The World of Layonara
Character Development => Development Journals and Discussion => Topic started by: Candor Ignifer on February 24, 2006, 06:14:16 PM
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[SIZE=16][SIZE=13]Mymother, a Wood Elf maiden by the name of Nathyrra, had been quite the warrior in her day. A warrior's path however is not always one of honor and duty, there are those that charge a gold coin for each time they swing their sword, and Nathyrra was one of these. Being a Wood Elf, Nathyrra was expected to accept certain duties, such as using her abilities to protect the Singing Forest, the home of her clan. But Nathyrra felt otherwise, the call for a mercenary was seldom heard amoung the musical trees, and coin trading hands was even more rare in the sects of the Elves.[/SIZE] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=16][SIZE=13]So, as the true mercenary that she was, she followed the path of money, and that inevitably led her into the lands of the humans. Though her human employers may not have always shown her the courtesy that an Elven maiden is warranted, they always paid well. Well enough for Nathyrra to make a name for herself. Eventually her contracts had brought her to Mesindal, a town far south of the Singing Forest that she knew so well, but her desire for wealth was no longer overpowering her desire to see kin. [/SIZE][/SIZE] [SIZE=13]So she steeled herself and prepared to relinquish the life of the "sell-sword" and face her clan back home. As it was, she would never return home again, for as she was making to depart the town she encountered a male; anElven male. His name was Sjack, and he was a retired veteran recently arriving from the human settlement of North Fort. Sjack captivated her, he was a humanized Elf, it was true, but his eyes spoke of countless years, and his voice was heavy with the burden of a thousand battle cries. Indeed, Nathyrra had found another who courted death as she did. The two were soon married, and Nathyrra came to be with child. But even more remarkable was the feeling of peace that she now felt. She didn't need gold, and she certainly didn't need fame. She only needed Sjack. And though she had forgotten her old life, it had not forgotten her. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13]Not long afterI was born, her home was invaded[/SIZE] [SIZE=13]by dark men. They spoke no words, no threats, or cries of retribution from deeds of her past. They only advanced, a grim promise of death to come. But she was Nathyrra, and Sjack was a soldier as well, and these assassins would not make easy prey of them. They battled their foes, and had it not been for the enemy's numbers, they would have been victorious. But the dark men pushed forward, and each lucky strike made it more apparant that if they stayed, they would die. In a desperate act Sjack hurled himself at his foes, buying Nathyrra enough time to gather me up and flee. Nathyrra never looked back, she never saw the death blow, but she knew in her heart, that Sjack was dead. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13]Nathyrra had fled, and fearing a future discovery of her survival, she chose a remote spot in the wilds to stay and raise me. For over a century the two ofus lived on the outskirts of the Dark Forest. It proved more than capable of hiding us, as long aswe avoided the spiders. And the waters of the Shadow River and Lake Croen suppliedus with all the fishwe would need. Nathyrra spent the time trainning me in the ways of martial arts. Since swords and armor were not attainable in the wilderness,I was forced to rely more onmy natural talents, the strength ofmy fists, the endurance ofmy body, and the serenity of meditation. Butmy prowess was not the only change in me.I had been nourished for years on the dark waters of the River, and had spent hours walking the nightmarish paths of the woods, andmy environment was beginning to take its toll on me. Soonmy hair was drained of all color, andmy eyes became deep pools of silver specked blue.I was becoming as darkly twisted as the landI called home. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13]But it was worse for Nathyrra. She was getting on in years now, and she did not havemy youthful stamina to save her from the harmful affects of the unnaturally dark terrain. And thoughI repeatedly tried to convice her that they should depart and seek the medical aids in the city, she refused. She would not be taken now, soon she would be with Sjack again.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=13]The night she died she spoke to me, her eyes were ox-blood and her skin was pasty, "My son, do you know why I chose to be a warrior instead of staying in the forest?"I shookmy head. "Because someone once told me what I am about to tell you," Her rasping voice was broken by a fit of coughing.I leaned in closer tomy mother, "A man is a sword," She whsipered, "A sword is constructed, piece by piece, it is tempered, sharpened, and it reaches the peak of its strength only to spend the rest of its time dulling and rusting. Most swords are common, a single edged straight blade with a wooden hilt. No engravings, no intricacies, the whole thing is solid, for the most part and will serve the purpose, but there is nothing to marvel at." She stopped to catch her breath. "But every so often there comes a blade of such superiority that it demands the jealousy of sword smiths and swordsmen alike, and it leaves all other blades before it wonting. Time is not a factor to these exceptional weapons, their edge is eternal, and rust does not find them. For these weapons, shame only comes when wielded by an unworthy hand." She grasped for a drink whichI quickly supplied her. Swallowing hard, she continued,"Men are the same. We are born, raised, taught right and wrong. We face trials and tribulations throughout our lives; some even attain prestige through special teachings. We are warriors, craftsmen, and merchants and at one point we will be stronger than at any other moment in our lives. Life will go on and we work to regain our peak stature, but like the sword we only dull and rust. Most men are common, they work hard and live good lives, but they served no purpose. Yet from among the masses there rises those of greatness. Men who change the world, leave behind legends that will live far passed their times. It is these men all other men aspire to. But these men also have worries; the premier is concern over the fate that dictates their paths." She strained at the last words. "Remember, Darkchild, a man is a sword." Her grip onmy hand failed, and sheslipped into eternal night to be with Sjack forever. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=13]Later, afterI had buriedmy mother's body,I beganmy trek away from the forest that had left its eternal mark on me.I did not notice the miles slipping passed me,I did not notice the setting of the sun and rising of the moon.My mind was elsewhere. "A man is a sword,"I recited, "What kind of sword am I?” [/SIZE][SIZE=16]
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Nathyrra had always told Kiva that the world was full of magic and possibility. But even so, he had never expected to be summoned by a Dragon. Last he remembered he had lay down in the grass, tired from walking for such a long time. He was toiling with the idea of returning to the home he had so recently departed, when he fell asleep. It was a peaceful rest, his first in days since his mother had died.But when he awoke, he was longer in the Dregar wilds. He was somewhere else. He glanced about him, trying to pinpoint landmarks that he knew. There were none,the forest was totally alien to him.The only thing that offered any bearing was the large statue of the Dragon. He approached, hoping for a memorial plaque, or something else to read to discern his location. Instead he was greeted with great bellowing words, "Greetings, Kiva "Darkchild" Seidai!"
Kiva had nearly fallen back in shock. TheDragon was real! It watched him patiently as hegained his composure, then it greeted him again. TheDragon's voice was softer this time. The Dragon explained that there was a great evil threatening the land andKiva had been summonedas a warrior to battle this foe. Kiva had never met a Dragon before andhe was not about to offend this one, so he accepted.
It seemed to him that he fell asleep again, heremembered hazy images of running along a road and speaking with a statue of a great warrior. When he came too, he found himselfin the center of a strange village. Kiva looked about him, seeing Hlint for the first time.
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Kiva watched as Renji departed with Jin's party. After theywere well out of sight, he sat softly on the damp grass. The burning fire held no warmth for him, for his mindwas miles away from it... Jin was going in search of his mother...When I first requested Jin to bring me along, the truth is, I had little interest in his quest. All that mattered was that he would find battle. He was a means to an end. Follow Jin, find combat, learn. Then he spoke his reason for questing: An attempt to find his mother. Could ever a more noble cause be known? I was reminded of my own mother...of her life...of her death...Once Jin's motivation was made clear, I resolved to truly assist him. But Jin must have seen my initial intentions, and recognised my disinterest in his well being. I could not make my heart known, not with so many present, so I was left behind.
...I hope he finds her...
Slowly, Kiva rose from the ground and left the sanctuary of the campsite. He walked back into town.
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[/SIZE][/FONT] The night waxed full as the clouds shifted and released the moon's silvery glow upon the land. Kiva removed his hood, and raised his face towards the sky. Silently, with eyes closed, he let the nocturnal light bathe him, his lungs filled with the night air, his ears drank the sounds of the creatures in the dark...
I find myselfperplexed tonight... Jin Lun Lee and Renji have returned, their journey both a failure and success. But that is not what concerns me. It turned out beneficial that I was left behind, for I discovered that my nature and name have become a topic of interest. There was one, Le'vester was his name, that took a childlike awe to my name, he even wanted to call me "DC". He said it sounded epic. But everyone else reacts differently. I met a Dwraf called Axodeth and another named Thrain, both took to my name with caution. They asked if I associate with evil. How does one answer that question? I can say "No, I am righteous!" But that would be lying. I could tell them, "Yes, I eat the hearts of sleeping children!". That too would be a lie. These people will think what they want regardless of my answers. And that is the way it is...
I wish I could show them that darkness is the absence of light, not good...darkness is not evil...
Kiva removed a canteen from his belt and took a drink. Replacing his hood over his face, he left in search of the other adventurers.
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Kiva paced back and forth, his feet and his hands trembled, his mind reeled. Not even the setting sun and the promise of a new night drew his attention away from the day's events.His body quivered with the diminishing excitement...
Today I tasted battle! Not battle like that with those filthy goblins, but true battle. Under the care of Axodeth and Exodus Stonecutter, I journeid into the northern mountains and engaged ogres. Ogres!I am ashamed to admit the truth, I aided very little, but my gods the exhilaration was overwhelming. I witnessed theDwarven brothers slice those ogres down, each falling under their axes. It was amazing. But the best was yet to come... A dark knight joined us mid-adventure, they all called him Derrick, and mentioned that he owned a place called the Arms. If the Dwarves were amazing, this man was God-like. He knewbattle, he knewwar.He showed me the skills of a true warrior...I will not rest until I can equal him.
Kiva's body calmed, his hands steadied. He must learn the ways of battle,in every aspect. He knew the fist and foot, he needed to learn the sword, the axe, the spear, and the bow. He must attain the strategy, the tactics, and the mindset. He silently swore that he would master warfare in its entirety.He sought out Axodethto plead for his instruction.
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Kiva listened intently as Axodeth provided the instructions for survival in this particular cave. He struggled to understand the Dwarf's thick accent, but he managed. Axodeth finished, wished him luck, and headed into the cave's stoney maw.
I don't know what surprises me more, that I asked a Dwarf for help, or that he accepted an Elven apprentice. Either way, he has accepted me as his pupil. I beleive it is even more advantageous than that since Axodeth's brother Exodus also teaches me. I am truly fortunate to have the privoledge to learn from these two. I swear by my mother's grave in the Black Forest that I will not fail them. I will learn all they have to teach. I will listen to every word that I can understand...perhaps I should ask to be tutored in Dwarven as well.
Kiva tightened his grip on his bow and knocked an arrow. He plunged into the cave and hugged the wall. He could see Axodeth a little distance away eyeing a lone goblin. The goblin faced the other way and Axodeth lunged, Kiva loosed his arrow...
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Kiva looked about puzzled. He pressed deeper into forest, his eyes straining to make out the shapes in the canopy shadowed woods. He stopped and listened but there was nothing, only the crickets and the owls....
This is strange. Today I was killed for the first time while journeying with Axodeth and his brother. First I was brought to a realm of total darkness, it was an absolute void. Truth be told, I loved it. But I was ripped away from that realm and found myself staring at the bindstone in Hlint. Not long after, Exodus' spirit joined my own. I didn't feel so bad about dying since Exodus died too. The two of us sat for a while, and I meditated on my death, using the expirience of life extinguished to further my trek into the shadow of night. But my meditation was broken by a voice...it...it sounded like my mother. She was calling from the north, she begged me to come to her...I knew my mother was dead, but I didn't know how my dying had affected me, so I left Exodus in haste and followed the voice. I have searched for many hours, but cannot find her. This is strange...But I can feelthe void between life and death fading within me, I shall return to the living soon. But...my mother...if she is still alive...I must find her.
With a sigh Kiva gave up his search. But his mind tumbled with thoughts and questions. Something was not right here, how could his mother call to him? She had died. But so had he, could he hear her because he too was dead? If so,where was she. He would meditate long on this matter, but not in the forests. He made his way back into Hlint.
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Kiva held a rapier in each hand. They felt heavy and clumsy, despite what he had heard about their swiftness. His fingers wrapped oddly around the hilt, and he shifted them endlessly to find a comfortable position. He swung his arms a few times to test their weight and drag factor...clumsy. Sighing, he focused on the bush directly in front of him, he poised...and struck! His arm lashed out, the blade piercing through the foliage...but his hand followed, pursued by his arm and then body. Kiva now lay in the bush.
This is ridiculous! I have seen My Lords Axodeth and Exodus slay many enemies. Renji as well. Why can I not get it right, I know I hold the swords, I know what they are used for, but whenever I strike I mimic the movements of an unarmed strike and over-extend myself. But I will not give up. I will continue to try, and in the end I will be a master of combat in every facet. But first things first, time to get out of this bush...
Kiva pulled himself from the shrub, plucking branches and leaves from his cloak. He prepared to try again, he focused on the bush, his grip tightened, his shoulder and elbow coiled, then...he struck!
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Kiva calmly strolled back to Hlint, a joyous smile hidden under his shadowed hood. His mind was at ease, and the fellow adventurers racing ahead did not disturb him, he was tranquil. Nothing could ruin his mood.
I can't believe that I killed him. An Ogre! Can you imagine, he was three times my size at least, and his club was the size of my body, but he fell! And not to my foot, not to my fist, no. That would be expected, he fell to my blades. My twin rapiers! They tasted Ogre blood by my hand. I wish I could have seen My Lord Axodeth's face when I slew the beast, but he was wearing his helm. I'm sure he was pleased though. Unfortunately my increasing skill surfaces new questions, suh as: How does one reconcile the mind of a martial artist and the mind of a warrior. They're lives are similiar, but couldn't be more different. Discipline and order with talent and force of arms. I'm sure the two paths can be walked simultaneiously, but I must discover the means.
Kiva's tranquil mood had vanished, leaving confusion in its wake. His pace quickened to catch up with the others as he puzzled this conundrum.
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Kiva knelt on the platform above Hlint. The night had waxed full; the moon shone through the clouds, casting its silvery light over the town. Through his meditation he could hear the voices of others throughout the town. He recognized a few of them; Renji was speaking with Tegan, and the Stonecutter brothers were speaking with one of their many cousins. Kiva sank deeper into his reverie, escaping the noise of civilization.
Today I tested my skills without the aid of the Stonecutters. A man named Allean was seeking an oil that had been stolen by an Ogre who resided in the Grey Peaks. He sought aid in his quest, and though I had been to the Grey Peaks previously and knew full well the ferocity and numbers of the Ogres, I agreed to help. Our party was small, but there was a woman who called herself Moonlight, and a man named Brenden, and the three of us were able to tackle our foes and guide Allean safely to his quarry. It was strange not having My Lords there to protect me, I felt both terrified andexhilarated all at once. And by the end of the day, Iknew that my skills are improving. They must improve more.
