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Post by evander on Mar 31, 2020 12:08:22 GMT 1
"I am a soldier...I am a Crusader" Evander spoke quietly in a crowded tavern. The crudely built hut dressed up as an inn was typical of this island. Flimsy but determined, it was destroyed by elements before and would be again however it was always rebuilt . A testament to the perseverance of Agonia's inhabitants.
The lightfoot barkeep who was the object of Evander's glazed stare smiled accordingly, half listening while we wiped spilled wine from his counter.
"But what is it for? I've fought brothers, dragons, creatures of every foul type and now the dead themselves rise... this island is cursed, doomed". He took another gulp of his large cup of wine, finishing it and gestured for another whilst ingesting the liquid with some discomfort.
"This is wine is as cursed as the rest of us" he laughed. The lightfoot refilled his cup and spoke softly "This island isn't what anyone expected, those who came for fame and glory, for riches, have found out that it comes at severe cost"
"Why did you come then?" said Evander, his interest peaked. The lightfoot smirked and he took a deep breath. "I came, like many of my people for the rare gems this island boasted. The stories we heard, rumours of piles of gold, rubies the size of a giants head. Even diamonds fashioned by the gods themselves"
"And you're disappointing you haven't found what you wanted?" The lightfoot took a moment before answer but when he did , he did so with warm laughter "My friend, I found everything I wanted. The problem is, I was still not content."
"For my people wealth, power is everything, it compensates for our size", Evander smirked. "The Mythos tribes and clans pride themselves on warfare, it is how you're raised."
Evander nodded in agreement "I fought my first battle at 13, I had lost all my brothers by my eighteenth year, war is all I ever have known. I have trained every day to be..perfect, I have done things I am not proud of"
The lightfoot continued "These compulsions, desires, they are amplified here on this island. The reality is, our enemies are not our tribesmen on the eastern coast. Our prize are not gold nuggets or diamond jewelry. The fame for killing a dragon might make you a legend for a generation but everyone dies, and we don't keep records here."
Evander seemed agitated by the lightfoot's pessimism but found himself agreeing "Make your point"
The barkeep put on a warm smile "I have only found true happiness by helping others, here or anywhere else" pointing to the other patrons of the inn, many were ragged but smiling and enjoying socializing. "Everyone comes here to forget about their problems, to forget that this island is trying to rid itself of us. I found my purpose by providing food and drink for those who can ill afford it. It may not be slaying a dragon or the skeleton king but by opening yourself to your fellow man... or giant, you know, you will find some peace within yourself."
Evander seemed confused "So I should...be a barkeep?"
The lightfoot roared with laughter "Please no, there is enough competition and I rue the thought of Mythos wine", he leaned into Evander "Your skills are with a blade but you are in control of what you do with it. Our enemy is this island itself, it is ever to be a home then we need someone to protect us from all its threats."
Evander took another drink as the lightfoot briskly moved towards another waiting customer. He had asked questioned himself for a long time, even before landing on Agonia. His family was famed for producing soldiers but the line would die out with him, here on an island no one would ever find, he hoped no one would ever find it. Intoxication was setting in so he placed a couple of gold pieces on the counter and stood up, taking a moment to compose himself. As he turned he felt a small hand on his arm.
The lightfoot grabbed him with a small manner of urgency and a concerned look "They say you are cursed as well, Evander. That you made a deal with dark gods."
The words sobered Evander immediately and he quietly muttered "I have made mistakes that will haunt me to the day of my death." The lightfoot let go of his arm and smiled warmly again "There is redemption Evander, there is redemption in doing the right thing. You know there is power on this island, of all kinds. You just need to find the right gods."
Evander turned quickly and rushed out walking a few hundred metres before falling to his knees and vomiting out the vile wine. He laid on the ground gasping for breath. He found it hard to confront his past, his transgressions. Hearing it from another made it worse, it made him relive it all over again. The deathly cold of the snow. The scars it left on his soul greater than any injury suffered in battle.
He woke up the next day to an angry Achilles, pacing around his chamber. How he got back there he was quite unsure. He sat up and groggily addressed his senior crusader "What can I do for you?"
"We're leaving the crusade Evander, you are welcome to join us. We head north". North, he had memories of the north, bad ones. He dismissed Achilles with a gesture and crashed back into his bed.
"I need an answer before Sundown" barked Achilles as he left the chamber
Of course there had been trouble. Trouble which led Evander to drown himself in cheap lightfoot wine last night and many nights before. Questions plagued his mind for weeks. The hordes of Skeletons didn't help. Resources were strained fighting back the deathly undead army and every man, woman and giant we're battle weary after weeks of intense combat. The politics maintaining the faction were becoming more complicated and it felt like a bow string stretched too far and primed to snap.
The conversation with the little barkeep was a welcome distraction, even though his words haunted Evander just a little bit. He needed reflection, to find a purpose beyond the constant war, "There is redemption in doing the right thing" he remembered. With his mind made up he began packing his swords. Replaying the evenings events in his head he began to question how the lightfoot seemed to say all the right things, did he tell him his name? These were questions for another time, he had to leave.
