Original Submissions by Kelen
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A promise
Added on Mar 23, 2007A tor scorpion reflects on a promise he made, in his final moments during the copper war.
Kazar wrenched an arrow out of his shoulder, and hefted his shield a bit higher. He shook his dark bangs from his view, and gazed down at his foot for a moment, from which an arrow protruded.This tall, black-haired man’s scorpion emblazoned vest was completely covered in blood, and he drew in labored breaths, clenching his sword in his hand tightly. He gazed all around him, and knew, he had finally come to and end.
He glanced back over his shoulder, seeing a barrel-chested, dark-curled man on his kank, riding hard west. Behind the mounted figure, a large force trailed closely, kicking up sand in their wake. The open barrens of the red desert sprawled on endlessly, except for a dim line of the cliffs to the far east.
Kazar gazed at them for a long moment, he had wanted to go with them, and follow the scorpion banner back to camp. Then follow it home, to fulfill his promise. But he knew his duty, to his lord and house, and was resolved to follow through. Then he narrowed his gaze, swiveling his head to stare east again.
Coming in his direction, was a large party of soldiers, tuluki soldiers. From what Kazar had made out as they fired arrows in his direction, there were almost two full units, plus a large scouting party. At their head, a red-garbed Jihaen templar rode on his mount. They were still out of arrow range, and kazar closed his eyes as his vision blurred a bit, trying to steady himself. He tried to remember his training, his home, his friends. He began to remember some of his earlier training, even smirking slightly.
“This isn’t the Kazar show!” A tall, blonde-haired woman shouted, holding her arm tightly as it bled. Kazar stepped back, lowering his training sword, and grinned a bit. The woman scowled, stepping out of the sparring ring as well.
“I know, Janna.” Kazar said, seeming careless, and rather content with himself.
“You think you’re some kind of hotshot!? Just because you can best one of your superiors!? I don’t care how good you are, if you don’t know your place in the field, if you -CAN’T- follow orders, you’re doing no good to the unit! You want to do something stupid? Be a hero!? Your going to die!” Janna said angrily, staring hard at Kazar.
Kazar remained quiet, and left the chamber without another word, deep in thought. He nodded at a pony-tailed man, garbed in a smoky grey cloak, the same as him, as he exited the marble training chamber. The man smiled a bit, and nodded.
“Hey Kazar…I think were moving out soon. Want to head to the barrel for awhile…?” The pony-tailed man asked quietly, walking along beside Kazar now as he headed down the hallway quickly.
“Sure…Sure Faold, I have to say goodbye to Lune anyway…” Kazar said quietly, seeming a bit agitated.
Kazar’s mind faded back into the present, and the enemy force didn’t seem to have drawn any closer. He looked over his shoulder again, and for some reason, it seemed the Tor force behind him was drawing closer, perhaps even coming back for him.
Kazar wiped a thin trail of blood from the side of his mouth with his cloak sleeve, and saw a moment of hesitation in the barrel-chested man’s eyes, even from the huge distance between them.
Kazar mustered all the strength he could, raising his voice to a shout.
“GO! Now!” Kazar shouted loudly, he took a few more breaths, his arrow wounds burning now. The barrel-chested man turned after a lingering moment, and headed off west with the force again. Kazar turned back east, his legs growing heavy.
His mind faded back into memory, easing the pain of his wounds as he waited.
Kazar sat atop a kank, staring intently at a war-braided figure on a war beetle near him. The man before him held a three-fingered rapier, and seemed to be deep in thought.
Another scorpion armored man with pitch hair near him muttered quietly.
‘There were five or six of them…I felt it best to pull back, warlord.” The man said. The warlord nodded, and gestured to a group of Tor soldiers behind him, as well as an Allanaki half-giant.
“On me, we will search them out.” The man said, riding to the head of the group, heading east. The sprawling surround of black and green tents, as well as hundreds of soldiers, was the Allanaki main camp.
“My lord, please allow me to ride ahead and find them, surely they will flee once they see our force, perhaps I can catch them at unawares while you lead the main force.” Kazar said quickly, speaking before the dapper, spice-locked young man that was riding towards them spoke.
The warlord nodded, and Kazar set off immediately, riding hard east. The last words he caught were from the dapper, spice-locked young man: “Oh my, I had best get my sword then, I will join you, Warlord Kharad.”
Kazar smirked, his mind racing. He felt it almost a joke that a fale noble would join in the fight, but knew to keep his thoughts to himself. Scattered dunes past by Kazar as he raced, and finally something caught his eye, and he reeled his kank to a halt.
