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Gorel's Tale
Chapter the Second |
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Chapter the Third The next four years were ordinary years; uneventful in the eyes of an historian merely intent on recording the events that change the world. Alanna busied herself in her work. The respect she earned from the archers fed her soul and the gold they paid her fed her body. Her dreams were less tormented those days and often the rising of the sun would find her with a tender smile upon her face. On those days, she would linger in her bed, loathe to leave the dream behind. And all that day the smile would endure as the image of her darling son replayed in her mind. She lived for the days when she could steal away to the clearing in the Silvermoon forest and watch Gorel at play, hidden neatly by the tall fescue. Her heart would pound so loudly with pride that she feared detection, but she never was found. Often she saw the pretty little elven lass, but the girl kept her distance and Alanna did not approach her. For Gorel, those four years were filled with happiness, with camaraderie and with all the good fine things that life can provide. He was the finest hunter the elvenkind had ever seen. He and Legolas formed a bond of friendship that made them more like brothers than simply friends. His prowess with the sword grew to enormous levels. His silver, magical blade could cast the most ferocious spells: telekinesis, and massively damaging energy blasts and he possessed an extraordinary amount of mana to be able to recharge his blade in an instant. He would have been a formidable warrior on any battlefield, but the Silvermoon elvenkind were a peaceful, isolated clan. That is, until the day that changed Gorel's life forever.
Anyone adept at reading signs and portents would
have known that this day was destined to be
different. Far to the east Moonglow's moon still
hung high in the sky as the newborn sun painted the
heavens with a breathtaking display of color. Nor
did it budge as the sun crept higher burning off the
mists of the fields and fens. The young Mage, Techno
Destructo, gazed at the sky with mounting concern.
Never in all his sixteen years, had he seen anything
like this. He made haste to the Guild of mages to
see if anyone could explain this disturbing
phenomenon.
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Chapter
the Fourth Throughout the land of Sosaria, frightened people took to their houses and creatures fled to their lairs. No one understood why the sun had deserted them that day. Panic reigned, consuming the spirits of warrior and peasant alike. And such it has always been, when mortal man stands in awe of the power of his Gods. The monks of faraway Empath Abbey beat their breasts, wailing incantations and litanies, pleading for benevolence from the gods they worshipped. But their prayers went unanswered. To understand the miraculous events that next transpired, dear Reader, I wish to impart the legend of our great land. I have myself heard the Ballad of the Shattered Gem sung by the famed Bard, Sedrik the Amicable, and I vouch for it's authenticity. Many years ago there arose a young wizard named Mondain. As Mondain grew in age and knowledge, within him grew a lust for power and a thirst for immortality. He became obsessed with transcending mortality and gaining life eternal. By and by, he learned of the treasured Gem of Immortality, which granted unimaginable power and everlasting life to whoever doth possess it. So powerful became his lust that it corrupted the innate goodness usual to those who study the power of magic. His wishful longing for the Gem became all-consuming, and after much anguish, he was led to willfully murder the keeper of the Gem — his father. After securing the Gem as his own, Mondain made plans to use it in a ritual that would give him ultimate power. During the ceremony that was to forever bind the Gem to Mondain, the Gem captured an image of the entire land, save the wielder of the ritual — Mondain himself. Once imbued with the power of immortality, Mondain used the Gem as a means to rule the world — until a Stranger arrived, determined to destroy the very source of Mondain's existence. Having journeyed for years throughout Sosaria, this Stranger's quest was to free the land and people from Mondain's dark, shadowy rule. After many battles, he traveled to the ruler's lair and felled the evil sorcerer by shattering the gem. As the essence of immortality was loosed upon the land, the very fabric of the universe began to unravel. And with the power of the Gem gone, Mondain himself was eliminated. When the Gem was shattered, thousands of splintered fragments scattered across the universe. Within each shard lies the very image of Sosaria, just as it was captured during Mondain's ritual. Normally there is no crossing between these worlds, but this was not a normal day. As the moon obliterated the sun, a portal was opened between two nearly identical worlds. The young Acolyte Ryu Sorrows and The fair Maid Sister Cecelia, who had been, one moment earlier, quietly praying in a world where the sun still shone, now found themselves transported to a world consumed by darkness and raw terror. Ryu grasped Sister Cecelia's hand and made haste to re-enter the portal, but it vanished before their very eyes. They were trapped, caught in a foreign yet parallel world, victims of an unfathomable warp of time and space. Not far from where they stood a battle ensued. Bodies lay strewn