The dark side of magic

Started by Lady Jenn, November 11, 2011, 04:35:55 PM

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albatross

Aurora looked at Elena as she walked over to them, she figured the queen wouldn't send them all to their deaths so she felt a bit more comfortable going on this little mission.

She looked between Muroe and Barkeley as they took her hands then closed her eyes quickly when she realized they had and squeezed them tightly.

After a few moments she opened her eyes and looked around, loosening the grip she'd had on Muroe and Barkeley's hands. "Wow," she mumbled quietly and looked towards the white walls of what she assumed to be the elven city they'd be heading to. "So, do we wait here for the elves to come to us or do we go to them?" She asked and looked around.

Lady Jenn

"We walk towards the city," Nara replied. "If there are Elves out here they'll spot us soon enough."

"I don't see anyone else here aside from us," Muroe said as they started walking. "Are we sure the Elves are here?"

"I guarantee they are," Nara replied. "My mother once told me its not when you can see the Elves you should be worried, its when you can't." There was a slight movement somewhere ahead of them although they couldn't tell from here who or what it was. "Be on your guard," she said under her breath. "Remember they know this forest better than we do."

albatross

Aurora saw the movement ahead as well and glanced towards Nara as she spoke quietly. "They probably know we're here and are just watching to make sure we're not a threat," she pointed out.

"If we asked like we're here to fight then they won't be overly welcoming," she said and stepped through the group and began to make her way towards the city.

She took her time, keeping her hands by her sides so if there were any elves out and about they wouldn't view her as a threat.

Lady Jenn

#228
"We've definitely got company," Muroe said. "I have extra-sensitive hearing because of my animagus powers, I can hear them from here. I couldn't tell you how many of them there are though."

There was a noise from above them and before any of them could respond they found themselves surrounded by ten tall figures, each with a green feathered arrow knocked to a bow pointing at them. At their centre was a figure dressed as if he was their leader, his arm wrapped around Aurora holding her in a vice-like grip, Barkeley pointing his sword at the figure's throat.

"Drop the sword Barkeley," Nara growled at him. "They could riddle you with arrows before you so much as scratched him, and that's assuming there aren't more of them watching us." Barkeley slowly lowered the sword, the elf loosening his grip on Aurora although the bow-armed Elves remained cautious. "We wish to speak to the Prince of Sylvan, we have been sent at the request of the Magyar council."

The elf seemed uncertain for a moment, turning to one of the other soldiers to have a whispered conversation.

"For our sakes I hope they believe us," Nara said. "We're all dead if they don't."

Strange lettering which seemed to give off a faint glow were just visible on each elf's cloak, although what they were was unclear.

albatross

When the noise was heard from above Aurora began to look upwards but was pulled against a tall man before she could even let out a noise. She took a moment to figure out what was happening when she saw the sword by her head. She was about to struggle against the man holding her but stopped as she followed the blade and realized it was Barkeley's.

She looked past them and saw the elves with the arrows pointing at everyone then tilted her head a bit to try and get a look at the one who was holding onto her. She was half tempted to bite him, figuring it would startle him and he'd let her go but the others surrounding them would probably kill the lot of her group for it so she just stood still.

As Nara spoke and Barkeley lowered his blade she felt the grip loosening but didn't know if she should step away or not.

As the elves spoke to each other Aurora noticed the strange lettering and though she couldn't read it, something about it seemed familiar. She looked it over on the lead elf's cloak then instinctively reached out to hold the garment and looked closer at it. As she tried to read another headache began to form and she squinted at the lettering, trying to interpret the lettering.

Lady Jenn

"What's the lettering on their cloaks?" Muroe asked Nara, noticing Aurora's curiosity and wondering himself.

"Elven invisibility runes," Nara replied. "Every cloak their warriors use is covered in them. While the runes are active you could look straight at an elf and it would be like they weren't there."

"Hence why they could get so close to us without us knowing about it," Barkeley said with a grimace. "Well at least they'll be a potent ally if they decide to help us."

The elves conversation finally ended, the elf the leader had been talking to seemed to vanish again as he turned to face them, a smile on his face.

