Tales of Exzalia, death of magic.

not by fate

They all met on a balcony over looking Damirru in all it's glory, It stretched for many miles so that even from their great height they could not survey all of it. Below them the small wisps of clouds traveled past. Nesvi' looked way too troubled for one so young. Up until a year ago it was her father king Dolton who ruled, but he passed suddenly making 13 year old Nesvi queen and ruler of Damiruu. But one could tell that the stress was getting to her, her still childlike face had bags under her eyes and as she sat staring into the abyss she mumbled.
"I am incompetent."
Suddenly her eye's shifted back to the task at hand, as if coming back to reality she hid her fears, straightened her face, and began to attempt ruling in a manner her father could be proud of.

"It is not chance that all of you are here now at this time, I have orchestrated this gathering, planning it for some time now. The heroes of Grove, the ones who overcame the well of darkness, hear my plea."

Nesvi paused looking at all of them. The uncastable mess, is not genetic. I believe it is being caused by something else. Think about it, the well vanished 15 years ago, how then are the uncastables usually older than 15? Of course my views have been ignored by the other leaders, they don't care for reason but only to extend their power. I need your help, only you people can aid me. They will indeed go after the uncastables again and a lucky vote won't stop it next time."

Nesvi seemed hesitant, "before I ask this great favor, do any of you have an idea as to why there are so many uncastables?"

 

Will

"Before I ask this great favor, do any of you have an idea as to why there are so many uncastables?"

Will had noticed in his travels that there were more and more Uncastables being born, and while he had never really though about it, it did seem like it had to be connected to the well. "Your Highness, if I may, the world was thrown completely out of balance. It makes sense that there would be repercussions. If there is anything that I can do, my sword is yours." Will said. She might have been only a girl, but she showed wisdom beyond her years and seemed like a just ruler with the interests of her people as her main concern.

 

Crumpet

"Your Highness, if I may, the world was thrown completely out of balance. It makes sense that there would be repercussions. If there is anything that I can do, my sword is yours." Will said.
"AND MY AX" Crumpet bellowed as he burst through the doors, a pair of guards meekly following him under the guise of 'escorting'. "If I had an ax." His glowing smile was met by blank stares. "What? Seriously, if I had one, it'd be totally yours." After a brief moment of consideration, Crumpet scratched his neck and revised "Well, depends on the ax, really. I guess if it was really nice I might have to keep it for myself, but otherwise I promise it'd be yours. Unless..." Just then, he noticed the young human in flowing royal garb. Meh. "...unless I'd be offered excessive compensation making such a pricey sacrifice worthy." A quick sweep around the room revealed equally blank stares prevailing on the faces of the room's occupiers. "JUST KIDDING! Only humans are greedy like that!" No response. Well, actually, quite a response. Blank stares became frowns. Crumpet rubbed his chin this time. "The Merclans loved that one. Guess you humans just have an awful sense of humor." A minor blow dealt to his massive ego, Crumpet shuffled to the nearest chair and perched upon it, producing a high pitched squeal for mercy from the seat. "Anyhow, is it such a bad thing that you humans are losing your magic? I mean, all that would do in the end is make it harder for you idiots to kill each other. No offense."

 

Will

Will walked over to Crumpet, looking him hard in the eye, then smiled.

"Scones, I have truly missed you." He said as he clapped an arm around the disappointing Scorch Fiend. "Good to see you ya big donought!"

 

Beggining of the storm

"My sword is yours."

Nesvi smiled faintly, "thank you Will. " I summoned you all here because I believe the well of darkness is at the center of all of this. I have no proof mind you but everything that has happened has happened after the well disappeared. In order to prove my theory I need it back, or else." Nesvi hung her head as the thought came to her.

Crummpet busted in shouting and holering, makeing jokes that were bad, and generally being a terrible guest. The luagh of a child broke the awkward silence, Nesvi was laughing at his jokes! Suddenly becoming self concious she stoped her self. Recomposed her self and continued.

