[Forest]The Rising Tide (Act I, Pre-Veil & GF'd)

[Azurite]

Season of Summer Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Optia
Brightening 37

"We cannot ignore this issue any longer. It has gone on far longer then any of us wished it to, we must put an end to it now." The Lord Ikos and Arcane member of the Council of Eight, Eleändur Luviel spoke up from within his rosewood chair. His violet hair pulled back allowing the grimace on his face illumination.

"You know more then the others that we have not ignored this issue, we have simply been at a loss as of what to do. The reason we are meeting today, forgoing the scheduled dates for this one." Glioca U'sionayl, Lady of Druidism and Thane of Silrosia, her kind voice soothing the flame that was building within the arcane wielding warrior.

"Then the question at hand is, has any one of us figurec some way to end the arcane block?" It was young Sindl Nluolian that spoke next, Lord of Mysticism. The young lord his hands steepled before him as he sat on the edge of his seat. Eyes the color of a glaciers heart took one look around the room in hope, then diminished the others sitting silently. "My question is answered then."

"All we know is that the condition appears to be growing worse the longer it continues. If we cannot find a way to stop it soon we might lose our link forever." Valarwen U'sionayl, Lady of Necromancy, spoke up in her fiery voice so that all others looked sharply at her. "You know this to be true, at first it was one or two tries to cast, now it is four or five times before I can cast the simplest initiate spell. How long before our ability leaves us forever, an era or less? I for one am unwilling to live without the power to protect my house and our home." Known as a passionate woman she was able to stir the hearts of all that listened to her words.

"How?" The raspy voice of Hiriam Alicros, Lord of Thaumaturgy and seat of Religion on the council of eight, cut through the silence after Valarwen. The elderly human sat stooped in his high backed chair looking all the worse for wear. "We know very little about this, aside from the fact that it has weakened the barrier around the Blackbarch. What else if any has been surmised?"

"It is safe to say that we are still drawing a blank. It continues to circle back to the Crown no matter which way I look at it." Glioca her eyes closed to the rest of the Circle sat silent for a moment. "The Crown, forged for Moonstone by the hand of Car'hilan Anulindrael, seems to be a key point within this turmoil. The source for the treacherous Dhor'csar returning to our home from exile." She finished the others looking at her blankly.

A slight inhalation of breath emanating from the chair of the elderly human. "You cannot know for sure that the Crown has anything to do with this." The saggy skin around his eyes hiding any of the emotions within. "For all we know it could be a simple adornment made of precious metals and jewels." His throat straining with tension as he spoke.

"You know this to be untrue, Hiriam. You yourself have felt the power hidden within the item, you cannot deny that. We simply need more time to study the design of the Crown and the weaves that have been placed within it. A task that I myself have had little luck with." Glioca always the voice of hope once again spoke. Her violet eyes looking carefully at Hiriam as he spoke.

"Then perhaps take relief in allowing another member of the Circle to take the Crown into their hands. Let another share the load that you have so far decided to take upon yourself and you alone. We are here to work together Glioca, allow us to help you." Soft voiced Sindl voiced his concern for the Emerald Mother. "I suggest that Father Hiriam be given the task to conduct the next phase of study on the Crown. He has held his seat on this council for longer then any other and his power of the life giving Thaumaturgy is unrivaled within our city." A motion of his delicately strong hands towards Alicros.

"I second that." The Lord of Ikos spoke.

"I will go along with what you decide Glioca." The Lady of Necromancy looking to her beloved friend and sister.

"Then it is done. We will give the Crown of Moonstone to Father Hiriam Alicros, Lord of Thaumaturgy. Our hope is in you now Hiriam, do your best to find all that you can for the sake of Silrosia." Glioca placing the Crown on the large ebony table.

"This meeting is now adjourned. We will meet again within two cycles to review all that Hiriam has found out." Standing up Glioca vanished instantly, followed quickly by all members except the human.

"Such a large weight to be placed upon shoulders such as these." Shaky legs had taken him to the spot before the Crown. "I only hope that I am able to do you justice Glioca." A quick gasp of air and a short ragged laugh escaped his cracked lips. With that he too vanished from the unknown chambers of the Aesoteric Circle.

[Azurite]

Season of Summer Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Optia
Brightening 39

The bright flash was felt through the closed eyelids of the mage as he waited for the effect to subside before he opened them. The flash illuminated the room with an intense whiteness that bordered on an inferno, causing pain to not only his gaze but to his entire body. It was a light born of a magic far older then the old mage could comprehend no matter his skill level, it was magic of a different time and of a different people.

