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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted February 21, 2011 05:28 PM |
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Edited by evinin at 21:05, 23 Feb 2011.
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Quote:
Alright... I've decided to do Ylaya. (Apparently, that's how her name is spelled)
Message for help sent!
Ok then... I'll take Raelag.
I'll write my Fic these days, I'm still waiting for more wishes.
As you can see it's a really short Fic. The next week I'll write only one for both characters, that's want you'll have to do too, if you wish.
Raelag
Raelag tore the letter immediately in his anger. He tried to stay calm but couldn’t. He felt like he could explode. The Dark elf didn’t want to believe these words, he couldn’t believe them. After everything he has been trough he had to give up. He had to give up his clan, he had to give up his love and he had to give up his world. The letter said it clearly – if he didn’t do that, Biara would rise. Raelag couldn’t let that happen, ever! He had to do something, he had to… The Warlock felt his weakness and that even made him madder. How could he possibly be an egoist in this case? How could he risk the lives of the ones who are important to him and the lives of all because of his feelings? How could he risk losing what he became because of his feelings? But then he realized something else. He picked up the pieces of the letter and put them together again. He had missed a part from the message – the part in which was said that he had to become a demon again.
“No! No, no, no, no, no!” – He sat on the ground and put his face in his hands. (Note: I don’t know if I can say the action like this in English, I hope that it’s understandable) – “That’s too much for me to handle, I can’t do it… I’m so sorry…”
“Oh, don’t apologize to me, apologize to everyone that’s going to die because of you” Raelag immediately stood up and looked around but he didn’t see anyone or anything. He used some mana to make his senses stronger but didn’t feel anything. Someone was blocking his abilities. “I know that it’s you – show yourself!”
“I won’t and you know that very well. I’m sorry but you have to become a demon and you can’t do anything about it.” She started laughing hysterically.
“I won’t become like you, I’m not like you! I didn’t get tempted.” For a second the wind became stronger and colder and there just vanished. “I’m sorry for my words.”
“No, my dear Raelag, you will be sorry.”
He felt that her presence was gone. Raelag knew what she had just done – she cut off his wish to sacrifice himself. She was smart and wise, sometimes too much. But he offended her and that was going to cost him much. He had many things to do but first he needed to find Isabel.
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted February 24, 2011 01:15 AM |
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Quote:
“No! No, no, no, no, no!” – He sat on the ground and put his face in his hands. (Note: I don’t know if I can say the action like this in English, I hope that it’s understandable) – “That’s too much for me to handle, I can’t do it… I’m so sorry…”
It works. Quite well actually. 
Quote:
“This is a letter from the lands of the Void
Decision to make - you can’t avoid
To stop the enemy big
Or to save the friend in need”
“From the Abyss will return a foe
To destroy all and not to fall
If you want to stop him – give up
Leave your people, your mount – shut
Thralsai will come again and kill
The future is your will”
"Malassa give me strength." Ylaya whispered. The Keeper of Law felt a small surge of power when she spoke these words.
-I will- The Goddess of darkness told her. -You know your path. But it is not the one that you are thinking of. He CANNOT come back to you now... Not yet. Raelag must first complete his own quest.-
Ylaya smiled briefly. "My Goddess, you have returned."
-Only for now, my favored. Know that your counterpart within the Warlocks has been slain by a powerful enemy... But that this is not your quest either.-
The smile fell. "Sinitar has fallen? How could this be?"
-As of now, you do not need to know. He will tell you, in due time. What you must do now, though, is find the one who lived. The one who survived Sheogh alone. Find the Phoenix Lady.-
The protective shadows that had enveloped Ylaya disappeared, fading back into the darkest recesses of the cave. Ylaya became uneasy. Something in Malassas had said, but she pushed past that. None could emulate the calm, peace and strength that the Dragon Goddess gave her. And She had finally given her the task that Yalaya had been looking to find.
The search for the Phoenix Lady had begun.
