Omni5876

Jewel of the Skies

Not going in depth regarding the Tahjai but it may ven diagram it along with the sorcerer king, the current story line, and the current war.

Regarding this and any upcoming fight. I was thinking I can do a two or three moves then switch that way we can keep the fight going. I dont want to NPC your moves

To Claim a Starting World

Arn had not know the young healer for long. After all, he was at least 11 years older than her and had only dealt with her father a few times when natural healing was not possible. He had seen her around the village during his winter stays. She was a natural born healer not only in skill but also in bed side manner. Add that to the fact that she was young and pretty and it was no wonder that many a boy and man sought her out.

The big hunter knew that softness of voice and manner did not mean she was weak. Her being young did not mean she was inexperienced. Her sharp emerald eyes were appraising the situation as easily and analytically as any healer twice her age.

He listened to her but she seemed to be having a hard time making up her mind. She had the right idea in trying to find out the best possible outcome but the big man knew that in the wild not making a decision was just as deadly as making the wrong one.

Not that they owed the wounded man beast anything but the hunter did not fancy the idea of letting the man die. He looked down at the would be wolf. Lack of food and a harsh life had made him hardy. Wounded he might be. In danger he might be but Arn felt that he could be resilient enough.

He looked at the young lady again and said. “I will carry him. He will die if we wait too much.” He could she was concerned about the wound. “ We can rinse it a bit with the water from the creek. It should be good enough for now.”

Jewel of the Skies

Viem

The man held the lifeless hand long past the last grips of life had signified the young girl’s passing. He sat there in the darkness. Blood wet on his trousers and shirt, hers. He rested his head on top of her still warm one. A tear streaking down his cheek to fall on the departed girls head.

It hurt, not only because she had been brave. Not only because they had been close. It hurt because nobody except the few that remained would remember. No one would know that she had died for a cause much higher than any living in this patched up world of Ith would probably hold.

Her sacrifice would go un sung. She would be even less of a faceless person that live and die living their own lives. What hurt the most is that he would not even be able to bury her body. As it was, he was risking the same fate taking those precious minutes that had allowed her to pass on gently into the flux.

He gave her one last kiss on the fore head and sobbing laid her down as gently as he could. The man picked up the crumpled parchment that had been the cause of her death and tucked it into a hidden pocket in his cloak. He turned northward and ran. His lungs burned as he rushed through he wilderness. He could feel more than see his pursuers.

He was thankful that they had those of magic capability with them or he would be as blind as any other person. However, thanks to his training and connection to Gia, his pursuers where also his helpers. All he had to do was keep ahead of them.

A few hundred yards in front of him, he could see the sun beginning to shine as it rose over the cliffs. The rendezvous point was near. Not slowing down, the man made for the edge of those same cliffs. The ground began to end quickly. Yet, he did not slow or faltered. Taking a running leap he hurled himself into the void and was suspended for a second before gravity attempted to take hold.

The man tapped into the Aether to deny gravity its prey. Death had already claimed one Watcher, it would not have the satisfaction of claiming another. Magic burst forth from his hands and feet and a powerful air jet stream propelled him forward. Normally, mages would only be able to go a short burst but the man managed to fly 800 meters upward and forward.

Out of the clouds a small fast ship suddenly appeared. It was littler more than schooner which accounted for the speed at which it appeared. The man skillfully guided himself towards the deck and despite a barrage of various types of magic, both man and ship were out of their range.

Once on the man was safely on deck, the ship sped off towards the deep sky. It would be gone before reinforcements could arrive or give chase. The man looked back at the disappearing land mass with sadness.

“Oy Jonathiel, where’s Clara?” The man turned towards the older gentleman who looked like an old salty man of the seas should look and shook his head as response to his question. The older man sighed and clapped the man comfortingly on he shoulder.

“ah, she was a good lass. We will miss her. But I promise ye, it was not in vain.” He looked at the young man with his one good eye. “that is if you managed to bring it.”

Jonathiel produced the old and worn parchment and handed over. “Yes Alessandrus, here is your damn note. It is more cryptic than anything. I would say hardly worth the life, let alone the years it took poor Clara living undercover in that damn Tahjai convent.” He pushed the parchment into the old man’s hands and stormed off.

The old man followed the young man until he disappeared down below and shook his head. “I wish this was not our lot in life but we cannot choose what destiny we prefer. We just have to follow the path laid out before us.” He looked down at the parchment. “You tried didn’t you my dear Estell but you could not.”

