Wyrm Maiden's Dream
An old application post for a Guild Wars RPG forum. Needless to say I never submitted it (or maybe I did?); life got too busy -_- Still, I'd like to post it on here for safekeeping.
Wet, bruised and disgruntled, Neda leaned against her heavy scythe and looked with sullen eyes at her fellow Sunspear recruits as they huddled around the camp fire and made a late meal of stale rations. First Spear Dehvad had assigned their unit to rid the swamp behind the walls of Kamadan of a recent skale and termite infestation, and Neda was finding the task less than thrilling.
"We have been camped in this forsaken swamp for the past three weeks," she suddenly shot out, drawing the glances of her three companions. "What is the point of wasting our time running after vermin when there are Corsairs waiting not far west?" Two of her comrades grunted in agreement.
"We'll be getting to the Corsairs soon enough," muttered Obaid, the leader of the group, who didn't seem too happy with their present task either. "Until then, keep swinging your blade where the higher ups point it. Keeping the routes in and out of the city safe has its own merits."
Neda clicked her tongue and turned to face the murky night. She had not signed on to deal with pests! She could have done just as well staying in her own village, which had its fare share of crawlers. What she thirsted after was true battle, fiery and bloody and filled with glory like in the stories her grandfather told. She shot a glance over her shoulder at the rest of the party and muttered under her breath at their complacence. Obaid was too meek; if she had been the party leader, she would have demanded a more worthy charge for her unit.
"Neda and Ossa, you have first watch. Amaji and I will take second watch. Keep your eyes open - the last thing we need is another surprise skale attack while we're off our guard." Obaid gave Neda and the healer a pointed look, and Neda felt her face grow hot.
"You needn't keep harping on that," Ossa muttered before Neda could open her mouth. "It could have happened on your watch just as easily - those beasts were craftier than average."
"Just keep your eyes open," Obaid repeated.
Neda took her position next to a tree at the edge of camp and stared into the night with weary eyes. It had been a long month, and her body ached from spending long days slogging through the hostile swamp while lugging and swinging a scythe that was almost as heavy as she was. Despite what she would have liked the others to believe, the young dervish was not as experienced as she pretended to be, and the weapon that she proudly carried was still new to her hands.
But she would soon grow stronger, she thought to herself, her brows knitting in defiance. She had the blood of warriors running through her veins, just like her grandfather. She would put those who doubted her in their place soon enough. If only she would be given worthwhile quests…
As the hours passed, Neda's mind grew quieter and her eyes grew heavier, and before she knew it she was slowly descending into the land of dreams, retaining only faint awareness of her body leaning against the tree.
And then she felt something. A heavy presence that slowly but surely insinuated itself into her mind.
[i]Neda…[/i]
A trickle of fear seeped into Neda's heart. Her eyes fluttered beneath their lids.
[i]Brave Neda… You have no cause to fear me.[i]
Ignoring the whispered words, Neda tried to retrace her way to full consciousness, but failed.
[i]Neda Sunfury, true Daughter of Men, Champion of Justice, Bringer of Hope![/i] The sudden strength and fury behind the words pinned Neda helplessly in awe, confusion and uncertainty. [i]Heed me, Neda,[/i] the voice softened, [i]And you shall find your heart's desire.[/i]
Neda quelled the tremor in her heart and formed a silent question at the presence. "What are you?"
[i]I am the bearer of fortune, the shaper of destinies. I am the Wyrm Maiden, and I have looked into your heart and found a light fiercer and more noble than that of a thousand suns.[/i]
Neda's body grew warm with the flush of pride.
[i]Come to me, Neda Sunfury - find my order of Forever Knights and join them in their search for me. I shall reward your devotion a hundredfold and help you set your name in the pages of history as a hero greater than any of the champions of Elona.[/i]
Her fear forgotten, Neda questioned eagerly, "How? Where do I find you?"
A sudden image exploded into Neda's mind - lands and mountains covered in sand so white it shimmered and sparkled under a feeble sun.
[i]Not sand, Neda, but snow. In Cantha you will find the Order of the Forever Knights. You have been marked as my acolyte, they will accept you as one of their own.[/i]
The image changed, and Neda found herself looking into eyes of impossible clarity and intelligence set in a face of alien beauty - the face of one from lands far beyond the shores of Istan.
[i]I shall wait for you, Neda. Do not fail me, for your fate and mine are as one. Find me, and you shall have all that you desire. Find me.[/i]
Suddenly released, Neda opened her eyes and blinked at the night, her heart pounding.
