Celandine

Sylvia looked at her brother with a sigh and was about to leave him where she heard him groan and then speak "Sister...I'm sorry" he muttered before drifting back into sleep. Sylvia sighed and shook head head but before she could say anything a shout entered the air.

"For Erandor!" yelled out an old and most likely insane dwarf. The old Dwarf got the jump on one guard but the others where quick to react holding their weapons and defencely falling back luring the old foolish dwarf into a volley of arrows aimed at his arms and legs the old dwarf fell crippled. a group of imps then hopped out set to bash the old dwarf and then tie him up but they jumped away as they saw the younger female dwarf.

By this time though a good portion of the crimson elf army had appeared their green eyes glowing in anger about to set upon the female dwarf but stopped as Sylvia walked forward sword in hand she looked at the dwarf woman "I suggest you put down your sword small one we have no quarrel with your kind...sadly though your friend has shed my people's blood" Sylvia thrust her sword into the old dwarf ending his life then pulled it out and pointed the blood stained blade at the Dwarf woman "Now drop your blade small one unless you wish to share your friend's fate"

Ovordil sighed "You misinterpret what i am trying to tell you Dalisia Arlathina, i merely pondered as to why you were alone out here. Ovordil raised an eyebrow as Lafrin also gave him his opinion.

"Your forests? The Irony. In my youth, younglings were kept at home, but i see that times have changed. I wouldn't be surprised that either of you had heard of Alqualond or its people. Too small a town in her majesty's lands for such as you to notice."

As he speaks he pulls out a parchment with an insignia of the queen stamped over it.

"From her Highness, an order of conscription. That those of Alqualond would ride to war for her majesty the queen, a three day ride to here, wouldn't be surprised you've never heard of Alqualond, far from the capital, the far western woods, do tell me why i, and my companions here. "

He gestures to the elves coming into the clearing behind him

"Are considered an enemy, compared to humans because many of them cannot utter a word of the old language. Why? Most of them are half elven, some have barely any elven blood left in them. Does that make them traitors? Enemies? Do they deserve to be exiled or executed? No. They deserve the same rights as you and me. Pure Elven. The Great Forests of Celandine are as much their home as it is yours."

Ovordil smiled at Yuhra's response.

"Perhaps hope for the youth is not completely lost."

Thanks to the gift of the house of Sicserah, he had foreseen the movement that yuhra had just made and watched the knife for a second time hurl towards him, stopping just before his face. Ovordil stared at it bemused.

___________________________________________

Ovordil watched his sister and the handmaidens of the queen enter the clearing, he smiled. "How she has grown." He held back his growl at being ordered to stay behind while six handmaidens went to confront an enemy, he did not doubt their ability but he thought it foolish to charge in head on with no plan of action. Herion next to him was fuming with rage.

"We have travelled to aid our people and defend our homeland, if we are forced to stay behind and wait here then we would have been more use in Alqualond".

Ovordil placed a hand on Herions shoulder. "Be calm friend, your warriors will prove their worth and bring glory to the elven province of Alqualond".

Ovordil turned away from Herion who moved to muster his men into position, danger was eminent and it was time to move into action. He watched Yuhra slipping away in the distance most likely following the handmaidens. Swinging up onto his white mare, he kicked into her hard, sending her at a gallop to catch up to Yuhra. "General or not, one should not travel alone in a time like this" he thought seeing the figure of Yuhra come closer, but halting the movements of his mare as he watched Yuhra become surrounded by men clad in armour. Ovordil cursed aloud but almost laughed as he watched Yuhra decimate the human force around her.

"Vicious and efficient you are general, as i suspected." Ovordil said sliding of his mare and walking comfortably towards her, stepping over the bodies of the fallen soldiers without care.

'A man began to rise from where he had fallen, spear aimed at Yuhra, shaft in his hand, he launched it at the general who was occupied with the arrival of Ovordil. It struck her in the side, with such a force that she stumbled, blood and watery fluid flowing from her side where her organs had being punctured. She looked up at Ovordil fear in her eyes, blood dribbling from her mouth...'

Ovordil snapped back from his foresight. He turned quickly to the direction where he had seen the surviving soldier, beginning to rise and aim his spear. In a fluid movement Ovordil brought his hand out of his long sleeve and sliced it through the air. He felt the wind, it obeyed. Like a blade the motioned air sharpened and arc like, moved to the soldier. Invisible and fast moving the Wind Blade as Ovordil called it, made contact with the soldier, slicing the mans unprotected neck and face, leaving a deep diagonal cut. Blood poured from the wound and the man dropped his spear and crumpled back onto the ground.

Ovordil turned back to Yuhra who was facing him now. "You should be more wary General, it is dangerous to go alone."

(Iimagio. God modding. Edit your post. Nao. Not unless you and glmstr talked about that.)

Karl Norgaard - Grand Master of Hollam

Karl the main body of his knights had already left the battlefield by the time the Elven heroes arrived. He could hear the screams of the fanatics, common soldiers who followed him with a religious devotion but were not considered Knight of Hollam. He tugged the head of his horse around, the entire column coming moving with him as he spurred his mount back towards the fighting.

As they came within sight of the battlefield he was stunned to see only a handful of Elves devastating the fanatics without any serious injury. Granted, the fanatics were hardly trained soldiers but the ease with which the Elves were slaughtering them was appalling. He narrowed his eyes and stared towards the Elves, watching as one managed to perform some impressive acrobatics as she massacred a small group of soldiers.

“Hand maidens of the Queen.” This was the Bishop of Hollam, a man who was clad from head to toe in platemail and wielding a massive two handed mace, a great golden cross emblazoned on his chest. “Heretics...”

