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 Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:08 am
Seilynn hurried, slightly crouched over the yard towards the gates, having her hood up to cover her face in case someone would find that guard she had knocked down. That would cause a lot of trouble for her. She slowed down each time a guard was in sight, which was almost all the time so it went pretty slow. When she finally reached the gate, she found a smaller door in it and swung it open, hurrying outside without looking back or closing the door. After all, she didn't care who walked into that horrible place.
She stopped by some trees. Not too far away, but they hid her well enough from the guards on the wall. She panted and flopped down on the ground.
"Hmm.. let's see.. where do I go from here?" she mumbled as she imagined a map in her mind.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:10 pm
Yashi had only listened to what everyone was saying he did not speak yet because it had not been time. There were constantly newcomers coming in. It had seemed that all of the dark army’s soldiers wanted to join this side for some odd reason. His blue orbs only scanned the two new people and he contemplated what their true reasons were for being here. People can say many different things so they will not die or to be able to spy. Yashi figured he would keep his eyes on both of them very closely. He was not like others who would simply hear something and go along with it, no, he was the one who figured that they might have a card up their sleeve or some trick. The one man begun to put up his illusion, which really wasn’t to work on them, but to anyone else that was passing underneath. It was a clever little plan that would definitely work to keep the enemy from having any idea where they were. Though to Yashi it didn’t matter to him what turned out, if the scouting party noticed them up there in the trees he would just as quickly dispose of them.
All of the men below listened to Alaura’s words and their fires came to a dim red and then vanished into the dark night as though darkness had over taken them. Vivian had a rather striking point, what would they do with horses. They could always let them go, but those that were able to bend the earth to their will could easily get the horses up here. Then again how odd would it be for the scouting party to hear horses making any noises up in the trees. It would probably confuse the men and they would definitely check out the situation and figure out their nifty little hiding spot. A shrug came from him but yet he said nothing except for standing on the balcony watching over the ground below. He was ready for the group to pass and he was ready if the time came to take action and kill them.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:21 am
"I do not believe I have seen a single horse among Alaura's company. I think it is safe to say we'll be ok in that regard." Seth spoke to Vivian before turning to Alaura. "You say we are to be on our way when you are well enough to travel once more, but where exactly do you plan that we go? If you're thinking of storming the Kingdom of Darkness, you may want to reconsider. You have yet to see their power.... those who dwell in the shadows of the kingdom are to be feared. The citizens themselves are a shady crowd, and the guards and soldiers are no mere pushovers. The generals in command are rarely crossed and the few who have dared were never again heard from. The king has never been challenged, and you'd be lucky to even get near him. The ones closest to him feel no attachment to worldly things such as compassion or mercy. They would sooner rip your beating heart from your chest than let you set one foot inside the castle gates. Just being in their presence can only be described as.... pitch black.... all light fading along with your happiness and warm thoughts.... being replaced by fear and an unmerciful cold, chilling you to the bone. To take on the kingdom, is to take on evil itself. To attempt to stop them, would be suicidal. I say we do all we can to use our one advantage, Keyla. She is Knorthian, and therefore able to command all of the elements. To have her learn however, will take time, and we have no way of knowing whether or not she will be able to use them effectively. I just would like to stress my concern about rushing in, head-on into the Kingdom of Darkness." He walked over to Vivian and stood beside her with his arm around her shoulder.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:30 pm
Vivian couldn't help but shudder in remembrance of some of the atrocities she'd seen committed in her homeland...and for being sheltered as she was by her family she'd seen quite a few. If Alaura decided to mount an attack immediately... the consequences of a failure would be devastating.
For as ruthless as the people of the Dark were... their leader was ten times such. One had to be the root of evil to command the evil that lay broiling just below the surface in the Dark Kingdom. "I agree. If anyone in this group is taken by a denizen of the Dark... I fear that should they survive the interrogation... they would not survive the madness that would follow."
