The Age of Summoners: Chapter 1 - Total War

[Kildare]

OOC: Alright, people. The RP officially begins here. For references to character bios, please click this link: http://www.nuklearforums.com/showthread.php?t=9154

BiC:

Total silence.




That was the atmosphere that pervaded not only the ornate chamber where Tarathiel stood, but the entire castle - and perhaps the whole kingdom of Kandaran as well. Tarathiel had looked at the glowing orb for hours - or was it days? - now, but all that had happened was nothing but silence. The orb, a solid, marble ball the size of a man's heart, had begun to glow only a few days before, at the same time when the first of the dreadful news arrived at the Hall of the Golden Sun. Kilatharn Illaheem, Tarathiel's father, had thought this to be an omen, one that predicted death and destruction in the mortal lands. However, Tarathiel had believed otherwise. So there, he had sat watching the magical orb, believing that the orb would grant them powers to defeat what that is to come. But nothing had happened. Nothing but silence.

"Master Tarathiel," A voice Tarathiel recognised that of belonging to one of the castle's pages said. "I apologise for interrupting your studies, but they have arrived. Your father requests that you meet with him before you head out." The page bowed respectfully and left.

It took Tarathiel only a few moments to locate the Hall of the Golden Sun, Castle Endorville's throne room. Lord Kilatharn Illaheem, dressed in polished silver armor, stood at the center of the large chamber confering with Endorville's generals.

"My son," Kilatharn said upon Tarathiel's arrival. "The hour draws near. The enemy is now arriving upon our doorstep. We shall soon taste battle.........and our deaths, i fear. For what hope have we against the army that has arrayed against us?"

"But not all hope is lost," Tarathiel replied. "We have a mighty weapon at our disposal."

Lord Kilatharn's eyes widened in astonishment. "You seek to call upon.....HIM?" He asked.

"Yes, father," Tarathiel assured him. "But only at the right moment, when we have the element of surprise."

"But to do so would reveal your nature - your powers." Tarathiel's father pointed out.

"What choice do we have?" Tarathiel responded. "Besides, I do not think it to be coincidence that i discovered him that time many years ago. I believe it to be my destiny. And the time of that destiny has come."

"Then go, my son," Kilatharn bade him. "Know that your father, and all of Endorville, supports you here. Go, and show these invaders what you're made off."

"As you wish, father," Tarathiel saluted in response. "I shall gather the mages and move into our positions - as planned."

"For Gallean, and for Kandaran, my son." Kilatharn said. "I shall join you in battle soon."

Suddenly, a great horn blew and shattered the air, which was followed by several others throughout the castle. And everyone knew that what they had dreaded for days, had begun.

And then a voice that Tarathiel knew so well, and for the first time in many months, echoed in his mind.

They're here.

OOC: Arhra, it's your call.

[Dante]

The setting sun was a giant red fireball that stained the sky a deep orange and the canopy of the forest a brilliant gold. And out of this fireball walked the silhouette of a man. His long shadow preceded him, and in his wake, wisps of dust curled up from his feet, to be scattered by the wind blowing from his back. Two blades were strapped to his back, one red, one blue, with serrated white teeth. Their pommels were carved into the shape of crude heads, set on hilts of dulled gold.

And if one listened closely to the sounds coming from him, one could hear the sound of two voices engaged in conversation...

"It has been a long time since we have fought."

"Yes, indeed, too long. We must test our skills, lest we grow weak!"

"Do you remember the time we battled that man with the big sword, who wore a long red coat, with nothing but a pair of pants on underneath?"

"Yes, indeed I do, brother. What was his name? It started with D..."

"He was a worthy opponent."

"Indeed he was! He almost came close to defeating our combined form...

"The only one who has ever done that is Master Be-"

And at this point in time, the figure halted abruptly. He drew the two swords from his back and with all the tact and care of a stampeding elephant, he banged the pommels together."

"For the love of God, do the two of you EVER shut up?"

But we must communicate, Master Beowulf! We are brothers! Which brothers in the world do not speak to each other?

"Well, I can think of a pair - you two! Starting from now!"

"But Master..."

"Please, Master!"

"We beg you to reconsider!"

"Our witty banter will surely provide you with relief from the crushing loneliness-"

"Dammit! Shut the hell up, both of you!"

As though on cue, shadows flitted through the trees, and a grinning man revealed his face. He shouldn't have, because he was ugly like the buttertrolls you are inflicted with from a bar while trying to pick up chicks under the influence.

