Difference between revisions of "Ruka - Fateful Choice"
From Bard's Lore
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| − | Waiting just out of sight in the edge of the forest, Ruka watched her companions disappear into the shadows. She audibly sighed to herself as she shifted her grip on the scythe, her partner Chorazin. | + | Waiting just out of sight in the edge of the forest, Ruka watched her companions disappear into the shadows. She audibly sighed to herself as she shifted her grip on the scythe, her partner Chorazin. |
| − | A thought came across their mental link, “Are you ready for this?” | + | A thought came across their mental link, “Are you ready for this?” |
| − | “Yes,” she silently replied. “I must learn to appeal to and reason with these… more power-focused groups.” Her visage began to morph as she continued. “As much as I’d like to see them join the civilized people… that’s not who they are.” The countenance of her now beastial canine visage took a sad look for a moment before turning to determination. “If I am ever to reach my dream, I cannot only touch the civilized. I must reach these as well.” | + | “Yes,” she silently replied. “I must learn to appeal to and reason with these… more power-focused groups.” Her visage began to morph as she continued. “As much as I’d like to see them join the civilized people… that’s not who they are.” The countenance of her now beastial canine visage took a sad look for a moment before turning to determination. “If I am ever to reach my dream, I cannot only touch the civilized. I must reach these as well.” |
| − | A warm feeling of support was the response she received. Chorazin held his thoughts to himself, but he was glad and rather relieved to see her choosing to take a step forward. To seek to learn about the other races, yet striving to hold the ideals that so defined her. The past several weeks had been very trying, and it had been hard to tell if she was losing herself in the struggle. A mental timer went off in his mind and he sent, “It’s time.” | + | A warm feeling of support was the response she received. Chorazin held his thoughts to himself, but he was glad and rather relieved to see her choosing to take a step forward. To seek to learn about the other races, yet striving to hold the ideals that so defined her. The past several weeks had been very trying, and it had been hard to tell if she was losing herself in the struggle. A mental timer went off in his mind and he sent, “It’s time.” |
| − | Steeling herself against the trial to come, she began tracing in the air and muttered a few guttural words to herself. She grimaced to herself as her normal flowing exotic incantation would not come. But as the rush flowed into her veins, she could almost forget the fragile naive girl she had been. She wasn’t just a frail child that could only look pretty and stand on a stage. She had power, could make a difference. It was within her ability to free this tribe, and to set them on a better path. | + | Steeling herself against the trial to come, she began tracing in the air and muttered a few guttural words to herself. She grimaced to herself as her normal flowing exotic incantation would not come. But as the rush flowed into her veins, she could almost forget the fragile naive girl she had been. She wasn’t just a frail child that could only look pretty and stand on a stage. She had power, could make a difference. It was within her ability to free this tribe, and to set them on a better path. |
| − | The sun crested high noon as Ruka’s humanoid vulpine form stepped out into the clearing. This shape was something she had not subjected herself to since she left Anoria, her home village. Even there, she had much prefered the corthalian look and feel. But now, the sharp angles to her face and claws on her fingers should give her more of a connection to those she wished to reach. So she endured. Slowly, she walked across the gap, fingers moving once more to draw the aether into herself, stretching her existence to a much larger form. Continuing forward, she flicked the now twenty foot long scythe behind her and began to walk up an invisible staircase. | + | The sun crested high noon as Ruka’s humanoid vulpine form stepped out into the clearing. This shape was something she had not subjected herself to since she left Anoria, her home village. Even there, she had much prefered the corthalian look and feel. But now, the sharp angles to her face and claws on her fingers should give her more of a connection to those she wished to reach. So she endured. Slowly, she walked across the gap, fingers moving once more to draw the aether into herself, stretching her existence to a much larger form. Continuing forward, she flicked the now twenty foot long scythe behind her and began to walk up an invisible staircase. |
