Avalon/Roleplay Section/Hector/Return to Zod
Previous: The old Man of Henhower
Return to Zod, part I
As Hector, Revan and Arian head out of Henhower accompanied by Jessica, they make their way to Zod, the region where within a magical forest, the elves thrive.
Arian leads Hector and Revan along with Jessica to the heart of the forest just outside the great pyramid. As they enter the forest, they are greeted with a few Elvin sentries who stop them. Upon some strange, whispering language, Arian says something that makes both elves turn and look at Jessica.
A few moments later, they were escorted into a beautiful manor gleaming white. As they enter the large ballroom, Elcryn, the king of the elves enters the chambers. “Welcome friends! Arian, how can we be of service to you?”
“Well, we’ve come to learn more about the Colony Tree, and how we might be of assistance to it’s… rebirth?” Arian says, the last part of his statement drifting off as he glances up at Elcryn.
The Elvin king stares at Arian for a few moments, then sits in a nearby chair. “I’m afraid that concern is not for men. This problem falls on our shoulders. And I think we’ve grown tired of these games, anyway.”
Arian looks at him, obviously disturbed. “Lord Elcryn, I emplore you, if you have grown tired of this, most important ritual, I request you allow us to take it into our guard, at least for this time.”
The Elvin king looks at Arian. “You mean well, Arian, but perhaps man's reign on earth has come to an end. And, I know this is hard to think of, but perhaps it is time.”
Arian stands, suddenly angry, “How can you say that! This is not a game where you are a god and decide the fate of all mankind. You should give them a chance to choose their own destiny!” Elcryn’s guards move forward, in a defensive stance. Elcryn waves them back and shakes his head.
The Elvin king smiles and looks thoughtfully at Arian. “You don’t understand, do you? You’ve read the passages, but something’s missing, correct?”
“Yes, but, why do you try and play god?” Arian asks.
“It is not my choice. I grow tired, because, this time, the tree has withered, allowed a major breach in the gateway, and is on her last breath, yet, still, she has not chosen a successor.”
The room grows quite. Most of the men in the room don’t believe what they just heard. How can a tree “choose” anything?
“Yes, Elcryn, I am aware of this. I do understand that, but I was unaware you’ve taken the council of the chosen before her.” Arian says.
We have, and nothing.
As they speak, Jessica stares out into the courtyard and sees a large, golden tree. Her heart picks up pace. She recognizes the tree. It is so familiar to her, where has she seen it before? “I’ve seen that tree before!” She shouts.
Arian and the rest stand, staring. Arian appears to grin slightly.
“Yes, I have had dreams about that tree. It reached out to me and touched my cheek. Something fell into my hand, and suddenly, monsters were everywhere, the undead were all around me trying to tear at me skin, then I saw a bright light, and I was awake again.”
This can’t be, Elcryn whispers to himself as he stands. “That’s impossible, for the past 100 years, an elf was chosen for this great task. To rebirth the tree. It is not possible!”
Arian turns to Elcryn, “Well, there’s only one way to find out then, isn’t there?”
Return to Zod, part II
As Elcryn and Arian lead the group out into the courtyard, they look over and see a small marble building. The door opens slowly and seven children come out, dressed in silver and gold robes, flowing about their feet. At four corners of the courtyard, high on a towering wall, Elvin sharpshooters are positioned, bows in hand and drawn.
The seven children gather before the tree and bow down and start to chant. The language they are murmuring doesn’t sound Elvin. It sounds old, very old. The chant causes the tree to begin to sway back and forth. Everyone looks around at each other. There is no breeze.
Hector turns and looks at Jessica. She is staring at the tree. Her eyes look transfixed on the leaves as it sways.
He looks back at the tree, it used to be a brilliant gold shimmer, he was told, but now, it is very faint. A large crack splits the tree in half, and there are several dead branches about the courtyard. This tree will be dead in a matter of days. Hector thinks to himself.
He glances back to Jessica and sees her eyes closed now; she is murmuring the words the Elves are saying. Hector looks on, in disbelief. He walks to her, but her arms open up and she pushes past Hector. “Wait!” Hector yells and starts after her, but Arian quickly grabs his arm.
“Don’t interfere, soldier! This is beyond you and me now!” Arian looks hard at Hector. Hector’s mouth is open and his eyes stare in disbelief, and his brows are furrowed. He turns, and stares at Arian.
“What is going on here? This is madness!”
Arian holds Hector tight, and they both watch as Jessica walks towards the tree. The tree starts to sway even more, and then, a strong wind picks up. Leaves are everywhere now, and the trees branches start to reach out, towards Jessica.
The branch touches Jessica’s cheek and she screams out. I brilliant white light is shown about her. Hector lunges, but Arians grip is too hard. He’s not normal. Hector thinks in horror. “Stop, someone help her!” Hector screams.