"How are you, good sir! My men and I couldn't help but notice your monologue as you passed through these woods, which incidentally, belong to us."

A saccharine smile. Beowulf wanted to knock it out with a brick and make him eat it, tooth by yellowing tooth. Behind him, armed men stepped out of the woods. They looked tough and mean and every bit as ugly as their boss.

"So, if you would be so kind as to make a payment of, oh... all your valuables to us, and coincidentally, leave us these swords which you don't seem to know how to use-"

"Hey, assface."

The bandit leader stared for a moment, until he realized Beowulf was talking to him. In the most comical way, he pointed to himself.

"Who, me?"

"No, the hot chick over there, of course it's you! Have you looked in a mirror lately? Do you honestly believe anyone looking like a failed abortion is in any position to make demands, let alone expect them to be met?"

The leader's face flushed. Behind him, some of his men drew their weapons.

"There's over fifty of us! And only one of you! No matter how good you are at using those swords, there's no way you can beat all of us if we attack at once!"

Beowulf shrugged, but as he did so the grip on his weapons changed somewhat.

"You're right. I can't. And I'm bad with wielding swords, anyway..."

"See-"

"...Which is why I let them wield themselves."

Beowulf's arms flickered, and two streaks of steel shot into the sky. Beowulf immediately closed his hands into the Sign of Awakening.

"Father of Storms, Lord of Fire... from the Pits of Pain I summon thee!"

There was a brilliant flash of orange and blue light, and two shadows suddenly darkened the ground around Beowulf. A pair of giant, headless bodies dressed in armored pants and an armlet, each holding one of the swords, slammed to the ground, flanking him.

"My name is Agni!"

"And my name is Rudra!"

"Together we are - The Firestorm -"

"For pity's sake, what are you going to do, talk them to death? Just FIGHT already! "

"Certainly!"

As one, the twin swordsmen leaped forward into the throng of bandits, Agni's blade burning with roaring flames, Rudra's sheathed in howling winds. The fight was short and brutal, and really needs no description, unless you like hearing about one-sided massacres.

When the dust cleared, only the leader was left, with a considerably damper pair of pants. Agni and Rudra loomed over him, weapons by their sides, not in any obvious attack stance, but carried in just the right way to imply that he could share his men's fate if he so wished to resist like they did.

He screamed and ran off, tripping over himself a few times, as Agni and Rudra raised their weapons in triumph.

"A glorious victory, brother!"

"Yes indeed, glorious!"

"Two men standing against fifty - the bards will sing of our deeds forever!"

"Who else has equalled our feats?"

"No one!"

Without further ado, Beowulf walked up to the demon swordsmen, roughly plucked their swords from their hands and banged their hilts together again. The demon bodies vanished, leaving a pair of swords behind.

"No. Talking. You've had your fun, now give me some peace and quiet until we reach a town, can you?"

The swords remained silent.

"Good."

Beowulf slung them on his back, and paused to reflect. He'd taken a pompous bandit, thoroughly disgraced him without even lifting a finger, and for once, those two morons were silent.

He smiled, then walked on through the forest.

Life was good.

[Toastburner B]

Darik Thane shivered.

"Is there any place in this infernal region that isn't cold?" He muttered to himself.

Of course, he was alone in his opinion. Everyone else in this area was complaining about how hot it was this year. More than once, the sight of him wearing his long jacket had earned him a questioning look.

"They call this hot? They wouldn't survive a winter back home!" he muttered to himself, pulling the sleeves of his jacket down.

That was when he heard the first growl.

His handle immedately went to the hilt of his sword. He cursed himself for being so cocksure.

They told at the last village that they had monster problems in this area. You couldn't wait until that carvan left, could you? No...you had to be all high and might and go off by yourself.

He smiled at that last thought. Not that I am by myself.

Out of the woods, a pack of beasts came. They may have been wolves once, but now they where mockeries of nature. Darik drew his sword, and muttering a few words under his breath, it became wreathed in fire. The first beast didn't even slow until the burning blade cut clean through it. The other four monsters approached more cautiously after the death of their packmate.

Only four of them. Shouldn't be too big of problem....ah crap!

Out of the forest ran a beast, at least three times the size of the other wolf-monsters. The other ones backed off, and walked to rear of the bigger monster, never making eye contact with it.

