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I suggest we hold a contest for the best story about events in the M&M world. Please send your creations (only original works) here.

Question: Should the events be known from the game series, or can they be original? And should it be based on Might and Magic or Heroes of Might and Magic? Or does it not matter?

It would be better to focus on the events (perhaps from the perspective of the heroes), but if you're writing something for the "World of Xeen" section, please include something related to the world of Xeen.

It won't work for Xeen... the idea only fits with Ashan... :(

Auchan, just keep going...

Well, here it is... I see everything has gone quiet. Oh well, I finished writing it anyway :p though maybe some parts weren't edited... don't hold it against me :D

That day again… Once more the royal hall of Irollan. Before the young warrior's eyes appears the embassy of Queen Tuidhanna. The role of ambassador is played by the queen's favorite, Resanar, accompanied by guards and several girls… One of them catches the guard's gaze. He does not hide it, and she, feeling uneasy and searching for support with her eyes, notices him too. Something flashes between the two young elves, and they realize that from this moment on, they must be together. Suddenly, she turns away in embarrassment. A flush also floods the guard's face. He remembers her name well – Elaine. It seems divine to him, and her words turn into the music of a spring forest for him. Many days later he will remember her. He remembers her down to the smallest detail. Even the way she laughs. That day they fail to speak with each other, although they both know perfectly well what feelings have been born between them.
At that moment, the king delivers his verdict, and the embassy immediately leaves the palace. He struggles to restrain himself from leaving his post and following them. But duty is above one's own feelings. The doors are closed; the dream is over.

I began to see this scene in my dreams more and more often. Could it be that we will finally see each other? After so many years… Three centuries have already passed since I last saw her. She has already become different. But only outwardly – I felt that her soul had not changed. I remember how, obsessed with a thirst for revenge, we ruthlessly exterminated those we considered responsible for our misfortunes. I remember my fear of one day seeing her body in a pile of corpses prepared for burial… Fortunately or unfortunately, she survived that time. The war ended, and a feeling of emptiness began to grow within me. I realized that I had lost her forever. But I did not agree with the verdict… During the exile of the Dark Elves, we were engaged in more than just slaughter in the name of revenge. Oh no. We also tried to know them. To understand them. Many books and manuscripts about the Faceless migrated into our libraries. And it was in them that I sought answers to my questions and healing for my soul's wounds.
And I ran away. I made a deal with the Dragon of Darkness and became what I am now. A Dark Elf. But even after this, we were not destined to meet Elaine. Having struggled into Ygg-Chal, where I was admitted to replenish the population of Dark Elves by the special whim of Malassa, I began to search for even a simple mention of her. And a mention – that is all I found. Shortly after the acquisition of Ygg-Chal, she left her kin – my interlocutors explained this by saying that she felt suffocated underground, and because she could not completely renounce her past essence. No one else knew anything more about her fate. There were suppositions that she had perished… There were rumors that she had been seen in Shatakva… But no one knew any reliable facts. I could have left, but duty once again proved stronger. I made a deal with Malassa and knew that she would not let me go until I fulfilled her conditions. This was not the only thing holding me; there was something else – I fell in love with Malassa. I fell in love with the Darkness.

The sleepless night was ending. Dawn was breaking.

