The Legends of Eroris: Brotherhood
Lore | IC | OOC
Soldier of the Order of the Phoenix, written in 2284 of the 3rd Era
30th of Hard Rain (4) 901 of the Fourth Era
Prince Ruven of the Ashen Empire
When he thought back to it, he couldn't help but relive it. The day that everything, all things went wrong. The fire, the screaming, the emotion... the tsunami would crash onto him, again and again, and again, reminding him relentlessly why he kept on despising, why he kept on hating one name: Julek. That name that represented everything that had gone wrong in his life, everything that would go wrong. His brother was just an embodiment of his mistakes - all his failings - rolled up into one, a single person. He had lost count of how many times had wanted him gone, forgotten forever. The brother that had taken everything from him. He dwelled on his feelings for a moment, let them grow and fester within him, but the soft voice of the woman next to him woke him from his thoughts.
"Ruven, wake up dear."
He opened his eyes to the ocean-blue sky above him and immediately jumped when he saw his wife, Asoka, staring down at him with a smile on her face, "Asoka!" he said incredulously, "How long have you been watching me!?"
"A couple minutes," Asoka laughed softly, "I've told you you sleep like a sexy, little baby."
"Asoka," Ruven whispered, "there are people watching." Indeed they were. In the Nymerian Gardens of Isnhrion, many people walked around and conversed freely as yellow bees buzzed around blooming flowers. In the middle of spring, the garden was a beautiful place with dignitaries from around the Empire coming to see its great oaks and cherry blossoms. The only thing that kept most others from approaching the patch of green Ruven and Asoka sat upon was the Order of the Phoenix, the Imperial Bodyguard, whose soldiers stood watch should anyone suspicious approach the Prince.
"Let them watch," Asoka waved them away as she took Ruven's face his her hands, "It's just you and me, right now." They leaned in to kiss, but Asoka stopped with a sudden jolt.
"Asoka?" Ruven asked with concern, "Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing," she put her hand on her stomach, "It's just the baby kicking."
"You listen here, child!" Ruven pointed towards her bump, "You better stop kicking my woman!"
"Ruven, stop!" she hit him lightly on the shoulder, "They're people watching!"
Ruven chuckled softly as he leaned in to kiss her, "It's like you said; It's just you and me right now."
Even now, years after he had met her, he was still madly in love with Asoka. Her flowing black hair and unrivaled beauty were enough to make any man or elf stand agape in her presence, but Ruven saw much more. The way she carried herself with a kind but determined grace, the way she smiled, the way she acted, the way she everything! just made her all the more precious to him. They were together, ready to face whatever the world threw at them, whether it be war or intrigue. He would keep his family safe, no matter what happened. Ruven and Asoka leaned in to kiss again, but the rapidly approaching footsteps of a messenger through the garden put an end to their last moment of peace, "Prince Ruven!" he cried, "Prince Ruven!"
The guards stopped him before he got too close, lowing their halberts to block his path. Ruven and his wife stood to approach the man before them, who heaved heavily having obviously traveled far to reach them. "What is the meaning of this?" Ruven asked calmly, "Has something happened?"
The messenger struggled to catch his breath, "Chancellor Lhoris has summoned the Wise Council to the city... Your father... we-" he stammered for a moment.
"Spit it out!"
The messenger looked up at Prince, face grave and said, "We have received a White Hawk, your grace. I'm sorry, but the Emperor is dead." the messenger continued on for a moment, saying words that washed over Ruven unheard, and unheeded. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders because the day he had dreaded for so long had come; his father had died, and soon, so would he.
Marauder Fleet, The Isle of Alista, Valyaria
Æthelred was not ready to die. Almost thirty years of service in the Legion and this would be where he fell. Not in a melee with an Orc war band, nor in the middle of battle, but at the hands of some foreign marauders demanding a ransom. He was sure that they had sent for his family in Harmon days ago, for why else would they had kept him for? They most likely had the Emperor as well, hidden under a similar sack only able to smell and hear the activity of a gathering war band. Fucking typical... Æthelred thought. It was obvious at this point no one was going to pay for his ransom, that much was clear. He had been in there far too long for any reasonable bird to make a flight from Evermoor to Harmon. Perhaps this was what his family wanted, happy to be rid of him? No, certainly that wasn't it. His wife would never do something like that... although- his train of though was interrupted when he heard several figures inter where he was kept. Maintaining his composure underneath his sack, he tired to speak his way out of his situation, "I'll have you know that I am a Legate of the Imperial Legion! I demand you release me or face the wrath of the Empire!"
The shadows of the figures on his sack spoke to one another in their strange barbaric tone, incomprehensible to the Reachman, "Could you speak something that I can actually understand?! Hello?!" He prepared to speak again, before a large figure entered into his cell, towering over all the others.
"Reveal him," the being said in a old but powerful voice. Æthelred began to thank him, grateful to finally speak to someone that knew his language, but was shocked to see a gigantic black owl standing before him the full battle armor. "Um... I-"
The owl's eyes narrowed, "He's worthless to us. Kill him like the rest."
The figure next to him, a snake-creature possessing no legs, drew a long silver blade.
"No, wa-" his head was rolling on the floor before he could even finish. The owl, having seen enough, began to walk back towards his quarters with his retinue. "Lord Zei," one of his guards said in their native tongue, "That was our last captive. We still know too little."
The Owl stopped in his tracks to looked towards the besieged city, "And as long as you shoot down their Hawks, nether shall they. Kill anyone not of Ki's blood. We shall return this land to its rightful owners..."