RuneScape Forum Archive | —The Highborn

Areno3

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The battlemage quickly found his way to the several bookshelves that decorated the far wall. He began tearing through the books, throwing them aside as if they were ragdolls. And then he came upon a very large book, its face black and its binding gold and blood red. Its title read: “Drahk Doriku: Bringer of the End.”

Odama returned to the king and flung the book at him. “Read it,” Odama commanded, his eyes fierce and his tone cold. Alderionth blinked and grabbed the book from his chest. He slowly opened the pages of the novel. The first passage was *Creatures of the Nether Dimension,” and it wasn’t long before Alderionth was engrossed with the text. A hand-drawn picture of the creature Alderionth had just fought was displayed on the second page… and no doubt it fit its appearance to the mark.

“They are called demons… or hellions, for that matter. I have summoned a couple at once before. Most creatures will aid its conjurer, but these things… no, they wanted to kill anything in their path except those of their own kind. I quickly banished them back to their realm, but that is not the point. They are like hornets in a nest; their queen commands them, creating them with ancient magic, while her loyal bees go out and collect resources.” He paused, smirking slightly. “They need life essence to survive in our world, and guess what we are? We’re humans and we take up the resources of this world, along with the other races that dwell here. But these creatures are not from our world. Their queen manifests from the sin of our men, and if enough sin is available, she will appear. Where she appears is unknown, but I do know we are the first to be attacked and that means she is close by. The only thing I am unsure about is who or what Drahk Doriku is.

29-Apr-2012 05:16:08 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:33:33 by Areno3

Areno3

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You must rally the men, my king. That ‘army’ out there wasn’t anything. That was a damn scouting party, and you know that from all the wars you’ve been involved with. That means there are plenty of them to overrun us. We must be ready for war.”

Alderionth nodded, tossing the book back to Odama and standing afoot. He exited his quarters and returned to the magnificent steps of the Synerian Castle. The soldiers and citizens of Synera were still assembled there, talking about the horrid creatures that had just attacked them.

Within the crowd of men and women, Alderionth could see Ryu, Lomar, and Zem. “Everyone! Halt your conversations!” The king ordered, raising his bloodied gauntlets to quiet them. Utter silence soon filled the evening as the voices of frightened people died down.

“We have been attacked, but not by men,” Alderionth announced, stating the obvious and pausing as he let out a deep breath. “We have been attacked by… creatures we think are known as demons.” The throng of men and women gasped, whispers echoing forth in every direction.

“You have heard of them in old wives’ tales, folktales, and even dwarven legends. They are the manifestation of human sin and despair, and their intelligence and strength are noteworthy. I am here to tell you that we are about to enter a war, and I don’t know how long it may last. We will constantly be on alert, and everyone will be taking shifts during the day and night upon these very ramparts. If these beasts attack again, we will know ahead of time. We will see their legion before it even arrives at our doorstep. We will be ready.”

29-Apr-2012 05:16:37 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:33:58 by Areno3

Areno3

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Alderionth stopped, his hands shaking. He looked downward, staring at the ground as he echoed his last comment of the night. “We will be enlisting a draft for soldiers. May your sons and daughters lives be blessed.* With that, Alderionth released his stare from the ground and ambled back into the castle. Shouts and screams boomed in his ears. Their forms charged up the stairs only to be stopped by a wall of soldiers. The citizens desired to reach out and slit his throat as he returned to his castle. Royal bodyguards pushed away flailing arms of those who had offspring. No father or mother wanted to see their child fighting their own nightmares.

End of Chapter One

29-Apr-2012 05:16:46 - Last edited on 18-Jun-2013 16:57:35 by Areno3

Areno3

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Chapter Two

Zendonia: a place of malevolency and anguish, it had recently surfaced itself upon the world. Towers of black and red dotted the landscape, built by terrible creatures that had ravaged the far lands. Woodland areas nearby were being used for their lumber to construct shacks and siege weapons that would later be put to use. A wasteland had acquired the territory south of the Ox-men Mountains and a cloud of evil was beginning to hang over the roofs of the nearby towns.

Snorting, growling, sneering, and disgusting beasts trotted to and fro within their mighty encampment. Upon the twenty-five foot tall towers, devilish archers were stationed. Below lied a plaza, the only section of the camp that looked noble and elegant with marble flooring that stretched out for thirty yards in each direction. In the center of the courtyard was a monstrous cauldron of spewing chemicals and poisons. A throng of demons had gathered around the cauldron, chanting while thousands more watched from beyond the plaza.

“Step back!” A feminine voice with a slippery edge wailed. A silhouette stood, her hands clutching the sides of the enormous pot. She was covered with light crimson flesh, and perfectly straight ivory white nails hung from her hands. A gilded black robe of exquisite design obscured her figure, but none could miss the smooth black hair that hung down her back. Wide white eyes were stationed upon her cherubic face, and pronounced cheekbones were glazed with white sparkles. “It is time to begin the ritual, my children,” the demonic woman announced, a roar echoing out from the demons that clouded the area.

