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Cormerant island [Exported view]
[RSS] 2009-09-29 22:11:15
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Commerant is the cheif population center. The entire island is one city, protected by a high rise wall. At the top there sits a huge, double level fortress. The island is the center for sea trade and a lynch pin for the majority of Dark army and Dark elf trade. The loss of the city would mean leaving entire fleets at the mercy of the fatal winter storms. There for the city is well defended, its' only weakness is the massive open port. From here it is easy to both get in and out of the island. A fact not lost on Ullari, or anyone else who would find it unpleasent for Lomien to control such a port
Celeste made her wat to the bow of the ship and rested her arms on the side. She could now see the island as the approached it quickly.
No if I could only get outta this alive, she chuckled to herself.
Lomien had taken his posistion in one of the huge dreadnaught ships, though even such a huge vessel looked tiny and insignifacant in such a huge bay. As the ships drew near Lomien gave the order to halt. The ships' crew and each of the thirteen other dreadnaughts, prepared the three Trebuchets that each carried "Expend all heavy ammunition on the city walls, make us a hole captain so that we can breach this city!" The captain smiled, as forty two fiery shots sped towards the fortified walls in the dockyards. They would have to repair the docks most likely...but that would wait till they had captured the islands.
Ninquelote stood beside Lomien, her blue eyes turning silver as she reached out with her mind, seeking out any threats or surprises, "Lomien," her grip on his arm tightened a little, "there are too many beings there, that is no cruser, not even a large merchant ship." she linked hermind with his,showing him the concentration of life that she "saw".
Lomien walked to the bridge "Captain, one DA light dreadnaught...
she's not a bombadier, and two light cruisers. I need this ship, a heavy cruiser and two light cruiser...we will intercept them and whoever else is sitting in that far cover...oh and full steam ahead this time" he said gazing off into the cove. The DA dreadnoaught was fast...a newer steam powered boat that could easily outrun the heavier bombard dreadnaughts or even the cruisers. He preferred the ships he had though...much heavier armor, and far more men. The ship turned about and headed with requested escort in tow towards the DA battle group.
Celeste stood up, confused by the commotion. She made her way toward Lomien, but decided against asking him anything. She didnt want to be the one to distract him.
As they approached the DA group, Lomien noticed that they wheren't even trying to run. The arrogant DA captain had resolved to fight. At the raise of his hand, the Alliance battle group stopped as Lomien gazed intently at the DA fleet. "Captain" Lomien called out from the tip of the bow before turning to the assembled men on the deck "Shall we honor our enemy and fight them? or shall we send them to the bottom of the sea?" he asked as the crowd cheered, raising swords high. Many wanted to fight, but many wanted to humiliate their enemy as well.
Aiden, on the DA's ship, looked at the scene unfolding and tried to supress her anger. Neither she nor the humans of her village were supposed to be harmed or forced into battle. She was not one for violance, and believed that both Lomien and Ullari could avoid bloodshed if they wished. However, the tides of events seemed to be turning were she might have to fight the Alliance to keep those she holds dear safe.
Celeste could tell something was wrong as she gazed upon the DAs group.... "I don'tthink thats all the Dark Army..." She looked up and searched for Lomien who was giving commands to his own army. "Lomien! That's not just the DA!" I dont know whos with them......but i think theres other innocent people on there...
Nin looked at Celeste then reached out her mind again, now that they were getting closer she could sense more. She could feel more than just the expected nervousness and other emotions before battle. She felt much fear, more than just a soldier's fear, the fear of people who were trapped, and from one being, she sensed much rage. She looked up at Lomien, "She is right, they are not all Dark Army soldiers!"
Lomien started, then issued orders. The ship was to be boarded, not fired upon and the Alliance soldiers were to use caution, kill only when necessary to preserve life. At his order the trebuchetes fired, aiming for the rear of the ship to dissable the powerful engines. Without the fast armored dreadnought, the cruisers would remain in place. As they drew up alongside the DA ship, balista bolts ricoched off of the sides. It was not as tall as the Alliance ship, being built for speed instead. Boarding parties where assembled, as the men drew lots for the honor of storming the ship and to lead those with them.
Celeste snuck herself into one of the boarding parties. She wanted to see this firsthand. So, she buried herslef within the ranks of one of the groups as it moved toward boarding the other vessel. Once they boarded it, Celeste made sure to keep her fire readily available, a small fireball growing in her right hand.
Aiden felt numb as the men from the Alliance flooded on to the ship. She didn't want to fight, it went against all she believed in. However, when she saw an elf with a fireball looking like she was going to attack a healer from Aiden's village she knew there wasn't any other way.
