Kail walked through the halls of the tower. In his right hand a small wooden sword, in his left a tiny wooden buckler, almost a tower shield beside his infant body.
He looked up at the bald tattooed head of one of the men in red robes who had just left his mothers laboratory. He walked past seeing through a gap in the door, his mother scrying runes of her own blood onto the floor. As he tried to peer through the gap closer, the man stepped back and closed the door so that he couldn’t see.
Kail carried on to his mothers chambers and went inside. He sat and played, hitting the open lid of a wooden chest with the wooden sword repeatedly, trying to copy the knights he had watched in training outside that afternoon.
Eventually the continual bashing broke his toy sword. He sat and cried, his mother would be angry, she would punish him for breaking his toys. She had before. He rested his belly on the edge of the chest and leaned in trying to pick up the top half of the broken toy sword. He rummaged through the rags and felt something cold.
Visions of battles and murder shot through his mind, hundreds of images of the deaths of men, elves, orcs, dwarves, dragons, fey and many other beings, cut down and slain.
For a second he tried to scream, so much horror for a child to bear all at once. He couldn’t he was stunned with fear.
Something called to him, he looked into the chest still. The pommel of a giant sword lay before him, uncovered. He wanted to touch it again. The thoughts excited him, it was like nothing he had ever seen.
His Hand reached down and gripped the cloth the sword was wrapped in. It was heavy, very heavy. He lifted it straining, pulling one end of the blade up onto the edge of the chest and then the rest of it up over.
The blade hit the floor with a heavy and deep thud, dampened by the cloth.
Kail unwrapped the sword, it surface was pure and dark, a window into the void itself. Dark forms moved through the dimensional space he saw within, shadowy figures looked back at him, malevolence in their red eyes.
A faint mist rose from the blade, not a vapour, more a trace of darkness that seeped through from the other realm.
Kail reached down and wrapped his fingers around the grip. Black veins coursed up his hand and arm and across his face. His eyes drained of colour, white as those of a winter wolf, his skin darkened to an unnatural grey shade. He leaned forward wincing in pain unable again to scream. The visions swarming through his head again, horrible things, terrible things, images of battles won and lost, in some he felt himself cut down and experienced death, others he fought off hordes of enemies, murdered people in their beds, and beat down those whom could not defend themselves.
Suddenly a blow to his side lifted him across the room, the blades touch was lost to him. He lay on the floor looking up at his mother, her tattooed face sneered at him in anger and disgust. She reached down and picked up the blade, a look of intense concentration upon her brow.
“You had a choice Kail! You could have been like me! You could have been powerful, but no you had to mess it up again, just like your bloody father!”
With that she gripped the blade in both hands raising it up strenuously above her shoulders and brought it down awkwardly through the air towards the face of the screaming child.
It seemed to Kail that the darkness came upon him almost before the pain of the blade striking.
The pain did not last, just the falling, he fell endlessly it seemed, echoed voices in his mind speaking of him, of things he could not understand, until his left eye opened. The muscles of his right eye throbbed as they tried to pull apart lids engorged with blood, swollen shut and still bleeding.
He looked across his own small chest. A huge, clawed, black gauntlet gripped the material of his shirt tight, lifting him, he swung through the air as the dark warrior walked, like a vision of hell itself the fiend paced forwards unaware that Kail was awake.
The eyes of the beast glowed red tracing lines of staggered red light through the air where they had passed. Dark black horns came down curving around it’s jaw, a ferocious jaw lined with horrible dark metallic teeth.
All across the beast’s body it was scaled and plated with the blackest of plates and scales. Kail closed his eye in fear that the thing would look down at him, swaying through the air for ages, petrified of what would become of him. Doors opened and closed, his feet bumped on steps as they ascended, until he felt himself laid down on something soft, a bed perhaps.
Nearby and he heard calm comments of men with strong voices. A door closed and he was left alone.
What would become of him? He felt alone and lost, in a strange place with no-one.
