Alliance of the Sword Storyline Long ago, two kingdoms were formed by humans on a continent, and began growing. However, the humans were unaware of the Aphen, mythical, intelligent creatures who were living on the continent. The Aphen, using their powers, controlled the human population to keep it from getting out of control. Generations passed without problems, with the humans and Aphen understanding the relationship between them. The two human kingdoms agreed to keep their population in check, and the Aphen agreed to not attack the innocent towns and cities to kill anyone, hiding in the vast wilderness until they were needed. In the recent years, only the Royal Houses of Aliea and Zuxuva knew of the Aphen. The general population of the two kingdoms has long forgotten the mythical creatures hiding in the wilderness. Rules and Specs Rules: 1- No God-Moding 2- Gamemaster’s words are law 3- All questions should be directed to myself 4- No invincibility 5- No controlling other characters 6- No killing other characters 7- Length rule a. At least 100 words b. No one liners c. No posts that significantly change the in-game time (aka hours of time) The Gamemaster will do significant advances of in-game time 8- All posts must progress the storyline. 9- Read the most recent posts before posting a. Read enough so you do not create holes in the story or miss significant information 10- Let the Gamemaster know if you are leaving the game 11- FLAMING, INSULTING, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF HARSHNESS THAT IS DELIBERATELY USED TO HURT SOMEONE ELSE’S FEELINGS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT ALL, NOR ACCEPTED ANYWHERE ELSE AROUND THE FORUM. 12- Please edit before posting. 13- Discuss issues and OOC posts in the discussion thread. 14- First post is character template. a. Gamemaster MUST approve character before posting. 15- Please keep character knowledge and player knowledge separate. Just because you read it doesn’t mean your character knows about it. Specs Countries [capital] Aliea [Nooana] Zuxuva [Platca] Governing Positions King of Aliea- Rory Liniy Advisor to the King- Kaliq Jearon Prince of Aliea- Yihon Liniy (27 yrs) King of Zuxuva- Cracra Quitag Advisor to the King- Piil Fegg Princess of Zuxuva- Ena Quitag (7 yrs) Weapons Traditional fantasy weapons (swords, spears, bow and arrows, etc.) If you think your weapon is questionable, message the Gamemaster, or put it in your Character template when you send it. Races Human Aphen (only 3 types, but 5 subtypes of each) - Dragons o Bat (2 large wings, 2 legs, claws on the end of wings) o Serpent (2 medium wings, 4 small legs, long body) o Whiptail (“traditional” dragon: long neck, 4 muscular legs, 2 medium wings, very long muscular tail) o Walking (bipedal, two muscular arms, no wings) o Angelic (Lizard like, short neck, 4 wings, 4 legs that go out and down) - Phoenix (Large flying birds) o Fire (red/orange, can be feathered or can turn into fire) o Lightning (yellow/white, sharp feathers) o Ice (light blue, “foggy” mist comes off of it) o Light (pure white with blue eyes) o Water (dark blue, can turn into rain, can also move through water freely) - Hydra (Multi-headed, 4 legged, long necks, all can regenerate a head as long as there is at least one left) o Acid (drips acid off its body, 3 heads) o Poison (no legs, slithers, has large fangs that inject poison, also has poison in its blood, 2 heads) o Steam (steam is constantly leaving its body through small pores, 3 heads) o Spiked (spikes point outward from everywhere on its body, 3 heads) o Metal (the entire body is coated in a metal skin, 4 heads) Powers Only certain characters have powers. Normal people do not have powers, but a select few have elemental powers. Humans have elemental powers, Aphen have their own powers. There are a select 8 humans who have powers, and each controls a different element: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Plants, Ice, Telekinesis (ability to move objects with the mind, and limited mind control/mind reading) However, at the beginning of the game they do not yet have them. Setting The setting takes place on a large continent, with 2 human kingdoms: Aliea, and Zuxuva. The lands are vast, and still very lush with natural beauty: forests, clean water, and untouched mountains. Small towns dot the landscape, and the larger cities are well known. The capital of Aliea is Nooana, and the capital of Zuxuva is Platca. South of the continent is a neutral island, where the two nations meet for discussions. The island has been a fighting-free zone for over 20 generations. MAP HUMAN Name: (First Last) Age: (between 12 and 40) Gender: (Male/Female) Family: (Parents, Siblings, Children, ages of each) Appearance: (Eye color, hair color and length, height in feet/inches) Typical Clothing: Description: personality, style, etc. Occupation: Hobbies: Powers: Element of choice (Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Plants, Ice, and Telekinesis)(You do not have to have a power, you may play a normal person, but each Power can be taken by only one player) Extra info: APHEN Name: (First Last) Aphen type: (Dragon/type, Hydra/type, Phoenix/type) Gender: (M/F) Powers: One breath weapon, one strong physical attack, one mental power, and one other power (I am pretty open to this, but I must approve the powers before you post) Description/Personality: Extra info: (NOTE: If you choose to be an Aphen, please remember there can only be one of each, and please do not make yourself known to the world until I have posted the first Aphen. The Aphen are intelligent protectors of the world itself, not vicious, bloodthirsty monsters, so please remember this if you choose to play one). Please wait for my first post to begin the game. Also, each Aphen will need a human counterpart. This may mean not all Aphen are played. But, I do need players willing to be human with powers. In connection with the plot, all Aphen will need a human counterpart to survive. I will post in the Discussion Thread how many of each I have, and what powers/Aphen are already taken, so you know what you can choose. The powers/Aphen are a first come, first serve basis, so get your characters in to me quickly if you have a preference. Also, as a note, Aphen and humans must be connected. However, you will not be able to play 2 characters. The idea in the game is that two players must interact as Aphen and human.
