Post by TheZebraShakes™ on Mar 1, 2006 14:54:44 GMT -5
(Thought I'd post this for you guys to read if you ever get the chance. It's an NPC we worked on, but at the very least, it's a cool story.)
Orylea’s Story:
As told by the nymph Orylea
I
I once knew of a place where everything was perfect. Such places do not exist anymore. They are the long forgotten artifacts of a world that circled many seasons in the past. The place I speak of was one of natural harmony and perfect balance. All of the creatures within it were granted the freedom to exist in their natural order, bound only by the universal laws of survival and succession. In the low lands, oak trees were allowed to climb to magnificent heights, casting cool shadows for moss to grow freely. Deer and wolves played out their dance along with other prey and their predators, checked by the subtle hand of nature. This place I knew of was the purest sort of place, untouched by the corrupting influences of the gods and their thralls. Fresh water flowed down from the mountain side, giving the land its lifeblood. The bears hunted the fish, the wildflowers carved niches wherever their roots could take hold and slowly, as generations past, each creature evolved, ascending its form ever closer to perfection.
I knew this place, because my very spirit was forged from it. Truly, I am that spirit, given form for the purpose of protecting the land from that which would threaten to corrupt its purity. To serve as protector; this was the nature of my very being, so it could be referred to, and without thought I accepted and relished this role. The perfect mechanisms of nature were beautiful to watch unfold. Both cyclic and predictable, yet completely random and exciting at their very core. This was a time when the world was more at peace than it is today. Rarely were there any incursions into the land to which my responsibilities were bound. Yes, occasionally, a woodsman would wander too far off course or a goblin would get lost and I could simply right their paths with a glance and a smile. These harmless encounters had no effect on the purity of the natural land itself. But these encounters, few and far between as they came, were most certainly having a tremendous effect on me.
My spirit grew curious, and I could not help but wonder what it was that separated these beings from nature itself. Questions mounted in my heart. Why were these creatures kept outside of the realm of nature? Was it their gods that corrupted them, granting them an autonomy that made them unnatural, and thereby, a threat? Or was it autonomy itself? Certainly the answer could not be the latter, because I myself was a thinking, reasoning and autonomous being who was very much part of nature. Far from the antagonist, I filled an integral role within the cycle. Why was it necessary to deny these other beings access to all that I was granted the privilege to know and behold? As my curiosity reached its pinnacle, I decided to explore these beings, these creatures which could commonly be referred to as “humanoids.” I sought to find out exactly what about them was corruptive and deemed harmful by nature.
At the time, I would not have defined my interest in the humanoid races as an obsession: though it can be said that any habit which hurts the things you love certainly qualifies as such. I can not say that I was neglectful of my duties, but as I began to venture out on my own, wandering further and further from my charge into the lands occupied by the humanoids, it was inevitable that I would come to miss the small things. There are fourteen signs in nature that those well attuned will seldom fail to recognize and read at the moment they take notice. These minor events, so routine in appearance, are written into the laws of the universe. They are a means of warning the true guardians of nature such as myself, of impending danger or devastation, and when deciphered correctly, they are the key instructions on how to act in a way which will best protect or preserve those charges for which we are responsible. So subtle are these signs, be they the falling of a branch with two orange leaves or a particularly beautiful pattern of bubbles at the bottom of a waterfall, that they must be sought after actively or they are bound to be missed altogether. As protector, it was my duty to keep my eyes at the ready, always scanning and searching for the first sign in a string which would begin to unfold the fate of my charge. Instead, my gaze was turned outward, deciphering the intricacies of a self-crafted environment. The works of humanoids captured my attention. They were amazing in their own right. These beings built more complicated denizens than the most intrepid beaver could ever fathom. They followed social conventions that would astound the most intelligent hyena matriarch. And throughout it all, the humanoid races walked such a fine line between disarray and pattern that many times the mere daily activities of these creatures surpassed the beauty of nature itself. It was easy to lose myself in the sheer fascination of it all.
Know that I had not turned my back on nature, for I still relied on it for my strength. I still remained vigilant despite my absence from my charge. But even so, I was amazed by the humanoids. Some things were just so difficult to deny. The races created huge buildings of great beauty as signs of their faith. They held wonderful camaraderie, even though they often argued and warred over petty matters. Things were never in harmony in the cities, but that very balance which defined nature was in fact present and impossible to refute. What may have made these places so tempting and attractive was that the humanoids were doing all of these things not because of the tenets of a universal law, but rather because they simply wanted to. They were able to exist by their own laws and even though their world was often violent and filled with uncertainty, even though the races were so short lived, their customs lived on and enabled their ideas and conviction to sustain their society beyond the existence of any one member.
