Fall of the Temple Seldarine

**Maddux** · 25th January 2006, 04:21 PM

Fall of Temple Seldarine

Just as the sun was rising on the mourning of Valanya, The Orc Warboss and his Lieutenants met with the Elves outside their town. The Ettelen Eldalie Taren handed the chest filled with gold coins to Orc War Boss of the Black Hand Clan. Taren with an evil grin “Kill everyone in the temple; my Edan Protectors will accompany you.” The Orcs and the Edan Protectors began to march through the streets of “Constellation” and began their encirclement of the Seldarine Temple. Everyone inside the Temple was asleep and unaware of the impending danger encircling them. Once the encirclement of the Temple complete, the Orc Brutes began to advance to the front of Temple. The Orc’s war banners fluttered in the wind and the Edan Protectors sweated in fear of assault. The peace and serenity of the temple was broken by the sounds of Orc war drums and trumpets. The Orc Brutes began to strike at the great doors of the temple and the Orcs and Edan Protectors began to yell in anticipation of the blood they will spill today.

Inside the Temple, the orphans began to cry as pandemonium and fear began to take over. The painting and artifacts adorned along the walls and pedestals began to fall as the Temple reverberated with each strike upon the great doors by the Orc Brutes. One of the priests named Polaris made it to the balcony and witnesses the mayhem outside that was waiting to spill into the Temple once the great doors gave way. In the distance he spots Taren and his entourages watching the scene unfold. Polaris yells at the top of his lungs “Help us!!” as an Edan Protector arrow strikes him. Polaris collapsing to the ground, gasping for air mutters “Kal Ort Por “

Eowyna Rohanna · 26th January 2006, 11:14 AM

Eowyna stood on the balcony of her home, letting the sounds of the forest calm her. She'd left the city the day before to seek the peace of her home in the deep northern woods of Yew. Things were not going well in the city, but she couldn't exactly discern the nature of the problem. The people were unhappy, drifting back to the forests. The craftsmen were idle, except for those who created luxury items for the royalty. The Temple underfunded and seldom used except by those whose calling drew them to the Seldarine and those who needed the charity of the Temple. The military, was divided; the professional force left far afield without communication from the royal house; the home guard, however, grew daily in strength, made up mostly of human and orcish mercenaries. No, things were not going well in the city.

In spite of her flight to the forest, peace had eluded her. She'd not slept well, plagued by indistict visions of fire, terror, and brutality, and had risen before dawn to contemplate the forest. The fact that her visions were unfocused and uninterpretable was a particular handicap at the present, but she carried a child, so the potion brewed in Heartwood to clarify visions and enhance forsight was not something she could utilize until after her child was born. Dawn was breaking and she was uneasy.

An electric crackle of magic, and she looked sharply in the direction of the sound. A man in the robes of a priest materialized in front of her home, but in the instant he appeared, he crumpled to the ground, his priesly robes drenched in blood. She rushed inside, down the teleporter and out her front door. The priest was still breathing, and she recognized him as Polaris from the Temple of the Seldarine. "In Vas Mani" and he seemed to recover somewhat. She cast the spell again, and he opened his eyes.

"Tua! Ta naa neuma! Treachery!" he said. He was weak and it took some time for him to recover his voice. Then at last, "Lady, we need help and I knew not where else to go. The Temple is under seige!"

Eowyna shook her head in puzzlement. "Polaris, this makes no sense. We need to get you to the healers in Heartwood to further care for your wounds. Surely the Town Guard can handle this with ease. I don't understand" She made a magical gate to transport them to the base of the Great Tree.

"No, Lady" murmured Polaris as they ascended the tree. "Truly you do not understand..the guard-THEY attack the Temple with orcs, and Ettelen Eldalie Taren, he does nothing... nothing, lady. He just sits and watches and laughs. Treachery!"

And then, as she turned the wounded priest over to the expert healing of Heartwood, the horror dawned upon her. Treachery from within! Why had she not sensed this? But there was no time to ponder the reasons now. The military, they needed the loyal men from the field, and she sent a pidgeon off to Maddux, wherever he might be at present. And her mind raced to search for a way to delay the fall of the Temple until help could arrive. "Polaris, who is left in the Temple?"

"Only my acolye," he replied, weakly "and he is young, in training yet. He is the only one to protect the children and the poor, and the only one to guard the sacred treasures of the Temple."

She cast a traveling spell to arrive in the city near the craftmen's center, far enough from the Temple to escape detection, she hoped. The air was acrid with smoke, the early morning light dimmed to grey. Orders, barked in the harsh tones of orcish, could be heard, along with the crashing boom of the battering ram and the crackle of fire. A small group of craftsmen stood near the building staring toward the source of the battle sounds. Eowyna recognized a few of them. "Bosworth Russ!" she called softly and the man turned quickly in her direction.

"M'lady, Eowyna! What are you doing here? They have attacked the Temple!"

"I know." she replied. "Come with me! And you, Sir William, Feanor! You come also, you are both carpenters! We are going to enter the Temple through the priest's secret door in the back. The main doors must be reinforced and you three have the skill to do this. We have to hold the Temple long enough to get the people to safety. I've sent for the military, so help will be on its way."

"The Temple is surrounded, M'lady!" protested Feanor. "We cannot get in there!"

"I will cast invisibility on you all, then you must stealth. I know your skill is not high, but there are only a few of us and we will move in slowly. Corellon will protect us!"

And thus, they achieved entry into the Temple building, with magic, care and a great deal of luck. Inside the women and children were huddled and weeping. The young acolyte was doing his best to calm them. He looked up sharply at the sound of footsteps and raised his dagger, before dropping it quickly to his side as he recognized those he knew. "You've brought aid!" a look of relief on his face.

"No," said Bosworth Russ quietly, "only skilled carpentry, I am afraid." And he motioned Sir William and Feanor to follow him toward the front of the building. "But we can hold them off, sir, with the skill of our tools and the strength of Yew wood."

Eowyna turned to the young acolyte, "And we must evacuate these people."

"Yes!," he replied. "I have gathered as many of the sacred temple treasures as I could, the mirror of purification, and the statues of the elemental gods. Can you cast the gates for us to leave?"

And so "Vas Rel Por", but nothing happened. Eowyna blinked. What was wrong? The magic had failed! She had cast the gate toward her home near Heartwood, but something was preventing the the connection through the ether. Perhaps somewhere closer. She had in her book an etched rune to a nearby clearing in the forest. Not far away, but better than nothing. "Vas Rel Por" and...nothing! She motioned the acolyte away from the group. "There is some force...something...preventing my gates." she whispered. Their eyes met and both knew that they mustn't let on to these poor people that they were, for the time being, trapped inside the beseiged Temple.

"Lye que cael yrinn!" said the acolyte, and Eowyna nodded.

**Maddux** · 28th January 2006, 02:24 PM

The Orc Shaman Bla-Gurth adorned in his ceremonial battle armor began to chant in his native Black Speech “Uruk glob ishi krimp golug.” As if on queue the rest of the shaman joined in the black chant. Taren’s Concubine wife adjusts the venomous snake on her shoulder and joined the black chant “Uruk glob ishi krimp golug.” The black chant grew louder and so did the black spell negating aura around the temple. The Orc Brute continued to slam his fists at the great doors of the Temple.

Many of Constellation’s town folks watched the Nedan Protectors and the Orcs try to create a breach into the Temple and took no action to help their fellow elves. Astalder looked at his wife Debras. “I can not watch this terrible crime against the Elves, the Temple Seldarine and do nothing.” Debras “Nor can I.” Husband and wife helped each other prepare for battle as their children watched. As the last strap was cinched and buckle secured, Astalder looked towards his children “Take care of one and another. Make your way to the moon gate and travel to Skara Brae. Wait for us there.” With that said they held each other and bid each other farewell.

