Dark Invitation

[telemachus]

The air rushed up at Wulf riding the wolf-dragon form of Telamon. They dove towards what seemed to be the market of the old Jovian city, now called Moruliima. Orcs, goblins, trolls, giants, and various races were going about their day of trade, work and whatever they wanted. Cheers welcomed them to the new kingdom. With a flex of his wings they darted skyward up the side of the great spire. When they came to the top Telamon transformed into his human formed and landed on his feet and left Wulf to land on his own.
The demon-warlock looked over Moruliima, Wulf behind him.

“Lord Banith took this place and made it a home for our kind. You may think yourself one of them, but I see in you something more… Don’t mistake me for a power hungry monster. I am not to rule this place. I am to make it free for them.”

He gestures below.

“You are new to these lands and I don’t want you poisoned of their dogmatic view of the world. There are good in those below. The world is gray not black and white.”

He turns to wulf, “Do you understand?”

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

While talking to Banith in Moruliima, Cathán felt the presence of a strong demon. Hearing the cheers outside Cathán knew exactly who it was. When he finished talking with Banith, he teleported to where he felt the demon.

Appearing on top of the spire, where Cathán had helped Telemochus become Telemon. The blood of the demon he killed was still stained on the stone. He saw two figures. He knew the tall one was Telemon, but he had never seen the other person who had a mask on. He could hear Telemon in the back of his head talking to this person. Cathán waits til he is noticed.

[Wulf]

Wulf nods lightly, taking in his surroundings. He had never seen a land like this before, but he was not to surprised at the idea of a society such as this. He quickly looked over to where a figure suddenly appeared. He wasnt sure how long he had been there, but he was sure that he hadnt been there when they had landed.

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

Cathán nods at the person in the mask when he looks back to see him. Cathán waits till telemon notices before saying anything.

[telemachus]

Telamon still stands looking out over Moruliima. His hands clasped behind his back.

"Wulf, meet Cathan. He too believes that right and wrong aren't so defined. He's a cunning warrior. Perhaps you could learn something from him. Cathan would you humor me by testing the blade skill of our guest."

[Cathán Neamhnaofa]

A quick grin crosses Cathán's face as he rushes Wulf. He pulls out a sword and swings it in an arc towards Wulf's arm. Wulf has quicker reflexes than Cathán thought and pulled out his own sword and blocked it. Knowing he caught Wulf off guard, Cathán continues with the offense pushing Wulf back step by step.

Wulf blocks every shot, but is unable to return with his own strikes because of how fast Cathán is. He keeps moving closer and closer to the edge of the roof. Just as Wulf's back foot scrapes the edge of the roof, Cathán disappears. Wulf keeps his guard up but moves away from the edge about 5 ft. Cathán reappears behind Wulf and puts a dagger up to his throat. "You are a very good swordsman, but you have to always look out for the unexpected." Cathán says as he releases Wulf and sheaths his blade.

Cathán looks at Telemon, "He will definitely be a good asset to our cause if he so chooses."

[Wulf]

Wulf gathers himself after the fight wondering just how fast this man or thing was. He hadnt even seen him move before he felt the cold steel at his throat.

He turns towards the two eyeing each one warily wondering and waiting to see where the conversation would take his curiousity.

[telemachus]

Telamon nods to Cathan, “Thank you, Cathan. Your test is appreciated.”

Telamon touches the shoulder of Wulf. In a blink and a sudden flare of flame Wulf is on the main street of Moruliima, Telamon is gone. He sees the various races trading, children orcs and goblins playing, and he hears the voice of Telamon.

“I won’t force your decision, but I hope I can count on you as an ally. Call upon me when you choose or if you need anything. Just say my name and I will know.”

[Wulf]

Wulf looks around slowly taking in the scenery as he thinks about the similarities of these 2 worlds that look complete opposite of eachother. Their was less chaos in these streets than what he would have originaly thought, but at the same time, they were completly different look wise. If they had been normal humans, it would almost be as if he were just in a different town.

[Banith]

The streets were abustle with activity, orcs, trolls, goblins, giants and much more were every where. Two large orc stopped in front of the masked man, they part to reveal a smaller orc, who wore fur upon his shoulder and bore the sign of the Chu Ku'tal. He steps forward.

"Telemon seems to favor you and as Goth of the Chu Ku'tal and leader of Moruliima, I want to know who you are."

[Wulf]

He takes the wooden tags from his neck and turns them around with the back of the pendant facing the man. Engraved into the wood was the word "Wulf".

[Banith]

Banith steps forward and surveys the man in the mask.

"Wulf? Okay Wulf, I am Banith."

Banith starts walking a circular motion around Wulf, looking at him up and down.

"You don't speak and you wear a mask.......why I'm curious, but perhaps we will come to that in a later time. You have come to the home of my brethren, a small taste of what is rightfully theirs, but time will bring more to us."

Banith stops and looks at the mask of Wulf, curious about the reason the man hides himself.

"We all wear masks, some not so apparent, but if Telemon trusts you, you are welcome here. No harm will come of you, you have my word. Perhaps in time we will find a use for each other, until that time welcome to Moruliima."

[Wulf]

Wulf nods to the man as he reaches into his pack and pulls out a journal and pen and starts to write. After a moment he hands the man the journal as it reads: I understand the purpose of why i was brought here, but what am i to do here? Wulf seems less tense after the man had slightly denoted that he was welcome.