Darik frowned. A warg. I wonder how it got in with those mutated wolves...

He's wondering broke off as the warg charged him. Darik side-stepped at the last moment, and broke his sword along the flank of the beast. The blade cut and burned at the same time. The warg howled, and it's rear leg kicked Darik as it ran past. Darik went down in heap.

Ow! The thing kicks like a horse, too.

Darik stood. His situation was not good. The warg in front of him, and the three smaller wolf-beasts where spreading out to surround him.

Darik took a death breath. He had hoped he wouldn't have to call his little brother into a fight so small, but now he had no choice.

"Time for you to play, Little Brother." he said.

The ground next to him cracked open, and a large, stone claw gripped the lip of the hole. The Laccolith pulled itself from the hole. It turned and faced the warg, and roared.

Laccolith charged the warg. When it was far enough away from Darik, it began to vent ash and volcanic gases, forming a fiery barrier around itself. Though only a whelp, it was still about 8 feet tall, towering over Darik, and even the warg.

The other three wolf-beasts attacked Darik. Grabbing the figurine around his neck, Darik quickly summoned a fireball, and incenerated the first beast. He brought his sword around, and caught the second beast in the head as it jumped at him, cutting deep into it's flank.

The warg charged back at the Laccolith. It jumped, and yelped as it's teeth and claws were met with fire and stone. It's left fang broken, it's mouth horribly burned, the warg retreated, and charged again, trying to tackle the Laccolith. The whelp held it's ground as the horse-sized canine hit it, then the Laccolith grabbed the warg by the neck. The warg fought to free itself, but the whelp was stronger. With a loud snap, the warg fell lifeless to the ground, it's neck broken.

The surviving wolf-beast, it's pack dead, fled.

Darik gave a sigh of relief, and removed the magic fire from the sword before putting it back in it's scabbard. He turned, and saw the whelp looking at him curiously.

"Yeah, I know. I should of been able to take those by myself. But I got careless and let them surround me. Beside, Little Brother, you needed the exercise. You haven't got to come out recently."

The Laccolith gave Darik it's approximation of a smile...such as it was. The face of the Laccolith was made of rock, and thus couldn't move very much. Darik walked over to it, and put his hand on it's arm. Anyone else would of been burned, but Laccolith had already tested Darik, as the scars on his hands signified, so it didn't test him again.

"You did good, Little Brother, and thank you. Go back and get some rest. I get the feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the times to come."

With a nodded and a grunt, the Laccolith whelp climbed back down into the fissure it caused when it first appeared, and the fissure closed behind it.

Darik sighed again, and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Have to get into a battle to break a sweat in this accursed cold!" He muttered to himself.

He began walked down the road once more.

[Raiden]

The Ruins of Talancartha. Once a sprawling metropolis of religious sects and the gleaming eye of Terra.

Oh, but that was a long time ago. Now the white stone pillars and towers were yellowed and bent under the heavy weight of time. Only the scarce rat lived in his place, now that it had been twisted by the Tainted Ones. Even the sky itself couldn't allow it's pure light to shine down upon his dark place. It was covered in a constant shield of clouds, and it's rain had an unpure feeling to it. None dared enter this forbidden area, save one.

Gabriel. The Purifier.

He walked through the rubble and stray stones, clutching his glowing cloak tightly around his body. He walked lightly, even though he wore heavy armor under his cloak. His shield was strapped to his back, and his black sword clanged loudly against his greaves. His shaggy blonde hair blew around in the wind, and his piercing blue eyes took in the evironment. He contrasted greatly to the surrounding area. Other than his black sword, everything he wore was made of white steel and gold. Even his cloak was pure white, with glowing stones woven into the fibers. As he looked about the area, he gave out a sigh.

"This was such a place of beauty. It's pictures and tapestries were my favorite viewing materials back in the church Annex's. Now it's nothing more than a playground for the Tainted Ones. Why must they twist and destroy everything they touch?"

Inside his mind, his familiar friend and partner responded.

"The Tainted Ones are nothing more than parasites. Thieves of vitality and robbers of both will and spirit. They live for no other purpose. If left to their own devices, they would destroy all that is good. Thankfully, we don't let them. Let us hurry with our business and leave. There seems to be a rain coming. I detest getting my cloak wet."

Gabriel looked up. Sure enough, the already present cloud cover had gotten darker, and seemed heavy with waiting rain. He gathered his cloak tighter about him, and pressed on.