Since Seth had left and the aim of Adel had become clear... the ways the Dark soldiers dealt with their enemies turned violent and underhanded. Many died in the process and those that survived to divulge the information they knew surely died of trauma or killed themselves from insanity in the weeks to follow.
Vivian may not have known these people, but she wished nothing of the sort upon any of them. She'd give herself up before she'd let them go. Subconciously she curled into Seth's side, gripping his clothes as if she'd be torn away at any moment. It wasn't as if her father had demanded his Lord retrieve his daughter, and for all she knew her family wished her dead for leaving. But if she knew her mother, the woman would raise hell to get her little girl back... regardless of whether or not Vivian wanted to return.
She was quite certain that this attack had nothing to do with her, so certain that the idea of it being all about the rebels was unwavering in her mind. Even if she was not quite welcome, she'd defend them all. Even for one raised in Darkness... the Dark was a great weapon against those of their own kind. She lifted her eyes to Alaura, "I will help you. I promise on my own personal honor that whatever Adel brings down on you and whatever my tiny presence could even cause... I would sooner die in the fight than let a member of your family face the Dark."
Seth wouldn't like it one bit, but Vivian was stubborn and kept her word regardless of the consequences. If Seth were to fight, she'd fight with him and if he fell wounded she'd stand before him and protect him. It was her way, those she loved would be defended and those who sought to hurt them would feel her wrath.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:38 pm
Alaura's eyes never shifted from their constant gaze over the camp. These were her men, people who had trusted her with their lives and would die doing whatever she asked. They would gladly march into the Dark Kingdom and fight with every ounce of strength until breath no longer entered their bodies. But Alaura could not ask of them such a terrifying thing. She could not ask them to risk their lives on something so foolish, but neither could the group remain. It was clear that their little fight with Nicki had raised suspicion. The element of surprise was rapidly slipping through their fingers, and keeping on the move was the only way to maintain it. Without turning about she spoke to those who were close enough to listen.
"I am not suggesting we run into the Dark Kingdom blind and unprepared. I mean only that we cannot stay in these woods any longer. In truth we would be safest in the woods of the Earth Kingdom, but we must gain allies and I had no luck gathering more than this group on my way here. We must choose another kingdom and head there to implore its ruler to aid us in this task. We need forces to lay siege to the Dark Kingdom and to end this war that their lord has started." Suddenly she turned, her eyes alight like green flames within their sockets.
"I am thankful for the help you offer, but I will not ask you to join me. You who have escaped from that horrid place, I cannot ask you to return and neither can I ask you to join me where you will likely be unwelcome. Even so, if you so choose I will not stop you from joining us. My men and I will move on, perhaps to the Water Kingdom first and I will speak with their leader. I will not simply sit by while forces wage war on the land. I will raise what army I can and only then, when I am certain our forces are great enough, will I march on the Kingdom of Darkness." With this said she turned back, her hands gripping the rail of the balcony tightly. Her own fear and doubts she pushed back, refusing to let even a hint of them show on her face. She hid well the weariness taking hold of her and forced back any notion of failure. She had to be strong, for those men in the camp around her relied on her strength. Their hope lay with her and she couldn't bare to let them down.
"We cannot put all of our hope in one girl. She may be the key to winning, but as you have said, it will take time for her to learn to wield the power that lay within her. Time, I'm afraid, we don't have. Perhaps in our travels she can learn from us, to study what she can from each of our elements and perhaps learn to control even a measure of it. I cannot, however, simply place all of my hopes for winning on this girl who may or may not be able to learn such control. I won't risk her life in such a manner." That was all Alaura would say on that matter. It simply wasn't right, in her own mind, to demand such a task of Keyla.
