|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Jan 20, 2017 4:20:47 GMT
The Entrance to the Kingdom of Celeb Dor, the Kingdom of the EastThe night whispered to her as she stood silent outside the grand doors of the entrance to the Celeb Dor, many of her kin and friends preferred the sunlight of the day, the warmth the brightness provided. She was one of the few who lingered to watch for the great moon to rise up and send it's light to the snow capped mountains, how it crawled every so slowly across the landscape.
Kesh sat beside her, the great gorilla had been her friend for sometime, she remembered it as if it were yesterday how she had gotten lost in the outside world just around the edge of the snowfield when he found her to bring her back. A great gift had been bestowed upon him that door for finding her. Kesh looked over placing his great hand on top of her head, she nodded. "I remember always. Look Kesh how the snow sparkles tonight, just like the stars in the sky." Her silver eyes looked up, this was so perfect she thought, nothing could every change this.
She was secure in her surroundings, and in her home. The Elves lived what could be a charmed life, no illness, continued friends, and so far no enemies had come to their gates.
"The Night grows cold Salaara it's time to go inside" Kesh's deep voice, followed by the huff that told her he was serious. "Just a few minutes more Kesh."
"Sakaala." She knew that tone he was using, "ok Kesh I'm coming along."
"Oh how I love the snow" She followed him inside. One of the Elders had asked her to come see her she couldn't linger outside tonight as she had done on so many other nights.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Jan 23, 2017 3:35:14 GMT
A traveler unfamiliar with the great rooms of the Eastern Kingdom might look upon it with a romantic eye. Great rooms and halls filled with golden candlelight, casting shadows everywhere and dark corners around each turn of a hall.
The chill of the winters snows were not felt within the fires from beneath warmed them. She did not pretend to understand how it had only been explained that it was. She did not question it further not then for she was young and did not feel the drive to know the answer to such things.
Even now as she walked the down the great hall the tall columns on either side hundreds of years old, etched upon the story of how the elves came to the eastern mountains away from the Northern Kingdom where their ancestors had been born. A terrible plague which threatened all of Elf kind brought to them by humans and the journey that led them here. Sakaala had stood before each of these columns learning about the history.
How once they had a great Queen who cared for them all until her death without an heir, or chosen successor. It was then that the Council was formed, and stayed in place even today. One column talked about a great alliance with the great dragons, with the humans, and even the dwarves but it had all turned to dust when the plague began to consume them.
Sakaala walked slowly looking up at the great design on the ceiling, the tree of life, which reached out and touched them all.
"Sakaala, she's waiting"
Her head turned from the ceiling to the doorway, "Yes, I'm coming" She walked a little faster leaving history to be revisited later. "She's in the storage room."
"Oh?" that was odd, storage? She hastened down the corridor to the wooden door, "Elder are you here?"
"You know I am" One of the oldest elves she knew stood there, still beautiful, her mind quick, and her magic strong.
"You sent for me?"
"Yes, come let us talk." Talk indeed of events not yet seen, but only whispered of, and of a growing need.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Jan 24, 2017 1:52:03 GMT
"I have a task for you Sakaala" The Elder produced a map laying it flat Sakaala could see that it was old the edges frayed, the colors muted, had their land not changed in so many years? "Beyond the Forest of Thorns, below the snowline I need you to go."
Sakaala always eager for adventure hesitated, "Elder this is a great deal further than just going to the edge of our lands, the Forest of Thorns has served as a barrier on that part of the mountain slopes for.." The elder held up her hand silencing Sakaala.
"I need you to go and be back before the Festival of the Winter Moon, it should give you plenty of time."
"What is it you want me to look for Elder?"
The woman stopped as if she had not expected this question, did she really think that Sakaala would go without asking so much as why.
"We have heard rumors of war in the lands beyond, we would like confirmation of this."
"War is not uncommon in the lower lands, they have warred upon one another for generations, what would make a war now different from any other?" Would the Elder try to be deceptive with her, or to give her a half truth?
The Elder sat down and looked to Sakaala, her deep brown eyes reminded her of the earth in the spring, the silver in her hair not much different than her own mingled with the chestnut masses. The Elder had come to them from a distant cousin, the Kingdom of Aida. "The Watchers tell us of the kingdoms of the undead, there use to be one, now there are many. We would like to know more, we hear they war upon all those around them. We need to know if this is true Sakaala."
Sakaala had heard of the undead and just the stories were enough to frighten her. The thoughts gave her the chills.
"Why me, there are so many others that could do this." There was a reason she knew there was, while she could be said to do many things traveling beyond their borders into the unknown to verify a piece of information, and that's all it was a piece. Something that could be brought back by a Watcher. There had to be more to it.
