Airen walked down the narrow streets of Arroes. He kept his hood pulled over his head to avoid being seen by anyone who might recognize him. The night air was cold and brisk. A slight breeze blew through the dark veins of the the evil city. It fitted the place perfectly with it's fiendish inhabitants.
Airen didn't plan on going far tonight and stopped at a hotel on the outskirts of the city. he walked in and saw a house full of locals. Demons, beasts, dark men, and dark elves. He walked up to the counter where a slender man stood. His arms were small and puny and his nose beaked over his lips. His hair had slowly began to vanish beneath his head.
"I need a room," Airen said from the darkness of his robe. He didn't reveal his face to the man.
The old man looked at him in sharply but then turned around and retrieved a key. "Ten gold," he grumbled in a hoarse tone.
Airen picked up the key and dropped the coins on the counter in one swift motion. He then turned to the crowd of scum that infested the place. None of them caught his eye and none of them seemed out of place. He walked across the room swiftly and silently not wanting to bump into the wrong drunk that may try and start something.
Lore: A Long Trip Alone
-
Airen
When Airen got to the top of the stairs he found his room. Down the hall a little further stood a man in tattered clothes and the man hung his head low. Scrapes and bruises covered the man's face. Airen avoided eye contact with him and disappeared into his room.
Once inside the room he removed his dark green hood. He removed his cloak, also, and sat it on the chair under the window. He sat on the edge of the bed and untied his boots.
He went into the bathroom and ran his water for a bath. The old man entered his thoughts and he felt ashamed. Airen shook his head in slight regret. He had been allowing things like this to happen right out in front of his palace. This wasn't who he was or how he was raised. Airen couldn't remember much of his past before coming to Arken. He closed his eyes. The air around him was silent and he suddenly felt cold and alone.
That night Airen didn't get much sleep. Pain and sorrow filled his dreams. Even with the three covers over the top of him Airen still kept waking in a cold sweat. He dreamt of his past and when he had lost his mother. Thoughts of his mother hadn't entered his head in many years. He had nearly forgotten all about her. In the middle of this night he remembered her though. He was there holding her all over again as she lay limp in his arms. The nightmare played through his head repeatedly that night. "Never be afraid of who you are or the powers you wield." she told him.
Airen awoke to darkness. The candle on the night stand had burn out and out the window the world was still shadowed. Airen rose from the bed and dressed himself. He knew that sleep would not come tonight. He made his way down the stairs, turning the key back into the man at the front desk on his way out the door. A deathly cold wind blew into his back as he walked down the tight streets of the city.
His mother's words continued to go through his head as he walked. He was afraid of who he had become and of the power he wielded. His mother would be ashamed if she saw what he had become. A heartless warlord with a lust for power. Airen pushed the thoughts from his mind and continued to the city's outer gates.
Once inside the room he removed his dark green hood. He removed his cloak, also, and sat it on the chair under the window. He sat on the edge of the bed and untied his boots.
He went into the bathroom and ran his water for a bath. The old man entered his thoughts and he felt ashamed. Airen shook his head in slight regret. He had been allowing things like this to happen right out in front of his palace. This wasn't who he was or how he was raised. Airen couldn't remember much of his past before coming to Arken. He closed his eyes. The air around him was silent and he suddenly felt cold and alone.
That night Airen didn't get much sleep. Pain and sorrow filled his dreams. Even with the three covers over the top of him Airen still kept waking in a cold sweat. He dreamt of his past and when he had lost his mother. Thoughts of his mother hadn't entered his head in many years. He had nearly forgotten all about her. In the middle of this night he remembered her though. He was there holding her all over again as she lay limp in his arms. The nightmare played through his head repeatedly that night. "Never be afraid of who you are or the powers you wield." she told him.
Airen awoke to darkness. The candle on the night stand had burn out and out the window the world was still shadowed. Airen rose from the bed and dressed himself. He knew that sleep would not come tonight. He made his way down the stairs, turning the key back into the man at the front desk on his way out the door. A deathly cold wind blew into his back as he walked down the tight streets of the city.
His mother's words continued to go through his head as he walked. He was afraid of who he had become and of the power he wielded. His mother would be ashamed if she saw what he had become. A heartless warlord with a lust for power. Airen pushed the thoughts from his mind and continued to the city's outer gates.
-
Airen
Giant sentinels guarded the gate from incoming guests. They didn't really do much, lazy bastards thought Airen as he pulled his hood on and walked by them. The air outside the city was no better, with the exception of the smell. Arroes seemed to hold a stench that the locals apparently got accustomed to. Airen never really noticed the difference before.
He wrapped his cloak around his body to try and block some of the wind. It didn't help much. The icy breeze cut through the cloth as if it were not even there. Airen shivered as the nightmare entered his head yet again. He tried to shake it off, but the coldness in the air seemed to hold them there. He knew it wouldn't be long before he reached the tree line of Darkwood.
