I started to exploit my skills a little too much as I found myself killing people who were sent to kill me for killing someone they knew. Life of a mercenary of my caliber kept me on my toes and always alert. I was fighting off mages and warriors alike. I have even got to cross blades with Mystics a time or two. I was well known as the Dark Specter, the man that seems dead already to be killed. Such a quaint nick name that I even started manipulating my powers to add more drama and effect to that nature. Seems my powers are linked to spiritual manipulation. So taking on a spirit form and materializing behind my foes from a dark mist always made me feel more overwhelming on my foe.
I had met a woman one day out in the woods of Dondra near the lake. I sat there peacefully on a rock watering my horse as her and her friends splashed and played in the lake. I felt drawn to stay till they approached me, and when she did, I felt a warm feeling inside. "My name's Azel", she had told me and I did the gentlerman like thing and bowed and took her hand, "Deneo, Deneo Diante," I muttered. She smiled and asked what I was up to. As she started talking I found myself talking back and even a few times caught a few flirts from her as I gracefully gave a few of my own. She was happy and full of joy, yet still a budding child.
I know the years started to pass as I kept up this lifestyle, doing mercenary work in Pearl Lance mostly. Then I got a letter from my friend Selvin in Shandora, the priest I saved. Apparently some pupils of the clergy were making a pilgrimage and the guardians of the pilgrimage died at sea. I was requested to help them finish the last leg of the trip. Thats when I finally saw her again. Azel was accompained by three of her friends. The others I barely remeber but her, I will never forget as our paths continued to cross.
She was young then, starting to blossom into a woman and her eyes seemed to have a shine of their own when she looked at you. Her black hair curled soflty passed her shoulders. Her voice set off something inside, which some might mistake for love, or lust. I felt drawn to her.
"We meet again. I take it you're the escort?" she had asked as i placed the letter down. We were in a delivery office I believe and i nodded my head as I kept staring at her. She wasn't wearing a smile that day and her clothing told me that she had a rough trip to this point. So I asked what happened to her.
"Strange beasts in the sea took half the crew and my guardians, it was all the captain of the ship to do to get us over here safely."
I simply nodded and then stared to her other friends. Rose and Lilly were thier names and they seemed scared of me. Some reason that pleased me, but Azel, she feared nothing and I was able to escort her party back to Shandora.
I found out on my journey with her that she had orginally had 10 guardians set out with her and her friends are all that are left. Rose and Lily felt objective thinking I could protect Azel from the dangers of the wildrness and the road.
Just like clockwork though, the greed of mankind rears it's ugly head as another attempt on the life of Azel was brought about.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The long walk to faith
I was finally free from my childhood and now out on the roads making my own destiny. Finding money to buy supplies became distasteful at times as I have grit my teeth to help others. Some of the early kind of jobs I took had to deal with tending stables and helping out on harvesting. Though free from my childhood, I had to save my money for the future that was about to unleash a new force in this world. Oh sure I could of stolen the money or take it from the people who had it, but them damn monks did manage to impose some values onto me. Maybe having Sparrow not taking up the spot light is what made it more bearable. At those times, I guess I was likeable.
I remeber one year, I spent it in Shandora. It was where I first met Guile Starter. I must of been like 18 and he looked about 12 or 14 to me. At those times, he was a young boy instead of the Royal Knight that King Tynac sent to destroy me. Just a boy. If I knew then what I knew now.... Nah, I'd still let him live.
He was a special breed of human. They were known as Mystics. Back then they were everywhere and mostly in the employment of the King of Homeland. Some had paladin like nobility while others had egos the size of a mountain. Guile was diffrent as he was noble yes, but also capable of leading. I watched him grow into his powers when I stayed in Shandora. Back then I was hunting game for food and selling off pelts in the town. I was watching him from my booth when he first strapped the golden blade of his family to his side.
Shandora was another favorite spot for me for another reason. I enjoyed the tavern that was there at the time. The Green Bear tavern back in the day was it's name. There I would go and have a few drinks as I listened for anything of interest amongst the new comers to town. Shandora was after all a Trade Center of the Kingdom.
Then one day I heard that there were bandits poaching claim to the bridge in the Dondra Forest. This bridge links over the Dondra River leading to the northern lands of Homeland where the Castle and many other important trade posts, and a vale that lead to the Archana. Bandits would raid any oncomer and steal whatever they could, and even kill them if they had nothing. For some reason, I was starting to feel noble as I snarled a grin and decided it was time to take my pelts up north.
