Lucystar1 - 03:32am Apr 26, 2002 ET (#2 & 3 of 330)
AS THE SCROLL UNROLLS

As the sun rises to welcome the new day, it's rays catch the cream-colored mare with black mane and tail and her dark-haired rider. The mare cocks an ear back listening to the mutterings of her rider. "THAT is the LAST time I escort a bunch of hungover Amazons home. They're great fun a parties, especially after a few ales, but DAMN, they can get moody when it wears off." Lucystar shakes head swearing that that is the last time Evergreen volunteers her as an "escort service", chuckling, "that kind anyway." She did have to admit the pig roast was her idea and what's a party without the Amazons, AND they all did have a great time, but gods what a headache. Lucystar looks up realizing she's almost home and thanks the gods her mare knows the way.

She's suddenly aware of a melody that has been weaving it's way through her brain for most of the way home and starts singing to herself. "Sisters are doin' for themselves. Standing on their own two feet. Ringing on their own bells."Lucystar slaps her forehead to stop the music as she remember the previous night's events. How many times DID they sing that song? Enough that the Amazons declared it their Nation's anthem. "I can't believe Saxy got us all in the hot tub for a special 'performance'. I thought the sides where going to split out. Cyrene would have my hide over that one." Closing her eyes as the song starts in her head again, she remembers the hot tub scene and cringes. "By the gods, I wish I were home in bed dreaming of...never mind." she sighs.

Without warning her mare jerks her head up. "Easy girl, what is it?" Now Lucystar is aware of what interrupted her daydreaming. She hears the pounding hoofbeats of a horse bearing down on her from behind. Unsheathing her sword, she spins the mare around, ready for battle, only to find herself starring at a man in tattered clothes riding out of control right at her. Using herself as a barricade she calls out "Whoa. Easy there. SLOW DOWN!" Then grabs the horse's reins as it skids to a stop beside her. The man, out of breath and shaking, tries to tell her something. "Hey, take it easy. Here, have a drink of water." As he does, she eyes him, but he doesn't look familiar. "Now, take a breath and tell me what's got you riding like Hades is on your tail." As he hands back the empty waterskin, he take a deep breath. "I'm looking for Xena. We need her help. Where is she?" Each statement his eyes get bigger and his voice louder. "Calm down!" Lucystar holds her head praying the ache will go away. "Xena and Gabrielle left several days ago to attend the Annual Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards Reunion. Gabby is being honored for her..." She stops as the man starts shaking and shouting at her. "Our caravan was attacked by a bunch of bandits! They got all our merchandise, including a wagon of weapons, GET IT! They'll be heading this way next." Startled, Lucystar gathers her wits as an image enters her mind. "OK, how far away are they? How much time do we have?" The man relaxes a little thinking maybe there's hope yet. "At least a half day's ride back but they will probably camp for a while, at least. We had several kegs of ale in the caravan and they were drinking up. That's how I got away.

Remembering the lessons Xena taught her, Lucystar turns her attentions back to the merchant. "You ride back and keep an eye on the bandits. Stay out of sight, gather as much information as you can, and by the gods, DON'T get caught." As the man agrees to do his part, Lucystar looks toward home. "I'm going to go get some friends of mine and we'll come back and stop these thugs. We may not have Xena's 'many skills', but together we can be a force not to be reckoned with." They both turn away to begin their tasks. As Lucystar urges the mare into a gallop she offers up a small prayer. "Please let Zena and Evergreen still be at the Inn. I'll need their help. Theirs and Saxy's." The image of a very drunk Saxy chasing the barmaid around the bar pops into her head. Despite the impending danger, Lucystar can't stop the grin spreading across her face and laughs out loud "Knowing Saxy, she's probably still passed out in bed."

As horse and rider top the rise, she sees the Inn and recognizes the two riders just starting to head out. Waving her sword as she rides down to them, she calls "Zena. Evergreen. Wait there, I need your help!" As she approaches them she askes "Where's Saxy? Still in bed?" They both nod as Lucystar jumps off her horse and runs up the steps into the Inn. At the bottom of the stairs leading up to the sleeping rooms, she yells up. "Saxy. Wake Up! Get your butt out of bed and get down here! We've got TROUBLE!" Lucystar turns to see Zena and Evergreen come in the door as Saxy stumbles down the stairs, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What's all the racket? Gods, Lucystar, can't a body get some sleep around here?" Lucystar gives her the evil eye and begins to tell about her encounter with the merchant on the road. Finishing Lucystar, Zena and Evergreen all turn and look at Saxy. They know she is the better warrior. They all studied with Xena, but Saxy was a natural. By the expression emerging on Saxy's face, it dawns on her why they're looking at her like that. Then Lucystar, doing her best Gabrielle impression complete with waggling eyebrows says "So Saxy... What's the Plan?"

