The Mali'ker

[Sporadic 2844]

The Mali'ker

From a distance, it looked like two fireflies adjoined in dance. The lanterns of the two lost travellers were failing them, a mere flicker in the crushing black of the swamp. The water in their soiled boots licked their ankles with each soggy step. Night had set, and these two humans couldn't be more lost.

"Look for toads," coughed Kelly, whose priorly silver hair appeared black from the soot. She held the lantern close to her face in an attempt to see through the mist, "bugs, lizards, anything we can throw in a stew."

"I have some bread," responded Elacal, who reached out into his cloak to find his last saggy loaf crumble under his fingertips, "never mind."

"Don't toss it," Kelly urged. "Who knows how desperate we'll get yet."

The sun had set for hours, and for all they knew they were walking in circles. Every bit of swamp looked exactly as cold, tricky and uninviting as the last.

Finally, a figure emerged from the fog. Kelly narrowed her eyes to distinguish it. It looked like an Elf, though darker. More elusive, as if the pale mist could swallow it at any moment. She bumped Elacal on the shoulder and motioned towards it. "Look! There's someone there! We might be saved."

They sped up their pace, hasting towards the shadow and possible rescue, the numbness of their feet momentarily forgotten.

They met the figure, and finally managed to get a good look at him. His skin was black. So black, in fact, that it managed to stand out even against the night sky. He was shorter than most elves, even more so because he was hunched forward, head bent low as if seeking cover from something. He saw the two despoiled humans and smiled, a set of eerily white teeth defining his grin.

His voice was soft as silk, lengthening the vowels and suppressing a hiss.

"Velulaei be praised, then," spoke the Elf, "for she had whispered that I would find upon the midnight dew two forlorn wanderers. How quickly did I move, for how could I not want to prevent the untimely death of two precious souls?"

He paused for a moment and bowed, stretching out his arms to his sides and arching his back down even more. "My friends, I am Vulnir."

Kelly was about to introduce herself, but Elecal extended an arm to hold her back.

"Dont," he whispered urgently, leaning his head in closer so the elf would not overhear. "He is Mali'ker, the swamp-dwellers. They steer travellers from the paths and into certain death."

"Are- are you sure?"

"I'll bet you anything," Elecal's hand slid over the dagger fastened to his sash, "they are vultures, circling the doomed. Let's slit his throat and run while he's still alone."

"Friends," the Dark Elf's voice was inches away from them. Vulnir had moved up to them swiftly and without their notice. "If I wanted you death, would I not wait for the night to run its course? So lost you are, travellers, but I wish only to help."

"I don't believe-" started Elacal, but Kelly shushed him.

She spoke, calmly and with confidence, though the wind blowing through her drenched clothes left her quivering. "We appreciate the help dearly, Vulnir. But my friend is right: How do we know we can trust you?"

Vulnir grinned at her, even wider when he saw her jump back in revulsion and fright. "A fair question, beautiful. Can the candle trust the wind, which might extinguish but also spread its dying flame? Maybe it cannot. But truly can it hope, for without it would expire regardless."

"That's not an answer!" said Elacal.

Vulnir's eyes shot at him with venom, teeth exposed, before abruptly forcing his features to calm once again.

"How about a gift, then? You will not have to pay, and you will not have to follow." He scanned the two humans carefully, seeing them consider the offer. "I will be back here swiftly with dry firewood, so I may see you dry your bones and survive Velulaei's blessed night. Go if you wish to go; stay if you wish to live."

After that, he disappeared into the mist.

They waited. Kelly sat on a felled log and counted the amount of times Elacal said 'this is a bad idea'. But soon her right hand ran out of fingers, and she rested her head onto it instead. Elacal paced around restlessly, hand never leaving the hilt of his dagger.

Minutes later, Vulnir did return. He carried in his arms a bundle of wood, which he dropped from them a safe distance before disappearing into the night.

Kelly ran up to him. "Hey- wait!" she called out, but as she danced her eyes around the swamp she realized he was truly gone. "Thank you-" she muttered uselessly.

Elacal never looked sourer.

The firewood was dry as promised, and soon enough they had a fire going. The warmth of the booming flames was like heaven after a tumultuous lifespan. Kelly and Elacal sat on a log and huddled as close as they could without tearing up from the smoke, feeling their soiled clothes drying up to become warm and crisp once again.

