The Kingdom of the Emerald Hills

Part 1

The invited crowd mingled and laughed. Tonight was a night of celebration. The Pass' inhabitants had managed to gather together in the defense of their simple but resilient home. More importantly, it was a gathering that celebrated the sacred unification of two of their highly respected members in holy matrimony.

Artus Pass viktor. Blessed be Eniad and Lucinda.

The pageantry of humble faces lifted Sutra's spirit. These gems of life were becoming harder to find in the dark mines of barbaric reality.

Children weaved through the forest of adults as music and merriment carried through the crowd. Dancing and feasting carried into the hours of peaceful night.

He watched as the Talrens laughed and teased each other, how the men of prime age and strength competed in competition to impress the maidens, how the Tigers from Red Storm helped serve feast or kept a watchful eye against any malicious surprise. How the newest of faces watched in tired but thankful glamour, having found a place to call home.

Artus Pass had become home to many.

The lithe figure stepped from the shadows, allowing herself to become visible. Sutra noticed her as he scanned the crowd for any break in serenity. He focused as he realized others did not acknowledge her. Interesting.

She drew breath and he could hear it.
Her heart beat and he counted.
Her muscles tightened and he felt her.

Their gazes connected from across the room, blood rushed to his face.

The dark shape circled around at her feet. Her animal familiar stopped and studied Sutra from across the room as it sniffed the air. The elegant wolf must have weighed at least one hundred stones.

The shade stood frozen in place. The way she slid through the crowd was enthralling to watch.

Moments that passed like eternity came to pass as she stood a couple of feet in front of him. He picked up the aroma of sweet spring water and birds of paradise. She smiled sensing his galvanic response. Sutra took a hard swallow of mead knowing his interest was shared.

Tendrils of golden locks framed her delicate features, piercing eyes of the deepest blues drawing focus to her.

Her melodious voice coiled itself around his mind and imagination. He had to remind himself to breathe.

'We need to talk...'

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

Part 2

The two shapes stood at the pinnacle of the hill that inspired the Shire's name. They gazed down upon the humbly lit town and waited. The main pass that connected the kingdom's halves would continue to be part of its history.

'I thought the Court was...'
'No. It survives in hiding.'

An awkward silence trickled away.

'Ever since you walked away...'
'Walked away?' Sutra grumbled. 'Do you not recognize our...'
'I do, your protection of the seedspark has been...'
'HAS BEEN WHAT!?' the shades voices shivered.

The sheriff composed himself and silently apologized. 'Has been what? Noted? Observed? Taken into consideration? What? I had no other option but to bring it here.'

He wanted to reach out and touch the illusion that stoically stood before him. How far had she traveled to find him. How long had it been since they had last crossed paths. How long had it been since...

'I am sorry I was not with you since the schism. But you can't think I haven't paid my own penance. You haven't suffered alone.' Her eyes teared as her sorrow took on physical form.

Sutra inhaled deeply. Traces of the fountain and gardens clung to her elegant vestments. He could almost see the palace again. The ivory gazebo where the conclave would meet. Home. The last Elven Court.

The shadow stepped forward and stood within touching distance from her glowing lips.

'So...now what?' he posed.

His heart skipped a beat as an angelic giggle escaped her lips.

'It is better...' silence emanated where ruffling of cloth should have been as her hand reached up towards his trembling mouth. 'If I show you.'

A smile crossed Sutra's lips moments before feeling her skin press against his own.

'I'm sorry...'
'Sorry for wha...'

A shudder of panic washed over the sins existence.

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

Part 3

The shade himself cast no shadow where he stood. The earth had been scorched. The palace laid in ruins. An untraceable source of punishing winds forced him to a knee. An unbearable heat tortured his flesh.

The shrill sound of echoing squawks pieced his mind. Looking up into the blood red sky, black shapes circled above. Carrion birds? His half elf sight was useless here.

A lone figure appeared just beyond the heat waves that blurred reality some hundred yards ahead. The figure wavered and fell. Sutra stood against the sandblasting gale and marched towards the figure. Weak spots in the shifting sands tired him quickly.