"I want to help people, but the other nations know I am a weak ruler. They are using every means possible to take advantage of Damiruu, of my inexperience as ruler. The uncastables is but one way, the majority of them live in Damiruu attracted by me and my fathers welcoming views on all races. If the other nations succeed in taking military actions against the uncastables, then they will have found a way to station their troops inside my borders. The first step into prying control out of my hand, it's all they really care about."

Nesvi sighed and in a voice that sounded slightly hopeful she continued. "But if I can prove the uncastables are not the result of a gene, that it is indeed connected to the well of darkness. Then they will lose their excuse to cull them, and lose their excuse to put troops in my borders. What I'm asking is..."

Nesvi then did something unexpected. She bowed herself to them, to all of them. For her queen of Damiruu to bow to commoners and riff raff, was the ultimate shame, even so she did it.

"I beg of you, please retrieve the well of darkness. I know I can prove it if only I had that item." She said bowing to the ground.
"you people have the most experience with the artifact, you've seen it before and know what it can do, I can think of no other group of mages who can do this."

"I know finding the well will be hard, for that I have enlisted the help of two people you already know. They were with Tess the holder of the well for ten years and will aid you in re finding the well, if you will accept my plea they will aid you."

William and Avini strolled into the room as if on cue. They were wiser than before, having witnessed much on their travels. Everyone was here, everyone but Tess.

 

Pip hissed as she heard the name uttered. The well of darkness...

"Do you realize how much trouble that thing caused? I was freaking born on that day and i remember it!" she said, her feathers bristling. "The last time it was found....

Her voice faded and visions of a bloody battle filled her mind, she clapped her hands over her head and struggled ot blot it out, but the soft words of a song made it to her lips:

"Seal the darkness away-
Bring again the new day,
Seek not the night but bring forth dawn.
Bring forth the light that breaks death's song..."

She shuddered as she looked not from her own eyes but through the ones of her predescessor; Rhea.

 

River Hoya

The sudden and rather loud appearance of the familiar scorch fiend caused River to smile, in spite of the fact that his volume caused her ears to ring painfully. Will went over and attempted to give Crumpet a side hug but was only able to make his arm halfway around his back. Crumpet had grown quite large in deed.

"I know finding the well will be hard, for that I have enlisted the help of two people you already know. They were with Tess the holder of the well for ten years and will aid you in re finding the well, if you will accept my plea they will aid you."

River smiled again and bowed her head in greeting to them. She had wondered how they fared on thier quest with Tess. The others began saying their hellos as well. A sudden thought began nagging the forefront of River's mind. She had to ask. "Your majesty. How did you know our specific group was the one that went to the Well?"

 

Rivers question

"Your majesty. How did you know our specific group was the one that went to the Well?"

Nesvi got up smiling with a twinkle in her eye. "You guys may not have realized it but your famous, 15 years ago a group of ace students from Damirians academy disappeared, it was in all the papers according to my father. So even before I was queen I did some research, in the academic files the only students in Vashals class that were rescued towards the end of your journey was you guys. But most of you disperesed going your own ways upon returning so you missed the waves of reporters who wanted to interview you. When I developed my theory I knew my only chance to prove it was with your help."

******

The young half elf seemed delighted at the friendliness of the man. "Hey good to see you're not Noxy. Most people get on edge when they see a half breed. Names Pyria by the way." Noxy was another slang term that meant mean or rude on Exzalia. "I actually I'm from Damiruu though I don't look it, the Elvish home I live is located close enough to Damiruu that people call us Damirian elves. Of course I'm not exactly an elf I'm only part elf.
Lets see, part elf, part Charon, and part Lorian, or maybe Grovian. Bah don't try to figure out my birth it's too confuseing. Yep I'm a mutt so old timer what brings you to Damiruu?"

 

Kithri Silverbow

Kithri flew towards the balcony, landing on the rail.

"wow, when i followed that man's awkward gesturing I never imagined to see you guys!" She gave them a smile and bowed to the queen. "of course i'll lend you my powers! I am yours to command!" A small shine in her eyes as she remembered something.

