[indent][h2][i][u][b]Rhay System, Asara[/b][/u][/i][/h2][/indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][h3][i][b]Day of Slumbering[/b][/i][/h3][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]
Before the alter, hood pulled back, helm removed, and wings laid 'pon the ground in reverence, the Asaran's head was bowed--eyes closed. A fierce glow emanated from his rather heavily armored form, but here it spiraled forth, before being pulled to the dais before him. Before him, where the light glowed most fiercely, was a blade, half its form slipped into a thin shaft, which had clearly been cut to be a perfect fit for the relic.

Yes, before him was the Blade of Rhay, a relic of his people which had not been wielded for hundreds of years...till him. Taking a deep breath into his lungs, the Asaran rose to his feet, armor shifting against itself as he did. He took a single step forwards and his gauntleted hand took hold of the blade's grip. Pulling it from the altar, the knight peered up at its brilliance, his own eyes glowing almost as fiercely as the blade itself. Look over its edge to survey if it had sustained any punishment, the avian humanoid noted none and so sheathed the blade. Turning away, his footsteps echoing through the lofty architecture in which the blade was placed as ceremony every 5 years, the Asaran male exited, pushing the heavy doors open and letting them drift shut behind him.

As he exited the many Asarae, which had gathered for the ceremony bowed their heads and stepped aside. Raising his own hands above his head, palms up, Raelis called out, [color=#fff79a][b]"The Relic's link is without fault. For another five years our star's slumber is prolonged, but alas go in silent reverence the great flash is yet to settle."[/b][/color] He paused, lowering his arms to his sides, lips turning up in a smile, [color=#fff79a][b]"On the morrow we celebrate."[/b][/color] The crowd of Asarae collectively raised their heads, mirroring his smile before they all began to  disperse even as he made his way down the marble steps of the Church of Slumber.

The necessary few remained, outlining the path he started down, heading back to his own abode.

It was not to be. There was a disturbance.

Raelis' strides faltered, then stopped altogether before he turned, peering to the center of the square that lay bare just beneath the shadow of the church. He had noticed before the others, but alas there were others who noticed and turned their less luminous eyes to the empty space in confusion. Narrowing his eyes, the warrior lifted his helm and donned it.

As if it were a cue, the air shimmered, then the light was sapped, but the darkness that remained twisted and warped as well. Then came the Skeleton sat upon its throne. His eyes narrowed at the apparition's manifestation, but while his kin retreated, he stepped forth, drawing the Blade of Rhay even as the being's words rang out. [color=#8493ca]“I am Skallagrim, and you are a skilled and worthy warrior, you are invited to attend the Nexus of Worlds Tournament. When you are ready merely call my name and I shall open the gate to the Nexus of Worlds.”[/color]

Blade already raised as the apparition finished and its form retreated into the [i]wrongness[/i], Raelis slashed downwards, a wave of searing light releasing from the Relic, nearly passing through the gateway only for it to close a milisecond right before. The light instead struck the side of the building and melted the surface it had touched, warping the metals and plastics that made it up, as well as shattering the glass and crystal that it touched. The ground where the wave had touched was white hot, though it cooled unnaturally quick.

[color=#fff79a][b]"Abomination,"[/b][/color] the Chosen growled, blade gleaming fiercely in the now returning light. However, he felt compelled to name the strange beast.

As if sensing this, one of his fellow Asaran approached him and put a hand on his shoulder, looking into the slit of his helm and thus directly at his glowing orbs. [i]"Go, its disturbance of our realm and its rituals may have awoken Rhay. Should that happen you know the consequence,"[/i] the man said. Raelis recognized him as one of the Brother's of Slumber. Telthani had been his name.

Looking away, he turned to the space where the warp had been and exhaled, chin raising slightly. He knew what had to be done. He would slay the infernal thing, even if many stood in his way. He did not know what this tournament was, but he had heard of the Nexus. In fact, he had even traversed it once himself. [color=#fff79a][b]"Very well, Telthani. Call the brothers,"[/b][/color] he replied, tone serious.

Telthani nodded and began to turn away, only for Raelis' gauntlet to press down on his shoulder, [color=#fff79a][b]"Make due haste brother...and tell the others I will return. Ah...and take this,"[/b][/color] Raelis pulled something from around his neck loose, and held it his palm out. Telthani looked to his helm, but finding his face impossible to read through the metal, he briefly scowled, then took the necklace from the man who was his friend.

With the amulet given, Raelis strode forth and as he neared the center of the square he spoke, enunciating clearly and deeply, [color=#fff79a][b]"Skallagrim, show yourself!"[/b][/color]

Instantly the warp opened before him and just before he stepped into the unknown gateway, he heard Telthani call out, [i]"Walk ever in the light of Rhay!"[/i]

The crowd answered the call, [i]"Step not into the dark!"[/i]

Raelis' smile, hidden by his helm, fell and he made the final response, voice filled with reverence for that which he spoke. [color=#fff79a][b]"So to slay the Nightmare's coming!"[/b][/color] Then he stepped through the gateway and the crowd's loudest cheer was cut off. It made Raelis' feathers twitch and shudder in his helm. 

He pulled his hood up over the helm and so was revealed the Hall.[hr]
Opened up before and around him there was a great building, its vaulted ceiling and pillars clearly of ancient make. In the center of the room sat the Skallagrim's throne, and upon it sat the being. All around there were people, though none of his own kind.

The feel of the Hall was alien, yet it was familiar in a way. Unsettling. He would be sure to extract what he could from this Skallagrim. With the feeling of this place, he knew that doing so might be his salvation. Insofar as the Light had not been already.

[color=#fff79a][b]"What is this place,"[/b][/color] asked the knight to Skallagrim, the glow from his form far fiercer than any natural light shed in or around the space. It was almost as if the light had physical form...or perhaps as if Raelis [i]was[/i] its form made physical. A form which could not wholly contain it.

In this way the Champion of Rhay was indeed an intimidating figure. It was hard not to be when one stood at 6'3 and was not only the center of an aura of light, but wore a full suit of armor which extended onto two equally impressive wings.

Yes, he was indeed the picture of the perfect Asaran warrior.

[indent][indent]He'd be sure to inform the others just how well he fit the part and he'd assure the Slumber in the process.[/indent][/indent]

[indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]This was the Champion's conviction.[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]
[center][sub][h3][i]The Conviction of Raelis Vaerkturian.[/i][/h3][/sub]
[img]http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/067/2/b/armored_angel_by_tnounsy-d5xdp4v.jpg[/img][/center]