Wet, bruised and disgruntled, Neda leaned against her heavy scythe and looked with sullen eyes at her fellow Sunspear recruits as they huddled around the camp fire and made a late meal of stale rations. First Spear Dehvad had assigned their unit to rid the swamp behind the walls of Kamadan of a recent skale and termite infestation, and Neda was finding the task less than thrilling.
"We have been camped in this forsaken swamp for the past three weeks," she suddenly shot out, drawing the glances of her three companions. "What is the point of wasting our time running after vermin when there are Corsairs waiting not far west?" Two of her comrades grunted in agreement.
"We'll be getting to the Corsairs soon enough," muttered Obaid, the leader of the group, who didn't seem too happy with their present task either. "Until then, keep swinging your blade where the higher ups point it. Keeping the routes in and out of the city safe has its own merits."
Neda clicked her tongue and turned to face the murky night. She had not signed on to deal with pests! She could have done just as well staying in her own village, which had its fare share of crawlers. What she thirsted after was true battle, fiery and bloody and filled with glory like in the stories her grandfather told. She shot a glance over her shoulder at the rest of the party and muttered under her breath at their complacence. Obaid was too meek; if she had been the party leader, she would have demanded a more worthy charge for her unit.
"Neda and Ossa, you have first watch. Amaji and I will take second watch. Keep your eyes open - the last thing we need is another surprise skale attack while we're off our guard." Obaid gave Neda and the healer a pointed look, and Neda felt her face grow hot.
"You needn't keep harping on that," Ossa muttered before Neda could open her mouth. "It could have happened on your watch just as easily - those beasts were craftier than average."
"Just keep your eyes open," Obaid repeated.
Neda took her position next to a tree at the edge of camp and stared into the night with weary eyes. It had been a long month, and her body ached from spending long days slogging through the hostile swamp while lugging and swinging a scythe that was almost as heavy as she was. Despite what she would have liked the others to believe, the young dervish was not as experienced as she pretended to be, and the weapon that she proudly carried was still new to her hands.
But she would soon grow stronger, she thought to herself, her brows knitting in defiance. She had the blood of warriors running through her veins, just like her grandfather. She would put those who doubted her in their place soon enough. If only she would be given worthwhile quests…
As the hours passed, Neda's mind grew quieter and her eyes grew heavier, and before she knew it she was slowly descending into the land of dreams, retaining only faint awareness of her body leaning against the tree.
And then she felt something. A heavy presence that slowly but surely insinuated itself into her mind.
[i]Neda…[/i]
A trickle of fear seeped into Neda's heart. Her eyes fluttered beneath their lids.
[i]Brave Neda… You have no cause to fear me.[i]
Ignoring the whispered words, Neda tried to retrace her way to full consciousness, but failed.
[i]Neda Sunfury, true Daughter of Men, Champion of Justice, Bringer of Hope![/i] The sudden strength and fury behind the words pinned Neda helplessly in awe, confusion and uncertainty. [i]Heed me, Neda,[/i] the voice softened, [i]And you shall find your heart's desire.[/i]
Neda quelled the tremor in her heart and formed a silent question at the presence. "What are you?"
[i]I am the bearer of fortune, the shaper of destinies. I am the Wyrm Maiden, and I have looked into your heart and found a light fiercer and more noble than that of a thousand suns.[/i]
Neda's body grew warm with the flush of pride.
[i]Come to me, Neda Sunfury - find my order of Forever Knights and join them in their search for me. I shall reward your devotion a hundredfold and help you set your name in the pages of history as a hero greater than any of the champions of Elona.[/i]
Her fear forgotten, Neda questioned eagerly, "How? Where do I find you?"
A sudden image exploded into Neda's mind - lands and mountains covered in sand so white it shimmered and sparkled under a feeble sun.
[i]Not sand, Neda, but snow. In Cantha you will find the Order of the Forever Knights. You have been marked as my acolyte, they will accept you as one of their own.[/i]
The image changed, and Neda found herself looking into eyes of impossible clarity and intelligence set in a face of alien beauty - the face of one from lands far beyond the shores of Istan.
[i]I shall wait for you, Neda. Do not fail me, for your fate and mine are as one. Find me, and you shall have all that you desire. Find me.[/i]
Suddenly released, Neda opened her eyes and blinked at the night, her heart pounding.