A Dark Elf at the crossroads

[the GOAT of the craft 606]

As you near the crossroads of Malinor, just after the docks, you see a Dark Elf has propped himself up on the tree. Behind him hangs a banner which displays a cross with a moon in the foreground. You see a few posters around with the text "The Order Of Velulaei" written at the top. Some Dark Elves seem to be reading these posters intently, whereas the other elves discard them almost immediately after reading. The Dark Elf in front of the banner begins to speak;

"Mali'Ker! For too long we have been pushed back. We have been without a home since Aegis. The council ignores our cries for help, and so it falls upon our own shoulders to look out for one another!"

The Dark Elf pauses for a moment and takes in some air whilst overlooking the small crowd that has now gathered.

"Many of you may have heard of Malin's Gorge, though some may have not. I shall tell you what that supposed Mali'Ker settlement is. It is a fools project. The settlers of that village, those of House Klaren, are deluded. We have invited them into our order, and they have ignored us. They concern themselves with Oren. Can they even call themselves Elves anymore? They have forgotten where they came from."

The Dark Elf takes another pause, this time to refocus on what he was once speaking about. He begins to speak again;

"We Mali'Ker are beyond towns, villages or even cities. What we need is to stick together through other means. This is where we, the order, come in. We hope to give the Mali'Ker a voice. One that will be heard in Malinor, and then in the other nations. You may ask yourselves, why? We have had a Mali'Ker High Princess, yes, but what now? We have slipped back into a rut. This cannot go on, Mali'Ker! We need more of our kind on the council! This is why we of the order will be campaigning to get Sentinel Khel on the council, a prominent figure in Normander, and Malinor, already."

A gust of wind comes in from the sea, making the banner blow in the wind. A few leaves fall from the tree, though the Dark Elf seems not to notice this, he's clearly too caught up in his speech.

"I am Rhazev Thol'Daa. My ancestors were of the first Order of Velulaei. Together with Akyr Nightblade, we have brought back the once great Order of Velualei."

He pauses for the last time and takes in one deep breath.

"Any questions?"

The banner continues to blow in a now light breeze.

[Lego XBOX 915]

*Goroth passes by and frowns largely hearing the man. Then he dismounts his horse looking up at the man he yells,*

"What is this slander you speak of!? Malin's Gorge cares not for those of Oren! We do not live in their empire! New Somerset, not of the Oren Empire seperates us from them! The Mali'ker settlement is currently growing. House Klaren upholds the true values of Mali'ker since the dawn of the Mali! I have spoken with one of the 'order'. To what I see, it is but a restituted old guild... 'Tis the Nighthearts that are at origin of the real order, the order of the moon priests! They worshipped Velulaei in secret until the Valah exterminated them. I know this because of the five tomes of the Velul. Do not speak wrongly of House Klaren as we are the only which are left in the bloodline of the Nighthearts."

*Goroth pauses looking around him at the crowd that has formed. He then looks back for a response from the Mali'ker.*

[the GOAT of the craft 606]

Rhazev meets Goroth's eyes and gives a slow nod.

"You do not care for Oren? Then tell me, who is it that works for Elendil? You of House Klaren merely want power. I have read two tomes with my own eyes, and I have taken the name of Thol'Daa, another so called house who were of the original three. You uphold no true values of our kind. You hide away in your far off settlement, controlling what little you own there.

You have no aims in Malinor. The Order of Velulaei seek to better how we Mali'Ker are treated in our home nation, not run off to face abuse in Oren".

[Aerinyes 402]

Though mostly unseen in recent times, Sythra Duskwind, the former High Princess and first Dark Elf to serve upon the council steps across the bridge leading from Normandor.

It has been merely a year, a moments time in our eternal lives, since a Mali'ker brother or sister has sat upon the council. I was the first, and prince Isirack was the second, but I assure you we will not be the last. Let us not be so hasty to push the High Council into brashful thinking that has plagued the sons of Horen over the last century.

All of our Princes and Princesses are chosen so with care and with wisdom. My successor is our High Prince Bravepaw, a successor whom selected for my sacred designation as did my peers upon the council. He is wise and will serve the Mali'ker interests well.

The wisdom of the people of the Holy Princedom is second to none. If a new prince is to be chosen, it will be because of their own merits, wisdom, and competence. If Khel has truly displayed these traits, then he will be surely chosen for the ascension to Prince in time. A campaign is not necessary, for his accomplishments and wisdom will speak louder then the voices of such a venture.

