(For the first parts of this story, check down the message board here for "The Story of Runekane" -- I left out a pretty big gap due to burn out from writing at the time, but here's more.)
"Something up ahead," Roin, the Bastokan Special Forces agent signaled back to the rest of the squad. Among them are some of the more well-known covert operations experts hailing from Bastkok. Squatted low, the enigma of a man known simply as "Deathdealer" to everybody, even his closest of associates, nods in confirmation that he, too, feels the same presence. Behind him in a meditative state is the renowned mithran field medic Harmoney, forced to dress in the uncharacteristicly dark and tight clothing required by the nature of the mission. Aubrie, the mysterious red mage from San'd Orian roots, cautiously checked the rear of the party to make sure nothing tailed the group. And then there's me, dressed in simple navy blue robes. Runekane, the black arts wizard who once shunned his magical background of Windurst, now embracing it fully in a deadly knot of mystical power held always at the ready. Strange, if you knew me before. If you met me just now, I suppose there wouldn't be anything too odd about what I'm doing slinging spells. However, this is not the time or the place to discuss such matters of how one's past catches up with him. We have a job to do.
After Roin and "Deathdealer"'s "information gathering" talents landed us a lead as to what was going on in the Beastmen hordes, the Alliance of nations in Jeuno agreed to send in a squad into the far north, through Xarcabard to Castle Zhavl itself to recon the presence of creatures there and report back to the City of Cities. Rumors spread about conspiracy afoot in Jeuno, that perhaps the Alliance was sending a group of maligned adventurers to their deaths at the hands of demons. Demons! Nobody had seen a demon in decades. Of course, the brave sorts who refused to believe this type of hoo-hah "volunteered" for the recon mission. By volunteered, I mean forced into the position by the higher-ups from that nation. In my case, I knew some of the Elvaan generals in San'd Oria wanted to see me gone for my "questionable loyalty to the nation". Coincidentally, this attitude was only borne after I chose to research the black arts in hopes of... uncovering secrets in my past. I'll leave it at that. So here we are... being sent to our deaths, apparently. By DEMONS? Ha! I'd like to see them try.
So far into Castle Zhavl, we had seen no demons. The occasional Goblin, sure. What really seemed strange is when we spotted Yagudo at some parts, then Orcs, and then Quadavs... all three beastmen races in the same place? Something MUST have drawn them here. It's not like they exactly have get-togethers and racial mixers scheduled every Lightsday. However, even stranger is we had not came upon any signs of life for at least a few hours of traveling. Until this moment. Dark energy like I've never felt before was gathering near us up ahead. I couldn't SEE it, I don't think anybody could. But boy, we sure could feel its presence.
"We should leave, now, we've seen enough," Harmoney barely managed to whisper as she, too, was growing tense at feeling of the gathering invisible force. Everybody stood spellbound, not having heard a voice in hours, not sure what to say. I got the feeling that they felt the same thing but couldn't put to voice their fears. Even the usually unshakeable Aubrie seemed anxious to leave. Damnit, I wanted out of here badly. But we had a job to do. From duty, comes respect. Only fulfilling duties grants respect of those who recognize accomplishments. I wanted my respect back in the great Elvaan city, damnit. And if it took killing mythical demons to do it, I had to.
"No. We stay," I confirmed as I received a cold glare from my once-lover mithra. It's never easy coping with loss, but I still care for the lass. I couldn't have anybody close if I was to pursue my goal in the fabled Ancient Magics, nothing for the Gods of this world to use against me in my search for truth and respect. She would never understand, but at least this hurt would prove far less than others she would be subjected to. I'll take her living and spiteful over her dead and gone to everybody for eternity. "We have a job to do, lets finish it. I'm going to manipulate the forces up ahead here and see if I can find out what's doing this."
