New Stolen Destiny Fiction

You deemed these characters worthy of a second look and we give you enough to inspire your imagination. As Malrog tries, for the final time, to become a god, the Accordlands is caught in a time warp. As the cohorts fight to steal the destinies of a chosen few, these characters are caught in the crossfire. Below you find beginnings, the endings are left up to your dreams.

Check back here each week as one new character fiction for each faction will be added each week for 6 weeks (5 for Mercenary)!

Final fiction update added: 11-09-2007

Deverenians:

Taltos Rellion (Taltos the Hale):
Born into Deverenian nobility, into the great family Rellion, whose line had for decades been known for its fierce and loyal fighters, Taltos was torn as a youth. He wished to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and become a knight, but he also felt the pull of magic and the desire to wield its powers. Taltos thus decided to secretly embark on both paths: by day he trains as a knight, but during the evenings visits a shrouded master who has promised to prepare him for the Trial Perilous.

Apprentice Ramah (Ramah the Cruel):
Ramah was never one for limitations. When his masters had taught him all they could of Necromancy, he left his compatriots and petitioned Slayer himself for an apprenticeship. Amused by the brash elf, Slayer allowed him to undertake the brutal training that would prepare the elf for the Trial Perilous. The Deverenian assumed the others would slay the impetuous Ramah in the first week. Instead, the youth proved more than a match for his peers, destroying their bodies and enslaving their souls. With these unwilling tutors, he quickly surpassed everyone’s expectations. As vicious as his infamous Master, Ramah cut his path through Deverenian prejudice until none could deny him advancement. Slayer gave him one task to complete before the Trial would be made open to him: Find and destroy the personal grimore of the Wizard Guildmaster. Ramah knew he could not accomplish such a feat by himself, so he enlisted the aid of a specialist- a female elf bound to serve him in this life and the next.

Sir Argen Undying (Lord Argen d’Ilchant):
The young Sir Argen was a peerless soldier and a master warrior. As a youth, he took every opportunity to spearhead excursions to Deverenia’s furthest borders, driving back the lesser races and crushing mercenary companies. Despite the constant danger he put himself in, the knight had never been seriously wounded. The Emperor himself remarked that Sir Argen seemed to be able to do anything but die. Sir Argen’s final task before being raised to full knighthood was to slay the “Witch of the Woods,” a wretched half-elf whose magic had shielded her from Deverenian justice for too long. But when he returned from his mission, he seemed years older and centuries sadder.

Sword-dancer Kohn (Mistress Kohn):
Kohn has many traits that one would not usually associate with the Deverenian people: She is incredibly graceful, having been taught the arts of the muses as a child. She took up the sword in service of a lord, as many Deverenians do, but prefered elaborate dances and fencing to all-out brawling. This pacifism is the second strange trait: she fights when she must, but only to uphold the honor of her master, and defeat those who would impugn Deverenia. She lacks the bloodthirstiness that is seen in many fighters that come from their lands, but those who would face off against her would be wise to not take this as a sign of weakness.

Lady Drac (Corinne Drac):
Born too distant from the throne to ever be more than a minor noble, Corinne Drac grew up envying the freedom of the knightly orders next to the constrained life of a royal retainer. Under the secret tutelage of her brother Jodin, Corinne trained in every martial talent she could. Her beauty, strength, and wit won her a place at the side of the Emperor’s daughter, her cousin Dashkova. She served admirably as friend and bodyguard, even rooting out court conspiracies to abduct the young Princess. One winter, on a tour of Deverenian lands, the nobles were attacked by unknown archers and wizards, cutting down the unprepared and the weak. Corinne fought back, preventing any attempts on Dashkova’s life. After driving back the assailants, Corinne found her Imperial Uncle more than grateful, promoting her far beyond any station she had ever hoped to attain.

Baudwyn, Banished Poet (Baudwyn Troubadour):
The troubadour named Baudwyn lived well during Vyacheslav Drac’s reign over Deverenia. He served as the personal bard of the emperor’s daughter, with all of the benefits that came with that prestigious position. Upon the coronation of the Eternal Emperor, Baudwyn found his fortunes taking a downward turn, for the former paladin had no time for such frivolities. In a desperate bid to earn some fame for himself, Baudwyn penned an epic ballad, which he performed before a great gathering of nobles in Luthlarius. It was less than flattering towards the new ruler of Deverenia, and when this came to the attention of the Eternal Emperor, Baudwyn found himself a wanted man. Since that day, he has traveled the Accordlands, stirring up conflicts wherever he happens to wander.

