For the King (fantasy rp)

Haskeen looked at the Leon and said, "Once, a long time ago, he was genuinely alive, the merchants wanted him dead, so we killed him, but he didn't stay dead. Now he will. What say you and I get a drink? The gods know I could use one, it'll help me sleep."

 

Leon for once smiled at the desert man and flunge his arm over Haskeen's shoulder.

"I like your taste...but I better go for tea tonight.."

Leon took a glance at Rae'Non to see if he had heard the offer to drink.

"But I could use a smoke if you have one", Leon suggested.

 

Drake smiled down at her and gently supported her with his right hand and grabbed his sword back up with his left. "Sure thing but next time you're going to get smashed let me know ahead of time, OK?" He asked jokingly and walked her slowly out the door.

The wind was cool to the skin and Drake wished to himself that he had gotten at least one drink to warm him up. "Do you smell something?" He asked sniffing the night air.

 

"Sorry friend, the only thing I have that burns is powder, and you don't want to smoke any of that, maybe its time we check the hospitality of this lovely little village. A couple pipes for the heroes, eh?" The two men were off, looking for a place that might hold a little of the green plant they sought.

 

Chapter 4-- The Beginning of the End

After the heroes returned to their lodging at the Half-Pint Inn, the inn keep explained to them that Huntbrood had been the reason many of the townspeople had lived in fear. The man had been taking children and using their life essence to prolong his own. The inn keep apologized for not telling them earlier, but Huntbrood had been staying in the room at the end of the hall and threatened death to any who told the company of heroes of his presence there.

After a night of good rest and some healing from Senora, the heroes packed up their things and prepared for the final leg of their journey. They crossed the Daragkhar plains where many ancient battles had been fought. Then the heroes stood at last at the once glorious Emerald Gate that led into the castle-city. Even with its crumbling white walls, abandoned stone buildings, and weed infested brick streets it still seemed to maintain a strange sort of majesty. It was just as so many stories and works of art had said it would be. Once the greatest city in world...it was magical to behold.

Overhead the midday sky began to cloud and a cool breeze flowed out over the plains, an omen of the brewing storm, perhaps in more than one way. In the distance, in the center of the city, stood the Emerald Towers. It marked the spot from which the Daragkhar had once ruled. Legends said that far beneath that area, deep in earth, was where the jewel called Melchior's Hearth would rest.

Rae'Non gawked. This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on the place. He had been born here years ago, back before it was destroyed in the War of Nations. The others would be gawking to, but for a different reason entirely. The structures were all massive, beautifully crafted by some master architect. The buildings seemed to be a part of the world, like natural stone that had simply grown into a building. It was not the thing that could be described with words, but rather it had to be felt.

So the heroes had at last reached the beginning of the end. All stood on the cusp of the final leg of their journey. All that was left was to find the Heart and take it to King Ramonis. Yet, though the city seemed abandoned, it had become a haven for all manner of beasts. Some were peaceful creatures, others were not. Deep in the depths underneath the Emerald Towers, shadows waited.

 

Drake looked upon the magnificent city with some awe. "Now this is the kind of place I exspect adventures to end." He said happily. He had missed out on the last to bits of excitment but his sword would taste action here, he could feel it. He looked over at Natiea. "So, are you ready to get this over with?" He asked her, worried about her emotional state still after the bar incident.

 

Rae walked away from the group, feeling like he needed a moment to be alone. Silently, he ran his hands over the smooth stone of a nearby building. That was was engraved with images that were presumably from Daragkhar's ancient past. It depicted a mighty people fending off a black cloud. Hovering above them, protecting them, was the massive winged reptile after which his people were named.

He looked away from the wall and towards the massive Towers. "Yes...let us be done with this. The place has a strange air about it that I do not like."

 

Nateia looked in awe at the building, her eyes catching every detail of the magnificent ruins. She gave a smile as she looked over at Drake. Her hands gently shook, maybe from the fear. She didn’t feel it just yet, but she knew it would probably be smart to be afraid. She sighed and stood next to him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She muttered. She blushed remembering that night from the tavern. She had never gotten in a bar fight her entire life, and for that matter, she had never even gotten drunk.

