They rushed to me, and I ran. Sprinting through alleyways, jumping over crates, shoving citizens aside. As much as I hate to admit it, I was afraid. I had only beaten the other thieves because they were caught by suprise. These men knew where I was, and they had the equipment to kill me. Bronze swords, I think. It's hard to remember. I made a wrong turn. Face to face with a solid brick wall. I heard the men close behind, shouting obscenities. I turned around, dagger in hand, trying my hardest to mask my fear. Fear is weakness, weakness is not permitted. They finally turned the corner, malice evident in their eyes. There was nowhere to run. Now was the time to fight. I noticed a few differences in them. The guard who had yelled at me was of a medium height, no armor showing on his body. His clothing was red, a black mask covering the lower half of his face. The other was taller, he wore a chestplate, and his face was bare except for a thin stubble of beard. He wasn't paying much attention, so I swung at him. His partner swung for my hand, making a direct hit. I pulled back gasping. My hand was bleeding, the dagger laying still on the ground. I tried throwing a knife but the thief simply moved aside. The taller man raised his blade and swung. Time seemed to slow there. Adrenaline pulsed throughout my body. I ducked, and delivered a harsh blow to his gut. Sadly, I forgot the chestplate and ended up getting kicked back. I backed to the wall and tried to control my breathing. The thieves slowly advanced forward. One chance left...I reached for my throwing knives again...
I tossed a blade out, and again it missed. I saw the foreigner raise his blade and brought up my arms as he brought it down. There was a clang of metal, and as I moved my arms I saw him on the ground. The gauntlents had reflected the blow. The shockwave was channeling into my arms but I ignored it, because now I had a chance, and I would not fail. His taller accomplice made a swing after this. I blocked it and moved in. I delivered a blow to his gut, and as he hunched over in pain I seized his blade. He looked up, eyes bright and alive with fear. I ignored it. I brought the blade up and connected it to his chin, cutting vertically. My first true kill, and by far one of the bloodiest. I felt powerful. I had taken life. The cliché of feeling like God is so very true. I looked over, and before the thief could reclaim his footing I sunk the blade into the center of his chest. It's safe to assume I passed the rib-cage and struck vitals. He didn't show any pain, just a blank, hollow expression. Eyes glossed over and mouth agape as I heard a slow rasping noise arise from his body. His dying breath.
I didn't pick up the bodies. I left them in that corner to rot. I walked back to the bar, bloodied blade in hand as I kicked in the door. Only one man sat inside. His eyes were a hazel shade, pale skinned and medium length brown hair. He was smiling, but it only make him look more menacing. He wore some type of leather armor, but his boots were metallic. On his hip was a slender, glimmering silver blade. He rose up and frowned, shaking his head as he muttered something to himself. Perhaps he was mad. He stopped in front of me, and looked into my eyes. I'd strike him but I felt that he would win...like somehow his stare was putting me into a state of weakness. Then he grabbed my shoulder and spoke, "Your knife missed it's target three times, you barely managed to survive my guards, you carried a blood-soaked blade around the streets, and kicked in my door." He shook his head again and yelled, "You're an embarassment to your guild!" Then I felt his dagger. Somehow I had not even noticed him unsheathing it. Or that he even carried it on him! As the blade retracted I fell to my knees, bleeding profusely, stammering as I tried to think of my last words. Then the world faded into black.
I truly thought I was going to die. I almost cried in that bar. I hit the floor, my vision faded, and I gasped. Then nothing. Just darkness. But I wasn't dead. No, just blacked out. I awoke on a dirt floor, stone walls surrounding me with one wooden door as an exit. The man who had stabbed me before was sitting against the wall. Once he saw I was awake he sighed and stood up, walking over to me and grabbing my wrist. He pulled me to my feet and began to speak, "I know your guild. I know your kind. And I know exactly how you operate," He glared at me then, "You do not fit in." His name was Aziel. He wouldn't reveal to me how he knew the Guild but simply said he had a wide knowledge of mercenaries. He sat still and asked questions, "Why did you kill my guards?" "I was hired to wipe out all the thieves in the area." "By who?" "Just an old man...I'd rather not give a name." "Okay then...do you know the big three?" "The what?" He nodded and walked out the door. I sat there alone for a few minutes, analyzing my surrounding. There were no windows, and a chain held a lantern to the ceiling. I had never seen something like it before. Aziel returned with a scroll in hand. He sat down and laid it out, pointing to the different symbols. "The big three...the top three mercenary guilds currently known." The third guild read, "The Guild of Black Hollow.". It's symbol seemed to be a dead oak tree, on one side the moon, and the sun on the other. The second was, "The Reavers.". There symbol was seven blades all pointing at the center of a ring. The highest guild seemed slightly less sophisticated, "The Savage.". The symbol was a gold falcon perched on a tombstone. The images confused me until Aziel said, "You're nothing compared to them."
