(A/N): This is another story from me. I volunteered to lend a hand on Tom Valor's worldbuilding dream and I was lucky enough to be able to write the history of Rune-Midgard as based on Crimson Twilight.
Remember that Rune-Midgard is not ours. This is a fan fiction written by fans of the game. Tom Valor wants to build an alternate Rune-Midgard, a believable world that would be the basis of many fanfics in the section. The history I am writing is just the history we would like to portray.
In this fic, you will be reading mostly about Salendriel's apprentice and the other important characters like Osiris and how Glastheim was destroyed by Abraxil Sovivor by opening the two gates that brought Baphomet and the Lord of Death into the world. It will also include the end of the Elven Extermination War when the Payon Caves fell into the hands of humanity.
Following the traditions, I will also include an introduction as a first chapter. I won't be including the bios of some already known characters because there's no need to. Just read Crimson Twilight. Don't worry. After the intro, a short scene of the world will be shown.
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Zero-S Presents:
Ragnarok Online Fan Fiction:
Endless Starfall: Immortality's Rise
The rain was pouring hard and the sky was as dark as it should be in any stormy day in the forests of Geffenia.
Behind low trenches, several raydric archers were waiting. Each of them held their bows and would prepare to fire at the incoming elves at will. Beside them, their dark-haired commander stood guard patiently. This raydric-knight was no older than nineteen but what prompted his rank was because of his closeness to the renowned Lord Knight Salendriel. For some, this boy was just another unlucky soldier who was going to be sent into the constant hail of arrows and blades. But others who have witnessed what he had done in the name of Salendriel would be enlightened to mention his name: Necron Lorthiras.
"Raydric Commander, troops are in position. We are awaiting your orders."
The raydric-knight named Necron drew his large, heavy black sword that was named "zweihander" and stood up.
"All went as planned. May fortune smile upon us."
A band of thirty to forty raydrics positioned behind him.
"2nd Raydric Archer Division, fire at will!"
All the raydric archers sprang out from behind the trenches and let their arrows fly at the elven knights before them. The oridecon-tipped arrows tore through the elves and perforated the first lines. The bewildered elves scattered and their horses fell dead while their own hunters prepared to fire back. All of a sudden, bolts of fire and ice were falling on the raydric archers. The trenches collapsed as the armored archers scattered.
Necron raised a gauntleted hand to signal the battalion of claymore-wielding raydrics behind him.
"Our targets are the elven wizards and siege weaponry. Onward for Glastheim!"
The raydric-knight charged ahead with his zweihander gleaming in torchlight. His divisions followed and were starting to tear through the vulnerable elven wizards.
Blood was sprayed in the air in contrast with raindrops.
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Introduction
The Glastheimian Army
A. Raydric Army: The raydric army is a private army of the church along with monstrous khalitzburgs and the clergy. These armored soldiers are classified into divisions like any other force would be.
A.1. Raydric-Knight Divisions:
Necron Lorthiras: A raydric-knight who is currently the commander of the 4th Raydric Division. Sometimes, he would be chosen to include the 3rd Division. He is a young soldier who was orphaned as a child and taken in by the Raydric Army to be trained as one of them. In his early training, his mentors were captivated by his abilities in the use of a heavy weapon (He was already using a broad sword at the age of 7). A lord knight named Salendriel noticed him and volunteered to be his trainer. Now the squire of the renowned lord knight, he has learned the necessities of being a knight and inherited the ferocity of his mentor. Aside from being militaristic, Necron is highly obedient and tenaciously brave. He would rather prefer to perish by his own sword other than bring disgrace to Glastheim or Salendriel.
Kael Lukerion: Once a servant of the Xamiur family, Kael was placed into training. Since he was a child, the disciplines and fanaticism of a raydric was taught to him thus, creating another knight of the Raydric Army. Kael is an excellent swordfighter and a skilled rider. He prefers to fight atop his horse and hack through divisions of elves just to carry out orders. Like his good friend Necron, he dislikes the misery of defeat and would not live to witness it. Aside from being so whimsical and seasoned, Kael is a persevering young man who puts duty above all else.
