joshuadim
the writer
The Grystalian Desert, Argos
20 Years Ago
Hot sand streaked across the surface of vast dunes, the landscape an ocean of red-orange minerals barraged with the heat of the morning sun. The occasional sandstone cropped up from the surface to blemish the otherwise smooth and featureless landscape, giving some semblance terrain. A harsh, inhospitable place for most living beings save for the few that had carved out a meek existence. A desert sandskipper, a hardy and small lizard, crawled out of its refuge within one such large stone on the landscape to bask in the sun’s heat. Hunger was on its simple mind, as it prepared for another day of hunting to satiate its needs. Blood sufficed as water, and flesh sufficed as a meal, from the smaller creatures that were distantly scattered across its surface.
Yet as it sat with eyes closed, embracing the heat entering its body, the loud shuffling of sand being dragged by feet quickly alerted it. A cloaked figure, naught but skin and bones underneath, traversed past the rock without a care but to the worry of the small creature. It could not comprehend anything other than fight or flight as it scurried back into its den. It could also not understand what was about to transpire as well. Cursed with everlasting life, and doomed to never die, the figure strode across the blazing desert to seek an end to his suffering. Death had never come no matter how hard he had tried, whether it was by throwing himself from a cliff to the rocks below, nor by waiting to starve, nothing had worked. The Goddess’ binding would not let him leave this mortal plane.
But through his despair and torment, whispers came to him in his dreams and beyond that promised salvation. A release from this cruel, undeserved punishment which had been placed upon him. He need only find the right reagents for the ritual, rare and near impossible to obtain: the blood of an eldwurm, fiercest and greatest of the dragon. The fang of the eldbeast, cunning and elusive and the ender of hunters. And the heart of a greater treant, connected greatly to life itself and wise beings. Fortunately for him, he had all the time he could ever want in the world. Patiently, he waited and bided his time. Spurred on by such tantalizing promises, he had felled a greater treant and ripped out its life, its sap covered heart to be consumed. An eldbeast he had slain, trapping it and claiming what was his by butchering its head. Its fang needed to be covered with the eldwurm’s lifeblood, which he had stolen as it slept deep in its lair.
Here. Here is where it shall be done. The voice whispered once more, beckoning the figure to halt. All around him there was not a single sign of civilization, and he was truly alone. But he did not know why he had been brought here. The ley lines all coalesce here… this will be door you open with the key. He could only nod as he shuddered with anticipation, as he could practically taste what he had sought after for so long. He collapsed to his knees and unfurled his sack to prepare his ingredients. The eldbeast’s fang he coated with the eldwurm’s blood, and the fang sizzled as it contacted with another potent reagent and vibrated ever so slightly as it greedily drank the liquid into its pores. He placed the fang onto the sand next to him and pulled out the heart of the greater treant. Sap continued to pour of slowly from its arteries, and where should be flesh was instead translucent, amber cellulose. It was about as large as his own head, yet he need to consume it. And so one bite after another he greedily consumed it, sap continuing to flow out onto his hands, face and onto the ground below.
Now… do it. DO IT. FREE YOURSELF. The voice beckoned once more, growing with intensity. RELEASE YOURSELF FROM YOUR MORTAL COIL! The figure spared a glance at the eldbeast fang once more, now smoking as the eldwurm blood continued its reaction. Its power radiated now, and he could feel something stir within his own flesh as well. Being so close to this, after having consumed the treant heart, meant that this was meant to happen. With a shaking hand he grasped the fang and held it in front of him. Power surged from within, almost overwhelming him as he doubled over and clutched at his chest. It was searing, agonizing pain that was unlike anything he had ever felt before and he could feel it continuing to grow like a tumor.
Struggling to sit up straight, he breathed in heavily as he lifted his hands above his head, grasping the fang and shuddered once more before plunging it into his chest. Immediately, he coughed up blood from his mouth as his heart was pierced, yet something was different this time. He could feel death beginning to embrace him quickly, his body beginning to crack and break as if it were dust and ash. “Eternal bane… that love… forever… binds.” He sputtered in between labored breaths, before pushing the blood-soaked fang all the way through his chest.
Within an instant, his body was completely and utterly destroyed, his soul rent asunder and sent to the sweet oblivion which it had craved. And yet, it also shattered the world. From where his body had been, a great hole in reality appeared as if a mirror had been shattered. Webbed cracks appeared throughout the land that spread outwards for a distance, the landscape immediately warped from the energies that coalesced. The veil between worlds had been broken.
