Beyond the city of Rharne lies the Stormlands, which is home to a number of farms, forests, fields, Lake Lovalus, and the River Zynyx. This subforum also includes the Stormwastes to the south.
Varlum had been travelling for a while. Riding on a horse was difficult when the horse broke under your weight and size. Some time, Varlum would have to get his hands on a mount of his size. Animals had never much been his thing, but going around the place on foot was proving to be hard. Then again, he often had the chance to ride in a cart or a carriage, but it didn't feel particularly comfortable. The ceiling was low, the walls about as wide as his shoulders and the atmosphere felt wrong for an Ithecal of his size. Marching or riding a ferocious beast was more like it. Something about a carriage made even Varlum look less intimidating, how he had to elegantly step out as if he was the lady of some castle.
Not his thing at all.
Lucas and Lynessa had both agreed to meet him at the lake, both of them hearing the same call. It had been a while since they fought the beast out in the Stormwastes, but Varlum at the very least had been busy. Whether some weird spirit had bonded with him or not and beckoned him to the lake, there was nothing he could do about his job. Lightning Knights weren't particularly forgiving when you told them that you had to miss work because the lake wanted a chat. But the voice had grown too loud to ignore, the urge eating at him. What was so special about this lake that him and the other two had to come and see it?
As he walked, Varlum felt the urge of the Elements around him. It had been a long time since he'd engaged with the Elements fully, his Spark growing restless. Varlum didn't fully understand the magic, even now. What was he supposed to do either way? If he cast in Rharne then others were at risk, there was no level of control he had that could guarantee their safety. Perhaps when he was as skilled as Evianna he could afford to do it, but right now he had to rely on size alone. All things considered, he didn't need much more than that when it came to fighting off thugs and drunkards.
As he reached the Lake, Varlum let himself sit by it's edge for a moment, glancing at his own reflection before looking around to see if the others were close to arriving.
“Naera!” the priestess scolded for the eighth time that trial.
The female Zephyrus snorted in disdain but had enough grace to slow down – the slightest bit. This season she had been focusing herself on learning to ride the feline that was now already full-grown. Although, it had been less of riding lesson and more like learning to keep Naera in line. After all, she had the tendency to break into full speed with no running, which eventually ended with Lynessa thrown into the ground in a not so pleasant way. Naera wasn’t so pleased about that – she liked her speed and freedom.
Still, even with her scoldings, they still barreled through the Stormlands. On the brief moments that Lynessa did not fear falling off the feline’s black, the wind blowing against her skin and the heart-pounding speed was certainly thrilling. It was nothing like riding a horse – it was so much better. Naera was swifter and nimbler than she could ever imagine.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take too long for them to reach Lake Lovalus. The deep blue of the water greeted her vision, taking over the land beside the city. It was difficult to imagine that the lake had been the one granting them a mysterious power on that fateful day. And then the blessing that followed. It still felt surreal, almost like a dream. Of course, it wasn’t a dream. It was slowly becoming a nightmare. After their encounter, more and more creatures clad in flames came from the Stormwastes. The knights had been holding off as best as they could, but even Lynessa had heard the dire new – they wouldn’t be able to keep it up forever.
Considering her involvement with dispatching the first Flameborn, the priestess was not surprised when her superiors had called her in and demanded for every piece information she had. Lynessa had gladly told them what she knew, but that wasn’t enough. They spent breaks grilling for every detail – the mysterious light, the texture of the fiery monster, the way it walked, the weapon that answered its call. Once they decided
Which she had mostly refused politely. Leth was still recovering, after all, and she wanted to stay by his side. Not to mention she was the only one who still grasped on the hopes that he might heal one day. Trial after trial she spent visiting healers, herbalists, shamans. Yet, none of them offered any solution to the knight’s vision problems. It was frustrating, but a part of her refused to give up. However, she knew that she could not keep avoiding her duty for long. Her life was sworn to the Thunder Priestess, offered up to serve Ilaren.
It certainly wasn’t difficult to spot the giant figure of the Ithecal knight, Varlum. Naera seemed to recognize the lizard man as well and headed towards him without her command. Once they were close enough, Lynessa slid off the Zephyrus’s back and headed towards him. Naera immediately bounded for the lake, eager for a drink.
The priestess smiled at the lone knight. The other man, Lucas, was nowhere in sight just yet. “I see I’m not late to a meeting for once.”