Ninquelote looked around, suddenly worried that the young elf was missing, she found Celeste with her mind, "Our little friend has gone with the boarding parties." she informed Lomien. Her now silver eyes were unseeing at the moment, she wanted to focus solely upon what happened on the Dark Army dreadnought. She began examining minds, all out attacking DA soldiers, and just incapacitating those who were being forced to fight, causing to fall to the deck, though they were just unconscious and would be fine when they woke.
Soon, Nin encountered a particular mind, the mind of a Dark Army Spirit Elemental, a familiar, and very strong Spirit elemental. "Lomien," she said, her voice sounding slightly disembodied due to how deep she had immersed herself in the spirit realm, she sat against a wall, "it is Zepher. I am going to leave my body. I was unable to defeat him the last time, while still anchored to this realm. Watch over me?" With that, she was gone, her body an empty shell until she returned to it. She confronted Zepher.
When Aiden saw the healer go down, and the elf stading right next to her, she quikened her pace. "You!" She growled at the elf. "How dare you hurt a innocent human, a healer no less."
Lomien sighed "Very well love" he eyed the tall bridge of the ship, noting how the DA where using it as a fortress "Well that won't do" he said with a nasty smile. He sent a thin stream of fire at the tower...though it was deceptive. The tecnique itself was hard even for him to control, an intense, concentrated energy burst made specifically to crack open hard targets. The soldiers laugh as the beam impacted, only to scream in terror as the entire center of the tower exploded into a fire ball.
Celeste was walking along the deck when she saw an older human. She broke from the goup and walked to them. Suddenly, they went down. Celeste figure Nin was behind this, for there were many people mysteriously being knocked down. Suddenly, she was confronted by another being. Startled by the hatred in the persons voice, Celeste stumbled back and extiunguished her fire. "What are you talking about? I did nothing!" Celeste figured this person was not truely of the Dark Army, so she moved to simply pin her to keep her safe.
The two smaller DA cruisers attempted to make for the transport colum, only to explode as heavy shot tore through their thin decks and ignited the fuel for the trebuchet weapons.
Zepher, what dirty tricks are you up to this time? Ninquelote demanded, her disembodied voice echoing through the spirit realm, unheard by physical ears.
A deep, disembodied laugh could be heard by all aboard the two ships, "Why, Lady Ninquelote," the voice crooned, smooth and thick as oil, "it is such a pleasure to finally meet you again. Yet, I fear that the outcome will be worse for you this time. You made a dangerous move leaving your body behind."
You always did have a tendency toward the overly dramatic. Ninquelote thought irritably, yes, Zepher was perhaps the one being who could actually irritate her. I have learned from my mistakes Zepher, this is how I will defeat you, it must be done. With that, she hurled her mind at him, attacking.
"So be it, old friend." Zepher said, leaving his body as well, and countering her mental attack.
Aiden managed to to aviod the elf's attemp to pin her. "That healer has nothing to do with any of this." Aiden tried to keep her anger down, knowing that if the red around the blue of her irises deepeed she would be found out for what she realy was. "This fighting is wrong." The more Aiden looked at the elf the more familiar she seemed.
Lomien, tired of waiting around "Sorry love...your going to skin me alive for this" he said setting her body in a locker deep beneath the ship. He appeared behind Aiden, placing a powerful hand on her shoulder "Celeste...don't attack unless attacked" he said quickly. Lomien shot another powerful blast at the engines to make sure the ship didn't try to make a run for it. Not that it could now with its' bridge destroyed.
Celeste was very confused. Obviously this woman didn't have any clue what was going on. When Lomien appeared, she heard his command and did not attack. attacking wasnt even what she had planned. But this woman just seemed so familiar....
Meanwhile, in the spirit realm, Ninquelote and Zepher fought on. The fight was not going well for Nin, Zepher was strong, stronger than she was. She only hoped that she was more clever.
Lomien began clearing the press ganged crew off the DA ships and onto the Alliance dreadnaught. He cut bloody swath after bloody swath through the marines that stood in his way. It was quite clear that many where raw recruits.