Aziel had strapped me of weaponry. He said we were still in the city, in fact we were farther inland than before. He began telling me facts about certain guilds and my own fighting style. Mocking me, and my guild. Then he gave a proposal. "I will release you, leave the old man alone, and provide you with higher paying contracts...if you pass a test." I didn't think I should trust him, but Hassir wanted his family protected. I suppose this would suffice. So, I accepted. He smiled, but it somehow transformed itself into an almost menacing grin. Not a good trait to have. Then he spoke, calmly and slowly, apparently I was mentally incapable of understanding. He probably thought that too. "I want a patch of these three guilds." Simple, until he continued, "By taking it from a dead mercenary's uniform." Always a catch.
Once I agreed to Aziel's mission he sent me back to the bar. I don't remember how I got there, and I had a nasty headache. I guess being concious is a luxury these days. I then decided on how I would find these mercenaries. I knew I would start with the Black Hollow member, the weakest goes first. Unfortunately, the weakest on a list of the top three mercenary guilds is still far above average. I did some investigating. Visiting brothels, local harbors, anywhere that I could possibly receive information on how to find this man. I found out in a more unexpected way. I was walking to a local inn, again for information. I saw a group of city guard, and overheard their conversation. "I'm telling you Jace, the man can walk through walls! He reads thoughts, and I'm starting to beleive he can possess other beings!" His friend Jace seemed irritated, giving a cold reply, "I remind you, Draces, he isn't some creature from another realm. I can prove that with his contract." Of course Jace had an answer, "The Devil makes many deals." After a few more minutes of this banter Jace gave me the information I needed, "Come now, he's waiting for us at the brothel. No doubt spending all the coin he was given." I followed them to the brothel, but I didn't enter the door. I stood outside and gathered my thoughts. Draces had described this man as some sort of demon, what if he was right? Well, it's not like I had an option. I walked in.
The place had an overwhelming smell of oils, and the sound of pointless banter was deafening. I looked around, trying to find someone unusual in the crowd of whores and perverts. Then I saw him. He had a white robe, a gold sash around his waist holding a sword and a pouch of what I assumed was coins. A dark patch was on his shoulder, and I knew it was him. Then I noticed something unusual on the belt. Three small, glowing stones. Two were black, the other had a purple shade. I didn't have time to think about this however, because he looked in my direction and sneered. That's when I drew my blade and dashed to him. I heard the women scream as I pushed them aside, jumping at the mercenary who still sat still on the bed. I came down, dagger ready, but then something happened. He sank into the through the bed, and my blade simply ripped into a cushion. I could hear Draces' voice, "I told you Jace!" The mercenary appeared leaning on a wall, his own sword drawn and gleaming silver. I muttered a curse and threw a knife. It stuck in the wall but again he had disappeared. I heard a laugh as his fist rose from the bed. I stood there, staring at in mouth agape before it grabbed the front of my cloak and pulled me down. I expected to hit the bed but I instead went into it, and he spoke to me. "Foolish child...I can not be defeated. These gems have given me power beyond your own, and all will bow before me. Me, Heret! I shall be a God!" This man was psychotic, and had powers I couldn't comprehend. So, I screamed.