29-Apr-2012 05:16:56 - Last edited on 18-Jun-2013 16:57:10 by Areno3

Areno3

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The chanting continued as a line was made for two demons that hauled a shackled prisoner toward the cauldron. As muffled screams tried to escape the mouth of the poor human, one could tell that he had been awfully tortured, resulting in a loss of his tongue. The human was hairless, scarred, bloody, and infected by diseases that had never before existed in the world. He was thrown to the ground before the feet of the demon queen, and the devilish grunts disappeared into the crowd.

A clawed hand snapped downward, gripping the bicep of the human and pulling him upward. He yelped with no tongue, unable to defend himself with his weak and frail body that had been acquired after days of starvation and torture. Without effort, the queen tossed the human specimen into the cauldron, his skin and bones disintegrating in the bubbling liquid on instant contact. “Come forth my minion!” The queen screamed.

Dark thunderhead clouds began to appear in the sky. Lightning shattered the heavens, sending down thousands of water droplets down upon the demons assembled around the plaza. The lightning bolts, naturally a glowing silver, began to morph into a blood red. The thunder became bolder and its boisterous sound was amplified tenfold. Sanguine bolts of electricity rained down upon the cauldron, forcing the liquid to blast forth. The searing hot liquid melted some of the faces of the nearby demons, making their scorched faces burn with a heavy white smoke as they collapsed to their knees, clutching their faces in agony. Through it all, the queen was unharmed and a jet black mist hung over the location that used to hold the cauldron.

The throng of raging demons had reached silence: a seldom thing. They stared onward with no clues as to what was taking deep and slow breaths within the mist. As black droplets evaporated, a spectrum appeared that stroked the nerves of fear lying deep within the minds of the demons. There, before them, was a monster that they had never before witnessed.

29-Apr-2012 05:17:07 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:34:34 by Areno3

Areno3

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Standing at a height of twelve feet, a beast of pure crimson muscle mass and weight stepped forward, cracking the marble that had been placed for the ritual. Sharp teeth could be seen as the creature grinned, and human-like nails adorned its toes and fingers.

Massive three foot long horns protruded from its head. The sharp bone-like structures were engraved with demonic markings that indented the material of the horn. Unlike ox-men who had perfectly straight horns, the horns of the abomination twisted like that of a tornado.

Brilliant shining silver hair flooded down the demon’s back between either horn. The monster’s ears were like that of all demons: bat-like. Its eyes were entirely gold with a red pupil. Short white eyelashes and eyebrows trimmed the beast’s visionary tools, and to finish it off, it brandished an eight foot long warhammer in its right hand. The hammer weighed about a ton, and had been crafted with ancient demonic text that became aglow only when this beast held its hilt.

The monster’s disrobed configuration stepped toward Shuzae, queen of demons, glaring at her in menacing manner before turning toward the legion of demons and firing his arms into the air. The demonic giant roared, sending out bits of saliva over the demons in front of him. The army of demons shouted back to him in their guttural tones.

The female demon gazed upward at the troll-like manifestation before her, her mouth gaping in awe. “I rule these people, Drahk Doriku. You do not,* she said, her voice quivering.

29-Apr-2012 05:17:30 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:34:52 by Areno3

Areno3

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Drahk smiled, his excellent tusks that curled outward from his lips glistening in the sunlight that recently began shining down after the black clouds departed. “I will do as I please!” He bellowed, grabbing the queen by her throat and lifting her into the air. “You have summoned me to wipe out the inhabitants of this land and I cannot do that with you arguing back and forth about who is going to be the ruler. I am ruler… I am king.” The red face of the queen flushed purple as air began to escape her lungs, but Drahk suddenly loosened his grip and the demon queen collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. “You are now my advisor, Shuzae,” the Bringer of the End whispered over his shoulder as he turned around and left the scene.

Waves of demons surrounded Drahk as he found his way to his own tent, leaving Shuzae lying on the ground alone and defeated by a beast she had created with her fiendish powers. Through this torturous embarrassment although, the demonic queen simply smiled as she hoisted herself back up to her feet.

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A week had passed since the demon attack. Alderionth sat at his desk within his chambers, the wooden surface being littered with paper about scouting reports and recruiting updates. An ink well and quill was set off to the side, the ink slightly spilled from the well’s side.

Silence filled the room. The new-bred king stood afoot, whipping the papers off of his desk into open air. He screamed, banging his fists into the desk. It shook violently, knocking over the well entirely. The papers fluttered about behind him, gravity guiding them to the floor below. Alderionth’s chest heaved up and down from the ragged breaths that filled his lungs.

Ryu suddenly opened the door to find his king standing, his hands clenched into fists. “Milord?” He said, slowly making his way over to his lordship.

