Legion02

Avalia

Xenelith

Time: Dusk
Location: Roshimi City

---

“What about the trainer?” Leandron asked as he stood beside Xenelith. Who was overlooking a giant map of Roshimi. It covered several tables put together. The noble’s house had been far more active in dusk than during the day. Threats had grown more serious. Far away from the richer district, the guard barracks had exploded with activity. Every guard got his call of duty. They were all arming themselves to enact Xenelith’s plan: to capture the worst criminals in the darkest streets and bring them to justice. Rebel or loyalist, this night it didn’t matter. The people that would be dragged in were the scum of the earth. Animals whose hands were covered in the blood of all innocents. They wouldn’t be missed.

Still, that left the question of the Usagi family. The mother had been called to the nobleman’s house under the pretense to explain her son’s behavior. Xenelith couldn’t care less for her excuses. He did not intend to talk to her. Instead, he wanted to pass a message. “Tell the woman-“ He stopped for a moment. To any lesser man, the next words would be tantamount to treason. “Tell her that her son must finish the act. When Terneus is dead, his treason will come to light and the Usagi family’s sins will be forgiven.”

If Leandron was surprised by the message, he didn’t show it. “Anything else, sir?”

"No, leave me now. I have other business to attend to." Xenelith said. Leandron gave him a small nod in acknowledgment and went to talk with the trainer. Xenelith's gaze returned to the map before him. He hunched over it. Risa had been spotted various times throughout the day. In fact, it gave her an alibi for the assassination attempt. Perhaps she was looking for Terneus then? Or was she simply roaming the city, gathering supporters? The paths she took, it all looked so erratic. So casual. As if she was prey unconcerned by the hunter. Was she truly so oblivious? No, no she couldn't be. He wouldn't allow her to underestimate her. Still, the very sight of it all vexed him. They were so close. So damned close. Yet impossible to catch. It no longer mattered if they found the house she stayed at or not. He couldn't break down any more doors after tonight. It would disrupt the fragile peace he will have made. That failure left a bitter taste in his mouth though. The clock struck its hour, marking the start of his operation. Yet he had other business to attend to. He rose up and walked away. Leaving the table with black, smoldering marks where his hands once were.

The city-guard captains had been gathered in a small room. Many of them were rather annoyed. How dared a common upstart summon them? And then worse, keep them waiting!? Half of them were veterans of the war a century ago. And since then, they had kept the peace in an animalistic city like Roshimi. At any cost necessary. What would a fledgling dark elf know about that? Of course, the murmur of complaints instantly died down when Xenelith entered the room.

"Sit down." He commanded, motioning to the chairs surrounding the central table. Halastra was already rising. The room had no hearth to be lit, nor candles. Instead, the purple hue of the goddess filled the room. The captains did as they were commanded. Though Xenelith remained standing at the head of the table. "Now someone explain to me how a rebel princess slipped through the gates. No, first, someone tell me how a venerable governor of our great lord could nearly get killed in your city!" Xenelith did not blunt his words. There was real anger on his face. The captains quickly realized what sort of a meeting it would be. The guilty one would be hunted.

They turned on each other within seconds. Yelling across the table at one another, passing the blame and responsibility. For a good minute, Xenelith let them verbally devour themselves. "Silence." He then yelled across the room. The captains did not listen though. So he slammed his fist on the table. "Silence!" The room fell still in an instant. "I don't care who failed what task." He began. "You're all to blame. I have walked this city for barely two days and I can see the putrid rot of corruption around every corner. How many bribes have you taken, or allowed to pass? How many times have your guards turned a blind eye? I should kill half of you for treason." He spat his words and his eyes betrayed a literal truth behind his threat. To him, they had become weak and fat. Being so far from Aklenroth and Daka had turned them soft. To Xenelith, few things were more ugly than a soft, fat, weak dark elf.

He began to walk around the table. The faces of the captains followed him. Many with angry scowls. One spoke: "What do you know of our plight? We have kept Roshmi safe for a century!" He exclaimed. Xenelith pounced next to him.

