An elf entered the city, beaten and bloodied. His encounter in the forest left him tired and hungry. He had no time to rest and had to keep going. Suddenly, he fell in the middle of the street, breathing heavily from exhaustion. People began to form a circle and talk.
"It's a dirty elf! I say's we leave im ta rot in the middle o' the street!"
"We can't do that. He's a living creature, and it looks like he's had a hard time of it. Wonder what he ran into?"
"I don care! I still say we leave em' ta rot."
Ignorign the men, the woman picked the elf up with the help of her son and carried him into her cottage just off of the main road of the village.
Begin posting below. Basic rules, if your fighting, make it interesting, and not a one hit kill every time. (there are exceptions, and if you have been rping for awhile, you should know them.) And don't mess with the story line, cus i will delete your post until i think it helps the story.( basically, no stupid shit!!!!!)
Oh yah. I don't care about your language unless it get's outta hand.
HAVE FUN!!!!
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Assassin Journy.
The elf awoke with a start, seeing no one in the cottage, he quickly found his things and left through the only obvious door. After stepping outside, an old woman with a round, gentle face called out to him, "Hey there young man! Leavin' so soon?" The elf stopped and stood silently, not knowing who she was. "Are ye sure ye be strong enough to travel again? It looked like ye took a good beatin' when we found ya in the street."
Where the hell am I? The elf sat on the ground and passed out.
Talus had just arrived in the city, doing the wise thing and remaining in his human form. He decided he would have a look around the city before he went to the inn to wait for the others arrive.
This time he woke up, the old woman was standing by a window across the room. "It's dark now. You can go safely, but you must leave quickly." When he stood up he realized he was already fully dressed in his gear and weapons in thier places. Chance stood up and bowed at the lady before opening the door and leaving the house.
After having walked around the city all day and seeing all that there was to see, Talus decided it was time to check into the inn and wait for the others to arrive. Once he entered the building he noticed a few strange looks he recieved, which weren't that many but enough to keep his senses alert for any trouble. He made his way to an empty table that was near one of the corners and sat down at it, hoping the others would appear soon.
Chance trotted through the streets, staying just ahead of the shadow behind him. he had to fight it he knew. But he wanted to fight on his own terms at his own place. Just as he reached the tavern, the shadowthing overtook him and he was forced to fight. As he turned, it's sinewy arm threw him against the tavern with cuncussive force.
Talus' ears perk up as he hears something hit against the outer wall of the building. He quickly rushes out to see Chance being attacked by a....something
? He decides not to wait to find out what it is, looking around to make sure no one is around, then shifts to his demon form, looking like a werewolf with giant bat wings, but still wearing his same clothes. His claws come out as he lunges towards the creature, slashing at it as he does and catching it in the back, leaving large gash marks on it.
Chance rolled out of his crash against the wall ready to defend himself. Instead he found Talus ripping away at it. "We can't kill it right now! Step back so i can handicap it!" He began chanting words. Words only he knew. A bright red aura surrounded him, carressing his form with power. "Swarm of Daggers!" The daggers that lay in his cross chest holsters flew out, hitting the shadowthing countless times before returning. "Now! Follow me!"
He hesitated for a moment, then nods and stepped back as the elf started to chant, shifting back to his human form and letting Chance take care of it. Talus watched as the daggers flew at the shadowthing, and following after Chance after they had returned to their holsters.
The elf fled through the city, not waiting to see if Talus followed. He quickly reached the city's walls, hurtled them, and continued running until he was a safe distance from town. There he stopped and waited for Talus.
Talus is following right behind him, silent almost to the point where he seems to be a ghost, keeping stride with Chance and easily leaping over the wall, stopping when he does waiting for Chance to notice his presence.
tiersias sitting next to her pets looked on at them.."i wonder what they are up.."
Chance sat and looked up at Talus, "Thanks, for the help. But if you want to follow me further, I have to tell you the quest I'm on. I'm being chased by the shadowthings. The creatures you helped me...." Chance's head snapped up. "It's your choice to follow or not. I'm leaving." Chance and moved slowly forward.
A slender cloaked elf walked silently through the maze of riddled alley ways. Her emerald eyes searched the streets for a suitable inn. Her soft hand was constantly resting on her thigh where her white dagger lay, waiting to show itself and pierce an attacker. Selene knew the city could be a dangerous place if one was not prepared. She sighed, finding no such inn yet she would not stop until she reached her destination. The silence of her step was quite amazing, her tread made no sound.
Finally she settled on an inn, she spotted two beings. One was leaving, but from what. Selene watched him carefully...
Chance moved quickly, seemingly flowing throught the sparse trees, moving closer to his target. The shadowthing hadn't seen him yet, and Chance didn't smell an ambush. If he killed this one, it would alert the others, but it would give him at least a few minutes respite. The shadowthing's single red eye was not visible, so he must be towards its backside. perfect. As he neared, he slipped out two daggers, being careful to muffle the sound of his movements. When he was nearly two steps away the shadowthings red eye flared to life, staring straight at him. His only chance was to attack. The first dagger hit it in the eye, sending it into a rage, thrashing anything in reach with its abnormaly long arms. Chance ducked and jumped the sweeping arms, waiting for the perfect moment. The shadowthings had only one weakness, and they hardly ever uncovered it. Chance had only one shot, and if he missed it, he was most likely dead. He was still dodging the thrashing arms when he felt it. The gathering sense of powerful energy that meant the shadowthing was about to unleash a spell. Chance began to watch the shadowthing very closely, dodging on instinct and his peripheal vision. There! He had only a split second. As the shadowthing unleashed it's spell, it recoiled from releasing all it's energy, and there was a white flash that appeared on its skin, just under what would be a man,s chin. Chance dove backwards to avoid the spell, threw one dagger at its forhead to knock it off balance, rebounded off a tree with his feet, and flew like an arrow, straight at it. The white flash was right in front of Chance when he jammed a dagger underneath its chin, and landed. In seconds the shadowthing had disintegrated, spreading it's ashes to the winds.
Selene watched from the shadows. A strange thing really to be fighting. What was it? Some sort of shadow being? Selene's emerald followed the ash as it blew softly in the wind soaking into the sands of time. She chuckled and clapped, a slow sound that echoed from where she stood. She was impressed for it was a fine battle he fought indeed.
He had been focusing so that he never noticed te woman until after the fight. He turned towards and used the motion of picking up his coat to give him some time to think. "Thank you, but I deserve no appluase."
"That is for me to decide." Selene said with a light chuckle. She did not lower her hood just as yet, deciding it best to keep herself hidden until she had considered him trustworthy. The creature's image still float heavily in the shadows of her mind, the identity or even race of it was unknown to her.
"May I ask, what was your opponent?" Selene asked curiously, head tilting.
"My master told me that they have been around for eons, but no one knows exactly what they are or where they came from. He sent me on my quest right before the elven lands were destroyed to warn the rest of the races of the war that is about to comsume the world. The shadowthings, as we call them, are the advance troops, and they have been trying to cut me off since I fled my home." Chance's head bowed for a moment as he remembered his family and friends he had left behind. "I am sorry, but I must continue on my way. I have not the time to waste standing around."
A smile crept into her lips. She lowered her hood to reveal her beautiful elvish face. This was her chance for adventure..
"Let me come with you." Selene asked, her emerald eyes bright with excitement. She had always wanted to go on a daring quest, travelling and sleeping under the stars.. The part that interested her the most was the fact that she would be able to finally used her bow and arrow skills as well as her prized white dagger. Selene had never before had such an oppotunity before, she would not let it slip through her fingers.
Chance debated with himself. Having help again would great, but if this one was slaughtered like....... no, he didn't even want to think about that. All he could do was accept the help offered and do his best to prevent history from repeating itself. "Yes. But this is going to be trying on body and mind. If you don't mind the danger, I will welcome the help."
Selene bowed her head gratefully, trying to contain her excitement.
"I know the danger and am well aware of how to take care of myself, I will be no burden." Selene said positively with a small smile. She glanced over him for a minute, he would be a good compainion.
Chance's head snapped up. "We must leave. There are more shadowthings in the area. Follow me." Chance didn't wait for her to acknowledge, he just began to jog through the streets and trees, trying to distance himself from the beasts so it would be harder for them to track his aura.
Selene nodded, her nimble elvish feet snapping into action, keeping a few paces behind him. She was unsure why the shadowsthings as so he had named them seemingly from the top of his head were chasing them but it created a little adventure in her life and she was thankful for it.
Once he had decided that he had gone a suitable distance, he stopped and turned to the woman. "Forgive my manners, but I don't even know your name or you mine. Mine name is Chance Kel 'Thalos. I'm from the elven city of Quel 'Thalas, and was prince to the throne." He gave her a full bow. "What is your name?"
Selene chuckled, his manners were present after all..
"Selene is all of my name you will need to know." She gave a small kirtsy in return for the gracious bow he had given her.
Chance nodded, "I hope you don't mind traveling with a dethroned prince. I'm used to being a general, so at times during battle I may be a bit commanding. It's a habit. If I do it, please, just tell me to shut up." He flashed his crooked grin that had always made the ladies of his fathers court blush and fan themselves frantically. "After all, no one likes a bossy companion."
Talus reappears, seemingly walking straight out of the shadows. He smirks a little at Chance's comment as he catches the last part of it. "I've lead and followed, so I am used to doing both....That's not something I'm concerned about."
Chance spun at Talus's voice, "I thought I lost you. Anyways, Selene, this is Talus, and Talus, this is Selene. She's going to be traveling with us."
Talus nods slightly at Selene. "I'm curious as to how many others will eventually join us.
Chance shrugged, "Eventually, the war will break out. The problem is, no one but the three of us standing here know about it, and we can't do anything about it until we reach the kings of the races, and that's only if they believe me." His eyes flashed with anger, "The first one I tried to convince, my own father, threw me out of my country. Said I was talking heresy. I left just before the dark army set fire to the elven lands..... Hopefully the other kings won't be so stubborn. For thier own good. As for how many will join us, time will only tell."
she watched as the boyed talked."you guys act so stupid soemtimes." she sat ont he back of her nightmare and watched them."such a nice day for some beheading." she laughed and looked at them.
Chance smiled, taking the hint, "Okay, I guess we should get going. Where do you guys want to go first. This town is directly between the dwarven stronghold and the human king's castle."
Talus raised his eyebrow a bit at Selene. "And just how are we acting stupid? I'm simply here for the moment." He smiles a bit. "And about the only time i do kill is when I'm on an assasin job."
tieresias laughed."well not to worry, old chap the world is beyond what you see here.but you are but mere mortals and i am not." pets her dragon and looks back at them."i am tieresias."~bows her head~
Talus grins widely. "It's not safe to assume that any of us are mortals....but I am simply immortal in the sense that I will live forever...I am not invincible. Even elves can be considered immortal, or near to it, compared to humans."
she smiled and looked at talus.."well i too am immortal..but in a different sence. i am glad to have met and elf..it makes me happy to have seen one. i am a demonic creature.. not exactly sure but i am...so i bid thee greetings on the demonic behalf"
Chance nodded, "I am glad that the demons see the threat that is befalling our world. Do you plan on traveling with us?"
touched chances face"would you like a lady like me to travel with you?" smiled sweetly at them both "sure i will. but i warn you alot of people want to kill me adn dont forget, i bite." smiled and looked at them. i give this typoe a treatment o evryone i meet that are handsome." ~winks~
Chance ignored her statement, "Everyone that travels with me is a wanted man or woman. And biting isn't an issue. If you wanna bite, bite one of our enemies." Chance turned to the others, "Are we ready?"
