Adion Veris's Story

Adion had been waiting for three hours on a bench in the throne room. Apparently, some military maneuver that was leaving the city had occupied the queen up until this time. Or at least that was what Adion had gathered from the guards' conversations.

He remembered last night, using up the last of his money of only five more doses of his liquid sleep, and the board and bed for said five days. After that, the veer would have to return back to his home, with whatever news he had to bring. The signs of the medicine that stole his money showed as his entire muzzle was an old hair white, a common side effect of the medication.

When the queen entered the chamber, the Veer would stand. His stance was one of a different society, straight and formal, but by no means noble. To the first look, the veer's rough cloth shorts and family helmet made him look like he was working one of the local farms. This, however, was very wrong. Other than that, the veer stood a few inches over most of the guards, and seemed to be made purely of muscle and fur. Most of the fur was black as night, excepting his muzzle and a small outline of his eyes, both of which were grayed by the medicine he took.

"I have come to seek your aid in restoring the Song of Tyr. Without it, my people will not be able to sleep, which will lead to a very violent state among the forest. If the song is not restored, I fear that the cities of Tyr will be the only safe place within the forests. It is also possible that if the Song of Tyr is not restored, groups of veer could leave the forest and begin attack those outside of it. I hope you can see just how urgent of a matter this is." The veer spoke, his voice seeming to have trouble with the words, but also the way he spoke said that his mind had an extremely good grasp of the language he spoke with perfect grammar. One could also tell by how the veer talked that he had some method of forcing himself to sleep.

The queen stood on the balcony outside her window overlooking the arcane garden. Her eyes lit up as she watched the flowers dance in the firsts rays of the morning light. Soon her garden would be filled the sound of children at play as the servants try futilely to keep them in line. The thought brought a smile to her lips; if only such innocence could last forever. These children would play without a care in world, the idea of responsibility far from their bright young minds. Let them play, she thought to her self with a pang of regret. If only her own childhood had been so -free.

Turning away from the carefree world below her she returned to her bed chamber where the royal tailor was fussing over her new dress. Taking a bit of the fabric in her hand she rubbed it between her fingers and along her arms; it felt wonderful. Silk, they called it, hard to believe such divine material came from a small worm. "It's exquisite."

"You will be the envy of all the woman in the kingdom you're majesty."

She regarded the tailor with a knowing smile. "And your coffers will no doubt grow because of it. Have I ever told you that you would make an excellent strategist?"

The man gave a short bow, replying with "my battles are fought in the commercial world."

"Your victories are well earned. The dress is indeed a masterpiece" -she said while looking it over, I would only change one thing about it."

The tailor, looking a bit wounded by her words stopped and almost reluctantly asked what she would change. It was a masterpiece, she said so herself. "Anything thing you want you're majesty."

"It is only a small change. I would split it from here to here, she said trailing her finger from the bottom of the dress to just below the point that would rest above her left thigh; I like freedom when I move."

The tailor did as instructed, at first believing he was destroying a great work, but when the queen tried it on his eyes filled with tears of of joy; he had truly outdone himself. "Magnificent! They won't be able to take their eyes off of you."

The queen thanked him with a smile then had him paid in gold. "I've instructed my servants to deliver twice the owed amount. Make me another dress like this one, a sleeveless version. You may take your leave now."

On her way out to the hall she grabbed a satin shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. With her jewelry and courtly gait, she was the very picture of regal splendor.

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The time for audiences had not yet arrived, but there was one whom had been waiting in the sitting room since before sunrise. Given the nature of this individual, the royal guard thought it prudent to send the creature in, if only to speed him on his way. Opening the door he announced. "The mongrel-folk, Adion Veris. you're majesty."

To her surprise the Veer didn't seem at all fazed by this, no doubt used to the way some humans regarded other species. This however, did not make the slight at all okay; the look she gave the guard was a dagger piercing his heart. The guard would be dealt with, but for now, the floor belonged to the Veer.

