Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a powerful and feared wolf king. The wolf king was known for his immense strength, cunning tactics, and his ability to communicate with the wild creatures of the forest. He ruled his kingdom with an iron fist, demanding loyalty and obedience from all his subjects. However, the wolf king was not content with his power and decided to seek even greater strength. He ventured deep into the heart of the enchanted forest, where legends spoke of a mystical crystal that could grant unimaginable powers. After days of searching, the wolf king found the crystal in a hidden grove.
He's gone, and the worst part is, I don't if he's dead or alive.I dealt with the curse. I picked my side. The hellish nightmare that I woke up to when I discovered I was a Watcher should be over, but it's not. Weeks have passed with no sign of Gage and I can't seem to move on, but a war is brewing and wallowing is no longer an option.
In this short story addition to the Steel Stone series, discover the fate of Seiya and Lyre following the conclusion of Yield the Night Steel Stone 3. She struck such terror into the Aldmers hearts that they would not leave their homes high in the trees, fearing the jaws of her wolfspawn prowling below.
After days of searching, the wolf king found the crystal in a hidden grove. Eager to harness its power, the wolf king reached out to touch the crystal. But as soon as his paw made contact, a blinding light enveloped him.
The Wolf King Rilis
Centuries after Aldmeri Landfall, the protective spells of Torinaan had worn away with his passing, and the descendants of the Nine Prows divided their Isle with strife. The leaderless Aldmer retreated to the isle’s virgin forests as Maormer razed their coasts. The Sload, allied with wandering daedric princes, cursed the land with blight.
Fell beasts picked away at the Aldmers' numbers, and the greatest was a demonic wolf. She struck such terror into the Aldmers' hearts that they would not leave their homes high in the trees, fearing the jaws of her wolfspawn prowling below.
The Eldest of First Hold, closest to the ancestors, called a meeting of kinsmer. "We can not continue to live hidden in this wild forest, dependent on the offerings of Auriel. Who among us inherited Trinimac's valor, and shall go to slay this beast?"
The Eldest turned to the greatest warrior. "Not I," said the warrior. "My duty is repelling the Maormer."
The Eldest turned to the greatest mage. "Not I," said the mage. "My duty is expelling the Sload."
The Eldest went to each Aldmer, from the greatest to the least, and each refused to face the monster, until one mer pushed his way through the crowd. The mer stumbled and fell to his hands and knees at the Eldest's feet. Breathless he declared, "I can face the beast."
"I have nothing to lose," said the least of the least, "for I have already faced worse than death through my dishonor. Thus it is no matter if I die, for I hardly have family. Yet if I succeed, shall my clan Rilis be redeemed as worthy descendants of Torinaan."
"Very well," said the Eldest. "Rise to your feet. Take all that our kinsmer have to offer for your journey perilous. Then set out and face our monster."
Rilis prepared for five days and nights. He received offerings from his kin in First Hold - but only what they were willing to spare. A rusty blade adorned his side. Stale food and faded blue crystals filled his old pack. In a pouch he slipped shabby bandages and a strange black gem. He sighed. "With so little, how could I return alive?"
It was then that his nephew came to him. A mer intelligent and young, weak of body yet strong of heart. The young one said, "I will accompany you."
"You shall not," said the older. "You have but entered your teenage years. Why abandon your future centuries for this doomed quest."
"For I can not abandon you," replied the younger. "When my mother died in her disgrace, you took me in after when nobody else would. You provided me a home - shelter against the elements. You even stole to feed me, paying not with gold but dishonor. You are my past, you are my present, and I shall have no future without you. I will accompany you."
The older, unable to dissuade his nephew, agreed the young Rilis may walk at his side. Thus they left their home in the friendlier trees and set out into the dark forest to hunt their quarry.
By the first night they became the ones hunted.
The second night, they could not sleep as glowing eyes watched them in the dark.
On the third night, as they settled down to rest, there leapt out from a grove of trees a great wolf with red pelt coloured like fire. He pinned down the young one, and as the young one tried to fight him off, the great beast sank his teeth into the young one's arm. The young one screamed, and the older in a fit of rage drew his rusty sword. He plunged the blade into the great beast's neck. A fount of blood sprung from the wound. The beast soon let go and fled.
The elder Rilis managed to bandage and splint the young one's wound, but their weak healing spells could not fight the infection setting in.
The fourth night, trying to shelter against pouring rain, they did not hear the black wolf who came with the speed of lightning. Her jaws clamped down on the older one's leg, and she dragged him into the darkness. The younger followed through the mist, firing spells of destruction wildly. With his last reserve of magicka, he summoned an ice shard that struck the great beast's spine. She collapsed in the mud with a guttural groan. The mer limped slowly away.
As the fifth day's light broke through the eastern sky, they found the Great Beast sleeping in her putrid den.
