Mythrandir
04-08-2008, 00:13
Stretching across a great expanse of Mythrandir's massive continent lay a fertile plain known as the Aztiluth Plains. Tall grass filled the land in between the smaller settlements and villages along with their crops. Inhabitants of the plains lived simply for the coming harvest so that they may provide enough for their families and sell the rest to caravans that passed through each village on their way to Mythrandir and the tundra in the north. Life was neither luxurious or bountiful far from their major cities but it was a fulfilling life to live among the elements and the everyday trials that they brought.
The fragility of all this was undone one day when those that came under a false notion of superiority tried to extend their influence over the people of Mythrandir. Battle was joined in space as the fleets of Mythrandir flying the banner of the phoenix clashed with the tyrannts from Tannelorn. Death filled the skies and spilled over to the planet and its land. Warriors of Mythrandir brought their blades to bare on those that dared to set foot on the soil of their homes. On the field of Aztiluth did the worst of the fighting take place where sword and shield were broken and the cries of the dead and dying could be heard all the way back in the capital of Mythrandir.
The earth shook as both armies fought as titans and did battle. Only their unwillingness to surrender and their will to live free turned the tide of war in their favor as the Warriors of Mythrandir pushed back the Tannelornians and slew them even as they retreated to their ships. All would have gone well for the Warriors except one dastardly deed remain unseen until it was too late. Inside the very village where the heart of the fighting was occuring just outside its walls, a bomb had been burried and set to detonate once the time was right.
In the time that had passed since that battle, a scar remained upon the face of the planet where nothing would grow and a river ran black through the land. Elves had ventured out from Caeralfar at the behest of the Elders to put their powers to work in healing the land. Painstaking work went into it all as the blight was slowly healed, but for all their skill; a dead zone still remained. So it came to pass that small hill was turned into a memorial for all of those who fell in the defense of Mythrandir and served to remind people that outside their own realm, there were those who were irrational and slaves to their own whims.
Looking out at the bare earth, an island in a sea of grass, Elder Sebastian took stock in what had been lost and gained. Nothing more than a graveyard of broken swords and spears along with the charred remains of those Warriors that could not be saved, a great price had been extracted. Sitting atop his horse with spear in hand, his grey eyes took in the surroundings.
Around the man were a number of his companions that had decided to accompany the Elder on his expedition. Elven Captain Lukien, often referred to as the bronze knight among the Warriors and people of Mythrandir, wore simple traveling clothes along with Captain Bregger who took up the opposite flank. Sebastian's wife, Sarah, rode a grey mare next to her husband.
"How many were lost here? You never did tell me."
Sebastian shook his head as he recalled riding out with reinforcements only to be met with a blinding blast and a field of dying men. "Too many by my reckoning. All of them were sons, daughters, brothers or sisters to someone and they were all brother and sister to one another. So many had died when they should not have."
The dark elf War Mistress, Shizra, rode a little closer to Sebastian to get a glimpse of the man and the field around them. "Such are the tactics of cowards."
Bregger nodded his agreement. "Aye, but we will avenge the souls of our comrades someday soon enough. Then, they will rest in peace knowing that these cowards were brought to justice."
Elder Sebastian could only sigh at it all. "Revenge? Revenge will only bring a minor comfort to those that were left behind but can never bring back those that were lost here that day. I still remember the countless bodies that our Warriors erected upon lances and planted them in the ground. Bodies of the enemy impaled on our lances were as thick as trees in the forest. Those same bodies fill the ranks of the Bog thanks to the work of Shizra and they will see their home land once more when we strike back. But do not look for comfort in that day. It will simply be grim retribution that follows in our wake. When we return home, this scar we still be here and our bretheren will still be dead. Victory for the dead will come, but it will not be brought by our hands."
Silence followed the Elder's words as they sat upon their mounts and just stared at the barren land. Only the wind whispered to them as it rushed through their hair and caressed their faces. It was Lukien that finally broke the uncomfortable silence minutes later. "Elder, what is it that you hoped to see by coming to this place?"