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The Demon Sovereign chuckled to himself. The Queen of darkness raged against the barriers that he had created to separate her from her chosen, and yet she could do nothing. The carefully crafted lies and barriers made Ylaya deaf to her true Goddess.
He felt his host trying to free herself from his grasp again, and forced the Phoenix Lady's conscience back down. No, do not resist my pet. There is nothing that you can do now, that time passed when you failed. You are mine. At least, until the woman saw Findan. Damn that elf lord-ling, how could he break this tenuous hold over her with his mere presence?
Slightly annoyed because he remembered this fact, the Sovereign opened another portal to a different hero that needed... Guidance.
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted February 24, 2011 08:57 PM |
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Edited by evinin at 14:46, 27 Feb 2011.
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Nice, gnomes. 
Anyway, I'm still waiting for the rest.
Should I take your silence for "no, I don't want a second character"?
Ok, guys, forget it. Feel free to use all the characters.
For Freyda - giving up her kingdom for her father's life.
For Kujin - giving up her powers and klan for the life of Quroq.
For Isabel - choosing between Raelag and Nikolai (again...)
I'll write narratives tomorrow and everything should be like before.
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted February 27, 2011 08:18 PM |
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Well, I should be able to tie Isabel into Ylaya's story easily enough...
Dibs'd!
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted February 27, 2011 08:29 PM |
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Quote:
Well, I should be able to tie Isabel into Ylaya's story easily enough...
Dibs'd!
I had a plan for Isabel but never mind - do as you like. I'll do a special narrative tomorrow - one for all of you, a meeting of the "bad guys" in a lady's home (I'm not saying which lady...  )
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markkur
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Once upon a time
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posted February 28, 2011 03:46 PM |
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Quote:
Should I take your silence for "no, I don't want a second character"?
Sorry for no response to this. Didn't see it. I'm having a very rough stretch.(pain). Again, sorry about this, things change and sometimes quickly. Maps are job-One and I'm having problems there too. For now, I'll try to keep "my Arantir-part" going.
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted February 28, 2011 08:03 PM |
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No problem, guys, I know life isn't HC. I'm sorry but I studied Ancient Greek all day and I didn't manage to write anything. I'll post tomorrow, I promise, I have a big exam tomorrow and so...
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted February 28, 2011 11:37 PM |
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It's OK, evinin, RL comes first. See your post tomorrow.
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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Duncan
Famous Hero
The Pathfinder
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posted March 01, 2011 09:02 AM |
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My apology also for having been away without letting you all know. I guess Duncan really went dark, both in the fic and real life, lol... I work in Uni and new semester has just started, too many loose ends atm.
Anyway, I'll stick with my plan to take Freyda. I hope I will manage to come up with something this week.
And this...
Quote:
For Freyda - giving up her kingdom for her father's life.
is a nice twist. Not what I had in mind earlier, but very interesting indeed, especially while I'm lacking of creativity such as now 
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But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it.
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted March 01, 2011 07:40 PM |
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SPECIAL
She looked in the orb again and saw her master. His rise was soon to come. All were falling in the trap one by one, even the strongest of them, even Michael and Kha-Beleth. They were all wrong; they were all going to pay a good price for their insanity. The Cursed Lady closed her eyes and transferred herself to the so-called “leaders”.
Giovanni froze. He saw her dark figure near him and he felt her anger. The time to act was near and he probably messed up everything with that attack. But their plan could still work because the vampire was entirely changed – he looked like a friend of Arantir. He had to show up in the battle with a force, destroy his own army and convince Arantir that he is his friend. The Half-Dead Lady ordered him to not kill Arantir – just kidnap him, but Ornella and the others had to die.
Alaric felt a terrible chill. He saw his new master, the beautiful and powerful Red Lady. He received orders and the exact location of Gotai. His job was to capture the demon but without killing him. Then he would be free to destroy all the demons in Ranaar. Alaric took his finest troops and quickly galloped away.