| − | Across the way, a commotion began on top of the barricaded wall she was approaching. The gate was slightly ajar, but orcs were rapidly reeling it shut. A horn blew, announcing the presence of an intruder at the gates. More of the tribe came pouring in toward the front from the walkway that ringed the wall. Further back across a drawbridge and beyond another barricade, a handful of ogres watched, seemingly disinterested in getting involved. A call from one of the gate guards echoed across the open area, “Halt! Who goes there?!” At no response, several arrows were loosed. | + | Across the way, a commotion began on top of the barricaded wall she was approaching. The gate was slightly ajar, but orcs were rapidly reeling it shut. A horn blew, announcing the presence of an intruder at the gates. More of the tribe came pouring in toward the front from the walkway that ringed the wall. Further back across a drawbridge and beyond another barricade, a handful of ogres watched, seemingly disinterested in getting involved. A call from one of the gate guards echoed across the open area, “Halt! Who goes there?!” At no response, several arrows were loosed. |
| − | Completely ignoring the hail, the lone figure continued regally walking up the invisible steps. As the arrows fell around her, only one came close, and a quick snap of the large ominous looking scythe kept that from impacting. Unfazed, she slowly stepped to halfway across the clearing and called out to the gathering on the wall. In their native tongue. | + | Completely ignoring the hail, the lone figure continued regally walking up the invisible steps. As the arrows fell around her, only one came close, and a quick snap of the large ominous looking scythe kept that from impacting. Unfazed, she slowly stepped to halfway across the clearing and called out to the gathering on the wall. In their native tongue. |
| − | “Friends! Brothers in arms! How long must you continue under this tyranny?! Taking orders from those not your own? Fate smiles down on you this day. Strong allies come to your aid.” The approaching valkyrie raised the scythe over her head, Rise up this day!” And then slammed down into an unseen platform. “And take back your home!” | + | “Friends! Brothers in arms! How long must you continue under this tyranny?! Taking orders from those not your own? Fate smiles down on you this day. Strong allies come to your aid.” The approaching valkyrie raised the scythe over her head, Rise up this day!” And then slammed down into an unseen platform. “And take back your home!” |
---- | ---- | ||
| − | A few minutes passed while Ruka traded verbal blows with an orcish caster, the bulk of the fighters seeming swayed by her battle cry, until a more regal one came up to the top of the wall and ordered the guards to attack her. Raising into the sky out of reach, she pointed the enlarged scythe toward the general, and challenged him to the position of strongest. Thinking across the link, Ruka said He seems strong, but nothing we can’t handle. The concept of caution returned to her, Don’t be too full of yourself. That did little to the confidence she was feeling. She would win, without killing the general, then lead them to their victory. | + | A few minutes passed while Ruka traded verbal blows with an orcish caster, the bulk of the fighters seeming swayed by her battle cry, until a more regal one came up to the top of the wall and ordered the guards to attack her. Raising into the sky out of reach, she pointed the enlarged scythe toward the general, and challenged him to the position of strongest. Thinking across the link, Ruka said He seems strong, but nothing we can’t handle. The concept of caution returned to her, Don’t be too full of yourself. That did little to the confidence she was feeling. She would win, without killing the general, then lead them to their victory. |
| − | The guards split and formed a circle around the two as Ruka set down twenty feet away from her opponent and drew the scythes size down to workable, then set her stance. Barely had she done so when the orc charged in with a flying thrust. A snapped counter of the scythe drew blood across his chest, but her lithe form was not quick enough to avoid the large sword, which scrapped across her side. This one is more dangerous than he looks, he wields that heavy blade with ease. Ruka shrugged off Chorazins caution, A lucky shot, we can turn it back. Shifting her stance back a step, she flowed into a spinning dance, the scythe snapping out and leaving little room for a counter. One more shallow cut formed on the orcs shoulder, but the large sword slid the scythe just far enough off to avoid any threatening damage. | + | The guards split and formed a circle around the two as Ruka set down twenty feet away from her opponent and drew the scythes size down to workable, then set her stance. Barely had she done so when the orc charged in with a flying thrust. A snapped counter of the scythe drew blood across his chest, but her lithe form was not quick enough to avoid the large sword, which scrapped across her side. This one is more dangerous than he looks, he wields that heavy blade with ease. Ruka shrugged off Chorazins caution, A lucky shot, we can turn it back. Shifting her stance back a step, she flowed into a spinning dance, the scythe snapping out and leaving little room for a counter. One more shallow cut formed on the orcs shoulder, but the large sword slid the scythe just far enough off to avoid any threatening damage. |
