Introduction
Gospel Lightfaith is a roleplaying character on the Earthen Ring server of "World of Warcraft" (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com). She was established in December of 2005 and is steadily growing as an upstanding member of the roleplaying community.
Prophecy's Child: The Storyline
"Prophecy's Child" has really grown in the last few months, I'm surprised to say. When I first started this project, I was expecting it to be a small Storyline that I played out with a few friends. Now, as of June 2006, I can proudly say that "Prophecy" now touches characters in about six various guilds, and has grown to a respectable size as far as players involved. The Storyline itself has been a wild ride, but one that I (and hopefully all the participants) have truly enjoyed. It is my honor and my priviledge to have brought this Storyline about, but moreso, to have had all the people involved that I have. Let's face it, without the rest of you, this Storyline would be no more than a mere story. ^_^
Prophecy's Child: Faith of the Fallen
Author's Note: There is much pre-history existing that comes prior to this Storyline, however, I've yet to be able to recover the original documentation. I will be updating/adding it in as soon as I am able to either recover or re-write the work.
Chapter One: "Endgame"
Gospel stood on the edge of the stone circle in the Arathi Highlands, watching Alkan summon the fearsome shadow, Dreadsinger. It felt as if her consciousness was wavering, and her memories became fragmented more and more as The Other fought to come into dominance. Weakened by her battles and internal turmoil, and further wounded by Darthal's refusal to attend the ceremony, even as mere support for her, left Gospel drained and without the resolve to fight.
The Other came to the fore, and She and Dreadsinger duelled in words, bantering back and forth. The Dreadsinger threatening the lives of Gospel's allies, but foremost, the life of her good friend Akallandin. The Other cared not, taunting the Dreadsinger, for if He destroyed Gospel's friends it would only fuel the torment of the paladin and drive her further toward Darkness, which served The Other's plans quite well.
"Kill them all, by all means," The Other had said, "You will only be doing me a favor."
The Dreadsinger, through Alkan, demanded to speak to Gospel, but The Other refused. She did not know what this covenant had planned, but She wouldn't go down so easily. Yet, it was Sirithil Nightstone's words that goaded Her to obey, "Let us speak with the girl. Surely you'd love to hear her beg for the lives of her friends..." And, indeed, it would be music to The Other's ears, for the more Gospel wounded herself over these pitiable humans, the easier it would be for The Other to finally win her over. So, The Other permitted Gospel to come to consciousness, but the cunning alter ego kept control of their shared body. Gospel the mind and mouth, The Other the body.
The Dreadsinger came forward, once again threatening Akallandin's life, dispassionately listening to Gospel's cries as she begged the shadow-thing to not harm her friend. She begged Akallandin's forgiveness, having never wanted to endanger the lives of anyone else. She begged from her heart, as she never had before, but the monster in Alkan would not listen.
The Dreadsinger roared at her in rage, demanding for her to stand up and fight, but Gospel could only cry back in bitter refute, "I cannot! Thou didst only command The Other to let me SPEAK, not to ACT." But, the warning went unheeded, and the unholy rite continued. The Dreadsinger, enraged, shape-shifted into a shadow-dragon spewing fire in Gospel's face, trying to goad her into a fight, and lashed at her with a mighty paw, sending her flying.
She landed in a graceless heap some distance away, still and unmoving. The Dreadsinger approached, drawing a darkly enchanted dagger, claiming that this would be the end of it, that the sacrifice would be made that was needed to fulfill the Prophecy. Yet, he did not count on the cunning of The Other. The Other still controlled Gospel's body, and it was the Other who grabbed his wrist when he attempted to plunge the dagger into the paladin's breast.
The Other fought back, but the irate Dreadsinger saw nothing but the prize of sacrifice before him, and heeded not the protestations of Gospel's allies around him. Even Sirithil in her wisdom, believed the Dreadsinger to be competent, and prevented Gospel's friends from rushing to her aid. The Dreadsinger roared his might, the shadow-dragon plunging forward with an unholy strength.
The Other resisted only a critical moment more, and then, at the last possible second... gave Gospel her body back. When the wicked knife stabbed deep into the heart of the paladin, it was her body and her consciousness that it pierced... and not The Other. She fell to the ground, clutching the grievous wound, her life-blood pounding itself out between her fingers.
The Dreadsinger pulled the knife back, roaring his triumph, unbeknownst to him that his ritual had failed. The others of the Circle stared in horrified fascination, unsure of whether this was supposed to happen or not.
Gospel gasped against the agony burning in her chest, "Akallandin..." Her paladin friend knelt close, drawing her carefully up into his arms. She leaned close to his ear, murmuring her last request.
"How he doth underestimate The Other. Oh, Light... I am dying, Akallandin. Take thee my Oathbreaking; accept my rite as I renounce the Light, and foreswear the life of a paladin..." she gasped around each word, fighting to stay only a few moments longer. She saw Akallandin hesitate, his disappointed frown almost writing his refusal and her death sentence, "Please, Akallandin..." she rasped, blood spilling from the corners of her mouth, "It is the only way..."
Akallandin, in his nobility, clutched his hands into fists, but resignedly gave himself up to her command, "As you wish." With all the courage he could muster, the paladin rose to his full height, looking to the assembly around the Circle, "From this day forth, let it be known that Gospel Lightfaith..." his throat choked, and his voice failed him a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, "...that she is no longer a follower of the Light, nor a sister of paladins. She is Oathbreaker, and broken."
Gospel could only smile at him, the glittering emerald of her eyes clouding in death, her final words a mere gasp of breath, "Thank thee..."
(( More to come! ))