Jamesyco

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

Torsten

Rain, it always rained in this place, each time he had come in the past, it was raining. He spotted something unusual for this place, an elf. He watched, analyzed the woman as she walked, and where she walked. He figured quickly they would be going to the same place, and he sauntered across the street letting water splash to his footsteps. Each one dragging him behind the woman until she entered a den of laughter and jubilee. The man let beads hand from his hands as he opened the door soon after the woman entered another room.

Dorian was there, a man similar to himself but still different. He stared at him, and approached as he began his journey back to his place at the table. He didn't make it there as a brute stood before him with prayer beads and a coin. A tall bearded man covered in pelts, metal, and cloth soaked in water.

"I assume that is the correct place," Torsten said as he nodded towards the door, eyeing it with the corner of his eye.

"It is," Dorian said quietly.

"Other?" Torsten asked

"Yes," Dorian replied, opening the door for the man to walk through.

"Then I will wait," he said, leaning down and entering the room; looking around, he assumed correctly that the elf was there. He listened to the door behind him close. There would be more coming, good people meant support, now only if they worked well together."

His hand raised empty as he bowed his head, "Lady elf, it is good to meet you..." the man almost grumbled in a friendly way, "We are the first, it seems."

Torsten looked around the room and found himself a place on the other couch, turning it towards the woman, and letting his packs fall to his sides before he sat in what looked to be a chair to him. He looked as if it was a chair, and he fits into it like a glove; it was Torsten-sized. Quietly he pulled his hand through his beard, and let his back relax into the seat.

"I am Torsten."

The Guardians of Dara

Looks sorta cool.

The Five Senses - Second Arc (Accepting New Players!)

Peytr

"If we go right, travel ninety-seven paces, with two turns, we will be at the experimentation lounge. If we continue, one of the rooms down there, the one with the metal clasping device, there should be a way out that can be easily broken through. All I know is I heard birds from that room. Birds."

The man sounded robotic, he shook his head, looking between each of them, and growled slightly, looking at the body behind him, then those in front of him. His face was sunken, and his eyes glared in hatred as Peytr's head turned to the right, and he slowly crouched as they seemed to be in a lull for a moment. Each moment he stood still, frozen, or moving with tremors so fast that it looked like he was a moving statue. He was moving, shaking like a leaf. The noises he was used to, he knew it meant others were alive. But he didn't hear them at that moment, only footsteps, not real ones likely, but those he heard from before.

"Left... left sounds good, never heard footsteps to the left, the middle is where the big one goes. I would like my hands on his throat; I would like to rip him away to read him. But, no... no, no, we should go left, left sound right." the creature's hands touched the ground, and he slowly slid his fingers around on the ground. "No... no... right sound..."

He broke out of his moment, his fingers twitching as he stared back at the body for a moment longer. Each digit shifted back and forth rapidly as if it were cold and sporadic. He disliked that motion; he didn't like the motions of those around them, so still. He felt that one on the ground and hated each moment of his once-learned experiences. Fingers, all he could think about is fingers. "Lead.... my judgment is flawed... I may have lived here longer than most, but... lead, the way you came, or to my captors, I do not care which. Lead... lead, please, go forward... Maybe fingers."

Then he heard the cries, "That way... that way we should go, others... the others, we need... to get to the others." and at that moment, when he looked at them, he looked worse than before, his body shivering and hating, and he looked as if his life was nothing but a ragged dog in the rain. Broken, and hopeless, he hated each moment he listened.

"Others... before they turn out like him, or like me."

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

Torsten

Torsten Valherren

---

---

Basic Info

---

Age: 28

Race: Human

Class: Paladin/Fighter

Weapons:
Bow
&
Bastard Sword

Detailed Appearance:
6'7
220 lbs
Brown hair
Blue Eyes
Average controlled muscle growth, more natural muscle, but just size and bulk entirely. He is more similar to a traditional muscle man than a bodybuilder in his build, like a lumberjack. Typically is seen sprouting a thick beard, a long hair; it is typically kept well in order. More monastic long than scraggly, straightened typically, or weaved.

Bio History:

At a young age, the noble family Valherren had several sons, but in all reality, had use for one and a fallback in case the eldest died. Sadly, he was the youngest son. His elder cousin, a priest in the eastern parts of the plains, took him in. For the most part, the order he was a part of was monastic and healthy, a station between the forest and the capital city; he could experience and learn a lot from those who traveled the lands.

