Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Nasazura's Rest: Temple Grounds

Tiko

Tiko

Draconic Administrator/Mentor
Administrator
Mentor
Nexus GM
as written by Tiko

The call has been sounded across the realm for those with a heroes heart. Whether you be old, young, veteran, novice, or wayward soul in need of new beginnings, all with the seed of a champion within them will feel the tug of the resonating call. The compulsion to seek out the temple from your dreams calls you northward into the icy peaks of Terra, to the Elysian Vanguard's stronghold.

It is the same dream as last night, and the night before, and the night before that. You stand atop an icy ridge surveying the far reaches of the land that stretch for miles upon miles. At your back a regal temple stands sentinel, both tall and proud with its banner flying high. The cold chill of the wind bites at your skin with unrelenting fury, but strength hardens your heart for the coming storm. The realm cries out for champions, for those who can weather the perils they will face in the days to come.

A voice reaches you upon the wind carrying the strength of the mountains in its resonating words.

'The Champions gather.'
 
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as written by Tiko

The group that cut its way through the mountains ahead of a trailing line of pack animals was a peculiar one that had been formed from individuals gathered from all corners of Valore for the purpose of returning to Nasazura's Rest. Gender, race, and creed divided them all, and yet they all shared the same dream every night. The dream that had guided them all here to this specific point in time.

The last leg of their journey proved the most difficult yet as Akosua led them on an arduous hike through the icy peaks of the Northlands. The spring thaw had eased their journey marginally as passes normally impassible in the winter became accessible to them, but even for the fittest among them it was a treacherous journey.

The woman who guided them had been lost in thought for some time now, but the faintest of smiles crossed her lips as a familiar rocky cleft came into view in the distance.

"Almost there now," she informed those who accompanied her.

New recruits, all of them. Ten in total, and each of them filled with the promise of a future for the Elysian Vanguard. A new generation of champions.

Those with her would begin to feel it as they began to draw nearer to their destination. It was a strange warmth that found its way into their hearts, and a familiarity that one might feel after returning home from a long journey. Ahead the rocky face of a precipice felt all too surreal as they looked up upon the very place they had stood within their dreams for so many nights past.

The temple itself had yet to come into view as Akosua led them into the cleft that split the precipice, but they could feel it. The temple was just up ahead.

The hike up to it from there was easier going than most of their journey as the pathway was maintained and kept clear for passage and when they reached the top the temple spilled into view in all its grandeur.

The main temple itself towered over a wide courtyard, and everything from the stone beneath their feet, to the armored Knights of Le'thorian that met them at the steps of the temple radiated strength.
 
as written by Tiko

The three knights greeted Akosua warmly.

"It is good to see you returned safely to us," Shelby spoke as the pair exchanged a warm embrace. "So many?" she asked as she looked past Akosua to take in those who had arrived with her.

"As many as I could locate before I felt the summons to return," Akosua replied. "All is well?"

"For now," Shelby answered. "The others are all in a meeting, but I will inform them of your arrival."

"Thank you," Akosua replied. "We will wait here."
 
Azzam stood among the others who had been called, his teeth chattering ever so slightly as the frigid wind bit through him, despite the heavy blanket he had wrapped around his torso to stave it off. As gooseflesh rose on his legs again, he shook his head and looked out at the gorgeous temple before them. While he was reassured within at the sight, the cold was getting to him more than he'd liked. He had simply thought the dream's depiction was for effect, not that the temple would, in fact, be located in such a cold place.

As he took his eyes away from the temple and took a moment to look each guard over in turn, he realized that despite their armor, none of them seemed to be reacting to the cold like a normal person might. He shook his head again, then began moving his weight from one foot to the next, doing whatever he could to heat himself up. Silks, it turned out, were not the ideal clothing here no matter how comfortable he was in them. He took a deep breath to try and calm his shivering, mentally resolving to endure this and make himself stronger. He would be no use as a champion if he shivered at a little wind.
 