"you have such a beautiful laughter, you shouldn't hide it away like a wind seers saddle grown too small." She would never understand the landbound.

 

The Wanderer and the little one

“Yep I’m a mutt, so old timer what brings you to Damiruu?”

“Old timer, eh? I’m younger than my teeth I’ll have you know.” He said with a sly grin. “I obey the winds and follow where they go, and they have brought me here. And with good reason from the sounds of it.” His face hardened and he leaned away slightly, imagining the terrible possibilities the future held.

A long pause followed leaving Pyria standing there awkwardly, wondering whether the conversation had finished. But the Wanderer resumed, placing a large hand on her shoulder and shaking her a little.

“You should not let who you are affect you. In life, it is what we do that defines us.” He looked up to feel the passing breeze glide across his face, listening to its words. “You are a half breed? So? Would being a common mage like these make you any better?” Scanning the balcony he saw clumps of brown robed men shuffling along and talking nonsense. “See it as a gift, little one. Wear it as armour so no one can ever hurt you with it.”

And with that the Wanderer gave another large smile, followed by a large puff from his pipe.

“And how about you, little one? What brings you to the towering heights of Damiruu? The discussion of such a gathering should not be heard by someone as joyful as you.”

 

Pyria

“And how about you, little one? What brings you to the towering heights of Damiruu? The discussion of such a gathering should not be heard by someone as joyful as you.”

"Gotta follow my mom, you know how it is. Parents always doing boring stuff. though that Magnolia person certainly made things more merc. What a bad ass." Pyria thought back snickering a little.

"You sound like my mom, she always tells me. Pyria, it's not whats on the outside, but what's on the inside." Pyria mimicked Rivers voice as best she could and failed at it, which made the man chuckle at little.
"Anyway I know she's right but it doesn't change the fact my life would be much easier if it wasn't so painfully obvious I am a half breed." She looked at her hand again, observing her skin tone.

"Perhaps if I had lighter skin I could pretend to be an elf, Perhaps then people would stop hating me. But dark skin and elf ears? dead give away. " She suddenly went sullen, the drastic change from jolly to downcast was disheartening to behold. "i wish I wasn't a half breed." She whispered to her self and then realizeing how far she had allowed her true feelings to show, she looked back with a start hoping no one had seen her in her state of venerability. The man she was with saw, he saw everything.

"Whoops, sorry to get so lame on you, not merc Pyria not merc at all." She said suddenly sounding peppy.

 

Pip

Pip's eyes popped wide open as she snapped out of the trance when she saw the other airmid land on the railing of the balcony. She had never seen another of her kind before.

"Mom.." she muttered, poking Emery like a little kid as she stared at the other airmid. "Do i look like that?"

Always on the run in her life, Pip had never before seen her reflection in the mirror -so this was a shock for her. She knew she had feathers and such; but she had never really pictured herself so much as an airmid as more of a...well -maybe a human.

 

River Hoya

"When I developed my theory I knew my only chance to prove it was with your help." The queen concluded.
"I'm honored to help where ever I can. Especially if it means saving the uncastables."
At this point, however, River was become less conserned with helping the Queen and more worried about where Pyria had disappeared off to. She glanced over at Emery and Pip and smiled. Pip seemed to be looking at a fellow Airmid with rapt curiosity as if she had never seen one of her kind before.
I hope Pyria hasn't gotten herself into trouble. There are to many halfing haters here. I knew I shouldn't have brought her. River turned her attention back to the Queen hoping this meeting would end soon so she could go find her daughter.

 

The Wanderer's Confession

“I wish I wasn’t a half breed.” Pyria whispered.

The wanderer’s smile fell, his face awash with disappointment. Taking another long puff from his pipe, he bent right down to meet the Halfling eye to eye.

“hmph, you should not wish for things that are… how do you say… Nox?” The girl squeaked a little laughter at the incorrect slang, but the Wanderer’s eyes did not move an inch.

