Arknath
First Post
It is a bright sunny day in the kingdom. The trees sway softly in the breeze and the mountains that are your homeland are bright and majestic. Creatures from the nearby lake and dense forest walk freely among your people, as well they should. They have never known anything but kindness and respect from the elves of your land. Through all this tranquility it is difficult to believe that the land on which you now stand is being torn apart by war.
As you are packing your equipment to go on the royal expedition, the Crimson Guards stand patiently outside your door waiting to escort you through town and to the royal palace where your journey will begin. You have been instructed to travel lightly and carry with you only what you need to survive in a strange land. You look around the rooms that you have known for several decades and at things that bring fond memories of your childhood to the foreground of your mind. You are mildly afraid you will never return to relive those memories in your mind.
The Crimson Guards do not say a word to you, nor do they greet passers-by, which is their usual attitude when one can see them. You glance over your should and see three standing outside of your room, but wonder to yourself how many more of them are about using invisibility to stay hidden. It is the trademark of the Guard, to appear weak and few in number, but to actually be invisible until a threat has been exposed. This simple knowledge has prevented many would-be assassins from attempting such actions, not being able to see their enemies and all.
Without a word you walk past the guards and into the streets of Mollinerey the capital of your kingdom where all of House D’Lur resides. You are dressed in your finest clothes for court, as instructed, with your weapons and articles of battle displayed proudly. You are the perfect picture of elven society in all its glory, a proud, strong people who will survive regardless of the passage of time. The Guard falls in behind you and at either side of you, marching with great precision. You are a sight to behold and many of the citizens of the city look upon you with pride and wonder as you pass them by.
You know the way to the palace well, for it is there you have attended many a courtroom ball and grand parties hosted by the king and queen themselves. You have even competed in the elven game halls at games of strategy, archery, and spellcraft. These contests were for mere show and enjoyment to all that attended the parties, but many who competed placed a little too much value on the outcome of the games themselves.
When you enter the palace’s main foyer, you are greeted by several of your cousins and more warriors of the Crimson Guard. After a short wait and much small talk between you all, you are escorted up the eastern tower to the private war room of Queen Anoria. She is waiting there with her usual stone cold face. She instructs you to sit down and she will begin a briefing of your mission goals. Shortly after she says this, a host of servants approaches you and asks if there is anything that they can get you. After taking your orders, they rush off to fulfill your needs.
Queen Anoria begins to address you: “Mae govannen dear niece and nephews,” she says, her face still an unreadable canvas devoid of emotion, “as you are aware our land is in danger. The tyrnadors have decided that they will not stop with the war on each other.”
She spoke with obvious disdain when she said the foul name, it even made your stomach turn. “Our last envoy has not returned from their diplomatic mission. Their job was to discourage further war actions from the tyrnadors and to ask for peace between their two kingdoms.” Her brow furrows in a rare show of emotion, “They have not come back in a matter of weeks. We can only hope the worst.”
“We can only assume that this latest act against our people is a precursor to further war actions taken by the tyrnadors. This is not a war we can win, children, and we must leave this plane in search of a new home. In the Academy, where you know most of our research is completed, we have been discovering other planes of existence, or other worlds, if you will, and we have found one that is both hospitable and practically devoid of intelligent beings.” She then reaches behind a desk and pulls out a lavishly decorated and recently polished oaken box. The box is covered with elvish runes and ancient symbols long forgotten to all but the most learned at the Academy. She opens the box slowly and continues to speak.
“You are all to receive one of these,” she says quietly as she reaches her hand inside the box and withdraws a long silver amulet with the shape of a round moon hanging from it. “These were used by our ancestors thousands of years ago when our kind first came to this world. They were great explorers and young eager souls just like yourselves who saved our people.” One by one she lay the amulets upon the desk at the front of the room. There were 8 total amulets.
“We still know very little about this land we are sending you to and we implore you to use the utmost caution in everything you do. We have provided enough water and food to last you through a full month, when used sparingly. Your training and relationships with one another will be strained to the test, but then that is why I chose each of you. You are of good stock and your parents and their parents have long histories of noble and honorable deeds to their names. It is your turn to take your place among those great elves and claim a piece of history for yourselves.”
She slowly walked around the room, five amulets in her hand. As she continued speaking, she approaches all of those outfitted for battle and travel with an amulet.
“These are your first orders.” She stated. “You are to discover resources that the planet has and you are to determine if the food is edible and water is drinkable. You are also to be on the lookout for any intelligent creatures that are on this plane of existence and, if possible, seek their aid. You are to find a suitable outpost spot where we may bring in a few hundred soldiers and secure the area in case we must get the people out of the city quickly. These amulets will allow you to return once every moon to the palace here, so use them sparingly. You may also communicate through them to me for 10 minutes a week in case you are having trouble with supplies or injury. Again, use them sparingly. Are there any questions?”
