Fallen World RPG: The Dark Elves

Lea paced her treetop home in irratation, replaying the hunters meet in her mind. She did not agree with the Far-tura (hunt master) with her decision to involve outsiders in their business. Protection of Lotmar Island had been her people's duty for centuries, a duty handed to them by the Gods. Outsiders should not be involved. The Far-tura, however, had dismissed her concerns.

"I feel there is more to this than even we can see," she had told her. "First the Wild Cats have turned against us, then the Greenskins have invaded Paladir and there have been concerns that our cousins, the Moon Elves in Udan Forest are no longer responding to our hails. I cannot accept that these events are not linked."

"I still see no reason for us to use outsiders help," Lea had complained stubbornly.

"How are we to investigate these events if we are being prevented by old foes and new?" the Far-tura had asked. She had left Lea mulling over her words.

Unhappy though she was with the situation, Lea had come to a slight acceptance that the Far-tura's decision could proove to be right. But for what consequences? I will be a part of the envoy, she decided. I will see for myself these outsiders and judge what I must do to rid our land of our enemies... all of our enemies...

Redgar traveled under the cloak of darkness. He had been followed may times by creatures seeking the Elvin haven. And tonight was no different. He could feel their eyes on him. He was no hunter and lacked the stealth to lose his pursuers.

Redgar circled back for the tenth time hoping to catch sight of his shadow. He listened for movement and let his eyes follow his ears. Redgar held his breath… it was another one of those lifeless forms tortured into re-existence.

Redgar removed his battle axe from the sling on his back and stepped into the open. In the language of his ancestors he called forth the creature. “Who has bound you to this undead path?” The creature withered and pulsed in place and opened its distorted mouth. Only the putrid smell of death and decay excited the transparent form.

Redgar nodded and headed in a straight line to the tortured soul. The apparition released a hideous ear piercing screech and darted for Redgar.

The pain in his ears only lasted a second. He spoke the words of release and sent his enchanted battle axe thought the wretched form. The form shimmered for a second and disappeared in a hiss leaving a cold dead rush through Redgar.

He closed his eyes and knelt on the ground and listened to the remaining spirits in the area. All of them were returning to an emotionless state and the harmony of the area had returned.

Redgar stood and continued his trek back to his home. He had been gone almost two full cycles defending his brethren from the evils that were creeping in from all directions.

Redgar knocked on the tree the Far-Tura watched from. Her voice came from the leaves and he could feel the warmth in her greeting. She warned him she had grave news and informed him of the recent incident where Lilath had fallen. She could feel Redgar’s anger and warned him to calm his aura or he might attract more of the hell warped.

The death of his only niece had shaken him beyond peace. The Far-Tura again warned Redgar to find peace as the air around him shimmered and an image of a human stumbling into the southern terrace appeared. Redgar watched the as the images portrayed the events.

The Far-Tura spoke at length and reminded Redgar why he had spent the last two cycles beyond this forest. He was an oddity to his people. He consoled his aura with violence… in hand to hand combat he found the peace meditation lacked.

The Far-Tura sighed and instructed Redgar. “It is my will you accompany the party of outlanders and represent our people in this quest. Lea Greenleaf will also be joining their party. I’ll tell her to expect you. Now go and find what we can’t give you.”

Redgar knelt and kissed the tree. He would happily follow her will. Redgar turned and left the Elvin boarders. Tonight would not be a night of reunion… he could not bare to speak of Lilath to any of his friend or family.

When the sun rose Redgar was sitting just inside the forest looking out at a camp with a very annoying sign speaking of adventure and riches.

Torri whistled tunelessly as she wandered around the temporary camp that was springing up. Her bow was resting accross her shoulders, her arms slung over, wrists dangling aimlessly. It seemed a fairly good group of warriors, and a satisfactory male and female mix. Too often she'd gone on hunts or campaigns with too many lonely male soldiers and their crude advances. Their curses were undoubtably worse in the morning after they woke up with a stinging headache after eating her "special mushroom soup", only to find their purses dissapeared with the half elf.

Well if they didn't learn to be respectfull that way they never would.

She noticed that some of the pure elves who had joined the party were looking at her in disgust, probably because they sensed the "stain" of human blood in her. She sniffed at them as she past.

Sitting down by the fire she realised she was getting bored. From a hidden pouch on her tunic she pulled out a deck of cards.

"Any body here good at sevens?"

With any luck she'd be able to make some gold before they even set off.

Redgar joined the group of elves as they neared the camp. He knew them all and there were no greetings of joy. It was obvious the Far-Tura had informed them Redgar would be joining their party.