Karl smiled despite the situation, the Bishop was more interested in sending heretic souls to hell then he was praying to god, a man after Karl’s own heart. He dismounted, sliding from his saddle with a thump, the Bishop and a dozen other Knights accompanying him. These were the true warriors of God, Knights of Hollam who had pledged their lives to God and in return been granted powers few others could match.

As one they began to advance across the battlefield, stepping over the dead Elves with disdain. He was nearly within hailing distance of the Elves who had begun to contract into a small circle when he heard the sound of hooves behind him. He halted for a moment, glancing over his shoulder to see a man in brilliant armour approach. He grinned. Keaghan, Chief Commander of the Human armies and one of the few men in the Kingdom that Karl considered as fine a soldier as himself.

“I have been sent here to fight with you and your men in this battle and the rest to come while our army safe guards the human capital, if you accept my aid that is.”

Karl grasped the younger man’s hand and smiled. “Keaghan, I could ask for no better ally on the field today.” He gestured to the surrounded Elves. “I would hesitate to suggest any strategy to a man as skilled as yourself, so I will tell you my plan. I intend to either convince our dear Elven hand maidens to leave and inform their Queen of the hopeless war they fight, or to kill them all. I leave you to decide how to best use your own soldiers though I ask you allow me a few moments.”

He bowed slightly to the younger man and then turned to the Bishop and the Knight who had come with them. “Your grace, Knights of Hollam, let us show these heretic fairies the power of god, of the resurrection.”
Karl began to sing, a deep baritone that echoed through the trees, an intense sound that was eerie and uplifting at the same time.



Tendrils of light began to seep from the Grand Master, snaking their way amongst the fallen humans, touching some, passing over others. The Bishop joined in, his own baritone rising slightly, the Knights beginning a slow but precise deep “harum” sound as they sang.



The bodies that had been touched by the tendrils of light took on a faint shimmering glow, wounds began to close and colour returned to their cheeks.



As the song came to an end and the last words rolled over the battlefield the fallen humans who had been touched by the light rose to their feet, picking up their weapons as they did. Where there had once been a field of dead, a ring of soldiers stood once again, eyes ablaze with a strange light.

Karl lowered his arms, and swept his gaze across the army of God. Next to him the Bishop moved impatiently.

“Let us finish gods work m’lord.” He said as he turned his massive mace slowly in his hands, staring at the Elves with a hatred that could not be missed.

“No your grace, let them go, to spread the word, God is coming.” Karl waved his soldiers back and then stepped forward, within easy hailing distance of the Elves.

“I give you your lives. Go to your Queen and tell her what you have seen here. Tell her that God has charged us with a Holy Crusade and we will not rest until you, and all of your kind, are dead. Go home, make your peace with your false gods, say goodbye to your families, for the wrath of god is upon you.”

The resurrected humans that surrounded the Elves parted to their rear, leaving a path for them to exit the field.

"False gods?!" Screamed Niara at the top of her now ragged lungs. "You do bear such nerve Human! I will show you the power of our false gods!" Niara stepped forward and faced the human. She began to chant in the ancient language. Her voice resembled the sound of bells. It was a joyful noise that rang throughout the Forest, and the birds began to chirp along.

I placed my hand supportingly on Niara's left shoulder as Trianna did the same with her right. Catalina held my hand as Endrid took hold of Trianna's, and together we walked forward and stared at the Human with hatred in our eyes. Niara's voice began to thunder throughout the trees and the wind began to howl. Our hair flew wild and free in the wind, and for once I saw some of the Humans stand shocked, and dismayed.

"Ar' kalina ta en'Cormerus korma imya ta orn!"
And the light of Cormerus shall surge through the trees!
"A'ndengin lye faarea, antha sen lanta a'ron narda!"
To slay our foes, watch them fall to their knees!

Niara's voice had grown deep and demonic, but I knew that the Humans had angered Cormerus and that he stood with her. Beams of light shot down from the sky, and pointed themselves towards every Elf that had been slain on that horrible day. Flesh began to knit itself together again, and sheets of skin replaced the old ruined ones.

"Ar' ta Eldalie lalaith. Ta ten'halda lle gurtha!"
And the Elven folk shall laugh. It will foreshadow your death.
"Ta edan kaiv lanta, ar'ta Tel'Quessir kaiv waima tuulo' ta hyarya!"
Men shall fall, and The People will rise from what is left.

I watched as the dead Elves stirred once more. The Humans backed away from the rising Elves as though they were lepers. When they had recieved life once more they began to make their way through the masses towards us.

"Hwesta! Hwesta, amin Quessir! Hwesta e'ta kalina en'Cormerus!"
Breathe! Breathe, my people! Breathe in the light of Cormerus!

As she proclaimed these last few words The Elves had risen, and were standing behind us in a horde of angry soldiers. Life had been given to them again, and they would not waste it this time. Niara's body shuddered and she fell to her knees. I'm sure being a conduit for such raw power left her body exhausted. I lowered myself to her, and was about to help her stand as she gestured for me to hold my place. Shakily, Niara raised herself from the ground and threw her voice like an actual weapon towards the towering Human.

"You give us nothing wretched Human!" She said with poison lacing her words. "We take life as Cormerus, The Life Breather, gives it! Your god has no power here! Now leave Human! Do not return to these Forests, or you shall feel the wrath of Navima rain down upon you!" Niara commanded with hatred burning in her soul. It was the first time I had seen Niara look at anyone this way. It almost felt wrong to let her behave in such a way. We edged back into the Silverwood Forests. Once safely behind the treeline I surveyed the Humans to see their reaction. They could either charge, or decide to leave. Though, if it was a battle they wanted, it was a battle they would get.