Growing up in the monastic lifestyle, but with his noble heritage, he did well with donations funding a more fanciful lifestyle there in the monastery. Able to treat both themselves and those who came. He grew into a lifestyle of general luxury and necessity to do something with his time. He found himself being chastised and forced to do manual labor away from the roles he typically enjoyed, and when he continued his work, was when a group of holy warriors passed through around the age of nineteen or so. Within, he found his mentor, a holy knight named Kal, who took the sizeable young man as his squire and underling.

Torsten and his mentor Kal would continue to travel the western fringes of the forest, and the eastern plains, keeping local wildlife populations in check, how to become a master at arms, and most importantly, how to heal and earn his favor to use abilities to heal. But he continued his active lifestyle: traveling, socializing, fighting, healing, and praying. He was not one to settle much for long and was thankful that the warriors he was with did not stay in any place too long. But with time, he became quite the squire and quite the huntsman, finding a bond with faith and nature, bringing the two together.

But over time, the group of warriors was drawn apart, and slowly the group he was with grew smaller and smaller; Kal and Toresten were with six other Holy knights when a small riot broke out, and they were separated. He likely would have been killed if he had not fallen into a quickly moving river.

When he came to, a lot from the village had washed down river to the embankment. He took a sword he found that likely was from one of the warrior bands, a thick stringed bow and quiver, and whatever else he could take before heading out once again in hopes of finding his mentor and traveling by temples, churches, and monasteries, and doing small odd jobs such as repair, cooking, or basic labor depending on their needs.

Likes:

• A general fondness for nature
• Alcoholic beverages, primarily beers and whiskies.
• A high-quality lifestyle, comfortable arrangements, and higher-quality foods.
• Hunting
• Runic inscriptions (not that he can read most of them)

Dislikes:

• Monotony
• Solitude
• Being frugal
• Going without alcohol and meats
• Things he cannot read well that doesn't look 'exciting.'

Skills and Abilities:

Abilities:

• Master at Arms - Regardless of what kind of weapon he holds, he has basic knowledge of how to use it effectively. Suppose it is a martial weapon, such as a spear, sword, bow, or any form of militant weapon. He typically knows how to use it decently.
• Healing Hand - His body regenerates quickly, and because of this, he can take the wounds of others onto his body several times past what most people would call fatal, but due to his size, and sound constitution, he can heal others from even the brink of death.
• Faith's Weapon - The weapon or ammunition (in terms of bow/crossbow/flintlock/ranged) can be imbued with the divine sentencing of god. It burns those who have been judged against.

What are the drawbacks of those abilities?

• Master at Arms - He does not see much point in using things that are not weapons and thus doesn't know much about brawling with his hands or using general items/staff as weapons. If anything, they are defensive measures until an actual weapon can be found.
• Healing Hand - While it heals others, it gives pain to him. It is an extreme case or triage situation where this should be used, for when it is done; he will need to rest for a long while. He will be hurt, in pain, and likely near death in extreme cases, and will be out of any fight for up to several days until his body's natural and unnatural healing can take effect to bring him to a functional state.
• Faith's Weapon - Honestly, this one is hard; it's more or less a catch-22; this is just a good ability because it helps in many ways. It is a helping hand, but it's limited in its uses; you can't chuck a bunch of holy objects in hopes of smiting someone, it has to be thoughtful in its use and used only when needed, or else it may just be lost ever.

Skills:

• Medicine - being a man of faith and charity, his gift to those in the world is the tender hands of health. Being able to heal, medicate, and treat those needing medical assistance.
• Athletics - Being a stout man, he is typically able to do most things out of sheer brute force. Cutting trees, carrying supplies, and in tandem with his skills as a basic carpenter and mason, he could do repair work on most forms of buildings. It also has been used in recreational sports, such as dwarf tossing and arm wrestling.
• Survival - he knows how to cook, he knows how to clean an animal, he knows how to build shelters. He has a plethora of knowledge regarding survival, from patching up wounds to foraging. Living off the land is his life skill, even when on the move.

Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muwAyNgqDiE&list=PL7dqoyDEFCSplm9WmmESNOostfpbIEWrU&index=4

Tales From the Realm of Laelilon

Torsten

Torsten Valherren

---

---

Basic Info

---

Age: 28

Race: Human

Class: Paladin/Fighter

Weapons:
Bow
&
Bastard Sword

Detailed Appearance:
6'7
220 lbs
Brown hair
Blue Eyes
Average controlled muscle growth, more natural muscle, but just size and bulk entirely. He is more similar to a traditional muscle man than a bodybuilder in his build, like a lumberjack. Typically is seen sprouting a thick beard, a long hair; it is typically kept well in order. More monastic long than scraggly, straightened typically, or weaved.

Bio History:

At a young age, the noble family Valherren had several sons, but in all reality, had use for one and a fallback in case the eldest died. Sadly, he was the youngest son. His elder cousin, a priest in the eastern parts of the plains, took him in. For the most part, the order he was a part of was monastic and healthy, a station between the forest and the capital city; he could experience and learn a lot from those who traveled the lands.

Growing up in the monastic lifestyle, but with his noble heritage, he did well with donations funding a more fanciful lifestyle there in the monastery. Able to treat both themselves and those who came. He grew into a lifestyle of general luxury and necessity to do something with his time. He found himself being chastised and forced to do manual labor away from the roles he typically enjoyed, and when he continued his work, was when a group of holy warriors passed through around the age of nineteen or so. Within, he found his mentor, a holy knight named Kal, who took the sizeable young man as his squire and underling.

Torsten and his mentor Kal would continue to travel the western fringes of the forest, and the eastern plains, keeping local wildlife populations in check, how to become a master at arms, and most importantly, how to heal and earn his favor to use abilities to heal. But he continued his active lifestyle: traveling, socializing, fighting, healing, and praying. He was not one to settle much for long and was thankful that the warriors he was with did not stay in any place too long. But with time, he became quite the squire and quite the huntsman, finding a bond with faith and nature, bringing the two together.

But over time, the group of warriors was drawn apart, and slowly the group he was with grew smaller and smaller; Kal and Toresten were with six other Holy knights when a small riot broke out, and they were separated. He likely would have been killed if he had not fallen into a quickly moving river.

When he came to, a lot from the village had washed down river to the embankment. He took a sword he found that likely was from one of the warrior bands, a thick stringed bow and quiver, and whatever else he could take before heading out once again in hopes of finding his mentor and traveling by temples, churches, and monasteries, and doing small odd jobs such as repair, cooking, or basic labor depending on their needs.

Likes:

• A general fondness for nature
• Alcoholic beverages, primarily beers and whiskies.
• A high-quality lifestyle, comfortable arrangements, and higher-quality foods.
• Hunting
• Runic inscriptions (not that he can read most of them)

Dislikes:

• Monotony
• Solitude
• Being frugal
• Going without alcohol and meats
• Things he cannot read well that doesn't look 'exciting.'

Skills and Abilities:

Abilities:

• Master at Arms - Regardless of what kind of weapon he holds, he has basic knowledge of how to use it effectively. Suppose it is a martial weapon, such as a spear, sword, bow, or any form of militant weapon. He typically knows how to use it decently.
• Healing Hand - His body regenerates quickly, and because of this, he can take the wounds of others onto his body several times past what most people would call fatal, but due to his size, and sound constitution, he can heal others from even the brink of death.
• Faith's Weapon - The weapon or ammunition (in terms of bow/crossbow/flintlock/ranged) can be imbued with the divine sentencing of god. It burns those who have been judged against.

What are the drawbacks of those abilities?

• Master at Arms - He does not see much point in using things that are not weapons and thus doesn't know much about brawling with his hands or using general items/staff as weapons. If anything, they are defensive measures until an actual weapon can be found.
• Healing Hand - While it heals others, it gives pain to him. It is an extreme case or triage situation where this should be used, for when it is done; he will need to rest for a long while. He will be hurt, in pain, and likely near death in extreme cases, and will be out of any fight for up to several days until his body's natural and unnatural healing can take effect to bring him to a functional state.
• Faith's Weapon - Honestly, this one is hard; it's more or less a catch-22; this is just a good ability because it helps in many ways. It is a helping hand, but it's limited in its uses; you can't chuck a bunch of holy objects in hopes of smiting someone, it has to be thoughtful in its use and used only when needed, or else it may just be lost ever.

