Post by amerlynn on Feb 25, 2010 4:38:23 GMT -5
((It may have taken awhile, but my writing mojo has returned! I've been trying to get started on this properly for months! Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy!))
Royal
Episode 2
Hope for Tomorrow
Prologue:
The Boy’s Mother
I had a dream again. That same dream I’ve had every night… In the dream, I was a child again. I was back at my old house, and I was cringing behind a chair. I could see nothing but the silhouette of the person standing in the doorway as the light shone through, blinding me. I did not fear this person… Not by any means, for I knew, this was my mother. And yet… I was so very afraid… In her arms was a bundle, wrapped in cloth. There was no sound, save for my mother’s voice.
“Felix, I would like for you to meet someone. This will be your brother. His name is Val’moth.”
Chapter 1:
Brotherhood
Felix awoke to disjointed cries of suffering, and fear. Shaking himself free of the stupor of his dreams, he realized the inn was ablaze! Immediately grasping his sword from beside his bed, he made for the door to his room, but he stopped himself just before grasping the handle. Something seemed wrong to him… It almost seemed as if the door itself were contorted, and twisting in on itself. With a gasp, Felix ducked to the side, not a moment before the door flew from its hinge, crashing through the window at the opposite side of the room as a blast of heat and flames seared the room.
Gritting his teeth, Felix lifted himself to his feet. Okay… So not that way… This time, he turned to his shattered window. He had been staying on the second floor, but the drop itself was not so great. Resolving it to be safer than braving the burning halls, Felix crawled through his shattered window. Grasping the side of his windowsill in one hand, he lowered himself down as far as he could to lessen his fall to the ground. Then taking a breath, he released his grip.
He hit the ground hard, straining the muscles in his legs, but he was not injured. Still reeling from the shock of waking up in a burning building, it took a moment for the gravity of his surroundings to dawn on him. What in the… world…? The entire town’s on fire! All around him, the townspeople were frantically running about, screaming. One man caught his attention in particular. This man ran around a corner only to be felled by an arrow.
Felix’s ears were met with the chattering and screaming of the creatures who had no doubt caused this mayhem. One by one a stream of gibbering goblins came into view from all around. With a scowl of disdain, Felix drew his sword, allowing the scabbard to fall to the ground. He lifted the weapon with both hands and met his stance. He muttered to himself, “Burn… with righteous fury, oh blade…” He charged forth with sword in hand.
An arrow, no doubt from the same quiver which had felled the man before him, passed by Felix’s shoulder. How fortunate that goblins are not known for their aim… Unfortunately, the creatures also brought their true strength to bear as three goblins reached Felix at once. Weaving to the side, Felix met the goblin on his left. The creature swung a broadsword far too large for itself downward. Felix stepped into the attack with his left foot, striking the goblin’s blade from below with such force that both of the creature’s arms flew up as it struggled to hold onto its weapon. Felix then pivoted on his left foot, bringing his right forward to allow for an immediate counter as the momentum of his weapon carried him full circle. Striking from below again, Felix severed both of the goblins arms, the creature shrieking in pain as it collapsed backward. Then leaping back to gain himself some distance as the two other goblins drew courage to strike, Felix struck a low, and forward stance with his blade before stepping forward on his left foot, bringing his blade in an arc before him with all of his might. The first goblin was caught off guard, and was cleaved in two, while the second made to block, but it was too weak to stop the blade, and Felix struck the second goblin as well, his blade stopping midway through the creature’s belly. With a kick from his right, Felix freed his sword from the goblins body, flourishing his sword and readying a high, forward stance.
Felix let out a gasp. He had been careless as he dealt with the first of the goblins, and now found himself surrounded. This is bad… Gah… Well, I can’t really go back now… Changing to a low stance, Felix challenged the goblins. “Come on! The first one can die…” This seemed to give the goblins pause. Several of them glanced to one another, muttering. Then with a fierce cry, they all charged at once. “Dyuh!” N-… no way! They all came!? O-oh, this is bad. “Hyah!”