B. Glastheimian Armed Forces: Since the beginning of the Elven Extermination War, nearly everyone was being commissioned to join the war. Many thought the forces would be people who were just going to be downed by elven arrows and blades but that idea changed when one by one, the elven strongholds fell under their wrath.
Salendriel: The world renowned Lord Knight Salendriel is known to be the finest lord knight in all of Rune-Midgard. He wields a sword called Khatzbalger and signed up for the army in an open-tie method in which he discharged from his family. When the war turned in the bloody favor of the elves, it was him who helped the most in the turning of tables although he only killed non-combatant elves. Salendriel is a chivalric and highly honorable lord knight of Glastheim and took a liking to the boy Necron Lorthiras whom he trains every now and then.
Kathris Deemspring: A huntress who is constantly volunteering to the 7th Raydric-Hunter division. Her past in shrouded in mystery as she would like to conceal it once and for all. Since she was an infant, she was found in the forests by the elven general Lenaedir Deemspring. Having raised by the Payonese elves, Kathris was treated as if she was going to break at any touch. Lenaedir taught her about her own race, the humans and she hated them for that. However, all that was changed when Necron found her after they defeated the elven defenders around Mt. Mjolnir. The raydric-knight brought her to Glastheim where she was taught the truth about her own race and now she fights for humanity's survival instead.
Inara Gibran: A huntress serving as the acting commander of the 10th Hunter Division. Although demanding at times, she can be counted on to because of her leadership. She can be really cold sometimes and doesn't like opening up to people, making her admirers look like fools. This huntress also has excellent skill with a bow. A flurry of oridecon-tipped arrows from her can have brought down threateningly large bands of elven knights. She has a firm bond of friendship with Ahrandia.
Ahrandia Rousse: A wizardress in her early phases of advanced arcane study. Originally born in Geffenia, she traveled to Glastheim in order to study the ancient wisdom in its libraries. While not actually wishing to be a high wizardress, she craves for power. Wise, powerful and reckless, she is a dangerous force to recon with. A strong bond of friendship with Inara is well shown…sometimes.
Daniel Cypher: A seasoned knight in the service of the castle guard. Soon, he found himself assigned to the taskforce of the lord knight that turned out to be Salendriel's student. While he can be self-righteous and sarcastic, he will put Glastheim's survival above his life. Witty and experienced, this soldier can hack through enemy ranks with skill and precision.
Arkyhm Zamarfin: A greenhorn but visionary squire. Arkyhm is the son of the Professor Aedilus Zamarfin who at the same time mastered the basics of being a Creator. The inexperienced knight dreamed of one day becoming a lord knight. He had done well being a swordsman for some time until he became a knight.
Farina: A non-Albertan merchant who is currently studying how to become an alchemist. Not much could be known about Farina but her friends that would include Kael, Kathris, and Necron would know that she is an excellent potion and explosive maker.
The Knights of Heaven: These are the elite fighting forces of Glastheim. There are eight in all, each of them having own types of weaponry but required to have a heavy black blade in uniformity. They were exposed to dark magic in early embryonic stages by Meil'then Sovivor, the great grand high priest. The Knights of Heaven are magically altered to be unfeelingly cruel, powerful, and obedient.
Abraxil Sovivor: The influential grand high priest of Glastheim. Abraxil is the son of Meil'then and have mastered both divine and arcane magic. Once he was a benevolent and powerful leader until something dark, more ancient than Glastheim transformed him into something…unnatural.
Haldivas III: The current king of Glastheim and the humans of Rune-Midgard. It is widely known that he is a weak-willed monarch that would prefer having someone like Abraxil govern for him.
The Elven Army
A. Payonese Elite Guard: The elven capital was Payon and was protected by a being known as Fox Maiden.
Meothrinas: The elven king and currently military ruler. Some rumors say that his weakness is what led to their own downfall other than the human might.