Skills:

• Medicine - being a man of faith and charity, his gift to those in the world is the tender hands of health. Being able to heal, medicate, and treat those needing medical assistance.
• Athletics - Being a stout man, he is typically able to do most things out of sheer brute force. Cutting trees, carrying supplies, and in tandem with his skills as a basic carpenter and mason, he could do repair work on most forms of buildings. It also has been used in recreational sports, such as dwarf tossing and arm wrestling.
• Survival - he knows how to cook, he knows how to clean an animal, he knows how to build shelters. He has a plethora of knowledge regarding survival, from patching up wounds to foraging. Living off the land is his life skill, even when on the move.

Theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muwAyNgqDiE&list=PL7dqoyDEFCSplm9WmmESNOostfpbIEWrU&index=4

Welcome to Vradia

Honestly I would say a reboot would be best, and maybe a discord just for better communication.

Just doesn't feel right with a completely new group like this.

From Ashes We Rise : The Imperium Is Born

The 18th Legion

Staging Point Throat - Southern Ursh

"Commander Red should be back soon hold your sword Grunbah." The Astartes said as he stared up at the towering brute, then immediately receiving a backhand that tossed the young Astartes aside like a ragdoll.

"I am your elder welp, you may be Sergent but I am your superior." Captain Grunbah growled before kicking the Astartes, staring at the rest of the new squad that had entered the camp just the day prior, "He said he would be back four days ago, and that I should be arriving reinforcements, a new batch of warriors, instead I get stunted runts with no will to fight."

There seemed to be a stand off, twenty thunder warriors against seven astartes. Both sides knew who would win, but the younger warriors did drag their sergeant back into their ranks. As both lines began to set up, swords, axes, and mauls all in hand and raising. At that moment, another stepped between the lines, "Grunbah, call your wolves back, for we need not shed blood outside of a sparring pit or the battlefield. An I would not think Theadon or the Emperor would wish to see these young soldiers destroyed before their first battle." Bombda stared at them and held out several canisters of explosives that wrapped around his chest, it was a crude deterrent, but it was one that worked; there was no fun in dying in an exploding.

With that, the group of thunder warriors turned and grumbled back into their barracks and tents, Bombda turned back towards the men behind him, "You will be under me... he is anxious for bloodshed, so tread lightly around him. Lock your barracks, and have explosives nearby he sees them as weak yet charges head first into artillery barrages."

"Thank you Lieutenant, he does realize that we are not thunder warriors but Astartes right?" the younger warrior asked, "No... The commander has tried to explain to him, but he is... idiotic and wild, he is also unhinged, and becoming worse. The more he thinks the worse he gets, and blood lust takes him."

---

"He is gone." a thunder warrior muttered out after closing the cover of a tent.

Theadon Red stood behind the man sighing, "He took his bike, and sword, not even his armor. He is headed to the North East from the tracks, but why?"

"I don't know... what is to the North East, snow?" asked the Warrior, turning back towards his commander, "And at this hour as well, doesn't he know he's more likely to freeze than find anything out there?"

"Check the maps and see, we can see if we can sideline the route to find him before we continue to our first objective." Theadon said before remembering something, "There is a village there, Seargent Lathurani and his men scouted it on their way here... I think... Do we continue without our objectives without him is the question. We let him rampage through the countryside alone, or we take him with us. The man can probably draw anything away from us alone with his bloodlust."

"Commander, do you think it wise to let him go, his men might follow suit?" The warrior asked, a bit of worry on his face.

"That might be for the best; we send his fifty men with a few trucks and their bikes to chase him... knowing them, it will spread more chaos through the countryside. They are all full of bloodlust, let them get it out. While... I would like to have their bodies in the end; I would rather not kill them like... the last three that have fallen to bloodlust. Send a scouting party behind them by a few days, maybe the Astartes... they may be at odds, but the young blood still have honor in their hearts and can collect those who have fallen. Bombda can lead them while I lead the rest of the eighteenth north."