Kiva let his mind drift back to the surface and the noise.His eyes opened to find Exodus Stonecutter standing over him. "Time for another adventure." Kiva thought to himself.
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Kiva stared at the two rapiers that he had pierced into the ground. They just rested there, almost daring him to pull them from their new home. He paced back and forth glancing at them breifly and looking away again. He knew it was ludicrous, but he was angry at them.
These things, they taunt me. I chose them as my weapons, to be my bastions on the road of the warrior, yet everytime I draw them I feel my skill vanishing. Their weight adds to my arms making me clumsy, and their length feels unnatural to me. I cannot help but want to collide my fist into the enemy. But now I understand. I tried to walk both the path of the warrior and the path of the monk at once. It was my mistake, how can one walk a path he does not know, and I do not know the path of the warrior. I have realized that to reconcile the two courses I am going to have to know both, I know the path of the monk, I must choose the path of the warrior. And then, once my feet have tasted both roads, I will combine them.
Kiva grasped the rapier hilts and pulled them from the ground, he realized that he was regarding them as enemies. Grudgingly he placed them in their scabbards and tried to forget about them.
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Kiva paced back and forth, he struggled to overcome his anger, but he wasn't succeeding. He turned on his heel and sent his fist into a nearbytree , there was a small crack and he saw that a dent had formed. Realizing that he had allowed rage to overcome his discipline, he regained his composure and leaned against the tree that he had just assaulted.
Today I met a woman that I thought was truly stunning. Her name was Akki. The events that transpired are not important, what is of note though is that I do not know if I have made a friend or an enemy. Only time will tell. I still owe her however, because she called to attention something that I had overlooked. In my race to become a great warrior I neglected my own unique talents. The mark left on me by the Black Forest and the Shadow River runs deeper than the flesh. I have become totally abhorent to light, I dread the sun rise, and I feel more enervated during the night time hours. What any of this means, I do not know. But if I am to become a complete combatant, as I intend, it may be wise to explore my dark influence. I just hope it does not make even more people assume that I am evil.
Kiva peeled himself from the tree, closed his eyes, and listened. He knew he was alone, but those whispers were there. The ever present song of the shadows around him. He lost himself to the dark music.
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Kiva's body felt like it was being turned inside-out. His vision swam, his lungs burned, and his eyes were melting, only to reform and melt again. Finally the world took form, the pinnacle that was the mage's tower loomed above him, and the familiar sounds of the forest north of Hlint greeted his ears. He stepped out of the portal and awaited the others.
I was almost home. Almost! We had journeyed for days, crossing oceans and mountians, forests and valleys. And finallywe had reached the Troll Mountians, a treacherous snow covered range in Dregar.I could hear the call of home, it was so close. We found a pass under the mountians, we descended the stairs, the chill air whipped at the gates behind us.I scouted ahead, but Axodeth cried out behind me. I turned to find My Lord and his cousins swarmed by vipers, they were fighting back...but they fell. Every last one of them.One of the serpents came for me then,Idodged and weaved my way through the mass of writhing bodies. But I wasnot swift enough, one of them sank its fangs into my leg. Refusing to succumb I struggled to the surface and slammed the gates shut. Ilay there, the poison coursing through my veins, and darkness swallowed me. And I welcomed it. But I awoke, theGoblin Protho standing above me, he had survived too? I stood, finding that my body was no longer wracked by the venom. Wiping the snow from my clothes I began the trek back to North Point.
The last of Kiva's deceased fellows passed through the portal, and Kiva followed. He watched the spirits of theDwarves as they opened the gates to Hlint and entered. Kiva was the least skilled of all of them, and only he had survived. Maybe he wasn't as unskilled as he thought.
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Kiva's legs threatened to fail with the force he was putting into them. He pressed them harder, working them back and forth, but no matter how fast he ran, the bright figure behind him was gaining on him. Heoberved his surroundings, he was in a strange forest, silver trees with golden leaves, white sunlight piercing through the canopy and showering the ground in light.His pursuer was almost on him now, he made one last attempt to tap into any preserved strength he had stored. There was none. He wascaught...His eyes shot open, sweat pouring down his face. He realized it was only a dream.
...No...I cannot be caught by the light...I cannot be captured by the day...NEVER!! This is all my fault! I've done this to myself. When I first came to Mistone I was weak, true, but I relied on those around me far to much. Now I find myself looking forward to their faces. Ridiculous! Why should I? They don't know me, they don't know what happened to me, they don't know what I've become. They all judge me by my name before they even witness my actions. But I cannot blame them, I have done this to myself. I will remedy it. Yes, I will repair the damage I have done and rid myself of any traces of light that I have foolishly clung to. But I cannot become evil, I will not be their perverse view of darkness. I still have debts to repay. Axodeth and Exodus Stonecutter, I must not break my word with them. But when my training is completed...that's it. No more! When I have what I need I will become what I am meant to be, an absolute creature of the night!
Kiva glanced around him. No one was nearby, he sought out the deepest darkest shadow around, and when he found it, he sank into it and let the blackness take him.
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Kiva sat, his feet dangling just above the water's surface. His eyes were closed but his ears were open, they were drinking in the dark song of the shadows playing upon the water. A peaceful smile crossed his lips and he breathed lightly.
Thisis the night as everyone should know it, the dark world, so intoxicatingly beautiful,yet so fleeting. I tried to show Lady Ranewin how to hear the shadow's song, and I think she was beginning to understand, but we were interupted, someone named Firesteed. I forget his first name. His comments broke Ranewin's concentration, and then they became utterly offensive. I do not blame him however, how can you explain the concept of colors to a blind man? It is the same with the nocturnal world that I know and love. Perhaps I will try to show Ranewin again some day, but that day is not today.
Kiva lay back on the grass, letting the moist dirtwet his tunic. He entered his Reverie guided gently by the music of the night.
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Kiva perched high in the tree in Hlint. Unknowing people passed below him and exchanged words and gestures. He, however, was not paying them any mind, his attention was drawn to the conversation he had the previous night.
Last night was a marker point for me, I know it. By speaking with the woman Eldarwen I was able to discover the truth behind the women called Ally and Silly. And I am glad to say that I met Silly, the true Silly, for the first time. But even more noteworthy is the companion of Eldarwen, a Shadow named Blink. At first I was awe struck by him, and I greeted him as a brother. But as our conversation continued I found that I did not like Blink much. I do not know why, he seemed abrasive, an odd quality fora Shadow. But the truth is he has given me much to think on. I have always believed that darkness is natural and light is artificial. He proposed that they were different sides of the same coin, equally dependant on one another. Perhaps he is right, and perhaps I should not look to darkness for dominance, but for perspective. I will meditate on this matter.
Kiva looked down upon the people in Hlint once more, then he stretched and entered his Trance.
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Kiva stared at the needle that he held as if it were a completely alien object to him. His eyes passed from the needle to the cotton on the table, then to the book beside the cotton. He gazed over the words again, being sure that he understood how to mill this cotton into cloth. He looked at the needle again...
It has occured to me that if I plan to survive among these others I will have to find a profession. I do not wish to become a mercenary, for that would be an insult to my discipline, and other mercenaries seem to be killed on sight. It is true that I hunt many animals and I am never in short supply of rare pelts, but that doesn't seem to be bringing in any gold. So I have turned to a skill that I can use, and hopefully others will pay me to use. Tailoring. Not the most noble of arts, but that cannot be helped. I have read the manuals and spoken to other tailors in Hlint, I have purchased the correct tools, all I need do now is begin. That seems to be the problem however, I have been standing here, needle in hand, for three hours now and I have not milled a single bolt of cloth. Can it be that my comfort in my skills has made me apprehensive to learn a new skill? This is disturbing...I think I will begin now.
Setting down his needle he began the slow process of milling the cotton into cloth.
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My mind is not at ease tonight. I sit here, as I do so many other nights, lost amoung the stacks of books in the Great Elven Library of Voltrex. I have built these piles myself, seeking knowledge...any knowledge. My hunt for lore began several weeks ago. I had died again, it seems my list of deaths is ever increasing, luckily I know that my soul remains totally intact, with luck, that will remain unchanged. Be that as it may, I was still dead. I have to note, that my deaths have been greeted with a combination of both rage and lust. I am constantly angered by the fact that I was defeated once more, on the hother hand, however, I know that my time as a spectre will be enjoyed.
The truth is, among the songs of the darkness and the night, I have found my mother's voice. I have been huntingher since my initial encounter with death, that night when her voice called to me. I never found her. Rather with each time I die, her voice becomes louder, more coherent. She sings to me of the teachings she imparted before the Dark Forest claimed her. She reminds me of my discipline, and that I should not anger so easily. I should use this expirience to meditate upon my mistake in battle, instead of blame myself for my flaws. All of her guidance is not positive however, and that is what has brought me to the library. She scolded me, I suppose mothers never change, not even after death. She reprimanded that I had not been expanding myself in all the required fields to grow as a true martial artist. I had been so determined to discover myself as a warrior, that I neglected my mental facets. And she is right, a true monk is not only a warrior, but he is a scholar, a philosopher, and a craftsman. And now, to remedy my excess neglect, I am surrounded by books.
It is not all boring reading, I have in fact increased my understanding of reality a great deal. The books written by the bard Ozymandias are invaluable insights into the side of Layonara that one would not discover from street side banter. And there are many accounts of the Shadow Plane and the nature of darkness that I have eagerly soaked in like a sponge deprived of water. I can't say I agree with all the interpretations of the night time world. I have read doctrines of Paladins seeking to "bring light into those places most dark, and shine like a beacon for all to see and follow!" I have poured over parchments claiming that the essence of darkness can only be conquered by an even greater darkness. And I have read books that state that darkness is in a delicate balance with light. These last books remind me of what the Shade named Blink spoke of. And also of a Shadow Dancer I encountered in Hlint...I did not catch her name. I do not concur with this theory. And I have decided not to debate the nature of darkness anymore with those around me. There is no point. We have different perspectives. These that call themselves Shadow Dancers, they actively sought out shadow, they hunted it, and yearned for it. And I cannot fault them for it. But they would never understand what I mean when I say that the Shadows claimed me. As much as I am an Elf, my being is determined just as much by the Dark Forest and Shadow River's mark on me, as it is by my mother's parenting hand. It is who I am. As I am called, I am Darkchild.
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I think I am slowly becoming assimilated by these folk. The Dwarves especially. And that troubles me, given I am an Elf. It is a strange alliance that we have forged. What began with an apprenticeship under Axodeth Stonecutter has evolved into an allied association encircling all the Dwarves of Mistone, save a few, and myself. What is even more troubling to understand is my fervor for keeping these allies. There was an incident, and I will not repeat the events because they differ from party to party, however this incident left the Dwarf, Alymli, and I on opposite sides of the freindly spectrum. Word of this occurance spread faster than a wild fire in a dry forest, and all the Dwarves that I called ally were calling me enemy. Regardless of warnings from Jerei and Ash, I confronted the Dwarves...all of them at once. The words I used were not gentle or diplomatic, rather it is safe to say that I challenged every last one of them. Truth be told, it is a miracle that I am not dead, and even more of a miracle that the Dwarves and I have resumed our allegiance, even including Alymli. I am grateful for that outcome however, I cannot have multiple clans of drunken Dwarves hunting me, and in all honesty I have become fond of them.
I even have them to thank for my recent realization that I will never be a warrior in the sense that I wanted to be. I will still take part in battles, and I will still defeat my foes. But not with a battle cry and a waving axe. No. My gift in battle, unsurprisingly, is that of the stealth. I make a fair scout, and I am more than adept at flanking my opponents. I have honed my skills of hiding and moving silently so that I can be standing right beside my target and he will not know it until it is too late. This, of course, has made me admit that I am heading for the path of the Shadow Dancer. I refuse to relinquish my beliefs however, I will use my particular "kinship" with darkness to acquire the ways of the Shadow Dancer. I will even seek training if it is needed. But I will NOT believe the ideals of another.
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A Monk's life is structure and discipline. We do not have the option of running through life, chaotic as we please, with no plan and no goal. As such I have decided to state, for my own sake, my intentions. My path of life, if you will.
Unfortantely I tried to force myself on the path of the warrior, this will happen, but not in the way that I had originally intended. I will still train with my blades, however, that will be a secondary course of study. My true intent is to harness my natural talents for subterfuge and increase on them. It seems that my calling is not that of the knight or soldier, but rather the spy, assasin, or covert agent. This makes a great deal of sense to me considering the alterations that the Dark Forestbestowed on me. Truth be told, I am surprised I had not noticed it before. No matter, the mistake has now been rectified.
But most noteworthy, I have began to pay attention to the others of Mistone, especially those who walk in the Shadows. I know that my course in life will inevitably lead me to the path of the Shadow Dancer, and if that is the case, I intend to be well informed and prepared for what that course entails. I refuse to be caught unawares.
-
I have taken to watching the others. Not out of distaste for them, but I find that I can learn much from them if I speak as little as possible and listen to their words. This approach has proven successful in the terms of foriegn languages, such as Dwarven. It is true that I have been practicing my Dwarven, and Axodeth and Exodus assist me everyday. But I am able to guage the calibur of a conversation by watching the Dwarves, I am able to notice the nuances of the dialect and accent. These are things I would not get from being "tutored".
I think I will choose a specific mark. One person whom I do not know, and it is imperitive that I do not know the person. Any association with my target will tarnish the excercise. No, I must find a person I do not know and become thier shadow. Learn of them, watch them, KNOW them. I feel this is a suitable activity to developing my investigation skills. I will have to keep my eyes open to find a suitable mark.
My studies in the library proceed. But I find that I have learned more of the outside worlds, namely "The Multiverse", than I have of Layonara. I am to blame for this, and I will make an effort to correct this mistake.
-
The Grand Library of Voltrex was silent, save for the soft hummingof the distant librarian as she sorted and sifted through her books. She moved mechanically, placing her tomes in their appropriate places, and signing off on her ledger that said book was accounted for. Her duties had brought her right passed Kiva, and she had walked by him, either not noticing him, or not caring. The truth was, he did not care, for he had not noticed her, and it was not the large scroll pressed to his face that distracted him. It was the events of the day's passing.