everywhere. Ryu quickly summed up the situation, and with no regard for his safety, drew his dagger and plunged into the fray. He was not trained in the arts of warfare, but he was quick witted and fleet footed and strong and magical. He darted from one Blackmoor to another, blindly slashing, creating an opening for the archers, the skilled men of swords and the wielders of magic spells. Deep ahead in the fray of the battle, Gorel and his cadre of Elven archers and fighters collided with the hulking Blackmoor Trolls. Fine crafted spears and swords clashed against crude axes and wicked maces. Gorel unleashed his fury, unloading combo after combo against the trolls, hitting vital areas in the demon's anatomy, usually felling them in one swift blow. Alongside him, Legolas cut down troll after troll with his curved Elven longsword, the agility of his Elven body vastly superior to that of the cumbersome trolls. From behind, the skilled archers of the Silvermoon clan nocked and released arrow after arrow, not once missing their mark, sinking deep into troll flesh. Although the Elves were much more skilled, and better trained, they were far outnumbered. Yet the Elves held their ground, and seemed to be doing quite well. Gorel cleared the area around him, not a single troll near him was still breathing. He took this opportunity to scan the battlefield. The archers had done quite a job in cutting the army in half, and the fighters seemed to have advanced and taken more ground. This was too easy. Gorel noticed the gleam of the mighty Goreshovel, the axe that belonged to the Legendary Troll Captain, Teron Gorefeind. Over the horizon, Teron ordered a wave of troll Berserkers, they spilled over the crest of the hill like a swarm of maddened bees. Gorel called out to the archers, setting them to attack once the trolls were in range. The Berserkers came down on the Elves like a plague, throwing axes raining out of the sky, crude arrows sailing into the groups of Silvermoon. And troll Bombers followed, hurling exploding potions into the scattering Elves. Gorel cut through the swarm of trolls, his heart set on felling Gorefeind. If he was cut down, the trolls would flee. This raced through his mind over and over as he dispatched the oncoming trolls with the slightest of ease. Teron was close now, Gorel closed in on him quickly. But before he could reach Gorefeind, Gorel sensed something was wrong. He stopped, turned, and saw Legolas sprawled out on the ground, a Berserker about to bury his axe deep into his best friend's skull. Gorel sped toward the troll that hovered above Legolas, and leapt into the air, driving his shoulder into the troll's chest. Legolas looked up, and saw that Gorel had saved him from his demise. Just as Legolas started getting up, an axe buried itself deep into his side. Legolas coughed, blood splattering from his mouth. Gorel pulled his sword out of the troll he just tackled, and saw Legolas stagger, then fall to the ground in a puddle of blood. Tears welled up in Gorel's eyes, he dropped his sword, and fell to his knees. Seconds later, he felt a sharp pain, then everything went black. The sudden silence pierced Techno's consciousness. He was nearly depleted of mana. He looked down at the closed Spell book in his clenched hands. It was sodden with blood. He was sorely wounded; arrows had pierced him, swords and axes had torn his flesh, but he lived. By the gods, he lived! He shook off his weariness and glanced around. He cried out at the devastation that lay before him. He focused his concentration and ran among the bodies, frantically searching for anyone who may have had the good fortune to survive. He ran from corpse to corpse, growing more frantic by the minute. Were they all dead!? Then he noticed a faint movement in a nearby copse of Elder trees. A man sat there, head in his hands, weeping silently. Beside him lay a woman. Blood gushed from a gash at her temple. He ran to them as fast as his weary legs could carry him. He cast a healing spell upon the man then bent to examine the woman. She lived, but barely. He tried to focus again to restore his mana, and when it returned, he threw all of his power into healing her. The man, a priest from all appearances, explained how they had come to be here. Techno had no time to puzzle it out. He gave them what little food and gold he had and bid them make haste to Moonglow and seek sanctuary at the Council of Mages. The day was beginning to grow lighter. Techno glanced at the sky and saw the moon begin to release its prisoner. The growing light fully restored his strength and made his searching easier. He anointed the bodies of the dead. They would have to be interred later. By the gods...there were so many!! He followed the twisting path and as he came 'round the last bend he saw them. Gorel lay sprawled on the blood soaked ground, a grotesque gash marring his temple. He had his arms around Legolas, holding him in a fierce embrace. Techno bent toward them to give the blessing and what he saw made him gasp anew. Little clear rivulets ran down Gorel's blood washed face. The man was crying! He was alive!! Legolas, sadly, was not. He gently extracted him from Gorel's embrace and anointed him, giving him the proper respect a brave warrior deserved. The sound of hoof beats coming up the path made him jump to his feet. He turned and saw in horror that a Blackmoor looting party had arrived. Trying to control his anger, lest it sap his precious mana, he quickly opened a moongate, snatched up Gorel and stepped inside.
