Shades Of Aramas
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:00 am
Aramas had become a cold desolate place. The Blight began killing everything in its wake. Plant, animals, even people began to become withered by it. Irremarans seemed immune to this but with no land for food and no rivers for water they too would eventually die. Travel within Blighted lands became nearly impossible. It fed off all energy including life energy. It is said that spending a week in Blighted lands is the same as aging ten years unless you are able to find shelter. Many blame the use of Arcane Magic for the Blight others blame the Vorare, they devour everything in their path to satisfy their hunger only to never be quenched, more commonly referred to as World eaters. True be told it was a combination of both of these and much, much more.
This is not the story that you are being told today however. TodayÂ’s story focuses on three sisters joined at birth by a bond that transcends all others. They are not only sisters but identical triplets. You would then think for as closely as one resembles the other that they would be similar in other things as well, but the truth of the matter is they couldnÂ’t be more different. Do not focus on this however; more stories will come from this one. What we come to focus on is a red-headed Hin who has crossed into Blighted lands. She stands at a tower under the full influence of the Blight. Crystalis chased her sister Emeraldin this far because she knew what she was attempting to do. Emeraldin was attempting to open a portal from this one to the spirit world, to allow the Vorare in to take what was left and leave Aramas dead. Unbeknownst to Crystalis she was being followed as well, by her youngest sister Saphhira. Saphhira has stopped at a stone shelter built to specifically protect from the BlightÂ’s influence only long enough to catch her breath. Crystalis steps inside the tower and out of the influence of the Blight. At the same time Saphhira moves from the shelter knowing how far Crystalis will go to do what she feels is right. Emeraldin is knelt at an Alter muttering an incantation and a few minutes later Crystalis steps inside and removes her sword from it's sheath and prepares her shield. Suddenly the room shifts, Crystalis loses her balance and falls as a creature steps from a portal into the room. Crystalis had seen the Vorare before and involuntarily shutters at its presence as the Vorare disappears to feed on the rest of the living parts of the world.
“It’s too late Crys, soon everything will be gone.” Emeraldin states plainly.
“You’re wrong Em, if I kill you here and now that thing goes back.”
Emeraldin looks to Crystalis sadly, “I’m sorry Crys, but our world has to die. Mortimal teaches us that only in death can anything be reborn. I carry death with me everywhere I go,” she touches her chest briefly, “I will make right what the Overseers will not.”
“Look at how you had to do it though Emmy. Look at all the suffering you caused in the process,” Crys grips her sword.
“Anything good that comes must come with sacrifice. History may not remember me for the changes I made but they will damn sure remember my accomplishments,” Emeraldin smiles a bit.
Crystalis frowns at this, “Why? Why did you have to do this?”
“Because there was no other way.”
Crys lowers her gaze only a moment, “There was another way. You just refused to look for it!”
“Lies! The Fallen looked for every way! The Silverguard thwarted us every step of the way because they simply would not listen! The Silverguard left Aramas with no other choice save for death!” Emermaldin spat.
“You brought these Vorare upon us!” Crystalis screams.
“Another lie the Council at Brightwater has fed you. The Fallen never brought them here, but I am now manipulating them. The Vorare are much older than you know. This Vorare is the last. The others, destroyed. Once this one gorges itself on what is left of Aramas it too will die then those who have ascended may return to pick up the pieces and rebuild.”
“I will not allow this!”
“Then you doom Aramas to a fate worse than death! At least The Fallen know who we serve. Did you know the rulers of Brightwater are Arcanists? Of course not, you simply blindly followed and killed my kind not even attempting to know what we are.”
Crys gave a smirk, “Now the others are dead, and soon you will follow!”
“You know I am much more than Fallen sister.”
“There are ways of killing those of your origin as well.”
Emeraldin nods, “Think about it Crys, we are the last of our kind on this world. Together we can bring things as they are meant to be. You can come with me, you can help me rebuild. Terramour needs a follower to survive. Join me. You and Sapph, I know she must have followed you. The world will be reborn and Fallen and Overseer will sit together as it was meant to be!”
Crys sneers, “You are crazy.”
“Why do you fight this so hard Crys? Don’t you want a better world?”
“LOOK AROUND EMMY! DOES THIS LOOK BETTER!”
“Don’t Crys, I don’t want to fight you.”
“I don’t want to fight you either but I have to stop this, as long as there are Fallen, there will be Vorare. The Blight cannot end as long as you live,” Crystalis state resolutely.
A dagger slide down from Emeraldin wrist and she lifts her shield preparing for an attack, “You are blind Crys! You see only what you've been taught. If that is your choice, then so be it.”
Saphhira burst into the room, “What in the name of the Overseers do the two of you think you are doing.”
Crys stares straight at Emeraldin, “Leave it alone Sapph, you have no idea what you’ve walked into.”
Emeraldin snaps at Crys, “Don’t talk to our sister like that!”
“Enough talk!” Crystalis shouts as she charges Emeraldin.
“NO!” Saphhira screams.
Crystalis stops and looks to Saphhira with sad eyes. She mouths the words ‘I’m sorry.’ This was the opportunity Emeraldin had been waiting for. She slams a hand down on a symbol glowing in the ritual alter behind her. The same alter that her friend Mirar had used to replace her heart with one of Mortimal’s creation. The same alter used to summon the Vorare locking the Vorare in Aramas until all life is gone. Almost immediately a golden light begins to surround Emeraldin grabbing both Saphhira and Crystalis’ attention. They both realize what is happening to Emeraldin as the room begins to shutter and shake.
“She’s ascending!” Crystalis and Saphhira scream in unison.