Fret not, for the Councils of Malinor are not entirely without Mali'ker supervisions and interventions. I can assure you all that nothing will be done to harm our interests.

In the mean time we have a duty to our families and legacies to prosper in the Holy Princedom and the world abroad. It is a time for unity among our kin and with our cousins the Mali'aheral and Mali'ame. Only in Malinor are all children of Malin welcomed and encouraged to flourish. This I have seen to during my tenure.

The largest threats to us all is that from the Warborn Uruks and the schemes and plots of Humanity. Both are jealous of our prosperity and seek to take what is rightfully ours or destroy that which they cannot have. Never forget that.

[Swgrclan 2682]

A shrouded figure spots the man speaking and sneers softly, speaking out a stern tone to both dark elves,

"How foolish your efforts are, Strangers. You speak of these Orders and houses and this nonsensical drivel; you hold no sense of unity, the both of you."

The shrouded one then falls silent.

[Aerinyes 402]

Looks to the hooded stranger and levies an almost accusatory tone.

These Mali'ker express themselves openly with passion and without hiding their intentions. They should be commended that they can debate their differences in the open and with words rather than weapons. For that is where our true wisdom comes from.

[ΚΨΙΞ 710]

Cobra stands at the side of the road adorned in his jet-black robes with icy blue trim. He sets himself against a tree and his vision turns from the two then to Sythra. He talks in a weird tone almost as if hes hissing.

"You claim thesse Urukssss and Humansss are your enemy hsss you are wrong, isss it notta true that the Elves took over fort near the War Nation and claimed it for themssssself. You make a War threatening move againssst the War Nation an' then claim yourssself to be peaceful? Ssssince when did Malinor use wordss to calm down a ssituation, many times hass it been that Malinor usse weapons to get their way thiss proof has been ssshown with the conflict of the Urukss. You chose not to talk diplomacy but instead sstorm the City with an army.

[Samoblivion 532]

Kaelin hears the shouting at the crossroads, recognising Lord Klaren. He speaks up.

"You both speak wisely, but division will not help our people. I have lived in both Malin's Gorge and Ildon, seat of the Elendils, for many seeds now and I see no truth to your claims, preacher.

What Lord Klaren has built on the mainland is not some puppet or Oren, but the closest thing we Mali'ker have had to a unified settlement for nigh on a century. House Klaren practices the old ways as best we know them, and Velulaei of old is honoured. True, we lack the elder knowledge, but so to do many of our people. There has not been a true nightheart religion for generations, and House Klaren can hardly be blamed for not keeping to something that it has never truly known. Do not dismiss Malin's Gorge for lacking something that the majority of our people have lacked for aeons.

There is truth to all points raised so far. True, Malin's Gorge is far from Malinor and near the shadow of Oren. True, Malinor is still rife with injustice, despite the intentions of our former High Priestess. But what is also true is that more than ever we need unity.

This bickering between ourselves will amount to nothing save mistrust and more bickering. Let us keep civil tongues and work together for the betterment of all Mali'ker."

Kaelin moves towards Lord Klaren's side of the discussion, yet keeps a distance that suggests neutrality.

[Lego XBOX 915]

*Looks to Kaelin and smiles under his helmet.*

"Well said. Unity is what we need. I have established the settlement as my father would have desired, I am not in search for power. The elendils are not my employers, I am fully independant. I am their friends if anything. The tomes you have read are true, do not slander them. Let us unite as you suggested. Listen to the wise Mali'ker that Kaelin here is."

[the GOAT of the craft 606]

After listening to all points thus far, Rhazev gives a heavy cough as to quiet the crowd down. Upon seeing Sythra he gives a quick bow. He speaks once more;

"Whereas you raise some points, Sythra, I must disagree. The selection of Malinor's Princes and Princesses is no longer done with care. It is done through an application. The feats of a person are no longer taken into consideration, it is simply who can write the best. High Prince Bravepaw has subjected Malinor to Orc attacks, and instead of trying to smooth things over, has had the Elves attack the Orcs. Now is not the time for war.

