Post by Alomir Orsoan on Aug 15, 2010 4:09:35 GMT 2
For days now, the only sound aboard the ship, dubbed Gray Strider, had been the lapping of the river water on the side of the boat, the breeze as it propelled them towards their destination, and the creaking of the wood. The gentle creaking and rocking of the boat as it sailed down the river had faded from the minds of all those aboard the vessel. After only a few short days, the creaking noise of the beautifully sleek, yet powerful ship had become as unnoticeable as one's own heartbeat.
The journey had been a solemn one. Mostly for two reasons, the first was that The Gray Strider, was not to be seen in transit. It was the fastest ship at Samarid's disposal, and was meant to make the journey to Stalaga move as swiftly as possible. If the ship from Samarid were spotted by a Sanglant forces, all aboard would be doomed, and their success in this war would be thrown into utter uncertainty. It was for that reason, that the late queen Silisia had seen fit to send an ambassador to their elven allies and reaffirm their alliance.
The second reason, that the entire ship's crew was silent was a deep sense of mourning that ached in the heart of every man, woman, and child who called themselves Samaridian. Their beloved queen had been killed, and on the very day that the entire kingdom celebrated The Dragon Festival, a long forgotten celebration that had been reinstated to commerate the agreement between Her Majesty and Gwyndar, a dragon rider who had sworn to protect her. Though, within hours of him making that vow his ward lay dead...and worse yet, her body had not yet been recovered. Taken!
Alomir, who considered himself one of the queen's closest friends, was devastated at the death of the queen. He had confided the nature of his mission with a few select people, and readied the trip visit Queen Isoldé Sylvanas of the Elves. Using the map, that the queen had personally entrusted to him, Alomir had ridden to the small river town of Lunmibewachen where he had recruited a small company of loyal soldiers and trustworthy members of the naval forces.
From there they had set sail across the great lake that divided the two warring Kingdoms. They then moved into the river, which was just wide enough for the ship to maneuver through. Though the journey hadn't been without it's perils...at one point Alomir was sure that they would get stuck in the river, but by a strange turn of events, the wind had carried them off course ever so slightly to a deeper part of the river that allowed them to pass safely.
Now as they neared the final part of their journey, Alomir had given orders to prepare for landing. All morning and into the afternoon soldiers and sailors alike had scrambled to prepare the company's horses, ready supplies, gather documents, and even to prepare for the possibility of an attack. Even Alomir, had helped out reading his own horses and making sure that everything was going smoothly. The crew was fortunate that everything was ready for landing, because around a half hour after they had a break for lunch. It was reported that they would be landing soon.
For the first time, the people bustled with lively activity thankful to have made it passed the first part of what could have been a highly dangerous journey. Even Alomir, who had been tense for the entire duration allowed himself to indulge in the strong ale from the ship's holds. However, Alomir had been sure to restrain his men in their frivolity. The last thing Alomir wanted was to be lead a company of half drunk Samaridian soldiers into the Elven capitol.
Within the next hour, Alomir had saddled his horses and lead them through the shallow water a land thickly covered in forests. Just as quickly as the celebration had arisen, it was quieted within seconds. Alomir added the finishing touch by fixing a black cape of mourning to his plate armor. Following suit, many of the soldiers tied black cloths around their left arms as a symbol of loss. Once the company was ready, the young aristocrat who had turned ambassador opened the sealed map he had been given by the queen before she was murdered. And with it he was able to navigate riding ahead of his company of twenty soldiers who marched behind him.
And so the Samaridians, with Alomir at the head, were the first to enter the strange land of the elves. All around them, the forest seemed to be much older with an eerie quality that was unlike anything in Samarid. Alomir felt uneasy about the place, he didn't know much about the elves except for what he had read, and even that couldn't be trusted. Alomir felt very much on his own, and so far away from the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of home. If he failed in his mission it wouldn't just be the lives of himself and those of his men...but the entire kingdom.
The journey had been a solemn one. Mostly for two reasons, the first was that The Gray Strider, was not to be seen in transit. It was the fastest ship at Samarid's disposal, and was meant to make the journey to Stalaga move as swiftly as possible. If the ship from Samarid were spotted by a Sanglant forces, all aboard would be doomed, and their success in this war would be thrown into utter uncertainty. It was for that reason, that the late queen Silisia had seen fit to send an ambassador to their elven allies and reaffirm their alliance.
The second reason, that the entire ship's crew was silent was a deep sense of mourning that ached in the heart of every man, woman, and child who called themselves Samaridian. Their beloved queen had been killed, and on the very day that the entire kingdom celebrated The Dragon Festival, a long forgotten celebration that had been reinstated to commerate the agreement between Her Majesty and Gwyndar, a dragon rider who had sworn to protect her. Though, within hours of him making that vow his ward lay dead...and worse yet, her body had not yet been recovered. Taken!
Alomir, who considered himself one of the queen's closest friends, was devastated at the death of the queen. He had confided the nature of his mission with a few select people, and readied the trip visit Queen Isoldé Sylvanas of the Elves. Using the map, that the queen had personally entrusted to him, Alomir had ridden to the small river town of Lunmibewachen where he had recruited a small company of loyal soldiers and trustworthy members of the naval forces.
From there they had set sail across the great lake that divided the two warring Kingdoms. They then moved into the river, which was just wide enough for the ship to maneuver through. Though the journey hadn't been without it's perils...at one point Alomir was sure that they would get stuck in the river, but by a strange turn of events, the wind had carried them off course ever so slightly to a deeper part of the river that allowed them to pass safely.
Now as they neared the final part of their journey, Alomir had given orders to prepare for landing. All morning and into the afternoon soldiers and sailors alike had scrambled to prepare the company's horses, ready supplies, gather documents, and even to prepare for the possibility of an attack. Even Alomir, had helped out reading his own horses and making sure that everything was going smoothly. The crew was fortunate that everything was ready for landing, because around a half hour after they had a break for lunch. It was reported that they would be landing soon.
For the first time, the people bustled with lively activity thankful to have made it passed the first part of what could have been a highly dangerous journey. Even Alomir, who had been tense for the entire duration allowed himself to indulge in the strong ale from the ship's holds. However, Alomir had been sure to restrain his men in their frivolity. The last thing Alomir wanted was to be lead a company of half drunk Samaridian soldiers into the Elven capitol.
Within the next hour, Alomir had saddled his horses and lead them through the shallow water a land thickly covered in forests. Just as quickly as the celebration had arisen, it was quieted within seconds. Alomir added the finishing touch by fixing a black cape of mourning to his plate armor. Following suit, many of the soldiers tied black cloths around their left arms as a symbol of loss. Once the company was ready, the young aristocrat who had turned ambassador opened the sealed map he had been given by the queen before she was murdered. And with it he was able to navigate riding ahead of his company of twenty soldiers who marched behind him.
And so the Samaridians, with Alomir at the head, were the first to enter the strange land of the elves. All around them, the forest seemed to be much older with an eerie quality that was unlike anything in Samarid. Alomir felt uneasy about the place, he didn't know much about the elves except for what he had read, and even that couldn't be trusted. Alomir felt very much on his own, and so far away from the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of home. If he failed in his mission it wouldn't just be the lives of himself and those of his men...but the entire kingdom.