“I’m sorry for how I acted, I shouldn’t have placed that burden on you.” She muttered.

 

"Never a burden." He said and gave a big smile, and put his left hand on her shoulder. "Just stay close by this time, don't want anymore grab and runs." He said with a sirius look in his eye. "Everything will be fine." He promised and looked up at the city that stood in between him and the prize at the end of their quest.

 

"Goodness..."

Rune had never seen a structure like that one. More than being physically magnificent, it had an aura, the aura of the people that had once dwell here and that resonated in Rae'non as well. It smelled of power and strength and pride, all of it well-deserved.

"This place...it's grand..." he muttered.

 

Ketka stared at the immense structure her lips twisting into a grimace. The place was awe inspiring she wasn’t about to say anything other then that. Something still bothered her. Perhaps it was the stones that reminded her of home, perhaps it was the niggling fear that seemed to grow within her. Ketka kept her distance from Rae, she was not ready to apologise for her actions within the tavern the still made sense to her.

There was something he had said after the brawl something about heroes that stood for Rae’s kingdom. She didn’t stand for it. She couldn’t bring herself to even think that she upheld herself for those people. She wanted home wanted to save Vox. She was still the outsider. She gripped the hilt of her axe wanting to cry out to show how she was feeling. Instead Ketka hung her head and rubbed the smooth fur of the thunder cat that trod with jerking movements its shoulders rolling with each long stride. Behind her on the cat Ketka could feel the Wolven king push himself gently into her back. With a shuddery sigh he rested once more. At least Spere was with her, at least he culled her growing frustration.

 

Rae crouched down to touch the smooth bricks of the once glorious streets. It was more weeds with patches of road than the other way around now, but Rae knew in his heart that it had once been much more. He could feel a deep connection to this place inside him, he resonated with it and it with him. Once, great people had walked that very street. Artists and writers, singers and dancers, diplomats. True heroes had been made here...not like Haskeen or Drake or Arc or any of the group from Galbadan, not like Rae. They were all connected by a bond stronger than any other, a bond that could only be felt by a people of the same blood.

Thunder sounded overhead as the first few drops of rain began to fall. Rae's eyes were sad as he looked skyward. For a moment he wondered what his life would have been like if Daragkhar had not been destroyed, if he were not the only one of the Dragon People left in the world. He wondered if any of his companions could understand the pain he felt. Haskeen? The man knew nothing but the spear in much the same way that Rae knew nothing but the sword, but he had pride in his people. He had people. Nateia perhaps? She knew the pain of loss as well as any of them, but she had her family to look forward to seeing once the journey was over. Ketka? She knew what it was to lose a kingdom, but she too had a family to look forward to seeing. Drake had his Mountain People, who were among the strongest and proudest people in the land. Rae shook his head...no, none of them could understand.

Another crack of thunder shook Rae from his introspection. "We should probably take shelter in one of these buildings until the storm ends. Can't afford anyone taking sick this close to the end," he said with a kind of detached sound in his voice, as if he didn't care much about what he was saying.

So Rae and the Heroes entered one of the buildings. It must have been a home once. Bowls that had once been used to hold food and water littered the place. Weeds had grown up through the floor. It was truly a sad sight.Rae sat apart from the others, staring out a window and watching the heavy rainfall, contemplating himself.

 

Ketka followed the heroes into the building looking at the pots and bowls. Was this what had become of Vox? Were there plates and weeds? Were her sister bones laying upon the floors of her once glorious palace? Her thoughts swelled up like she was trapped in a whirlpool she bit her lip until blood seeped from it. Was the fate of her people this fate?

She slammed her fist on a table, “damn this” she cried out. “I have to know.”

Her companions were staring now she backed away into a corner her eyes glistening. She wished she was Rae she wished she knew at least what had become of Vox

 

Drake followed the others in and preceeded to make himself comfortable against a wall, not trusting anything around to support his wait in the ancent house. "Not quite as impressive from the inside is it?" He asked Natiea as he glanced up towards the windows hopeing the rain would stop soon so they could be on their way.

 

"Not quite as impressive from the inside is it?" said Drake, glancing up at the windows.

