Operation: Xevn

[Ganu_Candali]

The walk from Valor City to the Xevn area of Rosinder was a quiet one. Velindrel kept to himself the entire time, not having much to talk about of late. Always, his minds were on the loss of his beloved wife, the pain still too recent to let go of. Possibly, Velindrel would never quite be as he once was. Keeping his eyes forward, they settled upon a village that was getting nearer and nearer. Velindrel nodded to his companion, one of the leaders of Dictum Veritas. Velindrel had respect for the shadow-like operative, but he never voiced his opinions unless it was crucial to this or that matter.

In the past few months, Velindrel was as a ghost. He locked himself away in the workshop in Valor City. When projects were given, he simply performed them without complaint. He had become as a machine, crunching projects out with almost supernatural skill. In this fact, Velindrel's efforts matched the finest soldiers that Dictum Veritas had at it's disposal. Velindrel's eyes went wide as he got closer to the village. Strangely enough, the blacksmith recalled venturing to the town near Xevn mines once in his youth. In his earlier life, Velindrel's family traveled oft. But when Velindrel became a man and was able to travel, he let his past go...

However, at that moment his past haunted him. Velindrel shook his head as he tried to fight off the invading memories. Once, Velindrel had been a proud member of the nation of Rosinder. Whilst his time in The Harem had largely helped Velindrel forget about the past, something had happened as he approached Xevn's village. The past refused to be forgotten. It would be remembered! Velindrel had blood in Xevn. Long ago, Velindrel had fought alongside the warriors of the village to fend off raiders from another land. Velindrel would be remembered for the hero he was...but that would become an unwanted life. As Velindrel approach, the past came hauntingly.

Then, when the images cleared, Velindrel saw an all too familiar face. The Elder of the village and two warriors.

Velindrel looked upon The Elder, his features were the same as he remembered from his youth. He turned to Cale and then back to The Elder.

"So. Velindrel...you have returned to us at last." The Elder said calmly. Though there was a rage boiling behind the mask of his eyes. "The stars have foretold this day would come." The Elder walked over to Velindrel and placed his hands upon the Elf's face. "Your features hold a great sadness. Your return to us an event of great joy. You helped free us from the raiders long ago. And I am afraid that your return to us today is on the footfalls of another great disaster. But before all that...why are you here!?" The Elder asked of Cale. Velindrel, for the life of him wasn't certain that his memories were all...his.

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale's eyes saw the vicious contempt held within the aging Elder's eyes, and his tone did not fall on deaf ears to the young Commander. Cale presumed that the old man's friendship with his Elven comrade may have provided a touch of courtesy for his own intrusion, but it seemed that would not be the case. The villager's eyes of fire were met with eyes of water from Cale, deep and calming as he rose a hand to his chest, nodding with respect.

"My apologies for our intrusion." Cale said in a soft, but polite manner. "My name is Cale. I am here to seek a counsel with you, sir. This is one of my most trusted subordinates, accompanying me for the long journey we took here from the deserts to the West." he explained, gesturing to his two Captains at his left and right flank. "I humbly request an audience, so that we may speak."

[Fallen Joy]

Digits slipped out to touch the cool glass sheet of a mirror resting before her. Canting her head, Armada stared at her reflection for a moment, chestnut hues centered on the amulet adornment resting tranquil in the middle of her breasts. A bewildered countenance struck her a moment, thoughts churning before a visage of skepticism transpired.

“No way…General Cale is out of his mind, this shit isn’t going to work.”

Fingers retreated from the glass and flicked the amulet so it swung fleetingly in the air. A grin transpired and she chuckled lightly placing her hands on her hips. A few seconds passed before she was shaking her head and strengthening her chuckle into an hysterical laughter. There was no way this was going to work! But hell she was going to humor it anyways, she wasn't opposed to playing her General’s games. Crossing her arms and leaning on a curvaceous hip, Armada lost herself within her own gaze and muttered out gentle words through even gentler lips.

“Xevn, Rosinder.”