" A moment of weakness, that is all it would take. A simple flicker of unpracticed caution, and my life would be over. I must thank my good fortune, if there is such a thing, that she was not intent on killing me. AnnaLee was her name, and her hair shone like autumn leaves cascading in a great waterfall of seasonal glory. I must admit that it was her hair that distracted me most, for I have seen pretty faces before. I profess that I have sat in the presence of Ranewin's splendor, and have marveled at the flawlessness of Sabrissia. But this AnnaLee captivated me."
The librarian shuffled passed him again, now she struck a high note in her melodromatic humming, pulling Kiva from his daze. He watched her with a disturbed gaze as she pulled several of the books from his desk and went about her idle task of recording and replacing them to their homes on the shelves. Kiva pondered for a moment if her task was made moreeasy to bareby her own private song.
"Never again, I refuse to succumb to the wonton lusts and needs of those less disciplined than I. I am a being above the flesh, and I should have a more firm grasp on my desires of the flesh. As I told Grympint earlier today, 'Women are distractions and nothing more. As allies I welcome and accept them, as lovers, I will never allow one."
Kiva noticed that he was crumbling the edges of his scroll with his adsent minded grip. He placed the document down and smoothed the wrinkles. He glanced about for the librarian, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably on the other side of the library, Kiva thought.He stood and stretched, comtemplatedwhat the time might bemomentarily, then pulled a smallblack leatherbound pamphlet from his belt. He sat and proceded to record the name, appearance, andhis personal thoughts of AnnaLee. Afterwards he scanned over the other names in his log.
"My list is growing. What started with a single name,'Renji', has become a list of names. Sometimes when I write these names and my comments I forget what I am doing. Sometimes I even consider burning this little book of mine. But I will not. This may very well be my most valuable possession."
Kiva let the ink dry before he closed thecovers and tucked it back into his belt pocket.He reached for a heavy tome hehad left resting on the edge of his desk, and just as his ringers gripped the book, the librarian returned, still humming her song. Kiva's fingers retreated from the book, and with a sigh he left the library and the librarian.
With the only occupant of the library now gone, the littleElven librarian added words to her song...her voice was beautiful.
-
The gates of Fort Valensk had been shut for the night. The daytime sounds within the settlement had subdued to the quiet hush that was nocturnal life. In those walls, people slept within their homes, blanketed in their soft beds, but that was not so for Kiva. He sat outside, unprotected by the Fort’s walls, gazing into the dancing flames of his fire.
The large flank of jaguar meat sizzled and smoked, spitted above his fire, the juices dripped down and fizzed away on the red hot ashes. He could smell the blood cooking, the kind of aroma that would carry for miles, bringing both other adventurers and beasts alike.
“Let them come.” He thought grimly to himself.
His eyes trailed away from his charring meat and to the darkness that was being held at bay by the fire’s light. There was a silent war there in that line between light and dark. And no matter the persistence of one force, neither prevailed.
“How much can be seen in the simple divider of light and dark. It reminds me of Emerald. We spoke again today. She, as usual, sat perched above the town folk. She seems unwilling to leave the platform above Hlint, and even more unwilling to involve herself with the people that frequent the village.”
“Our topic of conversation varied, as it always does. We ranged from her private squabble with her lover, to her lack a name. And it is the latter that still perplexes me. Her words echo through my mind, and I am either un-able or unwilling to forget them.”
“Does your name define you?”
“Such a simple question with an impossible answer. She and I are creatures of complete opposites. Where she defies the need of a label to define herself to others or herself, I cling to mine. I use my label to herald my presence to the world. ‘Darkchild’…’Darkchild’…’Darkchild’. How many people have only that name to know me by?”
“I admit that I would not change that for anything. She does not need a name, and I may need mine. But it is who…what I am. And that is all I have.”
-
The sun was setting over Lielon harbor. The orange light danced upon the water’s surface, a grand cacophony of light that promised the glory of the night to come. The eastern sky was already deep violet, the edges of night’s cloak beginning to blanket the world. Kiva stood on the docks, watching, observing, and looking for hidden meaning in the retreat of light and the dominance of dark.
“A month ago, I would preach the cowardice and weakness of light. I would rant about the unnatural occurrence that is light. And I would gawk at the splendor of shadow.”
All that remained of the sun was but a sliver of red. The sailors quickened their pace on their ships in hopes of completing their tasks before the night came full.
“But that was a month ago. Tonight, I wield a greater understanding of light and dark. For you see, in the morning the sun will come from the east, and its light will burn away the darkness. It is not weakness that causes these two to wane from each other. It is balance.”
The sun dipped below the horizon.
“I have always clung to the darkness for dominance. I see now that I was wrong. Those who represent light are just as dominant. And so, it is not power I gain from the night, it is perspective.”
The Night sky darkened now, the stars shining through. The laughter of the shadows on the water echoed through the air, but Kiva knew only he could hear it. A smile crossed his lips.
“I am a creature of darkness. This cannot be denied. But in being such I am not a conqueror, I am not a dominator, I am an ambassador. I am a servant. I serve the night, just as the night serves me. As darkness exists in harmony with light, I exist in harmony with darkness.”
The city came to life with the sounds of night time merriment, jovial music and bad singing by those already drunk within Leilon’s taverns. A rush of people burst from a door, their intoxicated jollity escaping into the streets. Kiva strode away and vanished into the shadows.
“I hate crowds.” He whispered to himself.
-
The words that Ozymandias had spoken to Kiva earlier that night plagued him. Not because the words angered or insulted him, but because they made sense. Kiva had always wondered why he was receptive to the Dark Forest’s influence while his mother was not.
“What was so different about me that allowed the forest to assimilate me? It is a question that has always nagged at my mind, and for all my studies, I have found no answer.”
He looked up from the Dwarven Tome he had been reading. The library of Blackford Castle was silent, which was ideal for his purposes, but it lacked the ambience that he had come to enjoy of the Voltrex Library. “No matter,” He thought to himself.
His eyes scanned his current page, and it came with satisfaction that there were few Dwarven characters that he did not understand. But he could not bring himself to focus. Closing the book and his eyes, he relived that night with Ozymandias in Hlint.
“I sought his knowledge because I knew he had it in abundance. But the truth is; I did not expect him to have the answer I was looking for. To my surprise, he did. It seems that there are two forces present in the Dark Forest, and one is called the Dark Father. This entity, like all beings of power, has servants; a clan of Wood Elves, as it were. But according to Ozymandias they are not pure bloods, they have been crossed bred with Drow over the generations. As such they share a physical appearance much like mine; unusual height, snow white hair, and unnaturally dark eyes.”
Kiva stood and replaced the Dwarven tome back to its proper place.
“This must be more than just coincidence. And I expect the truth of the matter lies with my father. I never knew him, and my mother refused to speak of him. All I have is his name, ‘Sjack’. But if this is true, it means that the blood that flows through my veins is partly Drow. This is disconcerting, and I shall have to investigate this matter in its entirety.”
-
Matilda just stood there, chatting with Jareg as if nothing had happened. Her face was creased in her usual smile, her eyes sheen with the wonder of life. She was every bit as exuberant as any other day. And Kiva couldn’t help but boil with rage over her.
“Now this is truly a marvel. That woman calls herself a Paladin. Holy Knight, indeed. She has played judge and jury based on a single act, forgetting passed words and passed actions.”
Kiva considered calling out to her, making her listen to his words. Forcing her to understand his actions, but he did not.
“She, like so many other humans, does not grasp the meaning of the ideals they live by. Namely: Justice.”
Kiva’s mind trailed back to just a few hours earlier. He had been scouting ahead of the main party. It is what he did and he enjoyed it. They had been traversing the Dragon Isles, dangerous territory, but they had prevailed over all adversity so far. Kiva turned a bend, and there they were; Satyrs.
He had no personal grudge with the Satyrs, not all of them, anyway. But among their numbers was one, a mage, which had felled him during a previous encounter. The others had caught up by then, and of course, Matilda being her “passive aggressive” self, beseeched the party not to attack them. It was too late, justice would be done. Kiva pulled his crossbow and loosed a bolt at his nemesis mage.
The battle that ensued was more than he had accounted for. The party was able to defeat the Satyr clan, the mage among them, but not without a price. Renji had fallen.
Just as Matilda had turned to Kiva and began to question his motives, several arrows were loosed from a cliff, felling another ally and forcing the party to take cover. They were pinned. That may as well have been the end of the battle. Words would not calm the Satyr snipers, and Matilda refused to confront them in combat.
“Justice was done, but not in the way that I had suspected. The mage’s life was forfeit, but in slaying the other Satyrs a price had to be paid. Renji and the other defeated were that price. I had not calculated the situation in its entirety, and it is a mistake I will not make again.”
He looked over at Matilda still laughing with Jareg.
“And as for her. Let her make her judgments, they do not disturb me. In less than a century she will be gone, and her judgments with her. I will still walk these lands.”
-
How long has it been since I last set foot in Hlint? Kiva asked himself as he limped into the adventurers' town. The place had not changed, warriors of every ilk still teemed in the street. But their faces were unfamiliar to him. He had not expected all of his old aquaintences to still be alive, but he had estimated that he would see at least one. There were none. He slowly walked to the great tree and eased himself down, resting his back against the large trunk. His eyes closed and he shut out the sounds of the the village.
It had all started with his confrontation with Matilda. In her arrogance she judged him, cast him away as a traitor to goodness. Kiva was not a bastion of righteousness, and though he tried to explain this to her, she would not listen. Not shortly after AnnaLee, having professed her love for Kiva, became bitter towards him when he didn't return her affection. He could not stand it anymore. Gathering his money and possessions Kiva set off for Dregar. He intended to return home, and find the answer to his longest lived question: Why had the forest changed him?
It was simple enough to locate his mother's grave and he spent a week cleaning it, laying flowers for her, and driving the weeds away. The old cottage that his mother raised him in had fallen into disrepair, so he spent some time returning his childhood home to its former state. With everyday that he worked, he could feel the forest calling to him. There was an intangible pull coming from the dark wood, and he was forced to finally succumb and answer the forest's summoning. Kiva stepped into the Dark Forest.
It wasn't long before the Malar Panthers, undead, and other nightmares of the forest beset him. But Kiva had grown strong since last he left, and he battled on. Finally the beasts had fled from him, and Kiva pressed deeper into the wilderness. "Greetings, Kinsman." A voice spoke to him, and Kiva saw the tall man standinga short distance from him, the shadows clinging to him like acloak. "Come, I will give you the answer you seek." The figure leapt forward and Kiva tried to dodge, but the man's speed was unreal and his hand closed around Kiva's neck. Darkness took him.
Kiva awoke in his old bed, in the cottage on the outskirts of the Dark Forest. He sat up, and realized inmistakably that his energies had been drained from him. He reached for his weapon, but it was not there.He discovered that he was naked, all his possessions stripped from him.Cursing, he stood, dressed incommon clothes, and lefthis child hood home once again. All his efforts to become stronger were in vain. He was right back at the beginning. "I will regain my strength!" He hissed. Kiva set of for Hlint.
His head rested against the great tree in Hlint, the people were walking by, no one paying him any attention. Maybereturning here was a mistake, he told himself. He lifted his pain wracked body from the ground and made to leave Hlint.
"Kiva?!" A voice called behind him. He turned and found himself face to face with Tegan. He could not stop the smile from coming to his face.
-
A recent discovery has caused me great concern. I was speaking with Tegan about Renji's absence, it seems he has either fled the lands or is dead; most likely the latter. And she mentioned that he has been gone for over a year. That in and of itself is meaningless, except that Renji vanished AFTER I did. This means, inmistakably that I have been gone from Mistone for well over a year. I distinctly recall waking in my home only slightly over a month ago. I was sleeping for more than a year? This cannot be. And if it is true, what did that man do to me?
My strength slowly returns daily, it seems that though my body is wracked, my mind still retians the knowledge of how to fight. And my gift for stealth seems to be as sharp as ever. Tegan, Tyrian, Ash, and the Stonecutter brothers have taken me in, promising that they will do all that is necessary to return me to my former glory. And I find this odd. It seems that in my absence, I was missed, and I was greeted...warmly. I had always assumed that my attempts to keep people at a distance had caused them to feel that I was cold and callous. It seems just the opposite, aparantly my distance endeared me to them. I truly do not understand this. Ash even went so far as to give me a hug...odd...
Even more than my skills, I work harder to rebuild my fortune. I have pruchased another ox, and I search out Armolas in efforts to regain a key to my house. Jareg and Grympint it seems have left Mistone. Jareg now makes his home in Pranzis, I'll have to pay him a visit once I am strong enough. Grym, however, simply no longer appears. This disturbs me. These two were key peices to my plan to build my Shadow Guild, and without them, my plans are in disarry. My roster is even lost to me, and I hear Armolas has joined the Far Striders. Unfortunate.
No matter, I did it all before and I can certianly do it again. I swear I will become stronger than I previously was. And my plans will be realized.
-
Kiva stood, arms crossed, beside the great tree in Hlint. This was his spot, he knew it, and so did the others. Often comments were made to the manner of him holding the tree up, or Kiva sprouting roots. He usually ignored these jibes. He had a reason for standing there, that particular spot happened to be the informational crossroads of Mistone. Every adventurer sat on the benches under the tree's boughs, and layed about in the grassy field across the dirt road. No one paid attention to the black clad Elf, and they spoke freely. As such, simply by standing there and being silent, Kiva was able to learn much of recent events and much more about the new adventurers that had arrived in his absence.
Several of them had asked him who he was. They wondered why someone so new to Mistone could know so many people. "Fools," Kiva thought to himself. "They assume that anyone arriving after them must be new." They could not be more mistaken.
Those that did know Kiva seemed all too eager to welcome him back, many bestowing gifts to help him re-walk his road. But Kiva was still lacking a key to his home in Leilon, a place that he knew held many supplies that would aid him. He was regaining his strength quickly now, he had achieved slightly less than half his former prowess. Which pleased him.
Kiva looked about Hlint, noting faces both new and old. "It is good to be back here," He whispered.
-
The Voltrex Library had not changed a bit. Kiva sat, at his usual desk, and gazed around the great room. A female librarian was sorting scrolls nearby and Kiva could hear her low humming tune. He smiled in spite of himself. He used to dread this woman's humming, he found it irritatingly distracting. But now the soft sound seemed to comfort him, almost as if it was confirming the fact that he had returned. He raised from his seat and sought out two books, both the same story, but each in a different language. One Common, one Drow.
He'd decided when he learned that he may be partially Drow that he should learn the langauge, and with current events with Tegan tugging at his mind, this seemed as good a time as any. Tegan's actions were infuriating. She obviously still yearned for Renji, though it had been so long since his disapeanace. But she still allowed this Remiel man to court her."How disgusting,' He hissed. Remiel spoke to Tegan in a forward manner, requesting private walks, and other such romantic nonsense. He spoke without any regard, and most likely any knowledge, of her past and her current feelings.