Added rules: 16: you may only have one character. I may allow 2 in the future, but you may not control two characters that are connected. You will not get to choose the other character you are connected to. 17: Human characters who choose to have powers do not have them at the beginning of the game. Take this into account when you make their history. 18: Aphen may not have a shapeshifting power, and cannot have another form. Also, for clarification, Aphen characters must be either Dragon, Hydra, or Phoenix. When you pick one of these, you choose a subtype under that category. This subtype has its own powers that are unique from the other subtypes. Only the Aphen listed are playable options.
Silar Carnacius/Aphen Silar sat silently on the side of a cliff, watching over a herd of deer. He was thinking about going down and grabbing one of them for a meal. He flopped his tail back and forth, trying to figure out which he desired. The young ones weren't worth it for him, because with his size, he could take down at least four adults in one shot. Thinking more deeply about how much meat he REALLY needed in order to fill his belly, he laid his head down on the edge of the cliff, sticking his forked tongue out to get the scent of the deer. They already tasted so good. Then, he lifted his head back up. Something was wrong... there was a shift in power. A BIG shift. Sighing at the loss of his meal, he stretched his wings out, stood up on his four muscular legs, gave his wings two flaps, and then jumped up into the air. He knew where to go to find out what was going on. After flying for two hours straight, Silar landed on a mountaintop, retracting his wings to settle comfortably on his scaly back. He shook off a bit, getting rid of the drizzle that he'd passed through on the way. Then, he slowly walked into the cave at the top of the mountain. Mount Saber, which most thought was known for its shape, was actually a weapon hidden in plain site. Long ago, the Aphen decided on a hiding place for a powerful weapon the humans had created. The original Enchanted Eight, the eight chosen humans who could wield magic. They had created the World Sword, which was capable of killing the Aphen. Of course, they had been unable to wield it, as all of them had created it. Those with magic, even the Aphen, could not wield the sword, only protect it from falling into the wrong hands. Silar himself couldn't even touch it. Now, walking into the cave, Silar moved a stone to reveal a shiny silver rock, mirrostone, which reflected light. It was very rare, but it was in the mountain. Once he revealed the mirrostone, the sun bounced off it and lit up the cave. Smiling at the ancient Aphen's creation and ingenious idea, he turned and frowned. The cave was empty, aside from a rectangular stone sitting at the back wall of the cave. The stone was carved, with a larger design of the World Sword, so it could rest inside. When placed in the spot, it floated and could not be seen, except by those with magic. It seemed that someone had found a way to get the sword... Smashing the mirrostone with his claws, he bounded out of the cave and spread his wings. He flew off in a rage. Normally he was relaxed, but his duty, given to him by the leaders of Aphen passed, was his life. Nothing else was more important than ensuring peace in the world, peace to keep the humans from becoming too powerful. Flying to a nearby town, the people panicked and screamed. Silar landed just outside and let out a ferocious roar, causing more people to scream. Some brave, or stupid, people ran towards him with pitchforks and shovels. Silar took a deep breath and fired it back out, his RazorBreath, as he named it, slicing through the townspeople's clothing and skin. "WHERE IS THE SWORD!" Silar's demand could be heard miles away. * * * Silar's rage triggered the ancient magic, sending a wave of power through the world and giving magic to eight randomly chosen people. People who had no idea how much their lives were about to change... The Aphen around the world also felt Silar's rage, and knew that their mission was to begin again. Not all of them were thrilled about having to work with the humans, but it was their mission.
