Terra
01-25-2002, 11:16 AM
I know some people probably don't give a damn, but I'm still writing the darned thing. I wonder if I should wait to post, or if I should post from the beginning, but here goes nothing. From my memory, this should be right after the last post. Enjoy.
_________
The chamber was large, and looked as though it was once used to accommodating many people. Old tapestries hung on the walls depicted scenes from years gone by. The dust and cobwebs were barely disturbed. And a single creature sat on an ornately crafted, but very worn, throne at the back of the room.
The figure seemed not to notice the room�s newcomers. Instead he was intent on studying a book that seemed to glimmer with energy of its own. When approached, the person closed the book and placed it on a small table by his throne. He stood and regarded the Light Warriors for an instant before smiling.
�Welcome, my friends,� he said, amber eyes glowing softly in the darkness, �I�ve been waiting for you.�
The four stood in silence for a time, each making his or her own observations of the elf. There was something strange about him, like a feeling of serenity. It did not take long to figure that he was studying each of them as well.
�We weren�t expecting anyone to live here still,� Zeus said, breaking the silence, �We were told that no one lived here anymore.�
�That is true, in part,� the elf�s smile turned sad, �I am the only one left. Astos the traitor tricked us, you see? And I have been awaiting the Light Warriors for aid in our struggle to reclaim what is ours.�
�You believe us to be them?� the black mage asked, �What an honor to be considered thus.�
�The prophecies are nonsense,� Tarn quipped from the back of the room, �The gods don�t exist, and neither do these emissaries of theirs.� He was only paying half his attention to the conversation. All he truly wanted was at that moment was to look at that book.
�You would be surprised my boy,� the elf said, suddenly by the scout�s side and leading him away from his target, �I�ve seen the gods, and know much about the history of our world. It is the place of a mytion to know such.�
�Mytion?� Zeus asked, feigning curiosity. He knew the word meant �wizard�, �What would that be?�
�Ahh� In our language, it is a lord of sorts: a king,� the elf replied, �But enough of this kind, if you aren�t the Light Warriors, I�m sure they have better to do. And I have heard that there were only two. Would you assist an ancient king for the good of his country?�
�We would be glad to assist in any way possible,� Gaia spoke up, bowing slightly, �What would you have done?�
�My good, brave warriors,� the elf lord addressed, �Astos stole from us an artifact of great power, a crown that judges the soul and allows one to achieve great and terrible power. If he were to use this, he may become too strong for even the Light Warriors, and we would stand no chance against him. But with it, we may yet defeat him and restore our kingdom to greatness.�
�Where is it?� Zeus asked, following the lord�s gaze to look briefly at Arah. The half-elf and the elf lord had locked eyes, and the woman had her right hand delicately positioned over her sword hilt. The black mage looked slightly beyond at Tarn, and did not need the bond they shared to see the hatred and anger so suddenly sparked in the youth�s icy eyes. A quick glance towards Gaia revealed only a look of indifference on the white mage�s face.
�A secret cave,� the dark elf said suddenly looking away from the fighter and turning to walk towards his chair, �In the midst of the swamp jungle south of here.� Arah slouched slightly before catching herself and standing straight.
�Can you give us more precise directions?� Gaia asked. From her maps she knew that was a large area to cover.
�It is south, somewhere by the tower of Norlan,� the elf sat down and retrieved his book, tracing the symbols on the cover, �I�m sure you can find it,� he purred, as though dismissing them.
�We�ll do our best,� Gaia said after a minute of silence. Getting no reply, she made a motion for her friends to leave and followed as they did so.
Not a word was spoken as they paraded through the remains of the castle. Arah set a brisk pace, which neither of the mages could match. Once outside, she did not stop but continued down the well-worn city road until she was able to leave the road for the cover of the forest.
Alone, she pressed her arm against a tree and leaned her head against it. She swallowed the feeling of nausea that so suddenly threatened as she heard the faint footfalls of those following.
��range, would� thing�tionable,� the fighter barely heard Zeus� voice, and Gaia�s response was lost to her completely. She looked over her shoulder to see the pair approaching, and tried to move her arm only to find it securely affixed to the tree by the tree�s own bark.
�Useless work of a skill, don�t you think?� Arah growled, twisting her arm free of the bark and glaring at Tarn. His show of innocence to the situation was a little beyond the measure of what he should have tried for, and in the end it just made him look guilty.