Father Hiriam Alicros cursed his latest failed attempt to penetrate the magical wards that were placed on the Crown of Moonstone. The ancient relic seeming to stare back at him with its many precious gems glaring with magical fury. The old human had been trying since the end of the Aesoteric Circle meeting to find some way to delve within the crown. He needed to find out how it worked so that he would be able to harness the potent magics within.

"I cannot do this alone, this is beyond even my skill. I'm unable to fully understand the wards placed on the Crown and the techniques used to do so. I am no studier of long gone elvish magic, nor am I able to do so as they guard such things with fervor." He spoke in his aged voice walking in a circle around the dais the Crown was settled. On another dais an open book was being scribbled in by a floating quill, the quill copying the words that came from Alicros.

"It is settled then, I must ask for help from the only one that can do so." Looking at the enchanted quill he ended the spell and the book closed. Walking to claim what was his personal journal he held it in shaking gnarled hands. Within the bindings of the large tome were the workings of his life, all words spoken by him in private. Some words were pious and just, others were genius, then slowly they turned to heretical and treasonous filled with a want for power. No. None would ever see what he had written within the pages of this most precious of books.

-----

"You cannot be serious Glioca." Valarwen looked shocked at what her dear friend and sister had just said. "Father Hiriam is a member of the Church of the Faith and could never do such things as you have just said. It is impossible, how could you say such a thing knowing the great amount of good he has done for both Humans and Elves in Syl'rosya?" Her voice accusatory now.

"I am very much serious on this matter. It seems I have been the only one to notice the differences in the priest in recent eras. If you could see what I have seen and heard you would believe as I have. He has changed Valarwen, and this change is something I do not take comfort in." The Emerald Mother looking out a stained glass window onto the Tawnleaf below.

"Explain to me what you have seen then, even then I will doubt this. He is such a benevolent man that I find it rather hard to believe. If you can prove to me that he is what you say he is then I will stand beside you Glioca, until then I can will side with the elder human." Valarwen betraying the emotion she felt with the waver in her voice.

"I cannot do as asked Valarwen," turning her violet eyes from the scene below. "I fear that what I know cannot yet be told to the rest of the Elfhame. I must know without a doubt that my instincts are in deed fact. All I am asking you to do is trust me, trust me as you have trusted me in the past." Her expression soft, filled with love.

Valarwen lowered her eyes to the carpeted floor listening to the words of Glioca. "I...I will keep quiet on this subject until the time is deemed right. If or when you decide to speak to others about this then I will voice my concerns and only then. I trust you Glioca, you know this, but this is something I am finding hard to believe in. I am sorry." With a bow from the waist she turned and left the cozy room.

"I know you are, I know." Glioca turned once more to gaze into the forests that were slowly darkening with the coming the moons.

-----

"You are a brave man to come here human." The empty voice shook the elderly human the the core of existence. "Here, where all those that you used to fight against dwell in perfect torment. Here, where all those that would rend you limb from limb and dine upon your immortal soul dwell. Here, here is where you come when you have nothing left to lose." The voice was swords through the body of the human, a booming silence that burned his ears and curdled his blood.

Elo'hadraan Sy'nore sat on a throne of thorns upon a raised dias, his empty eyes watching from the depths of his black hood. The Heru of Sy'nore who had for so long been deathyl sick since the loss of his wife at the hands a certain U'sionayl. To Father Hiriam he didn't seem sick, nor did he seam weak in any way, what was certain was that a force of power pushed through the folds of the lords black robes.

"I come seeking help with this," Pulling the Crown of Moonstone from the leather satchel he held around his waist. The Crown shone momentarily as if in a sigh of relief to be let out of the stifling prison. "The Crown of Moonstone, your dead king, my Lord Sy'nore." Holding the jeweled crown up for the Elflord to see he waited for a response.

"You bring this here to me?" The dark robed figure rose from his seat and took one step towards the human. "You are either very foolish or very wise priest, very wise indeed." Raising a hand to signal for the human to give him the crown while a shrill cackle of a laugh arose from the blackness behind the throne.

[Azurite]

Season of Summer Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Optia
Brightening 39

"What, who's there?' Taking a step backwards and withholding the Crown from the Sy'nore's grasp Hiriam watched the darkness. His aged eyes seeing small glimpses of a hand here, a wisp of cloth or a strand of dark hair. Peering harder into the blackness behind the throne of thorns he waited, his breath shallow. "Who do you have hiding back there?" He asked of the Elflord who only laughed in return as he took a step aside.