Talus raised his eyebrow a bit at Tieresias' claim of being a demon. As he tilted his head a little to the side in thought, he asked, "And what type of demon might you be? I'm curious, for the fact that, though I have not informed Chance of this yet, but I am also of the demon breed." He grins a little. "And you're not the only one that bites." He turns his gaze to Chance. "In answer to your question, yes, I at least am ready."
Selene followed quietly, staying reserved as usual. The other woman here was sure flirting and it annoyed her slightly, she didn't appreciate sluts in the least. Chance did catch her eye with his rugged good looks but Selene was too shy, one of her personality traits she despised. She sighed, trying not to let her emotions seep through.
Chance walked as he talked. "We are directly between the elven and dwarven lands. I'm not sure which one I would have more luck with. Any ideas?"
"Dwarven lands are cast in a thousand shadows, would a shadowthing not go to where it is best concealed?" Selene said softly, her head tilting to the side carefully. The Dwarves tended to stay underground in the deep mountains caves, shadow and the black nothingness was what most was naturally acustomed to. Some had never seen the light of day.
Selene brushed some raven hair lightly from her emerald green eyes.
Talus let his head tilt a bit, a common gesture with him. "She does have a point there...I say we go to the dwarves. They may be more susceptible to attack, since they are accustomed to seeing shadows, and may not realize until too late that something is amiss."
Selene smiled gently, someone agreed with her. She glanced to each individual then back to Chance. No one had uttered the words so all could hear, but he was the leader of the group. It was an unspoken truth between them all.
Chance was surprised to find everyone waiting on his words to act. He had thrown the question out, half hoping someone would assume the leader role, Chance never having anyone under his command was wary of the postion. "I suppose you're both right. To the dwarven lands then." Chance scratched his chin trying to remember the layout of the land, "We are going to have to go through the thickest part of the woods on the way. It was once an elven outpost, but now, I fear it could be a great place for an ambush if the shadowthings are waiting for us. There is also a river that cuts the norther and Northwestern part of this forest off from the rest of it. There was a bridge over it when I went across it as a child with my father, but it could be in disrepair now. I doubt anyone has been keeping maintainence on the roads and bridges through the woods. Anyways, after all that, we have a short walk to the foothills of the mountain, a short hike, and then to the halls of the dwarves we will be." Chance watched everyone's reactions before asking if everyone was ready to leave.
Selene couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Chance's expression. He looked as if he had won hero of the year and knew nothing about it. She smiled, nodding her head and agreeing with his summary of their forcoming route. All seemed to be in order with the travel, although the elven outpost worried her slightly but she banished the concern from the depths of her mind. Selene trusted her combat skills well enough to depend her life on, she just wondered if any expected to have their back watched.. "To the gods," Selene muttered, deciding to cross that bridge when and if it arrived before her.
"Well then, off we go I guess." Chance motioned for the others to follow, then turned in the direction he'd indicated minutes before. "After we come across the bridge, we should run into a town by the name of Kinesti. It's an old human trade town. That's where we will stay before we cross into the dwarven lands. Also, if the outpost isn't ruined, there will be extra supplies and bedrolls. We camp there for the night tonight. I will take first watch, and the rest of you can divy up the rest of the night."
Talus walked beside Chance, listening to his description of what lay ahead. He tilted his head a little. "If it'll make things easier, I could change before we reach the outpost. It might make things easier if they see three elves instead of just two."
A look of sadness spread over Chance's face. "I don't think that will be necesary. Whoever is controlling this army is fairly smart. They knew that the elves magical powers and their vast knowledge of the world's history and the many race's folk lore was probably their biggest danger and they did everything they could to exterminate us. I'm afraid there is probably no one left there. They recieved no warning whatsoever of the attack." Chance fell silent, thinking of all the comrades he had lost in a matter of minutes.
Tieresias looked arounf\d and saw selene sneeking around."Elves.." looks back @ the boys and relaxes on shunra, her nightmare and pets argon."Have any of you folk seen a black unicorn?" looks in the direction of selene."i am missing mine..only reason why i am asking. What is your names..so i know"
Chance, still thinking deeply absently answered, "Chance."
Talus made a small bow, marred only by what could be called a flirtatious grin. "My full name is Talus Draconius, in the human tongue."
"Ah i have heard of you..very famos name around hell..well i am tieresias malcor..i am a demonic assassin but as well a well known vampire around my country. this is argon and shunra. we are glad to have met such nice people like us." looks at them and back at the forest."this place does not like us. we are being watched by something or soemone." she looked around nervously."something dont want us here. i can smell it in the air." looks at chance and talus."we must keep on our guard."
Talus nodded and indicated to Chance. "Chance knows more about what's following us than I do, since this is the first I've encountered them...you may want to ask what else he knows of them."
Chance noticed he was being spoke to and snapped out of his melancholy thoughts. "What's following us? Oh. There is no one that knows much about them. I only know what my mentor told me. No one knows where they came from, no one knows who or what controls them, and they are known only by the name "Shadowthings". My mentor suspected that they are the advance troops of a vast army and sent me on this mission to warn the other races of the impending army. They are extremely strong and nimble for their size, and are to be confronted with the utmost wariness. That is about it. Oh, and one other thing. If....No, when we face one, their only weakness is a small white patch under what looks like their chin."
Talus raised one of his eyebrows. "That's going to be hell trying to get a shot at that spot."
Chance glanced at Selene, "Yah, you're telling me. Selene witnessed it first hand."
Selene chuckled. "You made good use of your battle skills." Selene said gently, forgetting the question of names. Hers had been said by Chance, the demon was sure to pick it up. But Selene didn't trust her, a demon was not something she would count on or make companions out of. It was her own stubborn way, evil was not something she cared to trifle with. Selene made a small attempt to diguise her distaste of her kind.
Chance blushed slightly at teh compliment and hoped no one noticed. What the hell. She's right, but why is my face hot? "Anyways, the easiest way I have found to get to it is when they use their magic."
Tieresias rolled her eyes and looked back @ the forest."we are not welcome here ..have you not realised this." she looked @ selene."so whats it like to be a elf?" smiled a bit but looked back @ talus and chance.
Selene thought she saw a blush in Chance's cheeks but thought it was her imagination. She glanced at the hell demon.
"Well... It's interesting but I never regret my race.." Selene suddenly felt extremly curious as to what it was like to be a demon. Maybe she could go a little easier on her, she can't help her race. "What is it like? Being a demon?" She had glanced back at Chance slightly, that blush still there.. A small smile crept into her lips.
Chance shook his head, "Me and Selene don't feel what you feel. It's the forest's natural reaction against all races but the elves. It won't hurt you however, as long as you are with one of us. All we have to worry about is our enemies." The blush, thankfully, had gone away.
Talus shrugged a bit. "I simply ignore the feeling...my senses are strong enough in any of my forms to give me warning if there's any true danger..." He looked over at Selene. "Even though you're question wasn't to me, I can say on my part that being a demon means being hated by most simply for what you are....which is why you see me as a human right now..." He shrugged again. "But seeing as how we're all in this together, I might as well go to my true form, especially since I have a bit better of a chance in that one than in this one." He stepped back slightly, giving the others room, before changing, shifting seamlessly from one form to the next, wide black leathery wings sprouting from his shoulders, his head becoming that of a grey wolf's, abnormally long ears with black tufts of fur on the ends sticking up out of flaming red hair that reached to his shoulders, a tail as long as he is tall uncurling from behind him, moving about in a prehensile way, his arms and legs growing, giving him a little more height, his hands becoming clawed, his feet becoming like those of a giant raptor. He flexed his wings a bit before settling them down, waiting to see how the others would react, if at all.
Selene swallowed, hiding it by covering her mouth with her delicate fingers. Her eyes refused to look at Talus for a while but she found the courage and gazed him over. Again her curiousity took over and Selene's head tilted, mouth open just a tiny bit. She couldn't call him ugly, terrifying or a freak. All she could manage to think of was fasinating, that was what he was to her. He intimidated her at first but somehow she could still see him as the same man form that stood before her but a few moments ago. Selene smirked mentally, out stretched a finger and poked one wing tip, just to see what would happen.
Talus grinned a little and let his wing twitch a bit. "Just because the outside is different, doesn't mean the inside is." Indicated to his grayish eyes. "These are the only things that don't change in any of the forms I take."
"Anyways, we should be coming up on the outpost in about an hour. Be alert and be careful." Chance didn't slow his pace, but his steps became quiet. He didn't know if the outpost was still there or not, and he didn't want to take any chances.
tieresias looked @ talus." you are crazy then. demons like us are not welcome any wheres. we are but dangerous blood feasting monsters to most. but i think u are right. i have ignored it but i am on everyones shit list and out with a bounty. alot of money running on my head..after i killed the royal family. i think i need to travel away form here before i get caught." sits on shunra's back and relaxes."but we must find the black unicorn." ~sighs and rides ahead adn stops~"coming? we dotn have all night." laughs a bit."selene..need a lift?"
Selene glanced up, finding a smile on her face. "Thank you." She smiled, pulling herself up onto the back of the animal. Her feet where not tired in the least but if there was a fight ahead, she wanted to be prepared and in full strength.
"What made you kill the royal family?" Selene had no idea who the royal family was but she was just curious as always.
Chance was wondering which royal family she was talking about. The humans had several, but most of the other races had only one. "Yes, I would like to know also."
She looked @ them and sighed." this royla family killed my family..the name is unclear to me. but think they were called the Pendragons..i dont remember. it was long ago. all that i know is that the king wore my fathers gold watch and the queen had the bone locket. made form my teeth all those many years ago." sighed and pulled the watcha dn the locket out of her pocket." the watch is pure gold adn the teeth were plated silver. i miss them so." looks @ selene and chance." eye for a eye and tooth for a tooth. hannirabi's law." smiled and looked around."careful selene, shunras tail is fire."
Chance secretly smiled. It was about the only thing anyone followed nowadays, the laws of the God's now long forgotten. Everyone, including Chance, believed the Gods had forsaken them, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Selene shrieked slightly, her cloak on fire.
"Damnit!" She cursed and put it out, the end now scorched but it was no different to the already black material. "Thanks.." Selene mumbled slightly but smirked still.
tiresias laughed abit as selene put her cloak out."i warned u."she smiled and looked @ argon."how about a ride on my dragon? and my nightmare will go back into his crystal that i bought him in." shegot off shunra and argon grew."come."
Talus raised his eyebrow a bit. "You bought him in a crystal?"
Selene nodded. "It is possible but rather rare." She said while pulling her cloak close to her back and then sitting on it to avoid further burning.
Talus shivered a bit, seeing memories of the past in his mind. "I was trapped in a stone once....not something I want to experience again."
"Trapped In stone?" Selene echoed, staring at Talus. "How did that happen?" She asked, she wondered if it was to do with his demon blood. She curled some of her raven hair from her eyes and around her ear.
"I'm not quite sure what kind of stone it was. But it happened when me and two others that I knew, cousins that were both half vampire half werewolf, started having fights....It eventually got to the point where one of them brought out the stone I told you of and trapped me in it....Luckily I was able to free myself, but it's still not something I want to happen again." His crimson hair fluttered and ruffled a bit as if by an unfelt breeze.
