A New Leader Rises

– An Unforseen Curse –

By Jagged

In the shrouded city of Delvan, deep within Du Weldenvarden, a mysterious breed of elves lie. Years ago they were enticed by the powers of the werecats and attempted to mimic them. Using magic now long lost, they enabled themselves to change into a cat from the great forest of Du Weldenvarden. News of this transformation quickly spread across the elven cities; many were curious how it was possible, others simply did not care, but a select few were deeply disturbed. A tall, lithe elf named Vadrian was disgusted.

"They are destroying the triumphant elven kin into mortal animals!"

Outraged, he sought out the lost city of Delvan in an attempt to purify the contaminated elven race.
After a year of searching, he came upon a small mist-laden town southwest of Osilon. He had discovered the shrouded city of Delvan. When darkness fell upon the tranquil village, Vadrian advanced towards the town using the shadows for cover. As swift and as stealthily as the wind, he crept into their dwellings and slew the vile elven inbreeds. Vadrian entered a small home of three, and found the youth sleeping peacefully. He stepped into the parents' room holding an intricate bloody dagger in his right hand, and killed them both without second-thought.

A muffled cry was heard. The young elf Corban bolted upright. He slowly descended from his bed and headed towards his parents room. After passing the threshold he saw a cloaked figure in the room, a weapon clutched in its cruel right hand. Corban looked at his parents' bed. Horror and panic struck like a bolt of lightning. He struggled for breath as he comprehended the harsh realization: his parents were dead. The cloaked figure slowly turned towards him, dull bloodshot eyes were only visible from his shadowy visage. With uncanny speed the cloaked elf moved in front of Corban.

"You disgusting creature, how dare you defile the elves!" mocked Vadrian, eyes red with rage. Corban struggled for words, his mind was racing. He had to escape. He had to run. Corban sprinted out of his house, but was no match for the speed and agility of the cloaked elf. The figure extended a cold, sallow hand and slapped Corban across the face. The blow knocked him to the ground.

"My name is Vadrian" he hissed. "I came here to rid your kind from the honorable elven race."

"We do not mean harm to any elf, but we choose to live the life of the cats which roam this great sacred forest" plead Corban.

"Ono waíse aí vanyali!" snarled Vadrian in the ancient language. "Akira ono sitja aí vanyali!"

You are an elf! And so shall you remain!

Before the spell hit Corban he cried out, "Please no!" and attempted to change into his cat, the tiger. But the curse landed upon him mid-transformation. To Vadrian's astonishment, after he said 'and so shall you remain' in the ancient language, Corban was now part elf and part tiger.

Corban's face was that of a large tiger, complete with giant amber eyes, long whiskers, and massive white fangs. His hands were tipped with razor-sharp claws and covering his body were jagged black stripes. The rest of him had been slightly affected by the transformation but remained mostly that of an elf, despite the tint of orange in his skin. But perhaps the greatest change of all was his brain. No longer was it a logical, articulate elven mind, but that of a feral tiger.

Instinct took over and ordered him to attack and kill the predator. Corban lunged forward using his powerful legs and managed to strike Vadrian across his face with his right hand, leaving deep red gashes. Vadrian slammed into the ground, his eyes wide with fear as he looked upon this monster. He quickly got to his feet and sprinted south, out of Du Weldenvarden, knowing he would forever be shunned from the elven race for what he had done.

Corban snapped out of his bestial trance and looked upon his right hand smeared with blood.

"What have I become?"

From the shadows elves and cats emerged who had not been slain by the wrath of Vadrian. The cats soon changed into their elven form. They stared upon Corban with wonder and amazement, for nothing of the like had ever been seen in Alagaësian history. A warrior elf came forward and unsheathed his two swords, bowed, then placed them at the foot of Corban. A second much older elf came forward by the name of Delhödr, the town sage and soothsayer, who then offered Corban a tigerseye amulet, with a leaping tiger imprinted upon it.

"Young Corban, I know not whether you have been gifted or cursed, but great power lies within you now. From the very beginning of our elven-cat culture we used this tigerseye cameo to sustain the needed energy and magic to help create our race. I offer it to you now because I believe you are the one who can help destroy the evil that inhabits this great forest and in all of Alagaësia."

"Delhödr, oracle and wisest of Delvan, I thank you for this priceless gift. I shall wear it upon my necklace at all times and draw from its powers only when my energy grows weak" humbly spoke Corban.

"A dark journey lies ahead of you Corban" cautioned Delhödr, eyes never leaving Corban's. "You will eventually confront the force and might of King Galbatorix."

"I do not wish to fight Galbatorix!" protested Corban. "Only to find and kill Vadrian for what he has done to my family and our people!"

"Where do you think Vadrian has departed to?" questioned Delhödr. "Where is the one place safe from the elves and the Varden?"

After a moments thought, Corban uneasily muttered "Helgrind"

"Yes, the Gates of Death." Delhödr paused before continuing, allowing Corban to fathom his situation. "The remainder of your future is hazy. However I must warn you Corban, your greatest enemy will not be Vadrian or King Galbatorix himself, but your mind. You are controlling it now, but amidst battle you will lose authority. I fear it will be replaced by a wild and ferocious instinct; one that wants to kill. Corban, you are desperately needed in this fight for good and evil. The balance of power is tipping in their favor. With your help, there is a hopeful future for Alagaësia."

Author's Note: Criticism, comments and reviews appreciated! Enjoy and please review! This is my original story, the pictures used are randomly found and used to enhance the imagery. The graphics used in here I made/edited in photoshop, the images from Wizards of the Coast (c).