story | Xadune

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

The Coronation of a New Matriarch

Unlike Akila Darkstride’s coronation, Luna Crestford’s wasn’t a happy ceremony. Everything was somber and quiet as the party went on. The race was no divided and Luna had a lot on her mind. The Striped were banished for the murder of the matriarch and the Brown ran off for fear of what they attempted. The race divided at a critical moment, the feline were having unknown issues to deal with but were within close range of an opportunistic attack.

The ceremony began quietly as she slowly made her way down the aisle the participants made by giving way in the empty field. She held her head high as she walked passed everyone. The regally aura of was becoming of her. All of those years I have known her, she actually seemed to be at peace. Luna reached the end of the aisle and stood before one of the Bultungin’s few clerics. He made gestures thanking the Powers for the beautiful day, the peace that now entranced the gnoll race and for the hopeful glory of the future. She gracefully knelt and her gown beautifully spread out before her like an open lily.

Luna opened her eyes and looked up at the cleric slowly and repeated the words all of the matriarchs before her at one point said in the beginning of their carrier. He sprinkled the dust of night bloom that only comes once a year. She muttered under her breath and turned to the crowd; her hair framed her face beautifully and swung around her neck.

“I swear to uphold the rights of the gnoll race and treat everyone as equals. If I fail to fulfill my duty as a proper representation of the race, justice will be brought down upon my neck by the swords of my brethren. To bring glory to our race will bring satisfaction, not only to me but to my people and the future that I see before me. Our children and their children will see the light of another day that only a just and peaceful matriarch can bring. Glory to the Bultungin! Glory to our lands! Glory to the light of a promised future!”

The words rang true as it echoed over the silent crowd. She had recited the coronation words but added to the speech as well. This brought tears to my and several gnoll eyes as she stood proud before them. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause for this was the first time any matriarch had promised to give them what they all wanted and swear by the life line in her neck that it would come true.

It has been a week since the coronation and Luna has not stopped doing things for her people. Maybe this will be a turning point in the history of the gnoll race, but maybe it was all false hopes and lies like we have endured in the past. Unlike the others who had served under the matriarchs before me, I do not intend to stand by and let us fall to ruin. After all, I am in the same shoes Luna once was with Akila.

My name is Rehema, the last name doesn’t matter much. It is a tradition for the matriarch to have her own hand maid of the same culture to share what she wishes and get input when needed. I was her council, a friend and if need be – a lover. The gnoll race has been suffering, in my opinion, for years. Being oppressed by Akila and with the light beginning to shine over Luna, I’m hoping things turn for the best.

I haven’t found anything she has done, thus far, terrible but it does seem as though she does them clumsily. A new matriarch has shoes to fill and many roles to play. It just seems as though it is taking longer than usual for Luna to get used to it. She walks with grace and speaks eloquently. I see why Akila chose her for her own. She holds herself with such grace and beauty; it is difficult not to stare. She eats daintily, unlike most gnoll, and reads and learns often. Luna keeps to herself most of the time but when she does things, it is done in a timely fashion. Some say that she was raised by the Leona, that’s how prim and proper she seems to be.

But when it comes down to the wire, she seems to throw things together and hurry through things to get it done and out of her list… that it’s done clumsily and, pardon my saying, half-assed. Perhaps with enough time, effort and practice she will do things correctly and quicker. It has only been a couple weeks since the coronation, and yet it feels like longer. This energy that surrounds her and those who work closely to her is hypnotizing. Maybe it is because everything is happening so quickly… We will soon see what comes of the Bultungin. I’m sure an uprising will occur if the peoples aren’t happy with the new turn of leadership.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

The Darkness

On the clearest of nights when the winds of the lower atmosphere were calm and peaceful the great merchant ships with their cargoes of Jarrian mitheral felt safe and secure. Little did they suspect that they were pursued by pirates. And the most feared of all these pirates was the notorious Captain of the Elfmörder, the Darkness.

Like a Zealian razortoe overtaking its prey, the Darkness and his band of renegades swooped in out of nowhere. And then; gathering up their spoils, would annihilate everything around and vanished without a trace.

For decades the crew of the Elfmörder hunted the skies of Xadune. No one ever had a chance against their vessel, and though many Sky Fleets tried to best them none had ever survived. Few saw the crew and lived to speak. Those that did only speak of the horror that engulfed them while they skated the edges of Armadel’s arms.