He thought this out, it was their job to cause fear and terror in the realms out of the imperiums light, through darkness there is a light that comes from the fires of ruins, and rebuilding from the smoldering ashes. He thought about his on his way to see Bombda, but he also though of his conversation with his friend when he received the new warriors of the Imperium, he figured they would be replaced eventually with old age, if they died of old age, but at that moment he sighed as he took a deep breath, looking up at the sky trying to see a moon, but it was not there. The legions symbol was that of the moon cracked by blades of the imperium, he was a night terror, and tonight was a full moon. Blood flowed thick through their bloods as they all desired war once again, sitting in these stations resupplying is something most hate. He enjoyed it, it kept his mind off fighting. He knew he could do many things, but numbers did help. But he felt himself letting loose once again, he felt his body aching for destruction, it was almost apart of his nature, of the legions nature to desire destruction.

"Let them run free... we will not be able to contain them should they find out, so let them know. Find their commander and to continue to stage two of the objectives."

---

Central Ursh - 3 weeks later

---

"Lieutenant Mehnan, artillery fire at designated zone six. Six shots full salvo followed up by two shots of smoke." Rex said into a small vox caster unit as he held his pistol and sword in both hands, he was hidden behind a mound of stone, it hid him and six others. "If Grunbah made it this far, we have two hundred yards, and four buildings until we get to the outpost."

A minute or so later, shells landed in front of him; the human contingent of his force did better without the most bloodthirsty of his legion screaming at them and trying to flay them at night. But with that he stood and listened to two more pops down towards the grouping of buildings. He raised his pistol up and started to fire at a hole in building two. He saw a muzzle flash a moment before, and since then saw nothing. Twenty yards he had not realized he had gone so fast, but he was twenty yards from the breach in the wall as he jumped in to fight some form of the beast that came from behind him. He looked at the breach, and there was nowhere for this thing to hide. He slashed in through and let its body bisect itself after several moments before firing more shots into what he assumed was its head.

He jumped backed several feet after receiving a blow to his side, and he lowered his blade to see that this thing was reforming in front of him, dark ooze coming from it as he charged once again, and his blade fell several times against this monster he fought, and finally he cleaved it in two once again, and kept going until it was a pile at the floor.

He turned back, and continued down the hall, "By the emperor, what abominations live in this place?" In front of him, a door burst down with a large and bloody figure full of madness; he knew that madness and had seen it before it was Grunbah. Covered in blood, and sheets of skin the hulking figure stood with a sword and an axe in both hands.

"You caught up to me old man." Grumbled Grunbah, "I've fought many things and learned many things... I've sent you back the bodies of those you sent for me, and now... I get to kill a welp who should have fallen at my heels long ago."

Grunbah turned towards his superior and let out a roar as his arms went wide, with his arms before the charge. Blood and skins flapping against the speed of this monster. Commander Red lifted his pistol and shot the man several times in the face, watching the man drop to the floor feet from him. Surprised, with a bit of dew on his face, he slowly placed his sword to the back of Grunbah's neck and pressed down upon the spine, cutting it. It was a loss, but, a needed one, both in the reminder of this is how all of his warriors would end up, but also how he would end up one day.

The other, is that this became a butcher, instead of a warrior of honor, he sowed destruction of many kinds upon the lands far beyond that of which he would have taken. He saw the scars in the land left by this lone warrior, the scars in his own soldiers left hanging mutilated in effigies on the country side almost as if they were warnings from the enemy, but it came from within. He knew it to be from within but told all others differently.

Grunbah was brutal and sadistic, and in his last moments it showed, he had become almost an animal, but one of sport. One which desired only to become a sport, or allow its prey to. Death was only a final desire, and here it was given, likely not in the manner desired, but it was given and given swiftly. How long had he been moving, how long since he rested, not in some time. The building he was in shook, as the floor came down in front of him, and he climbed through the breech reloading his autopistol. He was thankful it brought Grunbah down, and surprised it did as well.

"Commander are you alright, the back half of your building came down?" someone asked through the vox channel.

"I am fine, this building is clear, finish your building and then let us proceed to the communications center. We don't have much time before the jamming is lifted."

Grunbah looked at the building, it looked like the one he was in, but with metal poles and dishes sticking from it, he saw a few using them as climbing aids in scaling the side to get to the roof, but he decided the door or one of the shell holes would be a better entry way for himself.

"Seargent, are your astartes ready?" Commander Red asked, "through the lower quarters with Bombda, take both of your squads, and meet me in the central room. Weizer and Wenttiv follow me. Yuidilon Standard to the roof, give the backlines a sight, and let honor be bound to our names."