Dawn. This time evokes mixed feelings in me… The richness of colors, incredible interweavings of hues, and the sharp pain in eyes accustomed to dungeons…
Dawn. In the forest it is especially beautiful. Each tree is enveloped in a cloud of mist lit by the rising sun, creating a mysterious aura around the crown. You almost expect them to stand up and walk… But, considering that the forest around me is sylvan, I am not sure I mean a simple metaphor. Although we had been here for about a year, there was still a feeling of foreignness. We sometimes felt like masters, but the true master of this land was still the forest itself. It disposed of everything. Everywhere. Its gaze penetrated everywhere and watched over everything, even other lives. It happened that a minotaur, or another biped, would go out hunting and not return. Later it turned out that ents, suddenly appearing near the camp, had destroyed the tormentors of nature. Suddenly, of course for us, but not for the thicket. The forest knew everything that happened within the expanses of its "organism" and cruelly punished those who tried to go against its laws. We knew the laws of the forest and honored them. Our detachment was able to reach an agreement with the Wood Elves very quickly. They promised to supply us with resources, and in return, we began to protect the borders of the forest where our camp was located.
Steps were heard behind me… I did not turn around. The approaching creature caused me no alarm. It is the assassin of my detachment. He has likely brought new tidings.
- My lord…
- Speak.
- Another attack.
I clenched my fists.
We were already preparing to move to Ygg-Chal when we began to be attacked by elusive squads of wood elves. When our warriors, simple minotaurs, began to disappear, we attributed it to the whims of the forest, which, as I thought then, rejoiced at our departure and was thus urging us on. But apparently, this was something more than just the pranks of the forest.
- Who is it this time?
- A squad of riders accompanying a witch from the nearest elven village has vanished without a trace.
Soon it turned out that they had not vanished quite so tracelessly.

***

Away from the road that connected our camp with the settlement of the Wood Elves, a campfire site was discovered, around which lay the bodies of unicorns, lizardmen, and elves in chaotic order. Apparently, my warriors were attacked during their rest. The sylvans attacked. The skirmish occurred about a day ago (exactly the time needed for a horseman to reach our camp), but I still decided to examine all the corpses. Among them was the fallen witch, who had failed to keep her soul on the border of Nothingness, which awaits those who died without fulfilling the will of the Dragon of Darkness.
I could barely stay on my feet. Flame filled my heart. She was somewhere nearby. And it was this premonition of a meeting that made it hard to concentrate.
Having examined the battlefield, or rather, the slaughter, I was able to imagine the incident in more detail. A few raiders were still breathing – archers and death dancers, three of my riders in the same state, and one other living elf girl. Dark. Her. My Elaine.
The raiders (the living ones) I sent to the elven village for local judgment. Elaine, who was barely holding on at the edge of non-existence, I took with me to the camp.
Every day I spent beside her, looking at her calm and serene face. Yes, I could have awakened her, but there was one "But": I could not understand what she was doing in the company of my riders (as for the possibility that she was with the raiders, I preferred not to think). And also, although I was afraid to admit it, I dreaded our conversation, as I now realize, mainly because I feared destroying the image of my ideal. Therefore, I decided first to return one of the riders to this world and question him thoroughly.

The Champion told me such a story:
- Master, when we were returning with provisions back to the camp, scouts patrolling the road ahead saw an elf girl lying stark naked in the middle of the road. This was that girl who now resides in my lord's chambers. Of course, we stopped for the night with the goal of helping this person and, hm, to let the boys have some fun and rest. Upon waking, she disdainfully scanned our company with her gaze, after which she sat by the fire, but apart from all of us. Of course, my lord, by that time one of our warriors had dressed her in spare clothes from our witch's luggage. Your humble servant asked her how she ended up naked in the middle of the road. She said that wood elves had attacked her. They attacked and robbed her, my master, after first stunning her. After a brief interrogation, we, having first set sentries, settled down to rest and restore our strength. As I understand it, my lord, the raiders knew exactly where we would pitch camp. They carefully took out the sentries and attacked us while we were sleeping. Without a doubt, someone led them to our trail. But since we made a stop slightly earlier than usual, it can be assumed that we were caught in a trap, with that dark elf girl serving as the bait.
Not a single muscle on my face twitched.
- That is all, you may go, you are free.
After the curtain fell behind the Champion, I called one of the assassins to me:
- That warrior who just left me is a traitor and an informant. Execute him without explaining anything to anyone. Secretly. If I find out that he spoke with any of your brotherhood – I will gut him personally.

