Thread: The New RPG!

Okay, Fantasy hasn't made an appearance. I'll give her one more chance to decide what her item is.

Anjala watched with an expressionless face as Gudwane entered the anteroom. He sat when she gestured to the chair in front of her, but he managed to do even that with suspicion.

"You do not trust us," Anjala stated, "You believe we decieved you will our challenge. And you believe those of us that possess magic to be witches and daemons."

Gudwane remained silent.

"We are not. But I will not try to convince you of that," she continued, "Your challenge was to overcome the conflict in your heart. You performed admirably. Here is your prize,"

She handed over a small, carefully wrapped package. "Use it carefully, and wisely. And believe me, you will need it."

Gudwane looked at her solemnly, then silently stood up and left the anteroom.

Zillar watched him merge back into the crowd, then announced in a magically amplified voice,

"Hero Tarin, please enter the anteroom and collect your prize."

Tarin walked up to the anteroom, glancing back at the other heroes as he entered. Inside, his prize awaited him, no doubt held by Anjala.

The room was made mostly of stone, with intricately carved columns in the corners. There were red drapes, and silky, golden furniture adorning the room, and a bit further in the room, there stood Anjala.

Curious to see what it was he had earned, Tarin stepped toward the Mage, who held out a box to him.

He bowed his head slightly, taking the box. Inside were a pair of gauntlets.

"I already have gauntlets," he couldn't help but complain, as if begging for some explanation.

"These gauntlets are enchanted and indestructible. Also, they have hidden, spring-loaded blades. I'm sure you'll fnd them quite useful while fighting just about anything," Anjala replied.

"Oh," was all Tarin could say, "Thank you."

He nodded to her again, and left the room, content with the prize he had earned.

Anjala watched the young man leave will amusement. Zillar also saw the boy leave the anteroom and called out,

"Hero Aia, please enter the anteroom and collect your prize."

Aia's head jerked up at she heard her name, and then started to push her way through the crowd. Within a few minutes she was stood in front of the anteroom. The door was opened, and inside Aia could just see the mage woman.

Aia stepped through, closing the door behind her. The decor caused her to raise her eyebrows a bit, but she made no comment as she sat down on the seat the mage gestured to.

"Hello, Hero Aia." Anjala smiled, "Welcome."

"Am I?" Aia asked. Anjala's expression didn't waver, but for a brief second surprised flickered in her dark eyes. The next second it was gone again, though, and Aia dismissed it as a figment of her imagination.

"Your challenge was most interesting." The mage said.

"Was it?" Aia said, flatly.

"Indeed. Most interesting ...." she smiled again, but somehow Aia wasn't reassured, "Now. Your prize."

Seemingly from nowhere she lifted a small, laquered box and opened it. Inside, on a cushion of velvet, lay a silver circle engraved with runes. There was a hole in the middle of it, through which was strung a delicate silver chain.

"Uh ... no offence, but I'm not really into jewellery." Aia said apologetically.

"This is a charm. All mages educated in official schools receive one when they graduate," Anjala explained. She pulled out her own amulet, and Aia looked back to the prize, shocked.

"And you're just giving me one?"

"Saehenine watched your challenge and deemed you worthy of it. She sensed what lay inside of you."

"What does it do?"

"It will enhance your skills, and allow you to make the most of them. It's also spelled to warn you of any danger in your immediate surroundings. Not spectacularly powerful, but useful." Anjala answered.

"And a symbol of my power as a mage." Aia lifted the charm from where it lay and fastened the chain around her neck.

"Exactly." Anjala closed the box, and stowed it away wherever she had gotten in from.

Aia stood up, feeling like she had been tricked and manipulated in some way. Even so, she smiled with genuine gratitude and murmured her thanks before leaving the room.

Anjala watched her go with sparkling eyes.

- - - -

Zillar stifled a yawn as he saw the girl, Aia, leave the anteroom. Who was next ... oh, yeah ...

"Hero Skye, it's your turn," he called in a singsong voice.

"Zillar!" Saehenine hissed the word under her voice, but it pierced his ears like the most poisonous reprimand. He turned to see the Mage Leader glaring at him.

"Er ... I mean, Hero Skye, please report to the anteroom and collect your prize." he hurriedly corrected himself.

Was she being mocked? Skye wasn’t sure after the young mage shot a haunted look behind him, cleared his throat, and announced her properly. She struggled to keep her head high as she passed him. Supposedly, she had a right to be here. It’s just another performance.

Besides, there was something being given away for free and she wanted in on it. Even if it was magical and therefore probably useless to her.

She could probably get a good price from people who used such things.

Walking into the opulent anteroom was to be skewered by the gazes of the mages. Skye’s steps faltered then she stood before them. Her eyes dropped to the floor. Silence bore down on her for a long moment.

They are going to tell me it was all a mistake.

“Hero Skye.” The voice was cool and pure as rainwater.