My journeys to visit the humanoids were short at first, but extended in length over time. The mechanisms of nature were stable and I presumed my continuous presence within the untouched forest was unnecessary or even wasted. In many ways, I thought that perhaps the humanoids required my aid more then nature, but never did their rickety social supports collapse. What I was doing was not reconnaissance on my enemy or a systematic study of their habits for future analysis and interpretation. What I was doing was having fun, enjoying the drama of their trials and tribulations. I saw this as lacking consequence, as each time I returned to my charge, even from the longest of departures, the trees still stood tall, the water still flowed cool and crisp, and the wildflowers still flourished, their bright petals greeting me with each return.
Yet my consistency in returning to my charge proved not to be enough. The signs came and went without my knowledge. I may have been there yet failed to notice them. I may have been away, not in a position to spot and interpret them. Whatever the case, I did not know that they had come and gone, perhaps quickly, perhaps slowly with the cycling of the seasons. I did not know until I saw and read immediately. The Fourteenth sign. The final sign. I saw it upon one of my many returns from observing the humanoids. The sight was most distressing and upon the realization of its significance my entire being sank. A sapling, perhaps a foot in height, was crushed into the ground, as if caught and stomped underfoot where no feet had yet to tread. My mind struggled to imagine the consequences. Something massive and deadly was happening. My sense of responsibility was the only thing on my mind, and I forgot the world of humanoids and raced, panic stricken, to my own home.
II
it must be known that the pristine purity of my home was not mere coincidence. The land which was my charge rested upon a wellspring of magical energy. Nature sought to keep this energy safe and hidden from any and all beings who might subvert its power or steal it for their own use. Without its protector, nature had to resort to its own devices, devastating as they were. Even as I hurried to return, I could feel the beginnings of the last days of life as I knew it. The ground creaked underfoot, the grumbling and moaning of the shifting land filled my ears with its words of disapproval. Before long, the tremulent earth would show its hand, taking matters into its own discretion. I had missed all of the signs save one, and that would not be enough. Still, I ran, each step more unsteady then the last as the vibrations of the ground heightened in intensity. Would the land itself split open to swallow all that threatened it? Such a massive display of might well beyond my own means demonstrated to me that I was no longer needed. There was nothing that I could do to right the wrong which I had committed against nature. I refused to accept this. My heart still resided in those trees, in those waters, and at the top of that mountain. I needed to be with those animals, to get them to safety. The cycles of nature were broken and they would need guidance to find their way to safety.
As I got closer, I saw those precious creatures. I saw the fear in the wolves’ eyes. My gaze fell upon them, beckoned them to follow. But as I stood waiting, I knew that those animals would come to me no longer. They ran, back to the only place that they had known. Back to the destruction which was fast mounting. No longer could I run, no longer could I even stand. But it did not matter. One of the great oak trees, a being that had lived in this forest longer than even I had, fell only yards from my feet. I watched as other sentinels of the woods toppled, barring my passage. I was forced to stay in my place. To watch and listen. What damage had I done? I forced my eyes shut unable to bear the sight any longer, but my ears did not cease in punishing me. Although the volume of the chaos at hand was rising to its apex, I could make out the screams of pain from the dying animals; the snapping limbs that had struggled so long to reach the sun. And then I heard the lifeblood dripping. Each drop finding its mark upon the soil, returning to nature that which is only borrowed.
I could take the torment no longer. I screamed, heaving myself blindly into the over the trees, into wreckage. With the best of what remained of my strength and grace, I attempted to help and to heal, but the greatest oaks which I had seen spring up from acorns prevented me from going any further then I already had. A sudden and violent jolt of the earth shook me hard onto the ground. Slowly I rose to my feet, stricken with the realization that I had no way back into my home. Lest my own spirit be lost, I began to run from the very place that had given me life. In fear I ran from this place. Nature would not take my aid. I was abandoned because I had failed. Left to die. My eyes did not deserve one last glance. But still, I knew that I must apologize.
I turned around, the remorse welling up into shameful tears which fell upon my cheeks. Through hazy lenses I saw the devastation which was culminating. The strongest and oldest of the trees breaking under the stress, the earth itself cracking under the tremendous pressure of nature’s violence, splintering at seams that rested invisibly for centuries. With great hesitance I guiltily looked up to the sky to see the birds, the only creatures who would be spared this small segment of loss. The robins, flying free only to watch their homes collapse in upon themselves. All I wanted was some small hope, some sign that even though everything had turned out wrong, there was some small bit of a chance that it could all be made right once more.
