Lady Lipstick
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
I'm certain many of you have heard the name Lipstick and chuckled asking what sort of a name is that? Certainly that cannot be the Lady's real name? You are correct. It is merely a nickname that perhaps one day I will explain, but don't hold your breath. My true name you will discover in the tale that follows. My life began in a distant land far across the great waters yet to be discovered. My blood is in part human and in part Elven. Aye, I know this is not obvious to most as I take after my mother unlike my sister Shantel who favors my father whom I but vaguely remember. My tale is rather long and well, not yet brought to date in this scroll. Given time I shall reveal more of fate's hand that landed me in Britainnia.
The rider clattered down the paved streets of the city. His mount slid to a halt before the gates of the High Council's hall. The message he bore was urgent, for it spoke of ill tidings regarding the movements of the Dark Lord within the realm of Sunsentera'Lae. The heaving and lathered horse was lead away as the rider was ushered hurriedly into the hall and to the High Councilman himself. The Lord’s reaction to the message was immediate, as he ordered other riders and messages sent to call the Council together. The message from the fair city of Atellias weighed heavy upon his heart with ill boding. He slumped into his chair and reread it once more.
Honorable High Councilman and friend,
I write to you in haste from Atellias. An escort has arrived at our fair city proclaiming the arrival of the Dark Lord himself on the morrow. They have demanded that the city of Atellias swear fealty to the Dark One, as all kingdoms shall one day live under his fearless rule. They claim all that oppose him shall be swept from the sight of our fair land as enemies of his empire.
Of course our answer shall be a refusal of any allegiance to such a vile creature as he. I fear it is a dark future we shall be facing. He grows strong if his boldness at confronting our realm in this manner is evidence. I request an immediate summoning of the Council of the Seven Cities and aide sent to Atellias at this dark time. This peril must be made known to the Council. I make note that there have been strange occurrences of late within our boundaries that give birth to fears that the Dark Lord's threats may not be idle ones.
Your friend and fellow Councilman,
Lord Starren Lithel’Moon of Atellias
Within three days time the High Councilman and his hurriedly gathered army stood before the magnificent walls of the fair city of Atellias and struggled between rage and woe at what lay before him. The still smoldering city of Atellias lay in ruin. The High House Lithel’Moon was no more. No survivors were found within the city walls or without. What power could do so much destruction so quickly and so completely? Surely the Dark One’s power could not be responsible. By the Mighty One, certainly his power had not grown to such evil strengths? In his heart, the High Councilman feared the worse.
The young lass raced from beneath the forest's eaves and burst out into the sunshine. Her barefoot fell lightly upon the thick grass of the hills that skirted the edges of Firroot Forest. She glanced skyward at the bright sun's position and thought forlornly, "I will be late again and my absence certainly discovered." Her delicate features screwed up into an expression of worry as she sighed.
She pictured the scowl her father's face and her mother's stern expression when they discovered she had escaped her escort again. She could almost hear the tongue-lashing she would receive. The young girl plopped to the ground with a "Hmpf!" How she hated being sheltered, and escorted, and the confining walls of her home. She rolled her eyes playfully and fell backwards into the soft plush grass, as she thought further on her parent’s reaction when they discovered she had also been wandering again under the eaves of Firroot. She would know their real anger then. She would hear how dangerous the forest was, how grown men got lost for days within it's dim shadows, of tales of strange happenings, and even how some had disappeared never to be seen again. It held no such fears for her though.
She often wandered under its protective roof. There were many fruits and berries to sample, beautiful hidden glades and springs which held cold crystal waters. One could discover brilliant colored flowers and huge graceful looking trees and how she loved the animals. Soft furry ones, shy and fearful ones, some huge and clumsy looking or silent and powerful. Even the birds seemed to sing just for her when she strolled within Firroot. The animals were her friends and many walked with her or followed and shared the crusts of bread she would carry. Firroot was not evil to her.
Once she had even dared to stay until the moon and stars had appeared in the heavens. It had been a wondrous sight. The starlight had seemed to dance through the swaying branches overhead while the moon had given the very air a soft glow as it filtered down to the forest floor. She loved Firroot and all it's mysteries. A foolish child's imaginings, her parents would say. Yet, her heart felt so free here.
