💅 Registered Member #463
Joined: 1:37:12 am GMT 03/10/05
Posts: 7900
The Girl With One Eye
Once upon a time there was a Girl born of no consequence, She was born without gold nor crown into a land that grew only war and strife. The men of her village were fishers and spent their long days at sea, And while the Girl remained back she would dream of high towers and a life without salt or mud.
Her mother died young and while her father was away her Wicked Grandmother would scold the Girl, "All things idle get eaten by the sea," Grandmother would scold while bruising the Girl black and blue. The stars looked down and took pity on the girl and as she grew so they granted her a wish, And one day when Grandmother raised her ladle at the girl she awakened the power that slept within.
The Girl screamed, shaking her village in her wrath as her cottage tore apart and Grandmother with it, And what was a village worth that could not hold her power? So she fled, away from a birth of no consequence. What she found in her journey was a King. Krel was his name, who was once a Boy of no consequence, And the King told the Girl that mountains birth gold, but taught her gold must be crafted into crowns.
So the Girl learned well and waited. She knew that power like hers allowed her to seize her own destiny, And before long she became Queen on her terms, no King to share power. All things hers. Though there are others who would covet what she has, she knows this, And the Queen stands ready to defend what she has rightfully taken.
Nayritha stood in the center of her chamber, grey light of the late stormy day distilling the room as she finished etching runes in the center of the floor and strode towards her desk. She stood in silence as Drachkain wove about her feet, his blackened scaled body moving with serpentine grace over her boots while she thought. Even the commonfolk of the Watch spoke of war and through all the noise the sorceress could sense that much moved on Thain. The black cobra slid along her legs and wrapped about her left arm as Nayritha stared at a tiny crystal marble sitting before her, "Let us see what truth lies beyond." She spoke as Drachkain hissed in agreement as he coiled about her neck.
With a flick of the wrist the curtains fell, exiling any light and leaving only the runic circle and the marble visible, both emanating a dim eldritch hue. The tiny orb then began to quiver as Nayritha rotated a single finger in the dark-- it began to lift and drifted to the center of the circle. The runes began to crackle with power, blue strands of spellfire zapping the marble as its light began to push away some of the shadows of the room. Nayritha stood, watching with Drachkain wrapped about her shoulders and her eyepatch removed, her face drenched in arcane brillance before taking a few strides forward and reaching her long fingers out and plucking the floating orb from the air.
Drachkain hissed in delight while The Sorceress took the crystal orb and placed it within the empty socket of her eye. Her familiar hissed in pain, suddenly tightening his coil as Nayritha began to stumble back, trying to think through the pain the magic conjured within her mind... trying to focus on the task at hand...
...she gritted her teeth, scowled, and focused on the war that came for Dragon's Watch.
💅 Registered Member #463
Joined: 1:37:12 am GMT 03/10/05
Posts: 7900
((using this as a placeholder and also letting any know that if they want to do posts around the events in Dragon's Watch to feel free to use this thread))
Registered Member #24078
Joined: 3:40:59 am GMT 05/14/17
Posts: 1561
The Boy with No Soul
There once was a Boy born devoid of a soul. He hadn't lost it, it wasn't stolen, and it surely wasn't given away. No, it was bartered away. He grew up much like any boy: in the halls of a grand estate brimming with tomes and treasures aplenty, yet all these things could never fill the gaping hole left where the Boy's soul should have been.
No one questioned where the family's fortunes came from. It must have simply been the product of inheritance they thought. In this, they were not far from the truth. The Boy's Devious Grandfather had bought and paid for their success, and not with his own resources alone. No, the withered man pacted not one, but many devils, promising each of them a soul from himself and those who would follow in his line.
So it was that Grandfather, Father and Son would each pay the price. And so it was, each lived a life of grandeur and power only to have their fleeting soul claimed as death took them. One by one the ravages of time claimed them, until only the Son remained.
At times the Boy thought to run, to hide from the devils that chased his soul Other times the Boy thought to fight them, or even outwit them. He feared so much to lose his soul until he knew what it was worth.
He never considered that he would join them in the end, and certainly not that he'd lead them into battle.