Instead, what I saw felled me like the willow tree I had seen fall not long before. On my knees my eyes stayed transfixed on the cloud filled sky, but focused on a form that I had never seen before. A flying emerald swept through the sky. It approached with a ponderous gait powered by malicious strokes from mighty wings. I could feel my throat closing up. The debris in the air was settling thickly. Each breath came with more effort then the last. I watched. The gem in the sky came closer and became more distinct. Somewhere in my spirit, I knew what this thing was. I knew that I should run but my legs refused to yield to my heart’s command. I choked on the fetid air as the shape came ever closer and became more distinct. By the time the form tilted to make its decent, I could make out each individual scale on the tip of his snout.
While I should have been completely consumed by fear of this massive abomination to the face of nature, my fear became tempered by a horrifying revelation. Nature had not buried its enemy under its own weight as I would have imagined. Instead, in order to preserve its chastity, nature had deliberately destroyed its most precious possession to keep the claws of this fell beast from exhuming its untarnished essence. The form of evil stared at me. It might have been laughing, but all I could do was inhale the noxious fumes venting from between massive teeth which agitated my already strained lungs. I knew I should have been afraid. I should have cowered and pleaded. I should have submitted, as my traitorous life lacked any worth.
But staring into the beast’s indignant eyes, my wrath erupted. My skin already burned from the caustic gas and now my own spirit burned with a pain that matched. My role was once again clear as crystal. This paradise may have been destroyed because of my treason, but it was this monstrosity that had set everything into motion, the cause for the fourteenth sign, as well as all thirteen which had come and gone unnoticed before it. While my inner being had become desolate with ignominy, this creature stared its haughty smirk, not displeased to see this once pristine land now razed. Even if it meant nothing anymore, I placed all of these feelings into a single glare, one that would at least give the monster a glimpse of the pain I felt.
Of course, the beast had no desire to pay for its crimes, and as I met its gaze and fixed my stare, the massive abomination expelled a consuming cloud of death that only a despicable monster such as this could fill its lungs with. Quickly I threw myself flat to the ground in hopes of avoiding what was certain to come. The thick vapor coated my flesh and my lungs. I wanted to scream, but such a thing was impossible to do. Every inch of my body burned and I thought my eyes would melt out of their sockets, but in only a few moments, the gas began to clear and somehow, the world around me reappeared. I was alive. There was nothing pleasurable about this realization. For a moment, I lied still, hoping that the moisture remaining from the gas would burn me away, but suddenly I remembered what it was that had brought me to this point. My foe still lived and was near. Slowly, I fought through the pain to turn my head and look for the beast, wondering why it had not yet come to finish me.
There above me the emerald abomination stood frozen, jaws agape and eyes transfixed upon me. Scarcely was its figure animate, merely posing in some combination of shock and reflection. No sooner than I could ask the question of what could have brought such a wicked force to a sudden stop that the answer quickly came to me. My glare had stopped the creature, though certainly this condition was temporary. Soon, the malicious entity would recover and finish its despicable agenda. And even though I knew this, there was not a part of me which could be swayed to budge.
Forcing my body into action, I lifted myself off the ground, ready for the conclusion of this showdown. While preparing myself for this end, I noticed something wrong. I was aware of another presence around me. I thought perhaps it was a wounded animal who had gathered the courage to investigate the catastrophe and this new intrusion. For an instant I searched And than I saw this presence. A bear, but everything about it was terribly wrong. The creature had shape, but not form. Its chest moved, but it did not breathe. Its legs marched, but failed to touch the ground. But worst of all, I could not feel its essence. Even though I knew exactly what this creature was, I had no idea what it had become. And more frighteningly, other creatures were following it in a haunting procession toward the inanimate fell beast. A deer, a wolf, a rabbit and a weasel all followed. Even a blue-jay that used to sing as it perched in the palm of my hand flew to keep pace. And they were all wrong, all empty visages of what they once were. Nature no longer blessed these spirits flung out of the cycle of life.
Upon reaching their loathsome prey, the formless creatures tried their best to dismantle its form. Jaws, claws, hooves, and even the beak of the blue-jay which functioned best in serving worms to its young, they all made futile attempts to rend the beast. But none of them were able to dent the armored plates it carried. With great hubris they fought on, seeming confused, but never relenting. I did not know what to think. I wanted to be scared that when the beast awoke, it would eviscerate all of those poor animals just trying to defend their home. Although I knew that they were no longer living, I could not deny them the chance. I felt complete pity for these creatures who deserved none of this torment which had befallen them.