Sitting on the grass, and resting against the wooden house, he held a money pouch in his hand; he was counting up his earnings. Life as an assassin paid well. In that respect he liked the job. Killing was never pleasant though but the world was cruel to begin with. All part and parcel of life. He was soon startled by the roar of something fierce. Slowly he turned and peeked around the corner, a dragon of some scale had landed, his breath tearing through the villagers like a knife through butter. It was shouting something about a sword. That had him curious. He stood up, tucked the pouch into his robe and emerged into where everyone had been shredded. Doing his best to calm his nerves. “A sword you say, are we talking normal boring sword with nothing of relevance, your favourite...er... thing regarding the exceptional capabilities of blacksmiths. Or is it one of those enchanted blades which can be devastating if falls into dirty hands. I think we can negotiate here. I’m a killer and at times a thief, it’s your lucky day.” He bowed in nervous fashion, and awaited the response. Damn I need to stop drinking... or have a vacation. Go up to the hills and just relax. But no had get myself between a damn dragon and some sword. Well done me.
Rezo / Aphen Munching on the raw flesh of a freshly killed boar, Rezo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of horses trotting in the distance. After a brief moment of listening he knew the sound didn't belong to wild horses but to mounted ones. A group of humans was near. Like most dragons he had great hearing capacities so he knew they were still far away from his cave. Calmly, he inhaled deeply, sucking in the air around him and putting out the bonfire in front of him. One might question why he even lit up a bonfire since being a dragon he was always warm and if he needed to cook something he could always breathe fire. Living a life of recluse, he had come to enjoy the presence of fire around him, so he always kept a bonfire lit whenever he was in his cave. Several minutes passed, and Rezo was startled. The humans were heading his way, and they were going to cross the entrance of the cave in a few moments. It wouldn't be the first time and hardly the last that travelling humans decided to go in the cave and stay for the night, and the pile of human bones in the far back of the cave explained what happened to most of them. Rezo wasn't neccessarily a violent being, but humans had a tendency to overreact when they saw a big figure carrying a heavy, sharp and deadly spear on his back. Sometimes they would come when he was sleeping and find him without the robes that covered his red, scaled body. In these ocasions, Rezo had no choice but to kill him, for despite how much he could despise his kin, he honored their traditions and code. And no human except for a few chosen ones could know about the existence of the Aphen. Awaiting in the dark, he could now hear the humans talking. "We need to stop here." "Are you insane? Right next to THIS mountain? No way, we're not stopping before we get that thing to a safe place, far away from these demented creatures!" "What should we do boss?" "You stay here, I'll go ahead and take the sword to our safehouse." "As you wish sir." A single horse trotted into the distance. Rezo could now hear the group of men dismounting and rambling about topics of no interest. He was going to have a feast tonight!
Lux Nuru / Aphen Lux pearched at the peak of his mountain. The giants sword humans called it. He sat at the very peak overlooking the sea. No humans could reach this point and only the strongest of birds could with stand the winds at this height. Lux watched a group of birds flocking over the water, occaisionaly diving to grab fish. Lux grinned before leaping from his perch. He flew down diving straight into the water as the shoal scattered. Soaring through the water he ducked and weaved as he passed various sea creatures. He liked the sea, it had more life than the sky. His favourite part was the deep though. All manner of creature lived down there, some were bigger than he was. He remembered a particullarly nasty kraken. It had tried to eat him before being discouraged by a few light blasts. Lux broke the surface of the water heading into the sky. The easiest way to reach the deep was to dive from up high. He was about to dive when a wave of anger and power hit him. "WHERE IS THE SWORD!" Came with the wave. Lux almost fell from the sky. Only another Aphen could release a wave of power like that and whoever it was was angry, very angry. Lux reached out searching for the source of the anger. Silar! Lux was there in an instant. A group of townspeople rushed out to attack an enraged Silar. He blasted back with his breath, cutting them to peices. Lux dashed in, pulling a child from the attack before it could hit. He sent out a wave of calm before turning to Silar. "Silar, whats the meaning of this?"
Silar/Aphen "Silar, what is the meaning of this? Silar understood the phoenix, Lux, who had just arrived. Silar didn't like Lux much. Though Silar preferred not to use his power and such until necessary, Lux's views on fighting were worse than that. Lux would only fight as a last resort, even using peaceful solutions against an aggressive enemy. Lux was... too relaxed. Sometimes Silar thought that Lux wasn't actually an Aphen, but there was no other explanation for him being born. Not to mention, Lux was a few decades older than Silar. But being Silar's elder didn't make him right, or able to command the leader of the Aphen. "Come Lux," Silar said, unfolding his wings and preparing for flight once again. "We must have a meeting with the other Aphen." Silar threw his head back and let out his Calling, a roar so deafening, all the Aphen could hear it. However, none of the humans could hear it. Not all of the Aphen would show, but the Calling was only to be used when the Aphen were to reveal themselves, when the world was in danger of being thrown off balance. They would know what to do, there was only one thing they had ever had to worry about: the World Sword being put into the wrong hands. The Aphen would begin searching for it immediately. After using the Calling, which Lux showed extreme displeasure in hearing so closely, Silar ran across the field and jumped into the air, with Lux staying a moment to calm a child. Then, Lux joined him in the air.