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Chapter
the Fifth The day the Moon turned blue changed Sosaria forever. Evil was unleashed upon this fair land. Fearsome beasts, many imbued with magic powers, the likes of which had never been seen before, spawned in the Lost Lands and the mountain caves. Man turned against man and beast against beast. Restless undead rose from their graves seeking revenge on the living for their deaths. In the fair city of Moonglow there dwelled a Bard named Cerydwyn with a voice as sweet as an angel. Travelers would come from miles around to hear her strum her lute and sing the glorious madrigals of love, of brave knights and faire ladies, of battles won and hearts broken. Her music was a balm to the spirit. Verily it could heal a troubled heart as good as any Mage's spell! Since the turning of the moon, Cery discovered her music had a new and curiously disturbing use. The same dulcet tones that could make the most stalwart warrior weep with joy, could also enrage an evil filled heart. She could play a happy tune and turn beast against beast, rogue against rogue, monster against monster, in a fight to the death. She employed this skill to the aid of the young warriors who now honed their skills in the dungeons and Graveyards of this land. Gone were the practice fields of yore. Warriors no longer had the luxury to train at leisure. They needed to master their skills quickly and well. The Moonglow Graveyard ![]() The rising of the sun would find Cery in her place at the graveyard fence where she would spend the hours provoking the cruel undead to fight each other so the warriors could gain in skill without the risk of attack. She became an expert healer as well, dispensing bandages with a smile and a song of encouragement. One clear summer day she arrived and found a young man standing at her place by the fence. He was a stranger to her. He was communing with the spirits. The sound was haunting to her musical ear and it made her shiver. She started to approach him, but realized that he was deep in a meditative trance, so she took a place further along the fence. In a short while the cemetery was filled with young warriors battling the rapidly spawning undead. It took every bit of her concentration to keep the beasts provoked and her warriors healed. She put her whole spirit into her labor and when she paused to rest she noticed that the young mage was standing at her side. She turned her head to greet him and looked into the deepest, most soulful eyes she had ever seen. She stammered something foolish and felt her face flame with embarrassment. Her heart was dancing in her chest. She quickly looked away, lest he notice how he had affected her. She laid her trembling hand on her lute and struck a chord. A dissonant sound rang forth, making her face flame anew. Next to her, the stranger chuckled softly and turned the full force of his smile on her. "That is something you should never say to a man", he said, grinning at her mischievously. She swallowed hard, not remembering what she had said to him, feeling more foolish by the minute. "I am Techno Destructo, he said with mock seriousness, "'tis Verily a pleasure to meet thee, Cerydwyn fair". He faced her, grasped her hand and raised it to his mouth. The kiss made her reel with pleasure and she had to struggle to regain her composure. He released her hand and did a jaunty little dance step that made her laugh. Calmer now, she took a moment to look at him. He was tall, with broad shoulders, slim hips, and strong well formed legs. Her eyes lingered a moment too long at his tight red kilt, and he chuckled again, making her blush furiously. However, she was beginning to enjoy this feeling and she suddenly didn't care if he noticed or not. She tossed back her head and winked brazenly. He looked surprised for a moment, then graced her with another dazzling smile which she returned in earnest. They spent the day together, laughing and reveling in how much they shared in common and she with her music and he with his magic, they kept the young fighters healthy and in lively spirits. By night's fall, Cery was smitten by this brash, funny, whimsical young mage. He clasped her hand and bowed deeply and pronounced that he was taking her to dinner. She tried to protest, pleading that she was weary and that her dress was soiled. He grinned and bid her wait, then vanished in a flash. When he returned a moment later he presented her with the most beautiful garment she had ever seen. He playfully covered his eyes and instructed her to change. She did as he bidded, and she needed no looking glass to know how beautiful she looked, she saw it in his eyes.
