A Malevolent Rebirth: A D&D Story

| Prologue | Venlynn Halyviel | Honor Guard | Part 1 |

"You will be our spear and our shield. The next in a long line of guardians that have kept Elvenspire and the Fey realms safe for generations...I expect great things from you Young Halyviel."

Venlynn opened her eyes and raised her head. The memory of her first time meeting Chancellor Yeldan Romaer of the Elvenspire senate flashing through her mind as she is presented with her first mission as an Elven Honor Guard.

She takes the letter from the hands of Chancellor Romaer's advisor and rises to her feet, crossing her hands across her chest in an x shape and bowing her head.

Venlynn Halyviel is a young Elven woman, still in her early to mid hundreds in age. Her hair is cut close in a bob, and her piercing blue eyes are sharp with focus and discipline. Her skin is pale and unblemished despite her station and profession.

She exits the senate chambers and opens the letter as she descends the massive staircase to the streets of Valtris. The Elven capital city is rife with Elves of all sorts and seldom any other races, not even many Half-Elves can be found, controlled natural growths curl across almost every building, and moss grows unbothered between some of the stones in the streets. It is a city of natural, magical, and archaic beauty.

The letter is short, but it gets the message across as to the importance and relative secrecy of the task. An ornate seal of the senate on the front and a stamp of the Romaer family seals the gold and green gilded envelope.

'Ms. Halyviel, your family had served the heads of Elvenspire for generations, but as of late our studies of the outside, and knowledge of other nations' military power has all but reduced to nothing. We ask that you rekindle the legacy your family started, and serve us as our faithful guardian once again. Your mission will be to take a well-trained Tabaxi warrior of your choice as your bodyguard, pose as an adventuring party, and gather as much intel about the world, namely Brimstone as possible. Report back all findings to us by the month's end. Best regards, Yeldan Romaer'

Venlynn neatly folds the letter, then unsheaths an ornate longsword hilt, the blade not present. With practiced quickness she recites a command phrase, and a golden blade of sunlight bursts forth from the crossguard, she holds the envelope above the solar heat and lets it and all evidence of the mission orchestrator burn before she flicks away the radiant blade stowing it once again.

"Very well. It seems there is work to be done."

Her cold stoicism does not break as she makes her way toward the Tabaxi barracks nearest the senate building.

The barrack entrance is guarded by lightly armored dual-blade-wielding Elven warriors. They do not pay any mind to Venlynn until she stops before them and the sealed gates they guard. Speaking in Elven one guard turns his head in Venlynn's direction, looking slightly down at the woman.

"What need have you for the slave warriors?"

Venlynn's eyes were cold like ice as she held the guard's gaze.

"Orders. Above your station."

She holds up her family crest, a badge indicating both her family's nobility and her status as an Honor Guard of the Elven senate.

The guard nods and straightens.

"Forgive this warden for his words. Proceed inside and speak with our quartermaster."

The other guard weaves druidic symbols in the air, and with a flash, the gates unlock and open.

Venlynn does not hesitate to stride inside. The large is little more than a massive hallway with bunks on the interior and training grounds on the exterior, only one room is different, that of the Elven Slave Wardens. Elite Elven warriors trained to manage and fight large groups individually or as a group. Venlynn makes her way to that room and is met by an Elven woman nearly two heads taller than her.