'You don't remember me Father, I am saddened." The shrill voice followed by the strange cackle issued forth again. From the darkness came one thin leg followed by the rest of the body until finally the head and face.

"No, it cannot be. Impossible!" Hiriam recoiled in shock, horror playing evidently across his wrinkled face. "You, you're supposed to be dead somewhere in the deserts, your mind lost in madness." He spoke in a voice unsure of itself, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Oh I can assure you she is very much mad, human, but dead I think not." Elo'hadraan chuckled smugly as the lithe form of Ger'sylinë U'sionayl crept forwards from the darkness. Her small frame still as small and soft as ever, though far more eractic in movement compared to any other elf. The most disturbing of the returned woman were here eyes, eyes that were once violet like her sister Glioca, were now the deep color of blood. An almost black red surrounded by stark white glared out at Hiriam through a tangled mass of hair, so beautiful in her madness.

"Aren't you going to welcome be back home, Father? Give me a blessing for good fortune and love?" Cackling as she approached the the stunned and silent thaumaturgist her hands twitching at her sides. "I have been gone such a long, long time I am in need of a little help to become better reaquented with those that betrayed me." Moving too fast for the old man to notice she wrapped her arms around the priests shoulders.

"Give me the Crown, priest, let me show you what needs to be done." Laying lips the color of ash upon his forehead she backed slowly away from him. Her clawlike hands pulling the Crown out of his gnarled hands. A smile that showed clearly that the fallen U'sionayl had done something terrible was splayed across her face.

"Come Hiriam, do not look so troubled, there is no such thing as death for those such as we." The Sy'nore pulled back the black cowl that masked his face from Hiriam. A muffled scream issued from the paralyzed man as the rotting face of Elo'hadraan Sy'nore greeted him with a rictus grin. "Do not look so surprised, you knew before you came here what I was."

[Azurite]

Sobs issued forth from the paralyzed mouth of the elder human priest. His face stained with tears that ran unchecked down his stone face. He was trapped, completely trapped, he had no way to release himself from it even though he was one of the most powerful spell casters in the Elfhame. The reason he had come to find the Sy'nore Lord had now betrayed him, unable to use arcana he was at the mercy of the two fiends.

"No. He must not be killed." The voice of the Lich grew angry towards the U'sionayl that shrunk back from him. "I have need for him yet, he will be the liaison to the members of the Aesoteric Circle and that bitch Glioca." His voice growing softer as he noticed his lover huddling back from him. "No, do not be afraid my pet, I could never harm you." Holding his arms outstretched to her he waited for her to go to him.

"I did not know my lord, forgive me, I didn't think that you had plans for him yet." Continuing to cower she placed herself against the chest of the taller elf. "My mind has not been the same since the day I was exiled." Her eyes once more becoming crazed as she looked into the face of the undead.

"I can see that very well from here." Pulling away from her Elo'hadraan once more moved to sit upon his throne of thorns. Lounging against the high back of the chair he played with the crown in his hands, spinning it around slowly watching the scant light bounce of the multi-colored gems. "Such a beautiful thing the Crown of Moonstone is, such great power placed within the thin golden walls of this item." Bring the diadem up to sit eye level with what remained of eyes he gazed long and hard at it.

"This crown was made for the King of our people, yet it was never used for he died at the hands of the foul humans." His grip tightening on the crown he continued to speak. "Never did we think we would fall prey to the unstoppable atrocities the lesser beings would bring to our lands. If only we had been able to stop them, if only Moonstone had been stronger. Dammit." The bone chilling cold that emanated from the lich grew stronger as his anger grew.

"Silent human!" His voice causing the whimpering Hiriam Alicros to cry as loudly as he could in his situation. "It is because of your people that mine have been bound in chains. Do you think I should let you live? I have a use for you but I can easily find another!" Rising from his throne he crossed the space between them in three giant steps. "I would feast on your entrails and bathe in your blood while the powers of my lord kept you alive, to watch as I did all this." Bent so that he could look into the frightened eyes of the father the lich spoke. "Do you wish this human? Do you wish for me to allow you to watch your own death, while I send your soul to the Umblat where Jalat will welcome you with open arms?" White spittle began to dribble down the mouth of the undead lord, the dead eyes shining like flames.

