O Sister, where art thou?

[Kamimaia]

July 20th
Midnight

Under constant siege by goblins, the settlement was hardly the safest locale to be; but such was a simple day in the life of those who protected it, their might and magic meeting mayhem face-on with abandon. They were honing their skills- some had power, yet not experience. Others had the opposite, and yet together they made for a force that could not be sundered by any marching armada of green men.

One did not join in the war however- she had chosen her home to be beneath the earth, away from prying eyes and ears. She was the Ael'Da'Rii- a pseudo-elven, tall woman of a race more suited to legends than folklore. At dusk, an expedition was mounted to greet the individual who hated so much to speak in the common tongue- only to have it rebuked many times, sometimes with mock violence and other times with real danger. One thing was certain- she liked her privacy.

Yet the Ael'Da'Rii, as rare as they were, could not often be found- when they were discovered, there was certainly something greater afoot. This time would be no different.

Under cover of darkness, her underground fortress was infiltrated and skillfully swept by one the Ael'Da'Rii knew only as 'The Shadow', who sprung from darkness and yet made light shine the brighter. It was then that he made a discovery that would change the nature of survival forever.

It was a simple grave- buried within the earth, a tombstone over a patch of soil. Only the Shadow and the Druid might know why it threatened so much, so quickly- or the Ael-Da-Rii herself.

---

But the Ael'Da'Rii left soon after- abandoned the fortress, leaving it in mere ruin- the grave left behind.

Where she is now is anyone's guess- but certainly, she aimed to bury the dead forever, through destruction.

Did she succeed? Did she fail?

Only a return to the Ruins of the Fortress will say for certain. Remember this.

Do not let the Darkness find the Light.

[Steven :D]

Nice story, continue please :D

[Kamimaia]

July 22
Midnight

Death comes costly- but it is sometimes a cost one might not pay.

There is power in the world- three forms, each no less strong than the other.

Technology, Nature and Corruption.

The first manifests in that of the machine; devices wrought to increase the ease at which one may complete a given task. Pickaxes, grappling hooks, even the ordinary axe is no force to be ignored under the Gray Force's influence.

The second is that of splendor; plants that blossom into alchemically desirable, wonderful effects to mend or enhance the body's strength. The Green Power is that of Dryads and Druids- it values life mended, strengthened, created above all else.

But the third-

The third is that of unending power. The Black Radiance is not often sought- but those who seek it give themselves up to it entirely, for the meager chance at becoming immortal.

Gods.

Emperors over monsters the like of which cannot ever be unseen- creatures spoken of in childrens' stories to frighten them into obedience. The Great Eye of the Slumbering God. The Wyrm born of Hunger. The Face and Hands of Despair. Most children are frightened-

But some are enticed.

---

It was discovered, later, where the Ael'Da'Rii had run- first by the Druid, who was welcomed into her abode to stay as a Vassal, under Ael'Da'Rii ceremony. The second by a Dwarf- the last surviving member of his species, nearly destroyed utterly by combined forces of Goblins and Demons.

And then, by the Shadow- and he was not welcome.

In the midst of turmoil, he took advantage of strife to invade her mind- to see all he could, presumably for his own gain. It delighted him, to go where he was not allowed. He could have expected anything- surely, he could not have suspected his findings before entry.

By the light of a single glowstick, the Darkness had found the Light. Permanently.

The Sister dwelt within the mind of an Empress, and he had inadvertently given the sibling of Corruption full control.

Darkness dwells within the Light.

To save the Ael'Da'Rii by slaying her- or to leave all as be, the body now only host to another?

[Blacklegend]

Da Gwir lurve your story and I like the part about me whats touching  :'( .
I hope you continue the ravishing story.

[Kamimaia]

July 22
Midnight

The Ael'Da'Rii, like many of the Old Races' offspring, were not unique in that they were rare. The Dwarves were likewise sparing with their presence, and Dryads were all but nonexistant. The fact that three such- representations of their own species- had all gathered in one place was entirely preposterous- yet nevertheless true.