Alone the boy lay back, trying to fall asleep, hoping he would wake again tomorrow in his bed back in the tower, awoken by his mother as if nothing had happened. He knew it wouldn’t… he knew everything would never be the same again and so he cried himself to sleep. Into sleep he fell, crying for himself.
Kail 'The fiend'
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Cynon
- Gelatinous Cube
- Posts: 328
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:51 pm
- Location: Croydon, London, England, UK, GMT - 0
Kail 'The fiend'
If honour is truth and a lie is respect, then a secret is sacred.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
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loulabelle
- Proletarian Librarian
- Posts: 810
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 8:43 pm
- Location: Fantasyland GMT-5
Wow, that is unbelievably chilling. I'm not lying when I say I'm cold under my warm jumper and my skin is goosebumped. I have to read it again!
Lou
Lou
______________________________________________________
Formerly: Stuff; Elrien Weiss (alfa1); Kaxanar Finellen (alfa2)
Currently: Guardian of the Books; Koriasha "Kori" Brenen
Toc [Talk] Ey doc save some thread fer that mouth a hers *winks with a grin*
Formerly: Stuff; Elrien Weiss (alfa1); Kaxanar Finellen (alfa2)
Currently: Guardian of the Books; Koriasha "Kori" Brenen
Toc [Talk] Ey doc save some thread fer that mouth a hers *winks with a grin*
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Cynon
- Gelatinous Cube
- Posts: 328
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:51 pm
- Location: Croydon, London, England, UK, GMT - 0
Oooh! I gots readers! he he. I just though i'd write out a bit of my PC's bio was all.
Early years stuff.
Cheers youz guys.
Just got to keep the poor bugger alive. he has been having an even worse time IC lately, his suit of fiendish armour and his darkvision fiendish helmet got nabbed amongst other things and his soul sold to devils.
What a pig eh?
Perhaps one day Kail may find that sword...
[Edit] Slotting this in here just for linearity.
....................................................................................................
Kail's body magically enhanced by the magics of the elves and the hin priestess lumbered through the dark, strapped across his back was the body of amelor and on his shoulder the dead human female killed by the giants.
The others left the path behind him, taking a shortcut across the river, Von'ness the elven warrior ran off into the trees left of the bridge as they crossed.
There were the sounds of battle. Kail's souless eyes twitched in thought for a second... he looked to the hill tops wandering if he could make it. He upped his pace and dissapeared into the darkness of the kryptgarden forest and began the long dangerous trek north through the wilderness... alone, only the limp body of his only friend as company.
No one followed and the rain beat down, the magic that fed his muscles finally wore and he dropped to his knees exhausted and battered. It mattered not, he had arrived.
......................................................................................................
The priest raised up his head and looked at kail from under his dark hood.
In the distance his minions carried of the naked female body on a crude stretcher, dead and limp kail thought only of what they planned for her corpse.
"you waste my time WORM! this elf is not one of us."
Kail looked on sadly, Amelors face bruised and broken, his only friend now dead.
"Maybe he could return as one of us if he wishes? I beg of you!"
A dry laugh came from within the darkness of the priests robes.
"He wishes not to return..."
Kail closed his eyes, a tear running down the deep scar on his cheek. Times had gotten worse and worse of late. He was now completely alone. A week ago he had wanted for nothing, he thought back to Waterdeep when he and Amelor had been drinking ale in the dripping dagger. He thought of the good times and the happiness he had felt for a small time in his life. What had gone wrong, why was this happening to him?
The priest reached into Amelors pack and took the cluster of trade bars as payment for his services.
"I will take him away now, I must dispose of the body"
The priest stood up uncaring, and dissapeared into the dark.
.....................................................................................................
As the moon rose high in the night sky Kail loaded the loincloth wrapped body onto the caravan, east of triboar. Beside the body he carefully laid a pack of Amelors most prised possessions. A purse of gold he had mustered, from the sale of the rest, he placed into the hand of the elven merchant.
