Postby Wolfsong » Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:00 pm
Right then...lets get going.
Prologue
Reveka
The castle town spread around her, dark and silent. It was devoid of all life, save the strange flickers in the shadows. They spread thickly over the city, covering everything in its thick cloak.
Reveka blinked, surprised; what was this? Pulling her cloak tightly around her, she ventured deeper into the silent city.
As she progressed, the streets grew darker, filled with a malignant energy. Shivering, she drew upon her power and summoned it from inside her. A pair of glowing, beautiful white wings appeared on her back, surrounding her with a soft glow. Feeling comforted, she stared ahead into the shadows.
She nearly screamed.
Little monsters, creatures composed entirely of Darkness surrounded her, closing the path behind but clearing the road ahead. They chittered at her, and she instinctively knew they wanted her to keep moving. But to where? Drawing her Light ariund her, she started again on the road, herded by the shadowlings around her.
The castle gates rose before her, tall and silent. She paused there, something catching her eye. A long black cloth, like a scarf perhaps, was pinned to the wall by a knife, and it hung lifelessly. A dark unease filled her, but she continued on warily. No human walked these halls, but the shadowlings made her path clear to her; they were leading her to the thrine room.
Jadis was seated on the throne, but he was pale and slumped forward; he was dressed in his regular gear she noticed, but his head cloth was missing. Fearfully she came towards him, her dread growing. "Jadis?" she whispered. His head rose at her voice, and she screamed. His eyes were blodd red and filled with an ancient evil. She staggered back, but the shadows wee blocking her way.
Jadis grinned, a normal gesture for him but only terrifying now. He stood, and he was suddenly clothed in great black robes that billowed around him. He started toward her in a slow, leisurely walk, his hand slowly extending. Reveka found she could back away no more and, panicking, tried to flare out her Wings. The Darkness consumed their Light, however, and her Wings shattered; Jadis was almost there, hand extended reaching for her. Screaming, she threw up her arms
and woke up.
She was staring at the ceiling of her room in the Grand Sage's mountain home, seated in her rocking chair. She blinked, disoriented, but her head cleared quickly. She sat up straight, grimacing. What...it took her a moment to realize she'd been dreaming. Relaxing, she smiled at the familiar surriundings she loved so much. It was just a dream, a nightmare composed of the pain of the past. The Jadis she'd seen had looked quite like that when he'd been nearly consumed by the Darkness. It was an unpleasant memory. She sighed, rubbing her temples. Ethinine had followed Neoman's lead and had asked her to inform him of any strange dreams she had. Neoman had believed her dreams to be prophetic but she didn't. Ethinine had so much to worry about already anyway, she didn't want to worry him over something so trivial. Honestly, the Darkness was gone, that's how it was and how it would stay.
She suddenly remembered that Arren was gone, out exploring somewhere. She sighed, slumping dejectedly. No matter how she pretended, she really missed him and wished he was here. Particularly with their mother so ill. But perhaps this was his way of dealing with it, maybe.
Sighing, she rose from the rocking chair and started preparing to sleep. Apparently she really needed it.
Jadis
"This is a long bloody pointless headache!" Jadis growled, scowling at the patiently suffering Ethinine.
"I know, but they're gonna keep coming with this proposal until you do something about it."
Jadis stared at the paper angrily, then tore it to shreds. Ethinine shook his head wryly, "You would do that wouldn't you?"
"Its stupid," Jadis groused. "He has the whole valley to himself and a booming production crop line down there, and he's upset he doesn't get the whole mountain range too? Ludacris! He doesn't even have the ability to mine!" Ethinine smiled vaguely, but Jadis could tell from his eyes that his thoughts were far away. He sobered then, remembering something. "How is Emagene?" he asked quietly.
Ethinine sighed, lowering his head. "She won't last the week."
Jadis bit his lip. "How are the twins holding up?"
"I haven't told them yet. I think Reveka knows its coming, but..." Ethinine sighed, straightening. "Well, you clearly don't need my advice, and I really need some sleep."
"What, is the court too boring for you?" Jadis asked with a grin. Ethinine chuckled.
"Good night, your majesty. Good night Shaddoc."
Ethinine
Much, much later that night when everyone was asleep, Ethinine sat at his desk in the study, considering. Despite how well the people he knew said he was doing, he still felt so inadequate. Neoman could probably figure out a cure for the ailing Emagene, or at least ease it to the twins. He felt so helpless, so alone. That, and having apprentices of his own! He was supposed to give them a lesson on controlling their gifts tomorrow. But he still wasn't entirely sure how to do that. It was one thing to learn it from his own master, but to teach it? How was he supposed to do that?
Sighing, he took up the diary Neoman had given him, telling him it would often be a friend when he had no one else to talk to, and started writing.
I miss Neoman. Ever since he passed on his legacy to my shoulders and retired Light knows where, I've felt no end of the tension...
The scratching sound of the pen was a simple, constant sound and it helped him relax. The candle flame flickered suddenly, but he didn't notice.
Its been three years since we all finished the Darkness together.
He sighed, managing a smile. The candle flickered again, revealing a different shadow on the wall.
But I will adjust, surely. After all, things are happy and peaceful. I shall be fine, so----
He was suddenly jerked backwards out of his chair. The candle flickered once more before something blew it out, plunging the room into darkness. He struggled, opening his mouth to cry out. A hand clamped down over it, longer than a human hand and cold, so very cold. His hands were twisted painfully behind his back and he was pushed face-first into the ground, a boot heel digging into his back.
"Could you do that any louder?" a raspy, irritated voice snapped. "Do you want to die at the Angel's hands?"
"Oh chill, he's off somewhere and besides, everyone else is asleep two floors up. Its fine," another much more relaxed voice responded; at least he sounded human. "Put the blindfold on."
Ethinine tried to pull away but to no avail. The blindfold went over his eyes and something that tasted like cloth was shoved into his mouth and tied in place.
"Just tie him up quickly, I don't care how many miles away the Angel is, I wanna be far far away by the time he gets back."
"Will you two shut up?" a third voice, this one directly overhead, hissed. "Hurry up."
His hands were bound almost behind his neck and a cord was looped around his chest to keep them in place. Ankles were tied to his thighs and these were also tied together. He could barely move at all now, Hands grabbed his arms and threw him onto something - it felt like a particularly bony shoulder.
"Mission accomplished!"
"Have we escaped with the target yet? Dimwit."
"Gentlemen." The voice, low and deep, was filled with clear implications that shut the two up thoroughly. Ethinine felt his kidnapper start moving, his mind racing furiously. What was going on?
Sorry Romana, Antor. Guess those "lessons" I didn't even have planned are really not gonna happen now.
The group vanished into the night, unseen, unnoticed, their mission very much successful.
The Next Day...
It was a bright, cheerful day. Everyone awoke, and began about their business....
OOC - well, you can all start posting now. Have fun, and if anyone have any more questions and or needs some more world info, lemme know.
"Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4-5
"Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles." Psalm 25: 16-22
Thank you. Have a good day.