Sebastian gripped the shaft of his wooden spear a little tighter. "To remind me that even after the battles are over, the consequences of the war continue on. I've been receiving reports from the caravans that Blood Wolves have been venturing closer to their trails. Last night, there was the first fatality from an attack in many years. This single act has managed to upset the balance in the food chain in this area. Wildlife that housed and fed off the prairie have been declining which has forced the Blood Wolves to look for alternate food sources. Driven mad from hunger and most likely poisoning, they have begun attacking some of the smaller homesteads and caravans at night."
Bregger sat up taller in his saddle as if he could see a pack of wolves on the move. "But the local population has begun to return so the balance should be restored by now."
"Aye, which leads me to believe that have simply been driven mad by the poison of the land. From all reports, it is one pack of that is responsible for the attacks and that is why I am out here. Hopefully I can track these wolves and put them down before anymore people are harmed."
Blood Wolves were difficult creatures to track let alone hunt. Often those that saught to bring one down, became the hunted without even realizing it. Regardless, those gathered around the Elder were aware of his capabilities and held no doubt in his tracking abilities. Most of them hung their heads wondering why this Elder always felt the need to put the burden of their world on his shoulders and solve every problem.
None of them had the chance to voice their concern though as there was a slight vibration in the Elder's saddle bag. A small black orb floated out soon after. Energy hummed within as a holographic image of Luthien molded into existance. The raven haired elf smiled at the gathering. "Good morning everyone."
Lukien smiled at his sister. "Hello ambassador. What can we do for you?"
"Actually it is for the Elder that I have called."
Sebastian eased the spear back to rest against his shoulder then slowly nodded. "What do you have for me, Luthien?"
"I have been studying what reports I can find about other nations on request from our friends and have come up with a suitable candidate to approach. They appear to be an economically sound nation that would prove potentially profitable for some of our companies to invest in. It has also been brought to my attention that they are also allied with a great many more nations. At least more than our own Kingdom."
Days ago, Sebastian had asked Luthien to look out to the stars for nations that would make ideal investments for Mythrandir. If not as allies, then at least a stable nation that would prove a beneficial trading partner. "What is the name of this nation?"
Luthien checked through a piece of parchment paper to make sure she had everything accounted for. "The Federation of Telros. I can be ready to leave within the hour."
Those gathered looked to Sebastian for a response. No one was willing to argue the point now in front of other political officers. They all at least had that much respect for the man. "No, not you. Have Elder Alurial go instead. I want you and the rest of the ambassadorial staff to head over to the Diplomatic Palace and busy yourselves seeing to the needs of our foreign friends. Make sure you are tied up for the rest of the day."
The elven diplomat looked somewhat puzzled but was unwilling to question the Elder. "I will relay the message to Elder Alurial at once."
Fading like dust in the wind, the holograph slowly faded away leaving the companions behind. The horses nickered as everyone shifted uneasily in their saddle. Sarah was the first to pose a question. "Why are you so interested in reaching out to foreigners?"
"Because we need them."
Bregger reigned in his horse before it started to move off towards more edible grass. "Need them? Begging your pardon Elder, but we don't need anyone's help. We are sufficient enough to take care of ourselves."
"I have to agree with the Captain, Elder. We have tried to reach out to others in the past and while it may have lasted for a time, we ultimately find ourselves out here alone. Remember the alliance that we were a member of? Because of that alliance, we were attacked. It was a war we had no part in nor showed any desire to get involved in, yet we were still attacked. And where were our so called allies?"
Sebastian held up his hand to stop the Elven Captain. "I know...I know. Joining the alliance was my idea and one that I argued for. I alone hold the responsibility for what happened as a result of it. Because of that mistake, I do not intend to enter in any large alliances like that. Instead we will move nation to nation to secure our own security. It is my hope that we can become important to enough nations that attacking our home would prove more costly than beneficial. Or, acquire enough allies that at least someone will be willing to lend a hand when the time comes.
I don't want war anymore than you do, but war will always come. There will always be the tyrannts, the fools, and all other evils in the universe that will seek to threaten those that live their lives freely. Hopefully, by taking these steps we can lessen that possibility. You have my word, that we will never ally ourselves with the empires or kingdoms that seek to subdue others in their never ending conquests. We will not become them or ally with them."