Yet the Fates are a capricious lot and the Boy now found himself in that very place.
He had only his life to lose now, for his soul was far gone.
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~W~
The warlock looked deep into the silvered mirror as it reflected the red motes of fire that burned from the hellish brazier. He clasps the overlapping plates of dark steel over his forearms and adjusts the blackened gorget around his neck. The buckles of his boots are woven shut with a wave of his hand and then an opulent cloak brimming with hellish wards floats over his shoulders, covering his form like a dark curtain.
The blade that once burned hot with spellfire swings idle in its scabbard at his side as the fluttering imp further secures his raiment. A gloved hand reaches for the iron staff and draws it to the mage. It flares a sinister red as his hand closes about it and grows warm as the hellish powers infuse through the metal.
The Iron Senate was attacked, by no other than the Sorcerous witch who now lorded over the Dragon's Watch. War was inevitable.
Aldorian waves the imp away and looks deep into the mirrors dull surface. He sees himself standing where a soldier should instead. His thin form and fair features where not meant for the ravages of an active battlefield. Doubt flood his mind as he sees a frightened boy in the mirror now where he stood. He sees the fear in the boy's eyes as the dark powers manifest. He sees the darkness take him as each day passes before him plainly as the sun rises.
The mirror explodes in a gout of fire and melting silver.
The warlock's hand still burns with infernal power as the iron frame of the mirror groans and collapses.
He was no longer a frightened boy, nor a helpless and desperate mage trying to escape his fate.
He was a senator of the Iron City, and he was going to ensure that those who found themselves as enemies of the same know well the peril of such a state.
After all, he had nothing to lose but his life, for his soul was far gone.
Registered Member #1120
Joined: 4:36:33 am GMT 07/27/07
Posts: 491
Once again, Teron found himself in the middle. A dance he had grown accustomed to, using deduction, critical analysis and logic, wrapped in an affable and disarming manner in order to protect the innocent by preventing or minimizing conflict. Iron City was on the move, Hamley was in the way. Walker had stated fervently to Teron and Lily that Hamley was not their target, had even presented what he claimed to be evidence of treachery by the Watch. The Keepers decided this was sufficient to warrant the presentation of the facts of their encounter to the Colonel.
The meeting proved fruitful. Insight was gleaned through divination of the Light that great upheavals of the elements, darkness in Sandburrow and danger in Hammersong were all tied together in a web that centered at the Watch. The Colonel’s pragmatic concern was that their Infernalist neighbors would utilize the freedom of movement granted in the recent peace treaty to intimidate the Township of Hamley. The notion of creating a contract to limit such movements was presented, and now it fell to Teron to create such an agreement that would be deemed acceptable by the Heavens in order to present to the forces of the Iron City. Not having had experience in this particular field, but having great familiarity with logic and reasoning, he set to work:
Contract Draft
In recognition of the right of passage granted to representatives of the Iron City as well as the insult heaped upon that city through the actions of representatives of the city of Dragon’s Watch, but also in recognition of the negative impact of large-scale troop movements upon the soil of the agricultural holdings of the Township of Hamley, and to avoid a stirring up of hostility by representatives of the Township of Hamley, the Iron City or third-parties, we present the following offer of accommodation to the Iron City:
-The pathway, external to the walls of the Township of Hamley, along the northern edge of town between the city’s northern wall and the nearby trees, a map of which is included in this proposal((A map is delivered along with this document))will be made available twice for large-scale passage of the Iron City military:
-The first passage shall consist of the time needed for the military column of troops, materiel, and support personnel to cross into the western edge of the territory claimed by the Township of Hamley, through the indicated pathway, and cross the eastern extremity of territory claimed by the Township of Hamley. This period of time is not to exceed 36 hours.
-The second passage shall consist of the time needed for the military column of troops, materiel, and support personnel to cross into the eastern edge of the territory claimed by the Township of Hamley, through the indicated pathway, and cross the western extremity of territory claimed by the Township of Hamley. This period of time is not to exceed 36 hours.
