Dawn of Darkness

The bright and full moon had just begun it’s leisurely descent behind the unreachable horizon in the realm of Laografan. At the edge of Darkroot Forest, a group of lightly armoured elves traversed the treetops under the cover of the thick canopy. The reason behind their disturbance of a usually calm and quiet night? A report of a large collection of humans gathered by the base of the Vadensnaw mountains. Thus, six of the greatest Elven warriors were chosen to investigate the race that had been experiencing the most internal turmoil and why they would choose to gather at the crossroads between the Elven realm and the Dwarven realm.

The leader and most experienced member of the reconnaissance squad was Sigmarius James, Prince of Darkroot. Out of the twenty four winters he’d spent alive, fourteen of them were spent training and honing his warfaring craft. His younger brother had followed in his father’s footsteps, choosing to study diplomacy and inter realm politics. He, on the other hand, idolised his mother; The Warrior Queen of Darkroot. Tales of her archery prowess and heroism were spread all across the realm and he vowed to honour the legacy one day.

Sigma landed on one of the last trees before the ground flattened and gave way to the Human valley. He raised a closed fist to signal the five others behind him to come to a stop. Once they did, he turned to look at the elves he had the honour of calling comrades. These six warriors had all experienced most of their training together and rose through the ranks together. Sigma earned the title of Darkleaf, leader of the elven military, while his comrades all took various positions as lieutenants and generals. He could count on them to have his back but also to call him out when he was wrong. It was the kind of friendship people searched their whole lives for.

“Alright, crew. I spotted a faint trail of smoke coming from just around the bend of the nearest mountain. That probably means the humans aren’t far off. Remember, this is just a survey and report mission. Stay out of line of sight.”

Before Sigma had the chance to turn back around, the elf known as Doa, spoke up. From the calmest of moments to the fiercest of battles, Doa’s voice was as beautiful as a song. A fact many forgot once she showed her prowess with her bladed staff.

“Are we seriously gonna depart into a possibly dangerous encounter without giving thought to All-Mother? Having a blessing from our Goddess might ensure we return safely.”

All-Mother. She was the deity that gave birth to the natural world and blessed the elves with the enormous and expansive forest they called their home. They all shared the faith, however Doa was the one most often leading the group in prayer. Doa hadn’t always been the invested believer she was at this moment. Her parents were one of the few elves who did not share the faith, thus she wasn’t introduced until she joined the military school. It was there she discovered that nothing consoled her and centered her more than prayer. Sigma knew better than to argue with his comrade, knowing full well that she’d get her way in the end anyway.

“You’re right. We don’t know what’s waiting for us so it’d be nice to have All-Mother watching over us.”

Sigma agreed before another one of his comrades, Iman, chose that moment to interject with a shake of her head. It was true that the squad carried the same faith but Iman was the most devout. Not because of extensive prayer like Doa but because unlike the others, her faith had never even been so much as shaken throughout her entire life. Optimistic was not the word to describe Iman as she was nothing if not a realist. Simply, said realistic view of situations came with an acceptance that All-Mother’s will be done.

"Whether we find the time to pray or not, All-Mother is watching over us. Our prayers are simply one form of gratitude. Let us show our thanks with haste as I doubt the humans are keen on staying slow with their pace.”

Before anyone else could chime in, Sigma began voicing his gratitude for the Matron of Nature. There were many times when the group had long discussions on their different views on faith and it’s practices and while they were healthy and informative, Sigma knew the group did not have that kind of time tonight. After a few moments, the group was satisfied with it’s showing of faith and Sigma rose to his feet.

“Remember, stay out of sight.”

With that last reminder out of the way, the Elven Prince took a breath and then swan dived from the tallest branch of the near four hundred feet (one hundred twenty two meters) tall tree. He expertly used the branches closer the ground to swing around and slow his descent. His feet eventually landed on the ground with virtually no sound at all. His fellow warriors followed suit and joined him at the base of the wooden giants that made up the forest with the same absence of sound. Now the tricky part would be staying as stealthy without the density of the forest to provide unseen vantage points

The six formed a single file line as they stayed low to the ground and hugged the base of the mountain. Unlike much of Laografan, elven armour consisted of thick leather, fur and a surprisingly flexible bark only found in their forest. This meant that they were free to move at a quicker pace while staying virtually silent. This would prove useful for as they made the bend, a collection of raspy and guttural voices caused them to slow their step to a crawl. It was only when Sigma leaned out ever so slightly that he saw where the voices were originating from.

Where once there was once nothing but flat and baron land, stood a large camp teeming with what seemed like thousands of human warriors all in heavy armour. There were other figures in the distance that seemed far too large to be real but the elf needed a clearer view. The sounds that were coming from the camp sounded unnatural and monstrous. Whatever their reasoning for being here, they were expecting a fight. Sigma slipped back behind the cover of the bend and turned to his crew.

