A tale of Armond
The upbeat music played by the local band tried to get festival goers into a better mood as the autumnal wind blew the falling leaves through the fair. The gray sky foretold dreary weather on the horizon. I passed by several servants helping their noble families carry their purchases or sell their wares. A leaf smacked me in the face as I looked about.
I was here for one person. The old storyteller. I followed a group of boys running beneath the amber sky. They headed right for him. A decent crowd had already gathered, ready to hear his tale.
A bonfire flickered about three feet before the storyteller. The golden glow illuminating his face, hands folded over one another he waited for everyone to get settled. Several small children jumped onto a heap of leaves. Silence began to slowly descend, as if an old master entered a dojo. "There once was a man who served the elemental court. The man is now known as Armond, the Undead Mage King."
The brisk wind carried his voice around the fire, catching the hat off of a younger gentlemen. "It is said that any who cross the boarder into Formaris find themselves at his mercy." The storyteller chuckled. "Many say that his story starts when the Ruins of Puku were found during the great frost 900 years ago." He depressed something in the log next to him which triggered a rumble behind him.
Eight thunderous claps boomed from behind. Children threw small gourds into the air. "As a young man Armond started his journey working for the wizard that served the court of the elementals."
"As a wizards apprentice Armond spent many long hours studying and assisting with various rituals. One ritual, specifically helped a lost elemental find their way to the city."
I took a sip of the cider I grabbed earlier. I toned out the storyteller. I remember sitting in the Landwards apple orchard when the sirens sounded. The place shook. The sound of water rushing flooded my ears. I slammed closed the book I was copying spells from. A group of kids were running down the trail towards the maze in the center of the gardens, laughing the entire way. It would end soon, even the surrounding beauty would end. The incoming flood would ensure that.
A group of kids were running down the trail towards the maze in the center of the gardens, laughing the entire way. It would end soon, even the surrounding beauty would end. The incoming flood would ensure that. I growled under my breath as I walked through a low fog. The air elemental was close, I could feel them. Somehow I was connected to the elementals. It explains how I could find the new water elemental so easily. The incoming disaster. Could it have been avoided? Could we have stopped it? All these years later, I still don't know if things would have been different if I had come forward sooner.
A crisp breeze snapped me out of my memories.
I'd have to wait till he was done. I can't afford to get lost in more memories. I strolled out of the storyteller's circle heading towards a dessert stand. Gathering ahandful of cookies I strolled through the rest of the festival.
Even after all these years a lot of things hadn't changed about life outside of Formaris. Life is a constant, as is death. I didn't ask for this undeath. I didn't seek out lichdom, and yet here I am. Armod the Undead Mage King of Formaris. But they get it all wrong. Reaping the benefits of a spell to save a dear friend is why I'm undead.
Lines were growing as I made my way through the festival grounds. The last festival I went to was in Passen's city center. Artisans from all five points had brought their wares. I will admit my favorite vendor was a glass blower named Bob. His creations would frequently incorporate intricate designs. Running water through was such a calming past time.
The cookies were still toasty warm, in stark contrast to the cold air that was blowing from the northwest. I sighed watching some people gawking at the rather unimpressive wares. Quality had certainly decreased in the last thousand years. Had people really gotten that lazy? I found my feet had led me back to the storyteller's flame.
The bonfire was roaring now.
"Not many people have lived to tell the tale of their encounter with the Mage King, which leads to the mysteries surrounding him."
I waited while he finished the tale about me, rousing ohs and ahhs from the listeners. The fire emanating a cozy warmth equal to the halls of my home.
It took hours for the story teller to be the only one left. But finally I had him. "Eat" I said handing him the last of my cookies. He looked at it mysteriously, then grabbed some chopped nuts out of a bag, offering them to me as an exchange.
I humbly accepted them. "Everything you just told them was a lie you know."
He looked at me then smiled. "Of course it was Armond, though I only know bits of your actual story."
His large round eyes met mine. The smell of cinnamon cider hitting my nose. I found myself back in the streets of Passen, walking behind my teacher to his family home.
I tossed the nuts on the ground, staring at the man who still smiled at me, a look of familiarity in his eyes. As the breeze caught his cloak I saw the familiar symbol of the LeCao family.
Dusk had finally ended and the man was now only visible through the light of the fire and stars. "Grandfather spoke highly of you. He tried to keep track of you, as did father, but you're slippery."
The sounds of shackles being brought over snapped me out of my shock. I acted before they could catch me, a skill I learned from the son of a corn farmer in my youth. Being chased through the labyrinth of stalls and displays is something that I hadn't experienced in over a thousand years, but I had advanced magic on my side this time around. Things certainly change.
I stepped out from under a awning in the streets of Undar. "Come and follow me here, LaCao. I'm waiting." I meandered through the city towards the castle, the residents of the city coming to life as the night descended.
As I entered the castle, the full moon visible I thought of my friend, and reached along the bond we forged the night the city fell...."They're coming Cadius."
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