Warnings: battle, war, parental death Themes: family, parents, kingship, leadership
Memory One The throne room of Eblan is sparse, the castle showing signs of damage slowly being repaired, but that doesn't diminish the energy and enthusiasm of those present -- especially not the Seneschal, who for all his advanced age still has fire in his voice and spark in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please stop thinking about girls for one minute and attend to these documents!"
You are standing quite motionless on the steps that led up to the throne proper and you wave a hand without looking back towards the man. "You know perfectly well I'll agree to whatever you sign off on."
"Your Majesty really ought to be more involved in this!"
"You know I've got no head for the boring details!" You move for the door, cape streaming behind you as you paced. "Besides, I've got to see about this morning's training. Eblan needs a new generation of capable ninjas more than it needs my signature on more decrees!"
King you might be, but you are head of the Eblan ninja clan as well, till such time as you pass that title onto a child or heir -- most likely a chosen one of the latter, since the one woman you've ever truly wished to be with had gone home to a land where she'd grow old in the space of months. But if one fist clenches at your side... who could tell that was anything but determination?
Besides, you have business to take care of.
Memory Two The Cave of Eblan. The last bastion of your people, the ones that were left after the monsters from the Tower had smashed into the castle and its environs. Ninjas on guard, civilians making do as best they could, tending to the wounded and surviving in hopes of the day where they could go back home.
When you step in, you draw notice but not attention. You are often among them, doing what you can to keep their spirits and health up. But this time, you raise your hands to draw their attention, and with moments a crowd had gathered, hope in their eyes as they look to you, their ruler.
You wait until total silence falls, then drop your hands and lift your head just a little. If you look just behind the people, you look like you're talking to everyone directly -- that was a trick your mother had taught you, and one that has served you well.
"Our enemies are defeated," you say, loud and clear. "We can go home."
You are a distant king, nor possessed of much dignity -- so when the people cheer, and some of them surg forward to hug you or clap you on the back, you allow it, even welcom it. The important thing is that your people are happy, and that happiness lifts a weight off your shoulders. They had gotten through this. Eblan would survive, and thrive again.
Memory Three Edge stands in front of a castle, in front of two figures dressed splendidly with crowns on their heads.
"Father! Mother!"
His mother smiles at him, "Thank goodness, you're alright!"
"And you?" He asks, but gets no direct answer.
"Come with us." Instead they tell him and he questions them.
"With you? Where?"
"To hell!"
A man calls out. "Edge! Watch out!"
His friends rush to help as they twist, turning into two creatures, one a purple brute with wings, the other a snake creature.
"You want to die?" The winged creature speaks, still in the tone of Edge's father. "Then allow me to speed you on your way."
The fight is hard, magic, swords, ninjutsu. The terrible scene of Edge fighting those who were once his parents. Through it all Edge calls out, "Mother? Father? What happened to you?"
The fight continues. "It's me, Edge! Your son!"
Yet the battle rages on until one blow... One blow brings lucidity to the kings eyes.
"Edge... Hear me while I can speak... We are no longer human. What we are. Has no right to live."
The queen speaks. "Forgive us, Edge."
Edge is speechless.
The king speaks again. "We must depart now. Before the madness takes us again. Serve Eblan well my son."
"No!" Edge shakes his head, "Don't go!" The monster who was once his father disappears.
"Farewell Edge." The queen speaks.
"Mother! Wait! Don't go!" She fades as well.
Edge wails in despair and falls to his knees.
"Such cruelty... It's inhuman." One of the girls speaks softly.
Edge remains on his knees, a portal spins and opens, revealing a cloaked man.
"Rubicante!" Edge got to his feet, anger overriding the despair. "For this... For this you will pay!"
The figure speaks. "It was Lugae who made chimerae of your parents. I shared no hand in his peversities. They shame me as they grieve you."
"Don't speak of shame!" Edge flicked his cloak.
"I respect men like you. Men with courage. But you are a slave to your emotions and so will never know true strength. Such is the curse of men.
Edge glared at him. "You think our rage... a weakness?" He crossed his blades, magic spiralling around him. "Then let me show you how wrong you are!" Power reigns down upon the scene.
