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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 7, 2007 20:01:46 GMT -5
The Treetops [/center][/u]
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 7, 2007 22:58:21 GMT -5
Among the treetops of Shivalithgar...As the young children gathered around the fire, the old elven woman took her seat on the old tree stump. She leaned her cane agaist the tree and watched the fire crackle around the stones that circled it. Smiling, she glanced at their young faces, their skins tinged orange from the light of the fire. "I am glad you all have come. Allow me to tell you a tale of long ago." As she began, she allowed her magicks to transform the light of the fire into a picture as the world was during the Last Age. "It is said..." *** ...that long ago, things were not always as they are now. There was a time when Gods and men lived in harmony. The Gods were worshipped eternally and in return, humans, dwarves, halfings, elves, and orcs were all treated as equals among them. And so it was, until the day when one God among many decided that he wanted more.
Mygathyn. God of War and Death.
He chose a path of his own - he wanted to be the one God of all realms - and it did not take long for the situation to spiral madly out of control. Fighting began as the religous zealots struck out against those who did not follow the path of the Death God. Brutal war consumed the realm with Mygathyn fueling its heart.
For one hundreds years, man battle man and God battled God. Chaos ruled and despair filled the hearts of even the stoutest warriors, many losing hope and gave into Mygathyn's power.
When the war threatened the fabric of our world's existence, the remaining Gods called upon an ancient power. They brought forth Nivex, as warrior and champion who could wield the power of all the Gods. Nivex, the Gods knew, had the power to banish Mygathyn to the Realm of Torment with the help of a mythril key.
Nivex and Mygathyn fought ferociously while the armies of the humans, elves and dwarves fought the militants in Mygathyn's control. Their battle lasted years and all, it was thought, was lost. Until the day came when in one wrong move, Mygathyn's spear punctured Nivex's broad chest. The Gods were powerless as they watched their fiercest warrior writh in pain. In his arrogance, Mygathyn turned his back and that is when Nivex struck. Drawing his bow from the ground, he summoned Venara's strength and released an arrow straight to one of the Death God's hearts.
Crippled, Mygathyn fell to the ground, staring wide eyed at the mere man who defeated him. Nivex let out a battle cry as he used his own blood to summon forth the Great Door that lead to the Realm of Torment. As the door opened, Nivex quickly kicked Mygathyn's form into the void and sealed it.
One by one, the great Gods appeared to the mighty warrior. He knelt and presented the key, asking that he be honored in his death. The gods agreed as Nivex passed on to enter the eternal peace that was granted to all favored warriors.
It was decided that the Key was too dangerous to remain in one piece. In a great feat of strength, Venara, the Goddess of the Hunt, raised her sacred mace and slammed it down upon the key. The key splintered into a hundred pieces. The Gods summoned fifty of the strongest warriors to the Great Door.
Each warrior was given two pieces of the key which the Gods merged with their very souls. To each they granted a divine gift - "The Kiss of the Gods". A unique magickal birthmark that gave them the power to control the elements at their will and to heal their wounded should Mygathyn's forces ever rise again. The gift, they were told, would pass through every generation of their families until the end of time.
Combining of their magicks, the Gods lifted Nivex into the air. His body exploded into light and then seperated in all different directions. It is said that the gods gifted their chosen with a Guardian - whose veins were coursing with the blood of Nivex. Someone who would protect them for all time.
And it was on the final day of the Last Age, the Gods of Old disappeared from the world.*** The old woman straightened on her stump. "Years passed and this tale has been past down through generations. My father told me, as I am telling you now. Believe the tale, little ones, Mygathyn's forces are gathering again," she closed her eyes and reached for her cane. "I think that is enough for today, loves. I need my rest."
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 8, 2007 0:50:15 GMT -5
Kaedri An'Kai and De'ach[/b]
Kaedri An'Kai leaned against the pillar that stood in the courtyard and listened to the old woman telling her tale as she had every year on this day. The woman was a crack, or at least that is what most of the kingdom believed. Still, Kaedri could feel the tattoo between her shoulder blades pulse and grow warm.
She glanced over at her brother, De'ach, and smiled. "I don't think I will ever tire of hearing her tell that tale. It's wonderful."
De'ach arched an brow at her and sighed. "You know, if I didn't know what magicks you can do, I would say it was just a fairy tale. The old woman is crazy, Kaedri, and you know it."
