VAR’ADIEL

The former High King of the Alyar, the elder of the comforting shade. The god-monarch of the Dolyar.
One moon and six tens since...

“At least we’re moving forward again.” Var’adiel grunted in a satisfied manner.

The fall of Dorwald was indeed swift. There were miniscule pockets of resistance within the capital, but nothing to be concerned about. Var’adiel had made it just this morning by riverboat to see the gates of the city wide open and humans pouring out.

“Drive them north, Commander!” Var’adiel growled loudly as he found the back of the pale-barked Commander, giving instructions to a mounted unit of draighawk riders. The vicious-looking flightless birds snarled at the elder’s sudden outburst.

For a brief moment, he thought of what the situation would be like if Kar’ath had not defied his orders and the elder lost himself in speculation. His gaze jumped from the killing fields and the masses of refugees just beyond it, to sights nearer at hand. The Dolyar officers crowding the command post, a hill of roots fashioned by the flow, creating a handy vantage point.

Sounds of breaking stone, earth, and collapse roused Var’adiel from his perturbed musings. Gigantic roots had burst through a section of the city walls and into what used to be the killing fields. And in the city beyond, an even more gargantuan trunk was swiftly reaching towards the skies.

“A heartroot tree.” Sil’var’s voice betrayed amazement. “They’re all linked to the one in Verdant Rest, if I recall.”

Var’adiel had forgotten the Alyar Grand Commander was still here. So far, she had been content to sit quietly, away from anyone’s path. Now, she had wandered to the elder’s side and was intently staring at the rapidly growing tree.

“By hidden paths, we travel.
Endless roads, we weave across,
these verdant lands, we call Dolak’vaeth.
Guide us home, to sup, to rest.
Underneath the Verdant Shade that comforts us.”

“This was once the heartroot city of Abode of Emerald Hope.” Sil’var said, her voice growing with each sentence. “Nearly forgotten history for me. Even for you, I imagine. It is a shame what the humans’ conquest brought upon this land.” And after a moment of silent thoughts, the Grand Commander seemed to come to a decision. “It is good that some injustices in this world are being rectified, finally.”

“I see you are coming around to see things my way, Grand Commander.” Var’adiel goaded the Alyar.

Sil’var’s gaze wavered, and she pursed her lips. The Alyar remained silent.

“I see an Alyar!” A quiet shout in eldertongue reached Var’adiel from the base of the root hill.

Var’adiel began descending the hill and motioned Sil’var to follow him towards the commotion of humans.

Most obvious were the ambassadors from the Arcane Crux, Ildar, and Ordruch. The Crux always wore their symbol of a blue hand over white cliffs on their shoulder and over their heart. The Ildari were by far the smallest group, and five among the Ordruch delegation were Ereko.

These were of purer blood than many who lived among Ordruch’s humans. Although still more reminiscent of humans than any of the other elder races, there was a feline grace to their imposing and muscular posture. Most obvious was the set of feline legs that ended in large paws instead of feet.

Their deep crimson skin was covered in a gentle fluff of the same colour or slightly darker grey patterns. Two fangs protruded from the top of their mouth, and two tusks lie above them on the snout-like protrusion, next to their flat, round nose.

An Ereko’s ears would vary from one individual to another, but these five had sharp tipped, feline ears, further establishing their pure ancestry. And, perhaps, hinting at their shared blood or kinship within a clan.

While the humans of Morwen, Telred and the Empire claimed to be different entities with divided histories, it did not show in their livery. Crimson, silver and grey were all too common colours among them and it took a few moments to understand which group of ambassadors belonged to which nation.

“Would the Ambassadors step forward, so that I know who I am speaking to.” Var’adiel demanded in eldertongue.

“And who are we speaking to?” The representative of the Crux demanded in outrage.

“I am the elder of the Comforting Shade, the heir to the god-soul of the Dolyar reborn, Var’adiel.”

“Var’adiel? High King of the Three Alyar Dominions, the Var’adiel?” The Crux ambassador drawled, confused.

“The Three Dominions are a defunct entity now, it seems.” Sil’var said with a stiff jaw. Var’adiel suspected it had more to do with her lack of skill in eldertongue than her attitude. “He is Var’adiel, the previous High King of the Alyar, now disgraced, the usurper among the Verdant ones.”

Sho’anei, who had accompanied the human ambassadors, hissed at Sil’var’s words.

“The Three now exist as separate entities, as I have freed the Beryl and the Verdant from the oppression of the elder of Brilliant Light.” Var’adiel cut in before Sho’anei got the chance to express her frustration and add more confusion to the air.

The ambassadors exchanged silent glances, apparent confusion dancing on all of their faces. Only in the Ereko did his words invoke another kind of emotion. After a few moments, a woman among the Crux frowned and a look of apprehension was taking shape on her face.

“Then… Do you know the whereabouts of War? Do you know where Veshoth, the Betrayer of the Way, hides?” One of the Ereko sputtered without warning. “Where is our elder, the elder of War?” She growled in a fierce, deep voice, that rattled Var’adiel. The emotion in her was like a storm.

She had clenched her hands into fists, her muscles bulging under her clothes. Four distinct veins ran across her forehead and her eyes were turning feline, the pupils narrowing and the whites of the eyes filling with dark blue ink.

The female Ereko towered above everyone here, even above the Dolyar, and that difference in height became even more apparent as she straightened her back. Her red mane seemed to glimmer.