Curse

AuraofMana · Nov 15, 2006, 01:54 AM // 01:54

Chapter One:

Tranquility…

Everything is still out in the wide open sea except the journeying ship as it splits the waves. The sail wavers back and forth in a rhythmic motion, ruffling in the cool ocean wind. The salty smell of the ocean brings a sense of peace and harmony.

In a desolate time such as these, peace is rare as Ectoplasm from the depth of the Underworld. Everywhere around the ship, there is nothing but clear sky and water connected in the distance by the horizon. The sun raises its energetic face as it trails its way through the clear, blue sky.

Even though the ship had barely cleared half of the journey, the temperature has already begun to increase drastically, turning from the icing cold tundra climate to the hot and humid southern climate.

All the passengers came out of the deck to enjoy the blessed warmth and their joys were lifted as the temperatures got better. The journey was not one by choice for most of them, but the choice between escape and death was an easy one. Many abandoned their home to seek shelter in the south. Had they known the unrest in the south, they would have picked differently and journeyed to another direction, perhaps to the foreign and mysterious land only known as Cantha. But then if one thought about it, Cantha had just barely survived a tragic war, so chaos and havoc still ruled the land. To many, it seems nowhere in the world is safe and that even the gods seem to be under threat. But for right now, there is momentary peace, no matter how short it is it must be savored by all those who had known only death and destruction within the past few years.

Kelthek, however, did not share that feeling. He stood up tally but slightly arched his back and pulled his robe close him to avoid attention. He did not feel comfortable around people and most people don’t feel comfortable around him either. But that does not matter, because to Kelthek, all people are but flesh and warm corpses to exploit. That is because Kelthek is a Necromancer, one that walks the dark path of Grenth. Kelthek is trained in the matter of death and various other nefarious aspects of life that would only be describable to others as the stuff of nightmare.

Even though his robe is tightly wrapped around him, Kelthek’s pale skin betrays his profession. Many would claim Necromancers as necrophiliacs, tomb robbers, desecrators of the dead, or even a walking corpse, and many attributes of a Necromancer would justify those claims, but none of the other paths would ever understand the trainings Necromancers have to go under, nor do they understand the experiments that were necessary for one of the Grenth’s disciple to understand, nor would they ever understand the price that comes with the power of death.

But that’s no matter, Kelthek paid that price dearly and he would do it again without hesitation. Only those of the dark path understands the powers that come with the price, and that the benefit outweighs the pain and torment suffered in years of hideous training and fasting in various tombs around the dead. For more than two decades, Kelthek has studied under one of the most influential Necromancers in a dank catacomb, fasting and experimenting with the dead daily. But Kelthek shall delve into his past no more, for the past brings him pain he does not wish to remember ever again.

Turning his attention away from his history, Kelthek stared out into the open sea. A clear breeze dances through him, tickling the bare flesh exposed through the open robe. Most would spread their arms and relish in the cooling air, but most does not have the alertness of the Necromancer. Kelthek squinted his eyes and gazed into the deep distance and what he found shocked him. He can barely make out the crimson symbol on the sail of a distanced ship.

For a while there, Kelthek had almost thought the ship has gone strayed and has coursed its way Southwest instead toward Cantha. Kelthek thought he had detected the Crimson Skulls that frequently threaten where he once studied. However, a quick notice told him that it was not the Crimson Skulls that he was seeing, but another band of nefarious pirates perhaps native to the land where the ship is headed.

He was about to call out when a shout erupted from above the sail reporting the discovery of pirates. Kelthek looked up and found a shipmate looking ahead of the ship toward where the pirate ship is. Must be a Ranger - Kelthek concluded – for ones to have such sense of alertness.

The crowd erupted into chaos as the news was spread around. The captain of the ship came out to try and calm the crowd, but it was of no avail – the passengers are in panic. Women screamed around trying to find their children and perhaps take them to safety, but halted immediately pondering on where to take their children to safety. There are no lifeboats on the ship for it left in a hurry to escape the destruction of the port.

Just when people began to despair, several banging of the shield caught everyone’s attention. A Warrior struck his shield several times to create the effect, but as people began looking at him, he was struck dumbfounded and could not speak what he was going to say. An older Warrior stepped out and shouted, “People of the ship! Hear me! What lies ahead of us is a Corsair ship, a nefarious pirate group that has long haunted the Istan province! It is not all bad news for this means we have finally arrived in the water of Elona!”

The older Warrior has a look of leader on him. He carried his shield firmly and his voice rang clearly. There is a sense of charisma about him, a kind that makes him a natural leader, a kind that invokes the utmost loyalty even from the most untrustworthy rogue.

“We are but refugees in this foreign land, escaping our civilization behind like a coward.” His voice stuttered as he muttered these words. Sighing, he continued, “But much I have heard from Elona. It is said that the people there are friendly and will welcome us with open arms even though their land is plagued of trouble. Let us present a gift for the people of Elona by destroying these pirate dogs!”

As expected, the crowd cheered and some people even battle cried.

This man is Gerat Wyndern, leader of the Isle Shield guild.

Kelthek chuckled, for he too, knows how easy it is to invoke and manipulate people. Sighing, he knew violence and bloodshed will be imminent and that half of the refugees will never reach the Land of the Golden Sun, at least not alive. Not that he cared for the people, but Kelthek did not want to draw attention during the journey, but it seems that is impossible, for he can’t expect to do nothing during the fight. Some part of him welcomes, even lusts after, the chance to kill and send souls into the icy grip of Grenth.

The Corsair ship is clearly in sight now and its iron red symbol invokes fear. A kind of fear that one feels despair from. The symbol seems to draw one to look at it, to stare down with all of one’s might.

Kelthek forcibly turned away and looked around and noticed many of the passengers have also been drawn to the weird Corsair symbol. Kelthek thought about awakening everyone up from his or her trance, but decided against it and instead tightened his robe more and wait to see what kind of action the Corsair would take.

The Necromancer waited patiently and was almost about to give up when a blast of fire smashed into the middle of the crowd, instantly searing several and charred many. The crowd finally turned its attention back to the matters at hand and once again, panicked.

A barrage of fire projectiles launched itself from the Corsair ship toward the helpless refugee ship. Everywhere the projectiles land, the ship catches on fire. The fire spreads quicker with the help of the ocean wind and the dry climate. It seems that the ship will immolate to nothingness very soon and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. It seems the refugee’s journey to the South has just suddenly and abruptly ended before they even saw the coastline of Elona.

Poison Ivy · Nov 17, 2006, 05:01 PM // 17:01

Not bad at all, although you might wanna put a bit more into one chapter, not simply an outline of the situation.

AuraofMana · Nov 18, 2006, 07:39 PM // 19:39

I was actually going to write out the battle scene, but the chapter got too long =/ Will continue... right now Triple Green Drop is keeping me distracted =D