Curse

Ugghe · May 02, 2005, 11:08 PM // 23:08

I have not done writings before but this was done for fun, I hope atleast someone enjoys ^_^ It has not been edited yet, so I apologies for grammar and such - if I like it and am done with changes I'll edit it before storage.

Origins

Chapter 1: 2nd coming, Culmination

“Kiyoshi?! Kiyoshi, where the hell have you gone to?” Ugghe’s teeth bared an oddly white gleam of brutish anger as he searched for his long time compatriot. Easily excited, but strong in the face of any danger Ugghe was well known for such outbursts, but hardly with such anger for his friend. With a sudden crash of steel on granite Ugghe refocused on the earth elemental who was barraging him with heavy attacks. “This one has made a mistake…” Ugghe thought to himself with joy. With Ugghe’s parry came a quick clockwise spin that allowed him all his weight and strength in a sweeping knee high attack. The elemental didn’t have time to react, its legs exploded as Ugghe’s hammer crushed the granite into rubble. The elemental floated for what seemed an eternity, but with no legs to allow it to stand, gravity pulled it to the earth. Ugghe was no beginner, he new the elemental still possessed magic and made quick work of a follow through blow that crushed his foe into the ground from whence it came. Renewed spirits in Ugghe only lasted a few moments as the remaining 5 elementals continued to cast spells of earthly anger at Ugghe.
The years had strengthened his fortitude and meager spells hardly scratched the surface of what this barbarian of a man could withstand, but even Ugghe Foodbag, descendant of the great Shadow Knight Ugghe Foodbag of Norrath could not stand this assault forever. Again he cursed his friend Kiyoshi. They had been caught in many fights together, and never had either abandoned the other. “Why now, what has happened…” While three of the elementals prepared their next barrage of spells, two began a charge with enough velocity that each step threatened to crack the ground they charged upon. Ugghe braced for the impact in a strong defensive position. He could manage these two easily in close combat, but if he defended from them and was thrown off by a spell from their more controlled magic friends, he could fall to these beasts. A quick whistle was all anyone could have heard. It’s all that was needed. Three large arrows with rocks tied to their shafts came crashing down into the heads of each of the spell casting elementals. Ugghe grinned, his friend had taken the wise mans path yet again, and climbed the trees in the area, tied rocks to his arrows to crush the mass of their enemies and shot down almost at a perfectly vertical trajectory directly into the heads of his targets. Ugghe made very quick work of the charging elementals. They never showed emotion, they possessed none. Sometimes though, Ugghe wished they would… his enemies showing fear often drove him to strike harder… Ugghe never shared this compulsive reaction with his allies. They had all sworn vows of integrity and honor. Though Ugghe had never taken the life of an innocent or struck an unarmed foe, he always secretly found strength in the pain of his enemy… how would the others react to this? He let his thoughts drift off as he smashed his hammer into the head of the last elemental. The buzz of magical aura slowly went away. Kiyoshi leaped from the tree down to his friends side. The fall was atleast 35 feet, but this ranger had the dexterity of a cat and didn’t even need to roll out of the fall to land unharmed.
“You gave me one hell of a scare old friend” Ugghe jested. Kiyoshi’s face did not brighten as he had expected, instead a grim look stayed on the face of his old friend. “Ugghe, this was no chance encounter. We were assaulted but a larger force than misplaced magical aura surrounding rocks. While climbing the tree I met a rather unscrupulous fellow who tried to run me through. He had been watching the entire fight, when I reached a branch he was perched on his dagger tried to find my face. I have not seen strikes of such speed in all my days of hunting.” Kiyoshi turned his head to show his ear, slashed in half. The blood had quickly dried and crusted by a technique Kiyoshi had learned to not to allow animals to smell his blood while hunting. Ugghe’s face fell grim; it was rare indeed to see such a wound inflicted on his friend.. Quick as cobra and accurate as a cat, Kiyoshi Branch did not easily fall victim to a man’s sword and only magic had ever been able to easily catch him. “I’m sure the monks of Ascalon will make quick work of repairing this deformity. I recoiled for only a moment and struck with an arrow in my hand, the arrow missed completely. He had teleported to another tree altogether… bellow his feet the corpse of a dead sparrow. I looked on to see a trail of such corpses. He teleported from one corpse to another until he was far from even my own sights. Such magic… and such a dagger…could belong to none other than a Necromancer.” Ugghe, having been silent for this entire period, had to clear his throat before he roared “We must inform The Guard!” Kiyoshi nodded in agreement. “My friend I fear some of the poison in his dagger is becoming more than my Unguent can counteract… I may need your assistance in returning to Ascalon.” Kiyoshi lost consciousness and gracefully began to fall to the ground. With a swift movement unexpected of a man the size of Ugghe, Kiyoshi fell into an outstretched arm. Ugghe hoisted him onto his shoulder, and after fastening his hammer to its sling, and his bow over his shoulder, he picked up the dear they had killed moments before being attacked by the elementals. Ugghe began the trek to Ascalon. “Who is this Necromancer….why would he attack us….” Ugghe had a lot of time to think these things over before reaching the gates of Ascalon. As soon as he was within sight, three guards came running to his aid. “What happened here?” One of them questioned. “It’s Kiyoshi!” the other quipped before Ugghe could respond. “He is poisoned, please, bring him to the Monks I fear that I cannot tell you the type of poison. It was administered by a Necromancer in the forest….he attacked us…”