Now,
Near Ember, The Free Territories, Ergos
12 Jain, 2290 First Era
A young man sat still in the reeds of the stream, the waters flowing gently around his feet as he remained as silent and still as he possibly could. He wanted to get an upper hand at his quarry, and thus needed the element of surprise as well as a distraction. A goat tied to a nearby tree close to the bank would suffice as it chewed on the grass beneath its feet and occasionally bleated. The beast had been menacing local livestock for some time now and had grown accustomed to hunting such easy prey. Having pooled some coin together the farmers decided that enough was enough and had hired him to deal with it. He had waited for nearly two hours at this point, but there was no sign of the beast anywhere.
But suddenly, the waters shifted nearby as the reeds elsewhere swayed. A low grumble could be heard nearby as a massive creature slithered out from the shallows nearby. A basilisk showed its bared teeth as it clambered closer to its prey. The goat quickly began to panic and bleat aloud yet could go nowhere as it was tied to the tree. The creature’s attention was fixated on its inevitable meal, which provided an opening for the young man to strike. He rushed out of his hiding spot and dashed towards the basilisk with a sword in hand.
He wanted to end this quickly before it had a chance to react, but as fate would have otherwise it was not meant to be. His steel could only pierce so much of its thick hide as it quickly turned and smashed into his side with his tail, sending him flying back on his back and crashing into the waters nearby. He felt blood form in the top of his mouth as he cried out from the pain, his armor had taken a decent amount of the impact but he would still be feeling the bruising later on.
He scrambled back to his feet quick enough to dodge the basilisks next strike as it lunged at him and attempted to bite his leg. Lunging once more, this time drawing a dagger, he leapt atop the creature’s back and stabbed at it repeatedly, trying to get through its protection but failed as the beast floundered and shook itself violently get throw its assailant off. The young man realized quickly that he had to change his tactics as his grip began to slip. In a split moment decision he buried his knife into the creature’s eye, causing it to roar out in pain as it finally managed to swing its assailant loose, sending the man tumbling into the water again.
With the advantage now his as the creature was distracted with the immense pain it was now experiencing, he quickly scrambled on his hands and feet to gather his sword again and moved in for the killing blow…
An Hour Later...
The young man strolled into the village atop a horse that had been lent to him by one of the townsfolk of Ember for this job, with the creature’s head hanging from the saddle. He himself looked completely disheveled and worn out from the encounter but had returned with his life. And in tow, he also carried what would bring him his reward for a job well done. Some of the townsfolk that were up and about in the late afternoon paid attention to the return of the young mercenary who had taken residence in the tavern these past few weeks and some marveled at the beast’s head that he dragged with him.
His horse stopped in front of the tavern, which made him lazily dismount and grab the head of the beast before heading inside. The First Post inn was empty save for the innkeep and a lone drunk that was asleep with his head down on the counter. Business was always slow in the sleepy town of Ember, but enough money flowed to keep the doors opened. The innkeeper himself, an older and gruff man, nodded to the mercenary as he set the basilisk’s head atop the counter. “Arnas, good hunting today I see.” He commented aloud, “The farmers’ll be mighty pleased to hear the news. Though… looks like you took quite a thrashing yourself, eh?”
“Yeah…” Arnas replied, gripping his side as he took a seat, “I’ll need more ale than usual.” He then grimaced as another wave of pain shook his body from the massive bruising, “Oh, and some stew as well.”
“Aye.” The innkeeper replied as he turned his attention to a path that led further back into the establishment. The faint clambering of pots could be heard that was suddenly silenced by the barkeep’s voice: “Bella! Need an order of stew out front!”
A few moments later, a young lady about the same age as Arnas hobbled out of the kitchen and gently placed a bowl in front of him before quickly scurrying off back to her work for the evening. Shortly after, a large mug of ale was set as well as its foam at the top bubbled softly. “Thanks.” Arnas managed to get out as he took a wooden spoon and began to eat greedily. He savored the taste as its warmth comforted his aching body, and was then contrasted by the cold ale that poured down his throat.
“And here’s your pay for the beast, as promised from the notice board.” The barkeep then said, placing a small pouch nearby as well. Arnas took and counted the coins, finding all of them there and sighed. Just a bit closer to his goals, but he would also need to pay for room and board tonight as he fingered around to snatch a few. He was stopped however by the barkeep’s own words: "Don’t. You’ve done enough work here to earn a night’s rest. No need to pay.”
The words came as a bit of a surprise to Arnas as he removed his hand from the pouch, but he welcomed the boon nonetheless. Less gold wasted on expenditures was more gold for paying his initiation fee to the Golden Company. He chuckled as he returned to his food and drink: “Thanks old man. Really.”
Elsewhere in and around Ember, newcomers were arriving to settle in as the dusk approaches the land. Travelers from realms afar, all with their own goals and missions, are drawn to the only inn within the small town for rest and whatever else they might need.