Nothing. Armada quirked a brow.

“Hah! That’s what I thought, nothing but a crack of bullsh—AHHH!”

Gravity was suddenly centered around mirror and Armada was lifted violently from her feet, sailing into the confines of the glass, which melted into rippling liquid as she passed through. Not a trace left.

THUMP!

Behind her two comrades, Armada Wolf hit the ground and tumbled across the dirt in a cloud of dust. Ending on her rear, she coughed and hacked in the polluted air before gradually standing and patting the dirt off her exposed stomach, pants, and sports bra.

“God damn, what a fucking rush.”

Moments after the words spilled, Armada noticed where she was, eyes falling on Velindrel, the man she saved from a lasting death, and her General Cale. A sheepish smile transpired before she placed two fingers to her forehead and saluted Cale with an apologetic stare.

“My apologies, sir.”

She turned her head towards the Elder, nodding her head in respect. She had honestly only heard the introduction of herself, and caught on quickly.

"Armada Wolf."

[Ganu_Candali]

"Counsel?" The village Elder asked. "People who seek counsel must earn it." The Elder decreed. "I trust you fellas have come a long way, and you didn't come here just to bring an old Hero back to his roots." The Elder suggested as he looked at Velindrel. "But come, there just happens to be a problem that requires the attention of young Adventurers like yourselves." The Elder started, hinting at the greater problems in Tellus Mater herself. "Our Tower of Perdition has recently fallen in a disaster. We would not ask strangers to help rebuild it, but the materials there could be salvaged. However, there seems to be a beast guarding the materials. I would have you all remove the threat the beast poses to our people before anymore negotiations will take place. Do you three accept these terms before a counsel will take place?" The Elder asked. The Elder looked at Velindrel.

Suddenly, a powerful voice entered Velindrel's mind.

I see the suffering mark on your Soul, child of The People. We can help you heal from your suffering when your job is complete. The voice said, and Velindrel knew the voice was that of the Elder. Velindrel nodded in silence to the man, there was clearly some sort of connection between the two fellows.

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale took the Elder's words to heart. Truly, this man was one of great importance that he would have strangers take a trial such as this, before getting the honor of speaking with him. But such a task, Cale was more than familiar with. He would not be a Commander, were he not.

"I understand. We will see the beast's last breath within the hour." Cale said, nodding his head with respect to the village head. "Thank you for the task. I will see it through."

Without a word to his companions, Cale started off through the meager town village, quickly finding himself on the opposite side as he ascended the following hill...the ruined remains of what was once such a symbol of power and strength scattered about its peak.

[Fallen Joy]

Armada rose a knuckle wrapped hand and scratched the side of her head, fingers intertwining with curls as she listened to the conversation. Armada, being the captain of infantry battles, wasn’t the one for this tactical planning—most of the time she went on missions to guard someone. The honorability of the elder was not lost on Armada, but just the same, she seemed impassive to his presence. Her General, being the amazing and attentive person he was, did listen with the upmost focus and devotion, so much that he didn’t bother to lecture her noisy appearance.

Slouching in a lazy position, Armada took the moment to take in the scenery of the village they sought to conduct business in. Peaceful in appearance, but like most of Rosinder, suffering from the cold hands of oppression. The captain exhaled lightly through her nose, slipping her hands in her pockets as the conversation ended.

“Straight out of a storybook... fighting monsters, proving yourself...”

Picking up her pace, the woman was soon standing beside Cale. In a random display, she slid over and gave him a playful nudge of her shoulder as they traveled up the hill side by side. The woman seemed so casual and careless, even when she was about to battle a savage beast. While her commander held the dignity of king, Armada leaked with the demeanor of a hood rat.

Which she, more or less, was.