Markal was listening to his ex apprentice. She couldn’t hide her feelings that good from him. She looked calm but something was wrong. Maybe she didn’t want to destroy the elves. The orders were strict – destroy all of them except the King, nothing hard to do. Markal was promised a new and powerful weapon against the elves and this time he had more help – some clan leader of the Dark elves was also making trouble.
Laszlo mounted his horse. All his men stood behind him. The Red Lady told him to kill all of the rebellion – including Duncan and Freyda. The Unicorn Empire had to be theirs. The battle horn was heard – they were ready to charge. Their forces were bigger and stronger. Valeria was going to be executed at noon. Their master was happy with them. Soon the Empire was going to fall.
The Cursed Lady returned in her dark cave. She went near the orb again and reported her deeds. Her master was pleased with her; she had played her role very good. The Cursed Lady was shaking and asked a difficult question – she asked could she save someone’s life. Her master went mad and answered that he deserved to die the most. The Lady agreed but when she turned her back she felt tears in her eyes. The cure wasn’t worth Zehir’s life or Findan’s or Raelag’s or… She tried to destroy the doubt quickly. There was no time for weakness.
I hope you like it. I'll would like someone to write a narrative for me, too.
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted March 02, 2011 12:09 AM |
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The Cursed lady's Master hissed to her that there was only one who was not doing as he should... Zehir needed to be with the wizards, not the elves! This was too far from the plan, and all of the pawns needed to be in the right position for it to succeed. Her Master felt the Cursed lady's resolve flicker for a moment, but that moment passed quickly. There was no way that she would betray the one who controlled her cure...
At least, that is what the master believed.
No matter what, soon the Demon King would be drawn like a moth to the flame... And crushed. Raelag returning to his original form was the perfect bait...
Thanks for the week's intro. Hope mine is satisfactory in staying in-theme with yours...
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted March 02, 2011 08:39 PM |
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Thanks for the week's intro. Hope mine is satisfactory in staying in-theme with yours...
Thank you, gnomes. I'll write a Fic soon.
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted March 03, 2011 01:59 AM |
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Findan
Wyngaal landed in the cave entrance. If he hadn't been fleeing for his life over the last five or so days, he would have taken time to learn how to enjoy the wings that he could create by just concentrating, learn just where each wind blew and the exhilaration of flight. Being inhabited by an angel had its advantages. But it also had its disadvantages as well.
Namely, he was now the prime target of Markal, randomly lost control of his body and had earned the distrust of Eruina. The first and last problems hurt him the most, one physically and the other... Well, it was like watching a friend slowly die every time he looked into Eruina's eyes and saw her hatred and distrust. But why did she care? Or, more to the point, why did he care that she cared? Wyngaal had been born and raised as her enemy, and she had only given him more reasons to hate her. Not only had Eruina scarred his soul with her dark God, but she had torn him away from his friend until Ossir was murdered. Until then, he hadn't cared about his life-long friend, because of her.
So why couldn't he hate her?
"Wyngaal," Findan called out from the back of the cave, drawing the young elf back to the real world. "Is it safe out there?"
"Yes, lord." Wyngaal snapped to attention. "The undead don't know that we are-" He reacted instinctively when the burning red portal opened, sending a blast of holy white energy through the hole in time and space. The Phoenix Lady was caught completely off guard and actually recoiled in pain as the energies rippled across her body. Findan shot Wyngaal a dirty look while positioning himself between the over-zealous ranger and their guide and turned back to the Phoenix Lady.
"Are you all right Natasha?" He asked her softly. Before any of them had time to react, her hand shot to Findan's throat and she picked him off of the ground.
"I told you that that wasn't my name anymore, Findan." Then a look of sorrow and exhaustion marred her scarred face. "But I..." She set him down gently, "I..." She seemed to be caught in some kind of indecision. "Call me what you want, Elf King."