Edge | Dragon
Themes: family, parents, kingship, leadership
Memory One The throne room of Eblan is sparse, the castle showing signs of damage slowly being repaired, but that doesn't diminish the energy and enthusiasm of those present -- especially not the Seneschal, who for all his advanced age still has fire in his voice and spark in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please stop thinking about girls for one minute and attend to these documents!"
You are standing quite motionless on the steps that led up to the throne proper and you wave a hand without looking back towards the man. "You know perfectly well I'll agree to whatever you sign off on."
"Your Majesty really ought to be more involved in this!"
"You know I've got no head for the boring details!" You move for the door, cape streaming behind you as you paced. "Besides, I've got to see about this morning's training. Eblan needs a new generation of capable ninjas more than it needs my signature on more decrees!"
King you might be, but you are head of the Eblan ninja clan as well, till such time as you pass that title onto a child or heir -- most likely a chosen one of the latter, since the one woman you've ever truly wished to be with had gone home to a land where she'd grow old in the space of months. But if one fist clenches at your side... who could tell that was anything but determination?
Besides, you have business to take care of.
Memory Two The Cave of Eblan. The last bastion of your people, the ones that were left after the monsters from the Tower had smashed into the castle and its environs. Ninjas on guard, civilians making do as best they could, tending to the wounded and surviving in hopes of the day where they could go back home.
When you step in, you draw notice but not attention. You are often among them, doing what you can to keep their spirits and health up. But this time, you raise your hands to draw their attention, and with moments a crowd had gathered, hope in their eyes as they look to you, their ruler.
You wait until total silence falls, then drop your hands and lift your head just a little. If you look just behind the people, you look like you're talking to everyone directly -- that was a trick your mother had taught you, and one that has served you well.
"Our enemies are defeated," you say, loud and clear. "We can go home."
You are a distant king, nor possessed of much dignity -- so when the people cheer, and some of them surg forward to hug you or clap you on the back, you allow it, even welcom it. The important thing is that your people are happy, and that happiness lifts a weight off your shoulders. They had gotten through this. Eblan would survive, and thrive again.
Memory Three Edge stands in front of a castle, in front of two figures dressed splendidly with crowns on their heads.
"Father! Mother!"
His mother smiles at him, "Thank goodness, you're alright!"
"And you?" He asks, but gets no direct answer.
"Come with us." Instead they tell him and he questions them.
"With you? Where?"
"To hell!"
A man calls out. "Edge! Watch out!"
His friends rush to help as they twist, turning into two creatures, one a purple brute with wings, the other a snake creature.
"You want to die?" The winged creature speaks, still in the tone of Edge's father. "Then allow me to speed you on your way."
The fight is hard, magic, swords, ninjutsu. The terrible scene of Edge fighting those who were once his parents. Through it all Edge calls out, "Mother? Father? What happened to you?"
The fight continues. "It's me, Edge! Your son!"
Yet the battle rages on until one blow... One blow brings lucidity to the kings eyes.
"Edge... Hear me while I can speak... We are no longer human. What we are. Has no right to live."
The queen speaks. "Forgive us, Edge."
Edge is speechless.
The king speaks again. "We must depart now. Before the madness takes us again. Serve Eblan well my son."
"No!" Edge shakes his head, "Don't go!" The monster who was once his father disappears.
"Farewell Edge." The queen speaks.
"Mother! Wait! Don't go!" She fades as well.
Edge wails in despair and falls to his knees.
"Such cruelty... It's inhuman." One of the girls speaks softly.
Edge remains on his knees, a portal spins and opens, revealing a cloaked man.
"Rubicante!" Edge got to his feet, anger overriding the despair. "For this... For this you will pay!"
The figure speaks. "It was Lugae who made chimerae of your parents. I shared no hand in his peversities. They shame me as they grieve you."
"Don't speak of shame!" Edge flicked his cloak.
"I respect men like you. Men with courage. But you are a slave to your emotions and so will never know true strength. Such is the curse of men.
Edge glared at him. "You think our rage... a weakness?" He crossed his blades, magic spiralling around him. "Then let me show you how wrong you are!" Power reigns down upon the scene.