29-Apr-2012 05:17:42 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:35:04 by Areno3

Areno3

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“I’m fine,” Alderionth mumbled, staring at the ground and then glancing over at his advisor. He let his hands relax, and turned fully toward Ryu. “What do you need me for?”

“Someone needs to travel to Calabin and escort Wingtoro here safely,” Ryu said, leaning his shoulder against the wall and crossing his feet. “And I’m fairly sure it isn’t going to be you.”

“Yes, yes…” Alderionth whispered, stroking his chin slightly as he casually paced about the room. He suddenly came to a halt and looked to his advisor. “How about you and Lomar? I’m sure the small fellow would be glad to have some time from that elephant of a bodyguard he has.”

Ryu laughed, smiling with ivory white teeth. “That’ll be fine. I’ll tell Odama that he’ll be my back-up advisor until I return.” The master archer nodded and headed out of the king’s chambers. Alderionth only sighed, and apathetically began to pick up the papers strewn about the floor.

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The young lord’s fingers drummed against the gilded oak table, his boredom reaching new heights. Cropped brown hair adorned his scalp, scissor-like bangs hanging over his forehead. His amber eyes were caught in a daze as his father, the forty year old monarch of Calabin, discussed matters with his advisor. “Synera has already been attacked by these creatures,” King Herald Calabin declared. “Our scouting parties have already come in contact with them, and if they wanted to push at us a little harder, we’ll be overrun. This is not a war-taught city, Borus.”

Borus, the king’s advisor, nodded. His fingers traced about his cleft chin, his eyes veering downward to gaze upon the wooden flooring below them. They both sat at a table, a map of the known world laid out over its surface.

29-Apr-2012 05:17:52 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:35:17 by Areno3

Areno3

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“Synera has their own problems – they will not lend us aid. Deriam is the capital; they’re a bunch of egomaniacs who give no thought to anyone but themselves. Dodempa… too far away. Sire… I honestly don’t know who we’re going to turn to here,” Borus explained, his plump figure leaning backward in his chair.

The doors to House Calabin suddenly were flung open, a party of soldiers rushing forward. They were dripping with sweat, and they all gasped for air. “Calm yourselves men!” King Herald ordered, standing up from his seated position.

“But mi-milord, the… the demons! They’ve attacked! There are nearly five hundred of them!” One of the soldiers screamed through failing lungs.

*What!? Get to your positions! Warn everyone!” King Herald commanded, swiftly making his way to his chambers. The young lord, who had been seated at the table in reticence, shot up from his seat, following his father toward his room.

When the king and his son had reached the monarch’s chambers, King Herald began to suit himself in golden armor with his servant’s aid. “Wingtoro Calabin… my son,” he began, pausing slightly, “you must leave here. Head to Synera. Learn from Alderionth.”

“What? What are you talking about father? I’m staying here with you to fight,” Wingtoro said, his five foot and eight inch frame seeming to become taller as he denied his father.

“NO YOU ARE NOT!* King Herald roared, lunging forward and smashing his seventeen year old son against the wall. The wooden planks bent violently as the king became face-to-face with his offspring. “You will flee Calabin for Synera. If you stay here to fight, you will die. Do you understand?”

Wingtoro nodded, his lips quivering. His eyes slightly dampened.

“Then go!” His father bellowed, and the young soul nodded yet again and sprinted out of the room.

29-Apr-2012 05:18:03 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:35:30 by Areno3

Areno3

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Wingtoro bolted from his royal house, the wind of the outdoors swarming him as he came into the moonlight of the late evening. Flame illuminated the night, and the dark silhouettes of the demons poured into the city. Screams echoed in Wingtoro’s ears and adrenaline began to flow through his veins.

The young prince picked up his pace once again, leaping over a grassy hedge bordering the imperial court that was his home. He watched aimlessly as the streets ahead of him were filled with the injured and dead. Soldiers begged for their wives and children as their crippled and bloodied forms fell into the folds of annihilation.

Shock and fear occupying his thoughts, Wingtoro made his way through the cobblestone path that led through the helpless men and women who bravely and foolishly defended their homeland. One of his childhood friends, Drathan, rushed him, clutching his shoulders and pushing him roughly against the stone wall of a hovel.

“Stop! Drathan, what the hell are you doing?” Wingtoro asked, struggling to release himself from his old friend’s grip. But soon he stopped and looked into Drathan’s eyes. They were a heavy crimson and puffy from the sorrow that had stricken him. Wingtoro’s features became more sympathetic, drooping downward. “What happened?”

“Wingtoro… I… I need your help. My father is dying… my mother is in shock… please, ask your father for medical supplies. I beg of you!” Drathan screamed, tears overwhelming his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Drathan… I can’t, I can’t… I have to go,” Wingtoro whispered, slowly shaking his head.

29-Apr-2012 05:23:24 - Last edited on 16-Jun-2013 00:35:43 by Areno3

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