Terevanincu
03-01-2003, 04:56 PM
Tale of a lonesome Adventurer
Chapter 1
He had already penetrated in Athel Loren once before nevertheless he could still feel this impression of novelty as if he had
never seen such scenery. He was amazed at how a forest could seem so lively and yet so deeply asleep. His grey elvish eyes could see far, eventhough it was already dark, yet he felt his sight was diminished. There was something mystical about these woods and he didnt feel at ease but he couldn't go back;he could still hear the tetanizing roar of the orc horde that had been pursuing him for two days now. He knew that his kin lived in these woods and hoped that he could find refuge in the forest. But there he was, alone, or at least he thought he was.
He didn't know if the savage orcs had followed him into the woods or else they had chosen to turn back, for Athel Loren had a reputation and was sinonym of no return for all unpure hearts.
Astaldaer was brave but he knew that what lived in this forest, treemen, dryads, faeries ... was beyond his skills as an archer. Furthermore, he had no grief against the living creatures of this realm. His legs were weakening and since the beginning he knew that his presence hadn't remained unnoticed. He decided to break the silence that was ruling in his surroundings and in elvish he spoke these words: < I am Astaldaer and seek counsel of your king>. Eventhough he got no answer he sensed that he had been heard. He advanced deeper in the woods until he finally reached a clearing. He could see the stars shining in the sky and a feeling of reassurement grew in him.
What he didn't know was that the clearing which seemed to him as a good place to rest his eyes for the night was in fact a holy ground in which had been sown the seed of the Ancients. Such desecration could not remain unpunished.
Chapter 2
Suddenly the forest woke up. The leaves in the wind, which was now blowing in Athel Loren, made a whistling sound and were swirling around the holy clearing entraping Astaldaer who could no longer run away. He could feel the earth quaking under his feet and he could now see dark figures behind the whirlwind of leaves. The creatures entered the clearing, revealing themselves. They were dryads, young trees of human height with a life but no heart. Their anger was driving them blindly towards Astaldaer who was now outnumbered twenty to one. But the dryads didn't charge unlike what the elf expected. They stood there, intimidating him , steady as ice. The whistling
sound ended only to be replaced by a trampling noise. The circle of dryads made space for whatever creature was coming.
Astaldaer was paralysed by fear and the view of his arriving enemy only intensified that feeling. It was three times taller than him and ten times stronger. It was what made this forest so intimidating for strangers; some of the gigantic trees composing the forest could move and were called treemen. A treeman was now face to face with Astaldaer, a fierce look on what could be compared to a face, its fists closed, ready to crush the elf in one strike. The archer was defenseless, how could arrows penetrate suh a scale and even his dagger would no no harm to such toughness. The treeman took a big swing at the elf trying to crush his foe, but Astaldaer, using the small courage he had left managed to leap away. The treeman after a strong roar expressing his anger and aggressivity was ready for his next attack. The plants on the ground took part in the fight and after his leap, Astaldaer was now pinned down by what seemed to be all the roots of the living woods. He was doomed and closed his eyes. When he thought it was the end, he perceived a chant bhind the roar of the huge tree and recognized the tongue of his kin. This gave him the strenght for one last effort and managing to cut free his left hand with hsi dagger he succeeded in dodging the second attack of his opponent . The treeman which had less sharp hearing than the elf heard the singing after his second
attempt to annihilate his foe and the song he heard , he knew very well and stopped fighting. He backed out.
Only the mesmerizing chant of the elves could now be heard and the swirl of leaves was no more .
Chapter 3
It was now time to meet his kindreds who lived in Athel Loren.The firsts he saw were the waywatchers,stealthy rangers skilled in bow and in setting deadly traps that are so well hidden that only people of the woods can distinguish them. They wear cloaks which keep them invisible as long as they are in the trees which were blessed by Ariel, queen of Loren. Their skill in moving silently is the achievement of incredible training and their art in traps is transmitted from waywatcher to waywatcher and even the rest of the wood elves know not their secret. They are proud rangers and none are yet known to have fallen while in their realm.
Astaldaer was invaded by two feelings: amazement and intimidation. He admired these elves that had been following him since his arrival in the forest yet he had noticed nothing. It was uncommon in these days to meet a waywatcher for they never showed themselves to strangers and their encounter should consider it a privilege and so did Astaldaer. One of them, whom was wearing a cloak darker than the others approached him. He spoke not to Astaldaer but with a movement of his arm he drove the stranger into following him. Never had he felt such anxiety while crossing a realm. He was taken to Orion, King of Athel Loren.
The king was impressive though he seemed less lethal than the rangers that had led him here. The strenght of the king was more in his wisdom and leadership than in his strenght which only made him mightier. Orion spoke in a loud and hard voice: < Who are you to risk your life by venturing into my realm?>
"My name is Astaldaer and i entered this forest to seek protection for i was pursued by orcs who had an unsatisfied thirst for blood."
"Terevanincu, leader of the mighty waywatchers has informed me that the orcs have been slain for they fell in his wisely set ambush."
"I am delighted to hear such news"
"Your fate is similar for you have desecrated holy grounds and our law is strict : you will suffer the death penalty. Be honored though for you have heard the singing of the Lady of our realm whom noone had ever heard from the outside world"
"I will not ask mercy for i respect your people and accept the punishment"
"The judgement ended and Astaldaer was taken away while the warhawks in the sky welcomed the King's decision in a storm of piercing cries.
Never had Astaldaer felt so peaceful while in captivity. He was to be executed at dawn.