He wrapped his cloak around his body to try and block some of the wind. It didn't help much. The icy breeze cut through the cloth as if it were not even there. Airen shivered as the nightmare entered his head yet again. He tried to shake it off, but the coldness in the air seemed to hold them there. He knew it wouldn't be long before he reached the tree line of Darkwood.
-
Airen
Darkwood was farther than Airen had figured. He didn't think he had that far to go, but his trip along Arken's coast seem to be endless. After walking for a little over two hours, he decided he would rest for the night. He found a rather large stone a little off of the shoreline and used it to block some of the fierce wind.
Airen scanned the area before he closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. It seemed safe enough. As he closed his eye, the reality of his past flooded over him. Once in his dreams, he couldn't seem to escape them. This time he didn't wander back to his mother, but instead to went to his times at the blacksmith shop.
He saw an old man struggling with a large blade. He saw himself as a younger man approaching him. Airen puzzled as he watched himself in his own dream. He had no control in it and could only watch what was going on. A flash of light exploded before him and he saw himself in an apron and a mask. A girl walked down the street before him to see the smithy and his work. It was Elena. They talked joyfully with one another. Airen smiled at his passed now, yet he missed it dreadfully. The bright light flashed again and he saw himself and Elena standing before Sinead and some nobleman of Ighten. He saw as he got himself banned from the fair city with a stubborn attitude and cocky mouth. He watched as Elena pleaded for his life and offered herself to go with him. Airen tried to stop Elena but he could not yell out or speak at all, only watch.
Airen finally escaped the restless sleep. He rose to his feet and continued his journey onward. He knew now where he wanted to go. He would head to Ighten and get the mark on his arm removed by the queen. He prayed that she would be merciful and grant his wish to be in the beautiful land once again. He rubbed his arm as he revealed the mark left there by Sinead herself and it could only be removed by her.
Airen scanned the area before he closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. It seemed safe enough. As he closed his eye, the reality of his past flooded over him. Once in his dreams, he couldn't seem to escape them. This time he didn't wander back to his mother, but instead to went to his times at the blacksmith shop.
He saw an old man struggling with a large blade. He saw himself as a younger man approaching him. Airen puzzled as he watched himself in his own dream. He had no control in it and could only watch what was going on. A flash of light exploded before him and he saw himself in an apron and a mask. A girl walked down the street before him to see the smithy and his work. It was Elena. They talked joyfully with one another. Airen smiled at his passed now, yet he missed it dreadfully. The bright light flashed again and he saw himself and Elena standing before Sinead and some nobleman of Ighten. He saw as he got himself banned from the fair city with a stubborn attitude and cocky mouth. He watched as Elena pleaded for his life and offered herself to go with him. Airen tried to stop Elena but he could not yell out or speak at all, only watch.
Airen finally escaped the restless sleep. He rose to his feet and continued his journey onward. He knew now where he wanted to go. He would head to Ighten and get the mark on his arm removed by the queen. He prayed that she would be merciful and grant his wish to be in the beautiful land once again. He rubbed his arm as he revealed the mark left there by Sinead herself and it could only be removed by her.
-
Airen
The water crashed to the left of him as he walked the dark beach. It was hard to tell where the sky ended and the water began. There was no moon and few stars could be seen through the overcast sky. Airen didn't like the feeling of loneliness that lingered within him. The few hours of daylight should be approaching soon enough. Airen longed for daylight. The darkness brought nothing but bad memories.
Airen took a seat on the dark sands of the coast. Though he wouldn't find any sleep, the rest would do some good. He dug out a small hole and lit a small fire within it. It did little for the ice chilled wind. Airen watched as wave upon wave washed up the beach. He found that it was rather repetitive and boring, yet somewhat relaxing.
It wasn't long before light slowly began to rise above the sea. Airen smiled and welcomed its warm embrace. He breathed deeply and cleared his mind of all his horrid memories. He looked south and saw giant shadows in the distance. Just a little to the west was the evil forest, Darkwood. He could make it to the border before the short day was over if he pushed himself to do so. His journey had proved simple thus far with the exception of some passing travelers. That made Airen even more worried about the things going on in the world. If the dark creatures weren't here, that meant they were somewhere else.
Airen took a seat on the dark sands of the coast. Though he wouldn't find any sleep, the rest would do some good. He dug out a small hole and lit a small fire within it. It did little for the ice chilled wind. Airen watched as wave upon wave washed up the beach. He found that it was rather repetitive and boring, yet somewhat relaxing.
