Wind and Darkness Hiddenblade's sorrow

[Shadow1490]

This is my first attempt at something like this so it will most likley really suck but here goes. (Constructive criticism is welcomed)
Point 1: Idle Breezes
A group of Dermorians stepped out of the tunnel and into the light of the Azure sun. In truth it was more like two groups for there was a very noticeable divide in the group. One group was an image of a walking village with families and wagons loaded with all the assorted equipment needed to run a home and business and then some. The other group was outfitted more like a band of thieves or mercenaries. Every one of them bore multiple weapons that, unlike weaponry carried by some in the other group, looked well used and oft repaired. The members of this group did not physically any more ragtag than the other group but their way of holding themselves gave off an air of restrained violence and open wariness. The leaders of the two groups though close in age with each other and similar in appearance could not have been more different. The first was the image of a leader in a community that could always stand back up and rarely needed to use the weapons that the carried. The other wore his weapons with obvious confidence he looked at the world as though judging the threat level of everything. After looking around the area the first group’s leader turned to the other group’s.
“ Are you sure you won’t stay with us brother?”
“ Come on you knew that we couldn’t stay you may not mind, but I think your people do.”
“We could use the extra workers you know.”
“Look we’ve talked about this you knew we had to leave.”
Resigning himself to that his arguments were futile the younger brother nodded “Alright then Celthis I guess if I cannot convince you to stay I’ll simply say this you and your little band are always welcome among us and will always be no matter what. Never forget that Celthis Hiddenblade.”
Celthis smiled “Alright brother, I’ll remember.”

Time passed, more grains of sand dropped in the hourglass than most would care to count.

A Dermorian child slept in a tree over a cluster of wagons and tents. His red hair was cut short and he wore simple traveler’s clothes. A shirt and pants not of a fine cut but suitable for a child who spent most of his days outside.
   “Saelan get down here.”  The child peeked open one green eye to look down out of the tree and saw a Dermorian woman, his mother, standing at the foot of the tree looking impatient.
   “ Saelan Hiddenblade I know you are awake get down here right now!” Deciding that his mother’s tone was far too severe to try and pretend he was still asleep he sliped off his branch and onto the ground below.
   “Yes mother what is it?”
   “Your father wanted to see you. He said it’s about time you learned how to use a weapons.”
Saelan walked through the camp heading towards the center where he knew his father would be. He knew the way even though the camp layout was never the same twice. His father would always be at the center because he led their caravan and people. The group had always been wanderers they never stopped anywhere for very long for the dual reasons of safety and restless feet. Usually when it got cold they just found a place near a sizable town and stayed there until it became warmer. In a way Saelan loved stopping while the weather was cold. The caravan was entirely made up of Dermorians and he found the other races interesting.
 
Saelan pushed open the door to the caravan’s central wagon and was quite unsurprised to see his father standing there waiting for him.
   “Hmm Saelan you’re on time for once. Here catch.” His father tossed a short sword to Saelan and in the following hours showed him how to hold it and began to show him how to use it. Once the lesson was done Saelan’s father turned to his panting son and smiled.
   “Saelan there is more to what I and your other teachers are going to show you than simple sword work. There are a multitude of other skills you must learn, but for now you’ve done very well now we should go or your mother will skin us both for being late for dinner.”

[Shadow1490]

Point 2: Birth of winds, Birth of darkness
Time passed and the child grew taller and entered what would be called the teenage years in a human. His teachers taught him reading and writing and mathematics and his trainers taught him the sword and knife as well as unarmed combat. He received the same education as his peers and was if not happy then at the very least content.

