One
morning, in a land of Elves and magic, a young Elven woman was waking
up. Her green eyes were dim as they slowly opened to the bright
morning day, and her red hair was a mess in the shape of a
porcupine's backside from restless sleep. This woman,
Ban-Laoch stood up from her bed and looked exhausted from a poor
night's sleep. "Ban-Laoch! Ban-Laoch!" Shouted a
fire-colored bird as it flew into a windowsill. "The Elder of
Tuatha Meadu-"
"Ardaigh..."
Ban-Laoch said in a tired tone. "... do you remember how long
we've worked together?" Ban-Laoch said.
"About...
twenty years as of a few months ago?" Ardaigh said.
"And
in the past decade... have you ever known me to be a morning person?"
Ban-Laoch said.
"Well,
I know you don't sleep all that well since-"
"It was a simple yes, or no question," Ban-Laoch said,
cutting off Ardaigh.
"No,
not particularly," Ardaigh said.
"And
what time is it?" Ban-Laoch said.
"About...
seven in the morning, give or take a few minutes," Ardaigh said.
"Yes...
yes my little Phoenix. But see, there's one thing you seem to be
forgetting after a little over twenty years. Can you guess what that
is?" Ban-Laoch said.
"You...
haven't had your glass of magic wine yet?" Ardaigh said.
"Bingo,
and now... now to get my morning glass, and start my day off on the
right foot!" Ban-Laoch said as she pulled out a glass, removed a
bottle of wine from its shelf. Poured its contents into the glass,
and then took a deep long swallow. Then the magic worked as her ruby
red hair straightened out into a clean bob, and her eyes glowed
like shining emeralds. "Ah... Banu'an'lae wine gets me ready to
face the day." Ban-Laoch said as she perked up.
"Okay...
as I was saying. The village elder wishes to see you." Ardaigh
said.
"It's
something important this time right? Because I'm not going to waste a
Saturday trying to open jars for him again. Nearly dislocated my
thumb the last time I helped him with a jar." Ban-Laoch said.
"No,
he would have told me. All he said is that it was important."
Ardaigh said.
"It
better be, as Champion of Tuatha Meadu. I deserve to have my decades
of combat and magic training to be put to proper use." Ban-Laoch
said.
"But
your father is-"
"Onwards, to the
Village Elder!" Ban-Laoch said as she hastily left her home with
a large number of pastries shoved into her mouth. Into the village of
Tuatha Meadu, her home and her responsibility to protect it from
those who would seek to do harm to it and its people. Built
amidst the ruins of an ancient city from the Elven Golden Age, Tuatha
Meadu was a peaceful place, and its champions were the ones who kept
the peace and security. Till about twenty years ago Ban-Laoch's
father was the Champion. But he was placed under a powerful magic
spell that put him into a deep sleep since then.
At any rate, she had arrived at the Village Elders hut. "Ban-Laoch...
it is good to see you on time for once." The Elder said.
"There
wasn't an appointment, you never schedule appointments. Now... do I
need the enchanted gloves to try to open a jar again? Or is this
something genially important?" Ban-Laoch said.
"Trust
me; I have no need to get my fix of pickles this week. Now... are you
familiar with the village of Tuatha Orkney?" The Elder asked.
"Not
personally. I know it exists, and that it's a small island to the
north-east why?" Ban-Laoch said.
"It's
a trade partner of ours, we sell them the extra food from
our farms and we buy fish from them. But we haven't heard
from them for over a week. The last thing our merchants saw of Tuatha
Orkney, there were Dwarven Longships spotted off the coast... and
bearing the colors of the Deep Drake." The Elder explained. Then
a look of rage spread across Ban-Laoch's face.
"...WHAT?!
That Dwarf has returned to raiding our kin, the same Dwarf that made
my father fall asleep?!" Ban-Laoch said in rage.
"Yes... Bledis has returned. There's no way of telling if Tuatha
Orkney still stands, or if that runt has taken everything of value
and burnt the village to the ground. Regardless... this could be the
one chance to restore your father to the waking world. I tell you,
that man could open a pickle jar just by looking at it." The
Elder said.