Now standing and waiting, the condemnable beast became mobile again. Yet rather than slaughter all of the creatures which surrounded it, the colossal fiend’s merely slumped to the ground in a massive heap. It happened abruptly with no drama. The earth did not split to claim its prey. Lightening did not strike to fry and mutilate the scales and all that resided within. The creature simply fell and did not move again.
III
The unliving animals stood silently circling the fallen body of the beast. They saw their quarry fallen before them. Slain by their blows, even though there were no familiar and visible marks of the hunt. They stared down at their kill for some time before the inevitable would happen: slowly, the unloving animals turned to face me. They seemed worried, but happy to see my face. I shuddered, unable to feel their happiness as I once had. This was a truly horrid feeling. They began to move toward me, seeking comfort from their protector spirit. I knew that I had no consolation to offer these unliving souls. Despite this, I did not back away from my animals. They came straight to me without reservation. My heart could only pound, the kind of fear reserved for mortals. But they did not notice. I stood frozen in place as the bear lifted his massive mitt and placed it gently upon my right cheek.
At his gentle touch I felt no warmth, no contact, only a sudden chill, the kind of cold that must exist only in the furthest reaches of the world. The cold did not meet my flesh, which still burned from the acrid gas. It seeped within. The very substance of my spirit was being ripped, as if sliced by a dagger made of ice sharpened so perfectly that it meets no resistance at all. Perhaps my spirit was just fragile. Perhaps I had no resistance to give. But upon feeling that pain, all I could do was fall back to my knees and whimper, wishing this to end.
The other creatures saw my distress and empathetically tried to lift my spirit with nudges from their beaks or muzzles, but each attempt at a touch only renewed the dread sensation. I writhed. The unliving creatures balked. Their forms slowly began to fade. I stared up from my fetal stance as they faded into nothingness. My spirit was shattered, my body was exhausted, and my mind was unable to comprehend anything. I just lied there for days, perhaps weeks, beside the body of the fell beast. From my position beside it, I could feel that the beast was still alive, comatose. Occasionally, it would spew forth a growl filled with bitter haze. Saliva dripped from its mouth. It was dying of thirst and hunger, lost in a land of its own creation. Eventually I stopped looking and listening to it, and by the time I was able to stand again, the monster had expired.
IV
For the first time is my existence, I was without a home. By my natural role, I was a protector and I no longer had anything to protect. Yet, I was still alive. There was no denying this. I continued to be part of the world, even though I had no role within it. My connection to nature was wholly severed. I was weaker than I had ever been before, denied the gifts of strength and grace which it had once bestowed upon me. I could do no more to serve nature, but I needed a place to go.
The only place that I could think to go was to the cities of the humanoids, to return to watching them. Soon enough, I even entered those cities and was taken in as a lost cousin, horribly wounded in some unknown battle. I tried my best to become friendly with the people I was with. My magic was able to assist them when they needed it. Still, there was never any connection between myself and any individual. While they believed me to be one of their own, in truth I was a very alien being. Even though I spent much time studying people, I could not fully relate to them. I could not bond with them as I had once bonded so easily with the animals.
In order to avoid becoming suspicious, I traveled from town to town, never taking up permanent residence. As I saw the great variety of humanoids, I became appalled to see many of the things they did to one another. Yes, often times the animals would kill, but they did it to feed themselves, as part of nature’s perfect cycle, knowing that if they did not, they would ultimately perish. But the humanoids killed with malice. They hurt each other for sheer pleasure, they stole for personal comfort, and they betrayed one another for their own gains. I was shocked by these actions. There were no excuses. It seemed that each humanoid had a piece of the fell beat’s evil spirit lurking somewhere within, though some worked harder then others in their struggle to suppress it. Perhaps nature was correct in shunning these beings who were capable of performing grievous harm. But with thoughts of the animals of my home who had come to me once more in their unlife, I embraced the humanoid races. They were willing to aid me in my time of need. True, they had faults, but was I perfect? Rather than ignore or condemn them, I felt compelled to help them. I took it as my duty to protect them from that fell beast lurking inside. Humanoids were now my charge and rather than refer to them abstractly, I simply named them ‘Kindred.’
I now realize that I was never shattered, nor was I broken beyond repair. The scars that show so prominently upon my flesh remain. I wholly accept them. They are the signs of forgiveness from those I failed. My disconnection from nature is marked by these imperfections, because to pretend to be perfect would be a lie. I wear the green scales of the fell beast in mockery of its perverted ideals. Those, the very vices which I seek to purify in my kindred, making known the necessity for each to recognize and abolish the evil within. No one can conquer someone else’s demons in their stead, but without a guiding hand, they have little hope of ever doing so on their own. My Kindred gave me the strength and it is my greatest pleasure to lend my spirit in return.
