Curse

Tatile · Aug 30, 2008, 06:50 PM // 18:50

“Not that I’m boasting, but I’m better than you.” - Kiet

Well, it would seem we are in need of a little hero profession balancing here, so I took it upon myself to write a brief back story for a character I would like. A Canthan pirate Mesmer. Yes, the name I have chosen is supposedly Thai in origin, but I couldn’t find any Chinese or Korean ones I liked the look of. Ironically it means ‘honour’. Why ironic? Well this young man is a conniving thief who loves to stab people in the pack and then pick their pockets.

You may be wondering why such a man would be joining you on your adventures, or how he even came to be a Mesmer for that matter. I shall explain.

At the young age of ten, Kiet expressed interest in learning. His father, being his only parent when his mother ran off to Tyria with a shepherd, knew there was only one way to do this. He kidnapped a scholar. This poor soul was held strictly at knife-point for the months it took to teach wee Kiet to read and write. The pencil-pusher was often prone to seasickness as the pirate band voyaged between Elona and Cantha. This was of course a source of great amusement.

Kiet learned the trade of mesmerising in the various ports of call, tricking locals into emptying their purses for worthless trinkets and fooling monstrous plants into eating themselves.

Such was Kiet’s life until one fateful summer in his sixteenth year when too many members of the crew got far too drunk. Munity struck and his father was tossed overboard, along with several barrels of rum. In simmering rage Kiet retreated to his cabin and started to scheme. He is a terribly good schemer.

Dragged back and forth twixt Elona and Cantha, Kiet spent much time in his cabin, paying lip service to the new captain aboard. When finally they rested in Bosom Cove (for pirates and corsairs tend to have such naming conventions), Kiet brought his plan to fruition. With as much guile and gold as he could muster, he paid off a small young girl to follow his plan. She was the daughter of the local landlord, who owned a very rowdy, but loyal, pub. The captain and his mutineers were never seen again after that little girl did her part, and Kiet quickly set sail with a new crew.

Bosom Cove is his favourite port, and this is where you shall find him, in your quest for “extended” justice received from the Canthan ministry.

I was bored. I hope you weren’t overly bored by reading this though.

silavor · Aug 30, 2008, 09:18 PM // 21:18

Hm, so we would have a fat actor, a revenge-struck drama queen, and a conniving pirate for our mesmer heroes? ...Actually, I kinda like it. Oh, but where is this Bosom Cove, and if you feel like writing it up what "extended" justice received from the Canthan ministry causes you to quest there?

Tatile · Aug 30, 2008, 09:25 PM // 21:25

If I gain more interest perhaps I shall write more on Bosom Cove and the Canthan Ministry

Kiet, being raised at sea, would most likely not have set foot in most of mainland Cantha, but that does mean to say his lackeys haven't.

Tatile · Aug 31, 2008, 08:30 AM // 08:30

Part Two – Involving my own characters to fill in the role of “Character” for these quests. Only it’s been hit by some artistic licence, so I have two. Yays.

“Well young miss, your... uh... condition makes it quite hard for us to accept that you would be able to do this mission.” The Canthan Ministry was always wary of letting its citizens go, especially when they were famed heroes.

Bicharn sighed quietly. Her sight always came up in times like this. Such is the life of the Ritualist, being so attuned to spirit world, yet unable to see what is right in front of you. If only that old fool Togo was still alive, perhaps he could have aided her (or, more likely, Spirit Rift a cockroach).

“I do this not for myself, Minister Aiguo, but for Cantha.” The Ministry of Flame has taken to using wandering heroes for law enforcement off the homeland shores, but usually they were not Canthan.

A clerk hurried across the great hall, all aflutter. “Minister Aiguo! Minister Aiguo!” The very short clerk bowed deeply to the Minister and too Bicharn (not that she would notice), and smoothed out his robes. “Two members of the Sunspear Order are here to see you Sir.”

Two women strolled into the hall, one holding a bow covered in elaborate carvings, the other wielding a staff that looked more like a bludgeoning tool that a work of magic. Minister Aiguo smiled. “Well, Miss Shevae, it seems we no longer have any need of your services. Clerk Guozhi, please escort Miss Shevae out.”