The woman dropped the matter before it became one. Her mind was elsewhere.
�So we either do as he says, or we confront him again,� Gaia rationalized, summarizing the whole of her conversation in a sentence, �I think it would be best to confront him now and get it over with.�
�Doesn�t matter to me,� Arah replied first, starting off through the woods at a slow stride. She did not want to go to the swamplands, but knew they should. Besides, she knew the result anyway.
�I think we should find the crown, for whatever good it may do,� Zeus said considerately, �Or bad.�
�Let�s go back and make that abomination sorry for the things he�s done,� Tarn said plainly, suddenly turning around.
�Wouldn�t that be defeating the purpose?� Arah asked, continuing on her way.
�What do you mean?� the scout wondered.
�Well, if we wanted to prevent the crown or whatever from being used,� the fighter called over her shoulder, �We�d have to go find it sometime. It�s the nice thing to do.�
�Yeah, but�� the elf considered, and then dashed after Arah. This was not fair. �You�re starting to sound like her,� he accused, flinging his arm in the direction of the mages, indicating the white mage.
�No, she wanted to confront the kenrinkorile now,� Arah replied, �I�m just stating a fact.�
�I hate you,� Tarn said bluntly, stopping in his tracks.
�I know,� the fighter answered in mock cheer.
_____
Traveling alone was easy. The night was warm and the weather was clear. Tarn covered the six miles distance between the campsite and the old ruined town swiftly. He thought nothing of returning; he just felt it might be an interesting endeavor. He had not asked if anyone else wanted to come because he saw little reason to. After all, they would only have slowed him down.
The castle seemed to have changed in appearance. It seemed darker, if that were possible. Bats hunted along the outskirts of the town, but not one was seen within its crumbled walls.
Tarn picked his way over the boulders and other fallen stone with ease, this was going to be simple. The halls of the castle were dark, but the chemicals in his eyes reacted perfectly and he was able to see and find his way without hindrance. Or he would have been able to if his senses would have stopped playing tricks on him.
He froze instinctively as a low howl seemed to emanate from somewhere nearby. When it faded without a sound, the elf continued on his way a little more cautiously.
When he reached the carved doors, he paused and listened. Hearing only his own heartbeat, he pulled one door open slowly and peered inside the room. He crept through when he did not see anyone and tentatively looked around the room.
He found his prize on the small table. The book was heavy, but that did not bother Tarn as he flipped through its thick pages. This was definitely worth the trip.
Tarn was so enthralled with his find that he nearly missed the thick smell of dust that suddenly permeated the room. The feeling that shot through his body was familiar; it was a reaction to the sudden increase of potential magic.
�Found what you�re looking for, I hope,� the voice of the elder elf echoed in the chamber, �First lying, then stealing. Is that any way for Alshe Ralm to act?�
Tarn did not answer. His hair was standing on end. He tucked the book inside the vest-like fold of his shirt and slowly turned around. The elf lord stood in the middle of the room, three runes glowing in midair between him and Tarn.
�You are a despicable excuse for an elven child,� the lord continued, �Aren�t you going to answer your elder?�
Tarn swallowed and quickly measured the distance from the door to where he stood. A sudden twinge of anxiety struck him as the other drew half the remaining glyph.
�So,� the elf lord snarled, �Remember this is your choice.�
The scout did not wait for what would happen; instead he clutched the book beneath his shirt and dashed to the other end of the room. He fell only two feet from the door as electricity coursed through his body. He recovered enough to pull himself through the door before the dark elf could reach him, and managed to push the open door shut with some effort.
He waited, slouched against the door. His sight was damaged, and his body was still not recovered. He stared at the bluish mists that seemed to dance before his eyes.
�Don�t stop here, you won�t get up again,�
Startled, Tarn pushed himself up and looked around.
�Run,�
The scout decided auditory hallucinations were not what he needed right then.
�Go!�
But who was he to argue? Shakily he started along the hallway. The farther he went, the stronger he felt. Then he turned a corner, and stopped. He knew the way he had come, but this was not it. But there was no other way. He stood discouraged, and stared at the conjunction of paths. There were three, and for all he knew all led outside. Not one did he remember, and if he made the wrong choice he could get killed. He had always trusted his luck before, but this was somehow different.
�Follow me,�
The elf quieted his fears and looked around, �I can�t see you.�
�Then listen,�
Laughter and footsteps echoing down the right-hand hallway. Without question, Tarn followed.