"She maybe," the half-elf replied as they began to walk. "But we both know what I am, what I am capable of. After all, I wouldn't make a very good apothecary if I couldn't help people now, can I?"
They strolled through the crowded courtyard. The elves were dressed elegantly, most out for their afternoon strolls. A few passed and nodded their greeting as she and De'ach passed by. It was a rare thing to see the Commander of the Military Forces walking with the lower Apothecary, regardless of the fact that they were siblings.
"Any word on Father?" Kaedri questioned. Maquay had been sent to D'gran for the queen and hadn't returned in two weeks.
"No." His tone had gone cold and his eyes narrowed. "The Queen assures me that she has men looking into his disappearance."
"I doubt that," she said as the trumpets of the castle began to sound. "I guess that's your cue. I will see you later."
"Be well, sister," he said curtly.
"Be well, brother." Kaedri watched him walk the winding bridge to the castle before turning to return to her shop.
<tag ALL ELVES>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 8, 2007 11:22:18 GMT -5
Barak
Barak swirled his water around in the glass as he listened to the old woman's tale and leaned against a pillar toward the outskirts of the crowd. He focused on the woman's face as she told the story, ignoring the images in the flames. He wasn't a child - he would not be taken in by magick tricks. When Barak wanted to determine something, he knew to watch a person's face closely to decide for himself whether they what came out of their mouths were lies.
'Of course if they don't know they're lying it makes the process difficult...' he thought with a sigh. He left a few moments before the story ended, having heard it a few times before. Barak dumped out the last bit of his water but held onto the glass itself by it's base.
He spotted the commander, but kept a distance. He was conversing with an apothecary, of all people. Barak was aware that he stood out, what with his tendency to wear battle gear nearly everywhere, but for the commander to stroll around with that girl...
He shook his head when trumpets sounded and the girl departed. He quickened his pace to catch up with De'ach and nodded respectfully. "Sir, this mission we are to go on - do you know when we are scheduled to leave?"
<tag De'ach, any>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 9, 2007 18:38:33 GMT -5
De'ach An'Kai[/color]
De'ach glanced over at the general who stepped in next to him and arched his brow. He knew that Barak was watching him and Kaedri. Hell, most of them did when they were together. He shook it off and spoke to him.
"Dawn tomorrow. Unless there's been some change, that is. The Queen has ordered her royal guards and 15 soldiers to accompany her to D'gran," De'ach told the guard. "And the Queen has ordered Kaedri to accompany us, should we run into trouble."
<tag Barak/ALL ELVES>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 9, 2007 20:29:44 GMT -5
Barak
Barak nodded. "I see..." He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, the old ring on his finger practically ice cold against his skin for whatever reason. "I suppose I'll see you tomorrow morning then." He stopped and nodded respectfully once again. "Sleep well tonight, sir." He said before turning on his heel to head home.
<Tag De'ach, any>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 9, 2007 20:33:57 GMT -5
De'ach
De'ach smiled at his friend. "You know, Barak, eventually you will get over calling me 'sir'. After all, I am still the same guy who beat you at archery when we were younger."
He stepped up the stairs and as Barak turned to leave, he sighed. "Ah, aren't you forgetting something, my friend?" he asked. "As a general, you are required to be at my side. It is part of your new duty as second-in-command."
<tag Barak>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 9, 2007 21:15:16 GMT -5
Barak
Barak blinked, then his neck grew slightly red in a blush. "I forgot sir - eh, De'ach." He turned back around, tightening the hair he had tied back as he did. "I've said it before and I'll say it again - the wind made me miss my mark. If it hadn't been for that I could have beaten you," he said jokingly with a fake smug look.
<Tag De'ach, any>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 12, 2007 16:22:29 GMT -5
De'ach and Queen Shyharah Xiaon
De'ach let out a hearty laugh. "So you say," he said as they stepped up the stairwell to the Queen's chambers. "But as I remember it, you blamed the wind."
De'ach walked steadily up the stairs and entered the foyer of the castle. The walls of intricately woven wood rose from the marble stairs and gave way to a vast vaulted ceiling. The walls were decorated in the pale greens and silvers that were representative of the their people.
The people in the hall bowed slightly as they passed, acknowledging one of the members of the royal court. He gritted his teeth and gave a forced smile as they walked through the halls of the castle. He stepped to the door of the throne chamber and nodded to the butler there. He opened the door to the chamber and stepped inside.