***

Meanwhile, in the islands north of Istan...

“The Ministry of Flame have done what?” Kiet was bemused. He didn’t really care what the stuffy Ministries of Cantha did, he always just wondered why. A baby kraken flipped it’s tentacle out a passing ship, snatching a crew member from the riggings.

“They have ordered your capture and execution, mighty Kiet. It is rumoured two Sunspears have been sent after you.” Harpoons flew into the bubbling sea as more tentacles swung through the air. Kiet put down a little squid-headed statue he was playing with. The tentacles suddenly withdrew.

“Only two? I’m insulted.” The sailors aboard the boat waved to the shoreline and Kiet the Conniving waved back. “See to it that they are looted and pillaged. I’m off to Cantha.”

“Shall I tell Sophia you are leaving?” Gathii the Cultured asked, more out of politeness than anything else.

“She’s a giant aquatic squid; I don’t think she’ll mind.” Kiet smiled out at the sea. Lying that he was betrothed to the Queen of the Krakens one was of the best cover stories he’d ever thought of. It almost backfired when it turned out she exists.

***

Comments apperciated. I feel this is getting odder by the minute, I probably shouldn't write while half awake.

Koudelka · Sep 02, 2008, 07:11 PM // 19:11

I always wanted a Pirate Hat headgear, of superior plundering xD.

Well written.

Tatile · Sep 04, 2008, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Part Three: Wherein I get bored and decide we need more boating.

The air was filled with tang of salt sea air and the gut-wrenching stink of partially spoiled fish. Margrid covered her mouth and nose. She glared at the blind girl, almost useless and yet still dragged along for the ride. She sniffed her mask. Twice across three continents, besting unimaginable foes and being the one person to have pissed off Prince Bokka so much as to have been banished from all of Vabbi, she trusted her leader’s judgement. Though really, what purpose does a blind person have, even if they are some great spell caster?

“I’ve found us a boat.” Tatile walked over, her coin purse slightly lighter than usual. “The captain says he can take us far as the Amoon in Tyria. Then we find our own way down to Kourna.” Margrid cursed; all this pomp and posture just to convince some stuffy old man at a desk that they were legit.

“Good, these docks stink more than a kraken’s stomach.” The corsair paused and glanced at the blind girl, their so called ‘guide’ about Kaineng’s docks. “Will we be taking her with us? I don’t see how much use a blind girl will be.”

“Ritualists are versatile. Besides, the minister didn’t want her to leave Cantha; therefore she must have some merit about her. If worst comes to worst, she has a great figure.” Bicharn looked up, aware they were talking about her, but unable to understand what they said. She wrung her hands, turning back to stare at nothing. “Also you forget, being blind she is far more attuned to the spirit world than I. There will be treasure abound in this ‘Kiet’s cave and I’m sure it will of great worth... and magic.”

Margrid smiled, this ex-Sunspear certainly knew her way around the world. “So we board and head to the Amoon. It sure has been a while since we were in that region of the gods-forsaken desert.”

***

The Amoon loomed into view. Kiet smiled at the little outpost’s palm trees and trade. It had been some years since he had last set foot in Tyria; even that venture had been tiresome. He had found his mother, older and haggard, she hadn’t cared about his father’s death, or that Kiet was now a powerful pirate and Mesmer. She scoffed at him being the Lord of the Waves and turned her nose up at the offering of many new and exotic pie recipes (Kiet loved pie). He had loved his mother, even though she abandoned him long ago. With all her dismisses, he had the town razed and her cottage destroyed. He never saw her or her ugly Tyrian shepherd again.

Now, invigorated by news of his requested death, he sailed along the coasts of this once great land, headed toward his old homeland. The Amoon always served as a good stop over between Cantha and Kourna. It provided food, rest and lots of entertainment. Sometimes he just pretended to be a local and sent adventurers wondering off into the desert, after mighty beasts and great treasures that didn’t exist.

The docks were filled with boats. For all its failings to be a trading hub, the Amoon Oasis served to be a fine resting station for merchant ships. Kiet surveyed the collection, it was just as he had expected. Several Canthan sea-fairing junks were docked, alongside other, more elegant Elonian vessels.