"Safe? You call Roshmi today safe?" He stared the dark elf captain in the eyes and inched closer. Pushing him deeper into this chair. "The word human is uttered and a house burns down within minutes. A governor was attacked in broad daylight, a rebel princess is still at large and you will tell me this city is safe!?" He pulled away from the captain to look at the others across the room. "This city is not safe."

One dark elf captain got up to protest. But Xenelith cut him off: "Sit! Down!" He stared the captain down again. Who swallowed his words. But apparently one had learned his listen yet. He got up to speak but Xenelith wouldn't have it. He kicked the chair. The dark elf's legs were swept from under him. His head hit the table. Then Xenelith grabbed him and pushed him hard against it. "I am done with your petty defenses." He said. Something dark and deep told him to finish it. To drain the life from the elf and let his hollow husk fall to the floor. To make an example of him. It would work. The others would behave. But at what cost? They were not yet ready.

He released the man, who managed to sit back into his chair. "No more bribes. No more blind eyes. If I find one of your underlings show anything less than a veteran warrior's backbone I will flay him and kill you. Now leave."

The captains got up. Most of them were angry and defiant. He would have to kill one of them for sure. That would be the worst of his tasks: to kill his own kin when needed. Xenelith took no pleasure in killing another dark elf. But he had done it before. He would do anything to safeguard his people. He would make any sacrifice. Even if he had to become a kinslayer.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟɪᴛᴇs

I'm interested.

Marvels of Mountain City

This looks interesting. Is there still room?

Avalia

Xenelith

Time: Morning ==> Noon
Location: Love Lounge ==> Roshimi Market
Interaction with: Azriel_@Tae, Jack_{@Alivefalling}, Zelginn_@Dezuel

---

Xenelith didn’t deign the annoying child a response. He was too young and too stupid to understand the necessities of a long life. The skaula was doing its job excellent though, as was his companion for an hour. “Dispatch the child, Azriel. We have no time for meaningless riddles.” He said as he rose up. “I think I’ll retire to my room.” The girl led him by the arm to one of the more luxurious rooms and closed the door. For an hour the Dark Elf commander would not be reachable. After the hour though, most of the skaula had done its job. Two dark elves, that hadn’t accompanied the group, had arrived and were standing guard at his room’s door. When he finally came out they delivered their news with practiced neutrality: Lord Terneus had been attacked at the market. He narrowly survived the assassination attempt. It filled Xenelith with utter joy, knowing that that pompous bastard had the life scared out of him at least once. Though those were private matters. Terneus Andros was a civil servant of Aklenroth. He ordered his guards to bring him to the site.

On their way, Xenelith got the full briefing. It gave the dark elf commander plenty to think about. He had almost sunken too deep into his own thoughts to feel the rustling on his purse. Almost, but not quite. Without turning around he grabbed whatever arm was grabbing his coins. Then he turned to face the thief. Though he had to look down to do so. It was a kid, no older than 12. A bear demi-human. He looked scrawny but a fire burned in his eyes.

“Let me go!” he yelled at Xenelith as he tried to fight the iron grip. “Let me go!”

“What do you think you’re doing?” the dark elf commander asked.

“Nothing you pale skinned freak!” the cub yelled out as he kept fighting. “Let me go! I’ve done nothing!”

Such lies with such a straight face. Combined with such boldness. There was a clear fire in the bear child’s eyes. Few would’ve dared to insult a dark elf to his face these days. Xenelith did let him go. The moment he released his grip the cub bolted away as if Xenelith was death itself. Xenelith for his part, slowly took out a stack of coins from his pouch, held them up and yelled: “Hey kid!”

When the child was sure he got far enough he turned around and saw the dark elf holding up the stack of coins. Slowly he put the money on the edge of the nearby fountain. He said something the child couldn’t hear to his dark elf guards. They began to walk away, Xenelith quickly followed. The kid kept his eyes on them and everywhere around. The stack of amass was attractive. Soon the hunger in him overtook his cautiousness. He ran for the stack and grabbed it all in one fell swoop, then he ran. Far, far away. Assuming it was some wicked trap and he would be caught as a thief by some other dark elf guards tipped off. But nobody stopped him as he ran. Nobody chased him. Eventually he ran straight for the best bakery in town.