Skye raised her head and faced the mages. She managed a nod but heard herself say, “I am not a hero.” Her voice seemed to come from a great distance.

Anjala’s eyebrows raised.

“You have faced your soul and lived,” in her smile grief danced with merriment, “many did not manage that feat.” She beckoned Skye closer, whispering conspiratorially. “Come see what I have for you.”

Curious, Skye stepped nearer, looking into the mage’s cupped hands, where a flickering glow grew.

A butterfly opened and closed trembling wings, clinging to Anjala’s skin. Velvety midnight blue flashed with markings of gold, black, and scarlet. The insect’s long antennae searched the air.

“I need a hair from your head.” Skye plucked one long strand without hesitation and another mage, the young woman in the red robe, took the hair, holding it high over the butterfly.

There was a rumble of many voices all speaking together at the barest edge of hearing. A shout from a far distant silent place. The hair dropped and Anjala’s hands were filled with Fire.

Skye cried out and reached for the butterfly. How could they kill something so beautiful? She snatched her singed fingers back, sucking them. The butterfly still flapped its wings slowly in the small inferno, its form now molten gold and darkest black-blue. She could see it walking, still, apparently unharmed.

Then, in a brilliant white tongue of flame the butterfly was gone.

Skye looked from face to face, wide-eyed, a tear dripping from her chin. Anjala’s hands were cupped shut.

“What…why…”

Anjala nodded to Skye and then looked down at her hands, Skye understood and held out her own hands to accept the smooth, warm stone that Anjala slid into them. It glimmered faintly and in the center of it the butterfly was transfixed.

Skye’s eyes welled with tears again.

“But why kill it?”

“Don’t assume it is dead, Hero Skye,” Anjala’s voice was severe, “any more than you assume your own soul is dead.” She held Skye’s chin with one hand, forcing their gazes to meet. “This living talisman will help you find Truth, Hero Skye.”

Skye couldn’t speak. She could only stare at the lovely, frightening thing in her palm.

“Skye,” Anjala put an arm around her shoulders and shook her gently, “Take this to Berul. Yes,” her eyes twinkled with Skye looked up swiftly, “he is right outside the doors. You are correct.” Skye colored to her hairline and wanted to drop through the floor. “He will help you.”

Skye nodded. Anjala took her by the shoulders.

“You are worthy, Skye. Help the others. Close the Gate.”

*** *** ***
Later, when Berul had twisted a silver cage for the small stone and suspended it from a rawhide thong, Skye slipped it around her neck. She seemed to feel the flutter of wings.

Truth. Well, this would be a new experience.

Zillar watched the girl, Hero Skye, emerge from the anteroom. He wondered what she had received. He wondered what they had all received. Anjala might inform him later, but then again she might not.

Zillar sighed, and tried to remember who was next. Who was it ...? Oh, right ...

"Hero Mano, you're next." He called. He saw Saehenine glance his way again and sighed again.

"I mean," He called out, "Hero Mano, if you would report to the anteroom and collect your prize."

He then lapsed back into silence on the stage. A shadow seemed to loom over him, and he turned to see Jircef behind him.

"What are doing?" the big mage hissed.

"I'm just trying to spice things up." Zillar shrugged.

"Well don't spice things up," Jircef growled, "You're making us look like fools. Saehenine is very displeased."

"Fine ..." Zillar sighed again. Being a mage was no fun.

Mano's mind was far away, thinking of the land to the south, and was snapped back into relality when he heard his named called.

"Hero Mano, if you would report to the anteroom and collect your prize."

A few had been called and departed to claim thier prize. What manner of prize he wondered? What would the prize have to do with the ultimate challenge?

Soon he would find out.

As the Heros were one by one accepting their prizes, as backs were patted and ceremonious words were said, a small settlement barely a day's ride from Ellone's city center was stirring with nervous activity.

The few hardy souls who lived there valued their freedom above all, yet were reluctant to go too far from civilization. Still the lure of rich land and verdant forests plentifully filled with game had been impossible to resist.

Until recently. It was becoming harder and harder to find game. One or two settlers had disappeared completely - either on hunting expeditions or in the dark of the night.

Watchers at the wooden walls reported the glow of eyes. No longer the usual mirroring of lamplight in a deer or even a bruin's eyes, no. They told uneasy tales of twin red holes in the darkness.

And the settlers drew in on themselves, darting outside the walls only infrequently and only at midday.

When the attack came, it was not, however, at night.

Saehenine was answering questions from some of the Heroes when the message came.

A young man dressed in the dark red livery of the Mage's servants came running through the hall, pale faced but breathing heavily as if he had run a long way. He looked around wildly, and spotting Saehenine ran over and tugged on her sleeve.

She turned to snap at the impudent man irritably when she saw the fear and urgency in his eyes.