Crying out, Felix lashed out with his blade, desperately trying to evade every tiny blade that struck at him, until he finally made it to the edge of the circle. What was I thinking!? Even if I do take a few of them, there’s no way I can defeat all of them! Not all at once… Ooohhh… This is bad! “Uergh!” Felix parried a blow with a clumsy single armed swing from his sword.
He had managed to make it opposite of the attacking goblins, but Felix was still drastically outnumbered, and the lingering worry of an arrow or crossbow bolt striking his back kept him at guard, but he couldn’t turn away from the goblins before him. Any moment he did, three of the goblins would pounce only for him to recklessly reflect their attacks with his sword. He was losing composure, and the thought worried him all the more.
Suddenly Felix felt something against the back of his legs. A length of rope? Caught surprised, he fell backwards to be pounced on by a goblin with twin knuckle claws made from bone. It was too close, and Felix’s sword fell from his hands as he desperately repelled each of the goblin’s vicious blows, until finally he managed to grasp both of the goblin’s arms by the wrist. With a heave, Felix tossed the creature off of him, springing to his feet as he grasped his sword from the ground. Without thinking he struck a nearby goblin as it attacked, and found himself backed into a wall. Bad… bad... bad! …I… I can’t think… What can I do?
Suddenly, Felix felt a tremor beneath his feet. The goblins looked to one another in alarm. Upon a second tremor, the creatures began fleeing in terror. Exhausted, after the last goblin had left, Felix allowed the tip of his blade to fall to the ground. Dragging his sword after him, he stumbled into the middle of the road, then turning as the tremors seemed to grow stronger. “Oh no…” Before him, only the length of two buildings away, stood a massive, hulking figure. It was not quite as tall as the surrounding buildings, and carried no weapon, but that hardly seemed to matter. It’s grey, leathery skin seemed as though it would be impossible to pierce, and its sheer size was surely its weapon. “…Do I even need to say it…?” The reason the goblins had fled so suddenly was certainly no mystery, as the creature leaned forward delivering a bellowing roar that shook the frames of the surrounding buildings. Felix waited, unmoved until the monster had finished, before turning quickly and dashing away, screaming unreservedly.
A thundering roar and crashing footsteps made it clear to Felix that the troll wasn’t about to simply allow him to flee. He had to find a way to escape that the troll couldn’t follow. Darting his gaze about, Felix spotted a large building which was mostly untouched by the flames of the burning city. Specifically, it was an inn, though a substantially nicer place than where he had been staying. He dashed inside.
The room Felix found himself in was the registry, with a staircase traveling to the upper floors, and a large common area in the next room. Gasping for breathe, the young man couldn’t help but laugh. “Well… I don’t imagine he’ll be able to follow me in here. Heheh! Lucky break…” His enthusiasm was short-lived…
Not a moment after he finished his statement, a massive grey hand shattered through the wall, sweeping across the room. Acting on instinct, Felix fell to the floor, barely avoiding the creature’s wrist as its hand smashed the front desk into the common area. The arm was yanked back through the wall, and not wasting a moment, Felix was back on his feet. The troll’s snarling head burst through the doors chomping, and biting, causing Felix to leap back in a fright. As the troll crawled through it brought its right arm about, trying to grasp at the young man as he fled into the common room. The tight walls kept Felix just outside of the creature’s grasp. With a roar of anger, the troll brought itself forward, smashing through the connecting wall to the common room.
Vaulting over a couch, Felix dashed to the back of the room where an opening in the wall gave way to the dining area. The troll crawled after him, smashing furniture, and recklessly damaging the walls and ceilings. A chair was struck by the troll, smashing to pieces against the wall to the left of the opening into the dining room just a moment before Felix made it past the arch himself.