"Because the Council wishes you to go and do this"
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Jan 28, 2017 21:51:24 GMT
Sakaala Birel---------------- Talaiel shivered and pulled the mantle closer around her shoulders as she trudged along the mountain passes. It was cold up here, far from her preferred forests and woods. Wind howled about the stony peaks and tied itself around her. Snow drifts plied the path as she stumbled and sank into the wet snow. It soaked through her woolen clothes. The Eastern forest at the foot of the mountains beckoned her. Its cool warmth amidst trees and streams were all that pushed her forward so far. But so she continued, one foot in front of the other. The snow-storm picked up and ice-crystals stung the half-elf's face, cutting into her skin. She wrapped the fur mantle closer around her face, trying to burrow into its warm folds. This was madness. She couldn't keep going on in this storm. Talaiel stopped and peered through the storm, searching for some kind of shelter. A rock ledge appeared through the storm and she pushed herself towards it and huddling under the stone, trying not to let the chill of the rock seep into her bones. She shivered and pulled the cloak closer around herself. This may have been a bad idea.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Feb 6, 2017 3:45:53 GMT
Sakaala packed what she would need doubt crept through her mind about why they wanted her to go when there were so many scouts already available. She had passed two or three as she walked back. Was this a punishment? Was there something hidden from her? Within the hour she was headed for the front gates the cold did not bother her conditioned to tolerate even the coldest temperatures. But below the snow line where it became warmer she wasn't sure of. If she stayed too long she could begin to act like a human, begin to feel like a human. She loved being an elf. Kesh dressed in the armor of the elves waited quietly, huffing occasionally as if thinking of what was beyond. "Ok Kesh, let us go before I think of a reason not to." She could have made a plea but why? Slowly the walk began Kesh by her side the two said nothing, though it was beautiful. As they neared the pass the storm kicked up, "I don't know if we will make it down tonight we may have to turn back." Kesh paused sniffing the air a quick gesture told Sakaala that something was wrong. But there seemed no danger, and in this snow. "Lead on Kesh." She followed watching ahead, was someone out there? Why would someone be out? Only Elves seemed crazy enough to traverse storms. Talaiel
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Feb 25, 2017 21:17:55 GMT
Sakaala Birel Talaiel wrapped herself tighter in the garments and pushed up against the back of the ledge, trying to block out what she could of the wind. She glared at the snow-filled air. Mountains were terrible- cold, desolate, and the domain of the winter fae, as indifferent and harsh to other living things as the stones themselves. Not like the summer fae that raised her. They were still wild and dangerous, but cared more for living things. Shivers ran through her body, but she thought she heard something. A voice? A snuffle of a large beast? She shuffled forward, squinting through the sheets of snow. Something loomed out ahead. "Hello!" Talaiel yelled, voice snatched away by the wind. "Someone there? You have a fire?" She really wanted a fire. A large crackling fire that sang a merry tune and drew people together, binding them together for a time with bonds of camaraderie tighter than kinship. Yet in this desolate rock, there was no such chance of a normal fire. Even a magic fire would be enough to settle for at this point. As soon as she was back in the woods, she would stay beneath shady eaves amid quiet streams where wood and water sang songs whose language she could just barely hear.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Mar 2, 2017 5:24:15 GMT
Sakaala stopped there was a voice calling out through the storm What in the name of the Goddess has brought someone up this far
"Yes here" Sakaala focussed on the sound of the voice, "keep talking I will find you." Sakaala was already planning the trek back in order to provide the warmest shelter, and offer attention where needed.
Kesh huffed again, "ok if you think you can find it lead on" Kesh walked on and soon the shape of another formed within the mists of snow.
Of course
Without hesitation Sakaala moved towards the figure, "Are you alright?"Talaiel
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Mar 3, 2017 23:31:17 GMT
Sakaala Birel Talaiel pulled the mantle closer around her shoulders, listening to the voice wind its way through the snowstorm, asking if she was alright. The half-elf snorted, wincing at the cold air seared the inside of her nostrils. "I'm absolutely fantastic!" She yelled back, "Very warm, lots of trees to shelter me from the wind. It's wonderful stuff!" She stepped out from the ledge, ignoring the shivers that rattled her body and looked at the other woman. An elf, Talaiel guessed. It'd been a while since she had met any of her father's people. At least, she thought her father was an elf. She might have been wrong. Being a changeling was confusing. She stopped in surprise as the gorilla appeared. That was not at all what she had expected. She had seen zombies and demons, but this was something new. "Do you know where we might find shelter from the storm?"
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Mar 5, 2017 22:11:10 GMT
Sarcasm if it weren't for the cold Sakaala would have laughed, "Ahh yes because the sun is so bright and sunny. I understand. Who are you?"
Sakaala looked the stranger over instinct said it was alright, she hoped her instincts were right. She looked cold, she shivered she wasn't dressed to be out in this weather. The cold was bitter it started with the tender finger tips and slowly crawled up the arms and legs until the heart felt it, that was when you knew you were dying. Those not fit for cold died quickly.