Within a few minutes, Gabriel had arrived at his destination. It was a rundown temple in the very middle of Talancartha. While once a great palace, it was now a disheveled heap. The only recognizable detail about it was its grand entrance, which for some strange reason was in incredible shape. Almost like it was kept nice for a reason. Gabriel chuckled a bit under his breath.

"At least THIS tainted one likes to keep his doors clean."

"If not his heart, at least his surroundings."

Gabriel entered through the entrance, and was consumed by the shadows within. Preparing for any fight, Gabriel pulled off his shield and unsheathed his sword. He was set for an attack. However, it was very dark inside. Crossing his sword and shield together, Gabriel muttered a few words. His shield began to glow brightly, and it illuminated the hall. He looked around, and saw nothing.

"Well, this was a bust. Might as well take a look ar-" Before he could finish, a figure formed itself out of the shadows. It was tall and lanky, completely covered by dark robes, and held a gnarled staff in it's pale hand. When it talked, it had a hissing tone.

"Welcome to my home, Gabriel. I knew you would be coming. So, I made some arrangements." The creature raised it's hand, and a group of demons came out from behind him. With growls and howls, they attacked.

The first one slashed at Gabriel with it's claws. He sliced down with his dark sword and left the demon in two pieces. Two demons tried to perform a pincer move on him by attacking from his sides. He pushed to the left with his shield, knocking the demon off balance. As the one on the right attacked, Gabriel's hand began to glow brightly. When the demon was close enough, Gabriel spun so that it missed his head, and he planted his palm directly on the creature's back.

"Holy Sigul!" When he removed his hand, the creature had a glowing mark on his back. He almost instantly fell to the ground as a pile of ashes. Gabriel then pierced his sword forward, and stabbed the first demon right in the heart. It fell dead.

He took a quick look around. He was beginning to be surrounded. He sheathed his sword and laid his shield on the ground. He held his hands out and made a few hand symbols. A large orb began to form in front of him.

"Holy Beam!" A large beam of energy shot from Gabriel's hands and pierced through any demons that were in his way. Soon, the room was empty, save Gabriel and the original Tainted One. The Tainted One was hunched over a little now, coughing up blood. He obviously wasn't expecting this to happen, and Tainted Ones couldn't physically handle stress very well. As it was, the creature stood back up and smiled a bit. The creature hissed out a last warning.

"Your petty parlor tricks can't kill me. I'm too strong for that. You aren't the only paladin to have come for me. You shall meet your fate like the rest."

Gabriel smirked a bit.

"Have you read the Ancient chronicles? I doubt you have, so let me tell you a small tidbit. The Almighty One on high rules over all. He sees all, and knows all. However, he cannot DO all. Which is why he made the angels. He made angels to communicate messages to the mortals below. He made angels to document all of history. And, most important to this conversation, he made angels to purify. He called those ArchAngels. And now, prepare to be purified! ArchAngel, come forth!"

Gabriel grabbed his cloak from his back, and it swirled around his body. He then tossed it into the air. And as the cloak floated in the damp air, it began to change forms. It slowly changed from a piece of fabric, into a large figure with four wings, a golden mask, a shield and a very big sword. The eyes that could be seen through the mask focused on the Tainted One.

"Your time is at an end. I come in the name of the Almighty One on high. In his name, you shall be purified!"

ArchAngel's sword began to glow brightly, as the Tainted One crouched down to the ground.

"Mercy! Mercy! Please have mercy!"

Without a moment's hesitation, ArchAngel flew down toward the Tainted One, and with five quick slices, the Tainted One had a large star chopped into it's body. It's screams echoed through the halls, and at last died out. ArchAngel landed on the ground, and changed back into a cloak. The cloak then flew over to Gabriel, and attached itself to his back.

"Easy enough."

As Gabriel walked out of the temple, the clouds above began to clear and part, allowing the sun to touch this forsaken land for the first time in generations. Gabriel gave a small smile.

"At least there's no rain."

