The First Dark Congress

[Ford 1996]

15 minutes ago, Lucius de Savoie said:

"The surrendering of Urthandl shall not be met, if I am correct in my most recent readings that was a made demand?"

 

He dragged his gaze down towards Ser Rosencrantz, then to the prophet ahead of him awaiting any words from them.

Archembalt eventually --after remaining quietly estranged from the rest of the group in his own personal corner -- decided to take a few paces forth to near the conversing group.

 

"What is 'Urthandl?'" he brusquely queried of the man who had just previously uttered the name. "Or am I overstepping my boundaries by asking?"

[dandan1350 479]

"A blade that has been fought over and drowned in the blood of many for its possession. It is a blade of ultimate neutrality until held by one of the opposing spectrum. It is also our highest deemed artifact besides few others, however I cannot go further into its history nor its ability."

 

He replied simply.

[Swgrclan 2682]

Once more, Vapor of Apex speaks out, his attention having been particularly caught by the homeless librarian's concluding statement.

"The Dark Congress was not called to determine the captivity of a woman whose freedom is long overdue; it is to establish understanding and to plan for the future. Said plan, I shall speak of now."

Clearing his throat, Vapor would step forth to slowly pace back and forth through the chamber and before the patrons of the congress. "In my prior statements ... I mentioned that, by right of Xion, that tumultuous darkness may be contained by the Way's adherents; and that the duty to slay said tumultuous darkness is flawed, for it shall never disperse. And again I daresay should such a prospect - the containment of Man's shadows, fiends and dark lords alike - should lead to the complete dispersal of the vassals of Aengudaemonica, for the prospect is one that would both herald peace, heighten the power of Man with the studies that would come of a nation of containment, and truly defend the mortal world against those who would invade it.

What are thoughts on this? Who would not agree to such a thing, to return the responsibilities of Man back to Man, and from the hands of the Aenguls and Daemons so they may expel themselves from our plane?"

[youdude 104]

The elf piped up once again, without the need of nerve-calming liquor, nor mental preparation for public speaking; It burst out of him, like a built up frustration and hatred, his sitting body jolting upwards to a stand, the one-legged cripple wobbling somewhat on his prosthetic. "Who wouldn't agree? The Aenguls and Daemons themselves. To them, we're pawns in their conflicts, tools to resolve their internal bickering. Why stop there; Why stop with just abandoning them? Men and Women of all races have the potential to match them given right condition, and banded together in a crusade, we could.." His hands clenched into tight fists, the creak of his leather gloves signaling their strain to any nearby. "We could take revenge for the misdeeds afflicted upon us by beings considering themselves higher than us. Wage war, against Aenguldemonica, in a righteous act of vengeance." His posture straightened, the elf holding himself high and proud despite the disability and physical frailty, a gleam of determination in his eyes. "Vengeance in the name of all who've suffered under the thumb of these unnatural Sheppards. Are you not outraged, fellow men? That your lives have been manipulated and guided, that your powers rely on the good will of a higher being, that your minds have been polished of all thought that didn't suit your supposed 'patrons' needs? Surely you've had moments; dire moments where you prayed, begged, cried out for help; And no-Aengul came, no-Deamon answered the call, and what help came, stemmed from the goodwill of fellow folk, and not some immortal being."

His breaths were somewhat shaky after the outburst, though despite the amused, horrified, and perhaps even mocking gazes set upon him, he held himself tall, expression an unyielding mask of determined ambition, arms crossed over his chest.

[Zarsies 6795]

A sweet, razor-fine smile crimps up the grim lady's features.

[Ventusyr 233]

Ashanaak's head tilts slightly, his brow furrowing, at Vapor and Savet's statements. As they finish, he responds:

 

"Tahariae, Blessed Be His Name, abhors interference, but sees it as necessary, for it is. You claim our Aenguls are sinners, when through my hands, the Vehement Lord has rendered bodies whole once more and banished life-threatening disease. The only 'misdeeds' they have committed are against those who would spread chaos, pain, and suffering. No; all of us who serve the Aenguls do so because we have seen the horrors the Dark produces, and had our fellow mortals fall to the jaws of ghouls and the cackling of liches. Simply put, your disagreement with us is based on ideology; our disagreement with you is based on a history of abuse of innocent lives.

 

"However, we could debate this all day. Neither one of us shall be convinced by the other's theology. Therefore, to counter your proposal, which is entirely favoring only your theology, we create a balance. The clerics will cease hunting those who claim adherence to Xionism; Xionists will cease hunting clerics. Members of either the Old Dark and the New Light that violate this balance, and seek to extinguish the other completely, shall be judged. As you said, the dominance of either shall lead to chaos.

 

"In this proposal, both sides coexist peacefully. You are free to practice your abhorrent arts, and we are free to perform our abhorrent arts. We shall heal the sick, the wounded, the dying; both of us shall hunt those who attempt to spread chaos, whether they represent Light or Darkness.

 

"So the wars will end, and Mortal Man will no longer suffer from our conflict with each other."