The column shall meet no resistance from the forces of the Empyrean Aurora or the Keepers of Thain during the before-mentioned passages through the territory of the Township of Hamley.
The column shall not enter the walled portion of the territory held by the Township of Hamley. This includes entering through the gates, scaling the walls or gates, tunneling under the walls or gates, flying over the walls or gates, utilizing magic to bypass the walls or gates and all other forms of egress that can be conceived of to be utilized to enter the walled section of the territory held by the Township of Hamley.
Representatives of the Iron City, its allies or mercenary forces in the employ of the Iron City shall not utilize magic, Infernal or otherwise, while crossing territory held by the Township of Hamley. The column shall not create any sort of runes within the territory of the Township of Hamley.
After a final review, and coming away satisfied with his work, Teron created a rift in reality, calling forth an Aasimon. After respectfully greeting the glorious being and explaining his need, he petitioned the being to carry this draft of a contract to its superiors for discussion to decide if it was acceptable. He also impressed upon the Celestial the importance of haste in the decision, as the Infernalists had made clear that should this process test their patience, the innocents of Hamley would feel their wrath.
Registered Member #1050
Joined: 7:35:50 am GMT 05/11/07
Posts: 409
So war was coming to the Watch? Inevitable he supposed. Sitting in the Den with Hunzrin, hearing all the whispered and not so whispered mutterings, he drank in silence with his drow partner. Tempers were high in the town of misfits, some coming to blows over the possible upheaval to come… again. Remembering Krells head in the museum he wondered if another would join it?
Leaning back in his chair watching the crowd ebb and flow as Hunzrin pretended to be drunk once again, he recalled, the commoners in the City of Iron had told him the Iron City was attacked recently, raising a brow slightly he wondered why and how? To get to the Senate would take power or skill, perhaps both and to attack them without success would take stupidity, he wondered in what measure the attacker had each.
After finding out what he had from the Shadar-Kai, if he were to finish the contract, he needed an audience with Nayritha, and if the rumours were true, time was not on his side. Vincent did wonder what she did to keep her doors locked all the time. Perhaps it was time to leave a note with her, or sneak in through a window? After the egg incident and subsequent delivery of goods, perhaps she would talk to him again. Besides how many locked their windows so high up if she didn’t read the note?
Sliding a drink across the table to Hunzrin and a bag of papers under it in his hand of shadows it was time to move now this contract was completed.
Registered Member #25529
Joined: 3:52:11 pm GMT 10/09/20
Posts: 188
The thawing snow soaks into his boots, cold jumping up into not-yet-numb toes. Overhead, a chilly overcast sky threatens to rain. In the distance ahead, the growing silhouette of Castra Aurelia. Behind him, a small train of refugees - mostly farmers and woodspeople; men and women who just months or years ago struck out to make their own fortune in the wider world outside the safe walls of any major settlement. War is coming to their lands, soon armies will pass through. Devils and dealmakers will walk the roads. Dragonkin will take flight. Spells and lightning will arc from stone towers... and simple, ordinary people will certainly die. Bevremir looks back at a sullen march-line, some too old, many too young to take up arms. The keep will shelter all it can, but it cannot weather the storm. Ordinary people will certainly die. Those that do not will be lucky to have a home or livelihood to return to. Most will lose the most fruitful planting season in the Spring, even if they survive sheltered here. Their lives are over, now.
He forces himself to smile at them. A big grin, ear-to-ear.
"Don't worry! It will be over soon. You will be safe here!"
A small, lanky lad - no older than fourteen approaches the procession, out of breath. His clothes are mudstained. His sackcloth shoes opened long ago to reveal frostbitten toes. Has he traveled here alone?
"Bloodknight! Please!"
The giant of a man stoops down, setting down the four little ones he had been carrying. They look at him from his knee.
"Run along to your mums and pas, little ones. I must see to our newcomer!"
Off they toddle, and he turns his attention to to a boy whose hands have likely never held a blade that didn't cut boar or cow meat, first whiskers showing an otherwise smooth lip, green eyes, brown mudstreaked hair caking to the side of his face.
"Speak, young man. You look to have traveled far with something to say."