Heret laughed, dragging me into his abyss. A demon, he had to be. I wasnt religious, in fact now I simply cling to the idea of no God, but I knew of one superstition for disposing of malicious spirits, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I demand your mission!" He laughed, a sick metallic sound which seemed to roll from his lips, almost forced. "I am no spirit, child. I am very human. Well, I was, but the stones...they've shown me my fate!" Suddenly we were rising, flying upward. The sounds of the brothel were returning as we flew through the floor. He released me then, but I kept going up. I almost hit the ceiling, nose pressed to it before I came crashing to the floor. I rose, brushing myself off and hoping he didn't know how badly that had hurt me. He did. "I see all, I know all. The stones have given me this. Your thoughts are like a story. I'm indulging in them, and I must say it's depressing. Your parents must miss you so..." My face felt heated as I charged to him, but he ducked. I felt his knee connecting to my gut as I clutched myself gasping. "I shall not be defeated..." I threw a punch, dodged. I threw a knife, he caught it. Even as blood trickled from his palm he still kept that sick smile. Eventually I knew how to defeat him. I ran randomly, zigzagging across the room in an almost drunken stumble. He watched intently, but my thoughts were more displaced, "Who the Hell is Samuel?" Then my fist made contact with his chin.
He could read my thoughts. Strategy did me no good there, so keeping my thoughts random was a tremendous help. Sadly, I still couldn't counter him diving through the floor, but I could damn well try. The moment I saw part of him rise, I stomped on him. He was still transparent though, so this did nothing. He laughed and rose up, grabbing my collar, "You die now!" I took the opportunity to slit his wrist with my dagger, cutting upward to his shoulder. Suddenly his chances of winning seemed fairly low. He fell back, holding his bleeding arm and saying something to himself, "I...no! No I was...God! I can't die, can't die, no not ever. Never!" He looked up, eyes filled with panic. Like a trapped animal. Then the stones glowed, dim but it was obvious they had a brighter shine then before. He let go of his arm and clutched to his stomach. His skin turned the color of oil, and boiled. I wanted to look away but I just stood there in shock as the man screamed, his body turning into a pile of ooze. He grabbed at the foot of my cloak, his arm suddenly revealing bone. His last words were, "The stones lied..." Sadly the patch had...liquified with the rest of his body. The guards, Jace and Draces, had already left. The patrons and whores of the brothel stayed quiet. I picked up the three stones, hoping they'd be worth more than a patch.
I made my way into the bar and laid them on the table where Aziel sat. His eyes lit up with a childlike delight as he took the purple stone into his hand, then he turned to me, "Where did you get these?!" I shrugged and replied, "The mercenary I killed. I couldn't get his patch because well...his body turned to tar. Will these suffice? They seemed important enough." He nodded quickly and then grimaced, "No...no I can't keep these but I won't make you fight another mercenary from the Hollows guild.." He sighed and muttered something under his breath, looking in my eyes he spoke again, "I can't keep these. Take them to the city's leader." I hadn't thought about the "leader" of this city. So far all I've had was one low contract which I couldn't even complete. Maybe I am an embarassment to the guild. I didn't say anything about that though, instead staying on the current topic, "So who leads Elisium?" He went outside, motioning for me to follow. I did and watched him point northward, "The tallest building is where she resides. Don't tell her I sent you." I wanted to know more about the stones but his word was final. He waved me away but before I left I asked one last question, "What's her name?" He did have an answer for this, handing me the stones in a small burlap sack, "Frey. Frey Rosara."
Samuel's Log: Entry 1 I've arrived in Kahanas. It took six days, I left the Guild nine days ago. I was left at a small farming community with nothing more then a falchion and the clothes on my back. The area was run by a local council and offered me no contracts. I did however dispose of a guard in order to take his weapon, a bastard sword. A more suiting weapon for my personality. Kahanas is odd to say the least. The entire city is drenched in a mixture of vivid colors, like a giant just vomited above them and this was the end result. Oddly enough, the citizens weren't as warm and inviting as the colors. I didn't care though, and I made my way around searching for the palace of Dragoon. I can only imagine how interesting a character he will be. Until further report, goodbye, Samuel DePaeis.