"No?" Hiriam having muffled out his answer many times over. "No." Laughing to himself as he took a step back. "No!" Laughing harder now the Elo' moved back to the throne. "No, I do not suppose you would." He spun on a heel to come around to look at the human again. "You would not be so lucky to visit the lord of death this brightening priest, I still have use for you." Turning again he made to sit upon his throne.

"Though for now you will remain with me and my bride until I am better able to study this most precious of gifts you have brought me. I thank you for it of course, I thank you from the bottom of my soul." The sound of the U'sionayl cackling at her lovers joke as she sat on the lowest step of the dais the throne sat. "I thank you greatly." With two hands Elo'hadraan Sy'nore raised the Crown of Moonstone ap Silrosian and placed it on his pale skinned head.

The sound of the cruel laughter of the Lich caused the human to shudder as tears continued to streak down his face. The laughter of the Lich caused even the roaming Syl'ger in the area to flee in the opposite direction. He was the ruler of the Blackbarch now, he who held the crown of the king.

[Azurite]

Season of Summer Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Ioannes
Brightening 1

She couldn't breath! Somebody was trying to strangle her while she slept! Panic sounded through her head as pressure attacked her throat. Her skull was pounding as the flow of air was denied to her body. The pain oh the pain! How had somebody managed to get past the houses defenses, both elven and arcane?

HELP ME! Glioca screamed pulling at the single hand that sought to crush the life from her. The hand was more like a claw, a large deformed claw of black skin ending in long jagged nails. The power it exerted was immeasurable as Glioca fought to free herself from its giant grasp.

Nobody can hear you Glioca. A voice full of malice issued forth from the darkness. None will come to your rescue, you are mine until I decide to let you go. A mirthless laugh echoed loudly in the darkness that surrounded the trapped Thane. But please, allow me to make you more comfortable while you are my guest. The voice accompanied by the release of the clawed hand with a rustle of brambles.

Glioca inhaled deep breaths as she fought against the clouds that wished her to pass out. Massaging her throat as she felt the claw marks on her soft throat as she turned her head searching for her attacker. Again the sound of rustling brambles came forth from the blackness, followed by the crack of wood.

Turning her head to the right quickly she gasped as she attempted to stand and run. She barely got onto one knee before a thorned bramble ensnared her around the right ankle, the thorns bitting deep into her flesh. A cry of pain came forth from her mouth as she turned to see another thorned branch rushed at her. This one attaching to her left ankle, another cry of pain, then two more wrapped themselves around her wrists. Tears fell from her violet eyes as she was hoisted above the shapeless ground by the dangerous plants.

How ironic that you one of the most powerful druids in the whole of this wretched continent fall prey to that which you hold dear. A flash of white passed within view of the entrapped druid. This is something I find great pleasure in do not get me wrong, but I only wish there was no need for me to detain you as such. If you could only refrain from fighting me I would let you free while we, talked. Another flash of white out of the corner of her eyes as she turned her head back and forth searching for the sight.

I have done nothing to you why are you doing this to me? Her voice weak as she lowered her head so that her sweat matted hair covered her face. Not only was it to cover her tear stained face it was to allow her time to think as she sobbed.

Oh do not be so naive Glioca, you have done more than enough to warrant this from me. A soft shaft of light fell on a dark robbed figure that stood out from the background only because he was deeper in appearance. You and the others of the wretched house, the nobles you claim to be are an ignoble lot, ignorant in everything you are. Taking steps forward the shape faded in and out as the light flickered as it moved. Forcing me to take this path in my life, a path that I wished to trod, but not at the prices shoved upon me. He disappeared again, his voice echoing empty in the Archdruids ears.

Searching with her red rimmed eyes she was startled as the robed figure rose from directly below her. You must have figured it out by now dearest sister. A single dark robed sleeve coming up to pull the cowl back from hiding the face of the speaker. The face of Elo'hadraan Sy'nore showing plainly to the shocked Glioca that felt her heart stop in its chest. Before the Thanes eyes the handsome visage of the once proud Elflord shifted and changed to become the form of a rotting corpse with small hints of skull showing through.

Glioca finally found the breath to cry out in a scream of shock and horror as the Lich pulled the hood once more over its head.

"M'lady, please m'lady." A worried voice called to her from the darkness as the hooded figure retreated from view. "Please Glioca come back to us." The same voice followed by a soft touch on her cheek.

"Uh!" Sitting straight up in her bed her hands tracing her body to find the wounds that never were.

