Fantasy The Seed of Life

Effervescent · Oct 12, 2015

Dinner With The Elssar

The evening was filled with mirth and conversation. The humble Elssar intently listened to each story given by the entourage, asking questions born in genuine curiosity in extreme politeness. It was rather strange, yet oddly fascinating to them that finally, after all these years, magic and non-magic was brought together once again for a truly noble cause. High Elssar Navier did not hesitate to ask them how they felt about working together as a unit.

Dinner came to a close with the aroma of baked apples and cinnamon, and twelve younger Elssar emerged from the kitchen bearing twelve pies, all placed around the tables evenly spaced. Each pie had intricately decorated crust with woven dough and carved floral patterns reminiscent of the flowers within their garden. It was truly a form of art, and it displayed the nature of the Elssar completely. They took great care in everything they did.

As the pie was sliced and served, High Elssar Navier stood once again, a smile upon his aged features as he gestured openly with his arms. "Friends," he began, "I do hope you have enjoyed your meal thus far. We are delighted to present to you our best apple pies, the apples of which come straight from the tree within our courtyard garden. That very tree was a gift to us presented long ago by one of the last Dragon Wardens of our time, Wuld of the Former Council. We have always been blessed with the fruit the tree bears each year, and hope that you enjoy it as much as we have in our time."

Sitting down once again, he dug his fork into the crisp crust of his slice and ate a mouth full of the pie before speaking again to the entourage. "I do love apple pie," he said, a smile upturning his thin lips. "Now, as promised, I have seen your futures, and wish to relay my visions."

As High Elssar Navier spoke, his voice would become muffled and muted as the world blurred. The entourage would find themselves suddenly feeling tired and unable to stay awake. Their lids would feel heavy. Their bodies would feel relaxed. And then they would fall swiftly into a deep and dreamless slumber.

@DergTheDergon @Elle Joyner @ShyEra @Keitsumah @Kharmin @Sha @Writer @Seanzah Angel @Semblance

Elle Joyner · Oct 13, 2015

Wynleth Kinor

Within the Walls of the Monastery

Eyes blinking open, Wynleth found herself in a strange, unfamiliar room. Laying still, her gaze moved from the pale ceiling to the fireplace, where flames blazed in the hearth. She was warm, comfortable... but the notion that she could neither recall how she got there, or where exactly she was greatly disturbed her.

Finally sitting up, she took in her surroundings, warm and inviting, at least by pretense. But the bars on the window, the runes scrawled above them gave the impression that however welcome she might be, she was no guest...

Sliding her feet to the floor, she rose and cautiously, she approached the door. A quick tug of the handle and it opened up into a wider room, this one holding many more doors. The first she tried would not budge, and no amount of knocking garnered attention, and so she moved to the next door. This one opened into a room nearly the mirror of the one she'd come from, and inside a woman stood by the fireplace. She was slightly older than Wyn, with sun-bronzed skin and a warm, thoughtful gaze. Her hair was a deep copper red, hanging in rivulets down her back.

With an embarrassed gasp, Wyn bowed her head, "My apologies. I... I didn't realize there was anyone here. Wh...where am I?"

The red headed woman rose from her seat, quick at first until it eased into hesitancy. Her angular features slowly gathered Wyn's appearance that ended with her brow at a slight furrow in thought.

"You're not Lathya," she said softly. There was a moment's pause before the woman took a step towards the Sur elf, her hands smoothing over the fine garment that clung to her broad frame. "By all that is good, I am sorry. My name is Fallah. Please tell me you've come to rescue us."

"I... who?" It wasn't a name she recalled hearing in the introductions earlier, and while her memory wasn't the sharpest, it couldn't have been that bad. "I'm Wynleth. Rescue you?"

And rather suddenly, she was afraid. What had she stumbled upon? And why couldn't she remember anything beyond dinner?

"I'm sorry, I'm... I'm not sure what's going on? Are you in need of rescue?"

Fallah's shoulders lowered, crestfallen with her fleeting hopes dashed. "Then..." Her voice trailed off, and before she could complete the thought another woman burst through the door. She was a young looking half-elf, hair a vibrant red and cropped short to look like a swooping crown of fire, her square features adorned with a smile only briefly until her gaze fell upon the Sur.

"Where's Lathya?" the newcomer asked pointedly.

"Zethel," Fallah calmly responded, her hand slowly motioning over to Wyn. "This is Wynleth. I think she is intended to be one of us now."

The second woman entered and Wyn's featured fell as the conversation which transpired between the two. She'd been right then, to assume she was no guest. How had this happened? Where were the others...? Where was Runey?

"One of you? What... what does that mean?"

Fallah slowly walked towards Wyn, her hands gently falling into the elf's in a common gesture meant to ease the coming bad news. Her eyes were laden with sorrow as she gave her hands a small squeeze. "Wynleth," she said, "the Elssar are a particular group of people. You look young for an elf. You may not remember them."

"The Elssar are what's left of the Dragon Wardens," Zethel scoffed as she slowly walked towards the locked door. She placed her hand upon the handle and was met with resistance.

"They lost their way," Fallah added and clasped a thick lock of her red hair within her fingers. "We are Dragon Wardens, too."

"Those men believe the only way to preserve and protect their line is through controlled procreation," Zethel cut in, and turned back to look at Wyn with a frown. "We're their breeders."

"You're..." It was all a bit more than Wyn had expected. She'd heard very little of Dragon Wardens, and what she had been told she'd imagined was little more than fairy legend. But these women seemed neither delirious, nor drunk, and their hair...

"If you're unhappy, why can't you just leave? I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand any of this. Why am I here?"

"Do you not feel it?" a softer voice chimed in. Another redheaded woman entered the room and leaned her head against the door frame. "Do you not feel your magic gone?"

Fallah nodded upward towards the molding around the ceiling. Etched within the stonework were runic designs that gently pulsed with a blue ambiance. "They nullified our magic here," she explained. "They made us weak and powerless."

Zethel flexed her biceps, though through the fabric of her elegant garments there was not much to be seen. "Not for long," the half-elf added. She then walked over to the quiet woman at the door and placed a hand on her shoulder as she passed into the other room.

"We've nearly loosened one of the bars in the window," Fallah continued. "But all of our windows face the courtyard. It's constantly watched by Elssar. Wynleth, were there others with you?"

She had never been very good at it, magic... and she supposed if she were, she might have noticed, but now that it was mentioned, she could sense it and felt her pulse quicken, as the women continued. She followed her, with her eyes, but had trouble focusing on much else, until the question was waged.

"Others? Yes... There were. Several, in fact. Are they here, you think? I'm still not sure I quite understand everything that's happening. I mean, I suppose I see why you've been kept here... but what purpose could I possibly serve?"

Had she said something wrong, perhaps? At dinner...?

"No one really knows how Dragon Wardens are created," Zethel responded from the other room. "We've given birth to a few without magic."

Fallah frowned and walked into the other room with Zethel, speaking to Wyn as she neared the barred window within the quarters. She produced a hand from under her robes and pushed the loosened iron thoughtfully, her gaze upon the courtyard as the morning sun began to rise. Down below, a couple of Elssar began their gardening, their eyes occasionally glancing up towards the window where Fallah stood. She kept her voice low as she spoke.

"They may still be alive," she said, and then looked over to Wyn. "We have not used magic in nearly a century. When we break free, we will need your aid more than ever. What attunement are you?"

"What if she's working with them?" Zethel asked skeptically. "Her presence here doesn't make sense."

"I'm not!" She said, towards the accusation, her eyes shifting from the window to the woman who'd spoke, "Really, I've no idea why I'm here. Is... is it possible there was a mistake? The group I came here with, we were chosen for a quest. Maybe I'm not supposed to be here?"

It had to be the answer, but then, why would these women be held captive in the first place? And what was the likelihood she'd be placed in the wrong room? They were hardly unintelligent, the Elssar.

"Ice..." She finally said, looking down at her hands, "But... but I never finished my training. I'm... I'm afraid I'm not that good."

"I'm ice too," the woman at the doorway said before approaching Wyn. She held out her hand in a casual gesture of greeting. "My name's Esa. Were you around before the fall?" Her words were spoken as though anyone would understand the vague use of the term. Esa's cherubic face carried a genuine smile, soft and friendly despite the situation.

Within the sitting room, Fallah and Zethel peeked out the window, quietly discussing the state of the bars within their stony confines. They had chipped away at the thick bricks at a very slow pace using a spoon they managed to snag. The spoon itself was now a mangled, dinged up mess of metal too bent and tarnished to be of any other use. Each woman took turns hiding it in various places about the joined rooms, and as Fallah turned away from the window she slipped the utensil under her billowing white robe.

