3. A Falcons Flight - Stories of a Tyrran

A Falcons Flight - Stories of a Tyrran

  • A

    ((Will be a bit of her backstory, mixed in with journal entries and stories of Narfell adventures.))

    _The dark clouds rolled over the mountains in the distance slowly, creeping across the sky as if a shadow the foul gods sent themselves to block out all light, the peaks catching the lightning; the flashes illuminating the sky and making the mountain seem as if the fangs of some monstrous beast. In the distance the drums were heard, a fast uneven rhythm echoing on the wind in advance of the horde. The five knights sat in their saddles silently staring off to the east, their armor glinting in the diminishing sunlight overhead. The horses under them snorting eagerly for battle, the breath of both horse and knight gathering in a fine mist in front of them.

    “We hold them here and give the townspeople time to head north” Ladros said suddenly as he sat high in his saddle, his short cropped brown hair already slick with sweat; droplets forming on his face as he gave one of those half smiles to the other four. His smile was disarming despite his impressive size and the fine longsword sheathed at his hip; his high shield of polished steel bearing the grizzly bear with a set of scales in one massive paw.

    The three other knights took up a cheer, them being no strangers to the battle which would soon crash down upon them like a wave capsizing a ship. Talindra herself sat nervously watching the east and the closing storm, her heart pounding quickly and violently in her ears. Even hearing Ladros’ words in his soft yet inspiring voice did nothing to calm her, her eyes turned slowly from the east to settle upon him. “Ladros.. I have..” She spoke with a quivering voice, or so it seemed to her before Ladros cut her off gently, in the same voice as he always had. “If our end is today, we shall face it together in our lord Tyr’s name, my love.” Giving her a soft smile as he said the words, the smile seeming to slow her heart as she once again focused to the east, her thoughts dark and of death to come.

    The last of the townspeople rushed by the waiting Knights, most crying or screaming as they fled, very few wishing to stay and fight. “Head north as swiftly as possible” Ladros said to each person wishing to help. “We could use these people and we may yet live” Talindra thought to herself, though something within made her hold her tongue, she trusted Ladros to make the right decision, her mentor and her lover. Her eyes never leaving the east, now the slow steady beating of footsteps upon the earth, her horse getting more anxious as it stomped it’s hooves on the ground, Talindra giving a sharp tug on the reins to stop it from lunging forward.

    “They are close, ready yourselves.” Korain said as he glanced back at the fleeing townspeople, uttering a quiet prayer to Tyr under his breath as he kissed the hilt of his sword before tying his hair back quickly to slip on his helm, the last few rays of sun catching the polished silver helm, fashioned in the style of a mighty silver dragon, before the clouds fully moved over top of the group, the lightning striking down all around them. “We may not get a chance to die in battle if that lightning strikes to close.” Torben added with a laugh, the large man not often seen laughing, which made it clear to Talindra that he was nervous, which unsettled her even more, all the knights seemed tense, except Ladros who made no move to draw his sword or don his helm.

    The orcs began to crest the top of the hill, the rusted and pitted blades they carried were what Talindra focused on most, the crude weapons which will spill the lifeblood of her and her friends. The green skin of the orcs and rotten tusks might as well have been right in front of them the way Talindra saw it all, the stench even at two hundred yards away assaulted her nostrils as the wind caught it and carried it forward, the smell of death and blood. The drums suddenly cut off and a deafening battle cry came from the horde, Talindras breath catching at the sound. “Tyr protect us..” She muttered quietly then the remaining knights donned their helms and swords were drawn, the scrape of steel on steel as the knights swords left their scabbards, the sound of it ear piercing. “Be strong, my love. I will see you after the battle or in Celestia” Ladros soft voice coming to her as he moved his horse close to her side to rest his hand lightly against her cheek, staring into her eyes for a short moment, his touch sending a shiver down her body; time seeming to slow as she wondered if she would ever feel it again upon her.