| − | Suddenly, with a speed that belied the size of the orc and his blade, he found a chink in the whirling defense, past what Ruka thought was impenetrable, and a heavy blow forced the scythe out of the way and down to Ruka’s shoulder, knocking her to her knees. As she forced herself back to her feet, her opponent set himself for another heavy blow. Struggling to get back to a defensive stance, she couldn’t get set in time. | + | Suddenly, with a speed that belied the size of the orc and his blade, he found a chink in the whirling defense, past what Ruka thought was impenetrable, and a heavy blow forced the scythe out of the way and down to Ruka’s shoulder, knocking her to her knees. As she forced herself back to her feet, her opponent set himself for another heavy blow. Struggling to get back to a defensive stance, she couldn’t get set in time. |
| − | Against her will, she felt grip on the handle disappear and with a shimmer, Chorazin stood in front of her. As the orcs blade met his side, time froze for Ruka. Her vision blurred and suddenly she and Chorazin sat in a dimly lit room, reminiscent of the cozy homes in Anoria. He leaned his elbows on the table and spoke. “We have little time, my end has come. But yours is not fated to be yet.” She reached her hand across the table to reach him, but was unable to move from the chair. “No! Don’t leave me yet!” Shaking his head, he continued. “You are strong, Ruka. And your goal of reaching the whole world, bar none, is still as wonderful today as it was three years ago when you won me over.” He smiled at the memories. “Don’t lose yourself, in this or anything. Cling to your ideals and never let go.” All around her, the vision began to fade, his voice getting softer and further away as he spoke his last parting words. | + | Against her will, she felt grip on the handle disappear and with a shimmer, Chorazin stood in front of her. As the orcs blade met his side, time froze for Ruka. Her vision blurred and suddenly she and Chorazin sat in a dimly lit room, reminiscent of the cozy homes in Anoria. He leaned his elbows on the table and spoke. “We have little time, my end has come. But yours is not fated to be yet.” She reached her hand across the table to reach him, but was unable to move from the chair. “No! Don’t leave me yet!” Shaking his head, he continued. “You are strong, Ruka. And your goal of reaching the whole world, bar none, is still as wonderful today as it was three years ago when you won me over.” He smiled at the memories. “Don’t lose yourself, in this or anything. Cling to your ideals and never let go.” All around her, the vision began to fade, his voice getting softer and further away as he spoke his last parting words. |
| − | Her vision snapped back to reality for that last dreadful split second. The sparking greatsword cleaved straight through the | + | Her vision snapped back to reality for that last dreadful split second. The sparking greatsword cleaved straight through the Valesar and into her midsection. As they both tumbled toward the ground, the last thing she saw before the world went black was the contented smile on Chorazins face. |
---- | ---- | ||
| − | When Ruka came to, everything spun and she couldn’t see anything clearly, her mind having trouble piecing the fragments back together. The nausea caused her to retch, splattering more blood down her now normal sized torso and the tattered remains of her kimono. Sitting up groggily, she tried to look around and in common asked of the air in general, “What… happened?” The panicked and sorrowful voice of Jak came from right next to her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Oh Ruka, I’m so sorry.” Leaning up the rest of the way, Ruka looked across the walkway and saw the mass of orcs. Suddenly the events of the last few minutes came back in a rush, locking all her muscles in place, eyes wide as the shock set in. | + | When Ruka came to, everything spun and she couldn’t see anything clearly, her mind having trouble piecing the fragments back together. The nausea caused her to retch, splattering more blood down her now normal sized torso and the tattered remains of her kimono. Sitting up groggily, she tried to look around and in common asked of the air in general, “What… happened?” The panicked and sorrowful voice of Jak came from right next to her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Oh Ruka, I’m so sorry.” Leaning up the rest of the way, Ruka looked across the walkway and saw the mass of orcs. Suddenly the events of the last few minutes came back in a rush, locking all her muscles in place, eyes wide as the shock set in. |
| − | A shimmering illusory cloud set in around the battlefield as Minn rushed over and began to tersely converse with Jak. With a start, Ruka jumped to her feet and started to dash back into the middle of carnage, to where her partner waited for her to come help him. But Jak stepped in front of her and held her back. Ruka struggled with all her puny might, but was unable to break past. Stretching an arm past as far as she could, a loud wail echoed over the sound of the battle as she screamed for her partner, “ZIN!!!” | + | A shimmering illusory cloud set in around the battlefield as Minn rushed over and began to tersely converse with Jak. With a start, Ruka jumped to her feet and started to dash back into the middle of carnage, to where her partner waited for her to come help him. But Jak stepped in front of her and held her back. Ruka struggled with all her puny might, but was unable to break past. Stretching an arm past as far as she could, a loud wail echoed over the sound of the battle as she screamed for her partner, “ZIN!!!” |