Sarya / Human Sarya was crouched cautiously on the thin branch of the tree. The wind caused the branch to whip back and forth, and Sarya had to make an effort to stay on. Her left hand was planted on the trunk of the tree, and her right gripped another branch above her. If she stumbled from this height, she would most certainly fall to her death. As she tried to shift to a more comfortable position, the branch beneath her bare feet started to dip, and issued a series of crackling noises from the base. She quickly scrambled up the side of the tree, managing to grab a larger, sturdier branch to accommodate. But before she could haul herself up, a particularly strong gust of wind shredded through the forest. The wind made the branch tremble, and Sarya watched in horror as her hands slipped away. With a cry, she twisted through the air, rushing towards the cold ground. She had only fallen a few feet when her chest made contact with another branch, knocking all the air out of her lungs. In the few half-seconds it took for her to re-orientate, she wrapped her arms around the branch, and hung on for her life. She managed to start breathing again once the wind had died down. Sarya quickly crawled back up onto the branch, shaking, and out of breath. Despite herself, she let out a nervous giggle as she eyed the ground below her. It wasn’t often that Sarya would try to climb a tree as large as this one, and on such a windy day. It was pointless, dangerous, and gave nothing in return. But she had to see if it was really there. Sure, everyone confirmed it, and many people talked about it as if it were a common thing. But the largest body of water Sarya had ever seen was a river, and it wasn’t even that much to look at. But water that spread so far, that it reached the sun? Water that was as deep as the sky was high? The thought that such an enormous thing could exist made Sarya nervous. And somewhat giddy with excitement. It was slow progress, but Sarya cautiously inched her way up the tree. The branches grew thinner as she neared the top, and the wind blew harder. Were the seas close enough to see from here? Would she be able to see them from the top of this tree? It was the tallest one she could find. As she struggled to reach for a withered looking branch, a sudden tremor shook the air around her. "WHERE IS THE SWORD!" It was an unearthly roar, and was nothing like Sarya had ever heard before. The branches she stood on shook with the might of the voice, and she had to hug the trunk tightly to avoid losing her balance. With fearful eyes, she turned to face the source of the bellow. It was loud, but it had still come from very far away. Too afraid to move any farther up the tree, Sarya kept her arms wrapped around it. She listened carefully, hoping that whatever had made the sound was not headed her way. She would be defenseless if it was. Without any warning, something large and powerful flew into sight. It was huge, and enveloped in a brilliant white coat of light. It was much too large – and fast – to be a bird. Sarya only caught a glimpse of the creature as it flew by, grazing the tip of her tree. The top of the trunk snapped off instantly, and she suddenly realised she had nothing to hold on to. With a small yelp, Sarya fell.
He watched as the dragon and the other creature spoke briefly before flying off. It was like the dragon had deliberately ignored him. He scowled and surveyed the aftermath. The dragon was powerful and no doubt pretty angry but he would take his chance. At a reasonable distance of course. Curiosity was his one weakness. He followed into the field, as both creatures took off. He kept low, hoping to discover just where they were heading. He had heard some of the conversation, and it puzzled him. The Aphen he thought were just a legend, he had yet to come across such a being, and he concluded that the one named Lux was Aphen. They were gathering for a meeting. He realised that this certainly wasn’t his business but if there was a gathering, was it possible there would be those who would wish to silence them. He thought the idea was stupid, he could not kill a dragon, not with his knifes. Plus he didn’t like the idea of being hit by that breath. He would just have to be patient.
Lux Nuru "Come Lux, We must have a meeting with the other Aphen." Silar said before throwing his head back and roaring. Lux winced, it wasn't a normal roar. Only the Aphen could hear it. It signalled a gathering. Finished roaring Silar ran across the field and jumped into the air taking off. Lux waited a moment sending out another wave of calm, a few of the nearer villagers falling asleep, before following Silar. The headed back over the forest. Lux limiting his speed so Silar could lead. He didn't pay much attention to the forest as they flew, with all the folliage you couldn't see much. "Yelp" Came from the forrest. Lux haulted looking down in time to see a young girl fall from the top of a tree. He dropped out of the sky, slicing through a tree and catching her just before she hit the ground. He swung her onto his back. "Hold tight little one."
