Meridell versus Darigan: Where are they now?

     Morris

     Morris was one of the small band of Neopians who helped discover Meridell, a small Quiggle who started off with a love of fictional adventuring as a player of Neoquest. But he soon was thrown onto the front lines of the war.

     “It was a no-brainer, really. It was the right thing to stand up against the evil legions of Lord Darigan,” he said as we strolled through the fields of Meridell.

     “Didn’t it turn out they were only seeking revenge for King Skarrl stealing the orb?”

     “Oh yeah… sorry it’s been a long twenty years. The memory isn’t what it used to be. Especially as I’m just so focussed on a new project based on a dramatic Quiggle who saves Neopia from an evil horde led by Baron Karigan! I call it… Neoquest 3!”

     “Karigan? That sounds awful a lot like-”

     “This interview is over.”

     General Galgarrott

     “You know, Cellblock is actually quite a complex game,” he said as we sat down in one of the dungeons of the Darigan Citadel. The large Red Grarrl is quite an imposing figure but he has a calmness about him. “I don’t believe that the prisoner should be playing games but this game… this game is one that has helped me bring a lot of peace.”

     Since the war, and his later imprisonment under Lord Kass, he has taken a much more relaxed approach by focusing on a game that he really enjoys. He has introduced me to the game and promptly beaten me three times.

     “It is the only way to be. It is bad to continue to bottle up this anger. I just keep playing and keep focusing on just enjoying life.”

     However, one quick move and I suddenly have the upper hand, and soon claim a victory for myself.

     “WHAT? IMPOSSIBLE! ONLY MASTER VEX CAN BEAT ME!” he said, jumping to his feet, throwing the board onto the floor. “YOU MUST HAVE CHEATED! GET OUT! GET OUT!”

     Darigan Elemental

     The Darigan Elementals are impressive and intimidating. The pair tower over me as I enter the main chamber. They do not talk as they walk me across it to a small table. I do not know what I was expecting from the creatures but it certainly wasn’t this: a small afternoon tea has been set out and they gesture as if to let me help myself.

     They don’t really talk other than the odd grunt. It appears they still remain loyal to their Lord and help the citadel in any way they can. I sit in silence as they watch with joy as I sample the various baked goods and

     With a tinkle the tea cup breaks. This prompts sudden anger. “UGH! ARGH! UGH!” one of the two shouts as the other picks me up and throws me from the window of the citadel. I scream as I fall through the sky, fearing my certain doom.

     Luckily, I managed to land in the Meridell haystacks below. But I have learnt my lesson. Never damage a Darigan Elementa’s tea set.

      Lord Kass

     I organised a meeting with Lord Kass as part of this article but then he wasn’t even part of the original war. And he had also disappeared many years ago. I appeared to have forgotten that. Maybe I had hit my head harder than I thought when I got thrown from the tower.

     Castle Defender

     I was back on track as I head to the castle. I was greeted by King Skarll who welcomed me with a big smile.

     “I hear you are doing an important article about the first war and what people are up to now! Well come with me and you can hear all about my great feats as king since then!”

     “Actually,” I said, “I’m here to speak to the Castle Defender!”

     “Don’t you want to talk to me first and see what I’ve been up to?”

     “Well you like to sit and eat and get angry and people who tell you jokes. What else is there to know?”

     “HEY! That’s not true I also- no wait. You’re right. My life is awesome!” He chuckled to himself as he walked off.

     There was a cold chill as I sensed the presence of a spirit behind me. Spinning around revealed a huge intimidated ghostly Kougra in blue armour, the crest of Meridell blazoned on its chest.

     “It is an honour to meet you Defender. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me! Neopia would love to know what you have been up to since the great war?”

     “I wait. I watch. I wait for another evil to befall this kingdom. I wait in the shadows knowing that one day I will be needed again. For I know although Lord Darigan was defeated there is always a greater evil waiting in the wings.”

     He looks into the sky, as if he knows something, as if he knows that something is coming.

     “Also, I’ve taken up knitting. Because I’ll be waiting a long time. There hasn’t been a war in Neopia in ages!”

     “What about the Battleground of the Obelisk?”

     “Pah! Barely a skirmish? Do you think I waste time with some trivialities? I have better things to be doing! I am the castle defender! I will always be ready to strike evil down! And if you don’t believe me, then you can leave!”

     With another gust of wind he had vanished and I was left standing alone again, with just the sound of Skarl chortling in the room next door at the terrible joke of yet another willing Neopian.

     Lisha and Jeran

     A conversation about Meridell and Darigan wouldn’t even be possible if it wasn’t for this next Neopia. A plucky Yellow Aisha by the name of Lisha discovered a way to reach the historic Kingdom of Meridell in search of her heroic brother by the name of Jeran. Both were a big part of Meridell’s forces as they sought to defend against what they thought was the evil of Darigan.

     “I mean, we didn’t realise what Skarl had done at first. But we still fought bravely against what we thought were the bad guys. I guess we were the bad guys…”

     This thought was what prompted Lisha and her brother to follow their current path of helping Neopians who found themselves in similar situations as the citizens of Darigan Citadel.

     “You know,” said Jeran, “A Neopian gets cursed by a mystical object in Neopia every five minutes, often turning into big dramatic villain shaped creatures, when really they just need to find a way to break the curse. That’s what me and Lisha do now.”

     “That’s right,” continued Lisha. “Did you ever hear about the time we stopped the Space Faerie from blowing up Kreludor after she got corrupted by a space parasite?” I shook my head.

     “Or,” said Jeran, “The time we broke the great curse of Tyrannia where everyone was turned into a sentient omelette?”

     “Or the time we stopped the creature of Lutari Island from eating every Lutari in Neopia by revealing it was just a cursed Turmaculus that had gone rogue?” I shook my head again. The two seem annoyed that I had not heard of any of their great victories.

     “Oh, that’s great. I bet everyone is too busy playing Yooyouball to pay attention to what we’re doing. That’s the problem nowadays, no one respects their Neopian history!” Lisha crossed her arms and refuses to speak to me anymore. Jeran wrenches the cup of tea out of my hands and shows me the door.

     Epilogue

     It appears that although the war ended a long time ago, there are a lot of strong feelings that still persist. It seems that anyone involved carries a lot of tension to this day, perhaps they feel like this part of history has been forgotten. But I hope I can bring some attention to these long-forgotten Neopians.

     Or maybe instead of bottling these feelings up these people could find a way to relieve this tension… maybe we should have a good war between Meridell and Darigan just like the good old days? Beating up challengers in the Battledome might help relieve the stress! What do you think?