"Hope for your own sake you aren't meant to be here," Zethel said as she walked back into the room. "Or maybe that your friends will come looking for you... If they're even alive."

"I saw they had a lot of magic and weapons," Esa said as she looked back at Zethel, and then quickly turned to Wyn once again as a sudden thought struck her. "It's rare the guests here disappear. It would bring a lot of suspicions towards them if they did something like that."

"They're getting desperate," Fallah calmly interjected as she returned to the room. "Wyn is proof of that. They're taking anything in for their own purposes perhaps because they're running out of their reserves. Who knows how sloppy they will get. It could be our opening."

"I did see them carrying a few unconscious back to the airship before it departed," Zethel said thoughtfully. "Maybe Wynleth is all that's left."

"The Fall? No. I... All I've heard are stories. But I never imagined..." That they could be real? But then who would believe their stories, after they had passed? Of moving Shadow and a near fruitless war.

"Desperate? Desperate for what?" She felt inexplicably stupid, standing with the three women. They'd obviously been there a good while, and it was difficult to decipher everything they were saying. She was able to pick out bits and pieces, but in the end it felt jumbled. Confusing.

"...They sent them away? I... Was Arun with them? Was he alright? You're right... we have to find a way out of here. I need to find my people... the ones I can with, and warn them." If any of them were still there.

DergTheDergon · Oct 13, 2015

Vallen Dyis

Somewhere within the Elssar Monastery

Vallen slowly began easing into consciousness, and immediately realized something was wrong. No... several things were wrong. His eyelids felt so heavy he had to force them to stay open with pure force of will, and even then there was a groggy haze that fogged his field of vision. The first thing he could see were metal bars immediately in front of him. He gradually became aware of his other senses, starting with the soreness in his back and neck. Trying to move his head, he became aware of the low metal ceiling of this room.... no, the top of his cramped cage. Glancing down, he realized his hands were bound, and trying to move his foot he became aware of similar shackles about his ankles. Inspecting his restraints closely, his eyes widened in realization. There were runes carved upon the old, weathered metal... runes of magic-binding. That explained the the unnatural haze that fogged his mind, but Vallen had assumed technology such this was lost to antiquity... the shackles certainly looked old and rusted enough to have been such for quite some time. He then became aware of the rotting, uncleanly stench that permeated the stale air, and the sound of agonized moans from other poor souls trapped here... it would seem he was underground, in a dungeon of some sort.

'Where... how did I get here?' Searching his mind for the answer, he realized the last thing he could remember was suddenly succumbing to fatigue at the dinner table. Trying desperately to remain calm, he came to the only conclusion he could draw from this. 'The Elssar truly were not what they seemed... thier hospitality seemed to border on the suspicious... not to mention that odd feeling that came over me in Navier's presence.... Who are they, truly? What do they hope to gain from my imprisonment?! Being unable to draw any conclusions to these burning questions, Vallen resorted to glancing about the room for answers.

The runes that were etched upon his shackles all but covered the remainder of his cage, leaving him feeling drained, barely able to move his head as he made out what he could see through the haze limiting his field of vision. There were rows of other cages as far as he could see in one direction, but in the other, he spotted a door. The exit was right there, but his bindings had rendered any method he could have of escaping null and void, or so it seemed. In the cage across from him was another elven man he swore he recognized. Squinting to make out his features, he recalled the man as Arun, one of Vallen's comrades-to-be. Upon this realization, he hurriedly glanced at the other cages around him, but Arun was the only other prisoner he recognized.

Vallen looked back to Arun, looking over him to see if he was awake or not but he couldn't quite tell. Vallen resorted to moving to the very front of his cage and whispering in the Sur's direction, glancing about for anyone else that could hear and seeing no one. "You there, Arun. Have you any memory of how we came here?"

@Semblance

Sha · Oct 20, 2015

Godric III

Aboard the Galbad'ul

Godric III awoke in a stupor. The man’s head was heavy and his lips were as dry as though he were waking after a night of celebration. He remembered having poured himself a few mugs of ale (the usual culprit when waking in such a state) but his memory ended after the third. It just went black. Even when an excess capable of killing a man is drunken one is generally able to grasp at a few fleeting moments but now – now Godric, try as he might, could recall nothing. It felt as if he never went to sleep but somehow awoke in another place. With a groan and a blink of his eyes he stood.

The room was dark. The curtains had all been pulled shut and only a dim light managed to sulk through the fabric. Glancing now to his right he noticed the ashtray still filled with ash from the voyage they had just taken. Much to his chagrin the pipe was not among the grey flakes. Rubbing his head he passed his eyes over the room with ill-adjusted eyes and a groan similar to that of an elderly man woken prematurely from an afternoon nap. He saw a few figures standing about but soon came to realize they were the makings of a worn mind and so disregarded all humanoid shapes which stood and laid about the room as he was unsure to the reality of them.

Godric took a few steps upon the sturdy wooden floor taking no care to soften the blows of his feet. His composure had already begun to return when he reached the flickering light from the hallway. He reached in and grasped a torch which sat in its place upon the wall. Stepping back into the dark room he held it out in front of him in the hope that he was not alone on the swaying airship.

“Oy,” His voice called hoarsely. He cleared his voice to rid it of the impediment before continuing, “Ye there, anyone?”

Keitsumah · Oct 20, 2015

Keitas Rynn

Aboard the Galbad'ul

Ohhhhh somebody was going to die. Gritting her teeth as she woke up, Keitas struggled to not lash out and punch the first thing that moved. Which would have been the old man' face as he turned into the hallway to see her draped across a shelf.

She blinked several times, her memory fuzzy as she tried to pry herself out of the compartment. "OI. Any recollection of what happened?" The shelf cracked and she yelped when she hit the floor, rolling over backwards to jump to her feet and rubbing her head with a grimace. Then her hands froze, as well as her body.

Slowly she went to pat herself down and to her increasing horror discovered the weapons she had so carefully disguised on her person were gone. Oh yeah. Somebody was gonna die. It probably didn't help that her face looked like a tea kettle about to explode either as she turned to speak again to the older warrior. "You got your weapons? Are there others?"

Semblance · Oct 20, 2015

Arun Colvar

| Somewhere within the Elssar Monastery |

Arun's once piercing golden brown eyes slowly fluttered open, a layer of grogginess now on the exterior. The first thing he noticed was the foul stench of decay and body fluids that filled the air. The dampness and grogginess of the air indicated a lack of ventilation that only furthered the disgusting stench within the room. After blinking a few times in an attempt to snap out of his drowsiness, but to no avail, he forced his head up to survey his surroundings.

He was constrained in a small, closed-faced cage, with his hands and feet shackled in irons that were etched in runes. Looking more carefully, the male Sur noticed that the same runes also decorate the cage's exterior. In his disoriented state, Arun could feel his energy being sapped out of him, and he realized that it must have something to do with the runes. Everything around him was just made out of normal metal, with only the runes holding any sort of energy. He couldn't feel any of his magical energy and he had never felt this disconnected from the earth. He remembered when he was at the School of Magic, they had learned about runes that were used on prisoners of war by Thalls and orcs. These must be the same exact runes, but Arun was confused as to why the Elssar would constrain them like this. Where were his friends? Was Wyn alright? What if they were all killed already? A thousand questions rushed through his head as he tried to recall what exactly had happened.

The last thing he remembered was the lavish dinner that had been provided by the Elssar and the warm, friendly energy they had given off. Frustrated that he had fallen prey to the welcoming nature of their hosts, the male Sur knew that he would never forgive himself if Wyn was killed. Oremi, Arun's best friend and Wyn's brother, had made Arun promise to take care of his younger sister as part of his dying wish. How could he fail his best friend? The Earth Mage already failed him once by letting him fall victim to the Shadow, and he refused to fail again. He could only hope that Wyn was still alive.

To make things worse, the small confining size of the cage forced him to sit hunched in an uncomfortable position. He drowsily shifted his attention onto the environment outside his cage and he noticed rows upon rows of other cages that were identical to his. Straining his ears, Arun could hear faint groans coming from these other cages, no doubt from other captives just like him. He could see no windows, and his line of sight was impaired to the point where he could not see any possible exits.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence in the damp air, and Arun shifted his drowsy gaze towards the sound. After squinting his groggy golden-brown eyes to pick out the source of the voice, the male Sur recognized Vallen, one of the companions on their quest. "I don't recall anything..." he managed to say after a few moments, locking eyes with the other male elf. "What's going on? Why are they keeping us here?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion. "They have no right to imprison us like this," he added angrily.

