Mishlom's History
Part One
A Courage Beyond His Years
Early in the morning on August 13th, 1389, the cry of a newborn child rang through the halls of the Unseelie castle. Young Lady Illanya had given birth to a young child, named by his father, the great fey general Mikah Tahiel, as ?€?Mishlom?€™. Young Mishlom was adored as a child by the court, but at the age of seven General Tahiel took Mishlom?€™s future in his own hands. Lady Illanya begged the General to let Mishlom study the ways of the mages and scribes. But Tahiel would not relent, insisting that the child would become one of the best hand-to-hand fighters. So Mishlom would spend all day studying the ways of a fighter, and at night study the ways of a wizard with his mother. He viewed his combat training as tedious and boring, but found that he could weild a dagger extremely well. His mother taught him how to cast a spell called ?€?spark?€™, which used the chemicals of sulfur mixed properly with air to send sparks of flame at the intended direction. He progressed rather rapidly, but his parents used two different tactics. Tahiel would have the child practice a skill till he could do it perfect with his eyes closed, buy Illanya taught spells to Mishlom as fast as he could learn them, progressing all the way from spark to being able to capture his opponent in a magic web and creating portals between places. He also found a way to exercise his magic in combat training with his father. He persuaded his instructor to teach him the magical fade, which was the act of fading out of thin air for a split second to dodge an oncoming attack.
For his tenth birthday, he was given a marble stone dagger, ripped from the hands of some great enemy in the ?€?otherworld?€™. Allow me to explain. The ?€?otherworld?€™ is where we live. The Fey?€™s world is shared by their mortal enemies the Sidhe, and the ground is much different than ours, constantly vibrating and seeming to be teeming with life. The wild creatures are different, too. One of the most feared by either race is the evil Yaswon. This creature looks ungainly with eyes on the end of antennae and short legs, but if it can get close enough it attacks with a ferocity that can only be overcome by the greatest of fighters. It had almost been too much for General Tahiel. One of these yaswons had taken 3 fingers off of his left hand, a constant reminder for Mishlom to never wander far from the castle. But soon Mishlom became tired of being cooped up in the castle.
A day after his 20th birthday, armed with a new set of armor plates and a sandy spellbook from his mother, he asked the Fey king for a quest. The king, a close friend and confidant to Tahiel, stroked his beard. ?€?Are you ready for a quest, young Mishlom??€? he asked. ?€?As ready as I will ever be, your highness?€? he responded. ?€?I am still in the flower of my youth, and though wisdom I lack, I believe it is time for me to leave the protection of my parents and venture out into the world.?€? The king closed his eyes for a minute, and leaned forward towards young Mishlom on his throne. ?€?As I am sure your father has told you, we are at war with the Sidhe peoples...... again. Recently they have stolen a important artifact from us, a runestone inscribed with the instructions for a spell called ?€?plane travel?€™. If they can figure out how to use this spell in large proportions, no one in the otherworld will be safe from the invading armies of the Sidhe. But we still have time to recover it before they get it to their castle and our access to it will be lost forever. The sidhes are a beautiful people, and will no doubt deceive the simple people of the otherworld. They will use the iron technologies of the otherworld to harm us, and iron burns us very badly. You MUST recover this stone. I will send with you my own son Paulon, who can pick any lock and find any weakness. Unfortunately he is lacking in the area of co-ordination, so I hope the combined talents of you two can re-capture this artifact. Godspeed, young Mishlom.?€? Mishlom nodded, bowed, and walked out of the throne room. He knew Paulon well, they had been childhood friends. But Paulon beleived not in the ways of magic. After a few miles riding on fey horses, they began bantering about magic. But the loudness of their conversation attracted a nearby yaswon. Paulon, his ears more sensitive than Mishlom?€™s, immediately hushed Mishlom and told him what he heard coming. Both flopped on the ground, taking cover in a ditch. Far off Mishlom saw the terrible yaswon approaching. He thought, ?€?Now is my chance to prove magic really does work!?€? With the yaswon about 30 feet away, Mishlom dipped his hands in a stream next to the ditch and leaped up shouting ?€?He has ears, he has sight: but the evil yaswon will die tonight!?€? Ice flew from Mishlom?€™s hands to the yaswon, paralyzing the creature 20 feet from where they stood. They studied the frozen specimen for just a second, then Mishlom drew his dagger and struck the frozen yaswon with the butt of his weapon. The creature shattered in a thousand pieces, and when Mishlom turned around he found Paulon stunned. There was no further arguments.