Dwarf:

Caldor Willful (Will):
Will survived the Abyss. He survived Ironhall. He survived Mentalism. He survived the Devourers. He earned his true name. And he learned, through all this, to hate monsters with a passion that bordered on fanaticism. When he tore the Devourer who had come for him apart, he had seen into its vile mind and witnessed the creatures of nightmare that tormented the Upworlders even as the Abyssals had tormented his people of old. No more, he decided. No more needless death and no more predators. He swore to hunt down terror wherever it may hide. Rumors of a “Fiend” lurking around New Goldenaxe are just what he needs to begin his life’s mission.

Time Lightprophet (Time):
As hardy a race as the Dwarves are, time has never been on their side. They have always fought against its heady flow, trying to stave off destruction in one form or another. Since he was young, the Lightprophet Time has seen visions of past and future, but struggles to comprehend their meaning. In an effort to understand and perhaps control these visions, he has gone to the Dwarven seers and sought their aid. Eventually, he hopes to be able to help his Dwarven brethren through a greater understanding of his visions, and how seers interact with the reality that is time.

Nolen, King’s Guardian (Guardian):
The shieldman of King Xod was known only as Guardian. He was by the king’s side in almost every skirmish that his liege took part in, and saved his life on many occasions. Only at Xod’s direct order was he not present at the final battle in the Abyss, instead seeing that as many dwarves got clear as possible. Since the king’s disappearance, Guardian has refused to accept a true name, feeling that he is yet unworthy. Xod’s son Alaric, heir to the throne, has been stolen away by the demon Ter-Soth, and Guardian has taken it upon himself to free him. Other dwarves have taken to calling him ‘The King’s Guardian’, for he seems determined to maintain the royal line, unwilling to rest until he has rescued Alaric, only then transferring the protection of Worldfall over to him.

Hymn of Kor (Hymn):
The suffering of the Dwarven people has been great, but there are some who have overcome such suffering and are now able to better serve their people. Hymn is one of these; he was there to witness the tragic fall of Ironhall, and was transformed in its aftermath. Unlike his friend Ardenal, however, he did not gain aspects of the gargoyles who had fought alongside the dwarves. Rather, it focused his power, and gave new strength and purpose to his duties. Now he is at the forefront of his brethren as a battle cleric, leading his people to war against the Abyssals now trapped in the World Above.

Edge, Fiendblight (Edge):
The Dwarven society has known much loss. The majority of their cities have been either captured or lost forever to the depths of the earth. They fight on, however, and few more furiously than Edge, the Fiendblight. He has seen more combat than many dwarves could even contemplate, and he seems to revel in each kill. Of late, he has heard mysterious rumblings of new foes and old allies. He once again yearns for the sounds of battle and the feel of a sword in his hand.

Quartermaster Dirge (Dirge):
Dirge’s story is one of misled purpose. When he was young, he sought to become a cleric, as many dwarves do, in order to serve his people by learning the healing arts and the like. He trained in these ways, but found that he simply did not have the gifts necessary to become a true healer. He discovered, though, that his heart was in the field of battle, and wondered what he could do to aid his people in war. He noticed that while there were those who fought, and those who healed, there were few who chose to create and allot the weapons and supplies necessary for both tasks. He took this job upon himself, and has become a vital part of the Dwarven war efforts, distributing weapons and routing supplies to the Dwarven fronts and cities.

Elf:

Treyik Netheryn (Treyik):
Having thrown his support behind King Netheryn’s bid for the elven throne, Treyik was left rather vulnerable following his patron’s defeat. Determined to prove his worth and avoid any retribution that may have been coming his way, he gathered his undead creations and set out to gain a better understanding of the element of Bone. His destiny was written when he came across the dying body of the Nothrog druid Orazhuk. Where ordinarily he would have been tempted to kill and raise him, instead Treyik nursed him back to health. Since then, the two have worked together, plotting to achieve mutual power and revenge on their enemies. Treyik has been conducting blasphemous research into connections between the elements and the totems, which cannot end well.

Zelakin (Srykin):
No matter what the elven High Queen may say on the matter, the nimbics of her kingdom see no need to honor a peace with the humans. War is too much fun for them to give up a potential enemy, so when their larger kindred’s backs are turned, they continue to assault the humans as they have done in the past. The nimbic priest Srykin, nearing the end of her ten-year lifespan and weakening with age, is one of these rebels. Adopting a new name Zelakin - to protect herself from Tepheroth’s spies, she and her acolytes have taken to kidnapping humans from villages near the elven forests, so that she can experiment upon them. Using her necromantic arts as well as her connection to nature, she hopes to find some way of cheating the Elements out of claiming her soul without becoming undead.

