Aloria Story Progression For Whom The Bell Tolls

It was the evening of the 18th of February 306AC, and resourceful, battle-ready individuals from across the city ordered before the Aletta Keep in preparation for what was to come. Healers huddled in the surrounding buildings with medical kits at their hips, while Mages and Silven readied themselves in the shadows of the execution block.
“Get in formation! Tight shoulders!” barked Vulmar Ravenstad, at the head of the shielded Hightowers. Valbrand Haagenvig sent a terse stare towards their conductive armor before turning towards the rest of the group. “Civilians, clear out!”
Their plan had been devised weeks in advance, but there was no chance of a rehearsal. To kill the third Arken--the Cielothar woman with harness over all magics of nature--they needed to execute it flawlessly, the first time.

Everything appeared to be going according to script until an eerie, uninvited voice cut through the air. The echoing sound of a hundred bedraggled, ethereal butterflies; each one’s voice that of a harrowing toddler.
“Chop chop! You’ve already made your presence blatantly obvious with all of this wretched noise!” It cooed.
Looking up, there she was--the insectual Arken fluttering overhead in a cloud of mist, giggling to itself as though watching a schoolyard game. Caught off guard by her premature appearance, the city authorities of the Azure Order, Hightowers, and Vigilant Shield spurred into action, readying their bows and retreating beneath the safety of the overhanging residences. The only individual who refused to do so was Vulmar Ravenstad, who continued to bravely stand before his formation of knights and command their position. By the time he noticed the wave of static electricity hovering over his head, it was miliseconds too late. A bolt of blinding, crackling light shot from the Magus’s ethereal cloud, immediately conducted over his entire body by the thick steel plate. The general collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony as the electric charred him, before falling unconscious.

While Darius Silevon rushed over to try and secure the fallen Ravenstad, Elleia turned her attention towards Fiske Eberlin, Eugenio Leocardio, and Erwald Ravenstad, who had marched out into the clearing to try and communicate with the witch. Static coursing through the clouds, she sent another tendril of electric energy towards the trio’s feet, sending them flying backwards with voltage burns. The chaotic Arken cackled into the night with unrestrained joy as civilians retreated further into their buildings, seemingly defeated. What she didn’t prepare for however, was the Qadir Clockwork Mage that had stationed himself silently behind the Azure’s execution block, awaiting the perfect moment with his charged Tawaq. As the butterflies began to spin around and around, whipping stonework from the ground in an attempt to draw out the soldiers, an arrow of shining Binral Energy flew straight at the forming tornado. In that moment, time appeared to stop. Khalid Nazari lowered his Tawaq to see the entire whirlwind fall silent eerily silent; the debris it had picked up falling instantly, as if stunned by the bullet.

With a single verbal cue, the line of Hightower guards and positioned archers began to volley their arrows towards the frozen whirlwind of violet mist. Much to their dismay, each one was sucked into the silent cloud of energy without even a scream, seemingly disappearing in a manner not dissimilar to the portals that the Arken Gabriel had conjured. It was only when it began slowly twirling in the opposite direction, tossing arrows aside like hail, that the resistances realized she had not been defeated. One such victim of the arrowstorm was Eugenio Leocardio, who had the flint head of an arrow land pierce the socket of his left eye before being pulled away for treatment by Raina Viduggla.

As the whirlwind came to a gradual stop, devoid of arrows, the air slowly cleared to reveal the Arken Elleia levitating in the center of the courtyard. The glow from her silvered gaze was wavering, but she ultimately seemed unharmed by the flurry--raging verbally as she raised her illuminated hands in sign of an incoming spell. It was at this point that the elemental mages Merina Taliesin and Emerthas Jouhari cast their incantations in practiced and perfect coordination. Glowing fireballs of Wellen soared towards either flank of the Arken, crashing upon her Magus Familiaris and causing a cascade of magical embers to fall over her glowing form. The screech of a hundred children split through the night sky like a banshee, deafening those unfortunate enough to be in close range, while she was engulfed in fire. When the flames cleared, Elleia had but disappeared. All that was left of the Arken was five subtly glowing ethereal butterflies, which immediately began to flee towards the park. Vulmar Ravenstad was not convinced. Having seen the Arken Gabriel escape in a flurry of cockroaches before, he valiantly called upon the remaining guards to follow the creatures into the Regalian Park; the hostile and jungle-like territory of the Arken herself.