Haskeen looked around the quiet, solemn place. Signs of life long gone, a depressing aura about it. He looked at his large companion and said, "Respect, please, respect. This place, it is a sad one." Walking closer to Drake and whispering quietly, "I could only imagine the feeling that would strike me if I would return to Mulesk to find it like this." He motioned to Rae as nondescript as possible before continuing on, looking at the past immortalized before his eyes.

He walked through the old house, the first room behind him, and into another, the door blown off his hinges and a corpse on the bed. It was a small room, rock walls, paintings hanging from them, some broken and on the floor, and the bed opposite the door. He approached the corpse and raised a spear to the skeleton, poking at its tattered clothing until he was assured it was dead. "I see, no Dragon Necromancers." As lightning struck outside the one window in the room, the flash of light caused something around the dead person's neck to glisten suddenly. What have we here? Reaching over to it, he found a gold amulet with a green stone, strange writing around the edge of the piece of jewelry. Haskeen ripped it off the person, shattering its brittle neck and sending its skull crashing to the ground. "I thank you," he said, bowing to the lifeless corpse and heading back to the others.

 

Drake nodded at the comment but the dessert man soon returned from a room in the back with a trinket in his hands. "Looting from the dead already?" He asked not likeing hypocrites, but he gave a kind smile afterwards. "I hope you find it more helpful than the original owner did." He added dryly.

He looked around the room and wondered why wait for the rain? He certainly hoped they'd get moving soon, but he wasn't in charge of this expidition, no, not this time, not yet. He'd wait out the rain if thats what the lord wanted, he rather liked fighting in the rain, helped keep you cool.

 

Leon still stood outside in the rain, looking about the dark clouds at something seemingly invisible to the others. He was used to this where he came from. This was the best time to hunt for game back in the Cresent Islands, his home.

It happened every two years on the second island of Jiro. A competition took place to see who could catch a rare breed of Fox and bring it back to the main island Shiro to celebrate. Leon remembered as a kid how grandiose it was, the thrill of the hunt, the immense feeling of pride that filled him whenever he had succeeded though he rarely did. It was always his older brother whom had been like a hero of the islands. His brother was legendary, catching the Fox every year and winning every time. Leon was proud to be his little brother.

Leon shook off the memory as a rain drop hit his new wired glasses he had bought in town. He hated the rain. It brought back the last memory, the last few moments, he had of his brother. No matter how hard he tried though Leon just couldn't help but stand in the downpour and inhale the guilt that followed him. It depressed him. It made him remember what he wanted to forget. His scars burned every time he remembered, a curse he deserved to have.

He reached from underneath his cloak with both hands and pulled out two short poles, his short spears, custom made by his brother. Leon took the ends of both spears and connected them, making a larger spear. Once connected a mechanism in the pole retracted one of the spearheads on one side so that it looked just like a normal spear. Leon twirled it once and staked it into the ground where he stood and stepped away, sitting down about a yard away from it.

A bolt of lightning struck the spear, then another, and another. The spear seemed to attract the lightning like a conductor, striking no other place near the building but the spear. Leon pulled out his flask again, eyed it for a moment, then placed it back in his cloak, not thirsty at the moment as he sulked in the rain. He wrapped his arms around his legs and watched each individual drop fall in his pool of sorrow.

Of all days...

 

Senora drank in the city that once was. She had never seen it in its more glorious days, but she had heard the tales. The people from its past were nothing short of legendary. The night before she had retired early to her quarters as her presence within common taverns often caused more problems for her party and she wanted her companions to be able to relax and unwind. She felt refreshed as she had gotten a good night’s sleep, unlike many of her companions. She was the one to clean up their wounds and heal their injuries after their careless night. She felt no irritation, only wished they had taken the time to get decent rest so that they would be at their best today. After all, her life laid in their hands as much as theirs did in hers.

She liked the remains of the city they were in and the rain did not bother her. Rain was meant to be refreshing and purifying. She ran her hand along a faded emerald colored column admiring the markings engraved upon it when she felt a familiar tingling sensation tug at her spine. At first it was subtle enough that she thought perhaps a few drops of rain had managed to slip beneath her cloak to run down her back. However, as the intensity picked up she allowed her arm that was already on the column to support more of her weight as she closed her eyes and dropped her head to absorb the waves of emotions that assaulted her.

