Taming Death

The shadows

The Lunar Festival's a spectacular celebration held under the light of the moon enchanting the Elven realms. As dusk falls, the entire area transforms into a scene of beauty, bathed in soft, light of the setting sun and decorated with delicate paper lanterns that glow with an inner luminescence.

The festival grounds are set around a serene, moonlit clearing surrounded by ancient trees. Elegant arches made of woven branches and adorned with glowing crystals mark the entrance. Pathways lined with bioluminescent flowers.

Music fills the air, with musicians playing melodic tunes on harps, flutes, and lyres. The music is enchanting, with harmonious melodies. In one corner, dancers dressed in flowing, iridescent fabrics move gracefully, their movements mimicking the dance of the moonlight on water.

The heart of the celebration is in the marketplace, where vendors offer goods and experiences. Stalls overflow with handcrafted jewelry, beautiful pottery, and intricate wood carvings. Artists showing their work, painting and sketching scenes of elven life and nature. One can find artisans crafting exquisite paper lanterns, guiding visitors in creating their own lanterns to release into the night sky.

Performance areas are scattered throughout the festival. On one stage, actors in elaborate costumes perform plays that recount the history and legends of the  people. Close by, puppet shows captivate both young and old, telling whimsical stories with beautifully crafted puppets.

Food vendors offering traditional sun elf dishes made from herbs and fruits, accompanied by teas and sweet wine. The scents of roasting nuts and baking pastries add to the sensory feast.

Interactive workshops invite festival-goers to try their hand at various crafts. Children and adults alike enjoy sessions on painting, weaving, and even magic-infused art, where spells are cast to create glowing patterns and shapes.

As the night deepens, the festival reaches its climax with a grand lantern release. Thousands of lanterns, each carrying a wish or a blessing, are set free to drift up into the night sky, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of light against the backdrop of the full moon.

Watching the scene was breathtaking; but the moment didn't last when a bright blast of light and an explosion followed but the sounds of screams.

 

A thick fog rolled through the streets from the explosion, smelling of sulfur and rot. A cold chill descended into the air. And without warning came rats running. But not really rats. These beasts had elongated fangs and had no eyes, skin rotting from their bodies, bones protruding from them. The vermin scatter across the ground at first leaving most of the citizens alone, at first, but the vermin were followed by some disgusting and terrifying creatures.

The people where screaming fleeing in panic, havoc filled the streets as decorations were scattered and trampled, stalls tipped over catching fire as teeth and claws swiftly slashing innocent festival goers. The ones who could use magic stayed behind to. Help defend and get others out.

Some of the guards stationed around that evening and people with weapons immediately took stance and began fighting back. One starting to yell commands, "stations man form a line lets do this." Quickly organizing in a formation, they engaged in battle. Rows and rows of beast came through the fog it was overwhelming them and they had to fall back.

Orion and Theo look over from bridge balcony to see the square under attack. Rushing to their feet they head out to defend the city. On the way running into their friends and family.

As the beast's attack with feral intensity, the elven defenders respond with remarkable agility and coordination. Theo, Oleander, Carter, Jasper, Jackson, and other warriors engage the creatures in fierce combat, their movements a dance of precision and power, while Arragon, Sal, Lance and other mages summon elemental forces to strike down the invaders. Bolts of lightning and bursts of fire illuminate the night, clashing with the dark energies of these terrifying creatures.

"Magic users take the Typhoid rats down, odd are they're trying to spread out before attacking, get them before they get to far." Theo commanded "and don't let them bite you. They have a poisonous bite, and it can kill some people."

"Except Lance I need you to take the princess somewhere safer and get more help."

The mages obeyed and chased after the vermin. Oleander you take Jasper and carter you take your brother, Take down those poor excuses for a cat down.

"You gotta be joking with me Theo, there's no fucking way I'm not going to be here on the front lines with you. You know damn well I can take care of myself." Orion snapped back.

"I know you can but I'd be distracted worried about you." Theo pleaded.

"That's a you problem, you don't control me, and you know damn well I will leave wherever you put me and come right back here" she yelled "save us some time and skip all that and let's go kick some demon looking ass.

"When you talk back I find it so attractive." Theo grinned.

"You're insane" Orion said rolling her eyes.

Realizing she can show off her newly acquired soul knife skill. She opens the palm of her hand and a purple flowing dagger appears, she grins as she stares at Theo her eyes glowing.

T: Be careful, people here have never seen a woman use that kind of magic.

O: I told you I don't need to prove anything to anyone I'm death and they should always respect death. Today I bring them death.

Orion dashes forward jumping on top of Lion looking thing, it was white with black stripes. But the body of a lion. She's never seen anything like that before.

T: thats a loam lion, its weakness is under its chin. Watch out for their claws they're razor sharp and their bite will make you feel like shit after.

O: got it

Landing on its back it growls angry about the uninvited passenger and when it tries to turn and bite her leg, she uses her body to throw the lion off its balance. Use the impact of the ground against the force my weight to dig my soul knife through her neck. Black blood spurted from the creature's neck drenching Orion in it.

"Ugh I just got this dress!!!!" Another loam lion charges her and so she throws another soul knife into the mouth of the growling lion. There were so many that poured out of the fog it was becoming overwhelming for them.

T: fall back Orion we're getting swarmed.

O: No, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna call the shadows.

T: no don't you don't just call the shadows, but you enter the Netherworld, and you change.

O: so you have to change me back. I love you.

A moment late her eyes flashed purple and her aura violently glowed it radiated from her. She let the power flow into her. Pulling the energy of the netherworld into her she called the shadows.

"I call the shadows from near and far. Come forth and do my bidding. Come forth and obey me as your commander. For I am Nether the god of death, I am the shadow that follows everyone. Come to me, obey" Her voice echoed another that lied deep inside. Another side of her screaming to be let out.

So, she did.