Crystal looked up from where she had been sitting as she heard the distinctive sound of a wooden door sliding open. She looked about for a moment, her soft pink hair falling over her face as she moved her head back and forth. Then she spotted it, a distinct signature of electrical pulses the size of a person. They showed a slighter frame leading her to believe this was a woman. The rapid movements of the pulses also showed perhaps excitement or fear, or maybe even a mixture of both. Curiosity nagged at the young girl's mind and she stood, making her way over to the trees under which this woman had stopped. She moved rather quietly, being so small and of such a light weight that her footsteps were almost silent. She stopped behind the woman just in time to hear her questioning where to go next.
"You could always go to the market, though if you're looking for somewhere farther I haven't any suggestions." Her soft voice was almost like the tinkling of bells as she spoke and her teal eyes fixed on the girl with their unseeing gaze. No film hindered their odd colour, but rather her eyes seemed almost more vivid, in spite of her not so obvious blindness. She was short and looked entirely innocent with her childish appearance. She wondered to herself why this girl seemed in such a hurry to leave such a fascinating place. Crystal couldn't help but turn her head to peer through the still open door, seeing more electrical currents running through other bodies, likely the guards that walked the grounds. It was at times like these she wished she could see, if only to catch a glimpse of the great fortress that lay behind that vast wall.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:29 am
Shane lifted his head from hearing the mention of traveling to the Water Kingdom. "That would be a splendid idea. I was originally sent by my leader to this place. She intended for me to confirm our suspicions about the attacks on the Knorthian villages. If we return to my home, I know we can get many more warriors willing to serve. My leader would welcome you into our lands with open arms, though it might take a small amount of explaining to convince her as to why we travel with people dressed in dark attire. I think it would be our best course of action. We can re-supply and rest. Also, Keyla will be able to train while we're there. I can see no downside to this." Shane turned to face Alaura. "But first we must deal with the problem at hand."
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:26 am
Alaura had stood silently for a time. She had known upon mentioning the Water Kingdom that Shane would likely show his desire to go there. It was his home, and as Alaura craved the thick forests and tall mountains of her own land, so would Shane crave the place he had grown up. She hadn't realized until that moment how much she missed her own home. The smell of trees and dirt clung to the air with a thick perfume that was intoxicating to any earthen mind. It sang with the songs of birds and other small creatures. It was, despite the natural order of things, a peaceful place to be. She loved the land upon which she had been raised and her heart now cried out to return.
But this was not possible, not until her mission was complete. She had left the verile lands of the Earth Kingdom to do what it seemed so few in this world would dare. She meant to stand against those forces that would rule over others with cruel malice, forcing them into lives they did not want and likely claiming lands that were not theirs to claim. She couldn't have simply hidden away, like so many others had, in the deep forests and in the very earth itself while innocent people were being tortured and slaughtered. It didn't sit right with her, nor should it have. Her parents had died doing what was right, and such valour was not lost on Alaura.
Now, however, as she stared out over the camp, now laying hidden behind Seth's illusion, she wondered if it was right to risk others lives for such a cause. She hadn't forced any one of those men to follow her, but they had placed their trust in her whole-heartedly. Had she truly earned such a great gift? Her mind reeled suddenly with the weight of all that was placed on her. Without knowing it, without even trying, she had somehow become the leader of these people from her own kingdom, and perhaps even those from the others that had joined. Her heart raced and she felt as though the balcony were spinning beneath her feet. It was all she could do to hold tight to the railing, steadying herself.
She closed her eyes and willed away these feelings of doubt and the thought that perhaps she would prove unworthy. Who am I to lead such an army? She though, worrying flashing through her eyes briefly. Then it was all broken, her thoughts and the look of trouble upon her brow, by the cry of a familiar bird. He had taken flight once more, circling overhead as he always did to watch for those that would harm this group. He had spotted, aside from the scouting group from earlier, a group almost the same size as the one within the camp. Fifty strong and all lined along the edge of the forest. By Faron's accounts to Alaura they were men of the Fire Kingdom.