***

Two weeks passed. And I could not take it anymore. I returned her to the light… in every sense. When she opened her eyes, the entire tent was illuminated by the fire blazing within them. Realizing herself and the place where she was, Elaine looked at me.
- You… I knew we would meet again.
- I am very glad that you woke up, - my voice trembled slightly. - Do you want anything?
- For example? – her words rang like bells
- For example, - here I remembered why I decided to awaken her. - Explain to me how you ended up in the middle of my warriors' camp.
Only by waking her and looking into her eyes did I understand everything and learn all, but I seriously hoped that she would start to evade and I could believe her. Not just be able to, but I would gladly believe any lie of hers. But instead…
- They found me on the road. I knew that these "warriors", - she snorted contemptuously, - would not pass by a girl lying unconscious.
- But why all this?..
- To find out. To conquer. To return my love.
- Are you saying that all those who perished died by your will?
- This is but a small price that my devoted warriors could pay for the global good.
- I do not understand… What good? More than fifty living beings perished because of you! Many of whom were your servants!
- So, my squad did not perish completely? Hm, good news! That means soon the struggle will continue, even if without me. Our oath was not taken in vain!
- No, it was in vain. - anger boiled within me, - They were executed last week.
- That is what you think. - At her smile my legs gave way, and I wanted to disregard everything in the world just to touch her.
- You said something about returning love… - Seeing that she was approaching me, I decided to cowardly capitulate, knowing that one more step and I would not hold back, fearing what would happen.
- Yes, my dear, I decided to return you to the Light, - in her words I sensed a mockery, -
After all, you love me, don't you?
- Lov… stop! Wait!
- Are you afraid of me?
She stood close. She looked into my eyes with her gray fires. She…

***

I do not know what was wrong with me, what happened at all after our lips touched, but I woke up alone lying on the bed. A bed that still remembered the scent of her body. A body that I also remembered. It seems this is the only thing I remember at all.
Slowly standing up, I approached the washbasin constructed by my best witches, which drew water from a nearby lake via teleportation.
Having washed with ice-cold water, I regained some composure. My lady! What an idiot I am! She only distracted me so she could escape. Springing into action, I hurried to the sentries.
But, suddenly stopping, I burst into hysterical laughter. Yes, I was too late, yes, she escaped. But she did only that which I joyfully craved.

***

A week later our detachment was on the road. I heard nothing of Elaine, and this warmed my soul – it meant she had not fallen into the hands of my comrades, and she would no longer torture my feelings.
I rode at the head of the caravan, sitting on my combat lizard.
Beside me rode one of the remaining witches named Daria, and we were having a very pleasant conversation about new methods of ritual torture.
- My lord, understand! With the support of illusions, a mage can – note, master, alone! – prolong the agony of the victim up to two times longer! And at the same time, one does not have to fear that she will leave for our mistress too early.
- Fine, I agree with you, but consider two nuances: to create a more or less decent illusion, a sorceress of your level needs to kill at least two or three people, or one elf. Too many victims for the simplest spell. That is first. And second: Daria, come to your senses! In their covens, mages have long since replaced ritual torture with beautiful execution. This brings pleasure both to the witnesses and to the wizard himself. And the Mistress does not express her dissatisfaction. So, Daria… Daria?
My interlocutor slowly fell from the saddle. In her chest, exactly in the heart, protruded a white-feathered arrow with a blood-red shaft.
- To arms! Faster, you curs! Ambush here! Warn the others!
One of the riders approached me:
- What is the matter, messire?
- Where are the scouts?! Ride back, warn everyone, let them prepare a circular defense!
An order of a slightly different nature was already rushing to all the witches:
"Gather all warriors around yourselves. Be ready for anything. Begin feeding my spells."
The forest filled with screams of pain. I could not believe that my warriors could die so shamefully, but, turning around, I saw the reason: we were surrounded. Without waiting for one more feed, I created a Heavenly Shield around the entire caravan. Two arrows froze right before me. A moment later, the cocoon turned into a hedgehog. Apparently, the elves did not spare their arrows.
"Master, we are ready"
With what joy I accepted this message! The cocoon exploded, and the arrows flew back into the forest. Many met the flesh of their masters on their path.
Slowly straightening up after the spell and feeling the power flowing into me in a continuous stream, I smiled and drew my sword.
I already understood that these sylvans could do nothing to me. They have an order. An order from my Elaine. Truly, mine? No, she became a hostage of her oath. An oath that ruined everything.
Yes, I knew all this. But who said that I would do nothing to these slaves?