I am home.
Orylea’s Story:
As told by the nymph Orylea
I
I once knew of a place where everything was perfect. Such places do not exist anymore. They are the long forgotten artifacts of a world that circled many seasons in the past. The place I speak of was one of natural harmony and perfect balance. All of the creatures within it were granted the freedom to exist in their natural order, bound only by the universal laws of survival and succession. In the low lands, oak trees were allowed to climb to magnificent heights, casting cool shadows for moss to grow freely. Deer and wolves played out their dance along with other prey and their predators, checked by the subtle hand of nature. This place I knew of was the purest sort of place, untouched by the corrupting influences of the gods and their thralls. Fresh water flowed down from the mountain side, giving the land its lifeblood. The bears hunted the fish, the wildflowers carved niches wherever their roots could take hold and slowly, as generations past, each creature evolved, ascending its form ever closer to perfection.
I knew this place, because my very spirit was forged from it. Truly, I am that spirit, given form for the purpose of protecting the land from that which would threaten to corrupt its purity. To serve as protector; this was the nature of my very being, so it could be referred to, and without thought I accepted and relished this role. The perfect mechanisms of nature were beautiful to watch unfold. Both cyclic and predictable, yet completely random and exciting at their very core. This was a time when the world was more at peace than it is today. Rarely were there any incursions into the land to which my responsibilities were bound. Yes, occasionally, a woodsman would wander too far off course or a goblin would get lost and I could simply right their paths with a glance and a smile. These harmless encounters had no effect on the purity of the natural land itself. But these encounters, few and far between as they came, were most certainly having a tremendous effect on me.
My spirit grew curious, and I could not help but wonder what it was that separated these beings from nature itself. Questions mounted in my heart. Why were these creatures kept outside of the realm of nature? Was it their gods that corrupted them, granting them an autonomy that made them unnatural, and thereby, a threat? Or was it autonomy itself? Certainly the answer could not be the latter, because I myself was a thinking, reasoning and autonomous being who was very much part of nature. Far from the antagonist, I filled an integral role within the cycle. Why was it necessary to deny these other beings access to all that I was granted the privilege to know and behold? As my curiosity reached its pinnacle, I decided to explore these beings, these creatures which could commonly be referred to as “humanoids.” I sought to find out exactly what about them was corruptive and deemed harmful by nature.
At the time, I would not have defined my interest in the humanoid races as an obsession: though it can be said that any habit which hurts the things you love certainly qualifies as such. I can not say that I was neglectful of my duties, but as I began to venture out on my own, wandering further and further from my charge into the lands occupied by the humanoids, it was inevitable that I would come to miss the small things. There are fourteen signs in nature that those well attuned will seldom fail to recognize and read at the moment they take notice. These minor events, so routine in appearance, are written into the laws of the universe. They are a means of warning the true guardians of nature such as myself, of impending danger or devastation, and when deciphered correctly, they are the key instructions on how to act in a way which will best protect or preserve those charges for which we are responsible. So subtle are these signs, be they the falling of a branch with two orange leaves or a particularly beautiful pattern of bubbles at the bottom of a waterfall, that they must be sought after actively or they are bound to be missed altogether. As protector, it was my duty to keep my eyes at the ready, always scanning and searching for the first sign in a string which would begin to unfold the fate of my charge. Instead, my gaze was turned outward, deciphering the intricacies of a self-crafted environment. The works of humanoids captured my attention. They were amazing in their own right. These beings built more complicated denizens than the most intrepid beaver could ever fathom. They followed social conventions that would astound the most intelligent hyena matriarch. And throughout it all, the humanoid races walked such a fine line between disarray and pattern that many times the mere daily activities of these creatures surpassed the beauty of nature itself. It was easy to lose myself in the sheer fascination of it all.
Know that I had not turned my back on nature, for I still relied on it for my strength. I still remained vigilant despite my absence from my charge. But even so, I was amazed by the humanoids. Some things were just so difficult to deny. The races created huge buildings of great beauty as signs of their faith. They held wonderful camaraderie, even though they often argued and warred over petty matters. Things were never in harmony in the cities, but that very balance which defined nature was in fact present and impossible to refute. What may have made these places so tempting and attractive was that the humanoids were doing all of these things not because of the tenets of a universal law, but rather because they simply wanted to. They were able to exist by their own laws and even though their world was often violent and filled with uncertainty, even though the races were so short lived, their customs lived on and enabled their ideas and conviction to sustain their society beyond the existence of any one member.