(Im alright with the spear thing btw.)
"Agh!" Yuhra yelped out as the spear struck her side, and she fell to the ground. She quickly pressed her hand onto her side to try and keep her bodily fluids in, but to little avail.She curled up on the floor, and said with the last of her energy, "Mother Tertia, is this what you wanted to become of me? A general killed by a mere human mongrel?"

With the last of her breath, she whispered in her agony, and the knives struggled to stay in the air. "Silverwood forest, please forgive me.", She then collapsed into unconsciousness, the knives falling helplessly onto the ground around her.

“Keaghan, I could ask for no better ally on the field today.” said Karl as he took keaghans hand and he shook it, the compliment from a knight that was on of the most renown and infamous humans the stood in any army was accepted with much inner satisfaction, he was of course too old to react like a little boy meeting an idol for the first time " nor can I " he returned the compliment, keaghan listened well to Karl's plan as he spoke them " then a few moments you shall have " he said with no objections, in any other occasion he wouldn't easily accept the possibility of resorting to ' killing them all ' but witnessing the few elves tear through the soldiers so easily and relentlessly allowed his mind to make way for the true soldier in himself and if it came to that he would do what needed to be done with no objections.

He bowed slightly to return the courteousness and watch as Karl turned to a knight and a Bishop to address them " Your grace, Knights of Hollam, let us show these heretic fairies the power of god, of the resurrection.” He said to the two of them and beneath his helm his eyebrow arched upwards out of curiosity, he wondered exactly what he he meant by Resurrection...surly he wan't to or couldn't do what keaghan thought he would be, he heard many stories of Karl's ability to channel the power of God but never had he fully believed it, at something like raising the dead was possible as necromancers have proven that many times over. This " Resurrection " sounded like it would be something more, something impossible. The Holy knight Karl began to sing in a deep and eery yet uplifting tone witch resonated through their surroundings, keaghan himself felt a minuscule surge of power building in the air around them.



the minuscule power he felt before exploded into a might surge of power as tendrils made literally of light left the Grand masters body and swept over the fallen bodies of human soldiers, as their song continued the bodies began to glow with a brilliant light. Keaghan watched in awe as the song ended the bodies of once fallen soldiers began to stand and take arms, they all looked completely restored and their eyes showed the same brilliant light. one the Bishops word the Grand Master called out to the elves “I give you your lives. Go to your Queen and tell her what you have seen here. Tell her that God has charged us with a Holy Crusade and we will not rest until you, and all of your kind, are dead. Go home, make your peace with your false gods, say goodbye to your families, for the wrath of god is upon you.” and amazingly the Resurrected army parted to allow them a chance to heed his words and flee.

The acts of power did not end there for when he looked across the battlefield to see the elves reaction it appeared they had done the exact same with their army, on both sides fallen fighters stood once more ready to strike each other down for the second time if need be. One of the elves retorted with an similar warning to Karl as he had given them, it appeared like those fallen warriors would indeed have to suffer death a second time. Keaghan snapped out of his amazement off both their magics and reached up behind him to take hold of the handle of his great sword, he pulled it up and slid it down were it would lay on his broad armored shoulders, he was prepared to charge into battle with Karl and his godly army.

Arlathina

I watched intensely as the Human army hesitated. The towering Human looked at us enraged. After a short staring contest his voice bellowed from his throat. "Death to The Elves!" He screamed holding his sword to the air. He waited until the last of his army had gone ahead of him, and as his last soldier passed him he charged furiously towards the Elves. Every time his feet hit the ground, it shook with a small tremor.

The Elves surged forth from the Forest like a horde of wolves. We made a path towards the outlandish Human Commander, cutting our way through men left and right. A battle cry raged from Trianna's throat, but I couldn't make out what she said above the cacophany of war. When we reached him he glared at us with a burning hatred for a few moments, he then rushed forward and swung his long ebony sword at Trianna. She deftly dodged the sword's sharp edge by jumping over the large blade. He again raised his sword to swing, only to be foiled by Eserah who had rammed him in his side with her shield. I let my attention slip to the Human soldiers who tried desperately to help their commander but were held back by a wall of Elves.

I payed dearly for my distraction. The Human commander bashed me with the flat of his sword, which sent me sprawling for ten feet into the battle. When I regained my bearing I nocked and arrow and let it fly towards the Human. When it reached him the arrow bounced off his black armor, as if dull. I nocked another arrow while he was distracted by Catalina. This time I fingered the tip of the arrow. When it sliced through my skin with the power of a Dwarven razor, I sent it slicing through the air. Once again, the arrow bounced off his armor futilely like it was hitting a brick wall. I looked at Trianna, as Catalina was knocked unconcious by a gauntlet to the head.

"Cut his armor!" I yelled out to her above the fray of the battle. I do not know whether my voice reached her, but seconds later she propelled herself off the ground with her strong legs. She went flying through the air towards him, and severed a black strap. A large plate of ebony fell to the ground, and the Human looked at his exposed leg with an astonished expression. It was clear that he was not used to such nudity. Trianna climbed onto his back and began to beat on the rear of his helmet. He began to try to grasp Trianna, but it was useless. His large armored hands lacked coordination and finesse, and Trianna dodged them with ease.

Eserah began to slice at the skin on his leg. She managed to get a good slash in before he brought his sword down upon her. At first panic coursed through my veins, but as he raised his sword Eserah stood with her shield raised above her head. Endrid sent three orbs of energy flying at the man. Trianna jumped off the monster's back just in time. As the orbs hit the man they exploded, and sent even his large frame tumbling to the ground. His huge left chestplate flew up in the air and landed on the head of a Human soldier.