Lukien hung his head for a moment. "Forgive me. It was not place to question you. You have always looked out for our people and for that you have always had the loyalty of the Warriors."
Sebastian smiled and clasped the elf's shoulder. "If I thought you would never question me, then you would not be the good friend that you are now. As the rest of you are. You have proven your friendships time and time again as you stand by and tell me not what I want to hear but what I need to hear."
The War Mistress hooked a long strand of white hair behind her ear as Sebastian talked. He was a man that had always drawn her attention and her affection. A long time ago, she had surrendered herself to whatever fate Sebastian would lead them to. Whether life or death, she was determined to be at his side through it all. "Alright sentimental value aside, why send Alurial? Not that I care. Life here will be much more peaceful once the pompous princess is gone, but I am just curious."
It was well known to most that Shizra and Alurial harbored a long feud that stretched beyond the memories of most humans. Still, the jab at the Elven Elder's expense brought a smile to most of their faces. "Alurial needs to see the universe outside our own realm. She is by far the strongest advocate for isolation and with a size of our people behind her, it could make battles like this a reoccurrance. I want her to know that she doesn't always have to keep the people in fear of outsiders."
Sarah smiled as she guided her horse closer to her husband. "If you're that concerned about her Shizra, you could always go as her escort."
"Concern for her? I feel more sorry for the people of Telros that will have to deal with her. If anybody needs protection, it will be them."
"Now, now. You know Elder Alurial is always on her best behavior around foreign dignataries."
Shizra rolled her eyes at the statement. "She could always suck-"
"Shizra!" Sebastian arched an eyebrow at her as he raised his voice, silencing the dark elf.
The Elder ran his fingers through his thick brown hair then shook his head. "Alurial is the one for the job and she will perform it with all the grace she has. Let's turn our attention to the task at hand. Rerouting caravan stops out of the wolves hunting ground."
------
Alurial cursed as she packed her belongings for the trip. For some reason, the job of trade diplomat had fallen to her. When she tried to call Luthien and get her to take the assignment, she was no where to be found along with the rest of the ambassadorial staff. Reluctantly, the task fell to her since no one else was around to take it.
She stopped rummaging through her drawers and things when she heard the soft sound of footfalls outside her room. A knock soon followed.
"Enter."
The door opened and in strode a dark elf of tall stature with the customary lean features and shoulder length white hair. A long scimitar hung at his hip in a white scabbard which stood out in stark comparison with his black clothing. Alurial seethed through her gritted teeth. "I only called for you an hour ago!"
Drafir dipped a low bow in apologies. "Forgive me Elder but matters of the Underdark had my attention. I am here at your call though."
The elven woman returned to her packing. "I have a shuttle reserved for us. We're leaving for a nation called Telros to see about extending our markets to their territory. You are coming with me as my escort, since I cannot show up to a foreign nation as an important representative unattended to."
He understood every underlining word that she spoke while packing. Alurial was upset that she was being sent out for such a minor task so she wanted him to come along to feel a little bit better about herself. Being able to read her meanings was probably one of the reasons Alurial kept him around so much.
Drafir dipped another respective bow. "I am at your command m'Lady."
An hour later, a small shuttle departed from the Mythrandir port and entered into the Warp with the destination of Telros logged into its drive. Alurial brought along all the items sent to her by Luthien before mysteriously departing. For the elven Elder, that much thought would at least subdue her ire for now as she travelled the road to whatever destination Sebastian had tricked her into.
Thirty minutes of travel aboard their shuttle had Drafir and Alurial passing the time through small talk as the suttle was dedicated solely to the Elder's use. It left the atmosphere comfortable for them to speak as they were want to do. Their time together was only interrupted by the pilot's signal that they were exiting the Warp and about to enter Telrosian space.
Alurial and Drafir prepared themselves for the task ahead while the pilot sent a message out. They had exited the Warp a comfortable distance from the planet so as to not appear threatening in any manor nor to run into any traffic that might be hovering over the planet. The ship itself was non-threatening in nature as it carried no weapons, only the Mythrandir emblem of the phoenix and their runic language engraved into the ship.