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Chapter
the Sixth There is nothing more beautiful, in our fair land, than the spectacle of dawn. 'Tis a breathtaking riot of lavender and rose petal brushstrokes against a canvas of deepening azure blue. Techno scarcely noticed. He sat astride a fallen log outside the cave where he dwelled, his head in his hands, lost in reverie, his thoughts consumed by Cerydwyn. Her perfume, sweet and reminiscent of sage, still lingered in his senses. He closed his eyes and his mind redrew the images of her lovely face and beautiful strong body...her alabaster skin in sharp contrast to his as he embraced her in his dream. A tide swelled within him that made his body throb, his heart pound. He tried to master his passion, but could not. He would gladly give up anything to hold her in his arms, to ravish her, to claim her as his own! But, he was a man of honor and would not....unless she felt the same for him. He absently touched his lips, drawing hope from the sweet kiss they had shared. Gorel in Tech's Cave ![]() Inside the cave, Gorel still slept and dreamed his tortured dreams. Techno stood and ground out the sputtering campfire with the heel of his boot. He went to his friend's side and gently stroked his feverish face. Gorel had healed perfectly in body, but his mind had not. He remembered nothing of his former life, his life before the battle. As Techno tried in vain to soothe him this morn, Gorel's face twisted in agony and he muttered a name "Legolas". His fists were clenched as he pounded the mattress with fury and rage. Techno rose and sighed. He knew naught of how to help his friend. Discussing the battle with him did no good. Gorel would simply stare blankly, understanding nothing, as if it were merely the tale of a bard. It held no memory for him, except, perhaps, in his deeper consciousness. Two long years had passed since the day of the battle, the day Techno had gated him here, to his small cave in Moonglow. He was devoid of any emotion save one; a powerful urge to seek revenge. He knew not why, but the emotion drove him, fueled him. He spent his days venting his rage on monster and beast and even on men who challenged him, or stood in his way. Darkness surrounded him. He took no pleasure from anything life had to offer. His only satisfaction came from the moment he ended the life of another foul construct, another vile monster, another scoundrel. He would stand over his victim, triumphant, tears of blood streaming from his ebon eyes. He had no friends except for Techno, for whom he felt a strange mixture of amity and respect. He did not like being in another man's debt, but the young mage never made it feel as if he was owed anything. He was simply there. Gorel took a small comfort from his presence. Verily his only comfort.
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Chapter
the Seventh Cerydwyn stood tall on a small platform behind the Moonglow bank. She carefully tuned her lute and smiled sweetly at the crowd that had gathered to hear her sing. She glowed with an inner light. She closed her eyes and took a moment to conjure the face of her sweet Techno. Sighing happily she strummed her lute and the crowd hushed. She faced them and announced "This fine day, I bring Ye a tale of such profound sorrow, I pray the gods my voice doth not falter. 'Tis the ballad of an exceptional man, nay, an Elf of the Silvermoon, named Gorel, the child of darkness" She threw herself into the singing of the tale, using the old chant, with it's plaintive modalities and haunting melody. Her sweet voice rose and fell as the story wove itself around the rapt listeners. She thought of Techno, and the anguish on his face as he told her this very tale the night before and her voice cracked, but she gathered her resolve and continued in a stronger voice. At last she was finished. Tears clouded her eyes and she heard the soft sound of weeping below her. Knights, Nobles, peasants, all were moved to tears. The marketplace was silent for a long while, then the crowd slowly dispersed. Cery turned and placed her lute into her pack and when she turned back she saw the two women. They held each other, sobbing, but not tears of sorrow. Pure joy shone on their faces, belying the tears that fell. It was fate that brought Peregrine and Alanna to Moonglow that day. After Peregrine's rescue by Alanna and a band of surviving Silvermoon, she had gone to live with Alanna in the poor town of Britain. She busied herself with the study of Magery and this day had traveled to Moonglow to buy the reagents she needed to cast her spells. They were on their way to the moongate to return home when they saw the crowd gather and when they learned that the famed Bard, Cerydwyn, was to sing, they decided to stay. When they heard her mention the name Gorel, they clutched each other in a fierce grip, lest they swoon. Numb with shock, they listened to the telling of that day of horror. But when all was over they knew one thing, and that one thing restored them . Gorel lived!! Cerydwyn, the Bard of Moonglow ![]()