It was true, Kiva had grown fond of Tegan even before he had left. And that affection had grown upon his return. But he truly was not thinking of himself in this matter. He owed Tegan a debt. Of all his old allies, she alone worked to help him retrain with unmatched vigor. If he could return the favor in anyway, he would. And he would start by insuring her heart was not broken a second time.
Kiva scanned over the first page of each book. The Drow tongue was surprisingly different from Elven, and though he endeavored to focus on the characters, his mind drifted. "Everyone seems to have fallen in love in my absence," He mused. "Tyrian is nearly married...oddly, the Stonecutters have accepted her as their sister. AnnaLee is now married and with child." He grinned evilly. When AnnaLee first encountered Kiva upon is return, she paled and ran off. "Obviously she is not as confident in her love of her new husband as she claims to be. And now I hear her husband, Mith, holds a grudge against me. No matter."
Kiva leaned back in his chair, listening intently to the maiden's humming. "Freldo hasn't changed a bit. He is still annoying as can be. And he still dresses as sexually confused as ever. But aparantly, with Ranewin gone, he has taken another lover. That man is shameless." Recalling more dire news,Kiva's peaceful expression faded and he became pensive. "Coal is dead..." He found the words difficult.He had never been close to Coal, but he knew both him and his lover Addison.And as such, he knew Coal was a hard man to kill. "This is troubling."
Dispelling such thoughts from his mind, he returned his gaze to his books.
-
"Fool!" Kiva hissed, only there was no one else around. He had cursed himself. His stupidity was monumentous. "How could I be so naive?" He accused. Tegan's image flashed through his memory and a fresh wave of anger overwhelmed him. He sent his fist crashing into his bookcase, knocking it over and and casting the books across the floor of his office. Unable to comprehend his lack of self control he fell to his knees.
"What is wrong with me? Have I not learned my lesson?" He pulled his hood away from his face, and unfastened his cloak, letting it fall to the floor. He was trembling, but not from his anger. He knew that something was happening that he couldn't control. Something was changing inside him.
-
The office was dimly lit by a single candle that burned across the room, and that was how Kiva preferred it. He sat at his desk, a solemn expression on his face, scribing his most recent thoughts and events into a heavy tome that he used as a journal...
"In an efftort to distract my mind from the infuriating situation with Tegan, I have taken Ozymandias' advice and sought theinformation I seek at the Great Libraryin Voltrex. I have spent many nights there scanning through the tomes and scrolls, but never have Ineeded this particular information before. It took me quite a while to locate any document with the relevant information, and when I did, it proved vague at best. What I have discerned however, is that it is a possibility the man I encountered in theBlack Forest was the Dark Father. Often I have pondered the nature of this being since Ozymandias informed me that my father may have been a servant to this entity, but never have I wondered on his appearance. It seems now that his physical qualities matter more to me than anything else. He is described as having brown flesh and green hair. Unfortunately I did not have long to study my assailant before he was upon me. And I am nonetoo eager to seek him out a second time, lest I lose the little strength I have reclaimed."
Closing the book, Kiva placed his quill back into the ink well and sat back in his chair.He closedhis eyes and his thoughts immediately turned to Tegan. "Forget it" He hissed.He reached for his journal and quill and continued to write.
-
Kiva stood by his tree listening to the two Drow conversing. He was trying to pay close attention to their accents and dialect, but it was in vain. His mind was far too stressed at the moment. As if his emotional distress regarding Tegan wasn't enough, Ash and Tegan had spent the last several hours making him feel highly uncomfortable. He tried to brush their comments away from his memory, but it was of little use. The words they spoke were...flattering to say the least.
All his life he had worked to keep his emotions in check, his passions safely in balance with his discipline. But since his return it was becoming more difficult.
"If you'd just take off that hood you'd have women all over you." Ash's words echoed through his mind.
"Just sneak up on him when he's meditating without his armor and take a peek." Tegan's words were just as unsettling.
Kiva had no idea how to deal with compliments of this nature, especially coming from women. His mouth curled into a tight smirk, "I should never have come back," He told himself. But he knew that he didn't mean it.
-
The house was empty, there were no light glowing, and there were no sounds to be heard. Alone is his office Kiva kneeled on thecarpet set in the corner. His face was somber and his mind was filled with dautning thoughts....
"And so I have learned. After deciding to tell Tegan the absolute truth, I discovered that she does not share my affection. Her heart pines for the human male, Remiel. I am not angered by this, I had suspected as much. In a way, I am glad my heart is being denied its longing for Tegan. It has put things into perspective for me. Now I understand why AnnaLee became so bitter towards me when I did not return the love she once had for me. Though I will not turn bitter towards Tegan, I will resume where I left off. My mind will be steeled, my heart will be stalwart. I will not lose control of my emotions again. I am Darkchild, and I have a mission. Love is not part of that mission. I will continue onward, regaining my lost power, and reestablishing my shattered guild. I will seek to forge whicht was once only just beyond reach, my shadow network will come to fruition.But I miust be focused. I must journey with the knowledge that; I am Darkchild and I stand alone."
Kiva fell into a peaceful calm.
-
The forest was blanketed in nocturnal darkness, in the distance the screach owls and crickets could be heard singing their night-time song. The large Ogre grunted as it was shoved down, thudding into the leaf carpeted forest floor. Kiva wiped the sweat from his brow, using the short pause to catch his breath. The Ogre rolled away and returned to its feet. With an agonized roar it charged Kiva, heavy club held over its head.Kiva dodged the attack, assuming a hand stand and sending both his feet into the monster's abdomen. Before the Ogre could regain control of his massive form Kiva leaped forward sending a fist into the creature's chest. As the blow connected he sent a small tremor through his arm into the Ogre. He smirked as the beast's eyes became vacant and his jaw slacked. Not waiting a moment Kiva leaped into the air and smashed his foot into the Ogre's neck, crushing its windpipe. He landed lightly and departed the scene. A pleased smile occupied his face, "I'm almost there." He whispered to himself as he made his way for the edge of Sielwood.
-
The Great Library of Voltrex was empty, a fact of which Kiva was glad for. He could not seem to find a spot to sit and gather his thoughts. First he tried the forest, but he couldn't help but feel every bird and critter was staring at him. From there he returned to Hlint and stood in his spot by the great tree. But the constant activity of the other adventurers made it difficult for him to turn his attention inwards. Next he sat in his office for hours, but each time he closed his eyes and attempted to seek out the serenity of meditation he was distracted by the music Jareg had left playing on the juke box. No matter what he tried, he could not change the music. Assuming that it was broken he gave the contraption a firm kick which only succeeded in making the music play louder. Giving up he depearted for Blackford and stepped into the portal, the Voltrex Library filling his vision upon arrival.
He sat at his desk, and continued to glance around for any sign of life. But it seemed that even the librarians were off for the day. Satisfied with his solitude, he gathered his thoughts and tried to arrange them. "She kissed me," He whispered. The expirience had been an odd one for him. It was an entirely new sensation andthe sudddenness of the action caught him completely by surprise.And though he knew that his body must have tensed and his face probably paled during the kiss, he noted that it was not unpleasant. Rather the opposite.
"I suppose this has been years in the making," He muttered to himself. His mind drifted back to his first days in Hlint.His earliest allies were always close by. Jareg, Grympint, Renji, Axodeth and Exodus Stonecutter, Ma'el Stormbringer, Freldo, Tyrian, Tegan, and Ash. Of all of them Ash had always seemed the most distant, the most guarded. And though Renji's garb was black, Ash still seemed to be the darkest one aside from Kiva.
Things began to change when AnnaLee arrived. In payment to those who aided him in his early days Kiva took AnnaLee under his wing and attempted to instruct her on how to survive as an adventurer. Agianst his will she had fallen in love with him but he did not return her affection. During this time Ash started to make slight innuendos about her affection for Kiva. But he didn't seem to notice. Regardless, these events and AnnaLee's bitter turn toward himwere the events that finally made him depart Mistone, leaving all behind.
He returned, inevitably, after his encounter with the creature in the Black Forest, and recieved a surprisingly warm welcome. It was then that he asked Tegan to personnally aid him in regianing his lost abilities.Looking back on it now, it was easy for Kivato see how he could have grown fond of her, and it was easier for him to see how he thought he desired her. He was wrong, and it took herwords to show him that. She said, "I don't know you. And you don't even know me." When she spoke those words Kiva realized what had happened. A reverse affect of the Florence Nightengale Effect. In his weakness, hebecame emotionally vulnerable and he came to care for the one thatlooked after him. There was nothing real to it, no true substance. But even so, he felt the weight of her rejection of him and suddenly he understand how AnnaLee could have become so bitter towards him. Kiva would not become that way towards Tegan.
But there was still Ash. Since his return she was being...flirtatious to say the least. Her comments were far beyond flattering. And she had spokenvery simple words to him. Though she may not have known it, the simplicity of those words carried worlds of truth in them. "Someone will always love you, Kiva," She had said. She had spoken the same words shortly before his departure so long ago.Kiva finally understood two facts. The first being, she was right. This lot in life called companionship seemed unavoidable.The second being, that Ash was speaking about herself. Kiva finally understood. Taking Ash aside he confronted her about her emotions, and having discovered that she did in fact feel for him, he offered her his hand. She took it.
It was a small act. But it was a beginning. Ifcompanionship was to be a new theme in his life he would have to learn it slowly. But he was willing. Andlater, in Lar, when Ash was cold, he wrapped her in his cloak. He found it strangely comforting holding her. Hehad lost himselfin thought trying to discover the source of thecomfort, when she kissed him. It was that kiss that now perplexed him. "It was such a simple act, to keep her warm," He spoke to himself, "And she felt it deemed a kiss?" He sighed and leaned back in his chair. A procession of librarians then entered the room, each carrying a stack of books or scrolls. Irritated with their sudden intrusion Kiva stood and sought out another sanctuary to think in.
-
Kiva's desk was covered in parchments and folded bits of paper. Laying on the desk before him was a particularly large portfolio simply labled "Tegan". "She's hiding something," He mused to himself, "Never have I seen her so unsettled by words." He opened the parcel and looked over the contents. It contained any information that he had gathered to help him understand who Tegan was. He had one on everyone, except Ozymandias. He closed the pamphlet. "I promised her that whatever she had to say would never see this file," He sorted the document away in his desk. He had made Tegan a promise, and he never broke promises.
Reaching for the file entitled "Ash Willo", he sighed. This parcel had close to nothing in it. Only a single comment that Kiva had written when he original met Ash, "Seems removed." He could never bring himself to write anything more. Anything he had on Ash, he kept in his head. Perhaps it was out of respect for her privacy, perhaps not. Whatever the reason, her file remained nearly empty. "What is going on between us?" He whispered to himself. The night before he had sat a long while with Ash and simply talked with her. He was trying to fill the gaps of information. The truth was, he knew very little of her. Then, as an after thought, he gave her a key to his home. Thinking back on it now, he had no idea why he did that. "It seemed right at the time," He told himself.
Lastly he took up the portfolio entitled "Exodus Stonecutter". He opened it and wrote a simple phrase, "Possible enemy." He sighed deeply. This troubled him. He had always been a good ally and friend to the Stonecutters, Axodeth and Exodus particularly. He had stood with them in many battles, and had always shown the greatest respect. In fact, most of his dwarven alliances were forged and kept simply out of respect for the Stonecutters. But, inevitably, Exodus learned of Kiva's recent "involvement" with Ash. "It seems, Master Stonecutter, that you are softer than I had estimated," Kiva mused to himself, "I had hoped that our allegeince went a little deeper than a woman's affection." He closed the file and sorted it with the rest.
Kiva leaned back in his chair and pondered the events of the passed few days. Things on Mistone were becoming interesting. He rose and walked from his office and stood gazing at the door that opened to Jareg's quarters. "Where are you,Jareg?" A rueful smirk curled his lips, "Have I got some stories for you."
-
The Black Forest was unusually silent as Kiva tended to his mother's grave site. The River of Darkness nearby, rushed with its normal current. Kiva had become like the forest and the river. The side he controlled was silent, was peaceful. Like the forest that had left its mark on him. But this new side to him, the side that seemed to spring forth from him when he returned to Mistone was roaring, passionate. And he had difficulty reigning it in.
It was this side that had removed Exodus Stonecutter from his list of allies. The dispute was finally settled and Kiva was able to assure Exodus of his intentions. But the Dwarf told him that the expirience of it all shook his faith in Kiva. Regrettably, Kiva did not push further. If that was Exodus' wish, Kiva would not force him to see or feel otherwise. He knew that he had earned Exodus' trust once before, and he was certian that he could do it again.
But more disturbing than that, the conflict that Kiva had forced with Exodus drove Ash away. That was an unforeseen consequence. Kiva had not even intended for Ash to witness his dispute with Exodus, but she did. Then she fled. This was not what Kiva wanted.
Stepping back from his mother's grave he assessed his work. The weeds had been torn away, and the moss removed from her gravestone. He looked back at the little cabin that had been his childhood home. "Why do I leave you intact?" He asked himself. He pondered burning it to ashes, but decided against it. He would not want to harm the forest in any way, and he felt that deep down, if he did destroy the cabin, he would be losing a very important piece of himself.
Turning his attention away from his old home, he stared at the trees of the Black Forest a long while. "He's somewhere in there," He whispered. He toiled with the thought of venturing back into the forest to seek out the creature that robbed him of his strength. "No," He said, "If I wasn't strong enough then, then I am certianly not strong enough now." He scanned the tree line one more time. The he turned and fading into the shadows he left his mother's grave once again.
-
High in the Grey Peaks, away from the constant activity and din of Hlint, a band of Ogre's clustered together around a large fire. It was a particularly cold night. Even the Ogres, accustomed to the biting cold winds of the Grey Peaks, were forced to take shelter behind a stone shelf. It did little to block the freezing winds, but it was better than standing in the open. The fire was large by now, with great burning tongues licking at the air, casting dancing shadows on the mountian side.
It had been quite some time since adventurers last came into the mountians, but the Ogres were a paranoid lot, and were constantly glancing about to percieve any threat. Kiva grinned under his hood. He was just a few yards away, hiddden in a notch created by two rocks leaning against one another. The Ogres had been huddling together for hours now, all the while Kiva had been watching, yet none of them had noticed. He watched them with melevolent eyes, a wicked grin crossing his face. It was not that he wished them ill. He was noting, with some satisfaction, that he was once again able to sneak upon an entire tribe of Ogres without their notice.