[Bosolai]

Now, Novaras didn't really like the method of which he was sent to Terra. He had to more or less experience death to travel through the magic circle. It was a horrific experience, not as bad as the old magic squares his elders used to use, but still quite terrible. First, he saw the world disappear around him as he was blanketed by darkness. It was a mind-numbing pain that eventually spiraled into nothingness. It took less time than an eye takes to blink, but it seemed to last forever. After that, the transition was smoothe. First, he had to hold his breath. Like jumping in a giant pit, it was only to prevent nausea. Then, it felt like going down a water slide. Or more like down a water pipe. Only it wasn't water, it was life and beauty and love and dreams and heaven and everything one could ever want in what was probably liquid form. Novaras was suspended in, whatever it was, but he could feel the twists and turns of his path as he went through the stream.

Then he could feel the grip of Terra. He was no floating through the gap between worlds, he was falling through a mana stream. He saw a light, and then it enveloped him. He felt like he was reborn, brand new. Considering the circumstances, he was right on the dot. But the way he felt, it was obvious that Phoenix guided him down a path Phoenix had gone all too many times. Then, everything came into focus. He was in a garden. Judging by the fertile soil, the grandeur of the plants, and the complexity of the stonework, it was a palace garden. It was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that it was probably putting its own fair share of its strain on the Well of Creation. This beautiful garden was part of a time bomb, to be the downfall of all life. This was Terra.

He walked out of the garden and before he saw anything, he could smell the fires of war. Then he saw the havoc that was of the castle. "Well, now I'm here. I've gotta get to work." He muttered to himself. Novaras turned around, and flames launched from his palm into the garden from whence he entered. A man that looked different than most of the guards who was running by stopped to see Novaras finish destroying the garden. Novaras looked over at the man, and for a second their eyes locked, the man in wonder while Novaras's eyes glowed of fire. Then, Novaras realized someone among the chaos noticed him. When he realized this, he blinked around a corner and put his hood on, rushing, hoping he would get out of the castle unnoticed.

[Lumaes]

Silent as a shade TwoMoon slips across the temple courtyard. Leaping high he lands atop the small brick wall which seperated the grounds from the church. Sinking low to the earth he slid, eerily quite to the wall of the preists quarters. If his information was correct these preists had once raised a summoner, and in TwoMoon's eyes any Terran was an enemy and any Terran summoner was his worst enemy. Dashing quickly up the crumbling wall, TwoMoon found himself at the uppermost floor, the High-Priest's chambers, there was only a lone guard, tired from too many nights of boring duty. All he saw was a pale mask looming out of the darkness before he fell, TwoMoon crouching low and easing the body to the floor, nothing must alert the preists.
Slipping inside he saw the High-Priest kneeling before a small alter, praying in a low voice. As he bowed ending his prayer, a knife tore through the air embedding itself near his head, letting out a frightened gasp he turns to see a frightening masked creature hunkered low in the doorway.
A cold voice spoke from beneath the pale mask "Call out and you will die before any help could come, and I can assure you I will not make it a painless death."
The priest shuddered with fear, he was uncommon with threats, least of all one that bore the cold edge of fact. The masked effigy moved closer a silvery dagger dangling menacingly in one hand.
"I beleive you raised a Summoner? yes? I want to know where he is...Now."
The priest backed up against the shrine in fear his hands desperatly searching for a weapon or something to strike out with, his hand settled on the thrown dagger.
"If you do not tell me it will be your blood which will call him to me..."
The menace of this statement shocks the priest into action, he pulls the dagger from the shrine and lashes out visciously but he is no match for a skilled assasin and TwoMoon ducks under the blow bringing his fist up under the monk's wrinkled chin. A swift sweeping kick knocks the preists legs out from under him and he is left sprawled unconscious on the floor.
Walking to the small writing desk TwoMoon takes a peice of parchment and a quill writing swiftly he leaves the note on the altar before leaping silently out the open window and into the cool night air.

I give you but three days to find your charge
On the first day I will watch under the veil of night
On the second I shall await in the shadows
On the third I come for your lives
Make your Peace
OOC: By the way this is the priest that raised Gabriel.

[Arhra]

"So they know we are coming." are Kithar's words to his half-sister, Mikay. "It was to be expected." is her reply. They walk at the head of a small force of creatures and elementals summoned and bound by them for the coming battle. They make an unusual pair - both of them are tall with Mikay being the taller of the two but Kithar is broader of shoulder. Aside from a subtle resemblance in their faces, there is little to suggest that they are related to one another. Where Kithar has black hair with a bluish sheen and yellow eyes, Mikay's hair is a rich reddish-brown that shades to a golden bronze at the tips while her eyes are a luminuous green with a distinctly serpentine appearance to them. Similarly, their attire is quite different. Mikay wears a earth-hued hooded cloak with a green blouse and brown skirt beneath and carries a black quarterstaff, each end tipped with a spearhead. Kithar, in marked contrast, is wearing a cloak of deep purple, with baroque, dark blue armour beneath. A fine sword is buckled at his waist and a recurve bow of similar craftsmanship is slung on his back.