Kapix the Cursed (Kapix):
Kapix has never known freedom. Her family has served as slaves in all but name to the great families of the Elves for generations. Bound to serve the wicked mages of Dythanus’ Capitol, Kapix grew to despise her servitude and those who commanded her. She became almost unmanageable over time; destroying anything she could get her hands on. She did not do so indiscriminately, however. Every broken staff and every sundered sword brought her greater understanding of magic and the chains that shackled it to steel and flesh. Even when her masters bound her to a reviled exile as punishment, she never gave up her mission. One day, she will understand the nature of magic in a way that none before have even contemplated. On that day, all bonds will be broken, all slaves freed, and all masters will meet a justice most horrible.

Rafkin the Impure (Rafkin):
Born amid controversy and xenophobic hatred, Rafkin found her early life friendless and painful. Before her tenth year, her family, no longer able to bear the shame of she brought to them, banished her to the peril of the Deverenian boarder. Despairing and nearly overcome with misery, Rafkin chanced to witness a frightful battle. Mercenary swordsmen had ambushed a Deverenian patrol and slaughtered most of the knights. A single soldier, barely more than a young man, held them back fearlessly. Despite his bravery, Rafkin knew the knight would surely fall if she did not intervene. Drawing the strength of her magic, she turned the tide of the battle and saved the young knight from certain death. Though he never knew of her subtle aid, she followed him for years, protecting him from the shadows. When she learned that he had been charged to find and slay the “Witch of the Woods,” none other than herself, she did not know what to do. She loved the knight, but she did not dare share her secret. To let him achieve his destiny by her death, or to share the truth and pray her love would triumph?

Eva Farstrider (Eva Glynn):
Eva Glyn was once the most promising archer in Myreth. It was whispered that the young Queen would even promote Eva to a full general. Everything fell apart, however, on one long, dark winter. An entourage of Deverenian nobles was passing through northern Elven lands- regions the egotistical Deverenians presumed to own. Eva was charged with an ambush that would cut out the very heart of Deverenian nobility including, it was whispered, the Emperor’s daughter. Eva schemed to make the ambush appear to be the work of the humans; to direct the Emperor’s wrath to a ruinous war with the Kabal lands. It was a perfect plan that would have set the stage for a new elven offensive. Everything was ruined when one of the dignitaries, a niece of the Emperor, saw through the ruse and fought back the elven assault. Eva had a single shot to take down the noble. Just a single shot to redeem her every ambition.

Alessa (Alesandressa):
During the geas, which restricted elven necromancy, few elves chose to leave their forest homes, choosing instead to plot bitter revenge in their darkened lairs. The humans, who did not forget the atrocities that the undead had wreaked in the past, met those that did go out into the greater Accordlands with distrust. Alessa, one of these intrepid travelers, was forced to descend to a life of petty crime to get herself by, as no one she met would offer her honest work, driving her away with curses and beatings. However, when she stole a collection of magical rings from a market stall, she came into power enough to allow her to strike back at those who had rejected her. Her revenge would make the undead seem trifling in comparison.

Free Kingdoms:

Xiantha, Centaur Soldier (Xiantha):
The centaurs are a naturally suspicious race. However, like every race, they have had, in their past, times of great need. One such time of need came when Xiantha was but a young centaur soldier. The Deverenians, who hate those who do not worship the power of the Storm and see nature-worshippers like the centaurs as abominations, sought to destroy them. One fateful day, Xiantha heard of the Free King and his promise of safety to all who lived within his borders, and decided that she must contact these good humans and beg for the safety of her race. Since then, the Deverenians have ceased their hostilities against centaurs, but Xiantha is still lauded as a hero among the centaur race.

Novice Ruth (Ruth Gwenelen):
Human villages within a days’ ride of Deverenia have always suffered raids from questing knights determined to prove themselves in battle. Ruth Gwenelen lived in one such place, and she was raised under the constant fear of a warband coming to pillage. She fought alongside the older warriors of the village from childhood, drawing as much strength from her comrades-in-arms as she would later learn to draw from solitude. With the death of the village’s priestess of Ishara, Ruth stepped forward to take her place, swearing oaths to protect her community to the best of her ability before a divine messenger of the goddess. She did this willingly, even though she knew full well the risks that came with it, for the Deverenians greatly desire the death of all such ‘heretics’.

