Markus Wander

The great wood grew thicker and thicker with smoke as Balaena moved south, and Balaena worried no longer that the Mali'ker wouldn't accept her back into the fold after what she'd done, but that they couldn't for what might have happened to them. As she slogged through the bog in the lowest basin of the wood, she almost turned around, to find that nice humann who had protected her from the monsters when she'd mistakenly tried to return to Haelun'or. But she had to know for sure, if the family her father had loved and her mother had spurned might still be as strong as she hoped, strong as she had been stupid before to reject them... She climbed one of the great trees to find the new city, where she might be wanted. With a sigh of relief, she saw the source of the smoke in the distance, and that it didn't seem to be from the sacking of a city, but a great bonfire. She allowed herself to believe that it was a beacon, to show her her way to her true home. Balaena had learned much, and she had much to atone for.

Lenden never figured he would achieve much. When his Father would kick him and tell him he was worthless, as the four year old Lenden scrubbed the decks of his Father’s pirate ship, Lenden would think “Yeah, that sounds right.” But somehow, through a decade the slave of his father, and a second, starving on the street, picking pockets with only other wretches like him for company, he had managed to find a home. Lenden had never expected to live long, and that thought never troubled him much. Very few things troubled him. It wasn’t until he had met the mali’ker that he started to take pride in the expectation. He would lay in his bed at night and imagine saving the cave from a monster, or single handedly fighting off an invading army, and fulfilling the silent promise he’d made for the family he’d found all on his own. As he sat bleeding, pinned to a tree in the forest outside Annil’Sul, shot by a mali’ame without even an explanation, he heard his Father again. He wasn’t surprised to hear him, and he wasn’t filled with anguish or regret, only a sense of vague disappointment. He wanted to give everything he could give to his new family in the cave. He wanted to spend many years with them, protecting them, laughing with them. It was the first time he had felt happy. It was the first time he had felt much of anything with any depth or flavor. Now he felt a cavernous depth. They would look for him, he knew. When they found him, they would cry. He knew that too. That thought comforted him, in a selfish sort of way that he didn’t bother to feel guilt over. Aunrae would cry, but would get over it. Balaena was the only one that worried him. The child he had helped make, but had never belonged to him. She already didn’t have much going for her, but without him around, she might be lost. But then again, so had he been lost... With one parent gone, and the other inept, he had always been lost, and yet he’d done alright. He’d found the key. He’d fought the spiders. He saved the inn. He protected the Mali’ker’s ship as they crossed the seas. He helped build their home in Thales. And he had made a family. His last thoughts were of that family. Dak’ir. Della. Elayne. Alakagh. Arveldir. Feyko. Atorio. Yriel. Ituri. Aeltis. Athri. Aunrae and Balaena. All the others. The rain soaked through the birch leaves and the river began to buck its banks. He closed his eyes and everything was over. In Alras, a mali'ker baby with purple hair awoke shrieking, frightened by the crashing thunder outside, and in time, a white haired girl came to comfort her. The wine stained children of Thilliv crawled onwards into the future for another generation, bereft the wisdom of the last. ((I'm sad to go, guys, but I know I won't have time to get on in college, so I'm finishing up Lenden's story. Maybe I'll be back again. I've loved RPing with all of you, and I know I'll remember it fondly off at school. Van'ayla everyone.))

First of all, love it! Second, will the chests be unlocked or will we need to modreq?

Name: Lenden Are you a citizen?: Yessir. Are you moving in with friends or family?: Nope. Lenden is totally forever alone.

Lenden hands a sheet of paper to Dak'ir. "It's Atorio's," he says, "Atorio couldn't seem to find the application box. It must have gotten misplaced in the move, but I think he checks out and we really need some new blood." ((He's having trouble logging into the forums. Application to the Div’cruan Name: Atorio Vallumullr Age: Three hundred and seventy-six. You must live within the city of Ker’lomi. Do you?: Yes. Skills: Inexperienced cutter of trees. (Bungling Lumberjack)

MC Name: --- LinkKN2 Your Full Name: --- Lenden Your Age: --- 21 Your Gender: --- Male, damn it! Are you already a citizen? --- Yup. What skills do you have? Would you be willing to join the guard? --- Lenden's a skilled fisherman, breeder, builder, sailor and pickpocket. Lenden is already a sergeant in the guard. Are you moving in alone or with family/friends? --- You're all my friends <3 Are you of full Mali'ker blood? --- Maybe. Who knows? Have you previously been wanted by Haelun'or? --- No Do you agree to abide by the laws of Haelun'or and the Concordat? --- Sure will!

As Lenden sat atop the mainsail, adjusting the rigging, he took a moment to look around at the forest of masts about him. There was the Uruk's ship, and Oren's. There was Alras, there were the halflings. He went up and down the bay noting each banner he saw, but one was missing. There was no ship for the snow elves. Lenden hadn't paid much attention to what had happened between Haelun'or and the snow elves. He had been much too busy with his new home among the Mali'ker. He was glad he had left Celia'Fenn. If he hadn't, he'd never have found his new family! But all the same, he wondered what became of his old friend Gabe. He hoped he was alright. Maybe as they were sailing towards the new land, he'd spot another mast far off behind, from a ship that had been built in secret in some cove or other away from the hateful eyes of the other elves. He didn't dwell on it for too long. He had a lot of work to do, and it was cold so high above the deck, bright with fires and friends below. He had a home now, and Gabe played a part in getting him there. Lenden hoped that whether in Thales, or the new land, his Mali'fenn friends would find a home as warm as his.

Name: Lenden Age: 21 Do you live in Ker'Lomi: I don't think that's what we're calling the new city, is it? But you know I live in the ravine. Skills: Lenden isn't much of a fighter, but he's very good with a bow, very smart, and can be very stealthy due to years as a pickpocket and gang member in Alras. He's also an experienced sailor.