Quickly Crystalis and Saphhira run to Emeralidin, the room shakes violently. Footing slips, the trek across the short distance was difficult but both girls reach Emeraldin in time and grab her. In an instant the room darkens and all three women are gone. Screams are heard in the distance as the Vorare begins its final rampage on Aramas.
This is not the story that you are being told today however. TodayÂ’s story focuses on three sisters joined at birth by a bond that transcends all others. They are not only sisters but identical triplets. You would then think for as closely as one resembles the other that they would be similar in other things as well, but the truth of the matter is they couldnÂ’t be more different. Do not focus on this however; more stories will come from this one. What we come to focus on is a red-headed Hin who has crossed into Blighted lands. She stands at a tower under the full influence of the Blight. Crystalis chased her sister Emeraldin this far because she knew what she was attempting to do. Emeraldin was attempting to open a portal from this one to the spirit world, to allow the Vorare in to take what was left and leave Aramas dead. Unbeknownst to Crystalis she was being followed as well, by her youngest sister Saphhira. Saphhira has stopped at a stone shelter built to specifically protect from the BlightÂ’s influence only long enough to catch her breath. Crystalis steps inside the tower and out of the influence of the Blight. At the same time Saphhira moves from the shelter knowing how far Crystalis will go to do what she feels is right. Emeraldin is knelt at an Alter muttering an incantation and a few minutes later Crystalis steps inside and removes her sword from it's sheath and prepares her shield. Suddenly the room shifts, Crystalis loses her balance and falls as a creature steps from a portal into the room. Crystalis had seen the Vorare before and involuntarily shutters at its presence as the Vorare disappears to feed on the rest of the living parts of the world.
“It’s too late Crys, soon everything will be gone.” Emeraldin states plainly.
“You’re wrong Em, if I kill you here and now that thing goes back.”
Emeraldin looks to Crystalis sadly, “I’m sorry Crys, but our world has to die. Mortimal teaches us that only in death can anything be reborn. I carry death with me everywhere I go,” she touches her chest briefly, “I will make right what the Overseers will not.”
“Look at how you had to do it though Emmy. Look at all the suffering you caused in the process,” Crys grips her sword.
“Anything good that comes must come with sacrifice. History may not remember me for the changes I made but they will damn sure remember my accomplishments,” Emeraldin smiles a bit.
Crystalis frowns at this, “Why? Why did you have to do this?”
“Because there was no other way.”
Crys lowers her gaze only a moment, “There was another way. You just refused to look for it!”
“Lies! The Fallen looked for every way! The Silverguard thwarted us every step of the way because they simply would not listen! The Silverguard left Aramas with no other choice save for death!” Emermaldin spat.
“You brought these Vorare upon us!” Crystalis screams.
“Another lie the Council at Brightwater has fed you. The Fallen never brought them here, but I am now manipulating them. The Vorare are much older than you know. This Vorare is the last. The others, destroyed. Once this one gorges itself on what is left of Aramas it too will die then those who have ascended may return to pick up the pieces and rebuild.”
“I will not allow this!”
“Then you doom Aramas to a fate worse than death! At least The Fallen know who we serve. Did you know the rulers of Brightwater are Arcanists? Of course not, you simply blindly followed and killed my kind not even attempting to know what we are.”
Crys gave a smirk, “Now the others are dead, and soon you will follow!”
“You know I am much more than Fallen sister.”
“There are ways of killing those of your origin as well.”
Emeraldin nods, “Think about it Crys, we are the last of our kind on this world. Together we can bring things as they are meant to be. You can come with me, you can help me rebuild. Terramour needs a follower to survive. Join me. You and Sapph, I know she must have followed you. The world will be reborn and Fallen and Overseer will sit together as it was meant to be!”
Crys sneers, “You are crazy.”
“Why do you fight this so hard Crys? Don’t you want a better world?”
“LOOK AROUND EMMY! DOES THIS LOOK BETTER!”
“Don’t Crys, I don’t want to fight you.”
“I don’t want to fight you either but I have to stop this, as long as there are Fallen, there will be Vorare. The Blight cannot end as long as you live,” Crystalis state resolutely.
A dagger slide down from Emeraldin wrist and she lifts her shield preparing for an attack, “You are blind Crys! You see only what you've been taught. If that is your choice, then so be it.”
Saphhira burst into the room, “What in the name of the Overseers do the two of you think you are doing.”
Crys stares straight at Emeraldin, “Leave it alone Sapph, you have no idea what you’ve walked into.”
Emeraldin snaps at Crys, “Don’t talk to our sister like that!”
“Enough talk!” Crystalis shouts as she charges Emeraldin.
“NO!” Saphhira screams.
Crystalis stops and looks to Saphhira with sad eyes. She mouths the words ‘I’m sorry.’ This was the opportunity Emeraldin had been waiting for. She slams a hand down on a symbol glowing in the ritual alter behind her. The same alter that her friend Mirar had used to replace her heart with one of Mortimal’s creation. The same alter used to summon the Vorare locking the Vorare in Aramas until all life is gone. Almost immediately a golden light begins to surround Emeraldin grabbing both Saphhira and Crystalis’ attention. They both realize what is happening to Emeraldin as the room begins to shutter and shake.
“She’s ascending!” Crystalis and Saphhira scream in unison.
Quickly Crystalis and Saphhira run to Emeralidin, the room shakes violently. Footing slips, the trek across the short distance was difficult but both girls reach Emeraldin in time and grab her. In an instant the room darkens and all three women are gone. Screams are heard in the distance as the Vorare begins its final rampage on Aramas.