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Post by Brenton on Jan 2, 2014 13:03:47 GMT -5
An ominous crack reverberated through the city of the elves as a blinding flash of dark light spread through the trees with the wind creating cold eddies and making leaves rustle. Shattering sounds could be heard, followed by painful thuds as objects pierced the thick trunks of massive trees in the forest. Moaning and screams rose as the temperature dropped drastically to create ice that grew over the forest and caused immense pain to the nature. Soon animals began dying and creatures of darkness rose up like guardians as the crystals glowed brighter and stone steps materialized leading to a pedestal with a sword blade down inside it.
Massive statues holdings swords appeared next to the steps like guards and a pavilion grew up around them. The city grew steadily colder and darker, lit only by the glowing crystals. The world was once again graced with the presence of the Blade, waiting for the Hero.
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 3, 2014 0:40:39 GMT -5
Something was wrong, what he didn't know. Reru quickly tore a rift out of the Nether into Ellesmera and stepped through the portal. As soon as he was out he sealed the rift. No need letting intruders get into his realm by leaving that open. He wasn't sure what had happened but he knew it had to do with the Nether, something had changed there something had left and now it was here.
The half-elf prince was not wearing his usual clothes. He was dressed in the uniform those of the Physic Branch used and on his head a crown with purple jewels. Few knew it but the crown served to further his mental strength. He could speak with the Physic Guardian anywhere and draw from his strength at will.
Reru glanced around him but saw no one and nothing odd at least in that part of the forest. Then rather brilliant transparent wings sprouted from his back and using them he took to the skies. He didn't have his dragon but he still had the ability to fly. The price for it had been grave though. From the sky he could see what looked like almost a shockwave of something that had hit. Immediately he flew towards the center of the destruction. The painful cold and the moaning and screams that rose had no obvious effect on Reru. That was the price he'd paid, he had given up what made him human. Among other things he'd given up, he could no longer feel the cold. Nor did he seem to elect any sympathy for those who moaned and screamed.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 3, 2014 1:01:39 GMT -5
Shaelren looked up as he felt the temperature drop and the sky grow dark around his part time home in the capital of the elves. He gathered his supplies, writing materials and some money, into a small satchel before throwing on a cloak and stepping outside to see what was wrong. Already people were gathering around a dark looking pedestal and sword while murmuring about impossible to exist. The Blade, a legend told to children in Ellesmera, was resting in their frozen home waiting for the Hero to step forward. With a nervous swallow, Shaelren walked up the steps and rested his hands on the hilt that burned with anger and cold. He looked at the sword and pulled quickly upward, expecting failure, just to feel the blade give way and cause anger and rebellion to course through his veins. Love and death, anger and romanticism all filled him as young Shaelren doubled over in pain and grew taller, more heroic.
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 3, 2014 1:15:11 GMT -5
Reru came within view of the blade and the scene of gathered elves only moments before Shaelren drew the blade. His eyes widened as he realized what it was. There were tapestries in the Physic Citadel about that sword, but the Nether was vast, he'd never considered searching for it...how had it gotten here? How had that elf drawn the blade! Without hesitation he descended to hover near Shaelren but just out of swinging reach. "That is not yours," he said simply. "It belongs to my realm, to the Nether as does that rock you pulled it from." The Nether was filled with floating islands made of that very rock, even the citadel was made of it, there was no rocks like it in this plane of existence, as was already clear bringing it here did harm to the forest.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 3, 2014 1:31:29 GMT -5
"Be a dear, fairy-man, and fly away or feel my wrath." Shaelren's muscles grew to fit his new height and his hair grew longer while stubble appeared on his chin. The Hero was on this plane and like Hell he would go back to his scrawny size. With a devious glint in his eyes, Shaelren swung The Blade of the Nether and a tear in the air appeared between them. "Actually go home, fairy-man." Shaelren raised an eyebrow at the brat fairy.