"I thankyou sir, we will ensure the safe return of his body to the house of his uncle. I have the note kept safely also."
The merchant raised a small envelope from his breast pocket slightly and tapped it back down, nodding reassuringly.
Kail looked upon the body solumn and empty eyed.
"It never ends does it?"
"what's that good sir?"
said the elf.
Kail simply turned and walked away, pulling his hood up over his head and seemingly dissapeared into the very shadows of the road.
Early years stuff.
Cheers youz guys.
Just got to keep the poor bugger alive. he has been having an even worse time IC lately, his suit of fiendish armour and his darkvision fiendish helmet got nabbed amongst other things and his soul sold to devils.
What a pig eh?
Perhaps one day Kail may find that sword...
[Edit] Slotting this in here just for linearity.
....................................................................................................
Kail's body magically enhanced by the magics of the elves and the hin priestess lumbered through the dark, strapped across his back was the body of amelor and on his shoulder the dead human female killed by the giants.
The others left the path behind him, taking a shortcut across the river, Von'ness the elven warrior ran off into the trees left of the bridge as they crossed.
There were the sounds of battle. Kail's souless eyes twitched in thought for a second... he looked to the hill tops wandering if he could make it. He upped his pace and dissapeared into the darkness of the kryptgarden forest and began the long dangerous trek north through the wilderness... alone, only the limp body of his only friend as company.
No one followed and the rain beat down, the magic that fed his muscles finally wore and he dropped to his knees exhausted and battered. It mattered not, he had arrived.
......................................................................................................
The priest raised up his head and looked at kail from under his dark hood.
In the distance his minions carried of the naked female body on a crude stretcher, dead and limp kail thought only of what they planned for her corpse.
"you waste my time WORM! this elf is not one of us."
Kail looked on sadly, Amelors face bruised and broken, his only friend now dead.
"Maybe he could return as one of us if he wishes? I beg of you!"
A dry laugh came from within the darkness of the priests robes.
"He wishes not to return..."
Kail closed his eyes, a tear running down the deep scar on his cheek. Times had gotten worse and worse of late. He was now completely alone. A week ago he had wanted for nothing, he thought back to Waterdeep when he and Amelor had been drinking ale in the dripping dagger. He thought of the good times and the happiness he had felt for a small time in his life. What had gone wrong, why was this happening to him?
The priest reached into Amelors pack and took the cluster of trade bars as payment for his services.
"I will take him away now, I must dispose of the body"
The priest stood up uncaring, and dissapeared into the dark.
.....................................................................................................
As the moon rose high in the night sky Kail loaded the loincloth wrapped body onto the caravan, east of triboar. Beside the body he carefully laid a pack of Amelors most prised possessions. A purse of gold he had mustered, from the sale of the rest, he placed into the hand of the elven merchant.
"I thankyou sir, we will ensure the safe return of his body to the house of his uncle. I have the note kept safely also."
The merchant raised a small envelope from his breast pocket slightly and tapped it back down, nodding reassuringly.
Kail looked upon the body solumn and empty eyed.
"It never ends does it?"
"what's that good sir?"
said the elf.
Kail simply turned and walked away, pulling his hood up over his head and seemingly dissapeared into the very shadows of the road.
Last edited by Cynon on Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
If honour is truth and a lie is respect, then a secret is sacred.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
-
Misty
- Proletarian Librarian
- Posts: 1332
- Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:10 pm
- Location: Lazin' by el Rio Blanco
Sorry man, but this is funny. g'luck getting your soul, er... I mean Kail's soul back. mine cost a LOT.Just got to keep the poor bugger alive. he has been having an even worse time IC lately, his suit of fiendish armour and his darkvision fiendish helmet got nabbed amongst other things and his soul sold to devils.
Last PC: Laurelin ~ dancer, trickster and professional pain-in-the-backside
Currently living like Rip van Winkle.
Currently living like Rip van Winkle.
