Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
alex994 said:OOC: Thlayli, your story is driving me nuts. I'm going to edit my orders ordering a full out attack on you if it continues
Well, the deadline's already passed.
But no, I didn't attack you, as promised.
LINESII- Into the Darkness- Part II
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
Well, the deadline's already passed.
But no, I didn't attack you, as promised.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
And I didn't attack you, as promised. Unless your army decides to cross the Fei River or break any other parts of our agreement without compensation and warning. Then it's a free for all.
Kentharu
Zebra Commander
oh and iggy, add in the land thingy for Croyodon please, i forgot it lol
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
End of Exile
"The Veritasan mentality is something that defies understanding for a non-Valin. It is proud, dedicated, far-sighted, and stubborn to the death. It is often foolish, or idealistic, but is driven by a passion for victory unequaled among others, and sharpened by defeat."
-Julianus Christia, Cultures of Tellus, 3441 P.D.
Part Two:
Telerios always woke before dawn. He believed that, since the One went to all the trouble to put that great flaming ball in the sky, it was the least a man could do to give thanks for its rising. So instinctively his eyes snapped open in the pre-dawn twilight. He washed his face, combed his beard, and shrugged on a light cloak and tunic. Then he left the two rooms where his wife, children, and parents still slept.
Before he left, Telerios passed his hands over the Valin symbol for "welcome" etched into the door of his home. He had carved it into the door on both sides, because he understood that people should feel as welcome going out into the One's world as they should coming into his humble home, if not more. Calling for his goats, he soon found them grazing halfway down the hill, the kids still sleeping in their mothers' fur. Then he strode out, staff in hand, to lead his flock to the stream.
It was getting colder, he saw. A light dusting of snow had fallen in the night, and it would coat the hillsides before the sun transmuted it into glistening dew. The waters of the stream would be cold, fed from the great glaciers that never melted, high up where no man but the Kildari* went. He gazed up in admiration at the peaks, those white sentinels that protected New Veritas from the barbarians in the jungles to the south.
They soon reached the stream, which was small, swift, and freezing as he expected. After checking to make sure that no wolves were in the valley, he motioned the goats forward, who bleated happily as they drank the fresh water. Filling his canteen, he sighed with contentment as the chilling water filled his throat. The stream passed between two long thin stones shaped like obelisks. He often wondered about those stones, which seemed to him to look like ancient, worn statues.
As sunlight began to filter into the valley, he looked downstream, where the path of the brook fell over several small waterfalls and a ravine, before joining a river that led towards the ocean. Far below on the grasslands, he saw soldiers starting their morning patrols from the guardtower. As the faint strains of the military trumpets echoed up the valley, Telerios silently thanked the men for protecting his home. Several months ago, a small party of Sintonian raiders, perhaps half a hundred mounted men, rode across the plain to raid the villages of the foothills. He and all the other farmers marched to join the Militia, and in a hard fought battle with the local garrison, they managed to turn back the enemy. But seven men were killed, men he had known his whole life.
Telerios knew that they looked down upon him from Paradise now, smiling with joy, from the reward given to them for defending the One's Children. And one day, he hoped, he too would join them.
A few more slanting rays of light soon escaped into the valley. Yes, the sun was rising again, as it should, and would forever and ever, until the end of Time when the One came in glory to judge all Men. But as he squinted into the golden ball, something caught his eye. Small, and black, or maybe brown, it just barely cleared the last peak of the mountain range.
And now it was falling, spiraling downward. Was it...a bird, perhaps? Yes, and it was definitely falling, now almost directly towards him. Telerios wondered if it could be a mountain eagle, driven from its home by a sudden storm. But no...as the bird lost all control over its flight and sank downwards into the valley, he realized that it was a messenger falcon.
Quickly hurrying forward, he reached the fallen bird only seconds after it landed into a clump of lichens with a muffled thud. Approaching tentatively, he saw the reason for the crash. A barbed arrow was lodged in the left wing...one with a bronze tip, he saw, so probably not Valin. And any trip across the White Mountains, especially with that wound, would have sapped the energy of even the most dedicated messenger falcon.
He picked up the bird in his arms, which had clearly lost consciousness. A shame that this had happened...but there was still time to save it, perhaps. He looked for the message on the leg, and found two scrolls. One bore the large, blue seal of the Legioni. But the second, smaller scroll, (and at this Telerios' eyes widened in surprise,) bore the purple seal of the Stratikrator.
The simple farmer soon realized that the bird in his hands, and the messages it carried, were far more important than his life, and everything he had ever known. He immediately called his goats, who looked surprised that their master would be leading them back so soon. Telerios would definitely make a trip down into the grasslands today.
