Post by Dal'Lumen on Apr 13, 2008 16:11:17 GMT -5
Ascending wood, 21
The placid silence of the forest gave way to the rattling, clanking, thunder of a large caravan passing down the rough dirt road. Men and women in all manner of elegant clothing, they looked odd wearing it, as if it didn't fit them or they did not ride and present themselves as nobles would... many of them walked along side the wagons. Some held weapons and armor but did not look anything like the stalwart guards or soldiers of a city.
A somber look carved into all of their faces, fear veiled by conviction held itself upon their faces. These people walked through savage lands which held hidden hoards of barbarians, and bandits who would likely have had their way with these fools who would put on such an arrogant display.
The train of humans, animals, and wagons snaked its way down the road; finally a clearing in the trees revealed a vast expanse before them. The children and women on the carts stood up as the wagons slowed to a halt, They squinted their eyes and held their hands upon their brow to survey the landscape... nothing could be seen for miles and miles... As hope faded the people began to murmur, voices could be heard crying out "There is nothing out here!" "We have no chance, we came so far, how will we survive?!"
women could be heard sobbing helplessly, these people had lost so much to find refuge, and a new beginning.
A young girl struggled to break free from her mothers embrace, she turned and pointed to the eastern horizon. "Mommy whats that!" she exclaimed, her eyes blinking in the bright sun.
The faces in the crowd turned slowly in the direction the young girls tiny finger indicated. In the distance could be seen a fleck of dazzling light, the sun had given them their answer. As the travelers moved down the road more came into view - a city... The light of the sun shining on the rooftops nearly 20 miles away. In no small way this gleaming sign of hope on the horizon lightened the hearts of the travelers... It was here!
A young man hurriedly leapt from the cart he was coaching, halting the train. people watched him closely as he ran franticly towards the front of the train...
In a dark carriage that rattled and swayed with the movement of the road, the dark form of a man sitting with his legs crossed could barely be made out from the shafts of light leaving white lines across his form.
Large beads of sweat dripping from his brow, *plat plat* with every lurch and bump of the road, sweat would rain down on the dry wooden flooring... The cart was simple - a cot was laid on the floor, a few silks were draped across the entrance and the walls, a cloud of fragrant smoke hung in the air, some jugs of water and a few small bundles of wild flowers and grasses sat around the man in the center of the wagon. His eyes were closed and darted around franticly under his eyelids.
The sound of a young boy crying out for his mother, and his sister broke the silence of his mind... they were being dragged out of a small house by their rope bound hands and ankles. The rugged looking men who had invaded their home were jeering and shouting as they burst back out the door, the sound of the ocean came rushing in as the door opened and white light spilled in. The men turned when they noticed the boy who had appeared behind them, his face crumpled by rage, and confusion. they boys mother screamed - "Wind! NO, i told you to hide! RUN ASHEN WIND RUN!"... the boy did run, but not away - instead he ran directly at the men... "Arrgh!" a small knife sunk into the mans knee, in the blink of an eye the other man swung his large callused hand at the boy...
Ashen Wind's eyes wrenched themselves open as he came back into the present, the power of the memory he had just experienced had left him sprawled on the floor of his rickety wagon... He composed himself and wiped the sweat from his bald head down with a rag left near his cot. he shook his head and raised the jug of water to his lips and began taking long gulps of the warm fluid... he thought about how far he had come since those days of childhood - how far down the pit of his own misdeeds he himself had created. "This is a small step in the right direction I suppose... These people look up to me, and they forgave me despite the things I did to them... Most of them...
At that, the pounding feet of someone running could be heard outside, and then climbing up to the door of the carriage...
the boy was so frenzied that he struggled against the silk drapes in the doorway like someone getting tangled in a vast spider web, he fell and stumbled towards Ashen Wind...
"whoa there, are we under attack? I hear no sounds of battle my boy! Ha Ha!"
