Rise of Shadow, the Legacy begins

[Phelan]

Phelan padded silently through the forest. Phelan headed deeper into the woods and was edging ever closer to homeland of the elves. A place that he until now had always thought of as home. Phelan had spent the last days since he had left the cleric, in the hot sands of Freeport, battling with his feelings. He hated what the cleric had said, but the truth was he was right.

I am no Dal, he thought as he moved through the forest with such speed he was nothing more than a shadow. I am a Tier'Dal, a bit misguided, but I am a Tier'Dal that will never change. Neriak is my home and I have been nothing but a shade of what my house once was. Phelan whispered to himself.

What of Aramis? And what of his brother Gaien?

What of them? Aramis is dead, by my hand, he was a Dal and I am a Tier'Dal it is the way of things. Phelan argued with himself.

And his brother? Gaien? what of him, he is your friend..

Friend? Ha...he tried to kill me and let me go that was his biggest mistake, if I see him again I will cut his head from his shoulders. He is what we used to be, he is nothing more than a misguided human who thinks he is an elf. He is a distortion of nature. Phelan screamed in his head.

The other voice seemed to vanish. Phelan knew this was nothing more than one of the symptoms that Zaceerius warned him about.

The more I am admitting what I am, the less he comes around. Phelan thought.

Phelan heard a branch crack ahead of him about 100 paces. Phelan sprang into the safe shadows of the trees limbs. He sprinted ahead not disturbing a leaf as he ran ahead from branch to branch silent as the shadows in which he was enshrouded.

[Phelan]

A wolf bolted through the woods in a dead sprint. Phelan looked in the distance where it had come from and saw a lone figure running in the same direction. Phelan sat quietly squating on the end of the branch, still as a statue. The figure was running in a line with where he was.

Phelan waited for his moment, no elf would take him in for the bounty on his head. Phelan sprang into movement in one fluid motion. He pushed with all of his might with his legs using the branch to spring him higher up throught the foilage as he pitched himself so that his head was rotating down arms out to the sides with his swords drawn and his feet gracefully pointed as the hit the zenith of their accent.

Phelan completed his rotation as his feet landed in a perfect fighting stance. Phelan focused on his opponet and was immediately suprised to see a Tier'Dal standing before him clad in black plate, who looked as equally suprised to see Phelan out in these woods. Phelan quickly sheathed his swords confident that he could draw them and strike before the Tier'Dal in front of him could snap his wrist at Phelan.

Seeing Phelans gesture of peace the Tier'Dal gawked wided eyed at Phelan as he stuttered.

"Wh..wh..wh..wh...who are..y..yo...you?"

"I am Phelan Seladria, head of the Seladria house, who are you?" Phelan said with all of the proper force a head of the house should put forward.

"I am Ber'lain, guardsman of..." Phelan never heard the rest of what the young boy had been about to say. The rushing wind of the arrow had spurred Phelan into the shadows of the trees once again as the corpse of Ber'lain hit the ground. The corpse was barely recognizeable with all of the arrows sticking from it.

24 arrows, probably two a piece, 12 elves all together, all of which have seen me.... No use in trying to determine where they were in relation to their shots, elves weren't like the other races when they fired their bows they moved immediately after. They could be anywhere. Phelan thought.

He sat again still as the rock on the ground, silent as the grave he scanned the surrounding trees for the slightest hint. Phelan looked for his best escape route at the same time.

What do you need that for? You aren't going to let these sniffling Dal's shoot their little darts at you and live are you? He thought quietly. Phelan closed his eyes trying to be rational.

There are 12 of them to me, they are hidden and have seen me, if we don't run we will die.

Sounding more and more like a Dal by the minute, maybe you do need to be drug back to their city and hung from one of the guild houses there. Phelan's mouth contorted with rage.

I will not be a prisoner, I will not bend my neck to anyone and definately not a Dal. If they want me they will have to kill me. Phelan thought, his blue eyes were a light shade of ice, as warm as stone.