Chapter 2: He awakens. They awaken. Brother’s in Blood.

The sun was bright. Kiyoshi smiled bright. He had sneaked up behind Ugghe and was about to cut the purse from his side, knowing nothing could anger his friend more than this especially when a night at the local tavern was on the agenda for the night. With deft accuracy he slit the leather cord and stalked away from his chatting friend. Kiyoshi branch too was the descendant of a great adventurer. Also from the lands of Norrath was a Ratonga named Kiyoshi. The Kiyoshi of old had made a living as an Assassin. Many generations, knowing very little of his ancestor Kiyoshi Branch was born into a poor mans life where, forced to hunt for his food and his life, he became the most renowned ranger in all of Ascalon. He counted the coin his friend would be sure to notice missing soon, especially from the looks of the young dame he had been conversing with, making Kiyoshi’s plan all the easier of course.
“THEIF!!!” Even though he expected it, Kiyoshi shivered with the frenzied anger in the voice of Ugghe. “A cut purse in the area. Some one find this accursed scum of a man” Ugghe’s steps could be heard moving for Kiyoshi’s hiding place. Kiyoshi could not help but giggle. He knew what would happen. Ugghe would find him there. The two would grin at each other and a sparring match would ensue. Kiyoshi stood defiantly as Ugghe rounded the corner into the alley Kiyoshi was hiding in. “You black blooded, cold hearted rat of a man” Ugghe, and only Ugghe, could use this to tease his friend. Once a peasant boy became so popular, scribes began research on his history. His blood line did in fact lead to the Ratonga Kiyoshi. Many bandits and would be glory seeking adventurers had tempted a fight with Kiyoshi by insulting his blood. Kiyoshi was quick to oblige these men. Few lived through the duel. None left victorious. But Ugghe had adopted this as a friendly request for a fight, and Kiyoshi had accepted it as an understanding between them. Ugghe himself came from questionable blood. Ogre’s names come up in more places than one in this man’s history. Which might explain some of his natural size and strength, and it defiantly explained his appetite. “What say you coward, will you give me my purse or will I pry it from your cold fingers?” Ugghe continued his verbal assault. Kiyoshi smiled brightly and threw the purse at Ugghe. With his attention on catching the purse, he almost missed Kiyoshi notching an arrow… almost.
The fight began with Ugghe deflecting the pursuant arrow with the flat of his Butterfly Blade. The damsel Ugghe had just convinced to have a drink with him when he discovered his missing coin screamed in terror as she witnessed what she believe to be a cut purse and her hero clash steel. Kiyoshi was quick, far to quick for Ugghe. But Ugghe was strong, too strong for Kiyoshi. It made an incredible sight to witness these two spar. Kiyoshi bounced off the walls of the ally to climb high as he could. As soon as he reached the top he notched an arrow to fly at his friend. Even Ugghe would have trouble catching an arrow if it came at such heights, it would move too fast. Luckily he didn’t have to. He knew his friend, he knew he would climb, he took precautions. As soon as Kiyoshi had started his ascent Ugghe had thrown a large rock the size of a human head and launched it far above where Kiyoshi was climbing. While Kiyoshi let fly his arrow, the rock crashed down onto his shoulder and broke his stance on the walls sending him careening for the ground. The rock had not hit in time though and the arrow screamed towards Ugghe. Piercing his shoulder blood slung into the wind and the burn of torn flesh brightened Ugghe’s eyes. “Pierce me will you?!” Ugghe’s body, unlike Kiyoshi’s, was littered with scars. The warrior rarely avoided attacks he didn’t have to. The pain...the blood…it fueled him. As did this arrow. He charged towards where the ranger had fallen. Their blades met, Kiyoshi was not well versed in swordplay, but often toyed with one during their sparring matches.