20 Years Ago
Hot sand streaked across the surface of vast dunes, the landscape an ocean of red-orange minerals barraged with the heat of the morning sun. The occasional sandstone cropped up from the surface to blemish the otherwise smooth and featureless landscape, giving some semblance terrain. A harsh, inhospitable place for most living beings save for the few that had carved out a meek existence. A desert sandskipper, a hardy and small lizard, crawled out of its refuge within one such large stone on the landscape to bask in the sun’s heat. Hunger was on its simple mind, as it prepared for another day of hunting to satiate its needs. Blood sufficed as water, and flesh sufficed as a meal, from the smaller creatures that were distantly scattered across its surface.
Yet as it sat with eyes closed, embracing the heat entering its body, the loud shuffling of sand being dragged by feet quickly alerted it. A cloaked figure, naught but skin and bones underneath, traversed past the rock without a care but to the worry of the small creature. It could not comprehend anything other than fight or flight as it scurried back into its den. It could also not understand what was about to transpire as well. Cursed with everlasting life, and doomed to never die, the figure strode across the blazing desert to seek an end to his suffering. Death had never come no matter how hard he had tried, whether it was by throwing himself from a cliff to the rocks below, nor by waiting to starve, nothing had worked. The Goddess’ binding would not let him leave this mortal plane.
But through his despair and torment, whispers came to him in his dreams and beyond that promised salvation. A release from this cruel, undeserved punishment which had been placed upon him. He need only find the right reagents for the ritual, rare and near impossible to obtain: the blood of an eldwurm, fiercest and greatest of the dragon. The fang of the eldbeast, cunning and elusive and the ender of hunters. And the heart of a greater treant, connected greatly to life itself and wise beings. Fortunately for him, he had all the time he could ever want in the world. Patiently, he waited and bided his time. Spurred on by such tantalizing promises, he had felled a greater treant and ripped out its life, its sap covered heart to be consumed. An eldbeast he had slain, trapping it and claiming what was his by butchering its head. Its fang needed to be covered with the eldwurm’s lifeblood, which he had stolen as it slept deep in its lair.
Here. Here is where it shall be done. The voice whispered once more, beckoning the figure to halt. All around him there was not a single sign of civilization, and he was truly alone. But he did not know why he had been brought here. The ley lines all coalesce here… this will be door you open with the key. He could only nod as he shuddered with anticipation, as he could practically taste what he had sought after for so long. He collapsed to his knees and unfurled his sack to prepare his ingredients. The eldbeast’s fang he coated with the eldwurm’s blood, and the fang sizzled as it contacted with another potent reagent and vibrated ever so slightly as it greedily drank the liquid into its pores. He placed the fang onto the sand next to him and pulled out the heart of the greater treant. Sap continued to pour of slowly from its arteries, and where should be flesh was instead translucent, amber cellulose. It was about as large as his own head, yet he need to consume it. And so one bite after another he greedily consumed it, sap continuing to flow out onto his hands, face and onto the ground below.
Now… do it. DO IT. FREE YOURSELF. The voice beckoned once more, growing with intensity. RELEASE YOURSELF FROM YOUR MORTAL COIL! The figure spared a glance at the eldbeast fang once more, now smoking as the eldwurm blood continued its reaction. Its power radiated now, and he could feel something stir within his own flesh as well. Being so close to this, after having consumed the treant heart, meant that this was meant to happen. With a shaking hand he grasped the fang and held it in front of him. Power surged from within, almost overwhelming him as he doubled over and clutched at his chest. It was searing, agonizing pain that was unlike anything he had ever felt before and he could feel it continuing to grow like a tumor.
Struggling to sit up straight, he breathed in heavily as he lifted his hands above his head, grasping the fang and shuddered once more before plunging it into his chest. Immediately, he coughed up blood from his mouth as his heart was pierced, yet something was different this time. He could feel death beginning to embrace him quickly, his body beginning to crack and break as if it were dust and ash. “Eternal bane… that love… forever… binds.” He sputtered in between labored breaths, before pushing the blood-soaked fang all the way through his chest.
Within an instant, his body was completely and utterly destroyed, his soul rent asunder and sent to the sweet oblivion which it had craved. And yet, it also shattered the world. From where his body had been, a great hole in reality appeared as if a mirror had been shattered. Webbed cracks appeared throughout the land that spread outwards for a distance, the landscape immediately warped from the energies that coalesced. The veil between worlds had been broken.
