Samoblivion

Kaelin smiles to himself sadly as he hears of this. "Reminds me of the old days of Oren in Aegis... over a century back, it must be now." He takes out a hip flask, sighing. "They'll fail of course, but I'll drink to their ghosts."

Just a quick translation request: "I am Mali'ker in body, but Mali'ame in spirit." What would this be if the full sentence was elven?

((Wooo, Bohra buddy.))

~~~~~~~~~~ Leana Stafyr came to in the hold of the great ship of humanity. Pounding sea and thundering waves had been her only friend for the past few weeks, and fierce friends they had been. Sea sickness had claimed the young woman more than once, the last dashing her head against one of the supports of the lower decks. Gripping her throbbing head she dragged herself into a sitting position and looked around. The hold seemed empty, few around. No longer did the ship roll violently in the swell, or shake to the sound of armoured footfalls or harsh cries of nobles and officers. It occurred to her that the ship was no longer at sea. Docked somewhere. She tried to walk, tripping. A deckhand gripped her arm, steadying her. “Easy now, lass, you’ve come a’cropper in t’storm.” Leana gripped his arm back, the fog clearing from her mind a little. The deckhand settled her down onto a bench. “Yer’ brother asked me to pass along teh message that when yer up to it ye should be headin’ up top. There’s another bloke up on decks who says he’s been asked teh take ye to rest oh teh way.” Leana frowned. “The rest of the way to where?” The deckhand shrugged. “Best t’ ask teh bloke on deck, but it ain’t New Arethor a’ don’t believe.” New Arethor, Leana wondered? How long had she been out? The deckhand helped her up the narrow steps on to the top deck. Having spent much of the voyage below decks she covered her eyes from the glare. Once adjusted she saw the reason for the ship’s mooring. Stretched before them was a hastily constructed network of jetties, to which the great vessel was tied and anchored and it was not alone. The steamship of the dwarves was moored not far away. To the port side was the ship of the elves, an elegant affair that seemed half alive with greenery and vine rigging, the trireme of the Kharajyr not far behind. Dragged on shore was the fearsome longship of the Orcs, adorned with skull banners and scorpion marks. And beyond the great piers? Leana clutched the rail to take in the magnificence of land after so many weeks at sea. Towering peaks loomed on either side of the bay that the ships were moored on, circling a vast island that continued further than the eye could see. A new home for us, she thought, at least for a while. While Leana took in the view a man in travelling leathers sidled over to her. She took his measure, noting a few strips of green and yellow wrapped around his forearm - colours she recognised as those of her family in the old days. He nodded to her. “Hail, my lady. You would be Leana of House Stafyr, am I correct?” Leana stifled a blush. My lady. House Stafyr. She recovered quickly, smoothing down her travelling outfit. “Y-Yes, that’s me. Are you the man my brother sent for me?” The man nodded. “Aye, my lady. If you’ll follow me we can be off.” He led her across the network of piers - reminiscent of the great docks of the Cloud Sanctuary in lost Asulon - through crowds of all races, each scrambling to unload their cargo and belongings from the ships that had taken them so far. Armoured humans in red and white tabards supervised the unloading of the military supplies from Leana’s ship. She didn’t recognise them for she did not pay much attention to the politics of the Empire, but from their insignia she would have named them as ‘White Roses’, a name she had heard more often in recent years. At the Stafyr man’s insistence she went on. After a few minutes of walking they came to a cross roads. Most of the human foot traffic and carts seemed to be heading down the left fork, towards the collection of hastily made hovels that her chaperone identified as New Arethor, the Holy Oren Empire’s capital - at least for the moment. As they passed a line of trees the man pointed to their destination. “That, my lady, is Huntshill.” Leana looked out across a crescent lake to see a peninsula jutting into its centre. At it’s peak was a newly made keep - square in nature, not much to look at, but it exuded a feeling of familiarity. Men could be seen moving about the length of the peninsula, felling trees and dragging cargo around. Leana was led to a small jetty upon which was a boat big enough for just the two of them. After a little effort with the mooring line they were off toward this new home. Stepping ashore she could see more clearly the work being done around the keep. Men in green tunics and tabards worked to move supplies into temporary stores, while others worked to cut back the undergrowth and pines that crowded the peninsula. The man went ahead as Leana dawdled, looking over everything. He waved to a group clustered around a small table and camp fire. “Excuse me, milord Edmund? You’re sister is here, sir.” A man with young yet craggy features used to smiling and a thick mane of dark hair turned to face her, grinning. “Leana!” "Edmund!" Leana gasped in relief and ran to embrace him. He laughed. “Creator, Leana, I’m sorry for leaving you there but we were all needed here. The trees around here are all spider infested, every sword was needed.” A taciturn young man approached, his features somewhat softer than his brother’s. “Glad you’re not dead,” he stated in a semi-sarcastic, deadpan