The fight rolled along for the next few minutes as Ugghe smashed into Kiyoshi’s sword and Kiyoshi reeled, parried, and tripped Ugghe. Once Ugghe fell, Kiyoshi moved in for the final sword to throat stance he loved to win with so much, but Ugghe had other ideas. As the ranger approached he spun his legs in a wheel kick. Kiyoshi easily leaped above the attack but was thrown off when Ugghe’s sword was already swinging down in his direction. He parried in the air but was devastated by the force in the blow. He careened back stunned staring at the sky. Ugghe’s blade came to his throat, and a grin fell over the warrior’s face. “You win old friend. Now let me up and buy me a drink.”
“Come my dear, this foul wretch may join us for a drink, but fear not I will ensure your safety among his company.” The damsel had stood stunned in the courtyard while the guards, who were accustomed to seeing the friends scrap with each other, laughed at the terror on her face. “Good sir, the arrow….” She managed to mutter pointing at Ugghe’s shoulder. “That’s right! That brute plunged one of his ugly fangs in my shoulder. Hmm…” Ugghe grabbed the arrow and without flinching pulled it out of his shoulder. Kiyoshi used straight tipped arrows when they sparred to allow Ugghe to pull them out without having to go all the way through his body. Focusing on the signet tattooed to his left hand Ugghe chanted a quick spell. The signet of healing glowed and refreshed his body, closing the minor wound. Ugghe spat on his amour and wiped the blood away. “There, good as ever. Come friends, the night is young but it is not getting any younger.” With hesitation the damsel took Ugghe’s arm and accompanied him to the tavern.
Drunk as school boys left to their father’s brewery, the trio left the tavern. “I must escort you to your house my lady.” With a drunken curtsy that almost landed her on her rear she accepted and lead the way. After leaving their new friend for the night, Kiyoshi and Ugghe headed home. They both sat at the main rooms table. The main room, the only room, housed not only an eating corner but beds one each side and a large work table in the middle where Ugghe and Kiyoshi did most of their work. Opening a bottle brandy he had purchased from the tavern earlier Ugghe poured each friend a glass.
“It has been 2 months since the attack in the forest Kiyoshi, you are near full recovered… but I have never seen you take more than a week to fully recover.” Ugghe said with concern. “I know my friend, it has worried me too. Such a powerful poison… It was administered so close to my head…the monks tell me this could be to blame for it’s potency….but still… how so strong?!” Kiyoshi said beginning to show anger. “There have been no other reports of this Necromancer. No guilds have encountered him. No adventurers speak of him. He is like a ghost. I do not know why he attacked us, nor why he watched without participating. But when we are strong, we will hunt him. We will find him. And we will find out answers.” Hearing Ugghe say this seemed to sooth Kiyoshi. “You arer right my friend. Tomorrow we hunt again, perhaps fate would find us and him together again… but we will only know this tomorrow. Good night” With that Kiyoshi stepped towards his bed and lay to rest for the night. Ugghe soon followed suit. The next day would be just another hunt… he had no reason to think otherwise, but he felt otherwise.