Testinghis luck, he closed his cloak, and lifted himself from the concealment of the shadows. He kept a sharp eye on their backs as he inched his way towards them. Settling down in one of the larger Ogre's shadows, he found himself quite pleased with himself. He was but an arm's length from them now, and still they paid no attention.
One of the Ogre's lifted his head and sniffed at the air with a grunt. The action aroused the rest of the Ogres' attention, and they began casting looks about frantically for whatever the first Ogre had detected. Knowing they would soon spot him, Kiva drew his short swords and drove them hilt deep into the back of the nearest Ogre. The beast reared with a great roar, thrashing at its back. Not waiting Kiva used the diversion to run. Disregarding stealth he made his way for a narrow mountain path that no Ogre could fit through. Glancing behind him he saw that the group was giving chase. "Idiots!" He hissed. There wasn't an Ogre in the world as fast as he was. Concentrating his Ki into his legs he gained a great burst of speed and left the Ogres far behind.
Almost an hour later, on the road situated between Hlint and Fort Llast, Kiva walked calmly as if nothing had happened. "I suppose they had to notice my presence eventually," He spoke sourly, "But it doesn't matter, it took them hours."He made his way for Hlint, his mind clear of all the distractions that had been plaguing him lately. He was only thinking one thing, "I'm almost there."
-
The two short swords felt heavy and cumbersome in Kiva's hands. He launched himself forward, sending a wide slash at the battle dummy's torso. But he over extended himself and his wrist collided with the padded body. Stepping back he dropped the blades to the ground and gathered up a soft linen towel. His body, stripped from the waist up, was drenched with sweat and he dabbed the soft fabric against his flesh.
Before he had left he was quite adept at swordwork. His movements, already perfectly balanced from years of training as a martial artist, gave him an edge over ordinary swordsmen. And Kiva's twin short swords were quicker than any rapier. But that skill was gone now, sapped from him with the rest of his abilities.
He gathered up the two blades and assumed a battle stance, letting one blade hang loose and holding the other across his chest. It was odd to feel the hilts of the swords in his grasp and know that his once formidable prowess was now little better than anovice warrior.Launching his body to his right he hooked one of the blades behind the dummy's neck and as he pulled forward on the false-man he brought his second blade into the front of the wooden neck. There was a sharp crack as he severed the dummy's head and it fell to the floor.
He sheathed his blades and gazed down at the dummy's head.He could not help butlaugh at himself. "Fear me, for I can fell amanican with ease," He mocked himself."Now let's see how I fare against thereal thing." Hestrode from the hall and headed for a group of mercenaries camped near by.
-
The Leilon house was quiet despite the recent tenant increase. Kiva sat at his desk and added "Talen Sgath" to a small list of names. With Talen around that meant Treana would now be seen within the house. Kiva leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath.Jareg, Grympint, Armolas, and Talen; these were the people that he shared his home with, and as such they were now a part of his plans.
It had been so long since he had reveiwed his intentions, and now it seemed those goals were further from being realized than ever before.His crafters'guild was in shambles, most of the members joining theFar Striders. And any traces of his shadow network had fled. He found this frustrating. Not because his work had beenerased, but that he would have to recreate it all, and he'd have to do it alone. The first time Jareg aided. But now he seemed to be missing, along with Grympint.
Of all the poeople he knew before he left, Jareg and Grympint were his closest allies. They made a strange trio; anElf, a Teifling, and a Dwarf. But somehow they managed to accomplish any job they setupon. Now Kiva had neither of them, and they were replaced by one woman; Tegan. As close andhe had become with her, he doubted that she could play any role in his plans. He wasn't sure that he wished her too, either. Tegan was a good person, and he would never want to compromise her.
"It's going to take a lot of work," He mused to himself. "But I must rebuild, and soon. Ihave almost reached my former skill. The crafter's guild, the shadow network, it must allcome to fruition." He stopped, his own words troubling him. "The shadow network must be revised. My original intentions will never suffice." He had planned that the network would use gathered information in a gianfulmanner, selling it to the highest bidder. "Not this time,the information I gather will be used to destroy the threats of this world." He smiled in spite of himself. He had changed more than he'd realized. He knew, deep down, that he cared little for the well being of the peoples of Mistone, Rilara, Dregar, and the rest of the world. But there was one person that he cared for more than anything, and if protecting hermeant he must protect the world in the process. So be it. He closed his eyes, trying to suppress theemotions that had been struggling to overcome him, "What have you done to me, Tegan?"
-
The sun shone through the canopy of the woods, casting a pale green light on the forest floor. The waters of Lake Rillon were calm, silvery fish could be seen swimming in circles just below the shining surface. Kiva glanced up into the trees, nearby a lark was singing."Odd," He thought, for a lark to sing in the afternoon. Dismissing the bird he stripped himself of clothes and dived into the lake. There was hardly a splash. The water was cool, and felt good on his flesh. He swam to the middle of the lake and tread there a while, letting the cool waters wash over his body and clear his mind.
Jareg hadn'tchanged at all. A fact for which Kiva was glad. The merry Teifling seemed the perfect counterpoint for Kiva'sdark demeanor. Always eager for the next drink and ready to crack a joke, Jareg had proved to beone of the few bright spots in Kiva's life.The two had become allies at first, quickly forging a freindship, and finally becoming partners.Not one other warrior in the land could be called Kiva's partner, not even Tegan.Jareg and Kiva had created grand plans together. They would muster a Crafters' Guild, and underneath that front would be the Shadow Network.
"Everyone has gone," Kiva had told Jareg when they reunited in Hurm.
"What can you expect? When the two founders vanished, who wouldstay around? Some Shadow Network we turned out to be," Jareg shot him an amused smile.
He was right. Kiva hated it, but he failed. In his departure, he abandonedthat which he workedso hard to build.Kiva rolled into a backstroke and leisurely crossed the span of the lake. "Jareg has driven himself into self exile," He mused to himself.
"I'm not leaving, Mate." Jareg told Kiva while they sat at the Layonara Hotel common room. He took a swig from a bottle he had recently purchased. "Not until I have what I came for."
Kiva smirked and dipped his head under the water. He stay there for a while, holding his breath and stretching his lungs. Jareg was stubborn. He refused to return to Mistone until he had purchased the guild hall that he and Kiva had desired. Rising to the surface Kiva swam laps around the lake. "At least he never stopped working for it," Kiva thought.
After he was satisfied with his swim Kiva pulled himself onto the lake's shore and let the sun dry his body as he nibbled at an apple he took from his pack. "But he's right," Kiva said in between bites, "We can rebuild, and we will." Kiva dressed, draped his cloak over his shoulders and pulled his hood over his face. With a contented smile on his face, he began the walk to Point Harbor.
-
"Things are getting out of hand," Kiva hissed as he slowly made his way from Port Hampshire to Hlint. It seemed amusing at first, to be noticed and admired by so many females. He had disregarded it as childish playfulness. Then things became serious. Ash's love, fully bared, was like a envenomed blade. Kiva had offered himself to her, feeling it was his duty to ease her pain since he was the source of it. But despite her claims of love and open affection, she pushed him away. Kiva had always been patient, but not that patient. He quickly became irritated with Ash's over-dramatic attitude and ended what little relationship they had. It was for the best.
Kiva had passed through Fort Hope and clung to the shadows as he weaved his way through the Broken Forest. A Treant groaned close by, but it seemed not to notice him. The other women of Hlint were becoming bothersome. He wouldn't have cared if Abigail hadn't kissed him. Their innocent teasing became something to be wary of as Abigail approached and kissed him without warning. Freldo found it hilarious.
Fort Llast slowly slid passed him as he walked the exterior of the walls. And now the situation with Tegan was worse. He didn't even want to think about it. Everytime he did, his stomach knotted itself. It was disturbing to say the least.
"Thank goodness for Lady Muireann," Kiva whispered. Despite her claims of being wild as a storm, she was a calm becon in the new chaos that was his life. She engaged him mentally, and he found her company pleasant.
Kiva shook his head just as he was nearing Hlint's gate. "Things are getting out of hand, indeed."
-
The last pirate turned on Kiva. The sailor's comrades, having fallen, lay strewn about, eyes wide open, frozen in the last moment of terror in which they realized death was upon them. The lone warrior drew his blade, "Bastard!" He growled. Kiva could not hear him, nor did he hear any of the death cries of the fallen men. His mind was frozen. He turned his dark gaze on the pirate, the force of his nocturnal eyes unsettling the human. Gathering his courage the man charged, his sword sweeping up at Kiva's neck. The movements came mechanically, there was no rage, no lust for death, no emotion at all. Kiva rolled into the charge, launching his feet into the pirate's chest. In the instant the man fell back Kiva's blade snaked out and severed the man's thumb from his sword hand.
With a scream the men fell to his knees, clutching his maimed hand tightly to his chest. Kiva stood above him and glanced down. The pirate was young, very young. Kiva estimated that he was not yet twenty. "Stand up," Kiva demanded. The young pirate looked up at him, the pain from his injury reflecting in his eyes. "Stand up," Kiva repeated. The boystood. "Now go." Kivacommanded as he turned away fromthe boyand faded into the shadows.
The sea was calm as Kiva sailed back to Leilon.Lady Muireann's words echoed through his mind, "Everytime you sail untroubled by a sea storm, you have been blessed byThe Lady." The two were in Hlint when she had told him such, a wry little smile on her painted blue lips.
"She must truly like me, for I have rarely been acostedwhile traveling by sea." Kiva responded.
Lady Muireann turnedand looked at him, her eyes glistening like theeastern sea at sunrise. "Or perhaps she doesn't notice you at all." Her words were trite, anda wicked smile curled her lips. But she was most likely correct, Kiva thought.
Now, below the deck of the ship, Kiva could not help but think of Lady Muireann and herunwavering devotion to Mist."I understand all too well your fervor for your faith." Kiva murmured to himself.Pushing thoughts of the lovely Muireann from his mind, he sought out the tranquility of meditation. The ocean around the ship washed away, the wooden frame of the ship fading into nothingness, and finally the prison of his body released his soul. He let his mind relax for a long while in the comfort of nothingness.
"You are changing, Darkchild," A familair voice interupted his mental rest. His mind's eye turned to see the faint form of his mother, Nathyrra, floating in the void nearby. She had always been there since the first time he died so long ago. He knew that she was most likely an incarnation of his subconscious, but the presence of his mother comforted him, so he never worked to dispel her. "Normally, you would have killed the boy."
"He was too young," Kiva answered.
"So? Has that ever mattered before?" Nathyrra floated to her son and lay her hand on his spiritual shoulder. "He chose the life of pirate, and he chose to attack you. Youth has nothing to do with it."
"And Ichose to spare him," Kiva retorted.
"That is unlike you, Darkchild." Nathyrra gazed at her son for a long while."Something has changed within you. What is it?"
"I have found something other than darkness to love," Kiva whispered the words, hardly believing he could admit it.
"The girl Tegan? I see..." Nathyrra's words faded as she drifted away into the void.
"Are you leaving me once again, Mother?" Kiva called after her. Even he could not hide the panic in his voice.
"You'll be fine for the time being," Nathyrra answered, "I always watch and will return again when you need me. You are now part of a complicated situation. You and Tegan are not the only ones involved. There is a third. You have made the great mistake of creating a love triangle. It can only end in pain. But you must suffer this burden alone, I cannot help."Then she was gone.
Kiva pulled himself from his reverie and gazed out the port window of his cabin. The waves were choppy and the water had turned grey. Nathyrra was right. He had created a delicate situation. He loved Tegan dearly, and she had admitted that she felt the same for him. But there was Remiel, whom also loved Tegan and whom she also loved. He shook his head, "This cannot end well."
He gazed out onto the horizon and saw violent grey clouds sweeping towards the ship. "Everytime you sail untroubled by a sea storm, you have been blessed by The Lady." Muireann had told him. A rueful grin creased his mouth, "Not this time," He mused.
-
"Imbecile," Kiva hissed to himself. He stood on the platform over Hlint gazing at the distant crags of the Grey Peaks. He was in those mountians only shortly before, and he had made a terrible mistake. He had asked Jareg not to fly the flag of Shadon while around Lady Muireann. Needless to say, Jareg did not take it well. Kiva had never felt any tension between he and his partner before, but now it was evident.
"I will always love the Lady more than you, Kiva," Lady Muireann had once told him.
"And I will always hold you second as well," Kiva had responded to her words.
He didn't think it was going to be a problem. The idea actually seemed appealing to him. A union where they each loved their own goals more than they loved each other. But never had he foreseen their union creating a hindrance. "I will not allow failure," Kiva told himself. If Muireann endangered his relationship with Jareg, then he would do what he must. Jareg was his partner and oldest friend, and no woman would break that. Kiva sighed deeply, "I hope she understands."
-
Kiva's least favorite librarian walked passed him, as he sat at his desk in the Great Library. She shot him a courteous smile and then moved on to a distant book shelf, all the while humming to herself. Kiva wondered if she ever found herself tiring of that song. He turned his attention back towards the book that lay before him. Yet another documentation of the Drow language. His eyes coursed over the page, but he wasn't truly concetrating on the characters. His mind was elsewhere.
"Pink..." He mused to himself, a smirk curling his lips. Still he couldn't believe that he had dyed his clothes pink. He had been threatening to do so for quite some time, in order to deter the peoples of Hlint from flocking to him, but they were always empty threats. Until Tegan came along.
"You won't. Chicken." She teased. And that pushed Kiva over the edge. He knew that no one else could affect him like Tegan could, but he had no idea that she could affect his actions so drastically. A few moments later he returned, proudly sporting a pink outfit. Those around could not stop laughing.
Kiva smiled as he thought of it, "I hope you appreciated it, Tegan. The only reason I did it was to see you smile." Normally he would be troubled by such a sentiment, but for some reason his attachment to Tegan gave him peace. He thought it was over between them when she told him that she was going to remain with Remiel. They shared a moment and then kissed, for the first time, as a good bye to one another as romantic prospects. Then came the talk of the bond. Though Kiva and Tegan seemed to agree that they would never be together, they acknowledged the bond that connected them. And then came the real kiss.
Alone in Hlint they had been playing around with one another, hiding, emptying canteens over each other's heads, teasing. Justhaving a funtime together. But something happened, and before Kivarealized it they were kissing. Not like they're good bye kiss. This was something entirely different. He had kissed Ashduring the short time that he had offered himself to her, and he had kissed Muireannwhile they had spent so much time together. But this was in a realm of its own. His kiss with Tegan was...absolute.
