Private Tales Dark Alliance

[Sortinous Bael]

The Spine was an immense structure of Espressa, towering over the entire continent with pride unparalleled in all of Arethil. Its peaks pierced the sky like ice-capped spearheads which glinted majestically in the suns rising, setting, and all moments between. Mountainsides slopped down into deep valleys, snow melting to liquid life that trickled and rushed down to merge, tributary upon tributary, feeding Crobhear Lake until it's ready to burst. Excess water finds its way north and snakes its way toward the Gulf of Ryt, picking up more and more liquid snow and glacier until finally squeezing through the final pass in the mountain's great range.

Here, in that very pass, the evening sun was sinking below the ridges of the Spine, casting shadows over the valley and throwing it into a premature twilight. The trees and bushes began relaxing their branches from reaching toward the source of energy burning in the sky, and the shift of fauna could be heard while nocturnal species' cries intermingled with the daylight creatures scurrying their way home for the night. One particular creature was stirring from a slumber of sorts, closing the small book in his hand as he felt his instincts tell him it was time.

Sortinous Bael rose from his sitting place beneath a large tree, using the trunk to push himself up. The long cape that lay draped over his shoulders fell around him, concealing the simple attire underneath. Despite its simplicity, though, it was finely crafted by the best tailors money could buy, and the breastplate-bracer combo was equally as special. The Count didn't much care for flair of clothing and thought it rather pompous to express superiority in such a fashion. The rapier at his hip was all he needed to assert dominance, but that was rarely necessary anymore. He frowned beneath the greying hairs of his beard, remembering the days of his youth when he participated in tournament after tournament, dueling adversaries of many styles and ethics. That had always kept his skills sharp. Now, however, he wasn't so sure of his capabilities. He rarely found a challenge, and hoped that such a predicament was not a damper on his swordplay.

After a few grunts and stretches, steely blue eyes filled with years of experience fell upward on the mountain. Despite the falling darkness, Bael could see just fine thanks to his magical abilities, and he could just make out the entrance to a mountainside cave. That's it, he thought to himself. In that cave was the answer to his current struggle: a magical blade of legend that was said to give exceptional skill and power to whoever wielded it, though exactly what form that skill and power would take was lost to history and myth. If he could get his hands on such a weapon he could then set a plan in motion, placing it in someone's care who would then train to use it, called by the "weapon's power" that he would use a guise to speak with the fortunate inheritor. Eventually they would be skilled enough to prove a challenge for him and thus they would become his greatest rival, though that was only the beginning...

The Count snapped back to reality and shook his head in his hand. "I'm getting ahead of myself," he breathed, his brassy tone rumbling in his chest. Vengeance would be his, but it was still a ways off. He wasn't even sure who murdered his family, or even who hired the assassins for that matter, if they had been assassins at all. He had some suspicions, but nothing concrete yet. Though, there was surely no harm in planning a few moves ahead, was there? The further into the future one peered into the chess game of life the more prepared he was to deal with whatever may come his way.

Now, his first strong move from the shadows was about to be made. He gathered his wits and strength and began his trek up the mountain toward the cave. "Soon," he affirmed softly, "it shall be mine."

 

[Vyx'aria]

She waited until that insufferable great ball of fire disappeared over the horizon. What was the purpose of such a bright circle that bathed the lands in that piercing light? In the eyes of a drow, the sun was utterly pointless and served to do nothing but cause pain and agony. Not only was it blinding to look at it, but it usually brought with it extreme heat that only added to the layers of discomfort.

Vyx’aria emerged out into the surface only after the sun had disappeared, coming out of the underground entrance that was closest to the mountains. These mountains extended far beyond where she could see, but this particular location told legends of a blade that had tremendous magical powers. Vyx’aria, unlike her siblings, hadn’t been blessed with the touch of magic. She chose a life of martial combat and had excelled in her skills to become a Commander. However, the prospect of a magic blade piqued her curiosity enough to bring her out to surface. Perhaps with a weapon like that, she would truly be unstoppable.

She came alone this time, not wanting to risk her fellow drow getting spooked by some unexpected event in the surface. Vyx’aria kept to the shadows, her keen eyes picking up every movement. Her ears could place almost any little critter here and there, and she was very cautious with her advance. She kept to a low crouch, adorned in light armor that fitted too well to her body to make unnecessary noises.

Vyx’aria had two blades on her, neither more than little over a foot long. She excelled in close quarters combat, and had the blades for it. She spotted the opening of the cave up ahead, but she had no idea that someone else had the same idea she had. As far as she knew, she was the only one in the area.

