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 Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:37 pm
Prologue
Shadows and fog slithered across the ashen ground. The moon was half covered by clouds left a dull grey light in the air. On a hill overlooking the fortress city of Renaut stood a lone silhouette outlined against the dark. As it turned back to take one last glance at the city the moon broke through the clouds and the figure emerged from its shroud of darkness. One salty blue tear escaped from the yellow eyes and rolled down the blue face of Práe, Musédu Queen of Renaut. On the other side of the city an army of shadows and monsters was massing. This was the end of Renaut. This was the end of everything she worked so hard to build and yet through the silence it was slightly peaceful. A horn sounded off in the East shattering the silence and the army of shadows began to move in that direction. This is the only way she told herself over and over again. The King was giving her the chance she needed to escape with the bundle she held crushed against her body. She just hoped that it would not cost him his life, though she knew that even the might of his army was no match for the Draëden. With one last despairing glance, she turned her back on the city and submerged herself in the darkness, never to hear the sound of the horn again.
_______________________________________________________
King Aëros stood on the last hill before the dead fields that used to be filled with crops. A mass of shadowy figures he knew were the Draëden approached his small army. Death rode with those ranks. The Draëden were evil. Death or torture approached, and for Práe’s sake, and maybe his own, he hoped it was death. He knew one thing; he could not win this battle, but maybe they could win the war. Práe carried hope in her arms as she ran. Perhaps there was something beyond death. Something beyond the void he was told of as a child. The earth began shaking with the approach of the Draëden, drawing him back from his speculations. They were a horrible mutated race. They were formed and mutated by the Dark One from the races they once were into the Draëden. There were humans like him, but other races were in the ranks as well.
The Musédu had blue skin and yellow eyes. They had white markings that spiraled over them from head to toe, each one as unique as the being itself. The markings lit up anytime they were near water, because they came from the water. Their teeth were razor sharp and could tear through almost any substance, even metal.
The Drahson were believed to be part Dragon. They looked it. They had scales and wings like dragons. Their eyes were like that of a dragon as well, and each one was filled with fire.
The Ogres were gigantic, muscular beasts and for the most part they varied in shades of green. They could pick up boulders and break through almost anything that stood in their way, but they preferred peace and books to weapons and war.
The Bhrakon were taller even than the ogres, each one was at least twelve feet tall. They were slender and had horns at the ends of both their elbows and their knees. They were not very strong but they could cover a huge amount of distance in very short time, and as far as he knew those horns were unbreakable. Perhaps the most unique thing about them was their eyes. Their eyes were black with a white iris and gave them a somewhat possessed look.
The Ègleese, were for the most part human. The only real difference is that they had wings and highly evolved sight. They were useful as archers, but they also loved to write.
The Elves were by far the most elegant race. They were graceful and beautiful in appearance, but they were amazing warriors. They were competent with almost any weapon. They loved the arts, writing, music, painting, etc. They never died from natural causes, as far as he knew they could live forever.
The Dwarves were short stout creatures and almost every one of the men had a beard. They were immensely strong for their size and were the best blacksmiths he had ever seen. They preferred to live in the hills and in caves.
Almost all of these races had been peaceful at one time. They all had lived in peace in Draëda. That was until The Dark One came. He transformed each of them into the horrible demons that now plagued this land. Their skin would shrivel up and cling to their bones. Their eyes were void of all emotion, all pain. They grew in size and were at times twice as large as they had been before. They had claws and horns, and each one had teeth as sharp as the Musédu. They looked dead, because they all were dead. Those killed in battles were taken to one of the high priests of the Draëden and transformed into these horrible demons. They would stop at nothing and could not die unless disembodied. It took a force that more than doubled theirs to win a battle, but the worst part was, the more battles you lost, the more of the enemy there was. The only hope that any of the other races had was that someone could kill the Dark One, whoever he was.
The only blessing in these new mutated forms was that so far the Ègleese and the Drahson could not fly like the normal races could, but the Draëden evolved almost as fast as they had appeared…almost as fast as they killed.
He drew his long-sword and all of his soldiers drew their weapons. They were all that remained of his people, and every race was represented. This nation was the only nation that had all races included in its populace. They stood together they died together that was their motto. As the moon broke through the clouds one last time and made his sword shine as if it was a holy instrument used to drive out evil, he charged. His men followed and they air was filled with the sound of yells and their feet thundering through the space that separated them from the Draeden. The swords glinted in the moonlight and the horn sounded one last time before the bearer was shot through the chest with an arrow. His men fought bravely and for a moment or two it seemed like as if against all odds they would win. That was until the Dark One himself showed up riding a great horse that looked like it was demon possessed. He himself was huge and no one could stand in his way. As Aëros watched with horror he tore through two soldiers with one swing of his sword. They were being pushed back further and further towards the hill.