[Ganu_Candali]

Besides the two warriors of Dictum Veritas, Velindrel always felt out of place. Though he possessed power, it was still largely untapped power. If he so wanted, the Elf could change the world, but first, he had to find a way to make peace with his loss. He followed Cale and Amada towards the site where the proud Tower of Perdition and it's secrets once stood. Velindrel closed his eyes as more memories of the past came flooding back. Once, the Tower of Perdition held a gate that connected The Firmanent to...then, Velindrel's eyes snapped wide open. A presence of elemental energy was pulsing within the site of the tower. Velindrel's eyes saw nothing but destruction where the tower had once stood. The destruction pained him even further, as the loss of Xevn became a gaping wound on Velindrel's own heart.

A part of him wanted to look away. Xevn was suffering, Xevn needed Heroes. Velindrel's eyes suddenly snapped towards towards a central source of powerful emotions. Though it was true that Velindrel had sharp senses, he had never practiced with them to get them to detect certain supernatural stimulii. However, that particular source point was quite powerful and Velindrel's gorgeous eyes opened as he realized what he was staring at. Selfless, brave, when the Psionic Wyrm flew suddenly towards Cale, Velindrel reacted with his supernatural Elven reflexes. He had already lost so much to get to where he was then. He couldn't bare to loose more. So he acted, without thought, without instinct. Velindrel was just one portion of a much larger machine called Fate.

And so, the Psychic Wyrm attached itself to Velindrel's forehead, when the true target had been Cale all along.

Velindrel screamed with agony...

The true battle was about to begin.

[Thoughtless Poet]

Cale's senses were sharp enough to detect the presence of something lunging for him, but before he could manage to react, Velindrel had thrown himself in the way. The creature in question was not something Cale would have guessed...about a foot long, the sickening gray color of the leathery-looking worm was one that induced disgust. The blotches of brown and black that littered it seemed to expand as it 'drank' from Velindrel's forehead, though his face lost no pigment of blood. Cale could only assume this was a creature of spiritual hunger. Perhaps it -

Cale's thoughts were interrupted at the frenzied shriek of another worm, its featureless maw widening with hunger as it lunged from the earth below Cale. Though he tried to move away in time, the creature managed to take root just underneath his chin...his body, going into a state of shock as magical impulses flooded his head like waves to the shore, slowly eroding his mind's control. The world around him went dark as his body felt limp and heavy, free-falling through a dark abyss with no ground in sight.

"Cale..." a feminine voice called out to him, the sound being a sickeningly familiar one to him. "Cale...come join us, Cale..."

The faceless voice haunted the plummeting man, its request sending shivers through him as he felt something for the first time in a long while...fear.

[Fallen Joy]

Velindrel was taken…General Cale was taken…Armada was surely to suffer the wrath of the parasitic worm next!

Okay no.

Armada, witnessing there was a second monster on the loose, instead of rushing to her eyes general’s aid, Armada quickly went on guard and widened her peripheral view to its largest extent. Sure enough there was a flash of movement as the slimy creature lashed out to capture the woman and devour her brain like a zombie. Cocorinha! Armada dropped to the ground seconds before the worm could attach to her temple, her feet planted flatly on the earth before she swung a foot out to spin back to a stand, the worm crashing into the rubble from the missed momentum. By this time, the dancer’s eyes were illuminating with lightning, body in a capoerian cadeira stance.

“Sorry, there’s no vacancy here.”

The worm sailed across the air at her again and Armada, whilst leaping back, shot a channel of high voltage bolts at the worm from the tips of her digits. Electricity sailing across the air like shooting stars, collided into the worm and paralyzed it upon contact. Leaping with a dancer’s grace Armada settled to the side as the creature landed on the ground and twitched with convulsion. Frowning, Armada observed the creature for a moment before charging her fingers a second time and electrocuting the worm. The creature twitched and flailed even more, but it remained alive.

“Hmm…”

It appeared, while it was stoppable, it was not killable by physical attacks alone. Pressing her hand into the ground, rivers of light embedded into the earth and surrounded the worm in an electrified field. At least now, it wouldn’t sneak attack her. The captain traveled to her companions and crouched down. What could she do? If the worm touching her would send her into an incapacitated state, she during has no desire to touch them and suffer the fate she just escaped. Resting her hands on her legs, she pondered.

