Triston

The room was lit only with a few tall candles, breezing from the drafts that haunted the massive castle. Within it's center was a massive table with little more then sparse morsals upon it, and a large plate helm forged of the blackest ore. Of the eight chairs, only four where occupied, and of the four people only one stood visable. Prince Triston Lioness, Fallen Lancer Knight, sat before the helmet assessing the others. They each sat in there respective chair quietly, mere shadows in a room with too many to count. He adressed each of them individually, making sure that there role was perfectly clear. "Dark One, have you casted the proper spells to prevent scrying?" Triston asked the first person, with a voice as level as a mountian stream. "Aye my Lord, but I fear that they might not be strong enough to prevent the powerful majiks of the Anchients. For now, until I know there full potential, we must be secretive even in secret, as it is better to err on the side of caution..." "Understood. Then all of you will remain in masks and in the shadows, hiding your voice whenever possable. We will use no names, and only I will be fully known." With that Triston Paused, thinking at great length on his next words. "I made a vow, one which I plan to keep in full. Two lives where given to protect mine, and it is with great need that I keep my vow to them, though it burdens my heart greatly to do so. Today Razak and Myself made an attempt to take Olympus by force, and although we where marginally sucessful, we where eventually ousted, and defeated. This simply proves that while our skill is great, there numbers are too many, and we will need a different tactic if we are to suceed. From here in all attacks on Olympus will be cosmetic, simply to keep them under the impression that we are without plan. We will begin using our agents within the empire and the Brigantes to keep them at each others throuts, to turn this into a war of attrition that we do not partake in. Once both factions are vulnerable we will strike, taking them from there once great numbers to ashes on the wind. Is all this understood?" All heads noded slowly, but not one spoke. "Excellent. You know what your duties are, you know how to do the. Leave here only by magical means, they cannot know our location. We will be launching a small attack late tonight to ensure there confusion, but will otherwise be inactive. Remember, Chaos is our tool, deception is our tool, but foolishness, that is for the weak and the dead. Go my captians, make the vision of my Father a reality!" With that, they all stood up and began casting spells of teleportation, taking them all to different locations. Soon only Triston and one other remained, a female figure hidden in the shadows. She spoke softly, keeping her voice well disguised, but clear in timber. "You know my reasons for being here Triston," she said, "but let me make one thing clear. The main reason I am here is because I am loyal to you, as I always have been and always will be. Do not forget that in the weeks to come." With that she was gone, wispering away in a glitter of magic. Triston stood alone, as always, looking out the window to the sea. His heart was heavy with the sins of the previous day, and the knowlage that yet more blood of brothers would soon cover his hands. "Remember dark angel, that one day the blood we spill may be each others..." With that he too was gone, sliding into that shadows that had been his home for so many years before this, before honor had shown him the light.

Thank you all very much, I put a lot of thought/work into the story, and Im glad many found it enjoyable. Rest assured that there is MUCH more storyline to come, and im a big fan of plot twists, so ill be trying to keep you all on you toes. Two things Wolf... 1) I loved your short story reply to mine, it was superb, and... 2) Bring... It... On... :wow:

