True Tales of the Soryan Order

Chapter 16 - Downward Spiral

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:45:38 GMT

Shaine would never admit this to anyone, would never let Anton or the Kelland girl know, but he was worried.

Not afraid, but worried.

While Heather was collecting weapons and equipment from the now deserted base, Anton was still trying to get through telepathically to his superiors in the Holy Order. From the look of frustration on his face, it wasn't working.

Shaine had given up a while earlier. The Revenant had not only blocked their telepathy, but it had also blocked what Heather referred to as "radio transmissions" and "wireless signals". That wasn't what truly had Shaine worried, though.

Even without telepathy, Shaine had decided that they would all three teleport back to Il'Doran. He would report to Sister Nayala and Anton could report to his superiors in person.

The Revenant had somehow managed to block even that.

Chapter 15 - Revenant's Shadow

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:56:40 GMT

Anton's face was a perfect expression of disbelief. At least what Shaine could see of it. The young Holy Brother was shielding his eyes from the red glow of Shaine's blade, which Shaine held in front of him in preparation for an attack.

"Damnation, Soryan! The revenant is not here, I would have felt it!" Anton was screeching at Shaine. He was sure the Most High Holy Brother would blame this incident on him. If Maethias Duraine was publicly embarrassed by this, Anton knew he himself would have to pay dearly for it.

Shaine refused to back down. "I tell you, the creature is in here with us!" Shaine was looking around quickly, trying to discern where the revenant could be hiding.

Chapter 14 - The Arrivals

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:56:40 GMT

When a Soryan flew, the power of their song provided them with a natural grace that helped them navigate and adjust to the temperament of the wind and other weather. Some of the most powerful Soryans could fly through a lightning storm and never notice.

Shaine could not help but wish he were flying in one right now. It would have to be an improvement over this damnable Kelland flying box!

He and Anton were both uncomfortably strapped down in chairs bolted to the metal flooring of the craft. Said craft was shaking and vibrating in an alarming manner.

Chapter 13 - Missionaries

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:20:36 GMT

Flying was usually a joyous experience for Shaine. There didn't seem to be any troubles when he was alone in the open sky, the ground beneath him far away. Looking down, the trappings of civilization appeared like a collection children's dollhouses.

There was not much joy today, though. He was keenly aware that he was flying towards a problem. Dealing with the Holy Order was usually fun for him, prickling their oversized egos and poking holes in their nonsensical faith.

Except now it seemed he must be an ambassador, so that meant constantly checking his tongue and wasting his energy on diplomacy. He knew his face was twisted up into a grimace. Even as the sun shined brightly on him and he sailed effortlessly through the air on the power of his song.

No. No joy here. If he was truly honest with himself, it was not the Holy Order that troubled him. They were not capable of causing such a stir within him.

Sister Nayala was still disappointed in him. She still didn't trust him. Shaine didn't like to deal with negative emotions, but this hurt him.

Chapter 12 - The New Plans

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:50:33 GMT

Maya knew she had a worried look on her face. She tried to cover it up, but Sister Nayala didn't miss it. Neither did Shaine.

"Maya, do not fear, revenants themselves are hardly dangerous, they just stir up all of the other types of undead. The biggest fear is not getting to them in time." Maya could tell Shaine was trying to make his voice sound as soothing as possible.

He was still grinning. "Based on these reports, it doesn't look like this one has had much time to form an army. Once I get there and destroy it there shouldn't be too many other creatures to destroy. Kelland will be undead-free in no time!" Shaine's voice raised at the end as it usually did when he got excited. Nayala had a half-smile on her face, as she usually did when Shaine's over-enthusiasm amused her.

One of the things Maya found so attractive about Shaine was his confidence. Even so, she didn't want to face any undead, with or without him. She wasn't sure how she was going to get out of this, though.

Chapter 11 - Flying Lessons

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:43:34 GMT

The Soryan Compound was a very lively, crowded place during the day. Normally Maya would be irritated by the constantly moving crowds of people sifting in and out of the passages between the many buildings that made up the Compound.

This day, though, all she could feel were the butterflies in her stomach. She felt almost sick, even though she was getting something she always wanted.