    Suddenly the rush came as horses mixed with orc sword and spear, the muscular mounts crashing into the horde and rushing over them, bones crunching beneath the hooves, the orcs muffled screams cut short as they were trampled. Swords lashed out, the rusted blades of orcs and the shining steel of the knights. A cry suddenly filling the air as Oden was taken in the heart by a spear, it protruding through his back, the end glistening with his lifeblood. His arms twitched despite his dark blue eyes being glazed over already, being dead before he even hit the ground. “He had beautiful eyes” Talindra thought to herself, feeling ashamed right away as the thoughts came and she tried to push it away. The orc ripped the spear from Oden’s chest and shifted to his right, his attention on Ladros now, a sudden flash of lightning brightened the sky, it catching the steel blade in Talindras hand almost blinding her as the orc screamed in agony, a long slash from her sword had the orc opened up from his waist to his chin opened up as he bled out a sickly green color.

    Through the mass of orcs Talindra could see Korain, his sword aflame with Tyr’s divine energy flashing in and out of sight as the orcs moved about him, the frenzied howls for blood coming from the orcs as they died upon the righteous sword. One moment Korain was mounted and killing all that stood before him, the next a muffled scream from the beast as a huge orc swung a massive club down upon the horses head, crushing its skull with the swing and dropping Korain to the ground, his body and screams lost in the swarm of green skin around him. “If one of such faith could perish on this field, how will I ever survive?” Talindra could barely move as she watched, it wasn’t fear that froze her there on the spot, more of a wish to see it end on the point of those rusted blades.

    Through the haze and the sounds of battle she could hear her name being called “Talindra! Form up on Torben, we must..” The order cut short as she turned to face Ladros, his eyes unblinking as he stared at her, a soft smile given to her as he slowly slid off the side of his horse. He hit the ground hard and rolled to his stomach, a black feathered arrow protruding from the back of his neck and suddenly the large greenskinned orc was standing over him, greatsword raised to deliver the final blow to her beloved. As the sword descended, time slowed and all seemed to go black, the field went silent, no screams of death, no more frenzied howls of the orcs; no more clashing of blade on blade.

    “Talindra” Someone said softly to her in a deep voice, shaking her back to consciousness. “Talindra, you alive lass?” The voice urging her to wake fully, as her eyes opened the storm had passed overhead, the sun shining down upon the grisly scene of dead orcs scattered all over the field. Torben loomed over her, his eyes full of concern as he knelt beside her. “Torben.. wh..” Talindra tried to speak but her throat was coarse, each breath difficult. The large man pressed a wineskin to her lips and the burning of the wine as she drank it a shadow when compared to the dull throbbing which she felt now in her leg. “Don’ talk lass, drink some more wine and rest up” Torben added as he pressed the wineskin to her lips again.

    As Talindra tried to roll over her body lit up like she was suddenly set on fire, her muscles aching and the dull throbbing in her leg becoming a sharp pain as if someone was twisting a dagger into her flesh. She barely managed to get onto her side and stopped, blinking through blood covered eyes at the shape only a few feet from her. The short cropped brown hair slicked back with blood, his eyes open and lifeless, the half smile he used to always give forever etched upon his face in death. Strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her from the sight as the tears began, stinging her eyes and cheeks as they flowed freely.

    The darkness came, a Falcon took flight.._

  • A

    After the long journey the group of her friends took, Talindra curls up in bed one night and pulls out some quill and ink, putting it to the parchment she has set on the table beside her bed. Sunny jumps onto the bed beside her and wags his tail, getting a fond scratch behind the ears before Talindra looks back to her writing.

    You would not believe what has happened, Grigor.

    I jump ahead of myself, all the lost years forgotten at the moment to write this because it is so amazing. It almost seems a fanciful tale spun by a silver tongued bard and I -lived- it. I can only imagine what you will think when you read this.

    Rocky. That name sits within my heart, fond feelings and love for a creature made of stone. He was beyond what one could consider a simple elemental, perhaps a chance encounter turned to life after he ingested Myrkandite, an ore with magical properties to it. Yet the truth I believe in it, given from the lips of Tyr himself to me.

    He called me mama, he was like an adopted son I suppose. I knew not how much I cared for him until his death, a death by sacrifice, to save those he cared for. To save me, Ashena, Allestor, Shallyah, Maria, Thanatos, Maero, Luke, Cecil and Arlan.