As I walked into the tower I noticed how dark it was immediately, something that was odd, as one of my siblings was surly home. Ever since Silva’s passing at the hand of a great wyrm the place had seemed a bit gloomier, a bit harder. One could always hear her in her room on the third story, gently strumming notes on her lap harp and singing a soft song of lovers. No music filled the halls anymore, and in all likelihood it never would again. Yet something else was wrong, something far darker that I could only sense. I walked through the foyer into the back workroom to find my brother Triston in there, sitting besides the forge taping the coals with his kryss. He seemed almost lost in a world all of his own, and I thought to leave. Just as I turned he looked up at me and spoke… “Nagi, do you remember the night our parents died?” He asked. I was taken aback. This was the one topic we where not permitted to speak on, under any circumstances. I was only three when our parents died, and my memories where little to none. I remembered fire, and screaming. It was the first battle I had ever seen, and I had preyed it would be my last. “No brother, I do not. Do you wish to speak on it?” I braced myself. Triston was normally a very calm man, and it took much to push him to violence, but the simple mentioning of this event would send him into a rage in half a wisps breath. He did not lash out thought, he jut sat there, poking at the coals… Then he began to speak. (The scene changes to a grand castle, filled with works of art and many busy servants. The scene seems chaotic, but orderly, as men rush back and forth as though preparing some great festival, and the women begin moving to inner rooms of the castle. The words where on everyone’s lips, but nobody believed them… Invaders) Lord Lioness set on his ebon throne, directing his advisors to do this and that, to make the Castle ready to defend itself. Magic in general was still weak from the shattering of the Gem of Immortality, and the castle walls where thick, if they wanted to take this battlement they would loose many men in trying. At his feet sat a child, no older then nine, but clearly possessed of the cunning of a prince. He sat calmly watching the affairs be placed in order, at no point seeming concerned. His father was Lord Lioness, a great noble under Lord Blackthorn and one of the greatest mages of all time. There was no concern, just anticipation, anticipation to see his father in action. It did not take long for the show to begin either. Just as the last of the men moved into place a sudden surge filled the room, and many purple robed figures where suddenly where only thin air had been before. Immediately they began throwing fireballs and energy bolts from their fingertips, felling men left and right. Lord Lioness leaped from his throne, yelling “Flam Kal Des Ylem!” Immediately half dozen fireballs shot forth, annihilating everything in there paths. He turned and looked to a bald man sitting besides the throne, clearly nervous but standing fast. “Armond, take my son to the safe room with his siblings in the north tower, wait there for further instructions.” “Yes milord.” He answered quickly, scooping the child up and running like the wind. The young man said not a word, but listened very intently to the sounds of battle as they climbed the hundreds of stairs in the tower. When they arrived in the highest room they opened the door, and by a fireplace sat an elegant raven-haired women, shooting magic arrows out the window with a nonchalant air. “What news Goodman Armond?” She asked with a tone that made it very clear she was accustom to being answered quickly. “The battle has begun Milady. One of Lord Brittish’s factions, clearly intent on out demise. They are using mages to gain entry to the throne room. “ “So be it, I will go engage then, you are to watch the children. Am I understood?” “Yes Milady.” He said without pause. With a wave of her hand she was gone, leaving behind Armond, the young lad, and his three sisters. Maharat and Nagi seemed scared, but Silva was fine, she knew no fear. The roar of the battle was deafening even from the tall tower, and it seemed as though it would never end. Suddenly a man busted through the door, his long peppered hair flying every which way, and long streams of blood running across his face. On his left hip sat a purple bag, on his right a red one, and he wore a robe colored deep black, the color of Lord Blackthorn. “Armand! Are the children safe?” He yelled in a voice that scared the children and took the last of his breath all at once. It was clear that Uncle Horus has thrown a few of his legendary potions a little too close tonight, and had impaired his hearing mildly. “Please Lord Horus, don’t yell, it scared the children. But yes, they are fine, should we be concerned?” Armond answered. “Yes! Most concerned! With the exception of the Lord, the Lady, the Children, and myself every member of the royal family has been slain. It would seem that our infamy for strong magic’s has been our downfall, as all of the older children involved in the battle where singled out early and slain by mages and assassins!” My world reeled. All of my older brothers and sisters where dead? To loose three siblings in one night was horrid. Then it occurred to me… My cousins, my Aunts and Uncles… they where all involved in that battle. Almost my entire family, gone. I looked to the far wall and saw a spear, a weapon of great power wielded by one of my ancestors in some great battle, a weapon that I would now wield… Faster then I thought I could move I darted across the room and lifted it, then promptly fell forward, unable to hold its weight. Uncle Horus chuckled, then perked to attention. Suddenly he jerked the door open, and tossed several purple potions down the stairwell, closing the door behind himself. The tower shook with the explosion, and our ears rang with screams. “I believe we have been found.” Horus said with a sly grin, and then began casting a spell. Suddenly a blue oval opened, and through I could see the