Kiva pushed the thought of the kiss from his mind and sighed. "Life seems tobe likeawild stallion." He observed absently, "You can catch it,break it, and ride it. But you never know when that stallion is going to bolt, taking you along for the ride."
-
"All my life, I have struggled for control," Kiva quickly scribbled the words on a parchment as he sat against the small tree in Hlint's lawn. Some adventurers wondered passed and paid him no mind, for which he was grateful. "My very strength comes from control. Absolute mastery of mind, body, and spirit. That internal control has always found a way to manifest in exterior ways. For which Tegan has constantly reminded me. 'Control Freak', She calls me, and I suppose she's right about that." He set down his quill and pulled his hood off his head.
"And though, I never walked the true path of a monk, due to not having an Order to which I adhere. I have always had the same discipline and structure as any monk, and so I was only a non-monk in name only. I was a martial artist. I use the word 'was' because I have broken a promise, and in doing so aided another in breaking her promise. Thus, I have fallen." Kiva gazed at the word "fallen" for a long moment. The full magnitude of it didn't seem to sink in. He continued to scribble, "Tegan once spoke to me of a promise between her and Remiel. And I told her I would not help her break that promise. But with the kiss we shared, I did. I broke my promise, and I helped her break her promise. An unfortunate cascade of broken promises."
"She isn't aware that I have fallen from my path. And I do not want to tell her for fear that she may blame herself. But it is done. I will continue as I always have, pursuing the ways of shadow. But I will have to do it as a warrior and not a martial artist anymore. Perhaps one day I'll atone for my broken oath and reclaim the path of monk. But that day is not today."
Kiva gazed over the parchment, reading the words carefully. Then it finally hit him, he had broken a promise. His unblemished honesty and discipline was shattered. He could feel a great swell in his throat, and he could hear the words whispered from his lips, "Forgive me, Tegan." His eyes began to well with warm tears and only for a moment did they stream down his cheeks. Then he regained control of himself, and wiped away the moisture from his face. He stood and strolled over to the trash can, where he ripped the parchment into several small peices and threw them away.
He gazed down at the bits of parchment, "Please, Tegan. Forgive me."
-
Thehuman mercenary approached, his hand already drawing his sword. "You wandered into the wrong part of the woods," He boasted. The man advanced, his sword arching up from his scabbard. The blow never connected. Kivahad stepped into the attack, locking the man's weapon mid-strike, while Kiva's second blade snaked forward, piercing his belly. The man grunted as blood gushed from his mouth.
"I am in no mood," Kivahissed. He twisted the blade and the man fell dead. He stooped down to clean the blood from his weapon, but as he did so he heardhustled footsteps behind him. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see a group of warriors charging him. One was ahead of the rest, holding an axe over head.Kiva rolled aside, dodging the first axe fall. Then he stood and launched himself at the warrior.
His movements were as quick and precise as they had always been. Fighting with accuracy over power. And his mind was lost to the battle as the mercenaries swarmed around him, each trying for the death blow. "If I must die today, so be it," He whispered to himself as he parried a blow and sent a deadly riposte at an attacker, severing his jugular.
Today had not been a good day. In fact, it wassafe to say it had been one of the worst days. He,Tegan, and Jareg had ventured to the Firesteep Mountains in search of adamantine. During the trip there, the trio were in high spirits.Once on the volcanic peak they had even managed to fell the kobolds, drakes, and fire elementals with little trouble. And then the mining started. Kiva and Tegan mined while Jareg kept watch. They worked for a little less than an hour before Jareg turned, "It's time to go," He said. But it was too late, kobold reinforcementsleaped from behind the rocks and ambushed them. The three were caught completely unaware, and each one fell.
The event had caused Jareg to become sour, and he made a comment, an idiotic comment,"The next time I say we need to go, I'm just going to leave." As soon as Kiva heard the words he knew trouble would follow. Jareg and Tegan both walked off. Kiva pursued Tegan whom expressed that she wished to be alone, and of course, Kiva did as she bade. Upon returning to Jareg his mood was no brighter, and the Teiflingquickly vanished into the forest. Kivahad stood there as the woman he loved and his best friend turned thier backs on each other and on him. Needless to say, he was not in a good mood.
Blood now ran down Kiva's arm from adeep wound in his shoulder, and he could feel his strength waning. The last warrior, also injured, sent a clumsy thrust at Kiva's chest.Dropping one of his weapons, Kiva dipped against the thrust andsent the heel of his palminto the man's nose. There was a muted crunch and the warrior fell, his eyes glazed with death.Kiva bent down, gathered and cleaned his weapons, and then stood.He looked about at the corpses and he knew remorse.These men died becuase Kiva was in a dour mood. What a waste.He stepped over the bodies and continued to make his way toLake Rillon. He let theblood drip from his finger tips all the way there.
-
Kiva had met Jareg shortly after being Dragon Called. The teifling's high spirits and good humor was always a pleasant contrast to Kiva's dark demeanor. And though they seemed almost complete opposites, the two formed a strong alliance which soon blossomed into a close friendship. It wasn't longbefore they agreed to create a guild together.In the beginning, the guild was a nameless concept, completely devoid of shape and direction. All the pair knew was that they were going to make a guild of some sort. Kiva, having attained great skill as a tailor and alchemist at the time, prompted the idea of a crafters guild, and so for a while that was what he and Jareg strived for.
Upon purchasing their first real estate venture, the nameless crafters guild bloomed into the true nature of what they both wanted; an intelligence organization.A shadow network. Ideas spilled forth from them both from then on, and the two were driven with ambition to see their goals realized. They even began early recruitments. Grympint, Armolas, Tyrian, and Ash were among the first to join.Kiva and Jareg's dream was about to be realized, all their work seen to fruition. But the worst happened. Kiva left, seemingly vanished, and Grympint followed shortly after.
Duringthe time Kiva had gone the idea that was the shadow network was shattered. Armolas joined the Far Striders, Tyrian walked her own path eventually into the arms of her future husband Creighton, and Ash resumed her role as a loner.But it affected Jareg the most. He neverlet go of the dream that he and Kiva had shared, and so he exiled himself to Dregar, vowing never to return to Mistone until he hadpurchased theguild hall that he and Kiva had aimed to buy. Were it not for Jareg's sheer stubborness, the shadow network would have been lost to obscurity before it was even born.
Then, just as suddenly as he had vanished, Kiva reappeared.Having suffered at the hands of an unknown assailent, he was weaker now. But his mind was still intact, and he still held the dream of theshadow network. Kiva and Jareg's reunion was a joyous one,it was as if the two had never been apart. And as was expected, their plans became re-realized and they once again took up the tasks needed to create the network.
Wiser now, the two created the final stanges of their plan. Thecrafters guild and the shadow network would actually be one in the same. The crafters guild, The Tradesmen Elite, would be the public front to the intelligence organization, The Shadow Network. All that was left now was to finish the final stages. And the two worked vigorously. While Jareg still scored Dregar for funds to finance the purchase of the guild hall, Kiva turned torecruitments. Nepp'akyo, Dur'Thak, and Talenbecame the new members.But Kiva's efforts were not finished yet. During his time away he had thought long and hard about the nature of the Network and how it would need to operate.
The Network would be comprised of sixteen agents,divided into four seperate teams.Each team of four would also have two captians, and above each captian would be a commander.Superior to thefour commanders would be Kiva and Jareg. There was just one last peice. The person above the pair.This last position had troubled Kiva. He needed someone trust worthy, someone to lead the guild, someone to act as a figure head to inspire anddelegate the Network. He could only think of one person, Ireth Telrunya.
Now he was standing with Ireth, both cloaked in the shadow cast by the low sitting dogwood outside the Hlint cemetary. Her eyes were distant as she studied him. He could feel hisanxietybuild within him. He had spent the last several hours divulging every aspect ofThe Shadow Network to Ireth, and if she didn't accept then his time and effort would have been wasted. In addition, a non-agent would be educated as to the nature of The Network, an idea he did not relish. The silence was grating against him and the time passed slowly, cutting at his patience like a keen knife. Ireth's eyes glimmered in the moonlight, her lips curling into a smirk. "I accept," She answered.
-
The wind roared, wrenching the sand from the Anuroch desert and whipping it into Kiva and Jareg's eyes. The pair stumbled on, shielding their eyes from the onslaught with outstretched hands. "I should have kept my cloak," Kiva whispered to himself as he pushed through the stinging winds. Jareg turned back and shouted something to Kiva, but his words were lost on the wind. Kiva strained to hear him, but it was useless. The winds wailed, draining the world of all other sound. Kiva pushed on, all his determination forced into each step, for he knew with each step the two were closer to sanctuary.
He sought to lose his mind in the torrent of sand that ravaged his face and body. Meditation was impossible in such conditions, but he was able to summon a warm thought. Tegan shimmered into his mind's eye.She was smiling. Her joyful smile brought a swell to his heart everytime he saw it. Despite the whipping winds and the agonizing sands, Kiva was able to find peace and comfort in the image of her smile. A month ago the affect would have annoyed him. He would have troubled over the idea of a woman holding sway on him. But not now, he had come to embrace his love for her. He took strength in her presence, both by his side and in his mind.
The winds died as suddenly as they had started and Jareg turned to Kiva, his face browned from the sand. "I need a drink, mate," He laughed and flicked some sand from his hat.
Kiva couldn't help but grin. He approached his oldest friend, "Not now," He walked passed him, making his way for North Fort. He and Jareg had walked until the sun began to set, then they found a spot behind a dune to light a fire to shield off the nocturnal desert's brutal cold.
"It's worse than Black Ice Isle at night, har!" Jareg joked and wrapped his arms tighter about himself. Kiva agreed, the desert was incredibly cold during the night. TheElf leaned back and gazed up at the debris filled sky. The sky had troubled him. Hehad overheard a rumor that the sky would be filled with dust and debris for at least a century. Normally this wouldn't have worried him. But it occured to him, that if the rumor was true then Tegan wouldnever again see a bluedaytime sky, or the eternal glory of the stars at night.That thought had bothered him so deeply that he sough out Ozymandias, something he tried toavoid. He asked the ancient Bardif the rumor was true, it seemed it wasn't. The sky would only remain clouded for a decade at most, or so said Ozymandias.
"I hope he's right," Kiva murmered.
"The cold is gettin' to ye, mate. Ye're talkin' to ye self now, har!" Jareg laughed as he pulled a bottle ofXeenite wine from his pack and offered it to Kiva. "To keep ye bones warm." He grinned wide, baringhis sharpTeifling teeth.
"No thanks, old friend," Kivadeclined. Jareg shook his head, amused, and raised the bottle to his own lips. He took one swig and then hedropped the bottle and stood. Kiva was with him. A loud thump sounded nearby, and the groan of a giant was heard. The two quickly doused the fire with sand,then drew their weapons. They stood back to back for several moments, casting thier eyes about the featureless sand. Normally they could havetaken an entire clan ofSand Giants, but these were not normal circumstances. They had no time to prepare, there would be no magical protections. It would be skill against skill.
"Steady, mate," Jareg whispered to Kiva. The thumping had stopped and the two were able to breath a single sigh of relief beforefourSand Giants leaped the dune and fell upon them. Thepairrushed forward, their swords meeting the axes of the giants. In the first frantic moments of battle, Kiva and Jareg always had the advantage. As a Demon-kin and shadow-altered Elf the two were gifted with unparrelled speed and agility. One of the giants was imediately felled as Kivacollided his foot into the Giant's knee and as the massive form fell Jareg leaped upon it, driving his rapier deep into the Giant's throat.
The battle turned in favor of the giants then, as their superior strength and size began to weigh against the pair. Kiva and Jareg were fighting back to back now. A massive axe fell, threatening to cleave Jareg, but Kiva whirled deflecting the blow with his short sword. The axe slid away and fell upon Kiva's shoulder, wounding it badly.As the Giant's axe fell, Jareg leapt forward stabbing his dagger into the Giant's chest. It was by sheer luck that the blade pierced the heart and the giant toppled.
Kiva sheathed the sword of his wounded arm and backed away. The last two giants descended upon Jareg now and the Teifling fought ferociously to deflect thier attacks. As Kiva watched he reached into his belt and gathered several shurikens into his palm. Then he waited. Jareg turned aside a deadly axe sweep, then he leaped to meet the other giant, lashing at its massive hand. In a rage the giant dropped his axe and raised his fist. In that moment Kiva's hand lanced forward with blinding speed. The shurikens whistled through the air and peppered the giants face, ruinning both its eyes. The giantthrashed blindly, and though he tried to dodge, Jareg was taken in the face by a heavy fist. The Teifling was tossed to the ground, stunned.
Kiva reach for his bow, ready to loose several arrows at the blinded giant. But the beast turned away andfrantically ran into the endless sands of the desert. Kiva breathed easy, but he had forgotten about the last giant. In the last second he saw as the giant charged Jareg's fallen form. In a panic Kiva dashed to intercept the attack. Hiswounded hand automatically drew his second sword and he realized he was forcingthe muscle, tissue, and bone of his bloodied shoulder to repair itself.Hethrew himself beteween the Giant and Jareg, sweeping his sword up into the axe's path. The giant, surprised by the deflection stumbled back for a moment before charging again. Kiva leapt to meet the monster.
The last few months had beenheading for this moment. He had been robbed of his power andstrength, all his abilities drained from him.Since his return to Hlint he had done nothing but seek his old power. His swords swept through the air parrying each axe strike. His feet struck into openings the giant had created. And he realized that each move the giant made, he was predicting. His swords always in the right place at the right time, his fists and feet flurrying into the giant's unprotected body. Every move Kiva made was precise, calculated. He saw the giant's eyes gleam with fear as realization of defeat struck the beast. Kiva fought further, pushing the giant further and further from Jareg. Then he leapt forward, aiming a dangerous strike at the giant's waist. The beastwas forced to twist the axe down to defend itself, and Kiva whirled, lancing his second blade into the giant's neck. The beast dropped his axe and stumbled back, his hands grasping wildly at the blade lodged in its flesh. Kiva ran forward, hurling himself into the air and sent a forceful punch into his sword's hilt, driving the blade through the giant's skull and sceweringits brain. The beast fell.
Kiva knelt, drew and cleaned his blade, then returned to Jareg. The teifling was standing now, a satisfied smile on his face. He clapped Kiva on the shoulder, "It's good to have the old Kiva back, mate."
-
The blue flame blazed in the hearth casting a pale light over the office. The room was silent, save for the shallow breathing of the Elf lounging against the wall. Kiva had been sitting there for hours, his gaze and mind lost in the dancing azure fire. "How curious life is," He mused to himself. Recent events had been good and bad. He had expirienced great successes but also a disturbing setback.