    He was so large, growing steadily each day as he ate more and more ore. Yet he was so tender with his touch for those he cared about, even once giving me a rocky kiss upon the head.

    Our task was to release a mage of ancient Raumathar, the one named Thanatos, trapped within a staff of great power. Our journey took us to such splendid places, we visited the land of the fey itself, Avalon. The Queen of this land took offense to the meddling of Silverfang, Jerrick his true name, a druid who resides upon the mountain now forever watching over us. Within Avalon we released Knights, left to a deep slumber in stone, lost to the beguiling ways of the land of Avalon itself for many years. We wished to speak more to them,but we could not, our duty was set before us, a greater evil to be vanquished.

    The Queen of the fey would release Thanatos for us if we got some blood from something that lived during his time. Thousands of years passed since Thanatos was flesh and bone, where would we find such. The answer was given, we were to travel to a cavern, there we would find a creature born of that time. We found him, the darkness within him was apparent yet we all could not help but be awed by the sight after fighting our way through his undead half dragon children to reach his lair.

    Xaxonatro'zaphyr, a mighty dragon. We exchanged words with the dragon and yet we all knew in the end we would fight, even Xaxonatro'zaphyr himself new this, enemies can still show respect to each other before fighting though and I am glad that my encounter with this dragon went as such.

    When the dragon lay dead, we returned to Avalon and the Queen kept her word, Thanatos was released from the staff, the first part of our quest complete. Now we must face another great evil, the demon within the pillars, the only one able to summon it forth was Thanatos himself and so we left Avalon again, bidding farewell to our new fey "friends" and returned to the island we had set foot upon several times already, a new home for our lizardfolk friends if we succeeded, the birth of a demon and the possible end of the land of Narfell if we failed.

    Magics woven between Maria and Thanatos, the demon released and it sets upon us. It was so blurry when I now sit and try to think about it, the details I may be missing in this simple letter. Yet in the end, despite Yuan-ti attempting to disrupt the magics, we managed to defeat the demon, it's fiery corpse dropping to the ground and the impending explosion hovering nearby as the air darkened and the heat began to build around it's body. We ran, all of us.. except Rocky.

    The eruption of fire that came from this ancient demon was tremendous, breathing became difficult even with the heat it produced and the tremors I feared would collapse the cave upon us. Yet we lived, most of us at least. A solid rock form lay upon the ground near the final resting place of the demon, Rocky, "dead" or as dead as an elemental could be as they do not possess souls. He gave himself to save us, to block the explosion from harming us, a sacrifice that seems odd for a soulless creature. We could command an elemental to do such, yet we had no such control over Rocky, he CHOSE to give his life for us. The tears began as I rested against his lifeless body, then I truly knew how much he actually meant to me, what he had become as he moved beyond a simple elemental to be a trusted and dear friend I call him son despite his origins, but more for his deeds and the feelings I held for him.

    Victory turned to grief at the loss of Rocky and as I lay there, a voice within could be heard. "Do not cry mama, Rocky is happy. Take Rocky's body, make weapons to protect others. Rocky loves you." His last gift to us, Ssslithar seeing to the deed of using what remained of our friend to better fight the continuing threat we face.

    A sword of Rocky, blessed beyond what I could ever imagine, the hand of Tyr in it's making, a weapon to fight what we face and it will be needed. I can feel him within the sword.. Rocky. I know he is well and he DID find his soul, I know it. Tyr tells me he is within Celestia now at his side and I will see him again someday.

    We have much to do still and I have much more to tell you of this, yet my duties call me away for now, as does a dog who needs to go outside. Remember my brother, judge one by their actions and love them as they are, not as they look. Cherish what you have in life, as it can be torn away so quickly.

    I learned that lesson now thoroughly for myself and I miss Rocky and I love him, as I miss my family and love them.

    With hopes of seeing you soon, you loving sister,

    Talindra.

