Curse

Minus Sign · Mar 30, 2006, 11:10 PM // 23:10

“They won’t survive another trip and a climb down a rope ladder,” Faith continued, looking back at the horde. It was all she could do to maintain those the Char had damaged before. Soon they would all die. “And we won’t survive without them.”

Mhenlo turned on his side, mouth open to argue the point. Breath came out a sigh and he said, “No. We wouldn’t. Could you keep them alive while the three of us went around; make a distraction of them?”

“Mhenlo!” Kali hissed. “You can’t mean to leave her here alone.”

“It wouldn’t work anyway,” Faith said with honest regret. “They’d die before you made it around if I didn’t die first trying to maintain them.”

“We’ve no choice,” Kasha pressed, sending her own flow of spirit toward Faith’s minions. She better ahn anyone knew they were in no state for another march. “how many do you count Mhenlo?”

“it’s four to one at least and most of us are bone brains,” he replied, flinching as he turned to Faith. “No offense.”

“None taken.”

“Alright,” kasha replied, forming the plan. “Minions take the lead and form a circle around us. They’ll bunch up like last time, so that’s plenty of corpses for you faith. We push our way in as fast as we can and let kali close the tunnel. With luck, these Char won’t stick around to dig their friends out. Just a few hundred Char, Rurik and Barradin can handle. If we slow their army, they’ll figure it out and there’s a hope they’ll stop the next wave. Agreed?”

Four heads nodded as one and Faith called her horde forward.

The Char had been expecting a different surprise attack today, and Faith’s minions made it out of the tunnel with no resistance. They swept out in a wedge at her silent command, swinging around the Char massed in the center of the cylinder.

But the stunned reaction lasted only a moment. Char snarled as orders were barked and weapons drawn. The Char descended on the minions with only seconds to spare and Faith barely got the minions placed into a circle around them. They had made it halfway to the tunnel.

“Here Kali?” Mhenlo screamed as the Char began pressing the minion wall back. Faith a Kasha were a wail of death, Deadly Swarms flying into the Char group like angry hornets from a thousand hives.

“Closer!” the elementalist called back, the ground shimmering with the glow of an anti-melee ward. The minions had been pressed to the edge.

“It has to be here!” Kasha called, life siphoning spells staggering whole groups of Char. They pushed onward, ignoring their own fallen for the pursuit of the four humans. The minion wall retreated again. “We can’t get any closer!”

“I can’t!” Kali screamed, on the north edge of the minion wall. Faith felt Kali’s mana straining to reach out to the tunnel, but fading several feet away each time.

No! Faith roared silently, feeling the Soul Reaping waves splashing into her from all sides now. We have to win! We can’t let them pass! The minion wall began to buckle.

“Help me,” she called softly. Pure mana struck her from all sides as the Char poured into the last of their minion wall. More minions took the place of those destroyed, but not as quickly as all the Char could kill them.

“Help me.”

“Faith,” Mhenlo’s call was a whisper from her trance, “it’s no use! We have to get out of here!”

“Help me.”

Kali called another ward as the first one began to fail. The shimmering anti-melee circle seemed a feeble defense to the rush of bodies flowing toward it. One Char broke through the minions and her sword flew, slicing a gash that sent it roaring backwards back into the minions. The bone wall shifted and the Char disappeared.

Kasha fell to her knees, desperately throwing spells into the mob of Char that wailed on Faith’s minions. Another Char leapt over the wall but Faith was ready with a deadly swarm and the Char was in pieces before it hit the ground.

A Char flame wielder turned his mana toward Faith and it was sheer luck that Mhenlo cast a Protective Spirit on her as the fireball struck her face. Long black hair curled around the edges of the spell, crisping in its own burning stench.

Help me, please, one last time, Faith pleaded silently. She felt rather than heard the voice that answered. It was words from her past; a promise for her future.

An oath to those who sought vengeance.

You Prayed to Dwayna the soft voice intoned, But tis Grenth that Answers.

Desperate, Kasha began casting a Well of Blood.

“Leave the corpse alone,” Faith ordered.

“Faith!” Kasha screamed in rebuke. They hadn’t time for such foolishness now. “We need the wells—“

“IT’S MINE!” boomed through the catacombs. Everything stopped moving, momentarily dazed. Char, man, minion; all. All trembled under the echo of those words. Faith’s lips had moved to match them, but…

“That was no woman’s voice,” Menhlo spoke in a hollow tone. The echo of Faith’s words continued to pound the walls, drowning out the wails of Char that called from deep within the catacombs.

“Sweet Gods of Light and Dark,” Kasha intoned with a silent prayer to Grenth, “She’s Godspoken. Forgive me Master; I meant no offense.”

