The Grand Realm: Starfall A tale in the Epoch Of Destiny-

[Spirit Hawkfellow]

Agrim Elestrim watched as the moon dipped partly over a dark patch of  
clouds.  The Eldros captain of the guard brought his cloak around him  
to keep off the night chill.
   Even though the lands of northern Aerbor were caught in the embrace of Gylen's summer the winds of the night were often chilly. The sword captain continued to walk his circuit around the parapet he guarded, his eyes scanning for anything amiss.

   Another quite night amongst the sky and stars he mused.
Celos Senrendrin was a floating city of the Eldros which hovered on weaves  of fey arcane magic and the power of float stones. The city had flown high amongst Aerbor's skies for over a hundred years and since Agrim had never seen or encountered any trouble with his post or the Eldros people he didn't really think anything would be amiss.

   His thoughts returned to his plans for the rest of the evening. He could almost taste the Kelda's brew on his lips and her hips on his hands. He would meet Kyvish in but another turn and the two would take their usual place at the inn of the Singing Maiden.

   Agrim smiled at the thought. He moved down toward the spire carved in a combination of crystal and mountain stone.  The Eldros were master craftsman on par with the dwarves and their kin the elves. The very city of Celos Senrendrin was a testament to their  
skill at crafts. Celos Senrendrin was known as the city of glass by the Eldros in many of the floating cities.
   Agrim finished his circuit and whirled around on a boot of polished
leather. His spear scrapped the bottom of the smooth stone ground. As he turned he could feel a tingle set off upon the back if his neck. It was an odd sensation and his stomach turned over. Now he could smell the stench. It was foul and unwarranted.  

   Agrim could not describe it.  He wrinkled his long nose at the smell and almost gagged.

   The air shimmered about him and a wave of energy so intense made a  
popping sound like a saddlebag over filled with water.  The resounding force  
sent Agrim off his feet and sliding against the stone.
   The guard captain looked up with his deep ocean blue eyes and his heart filled with terror. Shimmering red black energy radiated in front of him. The portal hung there like a sword cut; strange and pulsing with evil energy.  It was then they came forth from the portal, garbed  
in their hellish armor barbed and ready for death.

   Agrim tried to yell but he could not find the air to fill his lungs as Iron-elves poured out of the magical opening with blades crafted in the shape of weaving snakes.  Agrim found his ground, and was trained in the art martial. His sword slid out of his sheath and he readied. He tried to call out to his companions but it was to no avail. His mind raced with terror as another form came forth.
   This new arrival was shorter.  A woman by the look of her.  Long silver hair the color of the moon cascaded down her back. She wore tight fitting leather and a vest of chainmail. Upon the shirt of mail symbol of a moon and web; all knew that this was the sign of the queen of night Davloth. The dark elf that had come forth smiled wickedly as she finished her incantation binding Agrim's voice in place.
   The guard captain cursed and. Held his blade high in the hawk stance.  
He eyes burned with fire.

The iron- elf turned around to face the guard.

   'So this is the best we have to face. Aglarond was harder victory.'  The female shared his grin. Agrim could see the twinkling of her enspelled rings dance in the moon- light. He knew she carried his doom.

Again he tried to talk but the spell held his tongue
   
   The women sidled up to the iron elf and played with his chin lovingly.  'What would you have me do my lord Cole?" she purred cat like and her eyes danced his way.

The iron-elf smiled. "Bind him Olistria. His cry will be far late'

   Agrim winced.  It was then he heard the sounds of dread fill the night.  
He could hear the blood curling screams began to rise through the night.  This snapped Agrim from his fear.

   It was fight of flight Agrim told himself.  He decided on the latter.  He moved quickly.  But Olistria proved faster.

   "Aley kanith van bendos bendan" the words of magic rippled and caught  
Agrim as he started to run. Cole laughed. tHe iron-elf stepped forward brandishing his Kris long sword.
   
   Agrim could see the sigils on his face. Agrim knew what they were.  
Those marks had been the brands of traitors. Now they gleamed with fire.

   "Release the spell of silence Olistria I want to hear him squeal" he  stared hard at Angrim.
   
   'As you command my love.   My general" with a wave of her hand he once  more could talk and breath.