Look at you two speaking about souls, you make me sick, souless ftw! :p
[15:46] <Shivan-NC> bah swift gets a rod? What about shivan? Where is the love for shivan? Shivan would love a rod, oh yes he would
[00:23] <Squamatus> ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS: THIS GUY ---><Gauntlet-Dragon>
<-- GOT IN, SO DONT SWEAT IT
[00:23] <Squamatus> ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS: THIS GUY ---><Gauntlet-Dragon>
<-- GOT IN, SO DONT SWEAT IT
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Frostfather
- Kobold Footpad
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:54 pm
- Location: Gothenburg Sweden
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Cynon
- Gelatinous Cube
- Posts: 328
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:51 pm
- Location: Croydon, London, England, UK, GMT - 0
Kail's eyes opened suddenly sweat beads covering his face, the sheets were soaked, stuck all to his back and his legs.
Images of terrible battles and murders filled his mind, of death and horror, of things he had not seen since 28 years ago, since he touched the sword.
How long had it been this time, just a couple of minutes... he looked out of the small round window over the the waves to see yartar fading in the distance. He couldn't sleep, the nightmares seemed always to just hit him the second he dropped off.
Kail froze in fear, sweat ran cold down his neck as he looked into the dark.
Across the room, sat in the shadows was a dark figure broad and tall. It's eyes, deathly red orbs luminous in the dark. As the boat turned south the moonlight came in through the portcullis a beam passed through the image of the fiend, scales and plates all visible but not tangible in the light.
It looked right at him hate and malice in it's eyes.
Kail was paralysed in terror unable to move, the fiend was static also, never moving, never making a noise, it just sat there staring back.
Hours passed, Kail's eyes were red and sore from the weeks of sleeplessness. His eyelids bobed up and down, fear kept him looking across the room at the fiend.
It was a sleep, but not a sleep, he was not really awake, yet he was not asleep, his fear kept his eyes open.
As the light of the morning rose over the ocean the room became lighter and so did the image fade. He was alone again in the room on his own.
Exhausted, his muscles untensed and he moved a little. His bones ached and his head spun. He pulled back the covers looking around the room cautiously. Nothing was there. It was safe for now.
Kail pulled his trousers on and washed his face, the taste of salt on his tongue made him feel sick. Nothing got rid of the sickness, he was hungry but when he ate he felt ill. His gut churned from the lack of sleep. Acid sat in his throat constantly.
He looked up into the mirror above the water barrel and gazed upon a face that was not his own. He lurched back surprised, it was his face but it was not him.
The man in the mirror spoke, his lips moved and the voice seemed to come from within. He turned about confused looking for someone else in the room.
"Why do you fight it? I am you Kail."
"No!" kail shook his head and covered his ears. He looked up pained, the man in the mirror held his ears also, though he grinned back menicingly.
"You were lost without me, you were nothing, i could make you whole again... like before."
Kail straigtened, his eyes empty and soulless,
"I don't need you, i'm better this way, without you in here making me feel all the time, like... like everything i do is bad!"
The man in the mirror chuckled,
"But it is bad, all of it, your still bad Kail, you just think it's all alright because you don't feel anymore. Remember how good it felt when i was there? Their screams are empty now, there is no guilt when you kill. There is no pain in their cries. It's still wrong Kail.. you just don't know it anymore. Come for me Kail, i will help you."
Kail looked at the mirror, tears streamed down his face, "I don't need you i am better now, I am Kail, you were just a soul, I am Kail now!"
Kail punched out at the mirror but as he did the reflection's face changed, it's mouth opened wide, lined with black teeth, it's eyes turned white and empty, it's skin darkening to the darkest grey.
Skales ripped through the skin across it's shoulders and a mighty black clawed gauntlet shot out meeting the mirror.
Glass exploded across the cabin spraying Kail with shards. He fell back wide eyed, looking up where the mirror had been. Blood dripped from his right hand, pieces of mirror stuck into his knuckles.