Disappointed friends, brothers and fellow warriors watched as Evander finished packing his cart, loading the little treasure Agonia had gifted him. He turned and addressed the crowd, holding back too much emotion to keep up the appearance of strength "I was proud to be a solider with you, I was proud to be a Crusader...I was a Crusader." most turned their back and walked away, a few remained, their quiet gaze was enough of a goodbye. We are warriors he thought to himself as he pulled his cart out the gates, we don't show emotions.
He walked along the long road North with much to think about but the words keep replaying in his mind "I was a Crusader". He was leaving behind friends and leaving behind a war which was all he ever knew. Following a long days walk he approached the mountain pass with his travel comrades Grimsboro and Achilles. They camped by a crudely made fire and recounted war stories into the night. We are all leaving something behind he thought to himself but by leaving the past behind would be the only path towards redemption. As sleep began to embrace him he found a small moment of peace knowing that his future for the first time was truly unwritten.
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Post by evander on Apr 6, 2020 13:38:49 GMT 1
The former crusaders wasted no time upon their arrival up north. They began reassembling an old watchpost camp into their new home. It couldn't be called a castle, not yet. They had hastily sketched out plans of a secure fortress, strategically placed at the river pass. This form of work was new to Evander, cutting trees and moving lumber was not the work of a warrior but he began to find solitude in its simplicity. He was not alone either. They began to meet interesting characters from the outskirts of Agonia life, those who tip toed around the war, simply happy to exist and explore the island.
Word of the split within the fellowship had reached far and wide and caused concern for some of the inhabitants of the north who feared their Crusader past would bring ruin to their peaceful existence. Even the great wanderers questioned what trouble could be brought upon the free folk way of life. Evander explained in the best way he could, "We have forgiven old enemies, we have abandoned the crusade and the great war. Our purpose now is to live a peaceful life and provide a haven for those who desire the same".
Some nodded quietly in approval, some scowled in disbelief and some were just confused. He understood. Evander himself worried about his former enemies, even his former brothers and sisters. Did he make a mistake? Will good people die because of his actions? Is it all in vein? The questions would constantly plague his mind. He took long walks through the forest, much to the ire to his friends who were busy labouring on the watch tower. Within these walks he would attempt to free his mind of the anxiety, embrace the quiet and find power in the humility of nature. Sometimes it worked, he would find clarity and a real sense of purpose... sometimes he encounter a wild kantor, he had less trepidation about slaying those.
As the days passed he felt greater comfort in his decision and began scribbling his thoughts in a journal. If these words ever made it away from this island, they would represent the greatest story ever told. He became so content it began to alarm his companions who feared he would lose his killer instinct, they still had monsters and wild creatures to fend off and a warrior is more useful than a philosopher.
Deep into one of the deathly peaceful nights Evander snapped awake, cutting through the silence like a kantors claw. Covered in sweat, which was impressive in this climate, he snatched his battle sword from under his bed and paced around the empty guild hall, his make shift chambers. After the few moments of hysteria he flung his sword to the ground, creating a harrowing echo. He crashed through a chest and took out his journal. Under a dim candlelight he scribed his dream
"The dark gods came to me again, they know I am nearby, they know I am weak... They call out for me, for my worship, for my soul... I must resist, I must fight them. I need to find the light..."
He stuffed the journal back into the chest and tried to sleep again but it was impossible, he needed to confront his past, not simply run away from it as he did before. He spent the whole night running over scenarios in his head of how to make things right, of how to escape the dark gods clutches once and for all. He needed help but who was in an expert in such things? He didn't have the answer right away but the magic of the north, the strange characters that populated it, surely someone here could help him.
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Post by evander on Jul 21, 2020 21:35:10 GMT 1
"Moooooove" shouted Achilles, jumping for his life as a monstrous snake crashed down in his wake. Around the foul creature were several bodies, regurgitated beyond recognition, and a circle of broken trees torn in half by its thrashing. The creature was a Titanboa, and it was in Evanders eyes, the largest creature that ever existed The monstrosity heaved up and crashed again towards Evander this time, while he didn't make contact the force sent him flying back. The snake slithered slowly towards him with gaping mouth ready to feast when a crash blow from Grimsboro repelled him, Achilles threw his spear into the snakes eye and it let out a hiss that was almost deafening. Regaining his senses, and his sword, Evander saw his opportunity. He strode recklessly towards the wounded reptile as it thrashed around, unsure of its own bearings. A mighty leap was accompanied with a loud warcry as Evander drove this blade in through the Titanboa's skull. Covered in green icor he pulled his sword triumphantly and stepped back breathing deeply. It was the greatest beast he had ever slain, but the victory felt... before Evander could even contemplate emotions he began throwing up, much to the disgust of his companions.
After a brief period of rest they began surveying the damage, a small band of kiilth nomads had ended up in this forest. They came for a shortcut but got a bit more than they bargained for, so much of Agonia's landscape laid unexplored especially in the north. This particular forest they would learn was home to the Titanboa. Those who survived made their way to Castle Black seeking help, the rescue mission had become a vengeance mission. "Poor bastards" Evander said with some amount of empathy in his voice, "This ones still alive" shouted Grimsboro , a small body covered in disgusted acidic mucous was slowly breathing, "Take her to the river quick or her skin will burn" said Achilles as the giant scooped her up. The mucous left some damage on the skin but the kiilth girl would live, it was always hard to tell a kiilths age but she was was certainly young and much too young to be eaten by a snake.