My journeys to visit the humanoids were short at first, but extended in length over time. The mechanisms of nature were stable and I presumed my continuous presence within the untouched forest was unnecessary or even wasted. In many ways, I thought that perhaps the humanoids required my aid more then nature, but never did their rickety social supports collapse. What I was doing was not reconnaissance on my enemy or a systematic study of their habits for future analysis and interpretation. What I was doing was having fun, enjoying the drama of their trials and tribulations. I saw this as lacking consequence, as each time I returned to my charge, even from the longest of departures, the trees still stood tall, the water still flowed cool and crisp, and the wildflowers still flourished, their bright petals greeting me with each return.
Yet my consistency in returning to my charge proved not to be enough. The signs came and went without my knowledge. I may have been there yet failed to notice them. I may have been away, not in a position to spot and interpret them. Whatever the case, I did not know that they had come and gone, perhaps quickly, perhaps slowly with the cycling of the seasons. I did not know until I saw and read immediately. The Fourteenth sign. The final sign. I saw it upon one of my many returns from observing the humanoids. The sight was most distressing and upon the realization of its significance my entire being sank. A sapling, perhaps a foot in height, was crushed into the ground, as if caught and stomped underfoot where no feet had yet to tread. My mind struggled to imagine the consequences. Something massive and deadly was happening. My sense of responsibility was the only thing on my mind, and I forgot the world of humanoids and raced, panic stricken, to my own home.
II
it must be known that the pristine purity of my home was not mere coincidence. The land which was my charge rested upon a wellspring of magical energy. Nature sought to keep this energy safe and hidden from any and all beings who might subvert its power or steal it for their own use. Without its protector, nature had to resort to its own devices, devastating as they were. Even as I hurried to return, I could feel the beginnings of the last days of life as I knew it. The ground creaked underfoot, the grumbling and moaning of the shifting land filled my ears with its words of disapproval. Before long, the tremulent earth would show its hand, taking matters into its own discretion. I had missed all of the signs save one, and that would not be enough. Still, I ran, each step more unsteady then the last as the vibrations of the ground heightened in intensity. Would the land itself split open to swallow all that threatened it? Such a massive display of might well beyond my own means demonstrated to me that I was no longer needed. There was nothing that I could do to right the wrong which I had committed against nature. I refused to accept this. My heart still resided in those trees, in those waters, and at the top of that mountain. I needed to be with those animals, to get them to safety. The cycles of nature were broken and they would need guidance to find their way to safety.
As I got closer, I saw those precious creatures. I saw the fear in the wolves’ eyes. My gaze fell upon them, beckoned them to follow. But as I stood waiting, I knew that those animals would come to me no longer. They ran, back to the only place that they had known. Back to the destruction which was fast mounting. No longer could I run, no longer could I even stand. But it did not matter. One of the great oak trees, a being that had lived in this forest longer than even I had, fell only yards from my feet. I watched as other sentinels of the woods toppled, barring my passage. I was forced to stay in my place. To watch and listen. What damage had I done? I forced my eyes shut unable to bear the sight any longer, but my ears did not cease in punishing me. Although the volume of the chaos at hand was rising to its apex, I could make out the screams of pain from the dying animals; the snapping limbs that had struggled so long to reach the sun. And then I heard the lifeblood dripping. Each drop finding its mark upon the soil, returning to nature that which is only borrowed.
I could take the torment no longer. I screamed, heaving myself blindly into the over the trees, into wreckage. With the best of what remained of my strength and grace, I attempted to help and to heal, but the greatest oaks which I had seen spring up from acorns prevented me from going any further then I already had. A sudden and violent jolt of the earth shook me hard onto the ground. Slowly I rose to my feet, stricken with the realization that I had no way back into my home. Lest my own spirit be lost, I began to run from the very place that had given me life. In fear I ran from this place. Nature would not take my aid. I was abandoned because I had failed. Left to die. My eyes did not deserve one last glance. But still, I knew that I must apologize.
I turned around, the remorse welling up into shameful tears which fell upon my cheeks. Through hazy lenses I saw the devastation which was culminating. The strongest and oldest of the trees breaking under the stress, the earth itself cracking under the tremendous pressure of nature’s violence, splintering at seams that rested invisibly for centuries. With great hesitance I guiltily looked up to the sky to see the birds, the only creatures who would be spared this small segment of loss. The robins, flying free only to watch their homes collapse in upon themselves. All I wanted was some small hope, some sign that even though everything had turned out wrong, there was some small bit of a chance that it could all be made right once more.