Solitude, unwanted-The utter and unbearable pain of loneliness, longing and regret.

She slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to identify who these feelings were eminating from. A rogue lock of scarlet hair fell from her hood catching the rain as she scanned each person within her party having to squint her eyes as her vision was always a bit blurred during times like this. At first she was drawn to Leon as his body language was that of someone sullen and sorrowful. Although he did look like a likely candidate for the emotions that were washing over her, they were not coming from him.

She continued her search, a bit of her own feelings of anxiety creeping in as she could feel the sorrow beginning to fade from her and she wanted to identify the source before they retreated altogether. Her search was difficult as it took quite a bit of concentration not to succumb to the emotions that were not her own. It was her nature to want to drown in them in complete empathy.

Frustration danced on the outskirts of the loneliness.

As always, she did not know why the subject was feeling the way he was, but as her eyes fell on Rae’non, she certainly knew who they were from. Why was their leader feeling such emotions? Was he reflecting on something in his past? She didn’t know for sure, but as the last of the borrowed emotions left her, she felt extreme empathy for him as she knew such pain and loneliness was rarely a surface emotion. It was usually something much more deep seeded. Rae's story was as legendary as this great city and she had no doubt that being here was the trigger for his strong emotions. Whatever it was, Rae'non chose to nurse the pain like a tender wound.

When she felt her head had cleared enough that she could walk without drawing attention to herself (figuratively speaking), she approached the warrior and placed her hand upon his forearm. She leaned in to speak to him in a soft voice being sure the others would not overhear her. As an empath, she could not pass without offering words of comfort. This need was so strong after readings that she wasn't able to think about things like the fact that approaching a relative stranger so informally could be considered poor form or how such an action might be viewed by others. She had no idea as to what was causing his pain or even if she had identified his feelings correctly. All she knew is how he felt and she interpreted it the best she could.

“My Lord, you are never truly alone. Others can help carry your burdens. Our pasts rarely stay buried and it's actions that make a man who he is. Look to the future. Your heart need not be heavy this day.”

 

Shao'Tio had silently slipped inside one of the ancient buildings when the rain came. He preferred to stay dry if it was possible. As he glanced around the room, he felt once again that he was not alone. Scanning his surroundings, he felt as if a restless darkness was beginning to come towards him. Unsheathing his sword, he thought he saw something retreat back underground.

"Well, it is only to be expected in such a place as this. After all, a city as magnificent as this one would not likely be defeated by any feeble force. The invaders must have been strong, they must have been evil. Where they are now, I do not know.”

Hearing a crackling noise, Shao’Tio glanced outside and saw Leon standing next to a long spear that was being hit by multiple bolts of lightning. The only expression on Leon’s face was one of sadness and guilt. Leaving him to think, Shao’Tio sat down on the ground as his mind wandered.

“I wonder if my sister Tia is still alive? Will I ever see her again? The last time I saw her was two years ago….”

“Whatever happens, brother, I will find you again. Tia opened her hands and gave Shao’Tio a small red crystal. “I must warn our people to flee from the oncoming darkness before it is too late. You will stay safe won’t you?”

“I am not worried about my safety, Tia. I am well-protected in this castle. Can I not go with you?”

“You cannot go with me! Your duty is in Galbadan. The king needs you. I must go alone. This crystal you have will give you much strength. Use it only in your most dire need….”

Thinking this, he pulled out the red gem from his cloak and looked at it. It looked like nothing more than a ruby, but Shao’Tio believed that it had hidden powers. Putting it back, he rested against the walls. The sound of rain could still be heard.

 

“My Lord, you are never truly alone. Others can help carry your burdens. Our pasts rarely stay buried and it's actions that make a man who he is. Look to the future. Your heart need not be heavy this day," said Senora quietly to him.

"You cannot know the weight of my burden for it is mine alone to bear. Each of you have things you must deal with, and on top of it you still must fight for a kingdom that is not yours. I will not weigh us down with my own troubles."

The storm seemed to stretch on for hours before it at last blew over the broken city. Rae stood and belted his sword back around his waist. "Let us finish this and end the Darkness."

