The city was quiet for the most part , the initiation ceremony having ended only a moment before , the people of Eldre’thalas enjoyed its serene streets. Relaxing on the many ivory stones as they left the court building .
However this peace and serenity was not to last long , soon a voice came unto the orb each of them hold and a voice would be heard "Attention all members of the court , We are to leave the sanctum of the inner city to go on an expedition to the outer ruins . to retrieve our stolen crystals. Those who wish to aid me seek me out in the citys temple ". The voice would be recongnized as the prince.
Many heard the summons of the council and as the group ventured into the temple complex , they would see standing before them the Prince Wither-Song , Alongside the Magistrix Vryl and the High Keeper Aldrym . The three smiling as they gathered on the floor just below them. Standing before the statue of the goddess herself.
The prince spoke to them , in a kind and gentle manner "Thank you all for answering the summons " his face one of slight suprise seeing so many so eager to aid his people, "As you all know, tonight we shall leave for an expedition into the outer city, where we will retrieve the stolen crystals , but before we do " he pauses as he gazes unto the priestess Alathea , "Let us pray ".
As the Priestess Alathea spoke her prayer to the goddess , they all took a knee and listened as her angelic voice spoke out for all to hear “Hail Mother of stars ! , I call upon you to give your protection to those who ask of it , so that they may return to our city alive and well” she nods her head as a great light beemed down onto those knelt , as she opened her eyes she then spoke “Elune’adore” and the great light faded.
Her voice ceasing , they all would stand up , repeating her last words and smiling to each other , feeling the goddess’s protection. Then the prince adressed them "Now , who among you can conjure us a portal ? " , one of the newer members of the arcana Yvaania offered her knowledge “I can my prince” she would speak . Taur waved his hand in permission "Then by all means ", and she conjured a shimmering portal to the ruins of the outer city, which they all stepped into.
As they exited the portal the group was met with a slight rain onto them , the sight of old ruins and a soft harmony in the air , it seems to be all clear for the moment as they simply observed the once grand entrance to there outer city.
It was here that the prince then added "Now that we are here we should see to retrieving those crystals " , the group nodded and one of the keepers Carnya Leafbloom Added "I can scout ahead my prince " , to which she took an avian form and tried to see what lied before them.
All this was in vain however , as the falling of the rain proved to be to much to see through and made making out anything impossible, as she returned from the sky she would add “I am sorry , but the rain blocked my vision” , the prince smiling humbley back to her as he said "No matter , we can do on foot " his gaze turning to Silver and the High Keeper , "Do lead the way ".
The group then ventured into the ruins of the outer city , the rain only a minor annoyance , they would however pause at the entrance to the city , a soft sound on the wind , Silver added "Something is coming " . And before they new it the sound was growing louder and louder.
It seemed to grow its loudest as the group prepared themselves , Three huge gordanni Hyenas charged at them with gnashing tooth and claw , meeting the Druid and the High keeper head on. As they fought many magical energys flew and many slashes were made into the hyenas . The battle lasted for a long while as they tried to subdue the beasts but alas i the end , the three hyenas met there end at the wrath of the highborne and succumbed , dieing slowly as they flopped to the ground.
The Magistrix was one of the first to ask “Are you all alright ?” to which a resounding yes was heard , only a few minor injuries befell them , to which the priestess Illunessa and Carnya made short work off . Having defeated the beasts , the group pressed on further into the ruined city , in search of the crystals.
As they walked the ruined streets the air grew silent , the damaged ivory stone glistening in the moonlight as they passed it , nothing could be heard but the whistle of the shallow wind . Filling the prince especially with saddness.
They eventually came to a cross roads , where carnya decided to try and commune with the nature around them to see if she could find out something that way . she concentrated as she communed with the spirits only to hear the shadow of what befell the city, and how the people there cryed out in pain as they met there end. it seemed to bother her greatly.
Vystrian at the same time also communed with the magical energies , trying to use his staff as a beacon to see where the crystal may be hiding , as he looked into the arcane essence around them he noticed that a large hum was coming from the arena in the center of the city. The songs of the birds filling the air with a joyus symphony
The group ventured futher through the ivory halls until they came across the arena itself , and the very heart of the once proud structure , to which now was but a desolate empty ruin . Vystrian again communed using his staff to locate the crystals , having gotten closer to there hum , he managed to spot its source coming from the very heart of the arena itself .
The group looked into the ruined structure to see indeed four shimmering Purple Crystals , Each one seemingly intact and unguarded . “This is too Easy” Taur added as they used magicl vines to lower them into the arena.
The magistrix took it upon herself to scan the area for traps , to see if they had walked into an ambush , but to her surprise nothing butthe smell of bad illusion magic in the air … it seemed to be coming from the crystals , she turned to her beloved and said "Aldrym , can you break the illusion ? " to which he smirked at her , giving no reply.
The High Keeper raised his hand and a purple glow came from it , encasing the area the crystals were in and crashing into it ,shattering the illusion. This was a bad idea however as a Gordanni magi named Grunk screemed at them all having been exposed , and thus the battle began.
Grunk was quick to use his shadow magic unto them all , hoping a simple volley would do it , clearly however he had not fought highborne before , As they were hit by the volley the group stood there ground and clashed with the grotesque creature , hitting it with an abundance of magical attacks until Grunk was bought to his knees , he would start crying as he muttered to himself “M…my…shinies” blubbering like a giant baby.
This sight distrubed the magistrix slightly , never seeing an orge get so emotional , she froze as her beloved landed the killing blow, his blade slowly entering the creatures neck , Grunk would breathe his last breath as he was impaled on the fiery blade , until it ceased , his body turning to ash and carried off in the wind until nothing remained but the crystals and a pool of purple blood shimmering in the moonlight.
Magistrix vryl approached aldrym and whispered to him gently as they embraced “Thank you for doing something i could not” , her words were met by a soft smile. She then with the assistance of Vystrian shrunk the crystals down to an appropriate size and she placed them into Illunessa’s Saber , for safe keeping.
Now with the Orge dead and the crystals safe once more , they conjured a portal into the inner city and returned to it safe and sound once more , Vryl , Illunsess and the prince then travelled back to the Athenaeum , where the magistrix placed the crystals back into there rightful place.
As they were returned to their rightful home they pulsed with a purple magicka , and the halls sang once more with arcane energy , As if a balance had been restored.
The three left the Athenaeum with smiles on there faces , the crystals now safe and there people home , then relaxed as they ventured to their homes. There mission a success.
Time will tell what will next befall the people of eldreth.
