RE: (AQ) War of the Words (Full Version)

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Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:10:32)

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Keep the fires burning." Delnar shouted "It does not affect them all but it
keeps the most hazardous ones at bay"

"Aye commander" A knight shouted, "but the periphery is engaged and overall it
is not a battle we are winning. Worse some of our own fall before we can
kill them and they too raise and join the onslaught against us"

"This is wrong" Delnar sighed "People are supposed to have free will. These
do not choose to serve the evil. It chooses them"

"Commander!" Another knight exclaimed "We discovered Cerin trapped in one of
the lower buildings he is injured but not by the undead. He was caught
in a cave in. We heard him shouting just before we set the place ablaze"

"Cerin is alive?" Delnar felt the first moment of joy he had all evening

"Commander?" The other Knight said demanding his attention. "There is a ship
approaching the port! It flys the colors of Deren!"

"Praise be to the powers! Tralin has come at last. Mayhaps all is not lost"

"Don't get your hopes up commander some sea creature is attacking the ship"

"A sea creature?" Darin asked alarmed "What is it?"

"It looks to be a Bracken Sir a very big one but..."

"But?"

"Well sir I would not want to guess wrong sir but it smells of death
something terrible I think maybe its an undead too"

"Undead Bracken?" Delnar exclaimed 'of course whatever next, why should sea
creatures be any more immune to the pesitlence then those on land. This is
my fault, I ordered the remains in the temple cast into the sea."

"Sir the fray closes..." The knight said drawing a sword to fight an
undead Vandarian soldier.

"So I see" Delnar said turning to meet a combatant of his own.




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:10:59)

Chapter Twenty-Five

"What is that thing!" Darin exclaimed in terror as the ship was once again
rocked under the assault of the stinking sea beast.

"A creature of the deep that has fallen under the same corruption as your
army." Tralin responded

"Can't we do anything to help fend it off?" Darin asked helplessly.

"I can." Tralin responded and began chanting. He held the spell just at
the moment of its completion "Let us hope that like other undead this one
is susceptible to a little illumination, and even more susceptible to a
lot of it. Solar Flare"




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:12:20)

Chapter Twenty Six

The port was filled with a light as bright as day. Delnar watched it streak from the ship and strike the beast that had the ship engaged. Close to the shore, several of the wandering dead screamed in terror and fled inland.

"Tralin HAS come!"

Delnar cheered as he watched the beast howl and free the ship from its grasp. Several smaller rays of light struck the beast and large pieces broke free. The beast was sinking beneath the waves.

Delnar could not cheer for long, however, even as the brightest light died his adversaries
increased their ferocity.




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:13:16)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The sailor pulled into port, several mages having to cast spells to clear the
way and to repel potential unwanted boarders.

"Keep the Ship in Dock as long as possible. If it ever becomes likely
that you will be boarded set sail. I am going ashore." Tralin ordered

"I am going with you!" Darin exclaimed

Tralin looked breifly ready to argue but then thinking better of it
simply shrugged and walked down the gang way.




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:13:38)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The battle was going poorly, combat prevented killing the greviously
injured so the undead army swelled under the weight of their victims.
Still the knights fought with determination.

"Any time now Tralin" Delnar sighed as he fought three of the undead
simultaneously




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:14:07)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

For Tralin and Darin the going was not easy either. The undead pushed
and parried and Darin struck them as fast as he could with sword while
Tralin slung spells at a dizzying rate. Still the army swelled.

"There!" Tralin shouted pointing toward the remains of the Temple, "Delnar's
crest"




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:14:34)

Chapter Thirty

For the next fifty minutes the battle continued, Tralin and Darin struggling
to press through the undead and Delnar and his men struggling for survival
but gradually moving to swell the enemy ranks instead.

Darin felt cold terror as he saw that the Derenian ship had departed into
the harbor, apparently unable to repell unwanted boarders any longer. He turned
to tell Tralin but a pillar from one of the burning buildings crashed
upon him with a shower of glowing embers.

...

Tralin watched the pillar fall with distress and then, very uncharacteristically,
let out a string of expletives. Turning, he changed his tactic to creating
a magical barrier and frantically struggled to uncover the fallen spy
from the rubble before he either died from the weight or from burns and
asphyxiation.

...

Delnar felt the cold touch and the pain in his side even as he struck the undead
down and turned to fight another. He could not think of it. He had to
press on, his men and his king depended on him. Yet the wound was
greivious and as Delnar fought he continued to bleed.

...

"Daylight!" A knight cheered "The sun comes!"

