The Dream Of Conquest (MasterOfWhispers and Eirlys Vitae)

[MasterOfWhispers]

"My Lord enemy is in sight." Varys Valerian spoke as he was looking upon the open field of Yura. Right next to the man stood a tall and broad figure dressed in black plated battle armor with a Claymore sheathed as it his back. His hands removed his black intimidating helmet, revealing a blond haired man with silver streaks across certain parts. His eyes were as yellow as the morning sun and his sharp features revealed a depth that was both intimidating yet at the same time inspiring.

"This battle will be easy then." The apparent leader spoke his voice and tone carrying a hint of blood lust and elation. " Those fools won't know what hit them once they cross the midway point. Tell me have the mages completed the ritual circles."

"Yes Lord Nioklos, everything is according to plan." Varys responded his eyes looking at the field neutrally.

"Very well. Tell the head Magus to activate on my signal."
The second in command nodded heading for the back flank while the Vampiric Elf road off to the front lines.

Upon arriving, Nioklos noticed how eager his men were for blood and satisfaction. The army mounted to a thousands. The Vampiric Elf found it ironic. One hundred years ago, due to an unfortunate alchemic accident leading the Elf's transformation into the first Vampire elf in history, he had no hope of survival in a world which constantly hunted and persecuted him. He would never hope have dreamed of conquering Elvaria. In fact, if one were to mention to him that he would be the world's most feared warlord. Nioklos would have laughed at that person's face.

Now though, after journeying around the world and discovering that he could turn others elves into his own kind. Nioklos long sought dream of a world where he and his clan would not be persecuted would be a reality. He would Conquero Eluvia and perhaps even the Kingdom Of Man in the north. He would create a united world all under his clans banner!

"Children of mine blood" The warlord bellowed, and the rest of the eager clan quieted down. "It's been only fifty years since I have made you of my bloodline, yet in a manner of months we have managed to taken all of southern Eluvia as our own. Soon our dream of a land where none shall be rejected is close at hand."

The men cheered in delight. The patriotic fervor alright starting to heat up!
"Many of our brothers in arms have been lost in battle but now. Their sacrifices will not go in vain. For tonight their blood will open the doors to an Era. Tonight We will have a Kingdom First for the Gods! Tonight Our Dream of Conquest will become a REALITY!"

The Men roared with joy. They Roared with Passion, and most of all The Roared with Pride. The armored Clan leader smiled to himself as he turned his back and looked at the enemy army. They were getting close to his little trap. it was time.

Raising his hand up into the air. He addressed one of his archers.
"Jenka. Fire the signal."
The archer known as Jenka began to launched an mystic arrow which exploded into brilliant flashing light. Nioklos smiled. The signal was sent.

As the Enemy army approached the magical runes inscribed on the ground the stood on lit up. What followed next could only be described as a massacre.

Pillars of Fire erupted from the grounded Killing if not hundred then thousands of people. Much of the Calvary were dismounted from their horses. Using some of his mystic site Niklos soon spotted several healers running to the front lines trying to tend to the severely injured.
"Archers take those healers out! Calvary with me!"

As he commanded the archers despite the amount of smoke covering the battle field. Fired their arrows at the incoming healer mages and clerics. Either killing them instantly in one hit or brutally crippling them. The warlord was glad that a lot of the vampire he turned had the ability of mystic sight.

"CHARGE!" Niklos bellowed as his other men joined him in battle.

That trap he set for him was the key point in victory. It wasn't long before he began to mop up the rest of the army. It was only about five hours into the battle until the enemy sent a signal of surrender. Nioklos of course accepted. His knew Kingdom was now at hand.

The rest of day was spent gathering the dead and briefing the prisoners about their rights and about swearing fealty under their new would be king.


When the army returned to the camp, the men were intoxicated with their victory. It came as no surprise that the men would soon be intoxicated from alcohol. Nioklos would love to join them. Help build a closer bond with his soldiers, but he duties to attend to at his own tent. One of them being the fate of the prisoners they captured.

"We took over five hundred prisoners my lord. The rest chose to die rather then be taken." Varys said

"A Pity from the looks of it here. Many of them come from Noble Houses. They would have been useful allies helping them keep the throne." Nioklos said browsing through the list of names. "Honestly, all these nobles have pride. Too much pride. When I take control of the capital, I may have to clean up the houses. Make an example of their most rebellious."

"It is an ugly business sir..." Varys said looking through his own set of papers. "I suppose you want to take a good look at the prisoners."

"I'll have to. See who I can get onto my side. Though if they are anything like the last batch of prisoners, I fear we may have to kill more then half of them."

The prisoners tent had several iron cages in it that were summoned by the Nioklos most loyal mages. In them lied several soldiers. Each of them giving Nioklos a death glare as he walked passed them.
"I saw the enemy still can't resist your charm." Varys said with a smile.

Nioklos chuckled.
"At least its for a proper reason."