@DergTheDergon

Seanzah Angel · Nov 5, 2015

Jasiri Moyo

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Spring mornings were cooler in northern Thallas, especially in the twilight hours before the dawn. The darkness of the night sky still lingered as the sun's influence slowly brought forth a lighter shade of blue. The forest just a half a mile out from the Monastery was dense and overgrown and oddly quiet at such an hour. The waking birds should be chirping melodious to herald the coming light. Fireflies would still be aglow in the brush as they seek out their home for the day. But as the fog lifted from the earth with the slowly rising temperature there was nothing.Jasiri and Krizal would wake to the eerie setting, their bodies bound tightly to the trunks of trees. Even though the sun began to cast its orange glow upon the horizon, a darkness lingered within the foggy morning. A slow, animalistic sniff accompanied a soft brush through thin branches, and then a low growl emanated from behind the two Maldviri. At first it was just one, and then another that howled into the canopies of the maples. The howl was met with the harmonic call of others at a distance. The darkness was closing in on the two prone Maldviri, and they were on the hunt.

For Jasiri, he half expected to wake up on the soft bed that sat in the corner of his room in Maldvir with one of his brothers looking down at him expectantly. But when he opened his eyes, he only saw the spidery branches of the trees in front of him and the ground blanketed with dead leaves and Krizal next to him. He quickly noted his surroundings, careful not to make too much noise or movement. He knew he was being watched and he knew that he was probably being watched by the Tainted, though he wasn't exactly sure where they all were. His thoughts were more enveloped in the fact that he had no weapons and he was tied to the trunk of a tree - something the Tainted could not do.His mind raced through the possibilites. Had his companions - the ones that they were all set up with to find the Seed of Life - done this? Or were they around in the forest, too? Had the Elssar done this? They all seemed so nice and hospitable, though he remembered it was their dessert that had put him to sleep. His memory was fuzzy and he couldn't remember much - but he remembered the pie. It was delicious and almost melted in his mouth, but it wasn't long after eating it that he became sleepy. Was this a test to see if they were worthy of their task? Or were they set up and left to be killed by creatures of the Shadow? The Elssar didn't seem like people that could be affected by the Shadow. So he hoped - for their sakes - that it was a test. And he hoped that his other companions were more safe than he and Krizal.

The darkened souls feel closer, the heavy huff of breath nearer with each slow step the Tainted took. They could smell the two Maldviri close at hand, yet something caused them to hesitate. Perhaps they did not know exactly where they were trapped, or perhaps there was something about the two humans that caused the creatures pause.

It was all foggy for Krizal. He hadn't remembered much of the past twenty four hours. Just bits and pieces here and there. He remembered getting on the ship, meeting the other riders, and then after arriving at the Elssar it became fuzzy at dinner. What alerted Krizal that something was wrong was the restless stirring of someone nearby, and the growing noises coming from nearby. The later was a sound that Krizal was not unfamiliar with. Tainted loved nothing more than ambushing a helpless target - they made for easy prey. As Krizal looked around, he noticed the other Maldviri next him. What was his name again? Jas...Jas...Jasiri! That's what it was. Like Krizal, Jasiri also seemed constrained to the trunk of the tree, his armor also removed like Krizal's. How? Why? There were important questions, but such questions could be answered later, namely when their lives were in immediate danger. Struggling free of the bonds might have been possible, but there was much simpler and faster solution. Closing his eyes briefly, Krizal at one moment was tied up against the tree, and the next was standing next to it. The Inner Light had likely, again, saved his life. He figured Jasiri was familiar with teleportation, although it was a more advanced technique among those who followed the Inner Light. So, before Jasiri caused a commotion, Krizal turned to Jasiri, putting his finger vertically on his lips to signal Jasiri to stay silent. For a man of his size, Krizal moved with a quiet precision, going behind the tree where the bonds were tied and freeing Jasiri from his bonds.

Jasiri watched as Krizal appeared only a few feet from him, noting his ability to teleport and not being surprised by it. It was something that Jasiri was able to do, but not nearly as easily as his Maldviri companion. The man freed him from his bonds, to which he nodded his head in thanks and turned his head to look around. He thought perhaps he caught glimpses of something within the shadows, in the thickets of the forest, but his eyes couldn't follow a trail.

He turned his attention back to Krizal. Jasiri saw that he was just as unarmed, though Jasiri was used to having little armor. The only thing he wore that could be considered as such would be his gold bracers that he tucked the sleeves of his robes into. Other than that, it was just his robes to keep him safe. Luckily, he still had those on. He gave the elder Maldviri a questioning look, not confident in his own tactics of the situation. Jasiri was a very versatile warrior and could do just about anything, but without his weapons he was much less comfortable with fighting head on.

Effervescent · Nov 8, 2015

Just Outside the Elssar Monastery

Just behind the tree where Krizal stood untying Jasiri, two Tainted watched their pray silently. They hunkered low in the bush, their stance shifting as both Maldviri found themselves freed. Just as Jasiri came into view, the Tainted lurched into action. From within the shadows the beasts rushed towards the Maldviri, their lengthy claws slashing at their bodies to take into the flesh of their prey.

As the beasts sprang into the clearing, Krizal took immediate action. With a single thrust, he launched his arm up into the air, and suddenly a bright orb giving off pure white light appeared in his hand. Although the light was blinding more than few feet away from the orb, closer to the orb it was quite easy to see still. Krizal moved the hand holding the orb down to his side."There, that should buy us a bit of time," Krizal stated calmly. He wasn't panicked or particularly worried. If anything, fighting Tainted was comforting to Krizal. With all the strangeness in these new lands, it was refreshing to know that even here, far away from his homeland, the enemies were still the same. "I don't think we can fight them, not with our lack of equipment. If we have to, we have to, but we'd be awfully disadvantaged. I'd suggest we use the cover of the light to try and find some sort of place we can use a shelter or as defense - if it comes to that."

The Tainted beasts had caught Jasiri off guard, as he expected them to come from in front of him, not from behind. Krizal reacted straight away, summoning a blinding ball of light in his hand to drive the Tainted away for a time. It wouldn't last long - the Tainted were like rabid beasts who looked only to sate their monstrous appetites. The only thing they were afraid of was the Light. But fear can only hold a thing back for so long. Jasiri wasn't as surprised to find Krizal so calm and collected. It was pretty natural for a warrior - let alone a Vindicator - to be completely calm even in the most brutal times. Jasiri wasn't too bad off himself. Shaken up, sure, and a fair bit distracted by the thoughts racing through his mind. Who set them up and for what purpose?He was brought again out of his thoughts when Krizal spoke again. He nodded half absent-mindedly and turned to him. "I rather dislike running from a fight, but I dislike dying more. While there are only a few now, there could be more, or they could call for more. Getting away from them may be our best option." He told him, practically echoing what Krizal said in the first place. But Jasiri wanted to make sure they were both on the same page.

Light flashed through the darkened forest. Howls of pain followed as the Tainted beasts retracted from the sudden burst of Inner Light. It burned them from the inside out, and they clamored for the shadows behind the trees. A few were not so fortunate to find momentary solace from the counter defense. As they had rushed for the two tied against the trees, they found themselves at the brunt of the light blast. Their insides were immediately boiled, and even as the light continued, the scent of burning flesh and hair rose into the air. A couple more began to burn, their animalistic howls turning into human screams before their deaths. They did not reach the shadows in time. Krizal and Jasiri would find themselves at the advantage as their enemies resorted to the retreat, but it would only last for as long as the light continued. The survivors gnashed their teeth and growled in their waiting.

Watching as the Tainted beasts retreated back into the shadows, Jasiri gained an idea. It would be one that would require being very careful, but could also end up being very successful. "What if we both channel the Light, and I run a ways and you teleport to me? Then we keep on doing that. The Tainted might be able to follow the Light, but they'll never enter it." He said before slowly producing his own ball of bright Light like Krizal. This was the best option, instead of Jasiri teleporting after Krizal because he hadn't quite mastered the art of teleporting. It was a more advanced form of using the Inner Light - something Vindicators were good at, but not simple Warriors like Jasiri. It was just something he would have to work on to better aid his comrades in battle. If, that is, they get back to their comrades.He didn't wait for Krizal to respond - he just started jogging in the direction opposite of where they were tied up and the Tainted attacked them. He stopped just before the Light from Krizal's channeling began to fade so that he could still see to teleport.

The Inner Light was enough to keep the Tainted at bay while exacting an escape. Even as the creatures pursued the two Maldviri, their course would be halted. Each use of the Inner Light caused a sudden burst of brightness that seared through to their souls. Eventually, Jasiri would find is way out of the forest and into a large clearing just before the Elssar Monastery. The silhouette of the modest establishment was offset by the growing colors of oranges and pinks that pushed away the stars and heralded the coming sun threatening to peek out from the horizon. As he traveled closer to the establishment, e would see the airship was no longer docked at the monastery tower.