---- | ---- | ||
| − | Several minutes later, after the group had broke and run into the forest for some ways, they found a hollow and stopped to collect themselves. As soon as the remains of Chorazin were set down, Ruka fell to her knees and a glow formed around her, then narrowed down her arms and spread to the halves of her partners body before fading to nothing. Tears streamed down a face that slowly morphed from vulpine to her normal form as another wave of light spread from her, to the same futile effect. | + | Several minutes later, after the group had broke and run into the forest for some ways, they found a hollow and stopped to collect themselves. As soon as the remains of Chorazin were set down, Ruka fell to her knees and a glow formed around her, then narrowed down her arms and spread to the halves of her partners body before fading to nothing. Tears streamed down a face that slowly morphed from vulpine to her normal form as another wave of light spread from her, to the same futile effect. |
| − | It’s my fault. That one thought permeated every aspect of her being. He trusted me and I killed him. All the grandeur of imperviousness had faded from her thoughts. Her naivety and illusion of strength had cost everything. She barely registered a hand close around hers, and reflexively tightened her hand around it. With eyes that faded from the last hint of red back to light blue, she gave a small glance to who she saw was Minn. Minn had been talking, but Ruka heard little of it and understood none. | + | It’s my fault. That one thought permeated every aspect of her being. He trusted me and I killed him. All the grandeur of imperviousness had faded from her thoughts. Her naivety and illusion of strength had cost everything. She barely registered a hand close around hers, and reflexively tightened her hand around it. With eyes that faded from the last hint of red back to light blue, she gave a small glance to who she saw was Minn. Minn had been talking, but Ruka heard little of it and understood none. |
| − | “It’s my fault.” The muffled words came softly, but several nearby heard. Comments began to bombard her, but only pieces registered. “No it’s not” “He made the noble choice” “If I hadn’t be caught” Those were immediately shoved from mind. “That has nothing to do with it!” Her voice was still choked, but was now loud enough to be easily understood. “I made the choice try and free the Orcs, to make them take back their freedom. I thought we couldn’t be defeated.” Her voice dropped to not even a whispered and she muttered, “I was a fool.” Minn tried to convinced her to continue to help the group, but that was unfathomable to her. “I… … can’t.” She drew her knees up to her chin, looking small and feeble. “Just… can’t.” Slowly her form began to shrink and several seconds later a small light blonde fox lay tightly curled next to the fallen figure, eyes staring sightless and unblinking into the distance. | + | “It’s my fault.” The muffled words came softly, but several nearby heard. Comments began to bombard her, but only pieces registered. “No it’s not” “He made the noble choice” “If I hadn’t be caught” Those were immediately shoved from mind. “That has nothing to do with it!” Her voice was still choked, but was now loud enough to be easily understood. “I made the choice try and free the Orcs, to make them take back their freedom. I thought we couldn’t be defeated.” Her voice dropped to not even a whispered and she muttered, “I was a fool.” Minn tried to convinced her to continue to help the group, but that was unfathomable to her. “I… … can’t.” She drew her knees up to her chin, looking small and feeble. “Just… can’t.” Slowly her form began to shrink and several seconds later a small light blonde fox lay tightly curled next to the fallen figure, eyes staring sightless and unblinking into the distance. |
| − | Relentlessly, the horror and blame buffeted her thoughts. She didn’t even feel as she was moved to a better location to bed down for the evening. But among the dread, a sliver of her mind recalled the parting request: | + | Relentlessly, the horror and blame buffeted her thoughts. She didn’t even feel as she was moved to a better location to bed down for the evening. But among the dread, a sliver of her mind recalled the parting request: |
| − | “Find the Valesar, defeat the dragons, and unite the world.” | + | “Find the Valesar, defeat the dragons, and unite the world.” |
Latest revision as of 06:58, 15 May 2022
Waiting just out of sight in the edge of the forest, Ruka watched her companions disappear into the shadows. She audibly sighed to herself as she shifted her grip on the scythe, her partner Chorazin.