When they arrived at Castle Black there was a mix of joy and sadness with the realization that most of their party had been lost. The girl ran towards one of the elder kiilth and they embraced and rejoiced in their own tongue. Not everyone spoke the common tongue, or if they did, they preferred not to. Evander left the main hall, they needed time to grieve and to be amongst themselves. There was plenty of work to be done anyway, he had begun a project of building a new wooden bedframe while it was coming along slowly it would be worth the wait, so he told himself. As he chiseled clumsily, doing more harm than good, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"I wanted to thank you", it was one of the kiilth party, "My name is Massalar"
"Evander and you don't need to thank me, it is my duty to protect these parts"
"She is like a sister to me and she is all I have left."
Evander was caught by the unexpected beauty of Massalar , maybe it was the moonlight or maybe it was just that long since he had a female companion.
"I am glad she survived" after a moment of pause between them he stood up and laid his chisel on a nearby workbench giving Massalar his full attention.
"She is like a sister, I am guessing you don't have other family here?" he asked somewhat nervously
" My people came to Agonia long ago and I am the last of my line, war and disaster have followed us like a shadow" Evander nodded
"I thought I had witnessed my fair share of horror but maybe not"
"I know how that feels" Evander said with a slight smile
She looked at him with the expectation to hear more
"I , I have nightmares sometimes" he said turning away from embarrassment, he hadn't mentioned this to even his oldest companions, why her and why now?
"Things I have seen and done, they don't leave easy and this place of all, the north, it haunts me"
"The spirits are at their strongest here" she said softly putting a hand on his shoulder, he flinched somewhat before relaxing and looking into her cold grey eyes
"I have been a student of the spirits for a long time, some are mischievous , some are noble, some are playful and many are...evil"
"Have you ever met one of these spirits?" he said hopefully
"No, but I would like to" she almost smiled, almost.
"My people, have a close bond with the spirit world and my tribe, my heritage... we worshipped them and I.. still do"
"Like a god?" Evander looked surprised, most people abandoned their gods when they arrived on Agonia, for they realized they weren't going to hear their prayers here.
"The concept of gods doesn't really translate to my people, we see spirits as a force, which have power beyond the constraint of nature, maybe that makes them gods"
"What I really want to know Evander, is why there is a spirit presence that follows you? I could sense it the moment I saw you"
He looked away again "Its not an easy story to tell"
"The best ones never are" she said this time truly smiling
He sighed and looked up to the full lit moon "Let's go for a walk"
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Post by evander on Jul 26, 2020 20:44:44 GMT 1
Evander and his new companion walked along a river bank which was illuminated by a full moon. They mostly walked in silence, safe for the chattering of crickets.
"It's nice here" Massalar said to break the awkward silence.
Evander nodded and took a deep breath before speaking, "I come often, most nights, its peaceful and to my knowledge nothing dangerous lurks here." he stopped and leaned against a rock. Massalar put her hand on his shoulder and looked at him, really looked at him.
"You can tell me what haunts you, there are few things I haven't heard"
"I haven't spoken it to anyone, not Achilles, nor Grimsboro, not a soul" he looked up into the moon and nodded "It was a few months ago"
Massalar perched herself on an adjacent rock and encouraged him
"I was escorting a lightfoot merchant, one I met when I arrived here. He was an annoying fellow but I considered him a friend. He had gold nuggets to deliver to the last outpost up here and I was to protect him along with a small party of crusader entrys, almost like a training mission for them"
He paused and looked at the ground, sensing his discomfort Massalar asked a question she already knew the answer to "Castle black? You were going to Castle black?"
"What? Oh no, there is a castle nearby back then, disused now.. a bit controversial that actually its a long story. Grimsboro..." she cut him off "I think maybe you should finish the first story"
He mouthed ok and closed his eyes
"We arrived at Winterhaven and celebrated a long journey with some ale. Me, Corax and the 4 errants. Yes Corax, that is the lightfoot, the others names? Well I hardly knew them.... Several drinks in Corax began talking to a ranger, Kiilth I think, like you.. but my memory is hazy of this part, the ale is much stronger up north. He learnt of ancient power, a rune within the snow. Not a simple fire rune this rune had the power to grant strength of a giant, the speed of Grahf , the intelligence of... you get my point. It was a myth, I laughed it off but Corax was convinced, if he could obtain this he could sell it to whomever he wanted. Why he wanted so much wealth I'll never know, god knows what you can buy with gold in this place. The others were convinced as well, young and impressionable they thought they could obtain this power for themselves become true champions.
They bargained a litre of wine for a crude map.
I woke up the next morning with a sore head and was glad to be heading back home. Home in those days was The Eye of course. The others had already packed, they were going to find the rune power and take it for themselves. I laughed as if it was a joke but they were serious. I refused and they left without me. They were hopeless against the creatures that dwell up here and who knows what even lurks so far into the snow. For two hours I stewed, I even began the trip back south but then I thought of the shame of returning knowing they had all perished."
