Alevyan
04-05-2006, 08:30 AM
In the beginning there was one man whose skill brought forth the demise of all who stood before him, though within him there flowed a desire to dominate the land and its peoples, but to a greater extent to bring his philosophy to the citizens of this land, his name was Achelous Black, and his blade bore witness to the flames of justice he spread throughout green pastures.. As time passed, he gathered from the soil of Norrath an army whose might cleansed the tyranny from the peoples who were subject to it.Soon the lands tended to the Kingdom which he created, and all who were within it lived their lives contently, but when Achelous' age became an issue his mind began to wander, his forces had taken the world by storm and with ease, and he grew restless.. Taking his interests to the shadows, Achelous withdrawn from his subjects and his Kingdom, not long after that did the people too grow uneasy, civility in the lands the Raven controlled began to slips as rumors of Achelous' declining health became commonplace, but little did they know the extent of the madness that had gripped their beloved leaders mind.. Or was it madness?As time rolled on, various groups of Raven militants claimed that they had received word directly from Achelous giving them direct orders to conduct orders which would turn them directly against the people who they were sworn to protect, or invest many endless hours in fueling the creation of new and powerful magical abilities and skills for their armies of Mages and Priests who were enlisted in their vast and seemingly endless forces. Others were sent to distant lands to bring back information on clans and guilds whose lands were weak and easily conquered..As the lord of the Raven, Achelous Black passed on from this world to the next, various battles over the heritage of Achelous began, his immediately family maintained legal rule over the lands which they commanded loyalty from, but contact was severed with distant outposts, and all who were sent to gather information upon their status never returned.. Soon, lands closer to the epicenter of the Kingdom were attacked on a regular basis by those calling themselves the order of the Hex, they claimed their blood was of Raven descent and lord Achelous had made it his dying wish to end the horror which his family had inflicted on him in his late life, and in turn bring an end to the oppression the Royal family would lay forth upon the peoples should their rule continue.Quickly, those who were loyal to the fine and caring rule of the Royal family sent forth their legions to secure the lands which belong to them, many battles were fought over many years, and soon the lands were redrawn in the name of those who were either of the Hexed Blood or the Royal Blood.. Those who lived under the rule of the Royal blood worked harder to fuel the lifestyle the citizens of the land were used too, but many were lost in the constant raids set forth by those of the Hex who declared to the world that the land which Achelous had blessed would become their own, and they would lead the people in the way that Achelous had set forth for them- Forged in Blood and Steel and taking land for themselves which they would reform to suit their needs.The Royal family continued to hold down the great fertile plains they claimed as their own and had liberated from warring savages, and brought forth peace and caring to their hearts, and while their villages and towns burned under the anger and roared vengeance of the Hexed blood, they continued to work as hard as they could to make the land they loved and the Royal family they pledged themselves too in power..Wars had come and gone, and borders had changed, new lands discovered offered new resources, new intelligence and new aids to fight the Hexed or Royal bloods which engaged each other so valiantly on all fronts, each side brainwashing their newly found subjects against them, blessing and bonding of blood were steam lined and the numbers which each side bore grew larger and larger throughout their legions..However, slowly but surely their great grind against one another slowed, neither side would overshadow the other, in the night, advantages in strategy were quickly dashed and plans to lay waste to entire legions ruined in short bursts, each side sore nothing but losses, and neither would prevail on any battlefield hence forth.. Rumors of assassins bearing a new mark wandered through the ranks and elders of each faction, and the word Jizahr surfaced amongst the swelling sea of unrest on both sides.Towns and Villages once again went silent, large portions of land bore signs which read on roads that those from either the Hexed Blood or the Royal Blood should turn their steeds on heel and leave the cursed land without sloth, they soon became known as the balancers of the wars and battles which waged, territories broke faction and Blood with their respective leaders in fear or their children and lives being taken away in the dead of night, the Jizahr bred fear and the blades which were drawn seemed less ready to swing and cut down enemies, for in this time a turned back could mean an arrow to the spine, and the end of their lives in an instant, the Jizahr had come, and their assailants were more deadly than any they had encountered. In camps, towns and villages throughout each Bloods land there read letters.."Hail to all whom follow the path of Achelous, we are the Jizahr Raven, and we shall bring forth balance to the land war as you might, no more shall suffer unless it is administrated by us.." and so began the time of the silent blade.. A cold war wherein either side were terrified of a force which would strip them of their lives and strength as soon as they had mustered it.. But they never attacked.. only defended either side against imbalance which would lead the other to greater strength.Over the lands occupied by the Hexed Blood and the Royal Blood a shroud of blackened fear descended.. Deep into the knooks and crannies of the world were sent the forces of the Royal and Hexed