"That...
and his centuries of experience as Champion of Tuatha Meadu, and his
connections to virtually everyone in Elfenheim, and even a few among
the Orcs and Dwarves, as well as his expertise in the Golden
Age. You know... things more important than your obsession with
brined cucumbers! Now if you'll excuse me I have a Phoenix to catch."
Ban-Laoch said as she left the hut. "Ardaigh... ARDAIGH...! he's
at Iarann's office." Ban-Laoch said in annoyance as she made her
way through the village to her step-sisters office.
"Ban-Laoch,
to what do I owe the pleasure?" The robotic Iarann said.
"Yes,
a good day to you sister, now I'd love to shoot the breeze with you,
maybe have some Sona wine. But I have a mission and I need Ardaigh to
take me to Tuatha Orkney... assuming there's even a Tuatha there."
Ban-Laoch said.
"Really, what could be so
important that he wouldn't have you waste the day away trying to open
jars?" Iarann asked.
"Bledis...
he's back, and he was seen near Tuatha Orkney," Ban-Laoch said.
"ARDAIGH,
BLEDIS IS BACK!" Iarann shouted to the back room. Ardaigh flew
in, his mouth filled with lollipops.
"You
can have those while I'm looking around there village. Just get big
so we can leave!" Ban-Laoch said as Ardaigh hastily turned big,
and swallowed all the lollipops as Ban-Laoch mounted him.
"What...? WAIT! DO THIS!-" Ban-Laoch and Ardaigh flew
through the ceiling and creating a giant hole.
"-outside...
and he ate all of my lollipops. And Tuatha Milis has cut off trade
with us..." Iarann said in annoyance with her organic sibling
and her Phoenix companion. "If this office burns to the ground
again, I'm paying for the repairs out of her allowance."
It was a long flight to Tuatha Orkney. The island itself was a dreary
bleak place with grey clouds, not helped by the ruined
village along the shore. "Oh no... We're too late."
Ban-Laoch said as she and Ardaigh landed.
"There
may be survivors among these ruins. We should look about... see
if anyone is alive." Ardaigh said as he changed into
his normal size. The two searched about the ruins of Tuatha
Orkney, for a while all they found was the burned-out ruins
of the village... and a bonfire made of stuffed animals and
other children's toys.
"WHAT MONSTER
WOULD SLAUGHTER CHILDREN?!" Ban-Laoch shouted in outrage.
"Bledis... Bledis
and his Stone Thralls. You remember what happened when you first
faced him right?" Ardaigh said.
"Yes...
I remember what that deranged bloodthirsty runt did. It's one
of the reasons why I need magic wine just to function in the
morning." Ban-Laoch said as they searched through the
ruins. Eventually, they found someone, an Elf women in blue
tattoos.
"W-Who
are you?!" The women asked, looking terrified as she held an old
looking sword.
"We're
not here to harm you... are you of this Tuatha?"
Ban-Laoch asked.
"W-Why
do you want to know? Stand back!" The women said as she raised
her sword.
"We're not here to harm you! I'm
a Phoenix, and she's the Champion of Tuatha Meadu. We just want
to find the one responsible for this." Ardaigh said as the
mystery women panted as she held up her sword.
"YOU
WILL NOT TAKE ANY MORE INNOCENT LIVES PAJAMA WOMEN!" The
women shouted as she charged at Ban-Laoch.
"Pajama
women...? What is she babeling- wait? Did I forget to get
out of my pj's?" Ban-Laoch said as she looked down to see
that she was wearing her pajamas. "WHY DIDN'T ANYONE SAY
ANYTHING?! I WAS WANDERING AROUND THE TUATHA MEADU IN THESE!"
Ban-Laoch shouted as she dodged the woman's sword strikes.
"What?
I didn't notice until now that you were still in your
pajamas." Ardaigh said.
Ban-Laoch held the
woman's arms in a vain attempt to stop her. "Ardaigh! Do
something!" Ban-Laoch pleaded.
"Right...
I think I might be able to open her eyes. As she seems to think
you're an enemy, her mind is clouded with fear and paranoia."