Tales of the city of Perth still ring out in the minds of port-fairers: It is said the Elfmörder docked there for repairs one day. By the end of the day when the people came in from the fields they found only an empty port city and the Elfmörder setting off in the distance. Over one thousand people, gone…

Those who escaped the dead book by the crew’s hands say that they are the most rag-tag viscous group of people the world has ever seen. They are armed with weapons most commoners could never imagine, and seem to be invincible by normal means. Tales of all sorts spring from the mouths of survivors: magic lost to the world, mitheral clad clockwork men, firearms that pierce through the thickest armor, and combat prowess never seen by the likes of any warrior lay at the Captain’s disposal.

Fellow pirates fear to speak his name; for fear that the wrath of the Darkness will descend upon them. Only one has ever been known to hold peaceful parlay with them, and that is the Queen of the pirates herself.

Then, nearly over a quarter of a century ago the ship and crew vanished. The Darkness’ secret trove was never found but stories have persisted that it remains hidden somewhere at the farthest reaches of Xadune stowed with riches beyond imagination.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

Azrathia

Once there was a magical place but over time it was lost. This powerful and intricate kingdom was known to all as Azrathia. It was locked away in a grand magical place when time seemed to be stopped. It was the most prized and impressive kingdom on Xadune. It held secrets and magics so prized that almost everyone wanted to be there. The secrets to transdimensional travel, anti-magic magic, every spell a magi could imagine, and an almost endless supply of components. Their inventions and studies are still left to be understood by man today. The secrets of an inexhaustible power source, climate controllers, light focusing ray beam weaponry, and even a better way to slice bread.

But for all its glory and awe it attracted the eye of an evil nation that wanted to use its resources for nothing but personal gain. They sent one of their most powerful Nobles to seize control over Azrathia. He appeared on night at the drawbridge to the might kingdom, and single handedly entered the gates, made his way to the throne room, and over threw the king. The king was frozen solid and placed in the vaults, as the subjects were forced into slavery. It was said that the tears from the people of Azrathia formed a lake that surrounds the kingdom today.

But destiny dealt the evil a bad hand. The war they raged was fruitless, and in time the felt the wrath they dealt upon others. As this nation fell, orders were sent to destroy Azrathia, but the Noble did one better. After slaughtering off all the people of the kingdom the Noble setup and turned on all the kingdom’s defenses, making it almost impenetrable. Once done, he left. Now the fortune of the kingdom is locked up in its dungeon vaults and the castle floor lies in traps. The drawbridge was lifted one last time and it lays now in wait.

Over time the kingdom was forgotten over time to all but the brave that seek the treasures of Azrathia. It’s location unknown to the world, and its defenses seemingly unstoppable. None that have claimed to found its location has returned. Some say that enough riches lay in the treasure vaults to tip the balance of any country. And the vast amounts information alone would occupy the time of teams of mages and scientists for many lifetimes. Most believe that it is only a place of myth and legend, but some always say it is real and just laying in wait for the right person to bring the kingdom back to life.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

The Story of Dr. Jasper Wilmont

Dr. Jasper Wilmont, is a human scientist in the study of life and how things work, such as engineering and tinkering. Over the years he attended some of the top schools that his country had to offer and was the best in his class. After he obtained his doctor’s degree he disappeared. Some believed he killed himself, others believe that it was something about the town that drove him away, but why would a 30 year old man drop off the face of the earth after so much success? No one knew. Five years went by and he was then spotted in a graveyard by the gravedigger. He was fined for tampering with the dead and put in jail. No one understood why such a nice man through school and successful had his entire life laid out for him… had turned dark.

His stay at the jail, the lawmen say, was eerie. The doctor was so silent towards other people; all day he would talk to himself non-stop about what he had planned. Three days passed and Dr.Wilmont found himself staring at a familiar face. A lady named Amber Read. When he attended school she is all he could think of. He wanted so bad to be married to her and have a family, but she rejected him. A few speculate this is why he disappeared. Immediately his dark and twisted personality turned night to day. Excited to see her he straightened his act up and acted as if he hadn’t left a day.