After an hour or so of walking I reached the pallace. It wasn't in the city as I had thought, instead resting in the farmlands. The fields were being attended to, and I could see several aquaducts irrigating the fields with water from a nearby stream. A beautiful scene. The castle itself was some type of clay, albeit it looked like stone. I assumed it would crumble in the rain, so I punched it as a test. After several minutes of cursing and bizzare stares from the surrounding farmers, I began looking for an entrance. There was a door, small and wooden, odd for a castle. The two guards however I did expect. I recognized them as my two favorite people in all of Elisium, Draces and Jace. When they saw me Draces became pale, leaning back against the wall. Jace was obviously just as uncomfortable, but he stood his ground, pike in hand. A true soldier. I stopped before them and requested entrance, "I have something I beleive Madame Rosara must see." Draces replied, "How do we know you won't just start slashing at everyone inside?!" Jace let out a sigh, "Draces just...just don't talk. I'll escort you in...sir." And so he did, and I had time to admire the artworks hung with care through the halls. Most of them depicted farms and the stream I had seen before. A few images of "God" but the main message was clear, we're farmers. A staircase led to the throne room, made of the same clay material as everything else. Jace explained, "The soil by the stream is quite durable. We use it for pottery, which in turn is sold and profits are split between the royal family and the individual farmer. After an attack on Elisium three to four hundred years ago we began rebuilding the castle. Unable to afford building materials, we used the clay God had bestowed to us." A wonderful story.
Frey's throne room was quite impressive for a room made of clay. The clay had somehow been colored into a fine silver, portraits of former rulers on supporting pillars in the room. The ceiling had an elaborate painting of some woman, the castle being rebuilt in the background. On the throne, suprisingly not made of clay, sat that woman. Frey Rosara, empress of Elisium. She cocked an eyebrow suspiciously, but before Jace could give an explanation he was waved away. Several guards in thick, you guessed it, clay armor slowly advanced to me. A raised hand from Frey stopped them, and they simply kept a hawk-like gaze on me. I felt like prey, or some disease that needed to be cured. Finally she spoke, "What is your business, mercenary?" I coughed, a little nervous but able to reply, "I was sent by someone to give you these.." I reached for the bag containing the stones, and the guards quickly raised their weapons. Halberds, a good choice. She looked to them and sighed, "At ease." They obeyed, impressive. Wish I had puppets like these. In any case, I pulled out the stones, and the reaction was mixed. Frey's eyes opened slightly wider, but still gave a distant, analyzing stare. The guards were whispering amongst themselves. I laid them on the floor, and then began the questions, "Who sent you?" "A man named Aziel." At this the guards became very intentive. "Do you know what these objects are?" "No, but they seem important. Which is why I'm now speaking to you...your majesty." She nodded and began explaining the stones' origins, "The original creation of these objects is unknown. It was either black magic or a blessing of God. They were often used for fertility, guidance, and prosperity." Then her voice took on a lower tone, "But like most good things in life, they were corrupted..." She drifted off, and a guard spoke up, "Your majesty?" She snapped back to attention, "What? Oh, yes the stones. I have no place for them mercenary. But I know a man who does." I suppose Aziel's mission could wait.
Sean Dyuun of the Airgead Pailis. That's the man I was sent to find. I had to make the trek by foot though, apparently there was no way to reach the area by boat. I kept the stones in a small bag which was strapped to my chest, and I could feel their power. It was odd, I just felt...superior. Then I began thinking about Aziel, Elisium, and the Guild. How is it these weak beings controlled me? My was above them in all forms...perhaps the stones could assist in proving this. No, no, just had to get them to Sean. Airgead Pailis was...stunning. The area was a thick forest, the canopy open only to let in small bits of moonlight. The moonlight in turn reflected off the vegetation at the forest floor, creating a mirror image of the moon. It looked as though
Sean Dyuun of the Airgead Pailis, this is who Frey sent me to see. I kept the stones in a small sack which was strapped to my sack. I could..feel their power, I guess that's how to put it. Aziel, Elisium, even the Guild started coming to my mind. Why did I serve such weak beings? My power was far above their own...or perhaps it wasn't...maybe the stones could ail that. No, no, just get them to Sean. Damn magic. Airgead Pailis was...stunning. The area was simply a thick forest, and I couldn't see a shoreline anywhere. The exact reason I was walking through. The canopy was broken in sections, letting the moonlight flow down onto the shrubbery below, which in return reflected the light. The ground seemed to glow silver. Then I heard the howling of wolves. I hate dogs, probably should mention that. Dogs are evil. They are scavengers, and any friendship they show to a human is out of the desire for food or shelter. They do not protect us without something in return. There is no loyalty, they're just animals above the other breeds. The ones who submitted because they knew that against the humans they were powerless. They remind me of myself. After a few minutes had passed I saw the first wolf. It stood in the forest, maybe a few hundred feet away. Then the others slowly creeped in. My breath was uneasy, and my hand shook as I reached for my blade. Maybe I don't so much hate dogs as I...I don't want to admit this...fear them. What does this say about my personal image?
