PlaneShift
Fan Area => Roleplaying (Communitive Storywriting) => Single Author Stories => Topic started by: Caldazar on May 13, 2003, 04:13:17 pm
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Shadowhand - The Rising of a Brotherhood
The stars were shining with a mysterious glow that night, so many years ago.
Errion were roaming the countryside, looking for a comfortable and safe place to spend
the night. His eyes were searching the landscape for any strange shadows,
a potential danger. He knew that if he relaxed for one second, they could be there.
They, always they. He did not know their names, and he knew he would never know them.
He first spotted them a week ago, while he was returning from a succesful hunt in the
labyrinth. They knew what they were doing, and he only got a short glimpse of them. Almost
as if they wanted him to know that they were after him, as if they were just playing a game
they found highly amusing. A game that they could put an deadly end any second they wanted
to. This bothered him. He, as an assassin, had encountered countless foes in his days, and
all of them were his foe. But now he was the hunted one, he was now the foe. He wasn\'t
frightened, he never was, but he had some strange feeling that he couldn\'t shake off. A
feeling that someone was watching him besides them. Someone who wasn\'t allthrough evil and
wanted to harm him, but, someone who wasn\'t quite clear over his feelings. This was a skill
he had acquired a long time ago, it grew as a result of his profession. It had aided him
many times, but now he was uncertain who this second watcher was.
Alirin sneaked form tree to tree, from shadow to shadow. He crouched behind a tree and drew
some lines in the sand. Who was this Errion? Who were those people who followed him?
Why were they hunting him without rest? So many questions, so few answers. He did not know
anything about Errion, still, he was sent here to kill him. But now, he doubted, was this
man someone he really wanted dead? His employer paid him well not to ask any question. But
still, he wanted to know more about this man. Alirin worked as an assassin, and he was a good
one. He went through with what he put in mind, always. Never had he failed in his
profession, nor had he any second thoughts about assassinating someone. After all, it was
a job like any other. A little unconventional perhaps, but still, that was how he earned his
living. But this man, this dermorian. There was something special about this man. From
the beginning he wasn\'t sure, but now he knew, there were not a shadow of a doubt, this
Errion was an assassin like him. Inside Alirin raged a battle, on one side his self-esteem,
never had he not fullfilled an assignment. On the other hand there was his feelings towards
his fellow assassin. He had never killed an assassin. Could he do it? And if he could,
there was a second question. Would he do it?
He shrugged and stood up once again. He had reached a decision. A decision that he knew that
he would never regret, no matter what troubles it put him through. It took him a few seconds
to locate Errion and his stalkers, then he quietly ran through the shadows of the night.
He felt truely alive. He loved hunting.
Errion ran silently through the landscape, as did his followers. He was getting tired, he
hadn\'t slept for days. He was worried that his stalkers would eat up the distance between
them, and finally get their hands on him. He now realized something that he should have
known many years ago, a rouge should never walk alone. Before his eyes he saw hundreds and
hundreds of rouges fighting side by side, as brothers and sisters. He was stunned by the
vision. It was as if the gods themselves had sent him this vision in his lonely despair.
He swore that if he managed to kill the two stalkers, he knew that it was either his life
or theirs, he would form a secret guild, a guild that would unite all rouges. No matter
race, sex or profession they might have. Filled with newfound courage he stopped running
and turned around. He could see that his followers stopped aswell. They both looked at him
in the darkness. He knew that he would have little chance against two assassins. He was
certain that his stalkers knew this aswell. Errion did something that he had not done in
a long, long time. He prayed. He prayed to the gods for salvation, for his dead fathers
soul for his fellow assassins, for the entire world beneath the azure sun. With his head
lowered in a prayer, he could see the two assassins closing up on him, not sure what to do
with their praying foe. Knowing that he it was not very likely that he would get out of
this alive, he drew his poisoned shortswords and smiled. A grim determination burned inside
his eyes. No one tried to assassin Errion without experiencing the true taste of death.
Alirin could see the three shadows circle around each other, two of the shadows always
trying to get behind the third. Errion was fighting bravely, but no man could take on
two skilled rouges all alone. Alirin knew that it was just a matter of time before the two
shadows reached Errion with their poisoned daggers, and then it would all be over. In one
smooth and precies movement he took out his bow, stringed it and aimed towards the first
of the two shadows. His arrows were made out of the finest tree findable under the azure
sun, and had cost him a fortune. Without thinking about the shadows family nor the shadow
himself, he unleashed the full energi of his longbow. The arrow swooshed through the
landscape, and hitted the first shadow in its right shoulder. It looked down on its wound,
trying to understand what had happened. He dropped his daggers and sank slowely down on his
knees. Seeing the tip of the arrow pointing out of his right shoulder, he groaned and fell
over. The wet grass were colored red with the blood of Errions stalker, and both Errion
and the second shadow leaped into the shadows.
Errion tried to grasp what just happened, when his attackers started to get awfully close
to him, an arrow came from out of nowhere, and struck the first shadow to the ground. This
must be the work of the gods, who else could send another rouge to aid him in his struggle?
Suddenly, Errion heard a noise. A tiny branch was trampled down. Using his instincts, and
reacting without thinking, Errion grapped the dagger he carried around his waist and threw
it towards the sound. the second assassin staggered out of the darkness, with the dagger in
his throath. In his hands he had a leather shield and a short sword, most likely poisoned.
He made a futile attempt at reaching Errion with his sword, but Errion easily parried it,
and ended his life by thrusting his two swords deep into his body. The man looked at
him, then he died in Errions arms.