When Aiden felt the man's hand she had wanted to place a very hard blow in his gut, but she was stopped when he heard him call the elf facing her Celeste. She slowly turned to look at her. It was possible, they seemed to share traits, but the Celeste Aiden had known died many years ago, but the more she stared the more she was sure. This elf was her dear friend Celeste, who by all means should have been dead. "How are you alive?" Aiden asked stunned, unable to move in the mass bloodshed
"What?" Celeste had heard the woman ask her something, but she wasn't quite sure what she meant. How am I still alive? hat in the world could she mean? At this, Celeste was attacked from behind, but easily escaped using her fire. She was attacked again and was pushed into the woman as she fired at the attacker once more. Then, she found herself on top of the woman and rolled off, in a bit of a daze. Wow, didn't even see that one coming. Celeste looked back at the woman that she knocked down. She was sure she recognized her face, but had no idea where from.
When Aiden stood back up she noticed that ir had been a vampire that attacked Celecte. "I don't like to play with my food." She hissed as she took a bit from him, causing that vampire to colapse when she was finished. Aiden turned her attention back to Celeste. "You don't know who I am do you?" She sighed. "You are always so full of enthusiasm and energy, even as a child, but for the life of you there are times you are so clueless. I guess somethings don't change. However, I wish I could have found out you were alive under different circumstances, not being in the middle of a battle"
Celeste had already jumped back up and was fighting someone else who had decided to get in her way. But when she saw this supposed normal woman fight the vampire and then heard what she had to say, Clesete froze. She squinted at her and asked, "Wait, what? Who are you? I wasn't alive?" Then she thought about it for another moment. "Wait, what do you mean clueless?!?!!!"
Aiden rolled her eyes at Celeste's antics, as she fought an Alliance member who had confused her as part od the DA. Aiden had questions, ones that Celeste could only answer. Using the power she had built up she created a water sheild that enveloped majority of the villigers, Celeste, and her self. "Now we can talk with out any one I care about getting hurt."
Celeste looked around her as she was separated from the outside worl.d the sounds of battle sounding so far away. "What is this?! Why am I stuck in here???"
Aiden knew that Celeste wanted to fight, and that she cared for her allies on the Allance, but Aiden needed answers. "My village of Ardan is in desperate need of an econimic stimulus, and we were offered the chance to trade our crops with Commerant Island's merchants. This ship was suppose to take us back and forth, and in return some of the men offered to join the DA. However, that is only after our economy is stabilized. I'm here to make sure everything goes smoothly. I have also heard rumors that I can find a Crusnisk on the island."
Celeste blinked and shook her head a couple of times. "Wait....Aiden?"
"Took you long enough." Aiden said smirking, but soon returned to the matter at hand. "How are you alive?" She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I could have sworn I saw you die." Celeste had been one of her closes friends, that was after nor of course. He was the dragon who had raised her.
Celeste was in awe. This was her best friend. She hadnt seen her in what seemed like forever. "I-i ran and hid....I was cowardly....so I lived while all my loved ones were murdered..."I was knocked in the head pretty hard and when I awoke, the battle still raged and i hid...." Celeste couldn't help herself. She almost danced over to Aiden and gave her a huge hug.
Aiden looked at Celeste with a smile of regret. "As did I. I was there on business and I ran and hid with Nor. It's not something we should be ashamed of, we were only small children at the time. Both very young." Time has past for them, neither knowing who they had become. "Have you been happy, safe?"
"Erm....as happy and safe as I could be I suppose. And you?" Celeste was still awestruck
"A bit lonely I guess. After your home was destroyed, Nor dies shortly after, old age, now I have been the only immortal creature in the area. The People in my village have short lives; however, it has been safe, and I have a purpose. With out me they wouldn't be able to survive. But how in the world did you become a part of the Alliance?"
"Oh, I;m really sorry to hear about Nor;s passing... Well...let's just say i ran into the leader of the Alliance. Literally...."
Aiden giggled. "Some how that doesn't suprise me." A silence fell in between the two. "Celeste, we are going to have to get back to the out side, but i have to ask." Aiden paused, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.
"What is it Aiden?"
"Is there really a Crusnisk on the island? Is there someone else out ther like me? If ther is sooner or later I will have to find him or her. I'm a dieing race, and I have never met another of my kind." Aiden knew that Celeste may lie to her, but she was willing to take that chance. "Also, it seems that the Alliance has the upper hand, so I would like to return with you once I know that villagers are safe. Your leader has some answers I want answered." Celeste had answered the qustions she could, but know it was time to go up the rank.
"I honestly cant tell you for i dont know. but alright....I will be sure to get you in contact with Lomien."
"Thank you." Aiden knew that their time was up, and they needed to return to the raging battle. "Well I guess we have to see how everyone is faring with out us. Celeste I'm glad your alive, and I hope that we can remain friends, but you need to understand I WILL NOT choose a side in this war!"Once Aiden was sure he point was across she flicked her wrist, removing the water barrier and bringing them back to reallity.