Within minutes Aëros was back on the hill he started on with nothing left but his Honor Guard around him and three arrows protruding from his sides. He could barely breathe. His guard was collapsing and as the sun began to rise he drew his sword again. Hoping against all hope to end it all by killing the Dark One, he charged right towards him. As he got within range with his sword the Dark One’s hand reached out and grabbed him by his throat lifting him off the ground as if he was a child. For a few seconds Aëros looked into the red eyes of death, and then, as the Dark One plunged his sword into him, he could see know more. So passed Aëros last king of Renaut.
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:38 pm
Capter 1
The Coming Storm
The wind swirled around the tops of the White Mountains in southern Asturia stirring the stubble of grass that still held on against the coming winter. Then it traveled down the mountains and over the hills, and continued over the last of the living fields forcing rabbits and other small vermin into their holes to stay warm. It grew into a storm as it joined with the ocean winds, and it all but stopped over the small fort-city of Agonis that almost never got any rain. It sent down one small breeze as its messenger to the town of the monstrous storm poised above it.
The breeze trickled down over the black ashen trees, the unseen but always felt bearer of bad news, over the soldiers marching in the field outside, through the gates, trying to find someone to receive its warning of the coming storm. It continued its search through the streets until it saw a young teenage boy with the mark of a Musédu traveling and crossing over his body. It was so intrigued by the half blood that it barely had time to ruffle his hair with the warning before it was swept away to join the storm.
____________________________________________________________ ____________
Daeros looked up as the wind swam through his shoulder length black hair. His yellow eyes searched the heavens. Great he thought. As soon as it rained the markings across his body would light up, they always did. “I’m going to look like a walking lantern.” He was tall for his age, almost six foot four, and he was scrawny, not much fat, but not much muscle either, though he had gotten into his share of fights. He was fourteen and an orphan that had been found in the dying lands surrounding the city. He liked the dying lands, even though nothing grew here. Even grass was beginning to die. Everything was dying, because the Draëden were advancing. Everything they touched died. It was like the earth could sense their advance, and began to wither away as they gathered strength. The only things that kept them at bay were the soldiers and the giant gate built between Asturia and Draëda. The wall gate had held them at bay for years, but the Draëden were becoming more daring and their numbers increased. A few of the Draëden-Ègleese and the Draëden-Drahson were beginning to fly like their normal races did, so no one was allowed out of the city at night. There really was no reason to be out at night anyways, everything was dead.
“Hey Daeros, aren’t you going to be late for class?” said a short girl who had snuck up behind him, causing him to jump.
“Oh hey Allycea,” he said, slightly unnerved at how quiet she was.
She was short compared to Daeros. She barely came up to his chest. Her blonde hair fell loosely halfway down her back. Her blue eyes looked up at him questioningly and slightly accusing.
“You know what is going to happen when you are late don’t you?” she asked, she was sixteen and the Mayor’s daughter, so she tried to put every ounce of authority into her voice.
“Yeah I know, but what are you going to do about it?” He said grinning about it and over-exaggerating his look down to her height.
She glared at him, then smiled her most innocent smile as she kicked him in the shin, and walked off towards the school house. She didn’t even stop when she ran into another teenage boy walking their way.
“Oi mate, wad’ya do teh ‘er?” he asked walking towards Daeros and shoving his thumb back over his shoulder indicating the way she had gone, grinning foolishly.
“Ah, you know Braen, she made a suggestion that I should get to class, so I promptly asked her what she was going to do about it.” He said proudly.
“Mate, yer going the ‘avta lurn ‘ow to ‘andle women.” Braen said.
Braen was a little shorter than Daeros, but had a stockier build to him. He was from the country of Shrõel in the north, but his father had been sent down here with the reinforcements to keep the Draëden at bay, because the Draëden are a danger to all the countries. He was Daeros’s best friend, partly because of their common age, but also because they were both outcasts.
“Yeah Braen, and I’m sure you would be the one to teach me huh?” Daeros said laughing and punching Braen in the arm.
“Well, ‘m jus’ sayin’. She’s deh prettiest gerl in town, and yuh always make fun o’ ‘er fer bein short. Yeh aren’t ‘elpin yer chances any mate.” Braen said.
“Braen, she is like two years older than us. I highly doubt she has any interest in us, especially not me. Plus she is the mayor’s daughter… if you haven’t noticed, he isn’t all that fond of the fact that I have been late to class the last three times I’ve bothered to show up.”
“Oh yeh, we better get goin teh class mate. Yeh know duh professor is goin the ‘ave a bloody ‘eart attack. If ‘e gets any angrier,” Braen said as he looked up to see if Daeros was listening, “Yeh wernt tinking ‘bout the rain again were yeh?”