When the Veer finished his plea, Lynova stood from her throne and walked down to the kneeling creature. "Rise noble Veer, Veris; you have traveled far to seek my counsel. It is with heavy heart that say this, but there is little I can do to aid you in your quest. The song is not something that can be plucked from the air, therefore it can not be taken or hidden. The legend surrounding the song is a beautiful one, but in the end it is only that. The Song of Tyr, is what the scholars call a geological phenomena. The sound of the wind winding through the rocks was the source of the song. The recent earthquakes have misshapen the rocks and silenced the song. I can offer you only words, but I fear they will not be enough. I can no more change the whims of fate than I can the stars in the sky. These are troubling times my friend, but your people will persevere and overcome; and will be stronger for it."

There was nothing more that could be said, the Veer knew this as well, he bowed silently then took his leave.

When she returned to her throne, she saw that Mirra had entered during the audience; the young woman had a grieved look upon her face. "What will become of his people?" She asked.

"The Veer are a noble race and have treated the people of Tyr with great respect, even becoming their protectors. Without the song, they will grow restless and increasingly violent. They will, in their madness turn upon the people they once protected. War will follow. The Veer will overcome, but at great sacrifice."

The color had washed from Mirra's face and she needed to sit down. "Troubling times indeed."

Adion walked out of the room with a slight look like he had known something that the queen didn't. It was her mistake, but he had been rushed out before he could protest or correct. The scholars were right about how the shape of the tunnels affected the song, but there was more to it than that, as Adion had checked into the shape of the tunnels. The residents of Tyr said the quakes did nothing to the tunnels, and showed Adion down them. They were right, the tunnels stood as they had for millenniums. However, the very stone felt mundane, and the winds from the tunnels that made the noise suddenly stopped. To Adion it all added up.

The veer stood over the railing. He listened to many of the conversations of the humans. So few of them mentioned anything other than gold. To him, such priorities were only for governments.

Adion could tolerate the human race to a rather large extent. It was this natural tolerance that made him a prime choice when the veer needed someone for their mission. Adion would stay leaning over the railing until something would break him from his trance.

Adion did not waver more than to turn around as people entered the throne room. If it weren't for the tired and slow look of the veer, he would have been an intimidating sight, the mass of fur and muscle. Instead, he looked more like an old man who has wisdom to spare.

After each person entered the throne room, Adion resumed his position on the railing. He had overheard the knights, but had ignored them, until he noted four who were like statues. They had all the right scents to be living, but the beast couldn't figure out why they didn't move. Were they suffering from what has plagued the Tyr underground?

So many thoughts ran threw Adion's head till one seemed to stick. Someone or something stole the magic of the stone. There was no gentle decline in volume of the song, or more trouble for the residents of Tyr to sing their song until the day it all went away. That could be the only answer. It had to be.

Adion knew that the queen would not help him. She was stuck in her belief that it was all something to do with the tunnels moving. Something that Adion knew never happened. He needed a different help. Maybe if he visited the church, he could ask the humans' gods. The spirits and the god of rest were not strong enough to do anything other than to tell Adion that the answer lied beyond Tyr.

Thus, Adion began his walk to the local church.

When Adion first saw the Grand Cathedral, he saw it a wonder of architecture and beauty. When he entered, he saw a place of lost hopes and ruined pasts, but now he saw hope, written on every moral. A hope that was started by those who built the building. It was a unique feeling, having hope after going without it.

When Lucius began to talk about the tunnels beneath Tyr, only two words came out of Adion's mouth, "The Deep." This was a veer term for the deeper parts of the tunnels, the parts that few venture for fear of injury. The picture was now clear to him, the magic came from the deep's center, it then traveled through the stone, then the magic made wind and imbued the singers with their voices, and finally the songs were sung. Such realizations were big, as veer tended to leave big to instincts.

Taking the sleeping agent, Adion said "Thank you." And as with anytime he spoke, the words came out rough, but the grammar and pronunciation was perfect. So, Adion would follow Lucius's immediate instructions to the letter.

Adion slowly rose from the place he had taken to sleeping. The white of his muzzle was no more, replaced with a youthful black fur. He could feel his magic coming back, but it was not yet to him. When he looked out the nearest way outside, he noted that it was the crack of dawn, when the sky shows off its truest beauty. It sent the beast into awe as the colors slowly danced about the clouds.

