http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEY-6_nE2I0 It was a cold morning upon the mountains of the joined Dwarven and Elvish settlements. Few were awake, and the mist of the mountains was just beginning to rest from the night prior. Celthorn Neltanil, Marchwarden of The Great Sister City, Ravendale and Laurelin, had arrived into Elysium after a huge and valiant journey to do so. His flowing robes sway in the bitter wind of this forsaken island like a dire flag ready to fall. "This world is different, almost foul does it's shores feel." Celthorn speaks to his friend whom travelled with him; Alissan. "Celthorn, sir. It is often best to not judge a world merely because of it's feel. Just look at the sight, it is simply beautiful.." "Beauty comes with pain, Allisan. We both know this more than the residents here. Or at least most of them." Celthorn then begins to reiterate the dramatic and tragic events Aegis. Of how the minions of Iblees spewed out of the ground as the very Earth they once worshiped gave way beneath them. And how the Dragons... (if one wasn't afraid they'd be mad). Celthorn's life stretches back to the early First Age, in which Malin's followers settled the trees of Malinor, and took to the lakes of Ravenhold, Ravendale and Laurelin. He began his rise to adulthood in the military. Which for the Elves was quite the task back then (rather than now), as it required a connection with both the Ascects and the sword. To do what was right in the eyes of both the Councils and the Druid-folk (almost magically trained Elves and otherwise exceptional members of other races). Celthorn was strong even then, only because life was so brutal at times. The norm was raids by Orcs, or Dwarves. Rarely did the Noble Humans dare to reach into Malinor for anything, even Moots, which were greatly entertaining. - Celthorn and Allisan first met during The Meeting of The Maps. When the Ascended scoured the land for the map fragments. It was in the Dwarven lands, Kal Urguan that the pair met as they were send in to settle a small dispute about ale shortages for Dwarves. Typical business as the Wardens happened to have a rather large storage of lovely wines and sweet ale. The Dwarves refused and continued to mock Celthorn and Allisan. Again, typical. This made them have a partnership of friendliness for eachother. Fondness for the similarities that they shared. Though one was wise, and the other was eager. The clearly wiser one was Allisan. He wasn't older, but his life had led him on a path that taught him many lessons. So he knew what to say, and when to say it. The difference between right and wrong was very clear to him. - Later in the Age, to the end of it in fact, their lives changed for the worst as did all who lived in Laurelin's beauty did. "Fire, fire!" Wardens running left to right. Chaos, madness and chaos. Fire, madness and fire. Celthorn was trapped in a burning tavern near the Druid's Grove, which was also crumbling in half. Shock. Panic. Pain.. - The Second Age arrived when they arrived in Asulon. They kept to themselves. Such pain had overtaken their minds temporarily. In Elandriel, the pair made sure to speak little of what happened, as most did. Not to dwell on the past. This of course, was Allisan's idea. But there came a great battle that they could not avoid nor forget. The Mori... - Hissing in the Night, they came. Scattering across the panels of the intruding Wood Elven palisades. Knives drawn and just like that, blood. Allisan? No. It was their gardener. She passed, and Celthorn drew upon his armor, and his shining axe in the moonlight lit like an emblem of pure faith. Like a newly found sun, his Axe met the moonlight and reflected it into the Mori's eyes. They cowered, and scampered back into their caves from once they came. Allisan and Celthorn were then noticed, and somewhat remembered by some of the Wood Elves in Elandriel. But eager to forget their past. They fled. To the shores of Pirate-infested isles, far to the west they ran and scouted. Exiles? Maybe. But they were alone regardless. Their efforts to find a ship have all but failed. As just in time they had fought a rather kind Orc. Strangely so. He was saying he was going on an adventure, to find Aegis once more. Maybe he found it, maybe he didn't. But the pair did find Elysium with the Orc. And the Orc surprisingly let them off. He was too kind for his skin if Celthorn was concerned.
And it was here that Celthorn and Allisan found Malinor, in Elysium. Absurdly upon a Dwarven Mountain. And separated like numbers on an eight-faced dice.
"Where are our golden trees..? What has become of our beloved forest..?" - - - Images from DeviantArt by Moumou38, simply beautiful