To that several responses came through the vox network, all confirming their orders. He saw brutes charge to catch up behind him, but they were slow and he made it through the first breech as he came upon a group of three men, none of which stood a chance as his sword cleaved two in half, and his autopistols hilt caved the thirds skull in. He put a shot into the thirds head to put him out of his suffering before he kicked a door off it's hinges. Firing into any warm body in the room, he stepped on the door with a crack as the individual below the door started to break, he shot through the door to finish this poor soul as well. Two more shots, his magazine was empty, and he dropped with his thumb before letting his other hand release the sword impaling another and letting his fists pulp the last man into the wall.

Reloading once again, he retrieved his sword moments later smashing a panel in the room, and staring at the carnage that maybe took twelve seconds in total, if he was younger, he could have done it in eight. This, was slaughter, it was butchery, it was not terror, in terror you leave several alive, but so far all he came across was death. The astartes he heard below him, and he saw his own warriors follow past the room he was in. He saw them as butchers in that moment, not as the warriors he knew. He saw what other legions were, butchers, they had an artistic view, a morbid one, but it was methodical. It was logical, and full of terror. He sighed, Bombda and the Astartes he felt would be the last of those who could complete their goals, their ways. Their old ways, like in Gyptus, or when starting this crusade across the world. Slow, steady, methodical. Leaving the enemy pissing in their pants and surrendering rather than killing them wholesale. Instead of having bodies to work in workshops, or constructing roads and logistics, there was only bodies cut apart with viciousness and hate. He knew there was hate, he saw hate in himself too, he saw some the abominations within this place. This outpost, a chapel of some kind, some form of prayer, they butchered as well, but in a different way. He felt it, something was wrong, both with this place, but he felt like with some of those around him. He felt Grunbah was different as well.

He knew that something was wrong, "All units, set explosives for five hours, leave the central spire in tact, and leave our calling cards, but blow up the other buildings. Let nothing but this last building stand, then let us head out, we have three days to make it to where we need to be. So let us be quick, gather our dead, and let us go."

Theadon Red stared, and opened up a smaller communications channel, "Bombda, in my building, Grunbah is there, get his body and his things. We need it... to figure out the problems that are starting to arise. Make sure no one see him but those you trust to keep quiet... And please, be quick about it. He is in the lower level I only checked that spot, but search the rest, see if there are any survivors and keep them hidden away as well. I want to know what they faced before we arrived, this was far too easy of a fight."

From Ashes We Rise : The Imperium Is Born

Veharr

Communications room - The Hidden Path - Gyptus

Veharr stared down at a communcations relay, something was in orbit. He saw it, and he somewhat felt it. He felt that those within dark cities nearby were finished, the Emperors warriors had moved on. He slowly powered on the old relay station with a prerecorded message, "We see you, and welcome you to the Home of Man." the message would blurt out over several general long distance channels. It was something fascinating, but he died that it would be enough to spark those from the old days to reach out to those below, maybe. It was his time to enlighten the Emperor, or at least his second. Most of the warrior bands of Imperial barbarians had moved far to the West, and North, maybe an audience could be found.

Or, at least communion started between those in Orbit, and those on the planet. He smiled softly as he looked back, "I am Veharr, for those listening," the old priest said as he pressed down upon a large red button, "I am a man who wishes to see his home return to it's beauty, I seek to see the green fields and forests, blue lakes and oceans once again. I wish the world to become beautiful once again. Should you hear this message, I will respond in three days at this time, and wherever you wish to meet, we may there."

Veharr slowly moved the relay to bounce between several so that it may spread to those listening, mostly those in orbit, and hopefully those who lead the Imperium, or the Emperor himself. He pressed his hand against the red button last time and watched as the light faded away. He slowly began to power down the relay, and thanked himself for the abilities gifted to him through the warp.

"May the Emperor bless us, and may we forge this world a new so that we can see purity within it. May the sons of his legions calm to my hand, and may those in this world see reason in desire and heart rather than the destruction of each other for those of evil."

