With the moon light descending onto them, the group of four stand around the body of a young man, his arm severed, dressed like that of a jester. Whitelaw is the first to speak, "We have to tell the master what happened here."
"I will message him" responds Velora as she steps a few feet away from the rest of the group facing away.
Alistair turns to Kari, his ethereal voice filling the silent air with a lighthearted tone, "How did you know about the mask? aren't you all about fighting and the glory of battle?" As Alistair lightly swings his sword comically.
Kari glances to her side towards the silver knight, "The art of battle is more than just fighting, victory is just as important, and to know your enemy's capabilities and weaknesses is to assure victory"
"But if it's not fighting, you know absolutely nothing." Alistair counters, "Correct." Kari responds.
Whitelaw kneels down, strapping his bow to his back, reaching out he lifts the ceramic jester mask to his face, examining the strange item. Glancing back to Kari he inquires, "What was he?"
"He, or It, is called a Visage. An intelligent creature of shrouds and shadows, created by the god Syvic, lord of darkness as agents of chaos. They can take the form of anyone they kill and use the deception to their advantage." Kari explains, Whitelaw continues on "But this wasn't a transformation, he or it, was possessing a body. This isn't the normal is it."
"No, so I think it was special to, maybe blessed by Syvic or serving some emissary of him." responds Kari.
Velora returns to the group, her toneless speech addressing her companions "The master expressed concern, he is within Venamir and wishes to see us come nightfall tomorrow."
"At least we get rest this time." comments Alistair finally sheathing his own sword.
With this news, the group of four decides to leave the man's body, with no witnesses there would be little chance for them to be implicated in the matter.
Time: Silent Moon (Roughly 2AM)
Location: Dreamscape
A silver boot comes crashing down into a sea of grassy fields, the clanking movement of metal armor. The bright sun beating down onto the windswept grasses, a light breeze in the air to indicate a cool summer evening. The silver armored knight, sword missing from his hip, Alistair Krey glances about the peaceful field, as it leads onward to a cliffs edge, a single yet familiar figure sitting on the edge. Alistair marches upward to the edge, sitting atop the cliffs edge as he looks below. A beautiful and elegant city alive with the bustle of movement and muses of the people, a city of elven kind. At the edge of the city itself stands a tree larger than any like it before towering over the city like a watchful guardian, its roots curl into the earth and around the city as the elven people below smile, laugh, and run about with joy in their step. Alistair glaces to his side, the familiar red-headed elf Velora sits staring out into the city a blank stare on her face.
"I apologize" Velora suddenly breaking the silence between them, Alistair turns his head back to the city below, sympathy in his voice "It's alright, you know we're used to it" a brief silence overtaking the two once more as they watch the people.
"So this was Parel huh?" asks Alistair, "Yes, before the war reached us." answers Velora
"It's pretty beautiful, it's a nice dream." comments Alistair. Velora closes her eyes and shakes her head, "No, it is a nightmare."
Suddenly the sky darkens above as the sun is shrouded by smoke and fire as the scenery once peaceful, now a sight of war and death. The city littered with the bodies of the elven kind, their blood staining the earth for years to come, fires burn their buildings to the ground, ash rising into the sky to consume the light. Thundering footsteps echo in the distance as an army of red-skinned humanoids march into the city streets, the cry of wyverns ring out into the air as they circle and dive into the city to strike at survivors. In the distance, a single wyvern soars across the fields, a man riding the draconic beast, his eyes glow of dark power as he nears. Raising his hand, energy surges around his hand creating a sphere of illuminating green fire, he reels back his arm.... suddenly the image shifts away like a ripple in water the entire city disappearing into simply being a field of grass in summer time.
"I'm sorry" Alistair tells her with a soft-spoken voice.
"Do not be, it is only a memory." responds Velora with a monotone voice. Silence once again overtakes the two for a brief moment before Alistair inches closer to her, wrapping his metallic arms around her to embrace her. Velora merely sits there unfazed, unmoving, and in silence as the two wait for the night to end.
Time: Midday (1PM)
Location: Crimson Lantern, Tavern & Inn
With the creak of wood underneath metal boots, Alistair descends from the second floor of the high-quality tavern, with light shining inward, the pleasant smell of vanilla and lavender decorates the air, and few bar patrons lay about scattered around one of the many well made wooden tables and velvet rugs. Looking about the area, he spies his fellow companions sitting around a single table playing a round of King's Cards, a card game of luck and skill. Walking over an ethereal yawn emits from his helmet. Whitelaw glances to him, "Did you get enough sleep?" Alistair stretches his arms over his head and nods to his companion "I'm as good as freshly made suit of armor."
"let's head out then, we need to resupply before seeing the master." says Whitelaw, the group stands up from their table, collecting the cards as Velora collects the winnings. The group leave the tavern as the bright sun breathes down onto their forms, Alistair looks about and asks with a low voice "It's the anniversary isn't it?" Whitelaw nods, "Lyren 2nd, the day the Archon fell."
"We should enjoy the celebration." Alistair whispers to the group, a joyful tone to his voice as the four make their way into the heart of the city of Venamir, a large mass of citizens gathering around to celebrate the end of the recent war.
YOU ARE READING
The Fey Walkers
FantasyThis story takes place within the world of Aylon, my own custom world originally created for my d&d campaign. Following four unlikely people who were brought together at the whim of a powerful archmage, they now serve him in by performing tasks h...