"Well the Healers aren't as troublesome. Most of them have even volunteered to tend to the wounds of our soldiers as well. With propers supervision of course my lord." Varys added quickly at the end.

"Such is the nature of healers. Perhaps I will release some of them back to their kingdoms. At this juncture compassion might be a good way to earn many of the peasants graces. "

Varys nodded and the pair continued to talk about what to do with some of the prisoners...

 

[Eirlys Vitae]

"I will be fine...I'll be just fine." Bernia gave her younger brother's hands a small squeeze. The elven boy stood strong, unable to keep his eyes dry for any longer, but not letting a single tear to slip. The healer was proud to raise a proper man, who's mature mind and will were trapped in the body of a child. "I will return, Nodin, I promise you, I will." For the last time she leaned in to press her naturally rosy and soft lips to his pale forehead before releasing boy's hands and heading out, on her way grabbing the staff she's been using for casting.

Bernia and Nodin were not real siblings - they were among those children who's families were killed during the war, and for a long time they were wandering around the village streets begging for food. Bernia wasn't far from adulthood back then, and the nearly infant boy who was now an orphan couldn't leave her indifferent. And so she's began working for gathering supplies to keep two of them alive, learning how to share and beginning to hunt wild animals such as foxes and wolves with the very simplest spell which was still taught by her dead parents. Bernia back then couldn't afford spellbooks to develop her skills and relied on herself only.

The land was restoring fast after the war, and so was economy in the land of elves. Soon a new complex of houses was built and given to children that were left orphan. Though they could have began living separately back then, Bernia couldn't leave the boy alone - they grew too attached for each other, and actually Nodin never knew there were no family ties connecting them.

Years had to pass for Bernia to stand firmly enough on her ground to begin advanced studies of magic - she was an offspring of a noble family, so her talent to magic arts was boundless and natural, making her much more fast learning than any other young magician. It didn't take long for her to gain a level of mastery that other magicians her age possessed, and even become greater than they were. Bernia was specializing in healing wounds, as healers were always the most needed occupation - also she wasn't much into violence, and allowed others to develop their combat skills while not planning to step into fight herself. Firstly she's reached a rank of Oracle, a healer, but it didn't take very long for her to become an Elven Elder, meaning she was now advanced in healing people by using her magic powers.

The land was shaken by war again - this time it was only concerning elves, and a race that was coming out of them. Though they were not real creatures, not the ones made by god - a failure at the experiment, that's what that race was. The only one elf was taking a part in that experiment and was later attempted to be hunted - with no success. No one suspected he'd be able to breed, to find anyone alike to him... And no one even thought about a possibility of him being able to turn other elves into creatures likely to himself. There was a long period when people kept disappearing from the village, never returning back - they were now marching to defeat their previously brothers and sisters, thirsty for their blood.

Bernia was taken to the army which had to oppose Vampiric elves in the battle, and now was walking side by side with warriors. It was elven strategy - to a group of fighters was given one healer, since elven supporters did possess a unique skill of healing a group of people at once. They hadn't got a special plan for this war, as watchers announced of enemy's army coming only a few hours ago, and so soldiers were insecure about themselves being vulnerable at the current point - for each battle they had a neatly developed strategic plan...This time it was left for improvisation.

Just like everyone expected, once the havoc began whole army lost their mind. Blinded by smoke Bernia still attempted to heal her comrades, but the arrow almost hitting her face and leaving a nasty cut on her left cheek caused her to run, too. Without warriors around she was helpless, since her combat skills were pathetic - it was elven system, that healers and fighters belonged together, creating an incredible force. Apparently the enemy knew it and separated them as soon as it was possible.

From the moment Bernia left the leftovers of her group, helplessly flouncing around the space filled with smoke, screams, clang of armors and weapons, she knew someone was following her. Her mission at the very second was to get out of the place where she couldn't see more than a meter in front of herself. Only when she got out to the place that she considered safe, Bernia realized her sixth sense not lying - indeed, there was a few of Vampiric elves chasing after her. But she was not willing to give up so easily and decided to run forward - however a soldier riding a strider blocked her way, soon a couple of others joining it, having her surrounded from all the sides, absolutely alone. The Elven Elder could not name the later events, since she was knocked out by having her head hit with a handle of the sword. When she woke up, she was already in a trunk with other healers - most of them semi unconscious, badly injured, some already dead. This is when realization hit her - they had lost.

 

[MasterOfWhispers]

"It looks like all the prisoners are and and accounted for Lord Varys. Another excellent job" Nioklos said marking off the last of the prisoners names in his book.

"Your too kind my lord." Varys responded, honest humility in his tone. "So I take it you have fully decided the fate of these prisoners."

"It took a great deal of thought, but I think with our conquest at hand mercy may be the best way to help control the kingdom. We can use some of the younger ones as hostages to keep the more higher class nobles in line and behaving.

"To think what we started years ago would evolve into a full on revolution..."