Far to the south, just within sight, Kazar saw a group of tuluki scouts fighting a single allanaki scout. Kazar gritted his teeth, his mind finding his warlord’s right away. Words were not needed, Kazar’s connection was strong enough to imply that he had found the enemy, and that his lord must make haste.
Kazar sat for what seemed like ever, trying to hold himself back form rushing to his comrades aid. But he knew, even if he went now, that himself –and- the scout would die.
After a few more moments, as the bloody allanaki fell, Kharad rode up, the fale noble at his side, with the half-giant and a Tor force.
Kharad gazed south, and frowned, nodding to Kazar. He spurred his War beetle on, shouting loudly.
“Form up, Let’s get that half-giant moving! CHARGE!”
Kazar shot off, flying up along with the half-giant as it lumbered across the sand to the south, shouting loudly. The main force lagged behind a bit, while the half-giant and himself surged across the dune.
“Raaaaaaarrrrghhh!” The half-giant roared, and startled the un-suspecting tuluki scouts. A black-haired tuluki scout scrambled for his kank, and kazar set his sights on him. The half-giant chased the other enemies, who merely urged their kanks on eastwards, fleeing the fight.
The black-haired tuluki turne , and drew his blades, ready for Kazar’s attack. Kazar’s blood boiled, passing one of his fallen soldiers, and he locked blades with the scout, gritting his teeth. The tuluki glared at him, and drew his blade back, turning his mount to face the eastern horizon.
Kazar frowned, knowing he was going to run, and swung his blade inwards, trying to knock the scout of his kank. The tuluki was too agile, and dodged the swing, riding hard east, escaping a certain death.
Kazar stared for a long moment at the eastern cliffs, knowing that somewhere inside, the enemy army lurked, and gave up the pursuit.
Kazar opened his eyes again, slightly surprised at how close the enemy force was now. They were not thirty yards from him, and an arrow flew into his shield. Kazar glanced over his shoulder one last time, and saw that his lord and company were nearly out of sight.
Lune…I’m glad you can’t be here to see this…I can only hope the others can protect you…I no longer can.
Kazar’s thoughts were cut off abruptly by his pursuit.
“Take him alive, if you can.” A cool voice echoed from the east now. The scorpion turned his attention to the speaker, and saw the main unit and the Jihaen halt, regarding Kazar carefully. A handful of soldiers rode forth, following a regal, flaxen-tressed woman closely.
Kazar hefted his shield up, mustering what courage and strength he had left. He had known this might happen. They had been scouting the enemie’s southern gate, and they had been found. Now it was Kazar’s job to set it right. This couldn’t end in his lord and his allies being killed or captured.
No more arrows flew at him, and the riders before him dismounted, staying behind the regal woman. She nodded, and a black-haired tuluki, along with an izdari-inked man, drew their blades and came forward at Kazar.
Kazar smirked at the black-haired Tuluki, recognizing him instantly. The man scowled at his defiant features, rushing forward.
“Death to the servants of the highlord!” The black-haired man shouted, almost upon Kazar now. Kazar slid his right foot back, raising his voice.
“For the highlord!” He yelled, sliding under a broad sword swing. Kazar cut up, catching his enemies vest, tearing it open. The izdari-inked soldier reached him, stabbing in from the other side, Kazar turned, driving his shield into his knees, and threw him on his back.
Kazar spit out a clot of blood, and slashed the black-haired soldier two more times in a furious attack, and the man retreated back to the woman, leaving the izdari inked man on his own.
“This far…and no further…” Kazar panted tiredly, slamming his blade against the inked man’s, sending him staggering to the side. The man lunged in sloppily, and Kazar landed four fierce blows on him quickly. The woman rushed forward now, a spiky-haired soldier at her side, and frowned in anger.
“You are dead!” She yelled, and stopped for a moment as Kazar landed another blow against the inked man, who was staggering back now, bleeding heavily.
“Fall back!” She shouted, trying to draw Kazar’s attention. Kazar whirled, trying to stay focused. His wounds ached horribly, and he lashed his foot out at the woman. As he did so, another arrow flew into his chest, and the tor stumbled back, grimacing.
The flaxen-tressed woman slashed kazar’s side as he lingered, but was caught by his blade as he turned on her in anger.
Everything faded, before Kazar, as shouts of “Take him alive!” Quickly reverted to; “Kill him! Kill him!” The fight dragged on, the scorpion fighting desperately now, resigned to fate.