Her eyes went wide as the bird's cries translated to speech in her mind and she swung about, looking at the others. "Men from the Fire Kingdom are at the forest's borders. I think they may mean to burn it all down in search for us!" The alarm in her voice, matched with her regaining powers, sent the forest into a torrent of noises. Animals all about the encampment suddenly seemed to come to life. The frantic chirping of birds and squirrels, the howls of wolves and the deep, bellowing roars of other, larger creatures melded together to create a horrific chorus of sounds enough to frighten even the bravest of men. It seemed the forest meant to attack those that threatened it with a fury long dormant in sleep deep within the bellies of these dark woods.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:21 pm
Words seemed to escape Acario for the time being. Though it seemed he was free to do as he pleased, nothing acutally seemed that interesting at the moment. After Nicolai shut his door, Acario sat down slowly on the edge of the bed. He was tired mentally and physically from the days events. He sifted through the bag of coins, and eventually decided on going to the market some other day. It would be fun to see how th enemy lived for once. Or were they his allies now? Calling the Dark Kingdom people his friends felt awkward.
The day was over and Acario needed rest. He was sure his craving to become stronger would return to him the next day. His eyes burned from lack of moisture. He had been staring off at the door and forgotten to blink. Rubbing his eyes, Acario yawned slowly. A good night's sleep was all he needed. He lay down on the bed gently and rolled over onto his side. Closing his eyes tight, he also shut out his thoughts and the outside world around him, wishing it would all go away just for a night.
The burning down of the forest was going quite easy. No one seemed to even be putting up a fight, except for the annoying creatures of the forest anyways. They were now well into the forest, approaching a lake. Ferros and his men were well equipped the deal with every type of creature that seemed to pester their progress. Birds were shot down with well aimed arrows, and larger creatures like the deer or bear were brought down with swords as well as the enveloping flames. It was an easy slaughter, a mere sigh and Ferros could have incinerated a sinlge beast. But why waste his powers when he could use his men? All fifty were trained for endurance fighting. Burning down an entire forest was practically a warm up for them.
Adel seemed adamant in his decision. Ferros meant to accomplish what the others had not. Even if he could not kill them all, at least he could rid them from their roost in this forsaken forest. Ferros' was torn from his thoughts momentarly as a large bear charged him with a ferocious snarl. Ferros placed his hand forward and a blue jet of flames blasted the animal in the face. The bear fell immediately, his face now nothing more than searing hot bone. Nuisances, the lot of them. They deserved to burn. They deserved to be nothing more than ash.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:39 am
Alaura collapsed to the ground, her chest heaving up and down as her fists clenched. She could hear the screams of the animals, and though she cried out for them to run from the flames, they were too frenzied to listen even to her. Again and again she heard the cries as they were slaughtered, and her anger began to rise to unheard of proportions. Her eyes now flashed with something other than the natural light. It seemed something had awaken in her, an anger long held dormant by her own mind and now released by the pain and fury raging within her. She stood, her previous exhaustion shed aside as she stood to her full height. She almost looked as though she would tower over the others, despite that fact that she was not of any great stature. Even so, men from the other tree houses looked to her as she stood, feeling the fear trembling through the very roots of the trees as they projected her own emotions.
"Ma'am, you can't do this, you'll only end up hurting yourself further. You're not strong enough yet." This came from the earthen soldier who could only be described as Alaura's right hand man. He was, by all reckoning, the second in command of this small rebellion. His name was Thalon and he was a strong, tall man with a thick chest and a full head of chestnut brown hair. His eyes were a dazzling hazel, now filled with concern for his furious captain. He reached out as if to hold Alaura back, but then thought better of it. This look he had never seen from her and it terrified him.