  • A

    Pushing aside some research papers, Talindra peers down at the dog at her feet, giving it a small smile and asking "So.. I guess it's time to tell him more, yes?" in a soft voice. The dog peers back up at her and gives a quick single wag of the tail before plopping his head back down.

    My youngest brother,

    When we meet again, you will not believe how I look. It is hard to explain as I do not even know how it exactly came to pass, yet I remain your sister despite my looks.

    I came to Narfell long ago, over three decades past looking for a new beginning, this was shortly after the death of my love. I stayed some time, wandered the land looking for fights against that which we Knights perceive as evil. Narfell was a good land for this if the stories were true, long lost hidden demonbinders fortresses from the Old War, filled with all sorts of foul creatures. A fight and a death worthy of my faith I thought.

    My days mostly passed by training and fighting out in the Pass or the swamps, or the forests of Narfell. I was reckless, no care if I died, no reason for living with my anger and grief.

    One day I found what I was looking for, it is still a bit blurry as to what exactly happened, though I do remember a large creature, horns upon it's body, wreathed in flames, yet it stood motionless when I thought it would seek to simply destroy me. I was young, my knowledge on such matters were far from great. I walked forward and that was it. When I woke, he was standing there.. who he was, I do not know. An angel? A Knight?

    The demon which was before me was gone, a large scorched area on the cavern floor where it once stood, I can only assume it was destroyed, or sent back to the darkness where it belonged. The man armored before me had no face that I could see past his helm, the dim torch light catching his armor and it was almost blinding to look upon.

    Darkness came again and when I awoke a woman stood above me, she was speaking to the armored man in words I knew not. I felt empty in a way, it's hard to explain really, all my strength gone. I wasn't who I once was, that I knew.

    I tried to speak but the woman hushed me quickly, behind her the armored man simply looked at me from behind that helm, his eyes so bright and they felt so familiar to look upon. I have my own beliefs as to who he was, yet I can not understand why he was there or why he helped me.

    The woman as I came to know her, Carie, was kind to me. We spent the winter in her cabin, in the remote forests of the Great Dale, there she taught me the language the two of them spoke, the odd words I could not make out were celestial, the angelic tongue itself. She helped me regain my strength, she never spoke of him and I did not speak of him either, I'm unsure why. She taught me of a deeper understanding of Tyr and the faith, one beyond a Knights virtues, one the clergy held dear. She told me of the prison I was in, not one of bars or stone, but one of magic, long ago created to hold the demon within. Thirty years had passed if what she said was correct.

    I entered that prison a woman who believed herself a Knight and came out more then I was, more faith then I had ever known, a wish to help and to live, to change my mistakes both in life and within my soul. She gave me a deeper understanding of faith that led me to Tyr's arms so tightly that he blessed me with such gifts to see his will done, to call upon his blessings to help those around me.

    She reminds me of mother and I still visit her to this day at least once a year. We sit and have tea, we talk of what has happened through the year, though we never speak of what happened to me back then or the man who freed me, some things are better left to faith then to understanding fully.

    I returned to Narfell again, the land had changed, wars had been waged, people had died during my long imprisonment. My home will be as odd to me when I return no doubt. I knew one or two people still, Sir Shannon being one, a priest high in the favor of Torm. I remember him sitting in the commons the first time I arrived in Narfell, he asked why I was there and I told him why, he sat so quietly listening. He's older, a bit more glowering then before, but I still believe deep down he has a caring and kinder side and on occasion it comes out in a light chuckle which makes some of us younger Knights beam a smile when we hear it.

    The first new person I met was Ashena really, one who has become such a dear friend to me and I will tell you of her later. For now, Sunny is growling for some food and my duties call me away from my writing.

    I look forward to my return home.

    Your loving sister, Talindra.

  • A

    Sitting in her room at the Temple, the light of a single candle making shadows flicker across the walls, Talindra reaches down to scratch behind the ears of the dog at the edge of her bed. Staring for a long moment at the parchment in front of her she finally reaches for the quill and presses it to the parchment.

    Grigor,

    It has been some time since we last spoke and to explain everything that has happened in all these years will take much writing. Ashena tells me it helps her clear her mind writing home and lately I have been increasingly frustrated, so here I sit, in my room with my new friend Sunny, writing my little brother in the hopes that one day I may deliver these letters to you personally.