“You will come back...? Promise me?” The young, amethyst-eyed woman asked softly. Kazar stood on the tavern’s balcony, staring out at the street below, the delicate woman in his arms.
“You know I will.”
The words echoed softly in Kazar’s mind. He gritted his teeth, dropping to his knees as the blonde soldier drove a dagger into his back. Now the force continued past him, and he fell face forward into the sand. His final thoughts didn’t linger on failure, but on his home, and on his love. He broke two promises, one to Janna, that he would not die, and another, that he would return home. But then Kharad’s words filled his head, and he had no regrets in the end.
“We make promises such as these, to keep anxiety from our home. There is yet hope this way. Would you rather stay behind, and enjoy your love, only to let the enemy come and take her, or would you rather leave, and fight, in hopes that they never reach her?”
Farewell…Sweet Lune…
Kazar wrenched an arrow out of his shoulder, and hefted his shield a bit higher. He shook his dark bangs from his view, and gazed down at his foot for a moment, from which an arrow protruded.This tall, black-haired man’s scorpion emblazoned vest was completely covered in blood, and he...
Continue Reading...A wyvern
Added on Feb 12, 2007A younger member of the borsail wyverns.
A lost warrior: Part I
Added on Sep 26, 2006A Tuluki warrior is lost by the deaths of those he cares for, and unleashes his rage in a clash on the field of battle in the red desert.
A lost warrior
“Khalise…” I said softly. Why? Why did she come out here before me? I told her it was not her place…And she left without me knowing. So I of course followed, too late.
After another moment, I shook my head, turning from the catwalk, and slowly, I walked back down into our camp. I passed the entrance to the mine itself, striding through row after row of tents and heading for the large, bahamet-shelled wagon up against the western cliff wall.
Laraef said we were going tonight…and I will make those bastards pay for killing the only thing I had ever loved in this world besides my home. I knew that their deaths wouldn’t numb the pain, but it certainly would ease my mind, knowing that I tried to avenge her.
I rested a hand on my sword hilt, striding up the boarding ramp, dipping my head to a few Jihaen and Lirathan robed templars as I passed. The group was lined up ahead of me, the Faithful Lady Felysia and Faithful Lord Durathar were here already. I stopped at the end of the line, next to Larke. He, of course, gave me his cool gaze, which I was more than tired of. What else I had to do to convince him I wasn’t a spy was beyond me. I had slain the wind beast Dran, and yet he still did not trust me.
“The objective is to destroy their wagon. Sergeant, you will lead the men in this mission.” Felysia said, nodding faintly to Laraef.
Laraef nodded and scowled, pulling on an enemy’s uniform. I took off my sunburst-crested helm, and pulled on one of the Tor’s helmets, and a jade saber’s cloak. The rest of our group followed Laraef’s lead, hastily changing their uniforms.
“You look like a scorpion in that.” Larke said to Laraef, clearly amused. Laraef did not share his amusement and muttered quietly.
“We will accompany you half-way, you are to take two jars of oil, and a torch. Do not engage –anyone-, the objective is the wagon. Ride in, and get out. We must move with haste, and do this before dawn.” Durathar said.
I nodded once, kneeling down to grab two jars of a murky black liquid. I rose to my feet slowly, turning to follow Laraef back down the boarding ramp. We entered into the makeshift stockade nestled against the canyon wall, and each grabbed one of the hundreds of kanks available, and walked back into the main camp.
Thankfully, the fools made their camp close to ours after moving it. It was dangerously close, close enough that we stopped scouting out of our north gate. And this, this was my chance. I had avenged Curachek by killing the whiran, and now Khalise filled my mind…
“Kel.” Laraef said quietly. I nodded to him, noticing I was the only one still not mounted. I clambered onto my kank’s back carefully, and rode up to his side. Faithful Lord Durathar was mounted on his horse, and Faithful Lady Felysia unlocked the northern gate. In a matter of moments, our band and over four-hundred soldiers were on the move.
We emerged from our camp, into the northern ravine. The canyon split north and west. The northern path, I knew, went on some ways, and eventually opened up into the scrublands, and led home to the Ivory. The western path, our path, had a much darker end. I looked over my shoulder as the gates slowly closed, and caught a last glimpse of over two-thousand Tuluki soldiers, and then turned my attention back to the matter at hand.
