Fiction:The Black Wave

Stories of the Past
The great cold steppes of the western world were known for their harsh winds and bitterly cold mornings, especially in late winter. It was as flat as the eye could see; the first moon was bathing in the horizon whilst the second was high in the sky. The sun only shone through partial clouds as they almost always did in the north west, lighting frost on the highly risen grass of the vast plains. Only boulders and the common grazing animal were seen this far north, and these animals were often covered in thick, woollen fur. It was only perhaps a four hour travel east to the Ancient Dalmiric City, and the paths travelled along this way were rare. There was hardly any civilisation in this part of the world; nine and a half days east laid the icy plains of the Orayu, where grasslands turned to sheer glaciers and mountains.

And in this great plain, were two individuals; one, a Dalmiri woman that walked with the chill of death - adorned in night purple armour of where her cold skin followed suit, and no distinguishable features of her face were shown. She was powerful of stature, as all Dalmiric women were, and her armour accentuated that significantly. The other was an Orayu; he wore jade-coloured armour and a helmet which also obscured his face. He stood twice the height of the woman, and had a relatively greater stature than hers. The tendrils on the back of his head were longer than the average Orayu and so were his fins. They were known only to each other as Taihadrae Ashdan and Esulus - which in all accounts was a bizarre pairing in the world. The two were greatly accustomed to the cold of the plains of the northwest, and slept aside a large boulder without hindrance during the night. Now, Taihadrae was perched on an outcrop, waiting for Esulus to finish his breakfast. Taihadrae's state of being, that is, one who was undead, had disallowed her to suffer from hunger or thirst, or even fatigue; she had stayed awake the entire night.


 * Taihadrae - When you're quite done, Esulus. I want to get going soon.
 * Esulus - Apologies. I forgot that you're as hungry as you are friendly.
 * Taihadrae - Ha ha. C'mon, hurry up. I don't want travellers to start gawking at you at this time in the morning.
 * Esulus - Oh, you actually do care for me then?
 * Taihadrae - As much as a six-centuries-dead necromancer can.

Despite their somewhat blunt speech between one another, Esulus and Taihadrae were in fact close friends. It was perhaps northern custom to be somewhat closed to each other, and something that people of the south were not too familiar with. It certainly ran commonly in Dalmiri men and women even of the modern age, who often keep to themselves in their day. As Esulus finished his food, which was an early morning hunt, he packed his belongings and accompanied Taihadrae to the city. Taihadrae always travelled without any equipment apart from a blade of which she stole from a trading caravan not too long ago. Esulus on the other hand, as a mortal being was constantly laden with equipment to merely survive the unforgiving plains of the western continent.


 * Esulus - So, uh. Forgive me for asking this but I don't actually know why we're going to the Mountain City.
 * Taihadrae - You really want to know why?
 * Esulus - No, I like small talk. Of course...I guess you could say I'm concerned.
 * Taihadrae - Well...I guess the reason why goes back to before I died.
 * Esulus - Oh, that long a story. Oh well. We have a while before we reach the gates.

Taihadrae began to divulge information of her life as a mortal being, nearly six hundred and fifty years ago. Whilst it was obvious to Esulus that she was a necromancer, the circumstances of her death had always been intriguing to him. The region of Talmyr, going back to the times of Ahdramilús the Immutable nearly eight thousand years ago was plagued with powerful necromancy, and thousands of years after, necromantic cults survived after many of them began to celebrate Ahdramilús as a hero. Taihadrae believed that, whilst she worked independently as a necromancer through her somewhat short life, the causes of her death were linked to one of these cults. Namely, a cult that was existent on the Mountain City up until four centuries ago. Taihadrae was already deceased by the time this cult was removed; at least, so she thought until she heard rumours that a Dalmiric devil had appeared from the hells and haunted the region many years ago...and began to do so again only very recently. She believed that this 'devil' had something to do with her death, and it most likely did.


 * Esulus - So, this 'devil' you speak of. Any guess as to what it looks like?
 * Taihadrae - The devils of the Triangle of Change and Power take many forms. But I imagine it'd look fairly straightforward as a demon. You know. Spikes.
 * Esulus - And you want to kill this thing?
 * Taihadrae - No. I know this thing has something to do with my death, and I want to figure out what.
 * Esulus - ...Is this all to do with your resurrection? Do you want to return to death?
 * Taihadrae - This has nothing to do with me coming back to life. Not yet at least.