[Edited on 17/3/2003 by Terevanincu]
[Edited on 20/3/2003 by Terevanincu]
[Edited on 20/3/2003 by Terevanincu]
Chapter 1
He had already penetrated in Athel Loren once before nevertheless he could still feel this impression of novelty as if he had
never seen such scenery. He was amazed at how a forest could seem so lively and yet so deeply asleep. His grey elvish eyes could see far, eventhough it was already dark, yet he felt his sight was diminished. There was something mystical about these woods and he didnt feel at ease but he couldn't go back;he could still hear the tetanizing roar of the orc horde that had been pursuing him for two days now. He knew that his kin lived in these woods and hoped that he could find refuge in the forest. But there he was, alone, or at least he thought he was.
He didn't know if the savage orcs had followed him into the woods or else they had chosen to turn back, for Athel Loren had a reputation and was sinonym of no return for all unpure hearts.
Astaldaer was brave but he knew that what lived in this forest, treemen, dryads, faeries ... was beyond his skills as an archer. Furthermore, he had no grief against the living creatures of this realm. His legs were weakening and since the beginning he knew that his presence hadn't remained unnoticed. He decided to break the silence that was ruling in his surroundings and in elvish he spoke these words: < I am Astaldaer and seek counsel of your king>. Eventhough he got no answer he sensed that he had been heard. He advanced deeper in the woods until he finally reached a clearing. He could see the stars shining in the sky and a feeling of reassurement grew in him.
What he didn't know was that the clearing which seemed to him as a good place to rest his eyes for the night was in fact a holy ground in which had been sown the seed of the Ancients. Such desecration could not remain unpunished.
Chapter 2
Suddenly the forest woke up. The leaves in the wind, which was now blowing in Athel Loren, made a whistling sound and were swirling around the holy clearing entraping Astaldaer who could no longer run away. He could feel the earth quaking under his feet and he could now see dark figures behind the whirlwind of leaves. The creatures entered the clearing, revealing themselves. They were dryads, young trees of human height with a life but no heart. Their anger was driving them blindly towards Astaldaer who was now outnumbered twenty to one. But the dryads didn't charge unlike what the elf expected. They stood there, intimidating him , steady as ice. The whistling
sound ended only to be replaced by a trampling noise. The circle of dryads made space for whatever creature was coming.
Astaldaer was paralysed by fear and the view of his arriving enemy only intensified that feeling. It was three times taller than him and ten times stronger. It was what made this forest so intimidating for strangers; some of the gigantic trees composing the forest could move and were called treemen. A treeman was now face to face with Astaldaer, a fierce look on what could be compared to a face, its fists closed, ready to crush the elf in one strike. The archer was defenseless, how could arrows penetrate suh a scale and even his dagger would no no harm to such toughness. The treeman took a big swing at the elf trying to crush his foe, but Astaldaer, using the small courage he had left managed to leap away. The treeman after a strong roar expressing his anger and aggressivity was ready for his next attack. The plants on the ground took part in the fight and after his leap, Astaldaer was now pinned down by what seemed to be all the roots of the living woods. He was doomed and closed his eyes. When he thought it was the end, he perceived a chant bhind the roar of the huge tree and recognized the tongue of his kin. This gave him the strenght for one last effort and managing to cut free his left hand with hsi dagger he succeeded in dodging the second attack of his opponent . The treeman which had less sharp hearing than the elf heard the singing after his second
attempt to annihilate his foe and the song he heard , he knew very well and stopped fighting. He backed out.
Only the mesmerizing chant of the elves could now be heard and the swirl of leaves was no more .
Chapter 3
It was now time to meet his kindreds who lived in Athel Loren.The firsts he saw were the waywatchers,stealthy rangers skilled in bow and in setting deadly traps that are so well hidden that only people of the woods can distinguish them. They wear cloaks which keep them invisible as long as they are in the trees which were blessed by Ariel, queen of Loren. Their skill in moving silently is the achievement of incredible training and their art in traps is transmitted from waywatcher to waywatcher and even the rest of the wood elves know not their secret. They are proud rangers and none are yet known to have fallen while in their realm.
Astaldaer was invaded by two feelings: amazement and intimidation. He admired these elves that had been following him since his arrival in the forest yet he had noticed nothing. It was uncommon in these days to meet a waywatcher for they never showed themselves to strangers and their encounter should consider it a privilege and so did Astaldaer. One of them, whom was wearing a cloak darker than the others approached him. He spoke not to Astaldaer but with a movement of his arm he drove the stranger into following him. Never had he felt such anxiety while crossing a realm. He was taken to Orion, King of Athel Loren.
The king was impressive though he seemed less lethal than the rangers that had led him here. The strenght of the king was more in his wisdom and leadership than in his strenght which only made him mightier. Orion spoke in a loud and hard voice: < Who are you to risk your life by venturing into my realm?>
"My name is Astaldaer and i entered this forest to seek protection for i was pursued by orcs who had an unsatisfied thirst for blood."
"Terevanincu, leader of the mighty waywatchers has informed me that the orcs have been slain for they fell in his wisely set ambush."
"I am delighted to hear such news"
"Your fate is similar for you have desecrated holy grounds and our law is strict : you will suffer the death penalty. Be honored though for you have heard the singing of the Lady of our realm whom noone had ever heard from the outside world"
"I will not ask mercy for i respect your people and accept the punishment"
"The judgement ended and Astaldaer was taken away while the warhawks in the sky welcomed the King's decision in a storm of piercing cries.
Never had Astaldaer felt so peaceful while in captivity. He was to be executed at dawn.
[Edited on 17/3/2003 by Terevanincu]
[Edited on 20/3/2003 by Terevanincu]
[Edited on 20/3/2003 by Terevanincu]