Mébène's stories

-“But a duel without stakes is much less interesting,” added Osrin.

- “What are you offering ?" Ela asked.

Osrin's gaze fell upon Ela's earring. They whispered to their sister and Telenn nodded.

"Just a bet. Is that Cerlug you’re wearing in your ear? That would make a nice reward…”

Ela brought her hand to her jewelry. Instinctively she wanted to refuse, but an idea came to her.

“Your eye didn’t deceive you. It’s cerlug,” said Ela. “And this jewel belonged to my mother. You’ll understand its value…”

- "And I will understand why you refuse,” Telenn began.

- “I don’t,” Ela interrupted. “I’m willing to give you my earring if I lose. But if I win, you must help her save my brother.”

Telenn's face grew serious. She turned to her sibling. Osrin thought for a moment before shrugging.

“That seems fair to me, you have the advantage of height, build, experience…”

It wasn't long before Ela was in the center of the arena, cotton cloths covering her fists as her only protection. After the greetings, Telenn let her land the first blow. Although she appreciated the gesture, Ela didn't hold back. She feinted a straight punch to the fomori's guard and followed up with a hook to the liver. Ela was shorter than Telenn, but their physiques were comparable. As long as she didn't let Telenn keep her at bay, she could win. After a step back and an amused smile, Telenn charged. Ela set up her guard, but the fomori didn't strike. Instead, Telenn grabbed her right wrist. The fomori continued her advance and swung her leg behind Ela while pulling on her arm. The young woman felt herself fall backward. In the distance, she heard her father shouting encouragement. It was too late to recover. Ela let herself fall and grabbed Telenn, pulling her down with her. As soon as her back hit the ground and Telenn fell on top of her, Ela raised her knees and pushed Telenn away with an extension. Telenn fell onto her back too. Taking care to keep her knees from touching the ground, Ela quickly got back to her feet. Telenn didn't stay down for long either. But taking advantage of her few seconds' head start, Ela struck her with a kick to the chest as she rose. Telenn staggered backward. Her foot struck one of the logs marking the edge of the arena. Before she could regain her balance, Ela run at her and, with a shoulder charge, knocked her out of the arena. Aumnios declared the fight over, and Osrin applauded. At the edge of the camp, Luggh let out a cry of joy. Telenn gave a slightly bitter smile as she straightened up. She kicked the piece of wood.

“Hey !”

A voice called to him from the darkness. Lessendre scanned the shadows and listened attentively. Hearing nothing more than the rustling of leaves, he finally answered.

“Is anyone there?”

Lessendre thought he heard something approaching, but the footsteps seemed too quick to be human and too slow to be animal. A shiver ran through the mage, and he pulled his cloak a little tighter around himself. He tried to convince himself that what he had heard was only the wind and set off again when a howl broke the silence:

“Help! Please, someone help me!”

- "Where are you?" replied Lessendre. "I will help!"

The mage's blood boiled. Running, Lessendre headed towards the voice, scanning the darkness for the person calling him. His gaze fell upon a motionless shadow about twenty paces away. It was human in appearance, tattered clothes hanging from its disproportionately large limbs. It remained unnaturally still, its gaze fixed on Lessendre. A moonbeam pierced the clouds, dimly illuminating the being hidden behind the trees. It could have passed for a human in the shadows, but the moonlight revealed it’s monstrous nature. Of its head, he could see only a half-open mouth with sharp teeth. Its long arms ended in large hands with pale, marble-like fingers, hooked like talons. Lessendre froze. The creature opened its mouth, its lips not moving when it said:

“Here! Come,please !”

Lessendre yelled at the creature not to approach, but no sooner had he uttered these words than the being was in motion. The mage tried to flee, but he didn't even have time to take a step before long, whitish fingers tightened around his throat.

This monster is inspired by the hopper-noz from britain folklore. A monster that calls at night and kill those who answer it 3 times. There are a lot a creature like that in different folklore which is super interesting (to me at least).

Torin struck first. He closed the distance between the two of them and raised his fist to strike Aumnios in the face. But Aumnios easily parried the blow and responded with a counter-attack to the chest. Torin retreated a few steps, but Aumnios followed, preparing a strike. Aumnios's palm landed on Torin's solar plexus, forcing him back even further. Torin recovered and launched his fist toward Aumnios's head. The fomori tried to dodge and retaliate, Torin caught Aumnios's left horn. Before he could react, Torin forced his head down and struck him with his knee. Blood began to flow from Aumnios' nose. Disapproving cries raised from the crowd.