He rubbed his throat before answering. "Well, I think that we might want to avoid that one for a while... but anyway. Where are we going?"
Lethos approached the small fire they had made in the cave. "Let me guess, 'Phoenix Lady'? Excuse me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that title usually require, you know, a phoenix?" Everyone in earshot glared at him except his intended target. Instead, she created a ripple in time and space that a phoenix soon occupied. Lethos stumbled back and landed flat on his bum.
"Well now, isn't that interesting..."
"Are you ready to begin your search for the blade, Findan?" the Lady asked.
Findan looked at the small and ragged group. :As ready as we'll ever be, I guess." He judged. "Now, where will we find Armageddon's Blade?"
A different portal opened up. All of the heroes recognized the elemental planes when they looked in. "Suicide mission indeed..." Lethos murmured.
"Ah hell..." Wyngaal agreed.
Eruina looked worried for a second before her face became stony and resolved. "I'm ready."
The two assassins looked at each other. One of the shrugged and the other just walked away. "This is as far as we go, sorry." Derelin said. "What use would we be against fire, wind, water or rocks? We're just a few random soldiers who are a long ways from home."
Findan nodded. "Thank you for all that you did for us anyway. Hopefully you have a home to return to." They both let out a sigh of relief and then disappeared into the darkness.
"Alright... Let's go then." Findan sighed. "Are you coming with Na-... Phoenix lady?"
She thought about it for a second. "No... Not yet. I'll join you soon though, don't worry. Go with my blessing, Findan." The elves nodded and walked through the portal. Natasha sighed and closed the portal behind them. And forgive me for what I'm going to do to you... all of you. She called out silently.
Eruina and Wyngaal heard.
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted March 03, 2011 10:13 AM |
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Great, gnomes! Are you writing another one for Ylaya or...?
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted March 03, 2011 02:15 PM |
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Soon. I'll just do it in a different post (Since it was very late at night when I made that first one).
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted March 03, 2011 04:13 PM |
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Zehir felt disappointed. He was late. There was no one, the whole place was abandoned. He wondered where could Isabel go but quickly run out of ideas. He could only think of Raelag but his elven friend was nowhere to be found. The Wizard stopped for a second and tried to clear his mind.
A portal opened spontaneously near him. He didn’t know what to do so he just hid himself behind the nearest tree. For his relief from the portal came him old friend Raelag. But then Zehir stood on guard again – that was way too suspicious.
The Dark elf looked around, called Isabel a couple of times and then gave up. He was too late. That monster probably came faster than him. Raelag felt lost. He had no idea what to do. When he felt a nearby presence his first thoughts were really dangerous. He calmed himself down when he felt Zehir’s aura. But there was something really wrong with it.
“Is that you old friend? Won’t you come to great me?” The Wizard wasn’t sure what to do but he showed himself. It looked like that was really Raelag. “What is going on here? From what are you hiding?”
“I can’t trust my eyes anymore. I don’t have any magic also. As you can see – I’m in a very bad situation. I’ve received a letter…”
“You did too? And let me guess – she had to do something with it?”
Zehir nodded. Raelag became angry again. Something needed to be done and that something had to be done fast. He concentrated and cast the one spell that he knew that would work. A crystal formed from nowhere near them and in that crystal was the Phoenix lady herself. “Beware – I can’t hold her much.”
“Arcane crystal! For real?! I taught you this spell and now you are using it against me! Oh! Both of you are so dead when the spell breaks!” Zehir was sure that they were going to die. If he had powers they could stand a chance against her but in that situation there were doomed. The Wizard didn’t know that the spell could summon others also but he felt that there was more than that, too.
“We can ask her questions. She has no choice than answering the truth. I can’t hold her in more than about five minutes so let’s make the questions three and let’s be quick about them. Tell me – do you know where Isabel is?”
“Yes, I do.” She looked really mad but Raelag didn’t care – he just wanted to know if his love is ok. “More questions before you die, demon?”
“Is Isabel alright?”