We rode through the canyon easily, it turned south for a ways, and then west again. We rode through the darkness for what seemed an eternity, until finally the narrow canyon opened up in all directions, and Durathar raised a fist, halting the unit.
“Sergeant, you know where the enemy camp is, correct? The dune is west and south of here. Be swift. Move unseen. And in his name go now, before dawn.” He said, nodding once.
“Yes, Faithful Lord,” Laraef said, turning about. Myself, Larke, and a few other riders spurred up behind him, moving quickly in the lightening darkness. We turned south after a short distance, and halted once we rounded the cliff wall.
A sprawling camp, displaying jade and black banners sat to our east, and we would have been spotted if not for the darkness. A few hundred soldiers were visible, as well as the wagon, but we all knew there were more. We raised our hoods, and Laraef took a deep breath.
“Stay close…Be quick…” he said, spurring his kank off suddenly. We all rode close to him, and I took a deep breath as we rode past the first enemy sentry without trouble. Then, as if we were cursed, light broke over the cliff walls, its sudden brightness catching me off guard. One of my jars slipped and crashed to the ground, and Laraef hurled his first at the wagon.
“Attack! Attack!” I heard an Allanaki officer near me shouting as he charged at Laraef. I saw Larke throw a jar, and I launched mine at the wagon with all my might, and hurled my torch with a shout.
I turned my kank around, slashing a soldier near me with my sword as he reached out for me. I glanced over my shoulder, and saw Laraef cut a Borsail regular open before their whole unit and a brutish mul dragged him off his mount.
The rest of my party rode past me, and I finally came to, realizing my danger as I spurred my kank off.
"Laraef…Not you too…How many must I lose to this war…?" I thought, finally catching up with our group, rounding the canyon again. After a short time and a hard ride, we reached our force again, and I slumped forward on my mount for a moment, catching my breath.
Durathar straightened up expectantly, glancing from me to Larke.
“Well?” I heard him say curiously. I shook my head, and Larke spit on the ground.
“We did it, Faithful Lord, but…Laraef…” He said after a moment. I sighed, glancing back west, scanning the horizon for signs of pursuit. Durathar pressed us quickly.
“But the wagon, did any of you see it catch? Was it destroyed?” He asked hopefully. I shook my head quietly.
“I cannot be certain Faithful Lord…I know my torch hit the wagon, but I was not around long enough to see it ignite…” I said quietly. Durathar sighed, and nodded after a moment. I heard one of the Tuluki soldiers shout, and point west frantically. I turned my gaze in the direction he was pointing, and drew my sword.
Not far off on the horizon, a lone templar rode with a large force marching down the canyon behind him. They were coming straight for us. Durathar raised his fist, and pointed two fingers north, and half of our force moved in that direction almost instantly. I rolled my shoulders against the shield I had strapped on my back, and tugged the reigns lightly to ease my restless kank.
This could be it…I could be with you soon Khalise…But I still have work to do here…I will show these bastards my fury…and they will feel the wrath of our army…
“Make ready! We meet them!” Durathar shouted as the enemy force drew dangerously close. The enemy commander dropped back into his force for protection. I followed him with my gaze, scowling. He was tall, with orange-tinted skin, and I would not forget it on the field.
“Charge!” I heard the orange-skinned templar shout from the west, as the enemy force shouted and rushed forward. Durathar actually smiled, and spurred his mount west as well.
“Forward!!” Durathar yelled, and I waited for the vanguard to meet the enemy force. Our lines crashed into the Allanaki forces, a brilliant clash of black and white. I spurred my kank forward, growling.
“Leave them in awe of our forces!” I shouted, my gaze set on the orange-skinned templar. I glanced over for a brief moment, and saw Larke riding close behind me, his gaze set on something else, and I finally saw it: the enemy officer that had helped bring Laraef down.
I arced my sword down, cutting a woman's face open as I rode through the enemy line, and slashed my blade back up, shouting fiercely as another enemy fell back with a bloody scream.
The enemy templar saw me, and growled, muttering as he raised his hands. I gritted my teeth, and swung my sword down at his neck when I flew past, nearly cleaving his head off. Larke dropped back, and chased down the already fleeing enemy officer. I circled my kank around, just in time to see the enemy templar fall to the ground with his mortal wound.
“I have slain the enemy commander!” I shouted as I raised my wyvern-hilted sword high into the air.
My short attention on the templar gave an enemy soldier time to spear my mount, and sent my flying forward off it. I broke into a roll, and rose to my feet, grasping my sword in both hands. I was behind enemy lines, but luckily most soldiers were fleeing, or they were focused on our lines, and not me.