When he rose he felt a slight breeze where his left chestplate had once been. He looked at us with a sneer, and directed himself towards me. I plucked an arrow from my quiver, and a few seconds later that arrow planted itself into his chest. Blood began to drip down the man's chest though it did nothing to stop his charge. He still thundered furiously towards me. Fear began to mount in my stomach, as he approached me like a raging bull. I fumbled with another arrow. When I finally placed it in the notch of my bow I pulled my bow back to its breaking point, and sent the arrow racing through the distance between us. The arrow only cause a chip of armor to break off the man's right shoulder.

Sensing that my attempts to stop him with my bow were futile, I called upon the Forest for assisstance. Two roots protruded from the dirt and wrapped themselves around the large pillars that were the man's legs. I heard the groaning and creaking of wood as the roots struggled to keep hold of the very strong man. At first I thought I had subdued him, but soon the roots broke, and in the distance I saw two trees fall to the autumn Forest floor. He continued to charge at me and as the gap between us grew thinner and thinner I dropped to my knees, said a silent prayer to Y'ffre.

A mere millisecond before his body slammed into mine a colossal tree shot out of the ground, and hit the man squarely in the chest. It sent the large man flying, and as he rocketed through the air he looked like a large black cannonball. When he landed a large spray of dirt shot in all directions from the ground, and he rose with engorged eyes, and a cracked legging. While he was dazed I fitted an arrow to my bow, and aimed for a few seconds. When I had locked onto my target I sent the arrow hurtling towards the man with the power of a javelin. The arrow forced itself deeper into the crack of the armor, until the ebony could no longer hold itself together. It broke into a hundred glittering shards.

Niara jumped from a mob of humans, and cut the strap to his right chest plate, and as the right chestplate fell to the ground his broad chest was exposed. He had a lean, and well-muscled abdomen despite having such a large frame. Trianna looked at me and screamed. "Cuamin linduva yassen megrille!" I nodded back at her and took position ten yards in front of the Human who was engaged in a game of cat and mouse with Trianna. Eserah positioned herself kneeling with her sword upraised ten yards behind the man.

Endrid walked towards me as I nocked an arrow in my bow. She rubbed her fingers against the tip of the bow and uttered a few words. A dazzling light grew brighter and brighter on the pinnacle of the arrow until it seemed as though the sun had come down to join us in battle. As the 30th second passed Trianna jumped back and landed by my side. The Human looked at us with a manic grin on his face. I loosed the arrow and it flew towards the Human with the power of a falcon. His whole body was rocked by the sheer force of the enchanted arrow. He flew ten yards back to land directly on top of Eserah, and as he did her sword plunged through his back and exited out of his chest. He looked towards the sky and muttered something but I didn't pay attention to corpses.

The surrounding Humans looked at our deeds in disbelief, as we rushed forward to heave the man off of Eserah. Eserah groaned as we lifted his heavy form off of her body. "That bloke never missed a meal, I assure you." She joked with a slight grin. I quickly hugged her. "Now lets kill the rest of these Humans. Aye?!" After we had retrieved a dazed Catalina, we set off into the fray of battle.

Queen Vanira

"He is a very promising young man from Farya, your majesty. I have watched him grow from a young lad, please have him in Isteria. You will not regret it." The Keeper of Farya explained to me.

I looked at him with a trivial expression. "I suppose I could have The Handmaidens watch over him for a short time. I will have a letter sent by messenger to his residence in Farya."

-Later on that night-

I sat down and began to write the letter. I was used to writing formal declarations of conscription, so it didn't take very long. When I looked at the finished product I smiled in satisfaction. It read.

Dear Aerdrian,

The Keeper of Farya has informed me that you are a young man of great promise. I wish to conscript you into the Elven Royal Elites as an archer. I have been told of your personal situation and your father shall be provided with a residence in Isteria. You will be trained personally by my Handmaidens. I will send a ship to fetch you, and your things. Bring nothing else Aerdrian, you are leaving behind your old life, and starting anew.

Sincerely,
Queen Vanira

( did Tempest already approve of you taking full control of his character's fate already? )

"You, elf. Wake up." Yuhra felt a small nudge on her soldier, and finally woke up. She surveyed her surroundings, and then felt her side where the spear hit. It was sealed with magic, and a white bandage was covering the scar from view. She then looked over in the direction of the man who awoke her; she could tell it was a man from his voice. "Where am I?" She groaned, rubbing her head to dull a sharp headache that had suddenly laid upon her. She checked her hidden pockets, and, to her suprise, all four of the knives were there. Even better was the fact that her clothing was almost perfect, all of the layers put on and kept correctly. "What is this place? How did I get here?"

"You're in prison, lass. Likely brought here from the front lines by some kind o' teleportation spell or something" A human man grinned at her, several teeth missing from his crooked smile. He was a rather large figure, and seemed like someone you wouldn't expect in jail: kind, respectful, and happy-go-lucky. "Them elven clothes are fine indeed. Who exactly are you? Must be someone important for our ol' government to imprison without trial." He tilted his head slightly to the left, eyeing Quartum up and down.

"I'm surprised your kind is not as barbaric as they tell us. And yes, I am of some importance. I am Commander Yuhra Quartum." She tried to be as polite as possible, though she was pleased and disgusted by this man before her.

"So you're the elf commander we hear so much about. In these parts, we hear lots about Quartum and her newest killings. Something with these weird floating knives." He gestured into the air, symbolizing the knives finding their home in someone's body.

