Disclaimer: This story is based on the world of Everquest 2, created and owned by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE). This is just fiction created as I role played a character in this world.
Yurika watches as the Iksars perform their rites of passage. As they say farewell to the late Commander Xillis The Third. He died yesterday on an orc raid. She tilts her head forward in respect to those fallen together with the Commander.
In the voice of Yurika deep within her thoughts, 'Iksars tend to change their names when they reach a certain rank. He named himself as a Commander that gave his life for his people 2000 years ago. He was the second to do so, and thus receives the acknowledgment of being The Third.'
She raises her head as Xellious addresses the remaining forces of the Iksar, and listens.
Xellious says, "I'm the new Commander, Noz you'll take my former place as Lieutenant!" Noz nods respectfully. Xellious proceeds to enlighten their spirits with a series of cheers in the Iksar tongue. Morale has been dampening in these last few days. There is no word from the main force, and the orc attacks seem to gain more precision with each new attack.
A day passes by.
Xellious asks for Yurika's attention in the town square. He sits in what was a fountain. Yurika walks slowly limping with her right leg. With a heavy Iksar accent, Xellious asks, "Why is that berserker so adamant? Sentries say she is heading north through the mountains."
Yurika responds, "This was... her land. She was born here. Orcs took this place from her. The blood that has drenched this land was of her brethren. She is in all her right to come for revenge..." Stops for a moment to reevaluate what she is thinking, then interrupted by Xellious.
He says, "When she arrived, she lift up this barrier and helped on the defeat of Commander Groul of the Orc force. I have never seen a berserker with a magical affinity before."
Yurika continues, "It was 78 years ago, it was the first days of winter when I arrived to this place. I was traveling toward this refugee island I heard so much about. This town had many Feir'dal and Koada'dal, both living together.... They were repulsive towards my presence in their land."
Xellious interrupts, "What does this has to do with anything at this point..." Yurika raises her right hand silencing the Iksar. "Let me finish Xellious, this story can help you. Just listen." The Iksar nods to her.
Yurika says, "One of the guards asked me to leave immediately. Of course, I was not going to. I finally convinced the guard, that would not harm anyone. They allowed me to talk to their elders for permission. I simply asked for supplies to continue my journey, I was not to linger. The elders decided to give me a day and then to leave the next morning." Yurika walks around telling her story. Looking at the ruins remembering those details.
She continues, "I heard a commotion during the night, I kept ears in attention. For a moment I thought they were going to betray me, and slay me. But then, a woman said to the elders that some other woman was about to give birth. Something related with the high mages in the village."
She continues after a short break, "This village's government was composed of four elders, two Feir'dal and two Koada'dal. Is hard to imagine both races living together, mind me, feir'dal are liberal in nature and koada'dal are conservative. To my surprise. They were living along just fine. The next rank, after the elders, would be the high mages or sages. Then you had everyone else." She stops for a moment thinking as she walks around the ruined fountain, remembering. "The sage's ancestors created the barrier. It is a powerful spell that holds a warmth inside making it look as spring or fall, and kept the cold outside. It also camouflages the town from any outsider that would venture into the forest. It was difficult to accomplish such a powerful spell, it takes a quite heavy toll on the caster; so in order to make it possible, they needed more than one. They decided in five. The spell also needed a source to create the cold membrane, and thus they combined their magic with the first arctic winds that travel southward from the mountain. That is how the spell came to be. To have the best effect, the spell was to be casted on the first day of winter, when the first winds flew."
She continues with the events that transpire afterwards, "The next day, I noticed that the woman that gave birth, died in the process. To make matters worst, she was one of the five high mages. I knew this town was doomed if they didn't lift that barrier. I went to the elders and offered my power to cast the spell. That night, being the third day of winter we casted it. And for the first time I saw this barrier. After that, their attitude towards me was friendlier. I remember one of the elders, a koada'dal to that, said 'A Feir'dal can be snobbish, and Koada'dal can be wild, and now this Teir'dal cares.'"
"I painted a smile for him, he smiled back. Then, I went to see this child. She came into this world, with no one to guide her. Her father was training to be an elder and thus had no time to teach his child. So I took her under my wing. Her mother left a letter behind, that this child born in the third day of winter. One of the highlights in such letter, 'This child will protect this place and thus will be called Artica.'
And for your knowledge Xellious, the name of the spell protecting this town, the name of the barrier, is Artica."
Xellious looks somewhat surprised. A thought crosses his mind. 'There is no such thing as coincidences in this world. Fate has determined this battlefield, this girl has come for revenge, or... did she came to protect?'
"We lived here for 74 years, until the arrival of the orc invasion. They attacked, and we never saw them coming. When I woke that night, the town was up in flames. I raised those dead to open a path for those that lived. Not many survived. It was more of a slaughter, than a battle."
"I have been in the losing side many times, but never so awfully..." Xellious interrupts abruptly, "What about those powerful mages? Where were they when the invasion hit?" To which Yurika responds, "I don't know. My first action was to get Artica alive from there. She had no combat skills back then. And I am not the reckless type. So we fled."
Xellious interrupts again, "What if she can handle the orcs?" Yurika responds, "She might, she might not. I'm still worried about her."
Xellious murmurs as he turns to Noz, who is looking at him waiting for him to let him speak, "Just like a Mother." Turning to Noz, "Need anything?" Noz responds in a tranquil tone, "Betrix boat is in sight, they'll be here in a couple of hours."
Xellious turns to Yurika, "I'm wondering, why do you need them? I don't really know what you spoke with Xillis before me." Yurika grins, "He said, he had no people to spare."
Xellious turns to Noz again, "Prepare to receive them. And send a messenger to Kunark, we need to know when they are coming."
Yurika leaves the fountain area, walking slowly. Using her staff as a walking stick. Xellious looks at her and thinks, 'I better prepare horses for them, she wont get far fast in that state.' Yurika continues on to the beach. Looking at the vast ocean and a boat in sight just on the border line where the earth bends.
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