This is shuttle Talon of the Kingdom of Mythrandir. I am carrying Elder Alurial on board who seeks permission to speak with members of the state to discuss matters of trade that would prove beneficial to both parties.
The fragility of all this was undone one day when those that came under a false notion of superiority tried to extend their influence over the people of Mythrandir. Battle was joined in space as the fleets of Mythrandir flying the banner of the phoenix clashed with the tyrannts from Tannelorn. Death filled the skies and spilled over to the planet and its land. Warriors of Mythrandir brought their blades to bare on those that dared to set foot on the soil of their homes. On the field of Aztiluth did the worst of the fighting take place where sword and shield were broken and the cries of the dead and dying could be heard all the way back in the capital of Mythrandir.
The earth shook as both armies fought as titans and did battle. Only their unwillingness to surrender and their will to live free turned the tide of war in their favor as the Warriors of Mythrandir pushed back the Tannelornians and slew them even as they retreated to their ships. All would have gone well for the Warriors except one dastardly deed remain unseen until it was too late. Inside the very village where the heart of the fighting was occuring just outside its walls, a bomb had been burried and set to detonate once the time was right.
In the time that had passed since that battle, a scar remained upon the face of the planet where nothing would grow and a river ran black through the land. Elves had ventured out from Caeralfar at the behest of the Elders to put their powers to work in healing the land. Painstaking work went into it all as the blight was slowly healed, but for all their skill; a dead zone still remained. So it came to pass that small hill was turned into a memorial for all of those who fell in the defense of Mythrandir and served to remind people that outside their own realm, there were those who were irrational and slaves to their own whims.
Looking out at the bare earth, an island in a sea of grass, Elder Sebastian took stock in what had been lost and gained. Nothing more than a graveyard of broken swords and spears along with the charred remains of those Warriors that could not be saved, a great price had been extracted. Sitting atop his horse with spear in hand, his grey eyes took in the surroundings.
Around the man were a number of his companions that had decided to accompany the Elder on his expedition. Elven Captain Lukien, often referred to as the bronze knight among the Warriors and people of Mythrandir, wore simple traveling clothes along with Captain Bregger who took up the opposite flank. Sebastian's wife, Sarah, rode a grey mare next to her husband.
"How many were lost here? You never did tell me."
Sebastian shook his head as he recalled riding out with reinforcements only to be met with a blinding blast and a field of dying men. "Too many by my reckoning. All of them were sons, daughters, brothers or sisters to someone and they were all brother and sister to one another. So many had died when they should not have."
The dark elf War Mistress, Shizra, rode a little closer to Sebastian to get a glimpse of the man and the field around them. "Such are the tactics of cowards."
Bregger nodded his agreement. "Aye, but we will avenge the souls of our comrades someday soon enough. Then, they will rest in peace knowing that these cowards were brought to justice."
Elder Sebastian could only sigh at it all. "Revenge? Revenge will only bring a minor comfort to those that were left behind but can never bring back those that were lost here that day. I still remember the countless bodies that our Warriors erected upon lances and planted them in the ground. Bodies of the enemy impaled on our lances were as thick as trees in the forest. Those same bodies fill the ranks of the Bog thanks to the work of Shizra and they will see their home land once more when we strike back. But do not look for comfort in that day. It will simply be grim retribution that follows in our wake. When we return home, this scar we still be here and our bretheren will still be dead. Victory for the dead will come, but it will not be brought by our hands."
Silence followed the Elder's words as they sat upon their mounts and just stared at the barren land. Only the wind whispered to them as it rushed through their hair and caressed their faces. It was Lukien that finally broke the uncomfortable silence minutes later. "Elder, what is it that you hoped to see by coming to this place?"
Sebastian gripped the shaft of his wooden spear a little tighter. "To remind me that even after the battles are over, the consequences of the war continue on. I've been receiving reports from the caravans that Blood Wolves have been venturing closer to their trails. Last night, there was the first fatality from an attack in many years. This single act has managed to upset the balance in the food chain in this area. Wildlife that housed and fed off the prairie have been declining which has forced the Blood Wolves to look for alternate food sources. Driven mad from hunger and most likely poisoning, they have begun attacking some of the smaller homesteads and caravans at night."