"These parts? Where are we?" Quartum questioned, completely perplexed.

"You didn't know already? Well, this is gonna be your home for a long time now, so I'll give you an official welcome."

"Welcome to Erandor, lass." He let out a hearty laugh.

"E-E-Erandor?! NOOOOOOO!" She burst into tears of shame. She had been captured by the humans!

"What am I going to do now?" She sobbed to herself. Unless someone saves her, she's going to be stuck in the heart of an enemy nation.

(Tempest is gone. His character's "fate" was forfeit to my wishes. >_> Hurry and post what your character does so I can get back to camp and find out that Yuhra was captured, and then go and rescue her.)

(Tempest is gone. His character's "fate" was forfeit to my wishes. >_> Hurry and post what your character does so I can get back to camp and find out that Yuhra was captured, and then go and rescue her.)

( lol alright attitude, i was just asking. why did he leave? )

(Look at the ooc. >_> Sorry for the attitude.)

It was pretty rare for keaghan to draw his sword, he mostly wielded it for intimidation as he found most challengers stepped down once they saw a man brandishing a weapon of it's size so it was even rarer still for him to actually use it. He only ever actually chose to use it to wipe out the his foes rather than simply defeat them, today was one of those rare occasions. At the start of the clash between reanimated human and elf forces he drove his great sword into the ground to lighten his burden as he charged into the oncoming wave of the elven mass with deadly fist flying, using the small round shield attached to his armor he deflected swords and arrows alike and the few that made it past this did little more than bounce right off his armored body as his fist shattered the skulls and rib cadges of their comrades. a few of the elves recognized there was a far stronger human among the mass of other reanimated soldiers that appeared to be plowing through their forces with his bar hands and couldn't help but be stricken by utter shock, a human breaking them down like this with only his fist? It was unthinkable yet it happened right before there eyes, keaghan was to caught up in the heat of battle to notice them but the momentary distraction were enough to get the slack jawed elves decapitated by the godly reanimated solders.

keaghan noticed a light out of the corner of his eye but ignored it at first as he charged forward, crushing the skulls of fallen elves beneath his feet as he did but that light grew brighter to the point were it seemed the very sun came down upon them, still he did not looked as he assumed Karl was using some type of holy magic to produce the light that would no doubt be the undoing of the elves but he couldn't have been more wrong. He decided to turn his head to bare witness to whatever Karl had in store for them but what he saw was the very last thing he expected to ever see, Karl flew through the air with a light piercing his chest and at the end of his punishing flight he was impaled by his his own sword. He was as astonished as the rest of the men, the whole battle practically came to a grinding halt as they all looked in disbelief and the elves took this time to taunt them with war cries.

"Now lets kill the rest of these Humans. Aye?!" came a voice from somewhere in the mass of bodies, with one more roar from the elves they began to tear into the human forces who's resolve had been all but broken by the death of their Grand master " Retreat! " cried out a few and what was left of them began to fall back, keaghan however ran straight for his sword and pulled it from the earth, he planned to stay and fight to lay waste to as many of them as he could before he would be forced to fall back himself. He wouldn't ask any of them to stay as well for they were not his solders to command, but as he drew his sword and walked back towards the remaining elves as the men ran in the opposite direction some stopped their retreat and chose to stand with him. as the battlefield there was only keaghan carrying his great sword with five other men in tattered armor, cackles came from the elves as they loaded their arrows and opened fire, keaghan began to pick up speed until he was practically sprinting towards them which wouldn't have possible with his size weapon for most men. The arrows unsurprisingly bounced off his sturdy armor but the men that chose to stand with him were not so fortunate and they were impaled with a shower of arrows, with their arrows made ineffective they charged keaghan to overwhelm him with numbers, bad move. as he ran he swung his sword with just his right hand and it tore through the midsections of the elves at the very front, managing still to cut open the bellies of those further back who was only hit by the end of the blade and a gust if wind pushed the rest back slightly. he followed through nicely with the swing and grabbed it with his left and as the swing carried it to the left side of his body and he swung again with both hands like a baseball bat and produced the same end result, he stomped down hard to steady himself or he would risk being thrown off balance after such broad swings.

while the elves who were too far back to catch the blade itself were still staggering from the unseen force created by his swings he brought it up over his head and brought it down in an arching slash that sent another unseen force to rip right down the path he cut, it tore to pieces the elves that stood in that path, by now one of the secrets that made his sword so powerful was revealed before their very eyes. It was the reason he rarely resorted to using it, keaghan hoped the elves who wielded the forest magic, the ones directly responsible for slaying Karl would be mutilated by the last attack in his small yet deadly series of strikes.

The elves who were previously so sure the battle was won were now hesitant to continue their charge, pushing the solders to retreat was the best thing that could of happened for it allowed keaghan to unleash the ability his sword held without fear of his own comrades getting caught up in the attacks, it would have been completely unavoidable, but with just him and the elves he had all the freedom he needed and the appropriate space between him and their forces to pull off attacks like this without leaving himself open to be surrounded. " Come on elves, just try and kill me! " he challenged as they back away.

"Come on Elves, just try and kill me!" Said the frenzied Commander. I watched him in astonishment. He had just sliced through maybe twenty soldiers with ease! I walked forward to him, exposing myself. I felt very vulnerable without the shadow of the crowd protecting me.

"Has there not been enough bloodshed today, Human? Do you wish for more?" I said in a sorrowful tone as I fingered my bow. "If you must have more bloodshed, let it be my blood that is shed. I tire of watching my people be cut down like wheat in the summer, as I live." I turned back and nodded at Trianna. She looked at me with an unsure smile, but did as I requested.