“You shouldn’t have done that sir.” A dark elf said as he looked back to see the cub take the money. “The kid is as good as dead anyway. This city, it’s like flour’s being billowed up by blacksmith’s bellows. One spark and everything goes wrong.” His eyes turned forward again and scanned everyone passing. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as if he could be attacked at any moment.

Xenelith’s eyes fell on more satisfying results. In the distance, a few deadened trees. Though he wasn’t deaf to his guard’s musings. “When this city blows up, who do you think is going to get out faster? A noble desperately filling his cart with gold and clogging the main streets or an orphan that knows all the alleyways and sewers.”

“Still, you shouldn’t have done it sir.” The dark elf said. “Their kind didn’t send money when we were starving on Daka. They send nothing. They left us to rot.” There was a real bitterness in the dark elf’s voice.

“And now I chose to be better than them.” Xenelith said.

---

The marketplace was still busting with people. Despite the assassination attempt mere hours ago. Only a section of the market was cordoned off by heavy armored dark elf guards holding massive iron tower shields up. Their very presence created a barrier between them that only a select few could cross. Xenelith passed along with just a mere nod. Before him was not much. A few smaller animals. Dead and crushed. Some cake on the ground and an arrow lodged in the wall, angling downwards.

“Tell me again what happened.” He told one of the dark elf guards as he observed the strange stage.

“It began with a faun, sir. He began to play music right there.” The dark elf pointed at the cart Ilan had mounted earlier in the day. “The music was good, but the Lord-Governor didn’t seem to like it. He tried to confiscate the lyre. Out of nowhere, an arrow lodged itself right next to Terneus. Then critters and beasts suddenly appeared.”

“Did they attack the crowd? At all?” Xenelith asked as he crouched by tiny corpses of some birds slapped out of the air by frantic movement.

“No, sir.” The dark elf guard said. “They flew over and passed all the people to attack the Lord Governor’s men. Aside from a few people running away from the chaos, not a citizen was harmed. Then once more out of the chaos a centaur dashed forward, threw a cake at Terneus and ran away with the faun.”

Xenelith was rather impressed by the stoic expression of his guide to the crime scene. He knew for a fact all dark elves would be laughing their asses off in private the moment they heard the news. Even he cracked a smile. Though it quickly faded again. Certainly the situation had a comedic element. “Anything more?”

“Yes sir. A shady figure, I couldn’t quite catch who or what it was, took the lyre from the lord governor. Then the lord governor just vanished. In thin air. I’m sorry sir, we lost track of him.” The soldier reported. Rather solemnly.

“I understand, soldier.” Light Elves and their invisibility. It made them dangerous assassins indeed. Daka’s wolves were quite apt adept sniffing them out in the wild, but a city mingled too many smells. The trail would’ve long faded by now. “I will inquire about the Lord Governor’s location.” Though if the man was caught, he alone was to blame for it. Never the less he already forged his plans to leverage the situation. An attack on a high ranking civil servant of Aklenroth would only drive more power in his own hands.

His focus returned to the scene before him. The cake was meaningless. Rather hopeful he outstretched his hand over one of the birds. Silently begging Halastra to heed his call. Nothing happened. The dead did not rise up. Once more he was confronted with the limits of his power. Rather disgruntled he said: “Fine.” And turned his focus on the arrow. Luckily the guards had kept it in the wall. With one eye he followed the shaft upwards. “Nobody saw anything on the roofs?” He asked.

“Nothing, sir.” The dark elf said.

It had to come from the roofs. If it came from an amora further away, the assassin would certainly fail. If the amora was closer to ensure an accurate shot, people would’ve noticed it. The clues were strange though. An assassin on the roof, probably an accomplished light elf. That much was certain. But did he wait for Terneus to show up or was the faun planted as bait? One thing was clear though: this was not done by Risa. The girl didn’t have the people or the expertise to pull it off. At the very least there was another band of rebels in the city. One became two. The infestation of Roshimi was showing itself from under the thin veneer of civility.

Intrigued by the would-be assassin, Xenelith decided to scale up the building to the roof he suspected the arrow was fired from. It gave a beautiful vantage point down into the market. Though everyone within the smaller streets was hidden away. His eyes wandered further away. To the grand spires and mansions in the distance. He caught a glimmer of the sky city high in the cloud. For a moment he realized the insane scale of Roshimi and he grew jealous of it.