Wow he wasn’t sure how the monster had managed it, Felix couldn’t help but to be a little impressed that the monster had kept pace with him so well. Dancing between the tables, and chairs strewn all about the room Felix kept running, even as the trolls bellows shook the room as it crawled after him. The troll batted away any obstacle in its path, causing a chair to fly after Felix, skidding along the floor and tripping him. With a cry, the young man fell to his back, and the troll quickly closed the distance.
Felix made to his feet as fast as he could, but was caught by a grey streak as the troll swung its left arm through the room, sweeping away everything in its path, and sending Felix crashing hard into a wall, bumping his head. Disoriented, Felix collapsed to the ground. A moment later he regained his senses, and he could hear a distinct creaking that seemed to stand out from the troll’s rampage. As he raised his eyes, Felix unwittingly met the gaze of the troll. With a roar, the monster swung its fist toward him, Felix just barely managing to spring to his right in time to avoid it. The troll’s arm crashed through the wall, reaching past its elbow as it tore through into the center of the building. But then it stopped, straining backward. Its arm had become lodged somewhere beyond the wall, and once again Felix could hear the strained creaking and cracking of wood.
“Oh no…” Without a second thought, Felix turned, dashing toward the nearest window. Behind him the troll roared in frustration, and with a mighty heave, tore its arm to the side, thrashing through the walls and all that lay beyond as its arm became free. This was the final drop, and just as Felix reached the window, the building began to collapse in on itself, a plank of wood cutting his leg as it fell and he leapt through the window, shattering glass as he tried to protect himself with his arms. As soon as he was beyond, the walls themselves fell backward onto the building, the troll’s screams dying out.
As the dust cleared, Felix gasped for breath. It slowly began to dawn on him what had just happened… He slowly began to laugh, cheering for himself. After all, he had managed to slay a troll! …Right? The young man’s joy was interrupted by a sudden roar, as a massive grey arm struck out from the rubble, reaching up into the sky (and prompting a terrified squeal from Felix). The arm held itself upright for a moment, before falling limply against the rubble. Felix placed his hand to his chest with a sigh. “Geez… Don’t scare me like that….” With a glare, he added meekly, “…J-just stay dead… alright?” With no response from the troll, the young man cautiously stepped forward, reaching out with his sword as far as he could and poking the tip of the troll’s finger (twice), before jerking back with his sword raised in both hands. With still no reaction, he laughed confidently. “Yeheah… Oh, that’s right…”
Lowering his stance, Felix felt the back of his neck, then looking up toward the sky. He had felt a wet drop against his neck… It was beginning to rain. For a moment, the world almost seemed serene, but as usual, it wouldn’t last. The gibbering and cries of goblins echoed throughout the streets once again. From all around, a stream of goblins appeared and began to surround Felix. Clenching his sword in hand, he growled, “Oh, come on! I don’t have the energy for all of this…” With a sigh, he swung his blade upward, letting it fall to a middle stance. The goblins seemed to find this display of resolve amusing. Their laughter was almost insulting… or at least it would have been if Felix didn’t consider all goblins to be jabbering idiots whose opinions rarely went beyond whether maggots make rotting meat better or worse. They were certainly annoying, however…
Amongst the cackles of the goblins, one stood out in particular. A fidgety creature in the front, armed with a pair of dented swords, with mean red eyes that never seemed to focus, and a frothing mouth. He strode forward with a twitch in… well, everything… cackling and waving his blades around as though the creature intended to challenge Felix personally. The young man could only blink at this display… “…I… really don’t know what to say to that…”
Suddenly the frothing goblin’s twitching stopped, and Felix stared in shock as a crossbow bolt pierced outward from between the creature’s eyes. All of the goblins were suddenly silent, looking toward one another with dumbstruck expressions as their comrade fell forward, lying face down on the ground. The eerie silence of the goblins continued, and shuffling of their feet could be heard as a path between their ranks opened up, revealing a man upon whom all of the goblins gazed with reverence, a black crossbow in his left hand, a wicked looking single edged broadsword in the other. The man strode between the ranks of the goblins with authority, and assured that this was the only authority goblins truly understood… The true fear of one with power.