So the heroes gathered up their things and began the trek down the long road toward Emerald Tower. To their left and right, things darted strange creatures darted through the shadows, their eyes tracking the strange group of visitors led by the last of the Dragon People.

Their next destination would be far under the tower, in the dark underworks of the city. It was there where living shadows thrived. They would try to trick the heroes and throw them off course. Rae would not let it happen. He owed the king his life and he would not let the kingdom fall to a petty darkness.

"Beware what lurks underneath this place. They are called Shadow People. None know where they came from, but many say they are the ghosts of my people," explained Rae. "I do not know for sure."

Inside the Emerald Tower itself was almost more amazing than the entire rest of the city. The ceiling stretched far upwards into a massive skylight. The floor was ornately worked tile depicting the sun with tear drops on the top and bottom, sparkling rays shining outward. In the middle of the huge chamber there rested a throne, all dotted with gold and emeralds and rubies. The throne of the Dragon King.

Rae opened up the magnificently worked door to the underworks. A musty air rushed up out of the darkness and Rae drew his sword, shouting the word that would make the thing shine with a brilliant white light.

The Underworks was a series of several maze-like floors connected at the far ends bu a set of stairs that spiraled down to the next floor. The darkness made every dusty stone hall seem as if it went on forever into the darkness. Perhaps some did.

CHECK THE DISCUSSION BOARD BEFORE POSTING

 

Drake stood by Nateia's side, sword in hand, face drawn tight as he contemplated this place. Strange shadow people, monsters of unknown and possibly unseen veriety, and of course it was just plain creepy. "Why does every place end up looking like it's haunted after the owners leave?" He asked remembering a supposedly haunted house from his childhood. He smirked at the sight and how he and his brother had accidently made the intire biulding calapse while exsploring it.

He glanced around and gently set the sword on his shoulder so it would be ready at a moments notice, and then set his other hand on Natiea's shoulder. "Just one more step in the journy and it's homeward bound with as riches and fame." He told her while giveing her his most comforting smile.

 

Leon folloed Rae and the others as the made their way deep into the underground of Emerald Tower, keeping his senses clear as his eyes wandered the darkness, waiting for the shadows to take form.

He removed the two short spears from his beltloops and twirled one slowly in his left hand. Despite his reluctance to venture to this forsakened place, it was actually an adventure he enjoyed more than he hated. He hadn't been more at ease with himself in a long while. The hole in his heart seemed to fill itself the longer he stayed with these people, whom he had become rather close to despite differences. Perhaps the rain was a factor in this enlightenment.

Leon then looked ahead at Rae'Non, the man who was risking his life for a country that was not his and avenge his people who were long gone. He admitted he did admire Rae's spirit, even a little, and Leon himself could relate to the pain of loss.

Leon walked next to both Rune, Drake, and Haskeen and spoke silently as to whisper.

"If I had a place like this for a basement I don't think I'd need a house", he said.

"Could use a few lights though..."

 

"Maybe some drapes." Drake replied wittily with a smirk. "It definatly needs a womans touch." He said and patted Natiea on the shoulder. "What do you say, want to have at cleaning this place up?" He asked jokingly, "Bet it makes your kids room look clean, though I think my i'd rather deal with this than cleaning up after the twins." He said and let out a loud laugh.

 

"I like it as it is." Rune replied. It was his nature to appreciate places like this. He sniffed around, not finding anything out of the ordinary, some rats and other critters, nothing of particular importance.

"Uhmm, there's a nest of rats up ahead." They were eating something, probably the carcass of some other animal. He mentioned it so nobody would be scared or surprised when they came across it.

 

Ketka guided her mount through the path set before her group. They were ahead of her. She did not mind. Her heart was becoming more and more detached.

As she followed she thought she saw a flash of something. When she looked again the flash had vanished. Her hand wrapped cautiously about the hilt of her sword. Upright, after it had started to ach she lowered her arm to the axe instead. Her teeth sunk into her lower lip, Ketka did not like this place at all. With a soft hum Spere nestled into her back and she sighed. Even the thunder cat was letting a rumble of purring sooth his nerves. She turned her eyes to the wolven king his eyes like chips of sapphire burnt back into hers.

*Do not fear little one,* his mind voice spoke within her. *The Wolven will always protect you.*