They scooted closer to each other for warmth. Elacal lifted a comforting arm around his companion's shoulder.

Kelly jolted up slightly, surprised by the contact. She turned her head to see Elacal, his face blackened and caked with dirt. He was smiling at her, warmly. Kelly returned the smile and realized how safe she felt now, close to him, after spending many hours uncertain of their lives.

She moved her head closer to his. She felt a hand brushing through her muddy hair, letting fingers flow through in a gentle caress. She then realized this touch was cold, colder than Elacal's fingertips, and felt rougher against her skin.

The realization set it and she let out a deafening shriek.

Both of them spun around to find the Mali’ker standing behind them, smiling wider than ever.

"Many of Velulaei's blessed make their home in these murky waters," Vulnir began, the cruel satisfaction dripping from his voice like syrup. "Some of them are small, some are terrifying. Some poison you, and others crawl beneath your clothes to feast on your flesh. There are even those that dig under your skin to lay its eggs, so your decaying body may be food for its spawn."

In the swamps beyond, the faint and excited clacking of chitin could be heard from countless small critters, and the low, thunderous rumbling of the giant ones. Vulnir paused momentarily, pointing his ears to bring attention to the sound. "All are delectably horrible in so many ways, but one trait they share."

The roaring fire cast shadows on his dark face, ignited a spark into his malicious eyes. Kelly and Elacal made the same dreadful realization at the same time, and Vulnir could see it clearly. He nodded at them. "Where there's light, there's food."

Elacal cried out, grabbed at his sash for his trusted dagger, ready to lunge. But he found it was gone.

Vulnir bowed one last time, mockingly. He made spin the dagger that had appeared in his hand, before adroitly catching the hilt in mid-air.

"Farewell, friends. May Velulaei see fit to protect you." And once again he vanished soundlessly in the mist.

The sounds of many hungry beings closed in around them. The terrified travellers held each other close.

[gabriel101x1 463]

Wow. You should be a writer.

[Sporadic 2844]

Wow. You should be a writer.

Aw, thanks. I try to, sometimes.

[firespirit44 1323]

Whoa, another inherently evil race?

Other than that, good read.

[Sporadic 2844]

Whoa, another inherently evil race?

Other than that, good read.

Thanks, but do not be so quick as to throw Mali'ker into a '/addlevel swords 99' lot. There's not even that many inherently evil races, and this is definitely not a classical rendition of one, not even close.

But let's face it, a race with 'dark' in its name cannot be inherently good in a fantasy setting.

[K'orr/Kungg <3 33]

Do you take creative writing classes outside of school or something?

Quite a fine piece of lore, friend.

[firespirit44 1323]

I would love to see the dark elves emerge as cannibal race, one that is akin to the lore, where they become bandits thieves and the general trickster.

Too many nice dark elves i met, I have to say.

[Sporadic 2844]

Do you take creative writing classes outside of school or something?

Quite a fine piece of lore, friend.

Thank you :) I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I don't take classes, but I've written a fair deal in my life.

I would love to see the dark elves emerge as cannibal race, one that is akin to the lore, where they become bandits thieves and the general trickster.

Too many nice dark elves i met, I have to say.

Well, we can argue being a trickster is not an initially villanous trait. However, cannibalism and banditry definitely are, and any major definition of the Dark Elves would then require the vast majority of them to apply for villain apps, a privilege not all who might pick the Dark Elf are suited for.

The Mori are an exclusive race, so declaring them inherently evil is easier because of their smaller numbers and limited admittance. Dark Elves, however, are always an open subrace. It means you are, to an extend, limited in the amount of evil you can push through.

[Eyrev 33]

hmm must be a Teravanker cult member....

[Sporadic 2844]

hmm must be a Teravanker cult member....

oh you :roll:

[Rexdog1 1]

this is amazing, by the way.

I'm very critical, and I usually hate everything people write on lotc (even things written by people who are generally considered good at writing :P )

But this was very well written!

[Sporadic 2844]

Hah, I am glad it has your approval. I'm not really a part of the DE lore anymore, but it's shaping up to be quite good!

(pet peeve of the day: why does it still say Aegis writings)

[Knox213 10]

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