Alicia found herself near the back of the party, wrapped up in furs and contemplating the recurring dream that had visited her over the last few evenings. It had been a strange deviation from the visions that had taken her in the recent weeks. Normally, she dreamed of home, or dances, or duels. On harder days, she'd relive the violent coup. Now though? These strange visions of a cold keep were strange to her. What did they mean? She knew that others did not suffer them, so what was special about her? She even came from a different world! She'd kept that a secret from the other apprentices, so only Akosua herself would know. But it raised a disturbing question: Was her family's fall destined? If she hadn't made her way to this world, would she still suffer these visions? Was her family doomed to die, so that she could end up here?

A shiver run across her body as her thought process was broken by Akosua's declaration that they were close. The sense of foreboding and destiny filled her body with a strange warmth as they crossed past the rocky cleft and the temple came into view. The vivid recollection of the site of her dream had her gasp in shock, and her tight grip on the furs she wore loosened a little. She looked on with awe at the awaiting Armoured knight; his stature impressive and the backdrop of the radiant temple helping to highlight that strength.

When the knight left, Alicia pushed herself forward in the group. She was too hard-headed to wait meekly near the pack beasts as she approached Akosua. She looked to the seer with a smile as she stared at the temple. "This is where we are to become champions? It seems so...isolated." She said, her voice filled with an obvious eager intent to begin. Despite her core temperature being so low, a part of Alicia felt in her prime atop the mountain. Her Ice Magic had prepared her for cold temperatures, and she felt empowered by the idea of such a chilling place. She hoped someone else shared her talent, and that they might help further her magic as well as her swordsmanship.
 
"What better place to nurture strength than here, in one of the harshest and most unforgiving reaches of the Northlands?" Akosua said with a smile to Alicia.

As Azaam and Alicia took in the sight of the place that lay before, so to where the others that traveled with them.
 
as written by glmstr

"Wow, they'd love to hear about this," said the first of the recruits to speak up, a Lutetian towards the back of the party. Priscilla clutched her coat and shivered a little, the winters at home very rarely (if ever) were this harsh, so her coat proved to be largely inadequate.
 
as written by Script

Kallis lingered towards the back of the group, wrapped in a thick cloak lined with fur that he had purchased on Akosua's recommendation from one of the towns near the base of the peaks. The teen, one of the youngest of the group, had remained quiet for much of the journey. He had spoken when spoken to, answered any questions they had, but otherwise had seldom taken it upon himself to engage with the others.

Despite his heavy furs, the cold bit at him keenly. He'd spent his life accustomed to the warmth of Caldonia, and this was a stark change. Crimson eyes peered up at the temple with nervous anticipation. Though Akosua had given him plenty of reassurances, he still had doubts as to whether this stronghold of the light and its guardians would abide his presence.

Those doubts aside, however, he was very glad to have arrived. His leg muscles ached in longing for a rest. He was far from unfit, but the climb to the temple had been trying to say the least. He couldn't imagine making the journey during the winter. What he needed now was a hot drink and a warm fire. Acceptance could come later.
 
as written by CaerJester

Not far from Priscilla, a rather tall of somewhat beanpole-ish looking youth marched along with stooped shoulders and downcast eyes. Two suit cases were strung to his back, and two more were clutched in white knuckled hands. Luckily, those precious digits were covered with a pair of fur lined leather gloves, and the feet that marched were treated similarly, only with boots. Hiking boots that bordered on the combat side considering their design. From his deceptively broad shoulders down, covering all save his hands and feet, there was draped a magnificently clean, off-white lab coat. Not any ordinary coat, no. This one seemed like it was made of a thick, heavy leather, and seemed to jingle with the sounds of metal and glass with each step he took before coming to a halt.

Hendrik felt his mouth go slack with awe behind the heavy, hyper extended collar that covered the lower half of his face. This sort of place, built this high up in the mountains. Without any modern equipment?! They hadn't lied to him! Here was the chance the improve his craft, in a sanctuary away from the world! A sparkle rose on his features, giving his fair cheeks a warm glow and his cobalt blue eyes an eager shimmer.

"Oh my...I had my doubts the whole trip. But this place is simply marvelous..." Those heavily accented words might've been some of the very first or few his traveling companions had heard him speak in all their weeks together.
 
as written by Tiko

Shae let her duffel bag slip from her shoulder and it landed with a muffled thump upon the courtyard flagstones. She was winded and haggard from the climb, and the weight of the bag had seemed to gain a pound every hour. She wasn't unfit, but three months of surviving alone in the winter wastelands of the Northlands had left her little more than a skeleton of a figure. She was gaunt and undernourished, and the trek had taken more out of her than some of the others.