 

Ashanaak lets out a small exhale, adjusting his stance slightly. "I speak only for the Clerics of the Pure One in offering this. The Druian do not represent Light, but Nature, and the Paladins I cannot speak for." He then looks to the Druids, and scans the crowd for where the Paladins might be.

[Geo 1415]

Naruntah, whose form had been slowly slouching pulls himself upright once more, sitting tall against the chair.  The old man smiles at Savet's outburst and clearing his own throat speaks up himself in his cold, uncaring tone. 

 

"Words spoken by a true rational.  The survival, health and development of mankind, mortalkind, without the domineering gaze of Aengudaemonica that would rather our brothers and sisters fall en mass than have themselves endure the consequences that the perversion of their unnatural power brings."

 

His gaze swings round more predominately to the men near Savet.

 

"Tell me lads and lasses many, does such a prospect sound more righteous from the lips of one of your own, than it does sinister from the likes of the Apex?  To think all in this room do not believe in the prosperity of mortalkind is baffling.   Come, forge anew a world that once existed, before the ill-required divines thrust unto us their sorceries, and asserted themselves as our masters under the guise of goodwill and protection to those would not dare disobey."

 

2 hours ago, Fordo said:

Archembalt eventually --after remaining quietly estranged from the rest of the group in his own personal corner -- decided to take a few paces forth to near the conversing group.

 

"What is 'Urthandl?'" he brusquely queried of the man who had just previously uttered the name. "Or am I overstepping my boundaries by asking?"

 

"Uthrandl is the old blade of Light and Dark, which to the best of our knowledge came into play when Aengudaemonica first intervened with mortality.  The blade takes the form of three extremes:  Light or dark when held by one who represents such forces, and balance when held by none.  Its very purpose is to shift the forces of the realm one way or another to edge ever closer to the balance we so desperately crave, disillusioned.  "

 

"I, Naruntah, had given the blade to Ser Rosencrantz at a time where the Clerics almost fell into extinction, so that he may use it to aid Remnant Man.  That was an entire Elven Year past, and we believe the blade's purpose in his hands has been fulfilled.  So do remember it was given over to him so that he may do a duty he may or may not have even been aware of, and now we believe it is time things begin to shift back, and thus the blade should be returned."

 

"It is with the greed of Aengudaemonica, the prospect we despise, that you hold onto it, or the illusion that you are righteously defending the people by withholding it; which is false.  If someone must be taken captive for you to return an important tool which you had borrowed, then with every fibre of man we shall make it so."

 

The voice of the old, dark wizard grows tired and hoarse by the end, as he sinks back into the chair with a cough and a wheeze.

[Ventusyr 233]

"And now you seek to purge the Keepers of Xan, so balance may be reached," says Ashanaak, his voice without emotion. "And yet, in the hands of a being of taint, its power could spread uncountable chaos among those not affiliated with either side, as opposed to in the hands of Light, which can only affect beings of Darkness. I hope you understand our hesitance to trust the blade with those whose power has led many of the Dark to hunt and terrorize the Descendants."

[Rig 17581]

55 minutes ago, Ventusyr said:

"And now you seek to purge the Keepers of Xan, so balance may be reached," says Ashanaak, his voice without emotion. "And yet, in the hands of a being of taint, its power could spread uncountable chaos among those not affiliated with either side, as opposed to in the hands of Light, which can only affect beings of Darkness. I hope you understand our hesitance to trust the blade with those whose power has led many of the Dark to hunt and terrorize the Descendants."

Gareth's thin, pale form rocked on its heels as his lips shifted into a thin line. "What I wish to do with the blade is my own business, cleric. My brethren remain uninvolved." He shifts his gaze to the Templars holding Elvira. "Release her." It is then that both Templars, Koraz and Kalias released the bound cleric. "As a show of good faith, thieves." 

[Farryn 860]

Elvira freezes at Gareth's words, tears beginning to appear in her right eye. Immediately, the cleric calms herself down and rises out of her chair. She glances to Gareth then sighs.

"Thank you... for at least taking care of me while I was under your care, and for releasing me... I was expecting worse but, you showed me I was quite wrong... it seems there is light within the dark, just as there is dark within the light..."

With that said, the cleric immediately hurries over to where her fellow clerics are and stops right next to Ashanaak, unwilling to move away from his or the other clerics' side, as if afraid she would be torn away from them again.

"Um...  you may all continue talking now..."

[Geo 1415]

Naruntah's weary eyes rest on Gareth as he gives the world to release Elvira.  With faint discontent in his eyes, his head slowly swivels round to face the Apex for but a brief moment, as if to single out his presence among the group.  His sharply tilts into his shoulder in a small involuntary spasm, and then he simply sits deathly still, his eyes staring off as if he were in a dream, as he sinks once more back into his chair.

[Ventusyr 233]

Ashanaak's eyes widen, his disfigured face spreading in shock as Elvira comes to his side. He stares at her for a few moments, before looking back to the gathered. After closing his eyes and taking a few breaths, he returns to his previous composure. He glances at Gareth, before looking between Naruntah and Apex.