*Ashen Wind reached out with a long arm and lifted the floored boy straight into the air and then back down onto his feet.*
the boy panted and dusted himself off, as he gasped... The... there is a city, A BIG one, we can see it over the hill!" *the boy gasped again* as he tried to prepare for the next thing he would say... "Could this be the place!?"
A stern look crossed ashen winds face, and he looked at the boy curiously - with a lurch his wagon came to a full stop - "we've stopped..." *his stern look melted away and was replaced by a warm smile* "Lets go take a look then shall we?"
Ashen Wind got up slowly, towering above the boy... and even having to bend over slightly to stand in the wagon... *patting the boy on the head gently*
he gathered up a bundle of cloth which clanked and sang out with the distinct sound of metal against metal... and threw it over his shoulder... and with his other hand reached out to grab a long silk sheet from the wall, and wrapped it around his waist and tied it off quickly... the boy looked up at the man that stood so completely above him in awe. Again Ashen wind smiled down at the boy.
"well are we going or aren't we!"
he strode out of the wagon and squinted into the glorious sunlight, as his eyes adjusted he could see that many people had gathered around the front of the train and were now looking at the man emerging from the lead wagon. upon which were many brightly colored silks which fluttered gently in the wind
- the outside the the wagon was far more flattering than the inside, it looked as though people had decorated it with the many fine weaves and shimmering metals-
the man before them rose to his full height, he stood roughly (6' 2''), he was lean but obviously exceptionally strong... His skin was the rich golden-Bronze color of a westerner, though slightly darker than what was usually seen, and the silk he wore was a lush blood red, and it hung loosely over his legs and waist. He walked with an undefinable confidence, and every step was smooth and fluid.
he walked into a clearing the crowd had made in the road outside the doorway to his wagon... "My friends, What seems to be all the excitement!" His voice was as impressive as one could have ever imagined - it boomed out warm and strong above the noise of the masses.
the people fell silent all eyes upon the powerful presence that was before them, and a few in the front walked forward a few steps and said - "a city, we see a city shining in the distance! Its the one you told us we would find!" Ashen Wind, looked at the people and said "It was the Unconquered sun that told ME, my friends. I am just the messenger of his benevolence!" he boomed with a beaming smile...
He turned his head to the direction the people were looking and saw in the distance the glint of orichalcum on the ancient first age manses... "well I'll be damned, Its even more impressive than I thought!" The people roared with ecstatic cheer, and began to shout "you saved us all, hail Ashen Wind... the distant light of hope... you saved us all and gave us freedom! some of the others shouted praise in their native languages, and a voice small as it may have been seemed to rise from the crowd exclaiming Dal'Lumen! hail the Dal'Lumen! and the crowd fell into silence again... and a man in the center of the mass of faces pushed his way forward - he was ancient and had a crooked face, that looked as though it had seen far too many beatings, his back was hunched and he had found himself a rather hansom walking staff to help him walk... I know what you were, you were one of the worst of them, half the scars on our bodies are of your doing... but after what happened"... the man went quiet a moment... and then said " you brought us freedom, you saved us from the guild, YOU stood against everything that you were to change and save the people you had stolen the will to fight from.... you were the one to give it back. You are no longer the man you were before, and you should no longer carry that mans name... Dal'Lumen my great leader, that will be your name now! the people in the crowd stood stunned, they looked fearfully at Ashen Wind, memories of the horrors the man they saw before them had caused them passing over their faces like a dark cloud...
The old man said again "you are not that person, and we have had faith that you would be the one to lead us to sanctuary... And to that, you did!" the old man smiled with a toothless grin.
Ashen Wind stepped towards the old fellow and reached out to put his large hand on the ancient mans back. "thank you my friend, thank you for your forgiveness... Though I am far from forgiving myself..."
An intense light blazed in his eyes and he seemed to glow even more radiantly than ever.
THANK YOU ALL!
Cheers roared out from the crowd again - they all said it now "HAIL THE DAL'LUMEN!"
"Dal'Lumen beamed at the crowd again and said - then Lets go see what this light on the horizon holds for us my friends!"