***

Standing on my knees, I must note, it is not very convenient to hold a conversation.
We were two: she and I, exhausted, with the blood of hundreds of dead on my hands, holding on with my last efforts so as not to fall.
- Well, did you achieve your goal? Is your oath fulfilled? – I could only growl softly.
- You know that it is not. The oath given by me will be fulfilled not soon. And at the moment my goal is you. I love you. But you are a spawn of darkness. There is no place for those like you in the world! I beg you, join me; together we will destroy all Evil in the Universe!
She was truly beautiful, a true Queen of Gloom awakened in the soul of my Elaine. Truly, mine? No, I no longer think so.
- No, Elaine! The war is over. Balance has come to our little world. – With every word, strength returned to me, - Conflict between two primary principles is the basis for the existence of life. Renounce your path, for you can do nothing…
- No! I gave an oath… An oath to destroy absolutely all evil. I cannot renounce it- But your oath is meaningless… There can be no absolute pole. You left your kin to bring the Light; I renounced my brethren to become a weapon of Darkness. But neither you nor I have become any kinder or more evil. We have simply changed… in the name of an ideal.
- What? I don't...
- Understand… I am who I am. And I will not stand by your side.
- But… but I love you! And you love me!
- Not anymore. I loved a girl I met long ago. She is gone now; only the image remains. You cannot kill me now, for goodness has not yet left your heart. Although your soul has already darkened, returning to its original color. Forgive me; I foresee that we shall not meet again, so forgive me now. For everything at once. I know you can. Farewell.
Her eyes, glistening with tears, shone with bitterness and incomprehension as she stood motionless, watching me leave. But unfortunately, that brilliance soon faded, dissolving into the matte darkness tearing from her soul.

P.S. The author expresses gratitude to Raido for help in editing the text.

So, are there no more stories coming?

Okay, here are a couple of sketches... The first came to mind when I was sitting in my room at my desk, reading. The second is pure fantasy. Please don't judge too harshly. :o

1.
Silence... Only the gentle rain outside the window whispers something, like a lullaby. The whisper fills the room, lulling its inhabitants to sleep. An old, wise cabinet has slightly opened its doors from fatigue. Gray and covered in dust, it is lost in thought. The books on the shelves are dozing, leaning against each other in a friendly way. Each one is dreaming of something: one imagines itself as a valiant knight, rushing into battle with four-armed giants, another dreams that it is a brilliant mathematician solving another geometric equation, and a third dreams of reciting poetry... A formidable but calm tiger silently gazes at the painted horizon, guarding this room's idyll... And only the rain quietly whispers a lullaby into the window...

2.
Rain... The sea, like fish scales, is covered with a shimmering ripple. The sea, like a horde of barbarians, crashes in waves against the pier again and again, in desperate attempts to destroy it. The stone pier silently endures all the water's attacks. Deep down, it probably imagines itself as a bastion. A ship is swaying at the pier. Majestic and powerful, it longs with all its heart to sail into the sea, to conquer unknown lands, to fight bloodthirsty pirates, but in helplessness, it again lowers its bow, realizing that the ropes, like chained dogs, will guard it and not let it go anywhere...

Author - Maxim Maganet (that is, me :))

it's not that strongly connected to Might and Magic :)
but the images are vivid.