Selene watched him for a minute, smiled and gave the nightmare a little tap on it's sides.
"I don't think it'll happen again Talus." Selene assured him.
Talus smiled a bit, if somewhat ruefully. "I sure hope it doesn't...." He tilts his head a little in thought.
Chance put his hand up, motioning for silence. They were nearing the outpost, but Chance didn't see any lights, which could be bad or good. he didn't sense any of his fellow elves however, meaning they had probably been slaughtered.
Her elvish eyes saw through the blackness, her vision, like Chance's would most likely be was next to perfect. Selene heard no voices serinading in harmonies to the forest.. She sensed now elves near by... She sensed evil.. Selene dismounted and moved silently next to Chance. She looked at him and shook her head sowly, indicating she too felt the presense of nothingness on the breeze.
Talus went to stand up by both of them, his tail twitching slightly at the end back and forth. "I do not sense anything......but I do smell blood....it's very heavy in the air."
Selene put her finger to her lips. She nodded in answer though, the smell of blood wafted around as if it were the air itself. It repulsed her slightly but she had seen things like this before. She however felt as if eyes were watching her all around. It concerned her, but she dare not look around incase it caused the possible attacks to spring from the shadows.
Talus continued to stand where he was, blending in perfectly with the shadows...all but his crimson hair. His tail continued to flow behind him, moving about in a serpentine manner, his wings folded up against his back, his long ears rotating and twitching as he listened carefully for any sign of danger.
Chance could taste the blood. It wasn't a scent to him, it was a heavy, coppery taste in his mouth. The last place he had hoped to find any of his kin, wasted.....destroyed. The outpost was most likely still there, the shadowthings seemingly not interested in property, but the question was would it be safe? They had to take the chance. They could camp at the outpost and at least have a better shot at defending themselves, unless it was to.....messy. "Come, we have to scout the area around the outpost. Talus, if it is okay with you, will you go check the outpost while Selene and I go around the oupost?" Chance turned to Selene next. "I am going to go around the west way, and you go around the east way. If we don't meet on the other side, we're all going to be looking." Last, Chance turned to Tieresias. "You, can choose someone to go with. It's completely up to you."
she looked @ selene."it dont bother them. i found them and they had a crystal figure around their necks. i was curious and touched one. all of a sudden they were in the crystals. argon told me that they protect them like a small chamber and it makes it easier to keep them close by when i need them. a lass my black unicorn went missing. he was ina celestrial crystal. it was onyx,covered insapphires, rubies and emeralds. a moon shape on oneside. he was stolen form me." a tear rolled down her cheek. it was a blood tear."i will kill who ever stole him from me."
Selene comforted her with a friendly embrace.
"We'll find your unicorn sooner or later, don't worry." She nodded to Chance, let go of Tieresias and drew a long arrow from her the carrier on her back. She pulled the arrow back so she could fire at any minute, but she had it lowered down by her side. Selene began around the eastern side but was distracted by a nearby mornful cry of a hawk, her hawk. She raised an arm and the gracefull black predator landed with ease on her forearm.
"Dalargas my friend," Selene nuzzled his soft feathers and he ran his beak affectionatly through her hair. "So good you could return." She smiled and whispered some elvish words into his ear, threw her arm up and he took off, soaring into the dark sky, disappearing well. She continued on.
Talus nodded at Chance's request. "In advance, I should tell you that I can basically be called a nature demon." He paused for a moment. "In other words, I work the elements and can change into them at will....I thought I'd tell you that so that you wouldn't be taken by surprise by any of the things I might do." With that, he started walking towards the outpost, following the scent of blood, seeming to melt into thin air, when in actuality he was changing to air, a faint white outline remaining where he was before that too disappeared.
Chance looked at hte demoness, "Who are you going with?"
she looked at chance."i am not sure love. i am not sure at all." she sighed and hopped on argon's big head."its alright tiereisas." argon replied."we will himd darkness if it is the last thing we ever do." he looked @ chance and the others."these are assassins? i have seen better zombies." tieresias hit him on the head."be nice my faithful dragon. they are better then they look."
"Cocky beast, isn't he?.." Selene heard the dragon's words with her elvish ears and retorted with her own small insult. Cocky was not something dragons loved to be called. She continued slinking into the blood infested air, the shadows consuming her.
Chance simply shrugged and continued on his route around the outside of the outpost. He could could no birds chirping, no squirrels chattering, not even a cricket. Not good signs.
Argon stopped and started to growl."what is it argon?" " we are in bad company. hear that. not bird, no wind nothing. the smell of blood is unbearabul." tieresias sinffed the air and became a bit alert."i think we have company of something that likes the smell of blood." she looked @ the others." selene, do you by any chance have a small crystal like structure?" argon looked @ selene." cocky is one of my strong points." he laughed but then stopped.
Amroth was standing near the bridge, that just,happened to not be there.while contemplating how he was going to cross,and then, he felt a prescence, or rather, multiple prescences through one of the corpses he had worked on with a small amount of his power, and looked through the eyes of another to see what they were.He had to look through acouple sets of eyes to actually see them all, ane he found there to be two elves,and two that he was pretty sure were not exactly what they seemed,a creature that looked as if to be from the nightmare relm ( a place he was quite familiar with), and also a dragon like creature that was disappearing into a crystal, amazingly similar to something he had seen be for. He watched these others for a while try ing to discern some thing about them, but then he felt the death of his birds. he abandoned the group and tried to see what had killed them. and there at the end of the massacred out post hiding among the shadows were two dark wraith like creatures, and the dead ravens lying about them. at this, a look of anger and hatred flashed across his face, and then he went utterly calm, his eyes changed to shining black, his tattered cape started to flutter and thrash around as he summoned the power.the dead bodies around the creatures began to stir, it would be a minute be for they began to attack , and as an after thought he made the coarpse closest to the other people rise and say in a thrashed voice "to the back of the outpost, now". satisfied now that he would be able to find out weather or not he would have to kill them, the hatred returned to his eyes, and he drew his blades, and began to sprint the half mile or so it was back to the massacred out post. one thing was certain though, the creatures that had harmed his birds would die.
Selene shook her head after she searched herself for anything of that description.She contiued on, Dalargas's mornful cry heard on the still air as he returned back to Selene's watchful eye. He perched on her shoulder, dark eyes darting here and there but his head never moving. With a ruffle of his soft down, Dalargas started to look at this one spot, Selene picked it up. There was a possible danger out there.. one she didn't know anything about only that it was there, lurking..
A nomad who had been travelling for a long while had most recently arrived at the city and was amazed at all of the stationary structure's. "This is definitly not home." He mused to himself as he began to wander the streets in search of something to eat.
Listening to the forest around her,she heard people yelling and screaming from a near by village."there is a mass slaughter going on my friends. lets get going. we might be able to find something of use to us." tieresias sat on argon's back and started heading for the sky."does any one need a ride?"she smiled.
Selene, offically hating the dragon refused the offer. She slunk around and came to the look out.. It was dead quite.. She aimed her arrow, stretching it against the thin string of the bow, her eyes narrowed as she searched around.
"Come out come out where ever you are.." Selene whispered to the shadows, one moved and she fired, her arrow slicing through the air to it's crafty victim. The shadowthing manovered out of the way, impossible but not for it. With a graceful dance of death, the creature lunged out at her, Selene ducked back and fired again, this time aiming at the little white point that if it were human would be under the chin. Her arrow pierced the seemingly weak spot and the shadowthing disappeared into ashes, the wind carrying it away into the air.. Only after the attack did Selene realize her face had been cut, a deep gash sinking over the delicate flesh of her cheek. She felt a trickle of warm blood and wiped it away with two fingers.
"But I did not even feel it.. let alone see it.." Skye murmured to herself, the things reflexes were like lightning but with her skill, knowledge and of course the close range, she had be the victor.
Talus drifted along, managing to keep his demon shape although unseen, barely moving the grass as he entered the outpost, heading towards the center, staying low out of habit, although most things couldn't harm him in his current state. Once he reached the center, he let his senses take over, carefully listening, smelling, and looking for anything suspicious or that might signify danger. On his second turn on scanning the outpost, his ears caught the sound of something stirring off to his right. He followed it, only to find a rat in a small building. But then his nose caught the scent of something...abnormal, almost a smoky or misty scent. His eyes caught some movement, and when he turned his full attention on it, he spotted a shadowthing, hovering over something that he couldn't identify with the shadowthing standing over it. He shifted back to his flesh and blood state, pulling out two long curved daggers from hidden sheathes in his sleeves, each as black as his fur, held points down and razor sharp edges facing away from him in his hands. He tried to carefully sneak up on the creature, but realized that he still needed to attack it's weak point. With this in mind, he intentionally stepped on a dry twig, snapping it and gaining the shadowthing's attention. It released it's object, which Talus could now see was an elven corpse, and sinously started walking towards him. Talus decided to try and make this a quick kill, rushing in and attempting to slash at it's legs, but catching a slash going down his right eye, just barely missing it, leaving a few centimeters of uncut flesh above and below his eye, blinking the blood out of it as he dodged back as it swiped again, uppercutting it in the jaw with the pommel of one of the daggers, knocking it's head back, and driving the blade of the other one into the white point under it's chin, pulling out the blade as it started to disintegrate into ash. He resheathed his daggers, wiping the blood away from his eye, finding a small cloth in a nearby house and dabbing the blood out of his fur as much as possible.
Chance found himself enmeshed in a strugle, the odds against him. Two of the shadowthings had dropped out of the trees above and another had darted out of the trees to his left. He was holding his own for the moment, trying to use the trees to shield his body whenever possible, attacking only when he had a clear shot. He was getting nowhere quickly, but at least he still had his head. As he went to dodge another slash from a shadow thing, he tripped over something cold and hard. Quickly, he rolled out of the way of an attack and came up with a sword in his hand. Being trained in all types of weapons, he jumped to the offense, using one hand to fling throwing daggers while the other struck quickly and deftly with the sword. Still, he was outnumbered and tiring quickly. He didn't know how long he could last.
Amroth reached the scene maybe a minute or so after he took off but he could see that the two that had been his main target had already been destroyed. He looked around to find that there was an elf that was fighting two or three of them by himself. Amroth was still in raged at the killing of his ravens an figured that these other wraiths must be the comrades of the two who had done the deed. Normally he would have just sat and watched the creature with the lesser odds (the elf it seems) be destroyed but he still didn’t know what to do about this group and didn’t feel like bringing him back to life if he did happen to die, so he decided to just help and then ask questions later.