"What the... Damn!"
He looked down at the pieces of broken mirror around him. A face smiled back from over his shoulder.
"AMELOR!"
Kail twisted back and looked up but there was no-one there. Just an empty room. Swaying slightly as the boat moved over the sea.
Images of terrible battles and murders filled his mind, of death and horror, of things he had not seen since 28 years ago, since he touched the sword.
How long had it been this time, just a couple of minutes... he looked out of the small round window over the the waves to see yartar fading in the distance. He couldn't sleep, the nightmares seemed always to just hit him the second he dropped off.
Kail froze in fear, sweat ran cold down his neck as he looked into the dark.
Across the room, sat in the shadows was a dark figure broad and tall. It's eyes, deathly red orbs luminous in the dark. As the boat turned south the moonlight came in through the portcullis a beam passed through the image of the fiend, scales and plates all visible but not tangible in the light.
It looked right at him hate and malice in it's eyes.
Kail was paralysed in terror unable to move, the fiend was static also, never moving, never making a noise, it just sat there staring back.
Hours passed, Kail's eyes were red and sore from the weeks of sleeplessness. His eyelids bobed up and down, fear kept him looking across the room at the fiend.
It was a sleep, but not a sleep, he was not really awake, yet he was not asleep, his fear kept his eyes open.
As the light of the morning rose over the ocean the room became lighter and so did the image fade. He was alone again in the room on his own.
Exhausted, his muscles untensed and he moved a little. His bones ached and his head spun. He pulled back the covers looking around the room cautiously. Nothing was there. It was safe for now.
Kail pulled his trousers on and washed his face, the taste of salt on his tongue made him feel sick. Nothing got rid of the sickness, he was hungry but when he ate he felt ill. His gut churned from the lack of sleep. Acid sat in his throat constantly.
He looked up into the mirror above the water barrel and gazed upon a face that was not his own. He lurched back surprised, it was his face but it was not him.
The man in the mirror spoke, his lips moved and the voice seemed to come from within. He turned about confused looking for someone else in the room.
"Why do you fight it? I am you Kail."
"No!" kail shook his head and covered his ears. He looked up pained, the man in the mirror held his ears also, though he grinned back menicingly.
"You were lost without me, you were nothing, i could make you whole again... like before."
Kail straigtened, his eyes empty and soulless,
"I don't need you, i'm better this way, without you in here making me feel all the time, like... like everything i do is bad!"
The man in the mirror chuckled,
"But it is bad, all of it, your still bad Kail, you just think it's all alright because you don't feel anymore. Remember how good it felt when i was there? Their screams are empty now, there is no guilt when you kill. There is no pain in their cries. It's still wrong Kail.. you just don't know it anymore. Come for me Kail, i will help you."
Kail looked at the mirror, tears streamed down his face, "I don't need you i am better now, I am Kail, you were just a soul, I am Kail now!"
Kail punched out at the mirror but as he did the reflection's face changed, it's mouth opened wide, lined with black teeth, it's eyes turned white and empty, it's skin darkening to the darkest grey.
Skales ripped through the skin across it's shoulders and a mighty black clawed gauntlet shot out meeting the mirror.
Glass exploded across the cabin spraying Kail with shards. He fell back wide eyed, looking up where the mirror had been. Blood dripped from his right hand, pieces of mirror stuck into his knuckles.
"What the... Damn!"
He looked down at the pieces of broken mirror around him. A face smiled back from over his shoulder.
"AMELOR!"
Kail twisted back and looked up but there was no-one there. Just an empty room. Swaying slightly as the boat moved over the sea.
If honour is truth and a lie is respect, then a secret is sacred.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
Confide in me my friend and I shall love you like no other.
-
Arkan Bladesinger
- Frost Giant
- Posts: 715
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 6:14 am
- Location: The Land of the Thousand Lakes GMT+2
)-
dergon darkhelm
- Fionn In Disguise
- Posts: 4258
- Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:21 pm
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States