[Banith]

"well it depends on what you do, Wulf," says Banith. "Before you came here, what did you do? This place is new to many, many will be lost and many will be found. So really that question can be answered by your past or what you choose to be you future. And I ask you, Wulf, what would you want to do here?"

[Wulf]

Wulf Looks around again in thought as he wondered just how close the cities resembled eachother. He couldnt help but feel that as a whole, most of these races that existed here were just as innocent as the normal people from where he came. He took his notebook back and wrote in it once more, handing it back to the man after a few scratches on the page. The note read: Im not sure on what i should do, but i do know that i need to meet the one who keeps watch over this city. Could you point me in the right direction?

[Banith]

Banith smiles, "Yes I can take you right to him, I'm sure I can take you right to him. Follow."

Banith leads Wulf through Moruliima, from time to time stopping and pointing out a race or a tribe that came to Moruliima for protection or to join their cause. They had made their way through the city to the large keep that looked over the former Jovian city. The doors open to the keep and they walk in.

Banith leads Wulf into a large chamber with a throne at the end, it had been covered in various furs and strips of leather, but it sits empty.

"Wait here," Banith said stopping Wulf about ten feet from the throne. Banith turns and walks over to the throne and sits. "Now how can I help you, friend?"

[Wulf]

Wulf blinks a couple of times before sighing gently then writing something down in his notebook as he walked up and knelt, handing the book out to him. It read: What is the purpose besides the safety of this kingdom? Is it just a refuse for the ones who want peace, or is there another purpose? It seems that in a sense there would be a bigger reason that people from the other cities would shun the people in your city.

[Banith]

Banith's face turned sour. He stood and walked toward Wulf.

"Come to the window."

Banith looked upon the people he had brought together. Here and there different races mingled. Wulf stepped up beside him.

"Most of them were born here, whelped in these lands, then the humans and their kind came. They took land to make their cities, then it wasn't enough. When we struck back to hold our lands, we became beasts, murders of man. We became the stories mother told their children, we are the darker side of the world."

Banith turned to Wulf, a serious look still on his face.

"I gathered these men for a single purpose, to make them greater as a whole. We play the part, for now, but these people, my brethren, will one day rule these lands again. The All Father has spoken to me, and he told me that this is a neccesary step. We play the part the humans want now, but a fire grows inside each one of these people. A fire that I will be easily be able to control, because they now find together, they are much stronger. Stronger than these false kings will ever know."

Banith steps away from the window and makes his way to his throne.

"They feel that we will grow content here, much like their cattle, but they helped me unite the tribes," said Banith as he sits down. "They don't realize this is their undoing, I want stop til we get our land back. You asked why they shun us, Wulf, its because they fear us. Rightfully so, we are the dark ones, the nightmares, the whispers, the curses, yet we are the heirs of this lands, and it will be so once again."

[Wulf]

Wulf looks out the window into the streets as he finishes his sentence then turns, almost staring into his eyes, as if he were trying to read his soul. After a few seconds, he takes his book and begins to write more. After a few minutes he walks up to him and hands him the notebook.

It reads: I understand that sometimes everyone must fight for what they truly beleive in, and i know just how arrogant, greedy, and ignorant humans are first hand. But i also understand them, know their shortcoming and flaws. Yes, they try to expand, and in doing so are wrongfully hurting you, but as you above most others should know, showing force against them will only make it worse for both sides. They don't understand peace because they've never known it. I'm in no way defending them, they were in a large sense wrong to attack you for not giving up land, but if both sides keep living like this then nobody will be able to keep safe, and live without fear. If i can help in any way, i would like to get an arranged peace between this city and the ones of the humans.

[Banith]

Banith reads the note and looks up at Wulf, then back to the note.

"You are young, quiet one. Truely you do not feel what my people feel, nor would you ever imagine the pain, I have felt watching my kind hiding from these men. You can not stop generations of hate by simply dismissing it. If there is ever peace in this Land Between, I will never see it. Shadows grow each day, whispers and curses take form. Even now, you must feel it. The rise of the Fallen, is but a step closer to what this Land gives and takes from us, balance. said Banith, he could feel himself talking in circles. His eyes growing cloudy, shapes were starting to blur.

"You must leave now, Wulf. If you wish my audience, ask, but know our conversation is over for now."

Banith gets up and feels his legs weaken, he stumbles a bit. His right hand reaches to the side and it lands upon the Scepter. The strength regains in his legs and his stance becomes more stable.

[Wulf]

He quickly dismisses his momentary weakness and nods lightly as he takes his notebook and turns, starting to leave the room. Once outside the chambers, he makes his way to the streets, where he procedes to write something in a different notebook.

[Wulf]

After he finishes writing in his notebook he puts it up and closes his eyes thinking hard, hoping to catch the attention of the one named telemon as he cleared his mind and called his name in thought, hoping to catch his attention.

[telemachus]

It had been an hour or so but a cloaked Goblin came up slowly behind Wulf and whispered to him.

"You seek the master? What for?"

[Wulf]

Wulf turns to the goblin and kneels as he pulls out his notebook and writes a bit. He shows the goblin, as it reads: I would like to know more about these "Fallen" That Lord Banith spoke of and also i would like to ask him a few questions about his history, if he doesnt mind answering them.

[telemachus]

The brow of the Goblin rises at Wulf. Without looking at the notebook. "Just follow me..."

They walk into the main keep and after several minutes climbing the winding stairs they come to an open veranda where Telamon stands overlooking the city.

"What can I help you with, Wulf?"