In Felucca, near Trinsc a messenger pigeon lands and begins to peck at the window. Waking from his sleep Maddux makes his way to the window and removes the message from the pigeon. Maddux unfolds the message and a look of shock replaced his once sleepy face. Maddux yells” Justicars, prepare to ride!! The Orcs and the Edan Protectors have laid siege to the Temple Seldarine. We depart in five minutes.” The once former Feluccian outpost of Elen’mar became alive with a fury of activity.

Astalder and Debras sent their children racing for the moon gate and took the opportunity to embrace other and to begin to kiss each other. Each knowing in their mind that this maybe their last time. Releasing each other from their embrace the couple picked up their elven composite bows and stepped out into the fray. Together they were calling out targets and slaying them. They continued to advance forward; passing their neighbors homes and watching them do nothing. Debras spots the Orc Shaman Bla-Gurth and identifies him as a target. Astalder and Debras simultaneously shot their arrows at the Orc Shaman, both striking and killing him. The Orc Shaman collapsed to the ground with a great thud and his spell was broken. Astalder and Debras found themselves the focus of many of the Orcs and Edan Protector attacks. The couple was severely wounded but continued to fight on.

Rillifane, Solonor, and Shevarash looked down on the besieged Temple. No one would say a word, but the look of betrayal and hurt were on all the faces of the Seldarine. They would not forget this day.

Eowyna Rohanna · 30th January 2006, 11:21 AM

The beating of the war drums was designed to instil terror, and inside the beseiged Temple, the cacaphony of war reverberated off the walls. The relentless pounding on the great doors went on ceaselessly. The youngest of the Elven children whimpered in fear, but the older ones, who had begun to understand, helped the few adults to comfort them. The Temple acolyte hurried toward the back of the Temple. The seer was sitting in a corner, looking dissheveled and rather distracted. Occasionally she cast a gate spell, and each time the spell failed. As he approached her, she looked up. "What is happening? she whispered. "Are the doors holding?"

He shook his head slightly. "The carpenters are doing their best. They've given us an hour, but it will not hold for much longer, I fear. Against such strength we can do little. And m'lady, their evil chants grow louder." He knelt beside her. "I am afraid the chanting of the shaman and his followers is preventing the magic. I have read of such things in my training. If i were but an archer........."

She held up her hand. "Your skills are great, and will be greater. Do not regret that they are not other. We will have to try to take these children through the encirclement--the way we came in...we will have no invisibility, but it is the only way. Otherwise they will burn this place down around us. Go back and tell the carpenters to come away from the doors. We have to prepare to leave." "Vas Rel Por", failure.

"We stand no chance, lady, none...."

"I know," she said. "Gather the sacred objects that can be easily carried. Tell the carpenters."

The acolyte looked briefly away, then nodded, and returned toward the front of the building.

And silently, to herself: Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin.

But just as all hope faded, it seemed to her that the orc war chant diminished..."[i]Vas Rel Por[i]"....and the shimmering blue gate appeared....and quickly faded...

"Come NOW !!! Quickly" and as the men ran into the room, "It will hold just briefly...I can make the gate hold! This will go to the clearing just east...not far, but away from HERE. Leave the clearing immediately and travel east to Umbra. It is a vile, dark human city, but there is a moongate there. Go to Skara Brae--those were once Elven lands. We will go in small groups as the gate does not remain stable for long. Do not wait on the next group, go! I will catch you when I can...and then we may all gate to Skara Brae. Otherwise, go to Umbra and the moongate. Vas Rel Por." And so, they slipped a few at a time through the wavering gates to safety.

Her mana was almost drained, but almost all were gone. One more gate...or two. She could hear the great doors beginning to break. There was no time to loose. "Vas Rel Por", and the last were through. But she would have to wait just a few seconds for another gate..just long enough for the strength of her mana to rise a little.

The splintering and shattering of wood...and the pounding of heavy feet on the tiles...they were through! She'd not thought that the air could grow more foul, but now the stench of orc and death was almost overwhelming. The first through the door was a shaman, desecration of the Temple was complete. His robes spattered in blood, he raised a crudely carved staff!

"Vas Rel Por" and the gate shimmered weakly.

The harsh tones of the orcish necromancer filled the halls "In Bal Nox"!, and he stepped closer "Kal Vas An Flam"! She fell rather than stepped through the weakening gate, and the magic collapsed behind her.

The grass of the clearing was soft beheath her hands, the clearing empty. Good, they had gone on as she'd told them to do. But she would not be following.

"Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin.

Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin.

Atara............"

**Maddux** · 7th February 2006, 11:58 AM

Astalder and Debras continued to select targets and place their arrows into the Orcs and Edan protectors. The orcs began to reign a volley of arrows and war axes at Astalder and Debras. Astalder knew that their poisiton was in defensible and placed himself in front of his beloved Debras shielded her from the enemy projectiles. As an act of defiance, Astalder broke his composite bow before collapsing at Debras feet. Astalder turns his head towards Debras, whispers in his last breath “Mela en' coiamin Debras, ta ayla coia.” as his life faded away. Debras continued to fight. The next volley of arrows and axes struck Debras and as she collapsed to the ground she reached for Astalder’s hand and held it as she passed from this world.

Rillifane, Solonor, and Shevarash watched in disbelief as Astalder and Debras were overwhelmed by killed by the arrows and axes. Shevarash focused his attention on the husband and wife’s hands, and saw the glint of the mithril weddings bands gleam in the mourning sun.

The Orc Brute continues to pound away at the Temples great doors. The great doors buckled and strained with each strike of the Orc Brute’s fist. Orc Sappers began breaching operations along the west wall of the temple. The Orc Sappers began removing large sections of the west wall at an alarming rate. As every great stone fell from the west wall, The Orcs and Edan protectors cheered and howled in anticipation of feeding their blood lust.

The Justicars were mounted on their great steeds. Some of the steeds were ethereal indicating an experienced and seasoned Justicars, while others rode horses. The Justicars were formed in colums of threes, each five ranks deep. The Guideon Bearer Matreus held the Great Guide on as it it fluttered in the early mourning wind. The guide beared the emblem of the Justicars, a glenched minthril fist and many streamers from numerous campaigns were held in place by the spade at the tip of the guideon. An elf named Finster stood before the Justicars,”Vas Rel Por” and still no gate would open. Maddux with a look of irritation, “We don’t have all day mage” Finster once again tried “Vas Rel Por”, again and again. Not accepting failure, Finster tried once more “Vas Rel Por” and a blue gate opened. Maddux grins“Finally, Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir!!!” and leads the Justicars into the blue moongate. Evryone one of the Justicars begins to chant “Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir!!!”

Eowyna Rohanna · 8th February 2006, 06:49 PM

Angharradh, Atara en’ i’kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie ane var hinamin. Atara……….

The grass was soft beneath her fingers and her cheek as she lay in the forest clearing with the magical gate collapsing behind her in the morning light. But Eowyna was aware only of the burning pain which seemed to consume the whole of her. Then that, too, receded, and her mind began to wander…..

Fields and trees of green in a far-off place called Elen’Mar………and then the coming of the Great Tree of Heartwood and the opening of the knowledge of the elders to her, a playground for her mind and a homecoming for her spirit………Playful antics of beloved friends, and times of danger to those for whom she cared………The arrival in her life of the blue-haired elven man, whom she’d slowly come to love more than life itself, but to whom she seldom expressed her love, a regret there………and the Tree of Life, a time of sacrifice and privation but also a time of great joy, a time of sharing and accomplishment at great cost, that too she’d not see to it’s end………now, Elbereth, maker of the stars, and into the West, to Valinor…

At around noontime, Steven, the wandering healer, left his hut in the Malas forests. Someone might be in need of his services. Wandering south, he noticed columns of smoke wafting over the forest treetops. It was coming from the direction of the Elven town. It was not his habit to interfere in the goings-on of the residents of the area; he was merely available should a lone traveler need assistance. Still, he set off slowly in that direction, just in case.