“We’ll rest here for a few days, men, and then it’s off to Cantha to see dear Minister Aiguo.” Something shifted in the corner of his eye. Three fine young women came off a Canthan junk, two desert farers and the other a Canthan native. They were adventurers by the looks of it, the two desert flowers obviously worldly and the Canthan blossom quite the sheltered thing. He smiled. “Perhaps there shall be much fun to have.”

Ah, another ending. So sad. But here our characters meet and so our fun shall begin!

Tatile · Sep 10, 2008, 07:59 AM // 07:59

Well, I’m not sure if anyone’s actually reading this, but what the hell. Here’s the latest part, in the Desert.

Even this close to the sea, the air was dry. Bicharn lifted her hand, wiping her brow. She was grabbed roughly, her other arm being yanked before her. Through the thin haze of the spirit world, the earthly aura of a ranger shone through. Margrid was leading her somewhere. Trying desperately to clam her nerves, Bicharn followed.

“Well, seeing as we’re stuck with you know, Blind, you may as well know what’s going on.” She heard the ranger let out a long sigh and the moved from decking to shifting sands. Bicharn stumbled, but was sharply hauled up. “We have about two hours before the next ship leaves; so don’t make yourself comfortable. Look,” Bicharn soured out the poor choice of words. “You don’t ravel well. There’s a pub over there, let’s get a drink and wait this whole thing out.”

With that, the two women went off in the direction of the nearest shanty. Kiet grinned. Perhaps that lovely Canthan girl would get even less steady on her feet. The Elonian Ranger was equally lovely, but far too thorny for his likings. Something shifted to his right.

“Shifty!” Kiet said without looking. He clapped the man on the back. “What do you make of our fortunes? Three lovely ladies come into port the same time we did, seems quite the blessing to me.” Shifty gleefully nodded at his Captain. He liked Canthan girls, more so than any other crewman.

“I thrust you’ll be, ah, chatting with that nice tall one?” Shifty licked his lips. It was quite a disturbing action given half his tongue was gone. Kiet eyed him thoughtfully.

“Shifty, how do I take my women?” The pair turned to casually walk down to the market. Shifty looked nervous.

“The, uh, opposite to your men?” He managed to joke out. Kiet simply nodded, then pushed the man down an alley. As Shifty tried to get up, he was met with glare colder than the Shiverpeaks.

“Do not joke.”

Shifty did not get up. He was not seen on the boat, nor in the Amoon at all after that.

***

Tatile studied the docked ships. One in particular concerned her. The ‘Celestine’ was graceful and finely crafted, but something about her was just... off. Sometimes the edges flicked and parts of her name writhed. Parts of the spirit world were touching the ship and certainly not by choice. The name, the name though was the problem. She heard it before, but she conjured up only vague senses of foreboding and half-formed memories of arrogant Shorewatchers.

Islands, she thought as the water slapped against the ship’s side. That’s what those markings are, Maiden’s Embrace. Finally it dawned, after spending years beating off advances from salted men and women in back alleys and on beaches, her very basic knowledge of the sea paid off. This meant that the old girl in front of her most likely had some very expensive cargo.

Margrid’s found a pub somewhere, she always does, Tatile cursed. Her legs were stiff from sitting too long; the boat journey hadn’t done her any favours either. A deckhand waved at her just as a shadow came down. A muscular arm looped around her waist and lifted her from the deck. Hot, stinking breath washed over her head and neck.

“You’re a tiny one, ain’t you?” The man chuckled and drew her closer into his perverse embrace. Tatile quickly twisted, jarring her forearm against his chest. Snarling, she used her fell magic to grab at the blood pumping through his veins, blocking it. The man garbled and panicked, throwing the little Necromancer across the wooden boards. Her shoulder hit the ground hard, sending sparks of pain into her vision. Blessedly by Grenth her body was trained and it instinctively rolled to a crouch, allowing Tatile the bounce to get away.

The spell lasted only briefly before the great man was up again, bellowing a storm at his lost companion. He sulked, grabbing a huge crate and turned toward the ship. Brute wanted that tiny, pretty thing before Kiet got a close look at her. That skinny little man always got the best picks.