She said nothing as she looked over the surroundings with an alertness that defied her physical exhaustion, but her silence was a matter that the others likely had become accustomed to. She was the newest arrival within the group, but she hadn't said a word to a one of them during the several day hike up the side of the mountain.

---​

"It is magnificent," Ritza uttered in awe as she stared up at the temple.

Hailing from a tropical climate, the cold had proven a less than pleasant ordeal for the Arteghian woman. Even layered beneath the thick leathers and furs that Akosua had provided them for the journey, she hadn't been able to keep the cold bite entirely at bay.

Standing here now though and looking upon the temple from her dreams, the cold seemed distant and unimportant. An inner warmth had begun to well up, and she closed her eyes a moment as she let the feeling fill her.

---​

For those with a keen eye, they might take note of a lone figure seated near the height of the temple. It wasn't upon the walkways, or the balcony that surrounded the large dome at the top that she was seated though. No she was sitting lazily upon a stone archway above one of the small window slits of the upper floors, one leg hanging over the edge loosely. The window appeared far too small for her to have climbed through, but movement overhead offered perhaps a hint of how she had managed to get to her perch. A scaly red head lifted up from the upper balcony to turn a reptilian slit eye down upon the gathering in the courtyard.

"Think we should go down and take a look?" Rayen asked.

The young dragon uncoiled from where it had been sunning itself upon the rocky tower and began to make its way down the side of the tower. Though brutish in appearance, it moved with surprising athletism as it found purchase on even the smallest crevices in the rocks, windows, and various other outcroppings.

"Hey, wait for me," Rayen hollered.

The dragon let out a grumbling grunt as it reached the lower balcony and looked up expectantly.

The woman overhead stood up and unfurled a pair of black feathered wings, but rather than taking flight as one might have expected she swung herself over the edge of the ledge and dropped towards the dragon below.

The wings she sported seemed far too small to sustain flight, but they served to slow her fall as she landed in a crouch next to the dragon.

"Come on, let's take the stairs," she said as they headed inside through a pair of double doors to continue their journey towards the courtyard below.
 
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as written by birdee10

Jake looked up at the giant castle like building, the only sign of civilization in the scenic view. It was strange, without the sound and clutter of the city. He had never been anywhere else. Yet, looking at this place, this palace, he felt surprisingly at home. Or, at least, safe. Something he had not truly felt in a long time.

He put his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, the only thing between him and the cold. Not that he felt it, the fire magic nestled deep inside of him keeping away the worst of the frosty teeth and warming the air around him.

Jake wanted nothing more than to find a chair and just rest. The hike up the mountain had been strenuous, even though the path had already been broken for him. And then he could find a dark corner to to duck into, avoiding the words of others. Thankfully thus far, everyone had been too winded or trying not to fall on their ass to talk to him. He would prefer to keep it that way.

But it was good to know that this place was real. Not a reoccurring harbinger of his own madness, nor his mother invading his mind. Only an Order bent on saving the world which he had now become part of for the rest of his possibly short existence. No big deal.
 
as written by Script

The new arrivals would not have to wait long. Within a few minutes of their variously striding, stumbling and staggering into the courtyard, the temple's inhabitants came out to meet them.

At their fore walked a woman of ageless beauty. Though her elven features were unblemished and unwrinkled, there was an unmistakable maturity and wisdom to her visage that could only come from great age. She was clad in a lengthy blue cloak and robe of evidently fine make, and her hair fell in deep brown tresses over her shoulders. She wore a warm smile upon her face as she looked over the new arrivals, assessing them each in turn with a gaze that - although it gave the impression of seeing far beyond the surface - was not judgmental, only welcoming.

At her side, two young men walked. The first was a face that Aldo would recognise as Elante Vadrillion, one of Celestia's most prominent alumni. The design of the auburn-haired mage's white-and-gold cloak and mantle bore the insignias of the academy, and if nothing else, the scepter fastened at his side identified him as a spellcaster to those of the group unfamiliar with the prestigious institution.