The man wore a black breastplate over tattered black leather pants. His face was ugly, even by the standards of a half-orc such as he was. It was a face the young man, Felix was all too familiar with, and he could only mouth the name, making no sound… Val’moth…
“Hello, brother.” Val’moth’s voice was surprisingly clear, and well spoken. In a way, he had always seemed dignified, in spite of his appearance. Felix knew better…
The young man did not answer him, save to scowl with a look of the greatest hatred. Instead he pressed his own question forward. “What are you doing here, Val’moth?”
Val’moth made a toothy grin, which hardly made him more pleasant to see. “Oh, well you know… This and that, really…”
Felix grit his teeth. Motioning toward the goblins, he asked, “And what of your friends here?”
“Oh, dear brother, I think we both know I’ve never been one for friends… Consider them… convenience items, if you will…”
“You’ve finally lost it haven’t you…? I knew you beyond hope… I always knew…”
“Now now, brother… I’ve never been a monster… Well… not until you made me out to be. After that, I had no choice.”
“No choice…? You bastard; you killed my mother!”
Val’moth shook for a second. His eyes lowered to the ground as his face darkened, drops of rain dancing across his putrid black hair. “Oh… Did I…?”
“Like hell you don’t know! …Damn it! Stop jerking me around!”
Val’moth slowly began to raise his head. He met Felix’s eyes, which shone his hatred clearly, with a look of undying rage in his own. “You… have no, idea…” Suddenly he broke forward, throwing his crossbow to the ground as he gripped his broadsword with both hands. The mighty blade crashed against Felix’s own, and deflected off of it as Felix weaved to the right.
With another ferocious swing, Val’moth’s deflected blade cause Felix to give more ground, the horde of goblins giving way for the two of them. With each blow of his sword, Val’moth forced Felix further and further back, until the two of them were out of the alley and in the middle of a street. Deflecting another blow from Val’moth’s blade, Felix strode forward, attacking low. Val’moth blocked with and underhand parry. Following through, Felix struck again high. Again, Val’moth raised his blade, and parried, this time delivering a riposite aimed at Felix’s belly. The young man evaded back, just barely avoiding the attack before springing forward with a slice across Val’moth’s torso, but the half-orc was quick, and evaded the attack as well, leaving Felix with his back exposed as he passed by. Felix did not allow time for a counter, however, as he swung his blade about again, his attack being blocked and the two brothers standing face to face, their blades locked together as each pressed against the other.
“I can never forgive you!” Felix growled. “I swore, I would avenge mother… I’ll never forgive a heartless bastard like you!”
Val’moth answered slowly, pressing harder against his blade. “Nor… I… you!” Suddenly he backed away. The lack of pressure caused Felix to stagger forward, and with a flick of his blade, Val’moth removed Felix’s sword from his hand. Shocked at this turn, Felix was unable to react as Val’moth reached for his throat. Lifted off the ground by his neck, Felix could only struggle to breathe as he clawed at Val’moth’s arm. Somberly, Val’moth lowered his eyes. In a deep tone, he whispered, “Someone like you… could never understand the pain of someone like me…”
Turning to the side, Val’moth released his grip, Felix stumbling backward into an abandoned fruit stand. Before he could even finish gasping for air, Val’moth raised a heavy boot, kicking Felix in the chest, and sending him careening over the fruit stand and through the window of the building beyond, the fruit stand and wooden planks falling over, sealing the window with debris as he fell. As he crashed through to the floor, Felix finally lost consciousness.