Blood, those who did not return were lost forever, those who did either came back with no words, their minds scarred with terror and pain, or would instantly break the bonds of Blood and loyalty to their factions and disappear as soon as they had returned.. Troubled thoughts swept through the ranks of the armies and commanding houses of both the Royal and Hexed bloods..Time wore on, and the forces of both Bloods wore thin, neither could afford to wage war with each other and a force which shaved miles from their borders and hundreds from their legions, a white flag of true was raised, and for a time, the banners of war were replaced with the sounds of debate. The Royal Ravens core council and the elders of the Hexed blood came forth to sit at the same table to discuss their woes, losses were tallied, agreements made and help was lent to each side for the resources they could spare..As meetings came and went, the Jizahr quietly watched, their influence had begun to slip into the wells on both sides, and for the Jizahr- the fruits of their labor had began to bloom, much blood had been shed, and they had made it their intent to clean the crimson stains from the robes of them and their peoples, they made it known that they were not hell-bent on the rule of the Bloods, but they warned of times to come which would require a unified front on in the name of Achelous.. The Jizahr explained of the knowledge they had gained over time about the madness of Achelous, little was known of his original lineage other than that he came from the shadows and raised an army, and in his late seasoned years grew both mad, but incredibly complex.What was unveiled was the truth of Achelous' intent to divide the Raven, and bring forth his great experiment which would echo through generations, none were alive to remember the time of Achelous rule, and what he had created was the brainchild of his own personality.. Achelous' mind was plagued by the emotions he felt through his life, his anger burned like the great star around which Norrath and her children world spun, but his love was as beautiful as the blue sky which shone above them, Achelous saw balance in nature and her children, but knew so little of it in his mind, he wished to bring forth balance to everything, and his people would be the great experiment..Knowledge of Achelous' madness stretched far and wide, many who could logically dictate their actions agreed that it all made sense, but some who were devoted to their factions ideals did not agree, but all laid down arms and quickly a land which was ravaged by war quickly became a battlefield fought with words, debates between elders of all three bloods began and lasted for years, the true extent of Achelous' experiment and his genius yet at the same time insane social experimentation was shown to all. Ultimately, peace reigned.As soon as peace had come it was strained, neither the Hexed Blood nor the Royal Blood truly saw eye to eye, but in the tense interactions the Jizahr began to behave strangely, the borders they patrolled to maintain quietness and calmness grew more restless as the Jizahr's numbers dwindled, and almost without warning they were gone, they left behind a message which horrified those who were there to hear it.. This world would end, and it would end with the anger and the fire of the Gods, they were warned that the wars the flames of war would be dwarfed compared to the blade which would fall from the sky, but never did the day come..The Royal Blood, weakened and disheartened by their administrative position removed by the balance keepers that called themselves the Jizahr- Had their forces and manpower stretched too thinly, the Hexed Blood who were warriors by heart and impatient as well- Marched forth once again on the lands the Royal Blood had kept so well and they fell, they fell with lack lust resistance. There was no war, merely a bloodbath.. It was not that their resistance was weak, it was valiant- but the magics which the Royal Blood bore and sent forth so ferociously to destroy their enemies had fallen they did not understand it, little did they know that the apocalypse foretold by the Jizahr was quickly coming true.. as the rest of Norrath screamed in panic, the remote Kingdom of the Raven lay bathed in blood, but confused as to their weakness.. The Hexed Blood who used no magic found their victory seemingly effortless.... The Hexed Blood marched forth on the Royal citadel in the center of the Royal Kingdom and lay waste to the weak strength the Royal Blood had, and as they gathered in the courtyard the leaders of both Bloods came forth, the Hexed Blood declared their victory over the Royal Blood and demanded all be relinquished, but silently the broken Royal family stared towards the darkened sky, their fingers pointing silently at the source of their misery.. What the Hexed Blood observed shook them to their core- But they had not the time to catch their breath wherein a Flash of light and a roaring howl echoed across the land followed by a cleansing fire which burned all who stood before it to vapor. The great armies of the Hexed Blood were wiped clean of the world, and what remained of the Royal Blood as well, the sea rose from the shores to swallow the land which had been pushed down from the shard of Luclin which took them to the next life in a blink..In moments all that had been was no more, the island place known as Renaeo, their homes, their knowledge, their history and greatness bathed in fire and water, the anger of the Gods did not escape them.. But the Jizahr, the living Shadow had long since vacated the place knowing of future that awaited them.. They escaped to the deserts of Ro and became one with the sand, their voice had been quiet before, but now even the wind could not carry it..All was lost.Centuries have long come and gone since the shattering occurred above Norrath, and the wroth of the Gods for the mortals greed seemed to quell.. The Jizahr Raven fled on that fateful day from the temperate island of Renaeo to the desolate and remote lands of Ro, within her sands they