“Yes… for now. But soon she will be dead just like all of you.”
“Is there a… a cure for you? You were a friend once, we can still help you.” Raelag tried to calm her. He was sure that there was still good in her, he remembered her well. She helped him so many times; she even helped him to escape from Sheogh.
“There is only one cure and soon I’m going to posses it. Too bad you will be dead by then. Come on – your turn Zehir or you don’t want to play?”
“Why is my father revived in a new body?” Raelag looked at him with shock. After all the Wizard didn’t have time to tell him his story.
“Because he is needed like that in order to serve me and my master.”
“Who is your master?” The Phoenix Lady froze for a second. It looked like that last question got her of guard. “Before that tell me – do you really want to see me dead?”
“I… will see you dead Zehir – that’s the very near future. I want to… to… Your death is needed and will happen soon. Yes, I want you to die; I want all of you to die. And my master is… Oh, time’s up.”
The Arcane Crystal broke in million pieces. Raelag guarded Zehir and himself and then rushed forward. He needed a quick attack. He thought that it was quick enough but he was very wrong. She was already in the air on her Phoenix back.
“You are foolish and you depend too much on your feelings. You had me and you needed to ask me just one question but you were too late. I don’t worry about you – soon you will die. First you will face you fears. Then you will understand that the only way is to follow the letter. In the end you will fall in the trap and you will serve my master’s plans well. Goodbye!”
She vanished just like that. Zehir and Raelag stood up from the ground and looked at each other. They both didn’t know what to say.
“I’m going back to the Silver Cities. Will you come with me?”
“I’ll meet you there. First I need to go in my lands to make sure that everything is fine.”
They departed without saying anything more.
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted March 03, 2011 05:40 PM |
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@ Evinin:
Good, but a little confusing.
Ylaya walked through the black portal that had brought her to the Phoenix Lady's home. Or, at least the entrance. She saw a small flash of red in the back of the cave and wondered to herself, Who could that be? As usual, the Dark Goddess did not answer. In fact, she hadn't heard from Malassa for the last few days, not since she had been given this quest.
As she entered the cave, Ylaya had the impression of a great Black Dragon bellowing out in rage and fear, though it came from so far away that the Keeper of Law couldn't be sure it wasn't her imagination. For a second, she was parilized with doubt. Why am I here?
Because my Goddess commanded me. Ylaya answered herself. And I will not fail her
She walked into the cave, alone and without her mount as the letter had said. Whoever had sent it had either been a seer, insane or concerned about the future, so she thought it best to follow his or her advice. Though that bit about Thralsai coming back from the dead had to be just a child's fantasy, right? She was left with these thoughts when suddenly magic shackles and an arcane crystal bound her to the spot. A cold and cruel laugh came out from the shadows behind her.
"Impossible! You're dead! I killed you myself!" She cried out to the reborn dark elf. Thralsai just shook his head as if scolding a foolish child who took one to many cookies.
"You, of all the people I know, should not think that you can trust your eyes... Or your ears." He pulled out one wicked blade. "Tell me, how has the Shadow Dragon been lately? Talkative? Or did you know?" He held his open hand to his chest. "I am her new favorite! She brought you here to die, girl, so that I could rise to the position that I was born to! She let Sinitar die so that no one could possibly challenge me! And she abandoned Raelag," His voice fell down low. "so that I could be king in his place."
Ylaya tried to argue with him, but found that all of her strength, all of her breath, was being stolen from her body. Thralsai Laughed harshly at her struggles. "Let me ask you this, Keeper, if the Dark Goddess hasn't betrayed you, then why are you still trapped in this prison? shouldn't she be able to free her favorite willingly and in an instant?" He rammed his blade into the Arcane crystal's base. As it shattered, he yelled, "Let that be your last thought as you die!"
The crystal shards ripped into Ylaya's body and she landed on more when she hit the ground, but the Keeper found that she didn't care. She didn't care about anything.