family temple, buried layers upon layers under the Castle. We all went through and waited. From down there we could only hear the feint rumbles of the battle clashing above. Just as the battle sounded like it was reaching a crescendo, it suddenly fell very quiet. Then, as though out of the air itself my mother and father where there, both bleeding badly, and very pail. In an instant Armond and me where there, and Horus was casting healing spells. Although there wounds where now gone, they where still very pail from loss of blood and mana, and looked as though they would loose consciousness at any moment. My mother held me closely and wept, something I had never seen her do, and my father simply sat there, clenching and unclenching his fist as though trying to return feeling. “Horus, you have mana enough to open a gate of traveling?” My father finally asked. His color had returned some; maybe this would end well still… “I do brother. Where shall we go?” He asked, looking through his red pouch to find the appropriate runes and reagents. “YOU, Armond, and the children will be leaving. Your Sister and me will be staying. Do not argue with me, it is the only way to save the children. You will take them to the new mining town of Minoc, there are few supporters of Brittish there, and you should be able to hide well enough. Armond, you will watch after the children, raise them as I know you are able, I have faith in you. You will need to change your name though, or they will find you through scrying. Too many of there men have fallen to weapons crafted by your hand, you are not popular.” He laughed; it was such an odd sound. I could not remember the last time my father had laughed. The last few years had been harsh, and his demeanor had become very harsh. Now he almost looked happy, relieved. “They know of this place, but lack a rune. It seems the traitors felt no need to mark one here, and the halls leading here are filled with traps that will slow them. We will use the time to magically summon some corpses of an appropriate size, and then we will set the place ablaze. We will then go and meet them, and slay as many as we can before our mana is lost. Then we shall destroy them with our bare hands. They will loose many taking this room. By then you will be long gone and well hidden. You will of course need to disappear Lord Horus, as they may find the children through you. You may rejoin with them in a few years once we are long forgotten. Now bring me my children, I must say good bye.” “Let me stay father! I have mastered the third circle now, and am very good with my dagger! I can help, and I promise not to get in the way!” I cried, unable to accept this escape at my parent’s expense. “No, no my son. You must leave. Ask yourself, if everyone dies tonight, who will get revenge? No, you will leave, and you will train. You will be a great warrior one day, and the enemies of you family will fall from before you like dew into a fire. This I foresee, this you shall make real.” I think this was the first time my father had ever given me approval, the first encouragement from his lips. My father was not unkind; he simply expected excellence, and nothing short. Excellence was a hard goal for a nine-year hold, no matter his giftedness. I nodded, kissed his cheek, and returned to my mother’s arms. Slowly, one by one he made a prediction for each child, and when Silva, his favorite in all of our eyes, stood before him smiling he just smiled back, leaned forward, and whispered something in her ear before pushing her to her mother. “You know how to acquire funds Armond?” He asked. “I will see to it before my disappearance, I assure you my lord.” Said Horus “Mommy?” A small female voice piped in. It was Silva, sitting in the corner looking at the symbol of Lord Blackthorn. “Yes my little siren?” She asked, trying to keep the timber of her voice solid. “When they come, will you yield to them for any reason, even when you have surely lost?” She asked, with a look of the direst need on her face. “Never my nightingale, not even if they bring forth the full power of hades.” “Good, then that is how I shall remember you, and that is how I shall live my life.” “Wonderful sweetheart. Cast the spell brother, they are looking for the entrance to the tunnels already, we must prepare.” With that Horus began chanting, and suddenly there was a magical portal, showing a small mountain bustling with worker even in the dead of night. I turned and saw my parents, standing calmly arm in arm meditating, working up their mana for what would be there last battle. I never saw them again, but bards opposed to Lord Brittish sing to this day of their battle, Silva included. It was said that as the battle was drawing to a close, my father could cast no longer, and drew his long sword and charged. When he we disarmed and they attempted to capture him, no weapon of theirs killed him, but instead it was an arrow fired from my mother’s own bow. She then drank a potion of the strongest poison and calmly walked into the burning temple, never to be seen again. Our lives changed drastically that day, instead of nobility we where now commoners, and while well off from a small cache of gold set aside, we where shocked with our new lifestyle. Armond, who took my name, provided for us with the income from his blacksmith wares, and Silva spent most of her time in the woods, playing her lute and making friends with the animals. Maharat took after Armond and became a smith of great skill, forging truly fierce weapons. Nagi and myself where to be warriors, and trained day and night, unrelenting in our drive for revenge. Soon we where all adults, Armond an old man, and he knew that his prime was passed. He passed the role as head of household on to me, but not without a condition. If we where to survive we would need allies, and he had found just that. The Purple Guardians of Honor, a fine and noble guild with a single goal to protect the innocent. They where opposed to Blackthorn, but even I was at that point, he had turned his back upon the once noble