Lenaedir Deemspring: A general serving as Meothrinas' personal escort. He found an infant human girl he named Kathris and raised her more like a favored weapon than a child.
Prologue: Meteor's Birth
The time is after G-398
The Elven Extermination War was already at the climax. Ever since the start of the conflict, the elves and the human race branded the other as demons and call for the exterminations. Humanity would have fallen earlier to the elves if not for the efforts of the heroes Salendriel, Osiris, the unknown swordsman and a lot more promising young soldiers. With them, many elven strongholds fell and humanity had dominion on the land once again. Now a new generation of heroes will arise…and bring the bloodshed to a swift end.
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A knight wearing his new Glastheimian plate armor stood still in the middle of a glade somewhere in Geffenia's forests where he was facing three strange men clad in grey heavy cloaks, each of them having long blonde hair with long pointy ears sticking out of them. They were standing close to the city walls that were still blackened from the siege earlier.
'I'm really in for it this time.'
The knight drew his broad sword. His helmet hid mostly all of his head except for his sharp golden eyes and straight blue hair that fell to his ears.
The men in front of him also drew their weapons. Two of them held halberds while another drew a crossbow. All three of them were eager for a skirmish especially when they only have one enemy who was knighted only recently.
The blue-haired knight took a defensive stance and waited for his enemies to make their move.
'These are elven operatives…and there are three of them.'
"Kael! Get away, boy!"
The knight who was called Kael leaped backwards, just in time to avoid a pillar of liquid flames that sprang from the ground between him and the elves.
Kael looked at the person who had called his name. It was the wizard Dearthal Xamiur.
One of the elves that were holding a crossbow emerged from the wide fire pillar aimed at Dearthal but before he could squeeze the trigger, the weapon broke into small wooden shards when Kael stroked his sword at it.
The elf leaped, left weaponless, grabbed an arrow from his quiver and drove it down the knight's shoulder.
Kael groaned in pain then pulled the arrow off. He remembered a skill that was just taught to him and threw his broad sword in the sky. The knight made an unarmed strike at the elf's jaw with his gauntleted hand then caught his sword in his free hand and thrust it through the elf's chest.
The knight withdrew his sword harshly, causing the corpse to spray blood on his polished gauntlets.
The wizard Dearthal walked beside him and glared at the two elven knights who were still on the other side of the fire pillar that was about to collapse.
"Stand with me, boy. Don't bring disgrace to the knight of Glastheim by falling to these spies!" the old wizard told him in a gruff voice.
The wizard raised his claw-like hand and began to speak in magic. An orb of raw, cackling lightning formed on his palm and began to grow. The fire pillar dissipated, just in time for the orb to completely materialize. Dearthal then pointed his charged palm at the first one to move. The orb flew directly at the elf, exploding on him then coursed through his body, charring it within seconds.
Kael still dazed from the spell he just saw, raised his sword and charged the last elf. His sword began to heat up and released a wave of scarlet flames as soon as it met the elf's halberd.
The elf's mail caught the flames and slowly burned the wearer's skin. Kael raised his sword then slashed diagonally, missing the elf's forehead but carefully cutting off his ear then burrowed deep in his neck, ending his life.
Kael looked around for more elves but it was clear that only he and Dearthal are standing.
"Just what do you think you were doing? Trying to be a raydric to soon after a failed siege?" the wizard yelled.
"I was…well…doing my…" Kael murmured.
"Forget about those blunders you made. Here, His Excellency High Priest Sovivor says this be given to you." the wizard took out a stone that looks just like a ruby that was yellowish and handed it to the knight. "And you might want to remove that helmet. It's got cracks all over."
Dearthal turned around and disappeared in a circle of teleportation. Kael looked at the stone the wizard gave him.
"A delivery from his Excellency? The high priest has been acting strangely months ago."
Kael Lukerion was a knight after all even though he was still a fresh one. As one of the chosen peacemaker knights that protect Glastheim, he was given an armor made with unique elunium that can only be found in Elmeth Plateau. The title was an honor for one as young as to join in his 20th year but no one denies his worth.
