The Raven
Apprentice Roleplayer
I am Her champion...and I will not retreat from Her will.
Posts: 52 
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Post by The Raven on Jan 19, 2014 21:26:48 GMT -6
The sun is bright. Too bright. Annoyingly bright. Can I hope to hide in such an open environment? But I am hiding. No one here knows where I am. Not yet at least.
The graveyard behind the church is teeming with mourners, grieving over the recently dead that lost their lives in the most recent attack from the dwarves. Warriors. Scouts. Diplomats and politicians who had nothing to do with the war. At one point there, another point gone.
May She be with them. And She lead them. Unto eternity. And unto rest.
Time passes. The man watches from afar as the sun rises and reaches a mid-day light. People begin to leave. Only the truly sad remain.
Only those whose hearts are now empty.
A heart that I need.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jan 20, 2014 22:03:55 GMT -6
The morning sun quickly changed to a midday shine, casting its light upon her back. Sarea stood completely static, her head hung low for hours now as she looked down upon the gravestone of her wife, Jennis Mul Moongem. The Half-Elf Highland Warrior had been ordered to lead a strike force on the battlefields of Ki'ldimni-Doth, or 'No Man's Land' as she'd called it in her final letter to Sarea. That one fateful morning, Jennis had been taken, as commander of her forces, to the Battle of Doth, and the last Sarea had seen or felt of her was their final goodbye, where Sarea gave to her wife a rose to carry into battle to remember to come home.
The very rose that rested in Sarea's dry, fragile hands.
Jennis hadn't stopped fighting even when her forces were outnumbered, until the final blow from the enemy had taken her life away from Sarea's soul. Even then, she died a hero, allowing for the remaining elven armies to retreat to safety. It still wasn't enough to console Sarea.
A sudden wind blew at the bard's long skirt, trying to get past her hood into her face, but only succeeded in rustling the trees behind and beside her. At that moment, Sarea finally understood what it meant to lose someone: with a simple gust of wind, they were gone, like breath on a mirror. All of a sudden, everything would change.
Sarea's legs crumpled underneath her, sending her to her knees in front of the grey tombstone as she wept, her right hand holding the rose resting against the only solid memory of Jennis.
It was then that the shadow loomed over her. |
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The Raven
Apprentice Roleplayer
I am Her champion...and I will not retreat from Her will.
Posts: 52
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Post by The Raven on Jan 29, 2014 10:58:10 GMT -6
The day is reaching its mid. The girl is still there. But not quite alone anymore.
The girl is joined by a man; he wears a long, black priest's robe with an ornate cross hung on his neck. His deep black eyes are piercing. His chin hidden by a black beard, although lacking a moustache. He has a wicked smile.
He is talking to her. The priest, Minister Cillian O'Donnel. The priest. He talks to her. I think I know of what. |
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Post by Minister Cillian O'Donnel on Jan 31, 2014 10:23:33 GMT -6
"Sarea, is it?" The Priest asks. "I am Minister Cillian O'Donnel. I'm the head of this church, and I speak directly for Her." He looks down at the grave that the young elf bard is standing in front of. "And this is where your wife is buried. I am sorry, truly."
He moves forwards towards the grave and places his hand on it, his ornate cross talisman jingling just above the stone. He then turns towards the girl again, his hands clapped together.
"Those who deviate from Her path will be lost forever, and many times She will punish those who stray too far. There was once a man who strayed further than anyone had strayed before. A man who brought down an entire civilization overnight. A man who's mention of his name causes many to turn the other way and flee in terror. They call him the Clanless, but his true alias is Faljere D'ael Elderbaden. A Wood Elf. You may know of him."
He pauses to see how the girl will react. |
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Jan 31, 2014 16:04:26 GMT -6
Sarea looked at the minister with swelling eyes, his black gaze meeting hers.
"Minister." She bowed hurriedly. "I--uh," she muttered; she'd never really known what to say when someone had given her their condolences, "I know."
As the Minister walked back and forth, Sarea noticed the ornate cross on his neck, similar to the one she'd seen inside the walls of his church. And the way he leaned over Jennis' tombstone was just unnerving.
It wasn't until he brought up that name Faljere that she stopped staring at his calm yet creepy movements and gasped.