Sarya / Human Sarya thrashed her arms in an attempt to grab something – anything to stop her decent. Her body plummeted ground-wards, and an array of branches whipped past her face. Unlike last time, there was nothing between her and her untimely demise. “No,” a small though passed through her mind, surely to be her last, “But I haven’t seen the seas…” She stopped flailing, and pressed her hands over her eyes as she fell. A second passed. And then another. The air had stopped streaming through her hair, and the sensation of falling was no longer present. Confused, she opened her eyes and nearly screamed. She was still in the air, stranded halfway between the top of the tree, and the ground below. There was nothing holding her, but she wasn’t falling. No, that wasn’t right; she was falling. But she was falling extremely slow, inching her way towards the ground. How? What was happening? Sarya looked at her hands, and noticed they were glowing ever-so-slightly, in a whitish-blue hue. She stared at them. Was this her doing? But just as suddenly as it appeared, the glow dissipated. Before she could realise what it meant, her body plunged once more. She called out in surprise, and shot her hands out in front of her, hoping the strange defiance of gravity would happen again. Instead, something grabbed her from the back, and hauled her up. Something powerful had gripped her, and had thrown her into the air. She didn’t have time to scream again – she landed face forwards on the back of a radiant white creature. It was the same one that had passed over her only moments ago. "Hold tight little one,” it said with a ghostly, booming voice. An entirely new sense of terror filled Sarya’s mind. She was flying! On the top of some sort of monster! In her state of bewilderment, she couldn’t decide whether to scream, laugh, or cry. So instead, she held on to the back of the creature as tightly as she could.
Correal / Human The rhythm of his soft singing matched his footsteps as he padded silently through the forest: Silent haunting, Failure daunting; Destiny taunting the hunter’s will. Voices mocking, Panic shocking; Hunter stalking for the kill. Arrow flying, Hunter sighing; Target lying dead and still. Man defeating, Fate retreating; Hunter greeting victory’s thrill. There was a resounding twang as Correal released the bowstring, sending the deadly projectile soaring toward his target. It was an easy shot, and the young fawn he had been hunting now lay dead on the soft forest floor, an arrow through its neck. Correal walked over to his kill, and pulled out his hunting knife to carve the carcass. After removing the pelt and what meager meat there was, and placing it in his small rucksack, Correal sighed. He had long since come to accept the cycle of the world; it was necessary if he was to continue being a hunter. By no means did he enjoy killing, but he knew better than to let his skill with the bow go to waste. Even when he was a young boy, Correal’s prowess in the field of archery was astounding. While his brothers excelled in swordplay and other areas of interest, none of them could exceed their youngest brother’s skill with the bow. Due to this, it was only natural that Correal chose to pursue hunting. By his teenage years, he was selling the spoils of his hunts in his hometown of Fuincis. With this steady income, Correal felt no need to leave his village to find opportunity and adventure, as all but one of his brothers did. Sov, who was emotionally the closest to Correal, was married now and chose to stay as a farmer in the village. Always being the kindest to Correal, Sov allowed him to live with him and his wife, Reina. Satisfied with his kill, Correal set off toward the village. It was still hardly midday, and he hoped to have time to write another entry in his journal before helping his brother with the daily jobs. He arrived in the village within a few minutes, but, upon returning, realized that something was not as it should be. Countless villagers were gathered in the center of town, everyone talking and shouting without a concern for what anyone else was saying. It was utter chaos. Finding Sov and Reina standing on the outskirts of the crowd, straining their necks to get a glimpse of the commotion, he greeted his brother. “What’s going on, Sov? Has something happened?” Upon noticing Correal, both of them rushed forward, looks of relief on their faces. Reina squeezed him tight as Sov replied, “Ah, the victorious hunter returns. There’s been a bit of a incident over at Lakia. The news just arrived. They say that a dragon attacked the town.” “What? A dragon?” Correal repeated, shocked by the news. “There are no dragons in Aliea!” Sov nodded grimly. “I've heard tell that the elders think that it was an Aphen.” Speechless, Correal contemplated this news. The Aphen? They were just a myth, the object of stories of days long gone told by the wisest elders. They were a part of distant history, no more than that. Unable to find the words to express his disbelief, Correal spat out, “The Aphen are just a legend. This can’t be possible!” Before Sov could reply, a short trumpet blast was sounded. The throng of villagers parted as a man on horseback rode into the center of town. He wore fine silk clothing and held himself with an air of authority. When he spoke, his voice rang with regality. “Good villagers of Fuincis,” he began, gazing around at the gathered people, “I come from Nooana to bring you news. There has been word spreading of the attack on Lakia; I would like to make it known that the situation is under control. There is no need for fear.” One of the villagers ran forward to interrupt, shouting in a panicked tone, “What is to become of us all?” The man on horseback sighed and smiled slightly, responding, “Good sir, you will be fine. As I said, the situation is being taken care of. That is all the information that you need to know.” Without a second glance, the man pulled on the reins of his horse, turning it around to trot out of the city. The villagers immediately began chattering again, even more confused than before; they were shocked at the limited knowledge they were being given in a time of such danger. People expanded the mob to fill almost the entire clearing, and Correal was soon separated from Sov. He glanced after the horseman and, without knowing for sure what was guiding him, made the split second decision to follow. Staying in the shadows, Correal jogged slowly behind the man as he exited the village. Turning around only once to look back, he followed the royal messenger into the forest, and soon lost sight of the village altogether.