I rose up and stretched out, arms extended and cracking my small knuckles. I broke into the chant for opening portals that I'd practiced in private before, but never in front of anybody else. Ancient, alien syllables slipped from my tongue. Annunciating the words carefully really made my lips and jaw sore even though all the practice and study I'd had. My vision went black as I slipped deeper into the magical trance, summoning forth whatever power lay beyond, ripping open the fabric of reality, or the viel of magic that lay ahead to pull through whatever was looming on the other side. A weak spot! I probed and probed with my magical force until I connected through to the other side. Visions rapidly flashed through my head of fragments of Magicite rotating around a large humanoid figure, with several smaller forms below it chanting in the same tongue as myself. What was this language called... all the tomes I'd read had called it the tongue of the ancient ones. Another image flashed my mind bright white, and I returned to reality, or what I thought could have been, or what I remembered as what was reality, or my dimension... magic can be confusing like that. Squinting in frustration, I made out two large armored humanoid figures wielding scythes heading towards me from where I probed at the magical force. I'll be damned. Demons DO exist. Gulp.
The hume enigma was upon one in a flash, ripping it to shreds in a series of attacks with his unbelieveably sharp daggers, eviscerating it into a pile of unearthly goo. Roin plastered a large slug from his Republic issue long-barreled rifle into the head of the other, making it collapse as well, setting into its death throes. Aubrie was off to the side, literally stopping complete motion of one demon then blasting it down to a pulp with a quick, dazzling show of fire and air magic. Harmoney stayed busy frantically weaving spells of aid and recovery to make sure we didn't slow down while taking on the ambushing force. Ambush. Yeah, looks like we walked right into this one. More and more demons were coming, pouring out of the hole I ripped open. My fault. Yep. This wasn't going well... I've seen enough.
I started into the incantation for the spell of escaping that I'd mastered as a fledgling wizard, to let us get out of here maybe in one piece. Demons were closing in tighter, with all Roin, Deathdealer and Aubrie trying unsuccessfully to hold their ground against the mass of attackers. Hurry, hurry damnit. Use your warlock days, your slick tongue, go faster. Faster! Aubrie vanished, Harmoney vanished, then Roin, then Deathdealer disappeared into a small hole into reality I set for us to be outside of the Castle, where Harmoney could get us to better safety. Scythes and claws swooping at me, I finally complete the incantation and I am thrown into a wormhole in space... not too soon to catch a claw on the leg. And on the arm. That scythe coming out of the back of my thigh REALLY hurts. I feel numb... a hand reaches out of the darkness in space. Now, that's something I haven't seen before. Vision growing blurry... this can't be the end. The prophecy foretold more for me, the prophecy I had to give some of my soul up for, that valued piece of information. I saw the gate of the castle. The hand quashes all my hope as it grips my tiny strained throat. This can't be the end! I will NOT allow it! I hear faint cries coming, going, almost sounding in the common tongue used around Vana'Diel. I grip my beloved whithered flower in my hand. I haven't forgotten.. I never will. It...the hand... has the fragment of my soul. No... she still needs me... I have to protect her. Pain... crushing pain... I... love...
-------------
"Wow, this really is a beautiful place, you weren't kidding."
"Yeah, I hear this is where he liked to go to clear his mind, where he liked to take her."
"That's really sweet, even though he was a traitor. What a gorgeous waterfall."
"Sure is a one-of-a-kind place... not many people come here any more. Come, lets pay our respects... for the man who once was." The elvaan couple made their way through the foliage of Jugner Forrest to the long-deserted black tiger cave just off to the West of the babbling brook that the tricking but bedazzling waterfall created.
"So this is really it, is it?" asked the young Elvaan woman. "This is where he's really buried?"
"That's what they say," said the male with a tear running down his cheek.
"That's a shame... I heard rumors both ways. He sold himself to evil and tricked his friends, and some say he died saving his friends. Everbody always talked about him and his accomplishments... such tall tales for a small creature. You don't think all of them were true, do you?" she asked with a sweet smile with an innocent tint to it. Another tear streaked down his cheek, which she wiped away, looking into his eyes, searching his soul. "Of course you do... you knew him..." The young man pushed her back gently and stood at attention and saluted, then gently set a San'd Orian dagger at the foot of the headstone.