A low howl emanated from the treeline. It seemed as though the Tainted would no longer pursue, and with it Krizal. Where had the Maldviri gone? Seconds drew out far too long, and it was clear the Vindicator would not be joining Jasiri in the clearing. Instead, the howls of the Tainted returned, a thrashing sound nearing the treeline before the beasts came into view. They honed in on the remaining Maldviri with teeth bared and legs pounding at full speed.

@Seanzah Angel

Somewhere Within the Elssar Monastery

Soft moans, shallow breathing, and wretching culminated in the ambiance of the cellar. A click of a latch echoed through the musty stone interior accompanied by the low groan of a door swinging open just out of view. The light tap of footsteps clattered upon the floors with the chiming and jingle of iron chains. A figure stopped before Arun's cage, and he stooped into view to gander at the Sur with a thoughtful expression.

The Elssar observed the caged elf momentarily, the sleeve of his robe over his nose and mouth to mask the stench that permeated the room thickly. His hairless brow and bald head sheened from the light carried by someone unseen behind him, and the Elssar pointed to Arun before looking over to Vallen.

"These two," he stated. The command prompted two Elssar with chains to move to each cage and carefully remove the padlocks. Their skin was lined with black veins like the streaks within calcatta, their eyes sunken and darkened to set a sickly appearance. But as they grabbed their prisoners wrists, there was no apparent lack of strength. Their touch was somehow painful, giving off the sensation that shards of glass were being inserted through their skin. The Elssar quickly linked their chains within the cuffs upon their wrists and yanked the two elves from their cages.

Only one attuned to the Arcane would sense the fleeting darkness in the Elssar's touch. As soon as their contact was lifted, the pain subsided and their hands had left no marks upon the elves' skin. They forcibly led the two through dark halls escorted by five quiet Elssar. They paid no heed to their prisoners aside from surrounding them, but their focus was forward. They carried no weapons upon their person, and they kept their hands within their robes unless they were tasked with holding onto the chain that bound their prisoners to the course.

They finally entered a room lit only by a large pyre in the middle of the chamber. The flame within the pyre was an odd sight to be seen for it was not comprised of the orange glow of a fire. The flames lapped and danced upward in a strange blackness, yet somehow it glowed an eerie tone of violet that reflected off of the Elssar's robes to make them appear as if they were glowing.

High elssar Navier turned around to view those who entered. His face no longer held its aged appearance and was, instead, decades younger. There was still no mistaking who he was, and it was clear he did not care that his illusion was no longer present. Navier stared at the two elves as they were forced to kneel before him, the touch of the Elssar yet again piercing through their shoulders painfully.

"Tell us where the Seed of Life is," Navier demanded in a low tone.

@DergTheDergon @Semblance

Within the Walls of the Monastery

Fallah watched Wyn momentarily, a look of sadness fixed upon her features before she walked back into the room with the newest edition to the Elssar collection. Zethel grasped one of the bars in the window and shook it to check just how loose the iron was within the stone. She thoughtfully leaned closer to the window to look down upon the courtyard. The growing morning sunlight gave way to a better view of the working Elssar beneath the canopy of the apple tree and dense shrubbery. One of them glanced up towards the window, and she took a step back.

"That garden does not need that much tending," Zethel muttered.

Fallah sat with Esa and Wyn, her hand lightly patting Esa's as she spoke to the elf. "Esa never knew the Fall," Fallah began. "She was born in this era and taken from her family when they refused to kill her. Zethel and me, on the other hand, should be dead. We're not meant to live this long. They've kept us in youth, and it's taken its toll on our bodies. That's why they're looking for replacements. That's why they're desperate."

"We don't know why they want to breed," Zethel added as she leaned against the door frame. "Probably some misguided sense of power. Maybe some sort of long awaited plan for vengeance against those who drove us from our homes and killed our people. It makes no sense either way."

"What does Arun look like, Wynleth?" Fallah asked. "Perhaps we can help you confirm if we saw your friend."

@Elle Joyner

Aboard the Galbad'ul

The low hum of the airship's engines carried on without hindrance. All was eerily quiet aside from the white noise, and it carried on like that for minutes until the thundering sound of hurried footfalls could be heard rushing through Galbad'ul's interior. An exasperated roar echoed from down the hallway and past a corner just before a door flung open and crashed against the wall.

Silhouetted by the torchlight that peeked from down another hallway, the orcish captain glared at the human with a grimace upon her lips. "Are you to blame for this mess?" she asked, and took two steps towards the man to gain a better look at him in his own torchlight. Her greenish skin glimmered with beads of sweat and her tusks were wet with saliva. Deep set eyes held their stare upon the man in a challenge as her hands hovered near where she would have normally kept her chosen weapons. It was an involuntary reaction that would surely cause her even more frustration should she try to draw a weapon that wasn't there.

@Sha

Seanzah Angel · Nov 8, 2015

Jasiri Moyo

- Between the forest and the Monastery -

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As Jasiri and Krizal drew closer and closer to the edges of the forest, which could be seen by the slight thinning of the trees and the absence of the heavy musk of the air, Jasiri noticed he was beginning to tire of channeling the Inner Light. It wasn't like running a long distance and losing your breath and your muscles ache. It was more like a physical and spiritual draining all over - from the brain to the heart to the senses. It wouldn't be long before he wouldn't be able to channel anymore.

When he reached the treeline and saw the Elssar Monastery only a small distance away he sighed with relief, turning to Krizal only to see that the Vindicator wasn't with him. He spun around on his heels to face the forest's tree line in time to witness several Tainted Beasts emerge from the line amidst the echoes of several howls, snarling and snapping their jaws at him. He waited for several long seconds for Krizal to appear before the beasts began to advance for the waiting Maldviri.

Jasiri could not wait for his companion to show up. If he waited any longer, he would be killed. So he raised his arms in one last attempt at warding off the beasts. He focused nearly all of his energy into channeling as much Inner Light as he could without completely draining himself. A bright ball of light exploded forth from between his hands, but he didn't wait to see what the effect was. He turned and ran as fast as he could - which was noticeably slower than it would have been before - towards the monastery, hoping that the Elssar weren't the ones that were behind this and would let him.

Elle Joyner · Nov 8, 2015

Wynleth Kinor

Within the Walls of the Monastery

"Runey?" She asked, lowering her gaze, "He... he's a Sur, like me. Tall, broad in the shoulders. He has dark hair and his eyes... His eyes are golden. Like the sun." She could picture his face, how he'd looked at her at dinner, so warmly. Almost as if he were proud of her. Thinking of him made her miss Oremi desperately, but losing him? It would destroy her. He had to be alright. Surely the Elssar wouldn't harm the only people in the world willing to help stop the Darkness. They couldn't be so cruel, so...

Wynleth looked in the woman's direction as slowly, realization came to her. They weren't keeping her there as a mere prisoner. It wasn't a coincidence that she'd wound up in this chamber, at all. Suddenly, inexplicably, a coldness ran the length of her spine and she rose out of her seat, almost absently.

"...Hang on." She said, looking Fallah, studying the woman's expression, "Did you... do you mean to say that I'm your replacement? That... they mean to use me for..." She couldn't bring herself to say the word, and it stuck to her tongue like a mouthful of tar. It was abhorred. And these poor women, how long had they endured such vile treatment? To be locked away here and used like broodmares. To think the same fate awaited her.

"No." Shaking her head, she looked to the window, with the loose bars, to the door that wouldn't budge, "...No!" She repeated, even louder, "I won't let this happen. They can't just decide these things! I don't care who they are... or were. This... this is absurd, and wrong. Magic or not, I won't allow it. We need to get out of here. There has to be another way. What about the door? Can we break it down? Have you tried?"

DergTheDergon · Nov 8, 2015

Vallen Dyis
Somewhere Within the Elssar Monestary

Vallen's head turned as he heard the opening of a door in the distance. "Someone's coming... If we've a chance to escape, Arun, we most likely should risk it. Though I doubt they'll give us one on purpose... there still may be something we can do." Vallen quieted himself when he began to hear footsteps, and remained silent, intently observing the Elssar, who seemed to have taken a special interest in Arun for some reason, giving Vallen himself barely a glance in comparison. That didn't seem to bode well for the Sur, but what could it mean? What did that man notice about him? As one of the Elssar stepped up to Vallen's cage, his eyes widened. "Those black veins.... did we all truly walk right into the enemy's trap?!" The cage doors slowly opened, and as the sickly-looking Elssar grasped Vallen's arm, he let out a gasp of mixed pain and brief but very intense dread... it was just as he feared. The Elssar were truly contributing to the very corruption they claim to oppose... quite the convincing cover. As he was led out of the room, he turned to Arun and whispered "They're shadow mages... I can sense it." Strangely, yet thankfully, they didn't seem to hear his words, or perhaps care that they were spoken. Since Arun wasn't attuned to the Arcane, Vallen thought it pertinent he be made aware of thier taint. Though how much good would it do the pair of elves remains to be seen. If only he could break free of the shackles somehow, then they'd perhaps stand a far better chance of escaping, Arcane magic being a very useful counter to Shadow-based spells. But bound as he was, Vallen was simply powerless to do anything but follow for now.

