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The Lost Guardians

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Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Posts: 3,433 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I intended to enter this short story into a recent RuneScape fan fiction contest but was cut short by the deadline. For some reason I decided to pick it back up again and, hopefully, will continue the plot depending on how it's received by the readers. All criticism is welcome!

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Cold winds whipped through the mountain passages like a vaporous leather. Three lonely figures sat huddled around a hastily-made fire, silently fermenting in their regret. Their thick hoods were drawn closely about their faces, and their arms were tucked deep into their silver robes. Occasionally, their gaze would dart from one to the other, as though expecting hope itself to climb out of one of their mouths. One of their number, a mage who offered his life to the Guardians of Armadyl, broke the silence:

“This is all my fault… Idria was right. I should have never dragged you all into this…” He buried his face into his hand*, his thick hair caked with snow. Four have already been lost to the cold embrace of the mountainside. “We will never find the Ritual Stone. We’ll only find death, and it’s all my fault…”

His companions remained silent. There was only truth in his words, however cruel it was.

Dusk was approaching quickly, and the syzygy was nigh. The planets in the sky were aligning like a string of glittering pearls. At any moment, the greatest enemies of the Guardians of Armadyl would begin their vile ritual and further perpetuate their cycle of death and rejuvenation. And it would all begin without them.

“We cannot simply roll over in the snow and let the cold take us.” Erda, an initiate priestess of Armadyl, stood up, the mountain gales battering her with ice and snow. “We are here for a reason;” Her voice was strong - albeit somewhat faltering - over the howl of the cold winds. “Though it may be foolish, we shouldn’t give up and cast our lives to the elements. To do so would anger Armadyl.”
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Last Prophet
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~Creator of
Ikadia the Exile
~

13-Mar-2013 11:18:51 - Last edited on 13-Mar-2013 11:22:23 by Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Posts: 3,433 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“And do you think, Erda, that disobeying one of his Judges pleased him? I‘m certain he‘s quite thrilled that we took matters into our own hands and wastefully threw away the lives of our comrades.” A younger man, clad in bright steel chainmail and robed in silver, shot back with an acrid smile. “We are only three, now. We’ve all disgraced our order and our names. It would be a welcome sleep to simply die here in the cold…”

Another moment of silence ensued, broken periodically by the uneasy rustle of wind against cloak.

“…Erda is right, Merric.” The mage nodded to himself, inspired by the priestess’ undying courage. “We can't surrender our lives here, and to turn back is folly. We have only one option: to press on until our deaths. Perhaps we can redeem ourselves if we but carry Armadyl’s justice to the Ritual Site.”

The warrior known as Merric scowled and lowered his shoulders reluctantly. “Perhaps we have no other choice.”

With heavy hearts and waning hope, the small band of Armadyl initiates doused the fire of their campsite and pressed on through the bitter cold. Loden, the aspiring mage of the party, reflected on the words of his superior.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Absolutely not.* The Judge turned at her heel with a flourish of her silver cloak. Her eyes fell upon a statue of Kilisa the Prophet, holding in his claws an opened copy of the Book of Law. Braziers burned at either side of the stone aviantese, emanating wafts of incense that curled over the book like ghostly hands. She caressed the pages thoughtfully.

“But, Idria - he was my brother! That monster killed my brother!” Loden’s eyes gleamed with stifled tears. He knew Second Judge Idria would never approve.
+
Last Prophet
+

~Creator of
Ikadia the Exile
~

13-Mar-2013 11:19:03 - Last edited on 13-Mar-2013 11:24:55 by Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Posts: 3,433 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“And a fine man he was, initiate. I share your loss.” Idria lowered her head over the dusty pages of the Book of Law and allowed herself a single tear. She wiped it away shamefully with a free hand. “But… let us not forget ourselves in personal matters, child. I am Second Judge, to you.”

Loden rolled his eyes and rested his weight on his staff, pressing his cheek against it. “Ardell was slain at McGrubor‘s Wood by a common thug; I am the last of my family line and I wish to avenge it. I thought that you, of all people, would understand my situation.” His voice was thick with accusation.

“All the more reason for you to remain here, where it is safe. Ardell was a dear friend of mine and… I would not be able to live with myself if his only brother were slain in the same vain crusade against this evil. We may not succeed...” Idria spoke gently, her words seasoned with apology. Again, she turned her gaze to the Book of Law, skimming the passages on the page for an answer that would satisfy the budding mage. In a solemn voice that rose in the silence like the incense from the burning braziers, the Judge read: “…And the Prophet Kilisa said unto his flock: ‘Suffer not the spilling of the blood of innocents on my account, for my life is spent for Our Lord Armadyl. Though I may fail, I fight not for vengeance, which does cripple and poison one’s soul. I fight that others may live; I sacrifice so that others may sacrifice.’”

The young mage averted his gaze to the slick tiles beneath his feet, his face flushed hot and defiant. Hearing the words of the Book of Law stirred something within him. “I want to fight to defend. I want to be that sacrifice. Was that not my brother‘s goal? Please - let me go with you!”

“I cannot allow that.” The Book of Law was closed abruptly with a quiet thud.

A hostile silence followed. Idria could feel the cold eyes of the initiate burrow into the back of her head.
+
Last Prophet
+

~Creator of
Ikadia the Exile
~

13-Mar-2013 11:19:10 - Last edited on 13-Mar-2013 11:23:28 by Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Last Prophet

Posts: 3,433 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“…And what, Lady Judge, do you intend to do to stop me?” Loden’s voice was but a whisper. The grip on his staff tightened and his knuckles were stretched white.

Idria‘s head snapped to her side, her eyes narrow with indignation. “If you even attempt to join us at our assault on Lucien, I swear by all the blood of the fallen aviantese that you will pray over the Book of Law only by candlelight for the rest of your days. Do I make myself clear, initiate?”

Loden shrank back, surprised that Idria was capable of such a tone. His course became clear. “I… understand, Second Judge Idria. Forgive my impertinence.” Without further word, the young mage turned and stormed out of the room, the words of the Book of Law burning in his heart.

It is honorable to resist, and fight for what thou believe is just. This is the Law of Armadyl.

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+
Last Prophet
+

~Creator of
Ikadia the Exile
~

13-Mar-2013 11:19:18 - Last edited on 16-Oct-2014 05:33:55 by Last Prophet

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