"My apologies," he said, bowing. "We have had intruders attempting to enter the forest to discover our secrets so the Elven Sentinels have been on especially high alert. My name is Sangar, captain of the Sylvan Sentinels, some of whom you can see here," he said as the bow-armed elves finally lowered their weapons. "Who do I have the honour of welcoming to our forest?" he asked, kissing Aurora's hand in apology and revealing a pair of astoundingly blue eyes.

"I am Nara, daughter of Queen Elena of Shadow Glade," she said, bowing. "This is Muroe, Barkeley and Aurora, three young human wizards who have earnt the respect of the lord of Dragonblight himself so I'd like to think youcan trust them," she said, smiling slightly.

"My apologies Aurora," Sangar said, bowing to her. "If it is any consolation I went after you because I thought you were the biggest threat. I get the impression you are more powerful than you might realise."

albatross

Aurora let out a hum of consideration when Nara replied what the markings were on the Elves' cloaks. She looked away and looked at the elf leader as he faced them with a smile on his face.

"Well he's smiling, that's good," she mumbled to Barkeley then watched him as he kissed her hand and blushed again. "Men in my world really need to take a page of chivalry from these guys," she whispered with a bit of a smile and kept her eyes on the elf leader.

Aurora gave a bow, the way Nara did as she did and shook her head at Sangar when he apologized to her. "No need to apologize. If someone tried to break into my home I'd swing a bat at them," she offered with a smile.

When he said he got the impression she was the biggest threat she glanced at Nara then looked at Barkeley. "How can I be seen as a bigger threat than her?" She whispered.

Lady Jenn

"Elven and fae magic has much in common," Nara whispered the reply. "Elves have had little experience of human magic, if any at all. Evidently your aura is even stronger than we first realised."

"I will take you to the Prince," Sangar said as the other Elves dispersed back into the tree line. "If the council has been called then he will want to know." He led them off through the tall trees, the occasional flicker of movement visible among them as they headed towards the white walled city.

"There are more than just Elves in this forest aren't there?" Barkeley asked.

"Some of the most powerful Dryads in the world are said to live within the boundaries of Sylvan," Nara replied. "Treekin live here too, and there are rumours that there are creatures more ancient than the forest itself that hide somewhere within its canopy."

"I can sense dragons," Muroe said, a note of confusion in his voice. "But...these are different, either that or they're disguising themselves in some way that even my heightened senses are unable to bypass."

albatross

"So that's good then? Or is that bad?" She asked, looking towards Nara and falling into step beside her as they walked.

"I don't know how to use it very well. I don't want something to come and try to kill me because they can sense my aura is strong and I have no way of defending myself," she mumbled, feeling a bit deflated now.

The last thing she wanted was to become a target with no way to defend herself on her own. She didn't like the idea of someone else stepping into danger because of her.

As they continued on nearing the city and the movement through the trees caught her attention every time.

Her head moved from side to side as she watched the movement but she listened to their conversation.

"Are there dragons here?" She asked Sangar after hearing Muroe's comment about sensing the dragons.

Lady Jenn

Sangar merely smiled in reply, Nara laughing as she watched him. Although she had no experience of Elves herself she had heard the stories enough to know what to expect.

"Something tells me we'll find out the answer within the city," Nara replied. "They must be fairly extraordinary creatures to be able to hide in a forest though.

As they reached the walls a huge gate opened without Sangar even needing to signal to anyone, reavealing a city that, while not as tall as Dragonblight, felt equally huge. Elves walked through the streets, some dressed in armour, others dressed in more ordinary clothes, some deep in conversation with Dryads who watched curiously as Sangar lead them to the huge courtyard at the centre of the city. They were faced with a fearsome sight: Lining it were at least a hundred elves, each stood silently, leaning on immense spears with nasty looking swords tucked in the belts that circled their golden armour. Stood on the steps of the palace at the courtyard's furthest edge were two figures. One an elf dressed in similar armour to the other guards, the other was a Dryad, but impossibly ancient in appearance.

"Rakeil," Sangar said, indicating the elf, "head of Sylvan's Royal Guard, a small sample of which you can see here. His companion is..."