OXYDonna - 11:01am Apr 26, 2002 ET (#6 of 330)
Community Producer, Oxygen Chat

"Saxy, with this much Amazon power we'll have no problem taking these bandits down."

I sat proudly in the saddle thinking how amazing these women are. The power and passion was a force no evil could ever defeat. But still I felt a bit of nervous excitement at the thought of an impending clash. There's something to be said for starting your day off kicking butt.

As we began our ride, I could feel the after affects of a night spent with good friends and stout mead. I'd had far too much fun - that was for sure. My head throbbed and my eyes felt out of focus, but there was also the pleasant sensation of a stomach sore from too much laughter. There's much to be said for a night spent actually feeling *alive* and content with who you are and who you surround yourself with.

As we neared the fork in the road we were met by a strange silence. Our horses stopped dead in their tracks and I knew it was time for the scout in me to take over. I gave Saxy the signal to wait as I ventured forth solo to investigate. My trusty steed, Sir Lard Butt (LB for short) gracefully maneuvered the path covered with small branches. This was obviously a trap. The signs were clear and I knew we had found the right path.

I looked over my shoulder and waved a quick signal to our fearless leader to let her know we were on the right path and that silence was essential if we were to make this a suprise attack. I gave a look above to see if there were vines or other methods for dropping down on enemies. Wait! Something moved up there! That's no bird or creature of the forest. It's a ... did Cyane see it too?

HOSTOXYCyane - 03:42pm Apr 26, 2002 ET (#8 of 330)
Treat everyone the same, till you find out they're an idiot!!~~LL

...Did Cyane see it too?

Riding in the back of the pack, as she always does, Cyane kept a close eye on her comrades ahead. She also kept one ear perked for trouble from behind. Nothing was left to chance, when the Amazon's were on the case. As the leader of the pack, Saxy slowed. Cyane saw The Donna venture forth to use those keen senses of hers.(The rest of the Amazon nation was in awe of her sense for danger, hence her name.) As Cyane watched, Donna stopped up short and stared intently into the trees. Just then, something caught Cyane's eye. High in the tree, just to the left...movement! The Donna quickly swung around in her saddle and shot Cyane a glance. Yes, they HAD both seen it. It was not imagination on either part. What was that? From her vantage point, Cyane could only see vague movement. Someone would have to go check it out. With a nod to Donna, Cyane slipped silently, and hopefully, unnoticed from her saddle. Tossing the reins to the nearest Amazon, with a slight smirk on her face and a mischevious twinkle in her hazel eyes, she adjusted the scabbard and sword on her back. Cyane crept quietly into the forrest. Keeping one eye on her friends and the other ahead in the forrest, she leapt into the nearest Mandrake tree. Creeping forward towards the last place she saw the movement, Cyane saw a hooded figure, crouched one a branch, 3 trees over. Cyane gave one last glance into the forrest and jumped. Coming down on the branch behind the mystery person, she grabbed the hooded figure and spun them around. Cyane was suddenly fact to face with...The LURKER SUE!

EvergreenLM - 07:20pm Apr 26, 2002 ET (#10 of 330)
"To Conquer Others is to Know Power...to Conquer Yourself is to Know the Way"

SAFELY BACK

Evergreen,although longing for a good fight, hears Sue's plea and weighs out the greater good, the right thing to do, and trots her horse, Whisperer, along side the Mandrake tree. Evergreen leans down from the saddle and offers Sue an arm up and a ride back to her village. Cyranese was a fair distance from where they now stood,and Evergreen new that an element of risk presented itself in riding back without the benefit of protection from her kindred warriors. Evergreen took compassion on Sue and knew that all did not posses the heart of a warrior. It was the gentle souls of the world that balanced the evil and gives the warriors the courage to fight another day. Xena had taught them well, and all that follows her knows the one true path.

Evergreen moves Whisperer along side the others. "I have decided to take Sue back and try to find her family. You all are needed here and I will go this one alone. I will return to you and join in the fight." Saxy looks at Evergreen thinking "THAT one eats lima beans. What kind of warrior does that!" LucyStar reminds Saxy that wisdom sometimes out fights a 100 swords while pointing out the many battle scars Evergreen carries. "Saxy, I WILL fight by your side and it will take us all to win". "Goodbye Zena, Donna, see you when I see you". With a quick turn and a "Yah!", Evergreen gallops off with Sue clinging behind.