As they walked in silence Redgar watched the auras of the elves around him. They were all bright and vibrant and they made his look even odder in contrast. Not many elves could see the auras of others but most could tell when they were different. Redgar’s aura left a bitter taste to the tongue where most resembled the fresh smells of the forest.

It did not matter really he had long ago given up on trying to gain acceptance. When the party reached the camp Redgar stood with the other 4 elves until the escort left. When they were out of sight he stepped away from the elves and wandered around the camp giving each being a closer inspection.

Lea could not sleep.

The elven pavilion was comfortable, if simple, but a restive aura enveloped it. A few of the elves seemed relaxed, indulging in amusements of the mind and a few rune games to pass the time. Lea had chose not to play, thinking that it might be wise to catch up on sleep that would seem a luxury soon.

However the simple pleasure was evading her. She tried to think why, though quickly concluded that the answer was obvious. I am in a campsite with outsiders and find more outsiders within the hunters site also. She had never realised how predjudice she could be. It was an ugly flaw, she knew. No matter how hard it will be, she thought, I must accept that the Far-tura had her reasons for this and we must all work to the same common goal, otherwise I will become the weakness that this fight does not need.

With that, she turned over to slip into an uneasy sleep.

The fires were dying down and the other campaigners were settling in for the night. The night air had cooled considerably and the forest came alive with noises. Redgar sat facing the forest and tried to clear his mind. The death of Lilith had not been expected and he could not release his tension. Elves had few children and to lose one so young was a blow to the community.

Redgar gave up trying to relax. He got up and headed into the forest. The fringe held all sorts of opportunists he could vent his frustrations on. When he passed the scrub brush and fringe trees he sat at the base of a huge laurel. Judging by the width the tree had to be over 200 years old.

With his back to the tree he concentrated on the activity in the area. He was a horrid tracker and lacked the knowledge to identify prints and scat to find his prey. Instead he used some common sense and the gift he was granted at birth.

Redgar listened to the animal chatter until he came across a void in activity… then he concentrated on the auras of the beings in that area. Most animal were neutral and their auras ranged form brown to yellow. Beings that had malicious intentions usually ranged from red to black, Redgar’s own aura varied a brown red.

After a few seconds Redgar found two red auras… standing he gripped his battle axe and headed in a straight line to his targets. He made no attempt to hide his approach and when he was able to gleam a visual he found two Orcs holding a half eaten dear.

Redgar smiled. Eleven protocols dictated that any Orc found in the forest should be killed immediately. He shifted his head from side to side and waited for recognition to sink into the Orc’s thick skull.

One of the Orcs dropped his part of the dear and picked up his gnarled club. Redgar’s grin widened. Orcs were stupid and this one was about to charge to his own death. The Orc charged as if his actions were scripted Redgar stood without moving and waited.

When the Orc swung down on him Redgar sidestepped letting the gnarled club slam into the ground. Before the Orc could recoil and swing again his head rolled gracefully off.

The second Orc let out a Scream of rage and charged Redgar swinging his half of the dear at Redgar. He jumped backwards and lunged his battle axe right into the Orc’s face. The Orc clawed at the exposed bone as Redgar sent a second shot into the Orc’s chest ending his torment.

Redgar stood silently looking over the carnage. The forest animals slowly returned to the area. Redgar exhaled and moved on. The battle was not nearly enough to relax him… the kill was too easy and he barely had to exert himself.

After an hour he turned and headed back to the camp. Dawn was just around the corner.

It was early morning, and Miaxon had just woken up from a troubled sleep under a bush. She got up and stretched stiffly. She started to walk in the direction her dream told her to walk. The same dream which had told her to walk in the same direction for weeks on end.

After an hour of walking, she saw something up ahead. A pavilion. "What is a pavilion doing in the middle of a forest?" she asked herself. She watched the proceedings in the campsite. Elves, humans, dwarfs packing up. Yet the pavilion remained untouched. "Might as well go see whats going on. Something to do, I guess." she said to herself wearily. She got up from her hiding spot and started to walk towards the ever receeding camp.

When she got there she asked a passing elf with a slight Irish accent "Can you tell me where the leader of this...production is?" He pointed to a quite tall human in the middle of the campsite issueing instructions. She walked over to the man asked "Is it to late to offer my assitance?"