"Starthorn," Nara said, finishing his sentence, a note of awe in her voice. "All fae are taught stories about him but I though he was little more than a legend. If the Dryad's have a king or a leader than Starthorn is as close as they get," she said to Aurora. "It is said even the Dryad's themselves are unsure of his true age."

albatross

Aurora looked up at the ancient looking Dryad then to Nara as she spoke and nodded her head. Though she'd never heard of their history or anything she knew he was obviously important so she just stood beside the others and looked at the two.

After a moment she glanced back towards the hundred elves who stood silently and pursed her lips. "They're a bit spooky," she mumbled and took in a deep breath. "They're standing so still it doesn't look like they're even breathing," she whispered to Nara and chewed her lower lip gently as she continued to watched them.

She turned her head again and looked around the courtyard a bit more before looking back to Sangar. "How are we supposed to go about asking them to join us?" She asked, looking back to Nara.

Lady Jenn

"I know how," Nara said. "Something I should've realised when my mother sent us on this mission, and which even Sangar knew when I said why we were here."

"I don't..." Muroe said, looking perplexed at the smiles that crossed both Nara and Sangar's faces.

"Magyar isn't the name of a dragon king," Nara said. "Magyar is the Elven word for dragon, I should've remembered since all fae children are taught Elvish from a young age. Remember that name Elena said to tell them if they were reluctant?"

"Sarna?" Muroe replied. "What's that got to do with it?"

"Sarna was the dragon who saved Sylvan all those millenia ago wasn't he?" she asked Sangar who merely nodded. "Elves and dragons are fierce believers in honour. The day Sarna saved this city the rulers of Sylvan swore that if the Magyar requested their aid the army of Sylvan would answer. Plus with the strength of dragons alone they could be sure their aid would not be sought unless the threat was something the dragons could not fight alone. Sorry, that's probably a lot to take in at once," she said, laughing slightly at the confusion on Muroe's face.

albatross

"But still reasonable and understandable," Aurora said and looked at Nara. "You should go up and tell them that then,' she said with a nod of her head and clasped her hands together in front of herself as she looked at the other woman.

She sidestepped to stand next to Barkeley and glanced at him. "Considering we're family and all. Do you have any idea how I'm supposed to figure out this magic stuff?" She asked and glanced at him. Hoping they'd get a few minutes to talk while Nara delivered the message to the elvish leader.

She glanced towards Muroe, figuring he'd be too busy trying to figure out what was going on with the whole history of Sarna and the rulers of Sylvan. She looked again at her cousin and hoped he'd be willing to help.

Lady Jenn

"I can do my best," he said as Sangar led them up the steps, the two figures parting to allow them within the palace.

Its huge central room contained only two figures. The prince, even without a crown, was easily identifiable. Even among a race which towered over most humans, and even sat down, he was impressively tall, an imposing prescence that seemed to match Stormrider himself. The other was a tall, older woman dressed in a long green dress, her eyes the same colour and an unusually coloured ring on one finger. Sangar walked over to the Prince to speak to him, leaving the others waiting alone.

"You said there were dragons here Muroe," Nara said. "I think we may have found one of them. Look at the woman's eyes, remind you of anyone's?"

"They're like Kara's," Barkeley replied. "But there's something...different."

"She's a descendant of Sarna himself," Nara replied. "They represent the last remnants of when dragons were powerful enough that, had they chosen to, they could have dominated all other life on Earth."

albatross

Aurora looked at the woman then to Nara as she spoke. "I don't understand why they wouldn't have done that. I like being a human and all that but humans aren't exactly the best race to be running the Earth," she mumbled quietly.

She stood silent as she observed the exchange between the prince and Sangar.

"Why is she here?" She asked after a moment, her eyes remained focused on the female who stood by the prince. "Why isn't she with Stormrider and the other dragons?"

Lady Jenn

"Sarna's kind were one of the groups who refused the order to return to Dragonblight," Nara replied. "My guess is they've been living in this forest ever since."

"It would explain why they're here and I can't sense them," Muroe said. "If they've been here millenia they'd know all the tricks to hide.