I had packed up all my pelts I had collected over the couple of weeks before and started my journey northward to the Dondra Forest. Just as everyone said I was quickly greeted by several bandits as my carriage approached the bridge. I calmly stalked out of my seat locking the carriage in place and pulled back my cloaks to reveal the dark blade that had remained hidden all this time. They continued to gloat that they were going to kill me and all I could do was grin and laugh. I was flanked as I stepped closer to the bridge, and when they finally rushed in after me, my hand fluanted the black blade in such a quick manner and seared the air with it's dark aura as it sliced down my oncoming friends. Each falling with deep engraved wounds from my blade across their chest area.
I heard some of the others that were watching try to flee, and then I gave them chase. They led me back to their hide out where I finished slaying the rest and came across their loot and an odd character to have tied up. A clergy man was tied up and gagged in one of the shack they had. I freed the man and asked him who he was and where he was going. Selvin of the Temple of Wind, was heading to the Shandorian temple to complete his pilgrimage. The thiefs thought they could hold his life for ransom as he was just picked up a few hours before I came. I gathered up all the valuable loot that I could find and carried it back to the carriage with me and offered the pilgrim a ride to Shandora.
I know I said I was heading north to trade furs, but that was just my excuse to go play with the lives of these bandits. I knew I had to keep a low key since I killed the monks, that slaying the bandits, no one would miss that, and on top of that, I got their stash so trading furs was no longer needed for now. I was able to live off that loot for several years, and use it to make more money.
Soon I became known as the mercenary that killed the bandits and then I found a new occupation. Selvin thanked me and the church did as well. I didn't care for the feeling too much as I felt I was getting too much attention so I started to leave Shandora anyways, and move my operations to a more mercenary based, Pearl Lance
I remeber one year, I spent it in Shandora. It was where I first met Guile Starter. I must of been like 18 and he looked about 12 or 14 to me. At those times, he was a young boy instead of the Royal Knight that King Tynac sent to destroy me. Just a boy. If I knew then what I knew now.... Nah, I'd still let him live.
He was a special breed of human. They were known as Mystics. Back then they were everywhere and mostly in the employment of the King of Homeland. Some had paladin like nobility while others had egos the size of a mountain. Guile was diffrent as he was noble yes, but also capable of leading. I watched him grow into his powers when I stayed in Shandora. Back then I was hunting game for food and selling off pelts in the town. I was watching him from my booth when he first strapped the golden blade of his family to his side.
Shandora was another favorite spot for me for another reason. I enjoyed the tavern that was there at the time. The Green Bear tavern back in the day was it's name. There I would go and have a few drinks as I listened for anything of interest amongst the new comers to town. Shandora was after all a Trade Center of the Kingdom.
Then one day I heard that there were bandits poaching claim to the bridge in the Dondra Forest. This bridge links over the Dondra River leading to the northern lands of Homeland where the Castle and many other important trade posts, and a vale that lead to the Archana. Bandits would raid any oncomer and steal whatever they could, and even kill them if they had nothing. For some reason, I was starting to feel noble as I snarled a grin and decided it was time to take my pelts up north.
I had packed up all my pelts I had collected over the couple of weeks before and started my journey northward to the Dondra Forest. Just as everyone said I was quickly greeted by several bandits as my carriage approached the bridge. I calmly stalked out of my seat locking the carriage in place and pulled back my cloaks to reveal the dark blade that had remained hidden all this time. They continued to gloat that they were going to kill me and all I could do was grin and laugh. I was flanked as I stepped closer to the bridge, and when they finally rushed in after me, my hand fluanted the black blade in such a quick manner and seared the air with it's dark aura as it sliced down my oncoming friends. Each falling with deep engraved wounds from my blade across their chest area.
I heard some of the others that were watching try to flee, and then I gave them chase. They led me back to their hide out where I finished slaying the rest and came across their loot and an odd character to have tied up. A clergy man was tied up and gagged in one of the shack they had. I freed the man and asked him who he was and where he was going. Selvin of the Temple of Wind, was heading to the Shandorian temple to complete his pilgrimage. The thiefs thought they could hold his life for ransom as he was just picked up a few hours before I came. I gathered up all the valuable loot that I could find and carried it back to the carriage with me and offered the pilgrim a ride to Shandora.