"For sure I would like to join ye, for I have naught else to do. My name is Miaxon. Miaxon Dark-Streak. Tis nice to meet ye, Apocalyon. I hope ye can use my services well." She shook his hand heartily and went off to help where she could, meeting the other folk. "Things maybe looking up for ye Miaxon." she told herself. "Don't stuff it up."

As she was helping out she had over heard the name Far-Tura. "So the Far-Tura still up and about I see." she thought to herself "How long has it been since I heard that name."

When she was a young fool, about the age of 16, she had grown bored of the life in the forest, and had decided to move off into the world, see things, do things. The Fur-Tura had forbidden her leaving, but then again, she wasn't one to follow rules.

2 years later she had come back, because of her troublesome dreams, telling her to come back. "and it seems they were true! Something IS going on!" she laughed and got back to work.

Redgar waited on a log while the party readied to leave. He had been campaigning for a decade now and everything he needed was already strapped to him. The less you had the less you had to leave behind in a hurry.

He watched from his log wondering how these adventurers would fair. Several looked like warriors… but he had known many a warrior who fell just as easy as merchants and travelers. Some were just luckier than others. He had always preferred the Dwarven attitude towards combat… Hit’em with your axe until they run away.

It was simple but he was still alive… he could name a score of friends who were far more talented that could not say the same.

Udan was overrun with greenskins, he would find out rather quickly which of these adventurers he would feel die in combat. That was the only time he found his ability to see auras unsettling.

As they were all getting their things to leave (for Miaxon her 2 katanas, health potion, her ruby necklace on the clothes on her back) she felt the eyes of other elves boring into her back.

She straigtened up and slowly turned around. A group of elves were looking at her venomously. There were a few in every crowd that HAD to hold a grudge. Few reconized her from 2 years ago, but she had to say she had changed alot. Her once long blonde hair had been cut to shoulder length, and a red streak dyed into her hair. She was of course was taller, and had a few more scars than she had started out with. Black clothes and cape had replaced her elven uniform, and 2 katanas replaced the daisy chain she had always worn.

One or two of the elves greeted her warmly. They had informed her that when she had left, they had looked for her for days and days, until they had concluded that she had been taken by orcs. Or so what the Far-Tura had said.

Can't be helped she thought to herself. If they want to act like I'm not alive, they can go for it.

With that she sat on the far end of the log another elf was sitting on, looking rather pensive. She drew out one of her katanas and started doodling in the dirt, waiting for the signal to move.

She saw people starting to move, so she got up and slowly moving to the West. She looked ahead. An open view. She sighed. This was going to be a long walk.

Miaxon found herself walking alone. She saw the elves who had given her dirty looks before walking slightly to her right. So help me if they say anything to jepodise my position here.she thought to herself as she kicked a stone along the path.

She was walking behind the main group of elves, which had seemed to stick together. She saw Apocalyon walking over to the main group and ask "Are any of you familiar with the moon elves of Udan?"

Oh no. Not those moonies! Oh well. Not my problem. Don't speak with the moonies if we have to. No ones forcing you to. she said to herself franticaly. If there was anything else she hated apart from her despisers, were moon elves. "Moonies" she had called them. She never knew why, but she hated them. She hated the way they looked, the way they moved, the way they smelt and the way they breathed.

And the journey gets even more interesting. Miaxon sighed. She knew they were cousins, but it didn't mean she liked them.

Redgar walked along with the group. He floated from place to place looking for the best feel. He was sampling their auras looking for the signs he associated with competence in battle. It was a mix of strength and determination.

Redgar was a few paces behind Miaxon when she spoke to Apocalyon. He watched her aura shimmer and darken before returning to normal. An odd reaction from an elf… granted the moon elves were less cultured and more primitive but they were still in the lineage.

Redgar stepped up next to her and interrupted her, “ what are you not telling us? I know the moon elves and I have traveled through Udan on a few campaigns. It’s best if we treat them with respect and avoid their boarders. can we plan a route accordingly?”

She turned to Redgar "Well I'm sorry, but I don't hold Mooni- I mean Moon Elves in much esteem. We...don't get on...well. But if you know them well then YOU should be telling Apocalyon what he needs to know about them. I'm telling MY experiences with them. You can tell him yours."

Then she whispered so Apocalyon couldn't hear "I know my aura isn't perfect. But compared to yours...well, I'm an angel." She laughed and walked ahead.

How did he know about my aura? But his aura. Yuck. Terrible. But not to bad. She thought to herself, concertating on staying ahead of the 2 males. The Moonies are different now. But If they ARE good, I just have to stay out of their way and try to blend in. But the elf with the aura. I'm going to have to stay away from him if I don't want anyone to know that thing...

