| vVv The Story vVv | |||||||||||||||||||
| ...in the beginning.... |
Aryn turns and watches you sit, before lowering and bending at the waist, seemingly to sit upon air, but her posture tells of something different. She leans back upon what you think is air..and her soft words begin... "you wish to hear the story that brushes past the ears of so many...very well...but to hear it you must first start at the beginning.." A ghostly hand rises from beneath a long sleeve to tap lightly at her full lower tier that use to hold the look of the vitae she would feed from, but now...is pale as well as her visage.. "Within the protective walls of the KingDom of Kern, once laid a castle of many years. Twas an unusual castle not of the normal cream and gold..but the stones where white..the gates platinum..a Griffith marking the family crest. Three walls of protection where about the KingDom that rested against the side of a mountain. No access from the back could come unless the mountain itself was destroyed..and from the front..well to get to Kern you first had to travel through the Forest of Darkness that bled into the fields..before reaching the first wall a river that raged had first to be crossed. It was not easy to cross this river so I've been told but once passed..a sentry you would greet..a mile you would cross to get through this barren gap to the next wall that actually held the mechanics to lower the draw bridge..Legions of many would stand with arrows aimed at all who would attempt to enter from the top of this wall..the city laid just behind and separating the city from the castle was yet another wall. A bustle of joy and energy came from each resident for all knew...the princess will be coming. The Lady Apoletta was to give birth any day and Sir Davion was a nervous wreck...this was quite some time ago. Back in the lands of Dragons and Elves...Dwarves and Orcs..many years ago indeed. I was born 15 years before the great wars that would finally tear down my homeland..but only 9 years did I have with my parents. I was a carefree chylde, always getting into mischief but bringing laughter to the servants as well as anger when they found me a mess before a grand ball." Aryn chuckles softly at the fond memories. "A mystic..some know him as Kelantitis would frequent our Castle and just after my ninth birthday I was taken by him and left to be raised by the demons he saw fit. Many years I spent under his tutolage, learning the arts of war and sorcery..learning what is was like to kill the innocent and run with the wilds. I left upon my 20th birthday, my parents where dead, my KingDom nothing to go back to, I found myself in RhyDin. Away from the evil dealings of Kelantitis. Or so I thought. Seeking acceptance I soon found myself running with a band known well to slaughter, torture and do at the time what they felt like doing. For a while perhaps I thought it fun..or perhaps, like I said, I wished acceptance from someone...anyone. But they turned on me when I would not slay another for reasons of her being with chylde. The torture I saw them instill on others was nothing compared to what they did to me..or atleast I thought not." She shudders suddenly, pulling her robes tighter around her. "Regardless...I was left for dead, lying in my own blood for it seemed an eternity. As I laid there and wished for death, it was not granted. I was found, barely with breath in my chest by one. A vampyre he said he was and a life he could give. I did not accept right away and he took me back to where his haven was, in the northern most regions of RhyDin. There I was nursed slowly back to health though the mental scars remained. His kindness was great and I was ignorant,young, foolish and a bond I thought was forming. Many years I spent with this man and bore to him a son..not long after I was embraced into the Ventrue Clan." | ||||||||||||||||||
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"ahh..the embrace..so sweet and enchanting. A romantic adventure upon itself. I still remember the day of rebirth as though it was but a day or two ago. It's odd how a memory can fade and yet, in some points blaze brightly. I'm getting off track, something I have been doing quite a bit lately as my mind falters with recent events." A deep breath is taken and slowly expelled, her fragile chest rattling as though it would be her last to take. But..those wicked Fates hold something else in store. "My son and I stayed with this vampyre for many years. Until the day..sadly Garion was taken from me. Taken by the evils known as man. He was but eight, not much younger then it was when I was taken from my own parents. How unfair and painful my times after were..I searched forever it seemed for my son, slaying all who stood in my way for he was my life. I found him.." A tear of vitae rolls down to stain her ashen visage and she quickly wipes it away. "The sun had gotten to my son, taking him and turning his small chylde-like innocence to dust. The pain felt that day can not be matched by any other. He was my life. His father left me then. Telling of how I was not worthy to sit beside him when it came time to rule the lands his father would leave him. Again I was crushed..I watched him leave and stayed in the home for nowhere else did I have to go. Rumors came that he was later found dead, killed by greed and betrayal. But in later years I would come to find out this was but a facade as well as the death of my son. But once more I am getting ahead of myself. I lived many quiet years within the home we had shared. Many indeed, visiting every day the stone I had erected in the family plot for my son, even though no body laid within it. The evil that once left soon returned but not in the force of the band once followed. My survival depended upon my feedings and in that day and time I wished to live..for if I died the memory of my son would be lost. So...I lived..feeding off whom I could but still staying out of the sight of mortals and others like myself." Aryn digs into one of her many pockets, pushing aside parchments of spells and incantations until atlast one is found with a drawing on it. "this was what I appeared to look like for many years...beautiful wasn't I? Well anyways...as time went past it turned into years..I grew with loneliness, for hundreds of years I kept myself locked away from others. Then one day, I ventured into a tavern...one known to be frequented by other Kindred..sipping from my goblet of crimson wyne..a