    I know not if any of my family lives still and so much regret has filled me for my past actions, for leaving you all, for any pain I caused. I have seen so much in my travels over the years and I'll try to tell it all as best I can, but for now, my regret must be put to paper, with the hope you will all understand if we ever meet again in this life or the next.

    I loved him, I truly did, with all my heart and to have him ripped away from me devastated me beyond what I can explain. I was lost for a long time, empty without him and I sought death at the hands of whatever creature I could find, a death worthy of what I thought failures in my life, one to redeem myself not only in the eyes of the gods, but in my own eyes as well and yours.

    What hurt just as much was the disappointment a daughter caused her parents, or a sister her brothers, it lingers to this day and I want to come running home, to beg forgiveness from you all. Yet not all the things I regret have only been negative, they have made me grow, given me a calling in life once again and without the bad, the good may never have come to light. It has led me to my friends, to a position where I can help many people.

    I live now in Narfell, in a wonderful city called Peltarch, they call it the Jewel and it truly can be at times, the friends I have made are as dear to me as family and I truly hope you will all accept them as such should they come home with me, I believe you of all the family would enjoy their company.

    I've made a life here, my duty to Tyr is here, I beg Tyr each day that you will all understand this. Yet I miss my family, I miss you, I have made mistakes and I hope to correct them in some way so I can once again have my family back.

    I seek forgiveness.

    I look forward to seeing you all and the gods willing, holding you all in my arms once again.

    Always with love, your sister Talindra.

  • A

    ((OOC, this was a recent apple hunt in the goblin lands where the mighty Slayer of Fendon, Allestor got his spell disrupted by a wee goblin basher.. wanted to write something amusing about it and give a bit of credit to Mariston, who has us joking about and talking like him, so here we go. ))

    _Grignak "Stubber-of-Toes" Slayersbane - A Short Story by The Peach Princess

    Lo, we searched for the elusive apples of lore, settled down upon the ground under the tree of fabled legend. A knight brought forth, not once, not twice, but thrice they came! Armor glinting brightly in the sun, tis blinding the greenskins would yell! Their cries echoing through yonder woods, matched by the howls of the ravenous wolves.

    Lo, the Knights of thrice didst enter, the battle of the bashers did commence! Woe! The greenskins did cry to the heavens, for thine Knights seeketh our apple tree! We shalt bring forth our mightiest, hath thou heard of Grignak, "Stubber-of-Toes"?! We beseech thee to digress and return to whence ye came ye Knights of thrice!

    Lo, the Battle for the Apple Hill didst still commence, a warning given, yet ignored due to a loss of sense, thou shalt not tarry long under it's succulent branches. There came in the morning the most gruesome sight, the Bane of Slayers doth caused a fright!

    Hark! Thou blood shalt be spilled upon thine prize, the voice coming deep and strong. Grignak "Stubber-of-Toes" Slayersbane I be, club in hand, courage in heart. Standing ready to join thine battle, not as friend, nay, but as foe to ye Knights of Thrice! Thou shalt not PASS and get our apple delight!

    Lo, the Knights of thrice called to yonder heavens. Give us strength, gods of light! Just as the heavens were to striketh down upon the assembled bashers, Grignak "Stubber-of-Toes" slammed down his mighty club upon the toes of the knight thrice, the Slayer yelled with such a might! My toes doth not work this night! His words didst carry much like a kite!

    Lo, didst ye see his flailing club of might, striketh down upon the toes of yonder knight? Yon second Knight, asked to the Knight first in fright. The giggles did commence amongst the Knights two, though not for the Knight of Thrice, who hopped about as if a rabbit in flight!

    Lo, ye who reads these pages may seeketh the light, yet yonder apple is as dark as night. Grignak "Stubber-of-Toes" Slayersbane doth guard it's trunk, the fruit above a blight! For thinketh not that Grignak nay waits, he scurries away after providing the bait. Ye toes will pay, Slayers beware. Doth not go there and act like a hare!_