The Chronicles of Ematria

“The White Wall will soon crumble, just as everything does” The continent of Ematria, Province of Cicuria, 1275 AD Farion awoke from another nightmare. It was always the same, the cold sweats, unable to move, unable to wake from the dreams that seemed so real. For as long as he could remember, he had these dreams, they seemed to depict another place, another time. And the whispers, again with the whispers. Seeming like they wanted to tell him something. But he would always awaken before he could decipher the message. He sat up in a panic, looking around at his small bedroom in the guildhall. The young man was a member of the “Red Feathers” A group of elven warriors leftover from a war with mankind. It had been almost 15 years since the war ended, 15 long years of subjugation. Farion rolled from his bed and stretched, blinking a few times as the daylight shone through his open windows. He pulled a simple cotton shirt over his body and stepped into the common room, it was a small room, but it was brimming with remnants of his culture, a culture the humans had attempted to stamp out with their crusade. His mentor, Ferandil, greeted him, “Ah, you are finally awake, Farion. I was afraid you’d sleep the entire day away.” “Good morning to you as well, Ferandil. Unfortunately, the gods would not grant me such a luxury.” Farion half smiled as he made his way to the dining hall. It was a meager hall, the table took up most of the room, but he and the others were used to confined spaces. Having lost the war, they were required by law to stay in a walled-off section of the city. Away from the humans, presumably to keep them from having to interact with each other. Many humans harbor bitter resentment towards anyone with even slightly pointed ears. “And there he is! I told you he would be late! Now pay up, you dogs!” One of his closest comrades burst out from the table and laughed. Farion just half smiled, “You know, Cael, I’d wager if you spent less time gambling and more time training you would get caught a lot less..” the others laughed and looked at the two, camaraderie was common here, and it was not uncommon for the lads to take shots at each other. Most of these men and women had known each other throughout the conflict. Now orphaned and left to fend for themselves in a hostile environment, they have been reduced to nothing more than common thieves and occasionally, bandits. Having to steal from traveling merchants just to survive. Having finished his meal, Farion removed himself from the table and walked over to the job board. It was the only source of income he had and he took full advantage of it. Scanning the notices for a job, his sapphire-colored eyes landed on a hand-drawn note, he pulled it from the board and looked it over. “WANTED: skilled individual for a simple job.” It began, “There is a merchant in the market, selling young, elven girls into s*****y. The humans may hate us, but s*****y is still unlawful in their eyes, the guards do nothing, and it seems every time we think we are rid of him, he returns with a new shipment of women. Please find out where he is getting his supply, and put a stop to him.” Farion smiled at the notes’ content. Finally, a chance for him to make a real difference for his people. He quickly went to his bunk and dressed in his armor, it was a complex series of belts and straps on top of blackened leather hide, and adorned with red eagle feathers. He stepped out into the common room again and found the girl responsible for tracking each contract. Farion placed the note on the worn counter and looked across at the young lady behind it, “Ari, you are a gentle reminder that the gods can make exquisite art in physical form....” Ari blushed, “A tongue as sharp and deadly as your blades. What will I do with you, Farion?” She smiled. Farion pulled his hood over his head and smirked from underneath it, “What indeed, Ari? What indeed….” Ari blushed even harder and sent him on his way. Farion exited the guildhall and made his way to the bustling grand market of Earthwall. Meanwhile, far beyond the safe walls of Earthwall, there was a kingdom far to the north. There, the sun did not dare shine, and the elves that lived there lived far better than their southern counterparts. The kingdom of the dark elves was governed by a dynasty of powerful men and women. At its heart sat the Veiled Empress, Abigael Ignes. She was a cunning and ruthless ruler who had a taste for magic and power and would use all her gifts to stay Empress. Her second in command was her sister, Elphina. Elphina was a master mage, and the leader of the army, an unheard-of trait outside of their province of Bannheim. Their palace was constructed from obsidian mined from the underground deposits deep beneath the earth. And it was decorated with all manner of priceless tapestries, paintings of the royal family hung in every hall, and at its heart was the Obsidian Throne, a beautifully ornate seat of power befitting only the most powerful woman in Bannheim. “Elphina, The Everstone has not yet revealed itself to us...We must find it, so that we may unlock its power..” “Sister, we have scoured the entire northern realm, my scouts report nothing.” Elphina sighed heavily, her lavender eyes turning to look at a map of the north. “Perhaps we should focus our efforts on the south?” Abigael smiled an evil grin of satisfaction, “Yes...Perhaps we are not looking in the right place, I have a contact in the south, I do believe it's time I visited him.” Abigael motioned for the guards to ready her carriage, and she and Elphina exited the war room with haste.