RP: Regrets of a Razurath
Part of the Saurian Onslaught Arc
The loss of family, homeland, and now believed to right to exist, Aetherclaw is spends what remainder he has left in lament, and booze. Nexura an old flame and also an ally returns to take Aetherclaw back to Venturil. So that perhaps the Razurath General may know a little peace before the end.
Andon d'Chath
Rising up from the subgrade elevation, well into the darkness beyond your vision is a massive pillar of carved stone looming directly ahead; its dark and barren surface interrupted only by the faint luminescence provide by the moss which grows in patches o'er the stone. A truncated pyramid of ghroundium, sparkling with the glint of chaos shards, serves as a firm and solid foundation for this symbolic obelisk. The ritual location, where the city's chosen mage sets alight the fire of Trist'oth at the stroke of midnight, renews the spire's daily progression of heat from bottom to apex. Those with the innate vision of a deep dwelling creature will be capable of noting the infrared emanations of this time bearing structure which marks the passing of hours for denizens of the deep as the ring of warmth climbs upward to the tower's peak. The barely tangible ripples of energy reside over every window and outcropping - indicating the existence of the vast wards which guard this city.
The cork popped off the bottle as Aetherclaw bent it with his fingers until it popped off, and drank back a large amount of this Dark Elven wine. When there was none left in the bottle he would toss the bottle at the wall, by now missing the wall, and hitting a pile of shattered bottles. This had been his existence, brought only lower as news of the valley’s destruction had been passed around.
He had freed the slaves, he had followed his superiors orders, he had witnessed his former daughter, he seen his son die in the games in the dark arena, and had lost his entire family to a dragon. He had been told his homeland was gone, that forces in Chartsend and Venturil, had been breaking the news to the populace a slow process, a process that had seen riots in the streets, and corrupt journalists spreading word that the riots were people trying to rebel, only to be slaughtered by the Razurath forces, when in truth suffice to say they had been blindly striking out at anyone they considered evil, to prevent them from taking over the areas they occupied when the Razurath were gone.
Nexura’s company in these times had been a saving grace. She frequently stopped the flow of the bottles to his frequently addled mind, and then when she was gone back to Venturil, he had returned to the bottles more so and more frequently.
His office in this clock tower of sorts was still petty and makeshift, he had had no desire to fill it with any form of wealth, any distraction other than the bottle. But as time had wound on, he would stop to look at his hands and his arms. He couldn’t help but feel the booze and his eyes playing tricks on him, as if some ghostly apparition flowed on underneath his flesh, conduits of power running up and along his body, but unable to access this, unable to use this. At some point when Nexura returned he said.
“I told our soldiers that the end is nearing, transparency between the ranks our last failure or blessing it doesn’t matter now, the Drow want us gone, and they are going to win, each of us is marked for death, every Razurath everywhere.”
“Then lets retreat, lets leave and never return, why stay here, where they are going to kill our children, hybrids and pure's alike, and then inevitably ourselves.”
“They have planned this, they have chosen to go this path, and now at our end, wisdom matters not, there are no wise decisions, Sven made that perfectly clear.”
“You talk of these lands gods, don’t tell me you actually prayed to one!” Nexura exclaimed.
“I did, and when i did another god responded, several i think, or perhaps he's just drunken delusions.” Aetherclaw said. “Everyone was laughing, everyone. They didn’t care what happened to us, we were a joke to them, something they all enjoyed watching getting slaughtered, They have all chosen there sides. They talked of how these lands are doomed to eternal dark futures were only evil shall reign supreme, where Larket will one day control Cenril, through some puppet, and trisoth will control Xailous through another, how Venturil will forever be overladen with curses until the land is forgotten, and Chartsend will be overlooked by all. How Naga will be divided, and well a stranger one some force rising out of the providence everyone overlooks and has ties to the old Cenril church and will play the evil like fools, and other such, Rhynvale will cease to be united and ogres will continue to throw meat to there pit. There is no hope for this land, and someday even Keylay will be handed over by the gods to the dark forces of this land. At the end evil reigns, but even evil is naturally cursed. What that curse is beyond me, I said my own, but I have no power behind me to enact it.”
Nexura listened, her thoughts concluding to delusion, or to madness, humored him by saying, “And whom did you curse, and what was this curse you had no power to enforce?”
“May every evil heart and devious mind, acquire there every want, but be deprived of every need, thus they will render miserable in their affairs of their lives, being deprived of the eternal joys and comforts of this life, so readily given to those whom receive, but to they who are evil they shall never know it, and in this depression of their minds that hope may find, that redemption be in there midst, for that is the only way to their acquisition of needs, to that and that alone shall there souls be at ease, to which though who is evil and knows not good, and impossible dream, and despair their only friend.”
Nexura’s stomach turned at the thought of such a curse. It would seem to vile at first who read only the first part, a blessing, but as the words ran deeper shivers rattled through her body, this was one of the cruelest of curses, meant only for the irredeemable, to which she also regarded herself there as. “I do hope none of their gods, ever take that curse into consideration, I don’t think I could wish that even upon my enemy, to receive everything they want, but nothing they ever need. That kind of misery, its enough to make one suicidal.”
Aetherclaw nodded, “And if they ever make themselves immortal, then they escape by taking their own lives will be deprived from them, and they will for eternity be in utter and unconquerable despair.”
Nexura shuddered at that thought. Glancing up she said. “What are our orders?” She asked.
Aetherclaw took a swig, “Enjoy what time there is left, go to the place where my family died, it will make for better stories for us to battle there, so that it can be said, I died where my family died.”
Nexura nodded, “And what of those who remain in the city?
Aetherclaw looked at her, and nodded.
Nexura realized and understood, “it doesn’t matter, we die here, or we die there.”
Aetherclaw nodded.
Nexura requested ‘Then come, there are a few house in Venturil we made, lets enjoy what little time we have left together, Aethl, please.”
Aetherclaw nodded, “Lead the way.”
Nexura’ heart felt healed from the old wound, that had been in it, and she took him shoulder arm, and led him out of the city, back up to Venturil. What little time remained at least it would be together at long last.