Tralin followed the nights gaze and saw that it was true. The light
of day was streaming onto the horizion. With a note of relief
he noticed something else. Other then the occasional sword clang
the dawn had fallen silent. The music had ceased. "The undead will flee
the advance of the sun! Keep on them. Press on with day our rescue comes"

"Ouch" Darin murmured "What happened?"

"You were stuck by a flaming log, your injuries are not severe,
you'll survive."

"Fool!" Darin Exclaimed "You took the time to save me? You risked your own
life when your are supposed to be saving your men."

"Careful Darin" Tralin jeered "I might believe you gave a damn"




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:14:55)

Chapter Thirty-One

As Tralin predicted, the daylight drove most of the undead from the streets.
Some of the more resilient types straggled but lacking the backup of force
eventually followed their colleagues.

"We leave as soon as we can get men accounted for and on board!" Tralin commanded
"That will take several hours. Waste no time collecting belongings,
we must make distance from this shore before the sun sets again"

"Tralin" a voice shouted and Tralin turned

"Young Cerin" Tralin said "You have been injured. Do you need medical attention?"

"No but come quickly. Delnar has been wounded badly and has been bleeding for
some time."




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:15:23)

Chapter Thirty-Two

The ship was boarded while Tralin tended to the fallen First Knight. Darin
directed their movements with military efficency and no one questioned
an enemy agent barking commands. By noontime Tralin still had not stemmed
the slow flow of blood from the putrifying wound.

"Tralin." Delnar exclaimed "You must end my life.., you cannot take me with
you I might die only to arise as undead on the ship. And..."

Tralin looked at the pained knight in silence, letting him catch his breath and
continue.

"And I don't want to serve this evil. I would much rather face
my next journey."

"I could keep you from the evil" Tralin said "I am sure of it, it is my field,
then you could return to Deren and maybe serve the temple or be put to rest"

"Tralin" Delnar said sadly "I am... a knight... I serve the king not the temple
It has always been that way"

"Very well" Tralin said.

Cerin watched them talk for some moments and then, no longer able to ignore
the order to board the ship, did as commanded.




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:15:44)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Tralin returned to the ship about ten minutes later, the last to board.

"Is it over then?" Darin asked.

"Delnar is..." Cerin added

Tralin just sighed and went to his cabin.

The journey back to Deren was to everyones relief uneventful, but noone could help but noticing that the world had changed in the time since this battle had started. A political war had ended and what remained was a battle for their very survival against an unknown menace.




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:16:19)

Chapter Thirty-Four

"You look Old" Jano said

"And you look alive" Darin replied, it had become something of a running
joke between them

"You lied to me Darin" Jano said accusitorily "You are a servant of the
Water Lord!"

Darin was taken aback by this "What? How do you conclude that."

"It was not he that made the conclusion" Tralin said entering from the hall
"It was I"

Darin turned to the Drakel, an uneasy truce had formed between them in
the month Darin had been living in Draynor's castle. He was in theory
free to leave, but he had no local currency, could not return home
to Delkirk and Neld was ravaged by the wandering undead. What would he do?

"What brought you to conclude that then Drakel?" Darin asked

"Delbek X'tchai" Tralin responded

"What?" Darin asked confused "An old Drakel greeting? What has that to
do with anything?"

"No" Tralin responded mildly "To be sure the sentiment is shared in several
Drakel greetings, but that particular phrasing is specific to the Water
Casters. I ought to know..."

"So now what?" Darin asked sadly "Am I imprisoned again"

"To my knowledge Vandarian we have never imprisioned you. Why would we
then imprison you for your religious faith. You are free to worship
as you will in Deren"

"It doesn't matter" Darin said "I was once among the chosen communicants but
I have fallen from the faith. I cannot return to Delkirk and my temple
was destroyed."

"It was good then" Tralin added dryly "That your machinations for Deren did
not bare fruit. Otherwise you might trully be homeless"

"After the machinations I devised that would be..."

"Regrets Vandarian?" Tralin asked accusitorily

"I still loathe you Drakel" Darin added impishly

"As well you should" Tralin said mildly

"You are a pain in the neck you know"

"The feeling is mutual Darin" Tralin responded and turned and left.

"I am sorry Jano" Darin sighed "I used you. I was set on destruction,
still would be had..."

"Had the undead not destroyed our homes?" Jano offered

"Yes"

"It's okay. I forgive you OLD friend. I cannot remember most of it..."

A page entered. Darin recognized him as the Vizier's nephew Cerin, he had seen him in Sentar.

"You look none the worse for your battlescars" Darin said.