She loved the green rolling hills that rimmed Firroot also and upon which her home; the City of Atellias lay. There was room to run and dance and laugh under billowing clouds and warming sunshine. Indeed, everyone knew of Rayya's love for the countryside and it's inhabitants. It was not uncommon for one of the city inhabitants to spy her romping upon the hills gaily with her family or escort. Her beauty went not unnoticed either though; she was still but a young lass. It was said her hair held the shimmering rays of the sun. That her voice was like the soft rays of the moon and that her smile and laughter were like the sparkling rays of the night's starlight. Well did her name suit her, Rayya Lithel’Moon.
Rayya reluctantly rose upon her slim legs and skipped up the last hill. Her home was just beyond upon its other side. Her thoughts now switched to happier concerns such as, whether she should visit the kitchens upon her return or the stables. It was then that she noticed the black boiling cloud in the sky ahead. She paused wondering at it's strange billowing and a sudden chill went down her spine. She seemed to only just notice a deathly silence upon the land. She looked about her but ‘twas naught there but gently rolling hills of green. She turned back to finish her climb up the hillside and even as she took her first step, ‘twas like twilight began to fall upon the land. The day grew dimmer and she threw her confused eyes upward to the sun and gasped. Her glowing sun was turning black before her eyes. An omen of ill boding. Terror filled her heart. She ran the last few steps to the crest of the hill and froze in her tracks. The fair city of Atellias lay below, her home, but she went pale at the sight before her.
The dark cloud had been no cloud at all. ‘Twas thick choking smoke that rose from the fading embers of a city which lay in ash and ruin. Even as the day grew ever dimmer her feet began to move slowly forward, then faster and faster, till she was running at top speed towards what looked now to be a dead city.
She slowed finally at the cities crumbled walls just as complete darkness engulfed her world and the sun went out. Only dying fires and glowing embers lit her way through the rubble. Nothing moved and no one answered her weakly voiced call. She wandered on, half-numb, half seeing through her tears when she finally began to see them.
Scattered here and there, the lifeless faces of her city’s people. Eyes seemed to stare blankly out from faces frozen in terror and horror. She could feel the scream welling up inside her. Maybe she did scream or perhaps it was but within her mind. She tore her gaze away and upward to meet the full eclipse of her sun which seemed to glow red from behind it's blackened shield. Red as the blood of her people which now flowed and dried upon the land.
Suddenly she was running, running blindly, sobs snatching her breath as she ran. Her mind was filled with the faces of her father, mother, brother and little sister. She stumbled, caught herself and ran on. She tripped, fell, leapt to her feet and ran again. On and on through the city streets until her lungs felt near to bursting and she could run no more. She collapsed to the ground and lay trembling with shock, her mind filled with panic and fear. "Why? Why? What would have done such evil? Who? Where was her family?" She lifted her head slowly staring about with blurred vision. A cold numbness stole over her as she looked up. Before her lay the ruin of the city's great Council Hall, home to House Lithel’Moon. Nothing was left but crumbled stone and ash. All was leveled to the ground. Not even a single wall was left standing. She rose then, and turned slowly. Somewhere here was her family. Numbly she began to pick her way through the ruins and rubble and death, searching.
Death and terror were locked upon the faces she passed. It was not a sight any child should see and it was many years before her dreams were freed of the horrors remembered. Somewhere in her searching the light began to return to the day. Slowly but steadily it grew till once more the sun shone brightly over head as if it did not notice the horror which it shined down upon so cheerily.
Rayya wearily climbed back up the hillside. She stood staring down upon the ruins of her home, no longer a child. She stood there long, silent, and still, as emotions ripped through her mind, heart and soul. Perhaps it was the tenaciousness of the human bloodlines or the eternal perseverance of her Elven blood or both that at that moment bore her to a new vision and life. Her cry burst upon the air, surprisingly strong as she gazed back over what was once Atellias; "I have no home nor kin amore. Let such evil of the world pass me by in the future or dare to seek me within Firroot's depths with cost. Yet I vow one day this evil shall be met and I shall know revenge before my life passes on. By all this day has brought, all this carnage and blood... the blood... by the blood of the Eclipse I now swear my vow." She turned then and passed into the great forest of Firroot, her fate unknown to any living person.
Lady Rayya Lithel'Moon