Instead, what I saw felled me like the willow tree I had seen fall not long before. On my knees my eyes stayed transfixed on the cloud filled sky, but focused on a form that I had never seen before. A flying emerald swept through the sky. It approached with a ponderous gait powered by malicious strokes from mighty wings. I could feel my throat closing up. The debris in the air was settling thickly. Each breath came with more effort then the last. I watched. The gem in the sky came closer and became more distinct. Somewhere in my spirit, I knew what this thing was. I knew that I should run but my legs refused to yield to my heart’s command. I choked on the fetid air as the shape came ever closer and became more distinct. By the time the form tilted to make its decent, I could make out each individual scale on the tip of his snout.
While I should have been completely consumed by fear of this massive abomination to the face of nature, my fear became tempered by a horrifying revelation. Nature had not buried its enemy under its own weight as I would have imagined. Instead, in order to preserve its chastity, nature had deliberately destroyed its most precious possession to keep the claws of this fell beast from exhuming its untarnished essence. The form of evil stared at me. It might have been laughing, but all I could do was inhale the noxious fumes venting from between massive teeth which agitated my already strained lungs. I knew I should have been afraid. I should have cowered and pleaded. I should have submitted, as my traitorous life lacked any worth.
But staring into the beast’s indignant eyes, my wrath erupted. My skin already burned from the caustic gas and now my own spirit burned with a pain that matched. My role was once again clear as crystal. This paradise may have been destroyed because of my treason, but it was this monstrosity that had set everything into motion, the cause for the fourteenth sign, as well as all thirteen which had come and gone unnoticed before it. While my inner being had become desolate with ignominy, this creature stared its haughty smirk, not displeased to see this once pristine land now razed. Even if it meant nothing anymore, I placed all of these feelings into a single glare, one that would at least give the monster a glimpse of the pain I felt.
Of course, the beast had no desire to pay for its crimes, and as I met its gaze and fixed my stare, the massive abomination expelled a consuming cloud of death that only a despicable monster such as this could fill its lungs with. Quickly I threw myself flat to the ground in hopes of avoiding what was certain to come. The thick vapor coated my flesh and my lungs. I wanted to scream, but such a thing was impossible to do. Every inch of my body burned and I thought my eyes would melt out of their sockets, but in only a few moments, the gas began to clear and somehow, the world around me reappeared. I was alive. There was nothing pleasurable about this realization. For a moment, I lied still, hoping that the moisture remaining from the gas would burn me away, but suddenly I remembered what it was that had brought me to this point. My foe still lived and was near. Slowly, I fought through the pain to turn my head and look for the beast, wondering why it had not yet come to finish me.
There above me the emerald abomination stood frozen, jaws agape and eyes transfixed upon me. Scarcely was its figure animate, merely posing in some combination of shock and reflection. No sooner than I could ask the question of what could have brought such a wicked force to a sudden stop that the answer quickly came to me. My glare had stopped the creature, though certainly this condition was temporary. Soon, the malicious entity would recover and finish its despicable agenda. And even though I knew this, there was not a part of me which could be swayed to budge.
Forcing my body into action, I lifted myself off the ground, ready for the conclusion of this showdown. While preparing myself for this end, I noticed something wrong. I was aware of another presence around me. I thought perhaps it was a wounded animal who had gathered the courage to investigate the catastrophe and this new intrusion. For an instant I searched And than I saw this presence. A bear, but everything about it was terribly wrong. The creature had shape, but not form. Its chest moved, but it did not breathe. Its legs marched, but failed to touch the ground. But worst of all, I could not feel its essence. Even though I knew exactly what this creature was, I had no idea what it had become. And more frighteningly, other creatures were following it in a haunting procession toward the inanimate fell beast. A deer, a wolf, a rabbit and a weasel all followed. Even a blue-jay that used to sing as it perched in the palm of my hand flew to keep pace. And they were all wrong, all empty visages of what they once were. Nature no longer blessed these spirits flung out of the cycle of life.
Upon reaching their loathsome prey, the formless creatures tried their best to dismantle its form. Jaws, claws, hooves, and even the beak of the blue-jay which functioned best in serving worms to its young, they all made futile attempts to rend the beast. But none of them were able to dent the armored plates it carried. With great hubris they fought on, seeming confused, but never relenting. I did not know what to think. I wanted to be scared that when the beast awoke, it would eviscerate all of those poor animals just trying to defend their home. Although I knew that they were no longer living, I could not deny them the chance. I felt complete pity for these creatures who deserved none of this torment which had befallen them.
Now standing and waiting, the condemnable beast became mobile again. Yet rather than slaughter all of the creatures which surrounded it, the colossal fiend’s merely slumped to the ground in a massive heap. It happened abruptly with no drama. The earth did not split to claim its prey. Lightening did not strike to fry and mutilate the scales and all that resided within. The creature simply fell and did not move again.