   'Why" Agrim felt foolish as soon as he opened his mouth. General Cole snapped right back.

   "To simply extinguish your race as you would have done mine.    You and your brethren have taken much from us; know we have come to return the favor. I'm starting with you."

   Cole raised his sword and it flashed in his hands.  Agrim never had time to blink and he could feel the iron wrought blade plunge deep into his belly and slide out his back.  There was a wet slicking noise as the iron-elf slid the blade out.
   Agrim gurgled as he felt the binding spell waver and disappear. He tried to speak his hands moving to hold the innards from coming forth.

   "You will not die quick. The iron sickness will take you and an iron -wraith you will become. Fitting for a dog like you" Cole cried.

   "Finish him beloved!" Olistria cried.

   General Vangrath Cole looked briefly into the eyes of the Eldros and  
grunted. He saw hatred there. Good the general thought it would be the last thing he saw.  Vangrath Cole kicked out.  The blow sent Agrim over the side of the wall. There was no scream.

   Agrim would miss Kelda's ale.

   He would miss many things.

   Agrim Elestrim plummeted like shooting star from the heavens. The last thing he saw was the moon, then darkness.

   "Father what befalls?" young Teal Aercana spoke.  Fear gripped the young dawn-elf's heart.  His father High Justicar Elbryian Aercana gripped his hand tightly and looked down at his only son.  Again he heard shouts down the halls.  The sounds of sword battle playing.

   "Nothing lad. Simply games to sharpen our skills"

   Teal gave his father a skeptical look. He might have been only ten  
summers old but he was smart. He knew a lie when he heard it.  Teal nearly  
jumped when he heard the sound of blades and screams. His eyes widened  
when he saw a head of an Eldros guard bounce across the hall.

   "Damn come we most flee to the portal chambers. It is our only chance".  
Elbryian cried and he gathered his son up in his arms.  Teal never thought his father had such strength as they raced the other passage.  His father grinned.  'None will catch us lad.'

   Elbryian called out several arcane words of power and Teal's eye opened  
as wisps of white ghostly tendrils flowed around them coalescing  into  
the Image of a wolf. The two Eldros sped through the corridors like a wolf chasing a hare.

   Teal could barely catch his breath as his father bounded down several flights of stairs that would lead to the spell casting chambers and portals beyond.

   The high Justicar and son moved in a flash avoiding most of the fighting.  Yet Elbryian knew battle was inevitable. Just as the thought flew by he noted two dark elves below.  They had just finished of several Eldros guards and they turned his way.

   Elbryian never stopped.
   Teal screamed all the way.
   The Justicar movement was blinding. His hand blurred to the hilt of his blade and what flashed out was a blinding light as Vernadon his elven flash-blade came forth. The dhrow warriors never saw what his them.  With the speed of a wolf Elbryian slipped in between the two slashing right then spinning on one heal and catching the other high.  The dhrow hands went to up seeking a head that was no longer attached to its neck. The other gazed in wonderment at his falling stomach with glassy eyes; already dead.

   Elbryian and Teal moved on and came to the huge spell chambers of Celos  Senrendrin. All about entrance to the portal chamber were bodies.

   "Father where is the enemy?"  Teal looked about. Elbryian wondered that very thing. The High Justicar wondered if any of the ruling high council had escaped.  Of all of his folk he hoped Eldreena Lightmoon had made it to a portal ring and had escaped. Most of his lords might be dead already for all he knew.  Just like Aglarond. He cursed.  His people were once again being hunted by an enemy they thought had been defeated.  Yet once more they had attacked their home.

   'I know not but we are leaving this place. Come."  He held his son tightly.  They both walked into the chamber it was mostly empty except for the ornate concentric circles that were etched within.  Elbryian put Teal down and smiled. He knew he would have to stay to work the portal magic. He was high Justicar but he was Eldros magi a High magus as well. He looked at his son lovingly knowing that it would be the last time he would see Teal.

   "I give his to you my son. For your bravery today you have earned our seal. 'Elbryian placed his ivory carved wolf head chain over Teal's neck.

"Father?" Teal cried.  The young elf child could see several figures enter the chambers.  
   