As they were led into the massive chamber, Vallen's eyes widened at the sight of the black flame. Just what was that? How come he didn't sense the taint permeating this place before, when standing here it was maddeningly intense? These mental questions were all but silenced as Vallen looked toward the figure he had been brought before, his eyes narrowing. It was Navier, no doubt... perhaps his powers of illusion were the cause of all this. It suddenly become clear that he must be responsible for how very well this darker side of the Elssar has been kept secret. Even Vallen's attunement to the Arcane wasn't strong enough to sense signs of Navier's illusion before it was far too late. This put into perspective just how tricky of a foe they were dealing with.

At Navier's commanding question, Vallen assumed a genuinely confused expression upon his face. Why on earth would they be here if they knew anything of the stones? The Elssar's plan became clear now, as they obviously were no different than other Tainted... they wish to destroy the world, but were shockingly adept at making thier intentions seem quite the opposite. Perhaps that is because, at least once upon a time, they were just that. But what had happened to the Elssar as they were known before? They were not always like this, surely... Vallen simply shook his head, and calmly told the truth. "I know nothing of the Seeds... if I did I'd most likely not have joined this expedition." Vallen braced himself for some sort of punishment for his words, glancing about and searching through his mind for any conceivable way of freeing himself and Arun. What Vallen was wondering the most now was, did they truly believe he and Arun would know of the Seeds simply due to thier blood? This was becoming more and more puzzling by the second, not to mention foreboding...

@Semblance

Sha · Nov 9, 2015

Godric III

Aboard the Galbad'ul

It was a strange feeling: This loneliness. Back home he had his wife, his children. Last he could remember he had his team. To the naked eye they were an odd, makeshift group of strangers but to Godric they were comrades. He had felt at home amongst those warriors with whom he shared a common purpose; a dream yet to be made a reality. Now, however, as he called out into the darkness of the cabin, he felt as though a bushel of spiders crafted from ice were crawling slowly up his spine. When the rumbling of the engines outside was all that answered him a feeling of fear then rose from the depths of his gut. This was not the fear of death, nor was it the fear of the unknown; this was that crippling sensation of hopelessness, of failure. His mind ran faster than it ever had before as he stood alone with his thoughts, staring into the nothingness around him.

“Is this – is this the end? Did the Elssar betray us? Have I been made a liar – have the others died before me? Have we failed already? Have we – have we failed without spilling a single drop of blood? Why am I alive – why-”

The rambling of his mind came to an abrupt halt as the sound of footsteps echoed from the lit hallway where he had just been. His slouching back shot upright and he raised the torch ahead of himself and once more faced the doorway, framed in light, behind which the lumbering came. It could very well have been a tainted creature but Godric, in all his optimism, never allowed the thought to cross his mind. Ever the more hopeful, he peered towards the flickering light as the thunderous sound grew closer.

Before he knew it there stood an orc woman cradled in the torchlight which streamed from the hallway behind her. “Are you to blame for this mess?” She accused. Without realizing it a smile furrowed Godric’s mustache so heavily that one might, in lighting such as this, assume a chipmunk had moved to cling to his nose. She seemed distraught but, in a way the sturdy Baladuri warrior had himself faltered, she seemed to retain her composure. She glared at him while he stood in the darkness which had only moments ago left the man so hopeless.

“Aye, I-I mean, no, miss,” He said in his usual tone, stumbling over his words due to the surprise of seeing a friendly (well, relatively so) face. “I woke up only just now ye’know, well, not just now, but – oh, if I had to give it a running guess, I’d have to say a minute or two past.” The friendly, foolish way in which he tended to speak returned to him so quickly that it was a wonder the man ever felt any worry at all.

Effervescent · Nov 10, 2015

Just Outside the Elssar Monastery

The ball of light was so bright it paled the morning sun as it peeked above the misty treetops. Howls turned into screams of pain behind the lone Maldviri as he ran towards the monastery. A looming darkness would grow nearer and nearer as Jasiri approached the stony architecture, and before the rising sun it would almost look as though the monastery were wreathed in shadow. It was ominous in the illusion, or perhaps it was the Inner Light opening the Maldviri's mind to what lay ahead.

Just at the base of the monastery just within the hillside was a singular red door enforced simply with iron. There was a worn path within the grass that lead towards the woods to display a common route for the Elssar. For now, it seemed as though whatever Jasiri pulled off with the burst of light, it was enough to keep the Tainted at bay. The door opened to reveal a young Elssar calmly exiting with a basket in hand. His bright eyes were downcast in thought as he turned about, his simple robes flowing with the motion and catching on his form as he closed the door behind him. It wasn't until he turned back around that he saw Jasiri and froze, eyes wide in horror.

@Seanzah Angel

Within the Walls of the Monastery

Zethel sprung towards Wynleth as she began her fit in realization of her chosen fate, and Fallah turned the elven girl to look at her in the eyes. "Wynleth," she said, "please calm down." Zethel was a little less calm towards the elf, her brow furrowed in frustration as she hissed her words through gritted teeth.

"Do you want them to come up here?" Zethel asked rhetorically. "You'll ruin everything if you don't calm down!"

Esa jumped up from the bed and backed away from the commotion as Fallah stood and pushed Zethel away from Wynleth. The two women argued in hushed tones about Wynleth and their situation, their voices merging in chaos causing only fractions of content to pull through. It was clear Zethel was scared, the name Lathya recurring before tears finally choked her words entirely. Fallah consoled the woman, embracing her as she carried a solemn visage. It was then Esa felt it was alright to enter the room once again, and she approached Wyn hesitantly.

"I didn't see your friend," she said. "No Sur. No elves at all. Just the humans and then the airship went away."

"We've tried the door," Fallah added as she stroked Zethel's hair. The fiery woman seemed to be calming down, her sobs now turned to sniffles muffled within Fallah's robes. "We don't understand why, but we leave, and then we wake up in here again. Every time."

@Elle Joyner

Somewhere Within the Elssar Monastery

The shadow pyre lapped its strange glow about the stony chamber as Navier stared down the Vuaturi before him. His head lowered as the elf spoke, jaw setting and brow lowering in both impatience and skepticism. The strange light gave off an ambiance, the brightness of which would not reach around the hollows of his eyes making them look like voids as he stared down the prisoners.

"Liar," Navier said lowly. "Do not take me for some fool, elf."

The Elssar flecked his robes to the side and took several thoughtful steps towards Vallen. A dark aura was definitely about him, far more menacing and noticeable than ever before. This was a mark of a skilled Shadow Caster, for it was quite rare to carry such a darkened aetherial presence and mask it so skillfully from the eyes of the Arcane. It was apparent as the loom of Shadow grew thicker within the chamber that every Elssar present possessed that skill.

"I know what the Seeds of Life mean to your people," Navier added as he circled behind the prisoners. "I know this is what you seek. I have seen the meeting that brought you here. So I will ask one last time. Where is the final Seed?"

@DergTheDergon

Aboard the Ga'bad'ul

A sneer upturned the thick upper lip of the orcish captain as she turned away from Godric III. She smoothed out her dreads as she straightened her stance and stomped towards the nearest door. Swinging the door open swiftly, her hand swooped around the door frame, her finger landing precisely on the wall mounted comm button. A click echoed through the hallway followed by static before the captain spoke.

"Torvakt," she called out in a commanding tone, her voice reverberating throughout the entire airship. "Rezd. Answer your captain." She let go of the button and waited a moment. Silence surrounded the two, and after a moment's time the orcish woman growled, her finger pressing down on the button yet again to have her voice echo through every space. "Crewmen! Report, damn you!"

Silence followed yet again, and the captain waited just as long as before until yelling out in anger. She slammed the door behind her and turned back to the Baladuri. "YOU. COME WITH ME." Without another word the captain turned about and headed down the hallway, her heels pounding with each purposeful step to heighten the air of her growing frustration.