He was still some distance away, when entering a familiar clearing in the dense growth of hardwood forest, he noticed the pixies who inhabited a nearby tree were creating more commotion than was their usual habit. Their colorful wings were fluttering rapidly and their incomprehensible chiming sort of chatter filled the small glade. He approached slowly so as not to frighten them, and came upon the source of their disturbance. In the grass, at the very edge of the clearing, lay an elven woman. Surrounding her was the faint aura of light that humans often perceive when looking upon one of the fair folk. Steven didn’t know a lot about elves; they’d only recently returned to Sosaria, but this one appeared to have suffered some sort of trauma. Her clothing appeared scorched and her skirts were soaked in blood. Still, she appeared to be breathing.

An hour or so later, he’d managed to transfer her to a palette in his hut, and treat her injuries. Her injuries were grave, but she would recover as he’d found her in time. He’d also found that, in some ways, humans and elf-kind differed little, for this woman had miscarried a child, her injuries too sever to sustain the life that she carried within her. He did what he would have done for any human woman who’d suffered a similar loss, and from that, too, she would recover physically. Some span of days or even weeks would be necessary, of course, before she would be able to to leave his care, but what concerned Steven was how she might react to the news of the loss of her child. He had heard that the fair folk had few children, and that those they had were particularly precious to them. And so he waited for her to recover consciousness. Were she anything like most human women, he knew what her first question would be.

Evening was falling when the woman opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. Steven stood back away from her and watched her get her bearings before he approached. Then he stepped quietly out of the shadows into her line of vision. There was a flash of fear in her eyes, quickly masked. And he said quietly, “I am a healer. You were injured, but will be safe now.” And then, of course the inevitable question in her gaze, her hand strayed absently to her abdomen. “I am sorry for you,” he said. “The child was lost before I found you. You will need to rest here for some days, but do not fear. The treefellows guard this area of the forest well. You will be safe from whatever violence has overtaken your village.”

Throughout the next day she remained silent, accepting from him a little water and bread of the food that he offered her. She neither spoke to him, nor acknowledged his presence, merely stared at the walls of his hut. There was no expression whatsoever in her eyes, the faint elven aura of light never reached them. Steven went out during the day to resume his wandering circuit through the forest, returning with the twilight. The hut was empty. The elven woman had gone, taking with her the grey robes with which he had replaced her ruined clothing. In her place on the palette lay a small jeweled circlet. And that was all. Ent tanya nae ilya.

**DiP** · 11th February 2006, 12:27 PM

*thunk!* An arrow stuck the wall through the window. His first reaction was to fire back, but realized the black feathered arrow meant only one thing, the Justicars were needed.

Grabbing his bow and quiver Lord Dip summoned his warhorse and was enroute to the rally point. King Maddux had the guideon in place and the Jusicars in formation, without glancing back he says sarcasticly "It's about time."

"I was just waiting for you to have the troops ready. You know how I hate forming these guys up. Besides, what's the big deal? It's not like the Felucan murderers ever put up much of a fight."

King Maddux looks at Lord Dip with a grim look.

"Oh." Said Lord Dip.

"Yeah, oh is right. The Orcs and Edan protecters have laid siege to the Temple Seldarine."

"What are we waiting for?"

"Finster, hurry it up."

**Maddux** · 15th February 2006, 10:35 PM

Maddux was the first to exit the gate, and bare witness to the event that was taking place. Maddux yelled “Form a wedge!!!” The Justicars forming an inverted “V” shape with Maddux and the Guideon Bearer at the vortex, with the vortex pointed towards the temple. Once the formation was in position, “Prepare to assault!!!” and at which time the Justicars readied their weapons. Some carried with them mighty axes and the Elven Composite Bows, all held at the ready. Maddux gave the order “Assault!!!” And the Justicars begin to charge towards the Orcs and Edan Protectors. Those of the Justicars with bows begin to reign arrows down on the Orcs and Edan Protectors.

The Justicars had delivered a surprising and crushing blow to the Orcs and Edan Protectors, but the battle was far from over. The Justicars wedge was quickly overwhelmed by the Orc and Edan Protector Horde. Out of experience, they began to form a circle around the Guideon bearer and fought for their lives and those lives of the elves inside the Temple.

The Orc war hammer shattered Santee’s shield arm, and as his arm hung uselessly at his side, Santee Continued to strike at the enemies of the Elves with his Berserker’s Maul. Guideon Bearer Hamlin lay dying on the ground as an Edan Arrow had struck his neck severing his carotid artery. Justicar Jareth had slain many an enemy with his Axe of the Havens, but he too had many arrows protruding from his back and abdomen. Many of the Justicars were all wounded and fighting on. Where Hamlin last planted the Guideon, Justicar Balin picked it up and the Justicars continued to push forward.

From Behind the ring of Justicars, Honor Frost took careful aim at the back of the Orc Brute with his composite bow. Remember proper breath techniques, Honor released the bow string and let the arrow take flight. Before the first arrow had struck its mark, second and a third arrows were on their way. All three arrows struck the Orc Brute’s back, toppling the Brute in to the weaken doors. A tremendous “Crack!!!” echoed through the field over the moans and crying of the dead and dying. An Orc war hammer sailed through the air striking Honor’s Aegis helm. Honor collapses to the ground stunned.

The Orcs and Edan Protectors began to smash at the Temple’s Great doors with their axes and war hammers. The Great Doors of the Temple began to buckle and give way. The Orcs and Edan Protectors began to surge into the temple. The Justicars continued to push forward trying to reach the Temple, but the Orcs and Edan Protectors were making the Justicars pay a high price in blood for each meter of ground taken

A large rumbling noise can be heard echoing across the battlefield, and then the Temple began to collapse upon itself and those trapped inside. Maddux screamed “No!!!” Jareth ordered “Hold the line!!! There is nothing we can do for those inside the Temple.” Maddux replied “Revenge…” Jareth strikes an Orc with his axe “We will have that, but not here and not now. If we stay, we will be destroyed.” Another arrow strikes Jareth’s shoulder “We do no justice for the Elves if we perish here.” Maddux surveys the scene. Many of the Justicars are either dead or severely wounded. Maddux gives the order “Begin to displace to the rally point!!” and with that order the Justicars began to give the ground that they had taken and displace towards the rally point.
Shevarash removes a black arrow from his quiver. Rillifane and Solonor look at Shevarash as he breaks the black of arrow. The black arrow drips a drop of blood from the broken shaft and the three Seldarine watch that drop of blood fall from the Heavens. That drop of blood finds Astalder’s lifeless body and brings life to his body. Astalder’s picks up Debra’s bow and begins to extract his vengeance upon the Orcs and Edan Protectors.

Honor reached down and picked up Hamlin’s lifeless and body and placed it upon his shoulder. Those Justicars who could began lifting the wounded and the dead and making their way towards the rally point. Even as the Justicars were displacing, the Orcs and Edan Protectors continued to fight with a vengeance. There was no pause in the battle as the dust settled on the ruins of the Temple. Eventually the Justicars made it to the rally point, as a blue moon gate appeared and began to file into the moon gate.

Astalder watched the last elf enter into the moon gate and walked over to his beloved Debras and held her in his arms for the last time. As Astalder faded from this shard, and took a place next to his Debras on the long black ship to begin their journey. Debras and Astalder held hands as the ship took sail.