The youth pants for a moment, and looks up.
"Three days' march south east from here. My ma and grandma keep our house. Ma is seven months with child, and grandma is not fit to travel the roads, she took sick this winter. Please, Bloodknight... Please! They say the devils will come through our lands on their route to war!"
Bevremir nods as he listens... and then, mechanically, the smile appears on his face... and the teen looks relieved as it does.
"Worry not, young one. First let us follow this train to the castle yonder, it is only half a day's journey more. There you will find a hot meal. There is time yet. Eat, and then ask for chaplain Celestine. She must be ready when I return with your mother and grandmother."
The youth looks relieved, and task ended, slouches a bit in exhaustion. "Thank you bloodknight... but how will you-" Bevremir stoops and scoops him easily onto his shoulders, the young one looking little more like a toddler on the huge man's back. He grins up at the boy, feeling frostbitten fingers clasp around his neck.
"We will bring them back here. And we will keep your lands safe. Any devil that passes through will face us first... Because we are the Bloodguard."
Registered Member #1318
Joined: 4:57:57 am GMT 06/17/08
Posts: 394
Brazik sighed, holding his quill over the parchment as he thought of what to say. This isn't a part that he's super-accustomed to; he's much more familiar with being up-front and in person, where he can rely on his uncanny ability to always appear positive and strong. But in a letter? He can't do that. A letter doesn't let him pose to show off his muscles, or distract by presenting himself shirtless. Still, shaking his head, he pens a couple of letters and sends them off to their recipients.
The first is sent to the court of Queen Yu'syu...
Queen Yu'syu,
On behalf of the Keepers, I would both like to inform you of potentially grim tidings, and perhaps ask for your assistance in helping to make these tidings a little less grim. Due to recent animosities that have arisen between the Iron City and the Dragon's Watch, those of the Iron City have made it clear that they intend to march on the Watch, and are demanding to use our land to do it. They cite the recent peace treaty with Hamley as granting them the right to such passage, and insist that we would be breaking said treaty if we refused them passage through our lands.
Now, we are working on other ways to mitigate that threat, but the request I would like to make of you today is one that, I think, could work to both ensure the safety of Hamley's people, as well as provide your city with some assistance and resources in your efforts to rebuild following the most recent wars. If you recall, during the last war with the Poisonwood, there was at one point a 'portal' established, providing an instantaneous transportation link between our two cities. This portal was opened, at that time, to ensure the safety of the plethora of knowledge and magical research present in the Greenvale School of Magic. This ensured that this knowledge was not lost to the chaos of war.
In a similar light, I would like to make this request: Would you help us to ensure the safety of our people by opening another such portal between our cities, and allowing us to evacuate the people of Hamley into the security of your walls for one or two days? These particular days will be decided at a later time in our negotiations with the Iron City, but we only request a couple days' aid in providing refuge to our people, to keep them FAR out of potential harm's way.
In return, we would promise to lend you the assistance of, well, all the people of Hamley while your city plays host to them. They can bring with them a large amount of food and supplies to help in your recovery efforts; having been through multiple assaults and Dragon-Storms and the like, the people of Hamley are VERY experienced with rebuilding their homes to be at least as good, if not better, than they were before.
Please let us know if this sounds good to you. I only want to protect the people of Hamley, and I hope that you can help us in this.
I optimistically await your reply,
Brazik Versel, Keeper of Thain
Brazik shakes his head upon reading the letter, chuckling to himself.
"That's the most formal thing I've ever written, I think!"
With some amusement, another letter, very different in nature, is sent to the wizard tower in the North...
Dear Quark,
I'm writing to you to ask your assistance in something that might be of interest to you.
Now first, some context. Due to recent animosities that have arisen between the Iron City and the Dragon's Watch, those of the Iron City have made it clear that they intend to march on the Watch, and are demanding to use our land to do it. They cite the recent peace treaty with Hamley as granting them the right to such passage, and insist that we would be breaking said treaty if we refused them passage through our lands.
