Gaea's Stand (survivor challenge #6)

Gaea's Stand (survivor challenge #6) She overlooks the forest canopy from her treetop vantagepoint. Her whole world spreads before her in the shimmering moonlight. There is comfort in the vastness of her empire - yet even here she knows the darkness threatens. Emissaries from the East, from Amarkand, have brought tales of the horrors approaching. Legions of grim and ghoulish creatures have cut and hacked their way almost to her sylvan borders, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. Where they came from none knew, but speculation was that Edmoral, the demonic ruler of the shadow kingdom, had at long last broken free of his elven bonds. If this were true, none would survive - unless she were willing to pay the ultimate price. Ages before, or so it seemed, he had sought her hand, and her rejection of him had led to a bitter war. She dared not think of her choice - give herself to his cold, slimy embrace, or forfeit the lives of all her peaceful subjects and allow the destruction of the forest that was her life. She shuddered at the thought and lost herself momentarily in despair. The full moon at last got her attention and an idea began to grow in her mind. Quickly she sent forth her three sons - Noraq to the North, to icy Erewon, and Gandrel to the West, to the desert kingdom of the giant spider queen. Exander she sent South, to seek Almanor, the mountain king's high rocky lair. All three did her bidding unquestioning, for they knew their mother Gaea's wrath. Days passed, and the demon horde advanced. Already they had destroyed fair Oeron, the centaurs' sanctuary home. Llameron's folk sought refuge in the forest. Noraq was the first to return. He held in his hand the first part of the divided Seal of Doom - the only weapon left to Gaea's choice. As the horde entered the forest's eastern edge Gandrel returned with the second fragment. Carefully Gaea assembled them and the Seal healed the break, becoming one. All that remained was Exander's quest. No word came for days, and Gaea worried. Each passing day more of the forest was laid waste, becoming a blackened scar devoid of all life. The pain was almost too much to bear, for with each dying tree Gaea aged and took on the ache of the encroaching plague. What had happened to Exander? The smoke began to choke the very air. Wood and flesh added to the reek - only a few miles yet separated the battling forces. At last! From the West Exander arrived! He explained that roving troops of orcs had skirted the forest to the south, forcing him to detour west to complete his task. Gaea hugged him closely to her aching breast. Her hair now grey, her skin sallow, she placed the third fragment into the circle. Magically the artifact merged its parts. The Seal was complete at last! To the treetop she carried it, cringing at the sight of the wall of flames coming from the eastern lands. High above her head she held the Seal. "Ea, ea! Ha-ke'ono p'nate ma!" she invoked. The Seal glowed dark red, the heat searing her flesh. "Ate na'ono mea 'acolapissa!" she said. Lightning darted from the sky, striking the Seal. She held her stance under the force - and a bright blue-white orb shot from the Seal towards the forest edge - the combined life forces of Earth, Air and Water. At last she fainted from the strain, and felt herself falling... falling. She woke to see the smiling faces of her sons - and the joyous sounds of centaurs and elves revels. "It is done!" said Noraq. "You have won!" She felt the pain subside and her strength return. To the east a great wall of solid ice now imprisons the evil of Edmoral. The forest would rapidly heal itself, and Gaea's life force would renew as well. The only scars that would remain were the burns on her hands. The Seal, once more shattered into three, was returned to safekeeping in the lands to North, West and South. Peace once more reigned supreme over the forest. ~fin~ 4/4/2002My epic tour de force inspired by the artwork. Written April 4th, 2002 © on Apr 04 2002 06:50 AM PST, Heinz Scheuenstuhl    0 • 10