[ WP ] Legends tell of the Elder race who utilized strange `` technologies '' instead of magic . As hordes of brutal killers invade from the north , a young elf heads off to search for ancient ruins , looking for humans ...

Keralin landed heavily on the solid floor, slamming his head onto the ground and leaving him in a daze. He was aware dimly of the rope that tangled next to him as it fell. In the back of his mind he knew that he was screwed. That rope was his only way out of the large chamber he lay in and with it cut he would die when either his food or water ran out... 
 
 *I think I landed on it. * He thought rolling over. Wait... The rope was cut? 
 
 Keralin looked up at the hole he had crawled down only to catch the last glimpse of light through the crack as the hole was covered over once again leaving him in darkness. Jeraiah... She was the traitor. 
 
 *Yeah, there's no way I could have known. She played her part perfectly. * He thought as he reached for the torch in his pack, hoping that there was enough left of it to find somewhere peaceful to die. He cursed whatever gods had left him unable to use magic. 
 
 *Dazed, but no concussion. * His hand came back with no blood, that was a good sign. Still, unless his situation improved, his condition would n't have made a difference. His sword was still intact if worst came to worst. At least he would n't die of starvation. He was pushing aside the food in his pack and making note of how long he had to live when he suddenly realised he could see in the darkness. *It should have been pitch black in here. * 
 
 He looked around quickly which was a mistake as his head began to throb again forcing him to close his eyes and wait until the dizziness passed. *Crap, I do have a concussion. That's not good. * It was n't until then that Keralin noticed the creatures gathering around him. They moved silently on many legs that looked like branches, one large black eye sitting in the middle of them and all staring at him. He could have sworn a few of them had teeth but, when he looked again, they had none. Strange noises seemed to come from all around him... From those *things*... No, that had to be the concussion because they almost sounded like words. 
 
 `` Go away you fucking bastards. You're not getting me that easily.'' He said, drawing his sword and waving it around uselessly, his spinning head making it impossible to concentrate. Without warning his stomach protested and heaved, forcing him to his hands and knees. When he felt he had vomited everything in his stomach he sat back, the sword long forgotten. `` Fuck, things are bad.'' 
 
 `` Language identified.'' 
 
 That unmistakably came from the creature in front of him. He could see the black plates that made it's exoskeleton. *Some kind of insect? * He thought. Wait a second... 
 
 `` Do you understand me now?'' It asked. *It's official, I'm hallucinating. But what else do I really have to lose now? * 
 
 `` Yes.'' Keralin answered the creature. 
 
 `` Good, now listen to me closely.'' The creature moved closer and sat itself on the rear two legs, it's eye looking at him. `` I can see into your body, the damage to your head is irreparable and you will not survive the night. I can save your life but not your body. Do you understand?'' 
 
 `` I...'' Keralin said, his vision blurring. `` I need to save my people... I need-... humans...'' He was tired, all he wanted to do was sleep. Why was this thing talking to him again? ``... anything...... help them.'' 
 
 `` I can provide that,'' the creature said, rising up on it's legs that moved too easily, too freely, `` but this will hurt.'' 
 
 Without warning the insect's arms lengthened and grabbed hold of his, holding him up with his arms outstretched. Keralin's head swam, but there was no mistaking the sound of the scrape of metal behind him. Something grabbed his neck from behind and choked him. It did n't matter anymore. He let himself fall into unconsciousness as the drill bored into his neck and sent things wriggling beneath his skin. 
 
 -- -- 
 
 When Keralin awoke his head was n't swimming anymore, nor his body aching from the fall. He moved his body and felt his limbs move. God he was stiff. `` Good, your integration with our systems is stable. We were n't sure if your physiology would be compatible.'' The voice came from within his head. Clear, yet he recognised it from the room. 
 
 Keralin opened his eyes quickly and stood, prepared for anything. Or at least he thought he was. His head slammed into the roof, yet he felt no pain from it. As he looked up he saw he had made a dent in the metal frame above him. 
 
 `` Please do not move excessively, it is hard enough to repair my home from the ravages of time yet alone from you.'' 
 
 `` Where are you?!'' Keralin asked, moving carefully this time to avoid hitting another object. It was n't until then that he noticed his hand did n't look like his hand. *Wait, am I standing up? * He looked down at his feet. Except that they were n't his feet. He moved one foot, and the foot moved as if it was his own. The feet he saw were flat, square, bow-legged at the ankle with metal covering the entire thing. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he knew that it was n't just covered with metal but the entire leg was metal. He raised his arm again, knowing this time that his arm was metal as well- 
 
 -And a whole lot bigger than he had originally thought. 
 
 `` I can see that you've calmed down now.'' The voice said again. It was raspy this time and breathed heavily. A figure walked out of the corridor to the right. It was as tall as his knee and was wearing what looked to be a loose gown that was nearly translucent. Through it Keralin could see that she was a woman. She looked young. `` You were panicking so much that I deemed it better to reveal my true form than talk to you otherwise, but please be gentle I do n't want to lose this body.'' 
 
 `` What did you do to me?'' Keralin boomed through the cave. 
 
 `` Your body was dying. You might not have fractured your skull but you were bleeding inside your head. It was only a matter of time before you expired. It would have been such a waste.'' She sat down heavily on a chair that Keralin had missed before. In fact, this room was stranger than usual. It was brighter than where he had been before and lit with some kind of magical light which stuck to the ceiling. Through the doors he could see a faint light. The woman obviously noticed him staring as she grinned. 
 
 `` If I tried to explain everything to you I doubt you'd understand. We are far beyond what your kind considers enlightened. Not in the sense that we are better but that we chose a different path. We have tried integrating your kind into our hive mind but failed every time. We believe the presence of the gene for Mana use stops our technology from working with your minds.'' 
 
 Keralin stamped his foot, shaking the room around him. `` Answer my damn question already!'' He demanded, knowing somehow to point his right arm towards the man. 
 
 The woman raised his arm, lights flaring on it, and Keralin's arm hung loose. `` I am trying.'' She said. `` But you are not listening. We control you now, that is the bargain you made. You will fight your war, you will win, and you will proceed to tell us about what has happened to the world in our absence.'' She lowered her hand and Keralin gained feeling in his arm again. `` I am Human, and I am not used to talking for this long so you will listen while I talk and ask your questions after. We put our faith in metal, steel and wires. What we did to you was move your mind from the flesh body you used to use to the metal one you have now. The technology of our time was enough that it rivaled the magic of your kind today as you will see soon enough. Your old body was dead as soon as it hit the floor of our stasis chamber, we would not have been able to fix it in time, but we were able to save your consciousness, or Soul if you prefer, by putting it in the body you now live in.'' 
 
 `` So what am I then?'' Keralin asked, still unbelieving. 
 
 She smiled again, and touched her face as if unfamiliar. `` I will return to my pod and teach you if you will allow me to talk to you through your mind.'' 
 
 Keralin thought for a moment. He moved his body again and knew what he looked like without ever seeing his new body. He was a steel golem made with the desire and intent to bring death to all who stood in his way. He would be able to destroy the horde bearing down on his race and bring them together like no other. He grinned himself. 
 
 `` Then let us continue together.''