Today she had a reason to speak to Shaine Sharra.

Chapter 10 - A Meeting In Kelland

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:11:39 GMT

PART II: THE REVENANT

A revenant is a forsaken creature. Driven mad by immortality, it craves only death...for itself and all others.

The morning was fading into afternoon, and the sun was very bright this day, casting down rays the large field of Honshaw crops was more than willing to soak up.

James rode through the field in his Honshaw-Reaper. The ride wasn't very comfortable, and it certainly wasn't quiet, but it got the job done, he supposed.

Honshaw plants were well known for being stubborn and tough. It took a lot of work and a lot of processing, but they were made into many different foods all by themselves and used as ingredients in even more, so they were a staple, a rock-bottom necessity here in Kelland. The profits were there if you put in the work.

Or at least the profits used to be there, James thought as he continued his bumpy, noisy ride.

He'd been doing this for his whole life, over 60 seasons now, and it seemed things were getting worse and worse here. Costs were going up, but farmers like him were being forced to reduce prices. You just couldn't get the same payout from the same volume of crops.

And what was the President doing? Nothing, of course. He just took anything the Il'Dorani felt like giving. They were sitting on literal mountains of Raefite mineral that they weren't even using. Why not let Kelland have it for a fair price?

But no, they were always bringing up the old days, trying to make Kelland feel bad about the actions of their ancestors. What about the actions of the Il'Dorani today? They were hurting people, too, with their selfishness.

Just then James felt the Reaper jerk to the side and he heard a loud knocking noise from the front engine. Even louder than the damned machine was normally.

Chapter 9 - INTERLUDE 1: The Soryan Order

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:39:18 GMT

It was the morning following the proclamation of Shaine's punishment. Nayala flew through the air, the power of her music keeping her aloft. Her own music was so soft and subtle it could barely be heard, though in the skies like this there was no one else to hear it anyway.

The air was very still this day. A breeze would have been welcome to help alleviate the heat from the already pounding sun. The weather seemed to fit, though. Nayala thought there would be important decisions made this day, some of those having to do with Shaine's adventure the previous day.

Nayala knew that Shaine would have begun his work detail earlier, and she almost laughed out loud thinking of the sour look he must have on his face. She hoped that he would learn something from this. He needs to grow up soon, she thought.

This morning was a meeting of the Council of Masters, those seven Soryans in charge of each aspect of Soryan life. And Vaenin. Vaenin, their leader.

Chapter 8 - The Consequences, Pt. 2

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:30:01 GMT

Anton relaxed as much as he was able to. He was in a small private bath reserved for Holy Brothers of a certain rank. It was by no means the best, but it was better than the public baths shared with the acolytes. He had felt an overpowering desire to clean the filth of Baradia and the Bly-nnar off of his body.

Much time had passed now since he had left the Soryan behind on the other side of the world.

The warm water and steam was soothing, but the things he had discovered today were very troubling. The Soryans had proven themselves to be not unintelligent. They had made a discovery that had eluded the Holy Order for centuries, even though it was there for the seeing! What else had they discovered? There was no telling.

Would the Most High applaud his discovery? Would he be afraid, as Anton was?

Suddenly, there was another presence in the room with him. Shocked, Anton prepared to unleash his fury, but then his shock turned to fear when the steam parted and he saw that it was Oman - a member of the Most High's personal bodyguard, the Wrath of Aeremon.

Chapter 7 - The Consequences, Pt. 1

Sun, 30 May 2010 18:46:10 GMT

The midday sunlight was everywhere, filling up the entire space of Sister Nayala's meeting chamber. Shaine knew that not much time had truly passed, that it had been only this morning when he and Anton stood on that terrace and argued over traveling methods. It seemed like much longer than that.

Sister Nayala was looking out of one of the large open windows that ran the length of her circular chamber. She had a small desk that was undoubtedly used for correspondence, although as a Soryan warrior, Shaine doubted Nayala spent much time behind that desk.

Now she had her back to him, and hadn't spoken for many moments. Shaine was beginning to feel somewhat nervous. There was very little in the world that Shaine was afraid of, and he knew he needn't fear any physical reprisal from her or any Soryan.

The only thing he was afraid of was disappointing her.