Khel has displayed these traits, and has been a citizen of Malinor long than most. We believe a campaign is necessary, and if this pressures the High Council to take some form of action then it is worth it. For some time now I have wondered if Malinor has been lost, and it seems it may be. The culture we once had in Aegis seems to have all but vanished from our land, and is replaced by disunity. You may accuse myself and the others of causing a portion of this disunity, but we see it as uniting the Mali'Ker.

The Orcs and Humans are not a threat to us. They are angry because of something that our prestigious High Council ordered. We wounded the Orcs and then rubbed salt in them. If they attack us, then it would have been brought on by ourselves. You speak of them being jealous of our prosperity, but I can see nothing that we have prospered in. Since we arrived in Asulon we have taken steps back, and Oren have taken steps forward. They prosper where we fall short. Malinor was once a great nation, and it is now a shell of it's former self.

Rhazev then turns his attention to Kaelin;

"I criticise Malin's Gorge for being too far. As you have said you lived in Ildon, land of the Elendil's, I cannot comment too far. You have both lived within Oren and thus both have ties to Oren, something which we feel will negatively affect the Mali'Ker living there soon enough. Only by moving the Mali'Ker closer to Malinor, and getting more Mali'Ker on the council, can we start to bring Malinor back to what it once was.

[Swgrclan 2682]

The shrouded male figure guffaws at Lady Duskwind, his demeanor seemingly arrogant,

"There is no time to express their "beliefs", Naive Female Noble. They are both heretics, one siding with a.. Human nation, and the other speaking nonsense of some Order the populace of Asulon's heard naught of until now. A hoax perhaps!"

The dark one offers a cold glare toward Sythra from his hidden eyes which are concealed 'neath his hood.

[Samoblivion 532]

Kaelin walks forward and speaks again.

"The old ways of Velulaei are plain in our history, friend, it is no hoax. The legitimacy of their order may be questionable, but their beliefs our those of our ancestors.

And who are you to speak of heretics, and to insult Lady Duskwind so? I tend not to trust one who hides their gaze beneath a cowl."

[Guest]

Kerhal pulls his hood over his face, and steps forward to speak.

"Do you think these things have never been tried before? I followed the religion of old, but there is no point to it anymore. It is our attempt at trying to stay independent. A small religion which all now, have slightly altered. We have failed many times before, so why could we succeed now?"

[Angel~ 34]

*As Angel walks to her house in Malinor overhearing the comments she says* "I have been living in Malinor for some time and have been Attacked in my OWN home by a Orc Slaver Named Zogtar , The Guards In Malinor Have only helped chase him away , I have seen Khel at work and I do support him for the council only to ask that the guards pay more attention to there citizens! *With that said Angel leans back against a tree watching*

[Baconthief 682]

*A grey horse trots down the path from Elandriel. Resting upon its body is a set of armor just as grey as the skin. Sitting atop the horse is a tall mali'ker with white hair. His eyes are juxtoposed in color, one red and the other blue. Behind him a purple cloak seems to flutter in the ocean breeze behind him. Khel pulls up on the reins of his horse and begins listening to the arguing mali'ker*

*After some time of listening Khel raises a hand and shouts at the crowd*

My fellow Mali'ker! Now is not the time to create a division between our people! It is time for us to unite!

*Khel slides off the side of his horse and walks next to Rhazev's side*

This order Rhazev has planned out for our people is not just a method of gaining mali'ker representation in the high council, but it is to unify mali'ker in the entirety of Asulon. Now is not to create a divison between houses, one of the greatest dividing force that faces the Oren nation. I personally am pleased with the works of House Klaren, but it does little to those whom they do not deem a Nightheart.

*khel pauses a moment and looks over the crowd, smiling faintly seeing a large gathering of his people*

The story of our heritage, the heritage of the mali'ker has been forgotten. The enigma and mystery of the mali'ker will plague this world for an eternity; however, it is time for us to begin writing history. History that will be remembered throughout time.

Do not think this of a religous or political order, but think of this our beacon to unification. Let all mali'ker come to us ,Nightheart or not. This is not for myself, Khel'Uvul, nor is it about malinor but it is for all of our people...in oren or here in the home of the mali.

I'd like to call for all mali'ker who seek to further our race to join with me. Together we can create something for our people.

* Khel looks directly at Goroth, but continues to speak to the crowd as a whole*

I'd also like to have a meeting with any mali'ker who cares about the progression of our people

*Khel steps back and crosses his arms, scanning the crowd*

((To Sythra this man looks eerily familiar))