“There’s no way we’re staying out of sight here on the ground. We’re gonna have to climb the mountain so we can get a better look but…”

Sigma paused, giving his comrades an uneasy look. He was hoping he was wrong. Hoping that this would turn out to be just a misunderstanding. He was not looking forward to the task of having to convince his father of the imminent Human threat. Still, he had to voice his suspicions out loud lest they consumed his state of mind.

“It looks like the humans are preparing for War. Must be that damn Human King, Saxon. He’s been raiding the villages of his kin for many seasons. Unifying the human race, I hear he calls it.”

Izipho, second oldest to Sigma, frowned slightly at the possible reasoning. He then gave a sigh and shook his head.

“He’s known to treat his allies and his enemies equally and that is no way for a monarch to rule. We have to find a way to help them.”

Sigma shook his head with a doubtful look in response to Izipho. Iz, as Sigma affectionately referred to him, was the most selfless of the group. He was not born in the capital like many of the others but lower to the ground near the edge of the forest. It wasn’t poverty by any stretch however it was nowhere near as grand as living in the capital. There were so many instances of the elf willingly choosing the short end of the stick so that others would not need to. Whatever time was not already designated to his duties as an Elven Warrior he devoted to the less fortunate.

“My father is committed to keeping us out of Human affairs, Iz. I’ve already told him about Saxon and what I know of the Human unification yet he’s convinced that the warfare is simply internal. Even if the humans are victims as you see them, King James will not be lending a helping hand.”

There was a subtle but cold undertone to Sigma’s words that the other five knew not to question. The relationship between Sigmarius and his Father was not that of close knit kin. King James wanted Sigma to become a politician like him but that obviously did not come to fruition. Since the younger Elf took his position as leader of the military, the two only conversed on official capacity. Casual conversation between the two was highly rare and almost always ended in raised tensions.

So the group let the brisk air that swirled like invisible ballroom dancers from the base of the mountain to its peak carry the unspoken frustration from their leader. By the time they made it to the first natural landing, a hundred feet (thirty metres) off the ground, Sigma’s thoughts had shifted from that of his father back to the mission on hand. The six elves laid flat on their stomachs and peered over the edge at the large human camp down below. What they looked down on with disbelief was a scene none of them were quite ready for.

From the base of the mountain to seemingly past the horizon, armoured humans alongside unfamiliar beasts filled the expanse. The sounds from before were now louder and even more unnatural. It was akin to that of feral wildlife hunting for prey. From this vantage point, Sigma could see some of the human faces clearly and they certainly did not seem well. They were pale enough to see their veins beneath their skin, now a sickly black. Their eyes were overcome with a void as their pupils were non-existent.

The horned beasts dwarfed the humans by about six feet (one metre) and were incredibly muscular. What they lacked in armour, they made up for with their anatomic offensive capabilities. They possessed multiple talons on their hand and feet and their jagged sharp teeth could not be contained by their mouth and so they were always visible. Their skin seemed to be made of stone and thus enhanced the overwhelming intimidation one felt when looking at it.

“If we’re to convince your father of anything, we’re going to need evidence. This is far more than just in race squabbling. King Saxon has far greater intentions in mind. We have to be prepared if he sets his eyes on Mecca.”

The voice of Junrei, the stealthiest elf in the realm, drew his leader’s attention from the sight far below. Like Iz, Junrei had not been born in the capital. They were born to nomadic parents and thus traveled all over Darkroot and sometimes even beyond. It was the capital, home to the first and largest temple dedicated to All-Mother, that Junrei longed to journey too. When they arrived, they knew they would give anything to defend the holy city and thus, they joined the elven military ranks.

“He’ll have to make due with our words. It’s too risky and we’re heavily outnumbered to say the least. I hate retreating as much as anyone else but our deaths here would serve no purpose.”

Sigma was the first to begin moving, though he moved at a snail’s pace. Slowly, the others followed suit. The humans seemed so preoccupied in whatever it was that they were planning, they didn’t notice the six elves descending down the side of the mountain. At least, not at first. Unfortunately for Sigma, a stone foothold was not as secure as he believed and it crumbled under his weight. This caused a chain reaction which caused a fair amount of rubble to come crashing to the ground. The humans and their beasts were undoubtedly alerted now.

“Run! Get to the forest!!”

Sigma commanded as he dropped to one knee and readied his bow to provide covering fire. A collective and gut wrenching roar echoed across the valley and soon, countless human warriors were sprinting around the bend. Sigma was able to pick off a few humans as the rest of his elves descended but it took far more arrows than he imagined. By the time the horned beasts made their way around the bend, he was void of arrows. So he popped to his feet and he sprinted faster than he’d ever sprinted in his life. Feverish praying overtook his mind in hopes that All-Mother might see him and his crew through this moment.

The elves had made it back to the tree line with not a moment to spare as war spears and arrows started to strike the bark of the wooden giants. Much like the natural wildlife of the forest, the elves scurried up the trees and fled deeper within the woodlands towards their haven. The humans would not be able to follow them thankfully as an ancient magical charm was bestowed on the capital of Darkroot. Only an elf could willingly lead an outsider to the capital and only the monarchs of the capital could accept said visitor. This was a fact that the elves were never more grateful for than on this night.