@Sha

Elle Joyner · Nov 11, 2015

Wynleth Kinor

Within the Walls of the Monastery

As Zethel came forward, Wyn dropped back into her seat, surprised by the woman's ferocity, almost as much as at her own fear. Fallah stood to intercept the younger woman and Wyn frowned up at the both of them, shaking her head. How could they be okay with this? How could they stand there and not fight back? Had they really gotten so used to what was being done to them that they'd given up? But even as she thought over it, she could feel herself losing grip on her own nerves. She wasn't a fighter, no matter what she'd signed up for, and she wasn't particularly good with her magic, either. Even if she could escape, even if she could get them out, what good would it do? She couldn't fight the Elssar... Not alone.

Looking to Esa, Wyn nodded slowly. Arun hadn't been sent away, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Her own situation notwithstanding, the others could've been in any manner of peril. And that was banking on whether or not they were even alive.

It didn't make sense. They were trying to help these people. They were trying to stop the Shadow...

She felt her eyes sting with tears and she blinked them away, brushed at her cheeks with the backs of her hands, turning to Fallah, "There has to be a way. We can't just... sit here, and accept what's happening. I can't... and you shouldn't either. Please... Help me?"

Seanzah Angel · Nov 13, 2015

Jasiri Moyo

The ball of light that Jasiri had produced seemed to be enough to keep the Tainted away, and the young Maldviri man was happy to see that being the case, but he had to wonder just how long they would stay that way. Grateful though he was to be safe from them for the time being, his worries were again brought about by the eerie setting of the Monastery. Perhaps he hadn't seen it before, or perhaps he was being gifted a bit of a second vision, but somehow he saw the monastery seemed to be overcast in shadow. His eyes narrowed at the sight and he made sure to keep himself on guard. The events leading up to this moment didn't put the Elssar in a very good position to be considered allies in the search for the Seed of Life.

Jasiri saw ahead of him a red door leading into the monastery and made his way to just in front of it to stay there for a moment to catch his breath and his wits. He examined everything around him, from the missing air ship to the path that lead into the forest. His thoughts swirled around the idea that perhaps the Elssar were behind all of this. Not just being behind the disappearing air ship and Krizal and himself being tied up in the forest, left for the Tainted beasts to devour, but the fact that the entire group seemed to be gone, and they were the only ones with good intentions looking for the Seed of Life, and bringing themselves to the monastery, considering the Elssar immediate allies, eating dinner with them - it was as if they were all asking to be attacked. The thoughts troubled him more than he would ever admit. He felt a mixture of emotions, from anger and hatred to pity and depression.

When a young Elssar opened the red door and walked out with a basket in his hand it was all Jasiri could do to contain himself. He wanted to pick the Elssar up by his robes and bring him closer to his so he could see only the fury within the Maldviri's eyes. He wanted to push him against the stone wall of the monastery and threaten to beat him until he got answers, but he managed to control himself and instead gave the young one a nasty grimace as he steeled his body. "Where are my friends at?" He asked, his voice more gruff than he had planned. He hoped the Elssar could see just how angry Jasiri was, and how much he meant business. He also hoped he wouldn't realize just how weak the Maldviri really was from channeling so much Light.

Sha · Nov 14, 2015

The Captain made no retort to Godric’s short rambling before speaking into a device which echoed her voice throughout the ship. Two names which he did not recognize were called. When there was no answer she seemed to grow angrier, commanding someone to report, but was again left unanswered. Godric’s smile had by now faded into the perpetual grin usual to his resting face as he listened to the dead silence which followed the static which came at the end of her calls.

“YOU. COME WITH ME.” The Captain exclaimed forcefully, causing Godric to jump ever so slightly. He hadn’t expected it – he should have expected it. She slammed the door and stormed off into the dark which flickered with light from the torch in the Baladuri’s hand. Watching her for just a moment before moving, he was quick to follow her and provide light for her stomping feet.

“So then, miss,” He began, walking just behind her, “Ye wouldn’ happen to know,” He paused and scratched at the scruff about his neck, “Well, why? Strange it is, them letting us live and all, is all.” Even as Godric spoke his clumsy words, the man was watching. His eyes peered into the dancing darkness about them and moved ever so casually to every creak and groan appearing about them as they walked. He was alive now, but if enemies of the light were behind this, the tainted might not be far behind.

Effervescent · Nov 25, 2015

Just Outside the Elssar Monastery

The young Elssar jumped slightly at the sight of Jasiri's grimace, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his basket handle tightly. His left foot shuffled back towards the door behind him, but his sandal caught in the dirt and caused him to stumble into the door frame and stonework. It was clear the young man did see Jasiri's fatigue, and he lacked the composure of his peers.

"I don't know where your friends are," the Elssar said, his voice cracking. "You're not supposed to be here anymore." His voice trailed off in a thoughtful whisper before he regained his stance. With a façade of confidence, he spoke to the Maldviri calmly, as though he were reciting a set of words memorized and not his own. "You are not welcome. Your acts of atrocities last evening were abhorable, and Thallas and the Allied Kingdoms will be notified of your transgressions."

With that, he quickly reached for the door handle.

@Seanzah Angel

Within the Walls of the Monastery

Zethel's words were muffled as she spoke partially into Fallah's robes. "What do you think we're doing with the window?" She spat. Fallah shushed her as soon as she took note of her tone, and her thin lips pursed in slight frustration. Her fingers continued to stroke Zethel's hair in a soothing fashion, her eyes downcast in thought and reflection upon Wynleth's words.

There was a moment where the three former Dragon Wardens did not speak. Their minds were fixed upon distant thoughts and strings of hope thinning from weathering. It was visible in the way they carried themselves, shoulders slumped and lips always faintly downturn. They had been cooped in their suite for a long time and had expended every possible escape, save for one. The window was their last hope.

Someone within the courtyard shouted startling the women out from their contemplations. They froze to listen and perhaps hear more. Esa was the only one to move, her motions fluid and silent as she tiptoed to the nearest window. Another shout came, and she watched as the two gardeners rushed from the perennials to the door, their tools clattering to the stonework.

"They're leaving," Esa said in a hushed tone. Zethel turned her head to look over at the window where Esa stood and waited for her to continue. Esa's mouth hung agape as she observed, her red hair a mess about her small frame as she leaned in closer to the bars. Her delicate hands clutched the irons while her gaze watched more Elssar ran past and disappeared behind the door. "They're all going inside. They're all abandoning their morning duties."

Zethel strode away from Fallah and out of the room. Fallah watched momentarily before looking to Wynleth with almost a dazed look. Her mouth opened to speak, but no words came out for a moment as the situation at hand reeled in her mind.

"This is it, Wynleth," Fallah said as she tied back her titian locks. "Gather the sheets and help me make a rope. Knot the ends together."

@Elle Joyner

Aboard the Gabad'ul

The captain had noticed the human following not just by the flickering glow of his torchlight, but by his innocently kind voice inquiring into their situation. She couldn't help but scoff, not just at his question, but at their predicament entirely. TheElssar had given her crew a keg of their finest wine, to which they partook as they waited in their airship. It was in these times she enjoyed winding down with her crew. These times were always so serious to the point where she was forced to outfit her ship with cannons and explosives. The orc mentally cursed herself for getting too comfortable.

Before she opened her mouth to respond, she sneered in realization. The human had an astute observation with the circumstance. They were let go. They weren't killed, but let go. She stomped up a metal staircase leading to a door. Pushing it open revealed the soft morning glow and the rising heat of the day. The captain made her way across an open walkway lined around the starboard side.

"Damned Elssar," she spat. "I don't know why. Not exactly." She looked back at Godric as her hand clasped the handle to go back inside the cabin towards the helm. Her dark eyes scanned over the Baladuri with a fixed scowl, not entirely directed towards him personally, but it carried a sense of appraisal and thoughtfulness.

"I was likely spared to fly this thing," she added in a growl, and entered into the next darkened hallway. "You? No idea. Do you know how to read a map?"

@Sha

Semblance · Nov 25, 2015

Arun was just about to respond to Vallen when the click of a latch broke the musky silence of the tense air, followed by the groan of a door swinging open. He slowly lifted his head as an Elssar paused next to his cage and pointed at the male Sur crouched uncomfortably in the cage. His piercing golden brown eyes narrowed into glaring slits as a look of pure hatred was thrown at the betraying monk. How Arun had fallen completely into their welcoming trap totally escaped him. He noticed that the Elssar had focused specifically on him rather than Vallen and a chilling sensation ran along his back as a million thoughts ran through his head as to what had made him stand out. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

The monk's voice broke the silence again as he commanded another two Elssar with black veins lining their skin grabbed Arun's wrists. He let out a gasp as their touch felt like shards of glass were piercing his skin. When Vallen whispered that they were Shadow mages, his golden brown eyes widened slightly at the realization. Somehow the Elssar managed to appear as if they were fighting against the very enemy that they turned out to be supporting. All the warmth and kindness that had been provided to their traveling crew turned out to mean absolutely nothing. These Elssar... they were even worse than the shadow monsters. At least the monsters were clear with their evil intentions. The monks used their untainted reputation to lure those who genuinely hoped to evict the world of the shadow to trick them into their venus fly trap.