After a few days of riding, Mishlom and Paulon crept up upon a war party of Sidhe barbarians. ?€?Stupid creatures.?€? Paulon remarked. Mishlom replied with ?€?Dumb, yes. But even more so, they are strong.?€? The twosome waited for the cover of night. When darkness fell, the two crept into the Sidhe camp. They found the leader sleeping, a jug of firebreather in one hand and a huge axe in the other. Paulon let out a gulp. Mishlom whispered, ?€?Don?€™t worry. We?€™re not here to fight, just see what they are up to. I sincerely doubt that they would assign the stealing of the runestone to these clods.?€? Paulon picked the strongbox and safe quickly while Mishlom stood guard. ?€?No rune?€? Paulon whispered. ?€?Good, let?€™s ?€?borrow?€™ some provisions and get out of here.?€? The young feys took some fruit and bread (being careful to avoid the moldy loaves), and beat a hasty retreat the few miles back to their camp. ?€?I would have liked to have gotten a shot at one of those boors.?€? Paulon said smugly. ?€?Yeah, until the rest of the bunch leaped on you raucous wolves.?€? Mishlom retorted. ?€?You couldn?€™t swing an axe for beans.?€? ?€?Oh yeah?!?€? Paulon was getting angry now. ?€?Bring it on, wuss!?€? Paulon leapt at a stunned Mishlom. Mishlom dodged and quickly cast a spell of invisibility on himself. ?€?You?€™re not playing fair!?€? Paulon shouted as pieces of Sidhe bread flew at him from all directions ..... Mishlom?€™s spell soon wore off and Paulon promptly landed a haymaker upon his chin. Mishlom delivered a roundhouse kick to Paulon?€™s legs, and both went down struggling. After a minute or two of mayhem, both realized how childish they were being. They both laughed and shook hands. ?€?Not a bad scrap for a prince?€? Mishlom stated. Paulon shot him a glare, and in order to prevent further fighting, Mishlom went to sleep in his tent. The next morning, they rode as fast as their horses could take them along the coast of a large lake. On the opposite shore, they saw a large caravan unloading from 3 or so ferries down the coast. It looked as their opportunity had finally come. Again, they waited to raid in the dead of night. Mishlom cast a spell upon himself and Paulon and carefully entered the enemy camp, past the barely-awake guards to the center of camp. He saw what had to be the leader?€™s tent, and carefully peeked inside. Inside was not a strong, masculine figure, but a fragile young woman, who looked almost too beautiful in her slumber to wake. Luckily, Mishlom was not a ladies man at that time. He was on a mission to get that runestone. Paulon, however, was not as mission-oriented. ?€?Isn?€™t she beautiful??€? he whispered. Mishlom was not listening. ?€?Get over here and unlock this safe will you??€? Paulon carefully stepped over the sleeping beauty and approached the golden coffer. He picked the lock at his own leisurely pace, stealing a peek at the young sidhe every now and then. Mishlom had been carefully taught duty first, pleasure second, and his two eyes were squinting through the darkness at Paulon?€™s hands, waiting for the princely rogue to finish his handiwork. Soon Paulon had the safe opened, and Mishlom held the beautiful runestone aloft. He saw in the box that it glowed, and when he put his hands on it, it quieted down and became a cold gray. It was as if the stone was alert to the danger surrounding them. Paulon re-locked the strongbox and Mishlom had to drag the young royal prince out of the sidhe camp. The entire ride back to the Unseelie castle, Paulon talked of nothing but the beautiful young woman. Finally Mishlom tired of his obsessing over what could never be his. ?€?Do you want me to tell your father that you laid your eyes upon a sidhe with lust? He threatened. Paulon said, ?€?You wouldn?€™t!?€? Mishlom had a smug look on his face that gave no inclination of where his loyalties laid. They rode back to the castle in silence.
