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Single Author Stories / Re: Argutae's Saga
« on: April 19, 2008, 04:26:25 am »
knock, knock.......
......................
"Will-o-wisp and eye of newt I cast into a flame. Beware: it shall destroy your soul if I do not recognize thine name..."
"Snuff it out oh gypsie lass, I am a friend of old. Your flame shall not burn me, for low and behold:
Argutae"
....The wooden door creaked open, ever so slowly, accompanied by the squeak of the protesting timbers. A wavering light cast by a single torch danced across the mud wall in the black of night. Outside the small hut stood a tall figure cloaked in lustrious blue. All around were tall clustered buildings, the windows dark for the night. Only and elf could detect the stirrings of the night that echoed in the alleys. The air was filled with the acrid, burnt smell of smoke, and bodily biproduct.
Then with one sweeping movement, like a wraith the figure was gone into the hut. Though the way he moved it appeared moreso that the black doorway swallowed him.
Argutae brushed the hood from his face. He turned a protrusion on the broach, composed of many gems, and the arms clasping the cloak released. The cloak fell to the floor, rippling like water. Atop a counter at the far end of the room idly sat a Diaboli girl, wearing a tight corset that scarcely covered her breast and gave way merely to a sil skirt that merely reached her knees. Argutae wove around the many scattered tables in the tavern until he reached the dim light of the flickering candle, an orb of light in the black room, not a foot from the girl. The strong smell of ale still clung to the air, as well as tobacco smoke, burning the back of his throat and nose.
"Well, well, well," she sneered, revealing her sharp teeth, filed to a point, "back in the big city so soon? And where is that brother of yours?" She stressed the word brother making it drip with sickly sweetness.
"You are the oracle, you tell me." he said.
"That's right sweetie," she cackled, "I can see your past. Just like how I know that handsome little thing you pamper is a pus-spitting sin against the gods!"
A metallic twang rang out. Argutae's rapier was at the girl's neck.
"Now honey," her grin had not faded, nor had she flinched, "is that any way to ask for someone's help? I'll be obliged to throw you into the street if you're going to threaten me..." he bright red lips, coated in makeup pouted. For a second Argutae was mesmerized by her perfect skin. Not an inch of it wrinkled and her lucious brown eyes became wide and bright. Though he say a flame flicker in them, one not cast by a candle. Then he was himself.
He lowered his sword.
"Good boy." she smiled again. "So where is the abomination anyway?"
"You should know Rinnata."
The girl's idleness disappeared. Her face was blank with shock at the metion of her name. For a moment she looked afraid, before she regained her composer.
"I'm a bit drunk to do any readings right now," she cooed.
"Fine. He is back at the Emereld Sylph Inn."
Rinnata feigned concern, "You left the poor wittle thing in Cheapside all by his wonsome?"
"I placed enchantments around the room. Not even Laanx herself could get in."
"Himself you mean?" she said accusingly.
"I like to remain sympathetic."
Rinnata stood in one fluent motion.
"You would." she said. "After all, what else have you ever known? It was all you could learn from those neighbors of yours; your dear old parents sure as hell didn't teach you anything."
"Rinnata, I warn you-"
"Oh the fair elven maiden. Here man an eccentric alchemist, off on a journey in the Stone Labyrinth, practicing his art, when she became prgenent. For many moons he did not return and she found she was pregent," Rinnata danced around Argutae, who looked at the floor, "though her parents would not help her, for they disowned her for marrying such a poor man! She fell ill in despair, and did not help herself, though she a skilled herbalist. Word was sent for her husbands return, though he came too late! Near dead was she. He an alchemist he had no way to save her, as they possess no power over The Form, save that do destroy it.
"He carried his poor wife to the Temple of Talad and prayed, though it seemed she would die. In her state she would never reach the portal of life once she went. What was the man to do? Then came-"
"Enough!"
"-the black witch Esmerelda. She had sold her soul to Laanx for magical power, a dark, dark sin, and a cursed life, though she was the only hope for the dying elf and her baby, so she cast a spell. It had a dule effect-"
"STOP!"
"All her unholy energies bombarded the woman, ripped her mind apart and made her weak, though her body filtered them out, and the bouncing baby received only lunar god magic-"
"Shut-"
"She barely lived the remainder of her pathetic existance. Mad and aware, though anable to speak. Always awake but always alseep. Baby Argutae only knew the sympathy of the neighbors who cared for his vegetable of a mother and brought him food, and scolded his father, who viewed his son as a monster responsible for her death. So what did he do?"
"BE QUIET!"
"He took some of the monster's hair and grew it, in hopes his creation could give his wife functioning organs, working cells, for the mind, a heart. Just a bag of transplants. In a test tube he fostered and embrio, then implanted it in a cow! What popped out? Baby Loden! A Homunculus!"
Crack.... A whip wrapped about Rinnata's wrist. Argutae's tall form pinned her to the wall, never touching her, but threatening.
"If you recall," he held out his hand, "I also saved your life." He held in up to her chest. An 'x" appeared over her heart, carved into her skin by light. Suddenly she fell to the floor and clutched the spot on her chest. She looked up at him with disheveled strands of hair hanging in her contorted face. He grabbed her by the neck and forced her up against the wall.
"Rinnata Alperra le Dez. By the power of your name I command you to let me see Mamma Lurra."
Rinnata looked shocked.
"Filthy gypsie," he spat, "you are cursed no? Though gypsie magic is so simple."
Rinnata looked defeated. She spat out a word. The wall behind the counter turned to stone. The shelves stocked with bottles simply disappeared. The stone parted down the middle revealing a hallway.
"Always a pleasure." then he dropped her and walked in.
......................