It wasn't long before light slowly began to rise above the sea. Airen smiled and welcomed its warm embrace. He breathed deeply and cleared his mind of all his horrid memories. He looked south and saw giant shadows in the distance. Just a little to the west was the evil forest, Darkwood. He could make it to the border before the short day was over if he pushed himself to do so. His journey had proved simple thus far with the exception of some passing travelers. That made Airen even more worried about the things going on in the world. If the dark creatures weren't here, that meant they were somewhere else.
-
Airen
Airen looked up ahead as the caravan approached. He didn't want any trouble and he hoped that they left him alone.
The carriage of goods stopped as it met Airen on the narrow road. The driver stopped an looked at the passing traveler. Airen could feel the eyes of the stranger burning into him, but Airen kept moving. "You there,' the man called.
Airen stopped and turned to face him. The man stood rather tall as he stepped from his cargo. His long black hair swayed in the ocean breeze. His face hid behind a dark rugged beard that ran up to the sides of his ears where it met the rest of his hair. His eyes were dark and hidden.
Despite the man's tough and rugged look, his voice was genuine. "You know, my good man. It's not safe to be traveling these dark lands alone. A lot of dangers lurk in every crevice of this horrid place."
Airen was surprised by the man's tone. He seemed well educated as well, judging by his speech. "That it is," Airen answered. "But what is your point?"
"Well," the man continued. "I noticed that you didn't carry a sword with ya. Perhaps you would need one?" The man cocked an eyebrow then lifted the back cover that hid the inside of his carriage. Swords and many other weapons glistened in the sunlight.
"Ah," Airen said with a smile. "So you're a trader." Airen scanned over the items. One particular sword caught his eye and he reached for it. It looked remarkably familiar. The hilt was wrapped in a leather skin. "Where did you get that one there?" Airen asked withdrawing his hands from the sword.
The man looked at Airen with a slight interest now. "You don't won't that blade." he urged. "It can't be wielded by anyone but its owner. Some kinda magic is upon it."
"Really," Airen reached for the blade again. "May I?" The man nodded and Airen removed the sword from its rack. He felt it as soon as the hilt touched his fingertips. It was his old sword. "How much?"
The man was awestruck that Airen held the blade. It seemed to glow in his hands. "Uhh... Well it seems that this is your blade already, my good sir." The man answered pulling the cover back over his goods. "It's yours. I couldn't take any of your money."
Airen tossed the blade from hand to hand. "Here," he said to the trader. He tossed him a sack of gold coins. "For your efforts in finding such a marvelous blade."
The man smiled slightly then bowed. "Thank you."
The carriage of goods stopped as it met Airen on the narrow road. The driver stopped an looked at the passing traveler. Airen could feel the eyes of the stranger burning into him, but Airen kept moving. "You there,' the man called.
Airen stopped and turned to face him. The man stood rather tall as he stepped from his cargo. His long black hair swayed in the ocean breeze. His face hid behind a dark rugged beard that ran up to the sides of his ears where it met the rest of his hair. His eyes were dark and hidden.
Despite the man's tough and rugged look, his voice was genuine. "You know, my good man. It's not safe to be traveling these dark lands alone. A lot of dangers lurk in every crevice of this horrid place."
Airen was surprised by the man's tone. He seemed well educated as well, judging by his speech. "That it is," Airen answered. "But what is your point?"
"Well," the man continued. "I noticed that you didn't carry a sword with ya. Perhaps you would need one?" The man cocked an eyebrow then lifted the back cover that hid the inside of his carriage. Swords and many other weapons glistened in the sunlight.
"Ah," Airen said with a smile. "So you're a trader." Airen scanned over the items. One particular sword caught his eye and he reached for it. It looked remarkably familiar. The hilt was wrapped in a leather skin. "Where did you get that one there?" Airen asked withdrawing his hands from the sword.
The man looked at Airen with a slight interest now. "You don't won't that blade." he urged. "It can't be wielded by anyone but its owner. Some kinda magic is upon it."
"Really," Airen reached for the blade again. "May I?" The man nodded and Airen removed the sword from its rack. He felt it as soon as the hilt touched his fingertips. It was his old sword. "How much?"
The man was awestruck that Airen held the blade. It seemed to glow in his hands. "Uhh... Well it seems that this is your blade already, my good sir." The man answered pulling the cover back over his goods. "It's yours. I couldn't take any of your money."
Airen tossed the blade from hand to hand. "Here," he said to the trader. He tossed him a sack of gold coins. "For your efforts in finding such a marvelous blade."
The man smiled slightly then bowed. "Thank you."
-
Airen
Airen juggled the blade staring at its handy work. He could hardly believe that he had scolded it into being. He swung effortlessly through the thin air. It seemed so natural. His lack of sleep crept at his heels again.
He stopped near a fallen tree and leaned against it. His eyes closed against his own will.