**DiP** · 18th February 2006, 08:48 AM

Stepping through the gate he hears King Maddux say "Form a wedge!" before seeing the battlefield. Taking position next to the Bandit King, Lord DiP surveys the mass in front of them. Row after row of Orcs with Edan Protectors scattered amongst them here and there pointing out weaknesses in the structure. "Prepare to assault!" The horses stomped their hooves, The Justicars readied their weapons, "Assault!!!"

Arrow after arrow Orcs and Edan Protectors fell until the horde noticed they had another target other than the Temple Seldarine. Turning in mass and collapsing the wedge they moved forward. The Justicars were far outnumbered but continued to fight.

Lord DiP was not worried so much about the Orcs, who had their filthy hands full with the rest of the Justicars, but focused more on the Edan Protectors, the traiters. They had been trusted, they were taken in, and this is how they return the hospitality. Taking aim he strikes down several Edan Protectors, but they were all grunts, where was their leader? Hiding, the coward!

Out of the corner of his eye Lord DiP sees the Orc Brute collapse into the Temple's doors. The Orcs and Edan Protectors rushed in and started bashing at what was left. *Crack!* Turning to hear the origin of the sound Lord DiP sees Honor Frost hit the dirt, stunned, but alive. In that second of distraction an Orc had buried his hatchet in Lord DiP's thigh, the Bandit King stuck the Orc with a deathstrke, turned, and continued to shoot down Orc after Orc. Tossing the hatchet to his side Lord DiP takes a glancing blow to his right shoulder and sees the Edan Protector's Leader ride away with his Soul Seeker glistening with blood. He quickly hid behind a line of Orcs and disappeared into the crowd, just like him not to stay and fight.

It all happend too quickly, the doors buckled and the horde rushed inside. The Temple was visibly shaken, cracked, and started to rumble. A guard tower fell inwards, the outer wall collapsed on itself, screams were heard from inside.

Not caring who or what the target was anymore Lord DiP fired arrow after arrow in an attempt to clear a path to the Temple. Finally the main structure of the Temple started to fall. "NO!!!" yelled King Maddux. "Hold the line!!!" ordered Jareth while swinging his axe. It was too late, there were too many, nothing could be done, The Bandit King ordered the retreat and Finster made his way to the rally point to summon the gate. Back peddling and continuing to fight, Lord DiP sees Astalder come to life, pick up a bow, and strike down Orc and Edan Protector swiftly. Only one Seldarine could cause this, Lord DiP knew Shevarash well, grabbing his bleeding shoulder, he knew of an offering fitting for the Seldarine.

Eowyna Rohanna · 19th February 2006, 12:42 PM

Eowyna woke with a start. She hadn’t meant to sleep, only to rest for a moment in the shelter of the tree. She had a long journey ahead of her to the nearest moongate in Umbra. Upon leaving the hut of the healer, she’d turned briefly back toward the Elven town, but what reason she had left told her that whatever had transpired there was long over now. And so, she had turned away from the direction in which her heart pulled her and began the journey toward Umbra. She had no reagents with which to cast magic, nor did she have her accustomed attire which made the use of reagents unnecessary. She was thus a mage without power.

As it turned out, she was not physically able to travel far, and so she had paused to rest beneath the tree. Her thoughts turned to the man whose fate she did not know. Had Maddux brought the Justicars to raise the siege of the Temple? Had he even received her message? She fervently hoped he had not, and that he and all his men were safe at the keep near Trinsic. But then she closed her mind, for there lay grief she could not yet bear to acknowledge. She had not meant to sleep.

As she stood, waves of vertigo assailed her, and she put both her hands against the tree to steady herself until the dizziness passed. She needed to move along. She’d sent the others toward Skara Brae – that’s where she would follow. The distant cry of a vampire bat – that creature normally no more than a pest – brought home her extreme vulnerability. She had no weapon, no magic, no protection. But still, the forest was safer than the road. At all costs, she must avoid roving bands of orcs and renegade humans. But the terrain was rough, and she soon wearied and was forced to rest once again.

“I am not strong enough to do this,” she thought. “I should have stayed with the healer.” But then acknowledged to herself that she hadn’t been strong enough to stay with the human healer either. Her trust in humans had been misplaced, and the price too dear to bear. She sank to the ground, closing her eyes, unable to fend off growing despair. Dusk fell, and still she found not the energy or will to continue.

She heard nothing, not even the faintest stirring of the leaves on the forest floor. What caused her to look up was warm breath lightly caressing her neck. She raised her head from her hands and her gaze met two blazing yellow eyes, staring right at her out of the gloom. She was staring at one of the largest wolves she’d ever encountered. Just for a moment, her heart leapt. Could it be……? But no, of course not, just a wishful fantasy. She’d run with the wolf before, and a small forlorn smile crossed her lips fleetingly – this was not he. But she had a kinship with these creatures. She held her hand out to the wolf. “Fea en’ i’ draug, na revanthasamin, enkanu amin, na gisiramin.” There was a low growl from deep in his throat, but no threat. He moved closer, and she stroked the rough coat. The wolf moved away slightly, then returned to her side, and she touched him again. And it seemed that she could draw on his strength. He moved away again as if to lead her on. And she found she could stand and follow him. The wolf padded softly and slowly through the dark forest, never leaving her side. Her hand occassionally strayed to the ruff of coarse fur around his neck, and thus they traveled through the night. By dawn, she was exhausted. And it seemed the wolf knew, for he lead her to a dense copse of trees that would provide protection from sight if any happened by. She lay down and instantly slept, and the wolf lay down also, not far away, but his yellow eyes kept watch, vigilant through the day.

When she woke, the day was drawing to a close. Eowyna was surprised to find the wolf still with her, for she’d had nothing to feed him. But there he still was, intelligence beaming from the feral eyes. Watching her, he stood. So did she. And she knew to follow.

He led her to a pool of fresh water. And almost more than the need to drink was the need to step into the pool and wash away the feel, the smell, the taint of tragedy. So she shed her robes, and the little charm that was no more than a thought and a wave of the hand was made. In the falling darkness, she stepped into the warm pool. Fenmarel Mestarine stood watch.

A slight frision across the water—as though ripples of color were moving just under the surface. Eowyna watched in fascination as images began to form on the mirrored surface of the pond: She entered the hidden valley through a pass in the mountains. Beyond the rocky peaks the green land rolled gently to meet the sea. In the center of the valley a great outcropping of rock, upon which stood a fair city, its walls of pale wrought stone, it’s Elven people noble and wise. But even as she watched, the walls dissolved into sand, the crumbling of a sacked and abandoned civilization. And then the surface of the pool darkened and the golden eyes of the wolf gleamed out at her: “Seek this place. Her people are dispersed, her knowledge lost. Seek the Exiles, and bring them together. Seek the knowledge, and share it with all people.”

Eowyna felt something small and hard in her hand. Uncurling her fingers, she gazed upon a small rune, glittering greenish in the falling light. She looked up; the wolf was gone.