Relics of the First Age

Gentlemen/ladies, I must feel that I have to respectfully bow out. Based on your posting action lately, you are more active than I am able to reciprocate. I would no do you the disservice of slowing you down due to my posting speed. I tend to want to ensure that I devote the necessary time to RPs and In order to be able to do this RP justice I would have to be more active than I am currently able.

If @Sep you feel that I can still bring something to the table and are willing to forgive my slow posting, then please keep me penciled in but if not, no hard feelings and I completely understand.

Jewel of the Skies

The Master Mage was thankful that he had endured the boring presentation and demonstrations regarding etiquette and formal dining. He had to help the poor Eilis with proper utilization of the silverware and how to eat the various courses that were presented. As expected, the food was quite delectable and of high quality. The hosts made small talk and the lady of the house fussed over everybody.

Yet, despite their place at the table, the mage still felt like an outcast amongst them. The family discussed and talked of things that the pair of outsiders could only experience from an external point of view.

Soon, the meal was over and had been ushered into a parlor to have after dinner wine or cigars. Eilis had wanted to retire and Arn had immediately offered to escort her. Not only was she his protegee and his honor would not allow him to leave her alone in a new environment, but the mage also wanted to have what little time he could with her.

They had traversed the house following the servant who had been sent to show them their accommodations. Arn had sighed in relief when the servant left them. This much etiquette and pageantry was more than he was used to. He smiled at her as she stood in the doorway of her room.

He gently lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them softly. “Well my Lady Eilis. I bid you good night. I hope that that magnificent looking bed allows you to rest better than the hospital ship gurneys.” He smiled teasing her. He looked into her eyes, his own dark ones seemed to reflect her image like a mirror. They were true in the fact that all they could retain was her.

The master mage had waited a few seconds after she closed the door being unable to move. Indeed, he could only go as far as the edge of the hall where a lounge chair sat no doubt a place that ladies shared secrets in confidence.

His mind was able to think logically about the day and their current circumstance. It all seemed to be so detached from reality. As Uilles had pointed out, a war was coming. The capital would soon become engulfed in fire and death. Yet, all he could think about was his lovely charge. He even wondered if distancing himself was better. She occupied so much of his thinking that his usually analytical mind had taken a back seat to his active appreciation of her.

Even as he thought about it, the idea did not appeal to him. Since his encounter with Eilis he had opened a new dimension to his magic. He had felt it more than seen it. When he was with her, he felt energized beyond the obvious experience of being dazzled by her. It was something deeper. Something that seemed to allow him to feel her presence even when she was not with him.

The master mage began to stand up. It would not do to have the Venray family believe that the “fiancés” were spending so much time alone. Arn shuddered at the images that might be going through the appalled mind of the lady of the house and the scolding he would get for being inappropriate.

A sudden surge went through his body and he was moving before the first crash of glass was heard. He felt more than heard it actually almost as if he has been in the room when it happened. No doubt a side effect of his mind meld and connection to his lady. The image had felt like an echo in his mind as if the distance between them had acted like a pond and her emotions were the ever expanding ripple.

His body tried to complain, the wounds still fresh but the man ignored them. Only one thought governed his current thinking and that was Eilis. He covered the distance quickly and was soon standing in front of the bedroom door. His eyes glowed and the air around him distorted as he tapped into the Aether.

Despite his urgency and the hair raising situation, Arn could not help but notice how much more in contact with the Aether threads he was. The flow of magic was easier. The magic itself was pure. Almost as if he had been drinking from a fountain all his life and how he was able to drink form a virgin spring.

One string in particular seemed to have strengthened. This connection with Eilis was even more highlighted when Arn was tapped into the Aether. The light was as pure as lightning. He could even see an outline of the girl through the wall. On the opposite side of the coin, he could see a shadow over her. The light clashed against this shadow like waves upon a rocky cliff.

The mage needed to act fast. Anybody with decent magical aptitude inside the room would feel the pull of magic as he gathered it in his hands and with an exhale, propelled a powerful blast of air forward. The thick wooden door exploded forward and would throw shrapnel at anything not lower than knee height. The sound would be loud enough to alert anybody within a few hundred yards.

Arn followed quickly, flames beginning to engulf his hands. His eyes traced flames too like eager tongues licking the air. The mage was truly a sight to behold as the magic distortion around him became enhanced by his fiery red aura.

His voice was deep and booming. “GET OFF OF HER!” The command was highlighted by a flare up of his fire covered hands. The heat was that of an oven as the broken window pulled the heat towards the attacker and out to the street.