By the time the resistance had reached the bridge, it was clear that their battle had not finished. The previously timid woodland creatures that inhabited the park now eyed the groups with an suspicion and uncertainty, and a thick fog lingered in the air. Sure enough, the five charred insects fluttered their way to the center of the bridge, escasing themselves in mist before revealing the now deathly and decrepit form of Elleia. Her arms were covered in severe welts and ashes, her snowy white hair now the shade of a blackened fireplace. She spoke croakily, life draining from her slowly.

“I see you’ve decided to meet me on my own terms then. Very brave, very noble. Is that what you’d like to hear, children?” The Cielothar chortled. “Well then. If you are so eager to experience the will of Rikkira, the life that our beloved Dragons once lived in peace and rest. Be my guest.” The Arken raised her now trembling and faint hands and poured her remaining energy into the park. In that moment, the roar of untamed forest cats cut all the tension from the air, screams swift to follow as feline, after stag, after biting and swarming rodent leapt onto guards and civilians alike...

The park came alive with death and destruction. A particularly nasty and diseased squirrel leapt itself at Benjamin Journey’s helmet, causing him to scream and flail while a magnificent stag charged full speed at Alfonso Vazquez’s shield. The fire mage Emerthas Jouhari tried desperately to gather the focus he needed to cast Wellen, only to be leapt upon by a screeching cat. Some of the Hightowers and Vigilants who had come prepared with full armor were able to fend off the non-stop barrage of creatures, though at a price. Blood splattered upon every plant and stone brick, the dead bodies of innocent animals climbing higher and higher as the battle seemed almost endless. The Arken seemed to relish in the ultimate chaos that surrounded her, berating the likes of those who slaughtered for their lives.

It was the flaming arrow that flew over the bridge’s canopy that sparked an idea in Valbrand Haagenvig’s mind. While Elleia continued to cackle, distracted by the sick pantomime that surrounded her as the mutant animals leapt at every person, he nocked an arrow in his standard issue bow. Steady would do it. Blocking out all of the chaos, he took careful aim—not for the Arken herself, but the giant glass lantern that hovered precariously above her head. In miliseconds, the arrow was set loose. It soared through the air and cut through the rope carrying the lantern like butter, sending the thick glass crashing down upon Elleia’s head. The sound of the Arken’s scream was loud enough to rise above the cacophony of all of the animals in Aloria. Every shield wall broke in an instant as any individual equipped with a weapon advanced forwards, sending blade after blade towards her now defenseless, collapsed form. The barrage did not end until the Arken was nothing but a bloodied, mangled mess, and the flames of the stray lit arrow began to slowly engulf the trellis overhead. Not a sound came from the Arken, nor her ethereal insects which had disintegrated into cold ashes. Valbrand Haagenvig sent a sharpened pike towards the woman’s head and assessed her carefully for any signs of remaining life.
“For the Empire!” The Northerner announced, swiftly echoed by loyalist individuals of every race and role. As flames rose higher and the remaining creatures fled, it was clear that the battle had been won; the hounding hollers of joy and triumph announced her death to the entirety of the city.


Over the next twenty four hours, fire continued to slowly churn through the park like a cleansing shower of embers. All of the Arken’s mutated plants were gradually eaten up by the flames, along with the masses of deceased creatures that had been left by the horrendous battle, until all that remained was bones and ashes. As if the Spirit had cast a protection over the park itself, all the trees and flowers that had been there originally were left strangely intact. But though the Regalian Park was once again cleared of ethereal life, the battle was not yet over…

On the other side of the city, the once pacifistic, lover of song turned red with rage. Trails of blood lead where no man dared tread, as cockroaches and beetles swam in the crimson red pools of tears. Musicians, in particular, were the most affected. Every instrument within the Holy City began to rot from the inside out. Slowly but surely, with each passing day, beautifully carved pianos drooped, strings broke in half to never be plucked again, and wooden flutes began to crumble. It was then when the woman’s soft, gentle voice curdled, and turned sour. It was then that the city of Regalia had reached the point of no return. It was up to those wise enough to plan before the tenth hour was near.


OOC Information:

• The third Arken, Elleia, has been defeated! Only one Arken remains.
• Those who were injured during the progression due to lightning (+Eugenio) will be unable to participate in combat for 1 week. The extent of the injuries is up to you, but at minimum there will be surface burns. Those attacked by animals may pick their injuries and recovery times.
• The entirety of this progression post is common knowledge, as there were enough people at the death to justify word getting around.
• The park is entirely back to normal. The only traces of the Arken ever having been there are the mounds of animal bones and tallow that litters the area. The Arken’s body has disappeared.
• Every instrument within the city of Regalia has broken down and begun to rot. Those in the countryside are safe.