Illusion Vale: A Spirit's Cry

[Wolfsister]

Drake and Dorn

"Ah well... yer awake, eh?" Dorn chuckled at the large black wolf as it began to yelp and try to stand. He reached out and patted the animal, noting the small sting of electricity that buzzed up his fingertips. He had endured it all the way back to camp and his shoulders were bruised and sore. He found he could understand the creature and thought this to be only slightly strange. His father had once told him stories about large canines that could talk just like the elves and dwarves could. Said they were an ancient race, something far older than even the Elves were. Dorn wasn't sure if it was because this particular wolf was a Guardian, or if he was a descendent of those ancient canines, but he was more than happy to have someone to converse with. It would have been rather awkward otherwise.

"Hold on thar lad. Don't go a worryin yerself. Tis not good for ye." The dwarf continued to stroke the wolf's fur. He hoped that would soothe it as well as the fact that he was beginning to like the tingle of the electricity that ran through him. Made him feel alive.

"Yer in the Trinias Mountains in a land called Illusion Vale. Ye were somewhere before and now yer somewhere else. Here, matter 'o fact." Dorn grinned and took a small wooden bowl, filling it with the soup that bubbled in a small pot on the fire, "Here, fill yerself up and I'll tell ye more," he placed the bowl a little away from the blanket Drake was laying on, but obviously where the wolf could get to it. He didn't bother giving the lad a spoon.

"Me name's Dorn. And I'm a Dwarf," he leaned in a little closer, "The Spirit told me that yer might not 'ave dwarves where ye come from." Then he winked.

Maybe he'd been alone in these mountains too long, he was definitely too cheerful considering he was talking to an oversized wolf from another world.

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth/Ilandria

“There is just one more matter to be dealt with before the fight begins, your majesty. And that would be who will be judge of the fight, whose job it will be to ensure that the rules, including the bead choices, are enforced. Of course, both of us will have to agree on the person to be judge.”

Ilandria deigned to raise an eyebrow. She stared long and hard at the young elf that stood so arrogantly in front of her. This... Guardian. Her lip curled up in disdain and leered at him, thinking of an appropriate response to set him back down to the level he was supposed to be. An older, female, elf bent down at her ear and whispered something into it. Ilandria's eyes went first wide, then narrowed then abruptly calmed again. She nodded before waving a hand to dismiss the woman. Bowing her head and shooting Eeth with a warning, pleading glance, she quietly quit the Court and disappeared.

Ilandria didn't see the look but her eyes narrowed again as she took in Eeth once more. "Very well, I call for a Judge, someone -" she smirked, "Impartial."
Nodding once, a little left of where Eeth stood, she beamed down at the elf that abruptly came to kneel before her. "You are trained to be loyal to a fault. It is both your strength and obvious weakness. Judge this fight fairly - I will tie my left arm behind my back, magic will be used and the Guardian will begin with no weapons. I charge you to stop the fight should you find either my or the Guardian's conduct unworthy of this Challenge. And you will declare the winner," her voice pitched lower, "whomever beats the other."

She watched as Varinos bowed his head, accepting the charge. She nodded, pleased. "I trust there is no other official business to take care of? I assure you, Guardian, I itch for this Challenge to begin..." She would not tolerate any more delays. She had played the Guardian's games for too long already.

 

[wolfknight20]

Silver heard his friend varic start talking and listened he said he would watch for the name and also added that they had already talked about this and that our world is still beautiful it just needs a bit of tidying up that's all or a little polish how ever he wished to look at it

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver

Varic turned midstep and grinned at his new friend, "Yes, you are right. Thank you for reminding me,"

Then the blueberry haired elf began to stride along, whistling a tune, the gruesome night and morning seemingly forgotten. His step was light and his chatter even more so. He told Silver more of the Vale, of the wonderful creatures of the sky - the Avains - of the peoples of the mountains - Dwarves - and of his own graceful heritage. The heritage of an Elf.

As dusk came to them, the endless sandy plains boring the eyes, a shadow on the horizon would catch their interest. "That there is Nariel, the city of the Horsekin. If we rest tonight, we'll make it by tomorrow evening,"

Varic nodded and stopped, choosing a small hill of sand as their resting post and setting up camp hopefully with Silver's help. "So -" he said as they once again had meat roasting on the fire, "Tell me some good things of your old world. It mustn't have been all bad."