Mana surged into Faith. And through. And out. Spells flew from her with an abandon no mesmer could throw. Powerful spells that would drain the strongest elementalist. Deadly swarms became a deadly cloud, flaring out of Faith to strike all sides. The very Shadows descended through the cloud, striking out at Char. Still they pressed. Minions that fell exploded in a nova of poisonous death. More minions took their place; bone horrors taking a stand at the wall as their brood brothers fell; bone fiends spitting barbed projectiles even as they formed.

“Gods!” Mhenlo screamed again, laying every spell of protection and healing he could onto the necromancer. “She’s killing herself.”

Faith paid no notice, her feet floating off the ground. Rage made her body tremble, head back in a wracking spasm of spell casting. Hands clenched and unclenched as her arms splayed out behind her, gripping the spirit of a Char with each squeeze. When she closed a hand, a Char died. When she opened a hand, a minion formed. Her eyes opened and she stared at the black expanse above with the whiteless blood red eyes of a nightmare.

Her body jerked in empathic sympathy to her summons. Welts formed where warhammers struck her horde. Slashing cuts tore her where swords cut her brood down. But through it all she kept casting, as oblivious to the pain as her minions were.

“Now Kali!” Kasha called and an opening formed in the Char forces. Kali made a break, and a small circle of minions went with her as she sprinted to the Wall tunnel.

Faith could feel it all. Life death, love hate, friends and enemy in the palm of her hands. And through it all, one link remained open. One minion stood out above all the rest. Karim’s minion, the minion of his revenge, the flesh given a chance to return what was owed.

The Char retreated, scattering to reduce Faith’s attack. The minions followed, spreading out to attack the clusters f several hundred Char still outnumbering them. Karim’s minion was a ghost, sweeping through the Char, guided by an unseen hand. It struck with the speed of a frenzied swordfighter, tearing into Char and back out with the skill of a Warrior’s spirit.

But it stood alone. And it was not the only warrior spirit present in the cylinder. A pair of officers noticed the minion, saw its strange singularity, and charged. Karim’s minion beat back the first, but the second Char took it from behind, slashing it in half with a massive battle axe.

“NO!!!” Faith screamed with Grenth’s voice as Karim’s minion fell. She sent a column of purest mana into the golem, willing the unlife returned.

Karim’s minion struck the ground, crumbling into dust before her. “NO!!!” she screamed again, forcing ever more of her power—her life, her everything—into the dust motes that formed. The catacombs trembled in her wailing. Ascalon shook from the heat of her need.

And the ground where Karim’s minion had fallen split in the power of it all. Split…and opened. One mammoth hand gripped the lip of that rent, a minion of Grenth’s own making crawling from His depths in the unholy exploitation of a minion’s corpse.

“Sweet Dwayna; what is that,” Mhenlo gawked, staring at the monster that rose from Karim’s minion.

“Titan’s Bane,” Kasha intoned. The monster roared a gurgling scream, its mammoth hands slamming down on the shoulders of the nearest Char. It roared again, swinging the Char in an arc, toppling minion and Char alike as it hammered back anything in its way. Dripping red and trembling with furry, the creature followed its thrown enemy into the deepest heart of battle.

Kasha trembled too, dropping to her knees. “It’s a Flesh Golem.”

Kali’s group reached the tunnel and the elementalist laid both hands to the ground. Char noticed her, felt the aftershocks of her mana seeping into the ground and rushed to stop her. Faith followed, in minion form and mana, tearing at their heels like a pack of enraged wolves biting a wounded ox.

The flesh golem was an army unto itself, picking up Char by their heads and swinging them until their bodies were stumps. It strolled around the cylinder unopposed, pounding with foot and hand, ignoring the paltry damage the Char inflicted.

Kali rose as Faith had, the power of her casting beyond anything a novice could call. Her head lolled to one side, body trembling in sympathy to the ground underfoot. The mana lay atop the entire cylinder floor, trembling with need to be used.

The explosion that rocked them sent Mhenlo and Kasha flying backwards, a hasty Aegis as he flew all that saved the two. Kali lowered to the ground with the thump, swaying as if struck and started to fall toward a Char that had made it through her small escort of minions.

Faith sent out a blast of deadly swarms to the attacking Char, then focused her mana again. She felt the mana pull her body and in an instant she and teleported to its corpse and Kali. Catching the unconscious nuke in her arms, Faith turned, eyes crosseyed from the strain of her spamming spells. Against all hope, she turned her mana toward a corpse near Kasha and Mhenlo who had made it back to the tunnel leading toward Wizard’s Folly.

Pulling Kali with her in the teleport took everything Faith had left, and it was all she could do then to try to make Kali fall toward Kasha. The elder necro caught Kali up “Run,” Faith managed, falling toward the ground.