Qultan the Apprentice (Qultan the Student):
Ever since she was old enough to know the meaning of the word, Qultan has thirsted for knowledge. She was a prodigy, speeding through her schooling far faster than any of her age. When she reached her teenage years, she felt a greater calling: to become a powerful wizard. With her intense focus and impeccable memory, she became one of the star pupils at the Arak Spire. Her knowledge of the arcane arts is second to none, and it is clear that she will grow to become a powerful spellcaster.

Jirar Huntsman (Robin Jirar):
Young Robin lived a carefree life amongst the trees and dells near his home. He loved to explore the surrounding hillsides, sometimes leaving for days at a time. However, on one such trip, he returned home to find his parents cruelly murdered by a roving band of thugs. From that day forth, Jirar has known only vengeance, tracking those who might know something about his parents’ deaths, becoming more frustrated and twisted with each failure. He is an expert at surviving, whether in the woods or in towns, but he may never again know love or compassion.

Martin Exemplar (Martin Treek):
Martin Treek served in the front ranks of the Free Kingdoms armies since he was old enough to wield a sword. His primary duty was scouting ahead of Captain Dukat’s archers to direct their shots toward the best targets. He was so effective at his job that the future king himself was heard to exclaim, “Martin is an exemplar, everything a soldier should be.” Despite this high praise, Martin turned aside all offers of
promotion, knowing that he could not put someone else into the danger that his job entailed. Now that peace has been brokered between the elves and Free Kingdoms, Martin’s services are no longer in such high demand, and he has taken to setting off in his own time to investigate rumors of kidnappings near the elven forests, regardless of the danger to himself.

Patroness Kerro (Kerro):
Albrecht has departed from the mortal realm, Denska has fallen and an Eternal Emperor has bound the Storm to his will. With all these events, it is not surprising that the people of the Free Kingdoms find their faith sorely tested. The gods do not stand idle however, sending Kerro down to the Accordlands to inspire their devotees in these darkest of times. Where once she was simply a messenger, carrying the gods’ will to their priests, now she has been empowered by all the deities to act as their proxy in the wars to come, standing as a glowing counterpart to the Eternal Emperor. She herself is resigned to carrying such a burden upon her shoulders, striving to prove equal to the immense task that has been set before her.

Mercenary:

Stasia (Stza Fasthand):
Stasia came from a long line of mercenaries, growing up in a travelling band of warriors who plied their violent trade all around the Accordlands. It came as no surprise that she and her brother, Donovan, chose to follow in their parents’ footsteps along the road of war. Their choice of clients did differ somewhat, however. Where Stasia kept to her morals, selling her services only to the righteous, Donovan would work for any tyrant with enough coin. She was particularly disgusted when he threw in his lot with Nassiral Hate, earning the Nothrog naming honorific Che’har. Offered her own place in the overlord’s armies, with the name of Stza, she refused, choosing instead to join up with good King Michael, using her acrobatic talents in defiance of Hate’s evil.

Essila, Wild Raven (Ravenwild):
Before she drifted from her path to become the heartless mercenary Ravenwild, Essila was an orphan living in the Shattered Lands. The Jackals of Mourn took pity on her, and provided her with food and shelter, both precious commodities in that barren place. In return, she acted as their mouthpiece, guiding lost travelers to safety. In time, she developed magical powers of illusion, thanks perhaps to the warping powers of Bascaron, which she used to aid the Jackals in their eternal war against the Reavers. It seemed that her destiny was to become a great champion of Mourn, defending it from the evil that threatened to overwhelm it. However, just as the Blood Moon gifted her with great magical ability, so too did it taint her mind, sowing the seed of future betrayal.

Ssithiss, Sutek King (Ssithiss):
The Sutek are a very private race, preferring to keep to themselves when possible, and dealing with problems and conflicts internally. However, recent events have forced them to interact with the world at large, sometimes joining forces with humans, as in the case of the Dark Reserve. On one such mission to a small group of humans who requested their aid, the Sutek king was treacherously murdered, and a replacement was chosen in the traditional Sutek manner: a fight to the death. Ssithiss’ strength and agility served him well, and he now leads these honorable creatures as they try to make their way in the world.

Mourn Jackals (Jackals of Mourn):
The coming of Bascaron destroyed the Medusan civilization, warping its people into two opposing groups: the evil Reavers and the heroic Jackals of Mourn. Since that time each species has fought a war against the other, the battles mirroring the struggle within the soul of each of them for dominance. The Reavers rely on the madness that their very presence inspires to enslave armies to fight in their stead, but the Jackals use their own abilities to blink through the ethereal plane and attack using daring hit and run tactics. With each passing year, each species grows less numerous, and if the war is not won soon the Jackals may face extinction.