“It is no laughing matter, little one. Being unique is not to be sneered at, but to be embraced!” He stood tall, shoulders back and chest puffed out, once again beaming down at her. “Why look at me, I have a longbow strapped around me. Everyone in this balcony is staring daggers at me, and do you know why?” He said in a booming voice, scaring away the vicious eyes. Pyria herself noticed the size and aura of this giant of man, unashamed, and unafraid. She timidly shook her head, trying not to point out the insensitive answer.

“I am an uncastable of course!” The roar flooded across the balcony and many turned away in silent disgust. Pyria’s eye grew large, mouth open as if the Wanderer had beheaded King Titen himself. His throat thundered with another deep laugh and he turned again to Pyria, the consoling hand on the shoulder once more. “See little one. Eyes do not hurt us. Words do not hurt us. But only we can hurt ourselves.” His wisdom rode on the breeze and cut through the girl’s crimson locks, hoping to stamp its place in her mind. The Wanderer held there for a moment, eager to see those pearly whites once again.

“Well actually… swords can hurt a bit to be honest. Axes too. Oh and don’t get me started on hammers...” Another bellowing laugh came from deep within him. “Come, little one. Let’s find your mother.”

 

Eris Elflock of the Golden Apple

A seductive, sultry voice came from the shadows. "Oh please, can you stop laughing so much? It's quite annoying..."

Eris Elflock stepped out onto the balcony. She had been listening for some time and decided to join the discussion. She was a Underwood Elf, long and beautiful. He almond-shaped eyes were green with flecks of gold and her thick floorlength hair was true auburn. She wore a long black cape draped over a short dark green dress with cut-outs that showed off her curves. Her nude pinks lips stretched in a mischievious grin and she held a pure gold apple in her right hand.

"My name's Eris, you all probably know me as Eris of the Golden Apple", Eris continued in a bored tone. She was refering to her career as a bounty hunter, tracking down criminals and bringing them to justice. "I received your summons...my queen"--she added as an after-thought--"and I am willing to do this. I've been waiting for the one job that will make my name immortal. And since I missed out on the wheel of darkness, or whatever, I think this is it. I'm all in."

She gave everyone a cheeky grin and her gold-flecked emerald eyes smoldered, especially at the guys.

 

River Hoya

River almost spat at the newly arrived elf in disgust. Creatures like her, bounty hunters and like, were a disgrace to the name of the elf. In River's mind this woman was an imposter. She held plenty of beauty, but in grace and innocence she was greatly lacking. She flouted her beauty like a mistress of the brothels. But worst of all; this Eris did not care about the uncastables...only about making herself famous.

River looked away, and attempted to calm her anger.

 

Eris Elflock

Eris noticed the girl River's reaction to her arrival. She looked upset, disgusted even.

"What's her deal?", Eris said while grinning and raising one of her perfectly arched brows. She tossed her apple in the air and caught it again--the apple glowed threateningly. Then she continued breezily, as if it didn't really matter what was behind River's behaviour. People would hate you or love you, nothing to do about that. It was the way it was with people as charismatic and engaging as Eris was. "My queen--if we're going on this mission, will we receive some kind of quantifiable awards? You know, gold? Jewels? I mean, I'm already in..just wonderin'." She finished with a flirty wink. Her flirtatious attitude was not limited to the male gender.

 

Will

"My queen--if we're going on this mission, will we receive some kind of quantifiable awards? You know, gold? Jewels? I mean, I'm already in..just wonderin'."

"Eris Elflock. Your reputation precedes you." Will said coolly. He'd heard of the woman, a bounty hunter of particular skill with an insatiable appetite for self gratification. He'd never actually met her, but he'd come close once in Lore when he was trailing a slaver on the run. He had decided to try and catch the man, mostly out of a desire to help rid the land of scum, but also because he was out of money and needed food. Just before Will was about to catch up to the slaver, Eris had found him and collected the bounty. He'd gone another three days eating roots and old jerky.