"This power.. you didn't believe in it or you didn't want it? Massalar interrupted him
"Of course I wanted power, I wasn't a great warrior like Achilles, I didn't have the battle glory that most Crusaders had...of course I wanted it but it didn't really seem real and of course I didn't know what would happen"
"At first I didn't believe it but as I walked the quiet road south I thought of the glory, what I could do with that power. Even if there was the smallest chance it truly existed, just what could I do? I could be like..a God. This may sound strange to you, but my people dream of only one thing glory and power, I am not different. We all have our vices and I am...was... a slave to power. I charged back and caught the rest of the group in no time, they were unprepared, lost and hopeless. The first few days were uneventful. We waded through snow encountering little more than woolly mammoths and frost ox's. Our supplies were low however and as days went on morale began to fade. One of the recruits stole off during the fifth night. We found him the next morning half eaten a couple hours from our camp, he had gone the wrong way. Our map was useless, everything was covered in snow at this point we were we guided purely by the recanting of what a stranger drunkenly told us many nights before. It was at this time the madness set in, that and the hunger, the cold...They wanted to go back, all of them, even Corax who's crazy idea it was in the first place but I was the only one who could bring them back.
It was at this point I began to hear it, the whispers, a soft voice keep going, I am close, keep going...and I kept going when we settled for camp that night Corax spoke to me... he wanted to return, he couldn't bear the cold his feet were beginning to swell and turning a strange blue colour agreed my friend I told him We'll start our way back in the morning.
I had no intention of going back, the voice was stronger than ever now. I left....to my shame...I left in the middle of the night and kept walking. Guided by nothing except the whispers in my head and the dull light from the moon, I kept going."
Evander paused "I can't speak the rest"
"You must" she wasn't asking
"Tell me everything Evander, I think I can help you"
He shook his head mutely
" After hours, I think, I found it, an orb just like he said. A rune of great power. I clasped it in both hands and laughed, I didn't even know what I could do with it but I had it. I had it. The voice then spoke to me A great reward demands sacrifice did you really think I would grant you my power for free? The voice came from nowhere, the wind maybe but it was the same that led me here I didn't have the chance to reply when the rune began to melt in my hands, the cold it was unbearable and within seconds the great power I was promised lay in a pool on the ground.
The voice turned to wicked laughter... before I even knew what was going on a great beast charged at me. A kantor, the first I ever saw. It swept me off my feet and I crashed through the ice. I felt the bitter chill, the same that I held in my hands only this time I was submerged in it. At this point I had accepted my fate, I would die a coward, a liar and all for some mythical power that didn't exist, an illusion.
I began to sink, I didn't even fight it anyone more and then a hand, what seemed gentle pulled me from above with great force. I lay there shivering, the great beast had gone as had any semblance of life. What saved me? To this day I still don't know. After a couple of hours I regained my strength and cried Who are you? What are you? nothing... I cursed and I screamed as I walked aimlessly, I had hoped within the direction of Corax. At this point I was a wreck, bone chill and hair frozen. I eventually found the camp, how long was I gone for? I wasn't even sure, I wasn't even sure what was real anymore...
Corax, corax? i cried, but no reply came... the camp was empty, hastily abandoned. I was too tired to investigate, I collapsed under the makeshift cover made from frost ox hide and slept... the longest sleep I ever felt. I woke up after...I don't know, I had a great hunger that I had never felt before, mouth parched...if I could see myself I thought, what a mess I must look like...I looked around and saw nothing but empty snow. I pleaded Whatever you are, whatever you have done to me, please, save me I called more times than I can remember, I lost my voice... Dear Evander so so brave, I told you that power requires sacrifice... You have your sacrifice, just kill me or let me go, I don't want your power anymore.... You think this was a sacrifice? But my dear you are still standing you haven't lost anything, quite the opposite...
I was confused I wandered for hours, no sense of direction, conversing in riddles with this... thing, spirit you call it. Eventually on the horizon I saw outlines, shapes, it was the party , it was Corax. I somehow ran towards them but when I arrived...they were frozen, a pale blue, inhuman.. I could see the fear in their faces, the worst sight of all. The moment you realise you are dead and here it was preserved for eternity in a icy statue. I had killed all of these men and Corax, my friend, I had doomed him too. I killed him and by doing so...a part of myself.
The voice spoke to me one last time You didn't sacrifice anything my love, but they did... it laughed , for what seemed an eternity...it laughed. I couldn't even scream or cry, I felt nothing, just nothing. I collapsed and that was the end of it. I woke up in Winterhaven, a search party had been sent and found us. How I survived? No one knows. It took months to regain my strength, even now I feel like I am half the man I was before and the guilt, the shame, no one really knows what happened, what I did, or why we were there... the shame, the guilt, it hangs over me and overwhelms me every moment. I should of died, I was ready to die..I wish I died..."
Evander sat in silence, it was a lot to say...and he had never spoken it before. In fact, he didn't even realise how he felt about it himself until he spoke it.
"So I guess I am not a hero after all" he muttered
"What you described, the voice, was it male or female?" Massalar seemed unmoved by his story
"What? Eh, female, soft but its not a human voice of course so, I don't know...female?"
"Spirits don't conform to male or female...true..but sometimes they form in a effeminate or masculine form, especially when presenting themselves to mortals" she explained
"Yeah but Corax and the others, you don't think i'm...you know a murderer?"
"Evander, I have lived for many years and every day this world seems to get worse, forsaken kill fellowship, crusaders burn forsaken villages, who gave them the authority to foresake whole races? Monsters eat the young...The old die sick and hungry....morals, murder... it really doesn't matter anymore, not here there are no rules... but what you described... I believe you had an encounter with Raal, a trickster spirit... one who manipulates those to doing terrible acts for the promise of glory...which never comes."