As you are packing your equipment to go on the royal expedition, the Crimson Guards stand patiently outside your door waiting to escort you through town and to the royal palace where your journey will begin. You have been instructed to travel lightly and carry with you only what you need to survive in a strange land. You look around the rooms that you have known for several decades and at things that bring fond memories of your childhood to the foreground of your mind. You are mildly afraid you will never return to relive those memories in your mind.
The Crimson Guards do not say a word to you, nor do they greet passers-by, which is their usual attitude when one can see them. You glance over your should and see three standing outside of your room, but wonder to yourself how many more of them are about using invisibility to stay hidden. It is the trademark of the Guard, to appear weak and few in number, but to actually be invisible until a threat has been exposed. This simple knowledge has prevented many would-be assassins from attempting such actions, not being able to see their enemies and all.
Without a word you walk past the guards and into the streets of Mollinerey the capital of your kingdom where all of House D’Lur resides. You are dressed in your finest clothes for court, as instructed, with your weapons and articles of battle displayed proudly. You are the perfect picture of elven society in all its glory, a proud, strong people who will survive regardless of the passage of time. The Guard falls in behind you and at either side of you, marching with great precision. You are a sight to behold and many of the citizens of the city look upon you with pride and wonder as you pass them by.
You know the way to the palace well, for it is there you have attended many a courtroom ball and grand parties hosted by the king and queen themselves. You have even competed in the elven game halls at games of strategy, archery, and spellcraft. These contests were for mere show and enjoyment to all that attended the parties, but many who competed placed a little too much value on the outcome of the games themselves.
When you enter the palace’s main foyer, you are greeted by several of your cousins and more warriors of the Crimson Guard. After a short wait and much small talk between you all, you are escorted up the eastern tower to the private war room of Queen Anoria. She is waiting there with her usual stone cold face. She instructs you to sit down and she will begin a briefing of your mission goals. Shortly after she says this, a host of servants approaches you and asks if there is anything that they can get you. After taking your orders, they rush off to fulfill your needs.
Queen Anoria begins to address you: “Mae govannen dear niece and nephews,” she says, her face still an unreadable canvas devoid of emotion, “as you are aware our land is in danger. The tyrnadors have decided that they will not stop with the war on each other.”
She spoke with obvious disdain when she said the foul name, it even made your stomach turn. “Our last envoy has not returned from their diplomatic mission. Their job was to discourage further war actions from the tyrnadors and to ask for peace between their two kingdoms.” Her brow furrows in a rare show of emotion, “They have not come back in a matter of weeks. We can only hope the worst.”
“We can only assume that this latest act against our people is a precursor to further war actions taken by the tyrnadors. This is not a war we can win, children, and we must leave this plane in search of a new home. In the Academy, where you know most of our research is completed, we have been discovering other planes of existence, or other worlds, if you will, and we have found one that is both hospitable and practically devoid of intelligent beings.” She then reaches behind a desk and pulls out a lavishly decorated and recently polished oaken box. The box is covered with elvish runes and ancient symbols long forgotten to all but the most learned at the Academy. She opens the box slowly and continues to speak.
“You are all to receive one of these,” she says quietly as she reaches her hand inside the box and withdraws a long silver amulet with the shape of a round moon hanging from it. “These were used by our ancestors thousands of years ago when our kind first came to this world. They were great explorers and young eager souls just like yourselves who saved our people.” One by one she lay the amulets upon the desk at the front of the room. There were 8 total amulets.
“We still know very little about this land we are sending you to and we implore you to use the utmost caution in everything you do. We have provided enough water and food to last you through a full month, when used sparingly. Your training and relationships with one another will be strained to the test, but then that is why I chose each of you. You are of good stock and your parents and their parents have long histories of noble and honorable deeds to their names. It is your turn to take your place among those great elves and claim a piece of history for yourselves.”
She slowly walked around the room, five amulets in her hand. As she continued speaking, she approaches all of those outfitted for battle and travel with an amulet.
“These are your first orders.” She stated. “You are to discover resources that the planet has and you are to determine if the food is edible and water is drinkable. You are also to be on the lookout for any intelligent creatures that are on this plane of existence and, if possible, seek their aid. You are to find a suitable outpost spot where we may bring in a few hundred soldiers and secure the area in case we must get the people out of the city quickly. These amulets will allow you to return once every moon to the palace here, so use them sparingly. You may also communicate through them to me for 10 minutes a week in case you are having trouble with supplies or injury. Again, use them sparingly. Are there any questions?”