The force they control also has a motley appearance. A score or so of them are lesser earth elementals - stocky creatures of surprising strength with rocky or earthy skin and glowing green eyes. They carry heavy diorite clubs and wear no armour aside from their tough hides. In amongst them slither serpents, their eyes showing them as being something more than simple beasts. Behind them are a dozen enormous serpents, each with a tall creature with steely scales and clad in partial armour riding them. The riders have fiery looking eyes and carry a variety of weapons and shields. Finally, at the very back are two hulking gorilla-like creatures save for their flat heads with wide jaws, almost like a frog or toad. Their skin is craggy and encrusted with lichen and they have manes of tangled foliage. A small force perhaps, but a strong one and the two who lead them are quite capable of calling up forces that could destroy small armies. The elves do not have a large standing force.

Kithar looks at the creature that had brought him the news of the elves' movement. It is a dragonet about the side of a cat. He strokes it before sending it back out to scout more. He'd sent out a few to act as advance scouts. Mikay and he had spent considerable effort assembling this force and didn't want to fall prey to an ambush. Mikay says to him, "Perhaps you should have summoned some larger dragonets to participate in battle."

Kithar replies, "No, they fight best in the air and a forest is hardly the best place for that." That reminds him of something and he turns back to the two larger creatures and tells them to begin clearing trees.

As the beasts start pulling down a huge tree by a combination of main force and churning the earth beneath the roots, Mikay says with a slight smile, "Are you reconsidering that now maybe?"

Kithar's reply is more serious, "Hmm, if I had thought of this earlier perhaps I would have. The destruction of the trees should anger the elves though and perhaps provoke them into doing something rash. They are close." It goes unsaid between them that this attack upon the elves should make the summoner come forth. Even if it fails, it is more than likely that an ancient forest such as this has summons of its own and should they find them, they would remove a potential enemy and gain an ally. They continue making their way into the forest.

[Bailey]

Making his way towards the rift to get to Terra, Andrew took a battery out of his pocket.
So, it seems like we're going to be saving our world now.
Aren't there already a large number of people doing that?
Yes, but the elder said that Gallean asked us to help, so we must go and help.
Well, that seems to be a good enough reason. Here's the rift
With that, Andrew went through

[MNMinion]

Wake up.

Josh was lying on road and opened his eyes only to find that one had dried blood on it and he wondered why. Oh yes, he had gotten in a fight with several creatures that had over powered him to the point to summon Anima and then had fallen unconsious from the power he had used.

He got up slowly and found several creatures bodies surrounding him, his dagger stuck in the back of ones neck where the spine meets the head. He pulled it out and wiped it on the creatures skin and then put it in its scabard. Where was he going?

The monestary.

Right, thank you, shall we go. He started walking down the road again, his body stiff and acheing. How long was I asleep for?

About twelve hours.

Why didnt you wake me up sooner, we have places to go. After he thought about it he realized he was mostly just travelling to kill the creatures he met. Well maybe we dont have so many places to go.

He continued down the road and found the monestary in a city that had several people that liked to star at him it seemed. His markings normally did attract people, and his red eye made them stare, he had been mistaken for a evil person several times.

He walked inside and continued down the rows of benches. It was quite pleasent here, in these holy places, he felt better knowing good things were still around to comfort those in pain. He neeled at the end of the rows and started praying, his hands holding the book that he had stolen. He hoped the book would help him one day, that he would be able to understand it.

[Kildare]

The ranks upon ranks of invading soldiers filled Tarathiel's eyes as he looked down from the top from the main turret tower. These were no mere peasants or bandits from the East as Tarathiel had thought them to be, but rather trained and battle-hardened warriors - which strangely, seemed quite similar to the people of the Kingdoms of the West. Aside from the soldiers, there were other creatures as well - flying dragonets, elementals and even creatures that looked like the reptillian Yuan-Ti. Perhaps the Yuan-Ti were responsible for the invasion? But what reason would they want to invade the lands of the west? They had everything they wanted in the humid jungles and swamps of the East. No, they are not responsible for this invasion.