Evander was surprised, not so much about the talk of spirits, gods, tricksters but how his confession didn't phase her one bit...
"So I was tricked into leaving them..? This spirit.... it still speaks to me, at night.... I thought it was a hallucination, a madness brought on by the cold and the hunger but it still speaks to me, especially since I came here...what does it want"
Massalar smiled..."We will have to ask..it will be dangerous but I have the feeling you like danger."
Evander was suspicious but intrigued "How will we ask it?"
Massalar stood up and pointed down the bank of the river "There is a temple, near the forsaken border...my people, some of my people, used to worship Raal...a long time ago, but worship died out and the temple was abandoned"
"Why does one stop worshiping a god?" evander quipped
"When you realise they stop answering your prayers...I guess"
"Okay, we can leave in two weeks time.. there is an expedition to the South, spotting of a dragon.."
"We leave tomorrow" again Massalar wasn't asking
"This will haunt you until you confront it Evander."
"I will meet you back here in the morning...get rest and bring supplies"
"Don't you want to come back to the castle? We walked pretty far?"
"I'll be fine Evander, rest now, you will need your strength...I just want a few moments with my own goods , prayer in the moonlight."
He shook his head and against his better judgement walked back to Castle Black.
What he learnt that night could change his life, rid him of his curse, this voice and maybe he could finally find peace. Massalar was an angel and if she could save him... find out what this spirit..god or goddess whatever Raal is, wanted. The guilt wouldn't leave, he still knew what he did, but selfishly he felt alleviated for this first time in months.
He spoke with Achilles and Grimsboro that night, he lied and said he needed to escort Massalar to another village and he would be back within a few days. Achilles was not happy, there was trouble to the south, former friends were becoming enemies... but wars didn't interest Evander at the moment, before he could move forward he would have to solve his past.
The next morning he set out early ready for the next chapter in his tale.
As Achilles and Grimsboro prepared to go south, a kiilth girl, the one they rescued from the Titanboa came with 3 trinkets, humble protector jewelry for Achilles and Grimsboro
"Where is the other one, I would like to offer my thanks"
"Evander? He left with that girl, the other one of you... Massalar or something like that, leave the jewelerry here girl, he'll be back in a few days."
Grimsboro muttered
"Massalar? Who is that?"
Achilles laughed "She's one of you, in your party, you said you have been travelling together for weeks and you never knew her?"
"Everyone I know is dead or here, there was no other..but please give him this..." she skitted away
"Strange girl, strange people these kiilth" Achilles spoke. Grimsboro was distracted by loading up a cart
"South it is" he bellowed and they began their path...separate to Evander.
>>>>
Couple of notes, I added in the colours to break up dialogue what do people think?
Also obviously Corax was a multi I abused...I wanted to somehow reflect that in an RP...as a player I am ashamed of this, it was stupid! I'm thankful the community still accepts me
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Post by evander on Aug 2, 2020 16:30:20 GMT 1
For 3 days they ventured through the dark forest, camping each night for a few hours. Evander enjoyed the company, it was a nice change of scenery from travelling in a war band and they talked, a lot. He told Massalar of his childhood, growing up in Mythos society far away, the regional wars that plagued his homeland, the competitive nature that drives Mythos tribes to compete in games, battles and conquest. One the third night they spoke at length about coming to Agonia;
"I lost my brothers in a great battle against barbarian clans, they were fierce opponents, we lost a lot of our tribe that day. Soon my family lost influence, my father later died of illness and my mother cast herself into the sea, common for my people when the other branches of the family tree have died"
"But... she still had you?" Massalar enquired
Evander laughed and playfully threw a few dry branches onto their campfire
"She did... but I was dishonoured, I escaped that battle with my life...but I lost my honour. I was injured, badly", he lifted his shirt to show a ghastly scar across his stomach. "I should of died, really. I don't know how I didn't...but something or someone spirited me away. I don't really remember". "I was named a coward and forced to resign all titles and land. Only the pleas of my father kept me from the traditional penalty of death"
"I imagine its hard to live with" Massalar said softly
Evander shrugged, "For a long time I felt guilt and shame, but the picture is never clear to me. I did not leave the battlefield myself, the size of my wound was so great that I collapsed with the pain... In my mind I had died...someone must of saved me"
"Or something..."
"Lets not go there right now...anyway I spent time moving between state to state offering my blade in return for payment, eventually I encountered a band of pirates...or adventurers I think is how they described themselves...they had an ancient map leading to some mystical island and well here I am"
"Where are the rest?"
"All dead now, only a handful survived the trip and shortly met their end here on the island" Evander calmly took a drink of wine
"I don't know how you are so calm around death"
"You get used to it"
"I have lived for 427 years and I am still not used to it"
"Four hundre...you look good for your age"
Massalar snickered "I think its time to rest...even after all these years I still need my beauty sleep, keep watch"
Evander nodded and drank another swig. In this moment for the first time in a long time, he felt content.