From Ashes We Rise: The Galaxy At Large

Belivahnn

Part Five

"It has been a year since their passing, I have looked down upon my city and seen nothing but black for emotion reigns through my soul... Everyone smiles, everyone sees the light of the next day but for me. My hair turns dark, and my brothers and sisters, do their best, and they have tried setting me up with nobles' daughters from those far-out places I have not visited since my crusade across this world. In the time since their death things have gone wrong, but this city is still white behind the dark film of sadness that covers my eyes. I feel him grow near, the one who created me, the god of destruction and death. I know that he is near, not in distance yet, but in the time that he has set for this galaxy. His goals have fallen in line with a parade of destruction. It will still be a long time; those I have been raised with have grown old, and those who raised me have passed into eternal life. I feel them watching me, I feel their souls around me." - Words of Fire 12:86

---

It was a years later, he stood on a balcony, and the world was white for all that he could see, lights of eternal fire lit each street, and snow came down gently upon the glassy stones that made his city fortress. Outside he saw the fields of white as snow had accumulated deep outside the city, and he knew that the first true winter since his parents passing had come.

"Twenty years my brother." an old gaunt man said behind him, moving beside the Angel, "twenty years since it has snowed, I sense your melancholia has passed for this is a good sign."

"I have decided that I would rather see the world through a better light than through poems and dramatic words in a book that the priest's followers read a million times to understand my sadness. It is understood by all who have lost something, I only wish that for a moment I could have them back."

"I have given that up, I feel as if I have the power, but I care not to use it... it is unnatural, they were not taken by sword or poison, they were taken by the beauty of nature, and in their last moments before they were buried they were together, and are together eternally. I care not for that, only that their memories are around. Their statues, busts, and paintings have been seen around the city, as well as those lost to us during the wars and many others who died to age."

"With you, many here live to sixty, even seventy, before in the stories most people lived to forty if the reached past the age of ten. The beasts of the north have fled this world, and your kingdom has shined through it all, farms and families are scattered, thievery, and murders are almost non-existant, the cults of old have died out and those that wished to keep the old ways out have perished in their senseless burning of Chortle. While the land was blackened for years, you made sure that the beautiful colors of life have refurbished that area. Those families who lost are some of our best servants and writers here now."

"Yes... but now my worry is not of that, this world... even without me would be stable, if this world never changed it would be perfect. Simple lives that are fulfilling. We have most of our world secure, only the northern most pole is untamed, and that is because it is unnatural like the hearth of this city. It is still tainted unlike our home, where whispers once spoke to me, now only the memories of our parents remains. But that place all I heard is their scream."

"Then do what you have done with our home, and create a beautiful city there upon it, cleanse it with fire and rebuild it." the old man laughed for a moment before finding a seat within the room behind the balcony, "remember when I was young and when the plants tried to eat me... no matter what was planted those maneating things would come back. I haven't seen one here since I was thirty..."

"I haven't seen one in a long time, not even in the north... but if you think it will help... I will build a city, in the shape of a phoenix there... the sign of new life to come back, and for those living there that they are safe."

---

It was the dawn of a new day, and the angel stared at the white stones... He saw nothing, but he knew his mother was right, that the symbol of the phoenix was the final pathway to this worlds salvation. It was upon the metal home he was born in, it was etched in many places throughout his world, and it was a sign that contained the evil which once ran rampid, the cultists of his world feared the image. When he asked why, it was almost a natural instinct to them to fear it. He saw no reason for a symbol so rare to cause someone such distress. He cared not, for the rebellion had failed, and faith was that upon the fire. For fire was life.

In his travel around the city as dawn slowly broke over the white stones, he saw something odd, the stones were not white but golden. It sent distress down his spine, and fear racing back up but he felt warmth from it. He saw the golden phoenix of the city he had been building over the past twelve years. His brothers and sisters were dead, but their children continued, and still run much of the world. They still break fast with him, and take care of him for they are family. His warriors in white steel, and dark leather were coming out of their tents, and not one of them moved after seeing the sight that befell them. It was nothing but a golden horizon for an hour as the star which warmed this world overtook the city slowly.

"My lord... it is on fire." one of his guardians said in horror.

"No... it my mothers gift... look upon the city, and see that it is safe... but the sun has perfected the stone... this is the closest point to the sun... Its warmth is strong..." the angel said quietly as he stared frozen for a moment, almost as if he had seen something or heard someone; there was no corruption, nothing whispering to him, or was there, was there a voice in the back of his head. He knew what he built was right, but this was not a phoenix he had made... it was something else. He had felt sickened. But at that moment the Angel felt something far away, he felt something which had this two-headed bird upon him a thousand times over in gold for that is all he saw. It was a gift from his mother, the gift of seeing what was to come next. And to embrace it.

