Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

The Age of Magic is ended, Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, has succumbed to the whispers of Agares and fallen into Hell. Her worshipers and creations driven mad, and fire, which has been a powerful ally to man, has turned against him. Each good god was charged with the opposition of an evil god. Bhall was responsible for balancing Mulcarn, the God of Winter. Finding himself unopposed Mulcarn has broken The Compact and moved into Creation.

Creation was on the verge of another open war between the gods, that which they had outlawed with The Compact. To keep that from happening a deal was struck and the gods agreed that one god would enter Creation to challenge Mulcarn. That was Sucellus, the God of Nature. The two gods battled across the face of Creation, entire civilizations still recovering from the Burning Skies that marked the fall of Bhall were destroyed by their power. In the end Sucellus was killed and Mulcarn remained.

The Eternal Winter has begun...
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Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:34 am

"Even for Elves they were stealthy little twerps. They had taken our measure before we had even seen them."
- Marshal Volnikov of the Icatian 5th Skirmisher's Division
The Last Summer has come and gone, and may never come again. It is a discouraging thought, but one that must be put out of ones mind if one is to survive. Neigh over fifty years ago Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, fell from the sky and destroyed what was once the thriving and prosperous city state of Braduk. Ninety five percent of its people were killed in that instant when the Goddess struck the earth, their souls sucked into Hell along with the Goddess as she traveled through the earth into the depths below where Agares the Black, the God of Night rules. Only a handful of refugees survived the cataclysm that rent open a hole between the planes. Two small settlements outside the blast radius survived, Peptin in the south and Falcon's Hollow in the north. However the Braduk people are a strong and determined folk and even near ground zero some survived, those survivors are the unfortunate ones.

After Bhall's fall Mulcarn, the God of Winter, moved into Creation and was followed by the champion of the gods Sucellus, the God of Nature. Their battle ravaged the lands west of Patria where the Doviello and the Amurites dwell. In the end Sucellus was slain by Mulcarn and the far reaching effects of his death have yet to truly been seen. Each year the winters have grown harsher and the summers shorter and shorter as Mulcarn's influence is felt. With the fading seasons comes a shortage of harvests, a freezing of the northern reaches and the mountains, and the ever present growing threat of The Frostlings, agents of Mulcarn himself. Here in Quorris-na'Ellellen-Locrier, Graceful Oaks, the touch of Mulcarn can already be felt. The temperatures are dramatically cooler than they have ever been at this time of year and all manner of troubles have come to plague the region.

The Ember Clans of orcs and goblinoids to the west grow bolder and more dangerous while the dark forces of Ebon Hand and the Calabim to the east move to gather what resources they can at any cost while the first of the Illians begin to move from the north. The people of these north regions will have their resolve tested this year, and it is up to the Elohim to see that hope springs eternal, even if summer doesn't.
Welcome to the second prelude for the Age of Ice: Fallen Empires game! This thread will be for the characters Reluctant Follower of Dreams, and Syyronas. Please do not post in reply yet as I'll be making another post after this one.

Welcome to the game and I'm looking forward to it.
Last edited by Vardaen on Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:54 am

** Outskirts of Quorris-na'Ellellen-Locrier, Mid September, Noon ** Standing among a wild pumpkin patch on the southern boarders of the Elohim Haven of Graceful Oaks the sun looks down through small white clouds that move lazily overhead. The forest haven is a collection of red, orange and yellow leaves that have begun to turn brown already and fall dead to the ground. A cold wind blows from the north kicking up leaves and sending a few rabbits scampering through the pumpkin patch into their burrows. A messenger arrived this morning baring a short note to both Reluctant Follower of Dreams and to Syyronas. The message was short and simple, 'Please meet me in the southern harvest glades today at noon. Come prepared for travel. Dancer at the Gates of Dawn, Knight Champion of the Seylin-Na'hos-Kirriel (Holy Order of the Watchful Sword)'

