To Cross Dark Waters- NC fiction

[Fingol darkwater]

Here's the first entry for my characters campaign fluff. Enjoy and tell me what you think.
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"Where could they be going? We haven't seen so much as a Falcon in weeks." Crazen stood out over the bow of his ship staring out over the horizon. He wasn't even wearing his armor, his sea dragon cloak hung over nothing but black cloth. Glancing to his left and to his right, he saw that the crew on the other two ships were just as bored as he was. It was Crazen's menial duty to command this small force. Their task was simple- sink any Asur ships they see. Yet they had been conveniently posted in the area which saw the least activity. The most they had ever fought was a group of Hawk ships, and they didn't have a hope of ever seeing a Dragon (though that was probably a good thing).

"Come now Crazen, just enjoy the peace. Surely your cousin knew that some peace and quiet would do you good." Narcia teased him from beneath the shade of the sail. She had a habit of relaxing in such a way as to always remind Crazen of how attractive she was.

"Senlurith knew it would drive me mad! I should be back at Anlec fighting for the Witch King, helping him break that cursed stalemate and avenge Kouran! Why do you think Grandfather insisted that I spend so many extra years training with the Hags? I have the skills and Senlurith knows it. He stationed me out here so the Witch King won't see how far I've surpassed him." Crazen spat over the edge of the boat. If he had known better, he would have challenged his cousin to a ceremonial duel long ago, but now he was stuck on a useless assignment.

"It's not all bad, at least someone from your house still makes up part of the Witch King's council. Maybe you should ask Fingol for help." Crazen laughed quietly. Narcia had revealed her hand, even though she probably didn't know it. He knew that the only reason she followed him around was to keep an eye on him for Senlurith, his every move was being watched, and he praised Khaine that the opportunity to rid himself of Narcia would soon come.

Crazen avoided looking at Narcia when he responded- "Perhaps I will. It was Grandfather who got me stationed in Anlec in the first place." Of course he had no intention of doing so. Not now that the spy had suggested it.

"You have to understand Crazen, your father, your mother, Fingol, and yourself are the only family Senlurith has left. He would never do anything to hold any of you back." Once again, Crazen laughed. He knew that family was what mattered most, but he also knew that Senlurith was a lunatic. Family means nothing to that elf, which is why Senlurith's elder siblings all met mysterious early deaths. Crazen was about to respond, but Narcia stood up and crossed over to the other side of the ship. Following her, Crazen saw what caught the Sorceresses attention. A stream of pitch black smoke was snaking its way towards the ship. Narcia opened her arms and began to inhale, by the time the smoke arrived, she had breathed it in completely. She convulsed and fell to the deck. Crazen would have helped her, but he was planning on getting rid of her anyway, death on account of magic would have worked just as well.

"Well then," Narcia breathed heavily, "I suppose I won't be able to count on you to give me mouth to mouth if I were to be on the brink of death."

"Narcia, I would never willingly touch you. Now what was that?" Narcia glared at Crazen for a moment.

"We've been reassigned. We are to set sail for Anlec to await orders."
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Sunset had reached Anlec, over the blighted fields, the rebuilt fortress stood as a promise to the Asur. Though they might hold back the Druchii, and bring further death to the fields of the Shadowlands through constant conflict, Anlec would always be rebuilt. Now the dark elves held court, for they had found an opportunity to break the annoying stalemate they had reached in the Shadowlands.

"... and so we offer our services to the cold-hearted elven kindred to act as war engineers and envoys between the dread Lords and the Warbosses of the Greenskin... incursion." The Chamberlain of Anlec stumbled for a moment, deliberately refraining from using the crude battle-cry of the orcs as he translated the Dawi Zahrr message into Eltharin. In the Witch King's courtroom, the generals who were dispatched from Naggaroth for this venture were called together along with those who were already present in Ulthuan. Everyone knew that this would not be a mission of any real significance, but it was the Witch King's word they waited for. While they sat on either side of the long courtroom in their elegant robes of fine silks, the Witch King sat on his throne in full armor. He was completely motionless, yet all eyes were drawn to him even while the Chamberlain read the various proposals that had been sent.

Crazen sat next to his elder cousin Senlurith. Like Crazen, Senlurith had handsome features, but his hair did not show any signs of pre-mature greying. Senlurith wore violet silk and a pendant bearing Khaine's rune in his aspect of the Iron Panther. Crazen wore red garments, a fine cloak of reptile skin to mark him as a sea captain, and a pendant bearing Khaine's rune in his truest form and he had arrived in Anlec without Narcia, two facts not lost on Senlurith. The elder Darkwater cousin vowed to question Crazen later, but for now he would await the decision of the Witch King. Why should they care that the lower races were preparing to war amongst themselves, and should they accept an agreement with the Greenskins and the Chaos Dwarfs?

Behind the Witch King's copper mask, his eyes began to glow green. Gracefully, the mightiest of all elves stood from his throne and slowly walked forward. "I have no need for the Nemesis Crown, for it is only a small thing. What I could use is the fear this crown can cause. Rumours of an ancient master of evil reach the ears of the lesser races, and their ignorance allows them to carry on. Yet they mobilize their entire nations at the mention of a trinket made from warpstone." The Witch King paused for a moment, building up the tension for his next words. "Perhaps my raiders are not strong enough to be anything more than enigmic fairy tales to these mortals?" The Witch King turned away from his audience and began the walk back to his throne. Beneath his mask, he curled his scarred lips into a smile, for he knew exactly what was to happen next.