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Chapter
the Eighth In the days that followed, Cerydwyn and Techno met often and their friendship blossomed into deep love. But their love remained unfulfilled, for each was fearful of taking the first step. Techno battled with his feelings. The temptation to pull her into his arms was strong. He had laughed with her, and had tasted her mouth more than once. The memory of that sweetness drew him to her like a bee to a flower. He wanted her fiercely, his body aching with an astonishing need, strong and vibrant and immediate. Honor alone kept him from pulling her into his arms and kissing her, caressing her as he yearned. Honor kept him still, and weighed upon him as heavily as desire. Cerydwyn fought her own battle. Caught in a dream, yet riding the edge of wakefulness, she summoned back the vanishing images and thoughts of him, drawing them over her like a cloak woven of stars and darkness. Her world of dreams seemed more real now than reality, a place of safety and love and joy. A sparkling strand of murmurings and laughter and a beloved face streamed past, and she went toward it. She did not want to rise up into the light of dawn and face another day without him. Grasping at the remnants of her dream, she recaptured its images.. Caresses, whispers, someone whom she adored, who loved her. There he was...simply there. She smiled and slipped into his arms when he appeared. They floated together somewhere, in a meadow, in an ocean, in a bed, on a cloud, she knew not where. Neither did she know his name. But she knew him nonetheless, understood him deeply, as if he were the twin half of her soul. His slow, gentle fingers skimmed her back, her arm, her hip. She lay pressed against him, breast to chest, her knee drawn over his firm thigh, his breath easing over her hair. So peaceful, so warm. A wondrous feeling, unlike anything she had ever known before. She could not tell where she ended and he began. She only knew how much she loved him. Smiling, sinking into his comfort and strength, she slid her hand over the smooth contour of his chest, feeling the circlet of his nipple harden. She explored him, sighing as he sought her as well, his hand gliding over the roundness of her breast, his thumb flicking over the nipple, creating a burst of starlight in her body, in her heart. His breath soft in her ear, lips warm and gentle on her brow, he seemed to meld with her. She tilted toward him, and his mouth captured hers, her lips opening to him.. If only she could float here forever, loved and loving, cherishing, a part of his flesh and spirit, as he was a part of hers. Only joy existed between them, only the urge to touch, the desire to please. His hand left her breast, making her yearn for more, stirring her heartbeat. Fingers gentle against her throat, thumb tilting her head back, fingers tracing the arch of her neck. She sought his warm mouth as he delved into hers. He slipped lower, and his hair, like silk, slipped softly over her skin. His mouth was hot and exquisite on her breast, seeking, finding, and she moaned and arched into him. The dream went on and she flowed within it. She furrowed her hands though the heavy satin of his hair, found the rasp of his beard, played with his ear, until he sucked in a breath and came up to meet her mouth again, kissing her with such extraordinary gentleness that the rest of her melted like drizzled honey. Moaning, she heard his deep, breathy echo. Her hand progressed along his arm, over the curved plane of his chest and abdomen, over the velvet textured hair lower down. She wanted to know, wanted to touch, wanted to be touched. Her fingers found the waist of his garment. He was heated and solid there, rising against her hand. He took her mouth again, firmly this time, then lifted his mouth away. he whispered her name, kissed her ear. Gasping, she lost the edge of the dream and opened her eyes. She was alone, and never felt lonelier. Techno Destructo ![]()
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Chapter
the Ninth Gorel dug his knees into the heaving sides of his mount, hands clenched around the pommel of his saddle, spurring the horse along a twisted road deep in the Lost Lands. He came here often, to vent the dark rage that seethed inside him, that descended upon him, unbidden. This was a place filled with every conceivable beast and evil construct. He would lose himself in a frenzy of killing, succumbing to the darkness within his soul until exhaustion set in. Only then could he sleep the dreamless sleep he craved. The road crested the top of a hill, overlooking a vast plain. He reined his mare and stared, unseeing, at the mist shrouded valley that lay before him, the Valley of the Titans, the homeland of the Blackmoor Trolls. He reached for his sword and waited for the familiar rage to overtake him, but it never came. He dismounted and strode to the edge of the precipice. Emotions whirled in his head, dizzying him. He sank to the ground holding his head in his hands, reliving the events of the past few days, events which had prompted a subtle