25th January 2006, 04:21 PM	#1
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve 'o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,587 Gold: 23,102 Thanks: 22 Thanked 61 Times in 48 Posts	Fall of the Temple Seldarine Fall of Temple Seldarine Just as the sun was rising on the mourning of Valanya, The Orc Warboss and his Lieutenants met with the Elves outside their town. The Ettelen Eldalie Taren handed the chest filled with gold coins to Orc War Boss of the Black Hand Clan. Taren with an evil grin “Kill everyone in the temple; my Edan Protectors will accompany you.” The Orcs and the Edan Protectors began to march through the streets of “Constellation” and began their encirclement of the Seldarine Temple. Everyone inside the Temple was asleep and unaware of the impending danger encircling them. Once the encirclement of the Temple complete, the Orc Brutes began to advance to the front of Temple. The Orc’s war banners fluttered in the wind and the Edan Protectors sweated in fear of assault. The peace and serenity of the temple was broken by the sounds of Orc war drums and trumpets. The Orc Brutes began to strike at the great doors of the temple and the Orcs and Edan Protectors began to yell in anticipation of the blood they will spill today. Inside the Temple, the orphans began to cry as pandemonium and fear began to take over. The painting and artifacts adorned along the walls and pedestals began to fall as the Temple reverberated with each strike upon the great doors by the Orc Brutes. One of the priests named Polaris made it to the balcony and witnesses the mayhem outside that was waiting to spill into the Temple once the great doors gave way. In the distance he spots Taren and his entourages watching the scene unfold. Polaris yells at the top of his lungs “Help us!!” as an Edan Protector arrow strikes him. Polaris collapsing to the ground, gasping for air mutters “Kal Ort Por “

26th January 2006, 11:14 AM	#2
Eowyna Rohanna I may not be the queen of everything, but I'm the duchess of quite a lot Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Landroval--LOTRO Posts: 1,496 Gold: 6,927 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Eowyna stood on the balcony of her home, letting the sounds of the forest calm her. She'd left the city the day before to seek the peace of her home in the deep northern woods of Yew. Things were not going well in the city, but she couldn't exactly discern the nature of the problem. The people were unhappy, drifting back to the forests. The craftsmen were idle, except for those who created luxury items for the royalty. The Temple underfunded and seldom used except by those whose calling drew them to the Seldarine and those who needed the charity of the Temple. The military, was divided; the professional force left far afield without communication from the royal house; the home guard, however, grew daily in strength, made up mostly of human and orcish mercenaries. No, things were not going well in the city. In spite of her flight to the forest, peace had eluded her. She'd not slept well, plagued by indistict visions of fire, terror, and brutality, and had risen before dawn to contemplate the forest. The fact that her visions were unfocused and uninterpretable was a particular handicap at the present, but she carried a child, so the potion brewed in Heartwood to clarify visions and enhance forsight was not something she could utilize until after her child was born. Dawn was breaking and she was uneasy. An electric crackle of magic, and she looked sharply in the direction of the sound. A man in the robes of a priest materialized in front of her home, but in the instant he appeared, he crumpled to the ground, his priesly robes drenched in blood. She rushed inside, down the teleporter and out her front door. The priest was still breathing, and she recognized him as Polaris from the Temple of the Seldarine. "In Vas Mani" and he seemed to recover somewhat. She cast the spell again, and he opened his eyes. "Tua! Ta naa neuma! Treachery!" he said. He was weak and it took some time for him to recover his voice. Then at last, "Lady, we need help and I knew not where else to go. The Temple is under seige!" Eowyna shook her head in puzzlement. "Polaris, this makes no sense. We need to get you to the healers in Heartwood to further care for your wounds. Surely the Town Guard can handle this with ease. I don't understand" She made a magical gate to transport them to the base of the Great Tree. "No, Lady" murmured Polaris as they ascended the tree. "Truly you do not understand..the guard-THEY attack the Temple with orcs, and Ettelen Eldalie Taren, he does nothing... nothing, lady. He just sits and watches and laughs. Treachery!" And then, as she turned the wounded priest over to the expert healing of Heartwood, the horror dawned upon her. Treachery from within! Why had she not sensed this? But there was no time to ponder the reasons now. The military, they needed the loyal men from the field, and she sent a pidgeon off to Maddux, wherever he might be at present. And her mind raced to search for a way to delay the fall of the Temple until help could arrive. "Polaris, who is left in the Temple?" "Only my acolye," he replied, weakly "and he is young, in training yet. He is the only one to protect the children and the poor, and the only one to guard the sacred treasures of the Temple." She cast a traveling spell to arrive in the city near the craftmen's center, far enough from the Temple to escape detection, she hoped. The air was acrid with smoke, the early morning light dimmed to grey. Orders, barked in the harsh tones of orcish, could be heard, along with the crashing boom of the battering ram and the crackle of fire. A small group of craftsmen stood near the building staring toward the source of the battle sounds. Eowyna recognized a few of them. "Bosworth Russ!" she called softly and the man turned quickly in her direction. "M'lady, Eowyna! What are you doing here? They have attacked the Temple!" "I know." she replied. "Come with me! And you, Sir William, Feanor! You come also, you are both carpenters! We are going to enter the Temple through the priest's secret door in the back. The main doors must be reinforced and you three have the skill to do this. We have to hold the Temple long enough to get the people to safety. I've sent for the military, so help will be on its way." "The Temple is surrounded, M'lady!" protested Feanor. "We cannot get in there!" "I will cast invisibility on you all, then you must stealth. I know your skill is not high, but there are only a few of us and we will move in slowly. Corellon will protect us!" And thus, they achieved entry into the Temple building, with magic, care and a great deal of luck. Inside the women and children were huddled and weeping. The young acolyte was doing his best to calm them. He looked up sharply at the sound of footsteps and raised his dagger, before dropping it quickly to his side as he recognized those he knew. "You've brought aid!" a look of relief on his face. "No," said Bosworth Russ quietly, "only skilled carpentry, I am afraid." And he motioned Sir William and Feanor to follow him toward the front of the building. "But we can hold them off, sir, with the skill of our tools and the strength of Yew wood." Eowyna turned to the young acolyte, "And we must evacuate these people." "Yes!," he replied. "I have gathered as many of the sacred temple treasures as I could, the mirror of purification, and the statues of the elemental gods. Can you cast the gates for us to leave?" And so "Vas Rel Por", but nothing happened. Eowyna blinked. What was wrong? The magic had failed! She had cast the gate toward her home near Heartwood, but something was preventing the the connection through the ether. Perhaps somewhere closer. She had in her book an etched rune to a nearby clearing in the forest. Not far away, but better than nothing. "Vas Rel Por" and...nothing! She motioned the acolyte away from the group. "There is some force...something...preventing my gates." she whispered. Their eyes met and both knew that they mustn't let on to these poor people that they were, for the time being, trapped inside the beseiged Temple. "Lye que cael yrinn!" said the acolyte, and Eowyna nodded.

28th January 2006, 02:24 PM	#3
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve 'o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,587 Gold: 23,102 Thanks: 22 Thanked 61 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine The Orc Shaman Bla-Gurth adorned in his ceremonial battle armor began to chant in his native Black Speech “Uruk glob ishi krimp golug.” As if on queue the rest of the shaman joined in the black chant. Taren’s Concubine wife adjusts the venomous snake on her shoulder and joined the black chant “Uruk glob ishi krimp golug.” The black chant grew louder and so did the black spell negating aura around the temple. The Orc Brute continued to slam his fists at the great doors of the Temple. Many of Constellation’s town folks watched the Nedan Protectors and the Orcs try to create a breach into the Temple and took no action to help their fellow elves. Astalder looked at his wife Debras. “I can not watch this terrible crime against the Elves, the Temple Seldarine and do nothing.” Debras “Nor can I.” Husband and wife helped each other prepare for battle as their children watched. As the last strap was cinched and buckle secured, Astalder looked towards his children “Take care of one and another. Make your way to the moon gate and travel to Skara Brae. Wait for us there.” With that said they held each other and bid each other farewell. In Felucca, near Trinsc a messenger pigeon lands and begins to peck at the window. Waking from his sleep Maddux makes his way to the window and removes the message from the pigeon. Maddux unfolds the message and a look of shock replaced his once sleepy face. Maddux yells” Justicars, prepare to ride!! The Orcs and the Edan Protectors have laid siege to the Temple Seldarine. We depart in five minutes.” The once former Feluccian outpost of Elen’mar became alive with a fury of activity. Astalder and Debras sent their children racing for the moon gate and took the opportunity to embrace other and to begin to kiss each other. Each knowing in their mind that this maybe their last time. Releasing each other from their embrace the couple picked up their elven composite bows and stepped out into the fray. Together they were calling out targets and slaying them. They continued to advance forward; passing their neighbors homes and watching them do nothing. Debras spots the Orc Shaman Bla-Gurth and identifies him as a target. Astalder and Debras simultaneously shot their arrows at the Orc Shaman, both striking and killing him. The Orc Shaman collapsed to the ground with a great thud and his spell was broken. Astalder and Debras found themselves the focus of many of the Orcs and Edan Protector attacks. The couple was severely wounded but continued to fight on. Rillifane, Solonor, and Shevarash looked down on the besieged Temple. No one would say a word, but the look of betrayal and hurt were on all the faces of the Seldarine. They would not forget this day.