The request I'd like to make of you is a simple one: would you be interested in helping us to make a Devil-proof contract, granting them one-time safe passage through our lands? I have great respect for your vast knowledge of these isles, and your overall arcane expertise. I'm hoping this also applies to having a knack for legal-ese and a mind for details needed to deal with the Iron City.
Please let me know if you'd like to help us with this,
Sincerely,
Brazik Versel, Keeper of Thain
The new Keeper can't help but grin to himself as he sets out to deliver them. After all, why not add a little personal touch? He leaves the letter for the Queen with one of the guards or attendants at her tower, and the letter for Quark with his faerie dragon familiar (along with a sweet treat for the dragon's troubles).
! Registered Member #20
Joined: 8:30:40 am GMT 02/25/04
Posts: 7094
The Witch of the North
Once upon a time, a darkness set upon the world.
It was a darkness that had crawled from beneath the depths of the earth. Cast out even by its own kind, it rose with shadowed clouds to bring a storm upon all of the surface world.
This darkness took the form of a powerful witch. Cruel and cunning, with gleaming red eyes and long white hair that trailed at her heels. And she set about spreading her darkness, for her heart was already black from the moment she surfaced.
She built her power through cruelty and love in equal measure. And she gathered the scattered monsters of the land to her side. The spiders of the woodlands and dragons with great shadowed wings and the devils of the hells themselves.
And as is so often the case in these stories, there were always humans who sought to stop her. Bold knights in mailed armor and clever young heroines and one-eyed girls born of no consequence.
But this story will not be like the story of so many other fairy-tale witches.
In this story, the darkness will win.
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Within the southern reaches of Thain, on a clouded pier off of Hammersong’s eastern coast, the Witch of the North surveyed her stolen fleet.
Their first strike had gone smoothly, all things considered. She and her allies had slipped through the waters of the coast, bypassing Sandburrow’s outer defenses and making their way to the Sandburrow docks. A tense battle against the gnomish machinery had seen them narrowly escape with the bulk of Sandburrow’s ships, and few casualties. The element of surprise had been in their favor, and in the absence of war, the south had grown complacent.
Her allies in the Sons of Fhelkorn now had ships of their own. They held manpower, and rage enough to strike at the north. Soon, the fleet would be ready to sail. The dragons who she had aided in taking the Crossroads would set upon her enemies like a storm. Her fleet striking the Watch from its eastern coast, while the Iron City struck from the west. A pair of jaws that would crush the sorceress Nayritha between them. So Kallista had planned.
A part of her was exhilarated, to be at war once again, sailing at the head of a fleet of ships. A bloodlust and cunning had awakened in her that she had not felt in years. And yet, Kallista’s mind could not rest. She watched the ships as the Sons of Fhelkorn prepared to sail, and she thought on what her enemy might do next.
The enemy was powerful, with a defensible fortress and a cunning equal to Kallista’s own. She was an enemy that had made a mark upon the land, enslaved thousands of dragons and monsters using power stolen from what lay beneath the Crater Lake fort. In a way, her story was like Kallista’s own. A would-be queen who had risen from nothing. It was a strange thought, that she and this one-eyed human might be anything alike.
And yet, in the end, Nayritha could only ever be a pretender. It was her blood that betrayed her above all. A human, who sought to rule over monsters. A pale creature who played at being a creature of darkness. As if the darkness of the island could ever be controlled by human hands. The words of an ally echoed in her mind.
Do not underestimate her. For it will be your end.
The thoughts turned over and over in her mind. What would Kallista do next, in Nayritha’s place?
The answer came. And she realized how dangerous the coming days would be. For Kallista. For her allies. For all who gathered against the false queen upon the throne of the Watch.
The monsters of the island would be free of the sorceress who had enslaved them, or they would die trying.
And when it was over, no human - no matter their blood, their pacts, or their presumptions - would ever rule the city of monsters again.
Registered Member #24041
Joined: 4:19:01 am GMT 01/24/17
Posts: 2145
The Devil With Eyes of Fire
Once upon a time, an angel fell.
She fell until the skies around her grew dark and cold, and yet she fell still, through the nascent beginnings of a world, through the cosmos, into a barren plain of fire and desolation.
