Ali 1.02- History Lessons.

“Ali?  Alisandrina?” says a woman gently as she pats my forehead with a damp cloth.  I try to sit up, to look around, but the throbbing of my head holds me down just as securely as the woman with the cloth. 

“Don’t try to speak.” She says in a whisper.  “Just listen.  There will be time for your questions in a few moments, but you need to understand what has happened first.” 

I try to sit up again, suddenly alarmed, but she looks at me with concern and holds me down to the bed.  “Be calm child.”

1.12 - The Shade of Regulos

Anneleigh approached the Messenger at the end of the presentation platform and knelt at its feet.  It took several moments for the Messenger to speak.

“This place is a nexus where the power of the five Gods meets.  It is where the Vigil can reach out its hand to those who seek them. “

The Messenger nodded and Anneleigh rose.

“You have done all the Gods have asked.  Now they ask for so much more.  You must be prepared to give your life to push Regulos back through the Ward. “

1.11 - Orphiel Fairwind

Eyes shut tight against the terror, she fell.  All around her, friends from Silverwood were falling at the swords of the undead.  A few fell from fear alone, but many lived to strike a few blows before their lives were undone.   Above here, she could smell the stench of rotting flesh of the undead, the endless cultist who had fought her to this state.     Throughout the battle here at Thedeor Fields she had not struck a killing blow; though not for lack of trying - the warriors of Regulos were stronger than many rabid beasts she had dealt with in her home of Silverwood.  With her last ounce of strength, she rose as high as her weakening muscles would allow,  planted her dagger deep where a breathing opponent would have the most to lose-where blood and air would normally flow- and heaved it to one side, falling to the ground as she did so.  Time slowed and her vision tunnelled, but she was able to watch his head leave his body before all went black.

1.9 - Thedeor Fields

As Anneleigh stands at the strongholds gate, she hears the call of a Mathosian courier.  “Brother Jebiah reports that Ardenburgh is holding, but they will not survive the onslaught forever.”

A tall man, taller in fact than any man she had ever seen – and that says a lot, when you’re an elf, at the center of the hold nods in his direction, and he understands his message has been delivered.   She passes him, slumped on a bed roll, as she approaches the man.

1.7 - Technomancy

The blade glows for a moment in her hand, then becomes silent and still once more. 

“So do I just...” Anneleigh begins, but stammers off as the Messenger of the Vigil fades from her sight.

Anneleigh withdraws her off-hand dagger, now carrying the enchanted blade in her right, and sets off south towards Ardenburgh Square.  It does not take long for the landscape to change from rich woodland forest back to crumbling village. 

1.5 - EXTRA! The fall of the Mathosian Empire

The following is an account of proclamations made in Mathosia during the final months of the kingdom.   Recorded in chronological order, they illustrate the fall of the Mathosian Empire and the decent of King Aedraxis into madness.

1.4 - The Shrine

The crowd around the high priestess begins to disperse, those present leaving alone or in small groups to attend to the destruction of the machinery.  Anneleigh turns to leave as well when she is called back.

“Anneleigh,” Shyla calls, “We must begin severing Regulos's hold on this land. In Silverwood, we High Elves grew wooden walls to keep evil at bay. There is scant wood in these lands, but Borrin has forged an elven dagger from the sourcestone-imbued steel you recovered.  If you can solicit Tavril, goddess of the land, to bless it, the spirits of the forest will empower you to cleanse this town.”

1.3 - First Blood

Anneleigh blinks and flexes her hands, feeling the energy of the ancient soul wash over her.   It feels different than she expected; no loss of personal history, no out of body experience.  Rather, it is as if she has simply absorbed all the knowledge and skill of Estrael, the High Elf blade dancer, holding them in addition to her own.

“You are now ready to begin your journey.”  The messenger says to her.  “When you are ready to leave this sanctuary, seek out Fayne Doran and begin your holy crusade.  Go with the grace of the Vigil.”

1.1 - Ascended

The explosions continue in the distance, but something isn't quite right; the last thing she remembers is being stuck by the dagger of one of the undead forces. 

"Ironic, she thinks to herself, dying at the hand of a dagger, when they are, were, my own most prized weapon."