Along with him was a long-haired swordsman clad in similar attire to the Knights of Le'thorian that had greeted the group. His tunic and cloak bore prominent indications of rank, however, suggesting that he held a lofty rank within the order of knights. The sword fastened at his hip was of exquisite craftsmanship, and its simple yet elegant design lent it an understated beauty.

More figures continued to emerge from the temple, though they took up less prominent positions. Amongst them were a warrior maiden in heavy plate armour of black-and-gold, a younger elven mage who bore something of a resemblance to the sorceress at their fore, a fair-haired youth clad with two antique pistols holstered at his hips, and two teens in more contemporary garb: the first platinum blonde and fine featured, and the second green-skinned, with pointed ears and a broad, sharp-toothed grin. At their backs stood a large centaur woman of the like that none of the new arrivals had likely ever laid eyes upon. Her skin was a dusky hue of purple, and a pair of hefty curved horns swept back from her brow to arc behind her. The temple it would seem had gathered all sorts of beings from across the lands.

Also among those to meet the new arrivals upon the step were a number of ghostly spectres that began to manifest themselves into visibility. It would seem that both the living and the dead had turned out to recieve the next generation of champions to be.

"Welcome, all of you," The elven woman at the front of the Vanguard stepped forwards towards the group of newcomers. "I am Sylvire Nasazura, leader of the Elysian Vanguard. Truly, it is wonderful to see so many new faces come to answer the call."
 
as written by Tiko

Akosua seemed somwhat taken aback at the sight of the woman who addressed them. She had never met the elven sorceress, but she knew her by reputation, and by the large statue errected within the vestibule of the temple.

She retained her composure though and straightened her posture as she looked upon the legend of old, Sylvire Nasazura, founder of the Elysian Vanguard.

"It is an honor to have you walk among us again, Lady Nasazura," she spoke. "I am Akosua. Sworn to the Elysian Vanguard."

She waved the new arrivals forward next.

"Come, introduce yourselves," she told them.
 
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Azzam relaxed his grip on the blanket he held draped over himself, the cold of the wind forgotten. Or, rather, his body was no longer being buffeted by wind, though his gaze was looking at the majestic group of individuals before him, not on the small snow flurries that were being diverted around him by subtle breezes. In all his life, he'd never seen a group so diverse, and still so wonderful to behold. At the mention of the founder's name, he blanched. He'd had her name stitched into his bag's inside years ago, and now she was here, in front of him.

His throat shut itself to keep him from speaking as he realized just how important some of these people were. Then he noticed the spirits and immediately backed away in a crouch.

He'd heard of spirits before, restless beings who solely stalked the endless desert wastes, preying on travelers who did not respect them. For those who honored them, you would never catch a glimpse of their eerie glows, but to see a spirit meant it harbored you ill will. His right hand drifted down by his boot while he crouched, fingertips brushing the tip of an old dagger while his left hand shaded his eyes from viewing the specters. He would not lock eyes with them, lest they steal him from his body. After a moment, and a profound lack of soul-stealing, he peeked between his fingers, noting that there seemed to be no negative or positive reaction to his movement. Instead, there was indifference, perhaps even very slight entertainment.

Refusing to make eye contact with the spirits, Azzam stood from his crouch, causing the blanket to fall away from his lean body and let the silks he wore billow almost heroically around him. He stepped forward hesitantly, only one step, then took another. And another. Eventually, he was standing perhaps a scant dozen feet from the welcoming party, and it was there that he bowed to them.

"It is a great honor to meet the Heroes of legends past. I am..." He paused for a moment, debating giving his real name. Deciding against it for the time being, he continued. "I am Mir'Ahj, of Tiria in Caldonia. I hope that my service will do you honor as I work towards becoming the champion I am expected to be." While bowing, he realized that he felt not the chill of the wind, or the bite of the wind, though the blanket lay behind him, slowly gathering a coating of snow. He looked at it before standing upright once more, confused.
 
Alicia frowned at Akosua when she mentioned the temple was on such an isolated place for naught but training purposes. It seemed like such a simple reason for such a grand extravagance. Still, she had no reason to not believe the seer, so...