   Elbryian turned and saw several dhrow and iron-elves step through.  
Elbryian looked at his son proudly.

   "Prepare yourself lad and remember me". Tears fell down the high Justicar face.

'So we have found the last of the council" a tall iron-lord came forth. Elbryian knew this was the leader.
   General Vangrath Cole lifted the head of female Eldros high.   Blond hair  matted with blood cascaded down from a torn scalp; once greens eyes full of life know dull stared upward. Elbryian rage knew no bounds as Cole Vangrath tossed the grisly item to the floor with a thud.  The head had belonged to Eldreena Lightmoon.

   "Like your people your end has come" another voice. Broke through the  
chamber. This voice was poison, sly and repulsive.  
   
    Olistria smiled and raised her hands.
   
   Elbryian was the faster.
   
    The High Justicar felt the wolf head spell still in effect and in a rush of action he pushed Teal into the portal at the same time his hands came together in a mighty clap and a wave of thunder erupted.  Several dhrow and iron elves perished as the thunder erupted into a ripple of lightening that jumped between them. They shook as the lightening tore through their bones and flesh instantly turning them into ash and jelly. Vangrath Cole wasted no time.  The Thunderspark spell danced over his spell-wards and the iron-elf general came on full force.

   Elbryian moved on instinct his elven flash blade singed the air.

   "Farwell my son!' Elbryian caught the general's blade with his own and pushed off spinning a vortex of magic.

   Teal screamed as bright brilliant light flared to life. The arcane symbols danced and Teal Aercana son of High Justicar Elbryian Aercana saw his father smile for the last time.

   Elbryian and Cole danced with blades of fury. Each blade clattered
against the other.  A dhrow warrior thought to interfere with the battle but Elbryian was a battle Master of legendary skill.   He danced away from Vangrath even as the iron-elf stabbed at him this brought him up into the dhrow warrior flank.  Elbryian parried sending the dhrow's blade high and with a sudden movement the flash blade struck his head clean off.  Elbryian saw another warrior barrel his way through the doorway and he felt the lancing fire at his side.  The dark elf woman he guessed.   He had not seen her since his Thunderspark attack.
   Olistria came out of the in invisibility weave with a cackle, her hand  
biting with fire. Elbryian knew his life would end.  To many enemies poured through dhrow of iron-elf alike and they had arrows.

   Elbryian looked at his cooked side and he could see his life blood waning just as his wolf head spell had. He could see the enemy firing arrows and his flash blade blocked a few. But others found their mark pining him against the wall.

   Elbryian growled his last as Vangrath Cole came in fast and heavy. The curved blade slammed into Elbryian hard. Shattering his spine and jerking him back.

   "You die here Eldros like all the rest of you dogs!" Vangrath Cole cried.  Elbryian could feel his life flow ebbing. And be grinned at the iron-elf. 'You have won nothing as long as one survives we all do.  To the lower hells with you". Elbryian cried slamming his head.  
Into Vangrath right eight.

   Vangrath Cole never knew such pain as his right eye socket shattered.  Olistria cried out and a beam of black light disintegrated Elbryian Aercana last High Justicar of Celos Senrendrin.

   Agrim Elestrim looked up at the sky and wondered why he had not died.  
He lay on a patch of green soil with wild flowers.  The heavens were a blaze as he watched his home Celos Senrendrin burn and rock as if falling from the sky.

   Agrim shook his head in the distance he heard the sound of crying.  
Getting up he walked toward the sounds.  He wondered how he had survived and how he had been sure the sword strike would have finished him. The fall would simply leave no trace.

   Agrim saw the figure shake and cry. It was a young man.  
   
   A dawn elf.
   
   A survivor.

   Agrim raced to the boy and grabbed him.  'Who are you? How did you escape?"

   The boy wept in fear and as he saw the dawn elf tears flowed fully and  
he sank into Agrim's arms.
   
   'My father he saved me. My name is teal.  Teal Aercana."

   Agrim was rocked back on his heals he knew Elbryian Aercana not well but he knew the elf-lord.

   Agrim tried to hold back the tears but his mixed with Teal's as both watched the night sky and both saw a star fall.

The end