her head  no.

"I can put a stop to all this"  He said

"I'm afraid"  She said "If you don't succeed I'll be put to death like the other girls"

He looked deeply into her eyes and said "I won't fail"   He paused turning back toward the palace.   "Let me gather my men and we will take care of everything."

----

"No"  She said  "Your friends won't help you---they are already too deep under the spell of the from the flowers.   If you try to draw them away they will resist and may even try to fight you."

----

"The flowers –that explains it---We tested all the food and drink—but didn't even think about the decorations.   What do they do?" 

---

She answered   "The fragrance of the flowers work like a drug----they make men only care for their desires and forget everything else----I was afraid you too were deep under their spell –but somehow—you kept fighting it---that is why I lured you away from the party so that the influence would be less potent and you could concentrate on what was already on your mind."

-----

He grabbed her shoulders forcefully and said in a clear voice.  "Show me the way----I will deal this by myself then." 

----

She just shook her head in agreement and off they went down the path toward the dark forest..

Paradise Revealed March 18th 2007

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

She looked up into his eyes and told him  "It's all a lie"

"It's ok" He said "You can tell me"

-----

She wiped the tears from her eyes and spoke.

"This place isn't at all what it seems.  We are prisoners here.  Harem girls sent from Prince Fathad-to be servants for his crazed evil brother.   His brother is a madmen—a crazy animal.   He is simply referred to as The Faceman"   She continued to talk through her tears.   "His face they say is a disturbing mask—pieced together from the skin of those that he kills.   Your missing friends are probably already dead.  He uses us to trap travelers here and then has them dragged off in the middle of the night by his minions to his fortress beyond the forest.   Where they say he does horrible things to them. …   He tortures them for his twisted pleasure as they slowly die—and then he tortures and does terrible things to their corpses after they are already dead."

She trembled as she talked.   "I wanted to tell you when I first looked into your eyes---but some girls have tried to disobey him and warn men in the past -----and they have all been killed in ways to terrible to speak of------somehow –I feel that you may be able to make a difference"

sanctuary of Illum (Mar 16th 2007) (Prelude to the Dark Fortress)

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

Then out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of his beautiful little Brunette.   He  thought he saw a tear running down her face as she served drinks on the other side of feast.  He got up to go and talk with her—but was interrupted by several dancing girls.  He pushed his way past them making his way around the tables.  He shook away the thought of wanting more to drink.   Sunrise---he thought –she was crying he told himself as if he had almost forgot already.  With his thoughts now clear again –it sunk in to him that they hadn't actually spoken in days.  They just made love and then when he would wake up she would already be gone.   He wandered away from the feast –he couldn't remember which directionSunrise had gone.  He stumbled out into the darkness ---had he had too much to drink?  He couldn't even remember----He headed off toward the lake----to try and clear his mind.   He realized someone was following him---He slowed down a bit---Whoever it was they were not to good at hiding—definitely not a professional killer.   He decided to set a trap for whoever it was.  He stopped at a point that overlooked the lake—it was beautiful.  The moon was full.  He pretended to stumble and faked like he had fallen over a short ledge.  His pursuer ran to the edge and as they did he tripped them up.  It was her---Sunrise---and she was crying still.   He held her in the moonlight and apologized.    "What is wrong" He asked.

sanctuary of Illum (Mar 12th 2007) (Prelude to the Dark Fortress)

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

When he woke up the next day –It struck him that he had not seen Fallon the night before.  He asked around and no one could remember seeing him—but nobody looked concerned either.   He found Quin---relaxing under the shade of a tree. 

"Have you seen Fallon"  He asked.

Quin answered  ---"No he is probably with that blond girl"

He decided to check the towns perimeter watch –nothing seemed out of place.

He was sure something was wrong –but at the same time –somehow it didn't matter. The day dragged on.  As dinner approached his thoughts about Fallon being missing –struck him again.  How could he have forgot after  being so concerned  just this morning.   He decided that he needed to speak with one of the girls that had been lounging on the couch when they had arrived.  He went to the Palace –but at this time of day it was empty. Again his thoughts faded and he forgot what he was concerned about.

Night  arrived and with it  dinner and drinking –just like the night before and the night before that.  He spotted the blond that had been with Fallon before  now straddling Quin.  He approached and asked her  --if she had seen Fallon –she just shook her head.  Then it struck him----that he hadn't seen Balis at all tonight either.  Every time he tried to speak with someone –they had no answer and were easily distracted by their beautiful companions. 

sanctuary of Illum (March 9th 2007) (Prelude to the Dark Fortress)

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

He awoke the next morning alone—It was almost noon.  He hadn't slept so well in a long time.  He took a turn on watch at the outskirts of the town so he didn't see the cute Brunette at all the whole day.  As night approached everything was pretty much the same as the night before---there was to be another feast.  And again there was food and drink –no discussion of business to transact that the women had originally spoken of just –partying and feasting and lovemaking.   He left the party a little early and headed back to his room.  When he arrived the little Brunette was waiting for him naked in his bed.  He didn't say a word—he just took her in his arms and made love to her all night long.   He couldn't even remember what it was he had wanted to ask her---earlier in the day.  

            The next morning he again awoke alone and it was even later than the day before.  Day after day passed –food –wine—candlelit orgies of indulgence.  The girls danced and entertained and everyone was happy.   No one talked about moving on –there possessions were all safe---Nothing bad had happened so they had just stopped worrying. But as the week went on it seemed that somehow they numbers had decreased—but no alarm had been sounded---they had just shrugged it off as too much partying---hell the missing men were probably just off getting laid.  Why even leave your room---in fact at the seventh day of their time in town—he had just slept all day.

sanctuary of Illum (Mar 6th 2007) (Prelude to the Dark Fortress)

From the writings of Cire Darb  --Historian --Myths of the Swohs Valley Elders

As they approached the steps of the palace  --the sun was fading behind the hills in the distance.  The steps of the palace were still lined with flowers—the aroma was overpowering.  They entered the palace into the room that he had been in earlier in the day---the red couch was now empty.   Candles lined the circumference of the room—making a pathway that lead into a room to the side-where the red headed girl had appeared.  The men followed the path of candles which went down a long hallway that eventually opened up into a large outdoor patio area that was already set up with long tables laden with food.   Many of the men were already seated—as were some of the girls.  The Pineappleman and his companions found seats at the candlelit feast and briefly exchanged information –but they all seemed more anxious for the food than for conversation.  

           

            There was no formal greeting or introductions—the feast just began.  Girls would get up from their chairs taking turns dancing and playing musical instruments –entertaining the men. Sunrise was one of the girls in charge of refilling drinks so the Pineappleman only caught her occasional glances at him –and he was not able to talk to her.  As the night went on the men lusted over both the woman and the food—it was just like heaven as Tandu had suggested.  The party lasted late into the night as finally the men began to retire to their room with female companions.

-------

When the party was over –The Pineappleman decided to go for a walk and checked with the watchmen that were checking the outskirts of town.   He stopped to ask one of the men  "Any thing out of the ordinary?"   

"Nothing sir—not even a stray animal"

"Ok –Thanks"  The Pineappleman replied

He then returned to his room –Sunrise the little Brunette was asleep in his bed.   He laid down beside her  -sensing his presence she flung her arm over him  and then faded back to sleep.