After two more days of travel along backroads on the Order, Forsaken border, they began a steep incline march towards the temple of Raal, the mountain populated with dead or dying trees was punctuated with a constant cold chill. Evander stayed on constant alert, however in these conditions he didn't expect too many wild beasts...The voices had not visited him, not in days.. not since he was with Massalar. She had power and he knew it, he did not know too many Kiilths but their magic is understated yet powerful, this he did know. Yet he trusted her, more than he trusted anyone else save for his brothers in arms who by this stage were as far away as possible on the island.
"We're here" Massalar boasted with a broad smile, pointing to a decapitated Temple. It was sheltered by dark overhanging trees and vines wrapped over it like a suit of armor. The roof had caved in at some point, it looked like nature was trying to swallow the rest whole.
"Its..impressive" Evander joked
"Its thousands of years old, come, you don't need to worry, spirits won't harm you when you come in peace"
Evander grimaced as Massalar led the way, almost skipping under an unstable arch and into the grounds.
"Follow my lead, stay quiet....we will make an offering and I will say recant an ancient prayer to try summon Raal, hopefully she is responsive...and leave the sword"
"Hopefully?" Evander whispered
Massalar pushed walked push open the creaky doors and the chamber flooded with light.
A small hooded figure yelped and ran scurrying like a rat towards the door. Evander was too quick and clattered him against a wall lifting him up.
Massalar shrieked "Evander!"
The figure was like a child in Evanders hand and he pulled the hood back and before dropping the man flush.."You???"
"Oh praise be, its you Evander", it was the lightfoot from the bar close to the Eye
"Yorrall, at your service mam" he said with a nervous smirk "My, my you have really put on some muscle, you look like one of those norsk folk" he said dusting himself off
Evander didn't believe in coincidences "What is a lightfoot barkeep doing here? In contested lands...In an ancient temple???"
"Funny you should ask brave Evander, you see I ran into some trouble...the hop prices are crazy and I had made an arrangement with some border tribes here for ehhh different quality ingredients...too trusting I am they robbed my cart! I was lucky to escape with my life, they chased and chased but I can run see... somehow I ended up here"
"I have been sheltering...hoping for a hero and well here you are"
"This is a very fanciful story..."
A massive gust of wind ripped through the temple knocking all of them off their feet, Yorrall moaned loudly as he hit his head and passed out.
The wind formed a small tornado at the top of the temple before forming a shady outline of a Woman in a wisping light grey, flickering in and out of reality.
"YOU...of all people YOU desecrate my temple, the coward Evander"
"Oh great Raal, we come to honour you and to worshi..."
"SHUT UP GIRL I AM SPEAKING"
"Apologies"
"HONOUR ME WITH YOUR SILENCE" Massalar was lifted into the air binded by the grey smoke that addressed them
Without his sword Evander withdrew a small knife from his boot
"This is between us"
"YOU ARE STUPIDIER THAN YOU LOOK"
Evander took that to heart and growled "Let her go"
"Ok"
Massalar dropped suddenly and Evander dived catching her and slowly placing her on the ground
All of a sudden Raal spoke softly , almost angel like "Now, we can just relax" the great chill became almost refreshing and the room brightened with a dim glow. The wispy grey figure turned a clearer silver and shined, it was beautiful...
"Oh Evander, how long I have willed you to come to me. I am sorry about my temper, I have wanted you to visit for so long now"
"Well, now I am here" he grunted standing and walking towards the spirit
"and that makes me SO happy, I finally have my champion. Together we will restore the greatness of Raal, spirit of the snow, goddess of..."
"What?" Evander blurted out
"Goddess of Frost... Champion Evander, you belong to me... In the snow you see.. the power I imbued in you.. I have become a part of you and you to me"
"What power? I have grown no stronger nor faster if anything...."
"Strength and speed are mortal constraints ugh so small minded but you have other qualities, qualities I have gifted you oh my Evander you really are special, you will kill them all and restore my glory, this I am sure..."
"Kill who? This is madness... you already killed my friends... leave me alone, I will never worship you"
"Oh please, Immortals really look down on killing mortals, its way too easy...why do you think I need a champion? Your friends killed themselves Evander, I didn't invent the cold...well I DID but not for that moment..."
"You don't kill mortals?"
"Of course not, where is the fun in that? Gods are worshipped by you and the blood you shed on our before are the points we score..."
"So..I could just leave.."
"I have other beasts that do my bidding... but you should really listen to what I say..."
Massalar started to come to her senses "Evander, maybe this was a mistake"
"Oh girl your part in this is long over"
She began to levitate again and Evander stood up and bellowed "If you do anything to her then I will never help you"
"ohhh finally you begin to understand" massalar was gently placed outside the temple and the doors slammed shut."
"I won't spill innocent blood for you or any god..."
"I don't ask you too...but those who worship against me...who destroyed my temples and raped and killed my priestesses..." the voice turned almost helpless and began to cry "they are not innocent...they are the monsters...I only create beauty Evander and they destroyed it.."
"Who are they?"
"THEY ARE NOT INNOCENT" a sudden flash of anger sent reverberations around the room
"You know exactly who..." the formation of the spirit shot towards Evander and wrapped around him, covering him in its smoke and surrounding him with a thousand whispering a thousand different things...
He stood in shock as the room returned to normal the template gate unlocked and in a flash the spirit had left. He stood in silence for a few moments until he was interrupted with a heavy pat on the back.
"Ophhh what happened there? Hit me noggin" Yorrall stood up dazed and confused
"I won't do it...I can't" Evander muttered to himself
"Excuse me sire?"