Ardaigh said as the women head-butted Ban-Laoch.
"Why...
why did I forget my armor and weapons... my FATHERS sword and armor...
why did I not think to bring them with me?!" Ban-Laoch said as
she fired a fireball at the women. The fight went on like this. The
maddened Elf women attacking Ban-Laoch, and Ban-Laoch
barely standing her ground against her.
"WHAT
IS TAKING YOU SO LONG?!" Ban-Loach said as the women pinned her
to the ground with her sword to Ban-Loach's throat.
"There!
I finally got it!" Ardaigh said as he flew up to the woman's
face, and slapped it.
"That was it?... SHE'S
BEEN TRYING TO KILL ME FOR OVER FIFTEEN MINUTES!"
Ban-Laoch shouted.
"I...
I am so sorry, I... I thought that... the voices. They said that you
were with the invaders who destroyed my home." The women
said, looking ashamed and terrified.
"No,
I'm not an enemy. I just... what is your name?" Ban-Laoch asked
as she stood up.
"I'm...
I'm Sen'unat." Sen'unat said.
"How
long have you been here? When was the attack?" Ban-Laoch asked.
"I
don't know... I've only recently awoken. All I remember before
that... was the longships... the screaming... the fires."
Sen'unat said, terrified by her memories.
"Did
they have sails colored dark blue with a black Drake on them?
Please, it's important that I know." Ban-Laoch said, kneeling
beside the panic-stricken Sen'unat.
"Yes...
YES!" Sen'unat shrieked as unexpectedly, the longship Deep Drake
flew past along the beach line.
"Bledis..."
Ban-Laoch said as the Dwarven raider jumped off of the Deep Drake.
Wielding a sword and ax, and his armor covered in the gruesome
trophies of his conquests and fights.
"Ah!
Lass Ban-Laoch! It has been too long since I last saw you."
Bledis said, his apparent friendliness poorly disguising his burning
malice and bloodlust.
"Be
silent runt! Why have you returned after these twenty years?"
Ban-Laoch said, pointing a finger at him.
"Right
to the point... so unlike your wretch father, is he still a heavy
sleeper after all this time? Don't answer that, I'm going to remove
you from the equation, and get you out of my beard. And since you
came in your night-night garb... far easier then I could have
imagined." Bledis said, and then he leaped up howling like a
banshee as he brought his ax blade to Ban-Laoch's
head.
"Daughter...
your power is finally awakened." A
women's voice said inside Ban-Laoch's said. Ban-Laoch was then
wreathed in fire, that sent Bledis flying back.
"What...
what is this?" Ban-Laoch asked as she looked over herself... and
burning her pj's.
"What
the...?!" Bledis shouted as he threw his ax. It melted like
butter in Ban-Laoch's flame.
"...time
to die little man," Ban-Laoch said sinisterly.
"Another
time lass, tell Tall-Ainne I said hello!" Bledis said as he
hastily left on the Deep Drake.
"You
will not escape undamaged runt raider!" Ban-Laoch shouted as she
fired a fireball at the Deep Drake as it sailed out to sea. Barely
missing it and burning off a good chunk of the ship.
"What... what manner of magic is this?" Sen'unat asked as
Ban-Laoch fell face first into the dirt, the fire going out.
"I'll
explain later, for now, find something to cover her with, and I'll
get you both back to Tuatha Meadu," Ardaigh said.
Meanwhile, Ban-Laoch was dreaming. Normally her dreams consisted of
slaying her father's old enemies that had escaped justice. This time
she was with her father, Tall-Ainne. "Father... is that really
you?" Ban-Laoch asked.
"Yes...
it's about time I had a talk with you. One... I should have had with
you decades ago my dearest Ban-Laoch." Tall-Ainne said.
"What
do you mean father?" Ban-Laoch asked.
"Do
you remember the stories I told you of the Golden Age, of how we
learned from the Djinn how to wield magic, and how they helped us to
drive the Dark Ones from our world into the Void?" Tall-Ainne
asked.