 

[Infalk]

He felt bemused as the small figure reached over and patted him on the...back? Whatever. He was too tired to bother stopping him, so he just enjoyed the sensation as the dwarf's big hands lightly ran through his....fur?

The dwarf offered him a bowl of soup, and he found that it smelled quite good. And he was hungry...He attempted to lift the bowl and ended up pouring half of it's contents all over his own head. This was going to take some....getting used to. He put the bowl back down and settled on merely licking the soup straight out of it. It tasted good, sort of like chicken, but with a hint of something that almost resembled fish, but not quite. He finished it all and then turned to the dwarf for more.

"So...I kinda already figured that this isn't Britain, let alone London, but thanks for confirming it. So, you're a dwarf named Dorn? Alright...well, I'm Drake, I'd shake your hand, but as you can see it probably wouldn't be easy. You can explain who or what the Spirit is, just after you tell me what the hell...is in that soup."

He took another look around and saw that there were several other mountains nearby, and there was one nearby that struck his interest...It seemed to almost attract him, beckon him towards it. He looked closer at it and saw that it was riddled with caves, almost as if the only reason it was a mountain was to contain caves. He pulled his gaze away and again turned to the dwarf.

"By the way...what am I exactly?"

 

[wolfknight20]

Silver heard Varic ask him to tell him some good of his old world as they ate so he told what he could

I was what in my world was known as a assassin and more to the point i was they youngest grand master ever in my clan cause i was good at my job so i didn't have much experience with the good once i became part of the clan as I'm sure you know killing takes something from you its like a part of me died with every one i killed

And family forget that if i tried to start a family i knew it only be a matter of time before some one tried to use them against me so i had no family out side the clan and even those within the clan were delirious of me

But i do remember some good from before the clan friends at the mall hanging out just for the hell of it Sunday dinners at home with the family i grew up with mostly the same stuff you probably have here in one way or another but people in my world take it for granted far to much so you see my friend here I'm to protected and care for life so i have a life here where in my world i was nothing more then a shell going thou the motions of living little more than a zombie

So as i said there where beautiful things yes but i didn't enjoy them and besides beauty is in the eye of the beholder what one finds beautiful another finds horrific
this said Silver laid down and stared off in to the fire while Varic digested what had been said

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Sila, war is not a fun thing. There will be blood, and lots of it. This raid will not be like facing an enemy on the battlefield, it will be killing them while they are helpless and asleep. Killing them quickly and without mercy. Could you do that Sila? Could you kill something in cold blood?" Michael asked, looking deep into her eyes. "It is not as easy as you might think."

 

[Wolfsister]

Drake and Dorn

"So...I kinda already figured that this isn't Britain, let alone London, but thanks for confirming it. So, you're a dwarf named Dorn? Alright...well, I'm Drake, I'd shake your hand, but as you can see it probably wouldn't be easy. You can explain who or what the Spirit is, just after you tell me what the hell...is in that soup."

Dorn gave out a huge and unexpected belly rumble of a laugh. "Do nit worry, friend. Tis just a small animal yer eatin. Smaller 'an ye, tha is." He gave a big shaking laugh again. This animal was strange, yes, as he thought a Guardian would be, but he hadn't realised it could have a sense of humour.

"I dinna know what yer mean bout 'hell' but I be expectin tis not good. This world be strange to ye, I know - but ye'll ave to remind me, I ain't had this experience afore, ye know."

Then, hitching his thick thumb into his belt at his belly, he chewed looked thoughtful, "I dinna know if ye got Gods in yer world. But tha be what the Spirit is. To us, She be a Goddess. She look after us. But She's in trouble an' yer here to help Her. Dinna know how, but that be for Her to explain."

"By the way...what am I exactly?"

Dorn shook his head, "Don't rightly know, lad. Yer definitely a wolf. But what kind, I not be sure. Yer all tingly to touch..." he shrugged. Never having been hit by lightning, nor ever having any experience with electricity, he couldn't begin to describe what Drake was. But hopefully the Guardian could figure it out himself.

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver and Varic

Varic was silent for a time. When he spoke, his tone was quiet as well, "You led a truly horrible life, Silver, and I am sorry to have to ask you to fight again in this world, but -" Varic leaned over and placed a hand on Silver's big shoulder, "But I know in this world, we can begin to give you the kind of life you should have had. I promise you that, Silverfang Wolveian Nightwing."