She invited him over for dinner that night after bailing him out of prison. He was so happy to see her. Just before they sat down to eat, a man entered the house. Amber addressed him as her husband, a tall muscular man. “Husband?” the doctor though, “How? When?” She had explained to the Doctor that her husband, Jonathan, treated her nicely and provided her with everything she ever wanted and that they are expecting a baby. The doctor then noticed that she was in fact pregnant. He stood to his feet and ran out the door, infuriated at himself.

“If I would have stayed things would have worked out perfectly, why did I have to leave? Curse my studies… CURSE MYSELF… no… curse him, curse the bastard child… curse her for not seeing who loved her first.”

He instantly plotted murder. She was to be his and no one else would have her over him. “I will make you mine… you have always been mine… I will tear you apart and reconstruct youâ€¦ I will kill you to love you.” These thoughts ran through the Doctor’s head as his planned began to unfold. He would wait, wait till they were vulnerable.

And he did wait. He predicted and even began making future plans for his sure success.

It was the night before the plan unfolded. To this day, Dr.Wilmont considers himself lucky for predicting such an outcome so perfectly. 7:00 pm, the Doctor knocks on the door of Amber’s house. The husband answers, “Hello Jasper, surprise to see you out here this late in the day. Sorry, but we are about to have dinner.” Jonathan goes to close the door but Dr. Wilmont puts his foot in the way. “I believe I have other plans.” Dr. Wilmont goes to reach for his gun in his lab coat but Amber appears from the kitchen corner with a pot of beef stew. “Oh, hi Jasper! Would you care to join us for dinner? There is plenty to go around.” Jonathan then shoots Dr. Wilmont a confused look before he enters the house.

The party of three find themselves getting situated at the dining room table. Jonathan and Jasper stand as they wait for Amber to sit. Just before she was able to make contact with her chair, her water breaks. She feels immense pain. Shocked, her husband rushes to her side to help her. He shouts back at the Dr. “help! Don’t just stand there go get a doctor!”

“Oh, but I am a doctor” Jonathan turns back to Jasper only to notice a gun pointed straight at his head.

Bang!

His blood and brains splatters all over his wife and he falls to the ground dead. Dizzy and nauseous from all that is happening, Amber passes out.

The Doctor stands admiring his success in cutting out the “middle man” he then slowly makes his way to Amber. He grabs the knife from the table and cuts open her stomach and reaches in for the baby.
“I am just not feeling beef stew tonight….” he looks over to the fire place that is burning. He cuts the umbilical cord, dragging the baby by the foot. Slowly he grabs the fire poker and viciously sticks it up the baby’s rectum through its skull and places the kabob neatly over the fire so that it can roast.

After the baby was done roasting he bagged the three in their bed sheets and placed them in the wagon that he had parked at the side of the house and drove back to his laboratory.

With Amber and Jonathan on work benches and the baby now in fine little squares, the doctor begins his work. Every so often he will grab a piece of baby to enjoy. His plans for Jonathan are to preserve his flesh and build off of him… to make a fighting machine. And for amber, he plans to reconstruct her to fulfill his fantasies and dreams of all that he has missed out on for all these years. The baby…. well, it will be back in about 24 hours. To this day Jasper still has trouble putting plans to success, after all he is trying to bring life using pure science, non-the-less he is close now, very close.

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

Diary of a Soldier

July 18 AFS 060:

Our militia was gathered on the other end of the battle field in Southern Pha. It seemed as though things were going to fair well in the beginning. The weather was clear, just enough of a breeze for our archers to give us a great lead if battle begun. We had the higher ground on the field, giving us an advantage on the gnoll army, regardless if this was their lands.

We didn’t stand a chance.

Their formations were near perfect. Marching to a beat of their own, that only they could hear, they move forward at an alarming speed. As if they were one person, their precision with their attacks are astounding. It was like watching a never-ending flow of Gnoll pouring like water from a tipped vase. The dog-men were pushing our armies back defending their lands with such passion it brought fear to any man’s heart.

We just figured that we could take back our lands. Instead we left with our heads hanging low as the matriarch showed us mercy. Only three hours, after only three hours, the gnoll drove us back and had us fleeing without any effort.

