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[Edit] [Back] The Return
The Armies of the Dark One were encamped just outside of Ta'Aver, a worthless city high in the Harke mountains whos only source of income was from sheep products. Wool, lambskins and dung being its major exports, it was a city however that did hold some strategic worth. It held the only stronghold thru Graveless pass, easily defendable and with a sizable force, could bottleneck the pass preventing any armies advancement from the north. Security was high as all of the Chosen had arrived earlier in the week.
Bregalad was the first to arrive, his legions were notorious for their ability to cover great distances and "rustle up" any farmers or curious eyes into the dark one's business. He was extremely thorough in his interrogations, he enjoyed the work far too much. Scouts were sent out to the base of the mountain range. Orders were specific and precise, and no one was going to disobey them. After the encampment was secure messengers were sent to the other Chosen.
Kormregort was the second to arrive, with him his mages of the dark one. No one was really sure of Kormregort's origins, some say he was born from the dark one himself, others say he was born of magic gone afoul. Regardless, he held his position with an iron grip that not even death could release from him. Undead by the thousands filled his legion's ranks and any army allied with him gave his legions a wide birth. As soon as he arrived he was in meetings all day and night. Messengers flowed thru his tent on a regular basis, all of whom were pale upon leaving. It was not him, needless to say, but the undead minions that stood guard. Only the mages themselves were untouched by the cold, empty sockets that watched all that entered. He was still engrossed when the third Chosen arrived.
Falemiel's arrival was like a force of nature, clouds darkened as lightning fell across the plains below the mountains. As she made her way thru the encampment to Kormregort's tent to meet with the other Chosen all bowed in her presence. Even the undead who moved for none but their master gave a respectful bow to her. She was Aes Sadai after all and her power was immense. She was strikingly beautiful yet there was also a look of cold death in her eyes. She cared for nothing but the Dark One's return and would do whatever was needed to bring it about.
The war meeting was in full swing, maps of all sorts were scattered about Kormregorts tent. Falemiel and Bregalad sat quietly, honor guards on either side of them still as statues. Yekio, leader of the Black Ajah, was explaining the spells and wards cast about the encampment. Stormlord,leader of the Darkfriends was telling how his spies had already filtered into the city to key positions, and Ancilar, leader of the Ebony Daggers had already listed off city officials that were "removed". It was then that a scout from Bregalad's command entered. He whispered urgently to one of the honorguard who in turn gave the message to Bregalad. "Strangers? he said. "Enter scout and report" The scout was rather shaken but stood on weak legs and told of strangers that were found just outside of the encampment. "They wear old armor M'lord, and wear the mark of the Dark One, but...it's different, not like any I have seen." Falemiel raised an eyebrow at this statement. "Show me", she said calmly. With a shaky hand the scout began scraping into the ground the marks he had seen. "They wear this mark?", she asked. The scout nodded and almost collapsed. "Tell me more about these. strangers." Breathing deeply the scout replied "The woman is Aes Sadai or just wears the mark of one, the man is war torn with scars all over-"No one will get to close to either M'lady, the man has an aura of unholiness about him, the woman has already killed 3 an..and eaten their flesh. "We tried to shackle the man once but he simply disappeared and then reappeared." Kormregort smiled and nodded to Falemial and Bregalad, "Caster of sorts". Both nodded in agreement. "Bring them here" Falemial stated with a wave of her hand. The scout was more than happy to leave in a hurry.
"You know the mark?" Kormregort asked. "That is the brand of Lord Banichi," Falemiel replied. "But he's been gone well over 100 years, surely they are not from his ranks," Kormregort answered. "That is Banichi's mark, that I agree with," Bregalad stated, "but Kormregort is right. Banichi has been gone over 100 years ago. Probably some locals wanting to join or spies." Falemiel smiled at Bregalad "If they are spies you may have the woman for your pleasures Bregalad, the caster will be Kormregort's amusement." Both men grinned at the thought. Kormregort was a shredder of the mind, sucking information and power from his victims as a dwarf would down a tankard of Ale. Bregalad had a passion for women, most of whom never survived the night
As the guards escorted the 2 strangers into the tent, the man waved his hand from under his hooded cloak causing the flames from the fire to rise dangerously high and bellow out heat. "Well, he is a caster of sorts," stated Kormregort. The woman made a hand gesture to Falemiel and bowed, which Falemiel returned. "And she is Aes Sadai or should be, she knows our greeting well enough. "Remove your hoods, so we may see who dares enter our encampment!" Both did so without hesitation. Yekio stood with a look of awe joy, excitement all rolled into one. Bregalad glanced over and began choking on the ale he was drinking and all the guards began to reach for their weapons. The man waved his hand again and this time the guards all yelped and dropped their weapons. Looking closely at them the handles had all sprouted what appeared to be thorns. Kormregort nodded to himself. "You wield the power of the Dark One well. What are your names?" Both stared intently at Falemiel who stood with an evil grin from ear to ear. "Lord Fand and Lady Laurelei, brother." "You know them sister?" Falemiel nodded and replied, "All enemies of the Dark One know them, brother." Lady Laurelei took a step forward and raised her hand. Clenching it into a fist with a snap she said, "And they will know us again!"