The enemy soldier that speared my kank charged up behind me, spear lowered to impale me. I side-stepped, hacking off the tip of the spear and then the soldiers arm. I twirled around, just in time to parry a blow from a charging soldier. He grunted in surprise at my reflex, and drew a small dagger from his belt as he slashed in at me again.
I rolled my left shoulder a bit, loosening my shield straps slowly but surely. He lunged in at me, far too aggressively. I slide my blade right up between both of his, cutting his chest open, and then followed with a brutal downward slash, digging my blade deep into his shoulder as he fell.
I had perhaps ten seconds, just enough to swing my left arm free of the shield strap and reach back to grab it. An arrow flew into it with a dull *thunk* soon after, and another arrow pierced my shoulder.
Ah…No…No…Not yet…You must wait for me longer Khalise…
I staggered back, slouching my shoulders down. A searing pain rushed through my body as I reached up, jerking the arrow free of my shoulder. I saw the enemy lines breaking, and they all rushed past me, fleeing for their lives.
I growled, ignoring the pain, and slammed my shield into a soldier, knocking him on his back as I followed with a downward slash. His legs jolted at the force of my blow, and he died instantly. I glanced over, and saw Larke cut down the enemy officer as he rode past.
The enemy cried out as they saw their commander fallen behind them, and ran back horrified, but not one of them escaped. The many that made it past me were chased down by our soldiers, and given a swift end. I dropped to one knee for a moment, breathing heavily, staring at the faces of the fallen. So many were young, even younger than me, and I was twenty-five. I stood up, a sickening feeling overwhelming my stomach as I took both of the rings off the enemy commander. I clambered onto the templar’s kank, mine was dead by now, and I rode back towards our force.
“Victory!” I heard shouted across the field. Surprisingly few of our soldiers had fallen in the battle, and I learned quickly that the other half of our force had circled the canyon, and come upon them from the north while I was behind enemy lines.
“Let us make haste, fall back, we return!” Durathar shouted after a few moments, turning his kank back east. I slid the templar’s ring on, following closely behind Durathar, our tired army trailing us. We made our way back through the canyon, where we found our camp gates open, and we rode in, greeted by cheers from the main force.
Victory…Let them enjoy it. It is a hollow victory for me…Khalise, if you could ever be avenged. Even if I killed every witch…and every soldier…it would not be enough to make them pay…
Our force dispersed. II didn’t hear what Durathar had said. But, I did catch that we were dismissed.
I put my mount in the stockade, and moved back over to the wagon, I was tired, exhausted. But it was not time to rest. Not yet. I walked up the boarding ramp slowly, my dark bangs clouding my vision. I dipped my head carelessly to a few templars as I entered our wagon, making my way past some storage crates to the bench where Felysia and Durathar sat.
Felysia turned her gaze to me as I kneeled down, presenting the witches ring. Durathar studied me quietly, and Felysia glanced down to the other ring on my finger.
“Faithful Lady…The enemy commanders ring…I wear his other one. I had thought to keep it to remember this day.”
Felysia took the ring I presented her with a nod, and spoke some words in an unfamiliar tongue they spoke commonly only to each other.
Durathar nodded, and turned his gaze to me, offering a smile.
“You have made me pleased that I chose to let you join the legions, Kelmandos.” Durathar said quietly. I bowed my head, still kneeling down.
“And for slaying the witch, you may keep the ring, Private.” Felysia said with a nod. I rose after a moment, nodding once.
“I am honored. Your graciousness knows no bounds, and I will continue to serve to my full ability.” I said quietly.
First the Tor lord’s armor…The Borsail leader’s sword…Now a witch’s ring. Certainly, though I may have failed my love, I have not failed my home.
I turned after the Faithful both nodded, and turned my sapphire gaze to the floor as I walked out of the wagon tiredly. I spotted Zeiri on my way out, and waved shortly, barely able to move my arm.
He was young…far too young…But his heart is strong…He may make it through this. He nodded to me, and I kneeled down slowly, crawling into a vacant tent among the hundreds of others.
Laraef…You of all people did not deserve to fall yet. Curachek…Khalise…This war is taking its toll on me…What will I do when I return home to nothing...?
A lost warrior
stood in silence atop the catwalk, staring north into the canyon. The
sun slowly set, and my mind was clouded. I didn’t understand.
“Khalise…”
I said softly. Why? Why did she come out here before...
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