“Isn’t that an unfair move?” Ela asked.

- “No, our horns are our pride but can also be a weakness,” Osrin said firmly.

-“If your son’s spirit has crossed the veil, then yes,” said Nahan darkly.

-"But if you fail,” said Ela. “How will we know if it's because the ritual didn't work or because Tarann is still alive?”

- "Do not doubt Nahann's abilities," Aumnios replied firmly before turning to the witch."Everything is ready."

- “Very well, take my hand and follow my example, Aumnios,” said Nahann.

-“It is time you learned this ritual.”

The witch and her apprentice buried their other hands in the earth and closed their eyes. The fire flickered and the temperature seemed to drop inside the tent. Nahann began to chant:

“Come to us, I'm calling you. Come, Tarann…”

They remained motionless, kneeling before the fire with their hands in the earth. Nahann continued to chant, swaying gently. But soon enough, Aumnios frowned, his eyes started to move frantically beneath his eyelids. Magic crackled in the air, making his hair stand on end. The fire burned higher, but its light seemed to be fading. The witch gritted her teeth, something was wrong. Ela could feel it too, without realizing it, she had dug her nails into her father's palm.

[...]

Aumnios curled up into a ball. His hands clenched in the earth. His whole body rose with each of his trembling breath. Ela called out his name, drawing Nahann's attention to the young fomori. The witch placed her hand on her apprentice's shoulder before hastily removing it, as if the man were burning hot. Fear then gripped her completely.

“Erase the runes! Quick!” she screamed.

Luggh jumped to his feet and smashed the symbols around the fire. Nahann grabbed Aumnios by the shoulder again, calling his name with a frantic voice. The young Fomori violently pulled his fingers from the earth and took a deep breath as if he had just been deprived of oxygen. After searching the shadows, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Luggh. As if regaining control of his own body, Aumnios calmed his breathing and placed his trembling hands on his knees. As if nothing had happened, he said in a clear voice:

“Tarann is alive.”

Idea 1 : A fool's game:

Gabriel is a spy for the kingdom of Attrer. He is sent to the kingdom of Edrelic kingdom to ease the alliance between the two nations. He tries to get close to the Queen's advisor and begins a relationship with one scholar, Renan, to get more information. While Gabriel only pretends at first he quickly falls for Renan and is torn between his love and his duty. But as his heart guide him, an assassination attempt is made on the queen and Renan past is revealed. Because of that Renan is abducted and Gabriel is accused. Gabriel as to prove is innocence and rescue is lover before it's too late.

Idea 2 (not named at the moment):

MMC is a werewolf and an heretic hunter. His order hunts heretics, runaway mages and pagan-creatures. While he is himself considered "Unholy" because of his lycanthropy, he is accepted by the order thanks to his complete devotion. His faith is shaken when he meets a runaway mage who opposes his order and tries to save magical creatures. The mage introduced him to their way of life (they live with fantasy creatures, hidden, in a free and loving society) The mage tried to get the MMC to switch side and accept his "wolf" side, the MMC fall for the mage and want to be with them. Unable to council his love and his faith, the MMC betrays the mage, reveals the hidden society to his order and cause its destruction. The mage "lock" the werewolf in his "human" form and want to flee, but a final argument start between the two. This give enough time to the order to find them and the mage is killed infront of the MMC.

Seeing her like this, it was hard to imagine that the young woman was the heir to the royal line. She seemed far more at home around a campfire than at a banquet table. Yet, with the duke searching for her, she wouldn't be safe on the roads, especially not in the Duchy of Guyse. Their plan was unwise, and Lessendre knew it was Luggh who had made this decision. He couldn't resist, he sat down beside Lady Valdargent and murmured:

"You should come with me to Iscidiant, to the capital."

Lady Valdargent narrowed her eyes to scrutinize him, then her gaze shifted to Luggh, still asleep. She smiled at him, but there was something dangerous in her eyes.

"You’re lucky my father is asleep."

- "I understand your reluctance but-"

- "What didn’t you understand this morning?" she snapped. "It’s too risky. Every nobleman who learns of my existence will either want me dead or my hand in marriage, and I don’t want to bet on which category the regent falls into…"

"Once at the palace, you could order your brother's release." Ela flinched when he mentioned her brother. Lessendre continued. "You would be safe at the palace."