XelenaTheBard
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(2/25/03 2:39 pm)
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The Shining Host (New RP Guild History)
Otavioaka slowly walked through the halls of Guk. Earlier that eve, her brother had fallen in battle against the denizens of the lower sections of Guk. To her horror, he was then animated and forced to join the ranks of the undead Knights.
He was now an abomination to the Lord Marr.
Within the hour, the entirety of Guk was summoned by their elders to a meeting. In this meeting, she had seen the Lord Marr himself and heard his words. Times were changing, and she found her mind was in a state of confusion.
The young Froglok turned a corner and began climbing the ladder to her room. Still hurt by the earlier events, Otavioaka slumped down in front of the fire. As she watched its light, she began to slip to a trance.
For generations, their Lord Marr’s father, Tarew, had given visions to the Frogloks of Guk. He was instrumental in the creation of their race, and cared for them deeply.
As the fires danced down low, a strange scene danced before Otavioaka’s eyes; unbeknownst to her, the same vision was held by all the living Frogloks of Guk.
Fierce battle had broken out in Innothule Swamp between the Frogloks and the Trolls of Grobb. The forces of the Trolls were diminishing quickly, and the Chosen Ones were swiftly making their way towards the city of Grobb. Under the instruction of Shin Crusader Grolup, the tide of the war was in their favor.
With a heraldic shout, the poured into the city of Grobb. Soon, the city was taken, but at a great cost.
Lying near the former Shadow Knight’s guild hall, Grolup was still. A poll of blood lay under the brave knight of Mithaniel Marr.
A voice snapped Otavioaka from her dreams. Swiftly, she wiped away her tears and scurried down from her room.
Grolup was calling the Chosen Ones of Marr to arms…
______________________________________________________________
The Bashers never knew what hit them. Within the hour, they were besieged by the armies of Guk. The Frogloks seemed to just spring forth from the waters of the swamp without warning, multiplying like rabbits.
Standing further back with the Jin masters and students, Otavioaka watched the heated battle as she rained fire and ice down with her fellow wizards. To her, it seemed as though for every Froglok that fell, five Trolls followed them.
A few long hours later, Otavioaka was running towards the Shadow Knight guild hall, deep in the city of Grobb. She was nearly there when a large Troll stepped out in front of her, leveling his Innoruuk’s Curse at the young frog’s throat.
“Hullo der, lil`bitch frogger,” he snarled darkly, “I is gonna smash you now!”
Before Otavioaka could even scream, Grolup stepped between them, his great sword blocking the Curse’s fall. The Troll wheeled around, striking this time for the Shin Crusader. With grace, the Knight stepped aside and the blade flew passed him. Emitting a grunt, the Troll again turned on the Shin Crusader, a feral gleam in his eyes.
Horrified, Otavioaka watched the fight, knowing with terrible clarity what the vision had been. For a moment, she pondered over whether or not she should assist Grolup in his battle or if that would just make things worse. Would it even matter?
Grolup’s blade bit deep into the Troll’s belly, sending bits of his innards to the ground. Howling with pain and rage, the Troll fell into berserker frenzy, flurrying upon the Shin Crusader with his last bit of life force. Otavioaka cried out a spell, burning the flesh from his bones, but even that did not stop him. Though dead, his momentum carried him forward and the Innoruuk’s Curse impaled Grolup’s chest. Reeling backwards, the Knight’s sword crashed to the ground, leaving a haunting echo in the courtyard as the frog fell into the grass.
Screaming for a cleric, Otavioaka hopped to the fallen Knights side. A large pool of blood was forming beneath him. With the last of his strength, Grolup pulled the Curse from his chest and smiled up at the young wizard.
“Ah, young one,” he rasped as several other Frogloks began to enter the courtyard. “Tarew Marr…showed me…in my vision…before…before the battle…”
“I’m sorry, m`lord,” she cried, taking the relaxing had of the Knight. “This is all my fault. I saw your death in my vision, and I tried to stop it only to find that I was what –“
Grolup laughed slightly, soon coughing as blood sputtered from his wound.
“Last eve, after the elders had gathered us,” Grolup croaked, “when the visions began…the Marrs revealed to me…that the one who would lead this…company, this…guild, would be the one I saved today. I knew…that today I would die.”
The dying frog motioned slowly to his great sword, and Otavioaka walked to it, barely able to lift the weapon. Such weapons were awkward to her, as the Jin only used daggers and staves. Looking quite silly, the young wizard stood, leaning against the Shin Crusader’s blade.
“To you, I leave my sword…and with it, my guild…The Shining Host, a family of Chosen Ones…lead them well,” he whispered, his voice somehow filling the courtyard.
Otavioaka nearly dropped the sword. Her eyes were wide, and filled with confusion. Racing, her thoughts became muddled and disoriented. She was not yet finished her training with the Jin, and now she was being asked to lead a group of individuals she didn’t even know.