The caravan had stopped by a town. The townsfolk were obviously suspicious of the group so the caravan camped on the other side of a small slowly flowing creek. Saelan had begun to explore the town and had met two individuals about his age. Kesman Dergen was a Xacha and he and Saelan talked about almost any topic imaginable and also exchanged knowledge. Saelan taught Kesman how to use a weapon to defend himself and Kesman taught Saelan basic magical theory. The two also spent a lot of time hunting in the area around the town and it was this way that they met Riamari Silverwake.
The two had been following a clacker that had gotten away from them earlier and having finished it off they were preparing to turn around and go back into the town when they heard cries for help and sounds of combat. Saelan was the first to react he dashed towards the sound and clambered up the side of a rock to see a trio of thugs closing in on a family of Nolthir. There were four in the family two males both of whom were trying to stop the thugs and two females one who was obviously the mother was casting blue way magic to try and halt the thugs but because her intent was not to kill and combat was simply not what she was used to the spells were mainly ineffective. The last family member a girl about Saelan or Kesman’s age was standing by her mother obviously horrified at everything going on around her. Saelan acted impulsively sliding down the rock and knocking one of the thug’s legs out from under him. Kesman decided to go for more of a scare tactic he used a red way spell (flame burst) to set a nearby bush on fire. The thugs seeing themselves out numbered decided it would be a much safer bet to run and took to their heels. Seeing the thugs flee Saelan relaxed and leaned back against the rock.
   “So where are you going?” He asked simply trying to start conversation with the family, which seemed to be just recovering from a near death experience.
As it turned out the family was going to the same town where Kesman lived and where Saelan’s caravan was camped.
Saelan, Kesman and the Nolthir girl, Riamari, got along quite well and began spending a lot of time together.
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Saelan and Kesman were decidedly more violent than their friend but they didn’t seem to notice Riamari’s shock or horror at hearing them discuss new methods of destruction or killing.
   “Did you see how I dealt with that last clacker?”
   “Huh Kesman I think you overdid it a bit. There wasn’t really much left of it.”
   “But that’s my point I turned it into a charred mass of shell and clacker legs.”
At this point Saelan noticed that Riamari looked sick.
   “Hey Riamari what’s wrong? You feeling alright?”
Riamari looked at him and to Saelan’s surprise her eyes shone with unshed tears.
   “ Am I alright? I’m fine it’s you two I worry about. You destroy too easily you focus on it. How can you take the destruction of anything so lightly?”
   “Hey it was just a clacker if we hadn’t killed it the thing might have attacked someone.”
   “That’s not what I mean Saelan its that you seem pleased that you were able to kill it easily. How long before testing your strength moves from killing clackers to killing other intelligent beings.”
Saelan simply rolled his eyes. “ Hey there’s a difference between a clacker and something intelligent.”
Riamari simply turned away and walked ahead of them until they returned to town.
That night the three were sitting on top of a local house staring up at the dimming crystal. Riamari’s outburst had been bothering Saelan all day so he voiced the question that was on his mind.
   “Riamari why were you so upset earlier?”
   “It was just that I was thinking. If you can talk like that about your capability to destroy then what’s to stop you from using that ability to destroy something less harmful than clackers?”
Kesman ever the thinker began to turn what Riamari had said over in his mind. “Huh I hadn’t thought about it that way it’s an interesting line of thought.”
Saelan’s eye lost focus as what his friend had said mixed with what his father had been teaching him. He remembered the day before after teaching him his father had begun to explain the family’s philosophy.
   “Saelan you must remember that in order to be successful you must keep your heart locked away forget about it. Honor, pride and glory are all that are left to those who fall into early graves. Saelan Hiddenblade keep these principles in mind and remember that there is no difference no matter who or what your opponent is you must destroy the enemy.”
   “Saelan?” Riamari’s voice jerked Saelan back to the present.
   “Hmm what is it?”
   “So do you promise?”
   “Promise what?”
   “You haven’t been listening have you? I asked if you would promise to learn to create something.”
   “ If that’s it then I promise.”

[Shadow1490]

More time passed and as it got colder and supplies grew dearer some of the people in the town began to notice things, mostly food, going missing. Because the folk in the caravan were strangers they were the first targets for suspicion. The issue simply made the preexisting distrust of strangers stronger but nothing happened for a while. Tensions boiled over when a group of thugs were seen near the grain silos.