"I am surviving. The king wishes to see you. We need to discuss our
next move."

"Very well, tell him I will be with him presently"

"That won't be neccesary" Draynor said wryly from the doorway "I have shown myself in."




Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:16:54)

Epilouge - In the shadow of the Undead Army

The Shadowed figure drew his cloak tight around him as he manuevered through temple square with deft movents designed to deflect attention. He slipped into the temple and down a corridor very simmilar to that in Sentar deep, into the hidden holy of holies.

"Your plan has worked masterfully my lord."

"Had you doubts?" The Water Lord asked.

"No my lord. It is unfortunate Tralin is not one of ours though. His
service has been invaluable to our efforts and will be in the battles
to come."

"Indeed" The Water lord said "And would he have been as useful if he were my servant, A water caster? I have abounding servants. I needed something more in Tralin so I arranged for him to leave my service before it ever began. I took a calculated gamble. Tralin's knowledge of undead alone may well prove invaluable in the war that builds. Just
when they think it has ended it will only be begining I fear. Alas Tralin did not arrive before some that might have been aided were lost. The loss of Delnar was most unfortunate."

"Many good men have died My Lord" The figure said "Many more will die
still"

"Does the student suppose to teach the master? I am aware of the cost of War, one might mistake your coldness. It was Darin's singlemindedness that prevented him becoming trully great."

"My Lord I loved Delnar but I cannot help but remain practical. I need to maintain my wits in light of the current situation. Has the energy lord agreed?"

"Yes at long last. Even she could not deny the seriousness of the problem despite our long standing squabbles"

"Who does not join? The Darkness Lord cannot move against his own of course"

"Oh?" The Water lord asked "Have you been communicating in his temple then?"

"No Lord, I only assumed"

"The Darkness Lord is no fool. If the undead wins this battle he gains a world of ruin, a waste land. If he loses and they fall he will be blamed and followers will leave his temple by the droves and he will consequently lose much of his base of power. Faced with circumstances he does what he must and plays both sides. The undead wander, but dark armor from the deepest shadow mines flood the market and in record number. And bands of shadow knights join to counter the undead menace. He hopes to take advantage of either eventuality. In the end the necromancer or necromancers responsibe are either a hero or a sacrafice and the game continues "


"How can he be trusted?"

"Not even he wishes to see an otherwordly evil rule. He wishes to rule himself. Remember Darkness and evil are very different things. In the short term he wins should the undead win but he opens Lore to undue other planar forces"

"It was a master stroke to bring Darin to Deren"

"I intended to in any case. The arrival of the undead just altered my time table considerably. I intended to tempt him with news of Jano's survival and fears of my own displeasure with him. They merely altered things a little"

"That spell you gave me from the Ice Lord was debilitaing, but it worked. Jano fell just at the point of death but the cold actually kept him from damage. He was as good as his word."

"The Ice Lord and I have always been friendly. In some worlds we are considered two sides of a single coin. On others the fire lord and the ice lord are considered complimentary. Now you figure THAT type of politics"

"I feared Delnar would notice my weakness after two teleportations and that spell. As it happens he was distacted by the war."

"Well he did not and the parties are together which is the most important thing. They will need to work side by side in the time to come."

"What of elsewhere?"

"I have sent various representatives into the reaches warning of the army to come. Dreams and prophecys come to frution, the world shall not be wholly unprepared. I still do not know what things attract them to some places over others, clearly the necromancers seek something. In time I hope to know what."

"Hopefully we shall survive that learning."

"Take heart, faithful servant, all is not Darkness"

"Yet" Cerin added and, with a nod, left the holy of holies to return to the palace.





Falerin -> RE: (AQ) War of the Words (3/14/2006 19:17:21)

The End


Afterword / The author Rambles on and on.

And with this the first of my AQ fictions comes to its conclusion. Most notably it ends with a begining the shape of which may go in any of many possible directions. I would like to thank Adam (Artix) and Tony (Galanoth) for their support in my efforts and continued encouragement in the creation of part of a world.

I would also like to thank Moon Called and my other readers for giving me a point to writing in the first place.

Watch for secret messages they might exist.

Falerin Ardendor 2002
I do not know what evil is but whaterver it is I am sure I am for it 100%

Revision 2006

The above story gives a clue of how I got into storywriting here though the original subject matter of the first email did not start with my fiction but rather a discussion of the merits of a war being based on elemental feuds or rather factional warfare. I chose the factions. The elements as this story hint have a rather different realtionship then most people think.

Thanks to my readers who make the effort worthwhile.

Falerin




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