She was making eyes at everyone, and Will noticed that RIver took an almost immediate dislike to the woman.

 

Eris

"Eris Elflock. Your reputation precedes you." Will said coolly.

"Oh? Does it?", Eris said, turning her entire body to face him fully. "Usually my hips procede me, heh heh. And that's Eris of the Golden Apple to you, bub. Only my friends can call me by my birth name...or are we already friends?" She tossed her hair and the scent of pine needles and sage, and something floral, wafted over Will. "So, eh, just betwixt the two of us...", she said, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are we gettin' paid for this gig, or what?"

 

Lebry's theory.

"Well sorry to interrupt all of you"
The voice of the man with the black cloak over his head spoke.

"I got a little theory of the origin of uncastables.... I've been investigating the matter a while.."

It was all just an hypothesis, but it could be truth...

"It begun fifteen years ago when the well of darkness was moved out of its place, at the same time the well of life was moved."

He raised his hand, showing two fingers, one for the darkness, the other for the life.

"Both could be the source of the magic called Nox and Althea.... so the same as them, there could possibly be other four wells." He raised the three fingers left and one of the other hand.

"Perhaps one for each element of the eather. The thing is that, moving those two wells could have caused a disbalance in the magic, resulting in a massive misweaving, due to this lack of balance, the uncastables were born as a measure of this world to keep its balance"

What he said was basically, that there could be other four wells, and for magic to be balanced the six must be in equilibrum.

"Well it's just a theory"

 

Steam

Steam checked his map again. At this rate he was going to be late for the meeting. But he had a job to do and it made sense to do it on the way in. He'd spent the last few days trying to pin point the were-abouts of a group of bandits and there irksome leader Leon. His job was simple - kill the leader. While the reward offered was sizeable Steam was more interested in an artefact possed by Leon. Supposedly he owned a shield that was indestructable, now that was something Steam would like to have. He moved on into the forrest clearing a path as he went. He had debated trying to be sneaky but stealth didn't agree with him. Best to just march into the encampment and go from there. A little way ahead he could see a fire with people sitting around it. It amazed him that they were still unaware of his presence.

Covered in a large Admirals coat and a hood Steam strolled into the centre of the encampment. The bandits leapt the their feet as he looked around, they didn't seem to be anything special, just average pests. Leon was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm looking for the one they call 'Leon the sheild'" He said voice deep, muffled by his mask and slightly metalic. After a few seconds a man stolled out from behind a tree, one arm holding a large shield the other behind his back. Steam guessed he was what passed for tall around here as he was easily a head taller than the rest of the crew, but still shorter than Steam.

"I'm Leon. I guess your here for the bounty?" He said. It was almost said as a taunt.

"And the shield, assuming the tales are true."

"You'll have to find out." Leon said. With a single movement he pulled his arm from behind him and thrown a ball of fire. Steam moved out of its path with ease; he had seen the move comming the moment Leon appeared. The rest of the bandits were just as predictable. One behind him made to run him through as Steam turned and grabbed him. He then preceded to through him at one with a bow. Steam jerked slightly as a large earthen spike rose up through his leg. Snapping it he advanced towards Leon who threw more fire.

Not even worthy of my sword.

He got close, grabbing Leon and lifting him into the air. At this distance he had no way to avoid Leon's fireballs and his hood was burnt away as one hit his face. Steam threw him to the ground removing pieces of cloth from his face as Leon tried to crawl back wards. Steam's face was fully visible now.

"What are you?" Leon screamed as Steam drew closer. His shield was raised, if it was unbreakable now was the time to find out.

"Now's not the time for fear..." Steam said taking the shield in his hands. Clicking like a clock he snapped it. "...That comes later. Such a pity about the shield."

Leon still cowering on the floor he removed his sword from its scabbard and in beheaded him in one clean move. He wiped it on the grass before placing it back and gathering up the shield pieces for evidence.

What a shame, I could have used a good shield.