goals that he strove for. Within a few weeks we where all members of the guild, and loved the organization very dearly, making many friends. (Return to present. I stood speechless. I had never been told the whole story of that night, but my earliest memories where training outside out small woodland cottage with Triston, feeling a burning need for excellence but never knowing why. I suppose in my subconscious I too felt the need for vengeance.) “Why brother, do you feel the need to relive that night again after all these years? It is because of Silva? She knew that she was no match for that wyrm, but she chose to go. She fought well, and died bravely, you have not disappointed her or father in the least. You lead this family well, as well as father would, you have attained excellence.” He stood silent for a moment before speaking. “Did Silva ever tell you what fathers last words to her where?” “No, she never mentioned it.” “He said, ‘When the Dragon comes, go down swinging…” The room was very silent for some time after that. “When Silva died, I spent a great amount of time in mourning. I wandered these halls, then the halls of Olympus, trying to find some meaning to our inability to resurrect her. Then one day I was sitting in the Library of Olympus, reading over some old military records, trying to keep my mind occupied. I found an old account of a great battle against the forces of Lord Blackthorn. The name of the Text was “The taking of Lioness Keep.” The taking of our home, by PGOH forces…” I sat there shocked, unable to speak. Our brethren had been the ones that killed our entire family, took our home, and our lives with it all. But what to be done? “What do you plan to do about this Triston?” I asked “I will destroy them, as I promised our father long ago. I am bound by honor to, and I will succeed.” “That would serve nothing! They are our friends! Our NEW family! You cannot attack them!” I was screaming, I was crying. This was beyond insane, this was lunacy. “I will contact Ailes! She will talk some logic into you!” “Do what you think is necessary, I will not bend on this. I have no argument with Ailes, or any of the younger members, only with the Ancients who saw to that tragedy so many years ago.” Within a few moments I was able to bring Ailes, and wake Armond and Horus. We all stood in the foyer as Triston began suiting up. Ailes’ sister Espior had also come, aberrantly her and Triston had been spending a great deal of time together recently. Logans Brother Bishop had also come, and he stood quietly in the corner, great axe across his back. I just hoped that the group of us could talk him out of this fool quest. If only I knew how wrong that notion was. “Have you lost what little is left of your tiny mind!” Ailes screamed, clearly not impressed with his desire for revenge. “What is the point of all this!? It was so long ago, and these are your friends! You must not go through with this!” “I agree,” Said Armond and Horus in unison. Horus expanded. “Your mother was my sister, and I loved her greatly. But our family was in the wrong in that war, both moral and strategically. We committed several very similar acts, and they finally came back to end us.” “It does not matter! I made a vow to my father as he went forth to give is life for all of ours! If you cannot respect that then you are a fool. I will not harm any of you intentionally, but if you get in my way I will fall you as quickly as any other.” With that he pulled forth a kryss, glowing with a soft red hue. That weapon actually scared me, and a single stab from it could fell a man if he was unready, but to live through several was unheard of. Several was a matter of seconds in Triston’s hands. He stood up, and began walking to the door, his backpack laden with supplies. “An Ex Por! I cannot let you leave Triston!” Ailes Screamed. In a whirl of motion her sister Espior twirled her spear, embedding it into her leg and breaking her concentration. At that same moment the feared kryss was at her throat, not drawing blood, but able to with a heartbeats movement. “I will be going with you.” Espior said calmly, pulling her spear out and wiping the blood off on her sister’s cloak. They then both turned without a word, and began walking to the door again. Horus seemed to have other ideas for the ending of this conflict, and tossed a purple potion at the doorway, more to get there attention then anything. It never made it. Running forward and drawing his axe in one simple movement, Bishop smashed it midair with the flat of the axe, sending glass and burning sulfur across the rooms into the faces of all present but Triston and Espior. As the commotion calmed, he looked up to Triston and in his deep and relaxed voice simply said, “I too shall go.” They walked out unharmed, as nobody dared take another move, not with their numbers. (The scene changes, we are now at Castle Olympus. Espior, Bishop and Triston stand together on the battlements, looking down at the bay a little way ahead of them) “Not to discredit you fearless leader, but how exactly do you plan to fell an Empire with three people? Not that that’s an issue, you where planning on doing it single handedly an hour ago.” Espior asked. “You mean four correct?” Came a voice from behind. Out stepped Razak, a younger member of the guild, and brother of Schneider. Instantly all three drew their weapons, leveling them upon the lone figure. He simply raised his hands, palms forward. “I am unarmed, and a friend. I am here to help. I wish to see the Empire fall just as all of you do; I simply have my own reasons. But you three are in need of every ally you can get, so why not?” “How do you know why we are here?” Triston asked, clearly with little trust. “I am a mage, I have my means. That is all unimportant; the questions that need to be asked are simple. How are we to go about doing this, now there is a good question.” “One stone at a time if we must…” With that Triston tossed a purple potion at the Guild Stone. He knew it would not hurt it, but it made him feel better nonetheless.

