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The young mage Kirian could hardly contain his excitement. For ten years he had received letters from a man whose name he did not know. The correspondence was always sighed ‘a friend’ and what a friend he had been. The advice on life and magic had proved invaluable to the young man. Today would be the day that Kirian would finally meet the man face to face. The hour of their meeting seemed painfully far away, and Kirian was tempted to use one of the time spells his friend had taught him to speed up the process. Kirian did not give in to the temptation as his friend had always insisted that the use of such magic was forbidden. finally it was time to go, he packed up his old grimoire and headed out of his house his head full of dreams.
A few hours later Kirian found himself in a small hamlet, that consisted of a pair of old buildings. For a moment Kirian worried that this was the wrong place, but in his letter his friend had described this place down to the location of a painted stone and dead tree. This was the place.
“Hello! Someone? This is Kirian!” the mage called out. From behind one of the houses came the voice that would lure Kirian to his doom.
“In here, kirian I’m here,” not knowing his fate Kirian circled the house to meet his friend. Kirian had been expecting an older gentleman, based on the wisdom of his writings but what he found instead was a warrior at least two meters in height, who’s arm rested on a wide blade that that was alive with dark magic. A heavy metal mask covered his eyes, but the warrior looked directly at the young mage.
“We are finally face to face,” said the warrior. Suddenly a Demon appeared behind Kirian and grabbed him by his shoulders.
“Oh your fear is … delicious, I can see it beading up on your face,” The warrior cooed.
“What … I do not understand! What do you want? Who are you?” Kirian sputtered as he struggled against the demon’s iron grip.
“Who I am is not important, what you need to know is that you are mine little mage, I have spent too much time training you for this moment for it to be otherwise.” The warrior said moving closer.
“You! You wrote me the letters,” Kirian said in disbelief.
“I do have exquisite penmanship, I have as much skill in writing as I do handing the blade. You see I was as exited to me you as you were me. To remain hidden from the people of this world for so long was quite an ordeal.”
“What do you expect from me?” Kirian asked in frightened tone.
“Patience, you will soon know my intentions … did you bring your spell book as I asked in my letter?” The warrior asked.
Kirian nodded his head.
“Perfect, underling let him loose.” The Demon released Kirian and took a step back.
“If you try to escape, you will fail,” the warrior continued.
“Now, take out your book and begin the ritual of the past,” he commanded.
“The ritual of the Past, but I have not mastered that spell yet,” Kirian said.
“Exactly, it is not by chance that I have spent ten years training you. You were chosen because you can manipulate time magic, but you lack the skill to ever master it. If you could I never would have trusted you with such power,” the warrior mused.
“I do not understand,” said Kirian
“You do not need to understand! You need to obey!” the warrior bellowed. Motivated by fear Kirian took his grimoire from his bag. If only he had questioned the letters he had gotten from his ‘friend.’ The fact that he had never given his name should have alerted him to posibul danger. It was too late now, he was trapped like a rat, and he knew it. Kirian paged though is book to the ritual of the past. The first step of the spell brought forth the hourglass of time. He began to control the sands of time, it was not impossible but it was not easy. While the demon keep watch of Kirian the warrior placed two object on either side of the mage. The first was small cage that held the diminutive spirits each only three apples high. The other object was a demonic heartstone. The objects in place the warrior took his place in front of Kirian. The green strands of magic intertwined around the magic hour glass. The warrior planted his blade in the ground and instructed the mage.
“Take us back in time, say … Ten years ago.”
“I will not work, we might end up in a different era,” said Kirian.
“Do What I say!” the warrior yelled clenching his fists.
“Very well,” said Kirian, and began to focus the magic around the sand, which slowly crept upwards. Around them images of clocks, hourglasses, solar quadrants and other time keeping tools began to appear and disappear in a chaotic manner. The apprentice mage struggled with the power of time, it was too fickle and a incorrect gesture could cause a temporal disaster. Magic like this was too dangerous to be used in such a manner and the Tempus was founded to combat such reckless acts. Before Kirian could complete his spell it was interrupted by the sudden appearance of . The Tempus mage stood between the warrior and Kirian. The warrior acted in a flash and immobilized Doloreanne before she could react. Using the power of the , the spirt of Doloreanne was pulled out leaving her an empty husk. The demon picked up the heartstone and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from the shattered stone and encircled Doloreanne’s body filling her with the essence of a demon. Her eyes became black, horns sprouted from her head and the red symbol of the Néhant formed on her head.
Kirian now understood the warrior’s plan, his ritual was never ment to successes just to lure one of the Tempus into this trap.
Doloreanne staggered a bit, then began to inspect her body as if it were new to her.
“Are you one of us?” the warrior asked.
“I am, , I am ready to serve you and to serve our master.” Doloreanne said. The Scourge of Souls took up his blade and walked towards Kirian, who was sobbing on ground.
“Thanks to you my friend, the Néhant will return to this world. I cannot hide the fact that your pain brings me pleasure, but do try and take a little pride in what you have done. Come demon of time our Master expects us.” Said the Scourge of Souls.