I saw the elf trip over a dead body; quite conveniently placed I might add and then begin to lash out with a dagger and his sword. At this I began to work, I summoned the power to bring the dead elves that were lying around the battling wraiths and elf to life. Immediately the wraiths focus switch to me, they them selves were closely attuned to dark powers and so they could feel me working necromancy and were able to detect my presence much easier than say, some one using normal or good magic. I was able to make three of the corpses rise and set them on helping the elf before one of the wraiths began to come at me, and I had to redirect my attention. But I did keep the power flowing through my body, so that when I kill it I might be able to use it. I stood with my scimitars watching it draw nearer and waited for the attack, and then suddenly it lunged, I began to spin my blades in a blurring motion, and at the last moment pulled away and left the arm that had been raised for the attack in tatters. I then began to attack it from the side and as it turned to face me I noticed that it had began to gather power and was about release an attack of some kind of dark magic. While this was happening, it started to move abit slower so I took the opportunity to jump over the creature to dodge whatever magic attack that was coming at me and then I impaled it with both of my blades. One went through the back of its head and out its face destroying the red orb of its eye, and the other went through the neck and up into its jaw. This is an almost assured death to just about any thing so as I was doing this I started to work my power into the creature, my robes started to thrash around, the black sheen took over my eyes, and the darkness began to surround as usual except something was wrong and then…… it back fired. The thing was a creature of magic and or rather a spirit that had no true body, necromancy, bringing a spirit back to the body of some thing that is dead, this doesent work if there’s no body to deal with, my power conflicted with the magic that had brought the creature in to being in the first place and reacted with a concussive force throwing me across the clearing
Chance didn't know who the man was, but he didn't really care. He had turned the odds of the battle, making it a bit easier for Chance to battle. He focused on the first shadowthing to break through the animated corpses. It came at him in a rage, throwing abandon to the wind, it's biggest mistake. Chance stood stock still, even after felt it slash his right arm. Right before it caught him a crushing blow across the face, he hit the white spot under it's chin, sending it swirling away, ash in the wind. He quickly turned to the next.
Selene continued around the lookout until she came to Chance, he was moving too quickly, she couldn't risk firering an arrow. Instead she held off the slowly advancing shadowthings that seemed to materialize out of the darkness..
"Damn.. there and too many.." Selene murmured, sending another into a dusty grave.
The nomad who was still wandering around the city runs into a shadowthing by mistake. He see's the creature looming over the dead body of a commoner. "What is going on here !?" The nomad jumps into action, pulling both of his wakizashi's out in one smooth motion and attacking with a lunge followed by a swift backspin slash. He hits nothing but air. The creature had already side stepped the blow and was lunging in with claws from his left flank. The nomad counter's with a small sidestep of his own and kick's the creature in the back of the head, knocking it to the ground. It was at this point that he noticed a slight discolouration just under it's chin. "Heheheh, your going down." He says, just before using both of his wakizashi's like a pair of scissor's to remove the creature's head, but again, no hit. The creature had already gotten up and was moving quickly to get behind him. The nomad couldn't move fast enough. The creature struck home when it flayed open his left shoulder. "Argh, vile thing" He says while spinning on his right heel and doing and upward right angle cross slash. He hit's, the creature's soft spot is hit and it turn's to dust. "I really hope there aren't any more of those things'."
Selene glanced around noticing the figure, she stalked around behind him and grabbed him from behind, holding her deadly dagger to his throat. She whispered quietly so no more shadowthings would be allerted.
"Be you friend or foe?" Selene waited for an answer, her hand steady.
"Well that depend's, are you triyng to kill me or not. If not then I guess friend." The nomad said quietly, relaxing his body so he wouldn't react instinctivly.
The shadowthings were rushing them, four or five on any possible number. The odds at the moment were definitly against them. Chance whistled as loud as he could, hoping the ohters would here. If they didn't get there fast, he would be overun by the enemy in a matter of minutes. The shadowthings were throwing caution away now, trying to use numbers to their advantage, but not bothering to block their weakness. Chance took down one after the other, but was tiring quickly. Come on guys, now would be a good time...
Talus was wandering around the outpost, looking for his next opponent, the cut over his right eye already starting to scab over a little, the red color of his blood matching the color of his hair. His sharp ears suddenly perked up straight as they caught the sound of Chance's whistle, and he sped off towards the source of the sound, coming upon Chance as he fought off several of the shadowthings. He drew out his two daggers once again, attacking one of them from behind, making a quick stab in it's back to attract it's attention away from Chance.
Selene shrugged. The answer was good enough for her, without another word, she slipped her dagger around his throat and darted off, lunging towards the mass of shadowthings that were building around Chance. Her dagger wipped out a few, then on close range, she drew her bow and an arrow and fired with great accuracy, sending at least four to the fate of ash. Selene moved around the attacks thrown her way, but was not so lucky when one got a hold of her leg. With a jerk, it pulled her off her feet and to her back.
Chance watched Selene fall, everything going into slow motion. He saw the shadowthings arm come up, saw Selene's look of surprise, watched her fall. Before he knew what he was doing, he began hacking through the ranks of shadowthings, throwing caution to the wind, ducking, diving and slashing. He felt blood on him, but he didn't, no...couldn't pay attention. His only focus was on his fallen comrade, Selene. Shadowthings lunged in front of him, only to blow away on the wind seconds later. His head began to buzz, his sight began to blur. He had to do something, anything. There was one spell his master had taught him, but it was to be used only in the direst of times. This was one of them. If he didn't do anything, they would be overun and destroyed. He pulled all his energy into himself, sparing only a little to tell everyone to run if they could. As his body became perfectly stiff, his cloak fell off to reveal his daggers standing on end, seemingly tearing at their holsters, fighting to be free. It wasn't there yet, the second of pure anger that would set the full destructive force of his spell free. It was coming, almost, there! Chance's eyes shot open, completely black, seeing nothing. The daggers ripped from their holsters, creating a sphere of daggers around him.
Sensing something amiss, the shadowthings stood stock still. Their red eyes locked onto Chance, the daggers begin to dance crazily around his body. A deep, rumbling laugh escaped his lips, resonating around the forests, causing small creatures to run in fright. The daggers spun faster and faster, becoming so fast they were invisible to the eye. Without warning, Chance's laugh cut off. His eyes became deep red, seemingly staring down every shadowthing at once.
The scene was pure chaos seconds later. All of Chance's one hundred daggers shot in every direction, tearing everything in it's path to bits, embedding in trees, shadowthings, and anything else that could stop them. When it was over, the clearing was covered in ashes. Trees looked like pincushions, daggers sticking out of them in every which way. And in the middle, lay Chance.
Selene was unable to move, the shadowthings, despite their stillness had piled around and on top of her, she was covered over them but protected from the spell's effects. The shadowthings around her perished and blew away. She slowly sat up and looked around, searching for Chance. She couldn't see him, wait... Selene spotted him laying down, what had happened? She ddin't know, all she knew that Chance was hurt or something, she crawled over to him and placed a hand on his neck. A pulse.. He bore no physical wounds, it was something else, what she did not know. She shook him gently.
"Chance? Chance, can you hear me?" Selene bit her lip, she had a thought cross her mind.. she hoped it wasn't the case.
The nomad ean over to where Chance laid on the ground. "Is he gonna be okay ?" He said, looking at the collapsed man with sorrowful eye's. After a moment of looking at him the nomad pulled off his backpack and was scrounging around for something. It took a few more moment's but he finally pulled out an unlabeled flask and handed it to the woman who was sitting near the man named Chance. "Give him some of this, it might help. I could probably find something that would work even better but I don't know what he's suffering from." The nomad said, while looking at the woman. "Oh and by the way, my name is Elazul." He said with an outstretched hand.
Chance's eyes shot open and glorious air rushed into his body. He had made it again. But this time, he had come too close to using to much of himself in that spell. Everytime anyone used a spell, they used a little of themselves, but this spell was different. It was so powerful that what it took grew exponentially with each use, making it an extrememly dangerous spell. The first person Chance saw was Selene, hovering over him with a potion in her hand. he managed a weak smile, "Trying to poison me after all we've been through?"
Amroth regained concious ness to find that he had been impaled through the upper thigh and left shoulder by two small daggers. he pulled them out and began walking towards the other two elves that seemet to have survived what looked like an other attack, also takink notice that there were hundreds of daggers like the ones that had struck him stuck into trees and other things all about the place
Talus phased back to flesh, having returned to his air state once he saw Chance begin the spell. "That was quite....interesting. There aren't many people I know who can work such spells, much less a mortal." He smiled a bit. "You must forgive me, but to a demon who will last practically forever, even elves are considered mortals. It is simply old habit to say as such."
Elazul looked around at the people who were now standing around him and he gave the demon a very cautious look. Not really knowing what to say he looked back at Chance and then back to the woman. "Well I think you'll be okay now." He smiled slightly and then stood up and straightened himself out. "So, if there isn't anything else that I can help with. I think I'll leave you to...well whatever you have to do." He smiled again before sheathing his wakizashi's. "Take care."
Chance sat up slowly, taking care not to over exert himself. He looked to the others giving a look that meant, "Should I ask him?"
Amroth, seeing the others, and the daemon that had just appeared conversing and such amoungst them selves, walked over to where his ravens were scattered about acrossed the ground. He was sad only momentarily at the sight of their dead bodies, and then he began to work his craft yet again, slight tendrils of pure darkness whipped out to touch the dead birds , and each in turn slowly got back to their feet, and looked at their master for a moment as if to thank him and then flew off to circle high above.now with the important matters out of the way, he turned to regaurd the other group once again
Talus shrugged a little at Chance's look as if to say. "It's your decision." He started to absently play with a large ball of blue flame that suddenly appeared in his hand.
Selene breathed a sigh of relief as Chance came around. She didn't speak for a while just watching as everything around her carried on, but when she saw the nomad preparing to leave and Chance's questioning glance, she smiled and nodded towards Chance.
"Go on, he could be of help." Selene encouraged, examining the flask that she still held in her hand.
Chance nodded back then stood the rest of the way up, "Elazul, would you like to help us in our....mission? We could obviously use the help."
Tieresias came back."nice to be..who are you?" she looked at the newcomers."chance who are these ppl?" she glared and put argon back itno his crystal and hung it around her neck.
Chance ignored the demoness at the moment, waiting for Elazul's answer.
This, had been what Amroth had been wairing for. he never gave information about him self unless specificly asked-I, am Amroth Ancalimë of Dorthonion, and if your quest happens to parallel mine I will let you join me, but know any betrayal will be met with swift death and possibily eternal enslavement after wards.oh yeah, demoness,I believe that I may have aquired something that belongs to you.
"Very well, I will help if you wish it to be so. I have nothing better to do at the moment, and i dont think these shadow creature's are going to leave me alone now." Elazul said, a look of seriousness on his face.
"Thank you," Chance then turned to Amroth,"Let's get one thing straight. This is my quest. We don't need you, and I don't like your attitude. And I think that if anyone's quest is more important, I'm sure the people that arrived with me will agree that mine is the most urgent." He didn't like the mans attitude, or the way he handled himself. If he kept up his arrogant ways, Chance would simply leave him there.
"so I tske it that you are the leader of this group then ? If so then it is an honour to join your quest and I shall uphold my dutie's. My name is Elazul for those who dont know." Elazul says, a big grin on his face as he looked up into the sky.
"Yes, I am the leader...kinda. I don't really tell anyone what to do, unless I'm asked to. And after fighting them your safest best is probably to travel with us." Chance looked around at everyone and nodded. "We won't be able to stay here, so I think we should move on."
"I too think it is best that we move on. It is unfortunate though. I only arrived most recently." He says with a sigh.
Fine,then sure I will join your quest then, but I suppose that It doesnt matter who quest it is when we all have the same goals.ok, with that out of the way, I am a necromancer, If you couldnt tell, so you may die at almost any time and not have to worry about staying dead, unless of course you are totally destroyed or I happen to die too, but I warn you, necromancy is a very painful thing to go through and you will probably not want to go through it more than once.Being brought back to life, you will go through the same pain as when you died , only in reverse... so if your death is painless you really dont have to worry about it, but as we are dealing with other powers of darknes I dont think this would really be likely.