eek! The Great one speaks!!! *sits in stuned awe for a moment* Well, its good to hear your getting things under control, and I can sympathise with the work issue. I for one was working two jobs for a while back there, and was putin in #### near the hours you are now. (Thanks to insomnia I was still resonably present on UO) Either way we all understand that RL comes a world before UO, and wish you the best of luck in those endevors. With all that said, good to see ya back! *Quickly rubs head for luck and runs like the wind*

To all whom it conscerns or could! I am converting my tower into yet another one stop shopping mall!!! To all interested in placing a vendor there, I will allow you to do so free of charge assuming the charicter running it is a member of PGoH!!! Personally, I will be running the following vendors, but if you would like to add a DIFFERENT kind, or yet think you could do a better job then me at mantaining it, then lemmie hear about it! Kegs Magic Weps GM weps GM metal AR of all ingot types GM leather AR of all leather types Bulk Rescources (regs, ingots, leather, boards) House Add-ons Runebooks/Scrolls/Spellbooks I would love it if someone would place a vendor for: Powerscrolls Filled Runebooks Plant Rescources Rares of any level BODS/BOD rewards Cooking Items (Tribal Paint in perticular) GM Poisoned weps Feel free to contact me and Ill add yah right on, but I will say this much now. Vendors that are undermaintained beyond reason WILL be deleated, and prices will have to be fairly competitive as this is in Fel. Once again PGoH members will be able to do this free of charge, just get ahold of me and its as good as done! I am looking to open this within the week, as I am stocking my vendors as fast as sanity will permit!