"Move out!" Trianna yelled with authority booming through her voice. The hundred or so remaining Elves moved east, towards the main encampent. I stood for a bit, and watched them dissappear into the Forest. Then, I turned my attention back to the Human and slided an arrow into my bow while it was faced towards the ground.

"So, what will it be Human? Shall you have me bleed for my sins against your god?" I inquired cynically.

Keaghan lifted his great sword to rest it on his right shoulder as a small elf woman stepped forward out of the cowering crowed, whatever she was up to she must have had a death wish. "Has there not been enough bloodshed today, Human? Do you wish for more?" she said in what appeared to a genuinely sorrowful tone , needless to say her words was the last things she expected to hear and he stopped his advance to hear her out "If you must have more bloodshed, let it be my blood that is shed. I tire of watching my people be cut down like wheat in the summer, as I live." she turned back to the crowed of elves and nodded, his doubts were erased when he heard another give the order for them to move out.

Her words and actions struck a cord in him that snapped him out of his fearsome battle mode, the remaining elves moved out deeper into the forest and only he and the female elf remained with hundreds of bloodied corpses both human and elf surrounding them. He watched as the loaded an arrow into her bow, an arrow for him if he decided to attack "So, what will it be Human? Shall you have me bleed for my sins against your god?" at that keaghan lifted his great sword into the air with both hands on the handle pointing the blade down as he plunged it into the earth, he then reached up and removed his helm and held it under his left arm

" you are right, elf, there has been more than enough blood to stain our souls for an eternity. No more for now. Keaghan Hindall, Chief Commander of the Royal army of Erandor declares this battle over, let this day be remembered "

Onsel looked on in horror as the Elf pulled out her blade, pulling at the newly ripped ends of light silk tunic the Old Dwarf wore. He let out a heavy sigh and turned to glance at Onsel, his mouth open among his many hairs and his eyes in true sadness. And with that the collapsed onto his back, among a cushion of leafs and moss.

"Now drop your blade small one unless you wish to share your friend's fate," The Elf spoke as stepped forward, treading over the Old Dwarf's round stomach as she did. She extended her blade, still lightly coated in blood forward at Onsel's chest. Onsel paused for a moment, to think. All around her Elven soldiers stood, their green eyes piercing through the darkness of the shadowed woods. They all held weapons, bows or blades, though down at their sides casually, as if the threat had already been nullified. Onsel glanced past the Commanding Elf's legs, to the corpse of the Old Dwarf behind her, laying on his back with his arms over his head, his mouth still open. And perhaps it had. She dropped her blade to the ground, it's light rusted body clinking loudly as it hit the rocks at her feet.


Onsel turned from the Old Dwarf's corpse back to the Commanding Elf. After a moment she gave a large, toothy grin. "Well... Welcome to Dwarvendom!" Onsel exclaimed after a moment...

The Human raised his sword, and for a moment I thought that he would bring it down upon me, though instead of striking me he plunged the large blade into the Earth. He removed his helmet and looked me in the eye. "You are right, Elf. There has been more than enough blood to stain our souls for an eternity. No more for now. Keaghan Hindall, Chief Commander of The Royal Army of Erandor declares this battle over, let this day be remembered "

Seeing the demon inside the man leave I let my shoulders relax, and my bowstring become less tense. "And so it shall be, Keaghan Hindall." I said as I looked out upon the field of dead. There was an equal amount of Humans and Elves. I felt the compulsion to undo the wrong that we had done, so I walked dangerously close to the Human man, almost brushing shoulders with him. When I reached a spot in the field that was mostly clean of blood I lowered myself down to rest on my knees, and looked at the devastation in sorrow. Tears began to fall silently from my eyes, I couldn't tell if I wept for my race, or the Humans, or maybe even both. Though I do know that the sight of the bodies disgusted and depressed me.

I reached down and scooped up a handful of dirt, and as I brought it to my chest I let a few tears roll down my chin. They were drank greedily by the parched dirt. I replaced the soil to its former spot amongst the dead bodies, and called upon the power of the Forests. Roots rose gracefully out of the ground, and pulled the bodies into dirt. As the last of the bodies were dragged beneath the soil, flowers began to rise. One for each soldier, Human and Elven alike. It was slow at first, a rose here, and a daisy there. Though soon the field looked like a vibrant group of rainbows.

Deep purples, bright reds, and joyful yellows joined together in a beautiful display that was like a symphony to the eyes. I smiled as my glittering tears fell to the floor. When I had let my emotions settle, I wiped my eyes on my sleeves and picked myself up. As I walked past the Human once more he stood awestruck. "May the oaks watch over you Keaghan." I whispered as I slid into the Forests once more.

Sylvia nodded and wiped the blood from her blade as she spoke in elven the dwarf woman like wouldn't know what she said but it didn't mater as the actions that followed showed what was spoken. The tiny imps returned many of them giving the dwarf rude looks before do their tasks. Two imps grabed the female dwarf's sword carring it like a prize as the others dragged off the corpse of the old dwarf to gods knows what ends. As she imps worked the elves gracefuly took the body of the fallen elf and carried it into a tent.

Sylvia then turned back to the dwarf and spoke "I am Sylvia Dawnstriker and these are my people the Crimson Elves...We want no part of this war we just want a safe haven. I didn't want to have to slay your friend..but our laws are clear when blood is shed blood must be repaid." She sighed then looked down at the Dwarf "Now we shall have words in my tent.."

Sylvia turned and walked to her tent as two guards in heavy red armor walked up behind the dwarf they said nothing but motioned for the dwarf to follow Sylvia to her tent. Their frim stance and cold glare told painly it would not be wise for the dwarf not to listen.