Selene narrowed her eyes. The man was not to her liking either, his way of being self centered was not something she favoured in him. But she sighed and banished the thought, leaving on a blank expression on her face.
"Then hopefully I will not die or recieve grievous wound's." Elazul says with a small smile as he look's about the party. "I'm fairly decent with the sword and I can be agile when need be. I also have a little bit of skill when it come's to stealth if anyone ever has ned of it." He smiled once more as he looked at everyone's face. "And hopefully I will be able to uphold the trust that may be put in me."
Chance nodded, "I'm sure you will both do well, but we must be moving. Staying here will probably prove most fatal." Chance started walking, waiting for the others to begin before falling back and walking next to Selene, "What do you think of these two?"
Selene glanced back at the two men, then back at Chance. She didn't say anything for a while, she was studying them closely, but finally spoke.
"Elazul I approve of, he seems genuine but on the other, my judgement still hangs... He doesn't seem like one you could rely on in battle to hold your back." Selene whispered, leaning close to Chance so they could not hear, eyes darting back and fourth between the two.
Talus walked over to where Chance and Selene were, hearing part of they're conversation but ignoring it. "There's something strange about this shadowthings...apart from the obvious I mean..." He pulls Chance aside so that only he can hear his words. "Usually, I am able to heal myself, unless it has to do with missing limbs and such....but this slash over my eye...." He lowers his voice more, almost to a whisper. "I can't heal it....something's blocking my magic from working...I have the feeling that whatever it is will also have a similar affect on that necromancer's dark magic."
Chance nodded, "I doubt his dark magic will have any effect on them, since that is what basically keeps them on this plane of existence, but the things he brings to life....or unlife as it may be can still cause a diversion or even help attack." His voice drops to a whisper, "The only thing I'm worried about is that if he turns on us, he has unlimited soldiers at his command."
Selene didn't pay attention to Talus and Chances own little exchange of words, she just found it impossible to break her stare from the neocromancer. She had this gut feeling like the moment she turned, he would strike or something. Selene sighed, she wondered if she was over reacting.
"Plus, on top of that, if one of us do die, whats going to stop him from bringing us back as one of his personal warriors?"
While the other's were in their huddle, Elazul pulled out his waterskin and dowsed his head. "That's refreshing." He says with a smile, looking upward's at the sky. "I just hope it's not the last time I enjoy the simple pleasure's of life." He says to himself, under his breath.
Selene heard Chance's last words, she was more inclined to live now.. She bit her lip and continued on, feeling a little out in the open.
"So, where do we go from here ?" Elazul asked, just hoping tht somebody knew what the next destination was.
Talus shook his head a little. "I don't have to worry about that dying part too much....just another part of my long story..." He looked up at Elazul. "I think Chance can answer that question for you."
"Before we were attacked, we were traveling to the Dwarven lands, and we still are, but now I fear we may be too late.....The strong shadow presence reminds me of a rear guard. Left behind to deter anyone from following their path. We must hurry." Chance heard the rush of the river, and knew they were getting close to the plains between the forests and the Dwarven mountain of Latradnon. The sight between always seemed to comfort him, no matter his situation.
Talus nodded. "Who knows what may have happened while we fought. The dwarves may already be under attack." His steps quicken with his words.
As Chance crossed the river and left the woods, his heart lightened at the sight in front of him. He felt rejuvinated, ready to go, and quickened his steps. " Come, if we hurry we can make it in an hour."
Elazul made himself as expeditious as possible. "Hopefully we will not be making this trip in vain. If we are then I fear we could be walking into one great tomb." He said to Chance while giving Selene a smile and then returning his vision to the path ahead.
Selene returned the smile, but her attention drew to the skys as she heard the familiar cry of Dalargas. She raised her arm and he landed with a ruffling of feathers. She walked on, feeling a little more comforted with the positive vibes coming from almost everyone.
Chance remembered back to the times when he rode across this land with his father and mother to see his godfather and fathers best friend. he used to love dismounting his horse and playing with his familiar, Noni, running across the plains, his father calling not to go to far. But those times were past. Now it was time for a war. A war waged between the ultimate good and the ultimate evil of their worlds. Waged one Kingdom at a time, with only a select few even knowing of it's existance.
Amroth, noticing that the bad thoughts and suspecting looks had been lost, or at least were put away for now as each of the members began to daydream or prepare them selves mentally for their path ahead. such thoughts did not bother him too much, he had grown accustom to them as thats just about what every body else felt towards him as well, but it caused him to be weary, because such thoughts could lead to betrayal or the blameing of problems on him since he happens to be the minority in this group.....daemons..pfft if any of the daemons that he once new saw this group they would have probably destroyed them but times change I soppose and many things could happen.
oh, yeah, the thought breaking his concentration, demoness, as i mentioned be fore, does this belong to you? with the absent minded flick of the wrist the jewel encrusted piece of obsidion appeared in his hand. Truly a magnificent creature, but if it is yours than you may claim it.
Chance turned to the others, "Well, steel yourselves. We could be walking into a battle, or we could walk into a completely unnaffected city. Now would be the time to ready your weapons. We will arrive in a little under an hour."
Elazul nodded in acknowledgement and drew his wakizashi's with amazing speed. Holstering them against the underside of his forearms. "Let's hope for an unaffected city. I'm not liking the idea of a completly overrun city." He says while looking to the skies for an unseen friend.
Chance nodded grimly, "I don't think any of us do."
Selene reached behind her and drew and arrow, her bow already in hand, she placed her arrow and bow so that she could fire within a second. Her dagger sitting on her hip and ready to be drawn. Selene noted that the others wished for the quite city but she was hoping for more battle, it had been a long time since she had engaged in a group battle. The experiance was quite exhilarating, she had no care for her life, if it was her turn to make the journey to the afterlife, then she would not stand in fates way.
The group entered a bustling city, gates wide open. "They're obviously not expecting attack. Come on, let's go to the castle under the mountain to speak to my godfather." Finally, they had reached a safe haven, the only question being how long would it remain safe?
Elazul sheathed his swords as they entered the gates. "I guess we lucked out for now, but we might want to alert the guards of a possible assault. Last thing we need is the merciless slaughter of thousands." Elazul says, a grim look adorned on his face.
"That was my first order of business. In the meantime, I would like you all to patrol the walls, and if you're stopped by any guards, just tell them you're there by orders from Chance." Chance nodded to them all then began to walk to the throne room, where he knew his godfather would be waiting.
Selene nodded and climbed up a drain pipe, hopped onto a roof top then the walls, keeping her bow strained with her arrow. The guards came over asking questions and she answered with Chance's name. They immediatly stood down. Selene scanned around with her elvish eyes, seeing deep within the forest and the dappled shadows.
Elazul followed in suit, and made his way to the rooftops and then to the walls. He had a guard heading his way but he merely explained that he was here by order of Chance and the guard left him alone. "Hopefully we wont be getting into anything we can't handle." He says to Selene, as he walks in the opposite direction that she does.
Chance made his way toward the throne room, elated that he would get to see his childhood friend and his godfather once again. He pushed open the throne room doors and his smile disappeared.
The warm things are moving. Their are new ones. More powerful ones. Must kill. Must destroy. Master forces me. Can't stop. A shadow slides over the plains, in the deepest shadows undetected. It was only one, but there were more behind, many more.
"Where is your father? When did you take the throne?" Chance blurted to his childhood friend, Allen De Hal De Rorin, the newest kingof the Dwarven Lands.
"Father was killed earlier this year. His death remains unexplained. We just can't figure out how it happened, but we are all deeply sorrowful to see him go."
Chance was surprised, but also hurt that his friend hadn't sent word of the great man's death, "Why wasn't I informed? You know I would have come to his funeral. I would have went to any lengths!"
A guard, unnoticed slips over the wall and opens a door, allowing a dozen of the Teil 'Ken into the city proper. Immediatly, the monsters dispersed to other doors in the city, letting more of their kin in.
Talus slipped quietly up to Chance's side, returning after having scouted out the terrain of the city. He quietly murmured in his ear, "We have trouble. The Teil 'Ken have somehow entered the city."
Chance was frozen for a second. Not another slaughter... He started to turn to leave, then something clicked in his head. "Talus, go find the others and tell them to immediately begin a search and destroy effort. The guards, " he spat the word, "will probably be of no help. If any get in your way, take them out without killing them. Relay my orders to the others if you will. Thank you." Chance turned to his friend again. It had hit him suddenly. His godfathers sudden death, the hush about it, his son taking the throne, then the final straw. Chance had basically grown up here, and he knew that there was no way for the Teil 'Ken to get into the city without being seen unless they entered the doors that were placed in the walls for escape purposes. And the only ones that have the keys to those doors are the guard captians.
Selene noticed Talus coming out into view. She came to him in question.
"Out so soon? What news of Chance's friend?" Selene didn't smile, it felt neither the place nor time for such cheery expressions yet she had no idea why not.
Elazul, who had just heard Selene hailing Talus turned around to see what was going on. "Um...we're not in trouble are we ? I don't know why but I have this terrible feeling the day is far from over." Elazul says as he walk's toward's Selene and Talus.
Chance was in a rage, making his longtime friend cower back into the soft back of the throne, seeming like he willed the chair to devour him instead of faceing Chance's wrath, "How could you BETRAY your people? How could you allow those BEASTS into YOUR kingom to SLAUGHTER YOUR PEOPLE?" Chance's voice was getting steadily louder as his anger rose. The "King" tried to say something, but Chance was on a rampage and no one else was going to get a word in. "THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO OVERUN THIS TOWN UNLESS ME AND MY COMPANIONS CAN STOP THEM. BUT I HOPE AT LEAST ONE GETS INTO THE CASTLE. BECUASE I KNOW THAT NONE OF YOUR FALSE GUARDS CAN STOP IT! AND I DON"T CARE WHO YOU MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH, THESE THINGS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO DESTROY! AND THAT MEANS everyone." The last was said in a whisper as Chance turned and stormed out, angry beyond reasoning. His childhood friend was left cowering in his throne, much good it did.
As Chance stormed out, Talus went over to Elazul and Selene. In his usual soft voice he informed them of the situation. "It seems the new king has made some sort of deal. What sort of deal I do not know, though I'm sure we'll all find out eventually. The Teil 'Ken have been allowed into the city, by the guard captains it seems, so we can't rely on them for help. Chance said that if one gets in your way, take them out but do NOT kill them." He slowly started walking after Chance. "Come...we have an army to face...." With that, he faced forward, seemingly lost in thought of an unknown matter.
Selene listened to the words but watched Chance with concern as he stormed from the throne room. She sighed and nodded, giving signal that she understood the contraints of the mission, destroy beasts, do not kill any men, women or children. Selene's fingers tightened around her bow and arrow. What kind of evil had possessed Chance's friend to do such things?
Power. Why do all men strive for it, just to be consumed by it's sweet melody? Chance didn't get it, probably never would. His whole life had been a journy to destroy the ultimate power, not attain it; therefor, his mind couldn't grasp the thought of taking power for yourself. The only power he knew, was what came from his own body and mind, what he did himself, for himself. And right now, power meant destroying every single shadowthing he came across.
Elazul looked into the sky longingly again for a few moments. I hope that we'll live to see tommorow.