"Now they simply number too few to dominate life on Earth," Nara said. "At least, Sarna's kind too. I think they are now more interested in protecting nature from any threat that faces them."

albatross

"Well you must know about the recent news of the environment because of all the huge corporations and global warming and all that jazz," she said with a wave of her hand.

"Pretty soon, there might not be any nature to protect the way people are tearing forests down to build new suburbs or malls," she sighed and pursed her lips.

She looked towards Nara. "So, what do you think the chances are that they'll help? Do you think they'll honour their pledge to help from so long ago?"

Lady Jenn

"We can't be absolutely sure," Nara replied. "But if Sarna's descendants really are still hiding in this forest then they should be more willing to listen."

Eventually Sangar returned to where they were stood, a smile on his face.

"Return to Dragonblight," he said. "We will join you shortly, but we have not gathered the army of Sylvan fully in a very long time. Plus there are other allies we must call upon who can help you."

albatross

Aurora did a double take at Sangar when he said they could return to Dragonblight. "Whoa, it was that easy?" she asked and gave a bit of a shrug.

"Well I'm not gonna complain," she smiled and held her hand out to Sangar. "Thank you so much for your help."

She felt so relieved now that the elves had agreed to help them, it kind of felt as though they were going to war, it would be an easy win for them.

Lady Jenn

"Venn can take them back," the female dragon said. "But they had best have elves take them to Venn, we all know what lies between here and Venn's roost."

"I'll gather a few Sentinels and Dryads to escort us," Sangar said, bowing to the Prince and leading them out into the courtyard again.

"Why do we need an escort Muroe asked. "Point us in the right direction and I'm sure we'll find it."

"Its not that simple," Sangar replied. "Venn rules a mountain in the deepest reaches of the forest, surrounded by Dryads, Treekin and far worse. If you have Elves with you then we can deal with any problems we may come across on the way there."

albatross

Aurora followed Sangar out to the courtyard after he'd bowed to the Prince and nodded her head as Muroe asked the question since she'd been wondering it herself.

As Sangar spoke she pursed her lips, not really liking the sound of what they were about to face.

"If we mind our own business then they should leave us alone right?" She asked, tilting her head a bit.

"And who is this Venn?" She asked curiously.

Lady Jenn

"Venn is one of Sarna's descendants," Sangar replied. "The first of his descendants to have been born outside of Dragonblight. Its said that he waits there for the time to come when he can, as he sees it, he can return home."

When they reached the area outside the gate again two Dryads and three Sentinels, who had their hoods pulled up to hide all but the twinkle of their eyes, were waiting for them.

"Something about that mountain makes the creatures around it far more hostile," Sangar continued. "Even if Starthorn could convince the Dryads and Treekin to leave us alone there are creatures in this wood who can be hostile to any creature who isn't there own. With us there to protect you they're less likely to risk attacking you."

albatross

Aurora looked towards the mountain then back to Sangar. "Is there something up there?" She asked and wrapped her arms around herself.

"Is it normal for those creatures to be so hostile?" She questioned and glanced around the group then let her eyes linger on the Dryads and the three Sentinels who would be accompanying them to Venn.

"Well, we might as well get going then," she commented and stepped away from the gate, waiting for the others to get going and followed whoever took the lead since she didn't know where they were heading.

Lady Jenn

"It is said all of nature is joined somehow," Sangar replied. "Some think the creatures of the darker areas of this wood are angry because they've seen what has happened to nature in the rest of the world."

"You mean what humans have done?" Barkeley said with a grimace.

"Not just humans," Sangar replied. "There are many other threats to nature and woods in particular than humans. Plus some creatures, like the centaurs, believe most races are inferior to them but number too few to pose a realistic threat to even Sylvan. Unfortunately the fact they number so few just seems to make them angrier."

albatross

Her eyes opened wide when she heard Sangar talk about centaurs and turned her head to stare at him. "Centaurs? Like the half horse half man? They're real? Like really real?" She asked quickly and moved closer to him.

"Not all of them can be mean though, right?" She asked, a hint of hopefulness in her tone.

"Is there any chance we can go and see them? I just wanna see one? They were always my favourite mythological creature as I was growning," she said, speaking quickly like an excited child.