The Earth Mage was yanked out of his cage and led forcefully through the dark halls until they entered a dark room only lit by a violet flame in the middle. Arun didn't have to be attuned with Arcane magic to sense the darkness and corruption that enveloped the entire chamber. These Elssar had truly been depraved to the very core. His still-groggy eyes focused on a figure in the middle of the room who had turned around to face the newcomers. The male Sur was not surprised to find that the figure was the High Elssar Navier, the very man who had welcomed them so gregariously at the dinner. A piercing chilling sensation ran down his spine as the commanding Elssar demanded to know where the Seed of Life was. Although Arun truly had absolutely no idea where the precious seed was, he had a feeling that the monks were not going to accept that as an appropriate answer.

As if on cue, Vallen voiced both their opinions, informing them of their lack of knowledge on the location of the Seed. Arun watched Navier's gaze fill with impatience and skepticism, the ambient light making his eyes look like hollow voids, as he accused them of lying. A wave of fear passed through the Earth Mage as the High Elssar began to make his way towards the two prisoners, the dark aura growing stronger and more fierce with every step. It was obvious that Navier was well-versed in the ways of the Shadow, especially since he had managed to evade his true form from an Arcane Mage such as Vallen.

The commanding monk once more demanded to know where the final Seed was, making a small circle around the two elves, his footsteps filling the silence of the dark chamber. "If we knew where it was, we would never have come here in the first place," Arun replied in a convicting voice. He refused to show any fear in front of these corrupted people. "However, we may be able to find out its location," he slowly began to say. "One of our comrades that we came here with was a female Sur named Wyn. She was from my hometown and her brother spent most of his life searching for the Seed. Perhaps he told her something of use that may be able to help." The Earth Mage looked up at the high Elssar and locked his golden brown eyes confidently with the Shadow caster. The only thing on Arun's mind right now was figuring out a way to escape their chains in order to save Wyn. Arun himself had traveled with Wyn's brother for most of their quests, so he would have known anything that her brother knew, but the Elssar's didn't know that. He could only hope that Navier believed him.

@DergTheDergon @Effervescent (Mentioned: @Elle Joyner )

DergTheDergon · Nov 25, 2015

Vallen Dyis

Somewhere Within the Elssar Monastery

Vallen simply opted to remain silent at first once Navier insisted to know "The truth," though Vallen had just plainly spoken the same. The Elssar's stubbornness and impatient demeanor made it clear that anything Vallen could possibly say in this situation would either please the Elssar now, but anger him later once he found that it was a lie, or it would simply cause the Elssar's anger to rise further right this instant. Perhaps opting for the latter would cause him to slip up, to do something that gave Vallen and Arun a chance to escape, but it seemed far too risky. Perhaps Vallen was being too cautious in the eyes of the Sur, but in Vallen's mind there was no such thing when dealing with Shadow Mages... especially those so powerful as to evade his honed ability to sense their kind.

Arun alarmed Vallen for a moment, by simply restating what the Vuaturi himself had said. The matter-of-fact way in which the statement was spoken indicated that indeed, he was being truthful. But Navier seemed unable to stray from his belief that they could not be telling the truth, perhaps arrogant in his power to the point of believing he is all-knowing. There have been Arcane practitioners of that mindset, so it was certainly a possibility. A sort of weakness of the mind that could perhaps be exploited, as long as Vallen was able to escape from these bindings somehow.

Arun's next words caused Vallen's eyes to widen slightly. Listening to the elf's story, it was clear that this was either true, or a very convincing ruse weaved by the Sur's tongue. He wondered if Navier would buy it, in his apparent arrogance. For a man that was able to act so kind and calm, at his core he clearly was not. Perhaps he would take the bait. In any event, Vallen prepared to take action at any point he saw an opportunity to be free of his bindings. Any window of time where his wrists and therefore his powers were unbound, however small, would be invaluable to his and Arun's escape.

@Semblance @Effervescent

Seanzah Angel · Nov 30, 2015

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What the Elssar was saying made no sense to Jasiri. The group had done nothing wrong before they mysteriously fell unconscious and he and Krizal awoke several hours later in the forest. The others had to be nearby - the two Maldviri weren't placed too far away from the monastery, so surely the others weren't either. He also doubted that they were placed in the forest like the two Maldviri were. That would make it too easy for them to group back up and reappear at the monastery again, unless they were banking on the group getting lost in the forest or killed by Tainted Beasts, which may well have happened had it not been for the Inner Light.

As the young Elssar reached for the handle of the door, Jasiri slapped his hand down on top so that the Elssar's hand was in between Jasiri's and the handle. He tightened his grip so that his hand was stuck there, making escape was unlikely - though still probable because of his weakness. "I remember nothing from yesterday, other than eating a glorious meal and then falling asleep at the table while your elders stood by and watched. What atrocities did we commit? Tell me so I may right these wrongs, or straighten the lies that have been spoken against us." The young Maldviri spoke hurriedly and ruggedly, as if he expected soldiers to burst through the door and seize him at any moment for holding the Elssar captive to get answers.

The Elssar might have seen the desperation in Jasiri's eyes, he might have heard the breaks in his voice and quick gasps that signaled emotional discourse, and probably heard the growl in his throat as he breathed, struggling to remain calm, angry that this was happening at such a time. The world was at stake. Jasiri Moyo and the others were chosen to find the only thing that seemed to have a chance at saving what was left of the world, and they were now being shut down before they even began. It didn't make sense.

Elle Joyner · Nov 30, 2015

Wynleth Kinor

Within the Walls of the Monastery

"I'm not... You don't... The window..." Stammering, Wyn rose from the chair in frustrating, her fingers flying through her hair, snagging painfully on the knots within the blonde trap of curls. The woman was infuriating. She'd been under the impression from the stories she'd been told that the Dragon Wardens of old were kind, peaceable folk, but she had a hard time believe that was anything but a load of horse soil with the way Zethel snapped at her. Of course, she couldn't blame her, not really.

How long had they been here? Trapped? Unable to get free, unable to do anything but stand around and wait until they'd outlived their usefulness, until the Elssar carted them away and replaced them, with cavalier disregard, the way they had Lathya. How long would they wait until they realized they'd made the wrong choice with her, as well? Until they decided to replace her... or worse.

"The window isn't good enough! Not if we can't get them to--"

But her words were cut off by Esa's whispered exclamation and slowly, Wyn turned to the younger maiden, blinking slowly, "...Leaving." But then, rather suddenly, it didn't matter what she'd said, or why the men in the courtyard had all at once abandoned their post. She was moving, faster than she'd thought herself capable, grabbing sheets and linens, tying, knotting them together tightly - a fishing knot, like Remi had taught her, not the weaker hitches that were sure to come undone before they'd reached the ground. She tied until her fingers and her hands hurt, until she'd rubbed callouses into them, and then she gathered the mass of fabric in her arms and made her way to Fallah, to the window and the loosened bar.

"Here... this should hold us."

Sha · Dec 1, 2015

Godric III

Aboard the Galbad'ul

The Captain appeared to know just as much about their predicament as Godric did, that is to say: Nothing. However, unlike Godric, the orc woman had some inkling of where to go from here as she led him away from the bowels of the ship. It was relieving when the sun could at last be seen through the windows lining the wall, rolling slowly upward behind the fog which still sulked atop the eastern mountains. The orb of light shimmered gently, barely visible behind the tangerine mist which turned the sun’s usual glare into a soft light, allowing it to meander gently through the windows of this hallway they now traversed.

Godric admired the brilliance of it all without slowing his pace. His head was stationary upon his shoulders and faced his gaze through each window passed; as though he were a bird stricken with curiosity. The walk through the lit hall was a brief and quiet one, perhaps because the orc, too, admired the beauty of the fiery fog. Then, as the two approached the doors which lead to the helm she spoke. Unwittingly retaining the composure of a bird’s head atop his shoulders, Godric’s head swiveled to face his eyes forward as the woman turned to him in the same pace.

She reiterated her ignorance as to why they were left alive before fixing her eyes about him in what seemed to be an examination. The scowl which had been perpetually present upon her face did not falter as she did so and Godric, not entirely sure how to react, merely shrugged at her last remark without a word. Soon her eyes ceased their appraising gaze, followed swiftly by a growling tone which asked him if he could read a map. Despite his literacy, which might gently be described as sub-par, maps were well within his grasp to understand.