A few minutes of taking in the scenery, and people-watching the other would-be students, kept her occupied while they waited for the temple's residents to arrive. When they finally did, she watched the various beings who were, most likely, the Vanguard's greater members. The people seemed to radiate a certain gravitas that was attractive to her sensibilities, and when the elven woman introduced herself, she blanched in open amazement. To think that the Sylvire Nasazura was here -the woman who had helped save her world – was actually here was an beyond astonishing to her. As soon as she was invited to introduce herself, she stepped forward to speak, only for another to speak before her. The man who spoke was a strange looking soul who seemed extraordinarily uncomfortable in the chill wind. For a moment, Alicia was mildly annoyed by how he jumped ahead of her, but she couldn't help but smirk at the name he'd given himself. Mir'ahj indeed.


Alicia stepped forward almost as soon as he was; a hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she bowed her head to the leader of the Elysian Vanguard. "I am Alicia DeRoux, of Aelora. It would be my honour to serve an Aeloran hero, and the Vanguard that saved my people." She said, before stepping back to let the next apprentice speak up; head still bowed to the Elven leader. She felt herself shaking now, instead of shivering. The warmth of shock and pride replacing any lingering chill she’d had before.
 
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as written by glmstr

The Lutetian towards the back stepped forward to the front of the group, eyeing each of the members of the Vanguard with curiosity before finally resting her gaze on Sylvire. If she was going to be the first to speak before, she might as well be the first to speak now.

"I am Priscilla Marie Fabre, of Lutetia. When I had dreams of this place, the coven told me it was a summons and insisted that I heed its call."

Priscilla also wondered if the Vanguards would recognize the Fabre name, the surname given to those in said venerable coven.
 
as written by Emperor Jester

Hendrik would set his equipment and cases down into the snow with an absurdly heavy clunk. Despite his looks, perhaps the towering beanpole was not nearly as physically weak as he appeared. While he did not step forward, the blonde hair youth would raise a hand, as if this were some kind of roll call.

"My name is Doctor Hendrik Keitel, though I suspect I was not asked to join this place due to my credentials. It is...an honor..." A string of words from one so normally awkward were rare, and it seemed to be catching even the speaker by surprise. Quickly, he'd shut up, the timidness returning instantly as he fumbled to pick his bags back up. Something about the woman's otherworldly beauty must've loosened his tongue. However, such thoughts caused the aspiring medic to fiddle with the high collar of his jacket, as if he was picking at a wound.
 
as written by Script

Kallis stepped forwards next, having set his own rucksack down whilst the other two spoke. He bowed low to Sylvire, his eyes lowered. "I am Kallis Winters, of Caldonia. It is an honour to meet you, Lady Nasazura. I hope that I am able to live up to your expectations."

He saw no reason to air out every detail of his nature in a first introduction. There would be time for that later, when there was less of an audience. For now, he simply stepped back to allow the next person to speak.
 
as written by birdee10

"Jake. Of Westeria."

What more could thr young mage say? He had renounced his family, so no go there. He was little more than a homeless kid on the streets. But, he had the city, and the people in it to call home and family.

"When are we going to take back my city." Not a question so much as a soft spoken command for answers. Jake was not meaning to be rude, but they had dragged him up this giant ass mountain and he expected to be repaid. He had not come for adventure or fame or glory or because it's his destiny. He came to help his city.
 
as written by Tiko

Ritza too stepped forward to introduce herself. Despite the cold, she stood tall with her head held high and proud.

"I am Ritza, of the Quepoyawa tribe," she spoke in thicky accented Terran. "I spend many days for this honor to meet you. I give you my sword and bow," she continued as she stood with her bow in one hand and her sword strapped to her back.

Her Terran had strengthened greatly with Akosua's tutelage during their weeks together locating the others for the journey back to Nasazura's Rest, but she had yet to attain fluency and she struggled yet to articulate herself fluidly. Her sentence structures were improved, but her vocabulary remained rudimentary. This had not discouraged her though, and she was oft one of the more talkative of the group as she took every opportunity to strengthen her grasp upon the Terran tongue.

---​

While the others introduced themselves, Shae did what she did best and chose to remain unobtrusive and largely overlooked among the crowd with her silence. She made no move to speak up.
 
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