The only other thought that invaded Adion's mind was a simple phrase, "In The Deep, he shall find salvation." It kept repeating like a bad song, or an unforgettable image. Something about it bothered the veer, yet he didn't know why.

Adion stood at the gates of Tyr. They had recently been boarded over, but there was definitely stone behind them, excepting a point the wood hid. Atop the structure stood two guards, waiting for the veer to attack. It amazed Adion that they would so quickly begin the raising of an army. Not to mention that without access to the forest, Tyr will soon be a hollow mountain. This was, is, and never will be acceptable.

"I seek the under, to restore the song." Shouted Adion at the wall. At the sound of a speaking veer, the guards stood speechless. Not only did the beast speak, which was rare, it was not violent at a time when they couldn't find a calm veer in the whole of the forests.

Soon, a small chunk of the wood was pulled back into the mountain. To more guards held it, both looking slightly under fed, and with the look of hurry on their faces. Adion took that as a sign to into the city as soon as possible. When he entered, the two guards closed the door behind him. They then escorted Adion to the Gate to the Under. It was a metal bar gate with several locking mechanisms. With a single key, the door was opened, and with a single key, it was closed behind Adion.

Adion walked down through the empty stone corridors of the Under. He could hear the creatures deeper doing whatever they did. Some fighting, others eating. He could also hear the echos of the Under, making distance seem infinite. The stone was a darker black than even the stone within Tyr, as compared to its normal white shine.

Drip... Drip... Drip the water rang through the stone halls as something else echoed and rippled through Adion's head. With every step, both the water and the message became louder, clearer. Soon, Adion could understand fragments of the message. "Millennial Fortress. Blood. Father. Champions. Man. Falls. Fail." The message was incomplete, but arcane. As if the magic that made it eternal was waning, hoping for some form of boost. Some kind of maintenance. This filled Adion with an indescribable dread as he walked further into the Under.

Descending to the center of the under took Adion a long time. He had only had a few fights with the denizens, most of them keeping their distance from the loud stepping down the halls.

Adion could stop thinking of the first fight, which was about halfway to where he was currently. The little, green creature charged him with what seemed to be a sword made of stone. It was far from sharp, and the little creature could barely hold it up, which made Adion all the more nervous. He wasn't threatened at all by the creature, which he had simply picked up and smashed against the wall. No, what caused the strange way that the creature came at him, eyes nearly lifeless and a mouth that seemed like all it wanted to do what eat flesh with a rabid hunger. And even more nerve racking was the constant sound of dripping water that never got closer or farther away. No matter how far along his path he was, it continued at the same volume.

Drip... Drip... Drip

After nearly an hour, Adion found his way to the source of the noise. It was water alright, but it glowed blue in the dark cave. And it dripped at a constant rate from the rock walls, almost like blood from a wound. Adion then reached out to touch the water's source. As soon as he could feel the stone through his fur, it seemed to heal at his touch. Adion then recoiled, falling back on his hind.

Rubbing his hind as he stood back up, Adion looked around. The dripping still rang through the caves, but the puddle near him was no longer there. Almost like the stone took it back. As Adion went to look back at where the stone once had a wound, he heard some small footsteps near him.

What Adion turned around to see was another of the creatures that attacked him. However, this one's eyes seemed to be full of life. As Adion stood back to prepare to defend himself, he noted that the stone where the water had been was now glowing blue. To that spot the creature ran, screaming "Noc sul das totie sol. Noc sul das totie sol!"

As the creature stood over the glowing stone, it kept repeating its sentence, "Noc sul das totie sol.", with tears shed at the end of its every repeat. Adion couldn't help but feel pity for the little green creature, as he feared that he may have taken something of import away from it. That was when its eyes suddenly shifted to the lifeless look, and its body took a feral pose as it charged him with its small stone sword being held up only by the creature's speed. With a swift kick to the face, Adion killed the creature.

Now only the sound of dripping water, its rhythm and volume never changing, remained to be heard. Adion stood there for maybe five minutes taking in the events that just unfolded. Now with his mind clear again, Adion decided that it would be best to forge onward.

The halls, they seemed endless. Maybe it was just that fact that there were no trees in the Under. Adion had spent so long in the city, and so long in the Under, at least to him, that he was beginning to miss the trees of the forests above. To him, there was no feeling like prowling through the trees, tracking a deer before making a feast of it. This thought only made Adion miss the forests more.

