[This is still a draft but, enjoy! There are Author Notes in the books ingame, removed them from here because they're a bit too IC... besides, got to have some reason to buy the books!
Enjoy]
The End Of Martin The UglyBy: Relayem Lorafe
Our ugly protagonist had now found himself in the Death Realm for the first time, having killed himself after the great Ezriel revealed to him the true depth of his ugliness. When Martin's eyes first openned he realized he was at home. The Death Realm held such disgusting creatures that even he would not go noticed. He may be the ugliest thing in the Death Realm but, the Death Realm was full of ugly things. And so, he began to make it his home.
During his time down there he did some research in the Library that Londris had put together. He found out such wonders down there but, none of the new findings helped him any. He continued to struggle with his looks as, even though he was surrounded by other things of no aesthetic value, travelers would still avoid him and he became lonely. The change in him that finding a home had caused slowly started to disappear until one day he met an amazing man, who saw past his disfigured face.
"Greetings, there sir... Oh my gods what happened to your face? Have you see it? Quick, we should bring you to a healer! It looks like Laanx finally got tired of being disfigured and decided to give all her scars to you. By the Gods how do you live with yourself?" Said the amazing man, running away. Alright, perhaps he didn't see past Martin's atrocious face but, he did change his life. Martin, after crying for some days, realized what the man had said. How he had answered Martin's problems. The answer seemed so simple now: wear a mask!
And so, Martin constructed a mask. It was very little more than a piece of wood kept on with a string. He had decided that it must be a solid material and not a cloth for cloth would reveal the outline of the face beneath. With his new mask he set forth into the land of the Living. The first who saw him would laugh or avoid him completely as his skill in making the mask was questionable at best. He found himself tripping over things he would not have before having the mask. Life was now just a different kind of terrible for our poor protagonist. Women avoided him, men laughed at him and children toyed with him.
One day, as Martin was walking towards the tavern of Kada he noticed Ezriel standing outside, sad and alone. A small part of him took pleasure in knowing that she had seemingly fallen on hard times but, the love that was began to resurface and so he walked towards her, ready to make peace and help her. But fate is a peculiar thing and just as he was about to reach Ezriel he was tripped by a young child!
Anger swelled up within Martin like never before and he struck out at the child, narrowly missing him. The child scurried off but, Jefecra had seen what had happened and shouted out.
"You dare strike a child?" Many heard Jefecra's angry bellow and looked over at the masked Martin with anger. Before long a mob was chasing him, he ran, he tripped and he fell down the large staircase near Kada's. Forcing himself to his feet he carried on, the mob was up the staircase and another had formed to his left, forcing him into the plaza.
Again, the answer to his problem lay with the one who had inspired the mask. The Goddess Laanx. If he could only make it to the well he could hide in the labyrinth of caverns beneath. He ran with all his might but, just as he entered the Iron Temple he found himself frozen; before him was the masked Goddess herself.
"You come to my temple wearing a mask? Do you wish to anger me or are you just to stupid to think twice?" Said the Great Lady.
"I - You see, Miss - Sir- Err.. your Godlyness. I have been cursed with such ugliness that I must wear a mask or be shunned."
"I hardly find that probable, prove it." Laanx said in a cool, steady voice that betrayed very little anger, though she felt much.
"As you wish, your Godlyness"
"Stop calling me that, it's stupid"
"Err, sorry" he replied sheepishly, as he removed the mask to the cold, masked Goddess.
"Oh, by me! Put that away! Sheesh, you've lived this long with -that- face. Ugh, it's hideous. Your face is to eyes was steaming Ulber droppings are to noses... No, worse!" cried out Laanx "Err... That is to say, young one," she continued in a much calmer way, "That I shall give you a chance for beauty, give me your mask!"
And so Martin gave Laanx his mask. With a wave of her... his... laanx's hand the mask suddenly became made of a metal that none had seen before. It was so light that one could not tell if they were holding it, so strong that no blacksmith's hammer nor sword could even leave a mark on it and so brilliant that no man could help but notice it. Laanx gave this mask to Martin and he put it on, it melded to his face perfectly.
"I have looked into your past, Martin, and seen that you have begun to ignore who you are. Ever since Ezriel came into your life you have stopped battle evil, this must not continue. Your hate of evil is what defines you. This mask shall be yours so long as you strive to defeat evil, in all it's forms. And every time you do so, it shall increase your beauty --- Or at least lessen how repulsive you are."
And so Martin found who he really was and was overwhelmed with a sense of confidence. He left the temple and the mob that gathered stood in awe of the great figure before him. There stood not Martin The Ugly but Martin The Masked.