Above the encampment, in the shadows of the night, a set of eyes appeared. Looking down upon the army below, the eyes began to edge slightly upward and then the maniacal laugh began. "Welcome home, children, welcome home."
Fand
Bregalad was the first to arrive, his legions were notorious for their ability to cover great distances and "rustle up" any farmers or curious eyes into the dark one's business. He was extremely thorough in his interrogations, he enjoyed the work far too much. Scouts were sent out to the base of the mountain range. Orders were specific and precise, and no one was going to disobey them. After the encampment was secure messengers were sent to the other Chosen.
Kormregort was the second to arrive, with him his mages of the dark one. No one was really sure of Kormregort's origins, some say he was born from the dark one himself, others say he was born of magic gone afoul. Regardless, he held his position with an iron grip that not even death could release from him. Undead by the thousands filled his legion's ranks and any army allied with him gave his legions a wide birth. As soon as he arrived he was in meetings all day and night. Messengers flowed thru his tent on a regular basis, all of whom were pale upon leaving. It was not him, needless to say, but the undead minions that stood guard. Only the mages themselves were untouched by the cold, empty sockets that watched all that entered. He was still engrossed when the third Chosen arrived.
Falemiel's arrival was like a force of nature, clouds darkened as lightning fell across the plains below the mountains. As she made her way thru the encampment to Kormregort's tent to meet with the other Chosen all bowed in her presence. Even the undead who moved for none but their master gave a respectful bow to her. She was Aes Sadai after all and her power was immense. She was strikingly beautiful yet there was also a look of cold death in her eyes. She cared for nothing but the Dark One's return and would do whatever was needed to bring it about.
The war meeting was in full swing, maps of all sorts were scattered about Kormregorts tent. Falemiel and Bregalad sat quietly, honor guards on either side of them still as statues. Yekio, leader of the Black Ajah, was explaining the spells and wards cast about the encampment. Stormlord,leader of the Darkfriends was telling how his spies had already filtered into the city to key positions, and Ancilar, leader of the Ebony Daggers had already listed off city officials that were "removed". It was then that a scout from Bregalad's command entered. He whispered urgently to one of the honorguard who in turn gave the message to Bregalad. "Strangers? he said. "Enter scout and report" The scout was rather shaken but stood on weak legs and told of strangers that were found just outside of the encampment. "They wear old armor M'lord, and wear the mark of the Dark One, but...it's different, not like any I have seen." Falemiel raised an eyebrow at this statement. "Show me", she said calmly. With a shaky hand the scout began scraping into the ground the marks he had seen. "They wear this mark?", she asked. The scout nodded and almost collapsed. "Tell me more about these. strangers." Breathing deeply the scout replied "The woman is Aes Sadai or just wears the mark of one, the man is war torn with scars all over-"No one will get to close to either M'lady, the man has an aura of unholiness about him, the woman has already killed 3 an..and eaten their flesh. "We tried to shackle the man once but he simply disappeared and then reappeared." Kormregort smiled and nodded to Falemial and Bregalad, "Caster of sorts". Both nodded in agreement. "Bring them here" Falemial stated with a wave of her hand. The scout was more than happy to leave in a hurry.
"You know the mark?" Kormregort asked. "That is the brand of Lord Banichi," Falemiel replied. "But he's been gone well over 100 years, surely they are not from his ranks," Kormregort answered. "That is Banichi's mark, that I agree with," Bregalad stated, "but Kormregort is right. Banichi has been gone over 100 years ago. Probably some locals wanting to join or spies." Falemiel smiled at Bregalad "If they are spies you may have the woman for your pleasures Bregalad, the caster will be Kormregort's amusement." Both men grinned at the thought. Kormregort was a shredder of the mind, sucking information and power from his victims as a dwarf would down a tankard of Ale. Bregalad had a passion for women, most of whom never survived the night
As the guards escorted the 2 strangers into the tent, the man waved his hand from under his hooded cloak causing the flames from the fire to rise dangerously high and bellow out heat. "Well, he is a caster of sorts," stated Kormregort. The woman made a hand gesture to Falemiel and bowed, which Falemiel returned. "And she is Aes Sadai or should be, she knows our greeting well enough. "Remove your hoods, so we may see who dares enter our encampment!" Both did so without hesitation. Yekio stood with a look of awe joy, excitement all rolled into one. Bregalad glanced over and began choking on the ale he was drinking and all the guards began to reach for their weapons. The man waved his hand again and this time the guards all yelped and dropped their weapons. Looking closely at them the handles had all sprouted what appeared to be thorns. Kormregort nodded to himself. "You wield the power of the Dark One well. What are your names?" Both stared intently at Falemiel who stood with an evil grin from ear to ear. "Lord Fand and Lady Laurelei, brother." "You know them sister?" Falemiel nodded and replied, "All enemies of the Dark One know them, brother." Lady Laurelei took a step forward and raised her hand. Clenching it into a fist with a snap she said, "And they will know us again!"
Above the encampment, in the shadows of the night, a set of eyes appeared. Looking down upon the army below, the eyes began to edge slightly upward and then the maniacal laugh began. "Welcome home, children, welcome home."
Fand