History of Refugees in Lineage II
So ye have stumbled into the library o' the Refugees and ye wish to learn of the ways o' the guild throughout our adventures eh? Well, I tell ye, I am ill equipped to be the one to tell ye. I am but a humble dwarf seeking his way within the lands of men and creatures now known as Aden. Nor do I possess the gift for penmanship that Hindemith himself so aptly displayed in his writings for Dasparion. I am what I am. A simple being possessed with a fortitude and tenacity that has somehow garnered a reputation for fair dealing and unrepentant temerity when others around me might have seen fit to approach things in a different manner. I am a student of history, and a scholar by craft though were the truth to be fully known, I would say my heart is most resplendent when I am surrounded by my fellowship and preparing for battle.
But enough of me. For this is not my tale, but instead the tale of the company I keep and the fellowship I have been lucky enough to become a part of, the Refugees themselves.
I can still feel that first rush of wind which hit us all square in the face as we stepped thru the magical portal which our companion Chara had opened. We were leaving the rotting and decaying lands of Istaria behind us forever as we stepped into the magical gateway the powerful mage had created. After many, many months and battles enjoined against our common enemy there, it had become all too apparent that the world around us was sinking into darkness. And so, our Grand High Council had been convened and a decision had been struck: it was time for Refugees to move on into another world where our forces might help to turn the battle back towards the light.
And so it came to pass that Dreamz, Breagan, Nef, Jemros, Chara and I were standing on a hill overlooking the home we had built in Tishlar as Chara recited the ancient incantations to open the trans-universal portal which would carry us to our new home. The blinding light and the flash which slowly turned inwards upon itself and revealed to us a doorway of sorts were indeed a strange and wondrous sight. The smell of those magicks still lingers in my nostrils from time to time when I cross certain battlefields here in this new world we have come to, this place called Aden.
I do not mind telling you my friend, the six of us were scared, even Chara himself, and let no one tell you otherwise for these words are true. Leaving behind all which you have built, all which you have worked and fought and bled for, is indeed a hard thing to do. Harder still however would it have been to turn away from the decision of the Council and the fact that this brave new world had a need for our company.
I stepped through the portal and those sweet, almost delicate winds struck me squarely. They brought with them a smell, and a vibrance, which these old bones had not seen in many seasons it seems. Luckily, Chara's calculations had been perfectly on target as I realized from the advance scouting we had done and the descriptions which Chara had given us that the land I was now standing upon was somewhere within the realm of Elmore, a sister land to that known as Aden. Almost as fortunate for us was the fact that the portals opening into this world had appeared in a semi-secluded field with on one else around. (Imagine trying to explain trans-universal travel to the uninitiated, ouchy!).
We all wiped our eyes from the shock of stepping into such a vibrant world. But, nearly as quickly as the gateway to our former home began collapsing behind us, we were all gathering ourselves and taking account of what few items we had been able to bring with us. Maps, crude weaponry and clothing was about all we had dared to bring across as we knew better than to make to make ourselves stand out too differently from the inhabitants of these lands.
I still recall those first words here in this place as well...
"Ima...err...Sinijn...what now?" Breagan had asked, only barely catching himself as he recalled the fact that each of us was to assume these new identities here.
"Now, old friend? Now we split up and begin learning all that we can about this place. Gather whatever small amounts of currency each of you may, and plan to meet in the hamlet of Gludin in 3 days time. I will expect a full report on the state of this universe from each of you at that time."
The lovely human healer known as Dreamz asked rather softly, "What is it you want us to be looking for Sin? Anything in particular I mean?"
"We'll need to know mob strengths, trade routes and safe havens for certain milady."
"Anything else boss?" Nefber had asked inquisitively while the rest of the party giggled under their breaths. All of them knew full well how much being called 'boss' annoyed me, but they had done it so often in the past few months it had almost become a small term of endearment, a fact they all had really begun to get quite a kick out of it seemed.
"Just take care. Watch your backs. And remember the Code of Conduct."
They all nodded in agreement, and then, for one brief instant, we formed a small circle, joined hands and bowed our heads.