newly aquired taste from the vitae of others. And one walked in with air and grace like no other. All sound and sights fled from me the moment he entered. He was all..everything I saw and heard. From the blood rushing though his veins to his heart, to the soft graceful steps he took to the bar. Never had I felt like I did that moment and I swear if I had been holding my glass any more loosely it would have shattered at my feet. The mans name was Davion...aye...like my father indeed but not the same. No not the same at all." A smile so soft almost brings her back to the beauty once held so long ago. "This is painful but I shall tell it anyway as I remember it. We..Davion and I made contact with our souls that day...he behind the bar and me at the wooden table..though I could conjour my own wyne or whatever I wished, I rose as if in a dream and walked to the bar. He poured the wyne requested and our fingers touched, they lingered for so long as my dead heart found itself beating wildly within my chest once more. I trembled..." A soft chuckle, oddly flows through her lips as she thinks of how he use to make her tremble always with a single word. "Trust in my words friend..I do not tremble often..in fear or in love..but this man..well..we stood there for it seemed an eternity and before a proper introduction could be obtained he broke the spell with the sweetest kiss upon my vermilion tiers. Davion stole my breath, my heart and in that moment my soul felt whole. I know not how to explain it all.....it was a love thought to be brought to me by the gods that once where believed in. Hours, days we spent together after that. He promised marriage and at first I was reluctant to agree. Then a letter came to me on a glorious day, a letter that would change my life in an instant. In it was read that he had not been true to his heart, his heart belonged to Alexia. I felt shattered, confused, and very much alone. We parted ways soon after. Not long after I had found I was with chylde yet again. Ask me not how for a vampyre is unable to give life as such to another but it happened and I would have been overjoyed if not the fact my love had not left me. Alone and scared I retreated back to my home. Friends I had made in the time within the realm and they visited often to check upon my well-being and I gave into the persuits of one man to wed. But something was incomplete, I felt the cold hand of death around me that Davion had kept at bay, he made me feel mortal once again with a love that beat the odds. I went out one evening and searched for him, surprisingly I found the home inwhich he dwelled in, but his sentries found me first. I had given birth to another son before this and was coddling him as I hid in the bushes. A cowardly thing to do I know, but I wished to see if Davion was well. I was captured by the sentry and taken to the looming Castle that sat upon the isle. There, once more I stood before him, so handsome he was in his royal dress, again the thief came and stole my breath. He was speechless for what seemed an eternity..until..finally the chylde I held in my arms spoke for us. His looks where unmistakable. Raven locks and mid-nyte orbs, the spitting image of his father that stood before me." Aryn lowers her gaze to her lap, and she shifts uncomfortably in a chair that seems not to be there. The soft rustle of silken robes are heard as she moves. "I soon found myself in his arms. I loved him and he still me. We could not deny each other but a terrible thing had happened. As I said I wed another just the day before. I told him of such as once more Davion was on bended knee confessing his mistake for leaving me and asking once more for my hand in life. Tears fell from both of us, and anger soon grew within him. He demanded the name of my husband, I gave it...and not long after I was a widow. Free to marry whom I wished. As the plans for our union where being made once more Davion left, but this time he was taken from me. Left to raise our son alone I did my best, thinking his father dead. But Davion to me did not feel dead. I had his portraits he painted of me adorning the walls, and some ways they brought comfort. Years past, our son grew to be a man, much like his father. The facade of my first husband soon came about as he was spotted upon the isle I had made my home after the last time Davion left. The years where confusing for me and many nights I found myself wandering. Then the fateful day came when an old friend came to see me...the Lady Emily..she told me of how my first husband lived, he searched for me. I could not believe it, Veronis lived, how could that be? Emily and I talked for many hours and she told me of how also my eldest son lived. Tears of joy and anger mingled down my fair cheeks and I left the isle to search for Garion as it was rumored he was within the Realm. I found him not at that time, but upon my return saw the smoke and flames that claimed my beautiful home that was shared with Davion. Everything was lost. Rage grew from the soul and I sought out Veronis. Words soon turned to swords and a challenge was made. I slayed the father of my eldest son and peace was soon coming once more. Veronis' brother, guilty he felt and had the Dwarven King rebuild the magestic manor to it's original state. But it was not the same, the portraits where gone, the love that was always felt within it's walls was no longer there. It was a cold and lonely place to dwell but still I remained in the hopes that one day my Davion would return. Soon he did and not long after we found each other once more. Twas odd how we always seemed to be finding each other. The Gods play a wicked game do they not? We fell in love once more and this time I was with no one as was he. The promise of marriage came from his lips once again and soon we found our days spent with each other. They where glorious days filled with life, laughter and love....But as you may guess...it did not last. Things had changed with him, he was now ruler and his clan..the Tremere demanded him to take a wife. I was not an option so a lie passed his lips that I could not believe...he told me how he bed another and loved this woman more than me. I believed it not...but again I found him leaving me..alone and dishearted I could not take it anymore. I loved him..when the gods made us...they left a small part of the soul from each and placed it within the other..only together did we ever feel complete.... I moved out of the Manor upon the