"Noooooooo" screamed Evander forcing Yorrall to cover his ears and as the echo carried through a hundred times
He stormed outside and helped Massalar to her feet he looked into her eyes "We must go"
"YOU DO NOT REJECT ME" the ground began to shake with heavy thuds.
They turned around slowly as a beast bigger galloped towards them...it was a Kantor and bigger than any he had ever seen...
He pushed Massalar out of harms way and managed to evade the creatures charge as it slide metres ahead and sharply turned...roaring in preparation. Evander fumbled for his sword as it charged again
"RUN" he shouted and Massalar began to dive for cover...Yorrall had already obliged.
The creature missed her within a hairs breath as she dived and rolled down the hill. Evander finally grasped the helm of his great sword and snarled. He charged at the beast with the same ferocity it came for him. He dived under it cutting a huge gaping hole as it passed over him...covered in blood he quickly got to his feet and began slashing at the massive beast. It was far from dead. A huge clawing swipe cut him deep on his shoulder and sent him into a crumbling wall. He dodged a charge and the beast flew straight through the wall but showed no signs of slowing down.
They danced and evaded each others blows until Evander recklessy thrusted inside the beasts range, find a deep hole where the armpit should be and lodging his sword there, so much so it go stuck as he dived back to avoid a bite. Cornered and weaponless he put up his fists as he slowly stalked towards him ready to devour him whole. It lunged but was suddenly thrown off balance...a spear in the hind leg...It was Massalar.
The beast turned in fury and began diving towards her, she was paralysed with fear and surely going to die...Evander found a sudden burst of energy and using a small wall as leverage cast himself full force into the path of the beast. Somehow his shoulder charge ripped through the beast and sent it flying into another wall...this time the rocks crumbled and covered it, trapping it in its place. Evander felt broken but the adrenaline carried him through and he picked himself up and retrieved his sword to deliver a final gory blow to the Kantors skull.
He collapsed and Massalar and a returned Yorrall rushed to his side.
After a couple of hours later he woke. Massalar was above him pouring cold water over his wounds and performing healing incantations. She looked like an angel.
"Slowly" she gently said as he pulled himself up
"Evander, I think you may of just stood up to a god and survived"
He laughed "I come from stubborn company"
"What did she want? If you don't want to talk its okay"
Evander shook his head and smiled "She wanted something that is impossible, don't worry"
"I'll tell you all about it, I just need to rest" he lied back down and with a smile on his face slipped into the greatest slumber of his life.
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Post by evander on Aug 23, 2020 8:26:07 GMT 1
Evander woke in a flash. The violent awakening left him without breath, he could feel dampness all around him and he had a sickening dry taste in his mouth. Massalar came in and smiled broadly when she realised he had awaken
"Its been five days" she said as she rushed over with a wet cloth, placing it on Evander's forehead
His body had entered some form of stasis to recover from his last fight, severe as it was he almost felt normal
"I do like my rest...where are we?"
"It didn't feel safe to stay at the temple so we managed to set up camp in this abandoned outpost...thankfully Yorrall discovered a cart although it took a long time to drag you up on it"
"Yorrall..." he muttered as he graciously accepted a cup of water
"Where is he? Was there any trouble?"
"Thankfully he knows these parts well and knew that we could take you here. There hasn't been any trouble, Raal seems to of vanished.."
"It was the first time in a long time I could sleep in peace..."
"Before you slept you mentioned she wanted something, something impossible. What was it?"
Evander laughed and slowly shifted himself to his feet
"You know of my past, I was a crusader"
Massalar nodded
"Well, Raal, wanted me to destroy the crusaders as revenge for destroying her temple..."
"Oh, well that makes sense...I suppose"
Evander hovered over to his swords and gripped it, trying to regain the feeling
"Not everything makes sense Massalar"
"Like?"
"Lets talk of it later, I'm hungry"
Massalar seemed uneasy "There is some stale bread and berries in the main hall"
"My favourite" he said sarcastically
Evander ate everything in sight but it did little to stave his appetite
"Yorrall will be back soon, he ventured south to a small village he is familiar with for supplies"
"What do you think of the lightfoot?"
"He is annoying but useful I suppose"
Evander laughed "you really have a heart of gold"
"Something Raal said bothered me"
A sudden tension entered the room
"About the crusaders?"
"No, no, it is not the first time I was asked to kill Crusaders, they do have a lot of enemies, I should know" he laughed
"No what bothered me Massalar is that you lied?"
"Lied??"
He looked at her with a cold intense stare, waiting for her to say the next words
"I don't understand"
An awkard silence sat between them as Evander waited for her to break
"Say it?"
"What goddess is Raal?"
"I don't understand?"
"What is Raal the goddess of?"
"Frost, snow all the power that comes from the cold"
"That's what she, it, said yes, but you said something different"
"No, I don't think I did"
"You called her a trickster spirit?"
"Your language is not my original tongue Evander, I often make mistakes"
"That sounds...like a trick" he smiled
The tension remained until it was abruptly ended by Yorrall who bashed through the entrance in a panic
"We're under attack, we're under attack"
Evander shot up grasping his sword, his strength largely renewed
"Evander, there is a group of roaming Crusaders heading this way, at least 8 in strength they destroyed the village and followed me here"
Evander looked at Massalar and grunted before charging out the entrance.