***
Ugghe trailed behind Kiyoshi in the early morning sun. He knew he came along not to aid the hunt, for Kiyoshi was among the most skilled huntsmen in Ascalon and needed no such help, but his real purpose was to help carry back the meat Kiyoshi would slay. In times of peace where the Charr have been held back so well by the guilds – none of which Ugghe had joined yet – there were few day to day tasks that truly tested a warrior’s metal.
“I smell death” Kiyoshi broke into Ugghe’s. Ugghe quickly pulled his hammer from his sling and stood at the ready. “You sensed me, that is a talent you have indeed young one.” Ugghe and Kiyoshi both swung around to see their visitor. “You… you’re the one who attacked us. You tried to kill me. Why?!” Kiyoshi challenged quickly. “I had to know.” The stranger replied with little care. “What did you have to know? Explain yourself; the stench of death surrounds you. I care very little for your kind and you especially.” Kiyoshi’s voice was ready to fight, Kiyoshi’s heart was ready to fight but for an odd reason he could not explain his mind wanted to hear the stranger. He wanted an explanation. “I understand your anxiety. Please allow me my time, I will explain.” Ugghe made no move to drop his guard, but replied “Go on, we will listen, try no trick or we will fell you.” He roared. “Fair enough, Ugghe. I will-” “How do you know my name?!” Ugghe broke in. “I have been watching the two of you, Ugghe Foodbag and Kiyoshi Branch, for quite some time” the stranger replied coolly as he had begun “and I know a great deal about you. I understand my display before must of angered you. But I knew you would handle the attack with ease, and I had to know about the poison… Kiyoshi, your blood has come from the great assassin of old. With the blood of his race, you have always had a natural defense against poison and disease. The poison I stung you with was none other than the bile of a great undead dragon, fused with my own magical blood, and a rune of weakening. No creature, ever, has survived an attack by this poison. Much less one that begun so near its head. You are a remarkable individual.” Kiyoshi stood stunned… but he knew of his resistance to poison and disease. He gently ran his finger across the scar on his ear… even the monks of Ascalon could not completely undo what the poison had touched. The stranger turned to Ugghe, who lifted his hammer with more fury knowing his friend’s life had been gambled on “You, my friend, have the heart of rage, anger, and determination. You live by honor, but you fight with blood lust and a fury that only death can calm.” Ugghe’s guard dropped for a moment….”I’ve never told anyone this…” he thought. Kiyoshi looked at him, seeing the expression on Ugghe’s face he knew what the stranger said was true. “I don’t know what you think you know about me, stranger, but I do not like where this has gone so far.” Ugghe said half heartedly. “You both are natural born to be of my kind. Ugghe, you descend from one of the greatest Shadow Knights of all. Kiyoshi, the assassin’s blood runs through you. It protects you, hides you, and drives you. I wish to teach you the magic I know. Magic that requires you to know your own blood and the blood of others, to understand death, and to use it to your advantage, to see in magic what others are afraid to see. It is dark and painful. But with training, you will reclaim the glory of your ancestors. I am Bevitore di blood, join me, become brothers of blood. You will become more powerful than you have dreamed and your future will become your own.”

Garias Whitanian · May 24, 2005, 04:59 PM // 16:59

Good stuff, could do with a paragraph or ten but other than that nice work