30th January 2006, 11:21 AM	#4
Eowyna Rohanna I may not be the queen of everything, but I'm the duchess of quite a lot Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Landroval--LOTRO Posts: 1,496 Gold: 6,927 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine The beating of the war drums was designed to instil terror, and inside the beseiged Temple, the cacaphony of war reverberated off the walls. The relentless pounding on the great doors went on ceaselessly. The youngest of the Elven children whimpered in fear, but the older ones, who had begun to understand, helped the few adults to comfort them. The Temple acolyte hurried toward the back of the Temple. The seer was sitting in a corner, looking dissheveled and rather distracted. Occasionally she cast a gate spell, and each time the spell failed. As he approached her, she looked up. "What is happening? she whispered. "Are the doors holding?" He shook his head slightly. "The carpenters are doing their best. They've given us an hour, but it will not hold for much longer, I fear. Against such strength we can do little. And m'lady, their evil chants grow louder." He knelt beside her. "I am afraid the chanting of the shaman and his followers is preventing the magic. I have read of such things in my training. If i were but an archer........." She held up her hand. "Your skills are great, and will be greater. Do not regret that they are not other. We will have to try to take these children through the encirclement--the way we came in...we will have no invisibility, but it is the only way. Otherwise they will burn this place down around us. Go back and tell the carpenters to come away from the doors. We have to prepare to leave." "Vas Rel Por", failure. "We stand no chance, lady, none...." "I know," she said. "Gather the sacred objects that can be easily carried. Tell the carpenters." The acolyte looked briefly away, then nodded, and returned toward the front of the building. And silently, to herself: Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin. But just as all hope faded, it seemed to her that the orc war chant diminished..."[i]Vas Rel Por[i]"....and the shimmering blue gate appeared....and quickly faded... "Come NOW !!! Quickly" and as the men ran into the room, "It will hold just briefly...I can make the gate hold! This will go to the clearing just east...not far, but away from HERE. Leave the clearing immediately and travel east to Umbra. It is a vile, dark human city, but there is a moongate there. Go to Skara Brae--those were once Elven lands. We will go in small groups as the gate does not remain stable for long. Do not wait on the next group, go! I will catch you when I can...and then we may all gate to Skara Brae. Otherwise, go to Umbra and the moongate. Vas Rel Por." And so, they slipped a few at a time through the wavering gates to safety. Her mana was almost drained, but almost all were gone. One more gate...or two. She could hear the great doors beginning to break. There was no time to loose. "Vas Rel Por", and the last were through. But she would have to wait just a few seconds for another gate..just long enough for the strength of her mana to rise a little. The splintering and shattering of wood...and the pounding of heavy feet on the tiles...they were through! She'd not thought that the air could grow more foul, but now the stench of orc and death was almost overwhelming. The first through the door was a shaman, desecration of the Temple was complete. His robes spattered in blood, he raised a crudely carved staff! "Vas Rel Por" and the gate shimmered weakly. The harsh tones of the orcish necromancer filled the halls "In Bal Nox"!, and he stepped closer "Kal Vas An Flam"! She fell rather than stepped through the weakening gate, and the magic collapsed behind her. The grass of the clearing was soft beheath her hands, the clearing empty. Good, they had gone on as she'd told them to do. But she would not be following. "Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin. Angharradh, Atara en' i'kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie nae var hin amin. Atara............" Last edited by Eowyna Rohanna; 30th January 2006 at 08:22 PM..

7th February 2006, 11:58 AM	#5
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve 'o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,587 Gold: 23,102 Thanks: 22 Thanked 61 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Astalder and Debras continued to select targets and place their arrows into the Orcs and Edan protectors. The orcs began to reign a volley of arrows and war axes at Astalder and Debras. Astalder knew that their poisiton was in defensible and placed himself in front of his beloved Debras shielded her from the enemy projectiles. As an act of defiance, Astalder broke his composite bow before collapsing at Debras feet. Astalder turns his head towards Debras, whispers in his last breath “Mela en' coiamin Debras, ta ayla coia.” as his life faded away. Debras continued to fight. The next volley of arrows and axes struck Debras and as she collapsed to the ground she reached for Astalder’s hand and held it as she passed from this world. Rillifane, Solonor, and Shevarash watched in disbelief as Astalder and Debras were overwhelmed by killed by the arrows and axes. Shevarash focused his attention on the husband and wife’s hands, and saw the glint of the mithril weddings bands gleam in the mourning sun. The Orc Brute continues to pound away at the Temples great doors. The great doors buckled and strained with each strike of the Orc Brute’s fist. Orc Sappers began breaching operations along the west wall of the temple. The Orc Sappers began removing large sections of the west wall at an alarming rate. As every great stone fell from the west wall, The Orcs and Edan protectors cheered and howled in anticipation of feeding their blood lust. The Justicars were mounted on their great steeds. Some of the steeds were ethereal indicating an experienced and seasoned Justicars, while others rode horses. The Justicars were formed in colums of threes, each five ranks deep. The Guideon Bearer Matreus held the Great Guide on as it it fluttered in the early mourning wind. The guide beared the emblem of the Justicars, a glenched minthril fist and many streamers from numerous campaigns were held in place by the spade at the tip of the guideon. An elf named Finster stood before the Justicars,”Vas Rel Por” and still no gate would open. Maddux with a look of irritation, “We don’t have all day mage” Finster once again tried “Vas Rel Por”, again and again. Not accepting failure, Finster tried once more “Vas Rel Por” and a blue gate opened. Maddux grins“Finally, Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir!!!” and leads the Justicars into the blue moongate. Evryone one of the Justicars begins to chant “Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir!!!”