"Airen!" a soft voice called. Airen looked around. He found himself standing in a bright white room. It was as if he were inside of a cloud.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And where are you?" His voice was calm and sincere. He recognized the voice but couldn't put a face with it.
"I'm here!" She responded as as a woman in white garments approached him. "Have you forgotten me so soon, Airen?"
Tears filled his eyes as her face became visible to him. A lump in his throat made it hard to speak. "Mother?" he finally managed to whimper.
"Yes, it is me." A smile swept across her face. "Do not be sorrowful, my son." she said placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "You have grown. And do not be ashamed of what you have done. It has made you who you are."
Airen sighed and lowered his head. "But I have done so many evil things."
"You can't dwell on the past, Airen. Only look to the future, and your future is wonderful." She wiped away a trailing tear from his war-scarred face. "You must save Elena first, though." She lifted his head. "She needs your help... and your trust."
"I don't deserve her," he retaliated softly, "She deserves so much better."
"Go to her, Airen." She said. Then she kissed his cheek and drifted into the never-ending light. "Go to her."Airen reached for her but fell.
The icy water washed over his face as he gulped in a mouthful. He pushed himself to the surface and gasped for air. He turned and saw that he had fallen into the sea. Quickly he hurried to the beach. He laid on his back and stared up into the crimson sky. The moon bled overhead. His eyes closed again but this time he only found rest and comfort.
He stopped near a fallen tree and leaned against it. His eyes closed against his own will.
"Airen!" a soft voice called. Airen looked around. He found himself standing in a bright white room. It was as if he were inside of a cloud.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And where are you?" His voice was calm and sincere. He recognized the voice but couldn't put a face with it.
"I'm here!" She responded as as a woman in white garments approached him. "Have you forgotten me so soon, Airen?"
Tears filled his eyes as her face became visible to him. A lump in his throat made it hard to speak. "Mother?" he finally managed to whimper.
"Yes, it is me." A smile swept across her face. "Do not be sorrowful, my son." she said placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "You have grown. And do not be ashamed of what you have done. It has made you who you are."
Airen sighed and lowered his head. "But I have done so many evil things."
"You can't dwell on the past, Airen. Only look to the future, and your future is wonderful." She wiped away a trailing tear from his war-scarred face. "You must save Elena first, though." She lifted his head. "She needs your help... and your trust."
"I don't deserve her," he retaliated softly, "She deserves so much better."
"Go to her, Airen." She said. Then she kissed his cheek and drifted into the never-ending light. "Go to her."Airen reached for her but fell.
The icy water washed over his face as he gulped in a mouthful. He pushed himself to the surface and gasped for air. He turned and saw that he had fallen into the sea. Quickly he hurried to the beach. He laid on his back and stared up into the crimson sky. The moon bled overhead. His eyes closed again but this time he only found rest and comfort.
-
Airen
Airen awoke to a small fire. The sky remained dark and dreadful. He glanced around and saw a bearded man sitting opposite him.
"You're the trader," Airen said as he sat up.
"Yes I am," The man said, "The name is Gabriel."
Airen noticed that his clothes were now dry and more comfortable. "What are you doing here?" He asked trying to regain his wits.
The man chuckled. "I saved your life," he poked the fire with a stick. "If I hadn't showed up you'd have froze to death."
"Doubt it!" Airen grumbled to himself. "But thank you for your kindness." Airen slid closer to the fire. "I'm Airen."
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment. "Ya hungry?" he asked after a brief silence. "Here," Gabriel passed him a plate of fish. "It's good, I assure you."
Airen took the plate, "Thanks," The fish melted as flavor exploded in his mouth. "Wow!" Airen said a bit amazed. "That is really good. What'd you do to it?"
"That's my secret," A smile broke from behind his dark beard. "If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya."
"Fair enough," Airen said without saying another word. He ate the fish in a hurry and dozed back into peaceful sleep.
"You're the trader," Airen said as he sat up.
"Yes I am," The man said, "The name is Gabriel."
Airen noticed that his clothes were now dry and more comfortable. "What are you doing here?" He asked trying to regain his wits.
The man chuckled. "I saved your life," he poked the fire with a stick. "If I hadn't showed up you'd have froze to death."
"Doubt it!" Airen grumbled to himself. "But thank you for your kindness." Airen slid closer to the fire. "I'm Airen."
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment. "Ya hungry?" he asked after a brief silence. "Here," Gabriel passed him a plate of fish. "It's good, I assure you."
Airen took the plate, "Thanks," The fish melted as flavor exploded in his mouth. "Wow!" Airen said a bit amazed. "That is really good. What'd you do to it?"
"That's my secret," A smile broke from behind his dark beard. "If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya."
"Fair enough," Airen said without saying another word. He ate the fish in a hurry and dozed back into peaceful sleep.