The Unborn

Chapter One

Silence

A crushing stillness

A great feeling of a terrible wrong

The young elven scout stood in abject horror as he looked upon a scene ripped from his very nightmares. Bodies splayed all around. Blood and viscera painted the village. Despite the heat and decomposition of the bodies there were no insects or carrion feeders anywhere, as of even they knew this place was completely and horribly wrong. Whatever had happened here had caused even the gods to avert their eyes.

The scout heard something that drew his attention and what he saw made his blood run cold. A figure was walking towards him, a dozen undead shambling behind him. The figure's robes were dripping with blood but not a single mark could be seen on them. What kind of monster was this person? The scout dropped to his knees, his will escaping him, ready for the death that was surely coming. And yet...the figure stood before him passively. Now that they were close the scout knew it was a male, their piercing yellow eyes alight with madness.

"Tell them all" the figure hissed "Tell them what happens to those who cross The Unborn One"

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The Elven scout sat on his knees in front of the Queen as he recounted his story, the things he saw and the message that was given to him. His face was ashen from the horrors he stumbled across in that village, his voice barely above a whisper but the words struck those in the audience chamber with the force of cannon fire. Hushed whisper erupted around among the council members at this news before the Queen stood up, her lip curling over her teeth in an effort to contain her disgust and anger at this story. 

"Do not repeat that name again in this court! any of you!" her voice boomed through the hall

the council members grew quiet and shared nervous glances before turning their attention back to the queen. the air was cold with her fury as she collected her thought and noone dared to break the silence. They all knew who this "Unborn One" was. half a century ago they all voted on weather or not to let them live despite the conditions of their birth and mercy won out that day. A mercy that left them all feeling responsible for what had transgressed now. 

"Relathain! Take 50 of our best men and go to Silver Leaf village, and uproot this vile weed. If he has fled like the coward I expect he is then track him."

The one called Relathain got to his feet and took a few steps forward. The aging battle master wore his armor even in a setting such as this, more comfortable in it than without. His once Rich brown hair more white than anything a testament to his age and experience. He gave a simple bow in response to the command, but before turning to leave spoke. 

"If his tracks leave our territory?"

this question sending more whispered chatter through the audience chamber. Tensions were high with the Human empire, what would be worse for relations? A lone mad Elf, or a detachment of the army patrolling their lands? The Queen drew a deep breath ready to shout down the foolish battle master for his question before she caught herself. She was better than the one they hunter, and better than the children playing kingdom outside her woods. She ran a hand through her hair, returning her appearance to one of perfection, now speaking more calmly but with a cold edge to her tone. 

"If he has fled our lands, then he is no longer our problem. Now Go"

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A bald man, his face and head covered in the Solar Brands that marked him as a cleric among the followers of the Sun God Solduran. He stood on a wooden stage erected in the center of the church grounds. All around him were other clerics and paladins of the order, dressed in their duty garb and armed with their weapons while the man on the stage was dressed only in a linen robe with his hands bound before him. It was clear that this was a trial of some sort and despite the angry glares of the men and women who surrounded him the man on the stage had a look of acceptance as he looked upwards towards the sky. It was when the clouds moved and covered the sun, as if the god he had devoted his life to was looking away from him that he finally began to look troubled.