Entry 357
Character Story: Ash Airgetlam
Vogel
The elf walked quietly at the edge of the forest. His blue eyes watched contentedly at a small circle of buildings that he slowly paced around. Each in turn surrounded by candles that kept monsters at bay. He smiled softly as he listened and heared mothers singing thier children to sleep, to the loud snoring of those who had labored hard and long and were rewarded with early slumber. To those who were peaceful and content. It caused him to smile almost lovingly.
In the distance he saw one of the candles that surrounded the village go out. The first of the night. He heard a few quick ringing sounds of steel and a small flash. The candle was relit, and whatever creature had attempted to break through had found the end of a Vogel blade. There were four of them out here in the darkness, stalking the stalkers. He smiled again, this time more cooly. Once one candle flickered, others would soon. He crouched down as he watched the candles, looking for the telltale signs of creatures meddling. Another flickered out in the distance, and within a minute was seen again. Two beasts put down. His hand tightened on the weathered grip of a wooden sword and pulled it free.
A third candle flickered and died. He started to count quietly to himself. One... Two... Three minutes. The candle was still dark. He cursed to himself and quietly moved into the town itself. They all had thier jobs. The other Vogels would block the way, relite the candle, and then work inward to find those that had slipped through. They were stronger, more experienced. He was still new, and so drew the short straw. Near a building close to the edge he saw a shadow move and he sunk into one himself. Inch by inch he crept closer till he could see the outline of the beast. It was gnawing at the edge of the door to one of the homes. The village had grown quiet, everyone was sleeping, thier faith in the vogel around thier village absolute. He struck quick and fast. Wooden blade piercing the creature's throat to keep it quiet. Wounded but alive they fought in the darkness, two shadows clashed outside a home where a young family slept in peace. Quick and silent, he evaded instead of blocked, he drew the creature away from the home. In the end he was wounded and the beast lay at the ground, slowly fading away.
The other's showed up and they retreated to the edge of the village again, likewise cut and scraped up, some injured more than others, they treated each other and made sure they were able to continue. "Why didn't you finish that more quickly? You should have used everything you have right then, not draw it off." They asked him, annoyed that he had allowed himself to be injured.
"I'm sorry, you're right." The younger Vogel nodded a moment and then looked back out towards the village. All the lights inside the homes were lit again. Each home now awake and worried from the sound of fighting. All but the one he guarded in the dark. That family was still sound asleep, peacefully unaware of the dangers they faced. Able to sleep, because rough men stood ready in the darkness to guard thier dreams.
He smiled softly to himself and returned to the forests embrace, finding a tree to rest his back against. From there he watched the village quietly as one by one, the lights snuffed out and only left the glittering of candles in the darkness.
Vogel
The elf walked quietly at the edge of the forest. His blue eyes watched contentedly at a small circle of buildings that he slowly paced around. Each in turn surrounded by candles that kept monsters at bay. He smiled softly as he listened and heared mothers singing thier children to sleep, to the loud snoring of those who had labored hard and long and were rewarded with early slumber. To those who were peaceful and content. It caused him to smile almost lovingly.
In the distance he saw one of the candles that surrounded the village go out. The first of the night. He heard a few quick ringing sounds of steel and a small flash. The candle was relit, and whatever creature had attempted to break through had found the end of a Vogel blade. There were four of them out here in the darkness, stalking the stalkers. He smiled again, this time more cooly. Once one candle flickered, others would soon. He crouched down as he watched the candles, looking for the telltale signs of creatures meddling. Another flickered out in the distance, and within a minute was seen again. Two beasts put down. His hand tightened on the weathered grip of a wooden sword and pulled it free.
A third candle flickered and died. He started to count quietly to himself. One... Two... Three minutes. The candle was still dark. He cursed to himself and quietly moved into the town itself. They all had thier jobs. The other Vogels would block the way, relite the candle, and then work inward to find those that had slipped through. They were stronger, more experienced. He was still new, and so drew the short straw. Near a building close to the edge he saw a shadow move and he sunk into one himself. Inch by inch he crept closer till he could see the outline of the beast. It was gnawing at the edge of the door to one of the homes. The village had grown quiet, everyone was sleeping, thier faith in the vogel around thier village absolute. He struck quick and fast. Wooden blade piercing the creature's throat to keep it quiet. Wounded but alive they fought in the darkness, two shadows clashed outside a home where a young family slept in peace. Quick and silent, he evaded instead of blocked, he drew the creature away from the home. In the end he was wounded and the beast lay at the ground, slowly fading away.
The other's showed up and they retreated to the edge of the village again, likewise cut and scraped up, some injured more than others, they treated each other and made sure they were able to continue. "Why didn't you finish that more quickly? You should have used everything you have right then, not draw it off." They asked him, annoyed that he had allowed himself to be injured.
"I'm sorry, you're right." The younger Vogel nodded a moment and then looked back out towards the village. All the lights inside the homes were lit again. Each home now awake and worried from the sound of fighting. All but the one he guarded in the dark. That family was still sound asleep, peacefully unaware of the dangers they faced. Able to sleep, because rough men stood ready in the darkness to guard thier dreams.
He smiled softly to himself and returned to the forests embrace, finding a tree to rest his back against. From there he watched the village quietly as one by one, the lights snuffed out and only left the glittering of candles in the darkness.