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 3, 2014 1:43:49 GMT -5
"Fairy-man? That sword has already taken your mind or you are an incompetent fool," Reru spat sounding very irritated. It was people who made comments like this to him that had driven him to extremes that resulted in him loosing his humanity. He wasn't about to grab the sword though, in his current state he'd do worse than call someone a fairy-man under the effects of the sword. While he didn't show it having been rejected and abandoned by Avendel he was more emotionally unstable than he'd ever been, only Ender's influence kept him in check from lashing out.
He drifted back as Shaelren swung the blade creating a tear. Reru held up a hand and clenched it into a fist, the tear responded as though he'd pulled it shut. "That sword isn't save in anyone's hands," he said. Cutting tears between the two realities would do great damage to this one. "That little trick might work on others, but the Nether is my realm," he added.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 3, 2014 2:24:23 GMT -5
"And the forest is my realm, fairy-man. Now leave and go back to the Nether." With that, Shaelren took off running for the trees, knowing his destination. Fairy-man was from the Nether and so was Ashendale so they could fight while he escaped. Trees blurred together and the darkness began to feel like a living creature but the Blade led him to the hidden citadel in the forest. Shadows filled each area and Shaelren slid into a crevice to hide while Fairy-man met Ashendale. The Hero quaked with indignation for hiding but Shaelren was still in control enough to stay in the shadows.
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 3, 2014 19:29:35 GMT -5
"The fool," Reru muttered as Shaelren took off running. Without hesitation he followed matching Shaelren's pace easily but unable to gain as he avoided trees and other obstacles. The tapestries in the citadel warned of the sword, it was powerful but dangerous. He wasn't sure about the whole history of the sword but only knew it needed to be returned to the Nether. Ender would know what to do with it. Besides, knowing the danger, maybe he could win Avendel's heart back by doing this deed.
"Shaelren, you don't understand that sword will only bring destruction. It was hidden ages ago for a reason, there are other ways to gain what the sword is giving you," he said easily finding Shaelren's mind and speaking to him verbally and telepathically. If there was one thing he excelled at it was that ability to reach out with his mind as did most who were of his Branch. He flew towards the spot he knew he was hiding, he could sense his mind easily though he made no attempt to break his mind. He didn't want to draw him out to fight and risk getting hit by that blade.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 3, 2014 20:31:47 GMT -5
Shaelren, or the Hero, looked up and his eyes flashed dangerously but suddenly the citadel unleashed terror reincarnated in the form of the Nether twisted Ashendale. By now he had realized someone was here and it was that idiot branch elder. Ashendale bellowed and a rip in the Nether opened behind Rerukusu as the massive man charged straight toward the elder intending to shove him in.
As the scene unfolded, the Hero slipped out and ran full speed toward Ellesmera and Isilee's house. Hopefully the human family would give him safe stay until Reru left. Then he made it to the house and the Hero started knocking on the door quickly. "Lady Isilee, Celia, please open the door!"
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Post by Harbor on Jan 3, 2014 20:52:35 GMT -5
Celia had stayed home to watch the house and Yesley and make up for all of her archery practice with embroidering. She would never be as good at it as her mother, but already she was showing great promise, her mother said. And with Yeskey asleep upstairs it was the perfect time to work on it. But with the sudden pounding on the door she staved herself in the finger with her needle and Yeskey started crying. Celia cursed, threw down the embroidery and bounded up the stairs to wrap him in her arms. Bouncing him to soothe him, she ran back downstairs to the sound of shouting and threw the door open, Yeskey clutched against her chest. "Shaelren? what?"
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 4, 2014 15:28:35 GMT -5
Ashendale was quick and Reru had not been expecting it. Caught off guard he was flung backwards into the Nether. It took him a moment to orient himself and realize where in the Nether he was. In the mean time he'd drawn his sword ready to face Ashendale. "My fight is not with you. Who are you anyways!" he called. He'd never met Ashendale before but this seemed a more current danger than Shaelren.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 4, 2014 15:57:57 GMT -5
Of course an elder like you wouldn't know about their domain or the people who are more powerful. Ask Ender and I'm sure you will hear word of Ashendale taking this citadel and then using the language of the Nether to be twisted into a being powerful enough to fight a shade and dragon spirit. You will hear of Nelfarion who ravages and swims in the blood of the innocent just to return to the citadel of your domain, fallen to disrepair and abandoned. My name is Ashendale, rider and leader of the New Forsworn. There is no opponent who can best me now run away, Rerukusu Erisn Galbatorixsson.