---
Notes-
Kildari: Mountain-dwelling tribesmen, that pay allegiance to New Veritas in return for autonomy and peace.
"The Veritasan mentality is something that defies understanding for a non-Valin. It is proud, dedicated, far-sighted, and stubborn to the death. It is often foolish, or idealistic, but is driven by a passion for victory unequaled among others, and sharpened by defeat."
-Julianus Christia, Cultures of Tellus, 3441 P.D.
Part Two:
Telerios always woke before dawn. He believed that, since the One went to all the trouble to put that great flaming ball in the sky, it was the least a man could do to give thanks for its rising. So instinctively his eyes snapped open in the pre-dawn twilight. He washed his face, combed his beard, and shrugged on a light cloak and tunic. Then he left the two rooms where his wife, children, and parents still slept.
Before he left, Telerios passed his hands over the Valin symbol for "welcome" etched into the door of his home. He had carved it into the door on both sides, because he understood that people should feel as welcome going out into the One's world as they should coming into his humble home, if not more. Calling for his goats, he soon found them grazing halfway down the hill, the kids still sleeping in their mothers' fur. Then he strode out, staff in hand, to lead his flock to the stream.
It was getting colder, he saw. A light dusting of snow had fallen in the night, and it would coat the hillsides before the sun transmuted it into glistening dew. The waters of the stream would be cold, fed from the great glaciers that never melted, high up where no man but the Kildari* went. He gazed up in admiration at the peaks, those white sentinels that protected New Veritas from the barbarians in the jungles to the south.
They soon reached the stream, which was small, swift, and freezing as he expected. After checking to make sure that no wolves were in the valley, he motioned the goats forward, who bleated happily as they drank the fresh water. Filling his canteen, he sighed with contentment as the chilling water filled his throat. The stream passed between two long thin stones shaped like obelisks. He often wondered about those stones, which seemed to him to look like ancient, worn statues.
As sunlight began to filter into the valley, he looked downstream, where the path of the brook fell over several small waterfalls and a ravine, before joining a river that led towards the ocean. Far below on the grasslands, he saw soldiers starting their morning patrols from the guardtower. As the faint strains of the military trumpets echoed up the valley, Telerios silently thanked the men for protecting his home. Several months ago, a small party of Sintonian raiders, perhaps half a hundred mounted men, rode across the plain to raid the villages of the foothills. He and all the other farmers marched to join the Militia, and in a hard fought battle with the local garrison, they managed to turn back the enemy. But seven men were killed, men he had known his whole life.
Telerios knew that they looked down upon him from Paradise now, smiling with joy, from the reward given to them for defending the One's Children. And one day, he hoped, he too would join them.
A few more slanting rays of light soon escaped into the valley. Yes, the sun was rising again, as it should, and would forever and ever, until the end of Time when the One came in glory to judge all Men. But as he squinted into the golden ball, something caught his eye. Small, and black, or maybe brown, it just barely cleared the last peak of the mountain range.
And now it was falling, spiraling downward. Was it...a bird, perhaps? Yes, and it was definitely falling, now almost directly towards him. Telerios wondered if it could be a mountain eagle, driven from its home by a sudden storm. But no...as the bird lost all control over its flight and sank downwards into the valley, he realized that it was a messenger falcon.
Quickly hurrying forward, he reached the fallen bird only seconds after it landed into a clump of lichens with a muffled thud. Approaching tentatively, he saw the reason for the crash. A barbed arrow was lodged in the left wing...one with a bronze tip, he saw, so probably not Valin. And any trip across the White Mountains, especially with that wound, would have sapped the energy of even the most dedicated messenger falcon.
He picked up the bird in his arms, which had clearly lost consciousness. A shame that this had happened...but there was still time to save it, perhaps. He looked for the message on the leg, and found two scrolls. One bore the large, blue seal of the Legioni. But the second, smaller scroll, (and at this Telerios' eyes widened in surprise,) bore the purple seal of the Stratikrator.
The simple farmer soon realized that the bird in his hands, and the messages it carried, were far more important than his life, and everything he had ever known. He immediately called his goats, who looked surprised that their master would be leading them back so soon. Telerios would definitely make a trip down into the grasslands today.
---
Notes-
Kildari: Mountain-dwelling tribesmen, that pay allegiance to New Veritas in return for autonomy and peace.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
I will write a story soon about how all the peasant subjects of Guangfei are deeply loyal and will sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the Empire
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
alex994 said:I will write a story soon about how all the peasant subjects of Guangfei are deeply loyal and will sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the Empire
Copycat.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
Thlayli said:Copycat.