Then he sighed and looked up at the stars, the night already advanced. "We should rest. Tomorrow we will enter Nariel and another ordeal will begin."

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

"Sila, war is not a fun thing. There will be blood, and lots of it. This raid will not be like facing an enemy on the battlefield, it will be killing them while they are helpless and asleep. Killing them quickly and without mercy. Could you do that Sila? Could you kill something in cold blood?"

Sila stared at Michael, not sure what it was he was telling her. Surely, killing her enemy would be a great thing. They would not come later to kill her mother, or in the future, to kill her children. The Fairies would for once be safe and the Dwarves could mine in peace.

"Mike... I will do whatever I have to." She said, slowly and surely. But the real test would come - she had the ultimate confidence, but in the back of her mind, she did wonder, truly, if she could.

 

[wolfknight20]

thank you varic i have nothing against fighting for the right reasons and to me saving a world is one of the best rest well my friend

 

[rengadeirishman]

Michael looked at her deeply and then moved to the flap of their tent. He looked to one of the dwarf guards milling about and called out to a young but stout dwarf named Marik.

"Marik, go to the stockade and tell them to bring one of the goblin prisoners to me."

"right away sir" Marik said, jogging off.

It wasn't long before two more dwarves came up with Marik in front of them. Between them they carried a goblin tied to a pole that they held on their shoulders.

"Sila, I want you to kill this goblin."

 

[Infalk]

Drake

"Do nit worry, friend. Tis just a small animal yer eatin. Smaller 'an ye, tha is."

Well, even though they were in the middle of nowhere on a mountain top, at least he had good company...he was thankful for that at least.

"I dinna know what yer mean bout 'hell' but I be expectin tis not good. This world be strange to ye, I know - but ye'll ave to remind me, I ain't had this experience afore, ye know."

"Well...where I came from there are things called religions. One of these religions had a thing called "Hell" which apparently you would be sent to if you were not loving and caring towards other humans, and if you did not trust and believe 100% in the religions god. Personally, I think that religion was just a way of bending people to your will. It was used by conquerors and dictators to justify slaughtering millions of innocents and the leaders of the religion only adhered to it's rules when it suited them. So...yes, hell is not good."

"I dinna know if ye got Gods in yer world. But tha be what the Spirit is. To us, She be a Goddess. She look after us. But She's in trouble an' yer here to help Her. Dinna know how, but that be for Her to explain."

"So...you have some deity in the sky that 'helps' you? If all you mean by wanting my help is for me to fight her 'enemies' for her, then count me out. I'm not getting involved in some squabble over who's Spirit is best, regardless of what I was sent here to do. I'm sorry, but you'll have to find someone else to help you do whatever it is you need."

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver and Varic

The next morning woke them bright and early. The sun rose high in the sky and by mid morning, they were squinting against the glare that rose up from the plains ahead. Varic was ever on his guard, but for the entire morning, nothing happened. He began to relax slightly as they came closer and closer to the city.

The city of Nariel was build in a sprawling mass of low ceilinged mud brick houses. There were multiple 'squares' or public spaces where markets and stalls with bright colours and even brighter wares were on display. The city smelled of sizzling meat, dust and dry, sticky sweat.

The prodominent people within the city were either Avians or the Horsekin - Centaurs. The centaurs were often tall at around seven to eight feet and had a healthy mix of females and males. The males were often more heavily tatooed and scarred and the females were more accessories such as bead necklaces, or silver armbands.

Into this sprawling mass, Varic and Silver went. They entered at one of three gates (North, East, South), choosing the South gate which was easiest for them to get to. They were greeted warmly enough but merchants directly behind them were greeted with much more enthusiasm.

"The Trading Capitol of the East," Varic gestured around at the buildings and bustling people. "Welcome to Nariel, Silver."

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

"Sila, I want you to kill this goblin."

Sila's eyes widened, "What? Why?" she took a deep breath and stared at Michael. "Okay... first tell me what he has done. I know he's a Goblin... but..." she trailed off. It wouldn't matter what he had done, she wouldn't know what the others had done either. She shook her head... "I... I..."