Bregger sat up taller in his saddle as if he could see a pack of wolves on the move. "But the local population has begun to return so the balance should be restored by now."
"Aye, which leads me to believe that have simply been driven mad by the poison of the land. From all reports, it is one pack of that is responsible for the attacks and that is why I am out here. Hopefully I can track these wolves and put them down before anymore people are harmed."
Blood Wolves were difficult creatures to track let alone hunt. Often those that saught to bring one down, became the hunted without even realizing it. Regardless, those gathered around the Elder were aware of his capabilities and held no doubt in his tracking abilities. Most of them hung their heads wondering why this Elder always felt the need to put the burden of their world on his shoulders and solve every problem.
None of them had the chance to voice their concern though as there was a slight vibration in the Elder's saddle bag. A small black orb floated out soon after. Energy hummed within as a holographic image of Luthien molded into existance. The raven haired elf smiled at the gathering. "Good morning everyone."
Lukien smiled at his sister. "Hello ambassador. What can we do for you?"
"Actually it is for the Elder that I have called."
Sebastian eased the spear back to rest against his shoulder then slowly nodded. "What do you have for me, Luthien?"
"I have been studying what reports I can find about other nations on request from our friends and have come up with a suitable candidate to approach. They appear to be an economically sound nation that would prove potentially profitable for some of our companies to invest in. It has also been brought to my attention that they are also allied with a great many more nations. At least more than our own Kingdom."
Days ago, Sebastian had asked Luthien to look out to the stars for nations that would make ideal investments for Mythrandir. If not as allies, then at least a stable nation that would prove a beneficial trading partner. "What is the name of this nation?"
Luthien checked through a piece of parchment paper to make sure she had everything accounted for. "The Federation of Telros. I can be ready to leave within the hour."
Those gathered looked to Sebastian for a response. No one was willing to argue the point now in front of other political officers. They all at least had that much respect for the man. "No, not you. Have Elder Alurial go instead. I want you and the rest of the ambassadorial staff to head over to the Diplomatic Palace and busy yourselves seeing to the needs of our foreign friends. Make sure you are tied up for the rest of the day."
The elven diplomat looked somewhat puzzled but was unwilling to question the Elder. "I will relay the message to Elder Alurial at once."
Fading like dust in the wind, the holograph slowly faded away leaving the companions behind. The horses nickered as everyone shifted uneasily in their saddle. Sarah was the first to pose a question. "Why are you so interested in reaching out to foreigners?"
"Because we need them."
Bregger reigned in his horse before it started to move off towards more edible grass. "Need them? Begging your pardon Elder, but we don't need anyone's help. We are sufficient enough to take care of ourselves."
"I have to agree with the Captain, Elder. We have tried to reach out to others in the past and while it may have lasted for a time, we ultimately find ourselves out here alone. Remember the alliance that we were a member of? Because of that alliance, we were attacked. It was a war we had no part in nor showed any desire to get involved in, yet we were still attacked. And where were our so called allies?"
Sebastian held up his hand to stop the Elven Captain. "I know...I know. Joining the alliance was my idea and one that I argued for. I alone hold the responsibility for what happened as a result of it. Because of that mistake, I do not intend to enter in any large alliances like that. Instead we will move nation to nation to secure our own security. It is my hope that we can become important to enough nations that attacking our home would prove more costly than beneficial. Or, acquire enough allies that at least someone will be willing to lend a hand when the time comes.
I don't want war anymore than you do, but war will always come. There will always be the tyrannts, the fools, and all other evils in the universe that will seek to threaten those that live their lives freely. Hopefully, by taking these steps we can lessen that possibility. You have my word, that we will never ally ourselves with the empires or kingdoms that seek to subdue others in their never ending conquests. We will not become them or ally with them."
Lukien hung his head for a moment. "Forgive me. It was not place to question you. You have always looked out for our people and for that you have always had the loyalty of the Warriors."