Sadie Elwosh Sadie knelt down, finding the gorgeous blue flower at the edge of the field. "How beautiful," she said. "Emma, come look." Her little sister, Emma, walked over and knelt down next to her. "Oh wow, it's so pretty." "It is indeed," Sadie agreed, gently picking it out of the ground. "Here," she said, taking her sister's hair in her hands. "This one is yours." She gently put the flower in Emma's hair, and moved some of the younger girl's hair around to ensure the flower would stay. "Really? Wow, thanks Sadie!" Her sister hugged her, and Sadie returned the hug. "I love you so much." "I love you too Emma." Sadie smiled, looking up at the sky with Emma's head resting below her chest. She was then confused by a large beast flying overhead. It was monstrous, with a long neck and tail, and two large wings nearly the size of a small shop. A row of spikes went down its back, and a large spike or claw of some sort was at the end of its tail. Without so much as stopping or slowing down, the beast continued on its way, quickly disappearing into the horizon. What was that, Sadie wondered.
Rezo / Aphen I should've just roasted them all alive. thought Rezo to himself. He had chosen to defeat the group of humans using solely his spear, which, despite being a lot of fun and good practice, was very tiring. In the small glade outside layed a pile of around a dozen stinky and mutilated human corpses on the ground, the moon's shimmer light shining on their steel armor. I'll bring the corpses inside, but for now I need to rest. - A roar woke him up. Not just any roar, it was Silar, the leader of the Aphen who was crying out of pure anger. He didn't have to hear the words he shouted, for his roar carried all he needed to know. The World Sword, the one which Silar himself guarded, had gone missing. A few minutes passed while Rezo weighed his options. The disappearance of the mystical artifact called for a reunion of all the Aphen, but Rezo had long forsaken his usual Aphen habits, and he had been living secluded for some decades now. This inner debate was quickly over when Silar let out another roar, this time summoning all of the Aphen to gather. It was The Calling, which, combined with Rezo's maturity growing over the years, and the wish to give his kin another chance to accept him as he was, made the decision clear. Rezo was to answer The Calling and once again join his kin.
Why do I follow this creature? that I can't answer. And maybe just maybe I will never know. I'm a washed up assassin, my friends stabbed me in the back.. literally. This is me hunting. Hunting for a purpose I have been denied my whole life. It does not matter who I kill, or the consequences it is the raw thrill you get from slitting a man or in some cases a women's throat. I am a man of shifting thoughts, and feelings, cold to touch, but burning hot. I will hunt this monster till the ends of the earth. If I stumble upon the sword.... I willl spill blood. An oceans worth. I will build a guild, and strike terror into every man's bleeding heart. The world will weep. Cailek was struggling to keep up with the two huge creatures, but he knew his persistience would pay off. He was now obsessed. Redemption never tasted so sweet on his tongue. He couldn't help envy them, it made him feel small. He paused for a breath and continued running, keeping low, not that it mattered. They were to preoccupied, as far he was concerned, he was just a single bug, that could be squashed or flattened. The prospect of that didn't appeal to the assassin. Still this little pursuit of his bordered, on insane.
Silar/Aphen Silar flew silently over Aliea, still furious that someone had stolen the World Sword. He was also furious at himself, for having let the sword out of his sight. Perhaps the Aphen, after generations of seeing the sword safely hidden in Mount Saber, began to become too used to the idea that humans had no idea where it was, or that it even existed at all. However, it seemed that someone had discovered it in some way. As he neared the ocean, Silar breathed a heavy sigh. As spoken in Aphen Law, if the Calling were ever invoked, the Aphen were to meet on the island of the Aphen leader's home. However, this last generation had proven to give them a slight problem. Some Aphen had no way of getting to the island, since they couldn't fly. Making a split second decision, Silar decided that those Aphen would likely get as close to the island as possible and then try to find another way across the ocean. "Lux, we are going to Omae. It comes to my attention some of our brothers and sisters will not be able to travel to the island on their own. Omae is the only city in Aliea that has a boat going to the island, so I believe it is safe to assume those of us who cannot fly will try that." Assume... Silar had assumed the World Sword was safe all these years... __________________________________________________________ The captain smiled as he rode far away from the town. The horse had been easy to steal, and he laughed as he rode through the forest. Looking down, he patted the prized possession sheathed on his belt. He would receive a hero's welcome when he delivered it to his master, not to mention a grand reward. The visions of wealth, glory, and power all vanished when a dagger flew past him, aimed so precisely it sliced through the front of his neck, severing his jugular. He grabbed his neck to try and stop the bleeding, but a sword made quick work of the rest of his neck, sending his head rolling across the ground while the horse continued on with the body. A dark figure wrapped in a black cloak sheathed the sword and aimed a hand at the horse. The hand glowed a hazy black color, and nearly a hundred yards away, so did the horse and the now lifeless body. Now the horse had been told its destination, so even without the headless rider guiding it, the sword it was carrying would get back to its new master. Grabbing the dagger from a nearby tree, the figure jumped up to a branch and returned to the safety of the forest.
