Thread: Of Lust and Envy: Some Sins can be deadly -- Darkangel76 and The Gladiator

Of Lust and Envy Some Sins can be Deadly By Darkangel76 and The Gladiator Historians note this story takes place in a land of fantasy, although not in any specific world. In this land, the lands are currently at peace. Elves and humans, although not incredibly interdependent, are on pleasant terms, for the most part, and trade between the communities is encouraged and welcomed. Additionally this story is set in the same world as This story by the same authors. Join us now on this journey of love and desire, emotion and all that goes with it. Year 1022 year of the early spring midsummer Location Elven Forest, a high elven tree town. The sun slowly rose in the east, dappling the trees with a mixture of light and shadow. The sun rising from a mere line on the horizon to lift into the sky heralding a new day come to Sylvistria, the largest high elven tree town in this northern part of the forest, the north most outpost city of the elven nation of Kierielle. Talinath myrthurdrenn stood before his small home, bared to the waist he stretched and bent. He went through many poses, a movement art which could find a comparison to human yoga. Raising his palms to the sky, Talinath stretched to his full height and then smoothly bent double his hands flat on the ground before him. He used the movements to focus his mind and body, seeking an inner harmony between the two. As he bent double, Talinaths long blonde hair fell around his face, but he resisted the temptation to push it back. He had chosen not to tie it back for this occasion so he would not let it trouble him. He stood back up slowly, the movements slow and graceful, almost a dance. Talinath was lithe, almost feminine in his beauty, although a closer look past the delicate features to his body showed him to definitely be male. Especially with his shirt off, his smooth chest showed the muscles of a swordsmen and archer, although was defined rather than bulky. There were no hard edges to even his muscles, just flowing lines. His face was clean-shaven as all elves were. He could not grow a beard had he wanted one. His eyes were an angled deep blue. Talinath engaged in this ritual every morning. It was partially for his own health, but also part of his devotion to Sollaran his god. Sollaran was one of the heads of the elven pantheon, whose realm was the sun and the day. Sollaran ruled beside Lunaira his sister, goddess of the moon. This was also a time of prayer for Talinath as well. Straightening Talinath allowed his eyes to scan his surroundings he was surprised that his half-sister Tiathi had not joined him this morning, for even though Lunairas time was the night, she often joined her older brother for this time of meditation. That being said, Talinath was not worried about his sister. The night before had been one of the summer fertility festivals, in which both Talinath and Tiathi, clerics of Sollaran and Lunaira respectively, had been very involved in. The magic affected each individual differently and not all woke at the same time the next morning. Talinath had been one of the first to rise, overcoming the enchanted sleep that followed the release of magic into the forest restrengthening the ancient trees, and encouraging new growth. He had woken at dawn in time to greet the suns first Rays. Had stood gazing upward eyes closed, receiving his lords blessing on his upturned cheeks. He had then disrobed to begin his Sun Salutation, as it was often called. He was bare save for his underclothes, a garment that resembled pants that had been cut off high on his legs, baring a length of his muscled thighs in addition to his bare upper torso. Talinath always felt rejuvenated after the festivals, and not just because they were the only times the priest of Sollaran broke his self-imposed celibacy. His people were very amorous, so it was quite logical that such a release of magic and fertility went hand and hand with the act of elven fertility. Many elven children had been conceived on a festival day, including his sister or all believed. It was the only explanation for his sisters appearance which differed so much from their mother, father, and Talinath her brother. It was inconceivable that his mother would have been unfaithful to their father therefore it was widely acknowledged that Tiathi was conceived during one of the festivals. To talinath, the festivals were more than just a carnal release, or a time to conceive children they were a truly magical moment, to actually be that connected to the trees he and all his people loved so much. He could still feel the memory of what it felt like. Its power and majesty were truly humbling to a mere mortal such as himself. As he finished one segment of his movement art, Talinath let himself wonder who his partner for the festivities had been the night before. He had had his suspicions but it was never spoken of afterward, so he supposed it did not really matter. She had been talented he suspected it had been one of the elders wives... He immediately squashed that line of reasoning. It was improper to wonder, it would never be spoken of afterward, so why did he wonder. Festivals were considered to transcend all mortal concerns such as individuals, monogamy, or love it was about them coming together as one people. Even so, there was that little part of Talinath, the elven healer, that wondered. Talinath knew it was better that he did not know, he knew the identity of only one of his partners, and that had been an accident over 40 years previously. To this day he wished he did not know. He had been in her arms, and as he went to stroke her ears with her release, before the release of magic, he had knocked her face concealing mask off, to reveal the startled green eyes of Tiathi His sister. Talinath had spoken then, something that was almost unheard of, saying this was wrong, he could not continue. She had recognized him from his voice and in a low voice had encouraged him not to stop, that they could not waste this gift of their gods, they had to go through with it. Stubborn even in that moment his sister had gotten her way, and they had finished the ritual, not exposing what had happened to anyone. As he would do this year, Talinath and Tiathi had never spoken of that event, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of unsurity, partially because of the norm that stated they shouldnt know their partner. Perhaps it was easier for them to pretend it had not happened, or that they did not know. Talinath brushed aside these thoughts as well, knowing they were only distractions he could not afford. Rising to his feet again he walked back into his small house to prepare breakfast for himself, and Tiathi if she returned in time. He had no time to concern himself with such thoughts he had to mentally prepare himself for the peace summit that would be taking place in just a few short days. As one of the clerics of Sollaran, Talinath was not just a healer, but a proponent of peace. He would have many duties during the gathering. He would be there to assist the elders, serve as a translator as needed, and would be on hand to heal any injuries or defend his orders elders should the unthinkable happen, that is to sayif someone started a war during a peace conference. Location a human town to the northwest of Sylvanistria, on the outskirts of the forest Not so far as the crow flies from Sylvanistria, a small human village sat protected on the edge of the forest. Although there had been peace between the elves and the orcs to the north east or least not open warfare, the humans of this small village were still glad of their proximity to the greater power of their elven allies. Although, not all were so happily disposed towards the elves. Galan halfelven, he had long since dispensed with the surname of his elven father... Myrthurdrenn Honored of the light his hairy arse. What had that family ever given him? Oh his high minded cousins had tried to help him or so they said, but they didnt know what it was like to be orphaned, and more over to know that your mother was Human, and even if you were technically accepted, you were seen as different. Well ok, perhaps they did know of being orphans, as their own parents had died before his father, their uncle had, they still did not know what it was like to be different, to feel like an outcast. Some day he would make them pay for all the advantages they held. Galan had felt the power last night, had felt the pull of the festival magic. He had of course found company, with the woman he lived with, but it was not the same. He wanted to be back in sylvanistria, sharing in that pleasure. The problem was, even when he had been there, he had felt like an outcast. From his different features, to the body hair he grew that the elves could not. Each and every thing marked him as half human in their eyes. So here he sat the next morning, feeling every inch the outcast, and staring up into the same sunrise Talinath did, he swore the elves would pay.