and disturbing change in him. Unbeknownst to Gorel, he had met his Destiny. He closed his eyes and she materialized in his consciousness. She was tall and slender and perfectly formed, with ivory skin that glowed with an inner light. She spoke his name, her voice husky with emotion and reached out with a strong slim hand to stroke his face. That simple touch opened a rift within him and the lost years came flooding back. He saw himself, a child again, running down a crooked path, arm in arm with his best friend Legolas, laughing with sunshine in his soul. And at the end of the path, there she stood, smiling at him with love in her eyes. Peregrine. With the remembering came a pain worse than he had ever experienced. His stone cold face contorted with agony and tears of blood fell from his coal dark eyes. He turned to flee from her, but she reached out and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a fierce embrace, holding him as he wept, soothing him with tender, whispered words of love. He felt a thawing deep inside him, coming over him gradually. She kissed him then, letting her light seep into his darkness, obliterating it forever. Gorel And Peregrine ![]()
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Chapter
the Tenth Ryu looked around him, glancing at the unfamiliar faces, strangers, every one. He felt like an exile. Even after the many months in this parallel world, he still could not get accustomed to a constant dependence on others. He wondered if he would ever come to accept that he no longer had a home to call his own, or that he would never see his family or friends again. He swallowed back tears and headed resolutely toward Empath Abbey where he and Sister Cecelia had sought sanctuary since the Battle of the Blackmoor Trolls. Cecelia had retreated into herself, becoming almost unreachable. She spent her days in deep meditation, communing with a spirit only she could see and hear...the young elfin warrior whose body she had anointed that dark day, so long ago, Legolas. In her heart she know she had to keep his soul connected to this world, but she did not understand why. As Ryu crossed the circle of stones surrounding the Yew Moongate, he noticed a flash in the sky. It looked vaguely like a bolt of lightning, but no rumble of thunder accompanied the flash. Peering into the evening sky he saw the flash was not lightning after all, but a comet of some fashion. He watched, intrigued, as it loomed closer and finally touched the earth, not with the fiery explosion he expected, but gently, as if it were a golden bird softly landing. He noted where it alit and hastened to the Abbey stables, quickly saddled his mount, and sped off to see what he would find. Ryu possessed an almost reckless courage and insatiable curiosity. He always rushed headlong into situations which would give another man pause, and this night was no exception. He galloped across the open plain and through the gloaming woods with no thought for his safety. He arrived at the spot he had marked in his mind. Oddly, there was no crater to be found. Simply a slight bending of the tall grass that indicated that something had landed there. The silver light of the moon illuminated what appeared to be footprints, leading from the clearing into the bush. Ryu lit his lantern and followed the trail, marveling at the size of the prints. "What manner of beast could have produced these?", he mused. A short distance inside the glade he saw signs of a struggle; broken twigs, a bloodied rock, the underbrush torn and scattered, a remnant of rent cloth. He felt a prickling at the back of his neck, but didn't halt his pace. The wood was deathly quiet. Nothing stirred in the canopy above or on the ground below. The trail of footprints had vanished, but he plunged deeper, driven by a need to know, to understand what he had seen in the sky earlier that night. Had it not been so quiet, he would never have heard the sound, so faint it was, a soft, plaintive whimpering, coming from his right. Sprawled on the ground lay a young woman and she was obviously hurt. Ryu jumped off his mount and ran to her side. He knelt alongside her to take stock of her injuries. He scratched his head, confused. There were no bruises, no cuts, no sword or dagger wounds that he could see. He gently turned her onto her back and recoiled in shock at what he saw. On her long neck, just under her right ear was a vicious bite mark. He brought the lantern in closer and saw beads of crimson blood in a perfect circle around her neck. They looked oddly like jewels. Like some sort of macabre necklace. He reached out with a finger and gently stroked the mark and she sat up abruptly, eyes wild, clawing at his hand, a pained gasp tearing from her throat. Ryu clasped her wrists and held her still, soothing her with whispers. Her violet hair streamed around her shoulders like a silken veil. Ryu smoothed her hair tenderly until at last her fear and rage subsided. He looked into her eyes and asked "who are you?" She inhaled deeply to steady herself, and in a velvet voice replied "My name is Kakurine".