A thought came across their mental link, “Are you ready for this?”
“Yes,” she silently replied. “I must learn to appeal to and reason with these… more power-focused groups.” Her visage began to morph as she continued. “As much as I’d like to see them join the civilized people… that’s not who they are.” The countenance of her now beastial canine visage took a sad look for a moment before turning to determination. “If I am ever to reach my dream, I cannot only touch the civilized. I must reach these as well.”
A warm feeling of support was the response she received. Chorazin held his thoughts to himself, but he was glad and rather relieved to see her choosing to take a step forward. To seek to learn about the other races, yet striving to hold the ideals that so defined her. The past several weeks had been very trying, and it had been hard to tell if she was losing herself in the struggle. A mental timer went off in his mind and he sent, “It’s time.”
Steeling herself against the trial to come, she began tracing in the air and muttered a few guttural words to herself. She grimaced to herself as her normal flowing exotic incantation would not come. But as the rush flowed into her veins, she could almost forget the fragile naive girl she had been. She wasn’t just a frail child that could only look pretty and stand on a stage. She had power, could make a difference. It was within her ability to free this tribe, and to set them on a better path.
The sun crested high noon as Ruka’s humanoid vulpine form stepped out into the clearing. This shape was something she had not subjected herself to since she left Anoria, her home village. Even there, she had much prefered the corthalian look and feel. But now, the sharp angles to her face and claws on her fingers should give her more of a connection to those she wished to reach. So she endured. Slowly, she walked across the gap, fingers moving once more to draw the aether into herself, stretching her existence to a much larger form. Continuing forward, she flicked the now twenty foot long scythe behind her and began to walk up an invisible staircase.
Across the way, a commotion began on top of the barricaded wall she was approaching. The gate was slightly ajar, but orcs were rapidly reeling it shut. A horn blew, announcing the presence of an intruder at the gates. More of the tribe came pouring in toward the front from the walkway that ringed the wall. Further back across a drawbridge and beyond another barricade, a handful of ogres watched, seemingly disinterested in getting involved. A call from one of the gate guards echoed across the open area, “Halt! Who goes there?!” At no response, several arrows were loosed.
Completely ignoring the hail, the lone figure continued regally walking up the invisible steps. As the arrows fell around her, only one came close, and a quick snap of the large ominous looking scythe kept that from impacting. Unfazed, she slowly stepped to halfway across the clearing and called out to the gathering on the wall. In their native tongue.
“Friends! Brothers in arms! How long must you continue under this tyranny?! Taking orders from those not your own? Fate smiles down on you this day. Strong allies come to your aid.” The approaching valkyrie raised the scythe over her head, Rise up this day!” And then slammed down into an unseen platform. “And take back your home!”
A few minutes passed while Ruka traded verbal blows with an orcish caster, the bulk of the fighters seeming swayed by her battle cry, until a more regal one came up to the top of the wall and ordered the guards to attack her. Raising into the sky out of reach, she pointed the enlarged scythe toward the general, and challenged him to the position of strongest. Thinking across the link, Ruka said He seems strong, but nothing we can’t handle. The concept of caution returned to her, Don’t be too full of yourself. That did little to the confidence she was feeling. She would win, without killing the general, then lead them to their victory.
The guards split and formed a circle around the two as Ruka set down twenty feet away from her opponent and drew the scythes size down to workable, then set her stance. Barely had she done so when the orc charged in with a flying thrust. A snapped counter of the scythe drew blood across his chest, but her lithe form was not quick enough to avoid the large sword, which scrapped across her side. This one is more dangerous than he looks, he wields that heavy blade with ease. Ruka shrugged off Chorazins caution, A lucky shot, we can turn it back. Shifting her stance back a step, she flowed into a spinning dance, the scythe snapping out and leaving little room for a counter. One more shallow cut formed on the orcs shoulder, but the large sword slid the scythe just far enough off to avoid any threatening damage.