The figure stood again and resumed its run of a couple feet before falling again. Shrill cries of whatever it was above him drew closer. Sutra shielded his face with a tattered piece of shirt, trying to breath clean air. Through squinted eyes he made his approach. Less than one hundred feet.

The figure must have spotted him as a hand reached out. The shade quickened his pace and pushed against the cruel elements of this place.

The weight of the world slammed into him from behind before he was laid out. Almost losing consciousness, Sutra struggled to remain sentient.

The sin rolled to his side and coughed dryly. The stench of necrotic decay had begun to choke him. With squinted eyes he stared into a pair of empty sockets inches away from his face. It was no buzzard he realized.

An undead drake stood victoriously over its fresh meal.

A split second on hesitation on the scaled beasts part caused it to be separated from it's head. The sin's blade struck at a dessicated joint between two spinal discs. The sin had to roll to avoid getting a face full of serpent skull.

Brushing dirt and bits of bone and scale, the shade focused back to the figure a few yards away. It had been surrounded by more necrotic drakes. Sutra would have to act fast and fight through the fatigue.

Springing into a faltering sprint, the unused path began to crumble at his feet. He could hear the figures cries as the damned winged snakes began to feast.

The child cried out in pain.

The sheriff struggled to keep his footing but found himself being swallowed by this gods forsaken earth.

Sutra roared out in defiant anger before taking a deep breath as he writhed deep into sand and silence.

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

Part 4

The sin sat up in sweat laden panic. He quickly gathered himself and studied his environment and found himself at the top of Pass Hill. He confirmed the lack of immediate danger and looked down to the slumbering shire nestled in the valley.

The constellations had shifted a couple hours worth as the nights chill pained his frigid skin.

Sutra inhaled deeply and pressed his right hand over his heart before sitting loudly on a swathe of crunching leaves.

Rocking, the sin reminded himself that all was well. His nightmares had begun to gain in frequency and lucidity. He wanted to howl in defiance, but knew he would unnecessarily startle the guard watch. There were more important threats than him tonight.

The shards. The attacks on kingdom holdings. Nothing was a coincidence, but what was the connection?

'Did you see?' hissed the familiar voice behind him.

The shade remained silent.

'The seer's...they have only seen glimpses...of what is to come...' she spoke.

Silence.

'You need to gather them and prepare a defense...'
'No.'
'No?' she balked.

'No.' Sutra declared.

The forest canopy rustled.

'Very well then. We've existed before your awakening. We will exist well beyond your passing.' she said.

The shade stood up and examined the horizon just beyond the slumbering shire he called home.

'What will you do now Sutra?'

He had chosen his words carefully, waiting for the question to be asked.

'I'm going to say goodbye.'

The shade carefully began his trek back to the shire without looking back. Something dark had begun to take hold of the kingdom. And this time, Sutra realized, was not his fight.

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu

Spirit of Quendelie

This a quite a bit out of date, but it'll get updated soon.

This is the official call for the reign of our gods forty four. All those of elven heritage are asked to respond to this call.

May all my light and dark sidhe brethren reach out in heed this call for unification.

What say ye?
S

*************

http://www.amtgardrecords.com/companies ... php?ID=416

Description:
The Elven nations have lain scattered and broken only to fade away into the past. I make this call to any persona who is elven or has elven ties to join me in this convocation.

House Quendelie seeks to establish a new order for all sidhe and allies alike. This call is for all who are elven in heritage. This call is for all who are half elven in blood. This call is for all who are friendly to us.

The arrogant ways of old have died and a new age of existence is within our grasp. The ancients say one must be of pure blood to be Finvarra. That legacy of purity has failed us. May my brethren join in this milestone to make the Emerald Hills our home again.

Come brothers and sisters and make your stand. Let us take our promised future, today.

History:
Founded in a response to fading elven RP in the Emerald Hills, House Quendelie saw it's permanent birth on June 28th, 2006.

Founded by Sutra Bahuas, it has a fresh roster and ambitious hopes to revive roleplay in the second oldest kingdom of all amtgard...

Lord and Lady - Nexus Crow and Mysteri

The Emerald Hills.

_________________
The general who advances without seeking fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do service for his sovereign, is the jewel of his kingdom. -Sun Wu