Ironworks Gaming Forum - Holy Temple of Aerie 11

Talthus looks out over the tall trees to the bright moon beyond.

"Indeed grim, like old times. Yes, it seems thing shave changed for the better, but my search is not yet complete."

Talthus pulls back his cloak and reveals a small series of pouches, from a green pouch covered in words of the ancient elven tongue he produces a pendant on a louped vine tied together at the ends. The pendant is of two crystal swords crossed at the center of a ring made of mythril, behind the ring is a strange type of wood in the shape of an "X", the 4 arms of the wood extend around to hold on to the ring at the front.

"this, my friend, is the symbol of Vendilas Anondir. You remember the stories we heard of the great defender of the woods don't you? Well the stories are mostly true..."

Talthus puts the pendant away

"After the dragon picked us up and you cut your way free, he flew far to the South where normal men cannot travel without enchantments of the highest power. When he was over the forest of Dral'hazar, a great bolt of lighting struck the great beast causing him to loose his grip on me. As I fell, it dawned on me that it didn't matter that I was free, for I was at least 1000 feet up, and the trees below didn't look very inviting. I had fallen for about 900 feet and I remember thinking to myself that it was all over, until I was floating just above a dead tree. Slowly I descended somehow to the ground and immediately called out to whomever it was, knowing that some kind of magic-user was there. At first there was no response, then, a great pull inside me took me through unimaginably treacherous paths. After about 5 minutes, I realized that the trees were alive, green, and lush, but had no idea how they had become that way when a short time before they were most surely dead."

Talthus looks back at the moon

"So when I finally stopped, I was in front of a great tree. A white line began to trace a door shape in the trunk of the tree and it opened. A relatively tall man stepped out wearing a green robe and holding a staff of twisting wood, which held at the end of it, a green stone. The man gestured for me to join him inside, so I did. The first room was huge and alone would be too big to fit in the tree, so I figured it was a portal that brought me there. I went inside and talked with the man, discovering that he was, infact, the great Vendilas Anondir, and he had chosen me. He told me that the forest that I first saw was merely an illusion placed by him to keep outsiders from wandering in, and that he was obviously the one who saved me from the dragon and who had brought me here. He and I talked for 3 days, on the first about my past. He told me what had happened to my village after the raider attacks, then he told me of our kingdom and how it would be fine no matter how strong the raiders were, for at least the next 30 years. On the second day we talked about the great evil of the world and how it had overtaken that region of the South, just as it would do with the North. On the third day, he told me of how he protected this forest with enchantments and spells of great power. He protected it from the beasts of hell unleashed by someone upon the world. He told me of how it was faretold that a great warrior would arrive to cleanse the Southern land of all illnesses and evils. It was also foretold that a great evil force would be sent to prevent such an event from happening, and by that point I had gotten the jist of what he was saying. He then told me that the warrior would gain 3 things, I didn't know what they were but they turned out to be just what was needed."

Talthus looks down the road towards the horizon

"Vendilas told me that I was that warrior, and that I had, by pure luck, arrived early somehow. Because of this, Vendilas had time to train me in a few enchanted arts, and showed me how to bring out the hatred within me to be used for good. He was very reluctant at first, but then, after seeing me find a young wolf which was tired and withered, and watching me take it in and nurse it back to health, he decided to give me a familiar. Although he had decided upon giving me a familiar, he didn't know what kind would suit me. After careful consideration, he decided upon the most obvious of creatures. So the next day I woke up and went outside to start my training once more, only to find the wolf back infront of the great tree. Vendilas was standing next to it looking at me and he said that it was a gift from nature, then he somehow pulled out some type of magical dust from a pouch, and blew a new life into the wolf. I stood there and watched as it grew in size and bulk, it's fur changed colour, it's teeth grew longer, and it's eyes changed colour. The once frail little beast had become almost as big as a tiger, had black fur, silver eyes, and a sort of electric feeling to him. Vendilas told me he was now my familiar and that he would serve me well. A name for my familiar seemed to jump out of my mouth within a few seconds. I had called him 'Exar'. Vendilas told me that Exar had a paralyzing bite and could move at lightning fast speed, also, if someone or something truly evil at heart touched his fur, it would paralyze them immediately."

Talthus whistles and the wolf Exar walks out of the woods and sits at the base of the tree

"This, is Exar grim"

Talthus gestures towards Exar

"He is an incredibly good companion in battles and just walking the trail. He's been with me for a long time. But where was I? oh yes, so I trained with Exar and Vendilas tought me newe techniques and some ancient fighting techniques, then one day, he directed me towards the back room which I was never allowed to go in to until that day. When inside, I saw a great chest, I opened the chest and pulled out this armor and clothing. The red stones on the gauntlets harness my internal fire and allow me to use it through my weapons and fists. The rest of the armour protects me from various things such as bone dragons, fire, and arrows. Then at the bottom of the chest was a scroll, I brought it out to Vendilas and he read it to me. The scroll stated that the warrior would continue on after the great battle to seek out an old companion and they would help bring balance to the lands. Then he told me that I had recieved the 3 great gifts. Companionship, protection, and hope. These 3 things kept me alive this whole time and will, I hope, continue to do so. So I trained for a long time, until one day, Vendilas came to me and Asked me what I thought of using an adult name, naturally I agreed that an adult name would be more sensible and so came the name Talthus. A few days later I heard a great roar and what sounded like thunder. I climbed the great tree and saw a giant army of great evil marching toward the forest at one hell of a rate. This was the battle which had been foretold. I fought, Vendilas fought, Exar fought, and we managed to somehow protect the great tree. Although everything else had been destroyed, the great tree remained, and from it, thousands of seeds shot out and I watched as the trees grew back within days and saw Vendilas enchant them once more. The prophecies had been fulfilled and it was time for my departure. I was determined to find you, Kerric, Dregal, and one other. Up until now I have ventured North to try and find you all, until I came along to this place and so on and so forth. Ofcourse there are a few things I have left out due to the fact that it has been a long 60 years, but that's the basics. Now, I must know, why did you come here? and why do you wield the moonblade? Where is kerric? And what about your family and our kingdom? So much must be said that it almost overwhelms me. Over all else, I must apologize for my rudeness before grim, I believed you were a raider like the ones who destroyed my village. God knows I am quick to anger and I have dedicated my life to protecting others from evil and destroying the threats to my home and friends. Please though grim, I have babbled on enough, please do enlighten me as to what you have done these past 60 years. I can't accept that you could have been farming this whole time or doing nothing of excitement, do tell, I yearn to know how the kingdom has been doing all these years."

Talthus looks to Alasdair with a curious look on his face

[ 09-21-2002, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Talthus ]