Something brushed past him, and he turned swiftly. Seeing nothing, he turned and continued his way.
�No, this way, it changed.�
He felt as though someone grabbed his hand and pulled him towards a path that branched off the main hall, one that he had missed. It led to the chamber before the main castle doors. He dashed outside as fast as he could.
He stopped to glance back, and for a minute thought he could see a small elven girl. He blinked and started back before realizing there was no one there, only the thin mist. Alarmed, he fled back the way he had come. He did not stop running for a mile, and pressed himself until he was back at the small campsite.
Once there, he retrieved his backpack and stumbled outside the ring of light from the campfire. He found a suitable tree and collapsed against it. He pulled one of his blankets from his bag and loosely pulled it around him.
He took his hard-won book and examined it. It looked plain enough. It was bound in the manner of books as they had been for thousands of years. Appearance was where the resemblance ended. The pages were made of electronic paper, and a small, square-inch piece of metal acted as an electrical cell.
Tarn was ecstatic. He read the first page and stared at the images the paper presented. Each page had numerous potential holographic displays, and he knew how to bring each up and how to manipulate them. This was unquestionably not a book meant to be on Earth.
�What are you doing?�
�Don�t do that!� Tarn startled and closed the book. He gave Zeus an annoyed look that went unheeded. The black mage sighed and stared at his younger companion.
�Where did you go?� Zeus asked, watching the elf carefully.
�For a walk,� the scout replied simply, shoving the book into his backpack.
�For four hours, you went for a walk?� the black mage queried flatly.
�I thought you were asleep,� Tarn said, skirting around the question.
�I wasn�t,� Zeus said, �Though I am going to bed now, I suggest you do the same.� Without another word, the mage turned and left the elf alone.
Tarn retrieved the book and pulled out its energy cell. He put the cell in a pocket and the book back in his backpack. He curled up under his blanket and thought about his new treasure. Despite the hatred he felt for the Lunarians themselves, he missed the technology he was used to.
He fell asleep near dawn, and his dreams were filled with images of a town besieged by magic. Watching the destruction, he was accompanied by a young dark elf child. From time to time, she would give a name to a fallen warrior or townsman, or point out the artistic way in which such a building crumbled.
________________________________________________
I'm trying to give the mages more of a part, I swear.
_________
The chamber was large, and looked as though it was once used to accommodating many people. Old tapestries hung on the walls depicted scenes from years gone by. The dust and cobwebs were barely disturbed. And a single creature sat on an ornately crafted, but very worn, throne at the back of the room.
The figure seemed not to notice the room�s newcomers. Instead he was intent on studying a book that seemed to glimmer with energy of its own. When approached, the person closed the book and placed it on a small table by his throne. He stood and regarded the Light Warriors for an instant before smiling.
�Welcome, my friends,� he said, amber eyes glowing softly in the darkness, �I�ve been waiting for you.�
The four stood in silence for a time, each making his or her own observations of the elf. There was something strange about him, like a feeling of serenity. It did not take long to figure that he was studying each of them as well.
�We weren�t expecting anyone to live here still,� Zeus said, breaking the silence, �We were told that no one lived here anymore.�
�That is true, in part,� the elf�s smile turned sad, �I am the only one left. Astos the traitor tricked us, you see? And I have been awaiting the Light Warriors for aid in our struggle to reclaim what is ours.�
�You believe us to be them?� the black mage asked, �What an honor to be considered thus.�
�The prophecies are nonsense,� Tarn quipped from the back of the room, �The gods don�t exist, and neither do these emissaries of theirs.� He was only paying half his attention to the conversation. All he truly wanted was at that moment was to look at that book.
�You would be surprised my boy,� the elf said, suddenly by the scout�s side and leading him away from his target, �I�ve seen the gods, and know much about the history of our world. It is the place of a mytion to know such.�
�Mytion?� Zeus asked, feigning curiosity. He knew the word meant �wizard�, �What would that be?�
�Ahh� In our language, it is a lord of sorts: a king,� the elf replied, �But enough of this kind, if you aren�t the Light Warriors, I�m sure they have better to do. And I have heard that there were only two. Would you assist an ancient king for the good of his country?�
�We would be glad to assist in any way possible,� Gaia spoke up, bowing slightly, �What would you have done?�
�My good, brave warriors,� the elf lord addressed, �Astos stole from us an artifact of great power, a crown that judges the soul and allows one to achieve great and terrible power. If he were to use this, he may become too strong for even the Light Warriors, and we would stand no chance against him. But with it, we may yet defeat him and restore our kingdom to greatness.�
�Where is it?� Zeus asked, following the lord�s gaze to look briefly at Arah. The half-elf and the elf lord had locked eyes, and the woman had her right hand delicately positioned over her sword hilt. The black mage looked slightly beyond at Tarn, and did not need the bond they shared to see the hatred and anger so suddenly sparked in the youth�s icy eyes. A quick glance towards Gaia revealed only a look of indifference on the white mage�s face.