“I suppose I do, la- ma’am,” He began, catching himself before calling the Captain ‘lass’, which she most assuredly would not appreciate. “Baladuri warriors can all read maps, ye’know, else get lost among the snowy mountains. Course,” He shrugged, “Don’t mean no one ever gets lost, but its - ehh, what’d Dormic call it again? Precaution’ry, I think,” Godric finished with a grin.

Effervescent · Dec 9, 2015

Just Outside the Elssar Monastery

The young Elssar's hand quickly retracted as it brushed against Jasiri's own. TheMaldviri was quick to clasp the door's handle to set the tone, and the Elssar was quick to catch the threat. The boy of a man, head clean shaven and glistening with the sweat of anticipation and rising anxiety, looked from the dark hand of the Maldviri to his face that held a stern expression fixated on the only oppressor. TheElssarclenched his jaw as he bit back the urge to repeat the words that hung on the tip of his tongue.

From within the boy before him slowly crept the presence of darkness. Shadow emanated from his soul, building and bubbling within as it grew. His hand hovered above Jasiri's, shaking perhaps due to his fear or perhaps due to something more sinister. Pallid, thin lips moved in quiet incantation, and like a blast wave of an explosion, Shadow burst around the Elssar, the wave of which would send a stabbing pain, yet minimal for the man of Inner Light. The Shadow syphoned and culminated within the hovering palm over Jasiri and the door handle like inky smoke that hissed and groaned.

"You will remove your hand," the Elssar commanded, his voice laden in eerie, disembodied whispers that repeated his words.

@Seanzah Angel

Somewhere Within the Elssar Monastery

Elssar Navier sneered with a thought, his hands clasping behind the small of his back as his chin upturned in his impatience. The black flames lapped through the air slowly, as if the dark fire was in slow motion and animated like ink. The soft, purple glow flickered against the gathered Elssar, their shadows dancing against the stone walls like jagged fingers grasping at the otherworldly ambiance. Navier ran his thin tongue along his teeth as he rounded the Vuaturi's flank and paused.

"Hm," he huffed, and then motioned to two Elssar behind Vallen with a flick of his pointed fingers. TheElssar moved as commanded and quickly grabbed the forearms of the elf forcibly to hold him in place. Navier then moved to stand before the elf so close that the rank of his breath could be smelled. Decay lingered on his palette as he leaned forward and spoke to the two elves within the dark chamber.

"It seems you both are useless," he stated to the two elves while holding an apathetic gaze upon the Vuaturi. "At least only useless for information."

Bony fingers slithered around Vallen's neck, the cold skin lingering lightly for only a moment before Navier clenched his grip. Grey eyes turned as black as night filtering from the iris and spilling out into the whites. Vallen would feel an intangible pull, but not upon his body but from within, as if his soul was slowly, painfully pulled taut and stretched. Navier's mouth hung agape, a rasping inhale grating from his vocal chords like the inhale of a parched man traveling through the Maldvirideserts.

Two more Elssar moved to grab hold of Arun while Naveri began the syphoning of Vallen's magic. The Sur would surely be next once the Vuaturi was sucked dry of his Arcane. It would feel like a slow flaying of skin from meat as the elf is divided from his natural attunement. Without action, he would surely die.

@DergTheDergon @Semblance

Within the Walls of the Monastery

Zethel tugged at the loosened bar, the laborious task causing the Warden to grunt with each fervent pull. The stone in which the bars were securely placed into chipped and moved with her motions as the bar was maneuvered free from its restraint. With just one bar a gap large enough for the four women was produced, and Zethel momentarily rejoiced in her efforts to future freedom.

Fallah nodded to Wyn as she helped the elf secure an end of the makeshift rope to one of the remaining bars. She allowed the more seasoned Sur to tie the knot, and with a few testing tugs the Wardens exchanged glances and nodded. This was it; the very moment they had all been waiting for.

"I wish Lathya were here for this," Zethel said softly as Fallah tossed the other end of the tied bed linens out of the window. "It was her idea after all."

"She will live on in us," Esa said as she took point and slipped through the narrow gap between the bars. "We must be free so that her spirit may as well."

Fallah brushed her palm down Esa's red locks and over her cheek. "Be on guard, Esa," Fallah warned. "You are the better of us in observation. Let us know if you see anything." Esa nodded in return and began her descent. Fallah turned towards Wynreth and motioned towards the window. "Stay close to Esa should the Elssar return."

The courtyard down below was quiet as the morning sun warmed the atmosphere with golds and oranges. Despite the beautiful Summer scene, it rested in eerie quiet, almost as though it were suspended in animation. No birds sung their vibrant morning song. No wind rustled the greenery that held still in the stale air. The soft sounds of Esa's soft soled flats that lightly tapped against the awning echoed through the open space, and just as she lowered herself into the bushes along the wall the sunlight suddenly became bizarrely muted. She quietly signaled to Wynreth to hurry with a beconing motion of her hands.

@Elle Joyner

Aboard the Gabad'ul

The Baladuri's ability to read a map was satisfactory enough for the captain to nod and continue on into the Gabad'ul. She paid no mind to his rambling about some name of some man she didn't know nor would she ever. It wasn't important, and it seemed as though this man was willing enough to work with her. Her heavy footsteps stomped across the metal walkway that led to the bridge of the ship. Wrapped along the helm was a rope to secure the large wheel in place where it rested before a thick expanse of window that displayed a panoramic view of the rolling Thall hills and beyond, the Northern Mountains. The captain grumbled as she approached the helm and began to work loose the knot.

"I need you to be my navigator," she said to Godric. With a nudge of her head over her shoulder, she motioned towards the holographic map that glowed just above a humming crystal in bright blue. As the Gabad'ul moved across the terrain, so too did the image of the world that projected from the crystal slowly and steadily. Hanging from the ceiling was a rod, and at the tip, a miniature Gabad'ul that rested in the center of the map to signify its location among the three dimensional terrain not just in longitude and latitude, but relative to the earth below.

"Where are we?" the captain asked in a commanding tone as she clawed at the knotted rope. The twisted fibers frayed at her fingertips until finally the knot was loosened. She quickly unwrapped the bind from the helm to gain manual control once again. "And what's your name again?"

@Sha

Elle Joyner · Dec 14, 2015

Wynleth Kinor

Within the Walls of the Monastery

It had all happened rather faster than Wyn had anticipated. The ropes were tied, the bar removed and before she could fathom exactly what they were about to do, Esa was already halfway out of the window, balanced precariously on the ledge. The brief exchange between the three woman was bittersweet and while Wyn didn't know their fallen companion, she felt a twinge of sadness, herself. She knew what it was like, moving through life with pieces of you missing... Every day, her father and Remi were deeply missed. If Rem were with her, now, though... he'd tell her to pick her chin up and forge on. To get out and find her friends, find Arun...

Fallah turned to her and Wynleth nodded to the woman, "I will... Thank you." She added, with a small, tight smile.

Turning to the window, she swallowed, peered out and looked down. She'd never been terribly comfortable with heights. Certainly not when the only thing keeping her from falling to her certain death was a hastily tired rope of bed linens. But there was more at stake here, than just her life, and there was no sense in dwelling on her fears when there was a job to do. And so, taking a breath in and holding it, she followed the young warden out of the window and down to the ground.

She noticed the silence, almost immediately. It was too quiet, unnaturally so... the type of noiseless energy that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Breathing out, slowly, she looked around, nodding wordlessly to Esa to keep moving.

@Effervescent, @Semblance (mentioned)

Semblance · Dec 17, 2015

Arun's piercing golden brown gaze analyzed the High Elssar's face for some sort of clue to his thoughts, hoping that the depraved monk would believe his inquiry for Wyn. However, he knew that the Elssar had not fallen for his suggestion when he moved closer to Vallen, his eyes engulfed by a blackened corruption. Still in a somewhat groggy state, the Sur's eyes widened as two Elssars grabbed hold of the Vuaturi, latching him into place to prevent any chance at escape.

Elssar Navier's bony fingers slinked their way around the elf's neck as his gray eyes turned pitch black. Watching with horror as Vallen's life energy began to get syphoned, Arun knew that the pain his comrade was currently experiencing was unfathomable. Out of his peripheral view, he noticed two other Elssar moving to grab hold of him and he knew that he had to do something now, or it would surely be too late.

Perhaps it was the fear of his own earth magic being syphoned out next or the sheer determination to stay alive, Arun managed to summon the little energy he had left and swung a striking kick to one of the Elssar's shins as he tried to grab a hold of the elf. He immediately reached for one of the hidden daggers that he always kept in his boots and leaped towards Elssar Navier, knife in one hand and the other hand reaching for the Elssar's throat. He knew he wouldn't be able to completely defeat the High Elssar, but he could at least stop the syphoning of Vallen's magic.

@Effervescent @DergTheDergon

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