Thread: (Middie) Legacy of Mana (Devvx)

Rolan's heart beat furiously in his chest and tears blurred his vision as he sprinted down the long hallways in the grand palace of the Archon, the thundering footsteps of armored soldiers roared behind him, shouting orders to capture or kill the young prince of Arcades. The prince ran through the gilded halls of the palace, occasionally tripping on the priceless ceremonial robes he wore. Arcades, the grand mountain city of the Upperlands was burning. The army of Roth stormed above the palace and city, their soldiers slaying any resistance that they found, ignoring civilian targets altogether save for those who resisted. Fires spread through the city as the bombardments continued and the battle took it's effects on the old city. Only hours before Rolan was celebrating the high holy day, Cadamus, with his people. Arcades stood out on the mountainside glistening with the lights of the festival, a jewel amongst the snowcapped mountains. Throughout the city music could be heard, the song of the spirit filled the air and every building was decorated with ribbons and banners. In the streets dancers twirled ribbons in an intricate dance of life. Cadamus was a day of feasting and drinking, music and dancing, a day of celebration and cheer. Rolan had stood on the balcony of the palace before an adoring crowd as his father, the Archon addressed the crowd on their holy day, leading the prayer to their sky god before His statue, praying for clear skies for their ships and a productive year. The Archon's only son stood beside his father, his blond hair fluttering in the ever present breeze, dressed in his finest silver robes and cloak, an incredibly elegant set of regalia, now ruined by the grasping hands of Roth soldiers. When the Roth skyships appeared on the horizon, the Archadians were caught fully by suprise. The Roth ships were monstrosities of technology, giant iron machines that blocked out the sun like an evil storm on the horizon. Giant black shapes blotted out the sun and bore down upon the ancient mountain city and in mere moments the great city of Archades was beseiged. The Archadians barely had time to get their own ships into the air, but by then it was far too late. The Roth ships bombed stragetic targets, using their canons to tear apart hangars and docked ships bearing the Archadian flag. In moments Roth soldiers had infested the city and the palace. Archadian soldiers had little time to arm as the battle raged overhead, fighters and carriers exchanging volleys of fire. Transports arrived and dropped troops into any areas that they could via rappell. Red clad soldiers now mixed with the white and blue of Archadian armor. Rolan's parents left him to fight alongside their soldiers. The queen was known and feared as an archer, a retired adventurer, the Archon himself was one of the last few Magi known to the world. Before they left his father had grasped him by the shoulders, bidding him goodbye and passing his instruction to him. Rolan, so long as you live the spirit of our people may not be conquered. You must leave Arcades, go to the prayer room and press your hand to the wall of the ancients, I know you can make it out, you must live Rolan could only watch as They were both slain in the battle for the palace. Rolan himself saw it happen, a man wearing terrifying black armor cutting his father down and then killing his mother as she rushed towards him in an attempt to avenge her husband. Rolan had entered the palace as quickly as he could, running through the grand hall and throne room on his way to the Hall of Prayer. Rolan turned a corner, his eyes widening when he caught sight of four men standing before him, armored titans, one of them, a commander carrying a sword, the other three carrying polearms, with pistols at their sides. The men turned their heads towards the young prince, their commander pointing and yelling the moment they saw him. There he is! Get him! The soldiers had caught up with him! Rolan took a step back, almost tripping as the soldiers began at a run towards him. They did not make it though, as two more men appeared from the side, these men wearing silver armor with blue detail, royal guard. The guard crashed into the four men before shouting for the horrified prince to flee Run, prince! For a moment Rolan stood unable to move, he forced himself to overcome his fear, turned and ran. Rolan's destination stood out within his mind, he was running out of breath and his body was beginning to turn on him, his lungs burning as he reached the prayer chamber in the castle. Rolan reached what appeared to be a dead end within an arched chamber, stopping to catch his breath and wipe tears from his eyes, resisting a breakdown. The architecture of the palace changed suddenly, stainless marble pillars becoming steeper with a sheer wall at the end of the room. The wall was massive and solid, seemingly made out of a single gigantic stone. On the wall was a beautiful relief carved into the stones, decorated with beautiful beings, the High ones, an ancient civilization that had mastered magic and technology both, and the species who had granted humanity the knowledge and ability to use magic, knowledge now all but lost. Only the ruins of their grand citadels remained, No one knew what had happened to the mighty High Ones, all that was known is that they vanished, leaving behind their citadels and technology and fading into legend. The Festival of Cadamus was devoted partially to these ancient precursors. The Archon had told Rolan to come to this place if there ever was an emergency. Rolan took a deep breath, approaching the wall and clearing his mind before pressing the palm of his hand into the the wall, focusing the energies inside his body as he had been instructed. A warm tingling filled his body as the wall reacted to his touch, a blue circle appearing around his head, a light shining from deep within the wall. A deep rumble came from inside the wall, a soothing, natural sound that echoed within the chamber so unlike the sound the steam machines that filled the city and powered airships produced as they worked. The light spread filling the room and the designs in the wall like water in a river, filling intricate designs on the wall. The design filled and spread, forming an arch on the wall as Rolan watched in awe as the magitech worked, a depression forming under the palm of his hand, becoming a hole and widening. Never in his life had he seen anything like this, only hearing about it in the storybooks he read as a child. There was no cranking of gears or grinding of metal on metal, just that low rumble as the opening expanded, widening into a door that lay open, the stone parting before him as if it had been sliced by a knife. Rolan entered the passageway, watching as the door flowed into it's shut position behind him, the brilliant blue light fading away into nothing, leaving the prince in long passageway lit by strange glowing crystals along the walls. When Rolan reached the exit of the hidden passage he stopped, another wall like the one inside stood before him. I can't stand out Rolan looked down at his extravagant clothing before steadying his trembling hands and tearing the fine robes from his body, throwing them to the ground. Rolan removed the expensive jewelery and the useless ceremonial sword he carried, adding them to the pile. Metal and silk clinked to on the marble tile of the ancient passage as the prince discarded his trappings, leaving himself only wearing a white tunic with long sleeves and a pair of elegant pants. The only jewelery the prince kept was an amulet that he tucked into the tunic, Rolan searched the end of the passageway and opened it the same way that he did the passage's entrance. In the time that Rolan had passed through the palace, the air had become thick with smoke, the glow of torches and candles had been replaced with the savage light of the fires from Roth's bombardment, the sounds of music had been replaced with gunfire and clashing steel, airships of both kingdoms flying through the air exchanging fire, many airships leaving the port of the city in an attempt to flee the Empire's wrath. Rolan realized that those ships held his salvation. The Prince had emerged nearby the area where the ships had docked, the passageway was there to ensure that the royal family would be able to escape. The open air area had many docks that jut out into the abyss of the sky, normally they would be bustling with parked airships, both Arcadian and guests. The area was a scene of chaos, Arcadian ships plummeted by, one taking one of the docks out with it as it fell, the fiery explosion knocking the prince off of his feet and setting the crates that lined the walls on fire. Rolan stood shakily, the explosion had knocked the wind out of him, but his mind remained clear. Rolan coughed and searched the docks for ships, spotting one that looked like it was preparing to leave. this will have to do Rolan spoke to himself as he walked down the dock, examining the ship as he went and looking for a crew. The crew was absent, no one was around to hear his plea so he decided he could talk to them after they were away from the burning city. Rolan quickly stepped onto the vessel. He had never ridden on an airship before, but this was far better than burning to death or being buried in rubble. Rolan dropped into the hold of the ship, glancing left and right, looking for anybody who could help him. Hello?