There was a time, once, in which it could not possibly have happened- and only a millenia ago.

A time in which the Ael'Da'Rii were simply known as the Elderin, the Dryads were only referred to as Kami, and the Dwarves were called solely Keepers.

And there was warfare. Oh, was there warfare.

Snippets of the happening exist- stone tomes and slabs left behind by the 'Keepers', in their dungeons and their underground cities now flooded with lava. Their near-obsessive compulsion to scribe history upon the very rock proved invaluable, in this respect. The Pureblood Dryads remember- if only because the Kami passed on their memories before they disappeared- but they will not tell a word of it. The Ael'Da'Rii may know- but none have ever successfully gained a straight answer on the subject from the tall, pale elves.

All evidence found invariably reveals one fact time and time again, however the story is told.

The Elderin wanted to rule.

War was waged, between the Keepers, the Elderin, and the Kami- the Keepers with their machines, their magic-powered 'guns', massive siege weaponry and tough armor. The Kami, with their forests and encroaching jungles- slimes, bats, hornets and man-eating plants never before evolved- save for this very threat.

And the Elderin never noticed. One by one, the Races marched into the sprawling Elderin fortresses, to never return- taken by one sinister trap after another, never reaching the skies where the Elderin made their home. It was not long before they could do naught but flee, in hopes of re-establishing their race and numbers.

But the Elderin kept coming- and their power paved the way. Little by little, the Black Radiance consumed all of the world- horrifying monsters picking off the last few vestiges of the immortal races until genocide had been obtained. ...Or at least, they supposed.

After all, the Minor races still exist today.

---

Unknown to the half-dryad vassal of Arla'Mael, the Darkness dwelt within the light- the soul of an Ael'Da'Rii that had turned to the Powers of Old Elderin. Corruption, purest and lightless. She masqueraded as her sibling- believing her to be kind, she was so. Believing her to be reclusive, she was that as well. Seductive. Joyful. It would not be long before the Shadow returned, however, to expose the falsehood for certain.

Arla'Mael was none of these things- haughty, defiant, proud and cold. The Shadow knew, for he had been on the receiving end of her arrows- her rage. There was no doubt in his mind that the corruption-wielding sister Cymo'Mael was behind those eyes- and the Empress slumbered in her own mind. There was only one thing to do.

Only one thing he could do- and that was to slay her. He was certain- the corruption would spread with her presence, and engulf all of the town below the Tower. As its protector- an example of the human species- it could not be allowed to happen.

They drew swords, on the Cliffs of Corruption. Constant battle, involving spells and blades the likes of which had not been seen since the Fall of the Elderin. Summons were cast, for the Great Wyrm, and the Shadow triumphed over it, too- until no more could Empress's body serve the Corruptor's purposes. It was tired- and it collapsed.

They say the Corruption is where no light ever shines.

As a being that feeds from light to sustain herself, Cymo could certainly have chosen a better battlefield- but the damage had been done. In a feat of exemplary human accident, the Shadow took the one way out that would save both the town, and Arla'Mael.

He kicked her into the dark, and took away the light.

--- 1 day later ---

The Tower was near completed.

Five had gathered, where only two began. One an Empress, and four the Vassals beneath her.

Gwif, the Dwarf, of Machine and Strength.

Blair, the Shadow, of Speed and Silence.

Aurellia, the Druid, of Life and Growth.

Sha'Dan, the Corrupted, of Alchemy and Light.

And Arla'Mael, the Empress, of Pride and Plan.

The Darkness has lost the Light.

[Lord_Blair]

She makes me sound way more SRS than I actually am.

[Kamimaia]

Heh. I'm not very good at humor outside of dialogue, so I try and drama it up. A lot. XD

[CAMaera]

i need to get on so i'm in on this epic story, lol

[Kamimaia]

*This* section of story is finished- but there will be more things, later on. I would like to finish (Or do more work on. Will it ever be finished?) the tower before digging out a real adventure, though.

[Blacklegend]

I do lurve your stories. I think they are great.