Ralithian sat on the hard wooden floor, his eyes shut tight. A faint hum was coming from his mouth, but it didn't seem to be musical. It was more a chant, focusing his mind. As he did so, mana began to flow through his body. The magical energy that fueled his spells and his very life itself. Without mana, he would not exist. It was his essence and part of his inner being. Some Wizards took mana from their surroundings and forced it to their will. Ralithian had let mana take him. Now he wasn't it's master, he mearly asked it do things and they did with great strength. More power then any other, because he demanded nothing.
Opening his eyes, Ralithian saw nothing. Then slowly, his eyes adapted to the light. It had been mana hours, but seemed like a few moments. That was what meditating had become. A restful time, where he could gain the benefits of sleep, instantly.
Suddenly the door was forced open and through it a rather large Dark Elf came. He looked around, finally setting his eyes upon Ralithian. He pulled a sword from his scabbard and grinning, as if he had won. Then Ralithian stood up, calmly, and whispered a few words. The Dark Elf charged forward, but the spell had already landed. His feet sunk into the ground, stopping him from moving at all. He waved his blade wildly, but to no avail.
"We are allies, today. I am here to help you. There are those who wish to destroy the Dark Elves. I, although am Erudite, wish to see the Tier'Dal survive. You are a great people, but you need my help. Why? Because I am smarter then you. My magic has amazing power within. And even if I had none of these, I would still be an amazing asset. I know of the strategies of the Lesser Races." As he spoke, Ralithian walked around this foolish elf.
"I'll never bow down before you! I am Tier-Dal! We ar-" The rest of his words were drowned out by a bell, being rung many times.
Ralithian ran out the door, muttering about foolish people. Slamming the door behind, he went straight towards the Nektulos Forest enterance. He was given many looks as he went, but they all stepped out of his way. They now needed him. No fooling around with the one who could hold the key to victory or defeat.
Looking out the the Forest, a human with the symbol of Innoruk on his chest, could be seen. He rushed straight for Nektulos, but stopped in front of Ralithian. His face was bloody and he appeared to be severely injured. Yet Ralithian took no pity. The beginnings of a spell were on his tongue.
"They come." The human spit it out, between panting and choking, falling to the ground. His entire body shimmered for a moment and the human disappeared. Now a Tier'Dal lay dying on the ground. He shuddered one last time, trying to speak, before he finally gave out. Death had come to him.
Ralithian began to shout, loud enough for those messengers of the city to hear. "Prepare the troops. Death will come swiftly to those who appose the might city of Nektulos!" Even as he spoke, they began to come out. Many different races were bound together to fight the threat that was coming.
At the edge of his view, Ralithian spotted a dark skinned woman. Seeing her run straight for him, he nearly began his magic. Then he could see her face, she was no Erudite. Behind her, a creature of death lumbered along. Ahh yes, the Tier'Dal 's necromancy. Once it disturbed Ralithian. Bringing back those who had been gone and using them as personal slaves. Then Innoruk had touched Ralithian's soul itself. Then his mind was opened to the possiblities of it all.
He turned away from her and back to the forest, seeing six humanoid creatures coming at them. They walked, shining embodiments of good. And from the look of them, they were powerful. Sending six as scouts, you would need the smartest, strongest and most deadly.
Ralithian cursed the very ground he stood on, then turned back to the Necromancer. She had now reached him, her pet stumbling behind. She had sheathed her dagger, which made Ralithian laugh quietly. As if a simple blade could stop him, yet he would humor her. Perhaps keep her alive.
"Prepare your slave. We will be fighting hard, in a few minutes. This is a scouting party. There will be more here. You think that Nektulos is strong? Sure, the evil is great, but much evil will not fight until it dies. They will run and they will hide." He spoke with little compassion, or care. As if it mattered little.
They stood, a few hundred metres from the two of them. Six men and women, of races that weren't visible, stood. One called to Ralithian by name, beckoning him closer.
Looking behind him, the wizard saw that there were guards here. But they didn't seem to care about how Ralithian fared. They didn't want this battle to start, let alone end. They urged him forward.
"Ralithian of the Flawed, Come forth and end this now. Do not kill all these people just so you may delay us, for a few minutes. Your false god, Innoruk-" as this was said, thunder boomed through the air, but did not stop the voice. "Will not save you!"
Laughing, Ralithian turned around and saw the leader of Neriak standing there. He had a sinister look on his face, staring at Ralithian with discontent. "I would make you leave, but they have killed our brethern. They will pay for their foul deeds, as will you. Our Father does not like the foolish. Innoruuk will see to it that you pay. His scorn is that ten thousand paladins could not cause. To earn the hatred of one so powerful is to sacrifice your soul."
A smile crossed the Erudite's face and he looked towards his speaking enemy. Holding his staff in a battle position, he stood firm.