Alaura seemed not to hear him as she stepped forward, turning about and making her way down the ladder. She wasn't dressed in any sort of armour, simply wearing her usual travelling clothes. A voice in her own mind cried out for her to think things through, but like Thalon it went unheard. Alaura was a woman possessed by the fury the forest itself now felt. Her attachment to it ran deeper than any could know, and she could feel its very pain and anger. She felt the agony of each creature, the fright of each plant, but she also felt the overwhelming wave of rage that washed over the whole. For each individual being it was not much, but to feel it as if it were one was enough to force the normally level headed woman to desperate acts. She was on the ground in no time, moving with a swiftness unheard of in most humans. She moved like a ghost through the woods, her white hair streaming behind her as her light footed flight went unheard. The men doing this were going to be in for a deadly treat.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:33 pm
As soon as Aluara made her turn towards the ladder, Shane made his move. He turned and faced the balcony as before. He glanced at Seth and nodded before leaping off into the mist that had appeared.
Seth saw the nod and understood. He watched as the mist disappeared just as quickly as it came. He turned to face Vivian. "Would you like to get back at those bastards from that evil kingdom?" He smiled as the sky began to darken as his illusions began to take shape.
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Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:05 pm
The smell of breakfast wafted through the hallways of Nicolai's house, as it usually did every morning. He got out of bed and made his way over to his shower. After cleaning up, he went to the dinning room. The servant brought out the plates of food and set them on the table, not saying a word to Nicolai, as was customary. Servants in the kingdom of darkness did not speak to the master of the household. He waited by until Nicolai had eaten his fill. "Malachi," Nicolai spoke to the servant as he was cleaning up the dishes, "Once the boy wakes up and eats, show him to the sparring grounds." The man gave Nicolai a nod to show he was listening. And with that, Nicolai made his way through the household to reach the sparring area where Acario would be taught.
Adel had been awake for a short while now and had been finishing the book he was recently reading when had been cut short previously by Nicki. He finished the last page and placed the book back among the others. He decided to find out how the raid on the Knorthian forest was coming. He shut his eyes and slowed his breathing, concentrating. He opened a channel between himself and Prince Ferros. "How are things progressing young Ferros?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 2:49 pm
A feral grin flew to Vivian's lips as she took in the words Seth offered her, eye dark as she went to the window. "Oh, would I." she giggled, turning to put her back to the wall, eyes on her lover once more.
"I'll save some for you." she whispered, phasing into the shadows the lurked along the wall before bolting out into the night, a streak of black in the rolling silver mist. As shadow she rose before a scouting Dark soldier, her face taking shape, "Hello." she greeted him, her eyes as black as the sky.
He stuttered to find a response, having been very surprised to see anyone of the Dark approach him so swiftly and without alerting him. Gently the shadow-woman took the decorative sword from her enemies belt, smiling at it wistfully before returning her gaze to wide brown eyes. "It is quite a pretty sword." she murmured, turning it in her hands to grasp the hilt, making another comment about balance and weight.
As the wary gaze creased the soldier's brow Vivian twirled the sword once, a scream of steel whistling into her ears and with a fluid movement came into her own body. Quickly she stepped into the breastplate of the man opposite her, sheathing the sword to the hilt, "Sharp... as you've never had to used it. Isn't it?" came her dark whisper, filling with hate.
".... yes...." Was the gasped reply as the man stumbled back, horror in his face as he realized he wouldn't survive the wound.
"One." she said cheerily, turning and walking back the way she'd come, shadow trailing as fog behind her.
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Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:11 pm
Anae stood silently at the edge of the burning forest. The flames seemed to scream at her, calling her. Gloved finger tips tingled with the anticipation of being lit. The bird perched delicately on her shoulder nibbled affectionately at her hair. She turned her head and nuzzled him gently with her cheek. The pounding of feet and hooves rang out through her muddled head. Anae looked at the embers burning near her feet and sighed. "What have we gotten ourselves into Fuego?"The bird chirped it's reply and Anae lifted one hand and removed the black satin glove. "I guess it's time to join them. What do you say?" The small bird spread it's wings and launched itself from her shoulder, taking off into the blaze.