“If I use my lightning, I could hurt them…leave them here, they can die…maybe I should just..”

Leave them be.

The mental voice was familiar. The elder’s voice. Armada blinked.

They must conquer their fears within their own mind…Leave them be.

“Ah, damn it…”

After looking around for a moment, Armada verified there wasn't any other worms. Fump She sat on her rear and waited with her eyes focused on Cale, though her concern extended to the both of them.

“I suppose they only appear in light of an approaching mind. Maybe the whole damn contagion will die when these are killed." She sighed. "You better make it, sir…”

[Ganu_Candali]

Suddenly, Velindrel found himself back in Palgard. He saw the chaos that had befallen that city and the Elf had to relive the pain of his loss once more. Then, the scene shifted anew to show the Elf the source of all his torment. The death of his beloved wife; Madeline Rahnarr. No other creature on Valucre did Velindrel cherish as he had cherished his wife. It was almost a maddened love, the sort of psychopathic love that only a creature of arcane origins could hope to achieve. Love was a word oft misused by the sentients of Valucre. Velindrel knew that was true. In their hypocrisy, they thought they could love like Gods might. Velindrel would have given his life, nay, his very essence for Madeline's well being and safety. But the events at Palgard had ensured that Madeline was not meant to be saved by Velindrel's hands. Velindrel failed to protect that which mattered the most. An entire city of innocents was his curse to bare alone as a crucifix. Velindrel, upon seeing the foul creature that had destroyed precious Madeline once again felt an instant rage swell up in his gut. A rage, a rage that could break the very core of Valucre. As the rage swelled to volcanic proportions, the Elf suddenly understood why he was being shown the scene anew. He had failed. That very thought repeated itself over and over, maddeningly in his mind, tormenting him.

Velindrel was suffering, and he would suffer for all eternity for his sin. Though the Elf was good, he was by no means a heroic man. He walked a gray line in this dark and twisted world, and sometimes, he was willing to forsake morality in the name of doing what he thought was right. That belief system is what had lead him to rescue Madeline from the clutches of the dread Princes of the Harem. Vellindrel turned and saw a reflection of himself in the darkness. It was a reflection that wore Velindrel's face as a cruel mask. That was when the Elf realized he was not alone and his mind was no longer his sanctuary. There were voices in his head now, the very dead of Palgard. Somehow, the sin of being the last son of Palgard had branded itself on his subconscious mind just as he had branded Madeline when she had become his. Velindrel sighed and stared at the figures in the dark, hundreds, with that same accusing expression. His eyes narrowed. His thoughts were super-controlled to a point where they were like a white-hot blade. He wanted to explode. He wanted to make...someone suffer. But the voices in his head were not necessarily evil. They were a reminder. And the main figure in the dark, the one that looked like him, approached the Elf and embraced him out of the blue.

Unsure of how to react, the Elf pushed his copy away, rejecting it. Then, he felt a sudden pang of isolation as he looked at the copy. It was one the ground now, looking up at him. Sadness in it's eyes that spoke volumes. The copy stood up and walked back to Velindrel extending his hand towards him as if to say come with me. Velindrel had no choice but to do so. Anything was better than to continue to suffer the burden of Palgard. The ghosts of Palgard stared on in the darkness, their tormenting song whispered in the back of Velindrel's broken psyche. Without Madeline, Velindrel was nothing. He had been granted the chance to love so deeply, so profoundly, that when the time had come to protect that which mattered most...he had failed. That thought whispered to him almost like a soothing lullaby. Dictum Veritas had provided the Elf with a new lot on life, but he was not meant to simply be another worker. He was meant for greater things. And so, he followed the copy to the deeper parts of his mind where the devils of his people awaited. The deepest feelings of regret, hatred, and self loathing were stored underneath the surface of the generally good man. He suffered, but he had taken his suffering with dignity. Never once complaining about a task that had to be. And so, knowing that he needed to heal in order to become a proper asset to Dictum Veritas, the Elf followed his copy into the deeper aspects of his very soul...