Celeste was still stunned. Her best friend was here, with her. Someone she had thought shed lost forever was now beside her. "I dont mind you not taking a side. Just act smart in what you do and who you choose to do it for." At that, the water barrier was released, and the sudden sounds of battle flooded her ears. She took up her spot among the fighting once again.
Lomien smiled at aiden "Yes there is another Crusnik...but he is DA...however he is a rare breed of individual...so long as you don't attack him, then i can gurentee you that he will at the very least be interested in you" he said turning to clear the deck "Celeste...they may try to detonate the coal that is used to power the ship...finish getting the civillians off here and then we will see about sending these guys to the bottom of the sea"
Suddenly, a disembodied scream of pain filled the ears of those present, Lady Ninquelote, giving up already? came the disembodied voice of Zepher, he had overcom Nin and was projecting her thoughts into the physical realm, taunting Lomien, "We have only just started. Why, you fought me longer the last time."
Lomien's eyes shone an eerie color, a dark and oppressive aura weighed on the ship. Lomien encased himself in a thick ice tomb before his enraged spirit launched a devastating surprise attack on Zepher. He hid his presence perfectly before attacking with his full power.
Celeste heard the eerie voices....suddlenly, she was crushed by a horrible feeling of dread and anger.
Aiden felt the pressure of power around her these are the people I would rather avoid fighting she thought. "Celeste are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine..." She continued fighting and trying to get the villagers to safety.
This was supposed to be between Ninquelote and I. Zepher's pained voice said to Lomien alone, This is not over. and with that, he withdrew himself completely from the spirit realm. Not even Lomien or Nin would be able to trace his retreat to where he stood in an empty building on the shore. From there he immediately left to report to Ullari.
Lomien propelled himself, now back in his body, out of the water "This delay has taken enough of my time" he said creating sharp ice wedges and ramming them into the DA ships, destroying the sails and life boats with fire and lightning. Landing aboard the doomed DA dreadnaught "Alright, men of the Alliance, back to the ship, do not allow any who are armed to follow or any who have fought against you. We move to rejoin the invasion now!" he said turning back towards his own Dreadnaught.
Moments later, Ninquelote strode quickly up from below decks. "Lomien!" She strode right up to him, "Lomien, don't ever scare me like that! I did not know where you had left me!" She turned just in time to duck a blow from a Dark Elf and send her sword through the shoulder joint in his armor. She turned back, her eyes watery, then collapsed, the strain on her spirit and emotions unexpectedly overcoming her.
He let a sword run through his arm, only to envelope the offender in flames. He carried her to the realative safty below deck to their cabin "Wait here love" he said softly. He returned to the deck to find the DA fleet sinking and in flames, and the once beautiful city of Cormerant in flames. All the more easy to invade and take. The cries and shouts from those in the city could be heard, unfortunately for them, there is no other escape save for right through the now massive alliance fleet.
Aiden cried as she watched the city burned, and with it her village's hope. Many people were going to die, for the only way out was straight through the Alliance. She mourned for the dead, and families of the lost. "May peace reign over you." the fighting was starting to dwindle down on the ship, but the next wave was coming soon, and Aiden needed to decide were she wanted to be when it came. Did she want to be with the Alliance, Dark Army, or some were else entirly?
Lomien glanced dismissivly at the DA dreadnaught...the last still afloat in the DA battle group "Send it to the bottom" he murmered, sending an energy bolt at the water line, tearing a massive hole and causing intense flooding throughout the ship "Load the press ganged on board, kill anyone who attacks" he said quickly. He had to get a move on, the lower level of the city was clearly embattled already from the elemental bursts shooting back and forth to mark the battle lines.
Aiden turned fiercely towards Lomien. "What do you hope to achieve? Do realize that there are people down on that island that haveing nothing to do with any of this, and that they will only attack because this is their home. Do you want innocences' lives on your hands, or are so sadistic that you just don't care?" He was no better than the brother he preached against.
Lomien smiled, reading her every thought "If i was anything like my brother Aiden i would have simply sunk this entire fleet and burned the islands by fire storm other than fight to capture them...and if you don't believe that possible...well find me in a month or so when i am fighting the deamonic incursion...and you'll see just what i am powerful" he said simply
Off in the distance, over El'Arafa, something was happening, a tear was ripped in the very sky. From this portal poured a great host of otherworldly creatures. A host of those who dwell in the Void, a place that is not, the very opposite of the physical world.