She took a small sword that lay to the side and gripped it in her hands. She stared into the goblin's bruised and battered face. He was not in a good way, and Michael still expected her to kill him.

She raised the blade... her hands quivered and then she dropped the sword, her eyes searching the ground. "I can't..." she whispered and then began to sob as Marik led the goblin away... "I just... can't...."

 

[Wolfsister]

Drake and Dorn

Of all the things he could have done, Dorn actually laughed at Drake's last comment. Far from taking offense, he was actually relieved at the straightforward honesty of the creature before him.

"Tha's good. But She isna Goddess exactly, we just like ta call 'er tha." He then went on to explain in detail about how the world was before now.

There were originally two races - the Elves and the Humans (whom were called Guardians) that had power over others. The Guardians had access to magics that Elves couldn't possibly dream of and they were often more powerful than anything anybody had ever seen. They soon established complete and benign rule over the world.

However, some disparate people resented their benevolent rule and raised forces and allies against the Guardians. They called themselves the "Dark Kin". In a massive war, the Dark Kin were defeated.

Soon the Guardians resumed rule again, but this time, corruption stole into the ranks and they began to reason that they were more powerful than any being, why should they serve the people instead of having the people serve them? Their benign rule soon came to resemble tyranny.

This time, the People rose up in a rebellion, labelling themselves as the Dark Kin to rebel against the Guardians. A small group banded together specifically on a special quest - A young female elf among them - and awoke great and powerfully ancient magics to banish the Guardians from this realm.

The young elf, renaming herself the Spirit, became a powerful sorceress who ruled with a gentle heart and kind soul. Through thousands of years, she has become wiser and wiser and now people (though she does not 'rule' traditionally) have respected her and her opinions on their lands ever since.

"There is great magick tha keeps this land 'ere peaceful an prosperous. Tha magick is failing, so I've been told an tha Spirit is weakening. Apparently, only tha Guardians are strong enough ta help us now. But she 'ad ta work round Guardian banishment. Tis why yer lookin like that, instead o what yer did before."

 

[wolfknight20]

It is indeed a beautiful place i cant wait to see more

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Eeth nodded to the queen in acknowledgement, and then turned around to walk towards Van and Rolyn. But after only two steps, he turned back around and fixed an unnerving glare upon the elf that had been chosen to be the judge.

“Your queen has commanded you to be fair in judging this fight,” said Eeth in an even, no-nonsense voice. “That means you are to be unbiased, your loyalty to your queen and your personal feelings having no influence upon your decisions. If you fail to be unbiased, your bring dishonor upon yourself and your name.”

Eeth then turned back around and walked towards Van and Rolyn. He then handed the twin blades to Van, rubbing the feline’s head with a small smile. He then turned his attention to Rolyn.

“I do hope that this won’t take much longer, Rolyn,” Eeth said, in a voice loud enough that only Van and Rolyn would hear. “What are my chances of success?”

Eeth waited for Rolyn’s response, and then with a small smile upon his face, he turned to face the queen.

“Ready when you are,” Eeth said, taking a few steps forward.

 

[Infalk]

Drake

"Oh...well...in that case, I suppose I owe you an apology. But yes, that certainly sounds like the Humankind I'm familiar with; greed, power and riches pretty much sums us up.
The situation must be truly dire if you've had to bring us back here.

Although there is one thing I don't understand. When we were banished, there must have been a huge power vacuum, are you trying to tell me that the Dark Kin disappeared completely without a trace, simply because their enemies had gone?

If it was as you say, the humans were the only ones powerful enough to defeat the Dark Kin in the first place, so what happened to them after we left? Who fought them? And what happened to the rest of the Spirits' small group of adventurers? Why didn't they achieve the same level of fame?

Anyway, I'm sorry if I seem a bit inquisitive, I'm sure you don't know the answers to most of these questions, but I'd just like to know what I'm dealing with before I start charging into battle for a cause I don't even understand."

During this long speech he had finally settled on a sphinx-like position on the floor. He looked up at the sky and saw a beautiful constellation of stars, far more vivid than those on Earth, it was as if each star had its own personality, they all had different colours and variations of brightness. Perhaps this was his chance to make a new life for himself, make up for what he had done, for the innocents he had killed...Or perhaps it was just a path to soul consuming darkness....

 

[rengadeirishman]

Michael held her close and stroked her hair.