Master of the Forge (Forge):
In their constant battles against the Abyssals, the dwarves valued warriors above all others, but they also had a healthy respect for those capable of making weapons for them to fight with. King Xod himself kept several talented smiths close by to outfit his personal guard, and one of them was so skilled that he was known as the Master of the Forge. His destiny was to be to create the ultimate weapon, capable of slaying Abyssals outright with one blow, but before this could be realized a dwarven traitor framed him for a crime, leading to his subsequent banishment to the surface world. Now known simply as Forge, his talents are put to less glorious uses, but he has never forgotten his past.

Nothrog:

Nightmaster Rress (Rress):
Upon having his services rejected by Dominar Kez of Misearis, the former Elite Hate Guard Rress gladly joined Black Tom’s reformed Guild of Assassins. He progressed quickly in a relatively short time, soon standing in the position of Nightmaster, second only to Tom himself. With the Guildmaster still in hiding, Rress acts as a go-between for him and the rogues that he contracts to do his dirty work. The Nothrog still keeps his hand in as a killer when he has the chance, and he has not forgotten those who earlier spurned him. Daily he works on a plan to orchestrate the death of Vronish Kez, to make an example of the man who would think himself above the Guild. The Dominar’s will not be a quick death.

Orazhuk of Scarab (Orazhuk):
Pursued by Krun’s legions following the fall of Nassiral Hate, Orazhuk was one of Taoth’s followers believed to be lost. He survived by staying in hiding, crawling amongst the insects that were his only companions. He is disgusted that his captain has seemingly abandoned her principles to marry the new ruler of the Nothrog nation, and schemes to have his revenge on them both. In his solitude, he has come to believe that he hears the totem Scarab speaking to him directly, instructing him to punish the errant shaman and rise to lead the legion himself. He does not possess the power to achieve this lofty goal yet however, and so has thrown in his lot with the elven priest Treyik, the two conspiring together in a keep hidden from prying eyes in the darkest of forests.

Warmistress Gurlda (Gurlda):
Gurlda has always been an anomaly amongst her people. As an albino, it was always assumed that she would follow the paths of magic, whether they led her to the healing powers of the Nothrog clerics, or to the more sinister and destructive powers of the wizards. Throughout her early life she was indeed gifted at healing. However, she also insisted on sparring with the other young children, often defeating them despite their superior training and strength. She has found her place with her people-a “warmistress,” as she is called, as one who can both heal her own and inflict extreme pain upon her enemies.

Calf KarTal (KarTal):
Those who know the VoTaurr named KarTal today see him as a kind, peaceful monk, using his prowess in combat and honed skills to subdue his enemies and resorting to lethal force only when necessary. But in his early days as a fledgling monk, he was wild and reckless, rushing to battle when his tribe was called, always ready for a fight. Many who were close to him recognized that his recklessness could only be tempered by proper training, but he embraced his youthful exuberance and lust for battle, refusing to be trained on several occasions. The sages know, though, that someday he will see the truth in the words of his friends and family.

Dev’irga (Durga):
Dev’irga was honored beyond words when Nassiral Hate chose him to lead a legion to the Free Kingdoms as a vanguard. The Nothrog overlord planned to attack the human lands once he had cemented Baraxton under his rule, and desired reliable information of the defenses he may possibly face. In Andover, Dev’irga found elven armies already marching victoriously across the land. When they offered battle - which was often -Dev’irga fought them to the best of his ability, and came to understand the importance of preventing the fallen rising again as undead. When he finally found a human army, he was disappointed to find it composed of dishonorable sellswords, not worthy foes at all. Still, in destroying them he would earn Hate’s favor, and so attacked.

B’haya the Fiend (B’haya)
B’haya has always known that the line of the Reavers would be cut in time. The humanoid filth has ever been jealous of the great powers the Reavers command and their assassins have been surprisingly competent, even wounding so great a creature as itself. B’haya is not pleased. As possibly the last of the Reavers, it has sworn that its kind will not fade into extinction without pulling other races down with it. B’haya has just the solution: a final ritual of unspeakable horror. It has studied the Abyss-warped creatures fought by the “dwarves,” and has found the last piece of his solution in their tainted carcasses. All that remains is to eliminate the pesky creatures who know of his continued existence and who would hinder his glorious retribution.