As the beings of the Void entered their world, Ninquelote stirred. With the beings came one, even more powerful than the others. He had great power, power that Nin could feel from where she lay, even unconscious. She stirred, her brow furrowing as if trapped within a nightmare.
Lomien turned his gaze eastward towards Arda, he sensed the presence of a powerful being, and though he knew it was not overtly evil in the sense that the Deamons or the Dark elven Acherons where, he knew that this was the begining. Gurthang shimmered in his grasp from the images it garnered from his master. Lomien stood quietly "It will begin soon" he said quietly turning back to Aiden.
Celeste looked up as she felt an ominous weight fal on her shoulders and surround her very being. What is this? She searched for Lomien and Nin, looking for an answer, but could find neither
"What's coming?" Aiden asked perplexed, then she felt an enormous power. "Who, or what is that?"
Lomien glanced at her "Change" he said simply "The world will change and be reformed...old powers will die and new ones will form.....the world as we know it will change and never be same"
"And is that a bad thing? From were I see things change is a good thing."Aiden said. She looked towards the energy source. "Maybe it's time for change, and a new perceptionin of this world. I would like to met the being that arrives. I sense no evil, but yet a want , a want for..." She stopped in midsentence, closing her eyes and letting the aura over take her.
"Be careful what you embrace young elf" Lomien cautioned "This is not one being but myriads....an army that will only be met by another army.....the meeting of the two will be unlike any we have seen before, nor are likely to ever see again in our life time....the arrival has hastened all the more coming of Hell's untold billions...Deamonic princes each lead their own legions...all of this will converge in Arda"
Celeste Celeste was still on deck, though she found herself on a different ship. So, as she looked around for familiar faces, she found none. Though she knew it was an Alliance ship because this is where alot of the innocent villagers were taken. People were being hustled below deck, but she stayed above, trying to figure out what was happening. She felt a strange presence and discovered that it was trying to enter her. She figured it would be Lomien or Nin, so se opened herself to it...
Lomien gazed out towards Arda, the black clouds around El arafa burning. The presence he felt was waning. He remained uneasy as he directed the remaining alliance fleet to land in the ports. Walking slowly down the lowered ramp, he looked around. At his side one thousand well trained and well armed and armored they formed one of the most trained divisions, many similar divisions where assigned else where...mainly with each of the captains, and these usually reflected upon the captains' abilities. His wraith guard also follwed, numbering fourhundred, and easily capable of besting a force five it's size.
This isn't going to be pretty, Aiden thought. She felt Lomien's preperation for a gigantic fight."If I gave you the choice, what whould you do with me if I was to help you until you started to fight the Dark Army?"
Lomien turned to her "You could serve for however long you wish" he said simply "We are here to drive out the Dark Army to await the coming storm...there are others on their way...my men in Tervel and Eldamar are being forced to stay and fight. I will personally see to it that your people are not conscripted....if they join that is their choice...if not that is also theirs and we will pay for food and material if these islands cannot afford to simply give it" his tone bore no ill note in it, nor was he at all hostile.
"Well then for now I'll help if the need comes, but I wont help you fight your own flesh and blood, family means something to me." Aiden said, watching the growing mass. However, when she turned to Celeste, something was seriously off, causing Aiden to turn to Lomien for help.
"You think it doesn't mean anything to me? i'd let him be if it weren't for the all out war and his being so hell bent on reforming the old Telpurion empire for himself....and even then i wouldn't care...save that he let's the Dark elves run alot of his doings and i think the world is better off without the black Cabals of Telpurion...nothing against dark elves...just sadistic cultists wanting to overrun the world"
Only a moment too late, Celeste realized it was neither lomien nor Nin who tried to enter her mind, but another being entering her body to take control. She fought, but lost.
Aiden would have giglled at Lomien's comment, but she knew that Celeste ws being taken over by something. The question is what?
Lomien cast a worried look over to Celeste "Celeste, who is it?" he said even toned. He could sense the dark spirit, but he wished to know its' name....the better to be rid of it.
Slowly, Ninquelote woke. She lay there for a moment, trying to remember where she was, trying to resist the affects of the darkness that had come into this world. Slowly, she rose, she came unsteadily out onto the deck and approached the others, "Something is very wrong." she murmured, struggling to erect the barriers about her mind. A moment later, she looked shaply over at Celeste, she moved over to the young Elf and placed her hands on her shoulders, Who are you? she demanded of the preasence that she found within Celeste's mind.
Lomien was about to say somthing when he felt the pressance diminish. Whatever it had brought was still there, however it seemed....nearly impotent in its' threat.
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