He heard rustling and movement in the terms and he bellowed out "Halt, Crusaders, it is I, Evander former war master, there is no trouble here"
He listened carefully but there was no reply until a flurry of arrows emerged from the bushes, he dived down in an evasive action and they went beyond him. Before the next volley he managed to pick himself up and dive into the main hall, shuttering over the heavy doors.
"We need to..." his face dropped, Massalar had been struck in the belly by a stray arrow.
"Massalar!" he cried out as he rushed over to her, Yorrall hiding under a table peeked out "Oh, no"
There was banging on the door, it wouldn't hold.
Evander ignored the chaos around him and held Massalar in his arms, "Please, hang on, I will get help"
She struggled to speak, with small bubbles of blood coming from her mouth "Evander...its not what it seems...I am sorry"
"You don't have to be sorry"
"It is not what it seems...yo..."
Her voice became fainter and Evander held her closer..."raal, I'm sorry"
She slipped away in his arms and a cold shock flashed through Evander's body. Beyond the door was about to be bust in...Yorrall was screaming but it was all inaudible to Evander...time stood still and so did he...
The door finally caved and the small band of adequately armed men rushed in. Evander snapped just in time and with one swift motion leapt from his knees into a terrifying charge.
The first swipe of his blade sliced the two serving as the spearpoint in half. Without hesitation he recoiled his sword and dodged a spear blow before thrusting into the stomach of another assailant, he lifted his sword, soldier and all and jerked it back leaving the body to fall with a great thud. 5 more men circled around him but they were terrified, these were not true warriors, just men with weapons and there is a difference.
They were too afraid to make a move and Evander stood still like a statue, eventually he broke the stalemate by slowing moving forward cause the man in his path to step quivering, in a flash he dived around and began hacking at those behind him. Two more dead and the other three began to flee... Evander caught one by the scruff of the next and slammed his head so hard against a wall the skull exploded. He picked up one of their crude spears and flung it at another escaping catching him in the leg.
He strode over to his prey, immobile from the blow and violently turned him around so he could look into his eyes
"Crusaders? You are no crusader, you can barely hold a blade"
"I'm sorry sir, please let me live...he paid me..."
"Who paid you?"
"The short one...I'm sorry sir please..."
A stamp of Evander's heavy boot ended his miserable existence.
He stormed back screaming "Yorrall...Yorrall!" but the lightfoot was nowhere to be found
He knelt down at Massalars cold body, she looked like a tragic pciture of beauty.
Evander wept as he kneeled above her
"She did betray you know..in fact everything she ever told you was a lie...I tried so many ways to get your attention Evander, I should of known you would have a thing for priestesses"
Yorrall lurked behind him in a mocking tone
"And now look what has happened...I told you, YOU BELONG TO ME" the voice switched to that of Raal
Evander stopped weeping and stood up with his back to Yorrall, he towered above him...and he laughed
"WHAT IS SO FUNNY?"
"You really thought I would believe they were Crusaders?"
"SHE IS DEAD ISN'T SHE, THE STUPID GIRL COULDN'T EVEN LIE CORRECTLY"
"Yes but I just can't get over how stupid you are"
"STUPID? STUPID?!! I AM RAAL, GODDESS OF.."
"You are no Goddess, you are a trickster spirit, no wonder no one worships you...you are a fraud?"
"I WILL KILL YOU"
"You can't, or you would have done it by now, you can send 1000 more men like that" evander laughed "you can't kill me"
"I killed her" Yorrall began to morph in to harrowing form of Raal, blending in and out of reality
"Yes, you did.. and for that you will pay"
"HOW CAN YOU.."
Evander swung a furious blow at the half lightfoot, half morphing spirit figure and slice open whatever it was. A spring of pink mist covered him as it screeched in agony and white wisping smoking poured from the open wound
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS"
Evander swung again this time cleanly decapitating Raal...before the head and body could hit the floor they rapidly turned to an ash like substance and broke into dust upton impact.
Was it dead? He wasn't sure... but it was gone for now.
He kneeled back down to Massalars body and picked up her up gently.
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It took hours but he eventually found a nice resting spot for Massalar beside a river. He dug a deep grave and poured flowers over her corpse. She would of liked that. He didn't have any gods to pray to but he spent time thinking of her and wishing her a safe journey to whatever lied beyond, then he filled her final resting spot.
He walked slowly back through before reaching the snow and the final trudge to Castle black. Along the way he saw more of the horrors, or rather the aftermath of the horror that is all too common in Agonia, death and destruction everywhere. The fellowship which he left had become the Order and the bloody battle against the forsaken stained all the lands with blood.
When he reached Castle Black Achilles and Grimsboro had returned.
"So Evander, how was your trip?"
He smiled, rejoiced to see his friends again
"It was, an adventure...but there is something I must say first"
They looked at him curiously
"For me, its time to go back...What drove me to this life is gone now, I hope...I can't sit by and watch the slaughter anymore"
The two looked at eachother and then back to Evander
"Very well, lets have a drink then"
He nodded and headed in shoulder to shoulder with his brothers, they would make a night of it...It could be the last time for a while they would see eachother.
THE END
Thanks for those that have read! If people like I can write more in the future...Dearest admins, may I be switched back to the Order please
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