"Excuse me," she said to the Heroes, then led the man from the hall. Zillar frowned questioningly at her as she passed the stage, but she motioned for him to continue.

Zillar shrugged and called out,

"Hero Domenic, if you would collect your prize from the anteroom."

Alexx, laughed quietly to herself as the attack unfolded, these people had no idea. She walked over to the window and looked out, the huge demon was mercylessly killing everyone in sight. Her older brother moaned and she walked over,
"What the matter Nad" He smiled at her weakly

"Go and help them alexx you know you can please" she looked down and sighed, as you wish older brother. With a flick of her black hair she walked out onto the street holding her sword loosely in her hand waiting for the demon to come to her.

Saehenine frowned at the messenger, a young man in his twenties.

"A demon?"

"Yes," he repeated, nervously, "Somehow it broke through the gate and is attacking my village as we speak. Please - we need your help."

"It seems as though our Heroes have their first challenge," Jircef murmured in Saehenine's ear. The lead Mage made a noncommittal sound.

"Yes ..... but transporting all those people to a village will take time. Time enough for the demon to destroy everything."

"Then we select a few."

"How do we choose?" Saehine asked. Jircef paused, that part of his plan apparantly not thought through.

"The ones that have received their prize ..." he said eventually, "We send them to combat the demon. The rest follow later."

"It seems we have no choice," Saehenine agreed. "Very well."

The lead Mage closed her eyes, and sent a mental summons to those Heroes who had already recieved their prize. She made sure only they would hear it, so the other Heroes would be become suspicious, or envious.

:Heroes Gudwane, Tarin, Aia, Skye, Mano and Domenic. Please make your way to the entrance. Mage Jircef will meet you there and give you furthur instructions. Thank you.

"Go and meet them, and bring them here," Saehenine instructed Jircef. The big Mage nodded, turned on his heel and swept from the room. Saehenine turned back to the messenger.

"Now," she said, "Tell me about this demon."

Alexx cringed as she recived a cut to her upper arm.

"Damn it" Alexx said blocking another attack, bringing her sword round she managed to do some damage to the demons side, causing it to focus its attack on her.

smiling she started to manover her way towards the village gates, the demon following her with a muderouse gaze.

"Heroes Gudwane, Tarin, Aia, Skye, Mano and Domenic. Please make your way to the entrance. Mage Jircef will meet you there and give you further instructions. Thank you".

The announcement brought Mano back from his memories. The edge in the announcement revealed urgency and a sense of foreboding.

The time had arrived, the heroes assembled their weapons, carefully checking that their weapons were prepared and belts were cinched tightly and properly adjusted for what was to come.

One by one they made their way toward the entrance.

Mano fingered his amulet, the one he had worn for years, knowing that the gift from the Amoratie would finally be put to the test of promised strength and protection.

The amulet had often taken on different colors as he crafted special weapons and on occasions became warm, almost hot, as danger lurked. The amulet was beginning to get almost too hot…hotter than he had ever felt.

Finishing his preparations, Mano followed the other heroes toward the gate.

Tarin moved with the crowd of other "heroes" toward the doors.

I wonder what manner of beasts or demons we might be up against, he thought to himself.

Aia started when the voice entered her mind, and when several nearby heroes looked at her she realised they hadn't heard anything. Quick to catch on, she schooled her expression and pretended to have stubbed her toe.

When the heroes turned back to their conversation she moved away, towards the door, and saw the other heroes that had been called where also making their way forwards.

Aia wondered briefly why only six of them had been selected, but then decided not to question it. Who could fathom the way Mages' minds worked? But a quick fingering of the charm around her neck reminded her that she too was now a Mage.

She quickly avoided that thought, still unsure how she felt about it. Instead, she focused on the doorway, where she could see the figure of Mage Jircef, waiting.

The heroes finished their preparations and headed toward the gate, each absorbed in their inner most thoughts of what was to come. Mano, near the back of the group, strode lightly, belying his age and years of hard work. Each walked with assurance and a look of resolution on their face.

As they neared the gate, Mano could see the darkness beyond. The land beyond the gate had always held a fascination bordering on obsession. It had been a long time since his time beyond the gate and the memories had never left his mind in all the ensuing years.

The heroes restlessly pace around the gate, waiting for Mage Jircef to arrive and give them their instructions.

The citizens of Serin had followed the heroes along the dusty street toward the gate, whispering and pointing at different heroes as their favorite…already they had begun to bet on who would succeed and who would fail.

Soon Saehenine, the lead Mage, leading the Council, arrived at the gate. Sehenine mounted a small platform and quickly quieted the crowed. “ Mage Jircef…step up and address the heroes, give them their instructions”.

Mage Jircef stood tall, surveying the heroes and the crowd, he raised his arms above his head and in a strong voice said…”Heroes, the time has come to test your true strengths, confront your deepest fears and prove you are indeed heroes”.

“Here are your instructions”