Mhenlo had her in that instant, hitching Faith’s exhausted body on his back “We aren’t leaving without you,” he grunted as he and Kasha began running from the cave. The earthquake continued, shaking the stout tunnel they retreated through. Even with its heavy bracers, small stones and dust fell on their heads.

“Gods, you’ve got to be the craziest necro I’ve ever met,” Mhenlo scolded. “I liked you better as a monk.”

Faith nodded, raising her head to look back. “So did I,” she managed.

Karim’s Flesh Golem was still fighting in the heart of the Char as the cylinder collapsed. It grabbed another officer up, swinging the Char by its legs like a club. Then stone fell on the tunnel mouth and Faith could see no more. Goodbye my love, she called silently and thought flew away as sleep took her.

Minus Sign · Mar 30, 2006, 11:29 PM // 23:29

Epilogue:

The world seemed calm now after the Char attacks. The air was a dusty coughing cloud in front of him and Duke Barradin took a shallow breath as he surveyed the ruin of Ascalon City.

Many people thought the storm was past. But Barradin remembered the great storms off the coast from when he was a child. He remembered the howling winds that ripped in one way, and then returned to strike from another. Strange storms, like giant sideways wheels that rolled over everything in their path without mercy.

This was not the calm thereafter of Ascalon’s destruction. This was the eye of the storm. The winds of war were already building again. When they struck again, it would be final. The people needed to be prepared for that.

Barradin felt movement at his side and turned. “Ah. Kasha. Well met, I say. You took my warning to heart and stopped them in their tracks. Ascalon owes you and your companions a great debt today.”

“I think you M’Lord, but I was but a cog in His plans. The real hero was Faith,” and her hand pointed to a necromancer in black armor walking by; white as a brides ghost. Barradin looked at her, nodding. Then he looked again.

Faith stopped under his scrutiny. He remembered her. Somehow. But not the creature that stared back with feral hunger. Her hair had been drawn into a pair of black buns, not the shocking white bob that barely covered a dark burn on her left cheek…and she had been dressed in monk’s robes. Looks like grit won out in the end, a small voice commented, and Barradin twitched at the thought.

“There’s a story there,” the Duke said. Faith bowed slightly to him and continued on her way.

“More than you know M’Lord Duke,” Kasha replied, watching her go. “More than you know.

“But I am more interested in your story M’Lord,” Duke Barradin turned back, one eyebrow c0cked upward in puzzlement. “What troubles M’lord that he broods so in front of his men?”

“You don’t what to know what it is I ponder Kasha.”

“We have some time M’Lord,” and there was a slight hunger in her voice. Even with all that had happened, Kasha wanted to share his worry. To revel in a misery she did not yet have. Necros really were a sick bunch, Barradin thought.

The duke turned to her, seeing the masochist of necrosis deep inside. Maybe his thought would overflow her well of suffering. But Kasha and her friends had earned the right to know. “See today for what it is Kasha, and despair.” Barradin sighed. “A magic that tore through all our defenses. Something we’ve never seen; never felt before. Something buried, that the Char have dug up.

“The Gods lied to us Kasha,” Barradin said, his tone as ominous as his words, “There were more than six bloodstones.”

Excerpt from Faith Rivin: Looking for Group

“That damn monk almost got me killed!” the warrior roared. Melody eeped weakly, pulling Faith further back.

Faith’s tone was cold as she stared down him down. “Your mouth is about to do the same.

“Get out of here. Now.”

The Warrior scowled, looking as if he wanted to say more. Faith sneered, almost willing him to. He stomped off angrily. Melody clutched Faith from behind, trembling slightly.

“Melody,” Faith said trying to keep her voice soft. It wasn’t easy. “Melody; let go. He’s gone.”

The tiny monk peeked out from Faith’s right side, straightening slightly when she saw the warrior had indeed left. “You wouldn’t have let him hurt me would you?” she asked, still trembling as Faith pulled away.

Faith sighed, slightly annoyed. This happened every time a Warrior snapped at the monk. It was growing old, even if Faith knew the reason. “No,” the necromancer replied. “You remember what Kali and I promised when we left the Sanitarium. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”

Melody looked up to Faith, a wide smile spreading slowly across her rosy lips. Faith felt the monk reach out, grouping more deeply with her. The sudden change from repressed terror to sugary sweetness made Faith’s stomach turn. Melody lurched forward, gripped the necromancer in a firm hug.

“Get off!”

“You love me,” the monk sang sweetly.

“Shut up Mel,” Faith snapped, disentangling from the monk.

“You do,” Melody sing-songed, smiling ever more broadly.

“I said shut up Mel,” Faith fumed. “Go…go get us our dinner already. You’re already late and the better portions are probably gone. Again!”

“I love you too Faith,” and the monk skipped away toward the field canteen.

“Merciful Grenth why won’t she die!”