�A secret cave,� the dark elf said suddenly looking away from the fighter and turning to walk towards his chair, �In the midst of the swamp jungle south of here.� Arah slouched slightly before catching herself and standing straight.
�Can you give us more precise directions?� Gaia asked. From her maps she knew that was a large area to cover.
�It is south, somewhere by the tower of Norlan,� the elf sat down and retrieved his book, tracing the symbols on the cover, �I�m sure you can find it,� he purred, as though dismissing them.
�We�ll do our best,� Gaia said after a minute of silence. Getting no reply, she made a motion for her friends to leave and followed as they did so.
Not a word was spoken as they paraded through the remains of the castle. Arah set a brisk pace, which neither of the mages could match. Once outside, she did not stop but continued down the well-worn city road until she was able to leave the road for the cover of the forest.
Alone, she pressed her arm against a tree and leaned her head against it. She swallowed the feeling of nausea that so suddenly threatened as she heard the faint footfalls of those following.
��range, would� thing�tionable,� the fighter barely heard Zeus� voice, and Gaia�s response was lost to her completely. She looked over her shoulder to see the pair approaching, and tried to move her arm only to find it securely affixed to the tree by the tree�s own bark.
�Useless work of a skill, don�t you think?� Arah growled, twisting her arm free of the bark and glaring at Tarn. His show of innocence to the situation was a little beyond the measure of what he should have tried for, and in the end it just made him look guilty.
The woman dropped the matter before it became one. Her mind was elsewhere.
�So we either do as he says, or we confront him again,� Gaia rationalized, summarizing the whole of her conversation in a sentence, �I think it would be best to confront him now and get it over with.�
�Doesn�t matter to me,� Arah replied first, starting off through the woods at a slow stride. She did not want to go to the swamplands, but knew they should. Besides, she knew the result anyway.
�I think we should find the crown, for whatever good it may do,� Zeus said considerately, �Or bad.�
�Let�s go back and make that abomination sorry for the things he�s done,� Tarn said plainly, suddenly turning around.
�Wouldn�t that be defeating the purpose?� Arah asked, continuing on her way.
�What do you mean?� the scout wondered.
�Well, if we wanted to prevent the crown or whatever from being used,� the fighter called over her shoulder, �We�d have to go find it sometime. It�s the nice thing to do.�
�Yeah, but�� the elf considered, and then dashed after Arah. This was not fair. �You�re starting to sound like her,� he accused, flinging his arm in the direction of the mages, indicating the white mage.
�No, she wanted to confront the kenrinkorile now,� Arah replied, �I�m just stating a fact.�
�I hate you,� Tarn said bluntly, stopping in his tracks.
�I know,� the fighter answered in mock cheer.
_____
Traveling alone was easy. The night was warm and the weather was clear. Tarn covered the six miles distance between the campsite and the old ruined town swiftly. He thought nothing of returning; he just felt it might be an interesting endeavor. He had not asked if anyone else wanted to come because he saw little reason to. After all, they would only have slowed him down.
The castle seemed to have changed in appearance. It seemed darker, if that were possible. Bats hunted along the outskirts of the town, but not one was seen within its crumbled walls.
Tarn picked his way over the boulders and other fallen stone with ease, this was going to be simple. The halls of the castle were dark, but the chemicals in his eyes reacted perfectly and he was able to see and find his way without hindrance. Or he would have been able to if his senses would have stopped playing tricks on him.
He froze instinctively as a low howl seemed to emanate from somewhere nearby. When it faded without a sound, the elf continued on his way a little more cautiously.
When he reached the carved doors, he paused and listened. Hearing only his own heartbeat, he pulled one door open slowly and peered inside the room. He crept through when he did not see anyone and tentatively looked around the room.