The placid silence of the forest gave way to the rattling, clanking, thunder of a large caravan passing down the rough dirt road. Men and women in all manner of elegant clothing, they looked odd wearing it, as if it didn't fit them or they did not ride and present themselves as nobles would... many of them walked along side the wagons. Some held weapons and armor but did not look anything like the stalwart guards or soldiers of a city.
A somber look carved into all of their faces, fear veiled by conviction held itself upon their faces. These people walked through savage lands which held hidden hoards of barbarians, and bandits who would likely have had their way with these fools who would put on such an arrogant display.
The train of humans, animals, and wagons snaked its way down the road; finally a clearing in the trees revealed a vast expanse before them. The children and women on the carts stood up as the wagons slowed to a halt, They squinted their eyes and held their hands upon their brow to survey the landscape... nothing could be seen for miles and miles... As hope faded the people began to murmur, voices could be heard crying out "There is nothing out here!" "We have no chance, we came so far, how will we survive?!"
women could be heard sobbing helplessly, these people had lost so much to find refuge, and a new beginning.
A young girl struggled to break free from her mothers embrace, she turned and pointed to the eastern horizon. "Mommy whats that!" she exclaimed, her eyes blinking in the bright sun.
The faces in the crowd turned slowly in the direction the young girls tiny finger indicated. In the distance could be seen a fleck of dazzling light, the sun had given them their answer. As the travelers moved down the road more came into view - a city... The light of the sun shining on the rooftops nearly 20 miles away. In no small way this gleaming sign of hope on the horizon lightened the hearts of the travelers... It was here!
A young man hurriedly leapt from the cart he was coaching, halting the train. people watched him closely as he ran franticly towards the front of the train...
In a dark carriage that rattled and swayed with the movement of the road, the dark form of a man sitting with his legs crossed could barely be made out from the shafts of light leaving white lines across his form.
Large beads of sweat dripping from his brow, *plat plat* with every lurch and bump of the road, sweat would rain down on the dry wooden flooring... The cart was simple - a cot was laid on the floor, a few silks were draped across the entrance and the walls, a cloud of fragrant smoke hung in the air, some jugs of water and a few small bundles of wild flowers and grasses sat around the man in the center of the wagon. His eyes were closed and darted around franticly under his eyelids.
The sound of a young boy crying out for his mother, and his sister broke the silence of his mind... they were being dragged out of a small house by their rope bound hands and ankles. The rugged looking men who had invaded their home were jeering and shouting as they burst back out the door, the sound of the ocean came rushing in as the door opened and white light spilled in. The men turned when they noticed the boy who had appeared behind them, his face crumpled by rage, and confusion. they boys mother screamed - "Wind! NO, i told you to hide! RUN ASHEN WIND RUN!"... the boy did run, but not away - instead he ran directly at the men... "Arrgh!" a small knife sunk into the mans knee, in the blink of an eye the other man swung his large callused hand at the boy...
Ashen Wind's eyes wrenched themselves open as he came back into the present, the power of the memory he had just experienced had left him sprawled on the floor of his rickety wagon... He composed himself and wiped the sweat from his bald head down with a rag left near his cot. he shook his head and raised the jug of water to his lips and began taking long gulps of the warm fluid... he thought about how far he had come since those days of childhood - how far down the pit of his own misdeeds he himself had created. "This is a small step in the right direction I suppose... These people look up to me, and they forgave me despite the things I did to them... Most of them...
At that, the pounding feet of someone running could be heard outside, and then climbing up to the door of the carriage...
the boy was so frenzied that he struggled against the silk drapes in the doorway like someone getting tangled in a vast spider web, he fell and stumbled towards Ashen Wind...
"whoa there, are we under attack? I hear no sounds of battle my boy! Ha Ha!"