"Your majesty, Commander De'ach and General Barak have come as you requested," the butler said to the Queen.
The portly queen nonchalantly waved her hand to dismiss the man and gestured for De'ach and Barak to enter. "Is everything prepared as I instructed for our departure tomorrow?"
De'ach stepped forward and knelt down on his right knee, bringing his fist up, his thumb to his heart. "The preparations have been set, my Queen. However, might I inquire about why you wish for Kaedri, the apothecary, to accompany us."
"That, Commander, is for personal reasons," the Queen told him, her eyes narrowing on De'ach. "Now, is there anything else?"
<tag Barak>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 12, 2007 19:34:15 GMT -5
Barak
'So he has no more idea what she is doing along with us than I do, eh?' Barak realized as he listened to the questioning from beside De'ach in a kneeling position on the ground. He wasn't sure if that thought unnerved him or made him glad in some bizarre way.
He decided to remain silent, not wanting to stir up trouble before a mission.
<Tag De'ach, Queen>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 17, 2007 9:03:47 GMT -5
De'ach and Queen Shyharah[/b]
De'ach closed his mouth and flexed his jaw in annoyance. The Queen was infuriating at times and he hated it. However, he was the Commander of the Shivilithian Guard and he would not shame his family by simply over speaking his bounds.
"No, majesty," De'ach replied when Barak did not speak up.
"Good. Gather your people. We are leaving today," the Queen said. She dismissed them with a flippant wave of the hand.
De'ach rose and walked out of the office, his cloak snapping as if it was alive and sensing the mood of its owner. Once the were to the great hall of the castle, De'ach turned to Barak.
"Get Kaedri the Apothecary. I will get the men prepared. We are leaving tonight, it seems."
<tag Barak/KAYE/Arienne>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 17, 2007 9:32:46 GMT -5
Barak
Barak nodded, wondering about the schedule change but not commenting on it. He parted company with De'ach and made his way to get Kaedri. Finding her was simple enough, and he only eased up on his brisk pace when he got within speaking range. "There's been a change in plans, I'm afraid. The Queen would like to leave this evening."
<Tag Kaedri, any>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 17, 2007 11:35:39 GMT -5
Kaedri An'Kai[/b]
Kaedri glanced up from the herbs she had been crushing for a soothing tonic that would help with breathing to see Barak, De'ach's second. She forced a smile on her face and greeted him. After all, she was a half-human in his eyes. He would never see her as his equal.
"Well, hello, Barak," she said, gently. "Thank your for the warning. Tell my brother that I will be ready and waiting for the departure."
<tag Barak>
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Post by Billy Rose on Sept 17, 2007 19:26:58 GMT -5
Barak
Barak refused to show his surprise at her seemingly random request, instead settling on a simple nod. He had a hunch it was said with the intention of shocking him, or at the very least to put him off guard, but he was determined to be neither. Instead, he just gave her a disbelieving look.
"If you two were related, I would think that I would have been told," he said more firmly than he really felt, as though he thought saying it aloud would make him believe it. As always, doubt crept into his mind along with the need to know the truth about things, but he shook it aside. He resolved to ask De'ach himself after they had arrived in D'gran.
It would distract if he asked beforehand, and besides - he didn't want to end up looking foolish if De'ach's answer was a resounding, "No."
"I will inform him that you will be ready," he said, hurrying off to give instructions to have his horse prepared before he went to find De'ach.
<Tag Kaedri, any>
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Post by Lady Galadriel on Sept 23, 2007 18:50:03 GMT -5
Kaedri, Queen Shyharah, and De'ach[/b] Kaedri stepped closer to De'ach and sighed. "You had to send your errand boy to tell me we were leaving?" De'ach eyed her in annoyance. "I had to remain behind, Kaedri," he explained as he swung his leg over his white stallion. "Perhaps if you show a little restraint when speaking, people wouldn't regard you as they did." "Try being a half-human in a civilization of elves and tell me how things go for you," Kaedri said out of annoyance as she headed to the back of the party. "All right, people," De'ach said to his men. "Keep your eyes open. Let's move out." Kaedri, the only one on foot, pulled her cloak tighter around her neck as the rain began to drizzle around them. Her circlet, resting just above her eyebrows, still glittered with a magical light as they begin their journey to D'gran. <tag Barak> ***
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