The older said, "Behold this great beast. She is twice as large as her spawn! Surely she has been imbued with daedric power."
He said, "Here we've arrived. Wounded, bloodied, sleepless and hungry. What chance have we against her with our weak swords and spells? Yet how pitiful to have come so far only to fail at our ultimate goal."
The younger said, "We have yet hope. I have read our ancestors' tomes, and practiced their ways of hierography and spellweaving. These special blue stones within your pack - we may set them around this great beast's den while she still slumbers. With them may we weave a trap with hierograms. With starlight will the the stones awaken, powering our spells to trap the beast."
Thus the questers set the stones around her den. Between them they wove invisible hierograms. As dusk fell, the patterns slowly came to life, forming a glowing cage around the beast. So too did the black beast awaken, regarding the mortals with her glowing red eyes. She snarled and leapt at them, the barrier stopping her snapping fangs only a muzzle-length away. With pain and rage she howled.
They regarded the ferocious trapped yet undaunted beast before them. They could not help but admire her strength and will - and fear they were still no match for the creature.
The younger said pensively, "We need not simply end her life."
"What alternative do we have, my boy?"
"Did you not have a crystal in your pack? It is a special black stone, with which we can trap her soul. Then we can harness her power as our own."
"I like this not," said older Rilis. "Already you have used arts and knowledge not for us common folk. Now you speak of the ways of the necromance!"
"Why let all her potential go to waste? We have barely a chance to leave this cursed forest with our own remaining strength. With her might can we assure our safe return, and accomplish even more. "What's more, nobody needs to know."
The older thought about it all night long. As the first vestiges of twilight colored the horizon, he said, "Very well, my boy. Tell me what we must do."
They sat outside the barrier and they meditated upon the conjuring arts. The magical barrier closed in on the beast, binding her flesh tight as she howled her last. With the fading echo of her final howl, and the sun peaking over the horizon, the binds of the great beast disappeared, as her monstrous body collapsed, and the black gem shuddered with its new soul.
A few days later, the Rilis returned to First Hold, bearing the beast's claws and teeth and pelt. Their kinsmer praised their bravery and strength. The Rilis boasted freely about their exploits. But their greatest treasure - the little gem that contained the great beast's soul - they kept secret.
The villagers pleaded the Rilis to lead them in battle against their remaining foes. So the elder Rilis had the gem embedded into a common helm. He donned the helm to wage war against First Hold's enemies.
Young Rilis accompanied him into battle for Auridon. With their strength, the Aldmer repelled the Maormer from their coasts. With their magic, they expelled the wicked Sload. Rilis' army turned their attention beyond First Hold to settlements of their kin. With cunning and force they subdued their peers to reunite Auridon Isle.
Their enemies gone, the Aldmer began to descend from the trees. Once again did they tame the forests and fields, rebuilding kinhouse, garden and forge. They named the older Rilis their High Kinlord. They named the younger as his Battlereeve.
The Eldest of First Hold, learned in the Old Ways, became the Kinlord's advisor. The Eldest soon discerned the nature of Rilis' power. On the advice of the Eldest, High Kinlord Rilis I hid the cursed helm away.
Kinlord Rilis thought he had vanquished all his foes, but he turned a blind eye to the one under his nose. As the younger Rilis advanced in years, he felt the pull of the great wolf's spirit. "Why does my uncle rule over our kin, not I? I am younger, cleverer and stronger. Without my advice, he could not rule."
Rilis the younger said to himself, "He is no lord but a patrician. He grows fat from wine and sweetmeats, tended by his wives, mistresses and concubines younger than I. Soon one shall bear him an heir and I shan't rule myself, though I was like his first son, and I have always served by his side. I even brought him to power . Should I not lead our kin in his stead?
The night arrived for his coming of age. The young one climbed the steps to the newly-built chapel of Auri-El. All of First Hold was in attendance, and the High Kinlord in the first row with his wives and concubines from all ends of the isle. The Eldest of First Hold, grey-cloaked, held up a gem of golden aetherquartz. The Eldest recited the ancestral rites, then bestowed on young Rilis his calian stone.
Young Rilis gazed at his calian, illuminated by light of the stars, the sliver of the white moon Jone, and Jode the moon full red.
The Eldest asked, "Do you swear to protect your calian - the honor of your calan Rilis - for the rest of your mortal days?"
Young Rilis stared into the Eldest's eyes. He glanced to his side at his uncle. He dropped his calian.
The Aldmer kin watched in shock as it smashed into glittering golden shards on the chapel floor. Young Rilis stepped over the broken glass to face their High Kinlord. He drew a blade and pointed at his uncle. "This mer hides my birthright."
The older rose from his seat in rage, and he drew his blade as well. "How dare you defile the temple of Auri-el!"
"As if you have not done any worse?" The younger smirked. "Give me my birthright now. Or are you afraid I'll reveal your secret?"