The stone in the under was cold and grey, with blue glowing crystals and fluids. The forests that Adion was used to were warm and lush greens and browns, filled with peaceful life, and beast's calls. All the sound here was that endless dripping. That was it. His feet and the dripping. Nothing else. It only made Adion more anxious.

Then he heard the sound, the distinct sound, of running humans, armor and all. It was getting closer and quick. It was not like Adion had been going faster than a slow walk, but he had still had time to make it quite a distance. These humans must have been tracking him, or hunting him. The armor was what really set the veer off.

Now noting how close they were, Adion whipped around to catch one of the humans, the leading female, in his grasp. In one clawed hand, he held her against the wall in such a way that her hands were trapped at her sides. The most she would be able to do is squirm.

Adion was not stupid. He knew from the sound, and its continuation, that more humans were coming. He would keep his hold on the female tight, and the moment he saw another human, likely clad in the same style armor, he would begin to snarl. Not that kind of 'I will feast on your bones snarl,' but the 'step back' kind of snarl.

Charlus and Elena were ecstatic upon receiving their marching orders from the legendary Commander Nala, a member of Lord Hadrian's retinue of specialists that acts as his personal guard. They were to assist a veer in the restoration of the Song of Tyr. A noble undertaking fraught with countless dangers. A mission from the Grand Master himself.

They listened to their commander's orders and soon they quickly prepared their equipment and provisions for the journey. In their minds it would take them a short while to reach Tyr via the tunnel networks created by the Obscura Rosa.

"This is the day, isn't it? We're going to rise through the ranks as Captains." Charlus asked while he and Elena, along with their squads move towards the tunnel entrance, which was disguised as a tree, located within the estate. Elena nodded with a toothy grin. "Hey! Don't grin like that , love. I know we're going on another adventure; but please, don't do anything stupid again." The grin on Elena's face dropped into a pout which made Charlus chuckle as they entered the tunnel network.

"'Do something stupid' he says. As if I did something stupid while on an important mission. Name one time I did something like that!" Elena's voice echoed throughout the well lit tunnel.

"The time you stabbed a minor nobleman of Tyr inside his own home which caused the local guards to chase us out."
"The arrogant swine deserved it."
"The time you woke a sleeping wyvern in Jotun when we rested inside a cave that you said was safe."
"Okay maybe I should have checked first. But--"
"The time you slapped a farmer and insulted a fisherman in Krestmere."
"I was tired and I had a bad day, but--"
"You burned down a section of the Velmon forest which--"
"Okay fine! I get it! Just stop, please!" Charlus nodded without looking at her.

They continued on their journey in utter silence. The sound of their steps echoed throughout the tunnel. "Hey, Elena."
"Yes?"
"You know I was just poking fun, right?" He looked at her with a tinge of worry in his eyes. She looked at him and nodded while flashing a soft smile on her face. "I know for a fact that if something strange didn't happen while you're around, then you aren't the woman I came to care and respect."
"Thanks Charlus. Now, let's hurry and get our heads back in the mission. We got to reach Tyr as soon as possible!"

The group ran as fast as they could, determined to complete the mission handed to them. It took them a couple of hours to reach the exit which led to Tyr. After emerging from the exit, they inquired about the whereabouts of Tyr's underground caverns. It took a little bit of effort on their part and a few gold coins to loosen the tongues of the populace until one of the guards gave them extensive information about about the tunnels, known as the Under and agreed to lead them to one of the entrances of the cavern. They entered the cavern; bearing as well the warnings of the guard to keep a vigilant watch within the deep tunnels.

It was cold and silent. The only sound that could be heard was the clicking of metal and the dripping of water along the cavern walls and ceiling. Crystals, embedded along the walls of the cavern, bathes the entire tunnel in a soft eerie blue glow. They were ready. They were marching with a purpose. Their hands near their weapons and senses sharp. Elena was leading the group, with Charlus at the rear. This was their moment. Their moment to prove themselves worthy of being a member of the organization. In their minds they are worried and excited. Worried that they might not find the veer in time and fail. Excited that they are a part of the few that ventured down these tunnels after a long time.