Ryu paced the halls of Empath Abbey restlessly,
trying in vain to make some sense of what had occurred the night
before. After he had learned Kakurine's name he reached out to lift
her to her feet, but when he touched her hand with his a powerful
energy exploded through him and knocked him to the ground. Kakurine
laughed mirthlessly and held out her hands, palms facing toward the
sky. She closed her eyes and focused her concentration and two
perfect spheres of blue light materialized on her open palms. She
flung each sphere to the ground where Ryu lay, paralyzed by terror.
They missed him by mere inches. He scrambled backwards and staggered
to his feet prepared to flee, but he could not. With leaden legs he
approached her cautiously stepping carefully around the globes of
light which still burned brightly on the ground. In the eerie blue
light she appeared wild and feral, like a wolfkin, her head thrown
back as she wailed in fury. Then it was suddenly over. The spheres
winked out and Kakurine lowered her head and smiled sweetly at Ryu.
She stood and reached out and stroked his face and there was no jolt
of energy this time, simply a gentle caress. Ryu's pounding heart
stilled and he was filled with a deep calmness unlike anything he
had ever felt. "Take me home" Kakurine gasped.
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| Gorel's Tale: Part Two |
Part
Two: Prologue High on a rugged plain in the center of a forest deep with mystery lies a fortress. No man has ever willingly set foot within its gates. Verily, few men have even laid eyes on it, for seldom does even the bravest warrior journey so deeply into this forsaken world. The fortress is built of rough hewn stone, dark as midnight. No birds sing in the forest nearby, nor does any creature venture near its oily, ebon walls. There is but one pathway leading up to the massive portcullis, and it is patrolled by one thousand fearsome white Wyvern, as well as hundreds of Gargoyles and Golem. A carved plaque hangs above the entrance: "Terribiles locus iste" it reads...this place is Terrible. Herein lies the Realm of the Prince of Evil, The Vile Viero.
Viero sits upon a gilded throne, clad in a cloak of
Raven's feathers. He is tall and exceedingly strong. He drums his
fingers impatiently upon an ancient leather bound book on the marble
table in front of him. Eerie blue light, from the crystals set in
mirrored niches around the large chamber, is reflected in the gems
on the fingers of his hands. Both the crystals and the gems are not
of this world, but their origins are unknown, except of course to
Viero, and he guards this secret well. Around the council table are
seated his knights, thirteen in number. They are sworn to their
master, not out of fealty, but out of fear. Viero's glance slithers
from one knight to the other until it comes to rest on Ragmar, his
second in command. With satisfaction he notices the brief flicker of
terror flash in Ragmar's eyes. He abruptly stands, slamming the
blood red leather tome on the surface of the table, causing his
minions to gasp in unison. "Ragmar", he thundered, "time and time
again we have unleashed evil upon this land, and each time we have
been defeated by this band that calls themselves the Silvermoon
Elvenkind!! I want them destroyed and their heads mounted on pickets
as a warning to anyone who dares to stand in my way!! Bring me their
leader Gorel, and that traitoress, Kakurine, whom I have
already marked as my own."
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Part
Two: Chapter 1The Rebirth of an Unlikely Hero
Gorel sputtered, noticing a surprising amount of
blood splash out of his mouth. He could actually feel himself
bleeding inside from his opponent's last attack. His blood scorched
his insides, a pain he hadn't become very familiar with lately,
depleting his energy little by little, seemingly tearing his soul
right out of his grip. He struggled to brace himself on one knee and
regain his balance. Finally staggering to his feet, shaking away the
dizziness in his head. His body was on the verge of collapse, he
looked around and saw his friends: Ryu, Alanna, Cerydwyn, Tech,
Kakurine, Feena, Legolas, Guntrid, Asle, Valic, Cecelia, Gabhan and
Peregrine...all either unconscious or... or dead. Gorel tried to
look into the face of his attacker, but could only see a dangerous
flash of crystal-blue eyes amongst a dark shadow. His opponent stood
no more than 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and couldn't have have weighed
more than 55 kilos. Put those numbers up against Gorel's 6 feet, and
75 kilos, and it's hard to understand why he was losing so horribly.
Gorel's attacker hadn't used any magic, weapons, or energy based
attacks, but Gorel fell to this child's, this mere child's, bare
fists. Not to mention he had dispatched Gorel's entire party before
they could even think about fighting back.