There is one thing I like about dogs. And that's how they hunt. Wolves don't mindlessly chase prey, no, it's organized. First comes the easy part, seperating an animal from it's herd. Second, a chase, but usually away from the animal's den and closer into a predator's territory. Third, they surround their prey, at this point escape is near-impossible. And finally, the kill. Good thing I'm not prey. The wolves were already around me, I could heat their snarls. The wolf I had my eyes on stared at me, and I returned the gaze. Then it broke into a sprint, and I'll admit I was almost toppled by it. Lucky me though, steel dagger beats flesh. I drew the blade and drove it into the beast's skull. For those of you who disapprove of animal cruelty, close the journal now. A second wolf entered my vision, and this one was a much easier counter. It leaped at me, but I thrusted the blade in the bottom of it's neck. The movement didn't stop though, and I ended up being covered in wolf blood and entrails. Yes, it was disgusting. I had a feeling this display was making the rest of the pack have second thoughts. Then I found out why they stopped moving in, in the form of a hatchet. My assailant was covered in layers of clothing, his head wrapped in a cloth to where only the gleam of their eyes showed. Obviously he had come from a colder region, perhaps the north. But I wasn't concerned in his appearance, I was worried about the hatchet he had in hand. It's blade gleamed in the moonlight as well, and I knew I wanted one. He didn't swing again, instead staring at me like some lunatic. Which made since, after all I was covered in wolf guts. A bad first impression with the leader of Airgead Pailis.
As it turns out the wolves were domesticated. As it turns out, Sean didn't appreciate my killing of them. They weren't exactly lambs grazing in a meadow, unsuspecting of my approach. No, they were wolves, and they were on the prowl. Still, he didn't kill me or attack so he couldn't be too bad. Sean didn't lead me to his city, or his castle, not even an inn. It was a camp. A fire burned in the center, and around it sat civilians and soldiers alike. I noticed a few wolves lurking around the borders, and I swear I could hear them growling. Sean led me to a larger tent, adorned with banners showing various animals. They liked wolves....I noticed that pretty early. There were no chairs, so we sat in the center. I pulled the stones from the bag and laid them in front of Sean. His expression became worried, so I tried my luck and asked a few questions, "What are these?" He kept his gaze on the rocks but replied quietly, "Different stories give different origins. Gifts of God, the Devil's temptations. I beleive one story names them as the reason Lucifer was cast into Hell." He pointed to each stone, naming them, "Umbra, Gift of the Night. Allows it's owner to move through walls. I'm told it's voice often commands the user to use it's power for perversions." He laughed at this, and I joined him. After a second or so he continued naming them. "Deimos, the Gift of the Vengeful. Possession of another's body. It's voice is...odd. It asks for nothing, instead telling you ways to destroy the person's spirit." I can somewhat understand why it's the stone of vengeance now. "And the last one?", I asked. He nodded and continued on, "Prometheus, Gift of Forethought. The power to read minds. It demands the owner use it's gift to achieve power. Political mostly." He sighed and clapsed his hands, "Now who sent you, traveler?" "Frey Rosara of Elisium." He nodded and pushed the stones back into the bag. "How would you like to do a task for me?" I smirked, "What am I being paid?" His gaze became much more serious, "Watch your tone, it'll get you into trouble." If only I had listened. End of Chapter 2, Making a Name.