So when the leader of this Elhoim haven summons you to a meeting with him, you do as asked. Standing among the small immature pumpkins is the red haired Thelonite Sorcerer Syyronas, having arrived first. Only minutes behind Syrronas' arrive comes the Paladin Reluctant Follower of Dreams as the wind tugs and tosses at the plants and leaves and the trees that stand watch only a hundred paces to the north.
Welcome Wayloss and Muskrat to the game! Wayloss has arrived first, but Muskrat you are arriving now. I would like to see some really great intro posts from both of you and feel free to RP with one another as Dreams arrives - Dancer at the Gates of Dawn, Knight Champion of the Seylin-Na'hos-Kirriel (Holy Order of the Watchful Sword) isn't here yet. He is the military leader of the order here at Graceful Oaks but isn't the highest ranking member of the haven overall.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Wayloss » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:15 am

Syrronas enters the pumpkin patch, simple traveling clothes adorn his tall and thin frame. His skin carries a strange reddish undertone. leading to a very un-elvish shock of red hair tied back with a simple leather thong. At his hip a slim rapier rests in a leather scabbard. He sets down his backpack and a small crossbow before straightening.
He looks over his shoulder as 'Dreams' arrives. "Reluctant-Follower-of-Dreams, the morning see's you well and healthy." Syrronas offers a formal greeting. Originally a "Civilized" Thelonite elf he has lived among the Elohim for fifty years and he is accepted superficially. It is usually his face that turns others indifferent. The red undertone pools under his eyes which seems to accentuate the strange deep black of his irises. It gives someone the impression of falling into Bhall's Pit.

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Muskrat » Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:54 pm

Reluctant Follower of Dreams wends her way through the woods toward the meeting site. She admires the fall colors of the leaves, the admiration tinged with sorrow by the knowledge that fall has arrived far too soon. Her muscles ache from the training exercises she performed yesterday--muscles that but a few years ago, when she was happily ensconced in a library, she didn't even know she had. Her sleep last night had been troubled by the strange dreams that had been visiting her for years now, the dreams that gave her her current name. Despite the aches and poor sleep, when the summons arrived from Dancer at the Gates of Dawn, she prepared for a journey and hastened to the meeting spot. Such respect was due an Elder of the Watchful Sword.

Dreams returns Syrronas's greeting with a bow and a reply in kind, "Syrronas, the morning sees you well and healthy." She smiles warmly at Syrronas, even though she knows him only slightly. Her bright smile in in contrast with her somber appearance. Underneath the sash signifying her membership in the Holy Order of the Watchful Sword and her armor, she wears the black robes of one in formal mourning. Her hair is white, an unnatural color for an elf. Syrronas has probably heard rumors that her hair turned this strange color as a result of the shock from some great grief that befell her, when the haven where she had been living was ravaged by Frostlings.

Dreams looks at the semi-civilized elf curiously. She wonders why, after fifty years among civilized folk, he has still not adopted a real name--one that means something, as opposed to a string of nonsensical syllables--or gotten his skin properly tattooed. Perhaps, she reflected, he seeks to honor the ways of his own people, in which there is some honor, however much the Thelonites might have drifted towards the same low level of civilization as dwarves and humans.

"Tell me, Syrronas," Dreams asks, "do you know why Dancer at the Gates of Dawn has summoned us to this place? And where our journey might take us?"

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Wayloss » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:51 pm

Syrronas nods at the greeting and turns his head slightly as he ponders the question. "I can not say for sure. Dancer at the Gates of Dawn must need us to travel somewhere, perhaps to carry a document to another Haven. Perhaps he wishes me to visit my birth parents and you are to escort me. There are far to many possibilities to allow my hopes to fly along with them."
The Sorcerer continues to scan his environment.

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:49 am

The pair of elves, both very different than the other (fire and ice some might say the appearance of their hairs) stand now on the edge of Graceful Oak Haven awaiting an elder of their people. The is only half done, and the cold wind that blwos from the north continues to rustle the leaves through the pumpkin patch. Beyond these gardens are long fields and danger and war. The clouds race over the sky and cast a shadow across the sun, and a chill runs up the spine of Syrronas as she stands there talking.