[Then she whispered so Apocalyon couldn't hear "I know my aura isn't perfect. But compared to yours...well, I'm an angel." She laughed and walked ahead.]

Redgar watched her walk ahead with his eyebrow still raised. Aloud he said to Apocalyon, “I’m not saying the moon elves are friendly. Just the opposite… they are not as evolved as we are and they don’t understand. Any intrusion into their land for good or evil they will defend it. I advise we stay on the outside of their tribe borders.”

Redgar nodded and excused himself from Apocalyon’s counsel. He looked at the back of Miaxon and wondered how much she could read of auras. She could obviously feel them and from her own admissions she could even see Redgar’s. He watched her aura fade in an out of colors as she walked on.

Redgar smiled, most elves did not have much change in their auras. They were too stiff and emotionally locked… always controlling their earthly projections and it conveyed to him a certain heartlessness that annoyed him. This particular elf seemed to lack that disconnected edge that marked his race.

Judging by her weapon choice she would either die very quickly or be exactly the kind or warrior he looked to fight next to. Time would be the only way to tell though…

There seemed an almost disorganized quality to this march, with groups of elves and outsiders keeping to their own or to others they felt akin too, though all submitted to the authority held by Apocalyon, whether they liked to or not. Lea considered that perhaps she was one of the latter, but she would allow him this leadership... for now. He would have to earn her respect, however and that would take time.

Her eyes were drawn to one who walked close to him. The face seemed familiar and it seemed other elves recognised her too though many seemed displeased to see her. Lea's memory however refused to be jogged and she was not one to admit her failures, so she did not ask her comrades who the elven woman was. Redgar was speaking to her now. That was enough to concern Lea, Redgar was after all as an outsider to his own, was the stranger also? Bury your predjudices she warned herself again. There are no outsiders for now, just allies and enemies. Allies and enemies... Lea wished it were so simple...

Torri had been fairly near the front of the group when talk had turned to Moon Elves. Her ears flattened against her head and slowly and quietly as she could she slunk to the back of the caravan, just behind some of the others who were not saying much.

Bugger, moon elves... wonder if they've let pops back in yet?

Making sure she looked as nonchalant as possible she started huming loudly as she filled her pipe with foul black looking tabacco. For some reason dwarven smoke was always her favorite. Possibly because it was so vile that only dwarves could stand it, making it in official terms, highly affordable.

For a moment she was tempted to ask the big human at the front whether or not there was cash up front available, but something told her that was unlikely. Her eyes turned to a tall female elf standing not to far. She offered her pipe to the one called Lea with a grin.

"Smoke?"

Just then a elven wizard from the group came running to the leader and said"Umm what were we doing again?I can't remimber that well anymore because I'm getting old and need people to remimber things for me.By the way my name is Mr.Snuffles,whats yours?"

She still felt the eyes of Redgar boring into her back. In her foolishness she had admitted that her aura wasn't perfect, and she could see his. It was true that she could see his, and others.

Got to get him off my back. she thought and quickly skipped to the side. Therefore in view of...Lea. Lea...she thought sadly. They had been friends. Very good friends.

But it didn't seem that Lea remembered her. She sighed. In leaving the forest, she had left a lot of those who hated her, and left a few she liked. "I will see if I can jog her memory later." she said to herself.

A strange old man came shuffling up to Apocalyon and said something to him. Queer old man she laughed to herself, it looks like he will soon go into second infantcy. Mr Snuffles indeed.

They had reached the border of the Udan Forest. And so the fun begins...Miaxon thought. She drew her wickedly sharp katanas.

"If you and your kin would please, lead us and skirt the borders of the moon elves, if they are as ... dangerous as you say. As a human, I know not where their borders lie. " Apocalyon said to Redgar.

Yeah, thats right, put your trust in old aura man she thought bitterly, but if you knew about his aura my foolish human friend, then would you be so trusting?

It would be dangerous traveling through the Udan forest. Moon Elves territory often changed, as Moon Elf groups often waged mini wars, to see who would gain most territory, therefore making them top "pack." Worst case senario would be that they would wonder into the lead "packs" territory.

Am I sarting to regret coming? Am I not good enough for this cause? Maybe I should go...I could be the weak link...Miaxon thought. But she knew if she turned back her dreams would force her to come back.

The elven group started to pick up the pace, so she trotted along with them. Off they headed, to Girath the Terrible's lair...

Redgar nodded in agreement, “she is right. The only way to know is too look for their signs… I’m not a tracker. So there's not much else i can say”