Steam spent the rest of his journey to collect his rewards mulling over the fact the bandits had been uncastables. He was still thinking about it as entered the gathering, drawing strange looks from passersby. It seemed as if the main meeting had ended. He turned to leave when a sound reached him

“I am an uncastable of course!”

The source appeared to be a man shouting. Clunking Steam made his way towards him, hunching his back so their height was equal. A girl stood next to him, she didn't look like any of the people Steam had seen before, more like a mixture of them.

"So you are an uncastable aswell? Do you know why?" Steam asked doing his best to make his voice sound friendly.

 

When the bounty hunter had strode in Pip had hissed in surprise -had they come to get her?

Revealing the glowing blades of Althea hidden in her primary feathers, she crouched in front of her mother; feathers bristling as her eyes began to glow blood-red, revealing flickering flames deep within.

"Can't be sure your only here for the job now huh Miss Apple?" Pip said, showing a remarkable amount of guts to stand up to the bounty hunter, "Just so you know; I've dealt with your type before and don't think I won't keep my eye on you -so who hired you for my head?"

 

William (Level: 5|Expertise: 0|Shield: 100%)

William walked in right when Nesvi had mentioned them. That's nice. I don't have to explain why I'm here, or rather, explain why I forgot the reason I'm here. A scorch fiend, elf, man, woman, and others. It was the oddest assortment of creatures he'd ever seen.

"Hello. My name is William. You probably don't know me, but-"

"They're your classmates from fifteen years ago," Avani murmured.

"Oh, right." A sort of hollow sensation crept into William's stomach. He hated meeting people he didn't remember. Clearing his throat, he continued.

"Well, I had some adventure of some sort with you fifteen years ago, I think. You all remember me, right?" This was going bad. Very, very bad. "I'm sure you do. Anyways, my memory isn't quite what it used to be, but I had so many adventures with Avani that it's hard to remember what happened in the past." Telling half-truths was only going to dig him a deeper hole, but William didn't really care. He pulled out a beat-up journal, its plain brown cover nearly black from dirt and filth, and a quill.

"So, can all of you tell me your names really quick, and what you were like fifteen years ago? This information is important to me."

 

Crumpet

"So, can all of you tell me your names really quick, and what you were like fifteen years ago? This information is important to me."
PBFFFFFFFFF HE DOESN'T REMEMBER A THING! Crumpet's internal amusement translated to a violent war between his chin and right eyebrow. Then, a sinister grin spread over his face. "My name's William, and fifteen years ago I was constantly afraid of Nox. I often cited the Contra Noxys. I'd occasionally go into spasms and witness hallucinations, and wake up screaming. I'd also attack my friends a-" By this time, the war had escalated to a world war across his face, causing even his ears to twitch uncontrollably. After breaking into loud guffaws for six metric awkwards, he finally composed himself and rectified his greeting. "Seriously though, I'm Will Barfy and I can't remember a name worth a damn." Then the fragile peace between his various facial features shattered. Crumpet was stuttering now, though he managed to pull out a "...and I also hit on engaged elf girls" before his voice transitioned into an incoherent, high pitched squeal.

 

Will

"Seriously though, I'm Will Barfy and I can't remember a name worth a damn." Then the fragile peace between his various facial features shattered. Crumpet was stuttering now, though he managed to pull out a "...and I also hit on elf princesses" before his voice transitioned into an incoherent, high pitched squeal.

Well this just got exponentially more awkward. He glanced at River briefly then smiled at Crumpet. "I think you're a little half baked there Crumpy." He said, dripping with sarcasm. Then he turned to William. He was all grown up, not the terrified and delusional young man he used to be, but with a whole new set of problems.

"I'm Will Bartholomew, the one who can't remember names worth a damn and *ehem* occasionally have been know to seek the company of elven princesses." Another awkward glance at River. "This is oozing ball of half baked pastry dough here is Crumpet. He's kind of an ass..." He shot Crumpet a smile. "Just ignore everything he said before that. Like I said, he's kind off an ass."