III
The unliving animals stood silently circling the fallen body of the beast. They saw their quarry fallen before them. Slain by their blows, even though there were no familiar and visible marks of the hunt. They stared down at their kill for some time before the inevitable would happen: slowly, the unloving animals turned to face me. They seemed worried, but happy to see my face. I shuddered, unable to feel their happiness as I once had. This was a truly horrid feeling. They began to move toward me, seeking comfort from their protector spirit. I knew that I had no consolation to offer these unliving souls. Despite this, I did not back away from my animals. They came straight to me without reservation. My heart could only pound, the kind of fear reserved for mortals. But they did not notice. I stood frozen in place as the bear lifted his massive mitt and placed it gently upon my right cheek.
At his gentle touch I felt no warmth, no contact, only a sudden chill, the kind of cold that must exist only in the furthest reaches of the world. The cold did not meet my flesh, which still burned from the acrid gas. It seeped within. The very substance of my spirit was being ripped, as if sliced by a dagger made of ice sharpened so perfectly that it meets no resistance at all. Perhaps my spirit was just fragile. Perhaps I had no resistance to give. But upon feeling that pain, all I could do was fall back to my knees and whimper, wishing this to end.
The other creatures saw my distress and empathetically tried to lift my spirit with nudges from their beaks or muzzles, but each attempt at a touch only renewed the dread sensation. I writhed. The unliving creatures balked. Their forms slowly began to fade. I stared up from my fetal stance as they faded into nothingness. My spirit was shattered, my body was exhausted, and my mind was unable to comprehend anything. I just lied there for days, perhaps weeks, beside the body of the fell beast. From my position beside it, I could feel that the beast was still alive, comatose. Occasionally, it would spew forth a growl filled with bitter haze. Saliva dripped from its mouth. It was dying of thirst and hunger, lost in a land of its own creation. Eventually I stopped looking and listening to it, and by the time I was able to stand again, the monster had expired.
IV
For the first time is my existence, I was without a home. By my natural role, I was a protector and I no longer had anything to protect. Yet, I was still alive. There was no denying this. I continued to be part of the world, even though I had no role within it. My connection to nature was wholly severed. I was weaker than I had ever been before, denied the gifts of strength and grace which it had once bestowed upon me. I could do no more to serve nature, but I needed a place to go.
The only place that I could think to go was to the cities of the humanoids, to return to watching them. Soon enough, I even entered those cities and was taken in as a lost cousin, horribly wounded in some unknown battle. I tried my best to become friendly with the people I was with. My magic was able to assist them when they needed it. Still, there was never any connection between myself and any individual. While they believed me to be one of their own, in truth I was a very alien being. Even though I spent much time studying people, I could not fully relate to them. I could not bond with them as I had once bonded so easily with the animals.
In order to avoid becoming suspicious, I traveled from town to town, never taking up permanent residence. As I saw the great variety of humanoids, I became appalled to see many of the things they did to one another. Yes, often times the animals would kill, but they did it to feed themselves, as part of nature’s perfect cycle, knowing that if they did not, they would ultimately perish. But the humanoids killed with malice. They hurt each other for sheer pleasure, they stole for personal comfort, and they betrayed one another for their own gains. I was shocked by these actions. There were no excuses. It seemed that each humanoid had a piece of the fell beat’s evil spirit lurking somewhere within, though some worked harder then others in their struggle to suppress it. Perhaps nature was correct in shunning these beings who were capable of performing grievous harm. But with thoughts of the animals of my home who had come to me once more in their unlife, I embraced the humanoid races. They were willing to aid me in my time of need. True, they had faults, but was I perfect? Rather than ignore or condemn them, I felt compelled to help them. I took it as my duty to protect them from that fell beast lurking inside. Humanoids were now my charge and rather than refer to them abstractly, I simply named them ‘Kindred.’
I now realize that I was never shattered, nor was I broken beyond repair. The scars that show so prominently upon my flesh remain. I wholly accept them. They are the signs of forgiveness from those I failed. My disconnection from nature is marked by these imperfections, because to pretend to be perfect would be a lie. I wear the green scales of the fell beast in mockery of its perverted ideals. Those, the very vices which I seek to purify in my kindred, making known the necessity for each to recognize and abolish the evil within. No one can conquer someone else’s demons in their stead, but without a guiding hand, they have little hope of ever doing so on their own. My Kindred gave me the strength and it is my greatest pleasure to lend my spirit in return.
I am home.