Considering how I've been writing stories like that before you even joined...
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
alex994 said:Considering how I've been writing stories like that before you even joined...
Well the forum, but not this NES.
I think that I can claim to be the most prolific story writer in the sub-forum, at least in the past year.Not that it helps much.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
And you complain about your "lack of time" 
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Well thanks, Iggy. I figure that the more stories I write, the more reluctant you are to kill off your main storywriter.
End of Exile
"I have decided to go away for a time, since we are now unworthy. I pray deeply and honestly that when our people return, they will have become purer, harder, and wiser."
-Last words of the Prophet Pacian in Veritas
Part Three:
He crouched behind a ruined column. Since the enemy had taken the city, too much of it was ruined. But that would be changed. He would see this city rebuilt by the time he died, if he had to pile stone on stone himself. Anger, and passionate thoughts ran through his head...but then he stopped himself. This was no time to think, only to carry out orders.
They were coming. A small pebble fell, probably disturbed by some small animal. It was cold, and there was only a thin sliver of moon...that was better, for him at least. Yes, they were definitely coming. It was a small group of them, walking together. "Kill two," he whispered to himself, "and let one escape. That is the way."
He drew his arrow, and aimed silently. Hopefully they would come right past that column...yes, it was true. There were four of them. Their armor was truly quite nice, but the enemy's culture placed high emphasis on that sort of thing. How the metal scales overlapped and linked was very nice. If only he could have armor like that...but mobility and silence were his friends. And no armor would stop a Veritasan barbed arrow, not at this range at least.
Perfect. They were stopping to talk. Perhaps he could try...yes, two arrows at once. Drawing a second, he drew back the bowstring. Hopefully these first shots would hit the face, or the neck...the men seemed inexperienced, but many of the troops the enemy sent in were young. There was no time to reflect on the identity of his enemy; that was too dangerous.
He fired, without warning. There was a scream, and someone shouted orders. Yes, one was down, and the other had an arrow in the shoulder. They were dragging their comrade off to the side...no, we couldn't have that. He brought down the wounded man, and then shot the commander, who was carrying the one he'd probably killed. And yes, the breastplate was punctured, but the man pulled out the shaft, and...damn! His position was spotted, and the two men were coming towards him. He loosed another shaft, and ran, just barely escaping a throwing dagger.
He ran for his life, into the cold. It shouldn't be this cold in spring, he reflected. Yes, they would not follow. Their comrade was on the brink of death, and they would need to get him to safety.
Lost in thought over his next move, he almost ran into a man lurking in the shadows. Both men drew their weapons, but relaxed, when they saw that each was an ally. Though they knew no names, the first man knew that the second was higher than him. The second man smiled. "My friend, we now know his name."
"Yes, tell me, what is it?"
"His name is Xenophon. Now come, there may be a boat arriving."
"A...boat?"
"Yes. Haven't you realized that now is the time?"
---
High Elder Palerian stared at the servant. "From the Stratikrator, you are sure?"
The servant bowed. "Yes, my liege, the unbroken seal of Stratikrator Vandrios was found on the bird."
"And the falcon, has it been taken care of?"
"Yes, it appeared to be near death, but our finest falconmasters are tending to it now."
"See to it that the bird does not die. You may go."
"Aye, my liege."
The servant bowed, and withdrew. Palerian sighed. He hadn't been virtually handpicked by Vandrios for this job just to have people bow and compliment him. He sliced the wax with a silver knife, and unrolled the scroll.
My friend, it read,
I am going away for a time. Guangzhong took all of my strength, but the city is ours. The men are tired, though, and cannot take much more of it. The Legioni dispatch will tell you of our agreement to Saenium, and the plans I have given to the commanders. I will not see Redemption again. But my friend, there is another thing. As the city burned, I made my way to the library, as you had encouraged me to do. And as we suspected...something was there. Some garbled fragment, but still there. Very little I could discipher, only what we knew..."He will come carrying a spear in his right hand, and a tree in his left." But more than the one in Kallamas exists. It can still be found. I leave you with this knowledge, for even if you nor I can attain the truth, one day the equal to Strategius will. We must preserve this knowledge, until that day comes.
-Vandrios
Palerian looked down at his hands. They were trembling. Yes, it was time.
"Summon Thanatos," he called to an orderly. "And the generals of the Legioni, and the Norvalin armies. And summon Exilsium's troops. Summon everyone! I must speak to them."
End of Exile
"I have decided to go away for a time, since we are now unworthy. I pray deeply and honestly that when our people return, they will have become purer, harder, and wiser."