---

Two hours after within the cities capital district the right head of the two headed bird.

Johannes stood staring at something in the sky, then the ground in front of him, as something unexpected happened, something in armor with tall crowned helmets had appeared in front of him, he had not experienced this, or knew of what it was, but they spoke the language as he did.

"Johannes, it is kind to meet you." said a male figure echoing through his helmet before it was removed, and when the helmet was removed the tallheaded, long ears of an Eldari were shown plain and true to the Angel. "I am Illor, and these are my companion's Yrued, and Ialian." he said as he moved his hands over to two other figures, both of them bowing their heads. We have brought food from off world for we are coming to your world. I know bringing food to ones home is the sign of good fortune, and we wish to warn you of something you may know exists in this world. We were sent trusted by those in high honor to warn you of what will come."

"He knows Illor, that is why he built this place... to cleanse it of corruption." came a feminine voice from the one known as Yrued, "It is clear he feels it and wishes to rid himself from it. We best not distur-."

"My morning rituals have been disturbed already, but you three seem to have come a long way... I know this corruption, but it is gone now... I know what I am looking for, what I feel... But instead, sit, and let us talk... enjoy the moment of peace. I know you come from the heavens, I know you are not the only thing there in the void beyond my sight... However, I wish to explore it for myself, spread my wings, and see it, but that time is not now. In the moment, I can still learn, and listen to you each. I would enjoy it, you each have grace and elegance to your movements, although you had caught me in a moment of thought, I still saw much of what your people are capable of. "

With that, he saw the three go, he had grown fond of them, they were intelligent creatures, not as much as he, but they were a welcomed change of pace, the one that could feel and almost divine his words he enjoyed the most. The female known as Yrued, she was kind beneath, but had a thorny coat around her actions and voice. She was distant, but had replies or almost continued sentences before they started. She was engaging, much like the blind priest who helped guide and teach him in his youth had. He wondered if she was around fifty, though he suspected much older, he did not pry to see if this woman was the reincarnation of his old mentor in the body of this Eldari woman. He did not believe that, for he still heard his voice in the capital.

He felt them depart, and once again, he was alone. They had brought exotic things to him, as well as seeds from other worlds, and he was told that the fruits would be edible to his people and to the creatures of the world. The members of the envoy each enjoyed the natural way he sent his home city with plants hanging from walls and trees lining avenues. To recreate that here as the final etch to outline the streets of this golden city was something else. He knew the city would be beautiful. It was already a spectacle to be seen, his work was everything to him, and he had done it.

He had learned some of them, but they turned the questions back to learn more of him. He felt as if it was an interrogation from all but Illor. He felt they had grown fond of him and his kindness, well, at least Illor, the other two were stoic and disciplined. But after some time, they did become much friendlier. Almost as if he had flipped a switch or convinced them of something. He was just a gentle soul in his heart, and they had realized that in his hopes.

He hoped to meet them again; when he looked back up into the heavens, he noticed they were gone and that it was night. A day spent talking to those from another world. Johannes stood, hopefully he could make it downstairs in time for dinner.

Welcome to Vradia

Torsten

---

He watched Dorian and his men, and relaxed a bit as he looked over at Faline, "I am going to assume that is the last time we see anything like that, also the bodies should be buried not burned, they are of these lands, burning would harm their spirits most likely. But, we should continue to move Miss Faline, with those new who are to accompany us."

He looked down at Amandine and nodded with a slight smile, "I thank you for your kindness Miss Amandine, but we should eat, but move some more before nightfall. For the most part, the new additions will serve well. But, we have lacked out in abilities with the reformation of our group. We work well, but we are all similar in skill sets in a fight, and where we are going, there may be more dangerous things about. But, the small one seems to be useful, either that or a man of confidence; the one in the back is rather stoic, but he seems to be a good man. I like that one. The other one I am unsure about."

Torsten smiled a bit, and started forward, moving his bag around his side as he made sure his weapons were back in their sheathes, or hanging off of his belt. His shield hung beside his helmet as it padded against his right thigh as he shifted down towards the small woman patting her on the head.

"If anyone is hurt, tell me, and I will take a look at it. Small wounds, even cuts can become big problems anywhere you are."