Talus smiles a bit at Elazul's unguarded thought, glancing back over his shoulder at him. "Oh, I'm sure we will...it'll just take a bit of skill is all...." He let his smile fall. "But we haven't much time...the Teil 'Ken will soon overrun the city if we do not act quickly..." With those last words, he took off, his speed amazingly quick despite his large wings and tail. He used all three almost as rudders, aiding him in his quick turns through the halls of the castle. He burst through the front doors, frightening those before it as he leapt into the air and took flight.
His "friend" must have given the order to have him siezed, which meant that Chance was throwing gaurds left and right as he paced out of the castle, the guards eventually giving up for fear.
Selene waited patiently. No sign on danger yet..
Elazul drew his wakizashi's and had them resting against his forearms as he looked over the wall to the vast spanning distance of tree's and fields. I never had the chance to grow up in a place like this, and all the ruler's want to throw it away...why ? Elazul looked over at Selene. "Well, are you ready for what may come ?"
Everyone! They are already in the city. The city was betrayed, search and destroy, repeat, search and destroy! Chance went to the task ahead, destroying small pockets of the monsters one at a time.
Kelli came through the open doors that lead to the city and saw the dark Teil'ken. She'd known something had been wrong there the moment she'd seen the open doors. She did not know the land well but she decided she should help its people, as they deserved to live more than she did. Kelli took a clawed glove from her pocket and grabbed her whip from her sides and immediately started moving towards the evil creatures.
Talus began firing off spells at the Teil 'Ken, filling the air with fire, ice, and other elemental spells, careful to direct his barrage away from any of his companions or innocents that may have been near by.
Chance found a group of Teil 'Ken near the castle, huddled around the small form of a child. Immediatly enraged, Chance destroyed the shadows and picked the child up, carrying him until he could find a safe place to set him.
Selene bolted towards the shadows, calling back her answer.
"I don't think I really have a choice!" Selene half smiled and then her face washed over into a killing mask, destroying all enemies that dared to stain her view. She would not let a single shadowthing survive, not one. Selene barged into an alleyway, her arrow piercing through the sir, slitting it in half and speeding straight towards another enemy. With a satisfied chuckle she sprinted easily and gracefully down the alleyway only to come out to where the shadowthings were getting in, a shattered wall, crumbling under the force of the dark creatures. Aiming, she attempted to take them out but their numbers were indeed great, too much for her to take on.. at least from this angle. Selene wished no longer to stay at their mercy seeing as it was wearing thin. Swiftly, leaping up the side of the house, using the windows as foot holds, she began her assault yet again, firering randomly. Aim was useless now and a waste of time. She could never take the time to aim on each individual creature. Her stratagie worked right about up til when she ran out of arrows.
"Well.. Damn.." Selene sighed, pouting a little. She had been having fun with her arrows. "Close combat it is." She said with a shrug. Drawing her dagger from her belt, she jumped down into the swarming mass of shadowthings.
Elazul had jumped off of the wall and started hunting, his first target was a lone Teil'ken. He charged in and started to lunge in but drew back as the creature swung at his arm.It was then he realized that If he didnt put his life on the line for these people there might not be anything to save. With this in mind he slashed at the creature's throat, only to hit thin air as it moved to flank him. The creature hit home with a strike against his right side. Elazul groaned out in pain as he completly lost control. Now he was a fervourous creature, bent on the destruction of this Teil'ken. His blade's moved faster then the any eye could see and within a few moments the creature was slain. Quickly regaining his control he looked about himself and noticed there was 7 or 8 of these creature's closing in on him. "Well, if I'm going to die at least let it be in combat." Elazul said with a smirk.
After dropping the small child off, Chance went in search of more Teil 'Ken, and found them; but they were surrounding Selene, so Chance jumped in immediately.
Kelli put on the clawed glove as she came within a few feet of the Teil'Ken. One of the vile creatures jumped at her. Kelli threw her whip towards it as hard as she could, knocking it off course. It landed softly on the ground beside her. Kelli threw her whip at it once more. It only got it agitated. It tried to jump on her again but she punched him with her now clawed hand. It died. She grinned and headed to an other Teil'ken. She threw a puch at it but it easily avoided it. She snapped her whip at his feet to make him back away but she did not intimidate him. He slashed at her, she tried to move away from his blade but it was only a feint, she had moved right where it wanted her, she recieved his blade on her side. It stung badly. When it hit, she let out a faint scream but did not give up, she whipped it on a leg, making it move away. She clutched her side which was now bleeding badly but she ignored the pain. She advanced on the hateful creature.
Selene gritted her teeth, slicing madly so none of her enemies could get within an arms length of her. She had turned the front circle around her to ash but they just closed in again. Yelling helped her keep her adrenillen up so she yelled each time she forcefully stabbed and sliced at a creature's throat, aim was important now, three stikes and no hits was enough for her to die with. The graceful and deadly movements she preformed mimiced the Teil 'Ken. She added in some of her own attacks giving her a slight advantage as she was unpredictable, never repeating the same attack.
One Teil 'Ken crouched to the ground and swung what Selene was guessing their version of a leg. The long thin limb acted like rubber, stretching a little yet still succeeding in taking her feet from under her. Landing flat on her back she back a meaty thump. A few lunged down at her but her threw her dagger down to her feet, catching it between them with great precision. Stabbing up at them, she killed of one but the others swarmed closer. Selene narrowed her eyes and flipped up, the Teil 'Ken all managed to easily dodge her swift boots.
Chance ducked, dodged, and slashed the enemy unrelentlessly, not giving them time to attack effectively. By the time he started to pay attention to where he was, he noticed that he was almost outside the city. then he realized what was happening. Everyone to castle. They were just trying to draw us off! Chance abandoned the fight with the Teil 'Ken in front of him and hurried towards the castle.
Selene heard Chance's order and she obeyed. Springing up, she lept onto the head of one Teil 'Ken and lightly jumped over them until she found the end to the alley she had gone down before. Her head dancing trick was unexpected and all the Teil 'Ken were cramped together therefore they had nowhere to move to. She looked behind her just in time to see them swarming after her and Chance. She sprinted towards him, running beside her leader.
"We have to baracade the castle door, otherwise we have not a hope in the world." Selene advised Chance. The Teil 'Ken were relentless, fighting would become their demise, what they needed now was defence.
Chance ran as fast as he could, "I know this. What I'm worried about is someone letting them in. We're going to have to find an area where the passages and rooms are in a fairly straight line so we can watch all the entrances."
Selene nodded, keeping up with Chance's fast pace.
"I agree, but Chance, we won't be able to get everyone in the castle in time. We have to leave the weak behind." Selene knew it was a heartless thing to do but if they tried to be a hero, their only fate would be their deaths. They could aid no one if they were all dead. Besides, it was the way of nature and no one could deny it.
Chance knew, but he didn't like it. "I know. I just don't like it. There's gotta be something we can do." But until they thought of something, there was nothing they could do.
Elazul, still surrounded by the Teil'ken was slashing like a mad man. Dropping one after another. He tried to get away but it the odds were not in his favour. "I could use some help!" Elazul yelled as he was trying to cut a path through the creatures. Again he lost control at went into a blood frenzy. Teil' ken were dropping like flies, but there were too many of them to get away.
Kelli heard someone call for help. She whipped a Teil'ken hard to get it out of her way and headed towards the direction of the call, punching and whipping every Teil'ken she met and leaving them behind even if their miserable lives had not ended from her fists. She saw the group of Teil'Ken attacking Elazul and joined him in the middle of it, killing as much of them as she could.
Suddenly, Chance stopped dead in his tracks. "Selene, go to the castle and get as many guards as you can to join you. Hold the castle at all costs......and watch every inch of your surroundings. I think I know how the Teil 'Ken are getting in in such big numbers." With his command said, Chance turned and ran the direction they came from. If he was right, the Teil 'Ken had found a way to get to the sewers. Chance never got a chance to investigate however, because halfway to his destination he saw that Elazul was locked deep into a fight for his life, with some stranger helping him. He immediately jumped into the fray and began slashing, cutting, and throwing with his daggers.
Selene nodded, although she wondered where he was going.
"Chance! What about you?" Selene called out, but fearing he did not hear. Turning, she fled to the castle, calling upon all the guards at the top of her lungs. Before long many of the guards at least all that had survived and able bodied replied to her call and followed her into the castle. The Teil 'Ken also knew, some chased after them but were stopped as the last few survivors made it through the main entrance, the door sealed shut and baracaded.
"These are my orders and evidently yours as well, hold the castle at all costs and watch every inch of your surrounding. Understand?" The men nodded and began to take posts around the windows and exits. "The women and children are all to remain in the most protected area in the castle, the thrown room. Remaining guards, protect the women and children." Selene commanded, thankful that without a leader alive to take charge the remains of the city's people were obeying her orders, no questions asked. She inhaled deeply, her voice still echoed off the marble walls, bouncing off the reflective surface. Everyone was still, silent; all listening to the screams the dying..
Elazul was still fighting like there was no tomorrow, for all he knew there might not be. His instinctive training had taken over and he was swinging faster than the eye could see. And it became apparent that even the Teil'ken could not match his speed, every swing connected with the enemy and almost every swing felled an enemy. The Teil'ken were outmatched for speed. And all the while it looked like a flowing dance of intricate movements. The creatures were beginning to fall faster than reinforcements could get there. "Chance, take this mystery person to the castle. I will make the final fight in the streets." Elazul yelled, hoping that Chance would do just that.
Chance fell a Teil 'Ken with a blow to the head then turned to Elazul. "OK, but make sure you get to the castle, I have a feeling we will need you." Turning to the new person, Chance motioned and began to run. Selene, hold the castle. It's the only defense we have left. As he ran to the castle Chance saw a wave of darkness flowing twards the castle from the east. Selene, warn whatever guards joined you that they may not live through the night, but that their people depend on them, and this.....war will go down in history as the world's final hours or the worlds final chance for peace. Each of their names will be remembered for all of eternity and their souls will always remain in the Halls of the Warrior. Also tell those that have family that they can take their families and flee and no one will think less of them. Good luck. I will be there as fast as possible and I am bringing another new friend. For some reason Chance was worried about Selene most. It wasn't becuase of her position, she was more than able to handle herself. It was something else, something he couldn't put his finger on. He would have to think about it later. Through the dark city streets Chance raced, against time, agianst fate, against all luck. He would not give up.
Kelli saw Chance's motion and knew she would not make it out alive if she kept battling, she was already wounded in many places. She nodded with a shrug and followed Chance.
Elazul slowly made progress towards the castle. Slaying as many of the creature's as he could while making the most mobility possible. His progress to the castle was relativly slow but he was making sure he would slay as many of the creatures he could before reaching the castle. I hope everything is going better in the castle then it is out here. Elazul tried to keep up the pace but he was getting tired. His arms were beginning to feel quite sore. His movements started to become sluggish compared to the speed he had demonstrated before. At that moment a Teil'ken took an opportunity that opened up and landed a hit on Elazul's thigh. Elazul groaned as the pain set in. If I dont get to the castle soon I'm not going to make it there at all.He thought to himself. Elazul killed broke off from the onslaughting creatures and made a last ditch effort to kill some more. He pulled a scroll from his pocket and quickly read what was written. A fireball appeared from the scroll and struck the Teil'ken. He was flung back from the blast and injured his shoulder upon landing. He quickly got up, trying to ignore the pain that ensued. He looked back and the creatures where still coming at him. "Damn." He muttered to himself before sprinting off towards the castle.