-Last words of the Prophet Pacian in Veritas
Part Three:
He crouched behind a ruined column. Since the enemy had taken the city, too much of it was ruined. But that would be changed. He would see this city rebuilt by the time he died, if he had to pile stone on stone himself. Anger, and passionate thoughts ran through his head...but then he stopped himself. This was no time to think, only to carry out orders.
They were coming. A small pebble fell, probably disturbed by some small animal. It was cold, and there was only a thin sliver of moon...that was better, for him at least. Yes, they were definitely coming. It was a small group of them, walking together. "Kill two," he whispered to himself, "and let one escape. That is the way."
He drew his arrow, and aimed silently. Hopefully they would come right past that column...yes, it was true. There were four of them. Their armor was truly quite nice, but the enemy's culture placed high emphasis on that sort of thing. How the metal scales overlapped and linked was very nice. If only he could have armor like that...but mobility and silence were his friends. And no armor would stop a Veritasan barbed arrow, not at this range at least.
Perfect. They were stopping to talk. Perhaps he could try...yes, two arrows at once. Drawing a second, he drew back the bowstring. Hopefully these first shots would hit the face, or the neck...the men seemed inexperienced, but many of the troops the enemy sent in were young. There was no time to reflect on the identity of his enemy; that was too dangerous.
He fired, without warning. There was a scream, and someone shouted orders. Yes, one was down, and the other had an arrow in the shoulder. They were dragging their comrade off to the side...no, we couldn't have that. He brought down the wounded man, and then shot the commander, who was carrying the one he'd probably killed. And yes, the breastplate was punctured, but the man pulled out the shaft, and...damn! His position was spotted, and the two men were coming towards him. He loosed another shaft, and ran, just barely escaping a throwing dagger.
He ran for his life, into the cold. It shouldn't be this cold in spring, he reflected. Yes, they would not follow. Their comrade was on the brink of death, and they would need to get him to safety.
Lost in thought over his next move, he almost ran into a man lurking in the shadows. Both men drew their weapons, but relaxed, when they saw that each was an ally. Though they knew no names, the first man knew that the second was higher than him. The second man smiled. "My friend, we now know his name."
"Yes, tell me, what is it?"
"His name is Xenophon. Now come, there may be a boat arriving."
"A...boat?"
"Yes. Haven't you realized that now is the time?"
---
High Elder Palerian stared at the servant. "From the Stratikrator, you are sure?"
The servant bowed. "Yes, my liege, the unbroken seal of Stratikrator Vandrios was found on the bird."
"And the falcon, has it been taken care of?"
"Yes, it appeared to be near death, but our finest falconmasters are tending to it now."
"See to it that the bird does not die. You may go."
"Aye, my liege."
The servant bowed, and withdrew. Palerian sighed. He hadn't been virtually handpicked by Vandrios for this job just to have people bow and compliment him. He sliced the wax with a silver knife, and unrolled the scroll.
My friend, it read,
I am going away for a time. Guangzhong took all of my strength, but the city is ours. The men are tired, though, and cannot take much more of it. The Legioni dispatch will tell you of our agreement to Saenium, and the plans I have given to the commanders. I will not see Redemption again. But my friend, there is another thing. As the city burned, I made my way to the library, as you had encouraged me to do. And as we suspected...something was there. Some garbled fragment, but still there. Very little I could discipher, only what we knew..."He will come carrying a spear in his right hand, and a tree in his left." But more than the one in Kallamas exists. It can still be found. I leave you with this knowledge, for even if you nor I can attain the truth, one day the equal to Strategius will. We must preserve this knowledge, until that day comes.
-Vandrios
Palerian looked down at his hands. They were trembling. Yes, it was time.
"Summon Thanatos," he called to an orderly. "And the generals of the Legioni, and the Norvalin armies. And summon Exilsium's troops. Summon everyone! I must speak to them."
Ah yes, the Statues again... I eagerly await to see what comes of this.
So many unanswered mysteries in this NES. What exactly happened in the Halls of the Assemblum in 777, what secrets hide within the tomb of Strategius?
I have a few secrets of my own...
One I will divulge now is the name of the update.
So many unanswered mysteries in this NES. What exactly happened in the Halls of the Assemblum in 777, what secrets hide within the tomb of Strategius?
I have a few secrets of my own...
One I will divulge now is the name of the update.
Spoiler Don't look if you don't want a hint. :
Wubba360
Emperor
i just had an amazing idea for a story
but it will have to wait for tomorrow
but it will have to wait for tomorrow
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: It's obviously mentioning the Rise of Veritas and the Valin race once more. That's the best reference to a "phoenix." Silver knife... the arrogance of the Valin race!