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"Carefully, Necron! Do it more carefully this time!"
A knight in brilliant silver mail kept on ushering instructions to the knight he had taken the liberty of educating.
"I know, Lord Knight Salendriel! I just can't…" the knight told his instructor.
Necron Lorthiras was still being trained as a knight of the raydric army. Among the ranks, he was assigned to the lord knight Salendriel. The raydric knight was orphaned as a child and was inducted into the raydric army of the church. His unshakable faith and brutal swordplay has earned him fear and respect. While exceptional at combat and aiding his allies, his combed straight black hair and brown eyes make him a heartening and somewhat attractive sight.
Necron carefully watched the movement of the orbs then studied them. He closed his eyes and held his saber near his chest. Remembering the movement of the floating orbs in front of him and made a spiral stroke attempting to hit them correctly.
The raydric opened his eyes and looked around for the orbs. To his disgust, the green orbs were still hovering around him.
"That's enough for now." Salendriel declared.
"What? But Lord Knight Salendriel, I can still…" Necron cut in.
"You have been busy these days especially when the elven spies had been released all over Geffenia after that failed siege. Off you go."
The lord knight turned on his heel and made his way out of the simulator room. The green orbs vanished when he raised his hand.
Necron sighed and put his saber back in its scabbard. He took off his helmet which he hated using and slouched out of the room.
"Back in those 'normal' swordsman days….there was nothing but holding a sword and making elven ears…."
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A red-haired huntress was fiddling with a new type of ballista which was smaller and more portable then the ones used in sieges.
'Hm…I don't think this will do. Now what, Kathris?'
Kathris Deemspring was raised by the elves that she betrayed when she joined the Glastheimian archer division. Escaped from the forests of Payon at her 15th year, she now spends her time with trying to develop new ranged weaponry for the defenses. For the past 2 years, many people have begun to note that it was a blacksmith's job but she says it was worth her while. This huntress has gotten a lot of knowledge from the elves even though she is a human and often goes to her friend for more information: Necron Lorthiras.
"Necron…"
The huntress looked around the room. It was dimly lit and was full of bolts and arrows from the normal length and width to large and heavy ones used for her ballistae.
'Necron, when do you want this finished anyway? You're brutal.'
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A marshal held up a report and showed them to all the members of the council inside the ornately walled room.
"We've received reports that the humans are pushing through the borders."
"Certainly, the recent attacks on our outposts are evident enough, Lord Meothrinas!" another marshal added.
"Agreed." The ambassador told them. "Humanity is on the move once again."
"This is absurd!" Meothrinas blurted out. "My 'nation' will not stand by and watch as the humans march on our very doorstep!"
"The humans are not our primary concern here." The ambassador reminded them. "How many times must I repeat myself?"
He looked at Meothrinas and placed a chart on the table. "Lord Meothrinas, you must heed my warning. This 'Knights of Heaven' that has pillaged the regions outside the capital could now have dire ramifications!"
"Knights of Heaven?" the first marshal repeated. "You rangers are being paranoid!"
Another marshal yawned. "Let's be more reasonable. Even if this 'Heaven Knights' and whatnot do pose a serious threat to us, what are you proposing that we do, Lenaedir?"
"It is simple." The ranger named Lenaedir mumbled. "As I've said, the raydric army has left the forested regions on El mas untouched. I say we strictly quarantine the villagers there and…"
Before he could finish, Meothrinas stood up, knocking a few scrolls off the oval table.
"I will not institute quarantine without guaranteed safety! That land is yet to be inhabited and we do not have proof of your claim, ambassador!"
Everyone turned silent and looked at the elven lord. Meothrinas sat down and took a deep breathe.
"The elven people inside and outside of Payon have suffered enough without becoming prisoners in their own lands."
"Lord Meothrinas!" Lenaedir exclaimed.
"Silence! I have things to worry about. All of you are dismissed."