"You will fight me and you will die. An army is awaiting your small band." But even as he spoke, Ralithian saw this was not true. From the forest he could see hundreds, perhaps thousands, of followers of good. They had put their tensions aside to fight their true foe... Evil....
Opening his eyes, Ralithian saw nothing. Then slowly, his eyes adapted to the light. It had been mana hours, but seemed like a few moments. That was what meditating had become. A restful time, where he could gain the benefits of sleep, instantly.
Suddenly the door was forced open and through it a rather large Dark Elf came. He looked around, finally setting his eyes upon Ralithian. He pulled a sword from his scabbard and grinning, as if he had won. Then Ralithian stood up, calmly, and whispered a few words. The Dark Elf charged forward, but the spell had already landed. His feet sunk into the ground, stopping him from moving at all. He waved his blade wildly, but to no avail.
"We are allies, today. I am here to help you. There are those who wish to destroy the Dark Elves. I, although am Erudite, wish to see the Tier'Dal survive. You are a great people, but you need my help. Why? Because I am smarter then you. My magic has amazing power within. And even if I had none of these, I would still be an amazing asset. I know of the strategies of the Lesser Races." As he spoke, Ralithian walked around this foolish elf.
"I'll never bow down before you! I am Tier-Dal! We ar-" The rest of his words were drowned out by a bell, being rung many times.
Ralithian ran out the door, muttering about foolish people. Slamming the door behind, he went straight towards the Nektulos Forest enterance. He was given many looks as he went, but they all stepped out of his way. They now needed him. No fooling around with the one who could hold the key to victory or defeat.
Looking out the the Forest, a human with the symbol of Innoruk on his chest, could be seen. He rushed straight for Nektulos, but stopped in front of Ralithian. His face was bloody and he appeared to be severely injured. Yet Ralithian took no pity. The beginnings of a spell were on his tongue.
"They come." The human spit it out, between panting and choking, falling to the ground. His entire body shimmered for a moment and the human disappeared. Now a Tier'Dal lay dying on the ground. He shuddered one last time, trying to speak, before he finally gave out. Death had come to him.
Ralithian began to shout, loud enough for those messengers of the city to hear. "Prepare the troops. Death will come swiftly to those who appose the might city of Nektulos!" Even as he spoke, they began to come out. Many different races were bound together to fight the threat that was coming.
At the edge of his view, Ralithian spotted a dark skinned woman. Seeing her run straight for him, he nearly began his magic. Then he could see her face, she was no Erudite. Behind her, a creature of death lumbered along. Ahh yes, the Tier'Dal 's necromancy. Once it disturbed Ralithian. Bringing back those who had been gone and using them as personal slaves. Then Innoruk had touched Ralithian's soul itself. Then his mind was opened to the possiblities of it all.
He turned away from her and back to the forest, seeing six humanoid creatures coming at them. They walked, shining embodiments of good. And from the look of them, they were powerful. Sending six as scouts, you would need the smartest, strongest and most deadly.
Ralithian cursed the very ground he stood on, then turned back to the Necromancer. She had now reached him, her pet stumbling behind. She had sheathed her dagger, which made Ralithian laugh quietly. As if a simple blade could stop him, yet he would humor her. Perhaps keep her alive.
"Prepare your slave. We will be fighting hard, in a few minutes. This is a scouting party. There will be more here. You think that Nektulos is strong? Sure, the evil is great, but much evil will not fight until it dies. They will run and they will hide." He spoke with little compassion, or care. As if it mattered little.
They stood, a few hundred metres from the two of them. Six men and women, of races that weren't visible, stood. One called to Ralithian by name, beckoning him closer.
Looking behind him, the wizard saw that there were guards here. But they didn't seem to care about how Ralithian fared. They didn't want this battle to start, let alone end. They urged him forward.
"Ralithian of the Flawed, Come forth and end this now. Do not kill all these people just so you may delay us, for a few minutes. Your false god, Innoruk-" as this was said, thunder boomed through the air, but did not stop the voice. "Will not save you!"
Laughing, Ralithian turned around and saw the leader of Neriak standing there. He had a sinister look on his face, staring at Ralithian with discontent. "I would make you leave, but they have killed our brethern. They will pay for their foul deeds, as will you. Our Father does not like the foolish. Innoruuk will see to it that you pay. His scorn is that ten thousand paladins could not cause. To earn the hatred of one so powerful is to sacrifice your soul."
A smile crossed the Erudite's face and he looked towards his speaking enemy. Holding his staff in a battle position, he stood firm.
"You will fight me and you will die. An army is awaiting your small band." But even as he spoke, Ralithian saw this was not true. From the forest he could see hundreds, perhaps thousands, of followers of good. They had put their tensions aside to fight their true foe... Evil....