Last edited by Lynessa on Tue Jan 29, 2019 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 541
Lucas had been by the lake for a while, coming early for their meeting, a trial early to be precise. It was one of the advantages to living out of permanent accommodation he could be anywhere he liked when he liked and this time he had slept out by the lake under and old blanket he had managed to scavenge for free. Still his body was tired all the time recently, likely due to the extra effort that had been going into healing the stab wound he had received at the circus. It had been a cruel trick that caused him to almost get gutted like a deer but effective all the same.
He walked alongside the open expanse of water, the words of Lovalus still echoed in his mind like whispers of a ghost. Lucas had no doubt that the pull the three of them had felt to the lake was no coincidence, something was waiting for them. As he walked and looked at the rippling water he said a short prayer. The ex-convict thanked Ilaren once again for his second chance, knowing he owed all this to her.
The Ithecal was hard to miss, a giant compared to the average man it was hard to miss Varlum. Lynessa was not so hard to recognise either, the Zephyrus were not a common pet to see it made her just as easy to pick out as the lizard man. Lucas approached with a raised hand, the lightning knights sword he had collected in the wastes hanging from an old belt. "Sorry, I am late, I managed to oversleep. We can thank the Aukari that stabbed me earlier this season for that." He laughed half heartedly and looked to the lake.
"I can't deny whatever it is that's drawn me hear, its something strong, I can feel it within me." He looked to the priestess and the knight, both of them seemed to have so much more to offer than he did. In truth he could understand why they had been chosen and while he had made his vow like they had, he still struggled to believe he had been chosen alongside such proud examples of those who served Rharne.
Letting out a sigh he looked at his companions one after the other, fighting the urge to scratch the developing scar on his stomach. "So what do you suppose we do now?"
The Wardens….it had been so long since any of them had drawn breath on the face of Idalos. But Lovalus remembered.
The Lake always remembered.
There was a time when the godling of Thunder had walked upon these shores and beseeched the spirit for aid out of desperation. Fire and his followers had been consuming her lands and her people; she had been unable to stop his assault. She understood that her destructive power was ill suited for combating a power similar to her own. Lightning versus Fire, no one would win that battle; they would only succeed in destroying all life within Rharne had they been left to resolve things on their own.
So Lovalus had answered Thunder’s desperate call and offered an exchange for the gift of a weapon that could bring an end to the flames that consumed the land and waterways of Rharne. An accord was struck. The Lake granted her Heart to the people of Rharne and in exchange, those her Heart touched would serve all life within her purview; Rather than simply serve the interests of the godling of Thunder.
The first Wardens were born soon after and they pushed back the last invasion of Fire. Once the threat was forced to retreat, the Heart was hidden away to wait for a time when the power of the Wardens might be needed again.
That time was now.
The three newborn Wardens stood on the edge of Lake Lovalus. The water gleamed and glittered against the startling blue sky. As they grew close to the edge, the pull within their souls that had drawn them there vanished. The water at the edge stirred softly. Tendrils of lake water rose up in beautiful arcing patterns that slowly wove themselves around Lynessa, Varlum, and Lucas. Within trills a crystalline dome of pure water had encircled them, providing them with a large pocket of air just before they were lifted up and then drug into the depths. Naera was left panicking on the shoreline, watching as her rider was dragged beneath the surface of the Lake.
The bright blue of the sky vanished above them as the bubble the three were encapsulated within was towed down into the deep of the Lake. The three would find that they could sit or stand quite comfortably within the bubble and that the darkness around them soon was made clear as their eyes and skin began to glow softly just as it had when they had first fought the Flameborn. Electric blue radiance spilled from Lucas’s eyes, emerald green from Varlum’s, and a sharp violet from Lynessa’s. A cool crisp wave of strength poured into each of them, making all of the Wardens feel a little less afraid of the predicament they were in.
“These ones kept their vows.” A deep breathy voice commented. The voice came from within their own minds. A hazy blue orb of light sparked into being just in front of Lucas. He would somehow immediately know that the orb was the source of the voice. The Keeper of the Heart felt strangely connected to the ball of radiance, as if it’s power was what flowed through him.
A similar violet orb blazed into life right in front of Lynessa’s nose.
“Not all who have come before have done so.” The second orb replied. It’s voice was lighter and more feminine. Lynessa would also feel strangely connected to the entity, as if they shared a bond that was deeper even than her sisterly bond with Naera.
Lastly a bright emerald ball of incandescent flared into existence near Varlum’s shoulder, it seemed to examine the Ithecal critically….if that was even possible for a disembodied sphere of light.
“You are the first Wardens in centuries, lets hope you aren’t a disappointment.” Varlum’s orb grumbled.