HUMAN Name: Shaliza Cook Age: 20 Gender: Female Family: None Appearance: 5 ft 2 inch Typical Clothing: A light blue longsleeved dress Description: Quiet but cheerful, she has a desire to help people...specifically children Occupation: A nurse at the town's hospital (or whatever they were called back then) Hobbies: Perfecting her ability with a bow and arrow though she does not expect to use it to kill people. She is also an excellent nurse. Powers: Ice (when it gets to that point) Shaliza placed a handpicked boquet of flowers upon the newly dug grave. Her last living relative, her old uncle, had passed on. She was alone in this world now. Being so quiet she found it hard to make friends. Shaliza stood and brushed off her light blue dress and tugged on the dark blue riding trousers that had ridden above her knee. A larget shadow passed over the earth. She looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of some odd looking creatures flying a fast rate. "What was that?" She whispered to herself. Atharo, her horse, pranced nervously. Shaliza patted his nose comfortingly and climbed into the saddle. Her favorite bow sat snugly in a sheath attached to the sadle. With a light tap of her heels she urged Atharo in the direction of the creatures she had seen fly over the hill, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Rezo / Aphen The journey to Omae had been easy. Feeding on the occasional wild animal satisfied Rezo's hunger and he enjoyed the feeling of having a goal, a direction. For the past years all he had to care for was his own survival and hiding from everyone. As he got closer to the Aphen city, he started noticing more and more Aphen in his surroundings, all of them answering The Calling. This made him nervous, Rezo's contact with his own kin had been non-existent for too long. Entering the city, the red dragon hid below his large robes, as if they protected him from the judgement and misplaced pity of his fellow Aphen. As he headed towards the dock, he felt something, someone of great power approaching. He didn't need to look up to know it was Silar, the Leader of the Aphen.
Shaliza topped the hill and got a clear view of a beautiful city. But it wasn't the city that took her breath away. It was the creatures that were gathering near the docks. She had never seen them before but for some reason the stories of her childhood flooded into her mind. Stories of mythical creatures called Aphen. How they had been a great and powerful race despite their few numbers. She had always wanted to see one child, even dreamed of them. But as the years had gone by she had dismissed them as fairytales. Nothing more than stories to entertain toddlers. But now... there they were. Right in front of her! The powerful Aphens of the old times. Shaliza's horse Atharo pranced nervously as another Aphen flew over her head. A red dragon, headed straight for the others. How many would gather? And why? Was this a sign of evil or good? Were the humans in danger? Why would they gather now; after all these years? These questions and more raced through Shaliza's head. She dismounted, bow and arrows in hand, and knelt cautiously next to a nearby tree; watching the proceedings with intrest.
Lux Nuru \ Aphen "Lux, we are going to Omae. It comes to my attention some of our brothers and sisters will not be able to travel to the island on their own. Omae is the only city in Aliea that has a boat going to the island, so I believe it is safe to assume those of us who cannot fly will try that." Silar said as they flew. Lux noddded as best he could while they flew. He could have reached the island a lot faster on his own but he was unsure where it was and would have been disrespectful to Silar. After a short while of flying Lux spotted the city down below. It wasn't a large city but it was beautiful. The majority of it stretched along the water front, the city was a hub for traders and sea farers. Even from up hear he could hear the noise. People shouting about their wares, customers shouting back. Smoke billowed up from furnaces as blacksmiths stoked them. Towards the docks Lux could see his fellow Aphen gathered. They made and odd bunch looking like creatures from a fairytale. They didn't land inside the city, Silar took them down just outside near a hill. Lux made sure to land as gently as he could so as not to hurt the child on his back. He leant forwards dipping his neck. The child slowly slid off landing on the ground. Lux peered down at it. It seemed to be a young girl no older than twelve. Beneath her cloak her clothing looked ragged and old. Lux lowered his head so they were face to face. "Tell me your name little one."
