The Chronicle of Icemoon Rizing of Rodcet Nife - Chpt 4-6 [Archive]

Casta

05-03-2009, 09:33 AM

Hello! This is my first posting on this forum. I am a decorator by trade and am constantly on the Norrathian Homeshow forum, however, I take a break from my decorating here and there to chronicle various members of Stormsurg (my guild on Everfrost). I hope I am not breaking the protocol of this forum by not playing on a RP server. I hope you enjoy my tale. I look forward to your feedback. The final 3 chapters follow. Thank you.The Chronicle of Icemoon Rizing of Rodcet NifeThe ProphecyThe evil Gods were pleased with Clan Fearghaille and their hatred of the Marr siblings. Uppsala grew and prospered under their protection, leading them to bestow a prophecy on the tribe. Aided by Terris Thule, The Gods entered the dreams of the entire Clan and declared the honoring of Iceblood and Sryntia with the birth of a child. They were granting her the honor of giving birth to a Crusader, their combined heir, who would lead the tribe to a greatness never before witnessed in all of Norrath. Sryntia and Iceblood were instructed to wait a fortnight until the moment the sky became clear and black, devoid of all stars and clouds and a blood filled moon appeared. When the foretold moment arrived the two lay together as never before. The Gods smiled on them engulfing their union in passionate dark desire, the moon remaining blood red in the dismantled black sky. When the joining ended the couple were spent with exhaustion, the moon and sky remained unchanged for another fortnight, signifying the presence of the Gods and fulfillment of their promise to the tribe.As time passed, brokers and traders passed through the settlement, taking the tale of the prophecy with them. The word spread across Norrath and fear gripped the land. Many races feared the foretelling of the great Barbarian Crusader and plotted to kill the child at birth. The time came for the birth of the great Crusader and the Gods demonstrated their blessings and presence by covering the land with an impenetrable covering of ice, insuring the uninterrupted birth of their combined heir. Iceblood and Sryntia wished to praise the Gods and show their gratitude for the man child bestowed upon them and the fulfillment of the prophecy. They decided to name the child Icemoon Rizing as a tribute to the power displayed by the Gods on the nights of his conception and birth.Icemoon grew tall and strong, shadowing Iceblood by his fourteenth year. He possessed great wisdom and was beloved by all. The tribal elders deemed him the Keeper of Knowledge and he was welcomed in all homes of Uppsala. When he entered a home he was regarded as nobility and granted access to all the family had to offer. He studied the arcane texts with passion and became the most feared fighter in the tribe, mastering not only the sword but the secrets of the Shadowknight. When Barbarian lads entered their sixteenth year in the Clan it was custom for the settlement to commemorate their transition into manhood with a Woading Day celebration. Woading, or the marking of a warrior’s body, was a way of honoring the young man and denoting his entrance into the Clan as a warrior. The greatest gala in all of Uppsala was planned for the Woading Day of Icemoon. The ceremony commenced with the entrance of Sryntia and Iceblood into the Great Hall, who took their places among the tribal elders. As the entire settlement looked on, Icemoon solemnly entered and descended to his knees in front of a great pyre, signifying the dead of the lad and the birth of the man. Iceblood approached him and branded his skin with the ancient symbols of the True Men and prayers were offered to the Gods. As Icemoon bowed his head in respect he was surrounded by a blue light. The tribe gasped in amazement as the light swirled and faded and the brandings took on a subtle blue glow of their own. Iceblood and Sryntia beamed with pride when they realized the Gods had infused their son with unfortold blessings. The great feast commenced and as far as the eye could see tables were covered with traditional and rare Barbarian cuisine. There was black pudding, crushed ice peppers (the sweet and savory varieties), hedddice, butterscotch, ale, seal’s heart, wolf livers, meat pies, polar bear milk, haggis, haunches of wolf, brisket of brown bear, rack of mammoth and imported lion roasts. The following day it was time for the Keeper of Knowledge to learn the history of his people. Icemoon sat fervently with the elders for several days and learned the many details of their creation, triumphs, prophecies, betrayals, celebrations, defeats, The Shattering, their transformations and journeys. As he listened and learned, something shifted within Icemoon’s being and he filled with icy resolve, determined to seek retribution for the injuries his people had suffered. The GriefIcemoon became the greatest warrior the True Men had ever witnessed, even surpassing the prowess of Iceblood. Protected by the Gods he traveled outside the borders of Uppsala earning great riches for Clan Fearghaille. Word of his triumphs spread across Norrath rekindling concern about the great Barbarian Crusader. Uppsala grew, as many True Men sought refuge, unhappy with life alongside other races. Word came that Icemoon was returning from another triumphant campaign and people began lining the streets in anticipation of his return. As he entered the city gates he was greeted with a mighty roar from the crowd, but something was amiss. He