At first, there was nothing but the silence. But their was a sharp whistling sound that startled Elena. She had little time to react when she was pinned down on the wall by a large clawed hand. She couldn't move her arms to swing her weapon and defend herself. Her eyes widened in panic as she gazed at the being the held her. It was the veer! A large black wolf-like being that towered over her helpless form. Her comrades, who just arrived and witnessed her current state, brandished their weapons ready to free her from the veer's grasp. "Elena!" Charlus yelled as he drew his sword and readied his shield. Elena heard the veer snarl. A warning for them at least.

"Stop! Don't you dare approach! This is our target! Stay your hands and let me speak!" She called out to them. "Adion. Adion we're here to help. We are members of the Obscura Rosa. Our lord, Hadrian, commanded us to assist you in restoring the Song of Tyr. A thousand pardons if we startled you; we were forced to come here in a hurry. Please, Adion. What was said was the truth. We seek nothing from you in providing our services to your quest. Our lord, ordered us to assist. We swear on our marks that what we speak is the truth." The men around her slowly dropped their stances but still had their weapons on hand. Charlus was reluctant to do so in fear for Elena. Everyone hoped that Adion would understand that they truly meant no harm. That what they have said was true.

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While Charlus and Elena were deep within the Under of Tyr, Hadrian and Nala were on their way to Tonule. They, along with a thousand knights bearing the marks of the Obscura Rosa, rode on horseback towards the Millennium Fortress. It took them half of the entire day to reach the outskirts of Tonule by passing through plain lands and the forest routes. Along the journey, he had the time to contemplate. If they reached Tonule, what would happen? Did those fools discovered it already? Can the book be retrieved at all? He shook his head and growled. He hated it when something felt wrong with the entire situation.

"My lord, are you alright?" A muffled voice said to his right. He looked at his right and saw Nala's look of concern. She looked different; everything's the same, but there was a silver mask that covers the lower half of her face. The mask resembled the snout of a snarling wolf. Her hair billowed slightly from the breeze and her posture was alert. She reined her horse closer to his until they rode side by side. "My lord?"

"I am fine, Nala. Do not concern yourself about me." She nodded before looking back on the road. It was a quiet journey. None of them spoke after her inquiry. The men on the other hand whispered with one another about what they'll face. They remembered the reports that Tonule is under the control of the Dark Lord and the Lord of Alzeran. But titles mean nothing to Hadrian's men. To them they are but two men with too much fame and infamy on their names. Two men that are mortal as any other man; that can bleed and die as any other man. Thus they themselves are prepared and alert. Prepared to test the whether these two Lords are what the tales made by the people true; and alert to any surprises that may come upon them.

The sun was near the horizon when Hadrian and Nala knew they were nearing the Millennium Fortress. The reports were true. The walls have crumbled and the ground was covered in ice. The work of a powerful arcanist or the work of a brilliant strategist? In Hadrian and Nala's mind, it was the strategist that deserves the applause. Any man that thought of using Arcane Power in the destruction of an object as large as the walls of the fortress deserves recognition.

"Nala, be on your guard. I have a bad feeling about the entire situation, since our journey across the forest. We must be prepared for anything." Hadrian said as they approached the gates of Tonule.

"Yes, Lord Hadrian." Nala whispered and slowly nodded her head. She steeled herself from the coming storm. She knew, deep down inside, that everything would go down hill in a moment's notice.

"At least your lord has some knowledge of the past to know what dangers your kin will soon face should my kind go without rest. These forests will become the source of terror for this entire world. The solution to this is deep within the core. I am not sure if it has been corrupted or drained of its energy. All that I know is that some high human in his empire caused this, putting the whole world at risk, and placing Tyr on the brink of starvation." Adion stated dropping the woman before slowly walking forward.

"Prepare your people. The creatures that you will face down here are hardly a threat, the real threat is the dripping of the water. It never changes. Not rhythm, not volume, not distance. It can easily cause the unprepared mind much pain and many problems." Adion stated, turning his head around just to speak to the humans, before resuming his slow walk towards the core of the Under.