Phelan skulked slowly into a new position in a different tree. He waited, a hunter is paitent, when the opportunity to strike shows itself then the hunter strikes with all of his fury, Phelan's father used to tell him. The hours ticked by and the corpse of Ber'lain had long since stopped twitching and began to fill the air with the stench of death.

"Did anyone see where the other one went?" Phelan heard from off to his right. He heard birds, but he knew better, sing briefly spread out along his right side. Phelan smiled a wicked grin, too late for them now.

what of your oath? you swore that you would never spill and elfs blood again. In honor of Aramis...

Aramis is dead, there is no honor in rotting, if he had been worthy of honor he would have killed me first. Mercy is for the weak. Everytime I have shown mercy to a prisoner it has come back to haunt me. NO MORE! No Mercy! No Prisoners! the voices argued and then fell silent.

Phelan gripped his hair, he was going mad, he knew it. His past haunting him, Phelan began to slink away from the elven hunting party. Then something in his head felt like it broke, there was a breif shooting pain and then it was all clear. Phelan closed his eyes and opened them to a new world, nothing had changed but his perspective. A wicked grin crept to his face as he stalked the elves one by one silently killing them as they tried to find him.

When it was over the headless elves hung from the trees by their intestines like some sort of macabre decoration. Phelan set the heads in a neat circle with all of the faces facing outwards. The faces were twisted in horrible silent screams of terror that would never be heard. Phelan didnt' turn for home, but headed deeper into the home of the elves. The sunset as Phelan skulked from tree to tree.

The elves may live in the forest, but the night is my domain and everyone has to sumbit to the darkness of night. Phelan thought.

[Phelan]

The days rolled by and Phelan's destruction and desecration of elves continued. Hunting parties had been dispatched and Phelan made short work of them as they became the prey and Phelan became the hunter. Since his journey from Freeport he had accumulated frabics and armor from his victims, which he had slowly been piecing together in his freetime. Each piece was dyed in a mixture of blood and berries making them all a deep red that looked velvety black.

Phelan looked at his reflection as he stood over the river bank, he tenderly touched the wound that crossed from just above his left eye to his mouth, luckily for him the blade had missed his eye. Much to his suprise his eyes glowed a deep red and his face no longer bore the mirthful lines at the corners of his eyes or around his mouth. Phelan admired the black-red armor that he now wore, his hair blowing in the wind.

Time for the final touch he thought.

Phelan took one of the many daggers he had accumulated, from his belt and began cutting his snow white hair. When he was finished his hair was closely cropped about his head, with his new wound that was fast healing into a scar and his new hair style he was truly fearsome. Phelan picked up the helmet, which he had made from the skulls of the elves he had killed and placed it upon his head. The bone white helmet shrouded his face in darkness except for the angry red slits of his eyes.

It is time to return home and claim my place in Neriak. My exploits here will reach Neriak just before my arrival and there will be no question as to who did it. Defiling thier precious city in the trees, writing my name in elven blood on the sides of homes will assure them who did this. Phelan thought with a smile.

Phelan took a deep breath, the morning air was tinged with a hint of copper. Phelan took one last look around the carnage of his last action against the elves. A smile crossed his face as he headed off for Neriak.

[Phelan]

Phelan traveled for days until he saw the welcoming darkness of his homeland, Neriak. The twisted trees and the thick sulfurous clouds were comforting and a welcome sight to the weary and travel worn Tier'Dal. Thoughts had been weighing on his mind on his journey home.

I can't just walk into Neriak without consequence. Surely Nikkii is furious not to mention Naldany. Thoughts of Naldany brought thoughts of thier son and of other comforts that Phelan longed for. But how to smugle myself into Neriak? Perhaps Patryas could help, he has helped me everytime I needed it thus far. If I could only get him a message. Phelan thought as he trugged on. His helmet gleamed in the dim light and his armor seemed to wrap darkness about him, the only distinguishing feature that could be seen, was Phelans glowing red eyes.

