Brettia

Background

This was one of my best posts on Brettia, one that first appeared on the Meeting of Friends RP thread but was almost lost for good after the database got deleted. Luckily, I had saved it before posting it because it was so long.

The two characters here are Ildran Holth, boy chancellor of the nation of Benelux, and Banyal, the graceful elf guide. They are members of a six-person party sent by Lord Alifendul, leader of the elves, to find six ancient relics before the Emptiness (a supremely evil being) could get them. The party has divided into pairs to investigate three tunnels inside a temple thought to house one of the relics.

The Post

Ildran and Banyal walked slowly down the dark tunnel, following it as it snaked into the bowels of the labyrinth-like temple. Ancient, indecipherable runes covered the tunnel walls, adding to the eerie feeling of the darkness. When Banyal, for all her grace, walked into a wall, Ildran pulled out his Iceblade, murmured a few words, and watched as the tip glowed, giving off a faint light, just enough to illuminate the area around the pair. They kept walking.
After nearly an hour of stumbling over the uneven tunnel floor, they came to a cavernous room, almost as big as the Great Forges of the Noble Order of Doom in Calyth. It seemed like some sort of cave, like one might see stalactites growing from the high ceiling at any moment. Stretching across the middle of the room was a crack in the floor. From the tunnel opening, it seemed small, but as Banyal and Ildran approached, they found that it was nearly twenty feet across, too far for Ildran to attempt to levitate or for Banyal to jump. They looked at it in silence for a moment, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, the artificial light at the tip of Ildran’s sword went out. All was dark and silent. “Ildran, what happened?” Banyal called out. When no one replied, she tried again. “Ildran? Where are you?”
Then something clattered on the floor across the crevice from Banyal. She turned toward it, straining to see in the darkness. Another sound, this time behind her, something rustling like leaves in autumn. Banyal whirled around and came face to face with Ildran. She almost shrieked aloud in surprise. “Ildran,” she whispered, “what’s going on? I’m the guide here; where did you go?”
“Ildran is not my name,” he said, completely ignoring her question.
“What? Of course it is. Now come on, we need to cross this gap.”
“‘We’ is no longer appropriate,” said Ildran. “I will cross the gap.”
“What is wrong with you? Of course we’ll cross the gap, otherwise one of us would be…left behind.” Realization dawned on the wise elf. “You don’t mean to-”
“Yes, I do,” said Ildran. “Since I am about to do this thing, and am confident in my ability to be successful, I’ll tell you a little bit about ‘what’s wrong’ with me. Actually, it would be more correct to say ‘what’s right’.”
Banyal just stared in disbelief at what she had heard. She had been adventuring with a madman all this time…
“You see, I finally saw the truth,” said Ildran quietly. “You elves have been advertising your ‘light’ for far too long. It’s made you all idiots.”
“The Light is the only truth in our world,” said Banyal, “and you can never change that.”
“Perhaps not, but I can block it out. Just as the shadow of the moon sometimes blocks out the sun, I can block out the Light. I can make darkness fall upon the world, I can make people see how things really are, undistorted by Elvish teachings.”
“What do you mean?” asked Banyal warily.
“You know that I was imprisoned in Algebra a few months back,” said Ildran.”
“Yes.”
“I was not truly imprisoned, for I stayed of my own free will. Sure, I broke out and killed a few citadel guards in Asmptote, but that was all prearranged. That stupid oaf of a magician Tim and those bumbling fools, Kylo and Navarro, thought they were rescuing me. They were just helping me along. They got me back into Benelux where I gave Watlin some instructions before taking up Alifendul’s offer.”
“If you had all these plans, why did you come with us?” asked Banyal, slowly backing away from Ildran.
“Had I stayed in Benelux, I would not have remained in power. Things were not as secure as they are now, and some politicians were wondering if a sixteen-year-old boy can lead a nation. They soon will find that I can do that and more. Anyway, I had Watlin pretend to ‘usurp’ the Chancellery from me, set up the corrupt Vlarik, which I trust is doing its job, and begin gearing up for war.
“That of course put self-important Lunan and our ‘ally’ Ryfgaoa on alert, so now they’re all ready to fight us. I cannot yet reveal the surprise that awaits them in battle, but I promise, it will be worth all this work. It’s too bad you won’t live to see it.” With that, Ildran drew the other of his twin sabers and lunged at Banyal, who had her back to the crevice. Knowing he had her cornered, Ildran crossed his swords and conjured a ball of fire. As soon as it was large enough, he threw it up into the air and batted it at Banyal.
It seemed all was lost for the elf, but she kept her cool and called up a fierce wind using her wind-catcher jewel, literally blowing out the fireball. Swearing under his breath, Ildran moved in for physical combat. He whirled his sabers, coming at Banyal like a hurricane in full fury. She quickly had the Blade of Fusilith in her right hand and the Greenwood Sword in her left. As Ildran came, hacking at her with all his strength, she parried and turned, getting his back to the crevice. She thought she had him now, but Ildran, demonstrating the same acrobatic skill he used killing the spiders, Ildran leaped over her head and turned in the air, putting her between him and the crevice again.
As Ildran landed heavily, Banyal quickly turned around, but she was too late. Ildran stood directly in front of her now, an easy target, but Banyal was transfixed by his hypnotic red eyes, smoldering like embers and giving off a light of their own. The elf dropped her swords. She continued looking up at Ildran, unable to remove herself from his stare. He stepped forward slowly. The elf stepped backward. ‘”Ildran…” she said quietly. “Don’t do it.”
“I told you, my name is no longer Ildran,” said the boy. “I am…Usul…the legendary bringer of death, blighter of the land, opposer of Light. Be afraid.” And he lunged with the Iceblade, spearing Banyal straight through the heart. But she was so under his influence, she did not even scream. Ildran/Usul withdrew his blade, letting the dead elf’s body fall into the unfathomably deep chasm. The boy chuckled. He laughed. His laughter filled the room, echoing throughout the tunnels and all around the temple.
Then he retreated back the way he had come, muttering to himself. His twin sabers were stowed back on his back, the elf’s blood still coating the lower half of one, its once liquid form now solid ice.