Without warning the bubble came to a sudden stop in it’s decent, nearly knocking the trio to the ground. The bubble had apparently slammed into the mouth of a cavern that was happily devoid of water. It was incredibly dark but the shadows were immediately forced back when azure light of the Heart of Lovalus lit up brightly in Lucas’s grasp, providing them with plenty of light to see by.
The tunnel leading into the cavern was adorned with delicate carvings of men and women in armor, surrounded by waves as they fought off very familiar spear wielding creatures that were wreathed in flames. Each of the armored men and women had next to them a small sphere that fought alongside them.
“We must reach the Arc, it is time for the Heart to return home again.” Lucas’s deep blue orb spoke somberly.
A short distance down the tunnel lay two large double doors that were twice Varlum’s height. They also bore the same carvings as the tunnel itself. The doors waited for them, as the pull within their souls resumed. Drawing them toward the gate.
New Warden Familiar
Alright guys, this is a bit unique since we are developing the Wardens IC but you have all three been awarded each a spirit familiar. These are Diri of Life, it is their charge to protect all natural life, even Rharnians so long as they adhere to keeping balance with the natural world and the Lake. These Diri are the primary source of your power, they are bonded to your souls through the power of the Heart of Lovalus. Their essence is pure life distilled, which is why they can combat the raw destructive power of the Flameborn.
You may now customize your new spirit familiars. Right now they simply appear as little floaty orbs but in your next post you can describe them taking a new shape that you choose. (Typically spirit familiars will take the shape of an animal although you can get creative if you like) You may also choose a name for them and their personalities. I'd like you all to pm me a brief write up of your new familiars. Include the Appearance along with their personality. Currently their only ability is that they can speak with you and give you the power to kill the Flameborn. (They also cannot be seen by Non-Wardens since they are not really corporeal)
Initiating new Wardens
Also from now on any of you may bring another PC to the Lake in order to be made into a Warden. Any of you can now access the Warden's HQ by approaching the Lake shore and your familiar will take you down to it in a similar fashion as you have seen today.
The initiate must only be brought up to the Heart of Lovalus and they must give a vow to dedicate themselves to protecting life. Simply pm a moderator to request permission to do this and you can arrange the initiation.
Lucas watched with awe as the tendrils of water surrounded the group, creating a large glistening ball of water. He turned around and looked curiously at the strange sphere that contained them as they were suddenly pulled into the depths of the lake. His heart jumped to his throat as he panicked for a brief moment, seeing the sky disappear he felt trapped, like he was back in the cells that had once held him. However, his nerves were settled with the light that radiated out from his eyes revealing the surroundings once again as the orb appeared before him.
Feeling obliged to do so the ex-convict took a knee and bowed his head in respect. Something about the orb made him feel strong and safe, like the orb was his protector, a brother of sorts. He had taken his role to heart the day he had first been offered the title. The keeper of the heart. Lucas was still learning and trying to fully understand what that meant but even now he knew it was vitally important, it was his future and one he would grasp with both hands and an open mind. Standing again as the rest of the orbs appeared and said their part Lucas regarded his orb with a strange familiarity, the blue light cool and calming.
Before Lucas had chance to speak he felt his legs give way from the force of their docking and he dropped to the floor with a thud. Sitting up he feelt the heart in his hand and the light that erupted from it lit up the enormous room. Carvings lined the walls and the newly converted man looked at them with indescribable feeling, the story they told was great and beyond any legends he had ever heard. "It's incredible." Lucas murmured, the soft sound filling the quiet room. He looked to the orb beside him and the heart in his hands knowing that the hearts home lay beyond the doors that only a giant could wish to open.
Walking towards the doors he stopped and looked back at the other two. "This way." Lucas waved them forward as he stopped at the foot of the doors and looked to the orb beside him. "Iluyua." He wasn't sure how he knew the name of the orb but he did and he watched as its form changed subtly. It remained an orb but its structure became far more like water, flowing in an eternal spiral at his side like a wave rolling over and collapsing on itself without pause. It was beautiful to watch and soothing to Lucas' often unsettled mind, helping to keep him grounded and within the realms of normal sanity.
Lucas bowed his head and placed his hands upon the doors. He doubted he had the strength to open them but why not try, there was no harm in doing it and perhaps the orb would help him. Leaning all his weight on his arms he pushed against the engraved doors, murmuring an inaudible prayer to Ilaren and offering his thanks and respect to Lovalus. The man was ready for whatever lay beyond the gateway, it was time to make ammends.