Saelan heard shouting from his father’s wagon and crept underneath a window so that he could hear what was being said.
   “…and how are we to know that those thugs weren’t some of your people? You seem suspicious enough.” That sounded like the towns leader a Ylian whose ego was the only thing bigger than his stomach.
   “ Look I’ve told you those weren’t our people they were just some opportunists taking advantage of your lax security.”
   “ You cannot just say something like that why …” The town’s leader was cut off by someone; Saelan couldn’t see who, dashed in and then he heard Riamari speak.
   “ Those thugs came back they’ve taken some of the children and are demanding trias and food in order to get them back.”
   “This is all your fault Hiddenblade.” Saelan heard the townsman speak to his father. “I’ve seen your kind before. Now leave and maybe those thugs will follow you.”
   “With all due respect I think if we stay we may be able to get those children back to you. Normally I’d charge for something like that but in this case I’ll make an exception. Now Saelan get in here and get ready to track down those thugs.” Saelan slipped into the wagon and grabbed and pair of sword off the wall.
   “Ready father.”
   Saelan’s father smiled “Alright then let’s go”
The two Dermorians ran through the partially frozen landscape and until they reached a rocky hill that overlooked the thugs camp. Saelan knelt beside on rock ignoring the cold that began seeping in. He counted five thugs and then four children tied to a tree at the edge of the camp. Saelan’s father moved over to him.
   “Alright Saelan here’s the plan I’ll move in and distract the thugs there’s only five so even if they do catch me they’ll be in trouble. Once I do that move in and get those children back to the town.”
   Saelan nodded once watching his father move down through the rocks towards the thugs. Saelan smiled watching the as the thugs noticed his father and with thinking about their prisoners dashed off into the night after him. Saelan moved quickly frost crunching under his feet moving to the tree where the children were. He used his sword not bothering to untie the knot and guided the terrified children back towards the town. About halfway back to the town Saelan saw a thug approaching along the roadside his eyes seeing despite the darkness that the thug had hoped to hide in.
   “Get out here” Saelan called out watching as a thug stepped out onto the road.
   “Heh look Dermorian just hand over the prisoners and I’ll let you live.”
   Saelan smiled slightly drawing his swords “Hardly just turn back and you’ll see another day.”  The thug charged at Saelan how reacted instinctively by stopping his enemy’s blade with one of his and stabbing at his enemy with the other.
   The next day the children, although traumatized, were back in their homes. But instead of any respect the townsfolk seemed to build up more resentment towards the caravan.

[Shadow1490]

Point 3: Winds dance Darkness crawls and blood flows

Blood and fire. That was all Saelan could see. The air was thick with smoke and around him he heard the clash of weapons and the cries of men as they fought, killed and died. It is said that hindsight is perfect and Saelan could see the value in it now. The thugs he and his father had eliminated earlier had been part of a larger group and when that group had discovered that part of it had been eliminated they had attacked the town as payback. The townsfolk being suspicious of the caravan folk had attacked both the thugs and caravan folk. From there it had quickly deteriorated into a bloodbath the thugs had set the town's grain silos on fire and the it had spread even to the caravan that Saelan called home. The acrid smoke stung his eyes making visibility terrible he saw lights from burning houses fading and realized that he had almost made it back to the caravan. The townsfolk thought that the thugs and the caravan were the same and attacked either the caravanfolk defended themselves and the thugs tried to loot, burn and kill whatever they could. Then he heard footsteps coming from behind him and made out through the smoke a group of townsfolk armed with makeshift weapons from farming implements. He wasn't too worried about that until he realized that a group of thugs blocked his path through the stream. He sighed and tightened his grip on his sword hilts. One thug went down to a slash to his throat another fell from a thrust as Saelan charged them hoping to break through with out being forced to fight any of the townsfolk. He almost made it. As he stood in the stream, water swirling around his feet and getting inside his boots, facing three thugs with three townsfolk coming up behind him. The next few moments were to Saelan a whirl of blood and steel, fire and smoke and then he stood there in the stream six bodies around him. Saelan felt a wave of fatigue as all the time tense and prepared to fight or fighting caught up to him. Then he felt a powerful blow from behind and the world went spun and went black.

[Shadow1490]

Point 4: Balance
Saelan opened his eyes and was surprised to find himself facedown on grass. He stood up and couldn't smell char or blood. He was standing in what seemed to be a forest clearing it was utterly silent. Saelan walked forward the only sound was the whisper of his feet moving through the grass. Saelan walked along marveling at the peacefulness of the place. Growing up in a caravan of mercenaries he had essentially grown up among weapons and war. He remembered something his father had told him. A story of his family's history. Right after the group of Dermorians that his family had been part of had arrived at Yliakum because of the mercenary nature of part of the group there was a split. At this point his father noted to Saelan that it had been forgotten whether or not the split had been voluntary on both parts or not but that Saelan's ancestors had been mercenaries his father had chuckled "Saelan, consider it the family trade."
Saelan looked around for anyone else wondering how he had gotten to where he was. It didn't seem like the death realm that he had heard about and in truth Saelan was surprised to be alive. Then suddenly Saelan stood before a mirror. He hadn't walked up to it. It had been empty space one moment and then a mirror had appeared. Saelan walked up to the mirror and looked at it. Oddly enough instead of himself he saw words floating in thin air.
"Do you want to see reality?"
Perplexed Saelan reached out and touched the mirror. The moment his fingers touched the glass the world around him rippled and then starting at the edges of his vison the world began to shatter. Saelan wondered what would happen to him when the storm of shards of the world reached him. Then as abruptly as it started it stopped. Saelan found himself standing under a harsh sun which bathed everything in bloody light. The only thing that was the same was the mirror as he reached out for the one thing that hadn't broken he realized he was sinking. He looked down and saw he was standing on water dyed red by the light it looked like blood and it was icy cold. Looking around Saelan could see other things sinking down but he didn't have the time to figure out what they were. Now he was up to his waist and sinking faster he kept reaching for the mirror hoping that he could maybe get out of there. Then his head went under and he saw hundreds of shapes falling below him. They looked like swords or humanoid bodies, they didn't stay the same for long, and they sank and a much higher rate than he did. The cold gripped him like a vise and he kept reaching for the mirror then his hand went under. Suddenly he could see his own reflection in the liquid above him he reached out to it and when his fingers touched his reflection he realized something. He had seen his home and childhood burn. He had seen the stream running with blood. He was allowing his emotions to control his mind. He had to collect himself. He simply had to chill himself in this ice. "What good were combat skills" he wondered "If one's heart stops one from using them?"
Point 5:Imbalance
Saelan opened his eyes. He stood up. He saw the bloodied stream he lay in. He smelled the char of the caravan and the village. He saw the bodies lying everywhere. He heard the flames crackling as they consumed everything. He saw one last thug standing there looting a body. He stepped over the bodies of a Xacha and a Nolthir and ran the man through. Then he wondered what might be left that would be worth using.