Val’moth continued to stare after his brother. The rain was pouring down, and the village was abandoned. Only ruins would remain once the fires were doused. He turned, striding down the street, surveying the scene. The rain glazed from his hair, draping it over his face, as the last of the fires blew steam into the air. He stared out beyond the destruction…
“Am I really…?” He knew what it was… but he just couldn’t bring himself to say the word. A voice, not his own, echoed within his mind, laughing at him. Mocking him… Monster…
Royal
Episode 2
Hope for Tomorrow
Prologue:
The Boy’s Mother
I had a dream again. That same dream I’ve had every night… In the dream, I was a child again. I was back at my old house, and I was cringing behind a chair. I could see nothing but the silhouette of the person standing in the doorway as the light shone through, blinding me. I did not fear this person… Not by any means, for I knew, this was my mother. And yet… I was so very afraid… In her arms was a bundle, wrapped in cloth. There was no sound, save for my mother’s voice.
“Felix, I would like for you to meet someone. This will be your brother. His name is Val’moth.”
Chapter 1:
Brotherhood
Felix awoke to disjointed cries of suffering, and fear. Shaking himself free of the stupor of his dreams, he realized the inn was ablaze! Immediately grasping his sword from beside his bed, he made for the door to his room, but he stopped himself just before grasping the handle. Something seemed wrong to him… It almost seemed as if the door itself were contorted, and twisting in on itself. With a gasp, Felix ducked to the side, not a moment before the door flew from its hinge, crashing through the window at the opposite side of the room as a blast of heat and flames seared the room.
Gritting his teeth, Felix lifted himself to his feet. Okay… So not that way… This time, he turned to his shattered window. He had been staying on the second floor, but the drop itself was not so great. Resolving it to be safer than braving the burning halls, Felix crawled through his shattered window. Grasping the side of his windowsill in one hand, he lowered himself down as far as he could to lessen his fall to the ground. Then taking a breath, he released his grip.
He hit the ground hard, straining the muscles in his legs, but he was not injured. Still reeling from the shock of waking up in a burning building, it took a moment for the gravity of his surroundings to dawn on him. What in the… world…? The entire town’s on fire! All around him, the townspeople were frantically running about, screaming. One man caught his attention in particular. This man ran around a corner only to be felled by an arrow.
Felix’s ears were met with the chattering and screaming of the creatures who had no doubt caused this mayhem. One by one a stream of gibbering goblins came into view from all around. With a scowl of disdain, Felix drew his sword, allowing the scabbard to fall to the ground. He lifted the weapon with both hands and met his stance. He muttered to himself, “Burn… with righteous fury, oh blade…” He charged forth with sword in hand.
An arrow, no doubt from the same quiver which had felled the man before him, passed by Felix’s shoulder. How fortunate that goblins are not known for their aim… Unfortunately, the creatures also brought their true strength to bear as three goblins reached Felix at once. Weaving to the side, Felix met the goblin on his left. The creature swung a broadsword far too large for itself downward. Felix stepped into the attack with his left foot, striking the goblin’s blade from below with such force that both of the creature’s arms flew up as it struggled to hold onto its weapon. Felix then pivoted on his left foot, bringing his right forward to allow for an immediate counter as the momentum of his weapon carried him full circle. Striking from below again, Felix severed both of the goblins arms, the creature shrieking in pain as it collapsed backward. Then leaping back to gain himself some distance as the two other goblins drew courage to strike, Felix struck a low, and forward stance with his blade before stepping forward on his left foot, bringing his blade in an arc before him with all of his might. The first goblin was caught off guard, and was cleaved in two, while the second made to block, but it was too weak to stop the blade, and Felix struck the second goblin as well, his blade stopping midway through the creature’s belly. With a kick from his right, Felix freed his sword from the goblins body, flourishing his sword and readying a high, forward stance.
Felix let out a gasp. He had been careless as he dealt with the first of the goblins, and now found himself surrounded. This is bad… Gah… Well, I can’t really go back now… Changing to a low stance, Felix challenged the goblins. “Come on! The first one can die…” This seemed to give the goblins pause. Several of them glanced to one another, muttering. Then with a fierce cry, they all charged at once. “Dyuh!” N-… no way! They all came!? O-oh, this is bad. “Hyah!”