"Faljere? Do all that? I seriously don't think he could do such things...you must be mistaken, Minister. He is the nicest, warmest monk I know. But...if he really is such a criminal, then does She punish those who associate with...?" At that, she fell to her knees and clutched the Minister's robes as tears streamed down her face. "Minister, have I not been punished enough? I--I don't--Minister, what do I do?" |
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Post by Minister Cillian O'Donnel on Feb 14, 2014 22:50:55 GMT -6
The Minister noticed the fear on the young elf's face as she crumpled at his feet. How would he tell such a pure, unadulterated being the truth? Of course, he would tell it the way he'd tell any other person.
"My dear," he spoke calmly as he helped her up and offered her a part of his robe as a handkerchief to wipe her tears away, "I am afraid that those who cross Her and take part in the affairs of sinners are just as guilty in her eyes. They have sinned, and are worthy of death just as much." His voice and hands trembled as he said those words: it truly was a pity that this beautiful young girl would die by his order. But it would be an even bigger pity if he had to cross Her. Truly a bigger pity.
The Minister smiled, knowing an alternative as he pulled from his pocket a small object. He closed his hand and held it out to Sarea. "There is on way to redeem yourself." He began as he uncurled his fingers, revealing a simple yet beautiful ring in his palm; it was silver in colour and azure gemstones circled it all around. "This is what one who follows Her path wears to show their dedication to Her. I have for you a proposition: you find the man known as Faljere, wherever he may be currently, and you simply wait. We will remain in spiritual contact, and I shall know when you have found him and send someone over to retrieve him. You will be free from damnation, and perhaps she will even offer a reward."
In his other hand he held a red stone: perfectly round and almost bloody in colour. "This is what is known as the Lapis Philosophorum, or the Philosopher's stone. Turn anything into gold, live forever...or bring back the dead. How do you think I've stayed part of the church for such a long time? It could be yours if you accept this proposition.""
The Minister smiled sinisterly at the girl: no one could resist even the Philosopher's Stone.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Mar 16, 2014 21:06:02 GMT -6
The young bard girl looked in awe at the stone in the Minister's palm, registering it as a true reward: she'd sung about the legendary artefact at the college, and she knew the tales, but never did she believe it could be real. But if the tales were true, and those now gone could be brought back with its power, she'd have a chance at bringing her beloved Jennis back to her.
The idea was so tempting that Sarea could nearly feel the taller woman's strong arms around her once more, embracing her lightly yet securely against her breast. There was then the feeling of a kiss upon her brow, which she'd received from Jennis before she'd ridden off to war; their last moments together.
"Jennis..." she breathed lightly, gazing dreamily at the stone. It was as the Minister said: she could save herself and possibly bring her wife back by just helping him to find Faljere. He was her dearest friend, but if Faljere had truly sinned, then it would only be logical for him to answer to his crimes.
She reached out shakily and took the ring from his hand before placing it on her ring finger.
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Post by Minister Cillian O'Donnel on Apr 13, 2014 17:52:56 GMT -6
The Minister smiled as the ring was removed from his palm. He quickly withdrew his hands back into his flowing sleeves and turned away from the bard and towards his church.
"You have chosen the right path." He said, pausing along his way to look at the girl. He trudged over to the girl and placed his one hand on her shoulder, the other on her brow, before pressing his dry lips against her hair. He removed his mouth from her head and looked her in the eye before his cold, breathy voice sounded again.
"As her Champion, I reward those who are true to Her.
As her Champion, I punish those who have sinned to Her.
Such is Her will."
Once more, he turned from her and left for the church, the sun shining off his cross and the wind blowing his robes.
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Post by Sarea Riel Dirao on Apr 13, 2014 18:33:44 GMT -6
Sarea stood at the grave as the Minister left her, still petrified by his peculiar actions towards her: the feeling of his dry, pressed lips remained present on the top of her head, and his skeletal fingers craning along her shoulders. But the ring on her finger, however, was fitted perfectly; it did tingle a bit, but she expected that that was completely natural from its magical tendencies.
"Jennis..." She breathed as she looked back at the grave. "I hope this helps."
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The Raven
Apprentice Roleplayer
I am Her champion...and I will not retreat from Her will.
Posts: 52
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Post by The Raven on Apr 13, 2014 18:53:36 GMT -6
The girl has the ring.
The Minister has accomplished what he was meant to.
And the plan is coming together fantastically.
The bard is still sitting at the grave, but night is now falling on the land. Stars, in their multitudes, shine like distant memories in the azure and black-mixed heavens. Scarce to be counted, they fill the darkness with Her order and Her light.
The girl stays through the night. Never letting go of the rose in her hand. Never standing.
Such is her will.
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