Steven Burke - The Dark Tide

"I think the best approach is to not hide our coming. Let’s make them see their doom coming and then make them wait for it" Tyrienwalker said wickedly. His face was black as night and as cold as the furthest reaches of the northern ice lands. There seemed to be a black mist at the edges on his person as though evil was literally emanating from him.

"My lord, I would also recommend that we completely encircle the entire land before we start moving in. That way we can account for every last one of them. Also, they will know that death is all around them" intoned a dark warrior captain. He was not quite as dark as the others…his skin was more of a dark gray color. This difference made him look more sinister than those that followed him.

"Excellent point Captain Tyrianal, which would definitely add to the fear factor. We need them to be afraid so we can muster enough time to summon dark friends from the underworld" master Shadowin interjected smoothly. His silver hair reflected the light beautifully and had almost a glow to it above ground. His long hair was tied back in a ponytail and went all the way to his trim waist.

As the dark elves plotted their first open assault above ground in centuries, fowl began to circle the air above the massive gathering. From the air the Tansanee forest looked like one big black spot. The Meleirelnar army was more numerous than any other fighting force currently engaged in battle. The sheer size was not the most frightening part…it was the fact that every one of the soldiers were wielders of magic. Not just any form of magic…they worked the dark arts like no other living creature in all of Tuwa. The crows circling overhead sensed eminent death which was continuing to draw more and more of their kin.

"The crows are coming and we are ready to move out" intoned the silvery voice of the last dark elf to arrive at the camp. There was a black shroud around the person who had spoken.

The military leaders quickly turned about and dropped to one knee. Their faces were toward the ground and they did not move. Lord Tyrienwalker was the first the break the respectful silence. He raised his head slowly while keeping his eyes cast down so as to not look the underworld demon in the eye. "We are ready to begin the summoning process. We are honored with your presence at such a crucial moment in our nation's history. We will send many souls to the keeper to repay the knowledge and gifts he has given to us." Tyrienwalker spread his arms wide was he bowed down to the ground once more.

"It is I who is indebted to you. You alone were able to breach the barrier between the world of the living and dead. If it were not for you, I would still be bound until the end of this world" the demon Selven replied in a wavering whisper. The shroud seemed to engulf him and caressed him almost lovingly.

"Are you here to assist us in our fight?" asked Lord Tyrienwalker and the dark elves stood to face the demon from the underworld. Selven had an otherworldly glow about his face and did not appear to have any feet. He shimmered and rippled with the breeze. When the sun shone through the trees, he seemed to fade a little. He was the arbitrator between the dark elves and the keeper.

"I am here to inform you that the keeper is watching and waiting for his opportunity to enter the world of the living. He wants me to remind you of your promise to free him from his prison and that his patience is wearing thin" the silvery voice trilled lightly. The way it was said sent chills down the spines of the dark elves that were in range of his voice. The price was high; however, the entire Meleirelnar nation entered the deal willingly with the keeper in exchange for powers beyond the world of the living.

"We know our vow! It would do well for him to remember that without us he has no chance of escape. Also inform him that we are confident that the weapon that will allow us to breach the barrier has been identified and we are working on locating it. The old man has moved the prize which has set us back a little. However, Kana is playing her part as we discussed and she should be in possession of the orb by the time we have finished with the giants" Lord Tyrienwalker said darkly.

"Remember what they say about the messenger…" injected Selven smoothly. The shroud covered him entirely except his shimmering face.

"Understood…let's get on with the summoning" he replied coldly. He had grown fond of Selven; however, he still represented the one holding his chain. He did not care for anyone to command him, especially a being who is trapped. He was not entirely stupid to think that the keeper could not find a way into the world of the living without him or his people, so he went along with the plan. Better to have some power than to be on the losing side.

Several hours later the dark scouts returned with the necessary offerings for the summoning. When a life is taken there is a moment when the soul leaves the body to travel to the other side of the veil that separates the living from the dead. The Meleirelnar referred to this as the backdoor. They kill innocent, sometimes not entirely without sin, people in order to put a door stop in the temporary opening to the underworld. The souls that remain close to the veil are either lost, new to the next stage of existence, or they are those who were wholly in the service of the keeper. He was called this simply because he captured unwary souls and kept them in his realm. Those who were able to resist his evil influence in life were given safe passage to the next plain of existence. Exactly where they ended up depended on the level of service and devotion they showed to the creator while living in the world.

The scouts had gathered twenty woodsmen that had unfortunately been working in the northeastern part of Tansanee. They were silent as they were herded to a gathering place that had been prepared for summoning. The trees that had been there were stacked in the middle of the new clearing in the form of a log cabin. A large circle had been carved into the ground with ancient symbols that glowed red and purple. A makeshift door in the middle of the cabin wall had the symbol of the keeper above it. It looked like a pair of hands making some important gesture. The men had no idea what the gesture meant…they simply knew they were about to die.

“Welcome to your door to the next world” spoke Lord Tyrienwalker smoothly.

“Black devil…I curse you and your kind! May the keeper rack your souls with eternal torment!” shouted one of the men bravely. He was going to die and he felt that he should at least fight back a little…even if it was only verbally.

Raucous laughter filled the clearing at this bold cursing. It did not last long though. The men were roughly forced into their wooden coffin. The door slammed shut and the clearing went silent. The men inside pushed hard for escape with no success. They peered through the gaps in the logs and saw the elves making the sign that had appeared above the door to the death cabin. Their faces hardened as they peered out and saw clouds gathering overhead. They knew death was moments away. They all knelt in prayer to the unseen creator and asked that he curse the murderous black elves. A peace came over them as they waited for the inevitable.

An eerie voice started to chant in a tongue not known to the mortal races of Tuwa. There was an increase in volume as the rest of the elves in sight joined in. The twenty victims would be granted safe passage into the station they were granted by the life they lived. The moment of departure opened a hole in the veil for each soul that leaves the world of the living. Twenty people leaving at once opened a sizable hole through which they would summon a creature worthy of the task it was being summoned for. The bodies along with the unwitting crows circling overhead would provide sufficient mass for the creature that would come forth.