8th February 2006, 06:49 PM	#6
Eowyna Rohanna I may not be the queen of everything, but I'm the duchess of quite a lot Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Landroval--LOTRO Posts: 1,496 Gold: 6,927 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Angharradh, Atara en’ i’kesir gwaith, amin athel mae llie. Amin utune llie ane var hinamin. Atara………. The grass was soft beneath her fingers and her cheek as she lay in the forest clearing with the magical gate collapsing behind her in the morning light. But Eowyna was aware only of the burning pain which seemed to consume the whole of her. Then that, too, receded, and her mind began to wander….. Fields and trees of green in a far-off place called Elen’Mar………and then the coming of the Great Tree of Heartwood and the opening of the knowledge of the elders to her, a playground for her mind and a homecoming for her spirit………Playful antics of beloved friends, and times of danger to those for whom she cared………The arrival in her life of the blue-haired elven man, whom she’d slowly come to love more than life itself, but to whom she seldom expressed her love, a regret there………and the Tree of Life, a time of sacrifice and privation but also a time of great joy, a time of sharing and accomplishment at great cost, that too she’d not see to it’s end………now, Elbereth, maker of the stars, and into the West, to Valinor… At around noontime, Steven, the wandering healer, left his hut in the Malas forests. Someone might be in need of his services. Wandering south, he noticed columns of smoke wafting over the forest treetops. It was coming from the direction of the Elven town. It was not his habit to interfere in the goings-on of the residents of the area; he was merely available should a lone traveler need assistance. Still, he set off slowly in that direction, just in case. He was still some distance away, when entering a familiar clearing in the dense growth of hardwood forest, he noticed the pixies who inhabited a nearby tree were creating more commotion than was their usual habit. Their colorful wings were fluttering rapidly and their incomprehensible chiming sort of chatter filled the small glade. He approached slowly so as not to frighten them, and came upon the source of their disturbance. In the grass, at the very edge of the clearing, lay an elven woman. Surrounding her was the faint aura of light that humans often perceive when looking upon one of the fair folk. Steven didn’t know a lot about elves; they’d only recently returned to Sosaria, but this one appeared to have suffered some sort of trauma. Her clothing appeared scorched and her skirts were soaked in blood. Still, she appeared to be breathing. An hour or so later, he’d managed to transfer her to a palette in his hut, and treat her injuries. Her injuries were grave, but she would recover as he’d found her in time. He’d also found that, in some ways, humans and elf-kind differed little, for this woman had miscarried a child, her injuries too sever to sustain the life that she carried within her. He did what he would have done for any human woman who’d suffered a similar loss, and from that, too, she would recover physically. Some span of days or even weeks would be necessary, of course, before she would be able to to leave his care, but what concerned Steven was how she might react to the news of the loss of her child. He had heard that the fair folk had few children, and that those they had were particularly precious to them. And so he waited for her to recover consciousness. Were she anything like most human women, he knew what her first question would be. Evening was falling when the woman opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. Steven stood back away from her and watched her get her bearings before he approached. Then he stepped quietly out of the shadows into her line of vision. There was a flash of fear in her eyes, quickly masked. And he said quietly, “I am a healer. You were injured, but will be safe now.” And then, of course the inevitable question in her gaze, her hand strayed absently to her abdomen. “I am sorry for you,” he said. “The child was lost before I found you. You will need to rest here for some days, but do not fear. The treefellows guard this area of the forest well. You will be safe from whatever violence has overtaken your village.” Throughout the next day she remained silent, accepting from him a little water and bread of the food that he offered her. She neither spoke to him, nor acknowledged his presence, merely stared at the walls of his hut. There was no expression whatsoever in her eyes, the faint elven aura of light never reached them. Steven went out during the day to resume his wandering circuit through the forest, returning with the twilight. The hut was empty. The elven woman had gone, taking with her the grey robes with which he had replaced her ruined clothing. In her place on the palette lay a small jeweled circlet. And that was all. Ent tanya nae ilya.

11th February 2006, 12:27 PM	#7
DiP Ronin UOForums Bouncer Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,211 Gold: 21,224 My Mood: Thanks: 158 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine thunk! An arrow stuck the wall through the window. His first reaction was to fire back, but realized the black feathered arrow meant only one thing, the Justicars were needed. Grabbing his bow and quiver Lord Dip summoned his warhorse and was enroute to the rally point. King Maddux had the guideon in place and the Jusicars in formation, without glancing back he says sarcasticly "It's about time." "I was just waiting for you to have the troops ready. You know how I hate forming these guys up. Besides, what's the big deal? It's not like the Felucan murderers ever put up much of a fight." King Maddux looks at Lord Dip with a grim look. "Oh." Said Lord Dip. "Yeah, oh is right. The Orcs and Edan protecters have laid siege to the Temple Seldarine." "What are we waiting for?" "Finster, hurry it up."

15th February 2006, 10:35 PM	#8
Maddux I've got Skinnies with RPGS! Twelve 'o'clock! Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Pacific Posts: 6,587 Gold: 23,102 Thanks: 22 Thanked 61 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Maddux was the first to exit the gate, and bare witness to the event that was taking place. Maddux yelled “Form a wedge!!!” The Justicars forming an inverted “V” shape with Maddux and the Guideon Bearer at the vortex, with the vortex pointed towards the temple. Once the formation was in position, “Prepare to assault!!!” and at which time the Justicars readied their weapons. Some carried with them mighty axes and the Elven Composite Bows, all held at the ready. Maddux gave the order “Assault!!!” And the Justicars begin to charge towards the Orcs and Edan Protectors. Those of the Justicars with bows begin to reign arrows down on the Orcs and Edan Protectors. The Justicars had delivered a surprising and crushing blow to the Orcs and Edan Protectors, but the battle was far from over. The Justicars wedge was quickly overwhelmed by the Orc and Edan Protector Horde. Out of experience, they began to form a circle around the Guideon bearer and fought for their lives and those lives of the elves inside the Temple. The Orc war hammer shattered Santee’s shield arm, and as his arm hung uselessly at his side, Santee Continued to strike at the enemies of the Elves with his Berserker’s Maul. Guideon Bearer Hamlin lay dying on the ground as an Edan Arrow had struck his neck severing his carotid artery. Justicar Jareth had slain many an enemy with his Axe of the Havens, but he too had many arrows protruding from his back and abdomen. Many of the Justicars were all wounded and fighting on. Where Hamlin last planted the Guideon, Justicar Balin picked it up and the Justicars continued to push forward. From Behind the ring of Justicars, Honor Frost took careful aim at the back of the Orc Brute with his composite bow. Remember proper breath techniques, Honor released the bow string and let the arrow take flight. Before the first arrow had struck its mark, second and a third arrows were on their way. All three arrows struck the Orc Brute’s back, toppling the Brute in to the weaken doors. A tremendous “Crack!!!” echoed through the field over the moans and crying of the dead and dying. An Orc war hammer sailed through the air striking Honor’s Aegis helm. Honor collapses to the ground stunned. The Orcs and Edan Protectors began to smash at the Temple’s Great doors with their axes and war hammers. The Great Doors of the Temple began to buckle and give way. The Orcs and Edan Protectors began to surge into the temple. The Justicars continued to push forward trying to reach the Temple, but the Orcs and Edan Protectors were making the Justicars pay a high price in blood for each meter of ground taken A large rumbling noise can be heard echoing across the battlefield, and then the Temple began to collapse upon itself and those trapped inside. Maddux screamed “No!!!” Jareth ordered “Hold the line!!! There is nothing we can do for those inside the Temple.” Maddux replied “Revenge…” Jareth strikes an Orc with his axe “We will have that, but not here and not now. If we stay, we will be destroyed.” Another arrow strikes Jareth’s shoulder “We do no justice for the Elves if we perish here.” Maddux surveys the scene. Many of the Justicars are either dead or severely wounded. Maddux gives the order “Begin to displace to the rally point!!” and with that order the Justicars began to give the ground that they had taken and displace towards the rally point. Shevarash removes a black arrow from his quiver. Rillifane and Solonor look at Shevarash as he breaks the black of arrow. The black arrow drips a drop of blood from the broken shaft and the three Seldarine watch that drop of blood fall from the Heavens. That drop of blood finds Astalder’s lifeless body and brings life to his body. Astalder’s picks up Debra’s bow and begins to extract his vengeance upon the Orcs and Edan Protectors. Honor reached down and picked up Hamlin’s lifeless and body and placed it upon his shoulder. Those Justicars who could began lifting the wounded and the dead and making their way towards the rally point. Even as the Justicars were displacing, the Orcs and Edan Protectors continued to fight with a vengeance. There was no pause in the battle as the dust settled on the ruins of the Temple. Eventually the Justicars made it to the rally point, as a blue moon gate appeared and began to file into the moon gate. Astalder watched the last elf enter into the moon gate and walked over to his beloved Debras and held her in his arms for the last time. As Astalder faded from this shard, and took a place next to his Debras on the long black ship to begin their journey. Debras and Astalder held hands as the ship took sail.