late shamte, I said it once and ill say it again,

hear hear! Welcome back to the asylum.. erm institution.. erm nuthouse... bah, just welcome back!

bah, like anyone is scared of ange Well, I as usual will not be able to make this due to work, but will happily chip in on prizes also. (Thats the prob with server jobs, you always work when nobody else does) If you need anything to help ya throw this together, you know id be happy to help

WOW! Finnaly!!! Congrats Earwen!

This saddens me greatly, to express any further opinion on this issue would be pointless. Whether you should decide to return to us, or take another path, should you ever need anything at all call upon me, I will always be there to help.

here here, well done boss

I sympathise with you on being run ragged BB, when I got this second job I had to start working sunday nights, and am now unable to attend myself. If anyone would be so kind as to post news from meetings on this forum, it would be a great help to many. Thanks!

As far as I can tell this is a list of all PGoH in the tourny. Wolf/Logan Neo/:) Myself/David Blain (Not in PGoH, but many of you know him) If anyone else in the guild is planin on partaking, please let us know, itll make it more interesting. Wouldnt it be fun if we ended up paired in the first round???

ok REALLY cant post that one... :O

Dont feel too bad Logan, a trained monkey could to my job(s). Then again, an untrained monkey could handle ange's. :smilewinkgrin:

Aight you archers out there, I just went to do an item count reduction on my tower in fel and I gotta say, over the last couple of years I have accumulated an insane number of bows, but never an archer. So, in the interest of lockdown space, im givin em away. Thats right, 80+ force and power bows (about a 50/30 split) to the first person who takes the time to get ahold of me and come to my house. Theres some good uns in here including silver, supreamly acc, and indestructable, so this really is a great grab for any archer. If the leader of the archer cohort wants them to donate to the troops, thats fine too. Point is, if I dont get a response in 3 days, there gettin tossed into the old trash can, period. ####, I dont even care if you take em and sell em, I just dont wanna be bothered with it any more. :shakehead: Hope someone takes em though, would be a terrable waist.

Ok, the situations no better today, just doubled! I gotta second job! Sorry if Im not available as much between 5-10 from now on, but I gotta pay the bills to play uo, and this is gunna add up to 60+hours a week

Welcome back! Good to see a new face, and im sure well be seeing pleny of yah. Feel free to drop a line anytime you need a hand, im always quite able

I wait tables and bartend. Far from the best work, benefits suck, money is crappy because tipping is ghetto here, and the hours are killer. Come to think of it, why am I still in this buisness. Oooooh yeah, school, gotta pay for school.

While I would love to be able to post my agreement over the near total lack of guild participation as of late, I too missed this last event, and have no place in doing so. (My apologise Lora, ive been bed ridden) What I can say is this... Lately people have been more interested in there personal agendas then spending time and energies with the guild, which while understandable is unacceptable when it reaches the extent it currently has. You can ask many guild members and they will agree that at least five or so times a day I drop everything im doing and go to help a guildmate, weither it be clearing a spawn near there house, making them a few suits of armour, helping beat down a mare for easy taming, or just goin and wackin a few critters with them because they cant get help elsewhere and want to kill cyclops'. While im sure many do such things, more is needed. We need more numbers in our guild events, more attendence to meetings, and most vitaly more support of other members who are sacraficing there time and energy to make something entertaining happen for the rest of us. If this is too much to ask, then you really must wonder why your in a guild in the first place...

My apologies to anyone whos tried to get ahold of me the last week or so, it turns out that that illness that went away a few weeks ago was just taking a nap. Now I have some sort of Viral Blood Infaction. (Joy :shakehead: ) I should be MIA over the next few days, as the only time I crawl out of bed is to get more regs for my macroin mage :smilewinkgrin: . I should be back by monday or tuesday (hopefully) but until then I wish everyone the best of luck with whatever endevors they may partake of. On a side note, IV's suck, and hurt. A lot.

Yay! Name yer price, You know ill "hook it up!"

Ok, if there are any Tamers out there with extra time and little money (or just not enough) I am willing to pay very well for a FULLY trained beetle. (ok resist dont matter) I want the bomb beetle for Arms, but lack the time or skill (lore) to do it myself. I am able to pay in many ways, from cold hard cash to ingots of any color to power scrolls. If anyone is interested please contact me, and as I said, im paying very well.

ok ok not to break my trend of EA hatred over the last few weeks, but hey, they have apeased me. How did they do this? By introducing something not only accessable, but for the love of god useful!!! Im gunna train mine up to leetness and rox the mining world! Seriously though, little info for you miners out there. They can hold 133 large ore at one time, still be ridden while holding stuff, and best of all, can take bout anything in a normal miners area no prob! What do I forsee comming of this? Warriors riding bug into dung's and using them to store loot, thus turnin a 10k run into a 60k run. Am I a genius? Prolly :smilewinkgrin: Just this once... Good idea EA. (there still pixil crack though)

1000 apologies to everyone who showed up, I am dealing with a very sevear and sudden RL issue that requires my attention. If yall are willing to work with me, id like to schedual for another night, so please post a time/day thats good for you