“But…but I am not a warrior and I am certainly not a paladin,” Otavioaka exclaimed. “I am but a Jin, not even finished my training! I am not a leader…”
Grolup sighed slightly, another sputter of blood expulsing from his chest. His eyes rolled back slightly and he shook for a moment. Soon, with the last of his will, the dying Shin Crusader spoke his final words.
“In time, you shall find one who the sword speaks to,” he breathed, “together, you shall make fine guild masters. Trust in the choices of the Marrs, young one, and live a life of valor…”
His voice trailed off, and his head rolled back. The flow of his blood had slowed to a trickle, and a final rasp echoed from his lips. As the gathering Frogloks watched in silence, Grolup’s body began to slowly sink into the earth as it dissolved into an ephemeral mass. Soon, only his hollow armour remained, falling with a muted clang into the grass.
Once he was gone, passed beyond the vale with the others who had fallen that day, the eyes of all those in the courtyard turned to the young Jin leaning against the Shin Crusader’s great sword. Otavioaka suddenly felt very shy, and she moved as though to hide behind her new sword. Things change so swiftly, without warning. Just a few days ago, she had been just another Jin in the city of Guk, and now…
She closed here eyes, leaning her forehead against the pommel. As she sighed deeply, a figure began to fade into view. It was the same figure that the Chosen Ones had seen in the elders’ meeting the night before. He was large, clad in gleaming silver plate. A dark reddish brown beard was visible, as his helm did not cover his entire face. Sparkling blue eyes looked out at her, and a blazing fire of the same colour ran along his blade.
“Do not be troubled, young Jin. When you find that your heart is threatened by doubt,” he said, “remember that you and your guild mates are the ones I chose to lead your brethren, and walk as nobles in the lands of Norrath.”
The visions cleared, and Otavioaka opened her eyes. Slowly, she raised her head to look at the courtyard and at the other Frogloks gathered there. They had not moved, and she realized that only a few seconds had passed; they were waiting for her to do…something.
Otavioaka lifted the sword slightly, holding its hilt with both hands. It still touched the ground, and its point dragged beside the young Jin wizard as she began to walk about the courtyard. She looked into each person’s face, until they would bow or curtsy to her. Each raised Otavioaka’s confidence, and soon she walked tall and with the grace of Marr.
When she finished walking about the courtyard, Otavioaka again leaned against the sword. Rather than hide behind it, she stood slightly to the side of the weapon.
“Those who served under the deceased Shin Crusader Grolup,” she shouted, “We shall be gathering soon, just outside the city, in the swamp of Innothule. Please make your way there.”
Carefully, Otavioaka tried lifting the great sword once more. A nearby shaman muttered a spell, and the young Jin suddenly felt incredibly focused. Strength flowed into her limbs, and she found that she was able to lift the sword with easy. Though she lacked the skills of a fighter, whispers told her how to hold the sword properly. Strange as it may be, the weapon looked somehow right in the robed Froglok’s hand.
______________________________________________________________
Vereclaud hobbled our of the triage area that had been set up just inside the city. The young frog had been badly burned by an angry Troll shaman during the earlier battle, and had awoken in the makeshift bed. The clerics had revived him, and healed the majority of his burns. Most of the royal blue and purple velvet had been burned away from beneath his silver armour. Much to his annoyance, Vereclaud found that the chain mail pinched his skin every chance that it got. Sighing, he raised his head to survey his new home.
To his surprise, many of his guild mates, his comrades in arms under the Shin Crusader Grolup, were making their way out into Innothule Swamp. Some were teary-eyed and others seemed to be in a state of shock. Behind them all, a small female Jin wizard walked with Grolup’s great sword in her hand. Vereclaud’s eyes widened at the sight, and a cold voice filled his mind and echoed in his brain.
“Grolup is dead,” it whispered, “The role of leadership has passed on to a child not even of our guild…”
The Shin Knight frowned slightly as the voice continued.
“But she was told that there was another who could help her lead…”
Vereclaud followed the strange Jin out into Innothule. The remainder of his guild crowded about this young Jin as though she were the Lady Marr herself. While she seemed to possess at least some charisma and a level of leadership, as he watched her eyes, he caught a hint of fear. It was clear to him then that she was vulnerable, and her position could be shattered easily.
This did not sit well with Vereclaud.
“Chose Ones, those of The Shinning Host. Today we achieved a great victory, but at a great cost,” she said, her voice softer than he expected. “In this battle, we have lost the Shin Crusader Grolup, the master of this guild and friend to many of you. I extend my condolences for your loss.”
The Jin wizardess then carefully lowered the great sword, its point slipping into the wet ground. She stood to the side of it, leaning against the pommel, one webbed hand resting on the crossbar. While it was odd to see a robed figure with a great sword, Vereclaud found himself intrigued with her situation.
“You do not know me, and likewise, I do not think that I recognized many of you,” she continued. “I am but a simple Jin wizardess, and my name is Otavioaka. As you can see, I am younger than many of you here; I am barely in my sixteenth year upon this plane.”