A few minutes pass and two more figures are spotted in the forest moving forward gracefully traveling through the fringes of the trees closer and closer until their silouetts turn into full figures. One of them is easily recongizable, for it is Dancer at the Gates of Dawn, the Knight Champion of the Seylin-Na'hos-Kirriel. A hawk swoops overhead and gives a loud squawk distracting you both for just a second. When you look back, the pair are nearly on you. Dancer stands well over six and half feet tall, and is well muscled under his mithril platemail armor. The silver armor shimmers like the moon on a clear night, and is almost blinding to look on. On his belt hang a pair of elven curved blades, the weapons are extrodinary examples of Elohim crafting skills, they are masterfull tools of war, and wonderous pieces of art at the same time. A long cloak flutters behind him shimmering and changing to the colors of the terrain as he passes through it, ending in a ruset orange and deep brown when he comes to stand before the pair. His voice is smooth, like a silken sheet, but the tinkling of a spring brook can be heard with each inflection of his voice. "<Elven>Cal'nas, greetings, children of the world. I am most pleased to find you have answered my message, and so quickly as well. First, before we go any further, for I am certain you have questions as to why I asked you here, allow me to introduce to you Hinya Amartho Luinë Celevan Hendu ("Child of fate with eyes of blue crystal") a friend of Graveful Oaks." He motions at the other figure standing next to him as he introduces him.
Welcome Trogdor to the game as the other man! I'll let him post his description of his character.

Also note, all of this conversation is in Elven at this point.
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J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Trogdor » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:35 am

The figure standing next to Dancer at the Gates of Dawn is by all appearances a very handsome elf of slightly over average height with jet black hair and skin of a fine golden tan. He's wearing brown and green hunting leathers with a small backpack, and carries a morningstar on his belt. But what really catches your attention are his eyes. They appear to be made entirely our of blue crystal - the gods alone know how he sees out of them.

Between his eyes and his name, both Dreams and Syrronas remember the events of several years ago. Blue Eyes, Calevan in the Elohim language, was a druid initiate at Graceful Oak Haven, where he had been for many years. One day he received a vision during his daily meditation that called him away from his druidical studies. With the vision came a transformation, changing his eyes to their new form. The master druids had examined him thoroughly and determined that the change was a late manifestation of a celestial heritage. Such occurrences were rare, but not unheard of. Those skilled in such matters referred to what he had become as an aasimar - a person blessed with celestial blood. The transformation combined with the vision were taken as a sign. Child of Fate with Eyes of Blue Crystal, as he was now known, was released from his druidical studies and allowed to follow his destiny. He has not been seen since that time, though it's possible he's been in contact with the masters of the haven during his absence.

"Greetings," he says with a bow of his head. "You can call me Blue Eyes. It's good to see Graceful Oaks again. And I'm pleased to meet the two of you as well." Those particularly perceptive might notice that he's irritated by something. But that barely shows in his demeanor.
I'd say that someone with a good Sense Motive might be able to tell that he's irritated about something. But he has a high Charisma and Diplomacy, so he hides it well. You're call as to whether you notice it.

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Wayloss » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:57 am

Syrronas greets the third arrival with a graceful bow. "Greetings Blue Eyes, Fate seems to have drawn us three together with our unique marks."
He straightens back up allowing Dreams to greet Calevan.

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Muskrat » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:53 am

Dreams bows first to Dancer at the Gates of Dawn, then to Blue Eyes. "Greetings to you both." She glances at Syrronas. "Indeed, we three are marked," suddenly conscious of her white hair, which she normally doesn't give much thought to. But, she thinks, I am also marked by my dreams, though are a sign invisible to the eye. Turning to Dancer, she asks, "And what, oh Honored Elder and Knight Champion, would you ask of three marked as we are? I would guess that it is no simple errand you send us on."

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Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:40 pm

Dancer strides into the pumpkin patch and kneels a moment as the three introduce themselves. Hsi motions are fluid and smooth, but there is a hint of melencholy in them. He reaches down and rubs the leaf of one of the vegtables between his fingers. Almost speaking to himself he whispers, "They are all so small, hardly ready to harvest and yet it is harvest time." Shaking his head he stands up and looks back at the three and addresses Dream's statement.

"It may be a simple errand it may be not. Celevan has come back to us from a small region to the east known as Darkmoon Vale. He has petitioned help from us for the nearby former Braduk town of Falcon's Hollow. The Council believes his worries are unfounded, and too minor to pay much heed to with everything else that is going on, but I am not so sure. So I have called you both here, you are both....inexperienced enough to deal with this I think." That is his polite way of saying both of your are not important enough to be missed if you leave the haven.

He looks at the elf with the eyes of blue crystal. "Perhaps Calevan would care to explain himself further?"
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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