"Gods watch over you, champion."
"Wow, what a beautiful bush..." she took notice of the blooming maugerette bush in full bloom off to the right of the headstone.
"They say it stays full bloom year 'round, it's remarkable."
"'Spirit of a thousand tigers, willpower of a thousand men, honor of a legend, love of a saint' -- Wow... he was something, wasn't he?"
"Depends on who you ask, I guess. But to me..." the young man's throat caught.
"God Bless, Runekane, wherever you are." she finally said after a long pause of silence. "Come, Anglis, lets go. It's getting late."
"Yes, lets." He stood at attention one last time, one more tear streaking down his long elvaan features, dropping off his chin and landing on the flower bush in full bloom. "Farewell, friend."
------------
"What's this?"
"It just... appeared, sir. Someone found it down in a mysterously placed orchard out in LaThiene Plateau."
"Brown eyes... grey hair, at this age?! I feel like I've seen this one before." said Royal Knight Captain Tezz. His fierce blue eyes grimmered as he met the gaze of the tarutaru child, barely more than a year old, wearing underclothing and with a single yellow flower caught between his toes. "But, that's impossible... I thought he was gone. He never had children. He's been dead for months, now!"
"Sir, I just--"
"Leave me at once! I want no word of this getting back to San'd Oria, or its your ass, and believe me," threatened the stalwart tarutaru, "you don't want me on your ass."
"No... no sir."
"A promise! You promise on your loyalty to myself... and... and to past heroes."
"Sir?"
"Promise, damnit!"
"I... I promise, not to tell anybody of this event." Tezz stared the young elvaan Royal Knight down, withering the giant under his expression of steel and intensity.
"Dismissed."
The young knight salutes "Yes, sir!" and starts back off towards the great elvaan city.
Tezz sat and pondered the situation as the child runs about playing with butterflies and rolled in the grass. With a sigh of exasperation and confusion, he finally muttered to himself, "Runekane, is this the final trick you had up your sleeve? You wily bastard." He smiled wistfully at old memories and good times, and the world seemed right again, if only for at a small moment. The darkness could never take that away.
"Something up ahead," Roin, the Bastokan Special Forces agent signaled back to the rest of the squad. Among them are some of the more well-known covert operations experts hailing from Bastkok. Squatted low, the enigma of a man known simply as "Deathdealer" to everybody, even his closest of associates, nods in confirmation that he, too, feels the same presence. Behind him in a meditative state is the renowned mithran field medic Harmoney, forced to dress in the uncharacteristicly dark and tight clothing required by the nature of the mission. Aubrie, the mysterious red mage from San'd Orian roots, cautiously checked the rear of the party to make sure nothing tailed the group. And then there's me, dressed in simple navy blue robes. Runekane, the black arts wizard who once shunned his magical background of Windurst, now embracing it fully in a deadly knot of mystical power held always at the ready. Strange, if you knew me before. If you met me just now, I suppose there wouldn't be anything too odd about what I'm doing slinging spells. However, this is not the time or the place to discuss such matters of how one's past catches up with him. We have a job to do.
After Roin and "Deathdealer"'s "information gathering" talents landed us a lead as to what was going on in the Beastmen hordes, the Alliance of nations in Jeuno agreed to send in a squad into the far north, through Xarcabard to Castle Zhavl itself to recon the presence of creatures there and report back to the City of Cities. Rumors spread about conspiracy afoot in Jeuno, that perhaps the Alliance was sending a group of maligned adventurers to their deaths at the hands of demons. Demons! Nobody had seen a demon in decades. Of course, the brave sorts who refused to believe this type of hoo-hah "volunteered" for the recon mission. By volunteered, I mean forced into the position by the higher-ups from that nation. In my case, I knew some of the Elvaan generals in San'd Oria wanted to see me gone for my "questionable loyalty to the nation". Coincidentally, this attitude was only borne after I chose to research the black arts in hopes of... uncovering secrets in my past. I'll leave it at that. So here we are... being sent to our deaths, apparently. By DEMONS? Ha! I'd like to see them try.