Now,
Near Ember, The Free Territories, Ergos
12 Jain, 2290 First Era
A young man sat still in the reeds of the stream, the waters flowing gently around his feet as he remained as silent and still as he possibly could. He wanted to get an upper hand at his quarry, and thus needed the element of surprise as well as a distraction. A goat tied to a nearby tree close to the bank would suffice as it chewed on the grass beneath its feet and occasionally bleated. The beast had been menacing local livestock for some time now and had grown accustomed to hunting such easy prey. Having pooled some coin together the farmers decided that enough was enough and had hired him to deal with it. He had waited for nearly two hours at this point, but there was no sign of the beast anywhere.
But suddenly, the waters shifted nearby as the reeds elsewhere swayed. A low grumble could be heard nearby as a massive creature slithered out from the shallows nearby. A basilisk showed its bared teeth as it clambered closer to its prey. The goat quickly began to panic and bleat aloud yet could go nowhere as it was tied to the tree. The creature’s attention was fixated on its inevitable meal, which provided an opening for the young man to strike. He rushed out of his hiding spot and dashed towards the basilisk with a sword in hand.
He wanted to end this quickly before it had a chance to react, but as fate would have otherwise it was not meant to be. His steel could only pierce so much of its thick hide as it quickly turned and smashed into his side with his tail, sending him flying back on his back and crashing into the waters nearby. He felt blood form in the top of his mouth as he cried out from the pain, his armor had taken a decent amount of the impact but he would still be feeling the bruising later on.
He scrambled back to his feet quick enough to dodge the basilisks next strike as it lunged at him and attempted to bite his leg. Lunging once more, this time drawing a dagger, he leapt atop the creature’s back and stabbed at it repeatedly, trying to get through its protection but failed as the beast floundered and shook itself violently get throw its assailant off. The young man realized quickly that he had to change his tactics as his grip began to slip. In a split moment decision he buried his knife into the creature’s eye, causing it to roar out in pain as it finally managed to swing its assailant loose, sending the man tumbling into the water again.
With the advantage now his as the creature was distracted with the immense pain it was now experiencing, he quickly scrambled on his hands and feet to gather his sword again and moved in for the killing blow…
An Hour Later...
The young man strolled into the village atop a horse that had been lent to him by one of the townsfolk of Ember for this job, with the creature’s head hanging from the saddle. He himself looked completely disheveled and worn out from the encounter but had returned with his life. And in tow, he also carried what would bring him his reward for a job well done. Some of the townsfolk that were up and about in the late afternoon paid attention to the return of the young mercenary who had taken residence in the tavern these past few weeks and some marveled at the beast’s head that he dragged with him.
His horse stopped in front of the tavern, which made him lazily dismount and grab the head of the beast before heading inside. The First Post inn was empty save for the innkeep and a lone drunk that was asleep with his head down on the counter. Business was always slow in the sleepy town of Ember, but enough money flowed to keep the doors opened. The innkeeper himself, an older and gruff man, nodded to the mercenary as he set the basilisk’s head atop the counter. “Arnas, good hunting today I see.” He commented aloud, “The farmers’ll be mighty pleased to hear the news. Though… looks like you took quite a thrashing yourself, eh?”
“Yeah…” Arnas replied, gripping his side as he took a seat, “I’ll need more ale than usual.” He then grimaced as another wave of pain shook his body from the massive bruising, “Oh, and some stew as well.”
“Aye.” The innkeeper replied as he turned his attention to a path that led further back into the establishment. The faint clambering of pots could be heard that was suddenly silenced by the barkeep’s voice: “Bella! Need an order of stew out front!”
A few moments later, a young lady about the same age as Arnas hobbled out of the kitchen and gently placed a bowl in front of him before quickly scurrying off back to her work for the evening. Shortly after, a large mug of ale was set as well as its foam at the top bubbled softly. “Thanks.” Arnas managed to get out as he took a wooden spoon and began to eat greedily. He savored the taste as its warmth comforted his aching body, and was then contrasted by the cold ale that poured down his throat.
“And here’s your pay for the beast, as promised from the notice board.” The barkeep then said, placing a small pouch nearby as well. Arnas took and counted the coins, finding all of them there and sighed. Just a bit closer to his goals, but he would also need to pay for room and board tonight as he fingered around to snatch a few. He was stopped however by the barkeep’s own words: "Don’t. You’ve done enough work here to earn a night’s rest. No need to pay.”
The words came as a bit of a surprise to Arnas as he removed his hand from the pouch, but he welcomed the boon nonetheless. Less gold wasted on expenditures was more gold for paying his initiation fee to the Golden Company. He chuckled as he returned to his food and drink: “Thanks old man. Really.”
Elsewhere in and around Ember, newcomers were arriving to settle in as the dusk approaches the land. Travelers from realms afar, all with their own goals and missions, are drawn to the only inn within the small town for rest and whatever else they might need.