When they arrived, Mishlom told of the entire story to the fey king. ?€?Well done, young Mishlom,?€? he stated when the young fey handed over the runestone. But the king had a sixth sense and knew that young Mishlom cared not for the fey courts or the companionship of his son Paulon. ?€?And now I offer you your choice of payment. You may stay and live comfortably with your title ...... or you may be one of the few feys to leave the castle...and journey to live in the otherworld.?€? The court let out a giant gasp. Would he? Would the unpredictable young adventurer take the leap to become a legend? Mishlom didn?€™t even blink. ?€?I will go?€? he said. The court burst out in wailing and crying. ?€?Silence!?€? the king ordered. ?€?And now young Mishlom, you will complete your quest to the fullest. You will take this runestone and deliver it to what is called ?€?The Council of the Arcane?€™, the most powerful, wise, and influential group in the otherworld. You will ask them on my behalf to destroy the runestone. To take whatever means necessary to protect themselves from invasion from the sidhe ... or from us. The Gods forbid if we should take advantage of our knowledge in the future and use this magic for our own benefit.?€? With a wave of his hand, he dismissed young Mishlom. ?€?Good luck.?€?
Mishlom spent the night with his father, talking. ?€?Are you sure, son??€? the elder Tahiel asked. ?€?Father, since I heard of the otherworld, I have been longing to go. With the exceptions of you and mother, I have no ties here. No one expects me to be a great general as is in my blood. I would rather fight myself than direct it from the outside.?€? The General sighed. ?€?When I was your age, I thought of going to the otherworld. But i never had the courage to do so. I am glad I have a son that does.?€? So Mishlom, the next morning, shining with his dagger in his belt, helmet on his head, armor on his back, and a enchanted cloak from his mother clasped around his neck, he began his journey to the otherworld. Little did he know where it would take him.
Part Two
A New Day
Mishlom felt as he had never felt before in his life. He felt everything going away, coming back, and leaving him again: as if his very existence was in no way guaranteed. Suddenly, he was falling through bright blue sky, a stark contrast to the greys, reds, and purples of his home world. Within his field of view was the beautiful city that he had known to be called ?€?Rune?€™. But more dangerous, he saw the ground coming up all too quickly. WHAM! Mishlom fell through a cover of trees and onto the ground, and saw no more. He was awakened by a small, handsome face with pointed ears and covered by a small green cap. ?€?Where....where am I??€? he gasped. The face chuckled. ?€?You stupid ogre....what in the world caused you to fall out of a tree like that??€? Mishlom sat up, the forest around him spinning. He saw the face was connected to a body about 1/3 his size. ?€?Ogre? What?€™s an ogre??€? the little figure chuckled. ?€?I am Hawke, a woodland elf. I live over there,?€? he said, waving in the direction of a few wooden huts. ?€?Who are you??€? ?€?My name is Mishlom.....I?€™m not an ogre.....whatever that is....I?€™m a fey?€? The elf turned a ghostly white and ran towards the huts yelling, ?€?A FEY!!!! CALL THE ELDERS!?€? Mishlom?€™s world started spinning again, and he fell unconscious.
When he awoke, 8 older, grayer versions of the face he had seen were looking at him. ?€?We sure don?€™t get many of your kind,?€? one said. ?€?Yep, a fey....I remember my grandpappy saw one once.?€? another chimed in with a accent that Mishlom had never heard before. His ears rang, and he smelled something like fire, but more pungent. ?€?Wha....what is that awful smell??€? he asked, stammering. ?€?Why, it?€™s Jimbalaya Jake?€™s gumbo recipe!?€? Mishlom slowly sat up, turned to his left, and saw where the smell came from. A stocky little man stood hovering over a campfire with a strange pot above it. ?€?He comes here every month,?€? an elder said. ?€?He maked some kind of porridge in that pot, gives us some as a token of payment for brewing it here.?€? ?€?But why here??€? Asked Mishlom. ?€?He needs the special bark of a mandrake tree to make his concoction. We are the only ones that have it.?€? Mishlom slowly nodded, his head feeling a little better. Jimbalaya Jake turned around and saw Mishlom, who he thought as quite a striking figure in his inlaid armor and cape. ?€?Ye are a fey, are ye??€? ?€?Yes....?€? Mishlom responded hesitantly. ?€?Well, don?