Background fluff
The small grove was secluded from much of the rest of the forest by natural rock formations. They channeled a path of lush grass to it's lone apple wood tree in the center. It was a quiet place of much peace whose blueberry bushes were a favorite treat of passing forest creatures. As the cozy light of the afternoon sun passed over onto it one would find a perfect napping spot.
Today was special in it's breaking of idyllic monotony, but also not so unusual. For an elf entered the grove alone and the grove came alive with energy at his presence. It was a quiet thing for one could not hear trees or grass when they become excited, but one could feel the atmosphere change with glee at the return of a dear companion. The apple wood swayed every so slightly in greeting.
The elf did his greetings and showed his respect before informing the apple wood of the coming task. The elf and tree were closely familiar and partners in many works of craft. It was not necessary to know a tree to use it or even be friends with the tree to do so, but the familiarity would make the process purer.
Ancient energy and magic slowly pulled from the earth and sky into the grove as the air filled with an electricity. The elf placed a hand upon the tree, prayed in his own tongue, and would use a strange instrument made of grown wood. Although called a whistle by the elves it did not function as such as humans would think of whistles. It was more like a strange bulb with one branch sticking out and with it the elf would direct the tree to the task.
The tree began to sway and move as a particular branch was being shaped and twisted by it's own effort and the direction of the whistle. As the energy surged and the direction became clear, vision communicated from elf to tree, the tree began to swing into it's task with abandon. One would think the tree could stand up on it's own and walk around for how much it was moving side to side shaking it's majestic head as branch began to take shape.
The elf was a smith by his own kind's accounting. One of the greatest and the tree was as well. It would willingly share no other partner and their works were always superior to most thanks to this partnership of minds and hearts. The elf smiled to the tree and showed it what the item would be for: The smith's son. A noble-hearted child who would seek to stop great evil's.
This was more than a blade for a defender, but a gift to one's dearest heir. The tree understood and invested itself completely in the work.
Hours passed and hours more as the branch slowly took on more precise forming. Elf directed with touch upon the branch forming and pressing it. Another important moment where relationship mattered. A resistant or bitter tree might lash out or resist the direction of the elf.
As the sun began to set in the grove some wildlife had come to watch the ending as the apple wood finished it's thrashing and the branch now lost all semblance of branch and the tree withdrew itself from it allowing it to be gently released to waiting elf.
It was the greatest work the two had either accomplished: The fruit of centuries of companionship, passion, skill, and purpose.
The smith's son was no warrior and the smith did not wish him to be in harm's way, but he could give him the means to be safe in the dark world outside of the forest.
Elven swords were not known as proper piercing weapons, but if any could function as the dwarves and humans understand blades to then this one could for this was a masterwork.
Source:
https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/004/775/618/large/michal-libiszewski-nobitsura-02.jpg?1486163825
Itha was surrounded again, and while this didn't entirely disturb him since he had escaped before he had to reflect on the fact that he was both very deep in goblin territory and apparently the creatures were actively hunting him at this point.
He felt very deeply for the young elf who had died because of him and his own failures in these lands.
His apple wood breastplate was majorly damaged now with holes in it's thin wooden frame reminding Itha of how far he had come. The grinning goblins pressed in by one step eager to catch the elf and likely secure some meager advancement in their miserable hierarchy. He drew his sword that his father had passed along to him.
Perhaps the greatest work his father had ever done although in hands that did not deserve them.
Itha looked from the goblin lord who likely had ordered the death of the elf lass and then looked at the beak dog at Itha's side. Itha nodded at the beast and then it al it's compatriots surged in all directions hissing and roaring with excitement: To battle!
This one was much closer as before in previous battles the beak dogs outnumbered the goblins. All a beak dog had to do was pin a goblin while the others tore into it, but here they were one to one often. Itha was swinging and stabbing with his sword helping where he could. Goblin's found elven weapons humorous and did not consider Itha to be the biggest threat although they had no desire to be jabbed in the eye
He and the lord of these pits dueled back and forth as Itha's pets grabbed it and pinned it. In one moment Itha remembered the fallen girl again, dead so far from the warmth of home, and his own mission likely failed and lost to him for now. He stabbed with all his might at the goblin
The creature fell to the ground thrashing and raging at anything within reach as it's lifeblood spilled everywhere
Itha headed to the southern end of the large cavern intending to leave these pits behind before he saw a great foe roar in his direction:
Source:
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/orc-df7079af-3b46-49dd-b92d-89e849796a25
He was a massive elf clothed in vicious goblin garb. A beast hunter come from across the arctic fields to hunt the one who had riled all the beasts of these lands. He was both in form and purpose everything Itha hated about the Elder Hell
The beak dogs continued vicious battle all around them, but stayed away from the beast hunter. They seemed entirely afraid of the monstrous man as he dueled Itha. The beast hunter's only weapon was a knife, but being made from real metal it served as a good counter to Itha's longer, but wooden sword.