sensed an unknown presence, both disturbing and soothing at the same time. With hawk like eyesight he scanned the crowds, searching for the source of the presence. Without warning he halted his mount in mid stride and found his gaze locked with another. He was stunned, never in all his travels had he seen a woman so beautiful! The eyes staring into his had the green hue and sparkle of fire emeralds. Her face looked as soft and fair as a newborn polar cub. The pink of her cheeks and lips gave the impression they had been touched with fayberry jam. There was a glow surrounding this maiden, not from her long golden hair, which she wore loose and wavy, but an aura of confidence and dignity. Her name was Kryyn and she had traveled to Uppsala with her parents to return to the ancient ways of the True Men. The two became inseparable and it was clear to all a binding ceremony would soon follow for the two soul mates.Icemoon again left Uppsala on another quest to fulfill his destiny. It was many fortnights before his return and when he entered the city gates his eyes were filled with desolate rage. Uppsala had been destroyed! The Great Hall lay in burnt ruins, the Temples were desecrated and defiled, the market place gone, the pubs gone, the Arena gone, the homes gone, all gone! As he reached the family home of his beloved Kryyn vile vitriol filled his throat. It too was gone, nothing remaining but ashes. Crying out her name with a wrath that shook the highest peaks of Everfrost, he dropped to his knees in anguish. When he arose the path of a single tear had burned a scar into his face and his eyes were filled with a fury that frightened his men. He turned and headed toward the home of his parents, knowing their fate was the same. As he approached the homestead a slight movement to his left caught his eye. He dismounted and feverishly began digging through the rubble, only to find Sryntia covered in blood and grime. As she looked into the eyes of her son her hand reached up and traced the scar left by his tear. She told him the settlement had been attacked by vast armies amassed in Qeynos from all over Norrath who were seeking the Barbarian Crusader of the great prophecy. Tears streamed down her soot covered face as she talked of how bravely her dearly loved Iceblood had fought and how he sent many to their makers but in the end was unable to triumph. As she struggled to breathe, a gurgling sound coming from her chest, she spoke of Kryyn. Mithaniel Marr had returned and kidnapped her. He had taken her prisoner as punishment to Clan Fearghaille for their betrayal of The Twins. As the last breath left her body she told her son to remember who he was, harness his powers and avenge their deaths. As he leaned forward to kiss the forehead of his mother’s dead body he was struck in the back of the head. The AwakeningWhen he awoke he found himself imprisoned deep within an underground passage in the farthest reaches under the city of Qeynos. The guards posted outside his cell were chatting and did not notice he had awakened. He listened to them speak of Kryyn’s beauty and his throat filled with a familiar bile. As every particle of his being cried out to exert revenge, he remained silent at the prospect of learning the fate of his one true love, Kryyn. The Gods rewarded his patience by loosening the lips of the guards, allowing Icemoon to learn Kryyn was being held captive on the Plane of Valor and would remain unharmed, allowed to watch him die. He maintained his silence, seething with rage and silently praying to his creators. Cazic Thule, The Faceless, spoke to him instilling more fear and hatred. Soon he was filled with pain, misery and violence, a living sacrifice and true Cazicite. Without explanation, the guards were removed and Icemoon was left alone in the dank darkness a slow evil smile spreading across on his face. Within a fortnight his plan was in place. He called up the Gods and the evil forces of his Shadowknight training, bringing forth a mighty explosion and blowing the cell door from its hinges. Before the dust could settle Icemoon was faced with a company of guards formed by all the good races of Norrath. The first guard was taken down with one mighty blow of his boulder like fist and before the followers realized what had happened their lifeforces were extinguished by the sword of their own leader. Painting his body with their blood, Icemoon vowed to avenge the death of his Clan and free his Kryyn. He took the moniker of Rodcet Nife as a tribute to the old God of his father and mother, a reminder of the betrayal of the good Gods. He battled his way across the lands and sea and settled in the great city of Freeport. His plan began to form, he realized that the only way he could free Kryyn was to destroy all Mithaniel Marr cherished. When all was gone he would be forced to return to Norrath to face Icemoon or grant him passage to the Plane of Valor where they would battle for Kryyn.The great Barbarian Crusader showed no mercy, annihilating everything good in his path of vengeance. After clearing the Commonlands, he returned to Freeport and journeyed across the sea to Thundering Steeps. When he finished he crossed Antonica, saving Qeynos for his final triumph. He conquered the Enchanted Lands and continued to the continents of Karan and Kunark. As the years pass his resolve strengthens, guided by the evil Gods. He now scours the Overrealm, fueled by vengeance, hatred and evil, knowing one day his quest will end and his Kryyn will be returned to him.