“Nah, just looking at the sky, come on we better go before the professor does have a heart attack.” Daeros said, walking towards the broken down school house across from the black smith. It was an old school with crumbling statues in the courtyard and patches in the roof. Braen hurried to catch up as they turned into the courtyard. They walked up the steps and as they quietly snuck into the back of the classroom their stealthy entrance was ruined by the rain.
“Ah, my favorite pupil makes his grand entrance, late as always,” Said Professor Sodrek. He was a tall man with a slightly unforgiving air about him; maybe it was the scar over his perpetually scowling eye, the other one gone completely. He had been a soldier before he was forced to be retired because of his age and the loss of his eye. He wore his favorite military jacket, as always, and gave it a little unnecessary tug when he was angry.
“Er… sorry sir, me and Daeros were jus’ er…”
“They were just doing something for me sir, I’m sorry they are late,” Allycea said, saving the stupefied Braen from finding out just how mad the professor could get.
“Very well Ms. Stonewell, just make sure it doesn’t happen again, and you Mr. Daroed,” Professor Sodrek said nodding toward Braen, “start coming to my grammar tutoring class!”
“Er… Aye sir,” said the still stunned Braen.
Daeros sat down between Braen and Allycea, because those were the only two seats left, just as stunned, but smart enough not to say anything. Why did Allycea help them out? They were friends of course, but she was always the up-tight one. Furthermore, why did the professor accept her excuse? It was the worst attempt at an excuse he had ever heard in his life. He finally let it go, figuring that it was because of who her father was, and sat back to listen to yet another boring lecture on the local geography.
“As you all… well as most of you know,” said the Professor, looking at Braen for a split second, “This town is completely cut off from the rest of the country by the White Mountains. We stand, basically alone, against the threat of the Draëden. Nothing grows in the surrounding area, except for close to the mountains, where it is getting increasingly dangerous to go because of the lack of soldiers in that direction. So, we have to rely on supply trains from Trahll, the capital city of our fair country, to live. Now if any of you can possibly think logically what is the problem with the supply trains getting here?”
“Well, if the city was truly surrounded by mountains, then it would be impossible, or highly difficult for the supply trains to get here wouldn’t it?” said Allycea beaming with the knowledge that she was right.
“Yes… Allycea you are exactly correct, now can anyone else besides Allycea tell me how they get to the city? Anybody…. How about you Daeros? Can’t you tell me the answer?” Sodrek sneered.
“Well, as she said it would be nearly impossible for them to get here, what with the Draëden slipping past the gates, the wolves, and thieves, but there is always the Broken Spear pass that leads through the mountains to The Red Plains,” Daeros said fighting to keep a smile from breaking across his already smug face.
“No… well… actually… you got one right Daeros. I guess there is a first time for everything,” Sodrek replied rather disappointed, “Now that he mentioned The Red Plains lets explore the further geography of Asturia. Now the eastern side of the continent is bordered by the Dronus Ocean, and the western side by one of the four great rivers that separate the nations. The southeast of the nation is covered by the Baër Forest. The rest is covered by The Red Plains. There are only four other main cities. Enos in the north is another fort city, although it is considerably larger than our city. It lies on the road that leads to the Shining Citadel where all of the leaders may meet in peace. Then there is Brahll in the south, Crahs in the in the northeast and is the only way into Trahll. Trahll is the most impenetrable fortress; some say it even rivals the Shining Citadel. Any questions?” he asked, pausing only for a split second, “Good. You are all dismissed.”
“Oh, final… oof!” Grunted Daeros as Allycea elbowed him in the side.
“Shut up before you get in trouble!” she glared up at him sternly.
“Oi, is class over yet?” Braen said as he sleepily raised his head, “‘Ey wad’re yuh two doin staring at each other like dat?”
They didn’t seem to hear him at first. Daeros was glaring defiantly at Allycea infuriated that she would interrupt him, and she stared just as angrily back at him at the thought he would dare get himself into such trouble after she had just gotten him out of it.
“Yeah mate, class is finally over.” Daeros said glaring even more defiance than before. With that, Allycea stormed out of the class, once again running over Braen in the process.
“Mate, wat did I tell yuh? I tell yuh agin and agin but yuh jus don’ listen. Yer not ‘elpin yer chances mate. I wuld think tat wit duh Fall Celebration comin’ yuh wuld’ve thought ‘bout who yer goin teh dance wit.” Braen said staring at Daeros slightly angry at him for ignoring the advice, but also unable to ignore his own chances improving.