found shelter.. New enemies were found in the arid landscape, but they had brought with them their keen wit and intellect, and those who dare stand before them were quickly crushed. But the Jizahr had no intention of bringing their counterparts philosophies of domination and remanagement of the land with them, they only sought silence in the storm, and for many centuries they achieved just that.But like all silences, they must be interrupted.. Their numbers thinned and only a small house who no longer bore the title of Jizahr, but instead Raven existed observe the quiet customs and lives of their former kindred.. They stand as librarians to the history of their ancient people, knowledge of their unique abilities and interests all stored in one final quiet resting place.. But as the ships from Qeynos and Freeport bring forth new peoples to the desert islands, an interest in how the world has changed has rekindled a flame of curiosity long since dead with their ancestors.. Sensing too amongst these strangers- tiny particles of the same blood which ran through their veins centuries ago- Survivors? It was so, the blood was thinned and almost undetectable amongst the various intelligent races which walk this Norrath, but there, in some, it still flows..A powerful and old Half Elven Shadow Knight of the descendent of the Raven Bloodline Jizahr has stepped forth from the sand and travelled the boat to the city of Freeport wherein she has attained citizenship, and the quest to regather the ancient bloods together in the name of the Raven and the teachings of Achelous is now in play.The Kingdom of the Raven is dead no more, but there are those who are not as ignorant about their heritage as they may think.. For the knowledgeable eyes of Lucan and Antonia now turn towards the dunes of Ro.. and the ancient mysteries within their sands.The dinging sound of heavy rain falling on equally heavy metal, that's the reality of the situation, a cold rain which only a cover could shelter. A pair of azure eyes peered into a distance that could not be seen, it was a cold an empty stare, a blank state that seemed devoid of interest and intent, equally so- coveyed on lips of crimson, painted by the blood of the crushed roses petal and the scent of the lilacs bloom. These were material things which would make the beholder stare for a moment, if not two- That incalculable iota of time which had no set length, then perhaps- dismiss them for better sights in better places. This was the reality of a painted woman, a cloak cast over shroud to divert the eyes of those around her from the mind behind the porcelain face.A single step forward on wooden planks let loose a creak, the elm had been aged, for piping hot days and frozen nights had taken a toll on their fortitude and the sound which they let lose when a heavy foot came down upon them were cries of ancient anguish, not allowed to perish like nature had intended them too, they sat wrapped in artificial glue which prolonged their lives, down those azure eyes cast their gaze to inspect what beast let lose the creak, but in reality it was a programmed reaction, she did not care, no one ever did- it was just a simple thing which made one stare to secure ones own footing.. A subconscious defensive reaction.The minds eye awoke and within it the desert sands kicked up a storm under the might of the wind. This was no place to call home, no place to look back upon with memories one might consider fond, but alas she did. Home is home regardless of where it is, a house is not a home, a house is a place wherein one stores meaningless objects which distract ones eye from the reality around them, its a constant struggle to dismiss the horrors of nature when you're smart enough to perceive them, or worse yet- When you've been trained since birth to be horrified by things which are natural, this is the filth we subject ourselves too as living things that know they're living and do what is done outside the borders put before us.She raised her hand, it lay wrapped in cobalt, thickly armored to protect against the will of others. This armor was not only to shield ones flesh against the elements, the things that might harm you, but also that very thing mentioned- The will of others, it is the will of others to do harm to others, a circle of imaginary justice which is constantly fed into the engine of the mind and what is created is the perceived grudge one bears against others. The ability to ignore these horrors is entirely a choice one who is subject to them is able to make and yet a primordial urge to exact revenge on the ones who tear scars in your flesh is something all, regardless of race, size, stature or personality is. In reality, it is those who chose not to who dare defy the nature of all things, and is that the way that we were designed to be? Perhaps, and perhaps not. It's a question which is unanswerable, and those who attempt to answer it will no doubt drive themselves mad with curiosity.Her name was Dhia Raven, her mind is barren and her intent as pure as everfrost snow. She is the Matriarch of the Raven, born of the blood of the Jizahr and fated to resurrect the very same vitae which flowed so ferociously through the veins of those who're long since dead. This is her reality, and there is little that can be done to change that. Regardless of whether or not she chooses within the depths of her mind to carry forth the orders set by those in her past will define her outcome. Although willing or not she will do as she is instructed, it is whether or not she belives in her future as a flag bearer to the throne of the Raven which will decide whether blood runs thicker than water.The path is waved with the malice of others, and its length stretches far beyond the borders of her means.. and yet in this rain, on this dock over the angry sea staring down at the armor her flesh is entombed in- she proceeds. It is the will of the Shadow Knight within her, and it is the will of her very spirit.. her mind.. well.. against those odds.. what does it matter what her mind dare think?<div></div>