Minus Sign · Mar 31, 2006, 12:19 AM // 00:19

Writer’s Commentary.

“You Prayed to Dwayna, but it’s Grenth that answers.” You see that twice in Faith Rivin: MM, but I want to say it again. This whole story comes out of this one sentence and letting imagination flow. When I set out 3 days ago to put this all down I didn’t intend to turn this into a minor novella. Good writers will tell you (and I’ll make that claim for now with the afterglow of completion still fresh and dazzling my eyes) that some characters will take on a life of their own. It’s up to you to follow where they lead.

I hope you enjoyed where Faith led us, and I hope you tell your friends so that they can read about her too. As it always should be, comments are appreciated (try to keep them on topic) and constructive criticism is more than welcome.

Thank you for reading this. And thanks to Anet for making a great game that inspired it. Special thanks to Raxus for his daily kick in the butt; your kind comments kept me going as much as Faith's threatening to kill me if I didn't finish soon.

"-"
Minus Sign

Unreal Cyn · Mar 31, 2006, 01:19 AM // 01:19

This was well done Minus. I look forward to your sequel!

Killmur · Mar 31, 2006, 01:19 AM // 01:19

Damn good read. If I had to rate it a 10 out 10 it would get a 20. Tells a interesting viewpoint about the events not long after the Searing itself happened.

Raxus · Mar 31, 2006, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Bravo, Bravisimo!!!! *Hands clapping* *cheers* Bravo! Excellent end to Faith's and yours first saga. I will be monitoring your next installment with anticipation.

Keep it up Minus

Life Knight Mh z · Apr 01, 2006, 12:19 PM // 12:19

wow gj i wanna be a writer so this was a lil good xp for me some ideas and a style of writing its plain but a dam good story.I'd encourage u to write more.

Killmur · Apr 01, 2006, 04:57 PM // 16:57

This story has inspired me to create a evil twin Factions based Necro for my Core based Ele.

Naqser · Apr 03, 2006, 01:06 PM // 13:06

good reading (while working)

a question though, you get characters feel alive and all that, do you feel that to yourself? As you are the writer you know what will happen but the reader don't, that makes it complicated for me as a writer (first long story i'm writing). I don't know if my reader's (those few I got) like what they read, if the characters feel alive. with no response (as i'm "getting") it's hard to know

Magic Mage Yuna · Apr 17, 2006, 12:39 AM // 00:39

1000 thumbs up it was a great story 10 outof 10 tops it is very good to read it for 30 mins it was a great story thxs for giving me somethign to do

Storm Crow · Apr 17, 2006, 12:50 AM // 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Life Knight Mh z

wow gj i wanna be a writer so this was a lil good xp for me some ideas and a style of writing its plain but a dam good story.I'd encourage u to write more.

If you want to be a writer I have two tips:

1) NEVER use game lingo in anything you write.
2) Use proper grammar (this includes spelling, punctuation, etc.)

Dormant Power · Sep 01, 2006, 07:29 AM // 07:29

Lol, you tell him Storm.
Anyway great job Minus. A truly inspirational read, 10 out of 10, and a record breaking 0 crappy robots out of 5.(Crappy robots are a bad thing, so the less the better =D)

TimTimTimma · Sep 12, 2006, 08:32 PM // 20:32

This was an incredibly fun to read story. I very much hope you write more!

D E E Z · Sep 18, 2006, 06:05 AM // 06:05

Bravo Bravo this was an exceptionally excelent piece if Anet had you start writing novels for them for GW i would buy the whole series in a heart beat i really enjoyed the story especially since i have a N/Mo and it can be exceptionally powerful class gj again on the story just a few typos and nothing so hard that you can figure it out without thinking about it i loved it if you write me please post it id love to see what became of this Monk turned Necro in the hard times to come in Ascalon. id especially like to know if she continues on with prince rurik onto Kryta or if she stays in ascalon Keep up the good work Deez =P

Minus Sign · Sep 18, 2006, 03:32 PM // 15:32

Thank you for your comments all. To those interested, Faith Riven's sequel is well under way. Titled Faith Rivin: Looking for Group, you can find it right here in Lyssa's Fiction:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3023706

Comments are much appreciated and constructive criticisms more than welcome. I encourage you all to continue reading about Faith and her friends as they continue on their way through Tyria and (if I have the time) beyond.

@D E E Z and others: You're right. I rushed this one a little, and the typos that remain have been nagging me with regularity. I've considered going through and performing a full edit; possibly add some more exposition to flesh out the catacombs almost famous feel and the desructive power of the chant on Ascalon.

As any mild dyslexic will tell you, editing can be a horrible pain. If enough readers persist however, I may just have to give the original a little makeover

Again: thank you all for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it. @ Those who didn't: I'd love to hear why; learning what appeals--or doesn't--is how writers grow.