Selene had since moved to the top of the castle, scanning for any of her group. She spotted Elazul and cupped her hand around her mouth.
"OPEN THE GATES!" Selene yelled, her femanine voice ringing through to the guards at the doors. She watched as the gates opened slowly, creaking. Their great heavy oak frame taking many men to force open. Where was Chance? She didn't want to lose him. "CHANCE!" Selene yelled out, the urgency clearly audible. The Teil'ken were everywhere, like black ants crawling like a carpet over the ground with only patches left, in one of those spaces, Chance must be. She bit her lip. The women and children would fall soon if they weren't evacuated now. "TAKE THE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND ALL UNABLE-BODIED MEN TO THE DUNGEONS AND OUT THROUGH THE WALL, WHILE THE TEIL'KEN ARE OCCUPIED!" Selene called out the orders to the guards and immediately they were rushing down into the dungeons were all the prisoners were. They were realeased and ordered to fight, they didn't object. The broke through the bars where the light was streaming through in one of the cells that was closest to the forest. They escaped into the vegetation and were gone from sight. Selene didn't wait to see them off from the top of the castle, she hurried down to help guard the doors. With them open they were slightly disadvantaged but she would not let the group fall to the Teil'ken.
Chance took to jumping the rooftops, making it easier for him to make headway towards the castle. Most of the Teil 'Ken were in the streets, swarming towards the castle, but everyone once in awhile one would jump to the rooftops, forcing Chance to quickly take it out. He was running with the front of the pack now, and slowly pulling ahead, but was only steps ahead of the dark wave of Teil 'Ken. The newcomer was just getting to the huge door when Chance got an idea suddenly. Selene! Start shtting the doors, I'm going to make it in, but make it as close as possible! After sending his telepathic message Chance dove into the air and left everything to fate as life went into slow motion.
Selene didn't want to close them, but she knew she had to listen to what Chance was saying to her.
"CLOSE THEM!" Selene yelled out again and the doors slowly began to close. She whipped the back of her hand over her eyes, he would make. She kept telling herself he would make it. She was standing where the doors would close, watching them slowly block her view..
Elazul quickly darted in the doors. "If he doesnt make it in here I'm going back out. No one get's left behind." Elazul says with a grimace on his face as the pain of his shoulder and his side struck him. He growled out in pain as the blood dripped from his side and made a small patter on the floor. "This is gonna leave a mark." He says as he tries to bandage his side with a sleeve from his armour. He then braces himself against the wall as he pops his shoulder back into place and lets out another growl of pain. He peeks his head around the door. "Like I said, if he doesnt make it, I'm goin out there." Elazul says to Selene. "No questions asked!"
Kelli quickly came in. She was holding onto her injured side to stop the bleeding. She could survive the pain for now, but dying of blood loss was not the death she'd imagined. She watched the doors as they closed and wondered if Chance would make it. Even if she didn't know him, he seemed to have friends who would go out again to find him.
Chance was rotated back to where he could see the door as he flew through the air on his back. He wasn't sure he would make it until he looked to see where the Teil 'Ken were. Everything seemed slow motion, the door closing ever so slowly, the feeling of floating through the air even though he knew he was shooting towards the door, the single Teil 'Ken getting ready to grab his ankles. From pure reaction and survival instinct, Chance curled his feet to his chest and as the shadowthing drew closer, kicked it sqaure in the chest, sending it flying backwards while giving him the extra boost that made him hit the ground mere feet in front of the door and slide the rest of the way in. Damn.....that was way to close.
"Chance!" Selene ran to his side, kneeling down. She ordered guards to tend to each of their wounds. Kelli seemed to be on the brink of death but she had a feeling she would make it with the proper care and rest. She put a hand on his and helped him sit up. "Don't all scare me like that!" Selene half scolded half pleaded to all of them, glancing at each face, with a slight chuckle. She was thankful that everyone was safe.
Kelli moved away from the guards. "I will survive." She said with a shrugg. "I must fight." She explained. "Only bring me a bandage for now, and give me other cares when it is the right time." She continued.
Chance gave a half cocked grin, and was getting ready to sit up and start throwing of orders, but for some reason, he gave Selene a quick hug first. Not understanding himself, Chance stood up and went to find the captain of the guards. What the hell am I doing? There's no time for that. Chance silently berated himself as he walked.
Selene was about to go get a bandage when Chance caught her in a hug. Blinking slightly as he pulled away, she smiled, in shock but never the less, smiling. Shaking her head to clear herself, also to fend off the blush that fell upon her for a moment, she stood. Selene didn't move for a few seconds but then returned to her chain of earlier thoughts.
"Bandage.." She mumbled to herself and set off in search of one or two. As she was rumaging through the supplies, questions and possabilities started to pop up in her mind. "Ridiculous..." Selene chuckled them off and pretended to herself that they meant little. Finding three, she grabbed them and returned to Kelli. "Here, allow me." Selene said, but not waiting for any protests or even allowances, she bandaged the wounds the woman bore across her flesh. Without a second glance, she turned in search of someone else needing medical assistance.
Elazul just watched the hugging scene and chukled softly to himself. It had been a while since he had seen affection like this. "They care for each other in a lot more ways then friends do and their to blind to see it." He said quietly to himself as he tightened the bandage at his isde. He groaned slightly as more set in and a few drops of blood fell from the soaked bandage. "This cant be good." He says to himself under his breath.
"That's because it isn't." Selene said, she was already gently removing the blood soaked bandage, taking care to peel only the bandage and no skin. She dismissed the old bandage to the floor beside her and took a good look at the wound. "Deep.. I'll have to stitch it up. Hold still." Selene murmured. Digging though the pile of medical bits and pieces, she retrieved a needle and thread. She soaked the thread in some alcohol. When she was young, Selene had been trained as a healer but chose the path of a warrior. But she never did forget her training, she had been talented but it was not what she wanted. She pierced the skin with the needle and began to pull the thread slowly through.
After talking to the captian of the guard and warning him of the Teil 'Ken's alternate entrance and possible attack plan, Chance returned to the main lobby to find Selene binding a particularly deep wound on Elazul. "After you sew that up, I can make the wound heal enough that the stitches won't break and the wound won't reopen."
"Great, I'm almost done." Selene smiled at Chance then returned to her work. She cut the end with her teeth and tied it up at the end. Deciding not to tell Elazul what she was about to do, incase he protested, she lifted up his arm and poured the alcohol over it. Just so it could soak down into the wound and clean it out. "He's all yours." Selene said, standing up and giving Chance some room.
Elazul looked at Selene and then to Chance. "Thanks for everything. Without your help I would definitly be laying in an alley somewhere." Elazul said with a smile. SLightly wincing when the alcohol touched his skin. "So thats what you didnt want me too protest." Elazul said with a slight chuckle.
Chance chuckled slightly at Elazul's comment then bent to do his work. Murmering some minor majic, Chance put one hand on each side of the wound, signifying the cycle of life and energy and then put his energy into it, stopping only after he was sure that the wound wouldn't open in the middle of battle. "There, you should be in good enough shape to fight again." After standing and checking his daggers and fixing his cloak, Chance walked to the middle of the room and cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. "Tonight is a night of judgement and tests. Already we have all been through much. We have witnessed family, friends, and many others slaughtered by the hands of our world's greatest enemy so far. BUT DO NOT DESPAIR. WE HAVE HOPE! HOPE IS WHAT LED EVERYONE HERE FOR THIS ALL OR NOTHING STAND! NOW, WE FIGHT. WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES, OUR REMAINING FRIENDS AND FAMILY, EVERYTHING WE LOVE! NOW MY COMRADES! NOW IS THE TIME TO FIGHT, TO FIGHT LIKE NEVER BEFORE, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE ALL OF HUMANITY. THIS FIGHT IS ONLY TE BEGINNING. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AND THE HALLS OF YOUR ANCESTORS FOREVER! WE.......WILL......NOT......BE EXTERMINATED!" Chance finished his speech to the roars and applause of all those in the castle. Those that didn't hear got a quick version of the speech and were instantly riled up. Chance only hoped he hadn't lied to them and that they would survive the night. Realizing that this might be his last stand, Chance went to find Selene.
Sitting on top of the castle, taking watch, Selene sighed. She rested her chin on her hand, she was perched on the highest flat topped torrent. Watching the sun go down to nothing, the night's winds whipped at her skin. Cold, but fresh. She heard the applause from down below and knew Chance must have delivered an inspiring speech. Her gaze soon returned to the stars, she lay on her back, finding all the constellations.
Chance asked around until someone said they saw her climbing one of the towers. Chance looked out a window and almost caught a fire bolt to the face but quickly dodged out of the way. It was as he thought, they were waiting, trying to let fear sink in and defeat them before the fight truly began. Catching the captain again, Chance told him to tell the warriors not to fear, that they were simply trying to make the fear defeat them, that there was nothing to fear but their own thoughts. Chance then informed him that he was going to take a rest and climbed the stairs to fine Selene resting, staring at the stars. "They're beautiful aren't they?"
Selene looked up to see Chance, she automatically smiled. She gave the stars another long stare before answering.
"From up here, it's as if you could touch them, they are so clear." Selene smiled at the thought and then looked back at Chance. She patted the space beside her, inviting him to sit with her.
Chance took the offered seat, fanning his cloak out behind him. "I was once told that you could touch the stars by a very important person in my life, but I never quite figured out what it meant. But I don't think we need to look to the heavens to find stars. I believe there are plenty here on our planet, you just have to find them." Chance looked down from the stars and over to Selene.
"That's sweet." Selene said quietly, warmly smiling at Chance. "If that's true, I don't know who my very important person is yet." Selene chuckled slightly, wondering how long it would take. She glanced up to the sky. "And the stars on earth, well.. they must be very good at hiding."
Chance shook his head, "Oh, I don't know about the hiding thing. I'm pretty sure I've found at least one...."
Selene glanced curiously at him for a moment, thinking about what he meant, her cheeks went a little hot. She was blushing.
Elazul sat down in the middle of the floor and started to meditate, gathering his chakras for the battle that lay ahead. He sat in the middle of the floor, facing the two large double doors from which he entered.
Seeing her blush, Chance decided to lay of and "leave the ball in her court" as the saying goes. If she felt anywhere near the way he did, he would know soon.
Selene suddenly stood as if she had lost control of her body and soon she found, mouth.
"I have to get back, there are many who still need aid.." Selene murmured, ignoring to her despair, every part of her heart and soul that was screaming out to stop and show him how she felt. She couldn't stop herself from walking away and out of sight. Selene came to her senses but couldn't force herself to go back. Instead she returned to the hall, started helping the injured and dying all the while muttering insults to herself. She told herself she was a coward and a fool.
Hearing the murmuring, Elazul stopped his meditation and walked over to Selene. "Is there something bothering you ? Maybe something I can aid you in." Elazul said as he helped her with the wounded. He started handing out healing draughts from his pack. Why are people so afraid to admit something, I don't understand. I can see they both wish each other's company but neither are willing to admit it. Elazul sighed to himself and continued to hand out draughts until he had no more left.
Selene didn't glance up, she was too busy with some stitches but did have the female ability to do two things at once. She sighed.
"I don't think anyone could help, the way I ruined everything.." Selene murmured, all the while cursing herself in her head.