Jemros recited the ancient prayer we had carried with us thru those other worlds and which we knew we would carry through yet another:
"[b]In remembrance of those whom have fallen. In honor of those whom we've loved and lost along the way. In defiance of those who would enslave us. Refugees will stand together, keeping the darkness at bay.&[/b]quot;
Silently we all picked up our packs and moved off in different directions, headed towards the unknown that we had chosen to embrace. But, as I write these words now, some months later, in retrospect I see possibly more clearly than I did even on that day I stepped into the portal with my brethren. We have suffered losses in the world to be certain, and my old friend Chara counts amongst those losses.
But we too have gained a great deal. For it was not even a day I had journeyed through the lands of the Spine Mountains when I came upon a young dwarf named Fernmug. To say he was a kindred spirit would indeed be an understatement, and we are lucky to now count him amongst our Council of Elders for this world. So too, did we gain the lovely Dark Elven maiden, Ayrian who has belied much about her race and proven herself to be not only on the side of good and justice, but to in fact be noble. (Though she most certainly retains some of those mischievous Dark Elven ways to this day!)
It seems now that a not a day goes by when the name of the Refugees is not raised high upon the winds in some call to aid a fellow in need or a damsel in distress and the guild has in fact begun to garner quite a reputation here within these lands as one which seeks to serve the forces of light.
And so, it seems, our story continues. For we are always seeking, always searching for that one true weapon will help to tip the scales of the ultimate battle of good vs. evil towards the side of the light. Refugees we may be. But we wear that badge with honor and with a song within our hearts, knowing full well that we who don this uniform will stand - alone if necessary - against the seemingly unending tide of darkness which seeks to destroy the lands upon which we walk. I tell you now, if you seek only to deliver grief, or to steal the hard-earned victory of others, be wary that a Refugee should cross your path. For while we walk the lands the fight to preserve all that is good and just within the world shall never end.
I leave you now with but a thought to ponder as you make your way throughout the home of this fine companionship - "If you walk through life with honor, then come what may you shall die with dignity."
Best Regards,
Sinijn Mae'Stro
Guild Leader, The Refugees
Lineage II Chapter
So ye have stumbled into the library o' the Refugees and ye wish to learn of the ways o' the guild throughout our adventures eh? Well, I tell ye, I am ill equipped to be the one to tell ye. I am but a humble dwarf seeking his way within the lands of men and creatures now known as Aden. Nor do I possess the gift for penmanship that Hindemith himself so aptly displayed in his writings for Dasparion. I am what I am. A simple being possessed with a fortitude and tenacity that has somehow garnered a reputation for fair dealing and unrepentant temerity when others around me might have seen fit to approach things in a different manner. I am a student of history, and a scholar by craft though were the truth to be fully known, I would say my heart is most resplendent when I am surrounded by my fellowship and preparing for battle.
But enough of me. For this is not my tale, but instead the tale of the company I keep and the fellowship I have been lucky enough to become a part of, the Refugees themselves.
I can still feel that first rush of wind which hit us all square in the face as we stepped thru the magical portal which our companion Chara had opened. We were leaving the rotting and decaying lands of Istaria behind us forever as we stepped into the magical gateway the powerful mage had created. After many, many months and battles enjoined against our common enemy there, it had become all too apparent that the world around us was sinking into darkness. And so, our Grand High Council had been convened and a decision had been struck: it was time for Refugees to move on into another world where our forces might help to turn the battle back towards the light.
And so it came to pass that Dreamz, Breagan, Nef, Jemros, Chara and I were standing on a hill overlooking the home we had built in Tishlar as Chara recited the ancient incantations to open the trans-universal portal which would carry us to our new home. The blinding light and the flash which slowly turned inwards upon itself and revealed to us a doorway of sorts were indeed a strange and wondrous sight. The smell of those magicks still lingers in my nostrils from time to time when I cross certain battlefields here in this new world we have come to, this place called Aden.
I do not mind telling you my friend, the six of us were scared, even Chara himself, and let no one tell you otherwise for these words are true. Leaving behind all which you have built, all which you have worked and fought and bled for, is indeed a hard thing to do. Harder still however would it have been to turn away from the decision of the Council and the fact that this brave new world had a need for our company.