Just as Evergreen clears the valley, Evergreen feels a tap on the shoulder. EG tries to ignore it as as she wishes to soon return to the impending battle. Again a tap,but this time much more insistent. "Evergreen!" "What DO you want?", Evergreen says with gentle annoyance. "Whoa, Whisperer". Sue leans in close and quietly says,"Someone is following us. I have seen them skirting the woods for the last few miles". EG helps Sue down, dismounts, and draws her sword bejeweled with emeralds shaped as lima beans. The silver flashes in the sunlight and as Evergreen turns, she hears a "SWOOSH!". An arrow finds its mark and Evergreen drops to her knees. " Sue, take my horse, go, ride away as fast as you can!" Sue, not looking back,hits the saddle, and with a kick, is gone. Slumping to the ground, Evergreen looks up. And as she begins to loose consciousness, a familiar voice is heard calling her name. As Evergreen drifts into darkess,a figure appears,and with bloodied hand raised, she softly cries,"Xena?". The hand drops,and Evergreen hears no more...

xwpfan - 08:58pm Apr 26, 2002 ET (#12 of 330)

Friend or Foe

Having never ridden with this group of Amazons I was unsure of my role as we tracked the trail of Evergreen and Oxysue in the woods. I was taken a back when the news of the attack reached us. We were quickly being thrust into battle without even a word.

As we found Evergreen's unconscious body I stood there frozen, lost in my own selfish thoughts" This could of been me !What they think of me if I fail in battle?" Fortunately, my train of thought was quickly broken. With the snap of a twig the unmistakable sound of swords simultaneously being unsheathed filled the forest. There standing before Cyane and the Donna was the mysterious woman OxySue! Bombarded with questions and threatened with a dozen or more swords pointed at her expressionless face.

As she regaled the group with her story of the attack, I looked around trying to read the expressions on the faces of the other Amazons. As I carefully studied each face. I could see many sets of narrowing eyes and scornful faces. I interpeted their telltale signs of disbelief as a desire to take her prisoner and interrogate her.

However, there were a handful of eyes that had softened and even grown a little moist during her tale of the attack and of Evergreen's heroic act. I figured they would want to feed her and release her. Something about this lost soul OxySue spoke to me... and caused me to take leave of my common senses and Amazon protocol .

Without saying a word or seeking permission I simply pointed to my necklace and then looked at OxySue essentially asking OxySue join the group. Suddenly all eyes were staring at me, I had overstepped my role in the group..I looked searchingly over at Saxy for now she had the fates of both OxySue and mine in her hands...As leader and Queen the decision was now hers as to what to do with OxySue and me...

EvergreenLM - 11:13pm Apr 26, 2002 ET (#14 of 330)
"To Conquer Others is to Know Power...to Conquer Yourself is to Know the Way"

Kindred

"When every debt is marked and paid...when every road has had its stay, Just reach out your hand and call my name...and I will be bringing you home at last to stay..." (from CD Josh Groban)

I am walking on a beach with waves crashing to the shore. The sky is so blue and crisp.Birds swoop and dance with the sea. In the distance,atop the dunes, stand two figures. One tall and dark and the other tan,muscular, with hair the color of wheat under the summer sun.

I have no sword,no armor,and I look for my devoted horse, Whisperer. I am wrapped in soft burgandy. The sand feels warm to my shoeless feet. I am at peace. I am drawn to the two figures in the distance, and feel as if I can just reach them I will be home at last. The tall dark woman raises her hand with palm facing me. She, without uttering a word, is telling me to stop. The blonde one steps down from the dunes,gently touches my shoulder and whispers, "Listen".

I close my eyes and hear the familiar voices of beloved friends. The two figures fade and I am longing to go with them,but my heart tells me my scroll will go on. As I try to open my eyes,I am engulfed with pain. I feel the cool earth, and as I struggle to return to my life, I sense someone one kneeling nearby. I also sense there is another, a danger to us all,but I cannot speak. I wonder, where is my friend Zena? She will know,she will know.

zena - 09:55pm Apr 27, 2002 ET (#16 of 330)
"Agere Sequitur Esse"

Scouting Ahead.....