Town of Port Lasst

Aneska looked around the small town of Port Lasst it was not something to write home about that's for sure but the king saw it fit to send his newest commander here first reports of dwarf sightings, then a fleet of demonic ship and finally a human warship being burned. What a way to get my feet wet... thought Aneska. It was long before a human man in silver armor walked up to the necromanic commander...

"I assume you are Lady Ravenwood? I am Sir Fanix commander of the forces here." spoke the silver armored man

"You assume correctly Sir Fanix...now please share with me what is going on here..." answered Aneska

"We belive a dwarven army has moved into the area and are camped in the forests...odd as it seems but we no of no way the elves could have got here. We where planing to enter the woods and look for them but chose to wait when we got word of your coming."

"Dwarves in the trees...seems odd but whatever this threat is we will end it swifty."

Aneska then ordered her army a mix of undead and humans into the woods.

OOC: Fine Glmstr i will allow you your bondage fetish >.>




Ovordil awoke shivering, the smell of dampness and moss filling his nose. He glanced around, it was dark but he could make out what had happened with his other senses. Iron chains shackled his limbs, that ended buried in the wall, a heavy iron ball was also attached to the chains to weigh him down. The cell was pitch black, no light lingered he struggled to hear something outside his location, he could not. He tried to utter a curse, but found his mouth sealed. He attempted to move his hands to his head. He touched the spot that pained him, crusty with dried blood. He slumped back against the cell wall trying to remember how he had landed himself in this situation.

Images flicked in his mind. Back and forth from the Forest to his cell. He concentrated, trying to bring up a memory, a smell, a sight or sound, something that would let him identify where he was.

Grass. Not the lush damp grass from the forests, dry grass, trampled, crushed its seeds forced into the wind. The smell of Horses, the sound of hooves trampling the ground beneath them. A mans harsh voice, a crack of a whip, a women screaming, a man clad in armour and on his chest an insignia, Erandor.

Ovordil opened his eyes again. Erandor. How long had he being unconscious? He stood up attempting to move out of his chains but found standing immensely difficult, a weight around his neck, he slumped against the wall again. He whispered out to the wind, there was no answer.

'Solitary confinement'. he thought bitterly. 'I'll just have to be patient then.'

__________________________________________________________________________________



Aaron stared down at the blue prints and back to the ship, he smiled, it was done. The fifth ship commissioned by Chief Commander Keagan was complete. He gathered up his equipment and blueprints and whistled to the crew that were standing idle around the suspended shipped.

"Alright boys, thats the last one we'll let it sail tomorrow". Aaron shouted, turning on his heel and leaving the shipyard. Port Lasst was a dangerous place to be these days, so close to the forests and with dwarven armies and even rogue human brigades running unchecked throughout the plains of Erandor. Aaron loathed it, being born in the tropical islands to the south, but he would not forfeit his duty for his personal needs. He smiled, in a few days he would set sail to join with the rest of the fleet heading for the hydra's den.

Aaron moved quickly through the Drunken Duck tavern he and his crew were staying in, it was late and his exhaustion forced him to move straight to his room. Taverns were always dangerous places to talk and whispers and rumours were spread like wild fire. From what he heard the new general Aneska had being sent to deal with the dwarven threat in the area. Aaron shivered, the thought of ever meeting the necromancer chilled him to the bone, as a southerner he despised and treated all magic uses with immense caution and distrust, on principle. Those that practiced the dark art of necromancy sickened Aaron, something he and many others believed to be taboo.

Aaron pushed open the wooden door to his room. It was warm inside the furniture mainly wooden, made from trees from the neighbouring forest that were felled to construct the port. He threw some logs onto the small fireplace, moving them around with the poker before moving to get ready for sleep. He stopped mid way staring at the black envelope in the middle of his desk, in the middle of it the skull white symbol of a mask. Aaron cautiously moved over to it, slumping into the chair in front of the desk and turning the envelope over. A red wax, bearing a runic inscription sealed the envelope and it's contents. Aaron pricked his thumb with the letter opener, as he had done many times before and pressed his thumb onto the seal. The moment his blood touched the seal it dissolved allowing the envelope to be opened. Aaron removed its contents reading it.

Aaron


The War is moving, and so must the people. Human forces assault the forests, and dwarven troops run rampart across the plains of Erandor. The war must be broken like a wild stallion to our will. I implore you to continue your duty to the people, and i promise you, the loyal will be rewarded. Tomorrow a ship will arrive in Port Lasst, bearing cargo that must reach those loyal in Erandor. I believe as a port master you will have no trouble allowing the ship to arrive and depart, with no questions asked. Ovordil is imprisoned in Erandor, but this only plays to our advantage, things will be happening in the capital soon that will be the beginning of our ascension. The people will lose trust to those in power, and when they look for guidance we shall be there, and the tyrant will be stamped out and hunted till extinction.

I know of your hatred towards those that practice the dark arts. I ask you to seek her out, her abilities would be a valuable asset to the Ekalon.

Aaron reread the last line of the letter numerous times cursing, but he would not disobey orders, he could not deny her addition to the Ekalon would provide great gain. He threw the letter and envelope into the fire watching it incinerate into ash. He would have to gather the ash, but that could wait till morning, he moved towards his bed, the revolution could start tomorrow he thought cynically right now he would sleep.

As I weaved a path between the ancient pines I let me shoulders droop, and my body become more loose. Exhaustion rammed at my mind. Killing The Left Hand of God had taken a large pool of energy, and I felt that at any moment I could fall to the ground and never rise.