Whispers rose up, and the young Jin looked about her. Vereclaud dropped his eyes slightly, pondering the entire matter. He disliked the idea of someone that was not one of them leading the guild but at the same time, he did not want to cause the young wizardess any distress. Slowly, he made his way forward towards Otavioaka.
“I did not ask for this, any of this. However this is what has been handed to me with not only the grace of Sir Grolup, but with the blessing of Mithaniel Marr,” she said, quietly, her small voice somehow filling the small area. “And if it is the will of Lord Marr then it shall be done. But know this, there is another that will come to us, who will step forward and lead with me when the time is right. Grolup told me this with his last breaths. It is someone you know, and someone you can trust, and someone that you love.”
Silence fell when she stopped speaking. After a moment, more whispers rose up from the gathered guild, and many things drifted into Vereclaud’s ears. Some were afraid, others angry, all were confused; none understood why Grolup had done this to them, and what truly was happening. As Vereclaud listened, another voice, the new one, floated into his mind.
“Tell her, now, that you follow her. Tell her that I told you to do this,” the voice said.
Pausing, Vereclaud stood before all of his guild mates, and this new mistress. While the voice had been true so far, he did not know if he could trust it yet. Shrugging slightly, he turned his full attention to the young Jin named Otavioaka. Casually, he crossed his arms across his chest and then rose up a hand to her.
The Jin stood, looking at him. She obviously did not know who he was from any other Froglok, and that slightly annoyed Vereclaud. His lineage was well known in the guild, as it should be with a son of Kings. But then again, it was somewhat of a burden. As the third son of a king, Vereclaud really had no place with his family, and so he was sent away to the Church of Marr. Proving to be a formidable fighter, he was quickly taken under the wing of Shin Crusader Grolup and trained as a Paladin.
“I have asked myself, as I have stood here listening to all of my guild mates and listening to you,” he said, “why should I follow one that I do not know. And I was answered, by that.”
Vereclaud pointed at the sword, and continued speaking, “It told me to follow you, it told me the truths of what you have said. While I never knew before that moment that Sir Grolup’s sword was sentient, I do not believe that this is an illusion of my mind.”
The gathered Frogloks were stunned by his words into silence. Otavioaka’s eyes had widened for only a second when he spoke, and then her face was covered with a mask of calm. Quietly, she began to walk towards Vereclaud while lifting up the sword again.
______________________________________________________________
Rynoaka watched as the son of the Kings walked towards their new guild leader. While it was an unexpected move, the shamaness did not think that he would be so bold as to attack her. His words echoed over the crowd, and she feared that perhaps the death of his mentor had driven Vereclaud mad.
Despite her young years, her small size, and her lack of training, Otavioaka carried the fallen Crusader’s sword as though it were natural to her. The Jin walked towards Vereclaud calmly, and Rynoaka could not read her expression. Soon the pair stood nearly toe to toe; the royal knight looking down at their new mistress, and their mistress looking up at the royal knight. It was almost as if the young Jin was searching through his soul.
“If you truly heard the sword’s voice, tell me this one thing,” she whispered. “Tell me, word for word, what Grolup said with his dying breath.”
Vereclaud looked down at the small Jin. After a moment, he whispered something into her ear, and her eyes widened. The mask of calm was shattered and she stepped backwards, offering the sword without kneeling to him. He took hold of the hilt, nodding to the Jin as he lifted it away from her, moving it before him to look at it fully. Suddenly, he backed away from Otavioaka, swinging the blade in a wide arch, ending again before him.
“Before his death, Grolup spoke to me, telling that there would be one who would hear the call of his blade, one who would join me in leading this guild. Where I am mistress of this guild, Vereclaud is the master. My words are his words are my words and you will hearken unto them well.”
Several of her guild mates gasped, Rynoaka herself was not surprised by this outcome. The spirits had granted her visions, blessed by Tarew Marr, and she had seen these things. Pushing her way through her guild mates, the shamaness came to stand across from them in the center of their gathering. Setting her stave before her on the ground, she knelt before the pair.
“I, Rynoaka of The Shining Host, Shamaness of some skill, follow you both,” she said, “I follow Mistress Otavioaka and Master Vereclaud.”
Much to their surprise, one by one, each member of The Shining Host presented their weapon, and knelt to offer their loyalty. Otavioaka smiled down at the shamaness as Vereclaud placed a hand on her shoulder. Soon they all began to walk back into Gukta, their new home, together.
((OOC: The Shining Host is a predominately Froglok role play guild, however any neutral and good aligned characters are invited to seek membership IC. There will be a "Test of Trust" given to those who seek to join, as the Froglok position in Norrath is quite new and they currently have few allies beyond the Northmen (Barbarians) from previous events. If you are interested, be sure to read the Legacy of Ykesha lore found at www.legecyofykesha.com as it has several insights about Froglok society.
-Otavioaka
Mistress of The Shining Host))
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