She had to remind herself that she wasn’t dreaming. Or drunk.
The water formed an impossible barrier around them and Lynessa found herself robbed of her ability to speak as the slowly sunk into the depths of Lake Lovalus. There was a sense of calm that washed over her as the water swallowed them. She supposed it made sense. She had learned to fear the heat of fire while water seemed to offer her solace. Out of curiosity, her slim fingers reached out to touch the water, wondering what it would feel like.
Orbs of light proceeded to appear next, three of them to be exact. It made no sense but she could hear their voices echoing inside her head. Lynessa reached out to touch the one that had landed right in front of her. Its presence felt familiar, like an old friend she hadn’t seen in a decade. “Come before? Are there more people who can do… what we did that day?”
Unfortunately, their short trip down the lake was cut short. The priestess gasped softly as she was thrown into the tunnel, the unexpected fall catching her off guard. The darkness around them was soon dispelled by Lucas’s bright orb, nearly blinding her for a split trill. It was a big cavern, a darkened hall leading to two massive doors that would lead to who-knows-what.
“What is this place?” the young woman mused as she ran her fingers across the carvings of warriors. The wall felt cool under her touch, if not a bit damp. She walked slowly, trying to absorb every detail as she moved closer and closer to the door. The violet orb followed her every gesture, circling her a few times as if inspecting a particularly peculiar object.
One of the voices said that they were the first Wardens in centuries... Lynessa thought of a story that her father used to tell her on winter nights, to distract her from the cold. Of warriors fighting against flaming creatures that sought to burn everything to the ground. It was one of her favorite stories and she would constantly pester him to retell it.
Before she could tell her companions about the realization, the priestess paused as the orb finally paused and decided to hover in front of her face once more. The light expanded and brightened for a moment. When it died back down, a majestic Emberwing was flying in front of her, formed by pure violet light. “You may call me–”
“Iselya,” Lynessa finished without thinking, as if the name had been planted in her mind before she was born for this moment. The bird seemed to nod approvingly before deciding to land on her shoulder.
It was only then that she realized what Lucas was trying to do. “Let me help,” she announced, taking a position next to him and started pushing on the door.
Reaching tendrils enveloped them and dragged them through the lake, the Defier glancing around with a discomfort. While he felt safe in a way he couldn't understand, the man was still not used to water. His Defiance spark leaned towards the blazing fires and the sturdy earth. At the very least they were evidently safe, side by side as they had been at the battle of the Stormwastes. There were few people he felt more comfortable being around than these two, at least when it came to the battles they had experienced. While it had only been one fight they had side by side, it had been perhaps the toughest that Varlum had encountered yet, taking down a beast of strength beyond that of most mortals. Yet these three Mortals had done it.
As the voices spoke Varlum's eyes glanced around with wonder and awe at what he saw. In all of his time as a Knight, this was by far the most intense thing he had seen thus far. Orbs of light appeared before each of them. Deep blue before Lucas, Violet blazed before Lynessa and finally - the Emerald green. Varlum found himself grinning at the comment of his own orb before jolting forward a little, pushing his foot forward to stabilise himself. Eyes shot up to each of his companions for a trill. "Yes sir" Varlum nodded with small but undeniable energy written across his features, pride clear on his face, as he hoped would be true for the others. They had done something that very few could do. All of the ominous words had begun to make sense. Whatever it meant to truly be a Warden was made clearer with each step they took towards this Lake, deep inside of its reach. With every word spoken from the Diri's. They were, for all they understood of it now, Wardens.
As Varlum began to walk forward with the others he found the green orb taking form in front of him. A long body unfurled from the green orb and took a serpentine shape, long with a draconic head at the end. Its form was large, wrapping slowly around Varlum and floating in the air above despite bearing no wings. Varlum's hand ran out and traced along one side of the snake-like Spirit in front of him for a trill, before withdrawing it back to his side. This was surreal. Feeling such a sharp and immediate bond with a being like this felt stranger than anything he could have imagined. The last time he felt like it was when his Sparks had been bonded with him.
"I take it you are going to pull my name out of a hat, too? Or can we skip the formalities? We have work to do" the Diri, Ivarn, scoffed as it stayed wrapped around Varlum. A small chuckle left the Ithecal as he walked besides the others and placed both hands on the door. If any of them had a high chance of moving it then it would be him. "Smooth talker. You remind me of my old instructor in Ivorian" Varlum said with a little grin across his face before starting to push with all the strength he could muster.