“Ok, one you really should think about those grammar classes,” Daeros said furiously, “and two, if you fancy her so much you ask her to dance with you. Leave me out of it. I don’t want to dance with her and she doesn’t want to dance with me.” With that Daeros stormed out into the rain, markings flaring to life, towards the Orphanage. Town people scattered everywhere to avoid being run over. Braen was left standing there dumbstruck and not knowing what had just happened.
***
Daeros walked over the slick cobblestone towards the orphanage, he didn’t want to go back there yet, but he needed to get his practice sword just in case. Just because he was going to be near the town didn’t mean he would be safe. Thieves were everywhere, even near the gate. The sword wasn’t sharp, but as his sword master told him, it was better to have a blunt blade then no blade at all. He ran in past the crumbling stones and the rusty gate, and hurried towards his room. He walked towards his bed and opened the chest. There it was his most prized possession. As he picked it up the silence of the orphanage was broken by little kids racing down the hallway towards the cafeteria. He waited for them to pass he didn’t feel like dinner tonight. The lengthy stream of hungry, miniscule children finally ended with a short chubby three year old shuffling behind with his favorite blanket. He walked out the door and slowly made his way down the hallway towards the door and ducked out just as the keeper came out of his office. He let out a sigh of relief as he made it out the rusty gate again. The shadows were growing under the buildings, it was twilight and he was not supposed to be out of the orphanage, but he had done it before and no one had ever caught him.
He strolled out of the city through the heavy iron gates, the guards were inside the guardhouse drinking and playing a game of cards, just like he knew they would be. He looked out towards a hill where the only tree in the area stood. The tree was dead, but that didn’t matter to Daeros, it was a sign that something had lived here before. As he climbed the cracked hill and finally made his way up to the grey tree, he thought about what the world was coming to. Why does everything have to die? With this final thought, he sagged against the dead tree with his back to the city and drifted to sleep. The sword slid from his loosened grip to the ground.
***
The moon blasted through the spent storm clouds, raining light down upon the dead ground. Miles away from the dead tree where Daeros slept, back past the sleeping town towards the great gate, a fire burned. A group of ten soldiers gathered around the fire in there armor. Each carried his weapon of choice, swords, arrows, axes, and even one war hammer. A cracked pot hung over the fire with a wretched smelling liquid in it that was supposed to be passable for stew.
“Ugh! I’m so bloody tired of this slop they give to us. What are we? PIGS?!?” The largest of the group of soldiers growled gripping the hilt of the tremendous broadsword hanging across his back.
“Just watch the gate, unless you want to wake up with the Draëden sticking swords into your gut,” the old rough looking captain roared back, “Just be glad the storm is over so we don’t have to keep watch with thunderclouds hanging over us.”
“No, the storm is just about to break, my friend,” said a gruff scratchy voice from behind them.
They all turned around, startled and unnerved. A short whistle filled the air for a split second and nine of them turned around again to see the large man with the broadsword collapse with an arrow through his skull. More sharp whistles echoed the first as the captain grabbed as many of his falling companions as he could and dove into the fire. They could not change him into one of them if there was nothing left but ashes. The fire heated the armor and slowly began to burn its way through those at the bottom. The captain screamed in a mixture of pain, rage, and horror as a Draëden priest formed seemingly from nothing out of the darkness.
“The storm is just beginning to break. The thunderclouds are poised over your pathetic world. We shall wipe clean the world of you pathetic humans. You shall all DIE or join us,” he said in the same haunting voice that had reached them through the darkness, “Now if you will excuse me, I must convert your friend here and destroy this pest of a town.” The priest glided towards the large man. The captain was slipping towards death as the fire burned through his last comrade. The last thing his glazing eyes could see through the growing darkness that had nothing to do with the night, was his friend’s body being contorted and twisted into one of the foul creatures standing over him. The skin slowly seemed to change to black and turned into more of a metallic substance than skin. He grew to twice his already gargantuan size and his eyes turned red. Even the arrow morphed to join the body. The part sticking out of the back of his head curved upwards until it came to a point, a mirror image of it appeared on his forehead curving upward to make the crescent moon that had been seen at twilight that night. With an inhuman demonic gurgling sound he rose to his feet, and ended his captains suffering with a quick flick of his broadsword.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:51 am
You stero type alot! >.< But it's very good. ^.^ Much better then the one I"m working on.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:54 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:48 am
Nevermind. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself.
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:14 pm
Dark Silver Firefly Nevermind. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself. No I wasn't asking in a bad way I was just curious. I didn't realize I had done so.
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:22 am
Nevermind. I said never mind. >.< Oh and I posted pages I think 3 and four in The Card Bunny and the Gemstone Cities thing.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:44 pm
I'll get to it... I have a 1000 word essay due tomorrow or I would read it now.
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