Suddenly, Tarathiel heard heavy footsteps rushing up from the stairs, and a moment later, an armed messenger appeared.

"My Lord," The messenger began, still breathing heavily, trying to gather his breath. "Enemy forces have been sighted in the forests of Silverglen. Your father believes that they may be trying to carve a path through the forest and attack us from behind."

"Very well. Is that all?" Tarathiel asked. And when the messenger nodded in response, Tarathiel dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Tell my father that i shall deal with the enemy force. He should not worry. Now go." With that, the messenger saluted and left.

"Sir Karan." Tarathiel called to a soldier standing guard next to him. The soldier, an officer in the Illaheem Elite Guard, obediently stepped forward and saluted. "Yes, my lord?"

"Gather a force of the Elite Guard and a detachment of Dawnbringers to deal with this threat." Tarathiel said, referring to the famous forest guardians of Kandaran. "Once this threat has been dealt with, return here and report to me again. On second thought, bring along a small group of Pathfinders as well."

"But, my lord," Sir Karan protested. "Your father has ordered me to be your personal gua-."

"I will be fine, Sir Karan," Tarathiel interrupted him. "You will aid the Illaheem family much better if you were to go and eliminate this threat instead of remaining here to guard me against nothing. And besides, you'll only be an annoyance anyway."

"But-" Sir Karan began to object. But Tarathiel raised a hand to cut him off.

"That would be all, Sir Karan. Now go."" Tarathiel's commanding tone made the sturdy warrior straighten. Then Sir Karan saluted smartly and left.

"And now, to more pressing matters." Tarathiel said to himself. Looking around at Endorville's gathered mages, who were looking at him for guidance on what to do next, Tarathiel reached into his backpack and drew out a bronze figurine. The metal idol represented the picture of an unknown species that seemed to be a mix of a serpent and a great, winged bird. Tarathiel gently laid it in the center of the parapet, and the idol began to glow and tingle with energy.

"Mages of Endorville, are you ready?" Tarathield looked inquiringly at each of the mages. All of them nodded and were eager to drive the invaders off the elven lands.

"Then let's begin."

*NPC appearances, and Info on Elite Guard, Pathfinders and Dawnbringers*

Sir Karan
Equipment: Enhanced Light Mythril armorplate, longbow, longsword and Illaheem Guard Shield
Skills: Expert Swordsmanship, Expert Archery, and basic Air Magic
Description: Sir Karan is the captain of House Illaheem's Elite Guard. Once a veteren mageknight in the service of the Kandaran Royal Army. Sir Karan joined the Elite Guard after retirement and quickly rose to the rank of commanding officer. Sir Karan is also a long time friend of Tarathiel's father, Lord Kilatharn Illaheem.
Special Attacks: Lightning Bolt, Master Parry, Flurry Strike

Elder Matakan
Equipment: Forest Leaf Robe, Gnarled Limewood staff
Skills: Expert Healing, Expert Nature Magic
Description: A personal advisor of Lord Kilatharn and a teacher to Tarathiel, Matakan is a respected "high-ranking" elder of the Dawnbringers in the region of Endorville. Matakan is extremely devoted to the forest and would do anything to eliminate any threat to the preservation of the forest of Kandaran.
Special Attacks: Mass Entangle, Animal Summoning, Animal Charm, Ent Call, Curshing Bind

Elite Guard
Standard Equipment: Heavy mythril full armor, sword and a polearm(halberd, spear, etc)
Description: The elite warriors of House Illaheem. They are trained extensively in combat and warfare, and are mostly veterens from the Kandaran army. They do not have any magical powers

Pathfinder
Standard Equipment: Forest Greencloak, Elven Leather armor, Yew longbow, fire arrows and a short sword.
Skills: Expert Archery, Stealth.
Description: A special order of rangers that patrol the lands of Kandaran. Each noble house has a small force of this skilled archers. They specialize in tracking, hunting and ambush tactics.

Dawnbringers
Standard Equipment: Forest Greencloak, Gnarled wooden staff and a dagger.
Description: Guardians and protectors of the forest, the Dawnbringers are a powerful order of druids in Kandaran. They possess special abilities to commune with nature, thus granting them powers to combat any danger that threatens the forest and it's inhabitants.
Skills: Healing, Nature magic
Special Attacks: Entangle, Animal Summoning, Ent Call, Animal Charm