[Shadow1490]

Saelan leaned against the rock and watched the caravan approach. A small smile played across his lips as he thought of the payment he would get after this job. It had been maybe half a year since he had left the smoldering ruins of his past behind him. A book and a few letters were all that were left now and those rested in his pack. He traveled alone now, he hadn't been able to find another living soul in that ash heap anyway. Saelan focused and shut out his memories he had a job to do. As the caravan approached the head guard, a large Ynnwn with a claymore strapped to his back, approached Saelan.
"Dermorian, you mind if we share this campsite with you? Its secure and there are bands of thieves in the area."
Saelan shook his head, " I don't mind at all."

Watching the crystal darken Saelan considered the reason he was there. A merchant a few towns back had asked Saelan to ruin his chief competitor who had a large amount of his assets in a single caravan which was so heavily guarded that simply hiring a band of thugs wouldn't do.
As the night wore on the head guard came over to Saelan again and sat down.
"So Dermorian you interested in making a quick bit of money?"
Saelan grinned slightly "Well that would depend. What do you want me to do?"
"Just take a shift with a group of my men. They don't have anyone with decent capability to see in the dark."

Saelan counted the circles and octa he had been given and smiled slightly, he really was glad he had taken this assignment. Saelan examined the short sword he had kept from his old home. It was in decent shape but he was going to have to repair it if he wanted it to last a good while longer. He checked the daggers that were hidden up his sleeves to make sure they were secure and hidden. Then he checked the gold-plated longsword he had pilfered out of the room of one of the guards. Saelan smiled and considered his options. He knew that he was going to need a heavily damaging diversion so he could get away and he also needed to compromise the caravan's security so that thieves would raid it. And most importantly he needed a quick way out.
The guards who were on duty were alert and well trained else the entire caravan slumbered. Well almost the entire caravan one Dermorian was slipping towards the wagons which were laden with the assorted merchandise that the caravan held. To Saelan's eyes the wagon was clear but to any of the Ylian guards it would be cloaked in shadows. Saelan tried the door and finding it locked pulled a dagger out his sleeve and tried to see if he could get it open. A few minutes later his efforts were rewarded with a slight click. Saelan then eased the door open a bit and slipped inside. In the near complete darkness Saelan could make out the shapes of casks of oil on the other side of the wagon. He pried open the top of one just to make sure that there was vegetable oil inside and that it wasn't water or some other liquid. Saelan knelt by the first cask and placed a lantern on the floor and as he turned to leave he intentionally knocked it over.
As Saelan dashed out of the wagon he was struck hard in the back knocked to the ground. Saelan rolled over to see the Ynnwn guard leader standing over him. The Ynnwn reached down and lifted Saelan off the ground.
"Alright Dermorian you'll tell me why you've been sneaking around so much."
Saelan grinned "Alright, alright just put me down and I'll tell you." The moment Saelan's feet touched the ground he pulled the longsword out of his pack and ran the Ynnwn through.
"Sorry nothing personal but I need to get going before this place goes up in smoke."
Leaving the Ynnwn to deal with both the blade and the gold Saelan turned and ran off as flames illuminated the caravan and drew thieves faster than free drinks draw dwarves.