"I still marvel at the prospect myself Varys." Nioklos commented as they finally made their way to the back part of the prison tent. Particularly the part which held the healers. His eyes scanned each and every one of them. There were probably one or two that looked like they were warriors capable of battle but the rest of them looked like peasants one would fine in the middle or lower class districts at the elven capital.

"Thank your gods this day." Nioklos said with a disarming smile on his face. " Because of the efforts of some of your kind. My Troops are a bout ready to march on the capital. As well as Castle Grey Wind. As your reward for kindly helping us. I am willing to release you from this camp. And ensure a safe return to your homes. Though if some of you live in the capital, then I highly doubt you want to be amidst the blood shed. So I am giving you another option..."

Nioklos' stared carefully at his captives faces. One of the boons he received ever since he was turned was the ability to see into the hearts and minds of both his comrades and enemies. If his estimation of the personalities is right. He sensed that they would more then likely accept his deal.

"Swear Fealty to me and I will ensure that those that do have a grand place in the society I intend to build." His tone at this sentence was passionate and exciting. Even a little commanding.

 

[Eirlys Vitae]

In order to keep herself tracked to the recent events, Bernia attempted to keep a conversation with those who were still capable to speak - but just as she expected, they were not too eager to talk. Everyone seemed to be prostrated with defeat, many crying over the unknown fate of their family members, and the young healer tried hard not to think about Nodin and how things went for him. She only decided to believe he was doing fine... And wasn't sick with worry. All Bernia understood from those little fragments of information given her was the obvious - they were defeated, no one can tell how, no one can tell how they've appeared here. However, they were still alive, meaning there was some other purpose than a blunt genocide. What she's noticed - all the people kept with here were healers... Bernia narrowed her eyes, finding thing fact suspicious - even if they were not fighters, leaving them all locked in one place was a great mistake... Which was making her sure something sly was planned.

The dead silence filled the tiny tent as the one no longer belonging to the elven race walked in. Bernia looked up at him, imagining to see some kind of a monster that really deserved to be hunted - by rumors spread around the land she was always picturing him like this. To her great surprise, the vampire elf looked very familiar to the regular man of her nation - only his face traits were sharper, and his skin...It was ash like. However the smile flashed at his hostages was even... Charming. Bernia shook head for herself, getting those thoughts off her mind as if she was trying to get water off the pointy ears both races shared.

No matter how charismatic the villain was, and how stunning his smile remained, his words did not please any healer. Only those who were already struggling within life and death were mumbling something as in anticipation, but Bernia couldn't blame them - they couldn't be called conscious and were pretty much raving. It was rather sad to see people from her homeland in such a condition - some of them were studying magic with her, and now, probably, were destined to end up like this... She looked up, giving the enemy the only glance of hate and despair, and to Bernia's surprise - his eyes were set on her, too. As if slowly dipping into her mind. Confused she blinked, just to see his eyes went away, now analyzing faces of other prisoners.

Soon the slightly shocked expression of Bernia, just like of those who still had some power to resist, changed into deep frown. Unable to stay silent, now worrying about Nodin even more, ignoring her wrists being locked behind her back, she jumped to her feet.

"And children! Children, women and elders at the capital! What are you planning to do with them? Kill them as if they're pigs to slaughter?! If so - you're the sorriest creature carried by this earth, mind it! I do not care about your past, but morals should be respected during any war - it's an unwritten rule. Don't you dare not minding it or else I will... I..."

She went silent, realizing her little monologue sound ridiculous. Especially the part where she was about to begin threatening when there was nothing she could do at all. And to Bernia's fear, she soon realized she might have put everything and everyone in trouble by those not carefully thought word.

 

[MasterOfWhispers]

For a moment Nioklos was caught off guard by the women's causes. His eyes graced her form, looking intently at those orbs of hers. What he saw was naivety and idealism and if he could not mistaken perhaps desperation. Oh he could kill her right then and there for the audacity of her comment but looking at her he could not help but feel pity for the poor girl. Not to mention killing her out right would not endear him to the healers around him. Why it would give a false impression of the law that he would have to enforce on Eluvia. He intended to change things not to be become a replacement tyrant for the current the soon to be departed king.

"Oh don't put me in the same boat as the monster who currently holds the crown and sits on that accursed throne of his. No I can guarantee you and all others will seek fair judgement under my new rule. The civilians at the capital will not die unless they oppose me." The vampiric elf responded with a cold smile. "This I can guarantee on my honor as the future King"

He gazed at the girl again. She had a certain fire to her and certain warmth in her heart that he hasn't seen in quite a while. Granted he was aware that healers generally have a natural tendency and capacity for kinds. There was something about the girls nature that was quite different.

"Varys, have the guards move all the healers here into much more comfortable tents, make sure they are well fed cleaned. They've done enough for us. I think that merits a reward." His second in command nodded and motioned for the other guards.

"Oh and one more thing." The future king whispered in his ears "After you done feeding them. Bring that young lady up to my tent for a more private "dinner". Have the cooks prepare her something delectable."

Varys shot Nioklos a rather devious smile "Very good sir."