"Pardon me, oh great and honor Witch King, but when have we ever been weak?" One battle scarred sea-captain stood from his chair and clumsily tried to speak Eltharin as the Witch King did. His kin wore horrified expressions on their faces as he spoke. The captain had spent his long life at sea and in foreign lands, only now returning to an elven haven, clearly he had forgotten his place. "When have we ever done any other than your will? When have the lesser peoples ever stopped fearing Druchii?"

The Witch King hadn't even turned to face the sea captain. He loved idiots almost as much as he loved the cunning, and this sea battered young one would at least help Malekith make a point before the evening wore on. Raising the Hand of Khaine, the Witch King bekoned for the sea captain to approach. "What is your name?"

Not moving, the sea captain responded "Giltrohir Serpentsong."

"Ah, your voice betrays you as the grandson of Luthlios Serpentsong- a most unfortunate of Black Ark captains... I believe I indicated you were to come." Clearly against his will, Giltrohir stepped forward, staggering as he approached the Witch King. When Malekith finally turned around, his eyes which were formerly simply glowing, were now burning with fell energy. "That's better. Now you were telling all of us how the entirety of my navy has never done anything but strike fear into the hearts of the world while doing my bidding." Defiently, Giltrohir stood his ground against the towering Witch King. Being a seasoned fighter himself, Giltrohir was confident that he would be able to defend himself if Malekith should decide to exert his authority of execution, but he truly regretted speaking out of turn now- yet he would never back down.

"Could you then explain to me why raiders must be ever cautious of being discovered by any of the lesser races? Why is it that captains are more concerned with making profits than defeating my enemies?" Clearly Malekith had struck a nerve, Crazen observed Giltrohir to flinch horribly. "Yes Giltrohir of House Serpentsong, I am aware of what transpired before you returned to Clar Karond."

"There was no other way. We would have lost all of our loot and our slaves would have died!" Abandoning his attempts at speaking Eltharin, Giltrohir now pleaded in Drukh-Eltharin, Malekith's language.

"Rather than further the cause, you chose wealth. I wonder how your rivals will use this exchange against you. I wonder how your house will be affected..." It was true, looking around, Crazen noted several older Highborns, including his cousins, observing Giltrohir and his relatives very carefully. Avoiding a supperior foe was one thing, but ignoring the Witch King's will was quite another. It wouldn't be long until the entire house of Serpentsong would be labled as a house who doesn't support the Throne. Then there would be no hope for them in Naggaroth.

"You can't do this to me!" Having had enough, Giltrohir drew his blade. There were suprised gasps from the audience, but before the sea captain could do anything- Malekith knocked the blade out of the way and tore out Giltrohir's throat with the Hand of Khaine. The fight was over before it begun, and it's significance was not lost on the observing Druchii.



Later, after the mess was cleaned up, a much smaller assembly of elves sat before the Witch King. "... and to conclude the list: Dizuan Casdane. These elves have abandoned me, thus they have abandoned my protection. Do what must be done." Malekith's eyes weren't glowing anymore, and his voice sounded slightly scratchy, as if he was choking on something. Crazen took these as signs that he would not be executed like Giltrohir earlier. Rather he was recieving a new mission, one he would share with the other Druchii present.

"As to the false-elves. Finubar the Marooned has sent Korhil to fight Greenskins, and Teclis to lead their navy in the Sea of Claws. Tyrion has been left stranded here in Ulthuan so do not fear him, leave him to me.

To combat Teclis, send just enough ships through the Sea of Claws to make it through the blockade to the rivers leading into the Old World. If my new Ark, the Midnight Spire makes an appearance, the false-elves will scare themselves into a frenzy- sending more ships away from Ulthuan. I will not make use of my naval prowess in this war. I will keep my full hand hidden until the Asur are off prancing in the Old World.

To combat Korhil the Kitten, aid the Greenskins where he tries to thwart them. If the false-elves are attacking a pivitol location while the Greenskins are not, do what you must to direct the Green Tide towards Korhil. The Dawi Zahrr may help you in this matter, so turn to them if you wish." Malekith paused to breathe. He had just recited the full list of dark elf fugitives and gave a brief overview of his desires for this venture, only now was he showing any signs of fatigue.

"To conclude, disrupt and destroy any efforts of the lesser races. Men and the ugly-folk may try to band together, do what needs to be done to break these ties. Bring the fugitives to justice, there is no place for them in my society. Above all, thwart the false-elves. By the time this is over, I expect their forces to be perfectly placed for me to finally retake what is mine. Should they succeed in their efforts, you will have failed me utterly. You have one warning."

[Khel]

Great story fingol, cant wait to here more. Very sexy too, and was the Black smoke some type of message??

[Fingol darkwater]

Yup, a message sent via magic. I'm going to be updating this thing as the campaign progresses. Update #2 might be up tommorow.

[Fingol darkwater]

And the update is up. I tried to get Malekith's voice right, but I'm not sure if I did. Please let me know what you think.

[Khel]

wow, really great, i think you got the pitch of the witch king perfectly. i can just imagine it now. Blood spilling once more in the court of Tor Alec.

[Drainial]

Wow that captain realy was not very bright was he? Exelent continueation but I didn't think we curantly hold Anlec, do we?

[Sirist]

I certainly appreciate the little bit with Dizaun's name. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

It's shaping up really well. Whenever I read your writing, I keep getting this nostalgic feeling I can hardly explain. Definately a story I'm going to watch.

[Fingol darkwater]

Exelent continueation but I didn't think we curantly hold Anlec, do we?

Yup, that's the first thing Malekith does when he invades Ulthuan. Anlec is everything to that guy.

Thanks for the comments everyone.