Jewel of the Skies

lol, dang you making Arn fail on his promise already lol. Also, I dont think that you are holding up the storyline but I can work something up on the Viamese front. How much freedom are you giving me? I dont want to disrupt or contradict anything you have planned. I was thinking like a bigger picture kind of situation that incorporates and includes the Eilis story arc and the war.

Rise of the Shield Hero - From Another World

The young shield hero could do little else than nod at being reminded that even though they faced political and social pressures and dangers, the main reason for their existence and summoning to this world still lay in the near future.

The small band had fought low level monsters and bandits but the wearer of the shield knew that facing off against waves classified as calamities would be a completely different situation. Cole was right in that in the short time they were afforded they needed to get more training. Fer hoped that their feathered companion had managed to dig up some helpful information.

He followed his sword bearing companion as they made their way back through the city. Some people called out to them, some avoided them. Mainly, the city went about their business either blissfully ignorant or naively confident that the heroes would protect them.

Fer pursed his lips at this second theory. How could the four of them defend a whole world? Hell, it was not even four of them. It was more like four groups of distant and not organized heroes. If the other were having as hard a time grasping the basics of their weapons as Fer then the faith that people placed on their skills was not going to produce the return people expected.

His mood darkened. Thankfully, the view of the cathedral came into view. Fer marveled at the sheer size and elaborate decorations. He had only heard of the cathedrals in Europe and the modest church in his hometown back on earth was a drop in a lake compared to the one before him. The young hero could not help but whistle his admiration.

Fer’s smile only grew wider as he saw the approach of their winged companion. He raised his hand in welcome as Cole quickly went to the point. “Boss says that its time to make the bad lady pay. No rest for the weary I guess.”

He chuckled and pushed Cole slightly with his elbow in a playful manner. “Lets stock up with what ever you need to keep us alive Auriel. I can carry whatever you come up with. I sure hope that you found some good information. My brother would have loved to help you in there I am sure.” He was surprised at the wave of sadness and melancholy that suddenly assailed him.

Jewel of the Skies

Arn moved briskly the small distance between him and Eilis. He placed soft but firm hand on her shoulder drawing her close with her back against his front. The mage squeezed her small shoulders in his hands reassuringly. He kept his eyes on the ex Knight as the man proceeded to cut him down with words.

Sharper and cutting deeper than any sword ever had, Uilles hit the mark beautifully. The man was right of course. Arn himself had often pondered the very same at times when he and Evander had come to a disagreement about troop deployment or training. The damnable lesser noble wanted nothing more than recognition and glory. He cared not that his rise to fame would be cemented upon the corpses of young mages.

The master mage grimaced evidently as he could find no fault in what the man said. Even now, Tobi and the other Shootings Stars could be on their way to assist the Heartguard. Having more than ten years of battlefield experience, the battle mage could have prepared and controlled the other Shooting Stars into as little expenditure of life as possible.

He moved protectively in front of Eilis as the man’s eyes rested on her. Say what he might about him but noble or not, Arn would not suffer any ill word to be said about his protegee. Thankfully or unfortunately, the new target was the man’s own nephew.

The battlemage wondered if the man’s skill with a sword was half of that as with his tonge, then he would have been a literaly god of death upon the battle field. He shuddered at the idea and a new perception lens shone on Tyrhallan. Shouldering the blanket of being the successor of such a man as Uilles was herculean.

Having some part in the blame of the lives lost in the skirmish, Arn lowered his head a bit in shame. If he had been in command of the Shooting Stars then the engagement would have been more successful. As it was, it had been foolish to go alone. He himself had almost died.

He looked at Eilis and he could not help but smile. At least some good had come of it.

"Arn, Tyr even you young Miss. Living your life filled with fear and regret will ultimately tarnish your very soul. Try to live and embrace the light as well as the dark, if you fight it, it will in turn only be your own undoing

The words resonated with him. Too long had he battled in the dark until the girl he was holding showed up. Too long had he tried to use his flames as a way to purify the evil in this world. He had embraced the Shooting Stars Motto of “Shine brightly for other to follow!”. Had the eldest Venray known that motto?

Seeing how informed he was regarding current military affairs, it would not be a stretch to assume that the man was well versed in all things martial. Wounded and cripple he might be but any less deadly he was not. The speech had made Arn that much more aware that he still needed more power to protect his charge.

"Well, with those wise words. Tyr escort your mother and lead our guests to the dining room. I shall aid your Uncle."