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Gah. Iggy, just NPC me. Too much going on.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
Striking at Iron
As always, peace has triumphed, but for how long is up for grabs. After all, wise men prepare for war in times of peace. Li Xiang, Duke of QingdaoThe fires that had burned behind him as his squad retreated towards the river had long went out. The people of the city had barely managed to evacuate in time fleeing across the Fei River. By the Emperors order, they had stayed along with 4000 other soldiers with the militia having been dispersed by Imperial decree. It was their finest hour. They had cut down Valins by the hundreds as they swarmed across the citadel.
The Palace artworks and other priceless items and literature had been the first things to have been taken away, long before the Valin army was within a weeks march from Guanzhong. They had swarmed but the line held, it had held for many a charge as the disciplined forces of the Valins had clashed with the finest of Guangfei. Inspired by the great edifice they had been defending as well as the knowledge that each minute they won another would flee to safety was awe-inspiring.
They had held, and when not a single of their companions still stood, they retreated. There had been enough time Guangfeis river fleet was still supreme. And the Valins had not followed, perhaps out of fear of the rumors and legends. Of men who did not die without bringing many mortal souls with them. It was either that or the figure with the purple cape. Vandrios perhaps? It didnt matter, his objective had been accomplished. Guanzhong had fallen, but in the end it had been nothing but a city.
The people, the art, the literature were the things that had made Guanzhong the center of Guangfei. They survived and would return in time and Guanzhong would prosper once more. In the end, Guanzhong was nothing but an edifice, a symbol. And when it fell, it had sent shockwaves throughout the Empire. It was a rallying call, a symbol in which the massive population of Guangfei could encircle and they did. One of the largest army to have ever graced the earth had been amassed.
He had no regrets, after over 20 years of service to the Dragon Throne. The 5th son of an insignificant landowner near Guangzhou, he would have had to be very lucky to have the life he had now. The call had gone out over 20 years ago, for volunteers to join the Imperial Guard, to serve as the mail fist of the Emperor. He had gone, and it had changed his life forever. He was a man that people respected, a man that people had come to pin their hopes and dreams on.
And as he approached the tent, there was none the less a small trace of fear. It was the fear of a small 7 year old boy as he had left his home all those years ago to begin his training which was anything but soft. It had been hard, and in those years he scarcely remembered a day in which he had been fully satisfied with the food given to them. But it had long ironed his resolve and mind for the task at hand. He stepped into the tent and entered the light.
Your Grace, His Imperial Majesty has signed the Treaty of Saenium with New Veritas. Peace, however tentatively has returned. On behalf of His Majesty, Emperor Ku and the Duke of Qingdao, Li Xiang Keeper of the State documents would like to offer their most heart felt congratulations Count-General, your distinguished services in Qingdao and later in the Trinlin campaigns have brought victory and peace to Guangfei.
The legendary Count-General Fei Shala, a man who had yet to lose one battle in his long nigh one century years of life. From the plains of Qingdao to the lush forests of Shangei, against the well disciplined hosts of Veritas to the rabble armies of Trinlin, he had triumphed. Slowly, methodical, he had won despite all. Yet his fame did not spread, a quiet man he was by nature, believing greatly in the order of things.
His Majesty, and the Honorable Duke, Colonel, can say what they wish about peace. I trust the Valins as much as there are loyal Valfei within the Empire. I shall be ready, for any betrayal or breaking of the Treaty as you may tell His Imperial Majesty and His Grace. My army stands ready to defend Guangfei sovereignty and honor as it has for over 80 years. May the Heavens bless us if they wish, with peace..
With a bow, he whisked off bearing the message, with a tinge of apprehension The possibility of peace if the Valins did not go back on their word. He quashed it the instant it came up, it was no longer in the hands of men. But in fate.
Swissempire
Poet Jester
[CENTER]The Grand Glorious Tale of Killing Valins For Benefit of Glorious Swade[/CENTER]
If you don't kill Valin, your not a real man- Mr. Opwrehpgihwrepgh
GOhedp turned to piagbweoeifh and said "I killed a Valin once, it was cool"
piagbweoeifh thought long and hard about this.
[insert moral or something, i don't know i'm ****ing exhausted]
If you don't kill Valin, your not a real man- Mr. Opwrehpgihwrepgh
GOhedp turned to piagbweoeifh and said "I killed a Valin once, it was cool"
piagbweoeifh thought long and hard about this.
[insert moral or something, i don't know i'm ****ing exhausted]
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