Matterswith The Tradesmen Elite and The Shadow Network were progressing nicely. He and Jareg, having taken up selling diamonds, were acruing the needed funds at a rapid rate. Soon they would have their guild hall in Pranzis and the real work could begin. Kiva had high hopes for his two-sided guild. Jareg seemed ever more eager as the days wore on as well.
But aside from the guild, there was something greater,a larger success that caused him to smile. He and Tegan weregetting alongnicely. They shared many moments now, and she seemed happy with his advances. As long as he made them in the right way, of course. His smile grew as he recalled the night almost a week ago when they simply stared at the blue flame together. He had explained that the fire was all that remained from his days as an alchemist. They both had become lost in the moment, and before he knew what was happening they were lost in each others' arms once more, locked in another passionate kiss.
"Gods, how I love that woman," He whispered to himself. The flame licked up, crackling. He locked his eyes on the charring wood beneath the searing heat, "I think I'll ask her for a date the next time I see her." Until now all his invitations to meet in private had been through carrier hawk and letter. And tthey had always been chances to talk, never an official romantic involvement. He imagined that asking her in person may have an amusing affect on Tegan.
Though he looked forward to seeing her again. And the very thought of her caused him great joy, he knew that for every good event there was a bad event. And there was indeed a bad event. One of his commanders, Talen Sgath, seemed to have a slightly more slippery mind than Kiva had estimated. The human, it seems, was already a member of The Free Lancers, and he had somehow forgotten this. Upon confronting Talen, the man chose to remain with The Free Lancers. Normally this wouldn't have troubled Kiva. But Talen was now a non-agent who was educated as to the Network's operations.
"I'll have to watch him closely," Kiva said aloud.
His mind was troubled for just a moment more before Tegan's dazzling smile and gleaming eyes entered his mind. A smile crossed his face once more and all his troubles were forgotten. Settled with this new peace, Kiva closed his eyes and dreamed of the woman he loved.
-
The house was massive and empty. Kiva couldn't help but enjoy the collosal silence that filled the place. He sat on the floor, leaning against a wall, in one of the larger rooms. His eyes scanned his surroundings and he imagined all the different ways the place could be remodeled to suit his needs better. "This is going to be just as expensiveas buying the place," He said wryly. But he was right. Jareg and he had thought thehouse would be better designed, but it seems that the original architech was a novice at best, or extremely disorganized. The house was an array of rooms and halls with little to no style or structure what-so-ever.
Kiva turned away from his new home and gazed down at the book in his hand. The Drow lettering was becoming familiar to him now, and he noted it with a certain satisfaction. He had always loved languages, and he strived to learn as many as possible. Once he hadmastered Drow he'd move on to Halfling. Communication, he knew, was paramount to his goals. And he wished to be a master of communication, in whichever language was necessary.
He looked up again, taking in the large room that surrounded him. It was amazing, he mused to himself, just a week ago he and Jareg only dreamed of owning this building. And now they did. 260 Haft Lake District was thier's, and it was to be the future home ofboth The Tradesmen Elite, and The Shadow Network. But even more importantly than the house, in purchasing ithe and Jareg discovered a new ally. He hadalways watched the Sea Elf, Auuumi, with a distant interest. She didn't speak Common and she seemed timid around everyone except for Tegan. Kiva smiled, he knew all too well how easy it was to feel comforted by Tegan. But Auuumi had come to he and Jareg and she expressed how she could that she wished to help. She was a great help. She expedited the process incredibly.While Kiva, Jareg, Tegan, and Auuumi were in the house for the first time, Auuumi disclosed something that truly surprised Kiva. She was fluent in both Common and Elven.
The woman had been silent all this time, listening and learning while in the presence of others, and now she chose to reveal her new found skills to just these three. Kiva and Jareg decided right there to make Auuumi aCommander in The Shadow Network.She was a stout ally, and anyone who could listen, learn, and keep secrets that well would certainly be an asset.
Kiva's mottled sanguine eyes turned back to the book. "Things are working out nicely," He mused to himself. Heand Jareg now owned their second home. Thetwo-sided guild would soon be announced to the public. The Shadow Network was already receiving contacts from people in need ofthe Network's services. A new ally was discovered. And Kiva was soon to have another date with Tegan. A smile crossed his face, and he continued to read the Drow script.
-
"After all I've endured, have I truly not reigned in my anger?" Kiva asked himself as he slowly made his way to Pranzis. He was clinging to a cliffside in the Deadman's Pass, hundreds of feet were between his feet and the horizontal ground. It was dangerous, and hard work to climb the sheer rock face, but he welcomed the struggle. It helped him to clear his mind. Lightning streaked the sky instantly followed by a bone shaking crack of thunder. Kiva reached higher and hauled himself up.
It was a ...ed dragon. How could it have gone so wrong. They all knew the dragon was there. He, along with Jareg, Tegan, Wren, T'ashr, Bakee, and Daralith had been resting in a nearby cavern, gathering their strength after a lengthy battle with a sizable giant clan. As Kiva lounged against the hard rock, he cast his eyes about the small subterranean room. He wished to look upon Tegan's beauty and relax with her smiling back at him. But she wasn't there. He heard a loud roar from down the cave's corridor. His heart cringed as he realized what was happening. Springing to his feet he dashed towards the roar, he didn't take time to protect himself magically or steel his mind for the coming battle. He simply rushed forward.
As he turned a bend he watched in horror as a massive Blue Dragon cornered Tegan against the cavern wall. "Tegan! Run!" He shouted as he drew his blades and charged the beast. His effort was wasted. The dragon turned and sent a powerful blow into Kiva's body. The Elf flew through the air and crashed against the stone wall with a sickening crack. He fell to the floor, his back broken, and struggled to stand. The pain surged through his body, wracking his senses. He watched helplessly as Tegan was ripped apart by the dragon. It was useless to struggle, darkness took him.
Kiva had died in the past, and he had watched as Tegan had been killed before. But never by something so brutal as a Dragon. The expirience shook him deeply. But even more deeply because for the first time in his life, Kiva felt the cold touch of the Soul Mother reach into him and extract a sliver of his soul. It wasn't the loss of a portion of his soul that troubled him, nor was it the icy touch of the Soul Mother upon his heart. He feared more for Tegan. He suddenly realized that he could be taken from her. This thought unnerved him like nothing else. He would need to be more careful in the future. His life was no longer only his. He had offered it to a person he cared for. If he died, she would feel the pain of loss.
This new thought and the fact that the Soul Mother had finally touched him festered within him, worming its way passed his mind and into his emotions. The small seed of anger slowly turned into rage. He released it upon the nearest person, Bakee. His words were mostly harsh and untrue, and he knew this. But he could not stop himself. In turn Bakee became hostile and spurned Kiva. Not able to cope with this or the emotions he felt, he left for Pranzis.
Kiva pulled himself up onto the ledge and made his way into the Serpent Mountians. His mind was troubled for he knew he shouldn't have said the things that he did. "Once I have gathered my wits I'll seek her out and apologise. Bakee didn't deserve that." He whispered to himself. As he passed through the mountians his thoughts returned to Tegan. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you," His voice trembled andtrailed away.
-
Kiva paced back and forth, his feet working mechanically with no direction from his mind, for his mind was not with him at that moment. His swords had been discarded and thrown to the bed along with his hooded overshirt and now he walked in his office, naked from the waist up. He was reliving the events of the day and night, and as each small moment replayed his smile grew. The day was an interesting one. He had taught Tegan the sword. As much as she could be taught anyway. She had a natural feel for the blade and all Kiva need do was provide her with a target. The rest came on its own. But it was that night that truly held his mind captive. The night had started innocently enough, he was merely sitting by his tree in Hlint as he always did. Until of course, Tegan, Ash, and Nepp arrived.Ash andNepp's behavior was certainly entertaining, but despire the amusementKiva and Tegan made their escape from the soon-to-be parents and headed for the Haven outskirts.
Tegan had been vigorously pursuing her crafts lately and she wanted to try her hand at some roasts, thisin turn meant she needed ingredients, which in its own course meant Kiva would be alonewith her while they walked the lands of Mistone. The solitude wasn't as comforting as he thought it would be. Having seen Ash's temperment with Nepp, Kiva found himself curious if all women expirienced such a mood swing when with child. He made the mistake of asking Tegan this question.It wasn't her answer that now tugged at his mind, it was her amusement. And it only grew when they happened upon Sa'kura and another nameless adventurer. These two along with Tegan spared no words to tease Kiva. Looking back on it now, the situation was humorous.
But as entertaining as the encounter was, it was the small talk that he and Tegan had immediately following that made his heart swell. Through their words they established that they were in fact a couple. This was something Kiva had been yearning for. And now that the words had been spoken, he found that his soul knew a strange and pleasant peace. He was calm, more so than he had ever been.
He stopped pacing and gazed at thefire burning in the hearth, "This has been a good day."
-
Old books and tomes were stacked around Kiva, walling him off from the rest of the Great Library of Voltrex. These documents had been placed here, at his desk, by him over the many years he had come to study here. At the moment however, he studied something not of the archives. Talen had brought him the contract granting the service of The Network to the Freelancers. The contract was simple enough, but he wanted to study it more closely to search for any loopholes he hadn't previously noticed. There were none.
Placing the scroll on his desk he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. There were so many matters drawing his attention of late. Of course, the most dominating facet of his life was now Tegan. He knew only joy when he was with her. And his happiness lingered passed her departure and stayed with him as he thought of her. He had never thought such a sensation was possible, but life it seemed, still held some surprises for him.He had watched as Tegan grew from the fledgeling caster to the skilled and powerful sorceress that she had become. And he was very proud of her.She had gone from being the young Half-Elf girl seeking to learn Elven from him, to being a lovely andbright young woman. And she was the love of his life.
But there was more to Kiva's life now. The Network was taking shape and the roster was growing rapidly. Jareg and Ireth had come to talking, which was good. Until now Kiva felt as if he was the liaison between the two. With any luck, and their continued correspondence, that would change.
And there were new people in his life. The most noteworthy was T'ashr. She was an odd girl. She seemed totally innocent, almost as if she were a child. But she carried the same power Tegan had, but to a lesser degree. Judging from her attitude one would never guess she was a Teifling, not until she bared her fangs. Rhynn was seeking him again. But not for council now, but simply to talk. She had finally chosen a course for her life, and now it seemed she was content to simply speak with Kiva as a comrade. Then there was Auuumi and Ashiel, both now members of The Network. He knew little of them and it seemed that despite their enrollment in his guild, he still knew little of them. He'd have to fix that. And finally, there was Jaleel. The man was not part of Kiva's life. But he was noticed. In all his life Kiva had never met someone so ingorant yet so conceited. He even managed to anger Jareg, which was no small feat. The human seemed content to bask in his world of personal opinions, which were never justified by fact, and spout his accusations at the world. "No matter,"Kiva thought to himself, "He's merely human. And if his tongue doesn't get him killed his short life span will end him soon enough."
"Hello?" A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Kiva opened his eyes to find a small face peering at him from over the stacked books. "Oh, you are here. I'm sorry!" The face vanished and Kiva lept up. In all his time here the small librarian had never spoken to him. She only went about her chores humming to herself.
"Wait!" He called as he emerged from his book constructed shelter. The girl turned, her face showing her fear. It was a reaction he was used to. How else would someone react to him? His eyes were the mottled blue and violet of the night sky, speckled with silver. And his lips were black. Even had he not been clad in dark clothing and sporting two sowrds on his back, he would still appear unwelcoming. He knew how he looked; how it appeared when he grinned or smirked. He looked evil. He looked molevolent. "Wait," He called again, softer this time.
The girl waited, her hands figdeting together in frontof her, "Yes?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kiva tried to spoften his expression. "Why have you never replaced all the books I've stacked here?"
She glanced from him to the towering books and back to him, "I thought you may want to read them again. I'm sorry." Her hands twisted more rapidly now.
He shook his head slightly, "Don't apologise. I'm not upset. But you can replace them anytime you like. I'm not so lazy as to not seek them out again should I need them."
She studied him for several moments, perhaps gauging his sincerity, "Alright," She finally answered and the fear seemed to fade from her eyes. "I'll do that." Glad that she no longer seemed afraid of himKiva smiled to himself. "You have dimples!" She excliamed. His eyes widened for just a moment and he didn't know how to react. The young Elven girl giggled and moved off into the bowels of the library.
Kiva stood nonplussed. That was the secod time this week he had heard someone say that to him. Tegan was the first. He lightly touched his cheek, "Dimples, huh?" Then he recalled exactly what Tegan had said to him regarding his dimples and he laughed to himself. "I'll take all the helpI can get!" He moved behind the wall of books once more. He pushed aside the contract he had been reading and turned to a tome written in Drow. "I wonder what the Drow word for dimple is?"
-
The malar panther padded along the River of Shadows, first drinking deeply from the dark waters, then turning and continuing its course along the river bank. As it passed a nearby tree its head raised and it sniffed the air, testing a faint scent it had caught. The beast, unable to pinpoint the source of the smell, growled and loped off into the darkness of the wood. Kiva stood for a long while, watching the path the large cat had taken, waiting for the animal to return. It didn't. He breathed a slight sigh of relief. It had passed right by him. If he wished he could have reached out and touched its fur. Once again, he knew gratitude for his inherent stealth capabilities.
Peeling himself from the tree he dashed along the river, skirting the bank and avoiding the cluster of trees that most likely hid more panthers, or possibly vampires. Finally, he dove head first into the river and swam with the current until he reached the far bank. He scrambled onto the bank and removed his tunic and undershirt, baring his chest to the cool forest air. It wassweet and refreshing to feel the breeze on his wet skin, and he savored the caress of the wind as it encircled him. He tossed his clothes over a river-side rock while he walked the short distance to the stone that was his mother's final resting place.
There was no mending necessary. During the last few months he had visited many times, each time peeling weeds and moss away from the rock, and chiseling the dirt from the engraved words. He sat, cross legged, before his mother's grave and stared for a long while at the letters he had carved when she died, "Nathyrra Seidai". He wondered now if he should have also written a small lymeric to honor her. He pondered over what words he would use, but finally decided to leave her grave as it was. To change it now seemed unsincere. He hadn't come here to toilfor hours over words that would serve no purpose, anyhow. He had come here to talk.
He closed his eyes and he sought out the void deep within him, the emptiness that was meditation. The rustle of the wind tossed leaves and the rushing of the river slowly faded away, and he knew peace.He floated in the haven of his mindas he addressed each issue that had tugged at his mind of late.Soon, he was at ease, andhis body relaxed.