After looking around, she quickly began to make her way towards the cave opening. After a moment, she paused, sniffing the air. Something was slightly off, and it didn’t smell like the normal earth and stone she was accustomed to. Was someone else here? With a grimace, she rapidly continued to climb until she could see into the mouth of the cave.

 

[Sortinous Bael]

Bael pressed onward through the murk of the mountain's belly, unhindered by the lack of light. To humans, of course, this would be debilitating not only to the senses but to the psyche, likely causing maddening fear or even outright fainting, but not the Count. One of his boons from his magic practices was the gift of supreme sight. Albeit he couldn't see as well as in daylight, but he was able to make out just enough to stride through the cave without stumbling. His boots made a soft tack on the stone beneath him, though he stepped as lightly as he could so it was muted enough to not echo loudly. The uneven walls turned and twisted in unusual ways, but not entirely unnatural. What a curious path to be laid out for a weapon long lost, he mused to himself. Perhaps the tunnels had been strewn by burrowing creatures, or perfectly imitated just enough to make the winding halls feel natural.

But for all that was in the cave, something suddenly felt awry. Bael knew that twinge on the back of his neck well enough: something was coming. It was a sense he'd developed over the years, a mixture of slight magic and martial skill to detect the precise moment of striking from the opponent. And it never lied.

He didn't stop, though he did slow down a bit, listening back. Nothing. After a few moments he chanced a glance over his shoulder. Nothing. But the prickling on his neck was creeping onto his arms. They had to be drawing closer, who- or whatever "they" may be. He hastened his pace, looking for somewhere to conceal his presence. The cave offered little in way of hiding spots, but he made due with a concave section of wall behind some rubble, calming his nerves so that his heartbeat dropped low and his breathing shallow. He found the smallest crack that he could see through and kept his eyes trained back from whence he came, waiting for his possible pursuer to arrive.

 

[Vyx'aria]

Vyx’aria was cautious, but she was also entirely too curious to stay back. She had the option to forego exploring the cave until the next day, but then would the artifact be gone? Grumbling to herself, she moved like a shadow, slinking into the entrance and making her way through the interiors of the cave. Her perfect vision granted her the sight of a large opening, followed by a tunnel that led to the depths of the cave.

Her sense of smell told her something was amiss - she had been born and raised amidst the stone. She could tell when something else joined that scent. She paused at the entrance, sniffing quietly as she caught hints of something that was clearly out place. Narrowing her eyes, she drew out her twin blades, making her way quietly into the cavern.

As she went towards tunnels, she slowed her pace. Vyx’aria realized that staying entirely quiet wouldn’t help anyone. She paused and stared out with her crimson eyes, “Who’s there? I know you’re here,” She called out, “Reveal yourself!” She hissed the words out in the common tongue, hoping that if anyone were present, they would reveal themselves.

 

[Sortinous Bael]

A dark elf. Bael peered from his hiding place within the deeper shadows of the stone. He watched her move silent as a wind in the breeze on an open field, heard her hiss out her warning. So, she had decided to go the route of diplomacy, or at least some form of it, rather than stalking. He respected that, but by no means did it justify revealing himself. Watching, listening, waiting for a few moments longer he pondered his options and their outcomes as if he were sitting at the chess board plotting out a critical move. If he chose poorly it would end in checkmate for him; but if he was smart enough, he may not have to resort to taking another piece after all. Though she does look to be a thrilling kill...

In the end, the only option that made the most sense was to reveal himself honestly. Walking out acting blind was stupid, and coming up with a believable story to an elf who moved that quietly would be no easy feat. Waiting and striking from the shadows would only end in an unprepared duel before he really got a read on his opponent, given the poor vantage point he currently held and the darkness limiting even his enhanced vision.

Slowly but stately he rose from where he was hunched in the crevices and stood in the open area of the tunnel, keeping his eyes trained on the woman. He was watching her posture, footwork, the two blades in her hands, her grips on each, anything and everything that would give him and edge in combat if it came to it, which was most likely. Beyond that would be searching for something more personal like clothing or insignia that would give hints to her status and where she was from. It was hard to distinguish these features very quickly in the dark, though, and he chose to come out of hiding a distance away so that he wouldn't have to be on guard quite yet. He turned so that his rapier was hidden behind him and under his cape, his hand ready to dart for it the moment he needed to brandish it.

His voice, then, called out calmly and sincerely as he aimed for a lighthearted response. "Ah, it seems you've found me. I thought I was being tracked by some creature of the night, but it seems I'm stalked by something more sophisticated." A neat, precise grin spread over his lips as he finished, his forward hand gesturing lightly toward her.