I wonder if the other Handmaidens feel as I do now. I whispered quietly in the confines of my mind. Even the small thought seemed to chip away at the ever shrinking amount of energy I had left in my body. Slowly the familiar city of tents came into view. As I tiredly passed the perimeter I was greeted by a camp in havoc. Soldiers rushed this way and that in a manner that just made everyone look like a confused mass of men and women.

As I entered the Elves stopped their bustling and looked towards me. A few rushed forward. "Handmaiden Arlathina!" Said a black-haired soldier. "Lord Siscerah and Captain Quartam have been captured by the Humans! Trianna has recieved orders from the Queen that you and a detachment of a thousand men are to march to Erandor and retrieve them." He explained to me with a deep baritone voice.

Panic coursed through my body as he said Yuhra's official title. I couldn't bear to lose someone that reminded me so much of my mother. Tears began to dampen my eyes, but I did my best to keep a hard face. "How did this happen? Where is Trianna?!" The words flowed out of my mouth in a river of sadness. Before they could answer me. I pushed past the soldiers and ran towards Trianna's tent.

My legs seared with pain as I made my way through the camp. Men and women looked at me bewildered as I flashed by. My rage and anguish began to shake the trees around me, and as I passed orange and bright yellow leaves drifted to the ground as they were forced from their spring and summer homes. When I set my eyes upon my leader's tent magic welled up inside me, and I used the roots beneath the dirt to propel myself forward to the front flap.

I lifted the flap and stepped inside nearly sobbing and yelling at the same time. Niara looked at me with an astonished expression. "Arlathina? What troubles you?" She inquired concerned with my well-being. I slowly began to sob and reached out to her. She scooped me up and embraced me whole-heartedly. She slowly rubbed the back of my head and cooed. "Shush. Its okay... Your fine now." Trianna and the other Handmaidens decided to avoid looking in my direction and continue making preparations for the siege on Erandor.

"Lady Sylvia your brother is awake and wishes to talk to you..." spoke a warrior
Sylvia sighed "Fine..I will see too him wait here and tell the dwarf i'll be back shortly..."
The warrior nodded and Sylvia left her tent. She walked up to the cage and looked at her brother Sevick with a sigh.
"Sister...i'm sorr..."
"I know...and i may have overreacted.."
"So will you let me out now dear sister?"
"Fine I guess you have had enough of a time out..."
Sylvia started to unlock the cage when a blast of dark magic turned both the cage and sevick to ash. The blast was followed by a shout "For Port Lasst!"
Sylvia turned her eyes angerly on the woman that fired the blast yelling her own battle call "For Quel Talas!"
The other Crimson elves joined in the shout and soon the bodies of humans undead and Crimson elves clashed in bloodly battle. But Sylvia only had in her sights the necromancer that even now was turning more of her people to dust. She slashed though the foes line blind holy rage her guide only till a man in silver armor bared her way "you go no far.." his words where ended with the loss of his head and the humans started to lose ground but the head of the snake was not yet severed...

Aneska laughed as Sylvia came before her "So the little she elf has come to die at my hands like her brother"
Sylvia said nothing but in anger grabed Aneska's neck choaking her but in her anger she did not note Aneska dagger which burried itself into her side. she could feel the life draining from her. Sylvia cut with her sword slashing across Aneska's tummy and causing her to fall back. Now both wounded they circled each other Aneska with her dagger and Sylvia with her sword. The armies stared on stopping their fight to watch the two heros as if the whole battle stood on which one won. Aneska formed a ball of darkness and threw it at Sylvia who dodged it and drove at Aneska with her sword. Aneska managed to block the first strike but the speed of Sylvia was seen with the second strike which cut off Aneska's arm. Aneska fell to her knees looking up in shock at Sylvia only to see and feell Sylvia's sword slam down her mouth and into her neck giving her a painful and gory end. Sylvia then removed her blade and picking up Aneska's dagger she turned to the horrifed humans "Now you die" she said even as they undead allies turned to dust with the loss of the necromancer.

The Crimson Elves made short work of the remaining humans Sylvia then turned to her forces "burn the camp and the dead...then we march to Port Lasst...It will burn in our vengace.."
"what of the dwarf?" asked one
"She can find her own way out of this...our war is with the humans now... For Quel Talas!"
"For Quel Talas!" shouted back the army of Crimson Elves now marching to war.

Aaron watched the ship leave Port Lasst, he remembered the frustrating process and measures he had to take to make sure the ship and its cargo passed check and Durthur's insistence on checking its subtly. Aaron knew exactly what cargo the ship was carrying and what Durthur had said to him made him sick to the stomach. 'They be needing my area of expertise lad.". Aaron knew all to well what Durthur specialised in, he frowned now turning the docked ships that he had designed and built in his months spent in Port Lasst. 'I didn't join the Ekalon for this obscenity' he thought darkly moving to the boarding plank of his first ship.

Aaron's crew, shipbuilders and soldiers from Erandors 7th Naval Battalion went to and from the five ships moving cargo and supplies needed for themselves and the rest of the fleet sailing to the hydra's den. Aaron moved around the deck of the closest ship watching the hustle and bustle of the docks. He sighed, he felt almost at home in the docks, he would miss them.

Aaron saw the ships loaded before the end of morning, efficiency at any time, especially in Celandine's circumstances.

"Alright you lot, i want us sailing out before midday, you got that"? he was answered with mixed grumbles and grunts, as the crew moved to prepare the ships for their journey. Aaron decided to walk back into town, a drink before the voyage.

'Wouldn't hurt' he thought cheerfully 'What's the worst that could happen?'