Crying out, Felix lashed out with his blade, desperately trying to evade every tiny blade that struck at him, until he finally made it to the edge of the circle. What was I thinking!? Even if I do take a few of them, there’s no way I can defeat all of them! Not all at once… Ooohhh… This is bad! “Uergh!” Felix parried a blow with a clumsy single armed swing from his sword.
He had managed to make it opposite of the attacking goblins, but Felix was still drastically outnumbered, and the lingering worry of an arrow or crossbow bolt striking his back kept him at guard, but he couldn’t turn away from the goblins before him. Any moment he did, three of the goblins would pounce only for him to recklessly reflect their attacks with his sword. He was losing composure, and the thought worried him all the more.
Suddenly Felix felt something against the back of his legs. A length of rope? Caught surprised, he fell backwards to be pounced on by a goblin with twin knuckle claws made from bone. It was too close, and Felix’s sword fell from his hands as he desperately repelled each of the goblin’s vicious blows, until finally he managed to grasp both of the goblin’s arms by the wrist. With a heave, Felix tossed the creature off of him, springing to his feet as he grasped his sword from the ground. Without thinking he struck a nearby goblin as it attacked, and found himself backed into a wall. Bad… bad... bad! …I… I can’t think… What can I do?
Suddenly, Felix felt a tremor beneath his feet. The goblins looked to one another in alarm. Upon a second tremor, the creatures began fleeing in terror. Exhausted, after the last goblin had left, Felix allowed the tip of his blade to fall to the ground. Dragging his sword after him, he stumbled into the middle of the road, then turning as the tremors seemed to grow stronger. “Oh no…” Before him, only the length of two buildings away, stood a massive, hulking figure. It was not quite as tall as the surrounding buildings, and carried no weapon, but that hardly seemed to matter. It’s grey, leathery skin seemed as though it would be impossible to pierce, and its sheer size was surely its weapon. “…Do I even need to say it…?” The reason the goblins had fled so suddenly was certainly no mystery, as the creature leaned forward delivering a bellowing roar that shook the frames of the surrounding buildings. Felix waited, unmoved until the monster had finished, before turning quickly and dashing away, screaming unreservedly.
A thundering roar and crashing footsteps made it clear to Felix that the troll wasn’t about to simply allow him to flee. He had to find a way to escape that the troll couldn’t follow. Darting his gaze about, Felix spotted a large building which was mostly untouched by the flames of the burning city. Specifically, it was an inn, though a substantially nicer place than where he had been staying. He dashed inside.
The room Felix found himself in was the registry, with a staircase traveling to the upper floors, and a large common area in the next room. Gasping for breathe, the young man couldn’t help but laugh. “Well… I don’t imagine he’ll be able to follow me in here. Heheh! Lucky break…” His enthusiasm was short-lived…
Not a moment after he finished his statement, a massive grey hand shattered through the wall, sweeping across the room. Acting on instinct, Felix fell to the floor, barely avoiding the creature’s wrist as its hand smashed the front desk into the common area. The arm was yanked back through the wall, and not wasting a moment, Felix was back on his feet. The troll’s snarling head burst through the doors chomping, and biting, causing Felix to leap back in a fright. As the troll crawled through it brought its right arm about, trying to grasp at the young man as he fled into the common room. The tight walls kept Felix just outside of the creature’s grasp. With a roar of anger, the troll brought itself forward, smashing through the connecting wall to the common room.
Vaulting over a couch, Felix dashed to the back of the room where an opening in the wall gave way to the dining area. The troll crawled after him, smashing furniture, and recklessly damaging the walls and ceilings. A chair was struck by the troll, smashing to pieces against the wall to the left of the opening into the dining room just a moment before Felix made it past the arch himself.
Wow he wasn’t sure how the monster had managed it, Felix couldn’t help but to be a little impressed that the monster had kept pace with him so well. Dancing between the tables, and chairs strewn all about the room Felix kept running, even as the trolls bellows shook the room as it crawled after him. The troll batted away any obstacle in its path, causing a chair to fly after Felix, skidding along the floor and tripping him. With a cry, the young man fell to his back, and the troll quickly closed the distance.