I stepped through the portal and those sweet, almost delicate winds struck me squarely. They brought with them a smell, and a vibrance, which these old bones had not seen in many seasons it seems. Luckily, Chara's calculations had been perfectly on target as I realized from the advance scouting we had done and the descriptions which Chara had given us that the land I was now standing upon was somewhere within the realm of Elmore, a sister land to that known as Aden. Almost as fortunate for us was the fact that the portals opening into this world had appeared in a semi-secluded field with on one else around. (Imagine trying to explain trans-universal travel to the uninitiated, ouchy!).
We all wiped our eyes from the shock of stepping into such a vibrant world. But, nearly as quickly as the gateway to our former home began collapsing behind us, we were all gathering ourselves and taking account of what few items we had been able to bring with us. Maps, crude weaponry and clothing was about all we had dared to bring across as we knew better than to make to make ourselves stand out too differently from the inhabitants of these lands.
I still recall those first words here in this place as well...
"Ima...err...Sinijn...what now?" Breagan had asked, only barely catching himself as he recalled the fact that each of us was to assume these new identities here.
"Now, old friend? Now we split up and begin learning all that we can about this place. Gather whatever small amounts of currency each of you may, and plan to meet in the hamlet of Gludin in 3 days time. I will expect a full report on the state of this universe from each of you at that time."
The lovely human healer known as Dreamz asked rather softly, "What is it you want us to be looking for Sin? Anything in particular I mean?"
"We'll need to know mob strengths, trade routes and safe havens for certain milady."
"Anything else boss?" Nefber had asked inquisitively while the rest of the party giggled under their breaths. All of them knew full well how much being called 'boss' annoyed me, but they had done it so often in the past few months it had almost become a small term of endearment, a fact they all had really begun to get quite a kick out of it seemed.
"Just take care. Watch your backs. And remember the Code of Conduct."
They all nodded in agreement, and then, for one brief instant, we formed a small circle, joined hands and bowed our heads.
Jemros recited the ancient prayer we had carried with us thru those other worlds and which we knew we would carry through yet another:
"[b]In remembrance of those whom have fallen. In honor of those whom we've loved and lost along the way. In defiance of those who would enslave us. Refugees will stand together, keeping the darkness at bay.&[/b]quot;
Silently we all picked up our packs and moved off in different directions, headed towards the unknown that we had chosen to embrace. But, as I write these words now, some months later, in retrospect I see possibly more clearly than I did even on that day I stepped into the portal with my brethren. We have suffered losses in the world to be certain, and my old friend Chara counts amongst those losses.
But we too have gained a great deal. For it was not even a day I had journeyed through the lands of the Spine Mountains when I came upon a young dwarf named Fernmug. To say he was a kindred spirit would indeed be an understatement, and we are lucky to now count him amongst our Council of Elders for this world. So too, did we gain the lovely Dark Elven maiden, Ayrian who has belied much about her race and proven herself to be not only on the side of good and justice, but to in fact be noble. (Though she most certainly retains some of those mischievous Dark Elven ways to this day!)
It seems now that a not a day goes by when the name of the Refugees is not raised high upon the winds in some call to aid a fellow in need or a damsel in distress and the guild has in fact begun to garner quite a reputation here within these lands as one which seeks to serve the forces of light.
And so, it seems, our story continues. For we are always seeking, always searching for that one true weapon will help to tip the scales of the ultimate battle of good vs. evil towards the side of the light. Refugees we may be. But we wear that badge with honor and with a song within our hearts, knowing full well that we who don this uniform will stand - alone if necessary - against the seemingly unending tide of darkness which seeks to destroy the lands upon which we walk. I tell you now, if you seek only to deliver grief, or to steal the hard-earned victory of others, be wary that a Refugee should cross your path. For while we walk the lands the fight to preserve all that is good and just within the world shall never end.
I leave you now with but a thought to ponder as you make your way throughout the home of this fine companionship - "If you walk through life with honor, then come what may you shall die with dignity."
Best Regards,
Sinijn Mae'Stro
Guild Leader, The Refugees
Lineage II Chapter
I'm not great at SC but love it anyway 