So far into Castle Zhavl, we had seen no demons. The occasional Goblin, sure. What really seemed strange is when we spotted Yagudo at some parts, then Orcs, and then Quadavs... all three beastmen races in the same place? Something MUST have drawn them here. It's not like they exactly have get-togethers and racial mixers scheduled every Lightsday. However, even stranger is we had not came upon any signs of life for at least a few hours of traveling. Until this moment. Dark energy like I've never felt before was gathering near us up ahead. I couldn't SEE it, I don't think anybody could. But boy, we sure could feel its presence.
"We should leave, now, we've seen enough," Harmoney barely managed to whisper as she, too, was growing tense at feeling of the gathering invisible force. Everybody stood spellbound, not having heard a voice in hours, not sure what to say. I got the feeling that they felt the same thing but couldn't put to voice their fears. Even the usually unshakeable Aubrie seemed anxious to leave. Damnit, I wanted out of here badly. But we had a job to do. From duty, comes respect. Only fulfilling duties grants respect of those who recognize accomplishments. I wanted my respect back in the great Elvaan city, damnit. And if it took killing mythical demons to do it, I had to.
"No. We stay," I confirmed as I received a cold glare from my once-lover mithra. It's never easy coping with loss, but I still care for the lass. I couldn't have anybody close if I was to pursue my goal in the fabled Ancient Magics, nothing for the Gods of this world to use against me in my search for truth and respect. She would never understand, but at least this hurt would prove far less than others she would be subjected to. I'll take her living and spiteful over her dead and gone to everybody for eternity. "We have a job to do, lets finish it. I'm going to manipulate the forces up ahead here and see if I can find out what's doing this."
I rose up and stretched out, arms extended and cracking my small knuckles. I broke into the chant for opening portals that I'd practiced in private before, but never in front of anybody else. Ancient, alien syllables slipped from my tongue. Annunciating the words carefully really made my lips and jaw sore even though all the practice and study I'd had. My vision went black as I slipped deeper into the magical trance, summoning forth whatever power lay beyond, ripping open the fabric of reality, or the viel of magic that lay ahead to pull through whatever was looming on the other side. A weak spot! I probed and probed with my magical force until I connected through to the other side. Visions rapidly flashed through my head of fragments of Magicite rotating around a large humanoid figure, with several smaller forms below it chanting in the same tongue as myself. What was this language called... all the tomes I'd read had called it the tongue of the ancient ones. Another image flashed my mind bright white, and I returned to reality, or what I thought could have been, or what I remembered as what was reality, or my dimension... magic can be confusing like that. Squinting in frustration, I made out two large armored humanoid figures wielding scythes heading towards me from where I probed at the magical force. I'll be damned. Demons DO exist. Gulp.
The hume enigma was upon one in a flash, ripping it to shreds in a series of attacks with his unbelieveably sharp daggers, eviscerating it into a pile of unearthly goo. Roin plastered a large slug from his Republic issue long-barreled rifle into the head of the other, making it collapse as well, setting into its death throes. Aubrie was off to the side, literally stopping complete motion of one demon then blasting it down to a pulp with a quick, dazzling show of fire and air magic. Harmoney stayed busy frantically weaving spells of aid and recovery to make sure we didn't slow down while taking on the ambushing force. Ambush. Yeah, looks like we walked right into this one. More and more demons were coming, pouring out of the hole I ripped open. My fault. Yep. This wasn't going well... I've seen enough.