Anae stepped forward into the fiery abyss and rubbed all four fingertips across her thumb, igniting them with a red/orange flame. The blaze seemed to part like water around her, never touching her once. She whispered softly to it, and made her way towards lake.
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:04 am
Acario woke groggily from a deep sleep as a delicious smell made its way into his room. Rubbing the matter from his eyes, he slowly rose from the bed, dressed quickly into his new attire, and began following the scent through the house.
A male servant stood waiting in the dinning room for him. On the table sat a still steaming plate of food. Acario's hunger seemed to return from hibernation with a loud rumble. He was starving. He sat down at the table, forgetting any type of manners, and began to tear into the incredible tasting food.
Acario leaned back in his chair moments later, his stomach full and his childish energy and curiosity returned. The servant had been standing there the whole time, and now he moved to take Acario's plate away. "Have you seen Nicolai? I'm supposed to start my training today." Acario had not spoken for some time, and his voice came out slightly raspy at first. The servant smiled and nodded his head. "After I put away your dishes I shall lead you to the sparring grounds where Master Nicolai awaits." Acario nodded his head and the servant left briskly.
Ferros paused momentarily at the edge of the lake. His men were taking a small break as the forest around them burned down magnificently in a bright blaze. Ferros stood in the middle of his men staring around at his work so far. Suddenly Adel's voice resounded from what seemed to be thin air. However, he was accustomed to speaking to the dark lord like this, so it came as no surprise. "Everything is going well your Highness. We have not encountered any resistance that we are searching for however, and I'm sure we have traveled through at least half of this forest. Perhaps they have already left this place?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:10 am
Alaura moved through the forest with ease. It seemed no root or underbrush would hinder her way. Her feet moved effortlessly over the ground, avoiding each earthen snag that would trip a lesser being. But not Alaura; not this woman born and bread to command the earth, bending it to her very will. She seemed utterly unlike herself, possessed by the fury of the flora and fauna that now seemed to rage around her. The forest had come alive, yet deep within her heart she knew it was her own fault. They fed off of her like she did of them, and because of this the frenzy had begun. She had brought this rebellious group to hide within this forest, condemning it to this burning fate.
She never once left the cover of the trees and indeed it seemed that the forest meant to hide her very presence. The grass gave no sound to her rapidly moving feet, and it seemed that if one did not keep their eyes on her Alaura would simply disappear within the trees. The only way to find her was that shocking head of white hair. Birds flew about her, dipping down to fly alongside her for a moment before moving back overhead, heralding her pass through the forest. Beasts stopped their furious movements towards the fire soldiers only long enough to look directly at the woman running through the trees. She was there to protect them, to defend them from this terrible might.
Vines rippled through the ground as Alaura grew closer to her query. They moved like tenticles through a sea of green grass, lapping up now and then if only to make their presence known. Something glinted briefly in the grass before Alaura, but it did not alarm her. This was of her own doing. Suddenly a bright object, jeweled and shining bright, burst through the ground, a green vine wrapped about the base. It was the huge sword that Alaura usually had strapped to her back. She grabbed it as she passed, holding it firmly in her hands. She was almost there; so close now she could feel the heat from the flames. Though fire was a weakness for plants, it held no sway over the dirt she could also wield. As she ran straight for a bought of flame she threw forth her hand sending a small wall of dirt ahead of her. It doused the flame with little effort and Alaura jumped forth, bringing down her sword on the helpless man who had been spreading the fire.
The man had no time to react as her sword sunk deep in his chest, crimson blood spilling over the charred earth behind him as she removed her sword. Almost instantly the still living man was covered by a flury of beasts. The scene was enough to make a person sick, but Alaura stared on with a detached curiosity. Beasts were known to be violent at times, but never had she seen them act in such a vengeful way. It would have bothered her if not for the simple fact that she no longer felt anything save rage.
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