Because her Goddess had betrayed her. Ylaya curled up on the ground and cried to herself. Waiting for the darkness to claim her life.
Black covered her vision, and Ylaya felt... Distant. A deep voice calmed her and soothed her broken spirit. Sleep, child. All will be alright. But sleep for now.
Just sleep.
Thralsai walked out of the cave and marched up to his lieutenants. "It is done. Let's go!"
((Note, Ylaya is not dead... Nor is she going to die this quickly.))
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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evinin
Supreme Hero
Servant of Asha
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posted March 03, 2011 05:44 PM |
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Good, gnomes, interesting. What do you find confusing? The situation or the style? (because if it's the style I'll change it)
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gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted March 03, 2011 08:56 PM |
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Quote:
Good, gnomes, interesting. What do you find confusing? The situation or the style? (because if it's the style I'll change it)
Wording. Other than that, it was good.
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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Duncan
Famous Hero
The Pathfinder
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posted March 06, 2011 08:11 PM |
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Edited by Duncan at 20:38, 06 Mar 2011.
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“This is a letter from the lands of the Void
Decision to make - you can’t avoid
To stop the enemy big
Or to save the friend in need”
“Is there someone that you miss?
Or tomorrow you’ll say yes and kiss?
Isn’t it your fault that you father died?
Don’t you want him to be revived?
A choice must be done
Between Godric and your kingdom.”
The Return of the Queen
It was four in the morning. Dawn had barely broken in the sky of the Unicorn Empire, but Queen Freyda was already fully dressed. Her breastplate glowed reflecting dimmed light coming from small candles in the four corners of her room. What she wore was an outfit for war. Her sword was still on the table, but she had laid her hands to it, ready to fix it on her waist. The Queen was ready to set forth for a mission.
Freyda looked down at the floor once again before taking a deep breath. What’s in front of her was one of the great decisions she had to deal with in her life. She had no doubt which path to take; not in a second. But the decision that she had in mind would bring major consequences to all things around her, including the Empire, including her beloved Duncan.
Years back right after Ashan war ended, she was approached by a mystique figure who introduced herself as Phoenix Lady. The Lady was an intriguing figure, but her old friend Zehir seemed to know her well. Zehir did not mention whether they’re good friends, but he didn’t refer her as foe either. Zehir did acknowledge her great powers, though, such that could turn things around whenever she liked. Freyda was in acquaintance with the Phoenix Lady in relation to her father’s – Lord Godric – possible resurrection. She was offered a chance to bring her father back to life in exchange of her Empire. She had to make that decision while she was still in reign heirless. That means today was the last day, for tomorrow would be her royal wedding with Duncan. Having Duncan as King would nullify the possibility since the Empire would still be related to her no matter what.
But handing the throne to Freyda was perhaps the best decision Isabel ever made. Freyda’s integrity was unquestioned; she sensed this promise as déjà vu to what Markal gave to Isabel for Nicolai. She did not want her beloved father be resurrected as undead! Only fools rushed in and took that empty promise as hope – a wasteful hope that could turn to devastation and darkness. Enough had been one horrible incident as an example to learn in Ashan for whoever in charge with other people’s life. She’s now Queen, the fate of the people lied on her hand. She was not going to make the same mistake as Isabel had done.
That she was now ready to leave the castle and abandon her wedding was the only way to investigate this thing. Her instinct told her that something big was on the move, and that it had something to do with what was promised to her by the Phoenix Lady. She had to give her something to bargain with by canceling her marriage with Duncan, thus preserving the condition of that promise. If not, then the Lady had no chance but to deny revealing what’s on her sleeves. Yes, she did not hesitate! She would not hesitate. This was something that she had to do. Still, that she had kept this secret from Duncan and never told him before was a heavy burden for her. She would now leave him in the dark. She just hoped he wouldn’t break and could still lead the Empire, should important decisions arise. Of course by then Freyda had never imagined what would befall to the Empire.