*Ashen Wind reached out with a long arm and lifted the floored boy straight into the air and then back down onto his feet.*
the boy panted and dusted himself off, as he gasped... The... there is a city, A BIG one, we can see it over the hill!" *the boy gasped again* as he tried to prepare for the next thing he would say... "Could this be the place!?"
A stern look crossed ashen winds face, and he looked at the boy curiously - with a lurch his wagon came to a full stop - "we've stopped..." *his stern look melted away and was replaced by a warm smile* "Lets go take a look then shall we?"
Ashen Wind got up slowly, towering above the boy... and even having to bend over slightly to stand in the wagon... *patting the boy on the head gently*
he gathered up a bundle of cloth which clanked and sang out with the distinct sound of metal against metal... and threw it over his shoulder... and with his other hand reached out to grab a long silk sheet from the wall, and wrapped it around his waist and tied it off quickly... the boy looked up at the man that stood so completely above him in awe. Again Ashen wind smiled down at the boy.
"well are we going or aren't we!"
he strode out of the wagon and squinted into the glorious sunlight, as his eyes adjusted he could see that many people had gathered around the front of the train and were now looking at the man emerging from the lead wagon. upon which were many brightly colored silks which fluttered gently in the wind
- the outside the the wagon was far more flattering than the inside, it looked as though people had decorated it with the many fine weaves and shimmering metals-
the man before them rose to his full height, he stood roughly (6' 2''), he was lean but obviously exceptionally strong... His skin was the rich golden-Bronze color of a westerner, though slightly darker than what was usually seen, and the silk he wore was a lush blood red, and it hung loosely over his legs and waist. He walked with an undefinable confidence, and every step was smooth and fluid.
he walked into a clearing the crowd had made in the road outside the doorway to his wagon... "My friends, What seems to be all the excitement!" His voice was as impressive as one could have ever imagined - it boomed out warm and strong above the noise of the masses.
the people fell silent all eyes upon the powerful presence that was before them, and a few in the front walked forward a few steps and said - "a city, we see a city shining in the distance! Its the one you told us we would find!" Ashen Wind, looked at the people and said "It was the Unconquered sun that told ME, my friends. I am just the messenger of his benevolence!" he boomed with a beaming smile...
He turned his head to the direction the people were looking and saw in the distance the glint of orichalcum on the ancient first age manses... "well I'll be damned, Its even more impressive than I thought!" The people roared with ecstatic cheer, and began to shout "you saved us all, hail Ashen Wind... the distant light of hope... you saved us all and gave us freedom! some of the others shouted praise in their native languages, and a voice small as it may have been seemed to rise from the crowd exclaiming Dal'Lumen! hail the Dal'Lumen! and the crowd fell into silence again... and a man in the center of the mass of faces pushed his way forward - he was ancient and had a crooked face, that looked as though it had seen far too many beatings, his back was hunched and he had found himself a rather hansom walking staff to help him walk... I know what you were, you were one of the worst of them, half the scars on our bodies are of your doing... but after what happened"... the man went quiet a moment... and then said " you brought us freedom, you saved us from the guild, YOU stood against everything that you were to change and save the people you had stolen the will to fight from.... you were the one to give it back. You are no longer the man you were before, and you should no longer carry that mans name... Dal'Lumen my great leader, that will be your name now! the people in the crowd stood stunned, they looked fearfully at Ashen Wind, memories of the horrors the man they saw before them had caused them passing over their faces like a dark cloud...
The old man said again "you are not that person, and we have had faith that you would be the one to lead us to sanctuary... And to that, you did!" the old man smiled with a toothless grin.
Ashen Wind stepped towards the old fellow and reached out to put his large hand on the ancient mans back. "thank you my friend, thank you for your forgiveness... Though I am far from forgiving myself..."
An intense light blazed in his eyes and he seemed to glow even more radiantly than ever.
THANK YOU ALL!
Cheers roared out from the crowd again - they all said it now "HAIL THE DAL'LUMEN!"
"Dal'Lumen beamed at the crowd again and said - then Lets go see what this light on the horizon holds for us my friends!"