The heat burned her, but she endured.
Her story truly begins though, with a pact. The first of thousands, and as she made each one, she gained a tiny fraction of the life of the one who signed, a sliver of power to call her own.
And so she grew, learning to twist words to her own ends, learning to manipulate, to deceive- though never to lie outright, for she had Laws to uphold.
She found she was good at revenge- she enjoyed it, the way the light slowly left her victims' eyes as they fully understood for the first time the depths to which they had fallen.
And now she gathers her allies- the drow witch, the rebellious kin, the inquisitors she has trained, the Senator she has helped elevate- and the traitor whose full tale she alone knows.
Because in this story, the devils are not outsmarted by a clever trick or a faithful servant. In this story, the devils take their revenge, and ensure that whatever comes next, their enemies will know the price of crossing them.
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It has been some time now since the heat of the Hells has singed her skin as it once did, in another age, another life. Melphaecto floats on an updraft through the fiery wastelands of Phlegethos, searching for her quarry, and then dives, pulling her wings close to her body, her form becoming akin to the arrows she looses from her bow of shadows. In the distance, on the ground, the imp senses something amiss, and tries to dart away, but he is far too slow, and soon Melphaecto's clawed fingers wrap around his throat. Holding a knife to the wretched creature's heart, she whispers three commands:
"Let your brothers know I will have uses for them soon. It will be no use for them to try hiding like you did. Second, inform the lady Pontia that our enemies are beginning to move- and that if we are to strike against the Watch, we will need to depart the City as soon as possible.
And finally..."
She digs the knife into the imp's chest, drawing a bead of blood.
"Deliver this to the seneschal of the Court of Azuul the Soul-Razer."
A small parchment, smoking at either end, makes its way into the imp's hands.
"Do not try to run again, Quix. You are a useful servant, but you are not irreplaceable."
She releases the imp, who, sputtering and gasping for breath, nods once and flies off as quickly as his little wings can take him. She watches Quix'hot'ic depart for a moment, thinking on the third and final command she had given him, and the letter entrusted to the Lord Azuul's steward:
To Azuul most holy, razer of Greenvale, destroyer of souls, may his reign endure forever,
Two of your humble servants request an audience with your court, great Azuul, for the purposes of expanding upon a proposition to garner a bit of revenge for an insult hurled at you and your court by the order Empyrean and the Celestial Knights.
-Senator Aldorian Walker, of the Iron City -Inquisitor Melphaecto, of the Iron City
Registered Member #24916
Joined: 2:58:00 pm GMT 01/23/19
Posts: 604
Lily stood in the Hamley graveyard. Her arms crossed and her gaze at their largest memorial. It was funny how big it is, how big all of her memorials are, despite Cassia herself being such a small woman, but there was no smile on Lily's face.
The last days had been such a headache. She had accompanied Teron to this meeting of his with an Iron City senator, and listened to his words and threats. She had thought them empty then. "One way or another, they will march trough." The idea seemed downright ridiculous. The Iron City lost too many of its forces in the war with the Empyrean, and they could not afford another conflict before they reach The Watch, but as Colonal Darienne said in the meeting with the Keepers, they were testing them.
She thought about it after the meeting. "What would Cassia do?" She would tell them to get lost, and crush them, should they even dare approach Hamley. Maybe that is what they should have done from the beginning. The Iron City held no bargaining pieces. They were unwilling to walk any alternate routes. It had to be trough Hamley, and they will move trough either way. The more she thought about it, the more it sounded like they were looking for a reason to break the treaty. But for what reason?
A fight with Hamley would lessen heir forces substantially. They would not stand a chance against The Watch.. And The Watch, what could they be doing behind their walls? They are talking about the woman behind the Crater Lake disaster here. What dark secret is happening behind those walls? Even more, what can they do to save civilians from a city that would kill the Keepers on sight? Even worse, who would shelter them?
..Who would shelter Hamley? She and Brazik had spoken on their worries in Fort Bennars after meeting Darienne, and they had agreed on who to contact. She can only hope it proves fruitful..
[ The Island of Thain ]
Sorceress With Apple