 

"My proposal for the balance of light and dark remains. As for the sword, I assumed its usage in the hands of the Dark would be to slay the Keepers. I did not realize that was only the personal desire of the Covenant. I was also under the impression it was taken by force, as the accusations of thievery and Rosencrantz's stories conveyed. What, then, would the blade be used for, and what insurance do we have it wouldn't be used to terrorize Innocents?"

[Locklathlan 41]

The sound of boots briefly echoed throughout the meeting, halting abruptly as another noise emanated with a certain, undeniable subtlety; a slow, steady, uncannily precise breathing. Not loud, so much as distinctive, something one could easily pick out against the steady background of murmurings that now filled the creeping shadows of the halls of the library. A sense of magnitude, of extension purveyed the noise. The nature of the figure that honed into view as it rounded a bookcase, was perhaps unsatisfactory for such a noise.

 

Hood up, black and green flowing effortlessly out behind them, that same regularity portrayed in the exactness of their movement. Ebony cloth lay swathed about the mouth and chin, though the pallid grey eyes that peered out from beneath scraggly locks of earthy brown, were striking to say the least. The word that would most aptly describe these eyes, was healthy; alive, vibrant, moving with an erratic tendency that emanated a feeling of incredible litheness, liveliness, youth. Legs long, torso short, his movements appeared so effortless and smooth among the figures here.

 

Arriving at the small gathering, he waited for perhaps a few moments as his two shimmering orbs turned to survey each face; recognition sparked on none of them, although a judgement was made deep within the recesses of his mind. Taking up a chair, pivoting it on one leg, hefting it above his head, and making his way over into another corner of the room, he placed it before him, and sat quite neatly upon it. His fingers steepled across his knees, and he fell silent; even his breathing had seemed to fall into a certain state of lightness that no longer filled the air.

[Rig 17581]

5 hours ago, Ventusyr said:

Ashanaak's eyes widen, his disfigured face spreading in shock as Elvira comes to his side. He stares at her for a few moments, before looking back to the gathered. After closing his eyes and taking a few breaths, he returns to his previous composure. He glances at Gareth, before looking between Naruntah and Apex.

 

"My proposal for the balance of light and dark remains. As for the sword, I assumed its usage in the hands of the Dark would be to slay the Keepers. I did not realize that was only the personal desire of the Covenant. I was also under the impression it was taken by force, as the accusations of thievery and Rosencrantz's stories conveyed. What, then, would the blade be used for, and what insurance do we have it wouldn't be used to terrorize Innocents?"

Gareth remains silent, a brow lofted simply and as neither Naruntah or the Apex have answered, he intercedes quietly. "I have no cause to slay the innocent, nor do my men. After the Keepers are slain, it will be handed back to Chrodaeos, Heshakomeu. I simply wish to even the scales." 

[Ventusyr 233]

Ashanaak then turns to Gareth, his expression returning to that of mournful neutrality. He studies Gareth for several moments, before his eyes close.

 

"... In the past Elven month or so, Tahariae, Blessed Be His Name, returned the Itharel to Descendancy. He had interfered too much, and the Itharel, in their unnatural states of immortality and in a multitude of their actions, had ultimately hindered His vision of Purity from continuing to fruition. Necessary at the time of their creation to defeat the Harbingers and Wraiths that stalked the land, He now deems them no longer so, and so withdrew. Tahariae, as I have said, abhors interference with our Realm; it is only quite recently that He has begun speaking to His servants again."

 

The priest stops for a moment, taking in a careful inhale, before continuing:

 

"And after weeks of prayer and meditation, internal debate, debate with my fellow Brothers, and examination of years of relations with the Paladins... I can no longer see the Keepers are pure, nor can I see Xan as an ally of my Lord. Xan continues to interfere with this realm, going so far as to attempt to break the natural cycle of the realm by sending His followers to slay the Harvesters, and He has created unnatural beings that my Lord would deem Impure, violating mortality. It is not taint that my Lord abhors; no. It is the violation of nature.

 

"And so Xan, even after my Lord imbued Him with life, spites Tahariae, Blessed Be His Name, spites our realm, and spites mortalkind. While my Lord's boons exist to achieve a vision of Purity that we might all agree with - whole bodies and innocents safe to live their lives - Xan uses His servants to enact a personal agenda.

 

"I knew there were enemies in the Light, but it was only recently that it has become clear to me that I, as a walker of the Path of Purity, these enemies are also impure."

 

The elf pauses again, looking around the room. "And, from the apparent lack of Paladins present, they do not seek peace or balance, like us gathered do.

 

"So, it was not concern for my fellow servants of Light that I had hesitance to command the sword be given. It was concern for Man, and the Innocents, who hold no part in this conflict, that they would suffer as a result of my actions..."

 

Ashanaak closes his eyes briefly, swallowing. His expression, though it remains neutral, appears tense and rigid. "Yet, seeing my Sister return to us unharmed... And that none of my Brothers and Sisters have died in the Covenant's most recent assault on us... I... have difficulty believing the Covenant untrustworthy, and see our ideals quite similar, even if our theologies and allegiances differ."

 

Again, the dark priest hesitates, before making a gesture from Rosencrantz to Gareth. "Give him Urthandl, and let another step towards Purity be made on this realm."