The capital of Darkroot was a marvel of architecture as it rested perfectly between the four most enormous trees in the Elven realm. The base, on which all of the capital rested on, was composed of stone and the thickest roots and branches imaginable. They combined to make a surprisingly level ground that was easy to navigate. The residential and commercial areas surrounded the entrance port while the Castle and the temple to All-Mother sat side by side on the other side of the Capital. Thankfully for the six warriors still fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them, they would not have to use the public port as there was one closer to the Castle for authorised personnel.

To reach said port that sat a little over six hundred feet (one hundred eighty two metres) off the ground, the elves used a series of nearby branches to propel themselves upward. The branches were made of the same flexible bark that was present in their armour. Their training taught them the precise way to land on said branches to keep as much momentum as possible. After a while of fleeing, the elves had made it back to their sanctuary just before the noonday sun reached its peak.

A portmaster stood stoic and vigilant in leather armour as he surveyed the surrounding forest. He wasn’t expecting any admittants which was why the sounds of feverish climbing and heavy breaths made him raise his guard. His narrowed eyes widened at the sight of the elven squad climbing over the barrier as he headed over to them.

“Prince Sigmarius, you only left last dusk yet here you’ve returned before noon. Should I alert the King and Queen to your presence?”

After Sigma composed himself, he stood up straight with a new resolve. His expression was steeled as he looked, not at the Portmaster but past him, to somewhere deep within the castle. He knew exactly where his Father would be, this close to noon. His eyes drifted down from the castle to the elf who was still waiting for directions and shook his head.

“No need. I know exactly where they both are but I’ll head to my father, first. I know mom will listen to me but I gotta get through to the King.”

Sigma was speaking more to himself than to the Portmaster but he never broke eye contact. After he responded, he turned back to his crew and gave them a silent nod to signal their dismissal for the time being. As much as he wanted the five people who centered him by his side for the upcoming interaction, he knew that this was a conversation that would not stay civil. He didn’t want to risk them receiving any of his father’s ire for being associated with him.

Four of the five elves needed only that subtle look before they began walking towards the barracks and further into the capital. Vasten, the last elf, stood there an extra moment and gave Sigma a doubtful look. Vasten was Sigma’s oldest friend and most trusted confidant. He knew the Prince was attempting to save him from the King’s scorn but he also knew that Sigma would need someone after the emotional heavyweight fight the Prince was about to enter. So instead of leaving like the others, Vasten stayed put and raised a single eyebrow at Sigma.

“If you think I’m gonna leave you be, so you can fight with your dad and then go get drunk, you’re sadly mistaken. I wish you’d quit the ale for good but since that isn’t happening, I’m not gonna let you drown in it.”

Sigma hated to admit it but Vasten was right. The only hope that the Prince had for the rest of this day was that the palace pub was empty by the time the verbal grudge match finished with his father. Of course, now that hope was shattered under the promise that his friend would be there to stop the session of self loathing.

“Tryna get me to starve myself like you’re so keen on doing?”

Sigma asked with a smirk. Of course, Vasten simply fasted at the beginning of every season for seven sun cycles. It was something he picked up when he was very young from his first commander. Through this fasting cycle, Vasten found a way to remind himself of the less fortunate and constant dedication to better the world. Sigma and the others made small slights off of it in jest but they all respected him for it.

“You can deflect all you want, Sig. I know that’s exactly what’s gonna happen. So that’s why I had Junrei steal your purse towards the end of our trip. I know that won’t stop you, but it’ll slow you down long enough for me to find you if you try to sneak away.”

Sigma reached down to his side to find his purse was indeed missing. He silently cursed Jumrei’s uncanny stealth before sighing aloud. No drink was worth this much trouble and he had to admit, silently of course, that Vasten had a point. He only truly drank after arguments with his father and the ale never made him feel any better. It just numbed the internal strife which was certainly not a suitable cure. So with a sigh, the Prince turned and began walking into the confines of the castle. He was well aware that Vasten would not be more than three steps behind him but that instilled confidence in him more than anything else.

The Prince was so lost in his thoughts, as he and his comrade walked silently, he was almost startled when he looked up to see the doors to his father’s study drawing near. He came to stop in front of the doors and took a deep breath to steel himself. If he was going to escape this encounter as the verbal victor, he couldn’t give his opponent even the slightest hint of doubt. Though, there was plenty of doubt in Sigma’s mind and for good reason.

Of all the feats the Prince had accomplished and added to his legacy, persuading his father in conversation was not one of them. Anything he wanted the council’s approval on usually came with the backing of his Queen and not the King. Sigma had grown accustomed to this unspoken agreement but now, he’d have to break the silence and challenge his Father once again. So with one last look back at Vasten, Sigma entered his father’s study to lobby for the fate of Laografan.