[Shadow1490]

Point 5: Unsettled Balance
Saelan walked into the dimly lit room in the warehouse. Standing among the assorted crates was the man who had paid him to put an end to the caravan. To say the merchant was fat was an understatement. Saelan was surprised that the floor still intact. Saelan thought he had probably seen Kran who weighed less than this merchant.
The merchant glanced at Saelan. "So its done." It wasn't a question.
Saelan nodded "Of course. Now give me the other ten circles that you now owe me."
The merchant smiled in an unsettling fashion. "Ah about that. You see young Dermorian I've decided that I'm removing you from the payroll."
Saelan's hearing is all that saved him. At the last moment he heard the floor creak and dived to one side. Saelan scrambled to his feet and saw three big Ylians standing behind him. One of them was pulling his club out of the crate he had smashed instead of Saelan's head. The other two laughed as they moved to encircle Saelan drawing short swords. Saelan looked around trying to find a way out but the thugs were between him and the door and there were no windows. Saelan drew his sword and charged the one with the club. The thug was surprised by Saelan's sudden assault let Saelan get too close allowing him to slice the man's club at the handle. Saelan's next slash took out the man's throat. Saelan felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder and spun to face the other two one of whom had just stabbed him.
Saelan fell out the door bleeding badly there was only thug left but he had taken the other one's sword and was considerably more dangerous than the other two. Saelan picked himself up only to throw himself to the side to avoid a downward stroke that would have been fatal. Then the man's other blade bit into his right leg. Saelan stabbed at the thug with all the force he could muster and the man blocked it with ease. The man's face was confident and remained that way even as the dagger Saelan kept for dire situations slid into his throat. Even as the last enemy fell Saelan realized that he couldn't stay in this town. The merchant had enough influence that he couldn't afford to stay, not if he wanted to live. Saelan staggered to his feet and despite his numerous injuries managed to drag himself out of the town.
Saelan's wounds burned and he wondered how much longer he could keep himself moving. He limped over to a hill which gave shelter from eyes and hopefully any creatures that might come around. Saelan felt his eyes closing he couldn't... stay... awake... had... to... open... his eyes.

Saelan opened his eyes and saw he was sinking into icy water dyed red by a bloody sun. He tried to swim upwards and could see hundreds of swords sinking along with him. The cold stung him everywhere and clamped down on his body like a vise. he managed to pull himself to the surface and found himself standing before a mirror in a forest again. This time he could see himself but nothing else was reflected. Then he realized that his reflection seemed off. Saelan couldn't quite tell what it was but the person in the mirror was not quite Saelan Hiddenblade. He reached out to touch the mirror and everything shattered. The world turned into a tempest of shards leaving Saelan falling towards icy water. He reached out and to his surprise and he caught someone's hand. He looked up and was surprised to see himself, or at least it sort of looked like Saelan. The difference was a more relaxed sense about him and a slight grin upon his face. This other Saelan was standing on the air and had halted Saelan's fall.
The other Saelan grinned "Close one eh?"
"Um who are you?"
The other Saelan rolled his eyes "I'm a part of you of course. Haven't you figured out this is in your head yet?"
"A part... of me?"
" Exactly. Everyone has different facets I'm just the Hiddenblade part of you."
Saelan suddenly remembered a something he heard from his mother.

"Now Saelan remember that you are Saelan Hiddenblade first and a Hiddenblade mercenary second."
"Mother why is that important in any way. Isn't it the same?"
His mother had shaken her head. "Not at all. You'll see the difference someday. Now get to bed."

Saelan looked around as the forest and mirror seemed to peice themselves back together around him. Then he realized there was a third Saelan there. Unlike his Hiddenblade side this other Saelan wore well used armor and two swords upon his back. His eyes are very cold and he radiated tension and a sense being on guard. As this Saelan walked forward the ground around his feet splintered and revealed the icy water and bloody light Saelan had come to recognize. Each Saelan reached out and took hold of Saelan's arms. Saelan opened his eyes and found himself sitting against a rock with the light of the brightening crystal shining in through a hole in the little pit he had found. Saelan's wounds were still painful but he though he could probably get to the next town. Saelan set off down the road with a small poem he had learned in his cradle ringing in his head.

Wandering winds
Seeking darkness
Which path to take to your happiness?
The world exists in order and chaos
Light and darkness.
They exist for each other
Neither would have meaning without the other
and All are eternal
Which path to choose
Winds wander
Darkness seeks
Hiddenblade's sorrow

Point final: Eternity
Time passed and Saelan made his way to the city of Hydlaa. He stood looking at the gates his pack light upon his back. A sword on his back and a few tria in his pouch.
Saelan smiled "So this is Hydlaa."

Finis