“Yes, we can start as soon as I mask our travel,” said the time demon. She then began the ritual of the past just as Kirian had, but where he struggled to move the sands, she made it look effortless. The Demonic Doloreanne nodded to the Scourge of Souls, and he picked up the soul cage and stepped forward. The green magic of time surrounded the Néhantistes and they disappeared. Kirian was alone, and grappled with the consequences of his actions. For an hour he remained there thinking of what he had done. He was filled with sorrow and rage, and finally an idea. He was ready to give his life for his mistakes, and so he began the ritual of the past once again, this time with even less care for its success. If it worked once perhaps it would work again. Just as before he was interrupted by the Tempus, this time by a small man.
“Stop immediately! You are not allowed to travel in time like this!” said the .
“I know, I know,” said kirian wheezing for breath.
“I must tell you of a serious matter of which I am at fault,” The Watchmaker picked up the book at Kirian’s feet and knew something was wrong.
“I am listening, what is this serious matter,” the old man asked.
“I’ve been misled by a Néhantiste,” said Kirian and relayed his story to the Watchmaker.
The Watchmaker was greatly worried by this, no one could travel in time without the Tempus being aware.
“Did this warrior say anything else,” the Watchmaker asked.
“Yes, I think he intends to go back in time to help the Néhant,” said Kirian
“Then we must act immediately!”
The Wind whipped the face of . The Civil war that shook Draconia to it core did not diminish the conviction of the Dragon Knights. Never in living memory were there so many active members of this prestigious order. Zahal now directed the Dragon Knights, having earned the title commander. He lead with zeal and firmness, the mistakes that had haunted him in the past had been overcome.
was now a seasoned knight and squire to Zahal, and the two now stood before the tomb Ehxien. Several days earlier while Zahal was eating, a woman came to him calling herself the . She had told him that a time demon and a former lieutenant of Néhant called Scourge of Souls had disappeared into the past. The Tempus were assembling Champions to stop the Néhantiste. Zahal remembered the words of his master , when a challenge seems insurmountable take up the blade , it will give you the courage and strength to kill your enemies. He had followed that advice and Dreist was in his hands. The blade was forged by the Dragon himself at the same time as the before the nation of Noz'Dingard was founded.
“I knew you would arrive ,” the Apostle said to the leader of the Crow who sat in front of a clouded crystal ball.
“If you had guessed my coming, do you also know why I came,” Daijin said.
“The Scourge of Souls has reappeared, he hold one of our own in his thrall and has gone to the past. You come to stop the Néhant.” The blind woman answered.
“Did I, can you not rectify this? Is that not the role of the Tempus order?” Daijin questioned.
“We tried but no Tempus can access the section of time where the Scourge has gone. We need to send people that can stand against the Scourge of Souls.” Answered the Apostle.
“And you expect me to go?” said Daijin not taking his eyes from his crystal.
“The Dragon Knight Zahal will go with you.”
“Impressive … but why him?”
“Because it is part of his destiny, and yours Crow. You have to go. If you do not go you will not be able to counter the plans of the Scourge of souls and the Néhant will rule all. But he does not rule all, so you will go and you will succeed.” Said the Apostle as she drew magic circles in the air.
“So our mission is already successful?” Daijin asked.
“Yes, but there will be a price to pay,” answered the Tempus
“What price?” the Crow asked
“When you return Amidaraxar will have destroyed Meragi,”
“Let the Néhant back into the world or lose the city I love. The choice is agonizing but you already know what I will choose,” said Daijin already forming a plan for his city.
“Are you read Champions?” asked the Watchmaker of Destiny.
“Remember you are going back to Stop the Scourge of Souls, nothing more nothing less – you are not to make any changes.”
“It is understood,” Zahal obviously a little uncomfortable working with a Crow.
“How will we return to our time,” the Dragon Knight asked.
“Do not worry commander, the Tempus never let travelers say in a time that is not their own,” replied Daijin
“We may not be able to travel to the time itself, but we can send and retrieve those that did travel to that time,” explained the Watchmaker.
“Then why not just retrieve the Scourge,” countered Zahal.
“He is protected by Doloreanne, without her he would be at our mercy.”
“That is a serious flaw in your in your organization, and has serious implications,” accused Daijin.
“We will Restore time,” said the Watchmaker in a serious tone
“Tell us where we you need us,” said Daijin. The Tempus began the ritual of the past, just as Kirian had done but with greater skill. Images of the past began to appear until one took shape. It was the tomb of the ancestors , but of ages past. Daijin and Zahal entered the portal.
“Good Luck,” said the Clockmaker, saluting the commander and the Crow.
When the two travelers passed the gateway they were projected into a long tunnel of green light. When they exited the passage way they found themselves in the same location that they had left, but at a time before the tomb was build to commemorate the peace between the Empires of Draconia and Xzia. A time Long before the war of Sol’ra, a time when the skies were covered in dark red clouds and all around was the smell of death. Two figures approached the Champions. One was a mobile tree, the other a man dressed in the style of a draconian. Daijin remained calm but Zahal did not hesitate to brandish his weapons.”
“Who are you?” asked the commander.
“I am the ,” said the Draconian with a flourish,
“And this fine Dais is ,” Artrezil continued. Zahal’s eyes widend, at the mention of the these names.
“Artrezil and Quercus, two of the most famous Champions in History, Why are you here?” asked Daijin.
Dernière édition par Scorvos le 12 Avril 2013, 16:02, édité 2 fois.
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