€™t be shy about it, son! Your kind be pretty rare around here. I think it?€™s time we paid a visit to Lord Agrippa.?€? Jake poured his potion into a large flask and beckoned Mishlom to follow him along the road. Jimbalaya talked the whole way to the city of Rune. ?€?See this ankh? It?€™s the symbol of a Juju shaman.?€? ?€?What?€™s that??€? Mishlom asked. Jimbalaya Jake had a look of astonishment. ?€?It?€™s the highest class of shaman a human can reach!?€? he exclaimed. He said it with such a tone that Mishlom knew he should not press the subject. After a few hours traveling, they arrived at the east gate of rune. Sentries stood posted at the gate to make sure the flow of people moved in a steady order. ?€?We?€™d better get inside,?€? Jimbalaya Jake stated. He pointed at the sky and stated, ?€?See those two moons, Tiragel and Marabah? when they both are full, strange things happen. There is a sacred place outside the city where portals to other places are created. This called a worldgate, and only the most audacious adventurers try to use them.?€? Mishlom only nodded. Jimbalaya moved quickly through the flow of people in Rune, Mishlom close on his heels. The young fey received many curious stares, but he did not care. All he wanted was a place to rest. Jake followed a road to the entrance of the Runic Castle, and asked if Lord Agrippa was seeing subjects that evening. ?€?Yes, I will show you right in.?€? the attendant said. They followed the well-dressed man into a large chamber with a huge pair of doors. After a minute the attendant disappeared, and the doors opened. Mishlom saw at the end of the opposing room a man seated on throne, wearing a magnificent ring and a shimmering crown on his head, reading a scroll. ?€?Jimbalaya Jake and a visitor to see you, sire.?€? The man raised his head and grinned. He handed the scroll to another attendant. ?€?I will finish reading the day?€™s auction events later,?€? he told the attendant. ?€?My friend Jacob! How good to see you! Come in, come in!?€? Jimbalaya Jake hobbled in and bowed on one knee, Mishlom following suit. He knew when he was in the presence of royalty. ?€?What can I do for you??€? he asked. ?€?My Lord, the woodland elves have found a fey come from the otherworld. I have brought him to you for you to judge what will become of him.?€? Agrippa?€™s smile turned into a look of seriousness. ?€?Young fey, what is your name??€? ?€?Mishlom, sire.?€? The attendant smiled. ?€?You catch on quick, Mishlom. I am Lord Agrippa, governor of Rune, and leader of the council of the Arcane. What is your business in the world of Alyria??€? ?€?This, sire?€? Mishlom slowly slipped out the runestone from his tunic pocket. Mishlom went on to explain the runestone?€™s significance, affects, and what it could do. He approached the throne, bowed, and on one knee, lifted the runestone up to Lord Agrippa?€™s hands. ?€?I am your servant, and do with this rune as you will. I pray that you will be wise in what you use it for.?€? Agrippa took the stone, studied it, and snapped his fingers. A shining knicht stepped out from the shadows. ?€?Sir Tristan, take this stone and lock it up in the castle vault. Post your guards in 5 hour shifts, 4 guards per shift until further notice.?€? ?€?Yes, m?€™lord,?€? the knight said. Agrippa turned his attention to the young fey. ?€?Mishlom, we will offer you what we offer all feys. You can become an elite adventurer, live a life of enterprise, but it is a hard life. Many adventurers perish or become dark, a side of magic we cannot control. Or you can stay and become an advisor to me in matters of the faerie world. The choice is yours.?€? This choice was easy compared to the one he had made the day before. ?€?Sire, I came to live a life of adventure. Not to become old and grey behind a desk. I am flattered, but I wish to be an adventurer.?€? ?€?Very well,?€? Agrippa resonded. ?€?You will be given food and lodging for a week, after which you will have to do for yourself. I wish you good fortune.?€? Mishlom bowed once more and was led by an attendant back the way they had come. He thanked Jimbalaya Jake, who said, ?€?Pah! It?€™s YOU who needs to be thanked.?€? The attendant led him down a hallway to a small room, with a comfortable bed and desk. ?€?Here are your lodgings. You may wander the city at your own will.?€? The attendant smiled. ?€?Even though you are a fey there are many people who will want to take advantage of you. Be careful!?€? He closed the door and Mishlom removed his armor and went to sleep beneath the warm covers of his bed.