I know I said I was heading north to trade furs, but that was just my excuse to go play with the lives of these bandits. I knew I had to keep a low key since I killed the monks, that slaying the bandits, no one would miss that, and on top of that, I got their stash so trading furs was no longer needed for now. I was able to live off that loot for several years, and use it to make more money.
Soon I became known as the mercenary that killed the bandits and then I found a new occupation. Selvin thanked me and the church did as well. I didn't care for the feeling too much as I felt I was getting too much attention so I started to leave Shandora anyways, and move my operations to a more mercenary based, Pearl Lance
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The first destruction of darkness
I clenched that blade with all my might and felt the whelm of magic searing through the blade through my body. I then marched out of that cave with a new found burst of energy in each step. I raised my right hand and the ability to create a firey crimson orb ignited the area with it's light. I been told by some of the fighting monks that you never forget when you kill somone. I know I will never forget the kills that came that night.
I returned to the monastery and it was still late. I started tossing the new found energy with deep pleasure as it spiraled against the stone structures in the courtyard tearing into the ground and exploding sending flames into the structure. The monks ran out in horror as they saw who was starting the fire and explosions. First I was attacked by several of the greatest monks who were fully trained. The first one to die was the first one that approached me. With swift quickness I felt myself raising my blade as the monk thrusted a spear towards me. I quickly blocked the attack and shattered the head of the spear as a fiery force of energy was tossed at the other monks to repel them away from me. I then stalked ever so slowly towards the monk staring at the edge of his spear. He saw my approach as I hoped he would, and terror started to form in his eyes. He hopelessly thrusted his wooden stick at me hoping to get a shot in, but the blade sliced through the wood of the spear and with a quick recoil and a downward slice, the blade broke through his collar bone and half way down his chest near his heart. With a sickening twist and the crunching of bones splitting apart, I pulled the blade out and watched him stare at me with that, "Why did you do this?" stare.
Everyone there continued to jump me and many groups tried to kill me in that dark hour, but all failed. Several of the weaker memebers started to flee the monastery as I continued feeding the blade blood of the monks. Then there was two. Sparrow and the head master of the monastery. He baded my brother from approaching as he reached for a scabard that hung sacradly above a mantle. I never saw a monk wield an actualy metal object like a sword, but the master revealed an elegant blade lined with silver edges. I liked the sound it made when it ranged against my blade. The master and I enganged in a fight that could possibly be one of the toughest fights I ever took on in my life. He actually managed to land a blow on my right hand which was holding the hilt. The blade landed in front of me and I clenched both hands together and darkness started to build up around me. It was unlike anything I ever saw as the master tried to take another swing at me. His blade bashed into a barrier that surrounded me, and with new curiousity, I started to touch the shielding with my hands. The shielding's energy started to focus to a point and then a beam of dark energy speared out at the master and stabbed through his body. His old frail face stared at me in disbelief as he fell backwards. The wound he had given me then started to heal as I sheathed the dark blade.
Sparrow quickly came out to check on the master as I stood there watching him to see if he would challenge me.
The master offered his sword to Sparrow in his dieing breath, muttering softly in the flow of blood coming from his lips, "The start of destiny has come, take this blade as your own, and free the spirits from this world with it."
Sparrow grasped the blade and a bright white light started to fill the room and then fade. I kept my hand over the hilt as I started towards Sparrow. Sparrow kept his blade down as he stared deeply at me.
"Well?" I asked him.
"I am so sorry to see this Deneo. Why did you kill them?"
"To take my vengance for the treatment I got."
"I see," he said simply towards me.
"Well?" I asked as my hand dared him over the hilt of the black blade.
"You are my brother and there's nothing that will change that. I can't even raise a blade against you, so I will not impose on any of your ventures."
"So we're at truce by blood? So be it, as I will let lone with whatever dealings you fall into. No point in either of us destroying the other's interest."
"So where will you go?" he asked me as I started to walk off.
"Anywhere but here," I said as it picked up a few things and made my way to start my life.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Deneo's childhood
My story takes us to a place that magic and gods and goddesses existed. Humans and elves blessed with magical powers or strong melee skills, and other noteable races such as dwarves, orcs, and ogres. My childhood was in a monk temple of the Shado Kan clan. Apparently it meant something of the arts of fighting using Shadow magic of some sorts. The only reason I landed here in my childhood is cause these damnable monks found me and my twin brother in a basket in a nearby field. Isn't that nice, I was orphaned with only a brother to share my life with in the early days.
