Consequences of Mortal's Choices

[Jistuma 1996]

Why such a gift had been given to him, Artemis was not truly sure. Knowledge to improve his skills and powerful armor seemed like gifts for uncovering the code, yet the orb was different.

Such a relic was to be protected by him, the Etheral presence stated in a peculiar place. Together with a wood elf named Phaedrus and another named Siri, he received such a quest. Confused, the Listener, as Artemis was called by the being, and the blacksmithing elf decided to test the orb. The smooth orb seemed to not react to the first hit of a hammer. After being thrown into a furnace, they noticed that it did not heat up, it's tar like insides simply wavering around like smoke. The blacksmith told that he had once seen orbs like that, he wanted to fully test out the capabilities of it. As the former Rex of the War Nation, he knew of the location of a volcano, and he took the Listener there.

They spoke at the edge of the crevice where the hot magma was. They spoke for a bit until two sprites of light and a old man appeared. The old man seemed to know about their task, but he was as crytic as the Etheral pressance from before. A small conflict happened when the orb was asked, and the old man was thrown inside towards the lava. Believing the man dead, Phaedrus turned once more to Artemis, just as a loud roar come from inside the volcano. As they turned to see, the old man was no more, and instead in it's place, a gigantic being, a dragon, yet far bigger.

Fear or the call for safety made the group, now together with an Olog, try to escape the massive beast, yet even though it could easily reach them and kill them, it didn't, and after another warning, turned back into the old man. The answers he gave were not enough to the group, and after great discussion, they returned to the volcano. Artemis was intent to follow the will as the Listener and keep the orb safe, yet the Wood Elf warrior was of the intent to end it. A fight broke out, yet the veteran warrior was supreme to Artemis in terms of combat fitness. He had won, and threw the orb into the lava.

All seemed normal at first, the relic slowly sinking into the bottom. The elf seemed confident he made the best decision, until the bubbling started. The lava starting changing it's color, the bright redness starting going darker and darker, until it appeared like tar. Black smoke rose from the volcano, like ash and tar. After the group escaped, the area around the volcano became filled with deadly smoke.

The skies slowly grew darker and darker all through Vailor, and ash started raining from those black clouds. Soon enough the realm was in constant darkness, a neverending night. A long winter was to come.

[meg 1994]

A feminine figure stands alone in the icy northern ruins, lifting her gaze to the sky, "Ah' can live with this."

[Elad™ 560]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.