Felix made to his feet as fast as he could, but was caught by a grey streak as the troll swung its left arm through the room, sweeping away everything in its path, and sending Felix crashing hard into a wall, bumping his head. Disoriented, Felix collapsed to the ground. A moment later he regained his senses, and he could hear a distinct creaking that seemed to stand out from the troll’s rampage. As he raised his eyes, Felix unwittingly met the gaze of the troll. With a roar, the monster swung its fist toward him, Felix just barely managing to spring to his right in time to avoid it. The troll’s arm crashed through the wall, reaching past its elbow as it tore through into the center of the building. But then it stopped, straining backward. Its arm had become lodged somewhere beyond the wall, and once again Felix could hear the strained creaking and cracking of wood.
“Oh no…” Without a second thought, Felix turned, dashing toward the nearest window. Behind him the troll roared in frustration, and with a mighty heave, tore its arm to the side, thrashing through the walls and all that lay beyond as its arm became free. This was the final drop, and just as Felix reached the window, the building began to collapse in on itself, a plank of wood cutting his leg as it fell and he leapt through the window, shattering glass as he tried to protect himself with his arms. As soon as he was beyond, the walls themselves fell backward onto the building, the troll’s screams dying out.
As the dust cleared, Felix gasped for breath. It slowly began to dawn on him what had just happened… He slowly began to laugh, cheering for himself. After all, he had managed to slay a troll! …Right? The young man’s joy was interrupted by a sudden roar, as a massive grey arm struck out from the rubble, reaching up into the sky (and prompting a terrified squeal from Felix). The arm held itself upright for a moment, before falling limply against the rubble. Felix placed his hand to his chest with a sigh. “Geez… Don’t scare me like that….” With a glare, he added meekly, “…J-just stay dead… alright?” With no response from the troll, the young man cautiously stepped forward, reaching out with his sword as far as he could and poking the tip of the troll’s finger (twice), before jerking back with his sword raised in both hands. With still no reaction, he laughed confidently. “Yeheah… Oh, that’s right…”
Lowering his stance, Felix felt the back of his neck, then looking up toward the sky. He had felt a wet drop against his neck… It was beginning to rain. For a moment, the world almost seemed serene, but as usual, it wouldn’t last. The gibbering and cries of goblins echoed throughout the streets once again. From all around, a stream of goblins appeared and began to surround Felix. Clenching his sword in hand, he growled, “Oh, come on! I don’t have the energy for all of this…” With a sigh, he swung his blade upward, letting it fall to a middle stance. The goblins seemed to find this display of resolve amusing. Their laughter was almost insulting… or at least it would have been if Felix didn’t consider all goblins to be jabbering idiots whose opinions rarely went beyond whether maggots make rotting meat better or worse. They were certainly annoying, however…
Amongst the cackles of the goblins, one stood out in particular. A fidgety creature in the front, armed with a pair of dented swords, with mean red eyes that never seemed to focus, and a frothing mouth. He strode forward with a twitch in… well, everything… cackling and waving his blades around as though the creature intended to challenge Felix personally. The young man could only blink at this display… “…I… really don’t know what to say to that…”
Suddenly the frothing goblin’s twitching stopped, and Felix stared in shock as a crossbow bolt pierced outward from between the creature’s eyes. All of the goblins were suddenly silent, looking toward one another with dumbstruck expressions as their comrade fell forward, lying face down on the ground. The eerie silence of the goblins continued, and shuffling of their feet could be heard as a path between their ranks opened up, revealing a man upon whom all of the goblins gazed with reverence, a black crossbow in his left hand, a wicked looking single edged broadsword in the other. The man strode between the ranks of the goblins with authority, and assured that this was the only authority goblins truly understood… The true fear of one with power.