Avalia

Xenelith

Time: Morning
Location: Roshimi City
Interaction with: Azriel_@Tae, Umber_@FunnyGuy, O'Ner_@Eviledd1984, Jack_{@Alivefalling}, Zelginn_@Dezuel

---

Xenelith did not respond to O’Ner’s concerns about Jack. Though silently he somewhat agreed. The man did not look as if he had a military upbringing. Which meant he would be unruly, disobedient and terrible at taking orders without too much complaining. Things that were, if needed, whipped out of any dark elf as he begins the slow ascend to true power. For now Jack was an asset. The powers that came with being a human were a great boon. Perhaps that’s why Risa triggered the DROMs. But if all-out war broke out Jack would have to be broken. As a commander he couldn’t have an asset talk back to him or doubt his orders. For now though, he didn’t need to control Jack just yet. Who he needed to control was Risa, Dionaea and Kyran. Their movement, their thinking, he had to predict it. With Jack, he needed something far harder than predicting his actions: he need to trust the human. Which did not come easy to the dark elf. Though fate was never a calm creature. Soon the human would be facing a test.

Then the child appeared. How or why he was greeting Umber as Lord Norkas was beyond him. Though he didn’t question it. Everyone of note or skill had little birdies tucked away in the city’s shadows. His own net was sadly confined to fellow dark elves and a few demi-humans. Apparently Umber had enlisted the help of at least one child. He mostly ignored the message. What could a child bring them really? Until he mentioned humans. His ears perked up at that. The name Tsarra Kenia Urmicca, that was now one to remember. He made a mental note of it, hoping he would remember after the upcoming hours of exhilaration. As resourceful as the child was, he was also quickly getting on Xenelith’s nerves. For one he talked far too much. And in the skaula haze the child’s features began to slowly deform. The brown fur turned more orange to his eyes. Something in him wanted to jump the kid and strangle the life out of him. Until he was nothing but a limp corpse. No doubt his eyes were betraying that intense desire to kill the child.

His spell got broken as Umber floated over to the child. “I doubt you’ll find any vices more worth your time than here Umber.” That was, of course, if you didn’t count the sacking of cities. Were no sin was forbidden. His senses were leaving him quickly though. “Umber. Take some Dark Elves. You might need them.” He still managed to say as the haze overtook him. The girl sitting on his lap was demanding more and more of his attention. The cat ears had completely vanished to his vision now, and her tail’s touch on his tight was just a faint yet effective sensation. Her face was one conjured up from memory, not reality.

For a moment he had forgotten all about the people around him. He caressed the girl’s cheek as he said: “You’re the most beautiful thing in this world.” With a sincerity that couldn’t be meant for a common courtesan. Then he kissed her. To him it felt like a kiss that was long overdue. Like two lovers re-united after years apart. A warmth swelled in his chest and coursed through his veins. The girl, for her part, played along expertly.

Dragon Riders of Níayemmu (Eragon Saga Universe)

My preference lays with the civil war against the dark and wood elves. Seems to me we'll get the most amount of action when actively fighting in a war.

EDIT: Also I prefer discord for communications.

Dragon Riders of Níayemmu (Eragon Saga Universe)

This looks interesting. I'm in.

Avalia

Xenelith

Time: Morning
Location: Roshimi City
Interaction with: Azriel_@Tae, Umber_@FunnyGuy, O'Ner_@Eviledd1984, Jack_{@Alivefalling}

---

---

Xenelith’s eyes threw daggers at Azriel for her comment. What could the dark-winged demi-human know about the enemy? She had never met them. Though he quickly realized that this was just how Azriel was. She had taunted everyone except for Umber so far. Perhaps a more laid back ally wouldn’t be so bad. For the moment at least. The Dark Elf commander swallowed his petty anger with the next gulp of wine and listened to O’Ner. The undead general had a strange confidence to him. Then again, it wasn’t misplaced. “You shouldn’t worry about the little princess.” He said. “I’ve laid out a lure they cannot ignore, in a trap they cannot escape. If she is truly in Roshimi, and I am almost certain she is, then she will be captured within two weeks.”