"Of
course I do... it was the only kind of story you told me and Iarann
when we were young. Despite our insistence that you tell us a
different bedtime story... seriously, Iarann even bought a book of
old children's story as an unsubtle hint that you should tell us
something else." Ban-Laoch said.
"So
that's where that book came from... anyway, over the course of my
long career as Tuatha Meadu's champion. My companion aside from
Adriagh... was a beautiful Djinn woman. She taught me much about the
magic that her people shared with ours long ago, of the inner
workings of the magitek that our sires created, and of the ancient
ways and languages of the Sun-Blessed Elves. I... I loved her... and
she loved me in turn... and that love... led to you." Tall-Ainne
explained.
"What?!
You... you mean that my mother was a Djinn... how is that
even possible?" Ban-Laoch asked in shock.
"I do not know... all I know is that we had a night of...
PASSIONATE LOVE, and many months later, she returned with you in her
arms. I do not know why she did not keep you for herself, or why she
even consented to that night. But I do know this... he blood is why
you are alive now." Tall-Ainne said.
"The
fire... that fire that damaged the Deep Drake was Djinn magic?"
Ban-Laoch asked.
"Yes,
but that is but the tip of what you can do. You have the potential to
become the most powerful Elf in Elfenheim, since the Golden Age."
Tall-Ainne said.
"But
father... I'm just substituting for you until the spell Beldis cast
on you at the end of the Raider War, wears off! I mean... I have so
many questions to ask that I don't know where to start!"
Ban-Laoch said in a panicked tone.
"Then let
me answer the most important... dark times are coming. And the Dark
Ones... there making there move to return from the Void. And only a
Daughter of the Djinn can stop the terrible war that is to come at
Bledis's hands." Tall-Ainne said grimly.
"But
you sealed the Void off from our world for good! Even Bledis couldn't
find a new way to bring them back." Ban-Laoch said.
"Bledis
is as cunning as he is ruthless. He'll find a way... and you must be
ready. Ban-Laoch, I know that this is all sudden for me to say... and
that this is only the second time we've spoken since I fell
asleep. But please... you must unlock your full potential as a Djinn
Daughter. Unite our people; rediscover the ancient relics
that enhanced my old armor." Tall-Ainne explained.
"The ones that Bledis destroyed during your final battle with
him when he cursed you to your enchanted sleep in the first place?"
Ban-Laoch asked.
"Of
course, I entrusted the secret locations of such relics with your
sister," Tall-Ainne said.
"And
uniting our people... how would I accomplish this?" Ban-Laoch
asked.
"I
don't know, ask the elders of the other Tuatha's what need be done.
Journey across Elfenheim, and unite our people against the coming
darkness." Tall-Ainne said as Ban-Laoch looked nervous.
"I...
I will try father." Ban-Laoch said with uncertainty.
"Ban-Laoch...
remember what I said when you took up my mantle after the Raider War.
I believe in you... and I know, that even with doubt and fear
gripping at your heart. I know that you can, and will rise to the
challenge. Even as our Elder squanders your talents on pickle
jars, and you seek adventure in the wilds, furthermore... you
remember that Bledis's death is needed to wake me from my deep sleep.
You kill him, and I will finally awake. But in order to defeat him...
your potential must be unlocked." Tan-Ainne said.
"If that is what is asked of me, father. Then I will do as you
ask of me." Ban-Laoch said.
"That
does my heart good... now go... you have a war to prepare for."
Tan-Ainne said, and then Ban-Laoch awoke in her bedroom.
"Thank
the gods you're awake!" Adraigh said.
"Adraigh,
there will be plenty of time to celebrate. For now, I need to talk to
my sister and the Village Elder." Ban-Loach said as she got out
of bed, and donned her father's magic armor.
"And
a glass of Banu'an'lae wine to face the day, and to try help you to
live with the horrors of the Longship War?" Adraigh said as
Ban-Laoch looked herself over in a mirror.
"And
a glass of Banu'an'lae wine to face the day, and to try to help me to
live with the horrors of the Longship War?" Ban-Laoch said as
she looked about the same as the morning when her new adventure
began.
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