18th February 2006, 08:48 AM	#9
DiP Ronin UOForums Bouncer Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,211 Gold: 21,224 My Mood: Thanks: 158 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Stepping through the gate he hears King Maddux say "Form a wedge!" before seeing the battlefield. Taking position next to the Bandit King, Lord DiP surveys the mass in front of them. Row after row of Orcs with Edan Protectors scattered amongst them here and there pointing out weaknesses in the structure. "Prepare to assault!" The horses stomped their hooves, The Justicars readied their weapons, "Assault!!!" Arrow after arrow Orcs and Edan Protectors fell until the horde noticed they had another target other than the Temple Seldarine. Turning in mass and collapsing the wedge they moved forward. The Justicars were far outnumbered but continued to fight. Lord DiP was not worried so much about the Orcs, who had their filthy hands full with the rest of the Justicars, but focused more on the Edan Protectors, the traiters. They had been trusted, they were taken in, and this is how they return the hospitality. Taking aim he strikes down several Edan Protectors, but they were all grunts, where was their leader? Hiding, the coward! Out of the corner of his eye Lord DiP sees the Orc Brute collapse into the Temple's doors. The Orcs and Edan Protectors rushed in and started bashing at what was left. Crack! Turning to hear the origin of the sound Lord DiP sees Honor Frost hit the dirt, stunned, but alive. In that second of distraction an Orc had buried his hatchet in Lord DiP's thigh, the Bandit King stuck the Orc with a deathstrke, turned, and continued to shoot down Orc after Orc. Tossing the hatchet to his side Lord DiP takes a glancing blow to his right shoulder and sees the Edan Protector's Leader ride away with his Soul Seeker glistening with blood. He quickly hid behind a line of Orcs and disappeared into the crowd, just like him not to stay and fight. It all happend too quickly, the doors buckled and the horde rushed inside. The Temple was visibly shaken, cracked, and started to rumble. A guard tower fell inwards, the outer wall collapsed on itself, screams were heard from inside. Not caring who or what the target was anymore Lord DiP fired arrow after arrow in an attempt to clear a path to the Temple. Finally the main structure of the Temple started to fall. "NO!!!" yelled King Maddux. "Hold the line!!!" ordered Jareth while swinging his axe. It was too late, there were too many, nothing could be done, The Bandit King ordered the retreat and Finster made his way to the rally point to summon the gate. Back peddling and continuing to fight, Lord DiP sees Astalder come to life, pick up a bow, and strike down Orc and Edan Protector swiftly. Only one Seldarine could cause this, Lord DiP knew Shevarash well, grabbing his bleeding shoulder, he knew of an offering fitting for the Seldarine.

19th February 2006, 12:42 PM	#10
Eowyna Rohanna I may not be the queen of everything, but I'm the duchess of quite a lot Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Landroval--LOTRO Posts: 1,496 Gold: 6,927 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Fall of the Temple Seldarine Eowyna woke with a start. She hadn’t meant to sleep, only to rest for a moment in the shelter of the tree. She had a long journey ahead of her to the nearest moongate in Umbra. Upon leaving the hut of the healer, she’d turned briefly back toward the Elven town, but what reason she had left told her that whatever had transpired there was long over now. And so, she had turned away from the direction in which her heart pulled her and began the journey toward Umbra. She had no reagents with which to cast magic, nor did she have her accustomed attire which made the use of reagents unnecessary. She was thus a mage without power. As it turned out, she was not physically able to travel far, and so she had paused to rest beneath the tree. Her thoughts turned to the man whose fate she did not know. Had Maddux brought the Justicars to raise the siege of the Temple? Had he even received her message? She fervently hoped he had not, and that he and all his men were safe at the keep near Trinsic. But then she closed her mind, for there lay grief she could not yet bear to acknowledge. She had not meant to sleep. As she stood, waves of vertigo assailed her, and she put both her hands against the tree to steady herself until the dizziness passed. She needed to move along. She’d sent the others toward Skara Brae – that’s where she would follow. The distant cry of a vampire bat – that creature normally no more than a pest – brought home her extreme vulnerability. She had no weapon, no magic, no protection. But still, the forest was safer than the road. At all costs, she must avoid roving bands of orcs and renegade humans. But the terrain was rough, and she soon wearied and was forced to rest once again. “I am not strong enough to do this,” she thought. “I should have stayed with the healer.” But then acknowledged to herself that she hadn’t been strong enough to stay with the human healer either. Her trust in humans had been misplaced, and the price too dear to bear. She sank to the ground, closing her eyes, unable to fend off growing despair. Dusk fell, and still she found not the energy or will to continue. She heard nothing, not even the faintest stirring of the leaves on the forest floor. What caused her to look up was warm breath lightly caressing her neck. She raised her head from her hands and her gaze met two blazing yellow eyes, staring right at her out of the gloom. She was staring at one of the largest wolves she’d ever encountered. Just for a moment, her heart leapt. Could it be……? But no, of course not, just a wishful fantasy. She’d run with the wolf before, and a small forlorn smile crossed her lips fleetingly – this was not he. But she had a kinship with these creatures. She held her hand out to the wolf. “Fea en’ i’ draug, na revanthasamin, enkanu amin, na gisiramin.” There was a low growl from deep in his throat, but no threat. He moved closer, and she stroked the rough coat. The wolf moved away slightly, then returned to her side, and she touched him again. And it seemed that she could draw on his strength. He moved away again as if to lead her on. And she found she could stand and follow him. The wolf padded softly and slowly through the dark forest, never leaving her side. Her hand occassionally strayed to the ruff of coarse fur around his neck, and thus they traveled through the night. By dawn, she was exhausted. And it seemed the wolf knew, for he lead her to a dense copse of trees that would provide protection from sight if any happened by. She lay down and instantly slept, and the wolf lay down also, not far away, but his yellow eyes kept watch, vigilant through the day. When she woke, the day was drawing to a close. Eowyna was surprised to find the wolf still with her, for she’d had nothing to feed him. But there he still was, intelligence beaming from the feral eyes. Watching her, he stood. So did she. And she knew to follow. He led her to a pool of fresh water. And almost more than the need to drink was the need to step into the pool and wash away the feel, the smell, the taint of tragedy. So she shed her robes, and the little charm that was no more than a thought and a wave of the hand was made. In the falling darkness, she stepped into the warm pool. Fenmarel Mestarine stood watch. A slight frision across the water—as though ripples of color were moving just under the surface. Eowyna watched in fascination as images began to form on the mirrored surface of the pond: She entered the hidden valley through a pass in the mountains. Beyond the rocky peaks the green land rolled gently to meet the sea. In the center of the valley a great outcropping of rock, upon which stood a fair city, its walls of pale wrought stone, it’s Elven people noble and wise. But even as she watched, the walls dissolved into sand, the crumbling of a sacked and abandoned civilization. And then the surface of the pool darkened and the golden eyes of the wolf gleamed out at her: “Seek this place. Her people are dispersed, her knowledge lost. Seek the Exiles, and bring them together. Seek the knowledge, and share it with all people.” Eowyna felt something small and hard in her hand. Uncurling her fingers, she gazed upon a small rune, glittering greenish in the falling light. She looked up; the wolf was gone.