At the break of dawn, Mishlom was awakened by a stocky, older maid. ?€?Do you plan to sleep the day away??€? she stated. ?€?Sir Tristan is ready to give you a tour of Rune, and he?€™s not one who stands for tardiness!?€? Mishlom slowly got out of bed, dressed in a tunic provided for him, and headed towards the mail hallway. He felt somewhat naked in this new, strange world. He did have the comfort of his spellbook, though. He saw Sir Tristan in the hallway. ?€?Good morning young Mishlom,?€? Tristan spoke. ?€?Today I?€™m going to show you all about rune and it?€™s people. First we are going to visit a friend of mine, Iyzdor the Minstrel. He is very old and wise, and it would do you justice to listen to what he says.?€? Mishlom followed the knight across the castle?€™s courtyard, up a flight of stairs, through a narrow hallway to a door with ?€?Iyzdor?€? carved into it. Tristan knocked three times, and a quiet voice said ?€?Enter.?€? Tristan stepped into the room, Mishlom behind him. There was a plush cot at one corner, and a large desk facing the door. ?€?Tristan! Good to see you. And who is this young fey with you??€? ?€?This is Mishlom,?€? Tristan reponded. ?€?He was found by the woodland elves a few days ago.?€? ?€?Welcome to Rune, young Mishlom. You will learn much here. We have some of the best trainers in all of Alyria.?€? ?€?Thank you, sir.?€? Mishlom quietly said. ?€?Call me Iyzdor. Even though I have been knighted, I am more of a bard than a knight. Now tell me about yourself.?€? Mishlom felt endeared to this old gentleman, and told him of the quest, his training, and life in the fey castle. As soon as he finished, Tristan interrupted, ?€?Mishlom, it is almost noon. We had better begin touring the streets.?€? They said their goodbyes and walked down the stairs. ?€?My room, in case you did not see, is directly across from Iyzdor?€™s. Drop in anytime, although I will probably be attending on Lord Agrippa.?€? The twosome left the castle and stopped outside the gate. ?€?To the east is Winterborn mansion, to the west is Rune mountain, and to the south is the garden of life.?€? They walked through the garden, Tristan explaining all the nuances of Rune. They turned onto main street and stopped at a few of the various shops, buying Mishlom what he needed and getting his dagger repaired, it being quite old. ?€?Well i?€™ll be an Auryn bull....that?€™s the old court jester?€™s dagger!?€? ?€?I received it as a gift for my tenth birthday.?€? Mishlom informed. Tristan was dumbstruck, and said no more.
After they left the weaponsmith?€™s shop, a cityguard came running up to them. ?€?Sir Tristan,?€? he panted, ?€?Banath is at it again. He?€™s got all the peasants riled up over something.?€? Tristan, the cityguard, and Mishlom ran to the scene. There was already some spilled blood. A huge drunk stood in the center of the mob, shouting obscenities at the top of his lungs. ?€?Banath! Hold thy peace!?€? Tristan shouted. Banath growled and moved towards them. ?€?Allow me?€? Mishlom said. He began to speak the words of a spell ..... in an instant a series of little darts flew from his hand to strike Banath. The huge boozer fell to the ground crying like a little baby. ?€?Excellent, Mishlom.?€? Tristan complimented. ?€?Guards! Lock him up in the prison .... again.?€? Tristan told Mishlom, ?€?Banath is the town drunk. He is usually fine-tempered but now and then he becomes a troublemaker. Now let us finish our tour.?€? Tristan showed him the Runic Temple, the Training Hall, the various magic and weapons shops, and the General Store. ?€?As you can see, Rune is a very clean towne. Some of our neighbors like New Rigel and Sigil are not. For the remainder of your stay Iyzdor will teach you the customs of Alyria.?€? Mishlom and Tristan trudged back to the castle. Mishlom would sleep well that night.
After Mishlom retired, Agrippa called Tristan to his chambers. ?€?How is young Mishlom coming along, Tristan??€? He inquired. ?€?Well, sire. He helped the cityguards break up a small riot today.?€? Agrippa nodded. ?€?I have called an emergency meeting of the council. We will decide what is to be done with the runestone Mishlom has provided to us. I know they will all agree with me on this topic.?€? He sighed. ?€?You are dismissed, my friend.?€?
Luckily the future of the runestone was out of Mishlom?€™s hands. Neither did he care. He trusted Lord Agrippa and Sir Tristan, and felt no worry when he left the castle a few days later. He is currently living his life of an adventurer to the fullest, offering his assistance in quests and making a living teaching others through combat. He does his best to serve the right, punish evil, and stay in the background. He made a choice and has never, ever looked back. The story continues, as Mishlom continues to live in the world of Alyria, taking everything day by day.