Errion put his foot on the mans chest, and drew out his swords. He cleaned them on the
mans trousers, since his shirt was covered with blood. He realized that both of the
assassins were dead, or atleast badly wounded. He looked at the dead man and smiled, the
gods sure liked him.
Alirin watched Errion smile whilst Alirin was running towards the first shadow, the one he had
taken down with his bow. Alirin felt something he hadn\'t felt in a long time. Fear.
Could he trust Errion? Would Errion simply kill him? Alirin knew that Errion didn\'t like to
leave loose ends. He reached the wounded man and looked at him. He would not live long if
he didn\'t get medical attention. The man were lucky that Alirin hadn\'t have enough time to
poison his arrows. He broke of the arrows tip, and turned the man over so he could take out the
arrow. The man coughed, and looked at Alirin.
\"Why are you doing this?\" He wispered. \"I do not deserve this.\"
\"Many living men deserves to die, and many dead deserves to live. It is only the gods who
can deal out life and death. I don\'t want a fellow rouge dead. Now lie still so I can
patch you up!\" Alirin replied.
Alirin sewed the mans wound together, and he hoped that he hadn\'t loosed to much blood.
\"I owe you my life.\" Said the man. \"I will never lift my hand to harm you, neither will I
hurt anyone you call friend. From here on, I will be your friend, if you want me to.\"
Alirin smiled.
\"I would be glad to have you as a friend. Now what is your name brave one?\"
\"My name is Edell.\" The man answered.
\"Very well.. Edell\" Alirin said. \" My name is Alirin Mondera, but you can call me Caldazar.\"
Edell looked into Alirins eyes. He was indeed a magnificent man, yet, very dangerous.
He realized that if Caldazar wanted Edell dead, he would not live long. Friend or not.
Errion were standing in the shadows behind a large tree. He watched the two men talk, and
he wasn\'t quite sure what to do with them. He knew that the one called Caldazar was not to
taken lightly, but what about the other one? Who was he? After all, he did try kill him.
He decieded that it would be a good idea to learn more about the two men before he did
anything unplanned. Whe he came to think about it, Alirin Mondera did save his life.
He walked out of the shadows to greet his savior and his assassin.
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He reached for his dagger as he saw Errion coming out of shadows. Alirin Mondera was a man
of honor, and he would defend his newfound friend with his life. Errion saw the Alirins
hand reaching for the dagger, and he smiled and held out his arms.
\"You have nothing to fear from me ranger.\" he said and made a even bigger smile. \"I don\'t
make an habit of killing that have saved my life.\"
\"I\'m releaved to hear that.\" Alirin replied. \"I hope you understand that I can\'t let you
harm my friend here. He has suffered enough, If he doesn\'t get some food and warm clothes
soon he will die.\"
\"The you must hurry to get him to safety.\" answered Errion with a grim expression on his
face. \"Don\'t let me stand in your way.\"
\"Don\'t worry, I wont.\" replied Alirin. \"I found a new friend today, Edell. I would be more
than thrilled if I found two.\"
\"Humm.. You really are a nice man Alirin, how come you ended up as an assassin and rogue?\"
wondered Errion
\"It\'s a long story.\" Alirin looked at Edell. \"Too long for tonight. Help me get him to
safety.\"
\"Well, I suppose I could give you a hand..\" Errion answered \"But don\'t confound kindness
with weakness.\"
The two men walked over to Edell and carried him to a nearby farm. The days went by, and
Edell regained much of his former strength. Alirin and Errion helped the old farmer with
everyday things, like feeding the animals and cleaning the stables. The farmers wife and
their daughter took care of Edell while he was in bed, and soon he was strong enough to
walk by himself. A warm friendship soon grew between the three men, as they travelled
together. Edell did not want to talk about why he tried to assassinate Errion, or the
person, or persons that sent him. In spite of this, Errion and Edell got on well, something
that pleased Alirin much. As the time went by, the memory of that night many weeks ago
faded. They travelled all the lands of the azure sun, and explored a great deal of the
labyrinth. But one night, something happened that would change their lives forever.
Errion woke up screaming, soaking through with sweat. The others were awakened by his
screaming, and they quickly drew their weapons, since they assumed that his scream was a
cry of warning. When they understood that he had a bad dream, they muttered something about
grown-up men screaming like girls. They both went back to sleep immediately. Errion laid
down, but he couldn\'t get any rest. He kept thinking about his dream. In the dream he was
standing in a huge court, and all of the gods were assembled. Talad were the judge, and
when he talked the room trembled before his voice.
\"You have denied the task that was appointed to you! You Errion, you and no one else, must
form a secret society, and unite all rouges. This is the wish of the gods! Do not
disappoint us again, for then you will be forever damned!\"
Errion shivered when he thought about it. Could it really be the gods inside his head?
Did they have enough power to do such a thing? Was he going crazy, or did the gods once more
interfere with the living-world? He decided to believe the dream. After all, it was not
rare that people found the meaning of life in their dreams. He woke the other two up.
\"Wake up you two, we have much work to do!\"
Without any further explanation, he packed all their belongings and headed north, to the
city of the azure sun.
\"If you want to create history with me, then come with me to Yliakum.\" Errion said. \"I will
explain on the way\".
Once in Yliakum, they gathered a couple of fellow trustworthy rogues. Together they founded
the guild Shadowhand. The guild that will unite all rouges, and secretly control the city of the azure sun.
I would like some feedback on this, good or bad.
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FYI
bottombottomin=as.sa.ss.in
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No one? come on, a little feedback? good or bad?