Suddenly, with a speed that belied the size of the orc and his blade, he found a chink in the whirling defense, past what Ruka thought was impenetrable, and a heavy blow forced the scythe out of the way and down to Ruka’s shoulder, knocking her to her knees. As she forced herself back to her feet, her opponent set himself for another heavy blow. Struggling to get back to a defensive stance, she couldn’t get set in time.
Against her will, she felt grip on the handle disappear and with a shimmer, Chorazin stood in front of her. As the orcs blade met his side, time froze for Ruka. Her vision blurred and suddenly she and Chorazin sat in a dimly lit room, reminiscent of the cozy homes in Anoria. He leaned his elbows on the table and spoke. “We have little time, my end has come. But yours is not fated to be yet.” She reached her hand across the table to reach him, but was unable to move from the chair. “No! Don’t leave me yet!” Shaking his head, he continued. “You are strong, Ruka. And your goal of reaching the whole world, bar none, is still as wonderful today as it was three years ago when you won me over.” He smiled at the memories. “Don’t lose yourself, in this or anything. Cling to your ideals and never let go.” All around her, the vision began to fade, his voice getting softer and further away as he spoke his last parting words.
Her vision snapped back to reality for that last dreadful split second. The sparking greatsword cleaved straight through the Valesar and into her midsection. As they both tumbled toward the ground, the last thing she saw before the world went black was the contented smile on Chorazins face.
When Ruka came to, everything spun and she couldn’t see anything clearly, her mind having trouble piecing the fragments back together. The nausea caused her to retch, splattering more blood down her now normal sized torso and the tattered remains of her kimono. Sitting up groggily, she tried to look around and in common asked of the air in general, “What… happened?” The panicked and sorrowful voice of Jak came from right next to her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Oh Ruka, I’m so sorry.” Leaning up the rest of the way, Ruka looked across the walkway and saw the mass of orcs. Suddenly the events of the last few minutes came back in a rush, locking all her muscles in place, eyes wide as the shock set in.
A shimmering illusory cloud set in around the battlefield as Minn rushed over and began to tersely converse with Jak. With a start, Ruka jumped to her feet and started to dash back into the middle of carnage, to where her partner waited for her to come help him. But Jak stepped in front of her and held her back. Ruka struggled with all her puny might, but was unable to break past. Stretching an arm past as far as she could, a loud wail echoed over the sound of the battle as she screamed for her partner, “ZIN!!!”
Several minutes later, after the group had broke and run into the forest for some ways, they found a hollow and stopped to collect themselves. As soon as the remains of Chorazin were set down, Ruka fell to her knees and a glow formed around her, then narrowed down her arms and spread to the halves of her partners body before fading to nothing. Tears streamed down a face that slowly morphed from vulpine to her normal form as another wave of light spread from her, to the same futile effect.
It’s my fault. That one thought permeated every aspect of her being. He trusted me and I killed him. All the grandeur of imperviousness had faded from her thoughts. Her naivety and illusion of strength had cost everything. She barely registered a hand close around hers, and reflexively tightened her hand around it. With eyes that faded from the last hint of red back to light blue, she gave a small glance to who she saw was Minn. Minn had been talking, but Ruka heard little of it and understood none.
“It’s my fault.” The muffled words came softly, but several nearby heard. Comments began to bombard her, but only pieces registered. “No it’s not” “He made the noble choice” “If I hadn’t be caught” Those were immediately shoved from mind. “That has nothing to do with it!” Her voice was still choked, but was now loud enough to be easily understood. “I made the choice try and free the Orcs, to make them take back their freedom. I thought we couldn’t be defeated.” Her voice dropped to not even a whispered and she muttered, “I was a fool.” Minn tried to convinced her to continue to help the group, but that was unfathomable to her. “I… … can’t.” She drew her knees up to her chin, looking small and feeble. “Just… can’t.” Slowly her form began to shrink and several seconds later a small light blonde fox lay tightly curled next to the fallen figure, eyes staring sightless and unblinking into the distance.
Relentlessly, the horror and blame buffeted her thoughts. She didn’t even feel as she was moved to a better location to bed down for the evening. But among the dread, a sliver of her mind recalled the parting request:
“Find the Valesar, defeat the dragons, and unite the world.”