Elazul just glanced over at Selene and chuckled slightly. "No offense but with that attitude you'll never fix whatever may be broken. There is a solution to every problem and a method to mend anything that might be broken. You just have to want to badly enough." Elazul said with a small smile. "And besides, I'm sure that it isn't anything that you cant handle."
"You're right. But I really don't know what to do." Selene said, pausing her sewing for a moment to be silent and think for a second. Nothing came to mind. She continued stitching up the wound.
Elazul smiled again. "No one ever truly knows what to do. But that doesnt mean they don't try. As long as yiu try as hard as you can, youll do just fine." Elazul said as he sat down against a pillar and slightly winced when his shoulder touched it. "Damn this shoulder of mine." He growled to himself.
"I don't have anything for the pain, I'm afraid." Selene said softly. Feeling like her problems seemed nothing compared to Elazul's let alone the citie's.
Elazul forced a smile thorugh his pain. "Just remember though, some things you have very limited chances at. And I wouldnt suggest letting them fall into to nothingness. You should deal with whats bothering you. It will be the only way you'll ever be able to look back on this and know you made the right decision. And as for the pain, I'll be fine. It'll just be a little while before it dulls."
Selene smiled lightly, taking his words to heart. He was very good at this. She decided to leave it all for a moment and get back to them when she was ready.
"Thankyou Elazul." Selene said and finished up the sewing, she called the next person.
"I just hope that I helped you out." He said with a smile as he slowly lifted himself up from the ground and walked over to an empty corner where he sat he down. He looked around at the people who were still here. He then pulled out a small pendant from his pocket and gazed longingly at it. I wish you were still here. The days are getting harder without you. I just hope that I can help these people. Elazul thought to himself. A small tear drop cascaded down his face and made a small patter on the floor.
Chance sat and gazed longingly at the stars for a moment before calling himself a fool and walking back downstairs. When he arrived back at the main floor, Selene and Elazul were just finishing tending to the wounded and the seperate combat units were getting back into position. "Not everyone will make it through this night. Gods help us." Chance took the vanguard position feet from the doors and waited. And then came the howling.
Selene couldn't make eye contact with Chance just yet so she stared down at the gruesom wounds instead. She looked up when the sound of howling caught her attention.
"Don't let them frighten you! Stand fast! They're about to attack!" Come on you bastards, I'm ready. Chance slipped his hands inside his cloak.
Elazul stood up and quickly put his pendant away. His swords were out in a flash and he made his way over to where Chance had taken vanguard postion and took stnace beside him. Elazul looked at Chance and then at Selene. "Well, once more into the breach." He says as he pulls a leather mask out from his pocket and straps it onto his face.
Kelli loked up at the sound of the howling. She shrugged and took a metallic string out of her pocket, it was covered in sharp looking spikes. She grabbed her whip from her side and placed its tip against the one of the spike covered string. The string pushed itself into the whip from end to end and made Kelli's whip an even more powerful weapon. She put on her clawed glove, which she had pocketted upon entering the forteress, on her left hand and stood, ready to meet the Teil'Ken in battle.
The howling died down almost as quickly as it started up, leaving a deathly silence in it's wake. But it didn't last long. Seconds later, Teil 'Ken came crashing through windows, out or unblocked doorways, taking everyone by surprise. Chance was instantly in motion, driving a group of Teil 'Ken back towards a wide open hallway. "If we can get to a place where our backs are protected we'll stand a better chance!"
Selene had a chance to stock up on arrows, so she was well ready to fight. She aimed high and sent three arrows at a time to the middle of the army of Teil 'Ken. If she helped destroy the backups while others took the front line, they'd destroy them easier. She didn't know where in the castle it would be safe.. she didn't have time to think.
Elazul quickly looked at everyone and took a step forward to block the oncomers as best as possible. "Find a defensible postion now. I'll hold them off here as long as I can." Elazul said as he began hacking away at the Teil'ken. His swords flowing like an exotic dance. But the blades were still moving so quickly that none but the best trained eye would see it.
Chance knew the best defensive postition in the castle and knew how to get there, but didn't know what he would find there. It's the only place to go.... "Follow me!" Chance took off, bowling through a small group of shadowthings, leaving an opening for everyone else to follow, and started running through the castle's hallways, keeping his way by pure instinct and basic memory, taking down the few Teil 'Ken that had found their way into his path.
Selene nodded and followed, calling out for others to pass it on to the ones who were too far away to hear. She ran swiftly after Chance wondering where he was taking them..
Elazul stood at the broken doors hacking Teil'ken down left and right. He was going to give them as much time as he could. "Run as fast as you can." Elazul yelled at them as they took off. His swords tasting Teil'ken blood again and again. He almost seemed to have things under a slight amount of control.
Kelli silently followed Chance and Selene, killing any Teil'Ken who happened to be in her way with her whip and claws. She loved to slay those horrible monsters and would not let them be the ones to kill her, at least, she hoped not.
Chance had been leading them to the throne room and they were now in the last hallway. Chance motioned the others on through and stood in the middle of the hallway. After making sure everyone was through and in the throne room, Chance sent a telepathic message to Elazul. Break off and go the way we went. I knocked over the suits of armor on the way so you could follow. I'll be waiting in the hall with a little trap my godfather had made.
After receiving Chance's telepathic maessage he ran like there was no tomorrow. He had to stop a few times along the way to fend off the Teil'ken that were fast on his heels. Upon arriving in the throne room he looked at everyone there to make sure they were okay. "You said something about a trap right." Elazul says with a grin, waiting to see what Chance had up his sleeve.
Selene breathed a sigh of relief for the moment, or at least she hoped so. She waited for Chance to give instructions. Any thoughts of the things that happened before was gone or ignored. This was more important.
Chance stood at the doors to the throne room and waited. His timing had to be perfect, becuase if not, they would lose a huge advantage and trap would be used in vain. As the horde of Teil 'Ken rounded the corner in the hallway, Chance stared them in the face. It was strange, almost like staring death in the face, but, except for the punding of their feet, they were completely silent. There was a single Teil 'Ken in front of the rest, perhaps an overzealous one, that Chance quickly dispatched before the others stepped into where he wanted. Chance tripped a switch that was set just inside the throne room doors. Teil 'Ken after Teil 'Ken fell as a wave of spiked portcullises slammed down every two feet, piercing Teil 'Ken after Teil 'Ken, decimating half of the attacking force. Chance stepped back into the throne room and turned to his comrades, "Now we have a fighting chance! ATTACK!" Without hesitation Chance charged into the Teil 'Ken, destroying the small vangaurd force and rushing into the main force. The Teil 'Ken's forces were sharply defeated, and Chance was confindent they could finish them if they attacked now.
Elazul jumped into the midst of the enemy. His blades covered in Teil'ken blood. The walls around him were dark with the blood of his enemies. The creatures could not keep up with him in terms of speed. He fought like never before. He fought with the weight of this cities people and possibly even the rest of the world.
Selene was armed and ready, her arrowed fired with great aim and precision into the chins of the enemy. They fell like flies to their dusty graves, she couldn't help but wonder. This was too easy..
Chance estimated that about three fourths of the army were destroyed, and the rest were dropping like flies, "Now! Charge them, put them on the defense and don't stop until they are utterly destroyed!"
Kelli, who had arrived just in time and with merely a scratch. She jumped into the crowd of dying Teil'Ken after Elazul. She fought hard, her newly improved whip working wonders. The monsters she so hated fell helplessly to the ground before her. In her whole life, she could not recall the moment when she had put so much energy and effort into one thing. But this one thing would soon determine the fate of the world.
Selene started to hack into them with her dagger, fiercly slicing through them one by one. She could think of nothing but their cold deaths and how much she wanted to destroy them. It seemed to help her speed, force and determination.
As Elazul hacked his way through their numbers he thought about what he was saving. Everything that was good and just in the world and the new friends he had made. If he died here it would not be regretted. For he did the best he could.
As Chance fought, he noticed that he was facing the last one, and he was ready, ready to finish it, ready to end the existence of these beasts, and as he took the last swing, the swing that would finish it for good, he dedicated everything to life in general. He watched himself move in slow motion as the blade in his hand darted at the kill spot and.......STOPPED?!!? Suddenly, the evil beasts name was in his head, scratchy and chilling, seemingly the voice of death itself, "You weak pathetic being. You think you have defeated us? There are far more of us than you could ever know. Everytime someone dies with hate in their heart and dread in thier eyes, everytime someone is executed and curse their executors, every time someone dies an unjust death, we are there. We are there to take their souls and recruit them to our cause. And now, pathetic elf that thinks he can conquer us, I will recruit you!" Chance was helpless as he watched the single Teil 'Ken dive for his throat, massive jaws ready to rend his body to pieces, and his only thought was, I have failed....
Elazul pushed Chance out of the way and shielded him from the attack. The creatures claws flaying his back open. "Argh" He yelled out in pain as he fell to the ground, almost lifeless from the terrible blow that he had just received. He slowly looked at Chance and smiled. "Get...him..." He said before he passed into unconciousness.
"Elazul!" Selene murmured and ran to his aid, she dragged him away from battle, holding him still and her cape against his back to stop the bleeding. "Hold on.." Selene whispered, she did this all in an instant. She looked up at Chance. "Kill him Chance!"
At first the fact that someone had shielded him shocked him, but then pure rage and hate settled in. In his white hot anger Chance broke out of his paralysis and stalked toward the shadowthing, unconciously picking up a sword on his way. The bite of picking it up by the blade only served to further infuriate him. As he walked towards it he uttered curses and accusations under his breath. "You kill my family, you kill my friends, you destroy my kingdom, you attack innocents...." The shadowthing began to back away, "....you're trying to destroy this, my world. You don't deserve to exist." At these words, the shadowthing turned to run, but it got nowhere. As the sword entered to the right of the white spot, Chance cried out in fury, in pain, but most of all, in loss. The sword coninued through it's neck cutting the white spot in half. After it was done, Chance stood amidst the falling ashes, crying.
Selene watched him for a long while before leaving Elazul to rest in the care of some soldiers. She stood slowly and walked over the Chance and hugged him. She found that it was taring out her heart to see him like this.
Chance hugged her back, not being able to say anything. Too many thoughts were swirling around in his head, leaving him mentally numb. There were many things to be done; selecting a new king, reinstating a reliable defensive force, repairing the city, returning the citizens to their homes, not to mention his personal life. But that would have to go on the back burner. "We are victorious, I need to rest. Tell everyone I will speak later." He hugged Selene tightly before turning away to try and find a suitable room to sleep in.
She nodded gently, before turning and making the announcement to the people. She felt sorry for them, a few smiled slightly but most just looked away. They knew that this was a hollow victory. It had cost far too much and was still costing them now. Selene sighed and went to find her friend.
"That was a brave thing Elazul. You should be proud." Selene said with a small smile. She couldn't rest, she couldn't sleep. Not now..
Elazul awakens at the sound of his name being said and looks up at Selene and gives the best smile he can muster through the pain. "I'm sure that anyone would have done it." He says while slowly passing into unconciousness again.
Chance finally found a room that hadn't been ransacked or destroyed, laid a lamp outside so anyone would know where to find him and laid down, he couldn't sleep however. Thoughts of Elazul's action, Selene's reactions, everything hit him in full force. "Ha, so much for sleep." Chance rolled over and stared at the wall.
The Journy Continues at A City Reborn
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