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| Part Two: Chapter Two |
Dreams
of a Time Long Ago Soaring through the night sky, Gorel gazed at the land passing quickly beneath him. His shaggy, unkempt blue hair danced across his face. All this information had just hit him like a hefty broadside axe blow to the head. He had awakened from a deep, dark amnesia, with everything he knew changed. As far as he could tell, he had two lives: his human one, and his newfound life as a Dragon Knight. But he concluded more thoroughly, that he had really only one life. His life as a Dragon Knight had never ended, he had simply been reborn into this mortal coil, to further develop his emotions, experience pain and fate firsthand, and to build a love for the planet, and life on it, that would eventually drive Gorel to save it.
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| Part Two: Chapter Three |
Cerydwyn's
Dream Stars. Hundreds of thousands of glittering stars. And she was soaring amongst them; her spirit free. She spread her gossamer wings and dipped and turned, laughter bubbling from her throat. Far below her the earth gleamed pale and lifeless. She felt a stab of pity for the earthbound creatures who dwelled there...fighting their petty wars...living out their puny lives seeking a wisdom that could never be found anywhere on Terra's shores. She tucked her head to her bosom and somersaulted through the velvet sky. Faster than the speed of light, she danced with time itself. She dared not fly too close to Earth. It's inexorable pull would trap her again, and this time she might never break free. In the far distance she saw the blue moon beckon to her and she hastened toward the welcoming glow. Shadows shifted on it's surface and before her startled eyes a face was revealed there. Gorel! The shadows shifted again and the face was distorted by a hideous ragged scar that ran from cheek to chin. Memories she thought she had escaped flooded through her consciousness and she faltered in her flight. Ponderous weight overtook her and she plunged toward the earth screaming. Serecyn knelt beside Cerydwyn, filled with concern, as the dream overtook her. He stroked her feverish brow and watched in wonder as joy transformed her lovely features, making her breathtakingly beautiful. He knew this joy was short lived however. He had seen this happen many times in the months since his return. He held her tightly and waited to catch her when she fell. It had been seven long months since Gorel's confrontation with that creature he had sworn was Legolas. The guildmates had thought him mad, and had all fled. Gorel himself was nowhere to be found. Serecyn had returned from a long journey to the lands of Illshenar to find his dear friend Cerydwyn ravaged by torment and grief. One day her life had been perfect and the next, everything she had loved and cherished was gone. Serecyn loved her however, and he gently and patiently nurtured her and brought her back. But these dreams still plagued her and they frightened him. He felt an intense need to free her from the prison of her tormented mind. He knew he had to find Gorel and rebuild her life again. He wasn't sure he would even recognize his former friend...but he had to try. Cerydwyn flailed her arms frantically, trying to hold on to the edge of the dream. Her body shook with the sorrow of loss and the frustration of being so close to a vital truth about herself. She needed to know with every fiber of her being. But the dream was fading and the truth had eluded her again. She plunged back into the only world she ever knew. Her scream of terror changed to sobs as she awakened in her bed in the little stone tower near Trinsic. She felt strong arms around her; a gentle hand stroking her face; a tender voice whispering words of comfort in her ear. Serecyn! She clung to him desperately and in the safety of his arms her fear abated and she drifted into a blessed, dreamless sleep. When he was sure she was sleeping peacefully, Serecyn stood and strode over to the small window. He glanced at the moon, lost in thought. He often fancied that he could make out a face on the surface of the moon, but he laughed away the notion. This night the face seemed even clearer. He shook his head and pulled his gaze away from the sky just in time to see a man emerge from the shadows and approach the door. He stepped quickly away from the window and waited, his hand gripping his dagger. Minutes passed and he heard no sound of entry. He quietly returned to the window and peered out. The blasted man was still there! He had moved to the bridge and was leaning against the rail simply and calmly staring at the window where Sere was half hidden in the shadows. Sere squinted, trying to make out his face, but the night was too dark and the moon was behind the man's back. Yet..there was something vaguely familiar about the man's posture and gestures. A knight on horseback rode across the bridge and, as he passed, his torch illuminated the stranger's face for a brief moment. Tendrils of fear crept up Serecyn's spine as realization came to him in a flash. The man's face was the very face he had seen reflected in the moon. And it was Gorel! To be continued..... |