"Will-o-wisp and eye of newt I cast into a flame. Beware: it shall destroy your soul if I do not recognize thine name..."
"Snuff it out oh gypsie lass, I am a friend of old. Your flame shall not burn me, for low and behold:
Argutae"
....The wooden door creaked open, ever so slowly, accompanied by the squeak of the protesting timbers. A wavering light cast by a single torch danced across the mud wall in the black of night. Outside the small hut stood a tall figure cloaked in lustrious blue. All around were tall clustered buildings, the windows dark for the night. Only and elf could detect the stirrings of the night that echoed in the alleys. The air was filled with the acrid, burnt smell of smoke, and bodily biproduct.
Then with one sweeping movement, like a wraith the figure was gone into the hut. Though the way he moved it appeared moreso that the black doorway swallowed him.
Argutae brushed the hood from his face. He turned a protrusion on the broach, composed of many gems, and the arms clasping the cloak released. The cloak fell to the floor, rippling like water. Atop a counter at the far end of the room idly sat a Diaboli girl, wearing a tight corset that scarcely covered her breast and gave way merely to a sil skirt that merely reached her knees. Argutae wove around the many scattered tables in the tavern until he reached the dim light of the flickering candle, an orb of light in the black room, not a foot from the girl. The strong smell of ale still clung to the air, as well as tobacco smoke, burning the back of his throat and nose.
"Well, well, well," she sneered, revealing her sharp teeth, filed to a point, "back in the big city so soon? And where is that brother of yours?" She stressed the word brother making it drip with sickly sweetness.
"You are the oracle, you tell me." he said.
"That's right sweetie," she cackled, "I can see your past. Just like how I know that handsome little thing you pamper is a pus-spitting sin against the gods!"
A metallic twang rang out. Argutae's rapier was at the girl's neck.
"Now honey," her grin had not faded, nor had she flinched, "is that any way to ask for someone's help? I'll be obliged to throw you into the street if you're going to threaten me..." he bright red lips, coated in makeup pouted. For a second Argutae was mesmerized by her perfect skin. Not an inch of it wrinkled and her lucious brown eyes became wide and bright. Though he say a flame flicker in them, one not cast by a candle. Then he was himself.
He lowered his sword.
"Good boy." she smiled again. "So where is the abomination anyway?"
"You should know Rinnata."
The girl's idleness disappeared. Her face was blank with shock at the metion of her name. For a moment she looked afraid, before she regained her composer.
"I'm a bit drunk to do any readings right now," she cooed.
"Fine. He is back at the Emereld Sylph Inn."
Rinnata feigned concern, "You left the poor wittle thing in Cheapside all by his wonsome?"
"I placed enchantments around the room. Not even Laanx herself could get in."
"Himself you mean?" she said accusingly.
"I like to remain sympathetic."
Rinnata stood in one fluent motion.
"You would." she said. "After all, what else have you ever known? It was all you could learn from those neighbors of yours; your dear old parents sure as hell didn't teach you anything."
"Rinnata, I warn you-"
"Oh the fair elven maiden. Here man an eccentric alchemist, off on a journey in the Stone Labyrinth, practicing his art, when she became prgenent. For many moons he did not return and she found she was pregent," Rinnata danced around Argutae, who looked at the floor, "though her parents would not help her, for they disowned her for marrying such a poor man! She fell ill in despair, and did not help herself, though she a skilled herbalist. Word was sent for her husbands return, though he came too late! Near dead was she. He an alchemist he had no way to save her, as they possess no power over The Form, save that do destroy it.
"He carried his poor wife to the Temple of Talad and prayed, though it seemed she would die. In her state she would never reach the portal of life once she went. What was the man to do? Then came-"
"Enough!"
"-the black witch Esmerelda. She had sold her soul to Laanx for magical power, a dark, dark sin, and a cursed life, though she was the only hope for the dying elf and her baby, so she cast a spell. It had a dule effect-"
"STOP!"
"All her unholy energies bombarded the woman, ripped her mind apart and made her weak, though her body filtered them out, and the bouncing baby received only lunar god magic-"
"Shut-"
"She barely lived the remainder of her pathetic existance. Mad and aware, though anable to speak. Always awake but always alseep. Baby Argutae only knew the sympathy of the neighbors who cared for his vegetable of a mother and brought him food, and scolded his father, who viewed his son as a monster responsible for her death. So what did he do?"
"BE QUIET!"
"He took some of the monster's hair and grew it, in hopes his creation could give his wife functioning organs, working cells, for the mind, a heart. Just a bag of transplants. In a test tube he fostered and embrio, then implanted it in a cow! What popped out? Baby Loden! A Homunculus!"
Crack.... A whip wrapped about Rinnata's wrist. Argutae's tall form pinned her to the wall, never touching her, but threatening.
"If you recall," he held out his hand, "I also saved your life." He held in up to her chest. An 'x" appeared over her heart, carved into her skin by light. Suddenly she fell to the floor and clutched the spot on her chest. She looked up at him with disheveled strands of hair hanging in her contorted face. He grabbed her by the neck and forced her up against the wall.
"Rinnata Alperra le Dez. By the power of your name I command you to let me see Mamma Lurra."
Rinnata looked shocked.
"Filthy gypsie," he spat, "you are cursed no? Though gypsie magic is so simple."
Rinnata looked defeated. She spat out a word. The wall behind the counter turned to stone. The shelves stocked with bottles simply disappeared. The stone parted down the middle revealing a hallway.
"Always a pleasure." then he dropped her and walked in.
! Thanks, though, between you and me: is there any detail in the game yet? Everything was splashy clay figures and everything ran very slowly indeed. Of course the server did shut down soon after the creation of my character, so that may have something to do with it.