Sebastian smiled and clasped the elf's shoulder. "If I thought you would never question me, then you would not be the good friend that you are now. As the rest of you are. You have proven your friendships time and time again as you stand by and tell me not what I want to hear but what I need to hear."
The War Mistress hooked a long strand of white hair behind her ear as Sebastian talked. He was a man that had always drawn her attention and her affection. A long time ago, she had surrendered herself to whatever fate Sebastian would lead them to. Whether life or death, she was determined to be at his side through it all. "Alright sentimental value aside, why send Alurial? Not that I care. Life here will be much more peaceful once the pompous princess is gone, but I am just curious."
It was well known to most that Shizra and Alurial harbored a long feud that stretched beyond the memories of most humans. Still, the jab at the Elven Elder's expense brought a smile to most of their faces. "Alurial needs to see the universe outside our own realm. She is by far the strongest advocate for isolation and with a size of our people behind her, it could make battles like this a reoccurrance. I want her to know that she doesn't always have to keep the people in fear of outsiders."
Sarah smiled as she guided her horse closer to her husband. "If you're that concerned about her Shizra, you could always go as her escort."
"Concern for her? I feel more sorry for the people of Telros that will have to deal with her. If anybody needs protection, it will be them."
"Now, now. You know Elder Alurial is always on her best behavior around foreign dignataries."
Shizra rolled her eyes at the statement. "She could always suck-"
"Shizra!" Sebastian arched an eyebrow at her as he raised his voice, silencing the dark elf.
The Elder ran his fingers through his thick brown hair then shook his head. "Alurial is the one for the job and she will perform it with all the grace she has. Let's turn our attention to the task at hand. Rerouting caravan stops out of the wolves hunting ground."
------
Alurial cursed as she packed her belongings for the trip. For some reason, the job of trade diplomat had fallen to her. When she tried to call Luthien and get her to take the assignment, she was no where to be found along with the rest of the ambassadorial staff. Reluctantly, the task fell to her since no one else was around to take it.
She stopped rummaging through her drawers and things when she heard the soft sound of footfalls outside her room. A knock soon followed.
"Enter."
The door opened and in strode a dark elf of tall stature with the customary lean features and shoulder length white hair. A long scimitar hung at his hip in a white scabbard which stood out in stark comparison with his black clothing. Alurial seethed through her gritted teeth. "I only called for you an hour ago!"
Drafir dipped a low bow in apologies. "Forgive me Elder but matters of the Underdark had my attention. I am here at your call though."
The elven woman returned to her packing. "I have a shuttle reserved for us. We're leaving for a nation called Telros to see about extending our markets to their territory. You are coming with me as my escort, since I cannot show up to a foreign nation as an important representative unattended to."
He understood every underlining word that she spoke while packing. Alurial was upset that she was being sent out for such a minor task so she wanted him to come along to feel a little bit better about herself. Being able to read her meanings was probably one of the reasons Alurial kept him around so much.
Drafir dipped another respective bow. "I am at your command m'Lady."
An hour later, a small shuttle departed from the Mythrandir port and entered into the Warp with the destination of Telros logged into its drive. Alurial brought along all the items sent to her by Luthien before mysteriously departing. For the elven Elder, that much thought would at least subdue her ire for now as she travelled the road to whatever destination Sebastian had tricked her into.
Thirty minutes of travel aboard their shuttle had Drafir and Alurial passing the time through small talk as the suttle was dedicated solely to the Elder's use. It left the atmosphere comfortable for them to speak as they were want to do. Their time together was only interrupted by the pilot's signal that they were exiting the Warp and about to enter Telrosian space.
Alurial and Drafir prepared themselves for the task ahead while the pilot sent a message out. They had exited the Warp a comfortable distance from the planet so as to not appear threatening in any manor nor to run into any traffic that might be hovering over the planet. The ship itself was non-threatening in nature as it carried no weapons, only the Mythrandir emblem of the phoenix and their runic language engraved into the ship.
This is shuttle Talon of the Kingdom of Mythrandir. I am carrying Elder Alurial on board who seeks permission to speak with members of the state to discuss matters of trade that would prove beneficial to both parties.