Ashendale wrapped his clawed fingers inward on both hands and a sword appeared in the right while the left was cloaked in flickering purple flames. He grinned at this elder but instead of looking charming like it once did, he had a more feral look to his grin and his eyes blazed evilly.
While Ashendale was busy dealing with Reru, Shaelren looked at Celia and his eyes seemed to glow gold before his hair took on a reddish tint for a second and his lips pulled into a seductive smile. I can't just come by to see the most beautiful goddess ever to touch our barren land? I want to be here with you, mí amor. All thoughts of Rerukusu chasing him disappeared as a golden light seemed to emanate from his skin.
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Post by Harbor on Jan 4, 2014 17:46:44 GMT -5
Celia's eyes widened as a faint glow grew up from Shaelren's skin and eyes, his hair even seeming to change color, I just a little. His compliments would likely have reduced to blushes and speechlessness most any other girl but they made Celia watch him warily. The only reason her father had noticed her mother was because of her exotic appearance, some of which Celia had inherited as well. Beauty meant nothing to a girl whose mother had been enslaved for it. She clutched Yesley in tighter to her and asked cautiously, "Why are you glowing? Where did you get that sword?"
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 4, 2014 19:27:02 GMT -5
Reru smiled as Ashendale spoke. He took the gem out that was embedded in his chest and with a thought teleported it to Ender. As long as the crystal survived Reru would not die, and he could return even if his body was slain. "Powerful enough to fight a shade and dragon spirit, leader of the New Forsworn. No doubt impressive, but you are in my domain now and I doubt you could take on Ender, guardians are more powerful than either shade or dragon spirit, and Ender's power flows through me," he said, his sword had started to glow with a purple light, as it grew in intensity it turned to a brilliant blinding white. "I don't run away, but I don't have time for you. BEGONE!" With that he swung his blade sending a wave of energy at Ashendale that would tear a rift in the Nether and hopefully force Ashendale back and drop him in the middle of the Haderac Desert. He doubted that would keep Ashendale there, but it would buy him time. All the while they'd been talking he'd been drawing massive amounts of energy from Ender to unleash in that blow and behind it all of Ender's strength.
Regardless of whether it worked or not he tore another rift taking him back to Ellesmera where he'd left Shaelren. Immediately he threw his mind out to search for the elf's presence and when he found it he launched an attack on his mind as he flew towards his location sword in hand still glowing from Ender's power.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 4, 2014 20:26:32 GMT -5
Ashendale had been expecting an attack that was strong but when the sword propelled him backward into the Hadarac Desert he was stunned. Sand and heat burned the skin of the strong Nether shade but he couldn't bring himself to stand and go back to the forest. Muttered words filled the air and soon Ashendale was back at the citadel and unconscious.
Shaelren had looked at Celia stunned when suddenly he clutched his head and screamed in pain, growing again until he looked like he had trained with a broad sword for years. As he screamed, Shaelren's hair flickered between blonde and red while his eyes changed from green to black to gold to green again. His body grew and his skin started to shine with sweat until it happened. The pain intensified and then Shaelren was six and a half feet tall with broad shoulders and large muscles.
His hair was no longer blonde but was red and in a ponytail with a golden helm on. Shaelren's eyes had settled to black and his lips were pulled back in a snarl as he stood up in his golden armor with an image of the stone pedestal on his breastplate. The boy glared around and then his eyes settled on Rerukusu. Fairy-man! I told you to leave and now you attack me. Meet the Hero and feel my wrath! The Hero jumped and swung the Blade straight at Reru with full force.
