Annael Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 A lone butterfly flew drunkenly throught the air. The added weight of a crystal on a chain made it too hard for the brightly coloured butterfly to actually keep a straight path. It weaved and faltered, ultimately letting the jewel it carried to fall, straight onto the head of Annael who was rifling through an old chest belonging to the Elders. "Is this even the Elder's Treasurebox? I can't believe...ouch!!" Stoping her mumbling to rub her head, Annael looked around to see what struck her. Not seeing anything Annael once again resumed her search, only this time to see something that wasn't there before. "What's this?"Annael asked as she reached down to pick up a long silver chain. Attached to a chain was the most remarkable looking jewel she had ever seen. It was clear, streaked through with red. As she held the jewel on the palm of her hand, the red streaks began to swirl around. A blinding pain pierced her skull and voices spoke to her. I am Kushel And I Chrissiania Together we live in this jewel For it is the only way that we CAN be together To the bearer of this jewel We impart the knowledge of our history So that our fate may not be repeated Also we grant power, that of healing And that of commanding We will guide you and help you always Just remember that we are here And that we were And now we are...... Another blinding flash and Annael begins to see a story unfold, she a silent spectator in the entire thing...this is the story...... In a remote region of Terra, there is an island. Surrounded by deadly waters and covered in the densest fog ever seen by man, it is an island shrouded in mystery. Very few people know where the island is, and even fewer know that it exists. The island is called Kushel's Tower, because that is all that remains there. On of the greates mages on Terra, Kushel was unknown. He didn't command great armies that crushed their opponents. He commanded the MAGES that command the great armies. And he did this all without anyone knowing that he was doing it, except, for the mages involved of course. Commanding people as easily as one breathes is not something that even the most powerful mages can do. But Kushel didn't abuse his power, he just used it for his own gains. One day he saw a young woman wondering upon his island. By her wet and ragged appearance, he could tell that she came to him by means of a miracle. Surviving the waters was unheard of. Yet this young lady did. Kushel made it his mission to heal the lady and to restore her to her rightful place on Terra. He didn't know that he would only succeed partially in his mission. Kushel learned that his young lady's name was Chrissiania. He became enamoured of her, and she of him. As their love grew, so did the island. the island beagon to sprout trees from amongst jagged rocks. birds began to live in those trees. Life began once more on Kushel's Tower. But as life was beginning on their little island, certain mages in Terra began to lose their kingdoms. Mages before that were unbeatable all of a sudden were having their entire armies slaughtered before their eyes. Then they started to understand: they were no longer being controlled by Kushel during war. Tarr, a once power black mage who was being hit the hardest decided to see exactly what was going on with Kushel. Having been to Kushel's Tower before, Tarr knew the exact location and transported himself there. Upon seeing the island full of greenery and wildlife where there was none before, Tarr recognized the work of a green mage. He set off to find Kushel. So caught up in the playful antics of his beautiful Chrissiania, Kushel failed to notice the arrival of another mage on his island. Nor did he realize that for the first time in over two hundred years that he had begun to age. The deal that he made with the mages that he controlled was thus: he would guarantee their victory in exchange for life. Each time he helped a mage win, they would sacrifice years off their own life to Kushel. Since he had stopped controlling the mages, his body was quickly catching up to his true age. Tarr arrived at Kushel's tower to see Chrissiania playing with some rabbits. Kushel was watching from a window high in the tower, laughing at her. Seeing everything around him and coming to a quick conclusion that the laughing woman was the cause of his losing great armies, Tarr charged into the clearing and ran his sword right through Chrissiania, the point coming out of her chest. Gazing up at Kushel, Chrissiania breathed her last and collapsed. Seeing the horror of his beloved's death threw Kushel into a rage. He commanded Chrissania's soul not to leave her body as he flew out of the tower. As Kushel gathered Chrissiania's body into his arms, he took control of Tarr's mind and calmly walked him off a cliff, right onto the jagged rocks below. After the dispatching of Tarr, Kushel cradled his love's body in his arms. The beautiful crystal jewel that he had placed around her neck that morning was streaked through with her blood. The clear magnificence of it was marred by red. Unable to stand the thought of living without Chrissiania, Kushel stood with her lifeless body in his arms and they both slowly disappeared. All that remained of the two on Kushel's Tower was Chrissiania's jewel. Annael blinked and looked at the attic around her, then down at the crystal in her hand. "Oh my. I hope that this is deserving enough reward for Gwaihir's contest" A sharp pain in her head forewarned the voices again. Fallen One, a warning to you. We know that you will not be the bearer of this jewel See that we do not fall into the wrong hands We can be deadly.... Being careful to hold the jewel by the chain, Annael stood, shook her skirts free of dust and went in search of Gwai. The butterfly that was the bearer of the heavy jewel perched precariously on Annael's halo as she walked, her barefeet leaving tracks in the dust. If someone were watching carefully, they would've noticed the little butterfly wink to the laughing lady in the crystal.
Salinye Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 Ohhhhh Wow! Now I HAVE to join that contest! Well done, Annael!!! ~Salinye
Peredhil Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 Peredhil listens quietly and silently sighs. "But Kushel didn't abuse his power, he just used it for his own gains." In his experience, all abuse contained at its heart the selfish gain of the abuser. He started in surprise at hearing the Quilll Quest named a contest. He'd thought the Contest of Gwaihir was a Writer's Workshop quiz, not this rendition of forgotten lore brought from the ancient past into the present. He was glad he wasn't a Voting Elder, having witnessed the butterfly's trick. Would this count as fulfilment of the Quill Quest assigned? He waited silently to find out.
Gwaihir Posted October 20, 2003 Report Posted October 20, 2003 That was an awesome story . Btw, Pered, this wasn't the contest, this was a quill quest to pick and describe an item from the elder treasurebox that would then be awarded to the winner of the contest, which btw, isn't a quiz . Creativity will be rewarded.
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