The man wore a black breastplate over tattered black leather pants. His face was ugly, even by the standards of a half-orc such as he was. It was a face the young man, Felix was all too familiar with, and he could only mouth the name, making no sound… Val’moth…
“Hello, brother.” Val’moth’s voice was surprisingly clear, and well spoken. In a way, he had always seemed dignified, in spite of his appearance. Felix knew better…
The young man did not answer him, save to scowl with a look of the greatest hatred. Instead he pressed his own question forward. “What are you doing here, Val’moth?”
Val’moth made a toothy grin, which hardly made him more pleasant to see. “Oh, well you know… This and that, really…”
Felix grit his teeth. Motioning toward the goblins, he asked, “And what of your friends here?”
“Oh, dear brother, I think we both know I’ve never been one for friends… Consider them… convenience items, if you will…”
“You’ve finally lost it haven’t you…? I knew you beyond hope… I always knew…”
“Now now, brother… I’ve never been a monster… Well… not until you made me out to be. After that, I had no choice.”
“No choice…? You bastard; you killed my mother!”
Val’moth shook for a second. His eyes lowered to the ground as his face darkened, drops of rain dancing across his putrid black hair. “Oh… Did I…?”
“Like hell you don’t know! …Damn it! Stop jerking me around!”
Val’moth slowly began to raise his head. He met Felix’s eyes, which shone his hatred clearly, with a look of undying rage in his own. “You… have no, idea…” Suddenly he broke forward, throwing his crossbow to the ground as he gripped his broadsword with both hands. The mighty blade crashed against Felix’s own, and deflected off of it as Felix weaved to the right.
With another ferocious swing, Val’moth’s deflected blade cause Felix to give more ground, the horde of goblins giving way for the two of them. With each blow of his sword, Val’moth forced Felix further and further back, until the two of them were out of the alley and in the middle of a street. Deflecting another blow from Val’moth’s blade, Felix strode forward, attacking low. Val’moth blocked with and underhand parry. Following through, Felix struck again high. Again, Val’moth raised his blade, and parried, this time delivering a riposite aimed at Felix’s belly. The young man evaded back, just barely avoiding the attack before springing forward with a slice across Val’moth’s torso, but the half-orc was quick, and evaded the attack as well, leaving Felix with his back exposed as he passed by. Felix did not allow time for a counter, however, as he swung his blade about again, his attack being blocked and the two brothers standing face to face, their blades locked together as each pressed against the other.
“I can never forgive you!” Felix growled. “I swore, I would avenge mother… I’ll never forgive a heartless bastard like you!”
Val’moth answered slowly, pressing harder against his blade. “Nor… I… you!” Suddenly he backed away. The lack of pressure caused Felix to stagger forward, and with a flick of his blade, Val’moth removed Felix’s sword from his hand. Shocked at this turn, Felix was unable to react as Val’moth reached for his throat. Lifted off the ground by his neck, Felix could only struggle to breathe as he clawed at Val’moth’s arm. Somberly, Val’moth lowered his eyes. In a deep tone, he whispered, “Someone like you… could never understand the pain of someone like me…”
Turning to the side, Val’moth released his grip, Felix stumbling backward into an abandoned fruit stand. Before he could even finish gasping for air, Val’moth raised a heavy boot, kicking Felix in the chest, and sending him careening over the fruit stand and through the window of the building beyond, the fruit stand and wooden planks falling over, sealing the window with debris as he fell. As he crashed through to the floor, Felix finally lost consciousness.
Val’moth continued to stare after his brother. The rain was pouring down, and the village was abandoned. Only ruins would remain once the fires were doused. He turned, striding down the street, surveying the scene. The rain glazed from his hair, draping it over his face, as the last of the fires blew steam into the air. He stared out beyond the destruction…
“Am I really…?” He knew what it was… but he just couldn’t bring himself to say the word. A voice, not his own, echoed within his mind, laughing at him. Mocking him… Monster…