"Its okay love, I am glad you couldn't kill him. It shows your sweetness and innocence. Never feel bad that you couldn't take a defenseless life, it isn't a happy thing. That is why i don't want you to come, i don't want you to have to murder like that. On this raid, we will be killing goblins in their sleep, cutting their throats while they're helpless. I am glad you can't do such a thing." he said, kissing her softly.

"Come now, let us away to bed."

 

[Wolfsister]

Silver and Varic

It is indeed a beautiful place i cant wait to see more.

Varic nodded and gave a low appreciative whistle. "It is grand, isn't it?" Then he grinned and leaned towards the Guardian a little more, "But wait until you see the Blue Tower.... now that is a sight to see."

Then he strode on, ignoring the occassional odd glance his way. An elf and what ever Silver was, wasn't a normal occurance on the dry high plains of the Ethari but Nariel was used enough to visitors not to stare.

"First off my friend, we need to find an Inn. Go ahead, look around and see what you can see," Varic smiled, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. It would be time to meet the Centaur Chief later.

 

[Wolfsister]

Eeth/Van/Rolyn/Ilandria

"That means you are to be unbiased, your loyalty to your queen and your personal feelings having no influence upon your decisions. If you fail to be unbiased, your bring dishonor upon yourself and your name.”

The appointed judge just stared back at him. He would be fair, there was no other way to do it. It was for this reason that the Queen had chosen him and he was proud to be able to assist in such a way. But he would not dignify the obnoxiousness of the Guardian by giving him an answer.

Van took Eeth's blades with a little mew and whimper. He leaned into the brief pat and gave a tug on Eeth's sleeve in assurance. His eyes seemed to read, You can do it.

"What are my chances of success?”

Rolyn grimaced, "With the use of magic, almost next to none. But you have stalled for time significantly. Hopefully the spell will not be much longer." He muttered low enough for just Eeth and himself to hear, knowing how good a listener the Queen was. He tilted his chin towards a now silently chanting Elder, "They should be almost finished by now." He hoped his words gave Eeth a little confidence, but also hoped that it would be by too much.

“Ready when you are,”

Ilandria rose from her throne and gave a little, tight smile of approval. "Finally." She took a step forwards and allowed one of her ladies in attendence to tie her left arm behind her back to her waistband. She flexed her fingers and smiled at Eeth once more.

Then she stepped forwards again and raised her right hand. Uttering a single word, a beam of fire shot from her palm straight at Eeth's face. It would take a very small amount of time to get to him.

 

[wolfknight20]

I will varic but ill stay close to you after are experience in the dessert this beautiful rose of a town might still have some thorns and those thorns might not be to happy with us sides i can still see hear and smell plenty while we watch each others back

 

[Wolfsister]

Drake and Dorn

Dorn sighed, "Tha kinda thing is what only ther Spirit can tell yer. She's the one tha's still alive an' been there. But I kin tell yer tha the others were sent off on some sorta secret mission or some such." He shook his head, "Kin't tell yer more an' tha."

"As fer tha Dark Kin, well, they weren't the original yer see. They were just ordinary citizens what rioted and formed a resistance. The original Dark Kin were still locked away what with ther defeat earlier by ther Guardians."

"Peace was what we most wanted an ther Spirit gave us that. So we all elected Her as our 'ruler' an over ther years she gave us a pretty good political system an allowed us to rule over our own lands..." Dorn smiled, "She was a good un."

Then he shrugged, "Any more an tha and I kin't tell yer. Ye'll 'ave ter ask her yerself."

 

[Wolfsister]

Michael and Sila

Sila leaned into his sweet warmth and dared to allow herself a smile. "Thank you, Michael. Thank you..." she said softly as she allowed him to lead her to their bed....

During the night, a Dwarf with minimal armour and stealthed weapons came to fetch Michael. It was time and all was ready. All they needed now was their fearless leader.

Michael had at his disposal three squads of seven dwarves and two of five fairies. Their shoes were muffled, the fairies wings dulled with a fine dusting of blackened powder and their weapons wrapped in soft leather. When they moved, not a sound could be heard and the fairies walked to better mask the fluttering of their wings.

Tula came to see them off and she gave Michael's hand a brief squeeze, "Come back to my Sila." And then she waved them away on their deadly mission.