Nikink/NightFall

Nightfall

As dreamed by Mettan'Aku

A dream of the First Age:

The magnificent crystal dome glitters in the waning light of the afternoon. Beneath it's glorious apex, a ceremonial gathering clusters upon a marble dais, surrounded by a broad pool of sparkling water. A thousand candles flicker in the slight breeze entering the four great open arches set at compass points within the gilt marble walls of the Manse.

As the Unconquered Sun slowly dips to the horizon, Luna rises in the east and the Five Maidens begin to sparkle high above. A man's voice chants a sonorous verse in exaltation of the Gods, calling upon their blessing to unite a couple in marriage. The man chanting stands before a man and woman, dressed in gowns of gold and silver.

This I remember.

The man pauses. He smiles beneficently towards us. His eyes sparkle with stars. His long flowing beard is as white as his robes are black. I remember his name.

Shining-Omen-Of-Falling-Stars, Favoured of Jupiter.

My priest, adviser, confidant and friend since before exaltation.

His gaze moves past us to the semi-circle of five Dragon-Blooded, arrayed in a rainbow of jade finery behind us. I know them. They are my elite. Each has joined me on innumerable occasions. Each has succeeded in missions of extreme danger for me and the Solar Deliberative. Against foes both hidden and mighty. They are my comrades. They are my eyes. They are my hands. They are my friends.

Shining-Omen-Of-Falling-Stars raises his hands in tribute, intoning words of power and sanction, health and sanctuary. I see the woman before me. Radiant in Silver. A nervous smile plays across her lips. Her hand is holding a coiled dragon of Moonsilver. I see the boundless love within her eyes and rejoice in this union. I know her. I recall a thousand hidden battles with her by my side. Great demons falling beneath our combined might. Infernalists struck down before they even knew we existed. Spies uncovered. Assassinations averted. A hundred times a hundred times have we each risked death for the other.

My trusted mate:

My beloved companion:

Soon to be my wife:

Shadowclaw.

I reach towards Shadowclaw as the priests hands gently fall. There is silence now. I raise the Orichalcum coiled panther ring I hold and place it upon her finger. Devotion and love swelling from my soul. She raises her Moonsilver ring to place it upon my finger. I melt into her large luminous eyes, and prepare for eternal love.

This I remember.

Her eyes were deep wells of silver. Mirror bright. Reflections...

This I remember.

A flash of red jade lunging towards me.

Hidden-Ember!

His twin Daiklaves appear from Elsewhere and flicker like flame through my robes. I spin to face him. His face twisted in hate, snarls at me. Confused, I channel essence through my being. I narrowly avoid his attack again, as a storm of chakrams surround me like a swarm of hornets.

Breath-Of-Secrets!

Her blue jade form is a blur of motion. My anima flares as I tumble back into the wide pool. As the blue swarm flies at me once more, I feel my arms pinned to my side.

Subsiding-Flood!

Black jade gauntlets grapple my arms and expose my now naked breast. I bleed from a dozen small cuts as I lock my legs around her black jade armour and flip backwards. My dragon roars into life as we tumble through the air. Blue chakrams spark off the black jade. As we fall I spin to land with a sickening crunch on top of her black clad form. As her grip releases I pounce forward. My anima dragon guiding my movements, ducking and weaving past chakrams and now arrows.

Wisdom-Of-Blossoming-Solitude!

One green-tipped arrow pierces my calf. With a roar I tear it out. Rolling to the side I call for Breath-Of-Justice, and my mighty Orichalcum bow appears in my hands. I knock the arrow and let fly towards the green jade form of my former friend, skewering him through the throat. My anima roars again as I am suddenly knocked back ten yards from a giant white jade tetsubo.

Lore-Of-Forgotten-Depths!

I feel my ribs shattering as I land with a splash. Eight essence fueled arrows flare through the growing darkness. The stony form of a white jade armoured traitor bats aside three. Five embed themselves and explode with essence. His dead body is blown backwards into the arms of Subsiding-Flood, knocking her down again. Hidden-Ember streaks at me from behind the dais, water hissing and steaming. I send two arrows towards him. Both are parried, and then he is upon me. Sparks fly from Breath-Of-Justice as I parry blow after blow. I vault high into the air. My dragon flaring as I summon my Supple-Scales-Of-The-Solar-Drake. More blue chakrams appear around me. They tear through my arms and chest an instant before my Orichalcum armour appears. Two arrows fly towards Breath-Of-Secrets, but one is avoided and the other deflected. I see Shadowclaw scream at Shining-Omen-Of-Falling-Stars. I see his enigmatic smile. I hear her words clearly through the pain. "You said he would be spared! You vowed your life he would not be harmed!" I hear his reply. Echoing as though from a great distance. "Not one may be spared. My life is as nothing at the turning of the Age." I see the Moonsilver ring spin through the air. I see it explode from his back as Shadowclaw moves too fast for the eye to see. I hear him again. A gurgling laugh spilling from him. "It is too late, child of the moon. My death means nothing. His death means everything. You have doomed yourself." As I fall, twisting through the air, I see his essence flow to the four remaining Dragon-Blooded. I see wounds healed, essence regained, vigour renewed. As I land I hear them scream cries of blood-lust. With a heavy head I look to Shadowclaw. I see tears of silver rain down her face as she flees from me into the darkness. I hear her whisper as she leaves. "I'm so sorry, my love. You will be avenged." An arrow thumps into my hand. I see my fingers fall into the bloodied water. I feel Breath-Of-Justice slide from my numbed limb. Two chakram embed themselves into my chest and lightning courses through my body. I feel the tiger-claws of black jade penetrate beneath my shoulder blades as I am lifted from the water. Another arrow juts from my thigh. A cloud of steam surrounds me as Daiklaves strike my exposed flesh. Darkness descends.

This I remember.