[Phelan]

Phelan stayed away from the gates of the city and remained out of site. Phelan found a tree near a cave he had used a few times before in his travels around Neriak, Phelan climbed into the tree and settled in amongst the saftey of the shadows in the foilage.

there are a few people who know of this cave, once they here of the massacare I made in the elven lands someone will come looking, the question is who? It doesn't matter they will find nothing, unless I wish them too. He thought to himself as he made himself comfortable in the high branches above.

[Phelan]

3 days passed without anyone coming to the cave.

Was I wrong? Perhaps I have been forgotten about already. It doesn't take long to be forgotten in Neriak.

Phelan thought. He took off his helmet and ran his hands through his short with hair.

No one will recognize me anyways, not with my hair shortened and the scar, not too mention my eyes.

Phelan thought as he climbed out of the tree. Phelan placed the helmet back upon his head, wreathing his face in deep shadows once again, only his glowing red eyes were visable. Phelan pulled his heavy leather black cloak about him as he headed toward Neriak. Shadows seemed to cling to the ground around him, despite the heavy armor and the amount of knives and 4 swords that he bore, he made nothing more than a whisper as he walked briskly through the woods.

By midday the gates of Neriak were within sight. Phelan walked with confidence knowing that he looked nothing like the man who had left here. Phelan walked between the guards and none paid notice to him as usual. Phelan made his way through the twisting alleys of Neriak and arrived at the door of the Fenn'dal House. Phelan wrapped his gauntlet sharply twice upon the door and waited.

[Phelan]

Phelan stood waiting for an answer for several moments, but no one came to the door.

damn, I guess it is time to go to the O'seth house, Phelan thought as he turned and headed for the place that had seemed like a prison to him last time he was there.

Phelan walked into the courtyard still wearing his helmet. Phelan aproached the doors of the church and was blocked by two guards near the door.

"Halt, we do not know you, state your name and business or leave." The guard said. Phelan recognized him, he was one of Adauns regiment officers.

"Is this how you greet all the Lords of your house?" Phelan said as he removed his helmet and glared at the guard. The guards looked at one another and then slowly parted thier spears.

Phelan walked through the hallways and stopped in front of Nikkii's chamber door. He knocked twice and stepped inside, not waiting for a answer.

might as well get this out of the way first. Phelan thought.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii was taken by surprise by the sudden opening of her door. She had Aramis on her knee and was barely dressed. She looked up and smirked at the sight of Phelan as she placed the child on her bed.

" So you returned to Neriak after all. I'm guessing your wife hasn't seen seen you yet .... because I don't think you would be standing infront of me........"

She stood up and threw a robe over her undergarments and approached Phelan.

" I hear you slayed some of the Dal ... does this mean that you are excepting what you are. Or ......."

Nikkii drew a dagger from the robe and pointed towards Phelan.

" Your here to attack me and take the child I won't let you have him not until you explain why you came back..."

[Patryas]

The silent master had seen Phelan walking in the streets. In that ever quiet and invisible way he traveled the rooftops in shadow, he followed Phelan to the O'Seth. He got onto the roof and listened in to the conversation between Phelan and Nikkii.

[Phelan]

Phelan looked at her with confusion.

"Why would I try and take away the child from you? You are teaching him to be a proper Tier'Dal, however I do expect time with my son also, he needs to learn to be a proper male of the House of Seladria. As for Naldany, she can be upset, but that is foolish on her part. I had to take care of things before returning here."

Phelan leered at Nikkii for second, before continuing. His grin was menacing and wolf like from the scar that pulled the left corner of his mouth higher than it should have.

"I hadn't realized that my exploits in the Elven homeland had reached ears here in Neriak. I am what I am, did you expect me to have an excuse for killing the weakling elves? You obvisiously still harbor doubts toward me, that is to be expected. You can rest assured that I am a true Tier'Dal, any questions about this can be resolved by my sword. May I see my son for a moment?" Phelan asked, but it was more of a demand than a question.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii hesitated for a few moments and looked over his striking new apperance. She let the dagger fall and turned back to Aramis on her bed.