The Ancient City
As the stories began to wear thin, the two reached the walls of the city. It was evident that the city was ancient - the walls had stood strong for nearly ten thousand years, and over the millennia, many wooden scaffolds were erected around them. The first time Esulus had reached these immense doors, filigree in copper, guards were astounded to see an Orayu there, so much so that he was imprisoned for a short time as it was almost suspicious that one had found its way to the Talmyr region. Taihadrae on the other hand had blasted her way into the city, though had since paid the damages back as a sign of good nature. They were let through the gates with some hesitation from those operating the great doors, and the bustling city was open to them now. It was truly a marvel of stonework as far as the world was concerned, and very little in the world ever actually travelled to see the far reaches of the world as was Talmyr. Walls were carved intricately; every wall. Every building rose high into the air, perhaps more than four times as Esulus at his height. It was known for being one of the oldest extant cities in the world, and the Dalmiri Men being one of the oldest cultures still remaining. Dalmiri Men had little contact with other deiwes such as the Empire of Man; racial supremacy was of little concern to them.

Esulus' nostrils were filled with the sweet smelling foods and the spices of the markets of the gates near the city, as he looked through the confusing networks of roads and buildings until he vaguely saw the town's centre. Though Esulus and Taihadrae were of exceedingly uncommon origins, they still blended into the crowd that filled the streets, for men, elves and beasts were all there in unison. Even some Shiarchon were present; those who defected from their homeland and retained an affection for the rest of the world. They were covered in deeply coloured bandages and ornate and strikingly beautiful masks and plates decorated their heads and bodies until their desiccated and ruined flesh, and their infernal eyes were not visible. Despite that, they were still greatly avoided and to them, perhaps it was a benefit.

Walking into the square, the two noticed a column of nearly one hundred feet in height - sculpted in convoluted relief of stories of the ancient world and conquests of the Dalmiric Kingdom - and behind it laid a temple, probably more than six thousand years old which had since been converted into a closed bazaar. Of what the temple was originally dedicated to was long forgotten, though Taihadrae had remembered it as a temple six hundred years ago. They entered - the archway skimmed Esulus' fins as he crouched in reaction to it. The scents of trinkets and spices were even stronger within here, to the point where Esulus sneezed. The two parted ways as they had planned to, searching the bazaar for word of this devil, or perhaps even the devil itself. Indeed was not the Mountain City, which was their true destination, but they did not want lose trail of this rumour before they even arrived there. Going through the many stalls, the two were beckoned by merchants of many kinds, and whilst Esulus appeared vaguely attracted to their wares, Taihadrae had no intention of stopping whatsoever. Esulus however, reached a weapons stall before one of the merchants, usually quite confident in nature, jumped at the sight of Esulus.


 * Merchant - Aah! Oh...pardon me, sir.
 * Esulus - Did I frighten you? You have never seen an Orayu before?
 * Merchant - No no no...I've seen Orayu before whilst travelling on the northwestern shores...but I took you for something else. I apologise.
 * Esulus - ...Something else?
 * Merchant - ...It's a bad omen to talk about it, I'm afraid.
 * Esulus - I have a feeling this bad omen is exactly why I am here.
 * Merchant - Very well...a demon of Ukadan...people have been saying they've seen it in the Talmyr region again. Travelling to the Mountain City and then east.
 * Esulus - East? Why east?
 * Merchant - Talks of an evil presence in the south east...I don't know to be honest but it doesn't sound like coincidence.

Esulus nodded in gratitude, before walking back to the entrance. It took Taihadrae quite some time to return, appearing somewhat frustrated in her walk.


 * Esulus - Didn't get anything?
 * Taihadrae - A jeweller thought it was funny to sit me down and make me try on necklaces. Of course I didn't get anything...you?
 * Esulus - Weapons merchant said a demon was travelling to the Mountain City and then east.
 * Taihadrae - We'd better get a move on. I don't want to lose track of this thing.
 * Esulus - ...You'd look rather dashing with a necklace on though.