---

The mansion offering Xenelith and his troops residence was a true marvel of construction and architecture. On Daka such a grand edifice of plenty could never be built. Water flowed in small rivers and canals through the green gardens to eventually join together in a stream that cascaded over a cliff and into the sea beyond. Like all noble houses, it wasn’t just a singular building but a complex made up of wings and central hallways. Grand domes adorned the spires jutting out from the ground. Offering beautiful views of Roshimi or the azure sea beyond. The walled complex’s main gate led to a white-stone plaza with at the center a gentle fountain carved in the likeness of an owl demi-human. On the right side of the plaza were the stables and the menagerie. Beyond those, there was a relatively sizeable, well-tended field for the creatures to run around in from time to time. On the left side of the plaza were the somber servants quarters. A low building with but a few windows. Beyond the plaza were the stairs and eventually the entrance to the grand doors of the main hall. Within you’d find the entrance hall. On the right side, there was a large door leading to the ballroom for festive occasions. A beautiful mirrored wall allowed one to observe all of their own moves. On the left side, the door led to the grand dining hall. Straight on would lead you to the main parlor and eventually the main study. Upstairs were various more private libraries, studies, and rooms. It was in the left wing’s upper story where the Sycamores were housed, and down in the servants quarters the dark elves resided. From the small towers flanking the main gate onto the plaza, Aklenroth’s banners flew for everyone to see. Gossips had already spread about the presence of Dark Elves in the mansion.

“We should be doing something.” A Dark Elf soldier said as he paced around the room. Hopelessly anxious. As if an army would be knocking down the gates at any moment. “We should be out there. Patrolling the walls. Guarding the prisoners. Not sit in here waiting for the inevitable.” His fellow soldiers looked equally unnerved. Some tried to occupy their minds with chess or dice. In the other room, you could hear the soft clangs of steel hitting steel.

“Calm yourself.” Leandron said as he was leaning back in his chair, with feet on the table, as he kept his eyes on the book he was so engrossed in. “When the time comes we move. Not before. Sit down and play some games.”

The soldier didn’t take Leandron’s advice. He kept strolling back and forth. “What is the commander thinking? Just let a patrol of three guard the whole house!? If they barge through the front gate none of us will be ready to take them.”

“The guards are to let them through without a fight.” Leandron said absentmindedly.

“They what?” the soldier turned towards his superior. “We’re not even going to give them a fight? They could just walk in here and take the prisoners?”

“Exactly. Now you know there is nothing you can do to stop them from entering. So sit down and contain yourself.” Leandron said. Annoyance was rising in his voice.

The dark elf didn’t sit down. Instead, he slammed his first down on the table Leandron was resting his feet on. “We should be doing everything to keep them away from the prisoners!”

Leandron peered from beyond his book for a moment, before putting it down. “No.” He said. “We let them reach the prisoners without drawing blood. Are you that thick-skulled that you never noticed it?”

The soldier looked confused and a little angry. But said nothing.

“The prisoners. They’re only the women. The ones that can heal us when this damned city finally explodes.” Leandron said.

“Then where are the men?” the soldier asked.

“On Daka.”

Both men paused for a second. Slowly it dawned to the soldier. “They’re bait.”

Leandron picked up his soldier’s trail of thoughts: “Yes. And the prisoners know, if they run, a message gets send to Daka to kill their brothers. You see now? We don’t need chains, bars or locks. You hold an axe over the head of those they love and they’ll do exactly as you tell them.”

“Then why are we sitting here and not with the lure? To capture the princess.” The soldier asked.

“Because my friend, we are the trap. The ambush. Once they’ve reached the prisoners that will never leave their rooms, we jump them. We seal the gate and capture them all. Now sit down and relax. When the time comes, we’ll have the princess and her group in chains.”