I started into the incantation for the spell of escaping that I'd mastered as a fledgling wizard, to let us get out of here maybe in one piece. Demons were closing in tighter, with all Roin, Deathdealer and Aubrie trying unsuccessfully to hold their ground against the mass of attackers. Hurry, hurry damnit. Use your warlock days, your slick tongue, go faster. Faster! Aubrie vanished, Harmoney vanished, then Roin, then Deathdealer disappeared into a small hole into reality I set for us to be outside of the Castle, where Harmoney could get us to better safety. Scythes and claws swooping at me, I finally complete the incantation and I am thrown into a wormhole in space... not too soon to catch a claw on the leg. And on the arm. That scythe coming out of the back of my thigh REALLY hurts. I feel numb... a hand reaches out of the darkness in space. Now, that's something I haven't seen before. Vision growing blurry... this can't be the end. The prophecy foretold more for me, the prophecy I had to give some of my soul up for, that valued piece of information. I saw the gate of the castle. The hand quashes all my hope as it grips my tiny strained throat. This can't be the end! I will NOT allow it! I hear faint cries coming, going, almost sounding in the common tongue used around Vana'Diel. I grip my beloved whithered flower in my hand. I haven't forgotten.. I never will. It...the hand... has the fragment of my soul. No... she still needs me... I have to protect her. Pain... crushing pain... I... love...
-------------
"Wow, this really is a beautiful place, you weren't kidding."
"Yeah, I hear this is where he liked to go to clear his mind, where he liked to take her."
"That's really sweet, even though he was a traitor. What a gorgeous waterfall."
"Sure is a one-of-a-kind place... not many people come here any more. Come, lets pay our respects... for the man who once was." The elvaan couple made their way through the foliage of Jugner Forrest to the long-deserted black tiger cave just off to the West of the babbling brook that the tricking but bedazzling waterfall created.
"So this is really it, is it?" asked the young Elvaan woman. "This is where he's really buried?"
"That's what they say," said the male with a tear running down his cheek.
"That's a shame... I heard rumors both ways. He sold himself to evil and tricked his friends, and some say he died saving his friends. Everbody always talked about him and his accomplishments... such tall tales for a small creature. You don't think all of them were true, do you?" she asked with a sweet smile with an innocent tint to it. Another tear streaked down his cheek, which she wiped away, looking into his eyes, searching his soul. "Of course you do... you knew him..." The young man pushed her back gently and stood at attention and saluted, then gently set a San'd Orian dagger at the foot of the headstone.
"Gods watch over you, champion."
"Wow, what a beautiful bush..." she took notice of the blooming maugerette bush in full bloom off to the right of the headstone.
"They say it stays full bloom year 'round, it's remarkable."
"'Spirit of a thousand tigers, willpower of a thousand men, honor of a legend, love of a saint' -- Wow... he was something, wasn't he?"
"Depends on who you ask, I guess. But to me..." the young man's throat caught.
"God Bless, Runekane, wherever you are." she finally said after a long pause of silence. "Come, Anglis, lets go. It's getting late."
"Yes, lets." He stood at attention one last time, one more tear streaking down his long elvaan features, dropping off his chin and landing on the flower bush in full bloom. "Farewell, friend."
------------
"What's this?"
"It just... appeared, sir. Someone found it down in a mysterously placed orchard out in LaThiene Plateau."
"Brown eyes... grey hair, at this age?! I feel like I've seen this one before." said Royal Knight Captain Tezz. His fierce blue eyes grimmered as he met the gaze of the tarutaru child, barely more than a year old, wearing underclothing and with a single yellow flower caught between his toes. "But, that's impossible... I thought he was gone. He never had children. He's been dead for months, now!"
"Sir, I just--"
"Leave me at once! I want no word of this getting back to San'd Oria, or its your ass, and believe me," threatened the stalwart tarutaru, "you don't want me on your ass."
"No... no sir."
"A promise! You promise on your loyalty to myself... and... and to past heroes."
"Sir?"
"Promise, damnit!"
"I... I promise, not to tell anybody of this event." Tezz stared the young elvaan Royal Knight down, withering the giant under his expression of steel and intensity.
"Dismissed."
The young knight salutes "Yes, sir!" and starts back off towards the great elvaan city.
Tezz sat and pondered the situation as the child runs about playing with butterflies and rolled in the grass. With a sigh of exasperation and confusion, he finally muttered to himself, "Runekane, is this the final trick you had up your sleeve? You wily bastard." He smiled wistfully at old memories and good times, and the world seemed right again, if only for at a small moment. The darkness could never take that away.
Look forward to reading more. 