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Post by Harbor on Jan 4, 2014 20:39:05 GMT -5
Clearly Shaelren wasn't accustomed to females not swooning when he spoke like that, and Celia took a small step back in apprehension. When he abruptly convulsed, she cried out, terrified that whatever was hurting him was going to hurt them next, and as soon as he started to grow, horrified, she slammed the door, hurriedly locking it, and disappeared down the hidden door that Brenton had shown them that first day. It led to a darkened tunnel, intermittently lit by red lamps embedded in the walls, and she sprinted down it with Yesley in her arms, because Brenton had said it would be safe at the other end.
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 4, 2014 21:40:26 GMT -5
"I didn't want to attack you but you left me no choice!" Reru said continuing his attack on the Hero's mind. This was no longer Shaelren not really. He recognized the Hero now easily from the old tapestries. As he had been flying when the blade was swung at him he dropped to the ground just ducking below the swing and returning with an attack of his own swinging at the Hero's legs with his shining blade, infused with the energy of Ender. He was now pulling a constant stream of magic from Ender if not immediately he'd need it soon enough. The energy made his translucent wings pulse like waves electricity was going through them. Without Ender he didn't stand a chance against the Hero. "You're going to have to do better than that, you should have remained in that sword, you bring nothing but destruction and death," he snapped.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 4, 2014 21:55:33 GMT -5
The Hero grimaced and jumped over the sword slash while flipping forward and swinging the Blade quickly in a series of eight strokes aimed to back Reru against the house and kill him quickly. Such an insignificant fool like this was challenging him and saying all he brought was death and destruction but he was destroying as well. It was funny how someone could be so simpl-minded and assume they were better just because they were less known. I bring the death of those who deserve it and the destruction of places that stand for immorality. You seem to think the sword can hold me but all it takes is a person of royalty to pull the Blade free. I am the embodiment of courage and strength as well as death and destruction. Now stand down, Fairy-man, so I can usher in a new age of prosperity.
((I assume Harbor is done...))
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Post by Emiryal ♕ on Jan 4, 2014 22:22:55 GMT -5
Reru parried a few of the strokes and dodged the rest but the result was getting backed against the house. "What right do you have to judge who deserves death? By your definition of a new age of prosperity I'm not sure anyone would survive to enjoy it!" he said. He wanted much the same thing but not in the same way. Reru's method was to make everyone like himself, and purge everyone of the emotions that caused harm and war. And he felt he was the only one who could bring that about. In a way the Hero and Reru were near identical but going about their goal in different ways. "Brisingr!" he yelled allowing some of the energy he had gathered to form a rather massive fireball that hurled itself at the Hero before tumbling to the left and rolling to his feet to avoid being pinned by the house. "Any person of royalty..." he said hesitantly. Had Shaelren not tried the sword first, Reru would've been able to pull it out too. That was something he hadn't known about. Shaelren, in a way had saved him, but any gratitude or sympathy that should've come for Shaelren was lost on Reru. He'd voided himself of what made him human and that was part of what he'd lost...part of why Avendel did not want him. "So Hero, if you deem yourself to judge who deserves death and delivers it, try this. You can't kill me," he said with a knowing smirk. He wouldn't give it away but should he be slain he would come back, as long as his crystal survived so would he. And that crystal he had sent to Ender.
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Post by Brenton on Jan 4, 2014 22:43:44 GMT -5
Adurna! Pure water shot from the ground in a fountain and caused the fireball to disappear as the Hero swung around to look at Reru just as his lips drew back in a snarl and a flickering image appeared. Over the Hero flickered a mirage of Shaelren. His green eyes pleaded to Reru as his childish voice passed the cruel lips. "Get Brenton, he'll know what to do." Just like that, the boy was gone as the sword started swinging rapidly again toward Rerukusu. Such weakness as that boy would be eradicated within hours of defeating the Fairy-man. It was just how things worked in the world now with the Hero free.
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