I guess you want to know his name as it might play some role in future events. Sparrow Diante was my brother, and I am known as Deneo Diante. We were left to be found by these monks and no clue where we orginally came from. Needless to say, the masters of the manostery agreed to have us in their schooling and teachings. Sparrow seemed to absorb evrything they taught him, but I myself found it meaningless and moot to a point where they started to disgust me. Of course that disgust got on the teacher's nerves and wouldn't be long that I was whipped on a daily basis or slapped with a stick against my fore hands. Only fuel to start a fire is what it added it up to.
Even though Sparrow and I were twins, we looked nothing alike as far as our features went. He had silver white like hair and I had dark raven black hair. He was kind and good hearted, I was hardened and mean. Your basic good and evil set up.
I remeber the days when we started to pick up kendo sticks to learn the arts of melee fighting. Sparrow was quick to show everyone he learned everything there was, but I was far more advanced in training that I was easily overpowering Sparrow in our spars.
In our mid teens, our magic started to come through to us. Each of else felt a pulse of energy that was linked to us and one urge lead me to leave the monastery late one night. The moon was full, I remeber that much but I found myself walking aimlessly in a direction that seemed to pull me towards it. Then I found a cave opening, an opening I could of sworn wasn't there before. I entered into the darkness and felt a leap of energy in the form of joy sprouting over my being as if something good was about to happen.
In some sense it was good, for me. For those around me though, they would probably beg to differ, if they were alive. Inside the cave, I found a blade of the darkest onyx like coat laying peacefully on a rock like table. It was sitting there as if waiting for me. I reached my hand around the hilt of the blade and a dark aura quickly slept around my body and my eyes flared some strange crimson light into the room and then I could see... see in the dark! Darkness was no longer my enemy as I could see in the darkest of places. Darkness was becoming one with me.
It was then an evil urge came to surface. All the pain and suffering I withstood from the teaching of the monks was lapping over me like someone trying to overwhelm me in a fight. I felt anger and flashes of light sparked from my eyes as I made my way out of the cave. Energy of the magic that came to my hands and the blade in my other, I felt invinsible.
I guess you want to know his name as it might play some role in future events. Sparrow Diante was my brother, and I am known as Deneo Diante. We were left to be found by these monks and no clue where we orginally came from. Needless to say, the masters of the manostery agreed to have us in their schooling and teachings. Sparrow seemed to absorb evrything they taught him, but I myself found it meaningless and moot to a point where they started to disgust me. Of course that disgust got on the teacher's nerves and wouldn't be long that I was whipped on a daily basis or slapped with a stick against my fore hands. Only fuel to start a fire is what it added it up to.
Even though Sparrow and I were twins, we looked nothing alike as far as our features went. He had silver white like hair and I had dark raven black hair. He was kind and good hearted, I was hardened and mean. Your basic good and evil set up.
I remeber the days when we started to pick up kendo sticks to learn the arts of melee fighting. Sparrow was quick to show everyone he learned everything there was, but I was far more advanced in training that I was easily overpowering Sparrow in our spars.
In our mid teens, our magic started to come through to us. Each of else felt a pulse of energy that was linked to us and one urge lead me to leave the monastery late one night. The moon was full, I remeber that much but I found myself walking aimlessly in a direction that seemed to pull me towards it. Then I found a cave opening, an opening I could of sworn wasn't there before. I entered into the darkness and felt a leap of energy in the form of joy sprouting over my being as if something good was about to happen.
In some sense it was good, for me. For those around me though, they would probably beg to differ, if they were alive. Inside the cave, I found a blade of the darkest onyx like coat laying peacefully on a rock like table. It was sitting there as if waiting for me. I reached my hand around the hilt of the blade and a dark aura quickly slept around my body and my eyes flared some strange crimson light into the room and then I could see... see in the dark! Darkness was no longer my enemy as I could see in the darkest of places. Darkness was becoming one with me.
It was then an evil urge came to surface. All the pain and suffering I withstood from the teaching of the monks was lapping over me like someone trying to overwhelm me in a fight. I felt anger and flashes of light sparked from my eyes as I made my way out of the cave. Energy of the magic that came to my hands and the blade in my other, I felt invinsible.
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