He found his prize on the small table. The book was heavy, but that did not bother Tarn as he flipped through its thick pages. This was definitely worth the trip.
Tarn was so enthralled with his find that he nearly missed the thick smell of dust that suddenly permeated the room. The feeling that shot through his body was familiar; it was a reaction to the sudden increase of potential magic.
�Found what you�re looking for, I hope,� the voice of the elder elf echoed in the chamber, �First lying, then stealing. Is that any way for Alshe Ralm to act?�
Tarn did not answer. His hair was standing on end. He tucked the book inside the vest-like fold of his shirt and slowly turned around. The elf lord stood in the middle of the room, three runes glowing in midair between him and Tarn.
�You are a despicable excuse for an elven child,� the lord continued, �Aren�t you going to answer your elder?�
Tarn swallowed and quickly measured the distance from the door to where he stood. A sudden twinge of anxiety struck him as the other drew half the remaining glyph.
�So,� the elf lord snarled, �Remember this is your choice.�
The scout did not wait for what would happen; instead he clutched the book beneath his shirt and dashed to the other end of the room. He fell only two feet from the door as electricity coursed through his body. He recovered enough to pull himself through the door before the dark elf could reach him, and managed to push the open door shut with some effort.
He waited, slouched against the door. His sight was damaged, and his body was still not recovered. He stared at the bluish mists that seemed to dance before his eyes.
�Don�t stop here, you won�t get up again,�
Startled, Tarn pushed himself up and looked around.
�Run,�
The scout decided auditory hallucinations were not what he needed right then.
�Go!�
But who was he to argue? Shakily he started along the hallway. The farther he went, the stronger he felt. Then he turned a corner, and stopped. He knew the way he had come, but this was not it. But there was no other way. He stood discouraged, and stared at the conjunction of paths. There were three, and for all he knew all led outside. Not one did he remember, and if he made the wrong choice he could get killed. He had always trusted his luck before, but this was somehow different.
�Follow me,�
The elf quieted his fears and looked around, �I can�t see you.�
�Then listen,�
Laughter and footsteps echoing down the right-hand hallway. Without question, Tarn followed.
Something brushed past him, and he turned swiftly. Seeing nothing, he turned and continued his way.
�No, this way, it changed.�
He felt as though someone grabbed his hand and pulled him towards a path that branched off the main hall, one that he had missed. It led to the chamber before the main castle doors. He dashed outside as fast as he could.
He stopped to glance back, and for a minute thought he could see a small elven girl. He blinked and started back before realizing there was no one there, only the thin mist. Alarmed, he fled back the way he had come. He did not stop running for a mile, and pressed himself until he was back at the small campsite.
Once there, he retrieved his backpack and stumbled outside the ring of light from the campfire. He found a suitable tree and collapsed against it. He pulled one of his blankets from his bag and loosely pulled it around him.
He took his hard-won book and examined it. It looked plain enough. It was bound in the manner of books as they had been for thousands of years. Appearance was where the resemblance ended. The pages were made of electronic paper, and a small, square-inch piece of metal acted as an electrical cell.
Tarn was ecstatic. He read the first page and stared at the images the paper presented. Each page had numerous potential holographic displays, and he knew how to bring each up and how to manipulate them. This was unquestionably not a book meant to be on Earth.
�What are you doing?�
�Don�t do that!� Tarn startled and closed the book. He gave Zeus an annoyed look that went unheeded. The black mage sighed and stared at his younger companion.
�Where did you go?� Zeus asked, watching the elf carefully.
�For a walk,� the scout replied simply, shoving the book into his backpack.
�For four hours, you went for a walk?� the black mage queried flatly.
�I thought you were asleep,� Tarn said, skirting around the question.
�I wasn�t,� Zeus said, �Though I am going to bed now, I suggest you do the same.� Without another word, the mage turned and left the elf alone.
Tarn retrieved the book and pulled out its energy cell. He put the cell in a pocket and the book back in his backpack. He curled up under his blanket and thought about his new treasure. Despite the hatred he felt for the Lunarians themselves, he missed the technology he was used to.
He fell asleep near dawn, and his dreams were filled with images of a town besieged by magic. Watching the destruction, he was accompanied by a young dark elf child. From time to time, she would give a name to a fallen warrior or townsman, or point out the artistic way in which such a building crumbled.
________________________________________________
I'm trying to give the mages more of a part, I swear.