After Evergreen had ridden off with the Lurker Sue, Zena went on ahead to scout the bandit camp. The trail was rocky and seemed to lead straight up to wall that was as solid as any castle keep. Over the wall the smoke of cooking fires drifted slowly to the blue sky. She knew that it was time for quiet. Tying her horse Ergo to a tree in a nearby glen she continued alone to climb the hillside. "If I can just get a look at them and get an idea of how many there are I know Queen Saxy will have a plan", she thought. Suddenly the breeze brought a small sound likje a whisper. She listened intently as Xena had taught her, trying to determine the direction and source of the sound. Such a little sound, like a human voice but so faded, and familiar. The sound evaporated and she continued the climb again, pulling herself up to a ledge where she suddenly realized that she could see not only the enemy camp but the plain below. And there, near the glen where she had left Ergo were her Amazon sisters, but their numbers were diminished. Why wasn't her friend Evergreen back yet? She always stood beside Zena in a fight and kept her from rash decisions. And where was Xwpfan? Her skills are just emerging but she is always good to have with the band in battle. "ZENA", the voice was suddenly behind her. She turned too quickly to look for Evergreen and lost her footing tumbling down the wrong side of the hill toward the bandits. "By the gods, this is gonna make a heck of a scroll!", was Zena's last thought as she hurtled downward. On the plain below Lucystar looked up just in time to see Zena disappear head first into the camp of the ruffians!

gabbyfan4ever - 05:02pm Apr 28, 2002 ET (#18 of 330)

The young warrior, little Gabbyfan, walked alone down the winding dirt path. She was looking for someone, anyone who could help her. Her village was completely destroyed by a group of bandits. She, the only survivor, was saved by luck. Gabbyfan was practicing with her staff in the nearby woods when the raid happened. Still in shock, and not yet letting her grief come through, Gabbyfan wanted to stop the bandits from hurting anyone else. But she knew she couldn't do it alone. She was young, and though trained by the great battling-bard Gabrielle herself, could not hope to stop the marauders alone.

She was heading for the only place she knew, besides home, Cyrene's tavern. She often stopped by there to see friends on her way between the Academy and home. Suddenly she saw a warrior on horseback coming down the road. But were they friend or foe? Gabbyfan quickly went into the woods on either side of the road. Peering out into the dirt path, she saw it was an Amazon, a friend. However, seeing the warrior was trying to be silent, Gabbyfan stayed in the woods, so as not to alert any enemies. Using all her warrior skills, Gabbyfan, followed the Amazon, who was now on foot. However, she could hear another noise, barely perceptible. Keeping her ear on both the mysterious noise, and the Amazon, she saw the women stop, and look over an embankment. All was quiet, until the unknown noise startled the Amazon and sent her falling over the embankment. (continued on next post)
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gabbyfan4ever - 05:08pm Apr 28, 2002 ET (#19 of 233)

Cont.

Gabbyfan carefully peered over the embankment to see the condition of the warrior. She gasped as she saw the group of bandits that had destroyed her village, surround the fallen Amazon. Looking farther she could see a plain where a whole group of Amazons were gathered.

Gabbyfan knew she would have to go tell them the fate of their fallen comrade, and about the mysterious noise that had caused the "accident". But would they accept her, knowing she wasnt' an Amazon? As she neared the group of warriors, a million thoughts ran through young Gabbyfan's mind. If these women accepted her, they were the only family she had now. Upon entering the gathering of Amazons, she looked up to see the face of her friends from the tavern. After telling her tale, and the tale of their fellow Amazon, she waited for their judgement upon her.

zena - 08:09pm Apr 28, 2002 ET (#21 of 330)
"Agere Sequitur Esse"

Dirt, Sweat and Tear

Zena lay face down in the middle of the bandit's compound. "Dirt," she thought, "is in my nose and my mouth. It's crunchy in my teeth. I hate dirt! Maybe I'm dead. The Elysian Fields aren't supposed to be dirty, and you don't hurt there. What if I'm in Taurtarus??" A large boot gave Zena a kick in the side. "Nope", she thought, "I'm not dead!" She looked up quickly and grabbed the boot yanking her opponant off his feet while reaching back to an empty scabbard. Taking the opportunity, 5 of the bandits moved in to attack her and in the battle that followed at least 2 of them sustained severe injuries from well placed kicks. Finally outnumbered Zena was tied and shoved into a cage made of logs and rope. "Sit there Amazon, until we decide what you are worth to us", the one who seemed to be leader said as he peered in at her. Zena remained silent and so he wandered away finally to one of the cooking fires. "At least", she thought, "I can get a good look at their numbers from here." As she took note of everything around her, her thoughts returned again and again to Evergreen. Something had to be wrong with her friend. Night closed in and the full moon rose over the wall. As she dozed she dreamed that she saw a beach: Evergreen and two familiar figures were there, but who was that third shadowy person? Zena jerked awake before she had the answer but her eyes focused on something reflecting the firelight. A standard with the letters "S P Q R" ...ROMANS....disguised as bandits!!! Why? How could she get a message to her sisters in the valley below? Had they seen her take the tumble? And what of the village just up the road where Little Gabbyfan was headed on her way back from the Academy? "This is beginning to be serious", she mused and sniffed back one tear.