" She means to kill you.... Now I'm not so sure that is the right choice. I need tier'dal that I know will protect the house even though it will fall on Darlena and Naldany wether the house remains the O'seth name or that of your former house. "

Nikkii gently picked up Aramis and kissed his forehead and handed him to Phelan.

" Lilyth.... she is here and I'm powerless to do anything to her. She is my stepmother and means to fix Aramis.. but I have noticed he is an avatar but not of just one deity.... I studied him and and noticed that he has the touch of Tunare... and that of Innoruuk. Your the first I told this to and if Lilyth finds this out she will cause alot of problems for us all."


Nikkii sat back down on her bed and motioned for Phelan to come over.

" If you wish confront your wife ... she may still yet hear you out but keep in mind Loveless almost killed her and she blames you for it..... Look in my wardrobe .... I have some things that might protect you from her attacks, lighting is what she would use on you."

[Phelan]

Phelan held Aramis as he sat down next to Nikkii.

"I swear that if she attacks me I will not hesitate to defend myself, even if that leads to her destruction. I will try to calm her though. My house will continue on with or without her, I was blinded by many things before, but now I see. I love Naldany as any Tier'Dal would, but there are things more important than love, your example showed me that.

I know that you, of all people, understand my desire to see my house reestablished, my house was a powerful house and I intend to see it that way again, seprate of the O'Seth house. I hope that, when it is back to that state that the O'Seth's and Seladria's are allies." Phelan said as he tickled Aramis. Phelan grew quiet for a few moments as he looked at his son, a troubled look crossed his face.

"What you say about Aramis makes no sense, how is that possible?........ What does this Lylith, who ever she is, intend to do to Aramis and by what right? she isnt' related by blood to him. And why is it that you cannot stop her?" Phelan said as he looked back up at Nikkii.

[Nikkii O'seth]

" She is not related to me either by blood. She is ..... was my fathers wife and mistress.I am forbidden to attack her in any way,because she knows things that could hurt the house........ but that does not include outsiders of the house. She thinks that making him innoruuks avatar he would bestowe her with gifts. I know it makes no sence Phelan but it is possible.... look at me and Darlena. My red hair is from the dwarf deity brell...... without it I would be much weaker. She knows my secret as you do know that I'm a halfbreed and not even related to Naldany."


Nikkii took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

" If you wish Lilyth is further down the hall you'll see the Hazernak gaurdsmen at her door.... She is a necromancer like Kalysta but much more powerful..... and what happened to make you change as such I liked your hair longer and now you scarred that pretty face."


She said with an evil smile.

[Phelan]

Phelan grunted at the comment and traced the scar over his eye and down his cheek.

"It gives me a rugged look." Phelan said with a wink and a smile.

"I don't think that talking to Lylith right now would help much. I am more worried about Naldany and what she will do when she sees me." Phelan paused thoughtfully. "Perhaps you could talk to her for me? As I said, I will defend myself if I have to.... or maybe you have a charm that I could wear that would protect me from her attacks?" Phelan said glancing to the many charms on her desk. Phelan put Aramis down on the bed.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii reach up and unclipped a few of the charms from her neck and removed two rings off her fingers with a heavy sigh. She move over to the dresser and took the suppressor charm that was once on Aramis and handed it to him.

" I already tried reason with her and I'm not going to resort to hitting her right now.... What these will to is deminish the effect of her spells greatly so the spells that take little away from her will not harm you, but the detonation spell still can."

Nikkii layed the child down and patted him on his back before speaking again.

" Its the only spell she has to still chant to cast but it takes awhile that will be your opportunity. I feel better about you now for some reason, so I am planning on looking for Darlena myself. She hasn't returned from the elf lands and I lost telepathic contact with her....... She might be in danger or worst so I must find out for myself. Just be easy with her, shes confused and hurt..... And don't lose my jewlery, some of those cannot be replaced."