A slight knock at the door before it opened woke Freyda up from her deep thoughts.
“Is everything set, milady?” It was Ellaine.
“Yes, I’m ready.” Freyda grabbed her sword as she spoke. The heavy burden was clear on her eyes. “Everything should be as planned. You must realize, Ellaine, that you’re the only one who knows this. You should not tell everyone, including Lord Duncan. Especially Lord Duncan…” her leadership was in command as she launched those words at Ellaine.
“I understand. Are you sure you won’t need a company?”
“A company will only slow me down. The only way Lord Duncan will be unable to trace me is if I go alone. You should not underestimate his skills.”
After a moment of silent, Freyda continued.
“Alright, I should go now. I trust you will have no problem handling domestic affairs of the Empire while I’m gone?”
“I will do my best, my Queen.” Ellaine was nearly crying as she realized the parting moment with her Queen was about to commence. She wiped her tears in her eyes while saying “I have prepared everything you need in the stable, next to your horse…”
“Thank you, Ellaine. You served your duty well.” As much as Freyda cared about the tears, she knew she could not soften because of them. Not now. With her steady steps, she left Ellaine grieving in her room.
**************************************************
Freyda went through a variety of terrains, mostly hard ones. Forests, hills, rivers, and swamps. It was a long and tough two-day journey. Zehir never really pointed out the exact location of the Lady’s lair, only a rough description. It was not long until Freyda found a cave nearby the last swamp she passed. She thought that it must be it, and boldly she went inside.
A few meters in, from the dark within the cave a heavy voice called her.
“My Queen! At last, you finally arrived. I have been waiting for you.”
Freyda could see nothing, but if she did, she swore she would see the Lady’s smiling and triumphant face. She had waited for me, meaning she had known what I would decide, Freyda thought.
“You don’t seem surprise?” Freyda asked.
“Oh my dearest Queen, your reputation precedes you! Long I have known what your answer would be when I gave you my ‘riddle’.”
Yes, she must be smiling now, Freyda hated that thought. Riddle? Her father’s life is a riddle to her? Damn this monster!
The Phoenix Lady continued, “Pardon me for the rough journey you had, I didn’t experience an easy journey either the last time we met when I visited your beautiful palace. Zehir did a good job with his description of my whereabout.”
“Are you aware of what I’m giving up for this visit?” Freyda was beginning to get impatient.
“Of course I do, Dear. I can read your mind as you probably can read mine. I must say you are my toughest adversary in this, err… game.”
Freyda still could not see her but she heard a chuckle. First, riddle. Now, game? How much longer I should stand for this nonsense, she asked herself.
The Lady carried on, “So let’s just call it a stalemate, shall we?”
Now Freyda burst as she could not hold it any longer. “I’ve had enough of this! Are you going to explain what is this – that you call a game – all about? It might be a riddle to you, but it’s…”
“Your wedding? Ah, yes! But then again, that was your best move in my calculation. What is happening now is the best we both can have, my dear Queen Freyda.”
That grin! She seems enjoying this! If only Freyda could see where this creature was standing, she would probably have drawn her sword and put it on her smiling face.
“Will you stop it!” Freyda shouted.
“Now, now, behave young Queen. You have come this far not to kill me, but to seek enlightenment. Could I be more wrong than that?”
“Be that as it may, I don’t feel enlightened at this moment. And if it stays like this in the next minute, I have no problem to change the purpose of my visit.”
A big laugh echoed in that cave before the Phoenix Lady spoke again.
“Let’s get one thing straight, you CANNOT kill me. So stop acting as if you wield the power of your kingdom upon me since you are not. Not in here. I can’t give better advice than to relax and enjoy our conversation.”
Freyda realized that hard fact. She went silent.