The two began a ferocious duel. Their blades clashed and drew each other's blood. Holy relics clattered to the ground. First Hold's Aldmer fled the temple, save for the Eldest who watched all.
The older disarmed the younger, and the younger fell to his knees. The kinlord raised his blade to finish off his kin. Their eyes met. He hesitated.
In that moment, the younger sprung to his feet and tackled the older to the ground. His blade clattered away, and the nephew's hands found his uncle's throat.
The younger growled, "You old doddering fool. Give me my birthright!"
"You know not what you ask for."
The younger yanked the older to his feet. "Lead me to the gem!"
The uncle led his nephew out of the temple, past the rebuilt First Hold, to the outskirts of town where abandoned tree homes remained. He led his nephew to the ancient tree that was once their shelter. Now it had fallen and was rotting with disease. Its uprooting had revealed the entrance to a cave.
They crawled in the low entrance on their hands and knees, and came to their feet in a large underground cavern lit with thin mushrooms glowing blue. A rusty helm lay on the ground. In its center glimmered the black gem.
The older watched the younger pick up the helm. "You'll regret this."
"Regret what? Having the power you're too afraid to wield?"
Young Rilis stared at his reflection in the depths of the gem. The mer watched it transform into the snarling great wolf. He donned the helm.
Pain like none he had experienced before pulsed through his body. He arched his back and screamed in agony. His scream turned into a bestial howl as the monster consumed his soul.
They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. They are damn liars because I’m losing count of the impossibilities in my life.It turns out my presence in The Buried Knolls could mean the death of everyone around me. If the cold reactions of Wild and the quad are anything to go by, then the coven can never discover what I am.
When the light faded, the wolf king found himself transformed. His once majestic fur had turned a dark, eerie shade of black, and his eyes glowed with an intense red hue. Confused and frightened, the wolf king realized that the crystal had bestowed a curse upon him. He had become a creature of pure darkness, a sinister being that instilled fear in the hearts of all who laid eyes upon him. No longer able to communicate with his fellow creatures, the wolf king was left alone in his kingdom, isolated and forever misunderstood. As time passed, the curse took hold of the wolf king's mind, filling him with anger and bitterness. His rule became more tyrannical as he used his newfound powers to strike fear into the hearts of his subjects. The once prosperous kingdom fell into despair, as the wolf king's curse spread darkness and despair throughout the land. The people cried out for a hero, someone who could free them from the wolf king's curse. But the curse was powerful, and many attempts to defeat the wolf king failed. The people lost hope, resigned to a life of fear and desperation. However, one day, a young and brave warrior arrived in the kingdom. He had heard the tales of the wolf king and was determined to free the land from its curse. With unwavering determination, the warrior confronted the wolf king, challenging him to a battle. In a fierce and epic fight, the warrior used his skills and courage to weaken the wolf king. As the battle raged on, the warrior saw a glimmer of hope in the wolf king's eyes. Beneath the darkness, there was a flicker of the king's former self. The warrior realized that the curse had not completely consumed the wolf king's soul. Summoning all his strength, the warrior dealt one final blow to the wolf king. With a howl of pain and anguish, the curse was shattered, and the wolf king regained his true form. The kingdom was freed from the darkness that had plagued it for so long. Grateful for being released from his curse, the wolf king apologized to his subjects, vowing to rule with compassion and fairness. He used his powers to restore the kingdom to its former glory, proving that even the strongest of curses could be overcome. The tale of the curse bestowed upon the wolf king serves as a reminder that power, when misused, can lead to destruction. It also teaches us the importance of forgiveness and redemption. The wolf king's journey from a feared tyrant to a wise and just ruler is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the capacity for change..
Reviews for "Cursed Bloodlines: The Legacy of the Wolf King's Curse"
1. John - 2/5 stars - "Curse bestowed by the wolf king" was overall a disappointing read for me. The plot was confusing and didn't really flow well. I found it difficult to connect with the characters, as they were underdeveloped and lacked depth. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors throughout, which made it hard to follow the story. I expected more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I really did not enjoy "Curse bestowed by the wolf king". The writing style was choppy and disjointed, making it hard to immerse myself in the story. The pacing was off, with long periods of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe or empathize with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and frustrating read.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As a fan of fantasy novels, I was excited to dive into "Curse bestowed by the wolf king", but unfortunately, it left me disappointed. The world-building was lacking, and I never felt fully immersed in the fantasy realm. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their plight. The plot also felt predictable and lacked originality. While it had potential, the execution fell short for me, and I would not recommend it to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.
4. David - 1/5 stars - I found "Curse bestowed by the wolf king" to be a complete bore. The story dragged on without any sense of purpose or direction, and I struggled to stay engaged. The writing style felt amateurish, and the characters were forgettable. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the story. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging fantasy read.