Sarya / Human They were monsters. Both of them. Now that she was face to face with the creatures, Sarya knew immediately that they weren’t any sort of bird or beast that she had ever seen. She took an involuntary step back. The one in front of her – the one who had caught her – lowered its head so that it was level with her own. "Tell me your name little one." It said in an otherworldly, yet clam voice. Racked with fear, Sarya could only open her eyes wider. The creature cocked its head, waiting patiently for an answer. It resembled some sort of giant bird, except instead of feathers, it looked like it was coated in a blanket of light. Would they eat her? Sarya remembered hearing about fantastical creatures in tales and stories, but she never believed them. Were these the faeries and sprites of the children’s tales? Were they demons? The one in front of her didn’t look like a demon. In fact… Sarya had managed to calm down enough to start breathing. She studied the creature again, this time with curiosity. Are you an angel? Her mouth hadn't opened, and her thoughts were but a whisper, but she knew that she was heard.
Silar/Aphen Silar landed on a large hill near Omae, and saw the humans react. Some were in shock, others just stared and pointed, more ran. He didn't care, he was here to meet the rest of the Aphen to discuss what should be done. He knew what had to be done, but he was sure some of the Aphen had forgotten their ancient role in the world. As he and Lux landed, Silar noticed a few of the Aphen were still not present. He would talk to them later, and find out why exactly they hadn't answered The Calling. He turned to Lux, and found he was talking to someone already. It... was a child! Are you an angel? "What is the meaning of this Lux?" Then it hit Silar. What had he just heard? It was a young, female voice, but not out loud. Silar moved slowly over to the young girl, who was cowering now. Lux stepped in front of him. "She is scared Silar. I caught her falling from a tree on the way here." "I see," Silar said, folding his wings back. "It seems appropriate to have her here." He unfolded one wing, reaching it forward and laying it over the shaking child. "She is one of them." He leaned towards Lux, making his voice as quiet as possible. "She is Enchanted." Silar paused as Lux stared at him. "Do not let her out of your sight." With that, Silar turned away, looking at the rest of the Aphen who had gathered. "Brothers and sisters! I hope I don't..." He turned, staring at a human who had just come up to them in a cloak. "Begone human! This is not of your concern." The human removed the hood of his cloak, and Silar laughed. "Well well, Rezo, it has been some time. I am surprised you showed up before some of the others. I suppose we owe you the honor?"
SHALIZA/ HUMAN Shaliza was close enough to see most of the proceeding but was too far away to hear anything they said. Suddenly, Shaliza noticed that they had a young child in their midst. The creatures seemed to communicate to eachother as they studied the girl. One of them bent his wing and placed over the child, who was obviusly terrified, as if saying to the other, "No...she is my treat tonight." Shaliza jumped up so quickly that her horse backed up several feet. Anger and courage raced through her body. They were going to eat that girl! What other reason could there be for a child to in those creature's midst. She drew her bow and notched an arrow. No child was going to die while she was breathing. It was one of the reasons she had become a nurse. To help the weak. Shaliza sprinted down the hill, careful to put her bow to the side lest she fall on it. She reached the clearing and was a mere 15 yards away from the one who had his wing around the girl. Shaliza raised her bow, and the tip of the arrow began to glow a soft shade of blue. She hardly noticed as fear was beginning to take over despite her sudden spurt of courage. "Release the child! Or die without honour!" The moment Shaliza yelled these word she wished she could disappear. What had she done? Now both of them were going to die.
After a short while of flying Lux spotted the city down below. It wasn't a large city but it was beautiful. The majority of it stretched along the water front, the city was a hub for traders and sea farers. Even from up hear he could hear the noise. People shouting about their wares, customers shouting back. Smoke billowed up from furnaces as blacksmiths stoked them. Towards the docks Lux could see his fellow Aphen gathered. They made and odd bunch looking like creatures from a fairytale. He realised the quickest way for him to cross the sea was by boat, he remembered seeing another one of the Aphen heading towards the city of Omae, unfortunately for Cailek it took longer than he expected, by the time he reached the city, he nearly collapsed in a heap. As he made his way through the bustle of the town's folk whose eyes were firmly fixed on the large gathering of creatures. He finally laid his eyes on the Aphen and the girl, they seemed to conversing, but in manner he was not familar with. He soon realised if he were to avoid getting cut to shreds, then his best option would be to hide on the boat, and once on the island find a place where he could watch the meetings, and not be seen... or smelt out. He had sobered up by now, his delusions of earlier washed away, here and now was what he was focusing on. He was just following to follow history in many ways, he briefly considered shifting it, but that depended in entirely on what the Aphen intended.