---

“A far more dangerous person has entered the city today. Terneus.” His eyes went over every person sitting at the table. Could he trust them? He only just met them but then again, they were probably far more loyal than most other company. O’Ner was undead and Umber was a demon. Azriel seemed far too cruel to be a spy. And while Xenelith did not yet fully trust the human, his obvious bloodlust made him at least somewhat respectable. “It would’ve been a coincidence if he had marched into Roshimi from his own lands. But he didn’t. He came from the River Fairy Kingdom. Right after Risa rose up in defiance.” His eyes darted once more over his company. Even the girl Azriel had just kissed. Words that fell into the wrong hands could be used against him. Could he truly trust everyone here? "He's a menace who should've died a century ago. I don't trust him and I dislike him being here." He kept his words relatively civil. Though a demon like Umber would no doubt pick up on the intense hatred he felt for the Light Elf governor. It wasn't like the fresh, fury he felt for Kyran. This rage was deep and seethed.

He took the skaula and observed it. Should he take it? At any moment he could be summoned to the mansion. "This could be the last bit of fun I get for a few years." With a single bite, he downed the drug. His mind made up, he shifted his attention to one of the girls send to O'Ner. She was tall for a demi-human. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. With just whisps of cloth leaving just enough to the imagination. The cat ears and tail made her deviate from his desire but the skaula would take care of that. "I think you won't mind that I take one of your girls, O'Ner." He said, though he didn't wait before he beckoned the girl to him. As she approached he took the ubara, gave a quick wink to Umber, pulled the girl on his lap and softly whispered in her ear as he offered her the drug: "Take it." She took it with a playful but practiced giggle.

Avalia

Xenelith

Time: Morning
Location: Roshimi City
Interaction with: Azriel_@Tae, Umber_@FunnyGuy, O'Ner_@Eviledd1984, Jack_{@Alivefalling}

---

Azriel suprised Xenelith a bit when she proposed to get the drugs anyway. Though Umber saying he could not directly participate brought him to ease. In fact, he found it interesting. Was Umber enjoying a grand buffet? Or was it more than just? The more vocal, intelligent demons were fascinating sometimes. Though quite rare. Xenelith put the street price of the drugs in amass on the table as he said: “I’m in.”

Then he leaned backward as he first watched O’Ner’s outburst and then Azriel and Umber’s explanation for the ball. The outburst did not come to a surprise to Xenelith. First times in a brothel were always strange. Your whole life you’re taught to behave or be whipped for your disobedience. You must uphold the thin veneer of civility at all times but not here. In places like these you can go as wild and burn as bright as you like. Few sins are beyond your grasp in a brothel. To first-timers the freedom becomes awkward. He watched as O’Ner moved away with a fair share of amusement. Even more so when Umber ordered several more ‘dancers’ for him. That would certainly make for an interesting bit of theatre. Either O’Ner would leave the place or embrace it. Then, they came to the subject of the ball. Azriel preferred not to dig too deeply. An understandable response. Umber did go deeper and came with some surprising theories.

“The rebels should first be smart enough to see such an event as a chance to gather power.” He said. The disdain for his foes was clear. “The enemy is young…idealistic. The girl Dionaea, I think she’s just an unfortunate victim. Either from the Princess’ manipulations or her own fantasies.” In his mind he summoned the image of the forest. The human laying in the grass. He remembered their words as he spoke. “There’s misplaced courage though. Perhaps it’s just youthful defiance. Or it is something more?” He mused, sinking deeper in his own thoughts. They took a nasty turn as he began to fiddle with the dark crystal hanging around his neck. Even now he could hear the meek whimpers of his companion. “The fox is smarter, better trained. He jumped out of the bushes like an experienced hunter. He’s armed and capable to kill. That makes him the most dangerous one of the group. The one I will kill first.” His thoughts carried him further. “There was another fairy. Male, though he had moth-like wings. He attacked from the shadows and swooped in only to save the human girl. He didn’t wield a blade, just used roots and plants. He’s a coward. An annoyance. Nothing more.” And finally, his thoughts rested on Risa. “The Princess is a fool above all. Idealistic but consumed by her own fantasies.” He chuckled. “She even told me to stop following our lord. That the coming of humans is good for everyone. Even me. When I found her she was actually healing the human we killed at the house.” Madame Uma reappeared with a bottle of some berry wine and a couple of glasses. Behind her, two girls came to set up the hookah.

Xenelith poured himself a glass and passed the bottle on. After taking a big swig of the alcohol he continued. “The only power she has is her blood.”

Battle of Mount Olympus

I'll be taking up Ares then.