tone. Leana stiffened a little in her older brother’s arms before nodding to her nuisance of a little brother. “Farley. Glad to see you so concerned.” Farley grunted something and prodded at the fire. Edmund stifled a laugh, with Leana drawing back from the hug. “So,” she said, “We’re calling it Huntshill are we?” Edmund nodded. “That we are.” Leana nodded back, smiling a little; “Hunting what?” Edmund shrugged. “Aside from spiders and monsters? Who knows. There’s bound to be something around here.” A bearded figure with an infectious smile sidled up from the wood. “There’s hogs and stuff in there by my reckoning.” He looked Leana up and down, causing her to stifle a blush. “And who might this be Edmund?” Farley leaned back from his seat at the fire. “Your cousin.” The man blanched. “Ah.. I, uh- Hail, uh..” Edmund slapped him on the head. “Leana, this is one of our long lost family members, Graveth II, son of our host and kinsman Lord Godwein. Graveth, reintroduce yourself to Leana.” Graveth straightened a little, the smile returning. “Good to meet you, cousin.” Edmund laughed. “In the short time I’ve known him he’s rarely been speechless. But forget about that, you must tired, Leana.” Leana nodded a little, smiling. “Yes, this land is quite something. I’ll quite look forward to getting a better look at all of it. The trip here was lovely.” Edmund smiled and gestured to the keep. “Go inside, sister. You’ve had a long journey, you’ll tell us all of it after you’ve had some rest.” Leana’s smile paused. That wasn’t what Edmund had said. She looked to the others gathered. Graveth smiled his bearded half smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. Farley moved near to his cousin and brother, smiling as well, as he had seldom done back then. Edmund’s mouth opened a crack as he gave his sister a reassuring smile and a slight nod. She looked to everyone present, a similar look on each of their faces. Tears in her eyes she hugged her closest kin and looked up to the keep. The way was steeper than she remembered, and it was now dusk. The keening cry of a falcon was heard. As she climbed the hill she began to slip. As she fell, a hand in golden plate clasped hers. The sentinel steadied her and led her up, the ground becoming easier as he went. To her flanks she noticed men in armour kneeling, in the green and yellow tabards of House Stafyr and some in the red honour dress of the White Rose. One of the Roses looked up momentarily and nodded to her. “Fair winds, Leana.” Their captain stood at the head of them, a Rose with his blonde bearded face obscured by the dark of the night. Voice cracking, she reached for his hand. He squeezed hers tightly before retreating back into the shadow. The silent sentinel led her onto the flat ground before the keep, before taking position to the right of the door. He clasped his greatsword in both hands and nodded to Leana, ushering her toward another familiar face. Godwein called from the doorway, his kindly and wise face aglow with warmth. He placed a hand on her arm and smiled. A tear in her eye she mouthed something before being stopped. “It’s alright, Leana. The day… is ended.” The air came to a standstill as she gazed upon the door. Taller than she remembered, with the sounds of voices and merriment beyond the threshold - familiar voices, voices that she had held in her heart for so long. As she heard them they brought her visions of joy and sorrow. ~~~ Of days spent atop the battlements, staring with wonder at the world. Her brothers and cousins and family and friends… Of a knight in red and mail leading her a lovers dance across the virgin lands. Of wonder and amazement at great trees and soaring silver towers. Of the pang of the loss of her truest friend and kinsman. Of joy at marriage, at the birth of a son. Of pain and anguish with death after death, a spark of hope in the birth of a daughter. Of pride at the strength of her nephew, of the house in a second rebirth. Hope for the future. Of final sorrow, of three children lost. ~~~ Leana’s face relaxed into serenity. Her hand moved to the clasp. And inside was light. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb4xCKUBteM ((^^Leana's theme)) Last Words, Will and Testament of Lady Leana of House Stafyr (( Well, Leana has kicked the proverbial bucket somewhere in the back end of her eighties. She was my first female character and by far one of my most cherished. I'm proud to have been with House Stafyr through its ups and downs and even though I will not be playing a Stafyr for the time being, I wish you all nothing but luck. Obvious thanks to all the old school members of the House - Z3r0, Emenzi, Dewp, Amk, Dylan and Dan and all the rest of you reprobates. Thanks to the White Rose, especially LeRenardNoir and Jarkarll for some great times in Elysium, Kalos and early Anthos, as well as all the rest of Oren I RP'd with. It's been a blast, thank you all. Special thanks again to Emenzi since he's leaving in a few months, I'll miss you mate.))

Battled my depression demons and stared at a small green rectangle as it passed through a black 'x' every hour (Visual Utopia).

Welcome aboard, I hope you enjoy it here :)

Convince me that you're not a kitten walking on a keyboard without any knowledge of what you're producing.

Or Classical Fantasy a la Age of Mythology.

Modern always gets the most interest, but I wouldn't mind a space one, or perhaps fantasy (high, low, whatever).

In one of her more lucid moments, the ancient Leana Stafyr looks out across the battlements and weeps for her three lost children.