"I knew you would come, my son," Nathyrra's voice came to him from the darkness of the void. "You never could stay away for long. Why is that?"
Kiva struggled with the words, trying to keep his voice steady. His mother always had an odd effect on his serenity, "I miss you, Mother. I come to tend your resting place, and to speak with you."
Nathyrra slowly materialized in Kiva's mind. She looked the way she had before the Dark Forest had drained her of her vitality. She was sleek, and beautiful, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her eyes of deep emerald peircing at him. "My resting place is here, Darkchild," She lightly touched his chest over his heart, "Not in this place. This spot is merely a rock on a river bank." She smiled at him, and he felt her presense soothing him. Even in death, her motherly love was comforting. "And you have no reason to miss me, my son. You are no longer alone."
Kiva watched his mother with dark eyes, not knowing what to say. His mouth was dry and his mind was blank. He wanted to talk, but now he found that he could only listen.
"The woman you call S'layl is with you." Nathyrra continued, "You will love, and you will be loved. Don't let the fears of your curse affect that. Be with her, go to her, give her what she desires. There is a doubt in your mind that has plagued you since she spoke to you of an issue you fear. Don't fear it. Your curse is a blessing as well, if it passes on, it will be your child's blessing."
Kiva's breath caught in his throat, "Are you telling me to conceive a child?" He could hardly believe this to be true, and he hoped his mother did not confirm it.
"No, I'm not." She smiled at him with soft lips, "Though the idea of being a grandmother is appealing."
"Mother!"
"Calm down, Darkchild, I'm chiding you. I'm not telling you to have a child. The Gods know what kind of father you'd be," She laughed teasingly at that. "However I imagine your heart would melt like snow in the summer if you were to sire a daughter. But that's neither here nor there. And you certainly aren't ready for a child. What I'm telling you is to stop fearing yourself and what it means to give yourself to another. If she is truly your S'layl, then let her have you. She deserves it, you know. She stands with you, holds your hand, walks beside you. It is because of her that you are no longer alone. And you two make a beautiful couple." Nathyrra laid a gentle kiss on her son's brow. "She's good for you, Kiva."
Kiva jerked back to reality, the tranquility of meditation shattered. Nathyrra had called him Kiva, she hadn't called him by his name since she first called him Darkchild over a century ago. The shock of it had jeered him, leaving his face flushed and his eyes wide. Gradually he regained his composure and stood, glancing down at the words, "Nathyrra Seidai" carved into the base of the boulder. As he dressed and began his trek back to Pranzis a small smile creased his lips, "She's good for me." He shook his head amusedly, "How is it that even in death mothers always find a way to be right?"
-
Snow drifted over the rooftopsof Leilon, the wind softly spreading through the alleyways and streets, with the white flakes finally resting on the frozen cobblestones of the roads. It was late, and save for thegentle murmuring wind, the city was silent. It was a calm and peaceful night for Leilon, but not for Kiva. In his home he struggled with a very large bed, straining his back and legs to push the heavy wooden fame into place. Panting, he straightened himself and eased his muscles. He was naked from the waist up and sweat was pouring down his abdomen. He glanced down at the bed, he could have sworn it was watching back in defiance. Heloosened his arms a bit and then threw his weight into the bed frameonce more. Slowly but surely it slid the last few inches into position. The headboard rested against the far wall of his room.
He stepped back and wiped the perspiration from his face and body before he turned to study the rest of the room. Other than the bed, it was empty. He had been working all day, and now all night, to rearrange his room. It had once served him as his office, his library, and his bedroom. But now circumstances had changed and his room would serve only one purpose. It would be simply a bedroom.
He cringed as he gazed over the empty floor and realization struck him that he would soon be dragging more heavy furniture into the room. He suddenly found himself wishing he could trade his unearthly grace for just a small portion of strength. He strode from his room and somberly began to wrestle and drag with a large bookshelf. As the battle between Elf and furniture ensued Kiva's mind drifted off into those far recesses that only he could find. And while his body toiled and ached to move the lumbering shelf, his mind thought about the passed few days and the events that had ensued.
The first, as always, was Tegan. His S'layl. But there was nothing turbulent to meander over, nothing mind consuming that he needed to sort out. Things were going well with her. Very well. And for that, he was grateful. What really tugged at his mind was another woman, a long time friend of his. Ash Willo had finally had her children, they were triplets.Kiva smirked to himself at the thought of it."Leave it to Ash and Nepp to have children while he's off traveling the world with another woman."A conversation he had recently with Tegan flashed though his mind. They were talking about the idea of children, it was a conversation that Kiva had been dreading since he last spoke with his mother.Now with Ash and Nepp being parents the reality of it set in. Children happen, it was the question of how one approached the topic that begged concern. Kivasilently swore that hewouldnot take the approach Nepp had taken. He would be there for Tegan, every step of the way.
While the rest of Ash and Nepp's comradescelebrated the birth with joy and all flocked to the new mother baring good tidings and well-meant advice, Kiva sat back and watched. The birth of the triplets meant something entirely different to him thanthe others. Ash and Nepp had made Kiva and Jareg their children's guardians. And though he loathed to admit it, Ash and Nepp were not long for the world. Both had been raked deeply by the Soul Mother and neither had long to live. In a way, Kiva was glad for that. They would go together, or atleast close together. Buthe also knew sadness. They would leave their children behind, and in the care of Kiva and Jareg, no less.
Ash had once explained why she had chosen them, her reason was not solid. "Because you two would be the coolest parents ever!" Kiva could hardly agree with that reasoning, and it was Nepp who explained the issue more thoroughly. Kivaprefered Nepp's perspective. He explained,"By choosing you, Kiva,that means Tegs will be there too. So we really get you, Tegs, and Jareg. And what more could we want? Your honor to guide and protect them. Tegs' sweetness tocare and nurture them. And Jareg is just plain fun!"
"And drunk," Kiva had added.
"That's why he's so fun!" Nepp justified. Looking back on those words now, Nepp made a lot of sense. And that comforted him with the idea of children of his own. His honor to guide and protect them, Tegan's sweetness to care and nurture them. Kiva hated to admit, but Nepp was right.
Kiva pulled his mind back into focus as his body mechanically shoved the last of the furniture into his room. He looked about, judging the new atmosphere that the room now had. He found that he liked it. He hoped Tegan would too. But that would come later, for now, he was exhausted. With the full toll of his work finally settling down on him, he lay upon his bed. It wasn't long before his eyes closed, his body relaxed,and hedozed peacefully. Outside the streets of Leilon had accumulated more snow,and still all remained quiet. Kiva had worked for hours, and he often caused loud crashing and banging noises. But Leilon continued, undisturbed, as the night silently passed by.
-
The walk from Hlint to Leilon was one that Kiva knew all too well, and he found that the passing scenery of Fort Llast and surrounding lands had etched a place in his memory. He knew when to expect a rise in the road, or where each tree and bush grew. He knew where the puddles gathered when it rained, or which course the wind would follow. He had made the journey many times, though the frequency had increased lately. His feet carried him speedily along the gravel road, his legs pumping hard, augmented by his Ki. His mind drifted as he ran, losing himself to thoughts of the days passed. Matters with The Network were smooth at the moment, though he was still engaged with the Freelancers' contract. The guild had become official, being recognized as a true organization, rather than a loosely affiliated group of allies. Now all that remained was the reconstruction of the guildhall in Pranzis. That task was most likely going to take quite some time.
Kiva's feet carried him passed Fort Llast and onto the realm of Blackford Castle. As he watched the grassy fields fly passed him he sought out the faimliar song of the shadows. As always he found it easily, his ears drinking in the haunting melody of darkness. He yearned for a way to show Tegan this music. Where his life had always been darkness, now it was both darkness and light. And his light was Tegan. The two had grown extremely close, so much so that he often had to remind himself that they were a couple and that they were deeply in love. It seemed so surreal. Only a few short years ago she was the woman that he watched from afar, now she was his other half. He wished for a way to reconcile the two aspects of his life; Tegan and the shadows. He wanted her to hear the music that he heard. "One day I'll find a way," He told himself.
His stride quickly drank in the distance between he and Leilon. Lake Palden slipped by him until finally he reached the city wall. He nodded to the single guardsman as he opened the door to the city and stepped out onto the cobble stone street. He always liked Leilon, it had all the flare of a large city without being too boisterous, like PortHampshire. The recent snow storms only seemed to increase Leilon's appeal.
Kiva's mind was still attuned to theshadow's music as he made his way to his home, but then he stopped. His feet froze to the ground. The song had changed. He had heard fluctuations to the music before, often when a torch barer approached him, or the sun was about to rise. The shadows always seemed to retreat from sources of light. But this time it was different, the music became louder. Hecast his eyesabout, searching for any irregularities. There were none, yet the shadows began to wail and scream now. No longer singing, they now shrieked as if they were in pain.His ears grated against the crying, then there was silence. The screaming stopped, and there was no music. It seemed even the wind had died. Kiva hearda single word, "...Darkchild..." It was barely a whisper. Then he felt it, theextreme coldbehind him. He twirled on his feet just in time to seea black claw strike at him.
Kivafell, rolling on his shoulder and springing back to his feet, but the Shadow was just asfast. "Come to ussssss, brother," It hissed and lunged again. Kiva swayed and drew his first blade, his sword arched up against the outstretched arm. But itmerely glanced off the shadow flesh. Kiva backed away, watching the Shade closely. This wasn't good.He was in a city, and people would see, an armed Elf fighting a Shadow in the streets would draw attention. He did the only thing he could think of.He ran.
He dashed with his full speed into the streets of Leilon, a glance behind him showed that the Shadow was close on his heels. But luckily Kiva knew Leilon well and was able to manuever to gain some distance. As he weaved throughout the various alleyways he made his way to the docks.There was a spot he knew that would serve his purposes well. He turned on his heel suddenly and his hand flicked forward, several shurikens launching at the Shadow's face. Thebeast shrieked then continued its pursuit, but Kiva was already running.
Kiva made his last turn into the alley he sought. He could feel the icy essence of the Shade just behind him. The alley ended in a sheer wall and Kiva pumped his legs towards it, filling his legs with Ki. As he reached the wall he stepped onto it and used his sheer speed to run vertically for several paces, then he launched himself backwards, somersaulting in the air. He landed just behind the bewildered Shadow and sent his sword into the Shade's unprotected back. The beast wailed and fell to its knees, flailing its arms at the weapon plunged into its back. Kiva drew his second sword and impaled the creature again, then gripping bothhilts tightly he wrenched them apart, nearly severing the Shadow in half.
The Shade lay spasming on the cobblestones for several moments, its essence quickly fading. "You haven't essscaped, Darkchild. There will be more." Then it was gone. Kiva glanced behind him, checking to see if anyone had seen. But it was a foolish notion, of course people had saw.A small crowd was gathering outside the alley. City goers stared at the white haired Elf with wide, terrified eyes. Kiva sheathed his blades and pushed passed them. No one said a word to him, they just watched as he left the scene. He quickly made his way to his house, seeking to escape questioning from the guards. How was he supposed to explain how a Shadow had followed him into the city? He didn't even know the answer. He entered his house then closed and locked the door. He strode to his room where he sat upon the couch that he had placed before the hearth. He sat for a long while, his eyes glued on the flamesin the fireplace, replaying the event over and over again in his mind. Finally, still with no answers, he stood and undressed to bathe. As he settled into the warm water of his tub he could only think and say one thing, "Not good,"
-
The trees' canopy blocked out the blaze of the sun, casting only a pale green light over the forest floor. A white stag nibbled at a shrub nearby, but the animal paid Kiva and Tegan no mind. The pair sat in silence, enjoying one another's company, as they watched the waters of the lake shimmer and ripple. Kiva cast his eyes about, "Odd," He thought, "Such a peaceful spot and yet I've never been here before." He looked about some more and realized that he had no idea where he was. But it didn't seem to matter and any worry he had quickly slipped from his mind. He was content enough to sit with Tegan, and to hold her hand.
A soft wind blew through the trees and the water's serene surface coursed in the wake of the breeze. Kiva stared at the dancing water surface, there were such beautiful colors. Reds and blues of the most brilliant hues, but there was no reds in the forest, and the azure of the sky was blocked by the canopy. It made no sense, but he couldn't grasp why. And even as he realized that something was off, the doubt vanished from him and he once more sat in peace. Tegan turned her head and mouthed something to him, but there was no sound, no words. Her lips smiled and her eyes twinkled at him with delight, and his heart swelled with love at seeing her so happy. But why hadn't she spoke? Why were there no words?
His mind struggled with the idea of this being wrong, and he toiled to maintain his focus on the abnormality. But he could feel his attention slipping again. He turned to Tegan, and his breath caught in his throat. Her eyes were wide with fear, and he saw in the reflection of her eyes that his face had turned dark. He lifted his hands and stared at them in horror, they too had turned black, and his skin's substancewas fading. Tegan rose and slowly backed away from him, her mouth agape and her eyes shining with terror. Kiva stood and made to appraoch her, but as he did he caughta familiar chill in the air. He turned to find himself surrounded by Shadows. Instinctively he reached for his swords, but they were gone. The Shades laughed, "You can't run from usss, Brother."
Kiva quickly glanced to Tegan. Tears were streaming down her face and she mouthed something again. But as with before, there were no words. Then she turned and ran from him. He tried to follow but the Shadows leaped into his path and fell on him. Filled with fear, rage, and desperation Kiva lashed out, striking at each Shade with blind hatred. His fists and legs lashed out in a torrent of attacks that drove his enemy away. The Shadows hissed and backed away. Kiva ran after Tegan.
Tegan glanced behind her to see Shadow-Kiva following after her, and fear gripping her heart she ran faster. No matter his efforts, Kiva could not catch up to her. He felt his strength rapidly draining from him and soon he tripped and toppled to the forest floor. He looked up just in time to see Tegan disappear into the distance. And as he tried to rise he felt the freezing stab of Shadow claws in his back. The Shades were on him. "Welcome home, Brother." They hissed and darkness took him.
Kiva lurched upright in his bed, a cold sweat drenching his body. He struggled to catch his breath. It took him a moment to realize where he was, safe in his home in Leilon. He looked to his hands, they were normal. He felt his face, he could feel the warmth of his flesh. "It was just a dream," He breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced to his left, Tegan was sleeping soundly beside him. Apparantly his dream hadn't disturbed her, and he was grateful. He reached for the canteen on his bed stand and took a long drink before he settled back down. He lay still for a long while, watching Tegan rest, but sleep never found him. Angry and frustrated, he lay his arm over the woman at his side and he forced himself into the Elven Trance. This time, there were no dreams.