Elena stood up as she rubbed her arms to relieve the aches she received from Adion's strong grip. She was glad that the results of their confrontation with Adion did not result to bloodshed. Though now it seems distrust and weariness dominates the air around them. She heard footsteps to her left, she turned and soon she came face to face with Charlus. His face bore a worried expression. "Elena. Elena are you alright?" He reached out and held her in his arms. He inspected her trying to find anything that is wrong with her.

"I'm fine Charlus." She said as she inspected her arms. Bruises were slowly forming from where Adion had gripped her. She quickly hid it from him but she knew he saw it. "Don't worry yourself about trivial matters, Charlus." She gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm a grown woman and a warrior. I can take care of myself."

Charlus looked at her with a stern look. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it. He knew he could trust Elena but seeing her get hurt every time worries him to no end. He sighed and shook his head before giving her a weary smile. "Only you, Elena. I...I trust you. I trust your decisions and I will support you. But if something seriously wrong is about to happen then I will step in."

She smiled at him and ran up to Adion's side. She was then followed by Charlus and their men who followed with their weapons at the ready.

"Hey, Adion. I think we all got off the wrong foot or paw and I, uh, want all of us to begin anew, so to speak. So, hi, my name is Elena, Elena Fairwind-Angelos and this lovable guy is Charlus Vaharian-Angelos." She said while pointing at Charlus. "We're both members of the Obscura Rosa."

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The destruction of the wall, seen near or far, was such as sight. It was a glorious sight from afar. But it was a harrowing and sorrowful sight when close by. Victory in exchange for the lives and homes of many innocents. It was, for Hadrian, a tasteless victory. To shed the blood of the innocent in pursuit of success was a deplorable act. But he couldn't fault the invaders much with regards to the tactics used in taking Tonule. All that he could do was reflect and learn the mistakes and actions done in what the history books would call, "The Battle for Tonule".

Hadrian and his entourage approached the ice encrusted gates in a neat line; with Hadrian and Nala at the front followed by the thousands of knights behind them. Surprisingly, there were no guards guarding the gates at the moment. Hadrian shook his head in dismay. It appears that the men under Dalmar and Ivagio were too complacent. "My Lord, there are no guards at the gate."

Hadrian looked at Nala then back at the gate. "It appears so, Nala. The soldiers here seem to rely on the reputation of their generals alone." Nala nods her head as they continued into the city. They passed by many buildings, some were in relatively good condition while others were destroyed by the debris from the crumbling walls. "Alright, Nala, we are to proceed to the Town Hall as soon as we can. Pray that we reach there without incident."

"Yes, Lord Hadrian. Men, maintain defensive formation." The men behind them quickly rode to formation, ten men surrounding them in a defensive box while the rest stayed in formation with their hands hovering above their blades. The rode through the main streets while garnering some glances and whispers from passers by; though, the majority were focused on living their lives as if nothing has changed.

After a considerable amount of time, they passed by a crowd surrounding two people who are in an argument. Hadrian and his entourage paid no mind to the squabble and continued on. They were so close to their objective. So very close.

"Elena is it? I am Adion Veris and my only care in this world is to return the Song of Tyr. Do not stand in my way, or threaten the singers, and you will be fine. I will give you a warning about the Under. It drives those who are not prepared insane, and gnaws at the sanity of the prepared." Adion stated with a wave of his hand further down the tunnels.

"Another tip would be not to believe yourself to ever be safe down here. Nothing is safe down here, for that which threatens you can always find a way. No amount of armor or prior training that the surface can offer will aid you against some of the more specific threats that hide down here." Spoke the veer as he began to walk towards the the center of the under, ever further down the stone walls that emanated the blue light.

"Elena is it? I am Adion Veris and my only care in this world is to return the Song of Tyr. Do not stand in my way, or threaten the singers, and you will be fine. I will give you a warning about the Under. It drives those who are not prepared insane, and gnaws at the sanity of the prepared." Adion stated with a wave of his hand further down the tunnels.

"Another tip would be not to believe yourself to ever be safe down here. Nothing is safe down here, for that which threatens you can always find a way. No amount of armor or prior training that the surface can offer will aid you against some of the more specific threats that hide down here." Spoke the veer as he began to walk towards the the center of the under, ever further down the stone walls that emanated the blue light.