Deciding not to leave just yet, I hid in the sparse woods that was nearby and found that a small group of feline was attempting to enter the gnoll lands just as we had. They were met with the same force, ready for battle and unwelcoming looks.

A larger feline approached, what looked like to be a Leona, calling out the matriarch to speak on terms. Unbeknownst to me to what had been said, the gnoll forces broke into hysterics, laughing and giggling fits slowly died down after a while and then silence.

The feline were brought into their camp, where there would be no escape. What I may feel as though may very well be a death trap to any who oppose them. And I wasn’t corrected when the feline reemerged after 6 hours as their corpses were tossed outside of their boundaries.

-Cathyr Montego

July 23rd AFS 60:

I left to visit a friend in Revrent and it all began almost a week ago. The fever started then the mouth water quickly died away. I saw the doc and he said it was alright, it was just the flu. But after a couple of days when I loss use of my left arm and I started to see things, I started to question his diagnosis. When I went back to the doc the next time, something just came over me and I don’t know what happened. I blacked out and he was on the floor, face down, in a pool of his own blood. I thought it mine at first, but after a quick check I realized it wasn’t mine at all.

I was confused and agitated at the silliness of it all. No answers, I have gotten nothing from anyone. No science-freak, no medical-geek, nothing, can you believe it?! You think in a big city like Reverent SOMEONE could give me an answer!

Just today my eyes wouldn’t stop watering. They just flowed down my cheeks as if in mourning, but I laugh as though I just became the richest man in Xadune. I don’t understand what is happening

This sickness, this, this, THING, whatever it is!

-Cathyr Montego

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021

It’s Just How Things Are

The feline race of Xadune has been infamous as being an abrasive race for as long as any one mortal can remember. But until about two decades previous to our current year, the entire race vanished as if it never existed. After almost a year without this diverse culture, all but their Gnoll rivals had forgotten they had ever existed. When the year turned and started a new chapter, the Feline emerged once again. When that time came, things were even more different than anyone had anticipated.

Dodging the limbs of fallen trees, her feet naturally find soft undergrowth to dig into the moist earth to help push her along. The slender feline had been running for so long now she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Draya saw a town coming ever closer as she ran, scanning the borders for an oncoming threat, gave her inspiration to continue. Occasionally she would look over her shoulder to see if she lost her pursuer, eyes darting around quickly and processing the new information. The sparse woods of Central Pha had provided her with great cover for the time being, but it was hard to mislead one that can hunt better than she could.

Upon approaching the town within a hundred paces, she slowed her run to a jog and getting closer still, she slowed to a walk. Walking into the town she bowed her head, hiding the perspiration that was begging to run down the sides of her face. Occasionally she shook her head as venders beg for her attention and approach to try to lead her to their goods. The sounds of the busy market rang in her ears as if she could hear for the first time. A sound like no other caught her attention, making her left ear turn behind her to pick it up clearer. It rang out again, something so subtle to make her skin crawl. Armor plating grating against the chain mail underneath drawing closer with each step the person took, walking with a purpose, this may very well be her pursuer.

Darting around the corner of a shop she hid in the alley, sinking against the wall, letting the silence deafen her for a moment before the pursuer walked by the same alley she hid in. Taking a deep breath, she held it in for a moment or two before she felt strong enough to peek up through her sweat stained hair. Draya’s pursuer walks in front of the alley slowly, looking down to acknowledge her. A large male feline in plate and chain mail wore a smirk across his face as if showing her his victory in a small way. The eye contact they made for that brief moment filled her heart with dread, she knew she was trapped. It was too late to turn back now. With her legs heavy and exhaustion encumbering her, she tries to stand but falls to no avail. Tears fill her eyes but too stubborn and her pride standing in the way of letting them fall, she forces herself to her feet.

Pushing one leg forward at a time, she drags herself out of the alley where the male awaited across the way, leaning against a shop with his arms crossed wearing a smug look. Walking away from the building he heads the way they came, out of the city, with Draya 20 paces behind as two other large feline fall in behind her several paces back.

This is how it was, the smaller feline would come to town wearing collars to get goods and leave without saying a word. The larger feline would come to the city looking for smaller feline, both male and female, and if found they would follow without a fight. Rarely would a non-collared docile feline come to town alone and if they did, it was assumed the dominant would follow soon after. No one questioned it; it is just how things were.