"Arwen, are you alright?" The clansmen asked as Glioca looked out a large window that showed the signs of the rising suns.

[Azurite]

Season of Summer Era II
Era XIV Post Fractum
Month of Ioannes
Brightening 5

Glioca appeared in the demi-plane that was the meeting place of the Aesoteric Circle. Her violet eyes going around the large black wood table that the members sat around in their high backed chairs. The chairs were still empty as she was always the first one to arrive as head of the Circle, the others would soon fill them up as she arrived.

A flash of light followed by a small crack announced the arrival of another one of the Aesoteric Circle members. The stern face and flowing crimson robes gave away the identity of Eleandur Luviel Lord of Ikos before Glioca could see his face. Nodding in her direction the powerful ikonomancer seated himself in the chair to her right awaiting the others.

Next to come was the raven haired Lord of Mysticism, Sindl Nluolian with his pale yet smiling face who took a seat to the left of Glioca. Shortly after Sindl had seated himself another light and small crack announced that Valarwen, sister and lady protector of House U'sionayl had arrived to take her seat opposite where the Luviel lord sat around the table.

Glioca nodding to the three of them waited for the final member to arrive for the meeting. It was sad yet true that only five members of the Circle remained from the once proud and powerful eight that were meant to seat the council of mages. With the Arwen E'braeyl stepping down recently their number had taken a greater hit then the disappearance of Archmage Gil'dae or the entrapment of Heru Mithania that now sat within the gaol of Syl'rosya.

Waiting to see and hear the arrival of Hiriam Alicros, Glioca looked to Eleandur who shook his head to show that he knew not where the human was. Her face darkening into a frown Glioca moved around to the front of her seat and sat down, looking at each of the remaining three members.

"Have any of you seen or heard word from Father Alicros?" She asked of them already knowing the answer. Taking their silence for a no she sighed and her open hand made a loud smack against the top of the round table that startled the others. "It seems that Alicros has decided to not join us this time and I think it has something to do with the dreams that have haunted me the last few darkenings." Looking to Valarwen who averted her eyes for she now knew that she should have believed Glioca about Hiriam.

Telling the others of the dreams that have haunted her, the dream of the demonic hand, the twisted branches and the voice of the one that turned into the visage of the Sy'nore Lord yet in death. Her story was met with frowns and intakes of breath as they listened to the all too real horrors that plagued her.

"It is safe to say then that Hiriam has given the Crown of Moonstone to another." The Lord of Ikos spoke after the story. "He has betrayed us and the people of Syl'rosya to a darker purpose, one that Lady Glioca has suspected for some time. Now that I look back on him I begin to see what she saw in him for so long now. We should not have been so foolish as to trust a human as they corrupt so easy." Eleandur speaking of the purity of the elvish heart against the malleable one of the lesser races.

"What do we do now that the crown has been stolen from us?" Sindl spoke almost in earnest, an emotion unbecoming of the elves. "Hiriam does not know more about the crown then we do, unless these visions you have been having have been some indicator." Resting his head in his hands Sindl sighed deeply.

"Hiriam knows that the Crown is the key to returning the Moonwell to our dimension and he may know more then we know. Glioca was right to give him to the crown though, he will lead us to the one that has been aiding him in this. All we need to do now is find out where he is hiding and who is hiding him." Valarwen already with the flames of vengeance burning in hers eyes stood from the table. "I am leaving to prepare myself for what is coming, Glioca I will await you at home." With that the necromancer retreated in a flash of light from the demi-plane.

"She is right, we must all make ourselves ready for whatever is coming. I propose that we all meet at my home within the next few darkenings when we know what we are doing. I await your word." Sindl stood next leaving with a crack of light and sound returning to his home in the Restwood.

"Do you think they are ready for this Eleandur?" Glioca asked the last of the mages sitting around the table. "Are they truly ready to fight the darkness we all know is creeping up on us from seemingly all directions?" Her violet eyes looked at him with intensity.

"They will have to be ready or they will die. You should have told them all of the story that you have told me. If it is truly a minion of Aeternia that we face within the Sy'nore then they should have been told. I trust in you though Glioca and that what you omitted is for the best. I too shall wait for your word." The strong lord forwent standing leaving the same as the others but from his seat.

They left Glioca to ponder what she had just committed them to without full knowledge. It was as if they were preparing for war, yet very few would truly know what was going on. She would pray to Phedos and Carmelya that none of this would spill over to engulf the Elfham, it had been through too much in too short a time.