The stiffness of the atmosphere was broken by the announcement of dinner. No doubt, the staff was well trained in such matters. After all, generations of servants had been under the service of generations of Venrays.

Arn extended his left arm to his lady and placed his right hand protectively upon the back of her hand. He smiled down at her as she whispered her support and whispered back. “My dearest Eilis, it is customary for a knight to come to the maiden’s rescue not vice versa. However, thankfully for you, I am no knight. Like we agreed before, I need you as you need me.” He winked at her with a slight smile.

As they followed the Venray family to their respective seating arrangements, Arn considered the prophetic qualities of the speech Uilles had given. Not only the current war but the very possible visit of the people hunting Eilis was in the horizon. This was their calm before the storm. This was their time in the sun before the long knight.

The mage looked at the his lady and vowed to himself and to her silently that he would be dammed before he let her light be swallowed up by the darkness. He would burn brighter than the suns in the sky and incinerate all before him.

The Ex Knight had fanned a flame in him that had started to build since his meeting with Eilis. Warriors needed men like Uilles to push them to their limits. The Master Mage would seek the eyes of the older man. He looked at the Ex Knight Captain with eyes full of respect and deference. He would bow his head thanks towards the elder Venray as he took his seat.

Jewel of the Skies

Arn found Eilis behavior strange. He caught her looking at him and then shyly away. Made him wonder if he looked strange in Tyrhallan’s clothes. After all, she could not really see….or could she? It had been enough time now and Dark Sight should be abating. Especially because the mage knew that the magical lady had skills that aided in quick recovery.

However, he was not to have the chance to ask her. He was immediately address by the regal hostess. The mage waited until the married couple finished their marital repartee before he bowed again

“Very well as you wish Lady Leandra” he said testing out the name. It still felt weird to him who had been educated at the Academy in the ways of court. The Academy was usually reserved for higher ranking mages that were either already nobles or who would perhaps one day work with nobles due to their prospective skills.

The Master Mage had also been required to some classes for about six months in order to be granted the title of master. It had been at this time that discussion for him taking over the Shootings Stars from the captain at the time. All their plans had derailed when the mage politely refused. Having no where to send him, they decided the best thing to do was allow him to continue his job as a deadly front line battle mage.

As if reading his thoughts, the ex Knight addressed him.
“Master Arn, may I ask you a rather impertinent question?”
“Why did you dismiss the offer of being the leader of the Shooting Stars? After all someone with your talent and skill would be put to better use in aiding and guiding those who are not quite so adept at Magic.”

The room turned silent. It would not be an exaggeration to say that some, especially the staff held their breathds. The question had been said politely. However, trained warriors such as Arn and Tyrhallan knew that it was the equivalent of a jab or feint. This was a battle of wills and thankfully, Arn had participated in his fair share.

The battle mage regarded Uilles and bowed his deference. “You are my retainers, Lord Venray. It is your right to ask anything you wish of me. It is my duty to obey.” He straightened up and maintained his voice respectful and clear.

“The answer is simple. I am coward.” He waited but figured that he should elaborate in anticipation of the next question. “I label myself thus because I did not want the burden of sending people to their death. Though I completely understand that this is a cross that must be carried by all leaders, I felt that my skills were of much better use in the front lines.”

He hesitated then seemed to resolve himself. “Also, my lord, I am not very good with people. Teachers hold a unique place in the world. There is an embedded skill that allows them to connect with people. To pass on knowledge that would be hindered by perception and attitude. I have no such skill.” He admitted almost a bit ashamed and sad.

“If I had, many of my fellow squad members would not have perished. In a selfish way I hoped that my skill in battle would be enough to shield them from death. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.” Unknown to many except for Tobi, Arn’s armor housed the dog tags of those who had fallen. They were interwoven with the plates of his armor. It was a way for the senior mage to honor the fallen and as fuel for his powerful displays of magic.

He grew silent then. Hoping that he had not spoke out of turn or that the noble family would not look with disfavor upon him. Tyrhallan had done them both a great service which hopefully had not been undone by his candid confession.

He turned to Eilis who as the actual person whose opinion he valued the most after his dissertation. The master mage hoped that she would still consider him a worthy protector. However, even if he was dismissed, the man would wait in the shadows and protect her in secret. Though he had not doubt that the Knight Captain was more than capable of performing the task.

Jewel of the Skies

the plot thickens. so question, will you post something else or am I to post using my viamese character?