Isle and sought refuge in this abandoned castle in the southern most regions. Bought by a suspicious old man, the black marble castle sits high upon the mountain peak, far away from everyone. And at the time that is how I wished it. I refused to feed, I couldn't think..dear friends worried greatly for me as they watched me withering away like a dying rose. Superiors forced me to feed against my will and some strength was regained. I would spend hours searching through my new "home" and then the day came that I died." Tears unmistakenly fall from closed lashes of ebony to streak down her ashen visage. A sigh heavily falls from silken tiers as she struggles to continue. "I died inside when a messenger was sent to my door, how he had found me I know not. But it was from Davion, he spoke of a battle and his death...my name upon his stilling tiers. That was it..I collapsed in a sobbing heap. I had always thought, even though we could not be with one another that as long as he lived...I could move on. The strings of insanity where pulled taunt that day and it took all what strength I had to gather myself up. I remembered that in this tower we now sit in, an alter of sorts was here, as well as a book that seemed older than time itself. I fled to this tower in hopes an answer would be found. To my surprise the book laid open where not just the day before it was closed and covered with cobwebs and something new was upon the alter...a goblet and dagger both with my family crest upon them. I didn't think...the book was open to two incantations one of death...the other a resurrection of life..I had stayed away from the crafts for quite some time and truly did not really know what I was doing. My heart lead me to do what I thought I could...and so I began the words that I thought would bring the life back to Davion, regardless if to me he returned. For some reason I needed him to live, the passion was so great, the words where found to flow easily from my lips. But..as I said I was not skilled in this art and something went terribly wrong. As I cut my forearm to allow my life's blood to fall into the goblet a terrible crash sounded, the lightening was intense to say the least. I fell to my knees and when the ringing in my ears stopped, I found myself dressed in the robes of black and before me stood the marking of the goblet. A Griffith, it's massive build before me, but though they are to be a creature of good, and natured as such something within it's black gaze told me otherwise. It's head nudged beneath me and I slide upon its back, we took to flight and the beginning of the end began. Each night after a sacrifice was sought to satisify the entity that took control of the Griffith and myself. Something other than Davion was resurrected and to this day I still know not what. Weeks this went on, flying to villages and at my hand many where slaughtered until the proper one was found who would bring the hunger at bay. I fed well within these villages as did the Griffith. Friends...dear friends worried for me and some sought a reversal to the incantation though I had no faith in the fact that it would work." Still a smile curved against the corners of pale tiers at the next thought. "A father and daughter, whom I have grown close to came to my aide. Talen, the Wizard, grabbed me from the clutching beak of the Griffith as I was offering him yet another sacrifice, he carried me and with his spells, locked me within the walls of a cave. Keeping the Griffith from me and I from it. In the mean time, Serytha had locked herself away in search of the reversal, after some days it was found. Her own blood was sacrificed to save me and for this I owe her my life as well as her father. I was released from the cave, but I was not the same as I once was. The damage had been done, the changes where made within the dark recesses of the cave as I begged for release" | ...the middle... | ||||||||||||||||||
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| ...the end..or is it?... |
"oh..the changes that I had to endure, they ripped about my being and leave me as you see me now. Beautiful tresses now streaked with white, my frame nothing more than a shell that hides beneath these robes." A shake of her head is given as a ghostly hand rises to rake through her locks, brushing them back over her brow revealing the black star that circles about her left eye. A deep and lingering sadness stays hidden in the dark jaded orbs that at times of anger and intense studies turn almost to a pure black. "I left the cave in confusion, always shrouding myself, not letting the others see what had happened for only more worry would it cause. I retreated with a thirst for knowledge back to this tower, and only briefly do I leave it. The lack of understanding by others keeps me here and I tire of telling the story of Davion over and over again." Another sigh rattles her fragile frame. "I have come to call him the messenger...ask me not who he is...but in my studies I have..shall I say been granted certain gifts..and the gift of speaking with the dead is now one of them. This "messenger" comes to me almost everyday..telling and speaking to me of Davion's return. For a while he stayed at bay and I was growing in strength. But now...his prophecies have proven true..." Her voice drops down to a mere whisper, almost inaudible if you had not leaned closer to hear. "Davion has returned..ask me not how but he is walking as we speak amongst the realm...I have yet to see him...but I feel his presence around me...and it is different.." A silence comes from her then, only to be broken by the quiet cries of a hungry chylde from far within the castle walls. She rises then, that deep look of sadness remaining in dark jades. "If you will excuse me...it seems my god-daughter Ariela is up and hungry. I have been given the honor of caring for her until her mother, Serytha returns to the realm. If you like you may come back again..perhaps more of the Story of Davion will unfold and I will have more to tell. We shall see..." With that a myst forms around Aryn, clouding your view of her, distorting it in ways your mind can not conceive. A blink brings your lashes together and in the split second she is gone. As you journey your way back through the maze of corridors, a faint sorrowful voice can be heard singing. Is it here singing to the babe or the walls speaking of Aryn's broken heart? | ||||||||||||||||||
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