Prologue
The screams of hundreds of panicked elves and humans mingled with the roar of the collapsing city. A few Tevinter soldiers could be seen stabbing and slashing their way through the crowd that surged against the protective barrier surrounding the underground citadel. Anyone could leave, but no one could return through the barrier alive. Not until the Guardian had sealed away the most powerful and beloved of their ancestors to ensure none would be used by the Imperium.
"No, I will NOT leave your side! I would rather die here with you than die alone!" A beautiful young human woman with long, dark hair held onto the arm of a blonde elven man. His garments and regal face tattoos marked him as the Guardian, one of the ancestors who had mysteriously awakened from the Long Sleep a few years ago. The earth shook violently, causing her to stumble.
"We shall travel deeper into the catacombs, then. I must ensure that our people's secrets remain hidden from these monsters for all time." He squeezed her left forearm, pulling her up from where she had fallen. She stood up and put her hand down into the front of her long turquoise gown to retrieve a small sapphire amulet. The woman tossed it into a basket of assorted jewels and other items nearby, content that her people would eventually find it and honor the goddess it invoked. Her lover watched her movements and pulled a similar amulet from a cord around his neck. His amulet had a yellow diamond at its center.
The human ran alongside her husband, dodging rocks and pieces of the vaulted ceiling as they headed downward, against the flow of people rushing towards the surface. A rage demon appeared in the midst of a corridor at one point, terrifying the fleeing city dwellers before the couple called Light to their palms and quickly vanquished it.
The cursed Tevinters had hunted them all the way here, hundreds of miles from Arlathan to the sacred tombs. Their attendants had urged the couple to flee to the relative safety above, but of course they would have had to fight their way out of the clutches of the Imperial army. That would mean their enemies and whatever evil they summoned would have had clear access to the forbidden chambers below the first three levels of their blessed city.
Sulornel, their Arcane Warrior and closest friend met up with them as they ran into one of the libraries. The two men pulled a heavy stone book case from against the wall, and the woman began reaching behind it to trigger the hidden doorway to the most ancient part of the city. "We will hold off as long as we can, but as soon as we sense the defilement of the tombs where a few of the younger magi lie in Uthenera, we will make sure the rest of the city is never found." The woman held her hand up to one section of rock, blue light from her palm triggering some unseen mechanism.
The blonde-haired elven man pressed an ornate glass phylactery into Sulornel's hand. "Just in case things get too heavy up here. Hide your essence until some of the tribes return to retrieve the holy relics." He turned to hold up his palm's golden light next to his wife's, and a small section of the wall moved inward and to the side, giving the couple access to a dark, narrow passageway that led steadily downward. "May Lethanavir guide your feet and calm your soul, brother."
"Goodbye, dear friend!" The woman said at last, just as the wall closed behind them.
Sulornel moved the stone shelf back against the wall and restacked a few books that had fallen down. Several minutes later, he was accosted by four abominations led by an arcane horror. He had no choice but to speak the incantation that would transfer his body and soul to the phylactery he held in his hands.
Just as he spoke the last word of the phrase, the two guardians reached their destination at the center of a dais, deep within the catacombs. This part of the city was eerily quiet, with only a few statues looking down at them. The woman gasped an clutched her chest, then reached for her mate.
He embraced her, holding her tightly. "Yes, it is time already, emma lath, emma vhenan'ara."
"Emma sa'lath! I will see you in the Fade!" she replied fiercely. The two guardians kissed, and a blinding white light emanated from them. A second later, a terrific explosion rocked the city for several long moments.
The last of the great Elvhenan cities was reduced to a ruin in a matter of minutes, and the Tevinters, along with several unfortunate souls whose bodies remained near the protective barrier died instantly. It would be many decades before anyone, elf or human, ventured near the ruined Elven Tombs. And it would be many centuries before any of the secrets regarding its demise would be rediscovered. But the sacrifice of the guardians had paid off. The ancient catacombs were buried forever under rock and rubble, and would never be found again.