Elcryn is there, “Sir, keep quite! It is important not to interrupt this ritual, or you will forever curse this land to desolation at the hands of demons and Monsters from the Netherworld.”
Hector feels helpless. Something is happening to Jessica, and no one is trying to save her. “Stop, this is madness man! Stop!”
Elcryn motions two guards who appeared out of nowhere. “Take this man to the grand room, and I’ll be there soon.”
“No, please, help her; something is happening, stop… STOP IT!!!!” Hector is dragged off by two large Elvin guards.
After several moments, the brilliant white light stops. And Jessica is lying on the ground. The tree is still, once more. The seven children walk up to her, and pick her up, and take her to a circle on the ground which is made of stone. They spend the next few minutes blessing her. Then, they stand and walk back into the small marble house at the edge of the courtyard.
As Jessica opens her eyes, she sits up and the men walk to her. Revan is there, staring. “What happened, mi’Lady?”
“I don’t remember anything.” Jessica says, and then lifts her hand to reveal a large acorn shaped seed. “But, I know I have to take this to the Water Pools in the Misty Marsh’s of Cteduul.”
Return to Zod, part III
The men gather in the grand room located in the center of the Elvin Palace. Jessica has retired to her chambers for the evening.
Hector sits in a chair with the other men, around a large, marble table, his leg up and his arm resting on his leg. He plays with his hair as he stares out.
Revan speaks, “Hector, it’ll be OK. Just relax and we’ll get through this together. Now, Arian, what do we do next?”
Elcryn looks at Arian, with a grave look on his face. Arian stands, and clears his throat, “eh, hem… Well, we must head to Cteduul, to follow the process written down in the book, and she will dip the seed in the water, then back here to replant the tree.”
Hector sits silent, staring, twirling his hair in his hand.
Revan, looking very concerned at Hector, turns back to Arian and says, “Perfect, the sooner we can be done with this the better! We ride at first light.”
Just then, a messenger comes barging through the door. “Lord Revan, Lord Hector, we have urgent news from our General.” He bows and hands it to Revan.
Revan reads it outloud, “Report to Henhower at once, there is a mass of Undead and Monsters forming there. I will join you there as soon as I can break away from this Takeover, and I wish you men well. Signed, Lord Michael, Minster of Defense.”
Revan turns to Hector, Hector glances up at Revan, “Hector, duty calls, we must leave at once.”
Hector stands, and clears his throat. “hmm, hemm. Fine, I’ll have my scribe saddle my horse and we’ll be off right away. Arian, come with us, please, I have much to discuss with you. Scribe, bring a guard to watch Jessica as we travel to Henhower.”
Arian looks at Hector, a small smile on his face. He places his hand on his shoulder. “It will be all right, Hector. Trust in me, and you’ll see we’ll survive this.”
Hector looks up at him, “I trust you as much as I trust a rabid dog. I’ll not put her life in your hands, old man!” Hector pushes by Arian and assembles his men in the court. Revan also has assembled his men there. A carriage rolls up out front, and Jessica dashes inside with two personal body guards.
Hector looks at Revan, “This was a terrible idea bringing her here. I don’t know by what means that happened, but I should have thought that through. I think Arian is up to no good.”
Hector, Revan and the rest head out, towards Henhower. The mass of Monster growing there is too large to let go anymore. Hector begins to think about simpler times. When Jessica was in room 219, and he would pop into town to visit. They seemed like one sole then, now, they have drifted apart. Since the incident in the courtyard with the tree, Jessica hasn’t looked him in the eye. And tonight, when she got in the carriage, she avoided his eyes. Yes, something is definitely different about her now. He must speak with her.
He rides up next to her carriage on the long journey to Henhower. She stares straight ahead, never looking up at him. He leans down, “Jessica, are you feeling OK?”
Jessica glances at his horse, then back to her feet. “I feel better. I feel like I have a purpose in life! This is important to me, Hector, I don’t know what is going to happen, but I believe it will be a large change. I will always love you, no matter what happens to us.”
Hector is visibly angry and raises his voice a bit, “What do you mean, no matter what happens to us? That is crazy talk.”
Jessica, glances up slowly, and stares in his eyes. Hector feels an overwhelming calm come over him. He stares back at her. “Hector, I am deeply in love with you, but I need to complete this. Something inside me is calling to that fact. I must finish what I’ve started. My love will not die, and I need you to trust in me and help protect me until I can fulfill what needs to be done.”
Hector stares, and then realizes whatever it is she has to do, she can feel it so completely in her soul, that he can not even try to deny her that. “Of course. After this, though, we will settle down.”
Hector rides on, and Jessica looks back at her feet. Yes, we will settle down. She says softly to herself.
Next: Victory in Henhower