“So here’s the situation,” the Lady began explaining after satisfied noting Freyda had surrendered, “it is true that you cannot have Lord Godric, your father, be resurrected other than as undead. You still have that choice, but I doubt you will choose that. As I said, I can read your mind. So you win that round. But it is also true that you would not simply abandon that possibility and that you would rush visiting me here, leaving your marriage behind, to learn about my whole proposal. Thus I win this round. Which is why I call it stalemate.” Freyda could hear another chuckle. “Your decision, however, will bear consequences upon Ashan. You have unfolded the next chapter in which I neither could foresee the ending, unless you go through it. That will be a good spectacle to watch. Hehhehheh…”
Freyda slowly digested the Lady’s words. She could not entirely understand what she was saying, but if she was not mistaken, the important message was that it was square one. All had been calculated; her mind, her decision, and the consequences behind. She could not alter that, but only to go through with what’s ahead.
“So you’re saying I left my kingdom and my wedding only to hear this? That I should move on?” Freyda tried to clarify.
“Hehheh… You made it sound dramatic when you put it that way. The way I see it, it’s just another adventure that you, both, have to undergo. Your wedding is just postponed. Something big must take place in Ashan.”
Freyda had nothing more to argue. She realized what she was dealing with. What she was facing now was an uber-creature who seemed to have the power to rule Ashan, even if it was only to her pleasure. If that was the case, she really had no option but to play along.
“Ah! I see that you’re beginning to comprehend, Beautiful.”
She could read my mind, alright, Freyda thought.
“Where to go from here, you asked?” The Lady responding to Freyda’s mind. “You should go back, and check the current situation with the people in the villages. You are smart. You will soon find out what is going on and how to react. I’m not going to insult your intelligence by telling you what to do.”
“I must say I found no consolation coming to your lair here, my friend. This had been an unpleasant experience. It is really not worth my time. I bid farewell now. I don’t know if we will see each other again. We better not, if this is what I’m coming to see.” With those words Freyda left the Phoenix Lady. Sunshine was the best thing she could hope for after leaving that dark and gloomy cave.
“Oh you will, my Queen. You will. And I hope it will meet your liking,” the Phoenix Lady whispered and echoed another laugh.
**************************************************
Having left her short but painful meeting with the Phoenix Lady, Freyda soon discovered about Laszlo and the riot in the south. She quickly met Irina who was patrolling in the east and sought for troops. At first, Irina was confused especially after learning that the wedding was canceled few days back. But Freyda brought the Empire Seal with her, signifying that she did not completely giving up the kingdom. Irina then reinforced her with few griffins, zealots, and angels.
Freyda also learned about Sheogh’s involvement in the current situation. To what extent, she still needed to further investigate. But with the help of Irina, she quickly found out Grok’s ruse to cut the reinforcement of Grimheim to the southern border. Too bad Rutger was beaten and Ellaine was outsmarted by Grok. Only this time she would deal with the matter herself, and there came her encounter with Grok on the hills after setting up a roadblock as distraction.
The imps and demons that Grok brought with him were quickly slain by Freyda’s forces. They then went on to chase Grok. But Grok ran faster alone and Freyda’s troops had difficulty chasing. Her only hope was if someone cut Grok’s path ahead. The hope was not made empty by Rutger’s and Ellaine’s decision to chase after Grok to rectify the error they made earlier.
When the two of them finally face to face with Grok, Rutger cried at Ellaine, “He is mine!”
Went off from his steed, Rutger drew his sword and engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with Grok. Grok was a tough opposition, but he was too tired after having been running and more importantly squashed by Freyda’s army. Fire sparked each time their swords clashed, but after a few rounds of exchanging blows, Rutger smashed Grok’s sword and left him unguarded.
“Now you die, demon!” Rutger exclaimed. He was ready to chop Grok’s head off, just right before the appearance of Freyda and her army.
“Hold down your sword, knight! He will come handy as a prisoner,” Freyda commanded.
Both Rutger and Ellaine were extremely thrilled to see her Queen back. They shouted together before kneeling, “My Queen! You have returned!”
“Yes, I am back,” Freyda said.
____________
But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it.
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