The two danced among a symphony of roars, cries, laughs and the sound of bodies being broken.
The two paused for a moment both catching breath and assessing one another. Itha broke the silence of glaring
"Who are you? What is your name?"
The beast hunter grinned wickedly while still panting "Dostngosp, rebel"
"That's not your real name, kinsman! How old are you even?"
"What is it to you? I am Twenty years old although I've seen more hell in my time than you in your centuries, rebel"
"Twenty?!"
Itha was taken aback. Twenty was barely an adult by some human standards, but certainly not by elven. What had happened to this child. While he reeled from the knowledge the beast hunter charged at him and the danced renewed.
Itha finally disarmed the young man although he refused to surrender and they continued with the hunter trying to pin the elf, which would likely spell Itha's end.
He scratched Itha's eye and in rage Itha delivered another, among many previous, resounding blow to the hunter's chest before the blade actually broke skin and pierced the elf's heart.
The hunter looked at Itha with total shock as he collapsed. Itha held the poor child's head wishing he could undo this great and cruel evil.
The hunter grabbed Itha by his shirt and pulled him close "Do not forget me, murderer" He gasped "My true name is Lida Yoresmiled and all I wanted was to put an end to this hell"
"Lida yoresmiled?!" Itha gasped in realization "You're part of the royal family you went missing when you were still a babe!"
The hunter did not respond and could not as he used all his energy on ragged breathing before passing away.
The way was shut. The heart of the Elder Hell was shut away now. They knew of the elf and the attempt to sow chaos into the master's of chaos. The way was shut.
Itha could do nothing now as he marched across frozen fields with his animal companions. It might be years before the goblin's let their guard down and even then he was now a known person amongst the ageless monsters. He considered one last desperate charge into the dark fortress with his contingent of beasts, but they would all die quickly he knew.
Itha returned home in defeat and regret.
As the traitors raged in defeat
They dug deep into the earth
There they made dark pact
Great horror rose as their master
Apufi the Labyrinthine
Declared himself heir to all
Traitors surged again with dark empowerment
The queen prayed to the forest for deliverance
Great spirit touched the earth
And the titan surged to protect the land
Finally, finally
A great curse was loosed
The sun darkened over traitorous lands
All light, warmth and love left it
As the cold deepened and storms brewed
None could stay upon the surface any longer
Traitors abandoned their campaign forced to dig
dig and dig
to escape the storms of snow they dug and hid
there they fostered their hatred over centuries
As skin turned green and eyes red with hate
They would never forget their fair kin from the forest
and the war had never truly ended
The Creation Myth of Goblin and Elf
OOC:
So what now?
Well, first off my attempt to sow rebellion was a bust. I think people will only consider rebellion if they have conflicting loyalties or potentially conflicting ones. All these were goblins born and raised and had only ever belonged to the Elder Hell. So it did not interest them.
It also reached the point where it stopped being fun to me and I knew I had to stop with Itha or this would become a labor.
Least I know I tried now.
Excuse the fluff story in the beginning. Since I started DF I always found the elves unique and interesting. They are so alien to everyone else especially compared to other elves in different settings and I always wanna explore how their society might work.
Where to now?
Well I gave the save to Avolition obviously and I hope it is going well for him! After he wraps up I was thinking of trying a different approach to keep things interesting and depending on what threats remain. We will be soon approaching the timeline where all EVIL threats to the world are gone and we are gonna have to start actively genociding the non-evil groups.
I am thinking for our next adventure I do about asking you guys if you'd be willing to make characters for the mission we decide to pursue. Like some other adventure mode games have done I'll essentially play the game, but I'll let you guys direct what we do with our squad of characters and how we react to situations. After we finish that we can pursue a different kind of game in the same world! Keeps it fresh and interesting! Although I am looking forward to bringing Kanil back. His defeat from the swamp titan was always intended to be a break and not a retirement.
Last note: We don't have to wipe out all fantastic creatures to reach Fairy Tales. As long as less than 10% of the population is fantastic, which means we can pick certain characters we wish to preserve in the end. If Nemo survives, for example, I'd wanna protect him because he is that cool.
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Topic: In Search of Fairy Tales - Adelaathira - The End of Dwarfdom (Read 49643 times)