For the safety of this one they would have to go back. Kesh couldn't carry two of them but one. Sakaala knew she would have to go back but first to make sure there was no danger being brought.Talaiel
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Mar 5, 2017 22:42:09 GMT
Sakaala Birel"Naturally," Talaiel snapped back, rubbing her hands across her arms, trying to get the blood flowing again. She stamped her booted feet on the ground. This was getting ridiculous. What sort of person left a clearly freezing traveler stuck in a snowstorm while asking paltry questions. Her teeth began to chatter. "Talaiel," she answered above the hiss of the wind. "Paladin of Hefayne, guarder of roads and travelers. Now for the love Hefayne, can we go somewhere at least decently warm?" She shrugged her shoulders, hitching the bow and quiver higher up, covering some of the exposed skin at the back of her neck. It cut the bite off the chil for a time, but she knew it wouldn't last. "I'd even settle for cold but out of the wind." She stepped forward to the other woman, clenching her jaw to keep them from shivering and held up both her hands. Talaiel carried no sword or axe, only a dagger at her waist and the bow at her back. "And perhaps I should ask who you are before you sweep my off my feet like some apparent princess charming," her voice had a hint of a jest about it, "Only to find you're a dragon. That would hardly be proper, would it?"
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Mar 6, 2017 20:00:37 GMT
Sakaala smiled, "You should ask for all you know I am not what I seem, and as you say I could be a dragon." Kesh huffed again at Sakaala. It was true though even Sakaala had been taught be weary of strangers her gaze stayed on the Paladin.
Kesh did not like all of this standing around, Sakaala nodded, "yes Kesh. I am Sakaala of Celeb Dor Talaiel the freezing cold Paladin of Hefayne. I will take you to the Great Hall of Celeb Dor. Kesh will carry you on her back she's concerned your feet will fall off and she can will provide some warmth." Kesh without needing further instruction bent a little lower to give Talaiel ease to get up.
Fiesty Paladin, that was good.
Sakaala got her blanket from her pack and handed it to Talaiel it would help. She waited for them to settle in to begin the walk, well jog back. They would have to move faster to keep the Paladin from freezing.
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Mar 8, 2017 4:35:34 GMT
Sakaala Birel Talaiel met her gaze, arching an eyebrow, despite the shivers that tried to crumple her into a ball. She shifted from foot to foot, stamping them in the snow to keep the blood flowing. They stung and tingled, but she ignored it. The bigger concern was if this woman was a danger or threat. Celeb Dor? She had never heard of that place before and she was quite an accomplished traveler. A paladin of travelers, in fact. The massive gorilla lowered itself so could climb aboard. That hardly seemed safe. And her feet would be fine. She'd walked farther than she had today. But, warmth was good. Reluctantly, the young half-elf took the blanket and wrapped itself around her shoulders before clambering onto the gorilla's back, shocked at the warmth that radiated from the fur. "Celeb Dor," she said after a moment. "Never heard of it, Sakaala." She wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "Why might that be? And who in their right mind would dwell in the mountains?" It was cold and desolate, with far too much open sky. That was the Winter Court's domain and they were as capricious and cruel as the mountains themselves. She would much rather travel in the domains of the Summer Court, even when the Winter King waged his war against them as the days grew short and cold. But some knew nothing of the intricacies of fae courts, so perhaps they could not be faulted so severely. Still hardly wise, however.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Mar 21, 2017 1:08:28 GMT
"It is my home hidden away between the mountains, above the snow line." She watched the Paladin carefully if she was pretending she was doing a good job.
However the pale blue lips, the white of her cheek, add in the slight chatter of her teeth and Sakaala was convinced it was no lie. "You might not have heard of us because we do not draw attention to ourselves. If we need to trade we trade, if we need to watch, we watch." Sakaala laughed when she asked who in their right mind would dwell in the mountains.
"You must not have spent much time in the mountains. There is much to see and enjoy here." Sakaala waved her hand towards her home, "the way the snow glistens on the rooftops, the crisp cold clean air that fills you and the intricate snow flakes that cover the ground." A smile of joy spread from her lips to her eyes.
In the distance the lights of the high towers could be seen.
"If you do not like the cold Talaiel why are you so high?"
|
|
|
Post by Talaiel on Mar 26, 2017 23:53:28 GMT
Sakaala Birel "Above the snow line?" Talaiel asked in surprise, wrapping her cloak closer around her shoulders. "Why would you live here?" She almost said something else, but caught her tongue. This was the mortal world, not the Fey. The realms were not the same. "The mountains are not where I belong," she said after a moment, tapping the hilt of her dagger. "The mountain-spirits do not take kindly to me and my kind. There is beauty, yes, but it is both alien and distant." She squinted through the snow and stared into the distance. Lights glistened through the cold and she leaned forward. "I have been on a journey," she said at last, "Something has summoned me to the East, although I am not sure what yet. What brought you out into this cold?" She muttered a small prayer beneath her breath and a bit of warmth flowed through her body.
|
|
|
Post by Sakaala Birel on Apr 3, 2017 0:44:51 GMT
Sakaala nodded as she listened to the Paladin named Talaiel. "Every mountain has a snow line. A definite separation of where the green ends and white snows begin, we call it the snow line. You are now above snow line the air tends to be thinner, and colder here than the forests below." Kesh was huffing again either because they were close or that Sakaala had forgotten something. What brought her out into the cold, there was no need to lie. "One of Elders has heard that the number of kings for the undead have grown. She wishes me to find out if it is true." There was word of many kingdoms that favored the undead it was a concern for those who lived with the elements. "What is your journey about Talaiel?" They grew closer to the entry back inside. Soon they would begin calling out to challenge them. Talaiel
|
|